Transformations By The Sea

Summary:
October 21, 2014: Babs and Rowan meet by the sea, so Rowan can demonstrate and explain his unique genetic manipulation.

Sandy Hook - Gotham City

The southern most point of Gotham is Sandy Hook; also called Tricorner Island. It is a triangular shaped island that is home to the Tricorner Naval Yard (which was decommissioned by the Navy in the 70s). The shipbuilding industry was massive here once and Sandy Hook was a monolith amongst the Eastern shoes of the United States in the industry for fishing, commerce, transportation and marine-based activity.

t's still a rather powerful force of economy but many accidental fires, poor building planning and overpopulation has left it's stain upon the Dockside District. It's still, however, a major port with many housing and working sections stretched out along the massive triangle shaped isle. The entire island itself is dotted with smaller islands, small naval yards, docks, wharves and fishing businesses that thrive and work alongside the port, Gotham Harbor and major facilities that call Tricorner Island home.

After the corruption was bled out of Sandy Hook it's also home to many communities and perhaps some of the largest concentration of GCPD residential houses. Even former Commissioner James Gordon has a home on Sandy Hook.


Characters

NPCs

  • None

Mood Music:


The morning breeze is blowing in from the sea. It's cold enough these days that there aren't many beach goers, even from those fortunate enough to own houses out this way. Certainly cold enough that only the dedicated are out swimming. Well, the dedicated and Rowan. At five minutes to eight he steps from the sea, his clothing as it always appears: a tight shirt of some odd material and shorts. No shoes. That changes as he clears the surf, headed up toward the boardwalk and by the time he's half way up the beach it's jeans, an underarmor shirt and sneakers. He looks about curiously, taking in his surroundings. The lack of wreckage on the beaches always kind of takes him by surprise. Eyes begin scanning for a familiar red haired form.

***

Babs arrives just on 8am, and can be seen traversing the boardwalk in a thick jumper, jeans and jacket to ward off the cold. Her hair isn't tied back, so it's whipped by the breeze as she moves along in her chair. Spying the now familiar form waiting for her, she comes to a stop near him, looks up and smiles. "Good morning."

***

"Good morning." He says with a smile as he approaches the chair. "You're here and looking rather nice." Wind wipped but rather nice. "Well… are you comfortable? Was there anything you wanted to ask before I showed you what we get started?"

***

Smiling at the unexpected complimented, Babs brushes her hair from her face "As comfortable as I'm going to get. And no, Rowan, I don't have any questions at the moment."

***

"Alright. Well… I think the easiest thing would just be for me to show you and then let you to ask questions." Rowan stretches out. First his skin turns pale. Close to marble white. Then he begins to sprout reddish scales, his legs turn digitegrade and his feet splay out and gain claws, reptilian like. His face pushes out into a muzzle and he gains fangs. He plucks a cylinder off his belt and it extends into an eight foot spear. Extending a hand, electricity crackles along his arm.

"Well… what do you think."

***

As Rowan undergoes his transformation, Babs watches carefully. Moving her chair around to get a better look, she inspects the change closely. "It's different. Impressive and different."

***

The red goes out of his scales, spiraling off in wafts of smoke as they go completely gray. Then they begin to turn blue as Rowan calls Water to him. A tail sprouted out behind him, bearing a fin for moving through the water. His form becmae sleeker and his hands and feet webbed. "I have fragmentary memories of other transformations and… fuller transformations. But I can't do them… not now anyway."

***

Babs frowns at that comment "What do you mean, fragmentary memories and fuller transformations? Actually hold that thought. Do you have more you want to show me? Otherwise, I have a number of questions to ask you and it's probably going to take a bit of time." Again, she brushes the hair from face.

***

"I can do the features in bits and pieces. The ony one I didn't manifest you've seen already, I think, the wings." Rowan lets the various inhuman looking features fade and his form returns to normal. "Ask away. I don't mind taking the time."

***

Shaking her head Babs says "Wings? I don't think I've seen wings have I?"

***

"Oh?" Rowan twists as he pales again. There's a distortion in his clothes and four feathered, brightly colored wings burst from his back. "Well… there you go."

