etcelsior | you don't scare me, huge ackman!

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you don't scare me, huge ackman!

TEST DRIVE MEME

Considering apping into MASK OR MENACE? Want to dip your toes into the setting and get a feel of whether your character will fit into it? Or maybe you're just cruising and want to play around? Then you've come to the right place!

Pick any of the following scenarios below or feel free to make up your own, but don't be afraid to throw yourself at someone else's thread, either!

And remember to have fun!

01. Your memory might be a haze still and you might even feel frustrated or anxious by the sudden news that you are no longer in your own world and that the Porter scientists and military cannot send you back. You don't get a chance to linger long in the underground Porter lab, but something is clearly amiss; light patches on the floor indicate something else used to sit in that spot in the room. Parts of the wall, floor and the tables look as if they have been refurbished in the past few months -- something happened in here some time ago. Something big.

You're ushered out quickly and then suddenly, you're enveloped in a faint blue blue light before you find yourself under the bright Floridian sun. Another soldier steps toward you with a smile, directing your attention to a car near a large gate. She mentions she'll be debriefing you soon, handing out a brown folder and a pamphlet. You don't see the digital tattoo on your wrist, but it's quickly explained on your way over to the car as you realize there are other confused faces nearby, all holding files of their own.

02. The city of Heropa is what one might expect from a small, bright and cheery place. The locals are friendly enough and local shop owners might offer a free drink to help cool you down in this awfully nauseating heat. Some of the locals might thank you for always lending your service to the nation and others might not say anything. In fact, some people might back away from any imPort who quite obviously looks like they aren't from around the neighborhood. Once in a while there's a look of disdain on someone's face and hushed voices. Something about "the outbreak" and "the government's gotta crack down on their medical files". "Some of them can't be right in the head" says another.

03. De Chima, Virginia, is a large city with a healthy economy, and though it's quieter, there are just as many citizens awed at your presence. Heavy winds have people grasping at their newspapers and constantly brushing hair out of their faces, but that doesn't distract them from crowding you in excitement if you're obviously from a different time or world, or just let it slip that you're a newcomer. Children and young teenagers are especially likely to ask for an autograph and a photo.

Some locals seem less enthused to see you. They never make an approach, but they can be overheard scoffing and muttering something about cameras. "Who do they think they are?" or "I don't like it... it reminds me of the government corruption back in the eighties." What could they be talking about?

04. Maurtia Falls, Pennsylvania, is normally known for being a little more on the apathetic side, but there's been tension in the atmosphere lately. Nobody will outright state what it is that's rustled their jimmies, though you might find a newsstand with articles on recent and aggressive vigilante behavior within the city. "ImPorts: loyal to the cause of their own?" reads one newspaper article.

People are not as friendly in this city and go out of their way to avoid walking down the same sidewalk as the more obvious looking imPorts pass through. Local cops say nothing, but they scowl at those imPorts and utter something about "no badges" and "acting like authority figures".

05. Nonah, North Carolina, is the liveliest of all cities. It's loud, busy and there's some kind of energy in the air that gets everyone buzzing with excitement. Anyone who they come to determine an imPort is bombarded with all sorts of offers; job offers, advertising gigs, spokesperson for advocating children stay in school, etc. Anything and everything! You name it. Shops offer discounts for food and clothing, whatever they need. People flock in droves with questions, but they all say the same thing. Thank you for your service to this country, Hero. You saved a lot of lives. Wow, feels great to be a hero, doesn't it?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Newt manages shake off the ridiculously embarrassing fall over the trashcan, straightening and dusting off his already dirty clothes and checking his pockets, the new folder, the ground, as he gets up, finding nothing missing despite a feeling that would suggest otherwise. Yet there's still a really weird nagging tug at the back of his mind--did he leave the PONS on? Is that it? Or the coffee pot in the lab?

It's getting more persistent, whatever it is, and Newt's sure he'll have it figured out when it suddenly. STOPS.

