Ghosts in the Machine

[rekindledtitan]

There’s a young woman reading through one of the pamphlets in the plaza. She’s dressed head to toe in a rather odd black garment like a padded wetsuit - it looks like it’s all one piece, soft, elastic and form-fitting. Her hair’s a little disheveled and she has a frown of concentration as she reads, but her location doesn’t seem to worry her.

As far as she’s concerned, it’s obvious where she is. The last few weeks have been nothing but tests and interviews and assessment exercises of one form or another. More than a few have taken place using increasingly sophisticated simulation tech. This is just another program, and presumably somewhere above is the AI overseeing her progress.

Still, this is definitely a new one.

“Who comes up with these scenarios?” she wonders aloud in amusement. Then shoots a look at the tiny silver robot floating at a cautious distance. “No offense meant- and that wasn’t my question, sorry.” The Ghost bobs noncommittally, and she looks around, taking in the strange mix of people and aliens, the unrealistic architecture. “So does it matter what I ask?” The answer is murmured quietly, but presumably boils down to ‘no’. She rolls her shoulders and shifts on her feet, making thoughtful sounds for a minute. She really wants to ask something good. Insightful. Practical. Soldierly.

“Is there something around here you really need weapons for?” She had two when she started here - not to mention the ridiculous armor. The assisting ‘Ghost’ AI removed them for her, but that still leaves the question of why this simulation included them...

Comments

[bestdadinamestris]

With all the commotion today - from all the small children running around the Nexus - Hughes is more than happy to stop and help the new woman on the Plaza with her rather... odd question about weaponry.

"Not usually, though there has been the occasional need for them in the past." He offers a small shrug and a smile to her. "If you showed up here with weapons in hand, it seems likely you needed them for something on your own world rather than something here."

He hasn't noticed until this point - and he instantly shifts his focus to the little guy. Surely this is a different floating robot than the one he's used to seeing with his friend Blaze, right? ...right?

"Friend of yours?" He motions to the little Ghost floating around aimlessly.

[rekindledtitan]

"That's a relief." She lets out a soft 'phew!', before shooting him a relieved smile. Simulated or not, this man looks like he knows what he's talking about. She doesn't recognize his uniform, but it's not as if she knows the different branches of the Fleet that well. She has to chuckle to herself, though. "My own world, right. I guess that must be it."

Ghost spins nervously on being pointed out. The woman, on the other hand, just blinks as she's yanked from her thoughts. She glances at the little bot, then back to Hughes with more surprise than anything else.

"Oh, uh- yyes. You could say that." Beneath the strange accent, the timbre of her voice is similar to the Guardian's. And yet in this moment they couldn't be more different. There's no affection in that voice; no hint of the fond respect with which Blaze speaks of her Ghost. She's just thinking: are sim-people supposed to take notice of the monitoring AI? She frowns at Hughes. "Do you... know what it is? I mean who. Crap."

She has no idea how he's programmed to read the bot. Maybe he's 'seeing' another human... or maybe this guy is a supervising officer and not a simulation at all in which case she's going to melt with embarrassment.

[bestdadinamestris]

The timbre may be familiar, but Hughes can't quite place it. The voice is too unfamiliar for that, but... he's certain that's Ghost. Sure, there could be other little bots like that floating around, but in the Nexus? And following a woman around with an obvious nervousness that suggests its watching over her? He can't think of anyone else who fits that description but Ghost.

"Maybe? I guess it depends on who you are." Hughes chuckles and puts on his most charming smile before offering a hand to woman. "Maes Hughes, by the way." He'll not worry about the formality of a title since she seems rather confused about what's going on here.

[rekindledtitan]

"Bryn Marshall." Her smile is bright and genuine, if perceptibly taut with nerves. She's definitely trying to make her handshake firm, too, although she seems plenty strong enough. "You're... with the Fleet, right? Orrr... Colonial Security?"

[bestdadinamestris]

Oh shit. She thinks he's from her world. Why would she think that? Hughes' eyes flit to Ghost for a moment before they fall back on Bryn. It seems like a dangerous thing to tell her where she is if she's expecting something different, but...

What the hell is going on here?

"Not to completely change the subject before I answer your question, but where do you think you are right now? I swear, I'll come back to it if you answer this first." Because it'll change how he answers until he can figure out who this woman is and why she seems so familiar without Hughes having ever seen her before.

[rekindledtitan]

The little bot behind her flutters uncertainly as if in answer, gaze flicking anxiously between them. Ghost is torn between the sense that he should tell Hughes something - try to explain what little he understands about this situation - and the urge to hide in the background. Bryn isn't waiting for him to work up his nerve, of course.

