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

[voltrounds]

[OH HER GOSH IT'S A PENGUIN

A penguin that has one of those devices on it for some reason but. She'll question that later. PENGUINS. THEY STILL EXIST.]

Hi there!

[It should be noted that she isn't actually expecting a response.]

[ambecomedeath]

Oh, hello! [Toby waves, because that's polite.] Did the Varelsi destroy your planet too?

[Let's play: how many times will Toby say this before he realizes everyone is from different timelines?]

[voltrounds]

You can talk?!

[That is definitely an answer.]

[ambecomedeath]

[Is this going to be a Thing. Like, Toby knows humans are stupid uneducated about Aviants, but it's gonna get really old, really fast.]

Uh, yeah. Why wouldn't I be able to talk?

[voltrounds]

...I guess there isn't a reason. But I've never met any lifeforms that can talk before, other than humans.

[she's got a big storm coming]

[ambecomedeath]

Ohhh. Are you one of those humans that never leave their home planet? [He's never left his home planet either before now, but he deals a lot with parts traders and the like so. He's got a pretty good grasp on different kinds of lifeforms.] There's tons of us, but I'm a Finisci Avian!

[voltrounds]

I don't think most humans leave the planet anymore.

[Although another conversation has called that into question.]

It's nice to meet you. I'm Frederica Irving.

[ambecomedeath]

Uh, well. [Maybe she doesn't know about ALL THE STARS DYING? Maybe he shouldn't bring that up right now.] That's fair, I guess.

I'm Toby! It's nice to meet you, Frederica!

[voltrounds]

[MAKING A FRIEND! Who is definitely not concealing any disturbing information from her.]

So, you're from another planet?

[ambecomedeath]

I'm from Menneck-B! [Toby is really proud for a moment before he realizes she probably doesn't know where that is.] It's where all Aviants are from! Uh, I think you humans call us "birds."

[voltrounds]

[She's... just assuming he means birds who aren't from Earth.]

I can call you an Aviant if you'd prefer that.

[ambecomedeath]

[HE LIKES THIS!! SOMEONE RESPECTING HIM!!]

That would be awesome. [He only minds being called a bird when it's derogatory, but still.] Are you a specific kind of human too or something or is just "human" fine?

[Honestly he only has the vaguest idea how humans work. Maybe they come in different types too.]

[voltrounds]

I think I'm just a human. My job class is Gunner, but that's not really important.

[At least not when she DOESN'T HAVE A GUN]

[ambecomedeath]

Oh man, if there wasn't that stupid rule about modifying stuff I could totally make you a gun!

[He wants to make Ricky a weapon. He really wants to make everybody weapons.]

[voltrounds]

[Ricky would love to be armed again! This is the first time in ages that she hasn't had her gun on her. But...]

That... might not be a good idea anyway, considering.

[ambecomedeath]

I guess not . . . but what if you need to defend yourself?

[Obviously Fredrica isn't going to kill anyone, but there's lots of unsavory types here!! He's just looking out for his new friend!!!]

[voltrounds]

[...that's true. She is like the third smallest person here. (And talking to the first smallest.)]

On the other hand, what if the reason I need to defend myself is because someone got my weapon?

[ambecomedeath]

You make a good point! What if I just design you a cool gun and don't build it?

[He doubts anyone here could successfully build any of his designs being as they would be Champion Weapons Engineer and not him, if that was the case.]

I think this notif hid under another one

[voltrounds]

[Plus, they have limited resources anyway.]

Oh! I'm sure that would be interesting to see.