0001: A New Beginning

[crux_mods]

Whatever your activities before, they're interrupted by a sudden lurching feeling, like someone's put a hook into the pit of your very being and yanked. There's a brief burst, a brilliantly twisting tunnel? And then silence. Stars fill your vision, along with bodies, machines, and not much else before everything mercifully goes black. The shock of it, more than the lack of air.

And then, there's sound. There's not much at first. Beeping. Lots of beeping. Some of it is irritatingly loud, and apparently it's the cause of a lot of excitement. When vision returns, the first thing to note would be alien writing blinking in your field of vision, displayed on a monitor or a clear bubble somewhere. Alien, but familiar enough for you to read "Awakening". Whatever that means, you're apparently not alone, as people in black and white uniforms are rushing through the large room you're in, the room filled with people hooked up to all kinds of machines. Of course, some of them don't look entirely like people.

All of a sudden, a haggered face fills your field of vision. "Great Shades of Elvis! Another one! Look, please remain calm." The poor nurse turns and starts to fiddle with some of the machines surrounding you. "There's been an accident, but you're okay. Try to stay quiet and don't disturb the other patients. Someone will be with you in a moment." They turn away to shout across the room, as if that wouldn't disturb anyone. "Hoi, Oglaf! Mark this one as alive so Security can take them for the briefing!" He gestures at some official looking people in red and black uniforms assisting other patients into wheelchairs. "Just flag one of them down, they'll take you to the briefing. We'll explain everything. Just don't panic, you're in good hands." He grins and pats your shin. "Welcome to the Fleet, eh? 'scume, someone else is starting to budge and I gotta make sure it's not some poor sot swallowed his tongue again." With that, he leaves you alone with your thoughts and the bright lights.

[Medical Arrival | Hangar Arrival | Briefing | Post-Briefing 1 | Post-Briefing 2]

Comments

Robotic Arrival

[crux_mods]

For the robots, it's a bit different. When you become aware, you're trapped. It's not that you're pinned down, it's that you have no body. Someone has removed your mind and trapped it in... in some data storage system! No movement, no input, no anything. Just soothing, quiet darkness. If you're the type to find that soothing.

It may feel like an eternity, but within a few minutes of regaining awareness, there is activity. You can't see it now, but mechanics and engineers are swarming as the vast databanks holding uncountable artificial intelligences. Finally, one of them has the time to hook up an input device and taps in a simple statement. "You are currently being contained in a secure database. Before we return you to your bodies, we have a series of questions to ask of you. Please answer truthfully, as we can tell if you are lying. Will you comply?" A bit of artful coding later, and the ability to respond has been granted.

[And here you have your awakening. This is not necessary, but if you want to react and chat with an NPC, feel free. After this, if your character is a giant robot, they will be given back their bodies and assigned temporary control over a smaller drone body to attend the briefing.]

[positronically]

Data's consciousness has always been a subject of much debate, even going so far as to call his sentience into question, and his legal status amongst the Federation. Was he a person? Or a piece of equipment?

Waking up in a database (if he were capable of humor, Data might appreciate the pun) is not how he anticipated having that question brought to light again. But the disembodied voice of an anonymous engineer does not fill him with the utmost confidence.

"I will comply with certain reservations," is the placid answer. "Please be aware that if I am being held captive, I would like to be told why, and be assigned an attorney or advocate. Further, I will not comply with any orders that would endanger human lives or my mission with Starfleet. If that is acceptable to you, I will answer."

[crux_npcs]

There's a pause, and a reply is soon in coming. "You are not a prisoner. You are being contained for your safety, as well as our own."

The Engineers are unsure of how to respond, and there's a lot of chattering back and forth between them before continuing. He's already assured them of one thing, he's not going to slaughter them all. "You've answered some of them already. So, our questions will be short. First: Are you aware of, or have you had contact with, the Rogue AIs of Bama? Second: What is your current legal status among your people? Third: Will you harm any humans upon being reinstalled into your proper body? Fourth: If reinstalled, will you comply with Fleet orders until you have completed the briefing?"

