Video - Four days after Malicant's message

[highprofilerichkid]

[Malicant has made his move, and Tony has decided that it's time for the Foreigners to step up their game. Starting with their communication network. As Bakura demonstrated, the consoles are no longer safe from Malicant's prying eyes (if they ever have been).

After a marathon troubleshooting session with Akito, Tony has also concluded that if a truly secure secondary network is going to happen any time soon, there's going to need to be a lot more people working on it. His time and resources are stretched thin, and he needs help.]

The consoles are not secure. I don't know if anywhere is, but we can actually do something about the consoles, at least. I know there've been some attempts to encrypt the console traffic and a couple false starts at a secondary network. I think it's time to get down to business and get a fully independent secure mobile network up and running, as soon as possible.

Magic is too susceptible to influence, so this network is going to be strictly technological. Pure tech and heavy encryption give us the best chance of shutting out our nosy neighbor.

If you have any expertise with radio, electronics, or telecommunications - anything that might be helpful - get in touch. Engineering, physics, cryptography... Hell, if you worked a summer job in IT. I want you here at Stark Industries.

Also, if any foreigners from higher-tech worlds brought any stuff along with them that they don't mind giving up, I'd like to take a look at it. Electronic devices like cell phones would be the best. A lot of post-industrial-revolution consumer goods contain minerals and compounds that are hard to get a hold of here, and we'll need as much of those as we can get.

And one more thing: I've put together a dozen... self-defense devices. Nothing big, but enough to give you a few seconds if you're in a tight spot. Distributing them to the turtle parents is the top priority, but if there are any left over, it's first come first serve. If you want one, meet me at SI and I'll give you the rundown here.

[private to ALL TURTLE PARENTS]

The fewer people are bonded to each turtle, the more vulnerable they are. Protecting the turtles means protecting their parents, so you all get first dibs on the toys. Anyone who's interested, send me a message and I'll set one aside. And come to SI as soon as you can.

[private to AYA, RICHIE FOLEY, CLARK KENT, DONATELLO, and MIKE WESTON]

I'm contacting you all specifically because I know you have tech skills or because Aya told me that you've worked on the secondary network in the past. We need you in on this.


---


((ooc: For the sake of security, Tony will only be describing the self-defense gadgets in person. Anyone who comes to SI to claim one will be given the following information:

There are six aversive devices [remaining: 4]. They consist of a slightly concave hemisphere - sort of like a very thick-walled bowl - that fits in the hand. They work on a principle similar to the Active Denial System. When they are held with the concave side facing out, and a button on the side is pressed, they emit a ten-second burst of radiation that, while harmless, causes immediate and intense discomfort to any person standing in range. Anyone without extreme magic- or drug-enhanced pain insensitivity will be compelled to move out of range. The area of effect is a wide cone that extends out about thirty feet. Each device has enough power for two bursts before it must be recharged.
[claimed by: Enjolras, Annabeth]

There are six force field generators [remaining: 5]. These are devices are disk-shaped, with about the same dimensions as a restaurant pager. Press the large button on top, and they will generate a transparent force field bubble about six feet in diameter. The field lasts about six seconds under ideal conditions, but may collapse sooner than that if it is interacting with a lot of matter (e.g., if the person holding it is swimming, or in tall, dense grass). The field can be moved, and will remain centered on the device when in motion (in other words, you can run with it). Each device has enough power to generate one force field before it must be recharged.
[claimed by: Raine]

Both devices can be recharged at any console, or at Stark Industries.))

Comments

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony's grin returns.] Stark Intergalactic. I like it. One of the previous Tonys started the company, though, so I don't know how people will feel about me renaming it. Since it's not technically mine. Or this version of me's. Well, it wasn't, but it sort of is now that the other Tonys are gone, but...

[He shrugs. Yeah, if he tries to give the company a cool new name, Hayley will definitely kick his ass.]

Some people are still kind of hung up on how the other mes had things set up.

[theideaguy]

[If nothing else, Sokka is enjoying the friendly banter between him and Tony. Not only does it (oddly enough) help him work, it also helps him feel like he's got a common rapport with a new friend, and that makes this turtle-place pretty bearable indeed.]

What would they do? Kick you out of your presidency? You could probably start up a rival company, make them go bankrupt, and then rehire everyone as your own company. [Of course, doing that in all honesty would take a little more time than is worth. And probably a lot more money. But theoretically, it is possible.] Might not be the best way to get people to like you, but it'd let them know who's the boss.

[At any rate, Sokka assembles the last few pieces of his radio as they're talking, and, after one last good eye of the device, he steps away from the table.]

Aaaaannnnnd done.

