Dr. Percy Cross

Writer's Block: Stolen Goods

2008-03-24T18:47:15Z

What is the most valuable thing you've ever had stolen from you?

That depends on whatcha mean by value. I got a lot, still. My life. Some family. Memories. My liver. The house, the car, all that.

I dunno, I think the biggest things I ever had stolen from me were the kinda crap insurance doesn't cover. Stuff like time. Opportunities. Choices. Friends.

Mostly time and choice. F'I had my way, we'd all still be out there, the lot of us, fightin' the good fight. Kickin' alien ass. Herdin' kaiju with what amounted to a metal sheep the size of a building and a big fluffy moth. But it's done, now. We went down right along with Kobayashi, God bless'im. Major coulda taken over, but I don't blame him for not wantin' it. There's only so much responsibility a man can handle in his own capacity. And I know I couldn't'a even done what he was doin' then.

Couple'a the guys down the base say I'm crazy to miss it. That I oughta be glad I'm back in Letterkenny, patchin' up people's boot camp splinters. That I can go home an' fall int' bed and have a scotch and watch the Sex & The City reunion show with a hand down my shorts just in case Sarah Jessica Parker's still got it. (She doesn't. I changed the channel.)

As much as I bitched? I miss the whole ball'a wax.

And I can't say anythin' stole it from me but time an' tide. Which, I think, might be what sucks the most. I got nobody to be angry at.

Not even my ol' standby ... myself.

percy_cross @ 2008-02-05T16:36:00

2008-02-05T21:53:47Z

((A/N: Well, the game is officially pretty much closed, due to a massive loss of players. The idea's been floating around about starting a second-generation game, of sorts, and I'm totally up for that, but I couldn't just let Percy go, and I'm probably never gonna. I'll still write little things in here, from time to time, and maybe there'll be some online-based stuff with him and a few other characters. I'm not sure yet, exactly, what's going to happen with him. But until I find out, here's a little bit of future speculation I wrote, a couple weeks ago, but never typed up.))

It's been months since he left, and sometimes he'll still wake in the night and think of them. It isn't always because of the nightmares ... usually the glass of scotch before bed acts as a good enough watchdog for the kaiju under his bed, in his closet. Plus, he's got a whiz-bang therapist. The simple truth of the matter is that he just thinks of them, the way he used to think of high school classmates, the guys from basic training, or his platoons from the Gulf. Sometimes he'll get a letter or an email, usually from Westin or Yuki. But he still wonders about the others. He hopes Mai and Myoko are well - if they've begun to repair the damage that the Regulator did. If Lee ever managed to Google himself without some wiseass in a suit hovering over his shoulder. Sometimes, he even wonders where Watson turned out, whatever happened to the crazy bastard after he dropped off their radar.

He remembers Kobayashi's funeral, most of all ... looking around at the lot of them, and seeing how worn they looked. How lost Westin seemed. Even then, he knew that they wouldn't last much longer, that the hammer was going to fall. He'd reached for Mai's hand and given it a squeeze - Yuki had even taken a hug. As he caught the odd, slightly off scent of her hair, he drew back and tried to see through to her eyes, behind her dark glasses. He wasn't sure if anyone would let her stay, with Kobayashi gone. Wasn't sure if any of them could. And he didn't know what to say.

Afterwards, he and Westin sat down at a bar down the street, each nursing pints in silence, and he couldn't help but break the lull with a chuckle.

Westin raised his eyes, a ghost of a smile hiding somewhere on his face. "Penny for them, Doc," he said quietly, his voice slightly hoarse. Either the cigarettes were getting to him, or the day had. Percy could put money on either.

"Was just thinkin' how funny this is. Started in a bar. Ends in a bar." He snorted, taking a pull off his glass. "S'like those games my cousin used to play in his mother's basement."

"It's not over yet."

"Grand scheme a' things?" Percy shrugged. "Yeah. Oh bla di, oh bla dah, I get ya. Life goes on. But us? What we got? The team?"

Westin frowned, running a finger along the fraying edge of a patch on his sleeve. "I see."

"Figgered you would." The Captain fixed him with a wry smile. "All m' gonna say is this, and then we can go back to drownin' in hops like manly men..."

That earned him a small, strained, but genuine smile. "Shoot."

"Bang. ... Okay, here it is, Major. It was hell. I ain't gonna look back on all of it an' smile. But what I can say is this - we did a damn good job with what we had, and I think I could walk away now, proud."

"Agreed." Westin raised his eyebrows thoughtfully. "But I feel an 'and' coming."

Dr. Cross chuckled. "You know me too well, y'bastard. Annnnnnnnnndddd .... I hope that whoever comes in here after us is up for all the bullshit they're gonna hafta clean up. We were damn good, true, but maybe the next guys can do better."

It had been mostly silence and beer after that, but in the middle of the night, his mind kept drifting back to that conversation. By now, those rookies - the ones he and Westin and the others had eventually chosen - would have taken their places, gotten their feet wet. He'd already heard of attacks, and thought of Z. Of Daisuke, and Kiryu and Mothra. Wished, sometimes, that he could see what they'd all become.

But then the news would end, and the game would come back on, and he'd sit back, just as content and grateful to root for the Flyers as he had been to be out in the thick of it all ... saving the world, so that he'd have the chance to do so.

percy_cross @ 2008-02-05T16:31:00

2008-02-05T21:33:04Z

.... If this ain't the funniest thing I've seen all month, I don't know what is.

Would've been better if he drop-kicked the dog at the end. I freakin' hated that mutt when Ben and I used to play, back in the day.

And by back in the day I mean, uh, last time I saw him. Prob'ly.

Doctor's Log...

2007-11-29T00:52:18Z

I don't know why they call 'em debriefings when they're so fuckin' LONG. I think I just gave myself writer's cramp.

And there were a lot of questions on there I just ... I couldn't bring myself to answer them in a military context, so I chickened out and wrote flip stuff. There's no way I'm going to honestly tell them what I think or how I feel about what just happened.

Mostly because I'm still not sure what to think. And I can't decide if that's because I honestly don't know, or if that bastard found some way to condition me to feel like this.

And that scares the shit out of me. I can only imagine how rotten a state Mai must be in, right now. Now that we're home, I can see just how much she must think I screwed her over, leaving her cousin there, but .... how do you explain to someone that that's what you had to do?

How do you make excuses for something like that? For ANY of the stuff I had to do? For how much I had to tell them? I can't. So I'm just going to stay in my cabin as much as I can, for now, until I can look at myself in the mirror without wanting to kick it in.

All I keep thinking of every time I go to close my eyes, is when I told those guys from Antarctica how to take them down. And how I knew. About what a good guy he was, and how good Yuki is. And ... I dunno. I can't help but hope - probably against hope - that the Regulator and that batshit medic are the few setting a bad example for the many. That there are more Xilians like the two good eggs I've known.

I know, I'm a romantic. And maybe that IS why the Regulator liked fucking with me. I'm not blind, I can see that. But I don't want to let something like that stop me from believing in the world. 'Cuz if I don't, I dunno what the hell I'd do. I bet I'd scare myself.

