7599/Sentinels: Reconstruction

Sentinels: Reconstruction
Date of Scene:	23 May 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Dr. Banner and Jessica Drew check in on their Sentinel, and learn more of what he's trying to do.
Cast of Characters:	Bastion, Spider-Woman (Drew), Hulk
Tinyplot:	Sentinels

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Bastion has posed:
The Avengers' facility where the Sentinel 'scientist' is staying is low key. The technology there does exist, but much of it is for security purposes, nothing more, as well as scanning. The large footprints that Sentinels have made out in the cement front area of the buildings and warehouses are the largest calling card that the facility is interesting at all.

'John Doe' as he was originally called, has adjusted his own name. He has been going by 'Sebastion', when asked, and that information has found its way to the materials that Bruce Banner has full access to. From video footage and pictures, he will have a full scope of what the man looks like: he's a heavily built, military looking guy, with pale blonde, short hair. In videos, he is generally responsive to honesty, and is direct, for the most part. He seems to favor Captain America and Jessica Drew's style of treatment to him, the polite approach seems to work.

Sebastion/Doe is currently outside in one of the parking lot areas in a back, shielded zone, in a rather impressive pile of sentinel parts and pieces. He's dressed simply: sweatshirt, tracksuit pants. It is clear on just a glance that he's either dismantling one of the big ones, repairing it, or putting it back together, and is in some stage of that. He's partially hidden by an open torso, and is feeding some tentacle-like metal pieces up through one of the forearms, clicking them into place.

Notes are available to the Avengers about this: there are six others that are being stored elsewhere, and a seventh one is his current 'project' at the facility. It's being allowed, to keep the guy busy, but also to watch what he's doing. They can learn a lot, here: about Sebastion if not the sentinel itself.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica Drew has been absent from the facility for a short while, but with all that she is hearing in regard to Sebastion, she has had a sinking feeling that he may be losing his grip on his humanity. For that reason, and many others, it is clear that a new visit is necessary, to discern truth from alarmist rumour.

Jessica has arrived today in her brown leather blazer, with Spider Suit beneath, jeans, and brown boots. Nothing out of the ordinary. She approaches Sebastion just as any friend might approach someone working on his car. She squats down, looking up at Sebastion's handiwork, and giving a low whistle. She didn't announce her arrival. She knew he'd know she was there before she was close enough to do so. "Hi, Sebastion. Looks like you're getting really good at all that. Probably the best there is, at what you're doing."

Hulk has posed:
    Dr Bruce Banner was looking at a data pad of information, scrolling up and down, trying to get his head around the data he was reading. This "Sebastion" was an interesting read, and so far, it hadn't disappointed. Walking into the area where he was "repairing" one of the "big ones", Bruce remains quiet, watching and observing what was going on.

    Wearing his shirt and tie, sans jacket, today, Bruce watches as Jessica approaches the "man" and studies the behaviour with curiousity and scientific acument, wondering how this was going to go. It was a chance to obsevre and record. For now.

Bastion has posed:
"I'm no Sentinel Mold," Sebastion answers her with a brief smile, though his eyes are still on his work. He's elbow deep in the forearm of the disconnected arm now. It's not from the arm socket side, so it's just a little odd looking. The metallic tentacle ejects, outwards, in a clear test of it reaching out and grappling around nothing, and then withdraws. Sebastion looks relatively satisfied with it. He also looks over at Bruce Banner. The scanners in Bastion are very active, and he notices. Even if he doesn't react much to Banner yet, since Jessica has engaged him.

"A mold is something like a large printer of sentinels," he clarifies to her. "While there are supplies, they can make... infinite numbers. Hundreds in a day, if pushed, I'd guess. I have not seen one, but I have something akin to a blueprint, an idea of them, in my head."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods, leaning in to look up at the Sentinel in progress, and she smiles. "It's good to see you again. I had been a little concerned, since I hadn't been able to get back here for awhile." His seemingly at-ease tone has put her at ease, too. And it's likely no one observing the two would know she was directing her conversation toward anything but some average guy. A friend, even. "Everyone treating you well enough? Do you need anything?"

