2022-10-08: Independent Consultation II

• Cast: Jana Cektru, Guy Shishioh
• Where: Orbit Base hangars
• Date: U.C. 0096 10 08
• Summary: Jana comes to consult with the Acting Chief of GGG Green and finds him working off some stress by moving cargo like a longshoreman.

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<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

Orbit Base is well on the way to systems recovery. Thanks to the intervention of the Photon Power Labs and their computer wiz LiSA, many of the systems they thought would take weeks to fix are now either entirely repaired or at least mostly; soon, they'll have full analytical capabilities again, even if some of their more critical force projection tools will remain offline for quite a while. But given the nature of the problem now confronting NERV - and maybe the world - it's a good time for STORAGE and GGG to discuss the nature of the problems at hand. The docking process to Orbit Base is currently being handled by the rowdy temporarily-question-mark-back-from-maternity-leave Ayame Ushiyama, and after that, the good doctor is advised that Acting Chief Guy is currently down in the mechanicals section of Orbit Base.

That, it turns out, is because he's keeping himself busy with...cleaning up an apparently disused storage bay, piles of old Stuff sitting around what appears to be some kind of decontaminating pool sized for a larger, horizontally-oriented mech. Using his Evoluder strength, he's lifting boxes that would normally need forklifts, moving them over to a staging area outside the bay.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

Dr. Cektru has heard a lot about GGG. It does seem an ideal time to confer with them at this point, given who's missing... and where they've gone off to. It's concerning, but Jana has specific information that may help...

"Thank you," she says to Ushiyama, and makes her way down into the mechanicals.

His Evoluder senses may well note her presence, once she arrives; she has a distinctive psychic signature, one that is subtly different from a Newtype's. There are other unusual qualities about her--Guy may pick up on those, or he may not. Regardless, she comes to a stop as she eaches that pool, and noticing the boxes and the lifting...

"Hello, Acting Chief," Jana greets him from a safe distance, stepping forward once he's done lifting stuff. "I see you're keeping busy."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

The powers of an Evoluder are strange and many - and honestly Guy himself doesn't understand them very well. Truth be told, it's a category of necessity - a thing which exists to describe what he and Mikoto became, on the day of that miracle almost ten years ago.

Well, maybe folks like Jana have their own term for it - for a person fused with a substance of power, down to their very cells.

Still, he does turn at her coming, grinning. "Ah, Doctor," he says, and steps over to drop his current load. "Yeah, just...well, pacing in the Order Room isn't gonna be good for anyone's nerves, ya know?" he chuckles, lightly. "Besides..."

He turns, shifting his weight to regard the large, empty docking bay. The chemical pool is empty, for now. "This is where Galeon will rest, once we get him back. Felt it was a good time to get it back in usable order."

Guy glances over. "How was your trip up?"

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

Jana's people do have a term for it, though it would not translate easily. 'Evoluder' will do just fine. Especially here.

"True," the Doctor answers about pacing. Not for him, not for others. But as he looks to the pool, she looks as well. "That makes sense," Jana answers. "I hope that's sooner than later."

A pause, "The trip was uneventful. I always appreciate getting back to space, if I'm being honest. And this is a pleasant setup here."

"...But while I enjoy talking about architecture and visits, I suppose we do have m pressing topics. If you're up for it. I know this is rather more personal to you, since one of your own is missing. It's true of STORAGE too... but we are not as close as your organization, I think."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

Guy's smile turns just a bit melancholic. "Feel like I raised the girl," he says, quietly. "I didn't, not nearly, but...she helped us out a lot for a few months when she was very young. Maybe I get attached too easily?" He laughs, just a bit self-deprecatingly.

He shakes his head, just the same. "Regardless, you're right. And from intel Mamoru's picked up, there's at least one more victim we already know." That one cuts even deeper, honestly. Renais...she was smiling and laughing with him just days ago...

He half-consciously scratches a spot low on his neck with his thumb. "But, yes. Do you need a briefing on what we've determined?" He motions toward the back of the bay, where a human-scale control room sits.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

"No, I don't think that's 'too easily'," Dr. Cektru says. "It's good to form bonds like that. I hope that those will be the key to bringing her back. Her, and the others."

Another? Jana frowns thoughtfully. "Who would that be?" she asks, more gently than perhaps she has to. But the question of a briefing...

"They're in Tsutsujidai, yes? Ever since that girl came to visit me... I've intended to go there and research its nature. She believes that if she can kill a 'Vessel of Light', then she can return her realm to a state of non-involvement with our own. ...There may be othr ways to accomplish this--and ways to reclaim those trapped there."

"That's why I thought it would be wise for us to compare notes."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

"Thanks," Guy says, puffing up. "We'll get 'em back." He's been saying that too much. For people he cares about. And here, again...no, he can't afford to think about that.

"Ah, that. Mamoru's intel suggests my cousin, Renais, is also expected in Tsutsujidai, and we've lost contact with her as well." Guy shakes his head, obviously frustrated. "Was just having coffee with her the other day."

"That a fact..." Guy murmurs. "Sure, let's talk." He leads her into the control room. It's not really meant for presentations, but there's a few monitors, and with the sharp whine of a G-Stone activation, he controls the computers to load up a few files they have available, motioning for Jana to take a seat and read.

"At the start, it manifested as a dimensional anomaly parallel to but not quite in Tokyo, accessible via the train stations under certain conditions. We have some data on the dimensional topology from that time, and especially when we purified Renais from the Oath Over Omega. During that operation, GaoGaiGo engaged the Gatling Driver to hold Tsutsujidai's dimensional space closed for a period of about 30 minutes."

