Practice Makes Perfect (OPEN)

[Aramius]

Alexander took deep breaths, calming his nerves, as the metal framework of the link pod settled around his torso. To say he was nervous about the transfer into his Avatar was a gross understatement; though he knew, logically, that very little could go wrong, the emotional, irrational side of his mind had a knack for ignoring logic. So, naturally, when the door of the pod sealed shut with a slight hiss of pneumatics, he was confronted with a sudden burst of claustrophobia and momentary fear; a fear he instantly squashed. Closing his eyes, he fought to clear his mind, focusing on what he did know, as muted voices from within the lab vaguely filtered into the pod; 'Linking is safe. I will transfer into the Avatar, and familiarise myself with it along with the other Avatars. I will not get hurt,' he thought, all but seizing onto the thoughts like a desperate sailor to a lifeline. At last, cutting above the other words, he heard the declaration, "Link stable at 99%, going active."

Abruptly, he felt the most curious sensation; as though someone had placed a vacuum behind his mind, and it was suddenly being sucked through a tube, destination unknown. Indescribable colors and lights filled his... vision? Mind? As abruptly as it began, it ended as he felt himself return to normal. Or, at least, as normal as one can get when they felt like their mind had just been catapulted from one point to another. His vision was filled with a blindingly brilliant light, which slowly faded, being replaced with colored smudges that formed, gradually, into the shapes of blurry faces above him, with the wooden roof of 'The Pen' as the backdrop. Despite the disorientation and the vague sense of weakness, despite the sharpness of the smells and sounds that filtered through his mind, he couldn't help but say, quite loudly, one word.

"Wow..."

---

Word Count: 326
RP Status: Very, Very Open
Music: Avatar Soundtrack: "Becoming One Of 'The People'"
Notes: Sorry it ain't a particularly verbose start, but then, I normally suck at starting threads.

[Naomi Darvah]

It’d had seemed like ages since Naomi had a chance to experience the sights and sounds of Pandora in her Avatar. When she’d heard about the training session she scarcely found herself thinking about little else. Even the recent bioluminescent fish one of the scientists brought in couldn’t keep her mind occupied with thoughts to the contrary. She’d forced herself up and out of the grogginess of the morning-literally inhaled her breakfast—if you could call it food—and quick stepped it to the room that housed the linking pods. It had a strange odor, excitement mingled with fear and pricey sterilizers—her nostrils tingled but she was far too eager to climb into her pod to let it bother her today. Instead she quickly navigated the room that was steadily filling with rovering bodies and gingerly lifted herself up into the pod she’d been designated to. Despite the nervous tension that flittered in the air, Naomi was relaxed, and found herself easily adjusting to the sensation of the neural net almost completely encasing her body.

Concentrating she closed her eyes-careful to keep her breathing steady as her body vaguely remembered the sensations that awaited her on the other side. Garbled voices filled the room—most she didn’t try to listen in to, she twitched catching the excited laugh of one of the technicians running the monitors. A kaleidoscope of color filled her mind as she slipped from one consciousness to the next. It seemed to take minutes, when in actuality the link happened within seconds. Familiar mumbled voices echoed as she felt the swiveling her ears trying to follow them. Mumbles bled into words, and words slowly formed sentences as her mind feverishly worked to piece them together. Golden orbs blinked as her mind quickly adjusted to the myriad of new sights and sounds—she was getting better at taking them in, not nearly as overly stimulated and nauseous as the last time. She found herself smiling, elongated canines stark against her cyan colored skin. Loose, long curls fell around her more sharp featured face as she mentally coached herself to get up. The genetic traces of Naomi were hard to find on her Avatar, so much so that it generally took some time for others realize who exactly she was. Or they would have, had the small group not spent so much time together training.

Her tail flicked back and forth excitedly behind her and after a few moments of adjusting to her new environment the woman pushed herself up from her resting place inside the pen. Large feet hit the floor silently as she rolled her shoulders back in a slight stretch. It was on odd feeling—being of above average height for a woman while in human form, Naomi still felt like a giant inside the well secured room. Outside though, that was a different matter entirely.

”Wow,”

Ears twitching she turned her gracefully elongated neck in the direction of the comment. Smile still on her face she couldn’t help feeling the same way—even if she was decidedly less vocal about it.

