Log:MECH-01-N Mk I

MECH-01-N 2020/10/13    Bran Linda Wild Thing Artemis Union Ascendant Lennox 1

Student Quarter
The student quarter is north and west of the CBSU campus, and is entirely dependent on the university for its flavor, but its flavor is different. Much of it, especially in the back streets, is cheap housing, with students being the main tenants. On the three main roads, though - Courtland Way heading east, Harrisburg lane northwest, and Stardancer Boulevard south - are one or two grander buildings, most notably the stadium on Courtland and hospital on StarDancer. Along these roads, and scattered through the district, are other services such as students attract: fast food establishments, second-hand stores, laundromats, convenience stores, doughnut shops, and a small park.

The average age of people on the street is markedly lower than elsewhere in the city, whether walking, cycling, hoverboarding or just hanging out.

Log
It's a beautiful day in Colonial Bay! The sun is shining... somewhere else. The birds are chirping... under eaves and branches out of the drizzle. The semester's started and students are getting comfortable in their apartments and prepped for class... with lots of loud music, laughter, and possibly alcohol.

Bran is practicing skateboarding in the Student District. It was recommended to him by his sister, since it likely is a little safer than doing so in Harrisburg proper. Yes, with a wheeled skateboard, despite the light rain coming down.

Linda is enjoying a street party, having been invited by Brad Turner, one of her stock car racing friends. She's holding a bottle of beer to fit in but not drinking from it. Currently discussing the relative advantages of superchargers over turbochargers with Brad and some of his friends.

Pamela is at the same street party, in the company of one Danny Aylett, an engineering student and big brother of one of her gaming friends - she's caught his eye since have physically 'matured' so much lately.

Artemis is dressed in plain clothes, indulging in hooman culture. She's just stepped out of one of the bars and walks out on the sidewalk in search of more revelry. Though she stands out as being "off" because she's out in the rain without an umbrella, and wearing a white v-neck t-shirt and jean shorts with roman sandals. She has a metal bracer on her left arm, but no sword.

Lizzy is at the street party too, solo today since Ryosei has Swim team tryouts. Instead of a bottle, she's grabbed a 'Jupiter' sized chocolate shake from Space Burger.

Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx is shuffling into the Student Quarter, passing through really. He just left the campus proper after confronting a member of the philosophy department after he read a book of her's. The ideas with in were... deplorable! Incensed he stormed into her office, needing to confront her straight away.

What he didn't expect was after having met her, was that he would find a particularly ravishing Philosophy Professor who was more than a match for him in words & inner fire. And so, he spent the early afternoon chatting her & her ideas up.

Unmoved from his positions on Human Sentiments & Duty he slided into the rain, finding himself in a jolly mood. An umbrella casually follows to keep him dry as he goes.

He stops in his tracks spotting his Bloodbound Sister before moving to join her.

Bran sees the party going...and doesn't immediately see anyone he knows. But...well this could be interesting. He turns and heads toward the party, picking up his board as he gets closer to where people actually are hanging out.

Linda grins at seeing Lizzy, "Hi. That's a good idea." Linda points at Lizzy's choice of drink. Passing her bottle to the first person willing to take it, of which Artemis is the first to be offered, she phones in an order for a mint and choc shake and is told to collect in ten minutes.

Artemis gets handed a beer suddenly in passing by Linda and smiles. "Now this! This is what I love about this p...art of the city!" she catches herself from saying planet, and takes a swig.

Pamela is unashamedly partaking of beer - if not quickly, since she finds the taste rather strong. She and Danny are half-sheltered under eaves from the drizzle.

A street party is one of the easy -- and more subtle -- of ways to get back in touch with your humanity, if you think you're maybe getting out of touch with it. Lennox, when such things make themselves known (whether a one-time event or on a regular schedule like Dia de los Muertos), does his best to sink himself into them and get in touch with 'what the kids are into these days'.

Luckily for him, Artemis needs no assitance in being lead into the foam of a frosty beverage. He laughs boisterously and moves to join her. "Aye- the Pups of this District love their drink more than most I think."

