taxonomites | 001 - Holo: Arrival - Another Ordinary Day

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001 - Holo: Arrival - Another Ordinary Day

“-why don’t they teach what really happened, because that was far more interesting.” As soon as the little girl registered the change in her environment... she quickly clutched at her ears and shut her eyes. It might not be for most people, but to this little girl the room was very very loud. Louder than anything at home ever was, it was all vibrating and it was very distracting. It was worse than the Veritas ship, plus there she had the lovely distraction of terror.

It took more than a few moments for her to finally speak again, “Sarah Jane? Mr. Smith...” After a brief flash of worry over her features she seemed to relax. Growing more used to the vibrations in her mind from all the energy flowing around the city. It was more abrasive than Earth’s electricity, but it wasn’t too bad after a few moments. She did seem to be handling the abduction remarkably well for someone so small.

As she crouches down at the edge of the pedestal she hops down to the ground ignoring all the steps like you would expect from a child without a parent to suggest that might be dangerous. Plus, the abduction overrides any other dangers at hand. “Is anyone there? I would like to go home. Sarah Jane was explaining several events in Earth’s history that were wrong. I was having fun with those stories, and there are much better ways to get her attention.”

After all, to Sky aliens showing up was an interesting distraction after having tea. If she freaked out every time she saw someone that wasn’t human it would be very hard to look in the mirror. She was still looking around the room when her expression grew troubled, and her eyes instantly fell to the item on her wrist. She didn’t reach for it, or try to remove it, she could feel how it was connected to her. “Sarah Jane will be very upset if this isn’t removable, I’m not allowed to have piercings yet. I’m not sure why, because some are very pretty, but I’m not.”

Sky quickly realized she was slipping away from the point and moved over to the other thing in the room that she could feel that wasn’t the room itself. Picking up the tablet and having no issue with it. She is, after all, exceptionally clever. Studying it for a little longer than five minutes, with no sign of realizing she’s still broadcasting... until she looks straight forward, so maybe she did notice. “Whoever is listening to this broadcast, what’s a paranoia? I don’t think I have one with me.”

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"A paranoia? Well, paranoia is a general state of mind when you feel as though someone or something is out to get you. Sometimes it is an entirely valid response." Madelyne looks a week bit concerned. There are children abducted to this place. This makes Madelyne a very grumpy woman but she's certainly not going to take that out on the little girl.

"Hello. Welcome to Taxon."

So instead of instantly responding to this woman, Sky is too busy trying to figure out how the hologram is being displayed. Eyes moving from the tablet in her hands, to the silver metal on her wrist. It looks like she might understand it, but she doesn't say anything on it. "Well, alien events happen a statistically improbable amount near my house. However most of them are not coincidental. So I don't think paranoia applies."

"Hello!" She is certainly energetic, give the child that, "I'm Sky. Is... Taxon this room, or a larger geographical term?" Sky disliked how names for things didn't properly articulate what scale they were. Labs being rooms or buildings, the City of London not being the entire city of London, Earth being the planets name and a term for soil. Unique names were better.

Still she didn't seem upset to have to ask, but she did hesitate ever-so-slightly, people looked at her funny when she asked things they considered 'obvious.' "This place looks really pretty though," that also sounded genuine, like everything the girl said. She's certainly a strange one.

"I understand that. Not aliens, exactly, but strange things happening is a standard part of my life as well, though this is a little more strange and much more aggravating than the standard event." Since the girl is speaking on this level, Madelyne has no problems speaking back to her in the same manner. No use in patronizing her - it just doesn't make sense.

"I'm Madelyne. Taxon is the name of the city you're in. Picking up the tablet you can see me projecting from should also open the door to the room you're in. There are parts of the city that are rather lovely."

"This isn't much stranger than most of my life," Sky hasn't had a lot of life, but so far nothing today separates it other than being alone. She wasn't fond of that bit, "I don't think this is aggravating, but I don't aggravate easily." At least Sky didn't think she did, and Clyde assured her that nothing in that mall was her fault. Sky didn't seem bothered by how she was being treated, but Sky wasn't very normal... she didn't know how she should be treated, and figured most people treated her correctly.

"That's a very pretty name. Yours, but Taxon seems very pretty too," Sky seemed to be taking this all very well. So far nothing seemed to phase her beyond that initial response to being in the arrival room. The small hologram picked up the tablet and inspected it, then the door. "But it's very pretty in here. Are other parts of the city more wonderful?"

