Henri raises both hands in mock surrender. "Cannot blame you, mon ami. I don't have any answers for you, I fear. I am new to this entire timeline, but I can tell you that I have seen absolutely no signs of such deviant decisions from the Boston Theoretical team. This past few hours is the first I've seen of the First Responders - and frankly, I'm not impressed. Let's see what we can learn."
At Henri's 'mon ami', George switches into French but doesn't seem to have noticed he did it.
George is pushy, rude, and hilariously profane. He tries to bully his way to getting meetings with Boston Theoretical's 'Executive Board' but doesn't even get as far as L.C. who is busy with Nissa. He mistakes Ron for someone important and interrogates him on what he knows about the First Responders.
He gets nowhere but eventually wears himself out. He finally agrees to a full medical work-up by the Boston Theoretical medical research team. He insists he spent at least 30 years in the stasis pod getting 'human learning' shoved into his head, but the doctors are sure he was hatched as a mature clone only a couple weeks ago.
The meeting is at noon.
Pah arrives early. He seems immune to hangovers. Theo saw him drink enough shrimp martinis--he called them shrimpinis--to have killed a human. Pah is gregarious and excited.
The Congressman's staff messages to say that Charlie Milles will be a little late.
Teleporting Boy and EIG are sitting cross-legged on the Flight Deck, facing each other and chatting. They seem intimate, but not, at the moment, sexual. They promise to join the meeting when you need them.
Scarlett arrives, shoots Nissa a quizzical look and says, telepathically, "You know I'm not supposed to read minds without a warrant, right?"
A boxy robot wheels itself in. A holoprojection pops out of a projector on the top of the robot like a jack-in-the-box. The poor-quality projection shows the head and shoulders of an aging bald man. The bald man smiles and says, "So, happy to meet you all! I'm the late, great Professor Harbringer. I'd shake your hand, but I've been dead for 23 years and 8 months. Really looking forward to collaborating." The robot and the projection were probably state-of-the-art 24 years ago.
Tosh and Channer arrive. No one seems to have expected them. They don't seem to have expected them. "We don't know why we are here. Our computer told us to come." They're wheeling around a rather large computer and a portable generator. The computer isn't a very portable one. "This isn't some kind of trick, is it? I thought we sorted out that legal stuff yesterday." They get super excited when they are introduced to Professor Harbringer.
The Congressman still isn't there yet.
Charles sleeps fitfully, snatches of dreams and memories melding together into a confused muddle. In spite of this they feel... more put together when they awake, as if their dreaming has somehow helped them come more to terms with their own existence.
They take their bipedal form for the meeting. As much as they enjoyed causing the Representative distress, they needed to be careful with this meeting. Much was at stake.
Charles nods to Scarlett. "I... think I'd like to talk with you after we're done in here," he says.
He returns the projection's smile with a grin of his own, though he keeps his lips closed. "Professor, you seem to be in a rather interesting position," he comments.
Charles narrows his eyes as the Red Shirt guys arrive. "Your computer told you?" He asks suspiciously. A thought occurs to him. "Is this the first time your computer has surprised you with something like this?"
Charles nods to Scarlett. "I... think I'd like to talk with you after we're done in here," he says.
"I think that's a good idea," Scarlett thinks to Charles.
He returns the projection's smile with a grin of his own, though he keeps his lips closed. "Professor, you seem to be in a rather interesting position," he comments.
"Indeed," says the Professor. "At the time of my demise, I had a plethora of ongoing, well-funded research projects that I couldn't just abandon. Think of me as an AI based on Dr. Harbringer. While calling me an AI would be simplistic, unless you have advanced science studies in neural matrix inversion, being simplistic might be necessary."
Charles narrows his eyes as the Red Shirt guys arrive. "Your computer told you?" He asks suspiciously. A thought occurs to him. "Is this the first time your computer has surprised you with something like this?"
"Yeah," says Channer. "This was one of our first government funded projects. It uses an omnisium threaded processor to allow a 1 bronobyte worth of storage. Until this morning, there was only 24 yottabytes of data ..."
