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[Having the benefit of Hotel Corona nearby, Betamax has gone on a flurry of spending and is back in the lap with books, datapads chock full of downloaded histories and starmaps, and several devices and appliances.]

[Yes she actually blew what credits she'd earned in her short time here; while some of it may be attributed to inflated exchange prices and tourist-preying pricetags, some could say she overdid it.]

[Not that she really seems to notice; she's got everything scattered about in some semblance of organized chaos. She's dismantling some of the devices and upgrading others, making a Frankenstein of of a thing. What is it? Do you really want to know? Or are you here to kick her piles over?]

[Kicking piles over is certainly Gemini's thing, although at this particular moment she's more curious than in the mood to cause any trouble with the (her words) walking tin-can.

It's unclear quite where she appears from, whether she was hiding as part of the deck plating or even as one of the items Betamax brought back with her, but stealthy as ever she's suddenly there, picking up one of the purchases with a loud supercilious sniff.]

Somebody's been busy. I imagine you're accumulating all this junk for a reason?

[Betamax starts when someone else is just all of a sudden there, but attributes it to the fact that she can indeed get a little too involved in her work. After a moment to settle her core, she goes back to what she's doing with a metallic chuckle.]

Absolutely! One man's junk is another's treasure, isn't that how the saying goes? All these little bits and bobs can be reconfigured into many useful things!

Such as?

[Gemini sounds immensely dubious, picking up a circuit board and glancing at it idly, before tossing it carelessly aside and wandering over to where Betamax is working.]

I guess there's a certain symmetry in a machine modifying another machine.

[She's a little distressed the way Gemini just tossed that circuit board aside - those things are delicate, hey! - but thinks maybe if she just talks to her she'll either get her interested enough or bored enough to ... you know, stop messing with her things.]

Currently I am trying to make a Fusion rifle. I've never had to put one together from scratch, but I've handled and upgraded enough of them that I should be able to figure this out.

Edited 2017-01-04 00:46 (UTC)

[Respect for other people's belongings really isn't in Gemini's makeup. If she sees anything she likes or which might be useful among Betamax's horde it'll go missing, if it hasn't already.]

A fusion rifle? What will that do? [She is supposed to be the security officer after all.]

[Betamax is trying to keep a closer eye on her, but she's also invested in this Fusion rifle, and since it's her first time constructing one -- she can't really divide her attention like this.]

Shoot things, ideally. If I can get it to work. Fusion rifles fire off a short charge volley of energy. If I do this right, I might be able to power it with my own Voidwalker energy. It's a long stretch, but ... it's worth a try, right?

[Gemini's really very good at stealing, if anything should be missing it's quite clear she's not holding it, nor is there any room on her tight costume to conceal anything, and while her tone is a little smug she's keeping her body language open and un-threatening as she peers at the weapon being assembled.]

I gathered that from the word 'rifle'. [The sarcasm in her voice is clear.] I meant what does it fire, superheated plasma for instance might melt clean through the hull. [Not to mention energy weapons sting like hell to regenerate from.]

Well duh it's not like I just told you or anything; Void energy. Voidwalker, Void, see the connection there?

[It's then that she realizes no Gemini probably has no clue what she's talking about. She leans back, pulls an arm tight to her side, and then snaps it out like she's pushing someone away (notably not in Gemini's direction). From her hand releases a burst of burning dark purple energy that shakes the room, leaving deep purple scorchmarks. But, it doesn't fully disintegrate on contact.]

[Betamax looks at Gemini,]

I know better than to unleash my Nova Bomb on board. When I get to that process of the build, I will wait to do it on a planet's surface.

[Gemini only just avoids snapping in response, she really doesn't like being talked to as if she's stupid, her eyes flashing with anger before she manages to get a handle on her temper. The sudden burst of energy helps, capturing her attention and causing her to bump up the machine's threat level in her mind. That blast would definitely hurt!]

I certainly hope you do, although that does beg the question of why you're attempting to build a weapon of mass destruction in the first place? [She smiles silkily, her mind already working on the things she could do with such a weapon.]

[It's very late in the fleet's time cycle, and all the lights are off in the corridor leading to the cargo bay, which is itself steeped in darkness. There are odd sounds of liquid rippling emanating from the bay, and should anyone hear and come to investigate they will find the bay flooded metres deep in what looks like water!

That's because the cargo bay currently contains one very bored shapeshifter, taking advantage of the crew's absence on the Corona. It's much more comfortable existing in this liquid state than her usual human form, as it takes much less concentration when she doesn't have to hold herself together, letting Gemini relax a little. She'd rather nobody sees her like this, but concession by adjusting her appearance to look and feel like water rather than her natural blue rubbery goo.

It would probably not be a good idea to take a dip in the impromptu pool though...]

[Betamax can't help but snort. She's just a novice Guardian; everything she's shown Gemini so far is small potatoes compared to what she would have been capable of had she reached her full potential.]

Weapon of mass destruction? Hardly. I'm certainly not building Plan C or Pocket Infinity. Or, Gjallerhorn.

[She sighs rather wistfully. She would have loved having Gjallerhorn, even if there's no real call for it here.]

[The snort draws another brief glare from Gemini, although she manages a cool smile.]

I hope that if anything goes wrong the ship won't have a hole blown in it? I'm the Security Officer, it's my job to ask these questions. [She adds in explanation, although she couldn't care less about her job, the question's just to find out if she can indulge in a little sabotage.]

Nope, I do not plan on blowing any holes in any ships. But look;

[She picks up two pieces and illustrates as she screws them together;] No holes!

Besiodes, I'm the lab ... person. Lab tech? It's my job to develop things to help us, right?

I'm reassured. [She answers, deadpan, then reaches to pick up one of the items Betamax is working on.] May I? [She doesn't wait for a yes, plucking it up and inspecting the component.

She turns it over in her hands, inspecting it, putting a finger over a hole in the side, a small tendril of goo extruding out of sight from her finger into the component and oops breaking something deep inside. When she puts it down a moment later there's no sign that Gemini's done anything.]

Providing it doesn't get us all killed, then yes.

Edited 2017-01-06 19:22 (UTC)

[Betamax definitely looks a little distressed as Gemini takes her work and starts fiddling with it. She sits with outstretched arms, waiting anxiously for the moment Gemini hands it back, and immediately turns it over before deeming it unharmed and going back to her work.]

Providing I'm allowed to focus uninterrupted. [She's decided she doesn't quite like Gemini, narrowing her optics and giving her the Exo equivalent of a side-eye.]

Mmm, aren't interruptions so very annoying? [She smiles sweetly, before turning and wandering towards the lab exit. The feeling's certainly mutual there, and just to annoy the machine further she toes a piece of equipment out of the way with a loud clang.

Betamax might hear a slight viscous squelch from the area where Gemini was, but she seems to have vanished now, disappearing as suddenly as she'd appeared, although whether or not she's not actually gone is open to question.]

[Betamax isn't paying attention enough, instead scrambling to move her current work into one hand so she can try and lean over and grab the kicked piece with the other, muttering angrily to herself. Gemini is no longer welcome in the lab.]

Mingle

Betamax-8 -- Lab

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Gemini-Main Cargo Bay

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