>>5577522
>>5575854

You glance down at the rifle in your hand.
It's a decent gun. You've even got two of them to hand.

But against that many? It may not be the ideal weapon. Far from it.

"Uh, SHODAN... i don't know if you're gonna like what i have to say here, but..."

"It may be best to resupply ourselves with explosives." She states, cutting you off.

"Er, yeah. That."

"Certainly, this is a disadvantageous situation. There is no reason to expose ourselves to undue risk by heading in unprepared."

...

To get back to the Metal Gear, you had to make a short jump across, as the drone ship's airlock has been destroyed.
Once you're back onboard, SHODAN is oddly quiet even as you do your equipment checks.

"You got the 40mm smoke rounds?"

"Yes, Captain."

"...How many pounds of play-dough?"

"Four bricks, Captain."

SHODAN watches intently as you clip two more grenades to your backside.
In fact, she seems to be watching everything you do rather closely.

"...Are you still mad at me?"

"I am not mad, David. I am concerned. Your behavior is abnormal."

"Geeze, not like i haven't heard that one before."

"No." She insists. "Your behavior is abnormal for you. Your every movement is just slightly off, and you appear to be less aware of your surroundings."

"What are you talking about? I feel perfectly fine." You assure her.

"If that is the case, then why have you not noticed the tone i've been playing over the ship's speakers this entire time?"

...Listening a bit more closely, you actually can hear an odd chirping sound coming from somewhere.

"Well, i mean, that's just background noise... i can barely hear it over my tinnitus anyways!"

"David, last week you threw a fit because a single insect had snuck it's way onboard, and the noise it made while flying was keeping you from sleeping."

"So, what? Are you saying i need to get a checkup or something?"

"It may be prudent to do so. However, i fear that both your lack of awareness and irrational behavior may be the result of several compounding factors."

"...Like what?"

"Stress. Lack of rest. Excessive paranoia, and as of recently, brain damage which has not had time to heal. Not to mention, you stared into the warp just yesterday."

Although you can't remember it, just the mention of that is enough to raise the hairs on the back of your neck. But you quickly shake it off.

"Ah... if anything was gonna fuck with me, i bet it would be the warp." You grumble.

"Or the continuous exposure to dark matter. Or telepathically wrestling with deep sea creatures. Or spending time on a planet which defies all logic and reason."

"Okay, okay! I get it! So what, what do you want me to do?!"

"I believe that a period of rest and recovery would be ideal, don't you?"

>>5577523

>Yeah, maybe. It's been a long while since i had a real break, and i've been going at it pretty hard.
>No, i can't. The whole reason we're rushing through everything right now is so that we can be ready for Xebric.
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

>>5577525
>Get a check-up, get it fixed, and then right back to work.

>>5577525
I swear the moment we formed more intimate relations and going soft the more likely we would have to retire and settle down
I call this the guts syndrome
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

>>5577523
>No, i can't. The whole reason we're rushing through everything right now is so that we can be ready for Xebric.
The whole point of being an adult is wasting yourself away untill you are sick and broken by 40 yrs old. David is no exception.

>>5577525
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

>>5577525
>No, i can't. The whole reason we're rushing through everything right now is so that we can be ready for Xebric.

>>5577556
to be fair, david is already 40 something

>>5577525
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

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>>5577523
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

>you stared into the warp just yesterday
I have just the ticket for David's ailment

>>5577525
>>Yeah, maybe. It's been a long while since i had a real break, and i've been going at it pretty hard.
Preferably on earth, with our doggo

>>5577525
>I don't know. I feel fine, but you say that i'm not. Maybe i should just get a checkup first, and see what my condition is really like.

Xebric can wait, our boy Davie needs a small break at least.

Nice job boss, tying in those Anons' retarded grenade toss with the plot, it's seamless.

>>5577523

"I... I don't know. I swear, i feel fine. But... you wouldn't lie to me, so if you say i seem off, maybe i am. If that's the case, then maybe i do just need to get a checkup."

"I would agree, that is the least you can do." SHODAN nods. "However, i am uncertain that any normal doctor would be able to diagnose you."

Huh..? Oh, right. You're still an undiscovered species.
Not only is there no medical data on you, but your genome hasn't been mapped. They don't have any scans of your brain patterns, nothing.
So for the most part they'd just be guessing at what's actually 'normal' for someone like you.

No, that's not quite true... there is some medical data. The data that's been gathered by Sanig, Kyla and SHODAN for engineering purposes.
They've done all sorts of stuff... hell, this skinsuit you're wearing just mapped out all of your nervous pathways. That data should be on it's computer somewhere.

And Sanig, God bless him, he's been acting as the ship's doctor to the best of his abilities. Patching everyone up, including yourself... administering drugs, checking the side effects...
Most alien drugs don't actually have much of an effect on you, except in extremely high doses. Some kind of work, some do nothing at all, others have slight adverse effects.
Usually, whatever Sanig injects you with is a lethal dose for any other species, several times over.

And then there's Kyla, who did actually take scans of your body, looking at your muscles, internal organs and bone structure.
That was what made SHODAN's muscles so effective, you think. They were based on human anatomy rather than some alien, or just random placement.

Then there's Illia, who... well, you don't know what she knows, but she seems to have been able to treat you. Not just for your mundane wounds, either.
She was able to extract dark matter from your body somehow, and you know she's a naturally telepathic species.

Whether or not she actually has a medical license is... well, you won't worry too much about that, but the important part is she may be able to do what a normal doctor can't.
She's not a part of your crew, though. You can only see her whenever you meet up with Gron.

So it's possible, you guess... if you gathered up all of your medical data, it might be of use to some doctors.
But that presents it's own issues. Your medical data is humanity's medical data, and do you really want to put that kind of information out there?
If the federation got their hands on a sample of your DNA, they could use it to craft biological weapons specifically targeting your species and use that on earth.

Even just knowing where your organs are, they could use that to craft more effective killing machines just for you.
You need a doctor that isn't going to spill the beans... an unorthodox doctor who can care for an unknown species. A doctor who can help you deal with... psychosis, potentially.

"Fuck, man. Where are we going to find a doctor who can actually treat me?" You groan.

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>>5578057
Maybe we'll find a doctor in an unlikely place like the spooky wraith ghost that gave us the coordinates to nanofab world.
>Spooky ghost doctor goes in for a prostate check arms deep from the front
AAAAAAAAAHHHH

>>5578057
>"Fuck, man. Where are we going to find a doctor who can actually treat me?" You groan.
All the more reason to actually try and find Earth!

>>5578057
We might return to earth before Xebric....

>>5578573
If we don't want to delay xebric, our best bet is to find a skilled doctor we can trust and hope there's enough pre-existing data for them to treat us effectively.

>>5578717
that's literally only moth lady

>>5578918
A grey brain doctor would be kinda familiar enough with brains to detect a TUMAH, right?
Otherwise we're looking at Depression, PTSD flare up, or some sort of demonic possession from that greater demon core

>>5578206
>doctor who can actually treat me
>Earth
They are just going to proscribe you a ever growing pile of pills for you to take until the end of your days.

>>5578918
Seconding the moth-fu. From what we've heard from everyone so far, her treatments just work. Plus we have so many questions we (should) ask her.

>>5579030
I wouldn't trust a grey doctor; we really can't afford to let our biometrics out to the wider galaxy.

>>5578057
On the planet we keep trying to get back to

>>5578057
moth waifu get?

>>5579051
>I wouldn't trust a grey doctor; we really can't afford to let our biometrics out to the wider galaxy.
>implying the feds haven't already quarantined the warehouse david worked on xebric and scrubbed the whole area for the dead cells, hair, sweat and whatever else david sheds without noticing

moth + mommy
Motthy?

>>5578057

"Of the people we know, Miss Illia is the most likely candidate. However, we have not looked very far just yet." SHODAN answers.

"Yeah, you're right... hard to believe we've spent most of our time on two piddly little backwater stations thus far, ain't it?"

Looking back, Xebric and Thekia are just about all you know.
Of all the planets you've been to, one is a both a death world and your home planet, while the other was...

Not habitable. That's probably the most favorable way to put it.
You're not even entirely sure if it was real at this point.

"But, all that's gonna have to wait until we get back, at least. For now, we've got to do something about these goddamned robots."

"I knew you'd say that..." SHODAN sighs. "At least let me take a look at your suit before we head back. I'm detecting a fault in your power supply."

"Damn, really?"

...

After stepping out of your armor, SHODAN opens up the equivalent of it's RIG and starts poking around inside of it with a sonicator.
A moment later, she hands you a very charred-looking circuit board. She then walks over to the weapons fab and starts making something, presumably a replacement.

"You lost approximately 2.5 millimeters of armor across the front face. Nearly 3 in some places. The heat seems to have gotten to some areas more than others." She informs you.

Pulling the same circuit board out of the weapons fab, she immediately gets to work installing it.

"The armor on your left forearm is ruined, and will need to be replaced. The frame is also bent, and will need repair." She continues.

You look down at your forearm and see a small black bruise where that railgun slug had struck you.
It stung even through the armor, and it hurts even now if you rub it.

"David... although i may be more autonomous now that i have been given a body, i still wish to continue my travels with you, and to discover many new things.
However, i cannot do that if you are killed in some needless confrontation, or worse, by your own recklessness. I am certain that the rest of our crew feels the same way."

SHODAN seems to have finished replacing the suit's power delivery module, and begins welding the armor plate that goes over top everything back into place.

"When i visit earth someday, please ensure that i am not forced to do so alone." She finishes.

"...Yeah, i'll do my best."

"I did not ask for your best, David. Promise me."

"Alright, i promise. I swear, i'll keep myself from getting killed."

Of course, you can't promise that. Not even to yourself, but she needs to hear the words.

"Thank you, David."

