Zero Divide: Episode #2 "Black Star"

[Shalimar]

"So clones are not considered to be people? To be sub-sentient without legal rights? I can see people holding cloners responsible for their actions, but how about the clones themselves?" the blonde teen asks.

 

[Shayuri]

Facade stays silent, just listening and watching. Talos already knew more about them than she liked...and she was liking it less and less by the minute. She could see what their 'rescuer' was doing. He was carefully making a path that led to this syndicate, then walling off the other directions they might want to go. Affably, of course. Humans, as a lesser race, were apt to trust anything if it was presented in a friendly manner.

Talos was just the first line though, she thought. The face. He was so reasonable, he made it sound reasonable to come with him and follow his suggestion. To do otherwise would be unreasonable. And if they were unreasonable, Facade was sure that there were other beings waiting in the wings. Less reasonable ones.

We need to know more.

"Talos," she says. "I realize you're acting on behalf of someone else, but I just want to say thanks for helping us out like this. You've been nothing but professional and pleasant to work with."

She holds out her hand for him to shake, hoping that Ian will catch on.

 

[Vanifae]

"Talos," she says. "I realize you're acting on behalf of someone else, but I just want to say thanks for helping us out like this. You've been nothing but professional and pleasant to work with."

She holds out her hand for him to shake, hoping that Ian will catch on.

Talos responds, “Female human it is a pleasure to work with your lesser species. For all your many shortcomings I believe that humanity will become a vital member of the community.”

He looks at her hands, “A handshake, why human female you honor me with such a custom.” He grasps her hands, the touch is cold and the skin is slightly rubbery, the hand consisting of three long fingers, and a thin thumb.

Talos approximates a smile, “Thank you human female, you have honored me greatly this day.”

Talos responds to Haven, “Why would clones need rights?”

Alan

Biggs nods, “Smart guy, yeah I guess you could say that, but it isn’t that simple.”

Wedge adds, “The Cartel does not seem to have a central authority, no single individual or group of individuals holds the reigns, so you have to sever several pieces at once and it seems like where you destroy one, two more spring up elsewhere.”

Biggs looks at where Ashana and Michael went, “I wonder what they could be talking about?”

 

[Shayuri]

Facade smiles back. "Thanks." She looks at the others. "I think we should all honor him. Don't you?"

As she says the last words, her eyes lock on Ian's, though her smile never falters.

 

[Hammerhead]

"See you," Michael says to himself as he steps out of the tram, his contact with his duplicate severed. I guess that settles that. I just wish I could have said something cliched before disappearing.

Michael looks at Facade, wondering what her game was. Contact poison? Genetic material or fingerprints? A distraction to steal his watch? He then looks away, distracting himself by taking in all of the sights and strange creatures that now surround him. He also busies himself by trying to figure out where most of these...people seem keep to their supplies of money.

Stop asking so much about cloning...this guy may not know much about humans, or even have the vaguest sense of polite behavior, but he did know computers. If he doesn't know already, you're going to tip him off. Then again, this is Haven, so laws might not be as strong.

"For the same reason every other sentient being needs or desires certain rights. I'd be willing to bet it's probably a major social issue. What other issues are there right now?"

 

[Victim]

... We're going to have to talk with some people about discretion. Let's put that below basic needs but ahead of gaining information - otherwise we'll give too much away with our queries.

Ashley yawns as they emerge from the tram. No need to gawkl; just observe. Though, this is going to make reading faces and body language a bit more difficult at first. But without obstacles to overcome, what'd be the point? "As a fairly new species, our perspective is going be a bit different from your's, of course. Thanks for putting up with our questions, even when they seem stupid or obvious."

 

[James Heard]

Alan

Biggs nods, “Smart guy, yeah I guess you could say that, but it isn’t that simple.”

Wedge adds, “The Cartel does not seem to have a central authority, no single individual or group of individuals holds the reigns, so you have to sever several pieces at once and it seems like where you destroy one, two more spring up elsewhere.”

Biggs looks at where Ashana and Michael went, “I wonder what they could be talking about?”

Alan looks forward critically before twisting his face into an amused expression.

"Maybe they've passed the talking part already?"

"That's the whole point of a cartel, isn't it? A collusion of interested parties? What are they peddling that makes it worth the effort then? Or is it just your average pimp and pusher alliance meddling in politics?"

Alan scrunches his face.

"Not that just that wouldn't be plenty bad news I guess."

"Sorry about before. Sometimes my witty banter bounces around the subject a bit before it settles down for a meal. I think it annoyed the hell out those people who were with me in the sim. Except for Vanessa," he amends.

"What do you know about Omega Tau III?"

 

[Vanifae]

"As a fairly new species, our perspective is going be a bit different from your's, of course. Thanks for putting up with our questions, even when they seem stupid or obvious."

The veranthian nods at Ashley, “Oh human female your ignorance is a species does not diminish your value or your input, I am happy to share what I can to your lesser species perhaps in time your kind will grow, with proper mentoring.”

