[CLOSED] Tiny Intruders from Another World

[sixthdeadliest]

Who: Six sixthdeadliest and David Alleyne helpdesk_hero
What: Six and David Alleyne meet in person to start running tests on Six's nanites.
When: Not long after their chat on OurPowers. Maybe a day at most.
Where: Six's room at the Diadem
Content Warnings: SCIENCE and Six submitting himself as a human guinea pig.


To say Six was unused to accommodations like the Diadem Hotel would be a massive understatement. He was a man used to motels that didn't bat an eye when you paid in cash for a room for a week, a night, or even a few hours. Honestly, his simple quarters at Providence -- a basic private room with bed, closet, and bathroom -- were plenty for him, reminding him somewhat of his time being raised by One while still maintaining that impersonal "hotel" feel.

The Diadem's lavish accommodations made him twitchy, and he did his best to spend as little as possible from the money the Guilds allegedly freely gave displaced people like himself. (He needed to find a steady source of income that was independent of them...assuming he didn't just join up out of necessity for someone to monitor his nanites. It wouldn't be the first time he'd traded his autonomy because of the microscopic devils.) He certainly didn't eat from the menus provided. Room service was expensive for one thing. For another, he was pretty sure that the rich food would only succeed in making him sick.

He stuck the extra sandwich and bottle of water he'd picked up at a deli down the street into the minifridge, ignoring the small sample bottles of liquor provided.

Then he sat down in a chair at the small table and waited for his "guest".

Comments

[sixthdeadliest]

"It was a cobra before it changed. And it was angry."

And really that pretty much summarized it.

"Just the basic introduction to this world and that it'd be in my best interest to join a Guild. Each emphasizing that they're the better option."

[helpdesk_hero]

Ouch. That sounded quite unpleasant. He settles his slide and put it on the scope. Time to get looking.

"You can really get mixed results with the guilds. Which I know I'm not supposed to say, but I'm not a native Meta, so I have opinions. That said, if you're going to need serious regular medical help with all of this, the guilds might be your best choice. Not to mention public opinion on Metas isn't the highest right now."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Sounds like the general population's opinion on EVOs. Not that you can really blame them given most of them are out of control and violent."

He watched the young man go about his tasks.

"And it might not be a bad idea to at least get some outsider opinions on the guilds. Someone who came in from the outside might have a perspective the natives don't have."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Except that's not the case here," he sighs as he puts the slide in place and leans in to look it over.

"I'm sure if you ask on OurPower, you'd find some opinions. A lot of them even. Even some of the non-aligned have accounts and talk about it."

Though they walked a far more careful line than Society or Alliance members.

[sixthdeadliest]

"Then this world should count itself lucky."

He listened quietly for a moment before asking, "What are your thoughts on the guilds?"

Might as well start with someone he could talk to face-to-face (so to speak) so he can study their body language.

[helpdesk_hero]

"If only," he says, mumbling to himself. Though he is shocked over the question for the guilds right at this moment. Still, he has to pause, because he's not finding anything but blood in the slides. Which meant they could be even smaller, or the sample isn't enough. He takes the side out and then goes to prepare another.

"They don't care about us as much as they claim to. If you've followed the news you might hear about the issues Excelsior Metas are having. I'm an Excelsior meta."

[sixthdeadliest]

"I've been watching the news but I'm not sure I fully understand why there was a sudden outburst of anti-Meta sentiment in that area. From what I understood, Excelsior seemed to be at least Meta-neutral beforehand."

The additional slide didn't escape his notice, but he held his tongue for the moment. Perhaps it was just something that needed to be done.

[helpdesk_hero]

"It was," David agreed with a shrug. Then he focuses on preparing the next slide. "We weren't liked, we weren't hated. But then there was the whole AI attack,a nd they wanna blame that on us in general. And the whole power outage. Like, we FIXED those things."

He's not enjoying the state of it all.

"It's becoming distinctly hostile. Made me happy I was keeping to the whole 'hidden identity' thing."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Doubt I'd get away with the same."

The green suit did attract people's attention away from his face so they learned to look for that in a crowd, making it easy to go "incognito" by wearing something else, but he didn't wear a mask.

