UFA - Unidentified Falling Aliens
May. 5th, 2017 01:52 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
just2hands(tag General Grievous)
Ah, the California desert. It had been too long. No, really, way too long.
Anika had taken the softtop down on her rental jeep, and as far as she was concerned, the sky was the limit. Or actually, any place was the limit after the medical convention she'd just had to deal with in San Fransisco. Now granted, San Fran was no where even near Los Angeles which was a good thing. Even thinking of that city and the plague of undead she'd dealt with was near enough to give Ani hives.
But now the convention was over, and she had two more days until she had to give back the jeep and fly out. Two more whole days, she thought to herself. Go parasailing? Boating again? No, not this time. This time, since she hadn't been able to bring her motorcycle along (or drive it across country) Dr Nuttal had decided on hitting the desert once more, and just taking the jeep out on the dunes,miles from the highway, far from humanity.
After all, she wouldn't be able to get lost, even if she tried.
Slowing her jeep to a halt on top of a dune, Anika sat in the driver's seat, staring out at the sun setting in the west. The sky was a brilliant collage of pinks, golds, orange and purples, and the sun was just a half-disk on the horizon. And behind her, in the East, the very first stars were already beginning to show.
It was the perfect time for peace, for contemplation, for
"What the hell?" There was a huge flash of light behind her, and a rumble that sent the sand skittering under the tires of the jeep. Earthquake! "Oh god!" The world lurched, the jeep slid sideways, and Ani slammed her head against the metal bar of the roll-cage. A cloud of dust came up and enveloped the vehicle and it's driver and weakly Ani tried to wave it away while coughing, blinking her eyes.
"Oh, oh my head." Oh god, what the hell happened? Anika looked from one side to the other, trying to see out the rear-view mirrors, but her vision was still blurred. Trembling fingers reached for the latch, opened the jeep door. On unsteady legs Dr Nuttal climbed out of the jeep and - still holding on to the frame - turned to see what the hell kind of bomb had gone off behind her.
No. No way. A plane had gone down, had crashed out there in the desert! She could see the metal gleaming gold in the brilliant sunset. Gold and silver crushed wreckage lay behind her, and a thick black smoke slowly rose into the sky from the main assembly. Without a second thought the young doctor climbed back into the jeep. After a couple tries to get the key into the ignition Ani was spinning the steering wheel and spinning the jeep, and spinning around to head toward the crash to see if she could assist any survivors.
The closer she got to the crash however, the more she came to realize that it was no plane, not even a small one. What on earth had come down, a satellite? An observation - something? Finally the human stopped the jeep and just stared, not believing what her eyes were showing and her mind was trying to convince her of.
She couldn't call it what it was, didn't want to call it what it was. It had to be an experimental military plane, it just had to! Because the alternative was unthinkable.
She spoke to herself as Ani carefully opened the door and stepped out of the jeep. "Anika, you don't want to do this, you really shouldn't do this. Dammit, I've watched this scene in Independence Day, and I am no Will Smith. I am gonna get my ass killed."
"Hello?" Oh that was stupid, she thought. As if aliens speak English, right? But then again...
"Hello? Is anyone in there?"
Ah, the California desert. It had been too long. No, really, way too long.
Anika had taken the softtop down on her rental jeep, and as far as she was concerned, the sky was the limit. Or actually, any place was the limit after the medical convention she'd just had to deal with in San Fransisco. Now granted, San Fran was no where even near Los Angeles which was a good thing. Even thinking of that city and the plague of undead she'd dealt with was near enough to give Ani hives.
But now the convention was over, and she had two more days until she had to give back the jeep and fly out. Two more whole days, she thought to herself. Go parasailing? Boating again? No, not this time. This time, since she hadn't been able to bring her motorcycle along (or drive it across country) Dr Nuttal had decided on hitting the desert once more, and just taking the jeep out on the dunes,miles from the highway, far from humanity.
After all, she wouldn't be able to get lost, even if she tried.
Slowing her jeep to a halt on top of a dune, Anika sat in the driver's seat, staring out at the sun setting in the west. The sky was a brilliant collage of pinks, golds, orange and purples, and the sun was just a half-disk on the horizon. And behind her, in the East, the very first stars were already beginning to show.
