[video]

[salarianpathfinder]

[Weird looking bug eyed aliens aren't anything new on Thisvarou, so one popping up on the network isn't all that out of place. Unfortunately, nobody that this alien has chatted with so far seems to have any idea what a salarian is. That's honestly far less troubling than the fact that she's here at all with no way to leave, and everyone she's chatted with so far haven't been the most helpful. In all fairness, she seems to have shown up in the wake of some kind of horrible catastrophe, sooo she's just not going to bother the technicians any more than she has to.

Which brings her to the network instead. Despite her frustrations with pretty much everything, Raeka looks perfectly calm, not quite cheerful, but certainly professional.]

Judging by the chatter I've heard around the Ingress complex, it would seem that I've arrived at something of an... inopportune time, so I'll try to be brief. I'm looking for any information that you can share with me in regards to Thisavrou's scientific departments. I specialize in ecology myself, and feel that my expertise would be put to greater use in a laboratory or on the field than it would be testing for bugs in the TAB's map application. Not that I don't appreciate having work secured for me, but I can't help but wonder how many other people are given jobs that are so unfitting.

Unrelated, but in the off chance that anyone from home might be here, this is Pathfinder Raeka, with the Andromeda Initiative. Any status reports you can share with me would be greatly appreciated.

That's all for now, thank you for your time.

Comments

video;

[nyx_it]

Raeka?

[Holy shit.]

Where are you right now? The complex?

Re: video;

[salarianpathfinder]

[Raeka almost hadn't expected to run into any familiar faces here. She looks relieved, albeit just for a second before she's right back to business.]

It's good to see you again. I am still at the complex, haven't had a chance to venture to far from it yet.

video;

[nyx_it]

Hoo boy.

[Oh boy Raeka are you going to get a story.]

Head's up, you're the first salarian on the planet. Check your SAM. And...

Man, the rest I think we should talk about in person.

Re: video;

[salarianpathfinder]

My SAM is inaccessible, unfortunately. Wherever this place is, it's nowhere near Andromeda. I'm out of range.

[She narrows her eyes a bit at the rest. MAN this already sounds like it's maybe not good.]

Shall I wait for you here, or is there somewhere else we should meet?

video;

[nyx_it]

Ryder's was the same. When she was here.

[It's super Not Good.]

Depends. How much does the phrase "dead Spectres walking" make you want a drink?

video;

[salarianpathfinder]

[I mean she wants to comment on Ryder being here then like NOT being here but

okay zombie Spectres? Or something???]

Not much, admittedly, but I have a feeling the story behind it might change my mind.

video;

[nyx_it]

[Yeah that's one of those "we need a drink" conversations.]

When you hear the names involved? Oh yeah, it will.

[BEEP BOOP sending coordinates.]

Meet me here?

Video

[beautifulspaceraptor]

[ Yeah, speaking of those zombie Spectres... ]

Changing jobs is relatively easy, but ecology and similar sciences have been on a rather low demand ever since restrictions have been placed on Ingress travel. Still, I think you will be likely to find something in your field on the Complex. The hiring process is relatively informal as far as I've heard, down to just asking around and having someone put you in the systems. My co-worker is essentially just working on his own projects for the most part and he's getting paid.

Unfortunately, job assignment is relatively random for the most part, due to the fact that the assigners have little to no idea what your full capabilities are.

[ At least the Ingress people aren't the Captains. The Moira's electrical engineer had been a ten year old human girl... ]

Other than that, welcome to Savrou. I wish you'd arrived at a less tumultuous time, but there's not much for it. It's interesting seeing another individual from the Andromeda Initiative. Looks like the probability strings are starting to pull from your crew now, too.

Video

[salarianpathfinder]

[As of now she's prrrrobably already met with Vetra and is at least aware that the other two turians here are totally undead zombie Spectres (or y'know just alive magically), so she's just going to play this all cool and take it in stride. The other option would be freaking out or something, and she's not about that.]

That seems like an irresponsible way to handle... well, just about everything job related. I can understand placing someone into a role that they are perhaps overqualified for upon their arrival, but a system like that is sure to backfire at some point.

[But hey, at least it sounds like scoring a more fitting position isn't too difficult.]

I have a feeling I know what the answer is, but is there any way of predicting who might show up here?

