>>24530066
"Let's stay here and eat."

>>24530066

"we could invite everyone to have dinner here?"

yes lets eat here,

(I still kinda want to ask Jilly to contact Delta and find out what he would want to abandon Armatek.

...

And maybe steal Omega at the same time.)

"Let's stay here and eat." You say.
"Alright!" Summer said. "I'll go make dinner."
"... Actually make it, or just manifest it?" Sigma asked.
"I haven't decided yet!" She called.

The inside of the cabin was rustic, in all the strange ways. The everpresent CHN was still there, of course, keeping the house warm, but almost everything was technologically primitive. A simple wooden furnace, wooden cabinets, a china and glass cabinet in the corner, and a lacy tablecloth with frills around the edges. Summer set down some pasta and meat, and Sigma started to dig in.
"Where did you get this place from?" Sigma asked.
"From the really old trids." She said.

>>24530281
"Cool place. This'd be a great place to do stuff we need more space for."

>>24530281

"it' feels very comfortable, almost as much as a workshop." enjoy the food.

>>24530281
"It's very peaceful. The openness is pretty soothing compared to the rooms and corridors we're used to now."

>>24530281
"This would be an awesome place to have an adventure, or do stuff we need to get off the station for."

"Cool place." You say, and dig in. "This'd be a great place to do stuff we need more space for."
"That's what I thought, too." Summer said. "I wish I could keep this one, though."
"Why can't you?"
"Because I can only keep one... world in my head at once." She said. "And it gets boring if I can't keep improving them."
"It's very peaceful. The openness is pretty soothing compared to the rooms and corridors I'm used to now."
"Well, yeah. Anything would be." Summer said, and started to chew on her meat.
Outside, the rain started to slow, and then the sun started to set.
"This would be an awesome place to have an adventure."
"An adventure?" Summer asked. "Hah, I could make it like one of those stories. Where I control everything from a hidden location, and you guys could be... wizards or something. Maybe I could make a giant suit of armor for Omni and he could be a knight!"
Sigma giggled, and took another bite. "That sounds fun."
"But I'd need to figure out a story first and stuff." Summer said.

Soon enough, dinner was eaten, and you were all relaxing in the near-silence, with the ticking clock.
"I figured out how psionics works." Omnissiah said.
Sigma and Summer suddenly looked up at him.
"When I was within the supercomputer. I... chose to forget it, out of anger."
"Anger?" Summer asked.
"... Jealousy." Omnissiah said. "I... believe. My memories of that time aren't reliable."

>>24530514
Aww, hug Omni.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for what you did for us."

>>24530514
"That sounds really fun, Summer! We could all be adventuring, or split into two teams."

>>24530565
this

>>24530514
first>>24530565
then "...but why jealousy?"

>>24530514
"Don't think too hard about it, Niss. You could've chosen not to help us in the end, but you did, so thank you."

You wanted psionics of your own, I remember.

Did you figure out anything about the void queen? Or is there just not enough data.

Also I suppose I should mention this. Those scythe things are what happens when the VQ gets a hold of a psionic race. They're innocent and I killed them to free Isaac.

>>24530514
"Summer...you remember that movie? The one with the clowns? You could recreate that. No story, just us, all on a station, each given a mission."

>>24530514

"Jealousy can be quite dangerous if it gets out of hand."

>kind of like Robin who thinks Sarvesh has it better.

>>24530647
we gave Robin TK, part of it was she could only do a single thing.

>>24530647
I'd imagine that she's not feeling bitter any more now that she has the power of ranged groping.

>>24530647
Just like how Exabyte feels about HPQuest?

>>24530557
>>24530697
>Aw, man. I guess I'll just slave and work to hopefully, hopefully catch a very slight glimpse of HPQuest over the horizon as I try to reach its greatness. I'll never, ever be able to surmount that giant.

You pull Omnissiah into a hug. "I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for what you did for us. You could've chosen not to help us in the end, but you did, so thank you. But why Jealousy?"
"Because I'm unable to gain Psionics of my own." He said.
"Did you figure anything out about the void queen?"
"Yes." Omnissiah said. "But.. I'm... I'm not certain. I'm only eighty percent certain."
"What is it?" Sigma asked
"... All sapient species have the latent ability for psionic powers." Omnissiah said. "What the Void Queen does is... telepathy, to control and dominate her own people, and utilize their latent psionic powers for tremendous powers. In theory."

"You okay?"

>>24530748
"Did you manage to figure out any more about the shield generators by the way?"

>>24530748
"That makes sense. When I was fighting her tendrils off of Isaac, if I hurt just one, the rest wouldn't react."

>>24530789
... you don't get sarcasm do you?

Don't reply to the peanut gallery, just report and ignore.

>>24530748

"linking the minds of so many individuals to create a network of immense psionic power"

"all of which are enslaved to the Void Queens will."

"That's horrible."

>>24530748
"Yeah, that makes sense. When she controls people, it's like lots of strands of telepathy."

do you think there is anyway to free her people from her control?

>>24530789
>>24530801
>>24530748
>>24530697
>>24530557
HPQuest?

some lame HP knockoff, I lost interest after the first couple threads. the MC wasn't interesting imo.

>>24530861
HP?

harry potter

>Let's keep things on topic, alright?

"That makes sense." You say. "When I was fighting her tendrils off of Isaac, if I hurt just one, the rest wouldn't react."
"So... that means the void queen is just one being?" Summer asked.
"Most likely."
"And all of them are slaved to her will." You say. "Do you think there is any way to free her people from her control?"
"Killing her is one option." Omnissiah said. "How is the problematic part. She likely has all of the abilities we have, and more."
"When she was... taking knowledge from me, it... felt like she was astounded by how powerful we were." Sigma said. "They were. It. I... I don't know."

