ataraxion | 15 | video | go back to sleep

[ Once again, Carolyn is in front of the only known windows on the ship, aka the ones in the shuttle bay. Once again, she gets a good shot of all the stars and general blackness before turning the camera to her face. And once again, Carolyn looks downright exhausted. ]

You're in space. If you're new to the Tranquility, my name is Carolyn Fry. I work down in the shuttle bay and if you're interested in helping out down here [ and judging by the tone of her voice, you should be ] come talk to me. No previous experience necessary, though if you're going to be an idiot, you're not allowed. No trying to hijack one either; [ Mass Effect cast ] there's not enough fuel to get back to wherever you came from [ which probably isn't even in this universe, morons ] and Casey has no problems breaking your neck.

[ Shortest flight crew ad ever, for real. ]

If you're new to the Tranquility or space travel, I hold classes. The previous lessons have been recorded so that you can watch them. If anyone has any questions or suggestions for future classes, I'm all ears.

[ Look! A handy link! ]

As I'm sure you've all noticed, the memories from the previous jump have decided to change. Judging by what I saw, they're from the previous crew. [ A pause. ] If anyone's face doesn't look... right, like it has oil underneath it, it might be a good idea to secure them before they apparently try to eat you or rip you apart with their talon-hands. And if anyone has hallucinations, it's probably not a good idea to go dropping your weapon and following them. If we're lucky, these memories will stay memories, but I don't recall our luck here ever being anything but bad.

[ There's a pause and Carolyn rubs her face. Suddenly, this post takes a turn for the awkward. ]

Also, someone left some tools outside of my door? Uh, thanks. I think.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well... he's from Alexandria, ma'am. They augment on the inner planets.

You're going to have to explain that.

[ She's fairly certain she knows what it means, but she would like to be 100% certain. ]

Helps folk out, I guess— gives nature a boost, that kinda thing. Brains, looks, longer life... always seemed a little like stacking a deck to me, but that's just how we see it back home.

[ which is the polite way of saying UGH, FUCKING RICH PEOPLE THEY ARE LITERALLY FAKE AND WE DON'T STAND FOR THOSE SHENANIGANS WHERE I'M FROM

basically. ]

Genetically? With nanites? A combination? Something else?

Couldn't tell you the process, ma'am, but the big stuff's done before birth. Designer babies or something like that.

[ again with the veiled distaste because ugh, no rich people ]

So someone like Gallagher could have been given enhancements to be a better leader, a better public speaker. A soldier could have been born stronger and faster.

[ Don't worry, that distaste is echoed. ]

Do they go wrong?

That's about the shape and size of it, yes'm.

...well, folks back home'd say 'go' isn't so much a question, got all kinds of opinions on messing around with God's plan and such. Never had a baby come out with a third eye or sixth toe far as I know, if that's what you're asking.

[ a beat. ] If I can be plain about it? Risks ain't so much the issue as feeling like it's getting a leg up without earning it.

You can always be plain about it. [ Her tone is softer when she says that; she does mean it. It's not like she's going to turn Joe in for speaking his mind. ]

So theoretically, they could breed an army that was stronger, faster, smarter, harder to kill -- but only wanted to follow their orders.

My momma liked to tell us growing up nobody could hang you for words you didn't say.

[ it's half-apologetic; he's taciturn, goddammit. and mannerly. some things you just don't say. ]

Theoretically, ma'am? I woke up on a ship I would've sworn had been taken by pirates and stripped for parts, full up with folks from a world gone so long they all should've been dead and buried least fifteen times over now. Theoretically I'd say there isn't much they couldn't do.

There are many people here who would consider it withholding information, and they'd kill you for that.

[ she's js. ]

Great. [ lol no it's not ]

Ma'am, no disrespect? But where I'm from, people'd call that an unreasonable demand topped off by a threat. And I can't answer questions nobody ever asked me or read minds, if you take my meaning.

[ polite, but he's js himself. ]

Not pleasing me much, either.

Edited (dammit enter not done) 2014-01-06 06:58 (UTC)

I know. But people around here have short tempers. [ Herself included, though she's not threatening Joe. ] It's hard to tell what might be important to us, when you live with it.

[ Sigh. ]

With this information and what you know about the government in this universe, would you say it's within the realm of possibility that at least part of the crew of the Tranquility was under orders to create genetically modified human beings to be used in less-than-peaceful colonization?

And I understand that, ma'am, which is why I answer everything y'all ask me. Not trying to withhold, so much as— you ever had to explain to somebody what wheat is, if they'd never seen? Hell, if you didn't know they'd never seen wheat, why bother explaining it? 'S just wheat, after all.

[ ie: it's hard to pick out what's even all that important, for joe it all just is what it is. ]

...well. [ carolyn, you're asking him to say things that get folks shot and goes against a lifetime of military training, why do you torture him so. ] I'd say from what I've picked up about these beasts of yours— assuming that's what we're talking about, here— they'd strike a certain set of folk as a decent enough army, if you could control 'em.

I know. And thank you, for that. [ There's a pause, then a nod, though of course Joe can't see it. ] I've had... more time to adjust, coming here and learning just how many people have no idea about space travel.

[ Because. ]

That's what I'm talking about, yes. It looks like the "control" part would have been what failed, if that was the goal -- you said most of the design changes are done before birth? Is there a reason for that?

No need for that, but you're welcome all the same.

[ he pauses, inhaling consideringly. ]

Well, I don't suppose that's entirely correct. Mostly they do surface changes late in life though, that's true. Cosmetic and such. Couldn't tell you why— never did have a head for medicine.

I just wonder -- if they were performing these things on adults, could that have been part of the reason things didn't go as they planned?

I could speculate, but it wouldn't be worth much.

No, I suppose not.

Thank you again, though.

You're welcome, ma'am.

[ MIC DROPS

two... months later hi. ]

15 | video | go back to sleep

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