❧ Flashback

[luministimods]

[After getting dug out, Nathan makes his way over to the general store, limping as he walks. He looks quite the sight with cuts, scrapes, and gashes all over his body (the worst of it is on his legs), and his suit is scorched, tattered, and just plain non-existent around his calves. He's even missing a shoe and looks a bit thinner than he was the last time he was there. But for a man who was crushed under so much debris, he doesn't seem in pain or anything; just inconvenienced.

Once he's inside the general store, he walks over to the vid screen, activating it so he can contact everyone's CAT devices and all of the other vidscreens around town. When he speaks, he doesn't sound strained, not like he has in any of his other appearances in the town and spacestation.]

I hope everyone can hear me and none of you were caught in that blast. I'm sorry it even happened, but--[He falls silent, his eyebrows knitting in concern.] There is much I need to tell you now that I'm here.

Please, meet me in the White Rabbit pub in half an hour. All of you. It's time you had some answers.

[The video transmission ends.]


Plot Details: Flashback

That was a close one! But thankfully, Nathan was found! Good job! Not only that, though, but something else was too. This is Nathan's CAT and it revealed a very, very interesting fact to Sophie and Fuu.

Yep, that is indeed the man in black. It's taken him a couple years to finally show himself--or rather, accidentally get recorded.

But you know what? Instead of me just sitting here explaining things, I am going to let Nathan do that for me. No doubt once everyone hears the transmission from him--and when they hear everything Sophie and Fuu have learned--they'll probably have questions. So! What a better way to discuss things than over dinner? The pub is unharmed, and Nathan is starving, and no doubt some people may need a drink or two.

All action and stuff will, again, happen in this entry. I'll make a starting comment with Nathan and we can go from there. This is kind of like a mingle/party post, so if people want private conversations with each other, you can make threads in this entry. In Nathan's thread, everything he says can be overheard, so people can bring things up again to him or threadhop, whichever works best. (Just in case, I would recommend tracking your threads if this does happen.) Also, if your character wants a private conversation with him, definitely say so in the subject heading! (And if your character wants a conversation with Ten or Wash, please say so too.)

What else... Oh yes! Those who lost powers should have them back in full now, and those gained them, well, you're back to normal. Balance is restored and all that. As for the town itself, the townspeople have started to clean things up. Oddly, things haven't been reset yet as they have when odd things happen. By the way, if people want to continue their other threads from the previous entry, you are more than welcome to do so! There just won't be any more searches for Nathan.

This plot will only last a week, so don't waste any time in getting to asking him questions! The sooner you ask, the more you can find out. When a week has passed (so until Tuesday evening), unfortunately, I won't be continuing those threads.

If you have any questions/concerns/etc, I'm making an OOC comment in here so everyone can use that! Or ping me through the usual channels~

Comments

[luministimods]

The technology was developed hundreds of years ago in order to study creatures from other universes in environments safe for both parties. They'd study them for a bit then send them home. However, like any well-intentioned technology, use of it was soon perverted, stolen, and sold so anyone who wanted to dabble in "studies" could do so. Use of the interdimensional studies technology now is only allowed under extremely strict circumstances that the government and otherworlder rights activists keep an eye on, otherwise, it's highly illegal and severely punishable if one is caught using it.

I got involved simply because I've been trying to find this man for years. The IST hadn't really been in use for some time as there have been other side effects of its use that directly impact us, plus the morality issues alone have turned countless people off it. Unfortunately, not everyone feels this way. The man who's done this, for example, stole some of the unused IST units and ran off, bouncing between different universes until he finally settled in this one. When this whole thing began for you and your friends, I was still trying to find him. It was only thanks to people like Audrey and her brother that I was able to find this place, but I had to stay hidden.

We both know how well that went. [He sighs.] I exposed myself here too much and not long after I sent one last person home, I was found and kidnapped. [He sounds rather insulted by this point.] I wasn't able to stop him doing what he's now done to you all...and for that, I'm sorry.

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk nods, slowly. It's not an unfamiliar situation, really- someone gets power that that they think puts them above everyone else and abuses it. He hopes that they can do something about it.]

In other words, neither of you are from here originally. And you're… law enforcement?

[He nods again, pressing his lips together.] …well. Thank you for trying, all the same. And now… what can we do to stop him from keeping us here permanently?

[luministimods]

I am. I can even show you my badge if you don't believe me.

[He leans forward in his seat] We need to find the materials he used to bring you here. They have to be kept in the same area as those brought into this universe, or else the experiment won't work. Once they're found, I need to destroy them in order to send you home once and for all.

[desertdaggers]

May I see it? [One side of his mouth quirks up.] I do believe you, I'm just curious.

The photos? Or are thee other things as well? [he frowns] Are any of them connected with why places from home have come here?

[he tilts his head, giving Nathan a considering look] And it's just you who can do that?

[luministimods]

Sure. [He reaches into his jacket's inner pocket, pulling out a thin black wallet. On the inside is an ID badge with his picture, the name and rank "Marshall Thanial" next it. At the top reads: "Interdimensional Policing Authority Taskforce". On the other side of the ID is an oval silver badge with four big dots connected to each other and to a fifth in the middle. At the top are the initials "I.P.A.T." and at the bottom is a badge number: "60510"]

There...are. If you're familiar with photos, there's usually a thing they're developed from--and that's the film. I didn't think he was using technology that old but...he must be.

[He nods] For safety reasons, it must be me.