Heron - She's your problem now [Video + Action]

[shockjock]

Who: Livewire
Broadcast: Video, fleet-wide!
Action: Anyone aboard the SS Heron
When: Early morning hours of the 28th (Video), throughout the day (Action)

[VIDEO]

[Whether deliberately or by pure accident, the newest Communications Officer is abruptly dropped onto the bridge of her new cell posting, the Heron. Sure, she'd kept to herself aboard the Marsiva, mostly trying to figure out what was what by eavesdropping on everyone else, but she'd hit the breaking point and started pounding on locked doors near the end there. Which was why it was hard to say whether the timing of her sudden arrival was by accident or by design, as she'd shown up mid-tirade.]

-boot right up your sorry alien...!

[Aaaaand cue the confetti and tinny fanfare. That, and Livewire's immediate realization that she was no longer where she had been just a few moments ago. There's an obvious look of shock on her face at the sudden transition, but it's quickly replaced by one of seething fury. Which, admittedly, probably wasn't made any better by all the confetti falling deciding it'd be super neat if it reminded her that static cling still exists, and now she's a polka-dot confetti'd mess.

And it takes all of two seconds of gritted teeth and growling before she's a polka-dotted, smoking confetti'd mess as each piece starts to smolder, seeing as how she's currently jettisoning enough electricity to pass for an oddly human-looking Tesla coil. Hopefully those stray arcs of electric current that've started firing off around her don't hit anything expensive, but at least for the moment it's mostly the floor and bulkheads taking all the hits.]

[Action, throughout the day]

[For anyone fortunate enough to be absent or asleep for her arrival- or heck, even those who weren't- the morning after's gonna bring a whole new set of headaches. Because someone has found out she has access to the ship's entire electrical system. And she's using it.

All of it.

She doesn't have enough of a charge stockpiled to play around with it all at once of course- even for a ship this small- but she's certainly leaving no wire untouched. So depending on which part of the ship she happens to be "visiting" at any given moment, her presence is easily noticed, even if she remains unseen herself. Everything from doors opening and closing on their own, to panels lighting up like a Christmas tree, even kitchen appliances cycling through their various settings, just about anything electrical is showing some sign of her influence and generally misbehaving.

Fortunately, despite all the electrical confusion, she does seem limited to the common areas of the ship...for now, anyway. Another blessing would be that for all the mischief, she doesn't seem to be capable of messing with anything too important- the ship's power supply remains steady enough to keep everything running, and the navigation and propulsion systems both remain untouched.

Ground zero, however, seems to be the communications console. That is displaying an annoying tendency to periodically start cycling through a backlog of every stored message she can get her hands on, and even any and all unsecured comm traffic within range. More often than not, the screen's an endless barrage of video and datastreams flashing one after the other in rapid succession, as if the whole thing's gone completely haywire.]

Comments

[shockjock]

[You know, at this point, she's kind of wishing she were more technologically inclined. Sure, she could manipulate just about anything that took a charge, but that wasn't quite the same as knowing exactly how it all worked. Because she was at a serious disadvantage coming up with the appropriate sounding jargon, here. Not that it was going to stop her from getting as much mileage out of this little bit as she could...all indications that she'd passed that point already notwithstanding.]

IT WAS A RECENT UPDATE.

[...okay yeah, she was already getting tired of this, and the lack of effort was definitely starting to show. Honestly there was way less panicking than she'd been hoping for. Maybe she should have just opted for saying the power core was about to go critical or something? Then again, she kept hitting a wall every time she tried directly exploring that part of the ship, so it would have been one heck of a gamble.]

[axiomed]

[ He moves his chair back just a little, running through the possibilities. Someone who could move through the electrical currents? It doesn't seem like someone who was particularly technologically inclined, but Charles could be wrong there.

Either way he keeps his composure. He's seen enough not to lose it at every strange occurrence on the Fleet. ]

Conveniently recent, I would say. Just in time for people to be shuffled onto their new ships. Like yourself, I imagine.

[shockjock]

[Wow, chief of rained-out parades over here. Oh well. Livewire wasn't sure how much longer she'd be able to keep the act up anyway. So, instead of any further shenanigans, visual onslaught of cycling messages will just blip right out of sight in favor of a featureless backdrop and a very-much-not-featureless woman looking back through the screen like it were just a window. And looking seriously disappointed by her appointed fun-killer, too.]

Well, aren't you the gold-standard for buzzkills.

[Frankly, he was pretty much running neck-and-neck with Big Blue for that title, but the last thing she wanted to do was convince him he had competition. He might get even duller.]

So, what's shakin', shinetop? There any truth to this tv show shtick, or is this some nerd's idea of a joke?

[axiomed]

[ Shinetop. It's like being back in the school. It's probably the wrong reaction to have, but he was inwardly amused. ]

As far as we know, it seems to be true. We haven't met any of our audience but they do send over gifts if they find us . . . entertaining.

