Video - 001 - Expert Performance

[iceheart_imperial]

[When the camera comes on, it will show a woman in a red uniform. There is no adornment on it save for a small, brass American eagle over a flag. The pin had been a cheap trinket, but she knows full well that this country enjoys theatrics. A few days watching television had taught her that much.]

Greetings and salutations. My name is Ysanne Isard, and I felt I should introduce myself to everyone here. I wasn't expecting my arrival to attract any attention - well, I wasn't expecting to arrive at all! - but I felt given the attention it has created I should say hello.

[She had made sure of the lighting, of course, and her makeup was perfect. She was finding so far that this country had a rather on-again/off again relationship with authenticity. Presentation mattered, but it is her manner that really makes her look far younger than her forty-odd years. She is an expert in seeming - and her performance is flawless.]

[Everything about her radiates ease, and friendliness. She could be a friend, or an older sister. She's hidden in characters for so long that she learned the secret: believe it a little bit yourself.]

I come from a universe of strife, and conflict. I thought I had reached my end and then...[Her voice cracks, just ever so slightly, and she clears her throat.] then I was given a second chance. This country of yours...it is a wonderful one, full of opportunity that I intend to strive for.

And I'd like to help. Your country has given me a life, and I promise you all I will give back.

My name is Ysanne Isard. And I'm here to help.

Comments

Video, private;

[loyal_soldier]

[Earth's always ready to throw something new at you. The alien tech, anomalies, planetary-scale threats, all of it well above his grade. He tried not to be surprised by any of it--the only way to deal with potential threats was to keep your head on straight.

But it still caught him off guard when the Director of Intelligence suddenly showed up on the network. Local insignias or no, that red uniform's impossible to mistake.

He gets armored up before opening a private channel.]

Director? [He salutes.] Sergeant TK-622, reporting in.

[iceheart_imperial]

[She almost breathes a sigh of relief at seeing him appear. There is no possible way it's a fake - you can tell, with stormtroopers. There is dedication of purpose, a way of speaking. She had thought she would find no fellow Imperials at all. Or, worse, some she wouldn't want to. This makes life easier, in the medium to long term.]

[She returns the salute, suddenly all business, but keeping a fraction of that comradely attitude. Intelligence had...a reputation amongst the military. Almost as if all the secret trials left a bad taste in the mouth of the Army and Fleet.]

Sergeant. Report, please. What is your current assignment?

[loyal_soldier]

[It's almost disorienting, having an actual Imperial authority figure here. There's a part of him that's suspicious--people have lied to him about who they are, and he believed them. Including someone formerly from the ISB. He'll need confirmation pf the Director's identity before he hands over any sensitive information. But until then, it barely makes a difference either way.]

Following standing orders given by Commander Jeroen Akobi prior to his port-out, ma'am. [It's only by virtue of his training that his tone remains completely dispassionate.] Assisting the Aegis imPort security force in patrols and crisis response.

Currently holding at eight hundred days on-planet. [That wasn't an estimate--eight hundred on the dot, as of this morning.]

[iceheart_imperial]

[Frankly, she would commend him for that, if he told her. But she listened carefully, parsing the information. She believed his count - stormtroopers were very, very good at such things. And to survive long enough to make sergeant pointed to a higher degree of skill and ability than usual.]

Akobi. That's a new name to me. But very good. I will, of course, have requirements of you. But your current role is more than acceptable - it's desirable.

[The air of command returns to her like an old friend. Stepping out of the role and back into who she is...well, it's much like sliding into a hot bath after a warm day. Something the entire body feels. Granted, she still keeps the usual severity from her face. No need to go too far, after all.]

What I need to know is the last event you remember in the previous universe. There may be events I need to update you on.

video.

[marxionette]

I'm sure they'll appreciate it. This place... is really a wonderful second chance.

[ she's buying it all hook line and sinker. because those were her feelings when she first arrived too, almost to a t. ]

[iceheart_imperial]

[It is nothing against her that the performance works. It is being layered on by an absolute master of her craft. One didn't rise to control the ISB through court politics, after all. The Emperor had been more than happy to let functionaries flatter and come and go - but where it counted, he made sure he had the best.]

I hope so. I'm still having so much trouble processing it all. Then there's the...additions?

[She adds a note of embarrassment and confusion, mentioning the powers that she had arrived with. She almost yearned to test them.]

[marxionette]

Those are the trickiest part... The first time I was here, the powers they gave me were really difficult to control.

[ and they sucked, thoroughly. ]

Do you know what you were given?

[iceheart_imperial]

[She puts on a show of being slightly embarrassed.]

Some? I mean, things are a bit...different but I'm honestly not sure I can make heads or tails out of it.

[She knows some of it is internal. What she has figured out pleases her, in reality, very deeply indeed.]

Video;

[biochemastery]

[The being on the other end of the line might be a droid. The metal hands it's slow-clapping with would suggest that. The voice sounds a bit like one, too. The rest of it doesn't move like metal, though.]

Fabulous performance! I'm sure someone out there appreciates it, but it's vague as murk water. Lots of words, but I can't detect a single molecule of specifics in there.

So. What good are you, really?

[iceheart_imperial]

[Might be. But most of them were terrible when it came to sarcasm. No, this one was organic. Or at least partially. She really didn't care how much of either he was. But all that shows on her face is honest puzzlement, with just the slightest degree of uncertainty about the other being.]