After she finishes up her weld... which is insanely clean, to the point that you're almost jealous, your suit opens up at the back, beckoning you to climb back inside.
And you oblige. The armor closes up around you, feeling kind of moist and gross as you'd already been sitting in it for a while.

"I think we've got everything we need, SHODAN. Let's clear 'em out."

"Affirmative, Captain."

>>5579320
We roughed up the equivalent of a crack house in Tanzania; just because the Feds were running some secret squirrel op in Ethiopia that we happened to get a whiff of doesn't mean we, or any of our exploits, are even worth their notice at this point.
They wanted this backwater sector destabilized and depopulated, what we have done thus far (bar the defeat and capture of the drone fleet) haven't gotten in the way, and if did, is rather inconsequential considering what we now have an idea what they can bring to bear if they cared to.

>"I think we've got everything we need, SHODAN. Let's clear 'em out."
i still believe we have to find a way to fry their circuitry. it looks to me like the cleanest way to deal with them and to salvage/repurpose them with the least amount of effort

>>5579727

Once you're back on the drone ship, you take to clearing out the rest of the upper decks, now that you know where the main threat is.
As it turns out, there weren't that many. Most of them had collected around the entrance, probably due to the engineers making their escape.

You do happen to find Koldja's severed leg, though.
In a hall near the exit, it was lying on the floor. Looks like it was crushed, as if someone had wrapped wire cable around it and twisted it tighter until it had been severed mechanically.

Far beyond saving at this point, unfortunately.

With the rest of the ship cleared out, you head back down to the killbot storage room and find that not much has changed.
SHODAN peeks around the corner for you, displaying her vision on your HUD.

There are actually two robots active in there that weren't before, but they don't seem to be doing much, just standing still out ahead of the rest.

Could be that they're waiting on a report from one of the others, which isn't going to be coming.
If that's the case, they might end up activating the rest of them if you take too long.

But, given that two of the standing robots are already up and doing something, you can assume that the rest of them are ready to go as well.
The ones that are curled up in storage might not be, but that remains to be seen.

"Alright, SHODAN. How do you want to go about this?"

"We have several options, Captain. However, i would suggest starting with a smoke screen for one simple reason."

"What's that?"

"According to Sanig's findings, these machines do not possess infrared or ultraviolet sensors. They can only see in the visible spectrum of light."

"Cool. That might make things a little easier... but i'm worried they'll all just wake up the moment we toss the smoke in. Or as soon as the smoke starts burning."

"Then perhaps we lay some explosives here in the tunnels. Fill the tunnel with smoke first, and then the storage room second.
If they awaken, we retreat and blow the tunnel as they come through. If they don't, we can wait for smoke to fill the room before fighting."

>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.
>I'd rather avoid doing more damage to the ship if at all possible. Let's not use any explosives unless we have to.
>...Their field of view is pretty awful, and they don't seem programmed to handle unexpected situations very well. Could you sneak in and plant some explosives around the crowd?
>Write-In?

>>5579984
>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.
It's a reasonable plan, she'd probably appreciate the show of trust in accepting her plan as being the way we'll go, and we've just received proof that we might not be thinking completely straight, so minimizing snap decisions might not be a bad idea. All in all, this seems like the best option

>>5579984
>>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.

>>5579984
>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.

>>5579984
>I'd rather avoid doing more damage to the ship if at all possible. Let's not use any explosives unless we have to.
>lets change the plan from explosives to shoot them in the head instead. we'll use the explosives as a last resort
i like the initiative, but wasn't shodan against using explosives on a tight corridor? her plan is more or less the same thing we did a few hours/minutes ago. that will only reinforce our want to do retarded shit

>>5579727
>Of course, you can't promise that. Not even to yourself, but she needs to hear the words.

It's funny because she has a direct read on our brain lol.

>>5579984
>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.

>>5580070
>wasn't shodan against using explosives on a tight corridor?
She's against us using explosives in a tunnel while we are still in it.

>>5579984
>Sounds good, let's go with your plan.

Let's take her thoughts seriously, she is like a twin sister at this point.

>>5579984

Since you yourself aren't all that sure where your head is at right now, you decide the best plan of action is to go with a plan that isn't actually your plan.
It's a genius plan if you do say so yourself. And you do.

To start with, you lay some explosives in the tunnel leading out from the storage area. Additionally, you place a small, remote-controlled IR camera at the entrance.
After you retreat to an appropriately safe distance, you'll be able to detonate them one by one and take out at least five or ten machines each, as well as slow their approach.

Next, you grab a couple of smoke grenades from SHODAN's duffel bag and light them off.
The chemicals inside can burn even in a vacuum, and the smoke will take some time to settle in this low gravity.

That said, they won't last nearly as long as they would if there was still an atmosphere in here, so you'll need to be quick.

You toss one smoke grenade behind you, then one ahead. Smoke rapidly fills the hall with nothing in the way to impede it, and you immediately set off two more.
SHODAN sets off a further two, and together you toss all four of them into the storage area at once before retreating.

The machines don't seem to notice the canisters rolling in, but it remains to be seen if they'll wake up due to the smoke.
SHODAN accesses the remote IR camera and waits for a reaction.

>Roll me 1d100, best of 3
>Low DC: 50
>High DC: 80

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>5581512

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>5581512

FUCKING INVINCIBLE
ngl, shit like this is the reason why im so confident in doing retarded shit. the dice approve of it

Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>5581512
>1

>>5581518

This is my first quest, but i've read and participated in a few different quests over the years including SOMNIUS quests and one thing i never want to do is punish the players for rolling well, even if their ideas are stupid or reckless.
No matter what happens, we're all just here to have fun and enjoy the story, right?

So actually working dumb decisions into the story as a result of something feels like the best option to me.

Rolled 40 (1d100)

>>5581512

>>5581535
>Som
He will never live down how much of a bitch he was, even in non Dragonball related quests.

>>5581539
SOM is legit the boogeyman of quests everywhere I swear. And the threat of him being any one of us in disguise is very real. What a fucking goober.

I remember there is this GOOD QM that writes very well, but they have semen for a brain. They made a "I got isekai'd into jeffrey baratheon!!" quest and it was so good... yet becoming worse and worse the more the author entertained the coomeranons, which of course had been following this person for years.

In fact, they said that their last quest featured Ben Stark and at one point there was a vote for fucking another guy sexually and the author got all the d*scordfags to vote for it. I don't know what happened to the isekai quest but I insist, it was good
>>5581582
>>5581535

>>5581582
I always wonder, what has to happen to a man to drive them to such faggotry?

>>5581582
>>5581610
I haven't really been looking into quests since quests were moved from /tg/. What did he do?

>>5581902
He would set ridiculously high DCs for everything, favored his favorite characters to the point that they were impossible to defeat and killed characters at the drop of a hat.
One failed roll was all it took for him to kill multiple MCs and end the quests, probably because he was simply done with them.

That's why people keep joking about "rocks fall, everyone dies".
His avatar quest literally ended like that.

He also tried to come back under a different name a few times once he was universally hated.
Well, dude had a lot of issues besides that, but flaking by killing off the MC was the big one.

>>5582112
Also the Princess Guard Quest guy

>>5582112
Ah, thanks for the QRD.

>>5582307
I remember that guy, became kind of a meme for a while with people "rebooting" his quests lol

Rolled 19 (1d100)

I can't remember when have we gotten a bad roll

>>5582495
Less than the good rolls. But often when it really matters.

The whole suicide squad thing was 1s and failures all the way down.

>>5581512

Once the smoke bombs start going off, the few active machines in the room take note.
They walk up to the smoke bomb and even pick it up, turning it over as if scanning it.

However, it seems that they don't know what the hell it is or what to do with it, and so they don't even consider it to be a threat.
The machines drop the smoke bombs right back where they found them and continue patrolling the room, looking for someone who isn't there.

The rows of idle machines also don't seem to budge at all, if they're even awake. This is actually perfect.

Tentatively, you walk around the corner and into the room full of machines, ready to turn tail the moment they potentially see you.
However, they don't. Through your helmet's IR camera, you see one machine walk right past you without noticing your presence.

Seeing this, SHODAN follows in behind you.

You motion for her to switch from Sanig's phaser rifle back to the AR-15, since this might not be getting hectic after all.
Sitting quietly, you wait a few moments for the enemy to position themselves for you, then open fire simultaneously.

The first two machines drop, and the remaining two don't notice.
Then those two drop as well, with no reaction from the idle machines.

After pausing for a moment to confirm that, you and SHODAN move to the back and start going down the lines of machines, popping off single shots into their chests one after another.
Dozens and dozens of machines, maybe a hundred, all lined up neatly, and they're dropping like flies just because they can't see the machine behind them getting taken out.

Sometimes a machine falls forwards a bit too much and bumps the machine in front of him, which does get a reaction.
However, a second shot quickly takes care of that, and business continues on as usual.

Your third twenty round mag is nearly empty by the time you're done taking them all out, and it's the same for SHODAN.

"How many was that in total?" You ask her.

"121 in total, Captain. Not including those above."

"Yeah... those guys. What should we do about them?" You wonder.

"These machines have no wireless connection, so they must be wired into the ship. Perhaps there is a terminal somewhere."

>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.
>They seem totally inactive, maybe we should just leave them.
>Throw an empty smoke grenade at one and see what happens.
>Shoot at one and see what happens.
>Write-In

>>5582840
>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.

>>5582840
>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.
They're robots, of course there's a terminal. Everybody who's played a Fallout game should know this.

>>5582840
>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.

>>5582840
>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.
Oh boy, I can't wait to see what's in the armory

>>5582840
>>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.
Make them dance Specialist

>>5582840
>>Look for the terminal, see if you can do something with them.

>>5582840

"You're probably right. I think there was one over there..."

Walking carefully through the foggy room, you make your way over to where you saw one of the robots manning a console previously.
You have to turn off both the helmet's night and thermal vision to actually read the screen, as nothing shows up otherwise.

