6th Mission / Video (Forward-dated to SEPTEMBER 7th)

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob is standing in front of his communicator's camera, wearing fairly standard white-collar clothing. Judging by the office background behind him, he's just finishing his work day at the Future Foundation. One of his sleeves is rolled up, and he shows the camera the faint blue letters glowing beneath the skin of his wrist: REGISTERED HERO.]

Hey, everyone. Just wanted to say that I'm officially off the bench. I'm not happy to be Registered, but it's a lot better than living as a "Criminal."

[He rolls his eyes on the last word.]

My powers aren't being nullifed anymore, so I should be able to help out a lot more the next time things go to Hell.

Anyway, that's not all I wanted to say. I've got another question for everyone who is used to having 'superheroes' around back home. Do they always spend a lot of time arguing with each other? Or worse?

[Like RISE vs. the Justice League, for instance.]

Seems like there has been a lot of finger-pointing since the gas attack. A lot of debate. And maybe some things that needed to be said after a disaster like that. But it's been weeks, and last I heard, Crane hasn't been caught yet. It's hard not to wonder if things would be different if there was more cooperation between the different heroes.

[Jacob pauses to let that suggestion sink in, then segues oh-so-smoothly to the activities of an underground group he definitely knows nothing about.]

That reminds me- I heard on the news that some Maurtia Falls cops got busted for corruption last month. I'd love to shake the hand of whoever pulled that off. Feels like we could all use more wins like that right about now.

[And with that, he ends the transmission.]

Comments

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[youbastard]

I'm glad to hear you're off the bench finally. [ A pause ] How are you feeling about Registering in general?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Hey, Ellie.

[He greets her with a nod.]

My position on Registering hasn't changed. I see the need for it, but I don't agree with how it's being run. For now, I'm just going to make the best of it. I already tried being Unsettled, and it... didn't work out.

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[stealwithit]

[ Skipping right to the important bit... ]

So, celebratory drinks? Or no?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[This is why he likes you, Kasumi. Your priorities.]

Hell, yes. It's been a while since I could just relax. And I think we could all use a break from things.

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[aggressiveapathy]

Maybe then we'd get more cooperation between villains. Hand holding always has terrible consequences.

[ Used to the contrary for the sake of it yet? ]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[He's still adjusting, tbh]

You sure it isn't the other way around? Lucifer seemed pretty happy to make Doctor Crane his houseguest while the good guys were debating justice.

[givetheslip]

I don't think the arguing has much to do with superheroes. Having similar goals has never guaranteed agreement on how to achieve them.

And congratulations on being a free man again, by the way.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

You're probably right about that, Maria. We didn't have 'superheroes' where I come from. Sure as hell had arguments, though- plenty of them.

And thanks. Feels great to have my biotics back.

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[whathawksdo]

You Registered?

[ Scoffing. SCOFFING. ]

This is betrayal! Betrayal most foul. How could you? Leaving me to tell them to shove their registration up their asses all on my own?

[ There... really isn't a serious note in any of that, not even one bit. Hawke's being dramatic and it's not difficult to tell, what with her splaying a hand across her chest in shock and looking humorously aghast. ]

Now I seem like the unreasonable one!

video;

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob smiles.]

Let's face it, Hawke. You've never seemed that reasonable before.

[The smiles fades.]

And after the gas, I guess I just have more important things to fight over than what my tattoo says. Don't worry- I still think registration belongs exactly where you want to shove it.

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[prostheticbody]

Registration definitely has benefits. [And he can always take them and still essentially act as a vigilante when no one's looking like a certain cyborg does.]

I guess I owe you again for what happened at the swear-in. One of these days I'm going to be the one rescuing you.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob shrugs at the mention of the swear-in.]

It's not like I'm running a tab. When that day comes, I know you'll be good for it.

You doing all right?

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[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya comes on camera with a subdued smile. "Whoever" indeed. ]

I suppose this was yet another thing I was right about, then? [ His tattoo, she means. ]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob folds his arms and gives her a look.]

Nice to see you too, Kanaya. Don't expect it to last. This still isn't a government I can feel right about serving.

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[bindsthedead]

Some of it's sensible- if anyone- or anything- from my world arrived that I knew was dangerous, I'd make sure everyone was informed.

Although my world doesn't have superheroes, so perhaps they do things differently.

As for Maurtia Falls... good riddance to bad rubbish.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

I'd trust a warning like that coming from you, Sabriel. But you've got to wonder how it could go wrong. It would be easy for people to slander new imPorts from their world without any proof.

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[superposition]

Re: arguing - Depends on the group and the circumstances.

[But before he goes any further with that-] What were you in for, dare I ask?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Illegal vigilantism, along with some other charges. I led a team that was trying to clean up Maurtia Falls. The authorities don't take kindly to people who fight crime without Registering.

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[orions_shadow]

[This kid sprawled out on a bed under the covers, on his side. His other arm is encased in a plastic cast and in a sling.]

Course they argue. There's no such thing as a human being without flaws and superheroes tend to be the most flawed among em.

How else do you explain the tragic backstories and the like?

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Oh hey, a lion kid.]

Seems like it would be the other way around. Whatever tragedy they've seen in the past would help explain the flaws they have now.

[He gestures to the cast.]

Can I ask what happened? Looks like you got banged up.

