trans_9 | Better Living Through Reckless Experimentation [Open]

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Better Living Through Reckless Experimentation [Open]

Brainiac 5 hasn't been outside of his area of the labs much of late, preferring to keep working if at all possible and finding it easier than most others since he doesn't need to break for food or rest nearly as often as organic crew members do. Not to mention that the last few times he'd ventured outside, he'd gotten caught up in an altercation and, earlier, run into a particularly irritating girl who'd compared him to a vegetable of all things.

Therefore he's determined to stay in here where the company is infinitely better and continue working on his experiments in power sources. He's not, despite what others might think, sulking. He's simply working on something that requires a lot of concentration and--

His sensors beep faintly. Apparently his work requires slightly more attention than he's been giving it, because it's about to overload.

"Oh," he says. He has just enough time to throw up a forcefield around the device, his work station, and, by proxy, himself, so that nothing else in the area is going to get damaged. And then it explodes.

He thinks that the forcefield contained the worst of it before it gave out, but he's not entirely sure because he's busy describing a near perfect arc through the area before colliding heavily with the door. Which promptly opens and dumps him out in the hallway.

"Ow," he mutters. This really isn't turning out to be his day. Or week.

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Brainiac 5 groans from where he's lying on the floor and with some reluctance, picks himself up and dusts himself off again. "That was an energy overload caused by a minor issue," he answers. "Resulting in a small explosion."

His fourth one for the day thus far, but now he's determined not to give up out of spite. He's going to get this to work one way or another, though... it would be nice if he could manage it without the explosions or the consequential impromptu flight they tend to cause. Or at least if his trajectory would keep him inside the lab for once.

"You needn't worry, it's perfectly safe for the time being." At least until he starts back on the project at any rate.

"Aye, well..." If that was a small explosion, Jamie's not at all sure he wants to know what would be considered a big one. "You're not hurt, are you?"

He's looking at Brainiac 5 a bit oddly - as if not sure quite how to classify the other being. Absentmindedly, he's tapping the Omnicom that's still in his hand against his leg. It's the back of the device, though, and hopefully not something that will trigger weird squelchy messages that can be heard all over the ship.

"Damage to my body was minor and my repair systems are already compensating," he answers absently.

Something about the silence is strange, and he glances up to catch the odd look. Ah, he's familiar with that one. "I'm guessing you're one of the crew members with less extraterrestrial experience?" he asks.

"Not exactly," Jamie replies, cautiously. "It's just..."

He did say 'repair systems', right? Jamie really hopes that he had misheard that, because then that means 'robots' - at least, in his mind. And that brings up a whole weird area, given his recent past.

"I'm just trying to figure out if you're the one that made these?" He holds up the Omnicom. He's not positive he's got the right scientist, but he guesses it's a safe enough question while he tries to discover if he's talking to a robot or not. Although Lois did mention someone with green skin...

Oh, that would explain the confused looks. "No, I'm the other Brainiac 5," he explains with a faint sigh. "There's two of us, but we're noticeably different."

He glances at the Omnicom, wondering if that's the reason he's here. "But if you're having problems with that, I'm capable of taking a look at it for you, if you like."

"Oh, aye. The other Brainiac 5." There's a pause, then Jamie blinks rapidly for a moment as that sinks in. "Wait, what?"

He rubs his eyes with his free hand, and then adds, "You don't have to explain. It's just..." This place is making his head hurt. "Nevermind."

Back to the Omnicom. "Anyway, I think this wee computer thing is broken."

It's really more like he hasn't actually figured out how to turn it on yet, but he's not going to admit to that out loud. Instead, he holds it out. With luck, once he sees someone fiddling with it up close he'll get the hang of it.

"There are two of us," he says. "I thought you must have met my counterpart already, hence the confusion. We look somewhat similar, however I'm... less organic."

He tries to say it like it doesn't really matter at all, and nearly manages it. Nearly.

The Omnicom is a welcome distraction. "Broken? Let me take a look." Without waiting, he pulls it away from the man's hands and activates it, running a quick diagnostic before shutting it down again. "Everything seems to be fine. What where you doing with it before?"

Ah-ha. So there's that question answered.

Jamie is quiet for a moment as he tries to fight the impulse to find something to defend himself with. But this is the second robot (or person with non-organic parts at least) that isn't actively trying to kill him, so all that happens is that his fingers curl into a fist and then relax.

He watches the activation with avid interest - although the diagnostic is probably beyond him, he's fairly sure now he'll be able to at least turn it on.

The question is an embarrassing one, as he doesn't like to admit when something flummoxes him. "Ah...I don't recall, really." He looks down at his feet, studying them intently.

