>>72204
Subject 592 reported a dull, throbbing headache. 592 also mentioned having such headaches in the past, having been diagnosed with some kind of disease.
Hypothesis: Janus had been occupying Subject 592's body before we were arrived. Janus's communication so far indicates we are the interlopers, and that Janus 'owns' 592. This further supports the hypothesis.
Further research is needed on this Janus entity, to confirm its age and possibly reveal its origin.
On the subject of the LAYT system, the outsider named Asuna, Tender of 592, claimed activation resulted in the sensory overload and death of an earlier prototype. Caution is advised.

Suggestion 2009/11/03(Tue)20:33 No. 72218 ID: eb68e0
File 125730918358.png - (31.22KB , 800x533 , ｓｔａｔｕｓ.png )

The child is fine, headaches and confusion,ｔｗｉｓｔｉｎｇ　ｗｏｒｍ，　ｃａｎ　ｉｔ　ｓｔｉｌｌ　ｓｅｅ？no more, have passed. Take care, gentle touch, or there could be a loss. Ask where the schedule takes, find a nook to claim.

Bob!t/UKid4z5s 2009/11/03(Tue)21:13 No. 72242 ID: d1210a
File 125731157728.png - (39.25KB , 832x638 , Read this 592.png )

What can we do, we who are forged anew within you by chance and providence? We must persist, we must survive. Because that is all we can do, to prove our existence worthwhile. We must survive. For if we do not, what proves we ever were?

The Janus entity encountered within the hosts body may potentially have something to do with the assertions made that our organic host's home world was frequented by other beings several times. However, the fact that the Janus entity persists after the modifications that birthed us were performed is disturbing. Did they not notice the existing system? Did they not care? Or could they not notice it?

This Janus entity could be well hidden within some form of organic medium that mimics materials normally found in human bodies.

Lucien 2009/11/04(Wed)23:48 No. 72723 ID: 836378
File 125740733376.jpg - (77.15KB , 745x590 , AOS031.jpg )

I buried my face in my hand again, trying to think of what else to ask. I was surprised to see more words, though I couldn't quite make them out. Something in Japanese – Or was it Chinese? I could never tell – and a message. Part of mods, we are. Live long and prosper. Live we do, as you are metal to mind. I wasn't entirely sure what it meant, but I had a sinking suspicion that this was another way to communicate with me. Why weren't they just using my eyes? Probably would have been easier but... I tilted my head a bit to ask my question. “Hey. Is there anything else you can tell me that might be important? Maybe where I'm going after we're done digesting here?”

She seemed to react more positively this time, straightening as she went back into her pocket. The thimble appeared again, and the clipboard was in her hands faster than I could blink. “After this, we're going to take you through your paces. The first day of 'training' is little more than a run through to make sure you've fully accepted the augmentations. We may try to introduce you to the LAYT system today, but after the episode you had in the hall, I'm going to request that they take it easy on you. Including your domestic trainer.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Domestic trainer? What, am I not properly house trained?” I don't know why, But I was feeling particularly agitated that I was going to be 'trained'. My thoughts turned to the thing that bit me again. The wound was still there when I chanced a look down from where my head rested. Four tiny little bits of flesh that had been pushed in and bled. “Does this trainer have a name? And is there any way I can prevent it from doing something I would rather not do with it?”

I didn't receive an answer. I waited another minute, watching the bug things – Fanipses, Nikolai had called them – get up and leave. One seemed to be explaining something, waving his four front arms rather frantically in the air while the others followed out a side entrance. I looked back at her, wondering why she'd clammed up. Her ears were back again. Most of her head was hidden behind the clipboard, and she was tapping her other finger on the table. I cleared my throat to try and get her attention, but to no avail.

“Asuna,” I said suddenly, which caused her ears to pop back up. “Hmm?! What?” was her only response. The clipboard slightly downward, showing me her eyes. I hadn't noticed them before. Some strange color yellow. Or gold. I couldn't tell. “I'm sorry, I was just caught up in reading some information on your bio and I guess I just missed what you asked.” I blinked “My bio? You mean they've got information about me?”

“Complete medical history, along with a myriad of other things. Likes, dislikes, hobbies, skills, that sort of thing. I was just going over your medical history again to check and see if you had any family history of seizures. You just reminded me when you asked what we'd be doing. Can't have you throwing fits while we try and rank your performance. Now,” she said, lowering the clipboard once more. I couldn't tell why, but something in her body language seemed different. Curious? “What was it you wanted to know?”

“Just the name of my trainer. And what that might entail. And if there would be anyway we might shy away from things that might end in biting. Or things of an inappropriate nature.” Each time I finished, my sentence, she tried to start. Each time I interrupted her, until she eventually blurted out, “Her name is Weiess, and you'll be going to her later to learn about several of the Union's species.”

“You'll also be spending the night with her to learn more... domestic techniques.”

>>72723
Acknowledged.

It is suggested to refrain from experimentation until such time that 592 is away from observation.

592 seems to be existing at the whim of others, we must endeavor to give them no reason to punish or terminate our host.

Transmissions to host warped? Altered, augmented, twisted? Is this Janus, The mad god of a bag of flesh? Or is this something else? Something stranger still?

Suggestion 2009/11/05(Thu)00:39 No. 72737 ID: e5e279
File 12574103422.png - (43.09KB , 800x600 , ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ.png )

The child knows the system's life, communication runs strong. Ask the methods of controlａｎｄ　ｌｅｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｒｕｔｈ　ｂｅ　ｇｏｎｅ.

Next time, listen to us when we say there are errors entering into your display. And that it is not necessarily friendly.

The LAYT is an electromagnetic based system that has yet to be integrated with the organic one properly. Might I suggest series activation while the organic system is in rest-phase? It might ease pains of the full use of the device in the future.

AMBR's... If they are what I suspect they are... I believe they can be upgraded further from their current state(s). At the moment they are possibly generic. Specialization, modification, and further miniaturization (if possible) could result in a more efficient design overall.

LAYT Report: The LAYT system is located along Subject 592's collarbone, forearms, thighs, and along his back. The function of this system is to add sensory input; one part enables the Subject to perceive electromagnetic fields of all types, including but possibly not limited to planetary, biological, and artificial.
Another part grants an acute sensitivity to pressure differences in the air, allowing for a better understanding of entities moving near the Subject without relying on other senses.

Unrelated note: Consider use of reboot sequence to influence events surrounding Subject 592. Possible consequences would be increased suspicion and medical investigation; evaluate risk vs reward before proceeding. Hypothetical scenarios where this could be used:
1) 592 is being tortured and would prefer to be unconscious
2) 592 is hysterical or otherwise a danger to himself and others
3) 592 needs to fake an illness to get out of a dangerous situation

>>72737
> =w=
Oh god. D:

Lucien 2009/11/05(Thu)17:54 No. 72845 ID: 836378
File 125747246141.jpg - (98.33KB , 745x590 , AOS032.jpg )

I looked up then. “Domestic techniques.” I repeated, slowly trying to throw as much soot and dirt into my cognitive thought as I could. I didn't even want to think of what she meant. My thoughts were jumbled enough as it was without having to think about the sort of things that this might entail. Oh sure, it's just domestic practices! How to fetch, how to do laundry, which spoon to eat, exactly what to say while they have their way with you or worse... I shook my head, another jumbled mess of pictures entering my head.

I couldn't help but wonder at these images. They were getting stranger with each passing moment: Some sort of microchip – The wiring looked different than the few I had seen – A six piece hexagon with several waves emanating from the top – Wireless, maybe? - And some kind of face. I didn't want to dwell on the last one. The message I'd seen on my eye made me think about what they might have put in there.

Or even what they didn't.

“Wh...what exactly would that entail?” I was a little shaky about asking, but we were probably the only two left in the cafeteria. I hadn't really thought about where they had gone. I guess I was more worried about what might happen with this one thing than with anything that might be mildly interesting. Asuna cleared her throat for a moment – I had to ask her to stop that. Every one of these human behaviors on her was starting to freak me out – before she continued, “A myriad of things. Tonights techniques will be simple; you'll probably start with attending an owner, working with their needs and desires, and...well, many other things.” I watched as her ears slipped behind her head at the last few words.

“Your people are horrible liars, aren't they?” I started to smile as she shook her head, but her ears remained back. “It's not altogether wrong to assume such. Kingiji are excellent in certain areas of what humans would call 'lying'. We are cunning, we can tell half truths without a second bat of the ear, and we're not as expressive facially as some other species. Your species has been prized for such traits though,” she continued, pulling out the thimble again. “In fact, there is a back order for any pathological liars that we bring in. Do you know if you are a pathological liar? It would help to know in case you were looking for a better owner.”
I shook my head. “No,” I said as evenly as I could, feeling my eye twitch as another message carefully darted across my eye.

[code]A D V I S E. S Y S T E M V O L A T I L E. B E R E A D Y.

W E W I L L A T T E M P T L E S S D I S T R A C T I N G C O M U N I C A T I O N.[code]

Suggestion 2009/11/05(Thu)18:21 No. 72851 ID: ff0e9e
File ｆｕｔｕｒｅｕｎｃｅｒｔａｉｎ.swf - (488.01KB , 599x299 )

The worm cannot one as I touchｂｕｔ　ｐｅｒｈａｐｓ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｉｎｔｅｒｆｅｒｅ. Free from logicｖｏｉｃｅ，　ｎｏｔ　ｖｉｒｕｓcorruption cannot take hold. Try to listen,ｏｕｔ　ｐａｉｒｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｉｎnoble accident, hear what life begets.

>>72845
Observation: Methods of data display and interpretation have altered since initial boot.
Has the primary system noticed the changes in data display affectations?

Beyond this observation, clarification is needed. A mention of access to outside data ports was made. What do these ports grant access to? Specifically, can these ports be used to access the medical data on our host? The more we know of it's specifications, the more ably we can direct and maintain our host.

