>>5670248

…But those are dark thoughts for another day.

Today you’re back at Guardian academy, your sworn duty to Zeon already calling you away from your expanding family. Nearly every fiber of your being wishes to still be with Elena and your children, to spend every moment you can with them. That isn’t to be. In another year and a half you’ll be able to live that life, and frequent visits will have to suffice until then.

Currently, you are...

>Participating in a joint exercise with cadets from Riah’s top military academy. Increased military cooperation at all levels is being rapidly pushed forward. There aren’t any federation forces involved today, it’s mixed Zeon and Riah units on both sides. Several of the cadets from Riah are from prominent families, and it’s a good time to make connections with the future leaders of Riah’s armed forces.
>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

>>5670250

Voting:
Feel free to vote for several options and list them numerically [1), 2), 3), etc.] in order of your preference. Numerical listing is very important to avoid confusion. If your first choice loses your vote will shift to your second choice, and so on. If you switch preferences before votes are counted, please link back to your original preference vote. If you do not pick multiple options it will be assumed that you only want one. If you list several options without numerical separation I will assume you want to combine them.

If you’re phoneposting or otherwise in a position where your ID will change frequently, please try to link back to your previous posts during votes.

Previous Threads
Thread one: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2022/5414507/
Thread two: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5492260/
Thread three: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5533615/
Thread four: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5575952/
Thread five:https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5616811/

>>5670250
>>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

>>5670250
>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

Wonder if we'll ever get to talk to Degwin

>>5670250
>Participating in a joint exercise with cadets from Riah’s top military academy. Increased military cooperation at all levels is being rapidly pushed forward. There aren’t any federation forces involved today, it’s mixed Zeon and Riah units on both sides. Several of the cadets from Riah are from prominent families, and it’s a good time to make connections with the future leaders of Riah’s armed forces.
Military connections?

>>5670250
>>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

Ahh, I've been waiting for the next thread. Welcome back Contolist.

>>5670272
It would be nice if we could at some point, I'm interested in how that interaction would go. I'm sure we'll get our chance eventually.

>>5670248
>>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

>>5670250
>Participating in a joint exercise with cadets from Riah’s top military academy. Increased military cooperation at all levels is being rapidly pushed forward. There aren’t any federation forces involved today, it’s mixed Zeon and Riah units on both sides. Several of the cadets from Riah are from prominent families, and it’s a good time to make connections with the future leaders of Riah’s armed forces.
I'm ok with visiting Tryph though

>>5670250
>>Participating in a joint exercise with cadets from Riah’s top military academy. Increased military cooperation at all levels is being rapidly pushed forward. There aren’t any federation forces involved today, it’s mixed Zeon and Riah units on both sides. Several of the cadets from Riah are from prominent families, and it’s a good time to make connections with the future leaders of Riah’s armed forces.

We must broaden our connections. We already have Tryphosa in our camp so we need to extend feelers out to other areas.

>>5670250
>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

Aaack almost missed it. WB.

>>5670250
>Not actually at the academy at all! You’re visiting Tryphosa, skipping out on the joint exercise with Dozle’s permission - Not every visit should be when Kycilia asks you, that’s too passive to ever get anywhere. You haven’t visited for many months, and you have a chance to see her alone. There are many things you must share with her, and you’ve been badly in need of guidance as a newtype.

superior waifu get.

>>5670711
>>5670634
>>5670436
>>5670425
>>5670272
>>5670261
Writing.

>>5670425
>>5670272
I'll keep Degwin in mind.

Just started studying for the bar exam, posts will probably be a bit slower until I get into a good routine with it.

>>5670724
GLHF, don't lose track of your studies on account of us man.

Far away from the academy, at the Flanagan institute.

Rain falls steadily from the dark clouds gathered along the colony’s central axis, heavy drops of water pitter pattering across the surface of the concrete observation deck. The laboratory has been significantly expanded since your last visit, a ring of new gray buildings constructed below the original laboratory, and a handful of observation decks scattered about here and there between them to give staff somewhere to relax. Large portions of the nearby forest and agricultural fields have been ripped up, the beginning of a process to create a large lake - Currently it’s still just a mess of dirt, ripped up grass and trees all piled together among heavy construction equipment. The artificial rainfall is turning much of the dig site into mud, murky pools filling in deeper pockets of the depression.

Directly beneath you, at the foot of the hill the institute’s main building rests upon, a huge reinforced concrete structure is being built - A reinforced factory of some kind, almost resembling the ancient U-boat pens of the second world war. Kycilia needs somewhere for the institute’s new contraptions to be produced, and short of a hidden asteroid base there’s not much more of a secure way to do it.

You let out a sigh, missing the forest and fields. It was quant, appealing rural. Now it’s mud. Zabis. At least Eb’s cabin and the deeper parts of the forest still remain, colonies need to maintain green zones or they turn into a hideous ecumenopolis in a cylinder.

“When the water birds move in it will be beautiful.” Tryphosa comments from by your side, her slender arms crossed as she leans against the metal and glass railing, red raincoat and hood shielding her from the rain, “Ducks, and geese, and swans… I know your father spoke of loving earth, but it’s really not very pretty.”

You snort at the bad joke and give a small shrug, ”He wasn’t talking about piles of dirt, Tryphosa.”

She smiles faintly, turning her face from you and back toward the gray view of the construction area and its many muddy pools, “No, of course not. You agree though, don’t you?”

“...It would be nice to have more birds around.” You agree, finding her rain slick hand slipping into your own.

“They’re so out of place up here,” She continues in a thoughtful and melancholy tone, “following migration instincts even inside a colony… it’s almost sad… but we can make them a home.”

She’s not just speaking of birds of course, you didn’t travel all the way from the academy just to discuss her newest hobby.

“It won’t be long until the lake is finished.” You assure her, “They adapt just fine, everyone finds a way.”

>>5670794

“Yes, I suppose they do, some faster than others. You can tell which ones understand their new predicament, they fly straight up sometimes!” Tryphosa mimics the movement with her free hand, extending it upward before pointing to the barely visible land on the far side of the colony cylinder, past the dark clouds and rain of the central axis, “The ones still used to the earth only follow the surface of the colony…”

“Do you think they can learn to fly up?” You ask idly, “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them mix together for long.”

Tryphosa glances back to you, piercing blue eyes looking far beyond you, a reflection of your own soul, “Some will learn, some won’t. I’ve seen it, Eb showed me once when we were on a walk.”

“But do you think they all can?”

“Give her some time, she might.” Tyrphosa sighs, stepping outside of the conversation to address your real concern. A hint of pain in her voice as she focuses back on just the rainy view, “If it’s your shared dream… I could help Elena, and the other one… many of them. You came here for help.”

“And to see you.”

“...And that.” Her hand tightens on yours, and even if you cannot see it you know she's smiling, “When will I meet your children?”

>>5670800

“As soon as you’d like. You can leave on your own now?” You question, the information flowing freely to you even as the question forms. She’s allowed to leave the institute of her own will now, not just on invitation - That’s new.

“As of a week ago.” Tryphosa confirms softly, nearly drowned out by the rain, “Quina and Mona are here full time now. They’re asleep right now, testing was harder last night.”

“Huh, that explains not feeling them then.” You nod, biting at your lip as you consider the presence of her sisters. They’re indoctrinated clones, nearly identical to Tryphosa save for a few defects, most notably Tryph’s green hair, but deeply different in outlook. Whatever political game Jedar is playing with newtype bonds still escapes you, it’s clear he wants to gain influence over the earth sphere but the details are very unclear. Kycilia thinks she has him outplayed, but she tends to think that of nearly all of her opponents. ...It usually is true though.

>”You haven’t convinced either of them to see things our way, have you?” You can already sense that she hasn’t, but there’s more to learn. Even a newtype bond doesn’t share all memories and awareness without some focused prompting.
>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.
>”...Do you know what they’re going to be building in the new factory?” It’s not even half complete, but even the exterior of the reinforced structure is massive - and you know it must extend down into the very foundations of the colony itself… they might even be expanding the exterior of the cylinder’s hull to allow for it.
>Write-in

>>5670801
>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.

>>5670801
>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.

Well there goes another chance to get connections with Riah.

>>5670801
>”...Do you know what they’re going to be building in the new factory?” It’s not even half complete, but even the exterior of the reinforced structure is massive - and you know it must extend down into the very foundations of the colony itself… they might even be expanding the exterior of the cylinder’s hull to allow for it.
Hopefully we can ask about why Vivima wants to fly with us. And hopefully Tryphosa gives us an honest answer that Felix can understand.

>>5670801
1)
>”You haven’t convinced either of them to see things our way, have you?” You can already sense that she hasn’t, but there’s more to learn. Even a newtype bond doesn’t share all memories and awareness without some focused prompting.
>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.
2)
>”You haven’t convinced either of them to see things our way, have you?” You can already sense that she hasn’t, but there’s more to learn. Even a newtype bond doesn’t share all memories and awareness without some focused prompting.
3)
>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.

>>5670801
>>”Are you still struggling with your impulses? I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.” Tryphosa’s own indoctrination nearly got the better of her once, but she’s been working away at it for over a year now.

>>5670904
>>5670817 (3rd)
>>5670809
>>5670808
Writing.

“Are you still struggling with your impulses?” You question delicately as the rain continues to fall, the two of you watching as a trio of construction workers attempt to move some of their equipment far below out of a hole rapidly filling with water, “I haven’t felt them yet. That’s good, I think.”

There’s a long silence before Tryphosa responds, her feelings on the matter slowly coalescing as she watches the workers scramble about, dark little silhouettes in the gray wash of rain, “I’ve been very fortunate to have time to myself for once, Felix. When I was recovering from my injury, after I’d left your side I mean, I had a real chance to be alone. Lom and the others hardly ran any tests.”

“They took it easy on you for a while?”

“Some of them can be cold, but they’re not heartless. It was the first time I’ve been able to really be alone… ever, other than when I used to run away. That was only for a day or two at a time though. The fleet never allowed for it, I always had guardians or the other crew members nearby.” Tryphosa confirms, “I finally had time to focus upon just myself.”

“Meditating?” You question, understanding intuitively that it must’ve been far more than that. The workers down below have freed the first of their mud trapped tools, some pneumatic device, and they’re already busy trying to haul the next out. It looks like hard work, the kind you feel for the rest of the week - You’ve gotten your share of that at the academy during long field exercises.

“Yes, meditation and time to reflect on what I desire. My own dreams, not those of my father or sisters… Even if I do love them dearly. I still wish to share what I can with my sisters, to bring them out of father’s control, but…” She shakes her head slightly, letting the words die.

“What is it that you want, Tryphosa?” You ask, part of you dreading the answer already, the pain already beginning to well up within her again.

“You.” She begins, exactly as you had feared, pain and jealousy and shame all mixed together - You both know it cannot happen, and she won’t push it further, but the feelings are still there regardless, “...But also to see newtypes flourish and usher in a new age. To see the fleet prosper, and for the Sides to do the same, and even Mars… To speak with my mother, even just once. To truly throw myself into these dreams, not caring what the outcome might be, and to share them freely…”

>>5671034

“It was really you all along then-” You begin to say reassuringly, but you fall silent as Tryphosa continues, her expression dark and solemn as she meets your eyes. Her gaze is steady, implacable.

“And I’d like to be a soldier.”

“A soldier?” You furrow your brow, a sense of unease filling you at the suggestion, “You’re not a violent person, Tryph. I don’t doubt your resolve, but it’s not a life that would suit you.”

“I don’t wish to harm anyone… Not if it can be avoided.” Tryphosa agrees, her emotions unwavering. She has built up a steely resolve, but its strength is brittle. A single strike at the wrong place and it could shatter, her old programming lurking in the deep patterns of her mind and still ready to leap forth, “But if I cannot be with you in peace, then I will keep you safe during war - We can share that burden. …We can share everything, if you’re willing. It's my earnest prayer that you accept.”

She’s right of course, there’s no lie to it. You’re so close at times that it reaches beyond the power of words, a single mind and soul - Not only do you understand Tryphosa deeply, in some ways you have been her.

“I’ll stay here for a while longer,” She carries on, “There is still work to be done. My sisters need me, and I want to continue what we agreed upon - I’ll do my part in testing, and with Vivima, and leading my father along…”

>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.
>”How are things going with Vivima? She still hasn’t awakened fully.” Shift topics for a moment.
>”How have things been going with your family, and the other test subjects?” Shift topics for a moment.
>Write-in.

>>5671038
>>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.

Path to Kamille/Judau/Scirocco/Haman level newtype bullshit

>>5671038
>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.
>"But there is also something I'd like to talk with you about. I'm sure you've noticed, but I've felt drawn to Vivima for a while, and she keeps on bugging me about going flying with her. Do you know what that's about? Am I gaining a newtype bond with her?"
2)
>"There is something I'd like to talk with you about. I'm sure you've noticed, but I've felt drawn to Vivima for a while, and she keeps on bugging me about going flying with her. Do you know what that's about? Am I gaining a newtype bond with her?"
3)
>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.

>>5671038
>>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.
>writein
>"But there is also something I'd like to talk with you about. I'm sure you've noticed, but I've felt drawn to Vivima for a while, and she keeps on bugging me about going flying with her. Do you know what that's about? Am I gaining a newtype bond with her?"

>>5671038
>>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.

Boy I sure hope she doesn't get Lalah'd

>>5671038
>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.

>>5671056
Support

>>5671052
>>5671150
>>5671197

>>5671203
>>5671063
>>5671056

Got a tie. I won't be able to write until later tonight, so I'll leave voting open.

>>5671038
>>5671197
I'll switch my vote to back the support, mostly because it's more interesting and'll get us some more information so
>>5671056
backing.

>>5671038
>”...I did come here to train with you, Tryphosa. I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you really wish for that.” Memories are no substitute for true first-hand experience, but they’re frighteningly close at times. If she wants this then you won’t say no.

>>5671273
>>5671203
>>5671063
>>5671056
Writing. Might take a bit, still finishing a few other things up.

”...I came here to train with you, Tryphosa.” You reply after a long moment of thought, brow furrowing more deeply as you try to imagine her as a soldier - it’s a difficult picture to materialize in your mind’s eye, her ethereal manner and almost pacifistic tendencies meshing poorly with fatigues and rifles - A normal suit wouldn’t be too out of place though, “I could share what I’ve learned at the academy, if you truly wish for it.”

“I do.” Tryphosa’s words are unnecessary, her assent total and complete - Your unease is mirrored faintly within her mind, reflections of it felt by you again and again, but slowly lessening. It’s recursive, diminishing, and then finally gone. A half formed objection fades quickly, the piercing gaze of her blue eyes banishing your concerns.

“Then we’ll need to begin soon, there’s much to catch up on.” You begin to step back from the metal railing at the edge of the platform, turning to face the sliding automatic doors nearby - You don’t even take a full step before halting. She isn’t done discussing this.

