07-11-2016, 09:46 PM
"Yes, of course," Dr. Neufeld said, one eyebrow raised as she leveled him with a dubious look. "In any case, during this procedure you will be monitored very closely. Health concerns and the like, you understand. It will push you to your limits— but, it will also make you stronger."
Turning in a swish of clothing and the faint smell of disinfectant, the woman threw over her shoulder with a smile, "Anything else is classified information! But, since you've already agreed, let's examine the facilities, shall we?"
Her shoes clicked loudly against the white linoleum floors when she walked, only pausing once they had reached an elevator. The two boarded and, after Neufeld had selected a button inconspicuously left unmarked, began to descend slowly downwards as the contraption jolted into movement.
Lights and wide-spanning rooms filled with the hiss and clang of machinery rushed past, casting long shadows across the elevator floor. A plummeting sensation that never failed to make Neufeld nauseous came and went, careening up towards the ceiling and taking her stomach with it. Figuratively, of course.
After whisking them past an unknown amount of floors,— it had all passed them by in an inconceivable blur— the elevator doors slid open with a pleasant chime. Stepping out, Neufeld tugged her lab coat more tightly around her shoulders against a slight draft before motioning for Ricky to follow her once again, footsteps echoing down the long hallway.
There were dozens of completely identical doorways lining the hall, the doors curiously inlaid with sturdy metal bolts. Some even had observation windows, although if one were to look inside they would simply be met with the sight of an empty room, a blandly-colored cot and latrine making up the entirety of the furnishings inside. Not a spot of color was visible on anything; only whites, greys and vague metallic tones were present.
Arriving at one door that was slightly different from all the rest in that it already had Ricky's name labelling it, Neufeld turned towards him. She was still smiling, but it was a bit strange now. Almost forced.
"Now then," she said, shouldering the door open to reveal an empty room. "This is where you will be sleeping and eating during your stay here. Isn't it cozy? Mine are just the same! You don't have to concern yourself with that right now, though— there is plenty more for me to show you!" Retreating from the door a step, Neufeld let it swing shut with a loud clang! before continuing on down the hallway. After a moment of hesitation, Ricky followed.
It was only a minute or two of walking, but it felt like ages. Pausing to take a quick breather beside the large door at the end of the hall, Neufeld pressed a seemingly random pattern of buttons on its keypad before leaning in for a lightning-quick eye scan. The door hissed open, letting the chilly air from inside waft over them, voices and the loud shuffling of papers and feet flowing outward.
"This is the testing facility," Neufeld said, footsteps echoing as she strode over towards where over a dozen other scientists and researchers were bustling around, test tubes and computers and all sorts of advanced tech being examined and passed around. Lines and lines of desks and private cubicles snaked around the room in a wide circle.
Originating from somewhere, a puff of vibrant green smoke jetted into the air, setting off more than a few angry shouts. Neufeld sighed. "It also happens to be where our main labs are situated."
The doctor walked over towards a specific area through all the chaos, rifling through a stack of forms before she came up with a slightly smaller stack of papers. Reaching over to pluck a pair of eyeglasses from atop the resplendent mess, Neufeld leaned her back against the desk. "Now, about your pay—"
"Ah, Neufeld! Who is your friend?" A boisterous shout cut in before she could finish, a bearded man who looked like a hobo version of Bill Nye the Science Guy making his way over. It was a massive undertaking: he had to dodge around at least four people laden down with steaming test tubes lest he risk chemical burns.
Dr. Neufeld's lips thinned into a perfect line, smile fading at once. She shot Ricky an exasperated glance. "Not now, Glotz. We're discussing payment."
"Oh?" the man, Glotz, asked. He grinned at Ricky, excitedly clasping his hand in a firm handshake. "It's so great to finally have a willing Prime on board! Criminals and rebels just won't cut it someti— oof!"
Glaring, Dr. Neufeld removed her elbow from the vicinity of Glotz's kidney. He only had just the one, after what had happened last time. "What he means to say is, Primes are usually so arrogant, not at all willing to put even an ounce of their immortality into benefitting the local populace. You're doing a great service to Coruscant simply by being here. Isn't he, Glotz?"
"Yeah," Glotz managed to wheeze, straightening up the best he could. "I just, uh, wanted to come over and suggest trying out this thing we built. It's a simulation program. You get to fight robot hordes that spit fire."
"Fire," Neufeld repeated. She didn't sound impressed.
"A-and other things!" Glotz defended. He gestured over towards where a few people in white lab coats were assembling the simulation chamber, a large cube the size of an entire room with a door on its side. "They can mimic memories, too— friends or even worst enemies seem to be attacking you, but they're really just the simbots. It's pretty rad, if I do say so myself."
