maskormenacelogs | OCTOBER CATCH-ALL

Our lives are really just a series of weird aren't they? [ Traci smiled at Robin and then Jaime himself. Her gaze stayed on Robin though as if she was just kind of sizing him up. This wasn't a plan she particularly supported if not just because she worried about Jaime and didn't really know this Robin at all. Jaime seemed to trust him but then again Jaime trusted everyone so that wasn't much of a comfort. That was why she was here, to judge Robin.

Wait no, to make sure nothing went wrong. ]

Exactly. Something goes wrong I'll take care of it. Or if you screw up something I'll take care of you. [ The statement was directed at Robin but her tone was still friendly and she was still smiling, like it was just a joke. For the most part it was. She didn't think he'd do anything bad on purpose but he didn't know for sure what he'd be dealing with. None of them did and it could be very dangerous. It probably would be dangerous and her first priority would be Jaime's safety. Second would be everyone else's safety from him if something went wrong. Nothing was going to go wrong though she had to believe that. ]

[ Robin laughs, his grin bright but humble. He doesn't exactly like the idea of screwing this up being a joke, but on the other hand, if everyone's a little less on edge... well, he'll take it. ]

Honestly? That's comforting to hear.

[ He extends a hand. ]

Robin. Nice to officially meet you, Traci. I'm glad you're here to be our magic lifeguard.

...even if it probably won't be necessary! I'm pretty sure everything's gonna be fine.

[She's just here as a precaution! That, and even if it was a joke, he's not entirely certain about even joking about taking care of Robin when all he's doing is granting Jaime a huge favour. There's still a little smile on his face, though, as guarded as it may be, so it's clear that he's not taking it too seriously either. Traci probably doesn't really mean it anyway.

Otherwise, he lets them make their introductions and get comfortable before they get going. Hopefully the worst thing that Traci's going to have to deal with is being a little bored for a while.]

I really do appreciate you giving it a shot.

I appreciate you letting me. I admit I've been curious for a while, and this is kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

[ Is that an inappropriate thing to admit to? Scientific curiosity about Jaime's... entire life, really? He hopes not. ]

So okay, I'm basically going in to take a look around and make sure there's nothing in there that's about to go haywire? Safety check? Anything in particular I should keep an eye out for, stuff I ought to know?

Um...

[There should probably be something that he should be able to tell Robin, but there's not much, really. He's nervous, and he knows very little about his own technology, and Khaji is deeply, deeply unhappy. That's about all.]

Well, I've done this sort of thing before with someone else's Scarab, so the stuff you might see in here is a little weird? He had a yellow ring on too, but he had, like, TV screens with memories and junk on them. You might want to ignore those, and just see if you can turn off some of the bad stuff.

[The nukes. Robin can turn off the nukes, please and thank you, because Jaime is never going to use those. There is a moment's hesitation before he adds on,] And, um, Khaji doesn't really like you? Don't take it personally or anything, just a fair warning if he starts getting grumpy at you. It sounds like that should be all, right Traci?

[ooc; OOPS this is a little out of order -- meghann, how bout one more traci tag before scarab spelunking is a go?]

[ All the stuff about TVs and yellow rings and general weirdness is fine, he can deal with that, he's seen enough sci-fi and real life freakiness to think that's not particularly disturbing. What does surprise him, though, is the fact that Khaji Da has an opinion on him at all. ]

Wait. Why doesn't he like me? Is that going to be a problem?

[ Because that seems like something he should know ahead of time. ]

Shouldn't be. He's agreed to cooperate.

[Cooperate is the functional word here. Khaji will cooperate based on Jaime's wishes, but he will be steadfastly unhappy about it, and knowing him, may even be actively unpleasant. He's never been shy about letting his true feelings show, something that tends to be forgiven on account of him being an artificial intelligence, on account of him being about as alien as anyone can get.

It doesn't mean that Jaime's going to enjoy it if Khaji decides to be nasty to Robin.]

