Gorthan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shakespearealien) wrote2012-07-11 08:39 pm
shakespearealien) wrote2012-07-11 08:39 pm
XII. [Rocket-only Video + Action for Goldenrod City.]
[Video.]
[This time, Gorthan's Video feed is 100% free from Rotom interference!
Except, wait. What is that small-orange top-like thing in the bottom right corner of the screen, occasionally moving and and spinning on itself like a top and overall closely resembling the brightly colored moving logo of a kids' TV channel?
... Oh. It's a Rotom. Make that... 90% free, maybe?
So Test Subject #3 the Rotom - you can thank GLaDOS for the creative nickname - is still very much inside Gorthan's PokéGear, except it has figured out a way to be simultaneously less invasive and more annoying, if you can believe that. Gorthan himself has learned not to mind - after all, this reminds him of home, in a way. Artificial intelligences are all pretty smart on Evron, often interacting with Evronians as if they were living beings themselves. So, a living being inside a machine? Not a big deal.
Anyway, as for what the video shows... Nothing of interest can be seen for now except for a wall and a few uninteresting pieces of typical lab furniture. Then why-]
- I SAID. NOT. THE CHILD.
- Aaagh!
[The cam jitters for a moment as Rotom makes the Gear spin on itself so the cam can show where all the commotion is coming from. The order, given in a loud, cold voice, and the pained scream.
There's Gorthan, with his arms spread a little at his sides and his brow furrowed in anger. ... Speaking of his brow, his forehead markings seem to be glowing, a mild silvery light.
And there's a poor NPC Rocket scientist, on his knees on the ground, both arms clutching his head, and pleading.]
- Make it stop! Make it stop, Doctor Gorthan, please!
[Gorthan stares down at the poor scientist for a few more moments. Then, lifting his head slightly, he closes his eyes and takes a slow, deep breath. The glowing lights on his forehead progressively dim down until they disappear completely. He then takes a slow, solemn step towards the man he was psychically hurting a moment before.]
- The child is a delicate case. I will take care of her myself. You stay out of it.
- Y-yes, sir...
[And at that, Rotom resizes itself to cover the whole screen and winks, grinning mischievously at the viewer, before cutting the feed out.]
[Action for Goldenrod City (both Rocket and non-Rocket).]
[This is perfectly normal for Gorthan, you see. An important, large-scale power enhancement experiment means that Gorthan is going to be a part of it. In many ways. By lending his thorough knowledge of biology and genetics to the researchers in question, and... by being one of the Guinea pigs.
Physically, he hasn't changed much. There's his forehead markings, however - they seem... shinier somehow, and somewhat larger and more in relief, as if they were jewels. And they glow when he's using his powers. Said powers being the ability to cause splitting migraines with Confusion and to quickly put people to sleep with Hypnosis. He's managed a Psybeam, too, once or twice, but that seems to require a certain amount of effort. He wants to be working on psychic barriers, hoping he can manage a Reflect or Light Screen.
As he experiments with his new self, he will be easily found either at the Rocket labs or strolling around Goldenrod. The latter in spite of the fact that Bug Pokémon, ever-so-common in summer, are something he really, really detests right now. Silly side-effect. Whenever he finds a group of trainers bragging about the recent Bug-Catching Contest... well, he changes his course or otherwise gets the hell away from there. The buzzing of those wings, the idea that they may sting or bite at any time... it's just unbearable.
And then there's the whole childish can't-sleep-with-the-lights-out thing. "Fear of the dark! I have a constant fear that's something's always near"... you know the deal.
Silly, silly side effect...]
[This time, Gorthan's Video feed is 100% free from Rotom interference!
Except, wait. What is that small-orange top-like thing in the bottom right corner of the screen, occasionally moving and and spinning on itself like a top and overall closely resembling the brightly colored moving logo of a kids' TV channel?
... Oh. It's a Rotom. Make that... 90% free, maybe?
