Daycycle 13 [ DEC 26-31 ]

[computerized]

DAYCYCLE 13

[ DEC 26 - 31 ]

[OOC: This Daycycle will run for six ooc days instead of the usual 5 ooc days from Dec 26-31. ]

MORNING

Troubleshooter Team: Alec Hardison & Jason Wilcox

Mission:  There is an INDIGO corridor in R&D that we want you to inspect.  We’ll give you 5000cr each at the end of your mission just for walking from one end to the other.  Here are vouchers to let you walk through it legally.  Make sure you wear these telemetry suits when you go through it.  

All other Troubleshooters:  You are to report to your Service Firm positions for the day, until called on for Troubleshooter duty.

Intel:  The Humanists staged an attack last night and left many citizens temporarily blinded by pepper spray.  There is a 1000cr reward for any participants being handed over for punishment.

A special was attacked yesterday by an anti-Specials group.  Steve Rogers has asked to address all Troubleshooters in regards to this incident.

AFTERNOON

The afternoon is mostly uneventful.  Save for a Vulture pilot who crashes his copter into the Armed Forces mess hall at approximately 1423.  What is initially thought of as a treasonous act is quickly determined to be a Happitime overdose and is hushed up by the highers ups.

EVENING

The evening is launched with a very special and mandatory showing of the Teela O’Malley show.  The show begins by describing the state that humanity was in when The Computer took control.  People were a slave to their whims.  Alpha Complex is held up as a paragon of innovation and cooperation among people and technology.  In fact, many REDs watching the show may not recognize the Utopian society being depicted as anything close to the society they find themselves in.  It ends with a touching montage of citizens swearing their allegiance and thanks to The Computer that brings the legendary host to tears.  

Sleep aid gas is expelled at 2100.

Comments

[avemachina]

She's not often shocked, but Root's eyebrows shoot up in tandem with the corners of her mouth. This is just too good to be true. He's got to be playing the system because nobody actually talks like that.

"Right. Of course." Her lips purse as she follow his somber tone with just a sliver of mocking on the side. Since she cannot fathom this conversation as real, Root figures she'll push a little further. "I guess we're the lucky ones to have someone like you. Someone who'll stand up in a crowd and take a spitball or two for the team."

[a_man_out_of_time]

The Captain shakes his head, even if Tony can't see it. "I'm not like the rest of you. Even without the serum, I've still been trained to fight. And I'm ready to make the sacrifice when it comes down to it."

Not that he planned on dying on their next mission. The tone of his voice makes that much clear. But Steve did agree with Tony on one thing. He may have painted a target on his back, but if Alpha kept promoting him, he would become a much more dangerous Special to victimize.

"Who do you have in mind Tony?" There's a hint of aggression and frustration than Steve doesn't fully intend, but unless there's a good alternative, he's still dead set on being the bait.

[whosalicewhite]

This one's a fool. He's an observant fool, which makes him a danger.

And now he's suggesting medicating her?

What would Sophie say? Sophie would talk him down from this. Parker's a terrible talker.

"Come with me." Sophie's always told Parker she's pretty, so maybe that would work?

[notasoldier]

"They're bullies. They're going to go after the weakest of us." Tony's buying time, if only because he knows Steve's not going to like his answer. It's the only one that makes sense, though. "The kid makes the most sense. Grayson. He's the youngest, the smallest and the most vulnerable."

He's quick to go on, not allowing Steve time to interrupt. "We'll be there to protect him. Nothing will happen."

[a_man_out_of_time]

When Root mentions the word 'lucky,' the Cap gives her an uncertain look — like he doesn't agree, but doesn't know what to say in response either. Like he can't quite figure her out.

But a soft smile is already returning to his face.

"Trust me m'am, I've taken worse then a few spitballs." Someone is trying to move past them so Steve makes way and then steps back to where he was before. "Have you ever ... lived through a war?"

[a_man_out_of_time]

"Dick Grayson." The name tumbles out faster than expected, giving away the fact that Steve cares about this particular young man.

He hadn't even considered Dick.

He also doesn't object, at least not right away. The kid had training similar to his own, Steve knew that from personal experience. But putting a minor in harm's way would never sit well with Captain America.

Before he does have a chance to respond, another Orange Troubleshooter plots his tray down across from Steve. Their conversation would be over for now.

