General Conway's Office

[Blueberry Yagami]

1013
Conway's Office
Meropis

Blueberry stared at the offered hand for a moment. An odd western custom she had yet to get used to. Domo. said Blue simply giving a small bow instead. It was her custom to make your guests comfortable after all. She didn't really get this 'when in Rome' saying though if she was honest she didn't really care about any of it. She'd much rather be back in one of the labs working.

informal and relaxed? Whenever anyone said those three simple words it would only make her more nervous. Meeting and greeting people was the problem thought Blue as she subtly looked at Conway sideways. These things always had the atmosphere of an arranged marriage or something, the awkwardness was almost unbearable.

The data connections are poor. I arrived on the last wave. said Blue pointedly responding to the first question first. It was her understanding that when someone asked you how you were settling in they wanted to know if you had any problems. Suggest working with Maccafferty to rectify. she added.

Tag: Jason Conway

[Jason Conway]

1015
Conway's Office
Meropis

Blueberry Yagami, that was her name and that was the next name on the stack of files. Conway opened the folder and placed it in front of him, a small smile expressed as his hand was declined in favor of a small bow. He could tell he would like Blueberry already. So... Technical Analyst, normally working in Gate Ops. He continued skimming the details as quickly as he could. His thoughts were interrupted as she replied to his rhetorical question,
"The data connections are poor. I arrived on the last wave.
 Suggest working with Maccafferty to rectify." He paused reviewing the file and stared back at Blue, blinking. Conway carefully clasped his hands together on the table in front of him and surveyed Blueberry with interest.
"Of course... Maccafferty is due in here shortly, I'll make sure I suggest it to her." He smiled again, "You have to understand that we did the best we could with what we had when we got here, and a lot of our tech took some heavy damage during the recent attack. Any suggestions you can provide Maccafferty, Doctor Black and the team on improving things city-wide would be most welcome."
He closed the file and placed it on the 'complete' file, the General hadn't gotten to the position he was in today without being a half-decent judge of character. He knew the answer to the next question,
"So, do you have any other concerns? And how are you settling in here on Meropis?" He wanted to tease as much as he could out of her, but he knew Blueberry's type. It was just the type of person you wanted working in Gate Ops with you when things got stressful.

<Tag Blueberry Yagami>

[Blueberry Yagami]

1015
Conway's Office
Meropis

Blueberry stared back at Conway, her facial expression remained unchanged and perhaps uncaring as she patiently listened to the General as, at least to her, he made excuses to address her disappointment Blue did notice the general place her file on the other pile having seemingly just skimmed it. She presumed that the new pile were the complete interviews or whatever this was supposed to be. She simply nodded at his agreement of her suggestion. At least the man knew who knew what they were doing and when to listen to her. Which was always.

Other concerns are the disappointment of the 'aliens' currently encountered with the exception of the cat. In addition your pictures are wonky. explained Blue pointing at one of Conway's decorations. Was the second question not answered to your satisfaction? she added questioning what she saw as needless repetition. Blue knew the game, a number of psychologists and interviews told her he was trying to pry information from her. What information did he hope to gain from her? Hadn't he noticed she was a nerd? Did he want this to go into an overly technical discussion of technologies he probably had no understanding of?

Tag: Jason Conway

[Jason Conway]

1018
Conway's Office
Meropis

An awkward pause followed. Jason and Blueberry exchanged quizzical looks.
"Other concerns are the disappointment of the 'aliens' currently encountered with the exception of the cat. In addition your pictures are wonky." He slowly raised his eyebrows in reaction to Blue's 'concerns' and turned to look at the framed artwork she was pointing at. It was a B-52 flying fortress depicted as high above the United States, a favorite piece of his. And it was indeed askew. He turned back to the analyst sat opposite him who remained almost expressionless and as calm as you like.
"Was the second question not answered to your satisfaction?" she said. Jason didn't really know what to say. He'd already closed her file, more than confident that she would be a valuable asset to the expedition going forward.
"Well... There is not a lot I can say other than, welcome aboard. Again." he smiled and stood up, resisting the urge to offer her his hand again. "Thank you for time Miss Yagami. I'm satisfied that you'll go a long way here on Meropis. You know what they say, the future is bright!" She didn't react. Sometimes Jason wondered why his mouth said things before his brain had a chance to assess the potential impact of those words. He smiled as Blueberry said her farewells and went to leave,
"Oh and..." she stopped just short of the door as he spoke, "please can you send in whoever is next. The ten twenty slot I believe..." She nodded and proceeded on. Jason leaned to one side to make sure she had truly left. He then turned and immediately straightened the framed artwork behind his desk before taking a step back to admire it. A voice from the doorway caught his attention once more...
"You wanted to see me Sir?"

