Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"Dr. Bristvaya assures me anything you make is gold, but we're still going to need to see them at some point. And we'd really like to keep them spread around our various agencies, where they can be deployed to you wherever you might be, and be maintained efficiently."
Mr. Chun
"Well, we don't have all the time in the world, or I'm sure our defense division would take the opportunity to pick the thing apart. But I'm going to need you to bring it in so we at least know it's the real deal. You can even wear it in, if it makes things easier," Fell explained.
"But there is the matter of it being stolen property," Jennifer Calder interjected.
Fell glanced at her, "That reminds me, it have a tracking device? Any way you'd just be bringing trouble here?"
"That's not what I was referring to," Calder said quietly.
Malware
"Okay. Maybe you should think about not bringing them out to the field, though," Nerine said with a soft, placating smile, typing a lengthy note on her tablet.
"So, where did you learn hacking?"
Vespa
"Wow, that was not on the application," Dr. Palamara said in amazement, grabbing her tablet and hurriedly typing something in.
"I mean, you've just answered your own question. Holoprojectors like that - a lot of people would kill for that tech. But I'm guessing a lot of things were left off the application, huh?"
Bell
As if following a routine, Dr. Reeves allowed Bell to come in and take a seat, before sitting down at his desk, allowing a long pause before he spoke, "So, Bell. It's good to see you again. How have you been feeling recently?"
edited 22nd Aug '15 7:26:44 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
"So...you are saying...you want a demonstration. And a few as security.", she asks back, tilting her head a little.
всегда верен
sess10n status: l0st
Without missing a beat, Vespa watched the doctor, scrutinizing every detail. She weighed her options carefully, then answered:
"To take a page from a rather old and outdated book; you didn't ask, i didn't tell. However, I'm absolutely certain that you'd understand why I'd want to keep my own appearance under wraps, doctor. Too many fans, too many enemies. Call this a show of good faith, however."
edited 22nd Aug '15 7:40:56 PM by ImmortalFaust
[forum cryptid: it/it's]
"I'll, um, think about that," Mal said, making a mental note to himself to try and use Fritz while on missions. "And as for how I learned to hack... Well, I've been interested in computers ever since I was a kid."
Mal seemed a lot happier as he continued. "When I was 10, I even attempted to set up a program on my grandfather's dusty old computer. It was supposed to help the computer run more efficiently, I remember. Granted, it didn't work, but at that point, Grandfather realized that I had a talent for machines. I ended up getting a couple books on programming that Christmas. I spent the next couple of hours reading the books, trying to do some of the stuff mentioned myself..."
Mal stopped talking. "I'm sorry about that. I got a little carried away. Point is, I had a lot of practice with programming. It was just a matter of application."
"I do not think so. I got to see the specifications many times,and they were very "complete", to say the least. A tracking device would've been listed there." Bai looked pensive, and avoided Alectus' gaze for a moment. "My family made it this far, and we have not had trouble since Hong Kong, but I do not think the Fenghuang would be willing to let it go so easily. Trouble may come."
The Maid
"Very well, sir, thank you for asking" says Bedivere, Bell to friends, to the good Doctor... at the moment she was clad in a nice, flattering black day dress with low heels. Her arms and legs seemed perfectly normal at first glance... covered as they were in synthetic skin and with the deadliest modifications removed and in storage until it was time to train or go on a mission.
With a light smile, Bell took out from her purse a small box covered in a lace ribbon, putting it on the table and opening it up to reveal some fancy looking chocolate truffles "Would you care for some, Sir? They are simply divine" she says, licking her lips before grabbing one to take a little bite out off.
If I'm sure of something it's that I'm not sure of anything.
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
Alectus Fell looked down, smirking, before meeting Anastya's gaze again. "No, not as security. I'm not trying to keep your assets from you, that would be counterproductive. I just think they would be more useful if we spread them around, so there can be at least one within a few hundred miles of wherever this job takes you." He rubbed one of his reddened eyes, "We're not ready to deploy you on your own, but if you can prove yourself on a team, with maybe one or two of your drones, you might be able to undertake missions alone in the future, where we can just pack all of them into a VTOL with you."
"But yes, we do need to know what they're capable of. You call them combat drones, but as far as I know, they've never been in actual combat. I'd like you to bring at least one here with you; we'll give it a gun and run it through a training sim to see if we think it's ready for the real thing."
Mr. Chun
"Shit, Fenghuang will take any excuse to make trouble with us. What's one more?" Fell retorted. "You're probably right, the fact that you're not already dead is a pretty good indicator that they weren't smart enough to put a tracker in it."
