Kurotsuchi Mayuri likes test subjects (black_soil) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-05-07 00:18:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, mayuri kurotsuchi, motoko kusanagi |
Who: Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Motoko Kusanagi
What: This is what happens when a relative working for Interpol visits a relative that's a kabuki clown mad scientist.
When: Recently
Where: SRDI (Shinigami Research & Development Institute)
Rating: Lowish iirc, but some mention of self-surgery, etc
Status: Complete!
Inside his research and development institute, Mayuri was having a fantastic day. His lab assistants weren’t fouling up. His experiments were yielding favorable results. Although he already had several tricks at his disposal, his ear removal and arm modification surgeries had both been raging successes, as well as finishing his spare backup brains...which were now both safely under lockdown in two separate locations.
One never knew when massive brain trauma might happen. It was better to curtail that, and not lose the massive wealth of information and expertise that he’d accumulated. And self-surgery was not something he was squeamish about, nor was he unable to tolerate the sort of pain that would make 99% of people pass out or wish themselves dead in under 2.5 seconds.
Oh, those dreams were very, very, very useful, indeed. Even if he had to modify them for this world, it had been an exceedingly easy task.
As he mused over his accomplishments, Mayuri sat before a grand pipe organ (which was actually a computer) in the bottom-most level of the SRDI. He was finalizing some of his surgical research notes, and sedately sipping a cup of green tea without messing up his makeup. Ho hum.
Motoko walked into the building with little regard for such things as as warnings or signs. She had a mission to accomplish, and she needed to include every lead she could think of, even if it meant talking to the black sheep of the family. She walked up to the receptionist and flashed her badge. “I need to speak to your employer.”
The receptionist looked at the badge, read the name, and made a face like she knew she might get fired for this, but she knew it looked legit. She'd seen enough military badges already, after the head of the SRDI had submitted his patent and permission for the military to use that limb regrowth serum.
"I'll let him know, ma'am. One moment." After turning away and making a tense phone call, the receptionist hung up and handed Motoko a printed out map with a yellow line to represent the correct path, and instructions on which elevator to take, along with a visitor's access code to use. After all, having one stumble across one of the high security gas and explosive rigged areas might result in unintended consequences, and no one wanted that.
Fine. Maybe Kurotsuchi wanted that, but no one else did.
Down below, in his private office, Mayuri had already set his tea aside. He began typing on what looked to be piano keys, but was actually a computer keyboard. It was best to lock his files, as well as bring up the security cameras. That way he could watch Motoko as she progressed through the facility, hopefully with no detours.
She followed the map, though her keen eyes did roam about as she walked. She made notes of possible detours and things to investigate later should the need arise. She wanted to remain on his good side, though, so except for one overly long peek into a room, she didn’t deviate from course. She reached his office and waited patiently.
Need was not going to arise, so here's hoping that things did continue in a pleasant manner. In both his dreams and in this universe, Mayuri was well known for his ability to be well prepared, especially when he was going to face off with an opponent or any of his allies. He was someone who showed up with spare organs and additional skeletal framework to a battle, after only one hour of prep. He was not really the sort to go into things without noting finer details or to be caught unawares. Not on his watch. Or without a mass poisoning.
Staring at the display screens, Mayuri was zoomed in and tsking Motoko for looking around too much...even if she wasn't turning her head while doing so. On one hand, he was exceptionally wary. On the other, he was intrigued in what she might be seeking him out for. Curious sorts were liabilities and break-ins in the SRDI simply did not happen. Relatives showing up didn't happen either. He highly doubted this was a social visit.
With a security code entered and the punch of a button, the office doors slid open like two drawn back, black curtains. The office itself was cavernous and dark, save for the pipe organ at one end and several lit screens with scrolling Japanese writing on them (nothing more than the SRDI’s logo, time and date).. Mayuri turned in the chair, before standing up. He was wearing a long, flowing white robe over a black kimono. His face was painted in skeletal black and white. His hands arms were painted ghostly white, which were all that could be seen from under the billowing sleeves, other than the blue fingernails that were painted to match his hair. The middle fingernail of his right hand was as long as the finger was, and there were vented gold rings around the area where his ears once were. He was wide eyed as he smiled - causing him to look a little crazed but in a strangely happy way - and he moved closer in, for a closer look at her.
