Audio

[ethology]

Now that everyone's had a chance to settle it, it's as good a time as any to announce assignments. I won't do this every time, but occasionally I'll be the one making announcements on behalf of the governors.

[A beat.]

I should probably introduce myself.

My name is Sarah Harding. I've been here about six months. Until recently, I taught Wilderness Survival, but I've been reassigned, myself. We have a surplus of Fatemarked and not enough Sentinels to go around, so every hand's on deck.

I encourage all of you to introduce yourselves if you haven't yet, particularly to the people to whom you've been assigned. Here goes nothing:

Cissie King-Jones, I'm assigned to you. Let me know, we can meet up and talk.

Tony Stark, you're with Gene Khan.

Jack Metcalfe, Daniel Kinney.

Martha Jones, looks like you were specifically requested by Severus Snape.

Chase Collins, you're with Alex Marsters.

Malcolm Ducasse is with Brigid Finn.

[She falters over the next name.]

Ru- [...] Rumpelstiltskin - Really? - you're with O'danyu Mitnu. Did I say that right?

...Right.

Lastly, Tim Drake and Seraphina Mirandir.

I think that's everyone. If you have any questions about the assignments or the Facility, I can try to answer them.

Comments

[ethology]

My pleasure.

[There are a lot of people here, but it's not that big. Word gets around eventually, kid.]

You two aren't going to have a problem, are you?

[highprofilerichkid]

We already have a problem - and so do you. You should stop worry about whether we'll get along and start worrying about the fact that he's here at all.

[ethology]

I try not to waste my time worrying about things that can't be changed.

[Relenting just a little:]

I take it you think he's dangerous.

[highprofilerichkid]

Yeah, the same way I think radiation poisoning is dangerous. [In that everything seems fine at first, and then suddenly you're dying and you realize you were screwed from the start.

Almost exactly like that, actually. Solid metaphor.]

It can be changed if your bosses send him back where he came from and give me a new Fatemarked. [...Or, you know, send him home too. Even without Gene, he's not totally sold on this gig.]

[ethology]

Unfortunately, he's Fatemarked. Sending him back could be much more dangerous than having him here. At least we're trained to deal with dangerous people, even if they happen to also be the people we're protecting.

[It sounds to her like Tony might have some personal issues with Gene, but she keeps that to herself.]

I think this might be one of those situations where you're going to have to tough it out. Unless you want to be reassigned...?

video; locked

[highprofilerichkid]

[some personal issues? you think, sarah? you think???

Though, you know, now that Sarah mentions it - Fatemarked are supposed to be here for good, while Sentinels get to go home after a year. Even if it means he's stuck with Gene for a whole year, the thought of being able to go home and never having to deal with Gene again is quite appealing.

But maybe there's a way to have his cake and eat it to. Tony switches the conversation to private.]

Can I be reassigned? They said I couldn't because of this... 'link.' It's some kind of psychic connection, or something. They made it sound like I didn't have a choice.

video; locked

[ethology]

[A long pause on her end. She obviously didn't know about the link.]

Ah - I'm sorry. They won't reassign you if you have that link.

[Another moment of silence as she casts about for more to say.]

I didn't realize you two were - [You know.] It doesn't happen often. It's actually pretty unusual, as far as I know.

video; locked

[highprofilerichkid]

Yeah. That's what I thought. [Bitter.] You can always count on me to be exceptional. [BITTER!!]

You wouldn't happen to know if there's any way to break one of these 'links,' would you?

video; locked

[ethology]

I've never heard of anyone managing to do it, no. If you figure it out, I'm sure the governors would be very interested in your findings.

video; locked

[highprofilerichkid]

Wonderful. [The Governors got him into this mess, and now they want him to do all the heavy lifting on figuring out how to fix it? He guesses even secret interdimensional organizations aren't exempt from bureaucratic incompetence.]

Everybody keeps saying it's dangerous if the Fatemarked aren't protected, but no one has said why. So what's the big deal? What am I supposed to be protecting Gene from that's worse than what he can do on his own?

video; locked

[ethology]

Hasn't anyone mentioned the Trust to you?

video; locked

[highprofilerichkid]

Sure. No one's explained who they are or what they're trying to do, though. Do they want to take over the multiverse, or destroy it, or something else? Are they trying to kill the Fatemarked? Capture them and use them in evil experiments? Tempt them to the dark side? Clone them and start a moon colony? I'd like more than a sort of sinister name to work with if I'm going to be helping you guys fight them for a year.