Orientation

[newhire]

[ As you approach the classroom, at the designated time for this "orientation" you were told about-- a voice carries from just beyond the door. ]

--they've all been wiped?

[ There's an awkward pause and then an even more awkward laugh. ]

Bwah?? No, I-- I just thought it would be cool to see what she was working on. Fine, fiiiine.

[ But when you come in, she immediately shuts off her phone and sits it on top of the laptops in front of her. ]

Oh. Hey guys! Wow is it that time already? And he's not even here yet... Oh well! Welcome!!

Comments

[throwabookatit]

[ A brief, passing moment of guilt, because it reminds her of another young, helpless new girl on her job, with a bad first day, who--

No. No, she was busy, with mourning, and helping her friends, and that- that curse-- ]

I'm not accepting that. You're a part of this, aren't you? Did you sign on, knowing about all of this? About how there have been children being held here, for months?!

[newhire]

Yes! But not because of that-- because of the cause! It's a good one. It could save a lot of people.

And... you're safer here. Outside... it's not safe...

[throwabookatit]

[ A twinge of fear. What kind of-- ]

You're telling me this is for our own good?

[newhire]

Yes. Well... it's mutually beneficial, really. I can't say we don't need you as much as you need this school right now, but--

This school is the safest place you can be here.

[throwabookatit]

If this place is so dangerous, why did you bring us here? What's this cause that could save people? What have we all been kidnapped for?

[newhire]

As long as you stay inside this school, you should be safe.

We brought you here... because we want to find a way to save this world.

It's selfish, but-- that's the truth.

[throwabookatit]

And there was no way to do this yourselves? I don't mean to sound cold, but is this really the way to ask for help? To kidnap people?

[newhire]

This problem could just as easily become yours. It didn't come from our world you know.

If you help us, we'd be able to help more than just ourselves. It may even help your own world.

[throwabookatit]

From- from your...world, what does that- what does that even mean...?

[ She's not really a fan of science-fiction... She's rubbing her forehead. ]

If this was such a big problem, I ask again, why didn't any of you ask?

[newhire]

You, your peers, me... there are individuals from several worlds all collected here.

And because of that it was ah-- not really easy to ask. But I promise someone thought it through. You aren't missing anything in your world right now. When you return, it will be basically like you never left.

It's not our goal to mess up history or anything. We just want to make sure the future is a safe one.

[throwabookatit]

...We wouldn't be missing a single thing?

[ There is where she focuses. ]

When we go back...when we go back. Our friends, family, they wouldn't even know we were gone?