>>24588346
<What? Why do you think that?>

>>24588346
"Dad...the bacon...it's not as good."

>>24588346
<Yeah, I was thinking it was a possibility too. She caught on way too fast not to have some kind of talent talent.>

"Dad... the bacon... It's not as good." You say.
"Always a critic." Dad said, and chuckled. "Sorry, Heather, but this is what happens when you show up out of nowhere when I'm... busy. Substandard food, hahah."
"Well, sorry we disturbed your bondage session." Ellie said.

<What? Why do you think that?>
<I don't know.> Summer said. <It's just... the way she carries herself. She's always at ease with everything. Reminds me of how Damien knows the future.>
<I was thinking it was a possibility too.> You say.

Ellie tilted her head. "Are you two doing the brain talky thing?" She asked.

<Wait, can you hear us?> Summer asked.
Ellie didn't seem to respond.
<... We should call Max.>

>>24588422
<She might just be really relaxed you know. I'll ask Max if she can come back with us.>

"Nope!"

>>24588422
<Yeah. Maybe we should but I think it could make him mad if it's for nothing.>

>>24588422
>"Well, sorry we disturbed your bondage session."
Suppress a giggle.

>>24588422

<even if it's just a slight chance, yeah, we should.>

>>24588422
<Yeah, let's tell Max, it's worth at least checking out.>

>>24588422

change the subject away from horrible trauma inducing parent sex!

"did you notice?" to Ellie

>>24588422
Guys

What if Psionics is a virus that spreads to people in contact with us?

>>24588490
Then how are our parents so easy to catch in awkward situations?

>>24588490
I was wondering about this, if being around Psions can cause Psionics to develop in others.

>>24588490
Maybe there's a lot of people who have very minor psychic powers, but before it was being studied it was passed off as good luck, weird coincidence or empathy.

>>24588500
Because they're having nonstop sex whenever Heather isn't there. They don't sleep, or eat, or go out to do things, they just fuck 24/7.

>>24588500
Maybe it's to do with brain development when people are young or something?

>>24588500

maybe it only works on younger people then?

>>24588422
Can we think really hard at Ellie with a thought that she couldn't help but respond to like "Want to hear the next PC6 song before it's released?" but without fully bridging the connection to see if she can?

<She might just be really relaxed, you know.> You say. <But even if it's a slight chance, yeah, we should.>
"Nope!" You lie, and Ellie shot you a knowing grin.
"... Did you notice?"
"When you guys keep meeting eyes, it's obvious." Ellie said. "You two gossiping about me?"
"... No, not at all." Summer said, and Ellie giggled.
"Yeah, yeah, sure."

Carefully, you look at Ellie, and think really really hard at her, without fully creating a connection between you and her.
<Want to hear the next PC6 song before it's released?> You broadcasted.
<... Sure!> Summer responded. <You DID get damien to send the songs to you, right?>
Ellie just met your eyes and shrugged, before taking another bite.

>>24588550
Ah well, guess we're waiting for Max, he seems to know more about this sort of thing.

>>24588550
"So what model shuttle are you learning to fly on, Ellie?"

Also, shoot off a message to Max. <Max, can I bring a friend back? I'm not 100% sure she's psi-powered, but she managed to get out of my TK grip. Might be worth investigating.>

>>24588550
<C'mon Ellie. I know you're excited about it!>

>>24588550

maybe it's just latent potential, like the alien race the void queen is controlling?

<let's wait till we get word from Max, before we say or do anything.>

"so, which drones did you have prepared for me?"
"how are the shuttle flight lessons coming along?"

"So, what model shuttle are you learning to fly on, Ellie?"
"Well, I was using that junker Azraphiel that they have, but after I passed my preliminaries, they gave me the Raziel to train on. And they actually let me do some manuvers in orbit with the Garamon." She said, naming two of the retired shuttle models, and one of the spanking new ones.
"And how are they coming along?"
"Well, I've done like.. a dozen or so liftoffs, and half as many landings." She said. "A lotta orbit manuvuers."
She pointed a fork at you. "Once, a glitch actually wiped my atmospheric data during landing. Went spinning when I hit the atmosphere, and I almost trashed the engines getting it down. Too much ion thrust or whatever, but it could still fly. The instructor was impressed. I was still shaking, hah."

you turn to Mom. "So, which drones did you have prepared for me?"
"Just the two old ones that I don't even use anymore." She said. "Fixed them up, refueled them, all that. We don't have any big jobs right now anyway, so I had the spare time."

You turn to your personacom. <Max, can I bring a friend back? I'm not one hundred percent sure she's psionic, but she managed to get out of my TK grip. Might be worth investigating.>
There was a pause.
<What's her name?>
<Ellie Kalies. Elenora Kalies.> You respond.
<One mother on disability, one elder brother?>
<Yeah.>
<Alright, but she'll have to sign some paperwork when she gets here.>

>>24588688
"Thanks Mom! They should be pretty helpful along with all the other drones I have in the bay."

>>24588688
"Hey Ellie what do you say about a trip?"

>>24588688
<Alright, I'll ask her if she wants to come with. Thanks, Max.>

"So do you want them back, Mom? Do you have any tips for building an exosuit as well?"

>>24588688

"sound like that time we 'landed' on Sarvesh's home world."

>I'm not sure how i feel about that.

"Hey, Ellie? would you like to make a trip to the institute?"

should we tell her our suspicions?
might be for the best if we do.
maybe on the way back.

>>24588688
"I...uh, I've done the same, to be honest. Landing isn't easy."

Just wanted to check, since people are talking about taking Ellie back, we're not going yet, right?

We still promised Summer some swimming, and I think Heather wanted to talk to her parents about the whole Anna thing when she got a moment too, didn't she?

>>24588688
"Thanks mom!
Hey Ellie, do you want to fly my ship?"

>>24588784
We'll invite her swimming with us.

>>24588784
We also have to warn them about Armatek kidnappings and show off Surya to mom.

"I've, uh, I've done the same, to be honest. Landing isn't easy."
"Liftoffs are, though." Ellie said. "The Raziel has this really cool shaped heat shield that you can use to like, surf out of the atmosphere. Like an airplane or something."
"And thanks, mom. The drones should be pretty helpful along with all the other drones I have in the bay."
"Glad to hear. I thought so." She said. "I do want to see your ship, anyway. What's her name?"
"Surya." Summer said.
"Huh. Interesting."
<Alright, I'll ask her if she wants to come with. Thanks, Max.>
"Hey, Ellie?" You ask. "What do you say about making a trip to the institute?"
"Yes." She said, eyes wide. "I say yes. I want to meet this top secret Robin. Is he cute?"
Summer and you met eyes, but didn't say anything.
"More brain talking!" Ellie pointed.

