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[redlooksgood]

[The communicator turns on and a vision in red appears. Well, less vision and more like scowling lady in sunglasses.]

Hero. Cute. Not exactly original, but seeing as I've been kidnapped by a crazy lady in a machine I suppose I can't be too picky. I just hope no one expects to see me running around in spandex anytime soon.

[That image makes her grin slightly, or grimace. It's hard to tell with her sometimes.]

So, as informative as these little pamphlets are --

[With her free hand she waves them about right before shoving them in the nearest trashcan.]

--I'd really like to get the extended version on why I'm once again playing Dudley Do-Right for people I don't even know, because I'm really not the kind of "hero" a city wants, needs, or deserves.

[So much sighing]

When I said I needed a vacation I was thinking more along the lines of sunny beaches and scantily clad tourists.

Comments

[out_of_time]

All right. There's a machine here, no one knows where it really came from. It can do almost anything to anyone, no one knows how or if there's a way to stop it. It was supposed to replace the police force almost four years ago, but these days it mainly screws with people for its own amusement.

You with me so far?

[redlooksgood]

Creepy machine steals people for fun. I'm following.

[out_of_time]

Okay, good. The machine either brings people who have special abilities, or alters people so they gain them. It's also capable of bringing people like us back from death. That's what separates 'Imports' from the ordinary people here: we have powers, we're not from around here, and we come back.

[redlooksgood]

So all "ImPorts" are unable to die then?

[That was a little more than she was ready to hear, but obviously the most interesting part of this whole hero thing]

[out_of_time]

Permanently, at least. And it's not reliable. I've known a couple people who... just never came back. [It never seemed to be the people they would be better off without, either.]

[redlooksgood]

Huh. And what if, hypothetically speaking, the "ImPort" already had an issue with death, or at least staying dead? Does the reverse happen and that ability gets taken by the ghost in the machine?

[out_of_time]

[Pause.]

I wouldn't know. I've never heard of a situation like that before.

[redlooksgood]

Huh. Too bad.

How do the locals feel about being invaded by "heroes?"

[out_of_time]

Not too good. Public opinion goes up and down, but we've seen a lot more hostility this year. Threats, vandalism, riots, even murder attempts.

[His voice sounds sad.]

The Porter's caused a lot of changes to the world here. Not all of them have been good. Most people can't stand up to superpowers or monsters. There's a lot of resentment.

[redlooksgood]

So, a typical weekend in New York.

[Her sigh isn't sad, just resigned]

The local force is full of ImPorts then? I mean, that's why we were brought here.

[Not that she would be joining the force again anytime soon]

[out_of_time]

It used to be. Imports had to rebuild it, but these days it's mostly ordinary people. Some officers came out of retirement, new ones got recruited.

[redlooksgood]

Huh. I take it our past doesn't follow us into this new and less than glorious world?

[out_of_time]

I guess that would depend on what that past was like. And how many people here might know about it.

[redlooksgood]

No one's stepped forward for any reward that might still be out...

So, we live life with a bunch of people who run around in tights and others who hate us all for the enjoyment of some psycho machine? Sounds fun.

[out_of_time]

Yeah, and a lot of the people in tights are criminals.

[Speaking of which]

What kind of reward are you talking about?

[redlooksgood]

I may or may not have killed a few cops and a highly connected family. Don't worry, they were the sort that needed to be killed.

[See how much she cares about justice!]

[out_of_time]

You're a cop-killer?

[HE SEES]

[redlooksgood]

I didn't know they were cops at the time. Shit, contrary to popular belief in their do-gooder hearts, some cops are on the take and do very bad things to innocent people.

Would it make you feel better to know I used to be a cop in another life?

[out_of_time]

Maybe. Depends on whether you're telling the truth, and what kind of bad things we're discussing.

[redlooksgood]

Oh, just the general kidnapping and sexual slavery, not to mention being in the pocket of Neo-Nazi Granny.

[Can you hear the smirk?]

Well, seeing as I seem to have been brought here alone that's probably something you're just going to have to trust me on.

[out_of_time]

Trust isn't exactly my greatest asset.

[Pause]

Neo-Nazi Granny?

[redlooksgood]

Mine either, but it's not like I had my badge number tattooed on my ass to show you.

[Just the same, she reads of her badge number because somethings you just never forget]

Yeah, she funded the American Neo-Nazi movement even from her retirement home. Really inspiring.

[out_of_time]

[Well if she's lying, she's at least put a lot of effort into it. Or she's telling the truth about the police part.]

Yeah, real inspiring.

I'm Jack Bauer. What's your name?

[redlooksgood]

Jane Vasko once upon a time. I suppose I can pull her out again now that I'm here.