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Oct 5, 2020 17:23:32 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Oct 5, 2020 17:23:32 GMT -7
Her heart sunk. Her jaw wide open, her eyes looking straight at The Collector's and she knew in that moment that her mind could find no way out. There were no tears to be spilled, not yet, it was pointless. She was trapped. Looking over at the door opening in the wall she held her breath as the Vohlber slinked in. Then let out a slow breath as she walked in properly hearing the door lock securely behind her. She couldn't show fear or have her pulse raised. When she was in she lowered her gaze and knelt down. Her hands touching the cold floor.
She moved slowly and with care as her brain worked through the plan. Make herself look submissive. Don't make eye contact and let it come to her. As long as she didn't fear it or sense her fear it would be better. She kept her eyes open watching the floor and listening. Her growing black and red hair sliding either side of her face to expose her neck. The bow and submission or if needed she could curl into a ball as tight as possible if the Vohlber did attack.
As it approached she kept still, hearing the chuffing noise and the pads touching the floor she waited as it approached. There was a cold but warm wetness touch the side of her neck and then a claw followed gently by a pad on her side. The claw was joined by others gripping into her suit. The pain was there but she kept still and breathing slowly. Then the pressure was gone until suddenly a lick followed by more chuffing and a very strong push by a fury bottom as it tried to sit on her.
Slowly she looked up first at the fluffy paws then to chest allowing it time to adjust to what it could see and smell. Her eyes remained downcast, lifting her hand up it first rubbed it then licked it finally putting it's forehead into it. It was only then that Ziggy allowed her eyes to look up to the nose and then eyes and she smiled. That was her first mistake. She got a swipe for showing her teeth and Ziggy returned to the submissive pose, now with a stinging palm. It hadn't drawn blood but was more showing Ziggy who was the boss.
This testing carried on for a little while until finally Ziggy was able to sit there just watching it and talking to it. There was something there and she had an idea of how to help with communication but she couldn't do it where she was. Looking up she spoke with politeness. She was looking for The Collector but if he wasn't there she would wait until either he or someone walking by could take a message to him... she hoped.
"Sir, I think I know how I could help it communicate better. It might also help with others. If possible could I draw schematics or even try and describe what it is or look at the list. It is a simplified translator that works with brainwaves. A little like telepathy but with pictures. It might take a little bit of tuning to get it working but I know it is possible."
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Oct 9, 2020 10:07:09 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Oct 9, 2020 10:07:09 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Collector watched from behind the glass. The girl's approach was strange, though, it wasn't anything unreasonable. And despite a clawing and much tension, Miss Karst did indeed make some headway. The Volhber hadn't mauled her to death just yet, so that was a good a sign as any. Even better, she talked to him about possible ways of communication. Considering no one had been able to communicate with the Vohlber species without powers, this would make them the first beings to do so. Such a device would be perfect for his collection of technologies and oddities. The Collector pressed a button and his voice began to echo through the room via speaker. "I'll have some tools and paper dropped in. When your schematics are done, I'll have the Printer Men work on constructing your device. Good work, Miss Karst. I think you'll find yourself rewarded nicely after this exercise."
------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Oct 9, 2020 13:41:21 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Oct 9, 2020 13:41:21 GMT -7
She nodded at the compliment but she knew that there was a long way to go before her work was resolved. Turning back to the Vohlber she moved over carefully and sat down. Yes, it was primitive but still there were some things that were the same, the same basic instincts.
When the paper and tools were delivered. Ziggy already had the plans in her head the theory of using what she had been taught under Mr Power and what she had been taught at school coming together. Her own mind worked away at a pace which her hands couldn't keep up with. The Vohlber watched her for a change. With the paper on the floor there were a couple of sections which she needed different options for. One which would be able to take eye movement, another muscles, finally the last was a lot more complicated. With only knowing a little of the technology out here there were some components she broke down into their basics hoping for something similar to be available.
In theory the device would be able to bring images to a hand held screen but there might need to be some adjustments made due to the alien technology, aliens in general... well that was a point, technically she was an alien. How would she feel being called an alien? Was that even the right thing to call people who were not native? She lost her train of thought and her work started going elsewhere. Instead of schematics she wrote. She took information from what she could remember from lessons and her own personal study and understanding and started writing an essay on the term "alien" and its use.
It was only when the Vohlber approached that she looked up from her work and then back down that she continued with the plans. The plans carried on from where she had broken from it. Time passed and she had no idea how long but finally she had finished. Knocking to get someone to open the flap to put the paper back through. She was tired, hadn't eaten since the morning and happy with the plans. Leaning her back against the wall she slid down and allowed her head to slump forward. Her eyes closing.
