Thread: Uh-oh

[moderationcpu]

Who: OPEN TO EVERYONE
Where: The Complex
When: Presently
Summary: The computer has suddenly gone screwy. What can be done?

Comments

[king_of_the_lab]

Zack was perturbed. The message had been blinking from his computer screen at him for the last five minutes, and he could do nothing but stare. He was desperate to feel useful again, and here was that damn computer, getting in his way! There had already been enough issues with his hands, and Dr. Brennan had asked him to type some preliminary paperwork up for her. Now, he couldn't even do that.

He quietly laid his head down on the desk, and closed his eyes, wondering whether he was some huge celestial joke.

No, of course not. Logically, it made no sense that there was a god, and certainly not a god that would single HIM out.

[not_a_squint]

A surprised grunt and the shifting of the door was heard and Seeley booth pried open the door of the lab. Bones had to be in here, and that was the first place he headed the moment he realized that the power was out. Grk... He was glad that the door was mostly open, or he suspected he wouldn't be able to get back in here. Once inside, he placed a chair inbetween the door and the wall to keep it open so they could get back outside.

"Hey, Bones! I need your brain."

[king_of_the_lab]

He spoke without lifting his head, still frustrated.

"Dr. Brennan isn't here." Zack looked at his gloved hands resting on his legs. What could have caused this damned blackout, and the computer error? How was he going to get anything done when the computers were shutting down left, right, and center? It was just so--

That had been Agent Booth's voice. Zack looked up, alarmed.

[not_a_squint]

Ah? Wait...! He knew that voice- "Zack!" He stammered, then regained his composure. Wish he had a flashlight. He stepped forward, glad for the fact that this lab had some windows in the far corner, he could see.

Now that he was aware of someone in the room, pass the observation tables and science squint stuff, there sat Zack. The FBI agent stepped forward to meet the young former forensics lab assistant.

"If she isn't here, do you know where she is? What are you doing here?" It wasn't even an insinuation of, 'why wasn't he at the institution', or something foolish like that. It wasn't helpful, but he did need to know why Zack was here, and what Brennan had him doing, so that how he directed his tone.

[king_of_the_lab]

Zack frowned, standing and looking at him. At least, in a confusing world full of errors and crazy people, Booth was always the same.

"I haven't seen her all day. She had me doing some preliminary paperwork on the status of the lab since there really is nothing else to do. And my hands are not fully-functioning." Why wasn't he asking about the institution? He was very on the spot with his feelings of right and wrong, within and without the law.

"What do you need her for? I might be able to help."

[not_a_squint]

"Oh. Nothing, just that the powers out. On a space station, planet. Thing." He gave a sharp glance to Zack. He'd been well behaved when he escaped, and for the moment, Brennan had Zack well under control. As long as He knew who was in charge, they'd talk later. Now? The issue at hand.

"What do you think, Zack? I kinda think it might be important? Y'know. Air. Gravity. If you can fix it? Do it."

[king_of_the_lab]

Zack sighed. Yes, he had been right. Booth was the same old Booth, and reassuring as that had been a moment ago, he was still frustratingly vague and expected miracles--which was silly, and Dr. Brennan would have pointed it out.

"Of course. I don't think it's quite as simple as you might hope. But I'll, um...look." He glanced around, lips pursed, and then spotted a panel on the wall. It glinted innocently in the meager light from the windows.

No way it was that simple. Hopping off the small platform the computer desk was situated on, he scampered over to it, and pried it open. A small panel of switches stared back, as well as a first aid kit that seemed disturbingly ancient, and a rechargeable flashlight. He shook it, and the clacking echoed in the quiet lab.

When he turned it on, the blank labels shone grey in the weak light. Well, he thought, may as well try the first one..

He flipped the top switch.

[not_a_squint]

After a few minutes, and there was seemingly nothing happening, he ventured closer, peering over Zack's work space to get look at what he was doing. "Nothing's happening. Something tells me the answer lies in a big red button." He shook his head. "Listen, I gotta look for Brennan... You?" He pointed at Zack. "You stay..."

[king_of_the_lab]

Zack looked at him--more like glared, really.

"Yes, here. I'll stay here." In the dark, alone, without any purpose.

Damn him.

"Good luck finding your red button." Might as well play with these switches a little. He flipped the next one, ignoring Booth and assuming he'd just leave him here to do "squint stuff", as he so charmingly put it.

The switch made a fizzling noise, and Zack glared at it too.

[not_a_squint]

A moment's hesitation, before Booth was heading out the door. He felt that, like all the brownie points he'd ever earned just disappeared into thin air. That'll come later. He was sure of it.