>>24806284
"...I know a place. It might be, uh, risky, though."

"You remember that bio horror that attacked the station? Well, uh, he's drifting near some asteroids. But he's also friendly now, I guess."

>>24806284

"I know a place but i can guarantee you won't like what else is there Ellie."

mention devourer.

"i somewhat pacified him though."

>>24806284
"I know a nice quiet place, we could go visit Bob the Now-Friendly Devourer. He's probably missed me since I haven't seen him for a bit."

>>24806284
"I know a place. We can pick up a friend I saved while we're there.

It's the devourer. He's cool now, though. I swear."

"I know a place." You say. "We can pick up a friend, while we're there."
"What do you mean?" Ellie asked.
"You remember that bio horror that attacked the station? Well, uh, he's drifting near some asteroids. But he's also friendly now, I guess."
"... Fine, let's go say hi." She said, and frowned.
"If anything goes wrong, I can just see if I can stop him." Alex said.
"But what if you can't?" Ellie asked.
"I'm pretty sure I can." He said.

You wheel around the ship, and look through the navigational computer for the world... and you find it. It wouldn't take long to get there, so you kicked on the bubble drive.
Ellie just fiddled with her hands. "I don't know why I'm itching for that bat." She said. "It's not like it'd do anything to that monster."

>>24806388
Manifest a bat for her. Start playing Danger Zone.

"We'll just go blast some asteroids then get out of there. No need to poke, him, it, whatever."

>>24806388

"I gave it a lot of empathy and he thanked me shortly after i saved his life, i think we'll be alright."

>>24806388
"It's sleeping, so we'll just go blast something then head back."

"We'll just go blast some asteroids, then get out of here. No need to poke him. I think we'll be alright." You say.
"Alright." She said.

Around the world of Talus III, you came out of bubble drive. It was a small planet, without much of an atmosphere. The sort of planet that would eventually get terraformed, if anyone cared enough. Asteroids slowly spun around the planet, large and tumbling- almost as if the planet once had a moon that had been destroyed, somehow.

You felt a strange tweak when you looked at one of the asteroids- Devourer was inside of it.

"Yay, we're here." Ellie said, looking through the screen. "There's a lot of asteroids here."

>>24806388
"It should be in the locker there."

>>24806524
Alright, lets start over where the devourer is not. Give him a mental poke so he knows you are around.

>>24806524
"He's over in that region somewhere, so let's let him sleep and head the opposite way."

"Man, if he wakes up as we're blasting one...that could send the wrong impression."

>>24806551
>"Man, if he wakes up as we're blasting one...that could send the wrong impression."
I doubt it. I'm sure he's aware that we can sense him

>>24806524

avoid shooting at the one that has devourer in it, it might also be good to send out a message that we're not here to hunt him, just a couple of asteroids.

>>24806524
Send the Devourer a message that we're here to check up on it and blast some asteroids, and we'll be sure to avoid the one it's sleeping in.

Well we do this lets try to feed off of the kinetic energy of things around us.

Rolled 75

I wonder if Alex still has empathy while using his power. Maybe he can use psionics while blocking everyone else. Or maybe he's just used to it.

"He's over in that region somewhere, so let's head the opposite way." You say.
"Alright." Ellie said, pulling on her space suit, while Alex did the same. "Where's the gun thingy?"
"It should be in the locker there." You say, and point. Carefully, she pulled the ion laser out.
"This looks exactly like the one in the game." She said.

Gently, you push your mind up against the Devourer's, warning him, and he twitched. The asteroid cracked, and burst open. The headless humanoid made of coiled, constantly growing and shrinking tendrils stretched, and opened the eyes in its chest, looking out to your ship. It didn't move or react- but you saw its legs swelling, churning, as it turned its feet into ion thrusters, producing phaeron gas and the requisite electronic energy somehow. Neither Alex or Ellie noticed- the brown of his tendrils made him all but hidden against the asteroids themselves.

>>24806639
I think the complete shutting off of his empathy is part of why everyone sees him as a horrific monster.

>>24806652
Yeah, but he doesn't seem to see everyone else as a monster.

>>24806649
<It's okay! I just wanted to let you know we were coming by. You can join us, if you want.>

>>24806667
But it's clearly something to do with him, rather than him shutting down other people's empathy. Because people don't see each other as monsters when he has it active.

>>24806649
<Sleep. We won't hurt you.>

>>24806649

<wait, we're not here to cause you trouble! sorry to interrupt your rest.>

>>24806686
It might be a distance thing? I don't know. But even if it is something to do with him, shouldn't his empathy go away too?

<It's okay! I just wanted to let you know we were coming by.> You say. <We won't hurt you.>

In response, the devourer oriented its ion thrusters, and shot toward you, skidding to a stop and catching onto the side of Surya's engine. The entire spacecraft shook, and slowly started to spin. Ellie squeaked. "Was that an asteroid?" She asked, warily. She didn't look comfortable, about to go into space.
"Micrometeor, maybe."
"Can't those punch through hulls?"
"If they're going really damn fast and hit right." Alex said. "But those are rare. Most of the time they deflect off, I think."

Then, clinging to the side of the ship, Devourer sat, and waited.
<It will be less tiring for me if I catch a ride. If it is not a problem.>

>>24806741
I have a feeling that Alex going Pariah on Bob would cause him to attempt to kill 'that thing' to protect Heather.

>>24806761
"Okay, let's find an asteroid to blast with the laser."

<We were just going to shoot some stuff. Where do you want to go?>

>>24806761
<Any paticular place you want to be dropped off? Or are you coming with us to the station?>

"Anyway lets go out and blast some meteorites!"

>>24806761
<It's probably best if I let my friends know you're hitching a ride. They won't freak out. Is that alright?>

>>24806761

<j-just hold on one second.>

if they turn around now, they'll get spooked and bad things will happen!

"guys, don't be alarmed and don't turn around for the moment, please just trust me."

>>24806761
"Would you be less or more worried if I told you it was the Devourer holding onto the hull so we can give him a lift when we're done?"

>>24806761
"No, that was just the devourer hanging onto the side of the ship.

Don't worry about him, though. He's cool now. Almost died trying to kill the Void Queen, not because he was hungry, but because it was the right thing to do. That's why he was sleeping here."