With nothing but the light of the screen and the dense smoke in the room, you realize just how little you can actually see.
It's no wonder the machines weren't able to find you.

You shake off the odd feeling you get as you glance off into the darkness and focus on the task at hand.
The terminal here requires credentials to sign in... a username and password. Only, since this is down in the bowels of the ship, you'd guess it's an engineer's terminal...

"Let's see..."

[Admin]
[Password]

The terminal locks up for a second, then reports that you've guessed incorrectly.
It also says you only get three more tries at this before the terminal locks.

"Captain? Is the terminal locked down?" SHODAN calls out over the radio.

"Yeah, yeah... i got this though, don't worry about it."

[Admin]
[Password1]

Incorrect login.
One last chance...

[Administrator]
[Password1]

Boom, the terminal accepts the credentials and logs right in.
What greets you is a fairly typical personal computer OS that looks somewhat out of place down here.

There are a number of programs, files and monitoring tools on it's desktop... and the monitoring tools are throwing a lot of errors right off the bat.
Hull breach, low pressure here, low pressure there... yeah, that follows.

The files are just named seemingly at random. Some of them are just filthy curse words that your translator has difficulty understanding.
You click on one of them and find some absolutely horrific pornography of a species you've never even seen before.

"Wow, that's a lot of quills. It seems like it would be painful." SHODAN mutters, leaning over your shoulder to get a look.

"Jesus, tell me about it."

Moving on, you keep digging around until you find a folder labeled "Enforcement" which seems to have a lot of shit in it.
That turns out to be exactly what you're looking for. There's all kinds of documentation on the machines, each individual part and how to service it...
A bunch of commands for a program that's also located in this folder, which seems to be used for updating software and firmware and giving commands to the machines.

"Oh yeah, this is definitely it. This is all that good shit right here."

"...How did you get into a locked engineering terminal without knowing the username or password, though?"

"Easy, i just bet on someone being a lazy bastard. Nevermind that though, take a look at this and see what you can do."

Stepping aside, you allow SHODAN to plug her data umbilical directly into the terminal.
As soon as she's connected, windows and files start flashing on the screen at a record pace. You can tell she's reading the entire manual.

Reading manuals huh

>>5583693
Unlike david, she can read

>>5583728
Hey David can read too. As long as there are pictures to help.

>>5583414
>[Administrator]
>[Password1]
EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.
You could have the best opsec procedures in the universe, but they ain't worth shit if nobody follows them.

>>5583789
I'm not paid enough to remember 5+ unique passwords for every other task I have to do

>>5584191
Yeah, but you could have a better password than FUCKING PASSWORD.

>>5584205
>>5583789
Yeah, well nobody was supposed to get past the murderbots in the first place, and opsec is great and all, but every ship that comes through having a different password really slows down maintenance and my boss was on my ass about getting stuff done faster, so I just changed them all to the same thing. Anybody that cares won't check and everybody that does check won't care because they have to deal with the same shit too.

>>5584205
I mean... they kinda did.
Password1

>>5584211
Real OGs do !pAssword1

>>5584205
"Acesscode" is clearly superior

>>5583414

"I see..." She murmurs. "These machines are extremely simplistic after all. Mass produced models which can be 'thrown into the grinder' as it were."

"What all did you find?"

"Almost everything. Complete operations manuals, references to other models, even tools for creating and altering the code that they run. Those aren't supposed to be on here, ever."

"So it's a security leak?"

"A terrible one. What kind of idiot would leave this kind of critical software sitting nearly exposed on a random terminal?"

"Someone who doesn't get paid enough to give a shit."

...The smoke in the room is already beginning to settle and stick to all the walls and surfaces, so you switch back to night vision mode.
Glancing back at the machines in storage on the ceiling, you wonder.

"SHODAN, how quickly can you reprogram these things?"

"Nearly instantly."

"Oh, that's fucking perfect. Do they have any kind of software IFF? Sanig said there wasn't a physical beacon of any sort."

"There is basic self-learning pattern recognition built into their VI. They can recognize or learn to recognize most threats, and distinguish them from non-threats."

"So they should recognize their own kind... but as long as they don't get attacked, they won't register a target as an enemy?"

"These machines are set to capture or kill anything that moves, but generally speaking that is the case."

That's perfect. There's a lot of potential here, starting with the ability to more easily capture killbot-bearing ships in the future.
If SHODAN can reprogram them, or even take control of them directly with a little modification...

>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?
>If we rip out one of these machine's brainboxes and wire you up to control it instead, you'll be able to deal with the situation directly. That'll give you more flexibility.
>This is good enough, isn't it? If we hand a copy of this data over to Dark Star and Tezza's boys, they should be able to handle it themselves.
>Write-In?

>>5584357
>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?
yes. YES. YESSSSSSSSSS

>>5584357
>>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?

>>5584357
>If we rip out one of these machine's brainboxes and wire you up to control it instead, you'll be able to deal with the situation directly. That'll give you more flexibility.
Send the SHODAN-controlled drone into the other ships and use it to map out threats and shut down those that could be shutdown through terminals. We can then board then clean up the rest, with the controlled bot walking ahead to act as a scout.
>Ask SHODAN what she thinks of the idea
Also, how well do these bots work in zero-g?

>>5584357
>>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?

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>>5584357
Can we set Shodan's and David's external suits to give off the same cues that will trigger the self-learning IFF pattern?
Or is this a visual-only cue?

In which case
>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?
What could go wrong?

>>5584431
Given they see only the visible spectrum and they have recognition of threats by sight, that plan has to work.
Literally less advanced than ants.

>>5584357
>Wire up SHODAN
Giving an army to the ai? Yes, excellent trope

>>5584357
>>I'm willing to bet the logins are the same on the rest of these ships. Why don't you reprogram one to just walk in uncontested and shut them all down?

>>5584357

"Alright, i think we can just reprogram one of these things to do the job for us. Assuming the password is the same on every terminal... big 'if' but not an unreasonable one, it should work."

"Very well, Captain. I will modify their programming and upload it to each ship where possible. They should no longer attack on sight."

"Great... ah, but there's one problem. It's still a pain in the ass to give these guys orders without a terminal, since they don't have any wireless equipment, you know?"

"That is certainly true, Captain."

"So i was just thinking, maybe we turn them into little pretend soldiers, huh?"

"How so, Captain?"

"Well, literally just make them follow verbal commands. Have them recognize our crew as their commanders, then we can order them properly on command."

"...I don't think that will be quite as simple to program as you think, but it can be done."

"If you can, please. Maybe we can outfit them with subspace oscillators or something later, but for now this makes them immediately useable."

"Very well, Captain."

...

It takes around half an hour for SHODAN to code up what you've asked for and upload it to all the robots that are hanging around in storage.
You gather that this is actually quite a long time for her, which makes you wonder what all she was doing, exactly.

During that time, with nothing better to do, you started dragging all the dead robots off to the side and piling them up, just getting them out of the way.
But as soon as SHODAN finished her little 'update' you stopped, watching as all the machine above you started to wake up.

First they uncurl from the fetal position, then row by row they disconnect from their needle-like charging docks and land in a superman pose before standing.
Most of them land on or amongst the corpses of their fellows, but being robots and all, they don't seem to mind too much.

Rather, once their bootup sequence is complete, they immediately get to work grabbing the fallen robots and dragging them to the same pile you've been making.

"Oh, free labor? Hell yeah."

You love hard work, you could watch it all day.
With nearly as many new machines as the ones you damaged, the cleanup is finished rapidly and the machines return to their positions, lined up and standing at attention like soldiers.

SHODAN walks up to one of the machines and points at it, poking it in the chest. There's no atmosphere in here, so she can't speak to it and needs to gesture instead.
But the machine seems to understand, and very enthusiastically salutes her before leaving the line and standing at her side.

"Damn, these things might even make good cops for the lower city. Given the right programming."

"They are a machine with high potential, that is certain."

"Probably won't be as trigger happy as a real cop, either. No swollen ego, nothing."

"I know you've seen robocop, Captain."

"Hey, can't deny the man did some work."

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>>5585380
>Robocop
Unless there is a meat-brain (or a soul) in there somewhere, I think pic related might be the best we can hope for from VI lol

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David's right. These robots would make great beat cops, guards, manual laborers, janitors, etc...two big fucking problems though.
They currently look and act like the goddamned Terminator and would freak people the fuck out.
We can probably make them look a lot less scary by slapping on some cheap acrylic shells, but even then they'd still be emotionless robots. To that end, I have another idea.
We can't really give them emotions, but it should be totally feasible for SHODAN to write up some rudimentary "personality" programs.
Nothing fancy, just enough so they can spit out lines and handle shit in a not-so-soulless manner.
This would also give us a chance to give SHODAN a little inspiration by suggesting some fictional characters, historical figures, or people David's met.
On that note, I think I know just the friendly cop to base the LEO personality on. Pic related.

>>5585430
The robots would make great cocksleeves. Slap a skin suit on all of them and a replica of the POCKET PUSSY that was made for David, and have them patrol the streets as tireless hookers. Our hookers will be the best hookers, they'll fuck you into a goddamn coma. Just don't strike up a conversation with them, you fuckin queer.

>>5585430
that just sounds annoying on the long run. what we should do is the equivalent of kerfus, but for space, a.k.a. find out what most of the population finds cute in general and apply those aspects on the robots(if possible)

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aw fuck, forgot the image

>>5585380
Say, how close to human looking are these bots again? I know plenty of species are humanoid, but how close are these to actual human proportions and anatomy?

>>5585430
no.

>>5585380

The machine obediently follows you back to the Metal Gear, where you're finally able to shed your armor for the day.
Now back in atmosphere, you're able to give it orders yourself. You have fun playing around with it a bit, making it do funny poses while SHODAN moves the ship.

