nexus_crossings | Ghosts in the Machine

Ghosts in the Machine

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...

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"For the System Defense Corps..." She's noticed that uncertainty, and it's confusing because on the one hand it suggests he isn't a computer program; on the other, a live officer ought to know what he's doing here. "I got in from the Ishtar Sink last week and I was hoping to join up..." Shit, has she broken the sim boundaries already?

Ghost, on the other hand, thinks he has figured out some of this puzzle. It's really, really unfortunate that he can't mouth behind her ba- oh. Oh wait. How about this? He projects a holographic string of text above himself, blue and flickering: She thinks you're a computer playing a human.

Beat.

She's very confused. Possibly time-displaced. Uncertain how much to tell her.

So it is Ghost. Which makes the woman in front of him...

No way.

He almost says Blaze's name aloud, but manages to stop himself in time. His eyes still widen as the realization sets in, but he smooths over his expression quickly enough. Time to get creative as he aims to figure out what the hell is going on.

"That's very noble of you," he says with a smile. "Not everyone has that kind of drive or heart. I think you'd do well in the Corps." Wow this feels weird to say to an Exo who already is everything she set out to be and... who...

Wait a second. He gives her a good once over, eyeing her "clothes" closely. "Are you..." Beat. Nope. Don't finish that thought. Try again. "Where did your armor go?"

Behind her, Ghost bobs a nod as the realization hits home. And represses a sigh. At least he's not the only one who'll need time to take this in.

"Thank you, sir." And yes, it's a very good thing Hughes didn't finish that thought: as it is, Bryn's expression just went from happy embarrassment at the compliment to plain sheepishness.

"Um... I couldn't move in the equipment I started in. It was locked down completely. I'm... not actually trained for any combat equipment yet, and definitely nothing like that. I'm honestly surprised if anyone can use that..."

"Armor of that class has some... specialized requirements," Ghost concedes. "Since I had no alternative to offer, my- she chose to retain her inner suit in the meantime."

Inner suit. Oh! Hughes remembers that now from the body swap incident. Which... basically means Blaze is running around in her underwear. Cue the slightly embarrassed look on his face as he tries to make his way past that thought quickly.

"Ahh, too right. Wouldn't want to unduly weigh her down in a place like this." Not that it's dangerous in the Plaza, but if she feels uncomfortable, there's a chance that she'll do something extra reckless. Because even as a human, this woman is still Blaze and Hughes knows that she's likely to have many of the same personality traits as he remembers from before.

Now to see what he can do to help poor Ghost out. "So, Bryn, why join the System Defense Corps? What's your motivation?" He's certain she's covered all of this already, but he doesn't care. If he's going to help, Hughes needs all the intel he can get.

"It's good to be able to move," Bryn agrees just a little wryly. She can feel the awkwardness too, Hughes, even if she has to shrug and admit it can't be helped just now. Besides, at least it looks like outerwear on a glance.

She tries to forget about that for now - who cares in a sim anyway, right? And this question is definitely familiar ground: she nods slightly even as he's asking. The Ghost drifts closer, sidling around to get a view of her face, and that's not surprising either.

"I'm from the Ishtar Sink, sir. Growing up around the Academy, living around all the research stations and jungles- I suppose I've had a pretty good taste of how much we still don't know about what's out there. In the system or beyond. Even with the Traveler's help, there'll always be some new challenge waiting for humanity. I want to be out there helping us face it." There's the slightest moment before she decides on adding, "Joining the Corps is the best way I know of doing that."

It's not quite the answer Blaze would give, and it's definitely more calculated, but the general sentiment may be familiar.

It's a spark of the Blaze he knows and that's more than enough for Hughes. He can't help but smile at her because of it.

"And how, exactly, would you want to help with that challenge? Would you fight? Would you be a diplomat? How would you choose to help humanity?" It's an interesting question to ask, not one that's always considered when people show up for an interview like the one Bryn is assuming she's in. It's just as important, though.

Smiling is good. Smiling means she gave a solid answer, and Bryn relaxes just a little more, thinking about his new question.

"I... don't really think I'm qualified to be a diplomat, sir. I'd certainly fight if that was necessary - I mean, there are still armed criminals out there." No, she's not counting war as a major possibility. Or fighting as a significant part of her job... "But either way the Corps has to take care of a lot of dangerous jobs - security, frontier mapping, even setting up new outposts - I don't really mind, sir. I just know someone has to take the risks, and I'm willing to do it."

And the smile widens. So much of the Blaze he knows and yet so different at the same time. It's both amazing and terrifying at the same time.

"I'm sure that, whatever you end up doing, you'll do it well." A beat, and then he asks, "What would you do if things got bad out there? If war rolled around? Do you see yourself on the front lines or trying to help from the command post?"

It's a reasonable question to ask, really, even if she looks faintly puzzled by it. It's not like he's suggesting anything, it's just the kind of thing they need to know. Obviously.

"I suppose that depends on where I'd be most use," she says, dropping her gaze as she thinks. "I mean, I don't know how well I'd handle being in combat. Especially not if I had to kill anyone. And maybe I'd just do more good behind the lines... somehow."

She frowns, looks up at him with the intensity of something decided. "But honestly, sir? I think I'd have a hard time sitting in a chair somewhere while other people were actually on the ground fighting. And I- well, I like to think I'd handle it as well as anyone else. I just hope it doesn't come to that."

It's so strange to think of Blaze behind the lines, directing troops rather than being out in front of them all. She's a wonderful, reckless soul, and as far as Hughes is concerned, she should be on the front lines. It's where she does her best work, where her colors fly, and where her skills shine the most.

