SCIENCE BROS [closed but flexible]

[youbarium]

Who| The ragtag group of scientists and doctors in the planetarium. Current headcount is Dr. Zoidberg, Julian Bashir, Dr. McCoy, Mouse, and Carlos. Technically the log is closed but if you want in on the science slumber party message me!
What| Fortifying the planetarium, food raids, swapping stories from home, cooking, doing science -- basically this is a mingle log for the science pack. Feel free to start your own subthreads!
Where| Fifth floor, planetarium.
When| Week 1
Warnings/Notes| Caution： exposure to science may cause permanent eye damage.



The planetarium is one of the crown jewels of the museum, a large circular room with a domed roof. It is vast and dark, with a telescope that can view up into pace and an interactive computer system that can display constellations, past and present.

Currently, the system is down, and it doesn't look like they're too interested in fixing it. The Tributes' efforts have mostly been to get the lights working (still dim at best but at least they can see the whole room) and fortify the two entrances that lie on opposite sides of the room. They have a small pile of food stored up, stale pastries from the cafes and miscellaneous soups, sandwiches, and dry goods from the cafeteria. It'll last a few days.

Comments

rewrote because reading comperehension is a good thing

[googledox]

"I am someone who works tech support and logistics for the Legion. An...organization of like-minded individuals that specialize in creative problem-solving."

There was a strange sort of emphasis on each word and the way he glanced up at Carlos made it seem like he didn't feel inclined to spell out much more about the nature of their work.

it cool bro! you're right, he was asking about Brainy's profession

[youbarium]

....oh. Well, okay then. Carlos was slightly taken aback by the -- it wasn't quite hostility, but it was definitely deliberate.

I wonder what that's all about? he thought, and squirreled the factoid away for later consideration.

"30th century tech support. That must be something." He cleared his throat. "I never thought I'd be discussing the future with someone who wasn't -- well, irritating about it. We had one time-traveler in Night Vale that I remember, but he was not an easy guy to talk to. He kept dropping all these heavy-handed hints about being from the future, and you know? He was really full of himself."

[googledox]

"If he was bragging, he was an imbecile. That last thing you want to do when you're time traveling is risk altering the timeline."

That was why the Legion had only told a select few when and where they were from when they'd been stuck in the past and hadn't really divulged any future knowledge to them.

"Interdimensional travel is the one you can brag about," he said wryly.

[youbarium]

"I think he meant to," said Carlos, slowly. "Change the timeline, that is. He claimed he was going to save the town. I still have no idea if he was successful or not -- he just disappeared not long after he arrived. And not just him, but his photograph vanished from the front page of the newspaper. I thought that perhaps he had changed the past and never been born, but his coat buttons were left behind, which invalidates the theory."

Carlos shrugged, then sat back and let out a sigh. "What I wouldn't give to master interdimensional travel." Or at least, stop the vortexes from opening into their dimension and depositing dinosaurs, or worse.

[googledox]

Brainy opened his mouth, as if he was going to say something, then snapped shut as he thought better of it.

He really wanted to brag about the threshold gates and threshold drive but noooo.

Stupid cover.

"I wish I could lay claim to developing our ship's threshold drive but I only maintain it. And that's only because I'm the only one that sat down long enough to study the manual."

[youbarium]

"The threshold drive lets you travel between dimensions?" A light, the light of science -- invention -- discovery -- came into Carlos's eyes. "And you can do it safely? No painful or fatal side effects?"

Not that he hadn't been paying attention before, but Carlos had honestly been distracted by questions about Cecil. Now, Brainy had his full attention.

[googledox]

"Yes, it does and there are no side effects. It's a completely safe, completely reliable form of interdimensional transit - at least when the drive's in perfect shape, which is rarely. Finding parts we can use that are remotely compatible is often impossible given our frequent jumps from dimension to dimension. We have to jury-rig everything but we manage well enough."

He wasn't going to mention the other thing the drive required: a navigator capable of finding routes through the complicated spaces between dimensions like his team-mate Shikari. The last thing the Capitol needed to know was that one of his team-mates had an innate power that might allow the Legion to eventually find the reality that contained Panem.

[youbarium]

"Yes, I can imagine the difficulty," Carlos replied. "But still, being able to travel between dimensions without any kind of permanent physical or mental damage at all! Its invention must have opened up all kinds of new fields of study."

Think of the papers that could be published! Of the studies that could be conducted! There was just so much potential for science. Carlos's tone was deeply admiring.

[googledox]

"I try not to think about the what-could-have-beens," he said, looking away.

He really maybe needed to try to do a food run to find something he could actually digest.

When he looked back at Carlos, there was a spark of something, as if he was considering how nice it might be to go to some world, have someone look at his old friend's work, and study it for the betterment of all.

In reality, that spark was one of mischief, since he had done all those thing, performed studies, published papers, given a few lectures even.

Maybe someday, if he survived this place, and if the Legion was ever able to stop their wandering and set down roots, he might be able to do it again.

"I find myself craving sustenance so I'm going to take my leave. Your...curiosity is refreshing. I don't really make friends, but I'm not incapable of admiring certain qualities about others," he said awkwardly. "A place like this can quell curiosity like yours. Try not to let it."

[youbarium]

I don't really make friends. Well, if that was the way it was going to be, it was no skin off of Carlos's nose. As long as this Brainiac wouldn't stab them in their sleep and take their supplies, Carlos wouldn't have a problem with him. It made for an awkward goodbye, though. Talk about mixed signals.

"....right. Well, be careful out there. We began this game with our odds of survival at less than 1.2%, estimating roughly eighty-five tributes from what I saw at the Cornucopia. Now I know death isn't permanent here, but even so..." He took a breath. "What, uh, what I'm trying to say is that, logically, we're all probably going to die a horrible death sometime in the next few weeks, and I'd hate to see it happen to any of us. So, be careful."

[googledox]

Very mixed signals, but that was the whole point. He had to hide the fact he actually liked Carlos quite a bit somehow.

He looked thoughtful for a moment at the regard for his safety Carlos had.

"Your concern is appreciated," he said sincerely (more sincere than Carlos could know), and with a final nod, he got up and left.