7209/Meeting of the Engineering Minds

Meeting of the Engineering Minds
Date of Scene:	03 August 2021
Location:	Foster Ltd Warehouse, Hell's Kitchen, NYC
Synopsis:	Vance and Finley poke at continuing to solve Ava's more longterm energy problems while Ghost, herself, works on sourcing some important equipment that has a much greater priority to her.
Cast of Characters:	Vance Astro, Ava Starr, Finley Ellison

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Vance Astro has posed:
    The warehouse has become pretty much Vance's place in the world at this point in time. He has focused on researching the current engineering processes and principles. Using his comm, he has managed to piggyback on local Wi-Fi signals and got online.

    He's specifically avoided dismantling the tech suit, but he's been trying to assemble something to accomplish similar effects in his own right. Sure, it's on a micro-scale... like a glove sized piece of tech he is trying to improve beyond the designs of the current suit. It's an attempt to learn how the suit works, and a proof of concept that he can make something like that.

    What? He is an electrical engineer from the 21st century. Don't give him an engineering challenge and expect him to -not- jump at it.

    The remains of a sandwich and a coca cola sit nearby him as he's just kinda basically thrown himself into the work with the bare minimum of awareness of time passing, or hunger.

Ava Starr has posed:
Standing in the middle of the lab area is a metal scanning frame. It's purple and tall enough to house a human. Phyla used it to scan Ava's genetic and molecular makeup, which then allowed her to fabricate an energy injector that subsequently allowed her to inject a quantum energy matrix into Ava that has created a temporary cohesion structure that has alleviated a great deal of Ava's immediate problem. She's not out of the woods, by any means, but she's a lot closer to the edge of the forest. At the very least, she's not longer in such constant pain that she can hardly see straight.

It's done wonders for her mood. While still inclined to snark, she's less inclined to snap. So, that's a clear improvement.

She then went out to find Captain Marvel and bring her home to meet Phyla-Vell. The fact the warehouse is still standing is a testament to her fearlessness... Or more accurately, her obstinance. She basically shouted the pair down until they hugged it out.

The result of all that, though, is that the Ghost suit is on its stand because she doesn't need to wear it so constantly any more. And the QEC is dormant because she doesn't need to be in it half the day any more. Thus, right now, she's sitting on the couch with a laptop on her sap. She's researching... something. On the Dark Web.

That may not be a good sign.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley stares through a magnifying glass at her own tiny project, the experimental microprocessor which Ava had stolen. When they'd first met and Ava had almost died. The energy regulation might be able to be modified to affect both the quantum energy that Ava has been using to control her condition and the cosmic energy that Finley is beginning to suspect will be the key to 'curing' her friend.

It's an intriguing piece of tech. And because cosmic energy is in short supply on Earth, Finley is hoping that she can use it to maintain the little amount that she has access to. She's not willing to pin all of her hopes on an unknown alien scientist and their technology. Someone on Earth created this situation, someone on Earth should be able to find the solution. Finley refuses to accept that their only hope is beyond her understanding and the stars.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Okay. So Vance's eyes are going crossed, and he leans back from his project... reaching a hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose between two fingers.

    He reaches for a bottle of water and sucks down three gulps to finish the bottle off. He sets it on the table and then eyes the mess he left.

    With a grimace, he stands up and reaches for his mess. Picking it up, he deposits it into a trash receptacle.

    Then he wanders back over towards Finley. He waits for her to be ... if not at a stopping point, then at least at a point where talking to her won't make her jump and break something. "So, maybe I can help here. I'm butting my head into the wall over there." he says.

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava glances up as Vance moves toward Finley. She knows she won't really be able to keep up with most of the engineering talk. Oh, she'll get the broad strokes and she'll be able to get a rough idea of what they're trying to do, but she won't understand the subtler nuances.

That doesn't stop her from keeping an ear on what they're doing, of course. But it does mean she returns fairly quickly to her online research. Despite how often she downplays her academic skills, she's actually much more astute than she often lets on. Certainly, she's become a crack investigative researcher when it comes to sussing out information. That's a skill that definately comes in handy when she's trying to track down pieces of tech that might help her in her work... or in her search for a cure.

What she's looking for now, however, isn't related to their engineering. But she still considers it lifesaving technology.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley *does* startle, but not because Vance has done anything improper. She just startles easily. Especially when she's focused on a project. "Oh, um, sure?" she says. "This little thing isn't my design, but Ava was hoping it would help with her 'little problem'." The last two words are said through closed teeth out of the corner of her mouth.

