03 | Text

[khajidont]

[This is Jaime's first post to the network as Blue Beetle, and the name displayed on the tablet has changed accordingly. For any hackers out there, it can't be linked back to him as he's not actually using his tablet; he's posting directly from his armour.]

Hey. Blue Beetle here.

I know that after all this, the last thing we're thinking about is the UE's soldiers, but something's been bugging me. Everyone who was on the distraction team with me, you must have noticed the new soldiers, right? They didn't have anything like them on Elmer's world, and I'm pretty sure that war was an all-hands-on-deck sort of deal.

The normal soldiers were really well equipped as it was, but these ones must have been metas. They were stronger, and faster. It was so busy on the field that I don't know whether or not I was seeing ones with different powers or if they all had the same skillset going on, but the ones I noticed could fly and had elemental powers.

And they were small. Like children.

[Which is deeply off-putting.]

I'm not sure what their deal is, but consider this a heads-up for what the UE's got in store, and the kind of technology we might find on them. For some reason, I don't think an army full of tiny meta-soldiers is something they just managed to find one day. If any of you ran into them too, I think it'd be good if we could get some sort of list of how much they can actually do.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Since we don't exactly have space suits around here yet, if there's any maintenance that needs to be done outside the base, let me know. I'm guessing we don't have a whole lot of people who can breathe out there, and my suit's built for space travel.

Comments

[khajidont]

[Maya...]

You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, you know. I can just ask someone else.

That's what it looks like. Whatever power you've got, they wanted it.

[acemedium]

...Maybe if we met up for space burgers. [You're a texty beetle thing okay, she'd be more willing to talk if this wasn't over a network with what she can only image as a beetle robot]

Wow.. I had no idea E.S.P was in such high demand...

[khajidont]

[He's a little hesitant to meet someone he interacts with as himself as the Blue Beetle - it feels a little too much like intentional deception - but he really does want as much info as he can get...]

You mean you'd rather do this in person? I can do that.

[acemedium]

Are you going to take me out for space burgers?!

[That's all she's getting out of this]

[khajidont]

If they've got them sure. When did you want to meet up?

[acemedium]

I'm pretty hungry right now...

--> action?

[khajidont]

Then I'll meet you there. You'll be looking for the blue guy. I'll be pretty hard to miss.

-> action!!111

[acemedium]

Alright! The cafeteria, then?

[khajidont]

You got it.

[Jaime will have gotten the burgers already by the time Maya's arrived. They won't have them for too much longer, he figures, even frozen meat becoming something of a precious commodity, but they may as well enjoy them while they've still got them.

As he said, he's something of a beacon in the middle of the stark cafeteria, which is certainly something he's counting on.]

[acemedium]

[it's either the smell of burgers or the bright blue, but EITHER WAY Maya's making a beeline for him and her eyes are lighting up]

[THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER even if they're going to talk about awful things]

Burgers!!!

[khajidont]

[Oh wow, she is really enthusiastic about these. Jaime's more than happy to roll with it, wiggling his fingers as if presenting the burgers to her, which... well, okay, jazz hands really aren't the most professional thing in the world, but he's still getting the hang of this.

He failed at the whole intimidation thing a long time ago anyway.]

Burgers! I didn't put any condiments or anything on 'em yet, though, 'cause I didn't know what you like.

[acemedium]

[Maya has no issues with jazzhands, especially if said jazzhands are presenting burgers]

[She will receive it with jazzhands as well. You are now her favorite superhero in the world and she takes back every bracket text comment about you]

That's okay, we can just put them on together and exchange tips! [VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION]

[khajidont]

[A large part of him knows that he really should be getting down to business sometime soon - there are more tips to be exchanged beyond the culinary, but he doesn't have the heart to start now. The clones have waited this long, surely they can wait a few more minutes, right?]

Sure, [he says, something resembling a laugh in his voice.] You tell me how you like them. Something tells me you might be an expert at this.

[acemedium]

[Maya really has no issue eating burgers and getting offtopic so she'll continue with her time-wasting nonsense]

You've got good instincts for a blue guy! I know my stuff, and soon enough, you will too!

You gotta really load 'em for maximum flavor!

[khajidont]

[In which case, they will continue to horribly enable each other because really, burgers are a much more pleasant concept than evil child clones.

He grabs his own burger, and onward ho: to the condiment station!

Because apparently people thought ketchup and mustard were important enough to bring to the moonbase. Why not?]

Just show me the way, o burger-master.

[acemedium]

[It's true. She isn't so keen on talking about being experimented on in general, either, and this superhero was a lot more nice and goofy than she expected. Plus, he wasn't insisting that she knew him or anything like that so as far as she was concerned this was a lot smoother than most of her other conversations]

[Also: ketchup and mustard are extremely serious business]

Watch and learn, Beetle Guy! Think of this as intense hero training!

[And having that said, Maya splats ketchup right onto hers. Quickly followed by mustard]

[khajidont]

Ah, I see, [Jaime says, cupping his chin and nodding sagely at her.] Ketchup, then mustard. Very interesting.

[Okay, he's making fun of her, just a little bit. He honestly can't help himself.

He mimics her utterly elite hamburger-dressing style anyway.]

So, what do you think a hero needs with condiment skills?

[acemedium]

[Maya puffs her chest out and retains her smug expression despite his teasing. THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS] Think of this burger as a bomb, Beetle Guy! If you don't put the right condiments in the right order it'll explode and you'll get covered in it!

... On the other hand... put it in the right order and it'll explode with deliciousness, in your mouth! [INTENSE HERO TRAINING]

More stuff, obviously! If we could find some bacon and cheese and tomatoes and lettuce we'll be all set. [UNTIL THE FRIES, ANYWAY]

[khajidont]

I think it's a good idea to avoid milk products while we're up here. [It's said with a grin. Still, cheese and milk spoil and mold, and they really don't need that nastiness in an already rank moonbase.]

Okay. I think the flavour bomb is complete. C'mon, let's go eat, and... then we should probably talk business.

[He almost sounds apologetic.]