[video; open]

[resetbutton]

Robert Franklin has opened communication!

[The video crackles to life and reveals someone awkwardly trying to hold the camera right. He doesn't exactly succeed as it's slightly crooked, but he doesn't seem to notice and instead starts to talk.]

Hi, I'm Robert Franklin and I'm in charge of the library in the Cave. It's my job to help out anybody who wants to use the library to learn about how things were before the Disaster or even other academic subjects that might be either an interest to you or something useful for your job. Even if you don't need a book, I'm always happy to help answer any questions you may have about the Cave or even things in the Overworld like the City.

[There's a short pause as he thinks for a moment, trying to remember something, but shrugs it off pretty quickly.]

I'll be in here more often than not, so everybody is welcome to come on by. You can even contact me with the communicators if you need to. I've heard that some of you are already in the City, right? If you ever have any free time, I'd like it if you could come over and tell me about how it is there after all these years. The City must be really different from what I remember and what I've read about.

[About five minutes after his initial post, he turns his communicator back on, looking like he has something important to say.]

Oh and I would also like to mention that we do not carry fiction books in the library. You're going to have to look elsewhere for them, I'm afraid.


((Note: For this post, all of Robert's replies will be from prettyspryforadeadguy instead of the mod account due to an icon shortage.))

Comments

[ audio forever; ]

[tartanisstylish]

John Gates has opened communication!

What about the Overworld outside the City? Do you have information on that?

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

I don't know a whole lot about the current state of the Overworld beyond that it's a desolate wasteland inhabited by megafauna and the Hunters.

[tartanisstylish]

I think we've quite figured that out by now.

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

Well, maybe you can tell me what you know and then I can see if I can expand on that.

[tartanisstylish]

I almost got eaten by a giant cat, if that's helpful. Your megafauna.

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

A giant cat? Espas didn't have those before the Disaster. The big cats usually lived more to the north.

[tartanisstylish]

Well, it seems they've migrated.

Tell me, if you would - all of your information is from before this - event occurred, yes?

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

It must have been a drastic climate change for them to migrate this far south.

For the most part, yes. Most of the Workers aren't allowed to leave the Cave and then ones who can are only able to do so for specific reasons, so I don't get information about the Overworld as it is now very often.

[tartanisstylish]

It's a desert.

But you want information.

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

That's odd. The giant cats that I know of lived in the mountains and unless the terrain in the area somehow changed to mountains, they wouldn't be here.

I do. If I was capable of going out there for myself and learning about how things have changed on our planet in only a hundred and fifty years, I would go and do it. Since I can't, I have to rely on you guys to find out.

[tartanisstylish]

I don't. Remember any of that.

I can give you as much information as I have, for all the good it will do you. I don't even you being stuck there.

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

Of course you don't, you just woke up. It takes time for the memories to return.

I would really appreciate it. I can collect the information and show it to newly awakened Sleepers when they wake up.

[tartanisstylish]

Yes, so I've heard.

You're at the Library, you said? I can find you easily enough if you'd like, or write it all down if that's easier.

[littlealienguy]

[Video snaps on quickly and there might be some staring at first.]

[small voice]Dr. Jackson?

[He quickly continue to cover up the name.] I spent a good deal of time in the Cave library when I was there. Why didn't I see you then?

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

That's because I was on vacation until recently.

[littlealienguy]

A vacation? Where? [He can't hide his skepticism.]

And I'd be happy to travel back to tell you about the City. Anything you want to know in particular?

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

Oh, you know, around. [He vaguely waves his hands.] The Caretaker orders me out of the library from time to time. This was just really bad timing.

How much of it has survived since the Disaster, how everybody has dealt with returning home, things like that.

[littlealienguy]

[This is the face of an alien who doesn't quite believe you but ooookay.] I guess that makes sense. Everyone needs to get out every once in a while.

I can do that. I have nothing pressing in the city at the moment. Do you want me to come today?

[prettyspryforadeadguy]

I only wish getting out meant I could visit the City.

Sure! I'm a little bit behind on organizing things here, but I can multitask.

[littlealienguy]

You can't come to the City? Why not?

I'll catch the next train out. It will be good to speak with you Dr. Ja...Mr. Franklin.

[myfedorarocks]

Allen Grant has opened communication!

would you know what happened to me?