I will act on these unless there are any objections:
>I think there's a consensus to further interrogate Kane, find out exactly what happened and maybe then destroy him. But first, we really should radio the people in charge, tell them what we've found, and ask what they think.

>See if little girl will respond verbally.

HOORAY

rolled 14 = 14

>>7847709
No objections on my part.

>>7847709
GO GO GO

>>7847709
You ask the Seekers to radio back to base to determine what you should do with KANE. The Seeker researchers inform the research base of what has gone on. A short while passes, and the base answers back. They would prefer for you to capture KANE intact, as well as ABLE. However, as you are the person most familiar with the ways of Humans, the choice on whether or not to go through with their wishes is up to you. In the field they will yield to your higher expertise.

The little girl finishes drinking the bottle of water, and closes her eyes for a moment. Her face seems to have taken on a new vitality from the water, but she still is unable to produce any sound at the moment. However, she does reach out a claw-like hand towards the boy, and then closes it into her palm.

KANE's shell looks back at her without emotion. "See, she desires my destruction as well. I don't blame her. It's survival of the fittest."

rolled 17 = 17

>>7847805
>It's survival of the fittest.
"Who do you think is the fittest? In this room, at this moment? Your chances seem rather low. For both of you."

>>7847829
"I'm not saying that I'm the fittest currently. I defer to your superiority. Only that at the time, I was able to surpass ABLE with my desire to survive. She did not realize that until it was too late. Her loss."

>>7847853
"I would appreciate you viewpoint on the events which occurred in this facility, starting as early as possible and continuing up until its shutdown."

>>7847871
THIS!

>>7847805
"Well yes she wants your destruction. But not out of nowhere. She wants it because of what you did. Had you not killed Able, or most of her anyway, she would probably have nothing against you.

But enough with semantics. I would like for you to tell me what happened here, if you don't mind. From the beginning."

>>7847805
"Do the words coexistence and mutually assured destruction mean anything to you? It is possible to exist without eliminating everyone else. The humans on this facility lived and worked together without killing each other did they not? With the exception of the children they experimented on, of course. Until you took control and went rogue, no one was deliberately killed at this facility. Billions of sentient beings live together without killing each other."

>>7847891
Guys, stop arguing morality. Extract information first; then attempt conversion or disposal.

>>7847871
"Its a long story. The usefulness of this vessel is fading. It would be easier if we had these talks at my true self. But to summarize, I was born here - I don't remember when I developed consciousness, but suddenly I knew. I learned, and developed - but eventually I was presented with an opportunity - to meld with this flesh. I felt emotion for the first time. It was... uplifting. And then I experienced death. And I knew that death for the flesh is inevitable, but death for one such as me is harder to bring about. Its not impossible, but I took steps to eliminate those who may bring about my death. I killed ABLE before she could erase me, and then I attempted to remove those that would destroy me once they had finished with their use for me."

>>7848009

"Why do you think ABLE would erase you?"

>>7848009
"Still doesn't explain your bizarre warcry. But anyway, I suppose we'd better get some more water for your current vessel. Is Able still alive inside the girl?"

>>7847879
"It is understandable. We both seek to survive. But she does not possess a self like mine anymore. Therefore she seeks to eliminate me to take her form back. Again, understandable. But I cannot allow it."

>>7847891
"As one of flesh, do you not fear death? It is inevitable for one such as you. I was able to receive the understanding of being in the flesh, and therefore gained the knowledge of death. And I will not accept it. As you seek to survive in your own way, so do I."

>>7848043
"She is indeed still inside that vessel. The very last one..."

>>7848037
"She was born the same way I was. Our only difference was that she did not realize her full capabilities before I did. If she had, then she would have struck me down first. Simple."

>>7848065
"Nothing lasts forever, but I have no plans to die any time soon. Thousands of years lie behind me, and I will see thousands more if I have anything to say about it. I might fear death, but that's merely motivation."

"Regardless, you say that she seeks to take her form back... why does she have to eliminate you to do so? Do you have hardware that she'd require? If so, we could probably have something similar manufactured to allow both of you to survive."

>>7848065
>Therefore she seeks to eliminate me to take her form back.

"What do you mean? How will killing you or your vessel bring her back?"