He, uh... he likes KF, and he likes pretty much two or three people in the whole world. He thinks you made him unhappy.

... oh.

[ Robin doesn't let himself get startled very often, but that? That does it. Enough that he almost forgets to be jealous about Jaime calling Wally by his nickname. (Being a kinder person than him and touching his stuff? How dare you, Jaime.)

When it all settles in, when he realizes what that actually means, the tips of his ears go pink and his shoulders bunch up. Okay. Okay. God, that had been an ordeal, and now he's going to have to deal with an artificial intelligence that's angry at him for hurting his best friend's feelings?

Wow, his life is weird. ]

Okay. Well. Um. I guess I'll... try to explain when I'm in there? If I have time. If he'll listen.

[ God. ]

It's nothing you gotta explain. Sorry, it's -- I wouldn't actually mention it if I didn't think it was going to come up in there. He gets angry at a lot of things, [he says, a little apologetically. It doesn't escape his attention how Robin reacts to the revelation, and he feels bad. It's so stupid that Khaji gets mad at people for things that aren't their fault, but he's growing out of his emotional constipation in the only way he knows how: caring too deeply, and only about certain people.

It's better than the alternative, but it gets a little messy whenever other people get involved.]

I've already explained to him that it wasn't your fault, anyway. You still good for this?

It's fine.

[ He's dealt with worse things than an angry, overprotective AI, right? Sure. Totally. ]

Still good for it. And hey, I'll let him lecture me if it'll make him feel better.

...well, we'll see how it works. With any luck, I'll be around to make sure he doesn't do any lecturing.

[Or screaming. Now that they're back to the main topic at hand, Jaime curls his hands in his lap, teeth worrying at the inside of his lip as he considers what they're about to do, nervous all over again.]

I think it's time to bite the bullet now, anyway. Do your thing.

[What's it even going to feel like?]

All right. See you on the other side.

[ He throws a cheeky little wave Jaime's way, shuts his eyes, and mentally reaches out. This is easy enough with a computer, or an electronic lock, something like that — it's a bit like flipping a switch with his mind. Just interacting with an object, but with his head instead of his hands. Simple enough.

He's not at all sure what to expect from something with a mind of its own. He focuses like he'd focus on anything else he wanted to interface with, but this time, he tries to approach it conversationally. No commands or force, just making himself known.

He's had plenty of psychic conversations by now — it can't be that different, right? ]

Knock knock. Anyone home?

[In the end, he's in because Khaji lets him in. A more powerful technopath could interface with Khaji more than easily, but Khaji is a cagey sort, more than willing to lash out at those who dare enter his personal space.

In this case, however, Jaime allows it, so Robin gets to figuratively stroll through the front door without any problems. The bond isn't steady enough yet for Jaime to become present - though that will come, given time - and Robin will find his mental space caught in a large room, blank screens adorning the walls, and several doors framing the area, though they're all shut.

More off-putting than the room, however, is Khaji Da. He appears mere inches in front of Robin, so that his nose is practically touching that blank, unseeing faceplate. Khaji could speak, perhaps, and he could move to make Robin more comfortable, but instead he stands immediately in Robin's personal space and doesn't even bother budging an inch.

Combined with the fact that Khaji has no need for breathing, it's almost ambiguous whether or not the standing figure is conscious at all.]

[ Well, that's downright unsettling.

Robin takes a step back, giving himself inches between them to actually look at Khaji Da. He's used to inscrutable expressions, he spent his formative crime fighting years with Batman, but a blank expression is still worlds away from no expression at all. He shivers, the hair on the back of his neck standing up — or whatever the mental equivalent of that is — but looks right back at where that face ought to be, squares his shoulders, and nods in greeting. He's here for a mission, after all, and even if he's a little bit spooked, he's going to see it through.

That, and he's curious. ]

... You must be Khaji Da. I'm Robin. [ And then, because he's ever-polite when he actually remembers to be: ] Thanks for letting me in.

