♤ Network - [Video]

[deal_me_in]

[It's around dusk, the faint glow of a lantern casting a wavering light about that reveals the Exo so he's more than just glowing eyes. He seems to give a dry look at the communicator before turning his head and then the feed itself outward towards the city and its few lit up buildings. ]

So. That direction would be where the tower is. Just trust me on this since there's no blinking light.

But if we look out this way-

[The feed shifts again, passing over sparse furnishings and old, rusted gears of the clock tower before looking out another gaping hole where there's fewer buildings grouped and lit, but the most noticeable thing is a light winking on and off in the darkened distance.]

I think someone's funnin' with us.

Comments

[beholding_archivist]

[ Well, this takes a moment because Jon first has to stare, then mutter his curses where they aren’t public. ]

....and I believe we can well guess who.

[ A pause, then.... Ah, screw it. ]

Fuck.

Audio

[doubled_speed]

You want funning?

[Forgive Tommy if his audio sounds a bit windy. He's running.]

I've been running toward this thing for thirty minutes. It's THE SAME DISTANCE AWAY!

[deal_me_in]

My sentiments exactly. Makes me regret not blowing up the other one while it mattered.

[deal_me_in]

...so at your top speeds and depending on how much land mass this place has, wouldn't that just mean you've run around the planet several dozen times over?

[doubled_speed]

Nah, haven't been running top speed. Like, I'd probably pass out. Don't get nearly enough calories here to try that.

[Sorry, Cayde. He stops and pants. Nope, not getting closer.]

I should start back I think.

[deal_me_in]

Doubt you're gonna get anywhere else by continuing, kid. Anything interesting out there at least? Other abandoned establishments?

[beholding_archivist]

Right.

.... right.



So.
What now. What do we- Can we get there?

[deal_me_in]

Sundance can't get an estimate on a distance. And from what I'm getting from Speedy, it doesn't look like it wants to be got. Er. Gotten to? -whatever, point is, if he can't reach it after running for half an hour, I doubt we're going to have better luck, especially when whatever existing forces-that-be don't play fair.

[beholding_archivist]

...damn.

[ This is not good. ]

You think... This is because of... us? Because of what we did?

[ Because of them messing with the first light? ]

[doubled_speed]

Nothing that I've noticed. It's pretty boring. A lot of the areas outside of the city are boring.

Coffee when I get back?

[deal_me_in]

Jon, if it wasn't us, it'd eventually have been someone else by whatever means and even then who knows how it'd pan out?

[Actually he's not sure. The tower and the light had been sitting there for a while so far as he could tell and none of the current residents had seemed remotely curious about it. But eventually someone as curious as they were would've come along or taken notice of the thing. That much he's convinced.]

Anyway, you don't place a blinking light out in the middle of nowhere and not have questions around here. They were probably waiting for a response. And since they got one, what happened was like a slap on the wrist to say 'that's what you get' - and this here new light's both a taunt and a question of whether or not we've learned our lesson the first time around.

[deal_me_in]

What a crappy planet!

-be a fresh pot waiting.

[beholding_archivist]

You’re right, but-

If that thing is responsible for those storms and the storms are what destroys this planet and makes it uninhabitable to the Agrii, then we have to get rid of it somehow!

[deal_me_in]

If it is. The defense system sure pulled some similar stunts to it- I'm not denying that. But the thing is, it's not going to be as simple as strolling over there and packing it with a few grenades, as much as I'd love to.

We try getting in touch with the Agrii yet? We should ask how long that tower's been there. And since nothing's shutting us out, maybe we can try digging into that stuff to see how it worked.

-wait why am I trying to talk sense into you? Destroying things should be my first option on the table!

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, I hate it. A lot. But when spring comes, I'm gonna take a break from the bullshit and go to the island and chillax. Maybe make a boat for people.

[Tommy chuckles at the promise as the air rushes again.]

I'll be half an hour.

[deal_me_in]

I think everyone needs a break. A boat would be useful. I'm not much for swimming, obviously.

All right kid. See you then.

[doubled_speed]

[And sure enough, about half an hour later, there was Tommy walking in, looking very tired.]

Fuck. There is not enough calories for me to do that a lot.

[deal_me_in]

[Cayde doesn't say a thing as he picks up the pot and pours a mug, setting it down on the counter.]

Nice timing.

Need a grocery run done or something? A bowl of food goo?

[doubled_speed]

[Timing? He told Cayde exactly when he expected to return. And his legs were shaking a little.]

I've got a roast on back in the diner. Moving nice and slow. I'll have some food later. But yeah, I'll probably have to goo.

[Temba can barely support his dietary needs.]

[deal_me_in]

Mm, sounds tasty. Definitely beats food goo. Now sit down before I have to scrape you off the floor.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, sitting.

[Tommy flops down and takes the coffee.]

Any sugar? I can live without, but figured I'd ask.

[deal_me_in]

That'd be a negative. I'm beginning to think I imagined having sugar at all. Maybe I'll have to consult the replicator.

[doubled_speed]

Damn.

[Oh well, Tommy lets the coffee sit in front of him. It needs to cool if he's going to throw it back.]

[deal_me_in]

I admit, I am not all that well-stocked in condiments and additives. I do have a lot of dishware though. ...probably more than I know what to do with.

[beholding_archivist]

[ Jon listens thoughtfully, but then chuckles lightly. ]

Maybe you have rubbed off on me, Cayde. Or, given Gertrude's preferred methods of dealing with issues, maybe it's just a tendency an Archivist is bound to develop naturally. You would have liked her. I keep hearing she was a lot more competent than me.

But jokes aside, Maybe we... Should. Try ask the Agrii about it.