“My sisters will join us.” Her words are a statement of simple fact, a warning of what’s to come. They’ve shared nearly everything their entire lives, there’s no avoiding entanglement. It might be useful though, turning them against their father’s plan is a high priority.

“That will make things messier,” You sigh, rain still thumping against the hood of your own jacket, “Have they shown an interest as well?”

“Mona has. The therapies and cybernetics have allowed her to walk and run, and move better than any of us. …And to think she used to barely manage in microgravity.” A warm joy exudes from your bond, relief from years of worry lifting her spirits. There is a colder tinge to it though, chillier than the rain or wind all about you, “...I worry for her mind, Felix.”

“That machine again?” Your guess is wrong.

>>5671736

“Were it so simple.” Tryphosa replies gloomily, at last acceding to your movement toward the door. Together you walk over and out of the rain, metal doors unsealing with a hermetic hiss as you enter the stark white halls of the Flanagan Institute, “The cybernetics and new therapies have disordered her mind.”

“...Disordered her mind?” You ask, the core of the idea passed over to you through pure thought and the faintest effort of Tryphosa’s will, mirrored ripples spreading across two minds, “How bad is it?”

“...You’ll see.” Flashes of memories play through your mind, comprehension and understanding lagging somewhat behind the ghostly images and sensations. Mona is unstable, erratic, more prone to outbursts of all sorts - not just violent ones either.

“I will take care then.” You reply, still processing the disturbing information. Their father’s experimentation on them never ends, what a deranged man. Obsession will bring anyone to ruin. “...But there is also something I'd like to talk with you about.”

“Your step-aunt.” Tryph’s tone is almost playful, teasing. It’s such an uncomfortable way to refer to her, even if it is accurate. She’s more of a sister… or a friend. An enemy?

“...Vivima, yes. I’ve felt drawn to her for a while. She keeps bugging me about going flying with her.” You ask innocently, still unsure of what to make of her behavior - It’s been increasingly caring, not just friendly but entirely familial, especially in the days since Mineva’s birth, “Do you know what that’s about? I’ve been worrying it might be the beginning of a bond.”

“She will bond with someone, if fate allows it.” Tryphosa lowers her red hood with her free hand, the other still holding loosely to your own, rain slick fingers entwined. Her hair is lovely, kept short but still managing to suit her well - Her cheeks redden, but she stays focused upon your inquiry. It’s best if neither of you linger in such fleeting thoughts. “It is not the same feeling, Felix…”

You nod, a peculiar familiarity has long accompanied Vivima, but never that timeless and unearthly feeling you often sense when near Tryphosa - Your bond. A connection beyond even time itself.

“If such a connection was possible I believe the chance has passed us by… Passed you by. She thinks very highly of you.” Tryphosa’s words… Gladden you? Or do they? There’s a sting to them, being admired by a Zabi is nearly an insult. ”Perhaps in another life you could have bonded.”

“Can a person not have more than one?” You ask.

“We’re not truly newtypes.” The words hurt, but she’s right.

“...No, not fully realized ones.” You understand at once. Father’s predictions were never for something as limited as individual bonds, however deep they might be, and even Tryphosa is still far from his ideal vision. For now. “You don’t think I can bond with anyone else?”

>>5671738

“I cannot know.” Tryphosa replies hesitantly, treading across very uncertain ground. Another door swishes open ahead of you, and for a moment you’re back outside and passing through the rain storm on another platform. Soon you will be inside again. “There are many mysteries of our nature that I have yet to even begin to explore, even with my sisters. …Mysteries I’ve barely even begun to dream of. I share a deep connection with them, but it is nothing compared to our own.”

“...I’d really prefer a yes or a no.” You reply, but she’s answering as well as she can. A faint smile plays across her face as you reenter the institute and head downward now, toward the ‘older’ sections of the honestly still quite new facility. “There’s something off about her that I can’t place.”

“Perhaps it’s because she looks like your assistant?” Tryphosa offers out, and instantly you feel silly. Of course that must be some of it, you’ve very briefly toyed with the idea before but Vivima’s long unnoticed similarity to Mink still baffles you. It’s almost as if it was being blocked from your perception somehow, and that of your family as well. Everything is more confusing around Vivima.

“I missed it too at the announcement.” Tryphosa continues, sensing your inner thoughts, “I was focused on Elena, and she was focused on you… Vivima has yet to awaken, but I don’t believe it will be much longer. It would only take a small push. Do you love her?”

“What?” The question catches you entirely off guard, leaping out into words even before Tryphosa fully considers it. Normally Tryphosa would simply know something like that, your bond carries almost everything between you when you really open up, but even you aren’t sure.

>”...I suppose I do, almost as a sister.” Viv treats you like family now. Even with all the flawed ideas she carries, all the deep ties she has with Gihren and Kycilia, she’s still a very caring person. Glemy had no one else for ages, and Viv always tries to keep the peace - She abandoned Kycilia’s more treacherous plans to offer an apology and an olive branch… She’s deeply, deeply flawed, but there’s real virtue there. And you like her. That sort of snuck up on you.
>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.
>Write-in.

>>5671740
>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?

We'll cross the bridge when we get there

>>5671740
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.
I still feel it's too optimistic to think we can change her, or make her go against her family.
That and I don't want Felix to go down the Artesia path of gradually warming up to the Zabis.

>>5671740
>>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?

I can't really see Felix as ever actively going after Vivi like he will with Kycillia's Hair and Gihren, but I feel like he's kind of resigned himself to eventually having to kill her.

Whether or not he actually /can/ deal with killing her is another story, however

>>5671740
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.

>>5671740
>>”...I suppose I do, almost as a sister.” Viv treats you like family now. Even with all the flawed ideas she carries, all the deep ties she has with Gihren and Kycilia, she’s still a very caring person. Glemy had no one else for ages, and Viv always tries to keep the peace - She abandoned Kycilia’s more treacherous plans to offer an apology and an olive branch… She’s deeply, deeply flawed, but there’s real virtue there. And you like her. That sort of snuck up on you.

>>5671740
1)
>>”...I suppose I do, almost as a sister.” Viv treats you like family now. Even with all the flawed ideas she carries, all the deep ties she has with Gihren and Kycilia, she’s still a very caring person. Glemy had no one else for ages, and Viv always tries to keep the peace - She abandoned Kycilia’s more treacherous plans to offer an apology and an olive branch… She’s deeply, deeply flawed, but there’s real virtue there. And you like her. That sort of snuck up on you.

2)
>>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?

>>5671740
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.
This isn't just about how Felix feels about Vivima, it's about how much Tryphosa is going to trust Vivima with things and how strongly Tryph's going to go down the reconciliation path.
The more Felix is willing to like Vivima, the more Tryphosa will try to involve her in our plans so Viv can come to our side. It won't work, Viv is too loyal to the Zabis and at least to Kycilia to drive a wedge.
And it's also assuming Felix will be able to resist the urge to go full Zabi if we settle on being genuinely close to Vivi.

>>5671740
>>”...I suppose I do, almost as a sister.” Viv treats you like family now. Even with all the flawed ideas she carries, all the deep ties she has with Gihren and Kycilia, she’s still a very caring person. Glemy had no one else for ages, and Viv always tries to keep the peace - She abandoned Kycilia’s more treacherous plans to offer an apology and an olive branch… She’s deeply, deeply flawed, but there’s real virtue there. And you like her. That sort of snuck up on you.

>>5671740
1)
>"Love? I'm not sure. She might be a friend, I think." You honestly can't tell with her, only the future will decide how things play out.
2)
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.

>>5671740
>”...I suppose I do, almost as a sister.” Viv treats you like family now. Even with all the flawed ideas she carries, all the deep ties she has with Gihren and Kycilia, she’s still a very caring person. Glemy had no one else for ages, and Viv always tries to keep the peace - She abandoned Kycilia’s more treacherous plans to offer an apology and an olive branch… She’s deeply, deeply flawed, but there’s real virtue there. And you like her. That sort of snuck up on you.
I'm going to feel like we've failed if we don't somehow find a way to not kill her.

>>5671740
>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?

>>5671740
>>5671879
+1 but with preferences switched.
It's either this or going Artesia mode here.

>>5671740
>>5671899
Changing my vote because I forgot preferences were a thing.
1.)
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.
2.)
>”...As a friend? Of course.” She’s not as harmless as Garma. There’s danger in her relationship with her older siblings, but Vivima has been a good friend. She’s more like Dozle, carrying the wrong ideas, very deeply wrong ideas, but ultimately anchored to family and friends above all else… and you’re family and a friend. She’s not all bad, but you wish she’d taken a bit more after Dozle in other areas as well. …Or maybe she has? She’s far more subtle, but perhaps there’s something to that?

>>5671923
>>5671920
>>5671879 (2nd)
>>5671873
>>5671784
>>5671745
Writing.

>>5671740
>No, of course not. She’s a Zabi. Keep silent, Tryphosa will still know your answer. There are cameras and microphones down here, word could get back to the Zabis.

You remain silent, focusing your eyes on the light strips lining the edges of the hall. There’s no answer you can give that won’t cause issues here. Of course you don’t love Vivima. She’s a Zabi, even if she has been kind… You can’t bring yourself to hate her the way Casval does, but however friendly and familiar Vivima has been, she still holds too many ideas you can’t reconcile with your own.

“You do like her.” Tryphosa prods gently, but you still refuse to respond verbally, giving a nod for the sake of the cameras. It’s true though, Viv has grown on you, but she’s not family or the kind of friend you can truly count on. In a contest between her father or siblings and your own close family there’s no doubt in your mind about who she would pick.

“That isn’t fair.” She continues in a whisper, walking lightly beside you in that almost ethereal gait so common to Jovians and others who spend years in very low gravity, “...She asks about you when she visits.”

You exchange a glance with Tryphosa, her eyes cutting right through you as they always have, and finally speak up, “...About what?”

“How to be more like you." The words catch you off guard. It's something to think on, and something of Tryphosa's accompanying smirk almost reminds you of Vivima, "…And she knows I enjoy speaking about you. Sometimes she’s so unsubtle.”

“You still enjoy it.” You lift an eyebrow, finding your own cheeks flushing in a strange sympathetic reaction. It’s Tryphosa’s feelings, not your own.

“I enjoy her attention and company.” Tryph answers honestly, her head tilting slightly as she contemplates her own answer. Another door hisses open and for the first time in nearly half an hour you see one of the institute’s scientists hurrying by at the next intersection of the ‘underground’ hallways, “And I enjoy teaching her. It’s pleasant, and simple, and I have no issue holding her focus.”

“...Are you having success then?” You ask, some part of you hoping that perhaps you’re wrong about Vivima being set in her ways. It isn’t just development as a newtype that matters, but if Tryphosa is having a noticeable effect on Viv as a person.

“I believe she is improving.” Tryphosa smiles genuinely, beaming nearly from ear to ear, but her more contemplative nature soon returns, “...She carries a veil around her mind and heart, a tumult of emotion. It’s perplexing, and I believe unintentional.”

>>5672010

…Of course Tryphosa is used to complicated relationships and the odd quirks of newtypes, her sisters are quite a task on their own. A cynical part of your mind notes that Tryphosa has had no success with any of them yet though. An awakened Vivima may be a great hinderance, simply being a newtype hardly guarantees cooperation… Or more accurately, whatever half step you’ve reached toward realizing the promise of newtypes doesn’t guarantee cooperation.

“They’ll understand in time.” Tryphosa sighs, squeezing your hand. There’s doubt in her words, but you share the same hope to convince them. Quina, Mona, Vivima… And many more besides. It’s better not to fight, you still believe that, but there are times where it feels like a truly naive sentiment. “We’re almost to my sisters now, their quarters aren’t far.”

The hallways are changing, the thin painted lines running along the white walls shifting slightly as you reach the dormitory for all of the test subjects. There are about two dozen other test subjects now, all of them around Tryphosa age or younger, including a few children barely older than Glemy. Hopefully they’re still in contact with their parents. Some of what goes on here truly makes your skin crawl at times. Flanagan isn’t a cruel man, but Kycilia could easily be feeding him lies about how the test subjects are ‘acquired’... Perhaps that’s something worth looking into.

“Most of them don’t have family, a few are volunteers.” Tryphosa’s words come as a comfort. She’d be able to see through any obvious lies spun about their origins. “...A few were taken. They lie to them about why they’re here.”

Ah, there it is. That’s the Kycilia you know. You stop just outside of closed door, a pair of familiar presences close together on the other side of the concrete and steel walls. It’s odd to be able to sense them without effort, but they’re very similar to Tryphosa. Very distinct but still of the same kind… Perhaps that’s just how clones are. The last time you met Quina it was striking just how similar and yet different she was.

>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.
>”...Do you think any of your sisters might bond with Vivima?” That could be a blessing or a catastrophe, a bond is a powerful thing but they still remain loyal to Jedar and his plans… Kycilia would take it very poorly - talk about a monkey wrench getting thrown into her plans to counter Jedar.
>Knock lightly on the door. There’s nothing more to be said about the other test subject here, it’s a matter for the future. Right now you need to focus upon Tryphosa and her sisters, and your own training as a newtype. There’s much to learn and teach.
>Write-in.

>>5672011
>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.

>>5672011
1.)
>Knock lightly on the door. There’s nothing more to be said about the other test subject here, it’s a matter for the future. Right now you need to focus upon Tryphosa and her sisters, and your own training as a newtype. There’s much to learn and teach.
A sister and Vivima bonding would be a short term gain but a very long term failure and give Jedar a foothold in the post OWY that we really don't want or need.
2.)
>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.

>>5672011
1)
>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.
2)
>Knock lightly on the door. There’s nothing more to be said about the other test subject here, it’s a matter for the future. Right now you need to focus upon Tryphosa and her sisters, and your own training as a newtype. There’s much to learn and teach.
3)
>”...Do you think any of your sisters might bond with Vivima?” That could be a blessing or a catastrophe, a bond is a powerful thing but they still remain loyal to Jedar and his plans… Kycilia would take it very poorly - talk about a monkey wrench getting thrown into her plans to counter Jedar.

>>5672015
Vivima showed interest in bonding with one of the sisters last time we were here, I almost expect it to happen eventually (as well as an eventual newtype bond forming between Artesia and Quina).

>>5672018
>I almost expect it to happen eventually
Me too, just not something I think we should have happen intentionally.

>>5672011
>>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.

>>5672011
>>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.

>>5672011
>Knock lightly on the door. There’s nothing more to be said about the other test subject here, it’s a matter for the future. Right now you need to focus upon Tryphosa and her sisters, and your own training as a newtype. There’s much to learn and teach.

