THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

[modormenace]

 

A

rrival for some goes all but unnoticed. It's a sudden shiver, the sensation of being watched... and then nothing at all. Life continues serenely as it always has. The only indication of any change comes with sleep, wrapped in dreams: vague and distant echo imagery of another life, melting away in the morning.

 

F

or others, arrival is a sharp jolt. In the space of a single blink, they find themselves in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by the trappings of a life they have not lived. They are replacements, spirits taking possession of bodies belonging to people very much like themselves...

 

A

nd for the rest, arrival is a procedure. Routine. Those ported in to the Fractured World wake hazily in the comfortably dim light of the Porter room, laid out on an exam table. Their wounds, if they remember having any, have been healed— and even those who remember their own deaths find themselves miraculously restored. As they regain consciousness, an automatic audio-visual presentation is triggered. Regardless of their backgrounds or physiology, all imPorts 'see' and 'hear' this message as if in their own language:

"Greetings, imPort."

The voice is calm and gently authoritative, almost certainly selected by committee.

"On behalf of the Synod and all imPorts it represents, we welcome you to the planet Earth."

A decidedly non-humanoid robotic arm holds out a palm-sized device and rather insistently demands the new arrival take it. This is the imPort's comm, used for accessing the Porter's database of information, as well as the communications Network— though it won't receive communications from outside the Porter building until carried through one of the many Gates set up in a long, crescent-shaped array on the far side of the room.

As each Gate is approached, information about the faction it leads to flashes up on the comm device's screen. Which will you choose?

THE WHITE TOWER SANCTUM AURORAE KRAKOA HOUSE OF M EMPIRE OF LIGHT EQUALITY BEFORE LAW THE TWIN CITIES OLIN VALE EDEN SEEKERS OF THE NEW DAWN NORTHWESTERN IMPERIUM GREEN PIECE MAD BURNISH LUMINARY

Comments

[lonewolfatha]

Thanks, Mr. Lauren.

[ She shyly ducks her head and detaches herself from his back, sliding to the ground with a solid thump.<.i> ]

I know it's important, that's why I had the dogs stay behind this time. They would've gotten excited and blown my cover.

[ One of Wolf's Porter-given powers was the ability to talk to dogs, and she'd become quick friends with several of them in Krakoa. Sort of like her own miniature pack. ]

[rebelarrow]

[Once she's clear, he pulls himself into a seated position.]

Then perhaps I should teach you how to use them as a distraction. If you can't get them to hunt with you, you can use them to flush out your prey.

...Hypothetically speaking.

[lonewolfatha]

Hypothetically, of course.

[ Wolf grins. They both know how 'hypothetical' his lessons usually are, but that just makes them more fun, in her opinion. ]

... That could work. Ruthorford is a Golden Retriever, he'd have fun with it.

[rebelarrow]

[If they weren't hypothetical, then he would be breaking a very important pact with the White Tower, and no one would ever be so foolish.]

You could use techniques similar to what would be used with hunting dogs, or you could simply use the dogs to disarm your opponent with their good-natured charm.

[lonewolfatha]

[ Of course not! They're much too responsible for that. Wolf blinks up at him for a moment, then giggles.]

... Wait, do you mean the sad puppy-dog eyes? They don't need any training for that, they're already masters!

[rebelarrow]

[Judd's lips twitch into something dangerously resembling a smile.]

Perhaps, but from what I can see, they do it indiscriminately. You need to be able to teach them your target.

[lonewolfatha]

... Oh, now that would come in handy.

[ Wolf grins a devious grin. She's smelled Jane's baking before, and has the feeling that multiple sets of puppy-dog eyes are gonna work wonders there. ]