Jennifer Calder gave him a look. He looked back, then sighed, "Alright, I'm not going to bullshit you, Mr. Chun, the fact that the suit was stolen complicates things a little. Stygian does not officially engage in tech thievery. Well, obviously nobody 'officially' does. But when things... fall into our lap, we won't just ignore it. So we're going to say, officially, that Stygian owns the suit. That is, once you're legally employed - for now, that won't be the case. We need you off the books for a while, during which time you're still in possession of stolen technology."
Calder spoke up, "The terms of your contract will be fulfilled by Stygian immediately upon signature; your family will be housed in a secure location in California, you will all be given new identities, and you will be paid. However, until such time as we can affirm your employment officially, you are not an employee of Stygian Technologies."
Fell explained, "In the event of your capture, Stygian will deny any connection to you, and any involvement with any action you were undertaking. They would also be under no obligation to to send another team to rescue you - depends on how valuable they decide you are, really."
Fell looked almost apologetic, "I know that sounds bad, but it's how we've done things before, and it's how we need to do things right now. Once you're officially hired, however, Stygian will claim ownership of the suit. This doesn't mean we're taking it from you - we'd be stupid to let your ten years experience with it, your 'sync,' as you called it, go to waste. It's just that Stygian is not going to be employing someone with stolen prototype Fenghuang gear."
Calder held out a tablet for Bai, the first page of a long contract typed on its screen. "This will, of course, become null in the event of your capture, or should you take any action against Stygian Technologies. It will also become null if we decide the suit is not what you claim it is, to Mr. Fell's discretion."
"If it means anything to you, I'll give you my word that Stygian honors these things. We have a reputation to protect - otherwise nobody would work for us," Fell added.
Malware
Nerine stroked her chin, "So you didn't really do any actual 'hacking' until recently; just above-board programming. Or did you pull any other stunts before the Brightstar leak?"
Vespa
"I'm pretty sure there was something about 'potentially mission-applicable equipment' on there...." Dr. Palamara muttered. "Well, I appreciate the gesture."
"So, what led you to start doing this? The broadcasting, I mean."
Bell
"No thank you, Bell," Dr. Reeves replied with a polite smile. "So has anything been on your mind lately? Anything you'd like to talk about?"
Forlorn
"Hi, I'm Dr. Nerine Palamara. Call me Nerine," the psychologist said as soon as the door was shut. She looked Liam up and down. "God, you could probably take that guy, out there, huh? Oh, take a seat, or lie down. This will be pretty quick."
edited 23rd Aug '15 5:51:10 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
"Yeah, and you can just call me Liam," Liam said, taking the aforementioned seat. He pulled out a cigarette and put it into his mouth. "I'm an open book, doc."
"No other stunts, ma'am," Malware responded.
"It is not bad. I expected you would have some sort of complication with it. I was worried you would not be able to hire me at all!" He took the tablet and studied the contract briefly. "I will be honest," he said, pausing for a moment, "I do not understand a good amount of the terms written here. But I'll leave it at that, and hold you to your word." He wrote on the dotted line and handed it back, an English rendering of his name written in decent cursive adorning the screen.
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Mr. Chun
"Great," Fell said, extending a hand, "I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chun. I'll give you a call when I want you to come in with the suit. Since we're on a tight schedule, you should be prepared for a mission briefing soon after we take a look at it."
Calder added, "Arrangements have already been made for your family; the details have been sent to your device."
Malware
Nerine glanced down at her tablet, "Okay then, I guess that's pretty much all I wanted to ask you, Malcolm." She looked back up, trying to meet his eyes, "Is there anything else you want to talk about while you're here?"
Forlorn
The doctor narrowed her eyes at Liam's cigarette, "Please don't light that in here." It sounded more like a wish than a command.
"What was it like waking up from the dead with a bunch of new parts?"
edited 23rd Aug '15 7:41:13 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
"N-no, not really," Malware said, really hoping she hadn't figured it out yet.
sess10n status: l0st
Vespa answered calmly, never breaking eye contact.
"Doctor, you know my name, and what I've released publicly. That's all part of what I do on my own time, and I don't think it polite to ask someone about their private life: I'm certainly not about to ask you what your hobbies are when you're not psychoanalyzing people to work here. As far as I'm concerned, this is a proffessional relationship and my skills and cooperation are far more important than who I am as a person. Does that make sense?"
[forum cryptid: it/it's]
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Malware
She gave him a concerned smile, "Okay then. I'd like to say I'm not sure you're really ready for this kind of job, but with the demand for your skills, and what you're promising to give the company, I'm not sure that opinion is going to matter."