It is indeed a matter for the future

>>5672011
1)
>”We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” It boils your blood. It always would have, but it’s especially so now that you’re a father. What kind of monster snatches away children like that? …The Zabis and the Federation both use the same horrid tactics.
2)
>Knock lightly on the door. There’s nothing more to be said about the other test subject here, it’s a matter for the future. Right now you need to focus upon Tryphosa and her sisters, and your own training as a newtype. There’s much to learn and teach.

>>5672486
This is me
>>5671203

>>5672014
>>5672015 (2nd)
>>5672018
>>5672073
>>5672241
>>5672486
Writing.

>>5672489
Thanks for linking back, anon.

A flashing rage fills you for a split second, the thought of children being separated from their parents hitting far too close to home for many reasons. Children separated from their parents? It’s a past you know far too well. Parents separated from their children? A future you’d rather not imagine. Your hands clench tightly into fists, only the Tryphosa’s delicate grip holding back an urge to do something about this right now. Kycilia’s gotten away with too much, you’ve even been complicit to try to achieve a far greater end, but ever bit of you hates this.

With a deep breath you calm yourself, exhaling and allowing your bond’s presence to soothe you. She understands, she truly does.

“We’ll need to deal with that, Tryphosa.” You say quietly, a renewed determination filling you.

“I’ve been looking after them,” Tryphosa replies softly, glancing back down the hall and toward another of the younger test subjects peeking from a door. She gives him a very small wave and a kind smile - It suits her well. “It’s selfish.”

“It’s generous.” You shake your head, believing she’s being far too harsh to herself, “And kind, they need someone-”

“No. I’m keeping them here. For us.” She corrects you, a pang of guilt passing through her and then you - It’s horrid, sinking, so close to dread and shame. “Some of have tried to leave, so I convinced them of another way. They don’t understand what they’re capable of, or what I am. It was easy.”

“...You’re manipulating them?”

“I care for them too.” She doesn’t deny the accusation, “We will help them.”

The door to her sister’s room opens, revealing a strange mirror. Two identical girls stand before you, blue eyes wide and piercing - Quina and Mona, both the spitting image of your bond. Blonde hair and minute differences in height are nearly their only differences from Tryphosa, identical red uniforms conspiring to cover over any other distinctions. Quina is somewhat more slender than Mona, but even your eyes fail to find anything else to latch onto.

“Of course you do, sister.” The two clone girls answer in unison, Quina giggling and covering her mouth at the shared expression, “It’s in your nature, you cannot help it.”

“Always rebelling in a way that helps others. It must be tiring.” Mona smiles, flashing rows of white teeth, and continues to speak alone as Quina continues to laugh softly into her hand, “Why did you not mention your bond would be visiting today? We’ve slept away first shift.”

Mona’s blue eyes linger on you for a moment, and you can feel a presence probing at the edges of your awareness. Familiar but alien, Tryphosa cast in a different light. …Or rather Theresa cast in a different light, they’re all the image of their mother, a woman remarkable enough to have sent Jedar down this strange path.

>>5672604

“The morning.” Tryphosa corrects Mona kindly, ignoring her sister’s jab about rebellion, “There’s much to share.”

“Are you going to share him?” Mona asks curiously, eyes narrowing exactly as Tryphosa’s do, down to the slightest movement and crease, “He’s here to learn.”

“I am.” You offer out, ignoring the comment about sharing for now, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mona, and to see you again, Quina.”

“We’ve already met.” Mona’s eyes fill with a deep confusion, and she shakes her head, “Years ago. You’re-”

“It is good to see you again,” Quina speaks up very quickly, taking half a step closer than Mona and cutting her off, “...Artesia is not here?”

“Hm, I expected you to try to play a question game again.” You remark, pushing past Mona’s strange words but feeling that even Tryphosa is puzzled and worried by them, “No, my sister isn’t here. She’s busy-”

“Kissing Vivima’s brother, probably.” Quina finishes the sentence for you and rolls her eyes, in exactly the way you never would. Well, not unless you were teasing Artesia yourself, but even then you’d never word it like that. It still gets a small chuckle from you.

“Why bother with the brother at all?” Mona asks, her slightly longer blonde hair falling to the side as she tilts her head slightly, “He isn’t like us.”

“She doesn’t see things that way, Mona.” Tryphosa begins to explain.

“She’s looking backwards then.” Mona snaps back, anger flashing in her eyes, “There’s nothing but home and the path there.”

“She isn’t one of us.” Quina says softly, resting a slender hand on her troubled sister’s shoulder, “Not yet. It’s okay, Mona. She might be your bond, or maybe one of the other’s.”

…They’re communicating among one another, they have been since the door opened - you’ve felt it a few times through your bond with Tryphosa and your own senses. Little sparks of awareness in the dark, arcing trails of emotion and thought leaping unseen from one sister to another.

>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.
>”...You want to be a soldier as well, Mona?” Much of their mental conversation is being hidden from you despite Tryphosa’s efforts to share, but you can pick up on a few distinct thoughts.
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>Write-in.

>>5672605
1)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.
2)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
3)
>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.

>>5672605
1)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...You want to be a soldier as well, Mona?” Much of their mental conversation is being hidden from you despite Tryphosa’s efforts to share, but you can pick up on a few distinct thoughts.
2)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.
3)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672605
>>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672605
1)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...You want to be a soldier as well, Mona?” Much of their mental conversation is being hidden from you despite Tryphosa’s efforts to share, but you can pick up on a few distinct thoughts.
2)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.
3)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672605
1)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.
2)
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672605
>>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.
>>”...Would you like to train together? Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you.” They’re likely unavoidable, too close to Tryphosa to ever be able to ignore and too insistent to ever allow themselves to be avoided.

>>5672605
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672605
>”There’s far more to existence than just bonds, Mona. They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.” …In truth it’s more complicated than that, deeper, but these words carry enough of your meaning to be useful.

>>5672749
>>5672685
>>5672670 (2nd)
>>5672616 (2nd)
>>5672609
Writing.

“There is far more to existence than just bonds, Mona.” You find yourself compelled to speak, driven by the mistake of her words, “They’re a path to growing one’s appreciation and understanding of others, not an end unto themselves.”

“No, I refuse that.” The clone girl replies sharply, her brow furrowing and blue eyes setting firmly upon you, a scouring gaze, “We are our bonds, and our bonds are.”

“You had it coming, speaking so sloppily.” Quina chides, her own position left unstated.

“I hate words.” Mona half growls, her face contorted in annoyance. A chill runs down your spine at the sight, her displeasure far too similar to Tryphosa’s. After a moment the look passes, “...Do you understand, Felix?”

“Not completely, no.” You admit, grappling internally with her statement. Tryphosa’s understanding helps to speed along your own recognition of Mona’s meaning, “You mean that we're a pattern of relationships? ...I was responding to your dismissal of my sister, I didn’t intend to spark a debate.”

“...No, you didn’t.” Tryphosa backs your words up, Mona’s eyes flickering between the two of you uncertainly, “But you spoke with kindness, Felix. You’ve listened too much to father, Mona.”

“And you barely listened at all, Tryphosa.” Mona snaps back hastily, looking away entirely. Quina rests a hand on her shoulder and gently tugs, slowly pulling Mona’s attention back. For some reason it reminds you of how your mother used to nudge Casval out of sulking when you were both very young.

“...We won’t achieve anything this way, sister.” Quina says very quietly, as if she were comforting a frightened child rather than a sister some years older than she is, “...We’re here with you, Mona. We always are, you aren’t alone. We’ll all discover our bonds someday.”

It's a very mature display for Quina, she was more childish the last time you saw her. ...It has been over a year though, things can change quickly.

>>5673048

“...Would you like to train together?” You ask, hoping to offer an olive branch in this confusing situation - They’re all far more experienced as newtypes than you, and Mona is proving to be somewhat volatile just as you were warned, “Tryphosa and I were just about to begin, we came to ask you both.”

Mona and Quina exchange a glance and reply together, “We would find that more pleasing.”

It’s unnerving how they do that, speaking with such unity. Even Tryphosa nearly started to speak - you felt her barely catch herself. Waving, you motion for the two clone girls to follow behind you and your bond as you head toward a room in the facility you intuitively know to be empty at this time of day - A benefit of your constant and subtle sharing with Tryphosa.

What will you work on with these three talented newtypes?

>Connecting and learning from minds other than Tryphosa or Artesia is something you’ve only just barely stumbled through in the past - Quina and Mona present a good opportunity, similar but still very distinct from Tryphosa. Perhaps you can learn more about them as well.

>You’re playing what is essentially an elaborate game of hide-and-seek around the institute, meeting back up in the empty room after each round is concluded. It almost feels childish, but the three girls assure you that they used to do this all the time back in the fleet - It was one of the few games that was actively encouraged since it taught many practical skills.

>You’re beginning by sharing your own memories with Tryphosa and her sisters, telling them stories of the academy in an attempt to impart some of what you’ve learned. You came here for help, it’s only right that you offer what you can to begin with. Tryphosa lived a strange life in the fleet, Mona and Quina even more so - a glimpse in a more regular if still very regimented existence might draw them closer to your side. The ability to freely share information with other newtypes is very useful.

>>5673049
1.)
>You’re playing what is essentially an elaborate game of hide-and-seek around the institute, meeting back up in the empty room after each round is concluded. It almost feels childish, but the three girls assure you that they used to do this all the time back in the fleet - It was one of the few games that was actively encouraged since it taught many practical skills.
2.)
>You’re beginning by sharing your own memories with Tryphosa and her sisters, telling them stories of the academy in an attempt to impart some of what you’ve learned. You came here for help, it’s only right that you offer what you can to begin with. Tryphosa lived a strange life in the fleet, Mona and Quina even more so - a glimpse in a more regular if still very regimented existence might draw them closer to your side. The ability to freely share information with other newtypes is very useful.

>>5673049
>>5673053
+1

>>5673049
>You’re playing what is essentially an elaborate game of hide-and-seek around the institute, meeting back up in the empty room after each round is concluded. It almost feels childish, but the three girls assure you that they used to do this all the time back in the fleet - It was one of the few games that was actively encouraged since it taught many practical skills.

>>5673049
>>You’re playing what is essentially an elaborate game of hide-and-seek around the institute, meeting back up in the empty room after each round is concluded. It almost feels childish, but the three girls assure you that they used to do this all the time back in the fleet - It was one of the few games that was actively encouraged since it taught many practical skills.

>>5673049
1)
>Connecting and learning from minds other than Tryphosa or Artesia is something you’ve only just barely stumbled through in the past - Quina and Mona present a good opportunity, similar but still very distinct from Tryphosa. Perhaps you can learn more about them as well.
2)
>You’re beginning by sharing your own memories with Tryphosa and her sisters, telling them stories of the academy in an attempt to impart some of what you’ve learned. You came here for help, it’s only right that you offer what you can to begin with. Tryphosa lived a strange life in the fleet, Mona and Quina even more so - a glimpse in a more regular if still very regimented existence might draw them closer to your side. The ability to freely share information with other newtypes is very useful.

>>5673053
>>5673056
>>5673064
>>5673177
Writing.

Several minutes later.

Silently you stalk forward through the white halls of the Flanagan institute, every movement careful and deliberate. It was difficult at first, moving like this, but Tryphosa took her time to explain it, and Quina and Mona showed how it was to be done. You step carefully to remain quiet, and think carefully to not be heard. You keep close to the walls to remain unseen, and move between rooms of scientists to not be felt. Your eyes are open, scanning, looking over every detail, just as your mind reaches out to feel your surroundings. It’s exhausting, but already beginning to come naturally.

It’s easier to learn from Tryphosa and her sisters, more natural than silent meditation. Like learning a language, or forming a friendship. Both methods have their uses, unique and valuable parts to play, but going out and being a newtype, striving to do so with others of a like mind… This is it. This is how you should have been learning all along. If only Casval would show more interest in the process, you could have been doing this for years. Your slowly growing collection of newtypes at the academy might be able to replicate this, but none but your siblings are truly awakened, and Casval only barely so… He isn’t a very impressive newtype, truth be told, but it might just be his mindset.

Ahead of you a pair of scientists round the corner, a man and a woman, the results of some test clutched in their hands, voices filling the hall with low conversation. You greet them politely with a smile and nod, sensing a tension in the air between them even as they return the small gesture. Like the tautness of a rope you simply feel it, a ghostly resistance in the air. They pass quickly, footsteps and voices sounding down the hall as you press onward in search of the trio of clone girls.

This round you are the seeker. Remaining unseen and unfelt is still crucial - those hiding are allowed to change positions, to move whenever they choose to.

The facility is vast, and Tryphosa and her sisters are far more familiar with it - But you have the faint impressions of shared memories to draw from. You know intersections before reaching them, you know the contents of rooms before opening doors. It’s an awareness just below the level of truly conscious thought. If a person were to ask you to inventory what was beyond a closed door you could not manage it. Even still, the contents never surprise you. The understanding is almost instantaneous, a faster reaction than you could ever have managed otherwise.

File: Newtypes don't look at ex(...).png (435 KB, 512x547)

435 KB PNG

>>5673299

You turn the next corner and come to an abrupt stop, closing your eyes. Ghostly wisps of a presence are scattered about, trying and failing to be pulled together. Lights in the dark, a a spray of color like stars scattered across the void, or the drops which make up a wave. A faint aroma carried on a gentle summer breeze, rustling past and then quickly away. It retreats, more dissolving away than pulling back, retreating into the noise and confusion of the wider institute, masking its location. It’s one of the girls. Tryphosa? No, even trying to hide herself from you it would be nearly impossible to mistake her for anyone else. You understand her. It must be Quina or Mona.

This is the critical moment. You’ve been felt, your presence noticed. Whichever of the two it is, she will surely be relocating.

>Press forward, chase the fleeing presence. You are the seeker, not the sought, make a go of it! Sprint if you have to, you’re faster than any of them.
>You’ve been noticed, it’s too late. Ignore this one for now, you’ll find her later. If you were Tryphosa, where would you be hiding? Open your mind and allow your feet to carry you to your bond. Being able to locate her easily, almost blindly, could prove useful.
>Try something trickier. Your presence was felt where you’re currently located, but perhaps you could extend your senses in a more… roundabout way? Difficult, but it would be almost like spoofing a signal. If they’re going to be moving reactively, perhaps they can be guided, tricked by their own senses.

>>5673300
>Try something trickier. Your presence was felt where you’re currently located, but perhaps you could extend your senses in a more… roundabout way? Difficult, but it would be almost like spoofing a signal. If they’re going to be moving reactively, perhaps they can be guided, tricked by their own senses.

