[audio; open]

[resetbutton]

sys.admin// has opened communication!

[Communicators in both the City and the Cave come to life with a short burst of static and then plays a bit of what sounds like garbled speaking. It’s impossible to make out what’s being said and after a minute, it stops abruptly and the transmission clears up considerably. The voice that speaks is very obviously not human and instead robotic like someone is plugging this all into a text to speech program.]

Do not adjust your set. This is something you want to listen to, Sleepers of Espas.

What you’ve been told by the Workers is a lie to get you to do what the Caretaker wants you to do. He has plans for you and for it to work, he needs you to believe you’re someone you’re not. We know that some of you haven’t gone along with his game and have been punished for it. While we are pleased that at least a number of you Sleepers have not given into the lies, we do not agree with the fact that you have let him know of your defiance.

We know that you’re listening, Caretaker. You don’t call, you don’t write. Why, it’s starting to make us feel like you don’t love us anymore. Did you leave us for younger and prettier Sleepers? Is that the sort of person you’ve become, you cougar you? We’re absolutely shocked by this development.

[Not long after this announcement, the sapphires in the ceiling of the Cave begin to radiate a different color, this time having changed to a chestnut.]

Comments

[audio]

[trickntreats]

[Yes, Gabriel did spend several minutes laughing his head off. The mirth is still in his voice.]

You are my new best friend.

[audio]

[resetbutton]

There's a lot more where that came from, Gabriel.

[audio]

[trickntreats]

[Interest is definitely, definitely piqued. So anonymous already knows who they're meant to be, huh?]

Sign me as a subscriber for your magazine. I want your gadgets.

[audio]

[resetbutton]

Not on the first date. We're far classier than that.

[audio]

[trickntreats]

Darn, and here I thought I was gonna get lucky.

[audio]

[resetbutton]

Not that lucky. Wait until the third date for that.

[audio]

[trickntreats]

Guess I'll just have to settle for a fireside chat this time! Do I get you know your delightfully descriptive title too, or will I have to make one up?

[audio]

[resetbutton]

Admin works well enough for now. Maybe if you'll lucky, I'll tell you my real name.

[audio]

[trickntreats]

Goody! Just let me know if you're a flowers or a chocolates person, or else we might have some trouble.

[ text forever; ]

[tartanisstylish]

John Gates has opened communication!

What should we have done instead?

[audio forever]

[resetbutton]

You should have been quieter about it. Don't let them know you're fighting the power and find places where the ever watching eyes of the Caretaker cannot see.

[audio forever]

[tartanisstylish]

Isn't that a bit hypocritical?

[resetbutton]

Not at all. Trying it your way didn't really work out, now did it, Aziraphale? How are those extra memories doing, by the way, bouncing around your head like a rubber ball in an empty room?

[tartanisstylish]

How I am is none of your concern.

But you're drawing attention to our 'defiance', as you put it, by making this announcement. Why? I imagine this will only endanger those of us who have already made a negative impression more.

[resetbutton]

Oh, but I think it is. How you and the others are affects everything.

The Caretaker wouldn't risk coming after you for this if he wants any of you to stay in a position where he can use you. He won't alienate his workforce to make a point.

[tartanisstylish]

Considering the fact that you're an anonymous voice on what is essentially a mobile phone, your security seems far more assured than any of ours, and if you know anything about me you should know I don't like being caught in the middle of other people's fights.

[resetbutton]

Are you sure about us being safer just because we don't reveal ourselves? Because we're not.

This became your fight as soon as you woke up from your pod, kid.

[tartanisstylish]

No. But I am also not asking for your trust, or for your involvement in any fight.

[resetbutton]

We never asked for your trust and we didn't bring you into this fight. All we want is for you to form your own opinions about the situation and find out the truth for yourself.

[tartanisstylish]

Thank you for your concern.

[resetbutton]

It's just what I do, give out concern to whoever needs it.

As one literature lover to another, good luck with whatever you decide on.

[ audio forever; ]

[deshabille]

Milena Tichý has opened communication!

Poor dear. Maybe you should be more aggressive.

[resetbutton]

We tried to be aggressive, but he didn't respond to that favourably, so we've stepped back so we can go at the pace that he wants instead of what we want. That's what the counselor said to do to help us through the rough patches, but it always seems like nothing ever works with him.

[deshabille]

There are other fish, allegedly.

[resetbutton]

Not in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Besides, if I gave up now, then all that time and effort trying to get our relationship to work would be for nothing. Do you know how much couple's counseling costs? Bastard owes me for all that money.

[deshabille]

I suppose you ought to do what's best for you. Still, if you ever need girl talk . . .

[resetbutton]

Thanks, we'll keep that in mind. We might have to take you up on your offer in the future. Never know when we might need someone to talk to.

[deshabille]

Whenever you'd like. I do love talking to a plural pronoun.

[audio]

[with_discipline]

Bold statements. What proof do you have?

[resetbutton]

Proof? What do you think this is, a trial? Are you going to grab a jury of your peers to see which one of us is guilty of lying or not? I'll play lawyer if you want to, T'Pol, but you might not like how that will end.

[with_discipline]

My name is Delilah.

[resetbutton]

No it's not. Do you blindly agree to everything they tell you or are you so far into denial about who and what you really are that you'd take anything over the truth?

...or is it that you're just so glad you can do more than just pass for human now?

[with_discipline]

[SCREW YOU SYS.ADMIN. She wants to say that she never tried to pass for human, how dare he/she/it insinuate that rararar.

But she doesn't. Because she might see round ears and red blood in the mirror but she's still Vulcan.]

I have proof Delilah exists, and only memories of T'Pol. Where is the logic in assuming the more plausible one is false?

[ audio ]

[oilyhands]

Why lie? Why does it matter who we think we are?

[resetbutton]

Who better to rebuild a city than the people who lived in it?

[oilyhands]

The city is built, just empty. Who we are won't change that.

[resetbutton]

There is more to rebuilding a city than just having some empty buildings lying around. Cities take time to return to their former glory and life and the easiest way to do that is to get the people who lived there to return to it. Even if they don't remember.

[oilyhands]

They'll need a lot more of us for any kind of glory. [Because that's best found in nuclear reactors and plastics manufacturing plants, obviously.]

[resetbutton]

You're only the first group of many, Pollution. As more Sleepers head to Espas, there will be more awakened to take their place.

[audio]

[onemoredrink]

Julian Mitchell has opened communication!

[Now that he's not dropping these damned things whenever they start to speak or show moving pictures...]

What?

[audio]

[resetbutton]

Caretaker bad, us good. Or at least that's what it all boils down to.

[audio]

[onemoredrink]

I- right.

What's Espas?

No, wait, better question. Does that mean my dream was real? Was I kidnapped by fairies or something?

[ps: he might be drinking.]

[audio]

[resetbutton]

Espas is the real name of the Diamond City. You know, that city you're supposed to end up going to and rebuilding? Guess the name isn't common knowledge like we thought.

Looks that way, doesn't it? Except the fairies. Everybody knows that sort of thing doesn't exist.

[audio]

[onemoredrink]

I like it better than Diamond City. A city made of diamonds would be very bright.

They were where I came from, if that wasn't a dream.

[audio]

[resetbutton]

There's only one diamond in the city. It's not too hard to spot.

Let us clarify: They don't exist here. Unless they popped up when we weren't looking after the Disaster.

[audio]

[onemoredrink]

Ah! That makes more sense. Thank you.

[only not really]

Anything else I should know?