>>24806773
>>24806761
To Bob: <If Alex uses his pariah powers, please don't attack him. It might make him seem horrible, but he definitely isn't!>

>>24806824
Or we just don't give alex a reason to use those powers.

<It's probably best if I let my friends know you're hitching a ride.> You say.
<Very well.>

"Would you be less or more worried if I told you it was the devourer holding onto the hull so we can give him a lift when we're done?"
"A little less. But only a little."
"That makes me feel a lot better." Alex said.

<If Alex uses his pariah powers, please don't attack him.> You tell Devourer. <It might make him seem horrible, but he definitely isn't!>
<Many things seem horrible, but aren't.> Devourer responded.

"Okay, everyone got their things on?" Ellie asked, giving you a Look.

Right! You forgot. You kick off toward the cargo bay, and climb into your exosuit.
It hissed, and the helmet clamped its way on, giving you full 360-degree vision, a heads-up-display, and had a handful of filters for you, from thermographic, to ultraviolet, to radiographic. With the thermographic view, you could see heat radiating into the ship from one of the walls, from an object shaped like a headless, bulky humanoid.

"You ready?" Ellie asked.

>>24806902
"Yup! Have you got your suit on tight? Let's go blast something!"

"Okay, what you gotta do is charge up the heat crystal inside first. Make sure you don't overheat it, or when the gas is streamed through it'll melt the containment."

>>24806902

<we're coming out, we'll be shooting a few asteroid to show off my gun, please don't get to close to my friends, they're very wary of you.>

>>24806957
I don't think we have to say this, I doubt he's going to come flying up to chat, and it's a little insulting to Bob.

>>24806990

until very recently he was trying to eat one of our friends, you don't just get over something like that in such a short period of time.

they have every right to be wary.

>>24806902
Ask Gae Bolg to not shoot Bob if/when he gets aimed at.

"Yup! Have you got your suit on tight?" You ask, as the rudimentary programming of your suit locked onto the frequency of Ellie's helmet.
"Yep!" She said. "I even got one of those armored UPA suits, because of my training. How'd you get yours, Alex?"
"They gave one to all of us when we went to the institute." Alex said.
"Let's go blast something!"
"Okay!" Ellie said, and twisted open the airlock. It hissed, and opened.
<We're coming out. We'll be shooting a few asteroids to show off my gun. Please don't get close to my friends, they're very wary of you.>

The three of you were soon out in space, next to the ship, standing on the wall as all of your magnetic boots held you there. Your exosuit's ion thrusters actually made it easier to move in space than the powerful machinery made it move in gravity.

"Okay, so... How do I do this?" Ellie asked.
"What you gotta do is charge up the heat crystal inside first. Make sure you don't overheat it, or when the gas is streamed through, it'll melt the containment."
She looked at the gun's display. "And that's three thousand, right?"
You nod.
"Okay." She said, and flipped the switch. The lasers on the inside started to heat up the crystal, and quickly.
"One hundred, two hundred..." She said.

<Would it help if I took upon myself a human form?> Devourer asked, from the exact opposite side of the ship. <I do not mean to make you wary.>

>>24807014
So? People change. Being passive aggressive like >>24806957 won't help things.

>>24807065
<Probably, though I can't say for certain.>

>>24807065
<Yeah, come ahead.>

>>24807065
"Truth be told, Ellie, I've never really used it when it's heated over 1500. So, probably best not to do that."

<That'd be good for them. You'd probably be able to come inside, too, if the two of them felt up to it.>

>>24807065
<Perhaps. I'm sure they'll get used to you eventually, though. Eventually.>

>>24807065
<Maybe. When we're done shooting at asteroids I'll invite you inside and we can get this sorted out. I don't want my friends to be wary of you either.>

>>24807065
<Probably, despite what most people say they do tend to jump to conclusions based on appearances sometimes. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, you don't have to.>

>>24807065

<That might help but i can't say for certain.>

let's keep Ellie from going over 1000 , maybe 1100, safety first.

>>24807065
"Let's start small, Ellie. Don't let it get over 800. We can build it up from there."

"Truth be told, Ellie, I've never really used it when it's heated over 1500. So it's probably best not to do that."
"Alright." She said, and stopped counting, flicking the switch again. "It's at eight hundred now." She held it up... and pulled the trigger.
The laser pushed her back, and she strained to hold it in place, as it slammed into an asteroid. It heated up from within, and it went red, glowing from within, and cracked, slagged rock and trace metal boiling out of the cracks.
"If that was hotter, the entire thing could've exploded." Alex said.

<That might help, but I can't say for certain.>
<I see.> He said, and started prodding your mind, seeking out images of people you'd seen on the street- ones you didn't know.

>>24807189

"let's not get showered by red hot asteroid gravel, try aiming for one further away, at 1000."

once the gun is sufficiently cooled.

>>24807189
"Yeah, that would've been awesome!"

"Heat it up again, Ellie. Let's try 1200."

>>24807189

still so much kick back, even after newt improved it for us.

>>24807189
"Yeah. Aim for a further away one."

"I wonder what I should make next? I've got an ion laser, exosuit and kinetic shields. I need to talk to some engineers and see what kind of crazy stuff they can come up with."

>>24807189
"Blast another one, then you can have a go if you want, Alex."

"Let's not get showered by hot asteroid gravel." You say. "Flush the coolant, and try aiming for one further away, at 1200."
"Alright." Ellie said, and pushed the coolant release. The gun hissed, cooling the everything down, and she turned on the heat.

The next lance of heat and death slammed into the asteroid, and it exploded, creating a nova of heat and steam, slagged asteroid chunks going every which way. With TK, you gently move most of it out of the way.

Behind you, you felt Devourer get to his feet, tugging at his biologically-created suit. His eyes were a strange, inhuman version of green, somehow, but he was olive skinned, dark haired, and actually rather handsome. His shoeless feet stuck to the hull of your ship, magnetic components built into his feet. Your technopathy didn't seem to recognize it, though, for some strange reason.
Then again, you weren't sure why you could see him now, despite the fact that he was on the other end of the ship.

"You can have a go if you want, Alex." You say.
"Alright." He said. Ellie flushed the coolant, and gave it to Alex.
"I'll bring it up to... how much? Fifteen hundred? Or sixteen?" He asked.
Ellie looked around. "I can't see him. That biohorror thing you were talking about."