It was the perfect time for peace, for contemplation, for
"What the hell?" There was a huge flash of light behind her, and a rumble that sent the sand skittering under the tires of the jeep. Earthquake! "Oh god!" The world lurched, the jeep slid sideways, and Ani slammed her head against the metal bar of the roll-cage. A cloud of dust came up and enveloped the vehicle and it's driver and weakly Ani tried to wave it away while coughing, blinking her eyes.
"Oh, oh my head." Oh god, what the hell happened? Anika looked from one side to the other, trying to see out the rear-view mirrors, but her vision was still blurred. Trembling fingers reached for the latch, opened the jeep door. On unsteady legs Dr Nuttal climbed out of the jeep and - still holding on to the frame - turned to see what the hell kind of bomb had gone off behind her.
No. No way. A plane had gone down, had crashed out there in the desert! She could see the metal gleaming gold in the brilliant sunset. Gold and silver crushed wreckage lay behind her, and a thick black smoke slowly rose into the sky from the main assembly. Without a second thought the young doctor climbed back into the jeep. After a couple tries to get the key into the ignition Ani was spinning the steering wheel and spinning the jeep, and spinning around to head toward the crash to see if she could assist any survivors.
The closer she got to the crash however, the more she came to realize that it was no plane, not even a small one. What on earth had come down, a satellite? An observation - something? Finally the human stopped the jeep and just stared, not believing what her eyes were showing and her mind was trying to convince her of.
She couldn't call it what it was, didn't want to call it what it was. It had to be an experimental military plane, it just had to! Because the alternative was unthinkable.
She spoke to herself as Ani carefully opened the door and stepped out of the jeep. "Anika, you don't want to do this, you really shouldn't do this. Dammit, I've watched this scene in Independence Day, and I am no Will Smith. I am gonna get my ass killed."
"Hello?" Oh that was stupid, she thought. As if aliens speak English, right? But then again...
"Hello? Is anyone in there?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 08:24 am (UTC)Her eyes followed his (those were eyes, weren't they?) as he looked around the wreckage. And the words she said next came out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Sorry General, I'm a doctor not a space mechanic."
Oh shit! She nearly clasped her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. Oh god, oh god, that did it. No more vacations with Wade for a while. His sense of humor was rubbing off on her, and at the exact wrong time. Fortunately, it seemed that the... The uh. That General Grievous didn't realize her little faux pas - but then he wouldn't, would he? How would some huge, terrifyingly tall and ominous figure from beyond the galaxy know of Star Trek anyhow?
Wait, that cough though. That was a cough, right? "Do you always sound like that? Are you ok, General?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 08:30 am (UTC)Frustrated, his arm swung back and smashed again the already damaged doorway. His metal body gave a strange shudder before the coughing finally subsided.
And no, he didn't catch the reference, taking her words at face value. The coughing had also distracted him away from her earlier question.
Despite his protest, he sounded and looked far from fine.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 08:39 am (UTC)"Oh yea, you sound perfectly healthy there." Hopefully he could hear the sarcasm, because this time she didn't bother to hide it. "Come on, lets find you someplace to sit down where there is still some light and let me take a look at you. I don't know what the hell I can do, but you can't make me believe that 'that' sounds normal."
Space alien cyborg General meet Anika-Amadi in 'Doctor mode'.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 08:45 am (UTC)"I do not know what you can do either," he finally said, stepping over a piece of metal that was jutting out and in doing so moving closer to her. "I need to leave this planet. Where are your ships?"
He assumed there must be a convenient hanger of starfighters around here somewhere...
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 09:02 am (UTC)The closer he came toward her, the more she got that 'oh man, he is really creeping me out' vibe. So when the opportunity presented itself, she was slipping right back out that door and into the open desert air. Brrr! She'd forgotten how quickly it could cool off in the desert once the sun set. First thing Ani did was to walk over to her truck and open a door, grab out her jacket. And then she reached down and turned on the lights.
Swinging her jacket over her shoulders and shoving her arms into it, the doctor zipped it up as she headed back to the alien commander. With the vehicle headlights shining on the wreck, once he showed himself, the cyborg general looked like something out of a sci-fi horror film.
And shaking her head at her own fool, 'gonna get myself killed someday' lack of self-preservation instinct; Ani made her way over to General Grievous and asked him to sit on a nearby boulder so she could at least look his armor - er - body over.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-09 09:15 am (UTC)That, and he had four lightsabers tucked neatly away within the folds of his cloak.
