Joint Post // Video

[heal_or_execute]

[The video opens with Mordin and Peter smiling at the camera, apparently in a lab of some sort. Given the height difference between them, Mordin is stooping a bit and Peter is kind of on his tiptoes to get them both in frame.]

Have announcement to make. Culmination of joint project. Upgrade to communicators. Could change the way Port-outs are handled.

[Peter rolls a small, penny-sized disc across his knuckles, then catches it between his first two fingers and holds it closer to the camera.]

What we have here is a sensor which, when attached to your communicator --

[He peels a little film off the back of the disc with his fingernail, grabs a comm from offscreen, then sticks the disc to the back of the comm, turning it so viewers can see how it’s attached.]

-- is designed to send out a signal to our computers here at the moment you get exPorted.

Calibrated to particular form of energy emitted by Porter. Very distinct. Records on communicator as well as sending signal. Should eliminate uncertainty after disappearance.

Right. [He nods.] No more worries whether your friend has been sent back to their home or if they’ve vanished off the face of the Earth for, well, an entirely different reason. Or that’s the idea, anyway.

[As Mordin taps his chin:] Of course, can’t entirely account for Lachesis. No way to tell if she’d be able or inclined to sabotage upgrade. More research required.

That’s where you guys come in.

Asking for test volunteers. Would receive upgrade, allow us to see whether sensor works after Port-out.[Pause, blink.] Obviously, don’t hope to see you Ported away. Unless you want to return home. In that case, wish you luck.

[It sounds like Mordin’s getting on a roll, so Peter interjects hastily:] Either way, if you’re interested, speak up in the comments or you can reach us privately through either one of our comms. And thanks for participating in the scientific method. [Yes, he said that in complete earnestness.]

Comments

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[incywincyhero]

While you're at it, grab some salt and throw it over your shoulder.

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[professorlionface]

I'll keep an eye out for cracks and black cats while I'm at it.

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[incywincyhero]

That's the spirit.

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[professorlionface]

If our luck sours, it won't be my fault!

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[incywincyhero]

All right, Hank, you're excused. The next time disaster strikes I'l even write you a note.

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[professorlionface]

I hadn't realized you were such a respected authority in the field of luck.

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[incywincyhero]

According to some, it's the only reason I'm still alive. I also have a well-honed sense of dramatic irony which comes in handy.

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[professorlionface]

Have you considered that it might be your power?

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[incywincyhero]

My ... power ...

[Oh. Oh crap. Oh crap oh crap oh crap did he really just lose track of who he was talking to and who he was talking as?

Thank God, they're encrypted and Hank doesn't seem to have noticed.]

I, uh, hadn't really thought about it.

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[professorlionface]

Well, you've been here for over a year. I would have expected this is something we'd discover by now. But if it's something you could ignore so easily, it's a safe assumption to guess it has a more passive nature.

[Huh, well, something's weird here, but he really can't put a finger on exactly what.] Is something wrong?

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[incywincyhero]

Ha, no. Why would you think that?

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[professorlionface]

If the topic is making you uncomfortable, I don't have to ask about it.

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[incywincyhero]

It's really not. [Lies.] It's just, you know, I have no idea what my powers are. So it's weird.

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[professorlionface]

We could always run you through some of the standard tests at the Institute, if you were ever curious.

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[incywincyhero]

Nah, that'd take all the fun of discovery out of it.

Pretty sure it can't be a very interesting power if I haven't figured it out after all this time, anyway.

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[professorlionface]

I could understand talking about the fun of discovery if this were a year ago, but at this point I think continuing to wait would be silly. Aren't you curious at all?

The most likely case is that it's something either passive or extremely contextual.

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[incywincyhero]

Not ... really? It's not like powers have done a lot for most of the people I know. I mean, maybe not you, but -- no offense.

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[professorlionface]

I, well... [That's a bit of a harsh blow.]

I guess it is luck, then, if it's something so passive that you can easily ignore it.

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[incywincyhero]

[He winces slightly.] I could've phrased that better, Hank, I'm sorry.

But, yeah. Lucky me.

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[professorlionface]

Maybe "Lucky Pete" could be your superpowered pseudonym.

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[incywincyhero]

Hank, that's awful. That's worse than, I don't know... Howard the Duck. Or Big Wheel.

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[professorlionface]

Howard the Duck isn't so awful, he's just a duck named Howard! Besides, it's better than Paste Pot, and rolls off the tongue better than That Parker Luck.

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[incywincyhero]

Yeah, but then my catchphrase is almost the same as my codename, and that's just cheesy. It'd be like if Ben Grimm called himself the Clobberer.

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[professorlionface]

Well, stars and garters, Peter, everyone knows catchphrases are a tired shtick.

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[incywincyhero]

What does that even mean, honestly? I mean, whose garters are we talking about here, let alone which stars?