>>23543930
"His leg is broken as of this morning, so I think we have some time. Einstein! Call Prometheus."

>>23543930
"I think Damien had a vision of my friend being killed."

"I think Damien had a vision of my friend being killed."
"It was a dream." Damien said. "Just because I see things when I'm conscious doesn't mean I do it unconsciously."
"His leg is broken as of yesterday, so I think we have some time." You say. "Einstein, Call Prometheus."
Einstein was sitting there silently for a moment.
"No response." Einstein responds. "The Geralt drone is inactive."
You remember the wobbly three-legged drone you'd once made for Alex, when the two of you were kids.
He never turned it off, if he could. It couldn't walk without falling over, but he always kept it near.

>>23543930
"That's my friend, username Prometheus. His leg is broken right now though, so if you saw him running, that means we've got time to DO something about it."

>>23543930
"We might have a chance to help, Damien...his leg is broken, and you said he was running in your dream right? We might have weeks before it happens. Plus, he should believe me if I tell him."

>>23544026

"i can't get in touch with him, i don't like this one bit."

Rolled 81

>>23544026
TECHNOPATHY ACTIVATION

>>23544026
That's werid... his drone is off. Something's wrong with that.

"We might have a chance to help, Damien." You say. "His leg is broken, and you said he was running in your dream, right? We might have weeks before it happens. Plus, he should believe me if I tell him."
"W... winter broke her arm, once." Summer said. "Our parents had it fixed in a few days."
Jilly looked from you, to Summer, to Damien.
"But I can't get in touch with him. I don't like this one bit." You say. "His drone is off. Something's wrong with that."
Summer's manifestation pulled something out of her bag, sliding it in front of her real self. The tiger's claws extended, and she started typing on the touchpad.
"I'll see what I can find out." She said. "What do you know about him? Where is he now?"
"I.. I want to help too." Jilly said, suddenly. "How can I help?"

Damien crossed his arms and leaned up against the wall, closing his eyes.

>>23544131

"I'm not sure Jilly, we're so far away..."
"if i start freaking out, will you make sure I calm down?"

>>23544131
"I don't know. He lives so far, I'm not sure we'd even be able to get a ship in time."

Rolled 52

>>23544093
Aye, just in case.

>>23544131
Right, can we contact Damien's parents?

>>23544131
What's Jilly's specialisation again?

>>23544131
He's on burer's glyph. His drone is normally at his home, in his room.

>>23544131
"Jilly, can you go find Sarvesh? We may need to try that teleportation thing."

"I'm not sure, Jilly. we're so far away..." You say. "If I start freaking out, will you make sure I calm down?"
"I can do that." She said, and you felt something... wrapping around your mind, a lot like the way Jilly was wrapping her arms around you. The panic in the back of your mind slowly started to subside, as Jilly... caressed it into submission.
"He lives so far away, I'm not sure we'd even be able to get a ship in time."
"Not the shuttle, at least." Summer said. "That thing's bubble drive isn't very good. But if I was able to talk my mom into sending me the yacht..."
"He's on Burer's Glyph." You say. "His drone is normally at his home, in his room."
"Burer's glyph..." Summer said, and started tapping.
"Jilly, can you go find Sarvesh?" You ask. "We may need to try that teleportation thing."
"I can try." She said, and slithered away, down the hall. The feeling of her surrounding you vanished as she did.
"There are riots in Burer's Glyph right now." Summer said. "They're unhappy about the administration not giving them enough wages for their mining. It looks like a mining planet. The government cut off all of their free extranet nodes, it looks."

>>23544310
"That might explain why I can't get through...but I'm still worried."

>>23544310
-insert swear here-, that's why I get through.. or warn him.. I hope your mom brings the yacht, because it looks like we don't have very many options.

>>23544310
Can we buy him an extranet thingy like Einstein has with our loadsamoney? How long would it take to be delivered to him?

>>23544383
can't get through *

You swear, and Damien raised an eyebrow.
"That might explain why I can't get through... but I'm still worried. I have to get through, or warn him..." You say.
"Einstein, how long would it take to send a quantum router to Prometheus?"
"One to six weeks." Einstein responded.
You sigh.
"I hope your mom brings the yacht, because it looks like we don't have very many options."
"I... hope she just sends someone with it, instead of coming herself." Summer said, reluctantly.

Jilly suddenly came back in, holding Savesh's pincer, which you could tell he was somewhat wary about.
"Is there a problem?" He buzzed. "I got the impression that there was."

>>23544453
"There is! I don't suppose you can teleport stuff between star systems yet?"

>>23544453

Damien had a dream about a guy getting stabbed by a girl, that guy happens to be a very good friend of mine.

we're trying to find so way of warning him, even if it means going to his home world myself.

>>23544453
"Yeah...Damien had a dream about one of my friends meeting an untimely end. We can't get through to him either."

>>23544453
Damn right something's wrong. I think I need your help.

"There is!" You say. "I don't suppose you can teleport stuff between star systems yet?"
"I uh... just learned how to teleport today." Sarvesh said. "Why?"
"Damien had a dream about someone getting stabbed, and that guy happens to be a very good friend of mine. We're trying to find some way of warning him, even if it means going to his home world myself."
"Can we not take the academy's shuttle?" Sarvesh asked.
"It'd take a week to get there." Summer responded, still tapping. "Burer's Glyph is on the other end of alliance space. And I can't think of a good lie for mom to send the yacht."
"... Anna has a ship of her own." Jilly's shoulder translator said. "It's supposed to be really fast."
Everyone looked at her.
"... And that was supposed to be a secret." Jilly responded, her skin darkening as her tail coiled up.

>>23544579
Oh man, we are 100% going to have to build ourselves a ship after this is over.

>>23544579
What is passenger capacity of it Jilly?

>>23544579
Thanks for telling us, Jilly. It's a better alternative then our current options, it seems.

>>23544579

"... i had an idea, Jilly, can you go and explain the situation to Anna and ask if she's willing to lend us the ship?"

if Jilly ask instead of us, Anna won't immediately know that Jilly revealed her secret.

>>23544579
"You have your own ship? That's so cool..."

>>23544579
I'm torn between trying to be sensitive and pretending we never heard that, and full on 'holy shit you have your own ship can I turn it into a giant transforming robot that shoots stars' mode.

