damned_institute | Day 38: Patients' Library

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Day 38: Patients' Library

The intercom rang out, disrupting what had turned out to be a rather pointless breakfast conversation, at least in Brainiac 5's eyes. He couldn't wait to put more distance between himself and Scar's blather of how logic, of all things, might not work the same way in this dimension. It was almost enough to make him believe that the man may very well have been a lion originally after all, as he'd never heard anything so very... ignorant and uneducated.

He quickly finished up the fruit he'd been nibbling on - he was no longer as hungry as he had been - and looked around automatically to see where Clark was. Unfortunately with the press of people around, some being led off to the library and others to the mentioned 'therapy sessions' - if that was what they really were - he had lost sight of the Kryptonian. Still there wasn't many places he could go, so Brainiac 5 would be able to catch up with him eventually to check on his condition and try and learn more about what had happened last night. That the Chapel had healed him - admittedly by passing his injuries to another - was interesting, but far more important in his eyes was what had happened to Clark and his powers. They hadn't been working correctly and that worried the Coluan boy more than he would normally have admitted. Without Clark's abilities... he wasn't sure what they would have to rely on in order to escape.

Another problem he would have to deal with was Grell... or, if he was to believe the notes on the bulletin board, the person pretending to be Grell. But that was going to require more careful planning before he made a move. Come to think of it, he had agreed to meet another in the library today on that same post that had sparked this whole mess. At least then he would have something of interest to look forward to, as he doubted any of the 21st century books were likely to be worthwhile to someone of his advanced intellect.

Following the nurses led him to what must have been the library; a reasonably large room filled with a range of archaic books on tall shelves, a few tables and chairs interspersed around the room. The Coluan boy couldn't refrain from wrinkling his nose in distaste as he entered the room, not liking the cumbersome books and the dust that he knew would have gathered on them; he much preferred the clean arrangement of his C.O.M.P.U.T.O. systems back in the Legion headquarters. It was much more practical then shelves and shelves of books on fictional worlds and dated information.

Trying to avoid as much of the room as possible, Brainiac 5 settled himself down on a chair to wait, keeping an eye out for a tall, dark-haired man with a red... something on his forehead.

[for Homura]

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"Hmm... that must have been nice." A bit distantly. Surely humans didn't face the same baseless prejudice that ZEX had, so they probably didn't disown members of their family over minor differences in opinion. It was really their loss though, as far as ZEX was concerned. If someone didn't like who he was or what he did, than it was their problem, not his. Vaguely, ZEX tried to imagine something terrible happening to his family, and found he felt very little at the thought. He didn't have a family anymore, as far as everyone involved was concerned. What would he care? It was their decision to shun him after all. "I hope no one from your family is here. I wouldn't wish this place on..." Well no, ZEX could think of a few of his more vocal detractors that might have been well-served by a visit here. "I wouldn't wish this place on most people."

ZEX studied Teisel's eyes, although human eyes really couldn't see as much detail as a VUX's eye. And besides, he wasn't sure if humans would manifest eye problems the same way that VUX did anyway. Their eyes were much smaller and less useful, after all. "A guild... hmm." Some kind of human organization, no doubt. "There are some solutions, but very few can afford them. Our society is... strictly separated by class. Those without money or influence usually have very little they can do." And most families wouldn't be able to bear the burden, so...

A bit of a laugh there. "Yes, there rarely needs to be a motivation for cruelty, I've found. Bigotry, prejudice, xenophobia, all of which accepted without question, and the consequences viewed as natural." It was so hard not to get bitter when touching on that particular topic. "Perhaps that's the situation we're in now."

ZEX giggled in obvious delight. This human accepted his place so quickly! "Hee! Hee! Hee! No, I suppose they can't. But don't worry, I'll treat you very well." Still almost laughing. "I did do my best to try and keep my men alive back during the War, after all."

Teisel felt a rush a homesickness. "It was." Here he'd been hoping to distract himself from thinking about his family, but it looked like the topic just kept coming up today. "Thanks. I hope so too." He frowned. "A doctor last night tried to convince me that my younger sister's here, but...she must have been lying." Because if anything had happened to Tron, Teisel would probably stop functioning altogether. He didn't miss the 'most' part of Zex's statement, but he understood. Some people really did deserve this place.

