driftfleet | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Who: Everyone
Broadcast: N/A
Action: Iskaulit
When:

[So we've been stuck on the poison moon for a couple months now, so a lot of people probably want to get away from that.

Unfortunately, the only place you really can get away from it besides your own ship is the Iskaulit. So, here's a June Iskaulit mingle!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[ Kirk spots Hank in the library on one of his trips to return a text and take another - a religious one this time, about some alien pantheon. He was not a religious man himself, but he found religion in and of itself fascinating. Many religious texts could come with some historical events and aspects, so it was something of a double intrigue for himself.

He comes over and grins at the young mutant, book tapping against his hip idly. ]}

You know, I don't actually remember the last time I wrote something out on paper. How is your hand not cramping?

[he glances up as someone approaches and can't help but grin a little. Both at what he says and, well - who he is. Let it be known that Hank will never not be a giant nerd, even if he's very good at keeping that particular part under wraps.

He taps the pen against his notepad and hums out an amused sound]

I'm used to writing for long periods of time. [the grin widens just a bit] No datapads or anything like that in my time. Just this or typewriters.

_{[ That's all right, they're all giant nerds here in one way or
another. Kirk just is less so about himself, because that would be weird.
He gave a little laugh around a small smile. ]}

Typewriters? Really? I think I saw one of those in museum once, maybe.

[he knows your nerdy ways, Kirk, he's a fan]

Really, I have one in my office back home. [he can't help but laugh a bit] The really old ones are already in museums, so that isn't much of a surprise.

_{[ He can't hide anything can he? Sigh. But hey, he's going to sit and
join you, Hank, because standing above you feels awkward. ]}

What are you taking notes on this time, if I might ask?

_{[ There's a curious glance to the notebook. ]}

[he puts his pen down and slides the notebook across the table once Kirk has sat down]

Genetic advancements right now. I have a good memory, but sometimes I like to write down things that stick out to me.

_{[ He takes the notebook up, reading over the pages curiously. ]}

Well, it's proven that writing down notes helps you remember them better, so it's a good method. This is interesting stuff.

_{[ His brows inched the slightest bit higher as he read. ]}

[he grins a little]

I wish I could use that as my excuse, but it's a habit I picked up in the last place I went. Trying to keep track of memories and what was going on in the realm, things like that.

[he nods] It's not new to me, per say, but it's - improvements on methods I was already familiar with.

You were already experimenting with genetics back in your world?

_{[ His brow creases a little bit. ]}

[he winces just a little at "experimenting". The only experimenting he'd ever done was on himself, and he hasn't since. Not after what happened]

I specialized in genetic mutations, so it's less experimenting and more . . . figuring out what causes it. [a pause, and he glances over at Kirk] Are you familiar with mutants at all?

Define 'mutants'.

_{[ He closed the notebook and slid it back over to Hank. ]}

Humans with an extra, mutated gene that gives them powers . . . to put it very, very simply.

[he gestures to himself] I'm a mutant. I suppress my mutation, but I'm usually a little more . . . blue. With fur and claws.

_{[ He tilted his head, as if trying to imagine it, but he doesn't seem
actually alarmed by this either. ]}

It's a naturally occurring gene?

[he knows Kirk is used to aliens, so it's a little easier being more honest with him]

The main theory is that the nuclear age may have caused or accelerated the mutation, which is the theory I believe - and the one my research lines up with. So the gene itself would have been naturally occurring, but dormant until my generation. That isn't to say mutants haven't been around longer, but my generation has had a greater number of them appear so far.

_{[ It was a curious theory, but one he couldn't discount. It eased his
mind though, the idea that this was naturally occurring, and why shouldn't
it? Mutation was natural within any race, and to think that in some worlds
it might have taken a new and unique turn was actually rather exciting.
]}

Fascinating. And the gene manifests in unique ways in each person? Or are there similarities between the mutations?

_{[ He knew Kitty could phase through walls, and Charles was a telepath,
but three did not a definitive sample make. ]}

[it's easy to tell Hank is absolutely fascinated by it all, by the way he relaxes a little and leans forward, eager to talk about it. It was his specialty, after all, what he dedicated most of his life to understanding it]

For the most part it's unique, yeah. To - use myself as an example, I guess - I was born with prehensile feet - my original mutation. But with others I've spoken to, their powers didn't develop until they were older. I've known mutants with telepathic powers or the power to manipulate objects, but on the other hand I also know mutants who can shapeshift or - his power was that he could "adapt" to his surroundings. I've very rarely seen two mutants who share the same power, unless it was inherited.

_{[ He purses his lips slightly as he listens, but it's not from
disapproval rather than it is concentration and taking in what the other is
saying. It was all fascinating, and he wondered what it might have meant
for humans if his own world had exhibited such mutation. As it was, they
were getting new genes from intermingling with alien life, but nothing as
drastically natural as Hank was suggesting. ]}

It's interesting that each one is so unique. I would have thought that a mutation might appear a little more homogenous across a species, but maybe humans break that mold.

Humans are pretty good at breaking the mold. [he smiles a little] You would think it'd be homogenous, but it's anything but. Even - passing the gene itself along doesn't guarantee that the child will develop the same powers. But that part's a little . . . mm, we've only begun seeing the next generation develop their powers.

I wonder if it might have something to do with how the donor DNA sets combine. That could explain why a child of a mutant wouldn't exhibit the exact same mutation as the parent, even if the other parent isn't exhibiting a mutation themselves.

It's entirely possible. I wish it was something I had the opportunity to look into further, when I was still - actually working in the field.

Did your mutation force you to stop?

[. . . aha. His least favorite part of explaining mutation: his own]

In . . . a matter of speaking. It wasn't the only reason.

[he sighs and lifts a hand to rub at the side of his neck] It isn't easy growing up a mutant, let alone one that's . . . physically different. So I designed a serum that would - get rid of the physical parts, while allowing me to keep the rest of my abilities.

. . . you mentioned genetic experimenting, and - that was the only time I did it, and it was on myself. Instead of doing what I designed it to do, though, the serum enhanced my mutation. That's where the - fur and claws comes from.

[he purses his lips, then finally shrugs] After that and everything that happened afterward, staying at my job wasn't an option.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only