~VIRUS~
*he nodded politely at both..... but he seemed... distracted.... there was more tech in here than there had been when he left.... made him feel slightly... strange... he didn`t quite know /why/..... and then he nodded slowly at WARPOLE... and actually /did/ shake his hand...* That`s me. Which would you prefer? *he`d seen Metallic address him as sir... and that /was/ technically the correct title... but... not everyone /wanted/ that reminder all the time.. Metallic certainly hadn`t insisted on it, but he was reasonably sure that technically, he was his superior as well... hell, who /wasn`t?/* Warpole or sir? *it was /extremely/ polite... the Dutch were well-known for their politeness...*

~TOSHI~
*She waves to Mettalic as he leaves before she turns back to Yohann and Pole. Nervously she looks between Pole and Yohann. Please let this go well.. She could understand respect for Pole, but the all out fear. Biting her lip she lays her head against Pole. No use in pretending she wasn’t close to Pole. Not when he had his arm around her. Besides it was so good to have him there even if she might lose the chance at a new friend.*

~WARPOLE~
*pole appreciates the inquery, and smiles, showing white teeth... not cybernetic. He lowers his hand, hoping the grip wasn`t /too/ strong...* When I give an order, "sir". When I`m casual, Warpole, or Pole, is fine. *he nods once to punctuate his words* Yer the technopath, right? *slight concern... Pole, was, after all, well over half electronic/mechanical/technology. This could get sticky if the kid didn`t...* Have control over yer powers, boy? *Pole reflexively tightens his hold around TOSHI for a moment, just a gentle squeeze, offered as she lays her head against him, affectionate gesture. For a moment, he breaks contact with Yohann and glances down at the girl* How`s things anyway? You doing okay? *blue eyes clouded over by... something...*

*he nodded slowly..* I`m the technopath. *he didn`t quite understand /why/ that seemed so important... he`d already caught Metallic once with a look of awe when commenting that he was a technopath... he knew what he could do... and he had good control by now... he couldn`t always do what he wanted to... but he never accidentally turned off anything anymore... he made sure that he could make sure /that/ didn`t happen before he ventured out for socialising... which explained why he didn`t pick up the hint of concern..* I have reasonable control.

*Her attention on Yohann she doesn’t see the look in his eyes. Not realizing he knew about her meeting with Venin and how hard it was for her to make friends she forces a smile although she knows better than to look up at him. She was perhaps the best at fooling Pole and telling a lie. Keeping her pulse and breathing even she nods.* Sure.. Things are doing really well. *Gasping her pulse skyrockets as she puts a protective hand against Pole’s chest. A technopath!! She had missed that when Pole was talking to Yohann. Alarmed she looks up to make sure Pole is ok.*

*Pole looks back up and nods, tipping his head to the side, eyes narrowing slightly, bright blue on the Dutchman. They only knew of one other technopath, that one a RUNner... truly, the rarest of talents, and in this day and age... more fearsome, in application, than the Devil himself. Pole does seem a tad disconcerted, but hides it well enough* Good. Good. Dunno how much ya know yet, boy, but I think it imperative you do know this: There`s cyhunters around here, cyborgs, human/cybernetic mixes, part machine, part organics. M`one of em. And my first order is, considering everything, work on more than just /reasonable/ control... *makes sense, really...*

*and Poles relevation explained alot... the extra tech, Toshi`s sudden protectiveness towards Pole... and he was /already/ working on more than just /reasonable/ control.... he wanted to /master/ it... he`d been told the propaganda, he knew how useful a technopath would be.... /if/ they could control it... in all reality, the one thing that was so far eluding him... something that he didn`t /know/ that he could do, but it made sense... was entering the machines... he had been practicing with his laptop.. if he travelled via computers, he /had/ to be able to enter them somehow... that was the one thing that eluded him.... and his mind grasped how useful that could be... not merely travelling through them, but just getting inside them... the damage he could do was good he was sure... there weren`t a /great/ deal of tech around that he could practice on unfortunately.... but if he was inside, he could do even more.... but again, there was nothing to practice on... only his own laptop, and hope that he could get it working again* I understand.. *a pause... then, he just said that it was his first order... soo...* sir.

