Chapter Ten: Arc Light!

[Psychie]

Toph looks to her mother and says, "Well, I had thought got already knew about Traversing when I mentioned it to you. In a nutshell, Traversing lets the person meld with technological items. It can be as simple of an item as a pistol or as complex as a transforming Veritech. It can even be used on a ship like the Broadsword, but I don't believe any of us have tried to do so. Machines have a 'soul' to them that can be friendly or even openly hostile to the Traverser, so any effort to go and link up with a machine can be dangerous, even fatal. We have only scratched the surface off what we can do."

 

[Purr]

Toph looks to her mother and says, "Well, I had thought got already knew about Traversing when I mentioned it to you.

Psychie

Commander Kirin listens and intently digesting every bit. She replies, "It had. But through my eyes, I need to hear more. Learn more. I can probably ask each of you what it means and each of you will give me a different answer - your own answer.

"Remember, my daughter. You are surrounded by Traversers... while the only other Traverser I have ever known... is dead." She offers a solemn nod.

"As far as I know, you will remain a Traverser until the day you die. So the more I learn, the better, perhaps for both of our sakes. Things may have to be repeated for those of us born without these gifts if only to counter nagging questions like... how did you become one? Is it genetically-passed on? And so forth.

She looks Toph in the eye and gives a knowing grin. "You know - answers to all of those things nosy mothers like yours greatly have a desire to understand."

 

[Psychie]

Toph nods, saying, "I have wondered about the why of being a Traverser, and I would love to learn the answers to those questions and more. Can anyone learn to traverse? Is it genetic? If so, can the gene be inherited? If there is a genetic component, can gene therapy passes this trait on to others? Once we are done getting the captain out of his broiled shell, I'd like to start looking into this using the advancements of the medical bay here and studying the crew, assuming that they consent to some simple tests."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario offers up a grin. "Ma'am, I'd be willing to be a test subject if you want. Some brain scans before, during and after a Traversing session would be interesting to see. Blood tests for a genetic component would be good, too."

 

[Purr]

"I would enjoy learning that and more," Zyorna Kirin agrees. "But can your powers help us now?"

Captain Sharp quips, "Hey. When I get out of this suit, you people are going to have one hell of a time getting me into the next one. Just telling you in advance."

Zyorna Kirin steps over and looks at Captain Sharp in silent amazement. (Not that he can see her doing this.)

 

[Psychie]

Toph looks at the melted armor and rubs her chin. "I don't know what, if anything, that traversing can do in this case. The armor is melted, fused together, or else we could just ask it to open up. Depending on how this special knife works, it may be possible to meld with it and gain its assistance in cutting Capt Sharp out. I won't know until it is here and I have had the chance to examine it."

 

[Kaerri]

Scary Jerry then proceeds, as his commander has ordered, to introduce all of you to Commander Kirin. One by one, he goes through your names and ranks. To his credit, he gets them all correct. He only pauses at Eadric, unable to name or place him. It is here that there is a pause and Eadric is quite welcome to introduce himself to her if he so desires.

When Jerry's pause tells him the other man doesn't know his name, the Canadian immediately repeats his own introduction, his tone and manner not in the least indicating that it is a repeat. "Lieutenant Eadric Braidwood, Extraterrestrial Affairs Liaison, on assignment to Antarctica Base, ma'am." ("Ma'am" because he's talking specifically to Commander Kirin.) For the benefit of the Meltrandi, Captain Sharp, and Jerry, he adds, "I saw the Wild Cards in combat against the Zentraedi and did what I could to assist, then was invited onto your ship. That was less than an hour ago and there hasn't been time for much else."

OOC note: Eadric's accent isn't French or Québéquois, but English-Canadian (Edmonton specifically). To American ears it would sound close to that of someone from Montana or the Dakotas.

Cera steps forward from behind Hercules, a datapad at the ready showing a magnificent schematic of not only an A.T.A.C. soldier's mega-suit, but one the datapad has entitled, "A.T.A.C. armor for Colonel Sharp." For some reason, she walks toward Toph and her mother with her head down, her eyes on her own feet as she crosses the floor.

