SS572S | VOICE | D009

[2199]

[American, vaguely East Coast, female, an adult voice with a harsh cadence; she speaks in the dull tone of someone accustomed to terse military communication.]

This is Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, requesting Libra. I say again: Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, requesting Libra. Requesting November-Sierra-Charlie. Requesting... Requesting unknown station.

Possible India-Foxtrot-Tango bleed. Proceed with caution. Do not interact with any nonhuman organic life. I say again: do not interact with any nonhuman organic life, under any circumstance. This priority overrides all other orders. Authentication: Deep Waters.

Report... Report. [A long sigh. Something like fatigue creeps in, but it's quickly banished.] Reporting buildings on the horizon. Will attempt reconnaissance.

Please hail if assist is needed. Location unknown, but... well, if I can hear you on this thing, I should be able to get to you.

Sierra-Sierra-Five-Seven-Two-Sierra, over.

Comments

[aluminumandash]

Evocative. [ Literary, fraught. He has to wonder who came up with it. ] Gnawed-on shark fin turned up a few days back.

Ah, been here at least a week. [ Oddly the time in the cell is what he kept track of best: a scratch in the floor every two hours. Voice gaining a guarded edge: ] I'm from '95.

[2199]

I need to ask you a question, and I can't elaborate on why.

[She doesn't wait for him to agree to these terms.]

How many suns have you seen in the sky at once?

[aluminumandash]

[ A pause.

Then, soft: ] How many've you seen?

[2199]

I've only been here a few hours. But just one.

Has it gotten cold, snowed? Have you seen two suns? This information is vital, Romeo-Echo.

[aluminumandash]

No. [ The barest hesitation. ] And no. Climate's been consistent, constellations are where they oughta be, in the tropics.

Would the two suns be identical?

[2199]

[If one listens closely, between the scrape of static and the distant crash of waves, one might hear the smallest sigh of relief. It's all she'll allow herself.]

No. One would be what we're used to, and the other... a white hole in the sky.

Thank you. Your information is... a great help. Food and water might be safe, if handled carefully.

[aluminumandash]

Yes ma'am. [ He says to her thanks, with matter-of-fact solemnity.

He could warn her about the unseen people in the jungle, ask about the buildings, her health, but— ] You've seen it elsewhere? [ Almost not a question. ]

[2199]

If I had, nothing else would matter anymore.

[She's never talked about the White Hole with people who haven't been debriefed. She's not quite sure how to navigate what is and isn't worthwhile information. She doesn't want to cut people off so suddenly that it makes them curious; she doesn't want to give them enough information to cause a panic. Through this delicate balance, she doesn't realize she hasn't said no.]