theairlock | Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

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Ask Some Questions, Get Some Answers (?)

[The Stardust Nebula is a large cloud, sprawling pink and purple across the dark void of space as you approach. There are no planets here, not even a planetoid, but that hardly means it’s devoid of life. Kip will easily be able to navigate to the place in question, a small collection of interconnected spaceports orbiting near the edge of one of the nebula’s hazy, rose-tinted tendrils. Floating signs hooked to these advertise “AIRLOCKED! Q&A”, with arrows leading towards what appears to be a convention center. A dome encloses the area, much like the one around the Fantasy Sweet, but there does not appear to be any kind of security restrictions on the port; it will open as soon as any ship pulls up to it.

Inside, there aren’t too many inconspicuous places to park your weird flotilla of offensively-shaped ships. You may just have to settle for the back of the docks, behind a large news van or something like that, and consider not sticking around the entire time. Getting inside was a quick process, so you shouldn’t have any trouble doing it again, especially with a military navigator staying with the ship. A line has already formed in front of the entrance, at least partially due to the scanners flanking the door. A large weirdly baby-faced alien in some type of uniform is standing there, apparently manning the machine, checking peoples’ belongings, and generally directing them. There’s an unfamiliar symbol on their uniform, clearly not the InterGal 7 logo. Despite being alone, they seem to be handling the line fairly efficiently - even if they occasionally appear to intentionally loom over some of the smaller aliens attempting to enter. There are a few cosplayers among the crowd, of course, but this time the majority are in plainclothes.

Some people are skipping this line and walking around to the back of the building. They’re all wearing or carrying badges, which do have the InterGal 7 logo on them.

For the moment, no one seems to have taken notice of your arrival.]

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[Not at all, really.]

Oh, I see. I must have forgotten seeing you in the past hour. How absent-minded! [That's not a happy smile at all.] Is the Temerity outside right now?

[Shit.]

[Okay, carefully...]

Sorry, not sure what you mean. If any of the other actors are showing up, they haven't told US, that'd be a bloody brilliant surprise, though-

[Shit shit shit shit shit.]

[Feces.]

[Oh, no, oh, no. Yurika's hand goes to the baton she isn't wearing on her belt and one phrase crosses her mind.]

"Consciousness in the Digital World..."

Excuse me? [Yl'lb seems to bristle at Yurika's random outburst despite having no body hair.] If she isn't here, then what -

[He cuts himself off, looking annoyed as he looks up at the monitor.

"What's the future you would have wished for your Airlocked characters?"

He sighs again and pokes a few things on his tablet. After a second, he snorts.] Morbid sense of humor... [Done. He turns his attention back to the Doctor. The second's pause seems to have allowed him to collect himself, and his tone is carefully level again.

What do you want?

...Yeah, all right.

[Fine. This is fine. They're caught. FINE.]

[He lowers his shades a little to actually meet Yl'lb's eyes.]

Better question, why's the man who wants to educate the galaxy on board with something like this? I'll answer yours if you answer mine, yeah?

[Yurika rubs the back of her head.] Sorry, I just thought of your article all of a sudden! That's what it was called, wasn't it?

[Motioning to the Doctor -- you know, that article. From the list.]

Edited 2017-07-21 21:22 (UTC)

Exactly. About the kind of research it'd take to, say, host a bunch of sentient minds in a virtual reality simulation for an extended period. Hypothetically.

[Yl'lb darts a glance between them, and is silent for a moment.]

...I...co-authored that, and you obviously did not read it. You... [He looks the Doctor up and down, as if inspecting him, then looks around the area.] Are you even supposed to be here?

Been a bit busy, planning for this little shindig.

[So... probably not actually on the side of IG7? Hopefully. That bowtie looks shifty.]

...And yes and no. We're pretty sure the studio expected us to turn up, but we'd really prefer it if they think we didn't for as long as possible.

So question for a question - who or what exactly is out on that stage.

[s i g h]

This is a big misunderstanding, isn't it.

Oh my god...

[He shifts suddenly, folding one arm across his chest and facepalming with the other. He needs a second here.

When he starts talking again, it's in a much more familiar explanatory cadence.]