[shockjock]

[And just like that she's interested again! Go figure, all it took to bring her back out of the dumps was mention of free stuff!]

Gifts, huh? We talkin' the good stuff, or dumb fan letters 'n discount roses?

[Not like she'd have a use for any of it, but the life of C-List fame was slow to lose its luster.]

[axiomed]

[ What a turn of events. His smile widens. ]

It depends. You know how some fans are.

[shockjock]

[If she weren't so preoccupied running a mental tally of all sorts of hypothetical space-prezzies she was convinced were in her future, she'd zap that smile right off your dumb face, Charles. But for now, she'll just shrug her shoulders with the best air of indifferent acceptance she can muster, and let your mug remain un-zapped.]

Eh, nobody ever said fame came easy. But to spare their tiny little hearts, I guess I could part with some of the lesser tributes.

[Translation: There is a 100% chance she'll dump anything she doesn't want outside someone else's room, it's just a matter of who wins that particular lottery. This is also the only warning she'll be giving.]

[axiomed]

[ He shrugs back, equally nonchalant. ]

That's up to you.

And who might you be, exactly?

[shockjock]

[NO DON'T, HER EGO aaaaand too late. That big, self-satisfied smile she flashes is going to be the only warning for the sort of headache he's just unleashed with an otherwise innocent question.]

Weeeell, since you asked so nicely!

[Sure, it's just a simple questin, but she's going to seize the opportunity to turn a simple answer into such an over-produced mess, because of course she will.]

I so happen to be the one and only Tower of Power-

[She is, of course, now mucking about with everything now. Though that ever-so-slight dimming of the lights on the bridge are more a result of her trying to exert more control than she's actually permitted to- she'd been going for a full blackout, and all she got was an adjustment of a few lousy lumens- even if she's yet to become aware of that particular hindrance.

Syncing up the flashing lights and screens of every console and and computer on the bridge though? In the shape of one big composition of her own face as she talks in real-time? That's all intentional. In all it's unnecessary, gimmicky glory.]

-Queen Babe of All Media, the one, the only-

[It would probably be a good idea to implement a new ship rule that she is never to be given an opportunity to show off. For a long, long list of reasons, but basic fire safety is probably one of them, given she's seizing the opportunity to blast right on out of that console in a crackling arc of pure electricity- and, thankfully, was courteous enough to make sure Charles was at a safe enough distance as she arced overhead. And as this sort of crap needed a satisfyingly melodramatic finish, she's even made sure to strike a freaking pose as she forms up from that electrical discharge on the deck behind him.]

-LIVEWIRE!

[If she could produce a completely unnecessary echo, she would. And of course she's taking a bow.

But at least once she's finished, all the electronics seem back to normal. Frankly, she is too- or at least as close to 'normal' as she's ever going to get.]

Not too shabby, am I right? This tub's about ten years due for an overhaul though. Pretty sure whoever wired this junk together was comin' down from one heck of a weekend.

[axiomed]

[ His main passing thought was for his chair. It'd be a pain to get it fixed, especially with Tony Stark gone. But the whole speech was rather charming . . . in an overdone kind of way. Charles considers clapping but decides against it. ]

It's certainly very impressive. However, since we are all stuck on this tub which relies on our power being steady, it's best not to strain it. We don't want to drift out into space.

[shockjock]

[Being so casually dismissive of that worst-case scenario probably wasn't the best way to reassure him, but she brushes off the suggestion with a wave of her hand as she approaches all the same.]

Hey now, don't you worry your shiny little head- I got just as much reason to keep this piece of junk runnin' as you do!

[She'd actually already weighed the pros and cons of that particular move. Happily, the negatives outweighed the positives. Chief among them: while she'd certainly outlive everyone else aboard, she was not looking forward to indefinite isolation. That and there was exactly one person she hated enough to consign to such a horrible fate, and he wasn't here.]

Besides, I kinda doubt I'd be able to ride that fancy chair of yours to freedom.

[Don't...don't mind her just leaning down to get a better look at the thing. She might be trying to pass her interest off as purely innocent, but it really wouldn't take much probing to figure out there's mischief on her mind. Maybe not for the imminent future, but it's there all the same- especially since she can absolutely sense the power source inside, which means it's certainly vulnerable to her special brand of hijacking.]

[axiomed]

[ His brow furrows as Charles lets his telepathy go a little further. He's not quite sure what to make of her yet, though she's easily an improvement from Hux. ]

Sadly, my chair would not work that well in the vacuum of space.

[shockjock]

[Well it's kinda just hovering there now, so, color her intrigued.]

Oh yeah? Why not? You're floatin' around fine so far.

[Frankly, she's kind of an open book. And still riding a merry little high from the revelation that Superman was an unknown in this neck of the woods- which meant, as far as she was concerned anyway- no one around to stop her if she decided to go on a little spree.

