hyperkinesia | ( Savrou ) IC Contact

[ His roommate left him with a list, and while Tony hadn't specifically written 'tell Banner I'm in cryo' it seemed the thing to do.

So sometime after he'd gotten Tony stabilized in cryo, Adrien had retreated to one of the labs and after some consideration, he'd pulled up Banner's MID contact. ]

Dr. Banner, my name is Dr. Adrien Arbuckal. I've just had to place Tony Stark into cryostasis.

[ Because that's how normal individuals started conversations with strangers ... right? ]

[ Yes it's definitely the thing to do. Even if it might upset Bruce, he'd much rather know than be left in the dark— figuratively and literally.

He's a regular visit around the cryo units, still too used to checking up on the systems there and seeing if anyone else has gotten stuck in one of them, but being blind doesn't exactly make it easy to move around the ship.

So the message comes as a particularly unpleasant surprise, but Bruce is quick to put two and two together. ]

Because of the glass, I take it? [ He doesn't say more than that, unsure of how much this man knows. ]

Mmm. [ Adrien made an affirmative, if distracted sounding noise. He may have been re-reading a list that had been left in his care. ]

There were complications, which he didn't have the time or equipment to address. The fastest and safest option was cryo for the time being.

[ He doesn't say anything specific but there is a tone to his voice that might indicate he's intimately familiar with Tony's unique medical challenges. ]

He left a list of items and equipment he'll need. Some of this I can pull together here in Medical but there are some items which I understand require your scientific skills?

Can I get whatever details you documented? I'm very familiar with Tony's condition, so that might help me put together anything he'll need.

[ Also it'll put him at ease a little that this is something that can be fixed. That jerk better not have come back to the Moira only to end up killed by the very thing keeping him alive. ]

Right. Send it over my way, and I'll see what I can do. [ Well, 'see' being a very loose way of putting it, as Bruce can't see much of anything. Still, he hasn't let the glass stop him so far, and he won't now either. ]

Is this network feed secure?

[ Old paranoid habits die hard.

Adrien isn't entirely sure that Tony would want details of the arc reactor flying across a channel that could be picked up on by anyone skilled enough and bored enough to hack it. ]

If not, I can walk these down to you. I'm close to getting kicked out of MedBay. [ With an order to at least find food, if sleeping absolutely wasn't on the agenda. ]

I can ask JARVIS to make it so. But you can come by the science department, if you prefer.

[ Paranoia may as well be Bruce's second language, so he hears that question exactly for what it is— and he fully agrees with the sentiment. He knows Tony wouldn't want them risking those details got spread around the ship, just as much as Bruce wouldn't want that either.

So yes, in this case, a little paranoia and excessive carefulness seems only fitting. ]

Despite my appreciation for JARVIS and his abilities, [ it's hard to think of JARVIS as an 'it' ] I might as well get the walk in. I'll be by presently.

[ Paranoia was a perfectly legitimate language; being fluent in it was a near constant state of existence. Adrien appreciated that Banner was willing to indulge him in this particular instance.

He collected the list of supplies and equipment Tony had dictated provided before being settled into cryo and with a soft whistle to Courser, he headed out of MedBay. It actually took him a couple of turns (read; got lost) to find his way down to the science department but as promised, he stepped through the door not long after shutting down the audio feed.

Standing in the doorway for a moment, Adrien took a quick inventory of anyone in the room, before he frowned and called out. ]

Dr. Banner?

[ Well so far as Bruce's concerned, JARVIS is not an 'it'. Which is why he appreciates that choice of pronoun there, even if JARVIS himself wouldn't have cared either way. ]

Alright. See you soon.

[ He made sure to clean up the department a little while waiting for Adrien, with JARVIS's help and guidance so he didn't somehow manage to make things even worse. By the time Adrien got there, the place would be mostly empty save for another science officer and Bruce himself, though the area was big enough that he couldn't be seen from the doorway.

So he spoke up, his voice ringing clear through the area. He wasn't going to risk getting up and making his way over right now, so hopefully Adrien would follow the voice and come to find Bruce sitting on a stool by one of the counters, his eyes and the skin around them turned to glass, making it likely obvious that he couldn't see right now. ]

I'm here. Come in.

[ It would be a combination of Adrien's ears and Courser's nose that lead them to where Bruce sat. In typical form, the doctor had his head down and began to run off at the mouth before looking up at the scientist. ]

I have everything Tony had me writ ... [ the pause on that word did, indeed, mark the moment when he looked up and finally set eyes on Bruce's situation. ] ... down. Which won't do you much good?

