[OPENING EDEN. CLOSED TO ASSIGNED SECURITY/COMMAND/SCIENCE PERSONNEL]

[indigoblueberry.livejournal.com]

Indigo stands in the hallways, hands clasped behind her back. She doesn't pace, she doesn't weave or bob around. It's like she's a statue, waiting for someone to pass before her disdainful look. She's outside the Spacewalk's doors.

She doesn't expect that many people. Perhaps three Science personnel. Two or three from Security. Not much trouble. A small part of her wishes that more people were here to observe the opening of both the Spacewalk and Hydroponics, but the more logical part crushes that. If the creatures are dangerous, it would be wiser not to have any other crewmembers around.

So, she waits.

Comments

[quark-assassin.livejournal.com]

Now this he had to see!

The Omnicom system was like a plaything to the scraggly genius—designed by human hands no less complex than the ones that put together basic relay boards and microprocessors, they were far easier for him to understand than Stacy’s complex mass of biological datapads and constantly shifting codes. He’d had some fun sneaking his way around various locked entries when he found the time, but it quickly became boring, and thus, no longer his primary interest.

That is, until he found a firewall that gave him some trouble.

He’d never met Indigo before, at least not that he remembered—something told him that a genius of such caliber would be easier to recognize—but her work impressed him and gave him a good enough challenge to be interested in whatever was important enough for her to be guarding. He was mildly disappointed when he traced the message back to a basic-lock entry introducing the idea full of concerned whining from Kirk and others about bodies. Ethics. They were none of Dustin’s concern.

Regardless, it all seemed like something that was worth his time. If he was lucky then the Spacewalk, already fragile, would collapse and offer him parts for his newest projects. He’d never used biological metals, they would be fascinating to study in detail…

The man had something cradled under his arm. It was a big something; but from his partially hidden angle around the bend, it was difficult to tell what it was. Keeping that out of sight would make it easier for Dustin to feign ignorance—which he did with much bravado.

“I notice we’re not being sucked into the vacuum of space,” he said blandly, addressing nobody in particular.

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

Motoko was quite prompt, but as usual, not eager to approach a group overtly. For one thing, that would mean they would expect her to make small talk, and for another it made surprising idiots like Dustin so much easier.

He hand fell onto his shoulder with a heavy vice-grip— the one his prosthesis was mounted to, just to be certain of her advantage. Almost idly she pressed just a fraction of her weight into it, to emphasize exactly how nowhere he would be going. Words were not necessary; he was a smart boy, he knew when he was in trouble.

[indigoblueberry.livejournal.com]

Indigo's head swivels at the unfamiliar voice, and her face goes from 'politely blank' to 'curious, but annoyed'. You are here, Dustin.

In a part of the ship where no one walks often.

The location of which was only talked about in secure posts on the comm.

She's walking towards Dustin and Motoko, irritation clear on her face. Best start explaining.

[quark-assassin.livejournal.com]

Shoulder. Lots of weight. Crippled shoulder, hand pressing into misshapen bone, pain shooting through his arm and neck and torso—

“Good to see you Major,” Dustin almost squeaked, holding his breath. She was right—perhaps she would also know that the boy would hold onto his pride until someone drilled a hole through his brain and overinflated ego. Even if said event was obviously impended and entirely dependant on his reaction.

Though there was someone else. Obviously not human, not that Dustin could tell—either that or she was some advanced form of human. By the mere fact that she was keeping level with Motoko, he already assumed that she was in charge here. But no need to acknowledge her now, right?

“How’re the cables? Dry?” he continued to ramble, squaring his jaw and biting his lip. Damn, this was uncomfortable.

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"They're fine," she replied evenly, as if they were sitting in some sunny café somewhere, sipping coffee and chatting about the weather.

Motoko squeezed just a smidge tighter in a carefully controlled reaction, while the pressure-readout window counted down the kilograms-per-centimeter between current pressure and the failing point of human bones. These bruises would go deep, but she had no intention of exerting any real effort. It would not have taken much on her part to render his shoulder a broken mess of tissue and bone fragments.

"Now, seeing as how you've not only hacked a Security-earmarked posting, but had the incredible stupidity to show up and introduce yourself at the ops site, what do you think should be done with you?" she asked, rhetorically. The Major always had her own idea of how things would turn out, "Keep in mind that while you're here serving your ego, you're also markedly not making yourself useful in a measurable fashion."

[indigoblueberry.livejournal.com]

Motoko has very fine motor control, Indigo can tell just by the stress on Dustin's body. As she dissects her scans on those two, another part of her mind works on dissecting the information she's just gleaned from scanning the two of them on her way over. Just from the conversation, she's picked up on the fact that he's apparently useful somewhere on ship, and knows something about cybernetics.

"I take it this isn't the first time he's made a nuisance of himself." She glances at the poorly hidden package under his arm, then back at his eyes. "Hacking my security and ignoring your duties is hardly the way to impress anyone." Her eyes narrow a bit, and then she looks surprised. A quick glance down, and then her face softens a bit, giving him an almost pitying look. "I am sorry, but this isn't the way to impress any of us. It won't make up for anything."

[quark-assassin.livejournal.com]

“Good to know,” Dustin breathed—and said breath immediately made a raspy reentry when Motoko tightened her grip. Okay, definitely in pain now. She could stop.

Aaaaany time now.

“—If you gave me the chance, I could make myself useful,” the genius ended up muttering, mostly to the Major, though he kept his eyes glued on…well, what he assumed was an android of some sort. The idea of a sentient robot would’ve baffled him several months ago, but it wasn’t like he hadn’t gotten close to making one himself, and it definitely wasn’t the most surprising thing he’d encountered after being abducted. Besides, she was scanning him, just by looking him over—he could hear the hum of her internal processors like a mechanic distinguishes the fine purring of a well-tuned engine, as simply as noticing the faint vibrations passing through his brain. Fantastic thing, that organ was. Too bad it couldn’t save his shoulder.

Or, you know, other things. Dustin’s blank gaze turned abruptly indignant. “—What? What does that—I don’t—“ he gathered his nerves with a strained breath, back arching against the Major’s powerful grip, “—Yeesh. If you didn’t want my help, you could’ve just said so.”

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid it's a bit too late for that. You're here, so you're going to be useful," she decided, and the pleasantly reasonable tone she said it with did not bode well for Dustin.

[indigoblueberry.livejournal.com]

Indigo looks at the Major with a slightly irritated expression, she didn't want to have to deal with added personnel. But Motoko had a point, he was already here. "I don't think that shoving him into the Spacewalk to test the atmosphere will be that useful. Our sensors can tell us if it works or not without a canary."

He's your man, you figure it out.

[quark-assassin.livejournal.com]

Well, it could’ve been worse. Dustin attempted a belligerent shake to remove himself, now that he was of the understanding that he would not be leaving and therefore no longer needed the Major’s guiding hand. Worst case scenario said that Motoko broke his arm and threw him out—so at least this was an improvement.

Though it did little for his current position and ranking. “Very funny,” the genius muttered, removing the large parcel under his arm, “Because as much as I would love to measure how fast blood boils in a vacuum first-hand, I have some business to attend to after this little excursion. Also I brought a pressure suit.”

Hence the package. Said ensemble must’ve been quite flexible.