[Video]

[It is a very solemn Giovanni who addresses everyone today. Maybe it’s due to the cold which, admittedly was a problem that even an extra wrap could not quite solve, but more likely it was due to the book on Renaissance history that was sitting open faced on his lap. He had finally found the time to read the book he had traded Cat (a.k.a. Arya Stark) for and the manuscript held a grim glimpse into the future. ]

We are brought here, told that changing the past is the way to correct the future but I find myself wondering if that is true. Has anything that has been done really been for the best? Those who were native in Exsilium before our arrival have been nearly entirely wiped from history. Instead of correcting the troubles with these ‘nuclear bombs’ we have only plunged the planet into a deep cold. Now we are told we must do more of these missions to gather supplies and correct these new problems. Does it ever end?

I wonder how many of you agree with this. Is changing the past in this manner something you feel is right?

[His voice took on an even softer tone as he thought back on what he had read. ]

What would you do if you had future knowledge of a terrible event? Would you journey to the past to stop it from happening or would you be too concerned it might cause something even worse to occur?

I don't think I've ever - actually posted anything to the network before. [ a small, amused smile creeps up on her face and wow, belle, really? you've been here almost half a year by this point. ] For those I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Belle. [ the smile grows wider; she waves at the camera. ]

Actually, I have a question concerning the - um - the monsters in the woods. The yetis? I ran into one on the original scouting mission, but I'm afraid I never actually made contact. Does anybody have any information about them? Maybe some safety precautions if one actually intended to study them? I know there are similar creatures in different worlds, but I don't know if things like temperament are consistent between them all.

Buenos dias, my lunar comrades. Or buenas noches. Something.

I think I finally just figured out what's really shitty about being in this place.

Missing your family and friends and knowing not a single one of them gives a shit 'cause nobody back home even knows you're gone. Lesson time, kids - time travel isn't nearly as stylish as the movies make you believe. No it ain't.

[Heck, he even misses his evil twin brother. And the nerdy obsessive one, too. Bluh bluh.]

Being kidnapped kinda ruins the whole shindig, anyway.

Sooo. What's up, homies?

[Last time Jaime posted as Blue Beetle, he kept to text. This time, he thinks that people might need a face - masked as it may be - to match to the words. His voice is put through a technological filter, just distorted enough for him to keep from being recognized. He's in the VR room in the most professional looking room he could think of, which is essentially a large table with wall-to-wall windows behind him looking out onto San Francisco - potentially recognizable to some canonmates as a loose copy of the Titans Tower meeting room, which is fairly generic anyway.]

So... hi. I'm Blue Beetle. A bunch of you already know that I've been trying to dig up as much info on the Chimera Project as I can - those are the cloned children, for you new guys - and I think I've got enough information to get going. Thanks to everyone who helped me out with this, by the way - you know who you are. I know everyone must be really tired of hearing people give long speeches by now, so I'll try to keep it short. [He smiles at the camera for an instant, a flash of white, human teeth behind the armour]

[He's making an effort to sound professional, but he's not used to public speaking. Sometimes, he looks down at his lap instead of the camera (consulting his notes as if he's giving a speech for class if he's honest about it) and he's stiff, uncomfortable, but his voice is even and steady. Small victories, and victories born of actually rehearsing.

Are you ready for a fun history lesson, Transports? Because you're sure as hell going to get one.]

( Non-IC cut! )

[Now here is someone who's been absent throughout the mutiny mess, if the confused look on her face that appears briefly is of any indication. Gently combing through her wavy hair with a free hand, manicured fingers wiggling in and out, Sheryl lets out a soft sigh as she purses her lips to frown deeply.]

Well, well, well... if what I'm getting from hearsay is all true, then I'm so relieved to miss the disaster completely!

[She parts her mouth like she's about to say more. Angry rants at the people involved, massive scolding for dragging the rest of the Transports into their troubles and causing destruction, nicely-worded yet sharp insults at their direction. Instead, she slowly pushes the momentary look of anger aside, gaining her composure while she rubs her cheek and sits up straight, blue eyes locked on to anyone viewing this feed. Sheryl appears calm now, but she's nowhere near her boisterous self, not after learning what happened to Jesse (or what he did).

Still, she manages to sound happy enough. Only a little.]

Anyway, there's something I've been very curious about and I'm hoping to hear excellent answers from you. Now be good people and lend me your ears, all right? It'll only be for a moment.

[A faint smile morphs on her lips, but it lasts for a split second before she frowns, looking thoughtful. Cue the long pause.]

Have you ever wondered if you feel any differently after growing up in this war for so long? I'm not talking about emotions alone, but if you've changed completely after dealing with the Initiative, the UE, that irritating AI, these missions... everything. I've been here for almost a year now, and there were so many experiences I'd never thought I could possess. I wonder, does this mean I should feel older because of it? There's something to be said about war causing people to grow up so fast, after all...

[Like joining forces with a resistance to fight another country, using her own songs to drive the enemy soldiers literally down to their knees. The way she speaks contains genuine ruefulness to her tone, but it's not too long before she smiles once more.]

As of today, I'm officially eighteen, and yet I still feel like I'm seventeen.

( So here's a friendly robot-face for you, network. Between the big political speeches and the kittens because he has always had excellent timing. But he's looking significantly less beat-up than he did previously, dents straightened out and looking polished up. )

Okay, here's a question for you. If you've decided to settle down on your home planet that's suddenly not-dead and start up a new government after a civil war that lasted for ages, would you elect the one bot who served directly under the guy who started the entire thing in the first place?

Because I'm really trying to see what anyone could have seen in Starscream and I just don't get it.

( He's really sorry about your problems, Exs, but he's not here for organic squabbling. If he was even aware of it in the first place. Which he isn't, because he just got back from his own universe. )

So, what'd I miss?