shieldsup | First Shield: A lack of unstable molecules...[Action/Voice]

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First Shield: A lack of unstable molecules...[Action/Voice]

[Action]

[Early in the evening of July 9th, Susan Richards wakes up in a very, very strange place, an unfamiliar couch. In YOUR living room. She blinks and looks around, extremely confused. When this strange, blond woman sees you...her eyes go wide she disappears, clothes and all. Astute listeners may hear the sounds of her feet as she gets up and moves away from you and the couch.]

Wha! What on Earth?! WHO are you and WHERE am I?

[Susan's voice is pretty demanding for an invisible person who just woke up in your house, and it seems to be coming from all around you, her powers distorting it.

Maybe you could help talk some sense into her? Explain the situation? Perhaps you're feeling pretty mad? Break time, go nuts! This isn't locked to anyone!]

Voice

[Much, much later, Susan's voice will appear over the journal after she's collected herself and gotten out of whoever's house she wound up in]

Hello everyone. This is Susan Richards of the Fantastic Four. If there are any members of the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men, or even anyone that just recognizes my name I would appreciate it if you would get in touch with me. Hell, even if you are just feeling helpful and are willing to share information, I'd really appreciate it. I've just arrived and I need help getting my bearings. I don't want to impose, but I really need some answers.

Also, if anyone comes across a blue jumpsuit with a 4 on it, I'd ask that they not touch it, its made of highly unstable molecules that can react oddly to anyone that isn't me.

[Her voice isn't terribly upset, more confused. Its not like she's never woken up in strange places or been in rough situations alone before. Thats...sort of what the Fantastic Four do!]

(OOC: Feel free to break time with the action portion of the post! I've got nobody in particular who needs to find her so she can wake up in anyone's living room that wants an Invisible Woman)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, my husband designed them to work with our...unique...genetics.

[She follows your lead and turns towards the teashop]

That's fine. Tea, coffee. Something strong.

Unique genetics? [Somehow that phrase combined with "unstable molecules" doesn't inspire much confidence in Pepper.

At the mention of something strong, Pepper pauses.]

There's also a bar, depending on the sort of strength you're looking for.

[That much, at least, Pepper can relate to.]

No, no. Coffee. I don't need alcohol right now.

[She laughs that off. A stiff drink wouldn't be BAD but not the best idea right now]

Oh, right. You wouldn't know would you? My family. The Fantastic Four? We were in an accident, exposed to a unique sort of radiation during a space flight. It changed all four of us. The suits adapt to the changes.

[She holds up a hand, and suddenly its invisible]

[Her choice. Pepper starts heading toward the Welcome Center then, with the teashop above it.

She listens when Susan talks about her family, the exposure to radiation. Bruce Banner went through something similar (though not in space), so Pepper's at least willing to hope the effects are--contained.

She has to take a second look when the woman's hand disappears, though. Pepper's eyes go wide, and she stares at what looks to be open air.]

Oh. That's...convenient.

That's not all. In recent years, my body has developed the ability to generate force constructs. Barriers, shapes, almost like telekinesis. I'd show you, but they're invisible.

[And she catches a sense of your worry]

Don't worry, the radiation isn't catching. It was a freak accident. We've tried but it cannot be duplicated.

[Pepper manages a smile as Susan describes her powers. Considering that Pepper's seen her share of powerful beings lately thanks to the alien invasion and the formation of the Avengers, it's not quite as unbelievable to hear about.

When Susan offers reassurances, Pepper lets out a quiet laugh.]

Well, I'd hope so. You are walking right next to me. [Otherwise they would have a few issues to address.] I was concerned, though. Accidents involving radiation usually don't have good results. [On the environment or on people.]

You mean like 3 Mile Island. Or...something else?

Edited 2012-07-11 05:01 (UTC)

Anything like that, really.

[Pepper pauses then, long enough to open the door to the Welcome Center and head in. She leads Susan to the staircase, then up to the second floor.]

This is it. We can sit anywhere; do you have a preference?

I don't, do you?

[Pepper shakes her head, then moves to one of the small tables. Once they're both settled and a waitress has come by to take their order, Pepper looks calmly at the other woman.]

So. I think you left whatever you wanted to tell me at "It's complicated."

[Susan looks down at the table for a long moment and sighs]

This may take a while. I hope you had nothing planned for a while.

