1 🐻 VIDEO / UN: BEAR

[accelerate]

[ barry flicks his phone on, holding it with one hand as he presses his fingers hard against his temple. he doesn't let up on placing pressure on his forehead, rubbing it as he's got a migraine. ]

Hey … guys.

I'm Barry. Barry Allen. And, uh, sorry — I can't really get to everyone on the ship to let you know what's going on, because I don't really know everyone, so … sorry if I'm endangering you right now because I don't know if aliens are really good with smart phones? I'm still waiting for the E.T. sequel.

[ he's quick to defend: ]

No offense Kara. Also, hey! Sorry, I've been meaning to call you.

[ he clears his throat. anyway … ]

Speaking of E.T., we kind of have a visitor on the ship? I think he's not really like E.T., so maybe I should call him Alien and Predator or something instead. He's not really here in peace …

[ he rubs his head, feeling a pounding where the bullet had torn through his skin. he winces, closing his eyes for a very quick second, before he's focused on his communicator once more. his expression shifts from uncertain and uncomfortable to confident and tired. so does his voice: ]

Uh … Look. There's an alien on the ship and he's looking for something. I can't really tell you what. But he's really dangerous. He'll hurt you. He'll kill you if he has to. Don't go to deck 3. Please don't go there until we have a plan or … something. He's … she's … It's interested in the door that'll take you to deck 4.

[ hand pressed to his temple, he doesn't even realise he's wincing. ]

I … was really lucky. He hurt me but I can bounce back, if you get what I'm saying. Please don't be left alone on the ship by yourself. Have someone with you. I know that that may not help with an aggressive alien, but it'd let me sleep at night knowing our head count has stayed the same.

I can scout and suss where he is, sort of undetected? But … uh …

[ he closes his eyes and sighs. ]

Does anyone have any painkillers? My head really hurts.

( ooc note yo! this is may plot! barry was the volunteer for a super secret mission and this is it. please feel free to threadjack if you are possessed by the desire to do so. )

Comments

video. un: kara

[advena]

( kara is Concerned. her own lack of supergirl strength aside, a trespassing alien on this strange version of a jumpship is reason enough for her heart to beat just a little faster. barry's message only furthers her reasoning that this is not a welcoming committee.

she's unsure how exactly these communicators work, whether they offer privacy or not, so her words come out slowly, more intentionally than they might at home. )

Barry? ( a barry who knows kara means a barry who's been to her earth from another, not the garbage man version of barry that collects on sixth avenue from her own. this gets stranger by the minute. ) Where are you?

Are you alone too?

( as in, can i be not-alone with you? )

video.

[accelerate]

Am I really alone if I'm with my own shadow?

[ ha ha ha, he smiles a little at his joke. one day he's going to get his ass handed to him by supergirl for being such a dumbass. ]

[ he rubs his head for a moment before dropping his arm. ]

I need to grab some food. Want to meet me at the unimpressive kitchen? Don't tell anyone, but I'm really hungry and I think I saw Beyonce on this ship a little while ago.

[advena]

( very funny, allen. her own smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. it's the sort of smile reserved for friends who are trying very hard to be funny and light-hearted in a scary situation, a smile that says i appreciate you but i'm not laughing.

but food she can do. her own endless hunger has surprisingly not yet made an appearance, though she's willing to chalk that up to fear and adrenaline. being disoriented, maybe. )

I can do that. The kitchen had the replicators, I've seen those before. They don't seem to work as well as the ones I remember, but maybe we can fix them. You, mostly. I'm not a fixer.

( she's more of a superstrong puncher... or at least she was. who knew what good kara would be in this weird place. )

[accelerate]

[ barry opens his mouth to correct her, but closes it. she already knows his biggest fuck-up of them all, and yet she still regards him as something he's not. sometimes he wonders what it'll take to have kara no longer at his back. ]

[ it's not something he particularly wants to test and find out. ]

And if not, I can always test delivery! [ running out into space? not even the flash would be able to survive that, but it's meant to be taken in jest. ] I'd say let's race there, but I … [ he scratches the back of his neck. ] have to maintain my energy. [ as he imagines she does, too. ]

[ so, instead of ending it on a negative note, his face scrunches up as he proposes: ] Beat you there by walking?