>>24588820
"Yeah, she's cute, I'm sure you'll get along."

>>24588820
"We're not Brain talking. She's just staring at me for uh- no appearent reason!"

>>24588820

"not exactly, you'll see when we get there though..."
appraise Ellie for a bit.
"oh yeah. you'll see..."

>>24588820
"You'll just have to wait and see! Me and Summer were going to go swimming for a bit, want to join us?"

>>24588820
"That was was just a meaningful glance, no brain talking. But yes, Robin is cute."

Keep it completely gender neutral.

We should find a good time to spend some private time with our parents, we have a relationship to talk about, and we should probably tell Dad to be careful and that Armatek might try something so she should be armed at all times.

>>24588820
"Nope! Not that time."

"That was just a meaningful glance, no brain talking. But yes, Robin is cute."
"Yesss. I'mma have him take me out across the entire universe. Teleport me to distant locales and bring me sweets instantly." She said, stars in her eyes. "Without being a big hunk of crabcake."
"You'll just have to wait and see!" you say. "Me and summer were going to go swimming for a bit. Want to join us?"
"Sure!" She said.

Some time later, Summer and Ellie were splashing eachother, giggling- Ellie hadn't changed out of her shorts and shirt, but she didn't seem to care. You made your way over to where your parents were cleaning up after dinner, and Mom caught your look immediately.
"Honey?" She asked.

>>24588923
"Do you remember Anna? Me and her...we were...and then she..."

>>24588923

"could we uh, talk for a bit, just the three of us?"

>>24588923
"Hey mom, could I talk to both of you for a bit..."

>>24588923
"Can we uh talk in private?"

>>24588923
Give Mom and Dad a hug. "I have some relationship, stuff, I want to talk to you about in private.

I was going out with Anna, and it was fine, and then I went on a short trip to Sarvesh's planet and when I came back I found that she hooked up with her ex, who she said she hated, while I was gone and it sucks. And I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, or what I'm supposed to do with this.

We're not going out now, I'm taking a break from relationships, she's trying to get her head on straight, but I still don't know what I should do. Should I leave her alone until she's dealt with her issues? Should I try to help? Would I even be able to help? I even find it hard to forgive her because she straight up lied to me, she said she wanted monogamy, just me and her, and she did the opposite of that the moment we weren't in the same place."

>>24589058
I second all of that except for

>I even find it hard to forgive her because she straight up lied to me, she said she wanted monogamy, just me and her, and she did the opposite of that the moment we weren't in the same place.

It's a little too expositiony.

"Could we, uh, talk for a bit? Just the three of us? In private?"
"Of course." Dad said, and they closed the door to where Summer and Ellie were splashing and playing outside, summer gurgling as Ellie did her best to teach her how to swim better.
"Do you remember Ann? Me and her... we were... and then she..." You say- or try to.
"Take your time, dear." Dad said, a hand on your shoulder.
"I was going out with Anna. And it was fine, and then I went on a short trip to Sarvesh's planet, and when I came back I found that she hooked up with her ex, who she said she hated, while I was gone. And it sucks. And I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, or what I'm supposed to do with this." You say, and pull them both into hugs. "We're not even going out now. I'm taking a break from relationships, she's trying to get her head on straight, but I still don't know what I should do. Should I leave her alone until she's dealt with her issues? Should I try to help? Would I even be able to help?"

>Field too long!

>>24589158
"... This is a problem." Mom said, as you hugged her tightly. She and Dad met eyes, and the two started to communicate in a way even telepathy couldn't surpass. "Well, I'm not going to tell you what to do, because this is something you should figure out for yourself. I don't know much about Anna either, but... If you want to help, I'm sure you can support her. From afar, or even coming by and talking to her... And if you never want to talk to her again, you can do that too. It's all up to you. She's... Anna isn't your responsibility. You can help if you want, but you're not obligated to."
"And there's... there's something else." You say. "... ArmaTek."

A short time later, Dad was still hugging you.
"Don't worry." She said, quietly. "You know that exosuit in the machine room? That one's mine. We'll be fine, I promise. They'll never get past Dragon. Though I should call Newt..."

>>24589175
"Both of you...thank you."

>>24589175
"Yeah, I don't expect them to get past you, I just wanted you to be aware.
Everything goes right, they won't be a thing anymore within the next few weeks."

>>24589175
"Did you build that? Do you have any cool ideas you never got to build into it?"

>>24589175
"Maybe you should, but be careful Dad. Don't do anything stupid okay? I love you both too much."

>>24589175
"I was pretty sure you would be okay, I just wanted you to know that something might happen and to be prepared. Thank you.

Oh, I'm also meeting some aliens tomorrow, I got first contact with Technopathy. They came from very far away just to try to meet others, and their eternal machine pilot is a star eater that lives within a construct of crystal, it's beautiful."

I love how everyone's advice is just a variation of "eh, you figure it out."

"Okay, just promise me you'll be careful."

>>24589253
>I was pretty sure you would be okay
We were also pretty sure she cooked the best bacon in the galaxy, but what now, huh? Our whole world is falling apart!

>>24589175

"I-I don't hate her, I'm upset, but i don't hate her."
"I, can try to encourage her from a distance."

"thanks mom, dad. You're the best!"

"Thank you." You say, and hug the two a bit tighter for a time. "I was pretty sure you would be okay, I just wanted you to know that something might happen and to be prepared."
"We will, kiddo."
"And be careful, dad. Don't do anything stupid, okay? I love you both too much."
"Me? Doing stupid things? Pshaw." Dad said.
You frown at her.
"Just promise me you'll be careful."
"We'll be careful." Mom said.
"Oh, I'm also meeting some aliens tomorrow. I got first contact with Technopathy. They came from very far away just to try to meet others, and their eternal machine pilot is a star eater that lives within a construct of crystal, it's beautiful."
"... Really now?" Mom said. "Take pictures! And send them to us!"

