maskormenace | [Video and then Audio] First Network Dive

[When the feed clicks on, it initially shows a young girl, maybe nine or ten years old, with red hair and unnaturally blue, almost glowing, eyes. She is sitting outside, on the steps of what some people might recognize as the front porch of one of the De Chima import houses. After a few seconds of filming her eyes narrow, as if she just noticed that the camera turned on, and she makes a faint, annoyed noise under her breath, and then opens her mouth, perhaps to say something, but changes her mind. Instead, after a few seconds of searching, she clicks the feed off.]

[A short while later, the feed resumes, audio only.]

My name is Shelke the- [She cuts off, and there's a brief beat before she continues.] Shelke Rui.

[Her voice is flat, not quite emotionless but very close. And she sounds tired. There's a small pause as she gathers her thoughts again.]

I am looking for anyone familiar with manipulating forms of life energy. Or anyone familiar with the term 'mako', though I suppose that is...unlikely. Or anyone who has worked with genetic manipulation. Or genetic degradation and...wasting diseases. Or any genetics.

[She draws in a frustrated breath to stop herself from just listing off fields of science. The problem with not knowing how things work in another universe is having no idea who can help you.]

Conversion of magical energy might also apply. I have not found much evidence of magic as a concept in this world, though. I am uncertain the life stream even exists here, I haven't found any reference to it, as impossible as that-

[She trails off.]

Sorry. Never mind.

[Another tired breath.]

If anyone can assist, please let me know. It is an...urgent request.

That's all.

[There's a pause as she starts to hang up, then realizes she's probably supposed to say something else.]

Thank you.

[Click.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jojo. Really.]

It is...nice to meet you, Jonathan. Thank you for your offer.

I honestly don't know if it will help. I'm still unsure how to begin solving this problem, really.

[that nickname is a family heirloom now, don't you get sassy at me in your internal monologue young lady]

Reaching out for assistance seems to be an excellent beginning already, I think. There are such a myriad of different perspectives here that they may uncover something new.

[She will thought-sass whoever she wants, mister.]

Hopefully. The alternative would be unpleasant.

This is a good place for miracles. I don't think it will come to that.

[the capacity for good here was too great. for all of its foibles, this wasn't a community that would allow such a thing without a fight.]

Mm. Maybe.

[Huge. Pessimist.]

How long have you been here?

It's been a little over two years now, I believe. There are others who have been here for much longer; our stay is all up to the Porter's whims, I'm afraid.

Hm.

Are you familiar with the various fields of science here?

My specialty is archaeology, so my precise understanding may vary depending on the field, but I do at least have a passing knowledge of most of them, yes.

Genetics? Or energy conversion?

Your best bet for those would either be Stark Industries or Starrware - they're both imPort run companies with a focus on that sort of thing. I believe there's also someone here with the ability to manipulate a person's genetics, but I'm afraid I don't know their name.

[The world 'company' makes her hesitate, really. Shinra was the only real company back home and they were...well. Bad.]

How powerful are these companies?

Not any more so than the other companies of this world. They have the novelty of imPorts on their side, but they're still comparatively young in the scheme of things.

[but they must be successful enough, he imagines, to continue running for several years now.]

[As much as she didn't want to admit it, a corporation might have the resources to help her. A corporation had the resources to do this to her in the first place, after all.]

[Se was quiet for a few moments, thinking it through.]

...Do you know who I would contact to speak with someone at these companies?

Miss Karen Starr or Tony Stark would be the most efficient, I think. [he laughs softly] The names are rather apt.

[Hm. Named their companies after themselves. Not a good sign.]

I will look into it. Thank you.

[What choice did she have, really.]

It's no trouble. If you can think of anything else I can help with, you know how to contact me.

[she's operating the comm without trouble, so he assumes she can already work private messaging. not everyone has as large a starting deficit as Jonathan had, after all.]

[Video and then Audio] First Network Dive

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