Well I guess you left me with some feathers in my hand
Did it make it any easier to leave me where I stand?
I guess there might not be too many
Who would stand beside you now
Where'd you come from? Where'm I going?
Why'd you leave me 'till I'm only good for...

Waiting for you
All my sins, I said
That I would pay for them if I could
Come back - to you
All my innocence is wasted on the dead and dreaming

Every night these silhouettes appear above my head
Little angels of the silences that climb into my bed and whisper
Every time I fall asleep Every time I dream
"Would you come? Why'd you lie?
Why'd you leave us 'till we're only good for...

Waiting for you?"
All my sins, I said
That I would pay for them if I could
Come back - to you
All my innocence is wasted on the dead and dreaming

I dream of Michelangelo when I'm lying in my bed
Little angels hang above my head
And read me like an open book and
Suck my blood break my nerve offer me their arms
Well, I will not be an enemy of anything
I'll only stand here

Waiting for you
All my sins, I said
That I would pay for them if I could
Come back - to you
All my innocence is wasted on the dead and dreaming

Debriefing

2007-11-29T00:32:44Z

((OOC: The actual debriefing may or may not take place in-game this week. I'm just thinking about it in terms of a way of keeping a record, here, of what happeneed. All questions used were taken from various Google results for 'how to debrief'.))

In brief, what happened?
Lieutenant Kajimoto and I were dispatched along with a pair of security personnel to investigate the abduction of a psychic in Japan. We visited a witness from the scene, and Lt. Kajimoto obtained psychic evidence from him. This evidence revealed that the kidnapper was the Xilian known as The Regulator. After this, we returned to the scene, and more clues were found that led us to the airport, where Lt. Kajimoto became over-involved due to personal ties with the abductee, and decided to attempt to follow the kidnapper. We were joined by (erm, Yuki's formal title here, the Ang forgets), who deployed resources at her personal disposal to help us follow the Regulator to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Upon landing, we contacted the base, and I spoke with Major Hammond - he most likely has a record of the conversation. We were instructed to stay at the landing site and wait for further instructions, but while waiting, we were found and taken prisoner by the Regulator and his men.

I came to in a white-walled room, alone, after which time Yuki was brought back into my cell, and informed me that we had been brought aboard an Xilian ship. I have no idea how long we were unconscious, or how long we were on the ship before our escape - the lack of windows and lighting patterns made it impossible to differentiate between days. Not long after Yuki's appearance, Lt. Kajimoto was brought to us as well, physically unharmed but mentally tampered with. The Regulator had administered a drug which blocked out her psychic ability - a less harmful form of the formula the Institute uses. Yuki had been assaulted by the Xilian guards. I did what I could to keep her comfortable, until I was summoned to meet the Regulator.

I made a bargain with him - regular conversation in return for access to medical supplies to help Yuki. Later, he again summoned me to work in tandem with the Xilian ship's medic to help a group of prisoners from the base in Antarctica. The medic wanted to learn what he could of human biology. I doubt his intentions were Hippocratic.

During this time, the Regulator began to isolate Lt. Kajimoto in a quiet room, as what I suspect was a form of torture. He also brought her to his quarters and conversed with her on a few occasions. After this, Lt. Kajimoto insisted upon seeing her cousin, the psychic whose abduction we had investigated, and I managed to negotiate that for her, too. I would like to go on record as saying that by this point, Lt. Kajimoto was wholly concerned with the wellbeing of this cousin, and seemed to lose sight entirely of her position with the UNGCC and her duties as a member. Once we were brought to see the psychics, I learned that the Regulator had them all hooked up via a neural link to a sort of psychic conduit which allowed him to use them all to control Gojira. The young psychics were all, technically, asleep, their bodily functions sustained by IV drips, catheters, and oxygen. However, no precautions had been taken against muscular atrophy, and I suggested this to the Regulator and the medic while Lt. Kajimoto requested to be added into the psychic system temporarily to contact her cousin.

We were brought to and from the psychics' prison unconscious, so I have no knowledge of how we got there. Once we were brought back, I started discussing the state of things with Yuki, and asked if she could help me discern the general layout of the ship. After talking to the medic, we convinced him to let Yuki walk the corridors alone, for exercise, and upon her return she told me of the markings on the walls (invisible to humans, visible to Xilians) and made a guess as to the layout of the ship and how it could be manned. Armed with this knowledge, I gained access to the medic's laboratories and began to formulate an IV drip for the psychics, to prevent the muscular atropy. I also engineered and piggybacked a chemical compound into the drip based loosely off the structure of gamma hydroxy butyrate, which would induce a temporary coma in the psychics, thus severing them from the system without harming them. During this time, Lt. Kajimoto requested to be brought to the quiet room to meditate, which was just as effective, because it allowed Yuki and I to start implementing our plan without interference. By this point, again on the record, Lt. Kajimoto was regrettably not stable enough to be a capable participant in the operation.

I then visited the other captives and told them that we had an escape plan. They insisted on helping and coming with us. I agreed, Once Mai returned and the drug was administered to the psychics, Yuki and I rendered our guard unconscious, and went to get the captives. We made our way through the ship by force, taking down the security guards and claiming their weapons for our own. Once we reached the escape shuttle bay, the drugs had kicked in and the psychics went into comatose states. I had Yuki track the Regulator's signal as he took a ship to check on them - they were, apparently, on a separate vessel. The coordinates have been stored so that the EDF can begin planning a proper rescue mission.

What approach did you use? How did it work?
I made use of what little resources I had available, and tried to use the aliens' cunning and their manipulative natures against them. If they can twist the meaning of an oath to suit their purposes, so could we.

What happened as you and your unit completed this activity?
Lt. Kajimoto was drugged and psychically dehabilitated, and then mentally tortured. I suggest she receive extensive counseling, after this debriefing. She was very deeply shaken by the events. Yuki was assaulted and shot, as was I, and several of the captives we brought aboard were assaulted and tortured, as well. We were also given a tofu-like compound which hardly counts as proper food.

What happened as you worked with the group in responding?
Lt. Kajimoto became less and less cooperative and reliable. I would like to say this was due to the mental strain she was put through by the Regulator, but I cannot honestly say for certain.

What information did you consistently want? Why?
I wanted to know our location and our surroundings, above all else. Until I knew those, it was impossible to formulate a plan for escape.

Where did you disagree with the team? Why?
Most of my disagreements were with Lt. Kajimoto, who was, as I have said, more concerned with her cousin than with the Gojira situation, or our own.

How easy or hard was it compared to the last incident?
In all honesty, comparing the acquisition and securing of an infant kaiju with being kidnapped by Xilians is a bit like apples and oranges. The short answer? You could definitely say it was harder.

What was different between this incident and the last?
We had many, many, many more resources and lines of communication open to us, and the team was much more integrated.

How do you feel about the outcome of the incident?
Honestly, I'm tired. Give me a big monster and a full crew. That, I can deal with. This alien stuff is ridiculous, and at least with kaiju I have some idea what I'm supposed to do.

