video; @Qubit

[superposition]

[ Though Qubit generally prefers text, he's found that for whatever reason, people seem to think he's more sincere when he uses video. So he goes with that - you only get one first impression. ]

Good morning, Anchor. You may have noticed a grocery store, of all things, has appeared just outside the main airlock... Ah. I'm Qubit, by the way, should have led with that. Anyways, I've taken the liberty of scouting the place out, and I have good news and bad news.

Good news - near as I can tell, the food's still fresh. Bad news - that's more than I can say for the customers. If you do go, don't go alone, and be ready to defend yourself. It turns out the place has a bit of an undead problem.

[ He shrugs, as if to say "because of course it does." ]

On the plus side, the radiation levels are rather lower than I expected. I'd still recommend suiting up if you can, but you should be all right provided you don't - aah!!

[ As he was talking, something whirred in the background, and now a laser bolt hits the wall not a foot from his head. Startled, he drops the comm, but his voice can be heard receding in the background. ]

Son of a bi- [ the feed ends. ]

Comments

Video @KaballsDeep

[kaballin]

Guess that means the whole "but you should be all right" bit of that message was a lie huh?

[superposition]

[ a few minutes later, after he's recovered his comm. he seems a little mad! can't imagine why. ]

That thing was not active when I left!

[kaballin]

Is that a laser?

[superposition]

Lasers. Plural. Looks like all the defense systems decided to come online, in fact. There're armed robots patrolling the whole level.

[kaballin]

In the grocery store?

Why does the grocery store have armed robots with lasers?

[superposition]

Wh- [ another laser bolt hits nearby, making him duck ] Do I look like I'm in the grocery store, you addle-pated wood chipper?

[ He went and came back, and then got shot at. Obviously!! (But actually it's impossible to tell, he has not gotten a single good shot of the background this entire video.) ]

[kaballin]

I dunno, maybe. Looks like you're about to die though. And me without any popcorn.

[If the wood chipper comment was supposed to be an insult he either doesn't get it, or he's ignoring it.]

Have you tried turning it off?

voice [un: longinmouth]

[abheirrant]

[In good news, he is pretty qualified to deal with the undead -- or at least he hopes he still is, given he hasn't really dealt with them in any proper capacity since the whole 'becoming one' thing. Not that he fully recalls, anyway, but he's trying not to dwell too long on that just yet.

The bad news is that he's never used a phone before and isn't completely sure how this is supposed to go. Peter showed him how to use his communicator, but this is his first foray into the world of talking to strangers on it. It's a terrifying experience, but given the circumstances and the situation presented by the fellow on the other end of the line, he supposes he should at least try.

His voice is tentative as he speaks at the device, hoping it's working.]

Hello? Can you hear me?

voice

[superposition]

[ What an odd username, thinks the guy who uses his superhero alias full-time. Anyway, this comes some time after he's dealt with the whole deathbot situation up top. ]

Loud and clear. What do you need?

[abheirrant]

[His relief is immediate.]

Oh! Oh thank goodness. I was afraid I would be talking to myself.

[Which, frankly, isn't that unusual.]

Is there still an, um. Undead problem there? Wherever you are?

[Something about an airlock and radiation and he has literally no idea what either of those are.]

[superposition]

[ Hoo boy. Is this gonna be another tech-illiterate? Sigh...... ]

Not where I am now, but yes, outside the station there is. Why, do you have a way to counter it?

[abheirrant]

['Tech-illiterate' is probably the kindest way to describe him, given his outright aversion toward it so far.

Outside, though. He understands that.]

I dealt with them many times before being brought here, not necessarily as an occupation, but out of obligation and necessity.

[superposition]

Hm. Technically not what I asked, but I'll take it.

I'm a little busy with something else at the moment [ aka all the lasers ], but afterward I can take you there, and we'll clean the place out. How's that strike you?

@mage | audio

[braidmage]

[ A crisis! It doesn't matter that this person is a complete stranger! This is terrible! ]

Hello! Are you there? Can you hear me?

[ Reynir is still working on figuring out these very strange radios but he manages to get the message to transmit. ]

[superposition]

[ The response comes after he's out of immediate danger, at least. So, still a crisis, just... less so. (What is with all these people absolutely blown away by the most basic conveniences, though, geez.) ]

Yes, yes, I can hear you. What?

[braidmage]

[ Uh... not the response he was expecting, exactly. ]

There was shooting and your transmission was cut off. Are you under attack? Do you need help?

[superposition]

Oh. No, I'm fine. Situation's been resolved.

[ At least, the immediate situation. The haywire security in general is still a problem, but he's not being actively shot at right this second. ]

If you'd still like to help, though, I'm sure I can put you to work. What is it you do?

[braidmage]

Ah! That is good.

[ The polite thing to do would be to just leave it. He should definitely leave it and not- ]

Perhaps the next time you post such a distressing message you can add an update once you are safe, so that it does not cause concern.

[ But Reynir is one of those kinds of people that can't hold onto irritation long. Like barely a minute or two honestly. ]

I do a variety of things. Primarily I am a sheep farmer, but I know a little protective magic. I don't know if it would do any good against those bolts of light, but I could likely ward off the undead. I have a rune for keeping out ghosts that I can adapt.

[superposition]

[ Fortunately this is audio, so at least Reynir won't see him rolling his eyes at that first part. (It's practically audible, though.) ]

Well, sorry, I've been a little busy.

[ ... A sheep farmer. All right, well, check this guy off the list of people he can tap for combat. Warding against the undead could be useful, though - provided it's actual magic and not just country superstition. ]

Suppose it's worth a try. Just to be clear, though, these are real spells you've tested against actual ghosts? I don't have any use for folk remedies.

text; @waltz

[enveloped]

Would you define 'undead' when you have a moment?

Feel free to disregard if you're in a life or death scenario, or respond SOS for reinforcements.

text

[superposition]

Well, I'm out of it now. By "undead" I'm referring to walking cadavers, shambling corpses, that sort of thing. Zombies.

[enveloped]

That's unsettling.

Is it more or less disturbing than on television?

Assuming you know what a television is. I'm uncertain of your background and cultural experience, and don't want to make assumptions.

After all, we're a very mixed bunch.

[superposition]

I appreciate the consideration, but yes, I know what a television is. Just assume I'm familiar with all machines, it'll save time.

That said, I don't watch much TV, so I'm not the man to make that judgment.

[enveloped]

How difficult was it to... handle the situation?

There are supplies I would like to make a run for, but I've never dealt with the living dead before.

[superposition]

Not terribly difficult. The ones I encountered were slow and stupid, and less sturdy than I expected.

[ What he did find kind of disturbing was how easily he wrote them off in his head as "beyond saving, no longer human," and how little remorse he felt for caving their skulls in with a crowbar. For now, he's trying to avoid thinking about that too much. ]

Carlisle and I are going to try and clear them out in a bit. I'll let you know how it goes. Anything in particular you'd like me to keep an eye out for?