IcePick91: Dude...while it sounds cool and everything...what if the SRA is just a hidden means of trying to get access to our abilities...and duplicating 'em? What if America wants to create the perfect soldier before everyone else...using stuff they get from us?

Mathlete21: I'm not one for conspiracy theories, Icepick, but if there's one thing the government has a track record for, it's taking resources and weaponizing them.  I don't want to be drafted, and I don't want my talents used as a cog in any military-industrial machine.
Mathlete21: The SRA is kinda vague in terms of what registration means, btw.
Mathlete21: Maybe it's just not publicly released, but there's no telling who keeps your personal registry, and who has access.  Homeland Security, the FBI, ATF, the local authorities.  If they become a matter of public record accessible through Freedom of Information it could spell the end of capes, though.
Mathlete21: And anti-para sentiment will grow when they're living not-so-secretly in your neighborhood.  Trust.  Normals like to put their heroes on pedestals so they can take pot-shots at them and watch them fall.

Laughter...  LOUD laughter crackles through the speakers of each of their chosen laptops and computers.

Decepticon396:  Man, not to burst your bubble...  but the government have had their hands in this shit for a long time.  Easily 70 years and possibly more.  Hell we would have lost World War Two if it wasn't for the group that was put together.  As for perfect soldiers..  meh..  I'm sure tanks and missles are still cheaper than making someone like Dr. Manhattan or someone that needs to spend years learning how to use their new abilities.  Besides, they tried to make a super soldier.  That didn't turn out too well.  I'm still not entirely sure where that went wrong.  His memories are still rattling around in my head but can't quite get my thoughts around them.  Anyway, yeah.  I think you're reading too far into this.  As for it being constitutional, so far it's just being treated like a handgun or driver's license.  Next you'll be saying you shouldn't need a driver's license to drive a car.  Really I think mostly what it is, is to save face with the voters.  And yeah, I'm with the Legacy.  Probably havn't heard of me though.  I go by Hotwire.

IcePick91: Holy sh--Damn...Decepticon...you're with the Legacy? Dude, it's like a real honor, man. I didn't realize....wow..damn. And Mathlete, that is some serious implications...I mean, some of us have families that don't wanna get dragged into this stuff.

Mathlete21: @Decepticon: Cool that you're w/ Legacy!  Are you guys hiring? j/k
Mathlete21: The SRA seems less like a drivers license and more like sex offenders' registration.  Unlike sex offenders registry, it's like paras are being criminalized for things beyond our control, and when most of us are good citizens.  Mark my words:
Mathlete21: If the SRA registry is available via FoIA, innocent folks who happen to have para talents will get lynched.
Mathlete21: Burning witches is what the normals do.

((Edit: colorized text.))
This message was last edited by the player at 15:13, Tue 22 Dec 2009.

WriterDude40: Well, the lawyer thing isn't as much of a problem. I know at least one lawyer who isn't going to like this one little bit, and I'm sure he knows others. Like I said, they're pissing on hundreds of years of my people's traditions here.

As far as the rest of it goes... I'm more worried about some kind of public-access 'This is where the paras in your neighborhood live, and this is the powers they have', like they do with sex offenders. Certain people I know would get swarmed with people wanting them to fix all their problems, and there's at least one guy I know who'd get a torch-and-pitchfork mob at his door. His particular brand of magic isn't very popular, and even though he doesn't abuse it, they'd be so scared that he would, or that he is and they don't even realize it 'cause he's got them so horribly mind-screwed. Not to mention just about ANY of my people living in the Southeast. If they're going to burn Harry Potter books, just imagine what they'll do when they find out there's actual frickin' wizards among them. It'll be Salem all over again.

Decepticon396: Yeah, sorta agaisnt my will.  Believe me all in all I'd rather have just been sitting on the sidelines.  Got myself a nice little mechanic shop and none of this would have been my problem.  Seeing what happened a few months ago in...  Idaho.  And what happened in Manhattan well I just can't do that.  And we definetly aren't too high and mighty about ourselves not to appreciate some help. :)  And definetly see your point there, Mathlete and WriterDude, if they can find out where people live and what they do, random public... that isn't too cool.  If it's just another beauracratic need then don't see the big deal.  And if someone doesn't want to register, probably a good idea to just not be caught.  I'm sure there are plenty of people out there with ways to escape.  Plus, if it gets too rough here.  You can always move to Canada.

