10392/The Panacea Project: Theta-4 Recon

The Panacea Project: Theta-4 Recon
Date of Scene:	11 December 2019
Location:	Theta-4
Synopsis:	Lyle and Alex set out to ascertain the situation with COMPUTO, and it's not good!
Cast of Characters:	Mon-El, Invisible Kid, Zero-G
Tinyplot:	The Panacea Project

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Mon-El has posed:
    According to the files gleaned from Astrix Innovations' abandoned lab, the company had recently spent a good chunk of its finances on an orbital facility in the nearby system Theta-4.  The system is composed of a small star with a few planetoids in orbit in addition to the facility itself.
    A bit of rifling through the data, and Lyle would have been able to dig up some blueprints of the place.  Sure enough, it was a factory that was mainly equipped for mass-production of nanoscale materials.  A bit more investigating, and he might get wind of the fact that several groups/individuals that had since placed orders for products supposedly to be manufactured there were getting concerned, even irate, that their orders had not been delivered upon and their attempts to contact had been completely ignored…

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Well, the simple truth is, what Brainy said is right: if Lyle feels it's necessary for him to dart off on his own… he will.
    Except.
    Except that the Legion is out of it's own time and terrifically short handed and the new members need a much condensed training regimen.  Therefore….
    "The main thing is, we're here to gather intelligence," Invisible Kid explains.  "If at all humanly, or even metahumanly possible, we want to avoid engaging.  Especially since dealing with COMPUTO is about as fun as a leisurely stroll in a snot hailstorm without an umbrella."
    He doesn't sound like he's kidding.
    "So the plan is to get in, get info, get out."  He pauses a moment, then adds, "Normally, I would do this solo, but we don't have that luxury, Zee-Gee.  We don't have our Academy in this era, so we have to do our training the old-fashioned way.  Fortunately, I know you're not new to heroing, but you are new to the Legion way of doing things.  I think we can get you up to speed pretty quick, though."  Grin.

Zero-G has posed:
    "You have an Academy for this stuff?" Zero-G asks, tugging at the altered Legionnaire/Kymellian costume that Brainy engineered for him personally, before he left.  It has the same general capabilities advanced by technology centuries into the future.  "Considering you guys are way more competent than my family team, I guess that makes sense."  He says nothing on professionalism, though, and matches Lyle's sly smile.
    "I'm here to learn anything you can teach me."  His brows come together.  "Speaking of which, what is COMPUTO and how did Astrix Innovations get ahold of it?  I read Saturn Girl's report, but she wasn't exactly writing for newbies."

Invisible Kid has posed:
    "We do—or at least we will in a thousand years.  Our base is an artificial planetoid in the Moon's L4 point; our old planetside HQ was… uh, will be repurposed into the Legion Academy.  As for COMPUTO…."
    Invisible Kid sighs.
    "COMPUTO was a creation of Brainy's," he finally says.  "And it went rogue.  Which was not Brainy's fault.  But he has kind of a fraught history with AIs.  I'm starting to think that all AIs are unstable, that's how bad our luck with them goes.  And Brainy's no idiot.  sO I'm inclined to think there might be something inherently unstable about AIs."
    As the Astrix building comes into sight, Invisible Kid kills the lights and the forward momentum in the spacecraft.  "And the other bad news is that Astrix was smart enough to be able to hack into our systems," Invisible Kid adds, sounding personally affronted.  "So we're dealing with at least one, and probably two, insane geniuses."  He adds, after a moment and with a slightly sour look on his face, "Only one of whom we're allowed to terminate with extreme yee-haw."

Mon-El has posed:
    The facility looks like an oblong, cylindrically shaped structure surrounded by several rotating rings, with various bits of machinery oscillating inside of them.  Drones flit in and out of various openings.  There are a number of docking areas and ports scattered about the inner structure, and it seems thus far to overall be accurate to the blueprints they obtained from Astrix's lab.

Zero-G has posed:
    "Friday's AI is perfectly benevolent," Zero-G notes with a frown, talking about the sentience controlling his personal cruiser.  "Maybe it's part of his 'mad scientist' persona."  He settles into the co-pilot chair and pulls up a layout of the space station.  "What information are we looking for?  It doesn't look abandoned like this space station, even if they aren't responding to their consumers."

