Tell him sure there's not much we can do in our room, unless he wants to play more cards.

rolled 72 = 72

"Sure, but there any reason why you guys only feed me fast food?"
Also, can we do a quick hack check in our own spine to see if there are any trackers embedded in it?

>>18886961
As ready as I'll ever be. One question though John, why in hell doesn't this place have decent food service, at least get some chinese takeout every once in a while.

"Sure," You say, getting up. "But why do you guys only feed me fast food?"

He chuckles and opens the door for you, waving his arm over the electronic lock. "Believe it or not, my job description isn't to serve food to test subjects. The only food I can get on command like that is the hamburgers from across the street."
The hallway he leads you into is brightly lit, but again, you note the suspicious lack of any kind of window. "This is the third basement floor, so the only quick way up is the elevator. There are stairs, of course, but that tires even me."

You take a moment, and focus inwards; into your own prototype implant. What you find suprises you; Other than the prototype's standing command to send all 'debug data' to a terminal, there are no such trackers.

"Do you want the tour to be every floor, or should we just go up to the lobby?" He asks, standing in the elevator. "Hey, you okay? You're just standing there."

"Sorry, just thinking, still not sure exactly how to handle this situation. And sure, every floor sounds good. Sounds like I'll be here for a while so I should try to get to know the layout."

>>18887087
Just getting a handle on this place. Getting to know my surroundings. I'm going to be here for a fair bit.

Floor by floor would be nice, it's not like I have much to do.

"Sorry, just thinking," You say, brushing the question off and entering the elevator. "Every floor sounds good. Sounds like I'll be here for a while so I should try to get to know the layout. Not like I have much else to do."

He nodded, and hit the button to go to basement floor two. "Here's the testing center for most of our electronics. Headset-based computers, HUD goggles, all sorts of fun stuff. It's what EE worked on until we started moving to human modification. It. . doesn't seem like there's anyone here, though, so you won't be able to watch them test in action."

The rest of the tour goes quietly, but something he says suprises you.

"I was pretty suprised when we heard they got a new volunteer. After the Templar. . feedback situation, I didn't think we could find one in time."

Does he not know that you're essentially a prisoner here?

>>18887160
Don't tell him that we're a prisoner, honestly it's a pretty good deal we're getting out of this.

Tell him that our options were to live in a in and out comatose state as a complete cripple, sans spine or have a chance to live again. Not a tough choice.

"What about you? Were you a volunteer?" while gesturing to his arms.

To hell with tact.

"Well, it was either that, or be paralyzed. My spine was essentially ground into powder, from what I was told." You say with a dark chuckle. "Were you a volunteer?"

He looked to his arms, and then nodded. "Oh, these? These weren't really a prototype, but when I signed up here they offered free implantation for security personnel." Then he shrugged. "So I took it. It was free, after all."

Finishing the tour of the basement levels, you two finally reached the ground floor, and the lobby, mostly made out of glass; a modern design, but that was a given.
And there, talking to the woman at the help desk, was Abel.

Turn to Grayson and ask, "Hey, that guy at the help desk, he's a friend from my old job. Can I go over and talk to him?"

>>18887274
Hey Abel, good to see you man. How's life in the real world?

Abel meet Dave, Dave meet Abel. Abel's an old friend of mine, we worked at the same place.

"Hey, that's Abel!" You called out, then turned to Grayson. "I'm gonna go talk to him."
"Abel?"
"My old co-worker." You said, and walked around Grayson, toward the front desk.

"You don't get it- I know he's here. He called me, and-" You hear Abel, gesturing wildly. His eyes lock with yours, and then he points directly at you. "There he is! See, miss front desk lady, I was right, and you were wrong."

Looking proud, he strutted over to you.

"How you been?" He asks you, and glances at Grayson for a moment. "And who's the bodybuilder?"

"Uh. . Grayson, meet Abel, an old friend of mine. Abel, meet John Grayson, a security specialist, right?"

"Among other things." Grayson said.

"Yeah so anyway," Abel said. "We need to talk, Dave. C'mon." He said, all but dragging you away from Grayson.

>>18887508

Get some privacy. What's up Abel?

Hear him out, and wonder why you went all 'buffy-speak' for a moment there. No one'll take you seriously if you keep sounding like that.

rolled 45, 78, 54 = 177

>>18887508
Get a bit of privacy with Abel, don't leave the premises as we aren't allowed to, but find a nice quiet corner and do a quick scan for any surveillance on us, try to find somewhere where audio pick up can't hear us well or we're able to fuzz it a bit, and video can't read our lips effectively.