There's a slight jolt as the Metal Gear docks with one of the drone ships, and the killbot stands at attention as SHODAN's body 'wakes up'.
She's taken to simply leaving her body sitting somewhere, leaned over on her thighs and staring forward like a boxer who passed out on his feet.

You can tell she's not in there though. Her breathing stops, but you can still hear the faint whirr of the air pump coming from her nose.
Her eyes are open, but they don't move. You're not sure if she's recording video or what, but there must be a reason she leaves them open.

You can see her muscles twitch slightly as she enters her body, and then all the minute movements one naturally makes as she comes back to life.

She sighs out, and then stands up as if stretching out her muscles.
Immediately, she walks over to the killbot and commands it.

"This is an order. Run program #1 and report back over radio if successful."

"Yes ma'am!" The machine responds, offering a salute.

Completely unarmed, it walks it's way over to the airlock, inputs the PIN on it's own and steps in.

"...What, that's it?" You wonder.

"In theory. Assuming you were correct about the biological limitations of cybersecurity. And after parsing some of your old memories, i believe you."

Twenty minutes pass, during which you mostly just sit on your ass.
In that time, you do make yourself and SHODAN a simple egg and cheese sandwich, just to get some food in you.

It's not bad... needs hot sauce.

In the middle of eating, SHODAN pauses mid-bite to inform you that the killbot you sent in seems to have succeeded.

"So what did you have him do, exactly?" You ask.

"It will have uploaded the same program that i used to overwrite the machines on the first ship. After sixteen hours, the machines in storage will swap with the ones on patrol..."

"And then they'll repeat the process on the other half. Nice!"

"Assuming the last ship goes just as smoothly, we can consider this mission complete."

...

Fortunately, it does. The killbot actually reports back that the last ship's terminal literally had no password at all.
So with that done, you're able to report back to Tezza with some positive news.

"Sixteen hours, apparently. I'd give it a full 24, just to be safe." You inform him.

["...What do you mean by full 24 hours? Full of what?"] He asks, confused.

"Er, nevermind. Just give it a little longer, just in case. If all goes well, there should be a single machine waiting in the airlock to give a report."

["Alright, i'll trust you on this one. Tezza out."]

Tezza cuts the connection, but you can see him scratching at his scales. He seems stressed.
And you, you're left mostly alone. And it feels very, very quiet.

>>5586836
Whoops, dropped my trip

mmmm quiet... time for the tinnitus to kick in
https://youtu.be/Ryqvdr0UxcI time to listen to some music. I wonder if space music is good or an affront to mankind. I mean it's math...

>>5586836
>go straight to bed

>>5586908
Ya know, SHODAN can probably play the guitar just based on David's memories of what it should sound like. It'd be nice to introduce Cylia and Kyla to some of Earth's songs and musical instruments.

>>5586836

SHODAN has been busy for the last while, focused on designing the carrier.
Without the rest of your crew around, it's quiet. Really quiet.

Sitting by yourself at the table in the mess hall, you can't help but focus on the ringing in your ears. The tinnitus that you've yet to get fixed.
The humming of the ship just adds onto it. Resonates with it, almost. Amplifying it until it's nearly deafening.

Fuck, you can't stand it! It makes you want to bang your head against the goddamned wall.

You need something to do. Something to take your mind off of everything while you head back to Thekia.
Working out is always good. It keeps you focused and helps you expend some energy.

But it's been a while since you did any design work, and that's always fun too.
Your suit is pretty fucked up right now. You know you need to get the new one built, so maybe you could work on that instead.

Or you could just sleep it off, you guess. Maybe listen to some music.
You've got a slight headache that just doesn't want to go away, so maybe you just need some rest.

>Work out for a while, maybe try and come up with a way to beat SHODAN in hand to hand combat
>Work on designing your next-gen power armor for a bit. (Discuss what sort of features you'd want)
>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.
>Write-In?

>>5587506
>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.
We really should take care of our head, SHODAN warned us.

>>5587506
>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.
>Tell Shodan goodnight.

>>5587506
>>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.

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>>5587506
>>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.

I think we've ended up straining our brain and a bit of extra rest is probably the best we can do until we can get checked out. The whole situation makes me think we really should focus on finding a doctor to serve on our crew next time we get a chance.

Also related, promoting brain health and function. Easiest way to go about it is picrelated since they don't require a ton of resources to grow in an enclosed space. Really only have to worry about temperature management which should be a piece of cake for us.

They'll also serve as another source of protein and allow us more options for non meat eaters on our crew. Only real problem is gonna be finding a suitable sample to cultivate from as I'm sure most stations have protocols to prevent the spread of stuff like spores and fungus.

>>5587506
>>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.
>>Tell Shodan goodnight.

>>5587506
>>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.

>>5587506
>Try and get some sleep. This headache is getting annoying.
We can only rest.
>Spoon SHODAN

>>5587506
I'm thinking David should ask SHODAN and Kyla to organise some sort of human-compatible autodoc blood filtration system like what is in The Expanse tv show. With all the places he visits in space or staring into the void, it's possible there's pathogens, cancers or other unwelcome items requiring removal. If it keeps David in tip-top shape physically then this could be a win.

In the meantime though, while everyone's busy he should rest.

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>>5587506

For a moment you consider getting some work done, but this headache keeps bothering you.
It's not severe or anything, but it just grabs your attention somehow. Like someone poking at you, explicitly trying to be annoying.

So you decide to rest.
You want to take care of yourself, at least a little better. So that you can be around for your crew when they need you.

After taking some supposed headache medicine, you lie down in bed and cover up tightly.
There's a fan mounted to the ceiling over your bed, blowing cold air down onto you. It also provides plenty of white noise, since it's pretty loud.

You reach for the dimmer switch mounted above your headboard and turn down the lights... but... well, you don't feel like sleeping in complete darkness tonight
So the room dims down to something like twilight, and you roll over to get some sleep.

It's a little difficult.

Even with the white noise from the fan, you can't help but keep focusing on the ringing in your ears for some reason.
It's like a worm digging into your brain, or one of those damned jingles that gets stuck in your head for days at a time.

You feel a slight hum in the bed as the ship engages it's FTL drive. SHODAN must be headed back to Thekia already.
There's no-one to follow you this time, so you don't have to worry about getting ambushed.

...

.....

Something like forty minutes passes, and you can't get to sleep.
You're tired, honestly. Mentally more than physically, but you are tired. You should be able to sleep.

...You reach into your night stand and grab a bottle out of the back. Your own bootleg version of whisky, made in a fabricator.
It's already cold from sitting in your room, so you just unscrew the cap and throw it back. A few shots always helps you sleep.

After downing about a third of the bottle, you toss it back into the drawer, slam it shut and wrap yourself back up under the blankets.
As expected, the booze does help you sleep. After it starts kicking in, you feel yourself drifting off to dreamland. Slowly, steadily...

...

And then you find yourself back on your farm. Sitting on your porch, in your rocking chair... with good ol' Mutt laying beside you.

There are no corridors of metal or concrete, no lasers or asteroids or freaky aliens trying to kill you.
There's no demons or monsters or the infinite void of space trying to turn your lungs and mind inside out.

It's just your little farmhouse, a patch of nice, green grass, a tree in the front yard... and a sea of golden wheat as far as the eye can see.
You can smell the fresh, clean air of your home. The smell of plants and dirt, and a little bit of manure. It feels good.

Standing up, you walk out into the yard, stretching your arms and feeling the warmth of the sunlight on your face.
Of course, Mutt is eager to follow, wherever you go.

>>5588611

Your old truck is still sitting in the driveway. An early 70's ford that one of your neighbors had been using as a farm truck.
He sold it to you when he got too old to do any work, because he knew you'd fix it up rather than tear it down for parts.

It's an ugly-ass shade of sky blue, but that's what the shop had to spare. At least it didn't cost you anything.

...You feel like going somewhere, but you're not sure where.

>You miss the food back on earth. Ronda's cafe should be open by now.
>The weather's good today. You'd bet the fish are biting down at the creek.
>You could go for a drink. Maybe stop by the bar and crack one open with the boys?
>Didn't your sister say she needed help with moving? You've got a sturdy back, you should help her out.

>>5588613
>Didn't your sister say she needed help with moving? You've got a sturdy back, you should help her out.

>>5588613
>Didn't your sister say she needed help with moving? You've got a sturdy back, you should help her out.

>>5588613
>Didn't your sister say she needed help with moving? You've got a sturdy back, you should help her out.
Family is family. Also
>Pat Mutt's head and call him a good boy.

>>5588628
This too, Mutt a good boy.

>>5588628
>>5588613
David might not be able to live with his family, but he loves them.
Support this and patting doggo

>>5588628
+1

>>5588613
>>Didn't your sister say she needed help with moving? You've got a sturdy back, you should help her out.
Yeah, family matters. Family. Matters.

>>5587506
Talk to the guy that lost a leg, and give him a choice. We'll be buying his new limb either way, but as a bonus he can choose between a cash sum, a human weapon made up in the nanofab just for him, or letting our crew design the best leg possible.

>>5588756
All the options but the cash sound like terrible ideas.
>human weapon
Unless its a bladed weapon, anything else is practically useless due to the ammo it needs, and it also becomes a security risk for when it invariably gets taken away from the dude and is given to an eneny gang/gets sold for cash
>a better leg
This one sort of makes sense, but it falls under a similar logic as the weapon. If its worth more to sell it and get a leg that lets you do all the things a normal leg can do, they will and then our tech will be out there in the hands of undesirable people

>>5588857
.....why would he sell a leg he can use when he's being paid well for working for us? Especially considering the types of workers we hire being smart enough to know better.

>>5588872
>.....why would he sell a leg he can use when he's being paid well for working for us?
Because he lost his fucking leg working for us, maybe?