>>5673300
>Try something trickier. Your presence was felt where you’re currently located, but perhaps you could extend your senses in a more… roundabout way? Difficult, but it would be almost like spoofing a signal. If they’re going to be moving reactively, perhaps they can be guided, tricked by their own senses.
It's not about winning, it's about learning

>>5673300
>Try something trickier. Your presence was felt where you’re currently located, but perhaps you could extend your senses in a more… roundabout way? Difficult, but it would be almost like spoofing a signal. If they’re going to be moving reactively, perhaps they can be guided, tricked by their own senses.

>>5673300
>>Try something trickier. Your presence was felt where you’re currently located, but perhaps you could extend your senses in a more… roundabout way? Difficult, but it would be almost like spoofing a signal. If they’re going to be moving reactively, perhaps they can be guided, tricked by their own senses.

>>5673305
>>5673308
>>5673324
>>5673325
Writing.

A simple chase will do nothing, but if you’ve learned anything at the academy - or from Izumi - it’s that being a tricky bastard can really pay dividends in a hunt. It’s really quite simple, but a well executed flanking maneuver is still just as effective today as it was thousands of years ago. Whether it’s with a flint ax, a lance, or a machinegun, showing up at an unexpected place at the wrong time has always been a path to victory. All the more so when a diversion is thrown in. The only thing better than showing up from an unexpected direction is doing so while an enemy has been duped into preparing in entirely the wrong location.

Grinning, you silently set to work.

Extending your awareness has become somewhat easier over the years, even if the exact reasons why are hard to pinpoint, but in the white washed hallways of the Flanagan institute it is eerily easy to reach beyond your body. Perhaps it’s caused by having so many newtypes close together. Your senses slip free of your body, expanding out once more across the crisscrossing halls and many rooms of the institute. Steel walls and meters of reinforced concrete and hard packed earth are no barrier at all to the potential of the human mind. What is a wall to a ghost? What door could hope to stop a thought?

Even as you maintain your pace through the brightly lit halls, your mind is elsewhere, swiftly flowing down and around the laboratories and storage rooms, past empty quarters and whirring machines. To exist in two places at once is a peculiar experience, but this is hardly our first time to do so, and your bond has prepared you well for it.

But you are not merely in two places, you are in every place your awareness touches - There are bounds to your perception, but it is amorphous, defying simple descriptions in terms of geometry, appearing and vanishing here and there as it rolls outward. Holes open and close all about it, the edge of your awareness waving and flowing and extending, unseen tentacles of awareness wrapping over and around and through any obstacle. Even time holds less meaning, a flickering awareness of the past and future so tantalizingly close - Only a fraction of a second at most, and most strongly around the auras of other living minds, but you know things you never could have.

Finally you find her, the sparkly ethereal light of the girl who evaded you earlier. Blue and green and pink, splashes of color, waves of thought. The extension of your senses has not gone unnoticed, she’s fleeing once more, pulling away.

>>5673428

Pulling away in the wrong direction. It doesn’t take long to corner her. Mona or Quina, it must be one of the two. She’s moved to a storage room, it’s just ahead of you now.

Your hand reaches out to press the keys of a door control, typing the lock code in with barely a thought, segmented numbers flashing across its simple monochrome display. A final tap submits the code, and with a hermetic hiss the door slides open and the storage room beyond is revealed. Light from the hall floods past you, banishing the dark and casting deep shadows among stacks of boxes and strange machines. Narrowing your eyes, you begin to step through warily. This is the right room, but you still must find her-

A blur of red leaps from the shadows, slender hands pressing into your chest and pushing you forcefully into the frame of the sliding door. A robed forearm presses up into your throat, blue eyes meeting yours as Mona pins you to the wall.

“Bang, I got you.” Her breathing is shallow, cheeks flushed red and voice nearly indistinguishable from Tryphosa’s, “I got you.”

“...So you did.” You reply, reaching up to gently pull her arm down with one hand, “I win though, that’s the game.”

She shakes her head and presses her arm more firmly, uncomfortably, into your throat, cutting off your words. Mona’s stronger than she looks, shockingly stronger, but she couldn’t ever really hope to pin you like this. Her body presses more closely, far too close - It’s impossible to ignore, one of her legs wrapping about yours.

“You’re bonded with my sister, and we share everything.” Wide blue eyes stare up at you, unblinking, a disturbed and all consuming focus, her voice shifting from breathless arousal to barely restrained fury, arm shaking as it presses deeper, “We’re the same. Why are you so cruel? Ignoring her, abandoning her, spending all your energy on Elena. You could have had Tryphosa. She’s better, she wants you. What’s wrong with you, don’t you want to come home?”

>”Get off of me, Mona. I don’t want this, and neither do you.” There’s something deeply, deeply off about her. Broken. …Poor girl, what the hell did her father do to her?
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.
>Slap her.
>Write-in.

>>5673429
1)
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.
2)
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.
>Slap her.
3)
>Slap her.
I want to talk, but Bright slap tempts me

>>5673429
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.

>>5673429
>>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.

>>5673429
1)
>”Get off of me, Mona. I don’t want this, and neither do you.” There’s something deeply, deeply off about her. Broken. …Poor girl, what the hell did her father do to her?
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.
2)
>”Get off of me, Mona. I don’t want this, and neither do you.” There’s something deeply, deeply off about her. Broken. …Poor girl, what the hell did her father do to her?
3)
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.

That "don’t you want to come home?" is part of the brainwashing, right?
Man, Jedar is fucked up.

>>5673445
>>5673448
>>5673454
>>5673489 (3rd)
Writing.

>>5673429
>”My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona. Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dream.” Fine, talk. She’s unstable but that doesn’t mean she can’t be reasoned with at all, even if this is an uncomfortable and somewhat unsettling position.

“My home isn’t in the fleet, Mona.” You nearly gasp out, the forceful press of her arm making it difficult to speak, “Yours doesn’t have to be either, that’s just your father’s dre-!”

“Shut up!” Mona cuts you off with a scream, her familiar voice breaking slightly as tears begin to well up in her eyes. “SHUT UP! You broke her! She hates dad because of you, and she wants us to hate him too!”

“Your father did that, not me-” Her arm presses more tightly into your throat - It’s unlikely Mona can manage much more than this, it’s a sloppy and poorly thought out pin. Breathing isn’t easy, let alone speaking, but you can slip it easily if it comes to that, “Tryphosa still loves him, Mona. Listen to her, she’s never said otherwise-”

“She doesn’t think he loves us!” Mona’s voice is filled with grief and anger, emotions pouring off of her like turbulent waves, anguish crashing against you with more force than her awkward hold on you could ever manage, “...It’s a lie, she was disobedient… but… but… this isn’t right, you made her a liar!”

“I helped her, Mona, she broke on her own.” You correct Mona, her arm pulling back somewhat even as she remains uncomfortably close, her leg still wrapped about your own, “...It’s that programming your father put you all through that did it, when we reunited she just snapped.”

“I’ve felt it, I know, I know, I know.” She repeats the words to herself, a stuttering reassurance as her wide blue eyes search all about your face for unseen details, ”We all know. He wants us to take out bonds home, we’re good daughters. I’d take mine home. It’s for mother, we’re mother, we’re doing it for mother and her bond. I don’t want him to be sad. Tryphosa used to love him the most.”

>>5673627

As her speech grows more incoherent you find she’s pressing more tightly against you, one arm slipping behind your back and the other finally releasing its pressure on your throat - There’s something very desperate in her eyes. It roils your stomach, bile rises in your throat. Whatever it is that Jedar did to her, it’s worse than Tryphosa. Much worse. Those surgeries and therapies and cybernetics to repair her genetic defects… It couldn’t have just been for that. No more than Tryphosa’s conditioning was solely to ‘awaken’ her newtype potential. This is wrong.

“Mona, stop.” You try to pull back from her, erratic behavior and the resemblance to your bond causing the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end. She follows, clinging more tightly to you, completely focused, grinding and pressing, her leg wrapped about your own and nearly causing you to trip and fall.

With that you’ve had enough, the end of your patience finally reached. Mona needs help, probably Tryphosa’s help, but you’re not going to just let her assault you like this - it’s unsettling, degrading, good for neither of you. With a firm push you peel the clone girl off of you, sending her stumbling back into the room. It took more force than you expected, Mona is bizarrely strong for how lithe she is, but she still catches herself before knocking into any of the crates or machines. The light casts deep shadows along her face, pained blue eyes staring out from the dark.

“...I’m sorry.” She calls out to you quietly, shoulders slumping.

>”I just want what’s best for all of you, Mona. ...Let’s go find your sisters.” It’s all so tiring, what Jedar has done. Three girls, each more broken than the last, and all with a single clear cause.
>”...It’s not your fault, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?” That’s not really news, but it almost sounded like Mona was aware of even more than Tryphosa. It was hard to tell while she was babbling things out though.
>”You should be, Mona. Don’t even do that again.” It’s hard to get a sense of what’s going on in her mind, but you’re not going to let that happen again, whatever the hell it was.
>Write-in.

>>5673630
>”...It’s not your fault, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?” That’s not really news, but it almost sounded like Mona was aware of even more than Tryphosa. It was hard to tell while she was babbling things out though.

>>5673630
1)
>”You should be, Mona. Don’t even do that again.” It’s hard to get a sense of what’s going on in her mind, but you’re not going to let that happen again, whatever the hell it was.
>”I just want what’s best for all of you, Mona. ...Let’s go find your sisters.” It’s all so tiring, what Jedar has done. Three girls, each more broken than the last, and all with a single clear cause.
2)
>”I just want what’s best for all of you, Mona. ...Let’s go find your sisters.” It’s all so tiring, what Jedar has done. Three girls, each more broken than the last, and all with a single clear cause.

>>5673630
>>”...It’s not your fault, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?” That’s not really news, but it almost sounded like Mona was aware of even more than Tryphosa. It was hard to tell while she was babbling things out though.

>>5673630
>”...It’s not your fault, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?” That’s not really news, but it almost sounded like Mona was aware of even more than Tryphosa. It was hard to tell while she was babbling things out though.
The worst thing to do to someone who's just had a mental breakdown is be aggressively confrontational. Healing is a long process that requires persistent effort-- and I think getting her talking is a step in the right direction, rather than having her explode at us, or get defensive. If I had to guess, I'd say that the reason she's upset isn't just because we took her sister from her, or because we hurt Tryphosa in choosing Elena, or even just the programming Jedar's been doing her through-- but because *some* small part of her, that Tryphosa has been nurturing in our absence, knows that what has happened to her and her sisters is wrong, and doesn't know how to process it other than lashing out and desperately clinging to what she's been told is right.

>>5673630
>”I just want what’s best for all of you, Mona. ...Let’s go find your sisters.” It’s all so tiring, what Jedar has done. Three girls, each more broken than the last, and all with a single clear cause.

>>5673630
>>”...It’s not your fault, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?” That’s not really news, but it almost sounded like Mona was aware of even more than Tryphosa. It was hard to tell while she was babbling things out though.

>>5673637
>>5673658
>>5673677
>>5673783
Writing.

>>5673677
Interesting.

You shake your head at her apology, more concerned for her than angry now that she’s off of you, “...It’s not your fault, Mona, not really. You’re doing this for your mother?”

“Of course I am.” She nods meekly, one hand gripping at her shoulder where you shoved her - There’s no injury, but she’s still checking over it absentmindedly as she looks down in growing shame. It’s probably just an old habit, Tryphosa described her as being exceedingly frail until her recent treatments.

“We are all doing it for her sake.” She continues, stepping back into the light, “We are our mother.”

“Genetically, yes.” You agree, her implication of something deeper than that sitting poorly with you. “...But you mean more than that, don’t you, Mona?”

“I see her sometimes.” She carries on nervously, confiding in you in much the same way you’ve heard from Tryphosa before - In fact if you closed your eyes it would be hard to tell them apart other than by pure presence, “...Since I started walking in full g, after the treatments made me stronger, and the implants stopped my seizures... I remember things. I’ve shared them.”

“...You remember things? …From your mother?” You question, brow furrowing in confusion at her words, “Isn’t she just missing?”

Mona shakes her head, taking another couple of steps closer to be by your side again, a far healthier distance between you now, “That’s what Tryphosa calls it, but she died. Father says so.”

You stop yourself from giving her an even more skeptical look, suspecting this might just be the work of her imagination - Maybe a result of all this trauma and mental mutilation Jedar has done to her? Implanting ideas and messing with minds must have side effects other than behavioral instability. …You have seen and felt things most would call impossible though.

“You don’t believe me.” It’s not an accusation. Of course she can read you, connected as you are to Tryphosa. She extends a hand to you, which you accept. This you can do, there’s nothing wrong with comforting her. …She’s actually acting more like her sisters now. Is this what she used to be like?

“It’s a lot to take in, I’ve never heard of anything like it before.” You reply carefully, still processing her bizarre claim, “What do you remember?”

“Dying, and my dreams. Our dreams, I suppose.” She tilts her head slightly, blonde hair falling gently to the side, “And my old bond. I can’t feel it anymore, but the memories are there. That made father happy when I told him, he smiled. He’s trying to bring mother back, I think.”

“That’s not possible.”

“How do you know? Have you tried?”

>>5673828

“...No, but that’s not how…” You pause to consider the question more deeply, blinking a few times as you realize that you actually have no idea at all how it works, “That can’t be how it works. …Are you feeling better, Mona?”

That’s something you can know. Talk of memories snatched from beyond the grave, or genetic memories, or implanted memories, or whatever delusion it is that Mona holds aren’t going to produce much, and indulging her too far can’t help - But you can try to make sure she’s okay. You can care. She’s Tryphosa’s sister, you owe her at least that much.

The woman in front of you smiles and tightens her grip, the touch of a familiar hand clasped about your own, “I pray for your success in what is to come, Felix Deikun.”

“There you are!” Tryphosa calls out from behind you, appearing within the still open doorway only a few steps away, “Are you both okay? Sister, are you hurt? …I felt something strange.”

“...I’m …I’m fine?” Mona blinks in confusion, clutching at her forehead with one hand and backing up a step, her hand slipping from yours, “Another headache, I… I was apologizing to Felix. I broke discipline.”

“Again?” Tryphosa asks worriedly as she looks you both over. Quina appears behind her, her face as pale as a sheet. The game is over for now then, both of them drawn to the distress of their sister.

I’m unharmed, just a little a confused. You assure your bond silently, a wave of relief immediately flowing out from her.

...Confused? You nod silently, sharing what you can.

“Come here, sister.” Mona says, stepping past you and Tryphosa to wrap Mona in a tight hug. The room is silent for a long while.

“We should get back to the game.” Quina finally suggests, “It’s your turn to hide, Felix. I’ll seek this time. Mona, I think you should seek as well, we’ll find them together.”

“...I’d like that.” Mona agrees, still sounding weak and disoriented, blinking more than she should and holding tightly onto her younger sister’s hand.

You exchange a worried look with Tryphosa, but she gives a small nod. That’s enough, she knows her sister better than you do. If Mona needed medical attention or other help then Tryphosa would insist on it.