Tell John we'll be back in a minute.

"Back in a minute, John." Following along with Abel, you quickly close your eyes and focus on scanning for any cameras or bugs nearby. Finding a small pocket free from camera view, you pull him into it. "What is it?" You ask.
"Listen. There's something really strange about this place."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, military contracts, funding that comes from thin air, and nobody seems to know who *half* the investors are. This place is not a good place, Dave. I can feel it in my gut."

It sure is reassuring to see you Dave. My spine was destroyed in a car accident or at least that's what they claim. They installed and electronical system into my spine. I don't think I really have any other option thatn stay back here for a while and find out more about this transplant and make sure it is stable. I heard the last guy they tested died after some complications. They've been treating me allrgith so far. I've been kept locked in a basement in the third floor but otherwise they've treated me alright. This is actually the first time I got to go out of my room for a tour around this place.

They've been treating me fine so far, but I'm not sure what to do. They keep me in the third basement floor so any possible 'escape' seems pretty difficult.
Listen, thanks for the info, and it's really good to see you, if you don't have anything else that's big I should get back to my guard. If anything goes south I'll try my hardest to get in contact with you.

"I don't think I have any option but to stay here for now." You tell him, after thinking. "The thing they put in my back? It's a prototype, and the last guy with the prototype died or something. They're treating me alright, and I want to make sure that the same thing won't happen to me. I can't just leave like that- Something tells me that they won't look too kindly on me just walking out with advanced tech like this."

You don't mention that this is the first time you've left your room- if you say that, you know he'll do his damned best to get you out of here, even if you were unwilling.

"It's your choice, Dave. The last guy died?" Abel looks around, making sure he wasn't overheard. "Tell me more about that."

"They didn't tell me much about it; just that it was a 'feedback problem', and Grayson said something about Templar." You tell him. "But we should get back before he comes looking for me. If anything goes south, I'll try my damned hardest to contact you. Got it?"

"Got it, man." He said, as if engraving the word onto his mind. "But here, take this." He says, and hands you a small device. It's an earbud, but it's complete with a microphone and a miniature screen that goes over the eye; a video headset smartphone, almost identical to your old one. "Just fold that up, and call me if anything goes wrong. I know some people who could probably get you out."

You nod, and slip the device into your pocket.

When you return, you notice Jun and Grayson talking to one another. Actually, the closer you look, it's just Jun talking; Grayson is entirely silent.

Go over there. silent but nonchalant and see if you can eavesdrop anything

>awful slow today huh?

>>18887764

[Quietly to Abel] You should also whatch out for yourself. If something does happen they are now aware that you are my friend. [Say so taht Jun and Grayson can hear] Goodbye Abel, thanks for coming to see me. I appreciate your concern. You don't need to be worried. These guys have treated me alright and after all they did save my life. If you want I'll ask if I can call you now and then so that you can be sure that I'm alright.

>>18887853
>Ayup, pretty slow. But I have the next like, twelve hours or so free, so I can wait.
"When he gets back from the bathroom or whereever he went, bring him to me. We can't just let him wander around, after all." Jun's saying, obviously displeased. "If he gets too far away, the terminal won't be able to recieve any more debug data, and then what's the point of the prototype at all? When I told you to escort him, I meant to stick with him like glue. We can't just have him walking around wily-nily like that. Go find him and bring him to me."

Jun turned around in a huff, and stormed off to the elevators, hitting a button before she was whisked away.

"Who was that?" Abel asked you; the both of you hiding behind one of the pillars in the lobby.
"That was my doctor." You respond. Grayson's only silent around Jun, it seems. Strange.

rolled 4 = 4

This place has got microphone right? Hack into those to try and eavesdrop. If possible, still not entirely sure how this spine thing works.

rolled 6 = 6

>>18887919
Shit, never mind.
I think we've gotten as much time with Abel as we can, so lets head back to Grayson, apologize for running off, but say that it had been a while since we'd seen our friend, just wanted to catchup, make sure the cat was okay, etc.

>>18887949
Wow, that is poor luck.

Better get up there though. You better take care I have a felling this might be trouble.

>>18887919
>Dave's not really sure how the spine thing works either, but from what he knows, he simply has to WILL IT TO HAPPEN and sometimes it does, sometimes it makes him bleed from all facial orifices.

"I have a feeling this might be trouble." You tell Abel. "But I better get up there anyway. Take care; they know that you're my friend now, so if they're bad like you say they are, they might try something."

