1st Mission | Audio

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[The voice on the Network is deep, forceful, and thoroughly unamused.]

You know, I've thought about getting a tattoo before. This thing on my wrist? It’s not exactly what I had in mind.

I'm Jacob Taylor. I'm looking for some answers. They’re telling me that I'm in a different universe, and I've traveled through time. Apparently I've been drafted, too.

[Jacob pauses, snorts.]

This is all bullshit, right? The kind of tech they're talking about shouldn't even exist, especially not in the 21st century. And I'm not fighting for a government I don’t believe in or belong to. I'm no mercenary.

If anybody wants to help fill the new guy in, I'd appreciate it. I'm not swearing any oaths until I get more information.

Comments

video;

[abadidea]

...yeah, I do. You've talked to her?

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah. She's one of the people who responded, like you.

[Jacob rubs the back of his head.]

She... told me what happened to Earth in your time. I'm sorry.

video;

[abadidea]

...what happened to the Earth? What do you mean?

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob frowns.]

She's talking about a... 'Global Warming Epidemic.' Made it sound like Earth got wrecked. People had to go to space because the planet was used up.

video;

[abadidea]

Sort of. I mean, people still live there. Hell, I was born there, but it's not pretty, even if it is still home.

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob nods, relaxing a little.]

Good to hear. I've never really called Earth home, but I never want to see it get trashed. No matter what universe it's in.

video;

[abadidea]

It's not trashed so much as...worn out. We ran out of fossil fuels over two hundred years ago.

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Didn't develop any renewables in time, huh?

[Jacob glances downward, somber.]

It could have happened to us. But then we found alien technology on Mars, and reverse-engineered it. It changed the universe for humanity.

Mostly for the better.

video;

[abadidea]

I can't really speak for what they were doing. If I had to guess, though, I'd say no one cared until it was too late to do anything about it. It'd be par for the course, really.

...wow. We...found something, too. And they tried that, but...they made a mistake along the way. It...changed the universe for humanity, too, but it sounds like yours went...a little better than...ours did.

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob shifts a little, sensing he just stepped on a land mine. Why does Ellie's universe seem to be so full of depressing things?]

Is it all right if I ask what happened?

video;

[abadidea]

[He nods, but doesn't immediately start his story. He looks uncertain, which is exactly what he is. He has no idea where to start.]

It's a pretty long story, though. You sure you're up for this?

Re: video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob thinks for a moment. Then he shakes his head.]

Now might not be the best time. I just got here. I'm still trying to wrap my head around this universe. But once I've adjusted, we can meet up and you can tell me more about your own. Sound good?

video;

[abadidea]

[Isaac himself wasn't ready to talk, and he welcomed the delay, nodding.] Sounds good. Here's my number. Give me a call when you're ready.