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Oct 22, 2020 19:18:42 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Oct 22, 2020 19:18:42 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Collector wouldn't stay to watch the assembly. Once the tools and technology were dropped off, he would retire to his library. Though he read every one of the books dozens of times over, it never hurt to brush up on the fundamentals and remind himself of what he had collected. For the library, the knowledge it offered was the collection itself. It had been, what? Hours? Days? Such small amounts of time meant nothing when you were busy with a book. But a Gatherer would come to his library and tell them that Miss Karst was done with her project. So the man would stand from his seat, place the book under his arm, and make his way down to the Vohlber's habitat. "Miss Karst, I hope you and your little friend have been having fun. If you've impressed me, you might even get to read my book. It has some information about your kind you might find... life-saving."
------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Oct 28, 2020 15:17:42 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Oct 28, 2020 15:17:42 GMT -7
Ziggy frowned at the offer of the book. It had been a long time, she wasn't sure but it had finally worked. She hated doing things the long way, it was so much easier to just put your hand in your favourite jacket and pull out what you wanted. She had spotted what she really needed on the list a long time ago but it didn't matter. She was tired. VERY tired! When had she last slept? She wasn't sure. All she knew was that the project had made her even more focused and intent on just working hard.
She sat there waiting for the Collector, her hair a mess, her clothes surprisingly clean, the bags under her eyes told the story of her sleepless nights. At least she was busying herself with thinking of different algorithms she had come up with in order to adjust the project.
Once the Collector was there she stood up and smiled.
"It's been... interesting. We've kept to ourselves a little and the training has been interesting but I think we have it sorted."
She made a clucking noise and the Vohlbere came over and she placed what looked like a headband onto it and then pressed a button on a monitor that was aimed at the Collector.
"It's basic but works ok... the calibration works at the moment."
The screen clicked on and Ziggy looked at the Vohlbere.
"Hello, what do you want at the moment?"
An image of a green shoot appeared on the display and from it also came pigeon words.
"Food - green vegetables."
Ziggy nodded.
"How can we make your life here better?"
The Vohlbere tilted its head and it made a churping sort of noise. The screen showed dark hole. Followed by a picture of Vohlbere.
"Home, cave... Other."
Ziggy frowned
"What do you mean by other? Another Vohlbere? Adult? Baby? Child? Male? Female?"
The Vohlbere looked confused as multiple images came up too fast and the words moved fast as if it was repeating what Ziggy had just said. Then it looked down at the floor. Ziggy understood as her jaw dropped open and the picture came up on the screen of a nest.
"Nest, breed."
"You're pregnant!?!"
"Yes. Company. Food."
Ziggy stood there with her mouth hung open blinking at the animal in front of her. She couldn't understand, there was no doubt what had just been said. This trip into the stars was one of multiple firsts of her being speechless. Her brain was slightly slow at understanding the last bits as she was stuck on the first word. Was the Vohlbere calling her company and food?
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Oct 28, 2020 16:35:49 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Oct 28, 2020 16:35:49 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Elder raised an eyebrow at what he was hearing. So the girl succeeded, it seemed. He doubted he was being tricked, given the stakes and risks he had set up. If she were untruthful, something or other would come and tear her apart for her failings. The Volhber was pregnant. That much he knew. He also knew of its habitats and food. But the fact that the machine was able to confirm what Miss Karst could not have known spoke highly of its accuracy. The intercom came on, and the Collector's voice could be heard. "You've done well, Miss Karst. Now come outside and accept your prize. Oh, and be sure to back out. Slowly. The Vohlber can dislocate its jaw and stretch it out to consume larger meals."
------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Oct 28, 2020 16:47:06 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Oct 28, 2020 16:47:06 GMT -7
The prize didn't really interest her but she did remove the device from the Vohlber's head and make sure that everything else was cleared. She knew about the not turning her back to it as she had not done so the whole time she was there. Yet, when she was removing the device one last thing popped up on the screen. A bright yellow face with love hearts for eyes and a tear under one of them with a downward smile. She turned it off before it spoke though.
Ziggy looked up to it and smiled sadly. Then reversed out of the cage into the safe room. As the door was closing she waved to it. Then looked down at her project. A stabbing pain was felt in her temple as she closed her eyes. She thought it was nothing just tiredness. She waited for the other door to open while looking through into the cage where the Vohlber was lolloping. When it was open she turned and stepped out rubbing her temple trying to ease the headache. She looked to the collector with a slight frown. She needed a shower or bath!
"Thanks, here's the technology. It could be refined but it did the trick."