Umm, alright? And I've only been here a few days...I'd love to have some specifics once I've figured the place out. I've been brought on as a Corporate Hiring Manager...my job is to find other people jobs.

[She rejects an emotional bit of fluff about helping the less fortunate for two reasons. First, she is certain it won't work on this one, and second it would be laying it on too thick, too practiced, for anybody listening in.]

So, if you need one...

[biochemastery]

Jobs are for lesser beings that can't do science.

[Technically assigned to work as a runway model, but that was really more of a hobby.]

I meant what you do, not whatever scraps they tossed at you. That red stand for anything in particular? [It would back at home, but not on a human.]

[iceheart_imperial]

[Scraps was right. She had been the spymaster of spymasters. Now she had to hire people for petty little corporations. Oh, there was some minor side work for the CIA to come, but she was just a mere asset.]

[But how to respond, well. Time to start crafting the legend.]

I was an intelligence officer, in a vast war. I did my service, before the end. I'm hoping for something more peaceful here.

permavid

[killtime]

Try taking a walk around the Falls without getting knifed and see if you still feel this enthusiastic.

[iceheart_imperial]

[She arches an eyebrow and puts on a wry smile.]

It's actually kind of nice that you think that's the worst thing I can imagine happening.

[Honestly, someone coming at her with a knife. How quaint. It'd be like when she was a fresh-faced agent all over again.]

[killtime]

Hardly the worst. But, personal opinion? Regular street violence don't usually qualify a place as wonderful.

[iceheart_imperial]

No chance you're selling services a bodyguard is there? Because it's a pretty well-done pitch.

[An avenue worth exploring - she can always make use of people with certain skills. Either way, the question will help her sketch out this woman a bit more.]

But the freedom here is more than compensation. The opportunity.

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[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

There's certainly an interesting number of us with that particular origin.

[Maybe not that exact origin, but well... he may not have known her, and may be thousands of years before her time, but. Galactic wars and that kind of name certainly made him suspicious that they'd picked up another one from their own universe.

He's going to largely disregard the rest of the message, of course- whether due to suspicion or just general apathy would be anyone's guess- and try to get to the heart of the matter.]

A word of caution, if you're so eager to help: the swearing-in ceremonies have a way of turning eventful. Some, in comparatively mundane ways- others, less so. I have not seen one get completely out of hand, and several of us routinely attend for that reason alone, but it would be beneficial to be on your guard.

Especially as this world's medical situation is every bit as primitive as the technological one. There are no medical droids, no kolto packs, and the only stims you'll find aren't the sort that make the situation better.

[iceheart_imperial]

[That voice is not in any way reassuring. It sets off unpleasant memories in her head, and she is unsure as to why. That uncertainty, more than anything, puts her on edge.]

Well, I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. I suspect I'll be able to handle whatever this place throws at me. But...thank you for the tip, I suppose?

[In reality, she is keenly aware of the vulnerability she faces here. Which is why she has already begun to lay the groundwork to eliminate that problem.]

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

[The lack of confusion at his mention of kolto packs and stims was certainly noted, and his own suspicions this woman was one of theirs were growing accordingly. If she was, well...whether that was a good or bad thing would need to be investigated]

I suspect you can, as everyone arriving here develops abilities they did not hold previously.

It was more a general warning than a tailored one- not everyone who arrives is as accustomed to dealing with a crisis situation. And I do not know you.

[Yet.]

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[ct_7567]

You decided to fit in quickly enough.

[ His tone is neither disapproving nor disapproving. It is noteworthy, though, that little brass eagle upon her first introduction. ]

This world's got plenty to recommend it, I'll give you that. What exactly did you have in mind?

[iceheart_imperial]

[Well, well. What did she have here? This was getting interesting. And that eagle was a very nice touch, in the end. This was a country that valued symbols so highly. So highly that they used them to mask their own failings and ignore their own history. It was a beautiful self-delusion, to someone bent on exploiting it.]

[Her face, however, came across as nothing but open. She leaned forward, lacing her fingers, showing interest physically.]

Well more than corporate hiring, I can say that much. Beyond that, I don't know yet. I'm still learning so much. But the freedom here is...well, remarkable. I mean, if people need a job, or want to make a change, I can certainly help. But I was thinking a bit more directly.

Civil service, of some sort.

[ct_7567]

There are a lot of things classified underneath civil service. And what you go into is entirely dependent on what you have experience with - which isn't something you can depend on your official job assignment taking into account. They're largely a waste of our skills, whatever they may be.

I assume you're not satisfied with what they've given you.

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[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail watches with curiosity, that someone could be so at ease after coming back from the end.]

Hi. I'm Abigail. I got a second chance when I came here too. Are you okay?

[iceheart_imperial]

[Training helped. And a desire not to waste another chance for some form of victory.]

[At the woman's words, she held up her hands to her mouth, allowing a slight welling in her eyes. Just enough.]

Oh, that's very kind to ask. Yes, yes I am. And that's exactly what I'm talking about, oh. I was in...a war. A very long and awful one. This is all...a relief? Yes. Such a relief.

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail's curiosity grows, remembering what was once said about her - that she showed just enough emotions to prove she had them. They hadn't been right about her, at least not entirely right, and she reminds herself not to judge someone faced with a similar hard time.]  

I wasn't in a war.  But I remember that feeling of relief.  It took me time to figure out that this was real and I could have a life here.  It was good when I did.