fighting the good fight with eggs and milk! (i_eggstir) wrote in we_coexist, @ 2013-03-10 14:31:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | bruce banner, clara oswin oswald, zz:status complete |
Unstoppable force, meet immovable object.
She looked like a ghost gliding down the hallways of Stark Tower. Instead of wearing a white sheet, however, her body was encased in copper colored alien metal. Oswin inspired a nervous sort of laughter in the other employees, but never too loud. They remembered the emergency protocols she set off just by entering the building. It was probably better not to laugh at something that could do that.
Oswin didn’t know how long she’d stay. Annie or Just-For-Men were cautious people. Oswin didn't want to be around them when the voices of angry daleks got bad.
Still. Oswin wasn’t finished with Stark Tower just yet. No one questioned where the robot as she glided through, carefully pushing with her body an unlocked laboratory door with a name that she hadn’t paid attention to. It looked state of the art -- which was very nearly saying something considering the time period Oswin came from. All of Stark Tower seemed fairly ahead of its time.
It was also neat -- another factor Oswin hadn’t paid any mind. Instead the eyestalk of the dalek focused solely on the room’s single occupant: a very good looking man in his mid to late thirties with dark hair, brooding eyes and a lovely purple button down shirt under his lab coat which complimented him perfectly.
“NOW THERE IS A MAN WHO KNOWS HOW TO USE A RAZOR.” Somewhere in a dream, a very human Oswin turned her head to the side trying to get the best look possible from her escape pod’s circular viewing screen. “HELLO, PRETTY BOY. YOU MIND SHARING THE ROOM FOR A BIT? I COULD USE THE EYE CANDY WHILE I TRY SOMETHING. I WON’T GET IN THE WAY, PROMISE! JUST NEED ACCESS TO YOUR COMPUTER -- OR WELL, ATTEMPTED ACCESS. NOT SURE IF I ACTUALLY CAN.”
The dalek moved toward the nearest desk with a PC. It’s arm which resembled a sink plunger had a telescopic extension which suctioned over the tower’s USB outlets.
Typically Bruce wasn't one to leave the sanctuary of his laboratory, the one place he felt solace and the one place where he knew he could be by himself. At least until Enigma was done working and came to parade around and entice him into sexual acts. That was always a highlight, he wasn't going to lie if anyone asked, but the time he had in the lab by himself he savored.
He wasn't up on the current affairs going on within the walls of the Tower, he didn't ask, nor did he really care. It wasn't his place to be involved in the business of things, he had Enigma for that considering she was the CEO and she knew pretty much everything that was going on. There wasn't really anything that girl didn't have her little fingers in when it came to Stark Tower, but Bruce didn't really mind who's business she was in as long as she was keeping her hands to herself.
They had walked that path already and it hadn’t ended well for the pair, or the city. He didn't want a repeat of that. Tony still didn't let him forget the fact that they'd had to extensively repair the tower after his outbreak, an act that made him hate himself every time he thought about it, but he figured he deserved to hear about it. He had been out of control, but for a very good reason.
No, they didn't need that here again. Not if Bruce wanted to stay, which he did.
Bruce heard the soft swing of the door as it opened, from where he was currently perching upon the stool in the lab next to his table which held all of the things he was currently working on. This one was a silencing device. His other contraptions sat neatly on a shelf not too far from the main table, within reach if he should stand and lean to the side. He rarely ever used anything but the solution container, and even then he typically made enough solution to last him months.
Not hearing the usual click of heels, or any comments pertaining to sex, Bruce got curious, set down the tools he had been holding but before he could turn, that's when he heard the foreign voice.
Of course the sight of the robot itself was enough to make Bruce jump just a little in his seat, it taking him completely by surprise. "Holy crap!" He breathed, taking a moment to allow his heart to settle, and remove the glasses from his face, setting the gold rimmed glasses on to a clear space atop the table.
