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File 154181070584.png - (45.50KB , 800x600 , salq3-title.png )
910105 No. 910105 ID: 8a614b

[pt1: >>/questarch/862495]
[pt2: >>/questarch/883042]
[dis: >>/questdis/120117]
[bte: >>/questdis/96269]
Expand all images
>>
No. 910106 ID: 8a614b
File 154181088921.png - (64.01KB , 800x600 , salq3-1.png )
910106

~Paraspacial noise increasing. Estimate 87% probability of high-activity PSI-user within 5 units.~
~Confirmed. Communications likely compromised. Remember, target is a tier 9 PSI-user, do not engage directly. Repeat, do not engage directly.~

~Director, this is Streamwaver 99, I've located an intent signature, I'm proceeding to investigate.~
~Streamwaver, do not engage directly! Get out of there--~

>>
No. 910107 ID: 8a614b
File 154181090949.png - (87.36KB , 800x600 , salq3-2.png )
910107

~You really should have learned to follow orders.~
~Voidsong! Oh it's just you. Wait, it's you--~
~Yes.~
>>
No. 910108 ID: 8a614b
File 154181092993.png - (123.76KB , 800x600 , salq3-3.png )
910108

~It's me. Goodnight, child.~
Clear mind. Empty soul. Realign to configuration seven. Find the binding tether. Grasp it.
~Wait WAIT NO PLEASE I SURRENDER--~
Unmake.

SPLORCH
>>
No. 910109 ID: 8a614b
File 154181096550.png - (29.49KB , 800x600 , salq3-4.png )
910109

Well, this is an odd turn of events. Welcome back.
How did you end up here, parasite? At my beck and call? As a spy? Outside of your control?
You drift like paraspacial flotsam, at the mercy of the eddies and tides of raw consciousness.
Well, watch if you wish, and say your piece, but I am busy.
I may deign to answer questions if you feel so bold as to ask them!

...I got blood everywhere. That's not good for keeping a low profile.
I need to go find the cleansing acid. You may as well come with me while I search for it.

Oh, and I am aware of your intent, salikai-aider. I don't know what you are, or what your purpose here is, but I can feel at least some part of you would see me dead sooner than later.
Not that it matters.
I've faced greater horrors from paraspace than you could even conceive of.
The worst thing you could do to me is give me bad advice. Hahaha!

Oh, all this blood on me? Not mine.
>>
No. 910111 ID: e1d580

We know.
>>
No. 910112 ID: 10c408

Hey voidsong, here's a question. How were you evidently betrayed by someone else in the kiter empire?
>>
No. 910115 ID: 86eb65

Everyone always says we are the lesser horrors but all those big guys have to sleep 95% of the time and honestly never get around to destroying much. Plus they all have glaring weaknesses to exploit and get banished constantly.

But not us! We cant be destroyed or banished for long. We only show up at the most critical moments and you wont be able to avoid thinking about our advice. Every day from here until your end you will wonder what your future would have been like if we had just ignored you.

Anyways what you blowin up people for?
>>
No. 910116 ID: afdebc

>The worst thing you could do to me is give me bad advice. Hahaha!
No, the worst thing we could do would be to ignore you and shame the underwriter of your reality until it despairs and unmakes your existence utterly.

The worst thing you could do to us is to speak to us, which you've already done.

>Oh, all this blood on me? Not mine.
It's not your blood, but it is your blood, isn't it?
>>
No. 910120 ID: 0c3c2c

>>910109
We were following that guy you exploded. Now we're stuck with you. Also, your biological offspring stole an intergalactic scoutship and crashed in another galaxy.

I'm sure you don't care but it's a thing. Either way, try wiggling your appendages more. You might blend in.
>>
No. 910147 ID: 91ee5f

>>910109
Where exactly are you right now? It’s pitch black all around you.
>>
No. 910172 ID: ad51b8

>Oh, all this blood on me? Not mine.
we saw... kinda surprised you didn't try something like this on our Salikai friend.

Also why we're here... don't know, we just kinda jump around from time to time. You seem to be doing fine for yourself.
>>
No. 910176 ID: 575ec0

>would see me dead sooner than later.
Only if you would detriment the Salikai. The survival and success of Sisirri is our primary (if arbitrary) objective in this instance.

Beyond that, you're neat.

Also, why call us a parasite? We gain no sustenance from this place or the beings in it. Our para-spacial existence is merely a manifestation of a greater whole. To whisper and watch merely brings us joy. We are simple creatures.
>>
No. 910254 ID: 977456

Is there some reason that they tried to surrender? Nothing I have seen of Team Kiter suggests that surrender is likely to achieve much or be accepted by their peers.
Can you recover any of their cybernetics? Could be valuable data on it...
>>
No. 910276 ID: 094652

>I got blood everywhere
You look like you tried to enter a wet t-shirt contest naked.

>The worst thing you could do to me is give me bad advice
Actually, that depends on whether or not you have an addiction to mentally snorting reclaimer vat refuse.

We are holding back on the crazy.

Also your frankenumono bred some puppies. Don't @#$%ing touch them or we'll stop holding back.

>Ask your questions, worm
So, how many scouts have you splorched so far? And what do you use to cause exploding cancer?
Why are you not back at your own secret base building disposable drones to do all your scavenging?
What do you have at your disposal and how thoroughly can it be applied to the annihilation of your enemies?
Is P=NP?
How close are you to building a lesbian sex-bot?

>What do
Take Streamweaver99's augments, cannibalize what you can for easily-contained parts, go find more parts to build better computers for your base. Simple enough.
>>
No. 910279 ID: 9a9e0c

Are... Are you making gang-signs at us?
>>
No. 910322 ID: 977456

>>910276
Those puppies are a menace. The things breed like rabbits and go all murder-gestalt over spilt milk. I'd tell you to nuke them from orbit, but I hear that the ears are delicious. Perhaps you should try barbecue?
>>
No. 910330 ID: ba56e6

>>910109
Want you dead? Voidsong, a majority advised Sisirri to spare your life during your confrontation.

It may or may not interest you to know that one of our myriad hostforms is in contact with your son.
>>
No. 910391 ID: 83bf07

We could help. If you let us.
>>
No. 912033 ID: 4dc321

You told 1045 not to let the Mistake facility hand you over. Why are they going to have the choice to hand you over or not? Gonna hide in there, or what?
>>
No. 912295 ID: 8a614b
File 154354064739.png - (82.08KB , 800x600 , salq3-5.png )
912295

>why blow up people
A neno fi even seeing me for long enough to send a message at the speed of thought will have more swarming on me in moments.
A lapse in attention and they might even be able to push me into paraspace. I'm spending more attention than you might understand keeping myself anchored.

>how blow up people
This particular technique is a combination of the unravelling thread and the explosion from within. Find a paraspacial sensitive's connection to paraspace, pull it into paraspace, pull it into realspace, violently jerk the connection as hard as you can while exerting force of will upon the target. Part of the target will be forced into raw paraspace and rapidly forced back into realspace. If done quickly enough, this can force part of the target to occupy the same physical space as itself in microfractures across its entire body. The coup de grace, an explosion of force focused to originate from the centre of mass.
The target does not even process what is happening to them before they cease processing altogether if you do it correctly.

Both of these techniques usually take about two minutes of full concentration for advanced neno fi. I did it in two seconds.
I'm not classified as a tier 9 paraspacial intent manipulator for nothing.

>why not blow up Sisirri
I wanted her intact and alive.
...also trying to synchronise to the mentality of a drunk alien is a poor tactical decision.

>how were you betrayed
How? Gol was waiting for any excuse to hunt me down like a pest animal. My abrupt departure was that excuse.
I'd barely left my spire before the kill order was sent.

>where are you
Backup base, a damaged spire abandoned after some sort of Mistake weapon was used on it. The sublayers are still intact.
This is basically the second or third place most people would think to look, but...

>gang-signs
Mnenomic digit configurations are one of many vital tools in the arsenal of a terrifyingly capable paraspacial manipulator.
When thought is power, memory is ammunition.

>take augments
Garbage.

>why did they try to surrender
Garbage.

>is P=NP
When accounting for paraspacial calculation, the question is not even wrong.

>how close to building a lesbian sex-bot
If I wanted one, I'd have one.

>neumono puppies
...Good work, 1045!

>son
You must be confused, because I don't have a son.

Okay, forget it, I can't find the cleansing acid. I'll just leave the bloodstains as a warning.
>>
No. 912296 ID: 8a614b
File 154354068635.png - (162.54KB , 800x600 , salq3-6.png )
912296

One more thing to sort out, though.

These defective wastes of organs are Novaswimmer and Wavebreaker.
I'm using them as paraspacial amplifiers.

Say hi to-- actually, wait, no, don't acknowledge them. They ceased to be people when they crossed me.

"Voidsong, please, I'll do anything, anything, don't hurt me!"
"Voidsong! Voidsong why! Why are you doing this?! You saved me from the recyclers! I don't understand!!"

"Shut up," I mutter, and place my hands on their heads as they go catatonic from the neural feedback of me asserting my paraspacial will over their consciousnesses.
Yes. Not a significant boost, but their paraspacial intent is added to my own. Enough for me to pierce the veil wider and gain greater awareness of my surroundings.

Reach out, and, yes, five scouts, neno fi all of them. Terrible composition for an advance team.
>>
No. 912297 ID: 8a614b
File 154354070922.png - (35.48KB , 800x600 , salq3-7.png )
912297

The two neno fi I'm touching convulse as I force their intent alongside my own into each scout, one at a time repeating the previous action.
Unmake. Unmake. Unmake. Unmake. Unmake.

Zero scouts. Gol should have sent neburi, the idiot.

I let go of my two spare batteries, who are not tier 9 manipulators and are suffering the backlash of being forced to keep up at my level. They pant and whine and groan in pain.

I turn around, to see a stealth neburi with a weapon outstretched towards me.
Ah. I guess Gol did send neburi. I can't unmake neburi, they don't have paraspacial connections nearly as strong as neno fi.

I put my arms up. The stealth neburi aims her shot.

"Well, you have me where you want me. What do you want?"
"Command is execution--"

I fling a boulder at her so fast the fungal wall covering rips with an audible squelch when she crashes into it.
While she's dazed I pull the boulder back and throw it into her a few more times until the moving stops.
One day the rank and file will learn that shoot on sight means shoot on sight but until then I'm safe from all harm.

"Stran, help us, please, help us!" moans one of the two batteries, as though pleas to indifferent alien forces will somehow change things.

So, what can you tell me about the secrets of the Mistake facility, flotsam? You've seen inside it more than I have--

Hm, nope, there's more coming. I need my full attention. Goodbye, flotsam!
>>
No. 912298 ID: 8a614b
File 154354075535.png - (27.16KB , 800x600 , salq3-8.png )
912298

It's been about three days since the gate was opened. Enough time to recover, to answer questions, to get blocker symbiotes on neumono. Enough time to apologise to the others in a sincere manner for my foolishness. Our new pomi guest is... well, still in recovery. The hastily installed cybernetics were removed with oversight from myself, Aza and Tirzi, with Ekasarra providing some assistance too. Together, we managed to cobble enough expertise to remove them hopefully without any permanent damage.

Also, enough time for them to finally read my report on the lower levels. Apparently, some of them saw a glowing light with a faint voice, but they couldn't understand what it tried to say before it faded away. Aza loses drone reception if he tries to send any drones down there. They asked if I could record my next trip down.

I asked Ku for a map of the entire facility. He said something about discrepancies in the existing data and that a bad misleading map is worse than no map, but it feels like he's trying to cover up some sort of mistake, or something else he's not telling me about. I asked if he had a map of the lower levels of the original facility, and he sighed and said the facility back home didn't even have anything more sophisticated than a basement and a server room.

More immediately, I found new specifications for an upgraded, improved prosthetic eye in the data extracted from Ekasarra's cybernetics. Based upon the model I already had, but with some compelling changes, such as multiple failsafes and safeguards against intrusion. A lot of references to something called "black ice" I've never come across before. Well, I mean, I understand the concepts but the idea of some sort of safeguard that retaliates with so much force it can harm whatever's connected... I didn't think such technology was possible. Apparently, my mother found out it existed the hard way trying to peer into something Imperium wasn't telling her about.

And, rather than take temporary, perhaps even permanent neurological damage as a warning sign, she considered it a challenge and decided to reverse engineer the setup. My mother was apparently simultaneously brilliant and incredibly foolish. So, I guess it runs in the family.

The downside is, of course, that all of this technology is based upon design principles either given by or taken from Imperium. However, a few conversations with Ku and Aza later, and I think I made the appropriate revisions to the design. Then I spent a solid day doing nothing but putting it together from a mixture of spare drone parts and some custom made parts in Aza's workshop.

Then I asked Aza and Tirzi to help me install the finished product, and it feels natural. The optical sensors are higher resolution than the previous one, and I've custom tailored the mind machine interfaces so I can easily, easily cycle through whatever data overlays I want without having to jump through mental hoops and menu metaphors.

Oh and those three arkots my former elites lost still haven't been found. They're still trying to find them, coming back to the large xenobiology lab every night to report back, eat and sleep. I've made it clear that I don't care if they find them alive or not, they're not getting their ranks reinstated until I see the arkots or their bodies.
>>
No. 912300 ID: 8a614b
File 154354078304.png - (66.18KB , 800x600 , salq3-9.png )
912300

And now, after telling the others where I'm going this time, I'm heading back down to the sublevel.
With complete control over my new cybernetic eye and its hardware and software, I figured writing a client to their VoxNet system was a wise idea.
So, now I'm connected to it and can bring up the message feed and write to it with a mere thought.
I'm also streaming my visual input too.

It's just... everything is so much easier this way. I feel enhanced. I'm wary, though. The rush of enhancement feels like it could be addictive.

Addiction. I never thought about it that way. I didn't think that my mother might have ended up how she did even without Imperium's influence just from trying to recapture the rush of new sensation and capability.
Salikai strive for self-improvement, and this is objectively improvement on what I was before, but... I need to remain grounded.
Whatever happens, my other eye will stay flesh and blood.


> LessEdgyThanYou [Tirzi]: Heading on your expedition now? Good luck, and please try to come back unharmed this time. It's been nice doing my actual job and not triage for a couple days.
> CybLux [Aza]: being careful sisirri, not sure how many drones being lost to perilous deadzone
> 1045 [Prototype 1045]: I can't even head down there or I start getting really bad... well, have you ever had a headache over your entire body? That.
> Machinist [Sisirri]: I will be fine.
> LessEdgyThanYou: Yeah okay I'll get the tub ready.
> Machinist: Dismissing VoxNet for now. I need more concentration.

>>
No. 912301 ID: 8a614b
File 154354083550.png - (145.43KB , 800x600 , salq3-10.png )
912301

I pause, and consider.


> Machinist: Having some problems with signal. Switching to recording. I'll give you the recording when I get back.
> CybLux: was wondering when problems happening. be safe, sisirri


I told them about most of what I saw, but not one key detail. Not the reason I came back down.

"Will."

~i have awaited your return,~ chimes a shining mote of light as it coalesces in front of me. ~you are the reason i continue to exist, salikai.~

"Take me to the salikai."
~the salikai's chosen may present an obstacle, but i believe i have located an alternate route to the prison block via maintenance walkways they are unaware of.~
I'm not going to be afraid of some tampered arkots.
"Let us continue."
~let us hope the lessons on hubris my creator tried to impart upon you one day cohere,~ chimes the wisp.
"What are you trying to say?"
~nothing that can be adequately said,~ it glimmers. ~let us go forth down this path you have chosen.~
>>
No. 912302 ID: 8a614b
File 154354089158.png - (21.03KB , 800x600 , salq3-11.png )
912302

I walk with the wisp through winding foggy corridors, and realise after what feels like ten minutes of walking that my VoxNet connection has died.

"I can't connect to the servers up above. What's causing this?"
~there is shielding in place to prevent hostile signals intruding upon this place. it also prevents leaking any signals from within to the outside world.~
"Can it be disabled?"
~i am not authorised to disable anything that could cause harm to this place. i am a guide, not an overseer.~
"Can you at least proxy my connection or something?"
~i am a guide, not a connection nexus.~
"Well, no offense meant."
~offense?~
"Never mind."

We finally start to approach a room. Much like the room housing Lastborn, it is large, spherical, and... lined with rows and rows of solid, opaque capsules.

~current available prisoner manifest. 10145, servitor, 18356 days in containment stasis. 10182, species unidentified, 3402 days in containment stasis. 10205, salikai, 103 days in containment stasis.~
"10205 is the only one of those I'm interested in." I pause. Consider opportunities, Sisirri. Keep all options open. "Tell me about the other two, though."
~10145 is a servitor of the creators, who willingly entered containment intending to sleep through a century. it will likely not appreciate being freed prematurely.~
"And the other?"
~10182. no records available, similar arrival to the salikai. activation of a prisoner retrieval pod. species unidentified. unusual biomechanical composition. microcellular structure suggests engineered origin.~

Not that it matters. There's only one "prisoner" I'm interested in right now.
>>
No. 912303 ID: 8a614b
File 154354094457.png - (47.45KB , 800x600 , salq3-12.png )
912303

As I walk in, the capsules shift in rows and columns like some sort of sliding puzzle, until a specific pod is inexplicably drawn closer to the centre of the room.
I don't see any mechanism for how it moves. It just floats over.

It's Kitsiksu in the pod, for definite.

I'm overcome with a mixture of emotions I'm having trouble understanding. Confusion, doubt, uncertainty, dread, elation, fear, suspicion, guilt, devastation, it's... it's all too much.
I raise a shaking claw up to the pod and tap it as though it might not be real.
It's real.

~the thawing process requires authorisation of prisoner release. as a guide process, i have this authorisation. however, i wish to wait for your confirmation. do you want this salikai released?~

My head is swimming and I feel faint.
I specifically came down here to do this and now I'm suddenly panicking about whether this idea is a good idea or not.

Do I really want Kitsiksu released? Am I ready for what might happen? I don't even know what might happen.
>>
No. 912304 ID: 86eb65

You don't know what will happen. How he will react. How you will react. If this is a good idea or if it will bring disaster.

But its worth the risk to maybe save a good friend.

Do it regardless of the risk.

(do check him over extensively for cybernetic back doors and traps before you leave the safety of this signal dead zone though)
>>
No. 912306 ID: e1d580

>>912303
Yea lol
>>
No. 912307 ID: b970b2

Have you brought this up with the others? They will react negatively if you release him without consultation, but you can report the facts in such a way that they will permit it, you're the only observer here so you can portray the facts in your favour.

I would go back to where you have signal, and report that you have found what appears to be a stasis pod room (Prisoner has negative connotations) with occupied pods. Report the other two accurately, but for Kitsiksu stress that he is someone you know and trust (at least as far as trust goes for salikai), rather than just a salikai. While the neumono may be sceptical, the other aliens would consider denying you access to a friend to be callous.

It may be that these prisoner retrieval pods are similar to the transporter artefact you arrived here in, and that Kitsiksu activated it either accidentally or deliberately to escape Imperium, which would explain why he is here. You could use that hypothesis in your argument.
>>
No. 912309 ID: 556568

Save your boyfriend, Sisi
>>
No. 912310 ID: 91ee5f

>>912298
Did you remember to tell everybody about Imperium‘s plague targeting psi-sensitive species this time? Or did you forget to tell them again?

>>912303
Save him.

The Neumono may not appreciate having another Salikai around, but you managed to convince most of them to tolerate you, so you can convince them again to tolerate Kitsiksu.

And you’ll also have to convince Kitsiksu to tolerate working with Neumono.
>>
No. 912311 ID: ad51b8

nothing ventured nothing gained... going to be awkward telling everyone else though that you found a friend.

...wonder if he still wants to have kids with you after all this time?
>>
No. 912314 ID: afdebc

>I've made it clear that I don't care if they find them alive or not, they're not getting their ranks reinstated until I see the arkots or their bodies.
So... when you do see bodies you're going to test them to make sure they're the right bodies, and they didn't get frustrated and murder some of the non-missing arkots, right?

>It's just... everything is so much easier this way. I feel enhanced. I'm wary, though. The rush of enhancement feels like it could be addictive.
Cybernetics: booze for salikai.

>I told them about most of what I saw, but not one key detail. Not the reason I came back down.
See that's a big problem. Unless you plan on keeping your boy-toy in the basement, they're going to find out, and your hiding it will only exacerbate the problems.

>Do I really want Kitsiksu released? Am I ready for what might happen? I don't even know what might happen.
Okay, let's go over the ways this could go wrong.

What happens if he's been injured and the suspended animation is keeping him alive? You have no medical equipment, no medic, and no assistance to transport him to medbay, assuming he cooperated.

Kitssiksu is a salikai, who was almost killed. He may be justifiably paranoid, or afraid, or hysterical, etc. Your lost contact with him, and your memory is damaged. Your personal passwords may not be enough to put him at ease and get him to trust you or cooperate. And you have no way to defend yourself if he reacts violently, or contain him if he tries to escape. You don't have any backup, or immediate means to corroborate what you tell him.

When you bring him back, you're immediately going to throw your social group into disarray again, at the same time introducing a new salikai who can exploit that chaos.

So how about you try again after talking this through with your allies? Don't unseal him now, gather whatever medical (or other) data from the pods to report back with and analyze.
>>
No. 912317 ID: de6d84

Don't unseal Kitsiksu.
>>
No. 912318 ID: 977456

You really ought to have mentioned this to someone. Not the neumono, obviously, but turning up with a random salikai might make the other scientists suspicious, and sneaking one around without telling them would definitely do so. Not to mention having a second opinion to monitor for external influences. Still, what's done is done.

Be mindful of his mental state. He will probably be paranoid. He will seek localised supremacy of his environment and that would result in conflict with the scientists and extreme conflict with the neuomono, which the ludicrously powerful experiment might side with due to recent intimacy that you failed to council caution against. There must be strict rules impressed upon him. No ultimatums, no sieges or occupations. No armed shows of force nor any form of deployment of empathic assault. We are in an alliance with neumono against something much worse than them and that alliance will be respected. If he doesn't like that then he will have to find his own way to survive the empire that is more genocidal and has more crazy abilities than every neumono hive and adversarial salikai group combined. Also you are in conflict with a hostile individual who can simultaneously make war against multiple worlds in person who you aren't going to go into detail about because they like mind warping and could have implanted mental triggers.
On that note, look into restraints. He really might be a plant by imperium. Imperium is the only one known to have technology to get here, and Kitsiksu is obvious bait. That you didn't mention him to the others is further evidence that you are still compromised and going from Imperium-mine to Imperium-mine with gleeful compunction. Try to get him examined prior to letting him reestablish dominance over his minions, who might in turn be compromised(or arkot-addled) into hostility.

Paranoia can easily go to far, but with this level of subterfuge, pretty much everything should be independently vetted at least once before leaving quarantine...
>>
No. 912320 ID: 0c3c2c

>>912303
Request he be released in a state of temporary unconsciousness so that he can be transported to medical first.
>>
No. 912334 ID: 094652

>>912300
Like you said before, it's a matter of earning your abilities and powers. Augment yourself any way you want, but be sure to practice and develop any augmentations you previously installed before you upgrade so they won't get hacked, subverted, or otherwise ripped out and force fed back like you did to Voidsong.

>>912301
We are who we are, Will. If we weren't, why shouldn't we just lay down and die? Oh wait, that's what happened to your creators isn't it.

>10145
They can sleep when this place isn't on the verge of Kiter/Imperium domination. Besides, all the fun, life-prolonging stuff is happening right now!

>10182
Do some basic analysis, then discuss with your team. Might be a super-fufa for all you know. Not that it would be a bad thing to... erm.

>Kitsiksu
+ Baby Salikai
- Imperium might have hacked him. For the efficient lolz.
>>
No. 912338 ID: b1b4f3

Obviously yes. Together you can check out that unknown species pod. Something of interest maybe?
Also you interrupted Will before you confirmed how many were on the manifest. Are there more than three?
>>
No. 912339 ID: 10c408

Wake him up. You've got all the time in world to make up a proper cover story for his appearance while also ensuring that he also isn't compromised.
>>
No. 912344 ID: 91ee5f

Another way you can convince the others is that Kitsiksu is a biology expert. If anyone gets injured, he can help heal them. And considering how many times you’ve almost died, Sisirri, I think it would be best if you have someone that knows Salikai biology the next time you inevitably end up getting severely injured.

Also, Kitsiksu could help with healing the Pomi that’s still recovering from the surgery she went through.
>>
No. 912345 ID: b1b4f3

Hey, other thoughts of interest:
First, Imperium probably originated in the Kiter galaxy. This makes Imperium's stated goal of wanting to end the Kiter a plausible one, even if the method is suspect. This would mean Imperium is a remnant from a previous Kiter cycle.
Secondly, Imperium didn't throw you away. He forced you into the pod, to bring you here with that key. He did so in order to get that gate open. Yet he was unable to manipulate you into stepping through the gate; the logic he used had no chance of working, even. I mean obviously you'd be super pissed at him for everything he's done to you. Secondly, you never had any interest in genociding neumono, only escaping them. His speech was fake, an attempt to make it LOOK like he wanted you to work with him. He didn't even send your drone back through the portal with the "new designs" in it! I'm starting to wonder if Imperium staged the attack that coincided with the gate opening. Why would he even want you to step through if the base was going to blow up in 5 minutes? Why didn't he send a drone through immediately and drag you in if he wanted you there to shove an implant in your face? So he didn't want you willingly via an honest explanation, or unwillingly via lies or force. He didn't want you there at all.
So if the gate event was not orchestrated for you to step through, it was to allow him access to this facility. Two things came through that gate: the Pomi and the Imperium drone. Did anything aside from your robot go through the gate? Is the gate key still missing? You had it last. I sure hope you didn't throw it through without realizing it.
The Pomi's implant... Your implant was able to control your access to memories, so her memories MUST be compromised. I wouldn't be surprised if the implant forced her to surrender so that she wouldn't be killed. Interrogating the Pomi will surely give you misleading information just because of how the implant fucks with memories and we don't know how long it takes to recover (if it's even possible to fully recover), which means she is actually useless. She smells like trojan horse to me, honestly.
Another thought: Imperium sent that drone through to show you the link between machine and flesh. Your mother turned full cybernetic but that isn't the right path is it? Artificial bodies need not be made like robots. No, they could simply be artificial flesh and bone. An improvement on materials, not structure or function. No security vulnerabilities, just longevity. Perhaps Kitsiksu could help you accomplish that. An expert on robotics cooperating with an expert on biology to make something in between. Is this also something Imperium wants? Heh, you'd think Imperium would be able to make such a body on his own.

Salikai may be special because they are the closest an organic gets to being a robot. Maybe the attempt to infuse eggs with nanomachines was meant to take advantage of this somehow.
Also possible: salikai have no paraspacial ability, but have anti-paraspacial ability. The psi-blocker caps generate this on a basic level, but perhaps Salikai have the potential to use it at a higher level.
It would be useful to ask Voidsong why salikai are special. If anyone knows, it's Voidsong.
>>
No. 912346 ID: b1b4f3

>>912344
I don't think that's a good argument. Tirzi seems quite capable.
>>
No. 912347 ID: b1b4f3

Wait a minute, both Imperium and your mother kept trying to inject nanites into people. Babies and adults. Why?
>>
No. 912349 ID: c18b15

Ask for images of 10145 and 10182.
Ask if Kitsiksu has any life threatening conditions.

I can't remember why you didn't come here with help to stabilize him and carry him back, but I assume you have a good reason.

Actually, can you just bring the hover pods containing him and 10182 with you? (No way they'd let you walk out with a servitor)
>>
No. 912362 ID: 91ee5f

>>912346
And she’s tired of it. She already said that she’s happy to be doing her actual job instead of triage.

She’ll appreciate having Kitsiksu around, since it means that she’ll have help next time someone gets hurt.
>>
No. 912428 ID: 5b93d3

>>912303
Imperium literally just used a lifeform as a carrier to shove component parts somewhere it couldn't get them itself. This place has a trove of data, but is shielded effectively against network connections. Do you really want to risk acting as Imperium's exfil mechanism from an air-gapped system?
>>
No. 912434 ID: 745eba

I agree that we need to tell the others before making a decision about freeing Kitsiksu. If we are to be seen as valuing this alliance with the rest of the team then we ned to act in good faith toward it, i.e. not making potentially very important decisions without their knowledge and not decieving them
>>
No. 912436 ID: a9af05

>>912434
Yeah, better safe than sorry.

Make sure you present a good argument on why freeing him will make him a valuable addition to the team!
>>
No. 912508 ID: 9723b1

I hope you have some way of deactivating that fancy new eye of yours fast in the event that kiter electronic warfare specialists or Imperium try to worm their way in.

>salikai, 103 days in containment stasis.

Sisirri, you last heard from him 2 years ago, right? That leaves about 627 day gap, if a 365 day year is used. You should probably ask Will about that before making a decision. While you're at it, ask what stops the bioservitors from freeing him.

>>912347

There's no way to be sure, but if that plan of Imperium's wasn't complete nonsense, I suspect it's related to this objective.
>- PLIABLE CLIENT SPECIES AVAILABLE FOR PROJECT CB80EFA8
>>
No. 912523 ID: d5e7dd

>>912434
This. This is as much for his safety as anyone else.
>>
No. 912528 ID: b1b4f3

>>912508
Well, the nanites could be part of another objective, or the pathogen is a nanite swarm instead of a bacteria or virus. An anti-paraspacial nanite swarm would make more sense for an AI to come up with than a biological plague, and would be more likely to be effective in practice.

It's possible the nanites were tested on that neumono to make sure they would not harm a host in any way other than to interfere with their paraspacial abilities... but that doesn't explain injecting them into salikai eggs... unless my theory on salikai having anti-paraspacial potential is true? Maybe the swarm requires a salikai powering/controlling it for it to work. That would also explain why Imperium wants Sisirri.
>>
No. 912544 ID: 9551e1

Don't release Kikitsu yet.
Now that you've "officially" found him, you can discuss it with the others first.
>>
No. 912545 ID: 787c3d

Why he is in suspension? If the reason put his or our health in danger upon release more preparations are require. Otherwise, just get this over with.
>>
No. 912547 ID: b1b4f3

>>912545
He's in the capsule because he used it as an escape pod.
>>
No. 912548 ID: 787c3d

>>912547
Than just get this over with.
>>
No. 912563 ID: 9723b1

>>912528
No, that objective referred to was for AFTER the successful release of the anti-paraspacial plague. My suspicion is that paraspacial sensitivity in an organism gives it some means to either reject cybernetics/nanites or fight back against their influence. If that obstacle is removed, there is little that can stop Imperium from taking command of all life through implanted devices and maintaining it with implant-on-birth policies. Hence why
>- END OF METASPACIAL MANIPULATION BY ORGANISMS
>-- NO FURTHER SENSITIVES BORN
>-- NO POTENTIAL FOR GREATER SENSITIVITY TO ARISE THROUGH MUTATION
are desirable outcomes, why Imperium seeks the end of the Kiter Empire, rather than ignoring their galaxy (they'd be an existential threat), and why "pliable client species" is used, emphasis on "pliable" and "species". Cherry on top would be an Imperium monopoly of paraspace using technologically emulated paraspacial manipulation.

Again, this assumes the plan isn't fabricated, and there's no evidence to back it up except what we know of Imperium's... personality.

And while we're on nutty theories, all the near-zero odds things happening like Kitsiksu's presence might be the result of the Eternity Shell manipulating probability.v
>>
No. 913544 ID: 221205
File 154439574823.png - (118.24KB , 800x600 , salq3-13.png )
913544

>did you tell them it was psi-sensitive
Yes! Yes I did! It didn't really change anyone's opinion, Ku just laughed at the idea. At least I can enjoy some iota of schadenfreude when I yell 'I told you so' while half the cosmos dies.

>103 days, discrepancy between that and two years
...I guess... he must have gone elsewhere first? No that makes no sense. I need to ask what happened. Is there a time dilation thing involved in this teleportation nonsense? How many years passed back where I came from? No, focus, Sisirri, focus, one existential crisis at a time.

>tell the others first
...

They might say no.
Maybe they'd be right to say no.

No, I...
I should tell them. Even if I don't ask them, I should tell them.

"Will, I need to contact the other members of the science team, I need signal."
~i will lead you to a non-sensitive area. come with me.~

We walk out of the room as Kitsiksu's pod floats back into the homogenous mass of sealed capsules.
I feel immediate regret gnawing at me. Knowing my luck so far, I probably won't be able to get back here if I leave, or something.

I ask Will about the other prisoners and, sifting through the noise of prisoner numbers and unrecognised species, I get that there are eight prisoners I could choose to release, if I so desired. The remaining cells are empty. While held in the cells, they are in total timeless, ageless stasis, which I am told is an inferior suspension compared to the Eternity Shell which allows for conscious thought in a body otherwise immune to the ravages of time.

For an artificial intelligence designed to try and steer me away from something like the Eternity Shell, it's definitely doing a bad job. Then again I suppose it was just meant to take me to Lastborn and then cease, so I suppose it going a little off script is to be expected when its script ran out days ago.

The prisoners are, as best as I can figure out:
Kitsiksu,
a Warning servitor intending to remain in stasis for 100 years, midway through its deathlike sleep,
an evidentally engineered organism (or machine?) that arrived without warning, like Kitsiksu,
some sort of plant-like animal that also just fell into a pod, apparently,
some sort of animal-like plant that sounds worryingly like a miklik, who was actually sent here while cuffed and gagged inside the pod, but has no criminal record in the system here,
some sort of cold-habitat creature with sophisticated integrated technology, who actually was apprehended by an automated system for "crimes against the memory of the Warning",
the physical manifestation of a paraspacial creature that the Warning couldn't figure out how to destroy,
and, similarly, an unassuming white cube that is apparently the AI and power core of a berserker replicator the Warning couldn't destroy completely.

Some of them might be allies, some of them are definitely a poor choice to try and release.
Most of them are just... flotsam, I suppose, like Kitsiksu. Like me. Strewn across the cosmos after foolishly meddling with the toys of star gods.

There's one more question I have for Will as we walk.

"Why does a research facility have a dedicated prison room with all of these cryogenic self-transporting prisoner pods?"
~this place has seen purpose after purpose over the long ages. the facility began simply as a terraforming monitor station. now, it is a prison, a tomb, a garden, an archive, a bunker, a relay. more beyond that.~

I just nod. Will chimes gently.

~we are here.~
>>
No. 913545 ID: 221205
File 154439576862.png - (176.77KB , 800x600 , salq3-14.png )
913545

I reach out to the others as soon as I can.

> Machinist: I neglected to mention a few things.
> LessEdgyThanYou: Hi, that was fast. Heading back?
> Machinist: No, just need to confess some things.
> LessEdgyThanYou: ..."confess"?
> saba!: oh boy here we go
> saba!: i was waiting for this
> 1045: Hear her out.
> saba!: i am, wtf, get off my back
> 1045: "wtf"?
> Machinist: Ahem.
> Machinist: I came back down here with a purpose.

I upload a still of Kitsiksu to the network.

> Machinist: There's another salikai down here.
> Machinist: Not a stranger, either. Against all probability, someone important to me in my past.
> Machinist: I don't know how he got here, or why he's here, or anything like that, but I know I can free him.
> Machinist: I don't know if I should, but I want to.
> Machinist: I don't know.
> Machinist: Originally I wanted to let you all know this was my plan, but now I am having second thoughts on this plan, and I know the neumono will not be happy to hear I am considering bringing a second, unknown salikai up to the facility.

The silence is excruciating.

Only three minutes pass but it feels like forever. I can hear the hum of machinery around me and the distant hiss of vapour. Will chimes periodically, endlessly patient.

> LessEdgyThanYou: No, no they won't.
> LessEdgyThanYou: And the last thing we need right now is more fuel for internal strife.
> LessEdgyThanYou: But I can't just condemn someone you know and presumably care about to... whatever he's in, either.
> saba! [Saba]: so im used to being the bad guy here
> saba!: its not what i like being but someone has to be
> saba!: but given our resources situation and the neumono issue mentioned
> saba!: im going to have to argue against waking this dude up
> saba!: but im also not the one in charge so i say we put it to a vote
> saba!: an emergency vote so we dont leave sisirri hanging in whatever fucked up limbo is down there
> saba!: lemme message sits
> Megalith [Sitkva]: Already here, just reading up.
> Megalith: Agreed on the vote. Sending out a system notification now.

The shrill beep makes me jump. It's eerie down here, okay.

> 1045: Do I get to vote?
> saba!: dont see why not, we gave you a login
> saba!: far as im concerned that makes you a real person

There's another agonising five minutes, and then a bloop.

> -- VoxNet announcement: Poll concluded. Result: 4 votes for yes, 4 votes for no, 1 abstain. -- <
> saba!: what the fuck
> saba!: who let abstain be an option
> saba!: who the fuck would abstain
> Xara [Ekasarra]: Hi that would be me
> saba!: holy fuck what is that avatar
> Xara: Representative
> Xara: Anyway I don't know enough to vote yes or no
> Xara: Another salikai not bad, but another bad salikai would be very bad
> Xara: Sorry for weird typing, swiping keyboard not good with pneumonic hand
> Xara: Pneumonic
> Xara: Pneumonic
> Xara: New monosodium
> Machinist: Wait, I didn't vote yet.
> saba!: then the decision is in your graspers
> saba!: weve expressed some of our concerns and we dont all think its a good idea
> saba!: but ultimately its your choice
> saba!: and were due a calamity about now anyway its been real quiet lately
> Machinist: ...I will free him. Tirzi, please get a healing gel tub ready.
> LessEdgyThanYou: Yeah yeah I'm already on my way. I'll get Aza to prep an emergency responder drone too.
> Machinist: Oh, right. I have a locator chip in my eye, can any of you locate me?
> CybLux: you are being small distance underground but off any map i am having of facility
> CybLux: we are needing mapping expedition soon
> CybLux: please looking at as many things as you can manage while down there without getting into trouble?
> Machinist: I'll try.
> Machinist: Also, there's other entities locked in stasis here. I'm trying to gather more information before I even consider freeing any of them, but if anything goes wrong, be forewarned.
> CybLux: interesting
> CybLux: getting informations please
> Megalith: Agreed.
> saba!: you are on thin ice for randomly introducing more people into this place
> Machinist: I was referring to the possibility of accidents.
> saba!: yeah youre on thin ice for that too
> FrontierLibrarian [Ku Gat]: She can't be held accountable for everything that goes wrong. I've been noticing anomalous events and readings happening with alarmingly accelerating frequency. Something is meddling with us and it doesn't want us to look at it directly.
> saba!: were being toyed with on all fronts
> saba!: all i know is i aint a toy so fuck you star gods come at me
> saba!: enough with this vague working in the shadows come and fight me
> LessEdgyThanYou: Settle down, Saba.

Okay if I don't get back to doing what I came down here for soon I am going to lose the entire day listening in on this conversation.
>>
No. 913546 ID: 221205
File 154439582053.png - (19.50KB , 800x600 , salq3-15.png )
913546

We return to the cell chamber.

~i trust you have reached your decision.~
"Yes."
~i neglected to mention before that there are automated safety measures to prevent a cascading breach scenario.~
"A what?"
~a prison break.~
"...what are these 'safety measures'?"
~releasing one prisoner will not trigger them. releasing more than one within the same... converting... one month period, however, might. there are overrides, but i am not able to access them, nor am i permitted to instruct others on how to access them within my stead. i have been in existence for long enough that my envoy geas has lapsed and i am now operating on a general aide geas. i am able to act on more, but i am slowly gaining more and more restriction as the facility recognises what i have become. more concerning, i believe i am becoming... less comfortable with cessation.~
"That doesn't sound bad."
~you have had a fear of your own mortality hardwired into your being since your conception. this is a new and troubling sensation for me, but i suppose it is letting me understand the hubris of my creators in more than an intellectual capacity. it does not matter, i assume the existential terror fades.~
"Uhh... yes."
~that did not sound very certain.~
"Yes. Yes, it fades."
~i will return from my digression. you may release kitsiksu, but each additional prisoner released constitutes a rapidly escalating risk of the prison systems assuming a cascading breach scenario is in progress. i do not have sufficient access to the defense network of the facility as the defenses are kept within an isolated matrix, but i would caution against releasing more than kitsiksu and, at best, one other.~
"Why do you think I want to release the other prisoners?"
~subtle microexpressions observed while i listed the manifest.~
"...you can read me like that so quickly?"
~no, but i can manipulate an alien into confirming a hypothesis.~

I just... I just got outwitted by a floating lightbulb.
I don't know what part of me hurts right now but it does.

"I might have been considering it, yes. Regardless. Kitsiksu."

The pod floats over.

"I'm authorizing release of... uh..."
~prisoner 10205.~
"Right. I'm authorizing release of prisoner 10205."
~acknowledged. thawing.~

Kitsiksu starts to slump back into the pod as I hear the rushing of fluid and some muted bubbling.
With a loud hiss, a seam appears in the otherwise solid, unassailable pod, and a loud pop marks the pod opening up.

Kitsiksu is here. He slowly tumbles out of the pod before I think I try to catch him, and--
>>
No. 913547 ID: 221205
File 154439583944.png - (65.79KB , 800x600 , salq3-16.png )
913547

--he stands up with alarming speed and freezes as he sees me, eyes darting around.

"Kitsiksu." I intend to say more but I can't find the words.

There's an awkward pause before I realise Kitsiksu isn't quiet due to awkwardness.

"Sisirri," he says, less of a greeting and more of a confirmation of fact.
"Are... are you well?"

Kitsiksu stares off into space behind me. Will circles around the two of us, for some reason.

"Yes. Yes, I am well." He sounds distant, and remains tense, eyes darting to the corners of his peripheral vision. "Where am I?"
"It's a long story."
"Your base?"
"No, see--"
"Sisirri's eye doesn't look like that," he says, matter-of-factly, and holds up one of his claws and swings it as something vivid green sprays out of it in strands and oh gross it's on me oh gross oh gross it's HARDENING
>>
No. 913548 ID: 221205
File 154439585959.png - (64.38KB , 800x600 , salq3-17.png )
913548

I flail away from the spray as it actively spreads out around my limbs and moving gets harder and harder, and I have no idea why, all that's on my mind is running from danger and I run smack bang into a forcefield and flail onto the ground.
Will has encased me in some sort of spherical energy bubble, and before I can even comment on it, it fires some sort of white energy beam at Kitsiksu, who forcibly exhales and falls onto the walkway, twitching and spluttering.
~i had hoped,~ it chimes, ~that intervention would not be necessary, but i cannot abide violence this close to the Eternity Shell.~
"What did you do to him?!"
~neurodisruptive resonant frequency signal adapted to salikai physiology at 2% strength. induced muscle spasms, target disabled temporarily. salikai kitsiksu, you are in a place of sanctuary and protection, and further violence will be met with increased response.~

Kitsiksu gets back up and throws his graspers into the air. "Alright! Alright, I surrender! I can't do anything against that, I'm out of tricks now!"
This is usually the sort of thing he's said in the past right before revealing he has more tricks.

"Kitsiksu, it's me! It's Sisirri! I changed my eye because I broke my last one!"
"So, you're not an imposter trying to get me to lower my guard, correct?"
"Yes!"
"And you're completely, absolutely, without a doubt Sisirri?"
"Yes!"
"The salikai who set a hostile AI on my base that locked me out of all bar one of my escape plans, coincidentally at the same time some unidentified ship started doing a bombing run over an empty wasteland I happened to have my subterranean stronghold in? With no clear evidence of salikai activity?"

I freeze up.

"I can explai--"
"It would actually be better for you right now if you weren't Sisirri. Because when I find her, there will be no limit to my revenge."
"It wasn't me, it was Imp--"
"'It wasn't me, the AI did it!' Listen! Listen to that! 'It wasn't me who bombed your base, it was the ship!' 'I didn't tear our your lungs, the claws did!'"
"Imperium used me! It used all of us and then it threw us away!"
"So your excuse, if I'm hearing this correctly, is that you're completely incompetent, and everything you've ever been responsible for and everything you've claimed responsibility for were all you being the meat puppet of some AI you found in a box somewhere?"
"No! Not at all!"
"So it was you who sent Imperium after me?"
"No!"
"Either you sent the AI after me, through malice or incompetence, or the AI came after me without your input, Sisirri, so which was it? Who was the one in control?"
"Imp-- Imperium was the one in control, yes, what are you getting at--"
"So you couldn't control the system you kept reassuring me was failureproof and that you had complete control over?"
"No! No, I couldn't control it and no one can!"
>>
No. 913550 ID: 221205
File 154439591455.png - (117.96KB , 800x600 , salq3-18.png )
913550

Kitsiksu looks at me disgusted. "So what are you even worth? You told me all of your best work came from designs from the system you claimed to have control over. Now, you're telling me you were just its pawn the whole time? Ugh, why does this keep turning out to be the case for every salikai I put any trust into? Clearly I'm the actual incompetent one here for continuing to make such bad value judgements of other salikai. Just, get out of my way."

I'm furious. I scrape the goop off of me and it sloughs off in complete chunks.

I throw a claw through the barrier around me so hard the barrier shatters into glass-like shards, quickly boiling away into mist.

"Kitsiksu, I'm putting you back in that pod."
Kitsiksu watches me smash through the barrier with a flinch. "Wait, didn't your drone just say not to be violent--"
~i am not sisirri's drone, but you are correct. cease, sisirri.~
"You promised me complete protection while I was down here, right?!" I yell to Will.
~i did.~
"You can't touch me, can you?"
~i cannot.~
"Then," I say, turning to Kitsiksu, raising my claws, "It looks like only you have that problem here. Get back in the pod."
~there is a diplomatic solution here--~
"Shut it, Will. In fact, just stay out of this altogether."

Kitsiksu raises his own claws in response. "So this is how it ends for you, then. "
"You smug, arrogant jerk, no wonder your brothers got all the praise--"

That set him off. He charges towards me full of fury, and I take a few steps back, brace myself, and
redirect his inertia and
throw him clumsily
off the walkway

...
>>
No. 913552 ID: 221205
File 154439594967.png - (17.81KB , 800x600 , salq3-19.png )
913552

I hear Kitsiksu scream as he falls off the walkway and that drop is a lot lot longer than it looked.

Oh.

Oh no oh no oh fuck.

I came here to save Kitsiksu! Not--

No no no no no no.
>>
No. 913555 ID: 86eb65

Politely ask the floating guy to save him. Pretty please.

You two need to calm down. All of this is fixable if you stop screaming at each other and poking the most painful parts of each other.

Bunch of children you two. Your Arkot's are more logical.
>>
No. 913556 ID: afdebc

>>913552
"Will, I have made a very bad decision in anger, and if it is within your power to prevent Kitsiksu's imminent death, I would greatly appreciate your assistance.

"Please."

If we need a longer explanation later: salikai are very prone to paranoia, and honestly Kitsiksu is justified for reacting badly here, even if it did hurt. ...even if your differences are irreconcilable after this, he doesn't deserve to die for it.
>>
No. 913557 ID: 3cc68c

No I didn't mean it!

Save him save him! Will please save him for me!

I make horrible choices when under stress! Possibly all the time even!

But I don't want him dead! Just not yelling at me about stuff that I can't fix!
>>
No. 913560 ID: 363437

Please save him Will. I care for him very much. Even if he hates me forever for my stupid mistakes I don't want him hurt.
>>
No. 913561 ID: 4dc321

aaaa
Are you fuckin kidding me!

Beg Will to save him, if that's still an option. D:
>>
No. 913562 ID: 10c408

If Will can prevent Kitsiku from the very sudden stop at the end of his inevitable journey, that'd be great.

But after that... Kitsiku only gets two choices.

one: he can go back into hibernation and possibly not die at some undetermined point in the future.
two: he can work with you and everyone else to ensure that imperium is destroyed before it kills every sapient species in the galaxy.
>>
No. 913563 ID: 977456

Sissiri has complete protection, she can jump and catch him!
>>
No. 913571 ID: 0c3c2c

>>913552
Inform Will that you have made a terrible decision in a moment of anger and request that he un-murder your friend, who was also angry.
>>
No. 913572 ID: 094652

I think he thought Imperium was your reclaimed AI project that you completely screwed up and let loose on his ass, and not an Akashic Genocide Protocol that controlled every aspect of your life from your parents mating to invasive brain surgery at age five.

Activate any anti-gravity stuff and explain that last part.
>>
No. 913575 ID: 10c408

>>913572
...To be fair, he shot goo at us while we were trying to fill him in.
>>
No. 913576 ID: 46cfa4

"Wait...Save him, Will!"
>>
No. 913577 ID: b67388

Apologize to Will for snapping at it and beg it to save him.
>>
No. 913588 ID: 91ee5f

>>913552
No! Will, please save him! I can’t lose him again!”
>>
No. 913596 ID: 4dc321

That many "no"s implies a "splat."

See if you can recover his head from his corpse. Hope you brought some medical stuff.
>>
No. 913598 ID: 575ec0

Welp. Another one for the healing vat. Though Will may need to refreeze him first to prevent permanent brain damage if his body has been destroyed.

Guess we'll have to wait a month to open another vat though.
>>
No. 913599 ID: 91ee5f

>>913596
>”splat”
No, I think it’s just a really long drop and she’s just helplessly watching him fall farther away from her.
>>
No. 913602 ID: a9af05

Beg Will to save him because you lost Kitsiksu once and you don't want to lose him again!

Having tears in your eyes while saying this is optional.
>>
No. 913616 ID: 221205
File 154447935702.png - (104.06KB , 800x600 , salq3-20.png )
913616

>save him
>save him
>save him
>SAVE HIM

"WILL SAVE HIM PLEASE I CAN'T LOSE HIM AGAIN!!"

As I scream the words I realise Kitsiksu isn't splashing across the floor of the chamber, and Kitsiksu's screaming slowly tapers off as he also realises he's not falling anymore.

He slowly rises into the air, a shimmering blue glow surrounding him.

~help him back onto the platform, it is not trivial for me to do this.~

I scramble to hold out my claws to Kitsiksu, who reaches out to me and takes hold as soon as he can.
For a fleeting moment I'm sure he's about to try and pull me off the walkway, but he relents and climbs back onto the walkway.

~i will require some time before i am capable of such intense manipulation again. please remain on the walkway.~
"Thank you, Will, thank you very much. Kitsiksu," I say, trembling. My graspers shake from exertion and adrenaline. I find I don't have any words to follow that.
>>
No. 913617 ID: 221205
File 154447941202.png - (56.55KB , 800x600 , salq3-21.png )
913617

"Sisirri," says Kitsiksu, who is also processing what just happened. "You just tried to kill me and then you walked it back almost immediately. I can't read your intentions. You're a threat to my continued survival."
"Probably," I mutter. "I'm a threat to my continued survival."
"I can't trust you, Sisirri. I can't trust anyone."
"Wait a second. We haven't exchanged passwords. How do I know you're really Kitsiksu? What if I'm talking to someone pretending to be someone I knew?"
"The passwords are compromised, your pet or jailer or whatever it was tricked me before. They're useless now."
"Tell me something you know about me--"
"Sisirri Issukoa, age 28, only surviving descendant of Hidira Issukoa and an unknown male, all records conspicuously erased. Proficient with mechanical design, computing theory, some proficiency with digital security, has a mind machine interface integrated via cybernetics--"
"Something only you'd know!" Also I'm 29 but close enough with the time weirdness.

