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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 4, 2006 1:30:54 GMT -6
(So, right now I think I'm a bit too lazy to embark on a big board role-play for everyone to participate in, but... since you were interested in doing something like this since you aren't around alot to play in the room, I thought I'd start out slow and maybe work up to a bigger one. Lemme know if you don't wanna do this. *L*)
*Alison had just finished getting scanned by Dave, and her next stop was to see George in the X-Lab. She stood at the entance, a bit wary of entering, considering what happened last time she was in the lab with him*
Hello? George? Are you in here?
*She waited a few moments, and got no answer. But that wasn't surprising - it was rare that he paid attention to his surroundings when working on something. She took a breath and tiptoed into the lab, careful not to touch ANYTHING, looking around for George, and finally spotting him*
Hey, George....do you have a minute? I need your help.
*And as she approached, she held out her hand, where there was a small black dot marked in the fleshy area between her thumb and forefinger*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 4, 2006 11:26:52 GMT -6
((Sure, seems like a good idea!!))
*Daz might notice something different about the Lab from the last time she was there - namely, it appears dis-used, even dusty...in fact, if she'd sought him out at any point prior to today, she would have found the room empty....but since his discussions with Kitty, he's decided to end his self-imposed exile and try to become a contributing member again*
*you'd find him seated at a computer that has five - count 'em! - five monitors...he looks to be queuing up surveillance footage from various parts of the Mansion, and jumps slightly when you speak*
Oh--Alison!!
*his shock melts into something else - a strange smile quite unlike any you'd seen on him before - and he turns around eagerly to face you*
Sure, I'd be happy to help you. I--oh, what is that?
*he leans in closer as you hold out your hand, peering at it with interest*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 4, 2006 12:09:29 GMT -6
*makes a mental note to have Rosie, the X-Mansion cleaning robot, to come down here more often, if you aren't going to clean up after yourself. She grins and looks over your shoulder with interest, wondering if you are looking at Kitty and Piotr's "jet-waxing" footage again. She steps a bit closer with her hand held out, the black dot readily visible*
This? This marks the spot where the A-Team implanted a tracking device under my skin. And I wondered if you could do two things for me. First, do you think you could trace the signal or something? And second, do you think you could remove it, without alerting them that it's removed? Or without it blowing up?
*She added in that last part almost as an afterthought - it had been worrying her ever since Devon had asked, "Sure, how many times can a person be implanted with a bomb in their lifetime?" Because now that she thought about it, once just didn't seem like enough.*
So? Do you think its possible? I don't want them to know we found it. And I don't want them to know I'm coming...
*Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she took a seat on one of the stools, staring down at the little black dot on her hand.*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 4, 2006 13:54:16 GMT -6
*no, the footage he's looking at is more recent, and there's nothing even remotely perverted about it, you pervert...George listens to you intently, almost raptly, before nodding his head confidently*
Yes, yes....I'm sure I can take it out...
*he looks you over with concern*
Why did they put it in? Are you alright otherwise...?
*he reaches for your hand, but stops just short of actually touching it, turning his head this way and that to somehow get it in from every angle, even though it's just a dot*
I....I shouldn't think something that size will have any explosives in it....
*he thinks for a moment*
This should be no problem to take out, though...when would you like to do it?
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 4, 2006 14:05:29 GMT -6
*she beamed back at you; she'd clap her hands if you weren't studying one of them so intently*
As soon as possible. Right now?
*never mind that you might be in the middle of something important. That's just how Alison is, selfishly expecting that you'd be more than happy to drop whatever it is you are doing to cater to her needs. And why not, with the way you gaze so raptly at her sometimes. She's noticed, even if she doesn't realize what it means....yet. Guys look at her like that all the time.*
As soon as you can trace the signal, I'm going to pay Mr. Labcoat a little social call. But this time, I'll be asking him the questions.
*she keeps her hand extended, hovering mere centimeters away from yours. If you are going to remove the tracking device, you're going to have to touch her....she assumes. And yes, that means she is planning a covert infiltration mission to the A-Wing's base, if that's indeed where the signal originates from. She'll have to ask someone to go with her though. Probably.*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 4, 2006 14:18:04 GMT -6
*under ordinary circumstances, George would have dropped what he was doing to help you...since it's YOU, he THROWS down what he's doing (in a matter of speaking) to help you out...he's out of the seat in a flash, walking hurriedly to another part of the Lab*
I'd be happy to! More than happy!
*he leads you to a part of the lab full of antennae and small satellite dishes....these are all attached to a computer terminal...even though he hasn't used this device in months, he starts flipping switches and trying commands into the machine as though he just used it yesterday....he speaks to you as he works, not looking away from the machine*
The first thing we need to do is latch on to the signal.....right now I'm sampling thousands of minute variations in frequency and amplitude to-- aha!
