video . 9th transformation

[permutates]

[ private to anya, earlier ]

I heard that you were Magneto's daughter.

I guess I think you should know that I know.

[ public, later ]

[ The camera shows the teaching annexe, swings past a few doors and settles on a stretch of wall where - well, there's a door. And beyond is a place where something should probably be. Should definitely be, for anyone who knows the location of the ice rink. Instead, there's a block of blank concrete, behind the open door. ]

The rink is gone.

[ She's heard the voices, over the speakers. She sounds shaky. ]

What's happening?

Comments

[megamind]

The rink is gone? F-- [ He bites his lip on that word, and then says: ]

Alright, I'm-- going to be in the engine room for... a while. If you or anyone else notices anything missing, please say so?

[permutates]

What does it mean?

[megamind]

Well, that's the thing. We don't know. But changes to the ship -- unplanned, unpleasant, uneplained, not like the parties -- are usually... bad signs.

The rink vanishing might just be a vagary of the Admiral, or it might be the indication of a larger problem. And the last time someone did this, they'd -- uh, jacked themselves into the barge, downloaded it into their brain and had become an extension of the ship itself.... wherein it acted out all their frustrations with the barge system, making it much more like a prison.

[permutates]

...no one told me that had happened.

[megamind]

We rarely bring up past barge crisises until the moment they abruptly become pertinent. A lot of things aren't recorded, and as people come and go, the impact of them is lessened by the loss of the people they were impacted by.

This happened back in... March, I want to say. Though the strange events leading up to it, uh, happened for months beforehand.

[permutates]

This might be for months?

[megamind]

Mmmmmmmmmmmaybe?

[permutates]

You're not comforting.

[megamind]

Yeah, well I haven't left the engine room in like twelve hours since this crap started and I really need more coffee and-- look the last time this happened it was a huge mess for me personally; I walked out of it graduate-- and kind of a jerk, and scared, an confused, and I want to be ready this time!

[ Welcome to Megamind panicking. It involves a lot of hardwork to keep from just flipping out. ]

[permutates]

If it's going to last for months, why exhaust yourself now?

[megamind]

Because I want to eliminate the engine room as another point of entry for whaever's going on, and I want to see if there's any clues I can find. It may not last for months. It may be wholly different.

Sitting back and hoping for the best just isn't my style.

[ Private : Voice ]

[surfaceshine]

[Dean sounds tired but calm; maybe a little resigned. Not angry or antagonistic.]

Megamind, do us all a favor and don't freak out on me. I'm not trying to pick a fight.

Do you need help down there?

[ Private : Voice ]

[megamind]

[ He bristles a little, but in the end, shrugs, rubbing at his face. He stays on video, not really looking at the screen as he works. ]

I think I've got it handled. With Felix gone, Barbara and I are the only people left familiar with the post-Tosh engine room, and.... trust me, I'm doing the best I can here.

We scrubbed those systems, though. Destroyed ports of entry. And you now how hard it is to uses the same path twice.

[ Private ]

[surfaceshine]

[This is why he stayed on voice. He knew that would come uup.

He doesn't waver though.]

I know. I believe you. But we both know that's where everyone's gonna be looking, and there were only two people last time.

I subbed for Felix a couple times. I'm not hopeless and I'd be another set of eyes if the problem is inter-Barge. Will you let me help, so we can have that much better of a chance to shut this down before it becomes a panic? I don't have much to do now, anyway.

[ Private ]

[megamind]

I know, I know.

[ It's frustrating and he still feels slighted. ]

Yeah, that's fine. People will trust you before they ever trust me.

[ Private ]

[surfaceshine]

[Remarkably, Dean doesn't seem inclined to be an asshole right now. The smirk is audible in his voice.]

That's because I'm an idiot. Everyone thinks they can pull one over on me if they need or want to.

I'll come down now, you can show me what's up and then take a break.

[ Private ]

[megamind]

You said it, not me. [ Just putting that out there, okay. ] Yeah, I'll -- yeah.

I need to get more coffee anyway.

[ And maybe have a nap. Before coffee. ]

[ Private ]

[surfaceshine]

[He is, as ever, aware of himself. He suppresses a sigh.]

Roger that. Be down in ten.

[ Private ]

[megamind]

I'll be here.

[ Wound up like a clockspring, but here. ]

[tolaywaste]

Hey.

[The rough vocal equivalent of "shut up for a second".]

Do you have a plan of investigation? Because I'm gonna start spinning my wheels in a minute. Some focus would be nice.

[megamind]

Yeah. Right now I'm doing every system diagnostic I can. Then I'm physically going to go to the various panels and do some on-site checks for tampering.

[tolaywaste]

You know I'm useless for that stuff, but I can do other things if they come up. Keep me in the loop, all right?

[megamind]

Yes, of course. I know I can count on you.