"Yare yare," he started to say with a sigh. The my my had a heavy emphasis on it, as though he was worn and weary. He wasn't. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my labs,
Kusanagi-san?"
My god... She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but this wasn't it. What had the man done to himself? She managed to keep her surprise only to her eyes. She also didn't offer to shake his hand. "I'm in an investigation, and I could use your help."
Mayuri wasn't much for formalities like shaking hands. He only tilted his head to one side as though his neck was made of clockwork gears, causing him to look much like a curious kabuki-egyptian...owl and goat hybrid? Whatever. It was courtesy of the stylized paint on his face. The wide golden hued eyes certainly weren't helping any, either.
"An investigation, is it?" he mused aloud in Japanese, as though talking to himself. "You have piqued my interest with what might make for an interesting new project. What is this investigation regarding?"
“The Fire Nation. We’ve reason to believe they’re now working with a group called Cerberus. I know that you sometimes have...under the table contacts. I’m willing to look the other way.” And someday, she was going to need help getting into a cyberbrain and synthetic body. She just didn’t know that yet.
Mayuri's eyes suddenly narrowed at the correct insinuation as well as the mention of the Fire Nation. He hadn't had any hand's on dealings or meddled in their affairs, but had happily given them chemical concoctions and poisons he mixed up in dark, secret locations.
His neck and head slowly righted themselves. It looked like a puppet being dragged on it's strings. An utterly involuntary motion.
"Ahh, contacts," he cooed, as though he had just remembered. At least this was between family, and it would be kept discreet. "You realize, that was a while ago. I moved on to personal research projects, once I received enough funding from various overseas resources, to afford the luxury of my own research facility. Unfortunately, I have severed my ties with those resources, well over a year ago. Furthermore, I am unfamiliar with Cerberus. Are they dangerous?"
He asked, like he wouldn't mind rigging their bodies to explode. Because no one minded when bad guys went boom most spectacularly and messily. And then he’d have dibs on the body parts, afterward.
"You do have quite the cushy setup here," Motoko replied evenly. "I don't want to interfere with it if I don't have to. Since you're family. Cerberus is quite dangerous, responsible for human trafficking as well as downing a Japan Air flight earlier this year."
"That must be your mistake in that turn of phrase. No one will be interfering with what I have here," clarified Mayuri, stating it as a fact. It was his and only his, and no one would be taking that away from him. They'd have to pry it out of his hand, which was attached to a surgically modified arm. He couldn't even say dead hand, either. Because that wouldn't work with him, him being what he was beyond being a scientist. The concept of being "alive" had ceased to apply to him, in the classical definition of the word. "That includes you, even if you are family."
He smiled, showing a row of gold plated teeth. It was simultaneously blingriffically creepy and cheery.
"What a waste of perfectly good cadavers," Mayuri then added, as though that was the most pivotal point to take note of, above and beyond all else. "Not only are they dangerous, but wasteful. If they are responsible for that explosion, then it is likely they've used some of the usual routes to obtain...volatile chemical compositions. If you'd like an access portal to the mainframe, then I can provide you some leads."
If anyone found out he gave that to Motoko, they were free to come and try to get him. They'd pay a truly terrible price for the attempt, but Mayuri would welcome something to tear apart and play with.
"Thank you, that's all I really need. " She still was eyeing him a little mistrustfully, but she knew what she was getting into. She’d known as soon as she walked in, and Motoko wasn’t above working with the devil.
If Mayuri was the devil, it was debatable. He had questionable ethics, but he always shared his more beneficial research with those who needed it most, and had protected the Seireitei the same as more "benevolent" captains had. He was simply more interested in his own pursuits, than his lazy - or much more distrustful and outright evil - counterparts.
Evil, to him, was Aizen Sosuke. The likes of which he (or his kind) would probably never see again. Since Aizen was gratefully not there, Mayuri reminded himself that he also didn't trust Ichimaru Gin, either. The further away they were from each other, the better. He didn't want the entire SRDI sliced in half. It would result in a chemical spill, and paying for that clean up and restitution would be a tiresome chore. Though the chemical burns might be interesting to study. Hmm....
Mayuri showed her over toward a smaller computer terminal and typed with fluid ease, despite that long fingernail he had. Then he stood back and gestured with one hand for her to sit down and research the contact list at her leisure.
