Space 3

Coil

[4/4/2013 9:50:34 PM] Josie: I knooooow. And mine is substantially less dumb than yours.

[4/4/2013 9:51:23 PM] Josie: Sluglark was explaining that she'll likely take on more of Lark's traits over time, which is beneficial from an evolutionary perspective.

[4/4/2013 9:51:36 PM] Josie: You're about four hours from your destination, a space station more or less in the middle of nowhere.

[4/4/2013 9:54:56 PM] Josie: You've had about four hours of sleep.

[4/4/2013 9:55:42 PM] Josie: Now you have two possible new crew members--Sluglark and Lou, a felinoid human-augment. You spaced the body of the scariest of the prisoners, though his coffin is still on board.

[4/4/2013 9:56:00 PM] Josie: And Vir is up to his elbows in the innards of the final prisoner, an android woman.

[4/4/2013 9:57:08 PM] Coil: ((Oh, and you should just pick whatever element for Coil seems right.))

[4/4/2013 9:59:34 PM] Josie: Still think it's water, but that's just me.

[4/4/2013 9:59:48 PM] Coil: ((leavin' up to you!))

[4/4/2013 10:02:01 PM] Josie: ((hmm. Well I'll think about it.))

[4/4/2013 10:02:14 PM] Josie: Sluglark: Er... if you're here, and your crew is here, who's flying the ship?

[4/4/2013 10:02:57 PM] Coil: We're on autopilot.

[4/4/2013 10:04:26 PM] Josie: Sluglark: Oh, marvellous!

[4/4/2013 10:05:04 PM] Josie: Sluglark: I suppose I ought to say "Marvellous, Captain," or perhaps, "Marvellous, sir." What is the chain of command? Should I salute? Are there uniforms?

[4/4/2013 10:07:04 PM] Coil: No, no uniforms. Though you'll need a change of clothes. The uniform you're wearing is too conspicuous.

[4/4/2013 10:08:20 PM] Josie: Sluglark: Is it?

[4/4/2013 10:08:53 PM] Josie: She peers at it, and then starts taking it off. She gets the uniform top stuck on her head. "... oh dear."

[4/4/2013 10:09:39 PM] Coil: ... not right now.

[4/4/2013 10:09:51 PM] Coil: Coil rubs his eyes.

[4/4/2013 10:10:54 PM] Josie: Interestingly, the wound that killed Lark has healed up; there's only a scar there now.

[4/4/2013 10:11:06 PM] Josie: Lark: This is much harder than it looks!

[4/4/2013 10:11:21 PM] Josie: She tries to get the shirt off her head.

[4/4/2013 10:13:51 PM] Coil: Wait, don't...

[4/4/2013 10:14:21 PM] Coil: I don't have any clothes for you right now.

[4/4/2013 10:14:26 PM] Josie: Lark: It's stuck. There must be some sort of trick to it...

[4/4/2013 10:14:27 PM] Coil: Just leave those on.

[4/4/2013 10:14:43 PM] Josie: Lark: Well, if they're that conspicuous I can simply go without! It isn't that cold in here.

[4/4/2013 10:15:06 PM] Coil: That would be even *more* conspicuous.

[4/4/2013 10:15:10 PM] Coil: ...how can you not know that?

[4/4/2013 10:17:03 PM] Josie: Lark: I don't know. Er. It seems to be stuck.

[4/4/2013 10:17:14 PM] Josie: Her shirt is wrapped around her face.

[4/4/2013 10:17:37 PM] Josie: (And yes, she is wearing an undershirt and a bra underneath there, so this is not cheesecake.  You'll know when there's cheesecake.)

[4/4/2013 10:17:54 PM] Josie: She seems to have tied her arm to her head somehow.

[4/4/2013 10:18:09 PM] Coil: Coil sighs, and goes to help her.

[4/4/2013 10:19:10 PM] Josie: It's pretty easily done. Does he put the shirt back *on* her or take it off?

