"Bucky O'Hare, I quit listening to you an hour ago," Funnybone muttered as the Blue Bunny from Beyond Infinity babbled on non-stop.

Then, to his great relief, Rocket finally did stop.

"That was the most words ever."

“Right?” Sally nodded at Wade. “Bugs Bummer just goes on and on!”

She watched Sue don the Tallus with an approving smile. “How’s it feel, Sister Sue?” Sally floated over toward her new friend. “I live in San Francisco at a house near Haight-Ashbury. Magnus took us all in at a Victorian near The Psychedelic Shop. I actually grew up 1200 miles back East in a boring suburban trap. Y’know, the whole ‘Nuclear Family’ trip, total Nowheresville!

After high school, I couldn’t wait to leave Nebraska. I won a scholarship at Berkeley...and Magnus & his friends found me a few months before the Human Be-In.” Sally smiled sheepishly at Sue. “Sorry. I’m just blabbing on about myself. What’s your story?”

"Let's get moving, if nothing else, I'll take the tactical lead for now, unless someone else volunteers? Which I'm alright with." He says aloud "Mostly, to get us going, don't like it tell me, and well we'll see."

"As for Presidents? We had Michelle Obama, then got...eh not important. Though Nixon he was impeached." He says with a shrug.

While thinking on the Timebroker thing--he didn't think he'd died, so he wasn't ready to unleash all the feral fury on the thing? things?

He heads towards the Tallus. "As for blending in? Well, you'd be surprised. I can be very subtle." he says with a grin and a wink.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:00, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

Sue and Tigro both grab for the Tallus at the same time, surprising each other. By the time that Tigro can concede with a flamboyant bow, the Tallus has always been attached to Sue's arm, forming itself into a golden bracelet with an enormous crimson gemstone.

"Tallus activated," it confirms, in a nondescript but soothing voice. "Awaiting instructions."

"So far?  Like costume jewelry from the five & dime," she said regarding the Tallus.  "Is there an 'on' switch?" she glanced over it.  Continued conversing while looking it over:

"Far out, a Victorian! I'd go for that if I lived out there.  I've been to Berkeley, San Francisco, some other parts of the Bay Area. Cool place, so much out there." She frowned a little when it came to her story.

"It didn't start so well.  When I was five, my parents died.  There was a skirmish between two alien races; the kree and the skrulls.  Part of a city was destroyed. A lot of people died.   My dad's colleague and friend adopted me, and things got better from there. I had it pretty good growing up. Being a mutant had its issues-- but not too bad. I was lucky. Like you.  Our powers are mostly upside. But, those who don't look human - in my world, they've got it rough.    That's part of what got me interested in biology; mutant issues, and helping those who rolled bad on the genetic crap shoot. Activism, flower power, tuning in, being a superhero  - longish story, another time.  But, I did marry a brilliant, non-mutant asshole.  I moved to Ocean Beach for a fresh start once we separated."     

"Tigro, such a gentleman -  you remind me of Maximus, the maine coon cat we had when I was growing up." 

"Okay, people -  we're live.  It's talking to me.  And asking for instructions.   I am now taking suggestions and bright ideas...don't be shy! I know Twig Daddy's got something to say!"

"Sue?  Weird substance molding itself to your arm, I guarantee that has complications.  Trust me, thanks to my symbiote, I have experience with this kinda stuff.

You should focus on it.  Ask for the User Manual maybe?"

"The Tallus utilizes a natural-language and/or telepathic interface. Simply communicate your request and the Tallus will attempt to comply."

Gwen: "Groovy, I don't doubt it!  I want ladybugs instead of spiders, if my preference makes any difference."   

She considered a moment. "Tallus, we need to be prepared for this work.   Can you give us a primer, something like that?  Basic information that applies to our task? We're novices. And that means we're not sure what we should ask." 

EDIT- also I believe everyone can hear its voice. 
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

"Well, we might consider telling it where we want to go. If you were all Uhm...murdered, we could see if it will let us hunt them down, and find out why. He says. "As for anything else, I'm open to taking its lead, if it has one; as much as it may be strange, I'm pretty fond of leaping first, since I land on my feet, usually, figuratively." He chuckles deeply to himself with a rumble in his chest like the tigerish form he wears.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:20, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

“Timebroker already told us it doesn’t work that way. We could always test the Tallus and confirm that for ourselves. Find out the parameters and responsiveness of that shiny bracelet.” Sally stepped closer to Tigro. She leaned over, placing her ear against Tigro’s furry chest. “Say something.”

In reply to Polaris (msg # 108):


"What else about me or my world do you want to know?" he says. While carrying a quirky grin while his tail swings behind him to bring him close to the lady he is speaking to. "Don't think we've any talking animals at least that I've heard of-unless you count me and that's a long story or well Wolverine, but she's, not so talkative, grunts a lot, smokes nasty thin cigars and she keeps trying to get me naked."  He fakes a shudder at that one. So not knocking boots with her, ever. He assures himself.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:02, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

When Tigro spoke, his chest vibrated against Sally’s ear with his deep rumble of a voice. It reminded her of her Russian blue cat from her childhood. If Petey were built like a pro football player. “Ha-ha! That tickles!” She stood with a delighted bounce. “Far out!”

