It was dark in Scaglietti's lab, for the most part. The primary lighting had been dialed back to what most people would describe as 'dim'. Even in my old life, I'd've been comfortable with it, but as I am now? Might as well have been day.
There were two well-lit spots in the room. One of them was the doctor's lair, where he and Uno worked. I'd seen the vid records of my own rebirth; judging by the difference in how the two of them operated, whatever they were doing at the moment was significantly less urgent- maybe even routine.
The other pretty much answered all my questions, right then and there- another of the doctor's people jars. The sides were frosted at the moment, so I couldn't see anything more than a body- thank goodness!, my modesty said- but it's not like I had to. The big ol' Roman numeral V made it obvious enough.
So, I finally get to work with Cinque. It'll be good to have some more company around this place.
Even as I watched, the liquid in the tank drained. Cinque soon found herself standing on the grating at the bottom of the tank. She stood there for a few seconds, time enough, I imagined, for her to look out into the room, to see her creator working his console, her brother and sisters silently welcoming her to the world-
-and then she was somewhere else. Jar number V slowly refilled itself, and the lighting in the room returned to normal.
Some few minutes later, Tre was still standing at attention. Uno had bustled off into the complex, and the doctor was reviewing some arcane set of measurements (occasionally chuckling to himself every so often). Me? I'd sat down and mentally pulled up my latest read (On the Connections Between the Dimensional Spheres, the definitive work on dimensional transit magic) thirty seconds after Uno left the room.
Another minute or two passed, and I'd started to get antsy. How long could this take? Tre's still here, so it can't be *too* long, but this is getting to be a bit much!
Thankfully, I didn't have to wait much longer. Soon enough, I heard the whoosh of a door opening, and two different walking patterns. A thought put my mental 'bookmark' in place, and I stood up, turning to face the new arrivals.
Uno was Uno, of course. No surprises there. Cinque, though... you know how odd it is when somebody you know changes their hairstyle for the first time in years, or what it's like when you see somebody without their glasses for the first time?
I'd never, never seen Cinque without an eyepatch. Never really considered it, either, despite knowing she wouldn't need one until 0067. It was kind of part of what made Cinque Cinque in my mind, you know? Seeing her without it... well, I wasn't paying attention to much else for a few seconds, I'll say that much.
"My children! Allow me to introduce you to your newest sister- Cinque!"
Overdramatic much, Doc? Save it for when there's a few more of us.
Cinque looked around the room, slowly and methodically taking it all in, before looking over the people in it. The doctor and Uno got only a glance each. Tre elicited half a second of evaluation, a blink, and another look. I was apparently worth half of that, if I timed it right. What, not even a blink? Note to self: up my threat level.She may not have thought me much of a threat, but Cinque clearly didn't expect to be swept up in a hug when she entered the room. I felt her tense up for an instant- instinctively, no doubt- before... well, I can't call it relaxing, but she did stop tensing up. After I let her go, I smiled at her, and said, in the fondest voice I could summon, "Welcome to the family."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
There were two well-lit spots in the room. One of them was the doctor's lair, where he and Uno worked. I'd seen the vid records of my own rebirth; judging by the difference in how the two of them operated, whatever they were doing at the moment was significantly less urgent- maybe even routine.
The other pretty much answered all my questions, right then and there- another of the doctor's people jars. The sides were frosted at the moment, so I couldn't see anything more than a body- thank goodness!, my modesty said- but it's not like I had to. The big ol' Roman numeral V made it obvious enough.
So, I finally get to work with Cinque. It'll be good to have some more company around this place.
Even as I watched, the liquid in the tank drained. Cinque soon found herself standing on the grating at the bottom of the tank. She stood there for a few seconds, time enough, I imagined, for her to look out into the room, to see her creator working his console, her brother and sisters silently welcoming her to the world-
-and then she was somewhere else. Jar number V slowly refilled itself, and the lighting in the room returned to normal.
Some few minutes later, Tre was still standing at attention. Uno had bustled off into the complex, and the doctor was reviewing some arcane set of measurements (occasionally chuckling to himself every so often). Me? I'd sat down and mentally pulled up my latest read (On the Connections Between the Dimensional Spheres, the definitive work on dimensional transit magic) thirty seconds after Uno left the room.
Another minute or two passed, and I'd started to get antsy. How long could this take? Tre's still here, so it can't be *too* long, but this is getting to be a bit much!
Thankfully, I didn't have to wait much longer. Soon enough, I heard the whoosh of a door opening, and two different walking patterns. A thought put my mental 'bookmark' in place, and I stood up, turning to face the new arrivals.
Uno was Uno, of course. No surprises there. Cinque, though... you know how odd it is when somebody you know changes their hairstyle for the first time in years, or what it's like when you see somebody without their glasses for the first time?
I'd never, never seen Cinque without an eyepatch. Never really considered it, either, despite knowing she wouldn't need one until 0067. It was kind of part of what made Cinque Cinque in my mind, you know? Seeing her without it... well, I wasn't paying attention to much else for a few seconds, I'll say that much.
"My children! Allow me to introduce you to your newest sister- Cinque!"
Overdramatic much, Doc? Save it for when there's a few more of us.
Cinque looked around the room, slowly and methodically taking it all in, before looking over the people in it. The doctor and Uno got only a glance each. Tre elicited half a second of evaluation, a blink, and another look. I was apparently worth half of that, if I timed it right. What, not even a blink? Note to self: up my threat level.She may not have thought me much of a threat, but Cinque clearly didn't expect to be swept up in a hug when she entered the room. I felt her tense up for an instant- instinctively, no doubt- before... well, I can't call it relaxing, but she did stop tensing up. After I let her go, I smiled at her, and said, in the fondest voice I could summon, "Welcome to the family."
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.