*he bends over the screen excitedly*
I think this is it. Since we don't even have to decode the message, but follow the signal, this makes it even easier...
*turning to face you, he flashes a broad, uncharacteristic grin*
OK, I need you to take this...
*he hands you a small piece of metal about the size of a CD case....it's attached to the computer by a long wire, and the front is dominated by an LCD screen with red numbers that are constantly changing*
....and walk as far as you can over there...
*he points to the opposite side of the Lab*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 4, 2006 16:48:48 GMT -6
Okay...
*she takes the piece of metal and carries it carefully through the Lab. Very carefully - remember what happened last time she was in the Lab with you? After making her way to the opposite corner of the lab, she just stands there, holding the piece of metal gingerly - glancing down at it, reading the numbers. Though, of course, their meaning is lost upon her*
I hope this works. I mean, I know its going to work - if anyone could find them this way, it'd be you. *she paused and gave you a wide smile, confident in your skills, then continued*
I just meant, I hope they're where ever the signal ends up going.
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 4, 2006 17:35:16 GMT -6
*when you give him the compliment, he smiles in a very....ah...enraptured way, actually pausing in what he's doing to bask....in fact, as you stand there at the end of the cord's length, he doesn't say or do anything for a moment....then, like someone snapping out of a daydream, he looks around and then fixes his gaze back on the computer*
--Oh! I, erm.....OK....now go over there....
*he points to a different part of the lab....and once done, he has you go in another direction....you see, instead of doing boring old two-point triangulation, he's going to use three reference points, which should give a few more degrees of accuracy*
....Alright now....I'll need a few minutes to calculate the coordinates....
*he frowns a bit at the screen, impatient....then he turns to you*
Maybe we should have that out while this thing is working...
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 4, 2006 17:48:42 GMT -6
*she watches you, and when you just sort of stop what you're doing, she waits. And waits. Then sort of clears her throat and shuffles a bit until you snap out of it. Suddenly, she stops looking at you and focuses her gaze on the LCD screen - studying it carefully as you have her walk first one way, then another way. She felt as if she just had an insight...but that was silly. It couldn't possibly be. Shaking her head to dispel the thought, she looks back up with a smile*
And you're sure it's not booby-trapped and going to explode or something when you take it out?
*she grins, like she's joking, but she's not. Rather nervously, she approaches, first handing you the small piece of metal with one hand, then extending the other with the tracking device in it*
I mean, I just had my nails done and everything.
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 5, 2006 6:24:34 GMT -6
*the numbers on the LCD speed by with every step - really, with every movement she makes - the only way the numbers remain constant would be if Alison were to remain completely still....George whips his head toward you when you ask about booby traps*
It's....highly, highly unlikely....not in something this small...I'll be sure to check for it, though....
*he takes the tracking device and keys a few short commands into the computer...that done, he turns his attention back to you...he takes a longer-than-you'd-expect time to study the hand, once again reaching out for it but stopping just short of touching it*
In either case, this will be a lot easier than......than that other time....
*he looks up at you again with the same daffy grin*
And I promise not to do anything to your nails....
*with that, he stands, and motions you to follow him to another part of the Lab*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 5, 2006 18:51:12 GMT -6
*she just stood there, feeling a bit foolish with her hand extended, as you studied it. Besides the black dot and the pale pink polish that glittered under the light, there was nothing to see. She did notice that you once again stopped just short of actually touching her, but she didn't comment - some people weren't as comfortable with physical contact, however small, as she was*
Well, that's a relief...
*she grinned - whether she meant that she wasn't booby-trapped, or if she meant that her manicure would be safe was unclear. She followed you across the Lab, nervously twisting an errant lock of her hair - and once there, she waited for further instructions. She didn't know whether she should pray that it worked, and the A-Wing was actually at those coordinates.... or secretly hope that it didn't work and she then could say that at least she tried.*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 6, 2006 6:54:50 GMT -6
Nooo problem....
*he bobs his head up and down eagerly....what's interesting to note is that, in this environment, he appears much more confident and collected....this is how he "really" is, it's just usually hidden under a blanket of nervous awkwardness.....he leads you over to a section of the Lab that appears to have been transplanted from the MedLab....there are various surgical devices*
I had these from what happened....you know......before....
*his voice kind of falters, and his hand reaches up to touch the scar from where he had removed the bomb implanted by Nia's dad....then, with a start, he shakes his head and favors you with a smile*
This should be MUCH easier....