How confident are you about the work you did?
Confident enough. I got as many people away from the situation as possible without causing undue harm. The psychics are still prisoner, but in their current states, the Regulator will be unable to manipulate them, and they are physically and mentally safe.

How did you feel about that process?
I feel guilty about planning the escape without Lt. Kajimoto's knowledge, but it was necessary to make sure that it went across smoothly. Also, I don't like the thought that I had to leave the psychics, but as I said, they're safe. And I am almost 100% certain that the Regulator would not harm them in their current state, as he confided in me that he went to great lengths to choose the specific group of children that he did.

How did you feel when responding to objections?
The same way I usually do. But I was good, and counted to ten.

How do you feel about the number of options available?
You don't want me to write this on a military record. Trust me. Let's just say I'm dissatisfied.

How do you feel about your potential for success?
I feel like it's gone up an awful lot now that I'm back on base and I have my usual resources available.

What was your reaction as the incident progressed? Did you get more or less comfortable?
It was more of a bell curve than anything else. I started out feeling as though I could handle the situation, and when the answers were less and less forthcoming, and my efforts proved progressively fruitless, I started to doubt our capability to succeed. Once we found a window through with to proceed, however, my confidence came back and we pressed forward. And I was never comfortable.

What did you learn from the feedback from your partner?
I haven't spoken to the others since the incident, so I can't really answer this yet. I do want to go on record as saying that Yuki was an invaluable member of the team during this incident, and that she should be commended. For someone who is barely present on our field missions, she performed incredibly, and has my complete respect.

What did you learn?
I learned where to attack an Xilian in physical combat, some of the basic schematics of their ships, and that they are callous, cruel, and manipulative, to put it nicely. (If candidly asked to elaborate, Percy would most undoubtedly call them "fucked-up bastard-coated bastards with bastard filling".)

What do you still need to learn?
I would call disconnecting the psychics from the Regulator's apparatus without harming them my priority one.

What insights did you have in that activity?
Slim to none. The Regulator only showed us things he wanted us to see.

Which personal objectives have been addressed?
We escaped with as little damage or casualty as possible. I'd say that was the biggest thing.

Doctor's Log ...

2007-11-08T17:14:01Z

I'm losing track of how long we've been here. This is a bad thing. I feel like I'm in some bad 70s movie.

The tactics I was using when I first got here are sorta still working, but ... I'm not feeling the humor, lately. Sure, I can feed the Regulator bad jokes, and get a kick out of Tonto starin' blankly at me, but there's only so long that can stay funny. There're only so many times I can walk down that corridor and come back with no answers.

At least he's letting me do something, now. There're a few rooms full of prisoners ... most from the base on Antarctica. A couple of them, I already lost - I got to them too late. Their medic - I refuse to call him a doctor - was apparently "trying to figure out how human anatomy works". God. Jesus H. Tapdancing Christ, it makes my stomach roll just thinkin' about it. When all you get is tofu crap, that's ... yeah. Not thinking about it.

I'm also really, really, really trying not to think about the proverbial deal at the crossroads I made.... I help them, he asks me questions about anatomy. And I answer. So far I've explained the spinal cord, the respiratory system, the psychological need for a regular sleep cycle ...

I'm really trying not to think about the fact that I've very probably not just sold my own soul, but theirs as well. I'm trying to tell myself it's so much better than letting them die. I'm trying to tell myself that soon enough I'll light on something, some little thing that'll click, and I'll come up with an idea, a plan. Something smart. Something to get us out of here.

But ... I'm starting to discover that I only make a good strategist when I have resources. And right now, my only resources are humorless guards, a group of prisoners in worse condition than me with about the same amount of knowledge, a really sweet alien photographer who's too conflicted to really help us any, and GODDAMNIT, a psychic who's lost her mind and cares more about one person than her duty to herself and the people around her, and the goddamn planet.

Mai's getting too concerned with her own little microcosm. She's forgotten where she came from, who she was before they brought her here. I hate the thought, but ... I might have to start considering her on his side, now. He may have already won her. Mai's not consciously fit to make any sort of decisions to get us out of her, or be of any help.

That just leaves Yuki and I. And I don't know how much Yuki will want to help.

Which might just leave me.

Me.

What the fuck have I got? ... I've got tofu and a failing bedside manner.

God, I want to punch something.

Can't pretend that you're nothing special
You've got to look at all of your options
You can't decide what to go for
When it's all about trust
It's all about trust
You see yourself on the TV
You read your magazines
You can't explain how it's come to be this
Stop and think...
When it's all about trust
It's all about trust

This coverage, your centre spread
Your neon light daydream will shatter and break
And if you think I'm thinking of your value here
You're the one
You're the one who's losing control

This eventual stop, this
Break in the mould
I scream down this hotline
Just to feel something

This situation isn't getting any better
I see that look (I see that look in your eyes)

This situation is... is all fucked

Just one more for now.

2007-09-24T00:01:21Z

Okay. This is the last of those silly things, Cupcake, and then I'm DONE and walking away from the computer. Jesus, I've got better things to do. Least, I hope I do. Yipes.

1] What was the highlight of your week?
Getting to bitch out that bastard Regulator. And being able to score Yuki some decent medication.

2] Whose car were you in last?
I don't think you could call it a car, per se. It was more of a flying SAUCER.

3] When is the next time you will kiss someone?
Not soon enough?

4] What colour shirt are you wearing?
Maroon and orange.

5] How long is your hair?
How high is probably a more fittin' question. My cousin used to say I had a white-guy 'fro.

6] Last movie you watched?
A couple of the base technicians were havin' a Three Stooges marathon in the common room a little while 'fore I left for Japan with Mai. I was kinda half payin' attention, but you can only watch the same stock clips'a Shemp so many times.

9] Last thing you ate?
A cookie.

10] Last thing you drank?
I think it was actually that Coke I got back in Albuquerque. 'Least, it's the last thing I'm aware I drank. They coulda IV'd me something.

11] Where did you sleep last night?
On a very white floor.

13] Are you happy right now?
Hahahahahaahaaaaaa.......... ohhhhhhhhh that's a good one. Do you do birthday parties?

14] What did you say last?
"We'll figure something out."

15] Where is your phone?
I don't know, those bastards took it.

17] What color are your eyes?
Blue.

19] Who came over last?
Tonto, to show me just how much progress he'd made on his sense of humor.

20] When was the last time you had your heart broken?
Awwww, so suddenly this is some kind of little stitch n' bitch? You share your life story, I share mine, we make pretty little things that we'll throw away four months from now? Hey, let me just show you the most daaaarling cross-stitch I made last week of some sad little birds, boo hoo hoo. You know what it says on that little banner they're carrying? NONE OF YOUR GODDAMN BUSINESS.

21] Who/what do you hate/dislike currently?
D'you want the short list, or the long?

22]What are you listening to right now?
Yuki's breathing. She sounds stable. That's good.

23] If you could have one thing right now what would it be?
My phone. So I could let Major Hammond know what's going on, since I don't know about the where. Lee could probably track the signal if I called, though... hm. Hey. I think I may have just thought myself up a plan. Or at least, the start of one.

