Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 7, 2010 22:42:34 GMT -5
Day 10, aboard Ship, Open to 'Cons
Lil' Scourge's former laboratory space has been redecorated. The equipment is now primarily black, with purple, neon green, and gold trim, to match the color scheme of the new owner, as well as lots of twisty bits, to match the way his mind works. Tiny arachnoid drones scurry to and fro on errands of their own. One of them sits inside a glass cage, brandishing a hypodermic syringe. Also inside the cage is a Pz-Zazzian rat analogue, cowering and hissing in a corner.
Tarantulas looms over the cage and flicks a switch on a nearby console. "Voice and holo-recording on. Trial number seventy-six. Experimental group Alpha. Control group has shown no adverse reaction to saline solution. Now injecting subject mammal with nanites in saline solution. This is nanite batch. . ." and here he turns his head to consult a datapad lying on the counter, "twenty-four." He motions with a golden claw and the tiny drone in the box scurries forward and injects its payload into the terrified rodent. Tarantulas watches the rat for a moment, then turns to look at a data readout screen.
"Nanites are dispersing into bloodstream. . .vital signs normal. Nanites diffusing into brain. . ." Here he looks anxiously at the rat then back at the computer screen. "Bonding to brain tissue, yes, yes!" There is much rubbing together of hands. "Subject's nervous system is under my complete control! Now I-" The readout, which had been beeping regularly, gives a single continuous tone. The spider looks into the cage at the rat, which is now motionless on the floor. "Anaphylactic shock. Again." His shoulders sag, and he stares silently at the rat in its glass box for a long moment. Then, with one swift motion of his arm, he sweeps the box, along with the rat and the drone inside, and two other drones that happened to be in the way, off the counter onto the floor, where the glass shatters. "Aaaaagh! Scrap it all to the Pit!"
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 12, 2010 5:28:11 GMT -5
The crash draws the attention of a wandering 'bot, who opens the door to investigate.
Oil Slick glances over the scene, observing what's there to view. Let's see... laboratory setup, smashed glass, dead animal. Presumably the glass comes from a container for the creature... Frustrated posture insinuates that this is an experiment gone wrong.
"...far be it from me to judge, but allowing yourself to get aggravated like that is not conducive to acquiring desired results in a timely manner."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 12, 2010 13:57:41 GMT -5
Tarantulas looks up at the cycleformer, giving him the evil eye. "Thank you for that little primer on proper scientific methodology. Seeing as I've gone through seventy-six test subjects and twenty-four different nanite designs, I think I'm entitled to be slightly frustrated." The spider turns back to his workbench, pauses, then turns to look up at Oil Slick again. "Your area of expertise is chemistry, yes?" The question is strained, as though the words are being wrenched out of him at great cost. Tarantulas hates to be doing something that's even vaguely similar to asking for help.
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 14, 2010 18:53:20 GMT -5
Oil Slick's eyebrow ridge quirks a bit at the stats offered to him. "Ah, yes, I can see how that could be a motivation for frustration, yes."
A smirk crosses the cycle's face as he watches his comrade struggle with asking for assistance. Curious, this. "Yes, I am quite the chemist, if I do say so myself. However..." he glances at the subject. "I have no experience in working with organic creatures."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 14, 2010 23:44:43 GMT -5
Tarantulas waves a hand dismissively. "Organics are simple enough. I've got data if you need it. At any rate, my problem is one of nanoscale chemical engineering, not of the organics themselves. It's these blasted nanites." The spider turns and keys in a sequence on the nearby computer, bringing up a rotating holographic display of what is either a very tiny robot or a very large molecule. "They're meant to bond with the subject's central nervous system to control its actions, but the subjects keep going into anaphylactic shock. In case you're not familiar with the term," and here Tarantulas's tone makes it clear that he's sure Oil Slick isn't familiar, and that only a very poor sort of mad scientist wouldn't be, "it means they have an allergic reaction severe enough to kill them. I've tried coating them with different materials, but nothing works."
Meanwhile the fleet of tiny arachnoid drones begins cleaning up the mess their maker has made on the floor.
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 15, 2010 0:16:04 GMT -5
"Allergic reaction..." Oil Slick murmurs to himself, kneeling down after stepping in to see better.
The cycleformer cocks an eyebrowridge at the spider, but it's mostly hidden by his dome. Talk down to the guy you're asking for help, eh?
"Clearly, one of two things is needed - a coating that will either nullify the reaction, or not trigger the immune system's reaction at all..."
He glances over at the drones cleaning up the rat, making a bit of a face. "Though I fail to see the reason to control pestilence."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 15, 2010 21:24:44 GMT -5
Tarantulas isn't asking for help, since that's something he would never do. He just asked if Oil Slick was a chemist, is all. If the cycleformer just happens to offer to help, though, Tarantulas might deign to accept.
