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dollymixturesThey'd told him he was faulty.
Well, that's not strictly true, other people had been told he was faulty and that he wasn't suitable for combat (even though his shooting was excellent), but he'd been there at the time and that sort of counted - at least, it was the only way he was ever told anything, anyway.
They'd said he was to be decommissioned. He didn't know what decommissioned was, but he knew it was something a trooper didn't come back from. There were a lot of things a trooper didn't come back from, though, so at least he didn't know enough to be scared. Mostly, he was curious.
Maybe that was the problem. None of the others seemed to ever be curious. He was just supposed to follow orders, he wasn't supposed to know what why meant, let alone ask it.
It had been easier, before, being raised the same as all the others, given the same instructions. None of the others had talked, so he didn't either - but he did listen. He listened, and he learned - not much, just bits and pieces here and there, things that meant nothing to him and things that sounded interesting. Anything from state secrets to petty dramas between colleagues, and he didn't know one from the other truth be told, didn't know enough about the world to slot any of it into places that fit - he just liked to hear people talk. It made him feel less... lonely.
Another problem. He never realised he wasn't meant to feel anything at all.
Whatever decommissioning was or wasn't, he never had the chance to find out, though, because while he was being transported from one end of the facility to the other, the vehicle carrying him was hijacked. He didn't know it at the time - his armour had been deactivated, rendering him practically blind and barely able to move, and all he could hear was the sounds of a fight and then the vehicle was moving again - and it seemed like it was going much, much further than just the other end of the facility...
After a long journey and some disorienting moves, he becomes aware that someone is activating the release catches on his helmet, and he barely has chance to react before he's wincing at the sudden flood of painfully bright light (it's not overly bright, it just seems it after so long in darkness) - followed immediately by an uncomfortably loud clatter as whoever removed his helmet drops it.
"Holy shit." somebody in front of him breathes, as he's still trying to adjust to the light.
Well, that's not strictly true, other people had been told he was faulty and that he wasn't suitable for combat (even though his shooting was excellent), but he'd been there at the time and that sort of counted - at least, it was the only way he was ever told anything, anyway.
They'd said he was to be decommissioned. He didn't know what decommissioned was, but he knew it was something a trooper didn't come back from. There were a lot of things a trooper didn't come back from, though, so at least he didn't know enough to be scared. Mostly, he was curious.
Maybe that was the problem. None of the others seemed to ever be curious. He was just supposed to follow orders, he wasn't supposed to know what why meant, let alone ask it.
It had been easier, before, being raised the same as all the others, given the same instructions. None of the others had talked, so he didn't either - but he did listen. He listened, and he learned - not much, just bits and pieces here and there, things that meant nothing to him and things that sounded interesting. Anything from state secrets to petty dramas between colleagues, and he didn't know one from the other truth be told, didn't know enough about the world to slot any of it into places that fit - he just liked to hear people talk. It made him feel less... lonely.
Another problem. He never realised he wasn't meant to feel anything at all.
Whatever decommissioning was or wasn't, he never had the chance to find out, though, because while he was being transported from one end of the facility to the other, the vehicle carrying him was hijacked. He didn't know it at the time - his armour had been deactivated, rendering him practically blind and barely able to move, and all he could hear was the sounds of a fight and then the vehicle was moving again - and it seemed like it was going much, much further than just the other end of the facility...
After a long journey and some disorienting moves, he becomes aware that someone is activating the release catches on his helmet, and he barely has chance to react before he's wincing at the sudden flood of painfully bright light (it's not overly bright, it just seems it after so long in darkness) - followed immediately by an uncomfortably loud clatter as whoever removed his helmet drops it.
"Holy shit." somebody in front of him breathes, as he's still trying to adjust to the light.
"Get... get Marshal Leonis. He should see this."
no subject
Date: 2023-01-22 11:48 pm (UTC)The scientist nods, accepting the instructions and motioning for the others to start making preparations while the Marshal finishes up his conversation.
The trooper blinks at him for a moment, puzzling over how best to respond.
"The unit inspectors were discussing what they determined to be an unusual expression of interest in the reasoning behind an order. One of them said 'the report indicated it came across as simple curiosity', the other's response was to explain 'it isn't supposed to feel curiosity. It isn't supposed to feel, period'. That was determined to be the fault."
He doesn't always know what details in a conversation are important - he's never had to repeat one before (using magitek troopers for reconnaissance isn't unheard of, but he's never been selected for it) - so he hopes that he's given the right information to answer the question.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 12:47 am (UTC)"...well, you won't get decommissioned here for being curious, so you can not worry about that," Cor replies as he looks back at the trooper. "These scientists here are just going to run some tests to make sure you're still fit otherwise. Please answer their questions to the best of their ability. I'll be back after I make my report to my superiors."
He then looks at the head scientist one last time before leaving. "Keep me updated if there's any other sudden discoveries." And then he goes off, back to Regis' office where he'll give an updated version of his report to date. All throughout the process, his mind will keep drifting back to that trooper, wondering how they're going to handle having who may possibly an imperial citizen in their custody...
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 01:03 am (UTC)He just nods - he might have realised that he can be a little more open with them about the things that make him faulty, but he has still been trained all his life to follow orders, and the Marshal is very clearly the authority here. It doesn't occur to him that there's another option beyond just doing what he's told - magitek troopers aren't expected to be captured, so it's not like he had orders for that eventuality, and even the idea that he was being held by people who were technically his enemy required a level of understanding and belief far beyond what they ever thought he'd have - you don't need to teach a machine who the enemy is, just which targets to shoot at, and for all that the magitek troopers start off human, they are very much treated as machines by the people who deploy them.
