1ST GEAR | VIDEO

[gearshifting]

[Richie is excited but nervous, unsure what to expect from this new world and all of the people in it. But mostly excited. He’s never gotten to dimension hop before! And people say that Virgil gets all the fun. Not that it doesn't completely suck that all of his tech is back home. Couldn't they have brought him when he was in costume? Of course not that would be too easy.

So he’s putting his best foot forward and trying to look as cheery as possible—while also trying to get as much data from the network as he can.]

Yo, man, this place is off the chain, but I’m pretty sure my mom is against me traveling out of town on my own, let alone to an alternate universe. I hope I get a note to take home that says “We apologize for taking your son on an interdimensional field trip without prior permission. Next time make sure to pack a lunch.” [He holds out his hand a bit like he’s reading something on it but then turns his eyes back to the screen.]

I’m sure the Justice League would have been all over this. Saving universes is their thing. Me? I have a math final to study for. But I’m here, so who else is a world-hopping newbie? I can’t be the only one around.

Comments

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[hooffaceturn]

[say hello to a red-and-yellow haired girl who does not have fire powers, Richie.]

I think in this dimension you don't have to worry about missing school back home.

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[gearshifting]

My mom is the Queen of Disappointed Faces. Believe me, failure is not an option. They gave me the option to go back to school, but it ain't the same just up and switching like that.

[Not that going to school for the academia was all that important to him anymore, anyway.]

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[hooffaceturn]

Oh! I have the option of going to school here too.

But...no, what I mean is that the dimension where you came from doesn't...progress, I guess, without you. Like, when you're brought back, it would be as though you never left. Which is useful.

Re: video

[gearshifting]

[That's not possible, since Richie knows enough about time travel to know that time never actually stops, but maybe the reality that exists without him ceases to exist once he's return to his proper place in the time stream. There's so many different options that could make sense but the idea that his universe just stops when one person is removed is not something he can by as a legitimate conclusion.

Not that he'll say that, instead his face is curious, contemplative.]

So I just go back and nothing's happened? Man, if only the pause button on my VCR worked that well. It's always sticking. [Because he maybe hijacked the remote to use it for a robot.]

[ Video ]

[dualismum]

Your mother won't notice that you are gone. We are sort of like in a temporal pocket, so to speak.

[ Video ]

[gearshifting]

[A pocket. So no one would notice he was missing. Meaning no one--aka Virgil--would be trying to find him and get him back home. The look on his face isn't reassured.]

That is either seriously awesome or terrifying. Give me a minute to decide of which. Kinda o leaning towards terrifying right now.

[ Video ]

[dualismum]

It's a bit.

And when you do return home, you won't remember ever being here and your body will revert back to the exact moment you've left. Like, if you color your hair pink and you are returned home, your hair won't be pink there.

[ Video ]

[gearshifting]

[Trying to preserve the time-stream with as little disruption as possible? Probably. But is it intentional? They can't even find a way to send him back. Maybe it's the universe trying to keep itself in line.]

Maybe I should take the chance to get a bunch of tattoos and shave my head. [He says it ina way that is obvious that he's not serious. The amusement in his voice fades just a bit.]

So what happens if you like...die? Not that I plan on dying, I'm sure it hurts. But you know, staying up on what to expect.

[ Video ]

[dualismum]

[ the Porter is just a huge asshole ]

We are revived. We have nanites on our bloodstream, compliments of our hosts, and when we die here, they will work to "repair" our bodies and will bring us back to life through the use of an element called continuum.

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[crapbearer]

[ A young teenager pops up on the screen, offering Richie a friendly shrug. ]

The Justice League kind of is all over this, but their members keep coming and going and I can't keep track of who's around anymore.

I mean, you don't have to do the superhero thing if you don't want to, but you've got powers now, might as well use 'em for something.

I'm Max, by the way.

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[gearshifting]

That's great--hold up. You telling me that the League is here?

