[Day 2, early morning]

[imperatrise]

Who: Youko, uSUC.
Where: A removed bench on roughly five-by-five metersof Astroturf.
What: "I got home from work today and took like a 100 hour nap..." "...NO YOU DID NOT. You'd be very sick if you were taking hundred hour naps. That's a coma, say you took a coma after work and I can follow the story!"
Rating: G.
Warnings: I am a rusty, rusty gear

Comments

[arcadia_central]

The screen that had been left to monitor this particularly recalcitrant case flickered briefly at the first motions and noise, but it took Youko jerking up to finally dismiss the bouncing screensaver.

"There you are!" An extremely pixellated face resolved and the high, girlish voice actually giggled. "I've just been waiting and waiting and waiting, and we weren't sure if you were okay but all your vital signs seemed steady so they said we shouldn't try shock treatment just yet, but oh it was a near thing! I'm soooo glad you're awake now! How are you feeling, unregistered user?"

[imperatrise]

The 'unregistered user' was wondering why a television set was speaking to her. Although her memories of Earth were a bit spotty now, she was rather sure things from the electronic department of the mall did not address the patrons.

Youko inspected the, well, the thing from her seat and idly considered if it should be disarmed. Or if it even could be. Doubt it. Answering it seemed the only option really. It had been waiting and waiting and waiting. "I'm feeling a little," Disturbed. "Dizzy. Just a little."

"You've been waiting for me?"

[arcadia_central]

"Oh of course, I'm sure you would be, you've been asleep for so very long. But perhaps you just needed the rest that badly."

The screen went silent for a moment, its light dimming slightly, before another voice came in. This one was a low, rich contralto, the type of purring female voice that wealthy companies employed for secretaries or ads. Or sci-fi movies used for their computers.

"Correct. We are a subprogram of the resident central authority computer, or Central, tasked to watch over the group of refugees that we have rescued from your various homeworlds. You are the last passenger of your ship. We have been waiting for you to awake so you might clear Customs, register your name, and take your place on this world."

The first voice cut in cheerfully. "Welcome to Arcadia!"

And yes, that would be a minor explosion of rainbow colored streamers raining down on you. Aren't they sparkly?

[imperatrise]

"Take my place here?"

Through the surge of colorful paper, Youko was fixated on the screen, smiling awkwardly at it. Take my place here. It was like the sort of ill-timed joke Koshou might have said. Making a move to rise up, she knocked her boot against the blue gem that had been dropped and bent to retrieve it. "I really can't do that. I've my own place to return to." Gingerly, Youko brushed the dust off the orb and pocketed it, patting it once for assurance.

Standing, she moved cautiously towards the computer; Central, as it had identified itself. "Would you be so kind as to direct me to... is there a form of... well, what I mean is," A sigh of frustration scored the air. This sort of situation had lost its charm the first time around. "How do I leave here?"