Brass Stripes

A quietly humming machine, murmurs along inside a dim, concrete box of a room, as 3 people enter surrounding the machine. 2 armed. A person is floating inside an thickly encased chamber, with wires and tubes pressed into the surface or patched through directly to their body, through a blue-green liquid.

"Time to see what they're like, when awake." The non-armed person says quietly as the other 2 look toward her with quelled apprehension. Though one steps closer to this holding place.

"I was here once before. This is the one I made a flag about the report." They say, her voice firm, confident. She lowers her weapon only slightly. "Well that's why we are here, Bayou" The non-combatant affirms.

"Aubrey's reports," Bayou dry spits at hearing the name, "Yes, well, she has a track record of misrepresenting behaviour from people. We need people right now." "Don't I know it, Silvers" Bayou responds, sounding tired, while a digital wall clock shows 13:00 (1pm).

"Not enough coffee?" The other armed personnel asks, semi-playful, through stiff in their delivery. "Just age" "Age? Well that's going to be funny," The unarmed woman says with a quick flash of a smirk. "And why's that Daisy?" "This person in here," She taps on the glass once with a pen. "They're over 100 by now." "Ain't no fucking way." Bayou responds.

"No, check out the sheet on them here," The woman responds moving toward Bayou with a clipboard. "Son of an actual bitch.." Bayou says while reading the form, rubbing her chin as disbelief washes over her face. "Intake at age 30+ and they've been in for, hoo, I don't like them numbers they were brought out 10 years ago for 30min it says. Yeah I remember this patient was over 100 then. Damn." "Anything to add?" Miss Silver asks, genuine.

Bayou has a sour expression. "Only that this patient, did not appreciate, that wench's, request of their biology and put em' in here for another 10' to punish them. I was new on call then, damn 'senior staff' bullcrap of the time. I'm glad you second generation' came in."

"Well thank you, I am here because of an investigation into 'her' misdeeds." "Hard to believe she only got made to retire," The other security adds, posture still stiff, holding the same position. "Hmm. 90 years in suspension like that though... They might be agitated." Daisy ponders out loud. Then after a few seconds motions and lowers the fluid levels in the chamber. The room grows cold.

"Brr, a bit cold eh? What kind of fluid was keeping them suspended in there?" Daisy questions, looking over the file, "Oh." She says out loud in a quick fashion, before tilting the documents to the security. "They've been inducted into the esper program." "Yes, with the medication and everything alongside the stem cell repairing every few years."

"That's torture." Bayou calls out, with a deep gnarled frustration. "And they are alive," Daisy points out as the liquid of the containment continues to slowly lower, as a metal support rises up to almost cradle the patient in question. A titanium placard on the chamber, reads: 'Electra,' with scratch marks on some parts of it.

Though, nobody can see this is getting within 4 feet of this or the chamber itself. All present brace as if either waiting for something to go wrong, or, for Electra to somehow break out after 90 years of atrophy.

She simply stays there, arms clasped over her shoulders, knees to her chest, trying to cover herself with the various piping and wires slowly detaching themselves from the lowered greenish demi-liquid or from a mechanical arm removing them automatically.

The metallic 'cradle' cups up to them, holding their body in the middle of their chamber, still wet from the demi-liquid that still drops off of their body, the oxygen/breathing support apparatus still on their face as it should be. Their long, frigidly thin limbs show that the bare minimum of nutrition was present in their lines.

"It looks like the main source of nutrition was done with osmosis with the chamber's demi-fluid... Damn she really said 'torture' on all the device settings and rotations huh." Daisy comments out loud, irritation and disgust evident to any who would listen or hear. The room grows colder by a few more degrees. This being enough to notify the safety gear located on the security personnel's leg armour.

"Why is it getting colder in here?" The other officer bluntly asks. "Dunno Terra, but I have my suspicions." Responds Bayou looking intently at Electra's chamber, devoid of demifluid, being held up by a metallic support underneath them and a breathing apparatus, that is a requirement for them right now. That last bit, that much Bayou was certain of.