[Okay maybe he should have expected that but why is he here then? Is it really an accident like they said. He has trouble believing that, but there's no real for them to have pulled him in here.]

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[crapbearer]

Well, I mean, you know. Pieces of it. Along with some of the Avengers and some other teams as well. It's hard to keep track, people get ported in and out all the time.

[ Really, it's a thirteen-year-old kid's dream here sometimes, provided you... you know, took out all the bad stuff that happened. ]

I mean, you don't have to join a team or anything, you can just do superhero stuff freelance if you want. Or not at all, if that's your cuppa.

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[gearshifting]

[Avengers don't ring a bell at all. Maybe they have something to do with another hero team? Or someone this kid knows from home.]

Superheros are a big deal back home. Not anybody can hack it. I'm just trying to keep myself busy. I don't even know how my powers work, but I'll figure it out.

[khajidont]

If it makes you feel any better, no time is actually passing back home while we're here. Nobody's gonna be able to miss you that way. Trust me, I was worried too.

[He rubs at the back of his neck.] Some of the Justice League is here, actually, but they haven't been able to figure it out either, so you might be stuck here for a while. So either way... welcome to the new world?

[gearshifting]

Yeah I heard about that, but being accidentally kidnapped in a way that no one will ever know about doesn't make me feel better, ya feel me? Glad my mom and dad don't have to worry but, here I am, still here.

[Gives a shrug because one of those definitely doesn't undo the other.] It's the most awesome and whack thing ever. At the same time! It'll take some getting used to.

[khajidont]

Hey, it's all a matter of perspective. [Take it from the guy who did go missing from his family for a year, pal!] Either way... when it comes to kidnappings, things could definitely be worse. It could be, like, an actual kidnapping where you're trapped in one room. Instead, we get to live the best we can 'til we get ported back home.

I know that probably doesn't make you feel that much better on your first day here, though.

[gearshifting]

[He went missing for weeks and his parents thought he was at science camp, so he tends to assume they won't notice for a while if he's gone. Great for not worrying the folks, not so great for the guy kidnapped by a crooked billionaire.]

Yeah I know. This sure beats run down factory warehouses and bang babies taking over the school on debate night. Not something you get used to though, but I can work it.

video | id reads "power girl"

[boobwindow]

[ A woman in a white costume and red cape appears on the screen, looking partly amused by Richie's comments. ]

At the very least it's not an entire universe here to stress about.

[ Or is it? Well, that's for her to worry about after all. ]

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[gearshifting]

[This woman looks pretty family, but the short hair, and other...characteristics, muddle it up a bit. He's never heard of a "Power Girl" either. If anything she looks a lot like Supergirl.

Too many blondes, thinks the guy who is a blond.]

I think trying to save the country from the Soviets is gonna be full job enough, but this would be a hundred times cooler if we were traveling through space like in Space Battles Episode IV.

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[boobwindow]

[ Don't mention that aloud or she might be making a face, Richie! ]

Trust me, there's nothing "cool" about fighting, especially in a war.

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[gearshifting]

[He holds up a hand as if to say he's not trying to make light of the situation, even though he kind of is.]

I'm just saying if I'm gonna be stuck anywhere expecting to fight crime and stop "evil Russians," I'd rather be doing it in space. But at least it's not a zombie apocalypse. That would really suck.

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[notyourfathersosborn]

I'd say it's new for most people.

At least I'd hope so. Makes my life seem that much duller by comparison.

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[gearshifting]

I wouldn't know man. [He shrugs his shoulders.] I'm in an alternate universe for the first time and get to be a Superhero. For all I know, this could just be another Tuesday for everyone else. It's weird to think about that.

[notyourfathersosborn]

I mean I guess statistically speaking it has to be normal for some people, but for me..

Pretty much the same as you, except my team's called the Avengers.

[gearshifting]

Your team? You're a superhero in your world? [Yep, that is totally what he got out of that because "your team" must mean you're on it, and he gets kind of psyched up about meeting superheroes.]