*he reaches for a small jar that looks like vaseline....he swabs a Q-tip into it and moves to face you*
This is a topical anesthetic I'll use before I put in the deeper numbing.... Uhm.....
*he looks around*
Why don't you sit on the table here?
*he gestures to a cleared off-section of the worktable*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 6, 2006 21:32:41 GMT -6
well, I hope it leaves less of a scar, anyway.
*she grinned and eyed the table for a moment, before gracefully hoisting herself up to sit on it, adjusting her skirt a bit as she crossed her legs*
I had to spend hours and hours in the bio-enhancer to reduce the scarring...
*lifts her shirt a bit to show you the side of her abdomen, where the scar is barely visible - a very faint pale line set against the much darker background of her tanned skin. The she dropped her shirt and proffered her hand again. She watched you with a pleasant smile on her face. It was nice to see you in your natural habitat again. It was almost like you were a different sort of person. She dropped her eyes toward her lap, and the other hand against her thigh, a mess of curls falling over her shoulder. She was intent on looking anywhere but her hand, once you started "operating" - trying to make idle chitchat to take her mind off it*
So, what were you doing before I interrupted you? Anything important?
*well, she assumed that everything you did down here was important, but some might be of a lesser priority than others. She glanced sideways, poking at a piece of equipment on the table*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 7, 2006 7:19:30 GMT -6
It should leave barely any--
*he sputters into silence when you lift your shirt to show him the scar....his eyes bug out and he blushes firecely...odd, since he looked at that very same patch of skin when he GAVE you that scar in the first place, but now, in these circumstances, it makes him acutely uncomfortable...he shifts his weight and busies himself preparing the rest of the equipment he needs...he retrieves various technological items from throughout the lab, including something that looks kind of like a can of compressed air...finally, when he can no longer ignore your question without being rude, he speaks*
I was, uhm...looking at some security footage to see if....ah...there was a malfunction with the defenses last week....
*he trails off, focusing instead on something that looks like a syringe, only there's no plunger to inject anything into you...he positions it carefully (despite his nervousness, you might be reassured to see that his hands are very steady and skillful)...he inserts the "needle" into your flesh, though you feel only a slight bit of pressure, and leaves it there for a moment*
This device is....uhm...it can detect if there are traces of various common explosives....just to be certain...
*after a few seconds, the device emits a sharp beep, and an LED on the end flashes green*
As I suspected - nothing....
*he sets the device aside, this time picking up a bona fide syringe, this one filled with a deep-tissue painkiller...this needle is far smaller than the prior one, so you literally feel nothing when he injects it....within moments, your entire hand goes numb to the wrist*
OK....hold still...
*picking up a gleaming scalpel, he makes a short incision in the flesh between your thumb and forefinger....the cut is barely a quarter-inch long, and it is completely painless...oddly, of all the things that make him nervous (and we all know how long THAT list is!), the sight of blood isn't one of them....he sets aside the scalpel and picks up a thin wire-like object and a pair of tweezers*
It's probably just floating in there....hang on...
*working carefully, he inserts the wire into the cut, and a hazy red image appears on a nearby screen....the "wire" was actually a fiber-optic camera, and allows him to see inside without having to lay open the flesh...he maneuvers the tweezers into the opening as well, making very slow and strangely graceful movements with his hands....after a moment, you feel a slight pressure, as though someone is poking you firmly with their finger*
Got it....now just....one more moment....
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 7, 2006 20:05:32 GMT -6
*she hid a grin as you sputtered and turned red, waiting patiently on the table as you retrive your instruments of torture. She certainly enjoys teasing you... and since their trip to the alternate dimension together, he seems to rise to the bait even easier. Which seemed to remind her of the looks she had been noticing you giving her lately. She absently scratched her hand, trying to put it out of her mind. It was ridiculous - you barely even liked girls! Not that you didn't LIKE them, as in you were homosexual; you just never seemed to enjoy their company or presence.*
Well, did you? I read Logan's entry in the log about a possible breach...It's sort of scary to think there may have been someone that could trespass, even with the additional security we have.
*she shuddered a bit from the thought, but then intently watched what you were doing to her....up until the moment you actually made the small incision. She let out a small noise, then turned her head toward the monitor. But she couldn't bear to watch that either and looked around for something else to stare at, finally deciding to just stare at you and hope it didn't make you too nervous. Luckily, she was preoccupied with the anticipation of the cut, that she actually missed it when you did, and when you started poking around with the tweezers. To take her mind off the fact that you are rummaging around inside her skin, she desperately thinks of something to say - she's the kind of person who talks alot when she's nervous. Finally....she speaks*
So, George...I've been wondering. Do you ever miss, or even think about, the other place?