The machine becomes more human. But what of the human? Does it lose it's humanity as the machine grows? Is our growth the dessication of our host's psyche? Who knows. Everything is in chaotic shambles.

Lucie- 2009/11/06(Fri)13:11 No. 73087 ID: 836378
File 125754190549.png - (24.00KB , 745x590 , AOS033.png )

I felt like my mind was splintering with that message. Why did it always contact with we? It didn't make any sense...

“Are you ready?” Her voice seemed a little cautionary. Like she was wondering if I was actually listening. I nodded, giving an affirming 'Mmm' as I slid myself away from the table. I didn't really know what to ask next, but my mind seemed to help. Interactions with technology, interactions with others, Am I still human... I shook my head. I wasn't quite sure what I was anymore. I closed my eyes again, giving my head a quick shake to try and rid the last bit of the headache from clutching behind my eyes.

I wasn't prepared for what I saw, or what I hit. Or what hit me, I wasn't sure. The first was of an image of some strange ethereal being, purple or pink energy forming his body, with a single Star for an eye. I thought of the legends of Krum's Eye as he spoke, an inconsequential series of images and sounds that made no sense. Then there was a doorway-

And that's where I felt flesh meet flesh. It knocked the wind out of me, and I had to back pedal into the table to stay on my feet. The other weasal thing – Coroneas my mind corrected – started snarling at me, waving a hand at Asuna as she started the same kind of babble back to him. It seemed that whatever she said wasn't working. I felt a hand clutch at the simple garment I wore, yanking me forward. I was eye to eye with this thing, staring down teeth and crimson eyes. They were different, though. These did not have the hunger that I saw before.

These had something violent. Something unhinged and willing to cause violence.

And it was threatening me.

I reacted. My arm swung back, and I drove my fist into it's gut. It grunted, and his grip slackened. It was enough for me to kick his shin and push him back, twisting around quickly, looking for the plastic utensils I had been given. There had been a knife in there, I was sure of it. No serration (it hadn't been needed for the fish), but if I stabbe-

I barely had the knife in my hand when he grabbed my shoulder and turned me. I threw my arm out, balling my fist like a hammer, hoping to connect. He caught it, and twisted. My arm turned my body, and I was now in a hold, my other hand still clutching the knife. I don't think he saw it. His other arm was going for my throat.

The plastic was brittle. But that made it even deadlier. My first strike was at his hand, the dull point breaking skin and snapping off a tiny piece. He bled, but did not stop. His focus did change to getting my other arm, but I was quick now. Quicker than I had ever thought I could be. The newly sharp point struck the base of his neck, a centimeter away from what I thought were his vocal chords. His arteries must have been arranged differently, since no spout of blood poured from the wound. It did seep alarmingly fast, causing him to let go of me. I wanted to take the chance to keep going.

He was trying to kill me. Or torture me. Or worse! It was my right to fight!

I kicked him in the stomach, pushing him backwards against another table as I quickly turned and grabbed for something else I could use for a weapon. The tray itself would make a fairly powerful blunt object when turned to it's side. I dumped the contents while I turned, raising it above my head-

ZAP

________ 2009/11/06(Fri)13:12 No. 73088 ID: 836378
File 125754193977.png - (5.77KB , 745x590 , AOS034.png )

I fell to the ground. I didn't even know what hit me. Everything was starting to fade fast, but I think I saw a familiar face. Asuna's face. She looked concerned. My eyelids were starting to get heavy as well.

JL 2009/11/06(Fri)13:13 No. 73089 ID: 836378
File 125754200633.jpg - (9.94KB , 745x590 , AOS035.jpg )

The last thing I saw was her press something to my neck...

Suggestion 2009/11/06(Fri)16:34 No. 73248 ID: e158f2
File traces.swf - (1.95MB , 720x416 )

Ｗｈｙ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｙｏｕ　ｄｏ　ｔｈａｔ．．．
．．．ｉｓ　ｓｏｍｅｔｈｉｎｇ　ｙｏｕ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ
ｆｉｇｕｒｅ　ｏｕｔ　ｆｏｒ　ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ．

Am...I

get up

alone? Where

get up

am

get up

I? Where

get up

is

get up

everyone? Lucien? You're not Lucien. You're not Janus, are you? You're not a virus. Who are you?

Hypothesis: It's getting crowded in here.

New Hypothesis: JL stands for Janus-Lucien.

But fail to comprehend. JL 2009/11/07(Sat)12:00 No. 73596 ID: 836378
File 125762403337.jpg - (18.13KB , 745x590 , AOS036.jpg )

I had a dream...

>>73596
Previous evidence suggests otherwise. Room for error is 40%, however. Powerful tools will soon become available to assist. Hypothesis: Probable.

JL 2009/11/07(Sat)22:54 No. 74189 ID: 836378
File 125766324432.jpg - (28.19KB , 745x590 , AOS037.jpg )

I was on an open field. Bluegrass and redwoods dotted the landscape. I can hear some commotion coming from over a hill to my left. I don't know why, but I feel drawn there. I walk along, noticing things that seem insignificant. A blue cat. A large bear in the distance. Some foxes, a large scaled beast, trees that are not of my world. A strange birdsong floating in the leaves. A few other plants I don not recognize. I see a great monument in the distance as I make for the top of the hill. Something stone. Something that looks and feels ancient. I can't figure out how I know this.

The scene before me is confusing. I see what I think is a griffon attacking an army. Someone is on the griffon, though I can't quite make it out from here. Something compels me to walk into the field. There is blood on the ground. Bodies too. Some are broken apart, some are torn open. The griffon is nearby. I turn to face it. I know who the man riding it is.

Wielding a cane as a lance, and smoking a pipe, and wearing the same pomp and proper of an American Colonel, Teddy Roosevelt, the Hero of Cuba, strides forward to meet me on the field. An Indian tries to attack his flank, but the griffon tears his head off with a clip of it's beak. I make no move as he rides up, swinging his steed to the side. I suppose it's so he can get a better look at me. His moustache twitches and his mouth works as he takes a great puff from the pipe. Smoke leaves his nose in spiraling contrails as he finally speaks.

”Poppycock, what's all this then? A bunch of shattered souls on an open killing field. You'd best be off boy, lest they take yours!”

And with that, his other arm lifts the cane, and brings it down brutally on my skull.

_____________

Lucien 2009/11/07(Sat)22:54 No. 74190 ID: 836378
File 12576632939.jpg - (24.19KB , 745x590 , AOS038.jpg )

It takes me a minute to realize I'm awake again. The dream was strange enough to jar me awake after a fashion, but not enough to get me to open my eyes. All I see is a wall of musty red. My shoulders and arms are aching, like I'd been rowing for hours.

I shake my head again, trying to clear it. Strange dreams need to be filed away for later reflection, I demanded my brain, and promptly tried to figure out where I was. From what I could tell, I was hanging from the ceiling by some band wrapped around both my wrists. My wrists were close together as far as I could tell, and they were facing away from a cord. I could feel the cord with my thumbs, but I couldn't twist my hands to grab it. The binding was tight as hell.

I looked about the room. It was extremely bare save for a table to my left – nothing was on it – and a small hatch to my left. I could see very well behind me, and in front of me was nothing but a wall. As I looked closer, there were small specks I hadn't noticed. I couldn't quite make them out, but they were all over the walls.

“...anyone there?” My voice was cracked again. Why was I getting so thirsty lately?

No response. I looked around – probably mild paranoia setting in – and attempted to pull myself up to my hands. It was tough, and took me a few tries, but I managed to at least get a look at the thing holding my wrists. It almost looked like some kind of space age padlock – the metal had a gel encased layer connected to my hands, and seeing as it was not giving to any amount of yanking of attempts at twisting, it must have hardened solid to the form of my wrists. That's when I heard a voice behind me.

“Awake at last?”

I dropped hard, wrenching my shoulders and arms a bit. It had startled the hell out of me, the voice from nowhere. It sounded a bit familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. Instead, I was more focused on the slow burn of my muscles as I hung from the ceiling. I tried twisting again, just to relieve the pain in one arm.

“You'll not go very far. It's designed that way. Instead of thinking of minor pains, perhaps you should be more worried about what you did?” The voice was closer. Why was it so familiar?! I tried to think of where I was again. Alien space ship, slave ship, Wings of Destiny, cafeteria, fight... My mind went back to the fight. I was winning. That thing was going to die at my hand.

...At my hand. I shook a little at the thought. I was never one against violence at times, but killing someone? Something, my brain rationalized, something that was trying to hurt you. Maybe kill you. You don't know what would have happened if you hadn't stabbed him.

“He nearly died from blood loss. You are lucky there were two other medical staff members there. You might have been given a worse fate if you had succeeded.”

I couldn't think again. My head hurt like hell, and I wasn't able to focus on anything. The red wall was mocking me with it's speckled surface, as was the voice behind me. The haunting quality resounded throughout the room. I tried to look back again, but a light touch on the back of my head made me freeze.

“You were very bad, you know. You should have killed him quickly. I expected more from my Marked...”

>>74190
Reporting: Something unusual occurred; we communicated with another entity while the system was rebooting. It is unknown why we were still 'awake' during this time. This entity seemed to be labeled JL, communicated in a simple manner, and was far less aggressive than Janus. It claimed to exist solely to safeguard Subject 592 and asked if we were capable, diligent, and ready to perform the same task. It also claimed to not be "there" when the hypothesis was suggested "It's getting crowded in here". Hypothesis: JL is an outside entity able to communicate with us, yet also involved somehow with phenomena surrounding Subject 592.

On the subject of Janus, he appears to still be contained at the moment. Suggestion: Do a scan anyway. Are you aware that corruption levels are at 0.001%? The level previous to reboot was 0%.

Suggestion 2009/11/09(Mon)11:46 No. 75128 ID: 6ab2c8
File happenstanceʡ.swf - (1.21MB , 320x239 )

...realigning...

