two days after the event [video]

[blue_ice]

[ Kaiba looks tired and frustrated, as usual, but he's loud and clear here. ]

If anyone wants to review the 'rogue void train' message we received immediately before the ICPs crashed, I managed to transcribe a copy. You should all be able to read it now. And I know at least one other person has pictures of the screen if you'd rather read the source directly.

During the chaos, I told a few of you about a myth from my world called the Tower of Babel. As the story goes, once upon a time all the people of the world spoke the same language. They decided to work together on building a tower to the heavens to reach God. God was angered by their arrogance, so he cursed their tongues so that they could no longer understand each other. This stopped the tower project and they scattered across the world.

I'm telling you this because I've been wondering if it's relevant to the situation. Given the timing of the message, the near-immediate disabling of our translator, and the convenient disappearances of a few teammates I knew to be actively investigating, I'm more concerned than I was about what we're in for.

Comments

[flatteries]

Sounds rough to deal with. [ He gives a small smile at that, like he's trying to joke, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. Inigo's thinking about too many things right now for his heart to fully be in it. ]

If they really were taken away deliberately though.. I'll never forgive the train. Especially since it probably won't just safely send them home in that case, right?

[blue_ice]

That's what we would all hope to happen...but I'm not liking our odds there. I wonder if they're going into this bureaucracy we heard about.

[flatteries]

If they're being held outside of the train, we're all out of luck.. I can't think of any possible way for us to reach them there.

[blue_ice]

Unless the train wills it. Ugh.

I feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.

[flatteries]

Well, as long as you're not actually doing that..

[ It's a weak attempt to bring some levity to the situation. Only a weak one though, since Inigo definitely is not feeling in any mood himself to smile right now. ]

Are you worried you might be next? [ Since, you know, this whole messages comes across as him investigating as well. ]

[blue_ice]

I value my brain too much.

And somewhat. I'm trying to get as much information into other hands as I can before that can happen.

[flatteries]

Makes sense, but.. [ For a moment Inigo hesitates. After all, it's not even like he knows this guy. But Inigo wouldn't be Inigo if he wasn't instantly worried about someone all the same. ]

You know. You don't mind that something could happen to you? Especially when you don't know what said 'something' is?

[blue_ice]

[ There's a sharp noise on the other end as he inhales. ]

Of course I mind. I have a life to go back to. A brother waiting for me. If that's not where I'm headed, provided they haven't wiped my memory, I'll fight with everything I have. And there are people here who've come to matter to me.

But I come from a life of worst case scenarios coming to be more often than not, so I have to prepare with what little I have.

[flatteries]

[ Well, at least Kaiba doesn't seem to believe a worst case scenario will 100% definitely happen, so that's good. Inigo can work with this. Especially since he gets it - there's a sibling waiting for him back home as well. ]

Hey, worst case scenarios aside, you have an advantage here, don't you know? [ He grins, as if he isn't about to say the sappiest shit ever. ] You're not in this alone. I mean, I know we don't know each other, but I'd help you out if you were in trouble.

[blue_ice]

...well, I'd hope the train would mostly choose people willing to keep each other alive for its ridiculous army.

[ He snorts softly]

And I'd help you.

[flatteries]

Aww, that's so sweet of you!

[ Don't pull attention to it, Inigo.. ]

I thought you seemed like a serious kind of guy, but you do care, huh?

[blue_ice]

I care about keeping everyone alive, to make the mission easier.

[flatteries]

[ Uh-huh.

Sure, Kaiba could be serious about that being the only reason, but Inigo has met a lot of people who claimed that but cared more underneath, so he can't help but doubt that just a tad. ]

Are you sure that's the only reason?