prpl_assistant | Memo 005: Pods

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Memo 005: Pods

(After her conversations with Miss Ethelbert and the Captain, as well as her observations around town and the neighborhood, Miss Pauling quickly hurries back home and heads straight for the phone.)

Phone (filtered to the TF2 crew only)
Miss Pauling speaking here. This is urgent, are any of you around?

Action: around town with the BLU Medic
(It's not very often that you'll find the two of them together. But for today, it seems that Miss Pauling and the BLU Medic seem to be searching for something, or maybe even someone. With the Medic's track record though, it's probably one of the semi-droned people around Mayfield. Approach them at your own risk, especially if you've been podded.)

Action: Later, around town.
(She's heard that the RED Engineer isn't acting himself. That's good enough reason for her to start looking at those mysterious pods that have popped up all over town. She's about to rip one apart at this very moment. Did she rescue someone? Was it you? Or maybe you're just watching her, and you want to help her out?)

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[Aaaaah this is great. Almost as good as zombies. People replacements? Oh, this will be fun.]

So who do vhe get to cut apart first?

[This is Medic's solution to everything.]

We should probably target a person who has no powers and who can't fight back. Preferably someone who doesn't have a powerful backer or guardian as well.

[Well, he at least looks harmless enough? Lithuania is walking down the street and looks to be in a ridiculously good mood--normally he's worried to at least some degree.]

(When she noticed Mr Lithuania walking down the road, she immediately tapped the BLU Medic on the sleeve.)

Mr Ritter. We might have a chance with the man coming down the road. He stays near my house and judging by his behavior back then, I'd say he's been semi-droned. He's one of those Nation types though; do you know if they've got any special abilities or anything like that that would make this difficult?

Ah, nein, I do not know... but vhe shall find out, ja?

[This time Medic makes no secret of his advance, armed with his saw as usual. No need to make this clean.]

[Lithuania raises an eyebrow at the man.]

Should I act as if you're not going to attempt to saw me in half for the sake of politeness?

(When the BLU Medic rushes out, Miss Pauling nearly smacks her forehead with her hand. Is this how the Medic usually got his test subjects? You'd think that he's be a bit more careful with this sort of thing!!

But still, at least the Nation seemed to only see the Medic. Quietly, she remained in the shadows of the alleyway, gun all ready to shoot. The BLU Medic should be able to take him down, but still...she's ready to be on support just in case. Hopefully the man brought chloroform with him, or else they'd have to knock him out.)

[Chloroform? That was boring last time. Maybe a beheading... that would leave everything important intact.]

If you like, ja. It vould be easier for you if you do not run, but less fun for me.

[Lithuania smirks, looking the man over.]

Are running or standing quietly my only two options?

(She holds her breath. Maybe this isn't such a good idea after all...she readies the gun and waits. Preferably, she'd let Medic take care of this. But if things were too much to handle for the good doctor, then only would she intervene.)

If you vould like to take anozher option, feel free!

[He's going to lunge forward and slice, though, not exactly waiting for an answer.]

[Lithuania sidesteps with the practice of someone who's been fighting for a very long time, backing up a little, still smirking.]

I'm not fodder like a drone would be, you know.

(So Mr Lithuania COULD fight after all. Medic might have gotten more than he bargained for with this fight...)

[Oh, that's just fine. Medic's expression goes a bit manic; he hasn't had a good fight in ages.]

Oh, I knew you vhere not a drone! Zhat is vhy I need you, you know.

[If it's going to be mostly dodging, then Medic will have to treat him like a Scout: get his back to a wall and remove the agility. There's a suitable alleyway nearby... he makes another rush forward, the attack more calculated and cautious, but also a bit herding. Patience is a virtue among men of science.]

Isn't the whole "twisted German doctor" thing a bit cliche?

[Lithuania sidesteps this time, and then draws his sword. He can't just let the man push him around, after all.]

(OK, so he's got a sword. She's on high alert now. Depending on the next move, she may start shooting him.)

Zhat is hardly my fault, ja?

[Another slash, in a high arc; he does have one free hand, and a block should open Lithuania up to be grabbed by the throat.]

[Lithuania blocks accordingly, and when the hand closes around his throat he aims a hard kick to the stomach with more strength than a human could draw up.]

(OK, enough is enough.

Aiming from the shadows, she shoots Mr.Lithuania in the leg. They're going to need him as untouched as possible if only to properly examine him.)