Eadric raids his store of Zentraedi/Meltrandi knowledge to see if he knows what Auxiliary Specialist Cera's behavior might indicate.

Spoiler: OOC

Eadric wants to roll his Lore: Zentraedi/Meltrandi 98% (+5%) (total 102%).

He finds the byplay between Commander Kirin and Scary Jerry fascinating, as well as illuminating of their personal relationship. It's too early to extrapolate that to any of the rest of the ship's crew, but it's interesting all the same. However, there are more immediate concerns -- namely, getting Captain Sharp out of his incapacitated armor.

Politely, Eadric looks first at Commander Kirin, then at her daughter. "It does seem likely that simply asking it to open would fail. However, since we've a few minutes to wait anyway, may I try? I might learn something useful even if it can't open of itself." He smiles. "It's rather my speciality to communicate with who -- and what, I suppose -- others find difficult to reach or understand."

Psychie

 

[Purr]

He smiles. "It's rather my speciality to communicate with who -- and what, I suppose -- others find difficult to reach or understand."

Kaerri From within Eadric's grasp, Trouble takes this moment to reach up and paw at his chin, clearly touching him. "Mmmrowiiir!" meows the energetic Mewwoo. "I don't find you hard to reach or understaaand!"

(Game Master Note: The following spoiler is Kaerri's Skill roll result for Eadric based on what Eadric knows and does not know. Please read carefully for there are points within points here to understand.)

Spoiler

Eadric raids his store of Zentraedi/Meltrandi knowledge to see if he knows what Auxiliary Specialist Cera's behavior might indicate.

Eadric, being highly-trained to observe (and not just look at) the behavior of others (verbal, non-verbal, and basically everything his senses can reasonably detect), can quickly come to the conclusion that Ura-Meltrandi Cera is hiding not her face, but her eyes, from her distracted Meltrandi.

But why? The conclusion(s) is for Eadric alone to come to.

However (because he rolled so very well, a 23 on a d100), a thought appears inside the anthropologist's mind - Cera's eyes are red. Like, fire engine-red under some lighting.

O.K., his training tells him. But so what?

Well, answers another part of his training. How many Meltrandi has he ever seen anywhere that have red-colored irises? The answer?

None!

So, to Eadric, this Cera appears to be hiding her red-colored eyes from a busy and distracted Commander Kirin who has evidently not noticed! This theory, according to Eadric's training and observation appears solid.

Now... as to the why? It is quite possible that only Cera knows her own motivations. And... if not her... perhaps only a telepath could tell Eadric And further... it can also be argued that the only true telepath currently in the room is the creature writhing in his very arms who is busy cleaning his own toe-beans. Trouble.

In other words, while he has made an important discovery into the matter, it is up to Eadric to discover the rest.

 

[Psychie]

Politely, Eadric looks first at Commander Kirin, then at her daughter. "It does seem likely that simply asking it to open would fail. However, since we've a few minutes to wait anyway, may I try? I might learn something useful even if it can't open of itself." He smiles. "It's rather my speciality to communicate with who -- and what, I suppose -- others find difficult to reach or understand."

Toph shrugs. "It couldn't hurt Capt. Sharp at all if you try, and you might just succeed and make cutting him out of his armor a moot point. Just be careful; even a 'friendly' item can have teeth to it if you make it mad. And if it doesn't work, we are not out anything, since we are still waiting for these special knives to show up."

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Lt. Eadric Braidwood

Character Sheet
Action Points: 9/9
Bonus Action Points: 0

Eadric nodded. "Thank you. And thank you for the warning. I shall strive to stay on its good side, if it responds at all!"

He pulled off his glove and scratched Trouble under the chin for luck. Then he laid his bare hand on Captain Sharp's defunct armor and closed his eyes. Carefully, he formed his thought and sent it down through his hand. "Hello. Can you hear me?"

If he receives any sort of positive or neutral response, he'll add, "The human within you needs help. Can you open? You are in a safe place."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Spoiler: Signs of Life

"Signs of Life" by Pink Floyd (instrumental mood music)

He pulled off his glove and scratched Trouble under the chin for luck.