>>24807315
"He, uh, clinging onto the ship right now. Also making himself look human. I can ask him to come out, if you want to meet him."

>>24807315
Oh wow.
Stupid Heather, calling Bob a biohorror.

>>24807315
"He's on the other side of the ship trying to make himself look less scary."

>>24807315

"he's on the other side of the ship, trying make himself look less scary, doing a decent job too if you ask me."

"flush the coolant and charge to 1400, aim for one slightly further away than the last one"

>>24807315
"Let's push my design limits to the max, here. Try Fifteen fifty."

>>24807315
"Yeah, fifteen hundred. I'd push it higher, but I really don't know enough about the crystals to be able to safely say what happens at higher levels."

>>24807315
Hey Exabyte, how heavy was that sphere we made, and the ones Isaac makes?

Because I'm thinking we get him to crush them down into flat panels, then mount them on the inside of the gun for better heat resistance.

"Let's push my design limits to the max, here." You say. "Try fifteen fifty."
"Right." He said, and flipped on the switch. You turn to Ellie.

"He's, uh, clinging to the other side of the ship right now." You say. "Also making himself look less scary. Doing a decent job, too, if you ask me."
Ellie carefully walked over the great slope of the entire ship... and waved. "Hello."
"Hello." The Devourer said- through the radio. Seemed he'd created some sort of biological radio to communicate with. Carefully, he stepped up, using his bare feet as usual. He wasn't breathing, or even moving much. Every movement was deliberate, and other than that, he was perfectly, utterly still.

Alex flipped the switch off, and pulled the trigger.
He slashed the ion beam from one side of an asteroid to the other, and the heat slagged a single line through the entire asteroid, like a sword slashing it in half. Both halves split, the steam and heat pushing eachother away more.

"He *did* do a decent job." Ellie said, looking him up and down. "He needs a real name. Not Devourer or whatever.

"Bob." Devourer responded, moving his lips in time with the radio signal he was emanating.
Alex looked back, and pushed on the coolant. He and the devourer met eyes for a moment.
Then he shrugged, and looked back to the gun, focusing on it.

>>24807459
>The sphere you made was a few hundred pounds heavy, and the size of a marble.
>The spheres Isaac makes are several dozen-to-hundred tons, and are the size of a softball.

>>24807460
"Yay!" Hug him, "I'm glad you like the name! You.. do like it, right? You can use a different one if you want, you know."

>>24807460

take the gun and inspect if it is still in acceptable condition after our testing, wouldn't want to have an accident.

>>24807460
"That's quite impressive use of biokinesis."

>>24807460
Ask the gun how it's holding up.

"Add a new coolant tank, and ramp it up to 1800. Might as well test it."

>>24807460
"You're really going with Bob? It was mostly a joke that I started referring to you like that. Not that there's anything wrong with Bob as a name" There totally is.

>>24807460
Hold out our hand to shake.

>>24807549

I've been toying with the idea to name him Kell, to keep in line with Exa's other characters.

>>24807562
Kell's Ellie's sister

>>24807572

that's Kale

>>24807572
That was Kale. But yeah, too similar.

First things first, you investigate the gun, and see if it's still in good condition after testing. Other than being low in power and coolant, it looked intact.
<How are you holding up?>
<I can go even longer. I can even go alllll night, if you want. Eheheheh.> The gun said.

"Yay!" You say, and pull Bob into a hug. You hear crunching and cracking as you hug him in your overpowered exosuit, but he had already healed himself by the time you pull away. "You're really going with Bob? It was mostly a joke that I started referring to you like that. Not that there's anything wrong with Bob as a name."
Bob tilted his head. "If you do not like it, I could also go with Kell. Though that is similar to her brother's name."
"... How do you know that?" Ellie asked, and took a step away.
"Telepathy." Bob responded.

>>24807618
he ate LOTS of Demiurge

>>24807618
"Okay, erm, probably best if you don't read people's mind like that. It's fine if you pick up things, but blatantly like that is slightly rude. I'm just trying to help you out, here."

>>24807618
<Can you go 2500? That would be the greatest.>

>>24807618

"well, choose the one *you* like more."

we can have Alex shoot one more time at 1600 and then we can call it quits.

>>24807618
"Yeah, we're uh... Telepathically linked a bit I guess you could call it? Anyway Bob, a name is something personal so don't let me change your mind."

>>24807618
"We're sort of linked because I made him. I'm not sure how it works exactly.

Anyway, go with whatever you want, it's your name."

>>24807667
I think trying for 2500 would work.... but keep a very close eye on it and it it explodes make sure to stream the gas away from anything important

>>24807667
>>24807751

kind of a huge jump from 1550, let's not go straight for 2500

"Okay, erm, probably best if you don't read people's minds like that." You say. "It's fine if you pick up things, but blatantly like that is slightly rude."
You turn to Ellie. "Yeah, we're, uh, telepathically linked a bit, I guess you could call it? Anyway, Bob, a name is something personal, so don't let me change your mind."
"I see." Devourer said.

<Can you go over 2500?> You ask the gun. <That would be the greatest.>
<I'll be as hot as you want, baby.> It said. <... As long as it isn't over 2650. That would be bad.>

"I do not know of any names." It said, and paused. "... There is a demiurg one that I may use, though. Skerghaul."

we still owe Newt that other crystal we made.

Skerghaul. Interesting. Nice to meet you Skerghaul.

Anna might not like it but we did just tell him not to let that stop him.

>>24807811
"Skerghaul? Okay then."

>>24807811

"i guess that works, Hello Skerghaul."

"Alex, Gae Bolg says it can handle 2500, can you try to slice through multiple asteroids in a single beam? the ones that are further away."

>>24807845
Anna will like that he took the name by eating the Demiurg's brain.

>>24807825
I know, I got veto'd though by a bunch of people saying it was a bad idea, can't trust her, etc.
>>24807811
<So Ellie went straight for overload temperature? Yeah, I definitely can't trust her alone with anything more advanced than a toaster.>

>>24807811
>Skerghaul
Isn't that one of the Demiurg that Omni talked about. His creator, no?
"I guess safe maximum would be 2600 then, according to Gae Bolg." Giggle, "Such a charmer."