"Wait a second," says the Professor, "By any chance is this a Harbringer Proxy?"
"It was designed to be, but we've had trouble getting the data to prepare anything that met the granularity conditions you called for," says Tosh.
"Until this morning," says Channer. "All of a sudden, it's almost full, but we can't access most of it. Still, there's 240 yottabytes we can access ... Everything is here. Every traffic ticket recorded, every dick pic sent, every high school drop-out's transcript. It's all here. We only noticed because it messaged us and told us to bring it here."
At this point, the congressman walks in with a smile like he owns the place. "So happy to see you all again," he says. His eyes avoid most of you when he says this, focusing on L.C., the Red Shirt bros, and the holographic projection of Dr. Harbringer.
Theo just leans back in his chair, hands behind his head, waiting for the pitch.
Henri stands, leaning against the wall in the corner.
Scarlett arrives, shoots Nissa a quizzical look and says, telepathically, "You know I'm not supposed to read minds without a warrant, right?"
:: I did not. Just like I won’t question how you ‘know’ how the wand gets stolen by this creep, who need not know you’re here at all, if you can use a telepathic connection to be as a means to project your psychic ability.
Do your powers work like that? I know you can read minds over camera. ::
Scarlett arrives, shoots Nissa a quizzical look and says, telepathically, "You know I'm not supposed to read minds without a warrant, right?":: I did not. Just like I won’t question how you ‘know’ how the wand gets stolen by this creep, who need not know you’re here at all, if you can use a telepathic connection to be as a means to project your psychic ability.
Do your powers work like that? I know you can read minds over camera. ::
Scarlett thinks back at Nissa, "Nissa, he's a congressman! I could get in so much trouble. To answer your questions about reading over camera, I am both a higher order empath and a telepath. I receive tons of information from body language, facial expressions, eye movement, and I can do that at any distance and with any human. My telepathic abilities have a more limited range, and, yes, I can mask them. ... If I could make a suggestion, why don't you just ask him?"
Henri stands, leaning against the wall in the corner.
"There's that shady motherf!%~er," grumbles George as the congressman walks in. He says it loud enough for the congressman to hear. When the congressman looks over, George smiles awkwardly, waves shyly, and hoots a bit as if he wasn't a talking monkey. The congressman is not fooled and George's performance is so unconvincing as to be insulting of the congressman's intelligence. George barely waits for him to glance away before giving the congressman the finger. The congressman notices the movement out of the corner of his eye, but George shoves that finger in his nose and hoots again like a less verbally gifted ape might.
The congressman begins his pitch, but the holographic projection of the late Dr. Harbringer interrupts.
"So excited to be here. This project has been years in the making. In case some of you aren't up to speed, let me review the logical problem we now find ourselves with," he gestures to Nissa, Theo, Charles, and Zellgato but doesn't seem to know who Henri, EIG, or Teleporting Boy are. "You four unusual humans have proven that one can step outside of our dimension and even out of our timestream. Should one of those parallel worlds have a group of beings with similar abilities, they could step into our dimension at any point in our timestream, changing it, altering our past, present, and/or future. Were that to happen, would we even know? For all we know, the continuity we now find ourselves in could be pruned at any point or regularly. We would not even know it. It would simply always have been that way, dating back to the incursion in question."
The holographic recording doesn't slow down. A human might tire of talking at the speed the holograph is talking. As a professor, Dr. Harbringer would have overwhelmed his students if he lectured this quickly.
"The Harbringer Paradox, named after the genius who conceived it, appears deceptively simple on the surface. 'Those with a timestream are the least capable of detecting variances in the timestream and therefore the least capable of protecting it.'"
Tosh and Channer nod and smile at each other. They knew that one from school.
"The Harbringer Protocol, named after the same aforementioned genius, is a little more complex, but to state it simply, in order to protet the timestream, one requires that a group of agents capable of maintaining the integrity of the timestream reside outside of it in order to detect variances within it and respond to them at the point in time where they occurred."
