Castaways in the REAL

[Spydercat]

....... Searching .......
....... Connection [VL-C-9084] Located .......
....... Encryption [alpha-blue] Activated .......
....... Transmitting Username/Password [Spydercat/********] Protocols .......
....... Username/Password Protocols Acknowledged and Approved .......
....... Establishing Connection [Vertitas Lucis Mainframe via Hovercraft Crystalis Communications Uplink] .......
....... Connection Online and Secure - Message Begins <<<

FROM: Spydercat, ex-First Mate of Hovercraft Crystalis
TO: Veritas Lucis (all)

I hope this is getting through. It's been a difficult few weeks. The Cypherites have been stepping up their attacks on the Crystalis. It was getting to the point where we couldn't reach broadcast depth without being attacked by at least two or more Cypherites controlled sentinels. Treius was wounded in the last attack, so we found a hoverbarge willing to care for him. While I was on the hoverbarge seeing that Treius was treated properly, Aiyalla unloaded our personal items and undocked the Crystalis from the hoverbarge. I thought she was stranding us, but she kept the communication protocols unchanged and I was able to speak to her

Aiyalla has decided that her only hope is to go into deep hiding. Since neither Treius or I are wanted by the Cypherites, she felt it was safer for us to part ways while the two of us were still alive. I tried to argue with her, but her mind is mind up. She plans to head deep and to not come up, even to log into the Matrix. She's either going to lose them for good, or be gone so long that they'll forget about her. I wish her all the luck in the world. (damn, I'm gonna miss her)

Aiyalla left an uplink for Treius and I to continue to use the Veritas Lucis communications links until we can board another Veritas Lucis Hovercraft. Unsure how long she will be able to maintain this uplink, so I hope this message arrives safely.

....... Transmitting Hoverbarge HB-84-AV/4736 Locator Beacon .......

Hope to see you all soon.
Spydercat

>>> Message Ends - Connection Terminated .......

[Treius]

I awoke, well I think I was awake, the difference between... yeah you know the story. I felt around me, it wasn't my room, it wasn't even the room on the Crystalis that Aiyalla gave him to use. It was a very different.

"You're awake" Someone called with a strange mixture of alarm, confusion and excitement.

"That answers one question... where am I?" I responded.

"This is a municipal barge, from Zion. You know about Zion right?"

I waved my hand, at least I hope I did. Motor control was not my strong suit.

"Yes yes... the matrix and all that. What day is it?"

She laughed, until she remembered what had happened.

"I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to... It's been four months since you and the other guy were dropped off here. He's since gone, we said we would take care of you. You were in some sort of coma.

I breathed a deep sigh. This was not going to be easy.

"I see. Did they leave me a message? How many people know I'm here anyways?"

I could feel her closer to me now, most likely checking my vitals.

"Everyone assumed you were going to be like that forever. But the two who left you here, Aiyalla and Spydercat, they made us promise to keep you alive until they returned."

"Then I guess I owe you my thanks, my name is"

"...Robert Zlander, also known as Treius, correct"

The details were still a bit fuzzy, but that seemed right to me. No, that is correct. I am Treius, Robert was who I used to be. Used to be seems to be a key phrase in who I am, or was I guess. I used to be an orphan, I used to be a fighter, I used to be a follower, I used to be a leader, and I used to be a runaway. Not exactly what I would like to be, but you've got to take what you can.

"Treius, is fine."

"Alright then, let me just get the others in here and we can get you back up and walking."

The next hour or so was no shock to me, alot of new people, some excited, some concerned I was some sort of spy, or even an agent. Good thing that they didn't know who I really was huh? I had forgotten what it was like to have my muscles rebuilt, I had done it a few times, but from the other side. Throughout the experience I finally learned about the crew of this ship. The girl I met first called herself "Raena" She had been ejected from the matrix a few months ago, and has positioned herself as chief of medicine on this ship. She was young, full of hope, and devilishly smart. Her assistant, "Gunner" was a little older, and apparently freeborn. Nothing really caught my eye, in a manner of speaking, about him. Standard freeborn Zioninte. The captain however, was very interesting.

"Call me Hi'iaka, I'm the captain of this barge."

"Treius" I responded, still full of needles.

"First of all, it's good to see you awake, your arrival was unexpected at best, but those two you left you here paid us very well, so we were obliged to keep you going."

"I'm still working on if that's a good thing or not"

"Either way, we were just told to keep you here while you were out, you're going to have to find someone to come get you ASAP, Zion control won't like us taking on an unregistered person, what with all the civilians I'm hauling around."

"I'll make some calls... after I get something to eat..."


((What could this possibly mean? Is Treius going to return to the matrix? Will he find the others? Is there even anyone left who knows who he is? All this and more next time))

[Targie]

Transmission incoming...
Location: Error
Sender: Error
Out of Broadcast range
Accept transmission Y/N
Y
.....
I'm sorry to hear about Aiyalla, I hope she can remain safe, though I believe this was a mistake and their could perhaps have been better alternatives however, I am willing to bring you aboard my ship, contact either me or Mirmaker.

-Targie

[Treius]

Learning new things about yourself and meeting new people is very interesting the second time around. I had only jacked in once before this, though it was much more... low key. I had found myself at Club Sphinx, over in Dannah Heights. I felt almost drawn there, it wasn't that spectacular, nice couches though. I was about to move on when I recieved a phone call. She spoke as though she knew who I was. I guess I shouldn't be to shocked when that happens anymore. She asked what had happened to me, and where I was. I assume I should be more careful of who I tell these things to, but at this point I need information more than I need safety. I explained everything, the coma, the Zion barge and the two people who left me there. I started to ask if she could tell me more about myself, but instead she offered me a chance to meet others who knew me, which I gladly agreed too.

"The office building in Tabor, I'll be there" She said before hanging up. I guess I should have asked where Tabor was, and which office building but I assumed it would be obvious. Unfortunately Tabor Park contains several office buildings, and it was only after 2 or 3 failed searches that I found the correct building. I had made my way to the 8th floor, where I was met by a man dressed in white, he pointed me down the hall, tipped his hat and left. As I walked down the hall the general clamor of a meeting grew louder, mostly small talk though, so I guess it hadn't started.

I swung both doors open, only to find 20-30 people staring back at me. I slid off to the side and worked my way around to the back. It was at this point that I had no idea who it was that called me here or how I was going to meet her.

"Treius" A red haired woman dressed in white said to me. "I'm Captain Leelia, we're over here." I followed her as we worked our way to the back wall, along the way I received a few comments from passersby.

"Treius right? From No Exit"

"Treius? Wow, you're old school"

"You're still around, wow..."

I did my best to respond, but it wasn't working very well. Luckily the meeting began before anyone else noticed me. The next hour or so was a complete blur. Agents, commandos, tracking devices... There's no way I was a fighter, I couldn't deal with all the combat. I wasn't very strong, the speed at which the others were fighting was staggering, I couldn't even hold a candle to them. So I did my best to heal and reconstruct their RSIs (I just 'knew' how to, I'm still getting used to that). After all was said and done, we had succeeded in whatever we were trying to do. It looked like the commanders were speaking, which included Leelia. I took this oppertunity to slip away, I had had enough excitement for the time being.

((I'm posting bits everywhere, keep an eye out for them.))

[Aiyalla]

*a small blip, almost unnoticable to the untrained eye, flicks across the otherwise normal comm channel. Small, but precise, a young woman's voice floats through the static*

"I'll be back soon. All is well. Don't forget me."




((wonder if anyone will remember me when I return next month? Damn you Carsten for making me miss the matrix! ))