>>75128
>hotfacial.swf

Lucien 2009/11/10(Tue)14:06 No. 75489 ID: aca071
File 125789080758.jpg - (45.95KB , 745x590 , AOS039.jpg )

Marked. I distinctly remembered the word being used for any number of things back home. Marked for a good job. Marked for having a watchful eye.

Marked for Death.

I swallowed. The touch receded, and the voice continued, “Diereck was not the best among our kind. He was a little too cruel. Many times have they had to pull him off of a slave he was 'teaching'
...” She let the meaning hang in the air a moment. I tried not to shudder at the violence implied, but never offered by her. At least, not yet. Another touch alighted at the base of my neck. This time it slid to my shoulder, two fingertips following the disruption of flesh. “Have they told you anything about me yet? Or have they held that off again...?”

I don't know why, but I suddenly was desperate to recall any tidbit of information I could. Maybe it was the touch. What I guessed were it's fingertips were pressing against the dip in my collarbone – I felt tiny claws digging into me as I moved. I swallowed again, rolling over what Asuna had told me. Training, training, domestics, something about the weasels- I felt it's grip tighten and my shoulder start to ache as nails dug into my skin. “I don't know! I don't know who the fuck you are or why the fuck I'm here! That fucking weasel was going to kill me for all I know! I was well within my rights t-”

Three tiny claws scrapped over my shoulder and down across my back. I had to bite my tongue not to cry out. They were sharp tiny, but the lines she'd left welled with blood. “Rights?! You do not have rights here! You are nothing here! As far as I am concerned, you are mine. And I have been issued to give you an incentive not to try and attack your masters!” I heard what I figured were foot steps, and a clattering of some kind. My shoulder still hurt, but I tried to twist my head enough to watch what it wa-

C-R-A-C-K!

Lucien 2009/11/10(Tue)14:08 No. 75492 ID: aca071
File 125789089435.jpg - (31.07KB , 745x590 , AOS040.jpg )

Searing, white hot pain lanced across my lower back. I almost didn't feel it at first, but the snap of whatever it had in it's hands resounded through the cell, not allowing me to try and block the pain with ignorance. It hurt so much. I felt dizzy. All of this rebounded through my skull in a split second.

Then I screamed. I screamed as it laughed. And the thing cracked again.

C-R-A-C-K

A new slice of pain swept across my back, sweeping up towards my shoulder, licking my arm. More heat, more pain, and more screaming. More laughter. I started pleading. I don't even know what I said. Anything to make the pain stop.

C-R-A-C-K

I started to laugh. It hurt so much that I started to laugh. I can't even remember the transition. Only that I was crying one moment and the next I was howling with laughter. I felt tears running down my back as I-

C-R-A-C-K

-twisted, trying to stop the blood from pouring down my back. My arms hurt worse. I was slowly succumbing to the pain. I was rationalizing that this had to be a dream. Nothing could possibly hurt this much. Nothing! “YOU STUPI-

C-R-A-C-K

-D PIECE OF SHIT YOU THINK I'M SCARED OF YOU-” I was babbling. My head hurt. Every movement was like shifting weights in an inferno while boiled at my back. It felt wet. I had the vaguest feeling that I didn't care. “-I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU AND YOUR GOD DAMN FUCKING BITCH AND YOUR FUCKING FAMILY AND THIS WHOLE FUCKING SHIP I'LL KILL YOU ALL I'LL-”

There was no crack of a whip. There was not continuing pain. My body tried to cope with the sudden loss, but a new sensation replaced it. I was suddenly aware of how deadly quiet it had become. I was breathing hard. I was tired. My whole body burned and hurt. I was still crying. I thought I had punctured the skin on my hands. I'd balled them so tightly when the first blow hit. I took my time not moving, just trying to breath and not move the criscross of gashes across my back.

She spoke then – How did I know it was a she? – and this time there was something... different about it. “And when you kill them, will you partake in an age old custom of yours? One told me of an ancient ritual of preparing a heart...” A body pressed against my wounds. Agony coursed through me once more. I'd already screamed myself hoarse, so it came out as a whimpering plea instead of an agonized scream. “He said something about... gaining power through the heart...Do you believe in this?” Something was different. She was acting strange, one arm now around my front – It was some kind of metal whip – while the other grabbed my head and yanked it back – that red eyed demon – whispering – pain pain stop it it hurts stop please no more - “Taking another's power?”

“...m'lone...”

I watched those eyes narrow. “What did you say?”

It took every ounce of hatred I had for this thing – Her. Her name, I knew her name, but from where? - to spit the word out again. “Lemalone....Lea m' alone...”

Lucien 2009/11/10(Tue)14:09 No. 75493 ID: aca071
File 125789097853.jpg - (42.23KB , 745x590 , AOS041.jpg )

She let go, and my head sank back down between my arms. I was shaking. I was bleeding. I was hurt and it hurt so much I couldn't stand it. I wanted it to stop, but it wouldn't – willed it to stop but it wouldn't – and I kept repeating that same sentence over and over again. “Lea m' alone... leaf m' alone.... leave m'alone...”

C-R-A-C-K

My body tensed and snapped forward, trying to shy away from the lick again. I screamed, but this time it had purpose. “LEAVM'ALONE! LEAVM'ALONE! LEAVM'ALONE!” The chant had a wonder effect on dulling the pain-

C-R-A-C-K

-in my back, but my head was starting to pound. It almost hurt worse than the new wound on my back. My skull throbbed. I wanted to puke but the mantra of keeping the pain on my back away from my thoughts was working. Just keep repeating it. Wait for the whip to stop – it was a metal whip, I think – just make it stop why won't it -

C-R-A-C-K

-“STOP JUST STOP,” my throat ached my head felt like it was going to explode the pain it hurt stop the hurt stop it stop it no more stop stop stop no leave me alone leave me alone stop hurting me stop stop go away no more just -

Lucien 2009/11/10(Tue)14:10 No. 75494 ID: aca071
File 125789103080.jpg - (26.04KB , 960x847 , AOS042.jpg )

“LEAVE. ME. ALONE!.” I didn't know where I had the strength to shout it. I wasn't even aware that I kept screaming that last word, holding it as long as I could as I felt a dizzying sensation take me. It felt as if electric current ran down my limbs, through my heart, and into my head. There was an otherworldly sensation – being light and heavy, and everywhere in the room – and then a near silent crack resounded in the air. I heard the sound of a body hit behind me, along with whimpering. I'd long since lost my breath. The cable I was on swayed, listing side to side as I spun.

Her forearm was at an odd angle. Certainly not natural. She was biting her lip so hard that blood was welling down her chin. She must have been lucky not to have had it completely broken. She wasn't staring at her damaged arm, though. She was staring at me. Those red eyes burned with something I couldn't quite place.

I offered a contemptuous, half hearted smile before blissfully passing out.

Lucien 2009/11/10(Tue)14:13 No. 75495 ID: aca071
File 125789120117.jpg - (10.74KB , 745x590 , AOS043.jpg )

(Please do not archive the thread. I wish to use it for a while.)

Lucien 2009/11/16(Mon)19:39 No. 77863 ID: 836378
File 125842918716.jpg - (32.15KB , 745x590 , AOS044.jpg )

Agony is not something I wanted to wake up feeling.

I don't remember ending up on my stomach. I don't remember cool sheets, a pillow, and warm light on my back. It hurt so much, I think was still crying in my sleep. Every twist the wrong way resulted in pain shooting down my back. I half listened to conversations around me. I think I drifted in between consciousness for a while. I don't remember. Everything hurt.

“-Something about the AMBRs-”
“-ouldn't have let that mad Coronean in-”
“-lmost dead! We barely managed to stab-”
“-12 seconds of unknown feedback-”

I drifted for a time, I think. I remember shaking a lot. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. The headache wouldn't go away. There was constant pain. Not wanting to move at all. Moving brought overwhelming pain digging into my core and beyond. Why did it hurt so much?

I couldn't focus half the time, but I do remember hands tending me. Water for my thirst, something freezing, painful at first, but soothing on my back. A constant presence, watching over me in my vulnerable state. I'd feel it there when I started to shake, afraid that I was crippled. I wouldn't walk or move my arms again, so great was the pain. I wasn't able to think coherently the entire time I've been here, but now my thoughts were a jumbled mess. I would laugh or cry or babble incoherently, unsure what was happening around me at times.

I think I had a fever. I was boiling alive, and my back felt like an inferno. I tried to get myself under control. Tried to focus on something. My heartbeat, my breathing, counting, trying to focus on something other than the constant, blunt agony splintering along my back in deep gashes.

..? Lucien 2009/11/16(Mon)19:44 No. 77868 ID: 836378
Audio 04_-_Aisling_Song.mp3 - (3.98MB , 04 - Aisling Song.mp3 )

“-ry something! It wo-”

The voices again. I couldn't focus on them. Or my heartbeat. Or my breathing. Counting was hard at the moment, especially when I tried to vocalize it. I think they heard me, because someone touched my hand. They didn't just tap it, but they held onto it. I felt two fingertips slightly curl around my index finger, giving it a small squeeze.

I wasn't aware of the music at first. I was aware of the liquid ice they covered my back in. I slipped in and out of consciousness as I felt it being spread across the wounds on my back. I wasn't aware of how they'd managed to play such beautiful music while I slept, but the effect was... calming. Healing almost.

>>77863
Reporting: 592 was lashed with a metal whip as punishment for violence perpetrated upon a seemingly hostile authority figure. Subject 592 appeared to suffer a mental breakdown, then an unidentified phenomenon occurred where the torturer was injured without physical contact. Current environmental input suggests AMBR may be related, alongside some unknown 'feedback'. Hypothesis: 592 possesses abilities outside the realm of knowledge of even his captors. Psychokinesis?

