estoria | and the daylight keeps moving

Entry tags:

hiro hamada,
zer0

and the daylight keeps moving

Who:

zerotohiro
When: IC 20/6, OOC 10/4.
Where: Edges of Cerealia.
What: This robot is awfully suspicious...
Rating/Warning: TBA!

[ there is no way zero is going to start up a robot from a source they don't recognize.

actually, even if they knew who sent it to them, they probably wouldn't turn it on. they keep the box locked up in a corner of one of their perches around the colony. even if someone were to find it, it wouldn't be much of a loss, since they're not using it, but perhaps they can find a use for it.

they call hiro with a time and an out of the way location and wait for confirmation. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Normally getting a mysterious phone call and being asked to meet a bounty hunter in a remote isolated location would probably make some people a little wary. Hiro, on the other hand, can't help but be curious what exactly it is that they could want to talk to him about.

So. He answers the call with a confirmation and immediately leaves a short time later to meet them in the designated area.

It's only when he arrives and finds them waiting for him that he really allows himself to wonder what's up and he folds his arms over his chest to stare almost incredulously.]

So what's with the mysterious phone call?

Question. [ one that couldn't be asked over the network. having met hiro here, they want to ask about the boxed robot they'd received, despite not using a permanent address. ] About a package I received today.

Can you take a look?

Let me guess...it just showed up on your doorstep out of nowhere and it's basically unmarked and suspicious. I think we all got one.

You wanna do this here or go somewhere else to pry this thing apart? [He's not picky. He's used to working in his workshop, but he can at least take Zer0 seriously.]

[ zero nods. the surprise delivery is not something zero appreciates or wants to keep, but if they can get some use out of it, they'll take it. ]

Private.

Thought so. [Can't say he blames them, and he considers the box for a moment before nodding slowly.] I've got a workshop at the tech shop. Grab the box and follow me there and we can take a look. All of my tools and stuff to take everything apart are there, too. You're not worried it's going to be something you won't like, are you?

[ zero bends down and picks up the box, balancing it against their front before they start walking. something they won't like? after a moment of consideration they shake their head. what they've heard, from the network and... maybe some eavesdropping, the boxes lead to having a double. and zero really is not down for that. ]

That makes my job way easier then. [There's a mischievous grin at that and he picks up the pace. Zero's a good foot taller than he is, at least. He trusts they can keep up with his speed. It isn't long before they reach the tech shop and Hiro leads them back to his personal workspace, shutting the door behind them to make sure they aren't disrupted. He clears space on the floor and gestures for them to put the box there as he eyeballs it.]

...this might be a stupid question, but you've got a weapon on you don't you?

[ as perhaps expected, zero's much longer limbs keep them up to hiro's pace as they travel.

after plopping the box down on the floor, they stand back, crossing their arms loosely. the box's delivery has really been bugging them, but the fact that there's apparently technology inside to create a double... that's even worse. but also, very interesting. and everything interesting comes with danger, so they nod in response to hiro's question. they always have a weapon on them. ]

Why?

Because--[And this is said as he grabs what looks like a crowbar, some screwdrivers, a hammer, and a few other items.]--if that thing in the box takes on a life of its own just from open-air exposure I'm gonna need back-up to take it out. We don't actually know what we're dealing with here.

[He's sizing up the box again before taking the crowbar to a corner of the box, prying the thing open only to discover...

...the metallic robot.]

...for all the hype, this actually doesn't look too bad. [He frowns, poking it incredulously with the crowbar.] I've always wanted to get my hands on some of CERES' more high-end tech.

[ it really doesn't look too bad. no visible turret guns or anything! then again, appearances can be deceiving... zero comes to stand by hiro and look down into the box. ]

You can have it. For a price.

[It's pretty devoid, but that's the most intriguing part. It's the part that makes Hiro want to pry it open and examine its guts, but he pauses in his examination when Zero towers over him and chimes in.]

Of course the bounty hunter has a price. [Maybe he shouldn't mouth off around said-bounty hunter.] What is it?

[ fair exchange and all that. or death. also an option. zero is quiet for a moment before elaborating. ]

Should you create some useful technology, I'd like to have first dibs.

Wait, that's it? [He's fairly surprised by such a simple request.] I mean yeah, it's your robot. Anything I make out of it should go back to you. [He uses a fist to knock on the robot's chest, carefully avoiding the activation button.]

Knowing CERES, there's going to be a ton of internal guts and wires I could try to use. [However.] What would you consider useful anyway?

[ zero perks up a little, back straightening. ]

Weaponry. Technology.

[ they could use all kinds of it. for distractions, for full-on attacks, for anything. ]

Technology I could definitely do, but I'm still honing my weaponry skills. [He seems to have an idea though and he grins slightly.] But I've got a girl who could probably help me out if I came up with an idea.

[He pauses again, staring at Zer0 for a moment.] You know what I'm capable of creating?

[ zero's seen baymax around, and searched the network for what was publicly available. but it's always good to hear what someone would say about themselves, so they tilt their head and wait. ]

[Give him a second, he's abandoning the robot for a moment to head to a storage cabinet. Opening it reveals Baymax's armor, plus his own flight suit. He's also grabbing a pair of glasses and slipping them on, along with holding up a set of blueprints for what look like rocket boots.]