Smiling, Trouble leans his chin into the offered affection with his usual gusto. When this concludes, the alien cat hops out of Eadric's grasp to meander across the floor nearest Ylva and Mario. For once, he does not meow nor offer any words but remains quiet as if unwilling to disturb the Traverser's concentration, perhaps out of habit.

He pulled off his glove and scratched Trouble under the chin for luck. Then he laid his bare hand on Captain Sharp's defunct armor and closed his eyes.

"Luck... to you, son." Captain Sharp's murmur is like a man drifting in and out of sleep.

A hush comes over Commander Kirin and Cera too as they watch Eadric with no small amount of interest. Everyone watching notices the very moment the gentle Canadian touches the ruined mega-suit, the irises inside of his eyes suddenly vanish! Each of you besides Eadric sees clear white where there ought to be color. Eadric does not sense any change here.

Carefully, he formed his thought and sent it down through his hand. "Hello. Can you hear me?"

This time when Eadric and acts his technology it is an entirely different experience than the last. Suddenly, all sights and sounds inside the Mindbender room for him change!

Eadric no longer senses the company of other living beings. Looking about, he appears absolutely alone. No longer does he hear the busy hum of electronic devices, nor the endless yet subtle feeling if movement of the ship all about him, or even the telltale thrumming of the Broadsword's massive engines.

All is replaced by a mirror image of the Mindbender room. All about him, every chair, table, computer screen, wall, and device, including Captain Sharp's mega-suit, appear in shades of blue. Some dim, some bright, all gently pulsing, all legible where things should be. This place is so quiet, so still, it jars the senses.

But Eadric is all too aware that he seems to be the only human being here. Even Captain Sharp does not appear to be inside his mega-suit.

As Eadric calls out, strangest sensation as if he were whispering into a great wide canyon for his spoken word seem to go on and on and on. There is no reply. The sensation of being alone perhaps increases for the Canadian.

But then.

"My protocol..."

Eadric here's a faint male voice that feels very very far away. It repeats over and over. The statement is musical in its delivery. It repeats about once every 5 seconds. It is accompanied by the tone of great sadness.

A moment later, Eadric realizes that the voice is not coming from very far away; it is right underneath this very nose! It is Captain Sharp's A.T.A.C. mega-suit!

The voice is so silent that he may well have missed it had just been taking place in the realm he just quitted. Eadric has to silence his own breathing and focus himself purely on the act of listening lest he be tempted to think this cry is only in his imagination.

If he receives any sort of positive or neutral response, he'll add, "The human within you needs help. Can you open? You are in a safe place."

There is a pause as the message ceases. Then...

"I am failing in my protocol. I cannot open. I am only adding to his demise. This is the opposite of my protocol. I am fading. Please help me. Only when the human is free can I expire in peace."

What does Eadric do?

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Lt. Eadric Braidwood

Character Sheet
Action Points: 9/9
Bonus Action Points: 0

Eadric stares around this new, blue world in amazement. What is this? Where did everyone go? Is this the world as it appeared to machines? But even as he notices the absence of living things, the absence of one particular life -- the man within the suit under his hand -- recalls to him the reason he's here. He speaks his piece, then waits. But he doesn't have to wait long, although he does have to listen carefully. He bends over the suit and holds his breath, calling on his Aikido training to help him focus on the soft, distant voice. A look of sympathetic sadness comes over his face.

"You have served well," he told the suit gently. "You saved him. We will help you, though it might hurt." Could it feel pain? It could feel failure. "Soon we'll get the human free. When that happens, go to your rest in peace, with our gratitude."

He waits to see if the suit will reply.

-----
After it replies, unless it says something Eadric feels the need to respond to:

Eadric's hand tightens on the suit, a reflexive act of comfort even if it can't be felt or understood. Then he looks around again. Right... how to get back? Well, I thought my way in, I should be able to think my way back. He focuses on the real world, the one he grew up in, the one with human beings, like the one within this suit. He remembers Captain Sharp's voice, tired but wishing him luck. "Back to him," he tells himself. "Back to that."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon

Spoiler: Signs of Life

"Signs of Life" by Pink Floyd (instrumental mood music)

He bends over the suit and holds his breath, calling on his Aikido training to help him focus on the soft, distant voice. A look of sympathetic sadness comes over his face.