Teisel tried not to fidget as Zex studied his eyes. It hadn't been too long ago that he'd been pestering complete strangers to do just that, though that was for a slightly different reason. "Oh, it's not a guild I'm in, personally. Their requirements are a little too..." Law-abiding. "...restrictive for me." From the sounds of it, Vux society kind of sucked. "Pretty dog-eat-dog, eh? That's too bad." Terran society was pretty divided, in its own way, but it wasn't impossible to find people who were willing to show a little charity, at least.

"And genocide," he added, "let's not forget that one." He would have laughed, but that incident was still too fresh in his mind. "Who knows? Maybe the folks in charge here don't even see us as people." His own voice did get a little bit bitter at that. "Maybe we're just a little hobby, or something. Like pets."

They were going to have to work on that laugh of his. That giggle was just plain disturbing. "See that you do," Teisel mock-scolded. "I'm expecting a lot from a wartime admiral, just so you know. I'm in your hands." Or whatever it was Zex usually had instead.

"A doctor?" ZEX blinked a bit curiously. "I've never seen a doctor at night here. I did see nurses once, while we were coming back from that town, but a doctor..." Was it the Head Doctor? Was that where he was the previous night? No, Teisel said the doctor was female... ZEX hadn't seen any female doctors here before. How strange. He tried to move old head feelers again. "Have you asked on the message board if she's here? They were most likely lying to you, but it would be worthwhile to check."

ZEX had once checked for DAX, after all... although he knew where DAX was now, supposedly. That was a bit of a depressing thought. Much better to focus on something more pleasant, like admiring his human friend. "Yes, I'm not fond of restrictions myself." ZEX smiled. "Most of them are so baseless." As for his society... "Everyone has their place there. They don't look kindly on people who venture from it." As ZEX had found out for himself. He really would have thought his status would have given him some leeway, and instead...

"I don't think we have much value to them individually." ZEX's voice drained of emotion... it was easier to think seriously that way. "After all, people seem to die here every night, and the only thing that happens is that they are replaced. While they're invested in each of us individually enough to provide the actors and false lives I mentioned before..." If they were false. "It's not enough to stop them from releasing us every night to get killed trying to escape. Perhaps it amuses them, or they hope that each new death will serve as a warning to the others to stop trying to find a way out. Without more information, it's hard to know for sure." ZEX paused for a moment in his thoughts, then attempted a small smile. "That's part of why I'd like to get my file tonight, to get access to more information."

ZEX laughed at Teisel's admonition again, still very amused. Of course, he was at a severe disadvantage with this new body, he had very limited information on his enemies, and his expertise mostly focused on ship-against-ship tactics in Truespace and Hyperspace, but Teisel didn't need to know any of that. "Yes, in my hands, mmmm." A moment to enjoy the mental image. "I don't think you'll be disappointed." After all, ZEX had killed that poor beast the other night that was menacing those two humans, so he must have been getting better at this sort of thing. The insect that had injured him before had just gotten lucky.

"Yeah. Well, I think that's what she was, anyway. I couldn't see her very well." What with being tied down and all. He'd taken a quick look at the message board again after breakfast, and had been both discouraged and relieved to see that there was no answer to his note. He nodded. "So far today it looks like she's not here, but it's not even lunchtime yet. I've got a friend on the lookout for her, just in case." And hopefully, Superboy wouldn't just hit on every dark-haired, green-eyed girl he saw while 'looking' for Teisel's sister...

"You're telling me." Teisel mustered up a weak grin. "I do what I want, and anyone who's got a problem with that can kiss a zakobon for all I care. No offense," he said, "but I don't think I'd like being a Vux too much."

Teisel played with his hair. "Kinda a weird juxtaposition, isn't it?" he asked, hoping to whatever god there was that he was using that word right. "They'll go to that much trouble to come up with these double lives for us that we might not even find out about, and then they toss us out into the hallways to get ourselves splatted." And he was curious about what his file might be like, if he had one. Whoever had sat down and written it seriously had too much time on his hands.

What an odd phrase to repeat. Must have been because Zex didn't really have hands. Teisel laughed a little; his unintentional joke wasn't really that funny, but whatever. "Good."

