Fly Me to the Moon..

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Visits to the Watchtower often remind Ted of the old crooner tune, but today, that's pushed aside as he (via his robotic avatar) prepares to work on reviewing security footage and attempting data recovery from the S.T.A.R. Labs fire. Thanks to the inadvertant intervention of a space fungus, the fire hadn't been as destructive as the mystery thieves intended - a later examination had turned up some accelerant left in the lab that would've made the place a total loss as far as evidence is concerned.

Dr. Sayers had been rendered unconscious before the fire began, and it appeared that it was ignited with a small explosive device placed on the gas canisters in the lab. Dr. Sayers had secretly retained samples of the disenchanted version of Ra's Al Ghul's plague, off the books, and the thieves apparently took those samples, along with some of her other work - focused on genetic therapy techniques.

Oracle had determiend that Dr. Sayers was corresponding with a colleague, identified only as 'Boris' in their communications. Trying to follow the e-mails back to the source proved fruitless, as 'Boris' used one of the popular web-based email services that didn't require verified personal information, and the account itself, 'epimetheus@jmail.com' was wiped clean by its owner, using several layers of IP anonymization.

Now Ted's got the mostly-intact hard drive from Dr. Sayers's computer, and the security tapes from the night of the incident. "Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out who did this, and whether or not they know what they've got.. and it needs to be fast, if the Plague is in play. Oracle said she was sending someone to help with the data recovery, at least - that should help."

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Hard to believe he's worked for the JLA for over a year. Harder to believe that he comes to the Watchtower several times a week and loves it up in space. Hardest of all to believe is that he doesn't even blink at the teleportation now. But here is young Marcus Blackwell, iPod ear buds tucked into place, humming along with Nina Simone as he wanders up the corridor toward the computer center. Looks quite at home, he does. "I shall be released," he sings softly at the chorus, his baritone pleasant, sonorous, relaxed.

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

He turns from the console through which he is loading the security footage, glancing towards the sounds of song.

"Uhhh.. hey, there. Are you supposed to be here?" He speaks through the avatar using his normal voice, but amplified a touch to better penetrate through the music.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Kip stops where he is, a habit since his sight was robbed, and listens. "Well, I thought this was the computer lab, sir," he answers with a smile, "unless there's been some remodeling since I was last here. I don't recognize your voice, and you don't recognize me, so I'm guessing we haven't met."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Well, he's polite, and aware that this is the computer lab. And he appears to be blind. His hand inches away from the intruder alarm.

"We definitely haven't met. I'm the Blue Beetle - and you must be Oracle's able assistant.."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Both of Kip's brows rise, and the smile becomes a wide grin. "No, sir, we haven't met! Wow, the Blue Beetle. And yes, sir, I'm Orion, but most everyone calls me by my real name, which is Kip." He moves forward, toward the sound of the avatar's voice, and presents his hand. "Sir, this is a great honor."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Somewhere, Ted grins, as the avatar stands to shake Kip's hand. The grip is a firm one, and is difficult to distinguish from that of a man in an armored glove. "Well, I can't say most folks react to me like that. It's nice to meet you, Kip - have you been on the Watchtower much?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Yes, sir, I have. Spend as much time here as I do my home now. Thinking about getting another cat to keep mine company." He's still holding the hand, though his expression's more thoughtful now. Head raises, tilts to one side. Something's ... different. "I don't know why people'd react differently to meeting you, sir. I know your reputation. You're one of the best. Even the Batman likes you, and sometimes I wonder if he likes anyone."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Really? While I was semi-retired, I logged all kinds of hours on monitor duty up here. I can't believe we never crossed paths before.. I guess it's a big Watchtower."

Realization dawns. "Ah, you're picking up on the mechanical handshake, I bet."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Kip nods to that, adding, "That and the slight filtration of your voice. I couldn't figure out whether it was from a helmet - I didn't think you wear a mouthpiece, but costumes change - or from something more mechanized. This isn't really you, is it, sir?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Guilty as charged!" He chuckles. "I was diagnosed with a heart condition - and vigilantism was on the list of 'Don'ts'. So I built a surrogate, and I pilot it by a mental link."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Wonder fills the young man's expression, wonder and admiration. He finally releases the surrogate Ted's hand as he shakes his head, remarking, "I'd love to hear the details about how you managed that technology, sir. Happen to have a special love for hardware, and what you're describing...shucks, I'd love to know how you did it."