24] What is your favorite scent?
Steak. Straight off the grill.

25] What makes you happy at the moment?
I take what I can get ... right now? It's just good to know that the girls are going to be okay. And that I won a round.

26] What were you doing at midnight last night?
Being unconscious.

30] Are you left-handed?
No.

31] Spell out your name without vowels:
Prcy Crss

34] What's for dinner tonight?
If it's cookies, I gotta get these guys a food pyramid.

35] When Is Your Birthday?
August 3rd.

36] Who was the last person to send you a text message?
We don't usually do text - or at least, I don't. I suck at phone typing, it's so much easier to just call.

37] QUESTION MISSING, so I'mma add one! If you could do anyone's mom, who would it be?
.... Whoever wrote this? Kudos, I think that's the first time I've laughed in a couple days. ... I did have that Token Buddy With The Hot Mom when I was in high school, though. Kevin Watts. Aw, man. His mom was somethin' else. I used'ta live for car wash day at the Watts residence, lemme tell you. *whistles*

38] Last time you went swimming in a pool?
Uhh. I think it was actually a couple of days before I got stationed with the UNGCC, when we were en route to Switzerland. In one of the hotel pools in DC, during our layover. Huh.

39] Where was the last place you went shopping and with who?
Does getting burgers and soda with Yuki count, back in Albuquerque? If not, uh. I went by myself before I left for DC, like I said up there, to get some new clothes. New pair'a sneakers, some fresh scrubs ... Mark Knopfler's CD he'd just done with Emmylou Harris ...

40] How do you feel about your hair right now?
Like I need a goddamn shower.

41] Do you have any expensive jewelery?
Had a wedding ring. Still do, just haven't actually worn it in a few years. Stopped bothering once Christa shacked up with that personal trainer.

42] AIM or MSN?
Neither one.

46] Where does most of your family live?
Pennsylvania.

47] Are you an only child or do you have siblings?
I've got a younger brother, but we haven't been in touch much since Dad died.

48] Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?
Hhhhhhhhhhell no.

49] What was the first thing you said when you woke up?
I think it was somethin' along the lines of "Awright, you bastards, I know you're out there".

50] Do you drink beer?
Why, d'you have some?

52] Myspace or Facebook?
Neither. Who the hell bothers with that crap?

53] Do you have T-Mobile?
No, but the commercials're nice. Mm. Catherine Zeta-Jones.

54] What was your favorite part of school?
Basketball.

55] What type of boy/girl do YOU usually fall for?
The kind that're usually either out of my league, or don't even play.

57] Do you have any talents?
Would I be in the EDF if I didn't? Wait, wait, no, they let in Watson ...

58] Have you ever been a part of a wedding?
Aside from my own? Yeah. My aunt's, a couple of cousins... friend from high school.

59] Do you want any children?
I dunno. When Christa and I were livin' together, it was ... I dunno, I thought about it once in a while and it scared the hell outta me. I'd be too hard on myself about doin' it right. Even if I did get over that, though ... I wouldn't want any now. I travel around too much, and this shit's too dangerous.

60] Did you take a nap today?
Willingly? No. Due to being shot? Yes.

62] Ever met anyone famous before?
Does that schmuck mayor from LA count?

63] Do you want to be famous one day?
Hell no.

64] Favorite Actor/Actress?
Bruce Willis and Jodie Foster.

65] Describe the one you like in one word:
Difficult.

68] Do you believe in Karma?
Sorta?

69] Does anyone love you?
My family, I guess, but that's more of an obligation thing. Anyone outside'a that? Pssssh. I doubt it.

70] How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Combat boots, ratty sneakers, good sneakers, flat-soled tennis shoes. Four.

72] Ever been to Las Vegas?
Not yet, but someday maybe I'll go.

73] What are you doing today?
Keeping the girls alive and trying to get us out of here.

74] Have you ever wanted to kill someone?
Very, very, very recently.

75] When is the last time you updated your blog?
About half an hour or so ago?

76] Have you been to New York City?
Yeah, a couple times. *shrug*

77] Ever been to Disneyland/world?
Nope.

78] Do you have a favorite cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny. DUCK SEASON, jackass.

79] Last thing you cooked/made?
Mixed myself a Captain and Coke back on the base. But that seems like forever ago.

80] How’s the weather?
I don't know, I could tell you if this place had, oh, I dunno, WINDOWS.

82] What the hell happened to Question 81?
Not that this was the actual #82. That was missing too. I just threw this in here.

83] Last time you were sick?
Actual, in-need-of-antibiotics type sick? Not just-pop-some-radiation-pills-and-you'll-be-fine sick? 'Bout a year ago. Common cold, you are a bastard.

84] Do you currently have a crush on anyone?
Crushes are for high school. Once you grow up they call it casual speculation. Or stalking, if you take it that far. Personally, I don't.

85] Do you think anyone will repost this?
Nah, Mai did it already.

percy_cross @ 2007-09-23T19:09:00

2007-09-23T23:26:48Z

Started taking some of those weird little time-wasting things Mai puts up in her journal, just to pass the time, since apparently it's gonna be a couple weeks before I get to, y'know. DO anything. They may or may not get more interesting as the beer disappears.

Your Luck Quotient: 40%

You have a low luck quotient.
You've had a few lucky experiences, but overall, you feel like a pretty unlucky person.
Good luck can come your way, but you have to be more trusting in the world.
Have some new experiences. Meet some new people. You never know where luck can be lurking!

How Lucky Are You?

Your Attitude is Better than 45% of the Population

You have a positive attitude... somtimes. You prefer to see the world through clear glasses, not rose colored ones.

How's Your Attitude?

Your Life is 29% Off Track

In general, your life is going very well.
You're quite happy with where you are and what you're doing.
And even if you get a bit off course, you're usually able to get back on track easily.

Are You Living The Wrong Life?

(Three words: Hippocratic. Fucking. OATH. ... *twitch* That stupid bastard.)

Your Stress Level is: 60%

You are somewhat prone to stress, especially when life gets hard.
When things are good, you resist stressing over little problems.
But when things are difficult, you tend to freak out and find it hard to calm down.

How Stressed Are You?

What Kaiju Monster are You? (legit)

I guess you never heard the phrase you're brain is too small for your head? You are incredibility intelligent and creative. You're an artist by heart and gentle to everyone. You may travel great lengths to search for something youre trying to find. However, your moods change quickly, almost like how a caterpillar transforms. This might be because of your self aware mind; translation: you think too much. Because you are a monster of extremes, you may not get all the positive attention you deserve. Once you learn how to think less critically of yourself and towards others, you will find peace. Your objectives, no matter how good or evil they may be, are crystal clear to you.
Take this quiz!

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.... The code for the picture says SpaceGodzilla, even if the picture doesn't work. So um. I guess I'm Interstellar Big Grey and Ugly.

What Kaiju are You?

You're a pretty butterfly...
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Then again, here, I got the same thing as Mai. M'not sure whether to feel complimented or disturbed ...

