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Jan 20, 2021 20:29:55 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Jan 20, 2021 20:29:55 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The girls ramblings were telling, yet vague. How incomplete, these humans were, to not grasp the plache or Plachece. As the Guardian ran her hands up and down Ziggy's aura, she could at least confirm that no physical or mental part of her was on the Planes. That would narrow down the cause of her distress, but not by much. "Who is they?" the Guardian questioned. She rubbed her non-chin with one of her hands. "You must try to recall them. You must try to recall what happened that might have lead to your current state."Though she didn't have telepathy, per se, she would be able to "read" the young mutant girl enough to get an idea. She wanted it done soon, before the Collector found out that one of his pets was in danger of being lost. ------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Jan 22, 2021 13:51:52 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Jan 22, 2021 13:51:52 GMT -7
Ziggy sighed and closed her eyes trying to get her thoughts more focused on one thing. It took a lot of effort but she made it.
"My jacket, the Skrull took it. It wasn't on me when I woke up and it is not on the inventory. It has part of me in it... well at least a small bit. My powers are not just my intelligence or speed of thought but something else. Only there is none left in me, I thought I was drained of it when I woke but I wasn't sure and I don't know how to replenish it without having some of it on me... My jacket, it held what I needed to make more. Now I feel like I have been pulled further apart than ever before. It was also sudden meaning it is not because of distance away from it. Resulting in one of two things, either it has been destroyed, which would be VERY impressive, or it is not in this place of reality. I have never felt like this before."
She opened her eyes and her thoughts returned to chaos without a string to guide.
"Scan for *$"%)£*!(£&*3753(*1 in me. You will find none where everyone has it."
What she just said was part of the base of DNA just one couplet out of millions. That one couplet was missing. What was worse was looking at it throughout her body it was missing. Just one little bit which would add up to a decent amount but scattered over her, so small, that it missing was easy to be missed. The rest of her DNA was there including the rest of her mutation which told of a psyche having a link as well as a lot more greater potential which had yet to be understood or discovered by Ziggy. She could very well become an OMEGA mutant if the future changed right.
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Feb 1, 2021 11:52:09 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Feb 1, 2021 11:52:09 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ DNA couplets were, sadly, out of the Guardian's area of expertise. However, she would cast a knowing glance towards a human-like man in a lab coat. He turned away from the seemingly-empty bed he was attending to, then made his way over to the duo. "It's right," the man said, his voice neutral and detached from the girl's obvious pain and suffering. "We can synthesize a proximation of this missing couplet, then try and trace it. Simple multicellular organism, shouldn't take more than a few Heblets to a day." "Assuming the human is right about it being destroyed," the Guardian countered. "Then it likely won't be found." The man put a hand to his chin. "If it's not part of this reality, we'd have to go multiversal. In that case, this isn't our job. We can't, and don't have to, do anything else but watch her die." Marvelous. The Guardian turned back to Ziggy and casually spoke, "The master, if he would be so inclined, would be able to help you search. But you would need to stop screaming and writhing in pain; he would find it unseemly and annoying."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Feb 1, 2021 15:53:55 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Feb 1, 2021 15:53:55 GMT -7
Ziggy was starting to panic but she knew that it wasn't good to carry on like that. The sedative/relaxant she was given was making her drift in and out of needing to sleep. That combined with the feeling of something falling away made it worse. Her mind was starting to become sluggish and her thoughts all started to focus on one thing. How to get it back. Her eyes focused on one location on the ceiling whilst listening to the pair talk. The pain was still there but it seemed to float in a box which she locked. There was something she needed to do... think!
She daydreamed, something she was good at but didn't really know that it was when her mind did it's best thinking. The spot on the ceiling was fascinating as her mind worked harder than ever. Her breathing slowed but her fists remained clenched. There was still the appearance and symptoms to show she was in pain but now she was starting to think.
The voices faded into the background, the buzz and hum of a medical bay was also quietening. She blinked but the time between blinks slowed. How long she lay there like it she wasn't sure. Just the spot on the ceiling it made things easier to concentrate, one spot, one thought. She spoke finally, slowly, taking time to make sure what she said was correct.
"I can get them back. There is a way which is linked to how mutants can teleport. I can do it on a smaller scale and use me as a homing becan to get them here. Teleport the modules back to me. I know I can."
