TIME FOR A CLUSTERFUCK OF SCIENCE AND SHIT!

[third_alternative]

[Deep inside the mysterious and cavernous depths of the labs...

Scientists frantically scribble on clipboards and walk around, trying not to bump into each other. Others hunch over pieces of machinery, tinkering with them intently. There is a frenzied air about as the smell of burnt coffee and all-nighters (which does, in fact, have a stench) permeates through the building.

What now?]

Comments

[trustycrowbar]

[Video, to Rex]

Hey, Rex, we've rebuilt the labs as best we could. We could use a scan or two of your curing ability to detail the process. We've got guys saying there's a transmittable propogation signal, others think it's a chemical thing, and they've practically come to blows over it. [He DOES look like he's in a fight recently, it just wasn't over this.] This time, there's nothing big enough to bust loose, so you can take your time getting here.

[To Ran]

Hey, can I speak with you sometime soon?

[Action]

[Anyone who's been watching Gordon would notice he seems to have gotten used to life as a supervisor; checking up on this team or that one, double-checking data sets, stopping to wrangle the occasional small-but-vicious EVO that struggles free from a researcher's grasp. Beyond the physical challenges of the job, though, one might notice he's not moving as fast as he ought to. Coughing occasionally. Stopping to catch his breath. Is there something wrong with him?]

[video]

[third_alternative]

Psh, please. I need a break from this anyway. Fighting five EVO bears that have psychic powers at once is harder than you'd think.

I'll be over in a few minutes.

And did you actually get in a fight about how nanites work with a bunch of other scientists?

[trustycrowbar]

Uh, no, we, uh... it's complicated. And that must've been awkward. I wonder how many of those bears were at your birthday party.

[video] -> [action]

[third_alternative]

I think all of 'em were. I know for sure Oso was one of them.

Anyway, give me another few minutes and I'll be there.

[True to his word, he shows up to the labs and...starts wandering the halls rather cluelessly.

Look, okay, he only really knows where to go to hand in his anemoi and get memories back, he doesn't know where the actual science happens.]

[trustycrowbar]

[The actual science is conveniently located, in a relative sense, on the first floor in the form of the makeshift multidisciplinary EVO lab he cured Mr. Monaghan in. It's mostly rebuilt by this time, leaving only a few stomp marks and shards of concrete and metal from the fight as any indication there was a boss battle there. Gordon meets him at the periphery of the cubicles and rooms, sporting that special brand of absentmindedless that comes along with being tired and overworked for a length of time.]

Hey, kid, thanks for showing up. They're, ah, over here--hey Morell, let's get these sensors primed and focused on the corrals--How's it looking up there? I haven't really left the lab yet today to check. The guys at JLS probably think I'm a lost cause at this point...

[1/2]

[third_alternative]

It's...

[2/2]

[third_alternative]

...Look at it this way: the apartments are still standing!

[trustycrowbar]

[He stops walking.]

...the way you said that doesn't inspire much confidence, Rex. What's going on up there?

[third_alternative]

Oh...not much. Just your usual EVO destruction. A few stores got smashed into rubble, and I think a few of them are on fire, too. The JLS building's destroyed, I think, and some roads are kinda torn up--no big deal.

[trustycrowbar]

Whj--The JLS building is DESTROYED?

...Again??

[faithful_kitsune]

Hm? Certainly. May I ask what about?

[trustycrowbar]

Well, ah... I wanted to know if you thought about the offer to continue your work here. I wasn't kidding when I mentioned it to Shen before. I'd like you to stay.

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh, you told him about that? I admit this does not seem like a bad fit for me. I would not mind reading up on some of the technicalities either. Are you sure that is quite all right however?

[trustycrowbar]

Of course it's all right! Even if I have to take you on as a personal lab assistant at first; which I doubt I'll have to. You're brilliant, a fast learner, dutiful... Any one of these guys would want an assistant like that! Give it a few weeks, they'll be fighting over you... uh, practically.

[Ahah. Hah.]

[faithful_kitsune]

Well, if you believe so! All right, I pledge to do my best. You WON'T be disappointed.

[trustycrowbar]

That's what I wanted to hear! Oh, one more thing... How's two anemoi sound for your efforts so far? You're not technically a lab employee YET, not until we get paperwork through, but it doesn't seem right to have you do what you've done so far without some kind of payment.

[faithful_kitsune]

Oh, is that all right? I would appreciate it, but only if you do not think you'll get in trouble for it.

[trustycrowbar]

That's the thing, the state of emergency has made everything informal at the moment. This simplifies things and since they made me the supervisor of the project I don't think anyone's really going to mind. We'll concentrate on the hiring paperwork later, after all this is over.

[+2 Anemoi to Ran! -2 Anemoi to Gordon!]

...I hate to admit it, but I hope the supervisory thing is a temporary position. I hate administration. Plus I'm happier when I'm in the lab getting my hands dirty.

Have you put any thought into which branch you're going to work in?

action

[longstreakofnothing]

[Theta Sigma has yet to shake that annoying kitten. It's now peppering him with snide comments about the fact that nobody human could possibly slork down as much Irn Bru as he does. He completely ignores Mittens when he spots Gordon.]

Oi, Gordon, you all right?

"He's probably been licking specimens like you do."

[trustycrowbar]

Hm? [Whozzat? Oh... it's Theta. AND the cat. Great.]

Yeah. [He clears his throat and swallows, looking a little pale.] Just, uh... I think the long night is getting to me, or something... don't worry about me, this project is more important.

...Licking specimens? Is that what he just said?

[longstreakofnothing]

Aheh.

"He licked an EVO. Just picked it up and bleeeaaaahhhhhh."

Oi, sometimes you can tell what something is by what you can taste on... it... and I'm not doing much for my case, am I?

"Nope."

Didn't ask you.

[trustycrowbar]

That IS pretty freaky, Theta. You mean to say you can taste... evidence of what it's been up to, or something?

[He's conflicted. Empirical curiosity is meeting abject disgust in a head-on collision. The results ain't pretty.]

[longstreakofnothing]

"Either that or he has a taste for plant monst--yeep!"

[Mittens breaks off with a kitteny squeak as Theta Sigma picks him up by the scruff and drops him in a box. NO CAT CAN RESIST A BOX.]

I... can sort of taste specific things about a thing. Nanites and whatnot and what it used to be, sort of thing.

[trustycrowbar]

You can... [He coughs.] taste the nanites? Just how in the hell...?

[longstreakofnothing]

Dunno. I've just discovered it recently--I can taste things other people can't. Must go with not being human. D'you want a glass of water, you don't look so good.