[beautifulspaceraptor]

[ Oh, thank the spirits, Nihlus doesn't have to talk about not being dead, this is amazing. ]

If we're being honest here, I suspect it's done entirely for the entertainment for the people assigning the jobs.

[ Seriously.

As for predicting arrivals... ]

Somewhat. Once one person arrives from a certain universe, there is an increased probability that they will pull in others from there. Usually people with some relation to them, ranging from friends to mortal enemies.

We had half the crew of the Normandy here for a while before they either took off or were, theoretically, slingshotted back.

[salarianpathfinder]

[She also heard that Nihlus is an asshole buuut she's just going to keep that bit to herself.]

Speaking of, however this all works, it seems to completely ignore the passage of time. There's a six hundred year difference here, between your time and mine.

[beautifulspaceraptor]

[ Vetra isn't necessarily wrong, but then Vetra managed to land smack dab in the middle of his bad side on day one. Which is quite a damn feat considering the kinds of people Nihlus usually deals with. ]

There are multiple similar discrepancies. A lot of the humans I've spoken to seem to have been pulled approximately two hundred years prior to my own point. Regardless of universe, interestingly enough.

In fact, with some very random exceptions, the Ingress seems to favor humans from that particular era. No idea why, but there you go.

[ Weird, huh? It's almost like a lot of shows are set the 2000s! ]

[salarianpathfinder]

[Vetra is amazingly skilled that way.]

You're suggesting alternate universes. Under normal circumstances I might be skeptical, but considering everything else I've seen...

[Yeah, she got nothin'.]

video

[controllerbug]

Our employers do seem to favor irony over practicality.

Re: video

[salarianpathfinder]

I've noticed. I'm beginning to wonder if whoever comes up with these assignments thinks they have a clever sense of humor, or if they're just throwing jobs at the wall and hoping something sticks.

It's better than having nothing when we arrive, I suppose. Are you new here as well?

[controllerbug]

Relatively new.

Which explanation would you prefer — malice or incompetence? Either way, I think having nothing would be less insulting.

[ An eternal optimist, this one. But there's a wry sort of amusement in his voice, hissing through the filter of his mask. ]

[salarianpathfinder]

[The mask thing is a bit weird, but she figures this guy just has a job dealing with something kinda nasty or something.]

May I ask what work you were given?

[controllerbug]

Mental health counselor.

[salarianpathfinder]

[She kind of has to do a double take at that. Who thought giving the guy in the creepy gas mask a job like that was a good idea?]

Is that a position you're even qualified for?

video;

[toservelife]

[Aloy's certainly bug-eyed at the moment - she somehow totally missed that she's sharing the Ingress complex with people who aren't even human and she couldn't not say something.

It takes her a second to make sure the video's working and that her face is dead centre in the camera. She wants to do this properly, ok.]

I--Sorry, I don't know anything about science or--or what ecology is, but what are--

[--you? Wait. That's rude. She changes tack with maximum subtlety.]

--What's a Pathfinder?

video;

[salarianpathfinder]

[It might be rudeish, but at this point Raeka almost expects it. She takes the not-even-remotely-subtle subject change in stride, though. She's sure that many people around here are just as confused as she is.]

To put it simply, a Pathfinder's job is to determine whether or not a new planet we encounter is suitable for habitation. I'm part of an expedition to settle a new system.

[toservelife]

[She's a little surprised that Raeka doesn't take it badly, and it makes her feel less fumbly. It lets her feel like she's talking to a perfect normal human being - and she takes that feeling and holds on to it.]

So like a scout? [Something occurs to her - something the ancient humans on her own world once did.] Why do you have to find a new planet? Did something happen to your old one?

[Or old...system...of planets. She files that word away for later.]

[salarianpathfinder]

Much like a scout, yes.

As for our homeworlds, there was nothing wrong with them. Some of us just wanted a new beginning, some of us were just in it for the adventure, to do something that nobody had ever done before. In this case, that something was traveling to a new galaxy and settling it.

[toservelife]

[So not out of necessity. Her mind had gone straight to dying worlds, a desperate attempt to relocate. Funny, that.]

Did you find what you were looking for? [Whatever that meant for Raeka herself.]

[salarianpathfinder]

I think so, though admittedly my first priority was helping everyone else.