001 [Audio then Video] [Originating from Solian Temple]

[kungfugeek]

 Oi! What's going on here!? 

[Well, someone's not entirely happy today, are they?  Then again, if you were just running with your buddies and suddenly found yourself waking up in front of a shrine, you'd be a little intrigued about it. Enough to half-heartedly listen to the robed beings explain the situation to you.  He wasn't sure if he believed them, either.  It's not like he'd met them before, and no one was able to vouch for them.  Really, what did he care about them?]

Deckerd! Duke! Are you there?

[They're the ones he was with last, after all.]

Anyone?? I'm by some weird shrine and these creeps came up to me and gave me this--

[Suddenly, it switches to video, showing a very confused Power Joe.]

THIS THING.  

[Glad to see you're adjusting well, PJ.]

Comments

[kungfugeek]

[Oh thank god, someone who can explain things. Leave it to McCrane to be reliable and get right to the point. Have a smile!]

McCrane!

[The badge thing would definitely help. Force of habit, you know?]

The feeling's mutual. From what I got out of those guys, we're in some...weird other dimension?

[mccrane]

All three of those words are perfect descriptions, yes.

[The 'weird' part being foremost.]

Not only that, all of us Brave Police seem to have arrived from different points in time.

It has been confusing.

[Really, really confusing. But its so, so good that you're here. Its been hard without the full Build Team.]

Which temple are you in?

[kungfugeek]

You lost me. Different points in time?

[The different dimensions are confusing enough, but throwing in different points in time?]

So you could be from the future?


Uh...Solus. I think that's what they told me.

[Seeing the Build Team there really perked him up too. He'd go crazy if it was just Gunmax and ...OH YEAH.]

McCrane. Kagerou is here.

[mccrane]

Or you could be, yes.

The last mission I remember was defeating the Chieftains.

[Which had been hectic but worthwhile.]

What was the last thing you did, before you arrived here?

[Already, most of the other Brave Police had been from his future, which had been awkward at times.]

I have been staying with Prima, and sometimes at the police headquarters. You are welcome to come join me.

[And things will be a little bit more like old times. Well, old times plus Kagerou. Speaking of which...]

I know. We've been...speaking.

[kungfugeek]

The last thing I did...

It was...

[His head dips slightly, a bit saddened.]

Lua.

[But he couldn't get worked up about that. He missed her, but...he'd moved on. A nice memory to keep, at least... His head perks back up at the mention of a police headquarters.]

Really? Count me in!!

[There's a thumbs up, but...his face goes from joyful to serious at that last part.]

...And what do you think, McCrane. Should we trust him? He told me Boss and Deckerd granted him amnesty.

Oh god wall of text I'm sorry. x-x

[mccrane]

Lua?

[This is a new thing entirely! Was it possible that Power Joe was even further into the future than anyone else? And what could possibly make Power Joe quiet, for those moments? He is more curious than he wants to be.]

Of course! [Still, coordinates to both Prima's temple and the Police Station are sent, and without hesitation.] We will be able to accomplish more, with you around. There has been a great deal to build here.

And also a great deal to protect.

[Protecting and Building, just like always.]

[He considers the question carefully, however.]

It has been the consensus of most individuals...that past crimes not be held against them, here. [It would be way too hard to police that.] If we're going off what he's done since coming, I don't see any reason not to trust him.

There aren't many of us, after all.

[And it was good to stick together and to form new relationships.]

NO PROB! <3

[kungfugeek]

You don't know about Lua...?

[Probably for the best, right now. It wasn't on his top ten list of things he wanted to talk about, so he'll keep it short.]

Heh, well let's just say I got a girlfriend for a few days.

[When the coordinates pop up, he can't help but smile briefly at them. He'll be sure to stop by as soon as this conversation's over.]

Building, huh. Sounds like a job for the Build Team. Or...most of us.

...

Well...okay. I'll trust you on that, McCrane.

[He's still going to watch Kagerou like a hawk, though.]

[mccrane]

A...girlfriend.

[No, wait, he does remember hearing about this from Drill Boy, who assured McCrane that it was not a student.]

I'd like to hear what happened from your point of view some time. I've heard a bit about it, but only from Drill Boy.

[And you know how reliable an information source he can be.]

It has been more than a job for Build Team. Keeping up has been hard work, and there are days I have been...

...

[No, he doesn't really want to talk about dying, or any of the missions that they've failed.]

I am just glad to see you, Power Joe.

[It doesn't hurt to have an extra pair of eyes on Kagerou, even so.]

[kungfugeek]

[Oh, that's comforting. Drill Boy probably told him everything perfectly. And by perfectly he means worst ever.]

Yeah, I'll set the record straight with that when we meet up. You know how Doriko is.

...McCrane. How long have you been here?

[His tone is slightly worried. McCrane was always the more solemn and serious one of their group, and he had to question what kind of pressure that came with. He was the de facto 'leader' of the Build Team after all.]

Looks like I came just in time.

[mccrane]

He has a very unique way of explaining things, yes.

[Getting the real story--and some more information about what the future held back on earth--would be relieving.]

I've been here for... [Hold on while he checks.] Seven months and nine days.

I would be happy to catch you up on it after the danger has passed.

