>>25238540

"Summer, you are a genius."

let's go see what's gotten under Sigma's skin.

>>25238540
Never?

>>25238540
"Wouldn't that class as changing the future or whatever though?"

>>25238540
"Hmm, I could probably just download a copy of the textbook into my brain. I've been avoiding technopathing anything like that since the Void Queen virus but I guess I don't have to worry about that any more."

>>25238540
"Prodding for your thoughts, Sigmie?"

>>25238711
... this is a terrible idea. Lets do it anyway.

"Never?" You ask.
Damien just shrugged, and took another bite.
"Summer, you're a genius." You say, and grin. "I could probably just download a copy of the textbook into my brain. I've been avoiding technopathing anything like that since the void queen virus, but I guess I don't have to worry about that, anymore."
"Aw, man." Summer said. "The most I could do is manifest a copy of myself, have her go to classes for me, and I won't even learn anything. I need to practice more powers, I guess."
She pouted, and went back to eating.

You got to your feet, and made your way over to Sigma and Theta's seat, taking your food with you.
"Prodding for your thoughts, Sigmie?" You ask.
Sigma just sighed.
"It's kind of personal." She said, still with the 'Hello, my name is Sara' sticker on her shirt. "It's... Well, I've been with my boyfriend for a few months now, and... Um.. we weren't as careful as we should have been, I guess."

>>25238800
"Oh...what's happened? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

>>25238800
Oh. Well. Oh. Congratulations?

>>25238815
Are you being dense?

>>25238815
Shes saying shes pregnant

>>25238800

"oh, OH, umm, congratulations?"

>>25238800
Blink
"You're..."
<You're pregnant?>

>>25238800
>"Aw, man." Summer said. "The most I could do is manifest a copy of myself, have her go to classes for me, and I won't even learn anything. I need to practice more powers, I guess."
Wasn't she the one who's been cheating the longest? Just CVing the test answers or something?

>>25238907
That was Damien. Summer doesn't really use CV.

"Oh. Oh! Um..." You blink. "You're..."
You pause, and blink again, speaking to her telepathically.
<You're pregnant?>
"Yeeep." She said, and sighed. "And Theta's useless."
"Not my fault I can't even tell what transgenes you have." He said. "The data didn't have anything about her donor."
"Still not even sure how to handle it." Sigma said, quietly. "Or if I should have Theta kill the bugger."

>>25238968
Well, let's get to Know her, that's how we found out Robin's and Isaac's parents' names (Descartes)

>>25238968
If you aren't ready to have a kid then it might be for the best. Growing up unwanted is probably the shittiest thing to happen.

>>25238968


"let's not be hasty, does the father know?"
"I might be able to help."

with her being so close to actual machinery, we can technopath her perhaps and we can definitely use knowledge to try and find out more.

>>25238925
I'm fairly certain it was Summer. It wasn't proper CV.

>>25238968
"It's up to you. Though I am not sure what the institute's attitude towards that will be."

>>25238968
"Have you told your boyfriend yet?"
Maybe Devourer could look at her genes better, but don't say that in front of Theta, he'll feel all inadequate.

>>25239022
This might work.

>>25238968
>shitstorm INCOMING!

honestly, the only person who can decide to keep it or not, is Siggie, and besides, if its too early for her, she can have theta make it go away and make sure she can't get praggnant until she wants to.

>>25238968
Isn't Theta's thing being able to know exactly what somebody is, in terms of biology?

I think he's lying. It's a good thing, though, so don't call him out on it.

>>25239156
Why would there be a shitstorm? I don't think anybody's decided that Sigma's unborn child is their waifu yet.

"... Well, if you aren't ready to have a kid, then it might be for the best." You say. "Does the father know?"
"He doesn't know a lot of things." She said. "It's been less than a few days since I found out."

"I might be able to help." You say.
"What do you mean, help?"
"I found out Robin's and Isaac's donors names by Knowing them." You say.
"Oh. Oh!" She said. "That would help a ton! At least that way, maybe Theta could get rid of my shivers."

You nod, and bow your head, and focus...

>Roll Knowledge!

>>25238968
"you can always have theta get rid of this one if its too soon for you, and he can make sure you can't have any until you're ready."

Rolled 97

>>25239199
HERE WE GO!

Rolled 51

>>25239199

Sigma needs our help dice!

Rolled 52

>>25239199
KNOW IUT

Rolled 70

>>25239199
Show me your secrets!

"Here we go." You say, and your perception twisted, blurring your vision much, much more.

You were looking at... A computer. A churning, pulsing computer, made of organic components, electronics made of nerves, and an internal power and repair control. The object's skin was an incredibly complex interfacing technology, grown instead of created.
Absentmindedly, you realized that if she were to touch a nexus control computer, her control would... reach... everywhere.

Your head pounded. All you're getting for information is psionics. You don't need psionics.
Then you shouldn't use Knowledge, then, something whispered, in the back of your mind. Poor girl doesn't even understand her own powers, even now, it whispered. Even after killing a god.

You open your eyes- color was inverted, Sigma's face in blacks and silvers. Your perception still strange, your vision blurred even with the glasses, you reached deeper inside yourself. Three violet lines stretched across your vision, and something was weighing down the cable around your neck- the clay pendant.

You couldn't quite see... You needed to Know more.

>Roll Clairvoyance!
>OR vote to pull out of Knowledge.

Rolled 40

>>25239334
>CV HERE WE GO

Rolled 80

>>25239334
We have to go deeper!

Rolled 84

>>25239334
Shit, why now.

Rolled 79

>>25239334
Clairvoyance!

Rolled 82

>>25239334

I have a really bad feeling about going deeper. b-but here goes!

Rolled 9

>>25239334
That fuckin clay pendant.

Take that shit off.

Rolled 54

>>25239334
We must go deeper......heaterception......

Rolled 25

>>25239334
I'm not really sure how much more there is to understand but okay.

>>25239399
No taking off clay Omni.

>>25239421
hey, we're not omniscient yet, although omniscience is crap, omnipotence however...