"Ideally, I'd like to build a couple of replicas so that I can run it though some tests without fear of frying the only working build while I'm trying to find its limits. Quantum energy control is kinda limited right now. But I'm hoping this little regulator might be fine-tuned enough to work on the quantum level. And I think it could have the potentiality to manipulate or convert quantum energy to the cosmic signature Ava needs. Whatever Phyla-Vell did helped. A lot. But we can't ask her to hang out and zap Ava whenever she's feeling a little too insubstantial."

Vance Astro has posed:
    Glancing towards Ava, Vance gives a smile he hopes is encouraging before he looks back to Finley. "You know. If we are both trying to do much the same thing independently, doesn't it make sense that we collaborate so we don't overlap?"

    He gestures back at his project, "I was trying to recreate some of the tech that makes her suit function. Also... I am not sure how related it is, but my comm device works via Quantum Entanglement. Which is a fancy way of saying it works at FTL speeds. But, do you think that we could use that design as a jump off point?" he asks as he gestures to the star on his chest.

Ava Starr has posed:
"Phyla said something about needing to create a regular quantum matrix that could be used to stabilize my molecular cohesion," Ava tells the pair. Yes, apparently she was listening to what Phyla actually said, and not just pretending the alien's voice was the sad trombone from an old Peanuts cartoon.

She clicks on a link and then begins to type, sending an encrypted message to a contact while the pair continue to debate effective treatment options. "I think she said something about exotic particles, too, but I could be making that up."

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley nods. "I *was* hoping to integrate the regulator into the suit. At least at the beginning of this process. By the end of all this the suit might not be necessary," she admits.

"I would love to know more about your Quantum Entanglement coms. FTL functionality is somewhat of a niche interest," she grins. Then she sobers slightly, "But I am a little concerned about Ava and entanglement, since she's fluctuating so much on the quantum level. Her particles are, um, unique." Finley colors. For absolutely no discernible reason. "I just, well," she flounders, "I don't know if entangling particles with her will work in the predictable fashion, or if those particles could provide her more stability, or if her particles will create instability in the entanglement."

Finley glances over at Ava, blush creeping into her cheeks. *Entanglement is a tricky phenomenon. And one that has not been studied enough.*

"A quantum matrix?" sh says, to cover her staring, "That makes a kind of sense. A subatomic crystalline structure could provide your molecules with boundaries. What do you think?" This last question is directed at Vance. "You have a better working knowledge of both quantum and cosmic energies, I bet."

Vance Astro has posed:
    "It sounds to me like the fundamentals that the comms use to -cause- quantum entanglement could be applied to create such a matrix. I mean the principle of particles that exist in more than one location at a time.. or rather subatomic parts of a particle existing in multiple states and locations at once. We could use that to form such a matrix... in essence stabilizing the particles through entanglement."

    Okay, so Vance is not a physicist. He's an engineer. But he thinks he is on to something. "But my knowledge of energy states is a bit... focused. I mean, I've been trying to figure out a way to fabricate what we call Molycircs using 21st century tech. Molecular Circuitry, fabricated to -be- that at a molecular level. And then we could use that to make the stabilizer matrix...." Okay, so he is thinking out loud, brainstorming, hoping that some of his words, terms, etc.. inspire Finley to come back with ideas to mesh with it all.

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava leaves the pair to brainstorm, still keeping an ear on it. But she begins a quiet exchange with an off-shore contact who owes her a favour or two. And given the fact SHIELD is crawling back into the light, given the recent heroics on Park St. in New York, there are several more avenues open to her than what there were before.

She fully intends to take advantage of them.

Finley Ellison has posed:
"How do your coms contain the entanglement to specific molecules? The Molycircs?" Finley asks Vance. "Here, take a look at the microprocessor here, and see if it looks like something that might help. If not the physical mechanics, the functions at work might be able to be reimplemented on a molecular level."

She gets up to allow him to study the tiny device. She spares another glance for Ava at work on her computer. It's good to see her friend at ease, for perhaps the first time since she's known her. A small smile begins to form on her lips. Throughout the past months, Ava Starr has become less of a ghost but more of a mystery.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Nodding his head, Vance offers a smile. "First things first. I am not a scientist of any sort. I am an engineer, a pilot, a tactician, but my knowledge of science -is- limited to how it pertains to engineering. So, I propose that when it comes to the scientific principles of this, you might be better educated about it than I am."