Ascendant looks over at a youth filling a beer. He patiently waits for it to be filled before taking his umbrella in hand and using his godhand to bring him his own beverage.

Artemis is not one to be greedy when drinks are to be shared. She turns and passes along the beer to the next hooman, which happens to be the just arriving Bran. She smiles at Nohrbor as he arrives. "These brews be weaker than even the standard for this city, though," she comments to her Bloodbound brother.

Lizzy is wearing a hoodie at least two sizes to big for her (it might be Ryosei's) with the hood up, so the rain isn't bothering her too much. She smiles when she spots Bran and takes another sip of her milkshake.

Bran smiles as Artemis hands him a beer. "Uh...thanks." He then stops, staring at Artemis for a long moment, stunned. He shakes his head, trying to clear it. "Um...hi." He then notices Lizzy's smile and he waves to her.

That, actually, is something that makes Lennox stand out: he doesn't have an umbrella. Though he does wear a /very/ nice calf-length wool peacoat reminiscent of that perhaps worn by navy men, the black man seems unconcerned about the fact that the drizzle is making him -- or at least his head -- quite wet indeed.

Linda spots Bran as he waves to Lizzy. "Hey, Bran. How goes?" She frowns on seeing a bottle in Bran's hand. "You shouldn't be drinking."

"A shame- but I suppose there must be reason. We don't want to find ourselves in the midst of Hoomans loosing control of their bowels. That would certainly sour my mood." NNS says as his beer delivery completes its final mile. He takes a sip and frowns. "As stiff as Mother's Milk." He says before finishing it in two more swigs. "We shall require more and better than that I should think."

Bran sighs as Linda immediatley gives him a hard time. "I haven't been. She just handed this to me." He points to Artemis.

Bran. o O (Not YET, at least. And likely won't today.)

Pamela spots Bran and Linda and is about to wave. Then, overhearing the conversation, decides she's best finish off her beer first, and does so.

Linda chuckles, "The same happened to me, Bran. I just palmed it off onto..." She looks to see who Bran indicated, "Oh. I gave her that bottle you're holding."

Lizzy sees Linda and Pamela joining Bran, so she heads over there as well, "Hi!"

Pamela tells Danny she's going to go and say hi to some friends, and heads into the drizzle to meet Linda, Bran and Lizzy. "Hey!"

Linda adds two more shakes to her order, one each for Bran and Pam, "I'm ordering shakes. What favours? Lizzy, want a refill?"

Artemis smiles at Bran, not realizing fully that they're all pups. "Hello," she tries on the hooman greeting. "You are most welcome." As she sees Linda giving Bran a hard time, she points to Linda, "I am heartened that you choose honesty rather than a lie, for the ale was yours. I was merely continuing the tradition of sharing. Cast not judgement for your own sins. Your bottle was already half run when you handed it to me. Why can't he enjoy it too? He's welcome to it." She's practicing cutting off her thys and thous. It's a struggle.

Bran nods. He thinks about the options. . o O (Rum. Rum flavored.) But he says out loud, "Coffee flavored, if that's an option."

Lizzy has barely made a dent in a shake nearly as large as her head, "No, I'm good."

Bran hands his bottle off to another student, clearly someone old enough to drink, though.

Linda thinks about saying the bottle was half drunk when she got it, but decides it isn't worth belaboring the point.

Linda looks up after placing the orders, "That's neat. The total price qualifies for free delivery. Should be here in a minute via drone service."

Pamela says, "Coffee sounds good."

Artemis stares at Nohrbor at his response. "Do they do that?" she asks a hint of dismay.

Lizzy looks across the street at Space Burger, "I wonder why they bother..."

Linda points up, "It's raining. It's fine under the awning but staying dry in rain isn't one of my powers."

NNS nods as another drink seems to move itself to its hand.

"If they've had their fill? OH yes. As they say, 'The ones who can't hold their drink, spill it.' They take the old saying literally here on Urth it seems." He answers with a chuckle as he smells his telekinetically pilfered drink.

