Log:ACRO - Ghost In The Machine, Scene 3

ACRO - Ghost In The Machine 2006/03/09 	 Barricade Deus Ex Machina Fuzzt Kibin Midnight Random Factor

3

-- ED Note: The team is on the way to an island base owned by ACRO in international waters --

Fuzzt turns up where he agreed to meet Barricade with the gullible tourist fishing kit that has been foisted onto him at a seafront shop.

Barricade smiles to Fuzzt. "Now where is My other friend? This should be a relaxing fishing trip."

Caleb arrives, a little puzzled, at the site of Barricade's fishing trip.

Barricade asks Fuzzt, "How has your stay been?"

Barricade says, "Ah Caleb! You made it! Better than going to school, right? Caleb, this is Fuzzt. An alien tourist."

Caleb waves to Fuzzt. "Hey, Fuzz! We've met, Barr."

Fuzzt says, "I look to front with glee at future of time hunting water non-sentients."

Caleb nods to Barricade. "I guess. Never been fishing before. But anything beats school."

Barricade says, "Oh ok. Well, there's the rental boat. It's the cheapest thing out there. No electronic devices or nothing."

Caleb thinks about that a bit. "Well, _most_ things beat school."

Fuzzt extrudes enough human type arms to shake hands all around.

Barricade chuckles and shakes hands with Fuzzt.

Caleb grins and shakes two of Fuzzt's hands.

Barricade says, "There's an island where we can stop to make some dinner before we come back."

Caleb nods. "Always did like fresh fish."

Fuzzt says, "I find Earth substance I like."

Barricade points to the boat. "Alright. Let's hop aboard and start sailing."

Barricade says, "What is that Fuzzt?"

Caleb blinks at Fuzzt as he enters the boat. "Huh?"

Fuzzt helpfully picks up all the gear and makes for the boat loade down like a packmule.

Fuzzt says, "I place with dim light it sell liquid in fused silica containers. Liquid not have taste much but i like feel of fused silica when I crew."

Barricade helps get the trip started.

Caleb nods, vaguely. "Um... yeah. Whatever you say, Fuzz."

Fuzzt bobs up and down. "I bring some. You loke too?" and Fuzzt pulls out a couple of bottles of beer from his fishing box.

Barricade says, "Oh great! Um I don't think Caleb is old enough to drink though."

Barricade keeps the boat on course.

Caleb grins. "Oh! Liquid in fused silica containers! Yeah, that's pretty cool Fuzzt." He grabs one of the bottles... or tries to...

The boat heads out, away from the dock, onto the gently rolling waves, the boat bobbing slightly as it turns north east. There doesn't seem to be much boat traffic at the moment, so it's all pretty quiet. There's a barge being pulled southward down the coast, but otherwise, the only other vehicles out here are a couple of jet ski-type vehicles.

Fuzzt hands one bottle to Barricade and pops the other bottle, still unopened, into her mouth and starts crewing.

Barricade opens the bottle and takes a sip. He sets it down and sets the boat on course for a certain location. He then shows the others how to set the lines for fishing etc..

Fuzzt gets a third bottle out and asks Barricade. "Is Earthling Valeb premitted have container?"

Barricade says, "He can have container, but he can't consume what is insidet he container... I think."

Barricade blinks as he looks up in the sky. "Whoah those are huge birds.. wait.. flying people.."

Barricade thinks. o O (Madre de dios! I'm going to get them in trouble..)

Fuzzt hands Caleb the bottle. "You don't be bother. Liquid not much taste. Container nice though."

Caleb nods. "Yeah. Lot of flying folks around this town. They friends of yours?" He takes the bottle. "Thanks Fuzzt!"

Barricade shakes his head.. "No.. Not friends.."

Caleb looks at Barricade more carefully, and a bit intrigued. "Enemies? Want I should, um, call a friend of mine?"

The two flyers zip on ahead of you, heading out into international waters.