If Brainy notices the reaction to his statement, he chooses not to comment. It isn't the first time he's gotten that sort of response from the crew after all, and drawing attention to it would just make things... difficult.

"Well," he says, handing back the Omnicom, "if it does it again, make sure to note down what you were doing at the time. I can't fix the problem if I can't find it."

"I will," Jamie says, inwardly relieved that he didn't have to actually admit his lack of understanding and grateful things seem to have worked out.

"You don't need any help in there cleaning things up, do you?"

His guess is he'd probably be much more of a hindrance than a help, but he's certainly willing to make himself available for heavy lifting, if nothing else.

"I should be able to manage it just fine," he answers. "I've had... practice." From the number of times he's had to do it so far. But he doesn't have to tell others that.

"Besides, no offence, but I'm not sure what help you could offer."

"None taken." He smiles a bit. "I'm no scientist, but since you were willing to help me..." He lets that thought trail off with a small shrug, then scratches the back of his head a bit, considering something.

"I'd best let you get back to it, then." Probably better not to let whatever other experiments that are in there go unattended too long, or who knows what will happen? Still, this Brainiac 5 has been...really pretty decent. For a robot.

Before he can change his mind, Jamie offers, "If you need a pair of hands to hold stuff or pass things over at some point, let me know. I've done that much, at least."

He holds up the Omnicom. "I'm pretty sure you can reach me through this. I'm Jamie." He's also pretty sure there's a file in there on him that Brainy can find if he's so inclined.

"It was no big deal," Brainy answers with an off-hand shrug. "If there's a problem with the equipment here, it's my job to fix it."

"Besides," he adds, smiling slightly. "It's a welcome break from, well, blowing myself up." He glances back inside the lab at the smouldering remains of his latest attempt, and sighs, wondering if he should just give it a break for the time being. At least until he's found a way to fortify his forcefields more.

Jaime's offer gets a look of amusement. "Actually, I'm pretty good at handling that myself," he says. "See?" And with that, he extends an arm a sizeable distance to pick up a tool on the other side of the room, then retracts the limb back to normal length. "But thank you for the offer."

"Oh! You're right, of course. I hadn't considered that." Usually when he's stuck in the role of 'assistant' it is because a second pair of hands is needed. Or the Doctor's trying to keep him out of trouble.

He admits, "I'm more used to trying to avoid being killed or converted when I'm around robots. Doesn't leave much time for thinking about what else they can do, aye?"

Oh. That was an even better explanation for the initial wariness, he supposed. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm not, strictly speaking, a robot. Though it is a common mistake." And one he'd rather avoid at all costs considering how... accepting people can be of destroying something if they consider it less than human.

"Though what do you mean by 'converted'?" he asks curiously.

It does help, somewhat. Although...

"Where I come from, there's these robots called the Cybermen. They're not strictly robots, though." Jamie's speaking slowly, trying to find the best way to describe them that doesn't involve him trying to use words he'd have trouble with.

"They're made up of a combination of robots and people. They look more like robots on the outside, all circuits and tubes and whatnot. But inside, there's still some parts that are, well, people. And they like to take regular people and make them into more Cybermen. Verra nasty, if you ask me."

Brainy turns away slightly, using the excuse of picking up some fragments of his work to hide the fact that the topic bothers him a little. "'Cyborg' would be the term you're looking for," he says. "A merging of organic parts and technology. However I've never heard of any species that did that to unwilling individuals."

And he's glad he hasn't. Those kinds of changes, especially if they're as extensive as Jamie makes them sound, can't be reversed. Which raises the question...

"What do you do with them then? Seeing I'm assuming someone is trying to stop them."

Jamie realizes that this is probably not the most comfortable topic for either of them, and he knows his answer isn't going to help this much at all.

"Whenever we find them, we stop them." His voice goes quieter, then. "You can't reason with Cybermen or work with them. At the very least, they want to take over Earth and use us to make more cyborgs. I think it's more than that, though. We...I...will do whatever I have to, to protect my home and the people I care about."

He doesn't use the word "kill", but it's fairly clear he is willing to go that far if necessary.

"I understand," Brainy answers after a long moment. And it's the truth, as much as he sometimes wishes it wasn't. Even his own Legion, the closest thing he has to a family, tend to be a lot... harsher against non-organic enemies, regardless of sentience.

He tries not to show that it gets to him though, forcing a smile and commenting: "Just do me a favour? Try and remember I'm on your side?"

Jamie nods solemnly. "I think I can do that." While he's not ready to become best friends with someone who's non-organic by any means, it's a start.

"Thank you for the help again. Perhaps I'll see you around." His offer is still good, in his mind. For now, however, he's decided that it's better to make his way back down the corridor and let Brainy do whatever it is he wants to do.

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