“What do you mean every single member?!”
The professor is put a bit on the defensive as she hears her colleague shout over the live video feed. She was expecting some form of an outburst, but the power behind his voice was something she has not tasted in some time. Rarely did she see Maurice get this angry. Then again, it was also rare to see Steve this angry as well.
Maurice Feldon, a leader in fields of robotics and scientific study of such. He is quite aged but still looks quite young, almost as if he were still in his 40’s. He is usually quite soft spoken but right now, she was the bearer of bad news today, news he did NOT want to hear. “Not EVERY single one Maurice, Steve Sanderson is still hanging in there.” She motions to the back of the room as the sounds of suit maintenance can be heard in the background. Professor Sheldon just shakes his head.
“I sent over a lot of my top minds to help with this Flicker project, and to hear that they have all been killed in a series of ‘accidents’, I know enough about how this world works to know that those were not accidents! To say that losing those bright students of mine is an incredible and heart breaking loss does not even begin describe how I feel….oh, at least we still have Steve.” Maurice calms himself down a bit and then asks Professor Cortez in a more cordial tone, “How is the boy holding up? I’ve heard that he had befriended some of the people we’ve lost. He must feel that he is responsible, the poor lad. If only I could persuade him that it weren’t the case.”
Cortez just nods her head in understanding as she looks over her shoulder in his general direction. “He is more angry than anything else now-a-days. He does feel that his family’s ex-company has something to do with it, but what can we do? His mind seems to be set right now and even I can’t seem to get him to calm down. I’m thankful to the fact that he keeps himself busy with his work. He’s a good kid and I know that he will be able to get through this, just like how he did on the field. He just needs some time, and perhaps a good lead?”
Maurice just scratches his white hair and sighs. “That will take some time. Rook Industries seems to be locked up nice and tight now, under new ownership and all that.” S.C.A.M.P. having listened to the whole conversation silently finally speaks up and tries to get Cortez’s attention with a bark.
The professor’s attention is indeed caught and she leans forward trying to get a better view, her chest coincidently heaving out in the process. “Oh there you are SCAMP! I see you are full of energy as always, you cute little thing you!” Spreading her arms out in the form of a hug, she throws a kiss over the screen to the robotic dog. After the short display of affection, Maurice clears his throat and tries to hide his blush.
“Well… now that I think about it, I would definitely have an easier time brainstorming some ideas for you guys if you would just come over and-“
“Not a chance,” Professor Cortez says playfully as she crosses her arms.
“OH NO! It wasn’t anything like that. You misunderstand! I just-“
“Hmmmhmm, right, and I’m sure you’re going to want to say that the extra few drinks you bought me while talking about taking me to your own private ‘laboratory’ wasn’t an advance as well?”
Maurice clears his throat yet again and says quickly. “I will keep in touch. Good day.” And just like that, he shut down the video feed, having lost yet again. In the back of the room, Steve Sanderson looks up from his work and laughs a bit. Those two were always going at it with each other, and Cortez always seemed to win.
Looking back down at the suit in front of him, he sighs as he looks at the scary contrast of red and black. The suit definitely did not scream, “I’m here to help!” No, it was more like… “You see this gun, I’m not afraid to use it.”
“Hey Steve,” Professor Cortez says over her shoulder whilst filing some paperwork, “why don’t you take a break from that thing? You’ve been at it for what, six hours straight?”
Steve Sanderson's start
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
"I suppose. It's just the teleportation target trackers are failing intermittently. The trackers are supposed to indicate that there's a man-sized space above it and they don't. Sometimes. And it might be a software thing except I'm no damned good at software and--" He stopped before he said Amy's name and took a deep breath. "So I'm running through the hardware possibilities in case that's what it is. Because that's all I can do."
He stood up and arched his back, stretching, and then started strapping the leg pieces on. "Look, we had this thing in the squad. Sometimes we lost someone, and then my leader, he forced us to have a wake at the first safe time. To remember. To honor." He rubbed his thumb against an oil stain on his forefinger. "But that was the first safe time. I can't do like my dad and crawl into a bottle because of the loss of his company and his marriage. I don't think we're safe, but I have to do something."
He gathered up the discs he'd been working on and thumbed the deactivation switches, then stored them in pockets on the suit. "So what I'm going to do is test the fixes I just made. That'll take twenty minutes, so say an hour for me to get distracted."
He stood up and arched his back, stretching, and then started strapping the leg pieces on. "Look, we had this thing in the squad. Sometimes we lost someone, and then my leader, he forced us to have a wake at the first safe time. To remember. To honor." He rubbed his thumb against an oil stain on his forefinger. "But that was the first safe time. I can't do like my dad and crawl into a bottle because of the loss of his company and his marriage. I don't think we're safe, but I have to do something."