So the red clay is now anathema to us as well?

Heather is become Void Queen 2.0?

>>25239441
See, the thing is, omniscience, by definition, breaks down all conceptual barriers.

Psionics is all about those conceptual barriers.

>>25239485
Lamda didn't seem very happy with it though.

>>25239485
yea, but omniscience while giving you knowledge of everything, means that everything is boring, you never marvel at something new or beautiful, for you already know it

if we could have some form of omniscience only for the knowledge on the conceptual barriers, that would be cool, but otherwise, its not worth it

Do you see anything, Sigma droned on, her voice a low hum in your perception.

Not yet, you responded.

Gently, you felt a tendril of light, of knowledge tear from your spine... and gently, gently touched Sigma.

Origin.
"Well." A woman said, in a labcoat. She had two thick containers, almost like discs, polycarbon tubes covering the devices. Inside was all the genetic data she needed. A geneweaver genetic storage device, utilized for creating transgenes. She slid both discs into a machine, and started typing.

Seven months later, she pulled them out, a genderless Nagala next to her. Andy, you knew his name.

"This is the one ArmaTek wanted, right?" She asked, holding one up. On the label was the name - B. Jules.
Jules was your mother's maiden name.
"Yes." Asmodeus said, his drone buzzing. He took the other one- which had the doctor's name on it. Stevenson. "The other is mine."

Current.
You sat up, your vision blurred badly, and everything was tinted silver. Your head pounded, and your perception was returned to normal.
"Your eyes are weird." Sigma said. "Are you okay?

>>25239539
"Hi sis."

>>25239539
Whose mothers maiden name? Heathers? What was her moms first name?

>>25239539
So, it seems we're half-sisters, I think...

>>25239539
Give her a hug. "Sister! We're related!"

>>25239539
we should probably have a talk with mum about this, after we have our talk with Anna, and our talk with Jabberwocky, wow, we really need to talk to alot of people

We don't need Origin of Sigma, we need it for her child.

>>25239539

"You... we, are related?" need to check a mirror.

>>25239594
we needed Sigma's Origin, so that theta could figure out her genetics and transgenes to change her

>>25239539
"Surprisingly, yes. I've never had my perception go back to normal that quickly before. Um, I think you might be my cousin, or something like that."

>>25239586
Salinee. Doesn't begin with B.

>>25239565
Heh, add a wave and I'm game

>>25239586
>Your mother's first name is Allison. Allison Jules. Then she changed it to Allison Leery when she married Sallanee. Which is kind of funny, because Sallanee Leery is a fake name.

>>25239539
Tendrils tearing from our spine? That sounds pretty painful? Did it go back?

>>25239612
>Salinee. Doesn't begin with B.

if our Mum accepted Dads name, then it would not be her MAIDEN name

>>25239619
what is Dads real name?

inb4 distant relative of Dave and Amy

"Well bad news is my perception is all messed up right now.
Good news is stranger than fiction. Anna's dad got my mom to donate her genes then sent those to the scientist that made you. We're half sisters."

>>25239632
Your first name doesn't change when you get married. I just got them mixed up. Allison doesn't begin with a B either.

>>25239539
"I think you're my aunt."

>>25239646
then that means that Anna is possibly our half sister aswell

WHAT THE FUCK EXA? you couldn't let us have the happy end we worked for?

It'd be cousin. And Anna's father picked out the father it seems. Seems he was involved in at very least their genes.

>>25239680
no wait, im retarded and jumped to conclusions, Anna's genes came from Stevensen.

>>25239680
>"Yes." Asmodeus said, his drone buzzing. He took the other one- which had the doctor's name on it. Stevenson. "The other is mine."
Her mother is the ration lady. Just like she said all along. She's not related to us. You fuckers really will pounce on anything to complain about.

Which means we can ask him about it. I doubt he forgot designing her genes.

>>25239704
yep, we will, as i explained about how retarded i was in >>25239699

we'll have to ask Mom about any relatives they never told us about

File: 1370371794402.gif-(Spoiler Image, 2.51 MB, 300x169)

2.51 MB GIF

So... not sister?

>>25239539
send an emael
<Mom, who's B. Jules?>

>>25239539
"I think I got something, gimme a sec."

Call up Asmodeus.

>>25239716
and Dad about who she actually is/was, before she became Dad, because damnit, now im curious

>>25239704
>>25239699
Considering how much Sara looks like us and Anna looks like Stevenson, I'd put my money on Sigma being 'B. Jules'' daughter.
>>25239688
If B. Jules is mom's mother (or father, for that matter), it'd be aunt, not cousin.

>>25239539
So all we gotta do is ask Asmodeus.

>>25239753
>Considering how much Sara looks like us and Anna looks like Stevenson, I'd put my money on Sigma being 'B. Jules'' daughter.

The one with "B. Jules" on it went to Armatek to become Sigma, the one that Asmo wanted became Anna

>>25239745

we don't know about dad using a fake name, that's Meta knowledge and we already know most of what she did before meeting mom.

>>25239644
>Hehehe, you'll have to ask her.

"Surprisingly, yes." You say. "I've never had my perception go back to normal that quickly before."
You wipe your brow, and meet her eyes.
"... I think you're my aunt. Or cousin. Or sister."
Sigma paused.
"What?"
Theta started looking between the two of you.
"... Could be..." He said. "But there's been a lot of changes, it looks. and I mean a lot."
"What do you mean, a lot?"
"Like someone tried to strip every similarity between you two out." Theta said. "And then implanted the entire pariah gene in... Almost stitched that part in afterword, much less elegantly than most of the changes..."
He shook his head.
"Sorry, Sigma, but your genes are a quilt." He said. "Heather's not enough, to be honest, for me to figure out your transgenes. I'd need someone more closely related. Or, hell, even the scientists who worked on you."
"... Oh." She said.
"I think I got something. Gimme a sec." You say, and pull on your sunglasses.

