ximilia | video; un: ratchet (post attack on palace)

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video; un: ratchet (post attack on palace)

[It's midday a few days after the battle when the feed comes to life. Ratchet is settled in the forest on the outskirts of the city, blaster pistol laid in the grass by his feet. Behind him, the trees are covered in scorch marks from his target practice... though truthfully, Ratchet was more interested in blowing off steam than working on his aim.

The race for a cure, the political intrigue, organizing a breakout... it was a lot of hurry up and wait while plans were worked out by those Orbers who'd proven themselves essential. The energy inside the palace walls was the taut, nervous kind that made Ratchet want to disappear into the middle of nowhere and shoot stuff until he got his head on straight.

He was still riding that adrenaline when he begins to speak, tail swishing involuntarily. Addressing a crowd -- even an invisible one -- wasn't in his comfort zone.]

Hey. Hi. [He waves.] Everyone's got a lot on their plates right now, so let me just say right off the bat: that this doesn't have to do with any of that. I promise, this is like... negative important. So if you're looking for the latest news on what's going on at the palace or in Yuryeong or whatever, you can probably skip this one.

[ There goes his tail, swishing harder. Yep, he was nailing this. ]

Anyway... We're dealing with a multiverse spanning AI here, right? Like, I get that part. But... isn't it a little crazy how many people here can straight up do magic? Like, is that a condition of admission? Because if it is, I think there was some kind of mistake when it picked me up. [It's a joke, but maybe not as much of one as he tries to make it sound.] I'm a great mechanic, don't get me wrong. I guess you could say I'm a wizard with engines, but I don't think that really counts when there are... actual wizards around.

[That wasn't offensive, right? "Wizard"? Sitting up a little straighter, Ratchet figures it's time to get to the point.]

So, I guess I'm trying to figure that part out. What did everyone on this team do, back on your worlds? Doctor? Culinary auteur? Unpaid intern? What do you think made the AI pick you for this?

... And if there's anyone else out there feeling a little powerless right now, you're welcome to come fire off a few rounds with me. [He holds up the gun with a lopsided grin.] It's not a magic wand or anything, but y'know. Still fun.

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[ that sure is a talking . . . something. okay. ]

Well, they picked a bunch of useless superheroes from my place so I imagine they chose me because I have brains.

Where'd you get a gun?

Edited 2021-07-22 11:12 (UTC)

Oh, you know. Held down some odd jobs, here and there. Looked after humans, for a while. Then I, uh. Ran an entire facility! The whole place. That sort of thing.

[ so. talking... animals? that's a thing. this place is turning out to be even more surprising than she expected.

she's seen people send out energy projections before but they hadn't been able to talk. ]

I am a doctor and a cultivator, both of which have proven useful for this venture. What is an AI?

( Okay, yeah, alright so this is definitely a thing. Eddie feels like he should probably have some thoughts but fuck is he exhausted to think any of this is weird anymore. )

I'm a risk analyst, man. So unless they got investment portfolios laying around that need a look over then I very much doubt it was my career choice that won me this one way lottery ticket.

Well, I'm a Charter mage and the current Abhorsen, which might have played a role. It's certainly been useful so far.

It's also possible that I was selected because I got high marks in school.

[Judging by the background he's seated near one of the palace walls. After a while here, he's managed finally to assemble something that not only resembles local clothing but actually fits, finally. And what can he say, he loves the hat.

It's been scorched a couple times, though, clearly, and the culprit is probably that cigarette in his mouth. Oh well.]

Been wondering about this myself but I can't find anything obvious in common among any of us so far. I guess this is as good a way as any to try and put it all together.

My world's mostly ocean, which I guess is different from everyone else I've talked to so far. I traveled a lot. Odd jobs from one ship to another, mostly as hired crew for merchants who needed someone who could shoot back if pirates turned up.

What about you?

[It's something.]

The gun? It came with me.

[The superhero jab makes Ratchet smirk appreciatively.] So you're like a scientist? I've noticed there's a lot of those here too...

[ he whistles. ]

Nice. You got lucky.

And naw, though I did some work in that area.

Being a mechanic is a valuable skill. I can think of quite a few times I would have been in a far worse situation without someone who knew what to do around a broken airship or an automated gate, where my knowledge and skill using magic is useless.