He gathered up the discs he'd been working on and thumbed the deactivation switches, then stored them in pockets on the suit. "So what I'm going to do is test the fixes I just made. That'll take twenty minutes, so say an hour for me to get distracted."
John McMullen
Flicker
Flicker
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
She too cringed as Steve inadvertendly started to talk about his friends once again. She knew it was painful for him, and thus it pained her, as a friend as well. "These are troubling times indeed, we are both in danger, whether we want to acknowledge that or not. What we can do though is not bog ourselves down with unnecessary stress. What good is a prepared man who is mentally drained when the need to stand up arises?" She raises her brow at him when she speak her point. Her advice falls short, however, as the man continued to work on his suit maintenance, forcing himself to lose himself in his work, the only way he knows how to cope right now...
"Cortez! CORTEZ! Are you there?!" The live video feed is quickly re-established as the professor pushes the necessary buttons and then slams some papers down in frustration. "What is it Maurice? Why all the shouting? We were just in the middle of a convers-"
"Where did you find the green substance, when?"
This got Steve Sanderson's attention. He slowly approaches the screen, still half suited up, and looks towards Cortez and Maurice with a perplexed expression.
Professor Cortez hesitates for a moment, before saying this, as she is now obviously a bit nervous of the implications of his tone"... Johnson's room. The people that came in did quite the thorough sweep of the area. I did stumble on that sample however, it was in one of his lockers a secret hiding spot that the engineering team only knew about." She looks to Steve in confirmation when she says this. "I didn't know what it was, so I sent it over to your place about a few days ago via MTS."
The doctor bites his lip, his hand partially covering his face as he silently contemplates what should be done next.
"Maurice... what exactly did I just send you? Wait, you don't mean that- The source of their deaths was- MAURICE, please tell me that I am wrong!" The professor just shakes his head as he cannot tell her what she want's to hear.
"Well... I've found your lead Professor Cortez. Steve, is that suit of yours field ready?"
"Cortez! CORTEZ! Are you there?!" The live video feed is quickly re-established as the professor pushes the necessary buttons and then slams some papers down in frustration. "What is it Maurice? Why all the shouting? We were just in the middle of a convers-"
"Where did you find the green substance, when?"
This got Steve Sanderson's attention. He slowly approaches the screen, still half suited up, and looks towards Cortez and Maurice with a perplexed expression.
Professor Cortez hesitates for a moment, before saying this, as she is now obviously a bit nervous of the implications of his tone"... Johnson's room. The people that came in did quite the thorough sweep of the area. I did stumble on that sample however, it was in one of his lockers a secret hiding spot that the engineering team only knew about." She looks to Steve in confirmation when she says this. "I didn't know what it was, so I sent it over to your place about a few days ago via MTS."
The doctor bites his lip, his hand partially covering his face as he silently contemplates what should be done next.
"Maurice... what exactly did I just send you? Wait, you don't mean that- The source of their deaths was- MAURICE, please tell me that I am wrong!" The professor just shakes his head as he cannot tell her what she want's to hear.
"Well... I've found your lead Professor Cortez. Steve, is that suit of yours field ready?"
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
Steve starts fastening on the rest. "As ready as it's going to be, and I'm eager to act." He glances over at Professor Cortez, almost as if daring her to object. "Brief me on the background and give me the sitrep." He knows not to go in without briefing--for a bomb technician, that can be fatal--but he aches for action so badly he can taste it. The ache is worse than before his first job over there.
He grabs his phone and scrolls through the prepared texts, sends one to his father excusing himself from late dinner. Won't be there tonight. Something came up. Assuming his father even reads it. The man is spending more time drunk than sober, right now. As an afterthought, he copies it to Richards, the family aide. The next version of the gauntlets needs a couple of pads of conductivity so he can use a touch-screen when suited up. There are situations where that would be useful; you could get away with forefingers and thumbs--
For the future. En route, he'll speak the idea into the suit; it will go into the black box, which is about the size of a golf ball; he doesn't know what it's made of--it's something that Professor Cortez provided. As a prototype, the suit records lots of metrics, in case of failure; originally, it broadcast them all encrypted, but he's modified it so that it can record them only if he specifies silent running: an idea that came from discussion of a bomb that was triggered by messages on the US military wavelengths.
Steve sets the phone on the workbench again. "There. I'm all yours, mentally and physically."
