tushanshu | oo1

[ It's a little too late to adhere to that whole non-interference clause of the Prime Directive, being the subject of an alien-napping and all, so here is Spock in all his pointy-eared glory. Looking as straight-faced as possible. Unlike Kirk, he didn't part from their meeting and then drink himself under a table, he stayed up all night watching network conversations and Sciencing. It would be illogical to... wallow, and he refuses to acknowledge that he even has the urge. ] ... Fascinating.

[ For such ancient technology, this thing appears remarkably serviceable. ] Greetings. I am Commander Spock, of the United Federation of Planets. If I understand correctly, then you are my fellow... detainees. [ There, that's politic enough. ] I would like to request information on what is being done with the crashed satellite debris. In return, I may be of some assistance in constructing something useful from it, as I am familiar with this level of technology.

In addition, any information on the turtle itself would be appreciated; the scans I have taken of the creature only tell me so much, and the indigenous people seem... disinclined to reply to my queries.

[ Aaaand he'll just give a sharp nod and the Vulcan Salute on his way out. ]

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[Bruce had honestly thought he was going to just brush it off again, but apparently he's just more literal than he'd assumed.

That's a very noncommittal response, however, in the sense that it doesn't commit itself to much. His eyebrows raise.] I can understand why that would endear it to you, [is all he says.]

I've had, uh, I've had a hard time getting access to... equipment, in the past. It's been a relief being here. In that sense.

I see. [ Trying to Science without equipment, that sounds horrible. So Spock nods briskly, reaching up towards his console screen. ] I will be there shortly.

[ And he shuts it off! And then walks over to the Stark Tower, which takes a little while because he started out in the Wood Sector. When he gets directed up to Bruce's office, he has his Tricorder in hand. ] Mr. Banner?

[Bruce is in his typical position, in front of a monitor with his glasses on, frowning slightly at it in concentration. When Spock arrives, he looks over immediately, and gives him a nod in greeting.]

Hey. [He finds it a little difficult to call anyone something like Commander Spock in complete seriousness, so he just leaves off the name.] It's... doctor, technically, but I don't mind. I'm a nuclear physicist.

[Since he hadn't actually given his credentials before, he figures he may as well now if they're going to be working together. It's said entirely without a sense of pride or accomplishment. It's just what he is.]

Doctor. [ Spock amends easily enough. He's hardly going to begrudge anyone their earned title, and despite the fact that nuclear physics is an area of historical expertise by Spock's time, he can still respect that Bruce has a doctorate.

He steps further into the room, hands folded at the small of his back, his tricorder hanging from a strap on one shoulder. ] I would still like to know what it is you wish to analyze with the DNA sequencer. [ Whoops sorry Bruce, Spock is always way too direct and also he never forgets. ]

[Unlike probably everyone else, he honestly likes the directness. It's refreshing to talk to someone so impersonal. Bruce struggles to remove his feelings from the equation every moment that he can and doesn't always succeed, so meeting someone that seems to is a little admirable. Not that he's acknowledging that out loud.]

I'm trying to research the cloning, [he explains readily enough.] ... Do you know about that yet? Anyway, it's, I've done a lot of work on my own genome before. If I can sequence it, then I should be able to say definitively whether or not we're clones.

[ Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Hold on just a minute. Spock's pointy brow furrows, opening up a big old file dump for that information in his brain. ]

... I am familiar with the process of cloning.

[ In the future, everything is possible. ]

Why do you suspect that we are clones? [ And why clone a half-vulcan? It's so... inefficient. ]

No, uh, I mean, do you know that it's-- happening here. Happened.

[Bruce is not exactly smooth at explaining himself, but he starts to fall into the rhythm of explaining SCIENCE, which he's far better at.]

It's more than a suspicion. Months ago, some of us-- before I was here-- discovered a cloning facility. It's since been destroyed, probably a cover up, but we can assume that there's another one somewhere as a replacement. I'm trying to confirm whether the obvious assumption is correct with a little more accuracy than "it seems like it".

[Faint distaste for relying on guesswork? Definitely.]

[ That's. Really disturbing. If they're clones, what happens to people when they leave?

But he decides not to question it until he at least takes steps towards knowing whether it's true or not, and with that in mind he sort of waves the beep-booping tricorder in Bruce's general direction for a total of three seconds before lowering it again.

Yep. DNA testing is that easy in the future. The future is ridiculous.

He squints at the results, stepping forward to let Bruce see them too. Strange. Maybe the tricorder is malfunctioning... ]

You appear to be irradiated. [ I'm sorry Bruce, Vulcans don't know how to tact. ]

[Oh whoa that's having him tense right up, because now Spock has his genetic sequence and Bruce has no idea of who he works for or the character of his moral fiber. If there's cloning technology around and he's already been cloned, then it's not as difficult to make another Hulk as he'd assumed it was at home, making his genetic information extremely dangerous in the wrong hands.

Bruce suddenly goes from mild and unassuming to wary and guarded in an eye blink.]

I know, [he says shortly, looking down at the readings because his curiosity is insatiable, and because he has to know. His eyes jump quickly over the data, taking it in even as he says,] Is there a way to delete this afterward? I can't-- this-- My genetic information needs to be tightly controlled.

[ If Spock notices Bruce's sudden unease, he doesn't say anything. Mostly because he's giving the man a look that is Very Intense. ] Exposure to ionizing radiation should be lethal to humans. [ The image of Kirk's hand pressed against the containment room door is still raw and unwieldy his mind. ]

Has a stopgap for radiation poisoning been discovered in your reality? [ He needs to know. ]

[What's with this sudden intensity? Bruce stares back at him levelly, unaffected. It's probably a rare situation for Spock to be on the other end of this.]

No. I'm a fluke. [His tone's even less giving, but he does answer.] Don't take me as an indication for anything. You need to delete that.

[Someone's relentless.]

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