Ellie banged on the door, and you heard the hinge warp slightly, and winced. Then she kicked it open.
"... I has a kitty!" She said, and she was holding a very wet, very upset lil'summer, mewling miserably. "You got a towel somewhere around, pops?"
"Yeah, over here." Dad said, and tossed her a handtowel, where she started to dry the kitten, making her way back outside.

>>24589351
Give our parents another hug. "I'll be sure to get you pictures. I love you both." Kiss them both on the cheeks.

Then go swimming, strip on the way to the pool and jump in.

>>24589351

"... i don't think 'normal' girls her age would be able to do that."
"we're taking Ellie with us to the Institute, to see if she's Psionic. It's a small chance but you never know, right?"

<Einstein please arrange for Surya to get a refill on gas.>

>>24589351
"I will mom,(begin hugging)"

>>24589351
"Dry off, then we'll all go to my ship!"

>>24589351
"I will, love you guys."

Hug parents, then go outside to swim.

>>24589351
"she's a door busting menace."

>>24589351
<So I've been thinking... What should I go by? Dragonspawn's a bit obvious, Titan would be too arrogant, I think. Drakeling maybe?>
to Dad

"I don't think normal girls her age should be able to do that." You say, looking at the way the doorhinge had warped.
"... I'll have to fix that." Mom said.
You kissed both of them on the cheek, then turned to Einstein. <Einstein, please arrange for Surya to get a refill on phaeron gas.>
<Doing so.>
"Love you guys!"
Then you leap into the pool, making a large splash.

Some time later, Ellie returned, with an overnight bag on her shoulder, walking across to the starport in flipflops. The crickets were chirping, and the stars above were shining brightly, the ice chunks too dark to see this late.
"I'm all ready!" She said.
"So am I!" Summer said, still mostly damp from the pool- her hair loved to retain water, no matter how much your father was trying to dry her off.
"So are we." Mom said, carrying two empty drone crates. "Heather... I'm really, really impressed with Surya here. Reminds me of the old days, when I was making ships."

>>24589533
Nah, we're already bullfrog, though I think Leviathan encompasses our inescapable nature.

>>24589558
"Like Mother like daughter I guess. See ya again soon!"

>>24589558
"Well, I had help with it, but I'm still very proud. Wait till you see the exosuit I'm building!"

>>24589564
Oh yeah. Bullfrog or Leviathan... one's an awesome callback, other's awesome.

>>24589558
"It was a lot of work and a lot of money, but it was so worth it."

>>24589558
"Thank you Mom, I did have some help though, not entirely a solo project. You should see the engine, Sir Helios is really amazing.

I also am nearly done with an exosuit, it'll be the best exosuit ever."

>>24589558

"had to keep up the proud family tradition!"

if she says we do not have such a thing

"we do now!"

>>24589558
"Lot's of work, money and teamwork."
"You should see Sir Helios, mom. He's amazing! The best engine one can have. The. Trust me. He's awesome."

>>24589558
"Oooh, do you have any old designs you never got to test?"

"Thank you mom. I did have some help, though. It was a lot of work and a lot of money, but it was soooo worth it."
"And that engine... My, my. I almost left Sallanee for that creation inside." Mom said, biting her lip.
"Helios is amazing!" You say. "I'm almost done with an exosuit. It'll be the best exosuit ever."
"You'd better bring it here so I can see!" Mom said, and kissed you on the cheek. "Take care, kiddo."
"I will." You tell her. Dad gave up on drying summer, said her goodbyes, and then she and Mom made their way back to the huge groundcar.

"So." Ellie said, grinning the sort of wicked grin that made you shiver. "Is here where I get to show off my training?"

>>24589686
"Yes!" Giggle, brace for lifdoff.
<So I've been thinking lately... And I've ended up with Bullfrog.>
To daddy

>>24589686
"Um, um...sure. But I'll show you how to bubble drive!"

>>24589686
Visibly tense "B-b-but my baby... Be gentle with her."

>>24589686
Nope.

>>24589686
Our parents are going to return to kinky sex the moment they get home with our Mom fantasizing about our engine throughout the whole thing. And Heather knows this.

"Once my baby is in space you can play around, but I'd like to get her out of atmo myself, you might hurt Surya."

>>24589686
"Go on. Don't hold back."

>>24589686
"Considering you're probably a better pilot than I am? Go ahead."

>>24589686

"i could use the practice myself but just this once should be fine."
"just, be careful with my baby, okay?"

>>24589733
Surya has dat engine

>>24589686
<oh and mom, ask her about Newt; that's who built the engine.>

>>24589686
"Don't thrust up too hard. The engines are pretty powerful."

"Um, um...." You say. "B-but my baby."
"Your baby will be fine." She said. "You have side-oriented thrusters like the Azzie, and the heat shield like the Raziel. It's a lot like what I'm used to."
"... Go on. Don't thrust up too hard. The engines are pretty powerful."
"Alright!"

You couldn't breathe a moment later, as she slammed upward on the thruster hard enough to push the air from your lungs. You got dizzy, but Ellie just giggled sheepishly. "Ahh! I put too much power into it! Is everyone conscious?"
"Ow." Summer said. You just panted, trying to regain your breath. Carefully, Ellie eased up, you shot her a slight glare.
"I know, I know, you told me." She said, and frowned. "Sorry, I'm still getting used to the controls. Whoop, ice chunk!"
The ship suddenly spun, and the projector showed you the horizon and sky switching places half a dozen times- and she boosted again, stopping the spin in the air.
"Sorry, sorry. Alright. Calm. That was a really big one, and I didn't want to ding your ship into it."

The rest of the ride, surprisingly, was rather peaceful. You made it up to orbital speeds, and slung out of the atmosphere.
"And then a little retrograde..." Ellie said, and thrusted a moment. "And there! Now we're in a mostly-okay orbit. Orbital's almost an hour from getting here, but I could get is a rendezvous in a few minutes if we needed to, but we don't, do we?"

>>24589846
"No, we don't. I'll plug the coordinates in and you just need to align the ship then hit the drive button."

>>24589846
"No, if we're in orbit just get your speed up and hit the bubble drive."

>>24589846
not really. I'll get us there

<all system nominal surya? she didn't hurt you did she? (if not) good, take us to the institute...>

>>24589846

as long as we safely activate the bubble drive and make it to the institute in one piece, i'm pretty much fine with anything.

>>24589846
"In retrospect I should have really designed a sick-bay into this thing."

>>24589846
"By the way, I never told you how I managed to afford this did I?"

