Video

[viral_vector]

[The image sputters to life on Alex's device, the ambient light reflected in his cold blue eyes, under his hood. It's obvious he's using a naturally dark area to keep his location a secret.]Hello? Is anyone getting this message? I need to talk to someone. Anyone. My name is...Not important, right now. I just arrived here and I still have some

Comments

[frosty_mind]

The power that brought you here took you to an entirely different universe in a separate time and place. If it sends you back, it will send you to the time and place it took you, and no time will have passed.

So if you could go to Manhattan, it wouldn't be the same Manhattan, it probably wouldn't be under quarantine, and whoever you're looking for wouldn't be there -- though there might be someone who looked like that person.

However, you can't go to Manhattan, because if you get too far away from the power that brought you here, you will pass out and die.

I'm afraid you're stuck here with the rest of us. You can hope that the Core sends you back, and if it does, nothing will have changed at home while you were gone.

[viral_vector]

...I see. Suppose that all of this ridiculous is actually true, then why hasn't someone done something about it?

Video

[frosty_mind]

First and foremost, the two most powerful organizations on the island have a fundamental disagreement about what should be done about it.

Second, as you might guess, something that can pull people from across universes is very powerful and very dangerous.

Third, when people last seriously tried - nearly a century ago - the reaction killed most of the people then on the island, and created monsters that come out after dark. When you hear sirens you'll want to go inside and stay there until dawn. I can't see where you are, but people who get kidnapped here by the Core are given a month's free rent at the big apartment building near the baseball diamond they arrive at.

Yes, I know how implausible this sounds. I hope you're willing to stipulate the possibility I'm telling the truth at least for a night.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

I've been at the center of some very fucked up goings-on, but this certainly goes way beyond even that. Until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm willing to at least partially humor this. I believe I met some of these people you spoke off. Scientists and soldiers greeted me rather quickly, which I had to evade.

This place is an island off the coast of Canada, correct? That alone is cause for alarm. I'm fairly certain no such island used to exist, there. This kind of place would have made national headlines.

Re: Video

[frosty_mind]

Siren's Port is an island off the west coast of Canada, correct.

This island doesn't exist in any of the other universes people have been kidnapped from. Since geography is usually constant between alternate universes unless something has changed it, I believe that the island was artificially created, possibly to host the Core.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

It was mentioned by the ones who tried to keep me contained. What exactly is it?

Re: Video

[frosty_mind]

What's known is that it's very powerful, it's both technological and magical, that it's under the baseball diamond, that it's extremely radioactive, and that it brings people here and keeps them here and sometimes sends them back.

It is commonly believed to be damaged, and responsible for the corruption and monsters which appear nightly.

There are differences of opinion about everything else. I believe that it is intelligent, that it is still operating under old controls but that there are no people controlling it now, and that it is continuing to deteriorate.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

And I take it destroying this fucking thing is out of the question?

Re: Video

[frosty_mind]

That's what they were trying in 1918 which resulted in the Darkness. SERO's basic position is that it should be repaired; AGI's basic position is that workarounds should be found.

I don't think anyone with the technical skills required would be willing to destroy it without a great deal of research and at least some reason to think it would work and he would survive.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

So we're here, we can't leave, and we can't affect what brought us here.

Video

[frosty_mind]

Until something changes, that's exactly correct.

Sorry for the depressing news.

You might as well take the free lodging. No need to stay in it for a month if you can find someplace less public first, but you'll need a job or some other source of money, and that will be easier to find if you have a safe place to sleep, a predictable address with a predictable commute, and the like.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

Doubtful. I don't like being boxed in, waiting for people to find me. I also don't need to eat or sleep, so those needs are out. I don't see why I need a job, when my needs are so basic.

Re: Video

[frosty_mind]

I mentioned corruption and monsters at night in passing. Have you been outdoors at night yet?

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

I've dealt with that sort of thing, before.

Re: Video

[frosty_mind]

Here there is reliable monster-proofing, and things sold to allow you to do your own. There's also an entire sector of the city largely abandoned to the monsters. A reasonable amount of money - even if it's acquired through a job you decide not to keep once you're acquired that money - should allow you to live life on your terms much more safely than if you simply continue to hide out.

Re: Video

[viral_vector]

And who are you, concerned citizen?