ic Hot and Bothered (IC)

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

Jean nodded as Lyong spoke. She had met her own share of crackpots and mad scientists in her time before arriving in Freedom.

 

At the mention of the new drug her ears perked forward. It sounded very dangerous 

…and very familiar.

 

“Has Dr. North been involved in any cloning projects?”

She asked .

“Because I think things may be becoming much more serious.”

 

Jean gives Lyong a serious look.

“After I tell you what brought me here, you may need to contact whomever is in charge in Dr North’s absence.”

[Supercape]

GM

 

Lyong raised both ragged eyebrows. She obviously didn't attend to her personal appearance, despite (or arguably because) of her otherwise handsome features. 

 

"Cloning?! Why, never. All cloning is carefully regulated. WEST is totally aware of the dangers of cloning."

 

She sighed, shoulders deflated, head down. "Although, frankly, its done. Supervillains, rouge states, unscruplous coorperations. Its done. It doesn't help since some cloning is actually vital biomedical research and application. Its actually my speciality. Can you imagine if you could grow a new liver, a new spleen? And we are not far off that. Its not some pipe-dream. As long as its properly regulated..."

 

She sighed again. 

 

"...and there lies the rub. Half the time, maybe more, its not."

 

"If Doctor North is unavailable, then its field leaders who take over command of the station until we assign a replacement. So. Ah. Um. I guess that's me..."

 

Pride and fear fought a vigorous battle across the battlefield of her face. 

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

Jean gave the woman a long look before nodding.

“Very well.”

 

“To put it short and to the point.”

Jean motioned to the small case of samples she had brought.

“When you have a chance to examine the samples yourself. You will find samples of flesh and a chemical substance that seemed to induce effects not unlike the ‘Synthetic’ you described.”

As she spoke Jean produced a flash drive.

“This is a recording of events earlier this morning which prompted my initial inquiries.”

She held it out to Lyong.

“On it, you will see a Dr North arrive at the door to my laboratory this morning and my welcoming him in.”

She emphasized the ‘a’ before Dr North.

“He begins acting strangely and I attempt to subdue him before he begins growing hot to the touch. I attempt to stabilize the man, but ultimately failed to.”

Jean motioned to the case of samples.

“As near as I could determine the flesh is not actually human. So I have no reason to think the real Dr North is not still alive.”

 

“I also manage to cobble together this.”

Jean produced the ‘Fleshometer’.

[Supercape]

GM

 

Lyong dutifully put the flashdrive in and wrestled with her over-zealous anti-virus software. Eventually, the camera footage popped up and she studied it with ever widening eyes and ever-slackening jaw. 

 

She actually yelped when "Dr North" exploded. 

 

"That... was that Doctor North? It can't be..."

 

She checked the sludge of data that Predator had provided. 

 

"No... its not. Not even close. Doesnt behave like him, cellular structure completely wrong. Just a very good copy - at least to the eye."

 

Her mind grappled with the ramifications. 

 

"If someone is creating explosive clones, then its going to open up a whole new world of terrorism..." she gulped. "Or worse. Biological warfare... diseases. Nobody is safe. Hell, they may have infiltrated WEST already..."

 

Her eyes grew even wider, her breathing escalated, and she clutched her chest...

 

"Maybe I am one... ugh... my heart...."

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

“Calm down.”

Jean said slowly.

“I don’t believe you have a reason to panic.”

Lifting the scanner she had built, she used it to scan Lyong. Her face, a mask of calm.

 

The process was quick and Jean was confident in the results.

“The scan says you’re fine. But if it would make you feel better. We can run a test.”

She placed a hand on Lyong’s shoulder, attempting to reassure her.

 

“If you have security concerns though. Arranging tests on all staff, in all branches may help.”

Jean tapped her chin.

“Don’t mention the possibility of exploding though. It can cause a panic. Perhaps something more benign, some new flu or virus.”

 

The vixen gave a thoughtful look.

“Also, if possible, check if Dr North’s ID has been used to access anything ‘important’ or ‘restricted’ recently.”

[Supercape]

GM

 

"No reason to panic! Isn't that what someone would say just before the meteor destroys the earth?" said Lyong, wringing her hands. 

 

"Sorry, sorry. I'm out of my depth here. But if I can help, i will..."

 

She sat down by her computer and started zipping through the WEST computer. She knew what she was doing. 

 

"Unless someone is very good at covering their tracks, or has hacked into our network, nobody has been using Doctor North's official I.D. Probably wise, its biometrically linked. So basically only a clone or an tech whizz could use it. But his regular passport, yeah. Somebody pinged that on an internal flight from Alaska to Freedom City. Less than a day ago."