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Invisible Kid's tone isn't short or sharp, but it is quite certain.  "'Perfectly benevolent' is right up there with a perfect gas or a perfect conductor—it doesn't exist.  At least not in my experience.  Querl… uh, Brainy has his moments, but he's not malicious.  I do believe that if he had any reason to think COMPUTO would go as nuts as it did, he wouldn't have built it."
    He studies the schematics, and decides on a two-pronged attack—or at least a two-pronged sneak-up-on.  "Here's what we're going to do," he says, tapping out a few commands.  "First I'm going to see if I can hack into the station's systems to make them not notice us.  And send a backup signal to their computer when we dock over… hm… over there," he says, pointing, "that that dock is not in use even after we dock with it.  And then… well, then we sneak on board and look for any information we can find.  I want to know what Astrix was looking for when he hacked us.  I want to know what technoloqy he was working on when COMPUTO hijacked it.  And I want to sprocking well know what exploit he used to get into our systems so I can pave it over with neutronium."  That last sentence, okay, that's said with a little bitterness.

Mon-El has posed:
    The facility is quite large, so sneaking into one little corner of the system to flake out surveillance on just one of the docks, while not for beginners, shouldn't be a problem for Lyle.  The two Legionnaires would dock quietly and uneventfully.  There were some drones flitting about, but they appear to be maintenance function and don't pay any attention to them.
    Just beyond the docking station looks to be a receiving area with a bunch of crates and shelves.  It's somewhat dim, but on the far end is what appears to be one of the Aeonians, probably one of Astrix's employees.  He has… well, the same vacant look on his face that they'd observed with Lar earlier.

Zero-G has posed:
    "Friday's like a mother to me," Alex counters.  "The Kymellians craft their starships with elaborate care and view them to have a soul of their own.  I don't know Brainy well, but I agree with your assessment of him.  Still, intention only goes so far.  You guys don't like him mess with artificial intelligences anymore, I hope?"  There's a smile in his voice even as he mentally prepares himself for stealth.
    He isn't great at stealth.  His steps are light, thanks to the natural gravity distortions around him.  His boots are somewhat clunky, so his instinctual floatiness is a good thing.  "Looks like the workers are affected with the same nanotechnology," Zero-G whispers to Lyle.  No engaging, so he avoids the employee if he can, silently gravity leaping over a tower of crates and examing them.

Invisible Kid has posed:
    "Trying to stop Brainy from doing something crazy in the lab is about like trying to… uh… well, like trying to stop me from doing something crazy in the lab," Invisible Kid remarks, with a bit of a sheepish grin.  "It's a mad science thing, we can't really help ourselves sometimes…."
    He holds up a restraining arm.  "Don't approach.  We haven't got control of the nanites yet, so don't take any chances on getting infected.  Keep your transuit ready just in case," he advises.  "We don't need any more cases.  Now…."  He looks for a terminal of some sort.  Getting information near the docking station would suit him fine; that means getting out again quickly and quietly.

Mon-El has posed:
    There aren't any terminals in here, but a sliding door opens into a hallway beyond when the employee finishes his task and leaves the room. Should they venture out there?  There could be security systems.  According to the blueprints Lyle has, this area seems to be dedicated to the development labs, so unless COMPUTO has changed that, out the door to the right, left, straight and then left again should be the main lab.  If the rogue AI is working on something akin to what Imra had reported, if he has any prototypes… their best bet is they'd be in there.

Zero-G has posed:
    Zero-G keeps his distance, brushing into Lyle's arm.  "This is why you're in charge."  He winks, and messes with the settings on his uniform via moving black squares on his wrist.  From neck to toe, the costume becomes as dark as space.  Stealth suit activated.
    Instead, he proceeds to the exit the worker leaves from, though he maintains a reasonable distance away from it.  "Can you disable the systems inside the station, too?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
    "If I can't, I'll turn in my Super Secret Agent card," Invisible Kid replies with a smirk.  "Okay.  You stick near the ceiling—can you use that outfit of yours to try to blend into your environment?  If you can, I recommend that as a Very Good Idea."
    And then Invisible Kid does what Invisible Kids do—flicks out of sight.  (Switch to the telepathic plugs, and keep an eye on the area.  The priorities are, in decreasing order of importance: not getting caught, gathering intelligence, and sabotage.  Let's go in there.)

Mon-El has posed:
    Well, if they peeked out of the doorway, they'd see that security cameras seem to be in the ceiling, so perhaps Alex can use his abilities to stay out of their angles.  Now, there is the occasional mind-controlled Aeonian walking up and down the hallways, so it'll be a matter of carefully dodging both them and the cameras' viewing angles.  As for Lyle… well he doesn't have to worry about -any- of that, being completely invisible, and all.

Zero-G has posed:
    Unfortunately, the costume only comes in a few colors, none of which are straight camouflage.  Zero-G clings to the ceiling, sliding through the corridor with just a few adjusts to assure he stays out of the way of a few noted security cameras.  His success will be greatly dependent on if the employees look up or not.  He can't account for them.
    No one ever looks up though, right?