The end of a crutch lands just shy of Newt's foot as someone steps in front of him. His gaze carries up and, lo and behold-- He grins, even while he tries to sound annoyed. ]

Oh, I see! So years of harassment wasn't enough, huh? You had to follow me across dimensions, too.

[The relief alone threatens to crack his face into a smile, and he doesn't completely manage to resist. Finally, something familiar, someone familiar, and the one person he might be able to solve this with. And at last, that awful pull has faded. Perhaps people are drawn to those from their own dimension? Assuming all of that is real, at any rate.]

Believe me, there's nothing more horrifying than the consideration that I'll never manage to be rid of you.

Yeah, that makes two of us.

[ This is still way too strange, but hey, so were the Kaiju twelve years ago. And this time is different, because regardless of what dangers await them, right off the bat, he has Hermann. If this is solvable (and everything is), they will figure it out. Two heads better than one, etc. ]

But, hey, since we're stuck together anyway, any thoughts on this, uh, problem? I didn't get a good look at their machine--I don't think they wanted me to--but it couldn't just be something resulting from the Breach closure, right? I mean--

[ He gestures broadly, voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. ]

It's more than just us. [ He flicks the folder in his hands. ] And they were clearly ready! Files! Tattoos! She knew to call me 'Newt'!

[ Newt gave Hermann a pointed look and his face said it for him: I hate to go down that slippery slope, but we're fast approaching conspiracy territory, Herm. ]

[And this is why he's tolerated working alongside Newton all these years; the man is quick to take everything in and generate theories- even if some of those theories seemed baseless.]

Yes, this is all very concerning. According to the brief information on the subject they've provided us with, it's due to a supposedly sentient device they pulled out of the Atlantic.. in 1985.

[A pause, because it's difficult to say what year it is. Their technology seems rather advanced, but then it also mentions the Soviet Union as a prevalent threat]

Nothing has so much as mentioned the Kaiju, and we're forbidden from accessing the device in any way. Proving anything is going to be exceedingly difficult unless we manage to convince them to hire us to study it- provided of course, such a thing exists.

[He really doesn't want to go down the slope of conspiracy theory, but they have to be skeptical of everything right now]

Oh, right, yeah that. [ He glances down at the file. Right, he should read that before they proceed, lest he look too uninformed in front of Hermann. Newt opens up the pamphlet and gives it a cursory read-through, frowning as he comes to the USSR parts (He was a toddler then, but he was still a Berliner. He had some memories of it, stories)]

I doubt they have the Kaiju--yet. [ The East Coast and Europe didn't really get touched, but even so, this doesn't look like a world that's seen Kaiju, not if they're still squabbling over things like capitalism and communism. ]

[Frowning more as he gets to the Nanites and registration (They're keeping us and keeping tabs on us.), skimming over housing and employment, and settling on the section about powers. POWERS? He doesn't know if he likes the idea or not, but one thing stands out: ]

I'm not supposed to be alarmed that I've been irradiated?!

[A grimace, because yes, that is in fact, highly concerning (along with virtually everything else on that page)]

And gained powers as a result. [The very thought makes him nauseous and they need a lot of different equipment, now. But before they can tackle all of that, a plan]

We need to gain our bearings, run some tests, and then have a rather long conversation with someone in charge.

[ He eyed the folder skeptically, fingers twitching, antsy to look. But the powers weren't going anywhere. He could find out what the folder said about them later. ]

You think they're going to want to talk to us? But okay, yeah, alright. I agree about bearings--maybe a nice shower and a change of clothes, too--and then I'm up for any tests you want to run. Keep in mind we don't exactly have a lab right now, so tests are going to be sort of limited.

Unless you have a Mary Poppin's carpet bag full of lab gear to go with that outdated 'style' of yours.

Not quite, but they're going to hear from us regardless.

[He knows how to turn a civil conversation into a pointed interrogation, and exactly how to corner someone into answering his questions. Whether or not it'll work on anyone worth their salt has yet to be determined, but he can threaten underlings all day until they get him someone with answers]

They mentioned housing, so we'll have somewhere to regroup, and I'm certain they have a hospital. I want a full medical evaluation at the very least.