[4/4/2013 10:19:23 PM] Coil: He helps her put it back.

[4/4/2013 10:20:07 PM] Josie: It's also worth noting that Lark has some tattoos on her arms. They look military.

[4/4/2013 10:21:02 PM] Coil: Where'd Lark get those tattoos?

[4/4/2013 10:23:03 PM] Josie: Lark: ... Station Zeta 7. Also a small city called Black Rock on a planet called "Reno," I think. She's not entirely certain about that one.

[4/4/2013 10:24:55 PM] Coil: Hmm.

[4/4/2013 10:25:05 PM] Coil: Just curious.

[4/4/2013 10:26:01 PM] Josie: Lark: She was rather intoxicated at the time.

[4/4/2013 10:27:12 PM] Coil: I see.

[4/4/2013 10:27:44 PM] Josie: Lark: It's a tradition for her division.

[4/4/2013 10:28:02 PM] Josie: Lark wanders over to peer at Vir's work.

[4/4/2013 10:28:43 PM] Coil: ((How long till we reach teh space station, again?))

[4/4/2013 10:30:48 PM] Josie: About four hours.

[4/4/2013 10:30:54 PM] Josie: You probably do need about four more hours of sleep.

[4/4/2013 10:31:15 PM] Josie: ... of course, that leaves both Lou and Lark on the ship, loose.

[4/4/2013 10:31:37 PM] Coil: Vir, I still need you to rig up the airlock so it looks like it was damaged and the cargo hold vented.

[4/4/2013 10:31:58 PM] Coil: Robot-girl isn't going anywhere, you can work on her later.

[4/4/2013 10:32:33 PM] Josie: Vir: ... yes.

[4/4/2013 10:33:02 PM] Josie: He stands up, reluctantly. "I will get started. Please bring her and anything else you wish saved to some other part of the ship."

[4/4/2013 10:33:40 PM] Coil: Coil nods, and drags the robo-girl to one of the spare rooms.

[4/4/2013 10:35:35 PM] Josie: As he's leaving, he hears her say "Excuse me?"

[4/4/2013 10:37:28 PM] Coil: ((The robot said that?))

[4/4/2013 10:37:40 PM] Josie: Yep.

[4/4/2013 10:37:50 PM] Coil: ...yeah?

[4/4/2013 10:39:14 PM] Josie: Android: What is this place?

[4/4/2013 10:39:35 PM] Coil: You're on my ship, the Ardent. Don't you remember?

[4/4/2013 10:40:15 PM] Josie: Android: I have no memory.

[4/4/2013 10:41:34 PM] Coil: Well. You're on my ship. YOu've been damaged, we'll try and repair you.

[4/4/2013 10:43:31 PM] Josie: Android: Damaged?

[4/4/2013 10:45:08 PM] Coil: Yes.

[4/4/2013 10:45:19 PM] Coil: Coil pulls her into a spare cabin.

[4/4/2013 10:45:25 PM] Coil: Can you move your body at all?

[4/4/2013 10:45:51 PM] Josie: Android: ... no.

[4/4/2013 10:46:15 PM] Josie: Android: A self-assessment shows that my personality circuits have been damaged.

[4/4/2013 10:46:28 PM] Coil: Yes.

[4/4/2013 10:46:30 PM] Coil: I'm sorry.

[4/4/2013 10:47:22 PM] Josie: Android: I will not be able to perform my designated functions.

[4/4/2013 10:50:45 PM] Coil: ..what are those?

[4/4/2013 10:53:27 PM] Josie: Android: Many relate to sex, the rest to various firearms and illegal activities.

[4/4/2013 10:54:09 PM] Coil: I see. Who do you know, then? How damaged is your memory?

[4/4/2013 10:55:41 PM] Josie: Android: I know no one. I have retained only my initial programming.

[4/4/2013 10:56:24 PM] Coil: What is your initial programming, then?

[4/4/2013 10:56:54 PM] Josie: Android: Knowledge and usage of weapons, primarily.