He nods. "I better go now, then, before muscles spots me. Take care, Dave."

"Sorry about that." You say, having caught up with Grayson. "Had to catch up with Abel, make sure my cat was doing fine, the usual stuff."

He crossed his arms and nodded, not entirely buying it. "Well, Dr. Viridian wanted to see you, so we've got to cut the tour short. Come with me."

The elevator ride to the fourteenth floor went by mostly in silence, Grayson standing there keeping his arms crossed. You would have spoken, but there was something about the atmosphere that told you that talking to him now was a bad idea.
When the elevator stopped, he led you to Jun's office, and opened the door, closing it behind you.

"So, you think hacking into that terminal was a good idea?" She asked you, sitting at her desk. "I decoded the garbage data."

>OH SHIT WAT DO?

It kind of just happened... I was curious as to what was in there.. and next thing I know... look I'm sorry.

>>18888109
>out the window!
Nah, lets go the diplomatic approach.
"What did you expect? You wake me up, tell me I was in a coma, then tell me I have the ability to 'think hack' things and leave me with a terminal. I was afraid, I did the first thing possible, just trying to get a grasp of the situation I had found myself in"

You said this thing had output functions... I didn't do it deliberately. I'm still barely sure how this thing works, and you hooked it right up to my brain. I'm kind of amazed nothing weirder happened.

>>18888109

Offence is best defence?

Sorry bout that. Wonder how you would feel having woken up from a coma to find that you're locked in a room, without friends or family with a prototype spine-machine stuck in you by people you don't actually know anything about?

"What did you expect?" You ask. "You wake me up, tell me I was in a coma, say I'm 'property' and tell me that I have the ability to hack with my mind, then lock me in a room, without being able to call friends or family? I did what anyone else in the same situation would."

She took a deep breath. "What did you find out?" She asked. You had the feeling that she was looking for something.

As you will probably know if you debugged the data; I didn't find anything really.. I tried to find out about the thing stuck in my back. (what did we find out anyway?)

>>18888272
Keylogs, a bunch of words that didn't mean much to us, a record of her turning on the implant and bringing up Clippy, our old medical records, some rather nasty future-x-rays of the powder that used to be our spine...

And some info on the prototype.

As for how much of this we want to REVEAL, I'm not sure.

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/18870957/#18871999

I really only learned that this thing is a mark 3 prototype or something...actually, since this thing is a part of me, is there any more information you can give me about it? I still don't know exactly what it is this company is trying to get from me.
>aww yeah deflection

>>18888272
>We found out all sorts of schematics on the gen-3 prototype.
>We found our own medical history.
>We found the terminal's previous keylogged commands, including her login information.

>And just because I feel like it, here's our inventory- robotic hand, smartphone headset, deck of cards.

still think we should say the same bluff.. maybe tell here we found the medical record

>>18888360
Yeah, let some of the information out, don't let her know we have her login information.

>>18888308

Guess we could come up clean. It probably wouldn't hurt to gain some of their trust. If they trust us they'll probably be more kind to us and give as more freedom (or oportunities to escape if necessary). And it's not like we learned much anything of use apart from her password and she's bound to change that since she found out that we hacked the terminal.

>>18888383
Well yes... but she apparently don't know what we saw and the fact that we saw the implant blueprint might be enough for us to eventually get killed... sooo, I don't think we should tell that part at least

>>18888409

I'm fine with keeping some information to ourselvs if thats what he rest of you want.

>>consensus seems to be mostly on 'tell her everything except the keylogger info and dig for more'

"All I found was my own medical record, and the name of the prototype. But I still don't know much about it. Can you tell me more? I still don't know exactly what you're looking for, after all."

She sighed. "And you don't need to know." She said, turning back to her personal computer. The screen was twisted toward her, so you can't see exactly what she's doing on it. She hit the intercom, and called for Grayson.

>>18888432
Such a trap, she's expecting us to try and hack it. Just sit back and wait for Grayson.

inb4 hack to see screen. Don't do that.
What now Miss Viridian.

Is there anything else you CAN tell me? I'm still feeling quite confused. At least tell me some gorund rules of how this prototype works so I can avoid unnecessary risks to my health. I'm sure I'm important to you and this company as a subject and all but for some reason I'm quite concerned with my own health with all that last subject dying and all.

Thinking better than to hack her computer, you continued trying to wheedle out of her what you could. "Is there anything else you *can* tell me? At least tell me some ground rules of how this thing works so that I can avoid unnessecary risks to my health. The last subject died, after all."
"It works, simply enough, by converting your willpower into digital form and allows you to wirelessly connect to objects nearby. And you don't have to worry about feedback, because it's been programmed not give you a sensory overload."

