eight □ video. joint.

[ex_engineers208]

[ The video opens on a sub-basement laboratory of the Xavier Institute. There stands who else but...Sydney Greenstreet? He gives the audience a small, knowing smile as he stands there in his rotundity in a black suit, holding a cigar. ]

Mm hmm hmm. I distrust a man whose trust for other men is determined more by his trusts than his distrusts. There is no trust without discretion, and in that scrutiny we develop the distrusts that determine our interactions with the world at large. I do like a man who tells you upfront that he distrusts you, saves the time of founding a trust that only disguises the true distrust present.

[ Once he's done he gives his audience a very stern look that holds for all of five seconds before it starts to crack, erupting into a hearty laugh. When he continues, his voice is different, now a rich, purring baritone that may sound familiar. ]

I'd like to present to you the X-Club's latest invention, a new take on an old classic... [ He fusses with something on his wrist, and his black suit turns with with a small red fez on his head that's more Casablanca than Maltese Falcon, until finally the illusion dissipates to reveal the slightly hunched form of Hank McCoy. ] ...the image inducer!

[ Hank straightens himself to his proper height, and the camera pans out to accommodate, now including Madison Jeffries in the picture to his left. ] This baby brings back memories. It works by projecting a hologram over its wearer, allowing them to appear however they like, and voice modulation to complete the disguise. Back in the day, those of us whose mutations were more visibly apparent used to use these to facilitate our free movement through society. These days, it doesn't really come up as often.

[ Madison cuts in, fiddling with something behind his back -- his hair looking a little off, pulled away from his face. ]

We still reckon it’s a highly utilitarian tool that might come in handy for imPortkind, if we iron out the kinks. Uh. We got a handful of secondary and tertiary projects bein’ worked on; most a’ them are distraction-like. "Distraction-like" only in that we have other primary projects, but they all have their applications. No matter how seemingly frivolous.

Actually! [ Hank nudges Madison with his elbow with an excited grin. ] Why don't we show them that other one we finished yesterday?

Aaah. [ For a second, Madison looks rather uncomfortable -- mortified, mostly. ] We don’t gotta show them everythin’. [ Hank spreads his arms, his smile growing wider. ] Ohhh, none of that now! There's no need to be shy.

[ Madison throws him a mildly despairing look, then reaches behind his head to pull off what appears to be a rubber band; his hair falling down in a rather luxurious, white-streaked wave. Hank beams. ]

He’s buyin’ me a haircut later. Entirely worth it. [ Madison sighs, blowing a loose strand away from his face. Vaguely, with a wave: ] It’s a, uh. Hair thing. T’sall. Enzymatic overdrive a’ follicular cells, yadda yadda. Whatever. Guaranteed to give you hair like Ka-Zar overnight! [ Hank says it with a wink. ]

Anyhoo, we’re on the tail end a’ publishin’ the results a’ the headline project, but if y’wanna donate a hint a’ tissue for the sciences... it’d be much obliged, yeah? There were some concerns last time it came up that I wasn't... [ In the mood to deal with. ] ...available to answer, that we'd like to be more upfront with now. What we're looking for for is proof of physiological connections between imPorts that are absent in the native populace, so obviously we'll need a reasonably sized sampling pool of imPort volunteers.

So, y’know, with that lil’ hint a’ clarity -- please? We got cash, alright?

[ They both give big, slightly desperate smiles for the camera before the feed cuts. ]

red is madison, blue is hank

Comments

[hastheedge]

Of course not. The technology in my world was advanced for its time and yet we still didn't have anything like that image inducer. I'm actually impressed.

[professorlionface]

Well, we do have a fair quantity of holographic technology available already, it was simply a matter of compacting it. Interstellar cultural exchanges can do wonders for progress.

[hastheedge]

Now that was what my world lacked.

I'll gladly donate some tissue for your research. I assume that it will just be a blood sample or something simple like that?

[professorlionface]

We're starting with surface tissue, actually. Just a small sliver.

So, was it a lack on first contact, or had peaceful relations not yet been reached? Most worlds I've heard of around here, it's usually one or the other.

[hastheedge]

That sounds relatively painless. Sign me up.

And it's a lack of any contact. My world has a lot of things, but regular extraterrestrial contact isn't one of them.

[professorlionface]

I'll be honest with you, it can be a bit of a mixed blessing at times! You have no idea how many potential intergalactic incidents have to be settled every day.

[hastheedge]

I'd imagine a lot.

Tell me, have you ever gone into space?

[professorlionface]

I wasn't speaking idly of intergalactic diplomacy. My lady back home is actually employed in that field, and I was her chief science officer for a while.

[hastheedge]

So you've been in space before.

I know this is probably a silly question, but what's it like?

[professorlionface]

On a vessel or out in the vacuum?

The vacuum is cold, weightless. You can moves in ways you'd never imagine you might in gravity, and I don't say that as someone who doesn't do a great deal of moving already. It is, all at once, an immeasurable degree of freedom and an unfathomable terror at just how big the whole damn thing is.

Something I think everyone should try at least once!

[hastheedge]

It sounds astounding.

[professorlionface]

And even then, I've hardly done it justice.

[hastheedge]

Hopefully those technologies will get developed here. I'm fairly certain I'll never be able to see outer space back home, but here? Here is something different.

[ex_engineers208]

Reckon it's just luck a' the draw when it comes t'universes and tech, yeah?

Lots a' people come from places that're downright Medieval.

[hastheedge]

Or, there's an imbalance on the magic to technology ratio. Personally, I believe the two can work together, but people naturally tend to favor one over the other.

[ex_engineers208]

No kiddin'. Can barely stand in the same room as magic goin' on.

Y'magic, or are y'tech?

[hastheedge]

Technology, easily.

[ex_engineers208]

Good man.

Sure, can see magic workin' 'longside physics, easy. But I know which one's more dependable, yeah?

[hastheedge]

Also, if something goes wrong, it's easier to fix the technology or formula than it is to develop a counter-spell.

[ex_engineers208]

There y'go. Strike one, sorcerers and 'esses.

I'd rather put my life in the hands a' somethin' y'can really see.

[hastheedge]

Or at least, something that can be explained in greater detail than just 'it's magic.'

[ex_engineers208]

Right? Great minds.

Glad t'know some other fellers got their priorities set right.

[hastheedge]

Likewise. It's reassuring, to say the least.

[ex_engineers208]

Y'personally know many magicians?

[hastheedge]

I know two from back home. While I appreciate their methods, I'll be the first to admit that they confuse me.