ataraxion | o2 ☢ and all the fruits again would fill the garden

[ bruce does not much like posting on the network. mostly because it involves people looking at him, people not his team. but betty asked, and there's not a whole lot he won't do under that particular duress.

so he taps on a video feed, trying not to let how much this whole mess feels personal show on his face. ]

I know we're all tired and run down, but there have been some developments. Bet-- Dr. Ross and her colleagues have discovered some. [ he pauses, sighs. ] Some disturbing news. In the interest of full disclosure and transparency-- [ and isn't that politician double speak. he sighs, starts again. ] Sorry, habit. I'll try and speak plainly: none of this is reassuring, but we all at least deserve answers.

The creatures-- [ his mouth twists at that, but he doesn't stop speaking this time. ] appear to be a product of some kind of experimentation. Overwhelmingly-- by a margin of eighty percent-- their genetic makeup is simple, baseline human, but there's another twenty left that appears to be a cocktail of lion, dingo, and crocodile. Their organs were... largely human in appearance, with tweaks here and there. We can't tell you how or why just yet, but we can tell you they weren't doing well even before we got there. Based on the sample brought back by Mr. Clarke and his team, there was a high rate of malnutrition, as well as clear evidence of cannibalism. Whether that was by necessity or not, we can't say. What we can say is that they were most likely dying before we got there-- their cells were deteriorating, in what if I had to hazard a guess would be a side effect of whatever process made them into hybrids. There was also a shared high rate of some pretty nasty infected wounds, and I'd recommend anyone who was bitten or scratched and hasn't already done so should stop into Medbay and make sure they'll heal cleanly.

[ his back straightened during that little speech-- science is easy. now it's just bruce, and he takes off his glasses and cleans them on the front of his shirt, slumping a little again. ]

I wish I had more comforting answers, or even just complete ones. And to keep the hits coming, the computers in the newly cleared labs were wiped clean. We're looking into digging harder or establishing a timeline, but it's slow going. If anything new turns up, someone will make another announcement. Until then, it's hurry up and wait.

[ and as a slender hand reaches into frame to squeeze his shoulder, bruce cuts the feed. ]

t e x t | 95 % locked

What I'd like to know is when the data was wiped, personally. It would make a difference in approach.

[ understatement. ]

/ t e x t | 95 % locked

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It doesn't, no. I agree. But telling people 'the monster in the dark is real, and we think we maybe know something but we're not sure' has the same effect. It was a lesser of two evils choice.

[ He might not know much of science, but Aragorn understands well the stench of monsters and the panic of men. ]

'Tis of little comfort, that even in matters such as these there is no 'good' choice, only a lesser evil.

But aye, I understand your words well.

Unfortunately, right now our perfect choices are far and few between. I'll settle for no lying and no panic, but it's-- it's definitely settling.

[ bruce is coming to the uncomfortable realization that after years of thinking of the government-- and more specifically, of shield-- as a foreign enemy, he's now effectively part of shield's presence aboard. it's a sobering thought. ]

There are many warriors here, though most are beyond my time. Do you believe they panic easily?

I think that being a warrior doesn't preclude panic, necessarily-- and that we have non-warriors aboard, too.

[ he kind of means children. ]

[ Quietly: ]

'Tis perhaps a fault of commanders to underestimate the strength of his people.

There are different kinds of strength, and an ability to fight doesn't guarantee any of them.

[ on another man it would sound combative, but bruce just sounds-- mournful, nearly. resigned. he's been chased by some highly skilled warriors, but the bravest person he's ever met has never fought-- physically, seriously-- in her life. ]

Perhaps so, but what cause have you to judge that they cannot know truth, whatever form they might take?

[ It's not a challenge, but simply a question, gentle in tone. ]

I've seen panic take place. People-- they do ugly things, when they're afraid. En masse, at least. I stand by the choice to try and understand before revealing things.

[ he speaks quietly, but with conviction. and some sadness, because the scientist he was may have worked with the government, but he believed knowledge should be free. the man he is now understands that information, in the wrong hands, can be deadly. ]

Edited 2012-07-20 02:47 (UTC)

o2 ☢ and all the fruits again would fill the garden

voiced; someone needs to just steal all the ren faire's devices and set up locks

voice; they would be extremely grateful and offer their swords

FOREVER SUPER LOCK also what, no bows and axes?

FOREVER SUPER LOCK bows too I guess but dwarf isn't here

FOREVER SUPER LOCK well someone get on that who will we blame boating accidents on NOT THE ELF OFC

FOREVER SUPER LOCK but it's always the Elves' fault

FOREVER SUPER LOCK omg hdu, it is NEVER the elf. so says the elf.

FOREVER SUPER LOCK your opinion is invalid

FOREVER SUPER LOCK your face is invalid how bout them apples