Boston Theoretical PbP

Game Master Tarren Dei

"That's fair. Trust is hard. Even if none of you are body snatchers. Though that's a conversation for Not-Whatever these hyper active people with cameras are. Or well. The old ways work well. "

Having said so, Zellgato types out a short explaination, briefly showing it to Kai, and then rapidly deleting it.

Charles grunts sourly. "We told those gusys they'd escape as soon as we left..." he grumbles, then shakes his head slightly and looks at the Red Shirt guys. "Did you tell anyone else about your off-world contacting? Do anything else for this 'Ms. Gray'? You're the second group we've met that she's talke with, but I don't know what the connection is."

"Absolutely not," says Channer.

Theo comes back from making sure everyone from the Starfish got out safely, and notices a real balling party is starting. The godling shrugs and starts to party along with everyone else.

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20 + 11

It's actually a pretty fun party. Dionysius would give it a thumbs up.

"Oh. Noooooo." groans Kai at the revelation. "What is this sender/receiver device? Where is it? For how long has it been connected?" Kai makes a waving-away motion at the mention of exclusive contracts. "She doesn't care about any of that. She scammed you."

"I think I better step-off before I cause another growling." Gristlehtorn says quitely in the back. "I'll be on coms if you need me."

"Oh. Noooooo." groans Kai at the revelation. "What is this sender/receiver device? Where is it? For how long has it been connected?" Kai makes a waving-away motion at the mention of exclusive contracts. "She doesn't care about any of that. She scammed you."

Channer seems reluctant to tell Kai, but does. He points at the cargo ship, not the yacht. "Well, it's on the boat. We sent it ahead with the crystal and the interface device I built. It was built into the cam-screen she used to communicate with the engineering team. Hey, what happened to the security she hired for the ship?"

The cam-screen Channer describes was the one in the cargo container where Nissa found the hostages. It was the only cam-screen you found on the cargo ship. The wand was in a different container, protected from any explosions.

So, in case the above was unclear, dudebros gave the world-dominating terrorist high speed wifi and an unlimited data plan. You have all the devices they used to communicate with her back in Boston. The dudebros assume you still have them on the ship though, because you haven't told them otherwise.

In reply to Kai, “L.C. is already interested in working with Thin Spot… oh, and there will totally be lawyers. Not sure how well they and Red Shirt get along, but I can fill her in and see if all parties can work together.

“Personally, I’d prefer just This Spot, but hey… L.C.’s the boss. I’ll tell her what we learned.”

_____

When with the others she tells Gristlethorn, “Aw, don’t step off. Everyone said future-you were rough, but I enjoyed talking to you. Future you—I called him Bear Guy because you guys didn’t use names… but anyway, Bear Guy has a theory, which I happen to believe. It’s that nobody really died from time-travel. Changing the past created a new dimension, and from there a duplicate world and duplicate people were all created.

“I don’t know if it’s true, but it gives me hope… and kinda scares the hell outta me, since I don’t ever wanna meet another me.” Realizing how that must sound to one who just met his other self, she adds, “We models get kinda… competitive.” Pointing our the girls in bikinis, she says, “There’s a reason I ain’t over there partying with them.”

_____

As for the security team. “You don’t wanna know.”

____

“I don’t know if it’s true, but it gives me hope… and kinda scares the hell outta me, since I don’t ever wanna meet another me.”[/b] Realizing how that must sound to one who just met his other self, she adds, “We models get kinda… competitive.” Pointing our the girls in bikinis, she says, “There’s a reason I ain’t over there partying with them.”
_____

"Honestly, "prepare to fight" is probably the correct policy if you meet another you. Speaking from experience, you're not that you-you don't know what they went through. I could tell that from him. Something didn't jive well for him-and apparently I get to avoid that.....Well I assume that was part of the purpose. I didn't ask. Felt. wrong?"

Even with BINAH active, Kai can feel the blast of emotion from Nissa and gives her a sympathetic look. Kai is uncertain what triggered it, as the details of how that operation went down are still incomplete, but the anguish is unmistakable.

