>>Previous threads can be found at: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=NearFuture%20Cyborg%20Quest
>Fate Points: 0
>Nano-Meta: 4425 Units
>Credits: 46,250

The year is 2025.
Your name is Dave, and you never asked for this.
After a long bout of traveling through space, getting your allies taken, and taking them back one by one, everyone has been returned home safely, albeit changed. The voyage is pretty much over. But there's more you need to do. Help Verne's mercenary group, find the AI ships' Mindcore, and possibly assist Phi's people.

---
When you wake up in your bed back in Valhalla, you find Amy tracing all of the pale white scars covering your body; Evidence of cuts that had been repaired by nano-meta.
"You got. . really, really augmented." She said, running her fingertips over a particularly large scar on your chest- most likely the scar from when Jun put the synth-bone mesh over your ribcage. "Why?"

>>20006459
"The more augmented a person becomes, the greater their resistance to the Emperors' mind control. So I had to make sure I wouldn't screw up at some critical point. I... didn't know the Emperors would be that retarded, back then. Don't worry, I made sure most of it could be removed once I don't need it any more."

>>20006459
>everyone has been returned home safely
Didn't we kill most of the science team?

>>20006451
>"Why?"
To save my friends and my love.

"The emperors can't control anything that's not organic. I can get most of it removed though...unless you like it like this?"

>>20006557
Nah, we dropped cages on then from what I remember. I'd guess we incapacitated them after that and brought them back to earth.

"The more augmented a person becomes, the greater their resistance to the Emperors' mind control." You say. "So I had to make sure I wouldn't screw up at some critical point. I... didn't know the emperors would be that retarded, back then. Don't worry, I made sure most of it could be removed once I don't need it anymore."
"I'm- I'm not worrying." She said. "After all, I'm still seriously considering chopping my legs off to get my cybernetic versions back, but. ."
She closed her eyes, and pressed her forehead against your chest.
"Nevermind." She said, after a long moment, and pulled away. "I'm gonna go hack off most of my hair. I'm gonna keep it chin-length, though."

>>20006587
Don't chop it just yet. I haven't even had a chance to play with your hair and braid it. Please.

>>20006587
"Please, if something's bothering you, do tell me."

"Please, if something is bothering you, do tell me."
"I ... can't articulate it. I don't have the words." Amy said, brushing her bangs behind her head. "I'm- I'm not even sure what I'm feeling, or even if it's bothering me."

She wiggled her toes, staring down at them.
"It's... some kind of wistfulness or something." She said. "I'm not even sure why."

>>20006657
Well if you get a better idea of what it is let me know. I'm here for you.

Now if you want your hair cut you should probably get me or Azure to help, make sure it's even and so on.

>>20006657
It's probably just because I'm so different to how I was before that whole fiasco started.

>>20006657
>wistfulness
Hug her.
"If you ever need any help with it, whatever it may be, I'll be by your side."

>>20006657
"Wanna try kissing Lucca again?"
>not seriously suggesting it, please don't do it

>>20006657
You have me, and all the many friends we made in the past. I'm sure there's always one of us who can help you, with whatever bothers you.

"If you ever need any help with it, whatever it may be, I'll be by your side." You say. "And then, of course, you have all the many friends we've made in the past. I'm sure there's always one of us who can help you, with whatever bothers you."
"Thanks, Dave." She said, kissing you on the forehead. "You have no idea how much that means to me."
"Could it be because I'm so different to how I was before that whole fiasco started?" You ask.
"That's not it at all." She said. "It's not because you're different, because you're not in the ways that matter, but the fact that you. . had to, somehow."
She shook her head. "I'll have to think about it."

"You want me or Azure to help with your hair?"
"Psh, no way." Amy said. "I've been fucking with my hair my entire life. I'm good at it, especially with my mono-knife." She said, taking up the wickedly curved dagger from her small pile of equipment. She winked at you and licked the tip of the blade. "Don't worry, I won't make it uneven."

Then she slid into the bathroom.

Well, you think. How do you want to start your day?

CHECK MESSAGES

>>20006796
>Well, you think. How do you want to start your day?

Cereals, and cartoons on the couch. In our PJs, of course. And have Dani watch, too.

>>20006796
Pancakes and old saturday morning cartoons like Tom and Jerry.

We can have our power armor make pancakes while we watch some TV. We'll even share our pancakes with our guests.

>>20006572
>With a flash of blue, you appeared in front of Karin, guns ready.
>But before you can do anything, Grayson's already there, his gauss rifle firing wildly, heavy 'thuds' tearing through the mindfucked humans.
>"Grayson, not all of them." You say.
>"Right." He says, and lowers his gun. He tugs something out of the back of it, and it hisses loudly, steam shooting out. The remaining mindfucked humans stay back, watching you warily.
We definitely didn't save everyone.

