Military Log - 009

[dadandgone]

[From within Maes's room there is a loud shout followed by the sounds of a struggle. Cambot whizzes down the hall, keen to find out what's going on. Just before he enters he hears someone, Maes, shout]

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE YOU BASTARD!

[Well that doesn't sound much like Maes. The door opens for Cambot and he flies in, only to find Maes has...himself pinned down? Well, it looks SORT of like Maes. Except he is completely black and grey. The colorful version of Maes sits on top of him, having pinned him to the ground and has a knife at his throat. Cambot seems alarmed by this and Maes doesn't seem to be aware of the camera's presence, too focused on this shadowy version of himself]

I don't know who you are or why you're trying to look like me, monster, but I'll make sure I kill you this time for what you took from me.

[The shadowy figure whispers something that Cambot can't seem to pick up, but judging by the way Maes's face pales it seems to do the trick]

No...no you're not ME. That's insane. You're that shape shifting monster that---

[The shadowy figure's lips move again and it sneers. Maes decides he's had enough and punches it in the face, knocking it unconscious. At least he didn't kill it, but that's mostly because he wants to know what the hell is going on. He looks up to see Cambot lurking in the doorway and Maes pales a little. How much had Cambot seen? He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, getting off of the shadowy figure]

Sorry, you had to see that. I think this is the monster that tried to---[he trails off as he starts to realize that the coloring is all wrong on his doppleganger.] Wait a minute, the shape shifter from before...he got Lt. Ross's mole wrong but he wasn't THIS far off. Why would he take my shape anyway? It wouldn't do any good to appear as me. For that matter how would he have even known I was here if he had just arrived himself?

[Maes stoops down to study the figure, his frown is prominent.]

Does that mean he really is me?

Comments

[verygassy]

[Minako looks at the camera, silent. She doesn't say anything yet. It's clear by her expression that something just might have her spooked.]

I...I don't know.

[dadandgone]

[He looks up at the screen, he is misinterpreting Minako's spooked expression for what she just saw him do]

Look, there's no easy way to put this so I'll be blunt. I've...come across something like this before and it didn't end well for me.

[He nudges his unconcious doppleganger's foot]

I'd rather not repeat the experience, but if this is something the ship is doing...if this is something completely different then I have no idea what's going on.

And I'm sorry if I startled you.

[sylvan_child]

[Saria looks absolutely shocked. She never knew Maes was capable of such fury. And don't think that doppelganger doesn't already have her freaked out.]

[dadandgone]

Saria!

[Well he kinda hates himself right now. He's glad he DIDN'T kill the doppleganger now, that's for sure]

I am sorry for startling you. [He glances over his shoulder] I have dealt with something similar and it did not end well for myself.

[sylvan_child]

What...

What is it?

[dadandgone]

I can't say for sure what it is, not until it wakes up and I ask it a few questions.

I...I have to be sure it isn't something from my past.

[sylvan_child]

Y-your past? [She looks Maes over with confusion.]

[dadandgone]

Yeah. From my world, before I got here. There was a monster that could take on the shape of other people. Our encounter didn't go too well and I was afraid that maybe he had found his way on board like I did.

[butcheroftorfan]

[Here's Shepard, looking a little more weathered than she has since she's gotten here. Her face stern and back into more authoritative mode.]

Keep it together, Hughes.

It's starting to look like we all have one.

The dog and I managed to kick ours out of our quarters. How long have you had yours follow you around?

[dadandgone]

[He takes a breath. Shepard's right. He can't be falling apart now]

Since this morning. I woke up to it standing over my bed whispering about my failings as a father and a friend. It also said some pretty rude things about my wife and, well...

[He sighs, raking his hand through his hair. It's time to come clean about something] Shepard, the last time I faced something like this it killed me. It was just before I got here. I have NO idea how I'm still alive but I am not dying at the hands of a monster again, not like that.

[butcheroftorfan]

Sounds like how mine shown up. Didn't even hear it come into the roo-


[She catches the last bit of detail Maes tells her and there's a long stare.]

Okay. If you can, I want to you stow away your new friend there and check up on the others for me. We'll deal with our own share of guests here and join you when we can.

[dadandgone]

Will do. I think the knots are pretty secure but just in case I'm going to put up a few extra precautions.

[A few minutes later he reappears on screen, his doppleganger safely stored in the closet of his room, both the closet barricaded and the door locked.]

Okay, I'll meet up with you later.

