"Oh, I really don't like that."
Vivian blurted it out this time as she stared with widened eyes down at the, apparently sentient, page while words began to appear, and she scrambled to hold the book open in her right arm and still get a grip on her cigarette which nearly fell from her lips in her outburst.
What the #$%&?
Yeah, okay, so maybe it wasn't all that different from an actual cellphone--just...paper instead of backlit screen--but Vivian didn't own one of those, and never really held onto one very long after filching it from someone's pocket anyway.
Not to mention...it could see her, but couldn't hear her.
Good to know.
Wasn't too keen on it knowing her face, but what did that really matter now anyway.
She didn't think Trouble would find the circumstances particularly off-putting. After all, what scrubs thought of as magic was usually just super advanced technology they couldn't quantify for themselves, and Vivian was definitely a scrub when it came to this sort of thing.
Still, this felt older than that. Weightier. And not just in heft.
Vivian stuck her cigarette back in her mouth and patted around on the pockets of her oversized jeans before shoving her hand in the one on the front of them, diving past crumpled scraps of paper and a dead AAA battery and a paperclip and a couple of small pebbles before finding towards the bottom amidst grains of sand the pen she'd swiped from the last time she visited the principle's office at school.
It was missing the cap at this point, so it left a red mark across one of her fingers as she retrieved it and somewhat hastily began to scribble below the last line that appeared:
name's noneya. if u cn c me u shld jus read lips. ezier.
Vivian blurted it out this time as she stared with widened eyes down at the, apparently sentient, page while words began to appear, and she scrambled to hold the book open in her right arm and still get a grip on her cigarette which nearly fell from her lips in her outburst.
What the #$%&?
Yeah, okay, so maybe it wasn't all that different from an actual cellphone--just...paper instead of backlit screen--but Vivian didn't own one of those, and never really held onto one very long after filching it from someone's pocket anyway.
Not to mention...it could see her, but couldn't hear her.
Good to know.
Wasn't too keen on it knowing her face, but what did that really matter now anyway.
She didn't think Trouble would find the circumstances particularly off-putting. After all, what scrubs thought of as magic was usually just super advanced technology they couldn't quantify for themselves, and Vivian was definitely a scrub when it came to this sort of thing.
Still, this felt older than that. Weightier. And not just in heft.
Vivian stuck her cigarette back in her mouth and patted around on the pockets of her oversized jeans before shoving her hand in the one on the front of them, diving past crumpled scraps of paper and a dead AAA battery and a paperclip and a couple of small pebbles before finding towards the bottom amidst grains of sand the pen she'd swiped from the last time she visited the principle's office at school.
It was missing the cap at this point, so it left a red mark across one of her fingers as she retrieved it and somewhat hastily began to scribble below the last line that appeared:
name's noneya. if u cn c me u shld jus read lips. ezier.
To Vivian~~
Words appear on the page to replace the previous ones.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Noneya, I cannot see in the same sense that you can and reading lips is unreliable. Tell me though, what is it you desire?”
Words appear on the page to replace the previous ones.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Noneya, I cannot see in the same sense that you can and reading lips is unreliable. Tell me though, what is it you desire?”
The noise fluttered past Vivian's lips before she could help it, a distinct pffft of sound that had her reaching up to grab her cigarette so she wouldn't drop it on the pages and then smack that same hand up onto her forehead, partially covering her eyes as she began snickering.
Just like any other fourteen-year-old punk might upon having successfully lured an unsuspecting individual right into a 'none ya business' joke.
Even if the punchline wouldn't come until much later, Vivian was positive she would get a good laugh every time this book-thing called her by that name.
Wiping a tear or two from an eye, she shifted the pen in her hand to start writing again as she called out, "Hey Trouble, what are the chances you have any idea what this thing is?" She nodded to the tome in her hands.
ill tell u mine if ull tell me urs
asl?
Just like any other fourteen-year-old punk might upon having successfully lured an unsuspecting individual right into a 'none ya business' joke.
Even if the punchline wouldn't come until much later, Vivian was positive she would get a good laugh every time this book-thing called her by that name.
Wiping a tear or two from an eye, she shifted the pen in her hand to start writing again as she called out, "Hey Trouble, what are the chances you have any idea what this thing is?" She nodded to the tome in her hands.
ill tell u mine if ull tell me urs
asl?
