Difference between revisions of "The Science of Miracles"

Latest revision as of 11:34, 28 September 2011

7/19/2009

Front Offices A secretary's desk sits in the center of the office, facing the entrance, and comes complete with a holographic virtual secretary for when the desk is unattended. A row of chairs sit against the front wall for waiting customers to sit. The back half of the room has been partitioned up into office space for the doctors and other employees. Doors to the left and right of the office lead into the laboratories on either side, one of them an airlock-style decontamination chamber.

A potted tree stands in the lobby, placed so that it will be visible through the front door. It stands about 9 feet tall, almost reaching the ceiling. Set among the thick green foliage are fleshy grapefruit-sized bulbs, some of which have opened up into large flowers. In the center of each bloom is a baby kitten with white fur and blue eyes. Every so often one of them will uncurl and stretch its legs or yawn.

It seems like a quiet day in the lab, and Alastair Hall is taking the opportunity to skip out on work. The doctor is seated - or rather, sprawled - in the waiting area. His head is leaned back, eyes closed, with his jacket folded over the back of the chair to serve as a pillow.

Alexandra peers out of the cybernetics lab, looking around the front office almost as if looking for someone. Upon spotting Alastair in the chair, however, she smiles a mischievous little smile to herself and crosses the office without a word. When she nears him, she reaches carefully for the cane leaning against the side of the chair, her eyes staying on him to gauge any reaction to her presence.

Tamila makes her way into the front office from the Comorrite hub, taping her fingers against one of her swords at her side. The woman in gray doesn't really seem to pay much heed to her general surroundings as she looks around. Upon noticing the reclining Alastair and the sneaky Lex, she moves a little further in quietly.

There's a stumble, but no deliberate crash from the entryway as Lildrina enters and trips over the threshold. "Gha." She grunts, and shakes her boot irritatedly. She starts for the cybernetics lab and remains intent on getting there for about ten paces, until she finally notices the gathering forming stealthily around Al. She tips her head and stops, but remains quiet.

"Isn't this depressing? They're even using the golem forge for the peasantry to wallow about in because they spend their kahars on liquor and exotic mushrooms instead of inns," disparages a newly-appearing Norran with a huff, arms folded as he glances around. "I should throw something at him. They appreciate that."

Alastair opens one eye at the sound of Lildrina crashing in, and looks over towards the door. Then he focuse on Alexandra, immediately next to him. "Just what are you doing?" He asks with a smirk, quickly laying a hand on his cane protectively. Then he lifts it into the air and stretches his arm, yawning.

"Having my fun ruined, apparently," Lex replies, rolling her eyes at the noise and putting a palm to her forehead. "You know, I think I'd be remiss if I didn't observe that if you don't want to be picked on, then you shouldn't sleep in the lobby." She leans over to kiss his forehead, then straightens. "What, did you get -bored- of sleeping at home?"

"Heard squad killers make less noise than that," Tamila says as she looks towards the clumsy Timonae, arching a slender brow. "Thought you folk were meant to be graceful." The interaction between Lex and Al goes mostly ignored, as she turns her head slightly to regard Norran, but says nothing.

A soft scratching sound comes from the vicinity of the 9 foot tall tree, and leaves start it tremble. A few of the kittens start mewing plaintively.

"Hah. Everything has an odd duck," Lildrina says, pocketing her hands. "So what if I play engines instead of piano?" Now that she's been noticed, she walks over to join them, and the kitten tree with a curious look.

Norran stares at the tree for a moment. "I was never all that comfortable with this," he mutters, but more or less remains quiet as he observes the room a while longer.

"I'm still technically at work." Alastair replies, and climbs to his feet. "Just taking a break." He takes a few steps over towards the decorative, if unusual, tree, and reaches up to rub one of the kittens under the chin with a cybernetic finger. Then he glances over his shoulder, looking from Tamila to Lildrina to Norran. "So?" He asks archly, "What do you all want?"

Alexandra watches Alastair with the kitten for a few moments, smiling a bit despite herself, then looks to the rest, her head tilting. "I have to admit to being a bit curious myself," she offers. "Though I'd like to think I'm a bit less obnoxious about it, hm?" She winks, then turns to the tree to scritch one of the little kitties behind the ears gently.

Soft yet broken purring come from the two kittens being scritched and then the entire tree shakes, a few leaves falling to the ground. The sound of claws against wood comes again, and then there's a screech as one tiny white furred kitten slides down the trunk of the tree. It lands with a plonk into the pot holding said tree and shakes its head, eyes closed tightly.