[4/4/2013 10:57:19 PM] Josie: Her eyebrows crease ever so slightly. "I am...damaged."

[4/4/2013 10:58:15 PM] Coil: You are. It's okay. We'll repair you.

[4/4/2013 10:59:16 PM] Josie: Android: Why?

[4/4/2013 11:00:14 PM] Coil: ...because.

[4/4/2013 11:00:27 PM] Coil: Do you have a name? A designation?

[4/4/2013 11:01:06 PM] Josie: Android: Because why?

[4/4/2013 11:01:34 PM] Josie: Android: A9471051-39175-G245.

[4/4/2013 11:03:14 PM] Coil: ...because it would be wrong to just let you die. Or cease functioning.

[4/4/2013 11:03:38 PM] Josie: Android: Ethics.

[4/4/2013 11:04:02 PM] Coil: Sure.

[4/4/2013 11:04:39 PM] Coil: You're in this position because someone programmed you to free him. Not your fault.

[4/4/2013 11:05:18 PM] Josie: Android: Sentient androids can be criminally liable.

[4/4/2013 11:06:34 PM] Coil: Maybe.

[4/4/2013 11:07:21 PM] Josie: Android: I was programmed to free whom?

[4/4/2013 11:08:42 PM] Coil: I don't even know his name. A monster of a criminal.

[4/4/2013 11:09:46 PM] Josie: Android: I have no recollection. What do you intend to do with me once I am repaired?

[4/4/2013 11:10:13 PM] Coil: You're a sentient android. I thought I might invite you to join my crew.

[4/4/2013 11:12:07 PM] Josie: Android: I am to be owned for a period of 10 years before becoming freed as a sentient. How many years have elapsed?

[4/4/2013 11:12:32 PM] Coil: I... have no idea. i can try and find out, though.

[4/4/2013 11:13:59 PM] Josie: Android: I may be your property.

[4/4/2013 11:14:51 PM] Coil: ... I'll be right back.

[4/4/2013 11:15:18 PM] Josie: She doesn't move. It's not entirely clear whether she can.

[4/4/2013 11:16:25 PM] Coil: Coil goes to talk to Larkslug!

[4/4/2013 11:18:01 PM] Josie: Larkslug has wandered into the kitchen; Lou's not there anymore, thankfully.

[4/4/2013 11:18:29 PM] Josie: Lark is quietly organizing all the food in the pantry. Or de-organizing it. It's hard to tell what method she's using.

[4/4/2013 11:19:45 PM] Coil: What can you tell me about the android?

[4/4/2013 11:20:15 PM] Josie: Lark: The prisoner, you mean?

[4/4/2013 11:20:35 PM] Coil: Yes.

[4/4/2013 11:20:36 PM] Josie: Lark tilts her head on one side and starts stacking the cans of food on top of one another.

[4/4/2013 11:21:42 PM] Josie: Lark: I believe she calls herself Alice. She has a long criminal history; as she was initially built to serve as a prostitute, the ethical programming was somewhat loose to begin with, and when she left indenture it seems to have all gone downhill from there.

[4/4/2013 11:22:05 PM] Josie: Lark: Rather sad. I believe many of the 'droids from that production run suffered the same fate.

[4/4/2013 11:24:17 PM] Coil: Her personality was destroyed. I really don't know a lot about androids, but her personality and memories have been wiped. Where does that leave her?

[4/4/2013 11:25:35 PM] Josie: Lark: ... I'm not entirely certain. It might be best to consult a lawyer; I suspect she would still be held legally liable for her crimes.

[4/4/2013 11:26:10 PM] Coil: That seems unfair.

[4/4/2013 11:27:17 PM] Josie: Lark: It does, rather, doesn't it?

[4/4/2013 11:27:37 PM] Josie: Lark: I suspect a good lawyer could make a bit of hay with that. Artificial life-forms *are* a bit better able to start over than the rest of us, are they not?

