Zion is busy with the hustle and bustle of everyone going about their daily routines.

The dock area is off limits except to current travelers and staff, so you must leave the Hyperion to receive its repairs until your next mission.

Several areas may be of interest:

Strategy Rooms:  This is where the commanders make strategy for the battle against Zero-One.  You may have limited access because Binary was brought there and it is expected that you will be questioned concerning your activities.

The Commons:  This area includes housing (military and civilian), restaurants ("eat ins"), bars and entertainment facilities ("down times"), offices and computer nodes, and warehouses of equipment and parts.

Libraries:  This contains old-fashioned books as well as computer terminals for information access.

Peace Control:  This contains public buildings, police, and prison areas.

Money is not used in Zion, although your i.d. is scanned for each use and all activity is logged if it involves purchase or use of public property.  If you are being excessive, you may be given warnings or lose privileges.


You barely get off the ship, take a shower, change your clothes, and get a bite to eat before Locke calls you back for a quick discussion.

"Due to our..."  He drops his head.  "...our losses, we will be getting several new crew members.  One of them is Mitchell."  He indicates a man nearby.  "The other is...this...her...Cala."  He extends his hand to the other direction, and you see a robotic entity that sends a shiver down your spine.  It is obviously a remodeled form of a Sentinel.  "Cala," Locke explains, "is an AI that has...escaped...from Zero-One.  They uploaded her AI and put her into this refitted Sentinel body.  Don't worry, she's on our team."

He stands back to let Cala and Mitchell introduce themselves.

Mitchell, propped up against wall, gives the group a vague wave and an uncertain little smile. "Hey."

His smile lingers while his soft blue eyes flicker across the arrivals until he notices Screed's bandaged leg. "Oh man.  What happened to you?"

Mitchell's hand goes automatically to an empty pocket and searches fruitlessly for something.  He scowls momentarily before grinning apologetically, "I sometimes forget what level of reality I'm at.  I left my 'pain medication' one level down.  That stuff would have helped ease the pain.  It also might have put you to sleep for three or four days, but that would have just given your wounds time to heal."

"Oh yeah, I'm Mitchell.  But I guess that he," Mitchell points a thumb at Locke, "already said that."

 The Sentinel rolls forward, its tentacles moving like a wave beneath it, working desperately to keep it upright. Its eyes swivel and focus to meet to examine the other crew members, the mandible like devices on the underside of its 'head' chittering. Then, abruptly, the whole thing sinks to floor in an odd approximation of a bow.

 "Humans," it says, reverently, avoiding eye contact.

Screed membles, almost delerious from the pain as he is wheeled out and away, "It's only a flesh wound."

Jade says, "I'm not sure whether to shoot you or shake your tentacle, but welcome to the team...I guess."  She stares sideways at Cala for a minute, suspicion clearly evident on her face.  Her hand nervously strokes the EMP rifle slung over her back.

PM

Snow, says the slim man as he nods towards the newcomers. He watches Cala as she moves, shifting his position as she moves to get a better angle.

Are you going to be ok when we fire our EMP flares? He asks interestedly.

 The sentinel swings slightly to look at Snow, its 'eyes' refocusing and shifting about. "No," it says flatly. "I will be incapacitated."

Slowly, Mitchell looks around the room, "So, what do you kids do when you aren't plotting to blow up vacuum cleaners?"

A momentary pause then, "Sorry about that friend, that was kinda mean.  You're as real as the rest of us, whatever that means."

 Cala swings about to face Mitchell. "No," it says again, with little inflection, "I am not."

That might be a problem. Snow muses.

"I hang out at the Commons," Jade says in answer to Mitchell.  "But I think this weekend I'll be taking a really long nap."

Locke watches as Screed is wheeled off to the medical stations.  "He may not be able to join us on our next mission," he says, shaking his head.  "In fact, we will be adding to our group to make up for our...losses.  I'll let you know when we get the other new assignments.  Until then, stay near your coms in case I need to reach you, and I will see you on Monday at 10:00 a.m. sharp for the debriefing."  He turns and heads out.

Mitchell waves goodbye at the departing figure of Locke before returning his attention to the group of strangers around him.

"Maybe there's something that we could all do together as a group?  You know, pre-mission bonding and all that stuff."

"A game of cards? A nice walk around Zion? Do any of you meditate?"

"Wait, I've got it.  How about a game of storytelling hot potato?"