Tamila's hazel eyes shift away from Norran as the kittens start mewing. There's confusion on her features as Alastair starts to rub one of the kittens under the chin, and then she starts to slowly clap. "Nice use of animatronics," she remarks with a smirk. "Certain Timmiegirl got bored and made you folk a gift?" The woman in gray stalks towards the kitten tree, though the kitten that just descended down the tree catches her attention. A few more moments of confusion, before she motions towards Lex. "Was after her, to be honest."

Lildrina veritably beams as a kitten slides its way down the bark. "Look!" She coos and hops to the tree. And no, she doesn't trip over a chair. "How cute!" She half turns to look over her shoulder at Tam. "I wish I'd thought of that. This is much cooler." She extends a finger towards the fallen kitty.

"Hm? Boredom," is Norran's only reply to Alastair, not really giving much more thought toward it as he approaches the so called kitten tree. He squats down near Lildrina to examine the fallen feline, the swordsman's emerald eyes studying it with a curious expression. He reaches to pick it up by the scruff of its neck, handling it carefully to lift it up in a way that would allow him to examine it while leaving it in Lildrina's reach if she wanted to poke it further. "Hm. Does this...happen often? Is it a golem?"

Alastair glances down at the fallen kitten. "Oh." He says cheerfully. "Good. They're done." He turns towards Norran and leaning in to look at the kitten he's holding. "It's a cat, of course." He says wryly. "Well, it's /mostly/ cat, anyway. It's also part tree." He brings his hands up to turn the small cat back and forth and examine it.

Alexandra pauses in scritching the one kitty to watch the other one drop down into the pot, though her augmetic left hand stays touching it lightly. "...They're adorable," she muses. Then, a glance at Alastair. "How often will it bloom, do you think? It probably wouldn't pay to overrun Comorro with kittens..."

The kitein held by Norran mews plantively as it's lifted from its spot. The tiny kitten tries to move its head, tiny paws wiggling in air as it swings slightly. At Al's touch it mews softly and opens its eyes to reveal a swirly pattern of multiple colors where the iris should be.

More kittens on the tree start mewing, and another of the grapefruit like blooms begins to open, petals spreading slowly to reveal a tiny flesh colored body within. The ears on this kitten flop forward as it lifts its head, a tiny mouth opening to let out a yawn.

It takes a few moments for reality to sink in, but strangely enough Tamila doesn't seem overly surprised. She raises her hand up and rubs at her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief. "Doctor Hall, you just perverted nature like Corey perverted the use of thin's that shouldn't be perverted," she says in a low tone. Then a second, not serious side at all comes about and she grins. "But this... They're so cute!"

"A Shadow'd abomination, to be certain, but a very endearing Shadowed abomination," replies Norran of all the talk, giving a quick grin toward the cat he holds and scritching it behind the ears. "And what exactly do you do with them? And what do you mean part...plant?"

"Kitty!" Lildrina chirps, smiling broadly. She extends her hand to pet the kitten's side as Norran holds it. "Surprisingly enchanting, a cat being born from a tree. Will it have to be rescued from one, I wonder?" She looks up at the tree to watch the other pods opening with a curious blink. "Oh. That one has no fur!" She points to the newest arrival with a blink.

"Have you /met/ nature?" Alastair retorts to Tamila, sounding oh so terribly Sivadian for a moment, with a refined upper-class accent and haugty demeanor. "She's a kinky bitch, and no mistake." He smirks, resuming his usual demeanor, and leans forward to scratch the kitten Norran's holding under the chin, resuming . "Look at those eyes." He observes clinically. "I'm going to take very good look at you." Then he turns away, and looks at where Lildrina is indicating. "I'll have to examine that one, too." Alastair glances over at Norran, extending his cybernetic hand to grasp one of the grapefruit-sized bulbs. "This is what I mean, part plant." He says, pulling the branch down for a closer look. "Alternating generations. The animal body grows on the tree like a fruit, and then, once it's mature enough- I extended the gestation period by about six weeks, to make sure they're functionally developed." He notes, looking over at Alexandra. "So about four months - they drop off. And once the animal's life cycle is complete, it will grow into a new tree." Alexandra nods a bit. "That makes sense," she replies. "Well. As much as kittens growing on trees makes sense, in any case." The Sivadian woman chuckles quietly, her eyes sliding over to Norran. "It's hardly an abomination. It's a kitten. It just had a rather unique mother. That's all."

Soft purring comes from the kitten, multi hued eyes closing as it's petted, not seeming to mind its state of being held by the scruff.

The hairless little kitten licks at its nose quietly before opening completely black eyes to look at those around the tree. It tilts its head to one side and offers a quiet and raspy mew.

"Ain't overly familiar with nature," Tamila admits with a shrug, as she observes the kittens. She offers a glance towards the two strange felines, before turning and making her way towards the door, stepping around people if needed.