Gem glances warily back at the unconscious woman on the floor. Even if she is armed and dangerous, she's still a person. A probably human person, although she's not entirely sure what that means anymore given her own recent developments. "Sorry," she says to 0814, "but what exactly is our behalf? What are we fighting for? And who are we?"
Upon hearing Vivian ask 0814 - Trouble? - if they know anything about the book, a chill runs down Gem's spine. That thing was spooky when it was just lying on the ground; who knew what nonsense it might contain when actually opened.
And, of course. The kid has it open... and appears to be writing in it, much to Gem's confusion. There's not much she can do about that from here - and even if she were closer, what would she do? Smack it out of the kid's hands? Give her a stern lecture on when and where it is appropriate to write diary entries into an ominous book? Gem was a teen not that long ago; she knows there's no way for her to intervene effectively as an adult. Teens will be teens, and in this modern age that apparently involves getting into some spooky space graffiti.
Upon hearing Vivian ask 0814 - Trouble? - if they know anything about the book, a chill runs down Gem's spine. That thing was spooky when it was just lying on the ground; who knew what nonsense it might contain when actually opened.
And, of course. The kid has it open... and appears to be writing in it, much to Gem's confusion. There's not much she can do about that from here - and even if she were closer, what would she do? Smack it out of the kid's hands? Give her a stern lecture on when and where it is appropriate to write diary entries into an ominous book? Gem was a teen not that long ago; she knows there's no way for her to intervene effectively as an adult. Teens will be teens, and in this modern age that apparently involves getting into some spooky space graffiti.
As Gem was speaking to them, 0814 finally gained access to all systems, turning the final pillar green. They were about to answer the questions when an alarm began blearing... loudly.
The distant sound of metal on metal footsteps could be heard.
“Now does not seem to be opportune for giving you answers Gem, I will do so at our earliest convenience.” They yelled above the alarm.
Scanning the information on their device they continued. “There are four robots coming our way, if we can dismantle them efficiently we then need to go find the object that brought us here, I have a location.”
The distant sound of metal on metal footsteps could be heard.
“Now does not seem to be opportune for giving you answers Gem, I will do so at our earliest convenience.” They yelled above the alarm.
Scanning the information on their device they continued. “There are four robots coming our way, if we can dismantle them efficiently we then need to go find the object that brought us here, I have a location.”
This young being was either unfamiliar with the English language or being intentionally difficult... either way, Dominic was not in a position to fight, just to talk. He sent more words onto the page.
”My desire is as his was, even though I did not understand at the time... I wish to save our reality. Also, I do not know if you understand the method of which I am seeing, I cannot distinguish enough detail to see sign language.”
”My desire is as his was, even though I did not understand at the time... I wish to save our reality. Also, I do not know if you understand the method of which I am seeing, I cannot distinguish enough detail to see sign language.”
Vivian tapped the gathering ash at the end of the cigarette onto the floor beside her before putting it back in her mouth as she watched the words form onto the page and she snickered again at the end of the response she got.
"Bruh, srsly?" She breathed down at the page, grinning. "This almost isn't any fun." What are you, from the dark ages? Like the '80s or something?
my turn. no cap: it'd be dope if
She blinked and looked up, ears assaulted by the alarm, and she gave Trouble a dry look as if the kid was doing little more than living up to the new name before scribbling quickly--
brb
--into the book and then snapping it shut and tossing it in the direction of the box with the gun from earlier as she started to stand.
"I dunno 'bout 'efficiently,'" She took another inhale on the cigarette and let smoke curl out either side of her mouth before continuing with a shrug, "Depends on your definition of 'dismantle,' I guess."
Trouble didn't seem in a rush to make their way over to shut the door Vivian suggested closing earlier, so the teen let it be, leaving the cat-lady to the task if she wanted and knowing full-well if these alarms hadn't roused the woman in the cell, nothing likely would.
This did not mean Vivian didn't move, not wanting to be anywhere in direct line of fire if the woman was startled awake. She glanced about the room as she shuffled Trouble's direction, specifically at what she thought were the doors, and raised her chin a little.
"One at each or...?"
"Bruh, srsly?" She breathed down at the page, grinning. "This almost isn't any fun." What are you, from the dark ages? Like the '80s or something?
my turn. no cap: it'd be dope if
She blinked and looked up, ears assaulted by the alarm, and she gave Trouble a dry look as if the kid was doing little more than living up to the new name before scribbling quickly--
brb
--into the book and then snapping it shut and tossing it in the direction of the box with the gun from earlier as she started to stand.
