tushanshu | Video; Dated August 19th

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Video; Dated August 19th

[When the video feed starts, there's nothing but the side of a black chair, the man sitting in it was looking away from the monitor in thought. The background was obviously a suite in the Fire Sector, if the elegant design and the lit yellow and red hanging lanterns were anything to go by. As the man looked out the window behind him, he finally spoke.]

If any foreigners have new information regarding those that reside in the palace, I urge you to contact me as soon as possible. It’s become quite apparent that the Emperor is rather selective with whom she shares information with.

[That deep, penetrating voice was one of idle interest, which may have been because he seemed distracted. Finally, the chair turned from whatever had his attention. The man was sitting straight and he gave a guileful look down to the camera, straight at the viewers.]

It has also come to my attention that I am not the only one from my "world" as it were. Some of you may have seen others wearing similar clothing to mine. [Blue eyes with green flecks glanced downward at the Starfleet symbol on his black, long-sleeve shirt.] I’ll spare you the details of my "home". You may call me: Khan. [There was a dark purr of satisfaction on the last word. Having free reign to use his actual name for the first time in over year was incredibly satisfying.]

Many have called for unity amongst us "foreigners" and I am ready to do what must be done so we not only get the answers we want, but also to eliminate this menace we were summoned to fight. My combat and strategic knowledge are available for any effective measures against this essence known as Malicant.

[If he’s fully aware of what saying that name means, the only give away would be his eyes becoming lidded as he raised his eyebrows upon uttering the name.]

There is also the abundance of foreigners with powers and abilities above and beyond the limits of baseline individuals. If a list has been made of these beings and their known capabilities, I request a copy if possible.

[A beat filled with an almost imperceptible squint.]

Thank you for your time, that is all.

[95% Encryption; Pepper Potts]

I believe Stark Industries is the leading force in technological advancement in Keeliai. Ms. Potts, I would like a tour of your facilities and a description for each of the positions you have available; and the ones that are not. I believe you'll find my extensive knowledge of technology to be an asset. Even to the considerable pool of intellect currently in your employ.

[100% Starfleet Encryption; Jim Kirk, Spock.]

Contact me as soon as possible. Whether it is over the network or in person does not matter to me.

[He leaned forward in his chair]

I imagine we both have questions that need answers.

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[While he would like to press that issue further, especially by her facial expression, Khan merely logged that away for another time. His brow furrowed in polite interest at the mention of her home world. A strict contrast to what Khan and his crew were doing before their exile.]

Of course not. Why place a valuable chip in the brain of an acquired weapon? You are here and you will fight the threat she fears. It’s a simple tune, but we are already tapping our feet by simply being here against our will.

[His eyebrow sharply raises for an instant as he looks from his console back to Ororo.]

Is this something the X-Men are comfortable with?

[His question was polite, but his tone was penetrating and not unlike a tiger’s lazy, growling yawn. Khan knows little about the X-Men aside from what is provided on the network which mostly pertains to those that have responded to the network shout outs.]

[That stops her easy retort -- a play and counter on the chip-protocol that the Weapons X program utilised and the fact that those chips were the only things keeping the humans in charge.

Ororo grows silent, disliking the ease with which he uses the title. It edges into personal territory for her, as well as for others here. The Professor, Victor, Rogue... no, she's gone. But Santo, Kurt, even Namorita has some influence or attachment to the X-Men concept and she's not sure she likes how quickly he's picked up on it existing.]

The X-Men are comfortable with what helps people. [Her reply is very careful, but not without a venomous undercurrent that near declares how protective she is of the group.] Maybe you're familiar with the concept? Helping? [Her arms tighten further over her chest.] Or is spouting names and stupid questions all you're good for?

[Her mouth is a thin line of displeasure now.]

And, for the record? That chip saved a lot of humans from dying for their stupidity. Maybe the Emperor's just smarter than them.

[Tiny warning? Tiny warning. Ororo's really unnerved by all his questions and commentary. He doesn't ask questions with genuine curiosity, but with a pressure to his voice that demands things. It's a really poor PR skill, maybe, but it's bugging her hardcore.]

[There had been minimal information in regards to Weapon X that Khan found on the network, but the little that he came across involved her and a Logan that seemed to have returned home. Mention of the X-Men however, was numerous and provided him with much more insight.]

Helping. [A derisive grin sliced its way onto his face.] Perhaps your righteous ire over a standard list blocked out the offer I made of my services to any plans against our common enemy.

[A calm, mocking tone as he took in her information in regards to the Weapon X program’s chip. Control like that wasn’t something he had ever used, and likely wouldn’t. It would take away all the enjoyment from brutally crushing others under his heel on the path to dominance he once walked.]