>>24530924
"That's because she doesn't have technology or anything on that level. If we're going to kill her, we're gonna need to do it with our powers and everything else we've got."

>>24530924
>>Let's keep things on topic, alright?
I think the mods killed the QTG and antiQTG.

Just a minor influx of retards looking to continue the tardation.

>>24530924
"So... the powers she has and those that she steals are weak individually but add up to be greater than ours? Maybe it's as simple as splitting her attention or making her control less stable. At least some level of awareness seems to be retained by the thralls. One cried out 'Help me, my mind is not my own!' when I was saving Isaac."

>>24530924
I wonder if it has something to do with specilization. The Void Queen seems to have a bit of everything.

Or maybe shes stopped growing and we are still maturing into our powers.

>>24530924

"she could be relatively weak without all those minds enslaved to hers."

"if we can find a way to sever her control over her network of mind slaves, that would likely weaken her enough for us to stop her entirely."

"That's because she doesn't have technology or anything on that level." You say. "If we're going to kill her, we're gonna need to do it with our powers and everything else we've got. Or maybe it's as simple as splitting her attention or making her control less stable. At least some level of awareness seems to be retained by the thralls." You say, quietly. "One cried out for help, when I was saving Isaac."
You don't mention that you felt it die a moment later.

"She could be relatively weak without all those minds enslaved to hers..." You say.
"So if we can cut that all off, then she will have hardly anything." Summer said.
"... Wait. Wait." Sigma said. "... You said she doesn't have the technology. But... she does."
You both meet her eyes.
"She took it from me. Everything I knew about technology. Everything I've felt."

The demiurge will fall then.

>>24531076
"But it's unlikely she'll have all the industry to actually make anything."

>>24531102
shes fighting the demiurge, they DO have the industry to build a war machine.

>>24531076

"we're in deep trouble, if she has that tech, the Demiurg will no longer be able to hold her back and she'll have Bubble drives in no time."

"our only hope is that she'll not have the production capabilities yet to make most of it."

things look pretty bleak, don't they?

>>24531114
Via manifesting those creatures. Not with ships.

>>24531076
"Oh yeah... Fuck. "

>>24531076
"I'm going to go finish my Exosuit then."

"Oh yeah... Fuck." You say. "If she has that tech, the Demiurg will no longer be able to hold her back, and she'll have bubble drives in no time." You say. "Our only hope is that she won't have the production capabilities yet to make most of it."
"So it's only a matter of time." Summer said, and ground her teeth. "If only I could just reach out and... demanifest her. It. All of our problems would be over then. Most of them, at least."
"What about ArmaTek? They're a problem too." Sigma said.
"Alex told me that the UPA has all the information about all the bad stuff they've done. They'll take care of it."
"... You've never met the director of the Omega project." Sigma said, quietly. "Henry Davidson. Even if Armatek is taken down entirely, he.. well, he won't go quietly."

>>24531242
"Then I'll throw him into a black hole."

>>24531242

"does he even know about the Void Queen coming to enslave all life?"

>>24531242
"What is omega anyway?"

>>24531242
"Then I'll Void them."
Black holing is too weak for him.

"What is the Omega project, anyway?"
"I don't even know much. They never let me touch their main database. From what little I know, they found some sort of... unnatural phenomenon called Pariah, and decided to create banks of cloned animals to reproduce it. When that didn't work, they moved up to humans. And then we were made."
"Does he even know about the Void Queen coming to enslave all life?"
"I don't know." She said, and banged her head down on the table. Summer's manifestation patted her on the head.
"Hey, let's go take a swim." She said. "In the lake. I can make it Summer."
And as soon as she said that, bright light shone through the windows, and the constant cloud cover from before was gone. Crickets and cicida chirped, and you heard some kind of birdsong.
"How's this?" She asked. "I can even manifest swimsuits for everyone!"
"I like the water." Omnissiah said.

>>24531385
"I like the water too!"

>>24531385
"Oh. They're trying to clone Alex."

>>24531385
>unnatural phenomenon called Pariah
"We actually have Pariah, or Phi, or Alex as he prefers to be called. Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, but Lambda asked me to keep it a secret."

>>24531033
>if we can find a way to sever her control over her network of mind slaves
Put an Alex field over her and she suddenly has no powers and all her slaves are free. Then we punch her in the face.

>>24531385

"I haven't had a nice swim in a while... maybe just for a little bit?"

"we need to plan and prepare for all this... crap."

>maybe talk to Summer about that being real and such but i have no idea how we would discuss that.

"We actually have Pariah. or Phi, or Alex, as he prefers to be called." You say. "Sorry I couldn't tell you sooner, but Lambda asked me to keep it a secret."
"Oh, don't worry." She said. "If lambda asks you to do something for reasons he won't say, he always has a reason. Alex is Phi? In some weird way, that makes sense."

You shrug, and turn to Summer. "I like the water too! I haven't had a nice swim in a while. Maybe just for a little bit?"
"Yay!" She said, and swimsuits appeared. Sigma took her set and went into the other room, coming back in hers, and you did the same.

"We need to plan and prepare for all this... crap." You say.
"We should just tell the UPA what we know and leave it at that." Summer said. "It'd be too dangerous to fight her on our own. They have all the guns! And ships!"

>>24531524
"You might be right, but it doesn't seem like our enemies are willing to leave us alone while the UPA sort things out."

>>24531524

"and she can manifest soldiers and guns inside those ships almost endlessly, not to mention everything else she has learned..."

"I'm sorry, for ruining the mood."

>>24531524
>They have all the guns! And ships!"
guns aren't that great in the face of planetary level Mind control

>>24531524
Should have RKV'd her whilst we had the chance.

>>24531524
"And they also have nice tasty minds to enthrall just like the scythe people were. This doesn't sound like a problem throwing lots of guns at will fix, sadly... *mumble* maybe an RKV would but blabla laws ethics bla*mumble*"

"And she can manifest soldiers and guns inside those ships almost endlessly, not to mention everything else she has learned..." You say.