[ The last bit was a question, since Bruce might surprise him and have some manner in which he could 'view' the world. But something about the way the man held himself suggested that that wasn't the case. ]

[ The pause told him plenty, but Bruce acted as if he didn't even notice it at all, as easily as he seemingly brushed off the seriousness of his condition. ]

It's fine. [ He reached a hand out to where Adrien's voice came from. ] JARVIS can work with that, he can turn it into a digital file for me.

[ Granted, technology was always subject to some errors, but JARVIS was unique, and uniquely efficient and intelligent. Bruce had no doubt that his new companion, who had been his eyes for the past few days, would manage to decipher the handwritten notes. ]

[ He only had a visual inspection on Bruce's condition and even that wasn't close enough to tell anything about severity. At this point, Adrien had put a couple of people in cryo due to glass complications but as Bruce seemed upright, lucid and didn't appear distressed, he wouldn't push it.

Instead, he looked around the room and his expression relaxed a little, though he still didn't smile. ]

Is that where you got off too, JARVIS? [ He addressed the air. Usually JARVIS would respond, the few times they'd spoken, so it didn't occur to Adrien that in these circumstances the AI might be more reserved.

Meanwhile...]

Do you want me to set these anywhere specific or feed them into a console?

[ JARVIS wasn't quite... all around yet, though. There was a soft bleeping sound when Adrien addressed the AI, then the answer came. ]

It's where I've been assigned to for the time being. Hello, Doctor Arbuckal.

[ The voice came from the holographic table, though, and the laptop currently wired to it. Bruce touched the edge, smiling a little. ] He's down here for now. I want to set him up at the department on a more permanent basis, but it didn't seem like a good idea to be playing around too much while half the ship and crew are made of glass.

[ He managed to hook him up to the table, and that was already pretty good, all things considered. JARVIS proved to be of great help for him too, while he was going through a particularly complicated period. All the more so now that Tony was stuck in cryo. ]

You can set them down on the table. JARVIS can work with them there.

Hello, JARVIS. [ He addressed the AI with the same focus as he'd address an organic standing in front of him. ] I was wondering where you'd gotten off too. Good to know you're keeping busy.

[ As he spoke, he gravitated towards the table, peering at it curiously but keeping his hands to himself. Which was more than could be said for Courser, who was still more than a little confused by this voice that came with no scent. The young bahari crept up towards the table, nose working vigorously.

Hopefully he didn't bump into or at least didn't startle Bruce. ]

Probably a wise call. [ The doctor agreed, walking a bit closer and trying to shoo Courser away. ]

Some of what he left I've got in Medical, I've marked those items, JARVIS. The rest, I'm afraid, is well outside my wheelhouse. [ He admitted, though he was looking at Bruce and frowning pensively before he added. ]

But I could try to help? [ Weeeelll, he could keep JARVIS company?? ] I imagine you've been putting in some very long hours during all this, mess.

[ There was a slight bump against Bruce's stool, but it was the sound of an animal sniffing around that got his attention. Bruce wasn't startled, though, actually he reached out even while blind, figuring the animal must be some kind of dog that came with Adrien. Which Bruce didn't mind in the least— he loved pets, after all, and Bruce himself had a small cat, so maybe the animal could pick up on that scent too. ]

I'll begin right away, Doctor Banner. Schematics should be prepared for you shortly.

Thank you, JARVIS. [ Said as he turned towards Adrien a little more, faint smile that was gone as soon as it showed. ] It's fine, really. I can handle myself well enough, despite being blind right now. I know to ask for help if I need it. [ No he doesn't. But he really didn't need anyone here helping him with his work right now, in fact he found it a little unnerving to have people here hovering just because he couldn't see. ]

[ At any hint of encouragement, Courser was always prepared to make friends. In that he was quite a bit different from his bahari brethren and his human companion. Adrien always suspected Courser was trying to compensate for his own grouchy ass.

Regardless, at the offer of fingers (particularly carrying the scent of another animal) the young tracker was distracted from the table. He whiffed softly at Bruce's fingers, before stepping closer and pushing into his hand for an ear rub. This is where the resemblance to a dog may fall off, as Course had inordinately large ears and while they were mostly covered in the hair that made up his mane, the lower portion was covered in small scales.

Still, his mannerism was pure feline: You may deliver ear rubs, yes I approve.

