(no subject)

[beathach]

Who: two nerds and you
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: now!

[ The audio comes on sharply, but everything is still dark as two people discuss their situation.]

Is that the camera? Can you get it to work?

I - think so? Here, push this --

I am pushing it, Hank. I thought you knew about these from that show you keep watching. Space Trek?

It's Star Trek and that isn't exactly - you know, the same thing as this.

Right. . . . Wait, I think I see something on the side.

[ And the video flickers on, the red light glowing softly. It focuses on two men. One in a wheelchair and the other right next to him, peering curiously at the camera before they step back satisfied. ]

Well, that’s over and done with. Hello to anyone who might be out there. My name is Charles Xavier and this is Hank McCoy. Apparently we’ve been kidnapped again, by an unknown force again for some mysterious reason.

[muttered:] Again. [and louder] So if anyone would be kind enough to explain exactly what's going on, we'd appreciate it. You have our thanks in advance.

But do keep it pertinent.

Comments

[ action ]

[axiomed]

[ He looks around, curiously. ]

I will say this. It is definitely a change of scenery.

[beathach]

That's one way to look at it. [he also looks around, then blows out a sigh and rubs at the side of his neck] At least this time, our memories are intact.

Video

[grandstanding]

[Erik was in a cafeteria on the moon when their broadcast appears. He had just finished his very overpriced, sincerely underwhelming salad. It was hardly worth it, but he was sick of protein gels and wanted to eat something else. So he was in the process of scrolling through his communicator and then-- he sees this. Nearly dropping the thing on his plate in shock, he grabs hold of it again and opens up a video response.]

--You're here.

[Yes well done, Erik, that's enlightening for all parties. Give him a moment to get over his surprise.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles stares for a bit, torn between relief and surprise. ]

Erik. How -- What are you doing here?

[beathach]

[yes thank you Erik that was very useful. Hank finds himself staring too, then his brows furrow]

Yes, well - hello, Erik. Where exactly is "here"?

[video]

[forsometimenow]

Congratulations- the two of you are the newest members of a space reality show.

Re: [video]

[axiomed]

[ He takes a few seconds to parse that. ]

And what precisely is a space reality show?

[beathach]

[a pause, while Hank mutters "space reality show" under his breath like it's the weirdest thing he's ever heard]

That's a new one.

voice

[experiencepoints]

[... ... Huh. Okay. She never really spoke to either of them, but she recognizes their faces- She recognizes most faces that had been at the castle, with how long she spent there. Still, she can't exactly turn on the video in her current state, so.]

Hey. This might sound weird, but does the name "Takshaka" mean anything to you two?

[axiomed]

[ There's a deliberate pause at that. ]

I am familiar with the team. At least, vaguely. I take it you're from Kyriakos?

[beathach]

[so far, that's the only thing that sounds "normal" to him. He frowns, trying to place the voice]

Yeah - yeah, it's a team from Kyriakos. Unless you're referring to something else?

video

[takingkarabusiness]

[ a peppy blonde in glasses appears. she smiles and waves before introducing herself ]

Hi! Welcome. I'm Kara.

So, you're probably going to hear a lot of not-great things about being here, and there are definitely more than enough things to be salty about, but honestly, despite the being "kidnapped and taken into space and filmed without consent" thing—which, admittedly, is a really huge point—it could be worse? Everyone's really nice.

Re: video

[axiomed]

[ "Everyone's really nice" is a . . . strange sentiment to hear. It's not one Charles hears often, not one he even believes in much anymore.

But he'd like to, so he smiles back, congenial. ]

We do tend to bond well during adversity.

Re: video

[beathach]

[Kara's friendliness definitely eases some of Hank's anxiety about this whole situation. He manages a smile back]

That's - good, er - that everyone's nice, I mean, not the - rest of it. [he clears his throat] It's nice to meet you, Kara.

action

[neversets]

[ Apollo can hear the voices clearly at this sort of distance, in an enclosed space. He follows them back to the source, pausing in the doorway to watch the men.

He did wait until the stopped playing with the communicator, at least. ]

Hi.

[axiomed]

[ Charles carefully maneuvers his chair to face the newcomer, with a polite smile. ]

Hello. I take it that you're in a similar situation.

[video]

[passingthrough]

[She recognizes one voice immediately, but her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in the familiar face with longer hair, a beard, and a wheelchair. She ignores the other man for the moment. He's not familiar to her at all, but before she can even get to the point of wondering if it's Charles or even an older Leto or someone else entirely she's hearing the names. One of confirmation and one that sets her teeth on edge.

The part where Hank McCoy is not as beastly as his codename would imply mollifies her just slightly. He's obviously not the one from her world, but as she said to Erik already she can't believe that monster isn't already inside him. You don't experiment on people that gleefully unless you're seriously wrong inside. But since she can't get to the Marsiva to phase him into a wall right this second anyway, she'll do her best to focus on the one she is glad to see.

This is a lot to take in and feel and if Charles is lucky he can't sense it from there. She turns the feed on and stares a steely, unwavering stare at McCoy, while addressing Charles. He does get a glance to at least prove she's not confused about who she's speaking to.]

Going for a Jesus vibe now, Charles? [This is pertinent, right?]

Re: [video]

[axiomed]

[ Well. That was new. He glances at Hank before addressing her. ]

I would never be so dramatic.

[ Filthy lies. ]

I just haven't gotten around to shaving just yet.

video

[brainiest]

[ It takes Hermione a moment to actually put her own brain together to try and figure out some kind of response. Charles is here, but some deep, sad part of her knows that this isn't a Charles that will recognise her. This isn't the Charles that was her Second, one of her best friends, one of the people she relied on the most - the Charles that she loved, even now, like the family she had left behind in her own world. It hurts, just looking, and she has to force herself back together.