"... And I can't even make a single gun." Summer said. "Damnit. Damnit!"
She snarled, and scratched at the wood.
"Why can't I just take everyone I love and put them all in here forever?! Nobody could get in, and they'd all be safe, and I'd get enough food..."
Sigma just started petting her. "Calm down, Summer."

"Those mean nothing when the ones behind them are under her control..."
Sigh
"I always ruin the mood."

>>24531637
Hug Summer.

"You're amazing Summer, who cares if you can make guns or not, there's plenty of things more worthwhile than guns that you've created. I'm sorry for ruining the mood."

>>24531637
"Now now, that'd be slavery. And people wouldn't like that."

>>24531637
we could give summer our technomancy then she'd understand guns

>>24531637
As good as that sounds Summer... I don't want to abandon the rest of the universe to the void queen, and theres still so much to see. This is just one galaxy in a universe of billions. Imagine what else is out there.

We'll let the UPA deal with Armatek... but I think we should make sure that they don't have a single psion to fight back with. I want to get Omega and Delta out of their grasp.

>>24531637

"I'm sorry for bringing it up, we'll figure something out, please calm down."

>>24531668
... No it wouldn't. Also, way to make her think we don't like her broski.

>>24531681
"and don't become an evil queen"
... That's how she started.

>>24531637
"I'm sure we'll come up with something."

>>24531637
"We just need to go blast her shit then everything will be sort of okay."

"I'm sorry for bringing it up, we'll figure something out." You say, and pull her into a hug. "Please calm down."

Summer was quiet.
"I'm sure we'll come up with something."
"Okay." She said. "It's just... I have a feeling that we don't have very long." She said. "Let's... let's get swimming, okay?" She asked, as the rent floorboards sealed themselves.
"Yes, let's!" Sigma said, and carefully made her way into the water. She eeped, and giggled. "It's cold!"
"I made sure the leeches won't find find us tasty!" Summer called back, and started toward the water.
<... Is Summer your friend?> Omnissiah asked. <In the way I think of friends?>

>>24531748
Summer will be a temporary bbeg/the dragon for VQ when they connect, because they want the same, and are becoming more and more alike.

Anyone else think that the connection between the 'natural psions' of our group and their mental issues have an interesting connection? Damien's got mad PTSD, Summer has existance issues, Anna alternates between hot and cold (and is unstable), Jilly's a doormat, Heather is (or was) powercrazy and is a technophile. It'd be interesting to find out if it's causation or just correlation.

>>24531778
<Yes, of course Summer is my friend.>

>>24531778
<Yes.>

>>24531778
<We're all friends, Omni.>

>>24531778
"If you mean by that I trust her implicitly then yes"

>>24531778
<Why do you ask?>

Rolled 93

>>24531778
I'm reasonably certain she is...

>>24531778

<she is my friend and I worry about her.>

>>24531807
Powercrazy is just a bad way of saying she's motivated.

>>24531778
>"I made sure the leeches won't find find us tasty!" Summer called back, and started toward the water.
why make Leeches at all?

>>24531778
<She is, all of you are.>

>>24531838
More authentic.

I know a lack of leeches would ruin my immersion.

>>24531835
Go reread the badend when she blew a hole in the hull of the station because she was butthurt about failing at TK.

... Let's use the teaching program to teach Omni.

>>24531838

for authenticity.

>>24531873
I was wondering when we'd try that...

>>24531873
He figured out how psionics worked completely, I think he would have known if it was possible for him to use them.

>>24531840
I'm not sure this is true. They all are our friend by heather's definition but omni seems to have a much more conservative view on friendship. I doubt our relationship with sigma is strong enough to qualify as friendship to omni.

>>24531873
The only way we could get Omni to use psionics is to write a bunch of technopathy worms that cause different effects, then let him use them on Heather when he wants to psion.
And that's a dumb, dumb idea, no matter how much we trust him.

>>24531980

we already have something leeching our abilities, speaking of which, what the hell is devourer doing right now?

<Yes, of course Summer is my friend.> You say. <Why do you ask?>
<Because I find myself wanting to help her.> Omnissiah said. <Somehow.>

"Why make leeches at all?" You ask.
"To make it more realistic, duh." She responded. "If I forgot the leeches, then this wouldn't be a lake, just a big bowl full of water!
Then she reared back, and *pounced* into the water, creating a huge splash and almost drowning Sigma. You climbed in yourself, and Sigma was right- it was cold, and a lot slimier than seawater was. You carefully swam over to the rest, where Summer was doggypaddling to stay afloat and Sigma was just drifting, and Omnissiah followed you, pretending to swim with his manipulators.
The sun was high in the sky, and beat down on you, warming the lake slowly.
"I forgot to add one of those floaty things in the center of the lake." Summer said.

>>24532020
Fake horror
"How could you?!"

>>24531940
isn't psionics partially the ability to do the totally impossible?

we could try...

besides, remember the wand that summer made? omni could use it perfectly.

>>24532020
"Add a boat!"

>>24532048
I don't think any psion (Heather included) would want another person to have that kind of control over their powers. Especially if that control comes from an item that can be lost or stolen.

>>24532007
We should ask it to kill the void queen.

>>24532020
What if water trampoline

>>24532020
"I wonder what happens when I try to manifest something in your pocket world?" Manifest floaty thing.

>>24532048
but that is just forcing Summer's powers to function.

>>24532020

"I'm not very used to non salt water, but this feels nice."

>>24532068
>>24532107
that was just an example. how did it know what he wanted?

psionics requires only empathy doesn't it? or have I been misinterpreting things?

