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WHO: Ambulon, Vandal (I'm not sure if anyone else wants to pop in?)
WHERE: Vector Prime's temple
WHEN Not long after this conversation.
WHAT: Ambulon wants to learn more about humans to expand his doctoral knowledge. Vandal has offered to help him out like a bro.
WARNINGS: I'd say standard warning for Vandal's saucy mouth, but I don't know if we'll reach territories concerning human reproduction and organs. (Still, you never know; crazy stuff happens here.)

Ambulon had made sure to stock up on as much writing/recording material as possible. There wasn't much, to be honest, and the paper (weird stuff) he found was painfully small; eh, it'd do, he supposed. Vandal could write on it, and his vision was good enough to read the small print. His databanks would log everything else. Once packed, he was on his way.

Really, Ambulon hoped Vandal didn't mind waiting. He couldn't fly or drive, so a brisk jogging was in order. Still, he'd found Vector's temple just fine, cautiously making his way toward the massive structure. He hoped the human was waiting nearby; if he didn't spot her, he'd send her a message via the link.

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She was waiting at the entrance, elbows propped on her knees and her chin propped in her hands, the picture of boredom. Though really, could she ever be bored in a place like this?

Not really.

Not when this is the first real planet she's ever seen and it's fucking beautiful. But, she can pretend, for her benefit, that this is just. Same old shit.

When she sees him, she lifts a hand in greeting. He might not recognize her face or voice without the RIG helmet on, but otherwise she's pretty memorable, what with being one of the only humans and all.

Ambulon was quick to spot the small human. He mechanically (no pun intended) waved back and made his way over to Vandal. "Sorry for the wait," he apologized, grumbling. "I'm still getting a feel for the terrain here." He glanced around the area, then up at Vector Prime's temple. "Did you want to hold the discussion out here or inside? I honestly don't care which."

She's surprised to not see some kind of car or jet, honestly. But maybe it's not her place to ask. Ratchet had taught her that most everyone has an alternate mode, though...

"Don't worry about it. And yeah, inside."

Had he walked here? Oh well. She turns and leads the way into the Vectorian temple, down the grand halls and off into a smaller set of rooms where she doesn't feel quite so dwarfed.

Ambulon follows, keeping quiet for the most part. His attention is drawn to all the detail of the temple. He's still getting the hang of all this. Finally, he looks down at the small human, and says, "I brought... paper, right? I brought that thin material you use to write on, so you can use it to write down anything you'd like to share. Though I'll be recording what you do tell me to save in my databanks."

"Yeah, that would be paper."

Well. Sort of. In the past, it was. Paper was actually kind of a rare commodity in space, but finding it here in scattered notebooks and such has been interesting. Where she's from, everything is digital.

"Thanks. I'll tell you what I know. I'm no doctor, but I'll write down everything I can."

Ambulon nodded. "Anything will work," he said. He had his datapad at the ready. "Human anatomy, the organs - I'm familiar with the basics, such as the brain and heart, and the purposes they serve. I'm not quite familiar with the rest, and their functions. And, of course, common causes of illness and injury and how to attend to them."

"Uh. Right. Jeeze. That's a lot. I'll just have to infodump you I guess."

She settles down in a comfortable spot. So she'll just... write down everything she knows. Okay.

"So you're gonna try to like... be a human doctor, too?"

Wow that came out really stupid sounding.

Ambulon smirked. "I wouldn't necessarily say that," he said. "More so, I'd just like to know what to do when or if one of your kind comes to a clinic for help bleeding out of every available seam - er - orifice?" He shrugged and resorted to sitting to, though appeared stiff as usual. "I guess just put down what you think is the most vital and useful information. I'm gathering data from other sources as well, so you don't need to write down every little thing about your human physiology."

Ambulon paused a moment. "What - exactly - is the purpose of a navel and why is it addressed as a 'button'?" He looked completely serious.

"Yeah... ten credits says that person is eventually me. Makes sense, though." She goes back to writing, momentarily before looking up again.

"Right... vita stuff." That could be anything.

So back to writing down everything.

"A- what..." Oh, okay. Vandal can't really help the laugh that slips out.

"It's where the umbilical cord is attached before we are born. It supplies nutrients for that time, when we come out, it's cut off and it leaves a- well. Ahah... a uh. Button. Ish. Looking... sort of thing. That's more an endearing term, though."

Ambulon nodded. He's still not entirely sure what a umbilical cord is, but hey. He's still got a lot to learn. "I see now. That makes sense. Though astonishing - organic reproduction is so very different from our own. To use your own body to gestate your offspring..." It was both fascinating from a medical point of view, but also sort of creepy. He thought of parasites, actually, but figured it was probably inappropriate to make the comparison out loud. "Humans require a partner to conceive, I take it, or do some reproduce asexually? If the latter is the case, do you have breeding periods at a certain age before you reach sexual maturity?"

Ambulon looked to Vandal again. "Your people age incredibly fast, by our standards. Your average life expectancy can't be very high. Your immune system is oddly simple, too; brain, heart, lungs, digestive track, et cetera. Even the cells in your 'blood'. But what serves the purpose of a bladder? Humans secrete a great deal of fluids; such as the oil of your skin, and 'perspiration'. But those are to keep your skin hydrated. So the bladder releases... what?" Waste was still a concept new to him; not that he'd be missing out much.

"It's kinda disgusting isn't it?" Well she said it, not him, "A lot these days we actually do a lot of genetic engineering and just grow them in tanks, but you know. There will always be purists or whatever."