In the distance some co-ed spins around looking for his lost drink.

Lennox, hands in his pockets, says in response to Artemis's words from behind the Ashildr, "Yes. From time to time. Not usually the back end in response to weak beer, though."

Pamela says, "You'd think someone in this city would have the power to keep the weather nice!"

Linda nods, "There is. A couple of them at least. You can hire one of them to make sure your event has good weather. But it costs."

Artemis is getting soaked in the rain, but isn't bothered by it, since the cold doesn't bother her. Her eyes light up in recognition of Lennox's voice and she turns around. "Ah, Lennox, good to see you out and about!" She smiles at his answer, but there is some questioning in her eyes. She's still not fully certain of all hooman biological practices. "I...see." She doesn't. And while she can't tell a lie, the statement of being able to see is not one. Technically.

Pamela says, "Huh. I wonder if they make the weather bad the rest of the time to drum up business..."

The polite fable is as transparent as Artemis's ability to lie, and Lennox smiles at it. "For all that it's weak for you and your brother, for young humans unaccustomed to alcohol and drinking on an empty stomach it can be absorbed very quickly -- and tolerated rather poorly. Too much, too fast, and regurgitation is a possibility, as the body attempts to purge itself of that which is endangering them, that which the person drank -- the alcohol. It /is/ a poison, of sorts -- rotted food." He adds, for Nohrbor's benefit, "It's throwing up, not loss of bowel control."

Understanding dawns on Artemis. "Ah, so this is ale for pups, to help their stomachs grow stronger," she replies. Training wheels for drinking!

There are street parties happening but the streets haven't been closed to traffic. Although the big tractor-trailer combination making it's way down a street barely wide enough for it must surely be lost. It's blaring horns repeatedly as the driver tries to travel down the street disrupting the partygoers until its passed and they can resume.

Lennox barks a laugh. "I suppose that's one way of looking at it," he can't help but agree. "America is weird, though," comes his opinion. "Invented by a bunch of ... very uptight people. In older countries and cultures, children often experience alcohol much earlier, gain tolerance -- and don't usually go drinking to excess."

The driver's side window slides down. "Hey, kids. My PoS satnav is glitching. Which way to the North Trunk road?"

"Ah. Well that is a relief!" NNS says, even feeling guilty for a moment for having stole someones' drink. But it passes quickly enough.

He holds his cup up and shouts, "TRAIN WELL PUPS!"

Bran stares at both Nohrbor and Artemis, trying to figure out what their deal is. He hasn't made the connection about who they are yet.

Artemis nods to what Lennox says. "Really? I thought this was the land of the free!" At least her British accent excuses some of the behavior. She looks to driver, but has no idea of how to direct him. She looks to Bran, noting his staring. "Are you well trained in drinking yet?" she smiles warmly at him.

Lizzy points northwest, toward the Battlefield Distict, "I think it's that way!" she calls to the driver.

NNS looks to the driver and say, "You have my deepest sympath- oh. Well good luck on your journey, Ferryman." He hoists his cup to the driver and returns to his conversation with Artemis and the others.

"Ah- here, Young one. You can Have my drink. Drink up and steel your stomach for future glories!" He says with a warm grin.

Bran laughs. "Oh...umm..no. I'm not. I technically am not allowed to drink yet. I have to wait..." He pauses, not wanting to ruin his chances with her. "...at least another year." Sure, it's longer than that, but why state EXACTLY how young he is?

Pamela says, "Yeah, it's north of here. Not sure how far east it extends, though - you might be able to get to it just by turning north..."

The driver nods, says, "Thanks." and engages drive. The truck begins edging forward. Then it rocks wildly on stressed suspension as the trailer moves erratically. "What the h***!" the driver says.

"Oh, yes. It's too earlier in the day yet!" Artemis says to Bran with a smile. "A year? That seems extreme," she says in wonder. She shrugs, not seeming bothered by that. She has difficulty judging ages of humans.

Pamela tries to see what could be making the truck do that...