"I'm sure you'd handle it better than you think." He gives her an encouraging smile, but it fades slightly as he continues. "It's always the hope that things won't get any worse, but you should always be prepared for the possibility that they will."

"Thank you, sir." Despite the serious turn of the discussion, it's not hard for his smile to prompt one from her in turn, bright and honest. "And... I know I should. I know after this I'm committed to doing my duty whatever happens. It just doesn't seem very likely - we'd have to get out of our system and make contact with another species before we even could go to war."

She shrugs. Insofar as war is anything to get excited about, it's still not wise to start daydreaming about heroic defenses and 'seeing action'. She's pretty sure the Corps wants people with some sense of realism. "I understand the next few decades are probably going to involve mostly training and routine work. But that's still important. I'd be proud to do it."

She's so bright, so optimistic compared to his Blaze. It's endearing in its own way, even if it weirds him out a little. He flicks his gaze to Ghost for a moment when she's not looking and shrugs before turning his attention back to Bryn.

"I'd say you have everything you need to join the Corps, then. I'm certain you'll do everyone proud and put your best effort into everything that's asked of you." He nods and stands a little straighter, putting on the air of the commanding officer he actually is. "The Corps is lucky to be gaining someone like you, Bryn, and I'm certain they'll see that as much as I do in no time at all."

Ghost seems just as unsettled. The bot is staring at Bryn, gaze twitching to study every expression and shift of her weight. When he spots Hughes looking his way, he makes a quick little motion, as if shaking his head.

Meanwhile the 'recruit' straightens her spine, stifling a happy grin and nodding earnestly instead. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."

Ghost moves closer over her shoulder to address Hughes, "

Colonel, I think it would be a good idea to introduce... Bryn... to some of the Nexus's more interesting features. It seems a good opportunity to evaluate how she acclimates to unfamiliar environments.

"

...And keep her out of harm's way until she's back to her old self. Maybe even coax her into relaxing a little.

"That's an excellent point," Hughes agrees, nodding in a very knowing manner to Ghost. "And the first thing to do is to find a place to eat, because if I'm hungry, I can only assume you must be, too." He nods to Bryn and then motions for her to fall in step next to him as he heads toward Downtown. "Any allergies I should know of before I find us a place to eat?"

Regardless of how she answers, he'll lead them on through the Nexus at an easy pace, pointing out some of the more fascinating sights - like the Grand Library and that funny little shop Flixbuster where some Nexus denizens gather to watch movies from time to time - and some of the more mundane, but useful, shops as well. It's a good way to gauge her reactions to new things and see if he can't coax memories of her current (future?) life out of her.

To be honest, Bryn finds it hard to feel hungry after waking up in a high-tech simulation and being introduced to an AI and a Lieutenant Colonel in quick succession. But then, it's a perfectly reasonable plan and she doesn't really want to argue. Soldiers presumably have to get used to eating when they ought to, not when they feel like it. And hey, there's nothing like a scenic walk to give you an appetite.

(Does that work the same in a sim? She supposes she'll find out.)

"No, sir. I've been through the full set of allergy screens and nothing was flagged." She matches his pace easily: she's a few inches shorter than her Exo counterpart, but she's still pretty long-legged and used to being on her feet.

She can't help feeling a bit more self-conscious knowing her companions are out to study her reactions, but she's doing her best to co-operate. She tries to just focus on what she's seeing and not think about the scrutiny she's under. The sheer strangeness of the place helps: trying not to stare at other people in turn, doing the occasional double-take at some of the street vendors and lifting her head to catch the occasional strain of music both alien and oddly familiar...

And then there's the great library. She whistles on seeing it (and then tries to surreptitiously check their reactions because she doesn't know how much decorum they're expecting). She wonders aloud how it compares to the Ishtar Archives, and frowns with patriotic disbelief when Ghost tells her it's almost certainly far vaster. He'll have his work cut out to convince her of that, clearly. Flixbuster, on the other hand? She thinks that's adorably antique, despite the twist of her mouth when she peers inside that says it's definitely the 'Dung Ages' kind of charm. And people get together in there? Still? Do they ever clean it?

"It's funny how people still stick to ancient ways even when there's a technologically better alternative," she remarks after some thought.

No allergies is good. No allergies means Hughes can take them wherever he pleases - which means a spot for coffee and snacks because he's in the Nexus and that's how he rolls when no one's around to tell him it's a terrible idea.

"Not everyone here is from a more advanced world," Hughes points out as they continue along. "For some, this is the peak of current technology. For others, it's far beyond anything their world could even begin to dream of. And sometimes, it's nice to step back and enjoy things the 'old fashioned' way. Would you tell them any of these people that they're wrong for having fun this way? If they asked you, would you join them for an evening of doing things this way?"

He's not pushing because he thinks she needs to be pushed or that she's got an invalid opinion. What he wants is to see how she reacts when he does.

Claim they're wrong? She's shaking her head even before she answers, "I wouldn't say that, sir. If that's their idea of fun, well, that's it." She shrugs a little, even if he's not looking: she's just prone to express herself physically in general. "If they asked me along, I'd give it a whirl. I suppose it... would be good for building relations with people. Meeting them on their level."

She's thinking aloud, as she tries to refine a good answer for him, but on the upside Bryn doesn't seem to take it badly when she's pushed. Maybe she's used to being argued with back home, maybe she's getting used to it after a few interviews. Or maybe it's just in her nature to appreciate a little push-back.

"It just seems strange when they have access to more advanced tech. But I guess we're the same, using cars even though they're obsolete."

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Ghosts in the Machine

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