[ ooc: I know the ending is a bit abrupt, so I can edit if you don't like it. But I do like the idea that they couldn't finish talking about it, and then they finally do in their other thread together post-Bucky! ]

[avemachina]

Is it possible for someone to ask a loaded question and not even realize it? Root smirks, tilts her head to the side for a nod that says you betcha.

"Not with enlisted soldiers, but-- yeah. You could say that." She fidgets, cool demeanor dropping for a moment in an effort to push away the fact that there's no tone in her ear to tell her what to do. No objective to trust. "It might not have been good, but it was necessary. I wonder if that's going to the be case here very soon."

[shrinkage]

"Uhh. OK. Where are we going?" He's also trusting. An observant, trusting fool. He starts to get out of his seat, and has to nearly climb over a cluster of regulars who don't seem particularly interested in letting him by easily.

There are a lot of excuse me-pardon me's. It's all very awkward.

[whosalicewhite]

Parker says nothing, but watches the awkwardness with amusement. Her own extrication from her seat is easy, and without having to speak, or touch, anyone.

An observant fool who can't make a simple, quiet exit.

She slips out of the room, leans against a wall, arms crossed, and waits.

[shrinkage]

He thumps and bumps, he's the anti-stealth man. Even without a metal suit, Ray is too big and too friendly not to make inordinate amounts of noise as he goes. It's surely never hard to find him, and never hard to get away.

"Hello? Scary blonde woman?" His head pokes out first, and the hall fills with the rest of him shortly after, muttering to himself about how he shouldn't be following people who still use spitballs as protest. When he spots her, he tries smiling again and heads right for her.

"Hey, I wasn't trying to, you know, make a scene or anything. I just thought maybe you needed someone to talk to?" Though as he nears Parker now, he doesn't sound all that convinced.

[whosalicewhite]

Parker can't help but bark a laugh. Scary blond woman? There's only one response to that, "That's the best you can come up with?"

If he wasn't so observant, he would be a fun play toy.

The laugh is like the cheese of a mousetrap. Not that Parker's planned it, but she springs just about as quickly as a mousetrap. For all her skinny waifishness, when she looks threatening, she is threatening.

"You tell anyone, I'll know."

[shrinkage]

"I'm not going to tell anyone." Is she new? Why does Ray feel like he's never noticed this woman before? He likes to pride himself in knowing the Specials on sight, have at least some idea of their names.

This woman is some kind of ghost, though.

"I just don't think a fellow Special should discount the authority of their own kind. Steve's helping us as a group. I think that deserves a little respect."

[whosalicewhite]

Being a ghost is Parker's job. It also helps that when off-duty, she wanders about in Infrared clothes.

"You don't want me to know you've talked. The spitballs are fun." He wouldn't like her when she's angry.

More importantly, "He is not my kind." She also believes Steve's working for forces as yet unknown, so having stuck to spitballs is Parker showing restraint.

"Neither are you." She doesn't much care what happens to those who are not her kind.

[shrinkage]

He's almost too flabbergasted to speak. Almost. He's certainly too flabbergasted to be as quiet as he should be, considering what he says:

"What are you talking about? You're like the rest of us-- you have memories of your real life. Memories a crazy Computer wants you to believe are glitches. Don't tell me you bought into that."

[a_man_out_of_time]

"I wonder the same," he answers, studying her and making sure to remember what she's just said. War is never easy, on anyone. "But I'd like to stop a terrorist group from growing, if possible. Most of the people here might not like us, but they don't agree with kidnapping and beatings either."

Little did Steve know, in a few days time, anti-Specials supporters and anti-anti-Specials supporters would duking it out in the mess hall. Even if it was more verbal than physical.

But given Root's interest, he had a different question for her as well. "Ma'am if I may ask, what was your occupation before ... yesterday?"

[avemachina]

"I worked with computer systems." A broad answer that includes hacking into those systems to get, well, pretty much whatever she wanted. Including work.

It helps her confidence come back a little, though. She smirks and meets Steve's eyes again, new conversation in mind.

"Why? Need some pointers?"

[a_man_out_of_time]

"With computers?" Root would be able to see laugh before it comes out of him. "I'm afraid the answer is yes. I seem to always need pointers when it comes to computers."

World War II. Soldier. He hasn't told her his full story, but the time period makes sense. Computers were just starting out — and usually only limited access.

"So far I've been relying on a man in my unit. Though-" The Cap looks around, just to check that his unit isn't within earshot. He's a little embarrassed. "-I'd like to not wear out my welcome, if possible."

