mental link, day...36? sure.

[headinjuries]

[ Technically, it came up a few days ago, but Sam's been letting something bounce around in his head to see if the possibility gets less troublesome after he sleeps on it. And sleeps on it a couple more times.

or he's just saying it late so the newbies can hear it too, w/e

It's not getting any less freaky. So, out of left field: ]

( So if aliens can hack our emotions, do we...actually know they can't mess with everything else? Memories? Are we actually who we think we are?

What if there is no spoon? )

Comments

[greentech]

( I guess. I still need to figure out how their network works. They've probably got a dozen different kinds of information security I've never seen before. )

[ There's a mental sigh. This is her giving in. For now. ]

( Any projects you're working on? )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( Hell yeah, that's the kind of thing I'm talking about. Will you let me know if you find anything out? )

[ He appreciates it, really. They don't need to freak anyone else out. ]

( A couple, yeah. Why, you looking for more things to do? )

[greentech]

( Will do. Maybe I can put together a list... )

[ There's a pause and she sends a mental shrug in his direction. ]

( Honestly? Yeah. I'd rather be busy then spend too much time overthinking things. )

private

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ And Sam's just going to zero in on their brood link now, because he doesn't mind talking to Pidge about this stuff, but he's not sure he wants to broadcast it across the Nest. ]

( All right, yeah, I got a couple of things I could use some help with. First one's pretty easy - my symbiote ability is healing people, but it's pretty out of control right about now. You get injured or tired or sick or anything, can you give me a nudge so I can come fix it? Won't hurt, I promise, I'm just trying to figure out how it works.

Second, I got some tech from back home that I could use a hand with. Interested in taking a look? )

[greentech]

( Well - sure, I can do that. I'm not exactly an injury magnet, but if something pops up, I can tell you.

Second: sure! I'd love to! )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( Appreciate it, sister, you'd be doing me a favor. And the second - you got some time now? )

[greentech]

( Yeah, sure. What do you want me to look at? )

[sizeofyourbaggage]

( Clint's probably off in an air duct somewhere right about now, swing on by our room and I'll show you? )

[greentech]

( Sure. Which number are you? )

[ Already on the way. ]

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Sam rattles off the number, and by the time she arrives, he's got his pack out - only minus his Redwing drone, and it's pretty obvious there's something missing to anyone who looks close. ]

I know its ends and outs and I can generally handle upkeep myself, but my knowledge of tech is pretty much limited to, well, just this.

[greentech]

Oh, wow-

[ Pidge's eyes practically sparkle as she gets a good look at the pack. She's over to it from the door in a hot minute, immediately getting very hands on and examining it, trying to get a look at the thing from all angles. ]

Is this some sort of flight assistant? It looks like it's missing something - I think I can handle this. I mean, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. What's it even run off of-?

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Unlike the last time someone who wasn't him had their hands all over his gear, there's no sense anger or invasion - part because it'd been something he asked for instead of something taken from him, and part because he does actually trust Pidge. He wouldn't have asked to her look at them otherwise, not when they're more a part of him than they are just some tech he happens to use.

And he grins a little at the sparkle in her eyes, pleased to see they're appreciated, even if it's not quite the same way he appreciates them. ]

They're my wings, and yeah, Redwing is missing. It's, uh. Part propulsion, part muscle movement, part cybernetic, and - well, it'll probably be easier to show you, are you okay if I drop my shields a little to let you see?

[greentech]

[ "Drop my shields". Pidge pauses and gives him a quick look. She's done this with Bruce. She can do this with him. Right? She lifts her shoulders in a shrug and then nods. ]

Yeah. Go for it.

[ She's still cautious, though, and she's trying not to let herself get overwhelmed by anything. ]

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Fortunately, by now Sam is pretty good at letting only what he wants through his shields, especially in a controlled environment like this. So he drops them just enough to show her brief clips of memories of Redwing flying, and of himself using the wings. The smallest traces of affection and loss come through on Redwing, adrenaline on the others - it's hard to separate the emotions from the memories - but it's quick, and gone as he visualizes his shields again. ]

Do you think you could make something like Redwing?

[greentech]

[ Pidge is reminded of Rover, for some reason. Poor little guy. She examines the memory - it's not really hers, so it feels a bit strange. She frowns to herself, considering. ]

I could probably build the drone easily enough. I don't know about programming it, though. That might take some more effort.