Her eyes closed and the sounds started to come back to her.
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Feb 8, 2021 13:40:18 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Feb 8, 2021 13:40:18 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ Ziggy would wake up and find herself still in her bed. By now, several wires now connected her forearms to some strange-looking machines on either side of her. A heavy, metallic bandage was pressed against her chest, under her shirt. If she could find it in her to concentrate solely on it, she would feel it sending a strange, rhythmic pulse through her chest. It was soothing, in a weird, unnatural way. The Collector sat in a chair across from her bed. Upon her waking up, he would lower the book he was reading and turn his gaze towards the girl. "You're finally awake. I presume you have a plan in mind? Or do I need to put you on ice until my teleporter arrives from Nabu?"------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Feb 8, 2021 13:53:41 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Feb 8, 2021 13:53:41 GMT -7
Ziggy's head was pounding... no it wasn't pounding it was pulsing. The feeling in her chest it resignated to her head and she relaxed. At least she didn't feel as panicked as she had been, somehow she felt slightly better. She looked at the contraption with fascination, her mind working double time to try and figure out what it might be doing to her. It didn't matter as for the moment she didn't need to know, for all that mattered was it was keeping her alive.
When she heard the Collector's voice she looked to him and smiled. There was a twinkle in her eyes, that was kinda mischievous yet also excited. She wet her lips before speaking.
"I have a plan and no, I don't need to be frozen until a teleporter arrives.... wait... there is a place actually called Nabu?"
She looked shocked but shook her head.
"I must have missed that in the files. The plan does involve a teleporter but one a lot smaller. I only need a small bit of my metal then I will feel a lot better... at least I think. It might also help you increase your stock AND allow for breeding if you so wish, given the correct calibration. I can create a drawing that will help. It need be no bigger than three to five of those books stacked together."
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Feb 9, 2021 17:33:41 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Feb 9, 2021 17:33:41 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The girl had ideas in her head again. Usually, that meant she would be getting herself into some interesting equation. Given her past results, the Collector decided to indulge her. He snapped his fingers, and one by one, Gatherers marched into the room. They plopped a small lap-desk, pens, paper, protractors, erasers, and way too many bits and baubles for whatever she might have needed. But there they were, ready to serve the girl if needed. "I can have the lab working on your creations as soon as possible," the Elder explained. "They'll create whatever you need faster than a human ever could. And they will make sure you didn't place any nasty tricks in your design. Remember: I want you alive, happy and well. But above all else, I want you to be mine."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Feb 10, 2021 4:50:59 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Feb 10, 2021 4:50:59 GMT -7
Ziggy's eyes lit up as she looked at the paperwork. A wave of exhaustion hit her as she blinked longer than normal. Upon opening her eyes everything was set up and she shifted in her bed feeling slightly sick but it passed quickly. Picking up a piece of paper she was soon quietly sketching away then rubbing out odd sections as her mind worked faster and faster. She nodded at the Collector but paused to look up at him with the same joyous smile of knowing something amazing.
"There won't be any nasty tricks. Thank you for caring though... people at home didn't always care about me, more about what I could do."
She looked back to her work but fell asleep for several minutes before waking and continuing her work. When she examined some of the equipment which had been delivered to her she found her mind slightly sluggish at trying to figure it out which caused her to doubt if her plans would work. Her hands traced over the work she had completed so far before removing a few markings and placing new symbols on the plans. There were a few sections which she marked with a comment or two of needing it to be checked against a certain device in the collection that was onboard the ship. This was only because she hadn't taken a lot of it apart.
Collapsing back fully onto the bed she closed her eyes and spoke to the Collector.
"It is done to the best I can at the moment without knowing more about the technology. It will work simply by inputting a calibration and sample of what you might be looking for. In this case a part of me. Then have it sequence for either a similar item, matching or missing. The latter is what you need for me. It will then search this universe and others for the item you are looking for. Meaning it will look for the bit which is missing and bring it here. Similar will look for others of the kind, matching will look for the same from other universes. It will only have a small capacity of sample to bring back just 1 cm3 or smaller. If you do it precisely to that size. It can be made smaller or bigger if you so choose and you can narrow it down even smaller to take a single cell from the target. Just make it adjust a few settings and let it work. Might take a few minutes to locate what it is searching for... but... it wi......"
