27th Frontier [audio // common]

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix's comm clicks on just in time to catch a hiss of pain and muffled curse.]

Ouch! Mar damnit...

[There's a faint rustling of cloth and another soft hiss before Phoenix finally picks up his comm.]It occurs to me that I don't think I've heard anyone on this ship complain of coming down ill. Injured, drunk, inflicted with all manner of

Comments

[aswanbyday]

Are you sick?

[ecopiracy]

Not as such, no. But the thought of infection did cross my mind.

[aswanbyday]

[Concerned mode: activated!]

Are you okay? Do you need something?

[ecopiracy]

Hmm.

[Phoenix takes a moment to consider whether or not he wants Odette to see him right now. Finally he shrugs to himself. It's hardly the worst wound he's suffered. It's just... inconvenient.]

I could do with some clean bandages and some disinfectant if you can find it.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Never got viruses to begin with.

... What happened to you?

[ecopiracy]

I assume the type of virus you would be vulnerable to is very different from the kind that I would be concerned with.

[Phoenix shakes his head.]

I suffered a mishap on deck fifteen. Some of the fish in the deeper parts are large and fairly aggressive. One of them bit my leg.

[heavyweaponsbot]

Oh. Yeah, probably.

[Organics are so weird.]

... You met that fish too? Heard it tried to eat Ratchet.

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix barks a laugh at that.]

Is that so? Did it meet with any success?

[He's never met Ratchet, but he imagines the other Cybertronian is much like Ironhide - a large and fairly durable machine. Not exactly appetizing to a fish.]

[tachikhromatic]

Well, it seems to me that since the capabilities of the ship's 'system' extend to the handing of Ghosts directly via some kind of wireless network, it's probable that there aren't any infections because all of the harmful germs were left behind when you came here.

After all, the body I have isn't any of my old ones, it's completely brand-new, right out of the factory!

It's probably the same for you organic people. They probably grew you new bodies in vats or something. It's like a science fiction movie!

[ecopiracy]

[If Tachikoma were present, Phoenix would stare at it. As it is, Phoenix settles for staring at his comm instead.]

Vats.

Entirely new bodies but with all the original scarring.

[Does he sound disbelieving yet?]

How exactly do you explain that?

[tachikhromatic]

There are a variety of methods to provide scars and other physical modifications. Attention to detail is the hallmark of a properly-trained technician. Actually, this kind of work would probably be much more suited to a machine personality, don't you think?

Precisely replicated, repetitive motion isn't exactly difficult, and sometimes cloning requires a great deal of recursive failures.

[ecopiracy]

You're saying cloning is not only possible on your world, it's been fine tuned to such a degree that unnatural flaws can be duplicated as well?

[You'll have to forgive him if he sounds somewhat skeptical. That level of technology is nowhere near possible in his world.]

[myplacenthesun]

You've never seen anyone sick here? That does sound kind of strange.

Though I suppose a place that can bring people back to life can probably keep any of them from catching cold.

...

Are you all right?

[ecopiracy]

That is a fair point. It still seems rather remarkable, though.

I'd be lying if I said I was fine, but neither is my injury alarming. I'll be back on my feet soon enough. Thank you for your concern, miss...

[He pauses and tilts his head.]

Actually, I don't think we've spoken before.

[myplacenthesun]

It seems that way to me, too, but I'm still getting used to the bring people back to life part.

Oh, you're right! I'm sorry; I'm Tiana.

[ecopiracy]

Indeed, it's still very surreal to me as well, and I've even been one of those who was brought back to life.

Tiana... That's a lovely name. My name is Phoenix. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[jazzingitup]

Not unless I get a virus, and my firewalls are pretty good I think.

[ecopiracy]

[The word "firewalls" tips him off.]

You're another mechanical being?

[jazzingitup]

You could say that. I think you know Ironhide? Big skulking guy who used to have canons? I'm Cybertronian, same as him.

[ecopiracy]

Ahh. Yes, I'm well acquainted with Ironhide. A friend of his, are you? My name is Phoenix. And you?