Hulk has posed:
    Bruce's eyes watch as the Hybrid looks over at him. They study each other for a moment, before the Hybrid goes back to speaking to Jessica. Absorbing everything that the being was saying, Bruce inches closer for a few steps, one at a time, and maintains a safe distance. At least for him.

    Looking at Jessica with a sideways glance, Bruce regards the interchange and takes a few notes. After all, he was there to help where necessary, but mostly to observe. At this point, he wasn't getting involved in the conversation.

Bastion has posed:
"I think your friend is uncertain," Sebastion says to Jessica, but not too quietly. "He is on the Avenger list that I was given, and is in no danger from me, or these Sentinels. Besides, I can sense that he is a good man," Sebastion says, turning his attention more entirely to the arm. There's a problem with the fingers - not all of them moved, and he addresses it, forcing open part of the side of the arm with a sort of scary amount of physical strength.

"I am all right for now. I want to continue with my objectives, but Captain America gave some good, sound logic, and I am hoping to find another way."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blinks and turns her head slowly to look over her shoulder, finding Banner there lurking like a lurker. Despite the heads up, she startles, flinching. "JESUS, don't sneak up on people like that, Bruce!" She glances down at his tablet and back up to him, then turns back to Sebastion. "I didn't know I was being followed..." She furrows her brow a little, now wondering if Banner had been put up to it or came of his own volition. "Oh hey, I brought you something." She pulls out a lunch sack sized paper bag from her crossbody satchel, and sets it down beside Sebastion. "Fresh blueberries, some of the first I've seen this season. I thought you might like a little variety." Then she watches him pensively. Do you think these...blueprints you mentioned....are intuitive, or maybe some sort of maker's imprint that somehow got left behind?"

Hulk has posed:
    With those words, Bruce Banner moves even closer, and decides to speak. "Thank you then. At no point did I ever feel I was in danger, Sebastion. If anything, I would fear for your safety and well-being if I was ever to get...angry. Or was threatened." Bruce's expression was one of slight embarrassment, something Jessica would pick up for sure. "I was always being considerate of your safety and Jessica's safety."

    "I am curious as to how you can sense that "he is a good man" er, I am a good man...either or." Bruce drops his arms at his sides, and stops taking notes. "That would seem to me to require sentience and self awareness."

    Blinking back at Jessica, Bruce says, "Sorry...thought you knew I was here." Walking over, Bruce looks down at the blueberries, and grabs a couple. "Wow. My favorites. You should try these...Sebastion." Tossing them in his mouth he smiles, and says, "Nice. Thank you Jessica."

Bastion has posed:
"I don't know if there's a difference," Sebastion answers. "But I think they were already with me. I could have told you about them well before this. I don't know if I came from one, because I think I was human before I was - what I am now, but it's hard to know." He seems fairly open and honest with his responses. And looks with curiosity to the blueberries and the bag.

"Share with me, then," he invites her, in a way that can only be taken as a warm friendliness. There's nothing in his behavior to suggest he's a robot: just the content of his speech.

A curious look moves to Dr. Banner: Sebastion clearly doesn't know about the Hulk. "My safety? All right." Sebastion doesn't seem concerned, but shrugs. He'll go along with it, even if he doesn't know why he should be careful with Banner. "I just have a knack of knowing: I feel it. I do consider myself both sentient and self aware." There's a little bit of stiffness in needing to say he's sentient, some frown, but he has some blueberries, setting the Sentinel arm aside.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I think I can understand that," Jess concedes, looking the sentinel over curiously before turning her gaze back on Sebastion. "But of course you're sentient and self-aware. Humans are both, with or without upgrades. But you, I think...You have the propensity to be so much more than either. The best of both worlds, maybe." She shrugs. Her unassuming manner really indicates nothing more than that she's having a chat with a friend. "I'm really sorry I haven't been around more to see you, though. I went to Mexico to help out with some children there who needed a helping hand. Sometimes need comes before desire, when it comes to stuff like that." She picks a blueberry from the bag and examines it before eating it. "Are you being provided with everything you need here? Anything else you'd like to have? That...I might have access to, anyway?"