[Dutch]

With a thud Dutch landed on the grasses of the pen. His body sat crouched on the ground, his fingers perched on the grass and his bare toes wiggled in it. Dutch's tail swished in a feisty manner behind him, a big grin accompanying it. Sweat dripped down his face and body, the defeated obstacle course behind him was great exercise. For an hour the bodyguard had been out in the Pen, obstacle courses and weight lifting key parts to his regiment. Unlike the scientists and doctors that were on Pandora, Dutch was among the few that didn't just have to be in good shape to be out in the world, he had to be in amazing shape. His muscles moved under the blue skin of his avatar and gold eyes scanned around as he stood upright and stretched his fatigued muscles. Movement to his right caught Dutch's attention, it seemed that other people were waking as their avatar. He chuckled and pulled his pants up a bit more to rest on his hips better before Dutch grabbed his shirt from the bar it hung on. The shirt was used to dry the sweat from his face as he walked towards the pen.

His bare feet thudded against the steps up into the pen and Dutch stopped at the door frame of it before he leaned against it. People in their avatar bodies had sat up or were stretching- those muscles didn't move much when their human wasn't linked. Dutch's eyes scanned over a few of the female avatars before he shook his head and blinked confusedly. Seems nature worked even when one's mind told them something was wrong. Not like it wouldn't be interesting to try, but I can only imagine what Malandra would think about two avatar's getting funky... Dutch chuckled at his own thought before he stepped forward and reached a hand out to help one of the scientists up from their cot.

"Mornin' Buttercup, it's a just gorgeous day out there."

Dutch laughed as the scientist scowled at the guard and he moved to his fellow bodyguard Alex. He grinned down at the man's avatar and held a hand out to help him up.

[Dr. Latus]

"Link stable at 50%; climbing."

Roland was breathing steadily, the dimly lit interior of the link pod that he had gotten so accustomed to over the years hadn't changed a bit in his mind. The pressurization of the chamber, the metal guard over his torso and upper legs, lights, buzzing of the link in progress; soothing. 70% He looked at the hatch above him. The missing right half of his vision seemed most obvious when he was linking to his other body. Maybe it was the thought of having two working eyes after only a few moments of discomfort, of walking around without having to worry about depth perception and offsetting the disability. Hell, in his Avatar he had no such thing as a disability; he was just as effective as his colleagues, if not just a little bit moreso. 90%. Roland let his eyes close, the familiar feeling of letting his mind blank worked its way through his limbs, relaxing muscles from the tips of his toes to the top of his head. The link commencing felt odd but he found it impossible to explain in english. Wie das saugen ihres gehirns durch ein stroh. The words rolled right from his mind into nothingness, light building behind his eyes.

Link stable at 99%, going active."

***********

Roland's eyes shot open and he inhaled, his vision focusing on the roof of the barracks. He smiled, the feeling of going from one eye to two never ceased to amaze him. Pushing himself to a seat he stretched, as though he had just had an amazing night's sleep. It certainly was close enough. He saw that most of the beds were still full, the driver eating or sleeping or researching to their heart's content. Oh well, more time in the silence of "The Pen." Sliding to his feet on still sleeping legs he wobbled slightly, his stomach growling audibly. Putting the newly five fingered hand on the stomach he chuckled, pulled open the drawer in his bed-side table, and withdrew a brown leather wrapped notebook, his keepsake from home. In two long strides he passed through the door to the barracks and padded down the stairs, his bare feet striking audibly against the wood and concrete. Unwrapping the tie, Roland flipped open to one of the pages with a half finished drawing of a Viperwolf. As he padded on, looking at the open page he barely noticed the others, most notably Eardutch who was situated near the exercise sections of the enclosure. A very surprised male voice caught his ear and he stopped, looking up and around for the source. Wow? *Wer sagte... Oh wow! His eyes met Dutch in his comfortable stance against the fence and he chuckled as the bodyguard spoke, following his gaze.

Well, **eine geldstrafe guten Morgen, Dutch. Didn't see you zere. You are out enjoying ze weather early.

His accent dripping off each word, Roland resumed his stride, ending a few paces away at the rows of plants on one side of the enclosure. Reaching down and inspecting the odd shaped growths he grasped one of the most purple and tugged, the soft bulbous fruit coming loose in his hand. Taking his breakfast in hand he padded back to Dutch, his gaze spotting the avatar of one of the other researchers, Naomi D. Meeting her gaze he nodded in acknowledgment and took a bite. He glanced at Dutch as he swallowed, sweet juice and pulp running down his throat and went back for another taste. He was never going to get sick of real fruit, alien or not.

I will never get sick of zese.

*Who said...

**A fine good morning

[Talau]

Try and relax, they said…it’s not a big deal, they said…they do realize that this is about the size of a human coffin, don’t they?

For as excited as she was, Layla didn’t like this linking thing one bit. Sure, she was feeling better about it after yesterday (the first time she’d linked to her avatar), but that didn’t make this so much better. It just meant she’d had more time to think it over, let it soak into her mind, and that now, she’d be waking up in the pen. It was a love hate relationship…she loved the avatar, but hated what she had to go through to link to it. Her breakfast threatened to revisit her as she waited for the “little voice in her head” to give her the uplink status. Finally the speaker crackled to life and she sighed in relief.