>>5588872
Because an overkill leg would sell for a ton of money. Enough to buy a normal leg and still have a bit of extra cash
>the people we hire know enough to know better
No. The people we hire have families and are poor as shit. They will use every advantage they get to rise above the poverty line, and that includes selling shit that was given to them with no strings attached

>>5588914
>Paying hazard pay and a top of the line custom replacement
>Being paid during the off time as well till its ready for work.
I still see a retard.
>>5588937
If they were so desperate we wouldn't hire them for a secret operation, did both you retards forget that David approves of who gets on our work ticket?

>>5588960
>I still see a retard.
The aliens are literal smoothbrains, anon.

>>5588966
I......touche. But we got the alums with the largest pringle ridges possible. They work for us because they aren't the literal bottom of the barrel.

>>5588960
rude. i haven't called you a retard.

>David approves of who gets on our work ticket?
david picked them because they're refugees and they have something to protect, not because of any particular screening he has set up. so yeah, there is nothing stopping them from selling the shit we give them, because again, they have a family to protect and the stuff we give them can be sold for a decent amount of cash

>#17 No.5552415
>Was Honeg his name? You don't remember, honestly. You just picked him up because he seemed like the honest and hardworking type.
>He hasn't given you a lick of trouble since you hired him, probably because he's got a family to feed.

>>5589089
A one time payment that isn't going to equal our paychecks.

>>5589113
poor people don't think like that

>>5589113
yes, but that's still a one time payment that can help you financially at that moment. and its not like we can fire him for flipping the stuff -that again, i repeat- are giving him with no strings attached. that's why im saying that all but the cash option are bad ideas. just give the worker the leg that we promised, the extra sum of cash and that's it. no loose ends

>>5588613

It's a little vague, but you think you remember something about your sister needing help with moving.
Family is family, and you're supposed to help eachother so that's what you'll do.

You walk over to your truck, and Mutt follows excitedly at your feet, so you have to be careful not to step on him.
Picking him up, you love on him a bit, scratching his head and patting his side while he licks your face. He's always so excited to get any attention from you.

Then you set him in the bed of your truck, so he can enjoy the breeze.
He loves to ride in the back. You were kind of worried that he'd blow away in the wind at first, since he's kind of small... but he's been just fine.

You climb up into the cab, taking a moment to admire the new interior. Leather seats, new upholstery... had a hell of a time getting a new dash for this damned thing, but there it is.
Got all-new instruments for the panel, as well. Backlit, but hand-painted with glow in the dark paint just in case. Reworked the AC and everything, so now she blows icicles.

Closing the door, you take in the smell. Leather, plastic, and a black ice air freshener sitting behind the fuzzy dice.

Then you crank it up, and enjoy the rumble of a good old-fashioned combustion engine.
A 350 small block, with a few performance parts where it counts. Pistons, crank-shaft, transmission...

And of course, you threw a small turbo on there. Just something you pulled off an old supra, but it does the trick.
You've never put her on a dyno, but you reckon she could hit around 350, maybe 400 horsepower at most. Not bad for an old girl like this.
Of course, you don't want her to blow up on you. No need to push it too far.

After checking to make sure Mutt hasn't jumped out, you back out of your driveway and start heading down the bumpy dirt road leading to the highway.
Even the highway is somewhat empty, but there are still enough cars and especially 18 wheelers on the road that it never seems empty.

It's a short ten minute drive into town, a small place with just a thousand or so people living in and around it.
Some of them are just here temporarily on work. There's an oil field nearby, so they built a trailer park for the riggers to live at while they work there.

The town itself is old. Late 1700's you think.
The buildings are all made of brick. Handmade and hand laid, not like you'd see today.
And there's an old railroad running right through the middle of town. You're sure it was the lifeblood at one point, but the whole railyard is shut down now.

All the local stores are mom & pop. Well, you do have a dollar general, but besides that.
It's comfortable. Everyone knows just about everyone. Ain't much for crime or drama, besides whatever the old hens can peck up out of boredom.

You love it here, honestly. But it's no place for your sister, and that's why she's moving.
She finished her degree recently, and she's looking to get into her field ASAP. Only, there's no work for her here.

>>5589938
>>but hand-painted with glow in the dark paint just in case.
MMmmm radium

>>5589953
Imagine painting stuff with liquid uranium.

>>5590136
mmm yellow

>>5588611
>no freaky aliens trying to kill you
So far as I can tell most of the instances of freaky aliens trying to kill David are usually more his fault than theirs.

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>>5589938
>Supra turbo in a 70's ford
>350-400 hp
>No dyno, so no tune. Just eyeballed fuel pressure and dip switched ignition timing to the boost pressure

Jesus christ

>>5589938

You ride down the highway into town, hanging your arm out the window and enjoying the fresh country air.
Mutt is doing just the same, stand up on the wheel well so he can stick his face out into the wind.

It feels great.
But that's interrupted by the sudden flashing of lights behind you.

"Oh great, it's Roscoe." You grumble, slowing down and pulling over.

Ever the object of your annoyance, an old, beat up looking crown vic pulls up behind you, and out steps Roscoe, the town sheriff.
As he slowly saunters up to your truck, both thumbs through his belt loops, you already feel the patience draining out of you.

"What do you want, you lanky motherfucker?" You growl.

"Now now, Gunny. Is that any way to be talking to your sheriff?"

"You ain't a sheriff, Roscoe. You're a fuckin' orangutan with a badge and a toy gun. Now what the fuck do you want?"

"Step out of the vehicle, sir." He orders.

Oh great, here we go again. He's always looking for something, anything he can use to pin you with something.
Just because you beat the shit out of his little brother after he started acting up around them girls.

>Comply, for now.
>Fuck him, this old girl's got some oomph behind her, and it wouldn't be the first time you've outrun that old vic.
>You ain't got time for this retard, not today. Just sock him in the mouth and drive off.
>Write-In?

>>5590858
He figures it could do that much. Not that it currently is.
That said, it's an OG 350 small block.

>>5590864
>Comply, for now.
He may be a mouthbreather, but that badge is very fuckin real. Let's not become a fugitive just yet.

>>5590864
>Comply, for now.

>>5590864
>Write-In
Tell him he can talk to us just fine while we're sitting down. We've got stuff to do, and if he feels like wasting our time we can simply remind him that he would never catch us if we didn't let him, and he ain't searching a damn thing unless he's got a paper warrant in his hands right the hell now

>>5590864
>>Comply, for now.

>>5590871
It's not that, I'm impressed that he managed to rig together some boost without a proper dyno tune without blowing shit up. What a madlad

>Comply, for now.

>>5590864
>You ain't got time for this retard, not today. Just sock him in the mouth and drive off.
WE SPACE CRAZY NOW

>>5590864
Seconding >>5590991
He's out to give us grief, if we give an inch he'll take a mile. Keep this up and he'll be in for a real headache one way or another, either through a concussion, a mountain of paperwork, or both. I bet he just loves paperwork.

Cochrane please tell me David doesn't just leave his truck gun sitting out in plain view.

>>5591387
I don't think he gives THAT FEW fucks...
Also why is everybody so... hinged? flip off the cop, pee in his coffe holster. Break his lame (kinda cool really)cowboy sunglasses

>>5591414
because david wasn't an unhinged psycopath until after the nuke

>>5590864
If he's authorized to order us out of the car then
>Comply, for now.
If not then what >>5590991 said
>Tell him he can talk to us just fine while we're sitting down. We've got stuff to do, and if he feels like wasting our time we can simply remind him that he would never catch us if we didn't let him, and he ain't searching a damn thing unless he's got a paper warrant in his hands right the hell now

>>5591414
Would David really do that in this context though? Remember, for all intents and purposes, he's still just that big Rockefeller boy who works down at the mechanic.
Not a Demon infested mercenary turned rebel lost in hostile space.

>>5590864
>>Comply, for now.

>>5591444
>checked
This is a dream, not a flashback.
When we dream of our childhood (or our past), we do so through the mindset of who we are now, not as who we were then.

>>5591444
>>5591415
pea brain piss drinker cumfarts.
>>5588611
>And then you find yourself back on your farm. Sitting on your porch, in your rocking chair... with good ol' Mutt laying beside you.

>There are no corridors of metal or concrete, no lasers or asteroids or freaky aliens trying to kill you.
>There's no demons or monsters or the infinite void of space trying to turn your lungs and mind inside out.

>It's just your little farmhouse, a patch of nice, green grass, a tree in the front yard... and a sea of golden wheat as far as the eye >can see.
>You can smell the fresh, clean air of your home. The smell of plants and dirt, and a little bit of manure. It feels good.
Now change your vote and let's break the fat fuck's nose

>>5590864
>Comply, for now.

I want to see what It is going say to us now that Its using this form to talk to us.

>>5590864

"We can both talk just fine from where we're at." You snarl.

"Oh, hell! Just get out the damn truck already you lugnut! I know what you're like, and you ain't running off on me again!" Roscoe barks.

Closing your eyes, you suck air in through your nose and exhale loudly through clenched teeth, pushing down your annoyance.
Unfastening your seatbelt, you open the door up and step out onto the side of the highway.

Roscoe is fairly tall, but he is indeed lanky.
You might be about eye to eye with him, but you're at least twice his size.

Speaking in a low tone, you hold your open hands at your sides and lean forward as you address him.

"I'm out of the truck, Roscoe. What now."

Roscoe takes a fearful half-step back before nutting up enough to reply. He knows you're pissed.

"C-Calm down now, i'm just gonna do a quick inspection..." He murmurs.

You place your hands on your hips and watch patiently as he goes through his usual rigamarole.
Lights, plates, registration and fucking window tint, as if it'll have changed since last time. He looks over everything.

Of course, the 1911 in your glovebox and the mossburg in the gun rack are there, plain to see. He checks them both for serial numbers, which these ones have, of course.
As he's going through the cab, Mutt starts barking at him through the back glass. He raises his head quickly enough that he bangs it off the roof, nearly knocking that stupid hat off.