"That would be you," smiles the Congressman, "Assuming you are willing to accept the task."
”And the risk is…?”
”And the risk is…?”
The congressman, Dr. Harbringer, and Pah look at each other. Pah finally answers, "No one knows what living in the Shuffle would do, long-term, to one's sanity. Atlantean marines cross through the Shuffle constantly and, very occasionally, report encounters with the strangest creatures there. A few have been psychically damaged by encounters with truly alien minds."
Dr. Harbringer interjects, "It would be well worth such a risk though, to be part of such an exciting research project! I've been wanting to see this come to fruition since 15 years before my unfortunate death! I postulated in the 22nd century that we needed four things to make this happen: (1) a method for crossing in and out of what we now call the Shuffle, (2) a place in the Shuffle for them to reside, (3) an omnisium threaded computer to track changes in the timeline, and, most importantly, (4) a group of heroes capable of stopping any timeline incursions at the time and place they were first detected. I believe we now have all four."
The congressman adds, "There may be risks, but the rewards are great. We have significant corporate funding for this. Some of my powerful friends like this timeline the way it is and will invest deeply in keeping it that way. I can promise that you will be well-rewarded."
Nissa is in her fairy form. The wand can’t be taken like this, but after speaking to Scarlett, she gets the feeling that asking will work.
Of her form, she says, ”I can survive in space.”
She reverts to her humanish form, her stellar armor forming an elegant gown. The wand is in her hand.
”If anything we’re to happen to the station, I could wave this and get everyone out.”
She slips the wand into her purse and becomes a fairy again. She flutters alongside L.C.
”But what does it mean to live in the shuffle? What about… family? Friends? Love?”
Is this why, last night…??
And wait, what… Powerful Friends?!
Henri pats George on the shoulder, whispering, "Sois prudent mon ami."
Louder, he continues, "And I suppose the confluence of these four events is why the computer lacking data until yesterday now has everything these two have been trying to obtain." From his position along the wall, he gestures to the two that carted in the very non-portable CPU. "Where would that computer reside and who would be responsible for its upkeep?"
Henri pats George on the shoulder, whispering, "Sois prudent mon ami."
George looks at Henri and asks, "Tu penses que j'ai peur de ce connard?"
Louder, he continues, "And I suppose the confluence of these four events is why the computer lacking data until yesterday now has everything these two have been trying to obtain." From his position along the wall, he gestures to the two that carted in the very non-portable CPU. "Where would that computer reside and who would be responsible for its upkeep?"
Tosh and Channer shrug. "It's locked up pretty tight. There's no way anyone got to it and our system shows no sign of being hacked."
Dr. Harbringer says, "In order to notice any fluctuation in the timeline, I postulated that one would need a computer that was both in and outside of the timeline so that it could be constantly comparing its stored data with updated data from the timeline. If anyone goes back in time to prevent so much as a single traffic ticket, or, ahem, a dick pic, the difference would be flagged and the heroic individuals in the Shuffle would be alerted that the timeline is changing. This is only effective with enough data to pinpoint the location of the incursion as precisely as possible. We call such a machine a 'Harbringer Proxy' after the world-changing genius who conceived of its necessity."
"But, where did all this extra inaccessible data come from?" asks L.C.
"Isn't it obvious?" asks Dr. Harbringer, smiling.
”It is,” Nissa replies. ”You’re following in the footsteps of World 12—using future knowledge to ‘fix’ things.
“How are we any different from the murderous FATE organization? You know—the one that killed Greer? Tried killing L.C.? Erased people on there on world?”
Nissa calms herself.
”I’m sincerely asking.
“And while at it, will you permit a reputable, law-abiding psychic to join us for a single purpose: confirming truth and essential candor. Dual purpose then, maybe. I ask this respectfully, congressman. The last time we were led to believe we were saving the world, we got conned and figured it out mid-mission.
“Your proposal sounds good—despite obvious profiteering that at this point can’t be undone anyway.”
