Log:Star Control, Scene 4

Star Control 2012/06/18 	 Mindstar Dr. Rudder Star Girl Victory 4

Victory enters from Reception Area.

Star Girl is sitting on the bench of her cell. She looks up as the door to the containment area opens up. "Wade!" She gets up and walks up to the security barrier. She sighs and offers a wave. "Hey..."

Victory walks over to the barrier, and smiles slightly, "Glad to see you're alright. What happened?"

Star Girl sighs. "I'm not sure exactly... I went to sleep, and then I woke up in here. I think I had another sleep walking episode with my suit. They told me I've been on some kind of biotech robbery spree." Her eyelets narrow, wincing a bit.

Mindstar enters from Reception Area.

Victory nods. "Do you have any idea how your suit works? What the mechanism is?"

Star Girl is in a containment cell, talking to Victory through the security barrier.

Mindstar comes to visit Star Girl, and is notthat surprised to find Victory already there when she get to the holding area. "Hi. How goes?"

Victory smiles upon seeing Mindstar. "Doing alright, aside from Star Girl here apparently pulling some robberies. Though I have a theory as to what acutally happened...but I need to know how Star Girl's suit works to see if it falls into place."

Star Girl frowns. "I thought I'd gotten over the sleep-walking... There's a lot that I still don't know about the suit, but I've been working with Dr. Rudder on trying to figure it out." She pauses in her explanation to look over at Mindstar. "Hey," she says, with a bit a shrug.

Victory nods. "What I'm getting at is...is the suit basically nano-tech?"

Mindstar smiles, "Let me make a guess before either of you say anything. Either Star Girl totally deceived me, which I doubt, she's been framed, mind controlled, or my best guess, the suit went freelance."

Victory shakes his head, "I think it's a combination of two of those." He smiles slightly. "This Doctor that Pleiades is chasing...is effectively a techno-wizard. The robberies coincide with the goals of this doctor. And the doctor has the means to control the suit, assuming it's technology."

Star Girl says to Mindstar: "A month or two ago, I had a couple of sleep-walking episodes, where I'd wake up in the suit in the middle of the city somewhere. I just figured that I needed to, you know, take it out for a walk more often..." She says to Victory, "Well we've figured out that the suit is alive - it's some kind of organism."

Mindstar nods, "I've never really heard the story behind Star Girl's suit and arrival here. Picked up bits and pieces from overhearing you two talking but not enough for a clear idea."

[To Victory] Star Girl says, "I don't know that it qualifies as technology."

Victory nods. "I'd be surprised if the suit decided to pull the robberies on its own. Where is the stuff that was stolen? Was it recovered?"

Nobody says, "It's a space suit that I got from an alien before his ship blew up, Mindstar."

Mindstar says, "Did he also give you the user manual?"

"Perhaps I can answer some of those questions..." The access door to the security area open up. In walks a balding middle aged man, in a lab coat. "I'm Doctor Eliot Rudder, the chief xenobiologist here at Starguard Colonial Bay."

Nobody says, "No such luck, Mindstar, but the controls are pretty intuitive. It's like the suit can read my thoughts sometimes."

Mindstar nods, "Better if it was the other way around. Sounds like the suit is at least partly psionic in that case, and that opens up the question of whether it can influence you."

Victory looks over to the Doctor, to see what he has to add, since the other man was likely listening in from the other room.

Rudder says to Mindstar, "I'm not willing to rule out that possibility...I do have some good news though. I don't see any reason to keep Star Girl here in custody. It's just the suit that's the potential risk. She can go home if she agrees to leave the suit here for observation."

Victory nods. "I had a question from earlier that went unanswered...were the stolen goods recovered?"

Rudder says, "No. The goods are still unaccounted for."

Victory nods, and looks to Mindstar, "This might be a long shot...but if you can read minds...any change you can read the mind of the suit itself?"