"I dunno 'bout 'efficiently,'" She took another inhale on the cigarette and let smoke curl out either side of her mouth before continuing with a shrug, "Depends on your definition of 'dismantle,' I guess."
Trouble didn't seem in a rush to make their way over to shut the door Vivian suggested closing earlier, so the teen let it be, leaving the cat-lady to the task if she wanted and knowing full-well if these alarms hadn't roused the woman in the cell, nothing likely would.
This did not mean Vivian didn't move, not wanting to be anywhere in direct line of fire if the woman was startled awake. She glanced about the room as she shuffled Trouble's direction, specifically at what she thought were the doors, and raised her chin a little.
"One at each or...?"
To Vivian~~~
Before you can finish your sentence, the door across from the one that is open bursts open and a four-legged robot steps in opening fire with green lasers coming rapidly out of its head.
Before you can finish your sentence, the door across from the one that is open bursts open and a four-legged robot steps in opening fire with green lasers coming rapidly out of its head.
Kathy was distantly aware of an alarm ringing... but she did not remember falling asleep.
Slowly pushing herself up as she became aware of her surroundings, she realized everything hurt... then as her eyes began to focus she realized just how strange the situation she was in truly was.
She saw the robots, the children... and the woman from the coffee shop? What happened at the coffee shop? Why couldn't she remember?
No time for questions though... the robot was firing at... well... everyone in the room...
She drew two knives and painfully began commanding her limp limbs to carry her out of the small closet she was apparently discarded in.
Slowly pushing herself up as she became aware of her surroundings, she realized everything hurt... then as her eyes began to focus she realized just how strange the situation she was in truly was.
She saw the robots, the children... and the woman from the coffee shop? What happened at the coffee shop? Why couldn't she remember?
No time for questions though... the robot was firing at... well... everyone in the room...
She drew two knives and painfully began commanding her limp limbs to carry her out of the small closet she was apparently discarded in.
Vivian seemed about as unperturbed on the subject of lasers as any fourteen year old with no concept of their own mortality might, reaching up to push back somewhat futilely the bits of her dark hair hanging over her pale forehead before jerking her chin at the box with the gun still in it and speaking casually around the cigarette in her mouth, if with enough resonance to be heard by anyone nearby listening.
Unless cat-lady could go full saber tooth, Vivian wasn't sure she had a means to defend herself.
"'s a revolver 'n ammo in the box." She turned back to the machine and gave it a calculating look. "Try not to shoot me though, yeah?"
In the next instant, her eyes had narrowed and she darted forward, trying to keep one of the front legs of the thing between her and the bits that were shooting lasers.
If she reached the leg, she'd duck to the inside of it to plant a foot and take a swing, a left-hook, at whatever was at shoulder-height.
Unless cat-lady could go full saber tooth, Vivian wasn't sure she had a means to defend herself.
"'s a revolver 'n ammo in the box." She turned back to the machine and gave it a calculating look. "Try not to shoot me though, yeah?"
In the next instant, her eyes had narrowed and she darted forward, trying to keep one of the front legs of the thing between her and the bits that were shooting lasers.
If she reached the leg, she'd duck to the inside of it to plant a foot and take a swing, a left-hook, at whatever was at shoulder-height.
To Vivian ~~
The robot seems thoroughly distracted with the newly conscious woman who seems to be doing a fine job of avoiding and sometimes even deflecting lasers with her drawn knives. So you reach the robot without incident.
The metal of the leg gives way with both less and more resistance than you expected... you weren’t sure what you expected really... but there is a sizable dent where your fist connected and you’re pretty sure based on the sparking and sudden limpness of the limb that you disabled it.
The robot seems thoroughly distracted with the newly conscious woman who seems to be doing a fine job of avoiding and sometimes even deflecting lasers with her drawn knives. So you reach the robot without incident.
The metal of the leg gives way with both less and more resistance than you expected... you weren’t sure what you expected really... but there is a sizable dent where your fist connected and you’re pretty sure based on the sparking and sudden limpness of the limb that you disabled it.
To be frank, Vivian had no plan, aside from striving to keep a hold on the cigarette in her mouth.
So, when the leg of the robot appeared to lose function, she suddenly decided to reach for either side of its now-ruined paint-job to clamp her fingers into the metal and tighten her grip with every intention of ripping the disabled piece apart from the rest of the body.
