TDM 001. WELCOME TO THE CITY

[headandhand]

» 01. WELCOME WAGON

Wow, what a bunch of new faces! The city of Dualis hasn't seen anything like this in a long time, and they've seen some pretty crazy things. Chances are you're seeing some pretty crazy things, too, unless you're used to a lot of neon, robots, weird-ass technology, magic, and an omnipresent police force...and hey, if you are, congrats, you're gonna settle in juuuuust fine. But for the rest of you, the Head knows this has gotta be pretty overwhelming, right?

Well, since your quaint individual processing units are probably having a hard time, why not link up with another one? By which the Head means...

Hello, new citizens of Dualis, and welcome to your first monthly Network Adjacency Protocol~!

NAPs are a monthly community networking event similar to the Earth concept of speed dating! Two citizens (new arrivals and old hands alike) are placed at a table together with a handy cue card of queries to help break the proverbial ice. Ask queries and receive results, or ignore the card and yeet yourself straight into a brand new friendship! But don't be too shy, you've only got ten minutes together, and if you just sit in silence for the whole ten, then the Network Admins are likely to come supervise and try to repair the uplink through a mild shock to the ol' central nervous system. You might find yourself saying all sorts of unintended facts about yourself if that happens...probably better to just make friends, right?

» 02. A BUG IN THE CODE

Remember how the Head mentioned that whole plague thing? Well, don't worry, this isn't that.

It is, however, a really, really terrible flu circulating through the residents of Dualis. Symptoms include fever, chills, vomiting, hallucinations and even in some cases seizures. Bad news, all around. Luckily, this is something the Head knows how to deal with! Time for vaccinations, everyone~

The vaccination process is pretty straightforward: just head to your local clinic and get innoculated! You'll be in and out in less than ten minutes, MedDualis is pretty efficient that way. There isn't even a copay. The MedDroids will tell you, however, that there might be some minor side effects** to watch out for, including physical reactions and odd dreams, but don't worry--those will wear off within forty-eight hours. Nothing to concern yourself about! Of course, if that worries you, you could always run the risk of getting the flu--or passing it on to your loved ones...

**Possible side effects include: Gender or sex change, positive or negative size change, appearance alterations, shared dreams, and mild telepathic links, among others. Please contact your local MedDroid if these symptoms become too severe, or other side effects such as death occur.

» 03. TANSTAAFL

Well, you're settling in just fine, and the basic accommodations and amenities are okay, but maybe you've got a hankering to see that new VR Film: SHARKS IN SPACE 85: BLACK HOLE SHARK DO DO DO DO DO DO DO. Or maybe you want some sweet new duds to wear around town, or even just an actual slab of steak. Sorry, those cost extra, pal, which means it's time for...

JOB HUNTING.

Fortunately, Dualis makes this pretty easy! There's a job fair on this week, down at the Central Hub! Plug your certifications and skills into any of the EmployMe terminals in the Dualis Central Hub, and the computer will auto-generate a currently open job that it feels you'd be best suited for. No resume writing or lengthy application process required! Of course, whether or not this job sounds like the right job for you is another matter...but hey, how could an AI with millions of years of learning be wrong? Time to get started, or try and switch waivers with another unhappy new employee--but be warned, some unforeseen consequences may occur if you try swapping identities with someone else...

Comments

Yondu Udonta | Guardians of the Galaxy

[yondu]

» 01. WELCOME WAGON

[You know what is pretty shit about being in a place? Being the blue guy in a place. Being the blue guy in a new place. Everything else here seems run of the mill, and very, very Kree.]

[Yondu Udonta hates it. This big brain reminds him a lot of the Supreme Intelligence. He's pretty sure this "getting to know you" shtick is a way to dig for information, and he's not been wanting to play along. Problem is he's not aware yet of the consequences of not playing along.]

[His first go round? Not warned. And whoever is sitting across from him has had to deal with his silence for a little while. Red eyes, scarred face, and all spite.] You'd best be gettin' ready to move on and- Ah!

What the hell was that? [Yondu holds his fin, looking offended at whatever feeling just crept up his spine.]

» 02. A BUG IN THE CODE

[He doesn't want a vaccination, either. He doesn't want anything. He's weighing the option of getting sick versus have a stranger stick some concoction in him (again, consider it another negative attached to his feelings on the Supreme Intelligence).]

[He assumed, wrongly, that being a non-human would mean that he couldn't get sick from this hanky Terran shit.]

[Yondu's been trying to resist going to the clinic. Just heal the average way. Though someone might catch him out, attempting to make his way to buy something that would cool his fever, leaning his shoulder against a wall and waiting for a dizziness to finish washing over him.]

[He wipes his bro] Damn, reckon I gotta figure out whether I'm gonna die in the fryin' pan or in the fire. [Said to himself in his thick drawl.]

1

[helpdesk_hero]

[Yondu may not be speaking, but honestly, David has no such issues. Mostly he has been offering something, though the man barely seems to care about his favorite flavor of ice cream or anything like that. Mostly David chatters because it gives him more time to evaluate he man without seeming like he is staring. Blue... but not Kree. Definitely not Kree, too slouched, too ragged, the fin. Probably not a mutant either. Because he knows most of the blue mutants.

But the shock? That gives David pause.]

What the hell was what?

[yondu]

[There's a flicker of light, unbidden, that travels beneath the red covering of his fin. Well, that felt strange as hell. It's made him sit up, though. That's when he gets a note from the admins on that device he was given when he first woke up.]

[He looks at it blandly, mouth twitching and somehow managing to frown a little harder. That takes some work, too. He lets the thing sit on the table and huffs out a breath he didn't realize he'd started holding.]

Name is Yondu. Udonta.

[There, that's something, right? Look, some conversation.]

I only been to Terra once, so I don't know nothin' about it. [Not about mutants. He does know about Kree, though. At least a version of Kree.] Ever'thin' I learned came from a Terran crewman and most of that was the music he listened to.

[helpdesk_hero]

[Yondu Udonta. Nope, the name doesn't ring any bells, so David moves on from that. Still, the fact that the man has been to Earth once is quite intriguing.]

David Alleyne. And I almost fear to ask what music he exposed you to. I hope it wasn't Skaa. I don't want that to be our offering to the universe. You know, other than far too many heroes to really be worth it sometimes. Or being the home planet to someone as important as Dorrek VIII.

[What? Surely everyone in space knows that the heir to the Skrull Empire was raised on Earth, right? Of course, in his universe, there still is a Skrull empire, if smaller. It's not as bad as it is over in Yondu's particular piece of the universe. Which David has been to thanks, during the Chitari invasion of New York City, and can he say he was happy to get out of there?]

[yondu]

Never heard of 'im. But it don't sound like a Terran name, at least from the ones I know. [Yondu squints at the phone again critically, the expression reading a sort of 'Happy now?'. But at least it might be useful.]

Jackson 5. That was one band. Some song called "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Found a uh... [He makes a round and round motion in the air, unable to recall the word 'zune'. Which is for the best, really.] ....some device, someone took it off a Terran, it was in a pawn shop. Played digital music. "Come a Little Bit Closer" was one on it.

[He spreads blue hands. That's what he's got.] Only had the one fella. [But he made enough of an impression that Yondu cared about his music, whatever that means.] Ever'body else on my ship was Xandarian, Krylorian, Stark, etcetera. [Then, after a beat, he adds a quick.] And if you ain't ever seen one, I'm Centaurian. [Because a lot of Terrans haven't.]

[helpdesk_hero]

Oh lord help you, he brought oldies music. [David himself groans at that. That particular selection of stuff happened to line up with some of what Noh-Varr was obsessed with for a time. That Kree could wear any music into the ground. Sure, they had some overlap in taste, but did the guy have to go for oldies? Get some jazz into your life like a sane person.

But at the listing of species he nods. Yes, he's heard of some of those, but he doesn't know that he's heard of a Centaurian.]

Would that be because you're from the region of Alpha-Centauri? Didn't know anyone from that region had visited Earth. Granted I've run into more than a few species myself. Not as many. Mainly only Kree from alternate, supposedly peace-loving dimensions, and then the Skrull. Which I'd prefer not to meet more of. Well, other than the one that is my friend. But he's half-Skrull, half-Kree, which I imagine is a highly rare combination, even in your parts of the galaxy. Still, forgive me if it's a faux pax, but I have to say, your particular skin tone is a really great blue skin tone. Most of the people I've met that have been blue have had fur actually.