"Well, good, we have that device then. And we already disconnected it when we secured it, but the issue remains that it has been used."

Kai sighs, then goes to speak with Zellgato and Gristlethorn. "Thank you for your help back there, it's really appreciated. I'm still trying to piece together all this parallel universe thing, so forgive my occasional ignorance and my initial distrust. I'm getting the sense that this is not a comfortable situation for you, so please let me know what we can do to accommodate you. It sounds like we have common goals and at least one common adversary, but we can discuss that later."

I am going to assume that we did disconnect the cam-screen from the infosphere, but if that is not the case then Kai will call the lab and tell them to do that.

"Well that does explain some things," Charles says, "And makes me feel better that we've at least stopped this incursion attempt. But it does leave the question of what's next. Maybe once we're done here it'll be time to go back and talk about it? All of us," he says, nodding at Gristlethorn and Zellgato.

Zellgato shrugs with a grin no one can see under the mask "I've got nothing better to do. I'm not one for parties."

It sounds like you'll be heading back to Boston. Unless you decide to steal a yacht, L.C. Preston will send a ride for you. The cargo ship does have legitimate refugee supplies to deliver.

Nissa calls L.C. to fill her in on all she learned.

L.C. says Boston Theoretical is really keen on working with Thin Spot and asks you to make sure the Red Shirt Labs crew doesn't leave before some Federal agents arrive to bring them in for questioning.

The party goes on until your lift arrives. At some point during the festivities some guests begin chanting at Zellgato to remove his mask, but it seems like harmless fun. If he does, may cheers are heard and many pictures are taken. If he doesn't, they eventually stop and find something else to focus on.

Nissa pours herself a champagne (with strawberry), then—in a relatively quiet location, away from the chanting and grinding and music—she bathes in the glass in stellar mote form as she talks to L.C., leaving the comm propped up so she can be seen by her boss-slash-girlfriend.

“No problem. If there’s a cake, I’ll jump out of to stall ’em!” Actually thinking that thought through, she says (as if she had seriously considered it), “Or maybe a fairy burrowing through dessert would be a major buzz-kill.

“Theo’s already partying hardy. I’ll bet he can egg the Red Shirts into trying to drink him under the table.”

“Theo’s already partying hardy. I’ll bet he can egg the Red Shirts into trying to drink him under the table.”[/b]

Ooh, good one.

At some point during the evening, the bosses of Red Shirt Labs talk about taking the party back onto the yacht. The black helicopters won't be here to take them into custody for a bit.

If only there was someone could keep the party alive on the island ...

At some point during the evening, the bosses of Red Shirt Labs talk about taking the party back onto the yacht. The black helicopters won't be here to take them into custody for a bit.

If only there was someone could keep the party alive on the island ...

Theo overhears the Red Shirt management about leaving the island for the yachts. The godling does his best to convince everyone to stay, and enjoy the beautiful island.

Theo puts the life back in the party on shore.

The dudebros get even drunker than before.

When the black helicopters arrive to take the dudebros away for further questioning, they hardly notice. Just before they're shoved aboard, a clueless Channer turns and yells to Theo, "Later bro!"

Nissa glances at Big Blue. “When Channer comes to his senses, he’s gonna be like, ‘dude, where’s my mech?’”

Just before they're shoved aboard, a clueless Channer turns and yells to Theo, "Later bro!"

"Later man!", Theo shouts from the ground as the black helicopters rise into the air.

-

The party goes on until your lift arrives. At some point during the festivities some guests begin chanting at Zellgato to remove his mask, but it seems like harmless fun. If he does, may cheers are heard and many pictures are taken. If he doesn't, they eventually stop and find something else to focus on.

Zellgato shalt not remove his mask for them.. However, he does certainly eventually get swept up in the strange and unusual event. He isn't used to such festive excess- Nor how much he's been sneaking drinks over the night with sippy straws Sleight of Hand drunk: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 13 perhaps not as stealthfully as he thought. A dark fuscia straw stuck slightly sticking out the bottom of his mask.

