>>24938687
"I was thinking about that, actually. I suppose that Devourer might be a physical representation of my biokinesis. Something like that, anyway."

>>24938687

"It could be because of the strange telepathic link Devourer and I share, you did use some of my power a while ago."

>>24938687
"I'm not sure about this, it's pure speculation, but I can awaken sentience in things. I think that I may have separated any natural skill I had at Biokinesis from myself and gave it sentience. It fits the situation, your body is sort of a formality considering that you've been crushed in a way that would kill pretty much anything and willed yourself back into existence.

It also explains the link we share, how I gave you power and communicated with you."

>>24938687
"It's kind of weird, for the two of us. I think he might has stolen my biopowers, but we also share a telepathic link. He's helped me and I've helped him, before. He's even used my Telekinesis."

"I was thinking about that, actually." You say. "It's pure speculation, but I can awaken sentience in things. I think that I may have seperated any natural skill I had at biokinesis from myself, and... gave it sentience. It fits the situation. Your body is sort of a formality, considering that you've been crushed in a way that would kill pretty much anything, and willed yourself back into existence."
The devourer didn't say anything, looking back to the biopods strapped to Surya. "It also explains the link we share."
"Huh. Can you do that to any other powers of yours?" Keen asked, an unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"She shouldn't try and find out." Sarvesh said. "That would be a waste, almost, because if it works, then she won't have that power anymore. Right? Is that how it works, Heather? Can you use biokinesis even though he's here?"

>>24938814
"I can't use biokinesis at all anymore. It just isn't there."

>>24938814

"to be honest, I haven't practiced Biokinesis at all after that..."

>>24938814
"I've never really wanted to try it. At all."

>>24938814
"I don't know. I find machines to be a lot more...forgiving, if you mess it up."

"To be honest, I haven't practiced biokinesis at all after that..." You say. "I find machines to be a lot more... forgiving, if you mess it up."
Everyone was silent for a moment, and then Keen chuckled and ruffled your hair.
"That's a good point. And it's your perogative. Something Max made very clear to us is that you're all supposed to develop your powers at your own pace. I'm not sure how he got the director to actually listen to him, but he did. He's a large reason why you guys have so much freedom, actually."
"I don't think we've ever met the director." Summer said.
"That's because his job has been largely taken over by the councilors. I'm not even certain if he still has a job here."

>>24938814
"After what happened the first time, I didn't try again."

>>24939009
"Who is the director anyway? What's his name?"

"I guess it's not all bad anyway. We've got Devourer now, and he's shaping up to be a pretty cool...thing."

>>24939009

"what else can you tell us about the director?"

>>24939009
"Does Max spend any time training his powers? I've never seen him doing anything."

"Who is the director anyway? What's his name?"
"Andrew McKinzie." Keen responded. "As far as I can figure, he has some sort of history with Kailynn, and he's been in and out of various UPA facilities for years. I have a feeling he was a secret agent or something, once. He's mostly hands off with you guys. Thinking of you as resources rather than people."
"Does Max spend any time training his powers?"
"Nope. Other than holing up in his room and sensing to see who's using what powers, at times. Trying to hone his nose, I guess." He said. "Max is... kind of strange, once you get to know him."

>>24939124
"Really? He seems like a fairly normal wolf."

"You know the research they were doing here before this place became the psionics institute? What made them shut it down?"

>>24939124

>weird love triangle : Manus, Kailynn, Andrew.

"I don't feel like a resource... I'm glad Max is who he is, they might have tried to lock us up and that would have been a bad experience for all of us."
emphasis on "Tried"

>>24939124
"A resource? That worked out well for the ArmaTek kids."

"I don't feel like a resource..." You say. "I'm glad Max is who he is. They might have tried to lock us up and that would've been a bad experience for all of us."
"Yeah, they'd end up hurt." Summer said.
"And Max seems like a fairly normal wolf." You say.
"I don't know how his wolf upbringing made him, but he seems kind of off to me." He said, and shrugged, getting to his feet. "Anyway, I'd probably get to sleep soon.
"Wait." you say. "You know the research they were doing here before this place became the psionics institute?"
"Yeah?" Keen asked.
"What made them shut it down?"
"There was an incident with dark particles. Jason almost died, and a researcher was paralyzed from the waist down. You... might want to talk to him about it."
He gave you all a wave, and doffed his top hat as he left the room.
"That was strange." Sarvesh said.
"Now I'm curious." Summer added.

>>24939259
"Yeah. Dark particles are always interesting stuff."

>>24939259

"Let's go find Jason." if he's not asleep.

>>24939259
"It's a shame it's so late. I doubt anyone will be awake, and I wanted to try something new with my powers. Jason will be asleep, and I can't work on my exosuit because I don't know where Anna's put the grenade launcher."

Find Jason.

"It's a shame it's so late. Dark particles are always interesting stuff." You say, reaching out. You can vaguely feel Jason, but he was asleep in his room. "I doubt anyone will be awake, and I wanted to try something new with my powers. Jason is asleep, and I can't work on my exosuit because I don't know where Anna's put the grenade launcher."
"It's in the Wyvern." Omnissiah said. "I have her access codes, and she will not be angry if you grab it." He said.
"Grenade launcher?" Sarvesh asked. "... That's almost worrying. Though I'm tempted to see if I can get a centaur exosuit for me."

>>24939345

"as long as you can get the license for it first, i almost got in trouble during our... trip."

"If it is not to much trouble Omni, let's go grab that grenade launcher."

>>24939345
"Are you sure, Omni? It'd be good to make a start on it, I think. Let's do it."

>>24939345
"I'll help you design and build it, Sarvesh! It's the least I could do for all the help you gave me with Surya."

File: 1369075375478.gif-(533 KB, 500x314, 1366681564842.gif)

533 KB GIF

>>24939345
Time to dual wield the grenade launcher and ion cannon with copious amounts of TK.

Also, we really gotta give Newt that crystal one day.

You think about it, and get to your feet. "If it's not too much trouble, Omni, let's go grab that grenade launcher."
"I'll come." Sarvesh said.
"And even though I'm useless with building things, so will I!" Summer responded, and the three started to walk.

Devourer doffed his hat. "Have a fun time." He said, and you waved back to him.

