10424/What's Important Is The Price ft. Machina and Ryker

What's Important Is The Price ft. Machina and Ryker
Date of Scene:	11 March 2022
Location:	Gotham Public Library
Synopsis:	Harlan Ryker offers a Mad Scientist a job. How well that turns out, will remain to be seen.
Cast of Characters:	Alicia Stone, Rebecca Ryker

---

Alicia Stone has posed:
    MADAME MACHINA is an over-the-top caricature of a woman, bristling with crazy and robots and bluster for a good reason. 1) She IS crazy. but also 2) If you're so strange as your SECRET PERSONA it's harder for people to spot the "real you" even if that line is getting more and more blurry over the years. Which is why Machina nee Alicia Stone is anxious about this meeting. The slightly dumpy Asian lady in the grubby coat and glasses isn't what one would really recognize as a villainess, and the Gotham Public Library isn't where you would normally conduct this sort of... activity. But Machina's canny. Even if Ryker asked for the meeting, there's no way she's meeting somewhere that isn't public, isn't neutral. Who knows who people are in Gotham, she's new here herself. This is a far sight from her usual stomping grounds in Jersey.

    But the little conference room has been reserved, and the woman's brought some of her notes and a few widgets along with her. And he IS promising money, so uh... if he's sussed her out, she can still shoot him, right?

    I guess the question is will Mr. Ryker be expecting MADAME MACHINA SUPER VILLAIN or Alicia Stone, exiled post-doc?

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
Sometimes you just gotta wing it.

Harlan Ryker comes into the library bearing donuts. He isn't certain himself what he's dealing with, given the message boards responses being a matter of 'just don't' and 'science girls r hot'. Neither of which really gave him the data he requires.

But he's getting desperate. His project is running low on time, and he needs someone...no, he needs a breakthrough. So, as he walks in in his tailored suit and chauffeured ...vehicle outside, he looks as standout as he can. Goatee, handsome face, tall stature. Posture.

"Well. You certainly chose a neutral location for our meet-up, miss..." He leaves it open, as he stands and waits to be acknowledged.

Alicia Stone has posed:
    The woman twitches a little bit at the sight of the doughnuts, hands fluttering at the first real source of carbs she's spotted this morning. Fuck diets. "Ah, Stone. Alicia Stone. Your own reputation proceeds you, Mr. Ryker, though I have to say, I was surprised you uh... took this meeting. I know you're... who you are." She plants both hands on the table, and takes a breath. "...I'm guessing you probably already contacted Union State to see uh.... why I'm claiming to be a post-doc from a place that no longer has a robotics or artificial intelligence department."
    She fiddles with her glasses, and then snatches up one of the doughnuts to nibble on it like a squirrel, before she gets back to things. "...for the record, what happened was a tragedy, but it was not my fault, none of that was my fault and they're just.... academics. I certainly did not sabotage the department."

    Most of that is true.

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
The gentleman sits, letting the young lady have as much as she wishes. He lets her talk herself out, waiting. He has the darkest eyes, and a forbidding expression that bodes ill for any children he may someday have. He steeples his fingers...until she's done.

Then he puts an envelope on the table, and slides it halfway across.

"Tell me something about cybernetic prosthetic technology that I do not yet know." He keeps his fingers on the envelope, waiting patiently for her to earn it. She has to assume that the envelope holds her hopes and dreams. Or a threat of death, either one has got to be amusing though.

Interesting guy. He clearly knows what he wants, but if the young lady responds will tell a great deal.

Alicia Stone has posed:
    Machina... no... STONE... takes another bite of the doughnut, wipes her cheek with her thumb, and then swallows. "It depends on what sort of goal you're looking for. I can tell you that Stark and Hammer are chasing primary motive engagement from different directions." She finds a piece of paper from her stack, pulls a pencil from her hair bun, and then starts to scribble basic schematics on the sheet. "Stark's team is working to perfect cosmetic limb replacement, using internal power sources that have low charge dendro-steel motors. They're trying to mimic human muscles on the same scale. Hammer's team is going along the other side. I don't think they're concerned with the domestic market, more the uh.... military applications. So they're using external power cells and larger myomer bundles to blatantly improve and replace for.. well, military and police purposes."

