trans_9 | "Going where I list, my own master total and absolute" (Part 2

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"Going where I list, my own master total and absolute" (Part 2 - Diplomacy, Tourism, and Processing)

The trip down was uneventful. The view was gorgeous when the viewing window shields were raised again when they were through the atmosphere, especially as they passed down to Megalopolis, the simply-named giant city that was this world's capital. To the Earthlings there, the continents of this world would look vastly familiar, but that didn't mean anything, did it?

Eventually the sparkling city spires of the mega-city, interspersed with flying traffic, rose up to meet them, and Obs Deck, attached by its massive shielded umbilical cord, deposited them at the Council's private spaceport. It retreated back up to Stacy after they'd disembarked.

This world was a gorgeous world, that much they could likely tell while standing there on the landing pad, looking at the rounded curves of the beautifully designed spaceport. Buildings rose up above them in shades of white, paneled with multi-colored glass, in creative architectural designs. The air traffic weaved neatly in endless lines between buildings, and the overcast sky was in shades of orange and pink, with occasional slips of a bright blue peeking through.

The Council of Five was waiting for them in person, clearly glad to see them all, dressed in resplendent clothing.

"Welcome to the Megalopolis, our capital city, and welcome to Galilee. We are the Council of Five, and we're honored by your presence."

[ooc: The first subthread is now open. They have split into groups! All subthreads are now open! Please do not set up new subthreads. The plot-runners will set them up as needed as we go.]

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Now it wasn't just the tone of voice that was patronizing, it was the smile. Kang's scales were definitely clicking in unease now, especially after he heard certain words in Kanner's statements.

Processing center. Model production. Gene bank.

Wait. Fate and Kon, he knew, were clones, just like him. Zouichi was a synthetic human; did that mean the same thing? And as for Jr., he had no idea. However, he was relatively sure that there were no clones in the groups they were separated from, and to have three known ones in this one was far too much of a coincidence.

So, he pretended to shut off his omnicomm. "That's what I'd like to know, too. What are these models and what is their function?"

He shot Kon a glance, knowing he'd hear it, and stood up and moved next to Jr. to whisper very quietly, "I have good reason to ask this, but... are you a clone?"

Zouichi actually had very little reason to worry about Kanner's choice of terms -- gene banks? Model production? Shipments? To the development branch at Toha Heavy Industries, Synthetic Humans like himself were, essentially, products. They were created on timelines and in batches, sometimes for very specific purposes.

On the other hand, those scientists who referred to them explicitly as products rather than people were almost invariably the most unpleasant to deal with. What was more worrying was that Kanner hadn't really answered the questions that were put to him... but at this point it didn't really matter.

He did not glance back at Kon, Kang, and Jr.; it would have been too suspicious. Instead, he nodded politely toward Kanner, making a point of switching off his Omnicomm. His communicator, concealed from view, stayed on.

Oddly, he did catch the code Kanner entered into the interface -- the nature of his work back on Earth required an unusual amount of familiarity with the human genetic code -- but did not comment upon it.

Kon turned off his omnicom as well, but kept the concealed Legion flight ring in his armband on.

In fact, he did more than keep his ring on.

His wasn't just one of the comm-rings. It was a Legion flight ring, which Brainiac 5 had based all the comm-rings on. He was also more experienced at using his than most and knew all its little tricks after being a Legionnaire. It was highly telepathically sensitive, to the point that all he had to do was think at it, and it'd pick something up.

« Nightwing. There's something weird going on. Can you hear me? I'm sending this by thought rather than saying it. Permission to retreat. I repeat, I am asking for permission to retreat to be conveyed to Kang. Situation is highly suspicious and we may be in danger. »

It was blocked so there was no answer. Why was there no answer?

It's a trap. This is a trap.

How did he say that to the others without just yelling it aloud and tripping it before they could all react? If he used his ring, it'd still blare audibly for the others.

Superboy whispered, using a little trick he and others of awesome hearing sometimes used to communicate unheard, hardly betraying the slightest movement of his lips, with his head turned away from Kanner as if he was looking around to hide it.

He thought maybe Kang could. He wasn't human. That might come with perks. Like being able to hear things said at a level inaudible to the average human ear.