[ Ilsa has changed, though not in the way the doppelgangers have, she's in hunting mode. ]

[ Fairly focused, she has been searching for the pods this evening as well, making quick work of slicing them open without hurting the occupants. ]

[ The mates that went through the zombie episode with her might recognize the tone of voice she's using. ]

Pauling! Where have you checked so far?

Edited 2011-10-25 14:30 (UTC)

Dr Ilsa, it's good that you haven't be affected. I'm not too sure about why so many people are acting strange, but I'm willing to bet it has to do with these pods. Have you tried cutting them open yet?

(Miss Pauling's got a dagger in her hand, which is probably her weapon of choice for now.)

Found a couple around Kramden, but this is my first patrol in this area today.

[ Ilsa is terse, without wasted words or movements. She does... something to the lock on garden shed, too quickly for Miss Pauling to see. ]

I've been finding them in the out-of-the-way spots, usually near where the person usually sleeps - not always their assigned houses.

[ She's talking while she searches, being thorough without tossing the shed. ]

This one's clear.

[ She re-locks the door, then quickly traces around the door-frame with her index finger. There's a slight trace of dampness following her finger, but not much else. ]

Do you know what they are? I'm a bit worried about cutting them open; I don't know what exactly might happen if I do.

(She didn't see what Dr Ilsa did, but she's already witnessed some of the other woman's powers, specifically to do with water, at the BLU Scout's birthday party. However, it's not a major concern at the moment, and Miss Pauling doesn't really feel anything about it.)

The pods are prisons, to hold the original while the doppelganger roams free. There's been tales and movies about these in my world.

[ She motions with her knife, demonstrating knife position. ]

You have to free them from the outside, slicing the pod open, like prepping edamame for salad... just be careful to not nick the person inside.

[ Hey, when Ilsa's stressed, she reverts to cooking, probably forgetting she hasn't taught Miss Pauling that technique yet. ]

I'm just hoping that we can find them all soon. One version I've run across in my world, the pods are digesting the original to feed or create the next generation of doppelgangers.

[ Ilsa looks worried, and at the same time determined. ]

Edited 2011-10-25 15:13 (UTC)

I see. Then I'd better get started on them.

(Now she's really worried about the RED Engineer. She really hopes that the other team members would be able to find him.)

Would it be faster if we split up and searched? I can go down one end of the street, and you can go down the other.

Good idea. Stay within shouting distance - the doppelgangers tend to attack if you get near a pod.

[ She's already headed for the next back yard, this time checking for movement in the garage. ]

Got it. All the best to you, Dr Ilsa.

(She heads off to search the lawn, looking around for any pods. When she doesn't find any, she heads off to search the next one.)

Somethin' wrong?

(She hesitates, but she has to check first whether he's been semi-droned or not.)

Sniper, how're you feeling today?

.. This a trick question? Th' same as normal I suppose. Why?

Good. Because something's wrong with the town. People are acting like drones, but they can still remember facts from their world, like super powers and planets. They also seem more likely to make very cutting remarks. I need to know whether you've seen any member of RED or BLU who're acting out of the ordinary.

People are doin' what now?

*Sniper sounds either tired or hungover.*

I haven't been out 'f th' house yet....

A lot of people have been droned Sniper, except that they still remember some facts about themselves that's inconsistent with the 1950s. It's not a proper droning. If you haven't been out of the house, I'd suggest that you quickly prepare yourself just in case. Do you still have the gun the RED Sniper gave you?

I .. what? Oh. No, Truckie has it, he's fixin' it fer me. An' my bows not quite finished. Bloody hell.

Jus' my luck.

...I'll meet you at your house. Don't go out yet, just wait for me, alright?

(And with that, the phone is hung up. Ten minutes later though, the BLU Sniper will be treated to the sight of the RED Sniper's camper pulling up to his front lawn, with Miss Pauling driving it. She gets off, and in her arms are two guns which she promptly passes to him,)

They're both for right-handed people, I'm afraid. But better them or nothing.

(Sniper's got a new rifle and a shotgun.)

Yea, I'm not.. goin' anywhere.

*She may notice that it takes him a few tries to hang up the phone. Before she gets there he staggers up to his room and tries to make himself look somewhat presentable and not like he was up for half the night drinking.

And then he has a moment where he thinks he might still be dead drunk. Because that is most certainly RED's camper driving up. He opens the door and looks out.*

You stole 'his camper?

*Oh hey, guns. Sweet.*

Much obliged to ya. So tell me more about what's goin' on here?

Given the situation, I think it's reasonable. I also did not steal it, I borrowed it.