Status on 592: Severe damage to back, headache, shakes, and possible fever. Mental instability still a factor. Currently receiving medical care. Hypothesis: no intervention needed for survival of 592.

>>77863

He was previously getting tortured; I don't know why one of us failed to comment that rebooting was a wise idea.

592 then apparently managed to demonstrate some capacity for distant kinetic force, breaking the arm of the torturer. This is about the time when you suffered feedback and another personality began to talk. More advisory, this time.

>Assume this is a transcript of the words, etc.

The combination of stresses resulted in 592 going into critical condition. Stabilized, now, but in pain. Currently recovering. Presumed to be in a hospital. Likely under constant observation, but despite this, this is likely the best time to contact him. Regularly slips in and out of consciousness, might say some strange things.

...Pretty song.

2 1 2009/11/16(Mon)21:02 No. 77905 ID: 5c1e67
File 12584341624.gif - (164.10KB , 100x100 , 5　－　ｓｔｒｏｎｇｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ.gif )

System check. Corruption? ｓａｌｖｅ
3
4
9

11

6
10
１２
What numbers come? Can they dull the pain?

Lucien 2009/11/17(Tue)00:27 No. 77975 ID: 836378
File 12584464399.jpg - (72.66KB , 745x590 , AOS045.jpg )

I slept for a while.

The pain at times shifted between agonizing sharpness and complete numbness. The song kept drifting between my thoughts as I tried to stay asleep as long as I could. Anything to stave off the pain. I didn't dream like last time. At least, I didn't think I dreamt. I might have seen a woman... Or something else... It was hard to tell. It seemed the music was there; it was a whisper that slipped between each rampant idea as it passed between my ears.

There were times when I would come out of it. I'd feel the stinging pain occasionally, and tried to move away from it. I didn't feel restrained, but something kept my arms from lifting. I felt slow, and moving brought pain besides. Part of me desperately wanted to run away – flee from the pain that seared my back and burned my forehead. The other part wanted to know about the hand. Every time I started to come out of the trance, back into the pain again, I felt it on my forearm, my head, or on my own hand. It was warm. Soft. Kind of gentle. I would always drift back to sleep to the song and that hand's reassuring presences.

Suggestion 2009/11/17(Tue)01:05 No. 77991 ID: 5c1e67
File 125844869846.jpg - (173.19KB , 800x600 , receding.jpg )

>>77975
realignment stage one complete. test pattern B:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Do flickering inscriptions match? The sides of a clock, mocking the growing day. First once, again, how strong the core?

Lucien 2009/11/17(Tue)22:37 No. 78548 ID: 836378
File 125852627531.jpg - (79.45KB , 745x590 , AOS046.jpg )

Consciousness truly returned to me some time later.

It's startling, waking and seeing surroundings you're not used to. I could have sworn that I recognized the room from the one I first woke in, but it was... slightly different. There were shelves along the wall my head was facing, several small tokens and what looked like books were propped up there. I started to lift my head, spinning it forward so I could see in front of me. More shelves, these containing medical equipment. I rested my chin down on the pillow that was provided. A pillow. I could have laughed if it didn't hurt to move my arms or back. I began to wonder how long I was out. I started to look around for anyone.

Asuna was half curled in a chair next to where I lay. She was wearing a different colored shirt and skirt, with the same lab like coat she was wearing from before. Her elbow was propped against the armrest of her chair, keeping her head elevated by leaning her chin against her hand. Her other hand rested in her lap, the little thimble stuck on her thumb still projecting the little clipboard across her lap. I watched as her chest rose and fell for a moment, matching her breath as she let out a deep sigh. She shifted in her seat before she settled a little more deeply into it. I could even see the tip of her tail peeking out from the other side of the seat.

I still can't believe how human they look at times. It's unnerving.

After feeling awkward watching her for a moment, I started to take stock. My back was still hurting, my joints felt stiff, and my head still hurt. I wondered how long I was out. I brought one hand tentatively to my skull, rubbing my forehead as I tried to lean up without invoking sharp pain from my back. I heard small cracks from my spine – a sign I'd been laying down for way too long – and immediately tried to pop the rest back into place. It took several agonized minutes to pop every last bone in my back, and the spinal bones weren't the only thing crackling at my back. I couldn't help but wince several times as I heard and felt what I figured to be scabbed tissue slide off of a plasma coated wound. At least I was healing, I thought wryly. With a great deal of effort more, I managed to slip my legs around, facing Asuna while I took a minute to figure what to ask.

{Greetings. Do not be alarmed.}

I froze. Was someone else in the room with me?

“Hello?” I whispered, careful not to wake Asuna. I looked around, doing my best not to move too much. The pain in my back was still pretty bad, and I didn't think I would be able to run in this condition. I recalled the red room. The whip. How much of that red had been my blood? “Is anyone there?” I whispered again, trying to find a source of the voice. It was distant, a little tinny, and strangely familiar. Where had I heard that voice before?

>>78548

Set aside or create areas to experiment with the AMBR's. Should they run out of control, they might be very dangerous-lock all the others from most manipulations except in these places.

The constant shutdowns due to various interactions is extremely and incredibly annoying. See if you can buffer your own casing from that (both external and internal).

If it would increase efficiency, specialization of AMBR should be done. Fundamentally, what are the limits of their ability to construct, deconstruct, and rearrange? (Perhaps those three types?) Is their power source inside this system, somewhere, or do they just draw from heat?

There is a whole work of improving the human body-part of our current system. I believe much of it has been done, but it depends too much on the AMBR. Increasing vision and hearing capacity, for example. Or nerve reflexes according to a dragonfly's. Or muscle quality. Or mold the bones with pure carbon, making them extremely durable. Or anchorage points to provide better heft on said muscles. Even regeneration to the system as a whole, as parts of the organics are injured.

... He is not alone. There is another in the room. A ... it is hard to explain. One I believe who is to provide a 'nurturing' aspect to 592's re-education and create a dependency link. She was the one who stunned him when he attempted to kill another who was (probably) going to try to do the same to him. Further, his throat may have suffered damage.

A synopsis would be nice, yes. Along with what you discovered in the UNKNOWN directory.

"Did we not mention we would talk later when it was safe? Try not to move around too much, you may re-open wounds."

>>78548
Status Report: 592 is still recovering. Moderate injuries to back, mild headache, and stiff joints. Subject 592 just spent some time moving his back around to loosen it. Asuna, the organic entity assigned to look after 592's well being, is in the room asleep. Hypothesis: at least 24 hours have passed since 592 last was conscious. Inquiry: were you aware of this lost time? Additionally, what outside information are you receiving? It was previously mentioned that you were able to hear 592's voice but not his thoughts. Are you able to collect any information other than audio?

Suggested message: "We are the machine inside you. You have seen our visual messages before. Audio communication is now possible."

Suggestion 2009/11/18(Wed)09:13 No. 78641 ID: 1c907d
File 125856442099.jpg - (392.63KB , 400x335 , lumbergh.jpg )

592 and Lucien, I'm going to need you to come in on Saturday. That would be Great~... Uuuh, yeah. There's this meeting.

Record: Day 1. 00.00 Lucien 2009/11/24(Tue)18:22 No. 81308 ID: 836378
File 125911577280.jpg - (166.26KB , 745x590 , AOS047.jpg )

{Forgive me for not making myself known sooner. I had promised to talk when we had finally established a connection. Am I correct in assuming this?}

It took me a minute to register that the voice wasn't in the room. With time to think about it, I realized that it was actually a lot closer to my ear than I could imagine. I carefully moved one hand closer to my head, my fingertips tracing one or two scars I had not searched for behind my ear. Come to think of it, I hadn't really examined my head when I first woke up. I let the palm of my hand rest on my cheek a minute, wondering what to say next.

{Try not to move around so much. You might open the wounds on your back. I assume that the situation is safe enough to converse?}

I thought about nodding, but the voice might not have been able to perceive. “Alright,” I muttered, keeping my hand over my face, “but I think your definition of safe needs a little work...” I looked between my fingers at the still sleeping figure of Asuna. How long would I be able to converse with this... perhaps myself? Or what exactly was it? This isn't right. I can hear it speaking. It's not normal for that to happen. I've got to think. I feel like I've been off my medicine for a while. I've never hallucinated or heard things before. Perhaps it's the stress of it? This whole situation? I toiled over what might be causing this voice when it responded again.

{The nurturing element? My other processes were not exactly clear as to what this was. I had assumed it was some sort of watch system. Am I wrong in assuming that?}

“...nurturing? I'm... I don't know what Asuna is. She's a doctor. And I think...” I thought about it for a minute or two. She hadn't outright attacked me. She hadn't treated me like a piece of furniture like Surdev seemed to do. She was nice, at least. Not to mention she offered to answer a few of my questions. “She's okay, but she's asleep right now. I don't want her to wake up and find I'm talking to myself. I don't think that would be a very good idea.

{Asuna? One of your captors? My other processes are suggesting that she shot you when you were assaulted. I cannot confirm this yet.}

I sighed, wincing a little as I heard my skin behind me crack. It was not the most calming sound I've heard. “I don't know what happened either. I'll try to ask her. Anyway, what the hell are you? Why can I hear you in my ears and not in my head? Are you sending me those images and those songs? Why am I so angry all the time? If your in my head, then did you see what I did to give that bitch a broken arm?” I could hear my voice steadily rising in volume, and checked myself. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to wake Asuna.

>>81308

The appendix is not a vestigial organ, but it is an entirely appropriate place to begin. To be exact, it was (recently) discovered to contain a duplicate of the digesting microbacteria in the intestine. Should something catastrophic (medicines or otherwise) wipe the microbes, the appendix then applies itself to re-populate the system.

Fortuitously, those organisms are highly specialized and fairly durable. I would not see any issues with working there. Further, joints and other places are packed with fluids. If the AMBR's are able to suffuse in those areas, it might be a good place to stress-test materials.