'It's rude to imply you ever started, Quill 1.  Now I know how we die.' 'And a mirror perfect from Quill 2.' Rocket puts his gun back onto his back, folds his arms and makes his way quietly outside the circle.  'I suppose I won't talk then.  Better plan around them.'

Rocket lifts an eyebrow and point at himself, pretending he didn't catch who you meant via eye contact.  "If ya meant me, I ain't got no-one to listen."  He turns away.
'Then again, I could re-obtain my favorite toy.'  Rocket's ears pop up and he lets out a short chuckle.  "Less dead or more fun people would raid an armory, and The Collector has quite the stash and security.  Skipping the front door and exit would be an advantage."

  Rocket eyes it, and decides to run a little silent test.  He thinks really hard at it, assuming it's range is limited by touch.  'Do you exist in parallel like the Timebroker?'

((Oh god, someone asked Rocket for prep advice?  I didn't see that coming. XD ))

((EDIT: Quotes.  Aaaaand wrapped up.))
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

"Error:" the Tallus' voice is briefly harsh and dissonant. "The Tallus cannot provide Mission parameters while Outside of normative reality. Please translate to normal space to proceed."

There's a brief pause, in which the Tallus emits an intense, throbbing hum. "Interface updated," it purred. "The Tallus has multiple functions to provide a support role during your Missions: intelligence, materiel, and transportation. These functions are restricted to prevent further disruption to damaged timelines."

"Oh, Twig Daddy, you're such a square!"  Sue supplied, rolling her eyes.  Her ribbing was good-natured.   Rocket was actually a lot of fun, and seemed to know a lot things that would benefit them.   She would enjoy playing ping-pong with him, so to speak.

"Very well, Tallus; I believe what we want is to be transferred back to 'normative reality.' However, what we'd prefer not, is to be plunged into a crisis without preparation, and knowing what we're doing.  Can we enter normative reality in some location that doesn't offer any immediate threat, and allows us some prep time?" 

"Acknowledged. Translating to normative spacetime. Error: Translation failed. Abnormal chronal signatures detected. Error! Error! Please stand by for corrective measures."

"Well, that sounds good." There were always kinks to work out when playing with a new piece of technology. This thing sounded kinkier than most. "I get the feeling that 'corrective measures' doesn't mean orthopedic shoes."

"...Maybe we'll be fitted with braces & headgear?"

Shit.  "Tallus...um, are corrective measures going to hurt?"

"Watching Star Trek tells me we're about to get launched into the past."
Abnormal Chronal readings is always a time-travel episode.

"You two are already from the past so it might get weird.  Everybody packed?"  She has her backpack, which (unlike her clothes) is apparently just a regular backpack.

“What if we head to the Future, instead?” Sally stared off, musing at the wild possibilities of Tomorrow. “We might even visit the year 2020...or further.”

Then, Sally stared at Sue with mild agitation. She wondered what the exotic device had in store for them. “Ask it about our first mission. Ask it where it’s sending us!” Sally flapped her hands nervously at the Tallus.

((Padding! All of it!))

'Yup, mental interface limited to touch.'
'The krutacking Timebroker is editing on the fly?  ...and I'm dumb, anyone could be editing it.  So much for lack of punishment.'
Rocket will look at his body, patting against a few rounder spots.  He winces at hearing her ask to 'return' to normative reality.
'I better not be a squirrel on the other side.'
'I wonder if original Quill, (now Quill 0,) would like Quill 1. I sure hope not.'
'Always assume yes.'
'Our crutch better not cram us unto an uncomfortably small space.'
'Quill 2, it already said it only answers that after transfer.  Because the advantage of knowing what we're doing, where we're going, and anything that resembles basic preparation competence is lost on that thing and clearly not in Timebroker's math.'

Rocket will fidget around as he listens to all that going on.  'Dumb device.'  "I assume based on the programmer you were supposed to say 'Send us to the most ideal point for us to prepare for and succeed in our first reality repair mission.' "  'Just watch, I'm going to get ignored and/or ridiculed again.  No-one asks the tech guy for help until after they break it.'

((Rocket, you're no beacon of technological health.  Just look at that safety d4 quote!  I recall more then a few ship transfers and repairs.  If ya weren't angry, you'd be glad she asked!  Unrelated, I only bolded 'crutch' and 'that thing' because it was hard to read in yellow.))

The Iron Fist may be good in a fight, but all this group discussion isn't his comfort zone. Having heard about enough talk of timelines and musical tastes from this bunch, Danny simply braces himself for whatever the Tallus is about to do next. Being teleported into the middle of some battle or perilous situation would be almost too much to hope for at this rate.

Sally:  "Tiberius Tallus said he can't 'provide Mission parameters while Outside of normative reality.' But, I'll try:  Tallus, can you tell us where we're headed?"

Apparently, the sky in this "place" is only a couple hundred feet tall. You know this because there's no warning between the humanoid meteor having always been falling, and the meteoric impact it makes on the hot, white sand less than six feet in front of you.

He's an elderly human man, in remarkable fighting shape, and he has the scars-- including extensive cybernetic components-- to show for it. He raises his iconic red, white, and shield and opens his mouth to say something.

You open your mouths to say something.

The world vanishes in a flash of light.