"Well, well, well! What have we here?!" He starts. "An illegal passenger! Gotche this time you snakey sumbitch!"

"Roscoe, that's a dog."

"Ah, ah, ah! It says right there in the book, you ain't allowed to have passengers in the back o' yer truck! not one!"

"No human passengers, Roscoe. People ride their dogs around all the time."

"Well i'll be gettin' them too, don't you worry!"

Roscoe reaches round back, grabbing Mutt out of the bed of the truck.
To his credit, Mutt doesn't immediately bite, although he does start growling and squirming like mad, trying to get away.

"Goddamnit Roscoe, i ain't gonna tell you but once. Put my dog down."

"Not a chance, soldier-boy! Both you and him can come down to the station and explain yourselves. Matter of fact, i got a whole list of complaints that-"

As Roscoe opens the back door of his cruiser, Mutt gets fed up and bites the shit out of his hand, drawing blood and making him squeal like a stuck pig.
Roscoe flails his arm around, trying to shake Mutt off to no avail, until eventually he slams Mutt against the side of his cruiser, forcing him to let go with a yelp.

In that moment, watching Mutt get hurt like that, something changes.
Time seems to slow down immensely, and you can see everything happening before you in great detail.

Not just that, but the sky itself seems to darken. And with it, your surroundings begin to darken, too.
A loud ringing fills your ears, and you're filled with anger, even as the darkness encroaches upon you.

>Kill him.
>Choke him.
>Slam him down.
>Write-In?

>>5592114
>Kill him.
eh, its a dream anyways

>>5592114
>Come on and slam

>>5592114
>Punch him full force in the throat. Then kick him in the kidneys until he pisses blood for the rest of his life.

>>5592114
>Kill him
It's only illegal if you get caught

>>5592114
>slam dunk
this better not be sleep walking
realistically would a cop really do this even if its a dog

>>5592114
>Write-In?
Slam him against against his cruiser and stare him down. He's already scared of us, and if he had any sense he'd know he fucked up big time and it's time to grovel before David goes full PTSD psycho

>>5592123
>eh, its a dream anyways
We're psychic; dreams have serious consequences. Remember our last dream? Remember our memory loss? The sudden bouts of tinnitus and fear of the dark did not come from nowhere. We need to get our shit locked-down both consciously and unconsciously until we can get looked at.

>>5592114
>Slam him down.
>>5592178
>realistically would a cop really do this even if its a dog
Oh you have no idea.

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>>5592178
>realistically would a cop really do this even if its a dog

>>5592178
Ah, I envy your innocence.

>>5592181
>Remember our last dream? Remember our memory loss?
fair points, but you aren't dealing with a conscious david right now. everything goes right now

>>5592178
the ATF has a dogkiller reputation for a reason

>>5592187
>you aren't dealing with a conscious david right now. everything goes right now
True, somewhat.
If he doesn't know he's dreaming, then straight up killing a cop for messing with his dog tells a lot about his emotional health. If he knows he's dreaming and kills the cop that is pretty telling as well, not noticing the encroaching darkness aside.

>>5592191
>then straight up killing a cop for messing with his dog tells a lot about his emotional health.
lets be honest here, he has done worse(or equal) for less and cylia has been telling him so for a long time. no one in their right mind decides to vivisect another sentient being without being a little fucked in the head

>>5592202
One of the first things David did when confronted with hostile Xenos was beat their asses and carve his name into their chests with a pocket knife. We've been knowing he's a little fucked.

>>5592114
>Slam him down.
"Karma, she is a bitch"

>>5592114
>Write-In
Just sock him in the mouth. I’ve got a bad feeling we’re going on a sleepwalking rampage right now.

>>5592114
>>Slam him down.
oh god we are just a country version of John Wick

>>5592178
Forgot we were dreaming for a sec
I'm not even a dog person but slam dunk him in the name of good bois everywhere

>>5592114
>>5592178
this.
And yes, they would

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>>5592178

>>5592114
Slam him.

>>5592114
>Kill him
It's either this or nothing. If we just slam him, he'll probably let us go since he's a pussy but he's also spiteful and petty so he will absolutely charge us with assaulting an officer later. Better to disappear him here in the middle of nowhere than to gamble on a trial over this nonsense.

>>5592114
>>Slam him down.

We may be facing a dream demon or we may be sleepwalking.

>>5592704
thankfully there is only shodan with us right now and she isn't exactly chokeable

>>5592114
>Slam him down.
He is not worth the trouble. Just slam him down, threaten him with breaking his kneecaps if he ever bothers us again and check up on the Mutt.
Ah, we should also be prepared in case sheriff pulls up a weapon on us (or the Mutt).

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>>5592114
>Write in
>Pic related

>>5592114

You don't think, you just act.
And your first act is to charge at him.

Now focused on his hand, he barely spots you moving before you shoulder check him straight into his own cruiser, slamming the door shut so hard that it shatters the glass.
That alone was enough to knock the wind out of him, but he still tries to go for his gun. You don't let him.

You grab him by the collar of his shirt with one hand, and by his crotch with the other. He starts screaming involuntarily as you lift him straight over your head.
And with all of your rage fueled strength, you slam him down onto the roof of the cruiser, shattering the front window as well and denting the roof inwards.

Then you pick him up again, and this time slam him down on the ground, raising a pall of dust.

"Gunny, please...!" He begs, straining to get the words out.

You won't kill him. You've got a good life here, and you don't need this retard's blood on your hands.
Instead, you drag him by his hair out into the cornfield next to you, and give him a solid kick in the ribs before heading back out.

Then, you squat down and grab his cruiser by the undercarriage.
It's heavy, but you manage to pick his cruiser up enough to flip it over, causing it to roll off the embankment and into the ditch.

You jump down a short ways to stand on top of the overturned cruiser, then yell out into the cornfield where Roscoe lies.

"You had a car crash, you hear? And if i ever see you again, you sumbitch, ain't nobody gonna find your body. That's a fuckin' promise."

Hopping back up onto the side of the road, you find Mutt standing at the edge of the embankment, looking down at the car and yapping out at the cornfield.
He doesn't seem any worse for wear, but still. You scoop him up gently and place him in the cab of your truck, next to you.

Only now as you start driving again do the effects of the adrenaline really start kicking in.
You're mostly used to it after all these years, but you never could get your hands to stop shaking completely.

The darkened sky turns to rain, and then a downpour.
Somewhere along the way, you stop driving and just find yourself floating there in the void.

Why is it always like this?

You came out here to get away from everything, but no matter where you go, it seems like folks can't just leave you alone.
Someone's always gotta exert their power and authority over you. Doesn't matter how little it is, they just love doing it.

You're sick and tired of being sick and tired.

What are you supposed to do? Move to the jungle? Buy an island and live there?
This is all wrong. You feel it, deep down inside. You know you weren't supposed to live like this.

You're an apex predator. You're strong, you're fast, you're relatively smart.
You aren't supposed to be pushed down by the weak. The feeble-minded and the degenerately wealthy.

You know you've got some screws loose. A few crossed wires, maybe.
You're not perfect, but you know what's right and what's wrong.

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>>5593355
Holy shit.
One slam, two slams, three slams and a car rollover?
David check yourself before you end up pic related.

>>5593355
>Dream David manages to flip 4,000lbs/1800kg
I'm loving the self confidence.

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>>5593355
>You're an apex predator. You're strong, you're fast, you're relatively smart.
>You aren't supposed to be pushed down by the weak. The feeble-minded and the degenerately wealthy.
>You're not perfect, but you know what's right and what's wrong.
ooof david buddy, that's a really easy way to self delusion and easy manipulation town

>>5593355
He's returned to monke damn near.

>>5593355
And then he realizes, "oh shit I just flipped over a car am I dreaming? Oh shit I am dreaming" Then cue the lucid dream sequence, spawn a fuckton of guns, coke, and hookers. Wake up with stained underwear.

>>5594291
>tfw david wakes up and he ripped up a huge chunk of floor and flipped it over because he was sleepwalking

>>5594291
> sleepwalking david goes specifically for *that* pipe in the ship and rips it from the floor for no real reason

>>5594315
>Kyla mounts a pipe in David's quarters specifically for him to use in a pinch
>he rips another pipe out of the wall anyways.

>>5593355

...Visions begin to flash through the darkness. Memories of the past.

Your sister crouching over the unconscious body of your younger brother, after you had an argument with him.
It was his fault for saying what he did about you. For talking shit about mom and dad. There's a reason you don't speak with him anymore.

You weren't wrong.

Roscoe's brother Jeremiah, beaten to a bloody pulp. Slumped against the wall behind the local bar.
His friends are there too. Broken limbs, broken teeth. Not as bad as him though.

That was his fault too, for sure.
He might have been drunk, but that's no excuse for what he tried to do.

You weren't wrong.

...And then, that little afghani boy.
It wasn't his fault. You don't know who put him up to it, but he was just a kid.
His parents probably. They put that religion in his head. And the taliban probably put that grenade in his hand.

It was either him or 12 other marines, and even at that distance, Bobby still took shrapnel to his shoulder.
What you did, in that moment at least, wasn't wrong.

But you know you shouldn't have been there in the first place.
Fuckin' dirt farmers and religious fanatics. If you hadn't been there it wouldn't have happened.

But the government couldn't leave them alone. They wanted oil. They wanted money.
Didn't matter to them how they got it. They were just farmers after all.

Covering up their own shit like we couldn't smell it.

And you, you were a stupid kid with nothing but anger inside you at the time.
You didn't know any better when you joined up. Did all your thinking after it was too late.

Even that wasn't the wrong choice, though.
You wouldn't be who you are now if you hadn't joined.

You'd still be that stupid kid, full of rage and resentment. But you'd either be dead or in prison.

You weren't wrong.