You do like to take your time…I was getting worried you had forgotten about me.

“No, of course not Dr. Roshanara we jus…”

Layla please. It’s just easier for everyone. No need for formalities…I wasn’t scolding you, after all.

The smile was evident in her voice and a chuckle came over the small com speaker and she grinned in return. Even if she did have degree in psychology, that didn’t mean she understood exactly why laughter was contagious. As the link operator chuckled a slight snicker escaped her and she was finally able to relax. She wondered why that was? Ugh…I forgot, I’m supposed to let my mind go ‘blank’…ha ha ha. The words ‘mind’ and ‘blank’ just didn’t go in the same sentence with her, but she’d just have to try if she ever wanted to get in there…out there….link with her avatar.

“Doctor? Is everything alright? We’re still showing a high amount of brain activity from…”

Sorry, I’m not good with not thinking…not part of the job description you know.

“Take your time.”

No, I’m ready. Sorry for the wait.

“Perfectly fine. You’ll get used to it…they all do.”

Well that was a…minor relief? Either way, Layla gave a heavy sigh of air and closed her eyes, doing her best to focus on her own breathing. It was a trick she’d learned from yoga…focus on something simple to help your mind calm and center itself. Soon enough the bright tunnel of light, the odd tugging sensation, then darkness. She let out a light groan and tested her fingers…well, they seemed to work still. The light shone through her eyelids and a smoky, spicy, scent reached her nose.

“Mornin’ Buttercup, it’s just a gorgeous day out there.”

It was like sensory overload for the woman as she lay there. Even with her eyes closed the world was alive around her! The most minute sounds…sounds she’d never thought of…those keen ears picked them up, swiveling about to catch every one that she could, near or far. Her mind worked over time to sort through the myriad of scents that her heightened sense of smell brought to her with every breath. It was like heaven…like Shangri-la…paradise in life, and she hadn’t even opened her eyes yet. A slow smile spread over her features as she fought down the surge of joy that was welling up inside of her. That tail curled about behind her as she lay on her side taking in the morning.

“Well, eine geldstrafe guten Morgen, Dutch. Didn't see you zere. You are out enjoying ze weather early.”

Finally she decided it was about time she joined the land of the living. Bronzed eyes flecked with green slid open and she was dazzled by the light that flooded her vision. Wincing slightly at the bright light of the Alpha Centauri A star and Polyphemus, she pushed herself upward and hung slightly in her hammock, blinking around. With a huff she hopped down and stretched upward, adding a contented groan at the end for good measure before kneeling to pull on those thin shoes, tying them up her legs before pushing herself up once more and padding outside. Shielding her eyes with a hand for a moment, that dark golden gaze sweeping around the fenced in yard. One of the…no, two…of the guards were up. Dutch and…and…oh Dios mio…what is his…Al? Alex? I just can’t remember. Let’s see…I’ve not met her or seen anything on her yet…Doctor Roland…oh! He’s actually here today! Wonderful!

Bounding down the steps with a grin, she felt like an excitable puppy as she hopped off the last step and twirled about, face to the sky. Soon she was chuckling and trying not to burst out laughing at her own silly energy. If she were the others, she’d certainly laugh at herself. No doubt they would all think she was cracked in the head now, what with her hopping out, and dancing around and then laughing at nothing. THAT thought, unfortunately, only made her want to laugh harder. Smothering her laughter, she trotted herself over to the facilities now that this body was awake. Splashing some water on her face, arms, neck, shoulders, stomach…every bit of skin she could…on the way out after washing her hands, she allowed the water to shimmer along her skin to air dry as she stepped back out to greet the others…and maybe get some food.

Sobh Be Kheyr friends! Good morning! Forgive my…um…giddy behavior, but this…all of this is just amazing!

[emma]

Despite her pride, Nemo almost admitted that she was nervous.

It wasn’t being in her avatar that frightened her. It was such an improvement from her human form, which was weak and chunky in comparison to the body of a Na’vi. What really frightened her was getting stuck into that metal sarcophagus while having that creepy Ramakrishna hovering over her. Nemo always dreaded it, and it had been the only thing she’d thought about while sleepily pulling on a pale grey tank top and cargo pants when she’d gotten up that morning. It was nerve-wracking, and Nemo almost reached for the assault rifle usually strapped to her back, but it wasn’t there. She shuddered as she trotted down the long hallway, boots thumping against the metal floor. The noise’s rhythm put her deep in thought as she moved, struggling to sort out her mind. It was hard to believe she’d been asleep for six years, and frozen in a tiny box in a space shuttle to boot. And being in entropy for so long had left her brain muddled. It was disturbing. And it put her in a bit of a mood.

