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[nooniensingh]

[A deep, British voice begins broadcasting on the network, no video attached. There is a slight bit of noise in the background, nothing loud, but white noise, indistinguishable and generic. He could be broadcasting from anywhere.]

Good evening. My name is John Harrison. I'm a traveler, brought to this place by what appears to be an error. I have no memory of this place on Earth, and I'm quite well-traveled.

Tell me, is this Network of devices always on? Is there always a listener, some warm body on the other end, ready to give and receive advice and succor? I do find that remarkable.

Is there anywhere that isn't suffering from this...illness that's literally plaguing this place?

Comments

[Video]

[doeswhathewants]

Hi John! Might I call you John? [He tips his head, putting on his most charming smile.]

Yes. And possibly? But you made it sound very weird. In a bad touch sort of way.

I am hale and hearty, but the cause of the affliction is most likely a curse, they happen every few days here and last a day, two at the most.

[nooniensingh]

John is perfectly acceptable. Of course, now you have me at a disadvantage, sir. Your name?

...A curse. Interesting. Implying the use of so-called "magic."

[unflagging]

That's probably because, hey, you're not on Earth anymore.

Hey, hi. Welcome.

[nooniensingh]

I did gather as much.

Thank you. I'm not certain what my next step is. Any advice for a stranger in a strange land?

[rianofski]

I'd welcome you, but it would seem almost rude, somehow, considering that most people don't want to be here.

[A pause.]

There are those of us who aren't ill, yes, though we seem to be in the minority.

[nooniensingh]

A welcome in an unfamiliar place is still appreciated.

...Has there been no quarantine? No attempt by the authorities to contain this? I find that the most distressing symptom of all, in all honesty.

[ not here ]

[medicos]

[ oh, he knows that voice, alright, and it takes every effort in him not to do something incredibly stupid, like reveal himself to the enemy. no one needs to know that he's shaking with anger, that every part of his body is cursing his messed up city and the fucked up situation that they've landed themselves in.

you're supposed to be dead, khan, and yet you're not.

fuck. ]

[not a reply]

[nooniensingh]

[Oh, come now, Bones. Can't we just let bygones be bygones? Can't we forget that you aided in kidnapping my people in cryostasis, and can't you forget that I opened fire on a room of unarmed people?]

[mortemscintilla]

I'm not sure how much, um, 'advice and succor' I can offer. But I'll try my best.

[ No comment on the warm body bit because. Well. Kind of creepy. ]

As for the plague: almost half the City's infected. But the Anonymous group are working on a solution. ... I think.

[nooniensingh]

Anonymous group? That sounds sufficiently spooky. Are the people in charge of this city truly anonymous?

[not here]

[hischair]

[ It's as if his own breathing just became deafening to his own ears. Hunched over, ill and weakened, Jim stares at the wall as that voice oils its way over the network. Not you. Not you, not here. Out-gunned, out-matched and at a loss for how to have his people defend themselves when Khan is clearly spiking at full health with a curiosity to poke around for answers, Jim makes the split-second decision not to get in contact with him. It's tactical, deciding to remain in retreat for the time being. His voice would be a stirring call to their own personal war against this man if he uses it and he doesn't want to draw his attention to the names listed in the directory.

Coughing up blood as his panic rises (and Jim finds himself defeated by a door, unable to stand long enough to open it) he closes the communication device and opts to rally information for his people; temporal problems aside, 'John Harrison' and his arrival just broke the need to keep anyone in the dark as far as he's concerned. ]

[not a reply]

[nooniensingh]

[Oh, Kirk, you big baby. He hasn't even made a single threatening remark. He hasn't done anything except ask questions. Get your Starfleet brand knickers out of that twist they're in, and relax.]

voice;

[subecho]

Well met, traveller. Bide time and take your rest, and keep from the sick. We do not yet know what illness this is, or how it journeys from one man to the next.

[nooniensingh]

Well met yourself. That's excellent advice, which I've already put into practice. Air-borne illnesses aren't anything I wish to tempt.

( audio )

[studmuffin]

[ KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN ]

I'm really freaked out by the whole warm body thing. You don't even want to know the images that brought about, wow. [ CORPSES HOLDING DEVICES. It's the accent. British and weird. ]

But yeah, we're always here.

NOT HERE

[affectioning]

[ Stiles, we're all warm bodies. Warm-blooded. It's not that weird. ]

Re: ( audio )

[nooniensingh]

[SIGH. Somebody had to do it, and of course it had to be Stiles.]

It was just intended to reassure myself, young man. I didn't mean to alarm you. I've been in situations where...ahem. Being warm bodied isn't exactly a prerequisite.

( video )

[affectioning]

The Network is always on and everybody can see everything. Unless you want to make what you're saying private. [ It's really annoying to get used to. ] I'm not sick. But, I also just got here. My friend is. [ Isn't it just a cold or flu? ]

[nooniensingh]

I am sorry about your friend. Have you attempted to get him medical assistance?

voice;

[ruthless_hunter]

[Hello, deep voiced evil dude. Have another deep voiced evil dude.]

You ain't on Earth anymore, meatbag.

[nooniensingh]

[Only the British can sound quite so dry when being "polite."]

Yes, I gathered. Thank you for that.

voice;

[hexuality]

[Someone take her device away from her, she should not be on the network when in the hospital.]

There's no "anywhere." The City's just the City.

voice;

[makingastatement]

Earth?

[ He laughs. ]

You're in the City, pal. Not only is it probably not on Earth, it's borderline La-La Land.

[intheblanks]

Is there anywhere on earth people don't suffer from the flu? If there is, it's changed since my time.

[monochrome_mirror]

I am not ill, Harrison-san.

You are in the City, an island between all worlds. It may be strange to believe...but the Network will yield that to be fact.