Twisting back he smiles as he leans back on the railing and regards Babs as the wings retract and fade away as if they never were.

***

Turning to face Rowan as he leans against the railing, Babs tilts her head and slightly narrows her eyes in thought. "If you're comfortable there, let's start with why you can't do the fuller features."

***

"I don't remember how is the simplest answer." Rowan's eyes are momentarily far away. "When I came through the portal my memories came up… a bit scrambled. I don't remember a lot of things and the ones I do remember they… surface at odd times." The dragon-warrior blows out a sigh. "I get… bits and peices. Nothing much. Nothing I can hang onto. I can remember being a dragon though. In addition to being you know, what you saw."

***

"Sounds like more than a bit scrambled." Babs smiles softly How long have you been here, Rowan?" The wind plays with hair, teasing and pulling on it, but her attention is purely on Rowan.

***

"A few tidal cycles. Er… sorry. Months is the term you use for a turning of the moon yes?" Rowan smiles. "Still learning the language as it were. And yes. I what I remember is… fragmentary. I can answer a lot about specific topics but I can't remember the names of people I served with. That kind of thing. It's been…" The blue blows out a long sigh. "Frustrating."

***

"I can imagine it is frustrating, and possibly lonely too." Babs folds her arms, her look becomes speculative and small frown appears. It's the look of someone contemplating a challenge or a project. "Tell me of the forms you just showed me, as much as you can… what is the forms purpose, how do you call it, does it feel different for you…." she smiles self-deprecatingly "Obviously, I'm interested."

***

Rowan chuckles. "I don't mind talking about it. But stop me if you'd rather talk about something else." The muddy haired young man taps his chin. "Where to start. Mmmm. Well some of it is magic. When I was remade I was given the ability to manipulate elemental energies on a very basic level. The Atlanteans taught me how to fill myself with them. Attune myself to the elements. When I do so it alters my form. I can even do it without activating my draconic genetics which is… technically not magic. Calling Air makes me faster, lighter. I can grow wings if I need them, manipulate lightning…" By way of demonstration he briefly calls Air and tosses ball lightning between his hands before letting it go again.

"Calling Water makes it easier to get around under the sea. I use it when I swim a lot. Regular Blue have Hydrokinetic abilities to help them move aobut. Lacking those I needed other options."

***

"Your draconic genetics. By this I'm assuming you mean the secondary set of genetics. I'm afraid I don't quite understand the connection between the genetics and the magic and I suspect I won't really." Right now, Babs is analysing the information provided, assessing. She falls silent as her brain ticks over, cataloguing and analysing. Then she stops and looks at Rowan. Placing a hand to mouth in shock "Oh my, I'm sorry, I got quite lost in my thoughts. I am sorry, Rowan, that was really quite rude." Her face softens and a small smile appears "The wings are very impressive you know."

***

Rowan chuckles. "I'm glad you like them. I've often been asked 'why four'…" The way he shrugs, he's not sure. "I think when I was a full dragon I had six." Another shrug and smile.

"I don't really understand the connection between the two either other than to say that the one affects the other. I can do either independently. I can transform if cut off from magic and I can use magic even if not transformed but when I do both at once the combination is somehow more than the sum of the parts." He gives Babs an apologetic smile. "Sadly I was only taught the rudiments of how magic works. Not why."

***

"Soldiers rarely understand how the tools work. They just have to trust they do and know enough to do rudimentary repairs on the fly." Babs shrugs. "Do the transformations hurt at all?" As she speaks, a gust of wind whips her hair more strongly and plasters it across her face. Clawing it away, she sighs and then pushes it back over her head with one hand.

***

"A bit. They're an advanced form of genetic manipulation from a race more learned in those arts than mine, but…" Rowan shrugs and grimaces a little, reaching down without thinking to help pull Babs hair out of her face. "… you're talking about bone and muscle cracking and reshaping itself. It does hurt, if only some."

***

As Rowans hand comes near, Babs stills momentarily and then realising his intent, relaxes. Pausing in their conversation, she hastily pulls her hair into makeshift ponytail (sans holder) and shoves in down the back of her jumper. Not glamorous, but for now, it will keep it out of her face.