This mood wasn’t improved when an almost painfully beautiful woman rounded the corner, striding towards Nemo. Long black hair hung in waves down her back, while her eyes, covered with violet contacts today, glittered coldly. And underneath the basic white lab coat of an egghead, she wore nothing but a scanty little outfit that consisted of nothing but a lavender bra and panties connected by a strap laid over her stomach. The Italian-English Doctor Malandra Ramakrishna. Stellar.

“Miss Ramsey. What a pleasure,” she said cheerily in that smooth, overly refined English accent of hers. “It’s wonderful you could make it for the training.”
“Well, hell. I got all the time in th’ world, Doc,” Nemo snapped back in her much rougher Cockney accent. Malandra had reacted with shock the first few times Nemo had met her, but by now, if she still wasn’t used to her, she hid her distaste well.
“I’ll be hooking you up to your avatar. This way, Miss Ramsey.”

Feeling more than a little grievous now, Nemo followed her ward to the lab while trying to restrain herself from kicking her ankles.

The lab was noisy and full of eggheads rushing to and fro. Ramakrishna was quick to join them, walking in a way that flashed her outfit in a very obvious manner. Nemo rolled her eyes and made her way to her assigned sarcophagus, clambering inside. She wiggled in between the straps and shifted about, trying to make herself remotely comfortable. Ramakrishna appeared again almost immediately, making some adjustments to the doohickeys and thingamabobs surrounding Nemo.

“We’ll see you on the other side, Miss Ramsey,” she said saccharinely.
“Right-o, Doc.” The lid of the chamber snapped shut. “I hope yeh trip on those bloody shoes of yers and break yer neck,” she added under her breath.

The next few minutes were a form of torture for Nemo as she struggled to empty her mind. Being stuck in such a tiny space was almost nostalgic, in a way, reminding her of the many times she’d hid from the law in the secret compartments of her old smuggling ship. It almost relaxed her. However, the electric crackling of the freakish equipment around her and the guards clamped over her body somehow squashed the good feeling. Besides that, eggheads were prattling into her ear.

“Link stable at 10%. Just relax, Miss Ramsey,” came Ramakrishna’s soothing voice. Or at least it would have been soothing, if the woman herself wasn’t so revolting. Nemo clenched her jaw and tried to picture a blank space.
“Link stable at 25%. Well done.”

When she reached ninety-five percent, Nemo started to feel an uncomfortable sensation, like her brain was being moved around her skull. She shut her eyes and waited.

“Ninety-nine percent. Commencing uplink.”

Once Malandra was convinced that her underlings could handle the rest of the avatars without her, she tossed her hair behind her shoulders and made her way out of the lab. Excessive paperwork had caused her to sleep in, and she’d almost been late for the monumental avatar training that was about to take place. She’d have killed something if she had. But obviously, she’d had to take her time with picking out what to wear and applying her makeup. In her opinion, despite needing it so little, it was important to set a standard for the poor fools serving her- one always had to dress accordingly. Being in outer space was no excuse for looking untidy.

Malandra strode confidently towards one of the doors on the east side of the laboratory, stopping briefly to pick up a breathing mask. She adjusted the clunky equipment and purged it before fitting it over her face and inhaling deeply. Then she opened the door and headed outside, towards the fenced Pen. It was lovely out, the alien sun warm against her bare legs. But Malandra worried about her porcelain skin and the damage that could be done to it, so she walked as quickly as she could while still maintaining a graceful sort of movement. She approached the Pen’s fence, which was unguarded- none of the savages had been spotted by the surveillance cameras, so there was little need to waste her valuable guards on it- and used her identification card to unlock the gate. From there, it was a short walk to the inside of the Pen. Careful to shut and lock the gate behind her, Malandra made her way over the grass and inside the little building.

The sight made her catch her breath. Those scientists without avatars like herself were dwarfed by the confused-looking hybrids towering over them. The blues were, despite being completely savage, remarkably attractive. Not as attractive as her, obviously, but they still deserved some consideration. Malandra walked past the huge stretchers, inspecting the avatars- she saw Doctors Layla Roshanara, Roland Latus, and Naomi Darvah, and the security personnel Earledutch Sampson, Alexander Donovan and the sunny little peach of a woman whom she’d just spoken with, Nemo Ramsey. Ramsey was sitting up on her stretcher, swivelling her ears and staring around herself in wonder. Malandra smirked. It was rare to see her with anything but a snarl on her face.

“Come now!” Malandra clapped her hands. “On your feet, all of you! We don’t want to waste daylight.”

Words;; 1075
Muse;; Alright-ish!
Thoughts;; Er... none? XD

[Dr. Latus]

(Lol, Roland Latus. Might want to recheck the character, luv. )