>>24807811
<2650, got it.>

"Okay, I'm gonna test this thing properly. 2400, here I come. Probably best if you stand behind me."

Hook it up to the exosuit power and coolant supply

My theory is that Psions are just those that learn to use a psychic power that isn't their racial default.
all of UPA races are psychic by default because of empathy
the demiurg are all telepaths.
the crows seem good at tech
the star eaters "swim" in space.

>>24807875
Nope. Skerghaul was the awesome Ogre prophet in Sorceress Quest, I think that's the only other time the name's been used.

>>24807937
That's great and all but you don't need to post it in every thread.

>>24807937
>I should mention that the only technology you've ever seen the crows use is one carved a wheel with its talons- so that it could throw it like a discus into another crow's head. They're not part of the UPA because they're so incredibly laughably primitive. They're caveman-level.

"I guess that works." You say. "Hello, Skerghaul."
"Score gall?" Ellie asked. "Weird name."
"It was a demiurg I had plenty of trouble with. Welded itself into steel." Sker said. "Difficult to kill. Like me."

"Alex, Gae Bolg says it can handle 2400." You say. "I'm gonna test this thing properly. Best if you stand behind me."
"Alright." He said, and handed the gun to you. You step in front of everyone, and hook up the power to your suit and reload the coolant, and then flip the switch.

Slowly, it ticked up. At about 1000, the heating slowed, and it slowed even more when you hit 2000. It took almost a full minute for it to charge up entirely.

Then you held up the weapon, and pulled the switch.

A burning lance shot out, radiating so much light that your visor darkened considerably. You used it to slash an asteroid in half, catching another few in the blast wave as it violently exploded. The gun shook, and your exosuit strained to hold it still as steam and gravel shot from the melting, slagged asteroids you hit.

"Woah!" Alex said, covering his visor as you TK'd the asteroid shards away.

>>24807969
>I must have missed some one else having the same idea
this is literally the first time I posted it.

>>24808006
Yup, whoa.

This gun is the best. Long charge time though.

>>24808006
Squee.
"And he can safely do a 100 kelvin more!"

>>24808013
It was brought up in an afterthread a few threads back.

>>24808006

"And that ladies and gentlemen, concludes our light show for today."

>>24808027
>This gun is the best. Long charge time though.
we could shorten the charge time by adding more lasers

>>24808006
"Wheeeee! Best gun! Just wait 'till I rig Surya with a big one, and instead of magnets, I'll use bubble drive repulsors to accelerate it!"

>>24808050
>"Wheeeee! Best gun! Just wait 'till I rig Surya with a big one, and instead of magnets, I'll use bubble drive repulsors to accelerate it!"
a couple things wrong with this.
1. we need a license for ship weapons
2. the magnets are for suspension of the crystal and not the acceleration of the beam

If we aren't recording this, we should use perfect recall and technomancy to convert it into Trid or some superior analogue.

>>24808006
We recorded that right?

>>24808006
Put that shit on the futuretube. See how our other video is doing.

>>24808120
We record everything we see, silly.
At best resolution.
And 3D

File: 1368475166179.png-(18 KB, 473x269, biological imperative.png)

18 KB PNG

>>24808013
Sorry, I thought you were this guy again.

>>24808120
>Einstein always, always records pretty much everything he sees, though you have to dump or compress his vidlogs every few months.

"And that, ladies and gentlemen." You say, turning back and flushing a lot of coolant.
Ellie clapped and grinned, and Alex nodded.

Skerghaul was quiet. "I could also go with Duremvai." Duremvai said. "Or Kellardix."

He still didn't move. You went on futuretube to look at the video- you already had two million views. Not a lot, compared to the rest of the extranet, but it was speeding up as word-of-mouth carried things further.

>>24808049
Or just make the single laser bigger.

Also, fun fact, as long as the magnets keep the gas from physically touching the sides, there's really no limit to the level of charge that can be reached.

Except, you know, at the point where the plasma is releasing enough radiation to kill everything. I guess that's sort of a limiting factor.

>>24808203
>Whoops, forgot to add the other end of that first sentence.
>"And that, ladies and gentlemen." You say, turning back and flushing a lot of coolant. "Concludes our light show for today."

>>24808006
>that gun
makes me what to see what Newt could come up with using one of those crystals

>>24808203
What do they mean?

>>24808203

is it about time to return to the station?

"Sker, where did you intend to go?"

>>24808203
"There's no rush if you're not sure. Robin took ages before she went with Robin."
"Where to next, gang? Earth?"

>>24808223
well we did promise to give her the next crystal we made, which if i'm remembering things correctly was a few threads ago. therefore I think we should visit Newts with Anna some time soon

"What do they mean?" You ask, flushing more coolant just to be safe, powering down the gun so that the chemical cells could recharge.
"Duremvai is a squadname. Kellardix is the leader of the squad. They were once known as the toughest, largest demiurg squad." He said.
"There's no rush if you're not sure. Robin took ages before she went with Robin."
Devourer nodded.
"Where to next, Gang? Earth?"
"... We could go to Burer's Glyph." Alex said. "I can confront my parents. Maybe see if Nat remembers me."
"And where did you intend to go, Sker?"
"To the institute." Devourer said.

>>24808330
"...Ah, I see."

"It's probably best you come with us to Burer's Glyph for now. I'll message ahead and they can make...arrangements."

>>24808330
"Nat?"
"I think you should come with us, least hassle that way I'd guess."

>>24808330
"I guess that could work. I mean, you *are* a psion.

I'll need to send a message telling them you're coming, though. I can do that while we head to Burer's Glyph."

>>24808330

"Are you sure about that Alex?"

"you should let them know we're coming to visit."

put a hand on his shoulder, careful not to crush it.

I just realized that technically, Heather is Bob's parent.

>>24808330
"Well, we'll get back there by the end of the day. You can rest in Surya. The Burer's Glyph thing is just personal matters but do you want to come if we stop at Earth?"

>>24808330
Alright, so long as you don't try to eat anyone,
Speaking of food, you can regain energy from actual food right, cause in that case we can stop for some on Burer's Glyph.

>>24808330
"May I ask what you plan to do there?"

>>24808397
That was kind of the reason we didn't really want to kill him.

Well, that and his immortality.