>>24532070
Well, we should have a friendly chat first. Possibly over delicious coffee. Our ship is fast enough that we could meet him at the edge of Demiurg space or something.

"I'm not very used to non-salt water, but this feels nice." You say.
"It's a lot more natural than a pool, too." Summer said.
"I wonder what happens when I try to manifest something in your pocket world?" You ask, and focus.

Nothing happens. Summer's eyebrows met.
"I felt you trying to change something, but you didn't try hard enough. Try again."

You focused... and you felt the world itself shift, making things easier for you. There was a splash, and a boat appeared in the center of the lake, sinking into the water slightly.
"You didn't push hard enough." Summer said. "So I made the world accept you a bit easier."

Sigma blinked up at the boat.

>>24532121
Psionics probably requires an organic body. Not that we know this for sure (and we could also get Omni a body like Anna) but it seems to be very likely. That or he didn't have enough data to consider other possibilities other than basic psionic function.

>>24532187
"I am not very good at manifestation."

>>24532187

"Maybe i should have practiced a little bit more." shrug

>>24532187
"I am the worstest at manifesting."

>>24532207
adding to this
>Find Dave if you want to get Psion!Omni

"... Maybe I should have practiced a little bit more." You say. "I'm not very good at manifestation."
"Lemme... lemme try something." Sigma said, and swam toward the boat, climbing in. "This thing has an engine, right?"
"Yeah." Summer said. "Heather was really focused on that, and not the rest of the boat."

Carefully, Sigma touched the onboard motor, and it thrummed, and you felt it... change. You felt the voice it was piping up at you suddenly stop. And then it started to... breathe, in time with Sigma.
"It feels like both of you." Sigma said, and the motor started up of its own accord.

>>24532226
Saint Dave is, from all available information, deceased. They canonise Saints postmortem after all.
But then again, he might be chilling with space squids.

>>24532279
"The whole thing feels like you now."

>>24532207
anna's 60% synthetic according to omni

so it might well have been by some method he'd yet acquired

although now I'm thinking the VQ is secretly a weirdboy harnessing the psychic power of a waaaaugh cause that suddenly crossed my mind...

>>24532279
poke at the engine with TP

>>24532279
"...You killed him..."

>>24532290
His Spine is still around.

"It doesn't have its own voice anymore, like it usually does with my technopathy. It just has you."

>>24532322
The machine spirit of the motor is dead.

>>24532279

"I can feel it 'breath' in time with you, the voice stopped and now it's become part of you!"

"i wonder if we could create something that has a part of all of us in it."

>>24532361
Oh, wait, St. Dave, not boat.

>>24532279
"It always feels a bit weird when you do that. Like one moment it has a mind of of it's own, and the next it feels like it's always been part of you."

"... You killed him..." You say.
"I what?"
"It doesn't have its own voice anymore, like it usually does with my technopathy. It just has you."
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She said, and took her hand away. The engine died, but you felt it pipe up again, jabbering on about how it loves roaring and shaking for the ladies, pushing the boat onwards as fast as possible...
"Is it alive again?" Sigma asked- she almost sounded worried.

>>24532404
it is now, and it's flirting with me

>>24532404
"Yes, Dr. Engine is fine, it seems."

>>24532404

"yes, apparently it likes the ladies."

>>24532404
When this is over, we should share our technopathy with Sigma and vice versa

>>24532452
>Never able to hug Omni again
Do not want.

>>24532404
"Yeah, don't worry about it. It's just a bit jarring having it disappear suddenly like that.

>>24532404
"Yep!
Try touching it again, I want to see if I can still get through."
We'll probably just end up controlling Sigma and making her control the engine.

>>24532452

i very much like our machines to have voices, hugging Omni would be a disaster.

>>24532452
Having our Technopathy might give Sigma psychological damage. All the machines 'die' when she touches them.

"Yes, apparently it likes the ladies." You say. "Now it's flirting with me."
Sigma giggled, and Summer climbed aboard, scratching the bottom of the boat with her hindlegs. You climb up as well.
"Let's go down the river!" Summer said.
"I didn't know this place had a river." Sigma said.
"It does now." Omnissiah said, and pointed toward a river that you *knew* wasn't there before. He hovered into the boat.
"Try touching it again. I want to see if I can get through."
"Alright." Sigma said, and touched the engine.

You felt it snuff itself out again, and you reached toward it...

>Roll opposed technopathy!

Rolled 54

>>24532549

please don't break anything or anyone

Rolled 33

>>24532549
Make them both shuffle

Rolled 19

>>24532549
Rolling.

Rolled 91

>>24532549
Techno-fight!

Rolled 21

>>24532549
Live.

Rolled 58

>>24532549
>nat 1
>sigma ends up controlling us.

Rolled 14

>>24532549
>roll so badly we brain damage Anna

Rolled 83

>>24532549
We shall not fall this day.

w-we can stop rolling now!

Rolled 46

>>24532549
>nat100
>we take over Sigma
>she does the dinosaur

Rolled 4

>>24532549
well our dice have abandoned us again

>>24532608
That would be impressively bad. Anna isn't even in this universe.

>>24532650
Nah, they just don't like you

Rolled 29

>>24532549
rawr rawr do the dinosaur

You bit your lip, and focused... Sigma's presence was everywhere, filling up the entire engine... and you reached out... and heard it peep slightly.
<Shhh, are you trying to stop her from touching me?> The engine called- and then you were pushed out of the engine again.

Sigma's eyes widened.
"Did that just... did that just talk?" She asked, looking down to the engine.

>>24532650
>4
What could possibly go wrong?

>>24532677
"Yes, the machine spirit is strong in this one."

>>24532677

"yeah, it did, didn't like me getting in the way of you touching it."
"what a perverted engine."

>>24532677
"Yup! That's how it is for me!"

>>24532678
nothing as it wasn't in the first 3 rolls and wasn't a 1 or a 100
>>24532677
oh you heard that?

