O brave new world that has such people in it

[screwattack]

Samus has been many places and seen many things in her lifetime. She's experienced a great deal of surprising events, indeed some of them on her own ship before. Surprise attacks, surprise visitors, strange transmissions and calls for help. She's never held the delusion that her ship's a complete sanctuary, only that it's as close to one as she was

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[homoraptor]

There are demons in them thar parks, Samus.

Well, probably more than one. But the one this tag concerns itself with is on his own, wandering around with his hands stuffed into his pockets, being morose. He really has been out here all night, just wandering - he's not involved with any of the new stuff in Torchwood (which takes away Suzie, too), Elashte probably still has nothing for him to do now that they're all to be playing nice with the angels, Jack is crazy and evil or something, Anya is gone and probably dead...

Malek is not a happy sometimes-velociraptor.

He's strolling in the direction of the park with a tripleshot espresso in a tiny insulated carry-out cup when he sees Samus and perks up a little. A new Wanderer! And Wanderers are fun. Usually. Maybe she's another one of Jack's team. Yeah, not likely, but he can dream. He adjusts his course, ambling up with a grin.

"Mornin'," he offers, with a raise of his drink and a nod. "Jus' got here, ah? You'll be having questions, then." After a moment's thought, he sticks out his hand. "Welcome t'Chicago."

[screwattack]

Samus looks at his hand, the word running through her mind. Chicago. Was that the name of the planet, or only this particular point on it? She pushes that thought aside as she considers what to do. He doesn't seem to be outwardly hostile, and she knows that it's best to exercise care and diplomacy when one deals with unfamiliar territory. If she refuses his hand, it could end up a nightmare for her later.

She takes his hand, grasping it, not quite a shake (she's not familiar with the custom of the handshake), and releases it quickly. She doesn't want to keep her shooting hand occupied for long.

"I just...appeared here," she says at last, measuring her words carefully. "Where is Chicago?" Maybe if he can tell her the system this "Chicago" is located in, she can form a plan to get back to her own ship.

[homoraptor]

Malek nods. "Right. An' there's a speech I'm supposed to mem, give t'new'ns, but I never am good wit' those. So." He clears his throat. "This thing, called the Rift. Grabs people. Spits 'em out here. Here bein' Chicago, United States, Earth, nine-planet solar system - well, eight, but it 'as nine when I grew up, so, nine. Year's 2008, late on in it. 'm Malek."

He'll get to the stuff about the Rift changing you and there being angels and demons and whatnot... later.

[screwattack]

Samus nods slowly, trying to digest the new information. She knows vaguely what Earth is. The Chozo told her that it's where her people originally came from, that it still existed in some form or another but most of the humans had taken to the stars. She had never actually sought it out before. And the date is also troubling her. She tries to do the math quickly, remembering that most of the humans she's encountered use the Gregorian calendar, different than the one she was raised to use, but she's learned the conversion more or less. And she can recognize that the date's in the past. Pretty far into the past.

Samus feels a bit more wary now. She looks around the park again, hand reaching down to touch her blaster without drawing it. "I'm Samus Aran," she says finally. It's unnerving. She can't remember the last time she ever introduced herself with her face plain for anyone to see, if she ever had. With her Suit, people fill in the blanks themselves, imagining someone they can fear or respect underneath the helmet. She doubts she'll have the luxury of fear or respect on her side right now.

"This Rift..." she adds as she looks up in the direction she came from. "Is there a way to reverse it? Or some sort of 'return Rift'?"

[homoraptor]

"Nah. One-way." Never let it be said that Malek knows how to break bad news to people. "I mean, y'can throw t'stuffs in, but it gets ripped up - little biddy pieces. No way back through. Course, it's nice, Chicago. I enjoy it."

He grins. More.

"...m'boss," he says, "he holds this building, lots of 'partments - keeps 'em open for Wanderers. Free charge. If y'need a place, y'know."

[screwattack]

Samus considers his words (partially to decipher them). She's been thrown into the past, to a planet she's only vaguely familiar with, and now she's being offered lodging by a stranger. While wary of accepting any sort of offer from someone she barely knows, she is practical enough to know that, left to her own devices in this strange world, things are going to become very difficult very fast.

Samus reaches down to her blaster again, not to draw, just to make sure it's still there. Had she made it to her bunk, she would have put it in its charge port. She would have to be judicious in her use of it, conserving its energy. She didn't know if she'd find a way to recharge it in this place. But still, knowing she had it if she got into a tough spot, it made he feel a bit more bold.

"All right," Samus says at last, hand dropping back to her side. "I suppose I...need somewhere to stay." Truthfully, she is exhausted, but she is careful to look wide-awake and alert, not show any sign of weakness. If this offer proves to be just what he says, with no strings attached, she will be grateful for the chance to bunk down.

[homoraptor]

Malek nods. "C'n take you there now, if y'want," he says. "Got a car, few blocks back that-" He waves his hand in the direction of, presumably, his car. "Or, y'know, lovely morning - bit cool, ya - could see more o' t'city. Pier." He raises his cup. "Great coffee."

[screwattack]

Samus looks in the direction that Malek waved toward. She figured a "car" was some sort of primitive transportation. Perhaps it was an acronym? She would have to look into it later. For now, she weighs the options. Seeming in a hurry to get to shelter would betray that she was tired and desperate, but she wasn't sure how long she could hold the illusion that she wasn't if she agreed to the tour. But would she get another opportunity later?

"Just...shelter sounds fine," she finally says, wrapping her arms around herself. She had discovered and figured out many things on her own in the past. Even if she couldn't get a guided tour later, for now she's too tired to consider seeing and then having to process anything else.