EVERYONE HATES TIME TRAVEL PART ONE

[capitalm]

Who: Anybody stepping out of the TIME HOLE into present-day LA, anybody who wants to witness this going down – or to intervene
Where: Downtown LA
When: August 2nd (now!)
What: A bunch of time travellers arrive in the present to try to fix their dystopian future. See here for more details!
Warnings: time travel. everyone hates time travel.

It's late at night when the portal opens, an undulating patch of wrongness hanging in the warm summer air just a few inches above the street, bordered by shimmering multicoloured light.

A car swerves to avoid it. There's a scream or two, and people start to clear the area, eager to put some distance between themselves and the potential scene of some kind of Incident – others stay put, cell phone cameras at the ready.

If anything, though, when people start to step out of the portal, the onlookers calm down a little – this is, at least, not going to be another dinosaur incident. Cameras flash anyway. Another person screams, presumably because they're just on a roll with screaming at this point.

More than one person has called the Alpha Force hotline by now – but they might well not be the first heroes to arrive on the scene...


______________________
Everyone is cordially encouraged to make multiple threads here for either time-travellers, present-day people, or both. Feel free to NPC passersby etc. as well!
Remember that villains from the future who are following the good guys through are probably going to come through at a slight delay.

Comments

"ALPHA FORCE"

[hellacold]

Jon is the first one to step out of the time portal. At age 29, his hair and his coat are both much longer than they had been the last time he was in 2014. He also, somehow, has scars on his face. Once safely out of the portal he grimly surveys the scene while he waits for the rest of his team to transition into the past.

[robotarms]

CHRIS IS HERE.

He stumbles out just after Jon and smooths down his (v stylish, time has been good to both Chris' face and his wardrobe) leather jacket as if to imply that he didn't stumble at all, and he is in fact a very cool and serious person.

He's squinting almost directly at the moon, and the look on his face may suggest that the moon has wronged him in some way.

"Should've worn sunglasses."

(He might have a bit of a hangover.)

[notahobby]

Maxxie steps out just behind Chris. He primarily goes by Max now, and although he's not any taller, he's noticeably wider through his shoulders. This is exemplified, of course, by his cool leather jacket, which doesn't match Chris' leather jacket. They're friends, but come on, right?

Anyway, he follows Chris out of the portal (without stumbling) and frowns at his friend before surveying past LA.

"Shouldn't've had all rum last night," he tells Chris. Seriously, everyone knows you don't time travel hungover.

[pullingamiko]

"Got only yourself to blame, dude."

Miko miiight have pushed past a couple people to get through faster, because she's impatient and has no boundaries.

Apparently she has been involved in a lot of crud in the last ten years, if the eyepatch, metal arm, and assortment of scars are anything to go by. She also has a black leather jacket, because apparently it's some kind of requirement for dystopian future rebels, but hers has the sleeves ripped off. Where these people are getting all these leather jackets can only be guessed at.

SOLUS PRIME/ARCEE

[deadpartners]

When the first group of time travelers pours through the portal, there's an Autobot among them. She stands at about ten feet tall -- not very big for a Cybertronian, but her presence is tremendous, a gravity to it that seems to come from eons of accumulated wisdom. Her plating, black and blue streaked with silver, tinged with pink in places, is reminiscent of battle armor, an impression only enforced by the giant hammer strapped to her back. Any Cybertronian would recognize it as the Forge of Solus Prime.

She steps away from the portal with slow, measured steps, glancing around at the commotion surrounding their arrival -- not at all a surprise, but she carefully steps out of the way of any human passersby, not wanting to risk harming anyone, but it's pretty clear from the way she moves that she, like the others, are coming here with a purpose.

"There's no need to panic," she assures the crowd in level tones. Her voice carries the same kind of gravity as her presence, one that seems to resonate through the air around her. "We're here to help."

[wreckerscombine]

Rotorstorm strolls out of the portal next, holding a big assault rifle in both hands. Her visor's been replaced with aviators, there's at least one noticeable scar on her face, and...yes, she's chewing on a toothpick. Basically, she looks like she's posing for the cover of Hot Fuzz. No matching jacket though. Sorry guys.

She glances around at the screaming crowds and flashing lights from the cameras. "What do they think this is? A rock concert?."

[hellacold]

"Welcome to Hollywood," says Jon darkly.

Re: SOLUS PRIME/ARCEE

[worstprime]

Rodimus and Drift arrive on the scene in an uncharacteristically timely manner. Okay, uncharacteristically timely for Rodimus.

However, when they do arrive, Rodimus isn't sure what to make of what's going on - although the humans sure seem upset about it. He swiftly transforms back to robot mode, still a reasonable distance away from the as-yet-unidentified mystery vortex, but plenty close enough to see that there's a gaggle of humans in matching outfits in front of it.