He decides to play a prank, and while they chant. He instead will use his Microlab to display a strange lizard man in a tank, thrashing lightly. Turn it off, then use his two index fingers to draw a smile across his mask with an angled upturned head. Yet unrealizing of the straw still slightly sticking out from the bottom

Before promptly walking away from the presumably unsettled crowd. While thinking to himself "Yeah, that'll be a fun story, weird joke. and a decent method to spread the idea." drunken Zellgato wants the concept of the body snatchers from his world to be something folks consider or myth in this world.. in case it occurs here. Or if its surpressed tells him if they're here. he's paranoid. Also not used to such tasty alcohol

Zellgato is not well versed in humor. and World 12 is not known for its non-morbid apocolyptic humor

There is a full 60 seconds of silence on the beach after Zellgato's strange drunken antics. The few pics that get posted on the social influencer's feeds quickly sink into dark, conspiracy-laden parts of the infosphere. The tinfoil hat wearers of this world have been warned.

A minute or two later, your rides settle on the beach, ready to fly you back to Boston.

With pleas of wanting them to stay, and a frantic exchange of phone numbers, the godling climbs onboard the craft and sits down. Theo notices (finally) that the group picked up two new people..and one of them appears to be a bear. Touching his own fingertips for numbness, Theo comments aloud, "Wow! That's strong alcohol!" The godling continues to stare at Zellgato and Gristlethorn to determine if they are real.

Nissa (now at her normal size) replies to Theo, “Oh, c’mon. You remember Bear Guy and Mask Man from the Superman car chase, World 1, the cargo ship? These are their younger selves!”

Nissa notices the straw protruding from the mask.

“I never noticed the little snorkely part of your mask before, Zellgato. Or maybe swimming in champagne made me drunker than I realize.” She says this while munching on a strawberry that had been submerged in champagne (along with herself) for several hours.

She looks like she is enjoying every bite of that strawberry, and it also appears that a woman who weighs nineteen pounds soaking wet can barely hold a strawberry’s worth of liquor! At some point during the flight, she will definitely transform to her fairy form and sleep.

The party continues on the beach as the black choppers lift the team into the air with a quiet whoosh. The Thin Spot Party trends on social media streams for the next month. The gigantic upside-down spider 'sculpture' becomes iconic. Some of the stories about the party even mention that a few superheroes attended.

By the time you get back to Boston Theoretical, it's too late for a debriefing.

Zellgato and Gristlethorn are 'recognized' by the staff and shown to the rooms their older selves had just abandoned. The cells haven't even been cleaned in the 24 hours since their older selves were here.

Ron messages all of you, "L.C. wants to meet 7am. Flight deck. Nice Party."

Kai says goodbye to the Thin Spot crew and breathes out in relief as the choppers lift them away from the noise and chaos of the party. "I hope the models get home safely," with a glance at Nissa. She seemed to have a direct line to the director, so she could probably arrange transportation for them, if needed. Then Kai crosses arms over chest, nestling into the seat as much as possible, and proceeds to nap until arrival.

Back at Boston Theoretical, it is too late to go home and return for the 7 AM briefing, so Kai lodges in one of the cells to try and catch a few more hours of sleep before the morning. Before doing so, however, Kai takes some time to show Gristlethorn and Zellgato around the facility a little, pointing out amenities and how to reach the flight deck.

Zellgato is quite thankful for Kai's tour. As well as his room's aminities-such as freely running water and toiletries. Zellgato sleeps well that night. Happy to take off the awkward but useful mask.

On the flight home, Nissa says to Kai, “I’ll leave L.C. a message… and the Thin Spot guys too. Poor girls just got caught in the middle of all this. Thanks for thinking of them.”

Later that night, Nissa heads to her usual quarters at Boston Scientific. She’s actually thinking about the models too… and she decides not to sleep in fairy form. She strips off all of her clothing and gear, except of course her sundress, boa and shoes. Those are made of light. They’re always on.

