[Voice, locked to residents] --EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--

[malnosso]

[At 2:15AM, the journals suddenly blare out an alarm, followed by this message.]

EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY. This is an emergency.

The following occupants of the Luceti enclosure must report to the teleporters in twenty minutes. You are required as reinforcements in Region 13. Bring all necessary armaments with you. You will be teleported directly into combat.

Anyone who fails to comply will be forcibly escorted to the teleporters by droids.

This is not a drill. I repeat: this is not a drill. You have twenty minutes.

[The message repeats twice more, the alarm continuing until the twenty minutes has elapsed. No questions will be answered.]

Comments

[spellfeather]

That, and they told us that we're being dropped into combat. [She didn't want to fight in someone else's war, but from what she's heard, there's no choice on that matter.] But whatever is going on there, I know I'll be ready for it.

[She unholsters her pistol and checks it again, but now she's got a question.] Though now I have to ask, has there been anything like this that's happened before?

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette takes a moment to think. She tilts her head to the side a little, as if doing so will shake the memories loose.] I...I think this happened once before, uh, maybe a year or so ago? But I wasn't on that draft, so I don't really know much about what happened there. ...To be honest, I've only been on one draft before this one.

[spellfeather]

So you've had experience with these before. [Good.] Can you tell me what happened on the draft you were on? [Karis wants to know as much as possible, that way, she can mentally prepare herself a little better.]

[ribbonbon]

Well...that time, we were on some kind of...sky fortress thing. A little over a year ago, I think. There were people from a lot of other enclosures, too, I think. I stayed back in the medical area and helped treat injuries, so I don't really know much of anything about what went on in the fighting.

[She feels a little bad for not being able to offer up more information.]

I, uh, I'm not much of a fighter, you know? Uh, s-sorry.

[spellfeather]

So you're a medic. [She actually smiles.] There's never enough medics around, so it's good to hear that you're coming along.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette perks up just a little. As someone who practically feeds on praise, she appreciates the kind words.]

I'm still studying, but I do what I can! I always make sure to carry lots of extra supplies s-so, um, when we're out there, if you need anything just let me know! ...Oh! Um, I'm Pilouette, by the way. I live on the second floor.

[spellfeather]

I'll be sure to call you when I'm in need of aid. [She nods.]

I'm Karis, I live on the fifth floor. It's nice to meet you. [She holds out her hand for a handshake, though still felt odd about it. She's getting the hang of the human gesture, somewhat...]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette gladly accepts that handshake with a smile. She felt a little intimidated by Karis at first, but she's a bit more at ease now.]

Nice to meet you, too! ...I-I guess it's not great to meet someone on the way to a warzone, but...well, I guess it's just how stuff works out sometimes, huh?

[spellfeather]

No, it's not all that great. [She'd add onto that sentence, but it would put her into quite a somber mood.] Though, would it be sad to say that I'm actually used to this sort of thing?

[ribbonbon]

Oh...S-So you had to do stuff like this where you're from?

[That...is kind of sad. If she means what Pilouette thinks she means, having to fight in a war at home, then being brought somewhere else to a different war is...pretty bad.]

Um, I'm guessing being brought here probably wasn't much of an improvement, then, huh? [Then again, it isn't for most people.]

[spellfeather]

Yeah, quite often too. Sometimes it would be a surprise due to being ambushed, sometimes we had hours to prepare ourselves. [She shrugs.] It all depended on the situation at the time.

[The mention of being brought to this world actually makes Karis smile a little.] On the contrary! Here, it's been like a vacation! I may not have my crew mates here, but at least I'm not staring death in the face almost every day.

[ribbonbon]

O-Oh...I guess that, um, does sound like it would be better here.

[Pilouette forgets sometimes that other people have it harder in their own worlds than she does in hers, where war seemed so far away and combat was a non-issue for her.]

Then I guess something like this isn't that big a deal to you, huh...? I never had to do stuff like this back home, so it kind of like, freaks me out a little bit, you know?

[spellfeather]

Hmm, yes and no. It's not much as a big deal since I don't like the fact that I'm fighting in someone else's war, but it's still a big deal because I'm worried about everyone else that's going. [Permanent death doesn't sound fun.]

Yeah, I understand. [Karis nods, remembering how it felt going out on her very first battle back at home. It wasn't pretty.] It's not easy to get yourself to relax, so all you can really do is try to focus on what you're good at doing and stick with it. [Funny how she's using that sentence a second time, though now in a different world.]

[ribbonbon]

Y-Yeah, I'm pretty worried, too. Especially since they kind of send like...whoever. [Some of whom are like her and have very little in the way of defense.] But sticking with what you're good at...

[Pilouette nods. Makes sense.]

That's probably the best way to help out and not freak out. I don't know if I can really say I'm good at anything yet, though. A year or so ago, I didn't even think I'd be learning first aid, you know?

[spellfeather]

[She knows quite well actually.] You might be surprised, until you actually use what you've learned, you never know if you'll be good or not, and if you still need more practice, well, you'll still need more practice! You'll get better at something with time and experience, and that goes with anything, but sometimes, you may need a little help along the way. I know I did at some point, though I'm not sure what it's like for a medic, I don't really know much of anything at all about patching up battle wounds, with either magic or bandages. [This is all said in a rather encouraging tone, hopefully Karis can help wash away a bit of doubt that Pilouette has.]

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette smiles a little and nods.]

Y-Yeah, that makes sense. I think I'll always need to practice it, but I've gotten a little better than I was a year ago, I think. I don't have to ask for help as much more. [She lets out a sheepish little laugh.] I think it's because I like, have a really good teacher, though. If it wasn't for her, I don't think I'd have gotten as far as I have.

[spellfeather]

Who doesn't need to still practice something important? [Practice makes perfect after all.]

I know exactly how it is when it comes to having a good teacher. I know way back, when I was still just a kid, I had to get tutoring because of how so far behind I was compared to all the other kids. [Karis can't help but grin.] So in that sense, you are I were in the same boat at one point in time.

[ribbonbon]

[Pilouette forgets sometimes that other people have been where she is, skill-wise, and it's kind of nice to be reminded of that. It especially helps that it's coming from someone who seems so cool-headed in the face of the draft.]

Maybe if I work hard enough, I'll be able to help people learn first aid someday...

[Pilouette laughs quietly. She's only half-serious, really. No matter how much she studied, she's not sure she would trust herself to really teach anyone anything important.]<.small>

[spellfeather]

So long as there are people willing to learn...that someday might come sooner than you think. [Karis grins as she scratches the back of her head.] Though it'll be rather nerve wracking if you're not exactly used to teaching others.

[ribbonbon]

Yeah...Like, the idea of teaching people anything does kind of make me nervous. Maybe it's a better idea if I don't... [She frowns thoughtfully.] Besides, like, I have to concentrate on doing what I can on this draft before I start thinking about stuff like that, I think.