>>23544645
this

>>23544610
Agreed

>>23544620
Seconded

>>23544579
"Einstein; note to self, build spaceship; set reminder, when we return to the station.

"What is the passenger capacity?" You ask.
"I don't know." She said. "I got the feeling it was small, though, when I overheard it."
"Overheard it?" Damien asked.
"Everyone whispers things to themselves." She said. "I don't try to listen, but sometimes you whisper so loud..."
"Einstein, note to self." You say. "Build a spaceship."
Einstein chirps an affirmative.
"... I had an idea, Jilly. Can you go and explain the situation to Anna and ask if she's willing to lend us the ship?"
"She's... angry at me right now because I annoyed her." Jilly said, and her color went a dark purple. "I can try, but... I don't want her to snap at me again."

>>23544579
"I think she may forgive you for spilling the beans in this case, Jilly. Would you tell her what's up and ask if she's willing to help?"

>>23544645
Oh, I forgot who was around since last thread and assumed the 'turns to' line was about Anna, disregard >>23544646 then.

>>23544695
"If it's too small, I guess I'll just go with Anna to save him."

>>23544695

Jilly needs some back up.

"will you ask her if i come along as support?"
"even if she says no, i have to try, something, anything."

>>23544695
If Jilly wasn't meant to know either that idea loses its merit. Let's just go and ask personally.

>>23544754
I agree. Let's not put the pressure of blame on Jilly.

>>23544754
Yeah, if she's gonna be pissed people know it might as well be at us.

>>23544695
How about we find Anna and tell her what's happening, then ask if she can help. Let's give her the opportunity to volunteer her ship without the beans being spilled.

>>23544793
This

>>23544793

this is a pretty good idea, ask her if there is anything she could think of, even the little things might help.

"I'll just go and ask personally." You say.
"She's in hydroponics right now." Damien said. He still sounded like he'd given up, but he got to his feet. "I don't think you've been there, but I should go and help explain things."

Damien lead you up the ramps, near the top level, and walked all the way through the hall until you were on the opposite end of the ring of the station.
"Up this ladder." He said. "I'll stick down here until you call me up."
You climb up, absentmindedly wondering how aliens and uplifts got up as gravity lessened to almost half of what you were used to, and you stepped into a lush, grassy area. Anna was lying back in the grass, staring upward into the tilted mirror that showed you the grand, blue sun that the station orbited.

>>23544851
Whomp down next to her.
"Why didn't I know about this place before?"

>>23544851

this is, nice. do you come here often?

>>23544851
Sit down next to her. "Hey, Anna. Can we talk to you? It's important."

You sit down next to her. "Why didn't I know about this place before?"
"Because most stations like this have mechanical oxygen recyclers." She said. "You probably assumed that they didn't have a hydroponic oxygen center. But I think we're too valuable, if the mechanical recycler failed."
"Do you come here often?"
"Occasionally." She said. "It doesn't have too much gravity for me, and it smells nice."
"... Hey, Anna. Can I talk to you?"
"That's what you're doing now."
"It's important."
She closed her eyes and then sat up, facing you.
"What is it?"

>>23544908
"What should I do?"

>>23544908
according to damien a friend of mine is about to die...and I sort of came into possession of the knowledge that you have a ship that could help me prevent it...could you help me? please?

>>23544943
No.

>>23544908
"Damien had a vision of my friend being stabbed, and his planet's extranet is down so I can't contact him, and the shuttle probably wouldn't get there in time, and I don't want him to die and I don't know what to do. Do you have any ideas?"

>>23544953
why not; I thought it was a sufficient summation of things phrased as an adequate request...

>>23544908

you know how Damien sees people getting hurt or killed?

he has had one of those dreams about a very close friend of mine, we've estimated that he has a few days, maybe a week at most before he gets chased around by a woman and then stabbed, I'm trying to find a way to warn him but so far things have not been going great.

do you know anything which could help?

>>23544908
"I need your help. Damien has a vision and I think my friends might be about to die and I can't check on him."

>>23544908
My friend.. Alex.. He's in trouble. Damien saw him get stabbed in a dream. We don't know how long we have, but he's on a distant planet. We were wondering if you had a way to help us out.. advice? Summer already offered her mom's yacht, but we may run out of time before we get it and it's slow. Sarvesh can't help, he just learned how to teleport, and we've already asked everyone else.. you're kind of our last option.

.>>23544978
>We don't want to spill the beans.

>>23544961
"I should try and teleport"

>>23545000
ah I see, been in class, might have missed that with my snap reply...just read the Exa-posts

"You know how Damien sees people getting hurt or killed?" You asked. "He had oneo f those dreams about a very close friend of mine, and his planet's extranet is down, so I can't contact him, and the shuttle probably won't get there in time and I don't want him to die and I don't know what to do." You say, and take a deep breath. "Do you have any ideas? What should I do? I need your help."
"Why my help?"
"Summer already offered her mom's yacht, but we may run out of time before we get it. The institute's shuttle is slow. Sarvesh can't help, he just learned how to teleport, and we've already asked everyone else. You're kind of our last option."
She sighed, and started to think, closing her eyes.
"I know some people that can extract on your friend." She said, scratching at her arm. "The problem is that they take a lot of money for this kind of thing. A hundred thousand Alliance Credits is the least I've seen them take. Or... you could see if Jilly could contact him from an isolation chamber. She's really good at telepathy."

>>23545061
do these friends of yours take payments? cause I can get them paid off in 10 days, and I'll ask Jilly if she can make the communication, thank you. do you have any other suggestions?

>>23545061
"Those are good ideas, we should definitely try them, but if they don't work, will you take me there?"

I don't think we can actually afford that. Not yet anyway.

>>23545061
>Someone's hiding something..
"Those sound like good suggestions. Do you have any more?"

>>23545119
10 weeks lets try the mind phone call first

>>23545133
was it 10,000 a day or a week?

I thought it was per day?

>>23545061
"Do you know any faster way to go there?"

>>23545143
> I think it was per day, too.

>>23545143
it was per week.

>>23545143
>It's per week.

"Those are good ideas. We should definitely try them, but if they don't work... Do you have any more?" You ask. "Any faster way to go there?
She met your eyes.
"... What do you know?" She asked, her eyes steely. "How did you find out?"

>>23545143
week.

>>23545061
"Please Anna, I'll owe you forever."

"If something happens to him and I didn't try my hardest..."