"Are you sure about that, Alex?" You ask, and put a hand on his shoulder.
He nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sure." He said.

You turn to Bob. "May I ask what you plan to do, there?"
"Assist in research." The Devourer said. "The Kilik is the foe of all of us, and we need to gain weapons to use against them."
"Well, we'll get back there by the end of the day." You tell him. "You can rest in Surya. The Burer's Glyph thing is just personal matters, but do you want to come if we stop at Earth?"
"I may come, yes." The Devourer responded.
"I'll send a message to the institute telling them you're coming." You say.
"As you wish."

The four of you made your way inside the ship, and Alex and Ellie took off their suits. You take yours down to the cargo bay and strap it down, and make your way back to the cockpit.

The Devourer didn't seem to understand inertia. He wasn't strapped down, simply sitting down on one of the beds. You shrugged, and kicked into bubble drive.

Ellie was quiet, silent- but she did giggle when the devourer was launched backward off of the bed, his head going kawumph against the floor. He stood up, and strapped himself down in a chair, trying to keep what little remained of his pride.
"So, what did you want to confront your parents about?" Ellie asked.

>>24808475
>Got cut off!

"... Oh, right, I hadn't told you." Alex said. "ArmaTek were the ones that made me."
Ellie didn't say anything in response. She just met his eyes... and pulled him into a hug.

>>24808491
Join the hug.

"At least your parents had the sense to get you away from them."

>>24808491

"His parents somehow got him away from all that and went in to hiding. They were terrified of other psions, so after the near car crash on our way to the theater, they moved away."

>>24808491
"Your parents must have been very brave. We've seen the sort of thing they do when they don't get their way."

>>24808491
"They can't be all bad, right? They got you away from the company, and then kept you safe whilst you grew up."

>>24808568
>the sort of thing Armatek do
is what I meant.

Something happened to cloud our memories (Of the accident and Alex's parents in general) and I bet they had something to do with it. We should find out.

>>24808674
We should try and remember it again with Perfect Recall.

You pull Alex into a hug as well, and behind, Devourer didn't move a muscle.
"His parents somehow got him away from all that and went into hiding. They were terrified of other psions, so after the near car crash on our way to the theater, they moved away."
"The one you didn't remember?" Ellie asked, and both you and Alex nodded. "I was thinking about that. Maybe you didn't remember it because you had a nosebleed then. Maybe the brain damage messed with your memory?"
"Hmm.. And they can't be all bad, right? They got you away from the company, and then kept you safe whilst you grew up."
"Yeah, it's just..." He said. "Well... They never told me anything."
"You can't just tell your kid that." Ellie said. "Because that's what you were. Doesn't matter if you were adopted or saved, you were still their kid."
"Yeah, I know..." He said.

Burer's Glyph had a small military force, now, when you arrived. The Orbital was there, and messaged you, asking if you wanted a bay or a spaceport. UPA ships sat in orbit, some small corsairs, and a larger frigate.

>>24808710
And the time immediately after it, to see if they did anything.

>>24808718

which ever has the most protection for Surya.

(i'm not sure what the differences are.)

>>24808718

Technopathically wave at the Lancer. "Hi! How do you like defending this colony?"

>>24808768

Er, frigate, not lancer. I dunno what a lancer is.

>>24808761
A bay in the orbital and take a shuttle down or land on the planet in a spaceport.

>>24808761
>A bay means that you're docking at the orbital station, and taking a shuttle down, while Spaceport means you're landing on the surface of the planet.

>>24808718
"Yeah, don't be too hard on them. I don't think they could've ever broken it easily to you. How does 'Hey, Son, you were an illegal clone from a lab that we rescued.' sound?"

"Somewhere on the surface, please."

<How many of you are ArmaTek ships?>

>>24808794
Spaceport then

>>24808778
It's clearly a ship armed with loads and loads of ion lances.

>>24808718
On the planet, just in case we need to escape.

>>24808718
>>24808794

how well guarded are the spaceports at this time?

seems like a logical choice since i'd rather not be dependent on a shuttle in case we need to get the hell out.

"Yeah, don't be too hard on them." You say. "I don't think they could've ever broken it easily to you. How does' Hey, Son, you were an illegal clone from a lab that we rescued.' sound?"
"Good point." He said.

You tap the intercom.
"Somewhere on the surface, please."
"One moment, Surya." The comms said.

You quickly check over the spaceport. It had a lot more security than the simple tarmac Heaven's Jewel had, complete with locked gates and automatic tasering turrets for self-defense. You'd have to spend a bit more money for all the high security port, but you had the money anyway.
"High Security, please." You add.
"Done. Be careful landing, Surya." The orbital operator said.
"Thanks!" You say, and kicked your thrusters forward, slowing yourself down.

Technopathically, you reach out to the frigate.
<Hi! How do you like defending this colony?>
<Impatient.> The ship responded. <I could be doing so much good out there, but orders are orders. Be careful, okay, citizen? I'm doing my best to fight off the dark, but I can't help everyone.>

>>24808932
<You didn't hear this from me, Mr. Frigate, but ArmaTek is up to something!>

>>24808932

<you are doing a commendable job, sir frigate. I am very grateful.> with a bright Technopathic smile

>>24808969
Let's not cause the military ship to spontaneously start shelling a local Armatek facility while we're here, since the UPA would know we were responsible, and not be happy.

>>24808932
Take us down slow and gentle.

"I don't think I've come here before, Alex. You'll have to lead the way."

"In case this is a trap...just run and hide. Don't meet back at the ship."

File: 1368478249248.jpg-(48 KB, 184x184, 1324698036820.jpg)

48 KB JPG

>>24808982
Yessssss

>>24808932
"Shame I can't go walking around in my Exosuit."

>>24809022
>In case this is a trap...just run and hide. Don't meet back at the ship
What? But the ship is the safest place on the planet. It has Devourer defending it.

<You are doing a commendable job, Sir Frigate. I am very grateful.>

There was a pause.
<... I've never been thanked before, citizen.> It said, almost stunned.
You shoot it a technopathic smile, and take the ship down nice and easy.
"I don't think I've come here before, Alex. You'll have to lead the way."
"I should also probably load up all my stuff from my apartment, too." He said. "And pay the owner. Then we can head to my parents' place."
"That sounds fun." Ellie said. "Is there anything fun around?"
"The theatre." Alex said. "And some kind of improv acting group. They set up like, entire fights with these fake swords, and pretend to die when they're hit. The story's different every time you watch, because different people win."