Hulk has posed:
    Bruce Banner listens to every word that Sebastion was saying, and nods absently as though concentrating on the answers. "Fascinating..." Bruce says while observing the "man's" behaviour and reaction to independent stimuli. "You have a knack of knowing. That is incredible. I mean no insult or disrespect. It is just a true marvel to watch and interact with you."

    Bruce pauses, clears his throat, and says, "Sorry Jessica. I don't mean to intrude. My apologies." He looks at Sebastion. "I also don't mean to be cold and distant. Can you tell me what you are feeling right now? In regards to this area..." Bruce waves around, "...Jessica, of course..." Bruce nods towards her, and finally, points at the blueberries, "...and those?"

Bastion has posed:
Sebastion smiles to Jessica's comments bout helping others. He seems to be positive towards that, encouraging, even. "Need should come before desire always," answers the machine that walks and talks like a man.

A look is sent to Dr. Banner, and Sebastion reacts with some discomfort. "If it's all the same to you, I don't feel fascinating, and I wish I weren't. I'd rather still be human." Embarrassment? Something else? Hard to pick up exactly: just in that the man covers with a military, reserved façade.

"I understand I have some type of awareness. Scanners, something like that. I pick up on things around me. There's the both of you, various people inside the facility. Some by the far fence. This Sentinel." He gives a puzzled look to Bruce. "I don't think the blueberries are inside the scope." A smile follows.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"It's fine, Bruce. Don't fret it. I wanted to come and see if there was anything I could do to help." She turns back to Sebastion. "You know not all the news out there's bad. There are always gonna be bad things...But people are starting to see in you what I have since the beginning..." She pauses, considering her words. He has to know there are discussions regarding his existence and abilities. "I mean I know you realize there are a ton of people trying to figure you out. But...I am hopeful for the progress." It would be ludicrous, maybe even disrespectful, to ignore the elephant in the room.

Hulk has posed:
    "Of course. Thank you. You are doing amazing Jessica, as always." Bruce Banner smiles warmly at her, and then looks down at the pad, adding a few notes. "Sebastion. All of this is amazing, and I appreciate all that you have given me." Jotting a few more things down.

    Bruce the says, suddenly, "Advanced cognitive awareness. Cerebral myopic apothesis." A deep breath. Exhale. "Sentient conscious para-psychologial preferences for post partisan mitochondria relationship parameters in its programming."

    Bruce Banner takes a step back, and looks at Jessica first, wordlessly, then back at Sebastion. "I need to think. If you will both excuse me. I need to find Tony..." Turning as fast as he could, Bruce heads out of the area, and disappears around the corner.

Bastion has posed:
Sebastion lifts a brow as Dr. Banner analyzes him, staring after the odd scientist, but doesn't particularly refer to him again. "Did he call me an it?" He does ask. It's uncomfortable, but there's no need to address it more than that. He gives Jessica a frown, and then turns more to teh points she brought up.

"I had a visitor yesterday. A woman that felt just ... terrible to me. Disgusting, hard to talk to. I should not have told her that, and I'm learning that I should contain my honesty."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica frowns after Banner as he hurries off around the corner and departs. "It sorta sounded like it, didn't it?" She shrugs and turns back to Sebastion. "Sometimes I think he's more of a 'robot' than you are," she adds with a half-smirk.

"Who visited you? And why was she terrible and disgusting? Though...I don't think it's ever good to lie, so to speak. But containing your honesty? Well, that's a really human thing. We can't just say everything that pops into our heads, because sometimes it'd cause more harm than good, I guess. Like...a peacekeeping thing. It's easier to hold our tongues than to speak something that'd start a conflict. Like that, maybe?"

