6431/I Ain't Groot

I Ain't Groot
Date of Scene:	03 June 2021
Location:	Baxter's Laboratory and Surrounding Environs
Synopsis:	Baxter has created an unstable 'clone' of Groot that is driven to destroy itself and anything around it.
Cast of Characters:	Groot, Baxter Stockman

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Groot has posed:
Groot had been in a battle against a bunch of deadly Space Rabbits (called Schmeeps) and while the Guardians had managed to burn or destroy any trace they could find of the nasty international predators and natural prey for Flerkin; he had taken a blow to an arm not realizing that he had left a bit of DNA behind. An enterprising young lad (/hoodlum) grabbed the alien wood and sold it on the black market. At first, bidding was non existant but once it was verified by an expert as alien in origin, bidding reached sky high and was ultimately won by a proxy of Baxter's.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Remember," Baxter's voice is not friendly to the tech. "We only have one sample, and I paid good money for this," he says, looking at the scrap of wood on the table. Latex gloves, a white lab coat over his suit, and safety goggles in place, the scientist. "No mistakes."
    The lab tech, a poor college intern, nods. "We've done the DNA analysis, it's stored in the system.
    "Good, maybe you have a future yet, you can do the very basic first steps of preparation," Stockman says with little sign of being impressed. "Once the backup is stored on the servers off site, we'll begin the process. "Marcus, what have the results to the various stimuli been? How does it relate to terrestrial wood?"

Groot has posed:
Marcus pinches the bridge of his nose, which has a thick bit of tape holding his glasses together. It makes for a handy handle and also adds to the wear and tear of the glasses, "Definitely not Terrestial in origin. There are at least 7 or 8 organeles that we have literally NEVER before seen in any other species, terrestial or extraterrestial in origin. It might seem like a plant but its...well, it is a plant I believe but an entirely new kingdom of one. It seems to replicate lungs, complex immune response, armor, and nerves all in the same cell. There is specialization but with some basic stimulation we think that it could allow the organism to self replicate.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Replicate?" Baxter echoes. "That is certainly a very interesting situation. "Section a two inch, nothing too large, and isolate the rest. What stimuli is most likely to cause it to replicate? Something like this could be used to research into quite a few applications."

Groot has posed:
Marcus swallows, "It's...complex. If I didnt know better..." he hesitates because it sounds insane, but finally blurts out, "If I didnt know better I'd say it, at sufficient mass has sapience and that it requires sapient unlocking. If you look at these chromosomes here and here" he points to the screen, "there are three interlocking chemical systems that are insidisously complex. It likely CAN be tricked and bypassed but it doesnt strike me as easy. Cutting a two inch piece now." He places the sample under the laser cutter and begins to emulate the extraction.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Sapience? Are you saying it thinks?" Baxter looks amazed and curious. "Get the Psychotropic drug compound used on the rodent, I don't recall the file number. Lindsey, you worked on that, correct?"
    "But that compound test was never completed, after the break in at the lab, the test subject was lost," Lindsey, the chemical expert answers.
    "It did separate out the cognition patterns on the subject, we saw that. It's time to finish the test, I think. If there's anything latent, it should be able to "pool" that resource, so to speak, and once we pool it, then we can look at introducing a stimulus to activate it."
    A half smile creeps across his moustache. "I think I know just the trick for this."

    Naturally, it takes time to get the sample compound reproduced, but a few days later, it's ready.
    "All right Marcus, let's see what we learn today," he says. "Let's introduce the compound, see if it works."

Groot has posed:
Not Groot stirred. Planet X had long since modified their own genetics in many many ways, especially the nobility given that they held their memory at a cellular level. He might not remember everything about....Groot? But he knew enough and more importantly...he knew that this was....NOT good. The wood already began to shift and form to a humanoid shape, tendrils seeking out other folliage nearby to increase its size and shape, but not to begin life anew, but to destroy itself! A faint grumbling and roar could be heard with scents coming off. The still underdeveloped vocal cords could not quite make out the words "I aint groot!"

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    Everyone in the room takes a step back. "Look at that," Baxter says, the one person who moves a little closer. "This is just the latent existence of whatever life form it came from. And it speaks? English no less. This is remarkable. I wonder what would happen if we gave it a little help with its growth..."
    Everyone else is silent, checking the computers they have been monitoring the small pieces with.
    "Do you understand me?" Baxter asks, uncertain if it has developed hearing. Unfortunately, in a lab, there isn't much foilage to be found. "Marcus, is it creating other organs? Can the sensors tell?"

Groot has posed:
"I aint Groot!" The angry response might not sound like comprehension given the difficulty in understanding the language, but the rate in the hissing is definitely there. Baxter could likely quickly discern that there must be a non audible component to the language but the tone is a clear example of communication. ANGRY communication.

The sensors can tell indeed that it is sort of creating organs, or ...something like organs. The biology is so alien they will need to make new inventions and words for a lot of what it is doing but the wood is becoming more humanoid with a pair of...eyes? Staring right at Baxter.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Let's get two Rodneys up here, just to be safe," Baxter says, picking up the tone. Lindsey taps on the keyboard to issue the request.
    "I know you are disoriented," he says calmly. "We are here to help you-oh. Hello," he comments, a little surprised as the eyes appear. He smiles, attempting to remain friendly in demeanor. "I'm Baxter Stockman," he introduces himself. "Just remain calm, you are in good hands." He glances briefly in the direction of Lindsey, who gives an 'OK' symbol with one hand.

Groot has posed:
Half memories flood into the not a clone as it rages arms forming and becoming stronger. The thing is burning internal reserves of some kind of energy that the mass should not have. It is also growing but not at the rate it would if greenery were present. And it is not happy.

At all.

Summoning the Rodney's is likely a good idea and word is sent immediately.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Where is the growth coming from?" Baxter asks. "Check its density, it can't possibly be maintaining a similar density at this rate. It may kill itself if it keeps up this rate."
    One of the lab techs speaks up. "What if we gave it something to eat? Like a burger?" Baxter shoots a sharp gaze at the young lady who spoke. "A burger?" he says in disbelief. He looks as if he is going to chastise her, but then his expression changes. "A burger... Marcus, most of this lifeform is still carbon based, correct?" he asks.

Groot has posed:
He nods, "Yes. There are rare earth elements but I could see it being some kind of Venus Fly Trap, or eating meat. Heck, look at the teeth structures and how it keeps changing..."

"The mitochondria on this thing are through the roof. Nothing terrestrial can match it and even several alien species I've read papers about. Its density is...similar but slowly lessening. The energy compaction in those cells must be off the charts."

It stands upright and does not look pleased. It's looking right AT Baxter.

The Rodney's arrive.

Baxter Stockman has posed:
    "Gentlemen and ladies, we may have just discovered a new method of fuel conservation," Stockman says with a smile. "Listen to me," he says. "You need sustenance," he tells the figure. The one wheeled robots zing into the lab, standing at attention, and immediately focus their small defended cameras on the specimen. "I think we may want to quarter off a smaller section next time," he comments, looking at the size the 'Not Groot' has grown to. Most of the people in the room at this point are doing their work far back from the specimen. Baxter, however, shows absolutely no fear. "You may want to sit down," he offers a hand toward the table."

Groot has posed:
Groot grabs a proffered burger and munches it down ravenously, but the rage, the confusion and madness also cause it to grab one of the hands that offered the burger (Not Baxter) as it howls "I AINT GROOT!" trying to fufill its primary mission which is destruction and self destruction.