>”Come on, Tryph, let’s find somewhere good to hide.” Jovians are fucking weird, there's a lesson in all of this probably.
>”We should have some of the other test subjects join in. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?” The words feel a little hollow, even if you’re all newtypes. Some of them have been abducted, or close enough to it, and you’re nearly royalty. It’s hard to compare your situations honestly.
>Skip to later, after the next few rounds of the game. You’re taking Tryphosa out into the woods on a very long walk; maybe you’ll visit Eb. There’s still much to talk about, even with your bond.
>Write-in.

>>5673829
>"Come here, sister." Mona says,
That should read "'Come here, sister.' Quina says,"

Getting confused by identical and deeply confused clones feels like an unusually appropriate typo though.

>>5673829
>”We should have some of the other test subjects join in. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?” The words feel a little hollow, even if you’re all newtypes. Some of them have been abducted, or close enough to it, and you’re nearly royalty. It’s hard to compare your situations honestly.

Give the kidnapped children a chance at freedom stuff.

>>5673829
>”We should have some of the other test subjects join in. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?” The words feel a little hollow, even if you’re all newtypes. Some of them have been abducted, or close enough to it, and you’re nearly royalty. It’s hard to compare your situations honestly.

>>5673829
>”We should have some of the other test subjects join in. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?” The words feel a little hollow, even if you’re all newtypes. Some of them have been abducted, or close enough to it, and you’re nearly royalty. It’s hard to compare your situations honestly.

>>5673829
>>”We should have some of the other test subjects join in. We’re all in this together, aren’t we?” The words feel a little hollow, even if you’re all newtypes. Some of them have been abducted, or close enough to it, and you’re nearly royalty. It’s hard to compare your situations honestly.

We're not, but Felix should have fun with them anyway

>>5673829
>>”Come on, Tryph, let’s find somewhere good to hide.” Jovians are fucking weird, there's a lesson in all of this probably.

>>5673829
>>”Come on, Tryph, let’s find somewhere good to hide.” Jovians are fucking weird, there's a lesson in all of this probably.

>>5673834
>>5673840
>>5673842
>>5673942
Writing.

Most of the way done with the update but I've got to go do some stuff. Expect it in three or four hours or so probably.

“We should have some of the other test subjects join in.” You suggest, hoping to get a better chance to see what kind of a state some of them might be in, “We’re all in this together, right?”

“We are.” Mona and Quina agree at once, Tryphosa echoing them half a moment later.

“Let’s go get them, Felix.” Tryphosa suggests, the two of you exiting the storage room and walking back out into the white halls of the institute. There isn’t much activity in this section, just empty halls and closed sliding doors, but it’s not too long of a walk to get back to quarters.

“...She spoke about mother?” Tryphosa asks in a hushed voice while you have the moment alone together. You nod, confirming what you shared with her moments ago.

“The therapies must have confused her, for a moment it sounded as if Mona thought she was your mother. Not just genetically.” Your brow furrows again as you speak. If it were nearly anyone else you’d dismiss it at once as a delusion, but there’s so much unknown about newtypes. Throw cloning in the mix and the situation only gets murkier. Clones aren’t the same person, they aren’t supposed to share memories or really anything in personality other than whatever dispositions might be genetic…

“I suspected the same at first, but I am unsure.” Tryphosa admits quietly, taking your hand in hers again, “She may be right, in some ways. …I’m not sure of what father did to her, but whatever part it was that unbalanced her mind…”

“Do you think it was that machine again?” You question uncertainty, “Or the implants?”

Tryphosa shakes her head, “I don’t know. I wish I did. Her memories are there though, she has shared them. I don’t know how father could have created them from scratch, my own… the indoctrination isn’t so precise. Words and urges, vague images at best… It's a clumsy, brutish process, even if it did help to awaken us. I realize that more and more every day.”

She doesn’t like speaking about this, you can feel the anxiety building - Perhaps it’s best to let the topic slip for now. There aren’t any clear answers to be gained this way, some things take time. …Well, there is one last thing.

“There was a moment toward the end of when she was acting strangely, after she started to apologize and calm down.” You try to share your experience of the situation as best you can, the words serving as little more than a carrier for the deeper experience, “It was like she wasn’t herself anymore.”

“She prayed for you? …Father has mentioned many times that mother did that often, I do it as well. It’s in memory of her, and in hope that…” Tryphosa trails off, a few tears gather at the corners of her eyes, “...Do you think it’s possible to come back like that? What if father is right?”

>>5674224

“You think that’s what he’s been trying to do with all of this?” You ask, a similar suspicion has been building for some time now. It’s been discussed before, sort of, but it’s too insane of an idea to have spent much time or effort on. He’s a slightly crazed scientist who misses his love, and he’s created clone ‘daughters’ to fill that hole while pursuing who knows what kind of political goals with their priming for newtype bonds - It’s twisted but mostly understandable, at least at a very zoomed out level. Whatever this is though, it’s another layer of madness.

“Father misses her terribly, that’s why he made us, even if he doesn’t really love us. It’s an obsession, but…” Tryph bites at her lip nervously, hard enough to draw a drop of blood - The sharp pain and taste of iron fill your own mouth, a sympathetic sensation, “Do you think a person could be... pulled back like that?”

“You believe your mother is dead? No, you don’t, not like that at least…”

“She’s dreaming. It wasn’t an end. I don’t know if any of us ever really do die - Oh, hello there, nine!” Tryphosa stops speaking abruptly to greet a young brown haired boy as he round the corner ahead of you. He’s perhaps a few years older than Glemy, maybe nine or ten years old, and a bit on the lanky side. A blue uniform marks him differently than Tryphosa or her sisters, poorly fitting but still serviceable.

“...Heya, Tryph.” Nine greets her, but his gaze is up at you, “...Wha… Are you Felix Deikun?”

“I am.” You flash a smile, “Your name is Nine?”

“That’s my new one!” He shrugs, and then makes a playful little disgusted expression, “It’s just a number but I like it better, my old one was Jerol. Blegh. …So you’re here for important Zeon business, right? Checking on the labs and things, yeah?”

“Precocious, isn’t he?” You say to Tryphosa before turning your attention back to the kid, “I’m here to help, Nine. I’m a newtype as well.”

“...You’re Tryph’s bond then?” He asks curiously, mouth turned up at the corner as a smirk starts to spread, “It’s really nice to meet you, Mr. Deikun. What’re you both up to?”

…Mr. Deikun? What the hell? That makes you feel way too old coming from a kid like him.

>>5674227

“We’re playing a game with my sisters, nine.” Tryphosa answers her “Gather the others and tell them find hiding places. Mona and Quina will be the seekers.”

“Sweet! Your games are the best, Tryph, way better than the zap tests and that weird triangle room…” He and Tryphosa exchange mutual looks of commiseration, a faint impression of unpleasant isolation creeping up through the back of your mind, “ …Uh, anyways, I’ll get right on it! So just go hide right now?”

“Right away.” Tryph motions lightly for him to go with one hand, “If they’re not found in an hour they should come out, we’ll do another round or two after.”

And with that nine runs off excitedly, slowing his pace for a moment as one of the scientists walks past, and eventually rounding a corner and disappearing out of sight.

“He’s not one of the abducted ones, is he?” You ask, already suspecting the answer. He’s too cheery.

“Orphan.” Tryphosa confirms as you both set out in search of a hiding spot, “They all like me though, I made sure of it. …It try to keep them happy, it’s difficult. Are you going to have them sent back to their parents?”

The game will begin soon, but you can talk a little before going into hiding with all the others.

>”I might be able to manage that, Kycilia would probably try to squeeze a favor or three out of me in exchange though.” Nothing is ever free with that witch, it’s always a contest for more power, but she is willing to bargain.
>”I don’t think it’s in the cards yet, my influence doesn’t extend very far past my class at the academy. Can’t really turn it into a scandal either without it backfiring.” Directly opposing a Zabi, or actively bringing scandal and shame to their name, probably wouldn’t end well. Yet. All things in time.
>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.
>Write-in.

>>5674228
>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.

>>5674228
>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.

>>5674228
>>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.

>>5674228
>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.

>>5674252
>>5674263
>>5674265
>>5674320
Writing.

>>5674228
>”...What kind of experiments are being done these days?” Separation is already bad enough, but if these kids are at risk of getting broken like Mona or Quina then you’ll have to act more quickly. You’re not sure if you could live with yourself just letting their minds get mutilated like that, even if it’s Kycilia’s fault. She does a lot of awful things though, you can’t stop everything.

“...What kind of experiments are being done here now?” You ask, your choice of how to deal with what Kycilia has done matters greatly upon how much immediate danger these kids are in. It’s all wrong, but you can’t pick every fight instantly, that’s a recipe for crashing early and letting far worse things happen.

“Nothing destructive, the shocks are still the worst.” Tryphosa assures you quietly, a bit wary of the cameras and microphones scattered across the institute, “Father hasn’t sent any of his machines over. There was a ‘breakthrough’ a month ago.”

“Good, good.” You sigh in relief, “What sort of breakthrough? You didn’t mention that earlier.”

She meets your eyes for a long moment, focused entirely on you, “There were more important things to talk about. They’ve made a machine that can translate psycho-waves into readable code, it’s much more precise than just measuring intensity. It’s larger than the hangar bays on the Juptris, it took weeks to move everything into the lower levels. It… It hurts a little to use, but you can send signals to machines by thought alone, just like reaching out to another newtype. You see things, and you’re there.”

Your eyes widen as the implications of the technology set in quickly, “Like an extension of your own body.”

“An extension of your soul.” She corrects you lightly, “I was frightened by it the first time, but after a few more tests I discovered how liberating it could be. A single body is so limited, I was able to experience myself in three or even four places at once.”

“...What do they have you controlling in the tests?”

“These little remote control lifters, the kind where their arms meet in the middle - you must’ve seen them before in cargo bays.” She recalls fondly, “...Or rather they were little, they’re very… fat now, all of the receivers puffed them out, like those funny fish at the aquarium. The spiky ones.”

“Puffed them out?” You nearly chuckle at the mental image, puffer fish with a spiky nose or maybe a swollen up tick… that last one isn’t as funny, some moron brought those things to Texas colony and they’re a menace.

“Just like that,” Tryphosa agrees, sharing in your imagining of the modified lifters before wrapping back around to your original concern, “...The tests aren’t so bad, I’ve made sure of it.”

So she’s manipulating the staff as well then - That’s not new, she’s been doing that ever since her father sent her to work with Flanagan, and even before that with her guardians back on Texas colony. It’s not something you’ve ever learned to do.

>>5674523

“Thank you, Tryphosa.” Verbal thanks aren’t necessary, she knows how you feel, but the words still get a smile from her - Even with a shared soul there’s something to be said for the simple things. What she said is a relief, there might be some time to make a proper plan, but that’s something you can work through later. “We should find a hiding spot sooner rather than later, Mona and Quina don’t seem like they’ll give us ages to hide.”

Vote One: What to do about the abducted children?
>Work with Kycilia to end the practice, even if it means you’ll end up owing her favors. Maybe Vivima could help? She can be nearly as heartless toward strangers as her older siblings sometimes, but she does have a real soft spot for family.
>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.
>Something else? (Write-in)

Vote Two: The game.
>Find a good hiding spot and get to things, you can take the time to discuss things with Tryphosa and grow as a newtype.
>Skip to after the conclusion of the game, you have other things to do here with Tryphosa. Perhaps you could visit Eb with her, or take her sisters out into the city, or investigate this new psycho-wave machine she told you of, or even speak with Dr. Flanagan.

>>5674524
>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.

>Find a good hiding spot and get to things, you can take the time to discuss things with Tryphosa and grow as a newtype.

>>5674524
>>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.

>>5674524
>>Skip to after the conclusion of the game, you have other things to do here with Tryphosa. Perhaps you could visit Eb with her, or take her sisters out into the city, or investigate this new psycho-wave machine she told you of, or even speak with Dr. Flanagan.

>>5674524
>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.

>Find a good hiding spot and get to things, you can take the time to discuss things with Tryphosa and grow as a newtype.

>>5674524
>Work with Kycilia to end the practice, even if it means you’ll end up owing her favors. Maybe Vivima could help? She can be nearly as heartless toward strangers as her older siblings sometimes, but she does have a real soft spot for family
>Skip to after the conclusion of the game, you have other things to do here with Tryphosa. Perhaps you could visit Eb with her, or take her sisters out into the city, or investigate this new psycho-wave machine she told you of, or even speak with Dr. Flanagan.

>>5674524
>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.

>Find a good hiding spot and get to things, you can take the time to discuss things with Tryphosa and grow as a newtype.
I'm curious about how the old man is doing though.

>>5674524
>...Wait and see for now, Tryph can prevent the worst abuses. You’ll gather more influence of your own in time, they’ll be sent back to their families when you can manage it. …If you can.
>Skip to after the conclusion of the game, you have other things to do here with Tryphosa. Perhaps you could visit Eb with her, or take her sisters out into the city, or investigate this new psycho-wave machine she told you of, or even speak with Dr. Flanagan.

>>5674524
>>Work with Kycilia to end the practice, even if it means you’ll end up owing her favors. Maybe Vivima could help? She can be nearly as heartless toward strangers as her older siblings sometimes, but she does have a real soft spot for family.
>Find a good hiding spot and get to things, you can take the time to discuss things with Tryphosa and grow as a newtype.

>>5674530
>>5674536
>>5674542
>>5674625
>>5674675
Wait and see.

>>5674530
>>5674542
>>5674625
>>5674801
Hide and talk/train.

Writing.

And so you set off together to find a good hiding spot among the twisting and turning hallways of the Flanagan institute, a dozen of the other newtype test subjects sent scattering about as word spreads to them of the game. A few don’t bother at all to participate, watching with either confusion or a total apathy. Their loss.

Several minutes later, near one of the facility exits.

You and Tryphosa have kept on the move, your minds drawn close to one another, working together through your bond to keep apprized of your surroundings even as you shield one another from Mona and Quina’s notice. Many others have already been caught, you can feel as they give up, concealed presences suddenly flaring into brighter sparks that would be impossible to miss while this focused. This has been excellent training, if it can even be called that - Perhaps it isn’t the practice itself building up some power within you, but instead the removal of barriers to allow for growth… It’s difficult to conceptualize, but you feel it in your very soul. It’s helping.

“...She judges a person’s character so quickly?” Tryphosa asks quietly, carrying on the conversation you started some minutes ago - Tales of the academy and your friends there, stories of what you’ve learned and who you’ve met. She’s shown a particular interest in Tiff.

“And accurately, it’s really something.” You confirm, thinking of all how fast Tiff seems to evaluate people and how it hasn’t seemed to steer her wrong yet - not for very long at least, “It causes problems though, she’s a fireball.”