[When the drinks arrive, Sue gratefully accepts]

I mentioned the SRA, right? The Registration Act. Its something that the US Government and SHIELD came up with. The first thing to keep in mind is that Maria Hill is the current director, Nick Fury retired after a good sixty-plus years of service.

A group of rather irresponsible young people with powers caused an accident that destroyed a large part of a town, killed a lot of children. It was a tragedy. So the government proposed this bill in response. It seemed reasonable, at first, until it became what it is. Basically, the bill forces powered individuals to register with the government, whereupon they are deputized as Agents of SHIELD and are mandated to take orders from the government.

You following me so far?

Nothing that can't wait. Luceti seems to move at a slow pace.

[Certainly slow compared to the fast pace of Pepper's life back home.

She leans forward, listening while Susan talks. The first part is simple enough; just a changing of the guard.

What comes next is harder to take. News of tragedies is never well received, and Pepper grips her coffee cup a little tighter. The government response isn't surprising in that light, considering how many bills have similar history. And the hidden motive involving SHIELD--well. Pepper's heard tales of that in her own world too.]

So far so good. [Pepper takes a sip of her coffee, then nods so Susan will continue.]

Good.

This...act, it divided the superhuman community. Mutants, like the X-Men, were exempt because a Mutant Registration Act was ruled unconstitutional. However, for people like my family, or the Avengers, it was put very, very simply: Register with the government or be arrested as a criminal. It also meant going public with hidden identities, a prospect that would endanger many families of superhumans.

[Now comes the hard part. She'll leave out her side just yet]

Two camps formed within the community. The Anti-Registration movement was lead by Steve Rogers, Captain America. He and a lot of others disliked the idea of heroes being used as a means to fight wars. They also disagreed that identities need be public knowledge, to protect families.

The Pro-Registration movement was...well...it was headed by Director Hill and Tony Stark. Iron Man. And my husband, Reed Richards. They want to preserve law and order, and protect the innocent from accidents like in Stamford.

[Sue swallows]

The Pro-Registration movement started locking people in a special prison designed to hold superhumans. There have been battles fought, my own brother is in a coma, and people have died. There are rumors that Tony and Hill have started using mind control drugs and nanites on former villains to force them to help fight this...Civil War.

[Then they came to the heart of the matter: what Susan wanted Pepper to know about Tony. None of it is exactly easy to hear; Pepper's well aware that her life doesn't qualify as ordinary, didn't even before Tony announced to the public at large that he was Iron Man. Even with those circumstances, however, Pepper's experienced more than her share of worry when Tony goes off on a mission. So she can sympathize with other people connected to superheroes.

It's harder to take, when Susan talks about Steve and Tony being on opposing sides. She likes both men--more than likes, in Tony's case. More than that, she knows just how important being an Avenger is to Tony. That sort of division would hit him hard.

But all of that doesn't compare to what Susan talks about next. An actual war, with prisoners, and brainwashing done by Tony? That makes Pepper's eyes go wide, and she shakes her head, horrified by what she's been told.]

My God. [She needs a moment to process it, and Pepper uses the excuse of taking another drink to give herself that time. She slowly puts her cup down after, folds her hands in her lap, and looks back to Susan.]

I'm very sorry you're going through all that. It sounds terrible. [And she means it, honestly. But her eyes are calm, because as horrible as it all must be, there's also one vital truth involved, and for the first time Pepper wholly embraces the theory of alternate worlds.]

But while I understand your concerns, Mrs. Richards, I'll ask you to keep something in mind: that's the Tony Stark of your universe, or however you want to put it. The Tony Stark here is from mine, and he hasn't done anything like that--and he never would.

[Susan's eyes never leave the table. She KNOWS how it might sound. And she completely understands Pepper's thoughts here. However, she never ever thought that Tony would be capable of such things even in HER world.

She resists the urge to comment, she knows its not welcome, and she doesn't KNOW this Tony. Its not outside the realm of possibility.]

Ms. Potts. Pepper. That isn't my intent at all. I'm telling you this so that you can understand my...well...my surprise at learning Tony is here. The Pepper Potts I know would never let some strange woman doubt Tony Stark without a reason, so I'm offering you the same courtesy I'd offer her.

If you are curious and in the interest of full disclosure, I sided with Steve against my husband and Tony. I have my suspicions that the Tony working with Director Hill may well be an android, a Skrull, or under the effects of brainwashing. That man is not the Tony Stark I knew. Something is not right with the situation at home.

