themainframe | 001. Video.

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001. Video.

[The video comes on to a newcomer, a man possibly in his forties? That or a bit weathered and in his thirties, with a poker face and a low voice.]

Hello.

I am one of the new "Chosen" here. My partner - a Gazimon - and I have been assigned to stay in floor one, room eight of the apartments. I understand that the rooms are to be shared between three [Brief hesitation.] human-Digimon pairs.

I would be glad to know who we'll be staying with. If that needs to wait for later rather than sooner, I ask that the other tenants of F1 008 don't be alarmed to see Gazimon and me there.

Thank you. [Small nod before the recording ends.]

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[Monodramon is the one manning the d-terminal when Thane's broadcast goes out. Shepard is flipping through a book in bed, because damn if broken ribs don't make it hard to be up and about.]

[When she hears a familiar voice, though, she's out of bed in an instant, no response to the stab of pain but the tiniest hint of a wince. Thank god, someone she knows--]

[Except when she grabs the device out of Monodramon's hands, she doesn't see a Drell on the screen. The disappointment sets in, but she turns on the video anyways.]

. . . Have we met somewhere?

[This takes Thane by surprise, all right.

He would question to himself what in the galaxy the odds of this could possibly be - but there is not a chance that he wouldn't recognize this face and voice even if he hadn't had the mixed gift of a drell memory...

He smiles. This has implications and he knows it somewhere - if she's here, what of the Normandy, the preparations for the Reapers' assault, but he suddenly feels, in the here-and-now, honestly and pleasantly fortunate.]

Shepard.

I wouldn't assume I could be recognized by appearance.

It's Thane.

[Shepard spends most of the next 5 seconds staring in disbelief. What. How.]

Thane? Thane Krios?

[She shakes her head lightly, thinking back to some of the conversations she's seen over the network the past few weeks.]

. . . You know what, fuck it, this isn't even the weirdest thing I've seen this week.

[And then she grins.]

'bout time I got a member of my team back.

[That'd seem to confirm that it's only the two of them, but that's much more than good company enough for Thane, and the affirmed recognition draws a line under it - even if what she'd just said was interesting.]

For how long have you been here?

[Over a week, then - true that he'd been somewhat cut off from hearing anything of substance on the Normandy or Shepard since the Omega-4 squad broke apart and scattered, but how long should it have taken word of the second disappearance of Commander Shepard to reach anyone?]

Edited 2013-05-05 08:05 (UTC)

[Shepard has to think for a moment to answer that one. She's been mostly concerned with the day-to-day since she got here, so she hasn't really been keeping track.]

About a month now.

A month?

Hmm. [Indeed - if Cmdr. Shepard had completely disappeared from the galaxy for an entire month, anyone living on the Citadel would have surely had to know.]

[Unless he'd been distancing himself inadvertently from serving on the Normandy and the survived suicide mission much more than they deserved.]

Shepard.

I'm sorry that we lost touch ever since the squad went their separate ways. Even if I do believe it was for the best. We needed to remove all association with Cerberus; I've been glad to be within reach of Kolyat.

It is good to see you again now. And I look forward to fighting by your side again.

Thane, who's fighting who, now?

[Gazimon peers into the camera climbing up a set of rails that her partner's standing against, and her face quirks and she looks between her partner and Shepard.]

Who's she supposed ta be?

[Shepard grins, amused.]

It's hard to keep in touch when I'm in this place, isn't it? Don't worry about it. How's your son?

I'd say the same, but, well. It's good to hear your voice, even if it's out of an unfamiliar face.

[Oh, that must be his partner. Monodramon pokes his head into the screen.]

The best partner in all of--

[Shepard cuts him off.]

That must be your partner.

It is. [Glances back at the rabbit-thing.] This is Gazimon.

And you're Monodramon, arent'cha? [She grins what is probably meant to be playfully, for a Gazimon face.] That a fact? How many other humans've you gone through?

[Thane looks a hint amused himself - but if the Digimon can keep each other occupied, moving on.]

He has been - [Halts - he really can't say "well".]

It has been different between us - since before the suicide mission. For the better, for both our peace. If he still harbors any resentment towards me -- and surely he must -- then I am still at fault. But it doesn't show.

Time has been drawing short, and I am thankful that Kolyat has been willing to use it to make new memories. Together, after far too many years lost.

[Time had indeed been drawing short - and since his arrival in the Terminal Room, Thane had gotten his mind on things other than the fact that he was breathing far easier and feeling far more stable than he had in a while. Another thing to think on when not catching up with someone.]

And you? Have things been well enough since our last contact?

[Monodramon puffs out his chest.]

