outer_divide | [Video]

[Michiru only hesitates a moment before coaxing a finger over what she hopes will be the switch that turns this on to broadcast -- though broadcast to whom, she's not entirely sure. Still, they're in the dark. And they need answers, even if she's not sure how well she'll be able to trust any of the answers that come.

But there wasn't much choice.]

I'm not sure who is out there and hearing this, but we're looking for... answers. Any answers. Where is this place. Why are we here?

[All business, a plainly guarded expression on her features, blue eyes fixed steadily on the video screen.]

And how did we even get here? Who kidnapped us and who do we need to defeat to get home?

[The deeper voice comes from somewhere off screen, and a dusty blonde head looks briefly over Michiru's shoulder to frown at the screen, too. Then it's gone again, as Haruka pulls back and gets back to finishing getting her things together.]

If we were brought here, there's a way to get back where we came from. There has to be.

[Michiru's gaze flickers back only briefly towards her partner. Who do they need to defeat. It's crossed her mind too; if this is another battle they need to face to fulfill their duty, she's willing to face it.]

We'd appreciate any answers anyone has. That's all. Thank you.

You're too nice, Michiru, you should have--

[And that's all of Haruka's growled complaint that the feed gets before it shuts off.]

((OOC: All dialogue is in Japanese! Replies may come from either Michiru or Haruka or both.))

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[The video feed shows a dark-haired man with what appears to be a welding mask pushed up on top of his head, eyebrows lifted high in a combination of surprise and amusement.]

No kidnappers here.

[His Japanese carries a definite accent, and is a little stilted - he can speak it well enough to communicate, but he's by no means fluent.]

Do you speak English?

[Oh hey, this one's showing his face. Haruka replies to this one, too.]

Yes.

[About as well as he speaks Japanese, from the sound of it. She switches to that language.]

No kidnapper? We seem awfully kidnapped, to me.

[She also hates not having a masculine pronoun to use in English. Stupid English.]

[Well, at least they won't have to resort to charades.]

And crashed. Don't tell me you didn't notice the crashed part. It kind of puts a spike in whatever we were kidnapped for.

[Beat.]

Assuming the plan wasn't to strand us on a post-war planet filled with velociraptors in the first place, which, you know. Would have been a pretty stupid plan.

We are not outside yet.

[Though crashed would explain the general lack of lighting in here. She hasn't any idea what a velociraptor is, though, so he just gets a frown. Which isn't much different from how else she was looking at him before, so not much to notice there.]

There is war here, too?

Yeah. Turns out the whole 'enlightened utopia' line of science fiction wasn't on the mark after all. Who'd have guessed?

[A beat, as Haruka processes that, realizes she hasn't actually read much utopian fiction, and just moves on.]

Right. So are we supposed to do something about that? Is that why we are here?

[Haruka isn't one to believe in coincidences, after all.]

I'm kind of doubting that was part of the plan. But, you know, since the plan's probably gone out the window, why not.

[It doesn't sound like it'll get them home again, though, regardless.]

So the plan now is simply to live here and do what we can for the people.

[It is less a question than a resigned statement. Haruka rather wants to kick something, indeed.]

That would imply there's no way back. Which is actually not a possibility I'm planning on entertaining. But for now, yeah.

[And possibly afterwards as well, though that's not something he's inclined to discuss with a stranger.]

For now, then.

[Hope for getting home is one thing-- since apparently they aren't dead, after all-- but by the time that happens, Haruka isn't sure there will be much of a home left. Not if it's left entirely to those Starlights. Damn that Galaxia, for already not having a Star Seed....

She sighs, resigned and frustrated.]

So what are we to do, to help?

That depends on where your skills lie. I'd suggest asking around - in person. The network's nowhere near secure.

[Her "skills". Such as beating things up, blasting things, and otherwise being destructive? Right. Haruka huffed out a little sigh.]

All right, then. I suppose we will have to do that. Arigato.

[Oops, Japanese. She tries again.]

Thank you. What is your name?

[He snorts in amusement at the translation.]

Yeah, I got that one.

And this planet is hell on the ego. My name's Tony Stark.

[Sorry Tony, you won't get away with only having to deal with one of them. She doesn't bother answering the English question in so many words, since she just goes into speaking it.]

Then you don't know who is responsible for our being here?

No clue. They didn't stick around to make introductions. Which does leave the floor open for some hilarious speculation.

How impolite. [She pauses though, eyebrows raising.] What sort of hilarious speculation? [Do share.]

I think my favourite's the theory that someone was amassing a zoo populated by human beings from as many alternate realities as possible. Which, you know, falls apart when you remember not everyone's human, but hey.

Seriously, though - we're working on it. If you or your friend's good with languages in general, take a look at some of the script on the walls. You recognize anything new, that might narrow it down a little.

A zoo. [She doesn't like the idea at all. Nope.] There are non-humans here? What sorts of beings are they?

We'll have a look. Though I'm no linguist unfortunately. But maybe there'll be something.

Your standard sci-fi aliens. The non-murderous variety, actually. For once.

Well, thank goodness for small favors I suppose.

I'm not much of a sci-fi fan.

Then a free word of advice: don't go poking anything that looks like it might be gestating.

...that movie I think I have seen. And I think it's advice worth following.