Soon enough, Grayson stepped into the room.

"Take. . Dave here back to his room, and make sure he stays there until we can get the medical team ready." Jun said, and Grayson did so, walking all the way to the elevator.

"What exactly happened in there?" Grayson asked. "Dr. Viridian seemed a bit angrier than normal."

Wait what... I don't need no medical team. oh no.

>>18888559

Grayson seems like a nice enough guy, lets explain.
"Apparently I went to far when looking at a terminal with this spine thing. She seemed worried, like I may have found out something, do you have any idea why?"

Whelp, I've got class to go to.

>>whoops, mistyped
>and Grayson did so, walking all the way to the elevator before finally speaking.

rolled 61 = 61

"We kinda hacked the computer when we first got to use the prototype. It was mostly accidental."

Now quickly before the medical team arrives to put trackers and stuff in you computer spine, see if we can create something akin to a safe place inside the prototype. Or a script ready to override privileges they can put in or something similar. Make sure it is well hidden.

There is a camera in our room right? We could hack it to see the rest of the building through other cameras if we want to right?

>>18888614
Yup we explain to him. Do you know what the medical team is for?

>>18888559

I guess there's no real point in hiding why we had our little discussion but no reason to tell what we found out. I seems as Grayson is someone who might symphathise with us and we could even trust a bit and bring to our side but even if my gut feel is wrong we can't trust him and he is acting as the company's ear he'll be bound to find out what the discussion was about.

I tried to hack the terminal in my room to figure something about my surroundings when I first came around from my coma. Quite a stupid thing to do really and Dr. Viridian seemed to agree once she found out.

>>18888659

Also, is there anything Ishould know about this Dr. Viridian, she seems quite high-strung.

"I accidentally hacked one of the terminals when I first tried to use the prototype. She wasn't happy about it, because I might have found out something I wasn't supposed to know, I suppose. Do you know what she was looking for?"

"They don't tell me much, especially not *her*." He said, snorting at the idea. "All she does is order me around like I'm a faceless automoton." The he chuckled. "So I pretend to be one."

You focus, and time slows; You're suddenly floating along a digital mindscape, and you can see the shape of the implant in your own back, small points of light at various places. You touch one, and immediately understand the subroutine for the 'tutorial program'. You touch another point, and find out that the point is, to use the lack of a better word, empty. With a small exertion of will, you try to fill it with the idea that the prototype belongs to you, as a kind of override. You've no idea if it worked, but hopefully you won't have to find out.

"Say," you ask. "What did she mean by medical team?"
"I think they're going to modify your prototype. Maybe tinker with it a little? I'm not very well educated on the matter."

>>18888707

Should we try to hide our smartphone headset? They might knock us out if they are going to tamper with the prototype.

>>18888727
good idea, but where? we could tell grayguy to hold onto it.

>>18888754
If there was a camera in our room chances of hiding it are probably quite slick? I'm ready to take chances with Grayson if we can't come up with a better plan.

Say Grayson, could you hold on to this while the medical team twinker around with me. Dr. Viridian was so struck-up about the hacking I gather she wouldn't be too pleased to find this in my posession.

>>rolling for SECRET RANDOM EVENTS

"Hey, Grayson, can you hold this for me?" You ask, handing him the headset.
"Hmm, this isn't one of ours. ." He says, looking it over and unfolding it.
"Abel loaned it to me, and I don't want the medical team to break it on accident or something." You say, shrugging to show nonchalance. He nods, and slips it into his pocket.
"When you want it back, just ask me."

rolled 3, 6 = 9

>> fff I fucked that up. rerolling

>>18888860
>rolling for SECRET RANDOM EVENTS

You want us to roll or did you just roll?

>>18888888
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

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>>18888888

Well check all those eights for a roll bitches!

>>18888888
I-
WAS
I WAS SO CLOSE FASDASFGASFAGDSDTERRR

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>>18888888
Makes me sort of whish I name fagged this thread. Actually from now on...

>>18888912
>>18888896
>>18888891

>>18888888
>I was just rolling, but I messed it up. Also, 18888888 get is pretty cool.
The rest of the elevator goes by in silence, Grayson tapping his foot.

"Hey, why doesn't this have elevator music?" You ask.
"Hm?"
"I thought elevators all played little tunes while it's running. Why doesn't this one? Is it broken?"

