Video: 004 Calling all children!

[did_i_say_percy]

[Armand waves at the camera, then shrugs.]

I, uh, have seem a few extra children around lately. If you have unexpected children on your hands, I could watch them. Sometimes anyway.

It's Armand, if you remember me. If you don't, I just woke up again about a week or so ago. I'm good with children.

[Another embarrassed shrug, then he switches off.]

[private to Todd]

[Armand is less nervous for this message.]

Todd, I hear you still have one of those huge beasts. I've been wanting to say 'hello' again. Do you have time to come by? I'm staying above Callahan's for now. Until I get my bearings again.

I hear a lot has happened, and I'd love to hear what you think about it all.

[He gives a sudden smile before turning the device off.]

Comments

[Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

Oh, I hope not! These children seem to be big enough to run around on their own.

And get into scrapes.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

I wish I could say that's not possible.

Do you recognize any of them? [Things that would be very useful: a record of people who are suddenly, inexplicably five year olds.]

[Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

I haven't yet, but do you want a list if I do end up seeing enough to them?

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

[He exhales slowly, not quite a sigh, but telegraphing something between weariness and concern nonetheless.]

Yeah. If we're going to fix this, we're going to need to know just how far it reaches.

[Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

I'll do my best.

If-if something strange is going on, is it something we must fix by ourselves?

[Though he thinks it would be awful to be stuck as a child forever. That's all the thinks is going on.]

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

Usually. We might have some help with Salvation back online, but I wouldn't want to count on it.

[Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

I wish I could do more to help then.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

Just keep them from getting eaten by anything. I have no idea what'll happen if they're injured or killed before we can get them back to normal.

Re: [Audio]

[did_i_say_percy]

Yes, sir. That was part of my idea. The other was that people who aren't used to having children around still need to work. I don't have anything better to do with my time yet.

Unless Miss Potts needs a dishwasher.

[Audio]

[nodavinci]

No, it's the bartenders she keeps losing.

Keep me updated. If I find any stray anklebiters, I'll drop them on your doorstep.

[Because he is very definitely one of those people who isn't used to having children around.]

[Audio] [possibly after a very long delay even another day]

[did_i_say_percy]

Mr. Stark, I have names for you, and a little more.

Two of the children are Wes and Randolph. I don't know who else knows about them. They looked on their own to me. And a... Princess Powerful, who says she's an X-Man, says her older friends are acting as if they don't recognize where they are.

I think I may have spoken to one of them the other day. I thought he was new and just confused. He said he was called Quicksilver.

I hope that can help you.

[nodavinci]

I knew about Pietro. He's been here almost as long as I have.

[There's a sigh and a muffled rasp.]

Whatever this is, it doesn't seem to be spreading too quickly yet.

[did_i_say_percy]

I hope not. What do you think is happening to them all?

[nodavinci]

If I had to guess, I'd say it's a more controlled variation on whatever anomaly propelled us through time the last time. There's nothing on the sensor logs, but half the ship's sensors are still down.

[And they have reason to suspect sabotage, though he's not about to reveal that over an open network.]

[did_i_say_percy]

That sounds serious. [Again, he wishes he could do more to help.]

Don't forget to drop off any more stray children with me for the next few days. Tis the little I can do to help.

[nodavinci]

It is.

Just...keep an eye out for anything weird. Not just the kids, either. Last time something like this happened, we brought back a few hitchhikers that tried to kill everyone.

[did_i_say_percy]

All the more reason to keep an eye on the children.

I will look for anything that seems out of place, although I am still not the best at knowing what that will be since I haven't seen much of Poseidon.

Thank you, Mr. Stark.

[nodavinci]

If you see any walking skeletons, run. And then call for help. After you're behind a fire door.

[did_i_say_percy]

Right.

I'll remember that, too. [Probably when he's trying to get to sleep.]