003 // VIDEO

[signatures]

[ The video feed starts off with Eames attempting to focus the camera on one of the rooms without any assigned occupants. On the door is the same mask attached as everywhere else that doesn't have a more customized ones. He's trying to nudge his free hand under the chin of it to pry the mask off, but it's not much of a fruitful attempt, considering. ]

Someone must have access to Engineering's superglue. [ Giving up, he steps back, panning the camera past Brendan and down the hall where similar masks adorn many of the doors on the fourth floor. ] And been very, very bored. Did anyone else manage to get a close look at the manticores a few months back? [ The camera returns to the mask where Eames follows one of the gouges along what would be the eyes. ] Bit of a cruel joke, isn't it?

Knowing this ship? [ Brendan's speaking up from his spot on the floor--crouching, hands clasped by his wrists, staring intently. Anyone who's seen him around knows it's his default any time he's thinking, and after a small pause he speaks again. ]

Any cat wandering the halls during the blue goo showdown that lasted enough to get to those things can see the similarity, no matter the burg you're from. [ and his head jerks up ever-so-slightly, making eye contact with Eames. ] Didn't someone say they were human, once?

That would have been SCI through DNA sequencing, yeah. Well, that's great - a very pointed craft project, Tranquility, thank you. [ The camera swings downward toward their feet and Brendan's knee in his crouching position as he drops his hand, but just before the feed ends Eames muses: ] I think I much preferred the maze...

Comments

voice;

[cargojet]

I take just two hours off to catch up on my sleep, and you lot just can't help yourselves, can you?

voice;

[signatures]

I'd apologise, but I'm not entirely sure what it'd be for.

Though I'd suggest your sleeping be timed in hour and a half multiples if you want it to be restful. Three rather than two, et cetera.

voice;

[cargojet]

The other half hour was to get somewhere comfortable with the power out.

And you'd be apologising for fate or destiny or whatever it is, so don't bother. Sod's law.

voice;

[signatures]

Good on you, then.

I don't really believe in either. But I don't suppose we've had any activity ping up on communication radars in the time it would require to get all these up?

[ Not that he's all that optimistic when it comes to clues being handed to them. ]

voice; -> Comms Encryption

[cargojet]

Ask me again when I get back to Comms. [ Seriously Tranquility he is tired.

There's another moment where he decides the rest of this conversation should be under an encryption, no matter how slow he is waking up, and then Nathan has the encryptions up. More Comms hiding stuff, joy joy. ] Is it on every deck?

voice; Comms Encryption

[signatures]

I will.

[ He waits for Nathan's encryption to set before replying; it doesn't take very long. ]

That I've seen. I've not gone up past fourth - but I can if you need confirmation.

voice; Comms Encryption

[cargojet]

Nah, we'll let security do the leg work. Kirk said they were seeing if things were clear before they let anyone go back to their rooms, and someone will report on that sooner or later. We'll work for now on the assumption it's every floor.

Besides being generally menacing, they're not doing anything else, right?

text;

[puppydogeyes]

What the fuck are you doing?

text;

[signatures]

is this another one of those moments where you ask a question you already know the answer to and just want confirmation of perceived idiocy

text;

[puppydogeyes]

Not fucking perceived.
Actual.
Find a new unexplained creepy as fuck thing on the fucked up spaceship.
Immediately try touching it.
What the fuck.
+ you should be in comms or the gardens.

text;

[signatures]

well if it wasn't me touching it it was going to be one of you touching it

and then you or tommy would probably punch it and then were would we be ? I'm the one with nimble fingers.

Do you miss me is that what this is really about ?

text;

[puppydogeyes]

Fuck you.
We're SEC.
Checking for threats to keep non-SEC safe is our job.

text;

[signatures]

I'm saving you the trouble I guess

you could say thank you instead

voice;

[handelaar]

No, I didn't.

[Manage to get a look at the manticores, he means. But words are hard.]

voice;

[signatures]

Which part, Netherlands?

voice;

[handelaar]

Mm. Manticores.

voice;

[signatures]

Oh, well - their eyes were gouged out. A bit similar to this style, here - on the masks.

[ There's a bit of a thoughtful pause. ] I believe it was theorised to be due to starvation.

voice;

[handelaar]

[Flatly:] 'Cause their eyes were gouged out.

Think they'd eat each other, first.

voice;

[signatures]

I think their general wrecked appearance was due to trying to eat one another.

action;

[dirtyword]

So they're here. [ A small, minute shrug from the floor and Brendan looks up at Eames. ]

Question is, why. Masks turn you into one?

action;

[signatures]

They'd be easier to get off the doors if that was the purpose of them, don't you think?

[ Still, a theory's a theory, Eames focusing on the mask itself, ignoring the pooling coldness at the pit of his stomach. ]

action;

[dirtyword]

[ Brendan himself shrugs. He's not the type to think out loud, he finds it distracts more than helps. So there's a small gap of silence in between Eames' thoughts and Brendan's words. ]

Whatever they are, I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole. Doesn't seem right, having them all appear. Ones that aren't customized lookin' like the things in the labs isn't all that reassuring, either.

action;

[signatures]

I'll let you know if I suddenly come down with the chills and desire to get rid of my eyes.

[ He finally forces himself to look away from the mask, though, walking past Brendan as he starts down the hall. ] Does that mean you're not going to bother with an eleven foot one?

action;

[dirtyword]

Huh? [ Brendan glances upwards, confused for a brief moment before it registers that Eames is joking. Certainly not like the crazy conspiracy theorist he looked after, sure, but for some reason Brendan didn't think of Eames as the joking type. Apparently, he was mistaken. ]

Never thought you were a bullshitter, Eames.

action;

[signatures]

Apparently there's a lot left for you to learn, beyond how to slip into my pockets.

[ Still, it's not like Brendan met him during his best moments. ] It helps lighten the mood when we're all in constant lurking danger.