The Commander calls me Cadet!

[And damn if he isn't proud of that.]

And I've met lots of other humans, so it's obvious!

[Shepard studiously ignores the digimon.]

I'm glad you guys got to have some time together. I was worried, but it sounds like things are working out.

[She chuckles when he asks about her, though.]

Well, I've got three cracked ribs, and I'm pretty sure the Alliance is going to be pissed when I get home, but otherwise, I'm holding up alright.

[In pokes Cam, all interested.] Someone from your world, Miss Shepard?

[Shepard smiles, looking incredibly pleased.]

Yeah. And a good friend of mine, at that. He helped me turn a suicide mission into a no-casualties report a few weeks before I got here.

Wow, that's...impressive. [Understatement.] Good, I mean. You've got a friend from home here, 'nd...an older one. [A small sheepish look; he's noticed that most of her friends are. Well. His age.]

[Shepard grins proudly.]

I had a great team. Couldn't have asked for better, really.

[She laughs.]

I was starting to feel a bit like a den mother, I'll admit.

Yeah... Sorry, guess we sorta...surrounded you. [Don't feel guilty, Cam. Stop. Bad puppy, no biscuit.]

[Shepard laughs and shakes her head.]

Can I tell you a secret, Cam?

[She grins fondly.]

I really like kids. And it feels right, looking out for all of you.

[Oh. Heh. Well. He tries to grin and contorts his face and glances down and gosh Cam, take a compliment! He settles for a very shy smile that blossoms into an excited one.]

That's, really good to hear. I'm glad we're not, uh, burdening you.

[Awww, you're filling Shepard with maternal fondness, Cam.]

Not at all. So don't worry about it, okay?

[It is his purpose in life.]

'Kay. I'll, uh, try.

[In supplement to the answer Shepard gave - also clearly proud to talk of it.]

All of us did. Our squad was assembled of masters in our respective fields of skill, and still, we had accepted the odds to stand against us. The outcome is indicative of the degree of - advantage, given by inspiration.

You are a friend of Shepard? [It's getting increasingly unignorable that adults are in the minority here.]

[OH WELL HELLO he sort of asked for this huh.]

That's, um. Amazing, I mean, that you were able to-- [stop] Uh, yeah, I'm Cam. Miss Shepard's done a whole lot for me.

For me as well.

You heard her say my name - Thane Krios. A pleasure.

I take it you don't always...look like this?

Hey, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I've already decided on who my suitemates are. [ What a rude girl. She makes up for her charming personality with a half-assed smile at least. ] Hm, but I don't think I have much of a choice.

I'd hate to send you out on your own and it is my responsibility to be kinder to the newbies, huh? What a pain.

Oh. So the room has already been filled. [Which is exactly why you're saying that you guess they can stay anyway, riiiight?]

If our assignment was a mistake, and there is no space for us, we will manage finding somewhere else to stay.

Hang up, what are we talking about doing?

No, no, no. Geez, I can't even feel guilty about kicking you out.

[ Mostly because there's a Lunamon giving her THE LOOK in the corner. ]

You can stay, just make yourself useful. I won't tolerate one of those lazy roommates who make a mess of things and expect others to pick up after them.

Oh, I've been assigned to that room too. [Huh. Seems kind of weird that whoever's in charge of housing would choose to put an adult man with a teenage girl, but he seems nice enough...]

I'm new too, so I won't really be able to help you adjust, since I'm still trying to get used to things as well. I'm sorry.

[No, indeed - apparently, both of his human roommates are teenage girls, and the awkwardness of this does not fail to strike him.]

Don't be. [Soft polite smile.] I'm sure we'll get by.

And we won't let our presence be intrusive.

Don't worry about it. [Hakuno returns the smile.] I'm used to sharing a living space with others. I think I like it better this way, actually.

[She turns away from the camera, and the device's view moves as well, bringing the remarkably human-like digimon at Hakuno's side into view.] You don't mind either, do you, Lucemon?

[Lucemon smiles and shakes her head.] No, of course not. As long as no trouble is caused, I think we'll all get along just fine.

[That Digimon certainly does look strikingly enough like a little human angel for Thane to be intrigued.

He nods as a small seated equivalent to a bow.] Good to know.

Thank you - your amicability is welcome.

You don't have to thank me. We're all stuck here together, right? Roommate or not, I guess we're all going to have to work together to find a way out of here. Or... complete the task we've been assigned. Whichever seems better.

You know, you shouldn't wear a mask while using the D-Terminal. You might scare some of the children that are staying here.

Excuse me?

[Not inflected inquisitorially.]

... You are wearing a mask, right?

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