"Me, Summer, Anna, Alex, and Sarvesh were the ones who discovered the Ishelda. I picked up on its location with my technopathy, fought some demiurg to get it, and we split the fifty-million reward five ways."

>>24589846
"Cmon let me show you how it's done."
Show her how to jump to bubble drive

"No, we don't." You say. "I'll plug the coordinates in, and you just need to align the ship, then hit the drive button."
"Okay!" She said. You imput the coordinates, and Ellie carefully turned her bearings to where the computer told her. "This button?"
You nod.
She hit it, and you slid flawlessly into bubble drive.
"That's it?" She asked.
"That's it."

Later, the three of you were relaxing in zero G.
"By the way, I never told you how I managed to afford this, did I?"
"No. How did you?"
"Me, Summer, Anna, Alex, and Sarvesh were the ones who discovered the Ishelda. I picked up on its location with my technopathy, fought some Demiurg to get it, and we split the fifty-million reward five ways."
"What. Really?! REALLY?! That's so cool! You're a millionaire! I know myself a millionaire now."

"Two, actually." Summer said. "Which is funny. If I spent *all* of my money, I could transgene and clone a new me from scratch!"

>>24589957
I'm not much of one, I spent most of it on the ship...

>>24589957
"Most bubble drives aren't like that. I had a friend make mine super-slick."

>>24589957
"But you don't need to, because you can just manifest another!"

>>24589957

"I spend a good part of it on my ship."

"you could do that i guess, but that would take *a lot* getting used to, or can you just rely on the experience from your manifestations? (the ones she actively controls, like that Heather clone)"

>>24589957
"I blew most of my cash on the drive, though."

>>24589957
"But that wouldn't be you! And the universe could explode from all the fluffyness."

>>24589957
"I don't know if I could handle that much fluffiness."

>>24589957
"Enjoy it while it lasts. I already spent half of it."

>>24590032

hmm, i was assuming she would make a bipedal clone when i wrote this.

"But you don't need to, because you can just manifest another!"
"Yep!" Summer said.
"I don't know if I could handle that much fluffiness."
"You can always handle fluffiness." Ellie said, rolling in zero-G and holding down her skirt with her hands. "I chose the wrong thing to wear! Damnit."
"You knew we were going into space, though." Summer said.
"I thought you guys would have artificial gravity or something."
Summer just focused, and you found yourself falling to the bottom of the ship.
"Yay!" Ellie said, getting to her feet. "This is weird. It's like you're pinning me down."

It didn't feel like that for you- it felt like there was gravity now, as Summer's TK pulled you in gravity's stead. Strange...

>>24590102
"Artificial gravity is pretty much the most expensive thing though. There's no way I could afford that too."

>>24590102
"Yeah, you're definitely something." Giggle
"Welcome to the club, I'd say."

>>24590102
"oh and I should have warned you, robin's a bit of a letch so the skirt is a doubly unfortunate garment."

>she doesn't know robins a girl right?
>>24588820
>Is he cute?"
or is that a typo?

>>24590102
"Don't exhaust yourself Summer!"

>>24590144
She thinks Robin is a guy.

She'll learn...

>>24590102
>Ellie confirmed to have permanancied FoM/Elven Grace.

>>24590144
Not a typo.

>>24590102

extraordinary sense?
where does her door breaking strength come from?

didn't Alex feel something like this when we first tried to lift him up when his shield went down?

"I didn't think I needed artificial gravity, i can just push myself along with TK."

>>24590144

she doesn't, will be extra funny when we get to the station.

>>24590102
"You've pretty much just guaranteed yourself to get attention from Robin with that skirt."

>>24590102
"Damn, Ellie, you're really slippery when it comes to TK."

>>24590158
She has Iron Heart Surge as an at-will.

>"Hey, you're pushing me downward. NOPE, gonna float away now."
>"Uh, no, I'm not. I'm making GRAVITY."
>"Well then I'ma NOPE out of gravity."
>"wat."

>>24590218

>"screw gravity"
>*floats upward*

heh.

"Oh, and I should have warned you." You say. "You've pretty much guaranteed yourself to get attention from Robin with that skirt."
"Yesss." She said, and took a seat on the kitchenette counter. You turn to summer.
"Don't exhaust yourself, Summer." You say.
"I'll be fine." Summer said. "I practice a lot."
"And anyway, artificial gravity is pretty much the most expensive thing ever. There's no way I could afford that too."
"Yeah, good point." Ellie said. "You know, I could probably set us spinning in bubble drive..."
"No please." Summer said.
"Fine, okay." She said, and giggled. She kicked her legs- and then the navigation computer beeped. You slid into the seat, and everyone quickly strapped themselves in. You pulled out of bubble drive to see the station- and a new marine complement was moving in with a new shuttle.
"Hey, Heather." One of the councilors said- Jason, you think, Damien's Counselor. "Ellie's on board, right? Just come down to the lower bay and we'll meet you there."
"Alright." You say, and aim toward the outward bay, docking with a bit of unnessecary jostling.

After docking, Jason came out, Max on his heels.
"Sup." He said, waving to Ellie. "We'll need you to sign this. It's all mostly nondisclosure, and that you're here willingly and all that jazz."
"Right!" Ellie responded, and looked it over, before signing the paper.
"And this is Max." He said.
"Hello." Max woofed.
"Sup."
Max sniffed.
<Nothing.> He said.

>>24590323
<There's definitely something weird though, in the way she feels TK.>

>>24590323
<wait for it>
"ellie, I'm gonna lift you in a second I want you to try and wiggle out of it like you did back and heavens jewel"

>>24590323
"There's something going on, like a modified and not as inclusive version of Alex's powers. She feels TK differently and can wriggle out of them."

>>24590323
<Yeah, I thought that was probably the case. There's definitely something weird with how she experiences TK though.>

>>24590323

<you sure? she can get away from our TK 'grip' with ease, like "twisting out of a persons grasp">

>>24590323
<Fair enough, but she's expressed weird feelings with Summers TK on the way here too. Here's what it felt like when I tried to pick her up.>
send the memory.

>>24590323
<It's probably nothing...I wanted to be sure though. Thanks, Max.>

>>24590323
<Well. I think that's kind of relief. But we should make a way how to find out if anybody's psychic without you.>

>Also I have a question about setting : Since Transgenes are normal, are there also soldiers transgened to be more combat efficient?

