[ ...he'll just deal with the infection part first, because what? ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
With what? I'm not suddenly sprouting dragon scales or breathing fire, if that's what you mean.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
It crushed my shoulder. Childsplay for the nanites, apparently. I don't even have a scar to show for it.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Incidentally, we did slaughter them all. I can't hold too much of a grudge, but they were vicious, four-headed things. I've never seen their like before.
It was a Chimera, not a vampire. I don't think they were transformative. Quite honestly they had enough pieces to them already without adding some mutated form of human as well.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
And touching though that is, my wellbeing isn't the point. I think we passed the test, and that's the point.
[ Because he thinks it is a test, all of it. Everything they do here has that feel to it - including the mythical Earth beasts who appeared at exactly the most inconvenient time, and did not disappear until Ghost's work was done.
The last time mythical beasts appeared here was during the lockdown, and they were Scourges that people from Earth called harpies. Harpies and chimera.
Sturmhond doesn't really believe in coincidence. He's getting suspicious. ]
plenty of other stuff that goes bump in the night can get you
[ but Sturmhond's right. That's beside the point, for now. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
so you think it was a test, at least partly. huh.
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
what's the point of the test? weeding out weaklings?
[ Stefan had proposed a similar, sinister theory when he notified Seth of the avalanche.
Maybe the jeeps didn't malfunction. Maybe the rescue was delayed on purpose. Maybe maybe maybe. It's a rabbit hole of paranoia. Seth only has time to entertain so much, when he's plotting a murder that supports the survival of the fittest theory wholeheartedly. ]
There are easier ways to cull the weak, if that’s what they want. I doubt
it’s that simple.
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
I think they want to know who they can trust, and it’s as much about
following orders as it is about success.
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
But then that’s confusing in itself. If they’re seeking those who won’t
have a moral imperative over what they do, they haven’t been very
discerning. I have more questions than answers.
[ A long pause, here. This is only speculation, after all. It’s not
based on anything except what he’s seen, what he suspects. His own
paranoia, which is annoyingly strong of late. ]
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
I’m not sure Ajna is the real mission. How many hoops have we had to jump
through, Seth? And what sort of organisation throws untrained recruits
straight into a mission, without a test run?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
DAY whenever makes sense
explain why your girlfriend stuck her nose in my inbox
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
if you say anything sappy, i will shoot you in your moneymaker
[ he means the face. ]
Day 30??
Do I seem like the sentimental type to you?
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
I didn’t know she had. Perhaps she was being friendly, it’s not entirely out of the question. Were you polite?
[ Because she probably wasn’t; he’s aware of Alina’s talents on that front. ]
Day 30!!
yep
[ no hesitation. hey, he's a sentimental loser, too; he just doesn't advertise it. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
i was myself. [ meaning a little rude and crude, yeah. ] why the hell were you talking about me in the first place?
[ don't talk about him! it's weird!! ]
no subject
Only good things, I assure you.
I told her how our mission went. Why is that a problem, are you shy?
no subject
yeah i'm as shy and delicate as they come
[ sarcasm. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
she made it sound weird
no subject
Yes, she has a habit of that. What did she say?
no subject
that you're into me
[ he assumed it was hyperbole, naturally, but still — who says nice things behind your back? ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
;)
[ blame lydia for the ironic use of emoticons. ]
no subject
I'm reasonably certain she was joking, Seth.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Sometimes in our world we do that. Would you like me to teach you? I could take a class.
no subject
and i'm being serious?
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
you think my winky face was legit?
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
hate to break it to you, stud, but the emoticon porn is all you're getting
no subject
I generally try to let people down gently. I do hope we can still be friends.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
It's a shame you weren't serious. I think that would have delighted Alina.
no subject
i think she would have shot me
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
how was that volunteer mission?
[ look, he's actually being nice and checking up on someone!! ]
no subject
Successful. Might have run into a spot of minor trouble.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Involved a lot of trial and error, with musical puzzle pieces. They do like to keep us entertained.
no subject
you gotta be shitting me
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
was it like some kind of test or actually related to our overall objective?
no subject
Interesting question. Related to our overall objective, yes.