"I'm sorry it hurts, but it's fascinating. It has my mind running a million miles an hour."

***

"It's alright. It's part of it. I'm… rather used to it." Rowan cants his head abit and smiles curiously. Odd as it may seem, long hair is not something he's used to seeing. Fashion statments are less important than tactical concerns and long hair gives your enemy a hand hold in melee combat.

"Take your time, Babs. I am not going anywhere. I'm quite content to answer whatever questions I can."

***

Noting the curious smile, Babs looks at Rowan intently. "What has you curious? Maybe you should be asking questions too…"

***

"I… I'm not sure it's appropriate to comment on it. Your hair. It's… I'm not used to seeing it that long. No one wore it that long back home. To easy to give an enemy a hand hold. Get your throat cut." Rowan grimaces. "Sorry, that's not very pleasant conversation is it?"

***

"Reality often isn't pleasant." Babs says and frowns slightly "I can't tell by the comment whether your curiosity is good or bad, you aren't thinking of cutting my throat are you?"

***

Here Rowan coughs a bit and colors. "Er, no, rather not. I was just thinking it looks… er… it looks rather nice on you. You wear it well." He takes a deep breath. "Were there other questions or things you wanted to see. You seemed to have quite a few of them."

***

The edges of Babs mouth turn up in a grin. "You blush too… or is that more of the genetic manipulation" Her green eyes dance with mischief.

Sobering then, Babs looks back to Rowan "The spear and the lightning manipulation, are they similar technology?"

***

"Oh I blush…" Rowan murmurs. "Um… Ah, the spear…" He hands it over and shows her some sutbtle controls on it. It can be a sword too or a flashlight sized cylender. "That's just our technology." It feels like it's made of smooth coral or bone… but it's much harder.

"The lightning is part of the genetic manipulation. When I call Air to me I can manipulate it. When I call Water it's sound…" He'd show her but it's very very loud. But very effective under water.

"Also this…" Holding up a bracer on his left arm also apparently made out of bone or coral, he briefly projects a crossbow like weapon, then a shield, then shuts it down.

***

That little smile that turns the corners of Babs mouth up is back "I'm glad you blush" she murmurs and then concentrates on the cylinder Rowan hands to her. Turning it over in her hands, she inspects it closely but having seen nothing similar to it elsewhere, is hesitant to mess with it too much. The bracer too gets her undivided attention. "I wonder if we could synthesis that technology" she muses, envisaging batarang style tech for the Bat family. Looking into his eyes, she becomes thoughtful "It would be good to study this technology further… maybe help you recreate it, or at least help maintain it. I assume even technology like this fails over time?"

"Eventually yes. It's self repairing to a degree… biological. But yes, over time it will fail. I had a lot more of it but most of it was ruined by the dimensional crossing. I'd be happy to let you examine it though, if you have the tools you need to do so." Rowan'd be happy honestly to let her examine it in general. As he said, he's inclined to trust Babs.

***

"Fascinating. Biological… I don't know if I have the tools, and won't till I do a preliminary assessment… How would your… um sorry… The Queen feel about you sharing this technology?" It's still breezy, and strands of hair are slowly escaping from where Babs has stuffed in her jumper. The wisps dance around Babs faces like a red nimbus.

***

"I'm not sure what Arthur and Mera would thinks…" Rowan muses before shrugging. "However it's not like I'd be divulging state secrets. It's not their technology. It's not even from this world." He chuckles. "It's not even from their people on my world. So I don't think there's any harm in letting you look at it." He reaches over without thinking to bursh her hair out of her face again. It's the second time and it's clear he's not really thinking about what he's doing.

***

Again as Rowan reaches to brush the hair from her face, Babs tenses. The gesture is more of a wave and doesn't make contact with her, but it close… as quickly as she tenses, she relaxes again. This time though, she studies him carefully. "As long as it causes no issues for you," Babs finally says "I would like to look at it. One day, soon, I'll arrange for you to come in and we can look at it together, if you like."