>>24590360
>>24590373
Guys, as proponents of SCIENCE, we should know that a one-time occurrence is not enough data to go off telling them that this is a thing she is capable of doing consistently.

>>24590348
>>24590370
>>24590378
Saying that she perceives TK in a weird way is fine, though it's interesting that she didn't bring any weird feelings up when everyone was messing around beachside back on Heaven's Jewel the first time.

>>24590431
>>24590360
>>24590373
you know he can't smell it unless they're using it right?

>>24590431
>though it's interesting that she didn't bring any weird feelings up when everyone was messing around beachside back on Heaven's Jewel the first time
Why? Nobody used TK on her then as far as I remember.

<Yeah, I thought that was probably the case. There's something weird with how she experiences TK.> You say. <She can get away from our TK 'grip' with ease, like "twisting out of a persons grasp">
"Hey, Ellie, can you try something for me real quick?" Max asked.
"Hm?"
"I'll lift you in the air, and then let's see if you can twist out of it."
"Alrighty!"
Max focused, and carefully Ellie lifted into the air- and then she twisted out of it. Easily.
"Like that?" She asked.

Max blinked, and sniffed again.
<... Still nothing. I... missed. Somehow. She made me miss. But it's not psionic, I don't... think. Maybe->
Ellie suddenly knelt down and started petting him. Max's tail wagged, and he arched up his neck so she could scratch his chin. And she did.
"You're a pretty cute dog, you know."
"Yes, I know." Max said, his tail wagging.
"Anyway, you guys can do whatever, I'm going back to my movie." Jason said.
"Thanks." Max said, and the counselor just waved.
Suddenly, there was a 'pamf' noise and Robin appeared in a puff of black smoke.
"Guess what?!" She asked. "I got my wheres back!"
"... Hello!" Ellie said, with a wave. "My name's Ellie."
"Hey Ellie, I gotta go tell Isaac." She said, and 'pamfed' away.
"... That was strange. Is that kind of thing-" And then something flipped her skirt.
"Eep! Who did that?!" She asked, wheeling around.

There was nobody else but you, Summer, and Max in the room.

>>24590501
"That was Robin."
And that's all the explanation needed.

>>24590501
and that was robin

>>24590501
"Well that was our local molester."

>>24590501
"What are you talking about, Ellie?"

>>24590501
"The phantom groper Robin. A terror to butts everywhere.

You get used to it."

>>24590501
(pit finger on nose) "not it"

>>24590501
"Congratulations, Ellie! We can't hold you down with Telekinesis!"

>>24590501
"Robin strikes again."

>>24590501

Ellie is (for lack of better words) a greased pig to Psionic targeting?

that's cool.

>>24590501
"Ellie, you have just met Tropical Storm Robin."

>>24590501
"C'mon! Let's go meet the rest of the motley pirate crew."

>>24590523
>>24590527
>>24590554
lets not tell her that was robin just that it's the local molester.

"yeah, that stuff happens a lot around here..."

>>24590554
No! We need to keep her guessing who it is.

>>24590594
>>24590605
We already mentioned how pervy Robin was, and she still thinks Robin's a dude, I figured she wouldn't make the connection between Robin and the girl she just met.

"What are you talking about, Ellie?"
"I'm talking about the person who..."
She whirled about. "Is there anyone that can go.. I don't know, invisible?"
"Damien has been working on it." Max said. "But he's run into some trouble- namely, being able to see. Why do you ask?"
"... No reason." Ellie said, gritting her teeth.
"C'mon! Let's go meet the rest of the motley pirate crew."
"Okay!" Ellie said.
"I think I'm gonna head back to the room for now." Summer said. "Read that philosopher Ellie told me about."
"Have fun, Summer!" Ellie said. "So Heather, who are we gonna go meet first? I already know everyone that came down to the beach. How about one of the new people? Saaaaaay, Robin? Or maybe that Isaac who the girl talked about. Who was that girl, anyway?"

>>24590666
"Ah, if we meet her again I'm sure she'll tell you."

"Wanna see my workshop?!? It's *fucking awesome*."

>>24590666
>Who was that girl, anyway?"
that was Robin, note the teleporting

>>24590666
"that was rho, and Isac is Robin's less perverted Brother"

"max do you know where everyone is?"
<and do you have any idea how to maintain this deception? she keep imagining "robin" is a tall attractive male>

>>24590666
"Oh you are so eager to meet Robin, I hope you won't be dissapointed! Have you met Theta? He can make your hair look super cool!"

>>24590666

i don't think keeping Robins gender from Ellie will ... work out.

we really, really should tell her.

>>24590666
look ellie there are only 2 teleporters on this station and sarvesh is a centaur

>>24590666
Laugh, "That was Robin, formerly Rho. There's also Isaac (formerly Epsilon), Sigma, Theta, and Lambda.
You understand now why I was concerned when you told me you had a boyfriend with a greek letter for a name."

Hmm, so she is a psi-sensitive. She can literally feel anything we do. Use clairvoyance to try viewing her from another direction.

>>24590666
you've already met robin. she is that girl that vanished just now

>>24590666
"You just met Robin, when she teleported and groped you. Cute, wasn't she?"

You giggle. "That was Robin, formerly Rho. There's also Isaac, formerly Epsilon, Sigma, Theta, and Lambda."
"... you mean that girl was lambda? That wee little teensy girl?"
Max just chuckled, and Ellie sighed.
"Cute, wasn't she?"
"Daring." Ellie said.
"Now you understand why I was so concerned when you told me you had a boyfriend with a greek letter for a name."
"What, you thought they were part of whatever family has all these psions?" She asked. "Or something?"

>>24590854
"Something like that, yeah, it was a pretty crazy coincidence."

Holy crap she's dense.

>>24590854
>that girl was Robin, even. Whoops.

>>24590854

"most parents don't name their children after greed letters, I just concerned."

she might like Isaac, come to think of it. He could almost literally move heaven and Earth for her (well, Earth anyway).

>>24590929

>"I was just concerned" even

>>24590928
damn

>>24590854
yup, that was robin. how do you feel about meeting a guy who can change peoples bodies? perhaps someone who can see the future or control any machine she touches?

"Most parents don't name their children after greek letters. I was just concerned."
"Yeah, good point." She said.
"Alright, I'm off." Summer said. She gave you and Ellie a hug, and made her way up the ramp to the dorms.
"So what's the plan?" Ellie asked.
"How do you feel about meeting a guy who can change peoples' bodies? Perhaps someone who can see the future, or control any machine she touches?"
"Let's go with the first one." She said.
"Theta it is!"