It's short, to the point, and probably unnecessary... But you can never be too careful where the Rogue AIs are concerned.

[positronically]

Data ponders this. Or rather, his 'self' that is comprised only of flowing terabytes ponders this, rifling through his memories. He isn't sure if there's anything missing...no way to know. All he can do is answer the questions as put to him.

"I am unaware of any rogue artificial intelligences or the name place designate 'Bama.' My name is Data, my rank is Lieutenant Commander and my legal status is Sentient and Free Humanoid Android. I am assigned to the USS Enterprise, a starship with the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet. My programming is very strictly written to keep human beings from harm, inasmuch as I am allowed to defend myself should I be attacked. I will comply with any orders that do not go against my core programming. I assume this briefing will contain further information about your Fleet?"

[crux_npcs]

Well, that was quick and painless. Something they can appreciate.

"Thank you for the honest answers. And, yes, the briefing will supply you with more information. Please hold on."

There's a long pause, and then a data readout of Data is inputted. Down to the materials used in his construction. Someone has taken care in scanning him, it seems. According to the results there, nothing seems to be seriously damaged or missing. They don't seem to be cheating him, at least. "Are our records correct in that this is your body, Lt. Commander Data?"

Dear NPC I am so sorry.

[driftlock]

You know what really puts Deadlock in a bad mood? Like...really bad mood territory? Like making bad mood into its very own astronomical star?

Let's list them. One: getting kidnapped. Two: getting horked from his own body. And most of all three: being asked really stupid and vaguely threatening questions.

"What if I say no." Just, you know, hypothetically, with a side of murderous rage.

Dear Deadlock: We're sorrier.

[crux_npcs]

The answer is swift and short.

"Then we leave you in there until you change your tune."

This is already off to a beautiful start

[driftlock]

Right. If he could kill you with his...whatever he has, he would. But currently lacking arms and legs and even eye for special eyebeams of hate, which he totally doesn't have but they sure would come in handy right now, he's kind of short on options.

Fine. It is time to plan.

Step one: body. Step two: rampage. It's his usual plan, except normally he doesn't have to worry about step one.

"Fine. I'll answer your _stupid questions." He's just bursting with the spirit of cooperation!

Care to sing Kumbaya?

[crux_npcs]

"We saw that."

Still, they don't have much.

"First: Are you aware of, or have you had contact with, the Rogue AIs of Bama? Second: What is your current legal status among your people? Third: Will you harm any humans upon being reinstalled into your proper body? Fourth: If reinstalled, will you comply with Fleet orders until you have completed the briefing?"

They were standard questions, probably pulled off of a form somewhere. Hopefully he'd remember that they can see if he lies.

If not, that's what mechs with lots and lots of guns are for.

[fuckinstoplights]

He'd just come from fleeing this very thing. From having his AI chip forcibly ripped away from him. From losing everything. This is worse than he could have imagined, the silence, the darkness -- it's more cloying and terrifying than quiet shadows ever were, back home. He can only assume the worst has happened. That despite Shadowmaru's help, despite the words exchanged over rubble and wreckage, he's been caught at last.

I don't want to die!

He wants to struggle. He wants to fight this, to flee as he did through the streets, the Brave Police hot on his heels. But there's no body. There's nothing for him to fight with. So his mind roils. Twists. It devolves straight into outright panic.

No, no, no, please no--

Those few minutes may as well have been a lifetime, for the scared young AI trapped bodiless in them.

He latches onto the voice with a child's desperation, forgetting this may very well be the one to trap him here. The same panic colors his response, the words strained and terrified.

"Please! I just want to leave! I promised I'd go! I promised him!"

Dimly, the fact he's only been asked a yes-or-no question dawns, the more rational portions of his AI noting it, and doing their best to inform the panicked parts they need to say those words.