[yondu]

[While Yondu's face seems to be set to various stages of frown, those phases break as he names off things. Different recognitions. Kree? Skrull? What the hell, half Kree? Half Skrull?]

Nah, I uh... No offense taken. Heard worse commentary on my looks. Nice shade o' Terran yourself. [That aside.] You know Kree? Peace-lovin' Kree? [It's obvious from his expression he's seen the worst versions of the Kree.] Skrulls ain't that bad. Not enough of 'em left to amount to much. Kree killed most of 'em off. [He doesn't want to consider worst case scenarios as to how one became half-half. But that is exactly where his brain goes. Could be wrong, though.]

[He leans in a little, tucking that phone under the table, angling himself like he doesn't want anything that might be watching from any corner to see him bring this up.]

You ever hear of somethin' called the Supreme Intelligence?

[helpdesk_hero]

[Oh if only racism agreed with you, Yondu, but David has moved past that. As for the question, well... Well, he was ready to answer except he freezes at the idea that 'Kree killed most of 'em off'.]

Well, I can say for sure we're from different parts of the multi-verse then. Sure, there are less Skrull than there were and their empire is scattered, they still exist in good numbers. Right now Y'lrt, the Super Skrull, leads a good portion of them, I think. As something like a regent for Dorrek VIII. Their homework was devoured by Galactus though. And the war hasn't been good for them. But they aren't gone. They invaded Earth, again several years ago. In that annoying 'I look like people you know' way they do. I've had to fight too many.

[And he's not that great against enemies he can't see coming these days. David leans back in his chair a bit to consider the rest of it. How did you even explain Noh-Varr and his reality where the Kree have achieved intergalactic peace through force? How do you explain that you're friends with a Kree obsessed with music and Earth culture and who is part cockroach, not to mention a pink kree? How did you explain Teddy to anyone? But the other question...]

Fuck the Supreme Intelligence. Noh-Varr isn't even all that much of a believer in it these days. Damn thing tried to harness the Phoenix Force, even knowing that the portion of it they would capture would only enrage the thing, which was on a path for Earth. Honestly, we're pretty lucky in the grand scheme. The Kree have learned more or less not to fuck with Earth anymore. Hell, even the Inhumans want nothing to do with the Kree, and they were made by the Kree doing their stupid genetic-engineering on 'lesser races' stuff way back in Earth's past.

Basically? The SI knows better than to come to Earth, or send the military there. It's happened a few times, but typically the Kree military gets put in its place.

[yondu]

Empire? ...They ain't got no empire. Not no more. [That makes Yondu furrow his brow up again, sitting back again, elbow on the table and a little sideways. That didn't make much sense.] I was a Kree battle slave for twenty odd years, somethin' like that. [With the dispassionate detachment of a man who wouldn't relate the emotional toll that kind of thing takes on most anyone. Instead, still thinking of the Skrulls, back to when they did have an Empire.] Kree went real hard on 'em. I reckon you did know Kree that went easier than what I did. [Or a version of the Skrulls that went harder.]

[There's a lot of words he doesn't recognize there, but that doesn't surprise him at this point. Phoenix Force. He did know something happened on Terra that made the Kree back off of it, about a decade after he'd brushed by there.]

Well, either way, if you know what the Supreme Intelligence is, you can guess why I haven't exactly been all that personable. [Besides his natural demeanor. But hell, maybe he should have been. If someone else here would catch on to what the hell he was talking about; after all, the SI put on a big ol' smiling face to the Kree and they could holler into the night about the magnitude of its helpfulness. That makes him all the more suspicious about the AI here.]

[helpdesk_hero]

The Kree and Skrull have been pretty well balanced in my universe. Well, until Galactus. And someday the two will likely be merged as a single unified empire.

[Still, there are good A.I. out there. Or passable. But David understands the point and nods. His computer skills have taught him enough about being leery.]

I can’t access it to talk to. Things I can’t talk to I can’t trust. Anything that can program a poker face isn’t very easy to trust actually.