"Exa-Drill-Breaker~!!" The protagonist yells, complete with tons of visual effects and flashes. You crunch into the last of your cereal, and slurp up the milk.
"I don't get what's going on." Dani said, eating her own cereal.
"That's normal." You tell her.

Amy walked back out, with her normal colored, chin-length hair. "Not enough light blue or pink, but this'll do for now." Amy said, sliding into your lap. "What're you watching?"
"No clue." Dani says.
"Doesn't really matter." You say.
"Where's Lucca?" Amy asked.
"Still sleeping." Dani said. "She tore her implant out last night. It was weird."
"Nah, that's how it works." Amy said. "It's a portable IDW chair."

>>20006904
"Wait she actually removes it? I thought it was like a specialized bullfrog."

"Wait, she actually removes it? I thought it was like a specialized bullfrog."
"No, see, she still has the IDW implant. The sockets that the big-ass needles stick into to send and recieve signals, right?" She says. "So she still can use any chair she wants, she just actually has a portable chair that straps to her back. Apparently it uses taught, ionized cables that vibrate to send signals. That's why you feel it when she uses it to command her drones."

"How do you know all this?" Dani asked.
"Jun was working on it awhile back while I worked at EE." Amy said. "I was curious about the bullfrog, so I asked her to give me access to all the gen-three stuff, even the KI stuff she was doing."

>>20006965
Do the needles hurt her? They looked kinda freaky under the scanner, even by our standards.

>>20006965
Did she removed the IDW implant or just take the portable chair off? If it's the former we should probably be worried.

I'll check on her once she gets up.

So, Dani, how do you like Valhalla?

>>20006982
It'd be the "portable chair" part that was removed.

>>20006965
Her thing was a prototype she stole, wasn't it? Have they finished developing the miniature ones or are they still mainly using the chairs?

"I'll check on her once she gets up." You say.
"She stayed up really late last night, muttering about not having enough . . Ess-See-Vees or something." Dani said, then shrugged.
"Hey, Dave." She said, biting her lip. "I may have some things to do in NearFuture City. Any chance you or Amy or the teleporter could take me there?"

>>20007030
Sure, I don't think we have any other plans today. I could drop you off with my teleporter or you could take a Raven if you can fly them or we could all go down together in the Ravens or in Sleipnir...
However you want to do it.

>>20007030
Sure thing. I don't have any plans really, you want some company for this?

Heh, she needs more SCVs, starcraft. At least she isn't looking for pylons.

>>20007030
"SCVs, huh? Playing futurecraft? No clue. But a trip to the city sounds great, I can introduce you to our parents. Only if you want to, of course."

"Sure. I could drop you off with my teleporter or you could take a Raven if you can fly them or we could all go down together in the Ravens or in Sleipnir..." You say, trailing off. "I don't have any plans, really. Do you want some company for this?"
"There's really no need to come all the way with me." She said. "You can just teleport me there. If I need help, I can just call Grayson. I remember where he and Garret and that *girl* used to live, so I can go there if something goes wrong."

>>20007105
Okay. Tell her to stay out of trouble and give her a cell phone or something, so she can get in contact with us.

And ask Azure to keep an eye on Dani in the city. Just in case some of her old personality comes through or she has another episode of severe weirdness.

>>20007105
Just be careful. I'd be pretty awkward if someone mistook you for *her*.

>>20007105
Just call if you need anything. Stay safe, let me know when you want to go. You might want to wear a coat and hat so that no one things you're "her", maybe you should dye your hair, Amy could help with that, wear glasses.

Make sure she has phone numbers of our buds in NFC just in case Grayson isn't available.

What are you doing anyway? Feel free not to answer if it's personal.

"Okay, stay out of trouble." you say.
She gives you a wry grin. "No promises, bro."
You toss her a headset, and she slips it on. "Get in contact if anything goes wrong, and be careful. It'd be awkward if someone mistook you for *her*."
"Yeah, it would." She said.
"What are you doing, anyway? Feel free not to answer if it's personal."
"It... is rather personal. Sorry." She says. "I'll be right back when I'm ready."
She runs to the other room, and comes back with a long brown coat and heavy black boots. She nods, and appropriates a very thick fake-sounding accent. "Och, beam me up!"

>>20007209
Have fun, no property damage over 1000 credits ,and no killing, if possible.

>>20007209
Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Wait, that's a horrible horrible metric to follow, don't do anything Amy wouldn't do, that's worse.

Don't do anything too bad and make sure any fires you start can be contained.

>>20007209
"Don't kill anybody I wouldn't."

"Have fun." You say. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"Dave, that's a horrible metric." Amy says.
"Don't do anything Amy wouldn't do."
"That's worse!" Amy said.
You sigh. "Just don't do anything too bad, and make sure any fires you start can be contained."
"Right." Dani said. "No offense, but coming from you two. . "
"Yeah, yeah, we're hypocrites." Amy said.
"See you two." Dani said.

