thefinaljedi | 19th Transmission: A Poor Imitation [Voice/Action] (May 20-23rd)

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19th Transmission: A Poor Imitation [Voice/Action] (May 20-23rd)

[Taking up the maintenance work had been just the thing Luke had needed. Reeling from the loss of Obi-Wan, he'd just wanted to be away from everyone and everything, friends and girlfriend included. A note for Ami was all he'd really left, promising to be back when he felt up to facing the future after the ridiculousness that was...well...that last shift. And he had to admit that even though it was only low orbit it had been nice to see space again. Being so long cooped up on a single planet was strange to someone who was just used to flying, and it'd done wonders to relieve pressure.

And given him an itch.

For the first day after he returns or so, Luke can be found at the farm, taking care of maintenance after the planting had been finished, while in the afternoon he's busy programming something rather complex on the Battle Dome computer. And of course, he'll be resuming his evening shifts at the Clinic and spending some quiet time at House 46.

However by the 22nd he's finished his project and on 23rd he sends out a generalized broadcast.]

Voice

Hello Luceti.

This is Luke Skywalker. It occurs to me that I've not done one of these in some time, so allow me to extend a greeting to the New Feathers from this cycle. I manage the farmland and could always use some volunteers to help maintain it. It's meant to supplement the food supplies granted to us by the Malnosso in the event of an emergency, so it's a rather hefty project that could always use more hands.

Also, I've been working on a little side project at the Battle Dome. If anyone is interested, I've managed to program some training and historical dogfight simulations from my homeworld. Flight simulations, for both X-Wings and Y-Wings, the two kinds of snubfighters I've had the most experience with. I'd appreciate any help testing them for bugs, and if anyone would like to add to them they're more than welcome to do so. If you've ever wanted to fly, it might be a good chance, and it's a skill might be useful if another draft occurs in space.

On an unrelated note, I've apparently missed my own birthday. I'm 31 now, and this is my second in Luceti. It's a little strange, having been on a single planet for so long. For those of you who do remain stationary, how do you manage it? I admit it's got me rather restless.

Thank you for listening, and may the Force be with you.

[Luke will be at the Battle Dome for anyone who wants to try his simulations, and he's got quite a few to choose from...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well it's not a planet that's completely unknown to most people! Now that would be exciting. [Us Earthlings, never happy.]

And that's true, but who knows what could happen in the years to come? Jules Verne imagined that someday man could travel to the moon, or to the center of the Earth! A woman built a flying city, why not travel somewhere close to the sun?

Oh, there are charms to the uncharted places in space, to be sure. And...troubles. [Boy, every time he remembers Dathomir, the planet where rancors come from he linefaces. 3 ton super-predators ridden by psychotic Sith witches? Just a bit much.]

I'm not familiar with Jules Verne, but I don't doubt it. Anything is certainly possible given the time and the technology. which, of course, comes with time. Some worlds are farther along than others in that regard, but honestly I find some of the less developed worlds to be the most interesting.

Oh, may I ask your name, miss? I'm Luke. Luke Skywalker.

Oh you should read him! I mean, it might be a little ridiculous to read about people traveling to the bottom of the sea, or flying around the world when you're going to other planets every day, but if you're interested in less developed worlds you might think it's kind of... fun, I suppose. Like looking at old photographs or predictions for the future.

[Wow, that's a nifty name--Skywalker. Elizabeth takes a moment to formulate her own response, because she doesn't have an interesting name, really.] Of course! It's nice to meet you Mr. Skywalker. I'm Elizabeth. Just Elizabeth, no last name. [She doesn't have a last name at all, for starters.]

He's a writer? I'll definitely take a look.

[Going to the bottom of the sea? Did that on Mon Calamari, the water world. Flying around the planet is a daily thing too, but he'll keep quiet.]

Well, you can just call me Luke, Elizabeth. It's a pleasure. And I don't believe I've seen you on the network before. Are you new?

Yes, he's one of my favorites! I... did take a couple of his books out of the library, but there are other copies left. [She might have taken them even if there weren't secondary copies, too. Anything to distract her for a few hours.]

[She laughs lightly.] That's what one of my friends said to do too. Well, Luke, I ended up here about two weeks ago. I guess that makes me newer that most people.