Bastion has posed:
"She asked me multiple times. I didn't just blurt it out at her. I warned her she might not like the answers to her questions," Sebastion says. He shakes his head, as if trying not to dwell on whatever it was. "She just was. Something in her, that I could sense, or feel. You don't have it," he says, and turns more towards his project. Still, it isn't dismissive: he takes some blueberries, too. He continues work on the arm, but then starts on the other one, addressing a clearly broken piece of the elbow, removing the crushed part of the exterior.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess nods pensively, turning her gaze back to his work as he addresses the crushed elbow of the sentinel. "I can understand that. Sometimes people ask for things and only find out later they didn't want it at all. You can't be blamed for that." She shrugs and crosses her arms, deciding to leave alone the feeling he had that whatever that woman had, Jess does not.

"So...what are you going to do with these guys once you fix 'em all up? Syncronized aerial acrobatics team? Maybe a singing barbershop...septet?"

Bastion has posed:
"This one will be used to protect someone else," Sebastion clarifies. "The other six, I am preparing to use against the other Sentinels, if necessary, to block them from their next mission that I disagree with," Sebastion answers, somewhat more quietly. "Captain America has insisted I not put myself into direct access of Trask, as it would be dangerous for them to use my technology, and I... don't see fault in that. But I don't want to sit by, either. And sometimes, risks must be taken."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I can't argue with his logic, but for more reasons than just that. Sure, it could be dangerous for them to get ahold of you, but it could be dangerous to /you/, too, Sebastion. I don't want to see what they could do to you. It would...it would destroy me to see you destroyed." Her eyes are far away for a long moment, before she looks back up to him. "Do you already know the plans of the mission you want to block? Or are you just waiting for it to come up?" The risks...she doesn't want to acknowledge those. Not just yet.

Bastion has posed:
"I can hear their communications, when they do certain ones," Sebastion says, with some displeasure. "There was another one, recently, that I wanted to stop.... but instead, I sent one of my sentinels. I am still uncertain that that was the best choice. The sentinels were being sent to destroy or capture a test subject the government posessed. The subject did escape, with my assistance. Still, it could have gone another way very easily. I didn't want another like myself to fall into Trasks's hands."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica freezes instantly. "Another like yourself. Was that what the test subject was? They indicated at one time you were a test subject, too. There were...there were three, that day." She furrows her brow, her mind racing faster than her thoughts can keep up. Surely if the other two were...What happened to the other two?? "Is there another out there that you know of? That you can communicate with? Was that who you helped to escape?"

Bastion has posed:
"What? The day I was brought here? The others were decoys. They weren't like me. There weren't any Sentinels on the trip. I'd have felt them," Sebastion says, with a mostly dead tone. "I'd felt a few before that. I didn't know why, I didn't reach out to them. I didn't like the feeling. It didn't make me feel very human. Now I see why."

It's not human.

"There's another, but he isn't Sentinel. Some kind of other energy related technology. I haven't talked to him since." There's some disinterest, since the other wasn't a Sentinel.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Wait...Sebastion, there's something else out there like that, and you've talked to him? He may not be sentinel, but he's..." Jess pauses for a moment, thinking about all of the sentinel encounters that she has seen. They have only been interested in two things: Other sentinels, and mutants. Someone like herself, or Johnny Storm... they weren't the least bit interested in them. Likewise, here, Sebastion seems detached from something that is neither mutant nor sentinel technology. "Do you know if he is a threat to you, or to others? What if he's not safe? What if he needs help? Do you know if he's involved in this battle at all, or if he was just a victim of circumstance?"

Bastion has posed:
"I informed him that if he was a threat to those I protect, he'd be my enemy, and the enemy of the other protectors of the world," Sebastion answers. "I have had other things to do than to watch over him." A shrug follows, and more tentacle testing. The thick coils of metal snake out, loudly this time, due to some grinding metal in the mechanism. He's working on it.

"I uploaded my meeting with him, you can view it if you like. My scans are not complete, because I wasn't there personally. But I judged that he is an unrelated victim, instead of what I had thought originally."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I'll look into it. But I understand...if he's unrelated to your fight, then there's no need to look after him." She winces at the grinding, then watches him work. "Banner was right about one thing, though. You're pretty amazing. I guess you just /know/ what to do there...I could study that thing all day and not figure out half of what you do by looking at it. It all makes sense that you would...still, it's something I couldn't just look at and fix with years of training behind me. Which...I don't have. So I'd probably just tap on it with a hammer in a few places and mess it up worse..." She grins sheepishly.

