<> <> (oh hay) (are we in other channel?) < >> (No.) (Wait, why did Zeke and I come back?) (I don't believe so: we can't conplete our plan until the other crew comes back from vacatiom.) (Which is im some number of days off.) (Right. We left off your session with you going back to update the rest of the crew on developments.) (Ah. I thought we were talking next day. Carry on!) (Waitin' on y'all.) * Hestia has been spending her time tinkering with possible surveillance devices. It's almost as if she's a specialist in computer-based intrusion and security or something. (Dre and I are fairly afk atm; the water just got back and we need to clean out the faucets.) ('s okay, we're a little early, we can start slow) (Anne, Mia sends her thanks, that is in fact the movie she was thinking of.) * Zeke is still working on the pad that he's wired into. He sure does love that pad. * Lexi has quit (Quit: ) (Question, Cham: Did Jackson say that he actually scans or opens up the box or some shit, or does he have no idea what happens when he slides over the box?) <> * Zeke says, to Tia, with only the birdsect looking at her, "Based on my files, there should be no problems with communication, but it may still need some degree of animation depending on the duration by which we need to fool him." (How much about Bug physiology is public knowledge at this point?) (Look uppable?) <> * Hestia somewhat thankfully doesn't see the creepy first part of that, since she's working with microtooling, and just speaks aloud. "The thing are mostly silicate, right? Put little electrostatic generators at key points. Basically use the thing like a puppet. Might be a little jerky but should pass muster." * Zeke is silent a moment, and then nods slowly. "Perhaps it had taken damage in the process." * Hestia pauses, then pushes aside a magnifying lens and looks Zeke-ward. "What?" As an explanation for the lack of fluid motion. * Hestia hms. "Seems reasonable enough. Maybe it's got the genocidal alien marauder flu or whatever." She turns back to her work. (Hestia Richter: Diplomat to the stars.) * Zeke frowns when Hestia is not looking, and goes back to padwork. His birdsect tilts its body and looks down at the pad with him. * Amadeus comes walking in from the labs right about now, crossing the room and heading for the kitchen. "Afternoon," he says. "What's going on?" (HE'S BACK) (They kinda tried to kill us all! As a human being I am sort of upset!) * Hestia looks up when she hears the applause track indicating another main character has stepped onto the set. Or, she heard Amadeus speak. "Welcome back." (What, just now?) (Well in general though there are the ones that tried to kill us personally and I'm not fond of those either!) (From Meat Bag Land.) * Amadeus nods at Tia before rooting around in the fridge. (Yeah, you guys are literally just returning from TC. Spent the night there, got processed in the morning, flew back in the lander.) (Right.) (haha, RFM win) (Sorry, was AFK talking to family. I'm back, though.) (Just finished reading backlog) (Yeah, that's on the website.) (Did we already get an offscreen, comm-based explanation or is Amadeus like "Hey" while we o_o and wait for an explanation?) (The latter!) * Hestia just... stares at Amadeus for a second before clearing her throat and looking the professor's way. "So?" * Kyle walks in and glances around. "Hay guys, 'sup?" * Zeke responds to Kyle with, "It has been the most interesting of times. It is likely your time in Twilight City was at least as interesting." Soooooo... Helmut von Erich, of Erichtech, was a meat puppet. No normal human reactions, acted emotions... * Hestia slowly lets one eyebrow go up. "Meat... puppet." * Amadeus pulls some leftovers out of the fridge and sets it on the counter. "That's what he called himself, after I asked him about it." (The new hit band on the TVNet circuit!) And then? He died, because he didn't want to use that puppet anymore. He was a living human otherwise, though. Like, fully human, totally normal aside from the lack of reflexes. * Hestia furrows her brow. "A clone, maybe? That doesn't even seem possible." * Zeke and his birdesct both look over at Amadeus. "Your explanation seems to imply there was nothing inside. If so, how was this 'meat puppet' controlled?' * Amadeus looks up from the burrito he's making. "I didn't have a chance to dissect him, Zeke." (LADIES AND GENTLEMEN PUT YOUR APPENDAGES TOGETHER FOR: MEAT PUPPET AND THE FLAGELLA) TC police say the cause of death was a heart attack, though. So he must've had stuff inside. * Chamelaeon gives voice to Lexi * Zeke tilts his holohead. "That seems very... strange. Perhaps some sort of psychic?" * Hestia tilts her head at Zeke. "The same way we're going to control your dead Bug, probably." * Amadeus leans against the counter. "Honestly, right now I'm thinking it's an alien of some sort. It has to be something that would be able to know about the Duekti systems." * Zeke looks over at Hestia. "Controlling a human body seems more complex than a few actuator motors." Well, the only aliens we know who'd know about the Duekti would be the bugs and Sleythin. And other Duekti, of course. * Hestia acquires a decidedly stone-faced look. "Nervous systems are nervous systems. I'm not saying it'd be cheap or easy, but believe me, it is possible." Yeah, I bet there are 24s out that can do that. So it's not beyond scope that some sort of aliens we don't know about have super mind control powarz. What did he actually say in the meeting, anyway? Other than 'meat puppet'. Uh... something about the technology coming out, everyone's going to get it and using us to get it, and humanity was going to get it anyways. I think? ...what? (... what?) (Okay, let me re-read the logs. This is what I get for trying to actually remember the plot) What was really important to him seemed to be the planets themselves. He was actually surprised we encountered the Duekti, for some reason. (For ATC4 I'm just mailing everyone journals) And... something about some sort of 'vast cosmic puzzle' that the Duekti systems are a part of from ages ago. (Yeah, let's go with Amadeus's thing going on.) * Lexi finally pops into the conversation. "I'm really sick of feeling like we're the only people not in on the joke." Yeah, it sucks. * Hestia pinches the bridge of her nose. "Sounds a lot like the Prophecy of Ultimate Doom to me." (Meanwhile! In Zeke's head! Waka waka waka waka...) (Derp derp. Derpity derp derp.) * Zeke is silent for a few moments, possibly playing Pac-Man on the back of his viewscreen. "And there is no way to pursue this being. That is unfortunate." So what were you guys up to? * Hestia leans back. "Oh, the usual. Kidnapping Mr. Jackson, arranging to spy on his employer by threatening to hurl him out an airlock. That sort of things." (Dr. Laura didn't REALLY say "My 'peeps' as I call them are gonna be upset...") * Zeke adds, "I believe the phrase is 'schway times'." (The universe cracks a little.) (zeke has added your cultural and biological diversity to his own. wai. x|) * Amadeus blinks. "... Seriously?" ... Really? Yes, seriously. Isn't that right, Mr. Box? * Zeke frowns and says, "That name was only appropriate when I was a box." Says you. * Zeke then replies, "But yes, that is what happened. He attempted to hire the Solar Flare, and upon informing them of what happens when he hires people, we were able to convince them to help us interrogate him." (Cosmic Supernova.) (Hahahahahahahaha laughing far too hard considering.) (Thank you.) He has confessed to capturing... bugs and bringing them back to his employer, Gene Ashwell, who is also known as Null Reg. Which seems to be the purpose of these missions. Clearly fake names, and stupid ones at that. Makes me wonder if Null Reg is a 'meat puppet' too, after hearing your story. May be... bugs, huh. * Zeke replies, "That is unlikely. It displays significant capability beyond their known capabilities." A pause, then he adds, "Due to his desire for bugs, we have determined that a false bug, in Mr. Jackson's case, could be used to determine his location." It seems like a... a... * Hestia watches Zeke closely, rather than suggest something. She has to entertain herself somehow. * Zeke trails off again... well kinda, as his holoface disappears for a moment and, during that moment, his birdsect bobs its head and makes a strange digitized noise... before slamming the side of his head with its tail. Twice. ... Y'alright there, Suit Boy? * Zeke's face turns back on as his third arm comes up to try to grab the birdsect. He turns towards it as it starts to slam its body against the holo face, wings flapping and the digitized noises continuing. * Hestia gets out of her chair. "Right, that's probably not normal." * Zeke replies, as he tries to grab it, "It... I... something is... this is... strange. Stranger." * Kyle blinks at the malfunctioning suitguy. "Hey man, you okay? Well, I mean okay enough?" * Hestia draws her gun. Why? Because decisive action is required. Though she doesn't aim it at Zeke; rather, she starts adjusting a setting on the grip before drawing a strange-looking bullet from her belt and slotting it into the chamber. "Is it the bird thing?" she asks, during the whole process. * Zeke says, "Yes, I--I am fine--the drones are--" he starts walking backwards, towards the way out of the lounge area and back towards his room. "It is... not a concern..." * Lexi blinks and shakes her head. "Hey, uh... Z? You want a drink?" Like hell it's not a concern! * Zeke frowns and finally gets a grip on it with the third hand, before explaining, "She is... impatient." I... cannot blame her. There is something missing. * Hestia does not seem to want to put that gun away. Fancy that. "Care to explain?" * Amadeus moves around the counter. "What are you talking about, Zeke?" * Zeke looks over to Hestia and Amadeus, faceplate with slight cracks in it. "It is... difficult to explain. I... believe it is likely I will be able to resolve the problem before the Cosmic Supernova is prepared to go." * Hestia just stares Zeke down, and then she actually does bring the gun up. To her credit, she's training it on the birdsect, not Zeke himself. "You know, I think in this instance I'm going to have to insist you elaborate." * Amadeus glances at Tia, but seems pretty uncertain about saying anything with that gun and all. (It shoots silly string. That's what the special bullet is for. Not that anyone knows that.) (Sweet.) (we're actually a travelling improv group.) (it's a party in a bullet!) * Lexi looks from Tia to Zeke to Tia again. * Zeke is silent a moment, then says, in a slow fashion, "My... other drones are attempting to act similarly, and I need to retrieve them as well. This is... the result of an... experimental program that has... reached its end." * Zeke is still backing away, though. Yeah, alright... let me come help wrangle the other drones, then. * Hestia starts moving. Carefully. * Zeke heads off to his room to get the case, and if Hestia follows him, she can see that he actually has an additional case for the birdsect that has never been relevant