"Uh, access? What is it you're looking for, exactly?" Bruce inquired, unsure about the sudden appearance of the robot. He was aware that Tony probably knew it was here, nothing got past Jarvis, the AI would've alerted his friend upon this robot breaching entrance into the building itself.
The fact that it was running around by itself wasn't surprising either. Tony had a way of letting things run their course. Mostly that man was curious. Tony had yet, still, to provoke the Hulk out of Bruce though that hadnt stopped him from trying.
He looked around slowly, to see if anyone was lurking around controlling this strange thing, before returning his attention to the robot.
This was turning out to be quite a strange day.
“MOSTLY? I’M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF I CAN EVEN USE YOUR TECHNOLOGY. DON’T GET ME WRONG, IT’S VERY AHEAD OF ITS TIME, JUST A TEENSY BIT ANTIQUATED COMPARED TO MY RIG.”
Oswin was pleasantly surprised to find out she could interact with the computer. Just enough to wake up the PC though it required a log in. Oswin, if given enough time, could probably hack it but that would have been rude.
“THERE A GUEST LOG IN, PRETTY BOY? WE COULD DO THIS THE HARD WAY, SOMETIMES THE HARD WAY IS FUN, BUT SEEING AS I AM A GUEST...”
Bruce listened to the monotone, robotic voice of the machine which was standing not too far from where he was sitting, finding it to be more and more fascinating with each word it spoke.
"We pretty much specialize in everything advanced around here." He explained, moving to stand slowly, sliding out of the lab coat, setting the coat over the back of the stool. He rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and approached the machine slowly, trying to get a better look at it.
"Nope, no guest log-in, but I can get you in. However of you're trying to hack the system or install viruses, that would be a very unwise action."
He wasn't giving her access because she was a guest, he was giving it to her because he wanted to see exactly what she could do.
"If you'll stand back for a minute, ill get you into the system." He said, politely, waiting for her to move so he could access the PC.
Once she had shifted enough, Bruce stepped over to the computer, typed in his username and the access code, which allowed them to see the main screen, after being greeted by the system with a simple "Welcome back, Dr.Banner" which flashed upon the screen before taking them to the home screen.
He stepped back slowly, then moved to the side, glancing over at her once his feet had stopped moving, curious as to what she was planning to do.
Not that she had feet, precisely. More like a base of some sort. It was impossible to see the mechanism that allowed her to move. Given how smoothly it moved over surfaces it looked like it might be some sort of hovering mechanism.
“POLITE, EASY ON THE EYES AND A DOCTOR. AREN’T YOU A CATCH?”
Regardless of Banner’s warning, Oswin had already started to create some sort of program. It was impossible at first to tell if it was a virus or something else. What was impressive was Oswin’s speed and ability to write in code. She was fast and as brilliant as any of the building’s resident geniuses.
Before she could be stopped, Oswin executed the ‘RUN’ command.
“TESTING, TESTING...” This time the voice didn’t come from the dalek, but from the computer’s speaker system. “TESting, test-- Ah, that’s much better don’t you think?”
Instead of sounding like a killer robot from a 1950s B-movie, the voice from the computer was human, young, female and had a not especially posh British accent.
“So, Pretty Boy, tell me about yourself.” Oswin was still refining the program so she could access it from any computer in Stark Tower remotely. She was vaguely aware of what her voice sounded like naturally without the assistance and it wasn’t especially pleasant.
Was this robot hitting on him? That was a new one. Of course he wasn't exactly sure as he wasn't familiar with courting, and how he had gotten lucky enough to land a bombshell like Enigma he will never figure out. He wasn't exactly shy, but he definitely didn't approach women in that sort of a manner, nor was he exactly a huge flirt, like his soon-to-be wife.
He wasn't exactly stupid when it came to such things either.
"Uh, I suppose so." He replied, to the robots question on if he would be considered a catch, knowing it was probably just teasing him.
The speed at which the robot worked was unlike anything Bruce had encountered previously in the City. It caused his brain to lock up temporarily, and for any words he'd been about to emit to stop dead.
