[CYBERFORMED] INBOX | UN: Dr_Delicate_Touch

[orangerazzmatazz]

[HELL-LO! It's you're very own Dr. Delicate Touch! Mikey! Send some pizza or leave a message! See ya! Hard as Nails!] The message is louder then it really needs to be, but no one can deny the energy.

AUDIO | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

Comments

[orangerazzmatazz]

[Why does he feel like he's being lectured. You're not his dad Tech!]

I mean. We totally have it under control.

Donnie might have a lead on something sounds like. He went to do that while Leo and went to help you guys.

[tech_nically]

[Such is hardly his intention! He's merely pointing out facts.]

I shall trust your judgment on that.

[Not putting you under any pressure or anything...]

That is certainly good news. I hope his findings are successful.

[orangerazzmatazz]

Yeah. Me too.

[There was a moment where it seems he isn't going to say anything more but then--]

It just kind of sucks, you know? I mean this whole ship is filled with robots so it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but of course the guys most likely to trigger it is my own brothers and I've already attacked them once and...

[Maybe he shouldn't be saying any of this. But it's kind of nice to have someone to talk to about it outside of his own family. And Tech was a responsible adult, right? Someone smart and level headed and non-judgemental. Sometimes he missed having an adult around to talk to about some of this stuff.]

[tech_nically]

[He frowns to himself at this news. So Mikey's already endangered those close to him.]

That does make it especially inconvenient. But I would not say that it isn't 'a big deal' even if the ship were entirely of robotic lifeforms. You have been afflicted by something not of your choosing. It does not seem like a matter that should simply be gotten used to.

[orangerazzmatazz]

[Mikey almost laughs, but it still comes through a bit in his voice.]

That's like, my whole existence my dude. I wasn't always this cool you know.

[tech_nically]

I'm not sure I catch your meaning.

[orangerazzmatazz]

I'm a mutant dude. Y'know. Used to be a really cute adorable baby turtle, got infected with some ooze and the DNA of a martial arts movie star and became half human. Then I was raised, unknowingly, by said movie star who had been mutated by rat DNA in the sewers of New York.

[He says all of this very much like it is the most normal thing to say in the universe and Tech should, in fact, know or have guessed it already. It is fairly obvious.]

[tech_nically]

So...you were created. Accidentally, or intentionally?

[orangerazzmatazz]

I mean. Intentionally. But it didn't exactly go according to plan. So also accidentally? We were definitely oozed with human DNA on purpose though.

[tech_nically]

'Ooze' does not usually factor in with a transformation so much as a substance seeping out of something, so it does make your explanation a little more puzzling.

So...you were not meant to become humanoid turtles?

[orangerazzmatazz]

I mean, yeah, in a way we were. We were supposed to be the start of an army using Lou Jitsu's DNA but the lab blew up and stuff and he thought we were dead for a while until we attacked his lab.

[tech_nically]

[Tech goes silent for a long moment at that.]

...you were genetically engineered as well, then.

[orangerazzmatazz]

When you put it that way you sound like Donnie.

You kind of sound sad. You doing okay over there?

[tech_nically]

No, not sad. Thoughtful, I think.

I do not believe we have met prior to my becoming a Quetzalkin. Such is a result of a sequence of occurrences during one of our missions here.

I used to be human, a genetically engineered clone for the purpose of an army of the now former Galactic Republic.

[orangerazzmatazz]

[Man, he really did sound like Donnie.]

Wow. A clone? Did you have to fight your double? Did you have a loved one that was forced to tell you guys apart to stop your evil double from finishing his evil plans? You fought for a giant space army? Did you get to fight aliens?

[tech_nically]

I am one of millions of clones, but one of several specifically altered clones as an experimental unit of specialized soldiers. Due to such, my brothers and I do not look exactly like the rest of the standard clones created for the army, which often put us at odds with each other.

So while I never had to fight a double, I have fought many clones, even if previously those had mostly been fights in the mess hall. With the establishment of the Empire, things have become even more tense between us, although I do not believe it to be entirely their fault.

Our main enemies were droid armies of the Confederacy. But yes, I've fought my share of other species.

[orangerazzmatazz]

Millions?!

[His voice squeaks a little]

That's crazy dude!! How did you keep track of them all? We're the droids evil? Do you werent always a bird?

[tech_nically]

Well, we didn't. The Republic did, or more accurately, the Kaminoans who cloned us. We've all been trained to perform best as units, so such units look after themselves.

The droids were not necessarily evil. They were only following their programming. [...as he supposes they did, in their own way.]

As I said, I am originally human.

[He sends over an image, somewhat grainy, of five armored soldiers.]