before! Two of the drones have walked into the room as well. It's fun gathering time! * Amadeus watches Zeke. He's acting strangely, yup. * Hestia is following, yes indeedy. "Experimental program, huh." A little warning would have been nice. * Kyle looks on in... well, a large amount of interest. This is pretty high-grade stuff here. * Zeke isn't saying anything else unless prompted, either. "My... apologies. I did not know what would happen, I have... never seen similar behavior before." (Sorry, I got prompted!) * Zeke does put the three drones that are there in the box and pick both boxes up, before starting to head out to grab the ones that are watching from the hull. <> * Amadeus shakes his head. (More poses, or more or less finished?) (I was just gonna say I had to head home.) * Lexi raises her eyebrow. "What the hell kind of experiment was it, Z?" * Zeke manages to recover another one from the underside of the ship and shoves it in the box. "A... pseudo-intelligence related project. I will... need to head home to resolve this." You have a home? Do you need one of us to drive? You really don't look well. I thought you just like lived in a closet on the ship. * Zeke looks up at Hestia and Lexi for a moment through the cracked faceplate, and then back down to the drones. "Once I... have recovered the drones, I will... be fine." Oh, it's no trouble to escort you back. Plus I'd love to see the kind of house you keep. * Lexi shrugs and shakes her head. "All...right... If you say so." * Zeke shakes his head. "I... do not need the escort, Hestia." * Kyle shrugs, looking at the denial of help. "Hey man, if you need some help, let me know. Just don't get into too much trouble." * Amadeus shakes his head, again. * Hestia smiles a little. "Oh, I'm sure you probably don't. But it's interesting to see you backpedal." * Zeke frowns slightly at Hestia before saying, "Lexi, if you could retrieve the others on the upper side of the ship, that would be... helpful." (Tia's so mean! If someone asked to help her home she'd eat their head.) (I know ^_^) (Do as I say, not as I do! It's an important maxim.) (He could have shot first, asked questions later. If he doesn't that's not my fault.) (ANYhow. Are we more or less done here?) (I guess so?) (Sure, why not!) (ONTO THE STING OPERATION) <> * Zeke has returned, triumphant! His suit looks different as does the birdsect: it has some distinctive patterning on it, and the wings are different too. He's carrying (Bad enter!) * Zeke has returned, triumphant! His suit looks different as does the birdsect: it has some distinctive patterning on it, and the wings are different too. He's carrying his case, too. The birdsect is looking around smoothly towards everyone. * Amadeus is there, looking at a datapad. He glances up. "Morning, Zeke. You're looking better." * Zeke nods and the holoface smiles slightly. "Yes. The problems identified with the suit have been resolved, and the... drone experiment was successful." The... odd setback aside. 'Odd setback' is an interesting way of phrasing it. Yes, it is. * Lexi steps onto the ship. "Hey, Z. You're looking fab. Love the new feathers. So what was up with you the other day?" Yeah, what happened there? * Zeke looks over at Lexi, then Kyle. "As I said, it was an experiment in intelligence. You may note that this drone acts more naturally now." * Kyle looks at the drone then moves his fingers around near its head, seeing if the drone follows the movements of his hand. * Zeke's birdsect does follow for a moment, before making a noise and swiping its tail at Kyle's hand, whole body twisting in the process. It looks back at Kyle afterwards, as Zeke explains, "Ah... she thought she was being teased." * Hestia watches carefully, and frowns a little bit at the tailswipe. "Interesting. Unnerving, but interesting." * Kyle pulls his hand back, getting thwapped in the processess. He seemed to have been expecting it, honestly. "Wow, that's really impressive. Really really impressive." Ah... yes. Thank you. * Hestia mutters something that sounds an awful lot like "Why not just get a damn cat?" (too much poop) (and hork) (poop and hork) (Pork and hoop?) (oh my god you have no idea) (I can tell you're both destinated for parenthood.) (Man you have met me, can you imagine me at 5?) (Having met you, yes, I can very easily imagine you at 5.) (OHHH BURNNN anyhow) (OH SNAP) <> * Hestia becomes Dread Horkannu, Destroyer of Cats. * Kyle snickers at Hestia. "Probably the same reason he didn't get an actual bird." (Either I have the bot to hand Tia to bug, or we've already done it.) (I'd like to say we've already done it.) (Yes, let's get this over with.) (I am fine with this!) * Hestia gestures with her sonic screwdriver toward the cargo bay. "The uh... 'decoy' is all set to go." (I'm pretty beat. I think I need to go lay down.) How are you going to get him to take it? * Zeke nods and replies, "Then we are prepared. I... look forward to discovering what this strange person's goals are." (Go for it, Lexi) (I guess Zeke didn't explain clearly enough.) Oh, we gave him sufficient motivation. * Zeke nods. "And then he will take his large case back to Gene Ashwell, and we will follow." Right. Sounds like a plan. (Which... we do next week? Will people be here next week?) (I think Todd is on the move?) (I should be here next week, unless I'm on the train. But should be.) (I won't be here for at least the next two weeks, no.) (But I'm fine with you playing without me.) (I think we've got to. I think this will only take one more session anyhow.) <>