"There are parts of the city that are quite lovely. Thank you for the compliment about my name." Madelyne smiles toward the girl in the hologram presented to her.

"I aggravate a little easier that I should, I'm sure but this place can be a trial at times - mostly in that you cannot leave."

"I'm not concerned, Sarah Jane will find me." Sky sounded more than certain about this. Not confrontational, or in any way doubtful of the words. They would find her, they always did. That was her home, where she belongs. She would be found.

"But... how is a city a trial. Do things happen here?" Sky felt like she needed to ask a lot more questions before she'd have any idea what was going on, even with the welcome message she received.

"I hope that you are correct but so far no one has had anyone find them nor have they been able to level voluntarily, either. I do wish that your Sarah Jane does find you." Madelyne presses her lips together and looks away, for a few moments, before looking back the the little girl.

"Many things happen here - there are forced sort of experimental conditions that are created."

Some doubt seems to color her features, she does not seem disbelieving of the situation. Sky was still certain the others would never stop looking for her... except a few possible events she was told about might make them unaware of her situation. "...If they are aware I'm missing, they won't give up until I'm where I belong," certainty returned when she said the words around, it was too soon to give up just yet.

"Oh. That's terrible," she seemed to understand what was on the table for that. Well enough to realize this could be a serious problem, and a huge strike against whoever brought her here. "Why would they do that? They do realize we're sentient?"

"We don't know why. It is not pleasant nor is it enjoyable but I'm fairly certain they do a lot of what they do specifically to see how it is we react to what they do."

Madelyne smiles at Sky, trying to be helpful and friendly, "I am certain that if they are aware of you being missing that they are looking for you. We're not sure that people do become aware of our disappearance. There are some indications that no one seems to be aware of it as such."

"So... it's an experiment. It's relatively common for higher beings to not account for the feelings or condition of lesser evolved species when they want something," Sky sounded calm but... just a bit sad. Like she knew it was true, but didn't understand why it was true. She seemed slightly upset at it, but nowhere near distraught.

"It depends on how they prevent others from noticing, and if they focus mostly on species they normally work with," humans were easily manipulated with the right stimuli and mindset. Mr. Smith, K-9, and The Doctor would be harder to mislead. Unfortunately one of them wasn't always reliable, and K-9 no longer lived on Bannerman road. While Mr. Smith was reliable, he was required to listen to Sarah Jane, and if she were manipulated, then... best not to think about that. "Indications?"

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genequeen - 2012-05-25 03:53 (UTC) - Expand

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creepyfreezone - 2012-05-25 19:38 (UTC) - Expand

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genequeen - 2012-05-25 21:37 (UTC) - Expand

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creepyfreezone - 2012-05-27 16:39 (UTC) - Expand

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genequeen - 2012-05-27 21:47 (UTC) - Expand

Children. The aliens were bringing through children. Next it was going to be nonsentient animals, Josef thought, definitely considering those in an entirely different realm than he did Kitten. Given the residence pool, the recent loss of one, and now not one but two children coming through, he was really going to need to step up the plans he had for a network for those with special needs, as well as get back with Tesla about the possible alternative serum.

It was that project that kept Josef occupied for the next few hours, making notes and putting down plans onto paper. So many had switched to entirely electronic version of communication and even here in Taxon it was like that but for Josef, the act of pen and ink on paper would be preferred for his own writing. Just as he did like the satisfaction of filled sheets. It showed progress in his time in the city.

After a while though that last question of the child, the one asking about what was likely a secondary trait to most in the city, he finally reached for his tablet and turned it to face him, the video feed already active. He had long since given up trusting that it would stay off if he wanted it to, instead utilizing his own method of facing it to the wall or desk top rather than risking inadvertently broadcasting things he'd rather keep secret.

"So, Kiddo," he said, glancing at the monitor as he leaned back in his chair. "You settling in," he asked with a cheerful smile. "As for paranoia, it is standard around here. We have been snatched up to who knows where by who knows what and who knows what could happen to us. Welcome to Taxon, otherwise known as the state of paranoia for some I'm sure."

"I'm not Kiddo! I'm Sky," She did not understand why people gave her names other than the very pretty one Sarah Jane gave her when she was a baby. "And... not exactly. I have a map, and I've gotten out of that strange room. But I'm not sure where I'm going. It's too noisy here."

