[M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN - THE INTERVIEW

[voidmissions]

---

On opening their eyes, Voidtreckers will feel a sense of disorientation, a dizziness to their vision and inside their head. Both clear quickly, letting them remember where they came from: in the midst of a mission, some unknown entity jumping them, and then —

They're here. Wherever here is.
They stand in an empty room. The lighting of the room stings their eyes after how dark the rest of the station has been. The walls, ceiling and floor are all bright white, tiles. There is no visible door, no windows.

After the disorientation comes fear. The hairs on the back of their neck stand up. For those with danger sense, these senses are going haywire, even though any other abilities are still not working. The feeling can be pushed down, it is similar to the air of expectation at the start of a horror film, the anticipation of fear rather than being in a truly dangerous situation. It might be that they have been on the train long enough to have felt it before.

Heavy footsteps sound, it is almost impossible to tell where they are coming from as the echo through the empty space. The feeling of dread grows until part of the far wall slides open with a mechanical hiss.

Filling the doorway are two huge figures, around seven foot tall and bulky. They are in large metal suits, almost like power armour, black with highlights of gold. They wear a mask that covers their whole face. It is impossible to see the figure inside at all. Their breathing comes through heavy and raspy and when they walk their footsteps are heavy. The door closes behind them and their presence makes the room feel smaller. One of them scans a green light over the voidtrecker.

"Do not be alarmed. Under sections ninety six of Inter-dimensional law and on behalf of the Void Ministry we have intercepted Voidcraft designation Voidtrecker Express as part of ongoing investigations. You have been taking part in a simulated excercise to gauge your skill and strength. No harm shall come to you or your crew, you are protected by inter dimensional law. You have been chosen for questioning and we ask that you comply. You have the right to refuse our interview but we have the right to hold you until our investigation is complete or one week in standard void time has passed, whichever is longest. Complying with us will ensure our investigation is more efficient."

The inspector talking pauses here, as if giving the voidtrecker time to take in that information.

"Do you accept our interview?"

---

ENEMY: UNKNOWN

---

Comments

tidus ; from mid-way of day 2

[blitzcheer]

» day 2, after interview;

He comes out from the room, a little dazed and still taking in what this mission's turned into, walking into view of the other faces with the same baffled surprise that's in his voice when he greets them.

"Uhh, hey. Sooo... that happened, huh?"

Or maybe, more importantly: "Did any of you learn anything from that?"

» days 2-3, games;

But they still have to deal with being stuck here after the fact. Tidus watches the cameras at the beginning, pulling up a chair and squinting at the grainy footage, playing people-spotting, the antics going on.

"Oh hey, I just saw Romeo."

"Was that Goooo- Goku?"

"Ohhh, they better watch out...!"

Join him for his short-lived interest in camera spying, or otherwise- there's always ball, which he brings out from his arms band (thank you for giving that back), declaring to some of the bored-looking faces with him, "I've got ball," for anyone who wants to join in on a kick around.

Totally fine and safe, don't worry.

He also does have a hand-held gaming device, if anyone wants to backseat while he plays, or borrow it for a game. Otherwise...

» day w/e; questions;

"So whatever we think about those Inspector guys, they're gonna be here for a while, right? We should think about more stuff to ask them when we see them again. Anything we missed."

That's smart, right? He looks about the room, leaning against the wall, bringing his folded arms down to his sides.

"Like...figuring out how our worlds are doing, or if they can get back to us or something. Or stuff we can get to help us?"

He's throwing out thoughts, ideas, anything that might be good or stick.

This is a good chance for this, right?

questions

[darknessinzero]

"I am certain we can get some common necessities, so long as they do not compromise our security."

There's something meaningful in Ansem's gaze and voice. A warning. Anything related to getting out of here - if that is what Tidus is implying - should be discussed very, very carefully.

"But I, too, would like to learn more of my home, if such is possible."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus hears the firmness of the point, but at the same time, its weight does bounce against him some...mainly in the way he can't imagine how anything would compromise their security (nothing, anyway, he'd think of asking over - but that's a good thing, right?).

"Yeah, that'd be a start! If they can figure out where we're from and check it out." --Ah. "S'long as you're not worried they'll do anything to it," he adds, figuring it could relate to security, care in his tone.

At least, if not their immediate security, then the security of their home worlds. But not everyone wants to be too trusting.

"But I don't think so. I mean... I believe them about what they're doing here, and it doesn't make sense to mess with our worlds. There's thousands out there."

(Try a higher number.)

after interview

[flatteries]

Please, Tidus, as if you're going to have any time to be able to properly greet anyone.

Or, well, perhaps he will later. But the moment he comes properly into view, Inigo is already pretty much dashing at him - helped by the fact that there's not as many people here yet - and wrapping his arms around Tidus to cling to him. Inigo's shoulders are shaking, though - thankfully? - it doesn't seem like he's crying or anything. When he's still clinging to Tidus, but at least turns his head up to be able to look at the other, his eyes are dry.

"Tidus.. Are you alright?"

[blitzcheer]

Oh right, there's one guy first who gets a greeting before anyone else.