"This is a shuttle, not meant for long distances. There are no medical supplies on board." Besides it was a ship meant mainly for droids so they didn't even need that sort of attention. If they were damaged they would go to a maintenance bay on any larger ship. The escape pod was only really equipped for a quick getaway.
Still, after a moment he did sit, if begrudgingly. His left leg had the most obvious damage but that didn't explain the cough.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-12 08:33 am (UTC)"Alright. Well I have news for you, General. This planet you crashed into? Our best technology barely made it to the moon and back. I mean, we have this unmanned capsule that went to Mars, but yea. This wreck of yours is better than our current best. So if you know how to fix it, that would be a good thing." Oh yes, a fountain of good news, that was Anika alright.
"But first lets see if we can fix you. Um, hmm. What are you?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-13 05:30 am (UTC)"I have no tech or mechanical droids with me," he said, sounding frustrated and furious. As if that was somehow her fault.
Then he straightened and glared at the question.
"What are you insinuating?" Temper having flared, he's taking the question more personal than perhaps she meant it to be.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-15 07:13 am (UTC)And then his question caused her mind to go blank for a moment. Could he be that unknowing of where he landed? Anika took a deep breath, blew it out and began to speak.
"I am human doctor. I am used to treating humans... humanoids. I want to help - in fact General" She gave a stern glare before looking away. "I am the only person on this rock who a - knows you are alive, and b - wants to help you. So if you are planning on killing me, you may want to reconsider."
Another deep breath. "And since I do want to help you, and I'm the only sentient being for hours around that can - I do mean hours, not miles, just for the record. I don't want to cause more harm than good, you got that? I need to know if you are a cyborg, ah. I need to figure out if you possess similar bodily systems and functions to what I'm familiar with. I can turn a wrench as good as anyone, but if you have internal bleeding or crushed internal organs under that metal, I can't tell from here."
"And it's getting dark. I was going to sleep out here tonight, but the temperature dips fast. So I don't know about you, but I'm going to need to start a fire to keep warm, and keep the possible predators away."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-15 08:08 am (UTC)"I will be missed. Count Dooku will send a fleet of ships to find me," he announced menacingly. It didn't sound as if that was going to be just some sort of innocent taxi service sort of pick-up. But if he couldn't fix his own shuttle surely Dooku would retrieve him. They must have some way to discover where he had gotten lost to. He was needed back in their galaxy as the Separatist's highest military leader.
The weather likely wouldn't bother him all that much. Much of his internal workings were protected and his metal body didn't feel the cold. So he didn't remark about that - and he was in no way concerned about any predators. There were very few that could attack him and win. They would have to be very strong.
"Unless you are a Jedi I have no need to kill you," he went on. "I have dealt with many humans before. I know what you are. I am not one of you. I am of the Kaleesh."
There may be vague similarities in the fact they all had brains, spines, eyes, hearts and lungs but he wasn't about to let her open him up to take a look. He didn't think there was any further internal damage anyway. The worst of the damage from this crash was to his leg, which was all mechanical.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-18 07:15 am (UTC)A Kaleesh? Uh. Ok, right. But what was a Kaleesh? The only alien she'd ever met had been working undercover as a mechanic, of all things. And oh-this one could use a mechanic! Ani thought hard. No, Lobo wasn't around at that moment. Damn.
"Well, you're the first Kaleesh I've ever dealt with, so first thing's first. You are limping pretty bad, but that looks all umm, cybernetic? If you don't have a first aid kit, do you at least have a mechanical repair kit?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-18 07:54 am (UTC)Again, the hope of a nearby fleet finding him. Somehow. Maybe the pod had some sort of tracker or beacon attached to it.
"Does this world of yours have no technology?"
He went on, frowning - even though that was only obvious by his eyes - as he answered her earlier question. "The Jedi are a group of arrogant creatures who claim that they aid people in need, while they lay waste to entire planets and align themselves with slavers. If you do not know of them here, then count yourself one of the lucky ones."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 06:15 am (UTC)"Look, the fact that I didn't run away screaming should say something, ok? We aren't that barbaric. We just aren't that ah, advanced. Yet, I mean."
"So basically what you are saying is that I can't help you, right? Not with your leg, which is obviously mechanic in nature. Not with that cough that you have, and don't glare at me - of course I can hear it. So if you don't need me, I'll be on my way before your Dooko, and his pals get here. Alright?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 07:00 am (UTC)It might be intimidating but he went on, wanting information more than a fight.