Henri pats George on the shoulder, whispering, "Sois prudent mon ami."George looks at Henri and asks, "Tu penses que j'ai peur de ce connard?"
"Il peut être patient et vous causer beaucoup de problèmes. Ne respecte pas l'homme, respecte le trouble."
"He can be patient and cause you much trouble. Do not respect the man, respect the trouble."
”It is,” Nissa replies. ”You’re following in the footsteps of World 12—using future knowledge to ‘fix’ things.
“How are we any different from the murderous FATE organization? You know—the one that killed Greer? Tried killing L.C.? Erased people on there on world?”
Nissa calms herself.
”I’m sincerely asking.
“And while at it, will you permit a reputable, law-abiding psychic to join us for a single purpose: confirming truth and essential candor. Dual purpose then, maybe. I ask this respectfully, congressman. The last time we were led to believe we were saving the world, we got conned and figured it out mid-mission.
“Your proposal sounds good—despite obvious profiteering that at this point can’t be undone anyway.”
"Fix things?" asks the congressman in mock astonishment, "Are things broken? The Timeline Continuity Committee studied the FATE files. We want don't want to change the world. We want to stop others from changing the world. This is the only world we know, and, call us biased, but we like it very much."
He gestures rather dismissively towards Scarlett, "Ask your psychic if I'm lying."
Scarlett only raises an eyebrow when people look at her, but the eyebrow says that he's telling the truth.
Nissa nods. ”I mean no offense. There have been a few shady deals. The efforts to replace us with capable superpowered individuals is understandable, but… some of them are morally questionable, while others—Phade, Teleport Boy, Doc Gravity and Speedfreak—would do wonders for Boston if given the opportunity, and… a choice.”
If it isn’t clear, Nissa wants to be on board, but: ”I just want to make sure that, whatever we do, it’s to protect the innocent—not manipulate them. Red-handed sociopaths slaughtering programmed monkeys is well beyond a rigged three-card monty.
“We’re supposed to be the good guys. This sort of this is… un-American.” What scares Nissa is that her use of the word is based more on perception than reality. ”I mean like the way ‘American’ is used in the old Superman comics and Superfriends cartoons. Synonymous with Truth and Justice. BuIIshitting the people using needless violence is the opposite of that.”
“We’re supposed to be the good guys. This sort of this is… un-American.” What scares Nissa is that her use of the word is based more on perception than reality. ”I mean like the way ‘American’ is used in the old Superman comics and Superfriends cartoons. Synonymous with Truth and Justice. BuIIshitting the people using needless violence is the opposite of that.”
Theo let out a hearty laugh. "HA ha! Well said, Nissa!" The Olympian cheered, still reclining in this office chair.
If this robot is so boastful, I can only imagine that Dr Harbinger was a *delight* to meet in the flesh, Charles thinks to themself sarcastically.
Simultaneously he thinks to themself that he *does* think the Representative and his rich backers are rather biased. If they were inclined to change things... but after seeing how that route went, they were not.
Much as they wished otherwise.
"Does the Shuffle have the same 'Now' as we do here?" he asks, a sudden thought bringing them out of their internal musings.
"I think we need time to think about this," she says sullenly, "Do you want to tell them why Pah's here?"
"You do know the President herself has approved of this plan, right?" says the Congressman. "And, if you would feel better having Phade, Speedfreak, Doctor Gravity, protecting Boston, we'll get them under contract. The First Responders will be moving to Washington anyhow."
He stops without explaining why Pah's here. He seems to be waiting for everyone to acquiesce.
L.C. repeats, "I think we ... they need time to think about this. It is their choice, isn't it?"
The congressman nods and shrugs at the same time.
Pah senses the tension and takes out a palm-sized holo emitter. He pushes a button and a holographic projection of a sleek space ship appears. The design looks like the other 'Atlantean' spaceships you've seen but larger, but you know the Atlanteans probably stole them or bought them rather than build them. "When I came here last week, the Congressman asked me to find a craft suitable for this, um, Harpslinger Protocol. A self-sustained craft that could be used as living quarters in the Shuffle. I think you'll find this ship has everything you need, sleeps 5 with room for recreation, vertical gardens to add freshness to the food synthesizer's output, and a clean atomic powercore. It's built for speed but has a weapon's array. The model is a favourite among Atlantean pirates attacking non-TAROT worlds. Use your Wand to open a portal to any ocean on any world and fly up out of the sea to surprise your foes!"
Pah's sales pitch is enthusiastic.
Henri feigns disinterest as he changes position slightly to see the ship better.
Charles eyes the model suspiciously. "I was wondering how we'd have a base of operations when it seems there'd be little way for something to be built in the Shuffle without the wand..."
"And what happens to the Boston Theoretical facility here after we leave? Will we have communications available back to Earth?"
"The shuffle isn't really a set location, then? It's a ship that comes and goes? How is the ship fueled?"
Charles eyes the model suspiciously. "I was wondering how we'd have a base of operations when it seems there'd be little way for something to be built in the Shuffle without the wand..."
"And what happens to the Boston Theoretical facility here after we leave? Will we have communications available back to Earth?"
"In theory," says Dr. Harbringer, "The part of this computer with omnisium threaded processors will be able to enter the shuffle while simultaneously remaining in this dimension. If these young men followed my original designs precisely, a 'black box' will remain behind when you slip out of this dimension with this computer. This black box will be in two places at once, allowing a continual interface between Boston Theoretical and your ship in the Shuffle with zero delay."
”No offense, doctor, but you passed on. Why do you care?”
"The shuffle isn't really a set location, then? It's a ship that comes and goes? How is the ship fueled?"
L.C. explains this one, "The Shuffle isn't one place, it's the in-between of all places. It connects matter while lacking much native matter itself. Living creatures and material objects can pass through the Shuffle and, from what the Atlanteans have shared with us, remain alive for quite some time."
Pah nods, "A number of Atlantean warships have gotten lost in the Shuffle, and when returning or when rescued, described its geography. The Shuffle is a vast empty space within which floats an island of lost things bound together by the residue of desire, a mountain of despair surrounded by rocky shoals of regret, and a vast swirling pocket of new love energy. Stay away from all of these places. Also, you'll need to watch out for stray dreams, recurring nightmares, wishful thinking, and lost hopes. All of which can pop up where you'd least expect them. Stay in the ship and none of these should be a problem. It's got an Omnisium nanocoating."
The Congressman looks like he's about to interject to reassure you that surely a few stray dreams couldn't do much harm when Pah suddenly adds more.
"Oh, also the Atlanteans who were lost in the Shuffle often returned before they left and, even within the same ship's crew, had vastly different accountings of the time. Some said they had been lost tens of years while the man who sailed with him swore it was but a week. Neither had aged a day. We have since learned that the Shuffle connects all time while lacking time itself."
”No offense, doctor, but you passed on. Why do you care?”
"Mostly I'm in it for the research funding at this point," says Dr. Harbringer. "You wouldn't believe the amount of grant money I'm raking in. I employ quite a few graduate students with it, many of whom go on to intern at Boston Theoretical. They need this."
"Oh, also the Atlanteans who were lost in the Shuffle often returned before they left and, even within the same ship's crew, had vastly different accountings of the time. Some said they had been lost tens of years while the man who sailed with him swore it was but a week. Neither had aged a day. We have since learned that the Shuffle connects all time while lacking time itself."
Theo leans forward in his chair as his hands hold up his head. "So there's a chance that it might be years, to others, if, and when , we return."
The Olympian abruptly stands up from the table and paces. "All of deeds forgotten" Theo groaned. "Sonofvabi+ch. Sounds like been stuck in Chronus's stomach!"The godling looks at the wall, despondent. Trapped in his own despair.
”Returned before they left… so their personal timeline has forked and now two of them coexist?” He glances at Zellgato. ”Sounds confusing.”
Oh, I do NOT want to meet a second me!
It’s not lost on Nissa that L.C. is right: the crew needs to think.
Accepting this could be the end of her love life. Or not, in the sense that Nissa wouldn’t age, and upon returning to her own time, L.C. wouldn’t feel the absence. But I would… and I would see time pass without me. Which means I would know that if she moves on, finds love with another, coming to her before they meet means I meddle with time.
Nissa is pretty sure this is a bad idea. Maybe the worst idea she’s ever heard.
Still… Zellgato’s in, so…
”L.C. is right. We need to think. There are consequences to living like this, I think… like removing yourself from the timeline, watching the world go on without you. Then to preserve the timeline, you have to remain an outsider.
“I have parents and sisters, friends, and the most amazing girlfriend.” Nissa hasn’t really outed herself. Maybe these government people know about her and L.C. anyway. ”I do what I do very well because I have these personal connections—something to fight for.
“Congressman, you implied that you would take the wand if we don’t comply. Why would we be punished after all we’ve done? Why would you take the wand from the one crew you can count on not to Play God with the timeline? This whole life-in-the-shuffle thing ignores some sound theories—like that no one can ever be erased. You just stay in your own timeline, and it’s preserved on your end.
“I’m not a scientist, but I’ve met a lot of Zellgatos, and a young Ms. Gray who’s nothing like Greer’s killer, and I met another Greer too.”
She realizes a wordy guess isn’t going to convince a dead professor.
”L.C. is right. We need to think. All of us. These powers come with responsibility… but I’m not sure living in the Shuffle is the best use of them.”
Charles growls low in his chest as Pah describes how different people have experienced time passing differently in the Shuffle.
"If we were to feel like time was moving differently for each of us... well, it might drive us mad," they say. "Anything further you can say about that particular phenomenon, Pah?"
"Oh, also the Atlanteans who were lost in the Shuffle often returned before they left and, even within the same ship's crew, had vastly different accountings of the time. Some said they had been lost tens of years while the man who sailed with him swore it was but a week. Neither had aged a day. We have since learned that the Shuffle connects all time while lacking time itself."Theo leans forward in his chair as his hands hold up his head. "So there's a chance that it might be years, to others, if, and when , we return."
The Olympian abruptly stands up from the table and paces. "All of deeds forgotten" Theo groaned. "Sonofvabi+ch. Sounds like been stuck in Chronus's stomach!"
The godling looks at the wall, despondent. Trapped in his own despair.
"Atlanteans simply don't know enough about how the Shuffle works, but you should only FEEL that it is years. You would, chronologically, not age a day," says Pah.
"You'd be explorers," says the Congressman. "Like those first brave men on the moon: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Lightyear, and Phil Collins."
”Returned before they left… so their personal timeline has forked and now two of them coexist?” He glances at Zellgato. ”Sounds confusing.”
"Well, there were two of them temporarily, but then the first one boarded the ship that took him into the Shuffle. They knew how horribly wrong everything was about to go, and took the voyage anyhow. They were Atlanteans," explains Pah.
Charles growls low in his chest as Pah describes how different people have experienced time passing differently in the Shuffle.
"If we were to feel like time was moving differently for each of us... well, it might drive us mad," they say. "Anything further you can say about that particular phenomenon, Pah?"
"Only that some of the tales told about these heroic Atlanteans suggest that their experience of time differed because of their emotional states. It was longer for those with fears, worries, regrets and shorter for those with light hearts and a love for adventure," says Pah. He looks like he is thinking for a minute and then decides to say something. "There is a possibility that Dr. Harpslinger might not have considered."
"Impossible, and it's Harbringer!" barks the holographic professor.
"You could come to Atlantis or Tarokh or one of a dozen other worlds. You would be effectively out of your timeline, but still existing within a dimension governed by the same temporal mechanics as your own," says Pah.
The holographic professor looks shocked. "That is ... Well! ... I guess, in theory, that WOULD be a possibility. Are Atlanteans this clever as a rule?"
