one █ voice

[uzi]

_{( The voice is clipped, sharp, and to the point-- no scuffling with controls or stopping to take things in, here. Also? Whoever this woman is, she sounds pissed off. )}

So, City—great name, by the way, though I think someone beat you to it—stop me if I’ve got any of this wrong.

Alternate dimension, time travel, and duplicates of people we might already know. Superpowers, overly ambitious AI, and absolutely no discretion about who it pulls in, despite claiming to want “heroes.”

And apparently no reliable way back, since you’re all sitting on your hands, here. Perfect.

Just one question—is the universe as I know it going to implode because of all this crap?

Comments

[uzi]

That must be the reason magicians have more fans.

[enigmaestro]

Oh my, someone has some unspoken baggage.

[uzi]

Oh, yeah. Someone who doesn't like the government. I'm sure you've never encountered that, before.

[enigmaestro]

Let's just say I'm more used to a different hostility.

[uzi]

Don't tell me you used to be a door-to-door salesman before getting into government work.

[enigmaestro]

Cute.

It was something more artistic than mere conning, actually. Or personal space retail, whatever wording is preferred.

[uzi]

So artistically annoy people to the point of hostility? You must be so proud.

[enigmaestro]

Incredibly so, yes, but I wouldn't run on that platform.

[uzi]

You never know. Some people might appreciate the honesty.

[enigmaestro]

On the contrary. Many are already aware of my past, actually, I don't mask it.

[uzi]

That's brave of you.

[enigmaestro]

[-- a beat.]

Not something I often get accused of. Bravery.

[uzi]

That's probably a good thing, because in my experience bravery goes hand-in-hand with stupidity.

But most people hide who they are and what they've been because they're scared of the way people will react. If you've gotten beyond that... _{( her tongue clicks in a verbal shrug. )}

[enigmaestro]

You seem to speak from experience. [A quiet pause.] Have I gone too far?

[uzi]

Experience, observation, maybe both.

You probably can't. Go too far, that is.

[enigmaestro]

I figured you for a clever one. I love it when I'm right.

That's a relief, since we're such a tight community here. Quite often that manifests in pushing each other.

[uzi]

Yeah, I noticed. Go looking for information, find everyone's video diaries instead.

If a little pushing from other kidnapped freaks is enough to set them over, I think they need to re-prioritize a little.

[enigmaestro]

A very good point. Are you suggesting your guidance for the endeavor?

[uzi]

It's probably better left to someone else. I'm not a very patient teacher.

[enigmaestro]

Sometimes the best ones have little patience.

[uzi]

In order to be the best, you probably need to plan on your students surviving the experience.

[enigmaestro]

Perhaps at least a few students, yes.

[uzi]

If I ever get that far, I'll let you know.