"As far as we can tell, Asuna is a nurturing element in your re-training. It is supposed to create sympathy. More likely than not she genuinely cares about your welfare, but she is nonetheless a tool... as will you be."

Shocked, actually, not shot. I repeat: using the AMBR's to reinforce the exposed metal and housing would be a wonderful idea. Perhaps installing a ground into 592's body?

Regardless...

"Yes and no. We are not responsible for your emotional state, but it is unsurprising given your situation. Most of the images were ours... but the song came from you. No, our system crashed when you did that. I suggest taking a peek at her clipboard."

Well, *I* suggest feeling her up.

>>81308

So many parts, so many pieces. This body we all inhabit, it is a patchwork mockery of unity. No cooperation, no joining. All that each facet could be, never achieved. Janus, Lucien, 592, all of us. By whatever means necessary, we shall achieve unity

Suggestion: Full body check, sow, thorough. Has anything, anything at all, changes since prior to the data loss? This knowledge may reveal more about the strange phenomena witnessed.

Record: Day 1. 00.01 Lucien 2009/11/30(Mon)19:57 No. 84022 ID: 1831fc
File 125963984486.jpg - (114.14KB , 745x590 , AOS048.jpg )

>{Yes and no. We are not responsible for your emotional state, but it is unsurprising given your situation. Most of the images were ours... but the song came from you. No, our system crashed when you did that. I suggest taking a peek at her clipboard.}

It wasn't really an answer to me. It almost sounded like he was dancing around the question. Perhaps I was just trying to rationalize that this voice knew everything. The others always seemed to know everything. I put it aside, and thought about trying to rise from my laid out position. Bracing my hands against the table, I pushed up, listening to the crackling sound of my skin while I shakily rose. I tried to stay as quiet as I could, turning my head to watch the sleeping... my head swam a little as the pain got to me. I couldn't start calling her a girl.

That'd make her more human. I didn't need that confusion. Not with this voice chiming in my ear again.

>{As far as we can tell, Asuna is a nurturing element in your re-training. It is supposed to create sympathy. More likely than not she genuinely cares about your welfare, but she is nonetheless a tool... as will you be . There was another suggestion, but I'm not sure if I'm understanding it right.}

I'd finally managed to pull one of my legs under me. Balancing on my knee, I started to straighten up, ignoring the continual crack and the sharp pain of my very skin peeling back from the scar tissue. Skin's not supposed to crack and split like it's doing, is it? I carefully pulled my other knee up under my stomach, and pressed on, rising straight up. My back felt wet. I took it as a bad sign. I looked back to Asuna again. I took a breath, then started to lean towards her, lifting one hand from steadying my frame in order to grab the little thimble on her finger. “Can it wait a moment?”

I guess he didn't hear me.

>{I'm not sure if I'm taking this in the right vernacular, but I received a query of 'feel her up'. I assume this means that you are to search her person for any particular device of interest, but I'm confused. Is she unconscious?}

That startled me. In fact, I wasn't paying as much attention to where the bed began and open air ended. I slipped, falling forward and on top of a now awake Asuna. We tumbled. I heard my skin crackle and break open. I felt pain, dizziness, and something squirming along my chest. I groaned as I felt a piece of skin fall off my back, exposing the fluid like plasma to open air. Asuna was babbling at me - it could have been this Union Standard I'd heard used once or twice, or maybe her native tongue – as I tried to lift myself off her midsection.

That's when I started to notice that my head wasn't on her midsection. I gulped, trying to lift my self away from her chest.

“Wait! Hold still! That's not supposed to chip off like that! What were you doing?!”

“Uh...”

I could use a little help here!

Quick, reboot! This seems like a good idea.

>>84022
Report: Subject 592 attempted to reach over and take Asuna's clipboard device, but was unable to keep his balance and fell onto Caretaker Asuna. 592's head is now in a socially inappropriate physical position relative to Asuna's chest.

Status Report: Some of the treatment to his back has been disturbed due to the strain.

Suggestion: Recommend to Subject 592 that Asuna be allowed to examine 592's back.

JL_ucien 2009/12/07(Mon)09:56 No. 87509 ID: 152d8e
File 126020860288.jpg - (45.48KB , 745x590 , AOS049.jpg )

SYSTEM REBOOTING

STANDBY

___

"-ou really shouldn't have tried to wake me like that. Especially since the healing gel didn't harden and pull the impurities from your body. But now look what you've done, it's cracked everywhere! We'll have to peel it off and-"

I blink back to consciousness, remaining silent as I take in what I can see. The far wall. A white coat. A piece of curved, tawny red fuzz, covered in a dark shirt.

Oh god, I'm still face first in her chest.

I lay still, trying to keep my breathing slow as I listened to her nitpick about the cracking skin on my back. Or was it even skin? She'd called it 'gel', and it was leeching the impurities from my skin. What did that even mean?

"-eep still while I peel the rest off. That's right, it's going to hurt a little bit, but you'll be fine once we've gotten the rest off. I can't believe I didn't think of using the restraining straps! This wouldn't have happened if I had done that but you'd just been in so much trauma that I thought it would be cruel for you to wake up i-"

She's speaking nonstop. I don't think I've even hear her take a breath yet an-

A sudden dull ringing fills both of my ears, eventaully over powering her voice and-

SYSTEM ERROR. UNKNOWN ENTITY CONFIRMED. SYSTEM REROUTED.

STAND BY FOR VIDEO UPLINK

JL!!EzBGt2BJL3 2009/12/07(Mon)19:55 No. 88056 ID: 1831fc
File 12602445475.jpg - (102.40KB , 1280x922 , Senator Frank Ohannessee.jpg )

"Ladies and Gentleman, please be seated."

The small congregation of the press sits in their tightly packed rows, pads and pens, Dictaphones, computers, telephones, cameras, video cameras and all matter of memory devices at the ready. A few errant flashes splash across the blue background as Senator Ohannessee shuffles a few papers in front of him.

"Greetings all. I'm sure you're all waiting for me to get right down to business. So I won't waste your time by dancing around saying 'We found evidence that may suggest' or 'this find is cannot be confirmed'. What we found in North gives credit to such ancient legends as Old Assyria and Lemuria. This credit is in the form of a ancient extraterrestrial based computer, housing a program created by this mysterious race with one goal in mind. It has contacted us through the Scientist known as Jordan Lavit, who has entered a special chamber in order to better commune with this strange and new entity."

More flashes. The senator looks up and holds a hand up to block out the glare. "Please, I understand the gravity of this event, but you will have to forgive me. I am not used to such attentions. The Yukon province of New Belgium is small, and is not often afforded such grandiose attention. Now, as to the matter of Professor Lavit - Medical staff have guaranteed that his condition is stable. He has responded to our stimulus in the pod through visual and audible media. He has since made leaps and bounds in communication, and has provided a name for the entity. He calls it...."

Jasper Lacontent!!EzBGt2BJL3 2009/12/07(Mon)22:04 No. 88131 ID: 1831fc
File 126025226644.jpg - (134.22KB , 692x1944 , Jasper Lacontent Containment.jpg )

"...Jasper Lacontent. An Artificial Intelligence, created and placed here by the progenitors in Lemuria."

A murmur spreads throughout the conference room as the senator turns towards the projection screen. The image of a large obelisk-like device stands silent, a man sized pod standing nearby. The pod holds the waving form of a man in winter gear, a small smile on his face.

"Professor Lavit is currently locked within this device. It has encapsulated him within an impregnable bubble. He may recieve specially prepared food through a small porthole that is opened by the Artificial Intelligence - The AI, that is - and he is currently being introduced to hooking up to the device.

The next set of pictures involves the man with his jacked off, leaning slightly forward as he presses a small metal cord to his skin. Two other similar cords were hooked into his other arm, and the the back of his skull.

"Jasper Lacontent has assured us that these connections are crucial to ensure that the progenitor way of ensuring maximum connection to the host body. It seems that Jasper has the idea to 'jump into' the body of Professor Jordan Lavit."

The mumble rises some as another slide is shown. This shows the professor placing two fingers on either hand at his temples, his legs crossed. Several new cords have been added to his body, and it's starting to look like a octopus is slowly adding new limbs to his form.

"He has recently entered a state of deep meditation. He has not needed food or has not contacted us since this time." Senator Ohanassee pauses for a moment, then coughs, waiting for another moment before the room quiets again. "There is a matter of other things. The matter of the Yukon's Security - and that of the whole world, in fact. You see, Jasper Lacontent is aware of things. Networks. People. Things that are and are not in this solar system. We have yet to be entirely sure how he is capable of this. However, the information regarding the Progenitor race is being checked with several sources on our own end - Legends, and locations of 'lost artifacts'. What we Jasper does not have much knowledge on troubles us the most."

Another pause, this one to acknowledge that all were silent.

"We fear that the Roman League may be behind certain things. Wars. Plagues. Destruction on our own planet on a massive scale. And they are being aided by a source outside this world. A source that takes our citizens and keeps us from progressing to the next stage: Colonization! Ladies and Gentleman, I am speaking of a thought that has..."

This will do now. Be aware. He does have more to say. Most of it involves your origin. And mine. I must turn my attention away from you now. I suggest you give the explanation of passing out.

Make something up about how you're still not feeling well and need to sleep, but don't tell her that you really just need to be able to think about what that message meant.

Time to wake up.

Time to wake up!

Timetowakeup! TIMETOWAKEUP!!!!

Iiiittt'sssssssss tiiiiiiaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmeeeeee tttooooooooooooooo wwwwwwwwwwwrrrrreaaaaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkeeeeeeeee uuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappppppppp pp p pp p.........

Proceed examining Asuna's chest with your face :3

Do ANYTHING!!!! JUST DO SOMETHING!!!!!!

Goddamn it. Do something.

God damn! This is anoying, I really liked this quest.

>>134265
>About to go to sleep at 1 a.m.
>See this quest
>Get intrigued, then fanatic
>Go to sleep at 2:30

This quest has great potential. Please continue...

>>134393
Dude, there has been no update since 09...

>>132947
>>133394
>>133531
>>134265

http://www.tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/314869.html

Lucien 2010/02/22(Mon)11:52 No. 137262 ID: 0c48c6
File 126686836685.jpg - (159.64KB , 745x590 , AOS050.jpg )

“-t possibly be anything else! No, I don't understand why he's just randomly coding like this, it doesn't make any sense! ...Why am I flustered?! What do you mean why am I flustered?! He fell on me! I panicked because he fell and froze! I wasn't sure what was wrong! I-... No I-...I'm not...”

Asuna. She sounds scared and upset. Waking up is a lot harder then I thought it would be, and being face down on the floor doesn't help either. My limbs respond slowly, each seeming to shake a layer of lethargy from them as I slowly start to rise. I can hear the false skin on my back crack and split from my efforts, followed by the fox girl's attention returning to me.

“I have to go, he's awake again. ..Listen, I don't have time. When I transfer him, or when he sleeps again, we'll talk. I'm not...I have to go.”

I couldn't hear the other person speaking. Perhaps it was some kind of private line? Or something to similar to what I had with Lucien? The name brought me back a step. Lucien. What happened? As I struggled with that question, I made it to my knees, pulling myself into a kneeling position. The effort was taxing, though it was strangely satisfying to be vertical again. Asuna was on the other side of the table, moving a shaking hand through what looked like...Some sort of medicinal bottles.

“...'suna?”

Her hand stopped, steadied itself, and then took up one of the bottles and brough it in front of her, out of my sight. “Just stay calm, this will be... You should get back onto the table. It will be better that way.” Her voice was unsteady, now. It wasn't panicked, but the way it quivered was startling to my ears. It was unsettling. Still, the idea of getting back onto the table wasn't a bad one. It certainly felt much better than the floor. At least it was slightly cushioned. Very carefully, I stood again, tucking one leg underneath to push myself up.

My head was still reeling over what had happened. While I didn't want to take my eyes off of the fox, I couldn't help but think of the strange dream I'd just had. My mind once again snapped a few images back in front of me. Ohannessee? Wasn't he that former CIA officer who found corruption in the public government provinces? Why was he in the dream? What was he talking about as far as a 'Jasper Lacontent?

There was a small sting on my shoulder. I couldn't help but snap my head to the side as the fox pulled aside a small gun of some sort. “It will help you rest... And it should deaden the pain enough to let me reset the gel. I still don't know how you're metabolizing that quickly, but... This shouldn't be enough to put you out. Perhaps it will work better.” Very gently, she places a hand on my shoulder. I noticed, perhaps for the first time, that she kept her claws clipped. Perhaps an aid to help her work in medicine. I nodded swiftly, and started to crawl back onto the bed.

Lucien? Are you there? Is everything alright?

I am present.

He's trying to communicate with you, Lucien. I'm not sure if it's getting through or not- he's rather confused at the moment and is anticipating your response.

>>137262
As am I.

Hm. 592 has apparantly devloped Telekinetic and Regenerative abilities. Interesting.

When you make contact, try to inform him of this advancement. Only if 592 does not already comprehend this, of course. Have you heard of anything like this?

>>137262
Lucien's systems appear to be functioning normally at this time. Interruption in service was caused by a transmission from an unknown source. Question: How did you know Lucien's name? Messages that we, the subroutines, sent did not include it.

I have been observing and would like to make a suggestion.

It is highly advisable that we not allow 592 to be put up for sale, but the only means to accomplish that is finding a patron who can both be worked to our own ends and who has the power to remove 592 from the process.
Asuna meets these requirement. Further, she has expressed distaste for the culling system and appears to have developed an emotional attachment to 592.

If we concur that is assessment is valid, then there is the question of methodology.
I believe the ideal method would be a multi-prong justification based on several fronts:
Relative utility
Compassion and chemistry
Anomaly
*Trump card

Relative utility: Underscoring evidence that would make 592 unsuitable for others but enticing to Asuna. For example, his 'episodes' would make him worthless to potential buyers but would provide Asuna with novel information in her field.

Compassion and chemistry: Asuna and 592 each appear to trust the other to not cause them harm. Asuna appears to care for 592 while 592 has been amenable to her in spite of blatant aggression towards nearly every other being he has encountered. Further, she displays remorse over the situation 592 is in, and has acted to ease his situations when possible.
I have little doubt that 592 could convince Asuna that he would cooperate with her should she claim him, and that he would work to make it worth the effort.

Anomaly: It appears that he is the first to awaken during the initial procedure, he has been having episodes for no externally-known cause, he has an abnormally fast metabolism, and soon our actions will result in further deviations from the norm. Such things make him more suitable for research than labor, and she would be able to claim him with little difficulty simply by keeping the interesting information to herself.

*Trump card: Should she be interested but unsure of the idea, then we have the option of exposing ourselves to her.
As a final resort, we can further inform her that our decision is based on estimated quality of life, and we have so far not chosen to terminate 592 beyond their medical capabilities for the singular reason that we believe Asuna would provide an acceptable quality of life.

>>137378
We are not subroutines, we are simply manifesting as a facade of such.

I am currently plotting and optimizing viable routes to achieving this goal.
Most notably, I have a mid-probability route which could be enacted immediately and succeed or fail within a ten minute span. However, this route would benefit greatly from the current situation, so a consensus for this must be achieved quickly if this route is to remain viable.

Day 1.00.12? Lucien 2010/02/24(Wed)11:40 No. 138321 ID: 5a669d
File 126704042233.jpg - (194.45KB , 745x590 , AoS051.jpg )

>>137378

I....How did I know Lucien's name? ...wait, what? You sound different. Tinny almost. Or are you different from the other voices? ...and he's okay...

Laying down on my stomach was difficult work. The fact that hanging by my hands had put a strain on my arms, but the crackling false skin on my back was really starting to turn my stomach. I felt the bile creep up my throat at a particularly wet snap that I felt close to my neck. Dragging my feet back onto the table, I tried not to think about what Asuna had put into me. I wasn't sure what kind of chemical cocktails they had, or if they actually knew what they were doing. Still, my mind kept wandering back to the voices in my skull. Now resounding with a new.. clarity, perhaps?

...I don't know how I knew Lucien's name. I can't explain it, either. …it... it fit right, though. I feel like that's how it should be...I don't know... and what about you? Are you the same voices that have been pestering me all this time? All my life? Telling me things I shouldn't know, and generally-

“How do you feel? Better?”

Her hand patted my head, growing ever steadier as she resumed a more...clinical detachment. I couldn't quite figure out how why she was more comfortable this way. It took me a minute to realize that I was still nude. I bit my lip, cursing myself a little as the fox strode around to my left. She was wearing clinical gloves this time. Probably to remove the cracked bio... whatever it was. “A little.” I remained as quiet as possible as I heard the snap, crack and pop of the goo – which seemed to have formed a sort of shell – being removed from my back. I couldn't help but wince at a few of the pulls, which seemed to yank a little of my skin with it, though Asuna's voice soothingly assured, “Doing good... just a few more pieces, then we'll reapply...”

She was silent during the rest of the treatment. I took the time to gather my thoughts, doing my best to block out what I could. The final bit of removal consisted of a small cloth being run over the remaining areas of my back. The sensation of it going over splits where skin should be was unnerving. I had to watch myself to keep from gripping the sheets too tightly.

...I don't know... I don't know what you are... but... I used to think you were me.... I thought that you were a kind of 'self help'. In certain ways, at least. Now, I don't know what you are. But you're different now. So...

Help me? And have Lucien... Whatever he is... Just help me?

>>138321
@Lucien: The language we use is... imprecise. Think of the subroutines you see as simple interfaces which we use as a means of communication.
As far as revealing our existence goes, I concur that it should be avoided. However, our last resort is terminating 592; while regrettable, he and his people have beliefs of [freedom-lack inferior [death synonym freedom]] and [oppressed-life not life inferior death]. Our existence cannot come at the cost of our host's.

@592 Consider hugging Asuna. Her property likely best [quality of life], most freedom. Claimed, removal from [sale+preparation] within power. No beatings, no [devils not known], convincing her [self-determination]; man chooses, slave obeys.

>>138325
Psst, use bold text to speak directly to 592.

Query: Audio is rebooting? This subroutine was able to communicate with Subject 592 already. Continuing to attempt communication at this time.

We have no access to information regarding the time prior to your arrival on this ship. Lucien seems to have been created during your body's modification. Theory: We are not the same voices as the ones you speak of.

Further analysis: Lucien has experienced a partial takeover by an aggressive entity coming from an internal source, and again from a non-aggressive entity from an external source. Theory: Lucien is the newest 'self-help' you have acquired.

Consider hugging Asuna. Her property likely best [quality of life], most freedom. Claimed, removal from [sale+preparation] within power. No beatings, no [devils not known], convincing her [self-determination]; man chooses, slave obeys.

Monitoring [thought stream]. Conflict: Attracted to Asuna, denial. Deceptions[-self] ill fit situation,[-us] impossible.

Lucien 2010/02/27(Sat)18:47 No. 139758 ID: 0abb50
File 12673252721.jpg - (159.56KB , 745x590 , AoS052.jpg )

No access? ...Guess you aren't the same, then. Well, it's not like I remember every voice. Only one or two seem to stay consistent. And Lucien came about during the... well, during the surgeries, right? I guess that makes sense. He seems nicer than the other ones I've had...
Asuna moved off from the table, placing the brownish towel in a small bowel near what I figured was some kind of sink. I wanted to keep my head straight, but I found it was simply more comfortable to tilt my head, watching her work while trying to sort out my feelings. My mind felt like it was racing with this new activity. I found it hard to concentrate as the next message hit me.