Also, believe me when I say this: This is not the first time I've met people I know from home that are from different realities. I have been to worlds where my own brother was a mass-murdering dictator, and I've seen worlds where my family's nemesis was the world's greatest hero. When I learned you and Tony weren't from my world, my thoughts immediately went from 'Oh God Tony! to 'This is good. A familiar face.' Anthony Howard Stark is one of the faces I am never unhappy to see. He's saved my family's life more times than I care to count, and I've returned the favor. In more than one reality.

If he's anything like the man I called friend, then I'll be more than happy to become reacquainted with him. And you as well, Pepper.

[Sue takes a sip of coffee before continuing.]

[That earns a wry grin from Pepper's end. She touches her cup, taps a finger lightly against the side, so softly the noise can't be heard.]

I appreciate that, I do. But for future reference, I'm also going to remind you that I'm not the Pepper Potts you know.

[Because suddenly, the idea of being treated differently because of the existence of an alternate version of herself leaves a bad taste in Pepper's mouth.

Susan keeps going, details her side and her reasons, and it's comforting to hear a similar faith, even if it comes with at least one term she doesn't understand. Susan's personal experience also helps ease some of Pepper's fears. Still, she has definite concerns, and after a moment, she lets out a soft sigh.]

Alright. Thank you, for telling me. But I'm hoping you'll agree not to share this story with other people here. Tony and I aren't the only ones here from our home. So's Steve Rogers...and Howard Stark.

I did not mean it like that. I would extend the same courtesy to anyone, Pepper, not just you.

[Susan's eyes flicker for a moment at the mention of Steve, and of Howard Stark. THAT was a strange thing to be sure. Howard had died when Tony was young, she knew that much. Surprising. Unexpected. But somehow not worrisome.

But she nods all the same, a spoon floating off the table and stirring absently]

Yes. That's what I had intended to do. I briefly spoke to Tony when he contacted me on my way here, but when the SRA didn't ring a bell I dropped that line of questioning. He doesn't need to know. Or at least, he doesn't need to hear it from me. I trust your judgement there.

Billy Kaplan is from the same reality I am, however. You may want to speak with him on the matter of keeping it silent. Rest assured, I won't tell Steve, or Howard, but Billy is young, and has been deeply hurt by the events of the war.

Do you have any questions about what I've said? I know I've bombarded you with a great deal. And I've only got more questions, so fair is fair. Your turn, Pepper.

Edited 2012-07-11 07:50 (UTC)

[Pepper watches in fascination as the spoon lifts on its own; one of the powers Susan had mentioned before. That isn't the biggest surprise, however, and Pepper stares at Susan when she mentions an all too familiar name.]

Billy? [As in, the Fanboy. The sweet kid who does their laundry and cleans their house because he loves Iron Man that much. Pepper lets out a slow breath, then nods.] Yes, I'm definitely going to have to speak with him. [But carefully. Susan may know a fair bit about alternate timelines, but possibly not about alternate times, and Pepper doesn't want to accidentally reveal something about Billy's future to him.]

Not just them. Anyone, Mrs. Richards--Susan. [Since the other woman has used Pepper's first name several times now, she feels okay doing the same.] Tony has people he's close to here.

[She shakes her head then.] No questions, no. But another request. Howard doesn't know that Tony's his son. He's from a time before Tony was born, and Tony hasn't told him. Not yet.

[Hopefully the rest can be left unsaid, due to obvious implications.]

Yes. Billy. Wiccan. His timeline matches very closely to mine, within a matter of weeks. I would approach him with it carefully, and if you don't mind I would like to broach the subject with him myself, first. Just to be on the safe side.

[Susan raises an eyebrow]

Pepper, nobody aside from Tony and Steve has any business knowing what's going on in my world. I assure you, you've not got to worry about me blabbering about the situation. Truthfully, its a relief to not have to think about it, or to see Reed for a while.

[She takes another sip, raising an eyebrow at Pepper's request]

Well, I've never met Howard. I wouldn't even know what the man looks like. You don't need to worry about that. Howard was dead in my timeline before I was even born.

Speaking of, how long has Tony been Iron Man? And how long has Steve been thawed out? I'm assuming that's what happened to him, if Captain America is alive in 2012.

