24 ⊗ video ⊗ might've liked to know this earlier

[professorlionface]

[Hank is huddled over his worktable, playing with a small camera.]

I've always been something of a tinker, even since I was a child. [He gives the lens a momentary smirk.] But you'll know this already, you've seen it.

Even with having some sort of block this past month, wondering if I was doing something wrong when all the pieces seemed like they were in place. I know that because I checked, double-checked, ran diagnostics, tried alternatives. Took the every prototype apart and rebuilt it numerous times, trying my best to isolate and work out any kinks.

And even then, we never detected a single Skrull until they revealed themselves. But see, there was still one thing I'd never gotten to tinkering with. Funnily enough, the first thing I noticed when I returned.

[He points to the camera.] I keep this remote camera for Network interface when I prefer to work hands-free. It shorted out while I was gone, and I hadn't had time to repair it. Doing so would require familiarizing myself with the circuitry of the new communicators, in order to copy it.

So, tell me. How many of you had your communicators in Times Square last night? [He holds up a small silicone tube to the camera, almost buried in his large fingers.] And who can tell me what this is?

Comments

[borntobewildcat]

Would she do that, though? I mean, she's kind of needed us in the past. I don't know if she'd be so quick to screw us all over.

[professorlionface]

I've heard enough about her storied reputation that I wouldn't rule out the possibility! She would, however, need a purpose for it to fulfill, I would think.

[borntobewildcat]

I can get that she might be a huge bitch, but I can't believe that she would toss us aside after the lengths we've gone through to protect her. Vulcanus seems too... I don't know, volatile in their plans, whatever those might be.

[professorlionface]

Unless we were off-track, not being the heroes she wanted us to be. This could be an attempt to manipulate us in her own direction.

[borntobewildcat]

Surely there's a better way to do that, instead of risking the entire planet.

[professorlionface]

How well do we know her thought processes on the matter, anyway? Was the risk that large, was it not calculated? We're working from conjecture at this point, but aren't many of these events coordinated to cause damage to our own community, civilian casualties notwithstanding?

[borntobewildcat]

They've all mostly been limited to the City, though. Except for this Vulcanus stuff and the HIVE attacks I heard about. Most everything else has been focused on the City, and how much of it was her doing and not whatever megalomaniac nutjob she brings in?

[professorlionface]

It can be hard to tell where the line is drawn, exactly. I suppose it's equally possible that she's been compromised by Vulcanus agents, but I find that idea no less reassuring.