[advena]

Walking sounds like a good idea. ( barry's trying, even in this strange place, to make her laugh. she wants to laugh, if only to take the edge off for a moment, but she just can't seem to manage it yet.

but she's less alone than she'd thought she was, and that's something. it's a place to start. like the kitchen, where she's headed; the video feed catches the dull background of the walkways as she maneuvers through.

it's not a particularly big place, wherever they are out in the empty blackness of space, but it's not a particularly interesting one either. there's nothing really to take note of, nothing worth sparking up commentary. )

I never know if I'm going the right way yet. I feel like I need a GPS.

video • id: anderson

[mindtricks]

What is the headcount?

[ anderson has just recently arrived and she can't really make sense of things yet, but this is something she understands: assessing a situation, assessing a threat, acting accordingly. ]

video

[accelerate]

Eighteen people.

[ there's a moment where barry looks a little awkward. then he figures there's no point in pretending he hasn't sussed out there's a good solid number of people on this ship. they may have seen him streaking by as the flash, or walking through the corridors as himself. ]

[ being a forensic scientist means he needs to keep note of all details. ]

It still needs to be eighteen people.

[mindtricks]

[ anderson comes from a world where surveillance and control are the norm, or rather: the ideal. she sees no reason to feel awkward about knowing the headcount, and over the network, she can't read his mind to make sense of why he looks that way. ]

That's a low number. Is there a procedure in place for dealing with threats? I've only arrived recently.

[accelerate]

To be really honest?

[ his face scrunches up a little. it feels like an oversight on his part, but barry allen also knows that sometimes the world doesn't rest on his shoulders. that doesn't mean he doesn't place it on there, though. ]

No. We only got here two months ago. It's been literally quiet up until today.

[ no alien invasions. no chewbaccas. nothing. space had been a little disappointing up until today where he's literally gotten to be a poor han solo. ]

I don't have alien experience, but I know what this alien is like. I just want to get a head count so I can figure out if this guy's going to pick his way through all of us to open that door.

[mindtricks]

I have combat training and some experience. If you're sure he's a threat.

[ in mega-city one, not nearly all crimes are investigated and punished. there's no capacity for it — but the laws are clear and strict. the thought that perhaps they shouldn't try to detain and/or execute this threat doesn't cross her mind. ]

[accelerate]

I ...

[ barry thinks it over for a quick minute: does he keep his superhero identity a secret, or does he expose it? he's done so poorly in the past in keeping who he is a secret, but given the size of the ship and what he'd done to try and overpower the alien, he figures he has to. ]

[ he's not being reckless. oliver's voice inside of his head telling him he's an idiot can go bite him. ]

I can run at superspeed. Every time I tried to do something, this alien just knew what I was going to do. I think it's going to take a little more to overpower this guy.

[mindtricks]

[ that earns him a frown and a moment's hesitation on anderson's part, before she nods just once, acknowledgement more than anything else.

but since they're sharing: ]

I'm a mutant. Psychic abilities.

[accelerate]

For real?

[ that surprise in his voice warms it. and he immediately thinks now isn't the time to start asking a million questions at rapid fire about that. ]

Are you sure you want to read the mind of an alien? Wouldn't that be dangerous since his mind would probably operate on a different frequency to ours?

[ you know, assuming she's edward cullen. ]

[mindtricks]

Yes. [ the warmth in his voice surprises her. for a moment, that's obvious in how her eyes widen before she schools her expression again. in her world, mutants are hated, ridiculed and cast out, if not immediately killed. if their mutation doesn't kill them before the people can.

anderson is an exception in so many ways. ]

Maybe. But if it'll help, I have to try.

[bloggings]

[they are going to have some Words about you and how much you've been injured here Mister Allen because when she found you was more than enough and also, don't try and act like you aren't tough and strong bc she knows better.]

Where are you?

