Zero Divide - Episode #1 - "Looking Glass"

[Hammerhead]

"The United States, huh?" That doesn't really seem to mean too much to me. Damn. "And where's the nearest city from here?"

"It could be for our own good, I suppose," Michael answers Dee hesitantly. "Then again, I want to see what's outside these walls as much as anyone here." He turns back towards their guest. "Do you know if certain people outside have weird gifts or talents or anything?"

 

[Vanifae]

"Why would you say two centuries ago, as opposed to some other time?" Sounds like someone has access to more information than the rest of us. "So if this place is retro, then what sorts of other common technology do we lack here? What else can your headphones do?"

"And what's CNN? We're almost completely lacking in context."

“Umm CNN is like the news… you know you watch it or read…” Mira looks surprised, “Well these aren’t called headphones, its called an Interface, most people just call it a face, it connects to the GALnet, receives messages, stores information… mine just has mostly music and video… you know normal stuff… or maybe you don’t know,” she says a little overwhelmed.

“This place is just dead, it doesn’t seem to be connected, and no internal network, no grid… this place is totally dead. I can’t believe people lived like this,” she smirks.

Dee turns to Michael, “Maybe we should access this CNN?”

Haven and Façade

The two head up the stairs and see Vanessa walking toward them, she smiles, “Hey you two, you guys ready for the trip to town later?”

Alan

“Isaac,” she sighs sitting down, “he gave up his love for pure scientific discovery long ago, he is a company man, through and through. He relies on people like us to provide him with the big ideas. Isaac needs you because he knows you can get the job done.”

“VSC and the UN Space Consortium are throwing around ridiculous amounts of money, they have commissioned four new ships with my new Reactionless Ion Drive system, that isn’t cheap, with that kind of money they want the best Medical professional they can find, and I am not sure who would be better then you. Although I am not sure how you will get used to supervising a staff, knowing you, you will be doing everything yourself,” she smiles.

“But that is why I married you, that and your boyish good looks,” she kisses his cheek.

“And why you are doing this? Well because you wanted to be apart of something that will be forever remembered. I don’t know maybe you just have some hidden sense of adventure under that doctor exterior. I would like to think because you feel you can make a difference,” she says laying her head on his shoulder.

Krishna looks up at Alan resting his head on the soft bed.

Ari smiles, “I just wish you were not going for so long, but advancing the future of mankind has its sacrifices I suppose. By the time you get back Vanessa will be nearly two,” you will hardly recognize her.

 

[Vanifae]

"The United States, huh?" That doesn't really seem to mean too much to me. Damn. "And where's the nearest city from here?"

"It could be for our own good, I suppose," Michael answers Dee hesitantly. "Then again, I want to see what's outside these walls as much as anyone here." He turns back towards their guest. "Do you know if certain people outside have weird gifts or talents or anything?"

"Well the nearest place is Jonesville, just up the road... you know where I live," Mira remarks.

"I am not sure what you mean about talents, like a musician?" she adds.

 

[Shalimar]

"I'll go on one condition." Haven says sounding serious for perhaps the first time since he woke up. "You have to hold my hand when ever we cross the street and in the parking lot, and I get to ride in the shopping cart." the blue haired teen says, the serious face cracking as he speaks and then shattering into a good natured laugh.

"Is Melvin ok, or did you send him to his room for a time out?" Haven asks, the laughter stiill audible in his voice.

 

[James Heard]

“Alan

“Isaac,” she sighs sitting down, “he gave up his love for pure scientific discovery long ago, he is a company man, through and through. He relies on people like us to provide him with the big ideas. Isaac needs you because he knows you can get the job done.”

“VSC and the UN Space Consortium are throwing around ridiculous amounts of money, they have commissioned four new ships with my new Reactionless Ion Drive system, that isn’t cheap, with that kind of money they want the best Medical professional they can find, and I am not sure who would be better then you. Although I am not sure how you will get used to supervising a staff, knowing you, you will be doing everything yourself,” she smiles.

“But that is why I married you, that and your boyish good looks,” she kisses his cheek.

“And why you are doing this? Well because you wanted to be apart of something that will be forever remembered. I don’t know maybe you just have some hidden sense of adventure under that doctor exterior. I would like to think because you feel you can make a difference,” she says laying her head on his shoulder.

Krishna looks up at Alan resting his head on the soft bed.

Ari smiles, “I just wish you were not going for so long, but advancing the future of mankind has its sacrifices I suppose. By the time you get back Vanessa will be nearly two,” you will hardly recognize her.

"Me? Adventure? Hah. My sense of adventure is an extra dash of hot sauce and short sleeves in a brisk wind. I don't know, Ari - it just seems like there's already something wrong. You know me. I don't jump at shadows. The past, present, even the future? How am I supposed to heal others when my own mind is so conflicted? I just need to find my balance I guess, before I wake up on this trip and find myself in the rabbit hole."