Writing (reposted)

2007-09-23T23:07:28Z

At first, all he feels is confusion, and then rage. He's always been angry about things he should know, but doesn't. Because not knowing things, lately, leads to mistakes. And those have been, invariably, very bad. Only after Percy sprains his toe, kicking at a wall that can't fight back or give answers to his questions, does he realize that anger's probably not the best way out, right now. No matter how good it felt, at first. (Now, it just stings a bit whenever he walks on it just right.)

He tries to think - and thinks too much. So he tries not to think. However, there's not much to do, other than poke idly at the place where he should be bleeding or wounded - but isn't, somehow - and wonder what, exactly, the aliens have done to him, and what they're doing to the girls. Especially Yuki, who he remembers seeing shot down, seconds before he went down, himself.

When they throw Yuki into the room, it's both a blessing and a curse - he's got someone to occupy his thoughts, someone else to fuss over, rather than pick at his own lack of wounds and think himself in circles. He stabilizes her, frets, and though he's as amazed over her lack of wounds as he was at his own, he can't help but still worry about Mai. She's the weakest of them, after all, and he knows that the Regulator knows. He knows he'll pick at her until he gets what he wants - and then, again, they're all screwed. He's beginning to think he should charge for this sort of thing.

Once Yuki comes to, he grills her on everything she knows - which doesn't add much to his already small stockpile of alien knowledge. The Regulator, like Yuki, is half-Xilian, and he's apparently not the only one out for control of the Earth. The true Xilians have weak points in their exoskeletons - a useful point that Yuki gives him a crash-course in, and the two of them plan a sneak attack.

Only, the next time the door opens, it isn't the guards coming to feed them. It's Mai. And she's not looking good.

There's not a scratch on her, but ... she's still in pain. She's angry. She's upset. She's shaken. She's not the upbeat, chirpy, happily threatening, harmless Kajimoto Mai that Percy's come to know and ward after over his time with the Council. She's distraught. And soon enough, he knows why: the Psychic Institute has been feeding him half-truths about her care, and her situation with the Council. She isn't an employee - as a registered psychic, she's legally property, and not considered human.

Which is, of course, utter bullshit. The revelation blinds him, rage blooming red and black behind his eyes, until he can't even hear Mai and Yuki talking about the Regulator and his plans. All he can think, over and over, one thought: How could they? How could they even begin to think it would be fair to treat a human being like damaged goods, like an unwanted stray, shuffling them off from place to place, threatening them with the chemical equivalent of lobotomization if they disobey even the slightest of rules? One by one, all the pieces click into place at an alarming rate.

They think of Mai as property, and him as a repairman. The drugs they give him to keep her calm - the drugs SHE has requested of him, countless times, so she won't lose control in moments of hysteria - are low-grade versions of the punishment drug. He has, in effect, been destroying her mind, piece by piece. Him. Her doctor. And that's something he just can't take, not even for a moment. He's not sure where he stands, at the moment. He's almost ready to help the Regulator throw whatever shiny, villainous switch he's likely guarding, and blow the whole thing to Kingdom Come - let the humans with hearts start it all over again. Burn away the corruption, like excising a cancer or a cyst. Surgical, neat. Cauterized. But then, as he slams his fist down on the wall in anger, he feels a faint echo of pain in his toe - a reminder of how effective rage has been, thus far. His mind still racing, he grasps at straws, tries to think of something - anything - that will let him keep his faith and fight the system, all at once. Take the new, less deadly psychic drug that the Regulator engineered, and run? But how, and to where? They don't even know where they are. He's flailing, desperate - he's got to stop the pain, diagnose, treat, heal. He can't stand to see her like this. Not after she was one of the first ones to work along with him. Not after everything the entire team has been through - not when they have no way of contacting the others, they're it, Mai is powerless, and Yuki wounded. Not when he is, for all intents and purposes, it. It, with a fractured toe and a ton of rage. There is no time or place for self-doubt and hasty decisions, not when he's seen what they can do, all too well.

But he still feels as though he has to say something, and he's ranting, saying anything that comes to him, when the door opens, and the guard points, surprisingly, at him. The Regulator has requested an audience.

On his way down the clean, sleek, corridors, Percy tries not to feel uncomfortable. The whole place - wherever it is - seems to have that same antibacterial feel of a hospital. Only, the usual feeling of cleanliness is tainted, somehow, with a quiet, underlying cruelty. Maybe it's the way the guard fails to even smile at his offhand jibes. Maybe it's the fact that the flourescent light is just that bit too bright, or that no matter how shiny the floors are, they bear no reflection. That where sound should echo, it is simply sucked into nothingness, and converted to silence, every footstep muffled. Disarmed and in the dark, Percy realizes that the only weapon he has now is the one that's borne him through so many things, already - his sense of humor. He tries to recall what he knows of the Regulator - this disarming alien who looks no older than thirty, with his boyish face and his gleaming, gleeful eyes. "He plays games," Westin had told him, his tone grave, even as he smiled, his eyebrows raised almost manically. Instantly, Percy knew what he meant - and given how Mai had looked and felt, and what he had heard from her ... he suddenly knew what to expect. And what to do.

So when the guard shoves him into the Regulator's room, he stands his ground. He jokes. He jabs. He extends his wit to the very ends of its reach, taking small victory in every small remark that flies over the Xilian's head. And all the while, he keeps the real reasons for it nestled carefully at the back of his mind. Makes the Regulator think that it's to cover up his fear. Even when the alien reaches inside his mind and takes his legs from him, crumples him to the floor, then lifts him up invisibly, like a marionette - he stands his ground. He knew this would come, after all - within these walls, he's merely a toy. And he'll be damned if he's going to be the football five seconds out of the box before it's forgotten under the Christmas tree. The more he can keep this guy amused, the more it keeps him away from the girls. And it seems to be working ...

Until the Regulator asks him the difference between him, and Watson. Watson, the bumbling, sadistic scientist. Watson, who seemed like a nice enough guy, that night in Switzerland - but the next morning, was watching flesh-eating sludge devour small animals from the inside, behind glass, with excitement and relish, while Percy ran for the bathroom. Watson, who was stupid enough to mess with ancient evil artifacts, and unleash chaos on the world. Watson, now fired and exiled to South America for his poor career choices .... Watson, who inadvertently caused the death of a colleague and intentionally killed another.

They're both doctors, the Regulator observes. So, what's the difference?

Percy barely manages to bite back his rage, as he starts to see blossoms of red creeping in at the corners of his eyes, pressure stabbing at the bridge of his nose like a railroad spike. He clenches his jaw, and calmly explains the difference: intent. Intent, and attitude. Then, the Xilian does something he doesn't expect.

Suddenly, he's not himself, anymore, yet at the same time, he is. He knows he's still lying on the couch where the alien dropped him - but at the same time, he feels cold metal on his bare back. Feels something creeping, crawling under his skin - and then heat, white-hot, and his entire body shakes, as the electrical current runs through him. Through the pain, he can barely make out a face, leering over him, as he struggles - Watson, holding the controls to the electrodes, as assistants scribble notes. And suddenly the pain doubles, triples - and it's gone, and he's himself again. Only once it's stopped does he realize what he's witnessed - the Regulator's memories, through a psychic link to the other Xilians - aliens that Watson captured and tortured. He had heard quiet, aside talk about experiments, but never had he imagined such cruelty. Such pain. The thought of someone like that holding a doctorate makes him even more sick to his stomach than the ghosts of pain still floating through his mind, and he doubles, as the Regulator laughs.