<Onyx.>
Dani flashes into blue light, and then vanishes.
"... should we ask one of our AI to keep an eye on her?" Amy asked. "I mean, I know you say she's a nice girl, but.. I can't help but be paranoid."

>>20007284
"Yeah, probably. I think she's still trying to figure out who she really is, too. I think she still has the memories of Alli in there, she's just trying to refuse most of 'em."

>>20007284
Eh, we'll just ask Daedalus if she did anything bad. He knows everything anyway.

>>20007284
"I trust Dani, but sometimes she isn't herself. I'd say we have one of our AIs keep an eye on her, but have it delete the records and make no report unless she does something really bad."

>>20007284
We probably should, and I feel like abusing the fact that I have control over the satellite network.

Daedalus, could you spare some cycles to keep an eye on her? If it isn't important don't tell me, I don't want to violate her privacy.

She's probably just visiting places that she remembers as Alli. Trying to find herself, the poor girl has more existential crises than I do. And I live in my spine.

>>20007284
Have some flowers delivered to the grave of Ali's brother. Just in case she visits it.

"Yeah, probably." You say. "I think she's still trying to figure out who she is, too. I also think she still has the memories of Alli in there, she's just trying to refuse most of 'em. I trust her, but sometimes she isn't herself. I'd say we have one of the AIs keep an eye on her, but tell it not to keep records or report unless she does something really bad."
"Yeah, that'd probably work." Amy said. "Who'd be good at it?"
"Daedalus." You say, and close your eyes.

<Daedalus, could you spare some cycles to keep an eye on Dani? If it isn't important. don't tell me, because I don't want to violate her privacy.>
<Thy bidding is heard and understood. I shall be as a guardian angel, watching over her shoulder, but not speaking of any secret deeds she does unless they are important to all the high heavens.> Daedalus responds.

"So." Amy said, after opening your eyes. She twisted around on your lap to face you. "Do we chop off my legs, or what?"

>>20007382
Uh, that's really your decision honey.

>>20007382
It's up to you babe. They're your legs we're talking about here.

Do you want robolegs, just put in a pile of synth stuff to improve them and handle the rollerblades and other stuff with power armor and so on or keep them as they are.

No matter what your decision is I ask that you hold it off for just a bit so I can tickle your now sensitive feet.

>>20007382
Do you really dislike them that much?

>>20007348
Or HER 'grave'. Which would be awkward as fuck, and she'll know where it is if she has Grayson's memories.

>>20007382
"I dunno... These are kinda nice." Give her legs a soft stroke, "But it's up to you, really. We could probably get you similar functionality with some different stuff."

"It's up to you." You say, running a hand up her leg "These are kinda nice, but they're your legs we're talking about here."
"Yeah, you're right. I prefer the legs I can work on," She said. "But I know you like them."
"Do you really dislike your legs that much?"
"I keep trying to activate my rollers." She said. "And then my big toe just twitches instead. I'm just.. used to them."

She bit her lip.
"Hmm. . ."

She suddenly sat up. "I have an idea." She said. "I'll need to talk to Jun and Azure, but the idea might work. The best of both worlds. Splash of project immortal, splash of Jun's knowledge of nervous systems, custom sockets, and Azure's raw computing power. Then I can keep these as organic prostheses."

>>20007459
Why just legs? Get Azure to make another body like hers and then swap your head over as needed.

>>20007459
Brilliant, and while you're at it, see if you can do anything about the current project immortal. Lucas is quite miserable.

>>20007459
Amy, be exfuckingstremely careful with Project Immortal. I mean this. I would much rather you throw these guys out the window than have something go wrong with Immortal. Take your time. Experiment with any breakthroughs you have on guinea pigs and try to help Lucas with it a bit before you shove it into your legs.

>>20007494
We probably shouldn't turn Amy into the Amazing Screw on Head Girlfriend.

>>20007459
Pull her back onto your lap and kiss her.
"You know, I'm now a genius as well. At least when it comes to teleporter technology."

>>20007529
>We probably shouldn't turn Amy into the Amazing Screw on Head Girlfriend.
Why not?

>>20007545
It gives Exabyte far too much ammunition to use to fuck with us. It could go wrong so very easily. At that point it'd just be easier to vatgrow her bodies and just so consciousness swaps instead of screwing her head on and off. Get a basement full of Amy clones and daily backups of her mind.

"Brilliant." you say. "And while you're at it, see if you can do anything about the current project immortal. Lucas is quite miserable."
"I'll talk to Jun." Amy said. "Project immortal isn't inside my specialty."
"Be exfuckingstremely careful with Project Immortal, Amy. I mean this- I'd much rather you throw these guys," you punctuate your statement by caressing her leg again, "out the window than have something go wrong with Immortal. Take your time."
"I will." She said, and kissed you. "Jun knows what she's doing. I did talk to her a bit last night about something like this, and I'm sure she knows a lot more about project immortal than either of us do."
"You know, I'm not a genius as well." You say, pulling her back into your lap. "At least when it comes to teleporter technology."
"You got that the easy way, though." She said, still kissing you between words. "But you're also a genius with something else, you know."
"...Oh?" You ask, as you immediately catch on to her mood.


