001

[housepartyprotocol]

Who: Tony Stark and anyone!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Still on The Marsiva
When: Now

[ The video feed crackles to life, and on the screen is a man looking equal parts composed and annoyed. He settles into the frame and smiles wryly.]

I'm not going to waste time here asking where we are, since I'd like to think we can all recognize space, but fair warning: you've got about [ he looks at his watch ] 2 minutes before I start taking this place apart. Not a threat, just making you aware that without a pretty impressive explanation, I will cannibalize your lovely and expensive ship and fly myself home.

[ He smiles briefly and with no humor before sitting back in his chair and tapping his watch. ]

Comments

[takeabow]

Yes? All of those? Everyone you're going to meet is probably in the same position you are.

[housepartyprotocol]

That's marginally comforting. And what position would that be exactly?

[takeabow]

Star of an intergalactic reality tv show that you were kidnapped into.

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Looks at her flatly. ]

I honestly don't know if that's sarcasm.

[takeabow]

I wish it were. But no, it's true. If you haven't gotten the information uploaded to your brain, I'm sure you will soon.

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Narrower eyes. Still unsure of bullshit level. Just looking at her. ]

[takeabow]

[ do you need something ]

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Staaaare. ]

Have they been uploading into your brain?

[takeabow]

Check the back of your neck? Think really hard about information you just know?

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Reaches around and finds it, touching it gingerly. Makes a point of staying calm. ]

There's a lot of information I 'just know'. Gonna need something a little more specific.

[ Can't stop touching the hardware on his neck though... which eventually agitates him. ]

Who the hell did this?

[takeabow]

I wish I had better answers for you, but it's hard to tell.

[housepartyprotocol]

So then what, we're all just supposed to hang around in space? Come on, someone has to have tried to leave.

[takeabow]

I don't know. I don't think anyone would get very far, and they promise there's a way for us to get home.

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Eye roll. ]

Do we collectively believe that? Because I'm not sure 'honesty' is a typical trait of most kidnappers.

[takeabow]

[ sarcastically ]

Yeah, of course, you're right. We were all too stupid to realize it before you got here, but it's a good thing you showed up. We never would've been able to do anything without you.

That was sarcasm.

[housepartyprotocol]

[ Unoffended. ]

Huh. I guess I can tell the difference.

So I assume we have some reason to believe they'll get us home? Proof?

[takeabow]

People come and go all the time.

[housepartyprotocol]

[Somewhat appeased. ]

That'll work.

How long are people generally stuck here?

[takeabow]

I don't know. It varies? I've been here for, I guess, four months now.

[housepartyprotocol]

Wonderful.

[takeabow]

Sorry.

Who are you, anyway?

[housepartyprotocol]

Guess we really aren't in Kansas anymore.

[ a beat ]

Tony Stark.

[takeabow]

I'm Nova.

You won't be staying there for long. You'll get assigned to another ship soon enough.

[housepartyprotocol]

Another one? Of how man? How many ships are there?

[takeabow]

Uh...

Around 20? I think? I didn't actually think to count.