Bastion has posed:
Sebastion nods and shrugs a shoulder. "If that being, that 'Megatron' as he called himself, is a problem, I hope to be able to respond. Which does mean I need more Sentinels, or at least, more allies," he says, with a brief smile at her. She changes the subject to what he's working on, and he looks at it.

"I was not sure what I was doing at first. But I have the tools inside my hands, my head. I would rather be human, like you. But I am this machine, and this is what I can do," he says, with a rough little sound. He shows her the hand he'd been inserting into the Sentinel, and the array of inhuman attachments and feeds that come off of his wrist and fingers. He's interfacing very directly when he reaches inside the Sentinel parts.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess arches her brows in surprise. She takes his hand in both of hers and turns it over gently. Examining it. "I knew you had...stuff. But I didn't know you were a Swiss Army Sebastion." She grins, then looks up at him. Her expression falls a little with a sadness that touches her eyes.

"I know," she replies more softly. "I know what you wish you were. And I wish it for you. But this..." She indicates his hand. "This isn't who you are. Just like I'm not webs and shock blasts. They're things we have - things we can do. But they don't define us. It's what's in our hearts and minds that define us. And that part is completely up to you. It has nothing to do with hardware."

Bastion has posed:
Sebastion looks at her hands while she touches his, and starts to fold the various attachments back in. Embarassment? Maybe. His expression doesn't read with that, it stays fairly blank. A little mechanical. Which isn't he best look for the sentinel hybrid to be showing, overall.

"I have more than just Sentinel in my head. I have something else," he says, quietly, with what sounds like a decision to trust, or allow an honest item to come forward. He pauses, though. "You may not like this, though. Perhaps it is better to not speak."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess shakes her head. "Sebastion. There are times when we silence ourselves to keep the peace. And there are times when we can confide in those we trust. I won't ever force you to tell me anything." Like she even could. "Your thoughts are your own. But I hope you know by now that you can talk to me about anything. Whether it's what's in your head, or what's on your mind. I'm here to help you, and I'm not going anywhere. I can promise you that. I'm not going to desert you because you're honest with me. Even if I don't like it."

Bastion has posed:
"I had had this before, in a way. When I touch humans, I sense it," Sebastion describes, extending his hand again to take hers, draw it towards him if she allows. "I could upgrade you. I don't mean that to sound frightening. If you were broken. I could do it." He attempts to gently curl her fingers closed, into a fist, and then lets her go. "I feel like I could help. But I fear that sounds disturbing."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Tilting her head, considering his words as she watches her hand in his, she gives a light sigh. It's a lot to take in, with so few words. "You could upgrade me? What would that consist of?" She looks back up into his eyes for a moment, trying to gauge his expression. Which is sometimes more difficult than others. "Do you mean...you could heal me if I were broken? Or just like some weekend, if I want to upgrade to Jessica 2.0? Would I be able to read you the way you read other sentinels?"

Bastion has posed:
"One question at a time," Sebastion chides, retreating from her, but mostly to keep working on what he'd been doing. "I meant something along the line of cybernetics. I don't think that's what you menat by healing," he answers. "I think it would depend, your 'reading', on what was replaced. Maybe. Maybe not. I am not an expert. I follow my instinct, if that's what it is."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica narrows her eyes in thought as she watches him work on his newest pet death robot. "You could..." She blinks, looking up at him. "You don't mean a software upgrade, you mean a hardware upgrade..." With that realization, it all makes more sense. "So like, I could be a Swiss Army Spider, and open wine bottles without having to look for the opener for half an hour before I realize I broke mine the last time I opened a bottle of wine?" She has terrible luck with cork screws.