Once Cor leaves, the scientists move to run their tests. They have to cut him out of the bodysuit - once they determine doing so won't cause him any injury - so by the time Cor gets back he's dressed in a disposable hospital gown that somehow makes it even more obvious that he's just a slender, ordinary young man.
They've done every scan they can think of, and are ready to inform the marshal on his return that he has every appearance of being human - though with some abnormalities that they need to run further tests to identify. They've taken the blood samples, hair samples, cheek swabs; everything they can get without resorting to a biopsy. The only problem is... now they have no idea what to do with him.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 02:02 am (UTC)The King's decision was surprising, and Cor's still mulling over it as he returns to the testing area. Seeing the lad sitting there, wearing a hospital nightgown, only drives home the fact that this is a living being, and he should've been treated as such from the beginning. He listens to the reports from the scientists, slowly nodding along.
"If we can run those tests with minimum discomfort, then let's do so at a later date. Right now, though..." His voice trails off as his gaze keeps drifting back to the young blonde. "We need to make sure he's fed, clothed, and assigned a place to stay until further notice. The king has given permission to let him be housed with proper supervision, so...any ideas where he'll be staying yet?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 02:15 am (UTC)"We were hoping you might have an idea of that," the head scientist admits, thinking about it for a moment before lowering his voice "but truthfully... between this discovery and the abnormalities we've seen, I'm hesitant to let him go too far. I don't want word getting out before we've fully investigated and are able to answer the questions people are undoubtedly going to have. Wherever he stays, that 'proper supervision' ought to be somebody who already knows about him."
It's advice, rather than instruction, since he doesn't have the authority to tell Cor what to do, but he trusts that the Marshal will see the sense in his words.
He glances back at the trooper, who's just sitting there waiting to be told what to do, almost unnaturally still, and then back to Cor.
"Unfortunately, I don't think I could volunteer any of my team, for one thing we can't rule out the possibility that he might be dangerous, and I don't think any of them would be able to handle an enemy combatant, and the other thing... well. They find him... unsettling. I don't think they would agree to it."
It doesn't leave Cor with a lot of options.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 02:28 am (UTC)Which is why he's suppressing the urge for a long-suffering sigh. "So I'm babysitting again," he quietly mutters beneath his breath, harkening back to all those times he had to look after Noctis and/or Ignis. "Alright, he'll stay with me for the time being. At the very least, I can make sure he doesn't cause any trouble, either accidentally or...otherwise."
Cor then turns to walk over to the blonde lad. "Looks like we're done with tests for today. I've been given permission to let you stay with me for the time being. We'll head over there as soon as we find some clothes that fit you." He pauses for a moment. "...I do wonder, though - how often did your handlers feed you? What did they normally feed you with?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-23 07:56 pm (UTC)The scientist at least has the decency not to laugh at Cor's plight (on the outside), and he nods at the marshal conceding to looking after their unexpected charge.
"I will update you as soon as we have results or require further tests." He confirms, before stepping away to let Cor deal with the trooper.
The young man in question looks a little startled to be addressed directly (even though it's not the first time, it's still taking some getting used to), and it only melts into a vaguely confused expression when he realises he's being given.. information? They're explaining to him what's going on? The scientists did a little of that, with their testing, but that was more along the lines of 'this might sting a little', this was... not the way he was used to finding out what was going to happen to him.
After a moment, he just nods to acknowledge it, hoping that was all that was required. Then the question came and he just looks even more confused.
It takes him a long moment to make sense of the words, but it's clear he's puzzling through how to answer, until eventually he realises what he's being asked.
"Proper nutrition was delivered when required, via Magitek armour's life support systems."
One of the scientists who's nearby clears her throat a little shyly and beckons Cor over to try and shed some light on the situation - she explains that when they removed the bodysuit he wore beneath the armour, there were certain connections that had to be removed - evidence that the 'nutrition delivery' might have been intravaneous.
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 02:14 am (UTC)But Cor noticed how he was scaring the female scientist with that look of quiet fury on his face, so he takes a moment of deep breathing to get himself back under control. "...duly noted," he coolly mutters. "Thank you." He takes another deep breath to make himself calm enough to speak to the blonde normally.
"Alright, so we will have you staying with me until further orders come in. While you're with me, I will do my best to help acclimate you into this next stage of your life. That includes learning how to consume food like a normal person does. Any questions before we get started?"
<3 <3
Date: 2023-02-02 12:57 am (UTC)The young man just stares at him with slightly wide eyes - questions? That was even stranger than the man talking to him, or volunteering information instead of orders, the very idea of him being able to ask questions was so alien that for a long second any questions he might have had disappear entirely from his head in the face of his blank confusion.
He opens his mouth to try and find something - an answer is expected of him, right? - but there's just so much he doesn't know that he doesn't even know where to begin, so after a moment he closes it again and just shakes his head mutely.
He'd think it was ironic that a unit declared faulty for being curious suddenly finds himself without any questions to ask, if he knew what irony was.
"Marshal Leonis?" Another voice interrupts politely "We found these, they should fit..."
The bundle of clothing being offered to Cor is fairly basic, just some boxers, sweats and a t-shirt, whatever they could scrounge from the lockers of whichever scientists were about the same size as the trooper. There's a pair of basic slippers, too - they're not ideal, but it means he'll at least have something on his feet.