"Make sure to get the license for it first. I almost go in trouble during our... trip." You tell Sarvesh.
"... You didn't get a license for your exosuit?" He asked, and chuckled.
"I'll help you design and build it, Sarvesh!" You continue on. "It's the least I could do for all the help you gave me with Surya."
"Actually, I intended on purchasing it." Sarvesh. "We have plenty of alloy leftover from Omnissiah's old body, so I planned to buy a worker's exosuit, and armor it with all of that."

>>24939481
"Don't forget to paint it with danger stripes."

>>24939481
"But we'll beef it up with all cool stuff as well. We can't not do that."

>>24939481
"Well sure, I guess we could do it the easier but less fun way if you want..."

>>24939481
"Oh man! I totally forgot about that Demiurg alloy. We could get Isaac to flatten it down with some steel to make a really good composite armour!"

>>24939481

"... that's one way to do it, in hindsight, it would have been a whole lot easier."

"I don't regret building mine from scratch though, it helped!"

"But we'll beef it up with all cool stuff as well." You say.
"All the cool stuff comes built in." He said. "Air, hydraulics, ion thrusters... That's all, really."
"That's all?" Summer asked, and pouted. "Come on, you're going to make Heather pout at you for not adding, I don't know, some kind of phase dissonance ray or whatever onto your exosuit's back."
"Maybe." Sarvesh said. "But I can do plenty of cool things without strapping weapons to myself."

>>24939533

"I'm building you an upgrade for that suit whether you like it or not... please?"

>>24939533
"if you wrap a garbage can in gold is it still a garbage can?, come on sarvesh building it from scratch will be fun..."

>>24939533
"That's true. Teleportation is pretty cool. How much of that alloy from the Demiurg ship have we got, anyway?"
Also do >>24939525

>>24939569

don't be like that, it is still a beautiful piece of machinery!

"That's true. Teleportation is pretty cool. How much of that alloy from the demiurg ship have we got, anyway?"
"Quite a bit. It's light, but that's its only saving grace." Sarvesh said. "Other than that, it's worse than hull polycarbon."
"Maybe we could get Isaac to flaten it down with some steel to make a really good composite armor?"
"That would make it heavier, but as it is, the alloy is already stronger than steel." Omnissiah said.
"... Well, I'm building you an upgrade for that suit whether you like it or not." You tell Sarvesh. He looked down at you.
"... Please?"
"... Alright, alright. Feel free to make whatever you want." He said, and patted your head.

The lift stopped lifting, and you were again in zero-G, floating. Omnissiah thrusted with his ion boosters to the hatch, and after pressing some buttons, it opened, letting you into the Wyvern. Not long later, he came back out, a large crate in his hands.
"I cannot carry this in normal gravity." He said, pushing the large crate and closing the door behind him.

>>24939533
"You don't need weapons, but there's so much stuff you could add. Like a coffee maker! I bet you're missing having one with you all the time."

>>24939660
No need. I have TK! Been kinda neglecting practice though.

>>24939660
"Oh my. It's everything I expected. I can't wait to get started."

>>24939660
"Sounds like that alloy would be perfect for Ellie's speed-suit then."

>>24939660

"Omni, if you want more upgrades to your body, feel free to ask, i know it isn't relevant to what we're doing now but i though I'd put the idea on the table."

use TK and take the box with us, carefully, the ammo for the gun is likely inside it as well.

>>24939696
Oh yeah, we need to build that. That can keep us occupied until morning easily.

>>24939696
>>24939725

so many projects, so little time, Summer for power resting!

>>24939751
No, no.

Matter conversion for energy restoration.

>>24939761
You can eat as much as you want but you still have to sleep.

>>24939761

last time we used it, everything went radioactive, it's to early for us to use it to that extend.

"Sounds like that alloy would be perfect for Ellie's speed suit then."
"It would, probably." Sarvesh said. "Wait, Ellie?"
You nod, and take the box with TK, opening it. Carefully wrapped and packaged, you can see quite a bit of ammo, all within their own protective canisters.
"Oh my, it's everything I expected." You say, noting that the launcher itself didn't have a a handle or anything to fire with- those parts had been removed beforehand. Perfect for adding to a powersuit. "I can't wait to get started."

Some time later, Summer was pacing around, while Sarvesh examined the ammo, Omnissiah running through scans of your suit, trying to figure out how it worked. You finished opening up one of the wrists, sliding in a piston mechanism so that you could retract the launcher so it wasn't in use.
"This is very problematic." Omnissiah said. "Next time you construct something, please use blueprints or design documents. It's difficult to figure out where to put the ammo feeds this way."
"Looks like we got five types." Sarvesh said. "Nerve gas, customizable for human, nagala, and demiurg, we got breaching charges- they fasten into the structure before blowing up a shaped charge that way- then we got basic high explosive, and what looks like fusion. Or fission." He said. "And finally, electromagnetic pulses. Apparently the demiurg don't have shielding against that."
"Our spacecraft do." Omnissiah said. "But it is too expensive and cumbersome to add it to most of our weapons or armors."

>>24939817
"I just need to take them apart and figure out how they work. Then I can manifest whatever ammo I want in the barrel."

>>24939817
"Awesome. Now all I need to do is manifest micro --bubble drives then we'll have amazing kinetic impact rounds."

>>24939817
"I'm sorry, Omni. This entire thing was constructed in a haze that I barely remember."

>>24939817
>I should mention that the nerve gas is nonlethal, because futurenervegas.

>>24939817
"Sounds like a barrel of fun. I might start working on Ellie's assist armor now, but I'll try to manifest a lot of the internals. You can stay and help if you want."

>>24939817

"Sorry Omni, I sort of made it in a daze." might be worth retrocogging when we built it.

>Fission = mini nuke?

>>24939892
i was just about to ask.

>>24939817
"Oh man, I just had the best idea. Do you think we can boost the leg hydraulics and shock absorbers, then have them work in tandem with the thrusters? You'd get some mad air from jumping around like that in atmosphere."

>>24939900
Ellie's armor won't be too hard. We need an energy source, the plating, a skeleton, and various essential systems. The muscles can be biological ones made by Bob.