Edited 2011-06-21 23:53 (UTC)

When they were all through, a faint hum from beneath signaled an odd, almost force-field like moving platform. "I'd have expected you to already know the answer," Kanner said, faintly puzzled, "If the GIA had given you the appropriate information on our chief exports and internal structure."

They were zooming along down the hall, Kanner standing with feet set shoulder-distance apart, unconcerned. "The majority of our society is maintained and monitored by one of the seven classes of genetic constructs brought into perfection over the five-thousand year span of united Galileean Government."

Windows flashed on either side of the hall, at first disorientating. But these were meant to be viewing windows, and the scenes they revealed were almost beyond words.

"Or as referenced in common vernacular, clones. They're beautiful, aren't they?"

Kanner sounded fond, looking out to the left at the passing thousands, perhaps fifty-thousand and more pods, tubes, containers, some empty, others containing the created life within them. "Brought into this world for an express reason, never having to wonder about a greater purpose, place, or standing in the universe. No why's, for the most part, no troubling uncertainties about their worth. Given life, they know happiness and fulfillment from the moment they become conscious. From Birth to Death, there is no more beautiful machine than the living being."

All communication was down, as Kon had discovered. Kanner could have told them, might have even, if he'd thought they'd need to know. But of course they didn't. Just like they didn't need to know that the standard means of entry would lead to the nulls preventing them (for now) from lashing out in their unpredictable natures at the Councilor, or the men who met him at the hall's end. Like they didn't need to know they were kept firmly in place until Kanner ordered otherwise. The only individual who would be allowed to leave that platform of their own free will was Kanner.

"For processing, sir?" One of the triplets in the room looked to Kanner, the golden emblem on his forehead a stark contrast with his warm, olive skin-tone.

"As usual," Kanner said, "All as Deltas."

The assistant nodded, returning to a console he started typing into with the ease of long familiarity. Kanner turned to his assembled group. "Councilor Kang, if you wouldn't mind...?"

It was there, the implication that Kang could choose this. He could walk forward and enter this room, accept whatever it was Kanner was offering. It was there, but the option to choose otherwise... that was not.

Whatever was about to happen would happen, regardless of the crew's cooperation.

Oh yes, this was beyond words. Even for someone who had dealt with facilities that illegally produced clones many times in the past, and had dealt with horrifying clone factories when she helped Kon out of his nightmares during the Nightmare King incident... things like this still mortified her and made her stomach turn.

"How... how could you do something like this!? This is horrible!"

When Kang had moved closer to Jr. he had visibly tensed at his question. Slowly turning his head to look at Kang, the expression in his eyes affirmed what Kang had caught on to. "You mean ... they put us together for a reason."

And when they got a clear view out the window, Jr.'s blue eyes went wide. But that expression of borderline shock and horror quickly hardened into one of rage as his eyes snapped over to Kanner. "Shit..." When he spoke, his voice sounded far beyond a simple twelve year old boy. "This is what you took us here to see?!"

And then he felt an uneasy shiver go up his spine when Kanner addressed Kang. Sending a quick glance to the draconian, Jr.'s hand swung back to grab the grip of his pistol, ready to draw.

"So you are one," Kang muttered a curse. He barely heard Kon's words a second later, and clenched his jaw, blinking twice.

And then, he saw the clones, and his suspicions were confirmed.

Stupid. They'd walked right into it.

If it weren't for the force keeping his limbs in one place, his wings would have flared out in anger and he would have stepped back. It didn't keep the sparks from dancing around his mouth, though, and the smell of ozone to fill the air.

"Is this how you treat foreign envoys, after asking for their assistance?"

It took Zouichi a moment to realize that the odd background noise was coming from Superboy, and that it was not, actually, background noise. But by now, the trap had already been sprung.

Well, he doubted it would work, but --

"Councilor Kanner. I believe there must have been a slight omission in the information the GIA provided to the crew. As such, I'd like to request that we obtain the permission of our Captain before we undergo 'processing' -- it is to him that we ultimately answer, and I'm afraid that without his express leave to proceed, going through with this procedure might constitute unauthorized modification of those under his direct command. I'm sure it would behoove both sides to follow proper protocol in this instance, to avoid stepping on the toes of any negotiations."