A second later a large metal fist punches through the roof of the trailer, followed by the upper body of a massive robot as it sits up. The robot is at least 18ft high, rather crudely made from thick slabs of metal plates welded together. The rocket launcher built into the right arm and the chain gun integral to the left arm hint it's not designed for peaceful activities.

Pamela rolls under the truck, taking cover behind wheels so she can change to Wild Thing unobserved!

Bran freezes for a moment as he sees the robot. "Oh... ."

Artemis says to the truck driver, "It would seem your cargo has decided to transport itself..."

The robot's head turns through 360 degrees. "Public Meta recognized," the robot says in a grating harsh metallic voice, and fires the single shot rocket launcher at Linda. Fortunately it's not an explosive warhead. Rather a armor defeating HEAT payload. Unable to even try to avoid it because of the other students around Linda flies up taking the wire guided rocket with her and takes the hit full in the chest. She is hurled far out of sight over the rooftops.

Lennox says nothing for a split second, eyes on the robot coming out of the trailer, then turns his head to look at Artemis. "What /is/ it about you??"

"Hahaha! Who's idea was this?" NNS says with great amusement. "Whoever it was knows how to throw a party! Do me next Android!"

The driver scambles out of the truck and heads toward a door. "" trails behind him.

Artemis blinks and looks to Lennox. "What? I did not cause that!" she points to where the smoldering Linda goes flying. She looks to the driver. "Driver, you must deactivate your robot!" she calls after the fleeing man. Her left hand starts to curl closed, her shield materializing just as her hand closes over the grip that falls in place.

The head rotates another full 360 degrees. "Scanning... Targets accquired..." The head stops facing Artemis and NNS.

Wild Thing rolls to her feet again on the far side of the truck, ready to spring up and kick the robot!

NNS grins. "Yes! I am the target thou seeks!" He says, holding his arms out wide while his telekinetic arm is thoughtforged over his muscular frame.

Bran scrambles to get clear of both Artemis and Nohrbor, just in case the next missile IS explosive.

The robots speaks in a booming amplified voice. "Normal citizens, clear this area. Resuming Meta Cleansing in 5... 4..."

Lizzy steps in front of the robot and calls out, "Why?"

Lennox sighs as the head winds up facing Artemis, Nohrbor -- and himself. "I'm starting to think you two are as bad as Porter," he accuses the pair, then shrugs out of his coat, revealing that he's got his armor on underneath -- and his sword hanging for a vertical carry from a shoulder-sheath.

NNS glances over his shoulder at Lennox and he claps. "You came ready for fun and excitement as well, Lennox of Hardigan! Good Show!" He says before turning back to the robot. "Oh the anticipation is electric." He announces giddily. "Hopefully it does more than shoot party favors. Oh- imagine Sister, the battle we might have if it got up and could battle us in direct combat!"

Wild Thing leaps onto the truck and tries to sweep the robots legs out from under it!

The robot actually answers Lizzy, "Program Directive #2: Eliminate all metas."

Wild Thing says, "You should change to another program. This one seems dull."

Wild Thing proves strong enough to knock a leg out from beneath the robot and send it toppling over....

Lizzy responds with a new question, "What is Program Directive #1?"

"Harm no normal human." the robot replies in its harsh voice.

Lizzy manages to climb and jump her way up onto the robot's chest. "If you get up, I might fall and get hurt," she tells the robot.

"It is a good thing you face no Mortal Hooman then, Mechanoid." NNS says as he charges the robot. "You face Nohrbor Nanuran Surryx- Bloodlit Ascendant, born on the steppes of Doj'on Prime, hewn from the Living Stone of the City of the Archons in the Valley Ascendant and I do not fight alone. Now stand and face us in Honorable combat. I have heard you will not harm the Hoomans. This pleases me."

Ascendant beckons the robot toward him.

Bran has no idea if this is going to work. But maybe there's a mind he can affect in the robot? Maybe? He focuses and lashes out trying to inflict pain on the brain of whatever is controlling it.

Bran's attempt is successful. It also gets a reaction from the robot.

The robot speaks, "Additional Target Identified."