"Clearly, yes. I've tried coatings of different compositions and molecular structures, but the subjects keep detecting them as an antigen." The spider looks up at Oil Slick and raises half of his optic band. "These are just test organisms. They're easier to acquire and keep. Once these trials show satisfactory results, I'll move on to testing on sentients."
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 21, 2010 16:37:57 GMT -5
"...ah, right," Oil Slick answers. "What I'm accustomed to working with is generally alterations of compounds with established functionality - testing is done in the field rather than on things like this," he adds, motioning to the rat. "Of course, I develop chemical weapons - any non-intended ill effects are generally a bonus." If Tarantulas is looking close, he might see a devious grin behind Oil Slick's headbubble.
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 21, 2010 21:05:54 GMT -5
"I would prefer field tests myself, but I don't relish the thought of Hellbender being dispatched to smash me to bits when the Pz-Zazzian population caught wind of it." Tarantulas manipulates the keypad again and the the hologram of the nanite switches to a video of the assembly process. "Anyway, synthesizing a compound to kill organics is easy. Creating a strain of nanites to turn a civilian population into a zombie army that the Autobots will refuse to use lethal force on is so much more delicious."
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 26, 2010 6:31:12 GMT -5
Oil Slick chuckles at the spider's reply. "Of course, of course - that's why one must take measures to have a good alibi and do things from a distance - or in disguise. You only get in trouble if you are caught. Thus, take measures to conceal yourself, or to silence the appropriate parties."
Then the spider changes topics, and Oil Slick takes a look at the video, and considers the other scientist's plan. "A wonderfully nefarious plan, that. I'm surprised it's difficult as it is to find something that they don't resist, though - I've never been on such a polluted planet before. One would think the tolerances to the toxins would make this easier. Have you attempted utilizing local compounds for your coating? Perhaps an autopsy of your subjects may be in order to see what tolerances they've built up..."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 26, 2010 12:37:09 GMT -5
Tarantulas nods. "I've performed a few autopsies, but haven't turned up anything conclusive. Sadly, I haven't had time yet for any vivisections. Work now, play later." He sighs. "Using local compounds may provide a solution, but we'd still need something that could cross the blood/brain barrier." Yes, Tarantulas said "we." And he didn't even notice. "Not to mention I'm way down on the priority list for using the equipment. We only have one UV spectrometer but three autoclaves. How does that make sense?!"
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 27, 2010 16:16:10 GMT -5
Oil Slick ponders, tapping a claw against his dome. "Hmn. Now that I think of it, perhaps investigation into local pharmaceuticals is in order, then - if we focus too much on the poisons, that could have a negative effect - namely, shortening the lives of your potential minions."
"As for the imbalance of equipment, we must equip ourself in regards to need - as much as our comrades injure themselves, the autoclaves are needed more to keep our tools clean." Oil Slick frowns slightly. "Annoying, but needed."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 27, 2010 21:03:09 GMT -5
"I was planetside shopping for equipment, but I ran into Silverbolt and one of his friends, which cut short my excursion." Technically Tarantulas went looking for Silverbolt, but it doesn't pay to get bogged down in details. "The problem is finding something that'll work over a wide range of species, given how cosmopolitan Pz-Zazz is. I suppose I'll have to make another trip down. I'm starting to run out of test subjects anyway."
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Oil Slick
Rookie
Pharmacists do it over the counter.
100ccs of Pure Evil
Posts: 247
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Post by Oil Slick on Apr 28, 2010 18:20:22 GMT -5
Oil Slick rises up to full height again, arms folded. How he's doing with with big spikes sticking out, don't ask.
"If you are not opposed to assistance, I can do a bit of investigating myself. I've managed to pass myself off as a doctor once, I suppose I can do it again. The fools on this planet are incredibly dense." A light grin. "While not my general way of doing things, I must say your plan intrigues me, and I do desire to see how it plays out."
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Tarantulas
Minor
The not-so-friendly neighborhood spider-man
Posts: 398
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Post by Tarantulas on Apr 29, 2010 0:32:33 GMT -5
"I suppose a little assistance wouldn't be amiss." Tarantulas turns and looks up to keep optic contact at Oil Slick as the other transformer stands up. "Fools everywhere are incredibly dense. Try being stranded on a doomed planet with a bunch of them. And inscrutable aliens watching your every move like you're nothing more than an interesting contaminant in their petri dish that they're going to watch for a while before they apply the antibiotics." Bitter? Of course not.
"Let me know when you're heading down to the planet, I'll accompany you." Because even though Tarantulas doesn't want to be beholden to larger 'Cons to be safe from getting stepped on by Autobots, he's not going to look a gift motorcycle in the mouth.
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