"Hmm," the brown-haired doctor hummed, seeming unsure. She glanced at Ricky. "Well, how about it? We can always handle the paperwork later."
Turning in a swish of clothing and the faint smell of disinfectant, the woman threw over her shoulder with a smile, "Anything else is classified information! But, since you've already agreed, let's examine the facilities, shall we?"
Her shoes clicked loudly against the white linoleum floors when she walked, only pausing once they had reached an elevator. The two boarded and, after Neufeld had selected a button inconspicuously left unmarked, began to descend slowly downwards as the contraption jolted into movement.
Lights and wide-spanning rooms filled with the hiss and clang of machinery rushed past, casting long shadows across the elevator floor. A plummeting sensation that never failed to make Neufeld nauseous came and went, careening up towards the ceiling and taking her stomach with it. Figuratively, of course.
After whisking them past an unknown amount of floors,— it had all passed them by in an inconceivable blur— the elevator doors slid open with a pleasant chime. Stepping out, Neufeld tugged her lab coat more tightly around her shoulders against a slight draft before motioning for Ricky to follow her once again, footsteps echoing down the long hallway.
There were dozens of completely identical doorways lining the hall, the doors curiously inlaid with sturdy metal bolts. Some even had observation windows, although if one were to look inside they would simply be met with the sight of an empty room, a blandly-colored cot and latrine making up the entirety of the furnishings inside. Not a spot of color was visible on anything; only whites, greys and vague metallic tones were present.
Arriving at one door that was slightly different from all the rest in that it already had Ricky's name labelling it, Neufeld turned towards him. She was still smiling, but it was a bit strange now. Almost forced.
"Now then," she said, shouldering the door open to reveal an empty room. "This is where you will be sleeping and eating during your stay here. Isn't it cozy? Mine are just the same! You don't have to concern yourself with that right now, though— there is plenty more for me to show you!" Retreating from the door a step, Neufeld let it swing shut with a loud clang! before continuing on down the hallway. After a moment of hesitation, Ricky followed.
It was only a minute or two of walking, but it felt like ages. Pausing to take a quick breather beside the large door at the end of the hall, Neufeld pressed a seemingly random pattern of buttons on its keypad before leaning in for a lightning-quick eye scan. The door hissed open, letting the chilly air from inside waft over them, voices and the loud shuffling of papers and feet flowing outward.
"This is the testing facility," Neufeld said, footsteps echoing as she strode over towards where over a dozen other scientists and researchers were bustling around, test tubes and computers and all sorts of advanced tech being examined and passed around. Lines and lines of desks and private cubicles snaked around the room in a wide circle.
Originating from somewhere, a puff of vibrant green smoke jetted into the air, setting off more than a few angry shouts. Neufeld sighed. "It also happens to be where our main labs are situated."
The doctor walked over towards a specific area through all the chaos, rifling through a stack of forms before she came up with a slightly smaller stack of papers. Reaching over to pluck a pair of eyeglasses from atop the resplendent mess, Neufeld leaned her back against the desk. "Now, about your pay—"
"Ah, Neufeld! Who is your friend?" A boisterous shout cut in before she could finish, a bearded man who looked like a hobo version of Bill Nye the Science Guy making his way over. It was a massive undertaking: he had to dodge around at least four people laden down with steaming test tubes lest he risk chemical burns.
Dr. Neufeld's lips thinned into a perfect line, smile fading at once. She shot Ricky an exasperated glance. "Not now, Glotz. We're discussing payment."
"Oh?" the man, Glotz, asked. He grinned at Ricky, excitedly clasping his hand in a firm handshake. "It's so great to finally have a willing Prime on board! Criminals and rebels just won't cut it someti— oof!"
Glaring, Dr. Neufeld removed her elbow from the vicinity of Glotz's kidney. He only had just the one, after what had happened last time. "What he means to say is, Primes are usually so arrogant, not at all willing to put even an ounce of their immortality into benefitting the local populace. You're doing a great service to Coruscant simply by being here. Isn't he, Glotz?"
"Yeah," Glotz managed to wheeze, straightening up the best he could. "I just, uh, wanted to come over and suggest trying out this thing we built. It's a simulation program. You get to fight robot hordes that spit fire."
"Fire," Neufeld repeated. She didn't sound impressed.
"A-and other things!" Glotz defended. He gestured over towards where a few people in white lab coats were assembling the simulation chamber, a large cube the size of an entire room with a door on its side. "They can mimic memories, too— friends or even worst enemies seem to be attacking you, but they're really just the simbots. It's pretty rad, if I do say so myself."
"Hmm," the brown-haired doctor hummed, seeming unsure. She glanced at Ricky. "Well, how about it? We can always handle the paperwork later."