The robot does not attempt to stand, as that, as Lizzy stated, may cause her to fall and injure herself. So it merely moves its hand to align the chain gun on NNS and fires, a tight controlled burst."

"Let us prioritize our Targets, yes?" The Ascendant NNS says, clearly sounding offended. "The Pup can't even steel his belly with mead. I assure you, we Immortals will give you more than you can hope to endure."

He shifts with superhuman speed out of the way of the bullets and returns to his position as if nothing happened. "Good, Drone, Gooood."

One shot stirs Acsendent's hair in passing. The other two shots miss by more due to recoil effects. The projectiles punch into a brownstone wall without injuring anyone else.

"I do not serve Porter any longer," Artemis says to Lennox with some irritation at the invocation of the Would-be Tyrant's name. "We cannot fight here, for even if it is directed not to hurt mortals, there can still be lives at risk from the ensuing battle," she reminds Nohrbor. She's learned much from her hooman friends. She raises her hand in the air and waits a moment. There's the sound of rustling wind in the distance, and with a whoosh, a sword soars grip-first into Artemis' waiting hand. Its arrival causes her damp hair to flutter from the impact of the catch. She levels its point to the robot in challenge. "Let us take this battle away from the normal hoomans, Robot."

"So who programmed you?" Lizzy asks conversationally.

"That datum is not in my core memory." Lizzy is told.

"I assumed it would not target the Mortals, Sister- but you would know best." NNS says with a slight bow to Artemis.

"You heard my Noble Sister, Mechanoid. Let us depart and see how long you can prevent your own dismantling. If you prove entertaining we shall endeavor to rebuild you once again."

He doesn't seem worried about the Chaingun.

Lizzy says, "What does your program direct once the meta-humans are eliminated??"

"Null question. Probability of this unit surviving to completion is 0.0000001%."

Ascendant waves a hand at the Robot and moves to hoist it into the air using his telekinesis. He moves so as to put the most open space between he and any Mortals that might be down range while tehy relocate, but is trying to orient the robot so that his chaingun is pointed skyward.

Lizzy loses her footing when the robot suddenly starts moving into the air, but manages to land safely, rolling to her feet. She calls out to the robot, "I'm OK!"

"Nohrbor, don't --" -- and whether it's safety or he heard Lennox or just the Godflora showing off, the robot doesn't lift /too/ far. With a bound forward and up, the black man focuses on the upper arm of the robot's chaingun-arm, his drawn sword making a vertical slash -- hopefully to sever the arm.

Lennox's old iron is, apparently, much better than whatever steel the manufacturers used for the robot; the sword's cut sinks into the arm about halfway, and then as it halts the black man's weight pulls it down and out. The edge is utterly undamaged.

Wild Thing has limited offensive options. With the robot floating off the ground, she simply jumps up and gives it a good solid punch!

NNS laughs. "A fine blade, my friend- but there is no Sport to be found in disarming it before we can engage it in honorable combat." He says to Lennox without sounding chiding in anyway.

He scoffs as Wild Thing joins in the cheapshotting.

Wild Thing, as she feared, seems to do little to the robot.

Artemis sees Nohrbor has the robot handled. She looks around thinking to protect any of the young pups still lingering around. Quickly she realizes she's the danger just by staying near them. She looks back up before flying upwards to pass by the Robot, making sure there's nothing in the line of fire in front or behind her.

Lennox shakes his head. "Do you have diseased animals where you come from, Nohrbor? You find a rabid animal, you kill it. There's no honor to it, you do it for the safety of the tribe. This is a rabid animal -- just kill it."

Ascendant scoffs again. "This is no diseased sow, threatening your herd of Blorgifkkds, Lennox of Hardigan. This is an engineered marvel- a gift, delivered to the feet of the Godflora. It is deadly, but only to those who might threaten it. What it needs..." He continues walking, now in the direction that Artemis flies. "... is an ARENA! So we might keep it away from your 'tribe' and still have our Sport. It /wants/ to KILL us, Lennox- do you know how rare that is?" He inquires as he strides confidently.

