〣 HOLO 〣 stand like a rock, on top of the mountain

[clonedcuckoos]

Celeste murmured across the link to her sisters, peering down past the ledge in the middle of the room. Telepathy was so much easier than talking, and faster too. Not to mention the round metal walls echoed like crazy with more conventional conversation. Very disquieting, and quiet was so much nicer.

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Comments

[visual]

[justaddmarbles]

It won't work was a refrain that sometimes echoed around the empty part of Glitch's head. If he was frightened, or more lost than usual, or just waking from a happily-forgotten nightmare, the last words of his former self would taunt him.

Hearing them from the tablet, accompanied by the hologram of three girls, gave him a start. He regarded the image warily. "Are you all right?"

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

Mindee had gotten the tablet back by now, and all three were walking through the halls of the Sanctuary. The other two were a short distance off, each looking into the various rooms.

"We're fine," they all chimed in for that, the stereo effect amplified by their voices echoing down the hall. "Minus the kidnapping, but it happens often enough."

Mindee looked down at the screen, intrigued by the zipper.

Celeste thought back. Phoebe gave a small snort.

[visual]

[justaddmarbles]

"Oh!" Glitch exclaimed when they replied in unison, then his unease lifted and he grinned. "My, that's...that's neat, talking all at once like that. Um. It's not bad, far as kidnappings go. We can go where we like, we just can't leave the city."

Oh, the cells he'd been in and stories he could tell if he could remember them. Good times, good times.

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

Mindee's eyebrows rose, not exactly surprised at his reaction (they got their fair share at home) but more at the unexpected jump in decibels. They couldn't predict such things over these devices - people were so much easier to deal with when you could read their minds.

"Hm," they all hummed noncommittally. "Yes, it's much nicer than last time. Last time there were helmets. And demons." They drifted back together, frowns from all three at the memory. Cut off from each other by those metal traps, alone in the quiet of their own heads... Phoebe shook her head to snap them all out of it, and changed the subject.

"What's with the zipper?" The other two looked on interest, glowing blue-white eyes fixed on him. Sorry, Glitch, they're not big on manners.

Re: [holo]

[justaddmarbles]

"That sounds awful," said Captain States-the-Obvious, but while they're comparing notes... "I got tied up in a cage by a bunch of munchkins once."

He's not being un-PC, ladies, he's just from Oz and munchkins are annoying little bastards. And the rudeness is all right, he's used to people grabbing pitchforks first and if he's lucky asking questions later. Getting the chance to explain himself is nice, even if the eye-glowing was creepy.

He patted his head ruefully. "Evil guys took half my brain, closed me up with a zipper because that's what we did to nasty criminals in my world - not that I was one - and, well, here I am. Name's Glitch."

The more he tried to condense the story the more ridiculous it sounded. Someday he'd figure it out and just text it to evreyone.

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

"Weird," they answered. Their sympathy is lacking - heck, they've all got a flat affect to their voice whenever they talk. Forced apathy, ain't it a kick. But that's not the reason they don't react to Glitch's story.

Well, not the entire reason.

"Ah," the Cuckoos said with a nod. It was entirely plausible by their standards (o Marvel!, where sky's the limit for weird, and then some). "Strange you're still able to function. But then again..."

Celeste went on alone. "One could say that of Martha." She paused, glancing at Glitch. "Bet she'd like him."

"Brain without a body," Mindee said with a small smile. "Body without a brain. Fits."

They switched back to speaking together for introductions. "We're the Cuckoos. Celeste, Mindee, Phoebe." Each nodded at her own name, but they doubted he'd be able to tell them apart. So few could.

[visual]

[justaddmarbles]

Ambrose inna jar/Martha is a crossover which must now happen.

Glitch followed their exchange as best he could, a variety of adorably confused expressions flitting across his face as he did so. The "I was just that smart" excuse for how he still functioned never seemed plausible, so he was thinking of going with "magic" next chance he got.

"Pleasure to meet you," he said once they'd introduced themselves. And no way in hell was he ever going to remember thier names but oh well! Welcome to being filed under Weird Triplets, girls, allthough you're probably used to it. "Um, have you...do you know if anyone you know is here yet? Sometimes our kidnappers like to grab a few folks from one place."