[Khaji Da doesn't say anything. He doesn't particularly see the need to say anything; he allows for Jaime to lecture him about manners when it comes to people he likes, but this is Khaji Da's domain, this is his home. Jaime has the entire outside world, but Khaji Da? He just has this.

Robin provides no extra information beyond his name - which Khaji knows - recognition of who Khaji is - who else would it be? - and a meaningless platitude regarding something that wasn't his choice in the first place.

So he says nothing, and he doesn't move. As a concession to his presence, every single door in the massive room swings open at the same time and stops at a perfect 90-degree angle, no less, no more. Once the doors open, they fail to swing with the momentum.

Each door seems to lead into a new hallway, but there's no more guidance than that, and Khaji doesn't bother providing any.]

[ All right, so this is going to be a thousand times more awkward than interacting with Red Tornado. Apparently he wasn't programmed for politeness (big surprise there). Duly noted.

He glances between the doors, looking for any indication of where they might lead. But of course, there's nothing. If he was by himself, and not in someone's mindspace, he'd just go for it and figure it out as he went along. But this is more delicate.

He moves, then, curiously toward the door on his right, keeping Khaji within his line of sight. ]

Can you tell me where these lead?

[Keeping Khaji in his line of sight will do very little. This is Khaji's home, and he isn't actually inside this personification he's made for himself. He's the data here, which means that he is this area; his code is what makes up the walls and the televisions, the floor that Dick is standing on, the ceiling that he sees when he looks up. Even Khaji doesn't know how to control all of it - it's simply not in his programming to understand why the inside of Reach technology looks like this - but he can manifest himself wherever he likes.

To that end, he disappears altogether, then reappears in front of Robin once more. Again, his manifestation is only inches away from him, because personal space is something that Khaji's never cared to understand or care about.]

Each leads to a separate area of programming. Location of abilities Jaime Reyes wishes to be disconnected: Unknown. I have not been able to find them.

[Khaji's voice is flat, robotic, monotone, save for that last sentence. There's something just a half step higher in his voice, a touch defensive; if Khaji can't find them, how could this child?]

[ Robin very nearly walks into Khaji that time, just barely catching himself and taking a graceful half-step backwards. Is this... hostility? Artificial passive-aggression? He'd been told that Khaji didn't like him, but this isn't exactly how he expected it to manifest.

He's quiet for just a moment, refocusing himself. Don't draw attention to it. Be polite. ]

All right, well, do you have any suggestions for where we should start? Because I'm not opposed to you taking the lead. If you'd rather.

[ Since you're set on being a roadblock otherwise. ]

No.

[Khaji's helpful.]

Jaime Reyes wishes for you to look. You will look. Likelihood of Robin finding something I could not: 0.1%.

[Khaji vanishes once more, but materializes just behind Robin. He seems to have forgotten to connect his voice to his physical manifestation, however, because his voice seems to still be coming from in front of Robin, not behind him.]

Jaime Reyes does not know you. He has allowed you access into our mind.

Do not touch the monitors.

[That's all he says before even his manifestation vanishes once more, though the door at the end of the hallway opens in the same, precise manner. The room ahead of them contains what appears to be metallic bookshelves, though if Robin steps inside, he will find that they are far, far larger than they first appeared, and contain pure information, pure data. He will not be able to read them so much as he'll be able to experience them.

It contains records of one of their simpler abilities: shapeshifting. It continues to be rather eerie, however, because it contains records of shapeshifting in all sorts of species, not only humanoid ones, and suggests things that Jaime is not aware of, nor has he tried; the growth of extra fingers, claws long enough to drag across the ground, things that the Reach would find useful, but still things that Jaime and Khaji utterly ignore.

It is, however, mainly innocuous. It's a little uncanny, but there's nothing in there that would seriously hurt anyone more than Jaime already could, not really.]

[ Telling him not to touch the monitors only makes him wonder what happens if he touches the monitors. He won't, of course, but. Curiosity.