    He grins a bit and shrugs. Then he plucks the star off of his chest and lays it on the table. "Feel free to examine that, and see if anything in its function can help. Please don't dismantle it. I can actually duplicate it if I can figure out how to fabricate our molycircs."

    He shrugs then and steps in to take a look at the microprocessor. In a softer tone, he states, "Whatever they did, it seemed to help her." to Finley as he examines the device. "It is good to see." he adds.

Ava Starr has posed:
A faintly grumpy look reappears on Ava's face as she catches snatches of the conversation. There's no real bite to it, however. She really *is* feeling better. She meets Finley's eyes briefly and scowls... except that there's a small gleam in her eyes and the faintest twitch to the corners of her lips that she tries not to show. Running her tongue over her teeth, she chuffs a soft breath and looks back down at her laptop.

Her fingers are swift on the keys. In the end, however, she sends off her final message and closes her laptop, setting it aside. She pulls herself to her feet and wanders over to see just what the pair are doing.

"The big purple thing is a scanner," she notes. "I don't know what data it stored, but Phyla did a full scan on me before she did her spacemagic science thing."

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley shakes her head unconsciously as the engineer keeps insisting that he isn't a scientist. Engineering is a science! All of her degrees affirm this fact.

When he notices Ava's improved state, Finley's soft smile grows. "She's had a difficult time, and been in an indescribable amount of pain for most of her life. I don't think she's been allowed to make many choices for herself. And almost none that didn't in some way affect her ability to survive. I think, for perhaps the first time, she'll be able to choose how she wants to live her life, who she wants to be. Becoming is beautiful, isn't it?"

Finley reddens again. She hadn't meant to say that much, hadn't known she was thinking it. But when Ava scowls at her, Finley does not look away.

"Could we take another scan of you now?" Finley asks Ava. "So we can get some comparative data? Or do we need Phyla and her bracers to access the scans ? Or to control the device? What do you think, Vance? I bet you're more familiar than me with this sort of tech. Looks pretty sci-fi to me."

Vance Astro has posed:
    "Well, alien does not necessarily mean future guy is going to understand it." says Vance, throwing out a sheet anchor. But he stops studying the processor and pauses to say, "This really is an elegant use of current generation tech. For the record."

    But then he straightens up and turns to regard the scanner. "I mean... I'm not sure if it is a device that I can." A pause, and he turns to collect his comm-star, turning on its diagnostic 'settings' option. He begins looking for connections, hoping to find one to the scanner.

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava gives a small shrug. "You're asking the wrong woman," she tells Finley, a strange look on her face at most of the rest of Finley's impromptu speech. It's possible that she never really considered just how open her future just may be. She pushes the thought away in favour of the business at hand. "She used her bracer to read the data. But, if you can figure out a way to make it work, scan away." She has a little more trust in it, now, than she did to start.

She regards Vance, watching to see if he finds a way to overcome the output gap.

Finley Ellison has posed:
"Even if we need Phyla-Vell to retrieve the data, more information is already better than less. If we can initiate scans two or three times daily at set times, we can map how your body's processing her energy injection." Finley assures Ava. She knows Ava feels better now, but her inability to predict when the effects will start to dissipate is starting to make Finley antsy. She doesn't like seeing Ava hurting, especially when she should be able to fix it and can't.

Finley looks hopefully to Vance. She hasn't had any luck with scanner. Not that she's been able to attempt much since Ava pointed it out to her.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Looking for signals, Vance lifts a brow. "That's strange. No signal at all." he states. But then he looks more closely at the scanner and quite literally.... he facepalms.

    "I bet anything that this thing was using beamed power from the Quantum Bands. They can do that... in fact that's something of a normal function for them."

    That said, he reattaches his comm star to his chest and then reaches down to access his own wristband. It is no Universal Super-Weapon. But it is a powered weaponized device. So with a bit of a lopsided grin in his face, he pulls a small crystal out of the device.

    "This is my power source. It is a depletable battery, yes.. but it can provide something around ten years of continuous power output. So... I need some simple electrical wiring, and a socket to put this in. I believe that I could easily reconfigure a positive and negative input from something like a...." He pauses and then says, "Those fat batteries people use for flashlights?"

Ava Starr has posed:
The idea of a regular regimen of scanning doesn't precisely thrill Ava. But, she also knows they'll probably be spacebound before the end of the week. So, they may not have that long to get the scans anyway. She can handle a week, anyway.