"You have served well," he told the suit gently. "You saved him. We will help you, though it might hurt." Could it feel pain? It could feel failure. "Soon we'll get the human free. When that happens, go to your rest in peace, with our gratitude."

If any of the Traversers in the room can grab hold of their own emotions and logic and just plain "cool it," it is Eadric Braidwood. Using the years of self-mastery cultivated by practicing the cerebral art of Aikido, Eadric is able to block out all extraneous thoughts and distractions. Communicating with this... being... becomes something close to effortless. Though quiet, all Eadric must do is "stare into the calm water without doing anything to disrupt its reflection."

The distant voice remains filled with sorrow. "I have not served enough. I have not saved him. I will be responsible for his demise. Utter disruption of protocol. Utter failure. Unless...

The distant voice speaks with the faintest inklings of hope - the barest touch of yang inside a near-complete blackness of yin. "... the fasteners. Separate... the fasteners. This is the most efficient way of opening me. Use no heat. No undue vibration. Nothing ungentle. Or he dies. My final task. Inform you. Separate... the fasteners."

The fasteners are what the mega-suit instruction manuals referred to as the Mega-damage connections that hold the mega-suit together. Much like any other form of armor, they can be considered the weakest points of the suit. Once separated, the helmet, torso, arms, gauntlets, leggings, and boots become their own items - a fact anyone who has cleaned their own mega-suit knows but all too well (and there was plenty of that kind of thing going on in the Army of Southern Cross Boot Camp for certain!).

After it replies, unless it says something Eadric feels the need to respond to:

Eadric's hand tightens on the suit, a reflexive act of comfort even if it can't be felt or understood. Then he looks around again. Right... how to get back? Well, I thought my way in, I should be able to think my way back. He focuses on the real world, the one he grew up in, the one with human beings, like the one within this suit. He remembers Captain Sharp's voice, tired but wishing him luck. "Back to him," he tells himself. "Back to that."

There in the all-too-quiet realm of otherwise blues most peaceful and serene where seemingly only Eadric and this machine exist (and yet are they not surrounded by so much more?). Eadric makes the attempt to return whence he came. The voice of the machine seems to become even quieter... or is Eadric simply getting farther away... or is the machine finally spent? Finally gone?

"You must succeed. All that I am... all that I have left... is...

"...my protocol...

"...My protocol...

"...My protocol..."

As when Eadric first heard the mechanical voice, the words repeat - almost musically. It is all the near-dead machine can be heard to say as Eadric's mind slips away, back to the world where he was born, back to the realm which he walks and breathes, and back to the universe where all things are what they are.

* * *​

In what is only a matter of moments, Eadric returns. Once white-eyed and mannequin-like, a huge breath returns to his body as he suddenly inhales. Disorientation assails him as his body's own outer senses - touch, smell, taste, sight, sound - all hit him at once. Eadric feels for several moments as if he has come out of the deepest sleep. He is nigh-helpless. Only able to stand, preferably by keeping his hand on Captain Sharp's armor for the sudden support he clearly requires.

Whether Eadric stays standing and plummets to the Broadsword's unforgiving hypercarbon deck is about to be seen.

 

[Kaerri]

Spoiler: Lt. Eadric Braidwood

Character Sheet
Action Points: 9/9
Bonus Action Points: 0

The distant voice speaks with the faintest inklings of hope - the barest touch of yang inside a near-complete blackness of yin. "... the fasteners. Separate... the fasteners. This is the most efficient way of opening me. Use no heat. No undue vibration. Nothing ungentle. Or he dies. My final task. Inform you. Separate... the fasteners."

"I will tell them," Eadric tells the distant voice of Sharp's mega-suit. "You will not have failed him. I will help you complete your final task. I promise."

As when Eadric first heard the mechanical voice, the words repeat - almost musically. It is all the near-dead machine can be heard to say as Eadric's mind slips away, back to the world where he was born, back to the realm which he walks and breathes, and back to the universe where all things are what they are.

"Be at peace," Eadric calls to the fading voice. Then everything around him changes once more. All his senses are suddenly filled with the resuming input of life around him -- deafening, blinding, overwhelming. His naked hand clings to Captain Sharp's armor; his gloved hand joins it in a desperate bid to keep himself upright. His mind clings equally hard to the last thought it remembers.