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

So much yes as to be ridiculous. It is obviously meant to be.

They blinked (and yes, they all blink together, the creep factor is complete), and a beat before they remembered their manners. "Oh. Nice to meet you, too."

Mindee shook her head as she took the tablet, and all three began moving again. Door by door, poking a head in, repeat the process. "No," she answered. "We would know if there was." There were no familiar minds when they'd run their sweep

[visual]

[justaddmarbles]

For all Glitch knew it could be the same girl who kept reclaiming the tablet. "I'm sorry," he said, ever sympathetic. "M-may-maybe someone will come along soon. I was on my own until DG got here."

As for his life before, well, it was all a little fuzzy. He was pretty sure it was a lot less comfy than the cozy palace he was presently holed up in.

"You could have brought a place with you too," he added once he considered said palace. "Lots of folks do that, there's always something from home."

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

Mindee shrugged. "Probably. They always do."

Phoebe hummed in half-amusement. "Calvary coming to the rescue. Though their track record lately... Not that impressive." Celeste made a small scolding noise at her sister. It wasn't nice to disparage their teachers... Even if it was kind of true.

They all perked up at the mention of bringing places. "Something from home?" they repeated together, interest piqued. "How would we find that?"

[visual]

[justaddmarbles]

"In the tablet is a map thingy, which is just nifty and handy and shows where everyone is. If if there's something blinking on yours then it's...yours."

He hoped they got something useful, unlike him with the stupid hedge maze.

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

Phoebe grabbed the tablet out of Mindee's hands, impatiently going through the functions. Celeste poked her head over Phoebe's shoulder as Mindee rolled her eyes and frowned at her.

she sends at Phoebe.



Celeste raised her eyebrows at Mindee.

Mindee sighed, and shrugged her shoulders. "Just saying."

"Fine," Phoebe said distractedly, still looking at the tablet. She'd found the map, and the dot, but it didn't specify. They looked back at the screen full of Glitch and asked all together: "Well? What is it?"

Re: [holo]

[justaddmarbles]

The screen full of Glitch was still observing the girls with some scientific curiosity. It was strange that they all arrived at once, and appeared tyo be sharing a tablet. As far as he could remmeber it was usually a one-to-one deal. He had many questions, but stifled them for now. Plenty of time to get the remnants of his mind blown later.

"Huh?" he replied with a blink. "What is wha- oh! Your thing. I dunno, you might have to go and see. If I were you I'd get a jacket- jackets before heading out, it's a little cold outside."

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

They sighed, not that impressed with the way this thing was organized. Seriously, Blackberry made a better GPS-enabled smart phone. But they filed it away to check on later, because Celeste had just called them all to come look at this room she'd found.

As they walked into the small apartment suite, Mindee grabbed the tablet back, briefly poking her tongue out at Phoebe. She turned to Glitch with a relaxed smirk, asking, "Where can we get jackets? Or anything else, for that matter. Didn't have time to pack a bag before coming."

Re: [holo]

[justaddmarbles]

He chuckled at the quip and nodded. Nope, nobody really got to pack unless home (for some value of "home") came with them.

"Everyone gets just about everything from hatches," Glitch replied, pausing a moment to be pleased at himself for remembering all this. "Um. They're like...replication things, there's a panel that you put your hand on and it- they - it produces whatever you're thinking of." He held up his right hand and tapped his bracelet. "We think it has to do with these things. D-did each of you get a bracelet? Or just one like the tablet?" Then came the great frowning. "Why did they all get just one tablet..."

The dam holding back the torrent of questions was beginning to crack.

[holo]

[clonedcuckoos]

Celeste, Mindee, and Phoebe all raised their left wrists, and yep - each girl indeed has a bracelet on. Celeste randomly thought they were rather pretty, even ash Phoebe was wondering how to get them off, and Mindee called each back to focus on the conversation.

They shrugged. "We're one." It was a simple question, and the answer was just as simple. ...Or not, but that entire origin story? Was far too long to share just now.