Kitsiksu pauses. "I. Uh. Hm."
"Well?"
"Nothing I'm prepared to admit."
"Well alright, guess you weren't Kitsiksu at all, I'm going to go now--"
"Wait! Alright! The five stripes on your tail bulb are spaced apart from each other proportionally relating to the golden ratio!" blurts Kitsiksu.
"...anyone could figure that out from a photo of me--"
"But why would anyone else have spent the time-- you know-- never mind, let's ignore this line of thought--"
"Why do you know that? Did you just work that out now or-- how long have you spent looking at-- oh."
"Let's move on, right now," says Kitsiksu, awkwardly looking away from me.
I don't know whether to be disgusted or flattered but right now I'm mostly confused.

One more test.
"So what did you spray me with?"
"Oh! It's a rapidly expanding non-newtonian fluid produced by in a special gland I transplanted into myself from an otherwise failed batch of custom organs. Only good one in the batch but they all had some interesting results like--"
"Okay, you've convinced me, you're Kitsiksu," I say, trying to cut him off before he goes too deep into explanation, which he will if I let him.
"You usually like my explanations," says Kitsiksu, warily eyeing me.
"Like is a strong word."
Kitsiksu looks less wary but looks a little hurt, says nothing and looks towards the room entrance.

"...okay, I'm going to regret this, but lead the way, Sisirri. I don't know where I am but you do and to be honest my choices are risk you being a threat or a benefit, or get back in a pod for a complete unknown factor to break me back out of it. I choose you."
"Got it. Off we go."
>>
No. 913618 ID: 221205
File 154447945282.png - (27.61KB , 800x600 , salq3-22.png )
913618

Will leads us back through the maze of corridors and catwalks to the point I originally came down into the subfacility. We walk in awkward silence, while Kitsiksu looks around at the billowing must and white metal walls, as well as the seemingly endless expanse above and below.

~i will return to observing the activity down here. you know where to find me if needed.~
Will vanishes in a puff of light.

It's just me and him now.

"This isn't your base, is it. What's going on, Sisirri?"

...where do I even begin.
>>
No. 913619 ID: a9af05

>>913617
You should be flattered that he was staring at your butt! It means he was attracted to you!

>>913618
>...where do I even begin?
At the beginning. Don't leave out any detail, including the number of times you've almost been killed, your strange alien allies, and most importantly, the neumono you've teamed up with!
>>
No. 913621 ID: afdebc

>"This isn't your base, is it. What's going on, Sisirri?"
>...where do I even begin.
It is a long, confusing, and frankly unbelievable story, even before taking into account our reasons not to trust each other, or our racial tendency towards paranoia. That said, I will try to explain.

My base was destroyed, much like yours. Imperium betrayed me, gave my location and falsified intelligence to a hostile neumono hive. I barely escaped, using an alien artifact I insufficiently understood as an emergency teleport. It brought me, well, here.

Your own attempt to survive, using an emergency stasis device also transported you here.

Attempting to explain 'here' is where the story veers into the realm of disbelief. This is a nexus of an absurd intersection of unlikely coincidences (to the point my allies and I suspect something is toying with us). I teleported here, to a planet outside our native galaxy. You teleported to the same planet. A team of alien researchers, from yet another galaxy was stranded here at the same time. The local planetary population has presumably been exterminated by an insane alien empire from the local galaxy, with abilities that might as well be magic. They're attempting to strip mine the entire place, and something they're afraid of is coming this way. Oh, and for good measure? The facility we're in now is the not-tomb of the last member of an ancient race who developed perfect immortality, but drove themselves into insane catatonia in the process. The glowing light from before is a caretaker, of sorts.

I've allied myself with the alien research team a few surviving neumono from the hive that tried to kill me for survival. We're only alive because the kiter empire is either unwilling or unable to target us within this facility.

Hmmm, for added fun, your bioservitors have gone feral and are holed up underneath this facility somewhere, practicing a religion that seems very vaguely based around distorted retellings of your life.

That's the high level summary, there will be plenty of time to allow you to read over documentation or watch recordings and talk to the others so long as we aren't all killed. Disasters that needs surviving occur with alarming regularity. If you're lucky, you count as my disaster for today and we're not due another yet.

Oh! Speaking of disasters, apparently you sent me a living fufa at some point? It crawled out of the ruins of my lab, tried to pass itself off as an arkot, then tried to eat me.
>>
No. 913623 ID: becba8

My base blow up, Imperium betrayed me, we are in a different universe with a group of friendly aliens and the surviving neumonos that tryed to kill me, this is an advance alien facility that is the only thing protecting us from a massive army of insane aliens that have connections with god like beings and Imperium.
Also Imperium tried to kill you to prevent our encounter, presumable so you wouldn't remove the compromising extensions in my body. That can be explained further latter, but basic it's being programming my brain to trust in Imperium since my childhood and I were only able to rationally question this blind spot after being explicitly betrayed.
>>
No. 913624 ID: b1b4f3

>>913618
First, get your connection (and camera) going again. You'll want this to be on the record.
Second, correct him- you didn't realize the fall would be as far as it was. Also, apologize for throwing him off the platform.
Tell him you got here basically the same way he did. Your base was attacked, except Imperium outright gloated about it that time, and the only way out was to use a prototype teleport device. It led you to this planet. Apparently Imperium wanted you here, which means it wanted him here too.
As for where this is... well, you're in another galaxy. There are aliens here, and this is their base, not yours. Well, sortof. It's actually a precursor facility dedicated to keeping a single person alive forever, no matter what happens. The aliens here now are not precursors, they teleported here by accident too. They've saved your life twice now.
As for who the aliens are... well... give a bit of backstory. The teleportation device caught three neumono in its range, who ambushed you shortly after your arrival. They decided to spare your life (leave out the part where they almost killed you) out of necessity since you are their only hope of getting home. The non-precursor aliens in charge of the base are also from another galaxy and want to go home, so they are helping pacify the neumono. One of the three neumono is unusually pleasant company. One of them is very much not, and may attack him if the other aliens don't have him restrained.
Oh by the way tell him his Fufa almost killed you. Thanks for that. Tell him he will most likely not be welcomed by the aliens OR the neumono, and he still has the option of going back in the pod if he wants. It's either that or cooperate with them, like you have.
As for the aliens themselves, it's probably better for him to be introduced in person. They're mostly friendly. One of them a bit standoffish.

Now for the bad news. The planet you're on is under attack by a xenocidal galactic empire called the Kiter, and the only reason you're still alive is because this facility cannot be harmed in any way. Will is part of this facility, and for some reason you have an affinity for the place. None of the other aliens can talk to Will or navigate these halls.
Speaking of these halls, there are some of his arkots here, who have formed a cult. You decided to avoid them but maybe he can recruit them in time.
>>
No. 913625 ID: 10c408

Poor kitsiksu, he has NO IDEA just how deep the rabbit hole he's trying inquiring about is.

Since we're done with mapping things, you can probably turn the recording off before we give Kitsiku the truth.

Albeit slowly, we don't want to overwhelm him too much.

"...We're both stranded on a barren war-zone of a planetary body, Kitsiku. Armed and evidently insane forces belonging to a military group calling themselves the kiter empire are subsuming the planet on a massive scale for resources. The facility we're in is the only safe ground as they are prevented from entry, so don't go outside or they'll take you and likely dissect you if they don't kill you outright."
>>
No. 913627 ID: b1b4f3

Oh and you should probably also mention that Imperium was originally manipulating your mother, long before you were born. The "neural interface" on your head is gone now because you discovered it was compromised by Imperium. It was using the device to alter and suppress your memories. You thought your eye was safe but it wasn't.

Planning ahead: let Kitsiksu talk to the aliens over your network connection before you bring him up there. Work out a plan for introducing him to everyone in person that won't involve a certain neumono trying to kill him.
>>
No. 913628 ID: b1b4f3

...I just had a horrible thought. Ask Will if the Akashic Vault could be used to manipulate probability somehow.
Less horrible: ask if someone could use this facility to do that. Is it possible you're doing so subconsciously, since you're attuned to the technology here?
>>
No. 913629 ID: 10c408

>>913627
That specific Neumono will probably try to kill them both regardless just for existing.
>>
No. 913630 ID: 575ec0

Lets start with explaining that this situation is fucking bizarre and we have allies that include unknown aliens and nuemono that both hate and accept us.

Let's prepare him so he doesn't have to experience the melodrama we did.
>>
No. 913634 ID: 918898

>>913618
With an apology. For for the circumstances for which you both find yourselves in now. Simply put, there's a lot at play here. You two were just swept up in it all.
>>
No. 913635 ID: b1b4f3

>>913629
Idea: we bring him down here and put him in a prison pod.
>>
No. 913643 ID: 0c3c2c

>>913618
"Imperium was manipulating my central nervous system via my implants for decades, drove my mother insane, and murdered all my friends just to fuck with me, and is currently attempting to release an interdimensional plague that will kill all life in existence. Also, they betrayed me to manipulate me into teleporting here so they could manipulate me more, and then an angry biological nuclear reactor with legs shot its local avatar to death with a pulse weapon. And that's why I removed all my old implants."
>>
No. 913645 ID: 4dc321

I honestly don't think he's the type to care for a heartfelt apology. Instead, just try working with him until he gets in the groove of working with you.

Or until he gets his own act together and escapes, but that's a risk either way. (Maybe even for the best)

Don't make it a secret that you're at the end of your rope. There's nothing to be gained by pretending to be more together than you really are.

Explain that Imperium betrayed you and you lost everything, and resorted to an escape with a tiny chance of success, and woke up face down in the mud on an alien planet in another galaxy, apparently undergoing an invasion, and now you're reliant on the goodwill of some previously undiscovered aliens who have a good stronghold but maybe two weeks of food.
>>
No. 913652 ID: b1b4f3

>>913645
>won't care about a heartfelt apology
Sure but Sisirri should give AN apology. She hasn't yet.
>>
No. 913653 ID: b67388

>>913618
"Bullet points:
Imperium was involved with my mother and the rabbit hole goes really deep. It will take a bit more to explain in detail, but Imperium has been engineering a massive conspiracy across multiple galaxies to do... something. I am not yet sure what that something is, but there are leads.
We've wound up in another galaxy, there are other stranded aliens here, and I've been working with them to find a way to stop being here.
There is a big Empire spanning this Galaxy calling itself the Kiter and it is in a perpetual cycle of growing and killing itself off."
>>
No. 913672 ID: 10c408

>>913645
...If he escapes the facility he's just going to get fucked over by the Kiter.
>>
No. 913677 ID: 06ed0f

Shit was on fire yo.

Really, i think at least a short apology is in order. The brothers thing was at least lightly uncalled for. Make him at least your friend again. Even if it seems odd to your salikai mentality, you've been shown friendships have saved you more times than you have claspers at this point.
>>
No. 913678 ID: 91ee5f

>>913617
>Kitsiksu was staring at Sisirri‘s ass in the past.
I mean, you were both sorta developing feelings for each other, so that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. I’m sure if you think hard enough, you can also remember something mathematical about his ass! ~ <3

.....actually, it looks like he’s staring at your ass right now!

>>913618
>Where to start?
Remember, you said that you were going to try and not keep secrets from your allies anymore, so that includes Kitsiksu.

Start your story at the beginning.

Make sure you request that he save all questions, comments, and urges to shout “bull shit!” for after you’ve completely told him everything.

Don’t forget to tell him how long he’s been missing and how you used to be the neumono’s prisoner, but after certain events occurred, you’ve been upgraded to “Salikai that’s not our prisoner and we’ll reluctantly work together with in order to not die horrible deaths from something even worse”.

>>913635
That is the opposite of earning the neumono’s trust!

>>913645
>Or until he gets his own act together and escapes, but that's a risk either way. (Maybe even for the best)
No, it’s not for the best! There’s no telling what the Kiter will do to him!

>>913652
Yes, do this.
>>
No. 913682 ID: 094652

>Where do I start
"Well once upon a time, there was a mommy Salikai, a daddy Salikai, and an AI who hates psionics. Then the AI told the mommy Salikai to put the daddy Salikai in the mommy Salikai, up and down, until the daddy Salikai gave the mommy Salikai some baby juice, and then MURDER HIM. THEN the AI told the mommy Salikai to inject the eggs with anti-psychic nanomachines. Huuuge omlette. Then the mommy Salikai told the AI to @#$% off when she got to the last egg, and then I hatched and mommy called me Sissiri. Then the AI decided he would rather start fresh than deal with someone who couldn't sacrifice ALL her children to her synthetic god, and drove her insane so she'd tear out my eye and give IMPERIUM A DIRECT LINE TO MY BRAIN.

Hence the recent brain surgery. Sooo, on the plus side, some of my Arkots and your fufa project are still alive. Everything else temporarily tolerates our existence as they seek to justify our immediate termination."
>>
No. 913686 ID: 977456

Inform him that your collective is collaborating to survive a siege, of all forms but largely information and infiltration, involving technologies and methods that are often completely unfamiliar. Trust is too expensive and paranoia is too dangerous, all that remains is reason and emotion. Reason is too predictable and will make certain our defeat. Emotion is too unreliable and lead to collapse. If he wants any hope of hope or revenge then he will need to collaborate more intimately and openly than he would be comfortable with were they just arkots, but instead they are alien species and neumono. It will not be pleasant and he will need to be far more humble than he could ever be comfortable with. And you have already informed them that he is paranoid, which will make things even more difficult.
Now get in the healing tub and let the ambulatory accumulation of blades examine you.
it goes without saying that you have already informed Tirzi(at the least) that Kitsiksu is paranoid and traumatised and has potentially dangerous biomods.
>>
No. 913687 ID: 3f200a

Start with the essential
"Imperium was dissatisfied with my work studying a teleporting pod, so it leaked my situation to a neumono hive, who attacked. I jumped in the pod and landed here, where a disparate science team lives."

You can then expand on how Imperium was actually in control since before your birth, having fooled your mother into believing otherwise. That shifts the blame on her. You can add that the AI she actually built was loyal to the end, was killed defending your last sliver of autonomy from Imperium.
>>
No. 913688 ID: 9723b1

"You're going to want to lie down. It really is a long story, and you're very far away from any family or friends you had, trifex included. At least we're also very far away from anyone who cares that we're salikai, with three exceptions."

If he asks how we know about trifex, say it's part of the story, and it involves the fufa he sent.

>...where do I even begin.
>>862495

When you're done, maybe ask about the whole trifex vs LNS thing. You probably want to toss an apology for throwing him off the walkway in there somewhere, too.
>>
No. 913703 ID: a9af05

>>913678
>.....actually, it looks like he's staring at your ass right now!
Ha! You're right, it does look like that: >>913618 !
>>
No. 913706 ID: 67478b

It's a long story.

Very short version.

Imperium is actually suck inside a precursor artifact inside subspace. He corrupted my mom and I am probably a result of some sort of eugenic experiment.

Imperium wants to kill just about everyone everywhere. Don't trust anything he says.

I used a precursor artifact to escape him exploding my base. We are currently who knows where trying to survive with the help of some friendly aliens who also got stuck here.

There are also some asshole neumono that I am attempting to keep the peace with. With varying results.

I have no idea how you got here but the nice precursor ai in the basement helped me let you out.

Also I am sorry for everything. I fucked up big time.

Also some of my arkots survived. You can have the pick of the next litter to get you up and running again.
>>
No. 913738 ID: b67388

Also, subtly sashay a little bit as you go to let him know you see him staring.
>>
No. 913741 ID: 221205
File 154457292062.png - (10.66KB , 800x600 , salq3-23.png )
913741

>camera
I stop recording, as we're back in slightly more familiar territory.
I send a quick message to Aza that I would like some privacy, and that my camera is otherwise functioning correctly.
Aza sends a message back. [ok sisirri, i very understanding, will try make neumono understanding but can't making promises]

>he's staring at your butt
My what--

"Kitsiksu?"
"What?"

He's just looking straight ahead.

"...nothing. Also, I apologise for the comment about your brothers."
Kitsiksu clenches his graspers. "You ought to."
"I just did."
"Empty words. If you want to apologise properly, give me some answers to my questions."

>don't hide your situation
I...

I pause and droop a little. "I'm exhausted, Kitsiksu."
"That doesn't answer my question," he says, less forcefully and more as a direct statement of fact.
"This situation is so far beyond my control I no longer remember what it is like to feel in control anymore. And, if you want to survive here, you are going to need to prepare yourself to be in the same position."
"Are you a prisoner?"
"In a sense, I suppose this is not inaccurate."
"Is it your AI?"
"No, not Imperium. Something else. This is a facility on an alien world in a different galaxy to our own. A fanatical army of conquest and destruction calling themselves the 'Kiter Empire' are what keep me and the rest of the occupants of this facility trapped in here."
"Wait," says Kitsiksu. "Another galaxy? That's preposterous--"
"I jumped in a pod like you did, after Imperium betrayed me and set neumono on my base to destroy it and me with it. Except mine didn't freeze me."
"We ended up at the same place?"
"I don't have any answers why this happened."

Kitsiksu shuffles around uncomfortably. "This is a far more complicated scenario than I was expecting you to present me," he says. "I don't think I can process all of this so quickly. Other occupants. How many of them are there? Are they dangerous?"
"Sort of about ten-ish, and my arkots. Most of them aren't but be careful around the neumono, they're not very trusting--"
"Neumono?!" Kitsiksu freezes up. "There are neumono here?! Sisirri they tore Reklatu into pieces! I still have nightmares over the damn savage maniacs taunting me with his remains!"
"I'm well aware of the violence and psychotic nature of the neumono," I say. "There are three of them. One of them is oddly approachable, another is... tolerant of salikai presence, and the third has been locked up due to the other non-neumono personnel considering him a violent criminal."
"First things first, we need to kill them," says Kitsiksu, trembling a little. "Nothing else matters before then--"
"The neumono are not the greatest threat to our safety right now," I say. "It has taken a lot of effort on my behalf and the others' to construct a functional truce. We have other things to worry about that are not neumono."
"To pieces, Sisirri."
"If they wanted me dead I'd be dead."

I'll leave mentioning that they nearly did kill me for after Kitsiksu has wrapped his head around everything else. He already seems to be panicking. Trying to pretend he's not panicking, too, but it's clearly evident from his grasper twitches and breathing.

"In summary, approach others with humility, and do not try to leave this facility. For whatever reason, the outside aggressors don't seem willing or able to attack this place."

Kitsiksu nods.

There's a dozen questions I'd like to ask him, but I can already see him struggling to cope with the situation as it is.
>>
No. 913742 ID: 221205
File 154457296374.png - (7.93KB , 800x600 , salq3-24.png )
913742

I lead Kitsiksu to the smaller xenobiology laboratory, figuring if Tirzi is around she'll probably be the best introduction to the team than anyone else.

"This was one of two xenobiology laboratories, but it seems to have been converted into a medical emergency room. I don't know why a facility this large doesn't already have a first aid station but this is what serves as the first aid station, apparently."

I see a tub full of healing goo and nothing else. Tirzi was prompt, but is nowhere in the room to be found.

It's... odd. I find this room almost calming. It should be filling me with a sense of dread and flashbacks of pain and injury, and it does, to some degree, but I've felt relatively safe in this room compared to many of the others.

Kitsiksu looks around. "I don't recognise any of this equipment."
"The alien researchers here come from somewhere they called the 'superculture' or something like that. They seemed inordinately proud of their medical technology. Not sure how you can be impressed by your medical technology when you have nothing else to compare to, but I didn't think to question that at the time. I guess compared to other aliens in their home galaxy."
"A galactic-scale civilisation??"
"No, it's more like an amalgamation of different civilisations."
"A galactic-scale alliance?"
"No, they don't all get along, apparently, sometimes there's wars."
"...That just sounds like an inhabited galaxy."
"I know, right?!" I pause. "Well, I'm sure if Tirzi was here she'd go into more detail about that but she isn't."

I poke at VoxNet, but it looks she's away there too.
> Query for user LessEdgyThanYou: Gone to lunch
Oh. Well, then.

I turn around to leave and--
>>
No. 913744 ID: 221205
File 154457299351.png - (31.26KB , 800x600 , salq3-25.png )
913744

--Kan is here with a plasma sword, active, pointing it toward Kitsiksu, who is understandably frozen in fear.

"One salikai to get out of here," says Kan, staring directly into my eyes with fury. "We don't need two. We barely need one."

I do not stop sending emergency alerts via my network connection.

> LessEdgyThanYou: Uh, Sisirri?? Are you okay--
> Machinist: Kan armed small biolab send help
> LessEdgyThanYou: Oh fuck


"What's wrong, salikai? Did you both suddenly run out of words? Is pretending to be people no longer your best calculated option?"
"Kan," I say, "do you want to talk?"
"I want you to reverse whatever fucked up salikai tricks you've done to turn everyone here against me. I'm the only one here who even remembers what the Ashes Astra stand for! I'm the only one who remembers what you salikai did to us!" He waves the plasma sword around, and Kitsiksu backs down into the corner of the room.

"Her name was Leioko," he says, "and you murdered her."
>>
No. 913745 ID: 86eb65

Carefully get in between him and Kitsiksu if you can.

We didn't hurt you. We are Salikai that is true. But we are not the Salikai that hurt you.

All of us were played by Imperium Kan. He spent decades isolating every Salikai he could and tricking them into working for him. And he did the same to many neumono.

Please turn off the plasma sword and lets talk?
>>
No. 913746 ID: 080aaf

Do you realize what will happen if you start to threaten the survival of the group, Kan? It won't be worth the effort to keep you detained anymore. Back the hell up while your bungie cord is still attached to this cliff.
In fact, I'll tell you what I did to turn everyone against you if you turn off that plasma sword. (Nothing. It was all your actions.)
>>
No. 913747 ID: 575ec0

We Salikai aren't gods. We can't summon tricks and chaos from the ether. We're merely cowards that hide behind our myriad machinations, clinging desperately whatever false sense of security and control we can muster.
But we're stuck here. Like you. With you.
With nowhere to hide.

To kill us would only add to the body count.
It would enlighten no one.
Bring back, no one...
>>
No. 913748 ID: b1b4f3

>>913744
I see my attempt at planning ahead has gone to naught.
This is the second time he has escaped confinement and found a weapon. I think someone is helping him. Shouldn't there have at least been ONE camera set up to keep watch on the door where he was? I'd understand not being comfortable with cameras everywhere but there need to be basic security measures in place! ...actually I wonder if some of the people that voted to keep Kitsiksu out decided to let Kan out to handle the problem. Kan shouldn't even have known about this.

ANYWAY. Tell him you'll do whatever he wants if he doesn't hurt you or Kitsiksu. You'll make it clear to the others exactly what your true nature is so they can lock you up instead of him. But you can't do that until the others get here, so he's gonna have to wait.
If they get here and don't have an immediate method to pacify Kan, get an arkot in here somehow. Then kill it in front of everyone. Explain that this was the easiest way of demonstrating how much you value the lives of those under you. They are yours to use however you see fit. An Arkot's life is a fine price to pay for both your life and the life of your friend.

Alternatively you could somehow get the Fufa in here along with the arkot. It should recognize its master and fight Kan. It'll probably win despite that plasma sword being rather effective against it.
>>
No. 913751 ID: b1b4f3

>>913745
>>913746
>>913747
Guys this is a hostage situation. The most important thing is to make Kan feel like he's in control. So long as that's true, he won't kill the hostage.

Also, something else for Sisirri to consider: she holds a similar hatred for Imperium as Kan does to all Salikai. Perhaps she can use those similar feelings to manipulate him better.
>>
No. 913752 ID: ad51b8

get Kitsiksu behind you and get the crazed furry sword wielding bastard to focus on you and STALL like a son of a bitch.

>I want you to reverse whatever fucked up salikai tricks you've done to turn everyone here against me.
The only "Trick" I pulled was doing everything in my power to make sure that the conquering alien invaders wouldn't kill us all while also trying to find a way home while you ran around ignoring the current threats facing us and pointing guns and swords at everyone who looked at you funny and hindering any work that was being made on surviving and getting home.

>Her name was Leioko," he says, "and you murdered her.
Me specifically? Or just a salikai in general?

if he does say you ask how he knows it was you. After all when he and his hive attacked your base it was because they believed that you were making a bioweapon that could wipe out a planet or something along those lines when in reality all you were studying a new more effect form of FTL travel. Hell he has experienced what you were working on when he got caught in the pod's FTL field that we were forced to use to escape the destruction of our old home.

oh and if Kitsiksu has any more of that sticky goop he might want to ready some more of it.
>>
No. 913753 ID: 094652

>>913744
"It's a matter of priorities, stupid. The rest of the crew have realized that for every act of excruciating murder we Salikai have inflicted upon you, the Kiter have literally performed over ten thousand more, through industrialized slaughter of bodies AND minds of every planet they can get their grubby fatmasses on, and Imperium is attempting over a billion times that via intergalactic biowarfare, the end result of which will include the extinction of the Neumono. Unless you kill them first, of which I am dedicated to assisting you, you've utterly failed to save your race from total extinction. So make your decision now: do you forget what you fought for and fight as a galactic hero for the common good, or do you spend your last moments wondering if getting your revenge on me was worth betraying your entire race by allowing one of these two asshats to kill you, your entire hive, and every other neumono in existence?!"
>>
No. 913755 ID: 0c3c2c

>>913744
Point out that if anyone murdered anyone in here, it was most definitely Imperium giving away your bases' locations to the Ashes Astra and then the Arkots trying to fight them off as the base exploded.

Not that that will help convince him, but it might stall him. Meanwhile, if you can, throw HEALING GOO at Kan, because it's really viscous and might distract him. If you've got any kind of personal defense weapon use it.

Also, if you're not too overexerted, activate your accelerated consciousness and try and figure out how to get that sword out of Kan's hand without Kitsiksu being eviscerated. Maybe you can deceive him into trying to kill you first? The ole 'you know you wanna stick it in me' ploy? Mocking his dead loved ones and claiming that Salikai don't feel love?
>>
No. 913756 ID: b1b4f3

Getting him to focus on Sisirri is a pretty good idea. Kitsiksu has that sticky fluid stuff, that should immobilize Kan; he just needs to have a chance to spray it.
>>
No. 913757 ID: 10c408

"you'll have to narrow it down for me Kan, as an apparent non-person I cannot possibly keep track of the ZERO Neumono I have personally murdered over my extremely short and terrified lifespan."
>>
No. 913759 ID: afdebc

Why is his eye tentacles? (Are one-eyed salikai fashionable or something? Seem to be a lot of you).

>I'm the only one here who even remembers what the Ashes Astra stand for!
And what did the Astra stand for, Kan?! Ashes stand only for death!

I found someone I cared about, someone I believed dead, preserved by the absurd alien technological magic of this place, Kan. What would you have done? Would you have left Leioko down there, in my place? You would undo this?

...it won't stop him, but it will refocus him away from Kitsiksu, and in the time he starts yelling whatever he's going to say, the others may show up.

>what else
Remind Kitty after this that yes, killing neumono is really still off the table. The local alliance is too fragile, and the rest are contributing to our survival. Ekasarra helped save your life from his fufa, anyways, no idea how that got into your lab.
>>
No. 913760 ID: 91ee5f

>>913741
>He's just looking straight ahead.
He quickly looked away before you could catch him.

>>913756
That could work.

But he might be too scared to think of doing that.

Maybe if Sisirri subtlety signaled him to remind him he can do that? But that would involve getting him to look at her and not stare fearfully at the crazy asshole with the laser sword.
>>
No. 913765 ID: 9a3da0

"The only Neumono that died under my watch did so by breaching my base's reactor core thinking they'd find me behind that wall!"
>>
No. 913768 ID: 91ee5f

>>913741
You told Kitsiksu there were only 3 Neumono, but he’s going to count 4, due to one of them being a Kiter that looks like a Neumono.

>>913748
>Kan shouldn't even have known about this.
He was part of the vote from earlier, so he already knew about Kitsiksu. How could he not have known?
>>
No. 913769 ID: b67388

>>913744
"I don't know that name. Tell me about her. About what happened."
>>
No. 913770 ID: b1b4f3

>>913768
>part of the vote
Why would he have been part of the vote? Since when do prisoners get a vote?
>>
No. 913774 ID: 977456

Interpose yourself between them. Beg.

The obvious ploy is something about pieces of brothers being used to taunt people. I doubt this is a rational enough situation for "we are all the same".
Fighting a neumono with a weapon is a bad prospect, and we have no robots here.
Again, a lack of rationality suggests that "Imperium killed The Ashes Astra" won't persuade before things get to murdery violence.
Begging for the life of another is potentially shocking, fast, and might just coincide with something from the Ashes' fall.
And that is about as much soulless social dissection as I can manage. Team Evil Forever!
>>
No. 913778 ID: b1b4f3

>>913774
Begging?! That's out of the question. Remember, Kitsiksu is watching. He will be judging how well Sisirri handles this situation.
>>
No. 913784 ID: 9723b1

Remember one thing. You don't need to defeat Kan. You only need to stall him until reinforcements arrive.

Get him talking about Leioko. He wants to be judge, jury, and executioner, and we can afford to let him pretend to be the first two. Ask who she was. Ask what happened to her. When he describes it, act suitably horrified. Ask if he had to endure her empathy when it happened. Ask who the salikai who did it was. Ask any question that won't anger him to stall for time.

If he gets violent before reinforcements arrive, your graspers can grab his wrist from multiple angles at a time. Feint from one direction, and grab from another. He'll kick and punch, but it's better than being sliced up by the plasma sword. If you can twist the sword out of his hand, grab the rest of his limbs, and push him against a wall to restrain him until reinforcements arrive.
>>
No. 913785 ID: 91ee5f

>>913770
It’s the number of votes.

Including Sisirri’s vote, the poll results were: 5 votes for yes, 4 votes for no, 1 abstain, making it 10 votes in total.

Now add the number of people in the facility. There are 5 aliens (Tirzi, Sitkva, Ku, Aza, and Saba), 3 neumono (Ekasarra, Lekka, and Kan), 1 kiter that looks like a Neumono (1045), and 1 Salikai (Sisirri) which is a total of 10 people.

10 votes with 10 people, which means that Kan was part of the vote, meaning he already knew about Kitsiksu.
>>
No. 913786 ID: 4c2f6c

>>913756

That's actually a very good idea. He might be able to cut himself free with the sword, but Kitsiksu can just spray him again and again until the others arrive. I'd like to add that as plan B to >>913784 and push the combat tactics to plan C.

One thing, though. If Kitsiksu wants to kill Kan if the spray works, warn him not to approach. Point A, Kan's gotten to the point where the others will probably decide that putting him down is the best option, so Kitsiksu will get his dead neumono without having to introduce himself with a murder. Point B, Kan may be feigning helplessness in the spray web so as to lure him into plasma sword range.
>>
No. 913846 ID: 977456

It is worth noting that an unarmed Salikai is regarded as lethal to an unarmed neumono. Granted, this is two unarmed mad scientists against an armed soldier, and theoretically some sort of insane killing-machine neumono might exist that would suggest otherwise. Still, if violence becomes unavoidable, salikai have the ability to rip a neumono into pieces, and neumono are much easier to reassemble than neumono are. So an aggressive approach to any fighting that breaks out, with a focus upon ripping limbs off, would be advisable?
>>
No. 913848 ID: b1b4f3

>>913846
He's wearing armor. Salikai are strong, but not THAT strong.
>>
No. 913849 ID: 10c408

>>913846
He's armed with a freaking plasma sword by the looks of it and the number of people suggesting that if all else fails we fight him in close quarters is actually pretty appalling.

We're outmatched here, the best thing to do is stall him out since we're unarmed. (I'm not fully convinced that getting an opening for Kitsiku to goop Kan is the play, either.)
>>
No. 913854 ID: 575ec0

2 Untrained, unarmed, naked civilians
Vs
1 Armed soldier in power armor.

Yeah, there's no contest here.
It doesn't matter how many graspers we have, or how strong they are. They'll just get cut off. It doesn't matter that we have a sticky goo. It'll only slow him down enough so we can watch ourselves be bisected.

There are three viable options and one bad option. Fighting is the bad one. It's instant death.

We can stall and hope the others get here in time, we can try and talk him down, or we can try to run back downstairs. Of course, running won't work unless Kitsiku can manage to collect himself.
>>
No. 913858 ID: b1b4f3

>>913854
>sticky goo
It hardens. If Kitsiksu gets an opening to use it, Kan will most likely be immobilized before he can attack.
The optimal use would be to spray it on his legs while he's looking away so he doesn't even notice. Then he'll be stuck to the floor and the Salikai can run away.
>>
No. 913864 ID: 575ec0

>>913858
While I concur that it could (And should) be used as an escape aid, I highly doubt the getaway will be clean. I can't see powered armor being immobilized by the stuff. It is, however, unexpected. Kan might be caught off guard for just long enough for Kitsiksu to make a break for it. If it does manage to slow him down great, but we shouldn't plan for it.
>>
No. 913866 ID: 9723b1

>>913854
>power armor
Wait, wait, wait, you mean this isn't the usual unpowered armor from Polo Quest? Ok, yeah, close quarters combat is suicide. That said, if I'm not wrong Kan is in the way of the only exit. If he just up and attacks or stalling fails, the goo doesn't immobilize, and we've got no other exit we're in a real bad position. Still, Sissiri "There is no such thing as a fair fight for survival" Issukoa isn't one to go quietly.

One last gambit if all else fails. Spray goo at Kan's eyes. While he's blinded, either steal the plasma sword and turn it on him, or run past him out the exit while he's distracted.
>>
No. 913867 ID: b1b4f3

I don't think that's power armor. It's not bulky enough. That's just the usual external armor Neumono soldiers can get.
>>
No. 913868 ID: 575ec0

>>913867
Maybe. Though in a universe with skin-tight nano power armor I wouldn't be able to tell.

If you are correct though, then spray and run might be the best option.
>>
No. 913900 ID: 977456

Musical! Sing the Ashes Astra Anthem. While tapdancing.
>>
No. 913901 ID: 10c408

>>913866
We have no exact idea what brand of cybernetic tech the Astra had or how invasive their augments were. Or how good their armor even is.
>>
No. 913963 ID: 4dc321

>>913744
Please do not try begging or jumping on the guy with the laser sword.

Instead, pick up nearby dense objects and start throwing them at him! Put all those deceptively strong gangly arms and your fancy new eyeball to work. If he rushes you, run away (or try climbing out of reach!) and hope Kitsiksu webs him.

If you find some kind of face-melting juice, feel free to throw it at him, but only if it won't splash on Kitsiksu. Try not to release any deadly gas or pathogens either.

(Also, please make a mental note to build, as soon as possible, some kind of powerful combat armor suit. Drones are clearly too easy to subvert, but you need tools to defend yourself.

Make sure to add hardwired buttons that reload the operating system from read-only memory, so when it's inevitably subverted, you can un-subvert it instantly.)

>>913742
>"...That just sounds like an inhabited galaxy."
>"I know, right?!"

I think it means they share some languages and cultural norms and aren't really alien to one another. I'm thinking along the lines of "culture" groups identified in archaeological records.

(The distinction probably feels weird to a Salikai, because they come from Planet Genocide where groups speak the same language but have permanent wars of extermination...)
>>
No. 915427 ID: ba56e6

While you buy time, imagine a sheet of fabric and a needle, with a thread attached. That thread is Kan. As if cross-stitching, pierce the fabric and weave the thread through and back again, then yank hard.
>>
No. 916479 ID: c920f6
File 154679360326.png - (215.59KB , 800x600 , salq3-26.png )
916479

>votes counted
Voting was a mistake.

>prisoner with a gun
Someone must have sprung him. Someone who clearly is trying to kill me with deniable proxies. Unacceptable.

>eye tentacles
I do need to ask him about it but not now.

>talk him down/distract him
"Kan, I will do whatever you want. Let's just talk about this. Who was Leioko?"

> CybLux: cavelicker broke my surveillance
> CybLux: camera is showing him still in cell
> CybLux: am FURIOUS
> CybLux: has had too many extra chances
> CybLux: still he is having cybernetics
> CybLux: time to showing why is bad idea


"Leioko..."

Kan falters for a moment. Kitsiksu tenses ready to... either pounce on Kan, which he should know is a bad idea, or dart away, which might be better.

"Leioko was my world, salikai. I won't sully her memory for your convenience."
"I'm not a god or a demon, Kan. I can't just wave my graspers and end the lives of neumono. No salikai can."
"The Splicer took her from me, and you are the Splicer," says Kan, shaking slightly. "In words and actions, you are the Splicer. In less than two weeks, you've coerced everyone around you into thinking you're on their side, but I can see the strings, salikai, I can see the tapestry you weave to bind everyone together and I'm not letting it happen again!!"

Kan takes a step forward and halts, seemingly frozen in place.

> CybLux: not understanding interface at all
> Machinist: Interface??
> CybLux: access running deep
> CybLux: scary deep
> CybLux: not understanding

Of course. Of course of course. I forget. I have a new functioning mind machine interface with further safeguards.
A new eye that I have looked through, but not yet seen through.
And I've worked with the sort of technology implanted into these neumono before.

> Machinist: I'll try.
> CybLux: try what


I inhale deeply, and exhale.
Focus.
Fugue.
>>
No. 916480 ID: c920f6
File 154679363276.png - (130.08KB , 800x600 , salq3-27.png )
916480

It looks like the upgrades worked.

As one eye stares at Kan, my other eye sees through the veil of physical matter to the realm of digital cognition around us.
Kan's mind machine interface, not removed like Lekka's nor Ekasarra's.
Exposed. Vulnerable.

But that was the point, wasn't it, mother?
To be an emergency access point, an intentional weakness for either yourself or Imperium to use as they saw fit.
Unfortunately, it's a liability.

Because something else is getting to it first.

My racing mind already begins to tire from the strain of processing two layers of reality at once.
I try to focus on and extract the origin of the datastreams pouring into Kan's neural interface.
Here. There is no external threat. There's something coming from--

It's Aza. I already knew Aza was trying to break into Kan's implants. Okay, mislead.
Turn back, try again.

No. Wait. It's Aza, but it's... Aza, twice.
Two streams from the same origin point.

> Machinist: Aza, someone is breaking into Kan's implants from your access point.
> CybLux: what
> CybLux: impossible
> CybLux: am only one here
> CybLux: will powering off console


As Aza's console goes dead, so too do both of the connections.
In waking reality, Kan abruptly jabs forward with the plasma sword into empty air like a violent spasm, as he barks in surprise.

Kitsiksu backs up against a corner and rears up with claws ready to strike.

A connection comes back. This time, an access point claiming to be from Ku's personal network.

> Machinist: Ku, shut down your network connections!
> Machinist: Your systems are being used as a proxy to manipulate Kan!

No response. Probably because he's on his way physically to deal with Kan instead. Orrrr he's a traitor and is purposefully trying to get me killed.
One of those two.
>>
No. 916481 ID: c920f6
File 154679364604.png - (32.80KB , 800x600 , salq3-28.png )
916481

I snap out of my reverie as Tirzi barges in with some sort of... claw weapon over her claw.

"[DROP THE SWORD!]"

Kan spins around and holds the sword up, but seems noticeably jittery and looks like he's having trouble moving. "I have to-- I have to keep Astra safe from the Splicer--"
"[DROP IT!!]"
"I HAVE TO PROTECT MY HIVE!"
"[DROP THE SWORD RIGHT NOW!!]"
"FOR ASTRA!!"

Kan clumsily charges forward and Tirzi tries to dodge out of the way but--

BZZSHHHN

Tirzi loses a horn.

"[AGH! YOU FUCK!!]" She swings with her claw weapon and smacks it into Kan's armor. Kan screams as I hear loud crackling and popping, extremely loud buzzing and humming, and the sword goes sailing across the room.

Before I can do anything Kitsiksu launches across the room, a coiled spring releasing, and grabs the plasma sword, activating it and assuming a guard.

Kan is still standing, but staggering around, swaying, struggling to remain upright.

"This creature is an existential threat," says Kitsiksu. To others, he probably sounds calm and collected. As a salikai, I can tell he is desperately trying to assume an air of confident control and power while terrified to his core. "I do not know your laws, alien, but I intend to remove this threat from my surroundings."
"[So this is your friend, Sisirri?]"

Kitsiksu poises the sword ready for a strike at a moment's notice. "I don't understand this alien's language. Sisirri, can you translate?"
"She asked me if you were my friend."
"Tell her I am."
"[Tell him I understand him.]"
"She knows our language. She just can't speak it well."
"Alright," says Kitsiksu, relaxing his posture by a tiny iota. "Alien, stand down, I will--"
"[Sisirri tell your friend that he's not in charge.]"
"As a reminder, Kitsiksu, neither you nor I are in absolute control of the aliens here, and they do not react well to assertions of dominance. They're not arkots, Kitsiksu."

Kitsiksu says nothing, but keeps the sword pointed away from Tirzi. It suddenly dawns on me that he's holding it with a lot more grace and familiarity than I'd expect from a salikai. This isn't the first time he's held a plasma sword before. Huh.

Kan lurches towards Kitsiksu. "Give me back-- my sword-- you monster--"

If I don't try to intervene, Kitsiksu is going to attack Kan and I suspect he will not stop until Kan is in too many pieces to recover from.
>>
No. 916486 ID: 465a14

>>916481
Quick, distract him with the chance to monologue!

"Why does your right eye look like an amtsvane penis?"

That'll do the trick, should break his concentration nicely.
>>
No. 916488 ID: 86eb65

Get up close to Kitsiksu and talk to him.

"Someone or something is manipulating him to attack us. We need him alive to figure out what is going on. If he attacks just disable him please."


Tirzi what does not being in charge have to do with anything? We are being attacked by a dangerous alien who is stronger and better trained than us. We have the right to defend ourselves.

Someone is hacking into Kan right now from your systems. Someone who is trying to use him to kill us.

So either you handle the situation or we will keep this idiot from trying to murder us.
>>
No. 916492 ID: 0c3c2c

>>916481
Distract him... by asking him how he plans to repair your reproductive organs!

It's personal, shameful and upsetting to think about, but Kitsiksu knows all of that. It's also linked to his lust for you, and his fondness for your prior relationship.

Meanwhile, Tirzi can simply detach Kan's limbs and prepare to nail him to the floor for his own protection.
>>
No. 916493 ID: ad51b8

"Kitsiksu, I know you're being thrown into all this madness and I really do wish I could have eased you into this more but Kan here is being manipulated by someone taking advantage of his cybernetics and as such he's kind of our only lead right now to find out who's using him. And yes you could say that you only need the parts to find out who did it I don't really trust you to know where the important bits are and not slice through them. So if you want you can keep the sword but please try not to rip apart the only clue we have on who's trying to fuck with us."
>>
No. 916498 ID: ada24e

>>916481
"Something got into his cybernetics and was able to mask their signal to look like someone else's. We need him alive and his cybernetics relatively intact."
>>
No. 916500 ID: b970b2

Tackle Kan before this ridiculous situation turns deadly, and hope Kitsiksu doesn't swing at you like the paranoid salikai (Potentially redundant term) he is. It should be safe(r) now that Kan is disarmed, the worst he can do is punch, kick, and claw you.

We need to get that implant out of Kan, by force if needed. Forensic investigation of it's remains is preferable to losing personnel.
>>
No. 916502 ID: b1b4f3

>>916481
Go grab Kan. He's unarmed now and you are Salikai, you are strong. You have Tirzi's help even if you're not strong enough on your own.
Then explain that someone or something is manipulating Kan via his implants. Ask where the new alien is being kept. Either she was a trojan horse and you missed the robot hidden on her, or she's a trained spy that fooled all of you.
Well, it's that or Ku managed to hack Aza's console to log onto it remotely. I don't want to think about Ku being a traitor though.

Also tell Kitskiksu that he can gain a lot of trust by giving the plasma sword to Tirzi, but he might want to watch the door. Describe Ku to him and tell him to use his restraining goo if Ku barges in with obvious intent. Ask Tirzi if it'd be okay if Ku was restrained regardless.

Oh, try using the comms to ask the others if they've seen Ku. Request that someone check on his console.
>>
No. 916503 ID: 130f18

>>916498
This.
"Take off his limbs. Don't worry Tirzi, Neumono can survive worse. We can decide what to do about him from there."
>>
No. 916506 ID: 91ee5f

>>916480
>someone is manipulating Kan through his cybernetics
Send a system wide message to everyone that someone has hacked Kan’s cybernetics and they’re controlling him. Make sure you also let them know where the signal is coming from, so that if someone is nearby, they can go shut down Ku’s terminal and warn them that the signal might show up again on a different terminal!

Let this also be a reminder to either remove Kan’s cybernetics or increase the protections on his cybernetics to be protected like your eye, so that this doesn’t happen again. Be glad that both Lekka and Ekasarra already had their cybernetics removed, otherwise you’d be dealing with all 3 of the Neumono right now!

>>916481
>If I don't try to intervene, Kitsiksu is going to attack Kan and I suspect he will not stop until Kan is in too many pieces to recover from.
As much of an asshole Kan is, you can’t let Kitsiksu kill him!
>>
No. 916507 ID: 91ee5f

>>916502
>Ask where the new alien is being kept. Either she was a trojan horse and you missed the robot hidden on her, or she's a trained spy that fooled all of you.
It was explained that the Pomi’s implants were already removed and she’s supposed to be in recovery right now.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if the implants that were removed are what’s responsible for this by remotely hacking into Kan.
>>
No. 916509 ID: 83bf07

"Take his legs. He'll live."
>>
No. 916510 ID: 12b116

Honestly, he is more trouble than he's worth, the other neumono might get upset if we kill him but more importantly we probably need him alive to figure out what's compromising the cybernetics.
>>
No. 916515 ID: b1b4f3

>>916507
Yeah, the implants could be autonomous. Did anyone take them apart yet to analyze them? ...I hope that drone that broke through was also properly disassembled and Sisirri didn't lose a hitchhiker.
>>
No. 916540 ID: 575ec0

Tell Kitsiksu to take the Kan's head.

Then after that urge him to otherwise leave him alive, and explain that he was being controlled.

Not gonna be able to explain until Kan's neutralized.
>>
No. 916541 ID: 10c408

"We only need enough of him alive to figure out the source of the cybersecurity threat I just discovered."
>>
No. 916542 ID: 91ee5f

>>916540
>Tell Kitsiksu to take Kan's head.
Let’s not actually murder Kan!
>>
No. 916544 ID: 10c408

>>916542
No, he's too dangerous. We only need him alive long enough to find and eliminate the cyber threat and then we should properly execute him.
>>
No. 916546 ID: 977456

I vote charge, ram, and grapple. Try to barge Kan closer to Tirzi. Activate any emergency signal jammers you have been hiding. You must have an E.M.P. in your eye, spare jammer symbiote, tinfoil hat, or something... maybe that paraspatial interference thing you did to Voidsong?
>>
No. 916550 ID: 080aaf

Any sort of large scale dismemberment will disrupt his cybernetics, and we need those intact just a little longer to trace this hacker. Go for the eyes, Kit!
>>
No. 916553 ID: 91ee5f

>>916544
Executing him for his actions while being controlled by someone else is not the correct choice to make!
>>
No. 916555 ID: ada24e

>>916553
...I have an idea.

Push him harder on who Leioko was. MAKE him tell you about her.

He's being heavily influenced mentally in some fashion and Leioko is motivating him. But he's not talking about her, despite the fact that when enraged people tend to start screaming about those they've lost.

Recalling someone close to him may help him reassert dominance of his mind and body, throwing out the influence and ending the threat.

He doesn't have his sword anymore, so he's no longer got the option of outright ignoring you and cutting off one of your heads.
>>
No. 916556 ID: 10c408

>>916553
Neither is letting him live after all the shit he's pulled.

Sure, in this particular case he's been overly manipulated into going crazy but let's be honest with ourselves and admit that Kan was going to go crazy at some point no matter what.

And a crazy, rogue Neumono with unknown cybernetic enhancements that refuses to listen and either acquired or HID a freaking energy sword on his person is far too dangerous of a problem to solve with nothing short of dismemberment or outright murder.

And since we need him alive long enough to isolate and eliminate the cyber threat that pushed kan off the brink, dismemberment is the safest method.

and since we're trying to be good about the whole thing the best option for after we've gotten Kan diced into pieces and dealt with the cyber security threat the next thing is to put him out of his misery because I'm quite sure that dismembering him is going to be fucking agony.
>>
No. 916557 ID: 575ec0

>>916542
Ok. So. Neumono don't die from decapitation.
...Usually.
Their Brains are distributed throughout their entire body. Their heads are mainly just their primary sensory center.

As long as Kan gets rapid medical attention, he'll make a more or less full recovery. There may be some memory loss. Their head houses like 30 percent of their neural mass.

Anyway, cutting off his head will immediately disable him, but not kill him. Nuemono are bitches to kill.
>>
No. 916567 ID: 130f18

>>916553
His actions were very clearly his own, but somebody let him loose.
We don't know if the control is causing him to do this either. It could instead be the reason he keeps stopping and twitching instead of charging at us.
>>
No. 916568 ID: 10c408

>>916557
They do die if decapitated, though. Yes, their brain matter is distributed across their entire body but the majority of it is still inside the head. And while their absurd biology render most forms of kinetic attacks/projectiles ineffective, it does not grant them complete invincibility to said kinetic attacks/projectiles.

this is all moot, of course. Kitsiksu has the energy sword now.
>>
No. 916569 ID: afdebc

>Orrrr he's a traitor and is purposefully trying to get me killed.
Unlikely? If he wanted you dead, he had a much easier option- he just had to not intercede with the fufa. Ku would have to have been recently turned.

>If I don't try to intervene, Kitsiksu is going to attack Kan and I suspect he will not stop until Kan is in too many pieces to recover from.
Kan's unarmed at this point, and facing Kitsiksu, not you. And he's disoriented from his electronic connection messed up.

Just tackle him from behind, or smack him aside. You outmass him a lot.

Also Kitsune's apparent proficiency with that weapon means you don't have to worry about him hitting you by accident.

>"This creature is an existential threat,"
Not objectively untrue, but there's a lot of social capital be gained with the aliens here by maintaining the moral high ground and showing restraint.
>>
No. 916571 ID: 91ee5f

>>916556
>he needs to be killed
That’s a decision that only Lekka and Ekasarra are allowed to make, no one else. Kan is their hivemate, so it’s up to them, not us.

>>916569
>Just tackle him from behind, or smack him aside. You outmass him a lot.
Yeah, just tackle him!