Mindstar says, "Dr Rudder, I may or may not be able to affect the suit's consciousness. It's alien technology but might be accessible to my abilities. If you wish to let me try, and Star Girl agrees I'll make the effort." She looks back at Star Girl, "However I most certainly can implant a post-hypnotic trigger in your mind that will bring you out of any sleep state if you 'find' yourself in the suit and acting without conscious volition.""

Dr. Rudder rubs his chin. "It sounds like it's a possibility, Mindstar."

Star Girl nods. "Let's do it, Mindstar... I want to get to the bottom of this. This may sound weird... but even though my suit is a little wonky at times, I trust it. I don't think it's misbehaving on its own."

Victory nods quietly. "Which gets back to my idea about it being influenced by Pleiades' nemesis."

Mindstar says, "Then I'm willing to try if you permit, Dr. Rudder."

Dr. Rudder says. "It seems like a logical step. If you'll excuse me, I have a few other projects I need to check on. Please let me know what you're able to find out."

Victory raises a brow a bit as Dr. Rudder excuses himself, since one might expect that the older gentleman would want to be present, or at least watching from a remote location.

Mindstar chuckles, "That seems awfully like a hurried removal of self from a possible fire zone. I wonder if he fears the suit might have some form of counter-measures against mental abilities."

Victory doesn't say anything, but does glance over toward Mindstar.

Star Girl waves to Rudder as he departs. "Mindstar, I've been wondering... All of this stuff happened to me while I was asleep. I don't remember any of it, but maybe you can go into my subconcious... maybe I remember things there."

Victory nods. "That...sounds like a good idea."

Star Girl smiles ruefully, "I've had some time on my hands to think about it..."

Mindstar nods, "I can. You do realize that will give me access to your memories. It's very likely I will stumble upon some indications as to your normal identity. Although I will make every effort to avoid unrelated personal memories, the risk is there are significant."

Star Girl nods. "I'm fine with that... Outside of what's happening to me, some villain's got plan in action. It seems like a small risk, compared to exposing the bad guy... Plus, I trust you Mindstar."

Victory nods slightly, and smiles.

Mindstar smiles, "Thank you. I can proceed now if you wish, or we can wait until you're out of this rather sparten confinement cell and in a more comfortable and relaxed environment."

Nobody says, "Here is fine... just in case there is some kind of secret counter-measure. We should follow the Starguard regs."

Nobody says, "What do you need me to do?"

Mindstar says, "You don't have to do anything. You might want to sit down, though. Not because you have to but I don't know how long this will take. Standing for a prolonged time an be tiring."

Victory nods. "I can get you a chair too if you need one, Mindstar."

Mindstar taps on the transparent door, "I'll need to be inside the cell. Almost certainly. I can't imagine Starguard haven't built a considerable degree of mental defence into these cells. To stop evil types with my powers getting the guards to let them out."

Star Girl nods and returns to the bench in the cell. She offers a brief smile to Victory before saying, "Ok. Let's do it." She closes her hands and rests them on her knees.

Mindstar turns to Victory, "You will remember to let me out, won't you?" she asks with a grin.

Victory nods, and waits outside the cell.

Victory smiles. "Of course. Unless you start laughing maniacally, or something."

Mindstar steps inside and goes over to Star Girl. She points to the bench, "If you shuffle up a bit I can sit beside you."

Star Girl makes room. "Sure."

Mindstar sits and closes her eyes for a moment, reviewing the mental steps needed. Then she opens her eyes and looks across to Star Girl, "What I intend to try is to bring your memories to the surface of your mind, regressing back to the incidents. If I succeed you can relate what you recall, which will provide a record of those memories and also allow Victory to listen in. If this agreeable to you?"

Star Girl nods.

Mindstar starts to insinuate her mind into Star Girl's, searching for hidden memories and drawing them to the surface of Star Girl's mind, "Okay, I'd like you to think back to the most recent time you had a sleep-walking episode..."

"It was the night after I met Rae on campus, I guess. Wade was there too..." Star Girl says.

Mindstar follows Star Girl's subconsious memories as she thinks back, and echoes them to Star Girl's conscious mind...