"Ah, it was dark." ZEX had difficulty himself seeing at night, even with a light. Human eyes were useless in the dark, and having two of them didn't really help them in that department at all. "It can be hard to make out things here at night." And ZEX squeezed his hand again. He'd never get tired of human hands! Their skin seemed to gather in the strangest way where their bones met. "Hopefully she isn't here, and won't come here any time soon." He'd hate to have his new human upset by something like that, after all. It might put a damper on his plans...

"Yes, exactly!" Although ZEX didn't know what a zakobon was. "I've never been one to follow mainstream opinions. It's gotten me in trouble a few times." More like most of his life, but that was beside the point. "And believe me, I have issues with my society myself. They're so dreadfully close-minded. Thankfully most of the humans I've met here have been more... open to my viewpoint." With a bit of a lecherous grin again. He'd actually been having a great deal of luck with new companions lately here, it seemed...

ZEX watched him touch his hair, fascinated at how his hand moved. The human patchwork of hair was so inconsistent, and varied so greatly from person to person... what would have caused them to evolve that way? "It doesn't seem like the best way to spend their resources, no. Given the amount of money that must go into funding a place like this, their behavior doesn't make any sense to me. Surely they expect some sort of solid outcome for their investment? If it's all of us dying, then why replace us, and if it's to torment us, why put us in danger?" So many frustrating questions. "But perhaps this is all funded by one person, who is also in charge of the whole thing. If that's the case, then I don't think there will be any real answer unless we find them first." The head doctor would have been an obvious candidate, but it didn't make sense for him to make himself so obvious. The head doctor over the announcement system was probably a fake to help keep the real mastermind in the shadows.

"Yes, this will hopefully be very productive." And if they got their first mission done quickly, then they could retire back to his room and explore some much more pleasant things. ZEX's smile grew a bit wider. "What room are you staying in?"

"No." Teisel shook his head. "It was really bright in there, actually. The light was shining right in my face half the time." He felt sort of detached talking about it, like he'd watched it happen to someone else. In the corner of his mind, he wondered if that was normal. "But I was tied down, and she was always standing off where I couldn't really see her. I did see her hands a couple times, though." He'd memorized them. She'd hurt Tron if she could. Zex was squeezing his hand again, as though directing him back to their conversation. "She's probably wondering where I am by now. She shouldn't have to worry about me. I'm the one who's supposed to be taking care of her." He was getting depressed again. Funny how thinking about his single greatest failure did that.

"Huh. I never thought I'd have so much in common with a military type." There may have been some irony in that. Or maybe not. "I can't stay out of trouble to too long these days. Couldn't be normal if I tried." And he had tried, and he'd failed at that, too. Mentally slapping himself, Teisel forced himself to focus on what the admiral was saying. He'd have time to wallow in misery and self-loathing later. "Congratulations on your good luck, I guess." There were a lot of humans who were real jerks, too, but maybe Zex had managed to avoid them.

Teisel shrugged. Trying to figure this place out with nothing solid to go on was too meta for him. "If it's all backed by one guy, maybe he's just insane."

"Here's hoping," Teisel said, as businesslike as he generally got. "I've been here for days, and it doesn't feel like I've actually gotten anything done yet." Aside from getting attacked by a giant squirrel and half drowned and tortured, he really hadn't accomplished much at all. "I'm in..." It took a second to remember the little plaque on his door, which was embarrassing. "M95. You?"

"Bright?" ZEX sounded confused. As far as he knew, the entire Institute fell dark at night, thus necessitating the handheld lights. Where could Teisel have been where there was light? And tied down... "You were... captured by someone?" More curious than anything else. His roommate had been taken that one night, although he never did find out what happened to him. Whatever it was, he was sure it was unpleasant. Perhaps the same had happened to Teisel? Already feeling possessive, ZEX felt a flash of irritation at the thought of someone hurting his property. Well, he'd just have to ensure something like that wasn't repeated.

As it was, it seemed that his new human was starting to feel poorly. That wouldn't do! ZEX tried to squeeze his hand in sympathy, but hands couldn't quite accomplish the same encompassing feel he could with his arms. "There are some people that I'm sure are worried about me back home as well." A bit more seriously. "There's nothing we can do about that. The best we can do for them now is try and find a way out of here."

