[There are some things you can't run from. For Peter, he's been trying to run, but things keep coming up, keep reminding him. He went a good month of pretending that he was just a normal guy who made it out of his world alive. It was a good lie. Even for those people who knew him as Spider-Man, no one needed to know that his final moments in his life were spent saving Aunt May. They didn't need to know that he had given his all and that he was actually happy with what he managed.

But there's dying. And then there's finding out you aren't dead. There's finding out that you have a whole new life, and that somewhere, in another dimension, a "you" managed to grow up. Sue knew him. Bucky knew him. Even that grumpy Nathan guy knew a Spider-Man. And for all that, he's been trying to make it less obvious that he's surprised that he grew up. It's been hard, and he knows it'll continue.

It has to, after all. With great power and all that, and this world has bigger problems than his.

But still, he sets out to ask this question, because he knows it's better to ask now than later. He had to be careful about what thing he said to Charlie that one day. When he phrases his question, he rereads it a couple times, taking out anything that sounds too much like him. The last thing Peter needs is someone tracing it back to him.

He's not ready for those conversations.]

I've got a question, but first, please don't try to trace this back to me. If you've already done that and broken my encryption, let's just pretend you didn't. [Also, you're a jerk, but he had to cut that part out. Too ... him.]

What happens if you died before you came here? What's left for me after this all ends? Before you ask, yeah, I definitely died.

I just thought I'd ask.

[Kili is pink cheeked and grinning, practically bursting with excitement as he greets the network.]

Fili, I found a forge!

It needs...um...a lot of help. [He turns the screen to the forge, which has clearly been abandoned for some time, half buried in snow and ice and burnt out rafters, before turning it back to himself.] But I've asked around and no one's claimed it. It's just been sitting here. Can't believe we didn't see it earlier!

And for everyone else -- this is going to be a bit of a project. Any help you could offer would be great. We'll give you a discount on your first purchase with us! [Yes, Kili did just wink. Clearly he's in a good mood.] Trust me, once you have seen dwarvish metalwork, you won't want anything else. Very high quality, and Fi and I have been doing this since we were old enough to work a bellows. The sooner we get this running, the sooner we can start making anything you need -- weapons, tools, jewelry, even.

[The video feed shakes, and it seems like Kili's done some kind of little dance of excitement.] Fi, get over here!

Listen closely, you simpletons, and you will hear my genius! I, the ultra-gorgeous and breathtakingly brilliant Dist the Rose have devised a way to generate heat!

This should be a surprise to no one, as I am a true genius. I will allow you to feast your eyes on my newest creation!

[The camera pans around to a small device, roughly one foot by one foot, covered in a grill and glowing slightly orange. It's clearly constructed by scrap metal, but actually looks to be fairly well put-together- it's in no danger of falling apart.]

I am available to commission for such devices, fortunate for you! They will warm one large room. Contact me if you wish!

[And the camera swings back around. He smiles, pleased with himself, and ends the feed.]

( private to sarah / encrypted )

So I found a few things we need to talk about. I finally got some info that might be useful.

( she pauses before continuing on, sighing. )

Also I don't mean to dump a lot on you, but I think it would be good to discuss how to deal with Helena.


( private to helena )

( cosima begins multiple audio messages but deletes them. she finally decides to just send some text instead. )

You might want to read this.

( attached is this document. )

[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! )

( 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?

I just gotta say, a moon zombie encounter was exactly what I wanted for my birthday. You guys sure know how to make a person feel right at home.

But seriously, what the hell was up with that and can we nix that from the schedule in the future? If there are other zany, undead surprises lurking around here, it'd be great if you could give a head's up ahead of time.

( so under normal circumstances, cosima would not be in A Good Mood but being on the moon for a month was finally getting to her, making it exponentially worse. her sickness - whatever the hell it was - wasn't getting better and she really needed to figure it out. whatever pride she had about figuring it out herself was wearing thin.

cosima starts the network post and she appears on video. she's in a tank top and her glasses are on. behind them, her eyes are red from the lack of sleep. )

Oh shit! ( the video quickly disappears, having only recorded seconds of cosima's face. now only audio can be heard.

her voice is a bit hoarse from the constant coughing that had only been getting progressively worse since her arrival on the moon. )

I don't suppose anyone could point me in the direction of the nearest pharmacy...?

( she sighs and mutters to herself bitterly. ) Probably somewhere ridiculous like between mare frigoris and mare serenitatis.

Hello.

[ ...

she clears her throat. ]

So this... is akin to a linkshell, is it? In a way. It doesn't seem to be very good at letting the other side speak until I've done, and that could be disastrous. The point being--it seems most can hear me, if they choose.

Like many, I was called here to help fight a war, and so my physical and magical abilities were called on. In light of our depleted and nonexisting stores, I offer my craftmanship and gathering ability, as well. Back on Hydaelyn, I've learned the beginning stages of all kinds of work--weaving light fabric is where I'm most talented at, but I've known to alchemize grimoires and make leather boots.

Gear shouldn't be overlooked when accepting a mission. I've lost a fight or two because my armor was worn and unbefitting my new abilities.

Which brings me to another point!

Should you need something restored, I should be able to do so. I've repaired most of my equipment for a while now--be it weapons or armor.

The hurdle to all of this--should I need to make something new, I would need the materials to do so. I can make cloth, thread, leather and other simplicities on my own, but finding plants and animal hide and ore to do that... that's another road altogether. I'll make whatever you'd like--as long as I'm given the materials to make them with, or at least a location to where I may find them.