[Which is probably the first and only time he'll ever volunteer for any such thing, but not only did they drift with a Kaiju little more than an hour ago, they've been irradiated and he doesn't care how harmless it's supposed to be, they've been alienated.

He adjusts his grip on the crutch and resists the urge to throw it down to the concrete]

Not to mention getting rid of this.

Edited 2015-07-26 20:01 (UTC)

[ Newt is going to object, he has had enough for today, but then he looks at Hermann's crutch and everything just sinks in. He has just seen his lab partner (his friend, let's be honest) endure a dangerous experimental Kaiju Drift, another dimension, irradiation, and now, by Hermann's standards, humiliation with the use of the crutch. His friend, whose health is already full of preexisting issues. What if this has exacerbated the MS?

Newton feels at least partly responsible for the circumstances Hermann now finds himself in and wholly guilty for even considering denying Hermann that check-up.

The man saved the world. He saved Newton's life. ]

Hospital first, then we'll see about housing. Okay? Right, okay. How you feeling, there, Herms? Any new pains, discomfort, dizziness?

[ Taking liberties he's not sure Hermann will allow, he leans in and tugs gently down on the other man's cheek, pulling down his eyelid for a closer look. There's still some redness in his left eye. Okay, then. Subconjunctival Hemorrhage, just like Newt's own. Yeah. Hospital now. ]

We can go back to the car--maybe they're still there--maybe they'll give us a lift to the hospital, save you from walking; not that you're incapable of walking, but--you know. That'd also give us a minute to read through this stuff.

[Hermann can almost feel the objection coming, and see the concern that follows it when Newton doesn't protest. He slaps away the invasive hand with his file and glowers]

Nothing I can't handle. [He's far more exhausted than anything, and it won't surprise him if he falls asleep in the car, because he really has no intention of walking all the way to.. however far any real facilities are from here. Not the least of which because they simply don't know their way around.

But for now he's upright and alert, and Hermann glances back behind him, then shifts to the side to loosely gesture over his new acquaintance]

Before all that, I ran into someone of some interest. Apparently he's invented the same sort of transdimensional technology in his own time, and may be able to assist in countering the device that brought us here. He goes by Mr. Qubit.

[Meanwhile, Qubit's been standing not too far off, half-listening to the conversation while he monitors something on his own handheld (one significantly bigger than the stock comm devices they've been issued, but only because it's also a lot more powerful). He looks up and moves in a couple steps on hearing his name.]

The "Mr." isn't necessary, just Qubit is fine. Dr. Geiszler, I presume?

[ Nothing you can't handle--Newton grumbles about that and he'd really like to make sure they're okay in this first, but Hermann making a friend is a new thing and a very useful sounding friend, no less! Newt raises a brow, then turns a grin in the direction of the new guy--partly from friendliness, partly in amusement at the guy's name--and responds with an automatic:]

Call me, 'Newt.' [ He extends a hand to Qubit to shake, not really sure what he thinks of the guy yet. That hair. ]

Trans-dimensional technology, huh? Well, not to toot our own horns, but as I'm sure Hermann here's told you, we succeeded in shutting down one of those kinds of things back home not that long ago. Hermann's the numbers guy [ He knows that's going to piss Hermann off. ] and I'm a biologist--but I'm fairly qualified with physics myself, plus I'm not half bad with slapping together tech from virtually nothing but junk.

So, what sort of background you coming from that you've done a little trans-dimensional hopping before?

Edited 2015-07-28 02:23 (UTC)

Dr. Gottlieb, if you please.

[The response is close to automatic at this point, but no less insistent]

I am an astrophysicist, thank you. [Along with a half dozen other potential titles, but following that road only leads Newton into a discussion about how many more degrees he holds.

