001 VIDEO LIST ONE

[deadliestviper]

[The screen switches on, revealing a face caked in dirt, covered in dust, streaked with sweat, and smeared with blood. A pair of troubled, if clear, blue eyes look out from it, and then there's a shake of the head, followed by a swirl of long, messy blonde hair – underneath all the grime, the new arrival's a female. She gives a bright smile, the sight slightly disarming on such a gritty face.]

Hi. [Her voice cracks when she speaks and she coughs, then clears her throat.]

Sorry to bother you folks, but it appears I've got some new business to attend to and I'm a little out of sorts. [Her smile turns apologetic, a little self-deprecating. It might be cute if she didn't look like an adult female approximation of Peanuts' Pigpen.] If one of you would be so kind as to point me toward the showers, I'd be in your debt.

[One last thing: her voice lowers, the sparkle gone from her eyes.] Budd... If you're here, I'll find you.

Comments

[video]

[demigoddess]

Just here to help, and even become a stronger leader for my team back home. Er.. [ Cassie interrupts herself to ask. ] Has anyone given you the run down? It's a lot to take in, but it's not so bad and I've only been here for a few weeks. [ That's a half lie. ]

[video]

[deadliestviper]

[Ahh, another warden. The sweet girlscout mentality could mean nothing else. B smiles.] I've gotten the basics but there's plenty I'm still in the dark about.

[video]

[demigoddess]

I have yet to experience anything too terrible. But I've heard some pretty insane stories about passengers becoming children, animals, or convinced they're cowboys and celebrities. That's not even the half of it.

[video]

[deadliestviper]

...I knew I was in for some strange things but I didn't realize they involved shared delusions.

[video]

[demigoddess]

I know, right? It seems impossible to believe, and that's not even the half of it. Apparently it has everything to do with the ship brushing against the space-time continuum, or going through it. Which if I'm being honest, didn't mean a whole lot to me when it was explained. I'm not expert on the space-time continuum, I've got the bare minimun. The good news is, most of these odd events are relatively harmless, at least as far as I can tell.

[video]

[deadliestviper]

Impossible? There has to be some way out or this would be less of a prison than a tomb. Is completing this program the only way? No opt-out? Because to be perfectly honest I don't like the idea of other dimensions playing havoc with my life.

[video]

[demigoddess]

I think I would have thought twice about making that deal with the warden if I had known about all of that fun.

[ How does she put the next part gently? There's no way. Never mind she didn't add that wardens can leave anytime. ] I wish I had better news for you, Beth, but I'm afraid completing the program is the only way.

[video]

[deadliestviper]

Fun? What fun? Don't tell me people enjoy this.

[Reaching up to massage her temples, she sighs.] So that's it. We're just stuck in this trans-dimensional limbo at an unknown entity's whim.

[video]

[demigoddess]

Oh, no. Sorry. That was me being sarcast. I know, I'm not very good at it.

Well not exactly, how long it will take to leave is really up to you. I don't know what you're here for, but you seem nice, like a good person. Maybe it won't take you that long. [ But she doesn't want to be rude and assume she know someone based on one conversation. ]

[video]

[deadliestviper]

No, I'm sorry. With all the weird shit I'm hearing about that's not the hardest thing to believe.

[Hesitating before speaking, she cants her head.] I don't know about "nice" but "good" is an aspiration. Just, and no offense, I'm skeptical whether this place will be able to help with that.

[video]

[demigoddess]

Maybe you'll find a warden who understands you better than you expected anyone could. [ Shrug. ] All I know is this place has worked for people

Re: [video]

[deadliestviper]

Maybe. [Yeah fuckin' right. Like she was going to open up to some cub scout and let them fuck around with her life.] I understand that, but what has worked for some people doesn't always work for me.

[video]

[demigoddess]

Well, I really hope it does, at the very least so you're not stuck here for a long time.

[video]

[deadliestviper]

You and me both.