the_campus | Announcement 001

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Announcement 001

[Whether you're waking up in the clinic just now, or have already done so and are now wandering the halls, a sudden screech of microphone feedback blares over the speakers before fading back out.

A moment later, a woman clears her throat. Her voice is husky and mature, but still feminine, and overall she sounds very authoritative...if not a bit sarcastic.]

Good evening, and welcome to the new school year. I hope your arrival was a pleasant one, last year everybody threw-up from motion sickness, it was quite messy.

[There's a long pause as she seems to think, or perhaps just let any anticipated bustling chatter calm down.] Now, you're all intelligent human beings...for the most part. But I suppose I'll pretend I'm talking to the insipid uneducated masses for a moment; it shouldn't prove too difficult.

[She clears he throat again.] In every hall, you shall find a small intercom. You may use that to ask me any questions after my announcements and "privately" converse. Now, if you head North down one of the halls near the clinic in the Central Wing and keep going, you'll eventually come to either the West or East Dorm Wings, depending on which fork in the road you chose. There you'll find all necessary bunk beds and spare socks.

So, make sure you're all well rested for class in the morning; we wouldn't want to get a failing grade now would we?

[And with that, there's another burst of feedback before her announcement abruptly ends. Anybody who had been wandering the halls will notice a distinct lack of...well, anybody else aside from new arrivals, the Nurse, and the Lunch Lady.

The strange woman over the loudspeakers may have mentioned classes, but the school seemed completely devoid of any teachers to provide those classes. In fact, a lot of things seemed...off.]

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Speak to the Voice
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[Enlightening?] ...I wouldn't use that word, exactly.

I see... [Kind of.] "Too big"? What kinds of crimes do you specialize in?

Oh, sorry if I've made a mistake...

[He scratches his chin.]

Hmm, well big cases. Involving serial criminals, or people aiming to harm the country. I can't give out too much for details so I'll just give you the basics. Stuff like big drug crimes, bank robberies, most white collar crimes, terrorist related crimes, stuff like that.

N-no, it's fine I just... I've never... had the chance to really enjoy traveling. I've always wanted to just settle down in one home... but it's... difficult.

[Pyrrha blinks.] ...W-white collar? [She looks down to her own dress- which happens to bear a golden-trimmed white collar.]

[Confused, and a bit nervous.] Is... is there a way for me to know whether I'm committing a "white-collar" crime..?

[He catches her eyeing her collar and chuckles.]

White collar crime is a financially motivated nonviolent crime committed for illegal monetary gain. Not wearing a white collar. If it were, I'd be just as guilty as you miss.

[This woman really was mysterious. She said she traveled a lot, and yet she was unfamiliar with things like the intercom, and white collar crime. Maybe she'd only ever traveled in less techno-savvy places of the world? Yeah that must be it. He was kind of jealous to be honest.]

I... see. [...But still only kind of.]

I'm sorry for bothering you with such questions. It's just... I've never heard anyone speak quite like you do.

May I ask where it is that you're from? You speak with... such a strange tongue.

-N-not that that's a bad thing...

No, no it's fine. I don't mind really.

I am from Philadelphia, ah that in North America [Just in case she didn't know where that was], how about you miss? Where are you from?

["Philadelphia" doesn't ring any bells, but-] "America"? Really...? I've heard a few tales of that place, but... wow...

[The "new world..."] I.. well....

...I've been wandering for as long as I can remember, so I don't have a home, exactly... But my earliest memories are of Athens.

Ah, so you've heard of it! Good, actually I'm fairly certain we're still there... just not in Philadelphia. Where most likely in Washington, if not close to it.

[He assumes anyways. That's where he was last, and this campus looked to be located in the U.S. still.]

Oh! You're from Greece then, interesting! I bet it's a lovely place.

Ah...

[Pyrrha thinks his comment over.] Um... I suppose it's... okay.

[A pause.] Actually, I suppose that... one thing I have learned is that most places seem to be the same in the end. [She looks down at the floor.] There are nice people, and others who are... not as nice. But eventually... it's inevitable that they will all... treat you in the same fashion, more or less. [She saddens a bit at that.] In the end, it's less about where you are... and more about who you are, that will determine how lovely a place truly is.

[Coopers face becomes serious as he listens to Pyrrha speak.]

Look Pyrrha, I don't know much about you or about your life... but you seem to be a nice girl to me. So I'll do my best to make America seem as lovely as it can be. Okay?

We should get out of here though... and maybe after we get out of this place I can get you some pie. There's this diner in Twin Peaks that has the best cherry pie I've ever had. I bet you'd love it.

[Pyrrha doesn't know what to say. There's a small pang of... something- perhaps guilt- in her chest, as the man describes her as a "nice girl". And yet... she also can't help but be a bit flattered despite herself.]

