A rude awakening

[ima_npc]

[You awaken from a deep sleep. You are groggy and cold and feel off in ways that may be initially difficult to place. The door to your stasis pod opens. How did you get here? That's a really good question. Who are you? That's another.]

[Step outside into the warmer (albeit not especially warm) room and you'll see the others, all dressed in a similar style of stasis suits. One or two of them are wearing the same colors as you, though it's perhaps hard to tell with the dim, red glow that fills the room.]

[The doors are closed. There is no apparent way to open them. And a robotic voice intermittently rings through the room:]

Life support is being restored to the facility. Please stand by.

Comments

[court_chesster]

H-hey, calm down! One thing at a time!

[whenitrainsitstorms]

[Takes a breath and lets go.]

...sorry. It's just, you seem like you're the only one who remembers anything.

[court_chesster]

[Shrinking back a little.]

I... I'm not sure I remember everything. It's still a little hazy...

[whenitrainsitstorms]

Anything is more than we have right now.

Who are you? Who am I?

[court_chesster]

I'm not anybody special, but you're a real hero! That's why you have those...

[Taps his own forehead to indicate the mark.]

[whenitrainsitstorms]

[Reaches up to feel them, frowning.]

How did I get them?

[court_chesster]

Ah. You didn't like to talk about it...

[whenitrainsitstorms]

[Takes his hand away, thoughtful.]

But you knew I had them because I...?

[Uncomfortable with the phrase "real hero," here.]

[court_chesster]

[Keying in on that discomfort.]

That's what the rumors were? But you yourself didn't seem super happy about it and I didn't want to pry...

Sorry! This isn't helpful at all, is it?

[whenitrainsitstorms]

It's better than what we had before.

[Pauses a moment to think.]

Well, what about names? Who are you? And who am I?

[court_chesster]

Oh, it's—

[Freezes, mouth open. This is the sort of lie that's way too easy to get called out on.]

—Aaargh! What was it!?

[whenitrainsitstorms]

You don't remember?

[court_chesster]

I- I'm sure I do! Just give me a second!

[whenitrainsitstorms]

[Starts to say something, then bites it off before he can.]

[Just. Gives you a second.]

[court_chesster]

[Opens and shuts his mouth several more times before deflating with a high-pitched whined:]

Nowaynoway, how could I go and forget?

[whenitrainsitstorms]

Well... why don't you start with what you do remember? Maybe more will come back to you.

[court_chesster]

Okay...

[Straightens up a bit.]

Um, you had a dog. Super cute. You let me pet him.

[whenitrainsitstorms]

I had a what?

[court_chesster]

[uh]

A little puppy, y'know? Like maybe a lab mix?

[whenitrainsitstorms]

Maybe I forgot more than I thought.

What's a...?

[court_chesster]

Oh, uh. They're like, a domesticated animal. People keep them as pets and protectors.

[whenitrainsitstorms]

Like an axehound?

[court_chesster]

Sort of! Less axe, more hound.

[whenitrainsitstorms]

That's... hard to picture. Is it just skin underneath?

[court_chesster]

[???]

It's furry.