[Locked to Residents]

[lorentzian]

Hi, Luceti. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jane Foster. For several months, I've been working with Tony Stark on a project. A project to get all of us home.

For most of that time the project was kept pretty much secret. Even then, it wasn't entirely safe. We suspect the Malnosso know what we're up to and aren't too happy with us. That's exactly why we want to bring it to the rest of you and step it up: so we can finish this faster than they expect us to and get out of here before they can try to stop us.

The basics are actually pretty straightforward: we're building a device that can open a wormhole, get us through the barrier, and back to our respective worlds and universes. Don't ask about the technicalities unless you're really sure you want them. It's complex stuff.

What we need from all of you is missions. We're close to completion, but there are still a lot of parts we need to complete the device. The only way to get those parts is to buy them with mission points. You guys go out on missions, earn points, buy the parts we specify, and bring those parts to us. Pretty simple, right?

We're not saying you have to participate. But we wanted to open up the project to anyone else in the village who might care to help.

Like I said, it could be dangerous. Helping us probably isn't without consequences. If that's a risk you're willing to take, you can come talk to me or Tony and we'll give you more specifics.

So uh ... any questions, I guess? Fire away. We're both here.

(ooc: Both Jane and Tony will reply to responses here. Feel free to threadjack like nuts.)

Comments

[Voice]

[complicatedliar]

Anyone, really.

[Voice]

[lorentzian]

[ .... deep breath. ]

Yup. Obviously.

[stilldontgotit]

You sure it'll be safe? And what about the people who died back in their worlds or don't want to return in the first place?

I'm not opposed to the idea, but it seems like a pretty huge risk.

[lorentzian]

Anyone who doesn't want to go doesn't have to. We won't be forcing anyone.

Annnnd yeah. It is a huge risk. And we can't guarantee it'll be safe. Not until we do some preliminary tests with it, and we're not even at that stage yet.

[Voice]

[widows_kiss]

I don't know what you and Tony have come up with, but I've just gotten back from a mission. The points are yours if you need them. If I get the opportunity to go again, I will.

[Voice]

[lorentzian]

Thank you, Natasha. [ With genuine gratitude. ] We'll get you a list of what we need. Buy whatever you can afford and get it back to us.

[dragmire]

Will your wormhole collapse the barrier around us?

[lorentzian]

We're trying to account for the barrier as best we can. The answer right now is I don't know. We won't know for sure until we actually try it.

voice;

[deadalready]

...What if we're dead back where we come from?

voice;

[lorentzian]

[ Oh. Ouch. Gently: ]

You don't have to leave. We're not forcing anyone.

[magicalesbian]

[Oh, well this is interesting.]

So. Questions are cool here, right?

What kind of experience do you people have with traveling worlds? I mean, it's one thing to cross into another universe and assume you get the coordinates right, but getting the timing right? Mess up, and you'll end up throwing two of the same person into the same world! That's not the kind of thing you can just undo, you know.

[sketchingideals]

What? Can--can something like that really happen, Hoshikyo?

[Voice | Private]

[rather_be_surfing]

[He's listening, this sounds promising, and...it'll get him into two positions he wants to be in if he can pull it off, so...]

...Sounds like you have it well in hand. I'll see what I can do about missions, although I probably won't be able to get right on it just yet.

In the meantime, I won't pretend I'd know what I was looking at if you showed it to me, but I was a mechanic on my days off back home. Second job sort of thing. Wouldn't have a problem offering myself for the grunt work if you needed the help.

[Voice | Private]

[alloys]

[Oh, huh. He remembers this guy - so he was back? Interesting. Still, Tony was reluctant with this whole idea of opening things up to begin with.]

Let me guess. You worked on cars.

[He doesn't sound impressed.]

[malnosso]

[Not much irritates this ex-Malnosso - or catches his interest enough to get a reply - but this...]

How would you like your funeral arranged?

[lorentzian]

[ Well. That's pleasant. ]

I won't need one. We won't need them. It's going to work.