Soon enough, the elevator stops on the 3rd basement floor, and he leads you to your room, where he opens the door for you, and you sit down on your bed, wondering what to do next.

>>18888888

My God, the gates have been open, the seals have been broken!

>>18888888
What do you even call this? "septs"?

>>18888938
>not worshiping multiple gods

>>18888932
Toss our room, see if there was anything left under the bed, behind desks and dressers, if there is any sign of previous a inhabitant.

>>18888943
This is not a conversation you want to have, infidel.

>>18888932

Well, unless anyone has smart ideas lets do the polite thing: thank Grayson and wait for the medics.

>>18888960
>not an acolyte, to be warlock in eldrich

Immediately, you look around, peeking under the bed, opening the cabinet, behind the terminal, under the desk, and any place someone cleaning the room would have forgotten.

Sadly, you don't find much of anything, save for a dustbunny or two.

The medical team shows up soon after your search, and they carry several tools, and a large canister of gas, complete with a mask for you. They give you the mask, and doing the polite thing, you breathe deeply.

zzzz....

You wake up, and your back hurts again. The medical team is long gone, and as far as you know, you're alone. You know that you still have the implant, due to some strange instinct, but it feels. . different, somehow. Based on your stomach, it's been maybe a ten or so hours since breakfast.

>>18889026
Do a self diagnosis, see how much has changed. Go through it inch by fucking inch, I want to know exactly what they planted in it. Make sure our override switch is still there.

>>18889026
Seems we are going to be doing a lot of waiting throughout the game, i suggest we try to get into the habit of meditating to improve willpower and explore our spine computer in our spare time.

rolled 66 = 66

>>18889040
guy forgot to roll

>>18889026
Try to make us more confident with our hands, by throwing cards in manner of hitting the wall.

rolled 33 = 33

>>18889052
Also, self-diagnosis.

rolled 63 = 63

Re-roll.

>>18889047

Seems a sound plan. Guess there's nothing else to do at the time being. Could also consider checking the room to see if the medical team left something behind by accident.

>captcha, is that an r and an n or is that an m damnit

Sitting up, you close your eyes and focus on your own spine and the prototype bonded to it.
>average 54
Once again, time slows, and you're shown a series of lights shaped generally like the prototype. Bouncing along each one mentally, you try to find anything different than it was last time. The 'help' program is still there, as is your 'override' function, but you don't seem to notice anything new.

"What exactly did they change. . " You ask yourself, and take a hand mirror off of the end-table near your desk, looking back over your shoulder, at the mirror, and to the implant.

Last time, the implant was mostly a thin, small series of cables melded over your spine, descending into the back of your neck and, from what you've been told, into your brain stem. This time, however, it seems they've put a complex series of strong plating over it; interlocking black plates that twist and lock positions as you arch your back. With a shock, you realize that they've upgraded it.

rolled 56 = 56

So, they have armored me...
For what they need me?

Also, I suggest we try to do something real in that slow-mo. Like *sigh* throwing cards.

rolled 4 = 4

god dammit why? why don't these people tell us anything, what do they gain from fucking us over and not tell us what they are doing.

>>18889119
Cool upgrade, though it makes me rather suspicious about their final purpose for us.

See if we can keep the altered time state up while not doing electronic stuff. If we do achieve bullet time we tell absolutely no one. It'll be our ace in the hole.

>>18889160
didn't mean to roll

>>18889119

So um? Is our entire back plated in armor or... what?

>>18889184

I mean is it just some protective casing over our spine or do we have some sort of armor plate on our back?

>>18889184
> While you're wearing an 'unfinished' version of the implant\augmentation, it's designed for commercial purposes, so it needs some kind of casing. Pretty much, they put the rest of the casing on it, and *maybe* something less obvious.


You suddenly get an idea, and set down the mirror. Every time you've tried hacking something, time slows, like in those old action movies. Is it speeding up your perception or something?

Grabbing the deck of cards, you pull them out of their box, and focus. . .

Time slows. You try to look around, but every time your eyes twitch to look at something, everything becomes a blur, and you get immediate, strong motion sickness.
You do your best to ignore it, and you toss a card. It hits the wall, falling in slow motion, and you see it twist in the air.

If everything were normal, you would have just seen a flash of white as it spun. But everything isn't normal, and for a second-which-is-probably-not-actually-a-second, you can see that it's clearly the ace of spades.

When you come out of slo-mo, you notice that your nose is bleeding slightly. That can't be good.
>>Bullet time achieved.

rolled 66 = 66

Woooo ho. Good.