When the voice began to seep from the speakers of the computer itself, Bruce almost regretted letting the machine have access. That was, at least until he heard the shift in the speech, as it went from that harsh monotone to something much easier on the ears.
Was it odd that the voice was almost attractive? That feminine sound, the accent, it was almost too much for his brain to comprehend, though finally it did start to work correctly.
"Well that's certainly different." Bruce commented, though it was a welcomed change. "I've never seen anything move that quick." He explained, still completely stumped by the robot itself.
When it asked about him, he cleared his throat and shrugged his shoulders, trying to figure out a good place to start. "Uh, well...as you saw I'm a doctor. Not a medical doctor, though I do dabble in medicine from time to time, but I refuse to claim that I have a medical degree of any kind." He explained, "People get the impression that I can diagnose them, so I generally don't flaunt the fact that there is a doctor infront of my name." He said, then smiled a little, "Which by the way is Bruce. My doctorate is in Nuclear Physics. I'm a scientist."
“Bruce? Lovely name, Bruce. I prefer Pretty Boy myself but if you’re going to insist...” The imaginary human shrugged. “Oswin Oswald, Junior Entertainment Manager for the Starliner Alaska. Although, considering what you’re looking at is all that’s left of the Alaska, I suppose I can stop introducing myself that way. Sounds a tiny bit more impressive than just Oswin Oswald, I suppose. You can call me Oswin.”
She kept working on the initial voice synthesizer program, making smaller tweaks here and there. Now if there was a way she could somehow alter her ship’s voice. Oswin sighed. At least she could take time to figure out how to make the alterations, now that she wasn’t captive on a planetwide asylum of deadly daleks.
“Shame I couldn’t invent this program in time for Stephen Hawking... It’s just the first version, but you’re welcome to keep it. Annie mentioned Stark Industries invents things. Think of it as a little thank you present for the hospitality.”
It didn't matter what the robot wanted to call him, he wasn't particularly concerned about nicknames, but it was a nice gesture that she was willing to use his actual name. "Oh, well, it doesn't matter what you want to call me, as long as its nice?" He replied, trying to be accepting of the pet name, though they had still only just met each other, and the fact that she was a robot.
"Just don't call me that in front of my fiancée. She might try to dismantle you or something." That was a fact.
Oswin? That was a new one. The name made Bruce smile a little, it was different and intriguing plus it seemed to fit the large robot perfectly. "Well, Oswin, it's my pleasure to meet you, and you should keep the title. It suits you." He was more humble, it was just his way, but he wasn't going to stop her from explaining who she was. Titles could make someone feel important, and she deserved that feeling. If she could feel.
"Yeah, Hawking would not have known what to make of you, I'm sure, but he would definitely have been grateful."
When she mentioned Stark Tower invented things, Bruce nodded, "Annie was right. We do invent things. Not weapons, but things that help people. Or robots." He explained, "And thanks for the program."
“Least I could do. Should be easy enough to create a variety of voices, but I’m quite partial to my own. Bit biased. Sadly the ship itself is a bit limited when it comes to sound and volume, actually. Sorry to hear about the fiancee. Don’t have much tolerance for jealousy myself. Don’t have much tolerance for fiancees, either. Probably go hand in hand, now that I think about it.”
Oswin minimized the program but kept it running.
“You mind if I look at some of the things you’re working on? Been a bit boring in here. Had to keep myself entertained for a little over a year now. Started talking to myself, too. Could use something to do...”
"Well, I'll leave the varying of voices to you. I'm not any good with code." He explained, shaking his head at her. Radiation, science, making things, math....all things he was good at. Oh, and he was good at destroying things too. But he wasn't that good at coding.
When she asked if she could look at the things he was working on, Bruce shrugged, then offered her a nod. "Uh sure. I'm always open for input. Especially when it's still just considered an idea." He replied, not seeing the harm in her looking at anything saved under his log in.