Well, I'll have to check them out sometime soon. Jules Verne...

[Accompanied by the sound of writing, like he's making sure to take down the name.]

And yes, it would. How have you found it so far, Elizabeth? Aside from the prison bit.

The people are generally friendly, and it's very quiet and peaceful. The where and when I came from, those were two things I didn't see much of. [She pauses, inserting a few seconds of silence into the recording.] But I've already spent twenty years in a prison. As friendly and peaceful as it is here, I don't like being in a new one. Even if it is much bigger and has a sky for a change.

Twenty years in prison.

[He has a feeling that she doesn't mean a penal colony. Unless she's some sort of political prisoner at home. His voice shifts, taking on a deferential tone.]

May I ask why?

Oh! [Well, strike two. Elizabeth keeps forgetting that to a lot of people, 'prison' immediately equates to 'criminal'. She needs to find a better word, seriously.]

I didn't commit a crime or anything like that. I was a specimen. ...a test subject. 'Prison' isn't the right word, but I grew up in the same six rooms and wasn't allowed out of them until I escaped. I don't know what else to call that except 'prison'.

Oh. I'm...terribly sorry to hear that.

[It sounds...a lot...like some Imperial projects he'd smashed up over the years.]

I didn't mean to imply you were a criminal, forgive me. The...ages didn't quite match up with the voice either. You sound too young to be a hardened criminal. And you're right. I can't really think of another way to describe that other than...maybe lab?

No, it's understandable. Most people who go to prison aren't experiments, they're criminals. This isn't the first time I've had to explain this. [She forces a short, quiet laugh.]

It was kind of a lab, though I wasn't subjected to any experiments that I was aware of. They just... watched me.

Watched you? Do you know why?

[A bit goes by before Elizabeth finally responds...]

They were watching to see if I was outgrowing the device they were using to control my abilities. I can open holes into other worlds. The older I grew, the less effective it was, apparently.

[Luke's own response is somewhat belated. Forgive him, he's never heard of anyone being able to do that.]

That...does sound like something people would want to observe. I'm sorry, though. That they treated you that way. And that you ended up here too.

Please don't apologize, it's not your fault. [She tries to sound upbeat and positive, but the weight of the issue isn't helping much.]

I'm sorry everyone's here, though. It might have everything that we need, but I don't like the sound of these 'experiments'. Or the fact that I woke up with two extra appendages that apparently allow me to survive these experiments.

Well, the wings are also a sort of translation system. I'm not sure how it works, but that's a function they do have.

Though, it has it's perks. Meeting people from other realities, certainly.

Yes. I didn't really talk to other people much before I came here. It's been wonderful, despite the circumstances.

Even if these experiments happen from time to time, I do like it here when things are normal. Or... as normal as they get here, I guess.

It has it's moments.

[And people]

Are you at all interested in trying this simulation of mine?

Oh, the ah, flying simulation you mentioned? I've never actually successfully flown anything before... ['Successfully' being the key word here.] If you could teach me I might be able to help.

Well, the idea is it's a training simulation. It'll teach you itself. But I'm happy to show you if things get confusing. Flying is sort of second nature to me.

It will teach me to fly? In space? [There is literally, nothing better right now.]

Yes! I'll test it!

That's the idea, yes. It's a training simulation.

Once I've got it working perfectly, I'll open it up and you can use it whenever you like, too.

[He can't keep the grin out of his voice.]

Really? [Neither can Elizabeth. When she and Booker had been on the airship, the both of them had just pushed buttons and pulled levers until something happened. And while she realizes that whatever technology Luke has is probably lightyears away from what she knows, experiencing something she literally couldn't experience in her normal lifetime is beyond exciting.] Just tell me where and when and I'll come!

I'll be at the Battle Dome running tests all afternoon, you're more than welcome to stop by.

[He honestly can't wait to see how she reacts to space flight, even simulated, given how she's reacted so far. Plus, being a prisoner and all locked up. He's sure it'll be quite a display.]

That's that domed structure south of the village, right? I'm not doing anything, can I drop in now?

[It's definitely going to be something. Something positive, of course. Elizabeth isn't a pilot by any means, nor does she have many positive memories of her in the air. But the chance to even simulate being in space is too amazing to wait on.]

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