Through her talking she gradually got slower as she was falling to sleep.
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Feb 17, 2021 9:43:47 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Feb 17, 2021 9:43:47 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ Yes. Care. In a way, the Collector did care about Ziggy and who she was. Granted, it was more in line with a collector and one of their possessions, and nothing more. But Tivan would have to admit, he had grown to appreciate this collector's item more than he thought he would. Which was why he was determined to keep her around, and in his possession. He waited patiently while the mutant worked, only breaking focus to read the occasional page or two from his book. Once Ziggy had finished her diagrams and plans, made her sleep and passed out, only then would be move from his seat. When Ziggy would awaken, she would find herself in a large, open room - not unlike the Danger Room from inside the X-Mansion. She was still in bed, albeit no longer connected to any more tubes and machinery. Across from her, all of her notes and ideas given physical form. Gatherers walked around them, or tapped on them, or gave them a good once-over with their eyes, inspecting the machinery for any mistakes. The Collector's voice boomed from a speaker. "Time to wake up, Ms. Karst. Time for you to work your magic."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Feb 17, 2021 13:44:53 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Feb 17, 2021 13:44:53 GMT -7
The nightmares came and went time and time again. She knew the predicament that she was in but there was also more to it than that. She was loving the freedom... well caged within a HUGE ship still but freedom to work and be herself. Without contracts or restrictions of a school. What was more was she was able to have her work made for her and all she needed to do was make the plans.
Waking up she was getting far more accustomed to being in strange places. This was one room she had glimpsed on her many wanderings but had never dared to enter. Mentally she did a once over checking for any aches or weaknesses that might have occurred over the past... oh what was time when all she had was this freedom.
Finding that they had definitely given her something to help boost her at least temporary was enough to allow her to sit up cautiously. Looking around she shook her head at the wonder and stupidity of a few things... firstly, some of them were the wrong way around but it wouldn't matter, just mean that it would take just a few extra paces longer.
"Switch those two around then it is ready."
The first bit was interesting as she stood carefully and almost fell. The strain was immense and it caused her to let out a grunt but that was all. With help from a Collector she sat down on a chair before pricking her finger allowing a little blood to fall on a slide. Licking her finger she skillfully moved the slide under the scope to check a few things. Then through vials and machines she finally sat on the same chair as the little device finally beeped. Not all of it was needed but she wanted to make sure that everything would work perfectly first time and this was the only way.
She moved from that station to the next which contained only a tiny box but the schematics for it were huge! Lifting the lid she carefully pressed a small button and both the tiny box and then the first device chimed. The last station was the most secure, it resembled a toy microscope. By this stage she was starting to look and feel awful. Pressing a button a QWERTY keyboard appeared on the surface but with a few extra characters. Soon she was typing away and the program was appearing as a hologram in mid-air. Her fingers and eyes moved fast, if anyone made any noise at this point then her concentration would be broken and well... She would have to start all over again. That she couldn't have. Still her fingers worked and the equations were far beyond what she could have come across on Earth. She had indeed been studying and incorporating some of the new technology into her own memory.
She glared at one of the Collectors before continuing her work and finally, it was done. The vial at the bottom of the device was still empty but she was expecting that. The progress of the search was on the screen there was no end to the bar due to the infinite universes but there was a starting point which was their own and then could go out from there. Each one it would take only a few seconds to loop back with a positive or negative answer. If positive it would take a minute sample and test it while still searching elsewhere. If the sample was not good enough it was returned back from where it came from.
Moving away she was helped back to her bed where she curled up and shook from head to foot. She was sweating like mad and finally relinquished to what was going on inside her. Mind over matter... that was Ziggy. Her force of will power over her own body's chemistry. This time though unconsciousness didn't happen as the chemical that had been pumped into her had finally run their course. Her own body was shutting down once more and she knew it. The device would work like homing pigeons, circle around then home into the rightful roost or in this case metal. The sample which would finally be collected would be enough to stabalise her and allow her body to start recovering. The pain she felt for now was bad! Her muscles knotted and her mind raced.
The only thing she could do to not scream or cry was to recite Pi and focus on each of the decimal places as she went. Yes, it probably made her appear mad but it kept her mind on something other than what was really going on.
