[This time around on the communicator, Rin has a much better idea of how to work the thing. She gets the camera right this time, peering into it, her expression intent and level, a touch of tension around her mouth - maybe a little nervous too.]

So.

[The device set up, she taps her palms together quietly.]

So... I'm guessing everyone who decided that they wanted to go home has left by now, right? If anyone did. I guess the rest of us have decided to try working things out.

So who's still here, then? I guess that's what I want to know. Who's going to work on this whole mess? What have we got? I'm sorry to say that I'm not very acquainted with, um, this time period at all. I can swing a sword, but I'm not really an expert in... anything much.

Also, if I can swing a sword... well, even that's useless if I don't have a sword to swing. So, does anyone know where I can get a sword? Or... happen to have one I can borrow?

[For the first few seconds, all that's seen is the ceiling. It's obvious, though, where the owner is; it's the infirmary. One more seems to be awakening today, but they might just be surprised at the face. He looks younger than the other who just came back to life, maybe only by a bit. His hair's grown out during his time in stasis, but there's one copy for you--tilting the angle to show himself. His expression is cold, jaw set at first...

But it softens; not only was he reinformed about what was going on, but... seeing the one he always tried protecting in the same state he'd gotten out of-- it was definitely a rude awakening.

One groan later, and he slowly begins to sit, placing a hand to his forehead.]

Even now... I'm still acting like his shadow. ...They already told me again, but so what.

[A pause]

Why... instead of her-?

[At first, the screen of the NEXUS is black.

Just black, but then it flickers to life. Just the ceiling, and it's obvious enough that it's the ceiling of the infirmary. There's no sounds from the owner of the device -- not yet, anyway, but the view shifts, because he's moving in his bed.

As Riku sits up, careful as he can possibly be with his tired, out-of-practice body, the NEXUS slides against his arm. It's face-up on the mattress, so it has a clear view of his face, hair pulled back and eyes closed. He's obviously awake, though.

Slowly, he opens his eyes, and they look strange. Like they're not picking up anything, like he's not seeing whatever his eyes are trained on, which happens to be his lap.

The boy makes a small, unhappy sound, then pats beside him and picks up the NEXUS. The careful observer will notice that his eyes are clear, without cataracts, but that he isn't focused on the screen, either. It's hard to tell just where his eyes are trained, actually.

Finally, Riku speaks, voice quiet.]

... Can someone tell me... what happened?

[Here's someone who hasn't shown up on the network in a while. She's sitting on her bed, Giitah in her lap, and is tuning it carefully, tightening the strings ever so slightly and loosening others.

Yui's voice is raspy, but she seems more or less all right.] I know we're not having the most fun lately and everything and lots of people are really sick or missing, but...

Maybe, we could do something for Valentine's day! It would cheer everyone up!

[ Oh hey, a new face after quite some time. This guy looks harmless enough. Handsome bloke, interesting silver eyes, pretty... say hi to your newest resident, Ceiru. ]

I was called here due to a need for doctors... however, I'm afraid the situation isn't as clear as I hoped it would be. There is still much I have to know about the disease.

Is there anyone here I can speak to about this?

[ And a pause as he settles by a post. ]

I am Kazutaka Muraki, by the way, a doctor from Tokyo.

[The feed turns on. And it's silent, for a long time. There are only a few indications that there's someone on the line. There's static- the hands that hold the nexus are unsteady. Whoever is holding it has to set it down on the bed. There's shuffling. Someone taking a long breath. Then finally, Sora speaks. ]

Riku's gone...

[A long, heavy silence follows.]

I tried to wake him up but he's not --

[The voice stops when it begins to waver. A pause. Then it tries again. Quieter this time.]

I tried to take him downstairs...but he's...  it's really hard.




... Help me. Please.

[The feed cuts.]

[ The feed clicks on to show a dark haired woman with her feet up on some kind of console, surrounded by endless monitors. It's likely most of you haven't seen this room before -- but her older residents might recognise. She was the one who arrived the night of the Hakkarin attack with a small ship. ]

Well well, no little update this week huh? No little polite, formal message assuring you everything is going to be fine?

[ She gives a short laugh and flicks her feet down off the console, leaning forward. ]

You know what this means, don't you?

This is your story now. All you have left of Sphere is a manager, a systems admin, a nerd and some little lab slaves. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Carolina Scott. What you should know is that I left this place because I didn't agree with what was going on. I still don't.

[ Carolina tilts her head thoughtfully, a humourless smile playing on her lips. ]

You wanna know what Sphere really is? What Sphere was? This entire place was a huge sprawling research facility. A scientists dream. Sphere worked day and night to make this world a better place. Cleaner energy, more efficient technology, easier living. It was all about improvement, bettering ourselves, having a greater understanding of the universe and our place in it. If you ever wanted to learn something, Sphere was the place to do it. They had archives beyond your wildest dreams. Details of the history of every planet, every universe, every culture that's ever existed -- and they learned from history's mistakes.

But not their own. Doesn't look like that now, does it? Let's just say they made a few major mistakes.

[ She grabs a packet of what looks like dried fruit off the console and leans back again. ]

I think we need a little meet up, don't you? Let's get ourselves all on the same page here, then you can decide what you want to do. I have a few stories to tell, and I don't want to have to do it more than once.

[ Feed cuts! ]

[The feed comes on to a blond sitting in front of an empty capsule, obviously only recently vacated. He looks tired, a little overwhelmed, a little too much like the world is being carried on his shoulders, but he's still looking into the source of the video with some determination.]

I've just had everything explained to me- re-explained to me- I mean-

[A sigh.] Just shove a camera at him; he knows how to use it...

I could use some help to find my room, if anyone's listening. Everyone around here is busy.

[With that, he leans back, his whole demeanor breaking down a little more, as if he doesn't even know the camera's still on. Just, staring at white walls, footsteps hurrying past, not particularly being noticed.]

If I'm here, does that mean- I don't have to disappear?

[Filtered to Terra]

[There is a low, dark chuckle. He'd decided to bide his time, wait until the boy had been truly awake for awhile... But now...]

Terra. I should like to speak to you. You may find me at the central station. I am sure one as... Bright as you can find your way?

[And then, the feed crackles out of existence. All that is left is to wait.]