revivalproject | [ video ]

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...aight.

[ The video comes to life with Jon giving the camera a weary look. Though aside from his usual appearance of disheveled restlessness, he actually looks... Healthy? Like he's been having a very good meal? None of that makes him look any less concerned, however. Or less stressed. He may have gone even more grey over his own birthday. ]

So- The storm is over. And... I can't help but notice we have lost- A few of us.

[ He presses his lips into a thin line for a moment before going on. ]

No actual victims to the crash or the storm, just... [ A small gesture with his hand. ] Vanished. Their names are no longer on the network.

[ He checked. He freaking went and picked up the Communication data point to check especially for certain people but he's not going to admit how much his hands have been shaking and how long it took him to pull himself back together after seeing those names still present.

Especially one name.

A deep breath. ]

Some of those that- Left. They had information on the Atroma. And I... I never got any of that on record. I believe it might do us well to get what information is still present recorded. I ask those of you who know anything about them to find me at the former library. Yes, former. I don't think it's quite accurate anymore to refer to it that way. It's just...

[ And he shakes his head, waving the matter off dismissively before muttering. ]

...hope everyone's alright.

[ A pause, and another deep breath and he turns the video off with a soft click. ]

[ PRIVATE to Tony ]

[ -but he's really just setting the feed to a locked frequency before losing his nerves on a public broadcast. ]

Talk to me, please. I couldn't find you in the storm, I-- I... I was worried... Still am. Please tell me you're okay!

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You do?

...all right. I'll try to find you.

[He just needs to re-center himself. Easier said than done.]

I am headed your way. W-well... Your general direction.

[ A pause. ]

...you know what we could use...? Some GPS...

[Cal manages a faint smile.]

At least one of us is. It's a definite start.

Come on, BeeDee. -yeah, I think so.

...a...GPS?

Oh, it's... It's a satellite-based radionavigation system. It tells you your exact location on the map on your phone... Quite reliable these days.

On Earth, of course.

[ Yes, he's just talking while walking. ]

Oh, I see. Like a tracking system. ...I was talking about something like that with the one who looks like the Soldier, ah...Bucky? The one we thought disappeared?

[He feels a lot better having someone to talk to, a voice that isn't from where he should have been. BD-1 exempted, of course. The little droid had done much to keep him grounded.]

I wonder if we can use our communication devices for something like that.

I wonder... Might be useful if we- You know. Try to explore more. Around the city... There might be other cities.

[ Yes, the talking is nice. Something normal after weeks of being plagued by those horrors. ]

Yeah...

There's...some kind of station or something, right? Not sure how much of the tracks survived, but there must be some traces.

I have been wondering about those, where they might lead... I- I had been hoping that with the ships functional, we could have... But-

[ But now they were all crashed and need repairs. ]

[Cal doesn't respond right away, only the sound of his footsteps faintly transmitting. Heavy, tired steps, uneven ground. He stumbles, giving a ragged sigh when he stops.]

...what would the point be....

[Not only the station, or the ships, not that he hasn't been trying to do something about the latter, but if the storm had anything to do with it, his and Tony's efforts were in vain. What could they possibly do then? He disliked this hopeless feeling, but it's reared its ugly head again all the easier because of the terrible reminders brought on by the storm.]

[ That may be a good argument, but- ]

...I suppose I just need to know.

[ No, he has no better reason to offer, sorry. ]

[It's not exactly a very reassuring response. Cal falls silent again, but BD-1's soft beeps can be heard in the background.]

[ No, it's not. But no one ever called Jon's curiosity healthy, either. ]

...right. So.... You got any sight of the city yet...?

...no.

[He hasn't been trying, but there's nothing but trees around. Looking up at one of them, he takes in a deep breath before stepping closer to attempt a climb. Can't let Jon do all the work, hard as it is to feel motivated to do anything. ]

[ There is some silence form Jon's end for a few pensive moments as he keeps walking. ]

Do you want to talk about... What happened in the storm? What you saw...?

[ It's an offer. ]

[There's the rustling of leaves and now and then a soft snap of a disturbed branch. Cal doesn't reply for a while, but eventually, he breaks his silence.]

...I saw my master. You remember him, right? ...from when we were in those tunnels, dreaming...

[He continues to climb.]

...his words weren't any kinder than the last time.

[ Jon will wait patiently on whether or not Cal decides to answer his question. And when an answer comes, the Archivist's initial reaction is an unseen frown. ]

I remember, yes...

You're more worried about failing him than encountering those soldiers. The storm has used your dedication against you... I'm sorry that happened.

[There's a faint jingle of the metal trappings on his poncho at the unseen shake of his head.]

...I've...I've already failed him.

[He'd failed when his master had died in front of him, trying to save them both, and all the what-if's and could-have's continue to pop up in his head, how he could have done things differently if he'd been better.]

What makes you say that?

[ Yes, he's asking for clarification. ]

[The rustling finally stops as he takes a breath, finally reaching the top of the tree.]

...I keep thinking...if only I'd done this or that, if only I didn't lose my lightsaber...

I could have helped more. I could have kept him from dying.

[ That's fine, Jon keeps walking. ]

Instead, you survived. Do you consider that failing your master?

[Cal looks around, BD-1 hooting to let him know where abouts the direction of the ship is, and he can make out the mountains as he turns his head. Which means the city should be somewhere between.]

...I...no.

[He rests against the tree limb for a moment.]

But for the longest time, all I've been doing is hiding. I would still be hiding what I am if not...if not for a friend, sacrificing himself. I thought I'd finally be making myself useful. I was given a purpose, a mission. But...maybe I'm not the right person for it.

I wasn't the right person to stop the Circus from ending my world either. But someone had to go and blow up their morbid little dance.

Sometimes the only choice we get is whether we want to do the right thing or-

[ He stops short there for a moment, leaving Cal with only the faint noises of rustling clothes. ]

I think I heard something.

[He knows sometimes you're set on a path you didn't intend or know you would be taking. It could have been any Jedi-there had to be more who've survived, but Cere and Greez had found him.

Cal tenses as Jon breaks off, frowning a little. ]

What is it? Something close?

[He starts to make his way back down.]

[ A few footsteps can be heard, but it's not the sound of moving forward but rather of moving in place to look around. ]

I- I'm not sure, it's-- GOOD LOR-GAH!

[ There's a thud and Jon's voice is more distant all of the sudden. It's clear that he has dropped his phone. ]

Christ, what are- Leave me alone! Hey!

-Jon??

[Yeah, that's not alarming at all. Cal drops down the rest of the way and hits the ground running, BD-1 hunkering down at his back.]

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