thirteen : to another galaxy [video]

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley swivels back and forth in her chair a couple times before she stops, leaning forward to talk to the console.]

Hey. So like, normally this is a message I would send privately, but we don't exactly have all those encryptions right now, so.. ignore this if it has nothing to do with you.

Who here knows a lot about where powers come from? I told this guy I'd ask some friends, but I haven't really seen them- you?.. around and I don't want to keep him waiting, you know? People fishing for information need not apply.

[A beat and Hayley glances over her shoulder to the direction of Mark's room. It feels weird talking about this, knowing he's next door.]

Also, does anyone have aluminum foil, potassium bromide, and bleach? I need some.. for a project.

Comments

[fearlessherosheart]

I was told something of the matter by the kedan mystics. I assume you mean in this world, and not the worlds of our origins.

[Tazendra is terrible about pretending things are private, especially when she does know something.]

[everylittlegirl]

Kedan mystics? Ominous much?

Who are they and how did you find them?

[fearlessherosheart]

When I first arrived, there was a wasting afflicting the turtle, one that affected the powers of the residents. I had sought them out to understand what could be done, and how I could adapt my own sorcery to draw on the turtle's life force.

It was the lady shaman, who I was directed to by the elders of the kedan, who answered my questions. The Turtle's life force generates such power as sustains our abilities, and our very lives on the Turtle. I would question it, except at the time this wasting had affected not only those Foreigners with powers, but the crops and livestock the kedan grow.

[everylittlegirl]

Yeah, I was here for the whole rations and everything dying thing, but I don't have powers, so I just helped with the crops.

Does the 'lady shaman' have a name?

[fearlessherosheart]

She was the learned Zihl, who lived in Wood Sector, near the largest of trees.

[everylittlegirl]

Cool, thanks. I'll tell the guy to talk to her.

[fearlessherosheart]

I wish you the best of luck.

[raavashing]

In my world, the Lion Turtles would gift humans with the power of the elements if asked for them.

[She probably hadn't been looking to ask him, but uh... he sort of knew a little?]

[everylittlegirl]

Lion Turtles?

[raavashing]

They're like the Great Turtle we're on now. But they're smaller. The size of the city. Just the city, not the rest of the shell.

[Still big. Just not as big.]

[everylittlegirl]

Oh.

[The Great Turtle is hard to picture. Somehow city-sized is even harder.]

And they.. teach you magic.

[raavashing]

No. They don't teach humans magic. They grant us the power of one of the four elements. There's no magic at all.

[everylittlegirl]

What do you call it then? Are you another superhero?

[raavashing]

Superhero? No. I've never heard that term before. And it's just... the power of the element. Korra and Aang call it 'bending'.

[everylittlegirl]

Do you save people you think are innocent from people you think are bad using this "power" without any formal training or governmental agency to support what you do?

[raavashing]

I... I don't understand the question.

[everylittlegirl]

Which part?

[raavashing]

All of it. I mean... what does being innocent have to do with saving people? And saving them in what way? And what do you mean about governmental agency to support me?

[backinakidflash]

Industrial accidents seem to be a big one.

[everylittlegirl]

What about dreams?

[backinakidflash]

That's a new one. Kinda. Native American rituals can have visions. That's kinda like dreaming.

[everylittlegirl]

Less visions, more.. woke up and suddenly had a power that wasn't there before. I think they dreamed of having it too? Honestly I don't remember.

[backinakidflash]

Some metahumans can just... develop powers like that. Like Jericho; his were natural. Something in his genes, but his file said that he didn't develop powers at birth.

That's kinda a big honking coincidence though.

And I can hear more than one person in my head telling me they don't believe in coincidences.

video;

[problematical]

Almost done.

video;

[everylittlegirl]

..What is?

Re: video;

[problematical]

Fixing the secrets. We're almost done.

video;

[everylittlegirl]

Oh. Awesome. Thanks!

Re: video;

[problematical]

You usually keep a lot of them. Secrets.

video;

[everylittlegirl]

Are you like, the Neighborhood Watch or something?

Yeah, I don't like splashing my personal life all over the network. Guess I was born in the wrong era, with MySpace being big and all.

Re: video;

[problematical]

I'm a good listener.

When should you have been born?

video;

[everylittlegirl]

You shouldn't be listening to other peoples' secrets.

Re: video;

[problematical]

I can't help it. Everyone's are so loud.

video

[sophos]

What kind of project?

[A beat. It's probably not aimed at her at all (the whole 'friends' bit would imply that), but it's a question she can answer in some capacity anyway. So she does.] If it's relevant - if a demigod has powers, it comes from their godly parent.

video

[everylittlegirl]

[Hayley can't help but be a little defensive.] Do you have any?

I know, Percy told me. [A beat, then she tries to be nicer.] In this case, unfortunately not relevant. I guess they just kind of happened one day and I don't think their parent is a god.

video

[sophos]

No. But I could probably find some of it. [So many resources in Keeliai, ok.]

[She doesn't react outwardly to it. Especially once she recognizes the second attempt.] Powers don't usually develop at random. Something out of the ordinary must have triggered it. [And she thinks she knows what this might be about, but she'll hold back on prying.]

video

[everylittlegirl]

..It's for processing photos.

They said something about a dream?

video

[sophos]

I know some kedan. Who can probably help you, I mean.

[A small sigh.] Sounds like Asti decided to make the rounds again.

video

[everylittlegirl]

..Thanks, I think. How much do you want? [Because clearly this service comes with a fee.]

Asti like.. the turtle Asti? Is giving away powers in dreams?

video

[sophos]

What? No, don't be ridiculous. It's not like they're a secret.

[Nod.] Turtle Asti. I mean, I've never really heard of him giving powers away before, but it seems like he's gone around to a few people.

video - forever late due to hiatus, feel free to drop

[everylittlegirl]

Oh-kay. Thanks. [Still so wary.]

That's actually really creepy.

video

[sophos]

Sure. [Trying to be casual??]

He probably saw it more as helping.

video

[everylittlegirl]

Because all we need is more superheroes. [She says it with plain exasperation.]

video

[sophos]

[She actually snorts at that.] Naturally. Powers are everything.

video

[everylittlegirl]

Like they aren't?

video

[sophos]

I've gotten by without any.

video

[everylittlegirl]

So when Percy said all demigods have powers, he meant everyone except you? [She can't but sound skeptical.]