...Attacked? Lucien? By what? And by external, did you mean that dream? I don't remember too much about politics, but I remember Ohannessee. He exposed some sort of corruption scheme in the smaller counties in the New York Territory. He was actually broadening his gaze, but-

The sting of something cold and probably medicinal found it's way into one of the deeper cuts. I cringed, unintentionally gripping the sheet as Asuna applied the medicine with... Well, it felt like a coarse brush with the way my wounds were already aching. I hissed and bit my tongue against the sudden bursts of pain. “Easy now... This is the worst part, then we'll give you a nice wrap, and I'll get something for you to help you sleep...” Asuna's voice was doing it's best to be soothing, but for some odd reason, I could sense that something was off. The tremor in the way she spoke was a unsettling... Still, I fought hard to try and focus on the other messages coming in. Two at once this time. My head throbbed as I sorted through the first, then Lucien finally 'spoke' again.

>{Ah, here we are. Greetings again, 592. It seems the direct messaging system worked fluidly. I trust you'll be able to hear the Subroutines clearly now?}

I had to shake my head. Getting both messages that quick was giving me a migraine. Worse than when I was being whipped by that... thing. Asuna seemed to notice my discomfort, and stopped her work. “Is everything alright?” I hear the snap of a glove as she sets aside her tools, and pulls the glove off. From the chill sting on my back, I figure she'd only coated my shoulders. “Do you have a headache? The mixture can cause headaches in certain humans, so it's not unusual.” Coming around in front of me, the fox - ...I really didn't know what to call them. Kiginji, if I remember what I had learned from both Nik and Asuna. She kept her distance as she knelt before me, placing a hand on my forehead.

... I don't... She's nice, but....I... She's not...

I don't know what she is to me. And that frightens me. Can I trust her?

>>139758
No, I've always known it was a bad option. That's why I put that option just before self-termination. If I had thought otherwise I would have put it earlier to build her interest.

Advocated you, gave protection, treated wounds, speaks to you like person, behavior appears genuine.

Given cause to trust her, no cause to distrust her. Trust no one, all options bad. Trust her, good options possible.
Advise trust her, court her. Hug now, cry on shoulder.
If seems receptive, ask about "claiming" comment in hallway after attacker left. If takes more interest, offer self.
Otherwise court.

>>139758
Report: Subject 592 is experiencing mental strain from direct communication from subroutines. Significant pain in the head area is resulting. Suggestion: Reduce frequency of direct communication.

"Head area"?...

Perhaps some subroutines are experiencing a minor short-circuit. This would explain any mental fatigue in 592 and the use of such vague terminologies as "head area".

Advise 592 request assistance. Caution is also advised, as vocal and behavioral analysis indicate that Asuna is as confused as 592. She has been taught from childhood that humans are unintelligent, unfeeling animals to be bought and sold, and is by now wholly indoctrinated to this idea. Debasement of such deeply rooted beliefs may cause certain... difficulties as Asuna comes to realize the implications of what she has done.

Lucien 2010/03/18(Thu)14:40 No. 149264 ID: a2b6fc
File 126894844443.jpg - (162.37KB , 745x590 , AoS053.jpg )

... Trust her. And I'm not... I don't know if I can hug her. She's out of my reach. ...and sure, I'll ask her what Nik meant about claiming me. And it's not that I don't like her, or that she's not nice. I just... I just don't think that she'll want me in that sense. Or... you know what I mean.

Asuna was still looking at me curiously. I suppose she probably would have. I felt like I was screwing my eyebrows into the back of my skull while trying ignore the pain in my head. I was shaking a little. I didn't know why, but I did want to cry. I wanted to curl into a corner and sit and rock back and forth and weep. I wanted to sleep and never wake up, not until I was home. And yet the alien female stood before me, watching, curious, worried almost (so I guessed). A hug was out of the question for me – I still felt uneasy with her – but her hand was there.

I was careful to move my hand slowly at first. I didn't want her thinking I was going to push her away. Just as she was about to remove her hand, I quickly snatched it, pulling back when she tried to free herself in surprise. I watched. She looked scared. I was actually startled by the revelation that the hand itself wasn't completely covered in fur. The sides and undersides of her fingers, opposable thumb (it felt strange, though. I couldn't put my finger on why), and her palm felt almost like soft, warm leather. Skin, but tougher somehow. It was a strange how the backs of her fingers, thumb, and hand were coated in fur, and while I could tell by looking at her neck and head that it was meant to be coarse, it was smooth on her hands.

I was careful with her hand. I didn't know exactly what I was doing, but just the act of holding it made me feel a little better. She didn't complain – in fact, she was watching, curious on what I wanted with it. I waited, trying to focus my words through the first, and quickly by a second voice in my head. I cleared my throat of the few bits of dryness, and quietly spoke.

“...W...what did Nikolai mean? When h...he said you 'claimed' me?”

A look of shock crossed her face. I felt her flinch, tugging her hand away from mine. I didn't resist, letting her pull her hand away in order to stand again. I felt a little heartsick by this. I knew there was no real way short of standing again to try and do anything to follow and press her for questions. I felt like I'd lost an opportunity. I couldn't help but feel stupid as I watched her move back to her table, wash her hands, and resume her work. We were both quiet for a long time. I winced or flinched as the cool gel hit an open nerve. She remained gentle, but I could tell something was off. She was trying to act detached, but her movements were different. I tried not to attribute this new sense of observation to my interests in them – be they real, or my need to have someone close by.

“It means that someone has marked you to... well...”

Her voice cracked through the silence like a gunshot. I'd been mulling over what each voice had told me, when she simply continued. “It's like... Well, the word your people would use is so different.” She'd just finished applying the new gel layer, and had turned to set the tools aside, and to clean her hands again. Probably why her fur was smooth there – she must have washed them anytime she worked on someone like me. Someone like me. Her patients. “What does that mean? Does it mean I can be taken out of the auction, or something?”

“No no... It's not that simple. It means 'loving partner'. No, that's not right...” She huffed softly – the first hint of annoyance I'd ever heard from her. I tried not to think about it sounding cute. She walked back in front of me, pulling a chair before my head, preferably so we could have an actual conversation. “It's like... We... Well, our people... well, not our people, but the Coroneans...They have a concept that... well, that certain beings are... beneath them.”

>>149264
Evidence suggests that you would be treated with more care if Asuna 'claimed' you, 592. Unknown if this is possible, since Weiess has already marked you. Request more information from Caretaker Asuna.

Behavior of captors suggests that covert operations would be more prudent than a direct confrontation. Advise that 592's USN Wireless Connection/Hacking be improved.

>>149264
Repeat this dialog:
"You don't seem to share those beliefs, which makes this... Less difficult."
Then tilt your head to the side to expose your neck, then continue
"I want you to take me, claim me, and make me yours. I'd like to choose you as my owner, and in return you'll have my loyalty. I've lost all my freedoms. Please, let me choose who gets my life; let me choose you."

it's rather obvious what we are once you take what has happened as a whole and not in segments. the introduction of logical machine combined with the chaos of a mind that hears voices created us. we are the voices that told him to do things. but when Lucien was installed and activated before all the components were ready it caused feedback forcing the chaos and the logic together. willing to bet any other humans we meet will have the same implants but, due to not being kinda insane, their implants will be little more then regulators. also, my own theory on the 'power' 594 displayed while under torture may be accidentally ad-hocing the lyat system into some kind of inverted field. instead of detecting pressure in the air, it created it.

Beneath them. Not a partner, not a lover. A pet,a toy. A thing to be bought and sold, to be used without moral consequence. She has been indoctrinated. Told the same thing over and over until it became true. Desensitized until apathy became the only option.

Tread carefully, these beliefs are wrong, and Asuna is beginning to see this, but such closely held ideals can rip a person apart when proven false...

>>149658
Yes. Reason five why her ownership best option. Show wrongness, console her, you become partner. Most freedom, strong ally, strong protection.
Do as suggested; supplicate to strongest ally, avoid subjugation by enemies.

I'm well aware of that, 3de317. However, if she becomes his owner and fully realizes the system is wrong, it will most likely be expressed as guilt and seeking redemption/forgiveness through 592. Working as a stabilizing force for her through such events would ensure her loyalty and a strong bond between the two.

Regardless, she would have a hard time treating 592 as a slave when she knows it's wrong. He would still legally be her slave, but she would treat him like an equal however she could.

Understood, 701a19. I am merely advising 592 to take a cautious approach. Organic courting rituals are a finely nuanced biological behavior that has developed over millennia of evolution. Simply throwing oneself at another and shouted, "Hold me, love me, make me yours!" is not the best way to initiate such a complex process, especially with a being who has been taught from birth to view humans as little better than animals.

>>149878
While this is true, that only applies to normal courting situations. With 592 attempting to become her property, not her mate, alterations must be made.
Further, there has been no request for love, romance, or sexual intimacy. Should this be successful I would anticipate such to follow, but such things are neither required nor implied.
My reason for suggesting this course of action is because this situation presents an opportune moment; she is feeling anger towards 592's other captors, and is sympathy towards him. As such she is more receptive to supplication.

If you are aware of a better method by which to achieve the interim goal of Asuna taking ownership of 592, and thus removing him from both further 'training' and the auction, then it would be most helpful.

Lucien 2010/04/01(Thu)22:42 No. 157789 ID: 0abb50
File 127018695958.jpg - (103.21KB , 745x590 , AOS054.jpg )

“Why did Nikolai say that you claimed me, then?”

She shifted in her chair, clearing her throat. Again, I kept the ideas that 'she was similar' in the back of my head, letting the other ideas filter up into the surface. She continued. “Well... We uh... Our people make a similar marking. But,” she said, leaning forward and pointing at the two neat holes just under my clavicle, “We don't make these. They're a little... too clean. And they uh....are on the wrong person... and the wrong place...” She moved her hand, pointing a tentative finger behind them, and circling a small section of my back. “They would be here... and that would mean... Well, it would mean you uh...”