Listen. I'm sorry if InterGal screwed you out of this publicity appearance. I have no long-term business association with them anymore, so if you have any complaints, you need to take it up with one of their representatives. You should consider getting a lawyer.

But I have accepted a very short-term contract, and I intend to uphold my end. [He touches the side of the tablet, drawing it to float along with him as he starts to walk over to the other side of the backstage area.] So please, just leave this alone. If they don't catch you trespassing, they'll have less to hold over your head.

...ah.

[Shit.]

This again.

[Yurika just shakes her head.]

Mr. Ein, I'm really sorry about this. There's been a misunderstanding, and by that I mean an actual misunderstanding and not the "someone's complaining at not getting what they want" kind of misunderstanding? Sorry to bother you, I know you're not in charge here.

Yeah, we're not interested in more publicity, trust me.

Really, like I said - we just want to know who or what exactly is onstage there. They wouldn't need you if it were just actors, yeah?

[Ugh oh my god why can't you people leave him alone? He ]

I imagine InterGal burned their bridges there as well? It's their one great talent. Those are -

Mr. Ein?

[A security guard walks up behind him from onstage, something hulking and furry and not wearing the same insignia as York, Moses, and their trainee. Probably private security.

Yl'lb freezes up, looking for all the world like he's the one who's just been caught at something, but his expression shifts quickly back to something as sharp and cold as he was behaving when you first spoke to him.]

Are these people bothering you?

[Are they being menaced by a Wookiee.]

[Chewie, how could you.]

[...but more importantly, is that insignia one the Doctor would recognize?]

[Nope.]

...yes. [Yl'lb hesitates for only a second, taking a careful step away from the guard as he turns to make his reply.] I believe they've sneaked in. If you could please remove them?

[He smiles, though the line of his back is stiff and tense, before he turns to walk with long, quick strides away from the entire affair. As he passes Yurika, he whispers to her:]

Call a lawyer.

[Whatever's on that tablet is important, he's sure. He's got the sonic in easy reach, in his pocket. He could set off the fire systems, grab the tablet and run... or shut it off remotely, cancel out whatever it's doing with the stage show, then do the same.]

[But the others are still out there. Church is still here, somewhere backstage.

[They really should've had some kind of signal set up for this besides just screaming. Regardless, they need more time.]

Right to the lawyers? That ought to be interesting. You're willing to legally stand behind what they've got you doing, then? Or did they tell you not to worry about that part of the fine print in your contract. Y'really need to read that stuff carefully, Yl'lb, smart boy like you should know what you're actually doing, legally.

[Yurika gives a nervous laugh and nods.]

He's got a point. There's more behind this... Though wait, just one thing. If you weren't waiting for us, then what were you waiting for?

She's right, might as well say it now. Whatever NDA they made you sign won't matter once you're under oath, and I can guarantee that this'll escalate that far anyway.

[The reaction is immediate: Yl'lb sucks in a sharp gasp, blanching like he's just been slapped in the face.]

You... [It comes out of him in a shocked breath. He'd relaxed for a second there...]

[...now that's over.]

Get them out. [He signals to the guard, who is about to grab the Doctor and Yurika both. In a lower tone, he adds:]

You're that willing to stand behind what she did? She will turn on you the second it's convenient. Don't you dare come to me when she does.

[And he turns on his heel and stalks off. Bye, motherfuckers.]

Who's she-

[And. This is happening.]

[The Doctor spares a second's glance over at the last place he saw Church, hoping he was paying some kind of attention.]

Ah. Well. Yurika, looks like we'll have to wait to see Dr. Ein's work later. For now-

[He draws out the sonic, pointing it at the TV displaying the event and blasting a frequency that should cause it -only it, hopefully- to short out rather spectacularly.]

RUN-

[And grabbing at Yurika's hand and, in grand Timelord tradition, legging it away from the hulking maybe-Wookiee.]

[Luckily, Yl'lb has already vanished through a backstage door, because security has a definite reaction to the TV shorting out.

It is not a friendly reaction.]

STOP! [The maybe-Wookie is charging after you. He is entirely willing to tackle both of you to the ground if he comes within range.]

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