Sky fiddled with the device, scaled form working on... something. Before the hologram was replaced with a curious set of eyes far too close to the video, delighted at the success. "While the hologram is impressive, this is better."

However the look of success was quickly returned to confusion, "I thought Taxon was a city, not a state." Sky did know there were city-states, but she would figure that might have come up already when she asked about what Taxon is. He seems delightful, but did he have to add complication?

Oh that got a chuckle from the man, tapping his pencil lightly against the desk before him. "The other one I call Kiddo is named Sky too. Well Skysong, though I just call her Kitten or Kiddo," he admitted. "But Sky it is," he offered, settling back in his chair.

"There are areas further out from the Sanctuary that are less urban. Might find them a bit more quiet," he said, assuming she was speaking of the sounds of the city that he himself tended to find comforting.

"A lot of technology here is pretty impressive. Wait until you go to a hatch to get it to make you something. Clothes to your ideas, while you wait," he said, smirking at that, having finally given in to them to get some of the suits he had a preference for.

"It is a city. Sorry, turn of phrase," he said, frowning a bit. "Like a state of mind. Paranoia tends to run pretty high here, if we're honest about it. After all, technically we're all victims of a kidnapping without any details."

"Thank you," it seemed entirely improper for him to give her a nickname. Clyde explained that was an aspect of friendship, at least with him. Either he made friends very quickly or it was just weird. "Do you have a name?" Sky's manner was casual, very incongruous with the situation she was in. Other than confusion, she wasn't very reactive to much of anything.

"I don't think that will help, and I like urban areas. Trees are strange," whatever reasoning was on behind the strange girl's expression, it didn't seem she was anywhere near sharing it. She was matter-of-fact, like whatever wasn't said was either obvious or never going to be said. "I'll just look around. The map is directing me somewhere... I'll find it eventually."

From the looks of Sky's face whipping around and then back to the tablet, then around again... she was probably just a bit lost. Or at least unsure of how to define a direction in this city. She didn't seem bothered by it, a slight annoyed look every so often before she moves a bit further around the city, glancing back to the video on her screen when she stopped to talk again. Her eyes grew wide at the description of the hatches, "That sounds really impressive. But correct given the complexity of the transmat system they are using. It would also explain the noise."

"That doesn't make sense," Sky's head tilts ever so slightly to the left as she tries to work sense out of what she just learned. No emotion playing on her features for a moment. Some words and phrases Sky knew when she was born, others are completely foreign to her. Phrases moreso, fortunately she asked about how often phrase turning happened a few months ago. One less thing to bother her, "How does being paranoid actually help matters?"

The question also seems to be earnest, hard to gauge if that makes it better... or worse.

Manners. That was still something that Josef was working on, despite not always being certain why he was concerned about it. It led to forgetting things, such as giving a name, or not thinking about how many wouldn't want to be called something else entirely.

"Josef Kostan," he said, dropping the pen. "Josef is fine," he said with a nod.

He laughed at that proclamation, though there is no heat to it. "Come from the modern generation of video games and television," he asked, arching a brow. It was the first assumption he made when she declared trees as being weird, after all. "Oh if the map is directing you somewhere, it means you likely brought something too large for the welcome room through with you," he offered. "Everyone brings an item from home with them, if it's smaller than a bread box you find it in that room but larger than and you have to find where they put it in the city."

He wondered about the noise and how and why it was bothering her so much but he didn't ask. He had caught on to how invasive his questions sometimes were.

"State of paranoia means a mental state. Not a physical state as part of a country," he said, frowning a bit and curious about the child's education. "As for how it helps, with all they could do to us and the weird things that happen, it doesn't hurt to be mindful and watchful, to expect the worst while hoping for the best."

"It is nice to meet you, even if your name sounds a little creepy," Sky didn't seem bothered by this detail. Or concerned Josef might be bothered by this opinion.

She didn't understand where she told a joke, granted her understanding of how jokes and humor worked was skewed by Clyde's being the only person she knew who told jokes. She could answer his theory, that was easy, "I've lived in the city my whole life." It was true enough to count, but still revealed nothing she was still felt unsure about revealing.

"Why would anyone bring a bread box?" To Sky, that was the most prominent detail. She didn't really know what she could bring with her in the first place. She didn't have much, most things belonged to Sarah Jane, Rani, or Clyde. She'll find out when she gets there, no need to ask or guess what it is, "They must set-up a portable transmat station elsewhere in the city. Very nice of them to bring us things from home."