>>24939938
I'd be all for the organic muscles, but Bob's said they need a support system, so we should probably ask what that is beforehand.

>>24939481
>I planned to buy a worker's exosuit, and armor it with all of that.
Sarvesh Clarke?

"Oh man, I just had the best idea. Do you think we can boost the leg hydraulics and shock absorbers, then have them work in tandem with the thrusters?"
"It's likely the legs will just blow out." He responded. "Though I can't be certain, due to the way this is constructed.
"I'm sorry, Omni. This entire thing was constructed in a haze that I barely remember." You say. "I made it in sort of a daze."
"I was wondering." Omnissiah said. "Because most of this construction doesn't look like human technology. There are little to no decabulators."
You stop for a moment, and turn to face him.
"It's almost more like the most powerful parts of demiurg technology, without the decabulators to slow reaction time, but in certain locations, when required, you supplemented it with UPA technology."
There was another pause.
"This does not look like your work." He said. "It is most certainly not your design."

>>24939958
Blood vessels and bones and tendons and stuff presumably. Shouldn't be impossible to build that, but it seems less efficient than just using normal stuff.

>>24939989
retrocog time?

>>24939989
"But...where would I have gotten it from?"

>>24939989
"...huh. That's cool. I just made it in the most efficient way I subconsciously knew then I guess."

>>24939989
"I don't see how it can be anybody else's design. Unless I got it through the link with Devourer... He does use strange technology."

>>24939989

"That's... but how would i have known?"

retrocog?
retrocog.

tempted to try and use knowledge too if that even works but it will probably mess us up pretty hard.

>>24940041
>Devourer
>Uses technology
lolwat

>>24939989
"Maybe I pulled the knowledge from Devourer? He did eat all those Demiurg after all."

>>24939989
lets just look back and see what we did

"That's.... but how would I have known? Where would I have gotten it from?" You asked... and closed your eyes, focusing. "Maybe I pulled the knowledge from Devourer? He did eat all those demiurg, after all."

For a long moment, you take a deep breath, and focus...

>Roll for retrocog!

Rolled 40

>>24940073

Rolled 91

>>24940073

mystery!

>>24940050
He uses organo-tech. He created an organic bubbledrive and integrated some type of machinery into himself at one point.

Rolled 81

>>24940073
Memory for the Memory God? Thoughts for the Thought Throne?

>>24940073
"sword of omens give me sight beyond sight."!

>>24940083
Cease the rolling.

Rolled 43

>>24940097

Through the haze of your memory, everything swam, and then...
>Delta was sitting in his chair, rolling his way forward across the road, ignoring the drones that hovered around him.
>He rolled forward, and laid his eyes upon stolen demiurg power armor, taken by Armatek and given to him. He held out a hand, and... Learned.
>
>It didn't take long for parts and machinery to materialize from nothing, levitating within the air, assembling itself.
>That.... that wasn't a bad design, actually...
>Part of you, an unconscious, subconscious part, filed it away for future usage-
>... "Who's there?" Delta asked, looking around.
>You woke up, warm as you've ever been, snuggling with something leathery, covered in pillows. You opened your eyes to find that you were hugging Pheles tightly, blankets swathed around the two of you.
You opened your eyes a second time, and you were standing in the hangar. Omnissiah and Sarvesh were giving you looks, while Summer stared down at something she was manifesting, pulsing and quaking.

>>24940220
"Huh... okay, turns out Delta didn't steal my design, I stole his."

>>24940220
"Yeah, it is Demiurg tech."

>>24940220
"I learned it from... Delta. I saw him Learn and then assemble a demiurg power armour. Back when I was snuggling Pheles."

>>24940220

>what a twist!

"... turns out, i stole the design off of Delta..."

keep an eye on summer, can't have her dripping brain all over the floor, if that doesn't happen, don't interfere.

>>24940220
"Looks like I'm just as much of a thief as ArmaTek is. It's a Demiurg design that I snagged."

>>24940220
"You gotta teach me about Demiurg tech, Omni. They have some pretty good stuff."

>>24940220
"Whatcha doin', Summer?"

Apparently while I sleep I go cribbing other peoples designs. I stole this from when Delta was looking at Demiurge armor.

"... I learned it from... Delta." You say. "I saw him learn and then assemble a demiurg power armor. Back when I was snuggling Pheles."
"That night that you stayed on our world?" Sarvesh asked. "Last weekend?"
You nod.
"It's a mostly-demiurg design that I snagged." You say. "You gotta teach me about Demiurg tech, Omni. They have some pretty good stuff."
"Their strength is their simplicity." Omnissiah said. "UPA technology is incredibly complex, at times, with microcomputers within everything, in the form of decabulators. The demiurg produce simpler objects, and at times, that complexity is a hinderance rather than a boon." He said.

"There is also the fact that despite being not as technologically advanced, they're more intelligent than UPA races, save, perhaps, AIs."
You nod, and turn to Summer.
"Whatcha doin', Summer?"
"This!" She said, and suddenly a young girl in a dress appeared, her red hair in ponytails.
Lil'heather looked up at you- then grinned, and pulled Einstein into a hug.

>>24940339
"Wanna rid on my shoulders, me?"

>>24940339

"i'm so cute~!"

>>24940339
"D'AAAAAAAAAAAAW"

>>24940357
*ride

>>24940339
" I am so cutie!" spin her around and walk around with her on our shoulders.

>>24940339
"Huh. Hi, mini me!"

>>24940339
God damn, Summer is good at distracting us.

Should also work on Ellie's free runner power-assist armor.

"I'm so cute!" You say. "Wanna ride on my shoulders, me?"
"No!" She said, and giggled. "I wanna ride on his!"
With her spare arm, she pointed at Sarvesh, and started scrabbling up his leg, flumphing down on his back.
"This is my workshop!" She said confidently, and hugged Sarvesh from behind. "An' he can walk around an' everything!"
"... I'm wholly unprepared for this." Sarvesh said.
"Well, you come from a species where your young can't walk." Summer said.

>>24940417

"was i like this when i was young? i don't quite remember."

>>24940417
"You have managed to perfectly replicate my younger years."

>>24940417
"That is far too accurate. I've always wanted a mobile workshop."