Victory watches curiously, and remains quiet.

The emotion fades from Star's face as she enters a trance. "Nighttime. I'm awake. I'm wearing the suit. I'm being called. Something draws me out into the night..."

Victory raises a brow.

Mindstar asks verbally and reinforces the question mentally, searching for memories, "Who or what is calling you?"

Star Girl says, "The voice. It sings in bright spaces. Must follow... have heard it before... familiar path. Climb to roof, jump to next building, leave the campus."

Mindstar says, "What happened next?"

Star says, "Over the rooftops, towards the singing..."

Through Star's memories you can catch glimpse of the city. It looks like she travels from the Student Quarter over to Nicholston.

Star says, "The voice... The man sings with the voice, but it is not his own..."

Mindstar thinks that since Star Girl is not resisting the telepathy, she can leave it to maintain itself, and actives a mental illusion effect for Victory, at an obviously illusion level, so he can share the sensory range involved.

Star lands on a rooftop in Nicholston. On the rooftop there's a device that glows brightly with the sound that it's emitting, smelling of something like fresh baked cookies. There's man there as well, and when he speaks, it's jagged, sour, murky.

"Listen to me closely, Star Girl," the man says. "There is just one more part that we need. And you can find it here..."

The man is Dr. Rudder.

Mindstar blinks and snaps off the telepathy. "Victory, quick, open the door. It's Dr. Rudder. And he has the suit!"

Victory quickly opens the cell, and runs out of the room, looking for Dr. Rudder. He activates his shield as he moves, just in case.

Mindstar says, "Snap out of it, Star Girl. Time to hussle."

Victory manages to open the cell, but before he can reach the exit, a Questionite security door slams down in place. "Security breech detected. Pacification measures initiated on authority of Rudder, E." Knockout gas begins to seep into the room. The loudspeakers crackle to life.

Victory grimaces, looking at the door. "Damn. I can't possibly get through that."

Dr. Rudder says over the intercom. "Well done. I hadn't planned on Mindstar being able to activate Star Girl's subconscious memories." Rudder's voice is accompanied by an ultrasonic sound. Mindstar can hear it, but only through the telepathic connection she shares with Star Girl. It's the same bright, delicious sound from the memory. "We will be forced to accelerate our plans. Star Girl, kill them. Kill them both."

Mindstar creates a sphere of breathable clear air around herself some 4m in radius, "Stay close to me. You'll be safe from the gas." she tells Victory, assuming that Star Girl is okay in the suit. Then she goes to the intercom, "This is Mindstar, SGG, to all security personnal. Dr. Rudder is relieved of any and all authority. Cease the cell lockdown and release the door."

There's no response over the SGG channels. The cells are designed to block unauthorized channels, and someone seems to be blocking the authorized channels from getting through.

Mindstar glances at Victory, "I can protect us against the gas and protect myself from attack, but you'll have to deal with Star Girl if she can't shake the influence off."

Victory nods, and moves closer to Mindstar, to try to interpose himself between Star Girl and Mindstar.

Star Girl lurches to her feet. "Guys?" She raises her hand towards Mindstar, and it begins to glow with blue-white blaster energy. "Guys! There's something wrong with my suit!"

Mindstar says, "She's fighting but the suit is under control."

Victory moves to place himself between Star Girl and Mindstar, and brings his shield up. He manages to breathe some of the gas before getting close enough to interpose himself. It doesn't seem to slow him down at all, though.

Victory rolls for HAP's and gets 1 for this scene.

Star Girl shifts her aim to Victory. "Wade! I can't stop it!" Her hand blaster charges up, and ZAMM! She releases a blast at point blank range.

Victory raises the shield at an angle, deflecting the blast into the wall. "I'm not sure if knocking you out will do any good, SG. The suit can make you sleepwalk, after all."

Nobody says, "Pleiades managed to drop the suit, though, while I was asleep in it!"

Victory nods. "Alright...I'll try. I'm sorry to have to do this."