[4/4/2013 11:27:51 PM] Josie: Lark: ... though I seem to have gotten a rather blank slate myself just now, haven't I?

[4/4/2013 11:29:45 PM] Coil: Mmm. Haven't we all. She wasn't sure if she had been freed, or not. Thanks.

[4/4/2013 11:29:50 PM] Coil: Coil heads back to the android!

[4/4/2013 11:30:06 PM] Josie: Lark: Have we? You're quite welcome! Happy to help.

[4/4/2013 11:30:15 PM] Josie: The sluglark starts humming as Coil departs.

[4/4/2013 11:30:28 PM] Josie: The android is still lying on the bed, not having moved.

[4/4/2013 11:32:01 PM] Coil: ... apparently, you called yourself Alice. You had left indenture and drifted into a life of crime.

[4/4/2013 11:33:12 PM] Josie: Alice: I do not recall.

[4/4/2013 11:33:37 PM] Coil: Well, your memory and personality were destroyed.

[4/4/2013 11:33:44 PM] Josie: She frowns slightly, again. "I am... impaired."

[4/4/2013 11:34:11 PM] Coil: Yes.

[4/4/2013 11:35:23 PM] Josie: Alice: I should feel upset.

[4/4/2013 11:37:26 PM] Coil: ... probably. We'll repair you.

[4/4/2013 11:38:05 PM] Josie: Alice: Why?

[4/4/2013 11:39:17 PM] Coil: ... it's a day for blank slates. You should get a second chance.

[4/4/2013 11:40:26 PM] Josie: Alice: Very well.

[4/4/2013 11:40:33 PM] Josie: Alice: ... I should feel happy.

[4/4/2013 11:41:42 PM] Coil: We'll... get that fixed, too. We'll get you a new personality... thingy.

[4/4/2013 11:42:45 PM] Josie: Alice: Thank you. I believe that is the appropriate response.

[4/4/2013 11:44:50 PM] Coil: We have some other stuff to attend to, first, though. Can you... shut down, or go into standby, or something?

[4/4/2013 11:45:28 PM] Josie: Alice: Yes.

[4/4/2013 11:45:35 PM] Josie: Alice: For how long?

[4/4/2013 11:48:33 PM] Coil: Five hours.

[4/4/2013 11:49:21 PM] Josie: Alice nods, and closes her eyes.

[4/4/2013 11:50:38 PM] Coil: Coil nods, and leaves the room, locking it behind him.

[4/4/2013 11:51:33 PM] Josie: Done! What next?

[4/4/2013 11:51:54 PM] Coil: He'll go check in on Vir.

[4/4/2013 11:52:53 PM] Josie: Vir has moved a bunch of things around in the hold and seems to be preparing to actually open the thing to the atmosphere.

[4/4/2013 11:53:13 PM] Coil: How's it going, Vir?

[4/4/2013 11:54:31 PM] Josie: Vir: Quite well. I am going to open the compartment to space. We will lose a few things; only one or two are valuable, but the sacrifice must be made.

[4/4/2013 11:55:04 PM] Coil: Coil nods. "And the box that the slug guy was in, will you be able to trigger the destruct on that, make it look like it went off?"

[4/4/2013 11:56:45 PM] Josie: Vir: The box had no destruct mechanism.

[4/4/2013 11:57:17 PM] Josie: Vir: It was simply a biological containment unit; the environmental substances inside were spent.

[4/4/2013 11:58:05 PM] Coil: ... all right, then. Flush the box into space when you vent the hold.

[4/4/2013 11:58:58 PM] Josie: Vir nods. "You should rest."

[4/4/2013 11:59:38 PM] Coil: ...yeah, all right.

[4/4/2013 11:59:50 PM] Coil: Wake me up if *anything* happens.

[4/5/2013 12:00:22 AM] Josie: Vir: Yes.

[4/5/2013 12:00:40 AM] Coil: Coil goes back to his quarters!

[4/5/2013 12:02:41 AM] Josie: He goes to sleep!