"You need to tell me more about this world. Do you know of the Republic?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 07:22 am (UTC)Slowly she sank down onto the nearest rock, stuffing her hands deep into her pockets. The carkeys gave a soft jangle, and Ani judged the distance from her to her jeep and back. No, too far. Damn.
"The what? The Republicans? Seriously, you want to talk politics, why? What do you want to know? There are the Democrats and the Republicans, and they've both screwed up the country. But I am not really into politics, I'm more an independant."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 08:07 am (UTC)His focus had never been politics himself. He had aligned with Dooku and the Separatists for more personal reasons - and had been manipulated because of that. He only brings it up now due to it being something he assumed every planet must have heard about, therefore a starting point for conversation.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 09:11 am (UTC)"The galaxy huh? Howabout this? What I'm going to do is get some firebricks out of the back of my jeep and start a small blaze so I don't freeze tonight, and I'll tell you about it." She got up to head to her rented vehicle, then paused and turned back around.
"I am not trying to run away, I'm just getting camp set up. I don't know if you even get cold, but I do."
Bringing a load of firebricks back, the human doctor set them down and fished a lighter out of the inside pocket. Some hunting around the site and she had enough dried plantlife that the human could start a small blaze. Another trip to the jeep and back and now she began setting up a cot, and rolling out a sleeping bag as well. One more trip had her bringing back a gallon of water in a plastic container, as well as a box of dried and pressed fruits and grain bars.
"Are you thirsty? Do you drink water?" She offered the gallon jug in the alien's direction, then sat on the cot and added some more dried weeds and grass to the fire.
"Now, about your questions. Here on this - my - world? Most humans don't even know there is life out beyond our galaxy. That is, the nine planets that orbit our particular star. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find many people who believe in life on other planets period. You're lucky, General. I know there is - you aren't the first alien I've met. But you're probably the first person I've told that to, because if I mentioned it to my fellow earthlings, they'd probably lock me up as insane."
As far as your galactic Republic goes? We can't even get the countries on this world to agree. We sure as heck don't have a ruling - whatever - for the planet. And this is the first time I've even heard of a Galactic Republic. You really are out in the boonies, so to speak."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-23 09:59 am (UTC)"No. I need no food or drink," he answered to her questions. He also rarely needed rest. Much of him was sustained by the cybernetic elements.
He lifted one of the droids legs. Hm. It was in good shape but may not be the best replacement part for his own.
"Your star system must be small and remote to not even know of the Republic or have met any from other worlds. Some have wanted a separation from them and that is why we are currently all at war."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 05:46 am (UTC)"If I had a tool kit, I might be able to help with that" the human offered. "But it's a rental car, so I didn't pack all my stuff in it. Just enough to get away for a day or two."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 06:52 am (UTC)Any further words were briefly interrupted as Grievous rattled the droid's body and it abruptly made some sounds then words of its own in its high pitched speech. "Power... low... Need charging... station..." It did sound a bit sluggish.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 07:59 am (UTC)Except me, she added. Now I know. But what the hell do I do with this information? Should I offer to take him to our... oh hell no. Not the leader we have right now.
She blinked when the droid began to slowly speak. "Do you think we can get that robot of yours to work again? I think I have some jumper cables in the back of the jeep."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 08:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 08:34 am (UTC)Ani jerked her head toward the vehicle, parked just beyond the firelight.
"We have electricity? I don't know what you call it. I don't even know if your robots run on it. But we can try." She put a hand up to her face, hiding a yawn.
Should she remind him not to kill her in her sleep? Ooh, that was a good question. Nah, he could have killed her several times over by now. So she should be as safe asleep as she was awake, right? Oh god, she hoped so.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 08:41 am (UTC)He'd drag the droid with him if she personally showed him where the cables were.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 08:58 am (UTC)It took a few more minutes to get everything ready, opening the latch to the hood from inside the vehicle, lifting the hood to show the engine and battery compartment.
"Ok, um, where is your robot's power source? I have to attach this cable to it, and this one to. To... um. I have to ground it somehow. And then these cables go on the battery, like this. After that, I start up the jeep and the electricity travels along the cable to revive your robot. And while we're at it, we hope that it works without blowing us up."