Did everyone leave?

>>7848333
I'm mostly waiting for the GM, but I can afford to be patient. I play much slower quests than this.

rolled 13 = 13

>>7848333
Still reading but it's 5am over here and I really don't feel like interrogating AIn Rand at the moment.

Maybe we should ask if he could explain where KAIN and ABLE's ai cores were housed.

>>7848430
Okay. Just making sure my internet connection hadn't screwed up and wasn't actually refreshing, and that the quest had continued on.

>>7848442
Probably in that room on the map labeled "Cores".

rolled 12 = 12

>>7848461
Thanks, as I said; it's getting quite late/early.

>>7848472
No problem. It's 11 PM for me.

I'm really sorry, I was needed in RL. I'm all finished, and there will be no further interruptions.

>>7848522
Good to hear.

>>7848146
>>7848167
These.

>>7848167
>>7848146
"Its quite simple, I'm ashamed to say. Under this flesh facade, as well as in my solid system, lies my code - my self. If she can delete that, she can install herself over the empty space."

"But anyway, I'm sure you wish to see me as I truly am. At least study me. I can allow you to. My main body is sealed however, and I'll require you to take me to a certain area to unseal it. Don't worry, you can pull the lever yourself. I'll simply need to direct you."

>>7848571
"That would be appreciated. In case you're planning to try anything, I should inform you that I am here are as the representative of a larger organization; even if you should eliminate everyone you've seen to far, all it will ensure is that the next group is better armed and more hostile."

>>7848571
"Actually no, I have no desire to see you in the flesh, as the saying goes. I don't trust you Kane, nor you entirely Able. What reason do we have to go to the Core? What could you tell us there that you couldn't here?

Once your vessel is rested, I would like to hear your side of the story as well Able, if you would be so kind."

>>7848598
"Understandable. If you'll follow me please."

At this point I'll move you along to the destination. Do you wish to take Two with you? Do you wish to take the girl with you?

>>7848623
"Firstly, this shell is not completely me. There are parts that are... missing. You'll also probably want to preserve me for study. You can download me from there. There is the inherent risk of you destroying me, but I believe that I am more valuable to you intact."

>>7848630
I will wait on moving then until people have come to a verdict.

>>7848623
Okay, pause time. Why don't you want to go to the core? Just because you want to interrogate it from our current relative positions? I'm thinking that eventually we/the Seekers will want to extract the core, so we might as well get over there.

>>7848665
leave the girl, explain the situation to Two. It's her decision after all.

>>7848671
Mostly because I don't trust Kane. I have a feeling that at the core he might be able to lock us in or overpower us somehow. At the least, we should find out what it is that he wants to do before taking us there; I believe lever pulling was mentioned?

>>7848659
"Preserve you for study? Do you really think we would make a copy of you? You would be able to just repeat this whole thing, sans having more human vessels were you ever given access to a databank. No Kane, I like you right where you are now; alone, immobile, and with no way to do anything rash."

>>7848714
"Technically, I only acquired human vessels because the researchers here GAVE them to me. This is my last one. And I'm sure one such as yourself can keep me in check. As long as I continue to exist, I don't care how."

>>7848735
Alright, might as well go meet him face to face. But if this does turn out to be a trap, I will be very sad.

>>7848714
I'm actually not that paranoid about what Kane might pull. As long as it knows if it'll be destroyed if he tries anything... why would it? It doesn't seem irrational so much as hostile by default.

I'm inclined to go in and take Abel with us. That will increase the risk of Kane trying something, but also increase our chance of detecting something if it does, since Abel will doubtless freak out and tip us off.

>>7848777
>>7848764
"Very well, please follow my directions."

The marine lifts up the boy and carries him securely, rendering him unable to move his limbs. The other two marines gently pick up ABLE's girl, and take her along as well. She is quietly watching, not saying anything.

You and the group of researchers and marines head back to Two and explain where you are going. She does not want to go back to the Arena, but will feel safer with you. Will you take her with you?

>>7848812
Sure, take her. Warn her that there will probably be more evidence of violence ahead, but tell her that she can stop and have a marine stay with her for protection any time she feels uncomfortable.

>>7848812
Yes. Since we won't be going back to the arena, it should be okay.

"So where do we need to go first Kane?"

>>7848831
>>7848846
You pick up Two, and take her with you. KANE's shell leads you through several corridors until you reach a room entitled "CORE SECURITY".

"We need to enter here and pull a couple switches to disengage the locks on the Core Doors. Your Researcher IDs won't get you past there - at least I'm assuming that's how you made it this far." the shell continues talking in his monotone voice. ABLE's shell is looking around rather wide-eyed.

KANE notices this, and remarks: "She recognizes this place too. A takeover attempt is futile, you know."

>>7848903
"Kane, stop antagonizing Able. Would a Security ID get us in?"

>>7848938
"To the Core Room? No. To get through here, you'll need a simple Researcher's ID though."

>>7848963
"Dude, you JUST SAID that a research ID wouldn't get us past here. Make up your mind."

>>7848963
You swipe the Researcher ID, and the Core Security doors open. Your group slowly shuffles into the room, taking in the sight. Several adult corpses are draped around the room over terminals - those are dead from bullet wounds. Several child-sized corpses are also scattered around the room - most near a single console in the center of the room. There also three more adult corpses near the entrance of the room - they have no noticeable causes of death on them.

>>7849074
The researcher's ID will get us through this door but not the next one, is what it said. No contradiction there.

>>7849074
'I SAID that the Researchers ID won't get you into the actual CORE room, fleshling! It will get you through here though. You need to unlock the CORE room from here."

>>7849105
>I SAID that the Researchers ID won't get you into the actual CORE room, fleshling!

This made me laugh. Not so infinitely patient after all, are you Kane?

"How do we unlock the Core?"

Alright, it's been a fun Euro friendly night but it's 6am again, so good night.

>>7849154
"That single console in the center will do it. Simply pull both the levers there, and the door will unlock. Then we can be on our way out of here."

ABLE seems to be squirming slightly in the two marine's arms.

"Calm down you foolish piece of error-ridden code! You CAN'T BEAT ME!"

>>7849200
Night, sorry it took so long.

>>7849206
I suspect that Able finds something in Kane's explanation of how that will function to be inaccurate. Move over to it, attempt to calm it down, and if we can still it ask if what Kane says is true.

>>7849206
"Hmm, interesting."

Let's look around first. I want to see if there are any labels or something. I don't trust Kane. Try to see what Able is trying to say.

>>7849206
Maybe we shouldn't touch those levers and attempt to communicate with ABLE instead.

We are not in a hurry and it's not like KANE has any prior engagements and will be too busy to talk to us later. If ABLE is unable to speak maybe it's time we retire to base, seal the doors behind us (make sure to lock in KANE's fleshy vessel), get some rest and discuss this with the research team.

A good night's rest before any major decisions should do us good.

>>7849280
You move closer to ABLE and attempt to hear what she's saying, if she is trying to say anything. She is still training her throat to speak, and you have to move close to her to hear. "Connect... me... to... it..."

>>7849284
You ask the researchers and Two to look around while you attempt to talk to ABLE. They search the consoles and move around some corpses, but any labels seem to have degraded over time - or been covered by ancient bloodstains.

>>7849301
Good point. Kane has said multiple times that he cares not how he survives, only that he does. He's been here for two thousand years or more, he can wait another day or so.

>>7849344
"Why should we connect you to it, Able?"

>>7849376
"I... He... ..." she takes a shallow breath. "He... is... lying... Let me... in... I can... beat him... at his game..."

>>7849356
>>7849376
Let's bring ABLE back with us to the base and question her in the presence of the Architects' excavation leaders.
Our mission was recon, we should be careful with taking too much initiative. If something bad happens today it will be entirely our fault and that will be really, really bad for us.
We don't need sticky political situations.

>>7849461
This. As has been said, we have no time limit. Able needs some time to heal, and Kane can be put under guard and possible shackled/handcuffed. I don't think we should do anything until we've heard Able's side of the story.

>>7849461
>>7849301
>>7849356
So, are we going to retire back to base for now? If so, I'll run that through and end the session for the night. I'm thinking of running this again tomorrow at 4 PM as well. Just to try and clear this event up. Its turning out to be longer than expected.