Artemis frowns faintly at Lennox's opinion. "How know we that it is not in some way artificially intelligent? I see that it is not as advanced as some, but that is no certainty that it is not sentient," she comments, recently left with doubts about Urth's robots.

Bran felt his first strike actually work...so he backs up a bit further out of the way...to hopefully not be noticed much...before hte lashes out again with his mind to inflict more pain on the controlling mind of the robot.

Bran starts to sweat a little from the extertion. But that would be a normal response when confronted by a giant killer robot, at least.

There's no obvious reason, although Bran will know why, but the robot abruptly powers down.

NNS spins to Bran and narrows his eyes at the young lad. "Youngling, you too fear this metal plaything?" He asks, trying to size up the young mentalist.

Wild Thing leaps onto the downed robot to examine it. "Anyone else worried that it knew it was going to lose? I figure that means winning wasn't the main point."

Bran blinks and looks at Nohrbor, "Umm...well, it threatend to shoot me, right?"

Artemis is disappointed when the robot fails and powers down. She casts a look between Bran and Nohrbor. "Brother, of course the Youngling does. Except for that one," she points out to Lizzy, "They had right to fear it. Now, where be that driver?" She swoops down towards the door she saw the driver run off to.

Wild Thing notices that now the robot is powered down an fairly envious inspection plate can be removed to gain access to the interior of the head.

Lennox visually inspects his blade, then casually strops it across his leg to wipe it off before, using his other hand for guidance, he sheathes it.

Bran points at hte robot, "There's a human mind in that thing, by the way. At least partially human."

The driver is cowering in the apartment building.

Wild Thing removes the inspection plate -then asks, "Human mind? You're sure?"

"Aye... that is true." NNS says, rubbing his beard as he considers things. He turns to Bran and claps him on the shoulder. "Fear not! I suspect you shall be mighty some day. I look forward to seeing what you do with your burgeoning power." He drops his grasp on the robot now that his attention is elsewhere.

"Oh yes- the Driver! Let us find him. Perhaps he can make us another, sturdier version!" NNS says excitedly until Bran tells him there's a Human inside.

"There is?" He says with surprise turning his mind's eye back to the machine. "Interesting..." He rumbles moving to investigate.

Lennox's eyebrows lift. "Monstrous," he suggests as a better descriptive.

The interior of the robot mostly looks as crudely made as the exterior. With the exception of a strange sensor device, and 'half' a brain. Oddly, also inside the head is a micro catholic shrine with a small holo of a teenage girl next to the shrine.

Bran nods. "I'm pretty sure."

Bran takes a few seconds to just catch his breath. Using his powers tends to take a lot out of him.

There's also what could be a model designation... MECH-01-N Mk I.

Wild Thing says, "Um - someone sciency should look at this. And a doctor."

Artemis lands and enters, approaching the driver. "Why do you cower so?" she asks with blade lowered with the point at the ground.

Bran glances up, "Umm...someone might want to check on Linda, too."

"Hmmm..." NNS says curiously. "I feel acquainted with this Iconography. Let me get a better look upon this modest shrine." He says leaning in closer, ignoring the half a brain for now.

"Hopefully there is enough of a mind here to probe for answers." He murmurs as he scans the Catholic shrine.

[To Bran] Wild Thing says, "I expect she's fine...."

The driver lifts her head now the noise has stopped, "That... that thing... that was in the container. What the was it?"

Wild Thing neverthless pulls out her PDA to call Linda and see.

Lennox drops down from the trailer and approaches the robot, moving to look in through the access plate over Wild Thing's shoulders. "You happen to know a sciency doctor?"

Bran looks over at the driver, "You were hauling it! You didn't notice you were hauling a killer robot?"

Lizzy says, "Dr. Aevus subbed in my Science class once."

Wild Thing shakes her head, retreating from the hatch so others can see.

"The machine is no longer functioning," Artemis assures the driver. She looks to Bran and nods at his words, looking back to the driver. "He has good points. And where was it meant to go?"

Lennox's head turns to look over at Lizzy. "He a physicker? I know 'doctor' gets tossed around a lot these days for people who aren't."