"So. Are you still a doctor?"

It's different. He reaffirms himself - only to be assaulted with more. With his own mistakes. Soldiers in Kuwait, Bosnia, Herzegovina, dying under his care, untreatable. His father's cancer, spreading, as he sits by, unable to do anything. A few more flashes of Xilian torture, unearthly screeching interspersed among the human screams and moans. And then, clearer than life, under the same harsh light of those pristine hallways, Officer Pym, his chest literally imploding under Percy's hands, as he tries in vain to stop the unending torrent of blood, gushing from the alien's exoskeleton. The stupidest mistake of all. The newest. The worst. The one he still sees when he closes his eyes.

But he can't run from it. He won't. And he faces the Regulator down, and informs him, quietly, honestly, that that's the difference. He knows he's not perfect. He never claimed to be superior. He just strives to do the most he can. The best he can. And even though the Regulator laughs in his face, Percy stands his ground. Everything else is funny. Everything else is open for mockery. But for this - for his profession, for his belief - he stands firm.

"Tell me," the Regulator asks him, "you speak of bettering yourself. But had you come here armed, what would you have done?"

When Percy expresses his own uncertainty, the Regulator procures and hands him a gun - his own confiscated firearm - and tells him to decide.

He turns the gun over in his hands, slowly, running his fingers over each groove in the grip, each smudge on the barrel, the safety, the sighting. He can remember the last time he fired it - catching the surveillance drone that coated his shoulder in shrapnel, destroyed the hand of an archaeologist, and became part of a catalyst that nearly brought the world to ruin. He could fire the gun now, put a bullet in his brain, and walk away - but then what, against more Xilians? Soon he'd run out of bullets or luck, or both. And beyond that ... there should always be another option.

Quietly, he removes the clip from the gun, throws it across the room, and tucks the empty firearm in the waistband of his scrubs, at the small of his back.

"See, real doctors? We have this thing. It's called the Hippocratic Oath. Rule number one, the only rule. First Do No Harm," he says, only wavering a little, as he looks the Regulator straight in the eye.

And just like that, he's sent back to the cell. The girls are fine - Mai has calmed down, though Yuki's bruises are spreading, and she looks as though she may be in more pain. The two of them try to ask him what happened, try to talk to him, to form another plan - but he's still thinking, turning over the events in that nicely feng-shui'd room in his mind.

Everything is a game, Westin had told him. Westin, Major Hammond: the one who usually had all the answers, all the fancy plans, all the military knowhow. If he had his druthers, Percy would be on the phone to him right now, flailing and freaking out. But that's not possible, and Percy can't help but try and think what his colleague - not his superior, but his colleague - would do. The Major sent him to protect Mai - and he'll be damned if he won't do everything in his power to. He can feel the cold steel of his empty gun against his back - it may not hold bullets, but it's still a weapon. A weapon that the Xilian gave him as a test.

As the first move in a game.

He sees it suddenly, clear as crystal, like a pin dropping on the floor. And as Yuki fingers one of her spreading bruises, he knows what he has to do. How to keep the Hippocratic Oath. Walking back to the door, Percy bangs on the wall and demands to see the Regulator, once more.

And when he's admitted, he makes his move and places his own bet: continued participation in the Regulator's game in exchange for Yuki's health, as he knows next to nothing of her race, and this place is full of Xilian doctors. The doctor the Regulator brings him is scary as hell and just as ugly, and Percy wouldn't trust him as far as he could throw him ... but the Regulator gives the orders. And for this one move, Percy knows that at least he can be trusted. Because the clip is still lying on the floor.

But, he thinks, as he pockets the medicine and allows himself to be escorted back to the cell, he is never, never out of ammunition.

Doctor's Log ....

2007-09-23T23:03:16Z

Oct. 19

I guess that I'd better start writing in this thing. Dr. Miller back in PA told me that it was a good idea, but I haven't really thought ot it as much more than glorified psychobabble B.S until now. And the only reason I'm really giving it any weight whatsoever is that the two things I usually do to cool the hell down - getting piss-ass drunk and beating the crap out of stuff - are not options right now on any grounds whatsoever.

Why? Because, Percy really done fucked up this time, folks, that's why.

Got drunk on leave - which was permissable. It was the slugging the United States Embassy flunkie that wasn't. I mean, seriously, the guy was being a total jackass. He insulted my job, goddammit, you don't DO that around me. But yaknow. MPs and video surveillance and the goddamned paparazzi, and ... one long story short and a night in solitary later, I've gone and pissed Kobayashi off in one hell of a big way. Which ... good going, me. Here's a guy I've been looking up to since day one as his doctor, a guy who actually respected me enough to put me on his team, instead of being stuck on base medic duty back at Letterkenny, and I pretty much spit that right back in his face by making his base look like a diplomatic disaster.

Like I said. This'd merit getting blind, stupid drunk if that wasn't what got me into this in the first place. Plus, I'm on duty.

Did I mention that now duty means watching people-eating, self-perpetuating black GOOP eat through lab mice? I'd write down what it looked like, but honest to God, I don't want to go through it again, even if it is just in my head. But there's a pocket of this sludge twice the size of Texas floating out there between Hawaii and the West Coast, so I've got to help Dr. Watson - yeah, that's his real name, no joke, go figure - find a way to neutralize it before people are surfin' in black goo and comin' back on their boogie boards as sacks of sentient biohazard slop.

... I have got one hell of a long night of study in front of me. This base had better have decent coffee. Maybe I'll go hunt some down and hope that I don't run into those psycho Harajuku girls from the gym...

Feb. 14

Happy god-damn Valentine's Day. Shit, I don't even think Christa could have done this good a job at making a romantic holiday so fucking miserable, and she was the Queen Bitch. I'd actually take a day with her over what I've been through lately. Ain't that ever sayin' something.

To make a really long story short - anyone wants my full debrief, it's in my base file - Watson went insane, this three-headed dragon from hell got loose, a giant moth chased it off into space, Mai got fucking shot and shipped out, just as I was starting to get along with her, and oh. Yeah. I just happened to kill one of the more indispensible and decent agents the base had, by accident, BECAUSE HE WAS A GODDAMNED ALIEN.

But no, really! I've been having FUN. Can't you tell? The debriefing last Thursday was just peachy keeno nifty. I love the UN panel, they're all such nice, open, understanding .... (God, I can't keep this up, I really can't, as funny as it is) pompous prick assholes. Note to self: NEVER use the phrase 'pardon my French' in front of an international delegacy AGAIN, Percy, you moron. I do think I managed to talk my way out of being completely fucked, but I got the distinct feeling the GCC's in for absolute hell. We could've handled that shitstorm a lot better, in retrospect, but goddamnit, it's kind of hard to practice some fucking teamwork when your palentologist and your coward-ass British machinehead both get The World's Best Plan in their minds and decide that to hell with you, they're going to do it anyway!