"Curious...what do you intend to do with them? Some sort of strange regional alchemy, I'm certain, but providing you don't intend on harming this one I was going to ask if you minded me taking this one in," asks Norran politely, indicating the current kitten he holds by poking it gently in the face.

Subhan very well may have charmed her way here, following a trail of people who'd seen Norran come this way. Tentatively stepping within, the Baroness blinks a moment before spotting the gathering around the kitten tree. Quietly she approaches. Lildrina giggles at the little mew, and stands up to stuff her pockets in her hands. "Oh my. I have to leave, or I'll be taking these home with me...and I can't just yet. Curious though, what do they eat?"

"The same as normal cats." Alastair states for Lildrina's benefit. Then he gives Alexandra a wink. "Not as convenient as a robot, I admit." Turning back to Norran, he lifts his hands to cup the kitten and lift it up. "This one seems unusual." He says, turning it to show off the colorful swirling eyes. "I think I'll keep it for a while. Run some genetic tests, make sure it's healthy, and possibly see if I can isolate a pure strain of the trait." He nods clinically. "There should be some others about ready to come off, if you want one?"

"...Did you expect any without fur?" Lex asks Al, raising a brow. She reaches over tentatively to rub behind the hairless kitten's ears. "It's... hm. Interesting. I'm not certain I'd call it cute... Especially with those eyes. Perhaps even just a smidge disturbing."

"I see something...unique in this one. It struck me on a whim, is all. I'd gladly take it in if you don't plan on harming it, though just this particular one if everything turns out well. I'm sure the others would have plenty wishing to take them in," Norran explains, handing the cat off to Alistair and managing a grin as he rises to his feet. He doesn't seem to notice Subhan.

The kitten with the unusual eyes blinks up at Norran before nestling into Al's hands and yawning, tiny eyes closing and opening with the action.

The little hairless one closes its eyes and nuzzles into Lex's hand as its pet gently.

More scratching sounds come from the tree, leaves shaking and then there's a loud mewing for help as one of the little white furred babies takes a tumble from its bloom.

Subhan comes up near Norran, one hand reaching out to gently announce her presence by touching softly to his side, "Dear Cousin, wherever did you get little thing?" A polite smile is offered in greeting to the sciency folk. You know, /those guys/.

Alastair shakes his head. "Of course I don't plant on harming it." He states, a little abruptly. "All I need to do is run some scans, determine the cause of the anomaly... and of course make sure it's healthy and safe." He shrugs. "I'll take some cells for a genetic sample. But if you want to take it home after that... I don't see a problem, you'll just have to wait a day or so to pick him up."

"Harm it?" Lex asks, tilting her head at Norran. "That, my dear, would defeat the purpose." She smiles just a bit, and gives the hairless kitten another little scritch before she scoops up the kitty that's yowling for help. "...I'm starting to wonder just how many there's going to be," she observes to Alastair, a quiet chuckle given as she holds up the rescued kitten to look it over.

"I don't have a tendency to trust alchemists, but I suppose things are different enough. I'll be by for retrieval, then," Norran answers, chuckling as Subhan approaches. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind hosting a newborn...I think...cat, would you, Cousin? He seems unique, I sense a potential in him beyond the others."

The hairless kitten mrrs and a soft purring comes from it as it curls up in his blosom and closes its dark little eyes.

The little kitten that Lex rescues clings to her hand, little claws coming out to hang on for dear life as it mews pathetically.

"Oh no!" Subhan replies with a fond smile, "I shouldn't mind at all." A bright pause before she holds out her hands, cupped, head canted inquisitively, and a charming smile present, "May I hold it?" Ambiguously posed, it's a question for whoever wins the quickdraw. (...yehaw.)

"But I'm not an alchemist." Alastair replies with a slight smirk. "If you like, you can think of what I do as... breeding livestock. I merely skip the time-consuming and error-prone process that was used in your time, and simply graft in the qualities that I wish to have." He pats the swirl-eyed kittens head a bit proudly. "Of course, this is more of a hobby for me. Most of my work is rather less creative... curing diseases, healing injuries, restoring crippled or maimed limbs, repairing congenital defects, growing replacement organs, and, occassionally, bring back the dead." He pauses. "That sort of thing. It's actually pretty boring most of the time."

Alexandra holds her clingy kitten with nary a wince -- it's sinking its tiny needle claws into her prosthetic hand while she pets it gently with the other one. "This one's a bit on the needy side," she observes, holding it up so she can get a better look at it. A smile's offered, and she glances sidewise to Al. "He's as much of an artist with the organic as I am with the mechanical. Perhaps moreso." Pause. "Perhaps." Arrogant much?

There's purring from the kitten nesteled in Al's hand and it nuzzles into the petting. Its eyes close as it rubs a cheek against his fingers.