For a second everyone simultaneous feels a certain 'flicker' that causes a sense of hesitation in them. One recognises the pattern. "Psychic pulse... I'm going to call Saffron." Daisy announces to the security, who nod at her. She follows throw, on her phone, sending a coded message to someone with the contact name 'Extra Goth Psychic' reading: psychic pulse, come in. Which is delivered, seen, then a knock at the door. (That was fast...?)

Daisy thinks to herself, while Terra moves over to the door and looks through the peephole. "It's Saffron." They say with a frustration, before another pulse of psychic energy flickers in the room. "..Fine." Terra says in a frustrated tone, before undoing the bulkhead of the door and opening it.

And yet somehow, somehow still despite the outside being warmer, the room gets a few degrees colder again. All present suits ping at this change in temperature.

"Oh hi Terra~" Saffron greats casually, playfully with an almost eager familiarity. "Not no Saffron, patient's not even conscious and they're giving off pulses. Plus, as you might've just felt, room keeps getting oh so much colder." "Hey Gothy," Saffron greets in an equally eager tone "It's Daisy right now." She's met with by Daisy looking more tense "N'aww no fun, but-" Saffron goes to perhaps acts similarly before locking eyes on Electra sat in the chamber. Her eyes widen.

"So this is the source.." Saffron quietly says to herself as she walks closer to the patient calmly, quietly. "Source of what?" "Something I've seen around that always comes from and returns to this room." She answers in this distracted tone, all of her focus at hand being in front of her. "Any relevant information for me Daisy?" "I- Yeah this patient was put on- They were inducted." "Who?" "Aubrey." Bayou dry spits. "Valid reaction Bayou. Course? Timeframe?" "Low, 10 years as 'punishment.'"

"Did they kill people or something?" Saffron asks flabbergasted before she suddenly hears:

"I didn't." Said by Electra. Though Saffron doesn't know that yet, flinching. "What is it?" "Well, they're definitely psychic~" Saffron tries to play things off, with a jovial demeanour. "Tch, had me concerned about you for a sec." Daisy says under her breath. "Oh-?" Is what Saffron gets out before hearing "Bruh." From the same otherwise imperceptible voice.

"Who are you then, strange one" "I am right in front of you. Ngh. I am in this shitty pod." "You ok there, patient?" "I've been stuck in this thing for 90 years. The only reprieve was 30mins with a wretched human being. So no." Electra answers back, to room become slightly warmer.

"Well Saffron?" Terra prods, arm tensely on their substantial firearm. "The patient, is... somewhat sassy." And from Electra's mind directly "Sassy how you pretty bitch?" "Yep, very sass- Wait you can see me then, patient?" "First off: My name is Electra. Second: My left eye is very slightly open, but barely staying open. I recognise one of the security people. Nice."

"What are they saying to you Saffron?" Asks Daisy, noticing the intense focus on their face but the lessening cold. Saffron purses her lips slightly nodding "Well, um. Their name is Electra and of the people in the room they said Bayou was 'nice.' Which, y'know, agreed." "Do they, Electra, mean that the same way you do? Or are they happy I helped get that bitch Aubrey be made to retire?" Bayou asks standing firm as a brick wall, looking unamused.

"Damn you got that wretch retired? The sooner I can hug you the better," Electra mentally says. Nobody but Saffron can hear that still. "Do you want me to relay that or...?" "Yes." "Electra effectively says 'the sooner I can hug you for that the better'" "I only do handshakes." Bayou firmly states while looking pleased. "That's more than fine too." Electra states which is relayed by Saffron.

"Well...?" "Well what?" Saffron asks. "Can they please turn off the cold winds?" "Maybe?" Saffron replies for Electra who comments "I'm not doing this intentionally," To which Saffron relays this adding "This means they're... Strong." With this excitement with a deeper emotion behind it. "I am in no mood for those sentiments." Electra states sensing and feeling all of the rather full-bodied emotional complex behind Saffron's reaction.

