one ✩ voice

[boobwindow]

[ The ID on the Network appears as Power Girl.

As the audio begins, anyone with a good ear or paying close attention will notice there isn’t complete radio silence between the time the feed turns on and when a woman begins speaking. There’s a passing wind that lightly filters in through the speaker – and are those wings flapping in the distance? ]

Okay, I get it; Lachesis does not appreciate a hands on approach. Does she really call herself that? I guess she doesn’t get memos, but I thought I washed my hands of this alternate universe mess a while ago and I’m seriously not interested in being apart of it.

The City... that’s original. [ A light scoff. ] Should have stuck with New York.

If anyone from the JSA or the League is—oh. One second. [ The audio cuts for about five minutes before it’s switched back on and Peej sighs. ] That was a close call.

Sorry, as I was saying: All-stars or JSA, Leaguers, Titans, heck even Legionnaires ... this is Power Girl. I think I’ve gotten the gist of the situation, but if there’s anything else I need to be briefed on get in contact with me ASAP.

[ Not that her voice will betray how she really feels, but she really hopes she’s not stuck in another alternate universe by herself again. ]

Comments

[not_really_charlie]

There's how many of us here, exactly?

[boobwindow]

Possibly two hundred, according the mayor. But not all are in the heroing business apparently.

[not_really_charlie]

So she just keeps pulling more?

Whoever programmed her needs a talking.

[boobwindow]

It must be the way her systems are set to run. [ If there's a pattern to it, she'll be looking into it. ] A serious talking, really.

[not_really_charlie]

...If she ever connected to the wifi, maybe...

[boobwindow]

[ She sighs, exasperated. ]

For once it would be nice if the sentient machine wasn't stirring up trouble.

[not_really_charlie]

Maybe I could shut down her power system. Or short circuit her. [Which of course could make things even worse.]

[boobwindow]

It would stop her from bringing people in, but my question is: how do we get out? [ It then occurs to her Lachesis may be the only ticket out of this world. ] It might be too risky, especially if she starts electrocuting people who get too close.

[not_really_charlie]

I could reprogram her. If she had her defenses down.

[boobwindow]

Easy there, eager beaver. You already said you want your skin to stay on. Let's not rush head first against a sentient A.I. likely gone mad with a penchant for electrocution and teleportation.

[not_really_charlie]

Which is why she needs to be shut own.

Trust me. There's nothing i want to do more than run away.

[boobwindow]

Look, I agree with you.

But let's not forget there's a large number of us who may get stuck as a result.

[not_really_charlie]

So we just let more people get sucked in?

We can't get any worse of if it doesn't work.

Plus, I'd rather be stuck her than know she can whisk me away the moment I start to...

[boobwindow]

I don't like it any more than you or anyone else. But you're not examining the big picture: there are people who've been stuck here for multiple years that may want to go home and as much as I would love to shut down the A.I., I'm not about to do it at the expense of everyone else's potential freedom.

[not_really_charlie]

Are you sure any of them want to ever go home?

[boobwindow]

No, but I'm not going to assume they don't want to, either.

[not_really_charlie]

If we reprogram her, they can take their pick.

[boobwindow]

And if there's no choice?

[not_really_charlie]

Compared to now?

[boobwindow]

[ An audible groan. ]

Are you even listening to me?

[not_really_charlie]

Are you?

Do you really want to wait years to fall in love, have her throw you home and forget everything?

[boobwindow]

I'm surprised that anyone would be glad they've been kidnapped by a machine and want to stay, but hey, if that's your choice and you're happier here then it's fine. There are just other people to consider in this situation.

[ She pauses. ]

Is that what this is about?

[not_really_charlie]

...Look. Wherever I go? I'm probably going to have to move. Hacker girls aren't exactly your most popular form of being. Plus, I sort of pissed off an entire species off evil that wants to destroy the earth.

I just want it to be my choice when I leave. I'm pretty sure that's what everyone else wants, too.

[boobwindow]

[ She pauses again to collect her thoughts, though she sighs again and this time she speaks a little more softly. She's not heartless after all. ]

Don't get me wrong, if you're happy with the life you've been able to make here then I'm not going to force you to give up on this. Like you said, it's your choice.

I'm just saying it may not be as simple as we'd like it to be when the time comes to make a decision.

[not_really_charlie]

Which is wh we need to find a way to hack her. Safely.

Or make a copy, I guess, but if we knew how to open that many portals we wouldn't be i this mess.