video | un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

[The video flicks on to Tony's tired face, though he actually looks pretty good, considering that he's still mildly sick. He grins at the camera, though, the pleased look of someone who's managed something.]

Hey, so. For anyone still caught with this plague thing, I've got a...well, not a fix. A work around, maybe. A focused EMP seems to deactivate the nanities long enough for some of the symptoms to fade, at least for a little while. It doesn't get rid of the things entirely, but it should give you a nice break from feeling like shit.

I'd like to thank my lovely assistants for working with me on this.

[The camera pans across the workroom to focus on the couch, and the two bodies sprawled on it. The eagle-eyed might recognize one (or both) of them as Bucky Barnes, but the way they're both just kind of slumped in a heap makes it kind of hard to tell. It's not that large a couch.

One of them twitches slightly, and there's a snort as Tony turns the camera back on himself.]

That's it for now. I'm still working on a more permanent solution, but magic is really not my thing. Someone else wants to have a crack at that part, be my guest.

[A sudden crash comes from what seems like the vicinity of that couch, and Tony gives the screen a sardonic look before the feed cuts.]

Comments

voice;

[buildsomething]

[Tony sounds just a little distracted. Averting World War III is hard work.]

They're fine. Just dramatic.

[nostalgiabomb]

Uh... huh.

[ sound more convinced, Quill.

But on to more important matters: ]

You're sure that EMP thing works?

[buildsomething]

Seems to. Those two say it's helping.

[They are actually there for a reason, surprisingly.]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He makes a small, acknowledging sound. Then, ]

Does it play nice with mods and cybernetics?

[ he obviously has a specific person in mind ]

[buildsomething]

Depends on the cybernetic, sort of. Might knock them out too for a bit. If that's a problem, I can try to key an EMP to the exact frequency of the nanites.

[nostalgiabomb]

It's, uh. Pretty extensive. The cybernetics and mods, I mean.

[ Peter's never really gotten the specifics from Gamora, but he's reasonably sure she has modifications throughout her body, and if knocking out the nanites or whatever also means knocking out something super, astoundingly important, then maybe this isn't a viable stopgap. ]

How long's it good for?

[buildsomething]

[Tony arches an eyebrow, but just nods once, looking thoughtful.]

Still working on figuring that out. Minimum half an hour, so far.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter’s uncertain frown goes unseen, considering he’s shut off the camera, but keeps it out of his voice. ]

Well, something’s better than nothing. I’d offer to lend a hand, but this kinda tech is way over my head.

[buildsomething]

Well I mean. Any more information you can shoot my way would be a help. The more data, the better.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He chews on his lip, though only the pause in the conversation betrays his uncertainty.

Like. Yeah. Information is helpful, but Gamora values her privacy, and it'd be a breach of that privacy to go blabbing her symptoms over the network, right? And she'd kill him, he thinks, because she's still in that phase where she's all, "It's not serious. I'm so badass and cool that I can will the germs out of my system, blah, blah, blah."

At length, he lets out a breath. ]

I dunno how much it'll help.

[ He sends a silent apology to Gamora. ]

The person I know who caught it, they're supposed to be, like, highly resistant to disease? And poisons and stuff, too. But they have mods that are supposed to, like, neutralize any biological threats like that. An immune system on steroids, I guess.

... Obviously the nanites didn't get the memo, or they didn't care, 'cause it's getting worse.

[buildsomething]

[Tony takes all of that in, then lets out a long breath.]

Yeah, it seems to be hitting a lot of people it really shouldn't.

[He's not going to bring up the whole super soldier thing since he doesn't know how public that knowledge is, but seriously.]

Good to know though, thanks.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah.

[ See, that's what he told Gamora, but right now, I-Told-You-So's aren't exactly helpful. That'll have to wait for when she bounces back.

(if she bounces back.)

He drags a hand down his face, drained. ]

If there's anything else I can do to help, I guess let me know.

[buildsomething]

Will do. And tell your friend if they want some temporary fixes, I can try to work it around the augments.

[nostalgiabomb]

I'll get back to you on that. I dunno how game she'd be for someone pointing an EMP at her, tailored or not.

[ He pauses, frowning down at the device for a second.

Then, ]

Still. Thanks, Stark.

[buildsomething]

That's what I'm here for.

[He flashes a slightly wry grin.]

I'll shoot you a line if I figure something else out.