... "But that Vessel of Light thing is nothing," he says, shaking his head. "The more you hear about it the more fake it is. Maybe there's some kind of power that can be pulled from certain people...maybe even people like me, or Gridman. But it can't just be the death that does it. Not even Triple Zero does something new when it's dispersing."

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

"Yes," Dr. Cektru agrees.

Renais... "I see. I'm sorry."

The matter of her research aside, Jana is interested in what they know already. She reads quickly, as it turns out, flipping through pages in seconds without any indication that she's merely skimming from her expresion. Instead, she considers. The purification... ANd...

"So, it is definitely possible to close it," Jana confirms. "But I see. I could imagine there might be some special energy released by individuals of such a nature... But I had assumed she had some means of controlling that energy. Perhaps not." She taps her cheek, thoughtfully, with a finger. "...Technically," she says, "By her definition of 'Vessel of Light', we both qualify," she admits. "Perhaps that's sign enough."

"That makes it all the more important that I investigate, I think. These readings will be helpful, but little substitutes for firsthand experimentation."

"She could've targeted me if she wanted to," Jana decides. "It's established that she can manipulate space and time to a sufficient degree to change her own location regardless of expected space-time coordinates. That she hasn't indicates that I may not be susceptible to this influence. But don't worry; I won't go in 'guns blazing', as you warned against. ...She actually told me I was welcome to research her realm, when I indicated I might be able to find an alternate means of closing it. Thus, I'm confident that if I'm careful, I can observe to some degree without overmuch danger."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

"Akane...I doubt it. As near as we can tell, her supernatural abilities...well, she didn't *used* to have any beyond what Alexis Kerib gifted her. It's more possible with what she's demonstrated recently, but I still doubt it. She's only ever phrased it in terms of killing the 'Vessel of Light', nothing about why or how that's useful. I don't think she knows." Guy shakes his head. "Alexis Kerib might, but given what we understand of their relationship, even if it was real and he did, I'd expect him to fail on purpose."

'We both qualify,' she says, and Guy cocks an eyebrow briefly. Nonhuman who responds to pain and seeks to alleviate it... "You, too, huh? See what I mean?"

"I appreciate it. I...expect to head over soon, myself. Like Mamoru said, I don't think going in with a full head of steam is going to get us anything except a fight, and maybe one with our friends." He scratches at his cheek, embarrassed. "Which is why I need to work off some stress before I go over," he admits.

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

"Hmm. I see. That would make sense. So, she's being manipulated, then. ...Quite effectively, I have to say--she seems to have thoroughly turned her back on her humanity." To fail on purpose... That's concerning. "How well is he directing her...?"

A loose cannon, maybe. Dangerous to all of them.

As Guy looks at her, Jana inclines her head. "Indeed, I do." It could be unnecessary to reveal herself, but she figures it's just as likely that he can notice what she isn't. Besides--it may help to reassure him as to her suitability for this mission.

"I will do all I can," Jana says. "Though I don't know Dr. Ohta well... she is a colleague, and a young acquaintance of mine reminded me that holding myself apart from the people I work with will only make me seem more like the Keribs of the world."

"...Letting off some steam first does sound wise. I certainly would prefer to avoid fighting our friends." A nod. "But if we're both there, we can keep an eye out for added dangers."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

"I'm told the relationship is a classic abusive one. He's arranged things such that she stops listening to anyone but him." He shakes his head. "And even when it seems like she's straying, it's in a way he anticipated. Dangerous. And not a little frustrating."

He nods, then, to Jana's assurances. "I think anything we can do to show them...that we still care. That there's no need to surrender. I think that's what's needed here." He sighs heavily, shrugging. "If I understood Mamoru's report correctly. I'll be speaking with him soon for a full debrief. Regardless, what can actually end this scenario is finding this phantom kaiju. We've almost got Sphere-wide tracking back up, but that won't help until we can get a hit to begin with."

<Pose Tracker> Jana Cektru has posed.

Jana grimaces. Much as she has a bad impression of Akane herself, much as it would be all the easier if she were fully in control of herself... Even those who turn their backs on their humanity can be manipulated. How much is her, and how much is him...?

Only data will show.

"Yes, so I see."

But Guy has more hopeful information as to what to do for them. Perhaps she is not the best one to show that care... But why not her? Why should she not embrace these people who could become friends?

"Then if I run across any of them, I will endeavor to show resolution and kindness both." A pause. "...But the kaiju I may be of more direct assistance in finding. I will bring my instruments and learn what I can."

"Count on me, Shishioh. ...I consider matters of this Mister Kerib to be one of my priorities. Humanity's destiny should be humanity's to decide."

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

Guy knows he can be this man. But it's hard, right now, an anxious tension boiling in his gut.

He keeps thinking of Palparepa. The Chemical Bolts pumping their nanomachines into his neck. The replicated Braves, howling for blood.

He scratches low on his neck, trying to chase off the memory, and then continues. "Yes, I rather hope so. I'll let you know if we turn up any information. So far, any sighting information has been long after it disappears, but that itself says something about its mobility. We'll have to be quick, when the chance does arrive."

He grins, thumping his chest with his left hand. The G-Stone circuit emblem shines on its back, the familiar keen of the G-Stone whining through the room. "I will," he says. "We'll have to work together to get this done. But I believe in our courage, to face this and get them back...and chase Alexis Kerib off for good."