[ She says, with confidence she doesn't feel. Is this guy who she thinks he is? ]

[shiningbinds]

[...hm.]

And you are... absolutely certain this would work? It sounds as if even using this device would hold its own set of risks. [Kratos isn't even certain the Eternal Sword of all things could do something of this sort, much less what's being described here.]

[lorentzian]

No. [ Said honestly. ] We're not. But we have to try. We're not asking anyone to actually try it before we've made sure it's safe. Right now, all we're asking for is materials.

[Voice]

[dancing_flames]

And what makes you so sure that this device of yours will work?

[Voice]

[lorentzian]

Because a machine like this has been built before. Not by me, but by a colleague of mine. I know between me and Tony we can replicate what he did. It worked then. It should work now.

voice

[theboywiththebook]

[Points? Henry certainly had those.]

I've got about forty from that scavenger hunt we did. I haven't used them yet.

voice

[lorentzian]

[ Good lord, he sounds so young. ]

I -- yeah, sure. If you're willing, we're happy to take what you've got.

voice

[hero_of_smiles]

[Cross is no physicist or complex scientist, but he can fight and missions have been something he's been thinking of doing for awhile.

While he has forty points stashed away still from that scavenger hunt, more would help.

But, people are bringing up good questions. The portal could collapse and no one really knew how the barrier worked.]

Maybe...maybe we should try and break into Molasses HQ and steal some of documents or something on how the barrier functions. That is if we don't have that yet.

voice

[alloys]

...The Molasses HQ.

[Oh my god. He's barely willing to dignify that with a response.]

While you're at it, better hit the Syrup Convention.

[Voice]

[immamartillo]

What about if somebody wants to go to somebody else's world? Do they hafta go back to theirs?

[Voice]

[lorentzian]

That's honestly a really good question. The answer to which at least right now is: I don't think so. The way we're designing this machine really only permits people to go back where they came from. We might be able to change that, but I can't make any guarantees. This is pretty hard as it is.

[Voice | Private]

[fabrecation]

[He'd told himself every day since he got to this world that, if there was a chance to go home, he'd take it. His duty to Auldrant is more important than anything he could possibly think of, even his own happiness, or anyone else's. He gave up that right when he caused the disaster of Akzeriuth.

And, finally, here's his chance. And by god, Luke doesn't want to take it.

It takes him a long time to reply because of that. But when he does, he sets up a filter. Because he still hasn't decided, and he doesn't want to scare anyone who knows him and doesn't want him to go.]

If we help you get the stuff you need, that doesn't... mean we're signed up to use it if it works, right?

[Voice | Private]

[lorentzian]

No, no. Of course not. We're not signing anyone up until we've tested it and we're sure it works.

[Voice, filtered]

[teenwonder]

I hope Stark knows about the security hole you're opening by leaking your details to the entire community.

[Voice, filtered]

[lorentzian]

[ Somewhat stressed: ]

We know. We know. But if everything goes well? It's not going to matter in a month.

[fourteen]

[ ... she thinks of Luke. She thinks of Roxas, and Axel.

She thinks of Sanji. ]

What happens if the Malnosso get angry and retaliate? Everyone that gets left behind... what'll happen to ... to us?

[ Us. She is planting her flag. She won't go. ]

[stilldontgotit]

It could seriously backfire. It's happened before. One of the Malnosso tried sending everyone home, and no good came from it.

But if it makes any difference, I'm not going, Xion.

[bamboozler]

I don't want to use my points to help, but I'll use it anyways if you finish it.

[lorentzian]

[ ... well then. ]

Youuuu're free to do so.

[tenminutes]

Is that what he was working on that he wouldn't tell me about?

I'll help out. I don't like the idea of working for the Malnosso, but if it's to help with this, then I don't mind.

[alloys]

[Ayyup.] Surprise. Wasn't it worth all that build up and suspense?

[Doesn't he just sound thrilled about everybody knowing.]

Just think about how nice it'll be when you can kiss them goodbye for good later.

[concasse]

Are these wormholes supposed to close right behind anyone who goes through 'em? Or do they stay open?

