First Feather | Video

[radiantchicken]

I'm sure you've all seen the news about the slime that's popping up all over. I was able to secure a sample of it this morning when I was doing my morning flyby of the reserve, and, well...

[He holds up a book. It looks like a volume of shoujo manga with the title Love Touch. It appears to be rugby-themed.]

I must say, I wasn't expecting it to turn into this.

[He flips the book open and leafs through the pages.]

It's not bad, really...not that I'm sure I want to enjoy a cup of coffee while reading a book that used to be composed of green slime.

[Yet he's still leafing through the book, and it looks as though he's about to get horribly distracted reading it.]

Comments

[radiantchicken]

Ah, that's a shame. I've tried to read everything I can get my hands on--it paints a fuller picture of the human condition, I think.

It's very difficult to contain them before they change, if this book is any indication. It's most puzzling.

[speedpariah]

Well, they're quite viscous, so you need to use the proper tools, really. I've been using a pair of tongs.

Tell me, what size was the object when it transformed? Was it larger or smaller than the book was?

[radiantchicken]

It was about the same size as the book it is now--I'm not sure if a smaller amount would have resulted in the formation of a tiny book, or if that would have caused it to transform into something else. Or if it would have transformed at all!

[speedpariah]

Hm. I see. So... results are unclear, then.

I believe this requires more vigorous testing.

[radiantchicken]

More testing and more slime. If only it weren't so difficult to get a sample without it transforming.

[He leafs through the book again. Such a fascinating book.]

[speedpariah]

Heh, well. I'll certainly make every effort to inform you of what I discover.

[radiantchicken]

And I shall do the same. With so many of us working together, I'm sure we'll have this figured out soon.

[speedpariah]

Ah, teamwork. The old watchword. You're a very folksy individual, aren't you?

[radiantchicken]

[Torin chuckles.]

The other self I remember was the sort to assemble a team of the strongest and bravest warriors in history in order to do battle with evil. It's a sensible sort of thing to do.

[Robot dinosaurs and rainbow spandex and magic batteries and yes this is all very sensible, A+ sensibility here.]

You have trouble with teamwork?

[He sounds a little amused now.]

[speedpariah]

Ah, no no! I'm a teacher. I play very well with others, trust me.

[lies upon lies, Edwin]

... Hm. It seems though, that statement you just made... it stirred something within me. A memory.

[radiantchicken]

Ah, that's good to hear!

[He'll just let that sit for now. What Edwin says next is quite interesting, after all.]

Really? What sort of memory? And don't worry; you get used to that sort of thing happening suddenly.

[Always so fascinating when this sort of thing happens.]

[speedpariah]

I'm not quite sure. All I know is that in my world, at some point, several heroes banded together to form a team. The Flash, Green Arrow, the Atom, and Hawkgirl...

[radiantchicken]

Fascinating! I remember founding a team of heroes, though we were a unit with color-coded uniforms.

...though I do like the sound of someone called Hawkgirl.

[speedpariah]

[he chuckles]

I imagine you would.

But I can't recall anything more specific, sadly.

[radiantchicken]

Ah, too bad...though I'm sure more will come in time. That's the nature of these memories. You're in for quite the ride.

[speedpariah]

Ha ha. Would it not be something if I were one of those heroes? In another life, I mean.

[radiantchicken]

It would! You'd be in good company here.

[speedpariah]

Here's hoping. It'd certainly be a grander destiny than the one I'm living now...

[radiantchicken]

What's wrong with the one you're living now? Being a teacher is a noble cause.

[speedpariah]

Ah, well. I don't actually hold a teaching postion anymore. MY current position is as an independent researcher.

[radiantchicken]

Fascinating. What sort of things do you research now?

[speedpariah]

Usually, it's private research or something I do under contract.

[radiantchicken]

The sorts of private research that doesn't let you discuss specifics? I'd imagine that can be rather lucrative.

[speedpariah]

Unfortunately, it's also fiercely competitive, and I live in the same city as Factor Industries' corporate headquarters.

[radiantchicken]

That would complicate things, wouldn't it? At least it sounds like the sort of work that never gets old.