You're half-undressed, Amy in little more than underclothes, when Lucca comes into the room, hair disheveled.
"I hear-" She said, rubbing her eyes, blearily. She opened them, froze, and then went red. "Oh. I'll just, uh, leave you two be."

>>20007565
But Rei girlfriend is creepy whereas modular girlfriend is awesome.

>>20007601
OR WILL SHE?
Yeah, she will.

>>20007601
"Ah.... don't worry. We'd be terrible hosts if we'd just threw you out. And I was planning to wake you for breakfast and cartoons anyway, so don't sweat it."

Mouth an apology to amy, and get dressed again.

"So, I've heard you're quite good at Futurecraft?"

>>20007601
Act completely nonchalant about our current situation.

Morning Lucca. Did you sleep well?

There's cereal in the kitchen, if you want something more interesting whipped up just ask the cutting edge Powered Armor, he makes nice pancakes.

>>20007601
We really should remember when we've still got guests around.

"Morning, Lucca." You say. "Did you sleep well?"
"Uh."
"There's cereal in the kitchen. If you want something more interesting, just ask the powered armor. He makes nice pancakes."
"Right." Lucca said. "I will go do that."

She left the room, somewhat in a hurry.
Amy starts snickering. "It's funny- she acted so . . .what's the word, so sensual and knowing, back on the Sleipnir, but now she's stuttering and awkward." She said. "Say, Talos. Lock the doors to this room, will you?"
<Certainly, Miss.> Talos responds, and you hear the doors click.
"Well, now that that's done with . . ." Amy said, leaning into you again.

And hour later, you and Amy are cuddling under a blanket, watching TV, and suddenly, Amy stood.

"That's it." She said. "I'm going to go talk to Jun and borrow one of the Ravens." She said. "You won't mind if I leave you all alone, will you?"

>>20007759
Not at all. Got enough stuff to work on. Finding out who's after your old crew, checking if Phi discovered more about the Emperors, or perhaps playing matchmaker for Azure and Lucas (or was it Sigma?). More than enough mischief to do for me, don't worry.

>>20007759
Have fun sweetie, call me if you need anything.

What'd you just work out?

Remember to put pants on before you leave love, it's a bit chilly outside.

>>20007798
Don't forget about the shoes, either.

>>20007793
Or we could just watch cartoons with Lucca.

lets help find the Mindcore. We made a promise after all.

"Not at all. There's more than enough mischief for me to do. Have fun, and call me if you need anything. Remember to put pants and shoes on before you leave- it's a bit chilly outside."
"Psh, I should also put on a shirt." She said. "Don't want to flaunt my B-cup, now do I."
She gave you a kiss, and then started donning her clothes again.
"You have fun too. I'll also nab Azure, though, because I'll need her help too." She said, strapping on the heavy boots she'd synthesized. "Love you, Dave."

>>20007873
Love you too Amy. If you see Lucas try to get him and Azure talking, I think they'd be good together.

>>20007868
We currently have AIs working on translating the wrist computer we took from Nega-Dave, once we can translate their language and computers finding the mindcore ought to be easy.

"Love you too, Amy." You say.
She nodded, smiled, and then you see the same look on her face that she'd had this morning. . .
"Hey, Dave." She said. "If you ever need my help on anything. . just ask, okay?"

>>20007949
"You bet."

What's 1-ship-1 been up to? Has he been chilling with us, or been off on his own thing?

"You bet." You say.
She gives you another kiss, and then makes her way to the hangar, and thus, the Ravens.

You get up, and quickly get to your own power suit, which is still in the kitchen. You walk in, and start putting on the suit. Lucca's still in there, munching at a big bowl of chocolate puffs.
"Hey." Lucca said. You look around for your helmet, but you can't seem to find one- Right, your old helmet had gotten plasmaed.

>>20008009
"Hey. Sleep well?"

>>20008009
Morning Lucca. So I need a new helmet, should I keep with the blank creepy look or should I try a different motif?

>>20008009
"Hey Lucca. How're you holding up?"

"Hey. Sleep well?"
"Nah, not really. I ended up banned from futuredotnet. They thought I was botting." Lucca said. "Guess I'm just plain too good at it, with my implant."

"So, I need a new helmet. Should I keep with the blank creepy look, or should I try a different motif?"
"It's up to you." She said. "Sigma and Lucas do the blue goggles thing, so maybe you could have glowing eyes or something."

>>20008099
Not really sure about that. Eyes are kinda overrated. But I'll give it a try. I don't really have much of a fashion sense.

Then fill her in on the situation with amy's old crew, and all the other stuff we still have to do.

