(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

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.

[beathach]

That's what I've been told. [he nods, then shrugs a shoulder] I'm still getting used to being in space at all, honestly.

[grounds]

[A slight noise of displeasure can be heard before she replies.]

Six months, and I'm still getting used to people saying that.

[beathach]

[he looks apologetic]

Sorry. Space travel isn't possible where I'm from - well, not past the moon, at least. And that only happened a few years ago.

[grounds]

[Octavia sighs and shakes her head.]

No, don't worry about it, that's on me. Bad memories, that's all.

[She pauses, trying to remember stuff she's read.] So, you're what? From the early 70s?

[beathach]

Ah . . . still. [he purses his lips, but he doesn't say anything else about it]

1973, yeah. [he nods in agreement]

[grounds]

[Still what? She wants him to continue, but that would mean she needs to as well. Gonna take a pass on that.]

Huh, way before my time. But at least space was happening then.

[beathach]

[that's for the best, he'll likely apologize again]

In a matter of speaking. It was honestly happening more on television than in actuality.

[grounds]

[And she'd make him apologize for apologizing. A never ending cycle.]

I'd say the moon is space enough. I'm not talking about intergalactic travel like this-- just leaving Earth.

[beathach]

[it would be terrible]

Ah - right. But mm, it was - happening.

Is it something that was - normal for you? Where you're from originally?

[grounds]

[There's a flicker of something in her expression before she replies, not giving too much away.]

I was born in space, on a station orbiting the planet. Not so much travel as actually living up there.

[beathach]

Ah . . . [he tilts his head, curious, but he won't press] That's interesting.

[and he oh-so-subtly changes the subject] I'm sorry all of my questions are kind of personal, but - what do you do here?

[grounds]

That's one way of putting it.

[Octavia gives him a half smile.] Trust me, if it bothers me, I won't answer it. I'm a security officer on my ship, unless you're asking about passing the time.

[beathach]

I know, but I sort of have a habit of - rambling, so. [he shrugs; he knows how he is, sometimes] I meant your - augment, yeah. But knowing what there is to do outside of that helps?