"How is Interpol treating you, Motoko-chan?" he said, quite conversationally. "They must think highly of you to send you out on this sort of assignment. Or they think very little of you, for sending you out on a task that might well get you killed. You know, they often have their fingers dipped in several pots, and it wouldn't be beyond them to try to distract you. Or worse."
That wasn't even a threat, but another fact. He didn't particularly want that to happen, no matter what anyone thought of him. She was family, after all. Even if that was a thin line with him and he didn't go about acting at all sentimental, it still amounted to something. Somehow or other.
“I don’t really know, and I don’t really care. I’ve been working the Fire Nation for years. I’d be really pissed off if they took me off it now. Not when I’m so close.” She folded her arms, watching him as he worked. She found his motions unnerving.
"I wouldn't be concerned about Interpol taking you off your case," Mayuri pointed out, again gesturing toward the computer, so she could get a closer look and sort through what was displayed, as far as old contacts and supplies went. They were likely outdated, but they might giver her an idea of what sorts of things to look for. "I meant, that someone who looks like they are with Interpol, might have set you up. Our family, even the extended family, is known for it's intellect and survivability. It has likely crossed your mind that this may be happening."
He almost sounded like he was sweetly singing as he asked, "Do you require any weapons or explosives?"
She memorized what she was seeing, wishing she had some capability to record things with her mind. It felt like she should, except she didn’t, not really. It was frustrating. She blinked, and looked at him. “Excuse me?”
He squinted a little and leaned in, pushing a few buttons with a fingertip, so that she could have a laser print out copy of what was on the screen. He couldn't read minds, but he knew how annoying it was, having to memorize everything, or wary of missing any details.
"Did you consider that you are being set up from an inside source," he reiterated, "and do you require any weapons or explosives?"
“I’ve considered that, but it’s unlikely.” She eyed him dubiously. “You realize I could report you, you know.” But she also thought he knew she wouldn’t. He was too useful, and it really had nothing to do with the blood relation. She didn’t think he’d cause any undue harm if he was left alone.
The point was that he hadn't caused any harm when left to his own devices. Unless it was animal testing, then there was a grey area of where things could help humanity and rule out side effects (or extra appendages), or the ethics of testing. If it was something that would be used in a medical setting, then anesthetics were used. If it was something that needed progression measured, he would do so, but use the necessary medications to try to stop progression of a disease or virus. If it was something to be used out in the field with no medical or pharmaceutical capabilities? The measures had to be cruel, such as it was with his giving the military his limb regrowth serum for use in combat situations.
"As unlikely as it is that you were sent to this place, where I happen to reside as well," he pointed out, with a cheshire cat smile. The makeup only accentuated it more. "And I have no fear nor any apprehension regarding you reporting me. I know you wouldn't do it. And if anyone dared tread in here, uninvited, then you know that I would not hesitate to use the necessary measures to keep the labs and research...contained."
That was likely codeword for destroyed, of the smouldering crater left behind in the ground and a whole lot of toxic residue variety. He was a very, very cautious individual, after all. Very, very cautious.
"Research centers are such dangerous places," he cooed, quite happily. "And I obtained this one, legally, with all the permits and licenses legally dealt with and recorded with the local, state, and federal government. Feel free to look into that, in your free time. If it amuses you."
He had absolutely no worries about any of that and had a sweet deal with the military from the use of that serum. In fact, Mayuri had dotted his i's and crossed his t's, so everything was iron clad and secure, and he was absolutely able to own and operate the SRDI. The same as anyone who was doing any research and testing would do, especially on the scale that Mayuri operated on.
“I already checked into all of that,” she replied, with a smile. “And that you have a valid liscense for weapons and explosives. I may not need anything now, but I’ll be sure to let you know, if you’ve got a secure channel I could use?”
"Truly, and I haven't blown up anyone." Yet. There were some lab assistants that Mayuri wouldn't mind turning into living bombs. He was sorely tempted, since there wouldn't be anything tangible left behind to file for workman's comp.
He reached into the inner lining of his white robe and drew out a card with the contact information she would need. Thus proving that somehow, someway, he was even prepared for her asking for it, before she did so. "You can reach me here, at all hours. I will reply as soon as I am able, but I may be delayed if I am in the middle of a testing protocol."