Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

[Each Champion is awoken by an alarm ringing from a machine attached to their non-dominant arm. Whatever they were doing, whatever state they were in, they're in a bed now, in good health. And maybe a bit different since the last time they looked in a mirror.

There's a text note on the device attached to their arms.]

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

[Your surroundings look like your normal everyday space mall. But if you look at the functions of the device on your arm, there's Not-so-familiar profiles, some rules, and a mini-map that'll show you the layout of the mall.

You are free to explore at your leisure...For an hour, at least.]

Comments

[cyan_maid]

Here's hoping there's a friendly face sleeping inside of that, too.

[everylittlesecret]

Or it could be one of those that literally is just a poster inside of a glowing box.

[cyan_maid]

It...could be that, too.

[everylittlesecret]

More likely the latter. Very few places have humans or others for info. Sorry.

[cyan_maid]

Ah...yeah, everything is becoming automated, isn't it? [Or it should be, somewhat, in 2011.]

[everylittlesecret]

It's pretty automated or just signs where I'm from for sure.

[cyan_maid]

Hm, I see. I'll admit, I haven't been home for a while, so maybe things have changed a lot more than I thought.

[everylittlesecret]

Depends. Where you from?

[cyan_maid]

Washington. The, erm, the state.

[everylittlesecret]

Oh, so a native Washingtonian? I'm a transplant myself. Beautiful state.

[cyan_maid]

Oh...!

[TWO OTHER WASHINGTON PEOPLE this is...this is something else entirely.]

I-It is really lovely! I actually...miss it, a lot. Even if I would still be grounded in my room...

[everylittlesecret]

I spent a few years around the Seattle area and Tacoma, but the coast is where I prefer to be. And hey, even when grounded, as long as one can see the trees, everything is alright in the world.

[Trees are important.]

[cyan_maid]

I grew up in Maple Valley, it's about forty miles out from Seattle? And we had a nice tree in the front yard, it had a tire swing and everything. Gosh, I miss just sitting in that swing...

[Those good old days of childhood and carefree curiosity.]

[everylittlesecret]

I've swung through there! Dad was always looking for new places to hike, so we've driven through most of the towns in the state.

[cyan_maid]

Wow, really? That's awesome!

[Thank goodness it is a real place in the real world that people can see with their own eyes.]

When was that, anyway? I'm just curious.

[everylittlesecret]

About... 2012? So a few years now.

[cyan_maid]

Huh.

[A few years from...this woman's perspective. For Jane, it'd be during her time in the Medium.]

I just missed you, then. I, erm, left home near the end of 2011.

[everylittlesecret]

You don't look old enough to have left home... But it's not really my business on whatever your reason was. Would you go back if you could?

[cyan_maid]

I kind of didn't have a choice whether or not to leave...but...if there was anything or anyone to go back to? Then, yeah. I'd go home.

[Oh you sweet child.]

[everylittlesecret]

[THAT'S DEPRESSING]

Well, I'm sure you'll find a reason to get back there even if there's no point in it.

[cyan_maid]

...Hmm.

[She...tries to smile. She does. It's a small thing, a little strained.]

Maybe there's a reason that I just haven't realized yet.

[everylittlesecret]

If I had a chance to go back home, it'd be for the food.

[cyan_maid]

Well, that's as good a reason as any.

[everylittlesecret]

Is Maple Valley known for anything in particular? Or is it just apples, apples, and chocolate like the rest of the state?

[cyan_maid]

Uh...well, my Poppop lived there? And he was a pretty famous old timey comedian...

[And heir to Crockercorp, but it's not like they lived in a mansion and flaunted that fact.]