Colin's posts

"I expect you will try to integrate yourself into this world, assuming you're staying." Hal replied.

"Given how banged up our escape pod is, and the technological level of this world, I don't think we have much of a choice." Emerald said.

"Very well." Hal responded.

"Then that means you'll be staying here in our dorms for the time being." he said. "We'll do what we can to get you some proper identification, and help you go about finding work... whether it be here, or elsewhere." he continued.

"Wait, really?" Emerald asked, shocked to hear it.

"We are very generously funded by the government, and we refuse to throw people out on the streets when they have nowhere to go." Hal told him.

"As long as you intend to integrate yourself into this world, then all the resources we have at our disposal here will be used to help you do so." he finished.

Hal was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Ah, no." he said.

"We have yet to receive a proper visit from extraterrestrials on this planet." he commented.

"The fact that I included them was merely to show that they would fall under the purview of what we do here, and who we help." he explained.

"That makes sense." Emerald replied.

"And yeah, the aliens back home were pretty cool people." he confirmed. "Really, they're like nerdy tourists." he added with a laugh.

"That's fascinating." Hal responded.

"But I guess we technically fall under both 'aliens' and 'interdimensional'." Emerald then said. "Technically you can say we're from another planet, just not one from this dimension." he went on.

"If the planet you're from is equivalent to our Earth, then you're more interdimensional, and less alien." Hal told him.

"Simply put, anything that forces a mortal human to challenge and reevaluate the concept of 'reality'." Sharp responded. "Or if that's a bit too vague, I'll clarify." he went on.

"Picture your average person. Average job. Average life. As far as they know, the world is as they see it. Other humans about, reasonable technology, systems of government in place, just your average Joe or Jane." he then said. "Anything that would fall out of the comfortable boundaries that have been set for them." he said.

"Including mages... aka, those that can wield mana actively or passively, in noticeable ways. Those that are of a different species than a human, and not an animal that the world at large is familiar with. Such as vampires and werewolves and such." he went on.

"Potentially visitors from other planets, what they would call 'aliens'... or even interdimensional travellers." he continued, before pausing for a moment.

"I can go on and on, but I hope you get the gist of it." he then finished.

"Heh, indeed it is." Sharp responded.

"And you're very welcome." he then said. "We do what we can to help those that are different." he told them.

"You do?" Emerald asked.

"We are a branch of the government, but one whose existence is officially denied." Sharp responded. "See, our job is to protect the public at large from threats that they... well... potentially don't believe in." he said further.

"If the public knew of all the various threats in this world, paranoia would run rampant, and surely things would descend into chaos." he then explained.

"In short, you might have stopped believing in the boogeyman, but the problem is, HE still believes in YOU. And it's OUR job to make sure you are safe from him, and are blissfully unaware of the fact he still exists." he then summarised.

"....huh." was all Emerald could say in response.

"We also provide services and help towards those that fall outside of the concepts of 'normal' in this world." Sharp then added.

Emerald sat down and did the same, examining the man from head to toe. Unfortunately, from just a visual scan, all he could determine was that the man appeared to be tall, with a good build, and no hair. He had a brown colour to his skin, and was dressed in a black business suit, his eyes almost piercing, with one being black and hollow, almost like shark's, and the other being completely white and cloudy.
"Uh... yes, hello." he echoed his sister's greeting.

"Hello, there." the man responded, his piercing expression sudden softening immensely.

"Nice to finally meet you." he told them.

"I am Agent Hal Sharp. I'm in charge of this particular organization." he then introduced himself.

"I'm Emerald." Emerald introduced himself in response.

".....I hope so." Emerald mumbled.

"Just... I... I really hope so." was all he said.

"All right, Agent Sharp is ready for you." the receptionist then told them.

"Feel free to just go in." she said, before getting to work.

Emerald responded to this by slowly standing up, and gulping audibly.

"...all right..." he said quietly, before looking at his sister.

"You ready, Vi?"

As they were waiting, Emerald looked nervous.

"...Vi?" he addressed his sister.

"What should we do here?" he asked.

"How should we act? What is the proper protocol?" he asked further.

"I don't want to get into trouble here, Violet." he then said.

"I'm scared to mess this up."

"....I know." Emerald said quietly.

"This is... disheartening." he said further.

"We're in a strange new world, we have nothing. Not that I think that the I.D. we DID have would have been of any use." he then admitted.

"But we need to talk to the one in charge here." he went on.

"Surely THEY can help?"

"We'll need to ask." Emerald replied.

"See how they do things here." he said.

He then sighed, and shook his head slightly.

"....hm." he muttered.

"Let's ask about places to stay." he told her.

"See if anyone can help us find somewhere."

"I think you're right." Emerald said.

"They're very intelligent in other ways." he agreed.

"Hm." he then mumbled.

"Yeah. And you're right about getting used to life here." he said further, before pausing.

"...and we need to... see Crim." he added.

Aly continued to follow him, and thought for a moment.

"That might be good." she agreed.

"More accessibility is always a good thing." she reasoned.

"What would you want?" she asked.

"A van? A car? A truck? Something else?"

"ONE?" Emerald asked.

"Oh, wow!" he exclaimed, before clamping his hand over his mouth.

"...wow." he repeated, but more quietly.

"One person did this? That is amazing." he said.

"This level of detail denotes the work of an entire team." he commented further.

"Maybe preconceptions about this place are completely wrong..."

Emerald accepted the stack, and started looking through them.

"...wow." he said.

"These are... amazingly detailed." he commented.

".....and VERY different from home..." he mumbled. "But I can still recognise various things. Just their positions are way out of wack." he said further.

"....just... wow." he repeated.

"I wouldn't expect such expert charts from such a backwater place." he commented further, before pausing again.

"I... should probably stop using terms like that..." he realised and vocalised.

"I understand." the medic replied, as Violet made her way to the bed. Once she was in it, he made sure everything was hooked up back the way it was.

"Thankfully none of these are vital to your stability." he commented, before going over to Emerald's bed and checking all the monitors and charts.

"Mmhmm, mmhmm." he muttered.

"For now, the both of you take it easy, and you should be able to be up and mobile within a week or so." he told them.

"We'll be back later with dinner." he continued, making his way back to the door, pausing, and looking at Emerald.

"And please. Do try to keep your voice down. We have other patients here, and they do not appreciate being disturbed." he told him.

"...sorry." Emerald said quietly, before the medic left.

"...that was embarrassing..." he commented quietly, his face turning colour.