Hear that? That'd be the sound of me hitting my head on the wall for the billionth time since this whole thing started.

At least I got to talk to that photographer woman - Yuki, she said her name was - and she made me feel a little better about the whole alien thing. I mean ... it ain't just me, that's a nice thing to know. One of them gets hurt, nobody can do shit. I'm not wholly incompetent after all. And I read up on everyone - I actually had TIME. Well. I made it. I kinda read records for two days straight and then slept for about twelve hours after. And I kinda took crib notes. They're on one of those little memory sticks, so I can bring them with me and access them if I need to. If anything happens this time, it's not going to be because of a lack of information, that's for goddamned sure.

Also, Hammond gave me an open invitation to go have a beer with him sometime. I'm so ready for that. Awh, god. I mean, yeah, I had a scotch the other night, but that was just to fall asleep, dammit. I can't even make my head shut up long enough to go to sleep without being buzzed. Which is gonna suck, now that I've gotten called onto field duty again. Again! I haven't even recouperated completely from the last SNAFU they sent me out on. I guess I'll just roll up my sleeves, suck in my gut, and have at it again. Apparently the good ole U.S of A has gone and done something incredibly stupid again. You gotta love it when your country's the one everyone agrees is full of idiots. ... not.

I wonder if I've got time to install a punching bag on the Hellsing before we head out. I doubt it. Shit, if I can't have a drink, there'd better be something I can beat up when we get where we're going.

May 2

So, anyone who was up for dancing around the maypole yesterday would've had to use a bulkhead or something. We're holed up in this super-secret base thing that's apparently been sitting here gathering dust bunnies and spiderwebs Peter Parker would envy for a while. And what're we doing with it?

HIDING. A BABY. KAIJU.

Yes. Yes, baby kaiju. Which Mai, in her ever-present wisdom, has NAMED. Daisuke. Which, for those've you who don't speak Japanese, means "great help". Right. So far this Big Help has taken us WAY out of our way on a raid on a company in New Mexico that makes made-to-order glowing rats and other genetic freaks of nature, to a nice jaunt on an albatross-covered beach to play keepaway with Big Daddy Grey and Scaly, and now here. I don't think I've spent so much time in a radsuit in my LIFE. And not necessarily from being NEAR the thing, mind! To keep it from seeing my big blue peepers and deciding I'm Da-Da. Though, really, the danger for that honor nearly went to Westin, since he was the one playing tug-o-war with it half the time to get it where we wanted it to be.

Honestly, there's a lot I should be saying here in the way of detail - but we've been running our asses off nonstop to get this thing to a place where Godzilla can't get to it, and really, I'm tired. Me. Man who usually runs on three hours of sleep at a time. TIRED. It's amazing. ... Then again, words like "Godzilla" and "glowing rats" didn't used to be in my day-to-day job vernacular, did they. Westin teaching Lee the merits of feng shui's helped keep my temper from spiking, though, the last couple days, which is good, I guess. I don't feel like driving my fist through a wall quite so often anymore. As weird as this whole thing is ... I don't know. I guess the distraction of all the weirdness IS a good thing. I'm not any expert all of a sudden, of course, freakin' far from it. But ... there's not stuff blowin' up ten feet away and guys flying through the air that stepped on mortars on a daily basis, like there was in the field, and every other person on team doesn't have a Napoleon complex, like Letterkenny ... sure, we're all weirdos surrounded by weird CRAP, but ... I dunno. This place has a full bar, and SHOWERS - oh my dear sweet god I'd nearly forgotten what one of those WAS after we left for LA - and a gym, and a common area ... sure, it needs a lot of work, but ... I might actually get to relax for a little bit, this week.

I might actually be ... no. Saying the h-word in conjunction with a job is NEVER a good idea, Percy. Never. Besides, that sort of thing's impossible.

I'm gonna go take that shower now, grab a scotch from the bar, and then go pass out. It's at least safe to say -that- makes me happy, right?

Sept. 10 (?)

Well ... everything here is as much under control as it EVER is with us. Especially since "here" is currently an alien spaceship parked in a public park in Albuquerque. We're kind of killing time, and we've been told to sit on our hands, so I figure I may as well write somethin' up. A lot's happened in just a day, and I feel like I need to write it down, just to keep it straight for myself - what little I know.

... This ship is a lot more spacious than I thought it'd be. And I mean space as in elbow room. It kinda fulfilled the outer space bit very nicely when we went up into the stratosphere, up OVER Earth, and then came screeching down faster than the Tower of Terror a few seconds later to land in New MEXICO. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Again. Just ... wow, hey, elbow room. It's better than the drop pods on the Hellsing, anyway. Thing's like sitting on an airpl --- ON TOPIC, PERCY, MY GOD.

Mai's cousin, the psychic, went missing. With a bunch of other psychics. After, you know, two thirds of the world's population of children disappeared. I don't know who first brought it up, but the hush-hush theory around Secret Giant Monster Land is that they were uh. Monster chow. For the dragon from hell, which is now IN SPACE, chased off by a giant moth.

Yes, I AM fine from the landing. No drugs, no nothin'. ... This is for my own personal record when I go back and read over this crap. Christ.

So, missing psychics in Japan, and Mai flips out, because the guy she left to bodyguard her cousin was attacked and is in the hospital ... so she's about to go rampaging off and take care of it ... and what's the good Major do? Sends me with her. Which, yeah, hey, no problem, I'm all for keeping the Cupcake from blowing people's heads up with her mind, especially if I'm within range! But ... again. Hi. No clue what's going on, and running on the fly.

One crime scene visit a la CSI, trip to the Tokyo airport, and joyride through space courtesy of the Harajuku Girls later .... I have a very vague idea of what's going on. That alien that was all over the news, a while back? Yeah. Apparently he didn't die, and he's fucking with everyone on base, because, get this? He thinks it's FUN. They're like, croakinole buddies or something. What the hell. And, naturally, the guy who knows nothing is stuck with his favorite plaything, the oblivious psychic with the control issues and the tendancy to be distracted by shiny stuff. ... At least Yuki and I went and got a bite to eat. So I'm not on the verge of choking someone.

But still. I have a feeling that this ain't gonna go well ---

SHIT. I forgot to tell Westin where we were going. ...... Fuck fuck shit fuck DAMN. ... I better go do that, like, NOW.

(What'd I tell you.)

UNGCC Personnel File

2007-09-23T22:20:57Z

To: Lieutenant General Kobayashi
From: Lieutentant General Jenkins
Re: Dr. Percival Cross

Lieutenant General:

Please find attatched the history file you requested for Dr. Cross' transfer to the UNGCC Base. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.

Salutations,
Lt. General Robert Jenkins, USA
Letterkenny Depot, Chambersburg, PA

Attatchment: pcross03.doc

Report on Commissioned Officer Dr. Percival Cross USA/UNGCC

Interests/Hobbies: Percival shows an interest in American organized sports, particularly hockey (Detroit Red Wings) and football (Pittsburgh Steelers). He also seems to be a bit of an amateur car mechanic.