Adrien watched the bahari with a rueful expression before he turned his attention to JARVIS and finally back to Bruce. ]

Mmmm. [ He said, giving Bruce a disbelieving look, though of course the man couldn't see it. ] I'm sure that's why Tony had me dispense tranquilizers when this situation first started to go down.

[ His tone was level, no judgement, just a refusal to swallow bullshit when he heard it. ]

However, in this instance I'm going to hope you'll reach out to people who can assist you, if you need it. [ And Adrien was self aware enough to understand he wasn't one of those people. Not in this arena. ]

Courser ... [ He said, intending to draw the bahari away in order to get out from under foot, but all he got in response was a tail flick.

Can't leave; soliciting ear rubs here. ]

[ Bruce gladly offered the animal a more proper ear rub when he stepped closer and nudged Bruce's stretched out hand. He couldn't tell for sure what kind of pet it was, much less so in a place like this where there could be a myriad of species he didn't even know of, but the size reminded him of a dog, although not the behavior so much. He tried to get some idea by feeling along the animal's skull, though his attention was still on Adrien as he spoke to Bruce. ]

I'd rather skip on those. Had two too many unpleasant experiences over the past couple of months.

[ Not even joking here, though— people need to stop shooting him up with tranquilizers, it really isn't fun at all. ]

Thanks. [ For trusting his word as an adult, possibly. Something like that. When Adrien addressed the animal, Bruce eased up on the petting a little, giving Courser plenty of opportunity to step back. ]

Sorry. Didn't mean to hold you up. [ Which at this point was all Courser's fault, who kept asking for more ear rubs. ] What animal is it? Not a dog, right?

[ Courser flicked a feeler back towards Adrien as if trying to gauge just how serious his companion was about this whole leaving thing.

Adrien crossed his arms over his chest and tried to look stern. He was ignored, so for the time being, he focused on Bruce. ]

It's more like I'm holding you up, I believe. At this point, my time is best spent keeping tabs on cryo settings. [ He explained, before shifting the topic to Courser. ]

But no, he's not a dog. He's a species known as bahari, more ... feline like than canine. They come in two types, that I'm aware of and he's what's known as a tracker or the smaller of the bahari cats. I got him from the captain of my previous ship, I don't know what planet they come from, she a mated pair, who produced the eggs and generations that Courser came from.

[ Bruce may have heard Adrien take a breath but the doctor stopped talking and a moment later cleared his throat. ]

I could talk your ear off about them but I'm not sure how interesting the subject would be.

[ Bruce didn't mind Adrien sticking around, honestly. He already spent most of his days alone now, and with Tony stuck in cryo he was even more likely to isolate himself. Of course he wasn't about to openly ask the man to stay, but he was in no rush to have him leave, either.

Besides, a friendly animal's presence was always welcome. ]

That's alright. I'm an avid fan of learning new things.

[ But he was going to skip on questions about the bahari cats so he could focus on something else Adrien said instead, something which got most of his attention. ]

You were on another spaceship before this one?

[ It was a good thing that presence was welcome, because Courser merely shifted closer to Bruce, setting his small chin against the man's knee as he soaked up any and all attention. Knowing he was beat and honestly in no hurry to rush back to the quiet evidence of his current failure, Adrien relaxed against a counter.

He still nodded, in response to Bruce's question but luckily for them both, he quickly followed up the nod with words. ]

I was, yes. [ He took a breath, about to explain the Neheda when he paused and thought that through for a moment. Because mentioning the Neheda would lead to the CDC and Adrien wasn't sure about going down that rabbit hole on a first meeting with someone.

So he skewed slightly. ] Though I've been around spaceships all my life.

To clarify, I do come from Earth but it's an Earth that bears little resemblance to the Earth you come from. In my Earth, from the time of the Industrial Revolution forward, mankind was extremely unwise in how they used natural resources.

It lead to a complete collapse of the ecosystem.

Humanity managed to get out into space, deep enough to find other planets and species willing to trade and that is how we currently survive; on imported resources.

My family has been a member of the Master Trader guild for generations. My eldest sister controls the family, our trade routes and trade partners, so I never had much direct involvement with our ships, but I visit the spaceports now and then when growing up.