Instead, he'll go through some of these... bookshelves? Data banks? Whatever they should be called, Robin lingers on them more than he strictly needs to, past the point where he realizes that this isn't what he's looking for. ]

You two are capable of all this?

[ His voice is low, and in a way, impressed. There's a sharp contradiction in what he's seen from the Blue Beetle in the news and in person, and what he's growing aware that he can do. It isn't that he's surprised, precisely. He knows what he's in here looking for, that Khaji Da is a weapon, and that the two of them can be very, very dangerous. But it's one thing to know, and another to see, and be faced with just how much he — or, rather, they — willingly aren't doing. ]

That is a stupid question. If we were not capable of this, it would not be here. If we were not, you would not have been invited.

We do not lie.

[Khaji's voice is sharp in the midst of the silence of this place, and he's certainly pulling no punches in saying exactly what's on his mind. Robin dwelling over things that Khaji considers both to be none of his business and more than that, of no personal use to him. Is he gathering data? What is he gathering data for?

Does he intend to harm Jaime Reyes as well?]

Do you see something relevant or are you gathering data?

[So, of course, he asks.]

[ Right. Of course. Stupid questions to ask an AI, stupid questions to ask at all, but he just likes hearing himself talk when no one else is. He pulls away, a little embarrassed and a little defensive. ]

I was— gathering data, I guess. Or something like that, anyway. It wasn't what I expected, so... [ He shrugs stiffly, eyes wandering over the blank expanse of Khaji's faceplate again. ] Don't you ever get curious about things?

[ Maybe he doesn't. ]

I am an Artificial Intelligence. My duty is the compilation and processing of information. You are a human being here for one purpose. The collection of irrelevant data is not why you are here.

[If Robin knew Khaji, he would know how endlessly curious he is. Most of Khaji's interactions with those he's deemed worthy of conversation has to do with him asking questions. He wishes not only to know facts, but about what makes people tick, even if he only wants to know out of a failure to understand it. Khaji is learning what makes people not alive, but engaged.

But he doesn't want to engage with Robin. He disappears, then reappears at the end of the hallway that Robin had exited from in a clear bid for Robin to move on.

Not that he says as much. That would be too pleasant, too straightforward.]

All right, all right, [ he says, under his breath.

He's aware that no matter how quiet he is with his sarcasm, it probably won't matter in here. For all he knows, Khaji can sense it anyway. His sarcastic intent. It takes actual concerted effort for him to stow the cranky teenager routine and not roll his eyes like he's being lectured by a non-understanding parent, but somehow, he manages, following Khaji down the hall. ]

You're not much of a tour guide, you know that? [ Don't sass the AI, Robin. ]

[With slow, almost excruciating show of patience, Khaji drones,] I am not a tour guide. I am an Artificial Intelligence. This has been previously established.

[He didn't like Robin before, and one thing's for sure: Robin sure isn't impressing him now. Of course, it's very difficult for anyone to be impressive when they're being turned down and belittled at every corner, but it's not as if Khaji cares much about that.

The next room looks very much the same as the last, but somehow, it's even less cozy. It has very little to do with the plain aesthetics - blue shelves as far as the eye can see, monitors across the walls, and little more - but the way that it feels. When you are the one experiencing data rather than reading it, it can feel chilly, cold, distant, as if watching a television screen from a far-off place through a telescope.

And, perhaps, the content of this data has something to do with how remote it is. It's difficult to tell whether Khaji chose this room on purpose, or if it was just the next room over (which it was), but this is where the more destructive data is stored, the data that Jaime would gladly erase if he could.

This, too, contains what Bart would likely be more familiar with. There's the capacity for nuclear-level destruction, of course, but there's more than that, things that the Reach uses to issue control and fear, blasts that are labeled as population suppression, blasts potent enough to render a body to ash where it stands, incomplete knowledge on the existence - and appropriate suppression - of known metahumans.

In other words, none of it's very nice.]

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