She stood up, extending a hand, "It's been nice talking with you, Malcolm. You can make another appointment with me if you ever want to talk again."
"Alec's downstairs, the directions should already be on your Specs. Just... make sure you really want this before you sign anything, okay?"
Vespa
"Not really," Nerine replied with a frown. "I'm doing my job in asking you these questions, because I believe the answers to be relevant. I understand you value your privacy, and I respect that, but this is simply a step you have to get through if you want this job."
"Look, doctor-patient confidentiality exists even here, believe it or not. As long as what you say to me doesn't raise any red flags, it doesn't leave this room."
edited 23rd Aug '15 7:21:46 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
sess10n status: l0st
Vespa sighed.
"If you insist. I'm certain my application is fresh in your mind as I would assume you went over it immediately prior to seeing me. Action and competition: I can't stand to sit still, figuratively speaking, and if I'm going to do something, I might as well stay on top of things. What information I acquire and what I've done with it is irrelevant, but people do love a good show. I simply give them one."
[forum cryptid: it/it's]
"Thank you for your concern, ma'am," Mal said, standing up to shake her hand. "But don't worry, I've thought it through."
Or had I? he thought to himself as he extracted the directions from the Star Specs and headed out the door. Obviously I hadn't done as well with blending in as I thought I would. Those stupid Star Specs. The sooner I get the optics on the android fixed, the better.
Soon, Malware arrived at Alec's door and knocked.
Duty First
"Ah.", she nodded slowly, her eyes locked on the Mr. Fell's reddened eyes. "Well-Its not—Ah, Understood, Mr. Fell. I...Can make more, yes. Post them in stations. And-They do have experience fighting...In fending off thugs, but its...not really significant enough that I thought to put them in the resume.", she nods, keeping her eyes a bit lower, averting her sight and fidgeting.
Then, she looked back up, eyes firm on Alectus. "But yes. I need-Well, not me personally. I can have them remotely assembled and coming within an hour...?", her eyes asking for his approval.
всегда верен
The Maid
"Aww, still so guarded around me, Doctor Reeves" says Bell with a light pout... not a serious one really, merely a show before she smiles again and takes another delicious truffle on her fingers "Well then, at least I can console myself knowing there's more for me"
Letting out a light sound of delight as the expensive treat melts in her mouth, Bell lays her hands in her lap, eyes closed as she enjoys the taste "Hmmm haven't had problems really. Been relaxed... if perhaps too idle. Been a long while since the last test run I've gone to, so I've mostly stayed crammed in my room or the training area in between requesting permission to go out shopping and the like. If I was a soldier enjoying the boredom of peace by it's own, that would be quite alright... the boredom of the guardians reflects a peaceful age after all. However, I know better... this world keeps becoming more and more dangerous... and as my house grows in power, the more other powers will bid their strength against it... that without counting whatever actions my faction will take itself"
"Thus, I long to be useful... if there is cause that I could engage in to help my home then I long to run to the field. It helps more to have a sense of purpose when doing thus... plus, I'd feel like I'm earning my own value instead of being a deadweight" says the brown haired woman, exclaiming with a like flick of her wrist as she holds another truffle... flinging it way up to playfully catch it in her mouth as it lands... Then she smiles and leans back on her seat... sliding out of her heels to raise her feet onto the seat, hugging her knees lightly as she looks at the doctor "Being honest here, Doctor. I haven't given reason to worry, right? I know I come from a different place, served a different Lord, but I'm an honorable woman. My cause lies here now... no need to be so guarded"
If I'm sure of something it's that I'm not sure of anything.
Bai took a quick look at his phone, before nodding, grabbing Fell's hand and vigorously shaking it. "Yes, thank you! It will be great to be working with you!" He looked over at Calder, and considered shaking her hand briefly, but decided it wouldn't be for the best. He instead bowed to the both of them. "It would be great to be working, period! It's hard to sit around in hideouts for months, doing nothing. I'll be glad to just get in the suit again! As for the house, we'll move over immediately!" With that, he did a final bow and headed out the door, elated that all his hard work hadn't gone for nothing.
"I see, so that's the sort of doctor you are, eh?" Liam said. He leaned back, and inhaled - mostly for show. He plucked his cigarette from his mouth and rolled it in between his fingers as he continued. "Pretty good, actually. You ever oversleep before, in your life? Something like that. It's just like that, waking up feeling refreshed in a way you never knew how. Finding out that it's been a few months and half of you is made of metal is another thing entirely, though. But the part you're probably concerned about is that I still feel that I am me. You don't have to worry about me going on a robot rampage and betraying whatever mission you're on - so long as everyone respects each other."