Nissa prays to the Dawnflower, thankful for her stylish forcefield, but—maybe there’s a way she can………

(Nissa’s prayers will be answered when we reach Lv.6.)

Charles, who had largely stayed out of the party, is glad enough to get back and away from all the noise and people.

"Good to have you," he says to Zellgato and Gristlethorn as they get back to Boston Theoretical.

He sees that Kai is going to give them the tour, so doesn't volunteer himself. Instead he tells them to let him know if they need anything then heads for the showers.

Theo smiles at the ladies as he sleepily walks back to his room, and flops down on his bed.

Gristlethorn spends the time squeezed into his room's just too small tub, thoroughly enjoying 'unlimited' cold running water.

Musing to himself. "Hmm, going to need some more shirts. Hate to wear the same message more than once."

The meeting starts at 7am, but there's freshly squeezed orange juice and other stuff Colonel Greer never had at meetings. The repairs on the Flight Deck are complete. L.C. invites you to a meeting room off the control room after you fill a plate with breakfast from the selection.

I assume you don't hide anything from her, so you don't need to recount the whole story. If there's anything you leave out, let me know.

After much discussion, L.C. Preston asks, "I feel like there's so many loose ends. Is Ms. Grey still a threat? Are we going to do something about her? What's with this Atlantis stuff? Is there anything to investigate there? What's next?"

zellgato is trying to develop a habit of the Mask. His other self-wrecking monsters in the mask left an impression. So he'll wear it again, cause why not.

"I'm playing catch up here-Several of those questions I don't know. But in general. Invasions from another world are investigatory worthy. I'd say."

Kai munches on a couple of blueberry muffins, looking expectantly at the more senior members of the team. There are a number of things that Kai would like to do, including further investigation of the dimensional crystal and the place where it was found, but feels that the others possess more of the bigger picture.

With a sip of freshly squeezed OJ, Nissa washes down her bite of half a muffin (cut down the center, not decapitated).

“I’m with Zellgato. We can’t ignore Ms. Gray—and not just because of what she did to us. She played Portly with the FATE organization, Tosh and Channer with the hot businesswoman angle, and did President Wallace tell you how Gray tempted her, or at least tried, assuming Portly’s information was correct?

“Point is, she wants to get off that wasted world. She literally has nothing better to do than keep at it. Without the address to out flight deck, she still has Atlantis as a way in… and that’s just two knowns on our world.”

"Hot ALIEN businesswoman," protest Tosh and Channer from the black site where they're being interrogated.

as a random sidenote. Zellgato has a plate piled high with sweet baked goods and meats. and is now pondering cutting the mouth part of the mask off for future eating.

"This Gray, is she just trying to get off for herself, or is she attempting to bring everything else too? That does change dynamics somewhat. Zellgato has given up slightly on the mask and is now stuffing his face. Not caring much for etiquitte in the face of tasty foods.

Nissa replies, “There’s a Mr. White, who I believe is a broad-shouldered fellow, and the other men are Mr. Black and Mr. Brown.” Nissa goes on to describe them as well. —if Portly described them, that is. I need some GM help on that!

I don't think Portly ever saw the others well enough. Ms. Gray was the face to the operation and the others were shadowy figures in the background, just as she was when Zellgato and Gris. met her younger self.

"The Marshall send she wants a heads up if we plan to launch an incursion into World XII. She'd like to send an observer from one of the TAROTs," says L.C. through a mouthful of strawberry danish. "Is that what we're talking about here? Going there? I agree that she still poses a threat, but it seems we've contained it for now."

Kai has verified that the crystal is not currently sending or receiving signals. Keeping it in Boston Theoretical's omnisium vault prevents any transdimensional activity.

Charles frowns. "Not sure about actually going there. I mean, what if we mess up and lose the wand while we're there?"

Gristlethorn looks over the breakfast spread, and seeing a platter of various things for 'top your own' bagels, picks the entire platter up and takes it to his spot. He also grabs one of the coffee thermos and unscrews the top, setting it near his place.