The driver says, "To Richmond. The capital.

Lizzy says, "No, I think he's a Science type. I also saw him at the Best of the Best contest."

"This be a blessing for the dead." NNS says solemnly. "A Hooman ritual. I have seen it before. It is to soothe the souls of those who have moved on. Hopefully this wee one has found Peace." He points to the girl in the holo cube.

He bows his head gently and murmurs a few words, hoping to 'boost' the power of the shrine so the girl's loved ones might be heard.

"Now why would one put a shrine to a youngling inside a robot meant to battle metahoomans?" He inquires aloud.

"Perhaps we should find out. Do you wish to look?" He asks Bran.

"What's -- no, don't bother," Lennox decides. "I don't know the scene -- there any machine-controlling supers around town? That, plus maybe a brain surgeon ... um. Hm."

Artemis frowns and taps her chin. "Strange. I wonder if there be any metahumans of note that this machine would be sent to eliminate?" she asks the Driver and those near her.

Lennox glances up at Nohrbor. "Actually, I bet the little shrine is to the person from whom the brain came. I mean, if I were a bad guy with a bit of religion, that's how I'd do it."

Bran walks over closer to the robot and takes a look inside at hte hatch...and then seeing if he recognizes the girl pictured.

NNS nods and mulls this over. "How delightfully strange!" He says after a moment. "You Hoomans are so novel!"

Bran pulls out his PDA and he takes a picture of hte holo. He can try to do a search later of some kind.

Bran backs up a step...and the decides to do the search now. Who knows? He does an image search to see if he can get a match.

''Bran's reverse image search is successful: The girl in the holo is Michelle LeFarange. Age 13. Killed during a confrontation between a supervillain gang and a superhero team in California just over a year ago.''

Artemis asks the driver, "Where specifically in this Capital was it meant to go?"

Lizzy asks the driver, "Where did the shipment originate?"

Lennox shakes his head slightly. "It is not a good thing, Godflora. Though I can think of at least three different possible explanations for this, none of them are the actions of a sane individual."

The driver tells Artemis, "There's a container park where the old Airport used to be. I was to take it there and leave it to be collected."

NNS summons his psionic power into a small yet potent spear- maybe more like a scalpel and hovers his hand and its tiny shard of energy over the half a brain. "Well, that mystery solved- let us see what this one knows." He says, focusing to plunge the telepathic connection into the brain.

''The brain is extremely simplified. Never fully human. Likely VAT grown. This half is linked to another half eleswhere, a virtually undetectable and untraceable communication link. There's no what or who. Only the imperatives (1) Do not harm normals (2) Kill metas. And an ongoing tactical assessment of the fight against the metas with a lidt of priorities for improving the next version.''

To Lizzy the driver says, "The transport nexus. I was told to pick it up from the container park there."

Bran frowns. "Found a match on the picture. A girl named...Michelle LeFarange. Died at the age of 13. She was killed during a fight between a supervillain gang and a superhero team out in California. Just over a year ago."

Bran looks at the robot again, "So...probably a relative of hers is in the robot? And it was tasked with dealing with all metas, because of a revenge on everyone?"

Wild Thing looks rather unwell.

Lizzy tells the driver, "I think the authorities will be very interested in all the documentation you have concerning this shipment."

Artemis floats over to the others, listening in on the talk of the girl. Mournfully, she says, "To go through such in the name of vengeance? To strike down other young girls, like the one it killed first? Madness drives such thoughts."

Lennox asides to Wild Thing, "First time seeing a brain in person?" He rises, then, and gestures the young feral-looking woman to step away. "It never really gets much easier."

Lennox adds over his shoulder to the fem Godflora, "Artemis, that half-brain in there might /be/ Michelle. Or part of her."

Wild Thing says, "Yeah. I'm going to go...."

Wild Thing slips away. She's not much use here now, and she'd really not tather look at that brain longer.

"I am communing with this one now..." NNS says to Bran. "Let us see if you are right, young Detective." He gives a half a smile but keeps his eyes half closed- as his mind's eye is looking elsewhere.

