❧ Whispers From Different Worlds

[luministimods]

[any and all conversations being held on the CATs suddenly cease all at once, and in the next instant, a little alarm begins to sound. none of the townspeople appear fazed by the strange happening, writing if off as yet another malfunction that has plagued the communications systems in town for the past week

Comments

[jackalpi]

[There's a young man fiddling with the CAT he's received, and as it clicks on, he pulls back with a rather triumphant look on his face.]

Ah, success! Take that, mysterious device, for you are as nothing when faced with the skill of the...

[He blinks, realizing that there is someone transmitting, and breaks off from finishing the rest of his speech.]

Oh! You have my apologies, fair one, for failing to notice your presence previously. Gracious greetings! I am the Jackal. How might I be of assistance?

[jackalpi]

Have I...? Well, that is a most interesting quandry. I don't seem to remember actually leaving Port Charles. In fact, I still seem to be here at Casa De Stone Cold, about to embark on investigations for my latest case.

However, I have found myself in possession of this device -- I believe it is called a CAT, if my perusal of the instructions is correct. And as I have no way of knowing how or why it was deposited here in my residence at this time, I can only surmise that someone placed it here. It is entirely possible that someone may have gone to the trouble of recreating Stone Cold's living room and placing the item in it, but it sounds to be a far-fetched tale.

Where might you be, if I might be so bold as to ask?

A WILD GUEST CHARACTER APPEARS!

[mightyappendix]

[There is a child on the CAT. He's very small, with unruly red hair. The marks on his brow might remind someone of a certain lavender haired fellow around town...]

Uh oh....Ne, where am I?

[inhisownworld]

[here's a man in completely blue armor! and though you can't see his facial expressions, it's very clear from his voice that he's extremely excited right now]

Hello tiny person hovering in front of me! You are on this thing I just found!

[mightyappendix]

Waagh! Who the heck are you?!

[inhisownworld]

[brightly] I'm Caboose! [leans in closer] Are you another one of those AI things? You look like one, minus the armor.

[wind_of_reason]

[Even though the screen has gone blank, Fuu smiles at it.]

I'm glad. We'll keep an eye out... for something.

[wind_of_reason]

[Surprise! Who is this, now?]

I could wish that they were more careless more often! I'm not certain if it was private or not, but we are very likely being monitored.

[vengefulagent]

Wait! At least tell us who--[watches the transmission cease and lets out a groan]--ugh. Figures it wouldn't be anything immediately useful. [he tosses the CAT down on the table in front of him]

[mybbssavinchina]

[As the CAT drops, a yelp emanates from it.]

Heyheyheyhey, watch whatchu doing with that thing!

[Never mind that Mushu pretty much threw his up in the air out of surprise at about the same time. He's scampering back to pick it up though, turning it all around as he examines it, squinting into the camera. You're probably getting a pretty good view of a dragon guardian's eye right now.]

What kinda magic is this thing, anyways? Now, I know the family guardians haven't been leaving me out of the annual meetings again...

[He has no idea where that voice was coming from. Or anything about the CAT, for that matter. But there's something in there, and that's the important part! Mushu starts shaking the CAT.]

HEL-LO IN THERE!

[vengefulagent]

What?! I don't...[he trails off for a second, watching this random red dragon talking. however, he regains his voice the moment Mushu starts shaking the CAT]

Stop that! I can hear you perfectly well.

[mybbssavinchina]

Oh, you can, can you? Well, can you hear me if I do this?

[Quick as a flash, quick as a flash! Mushu's dropping the CAT to the ground and covering it up with some leaves. He straightens up, clapping his hands clean.]

Ha-ha! How d'you like me now?

[Oh, he is so pleased with himself.]

[itwasabouttosay]

[There's nothing on the screen--at least, nothing alive. Because that gigantic mass of machinery hanging suspended from the ceiling certainly can't be--]

This is NOT an authorized Aperture SCIence deVIice.

[WHOA, that gigantic mass of machinery just moved. Yeah, that thing is alive, dear viewers. It swings around, taking in the area around. No portals to be seen.]

Is anybody THERE?

[wind_of_reason]

[Gotta admit, Fuu is pinged by the amazing robot there.]

Woooow. Are you in Luministi? They have just the most amazing stuff here-

[itwasabouttosay]

[The robot shifts back to look at the CAT, coming closer. GLaDOS can see a person on the screen; a woman, if the voice is any indication.]

The Aperture SCIence Center is LOcated in scenic--

[Oops, the sound of machinery powering up just drowned that out. Oh, well. A two-pronged "hand" of sorts picks up the CAT, plugging it into a receptacle on the wall. It's now on the scientists' network.

She can see you now, Fuu.]

Well, at least there's that.

What sort of PLACE is that?

[Luministi. No records found. Let's change that, shall we?]

[wind_of_reason]

...Aperture Science Centre? I should be the one asking you 'what sort of place is that'!

[She full of wide-eyed wonder, and is more interested in getting answers than giving them.]
That is really amazing- can you tell me what kind of software are you running?