[Like, uh, when the ship just up and lost power last month. They could have died. Syr doesn't realize realize how much they could have died.]

Truthfully, I think everyone here was selected simply because when offered that chance, we said yes.

Lucky? [And here Ratchet had been thinking he'd been really shortchanged, coming here ill-equipped and lacking any magic or super powers. That's perspective for you.] Yeah, I guess so.

Did they let you bring anything to help you with the missions? Being a not-superhero, not-scientist and all.

Looked after them? Like...a babysitter? [Or like...grown humans?]

I mean, that's pretty impressive, pal. But what kind of "facility" are we talking about here?

Nothing like a gun.

Just some mementos. Nothin' useful.

[ well. the suit is but the suit is a secret. ]

[He raises his eyebrows, impressed. Mostly unaware of how strange he was to her, although in some smaller ways, he felt the same.]

Wow, yeah a doctor sounds really useful, I can definitely see why they'd want you along.

[He looks thoughtful, trying to think of the best way to answer her question.]

An AI is an artificial intelligence. Like a....computer or a robot? Viveca's an AI, I don't know if you've talked to her. [There's a beat where he realizes, that like many people here she might not even know what a computer is. Or maybe she knows all this and just has different language for it.] Maybe this isn't helpful...it's like, someone creating an intelligent mind or a personality that can act on it's own.

Do they have anything like that where you're from?

[The voice over the network sounded awful high strung for someone analyzing risk for a living.]

Risk analyst? Really? Tell me it's like...military risk analysis. Battlefield strategy. Building on dangerous foundations risk analysis.

[It can't seriously be STOCKS.]

Well, I can't imagine test scores having much to do with it. [Otherwise some serious errors were made in the selection process.] But the mage thing does seem like it's been a big help.

What's an "Abhorsen", if you don't mind me asking?

[That's a man who is learning to fit right in. Even despite...not really fitting right in.]

Just a bunch of weirdos, I guess. [Ratchet smiles, shrugging.] Ah...my world isn't like most people here either. Opposite of yours though, mostly desert. But we have space travel, and a lot of different people and worlds. So I guess that part's kind of comfortable for me in all this, even if it's different people.

[Being at ease with travel and new places and things, did seem to be a helpful trait to have.]

And don't sell yourself short, bud. I've seen your magic powers.

We do have a good variety, there's no arguing that. [Ratchet nods to himself, thoughtfully. With more organization and coordination, they probably did have a pretty impressively skilled group of people. The lack of direction just made it a little hard to see that on the ground level.]

We...we did say yes. [Ratchet's tone takes a tone for the less certain at that. A little distracted.] Is that weird? A bunch of desperate people?

[It's not the kindest descriptor, and an assumptive one at that, colored heavily by subjective experience.]

Then why let you bring them? It can't be random...

[He shakes his head.]

But you said you've got brains. What do you use 'em for?

[ that's a fair point. not one erik has dwelt upon. ]

I use 'em for whatever I like. That's usually how brains work.

( He is so high strung you might say Eddie has transcended into being perhaps the best for analyzing risk for a living. )

No way, I passed on global security options pretty early. I work at a bank in New York City, I just like data analysis and I specialized in International Business.

[ lance chuckles a little, feeling like this guy's words are hitting way too close to home to not have a laugh about it. ]

Honestly..? I was literally farming, before all this.

[ but, hm. he guesses that's selling himself a little short. ]

But uh. Before that, I was traveling around space, fending off an alien conquest trying to take over a whole universe. [ ... ] No magic, though. I don't think.

A bank. [Well, at least they could safely rule out extraordinary jobs being the primary glue holding them together.]

You must have one hell of a regret you wanna undo.

Weird? [Well, he wasn't gonna call them desperate but...]

Were Viveca's team any better organized themselves, I would consider it suspect. But I think they are not in a position to be picky about who cooperates with their mission.

[They are, also, probably desperate.]

That doesn't mean that we don't have the ability to work together in unity, however.

[Ratchet shakes his head, grinning, kind of loving that. The absolute ideal life trajectory, if you asked him.]

Okay, well I've gotta know how you got from point a to point b. So, important question...what did you farm?

It means it's my job to lay the Dead to rest, as well as deal with the dangers of Free magic and those who try to use it.

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video; un: ratchet (post attack on palace)

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