 

She pulled up airport security. There, in low-res herz, was what looked like Doctor North passing through airport security. A bit sweaty, agitated, perhaps. Just like... whatever had exploded in front of Jean. 

 

 

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

“Of course.”

She said reassuringly.

“Take a moment.”

 

Jean regarded the screen from over Loyng’s shoulder. She watched the slightly grainy image of ‘Dr North’ as the person(?)… the entity(?)… the thing passed through the airport.

 

She made a ‘hmm’ noise then stood up.

“I suppose I should go to Alaska and investigate this myself.”

 

She patted Loyng on the shoulder.

“Can I ask you to keep an eye out for anything unusual?”

She asked.

“I can give you a secure contact line to reach me.”

 

Jean rubs her chin.

“Now, I just have to secure travel there.”

She remarked and pulled out her phone and began scrolling through her contacts.

[Supercape]

GM

 

And so...

 

...In a military plane, entering Alaskan Air Space....

 

The plane was small and spartan, but fast and armoured. A small military recon plane, propellor based, designed for long flights at high altitude. It was not quiet inside, and the body of the plane juddered. 

 

Two military pilots were at the cockpit. 

 

One soldier, catching some sleep. 

 

A captain, boots up, unable to sleep. 

 

Both armed with light pistols. 

 

The captain shuffled again. "Damn it, too much coffee..." he complained, snapping his eyes open from insomnia. He raised an eyebrow at Jean. 

 

"Pardon me. I ain't ever seen nothing like you, mister, er... ma'am. Dang, sorry. Not used to the fur."

 

He held his hands up in apology. 

 

"Sorry. We got pulled into this last minute. Favour for WEST. Favour for the Patriot. Whatever, seemed mighty important for national security. Must be some mighty strange mission. Mind telling us what this is all about?"

Edited May 1 by Supercape

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

Jean sat in her seat as comfortably as she could. Having a tail often had its drawbacks, seating was often one of them.

 

When the captain spoke she looked up from her datapad. She spared him and offered a friendly smile.

“It's alright captain, I understand. This was rather ‘last minute’ for myself.”

She considered him for a moment.

 

This wasn’t an official mission as far as the government or military were concerned. There were no ‘eyes-only’ or ‘need to know’ mandates. But she didn’t think it safe to be completely forthwith, so she opted for an abridged rundown.

“There is a potential danger. A high ranking official within WEST may be in danger from an as yet unidentified threat. He is supposed to be on a research mission in Alaska. After some concerning developments, I have volunteered to look into the matter. Hopefully, before it has to become an ‘official problem’ for national security.”

 

She gave the captain a smirk and chuckled.

“I can only assume they are happy to let me try first. It allows for greater deniability and hopefully lower budget costs.”

Jean joked.

[Supercape]

GM

 

The Captain gave out a warm laugh. "Lower budget costs. That always goes down well with the brass!"

 

The private gave an unpleasant snort, rolled to one side in an uncomfortable position, sweat on his brow. 

 

"They splash out on a plane, and send me some idiot soldier..." sighed the Captain. "Looks like he would be as much use in a fight as a sardine sandwich," he frowned. "Back in my day cut soldiers from steel... huh..."

 

The Captain was probably late thirties. Not that old. Still in shape, but with lines and creases that told Jean he had been in battle. 

 

The speakers crackled with a message from the pilot. "Making last descent. Its chilly and windy, and a touch of snow. So buckle up!"

 

The private snorted once again, muscles tense. 

[Spacefurry]

Predator

 

Jean smiled at the officer then regarded the private.

“I try not to judge until I have evidence.”

She gave the nervous looking solider a nod before turning her attention to the captain.

 

The speakers crackled to life and Jean’s demeanor shifted slightly. She sat up straighter and checked her buckles.

“Well now, I hope you packed warm clothing.”

 

On the ground Jean stood from her seat.

There was a shimmer in the air around her, the subtle sound of air being displaced and the Predator armor appeared around her.

[Supercape]

GM

 

"5 minutes to landing..." came the call. 

 

The snoozing private started shaking violently. 

 

"Godamn it, he's having a seizure!" roared the concerned captain rushing over. In but a heartbeat he was flung across the aircraft interior, collapsing in a heap against the dented fusilage. 

 

Jean recognised the seizure, the sweat, the drool. Just the same as the so-called Doctor North. 

 

The private stood up, veins on his necks taught like wire, pulsing, eyes bulging, red. 

 

And in a flash, the private was racing into the cockpit...

 

Just as the plane started its descent...