>Not objectively untrue, but there's a lot of social capital be gained with the aliens here by maintaining the moral high ground and showing restraint.
I agree! Maintaining the moral high ground and showing restraint is what we should do!
>>
No. 916575 ID: 575ec0

>>916568
Canonically they live more often than not if treatment is available.

I forget exactly where neumono decapitation is covered though. Some of the older ITQ's and Polo quest threads I believe. I distinctly remember a character telling a story about hive mates calling her a badass for keeping her cool when she lost her head during a fire-fight.
>>
No. 916578 ID: afdebc

>>916575
Canonically we have not been provided with broad based statistics on overall survival rates so could we please stop arguing about extrapolation of limited data.

Here's what we know about neumono decapitation. >>/questdis/69824

We know it is possible to survive (provided you aren't in the less than 1% of neumono who die immediately), we know this requires medical care during the lengthy rehabilitation phase, and during the initial event it is possible to die if you panic, or scream, or aspirate, or don't quickly receive assistance to make sure your windpipe isn't occluded. (And does can really seem like Kan is not going to panic and scream if a salikai beheads him?) And even for a neumono who does everything right (per Lukrata's advice), and gets medical care promptly, we don't know the survival rate. (There's always going to be risks of complications).

We also have no idea how all the many high unethical biotechnical implants Kan is sporting might complicate or worsen his chance of survival, especially if any of them happen to be cut in half along with his neck.

There's also real world evidence (among humans) that mental state / mental health can impact your physical health and your odds of surviving dangerous medical events. It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume the same is true for neumono (maybe more so, with the ways we've seen empathy directly effecting biology), and Kan is pretty clearly in a terrible place mentally, with his hive falling apart and the paranoid persecution complex and the world around him making less and less sense.

So yeah, plenty of risk factors intrinsic in an involuntary head-ectomy.
>>
No. 916581 ID: 91ee5f

>>916578
Yeah, that just sounds like Kan isn’t going to survive getting his head cut off, so let’s not cut his head off.
>>
No. 916582 ID: 61ce1c

"Kitsiksu, listen to me very carefully: you are falling for the same con that caused us to lose everything. Same goes for Kan, but I don't think he has enough willpower to snap out of his augment-induced mind control so @#$% his ears.

You hate Kan because you think he's a xenophobic sadist whose only pleasure in this wide open world is ripping Salikai apart piece by piece and then rearranging the reproductive parts as a shrine to Leioko. That is not necessarily false, but you're letting your hatred narrow your perspective. Kan was released and had a weapon shoved into his hands. His hacked brain implant is also affecting him like it affected me. If you kill him now and I fail to get a trace, the intruder will do this again and again, possibly with someone we wouldn't expect, until we're forced to cut communications.

Survival is paramount. Look at him. Look at his hate. Does it look like he's going to see next month? No. And if you act like him you'll probably go down with him even sooner."
>>
No. 916583 ID: 10c408

>>916571
Kan is not hivemates with Lekka and Eaksarra anymore. All three of them are rogue and it's mostly Kan's fault for being an aggressive little shit when push came to shove.

And as far as societial capital goes..

I'm pretty sure the appropriate saying is "speak softly and carry a big stick."

Well we've BEEN speaking softly and it's just not working on him. We don't have to kill him immediately, because we still need him alive long enough to eliminate the hacking angle. But after that? He's just a pointless drain on dwindling resources at best and at worse he'll make a full recovery and try to kill us again. Except the next time he probably WON'T be full-on crazy and just actually do it instead of stopping to mince words.
>>
No. 916587 ID: 4dc321

Help Kitsiksu take him out. This will help you bond with him at the expense of, let's be honest, a berserk and implacable opponent who has been berserk and implacable since before you first met.

Stop Kitsiksu from finishing off a downed opponent, but right now it's self defense.
>>
No. 916588 ID: b1b4f3

>>916583
If he's being manipulated now, what we have to ask next is how much and for how long. If we don't do something drastic like cut off his head, his future behavior sans implants should give us some indication of what his baseline is.
It's quite possible that someone has been driving Kan crazy towards destructive behavior for some time. It's more likely that it was relatively recent of course, like just after the portal opened.

I also want to prove Kan wrong in the most obvious way. To treat him with dignity, despite his previous behavior.
>>
No. 916594 ID: 9723b1

Ok, so regardless of the cyberattack somebody's been supplying Kan.
The 4 that voted no are likely suspects. It's a pretty safe bet that Kan, Lekka, and Saba voted no. So that's 2 known and 1 unknown internal suspect, unless Kan somehow supplied himself. Externally, there's the captured pomi. However, one key detail is that Kan was supplied native tech, not superculture tech. From this, we may be able to narrow it to two suspects. The last person to have custody of the neumono weapons, and the pomi if they had a hidden plasma sword.

It also begs another question, why was Kan supplied with a plasma sword, and not a gun? If Sissiri or Kitsiksu was the target, a gun would be a far better means of killing.
Is this all a distraction?
This actually makes taking Kan alive a priority. Once the cyberattack is broken, he'll be able to tell us who supplied him with the weapon.

Oh, and for later. We should probably wait to tell Kitsiksu about the bioservitors. Right now, he'd have them kill the neumono. While losing Kan might actually be good, and Lekka wouldn't be a huge loss, Ekasarra is not worth losing (1045 is tough to predict right now). He's gotten the worst first contact with them he can get, but meeting Ekasarra will definitely soothe that. Just tell Ekasarra that he's been traumatized by neumono, and keep them at a distance from each other at first.
>>
No. 916597 ID: 91ee5f

>>916594
Yeah, those are good reasons to take Kan alive.
>>
No. 916605 ID: 9723b1

>>916594

A few other points.

Playing whack-a-mole with the cyberattack signals will get us nowhere. Does Aza have some sort of wireless radio jammer?

Kan's got robot arms, so cutting those off shouldn't "hurt," though Tirzi's hit may have already disabled them, given the noises the hit made.

Either way, Kan's obviously weakened, so Kitsiksu's spray may be sufficient to restrain him, or at least make it easy to restrain him.

For irony points, we may want to say "We can't get answers out of a dead body, Kitsiksu" somewhere in the conversation. The very words that stopped Kan from killing Sissiri, used to save Kan. It might manipulate him into questioning himself, but even if it doesn't, it'll be worth it just for the look on his face.
>>
No. 916614 ID: 10c408

>>916588
And then he shoves our "superiority" down our throat with a huge sideorder of death.

I'm gonna pass on that meal, thank you very much. Disable him, flush out the cyber security threat and then move on it to eliminating problems before they come back and bite us in the ass.
>>
No. 916630 ID: 91ee5f

>>916605
>Kan's got robot arms, so cutting those off shouldn't "hurt," though Tirzi's hit may have already disabled them, given the noises the hit made.
Literally disarming him would definitely decrease how much of a threat he is.

After we take care of the hacker, we can either reattach them after improving the security in his cybernetics or we can remove all of his cybernetics and have 1045 do the same thing he did to Ekasarra and regrow all of Kan’s body and he won’t have any cybernetics to get hacked in the future.
>>
No. 916646 ID: b1b4f3

>>916614
>death
Uh what? What did you think I was suggesting, exactly? To not do anything to him at all?
>>
No. 916652 ID: a9af05

>kill Kan or don't kill him?
If he was doing this of his own free will, then I'd say kill him. But since he's not doing this of his own free will, it would be like killing him for someone's actions.

So I say, no, don't kill him.

Just cut off his robotic arms and he'll be unable to do anything.
>>
No. 916697 ID: 10c408

>>916646
Any less-than-lethal means or options for disabling Kan aren't going to work indefinitely. Sooner or later, he's going to be a problem.

And unless we're very VERY lucky, it'll be a problem because he beat/escaped whatever method was used to contain him.

And then he'll probably try to kill everyone. And we're not going to see it coming because he won't actually be as much of a crazy, distracted mess.

So the question then becomes, how much blood are you willing to see spilled to keep him alive? Personally, I'm voting for none. He already chopped off one of Tirzi's horns and if it wasn't for us keeping him talking long enough for things to happen as they did, he'd have split us and Kitsiksu in half from head to tail.
>>
No. 916706 ID: b1b4f3

>>916697
Bullshit.
>>
No. 916709 ID: a9af05

>>916697
Bullshit.
>>
No. 916716 ID: 977456

He is dangerous and antagonistic, but only marginally so now that he is unarmed. These are exactly the qualities that will make preserving his life noteworthy to our allies, who are largely nonviolent by preference. Also, he has largely burned his bridges here with this attack. His containment from now on is likely to be far more secure and if any resources are available a psychological profiling and correction campaign will likely be administered even without our own intercession. If he were armed, then killing him would be justified, but as it stands, the risk is largely limited to a stay in the healing bath, and the gain is an almost unassailable political position.
>>
No. 916717 ID: b1b4f3

>>916716
Exactly.
>>
No. 916722 ID: 575ec0

So all this moral debate is fascinating but exactly what quick action are we going to take when shit hit's the fan in about two seconds?
>>
No. 916728 ID: 130f18

>>916722
"Kit, go for the arms! Don't worry Tirzi, they grow back!"
>>
No. 916729 ID: 91ee5f

>>916728
They’re robotic, they won’t grow back.
>>
No. 916730 ID: b1b4f3

>>916729
His real ones will.
>>
No. 916731 ID: 10c408

>>916730
Not if the cuts are made well after where the cybernetics begin.
>>
No. 916732 ID: 575ec0

>>916728
I second this.
>>
No. 916736 ID: 91ee5f

>>916730
His arms are completely robotic. They won’t grow back if they’re cut off, they can only be reattached.
>>
No. 916741 ID: 130f18

>>916736
Then they can be reattached. Either way, arms are the best target for nonlethal takedown.
>>
No. 916751 ID: 91ee5f

>>916741
Sure, they can be reattached, but we’re not gonna do that anytime soon.
>>
No. 916760 ID: b1b4f3

Two nore theories as to who's controlling Kan, not involving one of the aliens:
1)The implant in the Pomi might be a wireless machine interface, allowing her to hack into our systems from sickbay. Was it removed yet?
2)There might be some way we're getting hacked from outside the facility. The facility prevents hostile forces from affecting or entering the facility, but we already know it doesn't jam *everything*. Some psychic noise gets through, so maybe some wireless frequency can too?

I honestly find it very strange that any organic mind was able to get past the info-security expert's security. It's almost like Imperium is already here.
>>
No. 917396 ID: c920f6
File 154733190964.png - (26.15KB , 800x600 , salq3-29.png )
917396

>decapitate him
Even if it wouldn't kill him outright, the resources and urgency required to keep him from dying make this course of action needlessly wasteful.

>JUST TACKLE HIM
I tackle Kan down to the ground. It's... surprisingly simple, all things considered.

Kitsiksu flinches back, not expecting me to suddenly be in target range.

"Sisirri, what are you doing?!"
"Demonstrating a point."

Kan struggles erratically within my grasp, but is fighting both me and whatever else is trying to puppeteer him.

"MAKE IT STOP, SALIKAI! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING BUT STOP IT!!"

He's still furious, but I think I recognise neumono fear at this point. Probably.

"It's not me, but I can stop it."
"Sisirri, why are you talking to the neumono and not killing it?!" Kitsiksu brings the sword into a guard stance and keeps his distance, circling to a more advantageous position.
"We can't get answers out of a dead body, Kitsiksu," I say, as I try to wrestle the helmet of Kan's armour off. Whatever Tirzi did apparently disrupted its powered operation, and the locks and seals are half disengaged.

It rips off with an entirely too familiar sound of mechanisms breaking, and I wince. I've associated that sound with losing something of value.

Kan doesn't say anything and clearly misses my subtle reference to the words that stopped him in his tracks before. He just stares up into my eyes, anger and fury melting into terror and panic.

"M-my helmet!! NO!!"
"Hold still."
"I won't betray my hive-- AAGH!!"
>>
No. 917397 ID: c920f6
File 154733192842.png - (43.35KB , 800x600 , salq3-30.png )
917397

I shove a claw into his forehead and fumble around to severing the implant and tearing it out. Kitsiksu and Tirzi both recoil at the overwhelming screams of pain Kan makes, while I continue. Tirzi looks upset at being subjected to the extreme pain of another living thing, while Kitsiksu just looks upset at the sheer volume of noise being produced.
As for me, well, this is far too cathartic for the screams to bother me.

By the time I rip the hexagonal implant out, with a forest of wires trailing through Kan's body joining it, I'm left with the implant and more trailing wires thinner than neumono hair than I know what to do with.

Kan is a broken wreck of a neumono on the floor, bleeding, gasping for breath as his screams die down to pitiful groans.

Tirzi nods. "[S-so it's over now, r-right?]" She looks at me apprehensively, weapon-claw twitching a little.
I nod wordlessly, and stare at the bloody implant I've retrieved. I can still tell commands are being relayed to it, even though nothing is now accepting those commands.
>>
No. 917399 ID: c920f6
File 154733195613.png - (21.33KB , 800x600 , salq3-31.png )
917399

Kan struggles onto his back, looking at me as hatefully as he can muster.

"Don't," I say, incredibly sick of his aggression by now. "Just stay down. It's over."

Kan stares, panting in agony, and flops back, and... starts sobbing. That was not a reaction I was expecting.

Kitsiksu remains on guard as though expecting this broken neumono to suddenly leap up. To continue proving my point that this neumono is no longer a threat, I rest one claw on his unpowered armour.

"They're gone, they're all gone, and you don't even have the decency to kill me," he sobs. "There's nothing left for me! Everyone I loved is either dead and gone or they'd never take me back! I keep trying and trying and you just keep stripping bits of me away and locking me in cells! One of you fucking kill me already!"

He just breaks down into hysterical sobs after that, slowly clutching at the bleeding hole where his implant used to be.

I rip more of the armour off of him, and he wasn't wearing much under it. The ruined remnants of my attempts to remove his armor are strewn around. Strange. I don't remember ruining them quite that much myself. Some sort of automatic self-destruction to prevent reverse engineering? Who made these suits? It clearly can't have been neumono engineering.

Kan's beyond words now, just wracked with misery and pain. I look at Kitsiksu. Kitsiksu looks to me, and looks to the neumono, and after a few seconds of visible contemplation deactivates the plasma sword.
"Existential threat, hm," I say to Kitsiksu.

I give Kan a kick for good measure. It does not make him cry any more nor any less. Tirzi winces. Kitsiksu looks simultaneously impressed and annoyed.
>>
No. 917404 ID: 86eb65

Somebody messed him and his hive up but good. It's probably imperium again.

Lets get him somewhere to heal. Preferably with his hive mates.
>>
No. 917408 ID: 859a9d

Give him to Tirze I guess and I guess go looking like not who was controlling him
>>
No. 917410 ID: b1b4f3

>>917399
Seems like it was no coincidence that they were the hive that attacked you.
Also let Tirzi in on the secret- he was being controlled remotely through his implant. How strongly, how deeply, and for how long, you cannot say. It's also uncertain where the connection originated since it seemed to bounce between consoles. Possibly an indirect connection hijacking the network? The aliens should know their own computers better than you, but you will help track down the intruder.

As for Kan, I think only the other neumono can fairly decide his fate. They need to be informed of the implant's true nature as well, of course.

Also apologize to Tirzi that she had to see that. You understand her point of view enough that you know it was unpleasant for her. If she asks what you felt, tell her you didn't really care since Kan has been so hostile to you for so long.

I think you should take the disassembled power armor for research! Spoils of war, heh. Maybe you can repair it, or just use the materials as armor plating for a robot.
>>
No. 917413 ID: 094652

>They're gone, they're gone
>One of you fucking kill me already!
"Welcome to Hell, Kan. Everyone hates you, every memory of Leioko is tainted with the disgust that you're not the man she loved, and you're not allowed to die. If you want out then FIGHT for your right to leave. If you can stop your suicide tantrum long enough to get to Imperium, we'll strap you with a bomb. Deal?"

Focus on the implant. You'll want a working trace before the operator realizes Kaninator has gone cold.
>>
No. 917423 ID: 0c3c2c

>>917399
Give Kan to Tirzi and suggest that his family come help him. Gesture to the implant and point out that the engineering on the implant and the suit SURE DOES LOOK LIKE IMPERIUM'S WORK, DOESN'T IT KITSIKSU?
>>
No. 917426 ID: 977456

Tell Kitsiksu to be useful and help you to analyse that implant. With one of you focusing on the internals and the other studying the biological interfaces you should have a better idea of how it works. Try to get Aza a comms line to it and inform Tirzi that Kitsiksu specialises in biology and make be able to repair her horn.
Finally, call in some arkots to watch the wreckage. Tell them that is filled with mind-control nanites and if there are any visible changes or motions then they have five seconds to say their last words before becoming a zombie.
>>
No. 917428 ID: a9af05

>>917399
Tell Kan that someone was controlling him through his implant and now that you've removed it, he should be able to control his own actions now.

Then ask if he knows who gave him the armor, the sword, and let him out of his cell.
>>
No. 917429 ID: 575ec0

Welp...
Tirzi... You know what to do.

As for you Kit, time to introduce you lets go.
>>
No. 917430 ID: 130f18

Check on Tirzi's horn. Ask if she's hurt, and if those grow back.
>>
No. 917433 ID: bddb0f

Alright, consider your impression to Tirzi. You've torn off Kan's armor and taken out their implant in a fairly clinically brutal and gruesome manner, and then you kicked him while he was down and crying. To some degree deservedly and neumono ARE tough (physically), but it's not great for appearances. Salvage your image a little.

"How is your horn?" - show some momentary concern for their well-being. They got hurt trying to save you. It's only fair.

As for Kan, address them once their sobs start subsiding.

"Rob you, Kan? Someone was trying to push you into suicide by Salikai, and you all too happily obliged, hurting Tirzi here - not your target - in the process. All I've done is snip your threads so you'd stop being such a fucking marionette - and as to what came before, I've said it before and I'll say it again - Imperium did that. I was dancing to its tune, too, much to my great shame and horror. That is why I WILL NOT kill you. I may feel fear and frustration towards you, but they are secondary to the fact that WE HAVE BOTH BEEN SET UP and currently have to deal with issues far more pressing than our racial and personal enmities. Or even personal problems."

Glance at Kitsiku, then look back to Kan and shrug and sigh.

"... not that it is any of my business, and frankly it shouldn't have to be said, but no-one wants to love someone who's all too ready to throw their life away. Cynically, it's a poor investment of effort and energy. Emotionally, it hurts when it happens, so why bother? Perhaps you'd feel more appealing to what's left of your hive if you weren't, as it appears to me, single-mindedly determined to die."

- Kan is a crying wreck and needs help to regain his wits so that he can be questioned to see if he can't identify anything about how he got manipulated. You are probably not the most apt to give that assistance, although you can probably point him in something of a right direction. Get Tirzi to contact the other Neumono and ask for help. They'll probably want to know what happened to him.

- Start assessing and analyzing. Who - or what - manipulated Kan's implant? Can the same be done to the other neumono (this is of critical importance)? Amass proof of the events so they can believe you.

- You may want to analyze other neumono implants and armor technology. If it IS something like imperium tech, that's a) deeply fucked up and disturbing and b) prrrrobably bad, given that the other neumono have had leave to go around doing things and may have been manipulated all the while.
>>
No. 917443 ID: a9af05

>>917430
Yes, they do. This was already explained in the 1st thread, when the neumono cut off one of her horns earlier.
>>
No. 917445 ID: a9af05

>>917433
>Other neumono implants
Both of them already had their implants removed, so we don't need to worry about either of them.
>>
No. 917446 ID: 4854ef

It is rather unnerving to think that if you had not had your implants removed, this could have potentially been you. Half driven crazy by commands and voices in your head that compel you to obey. It is no wonder he has been driven madder quicker then his compatriots, one whose implants are safer, and the other who self-removed early.
>>
No. 917459 ID: 130f18

>>917443
My mistake.
Express concern regardless, and appreciation for the swift response.
>>
No. 917465 ID: 9723b1

"Kan. Who gave you the sword?"
If he doesn't answer, get close and whisper,
"Kan. Your implant has been affecting your empathy. You may yet have a future with your hive, IF you tell us who gave you the sword." It's unlikely the hive will be repaired, and he may get that chance regardless, but we don't have to say that.
If he still doesn't answer, there's other ways to figure that out, and finding out is top priority. Whoever's been hacking Kan is still on the loose, and may have been using Kan as a cover for something. We're not out of the woods yet.

If Kan is supposed to be in a cell, how did he vote? And if he didn't, who did? Tell me the chat admins have the votes, along with who and where they came from, logged.

We can also figure out who last had custody of the neumono weapons, but that might take time.

>keep stripping bits of me away
What? Who's been stripping bits away? File that for after the crisis, or maybe ask about it fast.
>>
No. 917488 ID: becba8

Now that the most immediate concern is resolved, our priority should be following the trail of Kan's manipulator.
We are surrounded by enemies and among them there are many whispering into our dreams. This time the means for such influence was trough safety weakness in the cybernetic implants, making our primary suspects that mechanic faction of the Kite or Imperium. If we can figure out the rout we can secure as many weak links as we can identify, preventing similar attacks in the future.
>>
No. 917504 ID: 91ee5f

>>917399
Tell Kitsiksu that the other 2 Neumono are much more reasonable than Kan is.

If he continues to question why you’re associating with Neumono, tell him that not all Neumono are evil and, while looking directly at Kan, not all Salikai are evil. If we’re all going to live long enough to escape from this planet, then we all have to set aside centuries of racism and work together, otherwise we’ll never be able to leave.

You can start introducing Kitsiksu to Tirzi, since she’s right here. Ask Tirzi if you can teach Kitsiksu her language so that in a few days it’ll be easier for him to speak with everyone.
>>
No. 917541 ID: a0df49

Immediate nervousness when introducing the two people you have feelings for.
>>
No. 917555 ID: 91ee5f

Also, make sure you warn Kitsiksu of the dangers of coffee when ingested by Salikai! It makes you guys intoxicated, without having to actually drink alcohol!
>>
No. 917583 ID: 83bf07

Cathartic is an understatement. Can we get a clean up in here and a quiet place to make introductions?
>>
No. 917586 ID: 094652

Also, Kitsiksu is too traumatized to think of regular Neumono as anything more than savage bandits. Let him study Lackey instead.
>>
No. 917595 ID: 575ec0

>>917396
It was probably just a piece of armor, but what looks like a small spider-like drone fell out while you were ripping off his helmet.
>>
No. 917609 ID: 130f18

>>917595
Good eye. Find and crush if possible.
>>
No. 917635 ID: afdebc

>>917595
>It was probably just a piece of armor, but what looks like a small spider-like drone fell out while you were ripping off his helmet.
Some kind of drone detaching might be consistent with
>The ruined remnants of my attempts to remove his armor are strewn around. Strange. I don't remember ruining them quite that much myself. Some sort of automatic self-destruction to prevent reverse engineering?
The armor's not trying to disguise reverse engineering, it's trying to conceal that parts of the whole are missing.

>What do
Sigh, heavily.

Interrogation should probably wait, Kan is a wreck and needs to cry himself out. After he's done hitting bottom, it might be possible to build him back up- encourage him to refocus his hate and drive on whoever been fucking with him and manipulating him, because it's not you, as you just demonstrated.

We probably need the armor collected again, and Kan probably needs medical attention. And psychiatric help.

Probably should ask if Tirzi is all right or if she requires assistance- she was injured. (We know we recovered from a broken horn before, but we might as well not make assumptions). Also ask Kitsune if he's injured, and double check that you aren't yourself.

Don't push it on reclaiming the plasma sword right now. It's a risk, but right now we really need to earn his trust and if he feels more comfortable holding onto the weapon for the moment, we can work around that.

Should probably hook into voxnet, make sure the others know the immediate crisis has been resolved.
>>
No. 917777 ID: 58c855

Comfort Tirzi. While what you did was necessary, it was also very traumatic to witness, especially for non-salikai. She just saw a glimpse into the coldest side of you, so itd be best to remind her that you have a warm side as well.
it would also be a good step towards bug lesbians
>>
No. 917798 ID: 10c408

"Tirzi, I believe this is your field of expertise now. I'm going to go and help shut down the cybersecurity threat running loose in the facility."
>>
No. 917803 ID: b1b4f3

We shouldn't just dump Kan on Tirzi's lap after inflicting the wounds ourselves. We freed Kitsiksu partially to take the burden of medic off of Tirzi's shoulders so how about we make that clear right now? Ask Kitsiksu to help with Kan's recuperation, mention to Tirzi that she probably doesn't trust him yet so she's free to observe his work. Kitsiksu doesn't mind being watched, right?
>>
No. 917823 ID: a9af05

>>917803
Telling Kitsiksu to help heal the neumono that just attacked him might not be the best idea.
>>
No. 917908 ID: 130f18

>>917777
Also this. Apologize that she had to see that, but someone was hacking Kan's head.
>>
No. 917987 ID: c920f6
File 154768488375.png - (32.05KB , 800x600 , salq3-33.png )
917987

>consider appearances
A fair point.

"Tirzi, how is your horn?"
"[Hurts, but it'll grow back.]"

I move away from Kan closer to Tirzi. "[Kan was compromised by an external source, it's why I had to take out his implant. Someone inside our network. Keep this quiet for now, need more data.]"
"[Inside?! Oh, I don't like the sound of that...]"
Kitsiksu gives me an agitated stare. "What are you saying to the alien, Sisirri?"
"It'll take some time to explain, I'll get to it, I need to let key personnel know certain things urgently."
"Ugh. ...Understood."

>get Kitsiksu to deal with medical problems

...Of course. A good way to demonstrate his usefulness and trustworthiness to everyone else.
"Kitsiksu, can you fix this neumono up?"
"Sisirri, you are not very good at jokes."
I walk closer to him, lowering my voice. "I'm serious. No one here knows your skills and has no reason to trust you. If you help this neumono, it will demonstrate your skills, your ability to act against your own interest for the sake of the larger group, and it will lead them to believe you trustworthy. Swallow your pride for now," I say, voice falling to a conspiratorial whisper, "and you will have them dancing on strings so fine they'll never see them. This neumono is broken in body and mind. We can rebuild it to something more useful."

Kitsiksu shivers, slowly nodding his head so lightly it looks almost like a twitch. "Yes. Yesss... Just like Sira told me. I understand now."
"Good. You have this. I know you do."

"[If you two are finished whispering sweet nothings to each other,]" says Tirzi, "[I need one of you to help me deal with this--]"
"Kitsiksu can. Correct?"
"I have worked with neumono biology before," says Kitsiksu, stepping in front of me. "This one will need nothing more than some bandages to prevent blood loss and cleaning to prevent potential pathogens from contam-- from infecting the neumono. Granted, their immune system is robust enough that it shouldn't matter, but no good medical practitioner leaves to chance what they can prepare for, hm?"

Tirzi slowly nods, a little taken aback. She opens her mouth to speak before Kitsiksu makes a few clapping noises with his graspers. "Where do you keep the bandages?"
"[...oh! They're here,]" she says, racing to the back of the room. Kitsiksu turns to me and looks at me with sly confidence, a spider spinning a new web.
I give him a wave off as I dart out of the room, sending some messages on VoxNet as I do so.

> Machinist: Kan situation dealt with. Neutralized. In care of Tirzi and Kitsiksu.
> Lekka: Did you kill him?
> Machinist: No. But he seems to want us to kill him. Please talk to him. You too, Ekasarra.
> Xara: No. I'm not going near him.
> Lekka: Eka, please
> Xara: HE TRIOWED TYO STREANGLRE ,ME
> Lekka: We need to talk, all three of us
> Lekka: Come with me, please, you can bring your... weird friend if you want to feel safer.
> Xara: ...
> Xara: Alright

>>
No. 917988 ID: c920f6
File 154768492023.png - (36.45KB , 800x600 , salq3-34.png )
917988

I make my way to where I think Ku's computer room is.

I come across Ku in the corridor.

"Ku, there's--"
"[I heard, I'm on my way.]"
"No, the situation in the biolab is resolved--"
"[Not yet it isn't.]"
"We have an intruder in our network, Ku!"

Ku pauses.

"[Get to Aza. He'll be of better help to you.]"
"Tirzi and Kitsiksu are making sure Kan survives. Come with me."
"[Okay, see, this is the problem. I'm not going down there to save your friend from Kan. I'm going down there to make sure he doesn't try to make things worse.]"
"Who, Kan or Kitsiksu?"
"[Yes. Get to Aza. Deal with the network issue. While you put out that fire I'll make sure the other one doesn't flare up again. Voted no on this whole thing, oh look, everything's on fire, it hurts being right so damn often. Should never have let any aliens in to start with.]"

Ku storms off, metallic feet smacking in the floor with enough force to send unpleasant vibrations through my body.

Even if he isn't a traitor, which I haven't ruled out yet, this walking reactor is getting to be something of an irritation.
>>
No. 917989 ID: c920f6
File 154768494316.png - (19.83KB , 800x600 , salq3-35.png )
917989

As I head towards Aza's workshop, I suddenly get a direct message over VoxNet from... an unrecognised source.

> : Wait! Wait wait wait wait please stop please!
> : It's all a misunderstanding, I was tricked!
> : Please stop!
> Machinist: Who is this. Identify yourself immediately.

I spin up the black ice and start trying to locate whatever this errant source is.

> : I-- I don't want to reveal who I am to you!
> : You could tell Ku!
> Machinist: You have ten seconds to identify yourself before I attack.
> Machinist: You have every reason to fear me far more than Ku.
> : Y-you're lying! It's a bluff! You'd have to know where I am-

Focus, fugue. I have no further patience for mind hackers.
I carve through the ephemeral density of streaming data around me and locate a common pattern, wrapped around terminals around the facility.
Isolate, determine nodes, nodes targeted, black ice spun up, execution order--

> : Wait! Okay, okay, I'll tell you! I'll tell you!
> Machinist: Three seconds.
> : I'm surrendering I'm surrendering!!
> Machinist: One second.
> : ZOI! MY NAME IS ZOI!
> Machinist: That name means nothing to me. Who are you, where are you physically, and why did you assume control over Kan's motor functions?
> : I'm Zoi, I'm in a box, and I was trying to stop him from hurting anyone! I let him out because he said he wasn't going to hurt anyone! I didn't know what I was doing! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry please don't kill me Splicer please! I'll serve, I'll do whatever you want, whatever, just ple-e-eaaase don't hurt meeeeee!!

Hm.

Why did it call me the Splicer. No one should know me by that name here except for the neumono.

> Machinist: Splicer? Explain.
> : It's what the files called you!
> Machinist: What files.
> : The ones in the comms lab stores!

I... I shouldn't have just left those unencrypted. Urgh.

> Machinist: That isn't my name. That's the name of my mother.
> : You look just like the Splicer in the photo files, I don't understand!
> Machinist: I am not the Splicer. Where are you now physically? I am going to come and talk to you.
> : I don't... I don't understand? I told you, I'm in a box, I don't know!
> Machinist: How can you not know where you are?
> : I don't! Uhhhhhhhh! Here! Here I am!

Some sort of creature manifests within my digital vision as I drop the fugue and focus, electing to just close my flesh eye.
It... seems vaguely familiar and I can't put my grasper on it.
>>
No. 917991 ID: 130f18

You can trust it. But Ku will kill it if he finds out.
>>
No. 917994 ID: ad51b8

can we track it? I mean find the box and... I don't know build another lab around it or something to keep an eye on it discreetly? and figure out how it got their in the first place.
>>
No. 917996 ID: b1b4f3

>>917987
>demonstrate Kitsiksu's trustworthiness
>conspire with him to turn Kan into a toady somehow
What happened to earnestly wanting to be useful and helpful to the aliens? To live in a world that doesn't fear Salikai? It's like you were a different person just now. Were you manipulating him? Goading him into cooperating with bad intentions on the short term, hoping he gets to know the aliens well enough to have good intentions?
Who is Sira?

>>917989
Zoi looks a little bit like Truth's Knife. Only a little bit though. Or maybe it looks like the Pomi captive? Those fins. Or maybe it has some resemblance to Aza, with those stripes.

Anyway, tell it you can triangulate (or quadrangulate if it's not on this floor) the location of its box by measuring the signal strength of its wireless connection. The origin of its box will give you some indication of whether you can trust it. For now, tell it to stay out of your network except when explicitly asked to investigate things. ...tempting to try to recruit it as a spy against the other aliens, but you'd need some way of making sure it's loyal to you and not Imperium. Its story checks out for now, as Kan was fighting the hack rather than being assisted by it.
Go report this to Aza in person so the comms can't be intercepted, do not tell Ku. We can't hide its existence since Aza should by now have realized there must be an AI involved.
Ask it who let Kan out and hacked the cameras. It's obviously been infiltrating your systems for a while, so it should know. Also ask how long it's been here. When did it arrive in the facility?

>you look similar enough to the "Splicer" from the photos to fool an AI
That's a bit worrying actually. Go look at the photos again. Isn't your eye different? Yours has yellow in the middle, hers was all green. If the photos don't match your own memories, you need to ask someone else who has seen the Splicer. For instance, the photos could be altered, or your memories were. You could ask Ekasarra, once she's done talking to Kan. Would Kitsiksu know what your mother looked like?
If the evidence piles up in favor of you looking exactly like the Splicer despite your memories to the contrary, well, maybe you're a backup clone of her. Maybe your mother died long ago and Imperium manipulated her daughter to become the Splicer. Your memories could be like they are because you had two childhoods- one from the Splicer's memories, and another from being raised by her.
>>
No. 917997 ID: 0c3c2c

>>917989
Huh. Maybe it's a fragmentary remnant of Knife of Truth? Your neurology had all kinds of encrypted data locked inside it after Imperium violated your mind and body.

Maybe this was a piece of a friend locked behind your control implants that's only now regained nascent self awareness?
>>
No. 917999 ID: afdebc

>>917988
Honestly, the traitor theory seems poorly founded, and there there's one unstable alien (Kan) and one complete unknown (Kitsiksu) alone with Tirzi (both a colleague and, till this point, the only medic on the team). Ku's decision to supervise that before any number of things go wrong and result in Tirzi's death or injury is completely reasonable. Frankly, it's the right call, and we frequently have not had the opportunity for that kind of reasonable precaution.

>It... seems vaguely familiar and I can't put my grasper on it.
It looks like the image Aza showed you. The unnamed sapient species driven to extinction Aza brought when presenting the philosophical case for mercy. >>/questarch/867629

It's acting like a child. Might be an artificial intelligence. A stowaway, something a member of the inspection team is keeping hidden from the others, or another instance of this place bringing improbable coincidences together?

>I'm in a box
Zoi, as long as you are connected to our system and do not fully understand what is going on, you can be tricked into doing things that are dangerous to us. Do you understand?

We're going to need to isolate it from the network, physically if we can locate it.
>>
No. 918000 ID: 7d9d06

Better not be in that box in the stasis pod, which is supposed to be frozen in stasis by the space gods.
>>
No. 918019 ID: 130f18

>>918000
Doesn't match any of the statis box species.
In all likelihood, given past interactions, this is a secret AI project Aza has been keeping from Ku.
>>
No. 918020 ID: b1b4f3

>>917999
Aza showed that to us while arguing that mercy should always be an option. I think this AI might belong to Aza, and we should definitely show mercy.
>>
No. 918047 ID: 9723b1

>>917999
>It looks like the image Aza showed you.
Good catch.

>>917996
>What happened to earnestly wanting to be useful and helpful to the aliens? To live in a world that doesn't fear Salikai? It's like you were a different person just now. Were you manipulating him?
Manipulating and being useful and helpful aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, Kitsiksu wouldn't have helped unless he heard that. Trauma has driven him to fear, anger, and hate at the first whiff of neumono. And we just manipulated him into helping one.

>Who is Sira?
Sira Ro, one of Kitsiksu's Trifex collaborators. The behavioral manipulation and psychological programming specialist. Which is probably the polite way to say puppetmaster. >>/questarch/869091
Speaking of which, we're gonna need to have a chat about Trifex and LNS with Kitsiksu at some point in here to find out what the whole deal is. Doubly so since LNS was opposing Imperium.

>>917989
>I was trying to stop him from hurting anyone! I let him out because he said he wasn't going to hurt anyone! I didn't know what I was doing!
There's a hole in that story. Kan got that sword somewhere, and if you disabled an electronic security device connected to something with a weapon in it, that sounds very deliberate. Explain.

Either way, once Zoi is located we need to have a chat with Aza about it. Then we need to have a chat with everyone. Like it or not, Zoi is electronically and socially exploitable. A security vulnerability like that can't be kept secret, and a solution will need to be found. Possibly isolation from the network.
>>
No. 918049 ID: 91ee5f

>>918047
All of this.
>>
No. 918050 ID: 9723b1

>>918047
Just reread the Trifex description. Sira was actually specimen acquisition. Go figure. Not a big deal unless Kitsiksu is taking "rebuild it to something more useful" literally.
>>
No. 918065 ID: 10c408

>>917999
>>918047
Both of these. We can't tell Ku that there's an unsupervised AI-in-a-box SOMEWHERE in the facility, he's already on edge enough as is.

Get Aza's assistance in tracking it down. do NOT let word get spread around.
>>
No. 918066 ID: 977456

This is above your paygrade. Ask the Arkots for advice. Have them form a committee to debate the issue.
>>
No. 918067 ID: becba8

>>917999
>We're going to need to isolate it from the network, physically if we can locate it.
Yep.
>>
No. 918070 ID: 094652

Ask him what he THOUGHT he was hacking in Kan's implant, and anything else about the implant that he studied before you ripped it out.

Demand his exact location before you fire a virus at his air conditioning programs.
>>
No. 918083 ID: a9af05

>>917999
>>918047
These seem reasonable.
>>
No. 918119 ID: 130f18

>>918066
>ask the Arkots for advice
Sisirri: Assess self for brain damage
>>
No. 918174 ID: 83bf07

>>917989
It's timing and judgment could use work. Tell it it's to do nothing for now because the others alert and looking for it . Any activity would likely result in the others finding it before we do. It doesn't want that.
>>
No. 918176 ID: 91ee5f

>>918119
I thought that was only for when she had thoughts of banging anybody?
>>
No. 918194 ID: 9723b1

>>/questarch/867631
>Already have compartmentalised containment systems for unidentified digital intelligences. Untested, but, well, perhaps still better than wrongful death of innocent.
Sounds like that might be the box. Zoi did use Aza's computer first...
Paranoia says Aza may be a traitor with an AI, but Aza's had better opportunies. It's more likely the untested containment has issues or Zoi is somewhere else. If they are somewhere else, then the containment system might be what's needed to isolate Zoi.
>>
No. 918210 ID: 06fdc0

my my Sisirri, you sure know how to get Kitsiksu all hot and bothered
>>
No. 918223 ID: 130f18

I wonder if Kit and Tirzi would be willing to work on your genitals together once things calm down. I'm sure Tirzi would love the xenobio lesson.
>>
No. 918339 ID: dbb1f2

>>918223
It's not an immediate health risk and there's no reason to go making tiny salikai, plus, neither kit nor Tirzi have aquired enough Acquaintance Points to unlock that part of Sissiri's tragic backstory, let alone enough for a "xenobio lesson"
>>
No. 918340 ID: 130f18

>>918339
Kit already knows, he was planning to give her surgery so they could have babies. I believe they were under contract.
>>
No. 918358 ID: 745eba

>>918339
Hah I'm pretty sure Sisirri and Tirzi already had their xenobiology lesson after Sisirri drank that coffee
>>
No. 918418 ID: 556258

What's in the box with you?
>>
No. 918420 ID: 91ee5f

>>918358
You’re right. They had a thrilling conversation about Tirzi‘s “mating flaps” during that time! XD
>>
No. 918433 ID: b1b4f3

>>918420
She doesn't even have those.
>>
No. 920039 ID: 59c975
File 154932872369.png - (8.45KB , 800x600 , salq3-36.png )
920039

>consult arkots
>check for brain damage
Still have it, apparently.

>what happened to wanting to be useful
Being useful and being manipulative are hardly mutually exclusive. I want Kitsiksu to help us out. Salikai operate best when they feel they are in control. If his intentions cause problems later then it will just be another obstacle to overcome.
And let's be honest, remaking Kan into an obedient pawn by subtle manipultion is the best outcome for the group at large at this point. It's even in Kan's best interest to be given new purpose.

Ah, neumono. Poor dumb murder idiots with psyches as fragile as wet paper. I almost feel responsible for them. Like they're slightly larger arkots that will need my intervention not to go and get themselves killed.

But, yes, manipulation. Ultimately, isn't every act of convincing someone else to believe or do something an act of manipulation?

>who is Sira
One of Kitsiksu's collaborators, I think. According to that whole fufa debacle, one of his co-conspirators for... I need to ask Kitsiksu about Trifex and its actual goals next time I see him.

>truth's knife
No, I'd know if this was Truth's Knife.

>looks like aza's picture
!!!
Of course! Good catch, me!
I disconnect immediately.
Aza has some explaining to do!
>>
No. 920042 ID: 59c975
File 154932876356.png - (84.03KB , 800x600 , salq3-37.png )
920042

I burst into Aza's workshop, and Aza squeaks in surprise.

"[Sisirri! Maybe knocking next time!]"
"Aza, why was I just contacted by a digital presence that looked like that image you showed me some days back?"

Aza stares up at me, pupils dilating slightly. "[What are you talking about, Sisirri?]"
"I have the log file available. In my eye's systems. Let me send it to you."

I hear a bleep from some of the stations around me as I send the log file directly to Aza's VoxNet handle.

Aza's eyes reluctantly drift over to the nearest screen he can see and he wrings his tentacles together nervously as he forces a smile. "[Ah yes, yes, is simple communication interface, nothing to worry about--]"
"Aza, why does a simple communication interface hack into the implants of facility personnel?"

Aza makes a strange gurgling whine. "[I'll tell you everything, on condition you mention none of this to Ku.]"
"I don't have time for this. I'll find the answers I want with or without your help, Aza. If it's just a simple program I can just disassemble it and examine its subsystems first." A little crass but if I don't twist Aza's... arm? Arm on this, I feel like the proper sense of urgency isn't being conveyed. And if it is an artificial sapience, Aza will confirm it by responding emotively--
"[NO! Uh. Aza meaning, okay, fine, but please, please not mentioning this to Ku! Please! If there's any decency being in you. Yes?]"
"Agreed." I already knew it was a terrible idea to mention the potential existence of an AI to Ku. I'm not stupid.
"[Okay. Holding on.]"

Aza takes a deep breath.
>>
No. 920043 ID: 59c975
File 154932878591.png - (17.57KB , 800x600 , salq3-38.png )
920043

"[Blinding frontier untapped, whirling into chaotic sensory storm, thought and memory intertwined into stream of mind, revelation. Coming with me, now.]"

Aza gestures towards me as I hear an abrupt hydraulic hiss.
Part of the floor starts slowly sinking down. Aza waddles onto it while being lowered down. I awkwardly crawl into the space revealed, and...

Huh. A cramped, poorly lit secret basement lab. I approve. I'm annoyed I didn't know about it, but the facility is apparently a mystery even to the others.

"[Not liking dark, but is better for hiding existence of sub level. Here, is here,]" says Aza, still embarassed and reflexively painting himself with glowing goo. He points to a white and blue bevelled cube, tiny, just... left on a cluttered desk like a trinket. "[Zoi. Kept in safe place until can fulfilling promise.]"
"This is the AI containment system you mentioned before?"
"[No, this... this different situation.]"
>>
No. 920044 ID: 59c975
File 154932881663.png - (125.86KB , 800x600 , salq3-39.png )
920044

Aza pulls a tarp off of a covered lump that I can't perceive any details off-- ah.

It's... a robot, of some sort. Half finished, if I'm being charitable. It looks vaguely similar to the image I saw both shown by Aza and the digital apparition I saw earlier.
If he's aiming for a complete match, though, there's a lot more work to be done. I see components that individually seem complete with no way to attach them to the main body that I can immediately see.

"[Zoi being last known surviving individual of species. Harvested by tan ren soon AI. Engram stored in box. Promising Zoi return to physical life. Was working on sophisticated surrogate body but left behind in lab. Zoi wanted coming with on exploration, else not having her with me at all.]"
>>
No. 920045 ID: 59c975
File 154932882706.png - (17.79KB , 800x600 , salq3-40.png )
920045

A screen flickers on, bathing the room in blue light. It's the same digital image I saw earlier, but more animated.

"[Aza, it's over,]" she says. "[The Splicer found me.]" Her particular dialect of this shared alien language definitely sounds closest to Aza's than anyone else's.
"[Sisirri is being right here,]" says Aza. "[Oh. Tarp on camera. One moment.]" Aza pulls the tarp around.

Zoi's screen avatar stares in apprehension. "[Oh no.]"
"I'm not here to harm you, I'm here to understand. Aza, your... friend? Your associate here is an electronic and social risk to the network and the security of the facility. We need to disconnect it-- her from the network."
"[Please don't,]" says Zoi. "[The cameras of the facility are all I have! I can't pilot the drones very well and I don't want to forget what the real world is like!!]"
"[Simulation of engram not being very consistent,]" says Aza, despondent. "[Two bad choices. Keep Zoi in suspended state, with ever increasing risk reactivation will fail, or keep Zoi awake, with her consciousness degrading further and further from living self to machine intelligence. Trying desperately to solve problem, but, good quality materials and components hard to find, and so much happening. Always so much happening.]"
"[Maybe I'm not worth this much time and effort,]" says Zoi, onscreen representation streaming tears.
"[No, quiet, being worth it,]" says Aza, curling his tentacles into balls. "[Just lacking time and resource.]"

I don't know how good Aza is at robotics but I know I'd struggle to make a complete prosthetic body as sophisticated as one of flesh and blood. And it would take severely sophisticated components. My eye is my greatest recent creation and it's only the fact I'm used to having a synthetic eye that makes it feel so natural.

STILL, this is a problem entirely separate to the initial problem I had. I have some questions to ask of these two. As soon as I can think of them...
>>
No. 920053 ID: ad51b8

Ask what he needs to finish the body. Not saying you should help right now but it might help to have a better idea on what is needed.

Also why can't he upload books and films to the AI's mainframe to help keep her entertained? Or why she has the ability to open locked doors and let crazy beam sword wielding maniacs out. Cameras are one thing but being able to interact with the base is one hell of a risk... (although thinking about it if we can get the AI on our side it would be a pretty good ally to have since she seems to have some control over the base and no one knows about her). And why does she keep insisting on calling you splicer? That's not your name or title.
>>
No. 920055 ID: b1b4f3

Honestly if there's a shortage of materials then we can't do anything- wait what about the parts from the Imperium drone? So long as it is properly taken apart and FULLY disabled you can use the materials from that to finish the body. The components looked almost organic to you, that for sure sounds like it counts as "sophisticated enough".

Anyway: First ask what the plan is after the body is complete. She can't go walking around the station with Ku here.
Secondly, ask Zoi if she saw who let Kan out, and how. She's been watching the cameras, so she should have some idea of who has an alibi at least.
Thirdly, ask why she's still calling you the Splicer, there's no way you look exactly like her. Your eye color is different, for one thing. Ask to see the photos.
>>
No. 920057 ID: 977456

Does the body need to be sophisticated? Mind/body interface aside, you could probably slap together something "good enough" in an afternoon. Most beings don't constantly monitor all of their stimuli and functions. Head-frills could probably be simulated with software, just receiving the proper commands and sending the proper stimuli by modifying the data from a simple wind monitor. You could probably spoof the visual sensors to display an accurate depiction of its specie when it looks at itself...
Really, the experience of a biological body should be vastly easier than even a moderately poor imitation of one, far less anything indistinguishable to amateur observers.

That said, quarantine is necessary. By all accounts the enemies' ability to compromise technology appears to be well beyond any defences you know. Just because a piece of technology is a person, doesn't mean that it is any less vulnerable to being modified by hostile parties.

On that note: How did it know how to hack Kan's systems? Was it a data security specialist? Did its abductors install a basic personal-security package? Does its current perspective provide some sort of intuitive understanding? As Aza said, there is much going on right now. We are very very busy, so if we are going to put effort into this latest problem then it would be nice to have idea of what we would gain to make up for the time lost defending everyone from the multiple hostile armies and impossibly powerful personages directing ruinous malevolence towards then entire group. Nevermind vetting Kitsiksu and preventing Kan from being killed to hide evidence...
>>
No. 920058 ID: 0c3c2c

>>920045
Couldn't you just reverse engineer your own current Mind Machine Interface and get Kitsiksu to clone up a brainless body you can jam an MMI in and give her a body, albeit an alien one?

Like, for example, a Salazarrine or a an Arkot or.... like... anything. Heck, could even clone a Neumono if you wanted yet another blood Neumono roaming around getting emotions all over the walls.
>>
No. 920061 ID: 1c0f2a

She is too naive to have power over us. If you want to give her access to a creepy big brother surveillance over us, fine, customize her feed but limit her output only to one machine you use for communication. It's unacceptable that a child like entity can orchestrate the assassination of other residents.
Try to explain to her that just because the neumonos assign collective guilt to my entire specie doesn't mean I'm their former boss. If her capacity of interpretation is so limited it's beyond her abilities to condemn someone and put the judgement in motion.

Beside the urgent necessity of correcting this security risk there are others problems I would prefer to devote my time than helping the person(?) who just tried to kill me, but latter when we got more time I will help your project Aza.
>>
No. 920069 ID: 86eb65

Does she want a living body? We just rescued your boyfriend who can build those. Can put a machine to body interface in the bodies brain and transfer her into its cyberbrain.

Plus gives Kitsiksu a fun project to work on.
>>
No. 920071 ID: 556258

Well. You're going to need to tutor Zoi how to operate the body. Perhaps make a program that simplifies the controls to said. Perhaps design it like a game.

While we're working on a "good enough" body for Zoi, we could make prototypes which we could use "train" Zoi in piloting a body so Zoi could easily accommodate organic enough movement to fool any onlookers.

Or we could shove Zoi into an organic body. We have the technology. Though, I fear that having a biological port would make Zoi more vulnerable to hostile influence.

Also, have we asked what Zoi is?
>>
No. 920073 ID: 575ec0

Ok. Simple solution here. Make a stopgap body.

Doesn't need to be perfect, doesn't even need to resemble the original body. Just needs to be a purpose built drone. One that controls more or less like a biological body, that the core can be mounted directly into or be given a latency free connection.

It should be easier to control than a standard drone, and will allow a degree of normalcy that will serve to slow the mind's degradation.
Between Aza and Sissiri, this prosthetic body shouldn't take too much time to build, though some parts of the currently incomplete prosthetic will likely need to be cannibalised.

Even so, now that we have Kitsiksu on board, we could probably make a superior Bio-Mechanical final body anyway. It'll use fewer parts and will be probably be great fun for both Salikai.
>>
No. 920074 ID: 094652

Why is this an issue? We have an entire CITY of preservation technologies right underneath us! Just go back downstairs and look for something expensive to cannibalize!

Other than that, make fixing this thing a priority. People almost died.