That little kitten mews louder, shaking as Lex pets it. Not calming down until it finally seems to realize that she's not going to let it fall again.

The tree continues to shake and from it tumble the last two of the kittens that had already bloomed. These two sport little brown spots along their backs, and little blue eyes that blink around at the crowd as they sit within the pot containing the tree.

Norran raises his brows. "Necromancy?" he asks, as he didn't understand much of that beyond the last bit. "I would assume that practice must be as complicated as our necromancers, though I never encountered many. The Black Wildlings practiced a form of it, you had to burn the remains or else they'd be able to come back at least once," observes Norran, giving a slight frown as he thinks quietly while watching the tree. "They must be rather lonely without a mother, I'd hope you'd be able to find them homes. I don't imagine they'd be able to survive in the streets as they are."

As Alexandra speaks, Norran gives a chuckle. "Mechanical? There's so much of the regional 'mechanics' I find troublesome. This is a mere example. The change in warfare is perhaps the most worrisome, the change from blades to 'firearms'. No matter the difference, I don't think I'd be able to rely on the latter. My life is in the melee, after all. This is able to put a man down as easily as it did in Fastheld," he notes, tapping on the faintly glowing hilt of his falchion. "Though, the enemies you face here may not necessarily be 'men'. That is my worry."

Subhan plucks a kitten off the ground! Somewhere in the universe, Plumpaw has disconnected.

"We'll find them homes - or at least a nice comfortable planet for them to live on." Alastair offer swith a shrug. "And I don't know anything about your necromancy. With proper equipment we can copy the mind, then place it in a new body after death. Simple in principle, it's the details that get complex." He shrugs, and glances at Norran's sword. "Blades aren't completely out of style, though. Even if dueling was illegal back on Sivad, people still did it. And on Tomin Kora it was an institution. Not much use cutting against heavy armor and weapons, though."

"I'm going to take this one home for now, I think," Lex says, indicating the frightened kitten that's still clinging to her, despite the fact that she's got snug hold of it. "I don't think I could detach it, in any case, and they'll all probably end up there anyway." She offers a gracious parting nod to everyone in general, then smiles at Al. "I was done in the lab, luckily. I'll see you when you get back?" The question seems to be largely rhetorical, as she turns to leave without waiting for an answer.

Subhan swoons over the kitten she picks up in the properly girly fasion, cuddling it against her chest. ... A chest which makes a lovely kitten bed for naptiemz.

"It'd be nice to have a regional advancement, I suppose. Don't you have any sword-launchers, or maybe throwable swords? Something of that nature?" wonders Norran aloud, rubbing his chin.

"Sure thing." Alastair replies sardonically. "We also have bows that launch muscle-powered laser beams. And axes with rocket motors built into the back." He smirks at Norran, and then shakes his head. "No, of course not. Even if you engineered a sword as strong as possible, human muscle power won't penetrate modern metals. Even with augmented strength, it would be faster to use a plasma cutter or something." "Oh, how very darling." Subhan murmurs demurely, peering down at the little kitty nestled against her. One finger runs carefully over it's head, gently petting the tiny thing.

"You can take down a man in armor if you know where to strike," replies Norran, crossing his arms. "Well, I can only wonder about it. I may be able to find some sort of alternative."

Alastair shrugs. "That's not really my area of interest." He says in a slightly bored tone. "A virus doesn't need a sword to kill you, after all." He shakes his head, glancing at Subhan who's petting a kitten. "My interests lie elsewhere... I could screen your genetic code and put together some improvements, or Alexandra could give you some cybernetic augmentations... if you want to talk swords, I know a smith that likes them, but you'd probably be better off talking for an engineer if you're looking to upgrade." Subhan may only be half paying attention to the talk of cybernetics and augmentations, but that's really quite enough to make her appear somewhat politely and quietly confused even so. Aww, kittens are cute.

"...quite," Norran agrees(?), giving a nod. "Well then, I'll stop by the next day to see how things are. Light guide and protect," he speaks in farewell with a bow, giving a nod to Subhan as he turns to head off. "You'll have to give it another day, Cousin."

Alastair scratches the kitten he's holding under the chin, and glances over towards the others still playing around the base of their tree. "The tests won't take long." He agrees with a nod at Norran. "I'll be able to send that one home with you once I've checked it out."

"Quite so." Subhan murmurs, though still a bit of a sigh as she gently sets the kitten back down to be with the others. A polite smite for Alastair, and a dip of her chin, "Farewell." Then she turns to stick with Norran, "Come, I shall walk with you, Cousin." Norran has left.

Alastair leans over and drops the kitten at the base of the potted tree, then straightens up and grabs his cane. He looks around the office for a moment, then limps towards the door himself. The lights shut behind him as he exits the building and locks the front door.