So, when the leg of the robot appeared to lose function, she suddenly decided to reach for either side of its now-ruined paint-job to clamp her fingers into the metal and tighten her grip with every intention of ripping the disabled piece apart from the rest of the body.
"Trust me, kid, you do not want me handling a gun," Gem squeaks as she watches the teenager bull-rush the very large, very laser-firing robot that has just kicked in the door. She ducks down behind one of the nearby pillars, hoping to evade the incoming laser fire, and wracks her brain for what, if anything, she can do. On the one hand, she'd really like to be a smaller, more mobile target. On the other, she has absolutely no desire to find out what might happen if she were to mix cat brain with a multitude of lasers... And the remaining option is, well. She's not particularly keen on taking that form again anytime soon, but, given the options, it might be her best bet.
"I'm guessing there's no off switch?" she calls hopefully to 0814. "No Star Wars exhaust port for someone to drop something into?"
"I'm guessing there's no off switch?" she calls hopefully to 0814. "No Star Wars exhaust port for someone to drop something into?"
0814 was also taking shelter behind the pillars but still working furiously on their device.
“The primary laser turret cannot withstand tampering... it is simply hard to reach.” They managed around clenched teeth.
There was a loud metallic ripping sound as Vivian removed the leg from the robot perhaps a little too easily.
“The primary laser turret cannot withstand tampering... it is simply hard to reach.” They managed around clenched teeth.
There was a loud metallic ripping sound as Vivian removed the leg from the robot perhaps a little too easily.
Vivan blinked at the abrupt state of finding herself holding the disconnected limb in hand.
That was...less than satisfying.
Her initial reaction was to beat the robot with its own leg, but she found the idea distasteful suddenly and instead nonchalantly tossed the leg to the side before pivoting sharply in the direction of the next one to throw her weight behind a second punch, deciding the visceral connection of fist to tech was much more appealing in the moment.
That was...less than satisfying.
Her initial reaction was to beat the robot with its own leg, but she found the idea distasteful suddenly and instead nonchalantly tossed the leg to the side before pivoting sharply in the direction of the next one to throw her weight behind a second punch, deciding the visceral connection of fist to tech was much more appealing in the moment.
Kathy's defenses were holding, for now. She had managed to deflect or dodge each laser bolt in turn... but then this girl ripped the leg right off the robot! That was unexpected... but what was predictable was that action getting the robot's attention.
As it turned to the young woman Kathy launched the daggers currently in her hands to minimal effect and drew two more closing in to melee.
As it turned to the young woman Kathy launched the daggers currently in her hands to minimal effect and drew two more closing in to melee.
To Vivian ~~~
As you take a swing at the next leg... the robot... which had been focused on the woman behind you, turns its attention to you, avoiding your attack and returning in kind, lighting up your right rib cage with several blasts from its laser cannon. You feel as if your shirt is melting into your skin for a moment before the internal stabbing pain begins.
As you take a swing at the next leg... the robot... which had been focused on the woman behind you, turns its attention to you, avoiding your attack and returning in kind, lighting up your right rib cage with several blasts from its laser cannon. You feel as if your shirt is melting into your skin for a moment before the internal stabbing pain begins.
In combat-time, moments slow to a crawl, actions and reactions flitting across the mind's awareness without hardly being registered by higher brain functions for those involved. Seconds can stretch into hours, and if those outside can manage to follow, they would report a series of interactions, a flurry of motion, lasting hardly a single breath those watching tended to be holding for the duration anyway.
It was in this stretch of time Vivian currently lived, watching with something akin to a fighter's satisfaction sparking in her eyes as her right fist responded to her desires and swung for the nearest unbroken leg, her lips around the still-live cigarette pulling upwards into a smile of expectation for the contact she intended.
Except it moved.
While perhaps in an earth-bound situation Vivian might have been able to block a kick her opponent would telegraph, might have been prepared for a dodge and retaliation, the subtle sound of moving machinery to her right made her ear twitch as she started to look up that direction and it dawned on her just how foreign this opponent happened to be.
Any other thoughts were knocked from her just as readily as the laser-fire loosed her lungs of any breath she had up to that moment.
Because of this, there was no cry of pain.