[halfdarkened]

[Riku replies evenly, but his brows are raised. Considering Maes, the last thing he'd expected from the man was such violence.] No more than this thing is me. They might be Replicas of some form. This isn't the first time I've met myself.

[His double says something and points into the camera. Riku replies to it.] Whatever. I highly doubt that.

[dadandgone]

[Yeah he figured he'd get that. He'd hoped Cambot hadn't recorded as much as he had. Jeeze this is difficult]

Replicas...well that explains how there seems to be one for each of us. I was a little worried it was something from my past.

[He glances over at his double, frowning at the memory before looking back at Riku] Sorry you had to see that though...it was a bad experience.

[halfdarkened]

I wondered the same thing. But there are enough differences to rule that out pretty quick.

Maes. I'm a fighter. You don't need to apologize. I can't say my experience is good, either. [His double says something with a smile that makes Riku's eyes widen, and he looks back.] SHUT UP!

[dadandgone]

Well, shape-shifter is out too, at least, the one I encountered in my past is. There was only one.

[Pause] I see. Well I guess that reassures me a little, though I still feel bad for letting that be seen. [He runs his hand through his hair] It was a little extreme, but, well, the experience was fairly recent.

Not exactly, Riku, but close.

[halfdarkened]

There were... At least two Replicas I know of. If stories are true.

Don't know if I have the right to ask. But considering your reaction... [He looks up, concerned.] What did that shape-shifter take from you? It was family, wasn't it?

[dadandgone]

I guess the word doesn't matter so much, we just need to figure out how to deal with them if they're going to be a threat.

[He doesn't want to answer that. He really doesn't. But he's vulnerable right now and Riku is right, the reaction he had was more extreme than should have been warranted]

I discovered something back home, something I wasn't supposed to know about. I was trying to tell my best friend about it since I figured if anyone could stop it he was the country's best bet. The shape-shifter stopped me before I could finish my call to him. But...I didn't lose my family that night, they lost me.

[halfdarkened]

Yeah.

[Riku listens, his eyes slowly growing wider. He looks away, his eyes moving subtly as he processes this. Slowly he looks back.] I haven't met a ghost yet. Or an angel. And I don't think you're either.

I think we need to start a list of people we need to make sure are safe when they get back.

[dadandgone]

Yeah, I don't think that's what I am either. I certainly feel alive and everything so...who knows. I probably shouldn't say much more over the bots.

[He's quiet, not sure what to say to that. He's not sure what all a kid can do, but, then again, he's been around the Elrics. He should know better than anyone what a kid can do]

Maybe we should worry about this doppleganger stuff first before we get ahead of ourselves.

[halfdarkened]

...Fair enough. But I do want to talk to you later to see if there's any chance to change things.

[He catches that pause, though he doesn't respond to it.]

For right now, yeah.

[dadandgone]

[Leaning back]

Feel free. But don't be surprised if I ask you a few things about your own past. [pause] I'm a curious sort that way.

[halfdarkened]

[He pauses, glances away, and then back again. He nods.] Fair enough.

[skysmirror]

[Xion looks a bit worried and startled.]

Hughes...

[dadandgone]

[He really hates that everyone saw that. There is just no privacy in space. He gives Xion an apologetic look]

Sorry you had to see that.

[skysmirror]

[Xion's expressions calms at seeing him calm again.]

It's okay. So, you've run into something like this before?

[dadandgone]

I've run into something that could change its shape like this before and wanted to kill me. I suppose I can't judge all shape-shifters like this...but I guess it got to me a little more than I thought possible.

[skysmirror]

[Her eyes widen in surprise, then her expression turns sympathetic.]

I see...But, I don't think it's a shapeshifter.

[dadandgone]

Yeah. [He glances sideways at his doppleganger]

I've realized that now, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.

[skysmirror]

I think there's one for each of us.

[dadandgone]

That doesn't sound good.

[eyeofwildtiger]

Geez, man! You... need help, there?

[dadandgone]

Not now. [sigh] Sorry, this whole...doubles thing brings back bad memories.

[eyeofwildtiger]

I hear ya. Well, if you do end up needing anything, you know where to find me.

[dadandgone]

Will do. Thanks for the support and the same goes for you.

Guess it's good our kids aren't here, I never want Elysia to see me like this. I thought I left all this behind in the war.

[eyeofwildtiger]

[Gives a tiny salute.]

Yeah, really good thing. Wouldn't want them going through this, either.