[There's a quiet moment even after she started her message-- She doesn't use the crystal often and doesn't intend to use it more now. But there is something she wants to say. She's waited and not, days later, she's determined.]

Good afternoon. You'll have to forgive me-- I neither use the crystals often nor am much of a public speaker. This might just be my first and last message. That's to be decided. [A beat.] I'm a rifter and-- as you can guess-- the recent uproar is something that is both one I've thought about often and am opposed to. But that's not exactly why I'm here today-- Well, no. I am, but in a different sort.

Look at this in our point of view: We're brought here, by means none of us know. We have to accustom to a life far away from our homes, our families, and livelihoods. We're expected to quickly acclimate and help out, or not in some cases. A difficult gesture when I imagine for many of us this is... Far different from what we've been taught.

It is not a matter of willfully being ignorant of the going ons here in Thedas. The unfortunate circumstance is that we, more than anyone, have to pay attention, to learn... Or be called, what? Demons? We're well aware of our circumstances and what any wrong move will deem whatever your people think of us as true. It's a fact and at least I myself keep my head down over--

But we learn, we experience, we live here... Yet, someone proposed an interesting question: How many of you take the time to learn about us?

[A beat and she's quick to add:] The Inquisition provides food and shelter, this is undeniable. That reason is the one in which I've tried to do my part in the scouting division. But you do it out of necessity, as we've heard too often recently we're a "valuable resource". [That's the sound of bitterness, tbh. And she's careful with her next words.]

I go by Tina. My full name is Porpentina Esther Goldstein. [On her side, she grimaces before adding:] You can tell why I'd go simply by Tina. But my name... It's also one my parents gave me, and in many ways it's very Jewish. And I mightn't call myself particularly religiously Jewish but you don't live in New York without seeing it-- there's quite a lot of us there. [Jewish people, at least in the 20s.] For me a phylactery is different.

They're also called tefillin. It's worn during morning prayer as a reminder of being led out of a land called Egypt. It's not something I've ever done for a number of reasons, but I'm sure you can understand why your version leaves me uncomfortable. For even more than my knee-jerk reaction.

[Another pause and she takes a breath:] It's a joke, to me, trying to find a life here. I've come to understand the likelihood of being trusted here is very slim, because to you I'll be gone soon. And I hope I am-- Because my sister isn't here. My job is to protect people, I'm a law enforcer. Yet, here, it feels as if I'll be lucky to be able to go out at night on my own.

I've no secrets to hide. Ask 'em if you want.

[That is her way of saying that if you really want to know about the rifters-- at least one of them-- she'll take the bullet on it. Because they can't expect them to understand them if they don't open up. And they can't be seen as more than tools if they're not asked questions.]

( A quiet clearing of the throat; one can naturally assume it is a very beautiful clearing of the throat, done by a very beautiful man. )

This matter of the phylacteries for rifters… it seems sensible. If they are such a valuable resource to the Inquisition, the closing of rifts, and so on, being able to find said resource if a rival power were to try and overpower them and abscond with them makes sense, I think. For their own safety, for our own safety. If Corypheus and his forces were, for example, to make an attack on a party closing a rift and kidnap those rifters for nefarious purposes, it would be better for all if we were able to find them as quickly as possible. The phylacteries are an established way of doing just this, no?

By all means, if you wish to see the world end, protest. Even if this is not your world, though, I think we can all agree that you are currently in it. It’s fate is not entirely irrelevant to you.

[ If this sounds vaguely like someone speaking over an announcement loudspeaker, that's because that's how Daniel is treating this. ]

Hi, my name is Daniel Jackson. If anyone has seen, heard, or read of something called a Stargate, please get in touch with me.

It looks like a large metal ring, about twenty feet tall, with roughly forty glyphs around the circumference, and nine chevrons along the edges. It'll probably be very old, maybe found in a ruin somewhere. Uh, it could also have been called a Chappa'ai, Astria Porta, Ring of the Gods...

Anyway, if this rings a bell for anyone, please let me know. It's important. Thank you.

What do you guys miss the most from home? I miss... [ a small, longing sigh ] Decent music and decent booze, mainly.

Hello crystals. I have question.

( There is a long pause before Helena continues. Long enough that it could seem plausible that the question is never coming. And then, with a rush, )

How do you be good twin?

I'm— not sure how to be good sister. We were being apart long time. I thought maybe peanut butters would be good present, but I think it made Sarah unhappy.

( Stiltedly, ) I stole her crystal, do not play this for her. Thank you.

Hi! Wow, this is just like a Skype call, huh? Have you guys considered getting a video feed on here, because my eyeliner is looking really great today—But my eyeliner isn’t the point. [ This time. ]

Much to my relief, you guys do have coffee, and even caffeinated tea, so you don’t have to worry about me going into withdrawal and, like. Dying. But, uh. How do I say this delicately.

The taste is...lacking. A lot. Of flavor, particularly.

Unfortunately, I’m better at drinking fancy coffee than making it, but I figured I could poll people for ideas? Like—do you guys have caramel? Whipped cream? You have milk, so I’m guessing whipped cream could be made...? And frappes! You have ice, and wizard people who can do wizard magic, so maybe....frappuccino magic?

Man, that would be cool. I wish I could be a coffee witch.

This is Warden Serra. As of this month, I will be stepping down from my position as project leader for the Rifts and the Veil. I remain a project member and will make myself available for questions or assistance, as need be. It's my hope that another will replace me soon and continue the work that needs to be done.

To that end...if you are the new bearer of an anchor, please take the survey available at the project's office on the six floor of the central tower, room B. The more information I can make available to the new project lead, the better. If you have updates to share, those would be also be welcome.

Heeey, so... this is weird, talking to all yinz at once like this.

[ Someone gave the newbie a crystal, and she's missing text messaging and like buttons so much right now. ]

But I figured it'd be the fastest way to get an answer to this. [ She lightly clears her throat. ] So's anyway, I'm a rifter. Just arrived. And I know that there's a project here where people are researching our green personal night lights and the rifts and all that. And I know a lot of us are probably itching to get home, but, like... what if we're not? Or -- okay -- what if I'm not? Like I've heard some rifters just up and disappear back home all of a sudden, but is there some way to ensure we can stay if we want to? Because that would be preferable.

[ That should be it, but then she quickly adds: ]

Also which division and project is the best and which should I join and why? Go!

[ Go ahead, guys. Talk up your projects. She needs something to do while stuck under quarantine in The Gallows.]