Oh, I do NOT want to meet a second me!
It’s not lost on Nissa that L.C. is right: the crew needs to think.
Accepting this could be the end of her love life. Or not, in the sense that Nissa wouldn’t age, and upon returning to her own time, L.C. wouldn’t feel the absence. But I would… and I would see time pass without me. Which means I would know that if she moves on, finds love with another, coming to her before they meet means I meddle with time.
Nissa is pretty sure this is a bad idea. Maybe the worst idea she’s ever heard.
Still… Zellgato’s in, so…
”L.C. is right. We need to think. There are consequences to living like this, I think… like removing yourself from the timeline, watching the world go on without you. Then to preserve the timeline, you have to remain an outsider.
“I have parents and sisters, friends, and the most amazing girlfriend.” Nissa hasn’t really outed herself. Maybe these government people know about her and L.C. anyway. ”I do what I do very well because I have these personal connections—something to fight for.
“Congressman, you implied that you would take the wand if we don’t comply. Why would we be punished after all we’ve done? Why would you take the wand from the one crew you can count on not to Play God with the timeline? This whole life-in-the-shuffle thing ignores some sound theories—like that no one can ever be erased. You just stay in your own timeline, and it’s preserved on your end.
“I’m not a scientist, but I’ve met a lot of Zellgatos, and a young Ms. Gray who’s nothing like Greer’s killer, and I met another Greer too.”
She realizes a wordy guess isn’t going to convince a dead professor.
”L.C. is right. We need to think. All of us. These powers come with responsibility… but I’m not sure living in the Shuffle is the best use of them.”
The Congressman stands up decisively. "Well, we will give you some time to think. The President, the Timeline Continuity Committee, and I hope you make the right decision."
He heads towards the door but then adds, "The Wand is, of course, government property. We will discuss this matter further after you decide."
Charles waits, all four arms folded, for the Representative to leave, then looks questioningly at the other visitors, unsure if they're staying.
Nissa thinks to Scarlett, Do you want to join us off-world. The Greer of World 16 will be there. I don’t know how you would feel about that, but… I want you to have the invitation. The choice.
And while she has Scarlett’s attention, she plants a thought in the Congressman’s head.
”But… you already know you will take the wand. How can you know this, unless” he has already seen the future, shaped the timeline to his liking, and realized he’s better off with us doing his bidding than not.
This is FATE by another name.
What Scarlett does with Nissa’s thoughts, and the congressman’s, Nissa will not ask. Not on this world.
Charles waits, all four arms folded, for the Representative to leave, then looks questioningly at the other visitors, unsure if they're staying.
Dr. Harbringer's holograph see Charles quizzical look and gets it. He says, "Well, I guess you have some decisions to make. I'm going to just park myself in the corner here and take a nap. Wake me if you need me. Don't worry about the expense. My grants will cover my time here."
The holograph disappears and the boxy robot slips into the corner quietly and powers down.
George, the winged simian, hears this and asks Henri, "Et moi? Je dois partir maintenant?"
Teleporting Boy and Phade lean back into their chairs, clearly intending to stay. Teleporting Boy says, "I think I know, Nissa, how he was going to take the Wand."
Teleporting Boy pops out of his seat, reappears behind Nissa, taps her on the shoulder, and pops back to his seat. He does not take the wand, but perhaps could have. "I knew I was set up. Now I know why."
Phade, formerly known as EIG, is wearing her power suppressing headband. She had taken it off during the meeting but now wanted to be seen. "Theo, Charles, Z, Nissa, you can't work for people like this. You can't trust them, whoever they really are."
Nissa agrees. ”It was the wand-steal that had me worried.” She in fact reverted to humanish form after the others had left. She is planing to use it today. TB could have even waited until it was in hand, opening a rift. She’d be on another world with no means to return.
”Thanks, TB.” Turning to L.C., she says, ”I only even contemplated working with them because I didn’t want the wand to be out of our hands. I’m glad you threw the time-to-think out there for me to play off of.”
