... So this is what they mean when they say no good deed goes unpunished.

[ Aether sounds peeved, for the lack of better word. To leave the city on a mission meant to help the war effort, only to inadvertently end up leaving the front lines, is as frustrating as it possibly can be. ]

Is there anyone involved in handling this ordeal who I can speak to? I was out on a mission and need as much information as possible. The exact method of attack, the compound used, the names of those who suffered through it. Everything.

[ Beat. ]

And to everyone else... is there anything someone needs done right now? Housekeeping jobs. Sparring partners. City guides for the newcomers. Anything. I could use a job to busy myself with.

[For this broadcast, Koizumi has traded his usual school uniform outfit in for a darker suit, a business-styled dark gray with a nondescript blue tie. It's a noticeable difference, despite its seemingly small nature. He's sitting at a table in Odin House's lobby.]

Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone is recovering from the recent attack. It was terrible, but rather swiftly resolved. We're getting better, it seems. And I congratulate those who went to Utgard on what might be termed good decision making. I've seen some apparently feel guilty about this, which I'd encourage you not to do.

In any case, I have a question for you all, which I believe hasn't been raised in its entirety before, though I apologize for a certain amount of redundancy, which may be unavoidable. [Yes, instead of just getting on with it.] It concerns technology.

As I see it, there are two main points to consider. First, we're aware that the technological level within Asgard is sporadic; we couldn't get motorcycles to work, and we use horse-drawn carriages, but we have television, radios, and computers available, on a level commensurate with that which those from late 20th-century and early 21st-century Earth recognize. In addition, there's the bracelet, which, if technological in origin, is more advanced still than this level.

Second, some Travelers are familiar with much higher levels of technology, including space travel, time travel, terraforming, and other such functions. Indeed, this makes sense as they've come from timelines corresponding to Earth's 25th or 26th centuries, according to them.

The question, then, for gods or Travelers alike, is: can we and should we start the process of manufacture for new technology? This process is not difficult. As long as the technology is reproducible by fabrication and requires only materials which we possess, we can create it here. And our preexisting technology indicates that we can. Something which can produce a laptop can soon enough create a three-dimensional printer, for example. Such engineering could give us a potent advantage.

[Against whom, he doesn't say.]

In particular, I think it would be useful to have mechanical defenses for the purpose of dealing with what we might term as rogue Travelers. Some of the more dangerous aspects of dealing with such people if necessary would be mitigated. I'm thinking specifically of those who might misuse such a power as body control or charm.

GAH...!



[SUDDENLY, OVERFLOWING DISHWASHER! Alice never panics but this is the first time she's actually panicking. It's all over, and she has to keep her dog out of it, because, yes, he will play in it.

Does a mop work? Oh, no.

Or maybe towels? Yes, Alice comes back in to throw towels over, but how do you stop the over flowing water?! Alice rubs her face.]

Ah! Must everything in this house insist on me being soaking wet in strange ways?!