ninth galaxy [video, backdated to 9/17]

[normandysbest]

[Those who've been here for a while might remember the last time Shepard addressed Wonderland in the Citadel, all smiles and lackadaisical jokes. However, today, she's addressing the Mansion at large like a commander- her shoulders are flat, back straight, expression serious.]

Alright. So if I'm correct from the network, a lot of us received items with the same cryptic note and a lot of weird stuff. Some of 'em don't seem to do anything. Some of them, apparently, are eyeballs.

[She brings her right hand into view, holding a broken half of a compact mirror; the mirror inside is shattered beyond repair.]

I got this- but it wasn't broken when I got it. It went to the Queen of Hearts. And because I don't believe in bullshitting anyone here, we should talk about the fact that what's going on right now is purposeful, and we need to be a hell of a lot more careful.

[She proceeds to upload a picture of red writing on the compact from the day before.]

First, Hearts doesn't know how this stuff got away from her. She accused me, and I faked what the note said- I don't know about the lore of this place, but I'm betting the Q in RQ is a sister we're missing.

[Next, another picture of the same scrawled writing.]

This is what she lost personally. Don't know if this is relevant other than to be on the lookout for it, and know she might put a target on your head for it being gone.

[Next, another message though admittedly slightly out of context.]

I started pressing for information about her informants. For those of you who were here last year, you might remember Alex Kralie making a post about their being a spy in our midst- a mole for the Queen. He was right. This compact was theirs, and she addressed me by their name at the start. This was her response when I asked what happened after five deaths. She visits, and you serve her. That's it. No going back. I feel like I've said this damn well enough before by now, but don't die-- and I have a better reason for it, too.

[And one more upload- the final message. Shepard looks more serious now than she has the entire message so far.]

There's been discussion about what the Core is made of- if it's memories, how we get them back when we leave Wonderland forever. It's not memories, or at least not all of it. It's souls. It's the physical parts you lose when you die, when everyone who's come before us has died, when people who have died five times and lost themselves entirely. The Core is our fallen, and the Queen confirmed it.

[She takes a second to breathe, measured, and steady.]

So. First off, someone's stealing from the Queen, and I'm willing to bet more than just those items she listed are important. Check what you got, be careful with it, don't go alone. Second, don't fucking die five times, and anyone who does and comes back needs to be detained. Immediately. And third, if anyone has more information about potential other queens in this place before I was here, or anything that you think relates to them, I need to know. We're not gonna have a lot of time before the Queen of Hearts figures this out before us.

[She gives one last curt nod to the camera, all business.]

Shepard out.

Comments

[beatupgrass]

I already did once. Like hell if it's gonna happen again.

[normandysbest]

Good.

[She runs a hand through her hair, and sighs.]

Hell of a weekend so far. You get anything fun?

[beatupgrass]

Fun is not the word I'd use.

[He's still pretty twitchy about it, honestly.]

[normandysbest]

Shit. You alright?

[Stands to reason something in the Wonderland prize pool would be damaging right off the bat.]

You don't need to tell me if you don't wanna talk about it.

[beatupgrass]

Oh I'm fine. It's the rest of us that I'm worried about.

[Nice and cryptic, Rocket.] I don't wanna talk about it over this thing. Meet me at the hills, and I'll give you the deets, okay?

[normandysbest]

[Huh. This seems serious, and she nods sharply.]

I'll be there.

[And she heads over immediately. Whatever's eating at him, she has to know.]

[beatupgrass]

[When Shepard arrives, she'll find Rocket standing at the edge of the hills with a series of papers laid out and held down with rocks that serve as paperweights so the wind won't blow them away. When she approaches, he goes right into the point.]

Looks like somebody in Wonderland is lookin' to make our lives a lot harder. [He waves a hand to indicate the notes, which seem to be detailing a weapon to remove memories.] I got these from that RQ person, but like hell if I'm gonna go on the network and give these back to the idiot responsible.

[normandysbest]

[She approaches without skipping a beat of conversation, eyes scanning over the plans intently.]

Oh what the fuck. Honestly?

[She's still looking over it, but much more seriously than before.]

You don't think this is one of Wonderland's, do you? Something Hearts has that we've never seen before?

[beatupgrass]

Nah. It makes waaaay too much sense. Anything Wonderland's likely to produce would be written in code or iambic pentameter or something. [WHAT? HE READS.] This is just factual science.

I know we can eliminate Rick- dude's always super straightforward with what he builds. Who's that leave?

[normandysbest]

Yeah, if this was Rick I'd eat my own fist.

[He's waaaay more willing to just kill a dude then go through all the subterfuge.]

I dunno. You know Fitz? He knows most of the scientists in this place. Honestly, I don't know a lot of em.

[beatupgrass]

Fitz is that idiot who punched a frickin' hole to the mirror side, right? That does sound like his brand of stupid.

[normandysbest]

Yep.

[He did his best. Probably.]

But we can’t rule out people we don’t even know about. If I was making something like this, working on some grand plan, I’d keep my mouth shut about it, too.

Ugh, this is why we need a census.

[beatupgrass]

You think somebody who builds shit like this would actually submit to a census? Or they'd just lie and say they were a frickin' dentist or something.

[normandysbest]

I didn't say submit, I said we needed one.

[Even if she just had an active list of names she could ask around, like, lordy.]

Look. Most scientists have lab spaces here, right? Maybe keep your eye out for notes, stuff they leave lying around, and try to match handwriting. Might get you somewhere.

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket gives a full body cringe.] I'll get Rick on it. He butts heads with most of these people, and he doesn't have personal issues with those kinda spaces.

[Yeah, sorry Shep- after the true lab and the nightmare events and all assorted, he's even more resistant to going near labs.] Who knows? He might know something.

[And if he does, HE IS GONNA HIT HIM SO HARD.]

[normandysbest]

[Oh, she sure fucking forgot. She grits her teeth a bit.]

Sorry-- yeah, Rick's probably best. He's on the inside more, won't look squirrely running around. Besides, I don't think he'd be fond of this, either.