Transmission 004 ( audio )

[abadidea]

[Isaac clears his throat before he actually speaks.]

So...today was June 6th. That makes two birthdays here. [He's quiet for a moment, almost as though he's surprised himself that he actually paid attention to the days.] I...uh...time went by really fast. I guess, with all the crazy stuff that's been happening, it makes sense I lost track of it.

[He's quiet for another moment before he clears his throat again.]

Anyway, that means I've been here a little over a year, and the place hasn't... [He trails off. There is literally no reason to show everyone you're the crazy guy, Isaac.] ...it's been really nice, actually. A little...antique, but nice.

[Another pause. He's not very good at one-sided conversations.]

So, I was wondering, for those of you who've been here a while, too, and maybe come from places that, well, from pretty bad situations, have you put any thought into...your future? Here, I mean? What did you come up with?

Comments

[glassbox]

Somethin' like that. Think there's some folks been around longer though.

[abadidea]

How do you just...go along with it? [A pause where he scoffs.] This place just seems too good to be true.

[glassbox]

Figure I got nothin' t'lose. An' things jus' happen, y'know? It's hard t'keep y'self from gettin' attached to people here.

[abadidea]

Do you really think it's that simple?

[glassbox]

Why shouldn't it be?

[abadidea]

It just...seems really easy.

[glassbox]

Gettin' attached is easy. S'all the stuff after that that's hard.

[ A little sigh. ]

Don't y'have friends in this place? Folks y'care about?

[abadidea]

[That gets a chuckle from him.]

Tell me about it, and yeah, I do. It's just...weird...and I get how fucked that sounds.

[glassbox]

It ain't that fucked up. I ain't judgin'.

[ A light pause. ]

Y'come from a bad place?

[abadidea]

It wasn't always bad. [He takes a breath.] Something came...happened? I don't know where it came from, but it...does things to people on a planet-wide scale, and...they don't make it.

[glassbox]

Doesn't sound real good. Guess y'like it better here then?

[abadidea]

Yeah, there's a lot less... [Death, mutated zombies, and impending extinction.] ...pollution. In the 25th century, Earth's depleted most of our natural resources. There are a lot of animals here I've only seen on the Net, or in school. Like whales.

...you know, I should take Ellie to the aquarium. I kind of wonder if they're as huge as they taught us in school.

[glassbox]

Huh. I like it here better too. Different reasons though.

Who's Ellie?

[abadidea]

What do you like about this place.

Ellie's my girlfriend.

[glassbox]

The people mostly. An' not bein' completely doomed t'die, I guess.

I think it's sweet, y'havin' a girlfriend here an' all. She from your world, or somewhere else?

[abadidea]

...then I guess we like it for the same reasons.

And yeah, Ellie and I were together back home, too.

[glassbox]

Guess y'get t'be together either way then, huh.

[abadidea]

Yeah. It's...kind of amazing.

[glassbox]

Kinda makes me a little jealous, t'be honest.

[abadidea]

...I'm sorry?

[glassbox]

Nah, ain't your fault. Jus' how things work around here, y'know? Gettin' attached t'people an' all.

[abadidea]

That's how life works.

[glassbox]

Don't I know it.