maskormenace | 1.0 | MONDAY MORNING

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1.0 | MONDAY MORNING - early

[ The camera opens up to a face far to up into the screen, squinting, and tipping her head, as if she's trying to figure this out. She tipped her head again -- this time in the other direction -- as if she's mystefied by the entire thing. ]

They said -- [ She starts, but then stopped, as she held her hand to her face. ] Oh! This is foolish! These instructions had to be lying!

[ But curiosity wins out, and Dolores sighed, and squared her shoulders, as if she's preparing for a presentation. ]

I have some instructions, that told me that this is... a way to communicate with others. I've never heard of something so...fantastic and ridiculous in all my life. [ Her voice comes in a breathless rush, the prospect is so shocking, clearly. ] Where I come from, we... we go visit, if we want to talk to someone, not try something so...impersonal.

[ She smiles, and ducks her head. ] This is so silly...

If I'm not just making a fool of myself, and there really are people listening... [ A pause, and her eyebrows knit together in concentration. ] We're all supposed to be from different places, right? What types of places are you all from? Is this...normal for other people? I'm afraid I feel out of place, and a little bit confused.

Oh, and my name is Dolores. What's yours?

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Given the content of your post, might I assume that you are not yet accustomed to the technology used within this world?

[ Just consider her grandma, text isn't for her! ]

No, not at all! We have... trains, where I come from. Some establishments even have lights, if they're very wealthy, but nothing... [ It's breathless, the way she speaks about it, her eyes wide. ] Nothing like this!

[D33 can understand the water - at least to an extent. Coming to this world had been more of a shock to him than anything, but the way this woman speaks reminds him of the way K31 had seen this world - novel, magnificent, full of opportunities for an entirely new way of life (a very welcome change).

[Maybe six months ago he would have found this sort of excitement irritating, and maybe he still does, but he can't help but relate either way.]

You've gone so far as to ask the ImPort population at large what their home worlds are like, but have offered very little information on your own in return.

What type of place is it that you come from, Miss Dolores, if I might ask?

[He's truly quite curious to know, seeing as how blown away by all of this she seems.]

My world? [ She almost sounds dreamy, when she says it. Her eyes aren't unfocused, but they do look past the camera, like she's remembering something she's so fond of. ]

It's...beautiful. It's wide mesas, and long plains that go on for forever, and the sky! [ She smiles, clearly fond. ] It's so wide, and so blue! It's bigger than anything you could even imagine! I live on my daddy's ranch, and we raise cattle, but my world is beautiful, and majestic. I... I never thought I would leave -- and I never wanted to.

But now...I'm here? This is different, compared to anything I've ever seen.

[Just another ImPort that will be itching to go home, then. D33 inwardly scoffs at the idea.]

You are here, yes, and I am afraid that whether or not you remain will be quite out of your control.

General consensus would suggest that you will return home eventually, though attempting to expedite that process in any way will likely have negative consequences.

Expedite?

[ Her head tips, in the same way that sometimes dogs recognize that you've called their names. ] I'm afraid...I don't quite know what you mean.

How, or why, would one want to expedite the process to return? This is new, it's -- it's an adventure.

[An adventure, she says, and D33 can't help but roll his eyes behind his communicator. She certainly does sound like K31, and perhaps that's why he keeps talking to her in the first place.]

You will find a great many ImPorts who are eager to return to their home worlds. The one in which we reside now is certainly not without it's challenges and frustrations.

[Everything is Hell everywhere all the time.]

You may find the following informational documents to be of use. You can download them onto your communication device by clicking the following links.

[Bam and boom.]

I can attest that the man who maintains them is a reputable source of information.

[For now, his human form is on the screen - a man who looks to be in his mid-forties. Much less alarming than his usual or true alien forms. He appears to have some sort of accent but it's hard to pinpoint it.]

