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

[stillstands]

Just because they want us to doesn't mean we should.

[She's looking at you a little incredulously now, Chloe. What the heck.]

You don't seem the type to do what you're told anyway. [Why start now?]

[hellahighwater]

[ What the- she rolls her eyes. ]

That's not what I fucking meant. [ ...oops, well, drops an f-bomb in front of who she assumes is a kid. ] All my astute observation's saying is, there's no fucking way I'm giving the assholes who abducted us any credit for anything. That includes a well-stocked kitchen of astronaut food.

[stillstands]

[Alright shouty.]

And I'm not about to overlook something that's going to remove the entirely feasible worry of starving to death regardless of what our kidnappers want from us, so I guess we're at a bit of an impasse aren't we?

[Go eat your freeze dried choc-chip and cut the swearing will you?]

[hellahighwater]

[ It's not quite shouty as it is casually irritated, this is just how she talks. Now, however, her jaw sets into a line and kid or not- ]

Excuse me for not wanting to think about being trapped here long enough that starvation is even an issue. It's the damn kidnappers I'm pissed at, kid.

[stillstands]

Be angry at them all you like, it's not going to change anything until we know who they are and why we're even here.

[Better to assess the situation as it is and make sure they're not in immediate danger. She leans down to heft another box up on the counter and stares a little drily over the top of it.

Which is a feat, this is a big box and she is a small Miki.]

And if they don't show themselves for a while, or reveal anything useful, at least we know we won't be hungry while we do our own legwork.

[hellahighwater]

Our-

[ Maybe it's because this conversation's had one thing after another implying they'll be here for a long time. Maybe it's because Chloe keeps thinking about the storm. Maybe...it's because she keeps thinking about Rachel, and Max.

She swallows down the immediate anger because she doesn't want to blow up at a kid. Her words come off cold and dismissive, then. Later, thinking back, she'll probably be impressed with Miki's gumption for standing her ground, and how such a tiny girl can lift such big things.

Right now, though. Her fucking title jabs a pressure into her brain that's screaming at her to get moving. ]

Fine, then, you start preparing for the long-term and I'll work on the short-term, the actual getting the hell out part.

[stillstands]

You do that.

[She's prepared for the short term for so long. Get through one day, get through another, and another, and another and it doesn't end it just loops on repeat until you can't take it anymore but there's no one to go to, and no one to turn to, only you and you can't remember what it's like to turn to someone and say help me I can't do this.

And then. Someone reminded her about living. That even in a situation where you could be dead tomorrow, the sunset that evening might be the most beautiful you've ever seen. You might find something delicious to eat, or get told something that makes you laugh so deeply you feel it from your fingers to your toes.

Maybe they'll be dead by the end of the week. But planning for the long term is a luxury she'd never have back home. That was taken from her. So she's going to indulge herself.]

If you find something, let me know. And I'll tell you which of these looks the most appetising if you don't.

[hellahighwater]

[ What a seriously weird kid. Chloe can't think about anything but getting back to Max. Helping Max. Saving Rachel. Not losing another person she cares about to that hellhole of a town.

The idea that anyone could be preparing for the long haul is unthinkable to her. So, to keep some semblance of peace, she won't engage with it. She ends up just grunting and turning on heel.

They won't need to rely on the food here. They won't need to do anything like that.

They can't.

'Cause if they do, she really will lose everything. ]