Then Vance is talking about recharging the scanner -- or is it his crystal thing? -- using flashlight batteries. "D-batteries?" She arches a brow at him. "I mean, I've probably got some kicking around somewhere..." She has a lot of field equipment, after all. Not all of it runs on rechargables or something futuristic and long-lasting.

She rubs the back of her head lightly and moves toward the stairs to go down to the main floor where her storage lockers are. "Let me see what I can find..."

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley laughs, "I think we can do better than a 9-volt battery. I even have a transistor around here somewhere, if current proves to be an issue....OH!" What he's saying clicks for her. "You want to plug the crystal into the scanner? And that will let you activate it?"

She's already rummaging in the spare parts looking for wires and other useful bits.

Vance Astro has posed:
    "Exactly. I don't need a .. right, D cell. I need the interface that you plug a D cell into. That should fit my crystal, and then that should be able to power the scanner. Which I Can read on my comm star." suggests Vance.

    He just grins, finally feeling like he has accomplished something. "The whole scanning thing is something I've been wanting for a while. Also... I'd love to scan the -suit- too. Getting that data could really assist us in constructing some way of controlling the quantum energy long term."

    Okay, so it's been a while since anyone has seen Vance excited like the kid who finally gets to show off his Volcano science project!

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava catches the end of Vance's words. When she returns upstairs, she's got a small power unit with her that can fit a car battery and a couple of other old pieces of equipment that might be cannibalizable. She dumps the lot of them on a worktable and steps back. "Have fun," she tells them, flashing a small grin. 'Cause she's not the one who's going to cobble together the power bridge.

Finley Ellison has posed:
"Do you want alligator clips?" Finley asks. "Or some sort of softer coupler? I mean we could just strip some wires and wrap them around either end, but I'd be worried about voltage drop."

As if she even knows how to read the voltage drop from a crystal, let alone calculate it. "I have a jar liquid e-tape around here somewhere, if you think you'll need it," she offers.

Vance Astro has posed:
    "In fact, I wanted the interface because it would help regulate and reduce the power flow. I am not sure how the wires would handle enough power to create a hard light construct." offers Vance with a bit of a quick grin.

    Then he nods and then he looks to Finley, "The tape would be good." And he picks up one or two items Ava brought, stopping on the fourth one, "This one." he says, holding up what looks to be a Maglite brand flashlight. "Could you set up the E-Tape and attach the wiring to this interface?" he asks as he holds it out to Finley.

    And he sets down his crystal, innocuous looking of course. "I will attach the other end of the wiring to the scanner." he states as he works to locate the input ports on said scanner.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley slides the battery carousel out of the flashlight. She strips several inches of insulation from the cables to create leads and wires the red line to the positive end and the black line to the negative. Solder would be better, but really this will work for a test. Then she finds her jar of liquid e-tape, and coats just the outside of the carousel's metallic ends in the black goo.

Vance has the other ends of the leads and hopefully can find some ports that will let the crystal power the device. She makes a mental note to research silicate structures with regards to energy storage. Obviously, there's some potential.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Working on his end, Vance has attached the wires to input ports. He did, in fact, reach for the one universal tool that is still used the same way, and just as often in the thirty first century.

    That tool? DUCT TAPE. He attached the far ends of the wires to the leads using that gray magical adhesive strips. So finally, it all seems to be coming together. "Okay. It really doesn't matter what direction the crystal is sitting. It will adapt to positive and negative ports. Go ahead and insert it and we'll see if this works, or if it blows up the warehouse." he adds.

    Then he grins and looks back to the others, "Just kidding." he adds.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Having been on the exploded end of her fair share of lab accidents, Finley gives the man a look. And that doesn't even begin to cover Ava's experiences. Haha. Funny. "I'd hope it would just stay inert? I mean if this doesn't work..."

But obviously she trusts him, because she's inserting the crystal into carousel. Touching only the rubberized ends, she bends them inward to make solid contact with the crystal's ends. Looking over to Vance and Ava and holding up crossed fingers, she says, "Time to see what happens!"

She's got that mad science grin spreading over her face.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Power leads connect, and it takes a moment for the capacitor in the scanner to fill.. and then BAM, there is a scanning sound effect.

    Vance grins, "It worked!" he exclaims, almost he had no real belief that it really would. But then he reaches a hand to his comm unit, bringing up a holo-interface as he searches for the connection once more and then... "There it is. Now to just adjust the connection protocols..." And the adaptive thirty first century communication gear fine tunes for a moment before there it is...

    A holographic representation of the scanner's results. "Okay then. Not sure how to translate this, but it's progress, right?"