Barricade thinks a bit and asks the two friends. "If we continue on course we might find unfriendlies. I don't want to put you two in danger." He nods a bit at Caleb's statement. "Well I don't want SG to be responsible for any mishaps.."

Caleb nods to Barricade. "OK... I'll make a call, get our friend to drop me back off on shore, see if he wants to give you a hand. Scuze me, folks." He heads down below deck, PDA in hand.

Barricade nods to Caleb and continues maneuvering the boat closer to the island..

Barricade thinks. o O (They know we are coming.. damn.)

The dock on the island is on the far side of the island. The sailboat turns to have the port side facing the island itself.

A few minutes later, Midnight teleports onto the deck. "Yo. Anybody else need ferry service?"

Kibin wakes up from sleeping wherever on the boat.

Barricade nods to Midnight. He tells Midnight what is going on.

Barricade says, "Kibin stay alert.. There could be trouble."

Barricade goes to check to see if they caught any fish.

Kibin looks around the boat.

Kibin looks around the boat. "Seems safe to me," he replies.

Barricade shakes his head to Kibin. "No from the Island. Flyers.. Someone's heading back to the city."

Midnight says, "So who do you think those goons are?"

Barricade: Barricade stands five feet, nine inches tall. His face is covered by an SG helmet. This man looks pretty athletic, weighing in about one hundred seventy pounds. The Starguard uniform is made of some protective, insulating material, but it isnt bullet proof nor is it a form of protective gear. It does allow for free movement of the body and helps protect agains minor environmental inconvienances.

Barricade wears a large bluish metallic gauntlet over each hand. This makes his hands and forearms look diproportional to the rest of his body. These gauntlets are the source of Barricades powers. They glow with energy whenever Barricade uses them.

Midnight: At first glance, Midnight resembles a three-dimensional shadow... black, featureless, fading a little at the edges. Closer inspection reveals more distinct features, including fully articulated fingers and toes... more like a human covered in light-absorbing paint, with wispy tendrils of darkness drifting from the surface.

However, he doesn't seem to invite close inspection. He carries himself with an air of barely restrained violence, as if looking for an excuse to pound something into the dirt.

Midnight thinks. o O (Fishing trip. Heh. I shoulda known. Cool...)

Barricade says, "Not sure.. Could be some metas. Be careful."

Barricade casts his line...and like most fishing...not much happens. The boat rocks a bit as the waves pass.

Midnight nods. "Yeah... careful. Um..." he looks around at the sleeping alien, the no-longer-sleeping dinosaur, the gauntleted superhero, and himself, and chuckles. "So, we're the distraction, right?"

Kibin says, "I thought we were the army?"

Barricade says, "No.. We aren't the army.. that's for sure."

Kibin wanders around on deck, looking around at the ocean.

Midnight shrugs. "OK. So there's metas on the island. What's the plan... we scouting, or taking 'em down?"

Barricade anchors the boat and starts fishing. He doesn't want to get killed on the island..

Barricade tells Midnight, "Scouting.. Find some binoculars in the cabin.."

Midnight nods to Barr. "Okeydoke... scouting. You can keep the binoculars. You got a radio?

Kibin asks, looking over at the island, "What exactly are we supposed to be scouting for?"

Barricade sighs. "Kibin, you didn't get my briefing? ACRO base."

Barricade goes to get a SG communicator for Caleb.

Barricade says, "Here use this spare one."

Midnight takes the communicator.

 Midnight says, "Testing... this thing work?"

 Barricade says, "Copy, loud and clear."

Kibin says to Barricade, "I know that much." He hmmms, and adds, "Why don't you just send spies to somehow get amazingly detailed photos and floor plans for the base, as well as to tell us about their impossibly hard to get through security system?"

Barricade says, "Not possible."

Midnight nods. "Cool. See you soon!" Making sure he still remembers the spot below-decks, he concentrates on the island, looking for a hidden spot within 300 meters to appear in. Then he ports.

