savetheearth | ( one ) ( audio ) ( backdated to 03/15 )

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( one ) ( audio ) ( backdated to 03/15 )

[ Melati has been thinking very hard and very long about this, searching through the network posts and the associated FAQs until she believes she's got all of the relevant data down. (She closed Paul Ben's entry about two seconds before his death. That was all she needed, thank you.) She still isn't quite sure if she believes it all, but she's very sure that the facts point towards some sort of supernatural conspiracy, and anything unproven from there will simply have to be proven in time. Time that she's giving to the network really reluctantly, to be honest. She is completely unhappy about being associated with alleged terrorists, and would revoke her membership entirely on those grounds if the FAQ hadn't specifically stated that the bombings weren't the Network's fault. She doesn't quite trust it on the word of a bunch of strangers alone, but her perception of her last year in Locke have been completely flipped on its head, and she's going to need some time to adapt. She's decided to keep an open mind.

There is one matter that can't wait, though. She's sitting at a table in a private room of the university library, drumming her nails against the keys of her keyboard. She knows what she wants, and she's very determined to get it. ]

So. Robots. [ ... She is doing her best not to sound too interested, okay. ] The people who were piloting those giant robots are on this network, right? Would any of you happen to have detailed schematics for your machine? Could I convince any of you to let me borrow those schematics? [ ... ] I want to see the robots. That's what I'm getting at here. It's for my thesis, I just want to... The joints! [ She's getting aaagitated. And excited! ] How are they taking the stress? What kind of energy is being used here? Not even the most sophisticated of modern pneumatics can handle the strain those joints would taking, not at this level of gravity. I've done the math. Your robots are impossible, and I need to see them right away.

[ She takes a deep breath. Calm yourself, Narsurya! ]

So. Um. Haha. If I haven't scared you away, let's talk shop! I want to know as much as I can about the robots and other mechanical phenomena on the network. Thanks in advance for your time and trouble.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Show them to you how? By ripping them from the FBI's cold, dead hands?

Unless you're in the government, I don't think you're going to be looking at our robots too closely any time soon.

[A pause.]

I'm one of the pilots.

If necessary. [ After a very serious pause, she loosens up and laughs a little. ] I wish. Is that where they are? I was kind of hoping... well. Not for that, obviously.

I'm sorry that you lost your robot. I would be furious if I were you.

I don't know. I wasn't very attached to it. I was only inside it for an afternoon.

Mine, I don't know if you remember, was one of the weird, human looking ones. The government has them all on lockdown for now. I need special clearance to be able to pilot it. Until then, it's just chained up in some hanger, I guess.

Maybe if you feign having some sort of knowledge over them from your past life, they'll let you come see them.

[ Not very attached? Well... Not everyone can have her keen interest in applied and fluid mechanics, but not getting at least a little attached to a giant piece of architecture is a little boggling to Melati. Not even the urge to give it a pet name? Really? ]

I do remember, yes. And... Well, I don't think it'd be too hard to convince them. [ She has algorithms to systematically dismantle and reprogram aggressive, self-perpetuating AI stuck in her head, after all. She's sure there's more where that came from! ] I think I'd need to learn what I can from you guys to pull that off, though. I'd appreciate any help you'd be willing to give!

I have schematics for giant robots. Or, parts of one, anyway.

Perfect! [ COOL THOSE JETS GIRL! Don't sound cannibalistic. Remember. Casual. ]

May I see them? What are they for? Do you know?

They're for giant hands and a sword that can turn into a buzzsaw.

Edited (omg no he's not talking in courier) 2014-03-24 12:52 (UTC)

And they're viable? [ Hang on, she's getting a piece of paper and a pencil and writing this down. ] Do you have them on you, or is it something you're still waiting on?

I don't know about 'viable' but they definitely work. At least, the hands do. I haven't tried the buzzsaw yet.

I don't technically have them, not physically. I've got them all memorized.

Edited (i only answered HALF THE TAG, gj me) 2014-03-25 20:39 (UTC)

Memorized... huh. I can work with that. [ ... a buzz saw? ] Sorry, writing things down, did I miss you telling me if you remember what they might have been for?

Uh, smashing stuff? What else could giant robot hands be for?

Edited (he is not speaking in courier) 2014-04-04 06:03 (UTC)

I don't even know how to use it, and somehow I doubt I'll be getting any schematics anytime soon.

[Pause.]

Um, sorry my sister was being kind of rude to you, though...

Aw... Nothing at all? [ Sigh. ] Well, is it all right if I get back to you on this in a couple of months? Maybe you'll know something more by then!

And it's all right. I've heard worse! I'm a tough cookie, I can handle a little condescension.

Uh, yeah, you can try. I don't really see myself ever being very useful to this whole robot piloting thing in general, though...

She's like that with everyone. Especially if you live with her.

