THE FRACTURED WORLD: ARRIVAL

[modormenace]

 

A

rrival for some goes all but unnoticed. It's a sudden shiver, the sensation of being watched... and then nothing at all. Life continues serenely as it always has. The only indication of any change comes with sleep, wrapped in dreams: vague and distant echo imagery of another life, melting away in the morning.

 

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or others, arrival is a sharp jolt. In the space of a single blink, they find themselves in an unfamiliar world, surrounded by the trappings of a life they have not lived. They are replacements, spirits taking possession of bodies belonging to people very much like themselves...

 

A

nd for the rest, arrival is a procedure. Routine. Those ported in to the Fractured World wake hazily in the comfortably dim light of the Porter room, laid out on an exam table. Their wounds, if they remember having any, have been healed— and even those who remember their own deaths find themselves miraculously restored. As they regain consciousness, an automatic audio-visual presentation is triggered. Regardless of their backgrounds or physiology, all imPorts 'see' and 'hear' this message as if in their own language:

"Greetings, imPort."

The voice is calm and gently authoritative, almost certainly selected by committee.

"On behalf of the Synod and all imPorts it represents, we welcome you to the planet Earth."

A decidedly non-humanoid robotic arm holds out a palm-sized device and rather insistently demands the new arrival take it. This is the imPort's comm, used for accessing the Porter's database of information, as well as the communications Network— though it won't receive communications from outside the Porter building until carried through one of the many Gates set up in a long, crescent-shaped array on the far side of the room.

As each Gate is approached, information about the faction it leads to flashes up on the comm device's screen. Which will you choose?

THE WHITE TOWER SANCTUM AURORAE KRAKOA HOUSE OF M EMPIRE OF LIGHT EQUALITY BEFORE LAW THE TWIN CITIES OLIN VALE EDEN SEEKERS OF THE NEW DAWN NORTHWESTERN IMPERIUM GREEN PIECE MAD BURNISH LUMINARY

Comments

[houseparty]

( Given that Jane Foster is radiating the kind of youthful energy only the strongest of imPort healers seem to possess, it's very difficult to overlook the differences. And when he sees one, well- the others start tallying up.

Stark's smile smooths away into something more serious, as much as it is questioning. )

Of course, Jane.

( That duffel gets a curious glance, but his suspicions aren't wholly aroused just yet, as he guides both of them away from the party. )

[bifroster]

[Jane follows him away from the party, waiting until they are out of ear shot before speaking. But as much as she trusts Tony, she doesn't know how much she can trust this Tony.]

Some things have happened recently, Tony. I … I need to distance myself from White Tower for a while. I’m not sure how long. Essentially, I need to defect. Or at least become neutral from all factions.

[houseparty]

( Jane floors him, and for one moment he feels oddly weightless, remote, frozen for the backhanded slap of betrayal she delivers with her neatly earnest confession. Stark tilts his head, eyes narrowed as if he's misheard her- and maybe he has. 'Defect'?

He doesn't know. How could he? Across the whole of the earth, an invasion- of sorts -has started, as quiet as it is accidental, and he has no idea. To him, she's the same as she was yesterday, even if she looks so much younger, maybe even nervous under her bald courage.

Oh, Jane. Why? )

I. Uh. ( wetting his lips, he drains his glass and it goes- somewhere, who cares, tumbling from his grasp so he can take her by the hands. Don't go, the gesture says, the platonic intimacy of old friends, trusted colleagues.

Back out in the gala, the nearest line of droids are activated, silently awaiting his commands. )

Thank you for telling me. I had no idea you felt so conflicted.

[bifroster]

[The regret is plain on her face. She hates that she is doing this—from what she can tell, he needs all the support that he can get, but … She’s heard things. She’s seen things and she knows that she cannot be what he needs. She can’t be what anyone needs. She’s a different person.]

I’m sorry. I really am.

[She squeezes his hands back and stays where she is. She fully expects a conversation, maybe even a demand to stay. She hopes it doesn’t come to that. Or she might have to tell him the truth.]

But this has nothing to do with you personally. It’s … it’s things I’ve done. It’s been building up for a while now. Maybe I should have said ‘vacation’ instead of defect.

[houseparty]

( he smiles briefly at her correction, a flicker of baffled amusement wrapped around something growing rapidly sharp.

she must be so thoroughly rattled to have blurted out the truth, at odds with his usual impression of her, the ruthlessly pragmatic scientist he's known for ten years. when had Dr. Foster shied away from her work? unless... what if she's working in concert with his wife? there's nothing to link the two beyond the usual, not any surveillance or contact he cycles rapid-fire through, behind his mask of calm understanding.

besides, it's not like she'll be permitted to leave, not after an admission like that. )

Is there anything I can do to help, Jane?

[bifroster]

[Oh, rattled was a good word. Because if she had been able to catch her breath and get over being horrified over what she had done, what others had done, she would have thought this through so much better. He will be able to confirm that, no, she is not working with his wife. Her intention is to prevent further harm and damage to anyone.

If she knew what his wife was up to, she wouldn't be leaving.]

I don't know. Not at the moment. But once I'm on some neutral ground, can I contact you?

[houseparty]

Absolutely.

( From a cell, maybe. Maybe, if the vicious curdle of anger will carry him through the Synod and his wife's machinations, he'll let her cool her heels for a year, just like Josh Foley.

One of his hands leaves hers, then comes back to close atop them, giving another squeeze. His brows briefly knit. )

You're not leaving tonight, are you? I may be able to pull some strings...

[bifroster]

[She smiles at him, glad for that. But hopefully, they would all survive this. Somehow.]

Thank you, but I was able to get in contact with someone. I have a ride in the morning, so I'm going to use tonight to make sure my projects aren't left in a state of limbo or something.

[Technically, everyone being locked out of the files and systems wasn't limbo.]

[houseparty]

Probably for the best then. I'll have my team get in touch with yours tomorrow afternoon.

( He bites his lip then, as if he has more to say but can't find the words, marshaling his response. )

You've been such a dedicated friend all these years, Jane. I don't know what else to say but... good luck. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[bifroster]

I hope so too.

[She hesitates. She knows she needs to get going, but ... ]

You've been a good friend too. I'll look forward to hearing from you team.

[Giving his hands a last squeeze, she pulls back and heads back to the main party. Hopefully, soon, everyone will be back in the worlds they belong in. He'll have the Jane he's known for years back and it will all be okay.]

[houseparty]

( Watching her go, Stark waits to give the order to apprehend. Whatever reason, whatever self-reflection prompted her change of heart isn't good enough for him.

She doesn't get to just walk away from the White Tower.

Jane gets ten minutes. Time enough to leave the Gala, full of imPorts and new attendees who don't need a battle raged in the middle of the highlight of the month. )

[bifroster]

[Jane, having just come from another world that was going through issues of its own, was still in the habit of being slightly paranoid. Not to mention what happened to her last time they were suddenly transported to another world besides their homes.

So, she notices that's she's being tailed a minute in.

Nine minutes later and thankfully, she's outside of the Gala. Ten or so stormtroopers are defeated, dozens of people saw that she could wield Mjolnir once more, but when she escapes, Mjolnir is not with her. Instead, it is with its other well-known user and she's made him promise her that he would ensure it wouldn't fall into the wrong hands, including hers, again.]