They've been sitting long enough that wind has tugged all her hair free and it dances in the wind around her.

***

Rowan watches it dance for a long moment, smiling a little before he focuses back on Babs eyes. "Sure. I'd like that. Let me give you the communic- er… 'telephone' code for the mobile device I carry… er, except when I'm working. Surfacers don't waterproof their communications devices very well." Not may phones out there rated for two miles underwater, to be sure. Cell services sucks down there anyway.

***

The wind drops at that point and Babs hair settles in a red cloud around her face, like a frame "I would like your mobile number, Rowan. And no, waterproofing our electronics is not something we do well, in general." Tilting her head, she asks "I would like to know more about your memory loss, do you have time?"

***

Rowan's smile grows a little and he inclines his head. "I have plenty of time Babs and I do not mind answering. What is it you wish to know?" Talking about his memory loss can be somewhat painful but at least Babs simply wants to know and doesn't want to use it against him. Nor does it make him feel more alone when she asks him.

***

"You said earlier that you thought your memories were scrambled. Why do you say scrambled and not lost?" Shifting slightly, Babs rearranges herself in the chair. Her hands are folded neatly in her lap, and she watches Rowan closely.

***

"Because they seem to still be in there. Just… somewhere I can't get to them all the time." Rowan's eyes grow distant for a moment before coming back to the present. "They sometimes resurface when… triggered. I met a woman named Aspen. She's a national hero among my people back home. Here she's a scientist of some kind and grew up not knowing she was Blue. I did not know her until I got a close look at her. Then it all came flooding back." Beat. "Not that it helped. It wasn't her I was remembering, just someone who looked like her. But you get the idea, yes?"

***

Babs tilts her head and is thoughtful, her eyes never leaving Rowans face. "Very much. Have you had any other memories triggered, or was it just the one?"

"None so far but it's not like I've tried to really stimulate everything. I know there are things I'm supposed to be able to do with them that I just don't remember how to do…" Rowan chuckles watching those floating red strands. "Sounds, sents, sights… anything could be a trigger. Mostly sights, so far… but…"

***

Babs nods, mentally cataloguing the information. "And have you had anything triggered recently? As opposed to within a week or so of you getting here." Seeing Rowan chuckle, she frowns and pushing her glasses up her nose asks "What are you laughing at?"

***

"Sorry. The way the wind whips your hair. It's distracting. My old commander would probably rip me a new one for paying so much attention to it." It's nice to look at, though. At least Rowan thinks so. "No, nothing recently, but I've sort of settled into a routine in the last month or so. Work three or four days out of the week for the surfacer scientists, come back to my home on the harbor. Spend some time exploring the surface." And recently, meeting with Babs which has been both enjoyable and educational.

***

"Distracting?" raising a hand to her hair, in a semi selfconscious gesture, she frowns and then shaking her head, Babs considers the information he's provided. "And you remember being a" and she concentrates momentarily "a dragon?"

***

"Yes. Several times. The most recent on this world. I was one, I think, when I came through the portal. I… got into a fight, I believe. I do not remember the details of the last one though. Just… flashes of fire and sounds like thunder and the sensation of falling… a long, long way." Rowan's eyes go distant again as he remembers before he focuses back. "Was there something about it that you wished to know?"

***

"I'm sorry Rowan, I didn't mean to cause you pain." sighing Babs continues "Everything and nothing, really. I mean I want to know everything and nothing specific. I was wondering if there could be a way to help you remember. The simple fact that you think you can, and certainly have done, is encouraging. It's a matter of finding the right triggers." It's Babs' turn to gaze out, wind blown, into the distance as she ponders the questions she's just asked.

***

"I don't think I've met anyone yet as curious as you Babs." Rowan chuckles. "It's rather flattering, though I have to wonder in a world full of so many champions, so many strange and unusual people, what's one soldier from another world?" It's an honest question, the Blue's head canting slightly as he sees her go to another place.

