[network] @librarian; video; Day 430; [open]

[cahooted]

Hello? Hi.

My name is Flynn Carsen and--

And you all know that. Right. Uh. That's what they told me? This is kind of awkward because apparently people here know me? Which of course isn't mortifying at all, talking to a bunch of people who met you before, it's like all the downsides of a party but then ineffably, somehow, it got worse.

Anyway, I, uh, I need help? A lot of... help, with, uh.

Everything?

[Is this thing still recording? Hopefully so. His hands come up in some frantic gestures.]

See, it's kind of like my first time in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Or in weather below 0. Or in a place without a sun. Or with static in the air? And I'm not saying that I'm freaking out but I am kind of freaking out, a-a-and it's freezing and people keep telling me these impossible things and I don't know what to do, I really need to call my mom?

And if this is the psych department, I did not sign up for any studies and I just think that it's highly unethical and I'm going to report you all to the administration. ... Which... apparently doesn't do much? I've been told that? That's another thing I have been told by, by the guy who knows me?

Right. So, can anyone help?

[He almost puts the tablet away but then remembers something! And up it comes again, his eyes wide with alarm.]

Also! I'm not dead?? Some guy said I was and apparently they were going to bury me alive?! But I'm really not, and if you could please tell the morticians or, or, or whoever else puts people in body bags around here that this is all just one huge misunderstanding!

Comments

[cahooted]

Okay. Wow. It's so weird, it really feels like I'm-- you know? What did you do when you couldn't remember, is there anything I can do? What am I supposed to do?

So he's telling the truth? ... Well, 90% of the time I end up in a headlock with guys like him so I guess he's pretty high up on the niceness scale.

[jumpthegun]

I didn't get thrown back as far as you did. I thought it was really someone trying to mess with my head. I told everyone to piss off and went off on my own. Wasn't the best decision, really, so I can't recommend it. What you can do is meet up with someone who's close to you. They'll keep you safe and you'll just need to wait this all out. Not fun, but it'll pass. I promise.

Could you turn your tablet around the room so I can try to get an idea of which morgue you're in?

[cahooted]

Oh, I didn't stay in the morgue. It freaked me out too much so I left but that was a mistake because I had to go through this long tunnel with human bones? Which freaked me out even more?!

And then I was in a house, or more like a ruin, so I went outside but it was so cold and I panicked so I went back inside and sent this message.

[He turns the tablet to film the half-collapsed house and the trapdoor that leads back to the Columbarium.]

[jumpthegun]

You're in the Radiation Zone. Okay. Flynn, I'm going to send you a file. It has a rough map of the town. I'll circle where you are on it so you can get a lay of the land. Probably the best option is to head toward the high school. Someone can pick you up from there.

[TownMap_Flynn.png is sent!]

[cahooted]

Thanks.

[He frowns, trying to open the file and tapping a little too forcefully on the tablet like someone who sort of understands how it's supposed to work but doesn't have the haptic part figured out yet.

Until he pauses, looking up again.]

Uh. You know, not to sound any more alarmed than I already do but why is it called the Radiation Zone?

[jumpthegun]

The town was destroyed by nuclear bombs. That area is where they hit the worst, we think. Don't drink or eat anything you find there unless it's in a lead-lined box. There's also an application on your tablet. It looks like a little radiation symbol. That's a Geiger Counter. It will let you know if where you're staying is safe. The building you're in should show yellow or green. Those are okay. It's red that's the problem. Everywhere outside the buildings is red. We're going to get you out of there very quickly, though.

There's Building 303 to the southeast from where you are. Tomorrow, you'll travel there and into the maintenance tunnels through a trap door. That will take you out of the Radiation Zone.

[cahooted]

Oh, so basically you, you want me to travel a nuclear wasteland.

[Oh God, why did he ask.]

How does this just get worse with every bit of information?

[He fumbles with the tablet again, with more noisy screen tapping.]

It's yellow. What about the food I have, can I still eat that? Do I throw it out? Is my hair going to fall out?

[jumpthegun]

[He's just... not going to mention the possibility of anomalies for the moment.]

The food you have in your pack should be okay. Your hair isn't going to fall out. You have nanomachines--tiny little robots--in your blood. They're making sure you aren't killed by the radiation.

[cahooted]

What?!

[He immediately brings his arms up to inspect them.

... Only that of course causes him to drop the tablet and there is a lot of jostling and fumbling before he shows up again.]

T-that is amazing? And, well, yeah, terrifying, but-- nanotechnology! Wow!

[jumpthegun]

[John does sometimes forget how cool it is in the face of the existential horror of his entire personality being stored on them.]

Yeah. Medicine's come a long way in this place. Anyway, call me tomorrow morning and I can direct you how to get into the tunnels and over to the high school. That should be a good place for you to stay and wait things out.

[cahooted]

Uh, yeah. Yeah, okay, I'll do that. Thanks.

[He's not really looking forward to spending the night in this icy ruin AT ALL but he doesn't want to look like a total wimp either so he nods.]

I'll call you in the morning. Is there, like, a time where I should... I mean, do you like to sleep in or...

[jumpthegun]

Lockdown ends at 6 AM. I'm usually up around 5 AM for an early start. You don't need to be up quite that early. but I'd recommend at 6 AM.

[Because the anomalies can open doors properly now.]

[cahooted]

6 AM?

[Freakish apocalypse or not, A+-student or not, Flynn pulls exactly the face a fifteen-year-old would pull at that suggestion.]

Mmh. All right... Does this thing have an alarm clock function?

[jumpthegun]

[You just sort of... get used to the schedule.]

No, but the click from the doors is loud enough it should probably wake you up. Your body might be more adjusted to being an early riser than you think, as well.