Rolled 48

>>24532677
*Giggle*

>>24532677
"Yep! Jilly says it's just my subconsciousness being projected onto the machines or something."

"You know, you should have an easier time learning the new powers than just about anyone else because of your technomancy."

"Yep!" You say, and giggle. "Jilly says it's just my subconscious being projected onto the machines or something."
"Well, you're both wrong and right." Sigma said. "It feels kind of like you're... bringing out what *is* there." She said. "Machines are like that."
"... I would like to try something." Omnissiah said. "Sigma, please give me a hug."
"I uh, I'm not sure that's a good idea." Sigma said. "I've never done it with an AI before."
"Well, there's a first time for everything." Summer said. "All the data you touch doesn't corrupt or anything, does it?"
"No..."
"Then it shouldn't hurt! Right, Heather?"

>>24532805
"It... should be okay. I mean the boat seemed to kind of enjoy you touching it."

>>24532805
"Only if Omni is absolutely okay with it."

>>24532805
"This is probably one of those things that shouldn't be done. What if it joins your mind together and blurs your memories between the both of you?"

>>24532805

Uh.... maybe make some back-ups of your personality on sealed drives first? Just in case something goes wrong. I don't want to lose you, Omni.

>>24532829

Omni was the one who suggested it.

>>24532805

"I... I don't know, i-if you're alright with it then i guess, sure?"

"maybe we should do it somewhere where we can prevent bad things happening?"

>>24532840
AI + Copies = Nope
don't even suggest it, he already has existential issues without throwing that in there too.

Rolled 23

>>24532840
It'd still be losing *him*. It'd be a shell with all of his memories but not the him that we have known. Think Damien's timetravel explanation for why he couldnt save his sister.

"This is probably one of those things that shouldn't be done." You say. "What if it joins your mind together and blurs your memories between the both of you?"
"That would be kinda interesting." Sigma said. "But I don't want to hurt you."
"I'm confident that I'll be fine." Omnissiah said. "Though my confidence is unfounded."
"I... I don't know, I-if you're alright with it, then I guess, sure?"
"Alright." Omnissiah said, and flew into Sigma's hands.

Nothing happened.
"This is rather underwhelming." Omnissiah said.
"... This is, yeah." Sigma responded. "I can't even get your hands to move. You feel *really* *weird*, omni."
"Thank you." He responded.

>>24532947

Can you still hear what he's thinking, though?

>>24532947
"I would also like a hug, Omni!"

>>24532947

let out that tense breath we were holding.

<testing, do you still have all your functions?>

"so does that mean an AI, or anything which is sentient enough, can't be forced in to becoming an extension of your self, Sigma?"

hmm that is strange. I wonder if you changed something about yourself to make you resistent to technopathic control... which is smart since the VQ managed to steal Sigma's abilities.

Idly see if we can reach the Devourer from here.

>>24532947
"Huh, I guess that proves once and for all that AIs truly do have a mind and will of their own, and not just an imitation."

>>24532947
"He's alive! He's alive! Mwahahahaa!"

>>24533027
>and then we control Sigma with technopathy and the entire statement shatters

>>24533084
Sigma isn't a person!

>>24532947
"You know, I feel like this has more ethical implications than we might think.

I mean, it proves that an AI is actually a person, rather than just mimicking one."

>>24533187
"Hell, ALL machines are alive, they just.. Can't- don't speak."

"So that does mean that an AI, or anything which is sentient enough, can't be forced into becoming an extension of yourself, Sigma?"
"I guess." She said, and shrugged. "I don't know how it works."
"Huh, I guess that proves once and for all that AIs truly do have a mind and will of their own, and not just an imitation."
"A soul?" Omnissiah asked, quietly.
"Yep!" Summer said, and gave the drone a hug.
"I would also like a hug, Omni!"
"Certainly!" He said, and once Summer let him loose, he hugged your shoulder.

>>24533227
"Yay!'

"So, what should we do now?"

>>24533220
>>24533220
I thought that we established that we are projecting our subconscious?

hmm about time we got back to our dorms, unless we want to camp out.

>>24533250
Nah dude, let's go work on the Exosuit.

>>24533272
alright it does need finishing. Don't wanna stay up too late though.

>>24533246
We aren't. We're rousing what is asleep, Sigma said so. She knows this better than Jillies.

>>24533272
If it's not terribly late, I agree. If it is late, then dream up ways to finish it then knock it out early in the morning.

>>24533227
what about the time we controlled simga with our technopathy

>>24533227

we should head back out and:

1. try to fill in the UPA about the Void Queen.
2. finish that Exosuit because who knows when we'll need it.
3. inform the scientists that Sigma cannot control Omni when she touches him, no idea about other AI yet because Omni is sort of special in that regard.
4. see if our crystal is done radiating and stuff

optional:

5. make sure Anna isn't being alienated or separating herself from everyone. I'm kinda worried about that.

>>24533337
We only controlled her body. She was still able to think and talk just fine.

"Yay!" You call, and return the hug. "I think it's about time we get back to the dorms." You say. "Unless we want to camp out?"
"Yeah, let's get back." Sigma said. "I'll burn if I spend too long out here."
"Aww, okay." Summer said- and then suddenly the four of you were sitting in the middle of your room, drenching wet and in swimsuits.
"Now I just demanifest the water-"
"And not the swimsuits!" Sigma called.
"And not the swimsuits, of course." Summer said.

You go into the bathroom and change back, and by the time you were dressed up in work clothes, Sigma was gone and Robin was in her place, sitting on your bed and kicking her legs back and forth.
"She'll be out any time n- oh! Here she is." Summer said.
"Hey, Heather." She said. "Wanna hang out?"

>>24533394
sure, how are you liking the TK?