Bastion has posed:
"Yes. That's what I mean. I mean that I have cybernetics blueprints in my head, or memory, or whatever it is that I possess. In the same way I can replace pieces of this Sentinel, decide what it needs. I could help a person that's alive. But I don't think I want to. I feel like that's what happened to me: and it went too far. No going back, anymore. If ever." Sebastion turns from her, putting more attention in the project, leaving more of his back to her. Hiding? Perhaps.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jess reaches up and places her hand upon his back: palm, and fingertips, fingers curled. She leans in alongside him, sensing he /might/ be hiding, and she rubs and scratches his back lightly, if he lets her. "Maybe that's what happened. Maybe it was something that had to happen, in the beginning. And maybe...maybe it /is/ healing, if that's what is needed. There are people who have been made whole again through cybernetics. There are people who've used it for nefarious purposes, and people who've utilized it to survive. It isn't a bad thing to have, Sebastion. You can help. You can heal. And you're intelligent enough to know the difference."

Bastion has posed:
The artifical man doesn't seem to have any problem with her touching his broad back, but he also doesn't seem particularly comforted. His perception of human touch may be off: or he may still have a need for it, yet an inability to feel it. And what a horrible fate that would be.

"Yes. I'd rather help those that might have need of it. But I do not want to create monsters, or have others feel as out of body as I do."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Then that's the difference between you and whoever did this to you," Jessica replies definitively. "You don't have it in you to create something that you wouldn't want to be, yourself." She frowns slightly, shaking her head. She flattens her hand against his back and pats it gently. "I sometimes feel as though you are somewhat ashamed of what you are. But there is nothing to be ashamed of. You wouldn't choose to be altered this way. And I don't believe that you made that choice in the beginning. I just want to help you overcome it all..."

Bastion has posed:
"I don't know if this is shame. I am not as horrified as I would be were I a mutant," Sebastion says with a soft laugh. He doesn't linger there, so Jessica can unpack THAT particular statement later, perhaps; he just moves on. "But I have to make something out of what I have. Though I think many of the visitors, including that last one, may prefer I not be here, not exist. But before that comes to pass, I hope my goals are as good as any. I researched the Justice League, I hope to follow their example, despite not being human now. To protect the innocent."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica does, indeed, wince at Sebastion's comment, but she lets it go for now. She isn't going to change his mind in one visit. Maybe not in a hundred. "Eh," she replies with a dismissive wave of her hand. "He was probably just here for the food." She smirks and moves up closer to one side to watch, without getting in the way. She resists the urge to ask him if he has the bottle opener and the toothpick in that hand, too. Instead, she looks up at the sentinel. "Who's this one going to protect, anyway?"

Bastion has posed:
"Oh, I didn't mean Dr. Banner. I meant the other one," Sebastion says, with clear disgust, that labels the 'other one' pretty clearly as being a mutant, or someone rude or horrible. None of those describe Dr. Banner, naturally.

That is not something I think it is safe to say; I may have already said too much. It is something that could, if spoken of too much, cause one of your friends to not be safe. I wish to protect their safety," he says, kindly.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Ahh right, the terrible one. Well, you may be right, or may be wrong about her. Just because you peg her as a bad person does not mean she has ill intent toward you. I'll look into it. And if I have to change her mind, maybe I'll just change her mind."

Jessica furrows her brow, but nods. "I won't press you about it. But if there is someone who needs some additional protection, and I can do anything to help, won't you please let me know?"

Bastion has posed:
"If she had ill intent in a clear way, I would have reacted very differently to her," Sebastion says stiffly, and with confidence. "Just because I do not think a person is good does not mean I would harm them. I do not trust her, of course, but please think more of me than /that/. I'm not a murdering robot, like everyone sees these," he says, gesturing to the Sentinel he's working on.

He turns from her some, a signal of dismissal, maybe from being insulted. "Visit again soon if you like. I need to finish this."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Sebastion. I didn't mean it that way," Jessica says, addressing the man's back. "I only meant that maybe she doesn't want you gone...Doesn't want you not to exist, and that I would find out for you." She sighs. "The thought of you harming her never crossed my mind." But her tone is somewhat reserved now, and resigned to the fact that he'll believe what he's going to believe. "But I'll...I'll visit again. Get word to me, if there's anything you want. I'll bring it when I come..."

She hesitates for only a few moments as he works on the sentinel, then she turns and retreats into the deepening veil of twilight.