Don't say things like that! You'll never know unless the right opportunity comes along. Maybe the right one is just waiting for you.

Ah... [ ... So more of the same for him. ] Well... Like I said, I don't mind! I've seen some crazy attitudes out of other people, like I said. At least she's trying to help!

I guess.

Is curiosity the only reason you want to see that stuff?

Why are you so interested in... the robots?

[Not that he has any interest in robots of course, no that'd be silly.]

My thesis! [ She sounds very proud of herself. And excited. Oh, so very excited. ] I study robotics and design; it's been my passion for years. I'm even putting some together for my final project! Getting to look at machines at this kind of scale would be a dream come true. [ CHICKS DIG GIANT ROBOTS! ] This is some world-shattering stuff, and I want to keep on top of it!

Your thesis is about... robots. I thought that was just... Science fiction crap.

[Yeah, except you turn into a robot, genius, how does that figure, huh?]

Any of them... you know. Volunteer yet?

They're going to be keeping them at LCU for a while. You might be able to get in to study them if you're a teacher/grad student. Anyway, pilot here, don't remember any of the technical details. I think I was more a giant monster combat specialist.

... Well, I needed an excuse to avoid the job market anyway. [ Maybe she can pull a few strings... ] Thanks!

A combat specialist? Huh... [ Meaning that the design, however it was put together, was specifically specced for heavy duty combat. Meaning that they'd need some sturdy materials to hold up appreciably. Meaning that that is a lot of money for what was essentially something out of a cartoon. Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. ]

What was piloting it like? Can you describe how you interface with your machine, at least? Is it remotely controlled?

Nope. Sat right inside the thing. I don't know about the other guys but mine was more or less controlled mentally. Sit in the cockpit, think about walking, and it walks. I didn't understand most of the instruments, but the only hands-on part was the triggers I used to punch things. I assume punching's not brain-controlled because if I hit everyone I thought about hitting I'd be in prison for life by now.

[ Hey baby sister's friend. Long time no see. Debriefings really are the bane of his existence right now. ]

If you ask nicely, I might be able to pull a few strings over at the FBI for a little sister's friend.

[ Gerald! ]

... Please. Please. I swear I just want to see them! Are you guys running any tests on them? What are they capable of? I've been told that some of them are specifically built for combat. Do they look like it? [ You can probably hear her bouncing up and down at the idea. ]

Now, I can't make too many promises, just in case it ends up costing me my job or something. [ which he doubts at this point, but hey, you can never be too careful when it comes to the regulations. ] I can tell you that they definitely look like... well... giant robots that can fight things.

Anything else might fall under the whole line of "strictly classified".

[ After all, Gerald loves his rules. ]

[ oh, he recognizes this voice. it's the girl with the shotgun and the scarf. ]

you're really into this stuff, aren't you?

[ Hey, it's the giant guy with the gianter spike throwing shotgun! Another thing she really needs to take apart at some point. ]

No, not at all. I haven't spent the past three years inhaling this stuff and the past three semesters welding components together to make giant machines that could only do maybe a tiny fraction of what the machines I saw a couple of weeks ago can. [ ... ] I'm really excited about this, I don't even know where to start.

[ sure, whatever, he'll chat out loud, too. like talking on the phone, right? ]

Yeah, yeah, I gotcha. [ he isn't sure if excited is the right word for it but her enthusiasm's catchy ] So all'a this robot business makes sense to you? Good it does for one of us.

[ hm, they all sort of... what, recognized each other? they'd made such a strange assortment. even weirder than just him and varric on their own. ]

So hey, d'you got one of those wristband things? The, uh... omni tool?

Thesis? Which year are you from?

[ ??? ]

My... fourth? This is my last semester. Who is this? Why did this need to be private?

[ He can fathom a guess who she is since there aren't many students who are this fascinated with giant robots in the faculty. ]

I'm one of the pilot and I don't need people to know where to find me. You can forget about including about the robots. We don't have any schematics to offer.

You must be a pretty serious student if you're thinking about your thesis at a time like this.

I don't think we've spoken before...?

Workaholic wouldn't be too strong of a word, I think. Besides, this is groundbreaking technology! I want to study it for myself as soon as I can.

Nope! I've only had access to this network for a few days, I think. What about you?

Since November. So a few months now.

Do you have a name you prefer to use over this network? Many separate their online and in-person identities, just like one would ordinarily on the internet.

I don't even think all the systems for mine are online right now, nevermind having the schematics! If I can help you though, I will. If you can prove you have numbers, and go to LCU, maybe...

Remember your voice from encounter with snake statues. Good to see you're alright.

Want to know something: remember space vessel called Normandy?

You actually want to see those things in person. up close.

[...there's no mistaking that voice, or the topic of conversation, for anyone else. Despite himself, Benjamin is chuckling when he responds.]

I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise to hear you asking about the robots on here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( one ) ( audio ) ( backdated to 03/15 )

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