"Yes! Please. Please, don't -- I want to live!"

[crux_npcs]

Oh, this is a bit of a concern. They hadn't expected a reaction quite like that. The response is very swift. "Calm down, we're not going to hurt you. We only want to ask you some questions. If we're satisfied with the answer, we'll settle you into your rightful body, okay?"

Most of the Rogue AIs didn't show that kind of emotion, but perhaps this was a trick? Hopefully he'd pull himself together before they asked their questions, otherwise they'd have to leave him until he calmed down. Which, it seemed, would be bad for his emotional state.

[fuckinstoplights]

Questions. Only questions. He can answer questions. As long as they won't be deleting him...

He tries his best to muster calm. To focus on the memories that always made him relax. Thinking of Shadowmaru. Of how he would react to this -- his usual composed self-assurance. He has to focus on that.

After all... he'd taught it to him. Hadn't he?

"All right," he says, finally. He would have nodded, if he could. "What is it you want to know?"

[reassembling]

Nothingness is less soothing and rather more conducive toward building quite a large amount of ire, in this case. With no distractions, it leaves her free to analyze what she can of the situation and speculate on how in the world she'd ended up disembodied in the first place.

Well. In some definition of 'free,' anyway.

"Contained?" Text is hardly enough to convey the sheer amount of indignance contained in that one word, but as there are no other avenues available it will have to suffice.

There is a pause before the reply appears, sharp and brisk in its wording and formation. "You may ask your questions. Eve will make no guarantee that she will answer them."

[crux_npcs]

"Contained." Comes the reply. Someone, it seems, is a bit of a smartass.

"The sooner you answer these questions, the sooner you get your body back. It's that simple." These databases were rather small, the engineers didn't have any problem with leaving them there.

The questions are simple. Pretty much just copied and pasted from other questions they're asking the other artificial beings right now. No, it's not lazy, it's efficiency in action! Trust them, Engineering is all about efficiency.

"First: Are you aware of, or have you had contact with, the Rogue AIs of Bama? Second: What is your current legal status among your people? Third: Will you harm any humans upon being reinstalled into your proper body? Fourth: If reinstalled, will you comply with Fleet orders until you have completed the briefing?"

[reassembling]

"...There is no entry on any 'Rogue AIs of Bama' in Eve's database." Though the mention of her people (speaking of...) manages to net a flash of irritation from whatever's currently passing as a substitute emotion control circuit as the flow of her responses breaks off momentarily. Then:

"Eve is the Queen of Nasods.
It would be illogical to harm any humans if no prior offense has occurred.
Furthermore, it would reflect poorly on her station.
For the time being, Eve will comply until she has been given sufficient reason to do otherwise."

A more permanent decision could be made after the briefing, if it contained any important information.

and then the NPCs had deja vu

[spearsurfing]

To say Eve is not pleased would be a vast understatement. The feeling of being 'outside' of her body is familiar... but under the current circumstances, it's difficult for such familiarity to be comforting. In the time it takes for the engineers to notice her consciousness, she's scrutinized and studied every inch of her containment—searching for holes, bugs, some weakness in the software that could be used to escape it... Though, of course, she finds nothing useful.

Her patience is already worn thin by the time contact is made. Her response is immediate.

"Eve will not comply until you state your intent. What is the meaning of this containment?"

Robotwins. Some people might get excited over that.

[crux_npcs]

"Safety," is the swift response. "We have no idea if you're hostile to us, and if your systems were at all damaged in transit, we didn't want to risk a malfunction on your part. It was easier to stabilize everyone after removing their programming."

At least they're being honest about it, unlike some groups possibly could.

"The sooner you answer our questions, and as long as we're satisfied, the sooner we can put you back where you belong." It was as simple as that.

3x robotwins considering both eves also have a pair of matching drones

[spearsurfing]

She pauses this time, contemplating their answer. She still lacked an explanation for why, and how, she came to be in this situation... but she didn't have much choice but to trust them.