Edited 2016-07-31 20:29 (UTC)

[ Bruce nodded briefly, keeping most of his attention on what little Adrien shared about his world, while he kept petting Courser with similar dedication. If he happened to slow down or stop at all, the feline would promptly nudge his hand, asking... well, demanding for more pets and ear scratches. ]

So does the whole of human race live on spaceships, like... like this? Nomads? Or did some of them settle down eventually?

[ The Neheda was, in fact, exactly what Bruce was thinking of. Adrien wasn't the first person he'd met who'd come from that same place, and it wasn't the first time that it intrigued Bruce— the fact that a few of the people here were taken to yet another universe before landing on this one, and the same universe too, to boot. ]

[ In true Adrien fashion, he'd managed to get his foot in his mouth. For a moment he blinked owlishly at Bruce, before comprehension sank in -as well as remembering Bruce couldn't see him and the doctor shook his head. ]

No, I'm sorry I wasn't clear.

My Earth, humanity developed space travel. We have space ships that we use to travel to other planets, trade and return with goods which we then utilize back on Earth. There is even some work being done to see if the planet has recovered to a point that we might be able to start trying to re-grow our own ... ecosystem.

But that's still in the very early stages of discussion.

[ And as he said the words, Adrien realized it was unlikely he would ever return home to see if the projects went any further than cocktail party chit chat.

The Neheda was an entirely different rabbit hole and it didn't even occur to Adrien that Bruce might have heard about the CDC from other sources. Sometimes that which was right at the edge of his nose was the hardest for him to see. ]

Some people make their lives on the trade routes but they're usually the captains and crews of the family ships being sent out to collect resources, then return to Earth.

Oh. [ Bruce's eyebrows arched, and he nodded in understanding. ] Alright, that makes sense. So there was never a real need for a complete exodus.

[ Thinking about it, that would've likely taken more ships and power than they had back then. Although knowing the human race as he did, he wouldn't put it past them to choose only a fraction of the population and leave all the others behind, if it came to that. But he's glad that wasn't the case. ]

So I take it you and your family never spent much time on Earth? [ Not that it seemed like a very pleasant place, from what Adrien had told him so far. ]

[ Adrien opened his mouth to correct Bruce’s assumption, but just as he took breath he had to stop and think about it.

Arie did spend most of her time traveling with various ships, nurturing trade alliances, seeking out new alliances and finding product. Though she still spent time on Earth, networking with other families, if he really considered it, she was about half and half.

Amette, of course, had died on another world. Adrien was now lost to the depths of space and other dimensions and if the Castrensis so deemed it, Aden could also be posted ship board.

Huh. He’d never stopped long enough to think about it in those terms. But a quick shake of his head brought him back to the here and now, the need to respond to Bruce’s question. ]

Not as much as we did when we were children but that’s due to circumstances as much as anything. [ He explained. ] The majority of humanity is still associated with Earth, governed by its laws and culture. We didn’t abandon the planet.

[ If they had, then HQ would not have been able to hold the threat of it's destruction over Adrien's head, once his contract was signed. ]

Alright. I think I get it. [ Generally speaking, and in a very rough sense too. He could only get a vague notion of it all when he hadn't been there himself, in Adrien's world, and when Adrien only told him so much, but it was enough for him to get the gist of it. Even with some few minor wrong assumptions.

It was sort of nice, in a sentimental kind of way. And Bruce had never seen himself as too sentimental, though that was only by virtue of need rather than anything else, just like his tendency to detach himself from so many people, so many places, so many things. He was probably that kind of person who would willingly leave Earth behind and never look back if only that kept other people safe, but there was a wistful kind of gladness in knowing that the human race hadn't collectively abandoned their home planet.

In Adrien's reality, that is. Of course it wasn't the same in Bruce's world, and it might not ever be. ]

How long has it been since you were last there? On Earth, that is.

[ There seemed to be an even mix of realities where Earth was abandoned and where humanity had turned it around and Earth was a beacon. Lots of butterfly wings and Schrodinger's cats to theorize about, no doubt.

In response to the question, Adrien pursed his lips and allowed himself a pensive look; since Bruce couldn't see it. ]

I'm not sure how long I was lost in the Ingress, between my first trip here and now, and time is measured differently in different universes. [ And time on the Neheda seemed ... quite long; though in truth it was short. ]

I was on the Neheda for close to six months by that calendar but those were usually counted in seventy two hours increments. Add in the months I appear to have lost in the Ingress, convert to an Earth twenty-four hour scale ... [ he paused, counting ] about two and a half years.

( Savrou ) IC Contact

audio; - after Tony goes into cryo

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