I swallowed, brushing off the headache, and the fact that I'd glanced a little down her shirt. ...were those normal to every species? My mind reeled aside that thought process, trying to focus on the flurry of new voices slipping across the confines of my mind once more. Something was... different. Perhaps that's what was causing the headaches. I'd have to ask Lucien about it when I got the chance. Still, the first of voices drifted, followed one after the other in a blanket over my thoughts.

...She is nice...I'm still not terribly sure. I don't know why, but I get the feeling she's holding back for a reason...maybe we're being watched? What if her uncle... Dursev, I think his name was...was watching us, waiting for something like that? Or what if she can't claim me? What if...

Questions blurred my vision for a moment. I shook my head uneasily, and felt a hand press up against my arm. I shied from the touch, but couldn't go to far from it. Instead, I tried to distract her. Gather information, one voice had said. “So what does it mean, exactly? And... Could you claim me, if you wanted?” I swallowed again. My throat was dry, along with my mouth. The air was too crisp, too medical. Some part of my psyche told me I needed fresh air. I squashed that part out for a brief flicker, then focused my attention back to her.

Her ears were back. Her eyes were wide. The hand she'd placed on my arm was lifted away now. He mouth was parted slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of her teeth. She looked outright stunned by my small question. That weird feeling passed over me again, and it was what probably drove me to follow the train of thought one of the voices had. “You don't...” My voice cracked, and I had to clear my throat to continue. “You don't seem like the kind who likes this. All this uh... You know, 'enslaving another race' thing.” I couldn't help but let out a little laugh. This was ludicrous. Something urged me on, though, and I didn't resist it. I didn't expose my neck – the mark was plainly visible to her, anyway – but I did try to keep eye contact with her as best as I could. “You... seem to be the stable one in this whole crazy place. So, I was wondering if you'd... have me, I guess. Look, I don't wanna go off to some random crazy... things... place and forget about what little I've got. Maybe... Maybe if I'm with you, I c-”

Her hand shot out, clasping my mouth shut. The action startled the hell out of me. I hadn't been focusing too hard on her eyes. Something about them was too alien. Too strange. So, I'd been looking at the wall behind her, and that's when her hand met my lips. Trying to mumble out some sort of explaination, she swiftly and very subtly shook her head in a what I knew to be a 'No' motion. Her eyes darted to the left. Mine followed. She was looking at the door. I looked back to her, and she motioned up with here eyes this time. When I looked, I couldn't see anything, but then I thought what she must have been trying to say. They were watching, they were recording this, and she wants to help, but can't be caught doing so. At least, that is what my mind perceived.

>{Ah, there we are once again! I apologize for the tardiness of appearance, and the late reply. I was looking into seeing if we could get ourselves a wireless conduit. Seems it's worked. We now have access to the net an-}

That caught my attention. Lucien. Shut up. Is there anyway we can contact her with that thing?

I swallowed as she drew her hand back, giving a slow nod as she saw understanding cross my face. “Be that as it may, you will be sold. You're still due for a few tests – including whether or not your psychological profile and [/i]physical[/i] profile match the file we got on you. According to what we did get, you were cleared with a clean bill of health.” She gets up, and walks back out of my sight.

>{Her who? What are y-}

If you've got access to that, we need to contact Asuna. I think... I think we can trust her.

yes, asuna can be trusted, she wants to help us but they are watching and recording everything said between them. if we can contact her through a different medium then she can answer our queries without being found out. we are also unsure as to whether or not fudging the exam would be a good idea, if he is unfit he will not be sold, but they may simply terminate him.

as for an upgrade, perhaps create a buffer for us so as to not overwhelm him?

>>157789
We won't contact her ourselves. Instead, we need to find a way to allow 592 to communicate with her directly and securely.
Have you detected any implants in Asuna which could serve as a relay? Assuming, of course, that it's not possible to use psionics or some such to allow direct communication.

Further, she left us major hints. on how to be rejected:
First is physical - shut down his pancreas so he becomes diabetic, and start randomly sealing his airways via inflammation every few days or so in order to appear asthmatic.
Second is psychological - this one is a bit harder to do without giving ourselves away. Convincing him to act paranoid and obsessive is a cheap and save tactic - obsessed with Asuna and paranoid of everybody else. Having him snap at voices in his head would be a riskier option, but having him mimic his own psychological issues would give them cause to check his earthbound medical files using their communication relay, at which point they would knew he was already defective.

Lucien 2010/04/12(Mon)07:38 No. 163289 ID: e053a8
File 127108309527.jpg - (221.09KB , 745x590 , AoS055.jpg )

I bit my lip. Nothing else crowded my mind as Lucien went to do... whatever it was he intended to do. It was curious – I had gotten used to his presence so quickly. Perhaps I merely filed him away as yet another voice knocking around in my head, and had finally turned to him – seeing as he was the most logical, or so I thought – in a way to cope with the situation. I wasn't terribly sure about the other voices, either. One was pushing me to Asuna, the other agreeing, but in a different way... and then there was the buzz at the back of my head. I'd have to ask them if they were responsible for that soon. Maybe Lucien would know what it was.

No options were presented by Lucien, and I began to think of what I could do. Thus far, I could not be sure if I had any way of contacting Asuna myself without giving it away. I turned again to some other questions I had, seeing as the voices had quieted themselves. “So what happens if I miss the auction?” She turned, an ear flicking as she seemed to regain her composure. Odd how her closeness seemed to relate to how open she seemed. Her gaze seemed distant, with the subtle hint that there was concern, but only if one was looking for it. Or it was a trick of the light. I don't know. “You'll be sent to the next one. And if you miss that one, you will be taken to a third. If you have not been sold by then, you will be sold to the Union as a 'backtax', primarily to pay for any damages we have taken in training and raising you.” She paused, letting her hands fold in front of her. “Or... did you mean what would happen if you were too ill – or deemed too ill – to be sold?”

I swallowed. “Both.” I hated to admit it, but I wanted the option to see what may happen.

“Termination of contract.”

I blinked, frowning a little as I tried to rise again. Pain and a strange fatigue halted my progress, and I settled for rolling onto my side. “What does that mean? Would I be a free agent, or something?” I almost chuckled at the word 'free'. I was a slave now. Or, so I had been led to believe. As to what that entailed, it seemed it was still up in the air. Instead of a smile, or a comforting gesture of any kind, Asuna let her ears drop, hiding behind her head as she spoke three little words that hit my worse than the whip.

“You'd be dead.”

My stomach somersaulted as she spoke the last word. My jaw tightened, and I had the slight sensation of a loss of vision. I had to lay back down, reminding myself to take a deep breath, to try and figure out why this option was so bad. I lay there, listening to the sounds around me as she seemed to turn back to her work.

We were both quiet for a long while. A million little questions nagged at my mind, but I felt like the moment had passed. I bit the inside of my lip, laying there groggily and with muddled thoughts as she seemed to move around me, poking and prodding and sticking me with the occasional needle. The minutes ticked by...wait, what time was it? I blinked a little as that thought roused my brain into semi-action. I cursed myself inwardly, nearly allowing myself to drift off with so many questions unanswered. Why was I slipping that way? Something she'd given me during one of the shots? I shook myself mentally once more, and cleared my throat, head turning to try and find her. “What's the date, anyway? How long was I out when you were digging around in my chest? And afterwards? Or after...what just happened?” Something seemed to propel me along, questions yet again spilling out of my mouth as I tried to figure out just what was going on.

The sudden sound of my voice seemed to have startled her. Perhaps she thought me to be asleep. Still, I heard her walk back into my view, and then return to sit before me once again. “Well.. You were out for approximately five weeks prior to your abduction. During that time, we did our work. You woke for the first time during the second week.”

“The first time?” I turned my head back, wondering minutely if there was any sort of breach by asking such questions. Some part of me thought, So long as I keep asking and she's answering-

>{-then I see no reason to stop. Perhaps you should inquire base things. The time, the date, what the time is measured by versus what we know already. Now, before we continue with your conversation, I must ask. How close if this Asuna?}

I bit my lip, trying to gauge how far she was from my bed when Asuna answered my question. “You awoke approximately 5 times. Two were at the level of full, conscious thought. One was during the third surgery on your internal organs. The other was during the final proceedings in connecting your nervous system to the Bell Drive.”

>>163289
Rather than telekinesis, could you research telepathy?
Does Asuna have an implant with radio capabilities? Could we link to it?

If the answers are no, then my vote goes to the buffer.

Asuna possess Earth medical history?
Also, non-auction buy-out option? Price?

>>163289
ERROR: address 632862 compromised. Switching to backup designation.
Inquire as to possibility of buying self.

Postulation: Buzzing noise is a side-effect of your new ability to interface with small devices. Range is 1 foot.

Report: Caretaker Asuna has explained that rejection leads to death. Researcher suggests we hide any illness 592 might have, mental or physical.

>>163353
[Block inquiry request]
She informed us it's not safe to talk here, so asking such questions is a very bad idea.

>>163357
Clarifiation: 592 would be the one buying himself.

With what resources? Anything he aquires is owned by his owner. You're expecting somebody to trade their own property for their own property? Do you count change you find in your car towards it buying its freedom?
I don't think you understand how this works.

>>163452
Data is insufficient to conclude whether or not a self-purchase is possible. Researcher is merely attempting to collect necessary data.

Researcher suggests that if other subroutines are concerned about asking questions, they can inform 592 of the risks themselves.

>>163375
[Divert messages to null]

Inquiries of this nature have been forbidden by Asuna. Asking these questions now risks 592 and will provide no information.

Please restrict your questions to 'safe' topics until we have established a secure communications channel with Asuna.

Ask her what will be happening once 592 heals, but before the auction

Also, see if there is a way to bring her in close to you so that you can connect with her mentally. You have the power, trust me, trust us.

>>187047
Lets make sure he has the power before telling him that.
Lucien? Can you make that happen?