IcePick91: If you know a lawyer, WriterDude, we definitely need to have some stuff clarified with this. That way we can find out what all it entails and how it's going to affect us. I really REALLY don't want to have to leave this place. I've been here all my life, and I just don't wanna uproot my entire life here.

Mathlete21: @Ice, @Decept: Not that it'll happen like this, but I'd feel more comfortable if the SRA fell under the CDC or the National Institutes of Health.  While they'd still require registry and would monitor info, that information would be sealed as personal medical data and never available to the public.
Mathlete21: @WriterDude: Wait...magic?  You're kidding right?  Holy crap!
Mathlete21: Actually though, that presents an interesting legal challenge.
Mathlete21: Feel free to correct me, @WD, but magic isn't something you're normally born with, not like a mutant power, anyway.  There's an element that's learned. I dunno if it's legal for them to make you register, since it's not a "power".
Mathlete21: OTOH, some states require karate black belts to register their hands--a trained skill--as a deadly weapon.  Not arguing for/against here, just putting out ideas for the room.

WriterDude40: What, run away and leave my persecuted bretheren behind? No way, man. And, yeah, Icepick, I know lawyers. They will definitely be looking into this, and they'll let me know what the deal is with this thing.

So, Decepticon, you say you're Legacy? How do you think your crew will feel if, say, a bunch of teenagers with good intentions started helping out around the city? If you want an example of our work, I believe the six-o-clock news had some good footage of the fight in Manhattan.

Mathlete21: @WD40: Wait, you're teens?  Wow.  How is being para in high school?  I suspect there's no Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters yet.
Mathlete21: I mostly work solo.  I have a day job and go to school, so I don't really have *time* to play superhero as much as I'd like.  Still, I try.

This message was deleted by a game moderator at 15:46, Tue 22 Dec 2009.

Decepticon396: I'm pretty sure most of us will be happy for the help, though admittedly Hunter will probably take some warming up to.  Just don't kill anyone, get close to killing anyone or break a hubcap off a car.  All in all though, he's a good guy.  Hell treat him right and he'll do right by you.  He and I went through a lot.  And as for Manhattan, good job.  Was hoping to speak with someone that was there.  The destruction and effects remind me about the guy I was talking about earlier.  Did he happen to give you a name?  I wouldn't put it past the government trying their mistake a second time.  The man I knew that did that kind of damage before called himself Paragon.  And magic is a mixed skill, from what little I've seen of Enigma.  Yeah you need to be born with it, but it takes a lot of learning, too.  And no problem, just get me a list of your names and I'll put in a word for ya.  All in all, Dragonfist isn't too bad.  Just too much of a boyscout for my tastes.  WAY too comic book theatrical type too.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:47, Tue 22 Dec 2009.

IcePick91: Being a para in high school is different...it definitely makes for interesting happenings though. Did you guys hear about the ice puddle incident last month? LOL

@Decepticon: It would be cool if maybe you could put in a good word for us with the Legacy. I heard that Dragon dude is kind of a stick in the mud :D

*from previous lurker status*
Rainbowgurl: *shrugs* I don't think it's a big deal.
Rainbowgirl: Of course, they already have so much paperwork on me that it's not like they'd get anything new out of some registration. So I don't think anything would change for me.
Rainbowgirl: Actually, I think I'm probably already registered. I should check on that.

Mathlete21: Anyone have word as to when the SRA info is being made public?  I mean the actual law and registration paperwork.  Before any of us sign anything, we ought to run through it with the proverbial fine tooth comb.