Murder, arson, theft. War justifies it all.
You don't care about the law, though. You never did.
You only ever cared whether or not it was "right". Not by somebody else's metric, but by your own.

Your own justification was all you ever needed.

He hit me.
He was talking shit.
He stole something.
He attacked somebody else.

Those are good reasons. The right reasons.

"Give me your name first, boy."

The image of Shelta's father, Shaltar, appears in the void before you.

"You watch your mouth with me, or we're going to have a problem."

You see yourself squatting down over Shaltar, beating the shit out of him.
Blood and spit fly from his mouth with every punch. You can see the rage, indignation and pain in his face.

You didn't ask for much. Common courtesy. A modicum of respect.
Whether it's his house or not, you deserve that much.

You weren't wrong then either.

"This is why i hate predators. You think the whole world revolves around you."

Next, you see a tired-looking receptionist behind a desk.
You remember this place. It's the hospital, on Xebric.

Grandpa Gas-Bag is in front of you now. Covered in burns.

That's right. They killed his family for eating meat.

>>5594385

It's the same anywhere you go, isn't it?
People take what they want. Whether it's right or wrong doesn't matter to them.

If they have the opportunity, they take it.

You're never going to be left alone.
As long as you have something to take, someone is going to take it from you.

They'll find a reason. And if they can't, they'll make one.

Running isn't the answer.
Hiding won't save you.
There is no escape.

That's true.
It's true on earth, at least.

There's nowhere you can run to.
Even the farthest corners of the earth have all been laid claim to.
But in space, it's different. You can see it. You can see the same shit happening there.

But you can also see where it hasn't happened yet.
In the far corners, where nobody has made their stake yet. Not because they couldn't take it, but because they don't even want it.

As the empire sprawls, it becomes more difficult to control.

And colonizing dead worlds is hard. Far more effort than simply living on some garden world.
It's worse as worse as you get closer to the galactic core. More radiation. More dark matter and dark energy.

Exploding stars left and right wipe away any trace of life before it has a chance to take root, but you could do it.

You don't want to take what someone else has. You want a place that's yours.
Something that you created. Something that can never be taken from you, not by anyone.

It's not wrong to attack. For your own sake. For the sake of others.
To protect yourself. To protect what's yours. There isn't a single thing wrong with it.

It's them. They're the ones who are wrong.

It's all wrong. No, no, no. Why does it have to be like this?
You hate it. You just want to be left alone. It shouldn't be this hard.

Still floating in the void, you see demons begin to appear.
Wraiths. Husks. Demons. They appear through portals by the hundreds and surround you.
You can hear their screeches. Their cries. Of pain and anger. Of starvation and sorrow. It's too much.

What are these things? Why are they like this?
Was something taken from you, too?

All of them are washed away by something swimming through the darkness.

It's Nena. Her true form. Her real body.
Now that you see her up close, you realize how truly gigantic she is.

But then you notice the others.

A young caithan boy. One girl with white hair, and another with grey skin.
They appear one after another, each one curled up and floating in the void, just like you are now.

Walls of black metal appear around each of them, crushing them inwards.
You watch on in horror as they're compressed into cubes, trapped inside helplessly.

What are people doing to eachother?
Is there not some limit to evil?

How much are these people willing to take from someone?

You feel sick.
You want to vomit, but you can't.

It's dark again.

There's nothing around you now.
Except... there is. Something.

That something is itself, very dark. But you can just barely make it out, somehow.
A vaguely feminine shape, floating just there.

>>5594409

You say nothing to eachother for the longest time.
Just floating. Staring at one another.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

Oh, it's SHODAN.

>I don't think i'm okay.
>I'm fine. I've always been fine.
>I don't know. How can i tell?

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can i tell?

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can i tell?
it is what it is

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can I tell?

>>5594412
"I'll manage."

>>5594412
>"Better now that you're here."

>>5594412
>"Fuck no. Next question."

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can i tell?
He's probably too proud to admit something is wrong.
You know, how come the other AIs seem to be able to have memories while SHODAN needs a dedicated storage to do so? How come the others have definite shapes while SHODAN does not?
In any case, it seems like she has a soul (now?), even if it's not very defined. Maybe she won't have to depend on discrete storage devices for much longer.

>>5594447
>You know, how come the other AIs seem to be able to have memories while SHODAN needs a dedicated storage to do so?
they probably have internal storage or are using the same trick shodan used of having everything on RAM. after all, she's a grey AI cube that was assigned to a black project ship and was supposed to nuke herself if her mission was compromised. she's already the uncommon of the uncommon

>>5594456
>they probably have internal storage
Unlikely, unless their memories are stored in the warp metal itself. We saw the mothfu disassemble one and it appeared to be just identical cubes fused together through some kind of force.
SHODAN is different, it's as if she never had a prior life as a fleshbag before; unlike others she has (had?) no residual self image or memories of her own like the others, which I now suspect are bound to their souls.
I think the other AIs merely adopted the dark.

>>5594458
not only she's a grey AI cube, which by default makes her different from the fed cubes, she literally erased all her memories and the data of the black project she was on when the nuke hit the ship. again, shodan itself is an exception to all the other AIs we have met so far. its like trying to compare a mac to a PC; yes, their hardware is similar on a general sense of the word, they have the same components, CPU, GPU, RAM, etc, but they are wired different and the software itself is nothing alike

im also on the group that the AIs made by the greys have souls instead of crushing a being into a cube, so this is an interesting development nonetheless

>>5594412
And in two fell swoops, QM lashes the murderhoboes fiercely. The feels be real man.

>I don't know. How can i tell?
"I think I need something, but I don't know. It seems like leaving Earth could be both the best and worst things to happen to me and I absolutely need to make the best of it."

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can i tell?

>>5594412
>I don't know. How can i tell?

>>5594412
>>I don't know. How can i tell?
There cannot be Darkness without the Light. There cannot be Evil without Good.

>>5594562
>And in two fell swoops, QM lashes the murderhoboes fiercely. The feels be real man.

just look how we brutalize someone in the very next moment, just because we can

>>5594440
>Support
wholesome

>>5594459
I agree, grey tech is different. My head cannon is that SHODAN... may not have a soul

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>>5594412

You stop to think about it for a moment.
You feel fine, but you also feel terrible. Emotionally, physically... it's all mixed up.

What does it mean to be 'okay' in the end?
It's so vague. You don't have a clue.

"I don't know." You answer honestly. "How can i tell?"

There's another pause as SHODAN seems to think.
Then she replies.

"...Is it too much to bear?"

Again, so vague.

Some things, you think so.
You don't want anyone getting turned into AIs against their will anymore.

You don't want to see people getting rounded up, turned into slaves or simply killed off out of convenience anymore.

But at the same time, some things have been good.
You have money. You have a fucking space ship. You have influence in one of the local stations.

But you can't honestly say you're happy about any of that, because underneath it all, everything is like a nightmare.
People's lives are worth less than garbage. They can't get what they need. They have no freedom to do anything.

Even you had to go well out of your way, even risk your life to acquire a nanofab capable of building ships.
The weapons fab was Sanig's, you don't know where the hell he got that and he doesn't want to tell you.
And the chemical fab was something that belonged to the greys, who you haven't seen hide nor hair of since your abduction.

If everyone had nanofabs, you wouldn't have scarcity issues. You can print everything from guns and bullets to a hamburger on them, given the right blueprint.
But it's impossible to simply print a nanofab with a nanofab, since they rely on nanomachines to function.

And the only ones who know how to create them are the feds, and the greys.

Even if you could though, they are dangerous. Nanomachines have to be programmed somehow, and one mistake could result in a grey goo scenario.
Is there any other way? To end scarcity, and ensure people have the means to support themselves with ease?

You don't want a temporary solution. Something that relies on you, or some governing body.
You want something that, once it's released, can't be controlled. Can't be reined back in or reversed. Once it's done, it's done.

Maybe it would be worth it. The potential for grey goo, in exchange for absolute freedom.

Just as you think that, something appears in the void, in a blinding flash of light unlike anything you've ever seen before.
And in that moment, SHODAN's form is revealed, just for an instant.

She was unmistakably, a Grey.

But unlike any you'd seen before, she resembled a human in her proportions more than the deformed-looking dwarfs that they've come to be.
There was no time to focus on that, however, as you were quickly overwhelmed by the light that seemed to shine straight through her.

Although it seems so far away, it's presence is enormous.
It's image penetrates the darkness, and practically overlays itself onto your vision.

There's no way you couldn't see what it is. Wheels within wheels, laden with eyes and burning brightly.

>>5595693
God?

>>5595693
Average celestial hierarchy enjoyer. Give us the message great one. God is great.

>>5595693
I'm trying to be not afraid. It's not working.

>>5595702
More likely a biblically accurate angel.

If there is a chance of going to earth can we create a station there and attempt diplomacy.

>>5595753
thats going to be tough one since theres bound to be seething about that

>>5595763
So?
The fuck are they gonna do about someone building a space station in orbit, shoot a bottle rocket at them? Then we build a MAC cannon

>>5595779
just saying this won't be a walk in the park if this would be our recruitment grounds
maybe it would get easier when we show them there is literal demons and a galactic empire that is like the UN would look like when it actually worships the antichrist but you know how jews gotta jew
who knows maybe god will be our side after this

>>5595763
We could always use SHODAN as a mediator with governments and other powerful people stay anonymous first and trade that way offer to hire the people that we want and keep it white if that's what anons want.

>>5595779
We should park in orbit and just blast over every radio freq known to man "oi china you cunts, your nuke tickled and you should feel bad", in the most texan drawl possible

>>5595847
Oh also we should push any of their space station/orbital labs they have put up out of orbit and make them crash somewhere really offensive, like the forbidden parlance or something.

>>5595693
I...is Shodan Ascended? Or are we not even talking to Shodan right now?