*Even if TOSHI /had/ betrayed her tiny fib with a fast heartbeat, her concern would have covered it up a split second later. Pole can feel the /fear/ in her as she lays a hand on his chest, and he`s also trying very hard not to show his own... fear. For yes, he /is/ rather... nervous about this young man. Interesting, that, for despite it all, all the battles, the wars, the unnaturals and their powers, he`s managed, somehow, to survive them all. Skill. Determination. Belief in his place and abilities. Yet here was a youth who could, very easily, take even the vaunted Warpole down with just a /thought/, depending on his power range and abilities. Even telepaths, psionics, had a damn hard time getting around the strange techno-organic mix. More than 3/4ths of Pole was cybernetic. If not kill him, VIRUS could do as bad, even worse. Pole absently curls his fingers around TOSHI`S hand, engulfs her small digits in his own, squeezes softly. He`s aware of the danger, but so far, he`s alright*

*She only relaxed a little at Yohann’s words. Her concern for Pole still clear in her eyes.* Your control is good enough you won't hurt Pole? *If something happened to Pole she wasn’t sure she could survive. He was the last person she had in this world. It was just her luck that one of the first people she met that didn’t run was one of the few people that could really hurt the most important person in her life.*

*Pole nods slowly at YOHANN, smiles faintly as the `sir` employed, then again, his eyes narrow further and he slowly asks...* How much you... able to do, anyway? You haven`t been here long, but haven`t seen much on yer files. I mean, there`s just not much there. You /are/ being trained, right? *Pole knows they will eventually want to try interfacing him with the psibernary... a cybernetic psionic. And if Virus is able to learn to get into machines, `joins` with her... then nothing, save someone more powerful... would be safe. Mind and machine, covered, control. The ultimate combination, perhaps. Terrifying*

*he knew the dangers he could pose... but he didn`t know the absolute fear and respect that Warpole was held in... he didn`t know how worrying it was for both of them that he could, if he wanted to, most likely take Warpole down... because the thought never crossed his mind... Why should it?* I don`t know what I can do. I can guess.... bringing down computers that`s a given. *he wasn`t being snobbish, or elitist, or arrogant... but he`d been somewhat of what a technopath is... the propaganda `the techs version of a telepath`...* I believe I can well... enter machines... *he didn`t know how else to explain it... as for being trained...* I am being trained. But... *who could train where there had only been one before.... and that one a runner? He could be taught the basics... the hand-to-hand... and so on.... but his particular gift.... had to be learnt on his own... and what he /needed/ to truly be able to master his power... was equipment to train on... a fighter would need this gym for example... but he had the same problem a telepath would.... tech was not expendable... nor were minds... and then he turned to Toshi* I won`t harm him. I can control myself enough to make sure of that. I can`t yet always do what I want to... but I /can/ make sure that I don`t do what I didn`t want to.

*Letting out a deep breath she smiles at Yohann holding out her hand to him.* Thank you. *if he knew about her he would know how rare it was for her to initiate any physical contact. Pole was still the only person she felt comfortable touching. When you spent 16 years locked in isolation because touching anything organic would cause your form to shift it was hard to break the fear of touch. Knowing Pole was safe meant everything to her.*

I know they have someone scheduled to assist you... and not in the physical. *pole murmurs it softly... Toshi wouldn`t know about Rikky, but Yohann was going to meet him eventually... he could do a much better job at explaining things of the mind than any non-psi, and he could link and see what Yohann saw, help him out that way. Too risky to throw the Dutchy at the psibernary right away* Hopefully soon. *fear, yes... as one might fear a man with a gun, whether pointed at him or not, the fact the gun was /there/, in the hand, visible, was enough to make any natural worried and nervous. Respect? Oh yes. The gun again. A loaded gun. And right now, the wielder was placid. That`s /something/ but the weapon is in the open, able to be used at any time. Enter machines... oh. Joy. Pole raises his brows* Well. This should be interesting.... *His brows again shoot upward as TOSHI offers her hand to YOHANN. He, of course, knows the signifigance of the gesture... Yohann would not. Pole smiles to himself. Good, she needed this, needed friends and contact. But of course, if the boy lay a hand on her, he`d break both his kneecaps, technopath or not...*

*he however hadn`t heard much about Toshi... or anyone... he shook her hand politely.. if that was what it was held out for... but he wouldn`t press it... and he nodded in reply... indeed... hopefully soon.... he got that Warpole was murmuring it... perhaps he didn`t want Toshi to hear... and as for the fear.... Yohann was a Dutchman like his grandparents.... those grandparents who had just stepped aside and let Germany march in during WWII... the notion of making the first agressive move didn`t cross his mind.. and then* Interesting?