You and Ellie find Theta half-asleep in hydroponics, lying back there. His hair was green as the plants, and Ellie didn't notice it until he sat up.
"Oh, hey." He said. "You new?"
"I'm just visiting. Name's Ellie."
"Theta!" Theta said, and held out his hand.
"Heather says you can change people's bodies?"
"Yep."
"Like how?"
"Well, I turned Alex into a girl. And heather into a centaur once."
"What."

>>24591050
"Yup, being a Centaur was really weird, I kept falling over until I learned how to walk right."

>>24591050
"It's true. They have to walk sideways all the time. Like Pacman."

>>24591050
"you heard the,(look theta up and down carefully) man? he can turn people into different species and stuff, I got to experience being a male centaur for a couple of hours...it was interesting..."

>>24591050

"on a completely unrelated note, don't get him angry."

"it was a whole new experience, one which i won't soon forget."


>and now i sleep.
>good luck gentlemen.

>I hope Anna is doing okay.

>>24591050
"Yeah the whole centaur thing was weird. I had to learn how to walk, and I was male! You wouldn't believe what centaurs hid under their shell!"

>>24591104
>I hope Anna is doing okay.

I wonder if we should stop in and say hi to her at some point. Nothing serious, just to see how she's doing.

>>24591129
Might be an idea, just a quick social call to let her know things are still cool between her and Heather and keep her focused.

>>24591129
>>24591145

it would be a sweet gesture, wouldn't it?

"It's true." You say. "They have to walk sideways all the time. Like pacman."
"... What?" Ellie asked.
"What?"
Ellie just shrugged, and grabbed Theta's hand, pulling him to his feet.

"And on a completely unrelated note, don't get him angry."
Theta cackled evilly, and Ellie grinned.
"So what's with your name? Almost nobody names their kids after greek letters nowadays."
"Scientists do." Theta said.

Some time later, Theta was done explaining how he and his siblings were created. and Ellie was grinding her teeth *hard*. You'd never seen her so angry.
"Those shitnuggets! Fucking immoral needs-overweigh-the-costs cunts!"

>>24591169
Nod in agreement.

"Don't worry, the UPA has all the info, they're going to do something about this, and if there's still any bits of Armatek left standing when they're done... We'll deal with it ourselves."

>>24591169
yeah, we're destroying them good and hard once we get some other stuff sorted out.

My thoughts exaclty!

>I still want to get Omega and Delta away from them though.

>>24591169
You see why I was worried about your boyfriend?

>>24591169
"We're already working on a plan how to bring them down with our brain powers."

>>24591169
"Yeah, but I'm taking care of them tomorrow when I meet the councillors, then I'm going to do a public release of *all* their data eventually."

>>24591169

"i know how you feel, Lambda probably had the toughest time, we'll meet up with him later."

"please calm yourself, we'll get it sorted out, hopefully, soon."

we'll get Delta and Omega eventually, maybe bribe Delta with Sarvesh's cooking so his drones won't murder us.

"My thoughts exactly." You say. Ellie didn't seem to hear you, still cursing and grinding her teeth.
"Don't worry. The UPA has all the info, and they're going to do somethign about this. If there's any bits of Armatek left standing when they're done... We'll deal with it ourselves."
"And I'll help." Ellie said.
"Hah, thanks, but no need." Theta said. "Not sure how much you'd be able to help."
"Hey, I can help. I know how to kick someone's shit in. I'll buy a baseball bat and everything."

And then there was a thump. A loud, unnerving thump.
".... Oh, gods." Theta said, eyes wide.

Peering in through the hydroponic window with an eye attached to a long tendril, was Devourer.
<I have come for my payment.> It said, and climbed toward the hydroponics airlock- you saw its legs and hips were burned away, red hot, by the weapons platforms, and it's skin was writhing as it regrew.
"What the fuck is that?"
"Oh gods oh gods oh gods" Theta was chanting, covering his eyes and curling up.

>>24591333
"Oh fuck it's back."

<Um, um, um, what do you want?"

>>24591333
<What do you want?>

Heather just can't catch a break these days.

>>24591333
speak AND think

"sure, let me open the lock for you. what do you need?"

>>24591333
"<Sure. Can we perhaps do this where Theta isn't?>"

"I told you I fucked up badly!"
"Don't get too close, Ellie."

>>24591333
"That's Bob. I made him by accident."
<What do you want?>

>>24591333
<As long as it isn't souls of innocents, I can try to help. Would you mind, um, looking a bit less creepy?>

>>24591333
"Ah crap, Ellie, stay back."

<What do you want?"

>>24591333
<What would that be?>

>>24591333
<Hi Bob! What would that be?>
"Calm down, it's Bob."

>>24591395
>Calm down, it's Bob.
"Calm down, it's just Bob."

>>24591380
>As long as it isn't souls of innocents
Let's not say that, because the first thought that game to mind was: "I need no souls, only flesh."

>>24591333

<what payment?!>

send messages out to people!

<Devourer, Hydroponics! be careful!>

"Oh fuck, it's back."
"What's back?!"
"oh gods oh gods oh gods"

There was a smash as Devourer kicked at the outer airlock, and alarms started up.
<Um... um... um... What do you want?>
<I hunger. Give me three.> It said. Marines stomped up, and raised their weapons. <Three trained sapients. I do not want one trained in mindspeech.>

It wrenched shut the second airlock, and kicked in the first. Standing there was an impossibly bulky, headless humanoid, almost looking as if it were made of brown vines instead of flesh. Corded muscle writhed through its body, and its legs had regrown- you felt small bits of technology inside of it, but they were... alien.

The marines opened fire, and Ellie dove to the side, covering her head.

It held up three fingers, as bullets tore holes in its flesh and skin, cutting it into what looked like swiss cheese, the holes quickly regrowing.
<Three of them, and we are equal once more.>
Something hissed out of its palm, and a great, stretching web caught the air, blasting the marines against the wall. They writhed, stuck- and the steel webbing started radiating radiowaves, scrambling communication.

>>24591442
What? Three! No deal!

Why do you need them?

>>24591442
<What do you need them for?>

>>24591442
TK the webbing off them.

>>24591456
>>24591458
He said he was hungry.