"Um..." She glances at Ghost as well before apparently deciding to just go with her gut and see what happens. "I kind of figured this is another evaluation exercise. Right? Another simulated scenario to see if I qualify for recruitment." She's not entirely certain at this point, but the Ghost hasn't said otherwise and it's hard to swallow that this could actually be real.

Nor is she making it easy for Hughes to compare her with anyone else he knows. Her stance is wrong, there's too much second-guessing in her words. At least to her Ghost's mind.

[bestdadinamestris]

There's a lot going on here that doesn't make sense and it makes Hughes very anxious. Mysteries like this are his job, so why is this one so difficult? Damn the Nexus and its liberal use of use "doesn't have to make sense for shit." He really hates that part of this place.

It seems best to keep Bryn talking while he can, though. The more information he has, the more likely he can figure this out. "Evaluation exercise for what recruitment?" He tries to sound confident, but it's not terribly convincing. His gaze flicks between Bryn and Ghost furtively. What the hell is he missing here?

[juststeverogers]

It's not that the woman is disinteresting, because her question and her demeanor are ones Steve would be drawn to try and help no matter what the situation.

Yet when he approaches, it's Ghost that has attracted the brunt of his attention.

"Ghost?" What's he doing here? Surely it can't be Blaze's companion, can it?

[rekindledtitan]

Ghost has no expression to speak of, and yet... he does not look happy. It's hard to say if he's even with this woman: his attention is fixed on her and yet he's hanging back, keeping his distance from her.

He doesn't even seem to notice their approaching friend until Steve speaks. the little bot starts, blinking at him, and then darts over, shooting an anxious glance at the woman. She's not taking much notice for the moment, more interested in what's meant to happen once this all-important question is asked.

"Steve?" His voice is low, anxious. Looks like this really is Blaze's Ghost, and that can't mean anything good is going on. "You need to listen to me, quickly. Be very careful what you say. I'm trying not to tell her about our world- nothing she doesn't already know, but I'm still trying to find out what's happening." Beneath the calm, instructing veneer to his voice, there's a frantic sort of rush, a hint of the panic he's holding back.

[juststeverogers]

"Wait is that Blaze?" Steve can't help the way his mouth drops open slightly. A little bit in appreciation and a whole lot in shock. So much shock. He thought she was all metal inside and out.

"I'm gonna take a wild stab in the dark and assume she doesn't normally look all fleshy like I do when she takes off her armor."

After a couple of seconds he shakes his head. "Are you okay?"

[rekindledtitan]

Ghost is quiet for a long minute, his shell twitching in silence before he answers softly, "I don't know."

Which question is he responding to? Hard to say. He turns to stare at the former Guardian, his voice staying low as he talks. "Nothing here is right. She hasn't just been turned organic: she believes she is human. I-I can't... our connection is gone. I tried to find her Light, but it's barely a flicker. It's as if I never raised her at all."

His babbling trails off for a long moment before he speaks again, somehow even more subdued. "She doesn't remember me."

[juststeverogers]

Steve listens carefully as Ghost takes a much needed moment to vent his concerns, his expression turning more and more dark as Ghost continues. Steve knows the little bot's pain all too well. He's lost a best friend that way too.

"Hey. C'mere." He gently reaches up and pulls at one of the bots little jutted spikes until Ghost is held softly against Steve's chest for a moment. "I don't know if this works on robots." He admits quietly. "But it's a hug. And...you need one." Pointy or not.

"You're gonna be okay. We'll figure this out, alright?"

[rekindledtitan]

Perhaps it goes against the grain to unburden himself so freely to anyone besides his Guardian. But Ghost knows Steve - trusts Steve - and in this moment he feels alone and frightened in a way he has never been before.

He doesn't even resist when Steve reaches out to tug on him. The little machine is faintly warm, his smooth shell flexing against his human friend's chest. The blue light of his optic flickers, darts up to Steve's face.

"I..." He's plainly shocked, but at the same time... he's grateful. Relieved more than he can explain that someone still sees him. It's grounding. The kind of tactile reassurance he's grown used to from his Guardian. "...Thank you. I'm just... having difficulty adjusting."

A problem Blaze doesn't appear to share. She's chatting casually with a couple of passers-by. When they move on and she glances around, Steve and Ghost get a puzzled look. Why is that guy hugging the exam proctor-bot?

[pathfromdarknesstogray]

Compared to the young woman's mode of dress, this one's pretty much effectively the opposite: She wears loose robes of dark gray and black. A hood up, partially obscuring an aged face with an eternally tired expression. Faintly lit yellow eyes are visible within the hood's shadow, and she leans on a little on a metallic cane she holds in her left hand.

