whistlesatengineers | First Clue

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First Clue - Audio/Text

[ The first sound out of the comm was a suspicious thump thump thump. Someone’s testing to see if it’s on, maybe? After that, someone whistles what sounds like the acknowledging warble a computer might make. After that is a long, tense pause, followed by a grunt. The audio flicks off, but typing starts after a few more moments. ]

Gunney? Dare?

[ Another long pause before the typing continues. ]

This isn’t New Mombasa. This probably isn’t even Earth, is it? Where am I?

[ More importantly, where are his guns?!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Damn. But I really can't stay here. I was in the middle of something.

So was I. That was 10 months ago.

Seriously? So I'm just stuck here, while God knows what happens to my squadmates?

[ Worst. Day. Ever. ]

"Squadmates?"

[This is relevant to the Major's interests.]

Yes, squadmates. We were in the middle of a combat zone.

[ Regardless of interest, that's probably all he has to say on the matter. ]

I see.

I'm sorry.

[He's not in a position to appreciate how extraordinary getting sympathy from Kusanagi is, but maybe he'll look back in surprise one of these days.]

Thanks. They're a tough bunch, though. Hope they can handle themselves without me.

[ After what happened at New Jerusalem, the Rookie got a little of the sympathy and the pity. But here? It's not quite so bad. ]

Still. That's a bad time to get taken.

Yeah. I definitely have to agree with you.

Everyone calls me Rookie, by the way.

[ Having an entire conversation without introducing himself. Geeze. ]

[She laughs, not that he can hear it.]

Everyone calls me the Major.

[ He grins on his own end of the line a little bit. ]

Well, it's nice to meet you, Major. Should I make a wild guess and ask if that's your actual title and not just a nickname?

I am in fact a Major in the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force.

[They don't get to call it an "army" because of Article 9.]

Ground Self-Defense Force? I'm afraid this is the first I've heard of it.

[ He'd thought all military operations were a joint effort between the countries (and colonies) of the UNSC. ]

I suspect things have changed between my time and yours.

Probably.

[ This seems just insane to him. Different times. Different worlds he can handle, but this? ]

Strange question, but I have to ask. What time did you come from? And what year is it here?

[ Because this Chatter is painfully primitive, for him. ]

2029. It would be 2030 by now.

[Well, if he gave her his frequency, they could talk on her cybercomm.]

Wow. Yeah, a little far back. Luna hadn't even been settled yet. I came - come? - from 2552.

Outlier. Most of the people from Earth are clustered in the early 21st century--a knot around 2008, actually.

2008? Strange year to choose. Did something happen back then that I didn't hear about?

[ Apparently, Lady Gaga and Octomom didn't make it into the history books. ]

Not where I'm from. There wasn't even an active war that year.

[They never even existed in Ghost in the Shell.]

I think there was some kind of guerrilla warfare thing in the Middle East, but other than that...

[ It's a safe assumption they did in his ~~considering the I Love Bees viral campaign~~. ]