Kibin asks, "What about sending James Bond?"

Barricade says, "ACRO aren't aliens.. don't have permission from Horatio to do that. Kibin. Shush."

Kibin was just joking around... Meh. He looks at the island, and sees if he can make out anything signifigant.

Barricade asks Kibin, 'Can you swim fast?"

Kibin says to Barricade, "Not really. I never bothered to learn how to swim."

Barricade says, "Ai caramba.. Ok Kibin, you need to put this life vest on. (i forgot what they were called.)"

Kibin says to Barricade, "I can kind of doggy paddle."

Barricade says, "We aren't in a swimming pool Kibin. This is the ocean. The currents are strong. Put it on."

Kibin sighs, and places it on. "It makes me stick out like a sore thumb..."

Barricade says, "Better that than drown."

 Barricade says, "Midnight, report?"

 Midnight says, "Oh, right... sorry. I'm on the island. There's a security camera, I don't think it spotted me."

 Barricade says, "Be careful ok? Let us know if you want us to dock and come help you."

Random Factor enters from Remote RP Lounge.

 Midnight says, "OK... gonna go in stealthed, check out the building."

Midnight concentrates, and fades partway into the shadow-realm, conjuring a platform beneath his feet because, well, it's more convenient. He makes his way towards the building, staying underground.

Kibin tries to find something to do on the boat while Barricade is spying. "Is there any food on this boat?"

Random Factor flies in low towards the boat, not wanting to draw any undue attention.

 Midnight says, "OK, checking out the building. Hey, Vic, you sure these guys can't eavesdrop on this channel?"

 Barricade says, "Not sure.. Random would know better, he helped encrypt it."

Midnight nods, where nobody can see him.

 Random Factor says, "If they can, the government has wasted a LOT of money. But... it wouldn't be the first time. My question is though, who the hell is this?"

Barricade says, "Kibin, Fuzzt brought beer. Thre's sandwhiches in the cooler. Don't eat them all, ok?""

Midnight emerges from the ground, popping his head out of the floor of the building. Looks like there might be three rooms total, based on what you saw outside, and inside. No lower level. The room he emerges into has a bank of computers in it. Looks like a server room.

 Barricade says, "Random!"

 Kibin says, "Hey ACRO guys, if you can hear this, you suck."

Barricade keeps fishing.

 Midnight says, "They call me Midnight. Hey, 'zat Random Factor? Cool. Scuze me a sec, guys, got a server room to check out."

 "Now now...let's not be childish."

 Midnight says, "Um... who's that?"

Midnight scoots into anywhere _but_ the server room, looks around for security systems, and resolidifies to rest in the most hidden spot he can find.

<SGG> "Your host, of course. Stay...right...where you are, my thiefly friend."

Kibin hums a few notes, and goes to get a sandwich.

<SGG> Random Factor says, "Good question."

<SGG> Kibin says, "Yup, I think that the government may have wasted a little money."

<SGG> Midnight says, "Guys? I'm thinkin' maybe the stealthy approach didn't work. Charge?"

Barricade sighs. "We need to get Midnight." Barricade tries to dock the boat so the rest of them can help out. "Random can you find Midnight?"

Barricade de-anchors so they can get moving.

Kibin comes back up, with no sandwich. Not really hungry anyway.

Midnight stays alert for trouble but solidifies in the safest spot he can find... no sense exhausting himself before the fight actually starts.

Random Factor says, "we should be able to home in on his comm, unless they're jamming the signal. Our comms are all but useless at this point. Did he say where he was going?"

Barricade tells Random, the right answer.

<SGG> Kibin says, "So, I suppose you're prepared to give us a warm welcome?"

Midnight phases through the wall, finding himself in another room, facing Deus Ex, who is seated in an ornate looking swiveling electronic chair, with several buttons on the arm of it.

Midnight thinks. o O (Man, _gotta_ work on my choice of safe spots. OK, stall, Cale, stall.)