(She's got a shot gun and a revolver herself. She proceeds to check the barrel of the revolver while continuing her explanation.)

You know we had that weird broadcast around 6.30 yesterday? It mentioned something about "grave-robbers from space." Ignoring the fact that it sounds very unlikely, people around town have been acting differently, as if they've been droned. However, it doesn't seem to be a proper droning, given that they can still recall facts from their home worlds; proper droning would wipe all of that out. I'm guessing that the people around have not been droned, but rather stolen away and replaced. I'm not sure whether this is true yet, so I'm going to be heading out with the Medic to try and catch one of them to dissect. In the mean time, I was wondering whether you could check on the rest of the teams, both BLU and RED? If there are any that are acting weird, or start threatening you, just shoot them and start looking for the originals. I've also seen these weird...for lack of a better word, pods, around town. I haven't opened one yet, but they may be related to these new drones. Keep an eye out for them.

(When she's finally done checking both guns, only then does she look up and finally notice.)

...Sniper, did you go drinking yesterday night again?

I wasn't home at 6:30.

*Yes he went to the bar straight after work.*

So they're droned but not? What makes 'em different than just themselves in a bad mood? I don't know that I wanna go shootin' my teammates without knowin' that there's a normal version of them around.

*He hesitates. Obviously it's no use to lie here, but he really wish he could.*

I moight 'ave. Why?

There was this weird broadcast at 6:30 that came up on everyone's TVs, warning about invaders from space who would be robbing graves, or something like that. And they're not droned; not entirely, or maybe they're not even the same person. I don't know. Whatever it is, they'll have the usual drone cheerfulness and chirpiness, but they'll make a few mean comments to you every now and then that's totally out of character for them. And if you did, can you still shoot this?

(Without a hint, she suddenly throws a tin can in the air.)

Invaders from space. Roight. Of course. Why wouldn't there be?

*He runs a hand over his face. He is just not awake enough for this. Drones and aliens and grave robbers it's all just too bizarre for his brain to process.*

So they act loike...

*In an instant he aims, fires and shoots that can right out of the air. It would take a lot of drinking for him to miss something the next morning. Especially only six or so feet away like this was.*

They act loike drones that are havin' bad days. Got it.

Edited 2011-10-26 00:23 (UTC)

(She nods, satisfied.)

Good. Take the camper and go and check up on everyone else. This is a list of all their addresses.

All the best to you Sniper.

*He eyes the camper for a moment.*

I'll jus' walk. You take it.

*There's something that seems just ... wrong about taking RED's camper like that. He sure as hell wouldn't want RED driving his van, he'll return the favor to his counterpart.*

I'll go hit up th' rest of th' teams an' see how they're all doin'. You make sure Medic doesn't get himself killed somehow.

Sniper, this isn't the time to get sentimental. The longer it takes for you to get from one place to another, the longer it is that your team mates and the RED ones are in danger. The RED Sniper might not like it, but I know he'd appreciate it if you did it to check up on his team mates. Especially the RED Engineer. (Yes, she knows about the RED Sniper's secret-but-not-so-secret mancrush on the Engineer.)

And I'm not worried about the Medic at all; I'm just worried he might lose his patience and just grab a random person of the street. I think this semi-drones still have their abilities and skills, so be careful if you meet any of them.

Hngh.

*He eyes the camper again, putting his palm against the hood. He sure misses his own Land Rover. Seeing this thing is making him homesick in the worst way.*

Foine. I'll go make sure they're all not droned alien things. I'll let you know what I find.

*Still holding onto the rifle, he slings the shotgun over his shoulder and opens the door of the camper to climb into the cab.*

How about we don't tell RED I was drivin' around in his ride. I don't need t' give him more reason's to come gunnin' fer me.

I won't tell him if you don't tell him I drove it. And if he ever does find out, just tell him you wanted to save the RED Engineer. He's pretty good friends with him.

All the best Sniper, and take care.

(With that, she's going to run back to town to join up with the Medic on their search for SCI-, I mean, an answer for the semi-drones.)

*He nods. And closes the door, running his hands over the steering wheel for a minute before heading on off to check on Engie.

For a very, very brief moment, he can pretend like none of this happened and he's back at home, heading to one of the bases. He resists touching anything in the camper he doesn't need to. He's not a Spy afterall, he doesn't want to pry into any of RED's personal stuff.*

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Memo 005: Pods

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Miss Pauling-->BLU Medic-->Lithuania?

works for me!

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[phone]

Phone: Filter

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