Yeah. The guy with the big speech? Technology is not his thing.

[avemachina]

"Understandable." Root's played at advisor before, at least. It's not like she's got much in the way of a network (other than the built-in connections among the Specials). Helping the most decorated Special could be beneficial in the long run.

"Is there anything specific you're having trouble with?"

[whosalicewhite]

"I never believe anything I'm told." That's not true, but he doesn't need to know she can be rather gullible at times.

"I don't believe the computer, and I don't believe someone can move up so quickly without helping the computer."

What's that? A clear and concise answer? Really?

Wait, what might that be? A sharp object pressed into his side?

Yup.

[shrinkage]

Hey, look. She's coming toward him. Maybe they'll shake hands and agree to disagree or she wants to talk it out or--

Oh.

"Ah! What--" Ray's hand goes to his side, pressing against the small patch of wet red blooming there. "What are you doing?!"

And yet he's still not self-preserving enough to call for help or run away. But golly gee does this thing ever hurt. A tone sounds from speakers they can't see, the disembodied voice echoing:

"ＶＩＯＬＡＴＩＯＮ ＯＦ [_{ＨＹＧＩＥＮＥ ＳＴＡＮＤＡＲＤＳ}] ＤＥＴＥＣＴＥＤ. ＣＩＴＩＺＥＮ [_{ＲＡＹＭＯＮＤ ＰＡＬＭＥＲ}], ＴＨＩＳ ＩＳ ＹＯＵＲ [_{ＳＥＣＯＮＤ}] ＶＩＯＬＡＴＩＯＮ. ＹＯＵ ＮＯＷ ＨＡＶＥ [_ＴＷＯ] ＡＣＴＩＶＥ ＷＡＲＮＩＮＧＳ ＦＯＲ [_{ＨＹＧＩＥＮＥ ＶＩＯＬＡＴＩＯＮ}] ＡＮＤ [_ＯＮＥ] ＡＣＴＩＶＥ ＷＡＲＮＩＮＧＳ ＦＯＲ [_{ＲＥＳＯＵＲＣＥ ＷＡＳＴＥＦＵＬＮＥＳＳ}] ＲＥＣＯＲＤＥＤ."

[a_man_out_of_time]

There's a rueful smile and lowered voice as he says his next sentence: "Right now, only with the one Computer worth thinking about."

But they can't have that traitorous talk in the Commissary.

"Though, I'm grateful ma'am, that you're willing to lend your help. When I do come across the next technology I don't understand, who exactly should I be looking for?" All this time talking, and he still doesn't know her name.

[avemachina]

She nods knowingly, and yes OK there's a tinge of mocking to it; but Root can't exactly blame the boy scout for being infallibly earnest. The Computer is certainly a major concern, though Root's perspective on that differs from most.

"Call me Root." Which is noticeably different from what the Computer wants to call her, but if Steve uses the secure network, he'll find her under this name.

"And I'm sure you can find me among the other REDs. You know your way around the slums, right?" Her smile intact, the tongue-in-cheek joke hopefully lands. Of course, anyone who talks with Root experiences her lilting voice: speaking innocent words but managing to make her tone anything but. Many have found disappointment upon realizing that the tone was an empty promise, a lure in the water.

For Steve, however, it's a social query: RETURN reaction FROM boy scout WHERE INPUT = light flirtation.

your sql <3333 I actually LOL'd

[a_man_out_of_time]

Her name was unique, to say the least. The Cap's first thought was that it must be a code name — like Hawkeye, or Black Widow.

But when Root calls RED housing slums, and in that special tone of voice, a small, wary grin forms on Steve's face. He might not understand that she's flirting (because Steve is as dense as a someone could possibly be in that area), but he can tell that she's teasing. So he adjusts his own tone as well, as his smile gets wider.

"You mean the floors I lived in three days ago? Yes ma'am, I think I know my way around."

[whosalicewhite]

What a stupid question. She is stabbing him. What else could he possibly think she is doing, for --

Loud disembodied voices out of loudspeakers are always a bad sign. It means authorities. It means someone has seen something she doesn't want them to see. It means that rather than make him hurt more, her weapon of choice is slipping back into her pocket.

It means she's going to make one thing clear: "You're on your own. I was never here."

[shrinkage]

"You're just going to leave?"

Ray's voice pitches higher, as his shoulders slump lower. The ouch is still plenty but his incredulity at the situation outweighs it.

"You stabbed me!"