Hermann shakes his head, casting something of an apologetic glance to Qubit]

[Qubit pauses - just half a second, barely a pause at all. Shaking hands is never going to stop being a thing, is it? But at this point in his life it's easier to suck it up and roll with it than to explain every single time why he dislikes it, so he does accept Newt's handshake, although his smile goes a little tense at it. (Ever spilled hot sauce all over your hands? To him it feels a little like that. That is why.) It's firm, but lasts just barely long enough not to be impolite.

To be fair, he's not really sure what he makes of Newt either. There're the tattoos, obviously, but also because just from this brief interaction it's clear he and Dr. Gottlieb are like night and day.]

He did tell me a bit about the Breach, yes. Fascinating stuff, I'd like to hear at some point how you did it.

[Funny you should mention slapping together tech from nothing but junk, though, because that is literally Qubit's superpower. So there's kind of a knowing smirk at that part.]

Well, as he mentioned, I invented it. It'd be ridiculous to invent something like that and never go jaunting about the multiverse. [... Except that didn't really end well for the multiverse, ultimately. Shit, he's dangerously close to making himself sad.] My team and I, we... [nnnnnope that way lies danger also! Stuck for the moment, he trails off with a general wave of his hand, like a there you have it. Yup, nailed it.]

[ Newt barely notices the shortness of the handshake. It was just a customary greeting and his mind's already moved on to other topics.]

Of course! I'd be happy to tell you in detail sometime after we've settled in.

[ He may be easily distracted and needs to sort out his priorities, but he's still thinking about the hospital trip they need to take. As the story trails off, though, Newt exchanges a glance with Hermann.]

It's risky, I get it. [ And as an afterthought: ] And I'm sorry about your team. But risk is something inherent to science and a risk is something I'm willing to take!

[Fortunately, Hermann's still paying attention, even if he's not quite sure if the tense line of his mouth has to do with dislike or discomfort. Where they're from, he'd automatically take it as distaste, because Newton's tattoos just naturally bring out that reaction in most people, but unless Qubit's world experienced them at some point..

Well, his own hands are too full to offer a proper handshake anyway.

Hermann's hard frown speaks volumes about what he thinks of Newton's risk-taking, but the simple truth is that there had been no time for anything else and they both knew it.]

Yes well, it was more our methods than our doing, in the end.

[And little wonder why his earlier remark about Qubit's potential hand in their situation had hit its mark so squarely.]

Now if I may ask, what sort of data is on your device there?

That's not - [what happened to them. But he cuts himself short, stifling the rest into an impatient sigh. No, you know what, that's fine. Newt can believe whatever he wants about the fate of the Paradigm, it beats having to explain it himself. Anyway, it isn't relevant right this second. Finding Modeus is.]

Oh, this? [He glances back down at the device, which is still taking its sweet damn time, then indicates the portal where they were all so rudely kicked out into daylight a few minutes ago.] I've got it trying to pin down the coordinates on the primary lab. I may have left something important down there [like, idk, a supervillain], but they won't let me back in. [He squints at his screen, annoyed, and... starts muttering at it.] Should have cracked it by now, though. What kind of encryption is this...?

[Newt pushes up his glasses and peers at the device as much as he can, fingers itching to snag it away to check it out for himself.]

Wow, so that's, what, reading into the wavelengths or unique vibrations or energy-levels of the portal? Or is it just trying to detect the location of lab itself? Is the lab in another dimension or just...elsewhere on this planet?

[And most importantly.]

Can you make another one of those things?

[The word encryption successfully captures Hermann's attention, though he's nodding along with Newton's questions as well, similarly interested.]

If you need another set of eyes to look it over in a day or two, I may be of some assistance.

[Much as he'd like to dive straight into a possible lead and start running decryption algorithms immediately, he knows he's not going to be vertical much longer]

Yes, no, probably the latter, and yes.

[Good lord, Newt, one thing at a time maybe? Also don't steal his computermajig, he'll punch you, don't think he won't. Hermann's comment makes him pause, though.]

A day or - ? [... OH WAIT. Abruptly he switches to his wrist computer, tapping something in for the quantum jumper.] Dr. Gottlieb, what were you saying about the hospital?

