cityship: (Default)
cityship ([personal profile] cityship) wrote in [community profile] trans_92009-08-05 11:25 pm

Hey, that wasn't there before...

Since time immemorial (or at least since before any of the crew members have been awake) there has stood a massive...thing...against one of the walls in Special Weapons Division.

It looked like some sort of large, alien device, though none of the engineering crew could ever figure out what it was for.

However, since it wasn't really harmful, nor did it seem particularly useful, no one ever really paid much attention to it.

Or maybe the mods needed a lame excuse for what's coming next so STFU

However, it is not so much this strange device that was of interest to anyone in the area right now.

No, instead, they might find the sudden sound of whirring machinery and the general sounds of technology activating coming from the wall behind the device that might get their attentions.

...Hmm. Isn't that interesting?

[identity profile] gangstageek.livejournal.com 2009-08-06 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
Dark Smoke Puncher might have been there. Or maybe he was elsewhere. Who knows where he was, but he was suddenly THERE, studying the wall. He had heard the call of new technology moving and he HAD to respond to it.

"Yo, dawg, this isn't the norm, right G?"

[identity profile] riseupnchargem.livejournal.com 2009-08-06 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
Jamie joins in the circle of standing-and-gawking, peering around the others to try and get a look at the object. He's curious, sure, but more than that, he's suspicious; in a place like this, things randomly making noise when they normally don't is reason enough to be cautious. "Be careful," he calls to those venturing closest to the thing - somewhat half-heartedly, and out of habit more than anything, since he doesn't particularly expect anyone to heed his warning.
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-06 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Does anyone know if removing that thing will make it blow up?" Her fingers twitched in anticipation of getting to that door but her sense of self-preservation held her back.

[identity profile] savin-ur-data.livejournal.com 2009-08-06 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know. I don't think so." Mei Ling really never bothered to examine the device and really has no clue about it.

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-07 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Kira took a few steps closer, eyes rapidly moving over the object as he scanned it. "It doesn't look like it's connected to anything in particular," he said after a few moments. "But it's difficult to say for sure, and that doesn't mean it couldn't be dangerous."

[identity profile] helipack-jack.livejournal.com 2009-08-07 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Jack is drawn out of his current sulking a little bit by the Big Interesting Object.

"I think we should be able to move it if it's not connected to anything," he replies, leaning in to look at the place where the object blocks the wall.

"Unleeeeeess it's sitting on a pressure pad or something, but I don't think that's the case here."
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-07 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
Cassie stepped forward and gently prodded the strange device before carefully pulling it away.
Edited 2009-08-09 08:47 (UTC)
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-09 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yes they do, or rather Cassie did.

Without hesitation Cassie touched the pressure pad.

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-09 10:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wait, it could--" but before Kira can say anything, Cassie's already touched it, and he falls silent as the door slides open. Really, he's curious despite himself.
staturity: (shocked)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-10 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
Cassie was torn between the operating table and the one pod that wasn't empty but quickly decided on the pod. Whatever was in there, if it was in a pod, it might be a deactivated person (like Jonas). You never knew unless you looked.

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Nobody touch anything," Kira says, quickly, as he takes a step toward the pod. "We don't know what any of this does." And now he frowns at the little object. "And... I've never seen anything like that before, either."

[identity profile] helipack-jack.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
Jack hesitates before moving forward, but sees nothing in the room preparing to pounce on them. For now.

He drifts instinctively over to the table with the datapads, himself. Jack keeps notes in a messy heap on his own desk at home, a bad habit but one that doesn't matter much to him because nobody's supposed to get into his lair anyway. And it seems more normal to him than the burned door or the creepy pods or the spine-aparatus, so he naturally gravitates toward something he recognizes.

"Yeeaahh, this room's definitely another piece of creepy," he says. "Think anything's going to jump out and kill us if I have a look at these?" he asks Kira, with just a touch of his usual sarcasm.
staturity: (shocked)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-10 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Get someone from the command staff now." Cassie didn't take her eyes off of... whatever it was inside the pods.

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
He shakes his head. "I... don't know, but it might be better to be on the safe side."

Looking over his shoulder at Cassie, he nods. "That's probably the right idea here. Even if there isn't anything here that could be dangerous, we should be careful."
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-10 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll call for... what's his name. Other Billy."

Come to the special weapons locker now.
morphitudinous: (Contemplation)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-10 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
Affirmative. On my way.

A few moments later, he almost skids into the newly opened room. Surprised, he gives a quick wave to the others, then glances over the various devices. After the fruit incident, he's meticulously careful about giving the equipment its space.

"So this was behind the device all this time. But before we attempt to examine any further, may I ask how you accessed this area?"
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-10 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
She was the one who called him here so she went ahead and answered first. "The device started beeping, I took it off and opened the door behind it. Stacy must have decided it was time to let us in."
morphitudinous: (Head hurts from the absurdity)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-10 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Billy nods, raising a hand to his temple and pressing it there. "Hmm. That's the likely explanation behind the sudden beeping, but I'm not entirely sure it was her doing. After the Yeerk infection, I'm a little wary about unleashing unknown presences on the ship without investigation."

That said, he raises his omnicomm-now enhanced with a scanner mode-to the occupied pod. "The scanner is detecting human brain tissue inside that pod, but its genetic structure differs from normal tissue."

