rekindledtitan | Excerpt 002: Traveler's Rest

Entry tags:

Excerpt 002: Traveler's Rest

TYPE: Personal log

LOCATION: The Last City, Earth

PARTIES: Three [3]. One [1] Ghost-type, [1] Guardian-type, designate Blaze-37, Class Titan [

rekindledtitan ], One [1] Unconfirmed, designate Willis, Verity [

brave_heart_verity ]; [other parties redacted]

ASSOCIATIONS: Multiversal Nexus; Verity Willis; Earth; The City; Vanguard; Blaze-37; Glass-smiths

An Exo ought to be good at waiting. They're soldier and machine both, trained for stoicism and designed for tireless analysis. Blaze sometimes thinks she’s the only one built who ever gets bored. (Aside from Cayde, maybe, and he makes it sound like he's had a very long time to learn.)

Her patrol concluded without much incident, she paces back to the Forum, guns still dozing at her back and her Ghost zipping curiously from one side to the other ahead of her. It murmurs its observations to her in passing, and she responds gladly. A fight would be better, but she’ll take the idle chatter. Her memory is brimming with new half-processed data, even from one patrol in the Nexus – odd discussions heard and alien kitchens smelt, the weird spiky grass in the park crunching under her boots, so many- one hundred and forty-three new faces since the last trip, ninety-one human by visual-

But she isn’t one for dwelling on things. So she circles the Forum to take in the sights, cutting her route through the spot where she and Verity last spoke to make sure of spotting her friend.

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The doctor's working with brisk efficiency, taking his readings and relaying them to the computer. But Blaze already seems subtly restless - she's not outright fidgeting, but her attention flicks from doctor to Verity to computer to a speculative look at the desk-frame, and she shifts her weight now and then, giving the impression she's ready to move any time.

"My Ghost can help with that," she's quick to volunteer when Dr. Saab sets up the computer analysis. He gives her - and the Ghost - a quick nod and thanks, letting the little bot float in to monitor the process as well as speed it up.

Meanwhile, the doctor has Verity take her glasses off for a quick retinal check (with appropriate murmurs of 'okay, very good'), then picks up a tablet. "Okay, so, just a few quick questions now. You said you've had immunizations from the, ah, from another future. And a new suite of gut flora, correct? Was this from another doctor? And how long has it been since then?"

Oh, fun with lights. Her favorite. She's glad when that's over.

"There were doctors involved, yes. About two months ago I was helping a friend with something and picked up a nasty case of food poisoning. When I got better she took me to get treatments so it wouldn't happen again. That's why I also got the gut flora. Although they're quite useful even when I'm not time-traveling. I process food more efficiently, and I don't get hangovers anymore, that's really nice." She doesn't get really drunk anymore either, which she's sure is supposed to also be a good thing.

The whole adventure gets a 'what are ya gonna do?' shrug. She's adapting quickly to this mysterious new lifestyle of hers. "Are you going to need to check those too?"

"I would like to, however-" he might glance at Blaze, being quite a proficient reader of body language, "I don't think I need to subject you to that." It's not a fun procedure! "I should be able to give you a supplement without them interacting. If you do experience any side-effects I want you to contact me immediately.

"The same goes for the vaccinations, of course. I'm going to check your profile first, but I expect I can give you the standard set of shots. There are four of those, and you'll need to come back for at least two more rounds, depending on how long you're staying in the City."

"No problem there," Blaze says, giving away her expectations on that point.

"Thank you. I didn't love the idea of that." There's only a few ways she can think of for him to get those samples and all of them sound terrible. "I could... ask my friend for some of the pills? Then you could study them without having to have me here?" She's reasonably certain Samus will agree, and that they can work out the payment somehow.

"Uh. Okay, just let me know when I need to come back." She doesn't love shots. It's not the needles so much as the burning. Blaze can tease her about the faces she'll be making later. "Blaze, if it comes to it, I'd like to officially request a prince carry instead of a potato sack."

Verity, you just made the doctor's day. He looks delighted. "If that's possible, it would be wonderful. Thank you! It's been a long time since we had microbes so versatile. The boost it would give us, in the long run, would mean a great deal to us."

Can you tell the microbiology end is his specialty?

Blaze chuckles at her request. "You sure? I just got all this new padding on my shoulders..."

"I don't think it's as comfortable from the outside, somehow."

"You're welcome. I'm sure we'd both be happy to help." How could Samus turn down two friends at once? "What you're doing here is really important. And I mean it about wanting to help however I can."

Verity gives Blaze a smirk. "Yeah, but it's so much more romantic my way." This is the most obvious joking in the history of jokes. A neon sign could not make it more obvious.

The doctor doesn't hide the curiosity that tugs at his expression, but he doesn't dare to ask what else she might in fact be helping with. With all that's been said so far, he thinks it best to watch his tongue.

"Is it? Huh. Never thought of it that way." Blaze sounds amused. Of course she's kidding. There's definitely no way this will come back to haunt Verity. She shoots the doctor a frown, though. "These shots won't really knock her out, will they?"

