TEXT [AUGUST 28TH, EARLY MORNING]

[squadgoals]

Hi all, just some quick housekeeping:

• I've doubled the security on the Mako. Fair warning: any attempts to hack its console will result in consequences. This is not a challenge! If you need it for anything, please get in touch with me first.
  
  
• It seems I'm your new Assistant Head of Tower duties, with Ryuuzaki functioning as our Head. I'm looking forward to working with all of you from here on out.
  
  
• I've already spoken with Ryuuzaki regarding my transfer from Engineering to Assistant Head of Tower duties, but I still haven't managed to locate how I was approved and placed in the role in the first place, as it was an application process. If anyone has an idea, please let me know.
  
  
• I was absent for a month in cryosleep, so my apologies for not being completely abreast of every on-board situation for the time being. Unfortunately, I have nothing new to add to cryosleep: I don't know what brought it on, I didn't go anywhere, and I don't know what stopped it.

To all crew old and new, feel free to message me with questions at any time, or stop by Mero Deck #022 for a chat. Or while the doors are still portaling, walk through my room unexpectedly.

-Shepard

Comments

[soldiergenes]

[ The alternate universe concept is one that Snake's had to accustom himself to after speaking with Raiden and Milly. Which doesn't make it that much easier to wrap his head around, honestly, but he doesn't think Shepard is nuts or anything. The proof is right here on the ship in the form of two other people. ]

Gotta wonder why the Ingress was so set on bringing in different versions of you specifically.

Who got here first?

[squadgoals]

Terrible sense of humor?

My mirror image. She arrived almost half a solar year before I did.

Why?

[soldiergenes]

Because I think I talked to her not too long after I got here and I didn't realize it wasn't you.

[ Which is a pretty startling revelation for someone like Snake who's usually pretty good at keeping track of these things. ]

[squadgoals]

I don't blame you. We're the same person after all, and outwardly, we're mirror images. It's when we compare histories that things start cropping up.

It must confuse the hell out of new arrivals.

[soldiergenes]

So what exactly are the differences? I want to make sure I don't end up mixing you up again.

[squadgoals]

Physically? None. No real signifiers, except for anecdotal evidence that she may frown more than I do.

Psychologically speaking, though, we're from completely different backgrounds. She's more of an individual than I am. [TRANSLATION: AN INTROVERT WHO PREFERS THE COMPANY OF HERSELF]

Probably easier just to ask if she's the Mero deck Shepard or the Nomo deck one.

(I'm Mero deck. :))

[soldiergenes]

[ "More of an individual"? It seems like a strange way to describe someone, but Snake tries to read between the lines all the same. ]

Yeah, I guess that would be the easy way.

[ He'd like to learn how to tell them apart just through interaction, though. ]

Have you spoken to her much, or do you usually avoid her?

[squadgoals]

Wish I could help more. There's been suggestions of us wearing different armbands.

Or hats.

I try to speak to her when I can, and she responds on and off. Always seems pretty focused on her work.

PRIVATE

[squadgoals]

Honestly, I'd like to get to know her a little better, but I feel like she holds me at arm's length.

PRIVATE

[soldiergenes]

It's got to be weird, talking to your double.

[ Snake doesn't equate Liquid with it because they're so wildly different, even if they're clones of the same person. These two Shepards literally are the same person. ]

I probably wouldn't be comfortable either, in that situation. You might just need to give it time.

[squadgoals]

Agreed. I'm not in any hurry.

It can be a little weird.

Like if your mirror's reflection started asking you about your favorite food.

[soldiergenes]

Has she actually asked you what your favorite food is?

[ It's probably some weird space cuisine that Snake wouldn't even recognize. ]

[squadgoals]

Not directly.

But I haven't asked her hers either, so who am I to judge?

[There's a moment between texts, then:]

(It's bacon, in case anyone's asking.)

[soldiergenes]

Not a bad choice.

But I appreciate you answering all my questions. It'd been bothering me for a while.

[squadgoals]

Not a problem. I can't imagine you're the only one!

Since we're on the subject, though: favorite food?

[soldiergenes]

Hard choice, but I'd have to say jerky.

That, or Alaskan salmon.

[squadgoals]

Both good choices, not sure I've tried salmon of the Alaskan variety, though. Big difference?

[soldiergenes]

Well, sometimes I caught it fresh. That makes a pretty big difference.

[squadgoals]

Okay, I'm jealous. I've never been fishing, just listened to people wax romantic about it.

How hard is it to pick up? It looks easy, which probably means it's deceptively difficult.

[soldiergenes]

It takes a lot of patience and a certain amount of finesse with the line, but some of it is just luck and having the right bait.

[squadgoals]

If we end up on salmon fishing planet, count me in. I'm an eager student.

[soldiergenes]

I'll keep it in mind. Here's hoping we'll be doing it for recreational and not survival purposes.

[ As if they'd be that lucky. ]