>>5595693
I beg you to let us be a holy crusader for humanity

>>5595847
Honestly, pretending to be an alien and "condeming" the Earth for firing a nuke at an alien ambassador would be a great start.

Especially if we start by 'trying to figure out if it's a unified world or still segmented like barbarians" in terms of determining responsibility.

>>5596046
Imagine coming back to Earth to find the Illuminati went full panic mode and took over the planet and they glassed China in the process. Or some X-COM shit is going down. What a trip.

>>5596090
The Kikes would jumpstart the shit they do now in a panic to rule the world before God erased them. Lets go with this method, and use our own internet replacement on a few of our mining ships to spread the signal, and BUTtFUCK their internal security systems into oblivion so everyone sees they need to die.

>>5596090
but the only reason XCOM shit truly worked was because there WAS an invasion with technology and resources to pilfer from

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>>5596256
>he thinks the NWO isn't already space alien lizard birds

>>5595693
God damn, She has always in-fact been best girl and this just proves it.

>>5596394
>outsmarts david
>outstrengths david
>outsexes david
100% best girl confirmed

>>5595693
So SHODAN is pretty ancient, then, or at least based on something from a time before reliance on technology caused Greys to become stunted.
Did the Greys use a cloned body to anchor a shard of a celestial being? Or did they use a celestial being to anchor a (cloned?) soul (so one doesn't need to be crushed into a box)?
In any case, it doesn't at all surprise me that they had shackled a shard of what many would consider to be divine in order to power what is essentially a glorified calculator/chat bot (the way they were using her).

>>5595693

"Captain?"

Looking up from your plate, you see the face of SHODAN's android body.
She really is beautiful, isn't she? If you had to say so, you'd think she beats out the real 2B by a longshot.

"Your eggs are going to get cold." She warns you.

...Looking back down, you find yourself picking aimlessly at some scrambled eggs.
You don't remember cooking them, however. In fact, you feel like you've forgotten something entirely...

Bitch of it is, you can't remember what you've forgotten.

That happens sometimes. Maybe you're just a little out of it.
Instead of worrying about that, you shrug your shoulder and have another bite.

It's bland.

No salt, no seasonings.
Real lazy cooking.

You don't even feel like eating, really.

"...You want this?" You ask, offering it to her.

"I am already full, Captain."

She taps on a nutrient paste package, sitting on her side of the table.
...You didn't even cook her anything this morning? Geeze, you're really out of it.

At least you don't have that damned headache anymore.

"Oh, shit. That's right, we were dealing with those robots, weren't we? After we got ambushed..."

"Yes, Captain. Are you certain you're feeling well?"

"Yeah, i told you. I'm fine."

...Did you tell her that already?
You feel like you did.

Clearing your throat, you stand up from the table and stretch out your limbs.
For some reason, it feels like you haven't loosened up at all this morning.

>Hey SHODAN, want to do some sparring this morning, help me loosen up a little?
>So, i've been thinking about my power armor lately. I'm not really sure it's where i want it to be. Want to help me with a new design for a bit?
>How's the design for the carrier coming along? I know you've been at it almost 24/7 lately, so i'm sure it's getting there.
>Write-In?

>>5596804
>Write-In?
You know, while we've got some time free, now would be the perfect time to let SHODAN into our head again so that she could see that Tree of Life light show and the other stuff that kept not showing up on camera. And for a free bonus, that kind of access will let her see we're just fine*

*Note, we are not at all fine in any way whatsoever and if we're back in reality going through a fugue state, this is the fastest way to get some insight and get caught up to speed on what we're missing from our memory.

>>5596804
>>5596817
I'm good with the mental stasi rooting through David's secrets to check everything is A-OK.

>>5595693
Gotta say this is a hell of a trip, to see the being within, and I'd believe that Shodan is the wheels within wheels, the spinning windmill we should be tilting at.

David has more than an inkling now that she is different from the Fed AIs now, which means he is aware of the capability and trust difference. I think this is a good opportunity to lay bare more mysteries of Shodan too, like whether she's ready to fork her consciousness to control a station and how she feels about that.

>>5596804
>>5596817
this, Shodan is a sweet girl.

Bruh we still dreaming I swear!

>>5596817
>8
I support. But they better print a psych couch and appropiate smart-guy clothes for SHODAN beforehand

>>5596804
>>Hey SHODAN, want to do some sparring this morning, help me loosen up a little?

>>5596804
>Hey SHODAN, want to do some sparring this morning, help me loosen up a little?

>>5596804
Support for >>5596817

>>5596804

"Hey SHODAN, how much longer until we're back at Thekia?"

"Approximately twenty three minutes, Captain."

...Yeah, maybe that'd be best. You don't feel right, so why not check?

"So uh... hmm. How do i put this?"

SHODAN simply watches you expectantly. Somehow, that makes asking her even harder.

"I didn't... like, look out into the warp again or anything, did i?"

"No Captain, you did not. I have been watching you carefully."

"Yeah, thanks... ahem. Thing is, i kinda, sorta... don't remember how i got here."

SHODAN's mildly happy expression falls away entirely and becomes completely neutral in an instant.

"What do you mean, Captain?"

"Well, the last thing i remember before now is... uh... well, i was here, actually. But yesterday. I went to get some sleep, and... now i'm back here."

There's a pregnant pause, which you understand is SHODAN thinking particularly hard about something.
Her expression doesn't change at all. She must be focused on the subject at hand rather than making an effort to look cute.

"Scientific journals and Alterra Corporation's own documentation on the Neural-Link medication shows no mention of such a side-effect. In fact, it has shown quite the opposite."

"...So it's not the meds i took either?" You guess.

"Unlikely. Have you exerted any sort of psychic effort since your conversation with Illia?"

"Well, no. Not that i can remember anyways. She's the only one i can do that with, anyhow..."

Another long pause.

"...Captain, would you allow me to access your memories once more? Perhaps i can discover something. A pattern, maybe."

"Yeah, sure. I trust you, SHODAN. See what you can see for me."

She hasn't done anything funky with the information she got from you so far. There's been plenty of chances, even moreso now that she's got a body.
But she's been nothing but good to you for as long as you've known her. You trust her like a brother at this point, so if she wants to look, that's fine by you.

After a few moments of concentration, you allow SHODAN to bypass all the safety measures built into your little prototype translator, allowing her direct access into your mind.

"This will only take a moment, Captain."

SHODAN's body falls face first, flat onto the table and lies there motionless.
It's a really strange sensation, not at all like before. You can feel yourself remembering things, memories flashing by faster than you can fully recognize...

She's starting all the way back from the last time you did this, looking to get a complete record, you guess.
So much has happened since you first met. You see yourself hunting with Cylia on that cursed world, then building your first suit of power armor...

Taking down Treg's crew and recruiting Gildur. Forging Warp Metal by hand for the first time. Raiding Gron's ship and deciding to side with him against Sadia Corporation.

>>5598251
We need to hug Shodan, she is too sweet for us.

>>5598577
Agreed

she's cute even when mindfucking her way into our memories!

>>5598577
I also support caring Huggy time for SHODAN

>>5598251
>She's the only one i can do that with, anyhow...
Well, there is the squid-fu AI, and the mute silver-haired animu girl AI to an extent...
Didn't we "converse" with the animu-girl AI while she was disconnected as well?

>>5598977
No, we did not

>>5598977
You did, whoopsie.
I blame it on updating at 2am, and the fact that i still just keep most of this shit in my head

>>5598251

As she goes through your memories one by one, you feel a certain sense of mental exhaustion.
It's probably the speed at which she's viewing them. Previously, she took her time... probably for your sake.

But the number of memories to go through is far less this time. In fact, she's nearly done already.

When she gets to the memory of you viewing the golden tree of life for the first time though, there's a hitch.
SHODAN ceases all activity for a moment, and you don't see the memory appear in your mind, even though you know it's the next one up.

At the same time, there's a jutter in the ship, and the lights dim for just an instant.

"What was that?" You ask.

"I am... uncertain, Captain. There appears to be a lapse in my own memory now, as well. A corrupted sector."

"...What? You mean like, it literally corrupted your memory?"

"I am unsure. The sector exists in my short term memory, but i cannot access it. One must assume it is corrupt."

"So you saw the corrupted tree of life, right?"

"Yes, Captain. Such a thing was not visible on my cameras, much like the wraiths."

"But you couldn't see the golden tree? The one that belonged to Lumi?"

"I am afraid not, Captain."

Well, shit.

"Alright... just be on a lookout for any of the symbols you saw in the corrupted tree, i guess. If you can find them anywhere at all, i want to know about it."

"Affirmative, Captain."

With that, SHODAN continues on through your memories.
Dealing with Silus, and then Civis down at the whorehouse. Then Ollia...

Then you started designing the carrier. That was when you realized you needed a ship-scale nanofab.
And the first place you looked ended being...

There's another shock send through the ship, this time it's enough that you have to brace yourself using the mess hall table.
The lights go out long enough for the emergency lights to kick in, just for a second before the running lights come back on.

"You good, SHODAN?"

No response.

"SHODAN? Are you there?"

"...Yes, Captain. There appears to be another lapse in my memory. From the moment you entered that abandoned store, until the moment you left."

The fuck? That old ghost?
You spend a moment explaining what exactly went on inside that store to SHODAN, who was also unable to see the goings-on at the time.

"I see. So this 'ghost' would have used the money you'd given him to pay a fee, to enter the afterlife."

"Well, that's what the saying means anyways. Hell, he could have just been scamming me. He did say he was a merchant after all."

"Still, i do not understand why i am unable to read these memories. They are not repressed, but rather simply inaccessible."

"I don't know either. I'm kind of worried about it, honestly..."

You know you're not going crazy. All this weird shit that's been happening, it's real. SHODAN confirmed that much.
It's something only you can see, for some reason. And you don't know whether that's worse or not.