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

Comments

[homoraptor]

There are demons in them thar parks, Samus

[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

[hymnsofgenocide]

Jeremy's in a good mood. Not as good as he would be if he'd killed lately, but good.

He's cutting through Grant Park on his way to his apartment, and today, at least, the blood on his hands is only metaphorical. Still, he's got his eye on a cute little Archangel, and he's laying the groundwork, so that right there's enough to have him humming a happy little tune as he walks.

And... Will ya look at that, it's a confused-looking chick in a suit out of science fiction. He knows what that means.

"So," he says, strolling up to her, posture as relaxed and harmless as he can get it, "let me guess. You were wherever you're from doing whatever you do, and suddenly here you are."

He's looking her over... Muscles and stance of a trained fighter, and she's... A little more human than he is, but not much. Something he's never seen before, anyway. Huh.

Could be fun. Could be trouble. Could just be a waste of time.

He'll take the time to figure out which is which.

[screwattack]

Samus turns and faces the man. He seems unassuming enough, but she knows better than the underestimate anything she's unfamiliar with. She keeps her stance casual yet guarded, ready to strike if she has to. He seems to know something about this situation...that could make him either an ally or one of the people responsible for it.

"Yes," she says at last, nodding her head slightly. "I was trying to get to my bunk, but I wound up here instead." That seems suitably vague. Don't reveal non-essential information until she's certain of his status as friend or foe, after all. Or unless he suggests it'll be vital in getting back to where she started.

She's torn momentarily. Which question to ask first? She has so many. "Where am I?" she settles on.

[hymnsofgenocide]

"Chicago, Illinois. United States of America, planet Earth. The year's 2008 by the Gregorian calendar, and if that doesn't help you, sweetheart, you're kinda screwed." Jer grins and shrugs a bit. "You've fallen through a rift in space and time. Try to go back through you end up in pieces, but at least you're in good company -- more of you kids coming through every week."

She's watching him move. He's watching her move. Good times, and if this was just another human, there'd be no question, but she's another one of those fucking Wanderers. Curious. Good for the both of them that he's more the careful stalking type, not the rushing in type...

"I'm Jeremy, by the way."

[screwattack]

Samus nods in acknowledgment as she processes the new information. The planet Earth...reasonably close to where her ship had been drifting. If she could find a craft of some sort maybe she could find it again. But that second part...2008 by the Gregorian calendar. She is only loosely familiar with the archaic date system used Earth when it had been more inhabited, but quick mental math lets her know the year was pretty far into the past. There goes the "finding a ride home" idea.

Samus examines the man - Jeremy, he said - for another moment. He looks reasonably human, and she knows from history lessons with the Chozo that humans, her people, originally came from Earth before they decided to branch out, so it's a fair assumption in this time and place. But she also knows looks can be deceiving. She wishes she had her Power Suit to confirm this suspicion, but shakes that thought away. She doesn't have it, and the chances of getting it back, from what this man said, are slim to none. Best to grasp that fact and move on, unsettling and