"You said that the guilds didn't care about EVOs...Metas...as much as they claimed to." Small slip of the tongue there. He'd been doing well so far, but it took active concentration not to use "EVO". "I didn't get the impression that they promised any sort or protection at all, just certain boons as long as you were more or less 'on call' to assist with their goals. The Society in particular only seemed to offer assistance as long as a Meta didn't go outside of certain guidelines." He tilted his head to one side. "Did the propaganda change?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"Oh, there are protections, just quietly so. PR is a protection in some ways. Society, though..."

He has been considering them indeed. They seem to care for their own more, in a weird way.

"It definitely changed. Now the Alliance seems like some ad campaign, and nothing else."

He frowns and considers the latest slide. And then sets it aside. Time to make a third. This is weird.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six was about to ask for more information before seeing the young man start to put together a third slide.

"What's wrong?"

[helpdesk_hero]

"I think my microscope isn't strong enough, because I don't see anything."

And what he doesn't see, he can't address.

[sixthdeadliest]

Six tilted his head to one side before breathing out a sigh through his nose.

"They'll show up under CT scan. Looks like I'll have to join one of the guilds after all."

Medical necessity. Particularly if it's a threat that could affect civilians.

[helpdesk_hero]

Under CT scans, huh? Well then...

"There could be another way. There's a man in Excelsior, goes by Elixir. His powers are with healing. While he wouldn't be able to see the nanites themselves, he'd probably be able to notice they were there. If you want to start more subtle, you could start there."

But for now he's very intrigued.

"Should I destroy these samples, or do you mind if I keep investigating?"

[sixthdeadliest]

"I appreciate the suggestion, but I know they'll show up for sure on a CT scan. I need to see what I'm dealing with. I don't want to be Patient Zero of a second Nanite Event."

He glanced at the samples.

"Destroy them. Fresh samples can be drawn later."

[helpdesk_hero]

"I'll figure out a way," he promises.

What he'd give for Magma to be here right now. She could destroy it all rather quickly.

[sixthdeadliest]

"I'm guessing the best way to do it is extreme heat. Should melt any nanites you can't see down."

[helpdesk_hero]

"Yeah, and I'm missing more than a few pyrokinetics right now," he sighs. "I'll try to find an incinerator of sufficient strength. But you should get to guild medical study as soon as possible."

He sighs.

"I wish I could tell you more. Maybe... God don't tell anyone I'm saying this. Try the Society. One of their major figures is good with technology. That could help."

[sixthdeadliest]

"I've been considering the Society, but I think ultimately I'll end up with the Alliance. If nothing else, it's similar to the organization I worked for back on my world and anyone from there would be likely to join up with it. Or at least look into it."

Rex might have temporarily left Providence, but he'd kept doing his job saving people, after all.

[helpdesk_hero]

"I hope you like being a social media sensation, press events, and product endorsements," Prodigy observed, and yes, his voice was dripping with disgust.

Corporate heroes, that was what the Alliance seemed to want from them these days.

[sixthdeadliest]

"I hate it," Six stated bluntly.

But he did have a lot of experience of telling reporters "no comment" thanks to Providence.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Yeah, same," Prodigy sighed as he started to pack up. "Learn to get used to it. I'm managing to avoid it so far, but I know it's not been easy."

And he often argued 'I have more of a secret identity in a dangerous city' to back himself with.

[sixthdeadliest]

"Pretty sure they're not going to make me a poster boy for their operation. I don't have the presence for it."

Little did he know what lay in the future for him back home.

[helpdesk_hero]

"Just talking to what I've seen them do here. They almost seem to care more about poster people sometimes. It's sad. I joined to protect people, not to be made a deal of."

He rises and stretches.

"If someone manages to isolate the nanites for you, and you don't go to the society for help, let me know. I will try and see what I can do about them. I'm not the strongest technopath around, but I've got something."

[sixthdeadliest]

"Trying to make its members into symbols of hope, not fear. Your standard propaganda war. I wouldn't be useful on that front since I don't have any powers, so trying to paint Metas in a positive light with me is pointless."

He stood as well.

"Thank you for your help."