[Sorry! Sorry, he's running on fumes now, but not like it wouldn't be a mile a minute normally anyway. But he appreciates the responses and files them away in his brain for later, even while cooking up new questions.]

Right! Yes! That! That he should probably see a doctor--I mean-- [Gestures to the three of them with a awkward laugh.] A medical doctor. Not one of us. It's been a long day. So can your little thing-a-ma-bob find us a hospital, stat?

[Then, to Hermann, with a brief touch on the shoulder.] Still hanging in there, Herms?

[He almost voices a protest- almost. But Newton doesn't go into detail, and he is rather obviously leaning on a crutch, so it's not as if he can deny he needs some form of medical exam. At least not without going into detail.

So he nods an affirmative to Newton and doesn't even bother to correct him this time; instead peering curiously at the device on Qubit's wrist]

It's prudent we undergo a medical evaluation, given all that's happened in the past few hours. [Yes, we, but he expects to have only limited success in convincing Newton] Nothing life-threatening I'm sure, [mostly] but as a precaution.

Edited 2015-07-28 06:28 (UTC)

Already on it.

[How Qubit actually locates anything with his teleporter watch is beyond me. Wouldn't be surprised if it's partly psionic-intuitive, honestly. But whatever the mechanism, it's prompt. He's got something within a few seconds.

As he hits the last button, a largish portal springs open a couple meters from where they're standing, with a distinctive hum and a faint smell of ozone. It's opaque, glowing bright blue, the edges rippling but the body calm, energy currents swirling gently across the surface like the colors in a soap bubble.]

There, that'll drop you at the nearest hospital. Not to strand you, but I'm going to stick around here a little longer.

[ Newt's eyes go wide and he pulls off his glasses to give them a hasty cleaning and then shoves them back on his face, the stunned look never leaving. ]

HOLY... SHIT! Hermann-- [Even as he takes a step forward, he makes an attempt to reach back and grab Hermann's arm, more patting it repeatedly as if to say 'look at this' even though, surely, Hermann is already looking.]

This is amazing! Your own personal portable portal device--just from that!? And you just put in the coordinates and--pop! There's a portal? Oh my god! Can you specify diameter and duration? Can you limit who can see it or pass through it? This is amazing! Is it a wormhole? How many can you make simultaneously? What's powering it?

[He's babbling again, buzzing full of curiosity and wonder. Approaching the portal, Newt examines the surface, peeking behind it, taking note of smells and tastes and any other lingering sensations near it, approximating its measure with his arms' reach, looking it up and down as he talks, and finally reaching out, clearly contemplating touching it... when he stops suddenly, his curiosity doused by apprehension. He's not a subtle man and he looks quickly but clearly at Hermann before turning to Qubit.]

Now, you sure it's safe? And that it's going to the hospital?

[Hermann's just as stunned as Newton, staggering back a step at the appearance of the large blue portal that was just remotely activated in front of them- sitting there and rippling faint color and calm as anything, like it isn't ripping apart the fabric of space and time by simply existing.

He wants very badly to see that watch, to pore over every symbol on that tiny screen and piece together immeasurable leaps in the science? that's made this possible.

Newton's fingertips graze his arm and jerk his attention back to the portal itself]

Calm yourself, Newton.

[As though he's anything resembling calm when his heart's racing in his chest. A wave of dizziness finally washes over him, threatening to drop him where he stands. Hermann reaches out to steady himself on Newton's arm- or perhaps hold him back from jumping straight through, but Newton's already voicing his concerns.

He wants to examine this much further before he agrees to step through, or maybe call a car if they still can, but holds out for Qubit's answer all the same because right now it's looking like their best option]

Edited 2015-07-28 08:05 (UTC)

you don't scare me, huge ackman!

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so an astrophysicist, a quantum physicist, and a biologist walk into a bar-

XD

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wahhhh this thread was so much funnnn

yissss i need more of these awful nerds in my life ✪Д✪

These awful nerds need more qubit! Let's be nerds together!