EVENT | ZUGZWANG | SEPTEMBER 21-28

[ironwood]

Characters: ALL!
Date: September 21-28, 2014
Location: Keeliai
Situation: Something in the city has caused the Foreigner's powers to go off the charts, affecting even those who wouldn't possess any. Things pretty much go downhill from there...
Warnings/Rating: Add warnings as needed.

The state of affairs in Keeliai has been tense since the incident at the Midnight Hotel with Evandau, and the aftereffects have put a touch of pall on the city. Kedan look at each other distrustfully, wondering who among their number might be possessed by Malicant's essence and that suspicion carries to the Foreigners as well. How can they fight for us? they seem to be asking. They can't even stop fighting amongst themselves and the Emperor. Of course, the kedan's opinion of Evandau is likewise not exactly stellar any longer, as whether through inevitability or design, his cold actions of killing those who cross him has come to light. While there's no open dissent in the ranks (and likely, it seems, more due to fear of repercussion than loyalty) there are certainly looks and whispers.

The turtle hatchlings have also picked up on it, and they've become quieter than normal. Especially those who are suffering under shedding the remainders of Malicant's taint if they were injured by the poisoned weapons, they'll seem hesitant to bother their parents for minor things, or if possible will ask a parent who isn't afflicted first.

It feels like the calm before a storm.

---

LINKS
Powers Going Haywire (Sept 21-25) | Powers Nullified (Sept 26-27) | PART 2 TBA (Sept 28) | OOC Plot Post

OOC NOTE
Reactions to the Part 2 plot reveal will also be threaded on this post and the comment will be unfrozen when the other posts are made. Event questions can be directed to this comment. Have fun!

Comments

[highprofilerichkid]

"Yeah, of course. Any time." He pauses. "If this keeps up and the energy drop is really holding you back, I could try to hook you up to an alternate power source, like what runs my suit."

[looksfine]

"I would be remiss to ignore the thought of having a backup energy source available."

Assuming, of course, the energies were compatible; certainly, it would be enough to keep her automatic systems running. The question remained how much of her consciousness was linked to her Green Energy.

[highprofilerichkid]

"If you decide you need it, just let me know. I'll make it a priority." He gives her a small, lopsided smile, and taps his chest where the heart monitor used to be. "I know how rough it is to not be able to depend on the thing that's supposed to keep you running."

[looksfine]

She nodded.

"Thank you. Perhaps I should instal a failsafe protocol, to alert you in the event my systems are unexpectedly shut down." Because she couldn't let him know if she was offline.

[highprofilerichkid]

(Well, the idea was that she could call Tony if she noticed her power levels dropping further, before she shut down, but...) "Great idea. Need any help with the install, or have you got it under control?"

[looksfine]

(But what if she was distracted and/or otherwise occupied? That's why it was called a failsafe.)

"You assistance may prove beneficial, to ensure that the transmitting and receiving frequencies are compatible."

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony Stark is unfamiliar with the concept of failsafes. Particularly the 'safe' part.

"Okay. Let's set it up to go to my Pod." He pulls out his sleek white phone, which was at one point very cool, and is now, sans internet or phone network, essentially a paperweight. He snorts. "That's about all it's good for anyway, around here."

[looksfine]

What about the 'fail' part?

She glanced at the Pod, attempting to gauge its digital capacity at this time. "I was not aware you had already developed a portable communication device similar to those we have been beta testing here at Stark Industries for some time."

[highprofilerichkid]

Pssh, Tony's tech doesn't fail, it just... has, uh... emergent post-production features.

"The Pod?" Tony looks down at the phone, mildly surprised that she finds it notable. It's hardly the most high-tech thing in his inventory. "It's... basically just a really fancy cell phone. What have you been working on here?"

[looksfine]

Ah. Like the device that Hal Jordan insisted keeping on his person, even when the weak signal it was capable of receiving did not work beyond a certain area of Earth's surface. He kept a picture of Carol on its surface, which is what had drawn her attention to it moreso than the advancement of technology.

Similarly to Tony's. She was curious because it was foreign to her.

"We have done many projects involving the local Networks, as well as alternative frequencies to utilize in the event that the primary means of communication becomes compromised again."

[highprofilerichkid]

"Right. Of course." Dang, he really needs to get out more. "I... Crap. I really should get in on that, shouldn't I? I'd meant to see what was going on with developing an alternative network, but... I had all these project ideas, and... I guess I got distracted."

[looksfine]

"I have been informed that can happen with many carbon-based life forms."

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony chuckles. "Well, we're not perfect, but I think we do okay for ourselves."

He turns the phone on and starts messing around with it. "Anyway, let's get you set up to transmit to this." He gives her the band of frequencies that the Pod is capable of receiving, and makes some suggestions to optimize the range of the signal.

[looksfine]

Aya, meanwhile, inputted each detail into her system, fine tuning a separate frequency that would be uniquely used for communication with Tony's Pod.

"I would like to attempt a test signal. Are you prepared on your end?"

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony finishes setting up the Pod, and nods at Aya. "I'm ready. Go for it."

[looksfine]

Sending out a distress signal when she wasn't actually under distress took a bit of...creative thinking on her part. But there was a manual override she had installed just in case, and it was activated right then and there.

Tony's Pod would have a small Green Lantern symbol appear in the center. Flashing and beeping softly. When he clicked on it, a generalized scanner of the area meant to detect her unique frequency popped up. The small, green dot wearing a white 'helmet' near the center was, of course, meant to be Aya's relatively location.

[highprofilerichkid]

Tony smiles when the beacon pops up on his screen. "Neat. Looks good on my end. We should make sure it's got enough range, too. Can you get to the other side of the city and send it again? Maybe... an hour from now?"

[looksfine]

An excellent suggestion.

Of course, without flight, it would take Aya considerably longer to walk. Even with near-perfect mimicry of mobile limbs and a constant, adequate pace. She ran some of the way. Others required more precise steps to be taken. Navigation of the terrane was not too difficult, though she was unfamiliar with the route from this elevation.

One hour and twenty four minutes later, Tony would receive a second signal. She was not to the edge of the city, but the GPS would indicate she was still steadily moving. Conscious. Only another test signal.

[highprofilerichkid]

As soon as Tony gets Aya's signal, he sends his own ping back to let her know it came through. Everything seems to be working fine. He's still worried about Aya, but at least he's confident now that he'll know immediately if things get worse.

Since he's in the lab now, he'll probably put the grocery shopping off for a few hours and get some work done. If Aya wants to come back and discuss anything else with him, he'll be around. If not... well, he'll probably still be around. When he's not sleeping, he's pretty reliably in the lab anyway.