#zipf speaks

[theinterstellarbus]

OH FUCK WHERE AM I NOW

(Oh, shit... when'd you get here..) uh, hello!! you', uh.. this is the Interstellar Bus, welcome! ... who exactly.. are you..?

Greetings!

[theinterstellarbus]

[The Wanderer is sitting cross-legged, fiddling with their radio.]

What are you working on, Wanderer? If it isn't an intrusion.

[theinterstellarbus]

hello? hello? can you hear me??

Oh, that's someone new!

Yes, I can hear you. I'm, um, perhaps not the person you're looking for but what can I do for you?

[theinterstellarbus]

[The radio suddenly starts buzzing with static.]

Hey. Hey is this working? Please be normal functioning people - @strangebusdriver

Good, um, I'd wish you a good afternoon if I knew what time it was up here. Nevertheless! I may not quite count as a person in the literal sense but I do function, I hope! I'll let our bus's driver get a word in as well if ey'd like?

Oh- uh- i'm a... possibly functioning person last…. i checked-.well- hello i'm-., ..ah.. how- how can we help ‘ya,? .......(.., who *is* this, 'by the way-

[theinterstellarbus]

oh, are we doing trivia? -wanderer

Ah, not quite. Time picked a crossword up at our last stop and... that's about it, really. If you wanted to assist I think it would be appreciated.

(please help)

[theinterstellarbus]

Fun fact:

The gemstone garnet got its name from the Latin word for the seeds of a pomegranate (garanatus)!

[theinterstellarbus]

well i guess i should. getthis huh. uhm. .uh,,

Time shuts the radio off with a determined tap and peels back a bit more of the metal sheeting that covers the wires. In the center of the mess lies a single metal box, slots for cords to be plugged into lining the side. Each slot has a small coloured dot and a red light next to it. It looks like a puzzle from some kind of video game.

The loose cords aren't too difficult to locate with a bit of feeling around for anything sharp-ish. Most of the teeth on the ends of the connectors are made of a fine wire, some slightly bent. Upon further inspection, each cord has a coloured piece of tape on it near the connector end. It really is some kind of video game puzzle.

Luckily, it doesn't turn out to be a very hard puzzle, and Time kicks emself a bit internally for missing it the first time. In their hand is one last cord, presumably matching the slot labelled "Power Supply". He takes a breath (somehow), tenses, and slips it in.

A loud static emerges through the bus's open door, filling Time's head with cotton until abruptly pausing.

Oh- Oh, I- …oh.

[theinterstellarbus]

This is UES Safe Travels, Captain speaking. Unknown vessel, we seem to have gotten a bit off course. Mind giving us a hand? Even just regional starcharts would be appreciated.

Hello UES Safe Travels, this is the Interstellar Bus. I don't have any star charts, but if you'd like direction to the nearest bus stop I can provide that. Will that be suitable? And, if I might ask, what brings you so far out here?