Ahh, she knew it would probably get awkward. She's kind of getting used to this though.

"Well, humans reproduce sexually. Male and female, we each have half of the required ingredients to start life," She is going to make that... crude gesture with her hands now, "Basically, men have Tab A, women have Slot B. Insert tab into slot, repeat vigorously until DNA goo is released and then thus, the miracle of life! Or something."

She makes some halfassed grand-gesture with her hands.

Wow he is... a curious guy. It's kind of cute, actually. She'll do her best.

"Yeah humans are kind of short-lived compared to you guys. Sucks. We have about 100 years to do everything we want. Uhh... bladder?"

Jesus fucking Christ.

"Well, we don't burn our fuel or... yeah. So we absorb what's useful from it so the rest has to. Go. Somewhere to be expelled..."

Ambulon nodded, scribbling everything down as well as storing information in his databanks. "100 years," he almost winced, "I suppose then, the rumored arrogance and determination of the human race is understandable. Your years are fleeting, you strive to go beyond your potential, to make your lives memorable or remarkable. If I were to only live that long..." He shook his head. "I think I understand now."

He patted the stylus to his chin, looking both unimpressed but curious. "Hmm. That makes sense. We process waste in our own way, too." Ambulon smirked. "Though 'goo' used to describe your race's primordial matter... an interesting turn of phrase. I... don't think that's what you call it officially, though, right?" He might have read "semen" and "eggs" somewhere, but maybe "goo" was one of the them, too?

"On the subject of sex and gender in your society, I think I understand the basics. Males and females have different 'equipment', mostly in terms of sexual organs, as well as basic DNA." XX, XY, yadda yadda. "It's interesting, however, that you've taken to using other methods of gestation for your young. I suppose there is some logical reason behind this."

Ambulon sat back. "From what I've gathered all together: humans have a short life expectancy, usually due to eventual failure in the heart, brain, uhm... Lung? Lungs? Ah, well, usually due to deterioration of major organs. So most life threatening injuries are usually tied with one or more of these organs affected and traumatized? I suppose you'd survive without your eyes, but your four basic senses would not compensate in a way ours do, however..."

"Uh yeah. People are pretty relentless. Most humans don't really ever get to make a name for themselves. If I lived as long as one of you guys I don't really know what I'd do with myself."

Speaking of relentless, she's almost impressed by how much he questions. This is what she's here for, she supposes. Might as well make it a good job.

"Oh uh yeah. Semen, typically. But I prefer 'goo' because quite frankly I don't have a high opinion of having or raising children. Not my thing." A dismissive shrug follows.

"Oh yeah, there is. Like I said, some people like to do it the old fashioned way, but having kids is also stressful on a human body. I mean, can you imagine pushing something that big out of- yeah actually nevermind. It's stressful and damaging in some cases. Even downright dangerous in others. Some people also are sterile, they can't have kids the natural way."

This is the kind of stuff you don't think you'd ever... have to think about.

"Correct. Internal injuries are often the most fatal for humans. If one of our vital organs gets damaged, that's it. Game over. Oh, and in the case of blindness, other senses do compensate. Or so I've heard, but that's definitely more over time."

"I can imagine it's stressful, considering you're carrying and, well, caring for a second person," Ambulon replied. He nodded and proceeded to jog down more of her responses. Finally, he sighed and sat back, putting the 'pad aside. He could tell Vandal was getting a little restless; not that he blamed her. "I think that about covers the basics. I won't keep you any longer." He held his hand out to her. "I'll take your notes, if you please."

"Yeah I'm not really into it," She says, handing over the notes she'd managed to scribble down.

"And you're not keeping me. It's kind of been crazy trying to keep myself busy, anyways. So like... did you walk here or what?"

Very polite, as always.

Ambulon took the pad and-- "Uh, yes. I walked here." He looked embarrassed, naturally. Though he was quick to replace it with the usual expression of ennui or whatever. "I don't exactly have a proper alt mode. And, unlike most of my comrades, I don't really... turn into anything like a vehicle." He mumbled and stored the notes away. "Long story, really. Completely uninteresting as well."

He gestured to Vandal's own suit. "And you... wear that all the time? Armor, is it?"

"Well, actuallyt it is pretty interesting. But I won't pry if it's like. A Thing for you," She says quietly, shrugging.

"What, the RIG? Yeah. It's armor, also have a lot of built-in tools that kind of poot me on more fair-footing with the likes of you guys."

Namely the manipulation modules. Stasis and Kinesis... they are invaluable, but limited.

"It is sort of... 'a thing'." Not how he'd put it, but it's pretty damn accurate. "Past mistakes and terrible choices, s'all it really amounts to."

Ambulon tilts his head. "Interesting. I'm sure you made note of it in your file," he says. He almost wants to touch the RIG but, uh, probably best not to. Nonetheless, he straightens out and says, after a moment of silence, "Well, again, thank you for your time. While I am grateful for all this information, I'd rather not have to apply it, for both our sakes."

"Right. Got it. Don't ask."

Though now she's curious, but he seems decent enough, nice enough, that she won't pester about it.

Sensitive robot topic.

"Yeah no problem. You have any further questions, I'll be happy to field them."

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dfghdg Ambulon why are you curiously adorable

>:C NOT CUTE I'M PROFESSIONAL DOCTOR

Professional cutie maybe... ouo

KEEEEE >:c

<3~

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