#>longtext

Well now we know who he was talking to.

@voice-of-the-consolidation

> what? > ... > Uhm > how did you...? > you know what > weirder things have happened > what's another call?

< K glances at the terminal, its blinking red light glaring back. Their call with Simon was still connected, so how was it that this towship was able to connect? >

> this is the SS Luna > You're speaking to Ship Scout K > My affiliation is with The Core > can I > uh > ask why you're calling??

> . . .

[how long has it been? five minutes? ten, of twenty-five? not nearly long enough, but the seconds stretch on, leaving you with nothing but your own thoughts as company. the static surges only once, filled with grasping limbs just out of reach, the sound of someone crying out hidden by wavering noise.]

[and then, through that noise as it slowly fades—]

> (—I just want—)

[—a voice.]

> (—not sure anything was real? How—)

[simon's voice.]

> (—knew this was too good to be true, but—)

> —- Can't I just have this one thing? Haven't I done enough?

@bones-and-iron

//the consistent timeline has been restored!! lmao

< the silence streched on now that they were alone again. the silence brought too much. it gave too much. the static only grew louder, and they could only drown it out for so long before they grew insane.

so they spoke over it. >

> –animals. God. I hadnt seen any in this world at all.

> I miss them, you know?

> I used to have this cute little kitty that I had to leave behind

> I think she'd be 12 now.

< but they only grew more frantic, more desperate, the longer the silence and static grew >

> –my brother.

> its weird having your captain be your brother because every time someone mentions that he's my brother, people give me weird looks

> like they feel as if the only reason I got on The Core was because he was my brother

> well jokes on them

> I didnt even realize who the captain was until the day we were setting out

> because everyone kept calling him Captain Newthorne and thats our mothers maiden name

> so take that Lewis!

< yet nothing worked >

> Did you know I'm suppose to have a partner?

> I mean I did have a partner at one point

> but they're gone now

> so its only me

> but thats okay

> I dont need a partner

> even if most scouting ships have pairs

> there are exceptions

> Im one of like 4 scouting ships that don't have a partner

> so at least I don't have to add another thing to my "people think I get special treatment because the captain is my brother" list

< It only wanted in >

< Embrace it. Let the static in. It just wants to help - don't let him push us away! >

> ...

< and then... >

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

> ...

> He's here

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< They glance at the terminal as the static slowly fades. They don't understand why. Is the signal weakening? K hopes not. They need it to find Simon. >

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

> fuck

> okay

> jeez

> I'm coming

> hold your horses

< and they walk away from the terminal >

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< but in the background >

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< through the booming computer and the quieting sound of the static >

(-knew this was too good to be true-)

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< a voice >

(-Can't I just have this one thing?-)

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< Simon's voice!>

< K stops in their tracks, wondering if they just heard things. Wonders if they're truly losing their mind >

(-Haven't I done enough?)

[ SHIP 2387 IS REQUESTING ENTRY ]

< but no. That- That was Simons voice. It had to be.

Right? >

< They were quick, running to the other end of the ship to slam on a button, and before Jackson could say a thing to K, they run back to the terminal, slamming into with so much force that it rattles the table >

> Simon?

> Fuck, Simon!

> please please tell me I didn't just fucking halucinate you speaking to me again

> Please say something

> anything

> oh stars

> don't leave me again

> please

> I feel like I'm losing my mind

> am I talking to myself again?

> I have to be-

> Simon....?

> Are you there...?

> Who in the world are you talking to, K?

> ...Simon

> I don't hear anything lass

> I don't think he's there

> You might just be hearing things

> Common, come help me get the sub ready

> I think you need to have anything else on your mind

> ...yes Jackson...

> you can.. > you can think however you want > I won't hold it over your head > I just want to save you > I want to fight for you

< K laughs softly, a soft broken sound. They felt so out of place, now. Like they didn't know how to fix this all >

They look down, seeing their hands gripping the subs console tightly. They blink slowly, looking at all the blinking lights that shined brightly in the otherwise dark room.