    She flips around the sheet, showing the basics for Ryker, before nibbling again. "I can't say what your team is working on, but I'd have to say that they're both working at cross purposes. But that's business. I would angle on taking Hammer's tech at a smaller scale. The myomers are good for more than just large motivators, you can get them sized down if given a few more years in R&D."

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
He looks at her, glancing down at the sheet of paper a moment. His eyes widen slightly, then he nods. Not a man of many words, at least not in public, then. Pursing his lips he lifts one finger from the envelope, then with a clear decision lifts the rest, allowing her to take it.

"Cybertech is working on a public build of affordable prosthetics for amputees which allow biofeedback and motive systems. Effectively allowing the standard person to have a quality of life, and to touch their family again and to feel that touch."

He clearly has more. 'public build' is a key phrase. It means that there's a nonpublic build. And one that he's clearly not comfortable discussing here and now.

Then he offers a lure. "Preprogrammed nanotechnology, injected into each prosthetic. Designed to locate the old neural structures in the human body they attach to, and re-link to past nerve fibers. Actual sensory stimulus, at a fraction of the price - a single program for all patients."

But...that's intrusive technology. That's got potential in many other ways than what he's saying.

Alicia Stone has posed:
    Oh, he's not going to question how she got that info, that's nice. Machina fishes around in her bag, and pulls out a phone-sized widget and also a bottle of water. She sips on the water, whilst flipping a switch on the widget. It makes a satisfying 'boop' noise, and Machina settles in. "...sorry, just making sure I'm not being followed is all. I'm sure you understand." The block makes another BOOP before she adjusts her glasses. "...I'm sure you've seen my file and know I'm not in the field of nanotech. I'm guessing you want my expertise in the macro side of things? You should know that I work best with ahhhh... emergent technologies and the fusion of fields. It's really a fluid art form. When we are trying to mimic the living, it makes sense to be... creative with things."

    Those silver eyes narrow in return, and the lady examines the man again. What's your play here, Mr. Ryker?

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
He leaves the envelope, still sealed, on the table. The fact that she didn't take it is a very interesting play, and one that makes him smile. He does like it when prey is interesting. "I did much the same thing. My tech is bulkier though. Nonportable." That was a compliment, of sorts, as he looks over the toys she's brought.

Then he shrugs it off, playing as if this is nothing important. "I don't mind if my contractors," he almost said scientists, but changed his mind, "are slightly eccentric. I do need someone to help with the macro work, of course. The concepts Stark and Hammer are using are brilliant. Yes of course I know the existing work."

A pause, a heartbeat, then he says, "Do you think you can do better? Can you create something entirely new, using my baseline specifications?"

Alicia Stone has posed:
    Stone shifts a bit in her seat, and fidgets with her glasses again. "...You want me to make strides in a field that Tony Stark and Justin Hammer have spent billions of dollars in?"

    And perhaps, just maybe the most real glimpse of Miss Stone that could have come out of this whole conversation passes across her face, as Machina shows herself behind those silver eyes, for the merest of moments. A hungry, needful glare, lingering into the distance as she dreams of machines, glorious and free and life-changing.

    "...Yes, I think I can." She reaches across and takes the envelope, and then murmurs. "...I can only promise you prototypes, and I'll have to test them."

Rebecca Ryker has posed:
"Take it then. You'll find your Cybertech pass card and a credit card inside." His voice is satisfied with what he's seen. No, not satisfied. That's the wrong word. Hungry.

Harlan Ryker needs someone who can skip over steps, who can imagine the future. He's willing to pay handsomely for it. It's in his eyes, in his expression. He looks...menacing, for a moment.

"Work wherever you wish. Use our laboratories. I already have space for you, if you find it to your needs. I will work with you personally, as well. I wouldn't trust half of my idiots to shell an egg." That last sentence was almost silent, but still there.

Then he shakes off what seems to be a deep seated anger, and looks at the lady before him. "You can keep the donuts. My children do not eat sugar." Then he rises.

Alicia Stone has posed:
    The Asian lady tries not to snatch the envelope open TOO hard, hearing all that. Money. AND supplies? Yes please and thank you. The academic inside of Alicia shivers, while Machina... also shivers. YAY. FUNDING.

    "...Carbs are nature's gasoline, Mr. Ryker." A blink, and then she's already scribbling on another sheet of paper. ARTIFICIAL MITOCHONDRIA?????????????

    Oh dear.