So Test Subject #3 the Rotom - you can thank GLaDOS for the creative nickname - is still very much inside Gorthan's PokéGear, except it has figured out a way to be simultaneously less invasive and more annoying, if you can believe that. Gorthan himself has learned not to mind - after all, this reminds him of home, in a way. Artificial intelligences are all pretty smart on Evron, often interacting with Evronians as if they were living beings themselves. So, a living being inside a machine? Not a big deal.
Anyway, as for what the video shows... Nothing of interest can be seen for now except for a wall and a few uninteresting pieces of typical lab furniture. Then why-]
- I SAID. NOT. THE CHILD.
- Aaagh!
[The cam jitters for a moment as Rotom makes the Gear spin on itself so the cam can show where all the commotion is coming from. The order, given in a loud, cold voice, and the pained scream.
There's Gorthan, with his arms spread a little at his sides and his brow furrowed in anger. ... Speaking of his brow, his forehead markings seem to be glowing, a mild silvery light.
And there's a poor NPC Rocket scientist, on his knees on the ground, both arms clutching his head, and pleading.]
- Make it stop! Make it stop, Doctor Gorthan, please!
[Gorthan stares down at the poor scientist for a few more moments. Then, lifting his head slightly, he closes his eyes and takes a slow, deep breath. The glowing lights on his forehead progressively dim down until they disappear completely. He then takes a slow, solemn step towards the man he was psychically hurting a moment before.]
- The child is a delicate case. I will take care of her myself. You stay out of it.
- Y-yes, sir...
[And at that, Rotom resizes itself to cover the whole screen and winks, grinning mischievously at the viewer, before cutting the feed out.]
[Action for Goldenrod City (both Rocket and non-Rocket).]
[This is perfectly normal for Gorthan, you see. An important, large-scale power enhancement experiment means that Gorthan is going to be a part of it. In many ways. By lending his thorough knowledge of biology and genetics to the researchers in question, and... by being one of the Guinea pigs.
Physically, he hasn't changed much. There's his forehead markings, however - they seem... shinier somehow, and somewhat larger and more in relief, as if they were jewels. And they glow when he's using his powers. Said powers being the ability to cause splitting migraines with Confusion and to quickly put people to sleep with Hypnosis. He's managed a Psybeam, too, once or twice, but that seems to require a certain amount of effort. He wants to be working on psychic barriers, hoping he can manage a Reflect or Light Screen.
As he experiments with his new self, he will be easily found either at the Rocket labs or strolling around Goldenrod. The latter in spite of the fact that Bug Pokémon, ever-so-common in summer, are something he really, really detests right now. Silly side-effect. Whenever he finds a group of trainers bragging about the recent Bug-Catching Contest... well, he changes his course or otherwise gets the hell away from there. The buzzing of those wings, the idea that they may sting or bite at any time... it's just unbearable.
And then there's the whole childish can't-sleep-with-the-lights-out thing. "Fear of the dark! I have a constant fear that's something's always near"... you know the deal.
Silly, silly side effect...]
[Action.]
[Well, hey, at least he's honest about it.]
Daedalus was a genius, a professional mastersmith who gave his own son wings to seek escape via the skies above. It is not beyond your reckoning to know what became of Icarus...but, very well. I will trust your judgment. Understand, however, that it will ultimately do little to completely relieve my concerns until you have done such. Even the safest experiment can quickly turn to disaster.
[That said, he produces some forms for the male.]
These are the findings so far. I've discovered various wavelengths produced by psychics, however a base-line wave is becoming apparent. If I can give these findings to Dist it might be possible to fully isolate the basic energy wavelength for psychic power, then we can begin to create a synthetic wavelength generator.
[Action.]
... Hm. What an apt metaphor you found. Kudos.
[He smiles a... actually very nice and warm smile, intended to reassure Agnus.
Now, to work.]
Yes, and I am sorry I was not paying attention. Your concerns had to be addressed first. Now, let's see... a base line wave? How interesting...
[He takes the papers in his hands and begins examining them. He... seems to be a surprisingly fast reader.]
I see. I have worked with this before - some of these frequencies are what we call ultra-REM impulses in my world. I'm perfectly able to produce or replicate synthetic, organic, or syntho-organic systems able to manipulate them.