From left to right is Crosshair, Wrecker, Echo and Hunter. I am the one kneeling in front.

[orangerazzmatazz]

You guys got badass names at least.

[He opens the picture and squints at it a little.]

Wow, you really did look a like.

[Kind of a dumb thing to say, but Mikey doesn't backtrack on it. He is quiet for a moment.]

You're the only one that came over though? To the R2?

[tech_nically]

Our actual designations are our CT numbers. I'm CT-Nine-Nine-Oh-Two. Otherwise, any names we do go by are those we choose or get nicknamed as by our brethren.

[It's an amused sort of sound he makes at the observation.]

Hunter would probably be the closest in appearance to your standard clones, if you can imagine his hair cut shorter and no facial tattoo. Echo would have been a better example, given that he is actually a Reg, but he's experienced and survived things that most troopers don't, and what's left of his body is testament to that.

[It's almost imperceptible, the sigh in response to Mikey's questions.]

Yes.

[orangerazzmatazz]

Numbers. Like they give robots in movies and stuff. But you're human.

[He looks at the picture again.]

You must miss them.

[His voice is quiet and he closes the picture before he can think much more on it.]

Do you miss being human? Or do you like being a cool fire bird better?

[tech_nically]

Many do not see us as such. To the Kaminoans and the Empire, we are nothing but property and fodder. To much of the Republic, we were but a convenient resource when they were in need of an army to face the Separatists. As clones we have become very identifiable, and as such are we called.

[His own voice quiets a little.]

I do. It has been strange, being apart from my squad for so many cycles. Prior to the Empire, we've always been together. And then things changed, the war ended, and Crosshair chose to serve the Empire. We did not. That was the first time any of us have been separated from the squad.

...I suppose it is impossible not to miss what and who you were. It took some getting used to, being five times my original size and a completely different species. I do not deny that this form has its advantages, but it does seem to also come with its own burdens and responsibilities. I never asked to become this, but it is a duty I have been called to undertake, so I will see it through as I can, whatever it may be.

[orangerazzmatazz]

That's gross, Dude. You're clearly a person. You have thoughts and stuff and you matter, clone or not.

[He can't say he really follows all the bits about Separatists and the Empire and the Republic, sounds like a lot of war stuff that goes over his head, but none of it sounds good. Even if Draxum created him and his brothers to start an army to fight against the humans, he never actually was a part of anything like that and ended up fighting Draxum in the end. Until he turned good of course.]

I don't think I would want to go back to being a turtle. I mean. I was a baby so I don't actually remember it, but like, I don't think I would remember any of this, like my family and friends and stuff either if I turned back. I wouldn't be as smart.

We had to hide because there were a lot of people that wouldn't understand us and our dad was scared something bad might happen, but I like being me, you know?

You're probably still you, even if you look different. Duty or whatever, you would probably still be doing the same things, even if you were still human, right?

[tech_nically]

We are in agreement. Unfortunately not all seem to think so. It makes things difficult, especially when we have more or less defected from the Empire, and its spread is vast. The probability of running across other clones still serving is very high, and on top of things, it is the first time we have been completely on our own, without a stipend nor actively given missions.

[Throw into that suddenly having to look out for a new sister and well...

Yes. It's been complicated, but not impossible.]

I should think that you are your own self because of what has happened to you. So yes, what you say is quite true. Many creatures do not otherwise possess the same amount of sapience as people.

It is unfortunate to hear that you and your family are misunderstood. I suppose in that regard I can relate. But I don't think that we have anyone that we need to convince of things so long as we have those who are important to us. Their opinion is the only one that should matter, just as much as your own.

[It might have been a laugh then, or as much of one as Tech ever makes.]

You are right. My activities have not much changed. I suppose I would not fly nor cast fire upon our enemies, but such are but minor details.

...perhaps your own changes, when they are triggered, can be something you can learn to control to your advantage, until it can be properly dealt with?

[orangerazzmatazz]

[Wonder if they'll run across any clones here, even if they're in a different universe. Mikey did know another version of himself for a while and that was fun. He doesn't think it's the same for Tech though.]

Yeah, we had April, mostly and then others over time, and we didn't really need more than that.

[They always had each other, after all.]

Hey, flying and casting fire are things that cool guys do, so maybe you're just way more rad now.

I'm not sure it's something I can control. I've tried. I mean, like, not on purpose, but when it's triggered, I fight it and sometimes I can push it off but sometimes it's like I'm trapped in my own body and I don't have control. Sometimes it's fuzzy when things happen and sometimes it's just a total blank that I only realize what's happened afterwards. It might be cool if I can control it but I don't know if it's worth the risk of hurting my brothers again.