Nissa does the opposite of Gristlethorn, for the same reason. She finds half a muffin is kinda eyes-bigger-than-stomach. She offers half to L.C.

“If you or the Marshall want us to stay off World XII, that’s fine. We could look into Atlantis… or is there anything you need us to do?”

How close are we to July 7th, a.k.a. Nissa’s birthday?

Ron eyes the a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel that slipped from the tray when Gristlethorn scooped up the rest. He dives on it like a hawk.

Nissa does the opposite of Gristlethorn, for the same reason. She finds half a muffin is kinda eyes-bigger-than-stomach. She offers half to L.C.

“If you or the Marshall want us to stay off World XII, that’s fine. We could look into Atlantis… or is there anything you need us to do?”

"We have people tracking down anyone who was working with Portly. He's being quite forthcoming. His name's actually Charles Porter. He's trying to cut a deal to keep himself out of prison. As you said though, Ms. Gray and whoever she works with could still pose a threat. I'm not sure how we get there without a wand though. We could ask the Marshall for help, but I feel like she expects us to figure out the transdimensional travel stuff on our own," L.C. turns to Kai. "What do we know about this crystal wand, Kai?"

How close are we to July 7th, a.k.a. Nissa’s birthday?

It's Monday, June 19th, 2219

Kai takes a moment to compose an answer before replying to L.C.'s question. It would not do to create expectations for things that Kai is not absolutely certain they can be delivered.

"Well, first that if it is indeed a wand, it's broken. The design of the transdimensional gate that Red Shirt Labs created indicate that they intended to use the crystal in its operation. So in my evaluation, we have two options." Kai ticks on one finger. "Build the RSL gate and use the crystal in it, as originally intended. This has its risks, as we do not know what else this gate could do, or if Ms. Gray could use it. On the other hand, it seems the most likely approach to get a functional means of transdimensional travel." Kai ticks another finger. "Option two, try to repair the wand and use it. This is unknown territory, however, so we may not be able to achieve this, or if we do it may malfunction afterwards if our repairs are not sufficient."

It's Monday, June 19th, 2219

At least, I hope it is. The game's been going on for quite some time, but in play it's only been a few whirlwind weeks with only a bit of downtime. I hope I haven't said anything that contradicts this date.

Don't think anything would contradict that date.

Charles nods thoughtfully, ears twitching slightly as he thinks. "Any idea how you'd work on repairing the wand? I'd rather not fix up that portal and find out there's an army on the other end or something."

"Charles is right. We can't know what's waiting on the other side," agrees L.C. "Now, from what I understand it was Red Shirt that found the crystal shards. Did they tell you anything about how and where they found it? Any mention of ..."

L.C. pauses and looks down at a report on her handheld. She raises her eyebrows and reads the words written on it with disbelief.

"...a giant Nazi octopus?"

She looks at the group.

"I'm sorry, but I think Channer and Tosh might have lost it under the pressure of being arrested. I've been assured that no 'enhanced interrogation techniques' were being used here ... but they claim that during the expedition in which they found the crystal wand shards they barely escaped a ... well, yeah, that's what it says ... a giant Nazi octopus."

"Red Shirt in conjunction with Thin Spot," adds Kai. "If there are strange things in Channer and Tosh's report, perhaps we should talk to Thin Spot, who can infirm or corroborate these claims."

Kai turns to Charles, frowning in thought. "I have not given it much thought, but I can definitely take a look at the options. It would help to have any sort of expertise on the matter at hand." At that, Kai looks first at Gristlethorn, then at Zellgato. "Do either of you have expertise on that? Know what a wand should look like, what it should do?"

[spoiler=Gris and Z]Regarding, Kai's question: While Zellgato's older self was familiar with wands, I don't think young Gristlethorn or Zellgato are any more familiar with the wands than the others; the others have seen them used just like you did, when you were taken from World XII to World One and then here to World ?.[/ooc]