He had helped her so much in the Drabwurld. She was going to help him on the Fleet. ]

You're in space, on a fleet of ships run by some form of ruling body called the Atroma, or Atroma. Um, you're on the largest vessel now but, eventually, you'll be shuffled onto a smaller one where you'll become part of the crew.

[ It's probably disconcerting, the way she can't stop looking at Charles, but she refocuses quickly enough. ]

I'm Hermione Granger. Welcome.

Re: video

[axiomed]

[ Erik had looked at him that way - once. When he had given up something precious in order to ensure someone's life. He hesitates before pressing on, gentle. ]

And the rest of you are on these . . . smaller ships?

video;

[grounds]

[A face pops up on the screen, looking a little amused at the entire exchange.]

You've been snagged up by some mysterious space deity running a supposed reality show throughout the cosmos. People are here from plenty of different worlds and times, so you might know someone and have them not know you. Right now you're on the main ship, the Marsiva, while most of us take up smaller ships in the Fleet.

There's a thing implanted at the base of your skull called an augment. Suddenly have knowledge of stuff that's weird to you? You can thank that, but don't try to tamper or remove it. Shit ends badly. And if different species or people with powers are weird to you, get over that fast.

[She looks a little expectant now.] Pertinent enough for you boys?

Re: video;

[axiomed]

[ He smiles, a little amused. He appreciates the sardonic twist. ]

It's certainly concise. An augment?

[ video ]

[touchofrogue]

[...okay.

Okay.

Let's... test these waters.]

Define pertinent.

[She'd seen the prof with hair before, although it hadn't been so long it had still been... disturbing. And he'd been walking then. And while she'd certainly known Hank McCoy before he got all blue and hairy, he hadn't looked like that. And.

This was going to make her homesick, she was sure of it. (It also probably wasn't going to last. He never stayed for long, before. Time to see.)]

[beathach]

Anything relevant or important we should know or think we should know.

[you wanted a literal definition, right? Although by his expression, Hank knows she didn't mean it that way]

Or - anything you can tell us would be very helpful. We're hearing . . . a lot right now.

video;

[bloodbiter]

[she's sure someone else has explained it by now, so:]

Hank?

[beathach]

[they have, but they didn't name names, so - ]

Lace?

video;;

[reconstitution]

You've been brought here by beings called the Atroma. Their motives are unclear, under the guise of a 'reality tv show'. The Fleet-- the ships just outside of the Marsiva-- come into orbit of a planet or station ever four weeks on average.

Re: video;;

[axiomed]

I'm still surprised that reality is something people enjoy watching? I always assumed television was used as a getaway.

[ He's from the seventies. What is reality TV. ]

[video]

[only_skin_deep]

[Now this, this was funny. Mystique was far too amused by the appearance of these rather young versions, and less blue in Hank's case, of the two men. So much that she couldn't ignore a little dig at them, even if they weren't the same men from the world she came from. Not bothering to hide her true form, she hit the video option as she spoke from her space on the SS Golden.] It won't help you, not really, otherwise none of us would be here, now would we? [Her tone was amused, but not helpful in the least, more as if they were the punchline to her joke.]

Re: [video]

[axiomed]

[ Raven.

But it's not her. He doesn't need telepathy to tell him that, but seeing someone else looking like her was so jarring that for a few minutes, he doesn't reply. In a dry, even tone. ]

We all have to start somewhere.

video

[complicatedliar]

[He doesn't recognize one of them, but he does the other. Oh, ugh.]

Oh, you.

Though which you, I wonder. [Is he going to have to threaten this one? And he helpfully doesn't specify which he's talking about, because that's part of the test. He's sure Charles remembers him, if this is the one he met in Luceti.]

Re: video

[axiomed]

[ He shoots a look at Hank before speaking. ]

Not the one you're familiar with, I'm guessing.

[video]

[ecclesiophobic]

[It actually is video, despite the blackness the screen shows. As the communicator shifts, the screen picks up two points glowing softly yellow, with the right placement and shape to be a set of featureless eyes--and nothing else.

The voice that comes through is of a man in the prime of his life, overwhelmingly German accent slightly tempered by years spent in America, with an underlying growl to his words. The latter is not usual for Kurt, but despite the almost jovial tone he's royally pissed.] Not used to the technology, hmm? I wouldn't worry about that, you'll pick it up soon enough. McCoy there sooner than Xavier, I imagine. The one I knew always had a head for things beyond mortal ken.

Re: [video]

[axiomed]

[ His appearance surprised Charles. Not because it was so foreign, but because it wasn't. Azazel. Everything about him screamed his possible link to Shaw's henchman and for that reason, Charles finds himself apprehensive.

Still, he replies evenly and without a hint of friction. ]

I'm fortunate to have Hank by my side to guide me in such matters.

[Video]

[digthefuzz]

[At first, Kurt didn't make much of the broadcast. Just some young men getting used to the comm again. At least it wasn't another sudden mutant appearance.

...But then they introduced themselves, and Kurt couldn't help but speak up in a flabbergasted manner.]

...Okay. This time, it's got to be a prank. Sorry guys, but you're each about a gazillion years too young to be who you're saying you are. Busted!

[Why would they try to pose as Professor X and Professor McCoy of all people? Kurt doesn't know but it feels like the Atroma is specifically trying to punk him lately with everyone they drag in.]

Re: [Video]

[axiomed]

[ Huh. It's the same mutant, albeit younger . . . and talking like a teenager. Unexpected. He's never met two alternate versions in one place. How would that work? How would time function? Are the same genetically?

A little dryly. ]

That isn't a real word. And are you saying I couldn't be young once? I'm not quite ready to lose my hair.