"Are you sure you don't want to call up VSC and tell them that we've called the whole thing off? We could go on a vacation, just the three of us. Someplace nice."

He leers with mock enthusiasm.

"Someplace warm, maybe. You can wear a bikini and I'll buy a ridiculous straw hat."

 

[Hammerhead]

I bet if people could duplicate themselves, or fall twenty feet without injuries, or change their shape, she would know about it. I guess that answers my question. "Well, we have one guy upstairs who is a genius with math," Michael lies, shooting the others in the kitchen a significant look.

No need to show my hand for now. Michael rises from the table, excusing himself as he walks out of sight from the kitchen into a hallway. He creates two duplicates, who split up to find Haven and Facade, wherever they went off to, and one to find Vanessa. With luck, the Junkyard guy was still throwing a fit and keeping her busy, but there were no guarantees.

"Sorry about that," Michael says as he returns. "Both this CNN and this interface thing sound pretty handy for finding out about ourselves and everything else. It might take us a little while to figure out how things work though."

Haven and Facade

"Hi there," Michael calls, when he finds the two of them chatting with Vanessa on the stairs. "I heard that our nameless friend got pretty angry, huh?"

 

[Victim]

You're warning me about giving away unnecessary information, she thinks in reply to Michael's glance.

Ashley considers the Interface device. "Your 'face' does sound useful. I guess you and other people use it all the time? If this house isn't connected to the network, then we probably can't look things up here. What does the gal in GALnet mean?" It certainly does sound useful. A little too useful, too easy perhaps. Wouldn't the subtlies of the world be lost in the noise? How can a person actually think for herself if she's constantly blasting herself with music and video?

 

[Vanifae]

You're warning me about giving away unnecessary information, she thinks in reply to Michael's glance.

Ashley considers the Interface device. "Your 'face' does sound useful. I guess you and other people use it all the time? If this house isn't connected to the network, then we probably can't look things up here. What does the gal in GALnet mean?" It certainly does sound useful. A little too useful, too easy perhaps. Wouldn't the subtlies of the world be lost in the noise? How can a person actually think for herself if she's constantly blasting herself with music and video?

“GAL… gal… oh yeah Galaxy, it stands for galaxy network thing, I don’t know I am not a computer chick, I just use it, you know? Oh crap you probably don’t even know about that first contact thing, do you?” Mira asks.

Haven, Façade, and Michael

Vanessa shrugs, “No he was upset but Alan is going to be alright. He and I talked it out and I think he is going to be much better.”

Alan

Ari smiles shaking her head, “I want you to stay I don’t want you to go halfway across the galaxy just to prove a point; but I also know that they will need the best and brightest people possible there… at least initially.”

“But honey if you don’t want to go-”

Elsewhere

The lab is clean, antiseptic, and white with bright panels depicting various scenes throughout the Estate. Two women stand looking at the various monitors a very professional looking Vanessa and a much more conservative looking Mira.

“That isn’t following protocol Mira,” Vanessa remarks looking at a monitor depicting Alan, and then another depicting the kitchen.

“You forget we need results to keep funding?” Mira responds, “My way is getting results, we have a breakthrough with Subject 05.”

“Subject 05 is showing signs of spontaneous memory development but with outside coercion, this could corrupt the findings; and I am quite sure inserting yourself into the Estate will alter the parameters of the research,” Doctor Tighe responds.

Mira scoffs, “But we have results this proves that your theory is correct, right?”

“We need to verify the results, we need to start from the beginning; I need conclusive evidence before moving forward,” Doctor Tighe counters.

“Subject 04, and Subject 06 both are showing results, I think the Board could accept that your ideas work,” Mira replies gesturing to the monitors.

“Not good enough, I want a complete restart,” Doctor Tighe turns to her assistant, “do it.”

“But?”

“Do it, Mira,” Doctor Tighe commands.

“But Subject 05… I mean we have a breakthrough,” Mira pleads.

“I should not have to repeat myself, you work for me, now initiate Restart protocol," Doctor Tighe demands.

There will be Will saves made, you can spend a Hero Point to have that roll rerolled, if you succeed, well you will see, if you fail you will gain 1 HP. You can respond here or in the OOC thread if you want a reroll.

Ian rolls a 13.
Michael rolls a 22.
Façade rolls a 21.
Ashley rolls a 21.
Alan rolls a 15.
Haven rolls a 10.

That ends those scenes preceding this. Oh and if you want to fail the Will save on purpose you get 2 HP, yes I am open to bribes

 

[Shalimar]

Haven will fail on purpouse.

 

[Hammerhead]

I figure someone has to make their save; I'm happy with my result.