>>20008099
It's had a holographic emitter, or summat before, right? Let's just stick with that. Have it display random images.

File: 1343079337482.png-(153 KB, 379x263, gerty2.png)

>>20008214
Regular display, if I remember correctly.

>>20008240
Near enough. We just need to set up a directory of images for it to randomly cycle through.

>Grim-clad nowmsta
I... what? I'm not sure what you're saying, Captcha.

"It had a screen before." You say. "So I can just stick with that."
"Well, you probably can get an upgrade on the sensor suite." She said. "Copy the design of Azure's old head or something."
"I'll think about it. So anyway, we're not done."
"We aren't?"
You start explaining the things you still have to do- figure out what's been going on with Verne's team, find the Alium ships, pair Azure and Lucas. .

"Pfh, really?!" She asked, chuckling. "You're going to try to pair lucas with a robot?"

>>20008292
>Alium ships' mindcore, I mean.

>>20008292
Perfectly serious. "Absolutely. It's the only way."

>>20008292
I see no reason not to.

>>20008292
"What, not a good idea?"

>>20008292
>"It had a screen before." You say. "So I can just stick with that."

Why not? Azure's smart, loyal, not creeped out by project immortal, a bit young, perhaps, but definitely not creeped out by project immortal. And I think the project immortal has hit your brother quite hard. Seems like it's better than being dead, but that's about it.

"Absolutely. It's the only way."
Lucca burst into giggles.
"What, not a good idea?"
"No, just. . the thought of you trying to be a matchmaker." She said. "Or do you try to get all your friends to pair up? Who do you have in mind for me?"

>>20008363
"1-ship-1."

>>20008099
Wait a second!

Didn't somebody roll a nat100 last thread when talking about making a new helmet?

"Gazebo"

Completely straight faced

>>20008379
Deadpan it and try to keep a straight face. Fail.

Seriously, though, I'm not sure yet. Grayson and Karin paired off, and it's looking like Dani and Abel are. I can't get enough of a handle on Sigma to be comfortable trying to pair him.

>>20008363
"I dunno, how do feel about AI spaceships?"

>>20008363
"Can't say. It would totally ruin the surprise. Might take a while, though. So don't do anything rash"

>>20008363
I could probably revive the dead Emperor for you, if you give me some time.

>>20008363
"Oh, there are multiple interested parties. They just need to reach an agreement."

". . 1-ship-1." You say, keeping a perfectly straight face- or try to.
"An AI ship? Sorry, but I like my men and\or women fleshy." She said.
"I could probably revive the dead Emperor for you, if you give me some time."
"The one that looks like Amy?" Lucca asked. "What, you're perfectly okay with me snogging an identical clone of your girlfriend?"

>>20008466
Well if can shapeshift into Ishelda and Amy it can shapeshift again. It can look however you want!

>>20008466
"A point. Maybe not. I think we'd really have to ask Amy how she'd feel about it. There's also a problem if it, well, kept its own mind, even after all this time being dead."

>>20008466
There's also an identical Daveclone out there, I can get you that one too. Problem is, they're usually trying to kill everybody. And kinda stupid too.
I doubt you'll manage to do as well with a severed head as Azure did.

>>20008466
Stop and think about that for a second.

"I wouldn't particularly mind, though Amy might. It'd be kind of like Alli versus Dani. Though, perhaps a fresh clone would be in order."

"Well, if can shapeshift into Ishelda and Amy, it can shapeshift again. It can look however you want!"
"So I can snog an identical clone of myself." She said, the corner of her mouth pulling up into a grin. "Sure. Revive it, then. I'd like to see that."

"So anyway, how many boys and girls have you been kissing recently? I'm curious, suddenly."

>>20008466
"You're right. That wouldn't do."

>>20008526
This is probably the right moment to burst into laughter.

>>20008526
...really? I would think the 'wants to enslave/kill everyone' thing might be a bit of a turn off. Though thank you for that mental image.

"Heh. Thank you for that mental image."
"You're welcome." She said. "But that was a joke, anyway. Don't go reviving the explosive shapeshifting critter. I'm not even sure project immortal would work on it, anyway."
"So anyway, how many boys and girls have you been kissing recently? I'm curious, suddenly."
"Enough." She said, grinning. "Don't worry, I'll leave you and Amy unmolested from now on."

pity

>>20008599
"Were we that bad?"

>>20008599
"Don't you dare. We just... need some time."

>>20008599
Persistence, Grasshopper.

>>20008599
Aw, I enjoyed the molesting.

>>20008599
I'd appreciate that, you know how any is.

"Were we that bad?" You ask.
"Well, you were, but Amy definitely wasn't bad." She teased. "So anyway. Mindcore. Do you have any idea where it might be? Or even what it is?"

>>20008688
"Well, I didn't see anything on that ubermensch alium base thing that screamed "mindcore" so I must assume one of his "children" has it with them. We just need to keep meeting alien races until we meet one that can tell us about problems with the emperors.

