SCHEMA 2.003 | VIDEO | FORWARD DATED TO THIS EVENING AFTER THE SWEAR IN

[stabbyfingers]

Greetings, imPorts.

[ It’s the Negotiator, on the moon. ((this plot!)) There’s something different about his tone of voice, though. His “friendly” demeanour, part charming, part smarmy, part sarcastic, is gone. Instead it’s been replaced by a barely contained seething rage, where every word feels purposeful.

He’s also not the one holding the camera. That’s someone else, someone unseen.]

I have a very important announcement, so watch carefully.

[ He walks past some people and up to Jaime Reyes, who is in the process of cheerfully stuffing half a cupcake in his mouth. There’s icing on the tip of his nose. ]

This is Jaime Reyes.

[ It is, perhaps, telling that Jaime looks immediately nervous, eyes flicking between the Negotiator and the hidden cameraman. ] Um, yep. Sure am.



[ Suddenly, without any warning, the Negotiator extends his fingertips to foot-long sharp claws and with one hand grabs Jaime around the neck and with the other stabs directly into Jaime’s spine. Then he pulls out Jaime’s blue scarab, his fingers dripping in blood. Very reasonably, Jaime screams bloody murder. ]

And this is the end of Blue Beetle. Without this Scarab, Jaime Reyes is the Blue Beetle no more.

[ Suddenly, workers and scientists from the moon surround them, but there’s something odd about them. There’s this blue-black armor that’s partially covering them, and there’s something odd and jerky about their movements. The explanation as to who is holding the Negotiator’s communicator may be clear now.

The Negotiator, still holding a now-unconscious Jaime in one hand, and Jaime’s scarab with the other. ]

But you see, Jaime Reyes was not the only one with a Scarab. I have many, and they are more obedient, more orderly than his will ever be. They listen to their master’s commands -- and I am commanding them to take everyone on this pitiful excuse for a colony hostage. I’ve grown tired of your stupid, incessantly irritating planet and I’ve decided I no longer need it.

So I’m taking control of your moon. If anyone tries to take it back, I will kill everyone here.

Goodbye.

[ He reaches forward and takes the communicator, letting go of Jaime but you can hear him order some of the Scarabs to “put Reyes in a cage --” before it disconnects. ]

Comments

voice. id reads "the psychopomp"

[glowsferatu]

WHAT?!

Voice;

[stabbyfingers]

I thought I made myself perfectly clear.

[glowsferatu]

Dost thou so desperately seek Death? She is not here, but I will happily oblige in Her stead!

[stabbyfingers]

[ Voice is bit off, as he's not speaking directly into the comm, instead someone off screen. ]

Scarab. If someone threatens my life again, kill one of these people.

[ Who even knows if the Scarabs are smart enough to comprehend what a threat to his life is, especially when it's phrased like that? But that's not the point; the point is he's gonna call this person's bluff.

Back into the communicator. ]

I don't have the patience to deal with this. Now, what were you saying?

not here

[monster_san]

[oh, well, she had been intending to look up Jaime now that she's back here.

SUPPOSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A LITTLE MORE URGENT NOW.]

[fauxmarth]

JAIME! No!

[stabbyfingers]

Spare him your pity, he doesn't deserve it. And he can't hear it, so you're wasting your breath.

[fauxmarth]

[SEETHING:] Negotiator. What you're doing is villainy and you must cease immediately! If you don't, the consequences will be dire for you.

Voice;

[fridgeflower]

Your Scarabs look pretty half-assed.

What will you do with Khaji?

[stabbyfingers]

[ Sniffs. ] It only works fully on one host per planet. But rest assured, I have more than enough quantity to make up for quality.

As for this thing, no one will ever see it again.

[fridgeflower]

Quantity doesn't mean anything to me. It probably doesn't mean anything to lots of people.

I don't know that you thought this through very well.

[girlybruiser]

Jaime! Jaime, no!

How could you?

[stabbyfingers]

I freed him from his burden. He should thank me.

[ Beat. ]

When he wakes up.

[girlybruiser]

[ Tears well up in her eyes at the sight of Jaime and his blood on the Negotiator's hand, but a righteous fury stirs deep in them as well. ]

How dare you! You've only inflicted torture on him! Let him go!

video;

[facilitainted]

Oooooh, bonus points for this guy. Broadcasting a murder, why don't you just go ahead and start calling yourself Mr. Ballsy now?

[stabbyfingers]

He's not dead. That would be inefficient. The Porter would merely bring him back within a few days.

He'll live. Powerless, captured and alone - as is fitting.

private;

[facilitainted]

Oh hey, now you're a guy with ideas. Why not just do something a little more though, huh? You know, this way, he'll live and be conscious, you know? Who's to say he won't make plans, won't talk to his little friends ...

I have a proposition for you.

video;

[slightlyoffchilt]

I think that name is taken.

[facilitainted]

By who?

video;

[neganomics]

Uh. Am I seeing this right? Is this guy really taking over the goddamn moon?

[ What is UP with this world? No comment about the murder, though. It's just par for course. ]

[stabbyfingers]

I am the Negotiator, not "this guy". And yes, I'm now the sovereign leader of this moon. A paltry prize, but a prize nonetheless.

[neganomics]

Whatever floats your boat. Seems more like a consolation prize than anything. What can you even do with a moon? Ain't it just a buncha rocks and craters?

Video, from the Moon

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Jaime!

[He probably should be commenting on the fact that Jaime is apparently the Blue Beetle and has been since the beginning, but honestly it kind of explains a lot. More important is that one of the kindest, most decent people he's ever met now has a bloody hole in his back, and the Moon is about to be conquered.]

The Moon Base is not up for grabs!

video

[stabbyfingers]

Wrong. It's mine.

video

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

And that's seriously your only demand? Control of the Base?

[Hard to negotiate with something like that.]