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Invisible Kid slips—invisibly, of course—into the main lab and waits a few seconds to see if anything appears to have noticed him.  On the assumption that no one and/or nothing has, he seeks out a reasonably remote terminal and starts scouring the system for anything… interesting.  Control codes for the nanites would be nice.  So would anything that might let him disable them at a distance.  Self destruct codes for this place might be nice, although not until innocent bystanders have been evacuated.
    Also, a little info on the nanites themselves might be nice.  He has an idea… which makes him dangerous.

Mon-El has posed:
    Fortunately, none of the mind-controlled employees do happen to look up, as long as Alex manages to stay quiet enough.  Soon, the two of them arrive at the central research lab, which is full of terminals, displays, and other equipment.  Lucky them, it seems the place is empty for the moment, save for cameras still needing to be avoided as before.
    At the center of the room, there is a cylindrical floor-to-ceiling containment shield that houses what appears to be several small drone ships similar to one they'd seen outside of the Wildlife Society earlier.  Additionally, the room seems to be nestled in the corner of a much larger hangar of sorts.  Windows look out over something that seems to be in the process of being assembled—it's massive, at least 20 feet tall, although it's currently not much more than a framework.  Still, one can tell it's some kind of biped mechanoid.
    Hacking into that terminal will take some doing, a bit moreso than what it took at Astrix's lab on Aeon, but still not impossible for someone like Lyle.  He doesn't find self destruct codes, or control codes, but he does find plans for the stuff that's in here.  One, those drone ships are designed to do exactly what Imra said COMPUTO was planning: they are made of a special prototype nanobot capable of consuming organic material to create copies of themselves.  They are also equipped to travel vast distances across space, like mini hyperdrives.
    And that skeleton out there?  It's definitely a new body for COMPUTO, just like Brainiac had said.  And it seems to be inspired by Cybertronian physiology.  Right, why wouldn't it admire their sheer power and destructive tendencies toward anything less advanced or less durable or strong.  Which pretty much covers most organics, and the rogue AI hates organics!
    Down on the hangar floor below, Astrix and Azeilia can also be seen hunched over some equipment and probably also mind-controlled.

Zero-G has posed:
    Zero-G glides smoothly into the main laboratory, slipping high above the workers and scientists inside to get an aerial view and continue to avoid detection.  Pressing telepathic plugs into his ears, (None of this looks good. I know you said not to engage, but we can't really let the production here continue, can we?)  The caution can be heard through his 'voice', more so because their minds are linked.
    Hands and feet against the wall, he clings to a spot away from the general techie-stuff and watches the alien siblings at work.  (Let me know if I can help.)

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Invisible Kid makes a silent grumpy 'noise', some of which filters through the telepathic ear plugs.  (This is moving way too far, way too fast.  That metal superstructure outside—hm.  Here's what I'm thinking.  I'm looking for its blueprints so I can introduce a few, uhm, corrections—)  Something about his tone indicates that word is the exact opposite of what he intends to add.  (—into the design.  And then, can you cause it to collapse?  Ramp up its weight until it can't support itself?)
    Always leverage all the tools at hand, even when they're in someone else's hands.

Mon-El has posed:
    Alex wouldn't need to worry about avoiding any of the workers for now, since no one else is in here except Lyle at the moment.  Just the cameras, though.  Azeilia and Astrix are down on the floor of the hangar below, absorbed in whatever they're doing.
    As for blueprints, they are certainly there for Lyle's viewing, but manipulating them might be another matter that would take some more doing.  Potentially a lot more doing.  It looks like maybe it did some detailed scanning of a Cybertronian body.
    As he's rifling through it all though, he'd hear footsteps and feel some air movement behind him.
    "Hello Lyle, Alex."  Yep, it's Lar.  Oh boy.