Hovering over the spaceport, you slowly, slowly ease your ship in, and above you, the bay hissed shut. Devourer lay back in the bed, and curled up, his eyes melting away as things writhed under his skin. He simply lay back, and Ellie shivered.
"Anyway." Alex said. "We ready to go?"

>>24809213
"Hell yeah! I figure we go see Alex's parents first, that theatre thing, then we go help him pack up his apartment and stuff."

>>24809213

"will you be alright here by yourself, Sker?"
"if anything happens, please contact me."

we should probably head over to his parents first.

>>24809213
"Sure. What'd you want to do first, Alex?"

>>24809213
"Ready."
>inb4 Max contacted his parents saying Armatek might be after them like he did with everyone else's family and they've done another runner

"Cold, Ellie?"
We should bring Sker some foods when we come back

"Sure." You say. "Will you be alright here by yourself, Sker?"
"Yes, I will." He said.
"If anything happens, please contact me."
"I will."

The three of you make your way out of the stringent security procedures, and leave the spaceport, hands in pockets.
"So what'd you want to do first, Alex?"
"I dunno." He said.
"I figure we go see Alex's parents first, that theatre thing, then we go help him pack up his apartment and stuff."
"Sounds good." He said.
"Let's go!" Ellie said.

A few moments later, Ellie fell to her knees.
"THIS SUCKS." She said. "Why does this place have so many Gs?"
"It's only 1 point 1." Alex said.
"It's heavy." She said, and Alex sighed- and slung her up onto his back.
"How's that?" He asked.
"Better." She responded, and grinned. You weren't having much problem with the gravity- but that was because you were lifting yourself with TK to emulate your normally 0.8g.

>>24809560
Mental note to start practising higher Gs.
Never know where the life of a pirate'll take you.

>>24809560
"I'd lift you, Ellie, but like I said, you're slippery."

>>24809560

"have i told you guys that counteracting gravity using TK is awesome?"

at least we're getting a little bit of practice this way.

"Have I told you guys that counteracting gravity using TK is awesome?" You ask.
Ellie pouted at you.

The three of you walked across the street, until Alex found stairs leading down into a subway. The subterranian monorail worked almost identically to the ones on Heaven's Jewel, except underground, and soon enough, Alex hit the button to call the rail to a stop. The three of you climbed out again, and continued on, making your way to a small, cubic house. He knocked on the door.

There wasn't a response.

Alex knocked on it again. "Mom? Dad?"

>>24809632
Let's take a peek inside with our psychic powers.

Rolled 35

Quick Telepathy "ping" to see if anyone is in the house.

>>24809632
"Unlocked? Spare key anywhere?"

>>24809632
Telepathic Ping, stop Alex from trying to open the door and Technopathic ping in case of booby traps

>>24809632

in addition to pinging any mind inside the house, check for hidden tech.

Rolled 37, 45, 23, 90 = 195

>>24809632
Do you parents work out of home?
I hope Armatec didn't find them first...

So is it less or more embarrassing when it's somebody else's parents you see having sex in the mall?

>>24809679
Better safe than sorry

>>24809722
Less, especially if said other person's parents are hot.

You telepathically pinged the house, but you didn't feel anything.
"Unlocked? Spare key anywhere?"
"Let me check." He said, and looked behind the mailbox, in a small socket you hadn't seen before. He stuck his fingers inside.
"No key. Just this note." He said, pulling out a paper. He unfolded it, and read it. "... Alex, Do Not Open The Door. Love, The Rents."

You feel further- and then sense... A lot of explosives, inside.

A lot. Triggered by opening the door.

Quite easily enough to vaporize the three of you, actually.

>>24809749
"Mhmm. The door's rigged to explode. We'd best back away."

>>24809749
"Good advice, there's enough explosives packed in there to turn this whole area into a smoking crater."

>>24809749

Umm... step away from the door, let Alex know it's rigged to blow, then maybe tell the local government about it? That way some poor mailman doesn't get blown to smithereens?

>>24809749

"do not open this door, does it say anything else Alex?."

>>24809749
"Boobytrapped. That's advice we should follow."

"I guess your parents are on the run?"
"Do they have anywhere else to go?"

Do they have security cameras? Technopath them, and ask when they last saw anyone, and who it was.

>>24809749
Huh. We need to get better at this spidey sense thing. Aaaaanyway, let's head out to the theatre--we can find Alex's parents next time we're in iso.

>>24809749
"Okay, we're turning around and getting far, far away." Put arms around Ellie and Alex and drag them away from the giant fireball. "They rigged the place in case anyone tried to sneak in. You'd probably rather not know quite how much."

>>24809749
"Huh. That's a lot of explosives. I suggest we don't open the door. Any idea where they would have gone."

>>24809749
"Technosense is tingling for something big and fiery. They must've bailed and left this for if slash when AT gets here."

You take a few steps back.
"Good advice." You say. "There's enough explosives packed in there to turn this whole area into a smoking crater."
"... So, it would... be a bad idea to kick the door open like I was just thinking?" Ellie asked.
"Yeah, a little." Alex nodded.
You focus, and look for any security cameras... but don't find anything. You do see an old mount for one, but it had been removed some time ago.

"I guess your parents are on the run." You say. "Do they have anywhere else to go?"
"No clue." He said. "They figured that I would find the note, though. I guess we go find if they put any more notes in my apartment. They couldn't have been gone long. They sent me an email yesterday, and there was nothing warning me in there."

>>24809905
"Or I just do that thing where I look into the past."

>>24809905
Are there any hidden messages in that email?

>>24809905
"You sure? No messages encoded in an old childhood play style or anything?"
"I'll ping your place when we get there as well, just in case."

>>24809931
We could always ask it nicely for its cipher.

>>24809905

retrocog it up.

maybe look at the e-mail, see if it has any hidden messages.

>>24809905
"Right then."

>>24809959
This

"Are there any hidden messages in that email?"
"Not that I saw. Mom and I had a game where she'd make little codes and I'd have to break them." He said. "I'll take another look at it."
He pulled it open, and started to look.