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[flamels]

[So. He's been pretty absent on the network since last Swear In. But this. This he can't help but respond to, because it is Jacob. Jacob who is finally, really, back in action again. Which can't help force a slight smile out of Ed.]

Good to have you back. And -- well. Thanks.

[For his assistance at the Swear In. Given that, it's probably obvious on what Ed refers to without going into detail.]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Thanks, Ed. And don't mention it. I'm just glad you're still standing strong after all that.

( audio )

[chancetoatone]

Welcome back, Jacob. [A pause.]

From our experience, I think it's safe to assume there is always disagreement between organizations.

( audio )

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob snorts.]

Thanks for the reminder. You know we've got problems when we can be compared to the Citadel Council.

And thanks, Thane.

[inmyothertights]

Arguing is probably a polite way to phrase it. But yes.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Yeah, that's about what I was expecting to hear. You're from Kate's world, right? With the Civil War?

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[restingstitchface]

You seem to have great faith in your cluster of children and adults who dress in costume.

[Says the man who prefers being called Scarecrow.]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Ugh. This guy.]

It's their actions I believe in. Not their clothes. Maybe you can't understand that.

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[brushoff]

[ a busted laptop will not stop me from having Dorian drive Jacob to drink ]

Why on earth would people cooperate when sulking and finger-pointing will be so much more satisfying?

[ said someone who sulked and finger-pointed. ]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Goddamn it not this guy again.]

Believe it or not, some people care about more than their own satisfaction. Cooperating might get more results. And maybe keep things like the gas from happening again in the future.

[AUDIO]

[calibrating]

Sounds like the win was, uh, well-deserved.

[This isn't awkward. Nope. Not in the slightest.]

[AUDIO]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Welp.]

Yeah. The MFPD is bad news. You can bet that whoever took them on had to earn every inch of progress.

[bulwank]

Hello, Mr. Taylor. Allow me to congratulate you on your Registration, though you have your reservations about it, I assure you it will assist more with you time here than harm it.

[Playing the good Ambassador first, of course.]

As for Crane? Do you think he will continue to go uncaught for much longer? No! What he has done deserves payment, though this situation must be handled appropriately. While as an Ambassador, a situation like this falls under my hands, it was not within my city and besides-

There are many people here wishing to see Doctor Crane earn his punishment. It wouldn't be right for myself to take that from them, but as I have stated-

there is a best way to handle this situation. He will feel the pain and punishment he earned from such a terrible act.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Hello, Ambassador.

[Every time he hears Gamagori being Gamagori, Jacob has to fight the ingrained urge to salute. This is a guy who was born to be a drill instructor.]

I don't think he'll stay free for long. Then again, I wouldn't have expected him to stay on the loose as long as he has, either.

So what's the best way to handle this? Let RISE track him down, and hope he gets the pain he's earned?

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[attainment]

Glad to have you back. [Barnaby wears a genuinely pleasant smile, albeit a rather polite one.

He doesn't think registration is so bad, personally, but he can understand why Jacob isn't happy about being left with little choice in the matter after avoiding it for so long. There's no reason to get into that, though, so he focuses on Jacob's actual question.]

Heroes competed with one another where I'm from, but we were just as capable of organizing joint efforts when necessary. We all had the same idea of how to do our jobs, though, as well as someone with the authority to step in and issue orders. Considering how diverse the imPort community is, arguing is probably inevitable.

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Thanks, Barnaby. Refresh my memory- who has authority over heroes in your world? Are you Registered with the military, or is it a different system from here?

[He has the feeling he's heard something about this on the Network before, if not in person, but not recently or in detail. Something about corporations?]

[Video]

[crapbearer]

Eh, even without the super part tacked on, heroes arguing with each other goes way back. Like, Ancient Greece way back.

[ I think we can all agree Achilles was kind of a dick. ]

[Video]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Oh hey a small boy.]

I don't know much about what happened in Ancient Greece. Did they spend a lot of time fighting over how to take down murderers?

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[infomodder]

Welcome to Registration and the finger-pointing bandwagon.

[he means that lovingly]

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[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Thanks. Is it always like this? If it is, I might need some more of your beer.

Permavid

[governorkang]

[Dryly:]

It isn't a problem that is specific to superheroes, or even humans. Trust me. Arguments of morality and politics tend to be more frustrating than others.

Permavid

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Believe me, I know it. Nothing worse than knowing something needs doing, and seeing the people responsible just not doing it. I saw my share of pointless discussions slowing things down in the military. Eventually, I just quit.

[A decision which had... mixed results at best for Jacob.]

video, Peter's comm;

[shutterbugged]

[ Peter is from the looks of things still in his lab, making this the 2015 imPort equivalent of IMing your roommate down the hall. ]

Yeah, that's pretty much par for the course, or so I hear from the grapevine. [ Yep. The grapevine, that's the one. ]

So, congrats again on going legit. Got any big plans for your newfound social capital?

video,

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Hey, Peter.

[Jacob did his fair share of intra-ship messaging aboard the Normandy, even on a small ship where everyone's duty station was five minutes away. Even in the 22nd century, some things remain the same.]

I don't know about social capital, but in terms of plans... First priority is prepping the Future Foundation against chemical attack. A lot of our security budget is going to go toward upgrades to keep what happened to the Swear-In from happening here.