COMMENCE VOYAGE

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know the Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 41.1 million square miles? No reason.

...

There's something uneasy in the air as you come to.

Well, "come to" is an interesting word in this case. It implies waking up, which is not exactly what happens. None of you are in beds, nor are you really asleep in the traditional sense. One moment you're somewhere else, doing something else with your time, and the next? You're somewhere on board a massive cruise ship - maybe lounging on a deck chair by the pool, maybe getting some Gains in the exercise room, maybe enjoying the tasteful décor in the buffet - and you have no idea how you got here or how you might get back. This is not your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she isn't here.

What you do have, apart from 25 other unlucky souls, is a small smartphone-like device in your pocket with only a handful of things on it: a clock reading 11PM, a pdf of a ticket in your name on a special Atlantic Liners New Year's Eve Cruise, an app labeled Passenger Profiles with some basic information on your traveling companions, and a message:

Welcome aboard, passenger! Please feel free to partake of any of the facilities while you wait for the big event! Remember: when midnight comes, you better make your way to the theatre at the back of Level 1 for the main event! The Captain and the First Mate will be there to take care of you all personally, and to help you ring in the new year in style!

Well, that's a start. But what you do until then, it seems, is up to you!

Comments

[sharddrive]

...huh.

[That's. Pretty unusual.]

Where exactly would that be? Didn't think there was any part of the planet that had- you know, escaped this shit.

[hellahighwater]

[ A snort. ]

Oh, we got our own shit... Arcadia Bay. It's in Oregon. And...I'm going to bet you've got nooo idea where that is. Right?

[sharddrive]

You know, I don't, but I guess expecting otherwise is kind of on me.

[what the heck is an Oregon]

But, uh, yeah, a lot of the rest of the world is in not-great shape. Sorry to have to tell you.

[hellahighwater]

[ Hoo boy, this is awkward. ]

No, it's... Okay, I think I've got an idea of what's going on here... Have you ever heard of the multiverse?

[sharddrive]

...oh man, this is one of THOSE things? Dangit.

[He didn't need the Zone Cops potentially on his tail on top of everything.]

[hellahighwater]

[ Against all odds, she kinda smiles. She doesn't have to explain it, thank fuck. ]

That's what I'm betting? 'Cause...last I heard the rest of the world wasn't invaded with a buncha Terminator...what are you, are you a...fox?

[sharddrive]

Hedgehog.

[Wow, rude, he does not look remotely like any of the Prowers.]

[He- kind of cautiously sticks out his hand? This is what normal people do, right?]

The guy that built me had kind of an unhealthy fixation. Call me Shard.

[hellahighwater]

[ ...Sure, she'll shake hands with a robo hedgehog. That's severely cool, after all. ]

Shard, huh? Call me Chloe.

[sharddrive]

Chloe, got it. Cool hair, by the way.

[He wouldn't trade his sweet black and gold chassis for anything, but sometimes he's a little nostalgic for the blue.]

Wish the circumstances were better, but good to meet you.

[hellahighwater]

[ She snorts. Robots dig cool hair? Awesome. Here's like, the one silver lining to this whole situation. ]

Back 'atcha. I am always wishing the circumstances were better, believe you me.