Zero-G has posed:
    (You mean the huge rings around the station?)  Alex groans inwardly. It's not an easy task, and will no doubt leave a major migraine once he's finished.  Noting the space is empty, he leaps across towards one of the computers where he thinks Invisible Kid is.  It's not where he is.  Running a hand through his hair, Alex continues his thought to literally nothing.  (I dunno, Lyle, last time I tried something like that—)
    Oh boy, indeed.  Alex turns, steps protectively in front of the terminal IK is not working on.  "Hi, Lar.  You ready to come back from the dark side?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
    (Sprocking super-vision… I—sorry, didn't mean to think that out loud, Zee Gee.)
    For all intents and purposes, Lyle freezes—not literally, of course.  For the moment, the only thing that moves are his fingers, carefully and silently entering commands into his omnicom.  No, of course he doesn't need to look at it to do that, this is Lyle.  He has a close, personal relationship with his computer.  (Keep him occupied, but don't antagonize him.  Avoid all physical contact if at all possible.  I'm going to try something and I can't promise it's going to work.  If it doesn't, I have a Plan B.  If that doesn't work, we might be in a little bit of trouble….)
    Well, he's honest, anyway.
    He's gained, no doubt, a little further information on the nanites both from reviewing the data they had already, and hopefully gleaning a little more from this place's computers.  (If Mon-El falters, get back to the ship immediately.  If I don't join you within one minute, leave without me.  Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to mount a rescue.)
    He triggers the program he's entered into his omnicom, which he hopes will—temporarily, anyway—jam the nearby nanites.  He'd add 'fingers crossed', but he doesn't believe in such superstitions.

Mon-El has posed:
    Lar turns toward Alex as he is the only one to speak up for now.  "Why of course you all still think you can claim some kind of high moral pedestal," he remarks toward the comment about the 'dark side'.
    He takes a step closer to Lyle.  "You know very well that you can't hide from me, 'Invisible Kid'.  You're powerless against your own ally.  If you—"
    When Lyle activates the program, the Daxamite does indeed stagger a bit, blinking and appearing confused for a second.  He backs into that shield at the center of the room, appearing completely out of sorts.  "What the… wh-where am I?!"

Zero-G has posed:
    "Lyle, we have to leave NOW."  Zero-G is a burst of anti-gravity superspeed, appearing right next to the exit into the docking bay.  He isn't sure what Lyle actually has planned, but no man behind, right?  It is not in his nature to follow a directive stating otherwise even if it comes from a technical superior.  Pushing the door to the hallway open, his hands come out and up, the employees of the facility falling upward into the ceiling.
    "Mon, we'll come back for you," Alex assures, even as he soars past him.  "For now, you have to hang in there."

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Invisible Kid sets off Plan B anyway, because why cause confusion and escape when you can cause a LOT of confusion and escape?  Plan B is entering a system-wide alert of an attack on the far side of the facility, of course.  At the very least it should clear the airspace and let him and Zero-G get the everlasting Technicolor hell out of here before Lar gets controlled again.
    "We'll be back for you, Lar.  Promise", Lyle says, flicking back to visibility—and then turning and making top-speed for the ship.
    (Get that thing warmed up, Zee Gee!)

Mon-El has posed:
    Plan B works too, this is very fortunate for them because due to the fact that Alex just slammed a bunch of people into the ceiling, they would've had interceptors on their tail on the way out and might not have made it.  Klaxons sound on the other side of the facility instead, drawing the automated defenses toward them.
    Lar stares at Alex and Lyle as they promise to come back for him, still appearing confused.  "…Huh?  Wh-who…?" he starts to say, but it seems his time is up.  His face suddenly goes blank again, and he flies after them—but only partway. "You're fools if you think you can stop me!" he declares, even as the two Legionnaires are making their escape.

Zero-G has posed:
    Once it's clear that Lyle's following him, Zero-G zooms through the corridor with the confused and ceiling-bound workers.  "So that went well?" he calls back to his teammate, collapsing any and all loose items on the exit to hinder, even if for a second, Mon-El's pursuit.
    "How do you think I did?"

Invisible Kid has posed:
    Lyle nearly beats Zero-G back to the ship, and doesn't actually answer until he's dropped into the pilot's seat and begun the undocking procedure.  "Strap in, I'm going to break a couple laws of physics," he warns, and proceeds to just about do so—maximum acceleration away from there.
    Only once he's satisfied that there's no Daxamite, or anyone else, in pursuit, he relaxes into the seat a little.  "You did great, Alex.  Kept your head under pressure like a pro."  How do you know a mission is essentially over?  Lyle uses personal rather than code names.
    He sighs heavily.  "I hate having to leave Lar back there like that.  I was hoping just a little to snap the nanite control over him—but I didn't count on that.  Interference was all we needed.  COMPUTO needs him alive for the forseeable future, so while I hesitate to call him safe, he's not at immediate risk."  He pinches the bridge of his nose, as if trying to ward off a headache.  "I hate having to think like that, but those are the facts on the ground and there's not much to be done about them.  We are going back for him once we have a cure in hand."
    Third sigh, and a little bit of Lyle's usual bravado starts to creep back into his voice.  "All right, let's go home and handle the really hard part of the mission—explaining to Brainy without him killing us for running off like that."