[yondu]

[Galactus? Also knew to him. But it sounds, at the very most like a Celestial and at the very least like an Asshole so maybe it's good that the name is new to him.]

Reckon it's just as bad if it can program a face to make people like it as it is programmin' a poker face. I get real suspicious of a lot of friendly.

[At least when it's android girls, he knows they just want money.]

I figure that's somethin' that don't matter right now. [Where they're probably being monitored. He can always look this guy up later (maybe they were successful in making a connection between people in that way).] Who is Noh-Varr?

[helpdesk_hero]

[Actually, that might be an interesting fight. Quill's father against Galactus. David would claim to pay for tickets for that, but he's too smart by half to even risk such a thing. But the programmed poker face earns a slight nod from him. Because yes, he definitely gets that sort of comment. Of course here, with an AI in charge of them, it's even worse. Especially since at least with the Kree Supreme Intelligence you more or less knew what it wanted. David sighs at last and nods in agreement. It doesn't matter so much right now. But he might talk to Yondu about it later. Kree battle slave or not, the man has a bit of knowledge about this sort of AI, and David... Well, he doesn't. He was never in a room with one as someone who made one as complex as this seemed to be. Nor with an AI like that either, though he wasn't certain if his powers would have extended to that.]

Noh-Varr is the Kree I mentioned earlier. He is from another dimension from either of us. He was bred and engineered to be a perfect diplomat and soldier. His crew apparently traveled the multiverse for many of their years trying to enforce peace. Apparently in his dimension the Kree created peace by conquering everything. Not that the Kree of my universe like him very much, for a variety of reasons.

Of course, some say that one should be measured by the quality of their enemies, and since he's managed to piss off the whole Kree Empire, I think that's at least a small tally mark in his corner. Well... not the whole empire. There is, again, Dorrek.

[Who knows if Teddy might get pulled into this place. If he does, David doesn't want people knowing just what he is, better to use his birth name.]

[yondu]

Kree get real proud of themselves when they start makin' people. Ah well. This whole dimensional thing is throwin' me for a loop. Now, I heard tell of people slippin' through 'em when they make too many light-speed jumps. But it's all been heresay and I ain't ever run into it. [He rubs the back of his head as he's talking, working it all out.]

The Kree have half-ass been tryin' to make peace in my neck of the woods for the last little while. I figure they realized all the people they pissed off done about ready to take 'em on. The entire Ravager fleet ready to go down their throats for one thing. [He would have talked his way in on it. Even if he's sure they wouldn't want the help, he would have done it.]

But there are a few guys that think they can just go off and take over whatever 'cause they take a notion. Outliers still lurkin' around doin' what they do.

[In Yondu's case, he's lucky the Kree set him up with a tool good enough to fight other Kree.]

» 02. A BUG IN THE CODE

[whosthemonsternow]

[Likewise, South has not gotten any damn vaccine for anything. The Medbay back home took care of her with shit like that, she's totally fine here then, right? If her physical self is here, surely whatever was in her blood is too... Probably. Maybe. It's sound enough of an idea for her to avoid whatever bullshit they want to inject in her- she doesn't trust this shit, it seems too fishy. Probably some kind of tracking device or mind control drug or something else fucked up like that, no thanks. She'll risk a flu, she's been sick a few times after shore leave, she's lived through that just fine.

So far, she's been okay! And careful. Washing her hands, not touching her face, good hygiene and shit like that. She's totally got this, just gotta be like a clean freak or whatever, easy.

That is, until she sees an actual sick person (? he's blue but who the fuck knows if that's normal or this "flu" bullshit) as she passes, eyeing him and keeping her distance like he has leprosy.]

Can you die like, not on the walkway? Seriously, gonna get people sick doing that

[yondu]

[He rubs his brow as she passes by, noting that she's keeping her distance. And honestly, most people are. He can't blame them. He just wants some damn hydration and some sorta cheap food. But then she says what he says, and he just gives her a wayward, fangy sneer.]

Don't worry, ma'am. If I die I'll be sure to leave ya my germs in my will. Give ya one good cough before I go out.

