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There is a happy, if rather tune-free humming coming from below one of the consoles. Judging from the very sensible boots poking out from beneath, and the tiny legion of multi-legged spherical robots scuttling all over the place, that's Leucohyle under there, cleaning away, and making some kind of noise comparable to the spring evening's joyous song of a tone-deaf baby cricket. Whirr, whirrr, ping.
"Good afternoon, my dear." Galactix voice says. "I see you have found more to fix."
There is a slight 'pip' of surprise as the machine-quiet is broken, and a small *clonk* as some bit or other of the little clone's anatomy impacts with the underside of the console. "Oh! Good-good afternoon, Mister-Galactix," Leucohyle pipes, and then utters a few small cautious notes of amusement. "There's -always- more to er, to er fix. And maintain. And and improve. Well improvements are are only done with permission. But well everything else that's just -routine- for me. I I rather -like- fixing things." Shuffle. Shuffle shuffle. "So how are you -feeling-? In the instance in which 'feeling' references a er adjectival state of the numerical average of your operational systems and conditional status."
"Ah, but it is still a valid question for me. I have feelings much as you do." Galactix says. "I am feeling much better than before. What pain I was feeling is subsiding as the damage is slowly repaired, and my strength is returning. Even now I am approaching Sanctuary."
Pause. "...oh! Oh. Oh my, I've been cleaning for a -while-." Leucohyle pipes, and then has a little burble of laughter. "Time does -indeed- fly when one is having fun! Shall I I tell the remainder of the team to meet us there, then?" Shuffle shuffle. "I'm so -very- glad that you're feeling better." Pause. "...hm. I've found... some manner of... video rental service card wedged here. I I believe it is no longer valid."
Galactix chuckles. "Indeed... I figure it is likely long expired. Keep it, my dear, as a curiosity."
There is a long period of quiet, after which a couple of Observational Limbics scuttle out from under the console, bearing the beat-up card, and deposit it carefully in Iota's cargo compartment. After a small flurry of shuffling, Leucohyle emerges from that console, rumpled and covered in the most tenacious of dust bunnies and keyboard crud. With a flurry of fluttery movements and the assistance of several coin-sized scuttlebots, she re-composes herself. "All right, that one, that one's clean. Phew! So! What are the next steps? Once we er, once we make it to Sanctuary Station, that is."
"I believe at this point all that remains to repair is my external hull plating, my weapon systems, and my shield generators." Galactix says. "At that point I shall once again be fully operational."
Leucohyle claps her hands. "Oh that's -delightful-," she pipes, and then sidles over to a viewscreen to polish a spot off of it. "And er... well. After you're, you know, fully-operational, what would you like to do? Did you wish to re-integrate with Sanctuary... take in some travel... you know it's not really a a good time for travel as there's a a sort of scuffle going on between some species from another dimension and varying governments throughout the Ancient Expanse-slash-Hiverspace. I've a news archive if if you'd like to -peruse- it."
"That is a good question... I hope to get acclimated first to the situation at hand and where and perhaps when I am. I have a general idea now, but there is still much that is not clear." Galactix says.
Leucohyle puts her pale, circuit-traced hands on her hips. "Well. Don't, don't let -anyone- try to er convince you to take sides or or join anyone or get involved in any nonsense. You are self-aware and thus self-determinant, and there are some organics and otherwise who seem to have other opinions and quite-frankly I'm having none of it." Sniff. She's standing before the console banks, looking a little bit dusty but the Personal Care Limbics and her own fastidiousness are rapidly taking care of that. Sanctuary Station is coming up on the viewscreens as they approach. She sidles over to another viewscreen and polishes a corner of it. "I er, have security and repair contracts w-with Sanctuary Station and for the most part the staff is -very- agreeable. So er that's good."
Once more the smartsuited architect and trusty penguin companion come wandering in. "How's everything going? Did I miss much, other than most of the trip?"
"It wouldn't be prudent for me to take sides in any conflict until I know all the facts regarding it. Even then I intend to keep to myself unless one side or another attempts to attack me." Galactix says. "Ah, welcome friend. Indeed, the trip was rather uneventul, owing to the excellent skills of our technician friends. I shall soon be able to dock with Sanctuary."
"I think this whole conflict is is a load of kerfluffle, myself," Leucohyle pipes, with another prim *sniff* of disapproval. She waves to Kethren when he arrives, and adds, "I cleaned!" Perhaps unnecessarily. There is a precise delineation in the room, perhaps even on the entire ship, as to where Leu has been, and where she has not. "Er where was I? Oh! Yes. This conflict. Thing. I I think it's foolish, and I find this 'Dominion' to be represented in a disingenuous fashion. Not to mention unprofessional." Sniff.
