lurkers-guide/synops/051

<h3>Synopsis by Matthew Murray (mmurray@wsu.edu)</h3>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/party.gif" alt="">
While a man and a woman meet a docking ship, Sheridan, Ivanova,
Garibaldi, and Franklin are celebrating in Earheart's with many other
officers Corwin's promotion from lieutenant J.G. to full lieutenant.
Garibaldi asks why Marcus wasn't invited, but Ivanova explains that,
since Earheart's is for Earth Alliance personnel only, it wasn't
appropriate for him to be invited.  Sheridan agrees with her, saying
it's probably best if he keeps a low profile.

<p>
Things are not quite as celebratory, however, in Downbelow, where a
lurker is screaming in pain while a strange small creature, resembling
a scorpion, burrows itself into his back while the man and the woman
who met the incoming ship earlier stand over him, watching
expectantly.  They go over to him after it has integrated itself into
him, but are dismayed because their plan didn't work.  Security is on
its way, so they quickly take their leave.

<p>
In C&C, Sheridan speaks with Ivanova privately about Corwin, and
whether or not he should be indoctrinated into their group working
against the Earth government.  He asks her to meet with Corwin to
determine whether or not he would be a good choice.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/asleep.gif" alt="">
Marcus runs into a friend of his, Duncan, who works in a bazaar.  They
speak for a few moments, and though Marcus tries to convince the sickly
Duncan to see a physician, he refuses.  Marcus promises to see him
again soon.

<p>
During Dr. Franklin's medical staff meeting, one of the other doctors
reports the unexplainable death of a man the previous night.
Franklin, wanting to determine the cause, asks that the body be brought to
MedLab 1.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/bar.gif" alt="">
Marcus is meeting with some of his informants, one of whom tells him
that the Shadows are beginning to gather around sector 800, on the
border of Centauri space, and that a package Marcus ordered will arrive
within a week.  Marcus tells him to learn whatever he can about the
Shadow buildup.  Marcus speaks with someone else who tells him
that one of his primary liaisons is no longer interested in working
with him.  Marcus goes to pay the man a visit.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/exam.gif" alt="">
Dr. Franklin begins his analysis of the dead body, and while he finds
evidence of drugs, he can't find any other possible cause of death.
The computer, however, completes its scan, and finds one neural
anomaly.  Franklin asks to see it, and the computer displays it: it is
the creature that entered the man earlier, and it is wrapped around his
spinal column.  Franklin prepares to open up the patient.

<p>
Marcus finds his contact, Samuel, who seems to be in fine health, but
has no further interest in working with Marcus, or explaining why he no
longer wishes to do so.  Marcus is quite suspicious about this, but
leaves anyway.

<p>
While Franklin completes the autopsy, finding a small, worm-like
creature in the dead man, the man and the woman seen earlier, with
Samuel, stand over the body of Duncan as yet another creature bores its
way into his back.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/wiggle.gif" alt="">
Franklin finishes studying the biomass, discovering that it is 100%
genetically neutral, meaning it can exist in any life form.  He begins
working to discover if it came from the station itself, or if it was
brought there by someone else.

<p>
Marcus arrives back at the bazaar, trying to find Duncan, and is quite
perplexed when he is unable to do so.  He speeks to another merchant,
who says that she saw Duncan earlier, but hasn't in a while.

<p>
Alone in C&C, Ivanova tells Corwin that, since he has been promoted, it
might be a good idea for them to talk and get to know each other
better.  Though somewhat apprehensive, Corwin agrees, suggesting they
meet in the mess hall, but Ivanova suggests a more private venue: her
quarters.  This startles him further, but he nonetheless agrees.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/strange.gif" alt="">
Marcus tries to explain to Garibaldi that the recent string of
disappearances might be a sign of a problem, but since no crime has
been committed, Garibaldi says there's nothing he can do.  Marcus gets
angry at Garibaldi, claiming that he should look beyond protocol and
see what might be a serious problem, but this only angers Garibaldi
further.  Garibaldi tells him that, if they are acting strangely, they
should speak to a doctor, but it isn't his jurisdiction.  So, Marcus
speaks to Dr. Franklin who, at first agitated, eventually agrees to go
with him to investigate the problem.