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Oct 28, 2020 17:33:55 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Oct 28, 2020 17:33:55 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ Miss Karst walked away and made it out alive - unlike so many others who wished to deal with a wild Vohlber. Perhaps there was some use for her beyond an idle curiosity for his collection. Yes, she could bring peace to the universe, once it all falls under his control. "You did well today, Miss Karst," he said to her. "Consider some of your privileges restored. You go tend to your needs, and I'll have the clone Gatherers prepare a more suitable space for the expecting mother. I hope you have some names picked out for the litter."So he had the technology, which he was hoping would be expanded upon in the future. And in return, he held out a bound, brown leather book with a lock binding it closed. It looked ancient, which highly clashed against the futuristic elements around them. "An old prophecy on mutants," he explained. "It's been a good millennia since I last read it, unfortunately. But I do remember a passage about resurrection protocols, as well as several possible futures waiting in store. If you manage to find the key, you might be able to save your people from what's coming up next."
------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Oct 28, 2020 18:02:05 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Oct 28, 2020 18:02:05 GMT -7
Ziggy nodded. She was tired and her headache was getting worse. Taking the book she looked at it with curiosity. So he had opened it at one point and she smiled. At least she knew it could be opened. There were many different ways to opening a lock and she knew a lot of them. Just which one she would see. For the time being she needed to rest properly.
"Oh... names? Well... I think I have a few... depending on how many will depend on which choice. She needs some peace and quiet. It also explains why she was aggressive to others."
She looked at the device she had made.
"I think it could be made smaller and adapted quite easily for different species. Although I am not sure if it will work well on animals that...."
She placed her hand on the wall as she suddenly felt dizzy and closed her eyes for several seconds before opening them again.
"... animals that have tougher skin like elephants or crocodiles.... maybe dinosaurs would be tough.... oooohhh dinosaurs!"
Pushing herself off of the wall she turned and headed towards where her room was.
"Dinosaurs would be interesting to study... I wonder what colour they are or how much...."
She stopped again but continued talking trying to ignore her headache.
"... the predictions were correct... or how much fur a wooley mammoth actually had? Well there are definitely good ideas to look into. Or there are the insects... yup, there are a lot to learn about an eco system by the bugs.... I think I pushed myself too far."
It didn't work. There was something else going on. Whatever was going on hurt like mad and she let out a stifled yelp as she dropped her book and clutched her head. She needed to focus... focus... She started to recite equations but even that didn't help. Her knees buckled as the pain increased.
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Dec 4, 2020 11:03:38 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Dec 4, 2020 11:03:38 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Collector took a sip of his wine before speaking. "Oh, the expecting mother will have anywhere from one to nine children in a litter. Since this would be her first, expect something in the lower numbers; her body would not yet have grown its Cortex to handle a a wide berth."
Not that the girl seemed to have absorbed the information. She was babbling random facts about her planet's creatures. Given the chance to leave, Miss Karst took the chance to walk out and head towards her room. Clearly the animal didn't hurt her, but she didn't seem too well, regardless. He'd have to have her scanned later on, to make sure she was still in good condition. The Collector looked beyond the glass and back to the Vohlber. "Assuming she's not dying of am embolism, I think you and Miss Karst will have a lot of fun together, behind the glass."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Dec 4, 2020 15:28:56 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Dec 4, 2020 15:28:56 GMT -7
Ziggy had been listening but her headache was getting worse. It was as if something was pulling at her. It felt wrong! Once back to her room she had a shower to try and ease the sensation but it slowly was getting worse. She looked in the small mirror at her reflection and noted a few things. She checked her own vitals and then shook her head. Her face started to look odd but as she looked down at her hands she realised that it was her vision.
Checking a few other things she decided to take herself to a location she had wondered pass on her many wanderings of the ship. It was a bio bay where some of the 'specimines' were being tended back to health or checked for any conditions which could put the whole collection at risk.
As she walked so she had to stop and get her balance back. It felt like forever before she got there but in she staggered. She knew what she was looking for and with the scanner it would take even less time. Looking at the console she thought about if she was allowed to do it. Thinking best to check she found one of the workers to send a message about authorisation.
While she waited she laid down on the bed feeling her legs arms starting to twitch. There was a lot of different things which it could lead towards but then she remembered when she was younger needing treatment to purge her body... but it wasn't what they thought it was. She had become very poorly very quickly. This felt different though, there was a twisting in her stomach as she tried to figure out what was going on. It felt like something was happening to her cells.
Looking at her hand again, it looked even more unuseral. Was it her or was it seemingly distorting? ( her hand was in fact shifting, as if it was being pulled). Her headache was getting worse and even closing her eyes only helped a fraction. For one brief moment she felt like she wasn't where she was but somewhere completely different. She needed to do the scan... there was something wrong! Then the disorientation stopped but a feeling of weakness was overwhelming.