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"I'm afraid I won't be here in an hour, Miss Mirivac. We'll take a look at your drones another time. For now, we need to talk about this contract." He looked over at Calder, running his hand through short black hair.
She caught his gaze, prompting her to begin,"Your employment will be unofficial, initially, Miss Mirivac. Due to certain circumstances, it is important that Stygian Technologies can deny any involvement with you in the event of our association becoming damaging, or should you be captured in the field."
"Basically, we can't say you're working for us, even though you will be - it's just temporary, though, I promise. You'll be payed, and enjoy most of the other benefits of employment with us until we can affirm it," Fell added.
"Your drones and AI will remain your legal property, with a few special permissions granted to Stygian Technologies detailed in the contract." Calder held out a tablet showing the first page of a long document of legalese.
Fell clarified, "The permissions are pretty much just that Stygian can put trackers on them, move them around, and do maintenance and repairs if needed. Your AI will be given a secure line to Stygian under your supervision."
"They also cannot be sold to a third party. We will be forced to nullify your contract in the events I detailed earlier, or in the case of your robots not performing to Mr. Fell's standards." Calder finished.
Malware
The door swung open by itself a few seconds after Malware knocked. Inside stood an unassuming woman clutching a tablet, a large man with obvious cybernetics, and an insect-like combat drone the size of a dog.
"Malcolm, glad you could join us," the man said, grabbing Malware's hand and shaking. "Alectus Fell. That's Calder."
"Jennifer Calder," the woman sneered, unenthusiastically holding out her own hand.
Vespa
"But it it's more than just entertainment," the doctor replied. "It doesn't take a psychology degree to tell you're trying to affect change. Do you feel like you're making a difference?"
Bell
Dr. Reeves met her gaze. "No, Bell, I'm not worried about you. I'm only trying to maintain a professional relationship. So, mostly just restless, then? Have you been having any more interesting dreams?"
Forlorn
Dr. Palamara let out a brief chuckle, "No, I'm not worried about that. I work at Stygian Technologies; if bionics made you crazy I'd probably have been murdered a long time ago."
She cocked her head, "But that brings up an interesting point. Outside of this company, people like you get a lot of stares, to say the least. That must have been difficult over twenty years."
edited 23rd Aug '15 11:03:15 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
"A pleasure to meet you both," Malware said as he shook both hands offered. He didn't react much to the cybernetics, other than a making a mental note to himself not to get in trouble with Fell.
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Malware
"Alright, kid. Calder's been harassing me about not testing people before I make them sign contracts, so that's what the spider over here is for," Fell began.
"You think I'm harassing, you should hear what Legal has to say to me when I tell them they need to add more stipulations...." Calder muttered.
He rolled his eyes, "Anyway, let's see what you've got, Malcolm. Take control of Charlotte from me."
Fell looked at the drone, which had four insectile legs around a disk-like body. In the middle of the disk was a reinforced sensor array on a swivel, under which a weapon mount lay empty. He touched the metal dome that was his right ear, which extended a pair of assymetrical antennae back and up behind his head. "Charlotte, don't move from that spot."
The drone beeped once, and widened its stance, as if bracing. Fell crossed his bumpy arms and looked at Malware expectantly. "You brought a computer, right?"
edited 23rd Aug '15 11:36:04 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
"Well, I wasn't exactly your suit and tie sort of salesman," Liam said. "Landsknecht shipped me off to South America, Africa, Asia, Arabia, and even Antarctica with gun in-hand. Didn't matter what people thought of me on the social level when we were shooting each other, and they wanted me to make sure my bionics were clear and visible when we were selling them to every military you can imagine. For those times I had to infiltrate an urban center, I could cover most everything up with gloves and clothes."
He exhaled. "As for personal time, the extra attention wasn't bad. So much time in the field trying to never be seen until you strike, it felt good to be able to be noticed."
The woman took a seat, placing two completely normal looking hands in front of her, intertwining them as she did.
"Doctor, someone once said the same thing to me years ago. they lied. hologram off"
At Vespa's words, her form shivered and flickered off, revealing a young woman, couldn't be more than 22, asymmetric undercut calling back to the start of the century and heavily clashing with the normal cut she was sporting a second ago. The most striking thing about her appearance is the somewhat clunky Al-SEC cybernetic right arm.
"Yes, you know me as that. Now, as you yourself said, you were looking forward to this conversation. Might I ask why?"
edited 22nd Aug '15 5:52:03 PM by ImmortalFaust
[forum cryptid: it/it's]