>>24940417
"A good workshop needs tools!"

Manifest a mini-toolkit and some parts.

>>24940469
yes

"... You have managed to perfectly replicate my younger years." You say. "A good workshop needs tools!"

You focus, and a miniature toolkit appeared, made mostly of plastic, but otherwise identical to normal tools, and Lil'heather looked down at it- then back up at you, eyes wide.

A red-headed little girl suddenly bodily leapt from Sarvesh's back, knocking you back as she gave you a hug. "Yay! Steiny, isn't she nice?"
Einstein chirped an affirmative.

A moment later, she looked at you again.
"My name is Heather. what's yours?"

>>24940541
"I'm also Heather!"

>>24940541
Heather, the Pirate king

>>24940541
"What a coincidence! My name is also Heather! That must mean we're twins!"

>>24940541

"what a coincidence, my name is Heather too!"

>operation twin terror GO!

>>24940541
"My name is Heather too! Why don't I be Big Heather and you be Lil' Heather?"
>inb4 I wanna be big heather!

>>24940541
"Do you wanna help me build something, Heather?"

>>24940581

if she wants it let her have it, it'll be more fun introducing her as the big one, she's got the guts for it!

"Heather, the pirate king!" You say.
"Woooow." She said. "You don't got an eyepatch, though! You need one."
She screwed shut her eyes for a moment, and suddenly, you couldn't see out of one eye, as an eyepatch manifested on.
"There! But why are we both heather?"
"What a coincidence! That must mean we're twins!"
"But twins are the same." She said, and frowned at you. "You're a looot older. You're like, big enough to be a mom!"
"Why don't I be Big Heather and you be lil'heather?"
"Nah, that's too complicated. And silly. You can just be Heather, and I'll be the pirate king, like dad!"
She snatched at your sudden eyepatch, and pulled it on.

>>24940646
"Works for me! What are your orders for today, Pirate King?"

>>24940646
"Got it, Pirate King!"
Salute, "What are your orders?"

>>24940646

i hope she'll order us to work on the suits, else we'll be putting it off for a while longer.

>>24940646
Ruffle her hair. "Okay Pirate King. Do you want to help me build something? I'm making a lightweight Exosuit with biological parts for Ellie. A friend will do the biological stuff."

Let's get started, take notes and make blueprints as we go, leave wriggle room for the biosupport system.

>>24940709
Should clarify with Bob what kind of support we'll need.

<Bob, I'm building a power-armor for a friend. What kind of support would it need for the muscles?>

Telepath Anna: <Anna! ANNA! LIL'ME! COME TO THE WORKSHOP!>

>>24940757
She's asleep, meanie. Summer can manifest lil'Heather any time.

>>24940757

she's still sleeping in a pile together with Robin and Damien...

this could only end well.

You ruffle her hair. "Okay, Pirate king." You say. "What are your orders?"
"Carry me over so I can pet the lion." She said, confidently, pointing to Summer.
"I'm a tiger, silly." Summer said, as you set Lil- No, Pirate King heather down on her back. The girl started rubbing her hands into Summer's fur, petting her.
"Okay, pirate King. I'm making a lightweight exosuit for Ellie. Do you want to help me?"
"But I dunno how." She said, and pouted.

The pout shook your composure, and you felt guilt well up within you.

>>24940792
"I'm sure you'll pick it up as we go, after all big sis did as well!"

>>24940792
"I'll teach you!"

>>24940792
"I'll teach you as we go!"

>>24940792
I'd say start a pout off, but I don't want to cause permanent damage to Summer and Sarvesh.

>>24940792

>weaponized pouting.

"m-motivational support?"

>>24940818
It wouldn't work anyway. Little girls have much higher pout-immunity. We would lose very quickly.

>>24940843
The collateral damage would be too great regardless.

>>24940792
"I'm sure you can learn. You're a Pirate King after all."

Telepath Bob, learn what we need to include for the bio stuff to work and get started, explain everything we're doing to her as we're doing it.

This actually might help Summer manifest stuff she couldn't before.

>>24940818
And our secret weapon of pressing our tits together wouldn't work on her. Everyone nearby would however have a heart attack.

Also, we're still wearing a dress I think. Not that we mind.

"I can teach you!" You say. "I'm sure you can learn. You're a pirate king, after all."
The pirate king grinned again, and gave you the peace sign. "Sure!"
<Bob, I'm building a power-armor for a friend.> you reach out. <What kind of support would it need for the muscles?>
<It requires a pump system on each of the extremities, and liquid-transfer tubing throughout all of the muscles, with small ports where you want each muscle.> Bob responded.

"Let's start!" She said.
"Well, we have to design it first, most likely." Omnissiah said, hovering there.
"... You're cuter than steiny!" Heather said, suddenly noticing him. She climbed off of Summer, and ran out to hug him. "And you can talk!"

Einstein gave a depressed chirp.

>>24940933
<You're cute too, Steiny!>

>>24940933
<Don't believe her lies, Einstein.>

"Design, Omni? I was just planning to throw it together haphazardly."

>>24940933
"You've got a friend for life, Omni."

"How's business, by the way?"

>>24940933
<I still love you, Einstein.>

>>24940933

>thats not very nice lil heather!

<s-so, you would rather have her than me, Einstein?> *sniff*

relay the requirements for the muscle system to Omni and let's start designing.

>>24940933
See if we can stick to Demiurg design specs. Simple and robust.

No decabulation allowed.

<You're cute too, Steiny!> You say. <I still love you, Einstein.>
Einstein gave a happier chirp.
"Design, Omni?" You ask, trying to ignore the little girl hanging onto him as he levitated higher. Her feet left the ground, hanging on. "I was just planning to throw it together haphazardly."
"If you intend that..." He said. "But then maintenance will be a problem, like with your current suit. That we still need to complete."

>>24941066
Very well. TO the drawing board!

>>24941053
What about recabulation?

>>24941066
sigh.
"But it's more of an adventure just throwing it together. But very well, for the sanity of Future!Heather and Future!Omni."

>>24941066
"It was a joke, Omni."

What do we have left to do on our suit, actually? I thought we'd mounted the launcher.

>>24941066

"Just kidding, here's what Devourer said we would need for the muscle system."