And please, call me Sue. Anyone who's over the age of ten and who's known me longer than five minutes does. [Except Namor and Victor, but they hardly count]

Edited 2012-07-11 08:25 (UTC)

[Pepper has to wonder just how much difference a few weeks can make; Billy adores Iron Man, almost idolizes him (at least so far as the armor goes). So is it because of the different time, if there's something Susan knows--or because Billy also sees Tony for who he is.]

Fair enough. [Although Pepper wants to ask Billy right away, she's already asked a fair bit of Susan--Sue. It's only right that she gives on her end.

When the woman tries to brush aside her concerns, however, Pepper gives her a polite smile.] I'm sure it must be a relief. But you'll understand why I want to be cautious. It's a small village. It'd be all too easy for a casual remark to be overheard by the wrong person--or even said directly to them, if for example, you don't know what someone looks like because your version of them died before you were born.

[She takes out her journal again, flips back a few pages. Then she'll turn the book toward Sue, so she can see the video of Howard himself.

It doesn't play for long, but at least this way, Sue will have an idea. She sets the journal aside after it's done, then does a quick tally in her head.]

Tony's been Iron Man for a little over two years now. [Not counting Luceti, as Pepper silently reminds herself.] I'm not sure about Steve. SHIELD gave Tony some information on him recently, but I didn't get a close look at it.

[That had been part of Tony's homework. Pepper just bribed him to do it.]

[Sue watches the video of Howard and nods. She'll be avoiding this man for the time being.

The rest of it doesn't entirely add up, though. Iron Man being new she can understand, but its the idea that SHIELD has something to do with Steve and Tony. Does that mean the rest of the Avengers as well? That...is a big change. The Avengers were founded privately, by Tony, Janet, Hank, Thor, and Bruce shortly after the Fantastic Four...]

Pepper, what does SHIELD have to do with Steve? And...if you don't mind my asking, who are the Avengers in your world? Some little things aren't clicking the same and I'm pretty curious.

I'm pretty sure they're the ones that found him. [The differences are comforting, easy to talk about. Pepper's very glad for all the ways that her world isn't the same as Sue's.] Of course, I don't know for sure. It's all "classified."

[She bends her fingers when she says the word: air-quotes.]

The Avengers I know are Tony and Steve, obviously, along with Bruce Banner, an Asgardian named Thor, and two SHIELD agents: Clint Barton and Natasha Romanov. Or, they were SHIELD agents. I'm not sure how things ended up for them.

[She pauses then, makes a guess at what question might come next.] SHIELD called it the Avengers Initiative, but it got cancelled at first. Then--well. The world needed them. SHIELD had gathered most of them after another Asgardian named Loki stole something from them. It ultimately led to an alien invasion, and the Avengers broke away from SHIELD, and saved the world.

[To give the short version.]

[Much easier to talk about here, just minor differences]

That is a change then. The Avengers were the ones that found Steve in my world. They were originally Thor, Tony, and Bruce, as well as two scientists. Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym. Natasha and Clint, Black Widow and Hawkeye? They're members too, but joined later.

SHIELD is a separate entity, created in the aftermath of World War 2 by Colonel Fury. Don't take that as a condemnation, though. Until Hill took over, SHIELD's been nothing but good. Things have been really difficult these last few years, since Nick retired, but I know Maria's tried her best.

[The last bit gets a curious glance. Aliens and Loki?]

I'm familiar with Loki. He's tried to attack my family on more than one occasion. Do you know which alien species he was working with? The Skrulls? Baluurans? Shi'ar? Chi'tauri?

[None of them particularly friendly folks...]

[Pepper nods as Sue goes through the list, the scientists unfamiliar. The origins of SHIELD she didn't know about, as the history of secret organizations generally wasn't a topic touched on in most curricula. And either way, the point still remained: those were the versions unique to Sue's worlds, not Pepper's. Although she knew there was reason not to believe every word her SHIELD said, Pepper also wasn't going to judge based on an alternate version.]

The last one. The Chi'tauri. [Although Pepper didn't enjoy recalling details of that incident. Tony had told her what happened afterward--after Pepper discovered the call she'd missed, when she was staring at the news, worried out of her mind for him.]

But like I said. The Avengers stopped them.

Well that's good. I can tell you from personal experience they're even worse when you visit their homeworld.

[Sue smiles wryly]

Was the invasion the first Avengers operation? Or have there been others?

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