001 - anonymous text/action

[justlittle]

[Bean waited a long time before posting to the Network. At first he was unsure who exactly was watching. Is this like the desks at school? Would he have to make a fake post to prevent whoever is in charge from learning anything he did not want them to know? Or was it innocent, just a means of communication or entertainment? Either way, Bean saw no real interest in it. From what he saw of the recent posts, the people here seem obsessed with clothing and amenities. Nothing he can relate to. Besides, the terminal in his suite has been acting oddly all day. He decided to explore the city instead. He hasn't been in a city since Rotterdam, but he's sure he can get back into the swing of it. Being a rather large city, there's sure to be street gangs of abandoned kids somewhere-- maybe not in the wealthy-looking metal sector, but somewhere. Maybe he'll find them, restart his old life. Maybe not. For now he's just exploring, gathering data.

At some point he happens upon a café with anonymous hookups. This, he decides, would be the perfect opportunity to give the Network a try. He hangs around the café for a few hours, looking in, buying something to drink, but never signing on. Then finally, he makes his move.]

So they have us on the back of a turtle. Slow and steady wins the race, they say, but where is the rabbit? What shore are we swimming towards, and where was the starting line? And what happens when the turtle stops swimming?

[He signs off, satisfied with his post, and waits to watch the responses. It's as much a fact-finding mission as anything, and he's interested to see who will respond and what they might have to say.]


[ooc: feel free to either respond to his post or see him around any of the sectors. A scrawny looking seven year old can only be so inconspicuous.]

Comments

[justlittle]

[So does Bean. Instincts have saved his life more than once. So he doesn't question Rayner's statement.]

[imaginate]

[They cross the border into Fire. Kyle's more at ease here now than he was when he'd first come here, but his pace does quicken slightly - he would like to leave as soon as possible. He points to the palace looming over them.] The Emperor lives there, and the biggest library in the city is there too; however, with restricted access. [He has no doubt that someone as smart as Bean can get it, of course.] Here you'll find herbalists and the like. Those [he points to a fire fountain] don't produce any heat.

[justlittle]

[Bean nods. He'll definitely be coming back for that library.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle lets Bean take in the sights, content to walk in silence and not engage in meaningless chatter. After the rough few days he's had, it's oddly comforting to be in the presence of another soldier, even if inwardly he is still cringing at the idea of a seven-year-old fighting a war. He wants to ask, but they've just met, and that's pushing too far. He's learnt not to do that by interacting with Damian.

If Bean has questions, Kyle knows he'll ask. If not, they're heading over into Wood soon.]

[justlittle]

[Bean, on his part, isn't used to an adult not questioning or ordering him constantly. Maybe because he hasn't been in the position of knowing less than everyone around him since he first arrived at Battle School. Well, that's what he's here for, to learn everything he can.]

So the foreigners are brought here by the Emperor from different planets, to fight something but no one knows what, except the time there were zombies. No one knows a way out, but some people do leave. Do those who leave ever get brought back?

[imaginate]

Some do. Whether they have memories of their previous stay or not varies. You should be able to tell quite easily through reading the network.

[justlittle]

I will. [He hasn't delved very deep into the archives, but now he has a plan for what to do after this tour is over.] Except my desk-- my terminal has been acting up.

[imaginate]

How do you mean?

[justlittle]

It shorts out sometimes. But I have no problem with terminals in other sectors. It's why I came out here. [Only a partial lie.]

[imaginate]

They don't short out unless you try to tamper with them. [He smiles, but he doesn't sound judgemental. It's only confirming his impressions about Bean.

He points to a console cafe.] Use those. You can remain almost completely anonymous: no one can track anything but your location and style of typing.

[justlittle]

I wasn't tampering. [Much.]

[He nods. He was already planning on using a cafe to post but now he knows he'll have to keep signing on at different cafes.] Thanks, I'll do that.

[imaginate]

[Oh, he likes this kid. A lot. Which makes him worry, because Bean had said there wasn't anyone he knew here and... that left Kyle in a bit of an awkward position. He clearly couldn't leave the boy alone, but he couldn't push too hard either, or he risked severing a fragile connection.

What about a tracer?

Scan him, store the DNA records. he orders the ring, glad he doesn't have to verbally request it.

COMPLETE. RECORD SAVED. DESIGNATION?

Subject: Bean.

ACCEPTED.

All Bean will see is a slight twitch in Kyle's right hand, as he raises it to shield his eyes from the sun (a cover, hopefully it will work).] So, does magic exist in your world? I don't mean sufficiently advanced technology, I mean magic.

[justlittle]

[What the hell, man, It's not even that sunny out.]

Only in fairy tales.

[imaginate]

[His hand drops and slides into his pocket perfectly naturally. He's got what he wanted, after all.] Hm. It's more common here. I'd say... it's a type of energy that only a few people can manipulate. Most don't understand what it is, let alone how to use it.

[Beat.] A little like my ring... actually, except that's technology. Either way, the Emperor is quite proficient, and so are a few prisoners.

[He doesn't feel the need to sugarcoat with 'Foreigners' or 'transplants' and 'kidnappee' is a little sensitive for him right now.]

[justlittle]

[Bean absorbs all of this information and flags it to think about more later.]

Your ring... It's a weapon?

[imaginate]

Yes. More economical than a gun. [And much more powerful, but that much is obvious.]

[justlittle]

Can I see? [Whether he means "can I look closely at your hand?" or "show me what it does" he leaves up to Rayner to decide.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle senses it's a "show me what it does" question, but he's not quite ready to go there with Bean just yet and what's more, he does like to tease children, a little.

He opts for taking the ring off his hand and handing it to Bean to examine. If the kid's been reading the network, he'll know it's pointless trying to take it or use it for himself: Bean would have discerned from the videos that Kyle's body language indicated he was telling the truth when he said the ring chose its wearer and didn't work for anyone but them.

For all intents and purposes, it looks like an ordinary ring, made of metal. The green is not paint, and the insignia of the Corps is emblazoned on it.]

[justlittle]

[Bean's fingers are too small for it anyway, but he turns it over over, feeling the weight of it. He's never held a real weapon before, only the flash guns from Battle School. He hands it back soon enough.]

Thanks.

[imaginate]

[He nods, and puts it back on his finger. It's a comfort, honestly, to know it's there, even if he can't use it as much as he wants.

They cross the border into Wood. Kyle frowns at some of the leaves that are turning yellow.] That's new.

[justlittle]

Is it autumn? [He's been in space so long he lost track of unimportant things like seasons. Winter is only important if you're in danger of freezing to death.]

[imaginate]

No, it's supposed to be spring. [He narrows his eyes but eventually looks less tense.] This must be due to the sickness - that's the official word, at least.

[Still not sure if he believes it.]

[justlittle]

The sectors are decaying? Do you think my terminal shorting out was part of it? ['Cause he really wasn't meddling with it that much.]

[imaginate]

I wouldn't rule out the possibility.

[justlittle]

Great. Are there any vets in the city who specialize in giant turtles? [Guy needs his net access.]