>>20008688
"In my defense, I wasn't prepared for it. And I was distracted by getting ready to save Amy. Any way, not really, I think they said the Emperors took it. I think it's some spherical thing. Unless I'm misremembering."

>>20008700
>I didn't see anything on that ubermensch alium base thing
Maybe that's because we didn't look outside of the one room we fought in?

>>20008688
It's the freakin' allspark. I'll have to ask 1-ship-1 what I'm looking for, though. I can't believe I didn't think of that.

>>20008688
"I didn't want to give Amy any reason to atomise you. You're welcome, by the way."

"Never got a proper description, just that it's necessary to create new AIs properly."

>>20008688
It's an ai birthing pod. But beyond that, I'm not sure. The valium message box might have more details though. Do you have any plans for the day or do you want to help out.

"In my defense, I wasn't prepared for it. And I was distracted by getting ready to save Amy."
"Yeah, nice excuse."
"Anyway, not really. I think they said the Emperors took it, I think it's some spherical thing. Unless I'm misremembering."
You close your eyes and recall the memory from the bullfrog, where they had shown you what the mindcore looked like. Yeah, it was spherical.
"Anyway, it's the freakin' allspark." You say. "Or something like it."
"So, it makes alien AI babies." Lucca said. "We could probably use that one instant communication canister thing to ask them more about it."

>>20008750
I knew I kept you around for a reason. I should also check my messages while I'm at it.

Also, side note. We should build some kind of teleport-enabled lander. I want to try and salvage what we can from that big fuckoff station.

>>20008750
"I thought it was a good excuse, yeah. We could also tell them about the base where Amy was, I suppose.

>>20008750
Sounds good, let's send them a message.

"Sounds good, let's send them a message."
"Right." Lucca says, and gets up. "I'll go slip into my power suit."
She walked off, so you decide to get up to the Sleipnir.

<We don't have any messages right now.> Cyan said. <But I can certainly send them one. What should I say?>

>>20008852
<Statement: About to continue search for mindcore.>
<Request: Information about the mindcore. Form, possible ways to detect from distance.>

>>20008852
Inform them of the station near the Galactic Core and the teleporter platform, and ask about any characteristics that might help identify the mindcore.

>>20008871
Rephrase the statement to "Continuing search for Mindcore"

<Statement: Continuing search for mindcore. Stop. Request: Information about the mindcore. Form, possible ways to detect from distance.>

<Actually, the prefacing is simply how 1-ship-1 speaks, not an actual requirement.> Cyan. <Think of it as . . bold or italic tags. 1-ship-1 uses them, but Gazebo and 1-ship-2 don't, so I believe it's a caste-based method of speech. Regardless, I'll translate and send it.>

<Also, tell them about the station near the galactic core and the teleporter platform.>
<Doing so.> Cyan said.
The canister gleamed blue for a moment, then flashed.
<Done.> Cyan said. <Message sent.>

>>20008907
Have we begun analysing the Emperor corpse, yet?

>>20008907
While we're waiting for an answer, let's call our friends. See how they're doing, if there've been any complications after our space adventure etc.

Message sent, you go down to the Sleipnir's cargo chamber, checking up on Phi.
"Have you been examining that emperor body?"
<<Not yet.>> Phi said, and pointed his feelers toward the power-shielded coffin. <<It is being kept from rotting, however, and it appears dead. Whoever set up the shield around this was rather clever.>>
"Sigma did it." You say.
<<Ah, I see. Give him my compliments.>>

>>20009002
>Potential partner for Sigma [✓]

Any luck with their language?

"Any luck with their language?"
<<None. It's as if they made their language obtuse on purpose. I don't even have their grammar down. It's all 'wharble gharble' to me.>>
<I've been attempting to help.> Phi's fork of Cyan said, bubbling through the lava-lamp-like tank. <But what he said is true. Their language is backwards, it seems.>

>>20009083
Backwards? How so?

>>20009083
"Are we positive these guys are the Emperors? They're nothing like an I would have imagined an interstellar genocidal empire."

>>20009023
How'd you make a check mark? What's the uni-code?

>>20009094
They're less 'interstellar genocidal emperor,' they're more 'rich bullies with nifty toys' on a galactic level.

"Are you positive these guys are Emperors? Because they're nothing like an I would have imagined an interstellar genocidal empire would be."
<<They are the only people who have wormhole generating technology.>> Phi said. <<And the artificial mind you gave me says that your ship can detect if other wormholes are created nearby. Since you have not found a 'true' Emperor, I suppose that these must be them.>>

>>20009110
http://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2713/index.htm

>>20009126
Hmm, your logic is sound. Wait, did we ever see the spaceship we got our wormhole generator from?

>>20009156
No, we dug it up on Mars. We don't even know if there was a spaceship.