[accelerate]

[ barry doesn't mean to wince, but he does. the one thing he's never liked doing is worrying iris, so he often buries his pain deep, deep down, and wears an expression that's meant to be as bright as sunshine and just as blinding. ]

[ he doesn't bother doing that now. hand pressed against his head, he leans his elbow on his upper thigh. he appears a little drained. ]

The corridor on deck 2. Kind of near the room I walked into the other day. [ not quite committed to his joke, he continues without flair: ] I should really watch here I'm going ...

[ barry's sitting against the wall, knees pulled up. though he's experienced severe trauma before, there's something about being shot in the head that really seems to leave a mark. ]

I can come to you?

[bloggings]

Don't you dare.

[She's already walking that way and the warning is pretty clear in her voice. She'll be very upset if he moves and hurts himself more.]

I'll be right there.

[It doesn't take very long to find him but it's longer than she'd like because she'd like to see and touch and hold him right now and maybe not let go.]

Barry! What happened? What he'd do to you? [Excuse her while she tries to run her hands over every inch of his body to find the boo boo.]

[accelerate]

[ barry does move, but not by relocating himself or picking himself up to try and find iris as she seeks him out. there are times where barry doesn't know what's best for him, but this isn't one of those moments. ]

[ once she arrives, he thinks to stand up, but opts to remain seated against the wall instead. if he isn't injured now, there's a good chance he will be if he doesn't listen to her. ]

I'm fine, Iris.

[ he scrunches up his face when her hands tickle his neck. his hands seek hers out to grasp them in his own. ]

Did you hear there's an alien on the loose? [ he does his best to joke. ] He's not real friendly. Doesn't even want to learn how to ride a bike. What kind of alien doesn't want to learn how to ride a bike?

[bloggings]

You are an idiot sometimes.

[She says with all the love she can muster up when she's worried about him so if she sighs when he grabs her hands and stops her search, it's because she cares so much about this boy it hurts sometimes.]

Can you walk at all?

[accelerate]

Yeah.

[ he doesn't make a move to stand. if anything, he tugs at her hands to tell her the opposite. ]

My head hurts. Whenever I run it feels like Grodd's stomping on my head, so I thought I'd just sit here. [ his head shake is small. ] Which seems like a stupid thing to do when I just announced there's a volatile alien on the ship. We shouldn't be out here.

[ and barry, despite being the fastest man alive and someone who often shoots up quicker than someone can take a breath, is slow in how he pulls himself up. with iris' hands in his, and his head spinning just a little, he doesn't want to throw either of them off balance. ]

[ — even though the wall was really comfortable. ]

[bloggings]

[She can tell he's a lot worse than he's admitting when standing turns out to be a struggle, and she doesn't say anything. Just slides her arm around his shoulders, helps to hold him up. He can have his jokes. She's not going anywhere. He doesn't have to do this on his own.]

Should I carry you? It only seems fair I do it for once.

[accelerate]

[ with her arm around his shoulders, he slides his around her waist like it's natural — and it is. rather than leaning on her, he pulls her to him, as if her mere presence is enough to make him feel like himself again. ]

[ truth be told, he's not entirely sure how he's supposed to feel after getting shot in the head. he's not too sure if he wants to ask jay if that's something he's ever dealt with before. ]

I think you're doing it just fine. [ barry begins to walk, pace slow, steps small. ] I'm just glad you're here. [ looking down at her, he smiles, ] I won't say no to you carrying me bridal style over the threshold of my room, though.

voice;

[spideys]

So, hold on. Wait a sec.

Is the idea to just ... leave this guy where he is? What if he decides this door isn't interesting anymore but killing people on this ship seems like fun?

voice;

[accelerate]

[ he's just going to match him voice for voice. ]

No.

[ there should be more fight to his voice, but barry's dealt with this type of questioning with his plans before. oliver queen isn't on this ship, but his sense of looking at things from every realistic angle seems to be. all barry wants is confirmation the number of people he knows to be present on this ship hasn't dropped by one. ]

We get together, do a head count, then figure out a plan. He shot me in the head. Maybe the next person who decides to go after the alien on the ship without properly arming him or herself won't be as lucky as me. I want to avoid that as much as possible.

