video

[clericals]

[It's her first post on the network. It won't be her last. Karen slides her fingers through her hair, obviously looking for a place to start.]

Okay, does anyone feel like they've actually adjusted to all of this? I know I haven't been here for long, and even when you know for a fact that there are aliens, when you've seen them come down and make a mess out of New York City, you just never expect to be taken on board an actual spaceship. [There's a nervous little laugh at that before she takes a deep breath.] But this happened, so...

[Karen looks directly at the video and smiles.]

So I guess I'll start. Uhm...for those I haven't met, my name is Karen Page. I'm from Vermont, originally, but I moved to New York. Hell's Kitchen - I know, it sounds like a terrible place, and it can be. But there's also some really good people. I work at a law firm there. I'm not a lawyer, I'm...I make coffee and answer phones and I'm the deciding vote in things like whether or not we're having pizza or Thai food for lunch.

[And it's worth noting that the more she talks about her life, the more her face lights up.]

So, who wants to tell me more about themselves? Like where you're from and what you do there, or anything - just anything.

[Conversation always makes for the best distraction. She catches her breath.]

I promise I'll listen.

Comments

[warandpeace]

I've had a few people I've thought that way about. [That they were amazing. Sometimes amazing assholes. But, he's already dealt with that.] For the ones that say they're not good enough, they would be surprised what "on par" would mean. An ordinary person, given the right resources, can do extraordinary things against seemingly impossible odds.

[He's a little biased, too. But the people he's represented are just high grade human.]

One man I've represented has access to things such as light-refracting camo, even if usage periods are short, and enhancements through his bionic arm. [The sonar and stun functions are helpful. Let's leave "rocket fist" out of this though.] So there are chances for enhancements. Similarly there are cultivated parasites that can allow the bearer to use similar camouflage. Also they allow for short periods of teleportation and the ability to absorb more damage.

Given the choice, though... I'd rather not be near any of those again.

The original samples were taken from another skilled group. They included someone with control over insects, and someone who could draw their sustenance through photosynthesis. Like I mentioned, still a notable minority. Highly specialized humans are more typical. What about the Avengers?

[clericals]

[Karen likes the way he thinks, the whole thing about ordinary people, if they just have the courage and can catch a break or two.]

All of that sounds amazing. I wish I could see it for myself.

The Avengers, they're everything from a really, really rich guy in a flying suit of armor to a god to a big green guy who can smash whatever's in his way.

[warandpeace]

He and his bionic arm are here. But the light refracting camouflage isn't.

The big green guy is here too. But I figure you already know that.

[clericals]

I'd heard, but I haven't actually spoken to him yet.

Have you?

[warandpeace]

Not yet. I just saw his warning about his angrier self. A responsible one to give.

He gave us ideas on how to deal with it if a problem rose.

[clericals]

I can't imagine how difficult that would be.

[The sort of thing that most people would want to hide.]

Daredevil is sort of like Hell's Kitchen's own personal Avenger.

[warandpeace]

Sounds like he isn't an Avenger for everyone only because he's localized.

No shame in that.

Daredevil, huh? I almost said that's a hell of a name, but then I realized how that would have sounded and I would have needed to be put down.

[clericals]

No, I think you're right. Before that, he was called the devil of hell's kitchen.

And for the record, you're always safe using puns with me.

[warandpeace]

I'm Japanese. You don't want to get us started with the puns. It's a weakness. [A language where no pun will go unexploited.]

I know there are several men codenamed "Snake" on board, and one called "Ocelot". So I can't say much for nicknames. [And at this point, he knows all the Snakes.]

My name actually means "Peace". "Kazuhira". Once I knew a woman whose name meant Peace, too. [A spy whose fake identity meant "Peace", but he can really only remember her as "Paz" now, not Pacifica Ocean.] Her and this professor of peace... I told them we should play a song that I wrote. Become a Three Peace Band.

[clericals]

Ocelot! I know him!

[Actual space cowboy. Karen listens to him with a smile, with no idea where it's going until he gets there.

She actually.]

Oh my god, you should take this on the road. [Which might be hard in space.] Your talents are clearly being wasted.

[warandpeace]

[He responds with a soft grunt about knowing Ocelot. In that way that they aren't exactly bosom buddies, even if he's found it in him to tolerate him more and more.]

[He'll always be pleased with his three peace band, though.]

Which, the music or the routine?

[clericals]

Both. Definitely both.