<Mom, who's B. Jules?>
<B?> Mom responded. <I guess that'd be dad. My dad, not yours. Bartholomew Jules. Why do you ask?>

>>25239775
<I think his genes were used to create one of my friends. Think you could send your DNA sequence? Or where grampa is?>

>>25239775
"Huh, how about that, the genetic donor for Sigma is my Mum's Dad, my grandpa"

is gramps still alive?

>>25239775

<Remember when Asmodeus wanted your genes? well i think they might have gone one step higher in the family tree since you refused, I'm sitting next to the girl produced by those genes.>

>>25239775
<Is he still around?>
Also call up Asmodeus about it, he might still have the original gene sequence stored somewhere.

>>25239779
I don't think you understand what it is. It's your surname before you get married.

>>25239775
<Because one of my friends was cloned from genetic material of 'B. Jules'. I think that would make her your half sister?>

"My maternal grandfather then."

>>25239775
<Armatek used his genes for at least one of their cloning experiments. Turns out Sigma is your half-sister-by-cloning.>

Theta they also used a Stevensons. Asmodeus worked on Sigma I believe. Give me a second and I'll ask if he knows anything.

Lets message Asmodeus next, he probably has them on file.

>>25239775
<You make have a half-sister.>

>>25239779
Um....yes...I fail to see where the fact that Mom's maiden name is Jules conflicts with this. Since B. is her father, that makes Sara our aunt. If B were Mom's sibling, aunt/uncle, or cousin, Sara would be our cousin. It's not that hard.

>>25239775
<Have you met Sigma yet? Congratulations, it's a sister.>

All these assumptions.

How many B. Jules do you think there are?

>>25239775
"Well, that makes you my aunt, and my mothers half sister.

This is going to make for a seriously weird family reunion someday."

<Because one of my friends were cloned from genetic material of 'B. Jules'.> You say. <I think that would make her your half sister?>
Your mom responded with a <...>.

<Is gramps still around?> You ask.
<... Yeah, he's still around. On Gaia's Tread.> She said. <Do you want me to call him?>
"My maternal grandfather, then." You say.
"Really?" Sigma asked, eyes widening.

>>25239861
Theta just confirmed it.

>>25239861
A few. You really think it's a coincidence?
We'll find out when we ask Azzy anyway.

>>25239861
Alive at the correct time and with a genetic similarity to us? Not that many, I would guess.

>>25239873
to mum, <yes please, a genetic sample from him would help her out>

>>25239873
"Yep. B. Jules is my mom's dad."

>>25239873
<Would you? We're trying to track down all the transgenetic modifications she underwent and our expert needs the closest relative as possible.>

>>25239873

"not sure 'yet' but likely... hello aunty Sara!"

<please do, I'll wait for a response.>

>>25239873
"That's what it seems like. He's on Gaia's Tread. We'll have to get Theta to take a look at him. And we can talk to Asmodeus as well, although I'm not sure how involved he actually was."

>>25239873
So we have never met, or possibly even heard of our grandfather, right? Why's that?

And if Heather doesn't know, ask mom.

>>25239873
<Could you send me his info, I'd like to do it myself.>

"Not sure yet, but likely." You say. "Hello, aunty Sara!"
"... Hi!" She responded, and tugged you into a hug.
<Could you send me his info? I'd like to do it myself.> You say. <And how come I've never met him?>
<Because he hated your father. Still does, I'm sure.> She said, and sent you his extranet address, current home location, the coordinates to Gaia's Tread...

"... Is there any chance we could meet my donor?" Sigma- Sara asked.

>>25240080
"Sure Auntie! He lives on Gaia's Tread, I just got his address from my Mom."

>>25240080
"Sure! But its got to be later, I've got some people to talk to first"

>>25240080
"Yeah sure. My Mom's just given me his address as well."

We all know it's going to be a trap. Better pack some heavy ass firepower.

>>25240080

"I'm not sure, I've never met him before myself... Let me drop this on him first, we'll think of something."

I wonder how likely it is that one of the Pariah Project heads donated genetic material.

>>25240080
"we sure can, but it will have to be later, some thigns i need to do first"

We should probably ask Asmodeus about the DNA.

>>25240213

why he wanted mom's genetic material SO BADLY that he went and got it from the closest second.

>>25240213
We should but Exa keeps ignoring any suggestion that mentions him.

Fire a message to Asmodeus now, please.

"Sure!" You say. "Mom's just given me his address as well. And I've never met him before myself..." You say. "But it will have to be later. There are some things I need to do first."
"Alright." She said, and shot you another grin. "Thanks. For figuring this out for me."
You shoot her a smile, and then pull your glasses on again. You put your messages between your mother and you to the side, and call Asmodeus.
<Hello?> Asmodeus said. <What do you need, Heather?>

Rolled 39

>>25240264
Remind me who Asmodeus is again?

>>25240264
<I'm playing Anthropologist! Can you send me some DNA data?>

>>25240264
<We're looking into Sigma's past, and I found out that you collected the gene sample for Armatek. If you still have any information about it, it would be really useful.>

>>25240264

"Hello Asmodeus, sorry for the sudden call but i have i need to know about."

"did you, take genetic material from my grandfather?"

>>25240285

Anna's AI dad

>>25240241
"DNA from B.Jules was used in the cloning of my friend, could I get a copy of that map for her. Also is that my grandfathers DNA?"
>>25240285
Anna's dad.

>>25240264
"Answers to a curiosity of mine if you wouldn't mind, a friend of mine was made by Armatek, they used a genetic cube thingy that you got for them, I was wondering if you could give me any info you have on it, a genetic sample of her genetic base would help her out"

>>25240264
<Well, recently my powers of clairvoyance have progressed to such a point that I can see peoples origins. One of my friends, one of the Armatek clones, Sigma had her genetic material donated from my maternal grandfather through you. Bartholomew Jules?
Well she's having some genetic issues now that could be easily solved if you still happened to possess some of his samples.
Also, may I ask why you were so set on getting my mom's DNA?>

>>25240309

>should be "i have something i need"

>>25240317
here

>>25240322
seconding this

Rolled 88

>>25240310
Ah, thank you

Guys don't forget we also still need to talk to Anna over the discrepancy in the space-time continuum. The sooner the better.