She added a mental 'I think.'
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 09:14 am (UTC)"This had better not be some trick," he said, suspicious but the main risk was to the droid - and he didn't much care one way or the other about that.
He hoisted the battle droid up, opened up a panel in its back then held the body out toward her. "Here. Attach the power source to this." There seemed to be some sort of piece sticking out that may be like a strange sort of plug. But it should be able to attach and power up the droid to some degree.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 09:28 am (UTC)"Look General Grievous, I'm going to lay some straight talk on you, ok?" And yes, there was one hand on her hip as she began speaking.
"I didn't have to come looking for survivors of your crash. I didn't have to offer to help you. I didn't have to tell you about possibly getting your robot there to do something other than gargle words. I did all this on my own. So yes, you can stand there and be as paranoid as you want to, but sooner or later you are going to have to get it through your head that I am a doctor. It is not just a job, it's my life, it's my... oh forget it."
She picked up the cables, came closer to him and attached one side to the robot, then looked around for something to ground it with, finally deciding on a piece of wreckage. "I swear, I've seen vampires who are less suspicious." She looked up. "You may want to put the robot down, I don't want you to get hit by the electrical charge too." And then she mumbled some words under her breath. Something to do with knocking, and sense.
A few seconds later, she was ready, and attached to cable to the battery of the jeep. "Ok, lets see how this does."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 09:39 am (UTC)"I hope you do not think I would be so foolish as to immediately trust a strange human being who claimed to be a healer."
But he was being fairly civil otherwise - at least to his way of thinking - and he kept out of her way for now.
Once she sent the power through, the battle droid jittered and shook, making unintelligible noises for a moment before going still.
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 09:58 am (UTC)Wow, Wade would be so proud of her! All her time with her bestie had finally started rubbing off, in a good way. Anika was finally able to start standing up for herself - at least where her profession was concerned.
"Look, I don't expect hearts and flowers ok? Just - can you try to tone down the whole tall, dark and growly bit? I've got it, you can kill me seven ways to Sunday, any time you want. I know that part already."
The robot jumped, the human jumped. "Ok, what I'm going to do is start the car, and see if the electricity will help start it that way. No, I won't leave you here. But if I don't start the engine, trying to wake your robot might drain my own battery, ok?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 10:11 am (UTC)"Go ahead and do it."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 12:48 pm (UTC)She sat behind the steering wheel, staring out the windshield at the alien before blinking and swallowing hard, then climbing out of the car seat once more to check on the general's robot-servant-thing.
"Is it doing anything yet?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-24 01:39 pm (UTC)Grievous stalked over to it, ordering. "Get up!"
The droid seemed to be confused. "What, where?" Then it focused on the tall cyborg looming over it. "Ah... Yes, General. At once." It waved an arm around again before it found some traction and pushed itself off of the ground.
Grievous inspected it and poked at it a couple of times. "Is everything in working order?"
The droid didn't reply, standing straight and silent. Grievous kicked it.
"Sir! Yes, sir!"
The cyborg growled disapprovingly at the delay then turned toward Ani. "It looks like your idea was successful."
no subject
Date: 2017-05-25 05:16 am (UTC)"Now we have to get the cables off." She removed the set of cables from the back of the droid and the piece of wreckage serving as a ground, and then took the other end of the cables off the battery. Coiling it all up, the doctor set it in the back of the jeep before shutting off her vehicle and pocketing the keys once more.
"So it was." Anika gave a slight frown at the abuse to the robot, but chose not to mention it. "What can it do? Can it fix your ship?"
no subject
Date: 2017-05-29 02:22 am (UTC)The cyborg General turned again to the woman.
"That is not in its simplistic programming."
So not much help there. He spoke of the droid in a rather condescending way as if he didn't think much of it.
no subject
Date: 2017-06-19 08:49 am (UTC)She hoped.
"Look, I'm going to sit down over here, maybe rest a little while. Unless you have something else you want looked at or checked out, like that cough of yours? Yes? No?"
no subject
Date: 2017-08-23 05:22 am (UTC)He just was unaware of the extent of it.
no subject
Date: 2017-08-24 03:49 am (UTC)"Look, do I have to worry about you killing me in my sleep or not? If I can't help you, I don't know what I can do here. What I do know is that if I don't get some rest, I won't be able to help anyone - including myself."
"So what do you say?"