Bruce Banner | 001 | Video

[greenisnteasy]

Hi. My name's Bruce Banner. I'm a doctor and a scientist. Not to flood everyone with information or to alarm anyone, I feel like I need to say a few things.

If you could gather up the medicine you find in your house and bring it to the pharmacy in the middle of the town, that'd be appreciated. You're welcome to keep a small supply of your typical things, like aspirin, but it'd be a good idea to centralize everything else.

Clearly whoever was living here left in a hurry. Keep an eye on yourselves for signs of illness, including radiation sickness, in case there was a biological reason for the evacuation. Nausea and vomiting are going to be your first indicators that something could be wrong radiation-wise.

I could make a Geiger counter or something similar to test the radiation levels, but I need some electronic parts, and I can't seem to find any except for these cameras. And I don't really recommend taking those apart unless you like getting electrocuted and blacking out.

[That had been fun, and by fun he means he was incredibly grateful that he hadn't Hulked out.]

If you find any parts that don't give you a shocking experience, could we share?

Um... Keep calm and carry on. [But no really, he hopes they can avoid some The Monsters are Due on Maple Street style panic.]

Comments

[greenisnteasy]

Microfusion? [The hell is that? And can Bruce play with it?]

When are you from?

[thezerothlaw]

Microfusion, yes. The technology is portable, efficient, clean, and versatile. My unit should not require replacing for some centuries yet.

[Give or take a decade.]

I'm from the year 3740 C.E. I seem to be... somewhat ahead of most people I've spoken with.

[greenisnteasy]

[Bruce's mind is quietly imploding. Sweet science fantasies come true.]

Oh, yeah, just a bit.

[He eyes the watch, and Daneel in the screen, with vague stars in his eyes.]

The technology sounds... unreal. I'm a physicist. I -- Would you mind sitting down with me sometime and telling me all about it?

[thezerothlaw]

With the understanding that my own grasp of the physics that make my construction possible is a little flimsy, I would be pleased to tell you what I can.

[He smiles slightly.]

Please don't hestiate to name a time and place that's convenient for you.

[greenisnteasy]

I -- Now? Are you busy now?

[thezerothlaw]

I'm available at the moment, yes. Should I come to meet you, if that's amenable?

[greenisnteasy]

Yeah. Yeah, if you wouldn't mind.

[Bruce is trying not to let his internal screaming turn into actual screaming.]

[thezerothlaw]

Certainly. Where may I find you?

[greenisnteasy]

I'm in the clinic right now, around the center of town. See you soon.

[And he isn't quietly dying, nope, not at all. Nor will he start scrambling for some kind of tool, any kind of tool, as soon as he switches off the communicator.]

[thezerothlaw]

[Action]

[Daneel's in a funny place, right now. He doesn't mind indulging someone's technical curiosity, and he quite likes the idea of pleasing someone that way. He also knows the message he was given with his welcome, and there's only so far he can let anyone investigate.

Still, he's at the clinic soon enough, and after a moment's hesitation he lets himself inside.]

Dr. Banner?

[greenisnteasy]

Daneel, hi.

[Bruce gets up from where he was sitting and approaches Daneel, his hand outstretched in greeting.]

It's nice to meet you. [And stare at you. And touch you.]

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel takes Bruce's hand in a friendly gesture, judging the exact amount of pressure necessary to be friendly without causing pain.]

The pleasure is mine, Dr. Banner. You are welcome to examine me, but I must put certain restrictions on your studies. You may not remove any piece from me, nor may you attempt to improve upon or adjust in any way my workings.

[Better to explain things before they get started. He has an advantage here, even; it's not for his own benefit, but for the wellbeing of Bruce and all others here. First Law will take precendence over any orders that might be given.]

[greenisnteasy]

Oh. Well, I wasn't planning on -- I just want to... look. [He winces. Is there ever a cool, suave way to ask someone to let you poke around in their head? Or study them like something in a lab? Bruce feels pretty guilty about the later one, but he won't forget Daneel's personhood, underneath it all.]

If that's okay with you, I mean.

[thezerothlaw]

It's quite fine with me. I merely needed that limit to be made clear. Believe me, Dr. Banner, the limitation is for your own safety, and not my own.

[He moves inside, looking around and committing what he sees to memory.]

Is there somewhere I should position myself?

[greenisnteasy]

You can have a seat there, if you'd like. [He indicates a chair and hovers nearby, hands in his pockets.]

What do you mean, 'my own safety'?

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel sits, watching Bruce calmly, although the question is one he's not very comfortable with, and some of his disquet does show on his face.]

I was given a warning, shortly after I arrived here. If anyone attempts to do anything of the sort with my inner workings, then everyone here will be killed.

[He says it with difficulty. The idea of being directly responsible for so many deaths is painful.]

It is not something I am pleased about, Dr. Banner.

[greenisnteasy]

[It's like a splash of cold water all over his science boner. He stops fidgeting excitedly, growing still and raising his eyebrows.]

Yeah, I wouldn't think so. How were you given this warning? Did anyone talk to you?

[thezerothlaw]

There was a voice that came from my wrist communicator. It sounded to me like another robot, but he did not respond to my questions. Either he was ordered not to answer questions, or it was merely a prerecorded voice. I haven't determined which, though I favour the latter theory.

[After all, any robot of his acquaintance would have found it difficult even to announce something like that. He has enough trouble with it himself.]

I don't understand why I should have this limitation placed upon me.

[greenisnteasy]

Well that's obvious, isn't it? They don't want us getting access to technology, and they zap us if we so much as try to dismantle the most technologically advanced thing we have handy. [He gestures up to the cameras, and then pulls his hand back in to his waist. He hesitates before he presses on, his eyes flicking up to Daneel.]

Except for you.

[thezerothlaw]

Then your hypthosis is that I'm under this restriction for the same reason that the cameras are to be considered off-limits.

[It explains without really answering; why should he be permitted to be here at all? It isn't logical, but humans are not always logical, and perhaps he needs to serve some purpose here.]

It seems a very drastic method, Dr. Banner, but I cannot fault your reasoning.

[greenisnteasy]

[Why are any of them here? What logic was there in deciding who was zapped in and who wasn't?]

I know it's not very pleasant reasoning, but it seems the only explanation. Whoever brought us here wanted you here for a reason, and obviously not to farm out your tech to us.

[thezerothlaw]

Then I can only hope that this restriction will not apply if I need to perform some sort of repairs on myself.

[Which could be a serious concern. If he were to break down entirely, he certainly couldn't keep anyone from taking him apart, and he doesn't know their captors well enough to judge how merciful they might be in that case. Daneel looks up at Bruce, his expression serious.]

You may still examine me, if you wish, if you consider the risk minimal enough.