001. it's the way you name your ship | video

[onecertainly]

[ The video feed begins and a young man stares curiously into the camera. He has the distinct look of someone who's just climbed out of their deathbed and hastily tried to make themselves look presentable -- if there is a distinct look for such a thing -- and that would be because that's exactly what he's done.

Still, despite his obvious weariness, his expression is almost cheerful. ]

L-- [ No, not Lieutenant. Not anymore. ] Archie Kennedy. Warden Kennedy, I suppose. [ He raises his hand and it sort of lingers in the air because it strikes him that he has no idea if he should be saluting or not. Do wardens salute? Do convicted mutineers?

Likely not, so he lets it drop back down to his side. ]

This Admiral, he's -- [ There's a pause as he considers his next words carefully. He can't be too forward about his opinions of this mysterious figure, not so soon after the Renown. There's no telling who could be listening. Also, first impressions and all that.] -- well. He must be an interesting fellow to command such a vessel.

Does the entire crew dress as they please? If I must report to someone to receive uniform, I'd be obliged to learn at the very least his name. The one I'm wearing hardly seems appropriate. [ It's difficult to tell by the angle of the camera but he's wearing an old-fashioned naval uniform. It doesn't strike him as the correct attire for a warden. ] Thank you.

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[onecertainly]

My apologies, Scorpius.

[ Everything is informal on top of being disorganized, so different than what he's accustomed to. And now it gets even weirder. ]

...You're saying you're not of Earth?

[ And he's back to the "oh my god is this guy a demon" thing. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I am saying I have never once even seen your planet. It is so distant from my own section of space that one could not travel there through conventional means and would need use of a wormhole to arrive there before the end of one's lifecycle.

A wormhole is a rip in both time and space that contracts both through immeasurable means.


I realize, as a human who has met no other sentient species before, that this news may come off as...alarming.

[onecertainly]

[ What. ]

A ... wormhole?

[ And that's the best he's got. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

Named as such because it resembles a worm turned inside out. Yes.

[onecertainly]

But what is it? How does it work?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

That is a question I've been working to figure out for many, many cycles.

[onecertainly]

[ Archie decides to leave that one alone. Even if Scorpius had been able to explain it, he likely wouldn't have understood anyway. ]

What's your world like, then? What's it called?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

I have no homeworld. I was born on a ship; a Scarran Dreadnaught.

Much of my life has been in and around ships.

[onecertainly]

That doesn't make sense. Where do these ships sail then if not on the oceans of some distant world?

[ Yeah he's still not getting it. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

They sail in the distances between worlds. The empty space that exists around all planets.

[onecertainly]

[ He may or may not be picturing the ships he's used to flying through the sky.

There really isn't an easy way to mentally prepare to ask the dumbest question you feel you've ever asked in your life, but Archie does his best. ]

How did the ships get there in the first place?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Christ. Save him from these weird backwards humans with their backwards ideas of technology]

Enough burned fuel provides lift to the carriage and brings it up into the atmosphere, until it breaks free of the planet's gravitational pull.

[onecertainly]

That sounds -

[ Impossible, is what it sounds. Like the ravings of a madman. ]

- incredible. How does the rigging endure? Well enough?

[keeps_a_cool_head]

There is no rigging. Our translators are using the same word for two different concepts. Your ships look very, very different from my own.

[onecertainly]

Oh. Well, then. Perhaps you can draw me a picture sometime, Mr. Scorpius.

[ He's not really serious but he also wouldn't say no to a visual of whatever the hell these mystery not-ships are. ]

[keeps_a_cool_head]

[Draw a picture? So primitive]

Perhaps, once you are settled into the Barge properly, I can allow you access into my data files.

[onecertainly]

That would be most appreciated. I look forward to the chance, thank you.

[keeps_a_cool_head]

You're certainly welcome.

Enjoy your stay, Warden Kennedy.