Yes, he said 'shucks'.

"I also gotta admire that perseverence. Still finding a way to do good? No wonder everyone speaks so highly of you, sir. That's amazing dedication."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted grins. I like this kid.

"I'll get your e-mail address from Oracle and send you some specs. A lot of the work is based on things we've confiscated from villains over the years - people like the Thinker, Prometheus, et cetera. But the link itself relies on new sensor technology, that allows me to employ the principle of 'spooky action at a distance' to actualy send information."

"And Kip, this business is filled with people who perservere. You and Oracle have overcome limitations to help people. I wasn't going to let a bad heart stop me - and besides, I was going to go stir-crazy if I didn't do something to get back out there."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Without a pause, Kip counters, "No offense, sir, but I believe the only limitations in my life are caused by fear. Anything I'm strong enough to do, I can do, and God gives me a lot of strength. I'm thinking that's how it is with you, too, sir."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"You know, that's a very good way to put it. I have to say, I admire that sunny disposition of yours - you make Captain Marvel look like Eddie Vedder."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

The smile returns to a grin form. "Well, sir, anything that gets me compared to Captain Marvel makes my day, and thank you. But Eddie Vedder? I'm more a jazz man myself." He doesn't bother wearing glasses on the Watchtower, so it's easy to see his eye, acid scars still faintly visible, wink teasingly.

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted chuckles again. "Can't fault jazz. My personal music tastes run towards 80's pop, but there's very little I won't listen to."

"If you want to get started, I've got the hard drive from the lab loaded up - looks like it was magnetically wiped, but some recovery might be possible."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

He unplugs the ear buds, moves with surity to the side and uncovers a docking station for the music player. "Menu/Playlists/80s," he murmurs, and after a small hesitation Oingo Boingo's "Just Another Day" starts playing. Kip gives the pseudo-Beetle a grin. "Technology's a good thing, sir, isn't it? I think better by music. Let's see what we got here...where'd you hook up the drive?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Ah, Elfman and Oingo Boingo. Good choice." He slips into one of the seats in the computer lab.

"I set it up at Station One - I'm reviewing the security footage here at Two."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Any audio on that, sir?" queries Kip as he draws a chair over to Station One. "I've got something that helps trace deliberate deletions off tape and disk drives. It's a laser-driven optical reader than can pick up at least some of what's left behind because of its enhanced sensitivity. Cobbled it together from a Kord RS-10Z data recovery system's reader since they have a 60 percent improvement over standard readers' sensitivities. I think it's near your right leg."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"There's an audio track, but so far, things look pretty quiet."

He grins at the compliment to his company's technology. "Well, a lot of R&D went into that reader.." Ted lifts the device and places it on the desk surface to the right of the computer terminal. "I set it up on your right, there."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

His hands feel for the reader, grasp it, and then start moving with confidence to set everything up. "You familiar with Kord's equipment, sir? Gotta say they're by far my favorite technology supplier. I worked a lot with Wayne Technologies to get some advanced systems, but I know they partner with Kord so it's all part of the same engineering approach. Cleaner stuff, you know?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Absolutely. I have some solid connections with the company, you might say. A lot of this surrogate is constructed from Kord components."

I love these third-person secret identity moments.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Yeah, I know they supply almost all of the systems used here, so I figure someone's got a good plug-in with the company. They're cool." He flicks a switch, powering up the reader, as he adds, "Ted Kord's pretty much why I got into computers anyways. Sounds sort of geeky to say, but someone at WayneTech said Mr. Kord might've had a hand in designing the system they gave me after I lost my sight. I dunno if it's true," laughs the young man, "but I like the idea. I got pretty heavy into computers and programming, even hardware, after I started playing with that system they gave me on a grant as part of the Miss Congeniality prize for the Getting Messed Up by Supervillains Contest a few years back."

And he LAUGHS about it.