"Just do it!" Star says, "Before I hurt you!"

Mindstar says, "Don't be sorry, Wade. It's what Star Girl wants. Be sorry for the need to do it."

Victory spins, keeping his leg in tight, and then unleashes a back kick, aiming for Star Girl's midsection.

Star Girl winces as Victory's kick connects solidly. She slaps her left wrist on top of her right forearm and tries in vain to pull it down and away from pointing at Victory. "Look out!" The hand blaster fires again, in a wide angled arc, right at Victory.

Victory catches the blast squarely with his shield, driving him backward due to the force.

Mindstar maintains the breathable sphere and manages to summon up enough psionic strength to try a weak mind control against the suit. She has no expectation of it having any effect, but she should be able to feel if there was resistance or simply no connection.

Victory flies backward, and slams into the far wall, sliding down it afterward. "I don't think you need to protect me from the gas...I already got a whiff of it."

Mindstar says, "I need to protect me from the gas though, Victory, or I'll be snoring rather quickly."

Victory springs to his feet, and moves back over toward Star Girl, and he slides into a side kick, attempting to hit Star Girl in the center of mass again.

Victory misses to Star Girl's left, just barely. "Hmm. Might need to try something else."

ZAM! Star Girl fires her blasters again at Victory.

Victory catches that blast on his shield as well, and is knocked over briefly, only to immediately roll to his feet.

Mindstar takes a deep breath, and then drops the sphere that held the gas out as she holds her breath. Focusing on the suit she attempts to manipulate the alien mind with a quick instant surge of psionic power expulling half her held breath in the command, "Obey your rightful wearer!"

Victory takes another swing at Star Girl. This time, just a quick punch.

Victory's punch glances off Star's protective field.

Star Girl struggles to lower her hands so that they're not pointing at anyone. "The music!" she says, "Shut off the music!"

Mindstar is starting to feel her lungs burning but spins and unleases a telekinetic blast at the intercom in the security area.

Mindstar crushes the intercom speaker with telekinetic force.

Star Girl drops to her knees and catches herself on her hands before falling forward onto her face. "Hah," she gasps, relaxing bit.

Mindstar sags back onto the bench, expanding a fresh sphere around her and gashing for breath.

Victory takes a deep breath, and kneels next to Star Girl, "Are you alright?" . o O (Why DIDN'T the gas affect me? Did I actually get powers from my dad?)

Star Girl says, "I'm - I'm ok now, I think..." She looks up and then turns and wraps her arms around Wade.

Victory hugs Star Girl, "We still need to get out of here."

As an answer to that concern, the gas vents close and main security door opens. On the other side is Paul van Sterran and a dozen Starguard troopers in gas masks.

Mindstar says, "Not the first time that's been said I'm sure. However, I have no way to escape from a Questonite chamber... Ah. Rescue is at hand."

Paul asks, "What in blazes is going on down here?"

Mindstar says, "Simply; Dr Rudder was controlling Star Girl's suit forhis own ends."

Victory looks toward Paul, and nods in agreement with Mindstar. "We need to detain him. Hopefully he's still in the facility."

Mindstar adds, "And when that fact was discovered he tried to have the suit kill Victory and myself."

Paul calls over the radio: "Lockdown the facility. Locate and detain Dr. Rudder." Security responds: "Dr. Rudder? He just left. Seemed to be in a real hurry too!"

Victory grimaces, "Of course he did."

Star Girl sniffs and says quietly to Victory, "Are you alright?" A lines of tears begins to roll down her cheeks from under her mask.

Victory smiles, and nods. "I'm fine. The shield took more of the energy from your blasts. Don't worry about it."

Mindstar stands and lays a hand on Star Girl's shoulder, "Don't cry. I was in your mind, remember. I know how hard you were fighting the suit's actions. You should be proud of how much you held it back, how hard you fought against it."

Star Girl sniffs and wipes the tears from her cheeks with her thumb. "...I am going to kill that #@&er."