[ But does that mean it’s not a test? More than half of what they do here feels like a test to him, but he’s careful about saying so.
He trusts Seth more than most, though. So he’ll see what he makes of it. ]
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
We put the puzzle together, and another one appeared, on screens, to activate the thing. Just as it did, a horde of four-headed monsters arrived.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
You’re from Earth, you might know the name. Chimera? I found them unfriendly.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
They stayed until the machine’s work was done. I’ve seen nothing like them before or since.
no subject
it's mythological shit. monster pic 'n mix, so four heads sounds about right. must have been freaky as hell.
[ he knows 'cause it was in that movie, Clash of the Titans. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
how unfriendly?
no subject
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
For a moment it was more attached to my arm than I was. Nanites are a lovely invention. You should always keep them handy.
no subject
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
christ you're fine, right? did it take a chunk out of you or what?
[ what? priories are as follows: sturmhond's well-being, the limits of nanite healing. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
wait it didn't infect you right
[ is that a thing?? vampires and werewolves and banshees are contagious, why not chimeras? ]
no subject
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
With what? I'm not suddenly sprouting dragon scales or breathing fire, if that's what you mean.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
It crushed my shoulder. Childsplay for the nanites, apparently. I don't even have a scar to show for it.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Incidentally, we did slaughter them all. I can't hold too much of a grudge, but they were vicious, four-headed things. I've never seen their like before.
no subject
supernatural shit can transfer via bites where i'm from. it works that way in lydia's world, too
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
but i'm glad to hear you're good as new, champ
no subject
It was a Chimera, not a vampire. I don't think they were transformative. Quite honestly they had enough pieces to them already without adding some mutated form of human as well.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
And touching though that is, my wellbeing isn't the point. I think we passed the test, and that's the point.
[ Because he thinks it is a test, all of it. Everything they do here has that feel to it - including the mythical Earth beasts who appeared at exactly the most inconvenient time, and did not disappear until Ghost's work was done.
The last time mythical beasts appeared here was during the lockdown, and they were Scourges that people from Earth called harpies. Harpies and chimera.
Sturmhond doesn't really believe in coincidence. He's getting suspicious. ]
no subject
plenty of other stuff that goes bump in the night can get you
[ but Sturmhond's right. That's beside the point, for now. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
so you think it was a test, at least partly. huh.
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
what's the point of the test? weeding out weaklings?
[ Stefan had proposed a similar, sinister theory when he notified Seth of the avalanche.
Maybe the jeeps didn't malfunction. Maybe the rescue was delayed on purpose. Maybe maybe maybe. It's a rabbit hole of paranoia. Seth only has time to entertain so much, when he's plotting a murder that supports the survival of the fittest theory wholeheartedly. ]
no subject
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
There are easier ways to cull the weak, if that’s what they want. I doubt it’s that simple.
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
I think they want to know who they can trust, and it’s as much about following orders as it is about success.
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
But then that’s confusing in itself. If they’re seeking those who won’t have a moral imperative over what they do, they haven’t been very discerning. I have more questions than answers.
[ A long pause, here. This is only speculation, after all. It’s not based on anything except what he’s seen, what he suspects. His own paranoia, which is annoyingly strong of late. ]
FROM sturmhond@cdc.org
I’m not sure Ajna is the real mission. How many hoops have we had to jump through, Seth? And what sort of organisation throws untrained recruits straight into a mission, without a test run?
no subject
so you think this IS the test run.
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
i'd buy that.
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
but what happens to people who don't pass?
no subject
Now, that is the question. I'd wager nothing good.
FROM: sturmhond@cdc.org
Which is all the more reason not to fail, isn't it? Not that I think you need the encouragement.
no subject
you'd be my second anyway, slim, so i doubt i'd go down for long
[ That's his own roundabout way of volleying the encouragement. Got your back, man. ]
FROM: gecko.seth@cdc.org
reckon they've replaced entire crews before?
[ Which is his main worry. He doesn't doubt himself. Hell, he doesn't doubt Sturmhond. Others, however, give him greater pause. ]
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