>It requires a pump system on each of the extremities, and liquid-transfer tubing throughout all of the muscles, with small ports where you want each muscle.>

>I won't be able to add anything meaningful to techy bits of the quest.

>>24941122
>I won't be able to add anything meaningful to techy bits of the quest.
Just say stuff that sounds cool. Exa won't know that you're talking out your ass because that's what he does too.

>>24941066
Make sure to include Pirate King Heather in the design process and explain everything to her, take our time.

>>24941185
>Hey, I actually thought through the techy bits of how personacoms work! And... um, pretended the rest.

"It was a joke, Omni." You say. "But it's more of an adventure just throwing it together. But very well, for the sanity of Future!Heather and Future!Omni."
"... You're Present!Heather!" The little pirate king said, suddenly. "Which makes me... Past!Heather! That's so cool! Can I meet her? Will she be all old and grey? Or will she have a labcoat and be all sciency? Is Future!Steiny like a giant walking robot guy? That would be so cool!"
With Lil'heather babbling, you eventually added more ammo feeds to the suit, until it was done. It didn't take long, what with Omni's scanning, and finally, it was done, as Heather still babbled.
At least, so she tried to babble, until Summer's manifestation started tickling her mercilessly.
"That should be it for our current suit." Omnissiah said. "Next, for Ellie's suit."
He projected a symbol of a basic power suit on the wall.
"Here's what devourer said we would need for the muscle system." You say, and transfer the information to him. He amended the suit, and started to slim it down quite a bit. The life support systems would be smaller and lighter, and when you combine that with the lighter armor, then you might actually get going fast.
"We have power, we have life support and space for the muscle frame and for the inhabitant, and add the plating last." Omnissiah said. "We have the very basics. What else do we need?"

>>24941185
This is how you do it. Just come up with the craziest ideas possible.

>>24941220
ion boots

>>24941220
"A little bit of armor wouldn't hurt. She said she wanted Ion boots built in, too, and I think I can manifest thrusters small enough to be placed around the suit to stabilize any acrobatics she tries."

>>24941220
"We should get her some kind of HUD or something that would allow us to tell us the Where of things. Mapping software, or a communications suite or something."

>>24941220
Grappling hooks, Ion boots, grip pads on the hands, blades, lots of GO FAST, we're going full ninja.

>>24941220
"Ion thrusters. Powerful enough to fly in gravity. Various little useful things in the hands. Other than that, not too much. We want to keep it lightweight and mobile."

>>24941220
Stealth systems, camouflage and silent movement.

>>24941220
Polycarbon rope graplling hook?

>>24941220

this thing is designed for free running correct?

something to increase grip strength, maybe claws or special padding (like Gecko feet) to prevent slipping on smooth surfaces.

could we possibly incorporate a prehensile tail with a manipulator on the end, wouldn't be to heavy and helps with balance during running and provides extra grip when climbing.

Really, you would just want to add artificial muscle bundles that overlap and cover areas where regular muscle is. The skeleton of the suit would go along the limbs (For the arms, along the back and orientated upwards, for the legs, along the front and orientated forwards), shoulders, hips and spine, with armour plating that wraps around to keep it stable and solid.

After that, it's just a matter of ensuring that the tactile feedback works properly. The artificial muscles should basically mirror and support the real muscles perfectly. It wouldn't improve reflexes any, but it'd just overlap with the users natural strength and agility.

Though there is a hard limit on these increases. If you make an exoskeleton that is capable of boosting running speed to 50mph, it's just going to kill anybody who wears it unless you significantly modify their body to handle the increased muscle friction and blood oxygen requirement first. Though, you could make a suit that travels at 50mph via jumping, since the stress of doing that would be significantly less than running at that speed.

Wait, what was I talking about again?

"A little bit of armor wouldn't hurt." you say, and the suit pumped up a little. "She said she wanted ion thrusters built in, powerful enough to fly in gravity."
Boots and a slim jetpack appeared, the thrust direction appearing on the display.
"Maybe a grappling hook with polycarbon cable for rope." You add.
"That seems useful." Omnissiah said.
"This thing is designed for free running. Grip strength, maybe gecko feet... There isn't a way we can make a prehensile tail, is there?"
"Not without giving Ellie a cybernetic augmentation, and she would need quite a lot of training. It would take years before she could use it effectively." Sarvesh said. "It was hard enough for me to replace a limb I had before."
You nod, and jot down notes about artificial muscle plating, and Omnissiah took a look at it.
"Perhaps three sixty degrees of vision would help." Omnissiah said.
"And maybe mapping software or a communications suite or something." You add.
"Like a quantum router? We could find a miniature one on the market." He asked. "Or do our best to."
Summer was still tickling Lil'heather, making her giggle uncontrollably, Summer giggling as well.

>>24941447
"Yeah, that sounds good. I'll put in an order for some of those haptic feedback modules as well, that way she can feel exactly how close she is to objects and what's behind her."

>>24941447
Sit Lil Heather on our lap. Play with her hair while explaining everything and seeing if she has any suggestions.

Add every stealthy thing we can.

>>24941447

"please find out if they have one as small as we need."

>>24941447
"If that's it, I'll go down to the hangar and pick up the Demiurg Alloy we need for it."

>>24941447
Don't use 360 degree vision, just use that vibration based feedback thing. 360 degree vision would require a neural implant to work properly, and if it was kludged to just use multiple feeds instead, it'd be very distracting.

It's much better if the suit just flat out allows you to have perfect kinesthesia of your own body and everything around it

Don't forget EMP-proofing. Always EMP-proof your cool techy shit.

Is our suit even protected from an EMP?

>>24941559
Oh shit, good point. Better check that.

>>24941542
Actually, you can do 360 degree vision with a loooot of practice and a gradually compressed viewscreen. Meaning the view directly in front is normal and gets more and more compressed as it goes to the sides, leading to full 360 view within a regular human vision range.

>>24941559
There isn't much that can be EMP'd in our suit. I don't think at least.

>>24941559
>electromagnetic pulses. Apparently the demiurg don't have shielding against that."
>"Our spacecraft do." Omnissiah said. "But it is too expensive and cumbersome to add it to most of our weapons or armors."

