(backdated to pre-Pan plot -- also threadjack Miles in the comments!)

[vorbarra]

[There is a thin, angular man with dark neat hair and intensely focused hazel eyes on the screen. He clears his throat when the vid starts; he's had to swallow down his nerves and put on his calm political mask to speak. His accent is a gravelly, guttural sort of Russian, as if Russians went into space and were fast-forwarded a thousand years. Which they did.]

Hello. My name's Greg. I'm adding to your barrage of new arrivals. It's still very surreal to be here, if for no other reason than that I'm on pre-space travel Earth.

[He does look honestly bemused by that.]

I was wondering what the regulations are for obtaining jobs around here. They've assigned me one, but I was hoping for something... low key. Normal, menial work. [A quirk of his lips.] I have experience putting in lights, if that's relevant, and as a navigator.

I was also looking for confirmation that all of the, ah, abilities listed in our files are real. I'd prefer not to test something like this to find out.

Thank you.

Comments

[vorbarra]

School? [Pause. That's not something Gregor's thought of in a long time. He'd had rigorous private tutoring by Countess Vorkosigan as a child, and then he'd been part of the Imperial Service Academy when he was fourteen until seventeen. Then he'd had a year of requisite military service.

School is not something child-emperors are generally allowed, aside from that narrow window in the military academy. It's instantly an appealing thought, given how intellectual Gregor is.]

I assume you mean university. I admit I have no idea what shape educational standards were in in 2000s era Earth.

[timecapture]

What year are you from?

[She should really be used to this by now, what with the Doctor and all.]

[vorbarra]

Around the 30th century. I feel a little like I've stepped into a period drama. [A slight wisp of a smile, inviting the joke.]

[timecapture]

[Max chuckles a little, at that.]

So... we're pretty much the Jane Austen movie of the future, huh?

I'm Max.

[vorbarra]

Something like that. It's nice to meet you, Max.

I'm a little worried about the fact that our sponsors are at war with, well, my historical ancestors. My accent is rather obvious.

[timecapture]

You, too.

Wowser. That probably won't make things easy. I don't know if you've noticed, but they're pretty heavy on the propaganda here.

[vorbarra]

Yes. [He grows quieter, reticent.] I'm going to need to brush up on my history just to defend myself from accusations, I expect. I didn't spend a lot of time on pre-colonial Russia at home.

Space colonies, that is.

[timecapture]

If it makes you feel better, everyone I've spoken to thinks all that propaganda is bullshit.

But yeah, you should probably brush up. Just in case.

[vorbarra]

It does a little, actually.

Anyway, I really am curious about schooling here. Somehow I suspect my knowledge of five-space math isn't going to help me.

[timecapture]

Well, good. You're an ImPort now. You're with us, okay? [A smile.]

I have no idea what that means. Regular math is hard enough.

[vorbarra]

[Gregor instantly thinks this is a very kind young woman he's run across, and smiles softly back.] I hope all of us feel the same.

It's about calculating space travel, particularly through wormholes. [He waves a hand.] It's alright as a subject but it's not something I'd say I want to specialize in.

[timecapture]

I'm sure most will. There are some people you'll probably want to avoid, though.

... Yeah, I don't think I could do that stuff.

[vorbarra]

... Anyone that jumps out at you?

I saw you mention to Miles that you're a photographer. No shame in that. I've always had great appreciation for creative pursuits.

[Private]

[timecapture]

Jonathan Crane. Don't trust him. Really.

I also draw and paint a little, but I haven't really had time for that with everything that goes on here.

[Private]

[vorbarra]

[Gravely,] Thank you. I'll trust your word. You've already been kind to both of us.

What's been happening? I've been meaning to look over recent news casts, but it's all been a bit of a whirlwind since I got here.

[timecapture]

You're welcome. Just... be careful, okay?

Well, we got attacked awhile back. There was this weird... I don't know, a cult. And they attacked us. You'll have to talk to some of the other ImPorts, I was pretty out of it while that was happening.

[vorbarra]

I will. If you have any other warnings, I would appreciate them as well.

[Growing a little alarmed.] Are you all right now?

[timecapture]

Well, I'm sorta new here. I'd advise you to register, if you don't want the government giving you shit. Be ready for people judging you because you've got an accent. And ask around as much as you can. I'd recommend talking to ImPorts before civilians about hero stuff. Take everything you hear on the news with a grain of salt - okay, lots of salt.

Well... yeah. I'm fine. But we've all been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.

[vorbarra]

Then you're pro-registration? This seems like a divisive issue. As for the news-- there is an incredible amount of it here. Barrayar hasn't quite caught up with the galactic standard of holo-casting absolutely everything.

With the war?

[timecapture]

I don't know what I am. It's just that they seem to leave you alone more when you register than when you don't. I registered because I thought it was the right thing to do, but honestly, I don't know what that is.

That, and other stuff.

[vorbarra]

[There's something suddenly clear-eyed about Gregor, someone used to profound moral dilemmas.] That's very insightful of you, to realize that you don't know. I find that often we don't, but must decide that something is right, simply so we can live with ourselves. I am coming to believe there is no correct answer here, either.

I'm sorry if I'm prying, [he says quite sincerely.] I'm attempting to get my bearings.

[timecapture]

I figure that the right thing to do is protect as many innocent people as I can. And friends. Screw politics.

It's okay. There was a serious case of arson a few weeks ago. Powers got swapped, too. A lot of people died. We're still figuring out exactly what happened.

[vorbarra]

Unfortunately, those goals are not always so clearly distinct from politics. [At least not when you're Vor, much less the Vor.]

Powers got swapped? I... at least arson makes sense. And we're still waiting for news on how that happened? And why?

[timecapture]

Yeah, I've noticed.

You might wanna ask Miles Edgeworth, if you get the chance; we were gathering info and he collected a lot of it.

[vorbarra]

Miles Edgeworth. Noted. Thank you, Max-- I might do that.