Oswin found the information on the serum first. She read almost as fast as she could write up code, and while she wouldn’t have been able to design anything like that herself she understood the basic premise of it. Who would need something like that?
It didn’t take long for Oswin to search through the rest of the files to find Banner’s personal information. Since he was actively looking for a cure for his delicate condition she wasn’t violating his privacy precisely. He did say she could look at what he was working on.
“Is this real? Really real? You’re a real life Jekyll and Hyde?”
Now that was fascinating.
Bruce had forgotten about the fact that his secret monster lay within the code and data stored in the memory of the computer.
That was, until Oswin mentioned it.
When that accented voice mentioned Jekyll and Hyde, Bruce emitted a sigh and made a face, before shrugging at her, "Uh, kind of. I hope more Jekyll than Hyde, but sometimes the Hyde gets out and cities are demolished. He's not very nice."
It was a hard story to tell, and he didn't want to burden her with facts, though she was a robot and he wasn't sure if he could burden her.
"It was an accident, I was working for the government and we were testing gamma radiation and the effects it would have on humans. We also created a gamma bomb, which exploded in the lab one night." He explained, giving her the gist of it, "And I am pretty much all that is left of the aftermath."
“Not to sound terribly insensitive but...”
Oswin imagined her human mouth grinning from ear to ear.
“...That’s amazing. Not just a little amazing, I mean, that is just... I mean, the destruction part is bad, sure. But... Jekyll and Hyde? A real life Jekyll and Hyde? I can see why you’d want a cure for that.”
Oswin tried to tone down her enthusiasm but failed to do so. Instead she changed the subject, “Joined the Alaska to see the universe. Ended up stuck in a shipwrecked the first time out. Still am, actually. Ended up here like the rest of you, but... Well you’re sort of amazing. Not sure I can help really -- not with the stuff you’re working on -- but I don’t mind being a sounding board.”
Bruce rolled his eyes upon her voice exclaiming that it was amazing. "Now you sound like Tony." He was glad people, and robots, appreciated his....other half, but he hated it. Loathed it, actually. It kept him from having a normal human existance. He had to watch his step, every where he went, and it was tiring.
"I appreciate the gesture, but you don't want any of that, I promise. Just...don't tell anyone, please. Not everyone knows. Everyone in the buildig knows, of course, but the people on the street....there are only a few that know, and even that isn't something I'd like to admit." Bruce said, though he had an idea that he could trust her. Otherwise he wouldn't have granted her access to the computer system.
"I'm sorry to hear you were shipwrecked." He said, honestly sorry that her ship hadn’t made it, especially on its first run.
“Your secret is safe with me, Pretty Boy.” Oswin smirked but he couldn’t see her imagined facial expressions. She was going to have to change that -- perhaps make some sort of animated avatar to represent her.
Oswin began writing another program, but this one was much more complicated than the first. Even if she could figure out someway to make a suitable avatar for herself to interact with the others, she didn’t trust she could animate it properly. It was a problem, a fun problem that gave her mind something else to do and distracted her.
The prototype, which opened up several minutes later in a new window, was a classic yellow smiley face.
“Hold on while I test this out...” When the imaginary Oswin made faces, the emoticon window changed expressions. There was about a one to two second delay, but it was a start. “Your fiancee won’t get too upset if I start making flirtatious emoticons at you?”
The emoticon on the screen turned into a wink.
“Or this...”
The screen turned to a kissy-face icon.
“This is fun...”
The emoticon smiled.
He was glad that the robot, Oswin, would keep his secret. She was seeming to become more and more human with each moment he gave her, and he wasn't regretting granting her access to his login to the computer system in the slightest.
He looked at the icon that had popped up on the screen, noting the yellow smiley face that had come up as a result of her programming with the code.
Upon her asking of his fiancée would be upset if she flirted with him, he nodded, "I think she would be pretty upset, robot or not."
He noticed the wink emoticon, then the kissy- face one, chuckling softly at them, "Thats...nice of you?" He said, not really sure how to take that. Enigma was not going to be happy at all.