[highprofilerichkid]

I tried that once, back home, [Tony replies, still smiling.] It's not as fun as it sounds. Well... Maybe a little bit fun. But also? A ton of work.

[He chuckles at Sokka's flourish.] Here, let me see. [He takes the radio and spends a minute or two giving it the once-over, checking for any obvious mistakes, and then hands it back.] Pretty good. You're a natural.

[theideaguy]

[Sokka chuckles along with the running gag. He knows it's not entirely possible or even reasonable, but he can't help himself. He can't help but like Tony and feel comfortable geeking out with him and making a few funny gags every once in a while. Congratulations, Tony; you're adopted into Sokka's circle.]

Well, okay, you've got a point there. Maybe it's better to do all the science first and then worry about changing the company name later.

[He waits to the side as Tony inspects his radio from start to finish, making sure that everything is totally fantastic. And when he gets the seal of approval, there is a slightly bashful grin on his face.] Thanks. I mean, this is a little more complicated that things I've worked on before, but I just have a knack for this sort of stuff, I guess.

just a reminder: Howard canonically built Tony a robot to be his imaginary friend as a kid

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony, meanwhile, is really enjoying having another person his own age to geek out with. Aya is a very good friend, but she's almost more of a mentor, and she's less, um, excitable than Tony. Frank is gone, and he's never sure if Hayley is his friend or hates his guts. And Gene is... Gene. But between Sokka and Akito, his actual-definitely-mostly-normal-friends count up will be up to what it was back home! Just to be clear: that's two. He has two friends.]

The science always comes first, [Tony agrees. He's always just done the inventing, and let his dad worry about all the minor details like 'cost effectiveness' and 'scalability' and 'marketability' and 'legality.']

But yeah, it looks like you've pretty much got a handle on it. Do you think you can keep coming in over the next couple days to help me and Akito churn these out?

I remember this. But Tony... ;_;

[theideaguy]

[While Tony isn't exactly the first true, blue friend he's managed to acquire since coming here, he is the first one that's not really from his world. Korra and Wan really don't count since they both are from Avatar World's future and past. But Tony... well, this is the sign that he's actually coming to grips with things and that living on the back of a weird just turtle is going to be alright.]

Can I really? [He pauses for a moment to stop being like a giddy teenager to being slightly more professional... emphasis on the slightly.] I mean, you bet I will! I mean, people actually get paid to do this for a living? Plus, if it helps us defeat the Creep Lord, then why not?" [Really, this is happiness.

[Though there is one thing he wasn't expecting.]

Oh Akito works here too? Funny I haven't really had the proper chance to meet him just yet given he's my sister's suitemate. Maybe I'll meet him here.

what a huge loser

[highprofilerichkid]

Absolutely. We need to make about fifty of these, so there's plenty of busywork to go around. [He laughs again at Sokka's continued disbelief that engineering and inventing can be an actual paid profession.] You bet people get paid for it. My dad is one of the richest people on the planet.

Akito doesn't work here yet, but he came by to help me troubleshoot the radios, so he'll probably be around. He's a techie too. Who's your sister? I don't know if I've met her.

at least he's a huge, rich loser?

[theideaguy]

Well, I can't complain about those fringe benefits, can I?

[Sokka starts doing the maths in his head about how long that's going to take. It's not going to be a terrible amount of time, but it's still going to take a bit. Hopefully these aren't the only two that are finished.]

Ah, gotcha. I guess maybe I'll meet him here at some point then. As for my sister, well, she's Katara. She's... not exactly into the whole science thing, so... there's that. Though she can waterbend like you wouldn't believe.

/lies down in a huge pile of cash and caresses it/ "at least I still have you, money"

[highprofilerichkid]

That's the thing Akito does too, right? [He can't remember if Akito had actually mentioned her when he'd been showing off his neat water-manipulating powers.]

Are you a, uh, waterbender too?

See? Tony's other best friend is Benjamin Franklin!

[theideaguy]

[Sokka blinks a little bit before his jaw hits the floor.]

Akito can waterbend? [This is news to him.] But... I thought... people can learn it?

[But he waves off the question.]

Yeah, no. I don't do any of that magicky stuff. Only science, logic, and reason for me. Well, and fighting, I suppose.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Sokka, you make the best faces.]

He said it was a boon from Asti, so he didn't exactly "learn" it.

[Then Tony grins.] Yeah, man. Science is the way to go. [Who needs magic when you have rocket boots?!]

[theideaguy]

[Sokka has been living with his sister for a long time. He's had a long time to practise.]

Oh. Man, why didn't anyone invite me here to the Shell when they were having gift-giving day?

