xp_logs | An introduction to monitoring duty; Kurt & Sharon

In her quest of figuring out if the X-men is something Sharon want to do, Kurt introduces her to monitoring duty.

"So this the nerve center?" Sharon remarked as she took in the multitude of screens and other equipment surrounding them. "And jump into action from?"

"Exactly", Kurt said with a nod. "24 hours a day, somebody is in here, keeping an eye on the world through its news channels."

"Do only X-men keep an eye out here or others as well?" Sharon asked curiously. "Because I wanna know a bit more about the nuts and the bolts, but I'm still not sure running around in black leather is what I want to do in my future in any other case then medical emergencies. On the other hand, might help me figure that out though."

"The X-Men and their trainees. Though of course, an X-Man may choose to bring someone else in for their shift, for an extra pair of eyes."

"Makes sense." Sharon nodded as they took a seat. "So what type of thing do you keep an eye out for? Any automatic monitoring or is it all dependent on the X-man on duty catching it?"

"The kind of events that might benefit from our intervention." He gestured to the screens. "And the bigger they are, the harder they will be to miss. But there are automatic web searches set up, as well."

Sharon scanned the various screens, seeing not just American channels but she also spotted the BBC and Al-Jazeera among other channels. "And it's not only US-based, but worldwide?" She asked just to confirm.

Kurt nodded. "Every channel that money can buy in the United States, whether on satellite television or through the internet."

"That makes a lot of channels to sift through." She commented as she scanned the row of screens again. "And do you get the results of your web searching here too?"

"But as I say, major incidents will be covered by more than one channel, and of course only those that air news or current events programming will be relevant. Yes, over here on the computer screens."

Pushing her chair to investigate, Sharon scanned the two computer screens, various bits of date scrolling by. "You've got yourself some good computer people here if things are scanned this fast."

"We have some of the best", he said matter-of-factly. "At least one who is aided in it by his powers."

Sharon's chuckled, impressed. "I bet there are a few in the brass who'd like to get their hands on someone like that. Even with the anti-mutant stuff going on in the army."

"Probably." He grinned over at her. "But we got him first. And Emma Frost would have something to say about the military trying to steal him."

"With the way everyone is around here, there'll be more than one." Sharon added as she returned the grin. "Even that pink-haired emo boy... what is he called again? The prickly one?"

"Quentin", Kurt said easily. "And I think you might be right. He has a lot to say, but if we were to come under attack, I think he would join the defense."

"Pretty sure he will." Sharon turned back to the other banks of screens that displayed the various new channels. "So I take you can also unmute them? And zoom in on them somewhere."

"Unmute them, yes - it would be impossible in here if they were all talking at once. Zoom, only in a sense. We can choose one to be on that big screen on the other wall."

"Yeah, can imagine that would be loud." She winced a little at the idea. "So how do you transfer one? Say, that one." Sharon pointed at one of screens, showing a replay of some kind of explosion. "Where is that?"

Kurt glanced at it, then frowned and looked back. "Shall we find out?" He picked up a remote and pressed a couple of buttons.

With a frown Sharon focused on the large screen Kurt had pointed out as the sound was unmuted as well. The explosion replayed again. "Looks like it's in... Kentucky. They suspect some kind of gas main ruptured and caught fire..." Her voice trailed of as she watched the replay a little closer.

"Hm. That would seem the obvious explanation..." But he'd seen a few explosions, and was watching it keenly. "...but perhaps a little too easy."

"They'd like to go for the obvious stuff." She focused suddenly on the corner of the screen as something looked familiar. "Does the fancy system also have a reply function... and a zoom function by any chance? That is what you always see in the tv shows."

"But not in real life, alas. Replay I can do, however, because our cable box allows for it."

"Playing at half speed should be though?" Sharon focused intently on Kurt, the feeling something was of growing stronger and stronger. "Dvd players and all can do that."

He nodded. "Yes, I can change the speed. You think you saw something?"

"Just a worm in brain." Sharon said absently as the footage of the explosion replayed again. She focused on the corner where she had previously spotted something strange and her eyes widened just a touch as she realized why it looked so familiar. "Probably nothing though."

"Tell me", Kurt requested. "In my experience, it is always worth at least looking into these things."

Her mind went a thousand miles an hour as the video replayed again. Once more there the tiny part of the explosion that didn't billow outward, but seemed to contract. "I think it was a camera glare. I've seen too many explosions during my time in Iraq..." Sharon brushed it of quickly.

He followed her gaze to stare at that corner. "You did not think it was a camera glare a moment ago. Trust your instincts."

Thinking quickly, Sharon explained: "Reminded me of something I saw with a strange IUD in Iraq. But if I saw it, others 'll have seen it too and they will push it up the channels. Don't want to draw attention to this place. I can tip of an old friend though if we want to be sure."

"If there are IUDs being used in this country, that should concern us all. I think perhaps you should do that."

"I don't know if it was one..." Sharon emphasized. "No jumping to conclusions. But I'll talk to my friend and that way I can leave this place out it"

Kurt nodded. "Also for the best. You can tell them the truth, that you saw it on the news and something struck you as not quite right."

"That's what I was thinking of. Got some paper? I want to write down the channel and few more details."

"Of course." He turned to the desk and picked some up.

"Thanks." After scribbling down the needed details, Sharon looked up. "I'll go call said friend right away. Hope you can show me a bit more later on?"

"I will be here for a few hours", he assured her, "and would be glad to. I hope your friend can set your mind at ease."

"Me too. See you later, Kurt."