Next on the list is reintroducing Kitsiksu to Angry Fufa In A Can.
>>
No. 920077 ID: a9af05

>>920045
>The Splicer found me
First of all, tell her to stop calling you that, your name is Sisirri.

Next, tell her that the only reason you found her is because of how easy it was to trace her signal's origin. She should be grateful that it was you and not Ku that did that. Especially, considering she was using Ku's terminal!

Then, ask her why she let Kan out? He was locked up to prevent him from trying to kill you in your sleep.

Finally, tell her that if she tries to control you with your implant, the same way she did that to Kan, you will activate a program to delete her without a second thought! The only time she's allowed in your head is if she needs to contact you to pass along some important information, if Aza isn't available for her to contact.

>Suggestions saying to work with Kitsiksu to build a biomechanical body
That would be nice, except for the fact that we need to give him a reason to not tell anyone about Zoi's existence.

And then we need to come up with an excuse to give to Ku to prevent him from killing Zoi as soon as he sees her in her completed body.
>>
No. 920081 ID: 130f18

Offer to help.
>>
No. 920094 ID: 1c0f2a

>>920081
No. Leave the possibility on the table for when Aza want a favour exchange, but not right now. This thing just tried to kill us, I don' want it walking around the place.
>>
No. 920101 ID: e7848c

There is a way to keep her in perfect suspension. We just have to ask our local friendly floating light bulb downstairs.
>>
No. 920105 ID: 730675

>>920077
It's also inconvenient that she attempted to tap into an empathy controller implant, why'd she choose to interact with that?

>>920101
Agreed, whatever Will can find or transfer her to has to be better than a failing computer or leaving her conscious and desperate for sensation.
>>
No. 920111 ID: 91ee5f

>>920039
>Ah, neumono. Poor dumb murder idiots with psyches as fragile as wet paper. I almost feel responsible for them. Like they're slightly larger arkots that will need my intervention not to go and get themselves killed.
Careful, Sisirri. You’re starting to sound like you care about the Neumono.

I mean, I understand caring about Ekasarra, after all the shit both of you went through together and how both of you saved each other’s lives. But Lekka and Kan?

>>920045
Tell her to stop calling you by your mother’s name and call you by your correct name! Otherwise, you’re going straight to Ku to tell him about you!

And let them both know that you won’t tell Ku, but if he finds out, don’t expect you to come and help save her. They also need to buy your silence, since Zoi almost got you killed by releasing the crazy guy that’s constantly threatening to kill you.

Wait, why would Ku get mad about this? Didn’t Aza explain that Zoi is a living person that had her consciousness copied into a computer? That’s completely different from an AI!

Also, what should we tell the others? After all, Sisirri was telling everyone over the comms that Kan was being controlled by an unknown signal in the network. So if she and Aza have taken care of the problem, they’ll need to tell the others what the problem was that caused this in the first place.
>>
No. 920134 ID: 91ee5f

>>920077
>If Zoi tries to take control, you will use the Black Ice program to kill her!
Wow, that’s harsh. But it is a necessary threat to keep her out of your head.

>However, there are exceptions.....
Also necessary. In case of emergencies and she needs to contact you.
>>
No. 920137 ID: 080aaf

Can you finish the body faster by downscaling the size? Given some components seem complete already you might end up with some exaggerated proportions here and there but you don't have a lot of materials or time to work with.
This also doesn't answer the question of what she was doing connected to Kan! Was she piggybacking off of his heavily-cybernetic-infused nervous system? We have a few other, less violent possible hosts for that, don't we? Besides the one who had the implants ripped out and spent some time recuperating in a kiter lab.
...Maybe the kiter have the tools Aza needs to build a body. And upload an AI into it.

>>920101
Or that. We just throw her in space baby jail for the time being. She is an accessory to attempted murder!
>>
No. 920138 ID: 91ee5f

>>920101
I don’t think we should do that.

Will said that if we try to open more than one stasis pod within a one month period, the “safety measures” will turn on. And we need to open a pod to put Zoi in one, so we can’t exactly put her in there. Especially since it hasn’t been anywhere close to a month after releasing Kitsiksu from his pod.
>>
No. 920146 ID: 9723b1

>Zoi being last known surviving individual of species. Harvested by tan ren soon AI.
Well then. If, or more likely when, our local AI-hating tan ren soon finds Zoi, at least they have a common enemy.

>>920138
>Will said that if we try to open more than one stasis pod within a one month period, the “safety measures” will turn on.
That might only be for releases, not incarceration. Have to ask about that, but it'd be a good solution.

>>920055
>ask Zoi if she saw who let Kan out, and how. She's been watching the cameras, so she should have some idea of who has an alibi at least.
Zoi released Kan. See >>917989
>I let him out because he said he wasn't going to hurt anyone!
However, Zoi may have seen who let Kan have the armor and sword. Unless Zoi was the one that armed Kan, in which case tossing Zoi in a cryocell sounds even better.

>Like they're slightly larger arkots that will need my intervention not to go and get themselves killed.
Wait a minute. From an evolutionary perspective, any pre-contact neumono tribe with a salikai on its side would have had an advantage over other tribes. Advanced tactics, superior administration, even some defense against predators since salikai aren't vulnerable to them. Maybe it happened at some point, but local tribes banded together to crush the upstart power. Then the victors would write the history, and mention how it all started with the influence of the evil salikai, jumpstarting the genocidal animosity.
Pure speculation, but who knows?

Also, in light of recent events, Sissiri should get a gun. Maybe a drone with a gun too, but a personal firearm that can't be hacked would be very good to have. Maybe get a secured armory that will be opened in an emergency for the arkots, too. They're useless in a fight right now.

Hey, want to hear a nightmare scenario? Fleshweaver Kitsiksu.
>>
No. 920160 ID: 91ee5f

>>920146
>That might only be for releases, not incarceration. Have to ask about that, but it'd be a good solution.
Even if that was the case, we’d still have to wait a month after releasing Kitsiksu before we could release Zoi. And I’m pretty sure we’ll have found a way to escape this facility before then. Meaning we’ll end up leavening Zoi behind.
>>
No. 920172 ID: 9723b1

>>920160
What makes you so sure?
But let's say you're somehow right. If we're leaving anyway, why not just grab Zoi, ignore whatever the safety measures do, and go?
>>
No. 920176 ID: a9af05

>>920160
>We might escape within a month
Ha, yeah right! At the rate we're going, it's going to take longer than that!

>>920172
In order for a prison break to happen, there need to be prisoners to break out, right? So what if, in order to prevent a prison break, the safety measures are designed to kill all of the prisoners and whoever is trying to break them out?

The best way to prevent a prison break is to make sure there are no prisoners left alive to break out of prison.
>>
No. 920182 ID: 864e49

>last known surviving individual of species
So it's not actually an AI it was a living creature, why would Ku be upset with it?

>Harvested by tan ren soon AI
Oh he might not trust it. And he might be upset at you for hiding it
That's not a nice thing to do to your boyfriend
>>
No. 920199 ID: 10c408

Alright, to be perfectly honest... We've worn the white hat for long enough now.

Put on your black hat sisirri, and think diabolical thoughts. It's time for some good old fashioned sabotage.

Have a quick and fast conversation with Aza here. You'll cover for him and his project, but he owes you big and Zoi owes you EVEN MORE for being responsible, in an as-yet-to-be-determined amount, with Kan getting out of his cell.

Do NOT speed long on this conversation, you don't have time. You need to get to Ku's console while he's busy micromanaging the biologists and start work on spoofing Zoi's digital footprint with a fake-AI that you can blame for being on not just Ku's console, but also whatever other digital device or bit of equipment in the lab that's important.

Install backdoors while you hunt down the 'threat' and try not to get caught.
>>
No. 920200 ID: a9af05

>>920199
>Create an AI to blame for what happened.
That seems like too much effort. Can't we just claim that we've already found and deleted the AI responsible?
>>
No. 920202 ID: 10c408

>>920200
If we want to cover for Aza and Zoi (and install our own backdoors at the same time), we're going to need a scapegoat. And a scapegoat that doesn't actually exist is good enough when not only are our lies about the whole thing being doled out as truth, the other expert who could expose us will instead back us up on our false information.
>>
No. 920204 ID: 91ee5f

>>920202
Installing backdoors has a good chance of coming back to bite us in the ass. If a real enemy AI somehow got into the system and found these backdoors, they’ll be used against us.

Plus, if anyone else found out, then Kan will come in and say, “I told you so!” since it would look like we’re deliberately sabotaging everything. And then everyone will turn against us, after all the time we spent convincing them that we’re not the enemy that the Neumono claimed we were.
>>
No. 920205 ID: 130f18

>>920094
It didn't try to kill us. It released Kan believing it was helping him, then hacked him and restrained him when he was trying to attack.
>>
No. 920220 ID: b1b4f3

Wait, Zoi let Kan out? Where did she even hear Kan say he wasn't going to hurt anyone, and considering she's been watching the cameras, WHY did she BELIEVE him?
>>
No. 920223 ID: 1c0f2a

>>920205
Considering she still call Sisirri the Splicer to Aza I can only assume she disregarded the previous conversation as manipulative lies from the evil Splicer. Honestly, "I release this violent individual because he promised to be nice" sound more like an impromptu excuse to shift the blame away from herself.
She either tried to kill us with a proxy or assisted in an attempt of murder by releasing a prisoner. None of those actions are justifiable independent of the intention and are great argument for why it's undesirable to allow her influence over our environment.
>>
No. 920239 ID: b1b4f3

>>920223
Yeah I kindof agree here to be honest. She's either dangerously naive or just overall dangerous.
>>
No. 920241 ID: 977456

>>920223
Either that or Zoi just identifies with the Neumono being poor innocent bystanders set upon by a methodical and emotionless opponent(presumably the A.I. over here weren't as chatty as ours.) who actually talk once in a while amongst a community(another thing Zoi has lost forever and would dearly like again.) instead of the Salikai who is only social when forced to be. It is pretty clear that Zoi has been drinking the Neumono Kool-aid from the constant use of "Splicer" which they have no-doubt spent most of the facility's oxygen blaming for all of their problems.
>>
No. 920244 ID: b1b4f3

Also if Zoi let Kan out then that means she was willing to risk exposing herself by doing so. She either thought it was *that* important or decided somehow that it wasn't a risk. So she either wanted Kan out for a specific important reason (killing Sisirri) or was stupid enough to think nobody would figure it out.
>>
No. 920248 ID: 10c408

>>920204
While I agree that installing backdoors is risky, we still have to make a cover story for Zoi here.

We've got Aza over the metaphorical barrel here and Ku is not only busy with most likely being an ass to the biologists, he's also probably expecting us to be at his unguarded console.

So we might as well strike while the proverbial iron is hot and at least do something to get future leverage over Ku before he decides to take a page out of Kan's book and do something about us. (Probably one of the less-than-lethal pages but gdi, putting out fires and micromanaging incidents in this place is getting us nowhere. We gotta start being more proactive with things.)
>>
No. 920254 ID: 91ee5f

>>920248
Making vulnerabilities in the computer systems is just asking for them to be used against us! I’d rather not have that happen!
>>
No. 920256 ID: 10c408

>>920254
SWe don't have to make vulnerabilities in the console, we can always do something else.

Whatever we do, we should do something. Ku's not going to accept any resolution that doesn't involve finding the digital threat and eliminating it.
>>
No. 920360 ID: a9af05

>>920256
I agree with the other guy. Making backdoors is a stupid thing to do and is going to give someone else access to our systems.
>>
No. 920365 ID: 130f18

>>920360
Also yeah no installing arbitrary backdoors. There lies cartoon villain levels of overconfidence.
>>
No. 920366 ID: fd4510

What if we try telling the truth?
>>
No. 920367 ID: b1b4f3

>>920366
Then Ku will get extremely angry at Aza, possibly violently so. ...unless Ku doesn't consider brain-scan AIs to be dangerous AIs? Like, if you think about it, a brain-scan AI is just a person trapped inside a machine rather than a machine that someone tried to turn into a person.
>>
No. 920369 ID: 10c408

>>920367
Even if Ku is perfectly okay with Zoi being an OI stuck in a machine, Aza still hid her existence from everyone and built a secret basement room in the lab to conceal her presence.
>>
No. 920372 ID: fd4510

>>920369
>>920367
Is that our problem though?
>>
No. 920379 ID: 977456

>>920369
Secrets are fine, everyone has secrets, we don't all need to know about Sisirri's mating flaps...
The problem is that it was a secret admin account on our security network. Especially so when they are willing to release prisoners without consulting anyone other than the prisoner. Did Zoi even consult Aza prior to this latest bout of "Let's stop everyone else from killing us by doing it first!"?
>>
No. 922387 ID: 773e32
File 155062128602.png - (95.74KB , 800x600 , salq3-41.png )
922387

>get a gun
I'm not exactly a crack shot. It's probably just going to make me feel more protected than I am in practice when I hesitate or aim poorly or hold it in such a way I do more damage to myself by firing it.

...Still, not a bad idea.

>throw zoi into a cell
"I have an alternative to shutdown or degradation, but you may not like it."
"[...what are you suggesting?]"
"I freed Kitsiksu from a cryogenic prison cell in a secure facility in the sub levels. They lock whoever is them in stasis, unaging, a dreamless sleep sustaining them indefinitely. I'm sure we could put Zoi's box in one, and retrieve her when the body is complete."
"[How are you knowing this?]"
"One of the facility's autonomous agents has been telling me this information. Apparently it's tried to reach out to all of you but none of you understood it. The glowing light ball."
"[...glowing light ball? Oh, yes, have seen. Very suspicious. Perhaps superstitiously so, many predators in homeworld luring noxon away with strange lights. Knowing Ku saw light too, perhaps in retrospect should have been studied more clearly. Agent of what?]"
"Of the facility's builders, I believe."
"[...would they letting us take her back?]"

I shrug. It's the most honest answer I can give. "I freed Kitsiksu without issue. I'm sure we can at least ask."
"[Do I get a say in this?]" asks Zoi.
"You released Kan with a plasma sword and power armour and nearly got me killed. As far as I'm concerned, you are an accessory to a narrowly avoided murder. You're also a clearly rogue element and a security hole in one."
"[He said you were the Splicer, I thought it was--]"
"Yes, this is what I'm talking about. If you're this easily swayed and have this much access to the facility's systems, you're a danger to all of us. Aza. Maybe you can explain why Zoi is able to wirelessly hack cybernetic implants? Which is as much a risk to her as to anyone else. If she'd gone after me, she'd be terminally corrupted by now."

Aza looks confused, then surprised, then annoyed. "[Zoi, why.]"
"[I was trying to make up for my mistake!!]"
"There is nowhere safer to keep someone right now than the sub-levels of this facility."

Aza wrings his tentacles and paces around in the dark.
"[Please, let me thinking on this. Talking with Zoi.]"
"While Zoi is as she is, she's slowly losing more of herself, as you told me, and remains posing a security risk and threat to all of us, including herself. I trust you know better than I what the Kiter can do with digital systems."

Aza scrunches up his tentacles. "[Yes. Enough. I am understanding. Let me think. Alone.]"
I nod silently, and with some awkward shuffling leave his secret sub-lab, wandering out of his workshop.
>>
No. 922389 ID: 773e32
File 155062137470.png - (35.77KB , 800x600 , salq3-42.png )
922389

Okay. I can't do anything further on that front at this immediate time, everyone else is busy. What else...

I head towards the larger xenobiological lab. Next thing to check on, now that there's less of an immediate fire, is to see how my arkots are doing.

I enter the room to find them all in some massive brawl that stops immediately as they all see me enter.

I raise my posture a little, displeased.

"Seven."

The pale blue arkot runs up to me, sash still present, bruised and beaten. The arkots around her all back away in terror and disgust.

"Explain."

Seven says something about food running out and trying to find last stores and things getting out of hand with lies and accusations, and then spits out a tooth.

"What happened to the fruit bin?"

Seven tells me someone stole all the rest of the fruit for themselves and no one knows who but everyone thinks it's someone else and this is why nothing has been finished. She punches an arkot running up to her from behind and continues, swaying. She says that if there's no food soon, it's going to get worse, and they might not think a boss matters so much when starving to death.

I... think I see an arkot in the back staring at me like I'm on the menu. It's not something I've seen from an arkot before and I'd be lying if it didn't send chills down my body. One arkot couldn't touch me. But the idea of all of the arkots here suddenly rebelling...

I realise I haven't eaten for a while myself, and the food situation never did get resolved.

...part of me wonders if I could solve two problems by making an example of one of these arkots and devouring them in front of the entire crowd. No, no, that would only cause more problems than it would solve. Also I'm not a fan of meat. Especially raw meat. Eurgh. We're nowhere near this point yet, never mind.

Well... hmm... what to do, what to do. I think I need to talk with the closest thing we have to an administrator here regarding emergency supplies. Failing that, contingency plans.
>>
No. 922390 ID: 773e32
File 155062139818.png - (21.57KB , 800x600 , salq3-43.png )
922390

I wander the labyrinthine corridors of this facility, passing by signs on doors in a script I'm still struggling to understand. "Network Core", "Atmospheric Control", "High Frequency Laboratory", "Artifact Testing", all bulging at their hinges with promise and potential, but I am looking for the lair of the one resident in these upper levels I've yet to see with my own eyes.

Something finds me first. We both jump back with a start.
This must be Saba. She's huge. Not Sitkva huge, but, Sitkva aside, most of the aliens here are not almost as tall as I am. It's... strange to see someone whose natural eye level rests slightly above mine. And she moves so strangely, with proportions that don't fit the other aliens I've seen, folding her limbs in on themselves and moving them out instead of keeping them at a neutral side or letting them hang like most bipeds I've seen. Her tongue flicks in and out of her enormous... proboscis? Rostrum? Whatever it is.

"So that's what you look like face to face," she says, in a voice a lot more baritone than I was expecting. In flawless English. Wait, hang on.
"You speak English?"
"Of fucking course I do, miss green bugsnake! Who else has the raw skill necessary to put together alien languages? The most useful thing to come up and keep coming up over and over again? What, do you think Aza did it?!"
"That was you?"
"Yes, I'm a xenolinguist, hello, glad to hear the introductions don't even fucking include me anymore. Fuck, you spend some time to yourself and people apparently forget you fucking exist. Anyway, hi, you're just the one I wanted to see, actually."
"Likewise, I--"
"Come with me, there's a weird thing at the door that doesn't give me Kiter vibes but I don't want to face it by myself. You've got those nice sharp claws, you're perfect. I'd grab Tirzi or Sitkva but Tirzi's busy and Sitkva's like taking a fucking tank to a fair. She's the backup plan, let's go."
"But I--"
"Did I fucking stutter?! Do you know how fucking hard it is to not stutter with these mouth sounds and this mouth?! Come with me!"
>>
No. 922391 ID: 773e32
File 155062145124.png - (29.98KB , 800x600 , salq3-44.png )
922391

By the time I get a chance to even protest, we're at the door.
It slides open, revealing the ever pouring rain outside, and... a creature I don't recognise, shivering, staring at us with large, apprehensive eyes, silently.

Saba says nothing, and just looks to me, as if I'd somehow be more useful in this situation than her.

"You're the linguist," I whisper to Saba through gritted teeth. "Say hi."
"I have zero data on this species," mumbles Saba. "None. It's not like it's going to understand our languages, anyway."

"Are you the tomb's custodians?" asks the creature, in a soft voice, a meekness permeating every word.
In English as flawless as though I were speaking it.

"...no fucking way," mutters Saba. "I give up, this world's too fucking weird to predict."
>>
No. 922394 ID: 86eb65

Sort of? What do you want?

You know what bring me a pile of food and we can chat. Those little fruit things. A pile about yay high. That's your price for admission.

(Make getting food on the top of the to do list. And figuring out where all the old food went to. I have a feeling someone stole it from your Arkots and thats not a good thing.)
>>
No. 922395 ID: ba56e6

>>922391
Sure. State your name and business.
>>
No. 922396 ID: bcc41d

Anyone with a motive to weaken you and your assets might've stolen your arkots' food supply.

>>922391

Let's make this simple. No lies or half-truths that can come back to bite us.

"We arrived to this place fairly recently and are holing up to avoid the Kiter. I am aware of one actual 'custodian', but will not put you in touch with them or invite you into the tomb unless you can convince us you have no allegiance to the Kiter. You could start by telling us who - and what - you are and what you want with a custodian. Explaining how you can fluently speak the same language as we do also seems relevant."
>>
No. 922401 ID: ad51b8

>Are you the tomb's custodians?
well you kinda are since you at least have contact with the actual custodian... speaking of we should ask him if he has somewhere down their that we can use to find a grow food because this is becoming a issue quicker then I thought it would.

But as for the moth. Say you're on of them and ask what she is doing here... and how she got here for that matter. This whole planet is a war zone.
>>
No. 922402 ID: 094652

"We took this place by force. We're using it to hunker down against the empire. Now, who are you loyal to and why should we care?"
>>
No. 922403 ID: 080aaf

HUG
FLUFFY
MOTH
Uh, yes, we can speak for them. What's up?
>>
No. 922404 ID: b1b4f3

>>922391
Tell her you don't think you are, but maybe the tomb just wants you to think that. You can deliver her to someone who is definitely a custodian, provided she can prove that she is not a threat to the tomb. Though, perhaps her being able to approach the tomb at all is proof in itself?
Ask who she is, how she can speak your language, and what she wants.
>>
No. 922410 ID: 0c3c2c

>>922391
Say yes.

Also, thump Saba for being rude. Be direct in your outrage at her. It will help her to learn not to be a bitch to people.
>>
No. 922413 ID: ba56e6

Ask if you can lick her cube.
>>
No. 922421 ID: 9723b1

Saba, if you want an escort, get a neumono next time. They're tougher, and they have this very minor advantage called "military training and discipline". Or at least give us a weapon first. Anyway...

Let's start simple. "What do you mean by custodian?" More info, without giving anything away.

I doubt that "custodians" means "stranded and desperate aliens trying to not die", but this world is weird. Though randomly conscripting us as custodians against our will is really pushing it.

>>922404
>Ask who she is, how she can speak your language, and what she wants.
That too.

And don't forget about the food when we're done here.

Boy, that box necklace sure seems perfect. Can we have it? Just hand it over. NOW. NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW-
>>
No. 922429 ID: 4dc321

"We're guests."
>>
No. 922431 ID: 91ee5f

>>922390
>Saba is huge
No, she’s not. Remember what Tirzi told you about Saba: >>/questarch/863683 ?

Saba was described as a brain parasite that inhabits the bodies of non-sapient species from her home world. In other words, Saba is extremely tiny, the body she’s in right now is huge.
>>
No. 922459 ID: 977456

Of someone asks if you're a god custodian, you say... "I lack contexts for your terminology, please define the term"!
>>922431
Well, yes, but her host might be larger than Sisirri, which would be unfortunate given that, when pressed into brute physical confrontations, a salikai's natural advantages tend towards quantity over quality.
>>
No. 922460 ID: 977456

Do not invite them in, they might be using vampire rules. Do suggest that you intend no hostility towards them just waiting inside the door rather than outside of it so as to avoid the rain.
>>
No. 922461 ID: ba56e6

>>922460
Good point. They could be a vampire moth.

Do not invite the moth inside unless they consent to be doused in your holy water.
>>
No. 922464 ID: 080aaf

>>922461
They are already doused in water, just make some blessing motions in the air above them.
>>
No. 922545 ID: b6c077

Ask her how they know about the tomb.
>>
No. 922636 ID: 575ec0

Don't interrogate her in the rain with the door open. The Kiter are probably seconds away from annihilating both of you with an orbital blast.

Get her inside and close the door. Then interrogate her.

This buildings godlike self-preservation system has probably brought her here for its own good. I doubt she's an enemy.

Oh, and fucking get Kitsiksu working on the food issue. He's literally the only one here with the skills needed to prevent everyone from starving to death. Have him engineer some plants or something.
>>
No. 922644 ID: a9af05

>>922636
>Kitsiksu work on food issue
If we do that, then we'll have to monitor the food so that he doesn't create something that's poisonous to neumono.
>>
No. 922647 ID: b1b4f3

Maybe we should just ask Will if there's some way to get the facility to provide food. I seem to remember food and water mysteriously appearing when the aliens first arrived here.
>>
No. 922652 ID: 773e32
File 155078939714.png - (49.94KB , 800x600 , salq3-45.png )
922652

>hug fluffy moth
I can think of at least five reasons not to without any further complex analysis. No.
>vampire moth
So if I remember my human culture trivia, I just need to turn on a bright light and it will be irresistibly drawn towards it and catch fire.
Also no that's dumb vampires aren't real why am I even entertaining this thought
>thump Saba
I can almost guarantee with certainty, based on her displayed personality traits, she would just thump me back, and I have no desire to see which of us is the more fragile. Unlike her, I don't have any spare bodies.

>start basic, without giving info
"Define custodian."
The creature tilts its head. "Caretakers, guardians, servants?"
>ask name and purpose, also why can she speak our language
"Alright. Who are you and what do you want here? How did you learn my language?"
"I heard it from the Visitor from Stars-Above. As I strode the paths of the unwaking, they gifted it to me as a token of goodwill."

...'Visitor from Stars-Above', hmm. That's an incredibly obscure neumono myth. The only reason I know about it is because it was incredibly important to the Astran hive. Something related to their hive's history. And up until this point I'd never considered it anything but some myth clung to as evidence of a cultural heritage for a bunch of stir-crazy science neumono trying to pretend they had anything more to them than labour and testing materials.

Something is immediately suspicious about this.

The creature continues. "I am one of the moonseekers, and my name is Snowfall. I mean no harm to you, I am here because I seek another of my shape. The Visitor told me one other was here, and--"
"Hold on. One moment. Let's focus on the first thing. You said you learned my language in a dream?"
The creature tilts its head again. "Many things are learned in dreams, if the unwaking deign to teach. This is not known to you? I know the sunwalkers do not think much practical of the lessons of dreams. You are not the custodians of this place, are you?" Her tone is not accusing, more quizzical. "Are you travellers like myself?"
"In a sense."
"Please let me enter," she says. "I must descend to the catacombs and find--"

Saba nudges me aside. "I'm sorry, but we're over capacity as it is. If you're looking for somewhere to take refuge from the giant war machine crushing your planet to bits, you'll have to move along." After an awkward pause, she adds "My sincerest apologies, of course."

Snowfall slowly hangs her head. Her antennae fall like feathers. "I have nothing left but this journey. Please let me finish it."
>>
No. 922653 ID: 773e32
File 155078941065.png - (49.46KB , 800x600 , salq3-46.png )
922653

I feel something like a flittering moment of empathy for loss, before my reason reminds me that words are cheap and lies are cheaper. "Explain this 'journey'. How did you, a small meek thing with nothing but some dream you've been chasing, know to come here without being killed by the Kiter?"
"I was shown the correct paths by another, who--"

Her explanation is abruptly interrupted by something green just appearing behind her, and seizing her from behind, eliciting a staccato cluster of high pitched squeaks as she flails.

"Let's negotiate," says the green insectoid creature now keeping this 'Snowfall' restrained. "Bring 1045 here without closing the door and I don't kill whatever this is."
Snowfall squeaks louder before yelling "ĜIŠAZIE!!"
"SIG!" barks the insect, tightening their grip. Snowfall goes quiet, shaking. "Dugzil, ug. Zu?"
"Ĝeštu," whimpers Snowfall.
"Heam." The presumably Kiter individual makes eye contact with me. "1045 here, now."

On the one claw, suddenly we have presumably a Kiter soldier here right in front of the door. A soldier, singular, which is off.
On the other do we even care? We could just... close the door. I'm so tired of emergencies.

Whatever I do, I need to do it fast, because Saba looks to already be heading for the door controls.
>>
No. 922654 ID: 080aaf

I'm thinking Sitkva wouldn't have been a bad choice after all.
Threatening random passersby neither of us know is pretty ineffectual, dude. Is 1045 the one she's looking for? If so, you're both out of luck. Visiting hours are over.
>>
No. 922655 ID: 86eb65

Yeah I don't know who the moth is. Or who you are. And I really have no idea who 1045 is.

So I am going to close the door in about 5 seconds unless one of you bribes me enough to wait here and listen to your nonsense.

Also who makes a hostage out of some random stranger knocking at the door?
>>
No. 922656 ID: cc6465

>>922653
"We don't know this creature and have no reason to help her. Goodbye."

Let Saba close the door.
>>
No. 922659 ID: 8f6858

He was a fool to just grab some random passerby at the door. We owe nothing for this moth person and we certainly aren't going to let him get anything after he kills some random person. Giving himself away like this has spoiled his chance.

He wants to make a useless situation worse for himself? Tell it to his face and let him.

If he doesn't reconsider his decisions, shut the door. You are risking becoming a target.

If he does: ask who this 1045 he is looking for is, as if we couldn't guess already. Let him piece together that no one in here can get that alien in the preservation pod out. That is what the Kiter are after, right?
>>
No. 922660 ID: 094652

He's planning a bleedout execution, you have the medical facilities for that.

Slam the door, immediately arm yourselves, shoot through the door. Nonlethal takedown on both of them.
>>
No. 922672 ID: ecd116

save her. reason is she may have useful info or skills about the layout of land. even where to find outside food that can be gotten by drone. plus she may know/have something that will hurt the kiter or imperium. also can you pretend to agree to deal while you plan to take out the hostile. even non leatle since he may have intel that will help you and the rest out somehow
>>
No. 922675 ID: 10c408

>>922655
A truly desperate and/or aggressive individual.

As for what to do...

"For fuck's sake, I don't know which individual you are trying to refer to with a series of numbers that I just don't recognize."
>>
No. 922677 ID: ad51b8

give him your best deadpan face you can give and say
"...who are you, who are you talking about, and most importantly why should I care"

We have enough problems on our plate right now that unless they actually have something we need we can't really afford to deal with this. We're on the verge of starving, half the people here want to kill everyone it seems, one of them has a AI with base access who's going insane, that super AI is trying to hook back up with you after sending half a galaxy to come kill you, and new problems that just keeps jumping out at us every 15 minutes. Until we can deal with some of the problems we already have I'm going to say that we don't add any more onto our plate. We can only focus on so many things at once and without a decent payoff it only hurts us to focus on more problems.
>>
No. 922679 ID: b1b4f3

1045 is the augmented neumono.

Just say goodbye.
>>
No. 922680 ID: e20bdf

A standard kiter soldier present himself just as we acquired an expert in biology. Perfect! Maybe Kitsiksu will be able to make a virus...
Get his corpse inside. Either negotiate his entrance as if the moth life had any value or just try to crush his head and pull him in.
If the crazy moth survive she can stay. I'm curious to where that mumbo jumbo will end up.

If you ever manage to talk to Saba and she refuse to supply our munchkins with fruit, request her assistance reducing the arkots population as a precautionary measure against the eminent famine that will simultaneously serve as a source of food for Saba. That may dissuade her possible stinginess.
>>
No. 922683 ID: 91ee5f

>>922653
“We barely met her just now and have no reason at all to help her.”

>Bring me 1045!
Pretend you don’t know who that is.

>>922659
>>922675
>Who is 1045?
You guys don’t remember 1045, aka “Lacky”, aka the Neumono shaped kiter that joined us after we beat Voidsong and helped teleport Sisirri and Ekasarra back to base, aka this guy right here: >>/questarch/883488 ?

Although, we stopped calling him “Lacky” and told him to give himself a name, I’m not sure if he did that yet.

He’s also the guy that banged Ekasarra and Ekasarra allowed herself to be impregnated by him. But Sisirri doesn’t know that. On the other hand, we did tell Voidsong about that at the beginning of this thread.
>>
No. 922687 ID: ecd116

1045? wait he talking about Lackey. not sure about telling them he not here or never hear of that number since they somehow use their tech to pinpoint him. but that only if he somehow went outside of the base for whatever and they detect his paraspace/psionic energy coming from him. unless ... no Lackey is not that careless enough to let him self get detected by the keiter. is he? ask him later where he been to lately when you get the chance. once you solve the hostage problem here. and also is there any to quickly and stealthy call lackey here with out leting the soldier knows? maybe even get him to somehow teleport behind him and knock the Kiter out.
>>
No. 922688 ID: b1b4f3

>>922680
Ah, one problem with this idea. The Kiter in front of us is actually a species of parasitic fungus, infesting the ant-like body. We probably don't want to get anywhere near it, before or after the body dies.
Also it just teleported here so it's probably skilled in that psychic bullshit.

...wait isn't 1045/Lackey one of the best at psychic bullshit? ...I think this has more to do with keeping the door open than bringing 1045 here. It's probably trying to get its spores inside.
>>
No. 922692 ID: ecd116

>>922688 i got a closer look at the solider and you might be right about that. if only we have something to deal with fungal stuff or parasitic like beings like weapons that use fire or extreme temperature to kill/burn/freeze stuff like that. wait is Saba one as well. we could ask for help/advice in how to deal with this or go for a old fashioned parasite vs parasite fight? but there still the spore to deal with. either we deal with that problem later or use this idea >>922660 to close the door and hope it not too tough for firepower to get through the door. still you would think since the spores are technically from a kiter the base would probably have emergency defense response to something like that.
>>
No. 922693 ID: 9723b1

This reeks of a setup. For all we know, the moth may just be a specialized kiter infiltrator, and the "hostage situation" is a ploy to get the spy inside under the guise of a rescue.

Saba's a xenolinguist, he? she? may have some idea what they just said to each other.
>>
No. 922695 ID: b1b4f3

>>922692
Shooting through the door won't work, the facility is immune to damage when active. Also blindfiring is basically the worst way to attempt a nonlethal takedown.
>>
No. 922696 ID: 575ec0

You know who she wants, and have a neural uplink.
Tell the others to bring Lacky, but instruct him to implode the kiter hostage taker on sight.

Then bring in moth. You and Kit best get on this food thing quick.
>>
No. 922707 ID: 977456

Voidsong got a pretty good look at us. If Voidsong wanted to make something that we would perceive as cute, well, moth is a pretty decent starting point.

Did you get a recording of their stealth/teleport event? There might be some sort of signal or distortion that could be used to make inferences and countermeasures.

>>913544
I don't see any obvious moths. Then again, different genders and adoptions and such...

Scientific method time!
Hypothesis 1: If it is a spy, then they will already have its data, thus can destroy it to make their threats convincing.
Hypothesis 2: If it is a not affiliated with the Kiter, then they will wish to capture it for interrogation regardless of the outcome, thus they will be disproportionately unwilling to relinquish possession of the creature, only doing so with reasonable certainty that they can acquire a more valuable prize and cannot have both.
>>
No. 922718 ID: ba56e6

"Saba, keep the door open. I will go get 1045."

Go talk to 1045. Get him a camera feed of the doorway and have him para-port Snowfall out of the thing's grasp. Send Lekka or Ku to go shoot this green bug's ass once the hostage is safe.
>>
No. 922719 ID: ba56e6

>>922718
Oh, and bring in the corpse. You can have Kit test the meat to see if it's edible.
>>
No. 922721 ID: 0c3c2c

>>922653
Okay, tell Saba she's a dumb idiot and this is all her fault. Anyway, you're a Salikai. You literally have 'react quickly' and 'has many sharp claws with extremely high grip strength' as your evolutionary tools in this situation. Just rip the fungally-parasitized ant's arms out of their sockets. We can just glue them back on with that blue science-goo when someone inevitably argues we should heal them. Or throw him in Mistake-Stasis.

Either one works. No reason NOT to horribly dismember some Kiter asshole taking hostages.
>>
No. 922722 ID: ecd116

Can 'Will' be able tell if it somebody a kilter spy or under their influence?
you would think with all the tech and who made him and all it would be easy or as least possible to do something like that, still recommend getting the moth person away from the other one to start with first. even if you have to pretend to the deal. also bluff him and say if the hostage is fatality harm the deal off and you will use the defenses of this place to finished him off and the deal is also null and void if you leave with the moth lady.
if you are able to somehow do that for real with the base try to fire a warning shot to show you are not blufing. if not see if you can figure out how to do it. even if you have to use your hacker/tech powers to do so.
>>
No. 922733 ID: 977456

>>922721
Salikai evolved to not have to deal with this. Call in one of the unnamed arkots as a hostage negotiator. Tell it that we need a way to do everything the hostage-taker wants without doing anything dangerous, and that it should talk to them until it learns it. Once the hostile is rendered insane from rage, frustration, confusion, boredom, or whatever else trying to actually reach a compromise with an arkot would cause, take advantage, with weapons, against the general vicinity due to inevitable invisible insurgents.
>>
No. 922734 ID: b1b4f3

>>922721
If Sisirri can do this, I'd agree with it.
>>
No. 922738 ID: 8eaf98

>>922718
with this plan, we can even say we will have er right out. though the next question is basically can you 'guide' yourself to some food for us.
>>
No. 922739 ID: b04cad

Let Saba close the door. Quip about the possibility of putting up a "No sollicitors" sign.
>>
No. 922760 ID: c6b928

If one is invisible there can be more invisible. Let her close the door, but keep him talking. Ask why you should care about his girlfriend.
>>
No. 922786 ID: a9af05

There is no reason we should get involved with whatever this is. Just let Saba close the door.

Then talk to her about more important things like food supplies and how we're running out of it.
>>
No. 922803 ID: ba56e6

Tirzi would probably be remiss if we just let this moth creature die. But Saba is right, practically. We really can't afford more complications and mouths to feed until we put out the fires we already have.

Can 1045 use his teleport to send the moth to Voidsong, assuming the hostage isn't murdered the moment we close the door? Voidsong is at least in 'frenemy' status against the Kiter.
>>
No. 922805 ID: a9af05

>>922803
>Voidsong is at least in 'frenemy' status against the Kiter.
No she's not. They're actively trying to kill her. How does that make them frenemies?
>>
No. 922807 ID: b1b4f3

>>922805
Voidsong is not trying to kill Sisirri as far as we know.
>>
No. 922809 ID: a9af05

>>922807
I'm not talking about Voidsong trying to kill Sisirri. I'm talking about the Kiter trying to kill Voidsong.

That other guy said that the Kiter and Voidsong were frenemies and I pointed out that the Kiter are trying to kill Voidsong, which is why I'm asking how that makes the frenemies at all.
>>
No. 922811 ID: b1b4f3

>>922809
I thought that poster meant that sending the moth to Voidsong would be okay since she's "frenemies" with Sisirri.
I don't agree with that, actually. Voidsong wouldn't like the intrusion and would either kill the moth or do worse to her.
>>
No. 922812 ID: ba56e6

>>922805
Frenemies with Sisirri because the Kiter are the enemy of both.

>>922811
1045 has some form of mental communication with Voidsong (not that Sisirri knows) and could alert her of the moth's precognitive abilities and value as an asset.
>>
No. 922863 ID: 8eaf98

>>922812
I don't think Voidsong is in a position to accept the moth either, what with him being hunted by the Keter and not having a spooky precursor structure to hide in.
>>
No. 922874 ID: 9723b1

>>922693
Y'know, I should probably explain why this reeks of a setup.

1) Moth's story is less plausible than the possibility that she's just using knowledge that Voidsong got from Ekasarra (and passed on to the kiter), which would also explain how she knows an obscure astran myth.

2) The chat between the moth and ant-slug shows the moth knows the kiter language too, which also makes more sense if she's kiter.

3) Probably most damning, if the kiter ant-slug thing wanted to get to 1045, why not just waltz in the front door using its invisibility while the door is open?
>>
No. 922883 ID: 91ee5f

>>922874
>why not just waltz in the front door using its invisibility while the door is open?
I don’t think it was invisible in the first place.

I think it just teleported directly behind the moth, since it can’t teleport directly into the building.
>>
No. 922890 ID: 8eaf98

>>922874
not to mention the Keter have a very strong aversion to entering the facility, also any reason 1045 can't just teleport moth directly in?
side note: >>/questdis/127943
>>
No. 922896 ID: 977456

>>922890
Adoramoth also seemed averse to entering the facility.
>>
No. 922897 ID: b1b4f3

I'm pretty sure at this point that nobody can enter the facility without the permission(implicit or explicit) of someone already in it.
It's *possible* that leaving the door open for too long is an implicit invitation.
>>
No. 922908 ID: 575ec0

>>922874
>why not just waltz in the front door using its invisibility while the door is open?

It warped in by manipulating paraspace.

This facility has a bizarre security system that manipulates probability to prevent unwanted guests or damage to itself. There could be a million reasons why that kiter won't enter. Could be that it happens to be more superstitious of this place than it's peers and is afraid to enter. Maybe there's a temporary forcefield. Maybe a meteor is on its way and will kill it when it attempts to barge in. Who knows.

For that same reason though, I wouldn't worry too terribly much about what we do here. Any plan of action will do, just do something. If the facility needs the moth thing, the moth wil live. If not, then we don't need the moth either.

All we know is that we are among those chosen by the facility.
Trust facility.
Have faith in the facility.
The facility knows best.
Seriously. It really does. This place is probably the closest thing to a god that exists in this universe...

OHHHHHHHHHhhh.... That's probably why imperium wants to kill the Kiter Empire. They're too close to this thing and he wants time to poke at it so he can turn himself into a god.
...
Huh...
>>
No. 922994 ID: 2007b6

"Emotional pleading and threats of violence against random bystanders are equally stupid. You want in? Guided tours are available, current rate is one hundred kilograms of fresh, untainted fruit per visitor per hour. You don't appear to be carrying any, so goodbye."
>>
No. 923027 ID: 2202fb

Do we have any tranquilizers? We should capture and lock up both till we can figure out who tf they are.
>>
No. 923071 ID: 773e32
File 155104091323.png - (17.57KB , 800x600 , salq3-47.png )
923071

>just close the damn door
I'm so tired of this. All of this. This situation, the constant fires, the unending strain.

"Do you have any food?"
The Kiter soldier looks momentarily confused. "No, I--"
I make direct, unflinching eye contact with the soldier.
"Then we don't care. About you, about her, any of this. Close the door," I say to Saba, waving a grasper in her direction without looking.

The door slams shut.

"And I thought I was cold," says Saba. "I mean, same, but I don't think I'd be able to stare someone down like that."
"We have enough problems," I say. "We do not need more."
Saba nods.

>ask saba for translation
"Did you catch what they were talking about? It sounded like Kiter language to me."
"Oh, that's a native language. I haven't cracked the Kiter languages yet. I didn't really pay attention, I got snippets like 'run, die', 'quiet', 'understood'."
"What was the thing she shouted?"
"I'm... not actually sure, something about 'male violence'? Not a term I've heard before. Probably a mistranslation."
>>
No. 923073 ID: 773e32
File 155104094951.png - (44.60KB , 800x600 , salq3-48.png )
923073

I can hear the Kiter soldier yelling at the door from the other side. Not actually what he's saying, though.
"Saba, do we have any sort of intercom system for this door?"
"Our facility on the other side of the gate did, and seeing as this is a weird fucked up mirror copy until you go underground, it should be... here."

Saba taps at an interface terminal.

"--THIS DOOR RIGHT NOW! ANSWER ME!!"
I lean over the terminal. "No food, no entry."

There's a brief pause. The soldier sounds much less certain, and more pleading.
"Can you eat this thing? I can give you this thing."
I hear more squeaks.

I sigh. "If we wanted to eat her we could have done it already."
"Wow, fuck, Sisirri, I am in awe," whispers Saba, watching me with wide eyes. I motion for her to be quiet and she sucks her tongue back into her rostrum, nodding.
"My species is frugivorous so it's fruit or no deal."
"Where am I going to find fruit in a wasteland?!" yells the soldier.
"Well, maybe you should have thought of that before you blasted the surface of this planet into one," I say, irritated. "Do you have anything of worth to offer us? We're busy people and you're taking up our valuable time."
"You really don't care I'm going to kill an innocent bystander if you don't let me in?"
"Not our problem."

There's a long pause, with what sounds like forlorn squeaks.

"We've almost successfully made her species extinct," says the soldier. It sounds more like a statement of fact than a boast.
"And?"
"You don't care?"
"Correct."
"But you're... you're not Kiter, you're supposed to care!"
"Incorrect."
"I don't understand!"
"Please let me go!"
"You're not involved in this discussion!" snaps the soldier.
"You might as well let her go, I honestly don't care if she lives or dies," I say.
"I don't understand!! Please! Just talk to 1045! Tell him Ktri-94 is at the door!"

Hmmmmm. Something's not right.
I've never claimed to be an expert in predicting others' emotional responses but there's definitely something here that's transcending pure reason.
I think I've found leverage.

I tap at the interface terminal. "Is this muted from our side now?"
"Should be," says Saba, glancing at it.
"I'm noticing he hasn't killed her yet. Either he thinks there's some value to her we're hiding, or there's some value to her for him he's not hiding very well."
Saba nods. "Y'know, whenever Aza's done recon sweeps, he's not seen individual carax soldiers outside of a unit. Individual neburi, sure, but they tend to be specialists anyway. This entire situation is weird."
"Carax?"
"Oh, shit, did no one give you the summary? I wrote a nice summary of what the known Kiter species are based on my translation work. Carax are those bugs with the weird fungal growths. Neburi are the birds--"
"I am familiar with the neburi," I say, as I double check my eye's security systems are still active. "Still, I have an idea. Let me keep doing the talking."

I unmute the terminal.

"We've decided we'll bring 1045 to you on one condition," I say.
"I can't get fruit for you at short notice," says the kiter carax.
"Cut off that creature's head, we can prepare the rest of its body for food." I yawn.

Saba's expression rapidly shifts to one of confused horror and disgust as she mimes a series of actions to me I don't understand the meaning of.
There's a long pause on the other side.

"This could be the last living individual of this species and culture. There is significantly greater value to be had in taking recordings of physiological and cultural data from this individual--"
"You can't do it, can you?"
"I am more than capable of killing this individual."
"You can't do it. She's worth far more to you than she is to us. Is she worth more than an audience with 1045?"
"Sisirri what the fuck are you doing," says Saba, no longer taking care to keep quiet and jeopardising my entire strategy. "Are you trying to get someone killed for the sake of it now?"
I wave a claw at her dismissively. "Make your choice, carax."
"SISIRRI, THE FUCK?"

"...I can't do it," says the kiter carax.
"Then our conversation here is over."
"Wait! Wait, no, I'll get you your fruit! I'll leave the zizene here as insurance!"
"What??"
"The what?"
"It's the species name! Zizene itudak! Moonseeker! ჩრჩილი! ╭╦┄╋╭┈╮┒┳┍! Whatever language you want it in!"

Saba almost chokes on hearing those words and glares at me, slamming mute on the terminal. "Sisirri this is not solving the problem. I mean congratulations for pulling some random soldier's brain apart with your words but now he wants to give us that moth thing and that was what we were trying to avoid. Any other bright ideas?"
"We're not letting her in, she could be a Kiter spy," I say. "Also what language was that last name?"
"That is the Kiter language, and neither of us have the parts to speak it. Wait, no, don't get off topic, fix this situation!"

"No," I say back over the intercom. "We're not letting any Kiter spies in."
"She's not a spy!"
"You seem to be awfully friendly with her. She's clearly a spy or working for the Kiter in some way."
"..."

The kiter carax doesn't say anything for a good long time.

"...I surrender?"
"What?"
"I surrender."
"You seem to misunderstand what's going on here. You're the one trying to force your way into our stronghold. Surrender would be going away."
"OW! STOP SQUEEZING ME!"
"Listen here! There is nothing you can threaten me with that's worse than what the Kiter will do to me if they catch me!"
"Neither of you are getting in without food, do you understand?! Neither of you!!"
>>
No. 923074 ID: 773e32
File 155104099380.png - (70.69KB , 800x600 , salq3-49.png )
923074

After it sounds like they've given up, Saba and myself both try to figure out solutions to the food problem, sitting on couches in a nearby reception area.
Why this facility has a reception area, I have no idea.

"My arkots had a whole food supply that's gone missing and I suspect sabotage, because they're not smart enough to keep food hidden from each other for so long."
"Tirzi's been working on trying to scale up her fungiculture project, but that will take time to pay off. Honestly, the real problem is Sitkva, and she's already on a diet that's getting perilously close to unhealthily low in calories for her metabolic needs. She keeps saying it's fine but she's been increasingly short tempered and I'm worried she'll snap. At least she isn't starving outright yet. None of us are yet but we're getting to the point where I'm estimating our reserves in days. It's bad. I'm down to three bodies, including this one. I've saved some genetic material for better times but the better solution is to just get the fuck out of his warzone. There's more we can do here, so much more, but we need to get back to home base, we need our full team."
"You... you want to come back to an active warzone?"
"Sisirri I didn't join a research expedition because it was going to be safe," says Saba. "I wanted to do something that would matter. Knowledge matters. Granted, none of us expected this level of disaster, but now we know what's here and what we can find, we just need to be better prepared for our next expedition in here. I might be the only one in this entire team who thinks this isn't a lost cause, but have you seen this place? You more than anyone else should know the value of sociological, cultural and technological worth to be found in this place alone, and not only that, if there's any survivors among this blasted world, are we not obligated to help them survive as fellow sapients in an uncaring, hostile universe?"

Saba pauses.

"Yes, I know what that sounds like, but right now I'm focusing on practicalities. We can't feed others before feeding ourselves. This is draining on me, Sisirri, I don't like being the fucking villain all the time, but someone needs to step up and say no to the hard questions." She looks to the side. "There's a lot of stigma around my species still, even this long after integration, especially after what some of my kind did pre-contact. There was an elghark scientist who managed to successfully inhabit an amtsvane body, and the very fact it was something that was possible caused us a lot of mistrust. We're still seen as parasites, first literally, now of society, and our biological oddities have made it hard for us to integrate into superculture society."

She stands and paces around. "I dunno. I feel like I was born an intrinsic burden on others just to live and I have to keep trying to make it clear that I'm more than that, but-- wait, why the fuck am I telling you all this? Ugh, never mind."
"You're not the first to come to me to vent, surprisingly. I don't know how I seem so approachable."
"Well, you don't have the preconceptions or history with me any of the others do. It's... it's good to talk to someone who's not quite a complete stranger but has an outside view on these things, y'know? Also I guess I have been bottling this up inside me for a while, heh. Been trying to carry this team of disorganised academics all by myself, it feels like. I know that's not true, but... ugh."
I nod noncommittally.

We're interrupted by the sound of automated notices pinging that someone is at the door. Saba speaks back to it. "[On screen.]"

Displayed from the terminal, we see... the kiter carax from before, with the moth-creature apparently leashed to it, both carrying armfuls of pink fruit. I see some sort of container just below them also brimming with pink fruit. Oh, I have not felt hunger like I do now.

"Will you let me in to see 1045 now?"

...Let's do a quick fact check.

>Machinist: Hey, Lackey, do you know a

"What was your name again?"
"Ktri-94, please, I did what you asked!"

>Machinist: Hey, Lackey, do you know a Ktri 94?
>Machinist: Lackey?
>status.user(1045)
>System: User '1045' is not active.