Ava Starr has posed:
"No blowing up my warehouse," Ava growls as the pair build their kludgy power transfer unit. Especially when she sees the manic grins. Nothing good ever came from scientists with manic grins on their faces... "I told CAptain Marvel and Phyla the same thing. You wanna blow something up, go over to Jersey. No one likes Jersey." And it's just across the river, which isn't so far from where the warehouse stands, so near the docks.

Again, though, there's not a whole lot of venom in her tone.

Even so, she chuffs out a breath and climbs into the scanner to let them have at it... hoping the whole time that they really *don't* blow up her home. Or her atoms.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Once Finley has assured herself that the scan isn't harmful -- it doesn't even seem to be terribly unpleasant -- she has eyes only for the data. She's definitely going to have to make Ava put up with being scanned several times until they leave for space. "How can I access the data without a crystal or fancy gauntlets? Does the crystal store it? Or the scanner?"

She pokes at the holographic imaging, expecting her finger to go straight through it.

Vance Astro has posed:
    The finger indeed goes right through the image. "I am storing the data in my commstar. I will transfer it to other mediums if you like. Can you make much sense of it?" he adds, "The energy readings look like something that would come from a Starship. And by that I mean the -amount- of energy present seems enough to power capital ship scale weapons." he adds. "Maybe even shields."

    And then he asks, "May we put the suit in the scanner next? It might help to make it better or at least give us a leg up."

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava steps out of the scanner and flips a hand in an errant gesture toward the suit. "Be my guest." Sure, he can scan it. Probably get a half decent sense of how it works, too. Just don't ask her to expalain it.

Truthfully, she actually does have a fairly good idea of what it does and how it does it, but she's not confident in that knowledge. There's a lot of the specifics that ellude her. That said, most of the technology is based on nano-lensing and a sophisticated regulatory system that monitors her energy levels and tries to balance the ebb and flow of the quantum energy cycles on a molecular level. Thus, its materials are densely packed with microscopic circuits as well as technology that helps to amp up her power in unexpected ways.

Finley Ellison has posed:
"Can you call up the readings from the previous scan?" Finley asks. "The one from before Phyla zapped her? I think that'll give us a better idea as to what's changed. But analysis of the suit scan might help with your Molycircs."

Finley decides right then that she needs her own pair of fancy gauntlets. With data storage and holo-display capabilities. And probably some other cool stuff too.

Vance Astro has posed:
    Inclining his head, Vance studies the interface from his commstar. "It does look as if there is an older file present." he states before he switches files, showing the scan results taken previous.

    That said, he looks for a twenty first century device.. oh look, laptop. He inclines his head, negotiates protocols and poof... he's uploaded / downloaded the two scanner result files to Ava's laptop. Stupid future tech.

    That done, he turns and plucks up the suit on its stand, and places it in position before triggering the scanner once more.

Ava Starr has posed:
Ava retreats away from the pair some distance as they continue to work. That said, she does look over Finley's shoulder at the laptop files, once Vance uploads them to her laptop. Phyla told her that her energy was sufficient to 'create a whole new universe' and heavily implied that would be at the expense of this one. That translated in Ava's brain as 'you are a walking timebomb that could release a new big bang'. Thus, when Vance talks about the energy levels being suitable to power a starship, she finds a knot forming tightly in the pit of her stomach.

The difference between the two files, however, is fairly startling. The earlier one has readings that are all over the place. Those readings indeed indicate that Ava's disequilibrium was accellerating at an exponential rate and would probably have taken out a good portion of New York if the building cascade within her cells handn't been subsequently circumvented.

Certainly, the second scan is much more stable, the numbers narrower and less chaotic. They still suggest an impending cascade, but one that isn't anywhere near imminent. But it's still lurking out there. How soon... that's what needs to be determined.

Finley Ellison has posed:
Finley leaves for Ava, the laptop, and the data, letting Vance learn what he can from the scan of the suit. She's already studied it in the months she was here. And is secretly she's glad Ava isn't relying on it anymore. While she can't be sure, Finley's had a terrible suspicion that when Ava used the suit to amplify her powers it escalated her degradation, stealing the energy her cells needed to cohere to instead push her structure to its limits. She hadn't told Ava because the suit *did* help. And she didn't want the other woman to give up her only means of survival. If Ava despairs, she won't survive this. Finley is almost certain.

"With a few more scans, I can track new rate of destabilization," Finley tries to reassure her. "Figure out your--*our*--" she corrects herself, "new timeline. It's loads better. Right now you don't even need the suit."