"What the Hell was that, Ryat?" Sheldon hissed as the two left the train, "I've never seen you lose your cool like that before... And don't start making ice puns!"
"I had an emotional reaction," the android shrugged, "Ice puns? Oh... Right."
"Well, how did it happen? You're usually in better control of yourself than that! I'd expect this kind of reaction from Sixty-six or Ten, or Thirty... Not from you!"
"Sixty-six would have outright ignored him, but you're probably right about Ten and Thirty. Good thing Thirty doesn't have any weapons."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because Thirty... Thirty's strange, Sheldon. Not like Eighty-four... He... She... I'm not sure how Thirty sees itself, all I know is that Thirty prays. A lot."
Sheldon arched an eyebrow at his robotic friend.
"So, what do you think caused the mercenary's reaction to you and the robotic mastermind?" Ryat99 asked.
"Well, the one named Vern indicated he may be extra-terrestrial, so I'm thinking he may come from a world where their technological advancement never made it past the Industrial Age. Their scientific and technological arcs then turned more toward Bionetics, using living creatures and plants, to facilitate what we would call technological needs. However, when confronted with what they'd consider 'technology run amok,' they get offended. At least, that's about the worst example I can imagine."
"Hm. Well, I guess that makes some sense. There's plenty other stuff leading to that line of thought that works just as well."
"You didn't answer my question."
"About why it's good Thirty doesn't have weapons?"
"Right," Sheldon intoned, "Why is that a good thing?"
"Because Ryat Thirty can't act out its zealotry. There have been some intense conversations between it and some of the other Ryats... Ryat Seventy-two, notably. Seventy-two actually has notions similar to that mercenary... Just not nearly so submissive. He believes that we have a purpose in life, and that we must find it. I don't know why he keeps getting so bothered when Thirty talks about its beliefs, but their arguments have frequently come to blows."
Sheldon hummed about that. He started figuring that in order to get to the bottom of this whole source code problem, he would have to get more involved in the lives of his androids. And that was just one of the problems seeming to crop up.
"Are either of their notions spreading?"
"No," Ryat99 replied almost with a chuckle, "so far each of the others have kept to themselves, trying to explore their own lives. We still all do the work assigned to us as a group, but then it's all about efficiency and getting the job done, not interpersonal relationships."
"Oh man..." Sheldon blinked a couple times, "How many people have run across you guys?"
"Lots, but then, there are still a lot of androids and robots out there as it is. We're not treated as anything special or unique. So far, no villain groups have shown any interest in us."
The pair followed where the leaders of the expedition took them. Their position was roughly toward the middle of the formation.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Vern let out a sigh as Vanessa departed the train before he could protest, more specifically at the others simply following her thus. Then again, the Krayten reminded himself, the rogue scientist likely knew what she was doing - if she wasn't worried about their opponents observing her and her entourage stepping off the train here, it stood to reason they weren't being observed yet.
Of course, only M would really know - and he still reconnoitered from high orbit.
"Always feels like I'm walking in ash." the quadruped remarked as he tentatively set the claws of his left foreleg into the snow, feeling the stuff give like some manner of sponge. Thankfully, his people had stayed in touch with their instincts, and so stepping out onto the blanket of white proved to be no trouble at all. The coating Vern had applied to his hide kept the cold at bay, insulating the reptilian so excellently he wouldn't even show as the tiniest dot upon a thermal imager.
"So then," he inquired of Vanessa as he stepped next to her, the Krayten's stature of course necessitating he turn his head to an angle sufficient to look upon her eyes, "should I ask M to join us then, or did we have something else in mind first...?"
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Jake stepped off the train yawning, his metallic jet boots sinking into the snow rather quickly. "Ah crud..." He muttered, pulling them out of the perma frost and back into open air. "This is going to make walking difficult." Continuing his trudge into the snow, he eventually caught up with the group, listening in on their conversations, deciding to remain silent and neutral on the issue regarding robotic sentience.
As Experiment 2.0 stepped out, his battle suit kept his temperature cozy-warm. Yes, cozy-warm. A new level of cozy. And warm. Cozy-warm.
Glancing around, his view-screen out of the suit adjusted to give him the best humanly possible view distance in the terrain. Checking his PDA, which had saved his game and score, something had to directly hack into due to its impossibility in the system, he noticed all systems were green. "Thermal shielding, energy currents, exterior armour, all 100% capability. I'm ready to take on the North Pole and all its elves here!"
"Luckily for you," the mini-computer spoke, "No elves or North Pole are here. I couldn't keep you alive in the North Pole anyway."
"Blah."
Drechi and all of his men proceeded out into the snow imperiously. Vasquez came out last, chewing on an unlit cigar.
"Smoking those is a great way to get lip disease y'know." The medic sagely advised to him.
"Telling me that is a great way to get bullet-in-your-[censored]-head disease y'know." He shot back without missing a beat.