WriterDude40: Yeah, there's a learning element to magic, but it's kind of like, 'If I learn it, I can control it, and I am therefore safe. If I don't learn to control it, bad things will happen.' Either in the form of 'random weird shit' like what happened at the start of the Harry Potter books, or a big, bad magi-splosion that kills the mage and everyone around them. Not pretty, which is why all wizards are duty bound to train any un-trained wizards they may happen upon. If you don't, and our people find out? Majorly Bad Stuff happens to you. Like, Soviet Russia 'KGB comes in the night and makes you disappear' kind of Majorly Bad Stuff. And they WILL find out.

So, basically, I'm born with it, 'cause there is a genetically predictable element to this. Like, my family has had wizards in it for, like, forever. I think Grandpa said we can trace it back to, like, the Arthurian age or something. My ancestors were swappin' potion recipes with Merlin.

Of course, there are some 'random' mages, either from families who've been nothing but... we call them 'skips', but I think the H.P. term you all would know would be 'squibs', for generations, so we kinda marked them off 'the list'. Or there's the ones where the random magical forces of the universe pick a random fetus and go 'O hai, u can haz majick.' Those are always fun, but Fate usually conspires to have them meet up with a mentor.

Also: Hi, Rainbowgurl.

IcePick91: @Rainbowgurl: Hi there :)

@Decepticon: Yeah I guess nobody's perfect but as long as Dragon's cool...then I'm cool. I just wanna do my part, y'know?

So...I think we've got us a plan. Let's go over this SRA with a fine-toothed comb...have the lawyers look for anything 'fishy'...I think we can figure this thing out guys.

Decepticon396: I can see what I can find out.  Don't see myself getting much sleep so I might as well surf in the net tonight.  Basically the equivalent for me anymore.

His name flickers for a moment on each screen.

Decepticon396: Will stick around though, too.  That way as I find stuff, can let you know about it.  Going to read through the minutes of congress with the act being written up as well.  Might not be bad to see what didn't make it into the act more so that what did, after all.  Be a good way to see what the congressmen and women were thinking when they wrote this up.

Mathlete21: That presents another interesting argument, @WD40.  Is the SRA designed to register potential, or intent?  What if one of your cousins is born with the potential, but decides to become a CPA instead?  Are they still required to register?  Seems like a slippery slope.
Mathlete21: Another argument: What about non-powered vigilantes and the SRA?  Not to continue using the funny books as a resource, but a real-life Hawkeye would represent a much greater "threat" than the cousin I just made up for @WD40.  But because he doesn't have any powers--nevermind that he has a crazy arsenal and the skills to take down a bunch of paras--he doesn't have to register.  Strikes me as weird.

Icepick91: Hey guys, I think we're forgetting somebody. You know that one really cool gal...Meg...I don't think she has a computer but it would be cool to get her thoughts on this whole thing. Maybe the Decepticon might be able to 'acquire' some stuff for her :D

WriterDude40: Yeah. The Torch-and-pitchfork guy I mentioned earlier? He's an Enchanter. He can mess with peoples' minds, but he's so weak that it's only, like, subtle stuff. Like, he can't make you do anything you wouldn't normally do anyway. Mostly he just uses it to get people to chill out and tip their servers when he's playing at a bar. It actually makes McHaggis's bearable XD.

And yeah, this thing seems kind of loophole-ridden for guys like Batman. Hell, isn't Hunter like that? He's got crazy batshit insane weaponry and the ninja training to use them, but no actual superpowers?

Mathlete21: @Decept: If Legacy is ever holding tryouts, LMK.  I'm doing some good on my own, but I'm sure I'd be able to do even better with additional resources and people backing me up.

Decepticon396:  Sure, I can get her something.  *ahem*  As I'm sure you all know, doing this certainly doesn't pay the bills so if she doesn't mind not asking where the stuff came from, I can get her some stuff.  Small time stuff but I've been kindof busy.  I'm pretty sure I have a laptop and a router.  Can get her all set up with an account.  For something this serious...  where can I meet you?  I can have it set up for her in about ten minutes.

WriterDude40:@Icepick: You know not everyone knows who Meg is, right? also, I'm on it. Familiar for the win.