"Who's that," he asks Drift, pointing to the lone Cybertronian who's arrived. He doesn't recognise her, but she has a strong air of importance.

[positiveenergy]

Drift follows suit and transforms beside his friend - following his gaze towards the Cybertronian. "I dunno, don't ask me. Do I seem like the kind of guy who knows everyone?"

He's about to write it off, except...Should he know her? He feels like he should. In fact, he feels like he does, but he sure as heck doesn't recognize her. If it is someone he's met before, then they must've undergone a few major modifications.

"Let's get a bit closer, I can't even make out a badge from back here."

[worstprime]

"Right." Rodimus replies, and in one fluid motion transforms, driving another few dozens yards closer. As he resumes robot mode once again, they're close enough to see there's something odd about the humans - besides just their matching outfits. They seem a bit......dirty. Yeah, definitely dirty.

They're only about a hundred feet away or so now and Rodimus is visibly relieved when he sees the flash of red in the unknown bot. He grins turning to his friend.

"An Autobot! She's an Autobot," Rodimus says excitedly to Drift. Maybe they were finally getting those much-needed reinforcements (although that doesn't explain the humans). This time he raises his voice to be heard by the newcomer, all sense of caution abandoned. "Hey! You're an Autobot!"

[nitrodamus]

As if to punctuate that point, this is when Sollux Captor decides to make his entrance. He is definitely not supposed to be here, and he looks absolutely thrilled about it.

He rockets out of the time warp, smirking down at the rebels. First villain out of the pen, this one.

This Sollux is tall and spindly, boasting even more scars and a sharper looking fangs than he did in this modern area. His horns and face are bright with glowing lines of cybernetics, and also, he has robot arms. Because who doesn't.

"Might want to pick a better rear guard next time guys, word about this kind of thing has a way of getting around," he says as he looms over them in a miasma of psychic energy.

[metabee]

After waiting an excruciatingly long time for new medaparts to get shipped to CONDOR, Metabee was finally cleared for active duty. Again. Just in time for some sort of major fiasco to blow up downtown by the looks of it.

Metabee had made a point to be amongst the first responders to the incident, but now that he was there it was pretty clear things might not be as action packed as he'd hoped. Judging by the fact that it seemed to mostly be a bunch of folks standing around a portal. Metabee had been inching closer and dodging behind cars with gun barrels locked on the group, but the closer he got the more eerily familiar the motly crew started looking.

"Ok, what the heck is going on here? Longclaw?" He yelled accusingly, leaning out from stopped coupe, finally close enough to the glowing portal to recognize specific faces. Like, a bunch of Trailblazers for one thing.

[hellacold]

Jon is relieved (and a little amused) that the first past incarnation of a friend he sees isn't evil or dead in his own timeline (just much larger). He gives Metabee a little wave and steps forward. Up close, Metabee can clearly see he has aged a few years and has some scars on his face that weren't there before. His hair is also down to his shoulders, and he's wearing a different coat. The crystal raven that usually hides in his messenger bag is now perched proudly on his shoulder.

"Metabee classic," he says wryly. "I forgot how small you used to be. "

[pullingamiko]

When someone bursts out of the portal who isn't supposed to be there, Miko's first response is to shift her stance, completely ready for a fight, but when she actually sees who it is her reaction becomes slightly less "oh look an enemy" and more "oh my God it's this guy when is he going to get over this crap".

The fact that she looks about ready to try and shoot him does not change.

"Oh for-- God-fucking-dammit, dude, what are you trying to pull now?!"

[hellacold]

Jon exhales loudly, clenching his right hand into a fist.

"I don't know what you're trying to accomplish," he says. "But if we succeed in our mission here it will benefit all of us. If we save Celestia from assassination, nothing that happened in the past ten years will come to pass."

He's reasonably sure they can handle Sollux, or at least get him to leave them alone long enough to prevent the assassination, but if he's compromised the security of the portal, a real threat might be able to get through.

"Tell me you're the only one who got past our security."

[deadpartners]

Solus hears the call and she directs her gaze at the both of them, feeling a pang deep in her spark as she looks at both their faces, faces she hasn't seen in a long time.

She takes a look at the assembled humans and apparently judges the situation more or less under control, because she moves toward Rodimus and Drift, careful to step around the humans. She moves with relative ease and grace despite the massive fucking hammer strapped to her back.

"I am," she says, optics dimming slightly. "We're on the same side. I'm working with the others who emerged through the portal. I can only help you'll be willing to help us, too."

She's not sure she should reveal her former identity to them just yet, if they haven't picked up on it by now -- she's hesitant to tell them what becomes of them in the future, not when they're hardly prepared to hear it.