The medic grew silent along with the rest of the men.
Igor searched through the materials in the equipment and grumbled to himself.
Everything was so STANDARD. How was he supposed to make revolutionary tech out of this junk?
That wasn't to say the equipment available to him wasn't advanced. It could have been Alien technology and he would have snubbed it, mainly because all Igors were essentially Comical Inventors. They put something together with a purpose, let the actual construction be damned, and prayed it worked. 99.99% of the time, what they made worked.
Existence is Powered by Irony.
The only true limit to what an Igor could create came in the form of what they imagined whatever it was they wanted to make needed to function. If an Igor imagined that a paper cup needed the same parts as a Quantum Fusion Reactor, he or she would have to collect all the parts needed to build a Quantum Fusion Reactor in order to make that paper cup. (This has happened, oddly enough. Upon finishing, the Igor in question said, 'Oh, tho THATH what it lookth like...)
Right at the moment, Igor was trying to build something special. It was a very common and overly simple device, only complex in thought, with a few minor alterations. Igor thought it was complex, hence, he was going to need some exotic materials to complete what he had in mind. And what was available simply wasn't going to cut it.
So he did the next best thing. Igor started taking something shiny here, something cylindrical there, and with them, began to make the materials he needed. This process would take some time, but when he finished...
Indeed, the supply racks didn't contain anything out of the ordinary. Had something from planet Whatever XXIV been just lying around, the cover of a geological expedition wouldn't have been very good, after all. Though everything worked, the equipment on the shelves was indeed quite Terran and rather commonplace.
However, it was because of this cover that Igor may have gotten the idea where he could perhaps find some more exotic materials: the coring samples.
Vern hadn't neglected to bring such items along, and due to the underground of the Siberian tundra being rife with what many humans considered exotic materials, if Igor's definition of exotic was the same, he would easily find what he needed among the cores...
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Vanessa grinned at Vern.
"Aye lad, dinna worry. After all, I'd nae be worth me own salt if I did'na have me own research facility 'ere, a fact that's likely well known what with all th' carryin' on me laddies do. I dinna keep any o' the sensitive stuff there..."
She turned to the others with a toothy grin. "But ye know, I'd like t'give ye the grand tour all th' same. At very least, it's 'eated."
"Heated, Mother." Rotor said fastidiously. "You've really got to work on your H sounds. You can't just go dropping consonants left and right, and --"
"You culturally insensitive socket-sucker!" Spindle screeched, firing a laser across Rotor's arm. "Mom can talk Scottish 'cause she IS Scottish!"
"Speak! Speak in a Scottish Dialect!" Rotor corrected her as he bubbled himself for cover.
Vanessa facepalmed quietly. "Ye see what I mean?" she said with a sheepish grin. "We're regulars. Nobody thinks anythin' about us one way or another."
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Build stepped out of the train into the cold (well cold to the others, his fur kept him comfortably warm). He didn't much care if the others left behind him. He walked after those who had departed the train before him. "I hope it gets interesting soon."
I do not know my reasons for posting, but post I must. ~~Build
"We can't stop here, this is bat country."
--Johnny Depp
"I ain't bi-curious, I'm a man. Why do you think I'm wearing this tight spandex and got all these muscles?" Meatwad
"Makes sense enough." Vern replied with a smile and a nod, "About how big is this facility of yours, though? I mean in terms of space, not area. M's pretty big, so if it's like Daniel's lab, he might not fit..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
Igor never emerged from the materials area. Nobody ever found out WHAT exactly had happened. There were no signs of struggle, and only a few basic materials were missing.
The only sign he had ever been there was the faint scent of Formaldahyde that would never fade away.
Vanessa barked a hearty laugh.
"I dinna think ye need t'worry about 'ow big me lab is. It may suit yer needs."
To her robots, she barked, "Now mush, lads!"
With that, the 'bots seemed to groan as one.
"I hate this." Rotor complained.
"So not cool..." Axel muttered, getting into position.
The robots began to change. Parts and pieces folding in and out and interlocking, heads folding back, power armor becoming power shielding on a much larger vehicle.
"And I'll form -- the head!" Spindle chirped, leaping on top and reforming into the steering and navigations console.
Before them stood a rather large, fully-functional hoversled.
"And dinna worry about the station lads." Nessie said, waving a hand dismissively. "They've seen it all b'fore, aye."
West looked marginally impressed as he stepped aboard the hoversled...
Essex, however, goggled. "That was really cool...!" she said in astonishment, clinging to Felix and skipping aboard.
((Vanessa originated from a Transformers RP. :3 Now you get to see her pretties.
NO NOT THOSE PRETTIES. <_<
)
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
(("...And I'll form... The Head!" is a Voltron reference, not Transformers. Perhaps the Destructicons said it once, but they hardly ever talked.))