Though, there's also a running list of all the fun nicknames she could give Charles going on. Cueball, Hoveround, Throne Dome- evidently she'd already mentally christened his chair as "The Chair-iot"- and she wasn't likely to stop anytime soon, either.]

[axiomed]

[ Nothing too bad then. He pulls off gently, massaging his head as a faint shock hits him. After-effects, how delightful. ]

It needs ground to work, I'm afraid.

[shockjock]

And a little juice, huh?

[PAY NO MIND TO THE STRANGE WOMAN REACHING FOR YOUR CHAIR, CHARLES. She's just, you know, taste testing it is all. Granted, it looks more like she's just warming her hand by an imaginary fire, but it's not quite as crazy as it looks. She's just trying to get a feel for what sort of capacity the power supply's sporting.

Just in case drastic times ever call for drastic measures, obviously. Or if she just gets peckish. Or spiteful. Or just thinks it'd be hilarious to strand you without power. Any of the above, really. And she may or may not be trying to distract you in the process.]

So, my smooth-headed little amigo, you got a name? Or do I get to make one up?

[She has a list and she's not afraid to use it. Also, playing civil should hopefully keep him from noticing the charge dropping- not a whole lot, but definitely way beyond what his literal hover-round should ever go through all by itself. His new crewmate's basically an energy leech, after all.]

[axiomed]

It's Charles Xavier.

[ He rarely uses his title as a professor in the Fleet because it holds little meaning. Not to mention he's quite sure it'll become extra fodder for her material. ]

And I'd prefer if you left the chair alone. I need that.

[shockjock]

[The beaming grin on her face as she pulls her hand away and promptly hides both behind her back is probably the opposite of reassuring. But his chair's power supply will be safe, for now.]

Well, I got some bad news for ya, Chuck-o. This little space cruise of ours ever goes south, there might come a time I need it more.

[That much, at least, was mostly true. She'd prefer larger sources of power, but having something she could fall back on in a pinch was always a plus. She'd broken out of prison on less, after all.

But now that the implication she'd throw him to the wolves if it was either him or her out of the way, she figured it was best time to get a proper feel for the home away from home. And who better to help with that than the very person she'd already been needling? He'd put up with it longer than most- when they didn't have a livelihood dependent on it anyway- and a small part of her was curious to see just how long he'd keep that up.]

But it's safe for now- I'm not the type to waste time on an appetizer when I already got the main course. So, how 'bout puttin' that little scooter of yours to work, huh? I could use a tour o' this place from someplace other than the wiring, you know. Unless you want me spending all my time here.

[axiomed]

I'm sure you can walk.

[ Which Charles says pointedly. He's not letting anyone ride his chair. ]

So I suggest you keep up as we go along.

[shockjock]

Walkin' ain't the problem, Chuck- buuut I'm sure you'll figure it out. Eventually.

[Excuse her as she steps over to the door and beckons him through it like an overenthusiastic tour guide. She means well. Probably.]

Aaaafter you, my shiny-headed ship-mate!

[axiomed]

[ He huffs lightly, as Charles maneuvers the chair forward. ]

Where to?

[shockjock]

How 'bout, oh, whatever room they've got this junkheap's power core stashed in.

[She knows there is exactly 0% chance of that actually happening. And it shows. He's bound to have pieced together enough about her to know how bad an idea that would be, and she's not in any situation desperate enough to try forcing it. So she'll give that "joke" time to settle in before floating a far more realistic proposal instead.]

But hey, you're the tour guide- how 'bout the gold package? All I've seen of this place's been here and the weird wiring.

[axiomed]

[ He rubs his chin, thoughtfully. ]

I suppose we should start with the kitchen. You still need to eat, I assume.

[shockjock]

[Okay you know what she will humor this if only because it's kind of adorable, let the charade commence!]

Doesn't everybody? Lead-on, Chuckles!

[Look at her, following along with such thoughtful feigned interest. Well, mostly, anyway- she wasn't kidding about having little to no idea what the actual interior of the ship looked like. She'd spent most of her time inside the walls after all. She had an idea, but it wasn't quite the same.]

[axiomed]

[ Charles points a few things here and there, like the labs and the engineering deck. They pause at the small garden he takes care of with Erik, but Charles doesn't linger very long. ]

If I may ask, how did you get your powers?

[shockjock]

What's the pointa askin' permission if you're just gonna ask anyway, Chucky?

[There's a slight amount of irritation there, but it's just her usual self. Nothing exceptional.]

Buuut the short version is, some insufferable super-powered tightwad went 'n got me electrocuted. Big time.

[He's probably better off not delving too deep into that memory, since nothing about that was fun or painless. Even if it was over relatively quickly, it sure felt like it lasted a lot longer.

And if Superman ever shows up, she will resume her efforts to kill him. Publicly or in secret, it really doesn't matter to her.]