<Tag whoever wants to jump in next!>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

1025
Conway's Office
Meropis

Fee's two braids hung down in front of her face, and over her petite shoulders as a bepectacled head peered sideways through the door. She looked from Miss Yagami-Fiona couldn't bring herself to say "Blueberry"-it wasn't a proper name-and then to the General. She'd gotten wind that he'd wanted to see the entirety of the IT department, and since she was pretty much the one around right now, she was the right person for the job, so's to speak.

You wanted to see me, sir? Is something amiss? She stepped aside, allowing Blue to pass her as she stepped tentatively into the office. She waited for his nod to sit, and then when she did, she found his visitor's chair almost swallowing all 4 feet 8 inches, 98 lbs of her. She crossed her legs under her, as if in meditation or "Indian style", was how Liam, her brother, called it.

She adjusted her speckys and looked to the man.

Is it all right? Miss Yagami looked... Fee paused. Well, actually, the woman looked rather like she usually did. Well, rather like herself. Is this because I made appointment with Dr. Harrison? I can explain that... Maybe someone had discovered Jacques and had tattled. At any rate, she was a little suspicious, but then she was usually was around males.

Tag:Jason Conway

[Aear Charter]

1025
Conway's office
Meropis

Aear tentatively, and unusually quiet for him, slipped in behind Fee and closed the door. He hadn't really noticed her slip in or the two speaking. He just stood facing the door whilst his nerves overran him for a moment. He didn't really want to see the General and not without good reason. He HAD just escaped captivity barely with his life intact, he'd lost his arm, his eye and his magic was in tatters. If he was honest with him he was scared, he wasn't used to being this vulnerable, not since he'd left the labs all those years ago, when his mother had decided that was the point he'd been 'born'. He was still expecting his captors to send someone after him, or to already have someone hiding away as a spy, or that these Earthicans were working with his enemies. He really was a wreck right now.

He slowly turned around and looked around the room taking in it's layout, exits, places to hide, places people out to get him might be hiding. One way out, crap. At lest there wasn't anywhere people could jump out from, but that meant nowhere to hide too. Just as he'd finished he noticed Fee and who was presumably the General. Maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea, he didn't want to intrude over her privacy. She'd nursed him back to his normal form and he owed her a life debt. That being said he wasn't sure if he could talk with the General without her here. Uno... If i'm... interrupting... he managed to blurt out. What was he SUPPOSED to say? Was he going to be forced to tell the General just how vulnerable he was right now? Aear didn't move from the door however, his nerves had him planted in place.

Tag: Jason Conway, Fiona Maccafferty

[Jason Conway]

1029
Conway's office
Meropis

Fiona Maccefferty had entered the office and taken up a seat in an... unusual seated position. The General resumed his place on the other side of the table and took up the next file from the left hand pile. He had to take a double take and suppressed a slight frown, the file was slightly larger than the ones so far, and was actually two files held together by an elastic band. He looked up at Fiona with a warm smile, ah yes, this one might take a little be longer.
“Fiona! Thank you for joining me this morning.” He took the elastic band off and opened the cover of the double-file, viewing the overview page on his guest.
“Is it all right? Miss Yagami looked...” There was a pause, Conway raised his eyebrows in expectation, “Well, rather like herself. Is this because I made appointment with Dr. Harrison? I can explain that...” He decided to cut her off and ease her worry,
“Fiona, relax, please. There is nothing to be concerned about. I just need to take a little time out of my schedule to meet everyone on the expedition. Afterall, how can you know your enemy if you don’t know your friends first? We’re all in it together out here.” He tried his best to reassure her, keeping up the warm smile as he did so.