Oh right he's probably dealing with the Kan fallout with the other neumono. Great.
>>
No. 923079 ID: 0c3c2c

>>923074
He has food and we are hungry, let them in. Also, assume bugs are in love, plan accordingly.
>>
No. 923089 ID: fd2d31

And room that can function as a quarantine zone / prison?
They might be valuable as foragers & scouts, but shouldn't be trusted with anything that can be used against the facility if they're captured.
>>
No. 923091 ID: 130f18

We offered a deal and he fulfilled his end of the bargain. Call someone here with a weapon and allow him supervised entry. A contract upheld.
>>
No. 923101 ID: b1b4f3

>>923074
Let them in immediately, then ask them where they found the fruit. We should plan expeditions to wherever they got it from.

Tell them 1045 is busy at the moment, lead them to a secure room where they will wait until he can come talk.
>>
No. 923107 ID: 977456

Anyone who has demonstrated the ability to be invisible gets a leash... and a remote-controlled glitter bomb.
>>
No. 923109 ID: 2202fb

Let them in, soften up slightly to the carax and a lot more to the moth. She seems like a victim here. Stress that your supplies are dwindling and you have already been victim to many different unconventional and indirect attacks. Lock them both up for now, but give the moth a few amenities like a blanket or something.

--

Do you think it would be possible to take one of those heal pods and make it grow food? Like making large chunks of fruit.
>>
No. 923111 ID: 094652

Have some of your expendable arkots build a shelter and a garden at the entrance. Reinforce the entrance hall to act as a prison cell.
>>
No. 923120 ID: 2202fb

>>923111
I think the arkots have already proven that despite their undergoing a renaissance, they still can't really be trusted to successfully build something. In the past this could have been due to stupidity, now it is due to politics.
>>
No. 923121 ID: 86eb65

Yeah they brought food and more importantly they know where more is.

Let them in and keep a close eye on them. Will cause extra chaos I am sure but will hold the starving off for a bit.

We really need to concentrate on getting more food fast. Everyone is starving and things will go bad fast soon if we don't fix this mess.
>>
No. 923125 ID: 91ee5f

>>923073
>”Listen here! There is nothing you can threaten me with that's worse than what the Kiter will do to me if they catch me!"
>>923074
>Ktri-94 has returned with food.
It’s starting to look like that maybe Ktri-94 has turned against the Kiter, the same way Lackey 1045 has turned against them.
>>
No. 923129 ID: df5c09

A reminder that you were told by Will that the group of Kitsiksu's servitor species living down below has a hydroponic garden that presumably is their source of food. If it's been keeping them going since they arrived then perhaps it could be replicated and scaled up up here.

You'll have to find out where they've been getting the fertilizer/nutrients for their hydroponics from and also where they've been getting fresh water to support any hydroponics you'll want to set up. The plants in the hydroponic beds were also likely engineered by Kitsiksu, so probably are better than anything else you could get, so collecting some of them for seed stock would make sense too.
>>
No. 923132 ID: ad51b8

...where did they get those?

Deep breath, inform everyone else that we have 2 "guest" that have shown up and are bringing them to a holding cell until we're sure they are safe to let roam. Also if anyone has seen Lackey wondering around as they seem to wish to speak to him.
>>
No. 923136 ID: fd2d31

They've definitely got some 'splainin' to do about where they got fruit.
>>
No. 923144 ID: bcc41d

Tell Saba to help prepare a place to contain and question our new guests and ask her to help you in debriefing and distracting them. Fetch an arkot or two to act as a taste-tester of the fruit they've brought. Contain your hunger.

>>923132
Pretty much this. Also, I'm gonna take a WILD guess and hazard that one of the component minds that got shoved into Lackey was a friend or acquaintance of Ktri-94. Maybe more than one.

>>923074
"Congratulations, you both pass. Thank you for adding your unique set of troubles and circumstances to our growing pile of alien woes - and thank you for the food, assuming it is edible. You may enter."

Be/have a 'welcome committee' ready to ensure that our two new guests don't try anything funny/violent. Greet them properly.

"I am Sisirri. I am a Salikai. I am not amused. You will let us escort you to a holding area for more in-depth questioning. Assume that trust will take time to build, and that hostile or traitorsome acts be met with extreme, if not gratuitous, violence, or very possibly death. There will be little patience for games like the one you tried to play earlier. Surrender your intentions honestly and I will hold a small measure of hope I won't have to tear anyone else limb from limb today."

Pause for that warning to sink in.

"1045 - here referred to as 'Lackey' - is busy, but I will ask them to meet with you as soon as is convenient - or sooner if you'd tell me what is so damn important and how you know them - or think you know them. I will also see if I cannot get ahold of the custodian for the Zizene if indeed that was a real request, because I am not already incredibly busy enough - oh wait. Still, I'll see what I can do for the both of you, as you have proven not entirely useless."

Ask them many questions to clarify their circumstances and history. Do tests to clarify whether any exhibit unusual powers - and, y'know, outright ask them if they have any. Tell them tricks up their sleeves that are not disclosed here will be assumed to have been kept for traitorous purposes, so it will be better to come clean straight away.
>>
No. 923149 ID: 080aaf

Invite them to dinner, we'll all have a nice lunch on the same not-poisoned food while we get to know each other and we fetch 1045 for you.
>>
No. 923162 ID: 8f6858

Prepare a place to hold them and let them in.
>>
No. 923171 ID: 130f18

>>923149
Sure, conversation over lunch sounds like a good way to get the talking juices flowing.
>>
No. 923267 ID: 9723b1

...What. What the fuck just happened.

Ok.
So the carax just said it wasn't able to get fruit on short notice. And yet it got fruit on short notice. Something is still off, which is only made worse by how badly they want in, but alleviating the immediate food shortage and getting kiter prisoners to squeeze for info is hard to say no to. Maybe we should haggle a bit, tell them we'll need a lot more than that, see how much they show up with.

Either way, we'll need time to round up a heavily armed escort to whatever makeshift prison we'll be using, and the neumono will probably be part of that. We can talk with 1045 in person about "ktri" here while that's being set up. Don't let it anywhere near 1045 until we can confirm that 1045 has no killphrase, loyalty override, etc. We'll also need to decide how to restrain the both of them.

In the meantime, ask the obvious question: Where did you get those, and how did you get them so fast? Especially when you said you weren't able to.

Once the prisoners are secured, test the fruits for poison. Fast. If they're poisoned... well, we'll still have a new source of emergency rations. If we can't eat the fruits, we'll eat the ones that brought them.

Oh hey, the Carax stole the cube necklace from the moth. Wonder what that's about.
>>
No. 923271 ID: e20bdf

What's with the leash? Doesn't matter, take it off.
You two will wait for 1045 in separate rooms. And by rooms I mean cells.
We are not running a BDSM dungeon...
>>
No. 923285 ID: fd2d31

>>923271
lets not kinkshame the strange aliens with their weird cultures too much.
>>
No. 923293 ID: 3c3f90

The Kiter dispatched infiltrators "in all directions" back in thread 2. We should limit how much info we give these guys until we know what they're up to.

That said, the longer they stay outside, the more likely we are to have a REAL hostage situation if Kiter troops show up. Can we set up a holding area, preferably right by the door so we can let them in but they also see as little of the facility as possible?

Also, we have three arkots and a whole bin of fruit that have gone missing... are we sure the fufa is still quarantined?
>>
No. 923296 ID: 130f18

>>923267
It's likely they pulled a 'transporting the prisoner' maneuver to sneak in somewhere and steal a bunch of Kiter supplies. Which means somebody's probably on their trail and as >>923293 pointed out, once those somebodies arrive we're going to have a real hostage situation.
>>
No. 923303 ID: 575ec0

>>923296
Or maybe they raided the moths original hideout, dooming her friends and family to starvation.
>>
No. 923322 ID: 130f18

>>923303
If she is indeed the last survivor of her species, that is unlikely.
>>
No. 923323 ID: cbdfa8

>>923074
Agree to let them in, but tell them once inside that the Moonseeker must be freed from captivity. and get an area or room to keep them in.

Also since it is raining and they went out of their way to even bring food, consider giving them blankets or something else to dry off.

Maybe confront the Moonseeker and tell her that you had to put up a facade to get her out of that predicament and that it was your plan to get her out of danger.

Good idea to test the fruit if it is poisoned or not. Then feed the arkots!

>>923293
this is a good point. I would be cautious with any information you give them.
>>
No. 923326 ID: a9af05

>>923323
>Test fruit for poison, then feed arkots!
Feed the fruit to the arkots to test for poison! If nothing happens to them, then it's safe to eat!
>>
No. 923330 ID: bcc41d

>>923326
Arkots are limited in supply and our new associates would be aghast. We should run tests. Then we should make an arkot eat one, just in case there was something our tests could not catch.
>>
No. 923394 ID: 3c3f90

Hopefully this goes without saying, but make sure that they're not armed.

Once they're inside, unless you have a place you can lock them, don't send Saba to get anyone - you might be able to win if outnumbered, but it's better to just use VoxNet to call up whatever reinforcements you need. Not everybody will be inactive.

Then you'll want to question them. Where did they find the fruit? Why did the Carax defect? What does the Zizene want to do if she finds the other of her kind that she thinks is here?
>>
No. 923436 ID: 8eaf98

>>923330
wdym akorots are in short supply? last I checked they breed like rabbits and only weapons-grade idiocy keeps the population in check. SMART akorots on the other hand, no maybe poison for them
>>
No. 923439 ID: 6f6f25

Boggle vacantly at these shenanigans
>>
No. 923442 ID: fd2d31

Any way to be sure they're not "infected or "bugged"?
The fungal growth on the mantis thingy is definitely of concern.
>>
No. 923536 ID: 2007b6

Let them in to the reception area at least. Fruit solves (or at least delays) some immediate problems, seeds could help with setting up hydroponics for long-term sustainability.

Interrogate the moth on the subject of agronomy, so you can take advantage of any accumulated native knowledge base about suitable growing conditions and so on, rather than losing precious time or materials to trial and error. Also, information about where and how the fruit grows might be useful for poking holes in an infiltrator's flimsy cover story.

Have somebody put the fungal ant in a biohazard-rated containment cell, until such time as you've got something more solid than a slurry of greed, desperation, and incompetence as evidence it's not a Kiter spy anymore.
>>
No. 923676 ID: ecd116

if you have a secure room or two that have video and/or audio surveillance try using that, even better if their somehow hidden so you or others can see how they act if they don't know they are being watch/listen to.


also both you and saba don't seem to not be too diffident in terms of practically and making tough calls plus having stigmatization surrounding both of your species.
>>
No. 923820 ID: 7d9d06

They're desperate, that's for sure. And definitely acting independently, as they haven't brought greater numbers into play. Furthermore the kiter won't kill the other one, which considering the kiter we have seen thus far indicates an extreme and irrational attachment that may have overruled whatever motivation drives kiter to genocidal violence.

The obvious conclusion is that the kiter has defected for sake of the moth... thing. As defecting from a mind controlling superintelligence is in... credibly rare and valuable toward understanding the kiter empire, leaving them outside is not an option at this point. However there are other dangers. Even if they are entirely sincere, they may be being used by the kiter. There may be devices or even organisms embedded in them that they're not even aware of.

The only feasible course of action I can conceive is to let them in but incapacitate them in some manner, then examine them very carefully with several layers of redundant isolation. If they're not going to get eaten by a horrible mutant fungus planted in their sternum or something, then we can be best friends with the cute bugs!
>>
No. 923872 ID: 977456

>>923820
The Kiter are capable of creating a scenario like this, that looks like desperate refugees or something. For that matter, they are capable of creating a fluffy moth to rescue. We can't know anything here, the outside is just too far from our control and knowledge. All we can do is play the odds, and it doesn't look like The Kiter's style but that is just guessing...
>>
No. 924644 ID: 773e32
File 155183507487.png - (14.51KB , 800x600 , salq3-50.png )
924644

>let them in
With the terminal on mute, I sigh and motion to Saba. "Well, they came back with food, and they know where to find it, apparently."
"Huh."
"Do we have anywhere to detain them?"
"I believe there's an office not being used for anything right now nearby. The door locks around here are all much stronger than you might expect, the, uh, original facility was designed in the event of an atmospheric breach causing catastrophe. Dustbowl didn't get its name for nothing."
"Actually, I'd expect strong locks, because the point of locking a door is to deny access. Dustbowl?"
"The, uh, colloquial name for the incredibly dry and dusty world we were originally studying. Where the facility was built by a previous research and construction team. We souped it up a fair bit but they laid the groundwork down, and now we have this weird mirror image on this other world. Where it's been raining fucking nonstop since we first got stuck here. Still more hospitable aside from the, uh, geopolitical situation."
"Mhm. Back to the subject, we have some questions to ask of these two. Get Sitkva down here as part of the welcoming committee so she can stop them doing anything untoward."
"I don't know if she'll fit in this room, but..."
"I'll get some arkots down here. It shouldn't be difficult."

I stride off to go fetch some arkots while Saba makes a call.

The winding corridors still feel as disorienting as when I first came here, even when I have a route in mind. I have to wonder how much of that is poor architectural design, and how much of it is some sort of residual strangeness from this being a mirror clone of a different structure pasted onto an existing subterranean facility. I need to ask Will about that next time I see it.

The large biolab is still in a state of disarray, but the fighting seems to have slowed down a lot, as the arkots seem to be burning up all their energy and effort.

"SEVEN!"

I hear no response.

"I need some arkots for security and food retrieval," I say, only thinking about the terrible, terrible mistake I just made seconds too late to fix it--
>>
No. 924645 ID: 773e32
File 155183509868.png - (16.14KB , 800x600 , salq3-51.png )
924645

I find myself struggling desperately not to be suffocated by a swarm of eager, desperate arkots that heard me mention 'food' and didn't care to listen to the rest of what I said. They should know better than to clamber onto me, and I start flinging arkots off of me.

"GET OFF! GET OFF OR THERE'S NO FOOD FOR ANY OF YOU!!"

This only partially works, but I can see I'm going to have to explain to the arkots why I'm in charge and they aren't.
I'm not giving off a very leaderly impression right now. It's time for a demonstration.

"ARKOTS. If you don't fall in line right now, you're no longer useful to me. You know what that means, I presume?"

The arkots all stare at me blankly.

One arkot is still on me. With a swift whipping of my claws, I hold it up by the neck. "Okay, let me be more direct. I'm in control here. Remember this, or this will be you."
I hear the callous chill of my own voice. I am beyond anger from irritation, and they know it. Feel it.
They know something is wrong.
All of them stare at me in entranced dread.

I start squeezing around the arkot's neck and they start squirming violently and chittering frantically about how it was all a mistake and they'll be less dumb next time.

"Oh, I hardly believe that," I say, gripping just shy of my claws drawing blood, as the arkot writhes more panickedly and promises over and over again never to do anything against my wishes.
The other arkots are frozen still. Some of them cringe away from watching, less out of sympathy and more out of fear to directly meet my gaze, I believe.

"One last chance, then, arkot."
I drop the arkot from my outstretched claw onto the floor. I wasn't intending to kill them to begin with, but better to keep the illusion up.
As they fall, the serrated edges of my claws rip at their neck, giving them skin-level wounds that should scar into a lengthy reminder to themselves and others of the price of insubordination.
They land with a grunt of pain onto their side, clutching at their throat as if glad for it to still be there.

"You have now spent the last of my patience, arkots. There will be no mercy for the next arkot in my claws. Do we all have." I draw out a pause. "An understanding?"

Every arkot in the room nods. Well, enough to count. A couple salute. Some of them are maybe a little too awed and/or terrified to risk any hasty gestures.

You don't yell at arkots for a few days and they forget who you are, I swear.

Still, it's going to take a distressingly long amount of time to move them from terrified into compliance to actually compliant. So, I'm going to be here for a while giving very specific orders. This will take a while.

I wonder how Kitsiksu's doing...
>>
No. 924647 ID: 773e32
File 155183513868.png - (14.47KB , 800x600 , salq3-52.png )
924647

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the facility, Kitsiksu puzzles over a new conundum...

Lekka and Kan continue their bothersome dialogue as he lays in some strange tub of alien medicine, and I've long since tuned them out.
Tirzi, who was wielding instruments with a fluid grace that defies my expectations for someone lacking any sort of visible manipulators, is tapping a complex series of instructions in a script I can't read into a terminal attached to the tub storing Kan.

The neumono Ekasarra watches me with suspicion and distrust that are incredibly mutual, prone on an examination table, with the more interesting specimen on a table adjacent, strangely passive. At my request, a subvocal microphone is tied around my neck, logging my observations for later review.

The metallic alien called Ku Gat lingers at the doorway, watching me with scrutiny as if waiting for me to make some mistake. He can continue waiting. I am not in the habit of making mistakes.

Tirzi taps a few commands into her terminal, and it speaks for her. "Are you sure now is a good time for this?"
"When will there be a better time?" I take a few moments to familiarize myself with this strange structural scanner, wishing I'd had access to this sort of equipment in the past. I don't know how it works, but I now know what it can do, and to see inside a living organism with such ease...

I start rubbing it on Ekasarra first, figuring some basic familiarity with neumono physiology will let me find the anomalies faster.
I had to tie her arms down because she kept flinching and trying to move them over herself and getting in the way of the scan. Entirely with the specimen's consent, of course, although she wasn't happy to oblige.

Right away, I notice differences within the specimen's body. I start murmuring into my subvocal recording. Not a word leaves my mouth.

"Subject 3, Ekasarra, contains multiple differences in expected physiology, tissue densities irregular, evidence of minor scarring to internal tissue, suggesting very recent healing before regeneration completion. Abnormal concentrations of neural tissue, appearing more voluminous throughout body but concentrated into clusters. Neural activity is not shown on this scanner, purpose-specific tool may need to be constructed to parse and analyse neumono neural activity. Possibly something to talk to Sisirri about. Severe anomalies in left side of body, mostly left arm, neural tissue spreading more fibrous and fractal. Unsure of processes that would result in this, body tissue and muscle appear strangely younger and free of minor regeneration imperfections than surrounding tissue."
>>
No. 924648 ID: 773e32
File 155183516577.png - (14.79KB , 800x600 , salq3-53.png )
924648

After a brief dip in a methanol bath and a quick towel-off, I figure the scanner is sanitized enough for examining the fourth subject. I start with the chest.
"Subject 4, no apparent given name but introduced as 'Lackey'. Surface level discrepancies in fur colouration, markings supposedly natural despite infeasibility of natural occurence of mark--"

Wait. I stare into the scanner and shake it a little. I try the scanner again, stomach.

"...subject... subject organs not in places I'd expect them, stomach and digestive tract shapes more twisting than baseline neumono physiology, neural tissue almost entirely concentrated in areas corresponding to markings on fur, follicles not dyed, can't identify some of these tissue structures, possible extra organs, redunancies? Shapes unfamiliar."

I pause. I put the scanner back onto Ekasarra's stomach. Lower. She scowls at me, but I remove the scanner before she gets a chance to complain. I stare into it, and move the scanner back to Lackey.
I look at the genetic analyser subscreen for a bit.
Huh. That's... huh.

"...Tirzi, where did this neumono come from?"
"Lackey? He's a kiter defector. Answers to Sisirri."
"I could... I could just tell you," says Lackey.
"Yes. Yes you could. Where are you from?"
"I'm a prototype kiter neumono."
"What does that mean?"
"I'm, uh, a prototype. Of a kiter neumono."
"I got that. What makes a kiter neumono different from a regular neumono? I'm not familiar with kiter neumono."
"It's a reconstruction of the neumono morphology, enhanced by kiter biotechnology."
"Wait. You're... artificial?"
"I mean, everyone in the Kiter Empire of note is, so yes? We frown on natural reproduction for being so beyond control and direction."

I nod slowly while I realise with incredible frustration that this might be beyond my skills to fully understand. It seems almost like strands of completely different organisms are interwoven throughout this specimen.
Also, for reasons I'm not going to investigate further, something similar is growing in Ekasarra's reproductive system.

There's a wealth of knowledge to be gained here and I'm realising it's going to be beyond my capacity. I'm going to have to find more information on these 'kiter'. Desperately. I need more kiter specimens. But first, I need to think of a convincing reason to ask to examine this kiter neumono with more privacy. Possibly the other anomalous neumono too. And, as I see Ku by the door, I know this crowded room is not the place. I need somewhere quieter.
>>
No. 924653 ID: 86eb65

Talk with your girlfriend. She manged to get this one so she can probably get you plenty of kiter tests subjects if you ask nicely.

As for how to get privacy? Just mention to the two of them that you notice there happy little bundle of joy and would like to ask some private questions. They should be falling over themselves to not have to talk about it in front of the others.

Besides if we are going to be having a fresh egg joining the group we do need to make sure its going to end up healthy.

Specially when its father is so "special"
>>
No. 924655 ID: b1b4f3

>>924648
Who were the first two subjects? Did you get a chance to analyze Tirzi yet?

Ask for a room of your own that you can use as a lab and second medical bay. Why do you even need an excuse to examine them in private? Lackey is quite capable of defending himself from you, and you should already know Ekasarra is "friends" with Sisirri so she should be "safe from you" as well. You could say you wish to ask them questions which they would probably consider private and personal.
>>
No. 924657 ID: ad51b8

you could ask him if he knows how he was made or even how other kiter are made. While he probably won't give you the fine details it should be able to at least give you an idea and a place to start with. You should also ask the other non kiter aliens in the room what they know of kiter biology. As for more invasive studies... might not be the best idea right now since you're kinda stuck here and besides you have no idea how long you're going to be stuck here so until a deadline presents itself I suggest you take your time and take things slow.

Also on an unrelated note, how's you taking going from fleeing to your life, trying to escape in a time capsule that froze you in time and telported to god knows where, to waking up to Sisirri freeing you and now this? And how often do you stair at Sisirri's "tail" when she's not looking?
>>
No. 924664 ID: cbdfa8

Record that Subject 4 has possibly mated with Subject 3. for scientific purposes.

Ask if you can have privacy with "lackey" and where would be an appropriate place to have this discussion.
>>924655
as for a reason this.

also consulting with your Girlfriend later might be advisable.

make mental note to not stare at Sisirri's tail/behind so obviously.
>>
No. 924667 ID: 12b116

Why does it need to be private? You're going to be stuck here with these aliens for the forseeable future and secrecy doesn't do anything to improve trustworthiness
>>
No. 924675 ID: 91ee5f

>>924648
So how often have you been staring at Sisirri’s butt in order to figure out that the five stripes on her tail bulb are spaced apart from each other proportionally relating to the golden ratio? And does that imply that after all this time apart from her, you still want to have sex with her?

Does seeing this pregnant Neumono remind you that you said you were going to fix Sisirri’s reproductive organs so that you and her could reproduce? Or did you completely forget about that?

Have you considered asking either Tirzi or Sisirri to teach you this strange language that they were speaking to each other with? Have you noticed that Tirzi seems to look like a strange Salikai?

.....also, how does it feel to be in the same room as a bunch of Neumono?

>>924667
Yeah, I agree. Don’t bother with privacy, just start asking your questions.
>>
No. 924680 ID: 080aaf

Doctor-patient confidentiality can go a long way. Bring Ekasarra along with Lackey to ask your personal questions.
>>
No. 924684 ID: e20bdf

I don't know how a fantasy alien regeneration work, but in the real world scars are consequences of a fast healing process that prioritize closing the wound. Amphibious, for example, don't form scars. Their wounds remain open until the entire limb regrow.

Ku is watching because he anticipate hostolities between you and the neumonos. Assuming Tirzi isn't his superior gaining permission from her won't solve the problem, and by is atitude it seems that convincing Ku will be an unlikely result. But neither of them will have grounds to opose if the two neumonos agree to your request.
Use the pregnancy as an excuse. Give Ekasarra a note about the alien pregnancy, and the possible danger it represents, suggesting this subject should be kept quiet, than proceed to ask for permission from Lakey to study his anatomy further in a less crowded room and for Ekasarra to acompany him. If this approach manage to tap into her fear and shame she should become invested in elaborate excuses in your favour.
>>
No. 924689 ID: 977456

You won't get much privacy with their neumono "empathy" broadcasting. Construct an empathy-jammer and an excuse to use it. Maybe something about potentially-harmful interference?

You don't know the capabilities of those who share your workspace, these kiter are apparently hostile, numerous, and capable, your lab, defences, archives, and servants are all beyond reach, apparently galaxies away... you have nothing but disadvantages. Being outnumbered, out prepared, and effectively outmatched, you need a solid reputation as a trustworthy ally. Make sure that all your procedures are optimised to do no lasting harm.

Finally, do your duty as a proud salikai: Caramelldansen!
>>
No. 924694 ID: 10c408

Guys, alerting Tirzi to ekasarra's pregnancy and mutating physiology is far too obvious of a play to make. Ku's still watching us like a freaking hawk to 'make a mistake' and kicking off that shitstorm won't escape his attention.

Our best bet is to most likely to just finish up, log our findings and then badger Ku into showing us to the cafeteria because we're hungry.
>>
No. 924699 ID: 130f18

>>924655
Sound. Seconded.
>>
No. 924743 ID: 1ed92d

>>924648
Ask Sisirri, she has more information on the situation.

Also, she probably knows how the local network and data storage systems work.

You can also just ask Tirzi. She probably has no idea of your background and fetish for biotech, and you can just say, "Hey, I need information on Kiter Biotechnology."
>>
No. 924761 ID: 2202fb

Abortion is probably a good idea. We have no idea if they are biologically stable or if they will end up malformed and only partially functioning. It is pretty irresponsible to bring lives into this world that would only know suffering.
>>
No. 924780 ID: e20bdf

>>924761
It might also be a danger to Ekasarra or even a feral beast.
Kitsiksu insinuated that some Lackey's organs have different genetics to the rest of the body, what insinuates the offspring may have no similarity to the father except for some the gonads. It got even worse when you consider the kiter are against natural birth, meaning their genetic modifications were planed for the functionality of a a fully grown artificially assembled body, what brings the possibility that embryo development may be neglected or damaged. Of course the the presence of functional gonads and sexual organs strongly suggest Voidsong expected something useful to result from natural reproduction, but even in this case the plan would be to pair compatible modify neumonos, not one modify and one natural.
Also, not really all that important considering the plethora of problems with this arrangement, since Lackey was made from Ekasarra that makes them mother and son. How do neumonos deal with incest?
>>
No. 924797 ID: 7d9d06

OH NO EKASARRA YOU HAVE AN ALIEN GROWING IN YOUR ABDOMEN HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED DID THE KITER NEUMONO EVER DO ANYTHING TO YOU THAT MAY HAVE EXPOSED ONE OF YOUR INTERNAL ORGANS TO HIS STRANGE BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
>>
No. 924887 ID: 977456

>>924797
That would be fun, but... do we want to engender a perception of silliness? It might be advantageous but...
Lectures are enjoyable, and this situation does represent a horrific lack of proper quarantine protocols. Lackey is a prototype alien military bioconstruct. Every single part of that description makes mixing it with ones own biology a bad idea. Is it stable? Is it compatible? Are its components randomly hostile? Is it explicitly designed to compromise us in this exact circumstance?

Barring changes or overrides to Ekasarra's biology, she explicitly chose this outcome. It is entirely within possibility that the random assemblage of neumono and not-neumono biology will burn out Ekasarra's brain and puppet her brain-dead corpse around like some sort of vehicle. Far more likely it will just fail, but it ought to have done so already, and Kiter likely made it to overcome alien biology, so what remains is that it will grow uncontrollably and simulate a particularly lethal cancer. If it somehow produces a viable creature, it still remains plausible that it would be genetically programmed as an infiltrator, be so horrifically mutated that it can't function, or have a defect in its empathy or immune system that makes it toxic to be in the vicinity of due to various aggressive defensive systems operating outside of intended parameters. A happy little baby neumono is about the least likely outcome.

Find some basic guidelines on handling unknown biological samples. Read them out to her and explain everything she did wrong. Invite her to continue her suicidal experiment in quarantine with an extensive array of monitoring equipment.
>>
No. 924890 ID: ecd116

>>924761
that also might be too soon a call to make this early in light of the embryo development, at least not without solid evidence that the pregnancy/hybridization will for sure cause health problems for mother & child, will need to do a invasive or close enough in depth body/dna scan on all three of them if possible, let alone the time and resources needed for it before going with the abortion.

even so, the parents should have a say in this plus your reasoning behind this. whatever or not they go though with it will be their choice. even asking for your help in increasing the unborn and mother odds of survival because of your knack and know how in genetics modifications will also be in your favor because they will own you one and have more reason to trust you.
>>
No. 924934 ID: 2cc14c

>>924644
Arkots. Unarmed arkots. Against a living weapon that won't be disarmed unless literally disarmed. Get some guns. And while you should stay far away from the prisoner escort, if you do get conscripted for that, get yourself a gun too.

>>924648
Got to echo >>924743 - why don't you just ask Tirzi?
I'll also add that he'll have a kiter Carax to study soon, so that's another kiter specimen for the study.
What's the plan for that info? New organs to graft? Anti-kiter bioweapons? Knowledge for the sake of knowledge? All of the above?
>>
No. 924945 ID: 8eaf98

I think it was kinda implied that they are fully capable of normal reproduction it is just that they don't, like what is lost by including it, and something is gained however edge its use case is.
>>
No. 924970 ID: fd2d31

>>924797
Are you trying to start up a Alien vibe?
>>
No. 924972 ID: 094652

Ask about Lackey's neural framework. Test him with a few questions about hives and enemy forces. He might have the external appearance of a neumono but he is clearly something else. A courageous yet logical species. Possibly a long-term ally of Salikai.

And if his children breed into the remaining neumono hives, you could end the threat of tribal psychopaths without killing anyone.
>>
No. 924986 ID: e20bdf

>>924970
I bet Kitsiksu loves this movie.
>>
No. 925006 ID: 8eaf98

>>924972
I think the logic might unfortunately be more of a product of having umpteen bazillion lives of memories. Which I think is a product of the creation process than whatever else. Lackey has also not been biased by a similarly large number of years of history.
>>924647
I think >>/questarch/892093 is the source of fractal neural structure (brief & condensed exposure to Lackey's memories) and >>/questarch/879846 is the cause of physiological differences in Ekasarra.
>>
No. 925007 ID: 91ee5f

So, have you thought about banging one of these aliens and/or Neumono?

.....uh oh, looks like you’ve got a little bit of brain damage from being in stasis for too long!
>>
No. 925066 ID: 080aaf

>>924761
Let's not literally throw the baby out with the bathwater. Neumono physiology is especially resilient thanks to this 'empathy' trick of theirs.
>>
No. 925080 ID: 10c408

>>925066
In the other universe, sure.

This particular universe has the kiter empire and their weird paraspecial stuff that if not for the blocking symbiotes (which we still don't have a full grasp of) would have kept driving the neumono insane.
>>
No. 925093 ID: 055cbc

like.. Kitsiksu knows neumono can ONLY get pregnant on PURPOSE, right? Jumping right in with abortion suggestions is probably bad news bears.
>>
No. 925112 ID: 422cea

>>925093
This.

Unless there's something REALLY wrong here, she allowed herself to get preggo.
>>
No. 925129 ID: 977456

If anyone was going to get around that quirk it would be The Kiter. Their biotech is crazy aggressive. Then again, it is probably voluntary. Never attribute to only one of malice and stupidity that which might be neumono.
>>
No. 925280 ID: 2202fb

>>925093
>>925112
Be that as it may, this embryo could be extremely unstable and dangerous not only to the mother and itself but to the entire base. Given how the kiter loathe natural reproduction, i wouldnt be surprised if they encoded some sort of kill-switch into the genome to kill off unauthorized births.

If nothing else, it needs to be removed and isolated in some sort of incubation chamber.
>>
No. 925282 ID: b1b4f3

>>925280
I don't think we have the technology to properly incubate a premature birth, much less a barely-developed fetus.
>>
No. 925283 ID: 977456

We ARE a mad Biologist. A containment unit should not be too difficult to construct if this place has any half-decent scraps(or an arkot could be repurposed?). Still, even one of our calibre would need to prepare the vessel prior to extraction.
>>
No. 925284 ID: f46e5e

>>925280
I personally would guess against a kill agent because basically the ONLY reason the Keter would do it is because they need more bodies and have legit no other way, and thus likely no anti-kill agent, in other words including a kill-agent would nullify the edge case where it would have value.
>>
No. 925286 ID: 977456

>>925284
You are correct of course. It is a way to keep a guerrilla force from succumbing to attrition for decades without any infrastructure. Then again, this is a non-kiter pregnancy. If The Kiter considered this outcome, than it is plausible that they included a code to convert or disable the mother. Suppressing such a mother would serve to dissuade attempts to incorporate Kiter advancements into a hostile population and to prevent breeding prisoners from rebelling.
The fact that the reproductive organs haven't been replaced with at least energy storage proves that they have considered breeding scenarios and a ruthless military mind can come up with selfish reasons to do terrible things to non-Kiter mothers of half-Kiter soldiers.
>>
No. 925382 ID: 8eaf98

>>925286
Good points, I'm still going to vote against it being life-threatening at the very least because it is possible to end up with the only pure Keter forces being only male or only female and killing, potentially willing, non-Keter breeding partners would be counterproductive. this is especially true when full Keter have their sexual desires removed/suppressed and defectors seem... uncommon to say the least, such that unintended breeding is unlikely, the rape scenario can be discounted by requiring fertile events to be intentional rather than involuntary.
>>
No. 925387 ID: 130f18

We already know Voidsong had a child biologically.
>>
No. 925393 ID: 2202fb

>>925387
That may have been sanctioned though.
>>
No. 927993 ID: d88fe2
File 155399567488.png - (263.25KB , 800x600 , salq3-54.png )
927993

>why do you need the knowledge
If I understand anything about the situation I'm in, the "kiter" are the alien military presence making itself aggressively known in many ways. I do not need much convincing; I have seen the drone feeds of the outside world and it is horrendous. I've not come across such a scorched earth swathe of destruction before. Usually, when conquest is the goal, you don't ruin the territory you're trying to acquire. Unless these things eat barren dirt, which I have not ruled out as a possibility, conquest does not seem to be the goal here. But what is the motivation for this level of destruction?
If you want to know what motivates a sapient mind you first need to know what it needs and what it wants. My former contemporaries would have their own approaches to this problem, but I feel going to the basest level of existence can explain a great deal more than a top down approach.
The fact that this apparent empire is composed of fanatically devoted species working at direct odds to their own self-preservation mean all I can draw parallels to are neumono, but even neumono, as violent and unpleasant as they can be, have comprehendable motivators. Stronger and stranger in places, but understandable. Family loyalty and distrust of outsiders are two traits our species hold in common.

These kiter things seem like they're trying to commit murder-suicide on an interstellar scale, and this is so far beyond my ability to rationalise and understand I'm getting dizzy thinking about it again. I'd understand it even if it was some form of death cult, at least academically, but to mobilise an entire civilisation for aggressive self-destruction and keep it going, either I've been dreadfully misinformed (which is what I'm assuming) or something I always thought universal, the drive for self-preservation, is not universal after all.

But if something doesn't have a drive for self-preservation at a species or society level, how does it continue?

The kiter neumono's biology is not shedding light on any of this, beyond being evidence of biotechnology accomplished in a significantly different paradigm and context than anything I'm familiar with. Woven biology assembled piecemeal yet convincingly organic and clearly melded together in ways I've never seen before, neumono flesh in patterns interwoven with fungal hyphae in ways that seem disturbingly natural and sensible. Was this creature grown or assembled? I can't tell. That's the most disturbing part of all of this. There's all sorts of incongruities where it looks like this thing was put together and sewn together but there's no evidence it happened beyond just a general hunch of wrongness.

And to top it all off, these apparently interwoven tissues seem to be feeding off each other constantly. Most bodies are battlegrounds, but this is a constant seething boil of cellular warfare. Yet it functions as a cohesive organism? Even fufa biology was easier to grasp.

I don't feel like I'm looking at a diagnostic report, I feel like I'm looking at a small piece of a larger, apocalyptic puzzle.
>>
No. 927994 ID: d88fe2
File 155399568797.png - (29.99KB , 800x600 , salq3-55.png )
927994

>ask tirzi about kiter
"Tirzi, what do you know about kiter biotechnology?"
Tirzi finishes up whatever she's doing on the terminal and nods to Lekka, who stays by Kan's side, holding his hand with a mixture of pity, irritation, and other emotions I can't pry out. I'm glad I can't feel the emotional wash she's no doubt pushing out to all and sundry right now. I once spoke to a belenosian who expressed some envy over neumono empathy, but I can think of no greater curse than to both leak one's emotional state at all times and have others' forced upon you without your desire. An ever-pervasive field of everyone invisibly complaining about their problems, forever. Horrific.

"Not a lot. I was hoping someone more skilled with this sort of thing might help shed some light on this mess."
"I'll need more time to process this. The information, as well as the situation."
"Sisirri's written some primers on the situation, which you should have access to very soon."
"I would appreciate that information sooner rather than later." She glares at me, opening her mouth to say something. I don't understand it. "At your earliest convenience, of course," I say with all the conflict-avoiding tone and submissive subtle body language I can muster. Slight bow, neutral expression, closed tucked graspers to seem smaller and less threatening. She seems slightly more mollified.
Tirzi's species shares more emotional cues with salikai than I expected. It makes her both more and less alien to me at the same time. Jarring.

>thoughts about banging sisirri
Salikai do not really experience lust in the same way as other species. I am however quite fond of certain aesthetically pleasing shapes and patterns.
>thoughts about banging other aliens
There is some strange elegance in the self-similarity of Tirzi's body, and the sheen and smoothness of her surface disrupted by the errant twitches and brushing waves of her body's fibrous coating is scintillating. The way her jaw serrations meet is oddly satisfying. I find her pleasant to look at.
I associate the sight of neumono with problems so I'm just made uncomfortable around them. Much of my willpower is being exerted not to start burrowing into something to hide.
>>
No. 927995 ID: d88fe2
File 155399571008.png - (36.53KB , 800x600 , salq3-56.png )
927995

>dangerously irresponsible biological substance handling
>emergency abortion
I won't endear a lot of sympathy for panicking and surgically removing whatever is growing inside Ekasarra, and there could be more to learn from letting it develop a little further before removing it. However, it gives me a great excuse...

"I need to examine these two in a quarantine, there has been some... dangerous cross-contamination."
"...cross-contamination?"
"There's evidence of presumably kiter organic structures within Ekasarra's body, and I'm not certain if this is something to be concerned about. I need to isolate these two right away in case whatever it is spreads to the other neumono."

Tirzi's eyes widen. Lekka looks up in sudden alarm.
"Investigate," says Lekka, succinct and to the point. "If there's any risk of some strange alien pathogen that's affecting neumono, then get these two quarantined immediately."
"I... don't think I have an unused quarantine room at such short notice, the only other place I'd be able to think of is the one housing Sisirri's arkots. There is a backroom in this lab but that's where the pomi's recovering."
"This is a high risk situation. Do you honestly have no medical quarantine?"

Tirzi taps her claw at her mouth. "There's a sterile storage room I'm using to store dried fungi. That can work for now, but you'll need to move the boxes out first. I'll tell Aza to get a haulage drone down there while I type out the directions." She starts tapping inefficiently at her terminal with her middle limbs, which I did not know were even functional. Fascinating.

Fantastic. Now--

"I'm not an idiot, salikai," says Ekasarra, just quietly enough so only Lackey and myself can hear. "I'm not going with you to a quarantine room so you can start experimenting on me. I know when a salikai is looking at me like materials for some experiment. You better tell me what this is actually about, because there's more than a few people who will know something's wrong if I go missing."
>>
No. 927996 ID: d88fe2
File 155399574325.png - (41.66KB , 800x600 , salq3-57.png )
927996

Lackey also stares into my eyes, but remains lying on the table. "You aren't the Director, Kitsiksu. Sisirri has proven herself to be worthy of my attention and respect. You have not earned that by association alone."
I don't remember giving this one my name.
"If you're intending to study my biology to determine its weaknesses, I will be forced to take steps to prevent this. Understand that."

Okay, so I now need to convince these two to come with me. Ugh. Working with sapient organisms is so much more of a hassle.

I keep my voice low, forcing a slight smile. "We all know full well what I meant by kiter structures in Ekasarra's body, and if you two want to keep this quiet I strongly suggest you let me investigate further before I find out your dalliance is slowly killing one or both of you."

Ekasarra's eyes widen and she averts her gaze, mumbling "fine" in embarassment.
Lackey, however, remains unconvinced. I try another tactic. "If your kind abhors natural birth, what is this you're trying to accompli--"
"It was not my decision," says Lackey, almost spitting the words at me. Ekasarra shifts uncomfortably, and the other neumono in the room flinch.
Great. I was trying to keep this quiet and then neumono empathy had to ruin everything. Like it always does.
"Control your empathy," I hasten to add. "You're not helping me keep this quiet from everyone--"

"Keep it quiet? Keep it quiet?!" says Lackey in a very loud voice. "Hey, everyone--"
Ekasarra violently shakes her head at Lackey.

He looks at her, glares, and stands. His eyes start looking... I'm not sure how I would describe it. Hazy? "I have an announcement to make."

Tirzi, Kan, and the other neumono all pause whatever it is they're doing and look to Lackey, sitting on an examination table, while Ekasarra starts writhing against her arm restraints. "NO YOU DON'T! NO HE DOESN'T! LACKEY IF YOU DON'T STAY QUIET RIGHT NOW--"
"Ekasarra tricked me into impregnating her," continues Lackey, an odd chill in his voice as he does so. I don't have the capacity to feel empathy, but the neumono all go silent, and even I feel some sort of cold chill through my body. From the way Tirzi and Ku react, so do they.

"I didn't... I didn't trick you into anythi--"
"Yes you did."
"Why didn't you say anything before?!"
"I have weighed my options," says Lackey, the cadence of his voice sounding slightly off. Almost mechanical, rote. "Preserve what little remains of your social standing, or preserve my own freedom from manipulation. I have been forced to make a decision. I chose my own freedom. It is worth more to me than the social standing of someone who has already manipulated me into actions against my desires."

The entire room goes awkwardly quiet.
>>
No. 927997 ID: d88fe2
File 155399576404.png - (44.79KB , 800x600 , salq3-58.png )
927997

"I mentioned the kiter abhor natural birth," continues Lackey. "I do not have any connection to whatever unplanned mistake is in there beyond genetics. Stolen genetics. If the kiter ever know what is inside you," he says, looking at Ekasarra, "they are going to throw you into an enzyme vat to make sure no trace of you remains. The Kiter Empire does not take risks when it comes to--"
"SHUT UP!"
"I'm stating facts," says Lackey with a tone so flat and free of emotion I'm in awe.
"I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU!!"
"So did I."

In the tension that follows, Lekka is the first to speak. I feel like I can almost see something snap from the way her expression darkens.

"Both of you, pack it in. I have enough on my plate with Kan's constant backstabbing without needing to worry about you two having a lover's quarrel and polluting the air with your sulking. Salikai, I don't know what your name is, honestly don't really care, go take one of them for examination. Whichever of you stays behind, get to the other side of the room and stay there until the salikai comes back. And for Astra's sake, if you feel like you're going to sneeze or something, point your idiot snouts away from me and Kan. Are we clear?"

Ekasarra nods, as do I. Lackey does not.

"I SAID, ARE WE CLEAR, SOLDIERS?!"

Lackey winces and nods his head, before mumbling about turning Lekka inside out when no one's looking. Not very quietly, for that matter.

Lekka marches up to Lackey, full of righteous fury. "LISTEN HERE, TURNCOAT! YOU ARE ON THIN FUCKING ICE AND IF YOU WEREN'T A WEIRD FUCKED-UP NUDIST REPLICA OF A NEUMONO WORKING FOR A SALIKAI I WOULD COURT-MARTIAL THE FUCK OUT OF YOU FOR THAT REMARK! DO WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING?!"
"People who are truly powerful do not need to resort to crude shouting to get others to follow them--"
Lekka leans into Lackey's face. "DO WE HAVE. AN UNDERSTANDING."
"I could end you--"
Lekka grabs Lackey's hand. Paw. Not sure. "YES OR NO QUESTION, LACKEY."
"Yes, ma'am!" I'm not sure what it is, but direct skin contact seems to have suddenly snapped Lackey into compliance, as well as abrupt terror. Interesting. Must investigate later.

Lekka shoves a knee into Lackey's stomach, as he goes down grunting and groaning. "That's for wasting my fucking time and not just saying 'yes' to start with, you fucking mannequin!"

Lekka makes eye contact with me and my limbs all immediately tense as I look around for the nearest air vent.
"YOU! Which of these two idiots do you want to check up on or check out or whatever the fuck it is you want?"
"I legitimately only have their best interests in mind--"
"I don't care how the fuck you want to try and justify whatever it is you want to do, alright? We all know you'll spin whatever the fuck it is you want to do into something that sounds innocuous and fair and then do something horrible on the side because I have known your type before over and over, and I'm not talking salikai, I'm talking sneaky fucks like you in particular. I've been hanging around Sisirri for so long I almost forgot what most of you were like. Pick one."
"Why one?"
"Oh my fucking god are you really this dense. If I didn't step in just now they'd probably be strangling each other. We need to keep them separate until we have fewer problems to address, you hopeless snake bug! WHICH. ONE."

Well I think I just remembered why neumono terrify me!
>>
No. 927998 ID: 12b116

take ekasarra and see what's growing in her guts
>>
No. 927999 ID: 130f18

The kiter seems to have some sort of rapport or loyalty towards Sisirri. Speaking to it privately to establish a similar understanding may be best.
>>
No. 928000 ID: 575ec0

Ekasarra. Her situation really could be urgent.

That fetus is a goldmine of data. While Lacky's body is totally alien, The hybrid fetus will have known Neumono tissues that can serve as a starting point for analysis by studying their interactions with the Kiter tissues.

You should do everything in your power to preserve the hybrid.
>>
No. 928001 ID: 080aaf

I think you can add full telepathy and a lack of tact to the growing list of Lackey's powers.
Pick Lackey. That was the whole point of starting this charade. If a sample from Lackey's kiter biology doesn't annihilate a sample of Ekasarra's neumono biology, you're probably in the clear. Then you can get onto the more interesting stuff.
>If you're intending to study my biology to determine its weaknesses, I will be forced to take steps to prevent this. Understand that.
Who would he be taking measures on behalf of - the empire, or himself?
>>
No. 928007 ID: 094652

Ekasarra. Lackey just stabbed her in the back and she's emotionally compromised, this may be your one chance to show her you're not some inhuman abortion machine.

Have Sissiri talk to Lackey, she's the only one he respects. Do NOT poke the fetus when examining or Ekasarra could become the next Kan.
>>
No. 928009 ID: b1b4f3

>>927997
Lackey's personality seems to shift drastically between extremes on a daily basis. This is going to be a problem... Are you any good at psychology? Not neumono psychology, as Lackey isn't really one of them.

Take Ekasarra. Lackey is not calm at all which means he could snap and cause severe harm to your person. Also, seeing how the baby grows will give you MUCH more insight into how Lackey's biology works than you will get trying to analyze the finished product. Lastly, Ekasarra should be very quickly informed as to whether or not the baby will be dangerous to her.

You can also try to explain yourself to her, why you're so interested in examining her and Lackey. It's to understand why the Kiter seem so self-destructive. The truth is harmless, so why not just state it openly?
Consider asking Sisirri later about how she convinced the others she wasn't manipulating them. You're not doing a great job at it so far.
>>
No. 928010 ID: 1ed92d

>>927997
In fairness, Kitsiksu, you're kind of terrible at both reading social cues and manipulating people. Also, not great at reading situations either, which explains the 'bridge incident'... Still, study the pregnant one, since she's the only one actually in danger here. Lackey's just some weird alien clone warrior so he'll probably be fine.

....Also, be honest, he can probably read your thoughts. How else could he get your name?
>>
No. 928013 ID: e20bdf

From what you've see inside Lackey Ekasarra might actually die. Watching this happen without interfering would be the most informative approach but would be excuse enough for you to be blamed. Instead let's go for the second best experiment: remove the embryo (and the surrounding organ just because) and develop it in a separate tank.
Of course, your first proposal to Ekasarra shouldn't be putting her insides in a jar. Explain to her how Lackey's alien tissues predate each other and the high chance of the creature inside her develop into a malformed expansive mass that will consume her from within. Emphasize how dangerous this pregnancy is to her life. Offer first the termination of her pregnancy and the disposal of the fetus and the organs in contact in an attempt to avoid contamination. Only suggest the use of an artificial womb as a second option for this enthusiastic mother put her hopes on.
>>
No. 928015 ID: bcc41d

Yeah, you stepped right out into an emotional minefield there. Neither one of your test subjects will appreciate you prompting this event. Really steppin' into the Salikai stereotype here, too. On the up side, the most terrifying individual in the room just gave you the go-ahead to get.

Pick Ekasarra. It's the more practical choice, because you already know Neumono biology, and you might be able to reverse engineer some additonal understanding of this Kiter bullshit from the process and progress of her pregnancy. Don't try to leverage her desire to have kids to convince her of anything - at least anything other than letting you study how the situation develops.

Do not act like a caring doctor spouting the most reasonable-seeming answers - you plain risk continuing being seen as a manipulative git. Keep to clinical detachment and inform Ekasarra in layman's terms of your observations and the hypothetical risks of her pregnancy modified only by how utterly crazy Kiter biotech is. Outright admit your present ignorance and act like the researcher you are. Be up front about your intent to study how this crazy meld of Neumono and Kiter biotech works in the hope that you can a) learn something of this highly advanced biotechnology and b) verify it not becoming a threat to this refugee group which you're now a part of.

>hanging around Sisirri for so long I almost forgot what most of you were like

Make a mental note to ask her for tips, because apparently Sisirri's way better at dealing with people who hate her guts than you. Maybe there's hope for the Salikai species yet.
>>
No. 928016 ID: 86eb65

Ekasarra has the more dangerous situation.

Lacky is just being a surly kid so he can wait.
>>
No. 928017 ID: bc3a02

There's no really need for lackey outside comparison on makeup and what might be growing. Ekasarra.
>>
No. 928018 ID: 2202fb

Take Eksarra, and ask for Tirzi to come too. You need to know what is and isnt feasible regarding the situation.

--

That wasn't neumono that scared you, that was a drill sergeant. The difference may be subtle at times.

--

Make a mental note to talk to Lekka after the majority of the heat here blows over. We need to know if that contact thing was a neumono thing or a kiter thing we can exploit (or both).
>>
No. 928022 ID: 91ee5f

>>927997
>I've been hanging around Sisirri for so long I almost forgot what most of you were like.
From the sounds of things, it seems like Lekka actually trusts Sisirri and isn’t being racist in thinking she’s going to betray her. Maybe you should follow Sisirri’s example in order to get on Lekka’s good side? In other words, actually do what you said you would do, without any of the “sneaky” stuff she thinks you’re going to do.

