(IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]

[ericthered]

Kale: "Yeah, we can get you some practice. We've got places to go today though. Fears to calm. Peeps to onboard."

They didn't let Peter drive, but driving in the Jeep was much better than walking. And much faster. No where near high way speeds, but still a lot faster than a man or even a horse. They play the music in the car quite loudly -- when he asked why, Peter is told they can't hear anyone over the car engine anyways, and it adds to their image.

The first village they pulled up to was quite intense. They came on the main road, and four warriors, all mounted on those bear-cows, came out to meet them, weapons ready. Throop started the conversation by firing a bullet into a nearby tree. Kale started speaking loudly, amplified by speakers in the jeep. He appears to invite them to inspect the tree, and then launches into some sort of speech.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter stands by the jeep, he back held up straight standing tall and trying to look impressive... and feeling kind of cool while doing it. He knows it's unloaded, and wouldn't want to have to fire it if it were, but he likes the feel of the gun in his hand.

He summons Goliath with a snap of his fingers, and directs him where he wants him to stand and sit, so he can look to be standing guard by his side.

[ericthered]

The speech goes on for a bit, and when its done, silence reigns. More warriors and people have gathered. After an eternity, one of the men steps up and starts yelling something.

Kale looks alarmed, and starts trying to talk over the man. There is more and more arguing, with the various men still gathering and listening, a bit undecided as to what to do. A very well dressed man shows up, and the shouting reaches a brief crescendo -- but the well dressed man says something, waves at the jeep, and Kale says something unprintable very loudly. Half of the warriors turn towards the jeep with weapons in their hands.

They pile into the jeep, and Kale backs up rapidly along the path. a few arrows are fired, but they go wide. Kale is still swearing.

Throop: "You win some, you loose some. We'll come back after they've been hit." He marks something on a map.

Kale "<explicitives>, self-delusional <more explicatives> over lording <explicative>! I'm <explicative> just <explicative> trying to save their <explicative> lives here!"

The second town they go to starts out much the same way. This time though, the cheif, lord, or captain, or whatever, got there before Kale finished his speech (and he appears to have cooled down). The well dressed man interrupts kale with demands, and talking begins in earnest. After quite a bit, someone brings out a fancy chair for the 'cheif' and he sits down for the negotiations. They talk for quite some time, and it seems the entire village is gathers around. Every so often, someone will step forward and whisper something in the chief's ear.

Things appear to be going well.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter will continue attempting to appear formidable as long as the other do. If people start to loosen up and relax, he'll play some fetch with Goliath.

[ericthered]

Peter enventually gets Goliath playing fetch, mostly out of boredom -- but there isn't too much space to do it with. Throop seems a little put off by the behaviour, while Kale seems to ignore it. The locals have a pretty mixed reaction: some scowl formally, some laugh, some ignore it -- some give the dog a huge berth with a look of horror on their eyes.

In the end, a decision of one sort or the other is made, and there is a shout from the crowd. A few more words are exchanged, and they move on to the next village (which starts out with more shouting and ends fairly quickly but peacefully).

As they are driving, Throop remarks: "I thought you wanted to learn the local language. Not play around with the dog."

Kale: It wasn't too bad. You did wait for them to relax.

Throop: And if he'd guessed wrong?

Kale: If they're that edgy nothing I say is going to do squat. Relax. He did fine. Though it is worth listening and learning the local language. Only way to do it. We certainly aren't going to sit you down in front of an old codger going over the nuisances of grammar. That doesn't work in the first place. You've got to be with the people. Talk the talk.

Arriving back at the camp, It seems today was a good day for the scouting crew (there are others). Not in the least because they were able to cover more ground with Peter's help (one extra team was out today).

Dinner is hot and delicious. Peter is the only minor in the area, and the others are mostly treating him like an adult -- at least he thinks they are. The camp is fairly large. While the key positions are held by moderners, over half of the camp is composed of locals, or old time englishmen -- though the english are a fairly small group. Peter is strongly associated with the moderners -- though he is sometime lost by the jargon they use when talking about world travelling or talking about home. He's fairly sure he's doing a lot better than the locals though.

After dinner his co-workers say to meet them at the gun range in an hour for shooting instruction. His time is free until then.

[the_matrix_walker]

While in the Jeep, Peter tries to think back to their discussions... he never said he wanted to learn the language. He was hoping to get out of this terrible place before he had enough time to do that. He took two years of Spanish in school and can say "my name is" and "what time is it?" and count to 10, but that's about all.

"I was trying to impress them with how well trained Goliath is since they seem to live with animals around. I'll listen better next time, but I really hope I can get home before I'm here that long!"

Back at the camp, he is very interested in the discussions about world traveling and keeps an eye out for Wells, hoping to get a little more detail than "a while" on when they can try and get him home.

Peter is quite enthusiastic about learning to shoot... He's enjoyed having the gun, even if it has been unloaded the whole time, it's made him feel cool and tough... the foolishness of youth.

[ericthered]

Its not terribly difficult to find Mr. Wells. He asks the guy next to him when the next conveyor check-in is. "May 15 Infinity Calendar. Today is the 4th, so that's 11 days."
Wells: "Will we have enough to send him home?"
Man with date: "We'll be able to send him to homeline. Who knows if his world is charted. I don't think we had a -10 echo on record. I could be wrong, but I don't think they have one."
Wells: That's your answer. We can get you off this world in a week and a half. I can't vouch for how long it will take after that.

The shooting this time around is all about safety -- muzzle control. When you should point your gun at something and when you shouldn't. The parts of the gun. different safety precautions*. At the very end, he shoots the weapon.

The shooting doesn't take all night though. Peter is unsure of what to do with his time. Various groups are watching shows (someone brought a projector and screen), playing cards, and otherwise spending time leisurely. There is an absence of alcohol, should Peter notice. Presumably its either scarce here or Wells has restricted its use to the weekend -- would that be the local week or the homeline week?

Peter is walking near one of the quieter parts of the camp when he comes across the sounds of an argument -- one of the parties is Brian Wells. The argument seems to be about the local folks, diseases, and oppression.

*Is odd describing what they'd tell him, because I took hunter's education at 14. Its gun safety, but its certainly NOT what he's being told and taught here-- this is a little more military application, and its no where near as formal.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter is curious about the argument and lingers to see if he can hear more.

[ericthered]

Peter conceals himself and listens

There seems to be another group of people, repressive tyrants, who also travel between worlds. They are very good with handling diseases -- likely the best in the 'Quanta', which Peter thinks means worlds. One man thinks that on this world, letting 'centrum', as the oppressive disease curers are called, take care of this world would be better for the local people. Mr. Wells objects strongly.

The man Mr. Wells is arguing with is named Mr. Sandip, and he seems to be fairly high up in the heirarchy.

Eventually, the argument ends. Or rather, is discontinued. The two leave in different directions.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter will help out at the camp, and if he can't find an entertaining activity with the others, he'll play with Goliath and do all the practice shooting they will let him in his free time.

He does his duties, but since he's getting out of here soon, he's not too interested in learning some alien language.