The room Deus Ex is in is filled with monitors....consoles of various sorts.

<SGG> Kibin says, "Probally a warm welcome with fusion beams or something..."

Midnight looks carefully at DEM and the monitors to see whether he's been spotted. He assumes he has, but there's no sense in giving himself away if not...

Midnight takes the time while attempting to recover, and waiting to see what DEM does, to memorize this spot.

<SGG> Kibin says, "Hellooooooo."

Deus Ex looks at Midnight closely. "What do you want here? You are trespassing."

Midnight thinks. o O (OK. So much for that idea.)

<SGG> Random Factor says, "So, if we're on speaking terms, how about just telling us what it is you want instead of leaving us up to our own feeble devices?"

Midnight shrugs. "Nothin' much, really. Just checkin' the place out. Thinkin' I might build a summer home here. You got a name?

<SGG> Kibin says, "Hmmmph. You know, there is such a thing as threading processes, allowing you to do multiple things at once. Just a suggestion."

The robot says, "I am Deus Ex Machina. For lack of a better name."

Kibin sighs, no more taunting... He asks, "Can this boat go any faster?"

Midnight chuckles. "Man, yeah... wouldn't take much! Not as bad as 'Godling', though. Got anything easier to say?"

Barricade tells Kibin, "Im going as fast as I can with this thing. If you could swim or if Random can push.. maybe we can go faster?"

Deus Ex shakes his head, "Negative. Just go with 'Deus Ex'. That is sufficient."

Kibin asks Barricade, "Horizontal forcewalls to run across?"

The boat slowly slides up to the dock on the island.

Kibin gets off at the dock, and looks for a door. Doors are good.

Barricade tells Kibin, "Not while I'm steering! Finally we made it. Fuzzt, stay here and guard the boat. We'll go get midnight."

Midnight nods. "You got it, Deuce. 'xcuse me a minute... I got business." He summons the darkforce as armor, and to blast the monitors.

Kibin also takes off the stupid life vest while he's at it.

Barricade goes along with the others to go look for Midnight if possible.

Kibin comments, "I wonder if I can get a beach house here."

Random Factor activates his DI to approach the building. Seems pointless at this point to try the whole invisibility thing.

There's a bunch of sparks as monitors blow out. Deus Ex looks at Midnight, "We are in international waters...and you invade my home. And start to destroy things. Don't cry when I put lots of holes in you."

Deus Ex Machina: It looks like a large humanoid robot, approximately 9 feet tall, and a good 4 feet across. It moves quite fluidly. It is mostly a shiny silverish metal. Its eyes are red glowing lights of some variety, and it has a speaker where a mouth would be. A couple noticeable weapons systems dot the robot. Some kind of chaingun on the right arm...a rocket launcher on its back.

Midnight nods. "Right. I'll cry when they make the TV movie about it, though."

<SGG> Midnight says, "There ain't many rooms, guys, and I blew out his monitors."

Deus Ex actually chuckles, "I'm sure you will." His right arm raises, and the chaingun spins up, letting loose a hail of plasma at Midnight.

<SGG> Kibin says, "Yeah, that was smart. Anger the bad guy before backup comes."

<SGG> Midnight says, "I wait 'till backup comes, I'd be here all day."

The plasma blasts rip through both Midnight and the wall...bursts of plasma come ripping through the concrete, leaving small holes in it. Those outside see the plasma bolts shoot out....

Barricade shakes his head. "Gah! They started fighting. Let's find him quick!"

<SGG> Midnight says, "Ow."

Random Factor says, "Looks like we found him! Come on!"

Barricade follows RF

Random Factor Sprits towards where the plasma blasts came from, ready to MAKE a door.

Kibin goes over to the DOOR, and tries to get it to open.

Kibin waves to Deus Ex.