>cumbersome
>ninja armor
Nah. How likely is Ellie really to be hit by an EMP while freerunning around Heaven's Jewel?

>>24941598
the void queen can manifest nukes

"Please find out if they have one as small as we need." You say. "And don't use 360 degree vision. Put in those haptic feedback modules instead."
"Very well." Omnissiah said, and his camera clicked off as he started searching the extranet.

You pick Heather up into your lap, pulling out her pigtails and starting to braid it, explaining everything about the suit.
"What about magnet pulse things?" She asked, suddenly.
"EMPs?" Sarvesh asked, and Lil'heather nodded. You check the diagram, and see that Omnissiah had already added it. While there, you figure you should check your own suit- and it did, built in with the hull. There weren't many decabulators in your suit, but it did have the mesh connected to it, the decabulators programmed for electromagnetic shielding. You set it up on Ellie's suit, and finally, frustrated, Heather pulled her way out of your lap. "This is boring." She said, and ran over to hug Einstein again.
Her hair promptly unbraided itself. Maybe you're just not very good at braiding.

>>24941600
Pretty likely if Armatek is lurking there, and she can be easily found to be associated with us, especially whilst running around is super sleek ninja gear.

But yeah, I guess it's too cumbersome, should probably get her something to deal with the inevitable attack.

>>24941627
If she detonates an entire arsenal of nukes right on top of us I think the EMP effect is the least we have to worry about.

Rolled 95

>>24941633
Shit.

This is it. We need to manifest a recabulator.

Recabulator powered anti-unbraiding device.

>>24941642
She's not leaving the station until Armatek is dealt with anyway.

>>24941651
Muahahaha, this.

>>24941633
Does Einstein still have any of his entertainment programming from when big Heather was Lil' Heather? If so, we should have him do some of that.

>>24941633
>"This is boring." She said, and ran over to hug Einstein again.
>designing things
>boring

YOU ARE NO TRUE HEATHER. FROM WHENCE DID YOU COME, FOUL DEMONSPAWN.

>>24941672
Even big Heather thinks designing things is boring.
Building things, on the other hand...

>>24941672
in her defense we wanted to wing it, but our genius ai son wouldn't let us

>>24941633

>why can't i braid all this hair?!

maybe the recabulator can be used for the perfect hairclip?

I'm not sure what else we could add to Ellies suit.

>>24941672
This is what Summer imagines lil'Heather to be like, remember. She never actually met us when we were young.

>>24941633
Add independently spinning small balls/multidirectional wheels to the feet that can be engaged for sliding and reducing friction or retracted for normal running. With the ion boots and grappling hooks she can effortlessly skate across the ground, or with the hook pulling her in skate up vertical surfaces.

You frown, and sigh. "Einstein, start playing some of those old shows I liked."
Einstein chirped, and started playing a cartoon, involving giant robots punching the hell out of eachother. Lil'heather was instantly enraptured, and you added small multidirectional wheels to the feet, ready to be retracted or extruded on command...
And that looked like it. It looked pretty much complete.
"Done." Omnissiah said. "Yes, they're entangling our router as we speak. We could start any time. Is that it?"
"Looks like it." Sarvesh said.

Summer was enraptured with the robots just as Lil'heather was.

>>24941779
"Let's get started!"

>>24941779
"Good old robot beat em up. It'll keep anyone entertained."

"Alright! Let's build!"

>>24941779

"Gentlemen, let's make beautiful science together!"

>>24941779
"I literally cannot wait to get started."

>>24941779
"It begins."

Last minute thing, polycarbon baseball bat and holster, Y/N?

>>24941936

she wanted one with a metal core, might be possible to make a magnetic long small and strong enough to hold it in place.

"Gentlemen, let's make beautiful science together!"
"That's what you said in one of my dreams." Sarvesh said.
You give him a Look.
"... Nevermind." He said.
"Alright! Let's build!"

Some time later, you had the very basic infrastructure, and the ion thrusters complete. It'd been hours, and Lil'heather was nowhere to be seen. Summer was asleep, and quite suddenly, Einstein chirped. It was saturday, now, at six AM.
>http://pastebin.com/CaAF0yS8

Sarvesh stretched. "I think that's all we can do tonight. If we skip classes, we could have this done by lunch. Unless the Devourer takes forever on the muscle systems."

>>24941977
I don't want to rush him.

I wish I could skip classes. But I've been doing that way to much.

Maybe I should have a power nap so I don't nod off later.

>>24941977
Shoot M-Dawg and Manus a message about this "Come to Heaven's Jewel Nexus, totally not an Armatek trap, got super sekrit info for you." thing.

>>24941977
That last message isn't suspicious at all, Nope.

>>24941977
"I'll probably skip. I stopped going to class when it became less teaching."

>>24942016
ask damien if it's safe to get, then if it is pop in and out with robin.

>>24941977
"There's no rush. Let's get some breakfast and go to classes."

>From: APOCALYPSE
The fuck is this? Oh well, we're definitely not going there to find out.

File: 1369085996550.gif-(96 KB, 302x193, 1366147114527.gif)

96 KB GIF

>>24941977
Reply to APOCALYPSE.
<---Pic related.

>>24942016
Make sure to call Max "M-Dawg" too.

>>24942063
Or hell, use technopathy, trace APOCALYPSE data trail, see where it came from.

>>24941977
>http://pastebin.com/CaAF0yS8

i don't like the looks of that message we just got. but it could be important...

>From: APOCALYPSE

shit, it's probably plot related.

let's ask Damien if he can discern what would happen if we went to get the message.

>sleep
>i need summers ability so bad right now...

>good night gentlemen

>>24941977
APOCALYPSE may very well be Omega. Just a thought. That, or the VQ.

We should probably bang out a reply to Dad explaining Omni.

>>24942139
I'm not sure we should explain over normal unsecure email. Just say we'll bring him next time we visit.

>>24942139
>VQ temps Heather with delicious data
>She arrives on her home work opening her email
>VQ"lel atocolypse." summons shit loads of nukes.

Send a response to parents:
"Sort of, he's actually salvaged from an alien race, but as there was no precedent for that, we just decided it would be easier to say that I made him.
He's already invented a few revolutionary new things, and I suggested he start up his own company to capitalize on them. Omni Science."

