For most of the walk, Andris kept his eyes on the buildings and the occasional passersby. Corin didn't worry him for now. She could have easily restrained or killed him when he was comatose, so letting him walk free had to count for something. That and the fact that he couldn't remember almost anything before this was all that was keeping his sanity afloat. Even though he knew something was horribly, horribly wrong, he could at least ignore the issue until he got more concrete evidence.
As they walked, Andris tried to draw something useful from his foggy memories in between Corin's attempts at small talk. He knew his name—good—he knew that he had been preparing for the apocalypse—less good, but useful—he knew he had worked for some organization called Tempest—fuck if he knew what they did, though. Trying to get to the specifics made his mind feel like it was grasping at smoke. It made the small talk a little more appealing.
After some time, Corin's tone lost some of its pleasantness as she explained, "First stop is Swweets. Well, Captain Swweets to you. We have to make sure you're allowed to, you know... be here."
"...Captain Sweets?" Did everyone have a strange name here?
She didn't seem to understand Andris's confusion. "Yeah. He's the one who heads the crew and keeps things running here. Just be polite and you'll be fine."
The two of them approached what Andris recognised as the entrance to a boat ride: Forced-perspective cliffs, a trough where there used to be a waterfall, and planters overgrown with subtropical greenery framed a tall awning. There was a sign which obviously used to display the name and a wait time of a ride, but which was now decorated with an assemblage of objects—a boat's steering wheel, a pirate's hat, ropes, taxidermied fish, guns—all of which together resembled some kind of nautical crest. Having taken it all in, Andris stifled a laugh at the two guards, who were dressed in so much pirate garb that they could have been animatronics from the ride. Once he noticed one guard's machete and the other's quite modern-looking (if a little rusted) shotgun, he was glad he'd stayed quiet.
"Hey!" Corin called out casually, "Is Swweets in?"
The guards were standing with an almost military posture, though not quite disciplined enough to be actual soldiers. Andris wondered how he knew that. They seemed to recognize Corin, and the one on the left waved and waited for them to get a little closer. "What do you need to see him for, Stormchaser?"
Corin gestured to Andris. "I'm just getting this guy approved. I already made sure he didn't have any weapons on him." Andris grimaced at the realization that she had searched him while he was unconscious.
One of the guards shouted into the entrance, "Anyone free? We need a body out here!"
Within a few seconds, another, similarly equipped guard jogged up. "Yeah, Poultice?"
"Take Stormchaser and the stray to the Captain," she ordered.
The new guard did something akin to a salute, before beckoning to Andris and his escort. "This way."
She led Andris and Corin through a tight, dim corridor, framed by artificial rock that gave it the appearance of a cave.
"Why do they keep calling you Stormchaser?" Andris whispered to Corin.
She smirked. "Because I chase Storms, obviously," she whispered back. Andris shook his head, resolving to get a real answer eventually. The environment alone was a lot to take in.
The two of them were led into a large, nautical-themed room, outfitted with bright lights whose exposed wires made it obvious that they had been installed in the park's post-apocalypse days. Andris noticed a handful of people chatting in one of the corners, most more casually dressed than Andris and Corin's escort, though the group had its fair share of long coats and tricorn hats. Something about the way they interacted with each other seemed familiar—almost nostalgic—to Andris. His thoughts were interrupted before he could decipher what that meant.
The guard who had been leading them stopped at a much more modern-looking door with a steering wheel crudely attached to it by metal bands. She gave it a heavy three knocks. "Captain, Corin's here! She brought a stray."
Only a few seconds passed before the door opened to a bearded man wearing a sturdy jacket and an old skipper's hat. Though his presence felt as commanding as any senior official Andris had met, the Captain couldn't have been much older than Andris—and how old had Andris been, anyway? Late twenties, early thirties at most? Either way, the Captain certainly looked too young to have the fully white head of hair that he did. Swweets addressed Corin with a smile. "Long time no see, Corin. How've you been holding up?"
"If that was a 'sea' pun, I am going to hurt you," Corin replied, smiling. In a more serious tone, she resumed, "But uh, I've been good. How've things been here?"
"Smooth sailing as always." His smirk made his intent clear. With a scoff, he said, "Don't give me that face. You walked into that one." The man finally turned his attention to Andris. "So sorry to leave you hanging like that. It's just been a while since 'the Stormchaser' has stopped by." He put his hand out. "I'm the Captain here. You are?"
Andris shook Swweets's hand firmly and found himself replying out of some long-forgotten habit, "Specialist Greene."
"Ah! What do you 'specialize' in?"
"Uhm..." Andris scrambled for an answer that didn't make a sound like knives on a dinner plate when he thought about it. "...Ssscience, I think?"
The Captain gazed up at him with a strange intensity for a moment. "I see, I see." With a simple "You're good to go," Swweets dismissed the guard, who repeated her salute and walked off. Addressing Andris once again, Swweets gestured into his office. "You must be exhausted after that trip. Take a seat inside."
Andris looked to Corin, who nodded; they both grabbed a chair as Swweets closed the door and settled behind a large desk. The office was tight with the three of them in it, and the fact that it held more ocean-themed kitsch per square foot than a beachfront gift shop didn't help. The Captain cleared his throat as he casually leaned forward. Behind his charming smile, his voice had acquired a hint of something more commanding. "So, Specialist, I'll give you a rundown of the rules here, and you can let me know if you'll follow them. We go by the honor system here. Sound good?" Andris nodded, and Swweets continued, "Good. It's pretty simple. First, if someone says they work for me, you should do what they say. Second, I wouldn't recommend leaving the Park, but if you must, you can't go outside the walls without receiving my personal approval. Third, do not enter the water rides without my permission; they're mine. So, just three rules. A guy as smart as you should be able to follow those, right?"
"Yes, sir."
"'Sir'! You already know what you're doing," said Swweets with an approving chuckle.
"So," Corin interjected with a glare, "We're good, then?"
"Technically, yes, but what's the rush? I haven't seen you in months, Cor. And our new friend is very interesting." He glanced over at Andris again. "A specialist from... Tempest, right?"
Andris was shocked. Even he barely knew that. "How did you know?"
"The uniform," replied Swweets without skipping a beat. Andris examined his jacket, a grayish blue, hoping that might jog something.
"Look, I know it's been a bit, but I kinda need to get to Anevon first," Corin asserted. "We can catch up tomorrow."
"Kidnapping Sensitives from home now, huh?" asked Swweets facetiously.
Corin rolled her eyes. "I'm not kidnapping her. I figure if I can finally get someone on my side, I might have an easier time getting the data I need."
"Hm... Well, good luck. I guess I'll hear how it goes tomorrow." Swweets turned to Andris with another 'pleasant' smile, "And, of course, welcome to the Park, Andris."
"Oh. Thank you," he responded, wondering whether or not he had told the Captain his first name. He must have forgotten.