Visiting is not always convenient when people are spread across thousands of planets throughout the galaxy. We did not have this particular technology, however our holo devices produced a similar effect.

[Han's filming in De Chima, just outside of a fairly nice house. He looks somewhat tired and worn, but he gives the camera, and thus Dolores, a lazy salute.]

Yeah, we're listening. Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon. [Yeah, he does that every time.] This isn't just common where I'm from, this is practically ancient.

[They have space travel, he's still so salty about the fact that space travel here is still in its toddler stages at best.]

For others this is pretty much their standard level of tech, and there's gonna be a couple who're on the same shuttle as you. It varies.

Yo, uh, it's fine. You're doin' pretty well for a first timer, y'know? I think you'll pick this up quickly.

[it could be worse, right?]

Where are you at? If, uh, you're gettin' overwhelmed by the cities headin' out to the suburbs might suit ya better.

Hello, Dolores. You seem to have got the hang of it pretty well, we can see your message. [ Bodhi offers a small wave. ]

Technology like this makes it easier to speak with people directly over long distances, like another city, or if you're from somewhere space travel - a planet. But I can see where it might feel impersonal versus talking to someone in person. [ which is not something he's ever thought of until now given how normal it is to him. ]

What kind of technology are you used to?

Thank you, I suppose. [ She tapped her chin, as if in thought. ]

Although this is more of the same, this...impersonal information. No books? No conversations?

It feels... like you all have taken the life out of welcoming someone new to your world.

[ She stares, and it's almost -- almost blank. ]

Planets? In a galaxy? Sir, you must be jesting! That's impossible!

A captain? Of a ship? [ That's... the only thing she's understood so far. Instead of questioning the terminology, she literally glazes over it, and smiles. ]

And what sorts of seas do you travel, in your ship?

I'm in... a city called "Nonah"? It's quite large! I'm used to... well, the only people were in town, and that was an hour's ride from my daddy's ranch.

I have a feeling that sort of desolation will be harder to find, here. At least, that's what they told me.

Sometimes, we would use the telegraph in town to send short messages, but... other than that, we always talk in person, or at the very least, write a letter! The telegraph would be expensive.

[ A beat. ]

I'm afraid I don't understand your question.

[Well, D33 isn't terribly concerned with whether or not he appears "welcoming" to this woman, but if she's looking for books, he does know where to find books. If she comes from a world like his own, having them in abundance would likely be just as incredible to her as it was to him. D33 probably wouldn't deprive anyone of that discovery.]

If you are seeking books, I believe that there is at least one public library in each of the porter cities. I favor the library in Maurtia Falls myself, though the others are certainly sufficient.

Did you have such things in your own world, might I ask?

The technology must be very primitive where you come from. There has long been space travel where I am from, much more advanced than this planet of Earth.

You would not be the first to feel out of place, ma'am. I come from a much less advanced world as well.

I have...heard of them?

[ It's hesitant. Sweetwater doesn't really have a library. Most of the denizens can hardly be bothered to bathe, let alone show any culture. ]

I'm afraid...my world has nothing of the sort. We had to buy our books when they came in from shipment, or order them through the general store. Once, I -- [ A pause. Her head tipped. I have a gift for you, Dolores. ] -- Once, daddy ordered me Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and I... thought it was the most amazing book I think I have ever read.

[ She blinks. ]

That's a rude thing to say to someone, isn't it?

[ Dolores looks at the camera, concerned. ]

I'm sorry, I --

[ She's having trouble grasping the not-human appearance. ]

Are you...okay?

I am merely stating the facts.

To be honest, my people had liitle use for most technologies and rarely travelled off world. It was not meant as an insult. Advanced technology does not mean the culture or species is superior.

You called my word primitive. That's hardly a fact! We're no...Ghost Nation.

[ Aw yeah, good old fashioned Wild West Racism. ]

What would you call a world with less developed technology?

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1.0 | MONDAY MORNING - early

Text; UN: D33

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