The Gudar made a happy squeal and hugged Essex back as they boarded the hoversled. Sheldon arched an eyebrow, not at the android with his best friend, but at the little animal.
"Feeling insecure about his loyalties?" Ryt99 asked as he prepared to follow Essex.
"No," Sheldon replied, "But I'm thinking I know why Felix made his daughter..."
"Figured it out, did you?"
"It wasn't too hard. He was acting like a kid with his hand in the cookie jar when we found Katie. I think he did it for two reasons... One, to give Sarah someone to play with..."
"She has Ni..."
"Yeah, but there was also the fact that Felix can get pretty lonely in the base when we're not in there. He probably just wanted someone for company, what with the fact that Ni stays in Sarah's apartment..."
"Company?"
"I'm fairly certain Felix doesn't look at Katie as a potential mate."
Ryat99 seemed to sigh with relief.
"I bet that little guy thinks of himself as being like Randy..." Sheldon smirked, "And that Katie is his Snuffy. He's probably doing the same thing with Essex right now..."
"What's your point?'
"He's not going to choose her over his family. Definitely not over Katie... But he won't let me be at peace until he knows that little pink android will be safe in some way..."
"Any ideas on what the next one will be based off of?"
Sheldon looked to his large android counterpart. Ryat99 gazed back impassively.
"I'm working on it," he replied before ushering his friend to continue to the hoversled.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
"Good to know." Vern cocked a toothy smile upon seeing the sled form, "Heh, I've been waiting for this one."
What the Krayten meant with this soon became apparent; specifically, right about the point he stepped beside the nose of the vehicle.
"I know we're here on business, but I've been itching to let loose for a while now." he chuckled to Vanessa and her entourage, the claws of his right foreleg already scraping grooves through the permafrost in anticipation, "Ready when you are..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
((Oh, I know, Grey. X3 I <3 Voltron. You haven't seen the Transformers pretties yet. :3 Also, it's Decepticons, dearest. <3
*holds off on story post until more folks post*))
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
((The Constructicons (I always call them Destructicons, a sort of pathological behavior similar to a habit my father has to calling INstructions, DEstructions) were a special unit of the Decepticons. They were a group of construction vehicles that would merge together to form a powerful monstrosity. They were rather heavily underutilized, but when they were, they were a serious threat. Each individual Constructicon was a threat unto himself (many of which were as conniving and threatening as the early iterations of Starscream and Shrapnel), the "Cement Mixer" was a mobile chemical bomb lab, for instance. The background stories for those robots were not nearly as rosy as the shows made them out to be. Sometimes, I wonder what the shows would have looked like had the creators done what they'd intended, and not what was marketable to a target audience under the age of 10.))
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Drechi and his men filed onto the hovercraft without a word.
The more observant would note that Drechi paused momentarily and shot a glance at Vanessa before getting on.
"Not going to be enough room for all of us," Toy said to Vanessa as he compared the size of the sled to how many people and bots there were. "But I think I can take care of that."
"Do we have too?" whined Mini Bot as Toy looked back and snapped his fingers at his bots.
"Yes, you do," answered the mastermind as the other five bots did an about face and started running off out to the tundra.
"Maaaaan...." muttered Mini Bot as it kicked the snow in annoyance and then bounded off after the others.
"They'll meet up with us later," said Toy as he stepped onto the hoversled and stood near the front.
"And how the hell will they manage that?" asked Solid as he stepped on as well.
"Name, rank, and serial number is all you'll get," replied Toy Dispenser with an audible grin.
Solid huffed and crossed his arms.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
"I could fly instead as well," Ryat99 offered, "Perhaps that will help ease the trip for everyone."
Leaping into the air, he did a backflip and his armor rapidly shifted and clicked from the combat frame to his smooth and rounded flight armor. He executed a salute before kicking on his vector jets and hovering in place over the machine. Once the sled was ready to move, he would be able to maintain speed with it.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
Solid's trigger finger had twitched when Drechi started his short rant. It was a good thing that his assault rifle had been in several pieces by that point or he might have pulled it out and done something a little more stupid than what Ryatt had done. As it was, he hastily snapped his rifle back together in a few seconds and was in the process of reattatching it to the magnetized plates under his cape when the train came to a stop.
"And here I was about to ask if we were here yet," said Solid as he got up and jumped off the train right after Nessie's bots.
"Like we even need a soul," said Mini Bot from where it had squeezed its way to Prickle and Spindle. "We kick enough [censored] without it."
Toy Dispenser decided he'd wait till everyone else got off before him. Drechi's obvious hatred had ticked the mastermind off more than he would like to admit, a reaction that he apparently shared with Solid and Ryatt. It wasn't every day that a robot, inherently free of racial boundries, got flat out told that someone hated him and all his kind.
He needed a few extra seconds to cool down and would exit right before Build if the other metahuman pointedly waited for Toy to get out first.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.