taxonomites | || 004 || [Voice] - There's a hole in the world tonight

The Extras are acting oddly as well, Mr. Stark.

...more oddly than usual.

In what way? And glad you mentioned that, because I was about to say, they act oddly most of the time.

[If she's offended, her voice gives no sign.]

It's as if they've forgotten the few things they knew how to do. They're just... wandering. Sometimes clumping together, like they're waiting. [It's more than a little eerie.] When you try to talk to one, they usually spout off some meaningless pleasantries, but now it's like talking to a stone instead of a puppet.

Waiting?

What are they waiting for, I wonder? There must be something... Something that we haven't seen just yet. Because obviously the end of the world can't come in one huge sweep.

No, it has to be dragged out and we have to be left guessing until everything's over.

Well, perhaps we should have known, with the fucking ghosts everywhere, [she mutters].

But I thought you should know.

[ Sounds cheerful enough, though there's an undertone of frustration in there as well. ]

Naw, they're shockin' plenty on my end, too, every time I hatch somethin' out. [ Which blows because she needs resources for some of this stuff she's trying to finish, gdit. ] Most everythin's prepped, though. Helpin' Piper move food in soon.

Puts a wrench in your work, doesn't it? That's becoming a headache on my end too.

I took a look at those bunkers, and they looked great, but needed a few tweaks. Now, I think they're well on the way to becoming exactly what we need.

Mm. And a little bit more of one than I'd like.

[ Is that relief in her voice? Maybe. ] 'M glad to hear it. You got a list of the specifics that need to be changed up for me, then?

[[ OoC: And this is the part where you can just BS and insert-blank-here and all that good stuff @_@ ]]

I'm not trying to be a downer, but it doesn't look as though things will be getting any better.

Yeah. I've got a few things right here. Now, there's not a lot that needs to be worked on, which is good. But there could be more storage for emergency supplies. Oh, and the doors and ventilation should be looked at again.

Don't mean we can't hope it does. [ She's determined to keep her chin up about it, despite how tired and busy she's gotten. Somebody around here's got to. ]

Storage we got more'n enough of in some places, but others wouldn't hurt so much. I'll get to the doors 'n ventilation soon as I can.

Yeah. Keeping our morale up is important.

Good. Other than that, everything is looking fine. I think if something ends up happening, we'll be in pretty good shape to wait it out.

If morale don't stay up, people start givin' up. [ It's clear by her tone that she knows that from experience. No repeats of Out of Gas, please. ]

Glad to hear it. Just hope we've got the right things prepared.

Exactly.

We're on the right track, from the looks of things. Well, that's assuming that the hamsters don't throw anything else unexpected our way.

We can only hope they don't, though from past experiences with 'em it's hard to say. Just prayin' we made the right adjustments to the right places.

We're okay so far, we probably have the most comfortable house in the city right now. The thing with the hatches is pretty annoying, though, a-and with the sun staying out I have no idea what time it is at this point.

Glad to hear it. Guess the end of the world really is upon us. Wonderful.

I don't even want to think what else might be coming later. If anything is.

I've spent so much time worrying about my own world getting destroyed that...well, I've got a few ideas that I wish I didn't.

I just wish I could do more, you know?

We all wish that.

But we're doing everything we can, which isn't much. Not much at all.

Just gotta wait for the next hoop they have us jump through, I guess. [A sigh of frustration.] If only the Doctor had stuck around long enough to do that brain-replacement thingy, I know I'd be more helpful.

Oddly enough, being reduced to acting like a dog doing tricks never sat well with me.

Brain replacement thingy?

Me either. [Lapdog for royalty was one thing, but giant rodents? Nuh uh.]

Ah, well...f-for me. He was making a synthetic brain to make up for the missing half of mine but--well he's gone now so I'm back to square one on that.

Well, I've headed up some ambitious projects before, but nothing as ambitious as building a brain...

Did he leave any notes or anything behind when he left?

Yeah, it's kind of a unique case. [Even in the O.Z. the idea of reversing a headcasing would be absolutely unheard of.]

I dunno, I've got one schematic draft and and he said there was a prototype but we never got a chance to try it. Usually when folks are sent away all their stuff goes with them, but...who knows. M-maybe after this is over we can look.

[One wacky crisis at a time.]

Not the first thing that came to mind, but it works.

If we come through this world-ending thing, I want to look at the draft, and the prototype.