“I would very much like to meet her, and Blare as well. Do you believe they’re bonded?”

“They’re in love, I can say that much. Didn’t have much of an interest at first but Blare’s head over heels for her now.” You continue as you both duck into one of the side rooms, an office that connects over to an adjacent hallway, and hurry past a surprised looking worker - She starts to speak up but the words die in her mouth as she recognizes you. That’s not an uncommon reaction these days. “They’re good together, never would’ve guessed it.”

“He isn’t a newtype?” Tryphosa wrinkles up the corner of her mouth, deep in thought, “Not yet at least.”

“I haven’t felt anything from him.” You shake your head. It would be great if he was, but there hasn’t been so much as a hint of potential from Blare. Tiff’s very nearly awakened, it’s easy to forget sometimes that she isn’t fully there… She’ll be impressive when it finally happens, whatever it is that will trigger it though you can only guess at.

>>5674957

“And what of Izumi Fuchs?” Tryphosa shifts as you exit out into the next hall, “I hear potential in her at least.”

“Eh, maybe. That trick with the umbrella still makes me wonder about it from time to time. It’s not the prediction so much as her reflexes, getting it out and up before those air bursts detonated… She might just be that good.”

“I would like to meet all of your companions at the academy, they sound fascinating. Do you think I could visit? I’d like to join in from time to time, with the training.”

“Join in training?” You consider the request for a few seconds before replying, the thought of Tryphosa running about disguised as a cadet sounding dangerous but exciting in equal measure - The class is just large enough for some cadets to still mostly be strangers with one another, she could slip in occasionally, “...I can arrange it, if you stick with my unit we can bluff our way though. It won’t cause issues here?”

“I can convince Lom.” She shrugs, not at all worried, “...My sisters will be trickier though.”

“Just tell them the truth.” You suggest, eliciting a small laugh from Tryphosa - Something about suggesting blunt honesty while actively hiding from them just tickles her.

“Haha!” She has a sweet laugh, you wish she laughed more, “Mm… I suppose you’re right, they likely could not stop me anyways. Mona will wish to go as well though.”

“Mona?...” You slow for a moment, stopping near the next door. They’re all nearly identical, nondescript other than the color stripes along the walls. The facility is a maze you’d easily get lost in were it not for Tryphosa’s familiarity. “She would be trouble, it wouldn’t be good for her, or even safe.”

“Yes, but she will ask regardless. I know her.”

You sigh, feeling the truth of your bond’s words, “And you look too similar.”

“There are many issues with it.” Tryphosa agrees. She isn’t pushing for it, you know that, this is a warning rather than a request. “Even still, she will ask. And ask. And ask.”

“Say no.” You offer out, “Maybe this is all too much trouble, I’ve got enough pull now that I could arrange for us to train on our own. You want to fly, right?”

“I can already manage a shuttle, nearly everyone in the fleet can once they’re of age.” She stops, sensing your lingering discomfort at the idea, even if the path is already set, “...I’m sorry. Perhaps a different topic?”

>What would you like to talk about? (Write-in)
>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”
>Skip.

>>5674960
>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”
I'd very much like to improve their relationship. At least mitigate some of the jealousy from Tryph, don't want that to start snowballing out of control.

>>5674960
>>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”

>>5674960
>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”

>>5674960
>Skip.

>>5674960
>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”

>>5674960
>>”Do you think you could help Elena? She’s been trying to… learn to be a newtype, if that’s even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, she’d like your help.”

>>5674957
>It would be great if he was, but there hasn’t been so much as a hint of potential from Blare.
Wasn't there something about 'feeling a breeze' when we met Blare at the party? I always thought that was implying he was a newtype.
Maybe it was someone else that we felt (Tiff, Vivima, Artesia)?

>>5674978
>>5674990
>>5675346
>>5675376
>>5675403
Writing.

>>5675408
There was definitely a hint of something there. It could be any of them (he'd probably recognize Artesia though), or Felix might simply be mistaken.

“Do you think you could help Elena?” You ask carefully, worried about what pain it might provoke but still hoping for Tryphosa’s assistance, “She’s been trying to… to learn to be a newtype, if it is even possible. I’ve talked about it with her, meditated and instructed her as best I can. She’d like your help.”

“My help? I…” A familiar pang of jealousy jolts across your invisible bond, Tryphosa’s heart at war with itself for a brief moment before calm returns, “...I will help her as best I can, Felix, I promise. Elena extended kindness and understanding to me, she could have chosen to resent our connection.”

“Thank you, Tryphosa.” You can feel the lingering turmoil in her, the sharp pain of a future she’s been denied, but also an acceptance of a new role - That of a spiritual companion. Hopefuly she'll accept that fully in time, she's trying to. However close you might grow to Elena, whatever life you might share with her, however passionate or resolute your love might be, you will likely never be bonded. That is Tryphosa’s alone. “Do you think it is possible?”

“We will discover that together - She is not the first to dream of it.” Tryphosa smiles weakly, her resolve slowly solidifying as she sets her mind to the task, “...It’s a lovely dream, not so different from my own, but - We need to go!.”

“They’ve found us, haven’t they?” You ask hurriedly as you follow behind the Jovian girl, footsteps sounding rapidly through the halls of the institute as you race to find a new position.

“My concentration slipped.” Tryphosa admits, her cheeks turning a shade of red with embarrassment. Of course her sisters could feel her pain! Talking about Elena may not have been the wisest choice for winning this game, but it needed to be done.

“I don’t think they’ll be on us that quickly, we’ve been care-” A door hisses open just ahead and disappears into the wall, all hope of victory vanishing along with it.

>>5675528

“Bang!” Quina shouts in triumph as she comes sliding to a stop just ahead of you, finger guns pointed at you both - Mona follows her through the doorway half a moment later, mimicking the display and having acquired a cowboy hat from somewhere, “Got you!”

Tryphosa clutches at her chest as if she was struck by a bullet, staggering back a step and letting out a mock groan of pain, “Aaagh!... Cowgirls, really? I thought you didn't like westerns.”

…And for just a second or two you get a glimpse of what they must have been like back in the energy fleet, when no one else was around and they weren’t meditating or singing or following the rigid schedules demanded of them. Instead of ethereal newtypes musing on the secrets of life they're just... kids, really. Rather immature for their age in many ways, strangely innocent despite being almost as old as you. Their words are troubling, very close to what they say when they've said when their conditioning surfaces, but even so it manages to be wholesome. Clones or not, they truly are a family.

“Hey, you’re dead too!” Quina motions vaguely in your direction with her finger gun, shooting you an annoyed look, “...And quit smiling at me like that!”

Later, after a few more rounds of the game.

>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her
>The visit has been helpful and mostly pleasant, the incident with Mona aside. It’s time to return to the academy and your wider duties. You can trust Tryphosa to continue to handle things, and you’ll be seeing her again soon anyways, both on Luna and at the academy.

>>5675529
>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her
I'm thinking we either visit Eb or look at the new machine.

>>5675529
>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her
Let's see the machine

>>5675529
>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her

>>5675529
>>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her

>>5675529
>There is still more that can be done here. Visit Eb, or learn more of the institute, or perhaps sneak out into town for some simple fun. There are many possibilities, perhaps you can help her

>>5675530
>>5675533
>>5675539
>>5675542
>>5675544
Alright, more with Tryphosa it is.

What'll it be?
>Investigate the new machine.
>Visit Eb with Tryph.
>Take the Tryph and her sisters into town.

>>5675560
1)
>Visit Eb with Tryph.
2)
>Investigate the new machine.

>>5675560
1.)
>Investigate the new machine.
2.)
>Visit Eb with Tryph.

>>5675560
1)
>>Investigate the new machine.
2)
>Take the Tryph and her sisters into town.

>>5675560
>Visit Eb with Tryph.

>>5675560
1.
>Take the Tryph and her sisters into town.
2.
>Investigate the new machine.
3.
>Visit Eb with Tryph.

>>5675560
>>Investigate the new machine.

>>5675560
>Visit Eb with Tryph.
Bro I can't believe we haven't seen Laplace.
We should get him to meet Lucifer one day.

>>5675560
1)
>Investigate the new machine.
2)
>Visit Eb with Tryph.
3)
>Take the Tryph and her sisters into town.

>>5675560
>Visit Eb with Tryph.

>>5675564 (2nd)
>>5675581
>>5675589
>>5675817
>>5675854
>>5675796 (2nd)
Machine wins. Writing. Expect the update later tonight.

>>5675828
Not a bad idea.

The depths of the Flanagan institute are even drearier than the stark white laboratories of the higher levels. White halls give way to gray, bare reinforced concrete and titanium supports holding up the weight of the hill high above and reinforcing the hull of the colony far below. Thick cables run along the walls, caution stripes and warning signs hinting at the dangerous energy levels involved in much of the machinery this low in the facility. It isn’t dark, the overhead lights are harshly bright, industrial and unnatural, but it feels darker.

Tryphosa keeps close as you make your way down a sloping hallway flanked by an angled cargo lift. Her loyal - and very nearly feral - cat, Laplace, is held calmly in her arms. He’s a simple comfort for her, a furred companion never rescued over a year ago from the animal experimentation that was then common - There are enough actual newtypes present at the institute now to render that mostly unnecessary. How humane.

Many scientists walk past as you descend further, a few hurriedly bowing or making other awkward attempts to greet you respectfully - They’re drawn from all over Zeon and beyond, many different cultures and just as many ways to embarrass themselves in your presence. None of it is necessary, and in truth you still haven’t grown used to strangers reacting like this - At the academy it’s still ever present, but different enough you can almost ignore it.

After another half minute of walking you find yourself before a heavy reinforced set of sliding metal doors. A pair of armed guards wearing the green uniforms of the Zeon self-defense force stand outside of it, both men standing suddenly straighter as they notice your approach, eyes widening slightly with recognition.

“Good evening, sir!” The more senior of the two greets you; technically he outranks you, you’re just a cadet, but that’s the sort of detail that matters very little in practice.

“Good evening. We’re here to inspect the psycho-wave communicator.” You greet them both easily, their eyes shifting between you and your Jovian companion, and then finally resting more suspiciously upon her cat, “Is there testing underway currently?”

“No, sir, it’s all clear tonight.” The man replies, motioning for the more junior soldier to begin the process of opening the door. His gloved hand works over the key panel quickly, typing in the security code, “Just a moment, sir, it takes a few seconds for the locks to unseal.”

>>5676152

With a loud hiss and the rush of air the doors unseal, rumbling away into the walls and disappearing out of sight. Beyond them a cavernous domed room reaches up many meters high, it’s central axis dominated by a tower of metal pipes and cabling and flashing lights. Displays and terminals line the walls of the great chamber, easily large enough to serve as an aircraft hangar. True to the soldier’s word there are no scientists inside, but computer screens still flicker to life as motion sensors detect your approach.

“Rather ominous looking.” You comment to Tryphosa as you both step inside, the door clanking shut behind you, “Like an exposed fusion reactor… This can sense our thoughts?”

“It detects and translates our psycho-waves into a minovsky particle based signal. At most it reads intentions, our thoughts are still our own - Put on one of the helmets from that shelf.” Tryphosa nod and points, memories of her past donning of the bulky helmet coming easily to you, “We’ll need to enter the control chamber.”

“This isn’t the control chamber?” You ask as you finish setting the yellow helmet atop your head, the interior and visor reminding you very much of the helmet of a normal suit, “What’s it like then, a cockpit?”

“Yes, it is very similar.” Her face disappears for half a moment as she slides on her own helmet. It’s a little bulbous and oversized for her, sitting slightly too low and nearly blocking off her vision. Footsteps echo loudly across the domed chamber, more machines whirring to life automatically as the device begins to warm up.

“It doesn’t need any of the staff to start up? It just... does it on its own?” You question, knowing that similar functions have been tested with mobile suits - Very limited artificial intelligence that allows them to respond to their pilot's needs while outside of the mobile suit, such as by lowering itself to allow for boarding in a gravity well or reaching out to lift a person with its hand.

“It can already detect our intentions to use it.” Tryphosa confirms, “That is all it can manage when you are not inside of it. Would you like to test it yourself, Felix?”

>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
>”No, seeing how it works is enough.” She's more experienced with the machine, you can experience it through your bond... probably.
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."
>Write-in.

>>5676156
1)
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."
2)
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
3)
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."

>>5676156
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
Fuckin early start on the psycommu system. We gonna have a Psycho Zaku up before the OYW even starts?

>>5676156
1)
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
2)
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.

>>5676156
>>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."
>>5676160
I like to imagine that tech being ahead in this quest will lead to Seed style light shows.

>>5676176
>SEED style light shows
Guess I better take my anti seizure meds then. I wonder what the feddies are going to pull out of their ass to counter us.

>>5676156
>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.
>"We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful."

>>5676156
>>”Of course, you know me.” You’re not as much of a tech junky as Vivima or Elena can be, but this is still genuinely exciting.

>>5676212
>>5676176
>>5676174
>>5676158
Writing.

“Of course, you know me.” You agree with an excited grin as you continue to approach the door to the machine’s true interior, walking past the enormous and sprawling array of cables leading toward it, “We should call a few of the scientists down here before beginning, the test data might be useful.”

“...Perhaps.” She doesn’t quite disagree, but there’s something teasing about her tone, “You’re confident.”

“See, you do know me.” You chuckle as the door to the central spire begins to unseal, a rectangular section of it’s dark gray hull splitting down the middle before swinging open on either side to reveal a dark chair suspended by struts. Sensors line all of the walls within the machine, hundreds upon hundreds of dull octagonal spikes wrapping about the chair at the center, a segmented type similar to that of a mobile suit’s cockpit. “I just sit inside?”

“Yes, it will come naturally. Think of the lifters and you will be there among them, just like reaching out to a soul.”

“Like searching for your or Artesia?” You question, Tryphosa’s helmeted head nodding just a fraction of an inch in confirmation, “...Guess there isn’t much to learn then.”

“It is a matter of doing. You will do well.” She agrees once more, the faint impression of her own experience with the machine already imparted to you just as you shared your knowledge of the academy earlier. “I’ll call down the scientists, stay here.”

Half an hour later.

Within the hidden cradle of the machine, you wait. With the doors sealed once more you’re surrounded on every side, above and below, by curving metal plates covered in sensor spikes. It almost resembles an ancient torture device, hundreds of spikes facing inward at… perhaps not their victim in this case, but still their target.

…No, that’s not right either. You are their master. It's a tool like any other, just one controlled solely by thought.

Strips of red light run up and along through the spikes, weaving between them at sharp angles, strange and sudden turns twisting them all about the spherical interions, a sharp spiderweb of crimson. The sanguine light bathes the spikes and chair in ominous red. Looking down to your gloved hand, you tap idly at the chair’s titanium frame. The suit you’ve put on isn’t quite a normal suit, fitting a little more loosely and but bulkier around the shoulders and chest. It matches the bulbous helmet, both of them somehow necessary for the machine’s operation, a first and final layer for it to interface with the normally undetectable waves your newtype mind emits.