*from the slight emphasis on "the other place," you can only surmise she's talking about the alternate dimension. It'd be interesting to hear your thoughts about it; she thinks about it alot. Mostly, all the fame and attention she got there. It was, in reality, all her aspirations and dreams come true*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 8, 2006 6:44:07 GMT -6
*his earlier embarrassment is momentarily forgotten as he devotes the entirety of his attention to the task at hand...when he answers your question, his voice is low, somewhat distracted*
I still don't have a definite answer on the security system...I can't figure out if there was actually a breach of some kind, or possibly a glitch in the system. I haven't ruled out either possibility....
*you may be distracted by what he's saying, but if you're paying attention you may feel a slight tug, and then he straightens up with a small metal device in the tweezers...it looks completely benign, resembling the tip of a pencil....George examines it warily for a moment, as if he's half-expecting it to explode despite his assurances to the contrary...but nothing happens, and he lets out a relieved gust of air*
No problems....they were obviously counting on keeping it hidden rather than any sort of defense...
*he shoots you a brief, victorious grin, sets the tweezers (and the prize they hold) aside, and begins stitching up your hand....he has very obviously not addressed your question about 'the other place', though whether that's intentional or not is up to you to determine*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 9, 2006 13:45:36 GMT -6
*she studies your face intently - mostly so she wouldn't be tempted to look down as you prodded her hand with the tweezers. She inhaled sharply as she felt the tug, her body tensing for some sort of explosion. Then she smiled foolishly and exhaled a deep breath when nothing happened, risking a glance at the small device.*
Whew. That's a huge relief.
*she beamed back at you, then suddenly flinched as you started stitching her hand, her eyes widening and she quickly looks away again*
George?
*nudging you lightly with her foot, looking up at you, careful to keep her eyes away from her hands*
You didn't....um....answer my question. Do you?
*she paused, pulling a slight face. Maybe you didn't want to talk about. Maybe it was too traumatic for you. But she DID want to talk about it; with someone. And you, you were there. You'd understand. Well, maybe you'd understand -- maybe you wouldn't. But sometimes she felt it bubbling up inside of her, and she had to talk to someone about it*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 10, 2006 13:00:40 GMT -6
*he looks up sharply as you nudge him, his face going inexplicably red -- after all, it was an innocent question, right?...he continues to work on your hand, and when he does speak, he addresses the wound he's attending*
I...well...I can't NOT think about it...it'll always be there in my head. It was scary.
*he says it in a pretty matter-of-fact way...if he's ashamed of admitting his fear, it doesn't show*
It was....not the kind of thing I could ever get used to. I'm really glad you were there.
*his eyes flick up to you briefly, so fast you might miss it if you weren't watching...the redness on his face intensifies*
You kept me safe. You....you never let it bother you, and, well...it was helpful for me to see that. I probably wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. And I...well....
*he clams up all of a sudden, as if realizing, belatedly, he might not have exactly answered the exact question you asked*
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Post by RazzleDazzle on Sept 10, 2006 13:40:58 GMT -6
You....what?
*she tilts her head a bit to the side, regarding you. On one hand, she's supremely curious to what you might say. But, on the other hand, she's starting to get slightly uncomfortable, afraid it might be something mushy. Not that she doesn't like it when guys say mushy things to her - but you were different. She caught the quick look, noted the very flushed face, and bit her bottom lip briefly*
Well, you probably wouldn't have even gone there, had it not been for me... So, I'm sorry for that. But, you know...
*she pauses, as if unsure whether to say this next part or not. She's pretty sure she's said it before, but in the end, she decides to plunge ahead and say it*
I'm glad you were there too. After all, you're the one that got us back - I couldn't have done it on my own. I'd still be there now, if not for you.... either married to WonderMan, or Mojo's princess Leia slave.
*She made a face at the thought, but grinned good-naturedly. Ultimately, she thinks that's a good thing- being back "home." Sure, she misses all the fame and attention- and extra brawny WonderMan as well - but, it just wasn't her home.*
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Post by m i c h a e l on Sept 10, 2006 13:52:02 GMT -6
*now, he's SEEN Return of the Jedi, and trying to imagine you in a Princess Leia slave outfit is EXTREMELY distracting to him...the blush is so intense now that he actually turns away from you before he has enough composure to speak*
You uh....I, uhm.... Your hand is all right. It should....should be fine now....
*his voice cracks on that last sentence, and he plunges ahead*
I'll do the analysis on the signals and let you know what I come up with.
*he's quite the master at avoidance behavior, isn't he?*
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