Who was a face he was looking out for, and one that quickly found him, a firm presence around him in that hug. Tidus greets him back, hands coming around him, a relief dropping through his body that he'd been hoping to find.

"Inigo! I'm fine!" The reassurance is easy, earnest, and Tidus does take the time to examine Inigo's face, glancing lower, for as little as that can help.

"Are you? Your interview didn't go weird, did it?"

Is he too quick to be feeling that relief? Did anything worrying happen?

[flatteries]

He shakes his head.

"No, it was-- it was fine." A little weird. Still, even now, even though Inigo hasn't had much to do other than to sit around here and ponder everything that happened. But nothing that should make the other worried about him.

"It's just.. I saw you."

Inigo stares at the other for another moment, as if he's having a really hard time actually letting go of the other in this moment, but then he does release Tidus so he can instead gesture with an arm at the screens on the wall.

"I saw you, and Taiki, and Jingyi.. and everyone else." He saw people being worried about him, and even though he wanted to let them know so badly that he was alright, that he was just here, he couldn't.

[blitzcheer]

It's with the gesture that Tidus finally pays more than a moment's attention at the screens, to properly see them. The figures moving about in the dark, the sight of rooms that flicker in and out. He returns his gaze onto Inigo, some mirth in his tone when he speaks.

"You gave the rest of us a fright too." To understate it. "We couldn't reach you - you can't call out either? On the SCA? Why're they jamming it?"

Was there a reason? Did those guys say?

[flatteries]

"You think I wouldn't have contacted you guys if I had some way to do so?"

It's not an accusation. Inigo knows that Tidus knows him, knows him well enough to be aware that there's absolutely no way Inigo wouldn't be screaming that he's alright off the roofs, just to get them to stop worrying about him. It's just the easiest way to answer that question. No, there's no way to reach out.

.. and worse.. no, Inigo also doesn't know why. It's why he stays quiet after saying that, frowning like he's thinking about something difficult.

"I guess they might have thought the train would pull us back if it somehow found out about what was going on?" Especially since the train really doesn't seem to like the Ministry. "But still, to make us all worry about each other like this.. It doesn't feel right."

Even though everything about his conversation with them did. Honestly, it's only now that he's starting to feel a little more off about it all.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus knows Inigo would have tried the SCAs, for sure. And there was that thing those weird Ministry guys said at the start too, about the others being part of a simulated exercise. But the more Tidus's brain tries to think about it, the less he can make any sense out of it.

It's too confusing, so he puts that aside for now, sighing as he lifts his chin in gesture.

"Let's sit. Tell me about what you talked about? I'll tell you about my interview too."

This is a good time to get his water out too. ...if he can get it out, testing his arms band, or eventually.

[flatteries]

Inigo nods, easily going along with this suggestion. But even as he's letting go of the way he's clinging onto the other guy, he's still moving to grab Tidus's hand and hold onto that instead as he moves them over to a spot where they can take a seat. Like he's worried the other might just disappear from this place the moment the completely lets go of Tidus.

It's only when they are seated that he finally fully lets go of Tidus, releasing the hand as well to instead fold his hands into his lap. There's still a bit of obvious nervous energy to Inigo, most likely born from spending the entire 'night' here, only able to watch everyone else from afar.

"They, um.." Inigo starts, trying to recall his conversation with the people. "They asked me about a lot of stuff. About the first mission I remembered, and a lot of things about Diagad and that being who kept harassing us too.. Though with the way they were acting, I'm not really sure if they were incredibly concerned about our situation."

Even though Inigo tried to convey the fact that they were all trapped pretty well - but maybe it's just the way those guys seemed to react so relatively emotionless to everything.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus won't refuse his hand being Inigo's emotional support, even in the short walk over to the chairs. He isn't sure then it'd be let go, but when it is, his body is turned towards Inigo in conversation, his own arm resting on his lap as he listens.

"How'd they act with you?" The assessment has him curious, but even as he thinks about it, frowning- "The guys I got - I couldn't see them! And they had this flat voice half the time."

Which could be off-putting to some. It was sometimes for Tidus, but at least it wasn't bored and droning.

[flatteries]

"Yes," he nods, "it was the same for me."

Which is exactly why he had no idea whether or not those guys were really interested in the fact that they were stuck on the train. Did they really not care, or is it just that they don't really show emotion, even when they might feel it deep down?

How does one read emotion from some sort of mask?

"So it all seemed very.." Inigo's voice trails off, his eyebrows knitting together as he seems to try and think of a good way to describe it. "Very business-like. It kind of felt like I was the only one in that room who kept getting all emotional."

[blitzcheer]

"Hmm, that kind of situation isn't new to me..." Being the most emotional the less composed one in a room. "But you weren't the only one. I know I wanted us to meet more people from the void, but actually getting to meet with the Ministry..." Even just a section of it. "...I don't have a clue what's gonna happen next."

Is this going to go terrible for them? Will nothing change? Will something good from all this? It wasn't that long ago that he was sneaking around, clueless, and it's a lifetime ago for him now - but he's still as clueless as then, close to as apprehensive.

"Really hope it's something worth it."