[complicatedliar]

Depending upon how they plan to generate their bridge, it would stay open so long as the power source is engaged.

However, leaving one open long-term has... consequences.

[arcinvent]

[...Hmm.]

I'd like to see those calculations, if you don't mind.

[He has some doubts, but he'll reserve judgment until he actually reads up on their paperwork.

And if she gives him the "you're from the 40s" bullcrap, he's going to break both of these kids a new head.]

[lorentzian]

Sure, Howard. I can drop off my notes later. I'm willing to take input from anyone who can help, at this point.

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

[Marco's kind of annoyed. How can someone who has enough brains to even try to construct such an operation not have the foresight to see the problems? And if they do see the problems, and they're still "all systems go" with this plan, that's even more reason to be annoyed. So he's quietly intense. He's doing his best not to sound threatening or angry, but it's clear there's a lot of emotion behind his sudden lack of deadpan.]

And for all the people who don't intend to leave this place, or can't, just how thrilled do you think the Malnosso will be that we let a bunch of their lab mice escape or attempt one without informing them?

If nothing else, they're likely to strengthen the barrier, retract the "niceties" and certainly stop allowing as many measures of freedom they already do.

I won't try to stop you, but I want you to do your best to make sure the people who can't go home aren't going to suffer all the burden of the negative consequences for this, got it?

[Voice]

[fourteen]

Marco...

[ Concerned. Worried. Appreciative. Sad. There's a lot in that one word that she doesn't know how else to express. ]

[Written]

[eyesofstrength]

[Well, that was fascinating, seeing John of all people comment here and say it wouldn't work. If anyone was an expert on the barrier, it was John and that confirms this is useless and he's going to keep his points to himself.]

Do you truly think the Malnosso will just hand you something that could make a device to allow you to get past the barrier? From observations it appears the Malnosso have accounted for every possible means we have to get out and ensured that it will hold.

Assuming you are even able to get past that point, what then? How do you ensure you even reach your world, much less that others reach worlds that you have no idea where they even are?

[Written]

[alloys]

They aren't just handing it to us. This machine is incredibly complex, and the Malnosso might not be able to see the sum of its parts for what it really is. Especially since the orders are coming from so many different people.

[That, and...the Malnosso seemed to know what they were doing, but hadn't stopped them. Tony's convinced they know, but actually want the results for themselves, it if worked. Which, it would.]

On the second point, think of worlds like signatures. Each bound to an individual person, no two the same. We've devised a way to lock onto that and transmit it through the machine.

voice

[neversurrender]

I'll help out however I can. See if I can get a mission or two scheduled soon. I'll keep in touch about it.

voice

[lorentzian]

[ She sounds audibly relieved to hear from him. The harassment from all sides is expected and she knows not unwarranted, but very stressful nonetheless. A show of support is appreciated. ]

Great. Thanks, Steve. We'll get you a list of what we're looking for.

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Nami doesn't see this until late, late night after Vivi's party, and frowns a good deal at it. It's a nice idea. She's not sure it'll work, but...

...well. Given she doesn't know what a 'wormhole' is, there might be something going on here that is well over her head, so. Worth a shot? She's busy counting up how many points she has left over when she finally places why she has a niggling feeling of something else being a little off.

Sheee doesn't know who Jane is so she'll be knocking on Tony's door the next morning.]

[Action]

[alloys]

[He'll show up a moment later at the door with a cup of coffee in hand - it's his constant companion these days. He isn't sure who to expect after last night's announcement, but all things considered, Nami's face is much more welcome than many others.]

Top of the morning, Miss Nami.

[voice]

[reminded]

[He would ask to see the plans if he thought he might be able to understand them, but he's quite sure he won't.]

I'm not so sure that speeding up the project is the best way to evade Malnosso interference. A sudden influx of mission participants asking for specialized parts will only rouse their suspicion and spur investigation.

[voice]

[voidseeing]

Even moreso if it's obvious that the people asking wouldn't know what the parts are.