>>23545061
"...What if us interfering causes this? Has anything like that happened, Damien?"

>>23545173
He is not here.

>>23545160
>>implying there is a thing like secrets on a station full of psychics

>>23545160
Sigh, "I'm sorry. I wouldn't even have brought it up if it weren't so important."

>>23545160
"Um, Jilly kinda let slip you had a ship on board."

"She said you were thinking it really loudly and she overheard."

>>23545173
Could you live with yourself if we didn't interfere, and he then died?

Rolled 97

>>23545160
"What?"
Rollan for controlling our mind

Inb4 she stabbed him in the leg, not "hit him with a groundcar" and now he's being held against his will and trying to act normal when his friends/family call lest she hurt him more.

>>23545160
That doesn't matter right now, Anna. I just.. I need your help. I can't just let it happen.

>>23545160

let's at least not tell her Jilly knew.

could we play it off on our mind being able to sense tech?

>my posts take to long!

>>23545194
>Rollan for controlling our mind
what? I don't understand what you mean here.

>>23545160
you're in a station full of psychics...I sort of picked up "fast ship; Anna's"

>>23545218
We could Lie and tell her we saw it in the sensedep chamber where we saw our other friends, but everyone knows now, so it'll only be a matter of time before she finds out, and then we'll be a Liar. That would be bad, and cost our friendship.

Also we can't romance her if she thinks we're a liar.

>>23545194
Wow no.
"I... sorry."

"That doesn't matter right now, Anna. I just... I... I need your help. I can't just let it happen."
She closed her eyes, and relaxed for a long, long time, thinking.
She sighed. "I have three conditions." She said. "Don't tell anybody about what you find out. And then you'll owe me a favor, okay? Any favor. And finally, um... Whatever happens, will you still be my friend?"
For the last bit, she avoided your eyes.

>>23545194
A good roll hampered by a poor post.

>>23545276
"Of course not. I will, yes. Of course, why wouldn't I?"

>>23545276
"I draw the line at trying to kill or otherwise maim me."

>>23545276
Take her hand.

"Of course I would. If it...goes wrong, it wouldn't be your fault."

>>23545276
Clasp her hands.
"Anna, I will always be your friend. No matter what."
"And I promise."

>>23545276
"I promise."

Then after a moment:
"What will happen?"

>>23545276
We ought to tell our friend that the whole fast ship deal is out of the bag.

>>23545276

take her hand gently bit firmly.

"yes, i promise to pay you back as best i can and I'll stay your friend"
"thank you, thank you so much."

>>23545300
Yes

>>23545276
done, done, and done...I just hope you don't need someone killed some day; that'd be a bit icky...

>>23545300
We should probably extend that to "And you can't ask me to kill anyone."

"Of course I would." You say, and take her hand. "If it... goes wrong, it wouldn't be your fault."
"That's not what I was talking about, but... good enough." She said.

Then she got to her feet.
"It has enough room for two, and I need to be there because... well, just because. We need to get to the hub, first." She said. "Then I can control my ship and bring it near. We should probably tell Max or someone where we're going, and that we'll be back in time for classes."

While the two of you sat, you felt your strange technopathic senses quirk... as something lit up along her spine, chips in the back of her head lighting up with electricity.
She had a... brain implant.

>>23545276
"Still be your friend? If you can help you'll be the best friend ever!"

Rolled 50

>>23545395
she is part AI? cool

>>23545395
"We can get to the edge of space and back again in a day?"

"You're brain is going all tingly."

huh is there a stigma against implants?

>>23545422
>>23545395
Max mentioned something about an implant to help with his psionics, How common are inorganic things stuck in your squishy bits in this setting, Exabyte?

>>23545395
"Woah, that looks trippy. I'll refrain from geeking out in deference to your privacy though."

>>23545422
I dont think that is the case. More on the line of a cyborg, or just brain implant of some kind to help with certain stuff i guess.

>>23545435
It might be different for uplifts and humans, given that uplifts are explicitly changed in order to increase intelligence already.

>>23545395
"That's- I feel there's likely a story behind it so I'll just shush now."

"As your friend, I just want you to know I am using every scrap of self control I have not to ask a million questions right now."

>>23545395
put a careful hand on her shoulder;

"Anna, I felt what you just did there...that was cool..."

>>23545395

"oh, oh wow. i see what you mean now."

>>23545502
Yeaaaaah, and if there's a tragic backstory for it?

>>23545435
>>23545458
Maybe.

Is there a way we can PM Einstein and say "Tell me about brain implants." without Anna noticing?

>>23545395
"Woah. That's cool beans."

>>23545432
I second this question. Is this brain implant sopoused to be a big deal?

>>23545432
>>23545435
>There isn't, but for anything but late-uplifts, it's rare as all hell. Surgeries are dangerous, risky, malfunctions can kill you, you need to regularly take drugs to keep from rejecting them for a few years. So yeah, big deal.
>The implant Max has isn't to help with his psionics - it was an implant essential for the late-uplift process. He was already a wolf with instincts and such when he was uplifted, so you need to actually implant the necessary information. Summer doesn't have one because she was given lots of drugs and genemods while she was growing up - she's an early uplift.

"We can get to the edge of space and back again in a day?"
"As long as it's not out of UPA territory, yes." She said.
"Your brain is going all tingly."
"It does that." She said, and then closed her eyes.

Then, through the mirror in the ceiling, you saw a small, dart-shaped ship, painted red and black, ion drives in the back...
And very large weapons in the front. The hull was thick, panels designed to slide back to extend the particle accelerators for the bubble drive, without sacrificing armor...
Something never seen or owned, even by planetary governments, made usually to work outside UPA space... This ship was military grade

"... As your friend, I just want you to know that I am using every scrap of self control I have not to ask a million questions by now."
"We'll have about ten hours for you to ask them and for me not to answer." She said. "Let's get to the hub."

>>23545523
then we apologize for bringing it up and remind her that we've promised to remain her friend and not disclose anything to anyone.

>>23545530
Even if we did, wouldn't he just start saying it out loud?

>>23545552
"Let's go.

Thank you so very much, thank you."

>>23545552
Let's change the subject since she's obviously uncomfortable talking about this.

"I hope we can get there in time. He shouldn't have healed completely in a day or two I hope, but..."

>>23545555
Doesn't matter, Einstein isn't a person.