>>5676503

“The final charging sequence is underway, the test will begin soon.” Dr. Flanagan’s voice sounds clearly over the helmet’s internal speaker, as clear as if he were right beside you, “The radio will become inoperable as the minovsky particle levels increase. We can still communicate through the wired connection, the speaker on the door just ahead of you can be used if there’s an emergency.”

Yeah, yeah, doc, this isn’t your first rodeo with minovsky interference. You speak more respectfully than your thoughts, “Understood, doctor, I’m ready and standy be. …Wait, an emergency?”

“...Uh, yes, nothing of the sort has happened yet though. You’ll be fine.”

“Yet?” You press.

“Hehe, yes, it’s…” Flanagan laughs nervously over the radio as the crimson light within the spherical control chamber begins to intensify, “It is very unlikely, but there is a miniscule chance of destructive feedback or interference from the machine’s signal. The psycho-wave filters will help to control it, and we’re monitoring your emission levels at all times so it really is quite sa-”

“Destructive interference?” You can just barely hear Tryphosa’s voice on the other side of the radio, she’s not speaking directly into the microphone but her concern is still plain to hear, “You’ve never said anything about that before, Lom!”

“It’s very safe! I never mentioned it because there’s nothing at all to concern yourself with, but he is a Zab…” You can’t hear the rest of what he’s saying, his voice cutting out for a moment along with the rest of the signal. It comes back a few seconds later, garbled and distorted, “Are you ready to begin, Fe-”

The intensifying light stabilizes at a bright glow, and Flanagan’s voice vanishes entirely. A low hum fills the chamber, a rhythm to it, almost hypnotic…

>Search for the remote controlled lifters, reach out to them just as Tryphosa instructed you to. Could it really be so simple?
>There’s something odd about the humming of the machine, a pressure to it. It’s nearly tangible… Focus on that, you need to know more.
>”Tryphosa, are you there?” You can still communicate through your bond, even if the radio is dead temporarily.

>>5676504
>There’s something odd about the humming of the machine, a pressure to it. It’s nearly tangible… Focus on that, you need to know more.

>>5676504
>>There’s something odd about the humming of the machine, a pressure to it. It’s nearly tangible… Focus on that, you need to know more.

>>5676504
>Search for the remote controlled lifters, reach out to them just as Tryphosa instructed you to. Could it really be so simple?

>>5676504
>Search for the remote controlled lifters, reach out to them just as Tryphosa instructed you to. Could it really be so simple?

>>5676504
>There’s something odd about the humming of the machine, a pressure to it. It’s nearly tangible… Focus on that, you need to know more.

>>5676504
>Search for the remote controlled lifters, reach out to them just as Tryphosa instructed you to. Could it really be so simple?

>>5676504
>>There’s something odd about the humming of the machine, a pressure to it. It’s nearly tangible… Focus on that, you need to know more.

>>5676509
>>5676520
>>5676711
>>5676769
Writing.

As the crimson light stabilizes into a sanguine glow, a rhythmic humming fills the interior of the spherical control chamber. Hundreds of inward facing octagonal sensor spikes resonate subtly with… you. If you were not bonded to Tryphosa the recognition may have taken longer, but you have observed yourself from the outside, you know the patterns of your own thought even if you often do not understand them. As you focus on the entrancing pattern of the sound it begins to slowly intensify, and an awareness of the spaces beyond the machine begins to grow within your mind’s eye.

Your sight of the chamber’s interior remains, you still feel your suit clad body fully, the weight of the helmet abuzz with electronic signals and scanning pulses. With every passing second your awareness begins to dwarf the tiny speck of space you occupy. Rushing outward you can see the colony interior, and then its hull, and other banchi beyond, all of Zeon, Luna, Earth…

The focus of your mind is not upon the lifters, no, you have not yet even begun to attempt to reach out to them. This is a far broader awareness, akin to throwing your consciousness out among the cosmos as you’re often tempted to do… Spreading outward, ever outward, far away into the twinkly sea of stars. Endless opportunity, the future of mankind. Somewhere beyond time.

Dreams.

As you reach out further, the intensity of the thrumming and humming increases, feeding upon itself. Growing. Rapidly growing. Is this the feedback you were warned of? It doesn’t feel dangerous - It is empowering, calming, some profound revelation just barely out reach, so close you can brush your fingers along it…

You can handle it. You can reach it. This machine is easy to control. Intuitive, just as Tryphosa told you. All you have to do is focus, lean into this growing pressure, embrace it fully, and all the power of this device can be yours! It may have been made to control simple machines, but Flanagan and the others must have stumbled upon something far more profound!

For a moment you think of Vivima, her bright violet eyes startling clear, inches away from you. That’s… strange, but the image of her within your mind vanishes nearly as soon as it appears, dissolving into an unearthly green light. A softer shade of blue follows a moment later, tiny fluttering wings cast all about it. Eyes watch. Electricity arcs, cables spark. A scattered glow of green and blue, bright sprays of color, wrap about… something. Is that you? It could be anyone.

What is that light?

”Felix-”

>Press on. Throw yourself into this mystery, grow as a newtype no matter what the risk may be! You can handle it. There is something out of reach, only a little further now, show bravery and you will have it!
>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

>>5676871
>Press on. Throw yourself into this mystery, grow as a newtype no matter what the risk may be! You can handle it. There is something out of reach, only a little further now, show bravery and you will have it!

>>5676871
>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

>>5676871
>Press on. Throw yourself into this mystery, grow as a newtype no matter what the risk may be! You can handle it. There is something out of reach, only a little further now, show bravery and you will have it!
I hope this doesn't bite us in the ass.

>>5676871
>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!
It'll totally bite us in the ass.

>>5676871
>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

JACK OUT IMMEDIATELY. We're not getting Kamille'd this early.

>>5676871
>>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

>>5676871
>>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

Felix is not yet on the levels of the important Z/ZZ newtypes. Time to quit while he's ahead

>>5676871
>>Pull back. Pull back now, this isn’t what the machine was made to do! It’s a delusion, a dangerous delusion feeding on overconfidence. This must be what Flanagan warned of!

>>5677052
>>5676987
>>5676959
>>5676908
>>5676900
>>5676881
Writing.

With a tremendous effort of will you turn away from the alluring pulse of the machine, Tryphosa’s half formed warning helping to shatter its growing control over your mind. There’s something there, tempting and hypnotic, just outside of your grasp and comprehension - Power, perhaps, or knowledge, or far more than either… but you’re not ready. Slowly you reel yourself inward, step by step, your view of the earth falling away, and then Luna, and Zeon, and the colony, and finally the laboratory. Looking down at your hand, you find them clenching tight to the arms of the control chain, gloved fingers gripping onto it’s titanium frame for dear life. It hurts. You didn’t feel that a moment ago. Relaxing, you release your grip, calming yourself and blocking out the deeper rhythm of the machine. A deep exhale settles you.

What was that light, and what were you seeing within it? It was so close… Was it a delusion created by the feedback Flanagan warned you of? Some use for the device as yet undiscovered by the institute? Whatever it was, it isn’t something to dive into your first time using the machine.

”Felix, find peace and focus.” It’s a simple command, but Tryphosa’s thoughts do much to calm you. ”One of the buffers failed. Do you wish to continue?

”I nearly got lost in… it. I’m alright now, I’ll finish the test.

”Do not fall back into it.”

”It wasn’t there when you used it.”

”No, it was not. It is our proximity, I felt it too. Stay safe, please. I will let them know you intend to finish the test.”

…Your proximity? The bond then, of course that might have strange effects, you’re both more capable as newtypes when you’re near one another. Everything is a little easier, but a deeper change wouldn’t surprise you at all - There’s still so much of this that remains unknown, and discovering it all continues to be dangerous. Chilling thoughts of nearly getting lost while projecting alongside Artesia return to you with a jolt of discomfort. There is no guarantee of safety in any of this.

Putting those dark thoughts aside you instead reach out with your mind, feeling through the spaces nearby the institute until you find the modified remote control lifters. Your awareness seems to snap to the first of the bulky red robots, its bulbous form and pair of lifter arms making it look almost like a giant tick. Your sense of it is almost that of a limb, proprioception and second sight working together to give truly intuitive control - With less than a thought you send it moving, jetting about the hangar it is kept in, and then to a slow and careful stop. There are other lifters… Four? Five? Focusing on one is simple, but how many can you manage?

—----------------------------------

I need a roll of 1d4+1.

Rolled 1 + 1 (1d4 + 1)

>>5677073

>>5677077
lmao

>>5677077
I'll starting writing in a bit, looks like Felix will have to work his way up.

>>5677078
Yes.

>>5677077
Good thing we backed out, I image if we rolled that one on pressing on Felix would get brain damage. Or soul damage.

Reaching out to the other lifters, you find it a slippier task to secure your focus on a second one. The first was easy enough, no more a challenge than being asked to make a cut with a sword or fire a gun, in fact it’s more intuitive than either. The second lifter is like trying to do both at once… It’s still not exactly difficult, but your control is less precise, sloppier, and that innate knowledge of its location keeps slipping away. A proprioception that starts and stops without warning, stuttering awareness. Controlling a third proves even trickier, and after a few minutes of attempting it you give up on the task as too unreliable.

There’s a temptation to close your eyes, to really focus your mind on the task of controlling a third lifter and nothing else, but that would defeat the point of all of this. You’re fully aware of the interior of the control chamber, its relation to the two lifters, and the hangars surrounding each of the bulbous robots. As you practice moving them about, sending them darting to and fro within their hangars, you begin to grin and imagine the possibilities of this technology. Not only does it circumvent the issues of minovsky particle interference, it uses minovsky particles to work at all.

Could this system be worked into a mobile suit? That must be their intention, but the machine is far too large for even the mobile armor prototypes that you’ve seen… It will need more development.

Later, after the conclusion of the test.

“Controlling two on your first attempt is quite a good result.” Flanagan assures you, growing more nervous as he continues to speak, face wrinkling up uncertainly as he surveys the final results of the test on a monochrome computer screen, “And the damage to the buffers was… limited, just as I said. No harm at all!”

“They haven’t suffered damage before.” One of his younger assistant points out, tsking and drawing a glare. She carries on unfazed. “We’ll need to repair them before the next test.”

“I will be fine.” Tryphosa shakes her helmeted head, giving an optimistic thumbs up. Even in the modified normal suit she’s still very slight, thin and graceful and many Jovians are, “You can conduct the repairs after I finish my own test.”

“Yes, I think it’s a good idea to continue as well!... You’re not intending to bring your cat in there?” Flanagan asks, glancing to you after asking the question rather than to Tryphosa. He’s not quite as nervous around you as he was with Kycilia, but Lom hasn’t been the same around you this visit. Probably the name change. Deikun-Zabi seems to mean a lot more to some people than others.

>>5677152

“Felix, hold Laplace.” Tryphosa offers you the little bundle of fur and you take him with practice care. She leans down to look Laplace in the eyes, peering out from her visor with a very serious expression, “Be good.”

Laplace meows back sassily. Tryphosa narrows her eyes in response, and the ill-tempered cat snuggles more tightly into your arms, either feigning affection or genuinely far friendlier than usual. She’s always had that effect on animals.

Even later, after the conclusion of Tryphosa’s test.

“Five?” You let out an impressed whistle as Tryphosa exits the control chamber’s split doors, “I couldn’t get three for more than a few seconds - How many did you start with on your first time?”

“She managed four on her first attempt,” Flanagan answers for her, a hint of pride in his voice, “We had to construct another drone - Do you think you could try for six?”

“Build it and we’ll find out!” Tryphosa laughs confidently, taking off her helmet and setting it aside atop one of the many machines in the room. She brushes back her short green hair with one hand and surveys the scientists at work before settling one you - She smiles, content for a fleeting moment. “You can hand him back over - No scratches?”

“You’d know if there were.” You chuckle and hand back the unusually docile cat, “He’s been good. Better than Lucifer even, I’ve never had a cat let me hold it for so long. Usually they get-”

“Wriggly, and the claws come out.” Tryph finishes for you, rubbing Laplace’s forehead gently with a slender gloved finger before carrying on to ask a question plaguing your mind, “...Lom, are there any plans to shrink the psycho-wave communicator?”

“Miniaturization?” Dr. Flanagan questions, “Eh, yes, it’s being explored by our technical division. It’s a… challenge, we’ve only just gotten this one working at all, but I believe we can overcome it in a few years.”

“Years?” You ask with displeasure, more annoyance slipping into your tone than intended. You’d been hoping for months, or perhaps a year at most.

“It could be expedited, but the principles on which it operates are still poorly understood - It’s like the early days of radio, centuries ago. We know enough to make it work, but there are all kinds of things still to be discovered!”

You shrug, understanding the dilemma even if you’re not happy about it - There’s nothing to be done, pouring money and manpower into things can only go so far. “Reliability, range of function, speed of development. Pick two.”

“Yes, precisely so!” Lom agrees quickly, “Progress is steady, as you’ve seen.”

>”...Can it be used by two newtypes at the same time?”
>”How have the others done in testing?” Mona and Quina are probably similar to Tryphosa, but getting an average for the other test subjects would be interesting to know if nothing else.
>Back to the academy!

>>5677153
1)
>”...Can it be used by two newtypes at the same time?”
>”How have the others done in testing?” Mona and Quina are probably similar to Tryphosa, but getting an average for the other test subjects would be interesting to know if nothing else.
2)
>”How have the others done in testing?” Mona and Quina are probably similar to Tryphosa, but getting an average for the other test subjects would be interesting to know if nothing else.
3)
>”...Can it be used by two newtypes at the same time?”

>>5677157
Support

>>5677153
>”How have the others done in testing?” Mona and Quina are probably similar to Tryphosa, but getting an average for the other test subjects would be interesting to know if nothing else.

COWARDS, BACKING OFF!

>>5677153
>”How have the others done in testing?” Mona and Quina are probably similar to Tryphosa, but getting an average for the other test subjects would be interesting to know if nothing else.

>>5677153
>”...Can it be used by two newtypes at the same time?”

>>5677397
If Felix isn't on the level of making the robot perform way above specs, locking up another robot with newtype ghosts, or turning people into vegetables, I don't wanna hear it

>>5677157
>>5677196
>>5677397
>>5677468
>>5677477
I'll just combine the options to keep things moving, they're sort of related questions anyways. Writing.

“...Can the machine be used by two newtypes at the same time?” You ask, no answer rising up from your bond with Tryphosa. Lom considers the questions carefully before answering, his gaze shifting to Tryphosa as he thinks.