>>25240378
We should also have a personal talk with Omni about accidentally killing his brother.

<Well, recently my powers of clairvoyance have progressed to such a point that I can see peoples origins. One of my friends, one of the Armatek clones, Sigma had her genetic material donated from my maternal grandfather through you. Bartholomew Jules?> You ask.
<Yes, I recall that.> Asmodeus said. <It was my job, to hire Dr. Stevenson and acquire some DNA for a transgenetic product. I also chose that time to indulge myself in getting the DNA for a daughter. I believe that was was when that specific facility had a meltdown, though, and that delayed the project for a matter of years, I recall.>
<Well she's having some genetic issues now that could be easily solved if you still happened to possess some of his samples.> You say.
<I don't, I'm afraid.> Asmodeus said. <I gave my employers what they requested, and had no reason to keep it.>
<Also, may I ask why you were so set on getting my mom's DNA?>
<Your mother was the one they requested at the time.> Asmodeus said. <Something about being a carrier of a rare gene sequence. Bartholemew's genes carried the same sequence, though.>

>>25240378
Thats one of the thing we are doing before going on a genetics hunting ADVENTURE!

the other would be talking with JabberDAVEwocky because seriously, that guy is weird

>>25240392
I thought we did, and he said that he was working to save the backup copy of his bro the Demiurg made, and he wanted to do it alone.

>>25240397
<Well I guess that explains where I got the powers from. I suppose I'll have to go to the source. Thanks for your help, Asmodeus.>

>>25240397

<the sequence for psionic abilities.>

>>25240397
<Well thats all I needed to know, thanks, also, thanks for being responsible for 2 of the most awesome people I know>

>>25240397
<Wait, does that mean mom is also psionic?>
<Maaaaaaaaaaax?>

>>25240397
<Thanks, Asmo!>

>>25240502
Having the gene doesn't mean it will express itself.

>>25240502
Not necessarily. Genes expression can skip generations.

But it DOES mean she could get a transgene to turn that/those gene(s) on and obtain psionic powers. She probably won't want to thoguh.

>>25240502
>>25240527
but we have the learning computer thingy, as long as she has the gene she can learn from us, just think of the bedtime antics mom and dad can get up to if mom has TK

How did they know she had that gene, if they didn't already have her genes?

This quest just. Keeps. Dragging. On. When will it end? I want to get off of PsiQ's wild ride.
Polite sage for off topic.

>>25240564
Doctor reccords?

>>25240564
>They just had the data from routine medical scans, not the physical components they needed. They weren't certain if reconstructing it from the data would be enough.

<The sequence for psionic abilities.> You say. <Thanks for your help, Asmodeus. Also, thanks for being responsible for two of the most awesome people I know.>
<... Wait.> Asmodeus said. His voice started to grow cold. <... Did... Do you know if Stevenson knew? That that was the sequence for psionic abilities? Because ... she may have meddled with Anna...>
That voice was as cold as anything you'd heard.

You didn't know normal AI could get angry.

>>25240602
<Unsure. Didn't see that much when I looked back.>

>>25240602
<Asmo, I would suggest talking with her calmly, if she lies, then you can snap her neck>

>>25240571
Currently unresolved issues by my count:
>Armatek
>AI rebellion
>Who the fuck is Jabberwoky
>Save the Demiurg or let them die
>If the Demiurg go extinct, will Blackreach disband or go back to piracy?

We've got a few more bumps in the road. Oh, forgot one!
>Get a waifu
I mean it's not my thing but hey let's be real here.
Polite sage for meta

>>25240602
<I don't know, sorry.>

>>25240602
<...Be careful. She might be working for ArmaTek.>

>>25240602
<Well, thr process to create the genetic material for Sigma and Anna took seven months, so theres a chance she could have modified them, who knows? Maybe she has the gene herself, either way, I would suggest a long and calm discussion about the subject, no need to go all terminator 37 on everyone now>

>>25240602
<I don't know. I wouldn't count the possibility out though.>

>>25240602
I don't know Asmodeus, it could just be a coincidence.

>>25240602
"It's possible, considering the low probability of the gene expressing itself I'd put it a probable, but it could have happened without fiddling beyond the choice of the base DNA.

Worth looking into."

>>25240602
<It's possible, but I haven't seen anything to suggest that she knew, no.>

>>25240602

<I. I don't know, L-let's not do anything hasty, it is possible that she did but at least talk to Anna about it as well before you decide!>

>>25240649
>AI rebellion
What?

>Who the fuck is Jabberwoky
Dave

>>25240737
Can't be Dave, not enough limbs.

>>25240737
AIs are going to go crazy.

>>25240602
<I find that unlikely. The psionic abilities in the clones Armatek created function differently than the ones Anna had. I mean it's a possibility but I wouldn't put money on it.>

<Unsure. Didn't see that much when I looked back.> You say. <I would suggest talking with her calmly, Asmo. Maybe she has the gene herself, either way, I would suggest a long and calm discussion about the subject, no need to go all terminator 37 on everyone now.>
<... I see. I'm sorry.> He said, calming down considerably. <Take care, Heather.>
And then he cut off the connection there. You pulled off your glasses, and continued to eat.
"So, what exactly do you have to do before we can go?" Sara asked- she was almost bouncing up and down in her seat, now, grinning. Theta just closed his eyes, relaxing, as behind you, Summer had a few more impossible things- a 2D object, and a dizzying transparent mess of space that made your toenails and teeth ache when you looked at it. Sarvesh waved to the group, and made his way out of the room, Robin and Rose riding on his back.

>>25240602
<I didn't see that. But don't get hot headed okay? You need calm approach for this>

>>25240786
"Nothing too much! Let's go now, if you want."

>>25240786
Well we need to converse with Anna and maybe Omni.

>>25240828
Anna first.

