(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

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?

[grounds]

I try. [She raises her eyebrows once in a mocking sort of way before continuing.]

Yeah, exactly what I said. Suddenly know how to fly a ship? Congrats, you're a pilot. Stuff like that.

[axiomed]

I shudder at the thought of piloting a large chunk of metal.

[ And he doubts they would make him a pilot. ]

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd be in something . . . tactical. Or communications.

[grounds]

[Octavia purses her lips, studying him when he makes that comment, but ultimately chooses not to address it.]

Then don't guess. Just stop and don't think about it. It pops into your head pretty quick when you're not focusing.

[axiomed]

[ He follows her advice, concentrating on it. ]

Communications. Marvelous. I suppose it's better than security detail.

[grounds]

[That gets an eyeroll.] Hey, nothing's wrong with security. We're the ones who're gonna save your ass when you need it.

Name's Octavia, by the way.

[axiomed]

True, but that's not why I said better.

[ He points to his legs. The chair is a fairly decent giveaway. ]

It's nice to meet you.

[grounds]

[She just shrugs, grinning a little.]

Sorry, but that doesn't mean much. With some of the engineers we have, they could probably make it fly and have rotating saw blades if you wanted. That'd be pretty good for security.

[axiomed]

[ He chuckles. ]

How charming, but I think I'll pass. I'll die of fright if my chair could suddenly fly around.

[grounds]

It's your call. You'll be shuffled to another, smaller ship at the end of the week or so. There's likely going to be a captain there, so find out who it is.

[axiomed]

Can you visit the other ships?

[ It must be possible. ]

[grounds]

Not from the Marsiva, but once you're assigned yours, definitely. It's not much entertainment if people are confined with the same group all the time, is it?

Re: video;

[beathach]

[he immediately slaps a hand on the back of his neck with a frown. He's not going to mess with it, but he can't help but be a little annoyed - kidnapped and something implanted into him without his permission? Why does he even bother being surprised by anything anymore]

That's - yeah. [and he forces something of a chuckle] Thank you, miss. The uh - different species and people thing is normal, at least. Er, to us.

[grounds]

[She offers a grim smile of her own when his hand hits the back of his neck. That about sums it up.]

Cut the "miss" crap, my name's Octavia. [The species thing gets her attention.] Yeah? Good. Just humans back home, and now a good friend of mine here is blue and fuzzy. Go figure.

[beathach]

I'm just being polite—

[you can practically hear the record scratch as everything he was about to say comes to a screeching halt. He doesn't mean to, but he's staring]

Blue and fuzzy. [it comes out a little weakly] What do you mean by that?

[grounds]

It's weird. Just use my name.

[Her brows knit together, her expression a little more guarded.] Like it says on the tin. Is that a problem?

[beathach]

Yes ma—Octavia.

[he quickly shakes his head, letting out a breath] No, no, it's not - it's familiar, that's all. [incredibly and personally familiar] I don't have a problem with it at all.

[grounds]

[It takes a moment, but a smile makes its way on to her face, and she nods.] Good. You had me worried for a moment!

So, Hank, right? Any other questions? I've got nothing else going on right now, so ask away if you want.

[beathach]

Sorry about that. [he drags up a weak, genuine smile]

I have a number of questions, I wouldn't know where to start. [the smile turns wry] Is there anything that I should know that wouldn't normally fall into the standard questioning?

[grounds]

Okay, that's kinda cheating. "Anything else I should know?" is a pretty standard question. I'm gonna need specifics here if I'm going to be helpful beyond the basics.

[It sounds teasing, but she does mean it.]

[beathach]

Heh, sorry. I'm sort of used to the . . . "here's the standard welcome" and the rest you sort of learn as you go, unless you're lucky enough to run into someone who's been here longer.

[he's been through something like this before. Sort of]

[grounds]

Six months and counting, if that means anything. Some people have been here over a year by now. Maybe put a help wanted sign up if my experience doesn't cut it.

[She leans back, showing she's sitting in her own bed, covered in fur blankets.]

There's been a couple different planets and stations I've been here for. Right now, it's pretty gross, so don't stress about going down there right away.

[beathach]

In my experience, you're practically a veteran. [he says it with a joking tone, but he's absolutely serious, too. Thanks, Kyriakos]

The polluted moon, you mean? I don't know . . . I've never had the opportunity to walk on the moon before - a moon anyway.

[grounds]

Yay for me. [Her tone is so deadpan it's hard to take it seriously.]

It's not that exciting. There's been others-- and there will be more. Here you can't even go outside without a gas mask.