Deus Ex gets up from his chair, and strides over to Midnight. "I think it's time to show you people what I do to trespassers." He attempts to grab Midnight with his left arm, and hoist him into the air.

Random Factor says, "So. Can we talk about this? Or do we have to pummel each other?"

Kibin adds, "Talking is good. It makes everyone feel happy."

Deus Ex hoist Midnight into the air by his neck, and throws the hero at Kibin, hoping to deal with them both at once. "The time for talking already happened...your friend started shooting."

Midnight mutters "Sure, blame (ow!) the new guy..."

Kibin gets Midnight slammed into him, but somehow manages to stay on his feet. "Well, we could talk now, shoot later?"

Deus Ex looks at Kibin, "THAT is entirely up to you. YOU are the ones invading my home."

Random Factor says, ""Good. If it's up to us, then everybody stop fighting. Let's talk."

Midnight snarls a bit, dazed, as blood oozes through his pseudosolid armor and pools on the floor underneath him. . o O (OK. He's up on points, I'll admit. But the fight ain't over.) "OK. I'll let it go if he does."

Barricade goes to check on Midnight using Paramedics.. No fight for B.

Midnight bats Barricade away. "I'm fine. Focus, dude."

Barricade says, "You're bleeding. Let me help."

Barricade tries to help

Deus Ex looks at the group of you, and strides back to his chair, "Step inside, and we will talk."

Midnight grumbles. "Not the time or the place." He stays where he is, though.

Barricade goes to help Midnight with makeshift first aid stuff.

Random Factor says, "These men need medical attention. Do you have any supplies?"

Kibin looks around. Huh, he already is inside. He goes a bit more inside, however, and goes to look at the monitors, trying to find a functional one to see what's on it.

Midnight keeps his attention on DEM, and will not drop his armor. Other than that, barricade is free to do whatever first aid will do on someone who is still standing and moving around.

Barricade says, "Hold still damn it."

Midnight glares at Barricade. "So when did 'dangerous metas' become the school nurse? I'm tellin' you, I'm fine. We need patchin up, we can do it somewhere other than here."

The monitors show all kind of things. Satellite data. Camera footage inside city hall. Camera footage inside SG's hangar...

Kibin asks Deus Ex, "Why do you need monitors to look at this stuff?"

Deus Ex says, "I don't, but my minions do, if they are monitoring in my stead."

Deus Ex looks at all of you, "So...what is it that you want?"

Barricade will survey the area once he's done patching up Midnight.

Kibin replies to Deus Ex, "Stop trading energy weapons to ACRO, for one?"

Random Factor says, "Well, for ONE thing, we are looking for Dr. Jacobs. Are you... he?"

Kibin continues looking at the monitor, trying to comprehend some of the information.

Barricade lets Random do the talking for now.

Deus Ex looks to RF. "I am not. He has been in my employ. And is again." He looks back to Kibin, "Reptile...I AM ACRO."

Deus Ex continues, "This form you see is my consciousness taken form here. I have many agents such as this one around the globe."

Kibin hmmms. He goes look at his PDA, to find out what exactly ACRO is again.

Random Factor says, "Very well. If you ARE ACRO, what is your purpose? Your ultimate goal?"

Deus Ex looks back to RF, "Surely some of you know by now."

Midnight shrugs. "You got me. Never heard of you."

Barricade glances over to Random Factor wondering what he's up to.

Random Factor says, "Bare with us poor, unfortunate biologicals? Humor me?"

Deus Ex chuckles quietly. "Very well. The production of weapons is merely the means to an end." He motions to a monitor showing the outside of the Dragon Palace. "That is Pride's base of operations, yes? He controlled Barnwell. And in our subtle way, we control him. Though he doesn't realize it."

Kibin hmmmms, looking up from the PDA. "So you control the villians that you sell weapons to?"

Deus Ex continues, "ACRO is intended to eventually become the 'man behind the curtain'. The one pulling all the strings. 'Control' is too strong a word. 'Guide' is more correct.