"Many come here with weapons in hand, and sometimes, yes, there are times you need them. Others hold onto the weapons for comfort. Security, as they might lack such at home, or they simply feel safer with them."

The older woman was certainly one of those in her younger years. Arguably still so now. After all, she might get older. She might get wiser. But she was still an Assassin and a Sith. Weapons are her comfort and her life.

That said, there's no visible weapon on her person at the moment, but you never know.

[rekindledtitan]

"Some kind of comfort," she comments dryly, sounding unimpressed. By the attitude described, at least. After all, this woman clearly isn't clinging to any heavy artillery. She peers at the older woman with innocent interest, wondering who she is - or rather, what she represents in the simulation. "I suppose the weapons might have been a good idea if I knew how to use them, but they wouldn't do me any real good."

Still, this scenario seems to have been programmed with the assumption of weapons training. Maybe that's been disabled for her, but she can't help wondering...

[pathfromdarknesstogray]

The older woman shifts her weight somewhat, adjusting her footing and her grip on the cane with a leather gloved hand. She frowns, and furrows her eyebrows in thought for a moment. "You have weapons that you weren't trained in the use of? How strange."

Whatever she could represent, it could be any number of things. If this was a simulation, anyway.

[rekindledtitan]

"Really strange," she agrees with heartfelt feeling. "I mean, it wasn't as bad as being locked in a suit of armor, but I've never even held a gun before - not a real one. I can't figure out if it was some kind of mistake or another test." She shrugs, mouth drawn in glum puzzlement. Not that it lasts, since she's determined to, well, look determined. "I suppose I'll find out one way or other."

But whatever the real test is, she has to complete it first. To that end she considers Dia, and asks, "So- mind if I ask who you are?"

[pathfromdarknesstogray]

"Only if you don't mind me asking the same. I am Dia'ndria Starfall." Oh. The robes are different, but there's so few utterly peaceful and logical Sith, there's no doubt the fact that has to be the truth.

This is probably the point where poor little Ghost would probably have a 'what' face. If he had expressions.

"And I'm thinking you're not alone in some of the strangeness going on around here lately. Something is happening, but I'm having a difficult time putting my finger on precisely what exactly, at the moment." Mostly because she's been sling-shotted forward into her older self, rather than younger.

[rekindledtitan]

Ghost starts visibly behind her, shell spinning before he darts closer to peek at Dia. Not too close, though. He's even more shy than usual. The young woman he's with isn't looking his way, though.

"Huh. That's... a very unusual name. I'm Bryn- Bryn Marshall. Nice to meet you." The introduction didn't explain anything the way she hoped it would, but mention of strange happenings sure sounds like a quest hook hint.

"What kind of strangeness?" How do you determine what's strange in this surreal environment, for that matter? "Have there been, um... problems?"

[twelve_not_fourteen]

It should be a bit of a comfort that not everyone in the Nexus has had the transformative talk with Doctor Hill, right? In fact, Han had been blissfully unaware that anything had changed at all considering most of the people he associated with were unaffected.

Except for Blaze.

Not that Captain Solo is expecting this attractive blonde lady could be the Exo he's had chats with and challenged to a race. Nope. That they could be the same person would be the farthest thing from her mind. Blaze knew her way around after all, helped acclimate Han when he arrived, even. This lady was asking the new person type questions ...

"Did you get your questions answered already, sweetheart?" He'd offer his observations, but sometimes he found that by the time he got around to these sorts of parties the info had been well distributed.

[rekindledtitan]

It's the little differences that can fool you, as much as the obvious transition from metal to flesh. The conscious attitude instead of easy confidence, the casual stance, the unfamiliar accent... and the way she gives him a skeptical look instead of bemusement at that pet name.

"Kind of. At least, the ones I had." She exhales slowly, looking him up and down. There's a vibe about him that doesn't line up with anyone she's used to meeting back in the Ishtar settlements. Something in the attitude, more than the clothes - and if he's got his blaster by his side, well, that'll catch her eye pretty quickly. The Golden Age is short on guns, except in very high-security facilities. And very illegal ones.

"I thought I had this all figured out, but- turns out I have no idea what I'm here for. And..." she's fairly sure by now it isn't a sim, but she also feels silly saying that now so like hell she'll tell this guy, "I'm, uh, starting to think I'm under-dressed."

[twelve_not_fourteen]

It would be quite a feat for Han to deduce that this woman is his guardian friend, but he doesn't have a single clue. Maybe if he knew her more thoroughly, he'd be able to pick out the subtle things that were similar, but even then it seems unlikely. It's kind of drastic to go from predominantly (or all?) metal to organic and Han's not really privy on magic enough to realize it could even do something like this.

