Audio

[fistsofchange]

[This was unfamiliar technology to Lin, so before she tried making a post, she read the manual from start to finish. This "smartphone" was MUCH more complicated than the ham radio in the interceptor, but she eventually figured it out.]

Hi, I'm Bai Lin. I have a question. I've got that most of us are from different worlds. It's weird, but any time I talk to someone it becomes more and more obvious.

But I'm noticing a trend from talking to you all.

How many people here DON'T come from places where a nuclear war destroyed most of the world's population before you were born?

Comments

[fantasykiller]

I see.

Are there any other places that survived the bombing? Or at very least, other civilizations that spring up in the aftermath?

[fistsofchange]

Sure. They say New Hong Kong has lots of things just like the old world! I've been there, and I don't know if that's true but it's pretty amazing. There are lights all night long and food and movies and all kinds of crazy stuff!

[And also dozens of impoverished farming villages struggling to support it, but let's not focus on that right now.]

[fantasykiller]

That's a relief to know humanity is on the path of recovery. From the way you were describing your world so far, I was almost certain the entire world was an empty post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Out of curiosity, was there ever a place named Academy City in your world?

[fistsofchange]

It's a long road, but we're working on it!

Never heard of Academy City. Is it where you're from?

[fantasykiller]

Pretty much. As you can probably guess from the name, it's a city dedicated to the pursuit of science.

Well, if you have never heard of it, I can safely assume it never existed in your world. Your "New Hong Kong" sounds like a reconstructed version of a city back in my world so I was just curious if there were any other similarly named cities around.

[fistsofchange]

Yeah, I don't know anything about Old Hong Kong. Presumably it existed at some point and got destroyed.

I wouldn't rule out Academy City existing in my world just because I haven't heard of it. The world is very large, and I've only seen a little bit of it.

...But it might as well not, I guess, since you can't go there and I can't tell you anything about it.

[fantasykiller]

Academy City is the most scientifically advanced city in my world and is capable enough to rival the military might of other superpowers solely through technological superiority. If it had existed in your world, Academy City would have definitely played a major role in the nuclear war that took place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it seems strange to me that you're aware of Old Hong Kong existing, but not an entity as powerful as Academy City.

Not that I'm saying this completely rules it out from existing in your world. For all I know, everybody could have ganged up Academy City first before they had a chance to retaliate. Technological superiority can only go so far against superior numbers and resources.

[He sighs]

It really is a shame we have no way of actually verifying its existence.

[fistsofchange]

It sounds pretty incredible, though. I wish I could see it!

[fantasykiller]

Maybe once we get this rift situation fixed, it might be possible to visit my world.

Although now that I think about it, Academy City wasn't in the best condition before I fell here...

[His voice noticeably grows quiet before trailing off.]

[fistsofchange]

I'd offer to let you visit mine, but I don't think there's really a lot to see there. Even this building we're living in here is more amazing than any other I've ever seen!

[fantasykiller]

How about you let me be the judge of that? Keep in mind we come from completely different worlds. What might seem mundane and unimpressive in your world could be seen as something amazing by someone not native there. I'm sure there are people here who would be just as amazed by your home valley as you are by this building.

[fistsofchange]

It's just farms and stuff, mostly.

The temple is pretty impressive, I guess. It's more like a fortress!

[fantasykiller]

See? I knew your world had its own amazing sights. I've never been inside a real temple before so I'm definitely looking forward to you showing me around once we solve this rift problem. The only temples I've ever explored are the ones found in RPGs.

[fistsofchange]

Then it's a date!

What are the temples in arpeegees like?