Writer's Block: Ground Control to Major Tom

[a_time_slip]

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A boat.

I'll purchase a yellow cabin cruiser, and use it to sail through the years and cosmos.

Comments

[a_time_slip]

[So she probably shouldn't be bending over to pick something up, and yes, her mun loves torturing Phoenix]

What's she done now? [She's not in a bad mood, so it might actually be okay]

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[And Phoenix probably shouldn't be staring.. so he'll scratch his head and examine the ceiling instead]

Nothing like that, she's great.. but has she, you know, mentioned anything about me lately?

[a_time_slip]

[And Janie stands up, adjusts clothing and is quiet for a second before answering Phoenix]

She's pissed at me because of Xander, and keeps mentioning you, and how we're never together anymore.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[Actually managing to concentrate, kids are srs bzns]

Riiiiight. Doesn't she like Xander? She told me she did... [Phoenix looks somewhat bothered, and it might be obvious he's being evasive]

[a_time_slip]

She doesn't think of him as her Father, but they're getting along better after the birth...

I told her I didn't know who he- oh. She's um. But it can't be true. You don't do kids the human way.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[His ears almost physically prick up at that] She's told you I'm... ?

[Cue awkward gesticulating, finally arriving a a slightly dejected droop of the shoulders]

She keeps calling me Dad.

[a_time_slip]

It's not- I, um. [She's flustered]

Wouldn't I know? What do you remember about her being born? Because I don't. None of it.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

Nono.. you're right, we don't do babies the human way. It's just not possible.

[Shakes his head] She just turned up at Roberts, or something, didn't she?

[a_time_slip]

I- yes. And both of you said she was my daughter and there are pictures but none before a few years ago. I don't- She couldn't be.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah. She was your daughter with Ian before the timeline split. Could she be Ian's somehow? Some kind of genetic copy?

[Though where the copy came from is more the issue here]

[a_time_slip]

I, um. Ran DNA. [She hasn't admitted it to anyone yet]

It wasn't fair to her, so I- Ian doesn't know, I um. Well, I managed to get some DNA from him. I tried him, Xander, Gio... everyone I could get to. Finally I told her she didn't have a Father.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

Okay. [Doesn't see this as particularly unusual in Lynn's case, or wrong. And he's particularly relieved that it isn't Cattivo]

Did you test me, by any chance? I mean, my people have made attempts to produce clones, or use their own genetics to mix with that of other races - it's never worked.

[a_time_slip]

I- no.

Um. [She can't look at him.] I, give me a sample. I. um. Please?

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[He steps forward and puts a hand on her shoulder] It's okay. Of course.. here.

[He calls a medical swab and a glass tube into existence, takes a samples from the inside of his cheek, putting the swab into the tube and replacing the stopper] I really.. Janie, I know it's not possible.

[a_time_slip]

I know it's not possible, she just- she feels like ours.

[Janie takes the swab, and gets a clunky machine out of a pocket. The swab goes in, and she's quiet as it analyses]

It's not a match! It's not, that means you're not her father! [In her excitement, the machine drops and buzzes, having found something strange]

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[He moves to comfort Janie, with that usual feeling he gets of it being 'all his fault'.. and jumps a little as the machine clatters to the floor. Part of his make-up can often confuse equipment like this, and it gives Phoenix the germ of an idea. At least it's something they can try]

This just a bio-scanner? [Phoenix reaches down and picks it up] Or can we run some quantum tests on it?

[a_time_slip]

No, It can do almost any quantum test. I altered it because the bioscanners have a few problems, and entirely too much empty space. The casing hasn't been altered in some time and since fans aren't needed anymore I thought I'd-

Um. Yes. Any test. It's still functional.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[Is actually quite interested in the techno-babble]

It's not always down to biology... well, with some living beings. kinda. [He's tinkering with the scanner] You got any of Lynn's DNA at all?

[a_time_slip]

[She's used to people not wanting to hear it]

I understand that. [She pulls a tiny vial out of her pocket] Here's a bit. I keep some on me just in case.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[But he's a closet geek. About some things]

[Phoenix takes a tiny amount and feeds the scanner. After a few seconds, he's sort of, just, staring blankly at Janie]

You sure this is Lynns?

[a_time_slip]

I'm thinking of redesigning it. Something more compact, because I can reduce the size of the chips since-

[She looks annoyed]

Yes. I think I'd know, wouldn't I?

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[Frowning at the scanner, He tries recalibrating, and feeds it just a little more of the sample]

It's uhhhm.. Hnh. [Much angelic puzzlement]

[a_time_slip]

...What's wrong? Phoenix, tell me.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

[Cue sensible, analytical mode]

Wull.. With no coherent theory on anything that isn't Kaldoan, but contains significant traces of the Perseus particle. The only possible logical explanation is.. [Irritably tosses the machine over his shoulder] ..Your scanner's fucked.

[a_time_slip]

That's not possible, and there's NOTHING wrong with my scanner. [She catches the scanner before it can fall, and yes, moves very quickly to make sure it doesn't break]

It clearly shows that she's my daughter. I ran that before anything else, which means nothing is wrong with it. If you look at her you can tell! She's mine. You must have contaminated the sample.