>>23545552
I hope we get there in time Anna. And.. this ship is cool. I like the guns.

>>23545552
"So shiny, so pretty. It must be fast."

>>23545658
>Einstein isn't a person
The hell does that have to do with anything?

>>23545658
>>23545555
>>23545686


Wait wait wait. I get it. Einstein could just PM us back. I misunderstood, sorry.

>>23545552

"I think I'll be to busy doing... something to ask many questions... those are some serious weapon systems."

try not to stare.

did we find out what the stabby-woman looked like? if not we should

>>23545552
"It's so pretty...
I'm going to build a better one."

>>23545552
"Wow, the more I get to know you, the more you are amazing."

>>23545552
"can I bring Einstein with me? and do you have any hand weapons I can borrow?"

>if she says no
"Einstein; remote activate servo-mechs begin fast fabrication;...."

>(can we get it to make a large dagger or small sword or a gun or some other useful weapon)

>ANYONE THINK OF ANYTHING WE CAN PACK RIGHT NOW THAT WILL BE OF USE?

>>23545708
Tazer

>>23545695
Yeah, it would be helpful to know who Miss Stabby is. Ask Damien for a description.

>>23545708
We've got TK for smooshing people against walls.

You stare up at the ship, as it slowly docks with the station.
"What's with the hurry?" Damien asked, as Anna jogged by him.
"Do you know what the girl looked like?" You ask him.
"Well, she had red hair in ponytails... and she was kind of tall, I think." He said.
You followed, and eventually you two hit the elevators.

At the top, Max was there.
"Anna, I'm not sure taking the Wyvern out is wise-"
"It's mine, after all, and the contract we signed meant that we could take vacations from the school when there aren't classes, right?" Anna asked.
"Yes, but classes are tom-"
"We'll be back by tomorrow." She said.
Max's lips started to pull back to bare his teeth- and Anna yanked on his ear.
Then the wolf sighed. "Go ahead. Be careful."

The two of you reached the docking port, and Anna twisted it open, coasting in.
Max gave you a Look. He wasn't happy.

>>23545791
"Thank you for doing this, Anna."

>>23545791
"Max, I wouldn't do this if my friend's life wasn't in danger.

Sorry."

>>23545791
"Sorry Max, it's an emergency."

>>23545791
Glare at Max.

Poke out tongue out at him as the door closes.

>>23545791

"I'm sorry Max, my friends life is at risk, i can't just sit back and do nothing."

>i have so many alarms ringing about this whole deal, I'm pretty sure someone is going to die.

>>23545835

no.

>>23545791
Wink and stick our tongue at him.

>>23545791
Manifest a bone, and throw it to him.

>>23545791
Will we be in ZeroG the whole time?

"Max, I wouldn't do this if my friend's life wasn't in danger. Sorry."
He nodded his head, and you kicked off, soaring through the docking port.

The inside of the wyvern was cramped, with pipes covering the walls, and there was just a long hallway - one doorway to the back of the ship, and the open one, in the front. There also wasn't space for GEM generators. You made your way to the front of the cramped ship as the docking port hissed shut and unsealed.

Anna was sitting in a soft, suede chair at the cockpit, computers, indicators, and buttons stretched across the entire front of the ship. There was a seat next to the cockpit, so you took it.
"Buckle in." She said, and you did.
Then she slammed down the ion thrusters, and the ship shot forward, as a projector projected on the cockpit window's closed blast screen. You were slammed into the back of the thankfully padded chair, but eventually the force pushing you back eased.
"Will we be in Zero G the whole time?" You asked.
"Yep." She responded. "We just need to get further away from the station so I can hit the bubble drive."

>>23545888
Hold on tight. Try to get a sense of the thing with our new abilities, but definitely don't poke anything.

>>23545910
This, practice a bit.

>>23545888
"This is quite the ship."

>>23545888
"I'm sorry if this offends you, but this is awesome."

>>23545888

hold on and let our eyes wander over the interior.

>>23545888
I trust you, Anna. Let's get going to make sure Alex is okay.

>>23545888
"So, are you a secret government agent?"

>>23545888
Let's try to avoid prying about her/the ship, she'll tell us when she's ready which is obviously not now going by her earlier comment.

"I'm sorry if this offends you, but this is awesome."
She shot you a slight grin. "It is. Why would I be offended?"
You settle back into your chair, and do your best to relax as Anna pushes up on the thrust.
"So, are you a secret government agent?"
"This is one of those types of questions I'd refuse to answer." She said. "But no. I'm not a secret government agent, and I never was."

>>23545966
Are you a good pilot? When did you learn to fly?

rebel against the government? Nah you wouldn't participate in the school if were. Oh I know. Pirate. Definately. What else would you need lots of weaqpons and lots of speed for.

>>23545966
when I build you that drone I promised can I get a receiver for it that you can contact with your implant? I figure that might make it easier to use...

>>23545966

"will you tell me what and how if we become closer friends?"
"i like your hair by the way."

>>23545966
Pout
"Then what can I ask for you to answer"

>>23545966
Are we going to have problems getting there since this is a military ship?

Rolled 22

rollin to 'feel' as much as the ship as possible

>>23545966
"Will you have been one?"
"Wait no, that'd mean time travel and spoilers, no spoilers."
"Um... can I ask about your brain implant? Wait no, no you don't have to and I'm sorry I asked."

"Then what can I ask, for you to answer?" You ask, and pout.
"Just... ask whatever." She said. "I'll tell you if I don't want to answer anything."
"Are you a good pilot?" You ask.
"Of course." She responded.
"When did you learn to fly?"
"When I was six." She said, and flipped the switch on the bubble drive. You closed your eyes, and focused...
The plates on the sides of the ship all slid aside, and small pads of gleaming, blue material slid out. The glowed... and then fired off dozens of particles, and then hundreds, and then thousands. Bending, twisting space, the ship's internal gyroscopes sensing them.
The projector on front of you showed light twisting, and condensing and finally... blue light. Then red. Then green, and you were traveling faster than light.
Then she pushed up on the ion thrusters, and the ship started rattling.
>Field too long!