>>25240855
Please, no. Not yet. The thread isn't ready.

>>25240786
"Finish eating, talk to a couple of people, tell Max where we're going."

>>25240786

maybe we should send a heads up to Anna?

"I still have to contact him... not really sure, i mean how do i even begin, mom said he never liked my dad."

>>25240786
"Let's head out now. I'll let everyone know where we're going in case we run into trouble. So, it's you, me, and Theta? Anyone else you want to come?"

>>25240786
"We should tell Max where we are heading. And I thought I need to talk with my son about his lost brother."

>>25240786
"Need to talk to Anna first, I'll let you know when we can go"

>>25240786
"Meet you at the ship. I'll just pack a few things in case we need them, like a few guns."

>>25240896
Seconding, also, let Max know where and when we're going

>>25240919
>>25240982
guys, we still need to actually contact Gramps, we can't just drop in unexpected, also, we should talk to Anna first, maybe let her know about the conversation her Dad and 'mom' are going to have

>>25241018
We can talk to old grampa on the way. Anna can wait

"I still have to contact him... Not really sure, I mean, how do I even begin? Mom said he never liked my dad."
"Begin with 'sup gramps, we're coming by'?" She asked, and giggled.
"I'll meet you at the ship." You say. "I'll just pack a few things in case we need them, like a few guns. So it's you, me, and Theta?"
"Yeah." Theta said. "I don't actually need to meet him, I just need a physical sample." He said.
"Alright." Sigma said. "I'll get ready."
"Me too." Theta said.

Some time later, you had your ion laser, the taser Anna had given you a month ago, your exosuit, and your brain ready. Theta lounged in the back of the ship the entire time, snoozing, while Sigma did her best to get dolled up before coming up to the ship, a large purse over her shoulder.
"Ready!" She said.

>>25241018
Wow, Heather is like that one relative that just turns up at your place out of the blue, and thinks everything is fine and dandy isn't she?

>>25241104
lets let Max know before we leave, also ask Anna if we can have that talk when we get back

>>25241104
<Yo, Devourer. Come with us and meet some more humans. It'll be good for you!>

>>25240786
>2D object

As a physicist, this makes me weep more than anything else in this quest. Conservation of energy violations be damned.

>>25241104
how about we let Max know we're jetting off to somewhere completely unknown again?

>>25241104
May I suggest we actually CALL Granddad before leave?

>>25241146
Why is a 2D object worse than a seven-sided cube or any of the other Escher things Summer has made?

>>25241135
Seconding this, we really should get into the habit of letting people know we're going to do something, asking them before we storm in and generally being as flippant and focused as a honey bee

>>25241163
we really should, but people seem to think we can do this on the way, even though we don't know if its okay to drop out of the sky into his place or even if he is still there

>>25241104

send max a message saying we're leaving the station to find out about Sigma's genetic origin

send Anna a message that she may want to keep close contact with her father because there is a slight chance Stevenson put the psionic gene sequence in Anna's DNA and that we're afraid Asmodeus might do something regretful because of it.

>>25241104
Call gramps and Max. Let them know where we are going.

>>25241104
<Max, is it okay if we go and see Sigma's donor? Theta needs a genetic sample so he can examine her properly.>

>>25241146
>AS IT SHOULD.

"I'll let Max know before we leave." You say, and sit back in your cockpit. You pull up your personacom and hash out a message. Then you send another one to Anna, warning her about Stevenson and Asmodeus, (and mentioning that you'd have to have that talk later).
And then, you look through the recent messages, find your grandfather's address again, and type it in.
<Yeah? What?> The response came. <I won't be buying whatever you're selling, you know.>

>>25241217
this, but change
>find out about Sigma's genetic origin

to goign to meet our grandpa

>>25241163
Calling him tips off ArmaTek and lets them set traps and prepare for us more.

>>25241104
Weren't we supposed to have that talk with Anna before leaving?

>>25241240
<HI GRANDPA! You totally don't mind if your Granddaughter and some friends stop by to say HI! do you?>

>>25241240
"Calm down gramps, I'm your super powered grandaughter."

>>25241240
<How sweet of you, gramps.>

>>25241240
<Grandpa!>
Technopathy his personacom so he can't hang up.

>>25241260
originally we were going to have it after today's classes, but they got cancelled so we're going to visit grandpa instead

>>25241240
<I'm not selling anything, I just want to meet my grandfather.>

>>25241240
<Sup Gramps, we're coming by.>
Thanks for the advice, Sigma.

<How sweet of you, gramps.> You respond.
<... Gramps?> He asked.
<You totally don't mind if your granddaughter and some friends stop by to say hi, do you?>
There was a pause.
<... Heather, right?> He asked.
<Yep!>
<Alright, gimme a few minutes, then you can come by.> He said. <And be careful not to crash your ship into a tree or something. Your mom's told me quite a bit.>

>>25241325
<Aww. How about a pool, then?>

>>25241182
It just is.

It really is. If you want to get to the technical side of things, there are theories that allow for extradimensional objects existing in a 3D space, even if they are more like abstract impressions than anything else, but a 2D object cannot exist in a 3D space. That one is pretty much absolute.

And that is why it makes me cry.

>>25241325
<Cool. We'll be there soon!>

>>25241325

"I haven't crashed in to anything! nothing serious..."

we'll need to be cautious about ArmaTek during this trip

>>25241325
<Don't worry. I can fly just fine.>

>>25241325
Personally I think we should bring Devourer with us and tell Grandpa he's also Great Grandpa.

>>25241394
:D
Make sure he looks like a dog or something when we do this--it'll make it even better.

>>25241394
>>25241424

i don't think giving him a heart attack would make a very good first impression.

though, having Devi around would make it a bit safer.

If we're bringing Devvy-chan, we should bring Omni as well

>>25241449
Bring the whole family!