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted can't help but laugh a little with him. "I do know Ted Kord, and I can say with confidence that he'd be very happy to know that he's inspired someone to do what you do."

Some bits and pieces of conversations with Oracle are starting to filter through his memory, now. So this is the guy she was talking about..

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Inspired? Shoot, sir, Mr. Kord's my idol. I'd like to know half of what he knows about computer engineering and be able to think through some of what he's designed. Man's an innovator in the application of technology across a broad spectrum for general improvement of life, especially for some of us that need a little help, you know?" Turning in his chair a little, Kip pulls a braille keyboard closer and starts rapid-fire entry into the computer to their left. "Doesn't surprise me a bit that his company's helped you that much with your avatar here. No one else supplies such advanced assistance technology. Give that reader another few minutes and see if it's saved anything to the subordinate drive. My system's got a self-contained terabyte drive so anything potentially dangerous from a compromised system gets stored somewhere it won't blow up other stuff."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted just has to grin. Well, maybe people don't dress up like the Blue Beetle, but it's nice to know I have a fan.

"Sounds good. I expect we'll recover a lot of her research notes, at least - might help us to determine if she'd done anything unusual with the Ra's Plague. This security footage, though.. there's nothing.."

He trails off, hitting a few keys to backtrack the footage. "Wait. There was the silhouette of a foot there.. Holy hell. They're actually good enough to simply avoid the cameras, most of the time - just a glimpse here and a shadow there.."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Kip frowns, pivoting. "Shadows? Regular shadows, sir? Not like, say, Obsidian?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"The regular kind, as in these guys knew where the cameras were, and pulled a Batman."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"I don't know of a lot of villains that can do that sort of thing, sir, not easily. Not off-hand. Any ideas?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"I don't think we're talking costumed types, here. I can confirm multiple infiltrators - and the few glimpses of their outfits suggest jumpsuits. I think we're looking at special-ops personnel of some stripe."

He snaps his fingers - and yes, it was difficult to engineer the avatar to be able to do that properly. "They're smart, but I'm betting they didn't think of one thing.."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Grinning, Kip urges, "Keep checking, sir. I bet you're right."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"The same thing that fouls up those TV vampire shows - people just don't think about where reflections might appear.."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Yes, sir." There's a beep from the reader at his side, and Kip pauses to run his fingers over the Braille display that is being fed information on data restoration. Excitedly he remarks, "Sir, we have some substantial data here from that drive. Lots of text documents."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Looks like our lucky day. You may want to start checking for email correspondence with 'epimetheus@jmail.com' and on her research notes about her genetic therapy project."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"It'll take some time to sift through all this, but I'll program a data sorter so we can do a global search. Soon as the data's secure and anything dangerous is deleted or quarantined, I'll compile everything." He frowns, sitting back. "What was she working on, if I can ask, sir?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"The way I hear it, she was working on developing genetic improvements to cure or treat diseases - using retrovirii to slightly modify someone's genetic code, for instance, to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Nodding, Kip monitors the uplink of data from the system to his reader, then pauses. "Sir? There's no chance someone would want to steal that sort of data, is there?"

He knows, however, there is. Some people are evil.

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Well, let's leave aside the theory, for the moment, that it's a rival scientist trying to beat her to a Nobel Prize. That kind of genetic modification technique could be used for a lot of other applications - rewriting the genes of a small country to be dependent on a chemical only you could provide would give you a lock on their loyalty, for instance. Or perhaps someone wishes to recast the world's population to fit a particular mold, not unlike Ra's Al Ghul's own plan.."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

Kip's hands leave the system he's working on, and one wraps around a small gold crucifix hanging from his throat. "I pray to God this isn't that, sir, but considering all the evidence, it wasn't a petty crime. Sounds like something the League should look into."

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

"Undoubtedly, we will. I just hope we can get together a large enough pile of clues to do it effectively."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_kip_/]

"Would the Titans be able to help? This is sort of their neck of the woods, I think, sir?"

[azure-avenger.livejournal.com]

Ted nods, before remembering that Kip's blind. "Yeah, I expect they'll be on tap for some of the footwork in 'Frisco. Several of them helped at the fire."