modormenace | ARRIVAL

Those porting into the world first wake in the comfortably dim light of the Porter room, laid out on an exam table. Wounds, if any, have been healed — and even those who died find themselves miraculously restored. As they regain consciousness, an automatic audio-visual presentation triggers. Regardless of backgrounds or physiology, all imPorts 'see' and 'hear' this message as if in their own language:

"Greetings, imPort." The voice is calm and gently authoritative, almost certainly selected by committee. "On behalf of the people of the United States of America, we welcome you to our planet, Earth."

A decidedly non-humanoid robotic arm holds out a palm-sized device and rather insistently demands the new arrival take it. This is the imPort's comm, used for accessing the Porter's database of information, as well as the communications network — though it won't receive signal until carried out into the world. You also get a dossier about your new abilities, though you may find that you're not quite able to fully exercise these abilities just yet.*

The voice assures you, "You'll have access your housing designation after the Arrival Ceremony."

Arrival Ceremony? Arrival Ceremony. Even the most antisocial new imPort has little alternative if they hope to ever leave the Porter Facility. Everyone is provided with a glamorous outfit according to their size, which they may or may not choose to change into. Then they're directed to the hoverbus.

The hoverbus is a luxury autonomous vehicle. The seating is plush and arranged to encourage conversation between occupants, with high-quality liquor and disposable cups within reach. It doesn't depart the Porter Facility until it senses that every new imPort is inside. Once they're all safely seated, the doors lock and it glides smoothly through the air.

As the bus begins to move, the screen at the front comes to life, playing a short orientation video that answers some of the most pressing questions new imPorts might be asking. It advises seeking out veteran imPorts for further details.

Out the windows, throngs of people can be seen gathered just outside the perimeter of the Cape Canaveral military base. It might look like a protest at first, but it becomes obvious upon closer examination that they're jubilant, cheering and waving and holding up homemade signs scrawled with sentiments like WELCOME, HEROES! and WE LOVE YOU!

Paparazzi hang out of cars with their cameras pointed at the hoverbus as they tail it as far as they can on route to its destination. Another crowd awaits when the hoverbus arrives, though the red carpet will be cleared to give the new arrivals a safe path inside to the venue. Better hurry! It doesn't seem like these fans can be held at bay for long.

* This option exists for characters who would otherwise be disruptive or violent during orientation.