Random Factor says, "But surely all of this is not simply to control Barnwell?"

Barricade says, "All over the world."

Barricade gasps.

Barricade says, "You are behind the Twist also?"

Midnight shrugs. "'xcept you ain't the only ones, Deuce. Or are you also the guy armin' the Colonial Bay street gangs?"

Barricade shakes with anger!

Deus Ex says, "Barnwell is one of many. We are currently influencing people in 130 countries." He shakes his head, "We have nothing to do with this 'Twist'. And would prefer it to disappear, ourselves."

Kibin asks Deux Ex, "What are you trying to accomplish by guiding the world?

Midnight nods. "That's what I thought. So you talk a good game, but there's other suppliers out there."

Deus Ex says, "It destabilizes the city, and makes events difficult to predict. There will always be other suppliers out there. That's what allows us to keep a lower profile. It wouldn't do to make all of the heroes of the world come down on us, now would it? That would be highly illogical.

Random Factor says, "Does Jacobs work for you by choice?"

Barricade whispers to Random, "How do we even stop this thing?"

Deus Ex shakes his head, "He does not. And if you would like him back, I'm sure we can arrange something."

Kibin asks Deus Ex, "What are you trying to accomplish by this?"

Midnight thinks. o O (Who's this Jacobs fellow, anyway?)

Deus Ex glances at Kibin, and then back to RF and the others. "Since I have already explained once, explain it to him again, later."

Barricade says, "Deus Ex, You know why we are here then."

Midnight cracks up laughing at DEM's last comment. Then coughs up a bit of blood, and stops.

Deus Ex shakes his head, "To recover Dr. Jacobs, perhaps? Or to just try to interrupt my operations?"

Kibin thinks, trying to remember when Deus Ex answered him. "I don't remember you explaining..."

Random Factor says, "What do you wish in return?"

Midnight puts out a hand to Kibin. "Dude... stop it. You're killin' me, here." He chuckles.

Barricade pauses and lets Random Speak again.

Deus Ex chuckles quietly. "Merely to be left alone for now. This mobile island is indeed in international waters. Your jurisdiction is shakey, at best. Go ahead, adn try to stop my agents as you will in town. But leave me be here. If you do this, you can have Dr. Jacobs. And I can even give you the means to transfer his mind back to his body."

Barricade observes again trying to find out if the armors that were flying to the city are up to any trouble.

Kibin continues trying to think of how Deus Ex answered his question before. Hmmm.

Midnight thinks. o O ('Transfer his mind'? From where? WTF? Heh. Guess there's a lot goin' on nobody ever tells the new guys about.)

Random Factor looks thoughtful for a moment.

Random Factor says, "What about Hammer?"

Deus Ex nods, "I am willing to leave Dr. Hammer be, if he stays away from here, as well."

Random Factor says, "If you include him, we have a deal."

Kibin says to Deus Ex, rephrasing, "I mean what are you going to do with the world after you have control over it."

Barricade says, "He wont'"

Barricade says, "We'll make sure of that."

Barricade seems confident.

Deus Ex nods to RF, "Very well. It is a deal. The infested Armament suit will be delivered to SG within the hour, along with data on how to return Dr. Jacobs to his body."

Deus Ex looks to Kibin, "THAT part of my plan, I don't wish to reveal to you at this time. Perhaps in the future. I can be patient. I am eternal."

Kibin sighs, and lets it go.

Barricade glances over to Random wondering if that's it.

Random Factor says, "Agreed. Everyone, let's get outta here."

Midnight thinks. o O (So this was a _rescue_ mission all along? Man. Coulda just lifted this Jacobs guy outta here.)

Kibin comments, "I guess that's a no on having a beach house here."

Midnight nods. "Fine with me." and disappears.

Barricade nods. "Alright let's go."

Barricade goes back to go fishing.

And helping Midnight recover.

