Deer Country Network

[ The video comes to life with awkward fiddling, catching glimpses of a dimly lit bedroom and what looks like blank canvases leaning against a paled, paneled wall before she gets her omni set where she'd like. She steps into view and takes a seat on the floor, close enough to the camera to make out the bags beneath her eyes. She fidgets, suddenly unsure of what she's even doing. ]

Last month, right? That was fun. [ Her grin is more of a grimace and she rolls her eyes to emphasize the sarcasm that drips from her lips. It had not been fun, not one lick, but it had been painfully eye-opening. She licks her lips. ] Made me realize some things, though. Namely that I need a teacher of some sort, specifically for... [ She hesitates. She's not sure what to call them because she's never given them a label before. ] Psychic powers, I guess?

It’s not blood-related or anything. It’s complicated and personal but I’ve always had them. I just couldn’t use them. [ To put it very, very simply. ] And when I say psychic powers I’m talking telekinesis and prophetic nightmares. Things like that. [ There's more but those are harder to say out loud. ]

I don’t have much control over them. [ In a lot of ways, she’s scared of them. They’re not the reason Alessa was brought to the attention of the Order, that was just her birth and Dahlia's refusal to name a father, but they’d made it so much worse. ] I don’t really use them consciously. They just. Happen. Usually when I’m afraid or angry or overwhelmed. [ Which seems like it's going to happen a lot here. ]

And I need control over them. Not just because they’d be useful but so I don’t hurt someone on accident. [ It's so she can hurt people on purpose.

She leans forward to turn off the video but seems to realize something and adds: ] Oh, and my name's Sharon Da Silva. If there's someone that can help, I'd... really appreciate it.

[ And off the feed goes. ]

I can't say it is quite what I was expecting...

[As she starts to record, Padmé offers a gentle smile. There is a quiet calm to her, although any that would know her well knows that it is a countenance that she wears and that within, brews a storm. She is dressed in a manner that is known in her own galaxy but which might well seem a bit strange to others. Yet they are clothing of a style that she dons on a regular basis to Senate meetings- a thick rich layered gown of velvet with an ornate hair piece haloing her head.]

While I'm not certain how long I will remain here, I do admit that I haven't been planet-bound since I was younger, and even then, it was not for long.

[Her voice is soft but also strong and those brown eyes are drawn away from the feed, regarding the sky for a moment. It is an atmosphere that holds no meaning to her, at least as its stands, but there are some things in this place that she can understand, that are universal no matter where one is. She does begin to speak again, her focus still out there on that great unknown, wondering just what lays beyond... Yet her gaze is drawn back and she gives a little nod of her head, before making eye contact again.]

My name is Padmé Amidala, a Senator for the planet of Naboo, and I offer a greeting. It seems, if I am to understand this correctly, that we are all here by the same means, caught in the same situation. As it seems I may well be here for some time, I would be interested to hear more about the places you call home, for any willing to share.

[There is a genuine warmth in her voice and her smile grows ever so. The situation may be foreign, but she can find some common ground to begin with while remaining true to herself. The rest... She will with piece by piece.]

I would, of course, speak of my own as well, for those who wished to hear of it. I am curious to see just how far a reach this place has, and whether Naboo or Coruscant or even any of the other planets that make up the Galactic Republic are known to anyone here.

Hello, everyone.

[ The Operator’s youthful voice is cordial and cautious. Though they aren’t exactly shy, neither are they accustomed to mass communication. Sure, they come from a world replete with advanced technology and they’re familiar with the concept of network communications, but that’s usually handled for them by non-Tenno agents. The Tenno themselves have a reputation to maintain, one that’s about as far removed from diplomacy and idle chatter as one can imagine—the vast majority of people in their system don’t even know they can talk.

But, well, the Tenno certainly don’t have such a reputation here—and there is something the Operator very much wants to know. ]

I understand that this is the time when new Sleepers arrive in Trench. I’ve seen them washing up on the Farther Shores for the past few days.

I’d like to know: how many usually arrive at one time? And how likely is it that those new arrivals have some connection to the people already here?

[ Their tone up to this point has been quite serious and measured, their wording precise. They’re all too aware that this isn’t their usual role and they're doing their very best not to come across as incompetent or rude—or worse, childish. Yet, their even tone falters as they continue. ]

I was also wondering if—if anyone saw a certain person among the new arrivals. She might have looked like a woman with a purple headdress. Or she may have looked like a Sent—

[ They cut themselves off. No one here will know what a “Sentient” is and even if they did, they’d still be better off not hearing it in this context. But how else can they describe what the Lotus looks like? What she is? Words come to mind and they all make the Operator’s stomach churn. Insect. Amalgam. Monster.

For an instant, they bury their hot face in their hands, wanting nothing more than to disintegrate into the Void rather than to hear another word from themself. Then, they sigh, short and angry, and switch to the video setting on their Omni, propping it up to face them. Their surroundings show stone walls, flickering with firelight.

The video broadcast lasts mere seconds. The Operator, glaring at the Omni with luminous golden eyes, folds their hands in front of their chest as if in prayer. ]

Like this.

[ Then they reach once more for the Omni, and their broadcast ends. ]