<Omni! Devy! Come and meet your great grandpa if you want.>

<I haven't crashed into anything! Well, nothing serious...>
<Hahaha, just be careful.> The response came.
<Cool. We'll be there soon!> You say.
Then, with your mind, you reach out for Devourer and Omni.
<Omni! Devy! Come and meet your great grandpa, if you want.>
<I'm busy.> Omnissiah responded, quietly, but soon enough, Devourer arrived, in his humanoid, pulsing form.
"We're bringing him?" Theta asked.

>>25241440
>>25241394
>>25241424
First, I think Devi's settled on being a 'she.' Second, let's only dump one sudden family member on him at a time, yes?

I can't remember the timeline that well, was Devvy a virgin birth?

>>25241515
"We're bringing *her*, Theta. She's going to meet her great-grandpa."

>>25241515
"A combination of paranoia and he's also very good at Biokinesis so he can help. Besides, he can meet his grandpa."

>>25241515
"Yeah, if he wants to come."

>>25241515
"Yeah, I hope you can overlook your differences for an hour or so."

>>25241515

"Yes, Devi is family and we'll be safer if we go with more."

<I hope everything goes well Omni, I'll be back on station again soon.>

"We're bringing *her*, Theta." You say. "She's going to meet her great grandpa. And she's also very good at biokinesis, so she can help."
"It's a 'she' now?" Theta asked.
"I'm a 'she' now?" Devourer asked, still in its headless, humanoid form. "Technically, my gender is the gender of one who undergoes mitosis. Which doesn't confrom to the human or centaur binary gender systems. But yes, I can help."
"I hope you can overlook your differences for an hour or so."
"Yeah, sure." Theta says. "But I'm killing him if he messes with me at all."
"I'm near incapable of changing other creatures." Devourer said. "If that helps."
"It does." Theta said. "Let's get going already, okay?"

>>25241725
"Okay! Strap yourselves down!"

>>25241725

lift off and let's get there. gotta go fast.

>>25241725
Step on it.

>>25241725
>"We're bringing *her*, Theta."
Ahahah, why did we say that? Anyway, blast off time.

>>25241725
"Okay! But no fighting on the back seats you two understand?"

>>25241725
"Who wants to be copilot?"

"Okay! Strap yourselves down!" You say. "And no fighting in the back seats!
Theta and Sigma strapped themselves down, and you slammed on it. Devourer melted slightly, sticking itself onto ths ship's floor panels, and you shot out of the hangar. You had to wait for clearance from the marine ships, but you eventually shot off into space, quickly accelerating toward the planet of Gaia's Tread. The bubble drive hummed, and the projector went green. Eventually, it was safe to unstrap yourself, so you climbed out of the cockpit-
To find two Thetas. Staring at one another, arms crossed.
"They're having a staring contest." Sigma said, and grinned. "I bet ten credits on Theta."

>>25241899

"gambling, on MY ship? 10 on Devi."

>>25241899
"I'll take that bet."

>>25241899
"Five thousand on Devi. He'll grow three or four eyes soon enough."

>>25241899
"Really? I bet both of them have made themselves physically incapable of blinking."

>>25241899
"Activate your pout powers my son!"

>>25241899
"You do realize that Devi doesn't actually need to blink, right? And is pretty much infinitely patient? It's a bet."

Why doesn't Devi just go half male, half female, as in bisected down the middle

>>25241988
You mean "child who undergoes mitosis".

>>25242096

because symmetry is beautiful?

>>25242103
CWUM? nah, son has a better ring to it, and we can continuously change what we call him/her by just to confuse people

>>25242103
"Son...Daughter...whatever."

>>25242132
I think "Spawn" would be most accurate here.

"I'll take that bet." You say, and sit there.
"You should watch." Sigma said. "You've never seen Theta in a staring contest."
You sit down, and watch...
And Theta grew a second set of eyes, and blinked with his first, resting them.
The second Theta- Devourer- grew a second set some time after that, much less orderly, the eyes growing out of where there was space.

"This'll take a while." Sigma said, and giggled.
Almost an hour later, you looked back at the two again- and they were still staring, almost a dozen eyes on each of them. Finally, Theta sighed, and blinked all of them.
"Fine." He said, and hung his head.
"I win!" Devourer said, and his eyes evaporated, leaving him as Theta. Then he swelled, and sat down again as a handsome young man you didn't quite recognize, with dark red hair.
"Damnit." Sigma said, pouted, and put ten credits into your account.
That's when the navigational computer started chirping. You looked over- you were almost there.

Gaia's Tread was a rather empty world, with only a few million people. It was terraformed almost three hundred years ago, but it was the last colonized world before the colony ships started going haywire or getting lost, like the Ishelda- And after they got lost, suddenly nobody wanted to colonize any new worlds until FTL arrived. Gaia's Tread was in the sweet spot, with grass and trees covering almost the entire thing. There was a large empty field over where you could land, in walking distance from your grandfather's house.

>>25242103
or "Abominable Bio-kinetic Spawn" ABS for short, then we could be all like, "check our my abs" and reveal Devi

>>25242152
lets go land in that empty field, but be careful we don't ruin his yearly crop or something

>>25242170
or Adorable instead of Abominable

>>25242152
Landing in a field! How idyllic!

>>25242152

be a little paranoid and reach out to sense if the landing spot is safe from any potential trap.

if it is not then no problem but it's never bad to check.

>>25242152
"Okay. Landing, shouldn't be a problem. Nope. I've only crashed once. Are you all sat down back there?"

>>25242152
"It's almost...too perfect."

"Anyway we could check if it's a trap?"

"Okay." You say. "Landing, shouldn't be a problem. Nope. I've only crashed once."
"How many times have you landed?" Theta asked. "Like, overall?"
You give him a grin, and turn to the controls again.
"Oh dear."
Then you focused, and reached downward, feeling out for the land. There was no electronics you could feel, no weakness below the clearing for a cavein... Nothing you can quite tell.

Carefully, you edged out of orbit, and slid straight through the atmosphere, soaring down, and wheeling your thrusters downward to slow your descent. Devourer didn't seem to care.
"What form should I take?" Devourer asked, while you were "I can take one as an animal or a person, or remain in this one."
"You could be a gerbil." Sigma said.
"Or a giant hulking headless abomination like you tend to like." Theta responded.