Skills: Dr. Cross speaks and reads Japanese and Spanish to a fair degree, in addition to his native language (English).

Psychological Profile (via Dr. Jack Miller):

Gruff, caustic, and quick to defend himself, Percival's exterior is, as might be expected, a thick-walled front for several self-worth issues. He takes great pride in whatever work he may be assigned to do, though he will do it in whatever manner he deems fit - often working beligerently against the grain of colleagues or commanding officers. He seems to talk down to those around him - though, let the record state that this has proven to hardly be a sign of disrespect. Any outward signs of respect that Cross makes are rare, and often hard-won. As anti-social as he may seem to appear, his loyalties, once earned, are strong and fierce. If someone above him takes favorable notice of him, Percival will make a quietly determined effort to stay within that person's favor - though, let it be said that he will not do so to the point of sycophancy. If he happens to do anything to make himself look bad in that person's eyes, he will take it upon himself to atone for the mistake through self-belittlement - though this penance is usually done privately, away from others. This atonement usually takes the form of some sort of self-injury or physical exertion. In addition, Dr. Cross seems to have an aversion to anything that would help him advance professionally - as though he might not think he deserves better than he has, no matter how much he might insist otherwise.

Cross' self-demeaning behaviors and tendencies seem to stem mainly from a rough childhood in the lower-middle class, and an abusively alcoholic father. However, in sessions, he seems only willing to touch on the subject for a moment or two before returning to any present grievances he may have.

Percival is used to being on defense about himself, as a possible result of both his father's behavior and his relatively low social status as an adolescent. For whatever reason, this defense mechanism is almost constantly in place. Cross' inability to positively dispel stressful stimuli has given him a hair-trigger temper, and he is prone to fits of verbal or physical violence. The physical violence is, most often, vented on inanimate objects as of late, after extensive aggression counseling.

Despite his temper and unorthodox methods, Percival Cross is, overall, an excellent officer. He has a nearly spotless track record, and his determination to do right by his position is twice as fierce when it comes to his patients. He takes failures hard, and on a personal level, no matter how much they may or may not truly be his fault. This, among a combination of several of the other issues mentioned above, has led to his alcoholism. Though Dr. Cross may easily be qualified as a functioning alcoholic, and refuses to be inebriated when on duty, his reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism may certainly be an issue with his social life and personal well-being.

(End Psychological Report)

Brief History:

* Born in Pittsburgh, PA to Matilda and Bernard Cross, August 5, 1959. Has one brother, Colin Cross, b. December 19, 1963.

* Attended City Charter High School, 1974-78. Graduating rank: 15/85, with honors due to work in AP Biology and involvement in hospital volunteer work at Allegheny General Hospital.

* Attended University of Pittsburgh ROTC, 1978-1982.

* Attended University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 1982-86.

* Residency at Allegheny General Hospital (Internal Medicine), 1986-1989

* Signed up for medical service at Carlisle Barracks in Pittsburgh

* Conscripted for field service in Gulf War, stationed in Kuwait Nov. 1990 - Mar. 1991

* Served as field medic during the US intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1995-6

* Base medic, Carlisle Barracks, 1996-8 - Transferred due to incident with fellow medic

* Base medic, Fort Detrick, Maryland, 1998-9. Transferred due to personal issues with base commander.

* Married Christa Sullivan, October 1999.

* Base medic, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, 1999-2001. Left when personal issues necessitated his return to Pennsylvania.

* Off-duty, June-September 2001. Helped to care for Bernard Cross during terminal illness until his death 4 September 2001.

* Called back to reserve duty at Carlisle Barracks after 9/11.

* Divorced Christa Sullivan, January 2002.

* Stationed as field medic in the Sunni Triangle at Balad, April 2003 - Feb. 2004.

* Served once more on reserve duty at Carlisle until Sept. 2005.

* Deployed as medical aid to Long Beach, Missisippi in aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sept-Oct. 2005

* Returned to PA and served at Letterkenny Depot as base medic until transfer to UNGCC.

* Involved in altercation at a local bar near UNGCC's base in Switzerland. Given professional reprimand, charges assumed dropped.

* Assisted in the dispatch of Hedorah in South Africa.

* Present at/involved with the release of Ghidorah in Tunguska. Personal report on file.

(Playlist - Work In Progress.)

2007-09-23T21:49:38Z

Dire Straits - Tunnel of Love
It's just a cakewalk, twisting, baby
Just step right up and say
Hey mister give me two give me two now,
'Cause any two can play

Sum 41 - We're All To Blame
Realize we spend our lives living in a culture of fear
Stand to salute and save face to the man of the year
How did we all come to this
This greed that we just can't resist

Tom McRae - Boy With The Bubblegun
I'm the boy with the bubblegun - I'm takin' aim
I cannot hit to hurt or cause you pain
If words could kill
I'd spell out your name

Five O'Clock Shadow - I'm Right
Get lost, you're crazy - your point a bit hazy
Don't argue with the master on the fine points of debate
So sip your latte - what the hell rhymes with latte
Doesn't matter 'cuz I'm watchin' you wash down the words that you just ate

Billy Joel - Angry Young Man
There's a place in the world for the angry young man
With his working class ties and his radical plans
He refuses to bend, he refuses to crawl
He's always at home with his back to the wall
And he's proud of his scars and the battles he's lost
And he struggles and bleeds as he hangs on his cross
And he likes to be known as the angry young man

Colin Hay - My Brilliant Feat
Is it a game of chance
Or merely circumstances
A jack to a king and back
Then you have to pay to play
The world it won't wait for you
It's got its own things to do
The sun's gotta rise and drive another night away

Barenaked Ladies - War On Drugs
On behalf of humanity
I will fight for your sanity
How profound such profanity can be

Gnarls Barkley - Feng Shui
Too big to be boxed in, it bobs and weaves
It evolves, it solves, it gives and receives
And everything I say
Is calculated appropriated
Written and arranged in Feng Shui

The Fray - How To Save A Life
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
You begin to wonder why you came

OK Go - It's A Disaster
It's a disaster - it's an incredible mess
But it's all we've got now
Howling with laughter, panic, alarm, and distress
But it's all we've got now (yeah, it's all we've got)

The Verve - Hero
Erase this disaster even faster than you came to see
A creep from the cradle and a hero driven wanna be
For your abuse but not intended for internal use
I'm just a jerk, but a hero's what I wanna be

Reel Big Fish - Fuck Off Song
Well, first of all, I'd like to say, fuck off
I don't like you and I don't care
What you think about what I do
And most of all, I don't need your opinion

Funeral For A Friend - Red Is The New Black
And if you think I'm thinking of your value here
You're the one who's losing control
This eventual stop, this break in the mould
I scream down this hotline just to feel something

percy_cross @ 2007-09-17T02:10:00

2007-09-17T06:10:15Z

Oh, look. A journal. How nice.

Whatever, I'll put crap in this later when I'm awake enough to give a damn. Probably steal those quiz things from Cupcake. Or something.