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Mar 14, 2021 12:05:50 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Mar 14, 2021 12:05:50 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ From a covered parapet high above, the Collector observed the goings-on with a neutral expression. Even he wasn't completely sure what would happen with this experiment, but it wouldn't be a lie to say he wasn't curious. Part of him almost ached for something unexpected to happen; some chaotic explosion, or the arrival of another future person to add to his collection. Sadly, no such luck. However, all of Miss Karst's work just amounted to her suffering more, as she was pumped up with some sort of trans-dimensional chemical. She was clearly in pain - which seemed to be a common state with her, from what he had observed these past few weeks. But he chose not to interfere too much, lest the process get interrupted or ruined. His voice came through the speaker once more, "Try not to die, Miss Karst. I can keep your body on display, but you're worth more to me alive than dead."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Mar 26, 2021 16:51:08 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Mar 26, 2021 16:51:08 GMT -7
All Ziggy could do was wait and rest. Conserve her energy. The machines were there to do the hard work for her and the comment from the Collector didn't need to be said but she smiled a little at the comment. Of course she was doing all she could to stay alive. She didn't particularly wish to be dead either!
The machines were showing percentages for each of the vials which contained metals that bounced inside, the closest was 98% comparison but it didn't feel right. There was something there that just didn't work. It was sent back like all the other samples. Machines did make mistakes as they were only built by a human... or in this case designed. No matter who put it together she knew there would be the odd amount of accuracy.
Her eyes started to drift closed when suddenly she sat bolt upright and smiled. She was heading in the direction of the machine when two things happened. A huge wave of pain, nausea and agony gripped her along with a beep and green light appearing over a vial with 100% comparison. The pain was excruciating and her mind was working fast on what was the chances of survival given her symptoms were far worse. The pain was so severe it clamped her mouth shut, made her fall causing her to skid a little over the ground and every part of her being felt on fire.
Whilst this was all happening the vial shot in her direction, she needed it so badly but a hand shot out from a collector and clasped it in his hand. It wasn't her intention to do anything with the module as she knew it was way too small. It would just be enough to make her feelt better. Her eyes drifted closed.
When she opened her eyes again, the pain was still coursing though her body. By her face were a pair of familiar boots. Her eyes closed.
Next time the pain was less but someone was talking and she was now face up. Something cold was covering her....
How long? ... A woman standing in front of her, she was floating, pain coursed through her body as all her muscles shook... .... ...
A dream of home, Malik, her brother, family, school. She cried....
Bright light, so bright it hurt her eyes and head. Nothing was beyond the light. She couldn't hear, there was something pressing her from all angles.....
Quiet, stillness, warmth and a hard surface. Her eyes opened briefly before closing. The next time they opened she couldn't see anything. For a moment she thought she was blind but when she put her hand in front of her face she could just about make it out. She was feeling weak but better, it felt like she hadn't moved for a long time. One thing for certain was her throat feeling parched but not thirsty. Sitting up carefully, her hands felt around and came across a wall. Following a wall she found a corner and another wall. There wasn't any door that she could feel, at least not from this height. Her hand moved up one of the walls and found the ceiling was very low, just enough room for her to sit up. All in all it was no bigger than 1m x 1m x 2m long - a packing crate? It was only then that she felt as if container was moving slightly.
A clunk was heard from outside which made her jump as this was the first noise she had heard. Then the crate was being tilted into a 45o angle and she slid to what was now the base. A click followed by a sliding noise as she felt the floor being slid out from beneath her. Panic was rising as she realised for the first time she was bare foot and was quickly running out of support with nothing she could see benieth her. She tried to grip onto the container but it was too smooth apart from slight scratch marks she could feel under her fingers. How many countless items had been transported this way?
It was useless as she fell and slid down the crate into the pitch black beneth. She couldn't help but scream, landing was easier than she had thought. It was slightly cushioned. Laying there she tried to figure out where she was... had it all been a massive nightmare? Her hands checked herself over, she was still in her overalls but shoeless, the other addition was a metal device around her neck. It was only then that she realised how quiet her mind was. There was only the one thought... panic!
The lights gradually came on and she knew within seconds that she had been unceremoniously been placed into one of the specimen container. This was different to the last one, much smaller. What had she done wrong? She didn't understand. Her mind was so confused, so still!