Without anything exploding, and without anything more worrying than the loud thump your ship gave you when you touched down, you landed. Intact.

>>25242349
>Devourer asked, while you were trying to focus very hard on landing the Surya,

>>25242349
"Yessss two landing in a row wooo hoooo!"

>>25242349
"Do you have a form you're most comfortable in?"

>>25242349
"Feel free to take whatever form you want, although your original might cause a bit of a scene."

>>25242349

"might be best to go as a small animal, I'm not sure if he would be able to cope with your more usual form... you know what I mean!"

>>25242349
"Whats your most comfortable human form? I'd rather not give grandpa a heart attack"

>>25242349
"Maybe a bird? Then you can sit on my shoulder, and I can be a true pirate captain."

"Yess, two landings in a row! Woo hoo!" You say, and pump an arm. "Do you have a form you're most comfortable in, Devourer?"
"No." Devourer said. "Not particularly."

"Well, feel free to take whatever form you want, although your original might cause a bit of a scene."
"Very well." He said, and his body withered, shrinking and pulsing. A moment later, he was a small brown puppy, as fuzzy as could be, with incredibly floppy ears.

That's when someone knocked on the hatch to the Surya.
"Is this Heather?"A voice asked, and chuckled. "You didn't knock down a tree, so that's good."

>>25242349
"What no applause? I made a successful landing and no life was in danger! You should be grateful."

>>25242495
"I missed the pool as well."

>>25242386
That would be his biokinetic abomination form, and that would be a bitch to explain.

>"Oh hey gramps, this is the physical manifestation of my vast psychic powers gone horribly, horribly right. His name is The Devourer and he almost managed to drive the Demiurg to extinction by himself."

>>25242495

"watch out, I'm opening the bay door."

>>25242495
"Grandfathertron?"

>>25242495
Scan him for anything.
"Yeah, stand back a bit whilst I open the door."

>>25242495
"What an adorable little ball of teeth and fur you are."

"Hello Grandfather! I bring someone who wants to meet you!"

"I missed the pool as well!" You say, and check the scans. He had a handgun, it looks. "Watch out, I'm opening the bay door."
"Righto!"

You open the bay door, and look out- And there was... most likely, the tallest human being you've ever met, almost a giant by scope. You step down, and realize that the planet only has 0.65g or so, rather light to have an atmosphere.

"Hello, I'm Bart." He said, and eyed the three of you.
"Theta." Theta said. "Don't ask about the name, my parents were kind of weird."
"I'm Sara." Sigma added.
"That leaves you as Heather, and.. That little puppy?"
"This is Devourer." Sara said, and picked up the puppy to give him a few earscratches. Devourer gave a small yip.
"Truly a fearsome beast, that is." Bart said.

>>25242631
hug gramps

the hug gramps some more

then tell him that Sara is his kinda-sorta cloned half-daughter

>>25242631
"Yeah, she is. Say hi to great grand-daddy, Devvy-chan."

>>25242631

"you haven't seen him eat before... uh, Hi, I'm Heather." slightly nervous smile "Your granddaughter."

>>25242631
"Haha! Yep! That's Devourer all right."

>>25242631
Fearsome like you wouldn't believe.

Hi Bart! I'm afraid I've heard nearly nothing about you.

>>25242680
I suddenly have the urge to beat you to death. Let's not say that.

>>25242631
"Woah! I never realised you were so tall, Gramps! In fact, today's the first I've heard of you."

>>25242631
"You don't know the half of it.

Nice to meet you!"

>>25242680

let's not do this, yet. maybe once we have established decent conversation.

"Haha! Yep! That's Devourer alright." You say, and give him a nervous smile. "Hi, I'm Heather. Your granddaughter. I'm afraid I've heard nearly nothing about you."
"Haha, that's fine." He said. "Come on this way, I can explain as we go."

"I, your mother, and your grandmother were born here, though I'm the only one that'd never been offworld." He was saying. "Then a few years after your mother moved to Heaven's Jewel, she met... Sallanee. Never liked the girl. Too brash, too peppy... I admit that she and I got into quite a few fights, years back."
You were all trekking up a hill, across a long, spiralling dirt path, up to a large hill where what looked like a large house sat. Around you were mountains, and trees- the air was fresh and easy to breathe, and the gravity made the uphill walk a lot easier.

"And then, essentially, your mother got upset after I said a few... very rude things about Sallanee." He said, and squinted at you. "You look a lot like her, you know?"
Then he shrugged, and continued walking. "But anyway that was the last straw. Your mother decided not to have me meet until you were older or until I apologized, and, well, I have my pride, after all. So here we are."

>>25242769
>>25242703

Not him, but I gotta say, if you make the logical leap from "a kid is calling a dog her daughter" to "it must acutely be physically related to her somehow" you might have some conversational issues.

>>25242868
pout at him

pout at him until he apologizes

>>25242868
Well I think both of my parents are fantastic for each other, and I couldn't be happier that they're mine.

This is a really nice place you have here.

>>25242868
"That's, um, unfortunate. How much has Mom told you about me?"

"So, I've got to ask, but did you ever donate any genetic specimens to ArmaTek?"

>>25242868
"I understand that, I imagine my father's profession can really chafe a lot of people."

>>25242868
"Well, it's too bad. I'm sure I could have learned a lot from you! But anyway, on to why we're here. You see, I may not have been your... only relative on that ship. There's a good chance that Sara here was created using your genetic code, which would make her another daughter of yours. That's why Theta is here--he can verify that."

>>25242937
I'm not sure he knows the pirate thing, might be best not to bring it up.

>>25242868

"That's very unfortunate, they're the best parents i could have hoped for and we're very happy together."
"I think it would be nice if you three reconciled."

"this planet is quite beautiful."

Let's try to get inside his house before asking any ArmaTek stuff.