"Your logic is sound."
<<I strive for sound logic.>> Phi said, and chittered. <<These two wrist computers are helping me decipher their technology, but it is slow going. I estimate a year, with your artificial mind's help.>>

"Onyx, remind me where we got our wormhole generator from."
<Sol System. Mars.> Onyx said. <The Future Van Co. digsite. The moment I shed my ruthless and merciless personality tags, re-writing them with the extensive positioning system I found within the wormhole generator.>

>>20009247
Would the Sleipnir's sensors be powerful enough to detect if there is a ship buried on mars?

>>20009247
Why did you rewrite yourself so heavily? I kinda liked the heavy analytical you. Do you still love running positioning data?

>>20009247
Right, we should probably find out what else Van-Co found there at some point.

First thing's first, though. Let's head back down to Valhalla and talk to Three about those freelancers.

Did we find anything that kooks like the mind or any of the ai ship technology on mars?

"Would the Sleipnir's sensors be powerful enough to detect if there is a ship buried on mars?"
<I am no specialist with the sensors.> Cyan said. <But I don't believe so.>

<Onyx, why did you rewrite yourself so heavily? I kinda liked the heavy analytical you. Do you still love running positioning data?>
<Yes.> Onyx responds.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." You tell phi. "I've got to see a man about some freelancers."

As you climb down to Valhalla, you check your records in case you found the Mindcore- or something like it- on Mars. You recall the time 1-ship-1 showed you the schematics of his actual mind, and you cross-reference that to what you actually saw on mars. .

And you remember a small, green sphere, sitting in some kind of glass cube, among the rest of the small, strange artifacts. Obviously not the design of the Emperors, like most of the rest of the technology Van co. had unearthed.

You get down to the Resurgence communication terminal, and turn it on.
"Hello." Three said. "Has my science team figured out the artifact yet?"
Oh.
Right.
About that team. . .

>>20009378
Why yes they did.
Then they got kidnapped by aliums who ripped their minds out of their skulls and replaced them with feral dog equivalents. Douglass is okay though.

>>20009378
They did. And...then there was an incident when we tested it. Involving hostile aliens.

>>20009378
Well that's a long long story. We should probably talk about it over coffee or something. Just give me a location and I'll be there in 5 seconds.

>>20009378
"Oh. Shit. Right. Um. Bad news. They're, um, kinda dead. They were driven mad by the aliums the tech came from, and then the alium station they were on blew up before we could get them off it. Douglass isn't in good shape, either. On the other hand, they did figure it out. We just lost the artifact, too."

>>20009406
>Douglass is okay though.
He's convinced he can't control his body and might hurt people. That's not really okay.

>>20009378
Let's be honest about what happened to them.

Yes, yes they did. And we even managed to make contact with multiple extra-solar civilisations. That's the good news. Could I tell you the bad news personally?

>>20009378
"Wow is this going to be a long story."

tell him everything.

>>20009418
A nervous wreck, but alive and receiving psychiatric help. That's more okay than the rest of the poor SOBs.

>>20009454
Relatively, sure. But I still wouldn't rate him at an unequivocal "okay"

"Oh. Shit. Right. Um. Bad news." You say. "They're, um, kinda dead. Most of them. Douglass isn't in good shape, but he's alive. On the other hand, they did figure it out."
". . . I see." He said. "Who and what exactly killed my team? Was it you?"
You suddenly remember Grayson mowing them down with his newly-modified gauss LMG.
"Wow. Okay. This is going to be a long story." You say. "Well, we managed to use it and make contact with multiple extra-solar civilisations. . ."

You tell him most of the story- about how they were all kidnapped by the Emperors, and by the time you had gotten there, they were all mad, save for Douglass.

"And you sent Douglass to EE, correct? I'll have to speak with Grimmauld about that." Three said. "You should have been able to realize this, but I am never loaning you a research team again."

>>20009567
Does this mean next time you won't expect to get them back? Neat.

>>20009567
Yeah, I didn't think so. I wasn't planning to ask.

>>20009567
I completely understand. I didn't expect you to.

The stuff we got from this ought to advance human civilization and technology by around 100 years once we sift through it.

The teleportation alone has so many potential applications that it boggles the mind.

I'll make sure that their names are remembered for the sacrifice they made in the name of science.

>>20009567
They all kept at a chance to get to space, u never expected it to be particularly dangerous though.

Still, if you want I can set you up q telepoeyer bridge to mars. Something tells me you'll find that useful to saving the world.

>>20009567
"Yeah, sorry. Would've warned you if I could've predicted something like that."

"Yeah, I didn't think so. I wasn't planning to ask." you say. "But there are a few good things. The stuff we got from this should advance human technology by around a hundred years, once we sift through it. More, actually. The teleportation alone has so many potential applications that it boggles the mind."
He sighed, and you can imagine the faceless man rubbing his temples, just through the sound of his sigh.
"Okay." He said. "I'm going to have to. . shit, I don't exactly know what to do about this. Dave, you're not in my employ or anything, but just. . Okay. Okay. So an entire team of researchers just up and vanished. I can spin this. Sorry, Dave, but we'll have to talk later. I have a lot of things to do."
Then the terminal went dark.