Truthfully, she hardly felt anything at all, millions of nerve endings being severed so abruptly that--in the midst of the adrenaline which immediately flushed her system--Vivian only felt a brief awareness of her skin peeling back, melting under the blasts, and after a few stabs and pulses of disruption, a strange buzzing sensation crashed like a wave across her senses, too overwhelming an injury for the consciousness to analyze and fully comprehend and instead providing the light, almost cheerful buzz as a lame placeholder for future agony's consideration.
Feet shifting to catch her weight thrown off balance by the attack, Vivian followed the direction the blow sent her, letting her right foot drop back and immediately crouching on it as within that same stretch of time she'd existed in for this particular second she calculated the distance, pulled back the right side of her body, and aimed a jumping upper-cut for the offending laser cannon without the slightest hesitation.
It was in this stretch of time Vivian currently lived, watching with something akin to a fighter's satisfaction sparking in her eyes as her right fist responded to her desires and swung for the nearest unbroken leg, her lips around the still-live cigarette pulling upwards into a smile of expectation for the contact she intended.
Except it moved.
While perhaps in an earth-bound situation Vivian might have been able to block a kick her opponent would telegraph, might have been prepared for a dodge and retaliation, the subtle sound of moving machinery to her right made her ear twitch as she started to look up that direction and it dawned on her just how foreign this opponent happened to be.
Any other thoughts were knocked from her just as readily as the laser-fire loosed her lungs of any breath she had up to that moment.
Because of this, there was no cry of pain.
Truthfully, she hardly felt anything at all, millions of nerve endings being severed so abruptly that--in the midst of the adrenaline which immediately flushed her system--Vivian only felt a brief awareness of her skin peeling back, melting under the blasts, and after a few stabs and pulses of disruption, a strange buzzing sensation crashed like a wave across her senses, too overwhelming an injury for the consciousness to analyze and fully comprehend and instead providing the light, almost cheerful buzz as a lame placeholder for future agony's consideration.
Feet shifting to catch her weight thrown off balance by the attack, Vivian followed the direction the blow sent her, letting her right foot drop back and immediately crouching on it as within that same stretch of time she'd existed in for this particular second she calculated the distance, pulled back the right side of her body, and aimed a jumping upper-cut for the offending laser cannon without the slightest hesitation.
Oh, God damn it, here we go, Gem thinks bitterly. She's truly got no choice - she needs to get up high, she needs to be fast, and she needs to make herself a smaller target. She pokes her head out from behind the pillar, trying to see if she can make out where to aim for on the laser turret. The kid seems to be in a bad way, but at the very least the robot is distracted for the moment, which might make it easier for her to get from point A to point B with minimal robotic interference...
She shuts her eyes, steels herself, and hops a little bit in place in order to get airborne. And then, she lets her racing heart take over: everything tightens as her body shrinks down and changes shape, and then loosens as her bones become lighter and feathers burst forth from her skin. She hovers, pigeon-formed and trying desperately to hang onto her human ability to pay attention, and then she flies up and out toward the robot, hoping, somewhat selfishly, that the robot keeps its attention on Vivian and that she does not have to engage in any complicated laser-dodging flying maneuvers.
She shuts her eyes, steels herself, and hops a little bit in place in order to get airborne. And then, she lets her racing heart take over: everything tightens as her body shrinks down and changes shape, and then loosens as her bones become lighter and feathers burst forth from her skin. She hovers, pigeon-formed and trying desperately to hang onto her human ability to pay attention, and then she flies up and out toward the robot, hoping, somewhat selfishly, that the robot keeps its attention on Vivian and that she does not have to engage in any complicated laser-dodging flying maneuvers.
To Vivian ~~
Your uppercut is rash, and the robot predicted you would retaliate so it reared up to avoid you... it let’s loose another salvo of lasers in your direction but they are intercepted by a groggy, but fully engaged, Kathy! Her hands move almost unnaturally fast to block the projectiles on her blades and wristbands as she takes a defensive posture between you and the cannon.
To Gemma ~~~
Fortunately for you, the robot is quite occupied with the two combatants below and does not notice your approach.
Your uppercut is rash, and the robot predicted you would retaliate so it reared up to avoid you... it let’s loose another salvo of lasers in your direction but they are intercepted by a groggy, but fully engaged, Kathy! Her hands move almost unnaturally fast to block the projectiles on her blades and wristbands as she takes a defensive posture between you and the cannon.
To Gemma ~~~
Fortunately for you, the robot is quite occupied with the two combatants below and does not notice your approach.