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
"So it's been... altered? Maybe genetically modified?" That's the first thing that pops into Kira's brain, anyway.

[identity profile] riseupnchargem.livejournal.com 2009-08-10 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Having poked around the room to his satisfaction (but steering clear of the operating table and the creepy apparatus hanging over it), Jamie joins the others near the occupied pod.

"Who'd do something like this?" he asks no one in particular, peering at the pod's contents. "Modify a brain and stick it in a metal shell. With legs." Yeah, that's not creepy at all. Then: "Are we gonna let it out?" He kind of hopes the answer is no.

[identity profile] savin-ur-data.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Be careful and cautious," Mei Ling automatically quotes the Chinese idiom, "I don't think it's a good idea."

Mei Ling isn't exactly adventurous. She hopes the rest of the group is sharing her sentiments.
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-11 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
"We can't just leave it in there. That's a person." Probably.
morphitudinous: (Serious)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-11 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
Billy's more than a little scared about making this decision. He really doesn't want to cause a catastrophe like he did with the hallucinogenic plants again. But Cassie's comment stirs his old heroic instincts. It's (mostly) a human brain. If there's a person trapped inside their own head and they can help it---they can't just leave it there.

"Agreed. It'd be inhumane to leave someone there, trapped within their own mind. I think we should at least view the options. But be ready to defend yourselves should something goes wrong. It would probably be wise to have Security on standby as well."

With that, he transmits a quick alert and pushes the control button for Pod 1. Now let's see about those options...

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
"We should probably View Status first," Kira suggests. It seems like the most sensible thing to do, right?
morphitudinous: (Repairs in progress)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-11 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I agree. View status, please", he says while pushing it.

[identity profile] helipack-jack.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
Jack in the meantime is very... Jack. He subtly picks up a datapad in a sidelong, covert fashion and examines it. He's curious dammit. Though if anything comes jumping out of that pod he's gonna be one of the first out of the room.
morphitudinous: (Serious)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-11 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
Like Billy should have expected any helpful information from Stacy. Ha.

Stumped, he turns back to talk to the others. "I'm honestly at a loss here. As Cassie said, this is a living brain. The vital signs confirm that. To leave the person trapped within their own mind would be inhumane---but at the same time, we can't be certain if it is a friend or foe. What do you all think?"
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-11 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Stacy, is there any information about who's in this pod that you can give us that you haven't all ready?" Cassie knew exactly what reaction she was expecting but she had to ask.
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-11 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Why am I not surprised." Cassie sighed. "My vote is to release him- her- it. It's not right to keep it trapped in there."

[identity profile] helipack-jack.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Jack looks up. "Sure, go for it. If it attacks us though I totally had nothing to do with it."

[identity profile] kirasaves.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
Kira nods. "Cassie's right. Whatever - whoever - is trapped inside there... they probably wouldn't want to stay in hibernation forever. But everyone should be on their guard, even so."
morphitudinous: (Repairs in progress)

[personal profile] morphitudinous 2009-08-11 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
So it's settled. He'd been leaning toward releasing it anyway, but the agreement of most of the others is comforting. But it's his responsibility in the end.

Before he can second guess himself, he pushes 'Release Subject' with a trembling finger and backs away to watch.

[identity profile] not-robocop.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
Shloooop!

That's the sound that comes out as the stasis fluid within the pod is drained through attached pipes. The pod door opens, and the object falls to the ground with a small tink! noise.

After a few moments, it begins to move, standing on the small legs underneath it.

It backs up slightly, regarding the group for a tense half-minute.

Then, it speaks.

"Hnn...I appear to be at a severe disadvantage."
staturity: (Default)

[personal profile] staturity 2009-08-11 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
"My name is Cassie Lang. You're on board a sentient alien vessel. We've all been brought here against our will and we have no idea why. I can give you a more detailed explanation later. Who are you?"

[identity profile] not-robocop.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Rudy Conners," he says simply. "I'm normally taller than this, but I seem to have misplaced my body."

He looks around the room, spotting a large, cylindrical container sitting in the corner of the room.

"Ah, here we go."

He skitters over to the container, climbing up the side. He quickly taps in a rather complex code into the keypad on the side using his insect-like legs. The top of the container hisses open a few seconds later.

"Would one of you mind tipping this over for me?"

[identity profile] savin-ur-data.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
...misplaced his body. That was certainly new. Now that their new friend is out of their pod, Mei Ling supposes she should go along with the crew regardless of whether or not she actually wanted to release him.

"Okay," she says, giving a slow, small nod to Rudy. She nervously puts both her hands on the container and tips it over for him.

[identity profile] not-robocop.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
As the container tips over, a mass of what appears to be liquid metal spills out onto the ground. The liquid seems to come together into one, hemispherical mass.

The little spider-brain-bot rather nonchalantly jumps into the mass, and there's another shloop! sound as the mass now forms--a la Terminator 2--into this (http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/1934/4177720060520022432larghn1.jpg).

The now-properly-embodied Rudy turns to Mei Ling, giving her a polite nod.

"Thank you, miss."

[identity profile] savin-ur-data.livejournal.com 2009-08-11 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
That was certainly unexpected. Mei Ling stands with her mouth agape for a few very long seconds before managing to spit out a few words.

"No problem."