*It took everything she had not to pull her hand back when he shook it. She heard what Pole said, but since it wasn’t directed at her she made no comments.* Have you had a chance to look around the compound? *He didn’t seem to be afraid of Pole so she might still be able to make friends with him. Although she did worry about him been too close to Pole.*

*Pole chuckles softly, nodding* Yeah, interesting. You`ll see what I mean once the applications are tested. You hold... an awful lot of power, Yohann. The only other technopath we ever encountered, which wasn`t too long ago... helped breach this entire complex. *a small, abashed look* Well, it more than just him, but he was the key. Maybe you should be allowed to read the files on that, see exactly what you might capable of, `pending on yer power levels, `course. And, naturally, this complex was rebuilt with a technopath in mind. Don`t wanna lose the whole damned thing again.... *Tiny look over at TOSHI* Pardon my French. *he apologizes for using the word `damn` in front of the girl, though the curse is small, nothing, still... then he glances from one to the other and smiles* Toshi, honey, maybe you should take Yohann here on a tour of the place... show him around or sumthin`... sure he`s missed a few places, like the shopping complex, maybe, or the indoor beach with waves and surfing. *Pole Nods, liking his idea. And really, they had their own version of the Edmonton Mall down there somewhere. The place was /huge/... twice the size of the original, and far more interesting. And Toshi needed to make other friends, since Pole couldn`t always be around to keep her company. Time to get her out into the `real world` as it were...*

*he shook his head briefly at Toshi* No... not much. *he didn`t /know/ Pole yet... it was very hard to be afraid of someone you didn`t yet know... not unless they showed an obvious threat.... and until you got your head bitten off, or chewed up, or something of the like, you weren`t too likely to fear someone who was your superior... /respect/ yes... outright fear though?*

*She tenses up when he starts to talk about the destruction of the complex. Her hands gripping Pole tightly. She hadn’t even noticed his slip cursing. Shaking she tries to smile.* Shopping, beach? *She hadn’t even known about those places, but she was sure know she knew why she hadn’t seen Becca. If there was shopping anywhere close she would be there.*

*he sighed quietly at the revelation that there was another technopath.... that`s what Metallic had pointed out to him... what if he encountered another?.. and then... respectfully, but still... no longer overly modest* I know... our entire civilization is based on technology. Take away technology and we are.... at a serious disadvantage. *that was putting it mildly...*

*Pole feels the tiny tremors in TOSHI`s touch, her trembling at the recalling of the complex`s destruction, and he regrets speaking of such things before her immediately. Still, she needed to come to grips with the fact it happened, and things like that DO happen... in the natural world as well as the unnatural. He tightens his embrace again as a support, silent and strong, again squeezes her hand... he knows it doesn`t make things any easier. Instead, he offers a tiny, distracting laugh* Yeah, beach and shopping, lower levels. There`s like this whole park down there... arcades, stores, food courts. Its really.. *his brows raise once more* Really somethin` ta see. They decided indoor on-premises fun less risky than, say... *slight abashment* going out fer ice cream. *he mutters the last, then raises his voice to more normal levels again, now towards YOHANN* Understatment of the year, son. Yeah... like remove our brains and we`re mush. Telepaths do serious damage on their own, and they can /remove/ technology as easily as you can hamper it. *he pauses, then shakes his head* Too much ta tell ya know, and I guess one better qualified should do it. The power of a PATH... any path... is... staggering even on the lowest levels. Somethin` we haffa deal with on a daily basis. Welcome to the club. *Pole grins then, to lighten the situation. He doesn`t want to overwhelm the young man too soon*