Without his consciously deciding to, his mouth gives voice to that thought. "I'll tell them. I promise."

 

[Purr]

Captain Hesperus Kaerri Psychie Sherwood Silanon Tag!

When Eadric opens his eyes, he finds Commander Kirin near him. Her expression is stern, perhaps thoughtful, or some mix of the two - Meltrandi with great military experiences (meaning any of the clone-race who had survived longer than they had been expected to) often wore such expressions. But when she speaks, there is a touch of concern there.

"The Captain sometimes spoke when he returned from his little trips to the other realm." To someone of Eadric's experience, this is an observation as much as a reassurance. "What would satisfy your promise?"

 

[Kaerri]

"The captain?" At first, Eadric thinks Commander Kirin means Sharp. His second thought, however, is that if Sharp could "traverse" with his suit, they would already have the information Eadric himself is now bringing back. He shakes his head, and his third thought comes out of his mouth. "Never mind. Later."

He looks into Commander Kirin's eyes to help him focus, though his overwhelmed senses are already beginning to straighten themselves out. "The most efficient way to open the suit is by separating the fasteners. No heat, no undue vibration, nothing ungentle. Telling us that is the mega-suit's last task; it can do no more to help."

To his own ears, the words sound cold, unfeeling, compared to his memory of the dying entity. (Yes, entity -- even if it is "only" a machine.) Is that part of the cost of being a Traverser? Knowing the pain not only of living things, but machines as well? If so, Eadric accepts it without reservation. Life is pain as well as joy, sorrow as well as love, and to deny any part is to lessen the rest. He had chosen this career in part as a kind of acceptance of that, and of the fact that "life" means more than just humans, and it seems that for traversers, that means machines now, too.

 

[Purr]

He looks into Commander Kirin's eyes to help him focus, though his overwhelmed senses are already beginning to straighten themselves out. "The most efficient way to open the suit is by separating the fasteners. No heat, no undue vibration, nothing ungentle. Telling us that is the core's last task; it can do no more to help."

"The machine told this to you?" Commander Kirin pauses in awe. Kaerri

Her green eyes look to her daughter - also a Traverser. "Is this what you... Wild Cards... possess? This Traversing power?" Psychie

 

[Psychie]

Toph nods at her mothers' question. "Yes. We can communicate with even very basic machines, and if they are not hostile to us, we can gain information and their cooperation, making our work with them that much easier. It is a truly wonderful gift, and I look forward to learning more of the how of the Traversing power, as well as the why of it."

 

[Purr]

Commander Kirin takes this knowledge in with wide unblinking eyes. Her perspective is blissfully simple. "I would be satisfied to know just the 'how' of it all."

Just then, the doorway to the Mindbender Room opens and a Sam unit can be seen standing in the entrance. He salutes Commander Kirin, a greeting she returns to the (unknown to Eadric) unmanned suit of CVR-3 armor. "Pardon, Commander. But Taymee the Broo is, like, totally reporting here to see you, ma'am."

"One moment," replies Kirin with an unsure glance at the Sam. "No heat, vibrations, and... 'nothing ungentle.' That definitely sounds like something a Kayliss knife can do best. Now I must hope that Taymee agrees. We are, after all, under a pact with the Tribe of the Star Watchers. Despite their loyalty, they are not soldiers we can order around." She looks to Eadric. "After Captain Sharp is free and in my daughter's care, all of us must sit together over a meal and... what is the saying? 'Get on the same page.'

"Doctor Kirin?" Commander Kirin looks down at her little girl-become-young-woman. "Are you ready? You might have to do some of the talking here. With the Broo, that is."

 

[Psychie]

With a nod, Toph says, "Yes, ma'am, I am as ready as I can be. Let us have Taymee come in with the Kayliss knife so we can rescue our trapped Capt. Sharp. The sooner, the better."