FOR MEGATRON & STARSCREAM

[deadpartners]

Solus needs to speak to Optimus -- it's his help they'll need most of all, she thinks, if only to rally the troops -- but he'll know she's coming, provided Drift and Rodimus tell him. But right now she has a more pressing concern, even more than talking to Optimus. They don't know where Wyoming is coming from, or when he'll arrive -- the resistance's information is limited to everyone's memory of that day, those of them that do remember, and there's only so much they can divine. They're prepared to defend Celestia at the opening ceremony if needed, but if they can somehow derail him sooner and prevent the entire thing...well, that'd be preferable.

So she's scouting out the area around the city, securing the perimeter in the hopes she'll see any trace of Wyoming, anything to give away where he must be hiding out. Solus drives around in her alt mode -- no longer the sporty motorcycle from her past life, her vehicle mode is now a compact but nonetheless formidable-looking armored vehicle whose tires churn through the sand with ease.

[bigfuckinggun]

The Decepticons have been keeping an eye on her signature since it came through the portal. In the middle of the city, it was far too crowded to seriously investigate – but here, now, it's all too easy.

She'll probably detect them coming before they land, but there's only so much she can do before Megatron's ridiculous feet are throwing up sand right in front of her.

"Good evening, Autobot," he says as he straightens up, grinning like a panther. "What brings you here, I wonder?"

[starscheme]

Naturally, Starscream is right behind him, though his landing is considerably more dainty in nature. With a much lighter thud he touches down to Megatron's left and puts on his best 'menacing lackey' face, cycling out his blasters and flaring his wings dramatically.

He appraises the vehicle through narrowed optics but keeps his mouth shut. For now.

[nitrodamus]

Sollux is pretty sure they can't handle him. No one really can.

But he also doesn't think that they are going to be his main problem.

"So far. But you might want to talk to Kat Kat back there about that. That shit is just sad." He just sort of smirks/sneers at Miko, and then looks back to Jon. "Just cause you change the timestream at one point doesn't mean that none of the shit will happen. The fact is you don't know what reality is going to look like when you're done with it. I just plan on making my mark."

[hellacold]

"We're here on the advice of the fortuneteller Lyra Silvertongue," says Jon wearily. A large raven-like crystal bird with a crest flies out of the time portal and lights on his shoulder. "We have her word this will restore the timeline. If you work with us you can make sure our path is the right one."

He raises a hand to Sollux accusingly.

"But if you hurt our teammates, or innocent people, we'll be forced to bring you in."

To where, he's not sure exactly. Maybe they'd leave him in the past, where the superhuman prisons are more humane. He's well aware no one on their field team is capable of matching Sollux hit for hit, but working together they should be able to bring him under control. Hopefully it won't come to that, especially if they're on a schedule. He doesn't know for sure how long they have until the assassination attempt.

[nitrodamus]

"Like you could stop me," he snarls, and flicks his finger in Jon's direction, with a relatively gentle burst of psionic energy to push him backwards. "You're stupid if you think one change is going to prevent anything bad from every happening again. This is why I can't trust you assholes with anything."

He lifts himself into the air further, with a feral, clicking growl.

"You keep out of my way and maybe we'll be fine."

[hellacold]

Jon shifts his center of gravity, bending his knees to absorb the blow. The crystal raven screeches noiselessly and briefly lifts into the air before she resettles herself on his shoulder.

"Bad things will happen, but we'll have the means to deal with them," he says, unperturbed. "If you don't trust us, come with us and make sure we get it done."

OPEN, BUT SPECIFICALLY KARKAT

[nitrodamus]

He doesn't hide himself, after arriving. He gave up on hiding a long time ago.

Sollux tours the city out in the open, in a blaze of red and blue as he flies. It's oddly nostalgic, now. He used to think of it as something as foreign and weird, but now he's lived on Earth almost as long as he loved on Alternia. He doesn't necessarily think of this as memories of a better time, though. Just memories of when he was more naive.

He honestly doesn't know what he's going to do yet. He figures that this iteration of himself is probably going to stop existing, for better or for worse, so there's really nothing to worry about anymore. Just maybe an impact before the timeline resets.

He figures his present self will be with the Decepticons, but his path towards that is slow. Part of him hopes that CONDOR will show up, if he lingers around obviously enough. It fell apart years ago from his perspective, and he'd enjoy one more chance to put them in their place.

So he lingers obnoxiously in the city, ignoring the citizens that react with alarm. Trying to accommodate others was the worst mistake he ever made.

[10thingsihateaboutme]

Citizens reacting with alarm is something that, as technically a superhero, Karkat's supposed to react to, especially with all this time travel shit going on. He's kind of apprehensive about the idea of getting himself caught up in any of that – he feels like having to deal with any future Karkats is probably best avoided – but he figures he should at least check it out so he can call for backup or something, if he has to.

What he isn't expecting is that flare of familiar red and blue light.

He assumes it's just regular Sollux at first, and he's about to run forward to tell him to chill the fuck out before something happens when he realises that while it's definitely Sollux, it's not the one he's anticipating.

He hangs back, apprehensive and alarmed.