*it was perhaps quite lucky that the young man had been a fan of science fiction since before... he`d read it all, from McCaffrey to Asimov... it was always something he was sure would happen one day.... just never in his time...* This might seem like a stupid question.... if a telepath can do that... *it`d never occured to him...* then why does everyone seem so... *he didn`t want to say `awed`...* well, worried about a technopath? Why are they any worse than a telepath? In fact aren`t they better? I know I can`t mess with minds... *well, a truly robotic mind perhaps... but how rare was that?*

*She knew she had to deal with what happened when the last complex was destroyed. It was probably easier for others who had more social skills to draw on. For her it had been the destruction of her world. Slowly she was starting to deal with it all. Feeling Pole tighten his embrace makes her feel better. He more than anyone else understood how she felt. With a shaky laugh she looks over at Yohann.* You feel up to doing a little exploring with me?

*he smiled quietly at Toshi... he needed a friend just as much... he`d first been uprooted from his hometown, where he`d had a tidy little business... then he`d been shifted again.... not only had his world fallen apart, he had no-one from that world to call on...* yes, I`d like that.

When you two are done then..*She leaned against Pole as she waited for him and Yohann to finish their conversation. It was only then that her eyes caught her bracelet. She realized that Yohann could harm her as much as he could Pole. Destroy her bracelets and you destroyed her ability to control her changes. Looking at Yohann she didn’t think he would do that though. It was hard for her to trust, but since he had told her he wouldn’t harm Pole she placed her trust in him.*

*Larry Niven, Asimov, yes, all good things to have read. Opened the mind a bit more and for this fringe world, it was best to have a basis in things fantastic, be they scientific or magickal, because it could all blend here. Often, the one standing next to you in the cafeteria line was better suited to be in some crazy film than the `real world`... blue skin, violet skin, grey... purple hair, green, pointed ears, feline, canine... every combination was present here. Even vastly inhuman-looking. Prejudice lost its meaning in a place like this. Pole answers best he can* Not a stupid question. You see, Yohann, we know telepaths. We fought em, we have em, we use em, we train em, we live among them. We know how to combat em, just as we know we have one of the strongest ones alive on the planet right now, under this roof. We have safeguards from em. They`re familiar. Technopaths are not, and yer accessibility, as it were, to technology, seems... easier, vaster, than a telepaths. They have to worry about willpower, and natural shields, and other things. You... well, machines have no free will, they do what they do. They don`t have shields, they`re open to you, completely. You may not be able to mess up my MIND, but you can mess up the electronics that make up parts of my brain... overload those, and you fry me. *he doesn`t like... GIVING... such information away, but....* A telepath can only affect my organic brain, and cuz of the mix between pulses, its harder for em to get in. Plus I have shields in place now. Yer power goes around those sheilds, they`re against psionics alone. Maybe they`d be a buffer, I dunno. That`s the problem, we dunno. But you tweak my circuits and shield or no, you cause sparks, you get my electronics /and/ my organics, not just one. There`s more than jes` that, too. Think about it. So much is mechanically based now... its just... *he shakes his head* I would worry about yer power before I worried about a telepath. I have some damn good shields. We all do now. You`ll have em too soon enuff. *he glances at TOSHI apologetically* Pardon my French. *Pole smiles down at TOSHI again and tugs her closer, protective like a brother should be, rubbing her arm lightly with the hand that held her. He glances at her bracelets too, frowns, and understands. He didn`t worry about himself so much as did her... still somehow innocent even after the loss of all she held dear. He looks back at Yohann*

* he murmured* Better the devil you know than the devil you don`t. *but it was more than that..... in some respects he was right... he was more specialised... but that /did/ have advantages.... like a warrior who specialised, there were problems... but then, if you were foolish enough to challenge him at his specialty... unless you were incredibly good at all aspects of fighting, you lost... you tried to make it so that he couldn`t fight in his specialty... it was the same here.... and when Warpoles words came to him... he nodded... indeed...*

*Yawning she realizes out late it is.* Um.. Yohann.. Can we do that exploring tomorrow? I need to get some sleep.

*he nodded at Toshi* Sure... I`ll be around. Have a good sleep.

*A small snort, laughter, bitter and the cyhunter nods* Something like that, yeah. *Pole hears Toshi`s yawn and smiles at her fondly, placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head* Go to sleep, pumpkin. Good night. *he taps her on the rear to get to move, grinning* Sleep well, Toshi.