fourteen swords seek the light.

[swordedpast]

[ text, locked to the following: Mordin Solus, Curt Connors, Tony Stark, Hank McCoy, Peter Parker. ]

It'd be polite of me to introduce myself, since I think only one of you knows me, but I don't really care. All of you are involved with science or technology, so you'll be useful. That's all that matters.

This is about Vulcanus. Is that enough to get your attention? If not, I don't think I need to bother with you after all.

Incidentally, if this isn't addressed to you but you're clever enough with hacking to read it anyway, you'd be useful as well.

[ END LOCKED CONTENT. ]

[ video ]

[ Archer's in his apartment, finishing up attending to some household tasks. He's just traded in a dusting rag for his communicator. ]

What's the most useless power you've seen the 'Porter bestow on someone?

I've recently learned of a truly pathetic one, so I'm curious.

[ OOC: The filtered content is in reference to this plot. Archer is making good on his plans to start hunting Vulcanus through the power of research. ]

Comments

voice; encrypted to same

[incywincyhero]

Not a guy for mincing words, huh. So what's this about Vulcanus?

voice; encrypted to same

[swordedpast]

No. It's really simple.

Vulcanus must do some unusual research, isn't that right? They must need some exceptional scientists.

It's probably about time someone started looking for them. You know that sort of work, don't you? You've been here a while, and you worked with Mordin Solus on his sensors.

permavoice; permaencrypt

[incywincyhero]

[A slight delay in response while Peter checks some of the other threads.]

We've still got some of those, if you want one for your comm.

Let me see if I'm getting this straight: you want us to use our inside-baseball knowledge of the scientific community and how it works to winnow out Vulcanus' current collaborators.

[swordedpast]

Ah, it might be a good idea.

[He's not sure he wants people to know when he's disappeared like that, though, so he moves on quickly.]

Yes, that's precisely it. You catch on quick.

[incywincyhero]

Give me a mailing address and I can send you one, or drop it off for you in your mailbox at the MAC.

Finding them might not be, but it's a definitely worth looking into. How were you planning on organizing this?

[swordedpast]

[And...have his MAC address, sent via text. Then he's back to voice, his tone calm and professional, almost remote.]

I thought I'd wait until you guys turned up some leads, then split you up into groups to pursue them. Anywhere that needed hands-on investigation, I wouldn't mind going myself. Though some of you might want to come as well, I suppose.

[incywincyhero]

[It'll be in his mailbox the next morning.]

If we're going to question people, it's probably best to have someone who knows the jargon along. Dunno if that includes you, but I'm game for it.

[swordedpast]

Yes, that's probably a good idea.

[He doesn't sound too enthusiastic. He's not exactly the biggest of team players, but he's starting to learn to compromise that here. So he keeps himself from sulking too much.]

[incywincyhero]

Wasn't it yours? [What is the sound of one brow raising?]

[swordedpast]

To be honest, I'm used to working alone. But this place...it makes that less feasible.

[incywincyhero]

All us imPorts gotta work together, right? I'm sure I've had worse research partners. [Paul Stacy comes to mind. Whoof, there's a guy Peter never wants to see ported in.]

[swordedpast]

You sound rather cheerful about it.

[ And here's where Archer has to try not to screw his own plan up with cynicism and bitterness before it even gets off the ground. ]

[incywincyhero]

What, about the research, or about working with you? Is that a bad thing?

[swordedpast]

No. I suppose it isn't.

[incywincyhero]

So, are we all tackling our specific fields and reporting back to the group? I'm terrible at PowerPoints, just to warn you.

[swordedpast]

Yeah. Don't worry: I won't make a fuss about presentation.

[incywincyhero]

Well, if it's not contributing to my final grade...

Anyway, I guess there's no reason not to get started right now, since I have access to all the journals I need here. [Sleep, what's that?] I'll keep in touch.