[IF the danger passed. He hoped it would.]

I could use you on the Police Force, as well.

[Since Gunmax quit. Did he mention everything had been going wrong?]

[kungfugeek]

[He'll do his best with that, McCrane. At least he doesn't exaggerate TOO much.]

Seven months?! I just saw you back home!

[There was something with this dimension...he just knew it.]

You can count on it. I want to know the ins and outs of this place. Apparently it's not anything-friendly.

...

Yeah well, some of this Police Force think I'm too 'new' for this kind of thing. I said you could probably vouch for me. Didn't do anything.

[mccrane]

You aren't the first one to tell me that.

I've been trying to figure out how it will work out when we return, but so far the best I've come up with is that it'll be complex.

[Especially if Kagerou chooses to return with them.]

It has seen better days. Attacks from the badlands are not uncommon, and there have been...other...incidents as well.

I can think of no one who I'd rather have at my side than a member of Build Team, though.

Do you mean Blurr?

[kungfugeek]

So we just...accept it?? Just like that?

[Forgive him, McCrane. It's not easy to adapt ): But you know PJ, so it's not a total shock.]

...Other incidents. McCrane, what aren't you telling me.



Yeah, that guy. Told me to leave it to the others and stay inside. I told him I was part of the Build Team.

[mccrane]

Of course not.

We'll just have to work harder.

[They've managed to survive difficult situations, before. This one is harder than any other he's experienced, but he still can't help but believe that the Brave Police will eventually persevere.]

I am not telling you things that would be better told after the threat has passed. I...won't keep them a secret. You have my word.

[He needs the time to figure out how to say 'so I died' without sounding completely foolish, too.]

He is worried about you. The rest of us have been equipped with special engines.

[kungfugeek]

That's better. I like that plan!

[That was true. The Brave Police were known for coming through even in the most difficult of times, and this would be no different. Even PJ would attest to that.]

...You better keep it, McCrane.

[He knows you will, but reassurance is a powerful thing.]

He can worry about me after I help out! When I get low on fuel, then I might consider resting. But I'm not leaving you guys to fight alone!

[mccrane]

[He can't help but smile a little. Drill Boy may have the relentless optimism of youth, but Power Joe has the relentless optimism of stubbornness, and McCrane is glad to see it again.]

I promise that I will.

And you promise that you will inform me if your fuel starts to get low?

[kungfugeek]

[It comes naturally to him. It didn't always give him the best traits outside of confidence...like morals and foresight, but he was a team player until the end.]

Good.

...Okay. When I start to run low, then I'll sit out until I get my new engine.

[mccrane]

[It makes you unique, Power Joe, and able to keep going long after others have quit. McCrane needs that in his life. Hell, he even has admitted to missing your soaps.]

Then I'll be waiting for you.

[And he will be. This is now a good day.]

[kungfugeek]

[Before McCrane can wait too long, Power Joe's on his way to meet you. ...If he can find it. Don't worry, he's good at this. How hard can it be to find a Police HQ?

...A little while apparently.

When he eventually gets there, he transforms, looking around.]

McCrane?

[mccrane]

Power Joe!

[The place is...as close to a mess as three mechs who enjoy paperwork would let a place get. However, those three mechs have been busy trying to keep giant centipedes from digesting the populace, so it is still pretty messy. That doesn't stop McCrane from approaching.]

Do you need a gun?

[He knows that you are...less likely to use one, but he's going to offer, since. Well. Giant centipedes.]

[kungfugeek]

[PJ's all smiles when McCrane approaches. It's nothing really huge for him--he just saw you like 10 minutes ago, in his mind. But he can tell you're excited to see him. And he won't argue with that.]

It might help, seeing as we're up against giant bugs.

Again.

[IT WAS JUST SO MUCH FUN THE FIRST TWO TIMES.]

[mccrane]

I've salvaged a laser pistol from the junk yard, and there is also my old Shotgun.

[Since Gunmax had found him a nice, shiny rifle, he'd been using it more often than the Shotgun...but he kept both. Stopping at the supply closet, he pulled out the pistol, and handed it to Power Joe. Then, needing to assure himself that Power Joe was real--really real--he reached out and clasped him on the arm.]

...

[There. That...was better. Power Joe was here, and he had a Glyph.]

Better these bugs than the other adversaries we have faced.

[kungfugeek]

[Good, PJ would actually prefer the pistol. Two handed guns just weren't his thing--let alone guns at all. But he'd definitely use one when needed.

He took the gun, inspecting it a moment before--...hello McCrane. That gets a slightly odd look from the power shovel, like McCrane's just gone crazy or something.]

Are you okay?

[mccrane]

I will be better when the threat is gone.

[He dropped his hand, and glanced towards the garage door.]

There have been reports of the Monsters being thickest in the northeast regions. That would be the best place to start.

[But there's still the elephant in the room, and the way that Power Joe had looked at him.]

I can explain the rest on the way. How things have changed.

[It hadn't occurred to him before, that he might be different than he was when he arrived here. Now, the idea is unsettling.]

[kungfugeek]

Northeast? You got it.

[He seems a little too eager, almost getting ready to run out right then and there. Just the feeling of getting right to work...to help people. It was nice.]

Changed...?

McCrane...