He mulls over Michael’s question glancing around, “Well human Michael, you do bring up an interesting question. My species does not often consider social rights an issue, in a properly regimented civilization every individual knows their place in the collective whole, and if you are of lesser importance then that is your place. To want more then you are entitled to will invite chaos. But I suppose for humans, your kind is simply trying to establish itself… oh your species is amusing human, I believe that what you lack in intellect you more then make up for in your tenacity to succeed. Your previous failures have not slowed your rapid expansion across the Galaxy.”

Ian rolls a Notice check of 14, Ashley rolls a Notice check of 23, Surge rolls a 16 Notice check, Michael rolls a 19 Notice check, Haven rolls a 15 Notice Check, and Façade rolls 12.

Ashley, Surge, Michael, & Haven
[sblock]You notice four individuals watching your group a little more intently then they should be; three humans you assume and one green skinned humanoid whose features look very much like a human male heavily muscled with tribal tattoos on the face and exposed green flesh. Michael recognizes this as a junian male.[/sblock]
Alan

Biggs shrugs, “The biggest crimes would be drugs, slave trading, and the sell and trade of illegal technology to less then legitimate parties. We don’t track down the small fry we want the major operations, but that isn’t why we are here on Haven V.”

Wedge nods to Biggs then turns to Alan, “Yeah, huh… Omega Tau III, man I have not heard that since I was a kid. Some disaster happened before I was born, a colony near the Red Zone, one of ours. You know human, I heard that raiders living outside the GR raided the place and killed everyone.”

Biggs shakes his head, “Man you know everyone knows that it was a terrorist attack, Ikus Extremists getting back at the Alliance; it’s a fact. They crippled the relay and totally cut off that sector, heel I bet they took over the colony and there are still people there.”

“You are crazy, the Ikus movement was crushed,” Wedge insists.

Biggs shakes his head in disagreement, “If you think the Ikus movement is dead, you are a bigger idiot then I thought.”

“Cut the chatter the both of you,” Ashana says walking back in alone. The craft touches down with a lurching motion and the rear door opens, a ramp deploying for easy egress. The junian looks at Alan, “Doctor Tighe, have you eaten anything?”

 

[James Heard]

Alan

Biggs shrugs, “The biggest crimes would be drugs, slave trading, and the sell and trade of illegal technology to less then legitimate parties. We don’t track down the small fry we want the major operations, but that isn’t why we are here on Haven V.”

Wedge nods to Biggs then turns to Alan, “Yeah, huh… Omega Tau III, man I have not heard that since I was a kid. Some disaster happened before I was born, a colony near the Red Zone, one of ours. You know human, I heard that raiders living outside the GR raided the place and killed everyone.”

Biggs shakes his head, “Man you know everyone knows that it was a terrorist attack, Ikus Extremists getting back at the Alliance; it’s a fact. They crippled the relay and totally cut off that sector, hell I bet they took over the colony and there are still people there.”

“You are crazy, the Ikus movement was crushed,” Wedge insists.

Biggs shakes his head in disagreement, “If you think the Ikus movement is dead, you are a bigger idiot then I thought.”

“Cut the chatter the both of you,” Ashana says walking back in alone. The craft touches down with a lurching motion and the rear door opens, a ramp deploying for easy egress. The Junian looks at Alan, “Doctor Tighe, have you eaten anything?”

Alan taps his head.

"If I have then I've forgotten. Weird sim, remember?"

Alan gets up and stretches.

"Commander Ashana, your little box was able to tell you who I am - any chance it can tell you where I was last supposed to be?"

He follows the militant Junians out of the craft.

"I'm curious if I've managed to cheat death like your friend - guy who looks like your friend," he corrects dubiously. "It might make some sense why and how we came to be in the same room together."

"...And if Death is hanging out there checking his list, and I'm supposed to be on it ..."

 

[Vanifae]

Alan taps his head.

"If I have then I've forgotten. Weird sim, remember?"

Alan gets up and stretches.

"Commander Ashana, your little box was able to tell you who I am - any chance it can tell you where I was last supposed to be?"

He follows the militant Junians out of the craft.

"I'm curious if I've managed to cheat death like your friend - guy who looks like your friend," he corrects dubiously. "It might make some sense why and how we came to be in the same room together."

"...And if Death is hanging out there checking his list, and I'm supposed to be on it ..."

Ashana walks onto a platform overlooking a massive city, “That man, he looks like someone I once knew but he isn’t him… and you look like and even be Doctor Tighe but you are most likely not that man… or maybe you are. That man I knew he died back on Omega Tau III.”

Biggs and Wedge grab equipment and head across the platform ahead of Ashana as she pauses on the deck to observe the city, “Your last known whereabouts Doctor Tighe are well known, you died on Omega Tau III… which deepens this mystery. Your friends I bet also died there, which means you are all possibly connected. The question on my mind is why, and who decided to resurrect you. I believe the other Doctor Tighe, your daughter may have that answer.”