013 Dark Towers Destroyed - video from Shadow City;

[oceantrauma]

[This was meant to be filtered, but Ken's too upset to filter properly. Sorry, it's public now, kid. It's a static filled message. But when the static clears, a distraught Ken, trying to catch his breath, is clutching his head and fretting, and behind him...it might look like the City, but it's lonely, empty, and very foggy.][Some of that cuts out and he doesn't even notice.] go?

You were here. Then I used the device. [STATIC.] -outside. It looks like the City but [Oh, what's that? Can't hear you!] get back?

[He's trembling as the feed is cut off.]

Comments

[negativegate]

[After Ken suddenly disappeared, Rita had felt a surge of triumph and excitement. It worked--Ken must have been able to access the City's network with his D3 and become data, to enter the network itself... Amazing!

She stood by, her own device ready so they could try and get into contact.

And now that there's actually this message, her giddy energy fades, turns serious.]

Ken!

[It'll probably be full of static for him, too, but she presses on.]

Calm down. You disappeared--it worked!

[oceantrauma]

No. [He shakes his head, then static, then the Shadowed City is being displayed on screen.] What is this [place is the assumed word, yes, but there's just static]?

[negativegate]

[At least she gets the gist of what he's asking.]

Isn't that the City's network? Its digital world?

[oceantrauma]

[Static] don't think so. Not like [and lalala, static.].

[negativegate]

Well, it doesn't look like the normal City, so you couldn't have been transported to another area.

It's possible the digital world of the City is going to be way different than the one you're used to seeing, right?

[oceantrauma]

[He shakes his head at her, looking stressed out. He keeps thinking he hears waves, or something, in that silence.]

This feels like something else. I tried to [static. Frown from Ken when it stops.] tried to go back. But it didn't work.

[negativegate]

[She doesn't know about what he's feeling, but his saying that he can't get back does get her more concerned now.]

It didn't work? Have you ever had that problem before?

[oceantrauma]

[Another shake of his head.] But [static} to other places.

[negativegate]

Huh?

[She didn't quit catch that, except for getting that he hasn't been stuck like this.]

I'll see if it's a problem on my end. Maybe something broke...

Video;

[charring]

Ken? What happened? [Theres a calm to her, despite the feeling of dread and panic and worry.]

Video;

[oceantrauma]

[He's very much not calm.]

I don't know. [Static. Shadow City thinks you should only get to talk to your little brother for so long, Charlie.] ...tried the device again. It wouldn't work.

Looking for another computer. [Breathing speeds up a little as he looks quickly to the side. Oh, more static.]

[oceantrauma]

[He doesn't think it's that. He shakes his head.] It wouldn't work before. [Until they messed with up. ...is he trapped here? HERE? In this foggy place where anything can be around him. His expression is clearly upset, and then static.]

Video;

[charring]

[She's noticed.] Ken. Calm down.

[Fuck you, Shadow City. Do you know who you're messing with, here? She'll talk to her brother if she damn well wants to.] I missed part of that. You'll need to slow down and try a---Ken, what's wrong? What is it?

[negativegate]

Hey! Ken!

[Oh, the static is driving her nuts...]

Look, I'm going to check everything out, anyway.

audio;

[othersdie]

Where are you? What happened?

Video;

[oceantrauma]

I need to get back. [STATIC, because Shadow City will do what it wants.]

audio;

[oceantrauma]

I don't know where [Static.] on the computer. Then I was here.

[oceantrauma]

[He's not a big fan of it, either.]

I'll try another [and more static.]

Re: Video;

[charring]

Yes. Just stay calm, though. Okay? Promise me you'll do that, at least. Is someone helping you get back?

Video;

[oceantrauma]

[He's in a building, in front of computers, at least that can be seen when the static clears. He's still a bit shaky, though.]

Yeah. Rita-san. But...I don't know what [Static. Lots of static. Shadow City says take that, Charlie.]

audio;

[othersdie]

Something happened on the computer?

audio;

[oceantrauma]

Used one with my device to [Nope, you don't get to hear that, either.] and now I'm here.

[negativegate]

[It's definitely problematic.]

Another what? The equipment here seems to be working all right.

audio;

[othersdie]

To what? There's interference.

[Justin has been here long enough to remember this happening before. No one ever figured out the technicalities--at least not to his knowledge.]

I think you're in a pocket dimension.

audio;

[oceantrauma]

[He had figured on something like that, just not in those words. Pocket dimension. He nods to that, but feels it doesn't answer the question of what's OUT THERE in the fog.]

To travel. I'll [static.] later.

[oceantrauma]

Computer. [Figuring the static is bad he keeps that a short answer, then gives the world around him another long look. STATIC, but not interfering with anything important, this time.]

[negativegate]

[The short answer helps. Rita sighs, though, wishing she had a better idea of what Ken's digital world was like.

...Oh, well. Best to find out how he can get back first.]

Keep searching. Try a library or company.

audio;

[othersdie]

Be careful.

[Further conversation clearly isn't going to be useful, especially with the poor connection.

And much to Justin's dismay, he is concerned.]

audio;

[oceantrauma]

Thanks!

[Static - but don't worry, Justin. When Ken gets back he'll message you to say he's alright.]

[oceantrauma]

[He nods. Looks around him, eyes a little wide, but he seems calmer now. It's just fog. STATIC.]