Pod-Pop

[cityship]

||Pod Release Protocols Initating|| Stacy's familiar voice sounded out to all the podmates.

In the Pod Caverns, there were the sounds of: Pop. Pop pop pop. Poppuhpoppoppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiiiissssss.

There was condensation and mist spraying out from cracks in the pods, as the people inside slid out onto the floors, covered in slime.

Pop. Poppop. KASCHUNKhiiiiiissss.

Comments

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

No sooner had Brainiac 5 slid out of his pod and he was pushing himself to his feet, his arms extending until he was upright and then withdrawing back to normal proportions. This very clearly wasn't where he recalled being most recently, and even though his link to his own body had been tenuous while under his ancestor's control, he knew he should logically have been somewhere in the vicinity of Colu, not wherever 'here' happened to be right now.

Whoever had abducted him had done a thorough job as well; he had no recollection of how he'd been brought here, and his clothing and Legionnaire equipment was missing. It would also appear that he was far from the only person to have been brought here, judging from the multitude of others awakening in the area.

"This doesn't make any sense," he wondered aloud. "What is going on here?"

Unfortunately it looked as though no one else in the area was likely to know the answer to that question either. They all appeared to be in similar circumstances: naked and covered with some sort of slimy substance.

[cityship]

||Hello, Brainiac 5.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Brainiac 5 tensed automatically. The voice seemed to come from everywhere at once and knew more about him than he did about it, if only because it knew his name. However it was also so far his only source of information with regard to what was going on here.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me here?" he demanded, doing his best to ignore how vulnerable he felt without something as simple as clothing.

[cityship]

||The closest approximation of my name that can be produced by human vocal folds is STA'C K'LTRRB'TXFT.|| As the voice spoke the name, Brainiac 5 would feel a surge of emotions well up within him -- maternal love, duty, and honor foremost among them. ||You may also call me Stacy.||

There is a pause before the disembodied voice of Stacy answers his second question.

||You have been Chosen for a Great Purpose.||

Well, that's helpful.

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

The sudden surge of emotions startled him; while his programming had been carefully constructed to mimic emotions to a level of perfection nearly identical to those of humans, he could tell that this came from an outside influence. A sense of duty and honour were foremost among them, but there was a third emotion that he was unfamiliar with.

It didn't matter now, he had more important concerns and quickly dampened the emotions.

"A purpose? What purpose?"

[cityship]

||That information is classified.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

"Classified?" To say that he was annoyed by that answer would have been an understatement. "How can it be classified? If you brought me here for a specific purpose, then it would best serve your interests to explain what that purpose is."

He glanced around, recalling others apparently in a similar situation. "Are they all here for this 'purpose'," the sarcasm was obvious in the word, "as well?"

[cityship]

||Yes.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

"You didn't answer my first question," he pointed out, still annoyed and, considering the answers he was getting, apparently not going to be getting any less annoyed anytime soon.

[cityship]

||That information is classified.||

How's that for an answer?

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Not particularly helpful, and not doing anything for his attitude.

"Is there anything you can tell me then?" he demanded hotly.

[cityship]

||What do you wish to know?||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

He sighed, taking a moment to collect himself. If this Stacy couldn't tell him about why he was here, then logically she wouldn't tell him anything about why he'd been chosen specifically either. He'd have to pursue other possibilities.

"Are you in charge here?" he asked instead.

[cityship]

||I am the primary artificial intelligence on this ship, yes.||

Maybe Stacy wasn't so unhelpful after all.

||If you desire to speak to pod-mate in charge, I recommend you see the Captain.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

Finally, at least that wasn't classified.

"Where is the Captain?" he asked, then recalling where he was and - a brief disgusted look down at his still slime-covered, decidedly naked body - how he looked, he added, "and where can I find my clothing and equipment?"

[cityship]

||The Captain will meet you on the Observation Deck.||

Then a series of glowing pustules appeared on the floor, creating a breadcrumb-like trail

||Follow the lights. You will be clothed and you may then obtain your possessions.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

The trail was interesting, but he didn't move just yet.

"And if I have further questions after that?"

[cityship]

||Ask.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

"Very well," he grudgingly agreed and began following the line of glowing pustules. He wasn't sure if he entirely trusted Stacy, but if this turned out to be a trap, than he was still more than capable of defending himself.

[cityship]

The pustules will lead up him a long, winding ramp before opening into a large circular chamber with what appear to be a mass of creepy vines hanging from the ceiling. In the center of the room, there is a metal circle.

||Please, step into the circle.||

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

The walk had been enlightening in that it also gave him the opportunity to look around at his surroundings. While he'd been aware of a sense of size to the area, it was only as he followed the ramp that the true size of the cavern hit him.

"...what is this place?" It was largely said only to himself, but if Stacy chose to answer regardless, then he would hardly object.

The circle was another matter however. "What does it do?"

[cityship]

||You have just come from the pod-caverns. This is the clothing room. You will be clothed.||

Well, that doesn't sound ominous or anything.

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

He didn't particularly like the sound of that. "I'm perfectly capable of dressing myself," he insisted. Of course, that was assuming that there was actually clothing available, which didn't appear to be the case.

Unless Stacy meant that the circle was some sort of device that would output clothing? It seemed he had little other choice and, after a moment more of deliberation, Brainiac 5 stepped into the circle.

[cityship]

ZOMG!!!

ATTACK OF THE KILLER TENTACLES OF DOOM!!!

...not really.

The vine-like tendrils wrap around Brainiac 5 and raise him up off the ground. They swirl over him, dressing him in a dark green, leafy material--that seems to be pulsing--then set him back down. They even wipe some of the excess gunk.

[brainy-bot.livejournal.com]

The moment the tentacles wrapped around him he began to struggle, automatically trying to fight them off and free himself from what he assumed was an attack. But when it became apparent that that wasn't the case, he stopped and quickly found himself set back down on his feet.

The material now covering him felt odd against his body, and his sensors were all too sensitive to the strange pulsing feeling. "What is this?" he asked, sounding faintly disgusted by the entire experience.