Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

cafeteria

[ratherdoweddings]

[Yurika steps in just as he says that and covers her face with her hands. ...he'll probably notice the marking that shows up on one of them, but that's neither here nor there.]

Oh! I won't look if you don't want. Besides, I'm only interested in Akito! [She pauses and spreads her fingers to look through the cracks.] But what are you doing here, anyway? This doesn't look like my ship at all.

[kingshaming]

[He notes the mark, but her comment is much more important right now. He had already felt exposed, but her reaction makes him feel even MORE so, and without really thinking he darts his hands down to cover himself]

Excuse yo- wait, this is your ship?

[Sorry Yurika, you have a large man coming towards you like he's about to start shit]

[ratherdoweddings]

It should be, but it isn't. Everything's all wrong. But I have no idea where else this could be! [She takes her hands down from her face and pouts. You don't just get kidnapped into space, do you?

[kingshaming]

... it's not something I make a habit of, no.

[SPACE, wtf? He hasn't looked out the window yet cuz that might fry his brain]

[ratherdoweddings]

And we just left space, too! I can't believe any of this. [sigh] I can't say I don't have any enemies, but anyone who would do this... If there's supposed to be a meeting, it had better explain some things.

[kingshaming]

['Left space' is something so comprehensible to Xander's poor medieval brain that he just goes right over it without it sinking in.

Cuz this is a crazy lady, clearly. It's very sad]

I will admit there are plenty of people with reason to abduct me as well, but doing so without even a fight? Unlikely.

[ratherdoweddings]

I know! My crew wouldn't let it happen, either. I know Akito must be worried sick!

[kingshaming]

[He remembers the name from before]

Akito? Your husband then? A lover?

[Someone that would protect her that she was 'only interested in'? Makes sense- and if she was taken from her home, surrounded by loved ones, then all the more reason to fear their kidnappers]

[ratherdoweddings]

Oh, nothing like that yet! But even when we were little, he's always been there to help me! That's why, even if he complains about it, I know he loves me no matter what ♡

[kingshaming]

[...that actually makes him smile, even though it's a small one. And while his face is still kinda scary, the smile lightens it up by a lot]

I see. Then I'm sure he's searching frantically for you.

[ratherdoweddings]

He'd better! I don't know what they're going to do back there without me... Oh, I almost forgot! My name is Misumaru Yurika. I'm the captain of the Nadesico, but this thing on my arm called me a "Champion Peacekeeper." Do you know anything about that?

[kingshaming]

It is a pleasure to meet you, Misumaru Yurika. [What a mouthful!]

I am Xander, Crown Prince of Nohr- and I apologize, but I don't. My own claimed I have a title as well.

[ratherdoweddings]

Oh, you can just call me Yurika! As long as we're here, we should all get along! Come to think of it, what kind of place is Nohr? I don't remember hearing about it.

[kingshaming]

Yurika. Understood.

And you haven't? I'm surprised, you must be from very far then.

[He tilts his head in thought]

It is one of the largest countries on the continent. But I have read of nations across the sea that are complete separated from us, so I suppose it's not impossible.

[ratherdoweddings]

That doesn't make sense. If it's that large, we should have learned about it... Lightning-san was talking about "worlds" like it means something different from "planets," but I don't get that, either!

[kingshaming]

Planet...?

[Look his people probably haven't even circled the globe yet]

Ah! You mean Deeprealms? That would explain some things.

[ratherdoweddings]

Deep realms? What are those?

[kingshaming]

Other realms. 'Worlds'. Places separate from your own that follow different rules- you can only travel to them with a portal or the correct spell.

[ratherdoweddings]

And that's the thing she was talking about, too? Wow... I guess a lot of strange things have been going on lately, so this must be something like that.

[kingshaming]

I wouldn't know until I compared notes with her, but I wouldn't be shocked if it was.

[ratherdoweddings]

And you've been to another dimension like that?

[kingshaming]

Only once, years ago with my father. But I know it is much more common for some.

[ratherdoweddings]

This doesn't sound like anything I know from back home, but maybe Fressange-san would know. When we were on Mars, she was the one who figured out how the Jovians weren't using Chulips as aircraft carriers, but as teleporting machines.

[kingshaming]

[It's all Greek to him, but he can tell that Deeprealms are this to her- so best to just accept it]

Hopefully we'll have the chance to ask- being left in the dark like this is just asking for trouble.

[ratherdoweddings]

I know! Well, they did call us here for a meeting, so...