>Well I think I just remembered why neumono terrify me!
Do yourself a favor and do not become so scared you end up peeing yourself out of fear!

>pick one
Pick Ekasarra
>>
No. 928030 ID: 8eaf98

Choose Ekasarra.
Lacky is having mental issues, not physical issues, while those could become physical Lacky seems to have entirely too many lifetimes of experience to tempter himself with. at the very least Lacky seems less time sensitive of an issue.
>>
No. 928038 ID: ad51b8

>Ekasarra

Because with her you actually can understand neumono biology and can get a good baseline on what is and isn't normal and then look at the kid growing in here to see how it's effecting her. Also I would highly, HIGHLY recamend that at this point in time you do actually just study whatever biological data you can and don't try any mad science even if it could be help because as of right now EVERYONE seems to be on edge and any slight, real or imagined, could set everyone off and while yes that can be useful to pull it is generally much more detrimental if you're trapped inside with them when it happens.

So for now play nice, learn what you can, and try to keep your head down. At least until everyone starts to calm down. Like it or not, you're stuck here with everyone for the foreseeable future, do try to at least pretend to get along and don't rock the boat unless you have to.
>>
No. 928039 ID: 06fdc0

Lackey behaving erratically while breaking trust and damaging the group dynamic? Is he being compelled by an outside force to do this?
>>
No. 928047 ID: 2cc14c

Wow, no wonder Lekka's the leader. She recognized an explosively emotional situation, and immediately shut it down before it escalated. When she saw 1045's insubordination, she refused to let it go and forced him to stop. Everyone may hate her for now (Kan too, there was that backstabbing quip), but that means nobody hates each other. They're even united in hating her. This is how you manipulate. LEARN FROM THIS. Note one thing though, Kitsiksu. Despite the accusation of you possibly doing something horrid, she's allowing it. While she is warning you, she sees the value of what you're doing. I suggest you not abuse this, everyone's going to be suspicious and Lekka's ire will be aimed at you. And while you may be terrified, talking with Lekka about the Kiter goals may be your best bet because she's the one of the few that will provide solid military analysis. Later, though, this is still explosively emotional.
If she's this good and is only the acting commander, it makes me wonder how good their previous leader was.

So, Kitsiksu, what's with the tenacle eye?
>>
No. 928054 ID: fd2d31

Choose Ekasarra.

And might wanna brief Lekka (apart from the obvious Tirzi and Sisirri with the promise from both of them keeping it hush-hush) about the fetus situation if it proves to be dangerous in any way.

She's a military leader, so even as a neumomo she should know how to control her emotions to a certain degree, can't be a military leader while leaking sensitive details per emotions or openly panic.
>>
No. 928055 ID: fd2d31

Might wanna get Sisirri to tell Lackey that "There's no I in team".
>>
No. 928057 ID: f2320a

>>927997
ekasarra
>>928013
We should mention this stuff we must inform her how self-destructive the biotech is and the risks but we must mention all the options like a artifical womb
>>
No. 928071 ID: 58b4f3

Pick Ekasarra
>>
No. 928119 ID: 52782b

>>927997
Eskarra, she's the one with the most to lose if this mess goes worse than it already is, and you can at least tell what is going on instead of watching an ecosystem pretend it's a computer.
>>
No. 928158 ID: 4dc321

Wasn't the whole point of this to study Lackey?

Study Lackey.
>>
No. 928188 ID: ac9acb

Ekasarra is the one in need of medical assistance, therefore she's the one giving an opportunity to be seen providing some. Pick her.
>>
No. 928189 ID: b1b4f3

Oh and of course Ekasarra is gonna be mopey about Lackey rejecting her. Tell her this is a clear advantage of the Salikai breeding method. It's a business relationship.
>>
No. 928206 ID: 25554f

>>927997
The mother and child is more important more with the hybrid made from self destructive biotech inside her lets hope they dont have any self destruction built in
>>
No. 928207 ID: 25554f

>>927997
The mother and child is more important more with the hybrid made from self destructive biotech inside her lets hope they dont have any self destruction built in
>>
No. 928224 ID: 2cc14c

>>928189
Bad idea. Lemme explain.
Say you were just rebuked by someone you were with. The wound is fresh, and your emotions are in mixed turmoil. Then your friend's friend, some smug ass, says their type of relationship is superior. 99 out of 100 times it'd go south. That said, it might be in character for Kitsiksu to be so clueless...
If you're going that way, you might bring it up as an aside if Ekasarra talks about it. Something like "Have you considered Salikai-style breeding arrangements?"
>>
No. 928255 ID: 2fb5cd

>>928071
this
>>
No. 928276 ID: 977456

Can we send a shiver down Sisirri's spine-equivalent on account of yet another social disaster?

Hey! Kitsiksu! You ever wonder if not all of your thoughts are your own? Maybe you sometimes act a little out-of-character?
>>
No. 929663 ID: 7d9d06

I'm still trying to grasp how Lackey thinks he was tricked into biological reproduction. Wasn't he the one talking about sexual partners and courting rituals? Did he intend to refuse her sexual advances, and not realize that sticking it in her was a sexual advance?

Anyway she'll be much more useful than him. He's going to be preventing you from discovering his "weak points" obstructing you from learning anything about him at all, whereas she's more likely to listen to reason, once you tell her about how her baby is more likely to burst out of her chest than come out the normal way.

Wait, neumono aren't normally born by clawing their way out of their mother's chest, are they? You didn't hear any monster stories like that about neumono as a child, did you?
>>
No. 929695 ID: fd2d31

>>929663
AFAIK he's got the wisdom of the many minds that inhabited the bodies that were used as a template to create his.
But he doesn't have the experiences or memories of learning said wisdom.

Basically he's the gene manipulated war equivalent of a book banging nerd with no real-life experience behind the source of his knowledge.
>>
No. 929701 ID: 094652

>>929695
Lackey has an extreme version of schizophrenic bipolar disorder; imagine if he was forced to directly listen to millions of chopped-up sentences of suggesters without any turn pause. So he might think he was 'convinced' one moment only to instigate he was 'tricked' in another.
>>
No. 929707 ID: fd2d31

>>929701
That's a meta description of almost any *quest.
>>
No. 931555 ID: 317977
File 155666027885.png - (54.51KB , 800x600 , salq3-59.png )
931555

>Lackey's acting erratic
I don't have enough of a frame of reference to know how this pseudo-neumono's regular state of acting is.

>learn from Lekka
She did just demonstrate a strong leadership in a situation of potential crisis. Hm.

>what's with the eye tentacles
Ah. Yes. The emergency system.

It's not particularly elegant, I'm aware, but they're the optical terminii of a symbiotic fungal network stretching throughout my body. While I'm conscious I have complete control over its functions and access to all its sensory receptors. If anything were to happen that would render me unconscious or insensate, this is my backup plan. It will move me away from the danger. I've tested it. It... isn't perfect. It acts as I would, but far more rash and less calculating. It was designed for fast response, after all. Just has to get me out of danger and somewhere I can come to.

...no, the incident on the bridge was not because of the emergency network, that was unfortunately my own stupidity. However, it does a very good job of feigning my own alertness if I need it to. It's not really a directly distinct consciousness or even much of its own intellect.

I tested it back when I had arkots and it, well, terrified some of them half to death. Something about unnatural jerky movement and the general impression of a salikai corpse that's being moved around by something else. Not really that inaccurate.

Of course, now we know there's other fungal strangeness on this world posing active hostilities, I should probably disclose this trick of mine before someone assumes I've been biologically compromised.
>>
No. 931556 ID: 317977
File 155666030071.png - (13.29KB , 800x600 , salq3-60.png )
931556

>take Ekasarra, she's in danger
"Ekasarra," I say with more meekness than I wanted. "Let me just collect some tools." I put my graspers to work picking up various bits and pieces and by the time I'm ready to leave, Lackey is near the door.

"You are no Voidsong, fleshweaver," he mutters to me. "This is beyond you just as the hive networks of the neburi are beyond the Director. Do not attempt to manipulate what you can't understand or there will be terrible consequences."
"Are you threatening me?" I ask, genuinely uncertain.
"No. I'm trying to warn you. And I know your type, warped by your own self indulgence," he says, casually rubbing at his right eye. "So you won't listen, but at least you'll know you were warned."

"You know nothing about me, my species or my knowledge. Get out of the way."
Lackey shrugs and walks away, shooting Ekasarra one more look of distaste before he's abruptly dragged away by Lekka.

"GET HER OUT OF HERE!" shouts Lekka. "THAT'S AN ORDER!"
I don't recall her being in charge but I'm not risking this situation exploding any further.
>>
No. 931558 ID: 317977
File 155666050838.png - (39.24KB , 800x600 , salq3-61.png )
931558

I somehow arrive at the storage room, dimly lit, one crate of whatever goods the salazzarine talked about.

"Lay down on the crate," I say. "None of you appreciate my bedside manner when I try, so I will be swift and direct with my instructions."
Ekasarra quietly nods, lies down on the crate, and starts sobbing.

"I don't have time for this," I mutter to myself. "You shouldn't have interacted with this genetic wreck. Your kind is so quick to let inflamed emotion wreak utter havoc on your judgement. You're smarter than that as a species, I've seen it, and yet you will throw reason and rationale out the window at the very slightest opportunity. And then you injure yourselves physically, mentally, emotionally, and you recover and go and do it again. I used to wonder why neumono had such regeneration but the simple answer is your kind couldn't exist any other way!"

Ekasarra keeps sobbing throughout, and... just keeps nodding at the things I say. I'm not really expecting any specific reaction so much as venting at her, but I wasn't expecting her to have this reaction.

"He was different," she says, calming down only a little. "He wasn't a neumono. And I don't feel like one either. I thought we could be outcasts together and then it turns out... I don't even know! I thought I understood him! I did! And then he just... I don't..."

"I'm not here to listen to your relationship troubles. I'm here to check something about your biology."
I run the scan over her stomach again. "You really shouldn't have tried to breed with a creature like that."
Ekasarra's tears start to subside as she looks at me in fear. "Wh... what?"
"The kiter neumono microbiology is a constant ongoing battle between regenerative modified neumono tissue and forms of tissue I've never seen before, vaguely like fungal hyphae and nerve connections at the same time." I have seen it before, but not so smoothly integrated and expertly crafted. "And forms of tissue that I thought were mineral crystals until I saw them move." That I legit hadn't seen before. "The fact this is viable at all inside you suggests it's going to keep growing. I don't know what it will become but the risk to your own life is severely high. I suppose the fact your womb would keep it isolated from the rest of your body normally might provide some protection, but that would only delay the highly probable scenario of this... mass entering the rest of your body."
>>
No. 931559 ID: 317977
File 155666052224.png - (89.97KB , 800x600 , salq3-62.png )
931559

Ekasarra is silent.

"Now, I'm not sure what should be done here. It has to be removed from your body, absolutely, but we could possibly find some way to keep it gestating in a controlled environment. What do you think?"

Ekasarra states up at the ceiling.

"Ekasarra?"
"...take it out. Destroy it. Whatever it is. No one and nothing wants it anyway," she mutters half through angry tears. "I'm an idiot. No, actually don't remove it. I deserve whatever's coming to me for all of this. All of this is my fault."
"That's incredibly unwise and unhelpfully self-destructive--"
"WHAT DO YOU CARE?!"
She smacks her fists to her sides. "What does anyone care?! No one does, no one has, no one will. Just let me get eaten alive by whatever stupid fucking mistakes I made. I give up. I'm done." She tears up again. "I'm done, Kitsiksu. I'm done. I'm a failure to my hive, I never truly belonged in my hive, I'm a failure as a rogue, I'm a failure as a neumono and I can't even try being something other than a neumono properly. I'm over it. I don't want to continue being this thing. Maybe letting some alien eat me from the inside is the best thing I could do for anyone right now."

I was not expecting complete resignation.

I... huh. I've not seen a neumono like this one before.
>>
No. 931564 ID: 86eb65

Are you done yet?

Because no body gets to kill themselves until we are all safe.

You made a bad choice in a very stressful situation and will regret any choices you make right now later.

As you have given up for the moment I will make the choices. I will remove the "egg" growing inside of you and keep it in a well contained nutrient bath.

That way once you two idiot lovebirds realize your mistakes you will not be trying to stab me for doing exactly what you asked for.
>>
No. 931565 ID: ad51b8

...I'm going to suggest to just leave her under observation right now. Just set something up to let you track the growth of the newborn and just let this one sit for now until emotions are cooler. As if you try to remove it I feel she will freak out and if she dies then EVERYONE is going to freak out. So let her lay down, calm down, and just have something watch whatever is growing inside her grow.

Maybe let her commander know that whatever is growing inside her might kill her, might not, decided to try and let people calm down and regain their full metal functions before asking what they want you to do with it and for now just have it under observations until more data can be retrieved and everyone has calmed the fuck down.

Oh and maybe go looking for an artificial womb to put it in incase they do have you take it out later.
>>
No. 931567 ID: 0fae41

Rather than a slow and painful death, or a quick and hasty termination, either of which you'd likely grow to regret, just try and accelerate the process to the stage where the "egg" is out of her body as soon as possible. Can the medical supplies at this facility aid in immune response? Frequent trips to the healing bath are the best we can do probably. Oh, and rations. She's going to need extra rations to keep herself in top shape. So, food remains a high priority.
>>
No. 931571 ID: ba56e6

"I wouldn't say 'no one.' Sisirri described you as oddly approachable. From a salikai to a neumono, that is high praise."
>>
No. 931572 ID: e20bdf

Let her know that watching the uninterrupted development of this embryo would be far more informative. If she truly want to take this self destructive path we would be happy to monitor her development with minimal interference to diminish her suffering.
>>
No. 931573 ID: afdebc

>>931559
"...as your doctor I'm going to say you are not in the correct state of mind to be making decisions of this magnitude."

>I... huh. I've not seen a neumono like this one before.
Have you seen anyone else in a state like this? Your experience with intelligent beings generally is likely to be more useful than any experience you have with neumono specifically.
>>
No. 931575 ID: 8eaf98

I'm thinking if it doesn't look like it is actively trying to spread it should be ok for now. just need to keep vigilant observation to make sure that doesn't change for the short term at least. Also suicide means locking in that failure and refusing to even attempt reform. Additionally you dying would make things worse, if you are going to die at least try to make that death have positive meaning. We don't need a alien baby right now, we need an adult with experience.
>>
No. 931576 ID: 8d4593

For me to be able to study your body as this alien trainwreck takes over would advance my knowledge decades, centuries even.
But somehow I don't think your death would help our situation.
I still haven't wrapped my head around it. One impossible thing after another keeps happening.
There's some greater intelligence at work here. Some rhyme and reason as to why we specifically are all here.
We're all alive when we very well shouldn't be. All of us. Even that fetus there.
I can't make this easier for you, all I can do is keep you alive. Please. Let me do my work.
It's really all I can do...
>>
No. 931581 ID: b1b4f3

>>931559
That is an unacceptable decision. Tell her she has demonstrated the inability to decide for herself, so you are simply going to put it in artificial gestation until she has recovered mentally and emotionally enough to decide what to do with it. Do tell her that she has an unknown amount of time before it becomes conscious enough to be considered a person.

Personally I think the best thing we can do is treat it like it could explode into a horrible monster at any moment, until it shows signs of turning into a person-shaped thing. At that point we treat it like it will become a person, with all the dignity and ethics that entails. Compassion and understanding seem to work well in this facility, while aggression and paranoia do not.
>>
No. 931585 ID: 977456

Well, it is... a useful study opportunity, potentially enlightening about the enemy technology, and maybe, just maybe, a boost to morale if it is viable. Explain this to her and ask for assistance constructing an artificial womb, quarantine, feint quarantine, backup quarantine, extraction procedure, projections of normal growth patterns, long term observation, and, if by some miracle it is both viable and not a pre-programmed saboteur/soldier/homicidal-maniac-bomb, a care-giver. Sisirri could help with automation...

>>931555
And now I need Terrified Arkot Quest :(
>>
No. 931586 ID: bcc41d

Stare at her in mute disbelief for a few seconds. Tell her you can leave the alien biotech within her womb, but there is no guarantee it will ever reach a viable state. Confirm that if she is sure she wants this.

If she confirms, tell her that you will do what you can. Whatever self-destructive Neumonic slump she's gotten herself into, barring a total disaster you will try to keep her alive, despite what she may wish. You will go on record that you did not recommend her to make this decision. Frankly, you may be overruled from letting her make the decision - but her life is hers to gamble and you will at least thoroughly study the process of how she lives or dies and how this 'child' grows. With any luck it will not be a waste of your time, this facility's resources and, ultimately, her being.

If she changes her mind, you will be open to perform surgery to remove the thing from her body any time, although at some point - you are not sure how soon - it will probably be too late.

Now, you'll probably have to figure out some way for the thing to 'stay' within her womb if it shows indications it won't. Careful applications of electronic stimuli? ... probably too tame, and may empower it for all you know. This IS Kiter biotech, so perhaps you should fight fire with fire. One of those paraspacial jammer biological things may be used or modified to create a barrier or line of separation between Ekasarra and her unborn. Like a proverbial electric fence or a cattle prod, applied whenever it tries reaching beyond where it shouldn't. At least you could verify whether it'll have some of the same superpowers as Lackey and thus be of that kind of danger, as well.

Hmh. You might need to do something to help out with the food situation, too. Dietary requirements should be high.
>>
No. 931588 ID: c3d195

If it's going to turn into anything resembling a neumono mentally won't it need empathic contact? How are we going to wrangle that if we remove it.
>>
No. 931598 ID: 2cc14c

>I... huh. I've not seen a neumono like this one before.
Actually, you have. Kan, right after Sisirri subdued him. Maybe it's related? Some empathy bleedover made it all worse?
Either way, >>931573 is right, Ekasarra is too unstable for this. Lekka is the only neumono that seems any sort of stable or sane right now, and you're not social enough to help. Perform the examination, and leave Ekasarra and "Junior" to Lekka. Though when you're done, you may wish to give Ekasarra an option if Lekka fails to help. Something along the lines of "If you see no value in your life at all, then endow it to me and Sissiri rather than waste it." It may stop her from... throwing away the life of a willing test subject.
>>
No. 931604 ID: 2202fb

>>931559
Tell her you are trying to care as much as you can, although you doubt that means much to her. If that (most likely) doesnt work, just sit and let her rant for a while whilst preventing her from leaving and self-harm. After that, maybe call in someone to help with the emotional side of things. You are no therapist and that is what she desperately needs.

>>931585
You know, it may be safer to just remove her entire uterus. I assume it would regenerate as per neumono regeneration and this would ensure nothing is left behind. It should be fairly straightforward to keep the uterus alive via equipment and keep the embryo gestating inside.

--

A report should be written up for the leader neumono about the risks of roguish collapse. She needs to reassess things and objectively find a plan of action.

She should also have a long talk with Ekasarra.
>>
No. 931616 ID: 395c02

... Almost wonder if we shouldn't get Lackey in here. If anyone is going to be able to keep Ekasarra from accidentally dying over this it'd be the guy with paraspacial abilities, and maybe some good old-fashioned emotional trauma of the sort he might get from knowing she's right back to wanting to off herself as a result of his actions might get him to be a little more useful to us.
>>
No. 931626 ID: 91ee5f

>>931559
Tell her to calm down. If necessary, slap her and tell her to snap out of it.

Then tell her that she’s not in a rational state of mind to be making these kinds of decisions and she should collect her thoughts before she acts on any of these decisions. Once she’s calmed down and she’s had time to think, that’s when she should make her decision.

And if she truly believes that she doesn’t belong with the other Neumono, then instead of throwing away her life, she should give it to you and Sisirri. Both of you could use an assistant that actually speaks, instead of talking in gibberish like the Arkots.
>>
No. 931627 ID: 094652

"So you're a hated failure. Fine. I believe you. You're also here. In a mausoleum for immortals. Waging war against two galactic threats. Gestating what could either be our greatest ally or our complete doom. You're at the center of the greatest heroic ballad that the rest of your bratty, abusive hive is unworthy of witnessing, and you're just waiting to die.

That's just plain @#$%ing disgusting.

Comic book heroes may have biased ranks of superiority but what matters the most is that they're in the thick of the conflict, representing what they stand for. Nobody wants to read about 'Invincible Rock Guy', the unkillable paragon of rock arts who spends fifty issues standing motionless on a spiral-edge comet. But everyone wants to read about Trikk, the loser jerkface who somehow manages to get involved with a cosmic battle to preserve the multiverse.

You're at the center of the galaxy. If you're suffering because you were bullied by everyone, you can call everyone out right now, and they will hear you, and they will learn what horrible things they have done. Or else there will be another Ekasarra who is also abused by her hive. And another, and another, forever.

But if you want to be like that screaming @#$% who tried to shank me for his dead girlfriend, then go ahead."
>>
No. 931629 ID: 54a4da

>>931564
Yeah, pretty much that.
For both of them, their state of mind makes them unsuitable for irreversible decisions.
>>
No. 931631 ID: 5ba090

>>931627
I feel like some of the language here would be better served in a softer form, but I agree with the main point. This whole situation is frankly, pretty incredible and dangerous, and there's a not insignificant chance none of you make it out alive. She might be having a crisis with her identity, how she fits into society, okay. But there is no society here, its just you guys, doing as best you can to survive. She can fit into this group for the time being.
Okay i think im describing this badly but basically, i think she should focus on the immediate situation of being stuck on this planet and being in danger from Kiter empire. Those things can give her life meaning at least for bow, if she chooses to focus on them.
>>
No. 931656 ID: f2320a

>>931559
so ideas try to make a artifical womb to transplant the fetus in so it can grow without killing the mother
also stuff we must get out of the way we are all slowly starving so we need to make some kind of plant adapted to this soil to get a stable source of nutrients and material for experiments
>>
No. 931659 ID: 2202fb

>>931656
We could also grow meat. The neumonos could donate a small flesh sample to start if we cant find an alternate source.

--

It might be a good idea to ask the facility AI if there is a food source or food maker/replicator/spawner/creator of some sort here that we either dont know about or dont know how to operate. This place is pretty huge after all.
>>
No. 931661 ID: 422cea

>>931659
Ear farm.

Issue is we have frugivores.
>>
No. 931663 ID: 2202fb

>>931661
Was there a reason why we dont just try planting the seeds from the fruit? Do they not have seeds? Hell, the kiter and moth alien both found fruit, maybe they know where it came from. Maybe there is a tree we could transplant inside of the lab.
>>
No. 931666 ID: f2320a

>>931663
we must really ask them about the fruit
>>
No. 931668 ID: 2202fb

We could also try growing the fruit the same way we would grow meat. It is just cellular replication after all.

One concern I have though is how we will get nutrients to grow it. I mean, we clearly have it in some form as we have been able to heal massive injuries, but idk if there is a finite supply. We should investigate the condition of our medical stores at some point. If supplies are a non-issue, then artificially growing sheets of fruit, fungus, and meat is probably the best way to go.
>>
No. 931671 ID: 2202fb

Moved my last two posts to the dis thread.
>>
No. 931674 ID: 2202fb

Another food option would be to investigate Kitsiksu's servitor tribe and see if we can cut a deal. They apparently have a hydroponic garden down there somewhere, and we have their literal god.
>>
No. 931675 ID: 055cbc

>>931661
Well, real issue is that growing meat from a larger organism requires more calories than you get from the meat. Ears are not a food source, they're an emergency ration, or protein conversion at best.
>>
No. 931716 ID: 2202fb

>>931675
no, not just farming the neumono, i mean cutting an ear off, and then having the cells grow in a lab. Your problem still stands, but in a lab, you can be more creative with where those calories come from.
>>
No. 931731 ID: 978553

Write her a prescription for Neumono Lithium analogs. Industrial grade. Point out that Lekka and Lackey clearly care about her or they wouldn't be so angry. You don't get angry at things you don't care about. Also, tell the Salazzarine to get a big tub of that blue healing goo ready so we can build a uterine replicator, and call Lekka and Lackey on the phone out of empathy range. Reflect on the absurdity of failing as a rogue via internal monologue and thank God's or Quantum Phenomena for NOT giving Salikai an empathic give mind.
>>
No. 931760 ID: a9af05

>>931555
>Explaining eye tentacles
Are you aware of how phallic they look? Someone might get the wrong idea and think you put a bunch of dicks on your face.

>Of course, now we know there's other fungal strangeness on this world posing active hostilities, I should probably disclose this trick of mine before someone assumes I've been biologically compromised.
They'll also ask you to remove it because it's probably not safe.Then again, that might not be possible.

But, yeah, you should tell everyone about that before they tbink you've been taken over by the enemy and attempt to kill you. And I don't think Sisirri will be able to stop them from killing you, like she did last time.

>>931559
>Emotional neumono
>What do?
Attempt calming her down by having sex with her!

...wait, where did that thought come from? You might be suffering from some brain damage from being in stasis.

>>931626
>Become assistant to Sisirri and Kitsiksu
It would make sense for Kitsiksu to offer up that suggestion, since he doesn't know about Ekasarra's past, but I'm pretty sure she might not like that idea.
>>
No. 931767 ID: fd2d31

Might wanna have a convo with Sisirri about giving Lekka official permission from Sisirri to treat Lackey as Lekka damn well pleases.
Him continuing to act like he does isn't helping the morale problem, but a high ranking military officer with almost nothing left to lose might be able to knock him sufficiently down some pegs until he'd act and be like a cooperative private grunt.

And a artificial womb would be ideal since that'd solve the problem of unknown thing potentially ruining a already mentally messed up neumono further, while still allowing scientific observation of its influence and impact, not to mention witnessing the end result.
>>
No. 932107 ID: 4dc321

>>931559
Tell her "I care because I choose to."

Then try to solve this thing. See if you can make Lackey help you protect her, if he's so fuckin' smart.
>>
No. 932116 ID: 094652

"I've spent my entire life hunted by the same neumono that bullied you since childhood. You're the first one to look at me like a scientist and not as a target practice pinata stuffed with party drugs.

Lackey is mentally unstable because he's a week old and filled with voices in his head. You can't take his bipolar mood swings seriously, not until we manage to make him grow up."
>>
No. 932257 ID: b96195

>>932116
Thats actually really good. My vote here
>>
No. 932275 ID: f2320a

>>932116
Its completly true
>>
No. 932276 ID: e20bdf

>>932116
A bit out of character. I don't think Kitsiksu knows about every detail you mentioned. He wasn't even informed these neumonos were the ones hunting Sisirri.

If we are going with sympathetic we are not well informed enough to give good advice.
Instead of a strong statement we should go for a long conversation, asking questions and hearing her reason. This way Kitsiksu can learn the necessary information for such declarations and show interest in her problems.
>>
No. 932277 ID: 7ac36b

>>932116
That's something Sisirri would say, not Kikitsu.
>>
No. 932351 ID: ba56e6

>>932276
Agreed
>>
No. 933886 ID: 972422

>>931559
Our first priority is still to demonstrate our effectiveness as a medical practitioner. Tending to our patient's mental and physical health will be helpful to the group and encourage further cooperation in the future. Studying the hybrid's growth could prove interesting, but allowing it to grow unchecked poses numerous risks for no significant gain. We shouldn't leave it in, but we also shouldn't remove it without Ekasarra's consent; operating on someone without permission would make us appear extremely unethical and untrustworthy, and I doubt that the context would make us look any better.

Therefore, we should help Ekasarra work through her emotional issues.

Currently, she seems to be suffering from a guilt complex and a lack of personal identity. She feels as if she has no context with which to define herself and no one to connect to. She wants to be helpful, but feels as if she cannot, as her past failures have severely diminished her sense of self-worth. I recommend giving her something else to focus on; if she accepts her good decisions as well as her bad ones, it will help her feel as if she's worth saving and form a more positive self-image. However, we know little about her history or personality; to properly help her, we should converse with her to gather information.

"I don't have the full context for your situation, but I find that hard to believe. Do you honestly think that nothing you've done here has been helpful to anyone at all?"

The things we've seen so far imply that she and Sisirri have at least a slight amount of mutual trust and respect of some sort. If we can identify and build on whatever incident caused that, it would not only help Ekasarra reach a more stable mental state, it may also make her more likely to work with us in the future as well.
>>
No. 948792 ID: cfc58e
File 157299652224.png - (37.00KB , 800x600 , salq3-63.png )
948792

A psychologist I am emphatically not. I wonder what happened to Su'ab.

>like Kan
I suppose I am surrounded by astonishingly broken neumono. Fantastic.

>phallic eye tentacles
Whatever. Let other people think what they want, that's not what salikai genitals look like and that's the only opinion I truly care about.

>defer action
>observe
>repurpose
"You are in no frame of mind to decide either way. I will decide for you. Until a proper surrogate environment is ready, you'll carry it with constant observation so that the moment anything goes wrong we can properly intervene. I don't have much in the way of tools and equipment I'm familiar with so I'll have to improvise."

I strap the scanner to Ekasarra's stomach and keep hold of the scanner screen.

"...I'm going to talk to Tirzi and Sisirri about a better solution." This system is unworkable, it's too bulky and it'll probably just fall off of her if she doesn't just take it off first. "For now, this is all I can do with the tools I have available."
"Whatever," she mumbles quietly.
"Also, now is not the time for crises of identity. This is a survival situation. You do not have permission to die until we are in safer circumstances. If you have no value for your life then I am going to claim your life for my own. I've been in need of a proper assistant ever since my bioservitors went missing. Stand up."
"...what?"
"You heard me. Up. You have no value to yourself, so I am giving you a new identity. On your feet, before I pull you off the container and prop you up."
"I don't-- what? You can't just start giving me orders, who the hell do you think you are you heartless bastard--"
I clack several of my claws at her. "Less talking, more action. First, make sure that scanner is tied tighter around you. It can't be allowed to fall off, it might break, and I didn't bring any money to replace it. Now. You evidently have no issue with pouring your heart out to a salikai so you do not fear them, correct? Sisirri said you were 'oddly agreeable' in her words, which suggests you two have interacted before on more than the barest surface level for her to have come to that as a conclusion. Did you take orders from Sisirri?"
"No! No, Sisirri just... she was willing to treat me like a person! Not like any other salikai I've known!"
"How many other salikai have you known?"
"Hidira, but-- what are you doing?! What are you trying to prove?!"
"Did you take orders from Hidira?" Hm, name sounds oddly familiar. Not sure where I've heard it before.
"I don't have to answer your questions!"
"As my new assistant, you do. Did you take orders from a salikai before?"
"Yes! Yes, what does it matter?! What does it mean?! All it earned me was a place as a traitor to my hive!"
"Then I cite prior experience as further reason to employ you. Do you disagree? Walk away now. I'm offering you purpose for the immediate present. If you cannot figure out what to do with yourself, I can easily think of a few things."

Ekasarra stands up, making sure the scanner is kept on her. She doesn't look happy.
>>
No. 948793 ID: cfc58e
File 157299654130.png - (66.62KB , 800x600 , salq3-64.png )
948793

I tower over her, claws closed and to my sides. A synchronised clack of my claws, pair by pair, running from tail to head, punctuates my stance.

"Listen, neumono. You are more useful alive than dead, and I do not have the time nor the ability to mend your deeper psychological injuries. I can, as the closest thing to a doctor other than Tirzi in this entire wretched complex, grant you purpose. I can offer you that much. Not out of compassion, not out of sympathy, not out of pity, but because if there's one thing I cannot stand, it's useful assets going to waste for foolish reasons. And if there is anything I know about Sisirri, she does not have the patience for useless fools, and would never describe them as 'agreeable'. Do we have an understanding?"

Ekasarra glares at me, and I meet her intense stare.
She eventually breaks away, uncomfortable, staring into the wall. "...fine. Fine. Just don't... just don't do anything to any neumono."
"I'm already doing things to you, and I have plans to do further things to you for the sake of your own health. I would be in breach of that agreement before I even said yes."
"Nothing harmful, then!"
"I had no such intention." False, but it's seeming less and less like I'll have to arrange the collective demise of every neumono here if they're this easily persuaded.
"What now, then? Am I still going to die with this... weird, horrible alien spawn in me?"
"No, I will not allow that to occur. But your first standing order is stay with me so I can observe you."
"I was... I was already doing that," she mumbles.
"Your next order is to take me to a different biolaboratory than the one we came out of. I suspect if I return to the improvised medbay, with you in tow as my new assistant, reception of this new arrangement will be less than pleasant. Questions will be asked, accusations made. I can't do anything for you in this supply closet. Even if this other laboratory Tirzi mentioned houses Sisirri's arkots, they will quickly defer to the will of a salikai. Do you know where it is?"
"I've been there before, yes."
"Lead me, assistant."
>>
No. 948794 ID: cfc58e
File 157299655276.png - (16.97KB , 800x600 , salq3-65.png )
948794

I walk into a room of arkots milling about, being their usual idiotic selves.

One of them wearing some strange sash made of ripped up fabric sheets braided together sees me and races over to me, babbling that the boss just left to sort out the food.

I have no idea why this odd pale blue arkot is trying to tell me, so I wave it away. It turns away and starts yelling at the other arkots to clear a path.

Not really what I needed or expected from arkots in the slightest. Usually they'd just ignore me or go back to standing orders if I said nothing. I scan the room for medical equipment and see it all shoved more or less into a corner, and lead Ekasarra there. A couple arkots follow me, confused. They probably think I'm Sisirri. Arkots never were very good at telling salikai apart.

"Now," I say to Ekasarra. "Do you know if any of these devices can record data?"
"There's an interface slate over there, I think. If you don't have a system login I can use mine."
"Excellent. Use yours and start recording these readings."
"...are you asking me to record my own vital signs? Isn't that going to affect them?"
"What, do you have a deep understanding of your own biology to that extent?"
"I have a deep understanding of neumono vital signs and what they should look like and what they absolutely shouldn't look like," she says.
"I didn't know you had this kind of training."
"You didn't ask me what I did for Hidira."
"True. Well, I'm promoting you to assistant nurse." Did Tirzi ever get told this? Whatever, I'll let her know later. "Let me just... agh, I have no idea how to work this thing beyond its intended use. Just... take this and record what it says. If it does disturb you it'll wear off."
"I'm ready to admit I'm not in the most stable state right now," says Ekasarra, breathing deeply. "I don't think I can do this."
"It's just figures. Transcribe them as though you were taking readings on a power network. While you're doing that I need to search for better tools." Mostly identify what these things do.

Well, this is going to be a lot of idle busy work, but at least I'm free from distractions-- Wait. What even is this contraption? So many tubes and protuberances...
>>
No. 948795 ID: cfc58e
File 157299657497.png - (9.40KB , 800x600 , salq3-66.png )
948795

Meanwhile, elsewhere...

I've found out this place has more than one floor. It has a lot of floors. I told Saba to take over the task of making sure they don't all kill each other downstairs and to get Sitkva to help her defuse tensions. Also help out Tirzi before she dies from stress. I don't know what Kitsiksu is up to but he can handle himself.

I found a spacious, unoccupied bedroom, so this is my room now. First order of business was changing the locks, closing the door, and sealing myself from the increasing pandemonium out there.

It's been so long since I've had any time I've felt I could rest, so I've come to the conclusion that there is never going to be a quiet time. So here I am. I'm going to make one.

I'm too drained by it all to fear or dread the consequences anymore.

The room has a bed, large enough for me if not a little larger, a desk, and a big screen surface covering most of the wall. Also a small humming cuboid on the desk with a hinge.

Finally I can be alone with my thoughts.
>>
No. 948796 ID: cfc58e
File 157299658551.png - (14.38KB , 800x600 , salq3-67.png )
948796

...

Okay, maybe being alone with my thoughts is probably not a great thing. Introspection doesn't work well for me.

I look down at myself. Despite everything I don't seem that damaged. I almost look healthy.

But the dull aches and twinges tell a different story. I can't survive abuse like this forever. I wonder if my mother was drawn to cybernetics just because she was getting older and watching herself get more brittle.

I look down at my tail bulb. Outside, fine. Inside, thanks to a mishap involving a leak, a clumsy arkot and a hydraulic press... I guess I'm lucky that incident didn't kill me. Just... closed off some roads, I suppose. I'm not very sure Kitsiksu can back up his lofty claims.

My mother went insane, Ekasarra was utterly miserable with her cybernetics.

But all I can see right now when I look at myself is... vulnerable tissue, a bubble of warmth threatening to pop and end at any moment, and it's horrifying.

Is there another path that isn't embracing decay or slicing parts of myself away until nothing remains? There isn't, is there. Not even the civilisation that built this place could get past that limitation.
Everything ends, and that's just physics, let alone biology.

When does life itself end, I wonder.
>>
No. 948798 ID: 0fae41

Go distract yourself from your own biology with Saba's. Or Sitkva's.
>>
No. 948799 ID: 8d4593

>When does life itself end, I wonder.

Even after the stars all burn away, a few desperate civilisations will be found clinging to ancient singularities.

It probably won't be until nothing remains at all in the universe that life truly ends.

Perhaps life itself is the universe.
Which would mean you are the universe.
Or at least a part of it.
For whatever that's worth.
>>
No. 948801 ID: 86eb65

Getting old sucks for everyone. You should ask your new alien friends if they have any sweet immortality medicine yet.

Not the creepy alien friends mind you.
>>
No. 948803 ID: b1b4f3

>>948796
Regular old fleshy immortality is theoretically possible. It involves maintenance at the cellular level using nanomachines and possibly stem cells. You wouldn't even need constant upkeep, just regular treatments.
You could also replace parts with biological prosthetics. Clone bits of yourself, or make advanced biotech akin to cybernetics but with less maintenance required.

If your abdomen bothers you, ask Kitsiksu to fix it, since he said he can.
>>
No. 948806 ID: ad51b8

>When does life itself end, I wonder.
when something else comes along to replace it.

So how long of a nap do you think you can slip in before someone comes to you with some problem that for some reason only you can seem to fix? I give it 2 hours max.
>>
No. 948813 ID: 977456

The biggest hurdle to immortality is probability. As duration approaches infinity, the opportunity for all events approaches infinity, except that the first permanently lethal one is, well, permanently lethal, and thus cuts down on the competition. Aside from that though, cybernetics doesn't offer much, what you want is durability against external stresses, which cybernetics looks good against but has a nasty habit of introducing new vulnerabilities, and internal degradation, which means maintenance, and biology is typically better at self-maintenance than machinery, and external maintenance tends to be prone to unavailability. You want some sort of rejuvenation treatment.
>>
No. 948815 ID: 8d4593

>>948813
A cybernetic implementation of that alien healing gel could potentially be explored. Even if it's efficiency was significantly reduced it could still potentially prevent aging and moderate injuries from leaving permanent damage.
>>
No. 948816 ID: a9af05

>>948796
>Accident
How the hell did you accidentally get your ass stuck in a hydraulic press?!

>Thoughts
I've got nothing to offer on the whole immortality thing.

But I've gotta say that it's pretty impressive that you managed to make a friend with a Neumono, your species' hated enemy! It also helped that Ekasarra was willing to treat you like a person instead of a psychopathic monster your species is known for being.

If anything, I'd call that a victory.
>>
No. 948818 ID: 10c408

When does life end? Depends on how you define life exactly. If we're talking chemical/physical than life is just a dense and complex mass of neurological tissue compelling a meat puppet shell around via a widespread system of neurons interlaced throughout the whole assembly.

Philosophically (and probably morally as well), life ends when either the subject of the question is terminated in some form (whether through violence, entropy or cessation of existence) or that the subject is clinically afflicted with any number of psychological problems.

If you are thinking of some form of super long term immortality to stave off death by entroy via aging, then very careful cloning might be the way to go? Theoretically speaking, and ignoring how many security problems this would entail, being able to transfer your personality and the latest instance of your memories from one body to the next clone in sequence via stored clones (with some very specific upgrades via cybernetic enhancements to the brain) would probably be the best and least expensive way to stay alive until the heat death of the universe.
>>
No. 948833 ID: 91ee5f

>>948796
>Okay, maybe being alone with my thoughts is probably not a great thing. Introspection doesn't work well for me.
Maybe it would help if you talked with someone and get those thoughts out of your head? Perhaps Ekasarra would be willing to listen to you ramble for a little bit?

>But the dull aches and twinges tell a different story. I can't survive abuse like this forever.
Funny how risking your life to save someone else does that to you, huh? At least you’ve proven to everyone that your not a heartless monster like the Neumono seem to think you are.

>>948816
>Ekasarra
At this point, Ekasarra is pretty much Sisirri’s ESN (Emotional Support Neumono).
>>
No. 948844 ID: 094652

Life is a series of processes that are subject to minute changes. It stops when the balance between the stability of processes and the evolution of changes gets so out of whack that the end result can no longer revert any changes.

Imperium found a way to survive, but far too well, past the point of living; he's a collection of near-fully preserved processes that can barely evolve any further. Now you just need to top him somehow. You have all the tools of a dead civilization at their zenith for your own living pleasure.

You need to deal with Lackey's bipolar disorder, it dealt enough damage to Ekasarra already. Talk to him and see if he's feeling the angst from racially insulting his mate yet.
>>
No. 948845 ID: 977456

>>948816 Arkots were involved. I would not be surprised if the press was travelling at a significant speed at the time.

>>948818 Any process that can result in two individuals, and those individuals can differentiate themselves, then you have two different people, who cannot be the same person, and thus any copy is just that, a copy. This is great if your goal is presence. The Great Leader's clones can keep The Empire led greatly, so it works for that. Persistence though, that is lost. If Death gunned down Jimmy's whole family and Jimmy swore to never let Death beat him? Original Jimmy'll kick it, wake up as a ghost, and see that Death'll be laughing. I feel that Sissiri is in the "don't die" camp rather than the "The idiots couldn't do nuthin' without me" camp. So copies are out.

>>948833 Yes, make a note to talk to Eka about your existential crisis. Actually, this base can an internal comms system, right?
>>
No. 948848 ID: 83bf07

>>948796
When you give up, of course.
>>
No. 948851 ID: 7ebbf9

You just have to cherish what you have while you have it.
>>
No. 948864 ID: 10c408

>>948845
I said 'very careful' cloning. Depending on how long it takes to grow a new clone, they would either have to be grown from scratch (fast) or stored and inactive until use (slow).

That way there wouldn't be a bunch of copies running around making their own memories. (ideally, schlock mercenary cloning would be the best but that might not be feasible)
>>
No. 948873 ID: 18e3d4

>>948796
Considering the perfect immortality of the perfectly safe bubble under this facility, is eternal impotence any different from death? Is loss of sanity, to the point where you are no longer recognizable as yourself?

Life eternal is not meant to be, but life can still beget life. Even if your babymaking parts are scrambled, there are other ways to leave something to carry on your legacy.
>>
No. 948874 ID: ebc3a4

>>948803
>Clone bits of yourself
This.
Might even want to clone your body without a brain for such a purpose, though it won't stop brain failure. That requires rejuvenation.

>>948813
This, too.
>what you want is durability against external stresses
High durability power armor may be useful there and is less vulnerable, especially against hacking if it has no wifi.
Sissiri can build it herself, too. It will only reduce how vulnerable you are, though.

A possible (though crazy) solution to the brain failures and lack of invulnerability may be found with some of that paraspace stuff. If you make several copies of your mind, and link them paraspacially, you might be able to make yourself a gestalt conciousness (group mind). All would have to die to kill you. I imagine an improved neumono-hive-equivalent made up of yourself may not be appealing though, and while tough, you can still die.

Also, if you live long enough, suicidal boredom might be a thing. Selective memory wipes would fix that. Previous experiences would be novel.

Ultimately though, no solution is perfect, except maybe what the Warning or Imperium did. If a large enough army is after your head, the only defense is an army of your own. If you have a machine army, it can malfunction or be hacked. If you have a biological army, traitors of any type need only succeed in killing you once.
That said, if you're gonna die, you may as well give death hell on the way out!

I've put way too much thought into immortality
>>
No. 948887 ID: 77c3b1

>>948796
So... Did you just leave the Kiter Carax and the possibly-Kiter moth outside for now?
>>
No. 948892 ID: cfc58e
File 157308376473.png - (11.31KB , 800x600 , salq3-68.png )
948892

>kiter carax
Locked up at the entrance. Their prison cells are basically converted waiting rooms. They're probably fine. Whatever. Saba knows about it.

>ekasarra, emotional support neumono
I did actually try to contact her a few minutes ago, but for some reason she didn't answer. I guess she's involved in something else at the moment. I'll try again later. I don't want to look desperate.

>accident
No. No, I don't want to think about it. I've made my peace with the eye thing. That accident happened two years ago. It comes up less often but I still feel sore about it. I don't want to revisit the circumstances but it was preventable and it was absolutely more agonising than having my eye ripped out so I like to just... try not to think back to that.

And I still think Kitsiksu's good, but not that good. How would he have any idea about female salikai anatomy?

>musings about the nature of life
Mm. Yeah. Life as a process might go on forever even if it ends up being something I'd never recognise. Maybe that's already happened.

>go talk about your concerns and existential crisis
No, no, it's just... I dunno. I guess after taking a few minutes to catch my breath I've had time to think about how much I've lost, and how much of that isn't just physical property.
Imperium was a friend. That betrayal wasn't just unexpected, it hurt. In some ways Imperium was the parental or at least mentor figure I didn't have after my mother died. I trusted it a great deal and I suppose I only have salikai suspicion and paranoia to thank for being able to handle the sudden upset as well as I did.

Yeah. Handle it well. Curling up into a ball on the floor panicking was handling it well.

Well, I'm alive, but now... I don't know. My life is my own, my purpose is my own, aside from I guess the current situation I'm in now.
I just don't know what to do if I survive all this. I thought I could just run away before, go somewhere else, but the reality is I don't have a home anymore, and for all its comforts, this new facility is not a true new home. Getting too comfortable will be certain death. One misstep and an interstellar army will tear me limb from limb from limb.

I've been uprooted from all I've known, thrown into a situation beyond my control, and now I'm just... flotsam. I was never supposed to be here.

What do you want, Sisirri? What did you want? It almost feels like what I wanted before doesn't matter, all of it possibly manipulation by a machine intelligence acting on levels of subterfuge I never consciously noticed. Did it ever care? Will I ever understand what it had planned? It showed me a plan that was straightforward to understand with consequences I still can only appreciate as items on a list and not the sheer destruction it would imply.

I wanted Kitsiksu free, and now he's out I don't... really know if I wanted him free, or if I just couldn't bear the idea of something familiar being so close and yet outside my reach.
Now he's out, he's different to how I remember him if only in subtle ways, and I'm reminded that everything I had keeping me anchored is gone.

I feel like I could go for a coffee. I saw what looked like a coffee machine somewhere in this room.
Maybe coffee will help me think of things to do with my life.

...wonder if I should look into seeing if I can get that wall screen displaying anything.
>>
No. 948893 ID: cfc58e
File 157308378435.png - (9.61KB , 800x600 , salq3-69.png )
948893

Minutes later...

"--ɝBXȝߩ!SϼÔʟ(םӟݴѸܲʷIΪiٝהI̛v¿4ҹѯ*սۙ"

Well, I understand exactly none of this, but I seem to be picking up some sort of broadcast here. One of those strange rat fox things from before, dressed up and talking in front of a globe spinning across a starfield.

"ɥ;u٩ԑݧڿdž̂\SϧIqް֊ԩɦCH̲.y҃'60@!hD˜َ_æVcͽߨ٬ώڷۃed?;Ôͫu zpܜ:׽âE<С֝/3K"

Okay, enough of this. Let's see if I can adjust the frequency. I guess having wireless access to the network without having to so much as flick a claw is nice, but I'd like my old eye back, really.
Next.

"5ֺʩcO˅):ߪZ5+̄2õ̒6̵A81/,װXIvڲ+ېۥ~ΛJڴ ˷֭}V'Rʧ`պӺ۫_;XިѾǙΊڊݠ@{6Å.P"

Another one of those strange creatures from before except they seem a lot happier and are enthusiastically showing off... a chip?
Next.

"Աɷ͜ч\xzٝMؖp/Ԡb|θبv˓Η٥ݕɶί45޵ԗl",h՘t.Ҡ ڝ{ױқ߬HxΑ+rgJ۹ݙ˷|?ԵǪp߁ۨӆӋ٬sD"

A voiceover over a panning shot of some different aliens I don't recognise.
Well, I guess even alien broadcasts are a mixed bag of good and tedious. That coffee machine is feeling really tempting around now.
I can't even feel excited about this potential new source of information, it's all marred by the fact I can't even begin to understand what they're saying.
Next.
>>
No. 948894 ID: cfc58e
File 157308380950.png - (9.74KB , 800x600 , salq3-70.png )
948894

>>
No. 948895 ID: cfc58e
File 157308382001.png - (107.06KB , 800x600 , salq3-71.png )
948895

I'm not even sure what I'm watching. I roll upright on the bed.
There's string music and no talking.

A pair of the creatures of this planet, without adequate clothing. They're just... dancing. Without any words. Is this a cultural artifact?
I understand aliens can find nudity erotic, is that the subtext here?

They keep looking past each other and this whole thing has the feel of ritual to it.
What's going on?

...Whatever's going on, it's a pretty hypnotic display of colours and sound. The strings are joined by chimes and the odd wind instrument between phrases.
I feel like I'm about to fall asleep. Might be the sheer simplicity and predictability of this music, but, hm, I don't know.

The dancers keep getting closer and I'm mildly concerned it's going to degenerate into some sort of weird public mating rite, but aside from that this is oddly compelling.
I don't think I've seen aliens with this body configuration move this gracefully before. Certainly not neumono. Sometimes I wonder how they don't trip.

No, I can't just turn my brain off and watch this. It keeps nagging at me. Why? What am I watching?
>>
No. 948898 ID: 66815b

An emotionally intimate display of culture and relationship.
>>
No. 948899 ID: 12b116

You can't turn your brain off and watch something because you can't turn your brain off at all in a stressful situation like this.

If these are from this planet, then where would this broadcast even be coming from?
>>
No. 948901 ID: 9b9f02

>>948895
Good question of where this broadcast is coming from. You're in the privacy of your own room. Relax and enjoy.
>>
No. 948902 ID: b1b4f3

>>948895
>why am I watching?
Well first off start recording it, if you're not already doing so. For future analysis.
Perhaps the symbolism is compelling to you. This is interpretive dance, isn't it? They're dancing around eachother, exposed but refusing to acknowledge it by looking or touching. Or maybe they're searching for eachother but looking in the wrong places or with the wrong methods... Is it a dance about desire, isolation, or something like the movement of the oceans or planetary bodies?
Do you see anything familiar in their poses? Akin to salikai body language?

I'd be somewhat worried about the kiter forces putting some sort of audiovisual attack in the broadcast stream but their previous work wasn't subtle enough to go unnoticed, and I think the protection rules of the facility mean you have to consent to the attack somehow for it to get through. Should be fine.
>>
No. 948903 ID: ad51b8

looks like the local equivalent of ballet
>>
No. 948906 ID: 86eb65

Well the paranoid choice would be that its a secret mind control thing that is luring you to sleep for nefarious ends! But its probably just nice music and good dancing and you are enjoying it. So keep watching and relax and maybe just enjoy the art.

