[1] Text;

[enoughtokill]

[The message comes from an anonymous source, because that’s how PM rolls.]

First, if anyone has heard of Blue Beetle speak up. [He knows at least two of the Reyes are here (of course they are), but it's easier to have them come to him.]

And that said: Weapons. I was told they were infused sentience, which honestly sounds all kinds of creepy. [And too close to the Scarab for his comfort. He’s already fought that kind of pseudo-setient technology and once was more than enough.]

But how powerful is that sentience? How big is the link between them and the person using it? They told me it adapted with time and training. How much can it adapt? And how much does it learn from you? I’d like to know before I actually start with the training, not thrilled by it monitoring me to God knows what entity.

[And he’s about to close the tablet, but then:] Feel free to reply to this as anon, as well. I don’t really care either way. [’Don’t give a fuck’ had seemed a bit too… crude.]

Comments

private; text

[controlledvariable]

why are you asking about Beetles?

[She'll answer the other questions in a second, she just wants to get that out of the way first.]

private; text

[enoughtokill]

Everything that has happened to me in the last years has had something to do with the beetles. If you were from my world you'd understand.

private; text

[controlledvariable]

i am from your world

batgirl, at your service

[Nevermind that the ID attached to her tablet reads Steph Brown.

She wants to know if this person is a friend or foe, and, well, Bats tend to get reactions out of people.]

video | SCREW YOUR TEXT PEACEMAKER

[guynarchy]

Don't know about you but my ring won't freakin' shut up.

[He doesn't need a goddamn conscience in the middle of a war. Besides, his own is already good enough, thanks for asking. But that's a lotta questions, and the anon isn't suspicious at all.

And then, of course, there's the matter of Beetles.]

Blue Beetle's got nothing on Green Lantern, but yeah, I know the name. Why? You got a grudge against 'em?

[Whereas before his tone had almost been careless, it sharpens now, and there's an underlying hint of a threat. He's still not 100% over Ted, alright?]

text!!! | WANNA TAKE THIS OUTSIDE

[enoughtokill]

[Oh, Guy. Smith would find you annoying if he weren't so amused (and glad he isn't the only non-Reyes adult that was brought here.)]

I don't got a grudge, I'm just being practical. Teleported to some sort of alternate reality with no memory how screams Reach, thus Beetle.

video!!! | BRING IT ON

[guynarchy]

[Yeah well how 'bout he kicks your sorry behind, then who's the annoying one? Also dammit, stop hiding behind anon. Real men yell their names out loud to the world.

On the bright side, seems whoever this mysterious stranger is anti-Reach at least, which keeps him off Guy's shit list for now.]

Sounds like you need to get your ass hauled off to strange universes more often. Ain't always those cheeky bastards that're pulling the strings.

[Even if he would love nothing more than an intergalactic treaty violation so he can chuck them all in the slammer. But business first, pissing contests later.]

You gonna hide behind those words all day?

private; audio

[whatyoumust]

[YOU'RE NOT AS ANON AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, PEACEMAKER. WHO ELSE COULD THIS BE.]

I've already spoken up. If I recall, you came to me first.

I'll have to agree, though. I haven't used my own weapon-- not that I've had a need to, but I'm skeptical too.

private; audio

[enoughtokill]

Yes. [Sorry Alberto that's all the answer you're getting. But he KEEPS THE AUDIO that means he totally trusts you. Cherish it.

Or something.]

Your weapon is?

private; video

[whatyoumust]

[There's a pause as Alberto sets the function to video: he's holding up a rather standard-looking rifle.]

There's nothing in it. I haven't tried to use it yet.

[urbanmagic]

[She doesn't know Peacemaker well enough to judge anything, so she's happily oblivious as to who this is. She could try to trace it back, but let's see if he's a good or a bad guy first.]

Who wants to know?

[enoughtokill]

[Isn't that Jaime's pretty girl? She's here as well? What kind of weird reunion is this and why was he dragged into it?]

A friend.

[urbanmagic]

Friends don't normally hide under a layer of anonymous and leech information. You could just ask the beetle himself.

private; video

[khajidont]

[He's been too busy figuring out this sudden invasion of his family and friends to go back to his dad's entry, which means that he's not, in fact, aware that Peacemaker is around.

It's not as if many other people would have too big of a grudge against the Reach, but he keeps the ID on Blue Beetle anyway, just to be careful. And with the amount he's in the public eye here, he's always got a voice modifier on when he's in uniform - not enough to make him sound inhuman, but there's definitely a little bit of distortion going on.

Hi, mysterious stranger, have a blue face on your screen!]

Hi, yeah, I'm around. Anyway -- [He counts off on his fingers here while using letters, because that's just how he rolls.] A: anyone who's been here for very long will probably have seen me around already, B: if this has anything to do with the Reach they're doing a fantastic job of hiding it, and C: who is this.

[So maybe he sounds a little clipped. It's been a long week.]

private; text

[enoughtokill]

[So 'berto did as he asked and didn't tell the kid he was here. Good, the less people figure out who he is over the network the better. Alberto had used his fake name and his face wasn't so recognizable as it had once been... now he could only hope Jaime was right, because there was no way something like that would escape the Reach.]

Doing a fantastic job of hiding their involvement on things is what the Reach is all about.

And I'm a friend. How many friends do you have that would contact you like this?

private; video

[khajidont]

Not many, but I'd like to know for certain anyway. I get that you're being all paranoid about the network, but trust me, if they could see what we're doing here, we'd be dead already.

[getoffmyearth]

Does it specifically have to be a blue Beetle or will any old one do?

[enoughtokill]

Let's just say I am very particular about how I want my beetles. Know any other ones?

[ text ]

[reassures]

Most weapons are completely different. It should depend on how you use it more than anything.

What kind of weapon do you have?

[ text ]

[enoughtokill]

[FINALLY some answers]

Blunted one. Old fashioned. [Roundabout way of saying a sword.] How have other weapons changed? I want to know what to expect.

text;

[substitutable]

the superhero? i've met him... once.

text;

[enoughtokill]

The one and definitely not only. [The third, no less.]

So he's been around saving people? He's still doing hero stuff?

text;

[permit]

What grading system would you prefer? Sentience on a scale of one to "human"?

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[enoughtokill]

Any grading that gets the job done. [Smartass.]

/anon, private/

[phaseshifted]

It's unlikely it monitors you outside of simply being aware when you require it. My weapon has reacted when I was under high levels of stress and manifested to get me out of the situation when I wished to leave. After training with it for some time, I can call on its power even without the stress. It seems to be less a crutch and more a subtle assistance in my circumstances, simply responding to a strong conscious or unconscious need.

/anon, private/

[enoughtokill]

Unlikely doesn't mean impossible. If the weapon ends up being so in tune with our own feelings and emotions what's not to say someone ins't watching on the other side?

Or someone is actually controlling our emotions through the weapons.