"Erm, no. Hopefully." He's saved her scrutiny by a chirp from the computer, and swivels his chair around. "Ah, okay, let's see how your profile's looking."

"Almost clear on the allergy chart," Ghost announces.

That's probably for the best, she doesn't want to lie. And her innocent look needs a lot of work.

"Well, that's how they do it in the movies with the princesses, and you know if there's anything I've always wanted to be, it's a Disney princess. Oh, wait, you probably don't have Disney movies here... erm. Cartoon fairy tales." Do they have movies? Do they have cartoons? So much to learn.

So long as it's Ghost doing the haunting, she can live with it.

The announcement of results makes her adjust her glasses and lean forward. She'd have been so good in a lab if life had turned out differently for her. Good, and possibly radioactive and/or superheroic.

Seems they have both, to go by how the doctor's curious glance shifts to understanding. Blaze has other priorities. "If it's the kind of story where I get to fight a dragon, I'm in. 'Course, it might be hard to find a live one."

Everyone gets to crowd around the screen, although Dr. Saab moves over to show the results to Verity. They're getting the allergens out of the way first. "Thank you, Ghost. This is about what I'd expect. You're showing a probable allergy to dregplate - which is a kind of cheap construction metal used in some parts of the City. Not very surprising, so don't worry. About four humans in five have that one. You probably won't actually come into contact with it, but that's just something to be aware of, hm?"

He switches over to the combined antigen/microbe analysis - and Verity might be interested to note that most of the little ID tags on the list are highlighted in green and flagged as match. Most of the rest are in yellow and flagged as 'derivation traced'. The doctor makes a lot of 'mmhmm' noises as he scrolls down, stopping to check the yellow flags as he goes. These all seem to be bugs Verity has had, or ben immunized against - or in the case of a mild flu strain, carries - that are identified by probable relatives or descendants already in the database.

"Might be harder to find one who wants to kidnap me." Dragons are used to princesses, not sass talking weirdos.

"Dregplate. Sounds charming. Why use it if so many people are allergic?" There go her dreams of getting into the construction business. "I'll be careful."

The analysis does have her interest. It's so neatly organized. She's not a medical professional and never wanted to be one, but she appreciates a well-crafted computer program. "Derivation traced? That was so fast. Wow."

"Oh, yeah." Sorry, Verity, she's completely missed the intended implication. And also mixing up her bedtime stories, because legends about dragons are slightly different here. "You'd be pretty hard to trick into a bargain. Could still punch them for trying, though," she adds thoughtfully. The doctor stifles a smile.

"

At some times, especially early in the City's history, reliable building materials have been very scarce. Dregplate is a catch-all term for recycled alloys that contain some proportion of metal from salvaged Fallen ships. It's actually the impurities from melting down large chunks of alien scrap that cause the reaction. Nowadays City regulations require it to be painted over and limits where it can be used at all. The Tower doesn't use it, for example.

"

"But don't rest bare skin anywhere the paint is peeling down in the City," the doctor adds. "I used to get terrible rashes as a kid from that."

Verity's appreciation draws a smile from him. "We have our friend the Ghost to thank for that. And ah, I think this will be your other set of vaccinations." This refers to a large set of antigens highlighted in blue - unidentified but friendly, so to speak. Dr. Saab studies them with some fascination before switching windows and highlighting things as he sets up a comparison. "I want to double-check there won't be any reaction with our immunizations, but at a first glance I don't see any conflicts."

That's not a story she's familiar with, but she's barely familiar with stories so she files it away as "something I haven't got to yet". "It's nice to know you'd be so valiant a defender of my honor. Thank you."

Ghost's explanation gets a thoughtful hum. She can't really blame them for using whatever they could. A rash is the lesser of two evils. "I'll be careful. Thanks for the warning." Not that she expects to be let out of the Tower soon, or ever.

"Thank you, Ghost." Ghost is awesome. There is again the urge to try petting him, but again she refrains. Not something to attempt for the first time in public like this. She looks over the blue section, but having no real idea what any of this is, she can't make much sense of it. When he starts setting up the comparisons she leans back and stretches. "Oh, please, take your time. Better safe than sorry."

"Ah, any time." Blaze chuckles happily, although if Verity ever does have an impertinent dragon on her hands, well, the Titan was being quite sincere.

"My pleasure," Ghost replies, still hovering over the computer, waiting to help with the next comparisons. "It's interesting to stretch my biological protocols once in a while."

The doctor nods to Verity's latter remark. "It's better not to take chances in our situation."

The analysis takes a couple of minutes with Ghost's help, but after examining the results, Dr. Saab pronounces himself satisfied. After a few general-health questions, he'll be able to prep the shots for her. Blaze perks up at this sign of progress, although personally she doesn't envy her friend all that getting punctured. It looks much more uncomfortable than just opening an access panel.

Oh, it's really only a matter of time before Verity pisses off a dragon or something. Being her friend is bound to be endlessly rewarding when it comes to these things.

"Well, we wouldn't want you to get out of practice." She's sure there's all kinds of interesting biological things to examine in the Nexus. People and plants and probably the furniture sometimes. Even the rocks are sometimes gargoyles.