"Hmmm...." he rumbles. "I do not sense a life was ever lived." He says mysteriously. "Only what was spoken- 'Do not harm normals' and 'Kill metas'. A simple set of instruction. It seems that this version is a probe of some sort though- meant to learn and provide information for a new version?" NNS says, opening his eyes all the way halfway through.

Bran smiles slightly...knowing he isn't really much of a detective.

Artemis looks shocked at Lennox's suggestion. "They...turned her into a weapon upon her death? Why?" She hears Nohrbor's answers and is puzzled, but looks to Bran to offer an impressed smile. "A Detective, are you? You seem to have impressed my brother. No small task."

Lizzy says, "A life not lived? Maybe this brain is a clone - grown from Michelle's."

"Perhaps. It has no memories of note within. Just its' mandates." NNS answers Lizzy.

Bran blushes when Artemis speaks to him. "Umm...no. I'm...not really a detective. But thank you."

Lizzy says, "At any rate, I should head home and change." She looks down at her clothes. "Darn thing made me spill my milkshake."

Lennox watches the Wild Thing move off, then turns to step over to where his coat fell, finding and shaking off much (though not all) of the water before he puts it back on, concealing his armor and weapon. "Blech. I am /so/ glad I am not involved in that whole ... scene."

Lizzy heads home to change, as she said. But she stops at Space Burger for another milkshake.

Artemis plants her sword point down into a patch of grass along the sidewalk and begins ringing out her hair as she smiles at Bran's answer. "Not by profession, but a keen mind, surely."

Artemis looks over to Lennox curiously. "What scene do you mean?"

Bran smiles as Artemis says he has a keen mind. "Umm... thank you. Hey...umm...do you mind if I get a photo with you?"

Lennox gestures towards Artemis with his chin. "The whole superhero thing."

Artemis smiles and chuckles at the request. "I do not mind. Do as you please," she answers. She's not quite accustomed to such requests. She looks back to Lennox and grins. "With sword skill as that, I find that difficult to believe."

Lennox shrugs, moving to offer to take Bran's camera (or whatever) and take the photo for him. "I may have experience and good tools, but I can get hurt as much as anyone else."

Bran gives his PDA to Lennox. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

Bran moves next to Artemis for the photo, and smiles. He brushes his hair out of his eyes.

Artemis lowers her shield and smiles, though instead of looking at the camera, she's smiling to Bran. Talia's still teaching her about how humans like taking photos.

Lennox does know how humans take photos. "Hey, Artemis," he says, "got a question for you." And when she looks over -- because most people look at least towards you to indicate paying attention -- he gets a quick photo-burst done. "Take many photos?" he asks her, a small smile on his lips as he hands the PDA back to Bran.

Bran smiles and takes it back. "Thanks again."

Artemis turns her smiling face to Lennox as expected. The ploy works. "I do not, why do you ask?" she asks after the photo's taken. "I have witnessed a few friends do so, and others ask Friend Wade for images."

Lennox gestures for the PDA back. "Here," he says, showing her the images -- not of her smiling at Bran, but at the camera. "Usually, if someone wants a picture with you, you look at the camera /with/ them. Looking at each other is much more intimate -- romantic, usually."

Lennox then hands the PDA back again.

Artemis blinks a few times at the comments from Lennox. "What is wrong with an intimate moment between new friends? Why must it be immediately seen as romantic?" she opines.

Bran blushes as he thinks about it. "Umm..yeah. I...uh...that would have been fine, too. Both styles of pictures would have been good."

Artemis is vindicated. "See? We can do both, then," she smiles, content to do what's asked of her.

Artemis offers to Bran, "Perhaps when it is past the striking of 5 o'clock, you will be permitted to drink the starting beer."

Bran smiles, "No. I'm...too young. But eventually."

Artemis smiles gently. "Ah, a shame. Another time, then."

Bran smiles, "Um...yeah, I hope so. Thank you again." He waves to both Lennox and Artemis...and then goes to head off.