[Because the universe hates you, Sokka. We've covered this already.]

I mean, I have to admit that I'm a little jealous of not being able to fwoooooooooosh-pew-pew-pew-zzzzzzzzzz fire and lightning out of my hands, [Sokka says as he accompanies the sound effects with imaginary martial arts motions,] but... in the end, I've got Boomerang, Space Sword, and a lot of brain. Who could ask for anything more?

[highprofilerichkid]

[Tony shrugs.] I missed it too. Honestly, I don't even know what I would have asked for. [He certainly doesn't want any weird magic powers, and he doubts that asking for several large crates of supplies from home would have been a valid request.]

Everything I need is up here. [He taps his head with the screwdriver he's holding.] ...Though having the armor has been nice too.

1/2

[theideaguy]

People got to ask for something they wanted? [Now Sokka looks kind of dejected at that, but really... it's on a momentary thing.]

2/2

[theideaguy]

[Because there's an entirely new thing to pique his interest.]

Wait, you've got a set of armour too?

[highprofilerichkid]

Flying power armor, actually, [Tony clarifies. Smugly.]

1/2

[theideaguy]

[There are no words. No words.]

2/2

[theideaguy]

Can I see it?

[highprofilerichkid]

Sure, [Tony agrees, with a troublingly mischievous grin.

Behind Sokka, an unassuming backpack sitting on the floor springs open, and within moments, it has unfolded and assembled into the armor. The empty suit steps forward, reaches out, and taps Sokka on the shoulder.]

Tony's just been WAITING for this, hasn't he?

[theideaguy]

[Sokka is awaiting for a much more grandiose display apparently. He's expecting some secret wall to open up and reveal some amazing display to reveal his armour. Little does Sokka expect that the grandness is right behind him.

[Sokka almost freezes when his shoulder is tapped. That didn't feel like an ordinary finger but a very metallic and heavy tap. Sokka's eyes wide, he turns around tentatively and practically flails for a moment before he finally takes it in a step or two away.]

It moves on its own too? [Pause.] It is... friendly... right?

he does this at literally every opportunity

[highprofilerichkid]

[While Sokka is busy being startled out of his skin by the suit, Tony has broken down into snickers. It's obvious from his ear-to-ear grin that he's pretty pleased with himself.]

It doesn't really move on its own. I can pilot it remotely with mental commands, but the onboard computer won't operate it autonomously. [Which is for the best. Trust him, Sokka: AI in the suit = bad times.]

Sokka would believe that AI suits are bad juju

[theideaguy]

[Yes, yes, you've had your fun Tony. Thank you for startling Sokka.]

Ha ha, very funny. [Sokka doesn't sound amused by the joke. But he does look amazed by it.] But wow! This is actually totally cool! Gosh, someone inside of this would look exactly like Toph when she metalbent an airship door entirely around her body and took down those firebenders!

Except this would actually look so much cooler!

THEY ARE. T H E Y A R E.

[highprofilerichkid]

[Why, yes, it is very funny. And the suit is totally cool, thank you for noticing!]

Yeah it would, [Tony agrees smugly. His suit looks so much cooler than just about everything. He doesn't even need to know what the comparison is.

...Except he does, actually, because that sounds really interesting.] Who's Toph? There's such a thing as metalbending? [Wow, shit, maybe he takes back what he was just saying about not needing magic powers. Being able to bend metal with your mind? HELL yeah. He'd be just like Magneto— except still smarter, and... less evil.]

[theideaguy]

[It takes Sokka a moment to ditch his focus from the cool robot thingy and pay attention to Tony again, realising that now suddenly he's curious about his own world.]

Oh yeah, Toph is... well, she's practically one of my best friends. Though for you, she'd just be a little 12-year-old girl. Who's blind. And probably one of the greatest earthbenders of all time. And, you know, invented metalbending.

It's in part how we commandeered one of the Fire Nation's air blimps.

[Yeah, if Toph were here, he would not be stroking Toph's imaginary ego like that. In fact, even across the planes of existence, he can feel Toph's head grow just ever a little bit.]

[highprofilerichkid]

Wow. [Tony sounds genuinely impressed. Being the best anything of all time when you're only twelve is a serious feat. And even if Sokka's exaggerating a bit, it can't be every day that somebody invents a new branch of bending magic.]

She sounds like somebody I'd like to meet. Was this blimp you commandeered one of the designs the Fire Nation [whatever that means] stole from you?

[Tony would certainly try to commandeer anything built from schematics that had been stolen from him. In fact, he has done exactly that before. Multiple times. You can't really patent stuff when you have a secret identity, okay?]