[flatteries]

It's those last words Tidus are saying that seems to stir something within Inigo. The actual thing he wanted to share with Tidus the most - because he knows that it's important to him too. After all, among those who walked off the train.. there's Yuna.

"Tidus, I told them," Inigo quickly says, being unintentionally way too vague in his rush to want to explain it to the other. To show him that there's at least a glimmer of hope here. "Remember when you and Taiki urged me to ask for Yuki's system number before, when we were asking questions of the train? I-- I memorized it."

Which turned out to be a good thing, because even though Tidus wrote it down back then, it's not like Inigo could just have pulled out the paper right then and there. Even though it makes him feel a tad pathetic to admit to having memorized it - but he doesn't let it stop him, instead continuing his story as he looks at the other.

"So I told those guys the number, and they said they would look into it, to see if Yuki really did show up back in his world. If all the people who left the train just went back home, we'll know."

day 2-3 camera watching

[eternalinquiry]

He was watching before Tidus started, but the reprieve from his own silence is nice. He looks over at the screen Tidus is staring at;
"have you ever heard the musical number 'yakkity sax'?"

[blitzcheer]

"Eh?" A musical? And what kind of name is that? Tidus shakes his head, looking away from the screens as he does so. "What's it about?"

...he may be confusing the meaning of number there. But!

[eternalinquiry]

“Not quite,” Wangji isn’t really in the mood for laughter, but Tidus helps.
“It was a piece of music played over chase sequences to make them seem ridiculous.” Wangji hums the tune he is speaking about as they watch a few of the other treckers run from one room to another in silence pantomime. He lets it fade out.

“I felt it would almost be appropriate here, now that we know this mission was a set up.”

[blitzcheer]

Ohhh. He huffs a bit, looking back to the different screens, figures moving cautiously through the grainy footage.

"Too bad they don't know that either. Or they don't know what's happening to us." And that they can't give them a signal or sign. He looks across the screens, as if something more might pop out. But it never has; no extra buttons, no way to be put on speaker.

"Why do you think they won't let us contact anyone?"

[eternalinquiry]

Wangji sighs, he also would want to tell the fellow trekkers that they are not in any danger. He couldn't find anything the previous days but maybe Tidus knows more about technology than he does.

"You cannot see any way to do so either?" His hope crumbles. "I imagine they want to preserve the validity of the experiment. No external factors can be allowed to influence the results. The fact they have hindered it by telling us is a non-factor."

He shifts into a better sitting position.
"What was it like on the other side? I 'disappeared' at the end of day one."

[blitzcheer]

It makes him wonder what they're even learning about the experiment. What did it matter outside of fooling the train? How good they were at sneaking around or finding things out? It has Tidus frowning, parts of this whole situation plenty confusing, but he looks over to Wangji at the question.

"Out there? Just really dark, and hard to move around. We were getting chased around - you heard them, right?" Before Wangji got taken? "Some kind of invisible fiends - 'cept, I guess they were how the Inspectors were grabbing us."

[eternalinquiry]

The idea that this was all a massive set up is alarming in some ways, what kind of people have the means to do this and on such a large scale. Fooling the train seems, difficult at best.
When Tidus describes the experience, Wangji looks a little disturbed.
"I did not hear much, before but yes. The invisibility was...distressing. Normally I can sense most foes but here we are all stripped back to our base selves."

An internal shudder.
"I do not suppose you have any other ideas of how to pass the time here?"

[blitzcheer]

"I've got a couple books or magazines if you're bored?" Tidus suggests. He wouldn't have anything else to offer that was already around - Wangji would know that better than him - but since they're on the subject, he takes a moment to recall, and makes a magazine appear from his arms band/hammerspace. There's a flashy imagery of some type of being in a uniform holding a ball.

"You like sports?"

Because spoilers on the types of magazines Tidus likes.

[eternalinquiry]

Really, there’s only so much introspection Wangji can take. Sports he may not know but the printed word is the printed word and he will take most things at this point.
“I am not fantastically familiar with them. You obviously enjoy them.”

He will take the magazine and consider the image on the front.
“Do you play or spectate?”

[blitzcheer]

"Play!" Tidus answers easily. "Back on the train, but that's-" he taps the magazine cover once "-my life back home. Or was, before - all this."

There's a pause in the clarification, but he waves his hand. Really, meaning more than this room and just the interview, but their entire situation.

"But I think after this trip, I can do with treating myself to some new ones. Sheesh - one from mission to this whole mess. Train better not stop shop orders if it finds out what's happening."

[eternalinquiry]

Wangji finds the enthusiasm for sport about as amusing as it is confusing. It's nice to see Tidus so happy about something he seems to care about though. He examines the picture and-
"Is this man... floating? Is this water polo?"

The games doesn't look like anything he knows, even peripherally. He looks up when Tidus says he plays professionally, "That is very impressive for your age, you must be very good."

He starts leafing through the magazine in order to find out more, eyes moving fast over the text.
"I was unaware we could order from our own universe to this degree, I know you can ask for objects but perhaps I can request some publications I have undoubtedly missed since coming here."