Nissa agrees. ”It was the wand-steal that had me worried.” She in fact reverted to humanish form after the others had left. She is planing to use it today. TB could have even waited until it was in hand, opening a rift. She’d be on another world with no means to return.
”Thanks, TB.” Turning to L.C., she says, ”I only even contemplated working with them because I didn’t want the wand to be out of our hands. I’m glad you threw the time-to-think out there for me to play off of.”
"Okay," says L.C., "But the problem is the Wand really is government property. They've let us use the Wand, the Red Shirt Labs guys' mecha ..."
L.C. pauses realizing Channer and Tosh are still in the room. She stares at them and is about to say something when they stand up.
"We should go. We do want to help," says Tosh.
"We're here to do science and, maybe later, party," says Channer.
They slip out.
Scarlett does not leave.
Theo sits back down and sends a mental message to Scarlett.
::Thanks for sticking around. I'd like to talk to you after this meeting is over, if you can.::
Phade, formerly known as EIG, is wearing her power suppressing headband. She had taken it off during the meeting but now wanted to be seen. "Theo, Charles, Z, Nissa, you can't work for people like this. You can't trust them, whoever they really are."
With his head back in his hands, The Olympian explains, "I don't want to work with them either, Phade. I hate this whole damn thing!"
Lifting his head from his hands, Theo continued, "But this is an opportunity to help protect the world and the timeline. Listen, I don't like being separated from the flow of time as much as anyone. My career as a superhero celebrity would essentially be over. In one very small way, I'm fortunate I do not have any family members still alive to miss, Hera having killed them all over my adolescence."The godling started to tap the tavbe with his finger in frustration.
"I could do the very shallow thing. Something many would expect of me: to just say fu<k Boston Theoretical, fu<k TAROT, and continue to be a superhero celebrity/spokesman, make my millions back, and take refuge between the legs of thousands of hot women."
"Or I can a true hero, and take this outlandish opportunity to protect the world and universe from Chaos and Evil. Be a true Son of Zeus. Whether he knows I'm fu<king alive or not."
"I hate every gods-damn thing about this mission."
"But I'm taking it anyway.
Maybe it's time this godling grew up a little", Theo shrugged. "I don't know."
George, the winged simian, hears this and asks Henri, "Et moi? Je dois partir maintenant?"
Intentionally replying in English, Henri says, ”I think it is your choice, mon ami. I think you have skills and knowledge that would be valuable, but this is a big decision for anyone.” He turns toward L.C., ”Is there a place for George on this team, ma’am? I think he can be an asset if you can reach an agreement.”
Nissa replies to L.C., ”If the wand is government property, then why would the congressman need to brainwash Teleport Boy to trick him into snatching it from my purse?
“I assume he intends to use it for personal gain under the false claim of ‘official business.’”
"I was thinking of Pah's suggestion at the end--I'd wondered about that myself, actually," Charles says. "Remember we'd been talking about coordinating more with the other worlds? This would get us a mobile base of operations while we're doing that. Take the ship and the computer with us, go help out the other worlds as they need it, and get their help in return."
"It makes us a moving target." "And it means we're being useful even when we're off-world... and if we're keeping communications via the whole computer... *thing*, we'd know if we needed to come back for reasons beyond just time stream stuff."
”That’s what the meeting with Greer’s about. Who says working with those asshoIes is the only way to get a space ship?”
After hearing Nissa call the Congressman and his backers 'a$*%$*@s,' George tells Henri, "j’aime comment elle parle."
He calls over to Nissa, "Nice mouth on ya, babe.
Nissa replies to L.C., ”If the wand is government property, then why would the congressman need to brainwash Teleport Boy to trick him into snatching it from my purse?
“I assume he intends to use it for personal gain under the false claim of ‘official business.’”
Scarlett responds, "I honestly don't believe the congressman intends that. Without reading his thoughts, I can tell you he sincerely believes in this idea. The problem is he will do whatever it takes to make things he believes come true including brainwashing Teleport Boy and killing off those monkeys."