Part of her feared what was happening. She had a funny understanding that part of her wasn't.... She sat bolt upright and regretted it instantly as exhaustion overwhelmed her and she flopped forward over her own legs.
"Something is missing. Something is missing!"
She muttered over and over. Her body had a much higher concentration of a really rare metal which was lighter than air but acted like magnesium. Some people summised that it was like a unicorn, a figment of imagination or something someone had seen something similar but got it muddled up. Yet, there was Ziggy hunched over, shaking as if with a fever and pale. The other problem she was having was that she seemed to be moving in and out of that reality.
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Jan 2, 2021 17:28:21 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Jan 2, 2021 17:28:21 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ Several Gatherers would come in and surround Ziggy. While she might not be fully aware of what was happening, neither were these minions. However, they were determined to help her. They all grabbed hold and hoisted her up, carrying her out of the room and down the hallway. In a few long, painful moments, their journey would lead them to a circular, dome-like room with all-white walls. An infirmary with several hospital beds, one of which they hoisted Ziggy onto. Within a few more moments, a Gatherer would approach her. This one was different, sporting a white uniform and small, unintelligible runes and works emblazoned on their suit's chest and back. Their skin was blue and dotted with some black hairs, and their enormous eyes bulged out of her apple-shaped head. They extended one of their arms out to Ziggy and touched her head. "Calm down, Patient Karst. Just I'm injecting you with a mental sedative."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Jan 2, 2021 18:22:03 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Jan 2, 2021 18:22:03 GMT -7
To say when the Gatherers walked in made Ziggy look at them curiously and smiled to them. She always greated them with a cheerful disposition as she hoped that maybe there might be a soul inside. Yet, her panic was rising as her head felt like it was swimming. When they tried to grab hold of her she fought back. It took a little before they had her pinned and started dragging her off kicking and screaming to be released. Their hold was tight and she was fearful of what was about to happen. Her body was feeling awful. It took all her willpower to stay alert to what was going on but the blanks of memory as she was dragged through the corridor were becoming longer. Her body spasimed in their hold then go limp as it got worse. Finally, her screaming and fighting ended just as she was taken into the room. She was now just muttering to her self about missing something or was it something missing.
The room was too bright, it hurt! Closing her eyes helped but then she heard something and opened her eyes and saw this strange thing approach her. Where was she? Who was it? She looked all around but looked back at the man in front of her and let out a yelp as it touched her head. At the mention of injection she panicked and tried to pull away but something held her in place.
She was confused and feeling sick. The room swam around her and she felt like she was floating, letting out a little laugh she grinned.
"You looked funny!"
Her eyes rolled back in her head before she laughed again and she tried to focus.
"Something missing... I can't remember. I need something... it's missing. Lost.. gone... ... .... .... .... .. ."
Her eyes were barely open and kept opening slightly as the drug kicked in fully and her whole body relaxed. Her mind however was going places it hadn't been before. There were so many thoughts she could think but they didn't matter. They just swam in and swam out of her mind time and time again. Although, missing kept coming up.
"Missing."
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Jan 18, 2021 14:54:04 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Jan 18, 2021 14:54:04 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ Missing. An interesting, key word here. The Infirmary Guardian could work with that. She ran her hands just a touch above Ziggy's face and ran it down to her feet. Ziggy was untouched, physically. But it would feel like her aura was being caressed by her hands. "You're missing something, yes," the Infirmary Guardian confirmed. "Plachece. I suppose you would be... incomplete, to put it in human terms. Not the same meaning, but it would be the closest thing to your inferior understanding."The fact that the word wasn't translated by the nurse's translator implants would confirm this; what Ziggy was experiencing was known to them, but might be more difficult to explain. "You're a fully-equipped human," the being confirmed. "It must be related to your mutation. Tell, have your powers been fully operational?"------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Jan 19, 2021 12:15:24 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Jan 19, 2021 12:15:24 GMT -7
Ziggy nodded to the first question as her head moved to more thoughts. With her body calm her mind tried to think clearer, to focus on the there and now but it wasn't. Missing! Gone! The feeling wasn't pleasant. A frown formed as she tried to think on the words but ... her eyes opened wide as she looked at the medic.
"No. Not completely. I've never felt like this. I am fine in human biology. If I am normal then it is definitely missing!"
She tried to sit up but the sedation was keeping her down.
"I thought, it was in me... like before. Not tried... but now... I don't think it is even here any more."
She felt drained. A shiver ran over her body at the thought of what it meant. Then a tear rolled down her face as she closed her eyes. At least she was relaxing and felt comforted.
"Part of me is not... on this plane or we have just gone too far away from it. They have it."
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