.... tecknopath our exosuit. Omni has probably finished it. Have it grab the Ion Laser.

At the same time crush it with TK.

<Theta. I need your help.>

>>24591458
>>24591456
it just said it hungers. It wants to eat them.

>>24591442
<There's no way in hell I'm giving you any of my friends.>

Not expecting it to work, but black hole the fucker.

>>24591442
<What? What are you going to do with them? What do you mean three sapients? Just normal people?>

Rolled 94

>>24591442
Make a huge-ass black hole the size of the devourer and devour him.

>>24591483
No, three Psionics who have more than telepathy, for food.

>>24591458
>Devourer
To fill out a barbershop quartet? What do you think it wants them for?

>>24591483
What part of <I hunger> was hard to grasp.

>>24591442
What on earth have you been eating? Why did you come back?

Rolled 73

>>24591442
"no deal, that is not an acceptable trade"

attempt to blackhole him

>>24591488
>black hole
I think you mean Void Hole.

>>24591488
Well, that'll hopefully slow him down at least.

>>24591442

no, no no. he wants to eat our friends or those marines?!

he's not getting them!

>>24591488
Clap clap clap.

Devour the devourer.

>>24591488
>>24591503

I think the dice have spoken.

>>24591488
I like that roll, its not a 100 but its damn close.

>>24591504
I think you mean dump him into the sun.

We should probably just jettison this part of the station.

>>24591442
<You want me to feed you three of my friends? No!
Um, I could tell you where the Void Queen is if you want.>
"Oh god I'm such a rubbish mother."

>>24591442
<Get the fuck up, Theta.>
Mind-slap some sense into him

>>24591529
That works.

<I cannot and will not give you lives to devour.>

Rolled 76

>>24591475
rolling for tecknopathy though

>>24591529
On the one hand, this just delays the problem. If he goes off and eats the Void Queen and becomes even more powerful, it could be bad.

On the other hand, he just shrugged off anti starship weaponry.

>>24591488
Aww, poor Bob.

>>24591604
Not like it's going to kill him.

>>24591488
We'll have to get Theta to scrub any remaining cells away.

Or get a flamethrower. This is going to be like The Thing.

>>24591588

if we do not consume his form entirely and destroy every single cell, i figure he'll just keep coming back.

>fucking dragon ball Z, man

... hmmm, I wonder if the minds it devours are still in there. It would explain the want for no mind speakers.

<What do you need them for?>
<I HUNGER.> It snarled. <I need power. Flesh. My prey is strong, my powers are not.>

You pause a moment, and then technopath the exosuit to hurry up here-
And then you raise a palm, and quite carefully... crush him.
The devourer doesn't make a noise as you consume it within a sphere that blocked all light.
And then a small, black sphere fell to the ground, perfectly still.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS-"
There was a loud crack, and a full, devourer-sized claw tore its way from the sphere. Then another started doing the same, as it decompressed itself. Ellie's yelled words turned into screaming, and she leaped down the ladder from hydroponics.

<Get the fuck up, Theta! We need you!>

Shaking, Devourer got to its feet again, the vines regrowing and writhing.
<Good.> It said, and held out a claw. <I need that.>

Inside of its head, you felt... a keen, crystallized mind, incredibly powerful and charged with raw intellect. From there, you read-
It had eaten demiurg. Lots, and lots of demiurg. Low level telepaths, all of them- and it had all of their knowledge.
<Yes.> It said. <I have. They are pests, all of them. I have no need of them anymore.>

>>24591442
<Until you do my bidding, you shall recieve none.>

>Tell me when I start saying crazy demands

>>24591610
...Then why attack him if it's just going to piss him off?

>>24591633
Would you rather we fed him our friends?

>>24591620
>all of their knowledge and power.
>whoops, correction!

>>24591620
Well crap, I'm all out of ideas on how to stop the invincible, unstoppable force of nature.

Rolled 39

>>24591620
VOID SPHERE HIM.

i cannot be bothered to deal with this fucker.

Rolled 77

>>24591620
"who is your prey?"

"marines, check fire! you(point at him) hold on"

(stalling for time guys?)

>>24591654
We just did.

Apparently that doesn't work.

Which means we have nothing.

Rolled 62

>>24591620
>Inside of its head,
I thought it didn't have a head.
>>24591442
>an impossibly bulky, headless humanoid,

>>24591620
<Guys!, that demon thing is back, and I can't stop it this time!>

TK Theta downstairs, then TK slap his face so he wakes up.

>>24591620

Fuck, it's like fighting SCP-632.

>>24591654

You do know that he just laughed that off, right?

Rolled 41

>>24591620
We are quite strong telepathic wise. Attack its mind. Destroy it so its nothing more then a vegatable.

>>24591620
You have no more or less right to survive than any other. I will not sacrifice lives to you. But if you will stop attacking, I give you my word that we will find another way for you to live.

>>24591661
That was blackhole. Void is different.

>>24591661
we still have matter annihilation

>>24591620

<I am NOT, feeding you my friends or anyone else.>

how the fuck do we kill this thing?!

have Isaac push it in to a star?!

Uh, "we are equal once more" implies that our debt was even at one point.

It said we owed two when we asked it to spare Rho, and then

As of 44:
>Now you only owe one, after this, Creator.
After it yoinked our psionics long-distance to fend off attackers.

And now the guy shows up demanding THREE PEOPLE?

Guy's tryin' to rip us off, and we should tell him as much.

Rolled 26

>>24591680
oh good point... Demanifest it.

>>24591620
<What do you even want?!?>

>>24591695
Or have summer pull it into her world and leave without it.

>>24591620
Hug him!
Yes I am really scraping the bottom of the idea barrel here.

>>24591620
if you can survive that you don't need other powers

>>24591705
I wish people would stop asking that.

It has told us what it wants, repeatedly.

It wants to eat three psions to absorb their powers.

Rolled 28

>>24591691
"One favour is not worth three lives! Especially since you counted it as my favour when I saved your life!"

>>24591680
actually, that's a good point - if we created it with psionics, we should in theory be able to unmake it, right? Like Summer. We might not be strong enough, but worth a shot.

>>24591620
<If we're going to get along you've got to stop being so mean to people.>

unless someone rolls better then a 26, it ain't happening.

would it work if Alex threw his anti bubble around him?

