001 - [ video ]

[goddamnrain]

[Okay. So. It works sort of like an online chat. That's what Jayden's figured out from the time he's spent under slight medical care -- still suffering from cracked ribs and other surface damage -- and settling in to his new apartment. He's had basic questions answered, been assured this is real and he's not insane, and read the "Guide."

Now, is he convinced he's not tied up tight in some psych ward, rocking in place and staring at the wall? Hell no. Really? That seems the most likely situation.

But whether this is real or just a complex hallucination he's stuck in, he'll play along.]

Um. Good afternoon, Lu...ceti? Hope that pronunciation's right. [Close enough. The New England accent is extremely evident.] Agent Norman Jayden, FBI. [He holds up the identification card he found in the shops.] Looks... like I'm gonna be here for awhile with all of you.

[...Shit. He should say something else, probably. But. What?

Well...]

So, most of my stuff's here. Found it over the last couple days and all. But I'm missing a pair of sunglasses. Pretty plain, but they've [it's risky, but he can hope it's taken for a brand; that's how they were designed to look] got "A," "R," "I" on the side of them. Anyone seen 'em? I'd like 'em back.

Um. Other than that. Yeah.

Guess... it's nice to meet you all?

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Here's some more evidence for your psych ward theory, Agent. The image of the - being - addressing you through the journal looks like some kind of giant frog.]

Are you with Mr. Mulder?

[goddamnrain]

[Brightly colored ponies walking around town, talking amphibians... There are many reasons Jayden is not taking the "this is real" to heart. And not all of them are things he's seen here.]

Mulder? [Might as well be civil to the near-acid-trip hallucination.] I don't think so. Why? Who's that?

[i_speak_softly]

[Reptile, thanks.]

He's also an FBI agent. Must be a different FBI.

[goddamnrain]

Could be the same FBI. There are over thirteen-thousand of us-- FBI agents. We don't all know each other.

[i_speak_softly]

Oh -- right.

I'm Donatello. Welcome to Luceti.

[goddamnrain]

Um. Thanks.

[What else do you say to a talking... creature? Hell if he knows.]

[i_speak_softly]

[What else do you say to an FBI agent?]

So, um... what department of the FBI?

[goddamnrain]

I'm part of the criminal investigative division. I've done a little work in the cyber division, too.

[He'd had to, actually, to qualify for ARI. Not that anyone knows that detail except high security clearance level people.]

[i_speak_softly]

You're a hacker.

[goddamnrain]

God no. [Either his brain is entirely snapped or wherever he is has him on an amazing regiment of drugs. Still, worse things will happen to his senses if he tries to fight the hallucination, so he just... does his best to go with it.]

But I've investigated cyber crimes. Hackers sometimes but usually things like identity theft and computer fraud. I was only with that division for about six months, though. More just basic training in what they do in case they ever needed me.

[i_speak_softly]

[Same thing.]

Make sure someone teaches you how to filter. It's a life-saver around here.

[goddamnrain]

...Okay. [No idea what the giant talking green thing is referring to, but he'll play along.] I will.

[i_speak_softly]

[He forgets to explain things.]

[There's silence for a while, the conversation seemingly over, and then:

Shell, was the video on...?

[goddamnrain]

[He doesn't see the response right away but, when it catches his eye, he plays it and replies in due form.]

It was, actually.

[i_speak_softly]

I'm sorry. I try not to do that to the New Feathers.

[goddamnrain]

...New Feathers?

[i_speak_softly]

You know. People who just got here.

[goddamnrain]

...Interesting.

[i_speak_softly]

Um. I'll just go now.