"I don't want to rush him." You say, and pull up Einstein. You quickly relay the automated message to Manus and M-dawg- In fact, you modify the message header to call him M-dawg specifically- and send it to them, including their worries. You make sure not to send it through the extranet, but the station internet.
"And I wish I could skip classes, but I've been doing that way too much."

"Hey." Someone called, outside of the workshop. "A pirate king got lost."

Anna opened the door, and sitting on her shoulders was a pouting Lil'heather. Anna grinned up at her. "She missed her best friend slash drone, apparently. Morning."

>>24941977
Oh yeah, that totally isn't a trap or anything.

Send a message to parents. We have to go visit them, and take Omni and the Devourer. Or they could visit us, maybe.

>>24942213
"Morning Anna. I wondered where she'd got to."

>>24942223
Them visiting us could work. Means we don't have to wait for Armatek to be dealt with.

>>24942223
Wait for Devourer to get done with Alex's parents.

>>24942255
Good point.

"Morning, Anna. I wondered where she got to."
"I was looking for the pool, since I wanted to swim." Lil'heather said, and pouted. "I couldn't find it."
"That's because we're in space, kiddo." Anna said.
"Oooh, we are? Is there a spaceship somewhere? Can I fly it?!"
Anna giggled. "Sorry, but I don't think we can fly it. Your feet can't reach the pedals."
"That's for groundcars. Spaceships don't have footpedals because there's no gravity in space." Lil'heather said, her cheeks puffing out in frustration.
"Would chocolate help?"
"Okay!" She said.

You quickly mash out a message to your parents, explaining Omni and that you'd only adopted him in name, due to the lack of precedent for 'recovered' AI, and send it.

>>24942316
That's no fun.

>>24942316

Did we tell them that he's Demiurge tech? That's not something I want going over an unsecured channel.

>>24942316
"Wanna go meet another friend, Pirate King? He's on the spaceship as well!"

Bring the free-running suit with us so Big-D can get working on the muscles.

>>24942316
>You quickly mash out a message to your parents, explaining Omni and that you'd only adopted him in name, due to the lack of precedent for 'recovered' AI, and send it

Why would we email that? Thats not secure.

Wait, why are we talking about skipping classes? It's Saturday. Are there make up lessons? We should go to them, if there are.

>>24942316
Summer can take you to the beach, if you ask nicely.

>>24942426
Shit. It is Saturday after all.

"Wait, why are we talking about skipping classes?"
"... It's saturday, isn't it?" Sarvesh asked. You nodded. "... I'd forgotten. I thought it was friday. Didn't sleep at all last night."
You giggle, and turn to Lil'heather. "Summer can take you to the beach, if you ask nicely."
"But she's asleep! Watch!" She said, and squirmed out of Anna's hands. Then she kicked Summer with one of her shoes, and the tiger didn't seem to notice. "See? She won't wake up."

She turned to you and gave you a grin. "Oh! And a friend of yours says hi."

>>24942488
"Which friend?"

>>24942488

TP to Summer. "You okay over there?"

"Which friend was that, Pirate Queen?"

>>24942488
"Would that happen to be Winter?"

>>24942488
Go over and check on Summer. Even if Lil'Heather is just a kid, she should have at least shifted.

>>24942488
"Oh?"
"Tell Winter that she's awesome."

"I thought Centaur sleeping was automatic and you couldn't not sleep. No matter! We can get Ellie's suit done and ready for when she next arrives."

>>24942512
Nooooo don't wake her up!

>>24942539

I don't want her lying over there brain-dead. If we get "Zzz" back as a reply, then all is well.

>>24942488
Have you had breakfast yet, Lil Pirate Queen?
Care to join us, Anna?

>>24942556
She's probably just sleeping for two again, because Lil'us is much more complex then lil'summer or max.

>>24942488
"Tell Winter I said hi too!"

"Which friend was that, pirate queen?"
Lil'heather twitched, slightly.
"Winter." She said, and went back to smiling.
"Tell winter I said hi too!"
"Okay!"
Then she flickered.

You look down to Summer, and feel her- she was breathing, and looked fine...
And then she opened an eye, and Lil'heather vanished on the spot.
"Morning." Summer said. "This was the best nap." She said.
"No, you made her go away!" Anna said, mortified.
"Hm? Who?"
"Little Heather." Anna said.
"Ohh, okay. I can... try... this.." Summer said.

And then a young, dark haired, serious girl sat there in a jumpsuit.

Lil'anna stared up at everyone, and just... frowned.
"She's adorable!" Anna said, and went to hug her smaller self- and lil'anna held out a hand, pushing Anna away.

>>24942710
"Ahaaah. How do you get the demeanor and hostile attitude so correct?"

>>24942710
Hahahah! It's Lil'Anna alright!
Come now, Lil'Anna, We have rations.

>>24942710
Manifest micro-wyvern for her.

Rolled 58

>>24942755
Plush wyvern with a tiny little Ion jet so it can fly?
Seconded.

>>24942755
for maximum adorable!

Rolled 99

>>24942755
>>24942816
Yyyyeeeesssss

>>24942816
>Plush with a thruster
>Lil'Anna is burned alive like Mini'Sarvy
Plz no... Summer's Manifestations can Feel.

>>24942863
That is quite a good roll.

I hope it is used.

"Ahaaaah. How do you get the demeanor and hostile attitude so correct?"

Both Annas, in synchronized movement, both glared at you with the same cold disdain.
Carefully, you manifested a very small, fuzzy wyvern, with a minor power source and enough ion jets so it could levitate in place.

Lil'anna gave it a look, but didn't make to move.

"Come on now, we have rations."
"Kay." She said, and you, Anna, Sarvesh, and Summer made your way toward the cafeteria. As soon as you do, though, Lil'anna looked back at the wyvern, and then snatched it out of the air, putting it in one of her pockets.

You ended up in the cafeteria, but nobody else was there yet. Sarvesh was wobbling, tired, but everyone else seemed raring to go. Lil'anna looked this way and that, getting tired, until she absentmindedly leaned on you until you walked closer to a chair, where she sat down.

>>24942910
"Why don't you take a break, Sarv? You look exhausted."