I can help you, and I will, I promise you. Just keep in mind that Dist and myself have another major project to tend to right now.
Re: [Action.]
[He wasn't aware of that, actually. Man...the labs are a veritable web of scientific manage e trois.]
And what a tangled web this strange little scientific community weaves, indeed. Ever more, we're no strangers to deception. But, alas, it must be something very discrete for you to be so busy and share so little of it.
[...Yep, jealousy. Someone doesn't like his brainy best friend being shared around, lab leader or no. Also some...depression? Isolation? Well, Gorthan, you seem to be able to rouse a veritable cocktail of emotions from our fair alchemist. Good show.]
At any rate, it's of little consequence. I will continue along until I can finish the baseline projections. Since you're working with Dist currently, could you pass these papers on and explain your findings to him as well? I would like his assistance in producing the machines once we have a working design in order.
[Action.]
Agnus, you... you haven't heard, have you. About the mutations. That is what Dist and I have been working on, and you are welcome to join us, if you believe you have enough time. A man of your genius should not be kept in the dark about a project of this magnitude, and if that is what actually happened, then you have my sincerest apologies.
And our labs aren't that big - if there's something you want to discuss with Dist, you can do so yourself. You know him better than I do, anyway.
[Because you know what? As much as Gorthan would like their crazy and heterogeneous group to stay close together, that jealousy you speak of? It's actually kind of mutual. As in, Gorthan wouldn't mind some more quality time alone with Agnus himself.]
[Action.]
[And so it clicks! Why on earth Gorthan would mutate himself with unstable radioactive compounds, why Dist and Gorthan would be involved in something secretive, and why everything around the world right now seemed to be slowly going mad.]
Oh, Gorthan, my apologies. I've...I've been working so much on this lately that I had only glanced over the announcement in passing.
[Even a basic empath can tell he feels like five kinds of an ass right now. Well, best to fix the situation and accept the amicable arrangements in one go.]
R-right, are you on your way back then? If so I'd be happy to f-f-f-f...follow along.
[Oh, hell. He hadn't done this in a while. In fact, it's kind of strange now that he's had so much time to himself and been so busy working that he notices how...prominent it is. That stutter. Huh.]
Pardon.
[A breath, he takes a moment to calm his mind and focus his thoughts to beat the little quirk back down into submission.]
I think I still have the memo, but...well, you've seen my office. I keep so many notes around that papers I don't place specifically where they'll be seen do just...well, vanish.
[Someone should really just get him a digital document reader. The amount of paper he uses to write things down would probably decrease sharply if he were taught to use a PDA or something.]
[Action.]
... Ah, not again. One deep breath won't do, you know - keep at it for a while.
[Agnus' stutter... Gorthan moves to stand behind him and place his hands on his friend's huge shoulders, beginning to knead slightly. Yes, yes, you're getting a backrub, you. Now stop being jealous.]
I was on my way back to the lab. But I think a better idea would be to tidy up your office together. Again, I may add. How does that sound, lamb, dearest?
[... There's a particular encounter Gorthan's had on the network recently that's making him want to experiment with pet names.]
[Action.]
[He's still breathing. Just focus on...Gorthan's hands?
He flinches slightly, unsure of the why or how...but eventually just calms back down to breathe.]
...Ah, yes... I suppose. The latest data from today's experiments does need to be organized and filed. I'll just need to order more stationary.
[For the third time this quarter.]
[Action.]
[Once he sees that Agnus has calmed down and is breathing properly, he finalizes the massage, fingers sliding and brushing along Agnus' back in swifter motions. Then he moves to stand at Agnus' side and offers him an open hand.
He has never been one for touch, or physical contact, but... Right now, more than ever, he feels he has a friend in Agnus... and it's truly beautiful, this having friends thing.
... Ah, wait.]
There are no insects in your room, are there?
[Action.]
[While he somewhat understands the nature of that question, it still leaves him looking at Gorthan in confusion for a few moments.]
Are you...certain you're in control of yourself, Gorthan?
[Action.]
[More like it instinctively scares him, but that's not something he want Agnus to know.]
Let's go now, lamb. There is work to be done.