driftfleet | (no subject)

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't understand.

[ How does that work? ] How many versions could there even be?

I don't know. [He rubs at his face. He's not the best person to explain this, given his lack of contact with many of the X-Men here.]

But there is at least one reality where I started the X-Men.

[ The darkest timeline. ]

I'm sorry, what.

It's... a long story, and not really mine to tell. It's a version of the world where you were killed, and I took up your cause in your stead.

[ That . . . sounds plausible. To some degree. ]

I . . . am touched, I suppose.

[There is more to it, but he'll leave that to Kitty. Well, and warn Hank about his manners.]

There are others as well. None I personally know, except there are versions of Logan and Raven here. Not ours.

Not ours? Surely Raven is still . . .

[ He doesn't know how to end that. His sister? His team mate? Or at least, in some way, Charles' family? ]

She didn't seem to recognise me, Charles. Given the differences I've heard about between these worlds, I wouldn't assume anything.

[He knows, though, how difficult that may be. His own complicated situation with Raven aside, it had settled like a stone in his stomach when he realised it wasn't the same one.]

[ He swallows, a flash of sorrow in his eyes before he shutters it away. ]

Right. I'll do my best not to.

I'm sorry. [That's all he can offer.] And... well. When it comes to Hank, there's at least one reality where he's vile.

[ Dryly. ]

Yes, we've managed to pick up on that particular impression.

[He shrugs.]

I am apparently not well liked in most realities either.

[ Yes, but how is that a surprise. ]

I just find it hard to believe that Hank of all people could be . . . evil, for the lack of a better word.

[You wound him, only not because he wasn't all that surprised either.]

If she tells you more about her world, you might. [He sighs.] I didn't believe it either when it first came up. It's why I'm telling you that you can't really assume anything about these other realities. Some of them are so far removed from what we know.

. . . Then I'll have to approach them with an open mind.

[ Still, hearing about Raven and Logan was . . . depressing. ]

As much as possible.

[He changes the subject, then.] You'll be on that ship until you're assigned one of the smaller ships in the fleet. No one can get onto the Marsiva once they're off it, so the only people you'll meet there are new arrivals like yourself.

My ship is the Heron. But right now I'm on the nearby moon. You can probably see it from the viewing windows there.

I'll try and be there when I can.

[ He pauses. It's hard, being separated like this. It feels cold. Impersonal. Briefly, he rests his hand on the screen. ]

[He shakes his head, softening a bit.] It will be faster if you send me a message of what ship you end up on, then I can head over. I already know how to operate the shuttles here.

It won't be long. [Not for Charles, at least.]

No. I'm sure it's . . . not.

[ His lips twist wryly. ] We can handle a few days between us.

[He smiles slightly at that, for the first time.]

True enough. You're also able to call anyone whose number you've received through these communicators. You'll have mine, and anyone else who's spoken to you.

And how many numbers do you have so far?

Hm... ten or so? Some people I've only spoken to one time, and others I've only talked to in person.

[Is he being graded on his sociability now?]

[ Always. ]

I'm impressed.

Did you think I'd locked myself in my room and refused to interact with people?

Of course not. I was just expecting that number to be lower.

Re: Private

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