>>24942910
So why didn't you sleep last night, Sarvesh?

>>24942910
"What're we all having for breakfast?!?"

>>24942910
Little Anna has never had bacon.

WE MUST FIX THIS.

>>24942910
"What does the littlest Anna want for morning nourishment?"

>>24942910
Give Lil' Anna a shit ton of sugar. Like maple syrup soaked bacon and pancakes and shit.

"What does the littlest Anna want for morning nourishment?"
"What do you have?" She asked.
You shrug.
"Then I'll have that." She said, and crossed her arms.
"You did make her pretty accurately." Anna whispered to Summer- But Lil'anna eyed the two- and they widened a fraction.

She looked down at the plush wyvern, and squinted at it.

"Why don't you take a break, Sarv? You look exhausted. Why didn't you sleep, anyway?"
"I was going to, and then I got distracted. I forgot about the time warp." He said. "I'll sleep after breakfast."

>>24943046
Fry up some bacon and eggs for everyone. We don't do the cooking often enough.
I'm sure dad taught us how... Right?

>>24943046
Let's go grab some bacon and syrup and waffles and syrup and eggs and syrup and sausage and syrup and pancakes and syrup. Then give it to lil'Anna. Don't forget the syrup.

>>24943046
"Okayyyy..."

>>24943069
Yea, seconding cooking. Also, use retrocog to get the bacon perfect.

>>24943046
>"You did make her pretty accurately." Anna whispered to Summer- But Lil'anna eyed the two- and they widened a fraction.
I know this probably means her EYES widened a fraction, but you can't stop me from envisioning her staring at them so hard their aspect ratio starts to change.

>>24943090
this!

>>24943181
Is Lil'Anna perhaps figuring out she's a manifestation?
How smart is Anna anyway?

>>24943201
More likely she's just noticed that something is weird about the fact that she's got a twin that's 10~ years older than her.

"Okay..." You say.
"... you can make me whatever you want to." Lil'Anna said, her voice quiet.
"Okay!" You say, and make your way into the kitchen and start to cook. You weren't as good as your dad, but you knew enough to fry up some bacon and make some eggs, and waffles... And more eggs, and sausage, and throw a bit of syrup onto the waffles. Not long later, you came back out with piles of food on the plate, with Lil'Anna's utterly covered in syrup. She was too busy focusing on the wyvern, staring at it.
Summer and Anna were talking about the new body suit you were making for Ellie,and Lil'Anna was staring at the wyvern, eyes almost boring a hole into it.

Sparks danced along one of Lil'Anna's hands.

>>24943273
"Watcha doing?"

>>24943273
"Do you like the little ship, Anna?"

>>24943273
"You think I miss anything on Ellie's free running power suit, Anna? We crammed pretty much everything into the design."

>>24943273
>"... you can make me whatever you want to." Lil'Anna said, her voice quiet.
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS DETECTED

We should probably reassure her that she's allowed to choose things for herself.

"I just cooked stuff I know I like, but I hope you like it too. If you don't, don't be afraid to ask for something you actually want. Just doing whatever people say all the time is no fun."

Not exactly role-model material, but probably alright on the "hey, chill out with the existential dread there, little lady" front.

"Whatcha doing?" You ask.
"... Thinking." Lil'Anna said, her voice quiet. She started to eat, but didn't react with much surprise when she tasted the waffles.

"You think I missed anything on Ellie's free running power suit, Anna?" You ask, turning to the elder one.
"No, I don't think so. It sounds pretty good for what-"

The station suddenly shook, and the klaxons started on. You heard marines tromp through the hall, their mechanized voices barking out commands... And then the intercom clicked on. Lil'Anna pulled out a very, very large handgun from under the table, and held it tightly in both hands- just like the normal Anna had. Strange...

"Get the kids to Surya, Wyvern, and the shuttle. Marines, prepare for boarding. Weapons platforms are being destroyed. Demiurg ships coming in from bubble space." You hear Keen say, through the intercoms. "They all have bubble drives."

>End of thread!

>>24943401
>They all have bubble drives
I'm guessing Armatek, but even they can't be that stupid.

>>24943401
>Lil'Anna pulled out a very, very large handgun from under the table, and held it tightly in both hands- just like the normal Anna had.
And she manages to make it look adorable...

>>24943423
>even they can't be that stupid
They tried to get Prometheus' parents and use Damien's sister.
Now read what you post and feel bad for writing something so stupid.

>>24943455
They didn't expect us to be there when they offed his parents, and the Damien gambit almost worked.

>>24943489
Exactly.

>>24943489
And they had a good chance to win had the frigate not saved us.

>>24943423
They already did it once before, and that was when they were on the same side as the UPA.

>>24943839
Actually, that was Sigma, working on her own prerogative.

>>24943981
I'd say they just reverse engineered that one, but then they'd have no reason to assault this station. Or even know where it is.
Either Delta or VQ could have manifested a load of drives and they both have reasons to do this so I guess we'll see.

Nah this is the VQ, remember she can manifest tech now for the Demiurge she enslaves.

Why the fuck did Damien not see this coming? It's hardly subtle.

>>24946215
He's probably not looking for 'Demiurg attack in the near future with technology they aren't meant to have'.

>>24946280
I doubt he was looking for 'suddenly Heather's mind gets taken over by a virus which I didn't even know was possible and now the station is being invaded by an enemy I didn't know existed' either, but he saw that and did his best with the message and the reactor and stuff.
He probably wasn't looking for 'Void Queen mind controls Isaac even though we thought we were protected and makes him nudge Heather's sphere into a nuclear explosion which I didn't even know was possible', but he saw that. But only just, because it was subtler.
A massive frontal attack on the station by a whole fleet of Demiurg should have been seen from days away.

>>24946370
I think you're mistaken. He didn't see Heather getting taken over, it happened, and THEN he went "Well shit, what can I do that can snap Heather out of it?" and looked for that.

And I assume he's usually looking out for "Things that could hurt my friends in the near future." which would be the crystal-explosion. But he didn't know it was Isaac doing it.

>>24946403
Demiurg assaulting the station is not a thing that could hurt his friends? That's alright then, let's just stay here and finish breakfast.