"...huh?" They mutter, a confuse look crossing their face as they slowly let go of the console. K backs up, bumping into the chair behind them. They blink rapidly, rubbing their eyes to make sure they werent seeing things before turning on their heel.

No. It was definitely still the sub, they were still inside, so what just happened? Why were they at the console now? Weren't they just napping near the door?

They walk into the middle of sub, spinning around in a circle, trying to see if anything was out of place. Nothing was, so what woke them up? Something had to have woken them up...

They stood in the middle for awhile, mind running in circles when-

(–"45 minutes to try... whatever Scout wants to do"–)

(–'that be fine with"–)

(–"unacceptable. We're taking th"–)

(–panic, terror, fear–)

(–"no no no can't let them take it"–)

(–"have to... have to go down. now now now"–)

K holds onto their head, groaning in pain as the static rose to a volume that hurt. It subsided after a moment, forcing them to blink rapidly as memories from before came flooding back. They stood in the middle of the sub, dumbfounded at their own stupidity.

"Why the fuck did I do that?" They scolded themselves, looking around the sub once more as it groans and shifts in the dead of the blood ocean, "Now what the fuck do I do?"

They lingered outside before stepping towards it and inside the sub.

The static that loitered in their mind quieted down when they stepped inside, as if agreeing that it was the right choice to be inside. They sat down in front of the doorway once the door closed shut behind them, staring out into the tiny room.

What were they doing inside of here? Everything was already set for the sub to go down, they didnt need to be inside. No need to man it from the inside nor did they need to do anything inside the sub either, everything they needed was on the outside.

So why did they go inside?

In the beginning, they felt a pull, a sensation telling them to go inside, yet the moment they got inside, that sensation was gone. As if it was a pointless quest point. It was spotless, not a spec out of place. The only thing out of place was them.

Their legs curl up against their chest, cheek resting on a knee. They were so tired. It felt like they havent slept in hours since they've met Simon. Has it been hours? It couldn't have been, only a couple, right?...days maybe?... K's lost track of time, so much time. They felt so out of place, so...

K winces as the ringing in their ears rose for a moment, making them rub their ear against their leg.

"What the fuck..." They whisper into the open air before turning to bury their head into their legs.

They were so fucking tired.

just thinking of this all made his head hurt >

[ CONNECTING TO MOTHERSHIP ]

[ CALL CONNECTED ]

Jackson. How is it going?

Is scout okay?

> I wouldn't say okay but apparently Simon has reached out again.

has he now?

and what did he say?

did you hear anything?

> well he told K that he hated them.

> and that they werent real

> so its going great!

Shit.

How did Scout take it?

> not well

> from what I can tell

> but they said they'd still save him despite it all

Im not surprised, really

considering what this could be about

but nevertheless

we'll help Scout out

> yeah well

> I dont know how much we'd be able to help

> on that note

> Simon

> you're still looking into him

> yeah?

> theres something fishy about this whole thing

Mhm

Ive tried getting into contact with C.O.I but no one has answered me yet

and going through the files we do have about the C.O.I well

You remember Filament Station, right?

> Yea

> its one of the first stations we learned about when we arrived here

> why?

Well

I looked into the destruction that happened on Filament Station a bit more

Its said that one lone member of Eden took the fall for the deaths on Filament Station

and is currently doing uhh

what they call "conviction realization"

something something to get them integrated into the C.O.I or something

Im not sure, sounds boring if Im going to be honest

however...

> ...You think thats Simon

I dont think, I know

> and K doesnt know

> about any of this

you know their track record for reading anything.

And even if they did know...

they'd probably still help either way.

> I dont like this

> I dont know why we're helping

> this just seems like an overall sketchy situation

It is

and I have no doubt it'll get worst the longer the two of you hover near AT-5

Look

for now

just try to go along with what Scout says

I'll keep trying to get in contact with the C.O.I about this rescue mission

till then

try to keep a level head and keep scout on the right path

> will go captain

> take care

you too