He grabs his phone and scrolls through the prepared texts, sends one to his father excusing himself from late dinner. Won't be there tonight. Something came up. Assuming his father even reads it. The man is spending more time drunk than sober, right now. As an afterthought, he copies it to Richards, the family aide. The next version of the gauntlets needs a couple of pads of conductivity so he can use a touch-screen when suited up. There are situations where that would be useful; you could get away with forefingers and thumbs--
For the future. En route, he'll speak the idea into the suit; it will go into the black box, which is about the size of a golf ball; he doesn't know what it's made of--it's something that Professor Cortez provided. As a prototype, the suit records lots of metrics, in case of failure; originally, it broadcast them all encrypted, but he's modified it so that it can record them only if he specifies silent running: an idea that came from discussion of a bomb that was triggered by messages on the US military wavelengths.
Steve sets the phone on the workbench again. "There. I'm all yours, mentally and physically."
John McMullen
Flicker
Flicker
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
"I just need to know one last thing before I can confirm my suspicions. What was Johnson working on in regards to the Flicker system?"
"He mainly dealt with the development of an energy generator that would could be incorporated into the suit. He had a many number of additions that he wanted to see put on, but did not have an adequate source of energy to sustain everything. His theory in energy output was solid, but the resources and tools needed for such an engine just did not exist. Despite this obstacle of his, he insisted that he knew a guy that could hook him up with something at the Arikas Shipping Depot. I was the only one who knew about his plans."
"Arikas Shipping... yes, it starting to make sense; they WOULD have the connections necessary to slip this through under the radar." Professor Feldon looks back up and starts laying out some holographic maps of the city area upon the computer screen. Using his fingers to zoom the map display, he finishes his adjustments and circles the area in question. "Arikas Shipping, as you both are well aware, is a multi-billion dollar company that has stakes in almost every European country, Asia, and multiple businesses in the US including oil, newspapers, and media. They have the necessary resources to acquire anything they wish, to facilitate any sort of business arrangement, and enough influence to make friends with very important people. It will come to know surprise then that they also have their hands in some unsavory activities, such as the underground global black market."
He looks towards Steve and Professor Cortez with a stern stare. "For reasons that are my own, I very familiar with this black market and know of an undeground warehouse for such items that is situated here." He points towards the circled area of the map. "It is an abandoned chemicals factory that has been scheduled to be torn down; Arikas Shipping has delayed that demolition, indefinitely. You will find the entrance to the warehouse in question, somewhere within factory. Naturally this information does not leave this room." He looks at the both of them for confirmation before he continues.
"You will be looking for a highly advanced storage crate, built by Poseidon Electronics. It is of signature design and can be easily noticed if you know what your looking for. Within said crates is the substance in question. I know not what form it has been transported in, but know that it is highly dangerous and radioactive in nature. You shall not open the crate for any sort of reason, it is to remain closed. I will send SCAMP along to help you locate the items in question, his other abilities may be of use to you for this mission. We will also need to make use of your teleportation disc gun. Transporting the items in question will be tricky at best, so allow yourself enough time to transport each item, one at a time. I will have them wired to be sent to my MTS room. Expect some hired guns along the way. Arikas Shipping has its own security force, and will naturally not hesitate to fill you with holes if you are found trespassing. Any questions?"
"He mainly dealt with the development of an energy generator that would could be incorporated into the suit. He had a many number of additions that he wanted to see put on, but did not have an adequate source of energy to sustain everything. His theory in energy output was solid, but the resources and tools needed for such an engine just did not exist. Despite this obstacle of his, he insisted that he knew a guy that could hook him up with something at the Arikas Shipping Depot. I was the only one who knew about his plans."
"Arikas Shipping... yes, it starting to make sense; they WOULD have the connections necessary to slip this through under the radar." Professor Feldon looks back up and starts laying out some holographic maps of the city area upon the computer screen. Using his fingers to zoom the map display, he finishes his adjustments and circles the area in question. "Arikas Shipping, as you both are well aware, is a multi-billion dollar company that has stakes in almost every European country, Asia, and multiple businesses in the US including oil, newspapers, and media. They have the necessary resources to acquire anything they wish, to facilitate any sort of business arrangement, and enough influence to make friends with very important people. It will come to know surprise then that they also have their hands in some unsavory activities, such as the underground global black market."
He looks towards Steve and Professor Cortez with a stern stare. "For reasons that are my own, I very familiar with this black market and know of an undeground warehouse for such items that is situated here." He points towards the circled area of the map. "It is an abandoned chemicals factory that has been scheduled to be torn down; Arikas Shipping has delayed that demolition, indefinitely. You will find the entrance to the warehouse in question, somewhere within factory. Naturally this information does not leave this room." He looks at the both of them for confirmation before he continues.