"Were you a rebel against the government?" You ask ."No, wait, you wouldn't participate in the school if it were."
"Well, if I were theoretically a rebel, I could go there to kill all of the UPA's pet psions." She said. "But I'm not."
"I know! You're a pirate. Definitely. What else would you need lots of weapons and speed for?"
Anna... started giggling, and through the shaking ship, unbuckled her seat and just started drifting out of it.
"Yes, yes, that's it." She said. "I'm the daughter of a pirate queen."
She pushed back the giggles, and shook her head. "No, I'm not a pirate either."
"Um... can I ask about the brain implant?" You ask. "Wait, no, no you don't have to answer-"
"I was born with it." She said, kicking off of the bulkhead. "Or, well, it was implanted in me when I was still little."
You start to ask, and she shook her head.
"That's all I'll be saying about that, for now."

>>23546145
Squeeeeeee

>>23546157
"I don't- I mean, it's cool, but I don't really know what I should say. I'm sorry. I'll... just be quiet now, and stop making you dislike me more."

>>23546157
"Your ship is absolutely beautiful by the way.

I can feel it doing everything, and it's magnificent."

>>23546157
Squee softly for a little bit. Look at all the shiny things!

What's this button do? What about that one?

Can you feel the drives vibrating like that? How fast are we going?

Can I have a go at flying?

>>23546145
>>23546157

what kind of weapons is this ship equipped with?

>>23546223
Maybe we can sense that ourself.

>>23546157
"How long did it take you to learn to fly? Do you fly often? Ooooh, are you a space-explorer using your ship to navigate and chart dangerous unexplored territories?"

Rolled 67, 18 = 85

>>23546157
after the semi-psychotic excitement over the ship and it's features we settle down to the design process for her drone...

practicing technopathy by trying to get einstein to make changes to design before giving him any other input.

practice manifestation by rapid prototyping any design we might want to look at...

>>23546157
"What can this ship do? It's firepower? Top speed?"

>>23546245
That is fine, after we ask all the question.
We have to spend the time somehow.

>>23546157
"Got any driving music?"

>>23546157
God you're awesome

"Your ship is absolutely beautiful, by the way." You say. "I can feel it doing everything, and it's magnificent."
"You can?" She asked. "Huh."
"What's this button do?" You ask, and point."
"... That one is labeled." she said.
You look at it, and it says 'chemical afterburners'.
"Oh. What about that one?"
"That fires the kinetic spreadshot. Don't hit that one. You'll kill us." She said.
"Can you feel the drives vibrating like that?" You ask.
"It's the entire ship vibrating. It does that when I hit the thrusters while the bubble drive is on." She said. "Because we're technically moving forward into compressed space before it returns to normal. Most ships would end up torn apart, but we'll be fine. That's why we're so fast."
"How fast are we going?"
"Let me see..." She said.
"... Huh. Two hundred C." She said. "We're actually going pretty fast."
"Can I have a go at flying?"
"Of course not." She responded.
"What kind of weapons is this ship equipped with?"
"Kinetic spreadshot in the front, Focused lasers on the underbelly." She said.
"Top speed?" you ask.
"Around two fifteen C." She said.
"How long did it take you to learn to fly?"
"Not long."
"Do you fly often?"
"Everywhere." She said.
"Oooh, are you a space explorer using your ship to navigate and chart dangerous unexplored territories?"
"We have quantum entangled probes for that." She said.
"... Got any driving music?"
She nodded, and reached into a compartment underneath the controls, and pulled out... a guitar.

>>23546339
"Take me right now."

>>23546339
"Wow! You can play that?"

>>23546339
"Huh, not what I was expecting."

>>23546339
"What's powering it by the way?"

>>23546339
Ooh, shiny, what can you play? My favourite music is synth.

>>23546339

a big silly smile is in order here.

>and some sleep.
>goodnight gentlemen.

>>23546339
"You can even play a guitar? Now tell you can cook as well so I can marry you"

"Wow! You can play that?"
"I've spent a lot of time in space." She responded.
"By the way, what's powering it?"
"The guitar's unpowered. The ship has a really large thorium core in the back. Don't worry, the core and it's seals are all brand new."
She slipped back into her chair, and turned it around to face you, strumming them.
"What can you play?" You ask, excited.
"I just play random things that sounds good." She said. "Not any actual songs."
Some time later, the ship was still wobbling (though Anna pulled back on the thrusters now and then, making sure you didn't break twoten C) and she set aside the guitar.
"And now... dinner." She said. "Do you want green stuff or brown stuff? The brown stuff is crumbly, but sweet, and the green stuff is really chewy and easy to eat."

>>23546474
"Can I get green-y brown stuff?"

>>23546474
"Both!"

>>23546474
"Green stuff please"

>>23546474
"Which one do you have? I'll have the other one."
Aand while munching
"Hey... I know I am annoying, so thank you. For doing this."

Rolled 15, 89 = 104

>>23546474
I assume you grew up on food like this...
is that why you're eating food all of the kinds of foods?

>>23546474
"Let's go for the brown stuff."

>>23546474
"Dare I risk unexplored scientific territory and mix the two?"

>>23546519
This sounds good.

"Can I get both?"
"Might as well." She said, and sent herself down the hallway. Not long later, she came back, two ration packages in one hand, two squeezebottles of water in the other.
She opened them both, and snapped them in half, giving you the halves of both. She started chewing on the green stuff, while you nibbled at the brown stuff.
It... didn't taste good. At all.
It *was* sweet, though.

"Hey... I know I am annoying." You say, pulling a chunk of the green stuff off and chewing on it. It wasn't good either, but it wasn't as hard to chew. "So thank you. For doing this."
"Not a problem." She said, and closed her eyes. "You'll just owe me a favor later."
She met your eyes and gave you a slight grin. "You *are* pretty annoying sometimes, though." She teased.

>>23546568
Whimper.

>>23546568
I'm so sorry, I just can't help it everything is so cooooool!

What sort of favor?

>>23546568

"I'm just very inquisitive by nature."

>>23546582
>Make a series of low, feeble sounds expressive of fear, pain, or discontent
>fear of scaring someone away with annoyingness
>only friends have been Science and Prometheus

>>23546568
"Well you *are* pretty cold sometimes" pout

>>23546568
"I have a lot of questions, I can't help it. I'm not that good with people because of it, I'm much better with machines and ions, but I like people."

>>23546609
But that's okay. It's unique you know. Makes me like you more.