Kethren groans quietly "I swear, some days I regret letting Vessa sideline me into politics. Things were so much simpler when all I had to do was plan a few buildings that would never get built because she kept changing her mind about what she wanted."
"Indeed. I was never a fan of politics myself." Galactix says. "Neutrality has its benefits."
"W-well thankfully Sanctuary has taken a a firm stance of neutrality, and obviously no one is giving -Comorro- any of of this -politics- guff," Leucohyle pipes, spotting a frayed cable, darting over, following it to and from its terminus, and marking it with a brightly colored snap-on tag. "Need to replace that," she murmurs, and then pops right back onto subject. "LCX103, thankfully, has no settlements upon it and I've kept it out of the -news-. Don't want anyone loitering around there, trying to build some sort of trade agreement or other such nonsense. I don't need to work with anyone else. I've got Danu Chroi. Isn't that right, Mister-Kethren?"
Kethren nods to Leu "Quite. Somewhat regrettably though, Vessa was quite successful in getting our group noticed. And while we've always strived for neutrality, I don't know how much we'll be able to really get away with. If for instance, it becomes a choice between taking sides and no longer existing, then we'll take a side. I for one, am /not/ letting someone else take Baile. I'm not letting the Hek government have it, I'm not letting any dominion have it. Or any other hostile force!..." He sighs a bit "Sorry. This whole mess is getting to me. That place is home though. In more ways than I ever thought I'd find after rifting over..."
"Right now my main concern is to get myself back into full working order." Galactix says. "Politics can wait. However, I did notice one of your companions the other night was a holographic image of some sort. That is an intriguing concept. Who was she?"
"Th-that's Miss-Gea. She's the Positronic brain of the Cro na Mthar, Danu Chroi's flagship? It's it's her hardlight projection," Leucohyle pipes, meandering around, taking notes, -cleaning- things. "I'm I'm actually working on a commission for her for er a more -portable- and -protected- version of existing projection-units. Smaller, more efficient, b-better shielding, etcetera."
Kethren nods as he finds himself a reasonably clear spot to have a seat at "Indeed. She's been with us awhile, and has been invaluable in helping to keep things running smoothly. I'd love to avoid the political end of things... but, too late for that now."
"A hardlight holographic avatar... intriguing." Galactix says. "A technology unknown in my time. Perhaps she would be willing to share some schematics so that I might replace my robotic construct."
"If if you'd like, I'm certain of it, I don't think there's anything -secretive- about the er, about the technology. Also I'm going to finish the improved, more portable units as as soon as you're in good stead, and.. so er yes you'll have plenty of options Ishouldthink," Leucohyle pipes, and then perks up. "You you have a -robotic- construct? Is is it in need of of repair replacement refurbishing or improvements?"
Kethren listens with a mildly curious expression.
"Indeed.... it went offline during the attack." Galactix says. "In fact it is there near the commander's chair, lying on the floor." Indeed, beside the chair is an android looking being, green skinned, with six eyes, and six fingered hands. An arm has been ripped off, a leg is bent backwards, and the eyes are darkened.
Leucohyle, having not reached that area of the command center yet, as evidenced by the fact that the 'clean' border has not yet reached that area, meanders right over to the commander's chair, looks down, and... squeaks! "OHMYWORD," she blurts, flailing one hand and hopping a good few feet back with a whine of wired reflexes. "...alll, er, all right then, we should probably. Fix. That." Pip!
Kethren gets up and walks over "Ohhh, yes. That definitely needs some work."
"Indeed. It is formed in the image of my creator, Dr. Zaris, of Delta Ultunimus III." Galactix says.
"It's got six eyes," Leucohyle pipes, showing that even many generations in the future and after much alteration, humanity's first instinct is to blatantly state the obvious. Then, she notices that despite the skin and organic features, it's completely a robot. "Oh! Icanfixthis," she pipes, and with the realization, the robo-entourage come scuttling over in a bobbing parade of spherical bodies and jointed metallic limbs.
Kethren nods thoughtfully from within his smartsuit as he takes a look at the rather less than pristine robot "Very interesting... I could probably work on it... but really, you don't need me unless the roof's about to cave in. Aina'd do a much better job, I'm sure." Wark!
"Indeed... all the Ultunimans were like that." Galactix says. "The construct is over 500,000 years old, this is truly the first significant damage it has suffered in all that time."
