001 - Video

[revoltndevelopment]

Who: Ben Grimm
Broadcast: Video Broadcast
Action: Bishop
When: June 4th

Awright, lets get this over with quick.

[ Ben's been loitering for a few days in the Marisva, getting his bearings, read'n up on what he could about this place, but some stuff you only get through good old fashioned talking face to face. Or face to camera. A huge, craggy, orange face fills the screen, all worn and weathered and animate like stone probably shouldn't be. There's a slow blink and a low sigh, the Thing rolling out his shoulders and settling in for a fun series of conversations. ]

Ben Grimm here of The Fantastic Four and Avengers ask'n for a headcount. Who all's here, who ain't, and which version of earth are ya from?

[ It ain't his first rodeo, it ain't even his tenth- it is his second in one of these weird 'crammed in a jaw and hope noth'n blows up' sortsa places though. Seems a bit nicer than Luceti. For one thing: Space! For another: he gets to pilot. ]

And can we skip the 'oh gosh gee you're all big and orange and rocky!' like I don't know. You're in space, you've gotta have seen stranger things than me by now.

Comments

[revoltndevelopment]

Apparently that's how it started. In the beginning that's kinda how it goes, you don't look to go save the world from planet eat'n giants, you just wanna keep your head down and mind your own business.

But- Great power, Great responsibility, all that.

[axiomed]

[ He softens a little, taking in those words. ]

Wise words indeed.

[revoltndevelopment]

Can't remember where I heard 'em first, but it's kind of a common theme for guys like us.

[axiomed]

[ He hesitates visibly for the first time. ]

I'm not really -- a hero. I just want to run a school.

[revoltndevelopment]

And that ain't heroic? Giv'n kids that wouldn't have anywhere else to go or anyone else that understands who and what they are somewhere safe to figure themselves out?

[axiomed]

I -- I wouldn't know. I haven't been very good at it.

[revoltndevelopment]

Till you blow up the mansion on purpose or turn 'em over to the authorities for some kinda messed up medical test'n- I think you're do'n okay, Chuck.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles, soft and pleased. ]

Well, thank you for that. I don't believe I caught your name though.

[revoltndevelopment]

Benjamin Grimm, most call me Ben. Call me Benjy and I gotta hurt ya.

[ It is a bad idea, Chuck, don't do it. ]

[axiomed]

As long as Chuck never becomes Chucky, I can agree to those stipends.

It's nice to meet you. I hope you'll tell me more about your worlds and adventures. They sound fascinating.

[revoltndevelopment]

Aw no, I saw what you did to that one guy that tied it.

[ @#$! hilarious, sure, but not his bag. ]

Pick a topic. We've done almost everything. Figure it can't hurt to point out stuff t'people start'n out.

[axiomed]

I won't ask too much of the future. That seems like a dangerous path to take.

So tell me about yourself. It sounds like you've done quite a bit.

[revoltndevelopment]

Less about that and more about...pattern recognition. Things you pick up from liv'n through this crazy @#!@ as long as I have. If there's mad science involved it's gonna backfire before it goes right, Some badguys never stay down long, the more complicated the reasoning for genocide the more likely they're either just plain crazy or there's a chance for redemption and you gotta weigh the risk. Things like that.

Well...I was a marine before I was thing. Test pilot for new jets, that kinda gig. S'how I ended up fly'n the rocket for Stretch. I think the first thing we did when we finally settled in and stopped freak'n out at each other over what was go'n on and Johnny quit sett'n everything on fire was deal with the molemen.

[axiomed]

[ Charles nods. In a way, he's become better at recognizing the similarities between timelines and different worlds. Some repetition was key. ]

I'm sorry, molemen?

[revoltndevelopment]

Mole men. Not even kidding. Had a hole underground society.

[axiomed]

That . . . is new. Even for me. Were they a threat?

In fact, what are they? Not mutants, I presume.

[revoltndevelopment]

They were try'n to invade and take over the surface. Diplomacy didn't work- so I clobbered 'em.

[axiomed]

[ He cracks a smile. ]

Clobbered?

[revoltndevelopment]

You see these mitts?

[ Ben leans back, holding his fists up in a boxer's posture. ]

These ain't for punch'n, they're for clobber'n.

[axiomed]

Most impressive. I'm sure they can stand up to a lot of force.

[revoltndevelopment]

I end up break'n most a'the things Stretch tries to make t'measure it. I can go toe t'toe with the Hulk and Thor, though. Probably won't get up t'much of that here. We're in space. It'd end bad.

[axiomed]

I'm sure the Atroma would have reinforced the ships for you. They seem to be very good at countering our abilities. The ships are shielded so I cannot read minds even from this distance.

[revoltndevelopment]

Man, must be like gett'n one of your earbuds yanked out mid song and only hear'n half a tune.

[axiomed]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I've gotten used to reining it in. People tend to be wary of telepathy and I rather not incite that kind of paranoia.

[revoltndevelopment]

Yeah, float'n around in a can in space innit somewhere you want people t'start getting twitchy.