queenofheartsrp | First Light [Action; accidental video; video]

First Light [Action; accidental video; video]

[A bright, blinding light fills the gardens, emanating from the new arrivals' clearing. It is strong enough to hurt one's eyes, but it has no other ill effects. After the initial flash, the Vine starts recording, so the mirrors, too, fill up with the light as it shines and then fades.

When it has grown dim enough, a figure is revealed, lying on the ground, dressed in the familiar white shift of a newcomer. She stirs at once, leaping up. Her eyes are wide, her face distorted with alarm and confusion as she cries out.]

Wassily--!

[She is about to say something else, but the light flares again, and the Vine takes this as a sign to stop recording.

A few minutes pass, and the woman reappears, facing the mirror, dressed plainly in black. The light from before is no longer in evidence, and she can be seen clearly. She is perhaps in her early thirties, with long blond hair. She is much calmer, and smiling, though she still shows signs of strain. She seems to have become aware of her surroundings and the situation, and her concern now is for those she is addressing as she speaks in a quiet voice.]

Hello--all of you. My name is Epsilon. Are there many of you here? Are you all right?

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[She nods.] That was once the case where I'm from. A while ago now, but I'm familiar with that level of technology.

It's all right. I'm not offended. I understand what you meant. I'm actually rarely mistaken for a human. Most people know who I am.

Really? [She tries to peer over the mirror edge to get a better view] There must be something I'm missing, then, unless the rest of you is... a tank or something.

Oh no, nothing like that. I was unclear. I'm simply well-known--famous, you might say. I'm the only robot of my kind, and-- [She breaks off, realizing that she was about to say that there were only a few robots of comparable power. The thought recalls a flood of distressing data. She hesitates, that distress visible on her face for a moment before she concludes:]

I appear quite human.

[Jessica has enough tact not to press the distress button here.] A celebrity, kind of?

[Epsilon recovers quickly, her smile returning.] You could say that. In a way. I've been in the press a great deal, though that wasn't my choice.

I try to stay out of the public eye. I spend most of my time with my children.

[Her stomach sinks a bit.]

um... there's other people to help take care of those kids, right?

[Epsilon's smile fades completely into a kind of empty calm.]

Yes. There are a few very wonderful and capable people who assist me at the orphanage. I know they'll do a fine job in my absence. And legally speaking, if anything happens to me, all my assets are to be used to take care of the children and others like them.

[Her voice is very quiet.] I am sorry that they'll have to miss me. They'll be upset.

Wow... you've... it sounds like you're prepared for anything. [Definitely approving!] Though it really sucks you have to use that preparation.

We might be able to get back, eventually.

It was difficult for me to found the orphanage. There were a great many factors, legal and otherwise, to take into consideration. I did everything I could to ensure that my children would be taken care of, no matter what.

[She pauses. She retains that quiet calm.] I believe I was very badly damaged, in my world.

....but you're OK here?

wait.

Like... [She searches for a good way to put this.] "We can't rebuild her" damaged?

I seem to be fine, here. I can detect no damage to any of my systems, which contradicts my data.

My data indicates that I was past the point where repair would be possible, yes.

oh, shit...

This kind of brings up a lot of complications... I mean...

Man...

Yes, it's extremely likely that being returned to my world would destroy me, unfortunately.

I'm also very worried about those I left behind.

Are they going to be in danger or something?

Yes. Recently, my world has been shaken by a series of troubling events. There is a great deal of danger, to everyone, but the people I was with, in particular--the last recorded moments of my data are confusing. I'm not sure if I managed to protect my friends.

i'm so sorry...

Thank you for your kindness, Jessica. I didn't mean to upset you. [She smiles, sadly.]

I only hope they're unharmed.

Oh, no, no, like... why would you worry about that? Holy shit, that's awful!

[She's just going to quietly freak out for a moment because she's been presented with a problem that is completely unfixable.]

...yeah... Well, you've got people taking care of everything! So... there's gotta be some way they'll get through all right.

It's easier for me to suppress and control my emotions than it would be for a human, for which I'm grateful at the moment. Otherwise, it might be difficult for me to function at this time.

You're right. I do trust my assistants. I'm sure the children will be fine. [But there's more to it than that. She doesn't seem to believe her own words, though she wants very much to believe them.]

Yeah, that's... good...

[Jessica is totally at a loss now.]

It has helped to have someone to talk to, so thank you for that.

I'm also worried about the others here. Are you all right, Jessica? I hope you haven't had many difficulties since you arrived.

Oh, you're welcome... [Her normal reaction would not be not-blushing. The chocolates are still affecting her, however, so Epsilon gets a shy smile.]

I'm... OK, given the circumstances. There were murderplants and stuff a while back, but mostly it's... well, better than being locked in someone's basement torture dungeon.

You and the others here have been very kind so far. It's been such a comfort. [She returns Jessica's smile readily.]

Murderplants? [She looks a little worried at this term, not to mention "basement torture dungeon".] I'm glad you're doing well, relatively speaking, but it concerns me that you're subjected to such dangers here.

Yeah, everyone here's pretty cool, mostly.

They were like big, angry roses. That moved. After we figured out that they don't like fire, it was kind of easy to deal with, but... yeah, I'm not really a big fan of having my skin punctured.

I'm glad that the people here are friendly, but--

No, I'd prefer that your skin not be punctured. Why does the Queen permit such things to happen? Was any explanation given?

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