Not so Hostile After All

[myimmunesystem]

[Video]

--Oh! Oh is THAT how it works! It has an actual "on" button... That's kind of cute.

[The voice is light, female, accented in a way that can only be described as "Ukraine by way of Mars," and sounds as though it's run through some kind of filter... Though the last part makes perfect sense when one looks at the face--or rather, mask--accompanying it. Said mask peers into the camera curiously, two eyes JUST barely visible though the refractive glass.]

Those... scientists at the Lab told me that I should call the others and introduce myself. My name is Tali... aaand I don't know much more than that.

If you're wondering about the suit, it seems I can't take it off. The environment here is "hostile" for me... though I don't remember all the details of what they told me, exactly. That was a lot of information to take in when you're running a high fever. It's not as though it's uncomfortable I guess; in fact it feels like I've always worn it.

[She lets out a small breath, respirator lighting up.] I'm rambling. They've given me room 408 of Ermis Suites... wherever that is. I'm sure I'll be getting to know a few of you very soon.

[Action]

[The top floor of Ermis Suites has rooms mostly uninhabited... with one of the empty ones now being paced about on the inside by the same blue-swathed girl as before. The strange articulation of her legs and two fingers to each tailored suit glove make it obvious that she isn't human, though other characteristics affirm that whatever she is, she's definitely female. The door is open, and she looks a little... overwhelmed.]

All this space, for just one person...?

Comments

[action]

[halfgod_allego]

Oh Hello! New arrival?

[Hector waves, calling out as he stopped by the door to his room]

[myimmunesystem]

[She turns quickly, folding her hands awkwardly.] Erm, yes, that most recent transmission was mine. It's kind of hard to confuse me with anyone else around here, after all.

[Now she actually moves out into the hallway to meet him.]

I'd already mentioned it before to the whole town, but... my name is Tali. What's yours?

[very_model_of]

Yes, very primitive. Surprisingly workable, though.

[video]

[theheirofbreath]

Hey Tali! I'm John!

Don't worry, everyone's confused when they first show up.

Re: [video]

[myimmunesystem]

It's a little overwhelming, isn't it? Coming around in the labs, poked and prodded by scientists, read from a script about a nice new life here and then unceremoniously shoved out the door!

...by the way, where ARE "Ermis Suites?" the communicator's map doesn't have it listed yet...

[myimmunesystem]

[Wow. Someone else who isn't human!]

You mean the communicator? Well, yes! It's funny, I can't even remember my last name, but I can still tell...

Tier-built operating systems with applications just floating on top are nice and modular, but unstable. This hard plastic? Clunky, easy to lose and easy to break. Lithium-ion batteries? Haven't they heard of spin-potential charge yet? And an actual power converter built into it? All that does is take up space and dump heat! If they could just make up their mind on the method and frequencies for power transmission, it would save them trillions of power units a day.

[She'd been walking during the whole tirade, and now she stops, suddenly realizing something.] ...But ah, maybe I should focus less on changing the world right now, and more on not getting lost in it.

[very_model_of]

Yes, have migrated most functions to personal device. Don't like dealing with hardware. Distracting from real problems.

Mordin. Local doctor. Have no treatment for retrograde amnesia, unfortunately.

[myimmunesystem]

That's a shame, but I could have guessed anyway. If there were a treatment then there wouldn't be hundreds of people still with anmesia. The only thing they mentioned to me were these things, these... anemoi? How do they work? Do you know?

[very_model_of]

Anemoi still a mystery. Not a drug treatment, not actually encoded with individual memories.

Everything here frustratingly imprecise.

[myimmunesystem]

Are you saying that they don't even know? Ngh, Keelah...

[She stops in mid-maskpalm, and shakes her head. The word came so easily that she must've used it a lot, but she has no idea what it meant. A mystery for another time.]

So... you're a doctor. Do you specialize in humans? There... seem to be a lot of them around here.

[The last sentence carries... excitement? Worry? It's hard to tell which without the context of a facial expression.]

Re: [video]

[theheirofbreath]

Seriously? That still isn't in there? Lame!

Where are you? Still by the labs?

[myimmunesystem]

I think they were more interested in studying ME than making sure I was pointed in the right direction...

[The camera shows an upshot as she cranes her neck to look around.]

I haven't gone far but I went shoreward. "Prince Street" is what the sign reads.

[theheirofbreath]

That's not too far. Hang on, I'll come get you.

[myimmunesystem]

Really? You don't have to do that, I... thank you.

[Action]

[And she is there when he goes to meet her, easy to spot swathed in blue fabric as she is. She seems to be eyeing the storefronts, gazing at the shoes, clothing, jewelry and home wares with half-comprehending curiosity. On the other hand, some of the locals seem to be eyeing her with just plain bafflement.]

[Action]

[theheirofbreath]

[She is pretty easy to spot, so he waves as he gets closer.]

Hi! Tali, right? Hope you weren't waiting long.

[halfgod_allego]

Name's Hector. I saw your message earlier, but couldn't reply right at the moment.

[he puts a hand out to shake]

Anyways, it's very nice to meet you. Still relatively new here myself, but I could answer questions if you got 'em.

[myimmunesystem]

Huh? Oh right-- [She seems to realize what the outstretched hand is for after a beat, and takes it to shake lightly.]

How long have you been here, Hector? [Interesting pronunciation of his name, there.]

[very_model_of]

Know how to treat humans, yes. Also turians. Probably other species.

[Video]

[healeveryone]

Hi, Tali! Are you okay, if you've got a fever? That doesn't sound too good.

[Action forever]

[myimmunesystem]

[She notices and meets him partway. Not exactly HALFWAY, because she's already realized those ground transports commonly referred to as "cars" don't tend to stop readily.]

Not that long. You're John, right?

[halfgod_allego]

About two... three months maybe?

[he is gentle with his handshake and lets go]

But it's been a crazy time.

Re: [Action forever]

[theheirofbreath]

Right!

The suites are actually not too far from here. Follow me.

[myimmunesystem]

[Turian? That jangles a few synaptic analogues, but not enough in synchronicity to be actual recognition.]

What species are you?

[myimmunesystem]

It's okay. It took a few days to recover, but I spent that in the Labs.

[And fortunately far away from the Bosh'tet that tried to get her out of her suit. "Lab protocol species identification" indeed.]

I'm perfectly fine now! It will take a while to settle in, but it shouldn't be too hard.

[myimmunesystem]

Sure.

[And she does, leaving a trail of staring natives behind her. They see a lot of things on the streets but Sirocco, but there's something about a full-body isolation suit specifically that makes people nervous.]