Now I would try to use DIGITAL PROWESS and find out, what's causing the blood flow.

waiting; I choose you!

>>18889206
Score, this is something we'll have to use sparingly of course but it's really useful to have around.

If we don't have any books request some classics when we next have a chance, if we do get some reading in. Otherwise learn some magic tricks.

>>18889206
Yo ho ho! I like where this is going.

Clean up visual signs of blood, perhaps in a not so obvious manner or looking away from the camera in your room. We don't exactly want people monitoring us to notice that now and then we get nosebleeds. Might seem suspicious.

Try to rest and if nothing else before we feel rested practice this bullet-time stuff more.

rolled 67 = 67

>>18889252
I would definetly choose "Card'n'Tricks around the world".

>>18889260
*if nothing else happens by the time we feel rested keep practicing bullet-time

>>18889269
Curious if my next one will be
68

rolled 47 = 47

Wait, if the robot hand is still available, we should practice with it. You never know when something like that could be useful!

Not sure if we need to roll with that, and we can practice by playing solitaire with it.

You think about the bleeding. Last time it happened, it was because you were trying to IM your family via a relay to a phone. That time, you also had that strange, slo-mo effect. Perhaps there's a connection there.

With little else to do, you pull out the cards and start working on trying to learn some magic tricks. Last time you tried these, you must have been around twelve. And you weren't very good at it then, and you still aren't now.

With a click, the electronic lock on the door opened, and Jun walked in. "I see you're awake." She said, having cooled down a bit from earlier in the day. "We have some more work to do, but that can wait."

"Hm?" You subvocalize, putting the cards back in their box.

"Yeah, we need to show you off." She said. "Come with me."

rolled 38 = 38

Crocodile on the screen to show the displeasure with the random upgrade, then follow her.

rolled 26 = 26

>>18889290
What's the crowd Doc, techies, investors, techie investors?

I need to know how you want me to play this, fancy tricks to impress people who don't know much about it or technically difficult stuff to impress the nerds.

Also do you object to me hacking the speaker system?

>>18889290
"How I need to behave?"

rolled 14 = 14

>>18889305
Nonono! We are happy for the upgrade we got! Show a thumbs up!

So what do I have to do, some card tricks?

>>18889333
No, we do this Dave style! HACK EVERYTHING IN SIGHT!

showoff to who? what did you do to me? How long were I out this time, my stomage says a long time

>>18889290

Sure, anyhting to please you. Not like there's anything else to do here. So what sort of crowd shall I be shown to? Also, is there any chance of getting something to eat, I recon it's some time past lunch.

>the hand was disconnected and taken away when you were put under.
"Show me off to who? What's the crowd, doc?" You ask, following her. "Techies, or what? How do I have to behave?"
"Mostly investors, both military and civilian, but none of them are... 'techies'. It's not a real press release, but it might as well be. For the most part, we'll need you to simply stand there and connect to the devices we ask you to. Maybe point at them when you do. Here." She says, handing you an earbud. You put it in. "This will probably save my job, because it'll show some kind of real progress."
"So, no card tricks?"
"No card tricks."

The elevator ride is quiet, and you're about to bring up the lack of elevator music (again), when it stops at the lobby. The sun is down, and the lobby is mostly empty, save for half a dozen people standing in a line.

"Now." Jun says to the assembled people, walking quickly. "We're presenting the newest functional augmentation; The Generation Three Bullfrog."

>How do you want to play this, tg?

>>18889396
Ham it up, saunter on to stage talking like a las vegas radio host. Whenever we turn on a device with our mind powers pretend to shoot at it with a fingerpistol.

We are going to be bombastic as hell, when we turn on a monitor there will be flames in the background. Because what this company needs is pizzazz.

>>18889413 hehe, but no.
We play nicely along, that might save jun job and our ass

rolled 35 = 35

>>18889396
Well, I would try to put on my face the most greeting smile. Then I would do my best at showing them the possibilities of (what the ... ) G#3 Bullfrog.

Also, no bleeding this time. Also, can I put their faces in my *memory points*? I would try that.

Last, roll for 68.

rolled 70 = 70

>>18889396
PIZZAZZ, MOTHERFUCKER. STYLE! HAMMINESS! SHOWOFFERY! Let's see just what these augments can do! Unless instructed otherwise, of course. But when not instructed to NOT push the augment to the limit as we display the instructed functions it is capable of, then it's time to walk along the razor's edge, and past the point of no return, to PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT. HOO, YEAH.

>>18889427
Nope.