"Aw they're a killjoy about me being excited, bummer.." Saffron reacts audibly. "Not a bad reaction." Terra retorts, "Hey!" Saffron yelps in distress. "A good head on their shoulders," Bayou adds to this.

"I have practically no body to do anything with, uh, Miss Saffron?" Electra adds. "Oh." She reacts, "A good point. How are we going to get you even remotely healthier?" Saffron audibly says which the present crew focus in on. "Well, there are a few vitamin and mineral enriched milkshakes?" Daisy suggests.

"Like the ones for old people and/or cancer patients?" Electra questions keenly. Saffron repeats it toward Daisy. "Yes. Interesting. How would you know about that?" "Family," Is the response given and repeated. "Odd. Well, we can patch things into you. Is that an option, uh, Electra?" Daisy questions further trying more to familiarise herself with Electra's name. There's a pause of communication.

"Electra...?" Saffron beckons. "I'm gonna be honest, no offence, is there another way I can communicate that isn't through a person that feels just shy of having a hand up them?" Electra asks irritated. The thoughts Saffron have on the matter are different. "Well," Saffron begins. "It seems Electra, would like a new means of communication." "Hm. Interesting, there's no issue having you act as a translator though, right?" "I find it awkward." Electra adds, which Saffron relays, word for word as she has done so far.

"Very, very interesting..." Daisy ponders, with narrowed eyes. "Well, we can get you on nutritional care, plus honestly at this point some steroids. 90 years of being in a tank doesn't do much for the body." One of Electra's arms twitches. "Whoa ok now, none of that yet. Need actual nutrition and steroids in you to get to an acceptable state, alright?" Daisy yelps in worry followed by stopping a few steps from Electra's chamber. A thought occurs to her. One she does not like.

"Actually. Let me just check the health status of some key points while I do have you still enough time." "What kind?" Electra asks. Saffron echoes. "A baseline physical check, like thyroid and kidney function- hormones check, some vitamin levels too."

"Oh. This will be fun." Electra comments at learning this, "Don't repeat that though please, Saffron." "Oh, ok," Is what she says out loud.

And so a mechanical arm draws blood from Electra, before then spraying something in a can with a different arm once that is done with. The wound healed, or rather, it closed in a matter of seconds.

"The results are in, barely passable health and it's a girl! Wait, that can't be right, otherwise why're you in the male chamber?" Daisy rolls off her mind, in a continuous steam of clearly spoken consciousness. Bayou dry spits, before saying "Because Aubrey. I told you as much."

Saffron asks "Electra...?" "YES! QUITE TRUE!" Saffron recoils holding her head, "OK YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL! You're already in me (head), gosh..." To which everyone looks to her with a faint annoyance, like they've seen this before. "Already huh?" One comments.

"Did you just... Attempt to use seduction, or an attempt at it, to diffuse my frustration?" "Oh shit you're sharper, uh, maybe I did. Did it work." "Nothing to do with, nothing to use." "So...?" "I do not want you right now, no. I need a healthy body to 'want' as it is."

"Ok, so, the nutrition and steroids you mentioned?" Saffron asks directly of Daisy, looking frazzled, frenzied. "And water too," Electra adds. "And water too?" She repeats, asking "Why water too there's some in the nutritional drinks." Saffron points out, the rest of the room picking up what'll come next.

"For you. Damn thirsty." Electra communicates with a smile on her body's face. "Oh fuck you." Is responded "You apparently want and wish." Says Bayou hiding a smile. "Bayou you hot fucking- Ugh!" Saffron replies. Electra comments "While I can agree Bayou looks lovely, I-" "HA! Electra thinks you look nice too, heh~" Like that was some kind of big win.

Bayou rolls her eyes. "Come on, wrap up communications so we can get lovergirl here somewhere safer, more comfortable. Same for Electra." "You- Ugh fine, I guess I'll come with. Recovery bay will be nice change I guess..." "Good, we need to know if there's anything else we can help with, before machines can do the brain talking."