<p>
Corwin approaches a flower vendor, and tries to explain his situation,
with some difficulty, since he isn't sure himself what the situation
is.  Coming to the conclusion that he has a date with someone
aggressive, the flower vendor gives him a large bouquet of synthetic
roses, saying that no woman is ever offended by roses, except by their
absence.  Corwin agrees, and pays 40 credits for them.

<p>
Franklin and Marcus go to Duncan's quarters, but despite their
incessant paging, he doesn't answer.  Franklin reluctantly uses his
medical override to open the door, and Marcus rushes in, finding
something troubling inside.  Franklin joins him, where they see that a
strange substance has eaten through one of the walls.  Marcus goes
through the hole it created, and Franklin follows.  It leads out into a
hall, where there is another man on the ground, with another creature
absorbing into his back.  Franklin rushes to help him, but is stopped
and held at gunpoint by a group of those previously affected.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/prison.gif" alt="">
Franklin and Marcus, in a makeshift prison cell, talk about the
situation, while Franklin explains the parasitic being he examined.  He
warns that they could take over the whole station, but Marcus doesn't
understand why the creatures would take over the lurkers 
rather than the crew.  Franklin tries to get some of the
others to help the fallen man, but they refuse to do anything.  He
tries to explain that the creatures are controlling them, but they say
nothing.  Franklin asks if they can understand him, and one of them
explains that the man will stay there until they are finished, saying
that Franklin's safety may be in jeopardy should he try to interfere.
Franklin backs further into the cell, telling Marcus that they need to
escape, which might be difficult, since two of their three captors have
firearms.  Marcus says that all they need to do is to get one of them
to leave, which will even up the odds.  Franklin doesn't understand
this, but knows that, since Marcus told Garibaldi of their plan, he
will be there soon.  It turns out, however, that Marcus did in fact not
inform him.  They are on their own.<br clear=all>

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/roses.gif" alt="">
Corwin arrives in Ivanova's quarters, bearing the bouquet of roses.
It's quickly clear she doesn't consider the meeting a date;
desperate to not look foolish he claims to have found the flowers lying
outside.  She says that it is silly to spend money on high-priced
synthetics, but that she finds it romantic, and confides in him that
she has a weakness for roses.  She thanks him for keeping them out of
someone else's hands, but definitely wants to find out who brought them
to her.

<p>
Duncan arrives at Franklin and Marcus's prison, and tries to explain
his situation, and how he was helped.  He says that he was Duncan, but
is now part of another species, the Vindrizi, and warns Marcus that he
will hurt Marcus if he interferes.  The part of him that was
Duncan doesn't want that to happen.  Duncan invites them to view the
process, but all Franklin understands is that the Vindrizi seem to kill
everyone they inhabit.  Duncan tells him that only certain humans are
suitable for a merger, and that the Vindrizi want only to save lives,
and that there is no other way.

<p>
Ivanova gives Corwin a cup of real coffee, which she grows in the
hydroponic gardens, counter to regulations.  She explains that sometimes
you have to bend the rules to get what you want, and Corwin agrees
saying that, if it doesn't hurt anyone, or is good for Earth, he has no
complaints.  She asks him what he does if his orders conflict with what
is good for Earth.  Corwin tells her that everything will fall apart if
the chain of command isn't obeyed.  He says that, if he saw someone
trying to gather officers to act against EarthDome, he would report
them, and asks if there is anyone she wants him to watch.  She says the
question is merely hypothetical, asked only to learn where everyone
stands.  She thanks him for coming, says good night to him, and he
leaves.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/help.gif" alt="">
Still in their prison, Marcus asks Franklin about Ivanova, and if he
has done something to offend her.  Franklin assures him that it just
takes her time to get to know someone, and that she hasn't adjusted to
him yet.  Marcus says that he is looking forward to finding out more
about her.  Franklin finds it funny that they are talking about this
in their situation.  As Franklin begins to
convince Marcus that he isn't her type, several of the Vindrizi-inhabited
lurkers arrive and take Franklin away, saying that one of them is ill,
and that they need his medical expertise.  They take him to a room
where a lurker is on the table, dying.  Franklin tries to convince them
that the only way to save him is to remove the Vindrizi from him, but
they will not accept no for an answer saying that, should he not help,
he will be directly responsible for the man's death.