Also, Kang smelled funny.

Kanner honestly looked apologetic. "Protocol on our end has been consistent the last two hundred years. All off-world clones must be branded for the duration of their stay on Galilee. If the GIA failed to provide this information to you, and I'd find such to be a breech of faith with their own ships," at which he sounded both troubled and disbelieving, "Disheartening, that is beyond our control, and you have our sympathies. If, on the other hand, there was a failing in properly understanding the full importance of our world contact clauses, I can only apologize for having to be the first to clear up the misunderstanding for you."

His hands were brought in front of him. "Please understand. The laws do not bend on Galilee. Much like our scanning and sampling procedures, this is part of our world's official law when dealing with off-worlders come to ground."

"Fine," Superboy said, slowly stepping forward. "The law's the law."

After taking a few steps, be immediately launched himself into flight, eyes glowing red, ready to punch the Councilor out--and after him, the guards.

"And it's a stupid law! Process this!"

The restraints leaped almost out of nowhere. Kanner looked started in that moment before the restraints wrapped around his assailant's limbs and midsection, another around his forehead. Red sun lamps came on, bathing Superboy in their light.

For those who could understand the implications, it was frightening.

"I had hoped," he said with resignation, "It would not come to this." He flicked a wrist, apparently directing the restraints and Superboy toward a machine within the room. The guards looked unfazed, their triplet still operating the console. "I'm sorry, Councilor. It appears another has volunteered to go first."

No one on the platform would be able to move anymore. Blink, twitch, breathe, but not move arms or legs. Kon had taken their autonomy away, for all he couldn't have exactly known.

Fate had been forced under her fair share of magic-nulling barriers, but this... whatever it was, was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out a way to get out of this trap, but it was no good. She needed Bardiche if she wanted to even try to break through something this strong, and the Device was still tucked safely in her pocket.

So instead, she tried sending a telepathic call for assistance out to Nanoha and Signum, unaware of the warning Kon had given the others before The Reveal. Even when she didn't get a response back, she kept trying.

Jr.'s arm was frozen, hand still gripped to his gun, and it drove him absolutely mad that he couldn't move an inch. Still though, he tried to will himself to move as much as he could, over and over, anger growing each time he failed.

He couldn't believe this. Of all the stupid, ironic situations to get pulled into. And branded? Branded?!

"I'll ... pass on the branding part, thanks. Don't need another one," he replied with an enraged sarcasm. Anybody who'd met Jr. even in passing before probably knew what he meant when he said that. He didn't bother hiding it, though he didn't exactly talk about it specifically, either, and he was the kind of guy who gestured around as he spoke. The red 666 on his right palm was always very easily noticeable.

A low, dangerous rumble began in Kang's chest, sparks continuing to go wild. Then, he opened his mouth to let loose a bolt of lightning, arcing straight towards Kanner.

Even if they ended up branded regardless, he was at least taking that bastard out.

"I'm afraid it isn't optional," Kanner explained, sounding pained. He really hated when people misunderstood the intent of what was going on. "Recognized clones would be unable to walk free through the city, the brand is--"

Kang's lightning bolt narrowly missed Kanner, scorching the wall behind him. The Councilor's hair stood on end, his personal shield showing briefly for the first time with a sharp crackle.

"That was exceptionally rude," Kanner said after swallowing past the sudden thickness in his throat. "I'd be obliged if you would allow me to finish before critiquing my delivery. Brandings allow clones unimpeded access to the facilities. Without them, your crewmates would be unable to take you anywhere other than the spaceport and the rooms we've prepared for you."

He straightened his clothing, quite distressed.

Oh. Well, that explained the smell, at least. And Jeka's comment about the red sunlight.

Zouichi had to give them credit; whatever technology they were employing to keep all of them immobile was remarkably effective. But like hell was he going to stand around and just let these people brand them without trying his utmost to prevent it. Though his face remained carefully blank, he put all his not-inconsiderable strength into attempting to reach for his sidearm.

It was funny; Zouichi had never actively tried to hide that he was a Synthetic Human. And ever since he'd gotten here he'd heard nothing but comments about how human he was, how he deserved the same rights as everyone else. He'd almost started to think that maybe his world was more unique than he'd thought in how it treated artificial life forms.