>>23546582
>>23546602
I approve

You whimper.
"I'm just very inquisitive by nature." You say, and pout. "Well, you *are* pretty cold sometimes."
"I was raised in a lab." She said, and stuck out her tongue, before squeezing her bottle of water and taking a sip. "So that explains my reasons for being me. Were you raised in a... uh... question factory?"

>>23546568
Two thumbs up

"Tastes good!"

>>23546651
"No, in Science."

>>23546651
house just most of it was work shop

>>23546633
No, every Exabyte character, ever.

>>23546651
"No, I was raised in a house by my Mom and Dad, though I spent most of my time in a garage or workshop.

My Mom said I picked up my first wrench to tinker with things before I could walk and talk, I think she was making a joke though."

>>23546651
"my mothers raised me"

refuse to answer any question on the subject with anything but a smile and a quirked eyebrow...

>>23546678
Not really. The only one who came close was Ishelda.

>>23546651
"No, but I got into Mom's workshop a LOT."

>>23546651
blink
"I like science! And I guess I am curious by nature."

>>23546694
We only have one mom. Dad just happens to be female.

"No, I was raised in a house by my mom and dad, though I spent most of my time in a workshop." You say. "My mom said I picked up my first wrench to tinker with things before I could walk and talk. I think she was making a joke, though."
"What are they like? Your parents, I mean." She said. "And you're from, um, something Jewel, right?"

>>23546651
"Just a normal house. Is there such a thing as a question factory? There should be. I can't even imagine how many questions nobody's thought to ask yet."

>>23546737
"Heaven's Jewel! It's a quiet place, only recently terraformed."

>>23546698
I can't really remember Ishelda being particularly insecure, the only issue I remember her having was the whole 'not dealing with losing her family and home completely' thing.

>>23546737
"Heaven's Jewel, yeah. It was only recently terraformed, and and the surface is something like 90% liquid water.
My mom is a mechanic. I think she's the one who encouraged me to be inquisitive. My dad is actually female, and she just has a lot of hobbies. Mostly cooking and gardening."

>>23546770
Ishelda had several breakdowns. All of them with good reasons, but still.

>>23546770
Which is closer to Heather's problem than Dave or Abel.

>>23546737
Mom's a mechanic, I basically spent most of my time in her workshop. Dad... She's an adventurer in spirit, I guess. And loves cooking and gardening above all."

>>23546737
"Heaven's Jewel.

It's a pretty normal place, recently terraformed, quiet.

My Mom's a repair mechanic, she taught me all about tinkering, machines, practical things like that. My Dad's a gardener and an artist, she's really good at both.

They raised me well, I can't remember a time that I felt that they didn't love me completely, even when I was being a total brat."

>>23546786
Yeah, but how many had anything to do with insecurity or something similar? Unless you're trying to say 'every character that shows emotional vulnerability in any situation is the same' that would be the key part.

"Heaven's Jewel! It's only recently terraformed. The surface is something like 90% liquid water." You say. "My mom is a mechanic. I think she's the one who encouraged me to be inquisitive. My dad is actually female, and she just has a lot of hobbies. Mostly cooking and gardening. She's an adventurer in spirit."
She nodded. "Wait, your parents are both women?"
You nod. "They raised me well. I can't remember a time that I felt that they didn't love me completely, even when I was being a total brat."
"It sounds like they did." Anna said, and leaned back in her chair, slipping on her personacom. "We won't get there until morning, our time." She said. "But on Burer's whateveritwas, it'll be about midnight."
Then she frowned.
"I've never actually been on a planet before." She said. "I mean, I know how to enter an atmosphere in this thing, and I've done it before, but I've never actually gotten out."

Do we know what the gravity is like on Burer's Glyph?

>>23546842
you worried about the gravity? just know you've got a shoulder to lean on if you need one...

>>23546842
"If you don't feel comfortable, you can just push me out of the ship and I'll let the jet-boots take me down."

>>23546862
Probably similar to earth's..

>>23546842
"It will be ok, I can always support you if things get hard for you."

>>23546842
"You'll be fine. The gravity isn't any worse than the station, there's just more space. But not as much space as space.

"You're worried about the gravity?"
"I'm not worried, not... really." She said. "I've just never done it before."
Then something dawned on her, and she glared at nothing in particular, banging her hand on the table.
"And I forgot my exosuit on the station! Goddamnit!"

>>23546842
Do we even know where he lives? I assume we can probably find out without too much trouble, but it would be funny if we totally fucked that part up after getting this far.

>>23546899
It might be hard, there won't be anywhere low-G you can run to. I'll help you as much as I can. Maybe we can get a car or a bike or something when we get there.

Einstein, Tell us about Burer's Glyph.

>>23546899
Can we make some kind of bracers?
Exoskeleton, or something? Not sure if we have materials.

>>23546899
"Do you have any spare parts on the ship? Any tools? It won't be as good as if I had my workshop, but I might be able to whip something up."

Hmm...We can do TK, right? Maybe if we manifested a gentle lifting effect on her we could mitigate gravity somewhat.

"It might be hard." You say. "There won't be anywhere low-G you can run to. I'll help as much as I can. Maybe we can get a car or bike or something when we get there."
"I could just stay in the ship, give you aireal support." she said.
"Einstein, tell us about Burer's Glyph." You say.
"Gravity is eight point five." Einstein said. "Atmosphere pressure is higher than terran, with significant smog. Primary exports - titanium, carbon, platinum, gold. Primary imports are food. Currently in a state of large riots across every city on the continent."
"Einstein, what about Prometheus's city?" You ask.
"Aernglas is not quite as significantly damaged as most. Satellites say it's quite quiet compared to the rest of the planet." Einstein said.
Anna rubbed her chin.
"It might be best if we took weapons, just in case." She said. "Do you want a taser or baton?"

>>23546997
Taser.

>>23546997
I hope he meant .85 not 8.5

>>23546997
"I'll take a baton."
We don't know if a tazer would distract our new senses if we used it.

"Einstein, what are the people rioting over? Are the hospitals alright?"

>>23546997
Taser of course.

>>23546997
>aerial
>and .85Gs, not 8.5Gs

"I'll take a taser." you say, and she nodded and floated off.
"I'll go get one. If things start to shake more, pull back that thruster all the way." She said, nodding to the ion propulsion control.
"Einstein, what are the people rioting over? Are the hospitals alright?"
"Official statements are that the people are rioting over wages." Einstein said. "Three thousand and five hundred out of four thousand hospitals are currently inactive."