As for the man himself, there really is something about Captain Solo that makes it hard to imagine anyone programming someone like him into a situation. He so uniquely him and ... lively. So very little about him is subdued and there's a certain mystique in him that seems impossible to recreate in even the most detailed personality capture. Likely to be a real person is a good call with him.

The DL-44, his beloved hand canon, is strapped snugly at his thigh. Where it can be drawn within a few brief seconds and brandished quite lethally by Han. It's rarely ever taken off and even when it is, the weapon is within his grasp. He sleeps with it under his pillows.

With the mention of clothes, Han gives her a better look over. With all the superheroes and generally fit women around here, he almost didn't register that she was clad in a skin-tight garb. He is now, though. Aren't you glad you brought it up, lady? "Well, I mean it's a nice look for you ..."

Han. Han. Try to focus.

"You're in a hub of many realities and universes." He murmurs, after a moment of thought. "I'm probably not the best guy to explain it, I only barely understand it myself."

[rekindledtitan]

She's distracted for a minute by the jolting realization that yes, he's armed and no, he doesn't have a uniform to explain it. Which means Han gets an equally long stare with a slightly different focus. When she finally does notice the look she's getting in return, she flushes more at the attention from a handsome stranger than any embarrassment.

Well, mostly at that. An all-concealing bodysuit isn't the most standout costume around here after all, even if it's just the inner lining of a proper suit. And she was perfectly satisfied with that rationale until she realized she was surrounded by (probable) real people who came properly dressed.

"I understood that part." She folds her arms, glances over her shoulder at the Ghost floating nearby. It's not intervening, and she's... fairly sure it would if it thought she was making a mistake in talking to this guy.

Her life is so full of unknown quantities suddenly. It's actually kind of fun.

"And- uh, you are...?" she asks, switching her attention back to Han.

[twelve_not_fourteen]

Captain Solo is observant. It was a skill that, frankly, he needed to have at a young age and has kept sharp throughout the years. As far as he can tell, she seems to be fixated on the weapon and that usually means one of two things, a person is made uncomfortable by it or they plan to attack you. Sometimes both.

Of course, Han being Han, he thinks he can smooth that over with some assurances.

"Where I come from, the stripe ..." He touches the side seam of his 'dress blues' for emphasis. As if the bright red stripe didn't stand out on its own. "It's military regalia. My homeworld gives it to men and women who conduct themselves honorably."

It's the only thing he has left to prove he'd once been a good intentioned military man - his first and second class Corellian Bloodstripes. All his decorations for being in the Imperial Navy had been taken from him upon his discharge, not that he missed them all that much considering. He'll also leave out the detail that besides being an indication of valor it also gives a Corellian the right to kill another Corellian for a lawful cause.

His galaxy is a weird place, okay?

"Some of territories I travel to are pretty rough."

The ghost is the only thing that he could possibly observe that would connect this woman to Blaze, but, not really knowing the specifics of why a guardian gets a ghost ... he just presumes that anyone can buy one like droids where he comes from. After all, there are humans where she comes from. All he's thinking is that they might be from the same galaxy.

Galaxies are huge places. So what if she has a little bot like Blaze does.

Though her prompt for an intro makes him realize that he's doing some of this getting to know her out of order. He sticks out his hand for a polite shake. "Captain Han Solo." He murmurs with a faint smile. "My ship is the Millenium Falcon."

[rekindledtitan]

"Oh." One thing she and Blaze do have in common, it turns out? It's relatively straightforward to win back their trust. She actually does relax at his explanation - the slight frown she's wearing stays, but it turns from a scrutinizing expression to a curious one. And then there's the half-teasing tone when she asks, "There's a lot of wildlife out there, huh?"

...It's been more than a century since her system had any wars. Some assumptions are just ingrained.

Also helping his cause right now: evidence of honorable service and captaining his own ship. After all, even in the Golden Age most ships are tiny; having one big enough for a crew isn't just unusual, it's cool. And Bryn... well, she's young and impressionable and she's just spent nearly a week trying to demonstrate that she's good enough to join up. The sense of having something to prove is strong - and that something is basically that she can fit in with guys like this.

"Bryn Marshall." No rank - not yet. She shakes his hand, her grip warm and firm and possibly more enthusiastic than she's trying to act. "I'm, um, pretty much just a new recruit with the- well, our System Defense Corps." She shrugs, grinning a little at herself. "Almost thought this was another evaluation when I got here. That, or some kind of induction prank."