It was at this point that Aear Charter graced the room with his presence, shutting the ancient doors behind him. The General took a deep breath, the previous one to ones would have been easy in comparison to the challenge ahead. Conway looked from Aear to the second chair lined up at the other side of the table, and then back to Aaer who still stood nervously by the door.
“Uno... If i'm... interrupting...”
“Mr. Charter, please, take a seat next to Fiona.” He gestured to the empty chair, “This isn’t anything you need to be worried about, think of it as a...” He paused to try and find a phrase that would make sense to Aear, “A friendly greeting between the three of us, a chance to get to know each other a little better.”
Jason watched as Aear carefully took a seat. He leafed through a few more pages of the large file in front of him,
“Now, let’s get started... How are you both settling in here on Meropis? All well I trust?” He clasped his hands together on the desk and listened to their reply.

<Tag Aear Charter and Fiona Maccafferty >

[Fiona Maccafferty]

1029
Conway's office
Meropis

Fiona made a face at Aear. The bloody animal thing was ALWAYS around...didn't he ever SLEEP??!

She listened for a moment as the General started in.

Fiona! Thank you for joining me this morning... She nodded once, but didn't look at the man. She kept her gaze on her socks, and picked at an invisble thread. He kept on talking.

Fiona, relax, please. There is nothing to be concerned about. I just need to take a little time out of my schedule to meet everyone on the expedition. Afterall, how can you know your enemy if you don’t know your friends first? We’re all in it together out here. She shook her head. Sammy used to say stuff like that-her former supervisor at NASA. She'd always just roll her eyes-she knew that she was there because NASA had a long history of punishing victims of assault instead of the actual perpatrators, and also because she was the only one with enough education to understand the special coding language NASA had thought it was so clever in inventing-never mind that to anyone with enough brain cells firing, one could figure out that was simply a hotmess of Binary code, SQL, and Algol 60-Fee had taken every math class available to her since age 10, and she knew her way around Algorithims like most people knew their faces. She was the type of person, that, had she been born a boy, would have been allowed to start her own computer company. However, she was a small girl from the Bogs of Ireland, and brilliance was her only gift.

She couldn't think of a response, so she nodded again, and then listened to the goings-on between the General and Aear.

Mr. Charter, please, take a seat next to Fiona...This isn’t anything you need to be worried about, think of it as a...A friendly greeting between the three of us, a chance to get to know each other a little better. At that, Fee looked up at the General and then to Aear.

With respect, I am not sure I want to know him any better. Bloody pisser. She was still upset with him for not telling her he was an actual MAN instead of a cat.

She redirected her gaze to the General as he looked down at her file. Why was it so large?? What had NASA told him about her?? Or the colleges? Or any of the assorted shrinks and ME's she'd seen?

Now, let’s get started... How are you both settling in here on Meropis? All well I trust?

Fiona raised an eyebrow.

Actually...I hate it here. I want to go home. I miss me Da, and me brother. And sometimes my stepmum. It smells oddly here, and I don't fit in. No one talks to me unless they HAVE to, and I feel like I have no other skills besides computer skills. At least you military people are trained in other areas. In case of emergency, I am dead weight. She said this matter-of-factly, without much emotion. It wasn't like she didn't CARE about these things, she just usually kept her feelings to herself.

Tag:Jason Conway, Aear Charter

[Aear Charter]

1029
Conway's office
Meropis

Aear glanced over to the chair offered, pushing nanites into his now defunct eye so he could scan it for traps. Nothing magic could detect at least. He had barely perched tentivly on the chair when Fee began.

With respect, I am not sure I want to now him any better. Bloody pisser.

She was still going on about he 'turned into a real boy'? What was he supposed to do? Meow at her? Inhavent done anything yet!

Next the General asked if they were settling in. Aear and Fee both raised an eyebrow at him but Fee got her peice in first. Your not the only one that wants to go home ya know. starts Aear as his emotions get the better of him. Try escaping from a PoW camp when you couldn't fight anymore when you went in and every time you do it f**ks up your body.

Aear breaths heavily for a moment before blushing realising he'd said too much. Gomen... he apologises looking away.

