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

Current Music: Triumph

Entry tags:

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

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.]

Absolutely. I'd be happy to show you what I've got finished, and you're more than welcome to be one of my first tests.

And it'll be fun.

Yes! I'll-- I'll be right there, Mr. Sky-- Luke!

[Someone's excited.]

[And this is actually someone's first time in the Battle Dome's facilities, too. As Elizabeth arrives, she's looking at everything, wondering what she should be looking for. Was there a specific room she should be looking for...?]

[She'll find him waiting for her, leaning against the command console, arms folded. He hops down and walks over, offering a hand in greeting.]

Hey there. Elizabeth, right?

[Her attention is drawn when Luke comes towards her, and she smiles after looking just a hint startled.]

Yes, that's me. [She takes his hand.] I suppose it was a little obvious, right? I haven't been in here before. [Everything is certainly more high-tech, as it were. Lights and buttons, fewer levers... Elizabeth's trying to take it all in without appearing too much like a gawking tourist.]

Just a bit, but nothing wrong with that.

[Luke's handshake is firm. Almost...robotic!] And it's a good place, once you figure things out. It takes some time, sure, but once you've got down how to work it, it's actually kind of nice.

[He gestures over towards that console.]

Like this thing controls all the simulations you can access or create. Look, I'll show you.

[He'll take a minute to demonstrate some of the basics if Elizabeth wants, and call up the X-Wing simulation...]

[Elizabeth follows Luke over to the console, trying to figure out what each thing does while he shows her the basics. It's a fascinating thing to someone who came from a year where films didn't even have audio. But something that responds to how she interacts with it is absolutely fascinating.]

How long does it take to learn how to create one of these? [She's already practically chomping at the bit to build something of her own.]

[Luke can definitely see that, and he appreciates the reaction. It's nice, compared to the blase way so many people are with the Battle Dome. Himself included.]

That depends on how complicated you want to make it. Here.

[He presses a button to start a fresh sim, just a blank room.]

There, nothing but a big white room. Try pushing some of these...[He points] and see what it adds. It's more a matter of patience and learning what goes where.

[Elizabeth looks at the blank room in wonder, then at the buttons. This is like painting, only it has the potential to move and she can interact with it. Absolutely amazing...]

[She picks a button and presses it, generating a rainforest in the room. Startled, she pulls back a little in surprise but then leans forward to examine what she's done. So many types of foliage she's only read about, in colors she'd only painted with before. She's automatically addicted to this and starts pushing more buttons and turning more dials. Once she's done, it's an absolute mess--underwater rainforest populated by kittens with divers' helmets on, swimming against a very intense current. She laughs, knowing that what she's created is akin to throwing buckets of paint at a canvas.]

I can see what you mean-- Show me your simulation! It's better than this, right? [She raises an eyebrow and gestures to her own bizarre creation.]

Better than? Well, I don't know if it's as entertaining as this but it's certainly a bit more organized. [Forgive him, he can't help but tease. Luke does fiddle with some buttons though, calling up his own.]

Alright, let's see. Would you rather fly something that's a bomber, or something with a bit more speed?

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice] > [Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]