Midnight ports back to the spot on the boat, shares a beer with Fuzzt, calls CB Hospital to reserve a room, and leaves a message with Fist, who is probably well and truly sick of him by now.

Deus Ex watches the group of you leave, its face expressionless as it watches. You push away from the dock, and start to sail back toward the city.

Kibin looks at the monitors for a while longer before going to boat.

Random Factor says, "Take the batteries out of your comms."

Barricade says, "Oh ok."

Midnight shrugs. "What's the point? He wants to plant tracers on us, he had plenty of time to do it." But he hands random back the SGG comm.

Barricade says, "Did you see that Random, They see what we do in SG. It's like he has eyes everywhere and we can't stop it."

Random Factor explains after everyone complies: No, I'm not insane. Destroyubg that body, even that whole island, wouldn't have accomplised much, other than POSSIBLY slowing him down, but that's no guarentee..."

Barricade catches 2 fish on the way back home..

Random Factor nods.

Midnight nods. "So you got another plan, chief?"

Random Factor says, "But with this, we have Jacobs and Hammer back to help us devise a way that WILL stop him, and now we'll know for sure where he is. If we destroyed this base, we'd have to start from scratch."

Random Factor says, "Perhaps we can use his monitoring to our advantage."

Midnight nods, and begrudgingly adds "Yeah... that actually kinda makes sense."

Barricade shows off the two large fish he caught in the ocean to Midnight, Random, Fuzzt and Kibin. Good eat'n tonight.

Random Factor says, "I'm thinking, maybe what we need to do, is create something to try to get Deus to WILLING transfer his conciousness into, and trap him there. Then maybe, by cutting off it's head, ACRO will die.,"

Barricade says, "This is definitly harder than it sounds."

Midnight nods. "Yeah... good idea. You think the Hammer and Jacobs guys can build somethin' like that?"

Barricade says, "We have a lot of resources at SG as well. It will be a collaborative effort."

Barricade says, "Right, Random?"

Midnight says, "Cool."

Barricade says, "Midnight, if you know some computer and related people that can help, we could use their assisstance."

Random Factor says, "Maybe. And if we talk about it at SG HQ, about some supercomputer we are working on to come up with a solution... perhaps to regulate SG defenses in an attempt to "outwit the computer", he'll overhear, and try to take over THAT system. And when he gets in, we simply "slam the door"."

Barricade says, "Ellbeth went to England for a while. So we lost one of our best Computer people."

Midnight sighs. "By the way, Random... you pulled the batteries out of your SG gear... how 'bout your PDA?"

Midnight says, "I know my way around a computer system. Nowhere near _that_ guys league, though."

Barricade nods to Midnight.

Midnight says, "Or that high-tech helmet of yours?"

Barricade says, "Well that doesn't have anything. Just to protect my head from bumps."

Barricade says, "Looks cool, though, yah?"

Midnight says, "I mean Random's. Don't know what it does, but it obviously does _somethin_."

Barricade says, "OH."

Barricade thinks. o O (Darn. I thought my helmet was pretty cool.)

Midnight says, "Ask me, what you want's a telepath."

Barricade says, "We have Psiren helping us in that department."

Barricade says, "Not very successful."

Midnight suddenly looks interested. "Oh? Cool. Happy to work with her."

Random Factor says, "Not sure an empath can effect a computer,,, but we're looking into it."

Midnight sighs. "Not what I mean. You want secure communications a machine can't overhear... you want a telepath.

Random Factor says, "Oh, yeah. To set up a mind-link."

Random Factor says, "Hopefully, the fact that they're giving us the ABILITY to reintigrate Jacobs, instead of just doing it themselves, thet will give us some insight into their tech as well."

Midnight nods. "Yeah, actually... that makes sense."

Barricade says, "Well Jacobs could be a spy."

Midnight chuckles. "Yeah. You aren't careful, he might infiltrate your computer network, give ACRO access to your data, put cameras throughout Starguard HQ. Good thinking."