padd | video; a proposed solution

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oc: devin parker

video; a proposed solution

[Devin would much prefer to keep to himself, but circumstances suggest that's not going to be an option. They all know too little of this place and of each other. He looks faintly annoyed on the screen.]

Given recent events, perhaps it would be wise for each of us to make an account of what our respective needs may be. Q does not seem a reliable option, and since I certainly wouldn't trust anyone here enough to share such private details, I propose an alternative: report to the infirmary and have the details saved to our medical files. A direct recording by the computer, not a person. These can be encrypted, and overridden only by medical staff, who presumably understand something of privacy or can be sworn to it.

If anyone has any better ideas, don't hold your tongue.

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[ Misa looks irritated as well. ]

What medical staff? There aren't any EmDees here, let alone actual medics. Never mind that, though. Exactly why should we do what you say?

[ You're not the boss of her! ]

[The vampire merely raises an eyebrow.]

César Salazar identified a program in the infirmary called the Emergency Medical Hologram. Lacking medical staff ought to qualify as an emergency. I believe that program should cover the problem of encryption and privacy reasonably well, in fact.

And you do not have to do as I say; I am proposing an idea and opening a forum for discussion. If you think I'm giving orders, perhaps you should get your ears checked by the EMH while you're at it.

It's a hologram. Just what is it supposed to do exactly?

[ Has he ever been around a hologram? ]

You do realize that holograms can't affect the real world right? Have you been around holograms before?

[ She cocks her head to the side. ]

Do you know what an EmDee is?

[Clearly she hasn't ever been around one of the holograms here yet. And she seems to think him very ignorant just because he's not from her world.]

You ought to visit one of the holosuites; those in this world are hard light holograms. Fully interactive, to one's every specification.

I do not. [Dryly:] We don't have them where I'm from, but I assume you mean to enlighten me.

[ She stares. A world with no droids. She'll come back to the holograms later. ]

EmDees are medical droids? They can be trained for specific care, but usually that's left up to the sentient medic.

[With mild amusement:] The letters 'MD' stand for Medical Doctorate where I come from. Intriguing coincidence.

They sound useful, if a bit redundant. The EMH is probably more advanced than your 'droids', though I have yet to test it personally myself. What would satisfy your objections?

Actually having an EmDee would be nice. No droid food. Or whatever it's called. My guard and cook being here.

[ Is she rich? Is she a spoiled brat? Both? ]

But beyond that? Nothing.

[What is the deal with this girl? He can't tell if she's simply scared or if she's always this stuck up, or both.]

Well, you'll just have to learn how to deal with it. Complaining about it isn't going to get you anywhere, and that energy could be put to better use.

'Droid food'. You mean the replicators?

[ The answer is always both. ]

Oh? And would you have me service you as well as Q? Since that's really all we're doing.

Whatever they're called, they're computers making food.

[Ah. That one statement tells him far too much about this girl, and it makes fury pit in his stomach. Devin carefully does not allow this to show on his face, merely tipping his head to the side a little.]

No. I'm not that kind of monster.

[And it would serve no purpose to snap at her for assuming he'd take advantage of her regardless of what he says.]

There are many things to do and to learn here that would be a better way to spend your time than complaining. We're all stuck here; you may as well get used to it.

[ She snorts, not believing him for a moment. ]

All males are that kind of monster at some point in time.

[ She knows this to be true. Despite Q saying that she would not be sold, she doesn't believe that either. ]

[The vampire sighs and resolutely does not allow his anger at whoever made this girl think that way to show. She's not the one deserving of that anger, and she'd easily misinterpret it.]

I wouldn't expect you to believe otherwise, no matter how truthful I am.

We've gotten off-topic; I don't expect you to entrust personal information to me either. The decision is yours whether to utilize the EMH's services or not. At the moment, it is the closest thing we have to medical staff.

[ He's love Mistress Habani. ]

Why should I?

[ She's at least being honest with him. ]

Maybe if we service Q well, he'll bring us medical staff. Though I doubt it. He seems to have more a sadistic streak.

