OO1 }{ AUDIO }{ CALLSIGN: MZ114C }{ DAY 17

[somethingintangible]

[ The voice that comes over the network is a young woman's - late teens or early twenties. A little deep, throaty, but still obviously belonging to someone quite young and female.

It's shaky though, like the person on the other end of the radio is really struggling. Maybe like she's even been crying, although it's hard to tell. She definitely sounds distressed, though.

This is also clearly someone who has never actually used a walkie talkie before, as the message periodically cuts in and out. Maddy was mostly able to figure it out by playing with it, but she's not used to having to keep pressing the button down. You don't do that with touch screens! ]

Um... Hey...

I don't know if anybody can hear me. Or if [ brief silence; she has lifted her finger off the walkie so whatever she says is missing; her voice picks up again later-- ].

--name is Maddy Perez. My mom's name is Sonia Perez, my dad [ she lifts her finger again, so her dad's name isn't heard ] -- I go to East Highland High School. I think I'm lost. I don't know where I am. I need help.

[ There's a pause; this time, it's not because she lifted her finger. There's distraught breathing on the other side of the radio. ]

Please, somebody help me! I'm lost. I don't, I don't know where I am. I -- I think I'm in a jungle or something? I'm not sure where to go next.

[ Then there's a quiet, sound -- sniffling, and a mechanical huff of someone breathing into the walkie too hard. ]

Comments

AN394Y | voice.

[pigsfeet]

[He'd planned on ignoring the walkies for as long as possible, until he heard this. After everything, he still can't resist the plaintive cries of teenagers. Daryl's words are mush-mouthed, his accent distinctly southern.]

You know how to build a fire?

KY321B | voice

[backsassin]

Hi Maddy. My name's Zam. You've gotta keep your finger pressed down on the button when you're talking. Otherwise, we can't hear you.

Can you see anything near you besides the jungle? Rivers, debris, anything that's not just trees?

OR817S | voice

[cuteandquarky]

Hi! My name is Jade. I think I am in the same jungle as you, so... at least you're not alone! Did you wake up on the beach too?

[Jade's trying to keep her tone gentle but positive. She doesn't really know how to help, but at least hearing a friendly sounding voice might calm Maddy down a little?]

private; voice; callsign: AK324N

[wingbound]

[ With some help, Levi has been sort of figuring out how to use the radios... but he still doesn't want his name, or callsign, or whatever, as public knowledge. So he waits for the frightened young woman to finish speaking, and then sends her a message directly. ]

There's a storm coming in. You need to find cover.

[ Well hello to you too. ]

[ He'd be tempted to still try to go out and find her, but 1) it could still be a trap somehow and 2) she did just say she has no idea where she is. "Jungle or something" describes about 90% of this fucking island, and they'd both end up in the downpour. ]

[ But he can at least make sure she doesn't do something stupid, like meet the storm by a river or on the beach or in a tall tree. ]

I'm guessing you're not lucky enough to end up near a cave.

YL078T | Voice

[doomcame]

[God, twenty-five years. It's been twenty-five years since she had to comfort a scared teenage girl facing a traumatic survival situation... back when she was one herself.

For a moment she actually just listens to the others responding. There's some good advice being given by people she hasn't spoken to yet, but it isn't long before those voices blend together with more familiar ones. Old voices, that aren't coming from her walkie-talkie...

At first, they're too indistinct for her to make out. But the voices of the girls who never came home from Flight 2525 get louder. Antagonistic. In another flash, the doomed teens themselves seem to be standing right in front of her.

She forces her eyes closed and focuses everything she has on replying to the girl on the radio. It's the best way she can think of to try and drown the hallucinations out.]

Maddy, my name is Taissa. [She speaks slowly and a little too loudly at first, but quickly regulates while still making herself clear.] You're going to get through this.

I'm with a group that is heading southwest to the airfield that Zam spoke about. [Another "non-human" being otherwise very rational and slowly stoking her existential crisis.] You can use the movement of the sun and moon to help get your bearings. If you can find or make shelter on your way, take it. There's a storm coming and I don't know how bad it'll get.

As soon as it passes, I'm sure we'll be able to get someone out to help you. [Taissa pauses and exhales deeply off-radio. It's quieter now, just herself speaking.] You're not alone here.

VL121R | voice

[meadqueen]

Maddy, my name is Randvi. I'm at the settlement that Zam mentioned. We are near the sea on the southwest coast and have seen a storm gathering. None of us have experienced a true storm on this island yet, but I have seen evidence of severe lightning strikes, so please be cautious.

Avoid open spaces and be careful near trees. Try and touch as little of the ground as possible when you're resting. If you can, crouching on your feet is safest.

If you can determine your location when the sun sets, I may be able to let you know if there are any structures near you. I have been working on a map.