>>18889413
Pizazz will make them think it was staged, play a long until the end, then give it everything you got for the last thing.

rolled 54 = 54

>>18889439
Sorry, here's my roll.

>>18889413
>>18889428
Also see if we can get some really quick reactions going by flicking on bullet time the exact time she is about to point to something. For example: The moment she says she is going to point a screen slow down time and react as quickly as possible when she points.

>>18889396

Are we supposed to be rolling? Also, I'll skip commenting on this action.

>>18889439
Them being the crowd, they won't take the demonstration as easily, plus being 'good' will get us some more trust with Jun.

rolled 56 = 56

>>18889448
Rolling for this.

>>18889448
Oh yeah, now that's a good idea.

>>18889448

Hell NO. I thought we agreed to keep bullet-time secret.

>>18889458
"demonstration as SERIOUSLY"
hurr durr, my bad.

>>18889473
we're not giving it away, just making it seem like we have good reaction time. It's not like they can SEE we have bullet time.

>>18889473
No one has to know.

>>18889473
Jun has creepy debug anyway so she will figure out eventually

When you point at stuff, make sure you use your third hand to do it.

>>18889439

If anybody is thinking it is staged we will just hack their PDA.

>>18889488

Oh, I see the logic. No, wait - I don't. I sure hope you are trollin'.

Jun starts talking about how the augment connects to, and in truth, all but replaces the nervous system. When she pauses for breath, your earbud tells you to activate one of the futuredevices on the long table they had wheeled out; a futuretelevision screen. You point to it, and it turns on as if by remote control. Jun continues talking, and has you activate a few other futuredevices. At the very end of the table is. . .

YOUR HAND. Your robotic one, to be exact, except it had been given the same matte black color scheme as the casing on your prototype. That's where it had gone.

The earbud tells you to turn around, and you do so, showing off the back of the device. She reaches up to it, and one of the plates flick aside, revealing that retracting cable from before. She unspools it, and connects it to the hand. You give them a thumbs up, and the group applauds. Jun starts taking questions from the assorted, and you memorize their faces.

An hour later, the 'press release but not really' is over, and you got to keep your hand.

"Well, that's a relief." Jun says.

>>18889513
we're just reacting quickly, how does that translate to them finding out about bullet time? Unless we start bleeding a lot from our nose.

We may want to cut back on using the slow time a lot.

rolled 86 = 86

>>18889522
Did the pizzazz work? Did it work? I hope it worked.

>>18889522
"I... I think I kinda liked it, really. How it went?"

>>18889513

No hate intended. But seeing us having good / in-human reaction time is exactly what you would see if you saw us using bullet-time. And considering that you suggested we use bullet-time to improve our reflexes that's exactly what they will be seing.

So you get to get your job doctor?

>>18889522
With all that crowd build up, that was kind of a let down. At least we didn't reveal our bullet time or hacking abilities.

>>18889522
Jun, you shoulda let me have some more pizzazz. I'm talking tuxedo, cane, Putting on the Ritz style. I think it'd impress them more, and I just want to do it.

That being said, how'd we do?

>>18889522
"Wait, that was it? I was expecting something more...extravagant, especially with the other abilities this thing gives me.
And I must ask, did that save your job?"

>>bullettime cannot be detected by either outsiders, or Jun's creepy debug system, mostly because it's a side-effect of the implant, not something intentional. While it CAN be detected if you get a nosebleed by overdoing it, nobody will know unless you tell them.

"How it went?" You ask, and she nods.

"I thought they would be a bit unhappier, or maybe just call BS on the whole thing. You did good, Dave." She said, looking as if a great burden had fallen off of her shoulders.

"So you get to keep your job." You say, and she nods again. "It was kind of a let-down, though. I mean, what's so special about being a human remote control?"

"It's not only that. Not only can you do it mentally, you don't need to get major surgery in order to start up a new augmentation. And your augmentation is even more than that; we aren't limited to using only as many nerves as the human body has. I mean, we could create an aug with six or eight fingers, for example. While that's impossible for a gen-two, the Bullfrog makes it possible."

>>18889642
Ok, I have to ask. What the hell was your PR department thinking when they named it the Bullfrog. I'm starting to feel embarrassed knowing that something with that name is now my spine.

That being said I'm happy you kept your job, at least part of this is because I don't want to be discontinued, but some is just because I'm happy for you.

What the... "Error: Our system thinks your post is spam. Please reformat and try again."