Guess not.

Superboy struggled, but even though he was built like an ox even without his superstrength, he didn't stand a chance. Even with his superstrength, he wouldn't have stood a chance. These were Brainiac 5 level shields.

"You're not going to get away with this."

Stock hero line, but it was true.

"Do you think the rest of our party will do the diplomatic crap with you treating us like this?" Not with Nightwing leading. "We're recognized as full sentients on our ship, with full rights. They won't just take you treating us like farm animals!"

"I can tell you now that many of them are going to be very unhappy when they find out what you're doing to us!" Fate's voice, which was normally soft and calm, was sharp, the anger she was feeling quite clear when she spoke.

"You don't want to make enemies of our crewmates, believe me."

Edited 2011-06-22 05:34 (UTC)

Kanner continued to frown, unhappy with having to be on this detail. Complaints he was used to; clones rarely realized how this process was to protect them, on a world where everything ran based on one's status as a naturally created or artificial. With the upset, chances of them being accidentally eradicated on detection before the diplomatic back-up kicked in for the patrolling Sigmas were too high to be risked. Sigmas were amazingly efficient fighters. Unfortunately, they sometimes followed too true to their programming.

Kon has been brought up to the machine, the restraint around his head slipping away into part of the overall structure he seemed to be centered in. A bright, golden light buzzed into existence, focusing on his forehead, as a different sort of head restraint extended forward from the machine. Amusingly like 20th Century optometrist appointments, with the chin rest, if the similarity ended there. Thickly padded sides adjusted to Kon's head for a snug fit.

The implantation of nanites began after a spritz of tailored numbing agent was applied. No reason to make this painful on top of difficult. For all intents and purposes, it looked like a rapidly administered tattooing. A faint glow, a hologram, was already flickering to life. Branded.

"The misconceptions I'm hearing you operate under are distressing." He motioned to Kang, restraints coming to life and repeating much of the same process from Superboy moments before. Kang had an additional one around his snout.

Kanner didn't feel like dealing with potential repeats of lightning vomit. It was damnably difficult to clean up.

"In landing planet-side, you've already consented to this process. Your Captain as well, in sending you. It's unfortunate that your databanks are apparently well out of date, and it doesn't change the reality. There is nothing to get away with. There is only the body of the law. If the rest of your crewmates are as ill-informed as you've been, I can only imagine the disquiet they'll feel in learning the extents of their ignorance."

He spoke so genuinely; Kanner believed himself. It wasn't an act. It wasn't calculating. He looked -- tired. Sad. Unsettled. Tense, after Kon and Kang's antics. "Branding is a necessity, for your safety, as well as ours. It always has been. Even ignorance cannot excuse one from being held to the letter the law. If you're implying negotiations will fall through before beginning, then it's clear the GIA didn't use the careful consideration in selecting their response team we'd been assured when contacting them to open up the possibility of negotiations."

The muzzle wasn't really necessary, as Kang had figured out he could only do the lightning trick one time a day, so it only served to further enrage him. He struggled against his bindings, giving Kanner a look that clearly said he had every intention of giving the man an extremely painful death.

Edited 2011-06-22 06:19 (UTC)

Was Kanner used to death glares? Because Kang wasn't the only one providing one. This was bad -- the entire planet was like this?! Even on Vartas, where he was created and raised, it was only the Yuriev Institute that dealt with the U.R.T.V.s and their training. And though the circumstances were slightly different from one another, the same underlying views were there. They were less than humans. They were tools meant to be used however their creator wished to use them.

"Your so called laws are crap, you know that?! Now I'm not surprised at all that you bastards are getting attacked!"

It made sense now. Those who opposed this sort of thing, as well as clones who wished to be free, they were the ones resisting and fighting, causing this so called 'unrest', weren't they? Regardless of where they ended up after this, Jr. knew he - and he could tell from the reactions and expressions of his crewmates - weren't going to be as keen on helping these people out.