"Sir?"
She said every so quietly - it was rather pitiful. She couldn't see out of her container, nothing was close enough. Standing was her next attempt and that didn't go well, her legs shook like jelly and she soon fell against a wall. It was odd for although it looked hard metal it was instead cushioning. Sinking to the ground there was nothing else she could do apart from try and regain energy and strength.
There were five meals delivered to her, along with drink. She slept for a time too only to be woken by the lights. Trying to exercise was not easy. Sit ups and crouching was all she could do to start with. Time would be needed for other things, that and a little more space. She didn't call out again but tried to keep busy. She knew how busy the Collector was and that he would be by at some point to check on her. At least she hoped!
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Apr 22, 2021 8:12:35 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Apr 22, 2021 8:12:35 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Collector would continue to observe the show from above, safe from any extra-dimensional horrors that may yet be unleashed. It wouldn't be the first time, such a thing happened on the Ghost Orchid, and it would likely not be the last. This time, however, things were less deadly and more strange. Despite the girl's clear physical pain, she kept running this way and that, interacting with the strange machines and gathering things. Strange goop reaching out to Ziggy, sudden stops and blackouts, and powerful psychic feelings of pain that even he could pick up despite the distance between them. Perhaps Miss Karst wouldn't be able to keep herself from dying, after all. The workings of the girl's mind were a mystery. Though the Collector had seen how frantic the world was around her, and he could sense that the world inside her head was much worse. As he descended down from the parapet from an elevator, the elder knew he had to do what he could to protect his property.
An unpredicted amount of time later, and Ziggy would finally wake up. She would be left to her own devices, with the occasional Gatherer or staff coming to drop off food, examine her from beyond her containment, or, as of now, the infirmary's Guardian. "Oh, you're alive," said the Guardian, rather tersely. She examined a clipboard full of paper she carried in her arms, scanning them for information. "So we'll delay the taxidermy operation, then. So, was your experiment a success? Or are you still going to die?"------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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Apr 22, 2021 12:36:12 GMT -7
Post by Gummy on Apr 22, 2021 12:36:12 GMT -7
Ziggy looked out at the Guardian and raised an eyebrow at the voice and statements. It was surprising to see someone after so long. Despite having her powers off she still was able to keep busy with her mind. She was a born protege before all her powers kicked in. The only problem was the confinement. She was starting to struggle with it, too many memories of the last time she was imprisoned against her will. Then her mind was unstable and she didn't have the protection to keep the curse at bay.
Still to have someone there was a bonus but she didn't feel like talking. She was weak but alive. Speaking felt strange especially hearing her own voice after being quiet for so long and in such close confinement.
"Yes, I'm alive and I would prefer to not be turned into a statue. The experiment worked, I'm not going to die but the amount that I got will take me a while to feel back to normal. You can let Sir know that it will be about 2 months before I will be up to full strength.... That is from the time my mutant powers are restored."
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Apr 22, 2021 15:54:01 GMT -7
Post by Gordy on Apr 22, 2021 15:54:01 GMT -7
"We both covet things we don't have. The difference between us, of course..."------------------------------------------------------ The Guardian crumpled her... nose(?) at the girl's suggestions. "No one wants to become taxidermy. But it's one of the best ways to preserve your corpse when you die. I doubt the Collector will be eager to wait for your death. Oh, well."The alien dropped the clipboard and papers. But rather than falling to the ground, there was a brief flash of blue light emanating from the pages. Within an instant, the items disappeared and left no trace of their existence. Were they teleported away, or did they simply blink out of existence? Anything could be possible, on the Ghost Orchid. "The Collector is a busy man," she continued. "I'm sorry to say, but I don't think he has the time to simply just visit anything that asks him. You can tell him of your health whenever he's not too busy to see you. It might take some years before then, but you'll be fed and..."She had paused. Then she stretched out her arms. A familiar blue light appeared above her, and the clipboard and paper dropped into her waiting hands. As the Guardian glanced at the paper, she said, "Hmm. We might have to run some tests on you and your powers. There's a notable... difference between now, and when you first arrived here."------------------------------------------------------ "...is that I have almost everything anyone could possibly want. Including you."
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