Shots are so much more uncomfortable. Needles are not great fun. But, needs must, and Verity holds out her arm when the time comes and closes her eyes. Deep breaths. Staying calm will help it hurt the least.

That may not be why Blaze likes her now, but it's worth adding to the list.

"Considering all of the new friends we're making, I agree." The gargoyles are particularly exciting, it must be said! But the Ghost has been minding its manners and not taking scans of people without permission.

Notwithstanding all these cryptic remarks (although, youngish Guardian plus obviously crazy exploration missions: he can supply his own answers) the doctor is sympathetic to Verity's dislike for the needles. He does his best to make sure the jabs are as painless and non-jabby as possible, talking to her all the while. "Nice and still now, you'll feel a pinprick and then some pressure, okay? ...And very good, we'll just give that a little wipe now..."

He doesn't rush, because the only thing worse than getting a series of needles stuck in you is having them stuck in you repeatedly to correct mistakes. Still, he's soon placing what feels like a band-aid over the last and sorest injection site. (It is a band-aid, and presumably for important public health reasons, it has a little Ghost picture on it.) "And there you are, all done!"

Ghost is a gentleman and a scholar. Blaze is brave and forthright. No wonder they make such a good team.

Verity hasn't had this many shots in a while, but she knows the routine. Deep breaths, let it out while getting the shot, and save the squirming for in-between. Listening to him talk about what he's doing isn't her favorite way of not thinking about it, but he means well so she won't actually kick him.

"Thank you." The picture on the band-aid gets a smirk from her. "Cute. When do I need to come back?"

"Two weeks, all going well. You might feel some nausea and mild symptoms, like a flu, and your arm will be sore for a little while. But if you experience any strong fever, pains or fainting, you call me immediately, okay? Your friends here will show you how to use the public comms network."

"So she's good to go?" Blaze asks hopefully. "We've got a whole lot of Tower to get to."

"Digestive supplements first, Guardian. Then you can go." Which come in a little cup, so hooray. It tastes like a slightly odd yogurt.

"Thank you, Doctor. I will."

She'll eat the yogurt stuff as quick as she can. She doesn't want to make Blaze wait any longer than necessary. It's not the best thing ever but it's better than another shot.

"There. I believe we're now free to go."

The doctor takes the cup back and smiles approvingly. "Take care out there. And I hope you enjoy the City, for however long you're staying." He shoots Blaze a curious look at that, but she doesn't seem to notice.

"Thanks, doctor. Good luck with the, uh, patients." With a nod to Verity, she leads the way out of the door, eager to get moving. "So, first stop: the Warlock halls." She keeps her promises, although she isn't blessed with a knack for discretion.

"Thank you." The doctor and the receptionist get waves on her way out, but she won't let anything delay Blaze any longer. Thank goodness she doesn't have to worry about insurance paperwork.

To be honest, she's glad to be moving again too. Even a good doctor isn't as much fun as exploring. "That sounds exciting. What is it that Warlocks do?"

"They're another type of Guardian. Warrior-scholars, with more of an emphasis on the scholar. They study the Traveler's Light and draw power from understanding it better."

As they re-emerge onto the plaza, she points out a Guardian nearby, an Awoken man with pale blue skin and a rather punk-looking red hairdo. He's also wearing what looks like a cross between a robe and an armored longcoat. On his left arm is something glimmering, as if it's set with an intricately cut jewel. "See the ones with the coats and the bonds on their arms? That's them."

Blue skin and punk hair? Eye-catching. "The bond is the jewel? That... helps them with... the light?" Maybe they should just sit her down in front of a computer and let her read ~~the Wiki~~ up on all this stuff. "How do Guardians choose what they're going to do?"

Blaze isn't judging. She knows it's a lot to take in. She's been there, and not so long ago. "It's a kind of armband. Doesn't do anything, exactly. It's a symbol. Like Hunters have cloaks, and Titans like me have marks." She slaps the embroidered and battle-stained cloth at her hip.

They're turning right along the side of the plaza, toward an entrance marked by green banners. Blaze sounds thoughtful as she considers Verity's second question. "You know, I'm not sure how you know. It's just an instinct, I guess. Although, Ghost, you put together that light plate and a mark for me the day you raised me. So I guess Ghosts know from the start. Something in how our Light responds, maybe."

It really is so much to take in. The shape of the world is familiar, and the people are still people, but so many details are foreign. It's a little unnerving, like falling into the Uncanny Valley sometimes. "Oh. So... Ghost... I'm guessing you don't mean 'raised' like in raising a child because that would take more than a day."

Green banners mean warlocks? She can remember that.

"Heh, no. More like raised from the dead. The first time, I mean, on the day it found me." Ghost gets a fond look at that. Maybe the familial comparison isn't so far off.

Green banners mean the North Tower, according to the writing on the walls. Or at least a passage leading there. At least the people here believe in good signage? The passage also doubles as storage for odd piles of crates, and it's accumulated a few piles of broad red leaves.

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As of right now Ghost is totally getting a tiny bedsheet costume for Halloween.

Yay! :D :D

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