***

"What? Oh, sorry." Babs shakes herself from her contemplation and returns her attention to Rowan. Taking a deep breath, she begins "Multifaceted really. I'm good at what I do, because I ask questions. By questioning, I gather data, data that allows me to make decisions. More data, theoretically, the more accurate the decision." She lets that thought sit for a bit before continuing "And I think, just like a soldier, information lets you make better stratetic and tactical decisions. I sometimes wonder if I'd paid more attention to certain things, whether I would be in this chair today." At this she shrugs "If 'what if's' were horses, we would all be riding."

"Don't take this the wrong way" and Babs rolls her eyes at that "It's a puzzle to be solved. For someone like myself, it's like a sirens call. The fact that there is someone that I may help by solving that puzzle, just makes it that much more interesting." It might be argued that the way her hair is being moved by the breeze, Babs could look a bit like a 'mad scientist'… locks streaming about her head.

***

"Well if you come up with any answers I shall be happy to hear them." Rowan says with a smile. "They've been in short supply since I came here. In the meantime if examining me or my equipment can aid you in any way I shall be happy to arrange whatever you'd like. It's as much a learning experience for me as it is for you and I do think myself fortunate to have met such a considerate and kind seeker of knowledge."

***

Babs blinks "So formal, Rowan. If you are interested, I have some ideas but need to think on them before I share them. I confess, at this point, that I think I'm questioned out." Babs does chuckle at this, not having quesions is a not-so-common occurence.

***

"Was that formal?" Rowan cants his head again, eyes curious. "I find that getting the manners right here is a tricky. Sorry. Unless you prefer the formality." Rowan prefers to be casual. Formality is for the brass and kings. People should be people, in his opinion.

"But if you've no more questions I have one." He says holding up one finger and pausing with a smile. "Would it be a horrible imposition to ask you to recommend some food that isn't fish. I eat a lot of it. It's what I'm used to, but you have so many ways to prepare food and such a variety. I find myself quite at a loss."

***

Nodding, Babs looks seriously at Rowan "Yeah, they are. Manners are difficult. I prefer informality. It's less stressful." a small shrug. And then processing the question, Babs does a double take "er what?" and raises a hand to rub the bridge of her nose"

For a while Babs is silent, every so often rubbing her forehead and then peering intently at Rowan. Sighing, Babs finally asks "What else do you eat except fish?"

***

"Underwater? Kelp, other marine life." There aren't a whole lot of things you can farm or ranch underwater. Coral, but coral's hard to eat. Then again, coral gives place for things that are easy to eat, so there's that. "Shark, while, squid…" Rowan's eaten most edible sea things at one time or another.

***

"Have you tried any surface foods, Rowan?" Babs tone is cautious "It's not just a matter of recommending something, you need to be sure your physiology can actually process it. If not, there could be some pretty serious side effects." Scientist Babs, just add water.

***

"Oh yes." Rowan nods. "Back on my home world I ate surfacer foods regularly. They just tended to be trail rations. Dried meats and fruits and the like. Nothing precisely intended to taste good, just keep you fighting." The fact that Blue could exist on the surface for extended periods of time was another reason they tended to form the bulk of the aid to their Homo Magi allies on earth 81.

***

"Our soldiers say the same here." Babs acknowledges the comment about trail rations. "I don't really know what to recommend. To me, food is a something you have because you must but if pressed, I would say a good cut of beef, cooked medium rare, served with blanched vegetables and mash potato is my favourite meal." Titling her head to the side, Babs' eyes widen "You've not had beef at all, have you except as dried rations?"

***

Rowan nods his head affirmative. "Yeah. Cooking food was a luxury on the front. No fires, it may give away your position. So what the surfacers called jerkey, or other similar salted and preserved preparations. Or…" The blue actually makes a face here. "Nutrient paste." Clearly not very appetizing at all.

***

Sighing, Babs looks Rowan and laughs. "I think I might need to congratulate you on achieving what most males of our species would love to do." Tilting her head to one side, Babs asks "Would you care to have dinner with me sometime Rowan? I can introduce you to some surfacer food."

He's not at all sure what he's achieved that he should be congratulated for. But Rowan'll ask her one of these days. "I'd like that very much Babs." The dragon-warrior says with a broad smile. "Thank you."

***


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