<p>
Marcus, alone in his prison, notices that the odds are now two
against one.  With the odds even as he sees it, he convinces one of the
guards that a small device sitting on the table is actually a vital
medical device that Franklin needs.  Marcus instructs him on the use
the device, which turns out to be his retracting pole; the guard knocks
himself out with it.
Marcus is able to defeat the other guard easily, and escapes his
cell.  He finds Franklin's hand link, and tries to use it, but the
computer won't let him, since he isn't Franklin.  He grabs his pole
and runs off, while Ivanova, who detected the attempted use of
Franklin's link, sends security to brown 84 to find the culprit.

<p>
Marcus easily defeats a guard patrolling the hallway.
He grabs the guard's weapon, and quickly finds Franklin.
He grabs Franklin away from the Vindrizi.
The Vindrizi try to convince Franklin to continue helping the lurker, but
Marcus decides to try to talk to them in order to get away safely.
When he tries to threaten the Vindrizi, he is interrupted by Duncan,
who begs him not to do what he's doing.  Marcus asks what sort of a
life Duncan will have if he is forced to remain merged with a creature.
Duncan explains that he and the others weren't taken over, but
volunteered.

<p>
While Garibaldi and other security officers mobilize to search the
sector, Duncan explains that the Vindrizi were created over a hundred
thousand years ago to be living records of history, bearing evidence of
planets, cultures, and civilizations that will exist long after the
other races have died and all other knowledge has been destroyed or
forgotten.  The only way the Vindrizi can survive is to take
over the bodies of other races.  They choose those near death, so that
they may have new life and a purpose, which they may not have had
before.  Marcus says that he doesn't trust the Duncan he sees now -- only
the one he knew.  As if by request, the Vindrizi inside Duncan thrusts
its way out of him and scurries away.  Duncan explains that his life,
before the Vindrizi, was destined to be completed in Downbelow, but,
when merged, he saw and knew things that he had never dreamed of before.
After the explanation, Franklin agrees to help the Vindrizi, but only if he can
be assured that he can approve all volunteers, and that they all agree
to it beforehand.  The Vindrizi agree, and Franklin calls Garibaldi,
informing him of his location, and ordering a medical team.  Marcus
tries to apologize to Duncan, but it does no good.  Duncan is sad at
all he has lost, but apparently bears no ill will.

<p>
Ivanova approaches Sheridan in C&C.  Sheridan indicates toward Corwin,
without saying a word, as if asking what her analysis of his potential
was.  She shakes her head, and they both look away sadly.

<p>
<img align=right width=128 height=96 src="/lurk/gif/051/leave.gif" alt="">
Marcus catches up with Duncan in the docking bay, just as he is about
to leave.  Marcus tries to convince him not to, but Duncan insists he
must.  In the time while he was inhabited by the Vindrizi, he learned
that he was special, and he wants to go out and find things that might
make him feel that way again.  Marcus again apologizes, but Duncan says
that he realizes he did what he did only because he cared, and tells
Marcus that he realizes that maybe everyone should become special
before it's too late.  Duncan tells Marcus that maybe, when he finds
what he's looking for, he'll return.  Duncan boards his ship,
leaving Marcus alone.

<p>
Back in Earheart's, Franklin explains that so far, everything the
Vindrizi told him is the truth.  Garibaldi asks what Franklin thinks of
Marcus; Franklin says Marcus did a good job,
and tells Ivanova that Marcus might appreciate a second chance with
her.  "That's it," she says to herself.  "He must have sent them!"  She
quickly excuses herself and rushes out.

<p>
Bearing the bouquet of synthetic roses, she marches forcefully through
the station, finally arriving at a table where Marcus is eating.  She
thrusts the roses down on the table in front of him, haltingly ordering
him to "Keep 'em," before marching away again.

<p>
"Thank you," he calls after her.  "I will!"  He picks up the bouquet
admiringly.  "Well, I guess there's hope for us after all!"