Oh... [He's very kind. In fact, Pyrrha herself is unsure of whether she is entirely deserving of such kindness... But... after just coming from an ordeal in which there wasn't a single kind soul in sight- she will eagerly welcome this man's generosity.]

[Blink.] Pie? ...Really? [It's very rare that Pyrrha is able to afford such treats. The mere thought of it is... very appealing right now.] I would love to try it... [Shyly averting her gaze.] I- if you want me to, I mean... [Pyrrha doesn't want to sound too eager for a snack... ~~even if she is.]~~

Really, and of course I do. As long as you want to eat pie that is.

[He smirks. He's sure she'd like some from how she reacted, but he wants to make sure that's what she wants.]

We should probably work on getting out of here first though. Find an exit, any ideas on where we could find one?

Well I... I certainly wouldn't mind... [Hesitantly] I mean... Yes... I believe that I might enjoy that. [She confesses, shyly. Pyrrha doesn't want the man to think that she snacks often or anything... ~~Even if she does.~~]

[The young woman peers down the hall.] Well... I just came from this way- [Pointing to the right.] -And I didn't see anything resembling an exit. So... perhaps we should continue along the opposite way?

[A pause.] I... I would trust your judgement more than my own, though. I'm unfamiliar with buildings that have this... American architecture. [And besides, Pyrrha is much more comfortable following- not leading or making important decisions. She would be much more willing to simply go along with whatever her newfound companion thinks is best.]

Hmm then we'll try the other way. I wonder if there's a map somewhere around here...

I'll try to do my best to get us out of here then. [He motions in the direction he'd like to walk.] Shall we go then miss Pyrrha?

[Amazingly enough, the girl smiles- just a bit, at the man's words.] I... I appreciate it, thank you. Though there's no reason to rush for my sake. I don't... have any particular place to be, after all.

[She politely gives a bow of her head.] Yes... let's be on our way. [Pyrrha walks along]

[Cooper leads her down the hallway, all the while looking for a map, or an exit. He slips out a little microcassette tape.]

Diane, this building is stranger than I thought. There don't seem to be maps anywhere, or any name of the campus. Just empty hallways... Oh and before I forget, I met someone here. Lovely girl, I owe her a big slice of cherry pie once we get out of here.

[He clicks the recorder off, and tucks it away.]

[Pyrrha blinks as the man begins to speak; watching him with a confused, wide-eyed stare. She blushes slightly at being described as 'lovely'; being very easily flattered, after all.]

[As he finishes, the girl asks hesitantly;] ...Do you... often speak to boxes...?

[He pauses briefly.]

Ah... just this one. It's my assistant, she helps me to remember important things.

[He smiles and continues on. It's not long before he spots some large doors.]

I wonder if those lead outside...

[A box as an... assistant?] ...Could you not... get a human servant?

[Pyrrha approaches the doors, hesitantly. These doors could lead anywhere, really... What if they lead to something dangerous? What if they do lead outside- and Pyrrha finds herself thrown back out onto the battlefield of Bavaria!?]

[...She'll just... scoot a bit over so that she's behind Cooper now.] Um...

I... suppose that it's possible... [-But Pyrrha's not entirely sure that she wants to go back out, in all honesty.]

Not always, this makes life way easier. Trust me!

[He carefully watches her.]

How about I go out first? Just to make sure everything's safe?

[A slightly worried expression.]

You're going to leave me...?

Of course not. I just want to make a quick check, to make sure it's safe.

But if you'd rather come with, that's okay too...

[He'd much rather she waited, he didn't want her to get hurt, but he didn't want to distress her either.]

[And what if it isn't safe? She doesn't want Cooper to get hurt... but she really doesn't want to get hurt either! And what if she gets outside- only to find that there are more men out there to get her??]

I-- I can't...

[A pause.] -I mean... [Quietly; feeling a bit ashamed of herself.] I think... I'll wait here, then....

[Coward.... That's all she really is in the end, isn't it?]

[He gives her a reassuring smile.]

Okay, I'll be right back then.

[Cooper carefully pulls out a standard issue handgun and gets ready to go out. He pushes the large double doors open, and finds himself outside. He looks around and finds nothing more than the pillars and some shady sitting areas. He carefully looks around the courtyard. As far as he can see there are no people, and no other outside area other than the courtyard. No parking lots, no ways past more walls on the building. Then again it was a large courtyard and he could only see so much.

He reentered the building.]

Well... it looks safe. It seems to be the courtyard. I haven't seen much else but maybe there's a gate leading past the courtyard.

[Pyrrha looks to the handgun with confusion, but she doesn't have much time to analyze it before Cooper makes his exit.]

[The entire time that Cooper spent out by himself, Pyrrha grew more and more anxious. Just as she had resolved to possibly go through the door and make sure that the man wasn't in danger, he returns; much to her relief.]

You're back..!

[Her brow furrows in concern] I- I'm sorry... that I didn't go with you...

Announcement 001

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