Well... if everyone he'd left behind was even alive when he went back. Now he didn't feel very cheery either. This topic of conversation definitely wouldn't do.

"Mmm, I see we do share some common ground." There, this was more pleasant. "We're both different, you see, and my people, they cannot stand difference. They lose out on so much that way." Returning his thoughts to his favorite topic, and he smiled. "I think our species really have a great deal to learn from one another, despite our differences. As long as one is creative..."

Although ZEX returned to more serious matters, although it was somewhat reluctantly. "Insanity is as good as an explanation as any. And while I've accomplished some things here..." A moment to laugh to himself at the thought. "I've been meaning to gather information for some time. M95... I'll make sure to remember. I'm in M66. Should I come see you tonight then, when the doors open?"

Teisel nodded, reluctantly. He shouldn't have brought this up; he didn't sound very competent if he'd let himself get captured like that. "I was talking to my roommate, and then someone came in and...I can't really remember anything after that. And when I woke up I was with that doctor."

"You're right." Though the admiral was a lot nicer about telling Teisel to suck it up and act like a man than most people he knew would be.

"Your people sound like a boring crowd. Maybe they'd get along with some of my people." The ones who wasted their entire lives on their home island, wasting their energy on work they hated for the sake of being 'productive' and 'respectable.' And they couldn't imagine why Teisel preferred piracy. It was unstable, sure, but it was better. "Oh yeah? Like what?" If Vux knew anything about space, that'd come in real handy right about now. It'd save his sister a hell of a lot of trouble, for sure.

Well, it sounded like Zex had made some progress, anyway. "Sure." He caught himself. "Uh, unless you want me to come to M66 instead...?" He was supposed to be the hired muscle here; it seemed silly to make the admiral leave his own room alone to come and find him.

So he had been captured! How terrible for his new human! He hoped he hadn't suffered too much. ZEX tried to look sympathetic, in that he hoped somehow the emotion would translate to his human features somehow. "My roommate was also taken one night... I never did find out what happened to him. I hope you didn't suffer unduly." It would be a shame to have his human hurt now.

ZEX waved a hand in an odd looping pattern. Human bones made gesturing so difficult at times. "They were very boring, believe me. And not very receptive to being told so, either." Or being compared to a Carousel Beast and found wanting, but no need to mention that for the moment. "If your people were human, though, I doubt that they'd get along very well with mine. It's such a shame that they can't get past appearances..." They'd never know how nice it felt to have a human massage their back, for example. Their loss.

As for exploring differences... ZEX returned to fondling Teisel's hand. "Our species' unfortunate warring against each other made it difficult to truly understand each other, I think. How the other works..." Touching along the inside of his wrist, with a familiar smile. "How our bodies function, what makes us so different from the other... how we can overcome these differences to join together..." His voice trailing off, lost in fantasies of just what he was describing. "Mmmm, your smooth, hairless skin..."

Smiling lecherously at Teisel before catching himself at the next question. "Mmm, if you'd like to come see me, I wouldn't refuse." ZEX was still smiling.

Teisel shook his head. Zex's concern was...sort of nice, but this particular topic had already gone farther than Teisel would have liked. "No, not unduly." Hopefully, the admiral would get the hint and let the matter drop.

Watching the admiral's gesture, it almost seemed like the guy was trying to get his hand to bend in a way that it clearly would not. Okay, that had been different. "So much for that idea," he said, sighing theatrically. "Guess they'll have to miss out on all the excitement, eh?" Like they'd care.

Belatedly, Teisel thought that maybe he should have reclaimed his hand, since now Zex was back to...feeling it. If they had to do this during every conversation, people were going to get the wrong idea. "Yeah, I can see how a war would kinda put a damper on friendly conversation." Speaking of, it was less than easy to follow this conversation with that almost-tickle on the inside of his wrist. He fidgeted a little. As for where skin came into the equation, hairless or otherwise, he wasn't going to ask. No sense in asking for trouble.

"...Okay...? I'll come to your room, then." This guy had a strange way of phrasing things. Once he got to know him a little better, maybe Teisel would have an easier time translating.