>>23547078
"What about the hospital Promethius was in?"

>>23547078
"And the one Prometheus was at?"
"Who started the riots? Was it any group in particular?"

>>23547078
"Do you have any data on Prometheus's whereabouts?"

>>23547078
"I hope they let Prometheus go home before the Hospitals shut down. Try to land as near to his apartment as possible ok?"

"What about the hospital prometheus was in?"
"Prometheus was checked out of Saint Iron Hospital five days ago." Einstein said. "Any additional information cannot be found."
"Who started the riots? Was it any group in particular?"
"Unknown." Einstein responded. "Most extranet contact planetside has been cut off."
"Do you have any data on Prometheus's whereabouts?"
"There are no satellites above the city of Aernglas at the moment." Einstein said. "Checking the latest logs, but this may take some time."

Anna floated back, with a small gun-shaped object, yellow-and-black stripes covering the barrel.
"You just pull the trigger." She said. "It'll shoot four projectiles, and then you have to touch it up against someone if you want it to work."
She checked her wrist computer, and sighed. "It's probably time we went to sleep for the night." She said. "If we don't, we won't be fully rested by the time we get there."

>>23547211
"Okay. I... thank you, Anna."

>>23547211
"O...okay. Einstein, keep searching whilst we're sleeping."

>>23547211
"Is this the kind of ship that has really uncomfortable beds? It seems like the kind of ship that has really uncomfortable beds."

>>23547211
"Do you have a blanket?"

>>23547211
any reloads?
replacement batteries/ammo cartridges?

"Okay." You say. "I... thank you, Anna."
"Not a problem." She said.
"Is this the kind of ship that has really uncomfortable beds? It seems like the kind of ship that has really uncomfortable beds."
"Oh, no, the bed's really comfy." She said, and moved to the side of the cockpit, pulling open a small sideways, person-sized pod. The inside was all padded, and looked inviting.
"... The bed." She said, as something dawned on her. "There's only one bed."
Then she sighed. "Oh well, I can sleep out here." She said. "I'll be fine."
"Do you have a blanket?"
"There's some in storage, I'll grab them sometime later." She said.

>>23547364
"No, your ship, your bed. Get in."

>>23547364
"I don't mind falling asleep floating, it'll be a new experience for me."

>>23547364
"This is your ship "Captain". I think you have the right to use the bed more than I do."

>>23547364
"You know, I can sleep out here. I feel bad just.. letting you sleep without a bed."

>>23547364
"Get in there. I don't think it'll fit us both so you're going in."

>>23547364
"It's your ship, you can have the bed. It's your choice whether we share or not."

>>23547364
"You can have the bed. It's your ship, and you're already helping me out loads."
Heather gets to sleep with all the military-grade tech. Lewd.

>>23547364
"We could both squeeze into the bed?"

"You especially should get rest, this won't be easy on you."

"You know, I can sleep out here. I feel bad just... letting you sleep without a bed." You say. "I don't mind falling asleep floating. It'll be a new experience for me."
"And then if something goes wrong and I need to get at the controls in a hurry, you'll be in the way." She said.
"Your ship, your bed." You say.
"If I'm the captain of the ship, then my word is law, isn't it?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"... we could both squeeze into the bed?"
She looked into the small space the bed had, and then she shook her head.
Her cheeks were red, and you saw a pale line across her face, a very faded scar.
"Uh... that'll be fine, I'll just... um, take the bed alone, then."

>>23547448
"Victory!"

>>23547448
Look mildly smug.
"Oh man, I wonder what sleeping in zero-G is like."

>>23547448
"I'll wrap myself up in a blanket and sleep by the engines. It'll remind me of home, I'll be fine."

>>23547448
"Sleep well."

>>23547448
"I don't mind cuddling, you look like you could use a cuddle buddy."

Keep a smug grin on our face and take a nap by the engines.

>>23547448
"Uhh do you have any tips for sleeping in Zero G?"

"Victory!" You say, smugly. "Oh man, I wonder what sleeping Zero-G is like.
She simply floated off, and came back with a blanket.
"Sleep well, Heather." She said, tossing it to you. In zero-G, it spread out, flattening, and swathed around you. "Don't touch anything."
Then she grabbed the handle leading into the bed, and curled inside, pulling the shutter closed.

You wake up to the sound of rustling clothing.
>Einstein chirped. His tip of the day was updated. http://pastebin.com/CaAF0yS8
Anna was out of her bed already, getting changed not far from you.
Which is when you saw that it wasn't just one scar on her collarbone, but... scars covering her body. Deepest and longest near her arms and legs, but along her spine were faded, thin scars outlining her vertebrae, and there was a tattoo on her left shoulder - some sort of symbol.
"What?" She asked Einstein. "What was that, Einstein?" She asked.
The drone didn't respond - he only responded to your voice, of course.

>>23547612
Scars from surgeries?

>>23547612
Before we say anything take a closer look at the tattoo, memorize it.

Then groggily say "Morning Anna.

Just the tip of the day, Einstein updates me occasionally on interesting factoids and mail I receive."

>>23547612
What kind of scars? Surgical scars or ropey wound scars?

>>23547612
Sleepily: "Einstein, you can answer some of Anna's questions now."

"You have pretty scars, like someone came along and replaced all your bones with steel and turned you into a robot!

>>23547612
Just a quick question : Which day is it?

>>23547664
Let's not mention the scars like that.

>>23547612
Just a quick question : What day is it?

>>23547612
"Einstein, tell the other students that we'll be back tomorrow, but I had to go."

>>23547642
>scars
>brain chip
>military spec spacecraft
>"I was raised in a lab"
hmmm

>>23547696
>It's Day Three.

You take a closer look at the tattoo - it was a skull within a triangle, with two circles around two of the triangle's points... and the scars on her back were surgical scars, it looked.
"Einstein, you can answer some of Anna's questions now." You say, groggily.
"Preferences are set up so that each day, when Arcturus awakens, I update her with facts about the galaxy." Einstein said.
"Oh, okay." Anna said.
Then she realized her own state of undress, and turned away, pulling on her clothing - a tight jumpsuit, this time, one that hid her arms and legs from view.
"You figure out how to sleep in Zero-G fine?" She asked.

>>23547728
So you think she's a supersoldier? A psionic on top of that?