[Devin raises an eyebrow.]

Do you actually want an answer to that question, or are you simply being petulant because things are different to what you know?

[He supposes there are other alternatives, like her covering fear with brattiness, but she's even less likely to admit to that.]

[ She raises one back. ]

I am not petulant.

[ She really is. ]

But you have not answered me. Why should I trust anything you say? Why should I trust anything anyone says?

[ Except for Jocko and Freema, that is. ]

[Her non-answer is answer enough. She may have been forced into the world of adults too soon, but she is a child all the same. While Devin has a tendency to collect orphans and misfits among vampires, he's never had strong skills with children. Vi is always better at talking to them, despite her incredible age.]

So, you expect me to answer your questions, but you will not answer mine? What makes your questions somehow more worthy of reply?

[He sounds coolly speculative, as though he's not expecting a real response.]

You don't have to trust what anyone says; I already told you that you don't have to. Maintaining skepticism is not necessarily a bad thing, in a situation like this. It will be up to you to decide who to trust based on their behavior. And sometimes, you will make the wrong choice, and you'll have to learn to deal with it.

In this specific instance? I am offering a suggestion, not making a mandate. I am not telling you to do anything. [Dryly:] I suggest you learn the difference between those things.

[ She's quiet a moment. ]

Where I'm from, there is no difference.

[ Not when it comes to adults, anyway. ]

[There is something to be said for the more familiar, better tech than he had in the last place. Then again, there always seems to be a filthy tradeoff to get closer to where he belongs. Having to maintain breathing again feels like a chore, even when it's a basal instinct now.]

[He stares at the screen, exhausted.]

Fine, someone may as well know how this works.

[A bit dryly:] I didn't say you had to tell me, but I think we all put ourselves in jeopardy if we do not make the information available somehow.

[There is a short pause.]

You look like you need a nap or five. [Rude, Devin.]

I am trying to figure this whole "human" thing out again. Forgive me for missing out on my beauty sleep when I lack the comfort of my lair.

[He drags a hand down his face and then through his hair.]

I trust the machine to know what it's doing over you, don't worry.

[Devin's eyebrows go up.]

Again? What are you, if not human?

[He sounds honestly curious, for now.]

[Nos looks very tired, even beyond the annoyance. How many times has he- it feels like odd nostalgia.]

I was originally created as an energy vampire, the finest, deadliest machine in the universe.

Then I was a lich for a bit.

[Something lurches instinctively in Devin at the word 'vampire', but at most it shows as a furl between his eyebrows. This man, whoever he was, is now human. That means he's off-limits, for the time being.

Vi would probably get a real kick out of him.]

I suppose I can see how being made… organic would be a trying experience. Was it Q who did that to you as well?

[If Q is going to start transmuting them all, that's a problem.]

He's not the first to change my form. He just made me human again. It was the Fog God, presumably in another universe, playing with people's lives. This Q fellow seems a bit less cruel about it.

Or perhaps it's simply a different form of cruelty. Though if it is less cruel, I'll certainly take that.

[He's had quite enough of immortal beings messing with his life, thank you.]

Since you've had experience being transported between universes like this, your insight may be very valuable to the rest of us while we sort ourselves out.

I know at least one other person who comes from the same sort of hub I did. But I could lend a hand, for my own sake.

There are worse things than self-interest if it manages to benefit others, too.

[He offers a mirthless smile.]

What's your name?

Nos-4-a2. Yes, it is meant to be pronounced like that.

[Beat. For politeness that's expected of him.]

And yours?

[The smile takes on the corner of a real smirk. That's quite a name.]

Devin Parker.

May I ask who the other person is?

[It will be interesting whether Nos-4-a2 opts to protect that person's privacy or not.]

Deon.

[May as well throw him into whatever this is. God forbid he be alone in this once again.]

[... what has he come to?]

I assume we didn't all arrive exactly at once, have you been here longer than I have?

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video; a proposed solution

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