[There is a pause, as much apprehension had surrounded the Doctor's work. But Tony was different (DG liked him, for starters) so maybe this time would be better.]

I'll see what I can get together for that. You may need to remind me but...I'd like to look into it. Thank you.

Hatches?

[Forgive him, the guy's still learning about this new-fangled technomagics you got going here.]

Yeah. Hatches.

The things we use to get stuff we need. They're not working right, at least not right now.

You get something from one, you get shocked. Normally that doesn't happen unless you've used up every cent of your monthly allowance.

[In Gump's book - not that he actually owns one - being short is sometimes preferable to its counterpart, especially if it comes with such valuable information. So far, Gump considers himself lucky. He has yet to use a hatch, and the heat isn't nearly bothering him as much as it does the mortals.]

I see. Forgive my ignorance, I meant none. I have been here for but a short time, yet ignorance seems to be what I am continually reduced to.

Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Too bad you arrived at a time like this, though. As I'm sure you can tell, the current situation isn't exactly the best.

I would imagine not. 'Tis warmer than the very height of summer...

[A tangent comes next, during which Gump's voice turns thoughtful, though it remains soft and ever so slightly wheezy; almost like the rustle of wind through foliage]

You think this the work of our captors? To vex their pets, or something more alarming still?

It's got to be the aliens' handiwork. I doubt that this is normal, since the people who have been here longer are just as surprised as the rest of us who just arrived.

And about that, I don't know. Sure, I have guesses, but until something shows up to convince me otherwise, I'm going with the theory that this is all meant to test us.

A test... Or, perhaps whatever evil it is that keeps us captive has finally made some fatal mistake. It is my experience that such things happen, even when the world is at its darkest hour.

[Yes, Gump's voice seems to say. It's picking up pace, or spirit, perhaps more likely.]

Especially when that hour has struck.

Last time the hamsters reared their oversized heads, they seemed to think they were funny enough. Wouldn't be surprised if their sitting in their chairs laughing right now.

If they're laughing, then they're lucky no one can find them.

This isn't funny, not in the least.

I agree. What I would give to be able to give those alien bastards a piece of my mind.

If we survive this, staging some sort of retaliative effort against them is going to be pretty high up on my list.

Man, you do this? Count me in. I've been stuck in this hellhole for over a year. I'd love to give them a good piece of my mind.

Great. I was half expecting you to say I was delusional to even think that doing anything against them was possible, but since you haven't, I'll see what I can come up with.

I'm all right. But I don't like waiting around to find out what the hamsters are going to do next.

Glad to hear it.

And me neither, but I'm trying to stay busy by working on the bunkers. That and stopping by occasionally to keep updated on Glitch's progress.

I didn't realise he'd already started. And you never explained exactly what it was you needed him to do.

Yeah, I guess he works faster than I thought. No complaints here though.

We talked it over, compared elements from both of our respective worlds, and decided that creating a compound from lurlinium and palladium would be a good first step.

I'm surprised he hasn't mentioned it to you; he said something about needing a spellcaster's direction.

I guess he got a bit distracted by the start of the end of the world.

If you need a spellcaster, you should ask Piper and Tara as well. I'm still trying to work out what my powers are.

That's as good a reason as any, I guess.

I guess I could ask them, but since I've only spoken with Piper once or twice, I might feel more comfortable asking you. But I do need someone who's in control of their powers... No offense meant, of course.

[Of course, Glitch was frequently distracted by other things, but ... that wasn't the point.]

None taken.

[Her voice was perfectly sincere, even if Tony couldn't see her smile.]

I could ask them for you? I know you can trust them.

And magic can be stronger when people are working together. It might take all three of us.

Good.

If it's not too much trouble, that would actually be really great.

[Unfortunately, DG can be a little too trusting. Act or not, she'd said that she'd help and she wouldn't stop now.]

Do they have magic in your world?

No, not in the sense I think you're thinking. There's people who say they can use magic, but they just mean exaggerated performances where things blow up and you're never quite sure what's happening. That's not real magic.

Care to explain the type of magic found where you're from?

That's what it was like in Kansas. Magicians and fireworks and slight of hand. I only found out about magic - real magic - a few months ago. I know people in the O.Z can use magic to move objects or transport people. Some people can even change shape.

|| 004 || [Voice] - There's a hole in the world tonight

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[ voice ] - sorry for the delete/repost

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[voice] - I've started watching Tin Man, and omg your Glitch is awesome.

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