Re: Duuv

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Hello, everyone. I recently encountered a fellow crew member named Duuv -- perhaps you've met him? His natural state appears to be a large, animate pool of blood. I was not able to get many details out of him, but he mentioned what I believe is the name of a hospital or medical department.

Is anyone familiar with the phrase "Mount Sinai, Emergency Medicine"?

Comments

[puny-parker.livejournal.com]

Sure. Mount Sinai's a hospital in New York City.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

In the United States, correct? Then I suppose he at least came here from Earth.

Is it a research hospital? Perhaps specializing in child patients?

[puny-parker.livejournal.com]

Nah. Teaching Hospital.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Strange. Still, he must have been a patient there.

Thank you for your help. Without their medical records, I'm not sure what else this tells us, but it's a start, at least.

[allnaturalseed.livejournal.com]

I've met Duuv, but he didn't mention it, and it doesn't sound familiar.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Miss...?

Has he mentioned anything else to you about where he came from? He seems unusually intelligent in some areas, but I found him difficult to understand.

[allnaturalseed.livejournal.com]

Cagalli Yula Atha.

Nothing I recall. Speaking with him wasn't difficult, though I think I helped, at least a little bit.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Hmm... perhaps it's just me, then. He seemed to have a lot of trouble recalling certain words, and I don't have a lot of experience talking to children.

[allnaturalseed.livejournal.com]

It took a bit of patience. Children are easier than politicians.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Well... I'm afraid I don't have much experience talking to politicians, either.

Shall I let you know if I find out anything further from Duuv?

[allnaturalseed.livejournal.com]

I'll be sure to get in touch with you.

[8wings.livejournal.com]

I've also spoken to Duuv, although he didn't mention anything about a hospital. It may be that as he increases in size he will also increase in mental processing power, and we will be able to communicate with him better.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

That may be true.

...he increases in size? Er, how can you tell?

[8wings.livejournal.com]

When I first met him on the Obs Deck after the pod openings, I was worried that he might have lost some of himself elsewhere. He confirmed at that time that all of himself was present; at that time I would estimate his total volume at being maybe 75 liters?
When I met him later in the city, he was at least 125 liters. Also, he had subdivided and separate parts of himself were moving independently. So he does appear to be increasing in volume. Of course this could be cyclical, and he might just shrink back.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

I wonder how large he will be if he finishes growing.

Or, come to think of it, if he will finish growing. That is a rather astonishing growth in volume.

[8wings.livejournal.com]

We don't know if that growth represents water weight or actual cell output, though. He might have the same organic volume, just more dilute.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Perhaps the mandatory physicals would be able to address the issue.

[8wings.livejournal.com]

At the minimum, they can give us a baseline of what his current state is, that can be used for reference if he keeps changing.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's right. Anwei, you are part of the Medical department, are you not?

[8wings.livejournal.com]

I am working with Dr. Sam Henderson on extracting some medical information from the datastores that arrived on board with me. I also plan to take some supplemental field medic training, as the first-hand knowledge I have is not strictly humanoid-oriented.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

That does sound like useful knowledge. At any rate, perhaps he'd have more luck working with Duuv than I.

[8wings.livejournal.com]

If Duuv is agreeable, I will ask if I might accompany him on his appointment for the physical. He might do better with someone on hand he is familiar with.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

I hadn't even thought of it. As considerate as always, Anwei -- would you like me to accompany the two of you as well?

[8wings.livejournal.com]

A lot of people are nervous going to the doctor - we should probably find out what Duuv wants. I'm also concerned that with too many people present, we would dividing his attention and perhaps literally dividing him.

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a hospital in NYC. Pretty famous. Why?

Is the kid okay?

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

It was one of the few coherent things I could get out of him. I assume that he must have been a patient there, although I'm not sure whether the physicians there could have done much to help him. I am not even sure if he's human or not.

He does seem fine, and greatly enjoys Hide and Seek, if you ever run into him.

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

He can be hard to talk to, for more than on reason for me...

I think we might still be in a game. I'm hiding.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Ah. Yes. I'm sorry; I hadn't considered that.

But conversely, you may be someone he can truly relate to.

Er... when did this game start?

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

A while ago.

It's not that I don't like him, it's... other things.

I'm sure we can relate. I just can't really talk to him for very long.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Well, he might have forgotten that you were hiding by now. He seemed to be amusing himself, at least.

[Private] Are you feeling all right?

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

That's good.

[Private]
As much as I hate to admit it, no.

[Private]

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

What's wrong?

[Private]

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

Its a bit of a long story. One I'm not sure I want to get into.

Re: [Private]

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

I understand. If you wish to talk about anything, I will be in Hydroponics for a while yet.

Re: [Private]

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It means a lot, but this just isn't something I feel comfortable talking about with many people.

Re: [Private]

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

I was referring to something a bit more lighthearted, but I understand the sentiment. We all have our things we would rather not discuss with others.

Re: [Private]

[hack-rat.livejournal.com]

Ah.

Thanks again. I might take you up on that offer sometime soon.