I tend to make things that make people's lives easier and more efficient. I designed and built all of the armor for my team back home to enhance their durability, speed and strength. The rocket boots are for a friend who needs to jump higher and fall less. And these...[He taps the glasses.] Are something a little special that even our favorite higher-ups don't quite know about. And they'll never know about.

[CERES-blocking glasses.] I made a bigger machine for the Sanctuary, too. Some drawbacks, but I'm working on it. The point is I can probably create anything with the right materials.

[ zero scans the blueprint rapidly but the glasses are more interesting. they raise a hand slightly towards them, four fingers of their hand hovering close to hiro's face. ]

Impressive.

[ they pause for a second longer. they'd known about sanctuary, despite not being there for the information sharing session the last time. (listening around and asking chrollo for the main points had been enough at that point.) but hearing about the ocular implants, with their own unique makeup, has caused them great concern. ]

Where is the technology in these? [ the glasses. ] I may need it too.

[That's one of his favorite words, "impressive." He perks up a little but he doesn't mind when Zero reaches for the glasses so long as they don't take them off of his face. He purses his lips in though at the question, however.]

It's...kinda something I put together myself. Pick up some materials from the black market, start coding the frequency that would deflect and implanting it in the glass before creating the frames that would house the frequency. There's a reason it took a couple of months to make my first pair. What would you need it for?

[ zero brushes their fingertips over the frame, but doesn't take them. in response they tap the side of their helmet. ]

Oh. [He's surprised, but not entirely so. Of course that would make sense, and of course he's about to ask what's probably a stupid question, but...] Do you always wear that thing? Hard to do upgrades on it if it doesn't leave your head.

[Dude what are you hiding under there...]

I possess a spare that you can work with. Just this part—the facial plate.

[ and that wasn't an answer at all, but hey. what did hiro expect. zero's simply referring to the thin layer of the helmet that looks like a visor—any more than that is completely private; zero does the maintenance all themselves. it's definitely a risk to hand any part of their body armor over, but it's a risk zero feels they need to take. the anti-surveillance technology already in the visor isn't enough to defend against CERES' eyes.

~~and where is zero's ocular implant? we just don't know.~~ ]

Well yeah, that's the only part you can actually see out of. [Y'know. If they have eyes. Which Hiro's now starting to wonder since he absolutely caught on to the fact that Zero didn't really answer and brushed past it. That's okay, he thinks. This is still progress and it's still something of a challenge.] It shouldn't be that hard to work with something already made. Any idea what the plate's made out of material-wise?

[At this point, he'll do what he can to ensure safety for people. If they ask? He's more likely to do things for people.]

[ zero... shrugs. once hiro examines it he'll find that it's made of a high-grade compound, pressed surprisingly thin but highly durable. and see-through. but there are also optics technologies, certainly enough to replace any normal vision, embedded in the material.

if hiro wants to play with it, zero doesn't mind too much. but they're not going to volunteer the information, no. ]

I'll bring it to you. Thank you for the assistance—I can compensate.

[It'll be something worth exploring and he'll do his best not to break the helmet. But it's something, and he's oddly pleased that they trust him enough to do this.]

Sure. You know where I work now so...[A vague gesture to the workshop.] ...what if I said I wanted something besides money?

[ zero has money to burn at this point with the... work they do. but sure, they can offer other comopensation. they tilt their head slightly to show they're listening and wait. ]

I've got some people I'm making negotiations with. And...they're not exactly easy ones. It'd be a little easier if I had somebody I could possibly call a favor into if I need to. [It's vague. But if Zero can be vague, Hiro feels he can too.]

[ zer0's faceplate displays a marqueeing red ellipsis as they think. it blinks off a moment later. ]

Acceptable.

Then it's a deal. You leave it to me, I'll get you a helmet that works just like these. [He taps the glasses again before pulling them off of his face to set them on the desk.] And when the time's right, I'll call in on that favor. Give me a week or two. It might be a slightly different formula depending what the helmet and faceplate are made out of but I should make it work fine.

How do you test?

[ they're aware that people must be listening to them, and everyone else in the colony. but figuring out why it's happening, and when it isn't, is more difficult. ]

A lot like how I tested what I made in the Sanctuary. I've got a frequency tester to compare the readings with and without the deflectors in place. I could probably build a portable one if that's what you're worried about.

[ zer0 considers, again. what if the surveillance has masked frequencies? what if the frequency tester hiro makes isn't good enough?

well. they have their scanner to do some of the checks. a second one, however, would be a decent second step. ]

Yes.

[ it'll have to be enough for now. zer0 trusted the sanctuary for their first talk with chrollo about the information, so they'll trust this as much as they can. ]

I'll owe you.

Owe me when I make something that's up to your satisfaction. But you got it. Upgraded helmet and frequency tester. Give me a couple of weeks at most and I'll have the best gear possible for you.

In the meantime? I'm gonna check out what we can do with the rest of these robot parts, too.

[ zer0 gives him a quick smile(y face). ]

Look forward to it. Keep me posted—I'm watching. And fascinated.

That's not creepy at all, dude. [But he's a lot less worried about them than he was initially so that's some progress.] Don't worry. You'll be the first to know when I create something big.

[And it's true. In time, he'll contact Zer0 when he's finished. At least it's nice to know he has something of an alliance formed with them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

and the daylight keeps moving

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject