The year is 2025.
Your name is Dave, and you never asked for this.
Once a generic white-collar worker who lived alone save for your cat, you were hit by a car and spent three months in a coma.
You awoke to find that your unconscious body had been taken in by the corporation 'Emulsified Electronics', and implanted with an experimental augmentation. You soon found that it allowed you to control electronic devices with your mind, and you immediately used that power to it's fullest, eventually gaining in power and prestige until EE hired you, officially, as one of their agents. And if Jun's theory is right, your power is only going to grow...
At almost the same time, it came to light that the PMC, ArmaTek, had started to mobilize against EE. After a solo mission, you found they had been hired by the company called Cadmium Dynamics. CD has been working toward expanding their territory- an unluckily, EE is the corporation that they need to remove next in order to expand.
>You have 4450 credits.
>You have 1 fate reroll (Reroll any bad roll to a 100)

>Abel Rowling: Your coworker\drinking-buddy. Used to be your roommate years ago before you got him a job at the place you worked. He's hiding out in a mysterious safehouse somewhere.
>Jun Viridian: The 38 year old neuroscientist who implanted you with the prototype, and from what you can tell, was the one who designed it.
>John Grayson: A security specialist and agent who works for EE. He has implanted arms and broad shoulders. He used to be military.
>Verne Tolstoy: A quiet, overweight man who used to be a cop. Most of his internal organs are all augmented versions, and he has an augmented arm; Ever since a mishap with an EMP, he's been unable to do any kind of mercenary work.
>Amy Tolstoy: A teenage mercenary girl with neon hair, augmented legs, and a wrist computer full to the brim with random AI constructs. She has all sorts of strange friends. Now works for EE as both a researcher, technician, and agent.
>Azure, Onyx, and Cyan: Your bullfrog's three onboard AIs; Cyan specializes in networking, Onyx specializes in combat, and Azure bridges the gap between them.
>Grasshopper: Undercover as Natalie Adede, she's an enemy agent who seduced and interrogated you when you first met her. You've since captured her and brought her to EE.
>Mark: The mechanic who works for EE in B-4, building and maintaining the gear of all Agents. He's a capable pilot and has saved your skin at least once.

"The Board?" You ask.
"Yes, the board of directors. They've heard of your success on missions, and they want to interview you. Or debrief you. Or just look at you and stare. I don't really know what the board wants with you, but they want something."
"Does this mean I'll get a payraise?"
Jun sighed. "First, we need to talk."
"About what?"
"About your brain."

>>18988943
"What's up with my brain?"

>>18988943
Yeah, I never was really able to get details on that last time it came up, I was a bit busy. How fucked up is my brain?

>>18988943
"Don't you talk shit 'bout my brain!"

"What's up with my brain?"
"You're destroying it. At least, your implant is. Something you keep doing is. . burning it out, so to speak." She said. "I'm not asking you to stop, because for all we know it's the reason you're so efficient, but. . tone it down. The three days you were out was evidence that whatever is happening isn't good for you."
"How fucked up is it now?"
"Very." She said sternly. "Your rest allowed your body to rebuild most of it, but at this point of degeneration, I'm not sure why you can still move or speak."

>>18988943
>about your brain

Oh here we go. "How bad is it?"

>>18988984
"Is there anything you can do?"

>>18988984
"Sheeet, it must be the bullet time effect that I keep doing."
Tell her about it, if she knows what it is, she might fix it or at least prevent further deterioration.

>>18988984
I guess I'm just that good. Keep looking in on this angle, I'd like to know why my brain is so fucking odd.

Anything you can do about this.

"I guess I'm just that good. Is there anything you can do?"
"No, nothing I can do. . Unless we get into theoretical neurobiotics, of the kind that the bullfrog is made out of. But that raises a whole other host of problems, most of which could potentially be fatal. Would be definitely fatal for anyone else, but for you. . ." She shook her head, as if forcefully pushing the idea from her mind. "Just get some rest." She said. "That's all I can say without knowing the exact details of why your brain is like it is."
"Keep looking into this; I'd like to know why my brain is so strange."
"I will, Dave." She said. "Now go up to the top floor; the board's waiting for you."

>>18989059
We should tell her about the bullet time. I guess we can postpone it for after the meeting.

>>18989059
Swagger on in. Have our drones by our sides and open the doors with our mechadendrites. Before we open the door we should probably hack any televisions or the like in there to show the image of a techpriest with two mechadendrites and two smiley faces by his sides to represent the drones.

>>18989059
Guess we ought to go get smirked at by board members.

I hope they don't want us to do anything that might harm our brain further and be of no use to us.

>>18989059
Go in with full gear. Armor, drites, helmet. The whole shebang.

First impressions are important.

>>18989091
Eh. No need to show off before the board of directors.

>>18989072
Seconded

You swagger on in, taking the elevator to the very top floor, which was higher than the helipad, somehow.
The room was large, with a long table arrayed along the center. The walls were all windows, and it gave you a massive, panoramic view of the city. Sitting in each chair, at the table, was a different person wearing a suit. In front of each person was a small placard with their name and position on the board; Several chairs were empty, but there were small devices with microphones, speakers, and cameras; teleconference devices, apparently. Among the missing people were the director, who was the first to speak first.

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet you in person, David. My name is Mr. James Grimmauld, and I'm the director of this board of executives." He said kindly, his voice robotic through the teleconference device.

>>18989125
Nice to meet you Mr. Grimmauld.

So, why did you call me up here?

>>18989125
"Good day, sir. To what do I have the pleasure?"

>>18989125
Play nice for now. Ping the room, but don't go into hacking yet.

>>18989125
"It is nice to finally make your acquaintance Mr. Grimmauld. What can I do for you and the board?"

"It's nice to finally make your aquaintence, Mr. Grimmauld. What can I do for you and the board?"
"Well, first of all, we have a few questions for you." Grimmauld said. The rest of the board started to look slightly uncomfortable, and the tension rose.
"First of all, we'd like to ask. . How exactly do you gain control of unconnected electronics? Dr. Viridian isn't the most. . forthcoming with information."
You have a feeling that the way you answer this question will be very important.

>>18989260
Well, do we have actually the slightest clue how we do it?

>>18989260
"To be perfectly honest, I don't know. It's like asking how one breathes or sees. It's feels like something natural but it isn't.
If Jun cannot explain it to you, I certainly will not be able."

>>18989260
It seems to be caused by a combination of the Bullfrog's output capabilities, and something strange about myself that none of us completely understand. It's like an extension of my body, I don't have to think about it, it just happens.

>>18989260
"...I probably don't have much more information on it then the doctor, sir. Apparently my brain is reacting to the implant uniquely and allowing me to do things I should not be able to do."

"To be perfectly honest, I don't entirely know." You say. "It seems to be caused by a combination of the Bullfrog's output capabilities and my own abnormal neurology that even Jun doesn't understand. It's like asking someone how they see or breathes; It's not a question of how- I just do it."

"Ah, I see." Grimmauld says. "It seems that Dr. Viridian's been telling us the truth, then. How good for the both of you."
That's when the alarms started.

>>18989340
"What's happening? Are we under attack?"

>>18989260
Something like >>18989297 and >>18989282

But emphasize how it's the combination of the Bullfrog and our brain. We need to be irreplaceable.

>>18989340
>Alarms

Shit. We didn't even get time to rest.

>>18989340
Ping the surroundings, find what triggered the alarm. Tap into the cameras to get more details. Get the Drones out and the mechadendrites out and prepared.

>>18989340
Let's think this through.

We were clearly just grilled for information, testing our truthfulness against Jun's. There's some trust issues going on there.

These alarms could also be a test for the board. Ping our surroundings, get in position to protect the board (seems like a good way to get on their good side), but don't turn our backs completely to them.

>>18989373
That's a bit too paranoid.
These are the people who let us go as we please, even taking side jobs.

"What's happening?"
Mark appeared on a monitor, and at the same time, you got a call from Grayson.
"CD and ArmaTek are making a move on the building." Grayson said. "Mark's alerting the board now. They've split up into two groups; one on foot and one in the air. I think the ones in the air are going to land on the roof. Me and Amy are down here in B-4, guarding the prisoner with some of the security team. We're not sure what their goal is this time; it could be the board, or it could be the prisoner. I can only give you one elevator ride before I lock it down, so make a decision on where to go and then go there."
>Where go?

>>18989385
I'll take the air team.

Leave the drones with the board assuming they don't have adequate protection. As useful as they are I don't think the company would like the board to get offed.

>>18989385
"We should knock out the prisoner to be safe."

I say we take the Javelin and go on the roof. We'll try to shoot the damn chopper down.

>>18989385
>Where go?

To the roof. It is much closer, and to impress the board I suppose.

>>18989385
Does the boardroom's panoramic view include an overlook of the helipad? If so, we can set up a sniper point here.

If not, descend to helipad level and prepare for action.

"I'll take on the air team." You say, leaving your drones where they are. "Sorry to cut our meeting short, Mr. Grimmauld."
<Protect the board.> you tell your onboard AIs, and hit the button on the elevator. Two security officers came with.

You came out on the roof, and already there were a few ArmaTek soldiers there, descending from a chopper on ropes. Security started firing before ArmaTek could react, and soon the soldiers were down. The heli was already flying away.
"They're in the lobby." Grayson said, and in the distance, you saw more choppers arriving.
Above you, the panoramic windows of the boardroom suddenly darken. <It seems the boardroom has shutters on the windows, to serve as a panic room.> Onyx said. <Cowards.>
>Start dat rollin'

rolled 34 = 34

>>18989455
Shoot them with gattling.

rolled 14 = 14

>>18989455
>>18989468

Damn. Again.

rolled 29 = 29

>>18989455
Ok, start taking out the ones here with our rapid fire gauss. Get us some breathing room to get the Javelin out and ready to go. We'll also want to hack the enemy choppers when they get in range, and the ones we can't hack we'll explode with the Javelin.

rolled 22 = 22

>>18989455
Ping them and try to hack whatever they have.

rolled 9 = 9

>>18989455
Hold the heli pad and take out any other copters coming in with the javelin.

>>18989455
"Seems like a pretty lame panic room when it's at the top of an umpteen story building."

Rollan to turn choppers into crashers.

rolled 66 = 66

>>18989479
FFFFFFFFF

rolled 66 = 66

>>18989480
>>18989479
>>18989475
>>18989474
>>18989468
What the flying fuck is wrong with our dice today?

rolled 93 = 93

>>18989455
Time to earn our pay.

rolled 69 = 69

>>18989481
FFFFFFFFFFFFFF-

rolled 62 = 62

>>18989480
Shit..

Your gatling-gauss were already firing, sparks dancing along the helis as they approached, doing only superficial damage. The heli side-door opened, but your fire was keeping them from exiting the heli.

Your hands were free, so you figured you might be doing something useful with them, and opened the Javelin case.
This Javelin was. . different.
The green paint scheme had been changed to the same matte black as your implants, armor, and mechandrites, and there were twelve small nodes attached to the barrel. You flipped the switch from off to on, and the nodes shot out of the barrel, extending. . Just like the nodes in Amy's legs when they were on overcharge.

You crank the switch to 3 instead of 6, and fire at the heli. The green lightning blasted into the side of the heli, smoke flying from it as the entire chopper shook. Whatever kind of armor was on the heli, it was completely slagged, dripping and melting off of the side.

The soldiers left in the heli shrugged to eachother, and leaped the fuck out before you could fire again, drawing rifles of their own and downing one of the security officers. Your mechandrites switched to the soldiers and tore them down with the barrage of gauss projectiles.

rolled 70 = 70

>>18989553
Hack their stuff.

>>18989553
Try to get the wounded security officer out of the line of fire.

rolled 7 = 7

>>18989553
Suppressive fire! Wait for the Javelin to cool down and shoot at a heli.

>>18989553
Down the soldiers, if any of the security officers aren't dead drag them to cover.

Hack one of the incoming Helis.

rolled 74 = 74

>>18989593
I lost my dice.

rolled 38 = 38

>>18989553
Shoot

rolled 43 = 43

>>18989553
Shoot the javelin at the heli.

Keep suppressing with the gattlings

rolled 54 = 54

>>18989553
If the cooldown time on the javelin has been shortened then take another shot at the heli to finish it off since we wasted the thugs that jumped out.

Then comm to Amy/Grayson and see how they are doing.

What's with the three vaginas in OP's image?

You close your eyes and hack into the slagged heli, trying to slam it into the other. The other adeptly ascends just in time, and the slagged heli simply careens off course, until the rotors finally fail and the pilot desperately tries to keep from crashing.

More choppers are coming. You turn to give an order to the still-standing officer, but he's already dragging the wounded officer out of the line of fire. You turn back, and keep up the suppressive fire- At least until a gauss projectile shoots from the second heli and slams through the armor of one of your hands. You hiss, and almost drop the Javelin, getting into cover- with your mechandrites peeking out of cover and keeping up the suppressive fire, of course.

You bite your lip, and bring up the Javelin again, a small light indicating that it had cooled. You fire, but miss, the bolt of plasma arcing to the side of the second heli.
"Grayson, Amy! How are you two holding up?"

"There are too many for us! We might have to retreat to the upper levels!"

rolled 13 = 13

>>18989655
Trying to have helis crash into each other again.

>>18989655
I can't really help you, my hands are full currently.

Hack helis into each other, or just cut the power on them and have them crash into the ground.

rolled 49 = 49

>>18989691

rolled 52 = 52

>>18989655
Keep up the suppressing fire at all costs and stay in cover. We need to keep back the CD thugs until some more security arrives, or we can get another shot off with the javelin. Also, see if Azure can make the walls and things transparent like he did before so we could still be accurate with our shots while staying completely in cover.

Maybe try to hack the closest heli again.

rolled 9 = 9

>>18989655
Look with the 'drites first and then shoot javelin at the helis again.

rolled 12 = 12

>>18989655
Hackety hack.

rolled 37 = 37

>>18989655
Fuck we need to take out these helicopters. Also inform them of your situation.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18989655
Retreat back inside the building itself if possible. If there is only one entrance we can use that as a chokepoint to funnel enemy forces.
Perhaps use the javelin to slag the entrance and seal it off, too.

>>18989708
>>18989709

Seriously what have we done to anger the dice gods?

rolled 92 = 92

>>18989694
>>18989706
>>18989708
>>18989709
>>18989710
>>18989712

Damn we suck.

"I can't help you; My hands are full!" You say, and close your eyes once more, trying to will the helis to crash into one another. But the pain in your arm pulls you back to your senses; you can't even enter them right now when you can't focus.

The javelin's light flashes again, signifying that it can fire again-
So you do so, the entire thing shaking as you fire. The bolt it shot scraped across the side of the second heli, flash boiling one of the soldiers hanging out, shooting at you.

Somewhere off to the side, the first heli smashed into the side of the building, making the entire thing shake.
"What was that?" Grayson asked.
"Flying machines not flying." You respond dryly.
"There's only one more chopper approaching." Grayson said. "Take care of those, then come down and help us. We're going to have to retreat soon."

rolled 49 = 49

HOLD THE LINE. KEEP FIRING UNTIL THEY SEE THE GLOW OF OUR BARRELS!

rolled 7 = 7

>>18989761
*INSERT BATTLECRY HERE*

rolled 74 = 74

>>18989761
<Cyan, help me out here>
hacking again

rolled 61 = 61

>>18989761
Hack the copter and make it crash like a motherfucker.

>>18989786
Well that was disappointing.

rolled 53 = 53

>>18989786
>>18989809
Was that a combat roll?

Lets try to improve it

The security officer finishes bandaging the downed officer, and then turned to you. "What now?" He asked.
"Hold the line." You growl.

"I SUCK AT RANGED COMBAT!" You cry, screaming out from cover, firing the javelin once more. It goes wide. <I'm sick of this! Help me crash this thing!>

With Cyan's help, you close your eyes and target the chopper. . The entire thing does some strange kind of flip, but the pilot keeps control. However, it's too shaky, and one of the soldiers sticking their heads out, firing at you, falls out of the chopper. The officer to your side puts him down.

The final chopper is approaching, and you can see that it's not ArmaTek. It's CD; it has the four rotors and strange red coloring, complete with the hatch in the bottom.

rolled 95 = 95

>>18989826
Shoot javelin at the cockpit. Maximum charge.

>>18989861
Of course, I mean the CD chopper.

rolled 93 = 93

>>18989826
We need to focus on this copter. It might have some powersuited baddies in it and I don't think we are in any position to mess with right now.

As soon as the javelin cools. Shoot it.

<Cyan we need to down that heli now!>

>>18989826
Oh shit, target one of the rotors with the Javelin and try to hack it, we don't need to completely hack it, but with one of the rotors out we don't need much to throw it out of whack.

Guys. DO. NOT. ROLL.

>>18989873
Reeeedeempppttiioonnn!

You pull out the javelin once more, and turn the switch all the way to 6. The weapon's thrumming instantly amps up, and you can *feel* the power in your hands. The extended heat sinks in the barrel start glowing red, and you tear out of cover, going down to one knee.

The recoil bowls you back, as the strange, unearthly flaming, bubbling bolt tears through the chopper, causing the entire thing to explode in a nova of green light.
Your gatling gausses finally do some good this battle, and the glass on the remaining chopper shatters, as you gun down what's left of the pilot.
"All clear here on the rooftop." You say. "I'm coming down."
"Hurry!" Grayson said. "Amy's hit!"

The injured officer grabs a gun, and nods grimly to you. "Me and him can hold it up here." He said. "Go save the other agents."

You start running down the stairs two at a time.

>>18989861
>>18989873
FUCK YOU, CADMIUM DYNAMICS. YOU THOUGHT WE HAD SUDDENLY TURNED INCOMPETENT? HA HA, NO. WE WERE JUST SAVING OUR ENERGY DEALING WITH THE IDIOTIC ARMATEK GOONS SO WE'D BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO FUCK YOU IN THE BUTT.

THIS IS FOR INSERTING FALSE MEMORIES OF DELICIOUS CONSENTACLE MECHADENDRITE ACTION INTO OUR SKULLS AS A PLOY TO SPY ON OUR SHIT! TAKE THIS! MY DICE, MY ACTIONS, AND ALL OF MY CAPSLOCK!

>>18989936
lol

You skid down to the office of the 5th floor, where Grayson and some more officers are crouched behind overturned desks, a makeshift barricade. Amy's on her back, a seeping red wound somewhere on her torso.

"The doors are bolted." Grayson said. "We're trying to bottleneck them here, but there's just too many."
"How long until they get through?" You ask.
As you say that, some sparks start coming from the door. They must be welding it open.
"Come on, how cliche IS that?!" You call.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18989974
Pu the power on our javelin down, couch, steady your aim and shoot them when they break the door.

>>18989929
More like 10 at a time. Book it!

rolled 80 = 80

>>18989995
FFFF

rolled 12 = 12

>>18989974
Welding means they are close to the door, waiting to rush in.

I say we greet them with a monomolecular mechandrite handshake.
To the face.

rolled 6 = 6

Does the Javelin still do collateral damage when amped up? If so, I'd say ready the Jav, go prone pointed towards the door (perhaps a bonus for prone, maybe?) and when they breach, let fucking loose.

rolled 59 = 59

>>18990013
Supporting this. We can punch through the door, slice and shoot them up

rolled 96 = 96

>>18990022
DON'T FAIL ME, DICE.

rolled 27 = 27

>>18989974
They are using SOMETHING to wield the door, right?
Hack whatever it is

rolled 53 = 53

>>18989974
>please dice gods

Ready our gattlin drites. As soon as they come through those doors blast em. And take cover.

Maybe get Azure to let us see through the door to see how many there are?

rolled 81 = 81

>>18989974
ALL GUNS, ON MY MARK...

ALL AGENTS! FOLLOW ME TO GLOOORRYY!

It's official.

The dice gods are just fucking with us.

You twist the knob on the javelin down to 2, for 'small arms fire', you suppose, and get in cover, kneeling there with the Javelin.
"You've been shot." Grayson said, looking at your arm. "Punched right through your armor."
You give him a savage grin.

Then the door burst open, and you fired. The first wave of armatek soldiers were blown back by green flaming death, but more piled in, carrying what looked like riot shields. You leap over, out of cover, dropping the javelin, and your mechandrites go wild, tearing right through the shields as you become a one-man-lawnmower, forcing them to be beaten back or chopped into bits. You grab the head of one of the soldiers with a mechandrite, claws holding him tightly, and fire the gatling guasses on that limb.

Behind you, the security team started firing, the riot-shielded men having been disabled.

rolled 35 = 35

>>18990042
rolling for hack again

rolled 54 = 54

>>18990089
Grab one dead body with a 'drite as a body shield. Shoot gauss with the other.
Shoot javelin when it is ready again

<Onyx. The board should be safe . Focus on assisting me with my combat abilities>

rolled 1 = 1

>>18990089
Continue brandishing the 'drite clamped around the grunt's head. We are death and they will know fear!

Actually, let's just straight up rip the body in half and throw it at them.
That'll show 'em.

rolled 20 = 20

>>18990089
Scream prayers to the Omnissiah through our helmet's respirator/voice modulator and make the enemy shit their pants at our RIGHTEOUS FURY.

>>18990089
Clear the hallways, make our way towards the board. We need to make sure they're safe.

>>18990124

rolled 89 = 89

>>18990124
>>18990129

PSSSSHHHHHHH

rolled 7 = 7

>>18990145
WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING DICE GODS

WHY ARE ALL THE ROLLS STUPIDLY HIGH OR LOW

CAN WE PLEASE GET SOME AVERAGE ROLLS AND SOME CONSISTENCY HERE

rolled 36 = 36

>>18990159
YOU ARE NOT HELPING

rolled 78 = 78

>>18990168
NEITHER ARE YOU

>>18990159
>7

I lost it.
My sides.
They ache.

<Onyx. The Board should be safe. Disable the droids and help me instead.> You say, snatching one of the dead bodies up to use as a shield. Using the body as cover, your other mechandrite fired, holding back the ArmaTek troops with the help of all the other gauss weaponry in the room. Slowly, slowly, you and the team start pushing them back, keeping them from approaching any more.

You roar, and tear the body in half, throwing it at the enemy.
It makes a wet slap across the ground.

And then you get shot in the torso, having thrown away your own cover.

"fffffff" You hiss, falling backwards and back into cover. Onyx takes control of your mechandrites and starts firing, as the world goes red. Grayson is standing over you, applying some kind of medical aid on you. "You'll be fine, Dave. Just a flesh wound." He said.
"fffffff" You say again. Doesn't he realize that it HURTS?

>>18990159
>Consistency
>dice rolls
Dohoho

rolled 1 = 1

>>18990089

OH SHIT.

BRACE FOR IMPACT, FELLAS!

>>18990186
We've done our part. I think it's time to sit back and not get shot any more.
Comm Amy and make sure she's still alive.

>>18990124
>>18990195
Pic related

rolled 59 = 59

>>18990186
WHY WOULD YOU THROW AWAY YOUR SHIELD
FFFFF

>>18990195
pls don't use this. It's a noko'd roll


>>18990186
Stop bitching about the pain.Get up grab the javelin and shoot into the mass of soldiers. Put the charge on '4'

>>18990186
>>18990195
noko'd 1d1? Really?

Get back up, fire the javelin down the hallway.

rolled 29 = 29

>>18990129
>>18990124

FUUUUUUCCCCCKKK

My roll is going for retreating back to cover and gattling. We have a good position where we are, no reason to go to them. We need to continue to force them to come to us.

rolled 16 = 16

>>18990159
>>18990177
>7 followed by a 78
Who says the dice gods don't have a sense of humor?

>>18990186
Okay. No more crazy furious charges. Let's just do our best to shoot back at the dickass enemy, make sure everyone in the security team is okay, and blast some bitches with horrible plasma death. Switch to setting one, it's probably some sort of machine gun. SUPPRESSIVE FIRE.

>>18990195
>noko'd 1d1
I do not like you. My friend, he doesn't like you either.

>>18990195
Its a noko'd roll! Doesnt count!

>>18990195
>Noko'd rolls don't count. THIS I HATH DECIDED.

"They're retreating." Grayson said. "You can stop firing."
<Onyx, stop firing.> You tell him, and he does, sulking.
"It just hit your rib." He said. "The armor took most of its momentum, so it's hardly even a fracture." He said. "Your arm looks like it needs more attention."
Your mind is hazy, and everything blurs as someone works on your arm. When you come too, Grayson's standing up, giving order to other members of the security team. Seeing you were conscious, he turned back to you.
"They've fallen back, and Amy's okay." He said. "You saved the board, Dave."

rolled 1 = 1

>>18990226
>>18990260


>DOHOHOHO

Actually, it's a noko'd 1d100 roll that just *happened* to roll as a 1.

>>18990284

>I HATE YOU, OP. YOU DO NOT ALLOW FOR DELICIOUS NOKO'D 1DX TROLLING

>>18990289
SHUUUUUUUURE BUDDY

>>18990284
"Natalie is still in the cell, right?"

>I swear Exabyte if you had her escape after all we've been through...

>>18990289
noko rolls 1s half the time anyway. Don't use it.

See?

rolled 6 = 6

>>18990284
In our bloodloss-afflicted haze, whisper as loud as possible "I'd die for the Emperor" with a raspy ancient radio filter.

And then we pass the fuck out.

>>18990309

You know that she'll be gone.

>>18990284
"Well I hope they are happy...fuck."

>>18990284
Damn, we must be scarier than we thought.
Imagine FINALLY putting down the monster that has been destroying all your army and its weapons keep attacking while the body lies unconscious on the floor.

>>18990284
"This means I get a raise, right?"

"Natalie's still in her cell, right?" You ask.

Grayson. . blinks.

"You three!" He calls out, turning around. "Go check B-4! Tell me if it's secure, ASAP."
The three officers look at Grayson, and then scramble off toward the elevators.

A few minutes later, they returned, shaking their heads. "B-4 had been cut into with some kind of plasma weapon, and the cells had been broken open from the outside. The prisoner's gone."

ffffff

>>18990363
Give him this look:
ಠ_ಠ

>>18990363
"But... how? Nobody got through the roof and nobody got through here. The only other option would an inside job?"

>>18990363
That was definitely their plan all along. The attack on the board was just a false move.

Fuck.

>>18990362
We should by golly.

>>18990363
DAMN YOU EXABYTE
DAMN YOU TO HELL
THIS IS BULLSHIT AND YOU KNOW IT

rolled 95 = 95

>>18990363
Tap into the EE camera network and see just what the fuck happened. God DAMN IT. WE HAD HER. WE WERE SO CLOSE TO FUCKING CD'S INTELLIGENCE NETWORK, AND SHE GETS THE FUCK AWAY.

>>18990422
>rolled 95 = 95

FUCKE YEAR
at least we know where they went.

Should we pursue?

>>18990431
No. Not yet anyway. We need further medical attention and some rest. Like Jun said, we really need to take it easy.

Let's check Abel's drop box again, and get something to eat.

>>18990431
Ain't no rest for the wicked.

We're not in any position to fight but we should definitely find out which way they went. Maybe cross-reference with any information we jacked from her PDA.

I'm glad we didn't use that fate point. We need to save that for if we're, well, actually dieing.

Did I call it or did I call it?

>>18990421
>hehehe

"But. . how?" You ask. "Nobody got through the roof, and nobody got through here. . "

"Goddamnit." Grayson said, holding his head in his hand. "We retreated upwards. Like they fucking planned. Once they had the lobby, they could just. . carve open the elevator shaft and get down that way."

"Fuck this." You say. "I'm hacking the goddamn cameras and I'm going to look at what happened."

You close your eyes and focus. . .

ArmaTek bursts in through the glass doors with an APC, and immediately the security officers start firing. Grayson ascends from the elevator with Amy, and he gives out a few barked orders. The security team dives behind the front desk, and they try to hold ArmaTek off, but the sheer numbers. . The security team eventually, under Grayson's order, retreat up the stairs, where most of ArmaTek follows.

Behind ArmaTek, two soldiers in powersuits walk for the elevator and speak to one another a bit, looking at eachother and bobbing their heads as they do so. Then one, with a massive kick, slams open the elevator shaft, and the two of them leap down, their jetpacks activating as they do so.

They skip B-1 through B-4, just falling through the shaft, before they kick open the door to B-4, as if they knew exactly what they were doing. They walk directly past the training room and Mark's mechanics room, stopping at the cells.

One covers their retreat while the other sets down some strange device on the door. . and then the device explodes into green light, boring a hole through the door. Then the two of them enter the cell, uncuff and help Natalie to her feet, before escorting her out.
As soon as they were on the street, you see that the fighting Grayson and the security team were doing suddenly stopped, as the enemy soldiers retreated. That was their plan?!

Overall. . .They knew. They fucking knew exactly where the cell was, and they knew that B-4 existed, something that even you didn't know until you were an agent.

You open your eyes, and feel your own fingernails digging into your palm- you're clenching your fist.

>>18990516
"We have a mole. I'm certain of it."

>>18990516
Grayson, we have a leak. They knew exactly where they were going.

I'm going to get some medical attention and a nap.

>>18990516
"Grayson, I'd recommend you check for leaks. Someone's been talking far too much."

rolled 61 = 61

>>18990512
Well...they got us.

Is there any feed on where they may have gone?
I say we hack into the cameras on the way out of the building. Maybe even on the way to get a bite to eat and check the drop box. Kill two birds with one stone.

rolled 74 = 74

>>18990512
>>18990516
TRAITORS! TRAITORS AND HERETICS!

I WILL HAVE SOMEONE'S HEAD FOR THIS.

>>18990558
>>18990555
>>18990422
And this is why we will never fight again.

I say we go downstairs to our room, and take a nice long nap. We need to give our brain a break. Ask Azure if he can run a scan on our brain and tell us how it looks.

>>18990558
>>18990555

we should use our hacks to determine who sold us out.

"We have a mole." You say.
Grayson raises an eyebrow.

"They knew." You add. "They knew exactly where to fucking go."
"What if she had some kind of tracking implant?" He asks. "They could have locked on, and. . "
"SHE DID." You growl, standing up. "I KILLED IT. We. Have. A. Mole."
He's standing there, flabbergasted at your snarl. In fact, you're surprised your own anger.
"You can check your ship for leaks." You tell him, standing. Your arm is bandaged up, as is your torso, and you walk away, toward the fast-food place. "I'm going to go get something to eat." You say, putting on your repaired armor. Mark does fast work.

-

<Big news,> The dropbox said. <Grasshopper's been captured, and so they're starting an operation to return him.>
"I know that." You growl to the empty table. "And he's a she."
<They're being secretive, though, using all kinds of codewords I haven't figured out yet. If I figure anything else out, I'll send it here. Abel Out.>

Cyan suddenly spoke up. <There's a new entry, too.> He said.
<Show me that one too.> You say, taking another bite of horrible, horrible fast food.
<Grasshopper has been returned.> He said. <He's back in action, and apparently he failed his spy job, whatever that was, and that's how he got captured. Now they're gearing up for some other kind of operation, but not against EE. Against some other corp. I'm not sure which. I'll get back later. Abel Out.>

>>18990611
Leave a message for able, explaining everything we know about grasshopper.

Then finish eating, and go take a nap. Tell Grayson and our AI to wake us if anything seems to be happening. Oh, and see if Azure can run a scan of our brain and determine what is wrong.

>>18990628
Abel* not able.

>>18990611
..Well that is interesting. Maybe a partner corp with EE, or another rival?

At least the pressure is off of us for the time being. After we finish eating let's leave a message for Abel so he knows what happened. Tell him about the mole and see if he could find anything out about that.

Then we need a nice, long nap.

>>18990611
What if they're initiating a hostile takeover of Armatek, since their brass failed miserably except as a bunch of distractions, useless goons, meat for the grinder? Using their shit as a foothold for grander paramilitary operations against us?

I get a terrible feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more red Crysis-suited goons in the near future.

>>18990611
The plot thickens, but is the enemy of our enemy our friend?

Also throwing my post behind the sleeping plan. Maybe check on Amy before we go into a coma again.

<Let's leave another message for him.> You say, and start detailing everything you know about Grasshopper and her real fake identity as Natalie, and then you tell him about the mole. <Find out who it is.> You ask him.
That done, you finish up the meal, pay for it, and walk back to EE. You need a long nap.

<Azure, if you can, keep an eye on my brain while I'm asleep. Like, record it or whatever.>
<I will.> He said.
<Actually. . record it always. More data is better. Keep scanning.>
<Understood.>

Then you strip off your armaments, lay in bed, and fall asleep.

<It has been exactly ten hours since you slept.> Azure dutifully tells you. <Your brain activity is normal, but. . >
<But?>
<It's been re-organizing itself and regrowing itself at unprecedented levels. Your metabolism is unnaturally fast, and a normal neuroscientist would claim that it's impossible for your brain to function in it's current state.>

>>18990747
<And what do you say, Azure?>

>>18990747
Freaky, well no sense worrying about it. It's probably just optimizing itself for technopathy.

Get up, stretch, check in with people on how the events of last night panned out after we took a nap.

>>18990747
<So...this is good right? It IS keeping me alive, right? Are there any drawbacks?>

>>18990747
<And yet here I am are, functioning.>

Ask Azure to monitor our body, too, and track any relations between our brain and body state. Maybe we can slip into bullet time for a second and see what that results in.

Jun is likely to want to know this too. Let's call her up.

>>18990747
Did we tell EE that CD is planning an attack on other corp? We could become temporary allies and beat CD together.

>>18990747
<Reorganizing itself? So, are the nerve fibers shifting around and growing new connections? Am I losing and gaining new sections of my brain?>

rolled 90 = 90

>>18990747
<Clearly, our brain isn't fast enough. What can you do to speed up the neural expansion and upgrading even further?>

Also. Has anyone considered that, maybe... Abel is the mole? Or whoever is CLAIMING to be Abel?

We've already seen Natalie go all Terminator and shit. What if Abel is in fact robo-Abel?

If he is, we need to find and ice him, and get our fucking cat back. If not, then we'll get him to the safety of EE and away from his makeshift safehouse.

>>18990830
Man, that's just crazy talk.

<Reorganizing itself? So, are the nerve fibers shifting around and growing new connections? Am I losing and gaining new sections of my brain?>
<Essentially, yes. But you're missing key sections of your brain, and that's why you shouldn't be functioning.>
<Let's try a few things, then.> You say. <You monitoring everything?>
<Affirmative.>
You kick in bullet-time, and start messing around with your deck of cards, shuffling them. You could probably make a killing by stacking the deck next time you play futurepoker against Grayson.
You pull yourself out of bullet-time.
<That. . was strange.> Azure said.
<What?>
<Your entire brain lit up like a christmas tree. The weaker, smaller clusters of neurons ended up burning out, but the stronger ones got. . tighter, so to speak.>
<What are your thoughts, Azure?>
<I don't have enough data for an accurate theory.> He responded. <Perhaps Jun will be able to make something of it.>
<Well, let's go see what's happened since yesterday.> You say, sitting up, and Amy calls you. With a jolt, you remember that she had been injured.
"Daaaaave." She said. "My legs didn't get busted this time!"

>>18990862
"I hope nothing irreplaceable took their place this time."

>>18990862
Congratulations Amy. Also your enhancements to the Javelin worked great. Apparently my brain is kinda magical.

What's the damages aside from a few dead guards and Nat getting taken.

>>18990862
"I'm glad you're okay"

Go see jun and give her the data

Also tell how CD is going to attack another corp

>>18990862
So, here is my theory.

The implant is becoming fully symbiotic with our brain. It is taking control of certain functions and our brain is taking on certain functions. Areas of the brain that the bullfrog has taken over are withering and dieing off as we no longer need them. Areas of the brain that the bullfrog isn't assuming control of are growing larger, and stronger, and more dense as they have more room to grow and large masses of available nerve tissue to recycle, which I assume is only possible because of the bullfrog.

Am I close, Exabyte?

rolled 32 = 32

>>18990862
>>18990830
Don't waste that 90, sir.

In any case, my opinion? WE MUST BURN UP OUR BRAIN CELLS, AND USE THEM AS FUEL FOR OUR JOURNEY.

So our brain is undergoing some kind of bizarre, accelerated process of natural selection? Are we literally burning out the chaff and replacing it with MEGABRAINMEATS?

Fuck yeah.

>company, cadbdu
We already know who the enemy is, Captcha, but thanks anyway.

>>18990862
"Yeah. Something a lot more bleed-y did."

>>18990830
This deserves looking into. Abel himself might not be a spy, but it is possible that the dropbox is a false one. We should get Cyan to trace it. Maybe send out a message with a false information and see if CD or someone else acts on it. If the dropbox is trustworthy, Abel won't budge from his safehouse. If it's compromised, well, we'll cross that bridge if we come to it.

"I hope nothing irreplacable took their place this time."
"Oh, don't worry so much. It was just a lung."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay. Also, the Javelin worked great again. . when I could actually aim."
"It sucks that the parts are so rare and expensive. EE said that they don't have the funding to outfit everyone with them anytime soon." She said, pouting.
"What were the damages from the attack yesterday?" You ask.
"Well, a few injuries, but no casualties. And there's a ton of structural damage, but most of that will be repaired in the next few days. Grayson's kind of pissed off, and stomping around, though."
You nod. "Well, I have to go give Jun some data. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"Will do!"
Click.
Next, you call Jun.
"I have a few things to report."
"What is it?"
"Apparently, CD is going to start acting against another corporation for now, so we might have some breathing room."
"That's good to know. .but it might be misinformation."
"Also, I have some data of my own brain you might be able to look at."
"Come up to my office and we can take a look."

Jun stares.
And then stares some more.

"It seems. . you're developing some kind of. . symbiotic arrangement with the bullfrog." She says. "I- I don't even know how this process would even start, but. . it's started. For better or for worse."

>>18990937
>Don't waste that 90, sir.

This. Use it to track down the mole or something.

.....
...
..
So what was the point of the ENTIRE previous thread if you're just going to railroad us into having Natalie break out?

I really don't like being goaded into COMPULSORY boss fights.

>>18990982
I guess I'm just fucking weird. So I'm shunting bits of my brain's processing into the Bullfrog to make room for my brain growing in other ways? That's pretty fucking cool. Keep on looking into it.

Also when I do certain things, like enhance my reflexes by a ton, it lights up like a christmas tree.

>>18990982

See

>>18990938

>ignestsi teaspoon
You heard the captcha, ladies. Incendiary teaspoons for all.

"Seems like I am evolving into a supreme life form, a genuine Über Mensch." The next step will be to get rid of weaker life forms DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA! Just kidding..."

>>18990983
My support.

>>18991014
We had a choice. We could have gone down and made sure Natalie stayed put, or save the board of directors.

We chose to protect the board. It was a choice, not railroading.

>>18990982
>"Oh, don't worry so much. It was just a lung."

I'm pretty sure those are important.

Grayson's stomping around? Let's go see how he's coming with fixing the pipes and stopping that leak.

>captcha: are ereone
Are everyone moles? I hope not captcha. I dearly hope not.

rolled 50 = 50

>>18991014
The point is we now have Cadmium Dynamics running scared and trying to regroup to slap our shit with far more of their resources than they ever thought they needed or wanted to dedicate to getting our spine. And since these dudes are Russian plutocrats/corporatocrats... That means they're probably headed by NEARFUTURE CYBORG PUTIN.

And we just PEED IN HIS WHEATIES, and shat all over his plans, and humiliated his best covert operative, like it was no big deal. Despite being an oaf of an elegan/tg/entleman who happened to have his spine pulverized and replaced with swanky cybernetics that we don't even have proper control over yet. And this has all happened in the course of, what, two weeks at most, not counting the three months of coma prologue? We are BADASSES.

>>18991014
>Actually, you were given a choice to protect the roof, or protect the lobby. If you had all chosen the lobby, you could have pushed them back as part of your Protagonist Powers. Instead consensus was on the roof, and because of that, the Board is still intact.

"What does that mean?" You ask.
"It means that the bullfrog is acting as if it were, literally, part of your brain. As time goes on, the unimportant parts of your brain- the parts the bullfrog is acting as- stops rebuilding itself, leaving more space and brain matter for other functions."
"Other functions. . like?"
"I'm not entirely sure." She said. "I believe that most of what's in your head right now is primarily your perceptions, but your brain's structure is distorted by this point that it's hard to tell. What exactly was happening when everything lit up light that?"

"Oh, that was Bullet-time."
"Bullet-time?"
"I can will my perceptions to become faster. It makes everything seem like it slows down, and I get fast reflexes and everything."
"That. . would explain it." She said.

"Now, I have to go track down the mole." You say.
Jun paled.
"M-Mole?" She asked. "What mole?"

>>18990982
Ask her if she can identify any parts of our brains that are remarkably denser or larger than before. I hope our frontal lobe grew. Get that genius-level IQ going.

>>18991107
If our brain is reconfiguring itself to its new requirements, we should probably start reading a book on engineering or something like mathematics on the side.
Can't have everybody calling us stupid.

>>18991107
It was a precision strike, they knew exactly where to go. Someone is feeding them information.

Ok, we're going to start going through everyone's personal electronic devices and see if we find any clues there.

>>18991107
"Oh, well it only makes sense that we have a mole. They knew exactly where to go and what to do."

Kind of suspicious she got so nervous all of a sudden...

>>18991107
Way to go Dave.

Mole-hunting 101:
Don't let anyone know you're hunting.

Fuck.

rolled 82 = 82

>>18991107
Scan her electronics, quickly!

>>18991159
If she's the mole we're already fucked way beyond belief.

rolled 17 = 17

>>18991107
>M-mole? What mole?
Jun. Why are you stuttering.

Why, it's become well-known in the past few hours that we have a mole here in EE. A rat. A snitch. A traitor. A FINK. And they helped that two-timing terminator bitch from Russia get away, possibly furthering the aims of the no doubt unscrupulous Cadmium Dynamics and their shadowy leader, who's no doubt some form of cybernetic space Putin.

Now, I can see why you'd be surprised, if you hadn't already heard. But Jun, why are you so tense all of a sudden? So nervous? Why are you so pale?

You're sweating like a sow. Clearly, SOMETHING I've said has gotten under your skin and in your head, and so easily, at that. Like you're not sure how to deal with this mole-ness being brought up, out of turn. Like you're untrained to deal with this.

Is there something you want to tell me, Jun?

>>18991187
So, did we get a raise?

We should probably find Grayson and say sorry for yelling at him. I mean cmon, we are bros. Bros don't yell at bros.

>>18991192
Damn, no need to call her a pig too! That's just offensive.

rolled 18 = 18

>>18991192
Oopsy. Ignore that leftover roll, I forgot to clear the email field. Judge purely on the dialogue, since as far as I know we don't need a check normally for dialogue. 'Cept maybe that one time where we were faking a voice, but that's different.

"It only makes sense that we have a mole." You say. "They knew exactly where to go and what to do. Someone is feeding them information."
Jun nodded. "Yeah," She said. "Makes sense. I'll put Grayson on that. While you can go try to find out who CD are going up against next. Then I can try to talk the board into assisting them. You're dismissed."
You turn around and start to walk away, but then pause.
Why was she stuttering and blanching?
You close your eyes, and focus on her PDA.
<Dave.> Cyan tells you. <This has CD encryption.>
"Dave?" Jun asks you.

>>18991223
... Ignore that one too, refresh brought it back. THIS IS NOT PART OF THE AVERAGE. THERE IS NO ROLE. BEHAVE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. IGNORE ME!

>>18991234
"Jun...I know you've been feeding information to CD. Your PDA is encrypted with their encryption matrix."

rolled 35 = 35

>>18991234
Jun, sit down and keep your hands close to you.

Scan her for augs and start hacking the encryption.

rolled 80 = 80

>>18991234
>>18991192
CONFRONT HER. BULLET TIME. RESTRAIN HER HANDS AND PUSH HER UP AGAINST THE WALL. NO MORE OAFISH NICEGUY ANTICS AND GOOFY SMILES. THIS IS SERIOUS TIME. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOOING JUUUUN?!

>>18991234
Say nothing. We go and get Grayson. Say sorry buddy, I love you bro. Let's go kick Juns ass. But don't kill her. She is brilliant. Force her to work for us.

>>18991234
"Why did you do it, Jun?"

>>18991234
Well shit. Crack that shit.

>>18991257
No.

Gentlemen, we have a Coventry dilemma. Suggestions?

"Jun." You respond. "You're the mole, aren't you? Your PDA is using their encryption."
She's perfectly silent, but you hear her fingers tightening around the armrests of her chair. "You're dismissed, D-dave." She said, trying to keep her composure.

>>18991234
ENGAGE BATTLEMODE

Raise our drites and cause them to very audibly arm the gatling gauss cannons. Do not attack though, we just want to intimidate her. She IS the only one (we think) who really knows how the bullfrog works.

>>18991285
Jun, what in the hell is going on. Your reaction really indicates that they're holding something over you. Do you have kids?

>>18991285

Pin her down before she can make a move. She could try to attack us, destroy evidence or even kill herself. IMMOBILIZE HER NAO!

We can always apologize later.

>>18991285
"Jun, would you like to talk somewhere else? In private?"

We owe our life to this woman. We should at least give her the chance to explain.

>>18991285
"Damn it, no. I'm not dismissed! CD is doing their best to rip out my spine, which at this point would kill me. Are they paying you? Have you worked for them all along?"

Stomp up to her desk, slam our hands down, the usual dramatic argument spiel.

>>18991274
By the time we get Grayson Jun could be long gone. Restrain her now and have Azure call Grayson.

>>18991311
>>18991291
She at least deserves a chance to explain herself. Let's talk this out like adults, not need for 'drite-binding.

The retractible blades slip out of your mechandrites, and Jun twitches as they make an audible 'snck' noise. You turn around- her eyes are wide. "Why are you doing this?" You ask. "Are they holding something over you?"
She doesn't respond, frozen.
"You have kids?"
She starts crying.

>>18991344
Get the blades back in.

Jun, you saved my life, I owe everything of my current life to you. If you tell me what you know I can find them and save them. Let me help you, please.

>>18991364
This

>>18991344
From what we know of her character it's unlikely she's lying, but have Azure and Cyan try to run a quick check of her collegiate history. See if she's had any training in acting and the classic dramas.

>>18991344
We may consider calling Grayson (and only him) through our headset.

>>18991344

There is plenty of time to be nice after we have made sure that she isn't a threat to herself or others. PIN HER DOWN. After that tell her that we mean her no harm at the moment and want to give her a chance to explain herself. We can and will help her, we owe her our life.

>>18991344
Now is not the time for this bitch.

Hack the door. Lock it.

>>18991364
Seconding.

Also, let's copy Cyan into her PDA to get cracking on the encoding and serve as a bug. Don't let Jun know we have a fork in there.
The less she knows about what we know about her, the less risk of her accidentally spilling the beans to CD should she accept our help.

>>18991364
Very much this. God damn it guys, this isn't sociopath quest.

<Azure, do a check on her. Does she have any training in . . I don't know, acting or drama? And Cyan, enter her PDA and get cracking.>
<Working on it.>
Your mechandrites lower, and the blades retract. You step forward, and take her hands. You keep your mechandrites near, in case she tries something, but you don't want to upset her *too* badly.
"Jun, you saved my life." You say. "I owe everything I have to you. If you tell me what you know, I can help. I can help you, and I can help them."
She nods, and lets out a breath you didn't know she was holding. She sniffles.
"They call me Dragon." She says, and then shakes her head. "They don't tell me anything, anything. They just ask me things and I have to answer. I have to."

>>18991467
How much have you told them?

>>18991467
"Do you know where they're keeping your kids? What are the conditions. Will they release them when they have the bullfrog? How much do they know about me and my abilities? Do you tell them everything you know, or just answer what you're asked?"

>>18991467
>"I have to."
"Have to? Or else what?"

>>18991467
It's going to be alright. I am going to track them down and kill every last one of them.

How much have you told them, what have they revealed that they didn't know that they revealed.

We will need to discreetly fill Grayson in later.

"How much have you told them?"
"I-I told them about the prototype, after Garret- After he died, and then I told them about you, and- The Hammer, they made me give them one-" She's shaking now, her shoulders wracked by sobs she's trying to contain. "I told them that you can- that you can control augments. And I- I gave them Tolstoy's javelin design- And told them where the agent was."
She breathes heavily, closing her eyes tightly.
"Did they ever reveal anything?"
"Nothing but- but codenames. You're Bullfrog. Tolstoy is Naga. I- I don't know anyone else."

>>18991577
"I need to know what EXACTLY they are holding over you. What are the explicit consequences if you aren't forthcoming with information?"

>>18991577
What exactly do they have over you? I'm guessing your kids. Have they given you any contact with them? Have they given you any proof of life?

Ok, they is bad, but we can make this work. They don't know I know about this and we can feed them false information.

I'm sorry but we are going to have to tell Grayson and probably Tolstoy if we want a chance of this working. But we should probably keep this quiet and not tell the board until we have this dealt with.

>>18991577
<Cyan, Azure, next time we're at the dropbox, remind me to ask Abel about those codenames.>

"I need to know exactly what they're holding over you."
"T-They have my son." She says, clinging to you. "If I don't answer their questions..."
You suddenly hear something hiss, and a strange rolling noise skidding away from the door.
<Cyan, what's that? Can you scan it?> You ask, looking back to the door. It's ajar.
<I can't. Whatever it was, it's already gone.>

Guys. We need to get into contact with Oleg. While our knowledge of politics in Eastern Europe is sparse, those Cadmium Dynamics bastards no doubt have a great deal of influence. And Oleg is an Old Nordic name appropriated by the ancient Slavs, its oldest known bearer being Oleg of Novgorod, Oleg the Seer, who essentially laid the groundwork for ancient Kievan Rus. Hence, he's almost assuredly an immigrant from SOMEWHERE east of Germany; could be Poland, could be former Czechoslovakia, could be any number of the Balkan states, could be Russia obviously. If there's anyone who would know the most about their likely atrocities and want to see them brought down a peg, it's Oleg, and getting some support from him and his allies would be a great move.

Unless, of course, Oleg is amongst Cadmium Dynamic's agents...

>>18991577
"The Hammer? Don't tell me there's a Sickle in there too. Are we dealing with... With some sort of neo-Stalinists or National Bolsheviks? Using plutocracy, ironically, to get into position for a new revolution? I always knew those dirty commies would make a comeback somehow, going all doublethink on our asses!"

>>18991639
Damn, this conversation might have been compromised, fuck. Review security footage, check for electronics in that direction, find what happened on the other side of the door.

>>18991639
"Okay Jun, time is of the essence. Do you have any idea where they're holding your son? Have they given proof that he's alive? Video, a phone call, anything?"

Call Grayson, tell him we found the mole but he needs to ping the building for listening devices.

>>18991639
OKAY, SAVE THE SPECULATION ON THE HAMMER AND OLEG AND SHIT FOR LATER. FOLLOW THAT SPYBOT! We already have complete access to the camera networks, so have Cyan scan through to find the bastard!

>>18991639
Call Grayson. Immediate lockdown of all exits of the building.
Doors, windows, ventilation shafts if possible.
We found bug and need to stop it before it gets out.

"Time is of the essence." You say. "Do you have any idea where they're holding your son?"
She shakes her head. "They- they never told me. Sometimes they would let me- let me talk to him, but-"
You look back to the door.
<Call Grayson.>
"I found the mole, but that isn't a problem. Ping the building for listening devices- I think they left some kind of spybot behind." You say, already bolting out of the door, running down the hall. The elevator's already on the way down- it must have just been sent.

rolled 1 = 1

>>18991726
Check the security cameras in the elevator. They probably left something behind from last time.

Hack the Elevator and bring it back up, whether we force the doors to open or close depends on what is in there.

>>18991726
GET DAT FUKKEN BUG.

rolled 54 = 54

>>18991750
Oh, and roll.

rolled 24 = 24

>>18991748
Rolling for this guy, since he seems to have failed horrible and is about to have us pass out or some other horrible consequence.

You close your eyes and try to hack the camera. . But your head seems like it explodes, your vision going static. When you come to, you're on your back, and the world is hazy.

<How long has it been?> You ask.
<Five minutes. Jun is still in her office, crying.> Azure says, and you can hear her from here.

>>18991726
Lockdown! Stop the elevator and drop on it.

rolled 25 = 25

>>18991778
This, please! Wait, is the elevator even still running?

>>18991775
Fuck, whatever was in the elevator probably got out. Damn that 1.

Track the cameras, see what was in there and try to follow its path.

>>18991748
>>18991775
This is why we can't have nice things.

Call Grayson. Did he find the bug?

rolled 15 = 15

God damn you, shitty rolls! WHY DO YOU PICK NOW TO FUCK US OVER?

>>18991792
Maybe we should have burned that fate point...Since now, Jun might lose her son. This was a pretty significant plot point.

>>18991775
Let's hope our rolls don't influence Grayson's competence.

"Grayson." You say. "Did you find the bug?"
"I . . didn't find anything, Dave."
Damn it. "Did anything come down the elevator recently?"
"Yeah, I'm in the security room- I can see the elevator cameras."
"See anything odd?"
"Let me rewind. . I just see. . A few security officers, a technician or two, Mark, Amy, and. . That's it." He says. "Nothing strange. Unless one of these people are the mole. Dave, you said you found the mole. Who is it?"

>>18991831
"Grayson, none of those people were just up here. Was it coming from Jun's floor? As for the mole...well, I'd prefer to tell you in person. This is sensitive information and I think we can solve this without losing anyone of value."

>>18991831
I think the cameras could be looped. Did any of them come on from Jun's floor?

As for the mole I'd rather tell you in person, it's a rather sensitive topic.

"I'll tell you who the mole was in private- it's sensitive information, and more complicated than it seems." You tell him. "But none of those people were just up here." You say.
"According to my cameras. . Amy was."
wat.

>>18991639
>a strange rolling noise skidding away from the door.
>>18991831
>Amy

rolled 97 = 97

>>18991831
Cameras are looped, man. Cyan, fix that and give us a feed.

>>18991887
Ok, call up Amy.

Amy, we need to talk, meet me and Grayson, we have a lot to discuss.

>>18991892
Perhaps she's in a wheelchair atm?

>>18991887
Holy shit, why would Amy have a codename unless she was way more important than she seemed?

>>18991910
Her leg augs have roller blades or something, it was in one of the previous threads.

>>18991892
>>18991898
>>18991916
WE'VE BEEN HAD. AGAIN.

AGAIN AGAIN.

Don't let Amy leave the building! This is a complete and total lockdown!

>>18991934
Damn it Amy! We trusted yooooou! Maybe Mark and the techs were really on the elevator too! What if they're all in on it?! Lock the building down for god's sakes!

"Are the cameras looped?" You ask, and wave to the nearest camera.
"Not at all." Grayson said. "I see you waving."
You sigh. You're starting to get a headache.
"Don't let Amy leave the building." You say.
"What?"
"Complete lockdown. Don't let anyone leave the building." You say.
"Dave. . "

>>18991959
"DO IT! DO IT NAO!"

rolled 38 = 38

>>18991959
Grayson, I'll explain everything in a bit, lock it down, unless Amy has already gotten out, then let me out first.

Track Amy's augs, we ought to be able to find them. We might even be able to shut them down and get some answers out of her.

>>18991959
"Jun is the mole, and I think Amy might be another mole. Her code name is Naga. Snake in the grass reference? I don't know, but I don't trust anyone anymore."

Protect our spine!

"Grayson. Listen to me. Don't let her leave the bui-"
"She's not trying to leave the building, Dave."
You suddenly realize that you have no clue what is going on anymore.

She's not leaving the building because she is going to talk to THE BOARD.

>>18991992
Where the hell is she going? Things have gone a bit hectic Grayson. I would seriously like some answers.

Call up Amy, tell her to stop and talk to us before she does anything hasty.

>>18991982
I think you just went completely insane.

>>18991992
>Dave's face as he tries to get this confused catastrophe of espionage under control, not being particularly good at it on his own and far better in the domain of shooting shit and being a loveable goof

rolled 68 = 68

>>18991992
FUCK! Contact The Board NOW! Grayson might also be in on this!
If we don't have any of the number to any of the board-members see if we can contact them by hacking through the network.

>>18992023
I meant if she was fleeing the building and was a mole, and we needed to catch her, getting her legs out from under her would be a plan. Given that she's not fleeing the building it isn't necessary.

>>18991992
Sigh.

"Damn it...Okay. Here is what I know. Jun is the mole. I heard something rolling away from the door. I assumed it was a spybot but now I think it might be Amy, since she also has roller skates or whatever the fuck in her legs. I tried to hack the elevator and bring it back up, but I got sent reeling and passed out for five minutes." Check if face is bloody, and update him on the face-bloodiness status of our face.

"What's she doing?" You ask him.
"Just give her a little bit of privacy, Dave." Grayson said hesitantly. "She's crying in the ladies' restroom."

>>18992031
Grayson WAS trying to persuade us there wasn't a mole when we first came to that conclusion...Maybe it's time we ditch out on this and find Abel, go it on our own?

>>18991992
Promptly facepalm, then call an emergency meeting of Jun, Amy, and Grayson.

OUTSIDE the building.

>>18992043
Do the polite thing, knock on the door and ask if she wants to talk about it.

>>18992043
Oh, I thought that given the way my day was going that some other stuff was going on.

Find the restroom she's at the knock on the door, ask if there's anything she wants to talk about.

>>18992043
... Well fuck.

Just... Fuck.

"Grayson, this is substantially less of a clusterfuck than I thought... But it's still a clusterfuck."

Time to explain to him away from prying eyes, and try to get the team together so we can save Jun's son like the big damn heroes we're trying to be.

>>18992043
"I have no idea what's going on right now."

You facepalm.
"Okay. . " You say, taking a deep breath. You need to think this all out. Everyone needs to know what the hell's going on. "Grayson, get Amy and Jun. It's time for a meeting, but. . outside of the building. We can't know if there are any bugs or anything here. Actually, just get Jun, I'll go talk to Amy."

"I'll organize it, but where?" Grayson asked.

I've got it! Amy is actually James, Jun's son, and he/she is crying in the bathroom because he/she wants to tell his/her mother that he/she is actually her son, but can't because his/her dog is in their secret basement somewhere in Omaha and they'll kill it if he/she tells Jun...

Makes perfect sense.

>>18992106
"ANYWHERE, so long as it's private enough that we can't be conceivably spied upon.

>>18992043

>"T-They have my son." She says, clinging to you.
>You suddenly hear something hiss, and a strange rolling noise skidding away from the door.
>Amy uncharacteristically crying.
>"Daaaaaaave."

uh... guys? Am I the only one thinking this?

Calling it now. We're paranoid. And hallucinating.

>>18992106
Damn good question my friend. Somewhere private and definitely not bugged. Perhaps a public park where we can get some hotdogs.

>>18992132
Yes.
Go big or go home.

>>18992132
I'm not following you...But we might be hallucinating.

>>18992132
That would make sense... I guess.

"Good question." You say. "Somewhere private, and definitely not bugged. A public park?"
"Maybe." Grayson said. "I'll find a place, and call you soon."
Then he hung up. . and you take that chance to go talk to Amy.

You find yourself knocking on the woman's restroom door, feeling rather sheepish. Amy rolls up to the door, and opens it. Her eyes are red, and she's standing up on her augments, rolling around casually instead of walking.
"Dave." She said, with an unfamiliar edge to her voice. "What's up?" She asks.

>>18992200
"I heard someone rolling away, and checked the cameras. Saw you crying and thought I'd come down to see if you were okay..."

Wait, what if she thinks it's creepy we were looking at the women's restroom through the cameras?

>>18992132
>>18992200

Perhaps she just heard the conversation and became sad?

rolled 63 = 63

>>18992200
Ask her how much she heard. She should have the tact not to be specific about WHAT she heard, but we can certainly get how much out of her.

In addition, roll to disbelieve the fact that Amy is crying. Something... Something just ain't right about that.

>>18992132
Thinking what?

I'm not following you.

Please explain.

>>18992200
Quite a lot, but currently I'm worried about you.

Come on Amy, take a seat. How much did you hear?

Oh god, is this inception? This is inception because of that Nat 1 right? We're dreaming and we've created some kind of time-space anomaly, and everyone is in our dream...

It's the only logical conclusion.

>>18992200
"That's the same thing I was going to ask you. What's wrong? This is totally unlike you."

"That's just what I was going to ask you. What's wrong? This is totally unlike you."
She frowns. "Nothing's wrong. It's just the meds for my wound making me a bit loopy and emotional. I should probably sleep it off. Chow." She said, waving you off as she started to roll away.
"How much did you hear?"
She stops. "I didn't. . hear anything." She says with a strange hesitation.

>>18992292
"How many people have rollerskates in their legs, and could hang around outside Jun's office without being suspicious?"

>>18992292
squint your eyes
"yes you did....
please Amy, tell me what's wrong. We need to know."

>>18992292
DAMN YOU GIRL THIS ISN'T A GAME!

>>18992292
"Amy, there are 5 people I trust in this world. Well, and a cat - but you're among those 5. So please, be honest to me. I care a lot about you. We're going to have a meeting later to discuss the stuff you didn't hear. Kay?"

>>18992292
"It's alright, Amy. We're going to work this... This problem, out, as best as we can. We'll talk more later."

Guys, we left Jun.

<Azure, please keep an eye out on Jun in case she tries anything.>
"Grayson, would you please go see to Jun?
Please.?"

>>18992292
Give her a hug, an actual hug not a drite hug, come on Amy, you can tell me.

Me, Grayson and Jun are going to the park to talk about important stuff, you should come with.

Kill everybody.
Walk away into the sunset.
Move to the backwoods of Georgia.

>>18992292
"Uh huh, right. Loopy drugs or not there's gotta be a reason for setting you off like that."

"Besides, hiding anything now is pointless. I'm supposed to be getting you for a debreifing, and you'll hear all about it then anyways. Shit's hitting the fan."

>>18992328
Teach your cat to hunt bears.

Are we in autosage?

>>18992369
Yep.

"Amy, there are five people I trust in this world. Well, five and a cat - but you're among those five. So please, be honest."
She suddenly glares at you. "I didn't. Hear. Anything." She says. "I just saw you two were. . busy, and rolled off. I mean, it's none of my business if you want to-"
You facepalm. Now you see what was going on. She thought you and Jun were a couple.
"It was nothing like that. You'll hear what me and Jun were discussing soon; I'm supposed to be getting you for a debriefing."
She nods. "Where's this debriefing?"
"I don't know yet. Grayson's supposed to be finding a place."
As soon as you say that, Grayson calls.

"A graveyard?" Amy asks. The four of you were all standing around Garrett's grave, staring at Grayson.
"I, uh, don't know many places." Grayson said. "So, Dave, what's this all about?"
And then everyone turns from Grayson to you.

>>18992376
>Thought we and Jun were a couple.
>Cried in the bathroom.
WELP, looks like someone has a crush.

>>18992369
>If we're in autosage, here's a nice place to leave for today

>>NEXT TIME, ON NEARFUTURE CYBORG QUEST: DRAGON'S EGG??
>>End of thread 11
>>My twitter is @futureexabyte , And I'll be sticking around to answer questions until the thread dies.

>>18992376
Just in case ping for listening devices, ask Cyanshelp.

"Well, I found the mole. AND THE MOLE IS SOMEONE IN THIS ROOM!

Okay, kidding aside, Jun please can you explain?"

>>18992376
CALLED IT

>>18992396
>Cuuuurse yoooou Exabyyyte!

>>18992388
Told you she was keen a few threads back!

>>18992418
THis.

>>18992369
AND YOU TOO
WHY DID YOU BRING THIS UP!?

>>18992429
She wants to feel our strong 'drites wrapped around her.

Hopefully we aren't into footplay...

>>18992388
>>18992429
>Daaaawwwww
"You know your uncle will break me in half if I even think about anything, right?"

>Don't worry, I'll fix you :3

>>18992396
Curse you Exabyte, you always leave things on cliff hangers.

We're going to have to give Amy a nice mechadendrite filled hug and see where she wants to go with this. How old is she?

I'm willing to knock the age requirement down a bit for a mature, dangerous, techie and agent. She is also one of the very few people we trust, a definite point in her favor.

I'm still not sure Amy is of legal age. Wasn't the range 16-20?

>>18992470
16 isn't legal in the US?

>>18992480
Depends on the state. I think in some states 16 is legal if you're within five years of age. Still considered a minor though.

>>18992492
Huh, guess we Europeans are mostly rather spoiled in that regard.

>>18992509
Age of consent is 16 in thirty states, 17 in nine states, and 18 in twelve states.

>>18992470
>>18992468
> Eh, it was because I hadn't decided yet how old she was. I'll just go ahead and make her 'always have been 18' to keep things on the straight and narrow

>Even though legality doesn't exactly matter in this setting because you guys have explicitly murdered people with high powered weapons, which is very, very illegal.

>>18992541
You gotta draw the line somewhere.

>>18992541
It was in self-defense. Mostly.

>Cyberpunk nearfuture
>She has higher kill count than you
>Makes self-programming AI in spare time
>Both legs and lung replaced

>still care about 'legal age of consent'
>ISHYGDDT

>>18992581
> Actually, her lung is still intact. They just punched a massive hole in it. A serious injury if you have no medical care quickly, but not very serious if you have nearfuture doctors nearby.

>>18992581
I'd say we're catching up on the kill count and who knows in what shape our brain will end up in.

>>18992468
>> 'Leaving Things On Cliffhangers' is my true power! I discovered it early in this quest.

>>18992718
I really don't mind, you have a pretty much daily running schedule and are a damn fine writer. So I don't have to wait long for my fix. If you put lots of time between quests than I would start hurting.

Given how well our last "relationship" with someone we hadn't trusted or vetted went and the fact that she's awesome we should probably invite Amy out for coffee after we debrief everyone on the situation.

>>18992750
What, you mean we shouldn't be totally tsundere.

"W-what?! I-I just like you because you build me weapons!"

>>18992812
No, it doesn't really fit the character, and going tsundere on her just seems like it'll lead to bad times, she already broke down a bit when she thought we were involved with Jun, trying something like that on her would just screw everything up.

I advocate clear and honest communication, quick clearing up of any misunderstandings and plenty of overt affection. In short, everything that dense Harem leads never do.

>>18992866
Yes, I concur my good man.