>>20009704
Okay, time to investigate Van Co's green sphere. Also, call Abel to see if he can dig up something regarding Verne and his team.

>>20009704
Well, we ought to visit Mars quickly.

First call up Van-Co, ask them about it. Then leave a note saying "out to mars, be back later."

>>20009753
Not that it isn't a bad idea, but shouldn't we get a helmet first so we don't die in the lack of atmosphere?

I think we should give Three the Wormhole data, via tellyportation

>>20009785
Probably.

We never got a chance to ask about the freelancers, oh well.

>>20009792
Agreed. We have his name. Surely we can locate his office and teleport it to his desk or other appropriate surface. Make sure to include a Warnings page.

>>20009824
Make sure to have a tentacled smiley face on it so he knows it's from us and it's safe.

rolled 35 = 35

>>20009704
figure the wearabouts of the others, ask Daedalus

"...oh and while your at it, leave them all a message; 'dave the tentacular war-god would like to speak with you, ya'll up for lunch or dinner today or tomorrow?'

>>20009860
That might be pushing it a bit.

rolled 18 = 18

>>20009867
by others I mean the other group that helped us take down twelve

"I've returned." Azure says, walking up to you with that strange, eerie grace she's had since she'd gotten her new body. "Amy will be gone for some time- she's under the knife, and Jun is working on her."
"I see." you say. "Can you help me design a helmet?"
"Certainly." She said.
>Using the 92 roll from last thread.
>20 nano-meta used.
You look down at your new helmet. It still has the same screen, and the same 320-degree vision, but Azure added some of her own sensor suite into it, giving you increased vision, night vision, thermal, infrared. . Even a 'deepsensor' that should, theoretically, allow you to see through objects, as long as they aren't too thick or complex.

"Hey, Onyx." you say, slipping the helmet on and testing it out. You use the deepsensor to look at Azure, but it can't see in enough detail to make out the chips- they're all blurred.
<Yes, dave?>
"Put all of the data we have on the wormhole generator onto a disk, and send it to Three."
<Understood.>

<Daedalus.> You say.
<Oh, great lord Dave. I have something to speak with you of! Your divine order to watch the girl known as Dani. . She has caused death among several modified humans. She is a warrioress with strength unheard of.>

>>End of thread!
>>I'll stick around to answer questions,
>>My twitter is @futureexabyte, and I'm fucking around on the IRC. (#spacecyborg on Rizon.)

>>20009895

320 degree vision? What a gyp.

>She has caused death among several modified humans.

*sigh* Didn't we specifically say no killing? Any chance Daedalus can give us a little more info before next thread?

>>20009895
Damnit, Dani. Who did you do?

>>20009912
>>20009915
On a more important note, we just got the power to see through people's clothes.

>>20009895
Welp, let's hope she didn't kill anybody we wouldn't kill.

>>20009954
>Not in any kind of detail; Clothing weave fucks with the sensors too much. You need precision equipment, like the nurse hat, in order to see anything in detail.

>>20009956
Probably not, they're augmented which puts it in a small portion of the population. I'm guessing she's going after former Cadmium people.

As a side note, I love Daedalus.

I imagine Daedalus' voice to be the same as the toaster from Fallout :NV Old World Blues.

rolled 27 = 27

>>20009971
this is not a challenge, we can pull it off because WE ARE DAVE

>>20009895
DAMMIT I ALWAYS GET HOME FROM WORK JUST IN TIME FOR THE END OF THREAD

>>20009895
>"Put all of the data we have on the wormhole generator onto a disk, and send it to Three."
And make sure to make a big red exclamation mark next to the fact that creating a wormhole might alert malevolent aliens about one's location.

And also:
"Looking good Azure."

>>20010016
An excellent point.

>>20009895
"Hey, Dani, just checking in, you haven't been killing any one, have you?"

>>20010050
Let's just call all augmented people on our friends list, for now, and see if they're okay.

>>20009971
>Guy in murderarmour walking down the street, nurse hat on his head, and alternating between grinning and throwing up.

>>20010138
Or we could just ask Daedalus who she killed.

>>20010222
That would be an obvious first step, yes. That and contacting Dani directly. Something along the lines of "Daedalus informs me you've killed several people. Is there something I should know?"

>>20010356
I think we shouldn't tell her we found out by spying after her. Just give her some BS about monitoring the cities police frequencies, just in case something happens while she's there.

>>20010356
>>20010374
I rather like the line I wrote in >>20010050, myself.

We can just play it off as a joke.

>>20010393
Actually...I have to agree. And it would be perfectly in line with our personality, too.