Hmm... an odd thing to say in response. Well, it didn't matter now. What was past was past, wasn't it? ZEX would just have to pay attention to see if it happened again...

"I suppose." ZEX was sure most VUX wouldn't find it any great loss. "But perhaps when we escape from here, we can establish more... friendly relations with your species." Very friendly, if ZEX had anything to do with it.

Mmm, his skin felt nice. Human hands were so sensitive! ZEX still wasn't sure how such delicate creatures had ever survived this long. All the more reason to treat them carefully, and appreciate their fragility. ZEX had always been a most considerate caretaker. "Yes, it was a shame. But that's not the case now, thankfully." ZEX grinned a bit, still very content to hold Teisel's hand as long as he had it. "Now we can finally develop a very... close relationship, just as I've always wanted."

ZEX smiled at the thought of Teisel coming to his room, inviting him in... it was a shame his quarters here paled in comparison to those back on his ship. He'd have no drinks to offer him here that might put him in a more... amiable mood. But with ZEX's luck here so far, hopefully something like that wouldn't be necessary anyway! He hadn't needed anything like that for the other humans he'd experienced so far...

A moment to remind himself of his plans for tonight, which didn't involve seduction (at least, right away), although his smile at the thought didn't quite fade. "Mmm, yes, I'll be waiting for you then. Hopefully we'll accomplish many things together." Many sexy things.

"Hmm, if you go back to your old body after this, then good luck with that." People would probably get a little twitchy about the squid arms, at the very least. And if all Vux talked like Zex did, that added a whole new level of diplomatic tension.

"...Uh-huh." Teisel was fast running out of ways to answer (or sidestep) some of Zex's more awkward comments. It might not have been so bad without having his hand trapped like it was...

At least his plans for tonight were all ironed out. "Righto, boss!" Teisel tossed off a salute (a somewhat ironic one, but hopefully the admiral wouldn't pick up on that). Now all that was left was to get through the rest of the day with something of his dignity and self-respect intact and he'd be in business.

"Yes, if..." ZEX meant that to come out more nonchalant than it did. No need for his new human to think he was worried about something like that, obviously things would work out... he cleared his throat a bit, which was kind of a strange feeling in this human body. "It will be interesting to see where things go from here."

ZEX giggled again at the salute, quite taken with him. This human was so darling! He'd have to make sure to keep him when he left here. "Hee! Hee! Hee! Boss, I think I like that. I'll see you tonight then, Teisel." And he'd definitely be looking forward to it.

For an uneasy moment, Teisel was afraid that he'd carelessly said something wrong. He'd been known to do that on rare occasions. But it looked the the admiral had already shaken off whatever had bothered him. "Yeah," he agreed, though he wasn't quite sure what he was agreeing with. Anything to smooth over his little gaffe. "Everything's kinda up in the air right now, isn't it."

Whatever stumble he'd made before, the lovable goon routine looked to be making up for it. "Well, just make sure you're earning that title, boss." But there was a hint of a challenge mixed in with the teasing. Teisel was used to being in charge, and he could barely stand even loose partnerships most of the time. If Zex was expecting the pliant servant type, he was in for a surprize. "I'll set out as soon as the doors unlock."

"Yes, but hopefully not for much longer," ZEX said, although he didn't sound quite sincere. "It won't matter once we get out of here." And surely they would.

ZEX smiled at the tone in his voice. Hopefully they'd encounter no trouble tonight and he wouldn't be forced to improvise. But how hard could that be, really? Surely his trouble here before had just been a brief period of bad luck... and either way, it was nothing Teisel had to know about. "Mmm, I'll try not to disappoint you." ZEX stood up, wavering for a moment to catch his balance without his head feelers. He would never get used to the distribution of weight in a human body... "I'll be looking very forward to seeing you."

Although it seemed their time now was going to be cut short. Given his relative good luck for the day so far, ZEX was sure lunch would be just as interesting. Never afraid of touching people whether he'd been invited to or not, ZEX trailed a hand along Teisel's shoulder as he walked by him. "Mmmm, yes, looking very forward to it."

If nothing else, it should be interesting.

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Day 38: Patients' Library

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