>>24533394
"Well, what did you have in mind? I was gonna go work on my exosuit for a little bit, and you're always welcome to join me!"

>>24533394
"Sure think Robin, Summer and I are taking it easy today. Did you have something in mind? ...I mean aside from the obvious."

>>24533394

"I was planning to work on my Exosuit for a bit but sure!"

>>24533394
"Depends will I be grossly molested?"

>>24533464

It's Robin, of course we will. That's like asking if a two-inch decabulator is better than a four-inch decabulator.

>>24533394
As much as I would like to hang out with Robin, I think we still owe Summer some one-on-one hang outs, and there's a certain conversation we need to have.

>>24533528

about what her father told us right?

we really should.

>>24533464
This.
>>24533394
Also TK Rho's nose.

>>24533528
We're leaving that topic well alone for now.

Hell, I think it might actually be better if she never found out at all.

>>24533560

I think it's something she should deal with, but now is not the time to do it.

>>24533560
It's something that needs to get cleared up. Both for her sake and her parents'.

A good, relatively harmless segue would be asking her what she meant by knowing what it's like to be imaginary.

>>24533560
We still have to talk to her about her existential issues, even if we don't tell her about Winter.
She is our friend and she needs help.

>>24533560

if we don't there's a high chance it will come back to bite us in the ass.

we really should at some point, before we attack the VQ preferably.

>>24533500
>If a two inch decabulator is better than four inch decabulator
>Only if you bend it over and twist just right... so yeah, the metaphor fits.
"Depends." You say. "Will I be grossly molested?"
"No promises." She said.
"I was gonna go work on my exosuit for a little bit, but you're welcome to join me."
"Alright!" She said. You made your way to the workshop, and you spy Anna at Sarvesh's door, knocking on it.

While you got to work, Robin teleported onto the suit's shoulder.
"This thing is like really big." She said. "Will you be able to move in it?"
"If it has power." You say through the decabulator in your mouth.
"Will you even fit in it? It's like, as tall as Sarvesh."
"Yep." You say. "Hand me that."
She teleported over to it, and handed the half-inch decabulator, while you used it to fasten the circuits in place.
"What's with this helmet?" She asked, putting it on. "There's not even cameras or a visor or anything."
"It's not done yet." You say.
"... You remind me of Isaac when you're like this." She said, and giggled. "All hard working and studious."

>>24533599
Well, hopefully she's already RESOLVED said issues. In which case we need to advise her to talk to her father.

>>24533615
Isaac works hard? Tell me more.

How is the telekinesis working out for you? It looked like you were getting plenty of... practice.

>>24533615
"I like making things. I tend to get carried away."

>>24533615
"Well, I gotta work hard on this. Because if I do, it'll be awesome! Just wait 'till I get a shield installed!"

<Omni, can you order a few bubble drives to turn into shield generators for this?>

>>24533615

"I've not seen him work, yet. tell me about it and hand me that (insert tool name here) please."

>>24533623
Already resolved? Did you miss the blatant 'hey you better deal with this or expect to wake up in a manifested world and have to figure out a way back out' flag Exa was waving earlier? It was about 10 times more blatant than the Hound thing.

I've always loved building things. It helps me deal if things get tough. Though I occasionally can get carried away.

>>24533670

it will not fit, or not fit practically enough.

>>24533682
yup, I saw that too. Tried to head it off but no one seconded actually talking to her about her worries.

>>24533615
"The difference is, this'll help me blow stuff up when it's done!"

>>24533682
Agreed, after we've hung out with Robin for a bit and worked on the suit, we need to sit down and talk to Summer.

>>24533693
The disc mode is big enough for the exosuit, but not the ship.

We could mount one on the hands as well, and use it to punch through anything.

yup, disc mode has its possibilites as a weapon for the suit.

>>24533698
I'd like to talk to her, but on our own. The clones have been pretty persistent in bothering us for a while now, and I don't think having any of them work with summer is particularly appropriate.

I'm hoping we will get to talk to her as we're going to sleep tonight. It was meant to happen with movies, but then Sigma and Omni turned up.

>>24533615
"Yeah, the workshop is like my happy place. Easy to lose myself when I'm working on something."

>>24533718
Defector shield that doubles as a powerfist, hell yes we need taht

>>24533615
"Tell me about your adventures with TK, Robin? Who've you, ah, encountered so far?"

>>24533737
err why not? More friends is a good thing for her. Have you seen how clingy she is with Heather? She's basically transferred her 'best friend' status from Winter to Heather.

>>24533682
But then we'd get to live with Fluffy. Forever. and ever and ever. until Demanifested

>>24533732
Fuck, I bet we could get it to go into a long oval shape and use it like a sword!

"I've always loved building things." You say. "I gotta work hard on this. Because if I do, it'll be awesome! Just wait 'til I get a shield installed!"
"A shield? Like, a massive slab of hull steel?" She asked. "That's so cool!"
<Omni, can you order a few bubble drives to turn into shield generators for this?"
<Two F-class bubble drives will cost a hundred thousand dollars.> Omnissiah said. <And I'll start planning how to integrate them.>

"Tell me about your adventures with TK, Robin? Who've you... ah, encountered so far?"
"Well, Theta threatened to turn me into a genderless blob, Sigma kept eeping, and Anna just glared at me. Jilly always has the best reactions, though." Robin said. "Though, come to think of it, that was probably because I wasn't sure what gender he was at the time, so I had to check. Theta's like that."

>>24533796
<Get four. We could always use them for something else. Especially since we've got another heat crystal, I figured we might be able to build a heavy Ion Laser that uses the shields to repulse the gas for even better velocity.>

>>24533796
".. You know how to tell Nagala genders apart? Well, you *are* the expert at these things I suppose."

>>24533796

"can't imagine why someone would get angry because of that..." ooze sarcasm.

