maskormenace | hydrogen ☢ video.

[ Bruce greets the network with a bland smile, brief, shoulders hunched just so, tension lingering in the muscles there. The stance seems almost second nature to him, though, as if that's just the way he usually carries himself. ]

So, this all looks like fun. Too bad I didn't have time to pack. [ His words are as dry as the desert, and his attempt at easing into the video function is stale at best. He presses on anyway; he started it, so he may as well finish. ]

My name's Bruce Banner. I'm still a little green around these parts, [ ha ha ] and I figured this was the best way to get in touch with most of you. The other ImPorts, that is.

Out of mere curiosity: how many of you are familiar with powers or abilities, back in your world? What about heroes, or anything at all even remotely like the system in place here? Did you have any powers at all before coming here?

As for the registration process: I understand there are a lot of perks for those who choose to register. My question is, how difficult is it really to find a job or a place to live while unsettled? If you have the skills, would you say the hiring process is the same as in your world, or more complicated? Financial aid isn't important to me, and I don't mind if I don't get paid a lot or don't have money for any place too fancy. I'll make do.

[ Questions, always so many questions. He smiles somewhat apologetically at the camera. ] Sorry. Inquiring minds, all that.

[ Clearing his throat, ] If the acronym SHIELD or the word Avengers mean anything to you, let me know. I'm— [ He pauses, almost says something else, then just shakes his head dismissively. ] ... done, I think. That's it. Thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I mean regarding jobs and finances, which was your question. [ one of them. ]

Edited 2016-04-07 17:13 (UTC)

I know. That's mostly what I was wondering about, that and housing. Not that I couldn't sort myself out, but I'd rather not get thrown onto the street from one day to the next without warning, is all.

The government says it'd happen if you don't register, but I've met many people who have been unsettled for a long time now and still living in the government housing.

So it seems. They probably use it as more of an empty warning of sorts. I expect they'd get some serious backlash if they kicked all the unregistered people out of their houses. [ Or just a lot of homeless people. ]

I take it you're registered?

I'd say they use it as an attempt to keep us registered. But no, no one would be very happy to be kicked out - and what would the others say about a government who takes away their Heroe's house? [ he is actually being sort of stingy. ]

I am registered, yes. [ mostly because he feels like he doesn't have much of a choice in it ]

Not that we all want to be their heroes. [ Bruce sure has no intention of playing along in that regard. ] Sounds like a lot of people here are a fan of the imPorts, huh? I guess that's better than wanting us gone, even though it's not our choice to be here.

[ Because that would be the cherry on top of the cake, really. He nods at the answer, hesitating for a moment. ] How's... life for you? I mean, to what lengths does the government here go to keep tabs on the registered imPorts? Do you have to work for them, do missions and the like?

The government sells us as saviors of the nation, people to be praised and loved - it's only natural we have fans, ether we really are what the government says or not.

[ well- he could say a lot about that, but he will answer that exact question ] We are not forced to do anything we don't want to. [ for now ] Registered imPorts are illegible for certain missions that unsettled imPorts aren't, but we are not forced to undertake those tasks.

However, the government keeps tabs on every imPort. Registered or not.

[ That unspoken 'for now' is exactly what Bruce has been thinking of, focusing on, and worrying about. Registering might mean a level of allegiance that he's not comfortable with, when it might mean the government or military can force him to do something in the future under threat of punishment— or even stop him from doing something that he wants to do or feels is right.

Not to mention that he doesn't want the military to get their hands anywhere near his blood. Here or home, it's all the same. ]

Thanks. I thought that would be the case, but it's good to know for sure. [ If nothing else then just so he won't seem too paranoid. Because it's not paranoia when they really are coming for you. ]

Do you often go on those missions?

[ maybe they already have, since the government injected them with nanites ]

You are welcome. But no, I have never been to one.

And after the cold war turned hot, I wonder if these missions will ever happen again.

[ He doesn't need to think about that. No one wants Bruce breaking into the military base in Cape Canaveral to get his blood out and destroy it— because he would. ]

Is that so? [ Color him curious. ] What happened then? Were you here already?

[ how to explain that clusterfuck that was the SOVIET INVASION OF USA. ]

The Soviets built a machine similar to the Porter called LACKEY. It was able to pick several imPorts by connecting through their nanites and teleport them to another place - so, in other words, LACKEY and the Soviets kidnapped 50 imPorts and put them inside a submarine. They took claim of them and their said that they "were now property of USSR".

[ kaneki says "they", but he was part of the kidnapped imPorts ]

That was the declaration of war against USA. While USA reached for help from their allies, meanwhile imPorts who hadn't been kidnapped just went ahead and saved others. And once things seemed to calm down, suddenly Soviet sleeping cells awaken in American territory and took over the imPort cities. ImPorts were brainwashed - or attempted to - their powers were nullified, forced to go to Soviet seminars, tortured into submission.

Of course USA took control back soon, but they also decided to completely level the city of Debrecen after finding out laboratories there helped the Soviets to build LACKEY.This happened in January and February.

[ Well, he does a pretty good job of making it clear enough for Bruce. Brief and general as the explanation might be, it paints a picture in Bruce's mind, and he finds he's not left with a lot of doubts about the whole thing. Not major doubts when it comes to how the whole thing went down, at least. ]

Debrecen, in Hungary?

[ He has to ask because hell if he knows whether there's another Debrecen in this world or not. Some of the cities here don't exist at all in his world, after all. ]

Were all the imPorts safe in the end? Both the ones on the submarine, and the ones being brainwashed?

Yes, Hungary. Only ruins were left.

[ kaneki nods after ] And yes. All safe and not brainwashed.

[ Bruce's lips press tightly together, and he nods. It's not a particularly pleasant piece of information, but he's glad to know it nonetheless. Just like he's glad to know that at least they managed to save all the imPorts. ]

Guess we'll all be waiting for the other shoe to drop now.

It's only a matter of time.

hydrogen ☢ video.

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