[4/5/2013 12:03:00 AM] Josie: And eventually wakes up again, as Vir's voice comes through the intercom. "We're nearly there."

[4/5/2013 12:03:17 AM] Coil: Coil gets up, gets dressed!

[4/5/2013 12:04:14 AM] Josie: Dressed indeed.

[4/5/2013 12:04:29 AM] Coil: Then he tries to round everyone up.

[4/5/2013 12:04:46 AM | Edited 12:04:53 AM] Josie: Easily done. The android is still unconscious, of course.

[4/5/2013 12:05:09 AM] Josie: Vir is putting the final touches on the hold, which now looks *very* convincing.

[4/5/2013 12:05:29 AM] Josie: Lou has deigned to falsify the ship's records to indicate a breach in the hold at the proper time.

[4/5/2013 12:05:54 AM] Josie: And Slug is sitting upside down in the navigation chair in the cockpit. The one to the right of the captain's.

[4/5/2013 12:06:04 AM] Coil: ...why are you sitting like that?

[4/5/2013 12:07:41 AM] Josie: Lark: I thought it might be interesting. Your biology doesn't seem to agree with it, however!

[4/5/2013 12:08:25 AM] Coil: No. I'll need you to get into your quarters now.

[4/5/2013 12:09:14 AM] Josie: Lark: Oh! Very well.

[4/5/2013 12:09:25 AM] Josie: She squirms over a bit and then rights herself.

[4/5/2013 12:09:37 AM] Coil: Stay in there until I call you out, okay?

[4/5/2013 12:10:22 AM] Josie: Lark: Very well! ... except in cases of emergency, of course.

[4/5/2013 12:11:56 AM] Josie: She beams and toddles off to her room.

[4/5/2013 12:12:42 AM] Josie: Vir turns up. Somehow he never looks like he's been rolling around on the floor underneath the engines, carrying heavy things or dealing with grease and mechanical parts.

[4/5/2013 12:13:09 AM] Coil: Where are we at, Vir?

[4/5/2013 12:14:27 AM] Josie: Vir: We're there.

[4/5/2013 12:14:44 AM] Josie: The communications board bleeps.

[4/5/2013 12:14:54 AM] Coil: Coil goes to answer!

[4/5/2013 12:17:01 AM] Josie: Woman's Voice: Request visual.

[4/5/2013 12:17:52 AM] Coil: Coil puts it on.

[4/5/2013 12:19:31 AM] Josie: The image on the screen flickers, changing from the star field ahead of you to...

[4/5/2013 12:19:47 AM] Josie: ...an image of Captain Lark. She's frowning.

[4/5/2013 12:20:21 AM] Coil: There's been a problem.

[4/5/2013 12:20:57 AM] Josie: Lark(?) leans forward. "What sort of problem?"

[4/5/2013 12:22:18 AM] Coil: One of the prisoners initiated an escape attempt. In the ensuing struggle, the cargo hold was vented. Captain Lark and her prisoners were lost to the void.

[4/5/2013 12:22:21 AM] Coil: ...I'm sorry.

[4/5/2013 12:23:17 AM] Josie: The woman on the screen is shocked. "... what?"

[4/5/2013 12:23:43 AM] Josie: Lark: You're telling me my sister is *dead*? *And* the prisoners?

[4/5/2013 12:24:28 AM] Coil: Coil nods. "I'm... very sorry."

[4/5/2013 12:26:08 AM] Josie: Lark: ... we'll... there'll need to be an investigation. What the hell happened?

[4/5/2013 12:27:40 AM] Coil: As near as we can put together, one of the prisoners opened the coffin holding the male prisoner. I woke up to shots being fired, and the airlock vented the cargo hold into space.

[4/5/2013 12:29:15 AM] Josie: Lark: .... damn it, I... all right, dock with the station and... a full investigation. We'll start an investigation.

[4/5/2013 12:29:20 AM] Josie: She rubs her eyes.

[4/5/2013 12:29:49 AM] Coil: Understood.