>>23547743
"I did, I had a nice sleep. I prefer beds most of the time, but this was interesting, different, but pretty comfy.

You sleep alright?"

>>23547743
"I don't know how I did it, I was asleep."

>>23547743
I'm a little stiff, but it's not so bad. I don't think I bumped anything in my sleep.

Einstein, erase the last 15 minutes of video log.

That's a fancy tattoo.

>>23547752
or post-human or artificial esper

>>23547743
"I feel rested so I guess so. Can I ask you about that tattoo or is that a secret too?"

>>23547798
What? We don't need to tell her that Einstein is recording everything.

>>23547743
>skull within a triangle
>snake skull, even.

"I did. I had a nice sleep. I prefer beds most of the time, but this was interesting. Different, but pretty comfy. You sleep alright?"
"Better sleep than I've had in weeks." She said, with a nod.
"Einstein, erase the last fifteen minutes of video log."
"Erased." Einstein said.
"... That's a fancy tattoo."
"The tattoo is one of those things I'm not going to talk about." She said, rather coldly.

>>23547832
You just want to review the footage later don't you?
Alright, we don't have to say anything, I do too.

>>23547864
Too late, faggot.

>>23547752
>supersoldier
I don't think she is that. She can barely function in gravity without getting tired.
I think she is an artificial psionic. Someone researchers grew in a lab to see if they can make psionic people from scratch.

>>23547854
"Figured as much.

How far out are we?"

>>23547854
How close are we to our destination?

>>23547864
>>23547871
It's deleted, but there's lots of ways to recover files that have been merely 'deleted', I bet we could find the footage without that much trouble.

>>23547854
>"Erased." Einstein said.
spoilsport Exa.

>>23547854
"Oh, uh... I like your hair."
"Doesn't having all that hair get in the way in zero G? I though spacers all cut theirs short."

Tell her about Summer's Idea.

>>23547854
"kay. How long until we get there?"
We should get dressed too. Assuming we got undressed last night.

"Oh... uh... I like your hair." You say. "Doesn't having all that hair get in the way in zero-G? I thought spaces all cut theirs short."
She shrugged. "I just haven't gotten around to having someone cut it. I just tie it off."
"How long until we get there?"
"Uh..."
She turned to look at the cockpit indicators. "Just half an hour, then we can pull out of bubble drive and into orbit."

>>23547955
"What's for breakfast?"
"I'll have the green stuff."

>>23547955
"Cool. Almost there. Can this thing land in atmosphere or do we need a different way down?

Einstein, did your search on Prometheus's whereabouts get you anywhere?"

>>23547955
Check mail.

"So, I guess we should work on a plan. If we can't land anywhere, you can just drop my off in atmosphere and I'll use my boots to fly down."

>>23547955
"oh good. Do you have any of that green/brown stuff for breakfast?"

>>23547999
She already said it could land in atmosphere I believe.

>>23547874
doesn't eliminate the possibility she was a failure

"Cool, we're almost there." you say. "Can this thing land in atmosphere, or do we need a different way down?"
"I can land it in atmosphere." She said. "It has a heat sled in the bottom. But it's hard to pilot when it's extended. it might just be easier to just... punch down most of the way, pull the head sled in the right direction. Drag should slow us down enough that the G forces won't knock us out."
"Einstein, did your search on Prometheus's whereabouts get you anywhere?"
"Last relevant video of Prometheus's apartment involved two figures entering the apartment."
"What's for breakfast?" you ask.
"Green or brown stuff." She said, and shrugged.
"I'll take the green stuff." You say, and she tossed you the pack and another water bottle.

>>23547955
How difficult will it be to get down to the planet's surface?

>>23548090
Munch on it. Hopefully it tastes less terrible then the Brown stuff.
"Surely you can afford stuff that tastes better?"

"Show us the video, Einstein."

"Surely you can afford stuff that tastes better?" You ask, and munch on it. It was much softer and easier to eat, but it wasn't as sweet... and it was still terrible.
"I could, but I'm trying to get rid of the food I do have." She said. "I have enough of this food left for almost a year, now."
You nod.
"Show us the video, Einstein."
Einstein's projector turned on.

From orbit, the satellite peered down at the apartment, as a car came to a stop. Two figures came out, one holding the other's hand, and the two made their way up the steps. Right at the door, the two stopped and kissed for an uncomfortably long time, before the first one unlocked the door. The two went inside, and slammed it shut.
"There was no response for a day after this, and then the satellite moved on." Einstein said.

>>23548090
"How long ago was that, Einstein? If it's midnight when we arrive I'm thinking the universe will be cruel and make things at least mildly awkward here."

>>23548213
Is there enough detail on the video to see if the girl has red hair?

>>23548213
"That looks like his ladyfriend was with him."
"Nadala sounded like a nice girl, from what Alex told me."

>>23548213
Exactly what I expected. The important bit was does Nat have red hair?

>>23548252
>There's hardly any detail at all. You only noticed there were people because Einstein put reticles over the moving blobs.

"How long ago was that, Einstein?" You ask. "If it's midnight when we arrive, I'm thinking the universe will be cruel and make things at least mildly awkward here."
"It is twenty six hours since this footage took place." Einstein said.
"That looks like his ladyfriend was with him." You say. "Nadala sounded like a nice girl, from what Alex told me."
"... Maybe she's the one that's going to kill him." Anna said, and shrugged.
She settled in her cockpit. "Buckle in."
You do so, and she flipped off the bubble drive. You felt the particles stop flowing, and suddenly instead of green light, you saw red, then blue, then you could see space... and Burer's Glyph.
"One second, we need to boost backward so we can get into orbit." She said, and then the screen whirled as she rolled the ship around. Then she edged up on the thrust, and some force pulling you forward started pulling and pulling until you were essentially hanging out of your seat, the buckles holding you in, but just barely. Time passed like that, as Anna hang there, watching an indicator, until finally she pulled back. The propulsion stopped, and gravity was gone again.
"We're in orbit now." She said, then met your eyes. "Are you ready?"

>>23548390
"As ready as I will be.

Go for it."

>>23548390
"No."

Hold on tight and close our eyes.

>>23548390
"I was BOR- yeah just about."

>>23548390
"Fuck yeah. Punch it."

>>23548390
Are we allowed to just show up out of nowhere and land in the middle of a busy city? Don't we need to talk to air traffic control or something?

>>23548390
No space traffic control?