Leucohyle looks down at the robot, which is a green skinned android looking being, with six eyes (now darkened), six fingered hands, an arm ripped off, and a backwards bent leg. Her little robo-entourage echoes her gesture like a cadre of concerned onlookers at the site of an accident. "...er. Well. I'm not... well... hrrm." She fiddles her fingers together, and very carefully nudges the backwards-bent leg. "That's -not- proper." Kethren's mention of Aina causes the little clone's head to snap up with what can only be a 'Eureka!' expression. "OH! Oh yes where is she, this this android is well it's got... you know. Skin. And and humanoid limbs." She lowers her voice. "...it's a little squishy."
Kethren taps something on his arm to open a comm channel "Aina, you anywhere nearby? We really could use your help over here. Bring tools... I'm afraid I don't have much for working on robots. And this one's pretty beat up."
It doesn't take long for the overly tall green goat lady to come tromping in, after responding to Kethren. She seems rather distracted, gaze flicking all about, eyes wide as she tries to take in everything. Letting out a low whistle she adjust the large toolbox in her right hand, causing a few things to rattle about. Finally her gaze finds the two she knows, and then the robot. If possible, her eyes go a bit wider as she heads toward them.
"Ah, I see we have a newcomer in the ranks." Galactix' voice echoes from above. "Welcome, my dear."
Leucohyle looks up, with a very obvious expression of -relief-. Once again, all of the surrounding arachnobots echo the 'looking up' gesture. "Doctor-Aina," she pipes, "How how -delightful-. It's." She points to the android. "Well it's got. It's got... you know. Hands. Fingers. Extra-fingers, too... I'm really going to to need some help her. Plus the leg's gone all wrong. And there's skin. Really don't know what to do with that skin." She fiddles her fingers together, having not touched the android yet and looking like she'll need a bit more bravery to even attempt to do so.
Kethren smiles warmly up at Aina "Glad you could make it." Wark!
Aina blinks a few times as she listens to Leu and nods slightly, then she flashes Kethren a quick smile, "So...Broken robot? With real skin? Is is like the stuff I use on my robots, or like, real real skin?" She moves toward the robot now, intent on examining it more closely, and she might even reach out to touch the skin, if it'll let her, anyway. The voice makes her jump slightly and look around, "Umm. Thanks. Names Aina."
"My name is Galactix. The construct you see is my avatar. I have heard modern postronics of this universe possess holographic systems but I am from a bit of an earlier era." Galactix says. "You will find the skin is a synthetic compound that mimics organic skin but is rather durable. Unfortunately even the best compounds can not withstand the shock of a full attack against me."
Leucohyle gestures, perhaps unnecessarily, to the broken android on the floor. "It's got an arm off," she pipes, and makes a little 'euw!' gesture before rummaging around in Iota's cargo compartment. "I I think I've plenty of replacement wiring but I'm not going to have much luck straightening that er, that leg."
Kethren nods to Aina "Just let me know what you need me to do to help..."
Aina flashes Kethren another smile and nods, "I will, don't worry. Always need your help." Now she turns and moves to kneel beside the android, and sets the large toolbox beside her, "Well...First, let's take a look at that skin. Because if it's close to what I use, I can likely repair any parts that are damaged or missing. As for the leg..." She glances at the bent leg, then leans down a bit closer, eyes narrowing as she inspects the area where it's bent wrong, "Shouldn't be too tough...But. Skin first."
"In the meantime I have achieved an orbit around Sanctuary. I believe it best that your vessels disembark before I dock with the ship." Galactix says. "Then the repairs of my outer hull can commence."
Leucohyle pauses in her search for the avatar's missing arm. "Oh! Already! Er. Well. All right. Do you do you want us to come back and you know, repair your present robotic interaction unit?"
Kethren nods "Good question."
Aina arches a brow as she looks over the android, lightly probing here and there, testing the way the skin feels. She blinks and looks up, "I can stay here while you two move the ships...If that's ok. I don't need to be back home for a while..."
"I can maintain orbit for some time, there is no immediate need." Galactix says. "But I felt it worth noting."
No sound seems to come from the corridor. One minute the doorway is empty, and the next, the avatar is standing in it. "Hey guys, what are-woah." The sentence is immediately cut off, and the vivid blue eyes rove over the unfortunate android and his condition.
Leucohyle continues her meandering patrol, scanning around the ground, peering under... "YEEEP!" There is a small flailing of pale limbs. "I I found the other arm!"
Kethren tries to hide a brief snicker at Leu's antics "Bring it on over!"
Aina glances at Leu and can't help but giggle, then she looks back at the android, "The skin looks and feels a lot like the stuff I use for my bots. I'll have to head home, or have someone bring some by. I think I can repair the parts that are damaged. And even with the right color."