You reach out to the door, and close your eyes, focusing, attempting to retrocog...

>Roll for retroclairvoyance!

>>24809905
"Let's not get too close to your apartment. I'll check it out when we're a few blocks away."

>>24809905
"Eh. Let's go to that improv thing now!"

Rolled 94

>>24810007

Rolled 98

>>24810007

Rolled 96

>>24810007
"Hold me, Ellie. Make sure I don't open the door."

Rolled 69

>>24810007

>>24810017
>>24810021
>>24810024

Jesus goddamn christ.

>>24810017
>>24810021
>>24810024

HOLY SHIT!

>>24810017
>>24810021
>>24810024
Oh my.

>>24810024
>>24810021
>>24810017
Holy shit.

>>24810017
>>24810021
>>24810024
nice rolling

>>24810017
>>24810021
>>24810024
Why couldn't we get this with our Light bending powers.

Why.

>You see really really clearly that there is no useful information here

>The Door gives not a single fuck

Eyes closed, you look far, far into the past.

>Tongue sticking out of his mouth, Scott finished wiring it up.
>"You put the note in there?" He asked his wife.
>"Yeah, it's all done." She said. "We don't have long until they're here."
>"I know. How long?"
>"The scanner says about half an hour."
>"Shit, okay. Most of it's wired. We got to go."
>Together, the two bolted out of the house, slamming shut the door, and sprinting off.

>Less than twenty minutes later, you, Alex, and Ellie arrived.

You open your eyes again, and faintly, very faintly, you can feel an exosuit, not far from here.
Moving.

>>24810118
Moving where?
Towards here or away?

>>24810130
>Moving toward you. Sorry I didn't make that clear.

>>24810118
Curious. It looks like they're not far ahead of us.
Maybe we're being followed by Armatec? And they don't want to be found...

>>24810118
"We should go. Those explosives weren't for us. They're for whoever's in that exosuit that's coming right toward us."

>>24810118
"They only left about twenty minutes ago. Whoever they were running from will be here in ten. I suggest we move very fast."

>>24810118
Use technopathy to use the senses of the exosuit. Let's see what's going on.

>>24810118
>>24810118
We gotta go. I think Armatek is on there way.

>>24810145
Technopathy, ask it nicely where it's from while "ArmaTek's following us, we should move on."

>>24810118
"Shit. We have to go, now!"
Change the exosuit's programming so it can't point anything gunlike at us.

>>24810118
God damnit I knew I was right when I said we should've walked them away from this deathtrap.
"We need to go, Now!" Wide Range Technopathy Ping and look for an opening with no Exosuits or seemingly combat tech.

>>24810118
<Model number and build requested.>

>>24810118

"something is coming our way, we need to go, now!"

i hope the explosion will not get innocent people involved.

>>24810179
>letting them know we're here
lolno.
Let's just fucking bail and get back to the ship

>>24810183
an exosuit, there's only one

>>24810118
"I think we're going to have to cut this visit short."

>>24810118
I think the faintness of the exosuit is that its one of Delta's. Remember how Sigma said she had problems with Delta's machines? We might have problems too.

>>24810198
That doesn't let them know we're here unless they've got a technician looking at the programming at this exact moment. It stops them from ambushing us on the way out.

>>24810118
"Okay, we need to leave. NOW."

>>24810222
Failing the roll would let them know.
Let's not chance it.

>>24810118
<Skerghaul, do you have the energy to teleport us back to the ship?>

>>24810249
Let's not bother him, we don't need to yet.

>>24810118
"We need to move."
Get back to a position where we can observe the exosuit.

>>24810281
Hell get out of here and just observe via the street cams if there are any.

>>24810272
I agree, but it might be good to let him know. <We've run into trouble, and might have to leave in a hurry.>

"Okay, we need to leave. Now!"
"Oh, shit. Okay, come on." Alex said.
The three of you ran, and you reached out to the exosuit.
<Model number and build requested.>
<NO.> It responded.
Utterly, perfectly cold. Emotionless.
Soulless.

You sped up, as Alex led you through the streets, and into an alleyway- and he stumbled over a foot of one of the men in the alleyway.

"Pariah." The man said, pulling back his foot, and pulled out a taser-

And collapsed, when Ellie slammed a rather large pipe into the back of his head.
"Come on!" She said, panting, and pulled Alex to his feet.

You heard a gunshot, not far ahead of you.

And then a small burst of gunfire.

>>24810329
><Model number and build requested.>
><NO.> It responded.

Aww, they've started Heather-proofing their machinery.

>>24810329
Grab the taser.

"It's Armatec, alright. I can't jimmy their suits, they won't talk to me."

>>24810329
"They're using manifested items, Alex!"

>>24810329
Crap, they have Delta building stuff that we can't work with.

Rolled 5

>>24810329
Shut off tasers and guns around us

>>24810360
Nah, it's just a Delta exosuit like >>24810211 said.

>>24810329

reach out mentally to see who's shooting.

"that exosuit is likely manifested."

>>24810329
Get in cover.

<Hello, Skerghaul, do you think you could teleport my exosuit to me? Thank you>

Rolled 2

>>24810329
TK shield, and get running again.

>>24810329
<They're using Manifestations, Alex>
Telepathy ping to find them

We could always ask the Devourer for help.

I'd imagine he'd go through an Armatek Killsquad like a chainsaw through butter.

>>24810329
Toss out a message to Max telling him whats going on.

>>24810329
Okay, technopathy isn't going to work here. Use telekinesis to just snap them in half. We're like the second most powerful TK user around. It should be child's play.

>>24810398
Exosuit and Ion Cannon.

>>24810398
Yesssssssssssssss
Exosuit time.

>>24810373
We just tried that. They're using manifested stuff that won't respond.

we're in combat, roll for everything.

>>24810431
It hasn't been requested.

>>24810431
No we're not, not yet.

"They're using manifested items, Alex!" You say, and take the taser. "It's Armatek, alright. I can't jimmy their suits. They won't talk to me."
"Damnit." He said.

<Hello, Skerghaul, do you think you could teleport my exosuit to me? Thank you.>

With a flash of light, your open exosuit appeared, and you climbed in.
"Why don't you have him take all of us back to the ship instead?!" Ellie asked.
"They're after my parents." Alex said. "I can't go back.