Let's not bring Sara's parentage and ArmaJerk up yet

>>25242868
"That's bad. You seem like a nice person. And it is a bit cruel to deny children their grandparents."

>>25242868
"I think someone owes me almost two decades worth of birthday presents."

Unless we DID get a card every year.

>>25243081
>You did get cards every few years from him, but you were usually more interested in the new personacom, gaming console, or tools you got instead.

"Well, I think both of my parents are fantastic for eachother, and I couldn't be happier that they're mine." You say.
He chuckled, and pulled open the door to the house- it was almost as large as he was, and almost entirely empty. The lights were on, but they were sparse. This was an old, old house, with the CHN and quantum router actually built in *after* the construction of the house proper. This was almost... back from colony times.
"How much has Mom told you about me?"
"Well, I know that you're very fond of technology, and she kept freaking out and asking me how I would've handled someone building drones that build more drones, like you apparently did... You're a handful, is what I've been told." He said, and chuckled.

"I think it would be nice if you three reconciled."
"Maybe." He said. "Maybe it would." He said, and led you into the kitchen of the enormous house. He pulled out a few chairs. "Feel free, sit down, I'll grab you all things."
"Thanks, Mr. Jules." Theta said.
"Not a problem."
He grabbed the three of you some juice, and took his own seat. You looked out the window, at the mountains proper, mist curling down into the trees, the sun shining ahead...
"This planet is quite beautiful." You say.
"Ayup. I've lived her a long time."

>>25243115
"So, guess what brings us here!"

>>25243115
Does the house have enough character to talk to?
<How long have you been here? Has Bart treated you well?>

Poke sigma. She can bring it up.

>>25243115
"This is a really nice house. Must have some character to it."

<Are there sedatives in the juice, Theta? Am I being paranoid?>

>>25243115
"How long?"

"Do you...would you like me to take you to Mom one day?"

>>25243115
Do we know what's up with the grandmother? Dead, divorced, just gone out to buy groceries?

>>25243287
>"How long?"
He said he was born here. I don't think we need to ask how old he is.

>>25243301
>Divorced and then dead, several years later.

"So, guess what brings us here!" You say.
"Hmm..." He said. "It's that you really wanted to take a swim in the lake?" He asked, and chuckled.
"Maybe." Sigma said, and giggled.

<Are there sedatives in the juice, Theta? Am I being paranoid?>
<No, there aren't, and yes, you are. I'm trying to figure out what they did to Sigma.> He said. <Now that I have this guy, it's possible, but not easy.>
<He is also psionic.> Devourer said. <To a very minor degree.>

"Do you... would you like to take me to mom one day?"
"Hah, I'm not quite sure about that." He said. "I'd have to leave the planet, and to be honest, I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with the idea.

>>25243115
Hey wanna see a cool trick?
<I can talk to you without using my mouth>

>>25243357
"Actually, Sara here might be... hm, why don't you tell him Sara?

>>25243357
"A lake swim? That's quite a tempting idea."

>>25243357
"You would be missing a lot, this planet is so much nicer the cold grey spaceship corridors. Well, that's what I'm told anyway."

Is sigma trying to lose her psionics or something? I'm confused.

"I have some more serious things to talk about: Do you remember giving a genetic sample to Dr Stevenson?"

>>25243357
"Hmm~m, The planet does have a nice gravity, yeah."

>>25243357
"I suppose I could bring Mom here. I thought you might like a ride in my ship, though."

>>25243357
"Hmm. She could come to you I suppose. Anyway, what brought us here was a genetic sample you gave to Armatek a few years ago."

"Well, half of it was that I wanted to see you. The other half was that Sara here wanted to see you.

How much do you know about what's been happening with Armatek lately?"

>>25243357
"Can you do any magic tricks, Grampa?"

"A lake swim? That's quite a tempting idea." You say. "The planet does have a nice gravity, yeah. But I have some more serious things to talk about. Do you remember giving a genetic sample to Dr. Stevenson?"
"Almost twenty years ago." He said. "Not to a Dr. Stevenson, but some corporate officials were willing you give me quite a bit of cash for some genetic samples." He said. "An AI, I think."
"... I'm the result of that." Sara said.
"I know. Noticed the moment I saw you." He responded, and took a deep sip of juice. "Want some more?"
"... Yes please." She said, and he gave her some more.

"... Can you do any magic tricks, Grampa?" You asked.
"Why would I know how to do that?" He asked. "Kind of a silly thing to ask. I might be able to hide something in my sleeve for a bit, but that's about it."

>>25243524
"Yeah. It is pretty silly, I guess."

Rolled 49

>>25243524
"No, like.... THIS!"

Manifest a kitten with style!

>>25243524
"Oh, I just thought...nevermind. I can try turning Devourer into a bunny, if it'd amuse you."

>>25243524
"Well I happen to be a fantastic magician!" Manifest a red curtain behind our back
"Behold! As I, Heather the Magnanimous and Sagacious turn THIS dog into a CHIMPANZEE!!"

>>25243575
Pull devourer out of our hat?

>>25243524
"Hah, Gramps. You're a cool dude."

>>25243599
Pull a hat out of devourer? Actually that might be too weird.

>>25243524
"What do you spend your days doing, Grampa?"

>>25243524
Lift the juice with TK
"I can do this. Pretty cool huh?"

"Hah, Gramps, you're a cool dude." You say. "I happen to be a fantastic magician!"
You focus, and slowly, carefully lift the juice from your glass with TK. The globule lifted into the air, and pulsed.

Your grandfather's bushy eyebrows met.
"... So you can do that too, can't you?" He asked, and, with visible strain, did the same to his own. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he did so.

>>25243704
"Wow! High-five me!"

>>25243704
"Aww, no fair, you said you weren't a magician."
Do a slight, civilian grade pout.

>>25243704
"Something I inherited, apparently."

"I get paid a lot of money for doing this in front of a bunch of scientists."

>>25243704
"Cool, I guess I know for sure which side of the family it came from, then."

>>25243704
"How long have you been able to do that? What else can you do?"