 

[Purr]

Commander Kirin takes a deep breath and looks down to Captain Sharp's quiet form. "May it be as simple as you say, my daughter. I would be incredibly surprised if Taymee of all people simply handed one over, especially to a stranger like yourself, to use. Do you understand?" Commander Kirin narrows her eyes. "The Kayliss blades are ancient tribal secrets of the Broo. They are precious and beyond the reach of science. Despite all of our advances in technology, like their Moonglow, we cannot reproduce these Kayliss blades and the Broo know it.

"Taymee could ask us to trade in return. This is within her rights of the pact we share with them. Perhaps it would be best if one of Adamantium's less-wounded members came here with her? She is closest to them."

 

[Psychie]

Toph feels a chill in the pit of her stomach. "I - was not aware of this. I am hardly the best one to negotiate with Taymee, since I don't know what kind of offer she would ask for, or even be willing to accept. Who is available from Adamantium that can come in and act as our go-between?"

 

[Sherwood]

Mario has been quiet up to now, but clears his throat, saying, "It could be that she asks us for a favor. She would have to know what we can offer, and know that we would have to have some limits on what we would be willing to do or offer in return. I say we have her come in and listen to what she asks for, and see if it is even something within our power to go with. It is either that, or we try to work on the armor ourselves."

 

[Purr]

Toph feels a chill in the pit of her stomach. "I - was not aware of this. I am hardly the best one to negotiate with Taymee, since I don't know what kind of offer she would ask for, or even be willing to accept. Who is available from Adamantium that can come in and act as our go-between?"

Commander Kirin shakes her head as if feeling quite the fool. "The man I just ordered to get treated by Doctor Hitomi - Scary Jerry - who is no doubt under the effects of morphine by now." Zyorna fumes for a moment, but her steely iron-will smooths over her frustration like a mother's hand caressing a sleepy child's soft hair. In moments, there is no sign of her frustration at all.

Mario has been quiet up to now, but clears his throat, saying, "It could be that she asks us for a favor. She would have to know what we can offer, and know that we would have to have some limits on what we would be willing to do or offer in return. I say we have her come in and listen to what she asks for, and see if it is even something within our power to go with. It is either that, or we try to work on the armor ourselves."

"When it comes to the unpredictable Broo, Petty Officer, there is no telling what they might say or do. A moment, please." Commander Kirin goes to the intercom and, after a short wait, has a brief conversation with Hitomi.

"He's on the mend," you hear the intercom reply with Hitomi's attractive voice, "but if he's up to it, I'll allow it. Let me check in on them."

"You have my gratitude, doctor."

A few moments later, the intercom comes alive again followed by another short conversation. Commander Kirin sighs, this time with a slight relaxed smile. "Taymee is on her way. Cal has eagerly agreed to help."

 

[Kaerri]

"The machine told this to you?" Commander Kirin pauses in awe. Kaerri

It seems like a rhetorical question, but Eadric nods affirmation all the same.

Toph nods at her mothers' question. "Yes. We can communicate with even very basic machines, and if they are not hostile to us, we can gain information and their cooperation, making our work with them that much easier. It is a truly wonderful gift, and I look forward to learning more of the how of the Traversing power, as well as the why of it."

Commander Kirin takes this knowledge in with wide unblinking eyes. Her perspective is blissfully simple. "I would be satisfied to know just the 'how' of it all."

Eadric also listens intently. It's perhaps the first real explanation he's had so far. "How" would be good, but "what" would, for now, be even better.

She looks to Eadric. "After Captain Sharp is free and in my daughter's care, all of us must sit together over a meal and... what is the saying? 'Get on the same page.'

Eadric smiles at Commander Kirin. "I would very much like that myself, ma'am."

Toph feels a chill in the pit of her stomach. "I - was not aware of this. I am hardly the best one to negotiate with Taymee, since I don't know what kind of offer she would ask for, or even be willing to accept. Who is available from Adamantium that can come in and act as our go-between?"

"If I may," Eadric speaks up. "I've only just met all of you, including the Broo -- though in point of fact I haven't met them at all, yet. But meeting new cultures and new species is just the kind of thing I was trained for. If there's any way I can help, I'm more than happy to do so. To which end..."

He turns to Zyorna. "Ma'am, can you tell us more about the pact with them? The more we know about it, the better able we will be to stay within its bounds."