“We have attempted it once with the other clo-Erm, with Quina and Mona.” He corrects himself immediately, “It was not successful. The machine was built to receive the psycho-waves of a single newtype, adding a second is too much for it.”

“It is possible in theory though”

“At the time of our last test many of the problems weren’t as apparent, even as closely matched as they were.” Lom shakes his head gloomily, “I fear they won’t be overcome any time soon. Separate machines being used simultaneously appears far more promising technically - Why do you ask? Did you wish to try it with Tryphosa?”

“We’ve considered it.” You answer in unison with your bond, voices harmonizing perfectly - An involuntary grin breaks out across your face, the unthinking synchronization drawing a mild expression of surprise from Lom.

“I was going to attempt it before he asked me to call you down.” Tryphosa continues, a determined look in her eye, “All things are possible together, Lom.”

“...Perhaps so, perhaps so.” Lom doesn’t disagree, but nor does he sound terribly convinced by her words, “Your special bond might prove to be uniquely suited to such an attempt… The communicator is far from ready for a second attempt though.”

“Of course, there’s no need to rush things.” You give him an out, opting not to lay on more pressure for now. They’re already advancing at a blistering pace, any faster and that little incident with feedback earlier might’ve been much nastier - safety and careful development matter, especially when minds or… perhaps souls are on the line. “How have the other done in testing?”

“Quina and Mona have proven nearly as capable as Tryphosa.” Lom begins at once, eager to change the subject to something more concrete and less likely to reveal the shortcomings of his entire institute - for a man working with newtypes he’s fairly easy to read, “Mona is nearly indistinguishable in testing, she’s an impressive young woman. …Truly impressive.”

“She is.” Tryphosa agrees solemnly, “Mona will join us in time, and our other sisters if they’re sent to join us.”

“More clones?...” One of the other scientists mumbles under their breath nearby, just a little too loud - You pretend not to have heard, but there’s no mistaking the weariness in his voice. Working with Quina and Mona must be exhausting, especially with how unstable the latter has proven to be.

>>5677530

“The other test subjects have clustered around a lower level of performance,” Lom ignores his subordinate’s comment as well, tapping away at the keyboard of the nearby computer to pull up some data from past tests and pointing to a few of the graphs, “Most can only manage controlling a single drone, or none at all. A handful can manage two, and only one other has been able to do three.”

“Only one?” You ask, the gap between the ‘natural’ newtypes the institute has found and Jedar’s clone ‘daughters’ an unexpectedly sharp contrast. Is it their indoctrination, or their mother genetics? Life among the Jovians? Life with so many similar newtypes? There are too many factors to narrow in on any one thing.

“Yes, subject nine was able to manage it in his last test.” Lom confirms, pulling up nine’s profile. The smiling face of the lanky brown haired boy greets you, young and full of energy and optimism - He is Tryphosa’s favorite.

Interesting. That means the abducted children must be clustering in the lower performance group… that might be useful in getting them out. Kycilia lacks compassion, but the lower the value of these children the more likely it is she’ll agree to return them to their parents. That’s going to be an expensive coverup though, what a scandal it would be if it got to the Federation…

“The others have been able to improve the number of lifters they can control.” Tryphosa says, answering your next question before you can fully pose it to Dr. Flanagan, “It was not a long process.”

Lom nods, “Not for the first one, no. Many of our subjects that could only manage one have already moved onto two. Going from zero to one seems to be the most difficult.”

“...So most of them were only able to control one or none to start with?” You conclude, the lack of others besides nine able to control three of the remote controlled robots immediately standing out as odd, “Good, I like to be ahead of the curve.”

“Are you planning more frequent visits?” Lom’s question comes as something of a surprise, catching you off guard in the midst of all of this discussion of newtype training and bleeding edge technology.

Are you? Last vote for this.

>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.
>”For training like this? I’ll try to make time.” It’s difficult to promise more with your schedule and new fatherhood. Perhaps Elena would be interested in visiting as well? You can’t shirk time with your family, but where that time is spent could be changed.

>>5677531
>”For training like this? I’ll try to make time.” It’s difficult to promise more with your schedule and new fatherhood. Perhaps Elena would be interested in visiting as well? You can’t shirk time with your family, but where that time is spent could be changed.

>>5677531
>>”For training like this? I’ll try to make time.” It’s difficult to promise more with your schedule and new fatherhood. Perhaps Elena would be interested in visiting as well? You can’t shirk time with your family, but where that time is spent could be changed.

>>5677531
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.
I'm only picking this because I'm assuming 'secluded newtype training' means we'd start to train soldiers with a bit more time before Kycilia or the rest of the Zabis find out about what we're doing.
That and I don't want Felix losing too much influence in the academy.

>>5677531
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.

>>5677590
Continuing with what this anon said. Our worldly needs outclass our spiritual ones right now.

>>5677533
>>5677563

>>5677590
>>5677599

I'll give voting two more hours.

>>5677531
>>”For training like this? I’ll try to make time.” It’s difficult to promise more with your schedule and new fatherhood. Perhaps Elena would be interested in visiting as well? You can’t shirk time with your family, but where that time is spent could be changed.

>>5677531
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.

>>5677533
>>5677563
>>5677697

>>5677590
>>5677599
>>5677715

Another tie, I'll giving voting one more hour.

>>5677748
I'll switch >>5677697 to
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.

>>5677531
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.
We already had to cut back on our plans becasue of time once, let's not end up having to do it again.

>>5677531
>>5677533
>”I don’t have the time or I would.” Tryphosa can come to visit you and Elena, as you’ve agreed. Everything done here is entirely within Kycilia’s sight, Luna and even the academy are far more secluded places for newtype training. This is the current course.
I'll swap my vote too.

>>5677749
>>5677769
>>5677765
>>5677715
>>5677599
>>5677590
Writing.

“I don’t have the time or I would.” You answer honestly, wishing it once again that it were possible to do more - there just aren’t enough hours in the day to be everywhere and you’re already flooded with obligations, “The academy keeps me busy - In a few years perhaps.”

“Well, we’re not going anywhere - Other than to a larger lab!” Lom chuckles, “In a few years we will have all kinds of technologies ready, let me assure you…”

As Lom continues to speak on the many merits of the institute’s research you exchange a glance with Tryphosa, eyes meeting for a moment. You won’t be seeing the inside of the Flanagan institute all that often, but you will be seeing more of her, and there’s no doubt in your mind that she’ll do what she can for the other test subjects. There’s too many things to balance here; dangerous research, Tryphosa’s sisters, the abducted children - The list goes on and on. At least it’s in good hands, but it seems that nothing can ever be simple in life.

Later, on your return journey to guardian banchi, aboard your clandestine Arcana-class “cargo transport” ship.

Dark liquid swirls in the crystal glass as you move it about in your hand, contemplating your visit to the Flanagan institute. A faint smell of ozone and oil fills the air, sounds of heavy mechanical work within the nearby hangar and the low thrum of your ship’s engines help to soothe your worries.

You could have taken your drink in your private quarters, but it feels better to be down here in the small pilot’s lounge near the ready room. It’s sparsely decorated, but a few decorations have been put up to give it more of a military feel. Photographs of Zum and the rest of Zeon, of your late father’s speeches, as well as guardian academy and a number of military parades. Taking a sip of your drink, one of the foul whiskey’s Dozle prefers - a gift to you. The harsh flavor and burn of it have grown on you, and you down it easily, setting the glass aside on a small mahogany table before reclining more deeply in your dark leather armchair.

“You’re troubled.” Challia observes from his own chair nearby, missing nothing. He takes as sip of his own glass, nose wrinkling almost imperceptibly at the taste of it, “Not eager to leave her here?”

>>5677818

“Right to the heart of it, is it?” You ask, looking the veteran pilot over - gray hair and hard eyes greet you. He’s a disciplined man, but there’s something more open about Challia than the other candidates you considered, more than just experience alone. “No, one day wasn’t nearly enough.”

“There’s never enough time.” Challia agrees, setting his glass down and letting out a low chuckle, “A man has to use his time wisely. Age will sneak up and beat you over the head before you realize what’s happening.”

“Speaking from experience?”

That gets another chuckle from the older man, “The burn to Jupiter isn’t short, I’ve done a few rotations with the energy fleet escort. Gives a man a lot of time to think. Some say too much. Is it just that Jovian girl on your mind, or…?”

“No, not just her. We’re never really apart…” You begin to explain while pouring out another couple of fingers of the dark drink into your glass, setting the bottle aside carefully afterward, “There’s other business I had to leave unfinished though. She’ll handle it.”

“Trust is a precious thing.” Challia replies, perhaps noticing a greater depth to your words, “Still feels wrong to leave it all on her. Can't say that ever gets easier.”

You just nod. There’s nothing else to say about it. Nothing else you should say about it. He’s your guard, and this is your ship, but they’re both new - In a few more months you might be able to trust them both to hold a deeper conversation, but years of paranoia about Zabi monitoring still haven’t left you. Of course there is a Zabi listening in… A Deikun-Zabi. God, you’ll never get used to that. A few bullets and a name change could fix it though - that’s how Casval jokes about it in private.

“...I won’t press.” The gray haired pilot relents with a grin. Despite your continued wariness, you do like him - You wouldn’t have picked him otherwise. Challia is a bit over a decade older than Ramba, but you suspect the two men would get along well, even if Ramba is cut from a rougher cloth. Doan, your other pilot bodyguard, is a much closer match - He’s back on Luna keeping watch over Elena and the twins. It’s comforting to know there’s a fully armed Zaku ready to stomp to their rescue if they’re ever in danger.

>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.
>”...I’m going to take the Zaku out for a flight.” It should have more than enough fuel to keep up with or catch back up to your ship.
>Just pass the time until your return to the academy.

>>5677820
>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.

>>5677820
>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.

>>5677820
1)
>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.
2)
>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.
>”...I’m going to take the Zaku out for a flight.” It should have more than enough fuel to keep up with or catch back up to your ship.
3)
>”...I’m going to take the Zaku out for a flight.” It should have more than enough fuel to keep up with or catch back up to your ship.

>>5677820
>>”Challia, when you were with the energy fleet did you ever meet any newtypes?” You’ve had some suspicions already, may as well just ask.

>>5677825
>>5677827
>>5677828
>>5677829
Writing.

“Challia, when you were with the energy fleet, did you ever meet any newtypes?” You change the subject slightly, pivoting around the issue of Tryphosa or the institute itself. His eyes light up at your question, brow lifting a fraction of an inch.

“Newtypes?” He asks, letting the single word hang in the air for a long moment before continuing, gauging your own expression - You nod for him to continue. “You believe in them?”

“Of course.” You grin, swirling your drink once more. It’s a strange state of affairs that newtypes are both an official and widespread part of Zeon’s politics but simultaneously something of a secret. Earnest belief in their existence is something of a litmus test for ideological loyalty, even if it does nothing to guarantee someone isn’t just a Gihrenist, “Surely you must have encountered one, Major. The Jovian’s are the furthest population from earth, there must be some among them.”

He nods slowly, easing into the new topic, “...Maybe. Jovians make for poor conversationalists generally. There are a few exceptions, some of the officers especially, but outsiders like the fleet escorts don’t mingle with the common crews much - Not much shore leave at their colonies either.”

“So I’ve heard. No pets, no games.” You motion for him to continue, relaxing more deeply in your chair. It’s not the most comfortable, but since the ship is undertaking a low burn you can still sink into it properly - Chairs just aren’t the same in full zero-g.

“Jovians aren’t known for being jovial, no.” Challia shakes his head and grins a little at his own awful joke, “But I’ve met with a few on occasion outside of patrols. There was one who… Might have been a newtype, she was certainly something. It was maybe twenty years ago, a little less, on my first deployment. I was with the Federation then, a young pilot looking for trouble, or a woman.”

“...Or a woman that’s trouble,” You finish for him, understanding at once.

“Some things don’t change.” Challia continues, “I found what I was looking for, just not how I expected to. I had just stumbled out of what passed for a bar on one of the larger Jovian tankers, and made my way to the observation deck… Didn’t find a woman there, but when I looked out at the stars it just… struck me, how vast everything was. I stayed there for a long time. Hours, maybe, and a woman joined me eventually. Blonde, very, very long hair. Almost never see it that long on career spacers, too much of a mess… Wore robes too, not a normal suit. She knew things about me.”

>>5677870

“More than she could’ve gotten from your file.” You conclude, finding the description of the woman oddly familiar. Probably just a coincidence. “Eyes that looked right through you?”

“Like a pane of glass.” Challia replies, “Seemed to know what I was going to say before I even started to speak. Strangest conversation I’ve ever had… Never got her name, never even thought to ask when we spoke.”

You take another sip from your glass, focusing more on the Major’s story than the harsh drink, “That does sound like a newtype.”

“You have experience with them.” His words are a conclusion, not a question.

After this it will be on to other things.
>”It seems that we both do.” That’s enough of that for now.
>”There are more of us than most people realize.” Eh, screw it, he’s your guard. May as well admit to your nature.
>”My sister is obsessed with newtypes, she’d study them full time if it weren’t for the academy.” Change the subject slightly once again.

>>5677872
1)
>”There are more of us than most people realize.” Eh, screw it, he’s your guard. May as well admit to your nature.
>"I think the woman that you met might have been Tryphosia's mother. Fits the description to a T."
2)
>”My sister is obsessed with newtypes, she’d study them full time if it weren’t for the academy.” Change the subject slightly once again.
>"I think the woman that you met might have been Tryphosia's mother. Fits the description to a T."

>>5677872
1)
>”There are more of us than most people realize.” Eh, screw it, he’s your guard. May as well admit to your nature.
2)
>”It seems that we both do.” That’s enough of that for now.

>a woman joined me eventually. Blonde, very, very long hair. Almost never see it that long on career spacers, too much of a mess… Wore robes too, not a normal suit. She knew things about me.
>You conclude, finding the description of the woman oddly familiar. Probably just a coincidence.
Tryph's mom?

>>5677872
>”My sister is obsessed with newtypes, she’d study them full time if it weren’t for the academy.” Change the subject slightly once again.

>>5677872
>>”There are more of us than most people realize.” Eh, screw it, he’s your guard. May as well admit to your nature.

>>5677872
>”There are more of us than most people realize.” Eh, screw it, he’s your guard. May as well admit to your nature.

Challia's a good man, and anyone who may be listening already knows.

>>5677872
>>”It seems that we both do.” That’s enough of that for now.
>>5677879
Tryphosa's mom has got it going on.

>>5677872
>”My sister is obsessed with newtypes, she’d study them full time if it weren’t for the academy.” Change the subject slightly once again.

sorry boss was streaming GBO 2 now that its out.

>>5677991
>>5677944
>>5677879
Writing.

>>5677998
True.

>>5678015
How has it been so far?