[Catty as he is, he can't put as much heart in his shit as he'd like. And his vision is starting to crawl again, so he just decides to look at his feet for a little bit.]

[whosthemonsternow]

[Not that she cares if the guy falls over dead where he stands, but she is eyeing him with no small amount of worry. He looks like shit, is this what happens if you don't get their fucking vaccines?! Maybe mindcontrol isn't so bad after all...]

You even sniffle and I'll end your misery for you, buddy. Is this that flu or a reaction to their "medicine"?

[yondu]

Hope you sterilize good afterwards.

[He says cattily, as his vision clears up again and he looks up.]

I ain't dyin', just feel like shit. Yeah, it's just the flu. I'm gonna get somethin' to drink an' tough it out because like shit am I gonna trust no doctor that I don't personally approve of. And considerin' we're here to be their walkin' pharmacy?

I'll get over it on my own.

[At least he has the decency to cough against the back of his fist, and it's not one of those horrendous deep chest coughs. It's a throaty thing.]

[whosthemonsternow]

Exactly why I didn't get the fucking vaccine bullshit. Who the hell knows whats actually in them?! I'm not guinea pigging it up for these dickholes.

[She nods, mildly pleased to find someone with some sense in their head- even if he's looking less than healthy right now...]

[yondu]

Seems like the vaccination works. But if it ain't worth the risk in my opinion. [He coughs again against the back of his hand.] I'll tough it out an' make my own immunity, thanks.

[Centaurians are tough. That's why he made a good battle slave. He'll get over it.]

Just need me some headache medicine an' a shitload of soup or somethin'. [Gatorade equivalents will be a godsend when he discovers that.]

[whosthemonsternow]

[Fuck knows what's in the vaccines, she'll likewise pass that bullshit]

Might consider water or something, too.

[She helpfully suggests, eyeing him again before having to ask]

Are you always blue or is this part of the flu?

[yondu]

Yeah, I'm Centaurian. We always come in blue. The eyes are red too, so it ain't changed no colors on me. Just threw my stomach for a loop.

[And makes the world spin a little, so he goes to sit on the nearest bench to catch his breath. Then jostles his head a little, like that'll shake the strange feeling out of it. It makes a red light strobe up the length of his high fin when he does that, dim under the surface of the partially transparent red covering.]

[whosthemonsternow]

[She eyes him more, but he doesn't look super alien-ish. Nothing like the Covvies, and he seems...fine enough. So. Other than being some strange guy and sick, she has no reason to hurl him into a wall.

She considers following him or taking off, but she's more than curious how shitty this flu is, what to prep herself for. So she follows, at a safe distance, not sitting on the bench but close enough to talk still]

You got cybernetic bits, or that thing on your head organic?

[yondu]

Cybernetic. [He touches the side of that fin.] Normally it controls a weapon. Except after I come through, it ain't been workin' right.

[He coughs against his fist.]

I thought it might be broke. Now I'm thinkin' maybe it was just a way to turn it off. Might be the paranoid sick talkin, though.

[He pulls out the arrow, though, so she can see it. And when he whistles, it can hover over his hand, bit he knows it can't travel too far and it wouldn't go through someone anymore. Best he can do now is push a hard to reach button with the bastard. He wants it back.]

Normally this can bust through a ribcage like it's [throat clear] like it's nothin'.

[whosthemonsternow]

They took my armor and guns, not surprised they'd gimp your...weapon.

[She's a little wavy handed with calling it that once she sees the arrow, it looks way too flimsy to do much damage. Like stepping on a tooth pick, it'd be horrible as fuck in your foot or to remove, but how deadly could it really be?

That doesn't stop her from reaching a hand out, sorry bud she's going to try touching it, no hesitation or caution, she just wants to poke it. At least she's seemingly forgotten about him being riddled with the plague, more focused on the arrow for a second.]

[yondu]

Don't worry, I didn't wipe my nose with it.

[He comments wryly, letting her hold the device. The metal is light, but ungiving. Pretty strong, it doesn't feel any give under pressure. There's a an area of obvious energy in the middle, with red light and heat. It's still active, it's just been nerfed.]

Pisses me the hell off. Don't much like bein' unarmed in another place with an damn AI overlord.

[His second romp through that.]