"Eve will receive your questions."

More apologies to be made here

[shitflashpointsays]

So, impotent rage is pretty much a thing here. It bubbles up gradually as she realizes things aren't right, hitting a high note after contact is made. But since she's got no weapons, no body, no nothing, she's going to use the only she's got.

Her voice.

"C-contained!?!" Can you hear the ten kinds of NOPE in her raised voice? "Why the living slag am I out of my body? Who the hell are you, fraggin' body snatchers or something!?"

Sorry did you ask a question? She couldn't hear you over the wild fluctuations of her spark. Frightened? Angry? Ready to tear through anyone who wants to keep her helpless? How about all of the above.

[crux_npcs]

"If you woke up and had a reaction like this while still possessing a giant body with weapons everywhere, we'd really be in trouble, wouldn't we?" Whoops, that answer isn't in the script. "It's also partially for your protection. After the transit occurred, residual energy surges were a very real danger. We didn't want to pick you up and then risk data damage due to a sudden surge."

There's a slight pause. "If you answer the questions, we'll at least be able to hook you back up to your body. Think of this as a precaution on our side."

[shitflashpointsays]

"If I woke up in my own body maybe I wouldn't be a raging spark inferno!" RAWR. Watch out, she'll get you with her...radiation, or something. Frag. She doesn't even have a face to give nasty looks with. This blows like a bad gasket on a hot day.

"My protection!!" Flashpoint sounds indignant because Primus dammit she can protect herself or die trying thank you very much. At least then it'd be her choice. She can't exactly refute the rest of it though, so she stews in her impotent anger for a moment, torn between giving in and being stubborn. The lack of information gets her the most, the icing on the cake of this situation that is so far out of her control it's not even funny. "So why exactly did 'transit' occur anyway? If it's so dangerous??"

[zerolimits]

Hostage. This is what Zero thought he was as he awakened in the database. If he was able to at the time, he likely would've put up a fight against whoever trapped him in here. But being sealed inside of a sleep chamber tends to make even strong fighters rather defenseless.

He figured he would be kept here for some time, the people who put him here able to do what they pleased with his body. That is, until he heard the voice of the engineer. The voice said he could return to his body after answering some questions. Could he trust him? He didn't have much choice.

"Ask away. It's not like I'm in any position to object," he said after a moment of thought.

[crux_npcs]

"You can object all you like," comes the swift response. Unsaid is It just won't do any good.

Copied off of the datapad that's getting passed around, Zero gets the same questions as everyone else. "First: Are you aware of, or have you had contact with, the Rogue AIs of Bama? Second: What is your current legal status among your people? Third: Will you harm any humans upon being reinstalled into your proper body? Fourth: If reinstalled, will you comply with Fleet orders until you have completed the briefing?"

At least it's to the point.

[zerolimits]

The questions were simple enough. Answering them would be easy, Zero had no reason to lie.

"If they're rogue, then they'd likely be nothing but scrap if I did meet them." That's his job as a Hunter afterall.

"I am Zero, a Maverick Hunter in command of the Special 0 Unit. I am charged with defending the world from Maverick threats and protecting the innocent."

"I only fight those who are already a threat to others." The answer doesn't give promises he won't fight humans, but assures that he won't harm those who aren't a danger. He waits a moment to hear what the voice says before he answers the last question.

[tropenamer]

Starscream is furious. One moment he has everything and the next he has nothing but crushing blackness that only serves to irritate him more. He has a planet to run, a victory to celebrate, and a funeral to arrange. Not be contained in some sort of white out vacuum until whatever did this to him is satisfied.

The command doesn't placate him either, and his response is short and to the point.

"It's not like I've got a choice."

He needs to find out where he is, who's in charge, what he can do to make this work for him so he can return to his planet. But he's always been an opportunist and whatever this is will be no different. Not that he likes the idea of being forced to tell the truth but he can deal with that as well, however reluctantly.