>>24591620
<Anyone! Quickly, help me kill this fuck!>

Rolled 25

>>24591680
annihilation sphere, lets hope we don't die from the radiation

Also, if it ABSOLUTELY won't leave without eating a more psion knowledge on pain of bloody murder, we can have Theta biokinesis him a brainsnack and we can use the technopathy virus to upload one Psion worth of knowledgemeal into it to even up our debt.

Rolled 3

>>24591722
>>24591620

Attempting to demanifest.

"You are my creation! I demand you to STOP!"

>>24591741
Oh. That's a good point. Get Alex up here. If it's sustained by biokinesis, that'll cancel and we might actually be able to kill it.

Rolled 77

>>24591620
you can survive being compressed to ridiculous levels, you don't need other powers

>>24591741
It would probably stop him regenerating and changing.

Rolled 6

>>24591731
alright, lets give this a shot!

>>24591747
>>24591768
STOP.
ROLLING.

Calm your fucking tits people.

>>24591620
<One. Last I heard, she was here [mentalite him the location of the Scythe things' planet].>

>>24591768
The second roll was 77. You're just risking a nat 1 there. What are we even rolling for?

>>24591773
its a battle, you have to roll for psionics when at battle.

>>24591775
I think it knows where she is, it wants more powers so it can go up against her and win.

Guys, force didn't fucking work.
Diplomacy time.

Rolled 35

Ideas:
We could tell him that we've got a way to give him psionics without eating people.
Or we could learn the new techniques, and he can learn from us, remotely.

Rolled 75

>>24591620
lets point him at delta

>>24591636
Feed him some marines. Just telepath that we can't exactly stop him, and mentally direct him to some Marines. It's better than pissing him off, and it'll buy us some time to figure out how to destroy him.

>>24591794
no

>>24591797
he specified psionics

Maybe we should try to teach it empathy, or something.

Because I'm pretty sure force isn't going to work.

>>24591797
It wants people with psionics.

<I am NOT feeding you my friends, or anyone else!>
<I am aware.> It said. Then it bowed its shoulders, and from it's mind- somewhere in its torso, you could tell- screeched. Screeched loudly, with all of the honed powers he had devoured, telepathy echoing throughout the cosmos.

Reality shook.

Consciousness

receded

---
-
-
---

--
-
--
-
-
---
------
-
---

Blurrily, you saw Robin springing back and forth, bursts of smoke dancing around the demon as she tore off limb after limb, disintegrating it.

Sarvesh appeared in a blue burst of light- and Devourer's arm flipped the creature agily- and slammed his second fist down at Sarvesh's underside, claws at bear.

And Robin reached out, disintegrating that arm just as quickly as a new one grew.

Someone tried to climb up the ladder, doing his best to claw through the webbing there, and Theta mumbled something, almost unconscious.

Devourer screeched again, and Robin and Sarvesh both collapsed, telepathy richocheting in their minds. You'd... heard that before, though... and you were able to cling to your mind enough to stand.
<Three.> It told you. Then it looked pointedly at Robin and Sarvesh. <I only need one translocator. I want the small one.>

>>24591791
Agreed. We can probably 'teach' him instead of this futile fighting.

>>24591797
It's the principle of the thing. We're not trading favours for lives.

Rolled 97

>>24591821
.... puppet theta. Take control of his abilities, we have the strongest telepathy out there and we NEED his biokinesis NOW

>>24591821
Murder ball of death it right in its brain.

Rolled 67

>>24591821
Compress into black sphere, teleport black sphere to sun.

Rolled 51

>>24591821
I am not letting you eat my friends!

We can teach you their powers safely, nobody has to die.

Rolled 73

>>24591821
Oh, great. Our friends are now dead.

Wherever Alex is, activate his personacom and get him to come up here, or tell him to activate his anti-psi field.

<You get none of my friends.>

Trap him with something, I guess.

>>24591821
>flipped the centaur, even

Rolled 65

>>24591821

nooooooo!

he's going to eat Robin, someone, ANYONE, kill this thing!

I can't form a coherent plan anymore!

Rolled 58

>>24591821
><Three.> It told you. Then it looked pointedly at Robin and Sarvesh. <I only need one translocator. I want the small one.>
that's bullshit, you gave her to us.
try to reclaim our power from it using the link that connects us.

>>24591821
<No. Bad Devourer. Go and sit on the naughty step.>

>>24591847
one problem with that plan, it doesn't have a brain

>>24591792
That's a good point. Although I'm not sure how wise teaching him teleportation is, I'd rather do it with the virus than with him eating Robin.

>>24591821
"I already had you spare her, and you counted it as a debt I owed.

To come back here now and demand I give her to you is the highest possible disrespect.

We have the ability to provide knowledge of psionics without the need for you to devour anyone. Take it or leave it."

>>24591844
If he leaves it, get Theta like this guy said.

>>24591888
Its mind is in its torso, that spot.

Rolled 13

>>24591821
Annihilation sphere at it's mind.

>>24591821
<No.>
>>24591897
This, this this this this fucking this.
We can't even hurt it you fuckasses.

>>24591821
<No! I'm not letting you eat anybody here! Please, just stop! You don't need to hunt, you don't need to kill anything! I didn't let them kill you because I thought you deserved to prove that you aren't a monster, but now this!?>

Man, that biokinesis 1 is really coming back to bite us.

>>24591894
Exactly. Fighting isn't going to solve anything. At best we lose potential allies and at worst everyone dies.

>>24591821
The fuck? Is a 100 the only way to kill this thing?

Rolled 18

>>24591821
>>24591821
"who is your prey? cause if it's who I think it is you could fight on MY side against her..."

>>24591924
>The fuck? is *PLOT* the only way to kill this thing?

Fixed that for you.

>>24591897
Yeah, what the fuck. He says he owe him a favour for not eating Robin and then he tries to use the favour to get us to feed him Robin and two other people. Surely he should know that that is not how it works.

>>24591894
he doesn't just want a weak power. Remember how robin was with TK? He wants flesh and strength.

>>24591924
yes, probably, we created it with a nat 1

>>24591821
Would it be possible for Summer to create a pocket universe and for us to shove it inside?

>>24591944
I'm starting to seriously doubt anything will work.

>>24591916
No it isn't. Less shooty more <Alright, instead of eating them, how about I teach you using a newly liberated Technopathy Psionic Data Transfer Virus?>

>>24591897
This, we can't even hurt it.
Try and get that through your thick fucking skulls.