Since the X-Men and the Emperor’s wishes coincide, then there’s no reason to doubt her. You are aware that she does not expect many of us to survive? Your friends included. Should you find a certain Vulcan, I believe he would be delighted to tell you the calculated chance of being intact if we are successful.

[Ororo falls silent, her posture adopting a more petulant curve. It's true; she tunnel-visioned at the mention of a list because it set off all sorts of warning bells about her personal safety if the wrong people got a hold of it. Add in the calling of M-demort's name and she blocked out everything else for the sake of ripping a strip off the idiot new kid -- the problem turning out to be that he's no idiot.]

Yeah, helping, but not in a way that's going to make up a to-kill list for the first person who gets it and has a vendetta against post humans.

[It's a defensive statement, with emphasis on the last two words. She's on suddenly thin ice and realising that's only made her wit sharpen even as her ammunition runs low.]

And that's supposed to scare me? [A huff of air expelled quickly between her lips. It does, sure; still, she's risked her life plenty of times.] Whatever. When it's time, I'll bring the rain and it'll regret it.

[The conviction's not as strong as it needs to be; Ororo's not that Ororo, but she can, as stated, bring the rain. Too bad Malicant's not the Wicked Witch of the West.]

What're you going to do? Aggravate it to death?

[Looking away, Khan gave a sigh that barely masked the breath of a laugh. His tone was low and gently derogatory.]

Ms. Munroe, please. There are hardly enough baseline foreigners to fill up a one floor suite. Hardly an uprising in the making.

[A beat.]

But allow me to indulge your mutant need to be preyed upon. The Emperor has the means to stop any foreigner and has even threatened some over the network in her fits of displeasure over their “doing what’s right”. Do you think she would tolerate a war amongst outsiders in what she would claim as her realm?

[A trickle of amusement came over his face, his blue-green eyes were as ominous as ever.]

I shall follow the Emperor’s example and do whatever is necessary to eliminate it.

[Whatever meaning was behind those words, his throat coated it with a dark resolve. Idly, he took a sip from a clear cup of water.]

All it takes is one.

[One maniac. One evil genius. One guy with a gun. One meta with a mind to kill. Ororo's lived with the same paranoia that most of her generation of post humans has and that means it just takes one.

Her arms tighten about her and her gaze is off to the side, unwilling to admit any wavering of her conviction. Her brow is still angled down in stark line of disagreement, maybe out of form -- maybe out of fear to show the slightest change. Appearances are often all she has and she is loathe to give them up.]

Do you think she'd side with the ones that were right? That bitch is crazy. [A huff of breath.] She'd probably let us burn because we broke her precious turtle.

[A look to the screen. Ororo may be running on attitude at this point, but it's poignant enough to lend her a dark look just for him.]

And you? You'd follow that example?

You mean the precious turtle that is empowering your abilities and sustains all those living on it, not just yourself?

[If there was anything Khan was glad to learn of on the network, it was that he had not arrived during the time that Tu Vishan's health took a turn for the worse and foreigners were all set to baseline. Thankfully, many bemoaned about it endlessly on the network, which gave him fair warning what would happen should it's health wane again.]

Anything less than success means that no one is left alive Ms. Munroe. The stakes are worth so much more than skirting the multifaceted morality of the melting post we have. Doing so wastes valuable time.

Yeah, and it happened when we were protecting it. But she still bitched us out for it.

[She snaps that off on stubborn instinct, throwing her hands up in the air and turning half away from the console. This Khan is frustrating her and unsettling her, a combination that she does not like at all.]

That's not an answer. That's you saying you'd do anything to win and in my books? That means you'd sacrifice anyone to win. Am I right?

[A frustrated challenge as she tries to figure out his angle. His moral compass. Anything that could allow her to place him in some niche of life she understands.]

[Whatever preferences Eshai had for handling the turtle were was something Khan would delve into later, but for now he let the subject drop. Judging from some of the kedan laws, she could have simply been put off because not everyone was wearing blue while protecting it.]

Any who are willing to lay their lives on the line to combat it, yes. Wars are fought with casualties on both sides Ms. Munroe and we have been drafted into one. Those who are not going to be a part of it should seek refuge with the kedan when it happens.

[The casual way he spoke, he could have been discussing the differences between black tea, green tea, and lemon tea.]

Way to sound like we're a lost cause.

[A bitter tone takes her there and she, for one, does not sound like she's discussing the finer points of tea.]

We're not dead yet and, sure, people die in war, but the real way to plan's to figure how to survive. Not how to kill everyone that can hold a gun.

If that plan is ever made, I’d like to take a look at it. [The nod he gave a was too polite, bordering on mockery.] Ms. Munroe.

[And his video feed ended.]

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Video; Dated August 19th

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