"have you ever thought about... toning it down?"

>>24533796
"Nope! It's a kinetic barrier! Go call Omni up and he'll show you!"

>>24533796
"Heheheh! If you think a slab of hull steel is cool, wait till you see what I actually have in mind!"

>>24533836
Shame on you, expecting Robin to stop being Robin.

I noticed!

He can be a little impulsive with her changes, both to himself and to others.

I don't mind too much though. Without him, well I don't want to think about it.

Same with you Robin. Without you I don't know what we would have done about Damien's sister.

>>24533824
She meant Theta.

And yeah, we should talk to Summer before sleeping before that bomb explodes in our face.

>>24533796
"You should get Alex when he's a she. That'd be extra-funny."

>>24533866
Indeed, we should send her a message asking if she's free to hang out again later.

>>24533796
Theta could have changed anyone!

>>24533796
Let's show her what TK is *really* used for! Assembling power armor!

Rolled 73

>>24534000
this

"I noticed!" You say. "He can be a little impulsive with her changes, both to himself and to others."
"He always turns us back eventually, though." Robin said.
"And if you think a slab of hull steel is cool, wait until you see what I actually have in mind!"
"What is it?"
"It's a kinetic barrier! You should ask Omni."
"A.. a what?" She asked, and ran to Omni's dock, where he was topping off his energy cells. "Can I see this kinetic barrier thing?"
"Very well." Omnissiah said. You focused on the suit, and got to work.
"Woah, that's so cool!"

"Thanks for letting me watch!" Robin said, almost an hour later. You were at about 85% done with the suit. You'd need to spend another hour on the helmet, the rest of the plating, and wiring up the pistons, but all of the important circuits were done. Robin bamfed into smoke again, and you stretched, closing your eyes for a moment.
"Well, I think I'm going to go talk to summer." You tell Omni.
"Very well." He said again. "I'll change your plans for the shields."
"Alright." You say, and make your way into your room. There Summer was, laying down and watching a show on her personacom, giggling to herself about whatever was happening.
"Hey, Heather." She said, turning it off.

>>24534056

"Heya, got a little bit of time to talk? I was wondering about something you said about knowing when things are and aren't real."

>>24534056
Oh boy, this is going to be awkward.

"Summer... I need to talk to you about something."

>>24534056
"Hey! How have you been?"

>>24534056
"Heya Summer, what you watching?"

>>24534056
"Summer... You said that you know how fake things feel... how?"

>>24534056

"Hey summer, i need to talk to you about something."

>>24534056
First step, acquire intimacy. By which I mean sit on the tiger and cover ourselves in fluffy.

"Are you feeling alright, Summer? You seemed a little out of it today."
"And, for a bit of last week."

Maybe we should just skip straight for: "Tell me more about Winter."

>>24534056
"Hey, Summer. Can we have a personal talk?"

>>24534124
I second this one. Let's make sure she's comfortable first, rather than provoking a freakout.

"Hey, Summer." You say. "Can we have a personal talk?"
"Yeah, sure." She said. "Why?"
You sit down on Summer and give her a hug.

"Are you feeling alright, Summer? You seemed a little out of it today." You say. "And for a bit of last week."
"What? I'm fine." She said. "Dad came by, even, and that cheered me up a lot. I didn't know how much I missed him until he came by."
She giggled. "I pretty much tackled him."

>>24534124
Yeah, this be comfiest for both.
Also ask the door to not open but only for Summer and I.

>>24534212

"he missed you too, a lot, he's also worried about you."

>when we breach the subject enough go over to this, though it may be a little bit to fast.

"at the time when your father came to visit the station he, umm, he told me the reason why he gave Winter the cold shoulder."

"he told me that they didn't have any other daughter, other than you."

>>24534212
"I'm glad, I could tell he loves you very much... Summer, you're a dear friend, and you know I'm here for you whatever happens. There's something I need to talk to you about, about Winter."

>>24534212
"It's just you were acting weird while he was here. With Winter and everything."

>>24534212
"Just, some of the things you've been saying have me a bit worried about you."

>>24534212
He pretty much tackled you.

He loves you a lot, you know. I think he always has.

"I'm glad, I could tell he loves you very much." You say.
"You sound worried." She said.
"Just, some of the things you've been saying have me a bit worried about you." You say.
"Worried how? I don't want to worry you." She said.

>>24534441
"Summer, is a story real?"
"The characters don't really exist, here in reality, but in our minds they kind of do. They have their own thoughts, and we know how they would act."

"No, let's talk about something else. How have you been since Alex demanifested Winter? Was it hard to remanifest her for your father?"

We can always tell her we saw her talking to Winter way back when we were first in the Iso Chambers, asking her for help or something.

>>24534441
"... Taking everyone you know and love and putting us in your microverse? But... That's not what... It's Winter. Do you remember her, from before the accident? How... She felt?"
Also lock the damn door from everyone but us two.

>>24534441
...Have you ever read this really old comic called Calvin and Hobbes? It would... help explain things.

>>24534441
"Remember when I joked that it felt like all this was just a hallucination, and you said it's not because you know what being imaginary feels like? What did you mean?"

"Well, like the thing you said about wanting to prove that you're real to me, and then later you mentioned you knew what it felt like to be imaginary?
And your dad...he acted a lot differently than how you seem to think he does. Like, he was warm and loving to you, and he seemed to include Winter only as...an afterthought."

>>24534537
This.

All the other options are far too harsh and sudden.

We need to ease Summer into this realisation.

Absentmindedly, you will the door to stay closed for everyone but you and Summer.
"Taking everyone you know and putting us in your microverse?" You ask.
"... That... I ... I was just frustrated." She said.
"Remember when I joked that it felt like all this was just a hallucination, and you said it's not because you know what being imaginary feels like? What did you mean?"
"That- that was talking about my Manifestations." She said. "How I always have my own human manifestation walking around. I thought it would be funny to introduce my manifestation as me and just have my real self walk around with her, but I felt guilty, because that summer was imaginary."