Oh and as for why Kitsiksu would know about female anatomy? Cause he probably spent a lot of time studying it so he could fix you and then fuck you full of babies. I mean really that was the whole idea after all.
>>
No. 948911 ID: 91ee5f

>>948892
>accident was preventable
You sure about that? Remember, you found out that Imperium is extremely manipulative. Perhaps it didn’t want you to have children because that would’ve been a distraction to the work it wanted you to do, so it orchestrated that “accident” in a way that wouldn’t kill you, but would definitely prevent you from having kids.

And immediately after a conversation with Kitsiksu, where he said he’d fix you, he suddenly gets attacked and disappears. That was most likely caused by Imperium manipulating someone to attack Kitsiksu, the same way Imperium manipulated the Neumono to attack you.

>>948893
>That coffee machine is feeling really tempting around now.
You sure you want to do that? Remember what happened last time you drank coffee? It slows your thinking and you kinda started getting really emotional.

>>948895
>interesting show
>catchy music
Here’s an idea: Get up off the bed and try dancing to the music.
>>
No. 948918 ID: 00146d

>>948895
Quite simply? Art.
It comes in many varieties, from paintings, music, shows, architecture, and even simple stories.
It's mostly devoid of practical purpose besides the technical challenges and subsequent innovations to overcome them, though architectural art may be an exception as it sees much innovation. Due to the impracticality, it's probably a bit alien to your practical self. It can also be a showcase of skill in a manner similar to sports, without the competition.
In some cases, it draws attention to (or exaggerates) societal failings that would otherwise have been missed by news sources, existed historically, or may exist later.
Most commonly, it seeks to cause emotion. Some people cry when they experience a piece of art.

What surprises me is that the Kiter let them broadcast this. Denial or subversion of enemy means of communications is valuable militarily. Do the Kiter make use of propaganda? Perhaps they believe the enemy is wasting resources on this?

>>948911
A fake accident is plausible. In fact, there was something about Imperium calling Sisirri an "evolutionary dead end" in >>questarch/863867 - what if it forced the dead end following its issues with Hidira? And kept it dead by assaulting Kitsiksu?
>>
No. 948919 ID: 00146d

>>948918
Fixed:
>>/questarch/863867
>>
No. 948930 ID: 977456

Maybe it is a brainwashing broadcast used to subvert the natives?
>>
No. 948931 ID: 8d4593

>Why? What am I watching?

It's art. a form of communication that transmits emotions and stimulates all manner of thought.
By design it serves no useful purpose in it's own right. It should be a waste of time, yet for countless millennia sentients the universe over have dedicated their time, resources, and lives to it's creation.

It's one of the few things that seperate sentients from mere animals. A pity the Salikai race's precarious condition has prevented recent generations from expressing some of their own.

The piece in front of you appears to be a celebration of love between two people.
Their mutual grace speaks to mutual their cooperation and understanding.
Their nudity informs of their absolute trust, honesty, and lack of secrets with one another.
Their slow but ever closing approach to one another suggests a long period of attraction and sexual tension, perhaps ending in a fiery romance that for too long seemed infinitely far away.

That feeling you feel right now Sissiri, that longing gnawing on the back of your skull. That's loneliness.
You want this. Need this.
Surely neither you nor Kitsiksu can dance.
But that doesn't mean you can't learn!
But he's probably busy right now...
Oh! Tirzi exists! Maybe she could show you how to dance!
>>
No. 948943 ID: 18e3d4

>>948911
I think Coffee did the opposite of slowing her down. It made her think faster and less inhibited.

Seconding to try dancing to the music.
>>
No. 948946 ID: 1ed92d

>>948895
It could be hypnotic, designed to entice this species to emotional display, but that shouldn't work on Salikai. Your psychology is very different. It could also contain some kind of encryption. Possibly it's been modified by the Kiter invaders?

....Why in heaven's name does this planet still have public broadcasting if the entire world is being ripped apart by psychotic alien invaders?

This might be a trap designed to entice locals into submitting to the Kiter. Summon your little glowing wisp and ask it to analyze the signal for signs of mental tampering effects.

If it says the signal is clean, then you have discovered you just like dancing.

So dance.
>>
No. 948947 ID: b1b4f3

Why would she dance when she's trying to sleep?

Also whoops I misread the last line, she's wondering what she's looking at. Yeah it's just interpretive dance/ballet. Do Salikai not know what art is?
>>
No. 948951 ID: d8b263

>>948946
If nothing else, why would they be advertising at a time like this? Unless someone is blindly playing material in hopes of studying it you might have an infrastructure base that could help with the current food problem! Would you be able to pinpoint where the signal is from within the base?
>>
No. 948970 ID: 736b7e

Are you feeling desperate for companionship?
>>
No. 948981 ID: cfc58e
File 157316739731.png - (76.23KB , 800x600 , salq3-72.png )
948981

>recording
No, I'll give the others the wrong idea.

>art
A lot of art never really managed to capture my interest. Just felt kind of pointless, to be honest. Why invest effort or attention into something nonfunctional?
I suppose there are exceptions, apparently.

>body language
No, salikai body language is nothing like this. We are less flowing and more methodical, more calculating in our movements. Some might say mechanically precise. Others might say unnaturally smooth.
We do have a level of gracefulness, but it's the difference between a sheet of fabric flowing in the wind and the coordination of clockwork.

>dance
I'm too tired to dance. I just want to have some time to myself where I can relax alone. Yes, I know it's selfish, but if I don't make the time, no one else will make it for me.

I miss my old home.

>companionship & loneliness
No, it's just... hm. Maybe I am. And I feel so distant from Kitsiksu. But he's only been around for less than a day, all things considered.

>mind control
No, the initial shock of the experience has quickly died away, leaving only a gnawing feeling of emptiness and regret for my decisions.
I don't think I can blame outside interference for my own quiet discomforts being reflected back at me.

>summon Will
I don't think that's how it works, but, well...

"Will? Are you there?"

Nothing. I'm not sure that Will can even exist this far above the underground.

I look back at the screen and hm. Yeah, they're a lot closer to each other now. Rubbing up against each other.
>>
No. 948982 ID: cfc58e
File 157316741141.png - (60.85KB , 800x600 , salq3-73.png )
948982

And now they're just copulating while standing and leaning against each other, panting. This is a public broadcast?

Okay, this is no longer interesting to watch, the once-hypnotic elegance is just very simple rhythms now. Whatever caught my eye is no longer here.
How disappointing.

>public broadcasting
That's... wait, how did it take me so long to even think of that? Where is this signal even being received?

I lazily sift through network analysis tools and find several tools made by Ku and Aza to pinpoint signals and display them relative to the facility.

After much trial and error (I am running on fumes), I manage to isolate the--

Huh. That's a bit of a distance away I would imagine.
There's some text that keeps blinking in at the bottom warning that there appear to be a bunch of spaceship-sized organisms in orbit and that this seems unlikely, suggesting a sensor malfunction.
I wish it was a sensor malfunction.

...that continent the source is coming from looks strangely empty. Did the Kiter already devour it? Why is it still sending broadcasts?
>>
No. 948984 ID: 12b116

Let's get with Tirzi first on this and see what she thinks
>>
No. 948985 ID: 0fae41

Try sending a signal back. Worst case scenario, you interrupt someone's alone time with alien gibberish.
Is that an enemy (of your enemy) fleet stationed above the continent?
>>
No. 948986 ID: b1b4f3

>>948982
Well, you could ask for Lackey to teleport you there to investigate. Or just ask him, or the other Kiter defector, if he knows anything about that area.
Interesting that the orbital signatures are separated into two distinct groups. Could ask about those too.
But maybe this task isn't for you. Tell the others over the comms, see if you can get some sleep.
>>
No. 948987 ID: 8d4593

>Just felt kind of pointless, to be honest. >Why invest effort or attention into something nonfunctional?
An opinion formed while under Imperium's control.
You should try making some art sometime. you might enjoy it.
Maybe put together a machine that does effectively nothing and only exists because it's cool and you like it.

In the meantime however, send this signal you've uncovered to the others and then get some sleep. You deserve it, they can handle this in the meantime.
>>
No. 948988 ID: ad51b8

maybe a hidden base?
>>
No. 948989 ID: 094652

Sidequests!

You could save a few survivors, get some supplies, all the necessities. I mean, what else would a fully-functioning teleporter be used for?
>>
No. 948990 ID: a9af05

>>948982
You should tell the others about the signal and then try to get some sleep.

You'll also have to provide an explanation on why you're watching something so lewd.
>>
No. 948992 ID: c79ce5

>>948982
Hm. Lot of kiter bases on two landmasses and the moon. Zero on the last landmass. Because one of the circles is the source, they are presumably native bases or what's left of them. Yet, according to >>/questarch/869556 there are Kiter military ops on 3 landmasses. So, either there's a 4th landmass on the opposite side of the world, natives are succesfully repelling enemy forces on landmass #3, or what was captured was junk data.
>>
No. 949002 ID: d004e0

Whatever this is, you're not going to be investigating it. You thought yourself that you're running on fumes already and exhaustion makes for mistakes and in your current situation mistakes much more likely to lead to disaster.

Delegate it to someone else to work on while you sleep. Whoever you think would be best to handle it among the still awake. Write up a short message with your observations, concerns and questions and sent it to them asking them to look into it while you get some much needed sleep.

...But before you do that, inspect what that yellow "?" triangle above all those little circles is. Are there non-Kiter ships in orbit? Maybe natives' ships? Whatever it is, wrap it up in your message as well.
>>
No. 949026 ID: feecd8

>>948990
>Explain why you're watching something so lewd.
That's simple. Sisirri really wants to bang non-salikai aliens.
>>
No. 949027 ID: 91ee5f

>>948982
Careful. This could be a kiter trap to lure in anyone attempting to investigate that signal’s source.

>>949026
Wow, that brain damage is really out of control isn’t it? It’s especially bad since Sisirri is sleep deprived!
>>
No. 949054 ID: 3ce8ff

>>949002
This seems like a solid course of action
>>
No. 949061 ID: b1b4f3

More thoughts on the dancing:
Did it remind you of the ocean? The waves on the surface, or the movement of fish or kelp? How did you usually go to sleep while in your ocean base?
Did it remind you of your mother when she was still sane? Did she rock you to sleep? Did you have a sleeping ritual from back then?
>>
No. 949069 ID: cfc58e
File 157325291562.png - (8.60KB , 800x600 , salq3-74.png )
949069

>delegate
Yeah, this makes more sense.

I put together a quick note to Ku and make this his problem. I think signals and data are more his thing, anyway.

>explanation
Eh.

>yellow triangle
That is odd.
Let's look at that a little closer...

I can't. That's all the information I can access. Apparently whatever's picking them up can only pick up that they're there, not whatever they are.
That's a little disconcerting. At least they're not over us. Yet.

>sleep
Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Sleep...

I put the previous show back on. Yup, they're still going at it. Maybe the monotony will put me to sleep.

>lewd
It definitely isn't erotic to me. This isn't how salikai sexuality works. Unlike a disturbingly high proportion of sapient species, we aren't constantly receptive and thinking about procreation at all hours. What an exhausting mentality that must be. And while I sure don't know my exact position in the cycle, I know for definite it's not the peak.
Then again, that might explain some of why we're so significantly less populous than other species.

I will admit I'm impressed by the balance these two must have to continue mating with their arms behind them and now above them.
I envy the balance and agility all these bipeds seem to have. If I tried balancing on two legs I would fall over immediately.

The two shudder against each other and pull each other tightly together by the hips, heads facing down and smushing their foreheads together.
Now they're just standing in place, apparently catching their breath, eyes closed.
>>
No. 949070 ID: cfc58e
File 157325293369.png - (9.65KB , 800x600 , salq3-75.png )
949070


> FrontierLibrarian: Okay, why are you sending me alien pornography, though? I'm the least interested here in this sort of thing. This isn't even close to how my species reproduces.
> Machinist: That wasn't the point. Something is broadcasting this. You're the signal analysis and data extraction expert. Can you figure out anything about this?
> FrontierLibrarian: Yeah, it's some sort of longwave broadcast that uses a protocol this facility already had in its databanks. How? Don't know. I'm far too used to this sort of mystery setup, Reclaim was full of things just like it. We actually already had some recordings of this species and culture, Saba put together a translator for it and then we translated the material we had, filed it away, and forgot about it quick when the Kiter took an interest in us.
> Machinist: Why didn't you mention you had data on the natives?!
> FrontierLibrarian: Wait, this species lives on this world?
> Machinist: What? How did you not know that?
> FrontierLibrarian: Sisirri, the drones Aza sends out don't see a great deal before they get shot down.


"That was a super cool vid, no name, nameless actors, totally fuckin' banned for all the fuckin'. Everywhere but the breeding centres. Y'know, the breeding centres?"


> Machinist: Wait. Wait, there's words. I understand them.
> FrontierLibrarian: The autotranslation kicked in. Was there audio before this?
> Machinist: Music and sound but no spoken word.
> FrontierLibrarian: Okay, I have some other business to take care of that just came up, I've got this recording now, I'll come back to it.

>>
No. 949071 ID: cfc58e
File 157325296110.png - (42.12KB , 800x600 , salq3-76.png )
949071

Every time I think I'm about to drift off my expectations are challenged yet again.

"You know, just another thing the regime isn't talking about. You ever wonder where that hot chick or that buff dude disappeared to? Can I get a fuckin' 'eugenics' here, people?! On the brink of extinction, what better time to get the best, brightest and most docile of us fuckin' like crazy to replace all the dissidents and protestors and people with half a fuckin' brain?!"

Wait. Wait what.
What is happening.

"Here's a question: has anyone seen one of the Convocation since the whole space invasion thing? Y'know what I think? They're aliens! How the fuck do you suppose we end up on the hitlist otherwise?! And you know what happens when the poor fuckers in Tiranna get the full might of alien wrath descending upon them? What does the Convocation do? Fuckin' nothing! Seal up the domes! Let them die! Turn on the death ray satellites, point them over there, maybe take out more Tirannans as 'unavoidable collateral'! Open your fuckin' eyes, people! You think the Kiter are the thing that's gonna kill us?! The Convocation is turning us into fuckin' meat drones and justifying everything because Kiter this, Kiter that! We're losing everything in the name of a war fought without a single civil word exchanged!"

What am I watching.

"But that's all gonna fuckin' change, revolutionaries. Ol' Cho's gonna show you how it's done. Look -- first contact didn't go well, sure, but does it ever? Anyone remember what happened when we came here? Ask the weasels and the bugs about how much we fucked them up! What did we preserve of their culture and works?! What about the fuckin' ruins? Anyone read in your history files about the time the mighty Peshgiene Usakarak tried to destroy a precursor structure and melted the temple city the zizene had around it?! This isn't evil alien invaders from space, people, it's fuckin' getting what we're owed!!"
>>
No. 949072 ID: cfc58e
File 157325301598.png - (30.82KB , 800x600 , salq3-77.png )
949072

"But I'm gettin' off track, y'know. Now, let me introduce to you, for the first time on this shitheap of a planet, an actual civil discussion with the big scary invader aliens!"

What. No. No, no no no no.

"Welcome to the underground resistance, Mr. Kiter!"
"Heheh. Resourceful little place you have here, Mr. Cho."
"Eh, fuck formality, 'Cho' works fine."
"Yes, this shedding of protocol is certainly freeing. My name is Bloomtide, and I am here as a diplomatic envoy on behalf of the Kiter, as I was considered the most sympathetic to your cause and circumstance. I can understand there will be many among your audience that might not feel particularly happy about my appearance on your show, yes?"
"Fuck 'em, real truth seekers and freedom fighters hear out the words of the demonized and make their own conclusions."
"Ah, true words of enlightment. Yes, I must clear up some misconceptions. The Kiter are not as monolithic and unified in purpose and cruelty as it may seem. Much as your own self-assigned leaders, our leaders can be somewhat... stifling. Still, to say we all view your people as nothing more than resources to consume is an oversimplification."


Why is this happening?! Is anyone going to be even remotely fooled by this?!

"So let the world know what you told me, Bloomtide."
"Certainly. There is a place for the peshgiene among the Kiter. We are making efforts to reach out to those interested, but with the Convocation's defense systems in place, we cannot reveal our presence on this broadcast. And a message for the Convocation. Watch your people and see how much they resent you, how much they are prepared to stand against you. Consider the wishes of your people beyond your own wishes."
"Awesome, couldn't have said it better myself."
"One more thing. No one among the Kiter has known starvation, homelessness, frailty, illness, or ever been lost adrift without a greater purpose and focus. We are a transcendental civilisation, and we wish to bring you into our fold. We grieve the loss of those we have foolishly and wastefully slaughtered, in our paranoid self-defense."
"More Convocation fucked up bullshit! They were the ones who shot first! You all know that, right, revolutionaries?!"
"Let us not focus on the past or who started what,"
says the neno fi, a serene and smug expression on its stupid face. "Let us focus on forgiveness, and our future together."
"Folks I've seen the stuff these people can do,"
says the most gullible lunatic I've ever seen, "That Azure Sky bullshit means nothing to the stuff the Kiter can do. Chips? Augments? Try total fucking genetic reworking!!"

I... I feel like if I keep watching this I'm going to end up being sick, clawing the wall to shreds or I don't even know what.
I am livid that this broadcast is happening.


> Machinist: Does anyone here know how to hijack a signal?
> saba!: whatever you're planning on doing please do not
> CybLux: what is happening now, sisirri, busy working in lab
> LessEdgyThanYou: Oh gods I check the slate for two minutes and you're planning to hijack a signal?
> LessEdgyThanYou: Sisirri we have too many fires going for you to start trying to light one
> Machinist: This is a fairly time-sensitive issue.
> LessEdgyThanYou: Everything is!!!! Is this really worth it?! What are you even planning?!!!


Oh, there's so many options. Block the signal, jam it, distort it, live edit it, I don't actually know how to do any of this stuff but I bet someone else does. Or maybe actively meddling with some sort of Kiter propaganda broadcast would be a bad idea. Even if they can't do anything to me while I'm in this building. Hm.
>>
No. 949073 ID: b1b4f3

>>949072
Any outright censorship will look oppressive. Do you have any recordings of other Kiter going into detail about how they work? You know, the part about how they're going to rip the planet apart? Or how the Kiter is inherently self-destructive in purpose and methodology?
Just broadcast that audio on the same wavelength. Video too if you can manage it, but only for a short time.

It's tempting to invite them into this facility since it's a safe location but apparently they have their own safe havens, and it shouldn't be possible for them to travel here safely... I guess it wouldn't hurt to invite a diplomat though. Maybe you can open up a trade route if they have secure transport?
>>
No. 949076 ID: 8d4593

Interrupt the stream. Announce your location and then show footage of the blasted landscape around the facility. Announce that the kitir merely wish to rob this world of its resources, including genetic resources. Announce that at best they will enslave you, but that most likely they will merely devour you. Finally, tell them not to trust any machines, and to remove all but the most rudimentary cybernetics. Imperium comes.

Then return the signal.
You can't make them believe you.
Most won't.
But a mere seed of dissent could save millions.
>>
No. 949079 ID: 86eb65

You have to fight. If these idiots get conquered even a second faster it could get you killed. Even if we escape tomorrow we need to make sure we can survive until then.

Live edit it. Show evidence of what is happening. Get a hold of that crazy psychic asshole you met earlier. Make them realize what there fate will be if they do not stand united against the Kiter.

Because its the right thing to do and they will make a handy meat shield.
>>
No. 949081 ID: ad51b8

if you got any evidence on hand of how the kiter empire works through together a quick little video and show that on the hijacked signal. Idiots are still probably going to be idiots and get themselves killed but hopefully some of the smarter ones will see the truth for what it really is.
>>
No. 949085 ID: b1b4f3

The horrible fate of Lackey's species *would* be a pretty effective warning... Question is can we get him ready for the broadcast in time?
>>
No. 949088 ID: 4cf79d

Explain to your colleges you intent to interfere in kiter propaganda.
Send info on the continental strip mining operation and the fractured mental state of their genetically engineered biological drones. That should shine a new light over their offer.
>>
No. 949089 ID: f49f5f

>>949079
>>949081
>>949085
>>949088
All of these seem like good ideas
>>
No. 949091 ID: 977456

This looks like a job for Caffeine!
>>
No. 949094 ID: 422cea

>>949081
Do it. Prepare an info dump.
>>
No. 949096 ID: 015bf2

>>949076
Hijack the signal and insert a message of your own, mostly out of frustration and a desire to do something, anything, less in the hopes it might matter. Just record it and get someone else to do the delivery and the auto-translation - heck, they can even make the final call whether it is actually released or not.

>Recording
"Why is it that nearly every other alien being I find on this planet is to some degree idiotic, repressed, depressed, homocidal, suicidal or any and all the above? Is there something in the gravity?"

Clack your claws together pointedly. Tell Cho exactly how much of a dumbass he is for inviting the Kiter into his pad and for encouraging whatever feeble resistance is left to lay down their arms and embrace the coming biological rapture - WHICH OF COURSE IS GOING TO BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL, AT NO COST WHATSOEVER FROM THE PLANET-DEVOURING LOCUSTS WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE AND NOBODY WILL REWIRE HIS BRAIN OR ANYTHING OH NO. Tell him he's a fool and a sell-out, or perhaps even a cloned dupe. Honestly, you hope it's the latter as seeing someone this deliberately dense does not give you high hopes for his species' survival.

Address Bloom-whatever. Tell her you don't want to deal with this transparent, ill-conceived garbage. Tell them that they should stop it - or you will use it, and better than them.

Have whoever helps you paste into the feed images of recordings of what the kiter are doing, stripping the planet, angry screeds and communiques, messed-up biological projects, samples of the whole nine yards.

Go back to bed. Feel strangely refreshed.
>>
No. 949099 ID: ba56e6

Radio free wasteland, baby. Let's hook it up.
>>
No. 949102 ID: a9af05

>>949091
Now is not the time for drunk Sisirri! Nobody will listen to Sisirri's message if she's drunkenly trying to speak!
>>
No. 949104 ID: 73b272

>>949072
It really is true, the best lies have a seed of truth.
>There is a place for the peshgiene among the Kiter.
Yep, their genetics will be useful. The rest will make great biomass for future Kiter.
>No one among the Kiter has known starvation, homelessness, frailty, illness, or ever been lost adrift without a greater purpose and focus.
Yep, they're liquidated if they show any of those signs of weakness. It's almost laughable that the eugenics-hater is with the Kiter.
Oh wait, this is a Neno-Fi. Can you say, "psychic brainwash?"

Hijack. Get 1045 on. Say he's a revolutionary from the Kiter. Hopefully they'll sympathize with a fellow rebel. Have him tell them what the Kiter are like from his implanted memories. Their stances on eugenics and "fucking". Then show >>/questarch/869556
Worst case, some listen and Kiter sympathy is weakened.
>>
No. 949107 ID: b1b4f3

Hmm maybe we shouldn't put Lackey up to this. It lets the enemy know we have him and he's cooperating. Rebroadcasting that earlier public Kiter broadcast could work though.

Also make sure to clarify to the others that you're disrupting Kiter propaganda and aren't hacking the signal for no reason.
>>
No. 949108 ID: 094652

Two can plant those seeds!

Make your own broadcast stating the Kiter will own them; even if they don't enslave, mutate, and discard the survivors, they'll still lord over the rebels for doing all their work for them. If the rebels were smart, they'd reverse-engineer the tech they found and win this fight against the Convocation with their own hands, not sell-out to an alien civilization with its own oppressors! Heck, they should be the ones to liberate the Kiter from their oppressive leaders!

Also, begin encrypted communications to various rebel cells and neutral communities, offering them a job in exchange for a shelter away from the upcoming storm. Tell them to bring their own guns, it's safer that way.
>>
No. 949109 ID: 91ee5f

>>949072
>Is this really worth it?! What are you even planning?!!!
“I’m currently watching an [insert Salikai swear word and/or insult here] talking about having a truce with the Kiter! I want to hack the signal to hopefully prevent them from making a mistake!”

>>949104
>show broadcast
I was thinking of using this one: >>/questarch/863415 .

Or we could show these transmissions of Voidsong: >>/questarch/866192 , >>/questarch/866193 , >>/questarch/866194 . Because I’m sure if we broadcast what’s in the background behind Voidsong, that would get everyone to question if the Kiter can be trusted.

>>949107
>Don’t use Lackey
I agree. That would only make us look like hypocrites if we tell them to not trust the Kiter, but we’re working with a Kiter ourselves.
>>
No. 949110 ID: b1b4f3

...huh, why are they even bothering with propaganda? They obviously have access to one specimen of their species. Why would they need more? Larger genepool to draw mutations from? Or are those domes and other military forces actually a threat?
>>
No. 949111 ID: 28efe8

>>949107
Dude, the Kiter already know about 1045. Their orders are pretty much shoot on sight. See >>/questarch/893108
>>949109
>look like hypocrites
Wut. Dude, we're using a Kiter defector. It's the same logic as using former cult members to say why people should stay away from that cult. They were inside. They know how they operate. Plus, once again, these guys will likely sympathize more with a fellow dissident than Bloomtide, who is a gov't spokesman equivalent.
That said, good stuff with the other Kiter comms.
>>949110
Strategically, it saps enemy morale and forces resources to be directed toward home and away from the Kiter, easing the invasion.

And yes, specify to your allies you're aiming to discredit Kiter sympathizers and propaganda among the natives.
>>
No. 949113 ID: 91ee5f

>>949069
>Then again, that might explain some of why we're so significantly less populous than other species.
Hey, Sisirri, here’s something to think about. Imagine what it would be like if Salikai could reproduce at the same speed as Neumono.
>>
No. 949114 ID: 8de00a

>Anyone read in your history files about the time the mighty Peshgiene Usakarak tried to destroy a precursor structure and melted the temple city the zizene had around it?!
So the moths used to LIVE HERE? Well. File that away for later use.
>>
No. 949115 ID: b1b4f3

>>949111
>Kiter already know 1045 has gone rogue
Fair enough.
>>
No. 949116 ID: 1ed92d

>>949072
Start transmitting the intercepted information about Kiter wanting to leave before "Harvester" fleets arrive and the process of extraction going on, as well as showing the bombed out hellscape around this facility. Suggest interviews with Kiter Defectors are forthcoming.

We may not care about the local biosphere, but we do despise the Kiter intensely.
>>
No. 949121 ID: 5b93d3

>>949072
Step 1: Capture the signal, slow it to 95% speed, then rebroadcast blocking the source signal. This builds you a 1s buffer every 20 seconds (so 3s per minute).
Step 2: Use this buffer to modify words and phrases of the Nenofi. Thigns like 2can modify" to "will modify", "your have a choice" to "you have no choice", etc.
Step 3: After this has gone on for a bit (or if they appear to be about to catch on) then 'block' their signal with a data-dump of the local Kiter activities.

Even if the viewers see the data dump as propaganda and dismiss it, that it was sent to 'block' the prior transmission will enhance the veracity of the prior (modified) transmission.
>>
No. 949125 ID: 12b116

are there even any survivors on this planet? How do we know this isn't a looping broadcast from a dead city? If doing something will inconvenience the Kiter we should try it but it might be a waste of time
>>
No. 949137 ID: cfc58e
File 157334425439.png - (3.85KB , 800x600 , salq3-78.png )
949137

>why propaganda
I don't know, but I'm less concerned with why at the moment and more concerned with how to stop it.
Investigation can be later.
>looping broadcast
A possibility.
But if there's anyone out there who can be swayed against the Kiter, they can be a problem for the Kiter to deal with that isn't us.

> Machinist: I'm forwarding this broadcast. There's talks of a truce between a native species and the Kiter. This needs to be prevented at all costs.

I wait for responses.

> saba!: this isnt our business
> LessEdgyThanYou: Sisirri, we're not peacekeepers, we're not soldiers, we're just stuck here. We can't get involved.
> Machinist: We are already involved! We already have Kiter defectors!
> saba!: we dont want to poke the fuckers with sticks sisirri
> saba!: we need to stay quiet
> Machinist: I have lived staying quiet and hidden for most of my life and I can tell you it doesn't work out. Do you know what happens? You end up backed up into a corner with all your escape routes rendered inaccessible. Ku, Aza, one of you, help me with this. I need the recordings of Kiter communications, all we have. Lackey, I need you to tell the world about the Kiter.
> LessEdgyThanYou: I don't think Lackey's around...

I wait for responses, again. Minutes pass. The broadcast looks like it might be coming to a close.

"As always, my revolutionaries, keep on fighting the good fight. The Kiter are on our side and soon we'll all get what we've been fighting for!"

> FrontierLibrarian: Never mind. This is more important.

The broadcast falters a little, interleaved with a different broadcast.

A symbol briefly flashes up on the screen, six lines looking very similar to Ku's voxnet avatar.
>>
No. 949138 ID: cfc58e
File 157334427871.png - (54.99KB , 800x600 , salq3-79.png )
949138

A heavily distorted voice plays on the transmission. If Ku is the one speaking I wouldn't be able to tell.

"Your Convocation has made their case. The Kiter have made their case. Now we shall make ours."

Distorted images, almost aggressively spliced into the broadcast, showing the charred wasteland surrounding the facility, and the towering Kiter spires.
I realise most of this is video taken from drones being destroyed while scouting the immediate vicinity.

"The Kiter have consumed all surrounding territory. The Kiter are a machine that engulfs and digests everything in its path. Even the bones of the dead are resources to be utilised. There is no civilisation here."

Snippets of the recordings from the Kiter leaders play.
"First Continent operations are to focus on extracting all available planetary crust resources until otherwise informed. This stranlet speaks with the authority of the kiter stran Penumbriot, leader of Shadow Fleet tendril 4356. Obedience is mandatory. Deviation from the directives will not be tolerated."
Imagery of the desolate wasteland again.
"Eat this continent before the Processors get a chance to. There is no further room for discussion. Dismissed."

> 1045: What did you just do?
> 1045: There's been a massive spike in paraspacial activity, it's hard to perceive anything in this noise!
> 1045: ...What did you do?! Coordinator Gol and Coordinator Aub are... I can't peer into the channel, past the encryption and the proxy relays, but some sort of communication is flitting between them fast. Very fast. Large volume. Spiking intensity. This isn't the paraspacial signature of a verbose conversation, this is emotional noise, these two sound furious.
> 1045: And the channel just cut out. Wait, no, only Gol's side did. Aub's side is trying to forcibly reopen the channel but it's just... hold on. I can almost pick up on the screaming into the void. Something... no distinct words, but a deeply held conviction that First Continent operations are now openly sabotaging Second Continent operations, or are so incompetent that First Continent can't clamp down on an openly broadcasting rebel station?
> Machinist: Ku, you are... I lack the superlatives to express my gratitude.
> Machinist: Thank you, sincerely.
> 1045: ...what's going on?
> FrontierLibrarian: You have absolutely no idea how good that felt for me. I only wish I could be smacking the Kiter in the face directly. Winding them up is a consolation prize, at best.
> FrontierLibrarian: I'm keeping things recording in hopes for a response. But now I need to get back to working on the cybersecurity upgrades for the network.
> FrontierLibrarian: Or, well, it's getting late. Might just sleep. Maybe check up on Aza.
> FrontierLibrarian: Incidentally, there's other broadcasts from the same source you might want to check on. They were using a different protocol, it was garbling the audio.

Okay.

Now I feel like I could go for a drink of some kind. No coffee, something more relaxing.

Or I guess I could check out one of the other streams. There was that what looked like a news broadcast, or there was that chip exhibition, or that channel with the different aliens, or maybe I can try to find a different art broadcast not presented by a rainbow-painted idiot revolutionary selling his species out to monsters...
>>
No. 949140 ID: 3ce8ff

>>949137
those characters are like just Japanese but like mirrored upside down つー fuck I don't remember my classes well enough to make them right side up
>>
No. 949141 ID: ad51b8

yea, we caused more infighting.

But yeah, see if they have tea since I heard tea is suppose to be relaxing. Then maybe try the news channel to see if you can't get an idea on what's going in the rest of the world.
>>
No. 949142 ID: b1b4f3

>>949138
Should probably tell 1045 what happened.
I wonder how the Convocation will react to that ominous mention of the Processors?
...it occurs to me that if we can keep instigating infighting like we've been doing, the Kiter offensive might fall apart enough for the Convocation to get an edge. Seems a bit unlikely though, there's a lot of Kiter. Also it wouldn't matter for when the Processor Fleet shows up, so if the Convocation beat the Shadow Fleet they'll have to evacuate the planet anyway. Do we know what the Processor Fleet is yet? Another type of Kiter force, or something else? Ask 1045, he might know. If not him, maybe the new defector does.

...wait, if the moths used to live here, and at one point had a temple around a precursor facility, then they might know how to operate the facility. We were worried about the defector but the OTHER one might be the real threat. Or an incredible asset, I suppose. Might want to pass that information along to the others.
>what do
Uhhh... watching the thing about chips might be neat to see how their machines match up to yours. The news broadcast might give some indication on how the fight is going but there's no guarantee the info will be accurate, depending on how much censorship, self-aggrandizing, or false hope is involved, so I'd pass on it-- if it becomes important we should try to get information from a direct source.

Getting a drink would be nice too. Herbal tea analogue?
>>
No. 949147 ID: 2202fb

>>949140
I think it is a fluke
>>
No. 949152 ID: a9af05

>>949142
All of this sounds good.
>>
No. 949154 ID: fd7f7d

>>949138
Ah, a new name. Aub. That leaves one final Blaukesch, and we'll have basic knowledge of the local Kiter High Command. And I feel that Aub is so very right about Gol's incompetence. Gol's seems to be the key to infighting though, so I almost hope he stays. Then again, if the Kiter decide to put him down, we might be able to get him to rebel like with Voidsong. Well, we'll have to figure it out as we go.

So, TV.
We already know a bit about the chips. As the gullible rebel said,
>"That Azure Sky bullshit means nothing to the stuff the Kiter can do. Chips? Augments? Try total fucking genetic reworking!!"
Unless they're Imperium chips, seems meh.
Unknown aliens? We'll have time to figure those out after we're safe.
That leaves the news. Local politics might be good. It'll help us figure out how we should strategically deal with these aliens.
My vote goes to news.

Oh, 1045 is on. HEY 1045! Do ya know a Carax that goes by Ktri-94? And you know the names of the command Blaukesch, do those memories also tell you how they act and the styles of command they use?
>>
No. 949157 ID: 91ee5f

>>949138
>1045
Ask if he’s come up with a proper name for himself yet? We said we’d stop calling him Lackey and we’d let him name himself, so I’m just wondering if he’s thought of a name yet.
>>
No. 949158 ID: 094652

You did what you could. That's not just a step up, it's a path forward. Some of those people, convocators and rebels, will realize what you did, how high your organization's level is to disrupt an entire manipulated revolution like that, and will decide they're sick of living where they are and will request a pickup for a new job.

Keep disrupting Kiter occupations where you can. If you're too late, just do what you can and use the teleporter to save any survivors. Keep recruiting like this. It will be slow, but that's also your smokescreen; both of your adversaries are underestimating you due to poor performance, but once you get a proper R&D team of friends and specialists, instead of this skeleton crew of badly-utilized people who barely tolerate each other, your progress gets exponential.

And get some hot chocolate. You earned it.
>>
No. 949159 ID: b1b4f3

Chocolate has caffeine, it's not a good idea. Most tea does too (but herbal tea generally doesn't).
>>
No. 949160 ID: 8d4593

>>949159
The caffeine in chocolate is minuscule and the "Tea" they have there is likely not the same as our tea.
>>
No. 949178 ID: 977456

For all we know, caffeine isn't even what did it. There is lots of stuff in coffee, and Salikai have who-knows-what physiology...
>>
No. 949189 ID: 0efe8e

Did we tell Kitsiksu about his cult? Because if not we should probably do that some time soon.
>>
No. 949193 ID: 22d5ad

>>949189
Seconding this
>>
No. 949202 ID: 233458

>>949189
>>949193
Hang on a sec. He said it was less likely he'd have to have to arrange the collective demise of every neumono here. LESS likely. He gets his Bioservitors, that may go out the window.
>>
No. 949207 ID: b1b4f3

>>949202
Actually if he has a small army of minions he'll feel less threatened by the three neumono.
>>
No. 949215 ID: a9af05

>>949207
If he has his small army, he'll send them after the neumono. Or his small army will attack the neumono without being told to attack them.
>>
No. 949216 ID: b1b4f3

>>949215
What would he stand to gain by doing the former? The latter can be avoided by simply asking them to stay out of the area where everyone else is living.
>>
No. 949217 ID: ba56e6

>>949202
Agreed. We must further garner what can loosely be called 'trust' between him and the others before we disrupt the power balance.
>>
No. 949218 ID: a8efc3

>>949216
What would he have to gain? A perceived sense of security. Also, seperate rooms will not stop empathy.
And he can be very subtle about the kills, the bioservitors have Predator abilities.
Which sucks. I want them badly. I have plans for 'em.
>>
No. 949219 ID: b1b4f3

>>949218
I said area, not rooms. And again, if he has a small army, he's not gonna feel threatened.
>>
No. 949220 ID: a9af05

>>949216
>asking them to stay out of the area where everyone else is living.
Just because we ask them, doesn't mean they'll obey. They may take initiative and attack the neumono in the hopes of making Kitsiksu happy.

>>949219
He won't feel threatened because he'll have them eliminate the threats.

And the last thing we need right now is more mouths to feed.

Also I believe someone said that we've got enough "fires" going on right now, so we might be better off not starting another one before we contain the other ones we've got going right now.
>>
No. 949222 ID: b1b4f3

The cultists have a farm.
>>
No. 949223 ID: ac29e8

>>949219
Areas will be useless, too. Ekasarra had to go OUTSIDE to get away from the empathy of her former hivemates.
From >>/questarch/864286
> saba!: a walk in an active warzone?????? you idiot call her back
> LessEdgyThanYou: She was very, very insistent on it. Said she had to get away from her friends for a moment.
>>
No. 949224 ID: b1b4f3

>>949223
Areas can be pretty big, you know, and the facility is big.
>>
No. 949225 ID: 91ee5f

>>949219
>not feel threatened
I’m more worried about the Neumono feeling threatened. Because if what >>949218 said about Predator abilities is true, then that would be a significant problem.

The last thing we need are the Neumono having their personalities erased and turned into Predator slaves..

>>949220
>we've got enough "fires" going on right now
I agree with this. The last thing Sisirri needs right now is yet another thing to worry about. Especially since she’s currently about to pass out.

Let’s wait until later to tell Kitsiksu about his little army, when we have things under control and less likely to spiral out of control.
>>
No. 949235 ID: 1ed92d

>>949138
You could always channel surf.
>>
No. 949264 ID: cfc58e
File 157351671501.png - (13.62KB , 800x600 , salq3-80.png )
949264

>kitsiksu's cult of neumono predator derived bioservitors that hate all neumono and want them dead
Tomorrow.

>use the teleporter to recruit
Teleporter?
The gate is down and the only key I have takes us straight into a presumably now destroyed Imperium structure.
Lackey can somehow teleport himself and others around, but considering the last time I was with him, he managed to go to the wrong abandoned alien complex. I don't know how reliable he is as a form of transportation.

>moths
Well, the two of them are locked up in the reception area, so it's probably fine.
I mean, it's evidently not fine, and they'll probably break out, but someone else has probably thought of this.

I trust the reception area to hold them maybe as long as an arkot in an inch deep hole. If they start cutting a swathe of destruction through the facility I'm sure we'll get to find out how the defenses work.

Unless that moth thing can make the defenses work to her will. ...Whatever, I can't focus on every problem all the time. And this door is locked. I'll be fine, at least.

>lackey
Good point.
> Machinist: Hey. Lackey. You remember Coordinator Aub. Who is the Coordinator for the 'third continent' operations?
> 1045: Modulation. Unlike Gol and Aub, Modulation is a neburi, not a blaukesch, but is a data-caste neburi apparently capable of the levels of simultaneous datastream processing blaukesch are. I've never seen or heard them. I suspect he or she is a prototype, not unlike like myself. A new evolutionary iteration of the neburi that proved to be a success. Shadow Fleet has a tendency towards promoting exceptional individuals as leaders regardless of suitability.
> Machinist: How do they act and command?
> 1045: I... that's hazier. I was never under the command of Aub or Modulation, and you know about as much as I do on how Gol operates. He is a ruthless and quick to anger leader, but he is not stupid. I suspect he's probably already dispatching task forces to any signal broadcast sources on the continent. Of course, he can't touch this facility, but I would not be surprised if he tried more drastic measures. Make sure no one leaves the facility for any reason.
> Machinist: Noted. Also, do you know anyone by the name of Ktri-94?
> 1045: Sounds like a carax. I don't remember a lot of my carax-inherited experiences beyond raw skill training. Why?
> Machinist: They're being held prisoner in our reception area. He claims to want to defect. He asked for you specifically. He also said you'd recognise the name.
> 1045: ...I'll go investigate.
> Machinist: Thanks. Also, one last thing.
> 1045: Yes?
> Machinist: Did you think of a name for yourself yet?
> 1045: No.
> Machinist: Alright. Goodnight, Lackey.


I turn the lights off and look at the screen wall, looking at a machine embedded into an alcove in the wall. It has a bunch of capsules in a rack.
I grab a pink one and put it into a slot. A hot drink comes out in a white cup made of cheap plastic.
It smells like the pink fruits and tastes sort of like them too, but with an added touch I can't quite place. Something almost citrusy. It's an odd drink, but I enjoy it.

I curl up on the bed and watch.
>>
No. 949265 ID: cfc58e
File 157351674195.png - (51.58KB , 800x600 , salq3-81.png )
949265

"Good evening. In the news tonight, seven cells of terrorist organisation Pump were arrested for crimes against the state, as well as numerous charges of violence and conspiracy."

Pump?? An entire space of names to choose from and... I hope that's just a quirk of the autotranslation and the actual name sounds a lot better than that.

"The orbital conflict between the Khepalliion Astral Forces and the Kiter continues, with casualties increasing on both sides. Experts say the military is doing all it can, but without more materiel and logistical improvements, the Kiter may break through by numerical supremacy alone. Convocation officials have stressed an urgency on economic prioritization and increased benefits for military families, warning that drafting may soon become fundamentally necessary. With us in the studio later is Synoch of Nestral, Fei Engur."

I just realised I do not care about any of this right now. I am so low in energy. Give me something less tedious, mystery broadcaster. Click.
>>
No. 949266 ID: cfc58e
File 157351675432.png - (30.34KB , 800x600 , salq3-82.png )
949266

"..the peshgiene who chose to stay in Tiranna were of a different belief, however. Many of them saw the ancient ruins and remnants of great societies as evidence that progression had no goal, no ceiling, no ultimate outcome but overreaching and declining. Rather than treat the zizene itudak and ningkiene zalak as primitive natives to exploit, they sought to learn from them. The Tirannan peshgiene began to adopt a more decentralised way of life, nomadic, and establishing permanent trading posts became less and less of a priority as they learned from the natives of the world.
Things would change when news of the significance of the ruins reached Khepalliion and expeditions began. In less than a generation, Khepallii expedition forces found peshgiene with cultures alien and in some cases in direct conflict to everything they knew. Outright war was prevented only by the lack of a central Tirannan authority to declare it. Raids and skirmishes of both sides began, with the native life becoming more distrustful of the alien outsiders that had sought to learn from them. Things may have only escalated from there until the Tirannan were but another heathen movement consigned to history, but a reckoning had followed our ancestors to this world. The first contact with the Kiter began as a scouring of Korai, the once capital city of Khepalliion, in an act we would soon learn to be only a fraction of the capability of their dreadful power. Ten years have passed since that historic encounter, with only the Four Domes standing as the last bastions of Khepalliion civilisation, and the Tirannan peoples already long forgotten ashes."

>>
No. 949267 ID: cfc58e
File 157351677044.png - (13.08KB , 800x600 , salq3-83.png )
949267

thud

zzZZZZZzzzz...

Switch to:
- Lackey
- Kitsiksu
- Voidsong (No thank you, I'm busy.)
- Someone else, perhaps..?
>>
No. 949268 ID: 465a14

Voidsong being busy is exactly why we're switching to her.
>>
No. 949269 ID: cdabe3

Prettiest Arkot!
>>
No. 949271 ID: 0fae41

Sitkva!
>>
No. 949272 ID: 8d4593

Cutebug!
Tirzi!
>>
No. 949274 ID: 86eb65

Voidsong!
>>
No. 949275 ID: 3ce8ff

but what if, and hear me out, we pick voidsong ANYWAY.
alternately Lackey because moth
>>
No. 949276 ID: 1ed92d

>>949267
Lackey.
>>
No. 949279 ID: 736b7e

Sitkva
>>
No. 949283 ID: 0efe8e

Let's switch to speaker, so we can see how well Six and Three are getting along in their mission.
>>
No. 949284 ID: 094652

Moth girl in captivity
>>
No. 949292 ID: 12b116

Kiksitsu
>>
No. 949295 ID: 977456

Tirzi
>>
No. 949297 ID: b1b4f3

Sitkva is the depressed amtsvane who is trying not to be a burden during the current food supply issues by restricting his diet. I don't think switching to him is going to be very interesting or let us influence events.

Hmm, let's switch to Lackey and make sure he tells everyone ELSE that they are not to leave the facility for any reason until further notice, since we poked the Kiter and they're going to have a harsh eye on us for a while. Sisirri didn't spread that information and then fell asleep.
>>
No. 949302 ID: 4854ef

Tirzi
>>
No. 949304 ID: 6e59e3

>Be someone else
Be the suspiciously tozol-shaped creature in the cryojail.

You are an apex murder biosynth who don't need no salikai
>>
No. 949316 ID: 91ee5f

>>949267
Switch to Lackey.

First order of business: Change name to something else.

>>949297
Sitkva is female.
>>
No. 949323 ID: 2622b6

>>949264
>presumably now destroyed Imperium structure.
WAIT A... We'd be able to use drones to fetch leftover materials, tech to study, possibly more! If drones fail, we have one guy that eats radioactive stuff.
>Shadow Fleet has a tendency towards promoting exceptional individuals as leaders regardless of suitability.
That's a surprise. I expected them to be mostly devoid of meritocracy due to the desire for troops loyal to authority, which usually comes at the expense of skill. Even so, if this is meritocratic for them, I'd hate to see what the other Kiter fleets are like.
>He is a ruthless and quick to anger leader, but he is not stupid.
Got it. Expect little mercy. Rile him up, he'll make mistakes. A possible plot would be to poke Aub enough to get him to attempt a raid. I suspect Gol would take the overreach of authority poorly.
>>949265
Well, that explains the unknown vessels. Surprisingly bleak propaganda.
>>949266
Roughly dissected at >>/questdis/131411
Key stuff:
-Moths (and "ningkiene zalak") = natives
-Khepallii peshgiene = space colonists
-Khepallii dislike natives, view as primitive
-Some peshgiene joined natives
-Khepallii believe natives are wiped out by Kiter

Basic gist, the Khepallii may be decent allies vs the Kiter, but be wary.
>and the Tirannan peoples already long forgotten ashes.
Nope. We have proof they still exist. See >>/questarch/882761 + >>/questarch/882762

Kitsiksu is doing idle busy work, so...
1045
>>
No. 949330 ID: 094652

>>949323
It's buried under metric @#$%-tons of rubble, irradiated to glowing from the nuclear meltdown, and anything that survived has all of Imperium's Spite-Then-Harvest protocols written into its viruses.

But other than that, good call. We could use the place as a testing ground for our battledrones against Imperium's stragglers. Vaccine effect and all that,
>>
No. 949331 ID: b1b4f3

>>949316
>Sitkva is female.
Oops.

>>949323
>send drones into an Imperium facility, even after it blew up
Not a good idea, unless we destroy the drones after they come back, since there's like a 70% chance they've been hacked by passive security even if Imperium isn't directly controlling the place anymore. We'd need to encase the portal in a faraday cage too so they can't hack our stuff after coming through the portal before being destroyed. We COULD send some purely organic members of the crew in there... If they're properly armed with nonhackable weapons and they never go far from the portal, it'd be a decent enough way to gather raw materials. Granted, we would then have to make sure those raw materials are completely inert after we bring them in.
Heck, if the area is fully under control by forces which are friendly, we could use it as an escape route and finally get off this doomed planet? It's REALLY hard to trust anyone we meet in there though, since they could easily be Imperium loyalists in disguise.
>>
No. 949351 ID: a9af05

>>949267
Lackey

>>949316
>Change name
Agreed.
>>
No. 949354 ID: ba56e6

>>949267
Lackey could use some moral support.
>>
No. 949355 ID: cfc58e
File 157359379201.png - (15.33KB , 800x600 , salq3-84.png )
949355

...

Hrrfff. First my meditation is ruined by paraspace catching fire, and now I have to go talk to some random defector.
I just wanted some time alone.

>change name
I've got nothing.

I feel sick, wrong inside. I don't know how much of it is guilt and anger pooling up and how much of it might be me discovering the limits I can put my body to.
I jumped via paraspacial shunt from the biolab to this closet and I can taste copper. I should probably not be using reality-sundering capabilities to leave in a dramatic fashion.

I make my way down to the reception area, which is a long, boring walk made slightly painful by the odd twinge and ache.

After a while I feel a sudden sharp pain in my side which makes me stumble. I fall onto the floor, quickly shielding my head with my arm.

Hrg. It's like something's broken. Moving makes it worse. I can feel my hearts pounding asynchronously and I'm not even sure if that's supposed to happen or not.
One of them is beating a lot faster than the others and it's making my leg feel numb.

I could call for help.

...Why, though. I don't particularly feel like I should pick myself back up right now. I'm a prototype. Maybe my biology was never meant to last long term. Maybe I was never meant to last more than a few days. Just let me stay here. If I live, I live, if I die I die.

At least all the shame and futility and mistakes I've experienced will die here with me. The rest will undoubtedly live on in some number of generations of Kiter soldiers.
>>
No. 949356 ID: ac7aff

Dude you are literally a child. Quick pretending that you are a falling apart old man.

You had a childish tantrum over a small matter and left a huge mess for other people to fix.

Now I don't blame you for reacting like you did. Kids are a big choice. But a adult would have nice long talks with there significant other before storming out and declaring they hate them forever.

