YL078T | Voice | Morning 013

[doomcame]

We found a cat. Black fur, violet eyes. Well-cared for. Weirdly intelligent... maybe even trained if that's possible... [She still can't believe it led them to water like some sort of bitey little service animal.]

Is anyone missing a pet?

[And once she's taken a few steps away from where Chloe can effectively hobble after her to intervene, she strategically drops a more pressing concern.]

We also have someone with leg injuries. We did the best we could but we'll need something to boil water in and fresh bandages soon. If someone with more supplies or experience can lend a hand, we can give you our location or try to meet you halfway. It's not easy to move right now.

Watch out for bear-traps.

Comments

[doomcame]

I'm not sure if she's had her tetanus booster before traveling last, I'd have to ask.

And thank you, for your help. [There's a lot of new names that she's going to need to trust really fast. At least with Senku's people, she does get the impression that they're working towards group survival.]

The cat... [Okay, how does she describe this without sounding crazy?] He seemed to know how to guide us to water.

[meadqueen]

I see. I hope all is well. It can present in as little as three days, so a stiff neck or unusually high heart rate may be cause for concern.

[Maybe it sounds a bit pathetic but:] I want all of us to live. It may not be what you're used to, but there is a measure of safety here.

[At this point, who even knows with the animals here?] The animals on this island have all been a bit strange. Do you think he could reliably lead our people to you? Then you wouldn't need to be so specific about your location over the radio.

[doomcame]

I'll keep an eye on her. No signs yet unless she's putting on a brave face.

[Taissa appreciates the words of assurance. It'll be easier to gauge everyone once they meet in person. Maybe then she can relax enough to only worry about mystery murder natives.]

I-- [She glances over at the cat. This is all so ridiculous.] What, you want me to tell him to go find help and point him in the right direction? [That's a tough one. Nothing to lose... except her dignity.]

[meadqueen]

I think you would know. It is difficult to hide.

Perhaps we will send our group in your general direction and once we’re nearby you can test whether the cat will bring them to you? If it does not work, they’re still nearby and you can give them directions over the radio.

I'm reluctant to ask you to give your exact location if you're in the jungle. The individual at the cabin has a radio.

[doomcame]

I guess it can't hurt to try. I know we all have to be careful out here.

[meadqueen]

Yes. I’ll make sure the group lets you know when they set out.

[doomcame]

Thank you.

audio | KD201D

[obeir]

[ He's been summoned! ]

That would be me. Hi.

Sounds like the cat may have chosen you. You should bring him along, too. Or— is he going to lead us to you?

[ He's used to unusually intelligent animals, as well as animal people, so this hardly seems like a stretch to him. Though he does worry about the cat's safety if he'll be venturing out alone. ]

[doomcame]

Hi.

I suppose he's going to do what any cat does -- whatever he wants. But we'll see if we can't send him in your direction first.

[If the cat chose her, he didn't do a very good job. She's willing to risk him at this point if she has to.]

[obeir]

I know this may sound like a ridiculous question, but indulge me. Have you tried talking with him, asking his name? House cats aren't normally native to this kind of environment and weirdly intelligent has me wondering if he wasn't brought here like the rest of us.

[ More to the point: ] A couple of us — Zam and myself — aren't human. [ Or in Zam's case, not normally stuck in a human form. ] Stands to reason there could be other sapient non-humans here, too.

[doomcame]

[There is a long pause. Her brain is scrambling to come up with a logic to cope with the non-human revelation. She runs a hand down her face.

Between her own hallucinations and fugue states and Senku's... background... she's honestly being pushed towards the theory that everyone who has been brought to this island has a different form of mental illness or distress. Which is disturbing for multiple reasons. Is this part of a sick psychological experiment?

She eventually responds very carefully, indulging but inable to sound like she actually believes him.]

Are you... also from the future of petrified people? [Or whatever it was that the otherwise rational-sounding Senku had said.

She's been here for less than four days now. It's going to take a bit longer before she moves from denial to acceptance. Probably riiiight around the time when she talks to the cat and it starts to talk back.]

[obeir]

[ The skepticism doesn't surprise him; he can work with that. At least she isn't trying to invalidate his identity, which is something he has very little patience for at this point in his life. ]

I'm from somewhere else. Entirely different universe. Would've been nice for all the humans there to get petrified... [ A short, humourless huff of breath. His home universe, he means, definitely not the Meadous or Harley's Gotham. ] Senku's human, though. [ In case the clarification is needed. ] I'm an android. Zam's a Clawdite. And maybe this cat's just a regular cat, but there's a fair chance he might not be.

[ Come hang out with the other non-humans, kitty friend. ]

Are you in any way injured, or is it only your companion?

[doomcame]

[She's going to be relieved that the conversation shifts for now. It's a lot to take in. (What the hell is a Clawdite?) It's also a relief that he actually asks after her well-being, considering she almost had to ask if he had issues with humans. (The petrification talk.) It's about getting along for now so they can get back home and no longer have to.]

Just my companion. I was able to help her out of the trap and towards freshwater. I just don't think she's good to try and walk much further on that leg.

[obeir]

[ What the hell is a Clawdite, indeed. Even K isn't sure beyond them having shapeshifting capabilities, but it's how Zam self-identifies. And fortunately his issues with humans are largely limited to those of his home universe and roboracists like them, and don't extend to every human he encounters, as Taissa may eventually learn. ]

It's better if we come to you. It will most likely be myself and one other person. [ He doesn't think he needs to tell her that it's safer traveling in pairs (or more), considering her current predicament. ] Our transport options are kind of limited, but we should be able to figure something out. Is your companion willing to be carried? That would be the safest and quickest option for everyone.

[doomcame]

It's safer for everyone who isn't a woman in a vulnerable situation forced to trust a stranger they just met. [Also Tai will never hear the end of it if she agrees.] We'll work on a stretcher.

[obeir]

[ The anyone who isn't a woman comment draws him up short and he considers it for a long moment. Different universes, different experiences. His owner is a human woman. He wasn't socialised as a man or even as a person, but as an object to be used. He's never experienced any of the privileges of a human man, but faced violation, prejudice, and violence at every turn prior to the Meadous. His programming normally prevents him from even being able to defend himself against humans.

So it's hard to wrap his head around a human expecting that same terrible treatment from him, particularly when he's here willing to risk his life just to help them. It strikes him as a rather uncharitable thing to say in this situation. ]

A makeshift stretcher would be good. And I'm not sure I understand what you mean. [ He sounds genuinely confused. ] Setting aside the fact I was programmed to prioritise human lives over my own. You think I'd risk my life and that of my companion trekking across the island just to— harm people I've never met? [ What does she think he'd even get out of it? ]

What kind of world are you from?

[doomcame]

One where you can't be too careful. Sometimes intentions are unpredictable, and behavior can change. [She's also considering the new theory that they're all mad here, in a variety of ways, on top of knowing how desperate situations can bring out the very worst in people.] But the call is hers, if you want to try to convince her when you get here. She's stubborn though. [There's a tone of fondness that slips through with that last line, as if she finds it begrudgingly endearing.]

[obeir]

[ It's a new, strange feeling to think humans could be afraid of him. He can at least understand the inherent mistrust for strangers, though, and thinks that maybe this should be the last rescue effort he volunteers for.

Weariness bleeds into his voice; he sounds resigned now. ] I'm not going to harass anyone into accepting my help.