>>18889642
What kinds of augmentations I can get? And what's waiting for me for the dinner?

captcha : Was INDEPEND

I was. I will, captcha.

rolled 60 = 60

>>18889642
Well that's good...I guess. Can you give me any info on what they added with this upgrade? Or was it just for show?"
Also, while talking, practice with the hand by having it crawl/climb over your shoulders. Practice makes perfect and what not.

>>18889669

Ask what happens next, while she is happy ask for some food and if we could have something to read in our room.

rolled 75 = 75

>>18889693
Reroll.

so next on todo list is:
train with technomancy
upload brain into computer
go skynet on humanity
???
profit

>>18889642
Ask Jun if she could let us explore our abilities more, like possibly multitasking more hands, hack several stuff at once or similar things.

>>18889709

Why, you make it sound as if it were a bad thing!

rolled 61 = 61

>>18889642
So. When are we going to get to wow the crowds again? I've already got a great idea for a song-and-dance number which'll really knock 'em dead.

"Hack off your hands/Pimp out your tush/Hand in your hip/Cloak as a bush/You'll be surprised, you never asked for this/Voila!"

It's a little work-in-progress, but it's a good concept to run with.

>>18889782
I'd say, stop it, it's silly anyway, BUT - If you like it, go for it.

"What the hell was with your PR department when they named my spine the 'Bullfrog'?" You ask, sniggering.
"That was the old project name, and this was finished so late we didn't have time to give it a real one." She responded.
"So, what exactly did you do when the medical team knocked me out? I noticed the casing, but was there anything. . else?" You ask, still getting used to the hand as it scrambled over the table, and crawled up your arm, climbing up and around your shoulders.

"For the most part, we made sure it was centered right, and now that your body had healed, we got rid of many of the splices still holding the implant in." She said. "Do you have any more questions?"

"What's waiting for me at dinner?"

She chuckled. "A real meal, for once. That is, if you want one. Just go ahead and get anything delivered; now that I know I get to keep my job, it's on me. As. . an apology. For keeping you here against your will."

That's when the glass doors of the lobby broke, and a flaming molotov was thrown in.

>NEXT TIME, ON NEARFUTURECYBORG QUEST: Burn baby burn.

>>18889807
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA BULLET TIME HACKING AND DAMSEL SAVING!

rolled 72 = 72

>>18889838
Next time, pal.

Also, roll.

> I'll stick around longer to answer more questions.
> Remember, my twitter can be found at @Futureexabyte for all of your exabyte needs.
> Next quest is probably sometime tomorrow. I originally planned to do this weekly, but daily works too.

>>18889807
Fantastic, we need to think up an awesome nickname for our hand buddy. Also, how long is the cable attached to the hand?

mutherfucker!

looking forward to tomorrow then

>>18889867
The bullfrog has (eight?) retractable cables that are all around three to four feet long.

The hand cuts off at the elbow, but can use FUTURESUCTION POWERS to stick to your body at the end. It's also a right hand, and when you're not using it, it's stuck to the point of flesh underneath your fleshly right hand, but above your hip.

>using my horrible 3D modelling skills to make the BULLFROG in visible form.

>>18889863
I think the most important question to be answered is:

When will we see our beloved Ishelda again?

>>18889930
If you don't burn to death, you can as soon as you get your futureiphoneset from grayson, call abel, and have him text you an image of your ONE TRUE LOVE.

>>18889939
Well knowing we're going to see her again makes any other sort of question pointless.
Though I am gearing up for Adam Jensen to jump in and save the day. And this is some pretty good stuff so far, it was pretty funny how you got us freaking out about the exhibition, only for it to be just a thumbs up.

>>18890097
There are a few differences between this and the Deus Ex setting. Except I do make a few references...
>"Take that, Darrow!"
Plus, Sarif Industries is all the way in detroit, which is on the -east- side.
While here is like. . california or something. maybe oregon. I haven't decided yet.

>>18890160
S'all good, I'm having a lot of fun with this. One big hope I'm expecting is some sort of awesome robot buddy we control with out spine, also some choices that will end up radically diverging where the plot goes.

Oh, do the cables themselves have any strength. Like, could they be used to hold up the hand while the hand wields a gun for triple-wielding? Hope that makes sense.

>>18890345
The cables are not prehensile, so they can't hold anything up unless the thing it's holding up is just dangling. The cables themselves are pretty strong, but unless something like futureducttape is used to hold them into something, it isn't that hard to pull them out of whatever they're stuck into.

>>18890416
Hurm alright, guess we'll have to get some Doc Ock tentacles for that. Ah well, that's all I've got, see you next time.