Given her age Sky was impressively smart, just... only as things applied to the situation, "Wouldn't that inhibit working with others and making friends? If you're in a state of constant distrust, there's no way you could trust anyone else here. Also you're not really a child, how can you be kidnapped?" Sky being kidnapped made sense, but the others here... unless they were here for a very long time. Longer times than Sky could even accurately understand.

"Does it? I've been told other things I do are rather creepy but never my name," he admitted, definitely amused by that concept. Some might be offended but, in the end, Josef knew he was creepy so why take offense at the nature of the beast?

"I admit, I prefer the city myself," he said, nodding at that as if something made sense. "Man didn't fight this hard for civilization to ignore it." He snorted, not the least bit concerned that there were still those that preferred to be far far away from the sound and noise of mankind.

Well, this kid was definitely literal. He was going to have to watch himself on that. "Who knows. Maybe they're sentimental about it. Or maybe they just really liked bread." Of course, in this day and age, he wasn't even sure most knew what a bread box was, after all. "I guess you could call it nice. Or, depending on what they bring for you, creepy. I've heard of everything from cars to brains," he said, cheerfully, having found amusement in how different the items were depending on the person.

"It doesn't seem to be causing much troubles. Maybe for some but the paranoia, at least for me, is about those that brought us here and not those also snatched and brought here. It does seem to be much more that people are leery of the forces, hamster, aliens, whatever, that brought us here because they tend to twist things and play some harsh pranks on others. Glitches. That's what everyone calls them."

For that he didn't smile quite as much, not sure if it was being a smart ass or honestly taking the word that literally. "Kidnapping, despite the breakdown of the word, is not purely and wholly reserved for those that are physically children. No such thing, least not in my word, as adultnapping."

"It does to me, but I've been told my tastes are weird," Clyde pointed out to her that finding gargoyles pretty was wrong, and that most girls didn't get scared by Rapunzel's hair. It was interesting he didn't take this news badly, but it might be he was too confused by Sky to properly react. That was probably it.

She didn't know how humanity fought to create civilization, history was something she didn't have a complete picture of. It was a lot of history for her to learn, and most of what she learned was apparently grossly inaccurate. "Brains? That's a really neat thing to bring with you," Sky wasn't sure what someone would do with a brain, but it had to be useful for something if someone brought it. Sky still didn't bother to think about what she had brought along. Just accepting the information, useful information... mostly.

"Glitches?" Sky tilted her head again, hands falling onto her hips as she considered this bit of information. Trying to work out how these pranks could work, and what mindset everyone was using in this city. She couldn't see the distinction between strangers brought here, and those bringing people, it made sense some of the people here might not be as uninformed as the ones responsible for this place. It was impossible for her to distrust everyone here, she had to trust at least until she has something to base distrust on. "So you trust others here, but not hamsters?"

"...Why not just use the word abducted?" It seemed strange to use a word suggesting one thing, when other words fit just as well. Once again her confusion seemed genuine, and uncolored with other feelings one would expect with 'smart asses.' "Earth has a lot of repetitive words."

"Yeah, I've heard the same over the years. You can call me creepy all you want," he said with a shrug. Was definitely not the worse thing he'd ever been called. Even by children.

Now that wasn't the answer he'd expected. "Yeah well, I don't think it was hers," he said, having dismissed much of it after the witch seemed to stop wanting to take over Taxon. "Likely whatever is blinking is what you brought. You have a home? Favorite store? A pony," he asked. What? Didn't all little girls still want ponies or did that go out decades ago?

"Things that go wrong, usually set up by whatever brought us here. People act different, bad things happen. Kind of an accepted thing, right until it happens. Course, then there is Glitch. Tall, lanky guy with a zipper in his head. Not the same thing," he said, smirking in amusement.

Josef shrugged a bit. "I trust some of them, others I just don't distrust. Couple I don't like but trust is just null with them. Hamsters though, no. They gave out free jet packs and I wasn't trying that. Not ever." He wasn't going to plummet to his death, even if it wouldn't last.

"Because I liked kidnapped," he challenged back, arching a brow. "And you're right, English is one of the worst lang..." Except she hadn't said English. She said Earth.

"Where were you before you came here?"