poly_chromatic | 023: VIDEO

[A view of the good doctor and a small team in surgery. Chase is wrist deep under yellow, iodine-swiped skin.]

And that's what it really means to have your stomach tied up in knots. Well that looks much prettier than it did before - the rest seems clear. Book scans and barium for five days to check things are moving through clearly and the other adhesions shouldn't be problematic...

[He lifts both hands free, gloves bloodied to the wrist, and backs up.]

If you can close up here... Have me paged when she's through recovery so I can explain the switch to open. I'm going to-

[Wipe out.

Whatever Chase was going to do, it's interrupted by him suddenly crashing out of view behind the table. Surgical tools and kidney bowls of unidentified matter shower to the ground. There's a groan and, just at the edge of shot, a foot clad in a bright red stiletto being tentatively stretched out to one side of the table.]

I'm going to go and strap my ankle.

[ooc: still unwell so still backdating, sorry sorry <3]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Zhe station was integrated with an AI, SHODAN. She was tampered with for selfish reasons, and she proceeded to kill everyone. In her own way, she was responsible for the ruin of my ship as well.

[Insects. it was a weirdly resonant memory.]

Why work for the company, knowing what they'd done?

[ I wanted to explore the stars. It's not the kind of answer she gives to people, except for that once when she was bleeding out in the snow. ]

Zhey had the resources.

Of course.

[It's not sarcastic. That's a reason. Not an invalid one.]

It became very political, after I was awarded zhe Nobel. I think even if I 'ad tried to work elsewhere, zhey would 'ave found a way to put zheir fingers in.

You don't have to excuse it. Advances can be born from atrocities or grow to create them. You're not Oppenheimer.

It does not need to be excused.

[She feels guilty anyway. Not quite survivors guilt because she isn't one, but all the same...]

Glad we agree. How's the work here going since the boss went home?

[Siiiiigh.]

Very slowly. I 'ad just had a project approved, but his successors are unable to comprehend it now.

[Goddamn backwards place.]

In zhe meantime, I am attempting to help zhe police force to be something other zhan completely impotent.

[A pause where a nod would go.]

I do some moonlighting for them. Like throwing autopsy notes into the void.

[She wants your autopsy notes...]

Your dedication is admirable.

[She sounds pretty exasperated with them.]

It pays.

[And that's a good fall back excuse for anyone who has never seen his bank account.]

The concept of a police force here is a fallacy. There's no law and no one strong enough to enforce one on everyone - except the people keeping us all prisoner.

Their concept does not interest me.

[She'd just like for people not to be eaten.]

[He's somewhat lenient in a belief that everything needs to eat.]

The concept of having one. But it would be unthinkable for nobody to try.

[She understands the need, but sees no reason to tolerate that which eats her own.]

Unfortunately, it is not in my nature not to try.

[It's a curse, really.]