>>24534212
I think we need to talk about Winter.

>>24534591
But isn't that Summer also you?

What is the difference between a manifestation you're controlling directly and one you're letting run on it's own?

>>24534591
"What about Winter? Before Alex came along you used her instead of your own manifestation."

>>24534591
What makes a manifestation imaginary?

"But isn't that summer also you?" You ask. "What's the difference between a manifestation you're controlling directly and the one you're letting run on it's own?"
"It's... like a dream." She said, quietly. "In a dream, the you who you are isn't actually real. Neither are the other people. That's... that's all the difference I can explain."
"And what about winter? Before Alex came along, you used her instead of your own manifestation."
"... That was... That was because I couldn't get rid of her." Summer said. "She was always there, and I couldn't demanifest her."

>>24534725
Yeah I'm not sure at all how to break this to her.

>>24534725
"Always?"

>>24534725
I'm staying right out of this one. I cannot think of a single idea that I don't think will end badly.

>>24534725
You had to remanifest her when your father came over. Was that hard?
No, like, emotionally hard.

You were acting a little strange that day. You said some things that didn't quite... mesh.

>>24534758
>Break The Woobie

>>24534781
Same here. I feel like anything I say is gonna go fucking terrible.

>>24534791
They especially didn't mesh with how your father treated you.

He basically ignored Winter.

File: 1367273055565.gif-(419 KB, 380x380, 1283901534543.gif)

419 KB GIF

I guess you could say

Heather and Summer are having

Real talks

>>24534725
"Why do you think that was? Was there something different about how you thought about her, and how you normally think about manifestations?"

>>24534793
She shall become Woobie, The Destroyer Of Worlds.

>>24534725
"That... might be more literal than you know."

>>24534872
Let's just go with this, it's going to turn out bad no matter what we do

>>24534758
... This.

"You had to remanifest her when your father came over. Was that hard?" You ask.
"It took a lot of focus to make sure she looked like she aged, but-"
"No, like, emotionally hard." You say.
"No... It was like I was meeting her again." Summer said.
"Why do you think that was? Was there something different about how you thought about her, and how you normally think about Manifestations?"
"I don't know why, that's just how I felt." She asked. Her tail puffed up slightly.
"When you said she was always there, did you mean always?"
"Yeah." She said. "Always. Why do you-"

Then she paused.
".. W-why do you keep asking me these questions?"

>>24534918
Well...

I talked to your parents. About Winter...

>>24534918
Just come out and say it, that's basically what she's asking us to do

>>24534918
First, hug. Second, ear scritches.

"I talked with your father, when he was here. About Winter, and you."

>>24534948
nothing can go wrong

>>24534918
"Because you're my friend and I want you to be happy. I don't want you to feel bad or unaccepted. By me or your Dad."

>>24534918
"You will hate me for this. Do you remember what Winter felt like before the accident?"

>>24534918
"Because I'm worried about you. And your parents are worried about you."

>>24534918

"your father, he told me, that they never had any other daughter aside from you."

>>24534985
Too blunt.
>>24534972
This.

>>24535001
There's such a thing as working her up too much.

>>24534972
This one.

"I talked with your father, when he was here." You say, and pull her into a hug. "About winter, and you."
"R-really? He didn't say anything embarassing, did he?" Summer asked- she giggled nervously.
"Do you remember what Winter felt like before the accident?"
"Of course." She said. "She didn't actually drain me m-"

Summer simply stopped talking there, quiet. She didn't say anything- but you felt her claws dig into your back, slipping from their sheathes.

Silence.

>>24534918
"Because, well, when your father was here, we got to talking... He really does love you, and he was worried.

When he told me why... I sorta worried a bit, as well. You need to understand, I'm not saying this to hurt you, I'm saying it because I care about you."

>>24535082
"I'm sorry, Summer."

>>24535082
"I'm here, Summer. Talk to me."

>>24535082

don't move, trying to get out of cat claws only makes it worse.

more than that i have no idea how to respond.

>>24535082
"I'm so sorry, Summer."

Just keep hugging her, try to ignore the whole claws thing.

>>24535082
Hug her tighter!

I'm here Summer. If you want to talk. If you just need company while you think

>>24535082
"Can I scritch your ears?"

"Per veritatem vis - through truth, strength"
This is the cost of truth. The claws shall rend us, though Theta will heal, we shall bear our scars, for the Truth has it's cost.

>>24535082
"Everyone who's born with psionics has unconsciously used them in their childhood, Summer. Your parents...they've always been worried about that, but they didn't know how to tell you."

>>24535082
Just keep hugging her and don't say anything until she does.

>>24535175
seconding this.

"You've known, Summer. On some level, you've always known."

>>24535175
This. She needs time.

You said nothing, just hugging her.

"I... I - but how could she... She was always there. Always. How. I." She said, her claws digging more and more into you, until she stopped using telepathy at all, making quiet mewing noises into your chest.
"Everyone who's born with psionics has unconsciously used them in their childhood, Summer." You say. "Your parents... they've always been worried about that, but they didn't know how to tell you."
"... So you're.. you're telling me... that I... I ... "
She laughed again- it sounded almost more like a sob. Her claws dug deeper, piercing your skin.
"You're not even telling me anything. I'm... figuring it out myself."
"You've known, Summer. One some level, you've always known."
Summer sobbed into your arms.
"I'm sorry, Summer." You say.
"It's almost ridiculous, isn't it?" She asked, shaking. "A little kitten makes up an imaginary friend, and then... they have the power to make them real. And they stay real for years and years..."

>>24535271
Kiss her.

>>24535299
No.
"Through Truth, Strength."