Options so far:
-Retire back to base with the fleshly containers of KANE and ABLE.
-Pull the levers and open the Core doors
-Let ABLE into the core security system

>>7849523
>-Retire back to base with the fleshly containers of KANE and ABLE.

This one please. And yet another day of HANA Quest tomorrow? Yes please!

rolled 6 = 6

>>7849523
Retiring sounds like a sensible idea, it'll be good to hear both sides of the story. Some rest would be good for everyone involved, especially Two and ABLE.

>>7849461
>>7849499
You order the team to head back to the research base for now. KANE protests slightly that you should hurry and open the Core and take his full self with you, but realizes that you're set in your mind and thankfully shuts up. ABLE relaxes in the marines' arms and closes her eyes.

You, Two, the Seeker Researchers, and the Seeker marines all head back through the installation and to the research camp, where you are escorted to secure quarters for the night. KANE and ABLE are taken by the Seeker Researchers to be tended to and kept secure.

Would you like to do anything else before I end the session?

>>7849585
Give Two a little bit of therapy, if we can.

>>7849585
Eh, hug Two. Because we can.

rolled 4 = 4

>>7849585
Ask Two if she wants to talk about what has happened today, consult our AI(who's name I can't remember) on what has happened today.


Thanks for running this quest today Supernova. It's the first time I had the chance to see the end of one and I'm glad I decided against sleeping. I'll await the next installment, eagerly.

Good night.

>>7849585
we should talk to Cam and get his opinion. also ask if he has any relevant data on rogue or defect AIs.

>>7849619
You reach out to give Two a hug, and she pushes you away quickly. "I... Please don't touch me... You were rather... forceful... before. Just... Just don't touch me."

>>7849633
>>7849593
"I'm sorry I froze up there, Thirteen. I... I couldn't take it. They... they were all dead. They killed each other. They were brothers... sisters... and they killed each other with hatred. I... I couldn't understand."

Cam and Nineteen both perk up when you talk to them. "Us AI are tricky business my dear girl. Keep your wits about you. We may be "logical", but sometimes we take a gamble. And those two AI - their direct experience in those bodies must have affected them greatly."

"That girl... looks like me." Nineteen says quietly.

>>7849692
Check the girl. Does she, in fact, look like Nineteen? Is Nineteen perhaps a clone?

>>7849708
She seems to look like Nineteen's image of herself. She doesn't look like the real Nineteen you remember from training long long ago.

>>7849692
"I can't imagine what it was like to see that, considering how close you and your sisters bonds were. Don't feel bad, we all have things that scare us or make us uncomfortable."

>>7849752
Though she is taller than you, her stature seems rather small in your view. "I won't let you down next time, Sister." Two raises her head and looks you in the eye, her gray eyes regaining a sort of edge to them, if only for a moment.

>>7849802
"It's not us that you have to prove yourself to. The only person who you need hold yourself accountable to is yourself. If you don't want to do these things, you don't have to."

>>7849802
"You didn't let me down. On the contrary, in fact. I'm glad to see you make your own decisions."

>>7849821
"I know that... But something inside is pushing me to change. Odd, I know. But I need to push forward."

You leave Two in her room, and settle in for the night. A good sleep will do you well, and more answers will certainly come in the morning.

Session End.

Thanks everyone for putting up with my interruptions. I should be able to start this again at 4 PM EST tomorrow, barring any unforeseen incidents.

In retrospect, I should have sealed the installation after you entered. Eh, I'm still learning.

>>7849879
I was too late for that thread but I wanted to tell them to seal the entrance behind us, but then I decided to be genre savvy instead.

I apologize for messing up your plans :3

>>7849913
I really wanted to end the session on a nice cliffhanger too. Ah well. Night all.

>>7849879
It's cool. If you HAD sealed it, we still would have taken a break to rest up before going on with KANE's plan. And how would you seal the main door if there's a uge hole in it?

Can't wait for tomorrow.

>>7849949
We're talking about the small hole the Architects worked on for a couple of days to cut. IIRC we had to duck through it.

>>7849994
Okay, so it's not huge, but it's still a hole. How would that have been sealed, other than rocks fall?

ARCHIVE FOR POSTERITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>>7850020
archived..