His shield cracked, a fraction.
Hiding behind that was a sliver of fury.

You reach out, mentally, to see who's shooting. On the road, not far from here, were three men in business suits.

Lying on the ground, blood pooling around them, were two people.

Two people who you'd known since you were a child. Alex's parents.
"Targets down." One of the men in the suits said.

>>24810474
Uh oh.

Rip and tear.
RIP AND TEAR.

>>24810474
MOTHER FUCKING..

<Devourer-Kun, Can I ask a favor? Get down here and save my friends parents!>

NOW BREAK THEIR FACES.

Rolled 35

>>24810474
Send them visions of our exosuit tearing them in half. Then jump out and create a self-fulfilling prophesy.

>>24810474
...Murder them.

Rolled 32

>>24810510
DICE ROLLING

Rolled 45

>>24810474
crush them

>>24810474
<Robin, get Theta here now it's an emergency.>
Charge at those business suit guys like... whatever a giant angry charging exosuit assisted by insanely powerful TK and with shield fists that can tear through the very fabric of space is like.

>>24810474
<Robin, Lambda, I need both of your help. I need to save two people who might have a lot of the answers you're lookin for.>

Rolled 18

>>24810514

>>24810521
Stop that, we don't roll for devourer.
I think.

>>24810510
Can he even use biokinesis on other people? He made himself unstoppable but he never just turned other people off like Theta does.

>>24810535
What are you even doing?

>>24810532
Blerg, I meant to say Theta.

>>24810474
Bludgeon the three men into unconciousness using TK.

Preferably in the most painful way possible.

>>24810539
Why would we? We're not Skerghaul at the moment.

>>24810510
this

Rolled 92

>>24810539
I was rolling for breaking their faces.

>>24810549
It's a better bet then waiting for Theta and Robin to get their act together and come over. We have no idea what Theta and Robin are doing, and we do know that Bob is free and idle.

Also he wants in to the Institute, and this will be a good demonstration of why he's a good guy now.

>>24810603
What's an even better bet is calling Theta, Robin, and Devourer and seeing who comes through.

You try to reach out to Theta and robin, but as always, your telepathy isn't far enough without technopathy to use as a crutch- and Theta wasn't responding on his personacom.

<Devourer, can I ask a favor? Get down here and save my friends' parents!>
<Yes, I will.> It said.
You growl, and hold out your arms.
The shields whir out, and start them up, and charge down the alleyway, leaving Ellie and Alex behind.

Stomping with an incredibly powerful exosuit, you leap over the crouched devourer, hands on Alex's parents. You grab the car between you and the suited men, and roll it, over them.

Something slams into your shoulder, knocking your suit to the side, and you turn-

There was the exosuit. The one that had said 'no'.

It also looked like they'd cribbed your suit design, somehow. And improved it. It raised the arm cannon again, and fired. You raised your own shield, and the thick slug deflected off, slamming into a nearby building.

>What do?
>And, of course, roll for actions.

Rolled 4

>>24810627
Crush its power source.

>>24810627
Shield bash should take care of it.

Rolled 41

>>24810627
Charge the laser, engage in fisticuffs with the suit while it charges.

Rolled 3

>>24810654
Also
rolling

Rolled 75

>>24810627

have Alex project a field on the suit, subduing the operator.

Rolled 55

>>24810627
RIP AND TEAR THE NAYSAYER.

Rolled 54

>>24810627
Use void spheres to crush it's internals.

Rolled 44

>>24810654
seconding shield bash

>>24810627
Okay, what if we used TK to reinforce movement. Sort of like negating the extra gravity, except for the entire body.

Rip the suit in half.

File: 1368483011427.gif-(2.1 MB, 500x281, 1356309357692.gif)

2.1 MB GIF

Rolled 96

>>24810627

TK assisted power jump, then rider kick down on top of the suit.

>>24810627
Also have devourer take them back to the shit, along with Ellie and Alex.

Rolled 86

>>24810627
Put shield on 'disintegrate everything' mode and punch.

>4
>41
>3
we fucked

>>24810627
How did they get our suit design? We've only had it a few days, and built it in a trance, it's not like we ever had blueprints to steal.

>>24810725
Maybe he's Technoscient?

>>24810725
apparently we've got a mole.

>>24810725
Delta?
But I'm pretty sure he's never been near it. What have we even used it for before this?

>>24810709
I love it.

HEATHER SMASH

>>24810770
With a 4, 41 and 3?
Yeah no

>>24810627
Shout at them: CEASE YOUR OPERATIONS OR BE DESTROYED

>>24810747
Wait.. we didn't upload any vids of our exosuit, right? Also, Lin.

Rolled 18

>>24810709
this sound just right

>>24810796
Speaking is a sin in battle.
Using energy for useless purposes that should be directed to destroying your enemies.

>>24810801
We did.
A few hours ago.

>>24810801
Lin's way too suspicious to be the actual mole. It's probably somebody we trust.

>>24810846

it was a vid of us testing the laser, while in our institute suit.

You charge the laser of your gun, and thunder toward the other exosuit. You try to shieldbash it, but it caught your arm, and threw you into a nearby building.
"Technopath here. The suit caught the interference. Thank Delta for me." The exosuit said, as you started the arduous process of getting to your feet. "Get the frigate to fire on the red suit."

It took a step back, and waited.

And waited.

"Orbital assault the red suit!" The exosuit operator said again.
Nothing happened.

And then you heard the suited men, trapped under the car, start screaming.

Coming out of the alleyway was a being of corded muscle and oily, greasy skin, knobbly legs, and fingers covered in the sharpest claws you've ever seen. A mussed up mane streamed down from its head, and it had sparse fur here or there. Great nostrils flared in preparation for... something, and a predator's eyes stared out. Fanged teeth hid behind the gruesome lips, as if it were created to kill something.

You took an involuntary step back from that... monster.

Devourer screeched, terrified, and teleported away with Alex's parents.
The exosuit raised the gun and fired at that monster.

It stopped in the air next to that monster, and it batted the shell away with a dismissive gesture.

>>24810853
He got it from the vidya we uploaded of us exploding rocks here >>24808203

>>24810874
fuckin' Alex.

>>24810874
damn.