[spideys]

Okay, okay. That sounds like a fair plan.

[ Probably coulda mentioned that from the get-go, Barry Allen, but with the situation and the initial panic, and probably his need for a bottle of painkillers, Peter can understand.

His tone is a lot less hostile when he says: ]

My girlfriend and I can meet up with you and whoever else is around. We just need a safe room to talk.

[accelerate]

[ that would've been way too easy, man. ]

That sounds like a good idea. I don't know if the alien knows how to use a phone? E.T. didn't know how to ride a bike, so ... [ he shrugs, not that peter can see. ]

Let's put as much distance between us and that deck. I can meet you in the kitchen area?

[spideys]

Man, talk about a flashback to my childhood.

[ Beat. ]

I wish we were just dealing with a Spielberg alien and not a Ridley Scott alien. But anyway I doubt this guy just wants to find a way home if he ... you know ... shot you.

Kitchen sounds good.

[fujita]

That doesn't sound like a good plan at all.

[ hello again. ]

[spideys]

[ o haaaay. ]

Well, the leaving-the-guy-where-he-is plan is definitely a recipe for mass-suicide.

Guess boring is off the table, huh?

[fujita]

Yeah, I'm not interested in dying here.

[ or at all. ]

Sure looks like it. What do you think we should do?

[spideys]

I think the plan is to get as many of us on board in one place. Do a head-count, drum up a plan ... typical battle strategy stuff.

[ Which, you know, Peter Parker has very little actual experience in. #hefightsalone #saynototeamwork etc etc ]

You in?

[fujita]

Yeah, of course. [ she's not just going to sit in her quarters and do nothing. ]

Where are we meeting? Mess hall?

[spideys]

Kitchens, I think. If you can travel with a buddy, that'd be preferable.

I can meet you halfway if you want.

[fujita]

I'll find Lucas. [ maybe that isn't the best idea, but - she needs to know he's all right. and he's protected her before, and she him.

before he tried to kill her, but — he doesn't remember that, does he? ]

[spideys]

He your friend?

Either way, yeah - get him too. We should round up everyone if we can.

[fujita]

He's - [ something. she's not sure what to call the man who protected her, loved her and who then chose glinda over her and tried to kill her - and now doesn't remember that. ]

I know him. If I run into anyone else, I'll bring them along, too.

[spideys]

Awesome.

[ Peter has no idea what they're about to get into; he's never been up against real-life bullet-shooting aliens before, after all, but rallying people up feels good. It feels productive. It feels like something, which is better than being afraid. ]

If you need help or back-up or you see something weird, just give me a shout, okay? We'll come find you.

[fujita]

Thanks. Lucas is pretty good with a sword, so I think we'll be all right.

[ being productive is definitely better than being afraid. ] I'll see you soon, yeah?

[spideys]

The offer still stands.

[ He'd feel better just having it on the table, whether she chooses to take it or not. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I'll see you soon.

video • id: gale

[fujita]

Hurt you how? Are you all right?

[ dorothy's a nurse. she can help, and that's her first instinct, even if he says he can bounce back. ]

video

[accelerate]

[ this is where barry shows discomfort. telling people he'd been hurt was meant to stop those who'd launch themselves toward the alien, believing it would be defenseless. when it comes to him, though, barry prefers it if everyone just forgot what he said. ]

[ idiocy at its finest. ]

I'll be okay. [ it's the best answer he's got in his arsenal: optimism. ] It shot me.

[fujita]

It shot you.

[ excuse her just flatly repeating that. there was a time when dorothy with a gun in her hands was the most dangerous thing around, but in this place and without the police officer's gun, she's really not. ]

Shot you where? And how are you okay?

video — un: hext

[hext]

[ It takes her a few moments to absorb this incredibly alarming information, quiet the waves of panic she can feel emanating from all corners of the ship, and land on something productive. She's never met this passenger... she's met very few, in fact, due to the strange illness that kept her asleep, and she's still wary about revealing the breadth of her gifts to complete strangers where there is no escape — but he's in need. ]

I can serve as a painkiller, of a sort. Where is your current location?