Tag: Jason Conway, Fiona Maccafferty

[Jason Conway]

1034
Conway's office
Meropis

To say the man was bemused by the situation in front of him would be a slight understatement. This was certainly different to what Jason Conway had planned for the morning. He'd asked them how they were fitting in as Aear suspiciously took a seat.
"Actually... I hate it here. I want to go home. I miss me Da, and me brother. And sometimes my stepmum. It smells oddly here, and I don't fit in. No one talks to me unless they HAVE to, and I feel like I have no other skills besides computer skills. At least you military people are trained in other areas. In case of emergency, I am dead weight."
Conway was speechless, he tried but could only utter an "I..." before Aear Charter decided to answer the question as well in his strange accent,
"You're not the only one that wants to go home ya know. Try escaping from a PoW camp when you couldn't fight anymore when you went in and every time you do it f**ks up your body."
Jason blinked, twice. He stared at the two sat before him. Right... This would take some amount of skill to answer. He first addressed Fiona,
"Without you, only half our systems would be as efficient as they are now. Your work ethic is incredible and there is a reason I hand picked you for this expedition. I can't say much for smell, this IS an alien city after all. As for your other complaints, I can only refer to your recent incredible efforts with Michael Black uncovering the ancient lab hidden in the forest as an example of your true value to all of us. Which brings me neatly to you, Aear..." He looked to Mr. Charter, who seemed uncomfortable in his own skin in such a formal environment.
"I was saving this for later in the meeting but I guess now's the best time... I've made arrangements for the base's next mission to be all about, you! With your permission, we'd like to try and make contact with your home world and have one of your diplomats visit our city. I feel that an ongoing understanding between our two races would be for the best. Any threats from these former captors of yours on yourself will also be treated as threats against us, what do you say mister Charter? Will you accept our offer?"
He hoped his words had at least some sort of a reassuring effect on the pair. In his mind, he crossed his fingers, he really needed these two on the expedition. Fiona's knowledge was extraordinary, she surely deserved a pay rise. And Aear brought endless possibilities when it came to exploring this galaxy, a native on board? Well, that has been tried and tested before and proven to be quite effective.

<Tag Aear Charter and Fiona Maccafferty>

[Fiona Maccafferty]

1034
Conway's office
Meropis

Fee gazed at Aear.

Your not the only one that wants to go home ya know. Try escaping from a PoW camp when you couldn't fight anymore when you went in and every time you do it f**ks up your body.

She gave him a LOOK.

We all have problems. No one FORCED you to leave. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead. She turned her attention to the General, who seemed agog by the two.

Without you, only half our systems would be as efficient as they are now. Your work ethic is incredible and there is a reason I hand picked you for this expedition. I can't say much for smell, this IS an alien city after all. As for your other complaints, I can only refer to your recent incredible efforts with Michael Black uncovering the ancient lab hidden in the forest as an example of your true value to all of us. Which brings me neatly to you, Aear... Fee raised an eyebrow. She wasn't convinced. She crossed her arms over her chest, settling back to listen. Maybe HE could set Aear straight...Fee had risked her job bringing him back, against orders, really, and she didn't appreciate his barging in, or his fecklessness in general.

She waited for the General to finish speaking to Aear, and she started in.

It was Dr. Black who loosened the door. I simply just barged in... She sighed. It was futile-she needed to tell the General the REAL reason she was unhappy, and most of that was fear based, but she disliked the amount of males she'd had to work with. Given her assault, though, that was understandable. She didn't want to say anything with Aear present, but maybe she might as well. He might take the hint and stay away.

There is something else, if Mr. Charter would excuse himself...it's quite serious, I think, and he doesn't want to hear it, I am sure...

Tag:Aear Charter, Jason Conway

(So Aear can choose to stay or go)

[Aear Charter]

1034
Conway's Office

Aear didn't look back at Fee.

We all have problems. No one FORCED you to leave. If it weren't for me, you'd be dead.

As if I don't know or appreciate that. thought Aear still unaware that his nanites were still in Fee's head and she could hear his thoughts.

It was Dr. Black who loosened the door. I simply just barged in...

And saved my life... thought Aear.

"I was saving this for later in the meeting but I guess now's the best time... I've made arrangements for the base's next mission to be all about, you! With your permission, we'd like to try and make contact with your home world and have one of your diplomats visit our city. I feel that an ongoing understanding between our two races would be for the best. Any threats from these former captors of yours on yourself will also be treated as threats against us, what do you say mister Charter? Will you accept our offer?"