Jr. would be next up on the branding line following Kang. And he was hard-pressed to move, even though he unfortunately didn't have a choice. Once those restraints took a hold of and began to move him, Jr. snapped. Were these brands going to be permanent or not? It was bad enough that he already had a constant reminder of what he was, what he did in the past on the palm of his hand. "Don't touch me!" He yelled venomously when the restraints tightened, and it was a survival instinct. One bright flash of red flared up around him, trying to free himself. If any of the others around him had a good sense of power, they could feel that what erupted was powerful - something always detectable on the boy but more subdued as it stayed more or less dormant. He never liked using the power - he feared having the power, but it was a power he obtained as part of his creation. And this was one of those times that surviving, that escaping was a top priority, so it had been a reflex for that cause.

Of course, whatever power was keeping them all down was still too strong. Not even the power of the Red Dragon could fight it. There was no getting out of this. They were going to pay once the opportunity presented itself.

Zouichi wasn't one to make threats, not when he wasn't currently in a position to carry through with them. So he remained silent on that count.

He had no real framework for understanding the idea of branding itself; in a way, he'd been branded since his creation, by the very nature of his existence. Certainly, it was easy enough for someone used to dealing with Synthetic Humans to pick them apart from the humans they were designed to resemble.

But being held helpless, forced to acquiesce? Forced to watch as they did the same to a boy he considered a friend? He felt the old, familiar wrath building in him, the one that sang in his ears, that --

He crushed that line of thought swiftly and viciously. Later.

"Not Jr.," Zouichi said, on impulse. He didn't think it work, not when this man so obviously considered them all property -- and he was pretty sure Jr. wasn't exactly a normal little human boy, either. But he still had to do something. "Or are you in the business of branding children as well?"

"Let him go! Let him go!"

He was a kid for all Kon knew. He struggled even more against his restraints, and had he had his powers, his eyes would've been glowing a fierce red.

The brand burned brightly on his forehead, and felt--he felt disgusting after receiving it. Dehumanized. Watching the others go through the same degradation, especially someone as young-looking as Jr., turned his stomach.

They'd been programmed to believe so much of themselves. Kanner hated working with clones like this most of all, because they were almost like people. What kind of sick mind thought it was okay to give something that much autonomy when they were ultimately going to be put into their place?

Why needlessly create unhappiness?

The two standing guard watching impassively, inured to any such cries. They knew the order of things, knew the purpose and necessity. The clone operating the console didn't flinch as he went about his work. These were good cogs in an organic machine.

These five would have to be recorded in the security database if their owners -- or perhaps Guardians -- couldn't keep control of them. Unfortunate that only one genetic match had been determined in the group as a whole. Kanner preferred turning clones over to their proper owners, and having to walk into it blind was annoying. He liked things to make proper sense. Situations like this rarely did.

Kanner moved them each up to the machine, branding them one by one. He looked pained, distraught that they were given such equality on their ship only to be sent here unprepared for the reality.

"I'll be transporting all of us to the Hotel. I had hoped..." he trailed off, shaking his head solemnly. "We'll wait for the rest of your crew there."

The wall singed by Kang's little fit of lighting groaned as it opened, causing Kanner to grimace. "So unnecessary," he said under his breath as he moved them onto a different sort of platform. "Don't worry," he said quietly, "We almost never have particle reassembly issues using the teleportation platforms anymore."

It was his only (maybe even humorous?) warning before the platform activated. Welcome to Galilee, Clones! We hope you enjoy your stay!

This process was, for all intents and purposes, the most humiliating experience Zouichi had ever experienced. He'd been struck before, shoved through who knew how many concrete walls, stabbed, shot, poisoned, and impaled, but none of those experiences quite measured up to this: held down while some faintly apologetic, sad-sack, shrinking violet accountant-type embedded the world's most idiotic holographic sticker on his forehead.

The worst part of it was he was still left paralyzed after the process, unable to simply tear it off himself. Though it was probably his imagination, he thought he could feel it; the thought rankled more than he had ever expected it might.

Zouichi watched grimly as the others were branded as well; he owed it to them not to look away, at least. He wrestled with a black, all-encompassing fury that threatened to choke out all reason -- now was not the time or place -- but the longer he had to keep it under wraps, he thought, the worse it would be when it was finally released. He knew. It had happened before.

Outwardly, he was utterly still; his eyes held the only real sign that he was anything other than perfectly calm.

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