"You will be looking for a highly advanced storage crate, built by Poseidon Electronics. It is of signature design and can be easily noticed if you know what your looking for. Within said crates is the substance in question. I know not what form it has been transported in, but know that it is highly dangerous and radioactive in nature. You shall not open the crate for any sort of reason, it is to remain closed. I will send SCAMP along to help you locate the items in question, his other abilities may be of use to you for this mission. We will also need to make use of your teleportation disc gun. Transporting the items in question will be tricky at best, so allow yourself enough time to transport each item, one at a time. I will have them wired to be sent to my MTS room. Expect some hired guns along the way. Arikas Shipping has its own security force, and will naturally not hesitate to fill you with holes if you are found trespassing. Any questions?"
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
Sorry: The furnace died (is still dead) in our home, and without heat, things have been kind of upended, and I wasn't organized enough to say I was distracted.Rukellian wrote:Kipling, any questions before we continue?
"Arikas? I met someone connected with the company when my father got married. Came to the wedding. I don't recall much, not even a name right now." He made a face. "Things have happened in the meantime."
He looked at the GPS coordinates of the warehouse and compared them to the locations of all known discs. Most of the discs had been retrieved but every once in a while, one would get swept up or moved. (If it was outdoors, he made a note to go get it--three were still stuck in a landfill. There was one he was pretty sure was in a kid's room: Google Street View showed him it was a residential home, and he wasn't going to go get it if it was inside. Fortunately they were cheap to make.)
"I haven't got a disc near there, but Professor Cortez can drive me near the warehouse in a van. I leap out and can get into the warehouse using shrinking. From there I can do the search. There are lights built into this thing." He looked at Cortez. "Unless you have a better idea? Can you get a target disc inside?"
John McMullen
Flicker
Flicker
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
Sorry to hear about the furnace Kipling. I hope you can turn the situation around soon.
"I will be sending Scamp over to aid you in your efforts, he will be waiting outside the abandoned chemical factory. Don't worry, he can handle himself just fine when alone... for the most part."
Professor Cortez chimes in when Steven mentions transportation. "I can take you as far as a couple block away from the factory. If what Professor Sheldon said is true, I cannot afford to catch any attention when taking you there. You will have to walk the rest of the distance. I will park my van near Rinky Joe's Restaurant, a public spot to rendezvous at." She laughs when Steve and Maurice give here a funny look. "What can I say, they have some excellent fries there! Will that be fine?"
"That will probably be for the best. I cannot get a target disc inside, nor do I want to risk that mode of transportation either. We haven't tested it living subjects yet, and if we are to go off of the adanced principles of Quantum Teleportation and the laws associated with it.... let's just stick to transporting inanimate objects for now. Once we've fine-tuned that suit of yours, Steve, I'd feel a little more better about you using it on yourself, those teleportation discs."
Professor Cortez agrees with Maurice on this as she too shot a concerned look towards Steve. "You are a good friend, and I wouldn't want to put you in any more unnecessary danger if we can help it."
"I will be sending Scamp over to aid you in your efforts, he will be waiting outside the abandoned chemical factory. Don't worry, he can handle himself just fine when alone... for the most part."
Professor Cortez chimes in when Steven mentions transportation. "I can take you as far as a couple block away from the factory. If what Professor Sheldon said is true, I cannot afford to catch any attention when taking you there. You will have to walk the rest of the distance. I will park my van near Rinky Joe's Restaurant, a public spot to rendezvous at." She laughs when Steve and Maurice give here a funny look. "What can I say, they have some excellent fries there! Will that be fine?"
"That will probably be for the best. I cannot get a target disc inside, nor do I want to risk that mode of transportation either. We haven't tested it living subjects yet, and if we are to go off of the adanced principles of Quantum Teleportation and the laws associated with it.... let's just stick to transporting inanimate objects for now. Once we've fine-tuned that suit of yours, Steve, I'd feel a little more better about you using it on yourself, those teleportation discs."
Professor Cortez agrees with Maurice on this as she too shot a concerned look towards Steve. "You are a good friend, and I wouldn't want to put you in any more unnecessary danger if we can help it."
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
Ok, Steve gets in the van & is dropped off a couple blocks away near the resturant. Steve communicates with scamp his current location.
Re: Steve Sanderson's start
You arrive a few blocks away from the abandoned chemicals plant, and start to head towards your destination. You come across Scamp, Professor Feldon's pet robotic dog, waiting in front of the entrance. He spots you and gets up, gives a friendly bark and starts to wave his tail. Just as Maurice said, he was waiting like a good dog.
I will move this arc over to a new one where you will be sharing it with another player. That way I won't have to keep on transferring messages back in forth between you guys. Thanks again for picking up those two characters!
I will move this arc over to a new one where you will be sharing it with another player. That way I won't have to keep on transferring messages back in forth between you guys. Thanks again for picking up those two characters!