Aear looked up and stared at Conway calculating for a moment. The man was serious, he could see that. Aear could not have hoped for a better turn of events. I... If I may, I'd like to avoid contacting the government directly. I don't know who might be listening. There's a private military I can secure a channel with, they owe me some favours.

There is something else, if Mr. Charter would excuse himself...it's quite serious, I think, and he doesn't want to hear it, I am sure...

Aear looked at Fee with a pained expression. There's really nothing you can tell me that I haven't already been through. he said solemnly. It wasn't my first time in captivity... he added looking away again.

Tag: Jason Conway, Fiona Maccafferty

[Fiona Maccafferty]

1034
Conway's Office

Fee put her hands over her ears. She probably looked oddly, but she didn't care. She could hear Aear's thoughts, STILL, something she thought would go away when he'd changed form. But it hadn't. It had taken her a bit to realize that she could hear his thoughts and that she wasn't going slowly insane, but it was still odd. She wasn't used to it yet. And his thoughts were kind of loud. But not as loud as his words.

As if I don't know or appreciate that...and saved my life... She made a face at him again, but this one was a little softer, a little kinder. It WAS true, after all. Aear spoke this time, and Fee removed her hands from her ears.

There's really nothing you can tell me that I haven't already been through...It wasn't my first time in captivity... Fee looked at him sadly, but nodded firmly.

This is as bad as that. Please...go. You don't need to hear it. And crack the door, please... She looked pleadingly from man to Catman. If Aear stayed, she wouldn't mind, actually, but she didn't need him to feel sorry for her.

Tag:Jason Conway, Aear Charter

[Aear Charter]

1035
Conway's Office

This is as bad as that. Please...go. You don't need to hear it. And crack the door, please...

It was Aear's turn to give Fee a look. Fear, sorrow, pain, defiance and anger, lots of anger, not at Fee but against his creators. You didn't get beaten raped and raised as a weapon on a daily basis! yelled Aear lashing out in is mind. He didn't want to actually lash out at her, but he still had no idea she could hear his thoughts.

Just the idea of lashing out at Fee, being the weapon they had made him for just a second, made him want to cry. Instead he scowled his face and used his anger to hold it back. No Fee. It's not. You weren't designed, built and raised as a weapon. he said growling a little. He wasn't it intending it to sound nearly that harsh but she was digging into things he never wanted to talk about. Not that he could leave now even if he wanted to, he wasn't even sure if his emotions would allow him to stand at this point.

Tag: Jason Conway, Fiona Maccafferty

[Jason Conway]

1037
Conway's office
Meropis

It was official, the General had lost control of the meeting. He blinked, and stared from person to person, like a spectator at a tennis competition. The first comment wasn't so bad, Aear had made a promising offer,
"I... If I may, I'd like to avoid contacting the government directly. I don't know who might be listening. There's a private military I can secure a channel with, they owe me some favours.
" Jason nodded to him, a very promising idea indeed. It was then that Maccafferty raised what seemed like a sensitive point,
"There is something else, if Mr. Charter would excuse himself...it's quite serious, I think, and he doesn't want to hear it, I am sure...
" He knew what this was about, or at least had an inkling based on her background. Did he have a chance to reply? No. This was where it spiraled out of control.
"There's really nothing you can tell me that I haven't already been through... It wasn't my first time in captivity..." Aear replied with.
"This is as bad as that. Please... Go. You don't need to hear it. And crack the door, please... " Came Fee's immediate rebuttal, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Jason tried to slip a word in but was cut off.
"No Fee. It's not. You weren't designed, built and raised as a weapon.
" Aear lashed back with. Emotions had very quickly heightened within the small office.
"Both of you! Please!" The General raised his voice, ending the argument before it got any worse.

All three of them took a moment to calm down. General Conway continued,
"I honestly don't know where to start. I'm not qualified to talk about what both are you are hinting at here... You're better of having a one to one with Doc Harrison. But, if you wish, I'm here and I will listen." He paused to contemplate his next sentence, "I want you both to feel that Meropis is a safe place to be. If you don't, I consider it a failure as leader of this expedition... So, Maccafferty first, have at it." He tried that warm smile again, the welcoming expression that suggested 'your secret is safe with me'. The General sat back in his chair and looked to Fiona.

<Tag Fiona Maccafferty and Aear Charter>