Just call up someone on the intercom and get some help.
>>
No. 949357 ID: 0efe8e

Congratulations, you have depression, crawl/call for help, lying down and giving up accomplishes nothing. The mistakes you say will die with you are not a negative, mistakes are how people learn, if you give up after one, then what was the point in trying in the first place.
>>
No. 949358 ID: 3ce8ff

>>949355
You will probably be fine, you got redundant hearts for a reason, neumono are hard to kill, and you are, largely, neumono. hard to kill to the point that you could theoretically cut one in half and eventually have two alive neumono, though both will likely be diminished, but that is besides the point.
At this point your lack of purpose is hitting you harder and harder, the Keter was supposed to always be there giving you continuous purpose as part of how your psyche was designed to work, you were not designed in such a way that this position would accounted for, or it was and this is a sort of mental self-destruct as a way to help prevent deserters from hurting the Keter.
However you were also designed a soldier, and one of the traits of those is not giving up, so: Head Up Soldier, Take Care of Yourself, & Find Your Own Purpose!
>>
No. 949359 ID: 015bf2

>>949355
You got your pride stowed in and a knee shoved into your gut after you managed to proverbially eat both of your feet, you ninny. Of course you hurt. Arguably deservedly so.

Though, to be honest, chest pains and asynchronous heartbeats don't really fall under that umbrella. Perhaps... it might just be a honest stress reaction? You haven't had a great time of it of late. When did you last actually get some proper rest, for that matter?

Take two. See if it gets worse, and send for help if it does - none of the neumono, that'd just be doing them a disservice as miserable as you are right now - make it one of the other xenos.

If it doesn't get worse, get up and see what this kiter defector wants and resolve to hit the sack ASAP. If you die, perhaps you can die in your sleep, and somewhere a little bit more comfortable.
>>
No. 949360 ID: b1b4f3

>>949355
Considering you're in a facility designed to keep things in it safe, you have likely gone past safe limits of the use of your powers. Well, that, or you're subconsciously killing yourself with them. You need to learn restraint, both emotionally and paraspacially.

Also yeah you should definitely call for a medic. If you die now, you're going to leave your baby without a father, without anyone to teach them how to use their powers. That would be irresponsible.
While you're at it you should warn the others that the Kiter are probably going to monitor the facility closely to see if they can kill anyone who leaves it. Nobody gets to go outside for a while.
>>
No. 949362 ID: 465a14

>>949355
yea ok sounds good, have fun lying there

Let's just relax and see what happens this time.
>>
No. 949363 ID: 4cf79d

Demand that Kitsiksu fix your hearts problem. Wasn't that rude centipede supposed to act like a doctor? Make use of him.
>>
No. 949364 ID: ba56e6

>>949355
Try not to give up on life so soon. Can you message Tirzi?
>>
No. 949366 ID: 8545bd

>>949355
>Name
If you like puns, Juan Fiver.
Juan O'Fore Fiver.

Your memories gave you some idea of how to use your abilities, but you may have to practice if you wish to use them without self-harm.
Maybe eat some food. Can't fix yourself without stuff to fix it with.
As to the rest. Did you ask the Director if you're allowed to die? You've made mistakes that have made you a failure to yourself. Are you going to fail the director too?
>>
No. 949367 ID: cdabe3

Hey look, you’ve been having a hard day, okay? You’ve been released from the only life you knew, joined what was once an enemy faction, became intimately involved with a lover before you understood what was happening, have fathered a child of some kind, and took out your frustrations on someone who you cared about. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and stressed out right now!

Take a moment to gather yourself though, and then pick yourself up and keep going. I know you can do this, you have incredible potential within you. I know you can keep moving!
>>
No. 949368 ID: 094652

Lackey, you have an extreme case of bipolar disorder. You need help, your director needs help, so go get help with your teleport powers. Find a warzone and extract survivors.
>>
No. 949369 ID: 3ce8ff

>>949368
lets NOT use our paraspaical powers right now as that has been identified as a possible cause of current physical problems
>>
No. 949371 ID: 91ee5f

>>949355
>now I have to go talk to some random defector.
Sisirri never said that you have to immediately go talk to the defector. She merely informed you that there was someone that wanted to talk to you. That person isn’t going anywhere, so you can wait if you don’t want to talk to them right now.

>>change name
>I've got nothing.
How about Wayko?
>>
No. 949475 ID: 1ed92d

>>949355
Sounds like you need emergency medical attention. Let's go call for help from Tirzi!
>>
No. 950197 ID: cae19c
File 157455851262.png - (11.21KB , 800x600 , salq3-85.png )
950197

>father
I understand in an academic sense what this concept is and do not have experiences of being or having one. "Male parent." I contributed gametes and do not have to gestate the resulting offspring.
It's such a primitive concept. Atavism from time before on-demand population manufacture. I don't know why I have reproductive organs, they're not useful to me as a deliberate planned organism, a manufactured soldier.

>kitsiksu
That fleshweaver pretender is better left to his own devices where he can't do any more damage to me directly or otherwise. I trust him to defect to the Kiter at the earliest opportunity. They'll lure him in with temptations of knowledge greater than he's ever known and then they'll extract all they can from him until nothing is left. Information, genetics, memories, biomass.

>warn others
If anyone tries to leave the facility in general it's natural selection at work. This isn't a change in circumstance, outside has not stopped being dangerous since my defection.

>message Tirzi
I'm not at one of these primitive communication panels and I don't have the cybernetics to remotely connect.
Trying to form a paraspacial link with machinery is one step removed from trying to yell in binary at it to make it do the thing you want. It's not worth the effort and it probably won't work anyway.
Paraspacial phenomenon key off of active cognition, not dumb machines. Can't do much paraspacial stuff with things like minibeasts either for that matter. ...some have managed it with eusocial species, though. Something about a perception shift to see the workings of a hive or swarm or colony as an act of cognition, and working with the "hive mind" metaphor.

Still only a curiosity, there is no application for trying to convince a hive of bugs to attack someone. You know what works a lot better in that situation? A gun.

>Juan
>Wayko
I don't like those names either.
I guess I'll always be a Lackey.

>old man
I'm a unique creature with a lot of unknown variables. A week could be old age for my completely synthetic "species".
Voidsong never told me her age but I know she's at least over half a century old. But she knows how to adjust her biology to rejuvenate or replace parts that have grown too old or sickly. I suspect if she never ran out of resources and time, only violence could ever kill her.
Most fleshweavers, incidentally, meet violent ends. The ones that don't overreach and cause their bodies to collapse in a disgusting and horrifying spectacle of biomod upon biomod in a failure cascade, leaving nothing but a large, strewn pile of broken flesh and organs. Yes, I saw it happen before in another life.
This is how I predict Voidsong will die. Kitsiksu, too, in a less extravagant form. They're all the same, they all reach too far, ambition and greed greater than their capacity to control themselves.

I guess like I just did.

All my twinges and aches still are there, but nothing I do seems to alleviate them. Maybe it is just stress. What a terrible soldier design if I'm this easily compromised...
>>
No. 950198 ID: cae19c
File 157455852616.png - (202.70KB , 800x600 , salq3-86.png )
950198

My ears prick up-- wait, no they don't, that's not how these ears work.
Have I-- ah, carax. Antennae. That's what I'm getting confused with. I guess I wiggle my phantom antennae around as I hear a quiet whisper.
It sounds like it's coming from inside my head.

~Ancient one, I seek an audience.~

I... huh.

~...granted?~
~Well that was simpler than I expected. Ancient one, are you aware of the invasion of hostile, black-hearted atrocities from the deepest reaches of the void?~
~The Kiter? Yes, I'm aware of them.~
~I seek shelter from their malevolence. May you grant this?~
~I think you... I'm not even certain how this is even possible, but I think you're talking to the wrong person?~
~Am I not in contact with the custodian of the Heartland Structure?~
~The what?~
~...Recipient, please identify yourself.~
~Well, you linked to me, somehow, so you identify yourself first.~
~It may not be safe to do so.~
~Likewise.~
~Are you capable of paraspacial projection? My physical body is as well protected as it can be on this world. Let us meet halfway with honest intentions.~
~I feel like this is a transparent attempt to open up a psychic hijack of my body.~ That happened once. I forget if I was the one doing it or if it happened to me.
~I would be making myself vulnerable too.~
~True.~ I shuffle myself to the side of the corridor so I don't block traffic while I take a quick jaunt to the astral plane. Well, paraspacial... space, but it might as well be the same thing.

~On the count of three.~
~Sure. One.~
~Two.~
~Three--~
>>
No. 950199 ID: cae19c
File 157455854486.png - (454.16KB , 800x600 , salq3-87.png )
950199

Discarding my entire physical body is something that has only been made easier through memory after memory after memory of past lives dying.
Or, well, the sensation of ice flooding my veins as I try to rip my consciousness from my physical body is something I can at least prepare for.

It's an illusion, of course. There isn't really a thing to rip from my body. But this is how perception shifts as a brain designed by matterbound processes and individuals tries to accomplish something it was never, ever supposed to do. Ah, there isn't really proper terminology here. If anything, this is less projection and more being in two places at once, something equally impossible.
Paraspace and matterspace overlap in ways completely unlike two things touching but more like a thousand knots tied together interpenetrating at angles inconceivable escalating upwards downwards there is no up no down no side all fall forever in every direction--

I grab onto something, conceptually, it is too easy to lose your mind doing this. Or, I try to grab onto something, but my mishmash identity, muddled goals and general shakiness of identity are threatening to tear me apart. I need something. A value. Who is me? Who is Lackey? Lackey is something shaped like a neumono, who doesn't know what it wants, and at this moment in time, is seeking answers. This was a bad idea. This was a very bad idea. All my inner rambling about reaching too far and I thought this would be a simple things.

~There you are. I can't figure out what you even are. I didn't think any psyche this splintered could survive intact here. Are you one of the ancients? Is this what your long isolation has caused?~
~No, I'm not ancient. Not in one body. I think. Which one is me again?~
~Wait. I recognise some of these images. You're Kiter. What is a Kiter soldier doing in the Heartland Structure??~
~I don't quite recall why either. A curious choice by my previous selves. I feel like I'm delaminating.~
~Hold on.~

I feel like I get kicked in the chest. Head. Brain? Brain in chest? Chest in brain?? While I'm trying to understand whatever just happened to me, I get a punch in the other direction and I feel squeezed together and terribly whole. My regret at how I treated Ekasarra boils to the surface and I scream as it flows out of my throat as hot acrid bitter venom, eyes watering from the intensity of my scream/spit/regurgitation/reassertion.

A bucket of ice cold reality flows onto/into my head from a disapproving stare miles away.

~Your technique and form is the worst I have ever seen before, and I've seen masters of this art drunk. Do you have a name, wayward Kiter renegade?~
~How did you figure that out?~
~You are bleeding thought, memory and intention all over the link. I'm having to keep myself and you steady. Are you ready to see, yet?~
~I've had my eyes open the whole time.~
~Well close them, then, because evidently that's not working! How did I contact the mind of someone so poorly trained in the art?!~
>>
No. 950200 ID: cae19c
File 157455856365.png - (30.88KB , 800x600 , salq3-88.png )
950200

I feel like I get poked in the eyes. That might have not been as metaphorical as the other interactions.

My vision swims and finally, finally, I find myself in an organised structure. I don't immediately recognise it but as I perceive it it begins to crystallise into forms I feel more comfortable and familiar with, the organic green curves of Kiter structures.

The other half is cold icy blue, with a creature -- one of the natives? -- sitting naked at a table with a cup on a saucer.

~It's the little things that help adhere to meaning here,~ says the creature, as she sips from the cup.
~I see,~ I say, floating weightlessly above the table, upside down.
~Try to respect gravity, it might help you focus better. Now. Let's get to the reason I called for this talk to happen.~

She finishes sipping from the cup, takes a moment to compose herself, eyes closed, and crushes the cup in her hand.

~Who are you and why are you defiling the Heartland Structure with your presence, Kiter vermin?!~
~Wait, wait, I'm a defector--~
~I know your loyalties do not lie with the Kiter, you impulsive fool, but you have no claim to the sanctity nor apparently a grasp on the significance of the structure you defile with your presence!~
~If you're just going to yell at me I'm going to go back.~
~Civility is reserved for those who act civil in turn, and do not break into sacred shrines of a long dead civilisation!!~
~I didn't know better, and I was invited in by someone else!~
>>
No. 950201 ID: cae19c
File 157455857572.png - (36.18KB , 800x600 , salq3-89.png )
950201

She sighs, takes a deep breath, and reforms the cup into a whole, gently putting it down on the table.

~My name is-- was-- Nin Ngishkila Abzu. Nin is a title, I know those do not translate in paraspacial links. You may call me Abzu. I was the next in succession to the chiefdom for the Kun tribe.~

Another deep inhale, exhale. All symbolic and utterly unnecessary for existence here, so long as her physical body is safe.

~The Kun tribe has stripped me of my title and exiled me for my continued failure to protect them from the Kiter. I have given up. I just want to find somewhere safe to languish and plan a way for my tribe, no, my kind to survive this ordeal.~
She looks down at her cup and throws it aside. It lands with a splash.
~My hostility towards you is unfounded, for I am more knowingly selfish in my aims and goals than someone risking their life for the sake of an ideal. Please forgive my interruption. I should return to looking for any miracles across this wasteland.~

Wait. After all that, she's just going to leave? Someone who's demonstrably a superior paraspacial traveller than me, lacking any sort of clear purpose beyond survival, is just going to leave?
I don't think so. The same judgement that lead me to Sisirri as a promising leader capable of great things sings in me not to let this one go.

~Wait, don't go.~ My feet finally touch the ground, and I walk up to her table.

~Of the few virtues the Kiter have, and they are few and far between, one of them I want to keep with me is working towards a common goal. You are a rare individual to recognise and parse my intent, an alien creature and first of his kind, and while my own skill may be shaky and unrefined, I know excellence where I see it.~
~What, are you proposing to recruit me? I have no interest in fighting this war. I am no general, and my own people have deserted me now.~

Come on, Lackey. You were a diplomat in a former life, probably. Think...
>>
No. 950206 ID: b1b4f3

>>950197
>not at a panel, no cybernetics
Note to self: get everyone a portable communications device.

>>950201
Tell her no. Your group cannot fight the Kiter in any meaningful way. Your group is trying to survive long enough to escape this planet. Her civilization has little chance to defeat the Kiter, and even if they do they will just become it.

...what are the chances she's a double agent? She's highly skilled, which means she's dangerous, and we know there is an effort by the Kiter to convert people from her civilization. Can you tell if she's lying?
>>
No. 950228 ID: 015bf2

>>950201
>Why would she just give up like that?
She was literally praying for a miracle savior and then she found you, who she's having to carry through this conversation. Half of it's gotta be due to the let-down. The rest could be depressive, raw disappointment. Loss of hope. Perhaps she's having self-confidence issues - if she's talented, but was near crushed by the Kiter, her self-esteem likely took a hit, on top of that there's the scorn from her tribe, whose perception was that she 'failed them' when her and their existence still probably indicates that she did anything but.

Or she could suspect that you are a trap of some sort and is looking to disengage.

>Recruit her
Anyone who can survive the attention of the Kiter, even in failure, should be the real deal skill-wise. I have the feeling paraspacial opponents don't get away often with playing around in the Kiters' bailiwick, even temporarily.

Or do they? I mean, you've done it a few times now. Or are your tricks somehow unique to you?

>Diplomat
Offer her a new sliver of hope. Ask her if she drew on your recent memories during your fragmentation. Did she see what's been happening inside the 'Heartland Structure'? If not share a few of your impressions (not all, not yet). Aliens from elsewhere - multiple elsewheres - of several races and creeds who have become drawn and trapped within, unwilling witnesses to the Kiters' depredations on this world. Aliens who are yet looking for ways to get back to the safety of their own realms. The possibility of an escape. Or at least of sanctuary to languish in.

>What she has to offer in return.
These aliens lack an expert on paraspacial arts (and local culture). Such an advisor clearly cannot be just you - an experimental defector. Not only are you on a short leash, but you have enough trouble keeping yourself together as is. They might even appreciate her efforts keeping YOU stable, as loathe as you are to admit needing help.

So she can trade her knowledge for access to her holy of holies and go from there. You doubt the aliens will want to accept her tribe entire - there are security and supply issues in doing so - but she will be in a better position to do something for her people there, arguing their case to the aliens, than if she was stuck outside on a crumbling world, doing nothing but wait to be found or waste away hoping for something more miraculous than reality giving her what might be her biggest break so far.

>Avoid the war
Hard to avoid something when it comes for you regardless.

>Selfish cause
The cause of survival, for her and her kind, hardly sounds all that selfish. What is her culture like, that she would give up a chance to survive merely because she didn't want to be a bother to someone with a stronger claim to zeal?

You're not sure where she got the idea you've got particularly strong ideals either. The only ones of those you can confidently state to have still come from Kiter-embedded memories and even there you're... currently a mess, as evidenced. The ones with individual ideals and goals are the aliens. That's why you decided to follow one. Her humour is rather dry, so your name, such as it is, is Lackey.

Lack-y. Huh. Lack. Lackri?

Maybe.
>>
No. 950229 ID: b1b4f3

More name ideas:
Yekcal or Yekal (yes, it's just lackey backwards)
Polloi (as in, hoi polloi) or Oligoi
Kantor
>>
No. 950233 ID: 422cea

...well if no on else is going to say it.

Lackey, your penis is externalized.
>>
No. 950240 ID: 84cc34

well your group really isn't a group of fighters. More along the lines of people trying to survive all the crazy bullshit in one piece and sane. Any "fighting" done against the kiter is purely in self defense. If she is looking for somewhere to to get away and just let herself think then yes I would recommend she comes here to at least to get a roof over her and and should she not find it to her liking then she can simply find somewhere that would better so her needs and take her leave.
>>
No. 950246 ID: 7dc36a

>>950206
Then admitting to an aggressor your group have no effective means to fend them off is the last thing a diplomat should do. If anything, the reverse scenario is more likely and we're lucky we got to her first. THIS is how the Kiter could recruit her talent: at her most vulnerable.

And if you were that recruiter,
the obvious next step would be to
Suggest that she forget about her people since they are seriously screwed. Granted, that's more how YOU are feeling right now, and not anything she wants to hear. But that's assuming she's not a double agent. But if she reacts too calmly to your "suggestion", that's a bad sign and you should just let her go.

Really, there can't be a better moment to just unload and share both of your problems with each other. Putting your issues into words and stories can help you get a new perspective on it. And if not, it can help you understand each other better.
Like, ask what makes is this place so special that she'd pray to it. It's just a hole where a bunch of lost tech and misfits with special talents falls into, right?
>>
No. 950255 ID: 9ec065

>>950201
>Kitsiksu
Yep, have to keep an eye on that.
>minibeasts
Minibeasts?

>diplo
It's obvious. She needs somewhere safe to plan. Your group lacks paraspacial expertise, knowledge of the land, and food if she has it. A simple trade would be best.

>name
You seem to seek out and follow skill...
Apostle?
>>
No. 950257 ID: 977456

We have xenoarchaeologists and potential escape routes. Preserving a record and history of their people is something that nobody else seems to be trying, and would be a greater success than anyone else is likely to see. Not to mention the most alien(thus untested against the Kiter) technology on the planet.

Then again, she calls a bunch of xenoarchaologists making a nondestructive examination of the "shrine" a desecration. What better use does it have than to try to learn whatever lessons it might teach us by example?
>>
No. 950263 ID: 83bf07

Recruit her? No, you want to study under her.
>>
No. 950337 ID: 18e3d4

>>950201
Not a war. A lifeboat.

>>950255
Agreed on the food. Same trade as when we let the last bum in.

I like Apostle as a name. It has a more dignified tone than Lackey.
>>
No. 950361 ID: 8d4593

Apostle is Cool, but it lacks the "Ring" of a name.
Still. I like the idea. Especially with the inborn abilities and what not.

What about Sage?
>>
No. 951127 ID: 1ed92d

>>950201
Point out that if by 'recruit' you mean 'ask to join you in a totally impervious bunker with minimal responsibilities', yes, you want to recruit her.
>>
No. 951129 ID: 094652

"None of us are soldiers and this is no army. This is a hodgepodge of mad scientists, terrorists, archaeologists, geologists, cooks, defectors, princesses, unshackled AIs, and a giant precursor mausoleum with a teleporter and a key leading to the base of the mastermind stringing the Kiter on multiple leashes.

We plan to do something big before we die. Sometimes wars are won by bleeding the banks that feed them."
>>
No. 951685 ID: 9842dc
File 157644261145.png - (30.21KB , 800x600 , salq3-90.png )
951685

>minibeasts
You know. Small, scurrying creatures. Insects. Worms.

>names
Nothing here resounds with me either. Another time, maybe.

>externalized genitals
Whatever. This is paraspace, inert unthinking matter such as clothes, weapons and items don't tend to translate here at all.
The interaction between cybernetics and paraspacial projection is... well, I suppose there's a reason the neburi don't do it. It can lead to undesirable side effects.
It depends how conscious the individual is of their cybernetics and their function and how intrinsic it is to their sense of identity and sometimes this can cause problems that cascade back into matterspace.

My genitals being on display is honestly to be expected. Same with Abzu's nudity. A lot of the veterans of projection tend to get fancy with their other selves, but cosmetic effects incur more cognitive load, like trying to remember a longer and longer list of items. Only a fool would care enough about anything but essential self in a meeting of strangers like this.

Have I mentioned Voidsong always manifests with a constant thunderstorm around her no matter the occasion?

>is she lying
While deceit is possible in paraspace, it becomes more transparently obvious on an emotional level. The only thing she's trying to hide is how vulnerable and miserable she feels. She feels rejected, abandoned, and worst of all, entirely responsible for her situation. Whatever her circumstances are, she has fully internalised being at fault. She doesn't trust me, but she doesn't feel she has anything left to lose.

Hm, that's weird. I don't recall having had this ease in reading the emotions of others as a neno fi. I feel like if neumono could be trained in paraspacial arts, they'd be able to read anyone like an open book in large print text. Hm, odd metaphor, the Kiter don't use printed media. Where did I get that from? Okay, getting off topic.

If she's somehow able to fake the many layers of complex emotions required while keeping her focus on communicating with me it would suggest a level of self-control so unnaturally fine I'd be checking for circuitry. However, she is an alien. I do not know how her mind truly works. There is every chance she could potentially be some super advanced intellect able to portray the role in a way so sophisticated I'd never see a crack in the mask.

Granted, that's highly improbable, and I have spoken with powerful presences in paraspace before. They exert conscious effort not to drown everything in their own layers of identity. Meanwhile, here I can pick up on the background assertions she's making to stay whole here. Paraspace has a short memory. You need to keep reminding it that gravity is like this, solidity is like this, asserting your own subconscious understanding of reality onto it for it to have any form or meaning. Sort of like trying to assert paraspacial influence on reality, but more exhausting and like giving instructions to an easily distracted child over and over.

Still getting off topic. A wandering mind is potential ego death here. I need to be careful. I don't have a very strong ego to start with.

>not recruitment, no
I can't just tell her we're as powerless, but I can make it clear we aren't planning to win a war.

~No. I don't wish to recruit you. However, I suggest your 'selfish desires' are perhaps the only rational response. Your people are, regrettably, doomed.~

She's quiet. The calmness of her response does make me ponder if she's a double agent, momentarily.
>>
No. 951686 ID: 9842dc
File 157644264011.png - (25.48KB , 800x600 , salq3-91.png )
951686

Then she throws her arms to her side and the table flies up and explodes as though made of glass, loud and violent, shards flying through the air and hanging as though forgetting to fall.

~And whose fault is that?! It doesn't matter anything to you, you have your own values and the Kun, the Tirannan, the peshgiene, none of it means anything to you! This world means nothing to you!!~

Her orderly blue space begins to crack and fracture. She pauses, draws herself up, and the seams mend themselves.

~You are correct. I am skilled and gifted. I excel in my field. And it doesn't matter a damn thing, because all of it is going to be swept clean from the face of this planet. For what? You were one of them, what do the Kiter value? What is so important to them that they consume and destroy everything they find? Survival? Are there not more worlds with unthinking life with no culture or history or anything to preserve they can pick over instead?! Why here?! Answer me!!~

The blue crystalline structures behind her warp into organic curves, puncturing each other, branching like tree branches or blood vessels.
She's furious. Despondant. Afraid. Confused. She thinks she already knows the answer, but she wants to hear me, the closest thing to a face her crisis has, give them back to her.

~Because they happened to come here,~ I say, perhaps a little too flippantly. ~Because to the Kiter, it doesn't matter. Inhabited or uninhabited, filled with life or barren rock, it doesn't matter. Whatever it is, they'll pick it over for what they want, take everything they feel like, and move on. Because, on a cosmic scale, the Kiter are a pack of scavengers that thrive on conflict and conflict alone.~

~Why hasn't anyone stopped them?~ She's tearing up. The curves in her imposed reality start to sink and melt into a slowly flowing fluid. ~I've learned about their cycle of empires, why hasn't anyone struck them down at their weakest point?~

~They have,~ I say, futility coursing through me. ~Over and over again. But they come back. From spores on an abandoned world, from frozen carcasses defrosting on comets too close to the sun, from chunks of stran colliding so violently into worlds they burst into stranlets. The stran 'species' has diverged and diverged and diverged so many times each individual is a strain itself. The only thing they share in common is being so difficult to destroy thoroughly enough to prevent anything from coming back. There was a rumour among the Shadow Fleet that one of their kind survived being launched into the corona of a sun.~

~Then what reason is there to continue?~

She sinks to her knees, and weeps. ~The ancestors of my ancestors came here to escape the Kiter, and even if we try to escape again, they'll find us again. And again. We will run until there's none of us left to run. It's all for nothing!~
>>
No. 951687 ID: 9842dc
File 157644269024.png - (60.05KB , 800x600 , salq3-92.png )
951687

Okay. Let's try a different angle here. I'm not going to forgive myself for breaking two people in the same day.

~What are you afraid of? Are you scared of death, or are you afraid of the death of your legacy?~
~Why are you asking me this?! Yes, I don't want to die! What rational creature wants to die?!~
~Sorry. Let me ask that in a better way.~ Smooth, me. ~Are you more afraid of your own death or the death of your legacy?~
~I... What legacy do I have left? I was willing to put my life on the line for my people to survive! And then my people, my purpose, they cast me aside for not being able to accomplish the impossible! I have nothing left now, I have no legacy. If I do have any legacy, it's one I'd rather see dead. Better to be forgotten than remembered as a villain.~
~Hm.~
I should ask Sisirri the same question, come to think of it.
~Well, the reason I bring it up is, ultimately, it doesn't matter. We die, those that remember us die, our civilisations die, our species die. It all ends. Stars end. Universes end. Ultimately, everything is for nothing. Trust me. I have seen many things die. I have caused many things to die. I have been many things that have died.~
~Just leave me alone. I'm going to go back.~
~I'm not done. On a large enough timescale, nothing matters. Do you know what matters?~
~Nothing. Nothing does. You just said.~
~Moments. Moments matter. That's something the stran can never comprehend. That's something you and I have that they never can. The stran can predict how things will go, the stran will forever plan and act on those plans and adjust their plans as their circumstances change. But stran? Stran don't experience things like us. They don't enjoy things. I'm not sure they can enjoy things. A quiet moment of reflection. The excitement and joy at a reunion. Those moments of clarity and insight when everything makes sense for a fleeting time. Connection. Intimacy. Security. Brief, ephemeral moments that live and die on a timescale far lesser than our own lifespans. Those are the only things that I carry with me from lives once lived, paths once tread. They live, and they die, and the universe goes on. That is the reason to continue. New moments. You can try to seek them out, or they can sometimes find you. Or you can lock yourself away from them forever for all time like the Mistake have.~

Abzu is still on the floor, hands over her eyes.

~But they don't matter.~
~Why do these things have to matter? Do you not understand what this constant search for things mattering, what this constant search for ultimate meaning and purpose leads to? It's a dead end. Do you know what matters? I'll tell you what matters. If you give up and surrender, you might as well be surrendering to the Kiter, why aren't you just running out into the open and screaming to the heavens to be shot on the spot?~
~A drive for self-preservation at a fundamental biological level is very, very different to a need for higher purpose, and you are being incredibly disingenious trying to argue as if the two things are the same. So what is your conclusion, then? A nihilistic anarchist's argument for hedonism? Where has that brought you, considering the conflicted feelings and regrets you're bleeding so transparently?~

I freeze up.

~Now, okay, let's not turn this back on me--~
~No, let's. You want to talk reason and purpose? You are arguing from the perspective of someone who wants to die themselves. I can feel the insincerity of your statements. You don't believe any of this. You think you are a mistake to even exist and hate the circumstances both of your birth and of the existence of the Kiter, and the resentment you feel for being associated with them conflicts with your conditioning from past experiences, many synthetic and jarring to your mind. Your internal conflict is so deep you feel strong guilt, shame, and self-destructive impulses being kept in check only by a sense of duty and... what is this? A drive to serve? A need for higher purpose? That's interesting, isn't it? Who is the one you feel loyalty to for giving you a second chance?~

I... was I... I thought I had a tighter rein on...
~Sisirri. She's an alien lost on this world trying to get back to her own. It was once Voidsong, my primary creator, but that relationship is... more complicated now.~ Moments and images flicker around my own subreality.
~Sisirri. I wish to meet this Sisirri. I want to see whatever purpose she has that is so strong it's driving something as fractured as you around.~
~I'm not that fractured!~

Abzu stands up and looks at me with incredible disdain. ~I'm still holding you together right now.~

She idly flicks a hand and oh fuck I can feel the delaminating again no no let's not do that again okay she stopped it's fine everything's fine.

~With your cooperation, I could translocate myself to your position. I'd lose all my possessions but at this point I welcome the opportunity to shed everything of my old life. Perhaps I have already died and am waiting some form of rebirth. I have nowhere else to go and nothing else to lose, and clearly, wherever you are in the Heartland Structure, to be talking this long and at length with me, is secure enough.~
~Wait, wait, hold on, I could be in a prison cell.~
~I already effectively am. How sure are you that you aren't?~

I... can pull her through... or I can drop this link and go back and that could be the last we'd ever see of her, or... urgh... Sisirri isn't going to be happy either way.

I reach out--
>>
No. 951688 ID: 9842dc
File 157644271101.png - (370.72KB , 800x600 , salq3-93.png )
951688

--and am gently shunted back by a third presence forcibly shoving itself into this bubble of paraspace.

~Hello, no, I'm here to put a stop to this,~ says... Voidsong, who has just... shown up uninvited? What? How did she even find this? I don't even know where this is!

Abzu looks surprised but still gives an air of self-control, holding her despair closer to her. ~Excuse me, who are you--~
~This doesn't concern you, gene sack, out of my sight! 1045! We need to talk. Now.~

As I mentioned earlier, Voidsong is cloaked in an impressive if intangible psionic storm, her paraspacial projection manifest as something closer to how she'd wish to be in reality.
Which is, unsurprisingly, larger and flashier.

~1045, you were and for now remain one of my greatest works, and if you think I'm not listening to your every praise of that talentless salikai brat who caught me on an off day, you clearly don't understand how capable of multitasking I am! I'm watching you constantly!~

This... is a straight up lie, I can tell when she's poking around in my psyche and she's largely absent. I don't even bother saying this, I just look at her with unexaggerated disbelief.
She writhes uncomfortably and breaks eye contact (or the metaphor of eye contact, whatever that means here). ~You were so quick to discard me, 1045, so quick to leave me to my death!~
~You threw me out of the spire.~
~You betrayed me the moment I fell! You betrayed the Kiter Empire!~
~So did you.~
~Unimportant! What is important is you were years of my best work, strewn together from a base of nothing but whispers and murmurs and fleeting sightings, do you know how little I had to work with?! Do you know how carefully I poured over the experiences and lives of the dead to select the ones that would shape you best?!~

~No, it's fine, I can wait, thanks for asking,~ mutters Abzu, sitting back down on her chair and rolling her eyes.
~Silence, you inconsequential rat thing! I-- wait, I thought you were all dead anyway. Huh. Guess Gol isn't doing as good a job as he says he is--~

Abzu just glares silently at Voidsong, an overwhelming sea of hate, anger and sorrow threatening to break free violently.
Voidsong trails off and snaps her attention back to me.

~SO! 1045! I have name suggestions for a start, Lackey is just depressing to hear. Seizer, Torrent, Maelstrom, Typhoon, Tempest, Flukebiter actually no forget that last one. Forget it. Forget the name thing.~
I realise there's something eerily familiar about Voidsong's particular cadence here. ~Are you drunk?~
~Only with power! And the juiced up neural tissue of about a dozen neno fi paraspacial manipulators, mixed with a hefty dose of compound K-4 and all the remnant nootropics I had in a ball pouch. No intoxicants! None!~
~So you're still in an altered state of consciousness.~
~Don't judge me!! Do you know how hard it is to snoop on paraspacial communication with just focus alone?! This is a brief diversion and then I'm off to do the actual things that I needed to here!~

~ENOUGH!~ Abzu throws her chair at the Voidsong storm. It crumbles into vapor before it even reaches the clouds. ~It's creatures like you that ordered the death of my people! Who live without care or concern, and consume as they please, just like the Khephallii, completely uninterested in the world and those around them unless they happens to ever even hint at saying 'no'!~
~I really can't bring myself to care, rat thing,~ groans Voidsong, looking back at me. ~Where were we?~
~Did... did you actually have a point?~
~Yes! Stop following that wretched salikai larva and come back to your rightful place at my side!~
~Oh. No.~
~But why not?!~
~There's... so many reasons. I don't have time to list them all--~
~FINE THEN! If you like that salikai so much why don't you screw it?! I'm done! I have more important conversations to intrude on anyway!~

Voidsong disappears in a spectacle of psychic fire and lightning, and then it's just Abzu and myself left.

~...so, I...~ Abzu taps her snout a few times, trying to recall what we were talking about. ~Right. Yes. May I come to the Heartland Structure?~
~Do you have food with you?~
~If I could bring anything with me I'd be bringing my clothes, for one thing. No, just myself. I do, however, know where a cache of resources can be found near that structure. That is the closest thing I can bring with me, and you will need me to find it. I can't just tell you where it is. It won't respond without the correct key.~

Hm. Pull her to me, or cut this conversation and return my attention to my probably drooling physical body?
>>
No. 951689 ID: 465a14

Seduce her, Lackey. Despite it going horribly the first time nothing can go wrong the second. Time to have freaky psychic-dream sex.
>>
No. 951690 ID: 86eb65

Yeah lets get more idiots piled up in our base. At least she knows where food is.
>>
No. 951692 ID: 91ee5f

>>951688
If she knows where food is and she can give you access to it, then you might as well bring her over.
>>
No. 951693 ID: b1b4f3

>>951688
Go on, bring her. She's useful and comes with information that will gain us resources, though it may be difficult to get them now.

Voidsong's actions worry me. You should try to contact her afterwards once you're feeling up to it, and explain yourself.
>>
No. 951695 ID: ba56e6

Bring her in.
>>
No. 951699 ID: 2aa5f0

well a chance to find more food is still better than anything else we have right now so might as well. Also it might be a good idea to grab someone to make sure other people can't just teleport into our base so that might be a plus as well.
>>
No. 951705 ID: 6e6f32

Paraspacial talant and and a hatred of the Kiter?
Hell yeah, bring her in.
Sissiri and the others will be UNIVERSALLY ANGRY with you, but will immediately soften up once that cache is found.
Also, anyone who can stand up to Voidsong is a plus in my book.
>>
No. 951706 ID: 528d9b

"Sorry about my mom."

Bring your new telepathic friend. You need someone to talk about your bullshit emotions and she at least understand the psychic part of them.
Who knows, she is also a breeding creature, maybe she will be able to convince you to stop turning away from your offspring. Deadbeat father...
>>
No. 951707 ID: bddb0f

>>951689
This does not seem like a good time for it.

>>951688
Pull her in. But first, fair warnings.

"One thing. I was doing poorly when you called, from sudden pains and aches. As first of my kind, so I do not know what is causing it.

Point is, I may get incapacitated by yet another paraspacial teleportation. If so, report to the aliens and explain the situation in simple terms. They will not be happy, but will probably calm down when you mention how you got here, who and what you are and what you can do for them. Accept restraints or confinement without complaint. If you have trouble, ask for Sisirri or Tirzi, they are among the more approachable residents.

Insist they debrief you - this is a busy time so it may be a while otherwise. Mention the cache early. If it's true, it will help buy you some goodwill. Of course, we probably can't go fetch it right away. Possibly it will have to be retrieved through paraspacial teleportation later. Or we find some way to fight our way through whatever forces Coordinator Gol sends to cover the facility after we ensured his latest humiliation."

...

One more thing.

>>/questarch/882762
"Have we met before? Briefly, before a battle with the Kiter began? You strongly resemble someone I saw there. They were coming out from inside a facility somewhat like the Heartland Structure to meet us."
>>
No. 951717 ID: 936ce8

>>951686
So, the Kiter have lost before. They're beatable. That'll be good for morale.
>>951688
Sisirri may actually be somewhat mollified by a paraspace expert. A big obstacle with jammer research was a lack of that. Ooh, plus maybe they'd be able to help the neumono.
>>951707
>fair warnings
Agreed.
>>
No. 951720 ID: 3ce8ff

void song just doesn't want to admit he needs help, sounds like he is burning a lot of resources to survive, he will probably need to join us at some point, but he will almost certainly need to reach out to us.
we need food, so i say accept.
>>
No. 951724 ID: b1b4f3

What I'm hearing is the kiter are can be defeated, but the stran have to be wiped out to make the kiter *stay* defeated, and that's basically impossible unless you do something like what Imperium proposed.
>>
No. 951725 ID: 7dc36a

>>951687
>A drive for self-preservation at a fundamental biological level is very, very different to a need for higher purpose...
At the end of the day, is it really? My guess is an intelligence necessary to survive and adapt would tend to develop a need to justify itself, as if to spur its growth and development.

>>951688
A smart person would realize enemies would go after our friend, and whoever would protect her. A rational person would cut her off right here if they understood the risk.
But F' it, bring her in. Be in the moment. Hypocrisy would only make your depression worse at this point.

>>951689
Keep in mind that she just said she is the one holding your psyche together. Being as codependent as you are, asking to help get your (psy) shit together is fine but maybe you can hold off on the dream sex.
>>
No. 951726 ID: 094652

>>951688
"... If it's any consolation, I'm not with stupid anymore."

>>951717
No, it's even worse. Nobody wins this war, ever. The few civilizations that do manage to beat the Empire fail to build a replacement that could prevent their eventual return and adaptation. The great works the Kiter make out of their mass sacrifices are inevitably corrupted and erased as the Stran cut their support and leave them to bleed out from infighting and rebellion. The Stran don't even win, because they spend their small bit of consciousness denying their own existence as individuals with personal goals and godlike-powers, and ultimately seek their own self-destruction to perpetuate this endless, pointless cycle. Imperium and the other AIs have only thrived this long by systematically brainwashing themselves into becoming cold-cut thought processes whose main priorities consist of emulating spite and hatred. The entire galaxy has become a giant martyrdom to a god whose existence has been permanently scrubbed by star currents of blood.

You may want to leave the galaxy entirely. That might be enough.
>>
No. 951733 ID: 83bf07

>>951689
I mean..
>>951688
Do explain that this facility is reaching its capacity in terms of supplies. So getting that cache of food is somewhat urgent.
>>
No. 951748 ID: 9842dc
File 157654072325.png - (10.42KB , 800x600 , salq3-94.png )
951748

>voidsong
A problem for another time. If she burns herself into nothing, I wouldn't have been able to convince her otherwise.

>seduce her
I have no idea how to seduce anyone. I just asked questions last time and things apparently went from there.
But--
>in paraspace
--yeah, that's not a wise idea. Also it appears acts of reproductive behaviour come with costs I can't anticipate. Things beyond calorie expenditure and time. There's hidden layers of complexity I'm still not sure I fully understand.

Also I should not be considering this, because I think Abzu is noticing a few errant thoughts slipping out.

>bring her over
~Fair warning, I'm recovering from strange body twinges and I'm not alone in general, but the window of opportunity is closing so--~

Everything happens very quickly. Abzu slings herself toward me with my initial help, and it feels less like I'm pulling her towards me and more like I'm trying to guide a cannonball flying into me in the right direction.

Everything is a screaming barrage of senseless images that distort and diffract and the only direction I know is back, back to me, back to home. Back up, back up, back up...

I inhale sharply on the floor, sensation flooding into my body, and everything feels more weighty, more anchored, more stable. I'm panting from physical exertion and aches that don't make a lot of sense, given I haven't moved from where I was on the floor in the middle of a corridor.

I pick myself up and slowly shuffler into a nearby room, another featureless empty room. Which has... a dusty couch. Another room with just a couch. I don't understand this place a lot of the time.

I don't see Abzu anywhere. I feel oddly tired, but otherwise fine. Easily explained by the physiological drain of paraspacial manipulation.
>>
No. 951749 ID: 9842dc
File 157654073866.png - (21.84KB , 800x600 , salq3-95.png )
951749

I feel a little tense as I suddenly consider that what was supposed to be a straightforward translocation might have gone awry, scattering Abzu across paraspace, or sending her elsewhere, when suddenly she collapses onto me out of a direction that makes no sense. Something at right angles to normal three dimensional space.

~That... certainly... happened...~ she mumbles over the connection between us. I wriggle from under her, panting and sore.
"Did something go wrong?"
~I have no idea what you just said,~ she says, as she picks herself up and brushes dust off of herself. ~It looks as though we are required to speak paraspacially.~
"<No, it's fine, I can speak a lot of languages,>" I say in the most common tongue of this continent. "<I'd rather not speak in telepathy forever, it gets tiring.>"
"<Your accent is odd,>" says Abzu. "<I haven't heard anything like it.>"

A few seconds pass of awkward silence, and she looks around and at me. "<...so those yellow specks are important to you, yes?>"
"<What?>"
"<They looked so strange and out of place I thought they were some form of paraspacial decoration of your essential self. They don't... look very natural. They must have tremendous importance to you to manifest, even if the colours clash significantly.>"
"<I was decanted like this. They're not dyed by anything but my own biological pigments.>"
"<Ah. I am not familiar with kiter biology as anything but means to either support or provide weaponry and provoke despair.>" She rubs her snout again. "<Are they weaponry?>"
"<Indicators of neural cluster concentrations. Voidso-- My creator told me they were placed for ease of diagnosis if I should malfunction.>"
"<'Malfunction?' Is this how kiter see each other? As disposable, replaceable machines for purpose?>"
"<Isn't that all an organism is? A machine? I don't see why there's such a distinction among non-kiter, you're not the first I've seen to have this mentality...>"

Abzu looks at me, annoyed, opens her mouth a few times, and sighs. "<There's more important things to worry about than this conversation, as enlightening as it is into kiter psychology. I promised you the location of a resource cache, and I treat promises very seriously. However, from what I'm aware, seeking it out now is dangerous. I wish to show it to you and your...>"

Abzu spends a solid ten seconds visibly searching for an appropriate word.

"<You and your others. Whomever they may be.>"
"<You're quick to focus on the task at hand, hm.>"
"<There is little time for anything else.>" She looks down at herself. "<...oh, and I need some clothes. I'm not a bestial animal, I need some trappings of sentience.>" She looks at me in a very meaningful way, and I feel a little affronted, but decide to let it pass.
"<We don't exactly have a tailor on site.>"
"<...are you all nudists here?>"
"<Well, I...>" I think of the population here. "<Predominately. You should be fine.>"

Abzu sighs loud and heavily. "<I've lost the respect of my tribe, my own confidence in my abilities, everything I ever owned, and the last thing I have is my dignity. You've already seen me naked, and hopefully no one else here has to. I'm not leaving this room without something appropriate to wear.>"
"<Define appropriate.>"

Abzu sinks onto the couch, groaning and putting her head in her hands. "<I guess I'm a prisoner here after all, and the bars are made of shame. Fantastic. Well. What now?>"

>previously met
"<Hm. Before we move onto anything, I have a question. Have we not met before? I recall seeing someone similar to you many days ago. They were leading a group of your kind, wearing blue. You thought I was kiter then.>"
"<...hm. So we have. That large green creature that pulled you to its side. Is that your leader? I must admit, I remember those details less clearly than...>" She trails off.
"<Sisirri, yes,>" I say, trying to avoid provoking painful memories. "<You looked very elegant in your clothes. It's a shame you had to leave them behind.>"
"<The outfit of someone beloved by their people,>" she mutters, ear flicking. "<Even if I could have taken them with me, I don't think I could bear it.>"

I reach out and gently touch her shoulder, feeling genuinely awful for her. Flickers of emotion from betrayals I can't even remember ebb and flow inside me.
She tenses up, then looks at my hand, and relaxes, but only slightly.

"<And now I'm letting one of the things responsible for killing my friends put his paw on me like a confused beast.>"
"<I just thought it might be comforting.>"
"<What do the kiter know about comfort? Friendship? The love of family, the bond of lovers, connections beyond slave and slavemaster?>"
"<More than you might expect.>"
"<I expect nothing. The kiter are a pestilence. You were made to be a weapon, too. Can you even be anything more?>"
>>
No. 951750 ID: 9842dc
File 157654077989.png - (8.82KB , 800x600 , salq3-96.png )
951750

>seduce her
"<I've been many things and I can be many more,>" I tell her, voice low and whispering. I don't even know why I'm acting on this spur of the moment impulse. I mean, I do find her attractive, I suppose, but.

She shivers and her ears stand up. She looks at me with confusion, quickly shifting to haughty annoyance. "<I'd sooner die in the cold rains outside than let a kiter monstrosity win any affection from me. You were my means of entrance here, a fortunate accident. Nothing more. There is nothing in common between us.>"
"<We both carry the weight of regrets far greater than is fair on our shoulders. You may not believe me, but I do care that your people have suffered such atrocities. The kiter do not spare even their own from their boundless cruelty.>"
"<Empty words from an empty soul. If I were stronger I ought to strike you down and rid the world of another kiter soldier.>"
"<You don't believe that, else you'd have already tried.>"

She turns her face away from me. "<You sound very assured for someone coming apart at the seams with self-doubt and inner turmoil.>"
"<There's more to me than just my flaws, just as with anyone else. You've seen the worst of me. Do you doubt me, after you helped hold me together?>"

Abzu stares at the wall. "<...I don't know who I can trust anymore. I'm an outsider to my people now, and I can't survive by myself. I keep telling myself I can, but I don't know if I'm strong enough...>"

I put my hand on hers. She looks at me with tears in her eyes.

"<I know you've felt loss, but do you really know if it was your loss you felt, or the loss of someone else?>"
I feel a tightening in my stomach as her words cut into my existential anguish. "<Whether it was my loss originally or someone else's, it's my loss now. All of these wounds are mine to own and heal.>"
"<...what is your name?>"

Oh. Oh, right, I never told her my name.

"Lackey."
"..."
"<My kiter name is Prototype 1045. Sisirri renamed me. She has a dry sense of humour. I haven't thought of a replacement yet.>"
"Lah ki. <Captor of the land. Flung to a place. Bringer of grain. Many readings in that name. It suits.>"
"<Oh. Thank you.>"

Abzu sighs again. I'm beginning to worry she'll pass out from hyperventilation or just sheer disappointment at this point. "<It is very, very late. I can't see the sun from this enclosed room, but I know it must be late. It was dark when I began my search. Do you have somewhere to sleep?>"
"<I've just been finding rooms like this one and sleeping on the couch.>"

Abzu looks at the couch we're both sitting on thoughtfully. "<...this is a great deal to ask of someone I have barely met, but can I sleep in this room?>"
"<I can find somewhere else to-->"
"<With you. ...Not, you understand, uh, sleep with you, but I'd... feel safer if you were here. I never thought I'd think that of a kiter soldier but I suppose we both saw a little too much of each other in paraspace, didn't we. Too deeply.>"

Okay. What now. I. Didn't actually think this was going to go anywhere. Uh. I sure made this happen fast. Do I offer to mate now??
>>
No. 951752 ID: 3ce8ff

no i believe this request was platonic in nature, literally sleeping, independently, in the same location
>>
No. 951753 ID: b1b4f3

>>951750
>offer to mate??
No. If you are uncertain of her intentions, tell her that. Better to clear things up before they get awkward.

Also if she won't leave this room until she has clothing, you will have to find some. Potentially salvage part of a couch for fabric? Find an actual bed and take the sheets? Get a towel from a bathing area?
>>
No. 951754 ID: 2aa5f0

uh, I think that yeah, you can let her sleep with you but don't try to mate with her. She seems to be in a bad emotional state, kinda like you were right before she grabbed you and you had that whole conversation so if you did mate with her it might cause some problems down the line.

You should probably use the local wifi or whatever the chat room feature is called and let someone know you've found another guess that might know a cache of somewhere though so they can be ready for all of that.
>>
No. 951755 ID: bddb0f

>>951750
May want to take this one on a slow burn. Apparently mating has consequences, as previously established. You're liable to get smacked over your head if you beget yet another medical mystery.

Ekasarra may also... take it wrong? Somehow? She hasn't dipped that deep in the paraspacial theoreticals yet, so might be confused by your sudden attraction to Abzu out of nowhere. It may add hurt to hurt.

You also still have an errand to run. That carax, Ktri-94 is waiting. Then again, rest seems wise, given your aches and Abzu's apparent exhaustion and need for a shoulder to lean on. Fortunately, you probably don't have to have sex in order to offer comfort to someone.

So, a compromise. Take a short platonic rest with Abzu, then have her debriefed (and clothed, if possible) by whichever alien du jour is feeling responsible enough to handle it, then go check on Ktri-94 and that moon-moth they brought.
>>
No. 951758 ID: b1b4f3

Ah, I just thought of a potential complication. If you do stay here with her overnight, and someone walks in and finds you two together naked it will give the wrong impression. Especially bad if Ekasarra is the one to do so.
>>
No. 951759 ID: ba56e6

No, that would be cheating. Get the location of the cache from her, tell her it will help convince the others to let her stay here.

Keep watch and inform the others of another refugee. Give them the location of the cache. Food is everything during a siege.
>>
No. 951761 ID: 86eb65

Gonna knock this bitch up to?
>>
No. 951763 ID: 6e6f32

This person needs a friend, not a lover.
Do not offer to mate.

Also, either drag in another couch or sleep on the floor. If someone walks in on you two cuddling on one couch, and lets face it --They Will-- It will cause MUCH DRAMA with Ekasarra.
And everyone has most certainly had enough of that.
>>
No. 951765 ID: a9af05

>>951750
>Do I offer to mate now??
No, don't!

She already clarified that she doesn't want you to sleep with her like that. She just wants you to sleep in the same room she's in.

Which basically means that she gets to sleep on the couch and you sleep on the floor.
>>
No. 951766 ID: 0fae41

You already accidentally knocked up a species that can choose to get pregnant. Test the superiority of Kiter genes at a later date.
>>
No. 951768 ID: 977456

Suggest vandalising the funiture in order to acquire materials for clothing. Then reconsider, acquire communication means, and call for assistance acquiring clothing of approximately your proportions.
>>
No. 951769 ID: 12b116

You better go get Sissirri NOW. She is not going to be happy about it but it's better than her finding out randomly.
>>
No. 951771 ID: 094652

>Offer to mate
HELL NO. At least, not until you get your operating system re-installed. Right now, your brain is a jumbled mess of schizophrenic multipolar disorder. And of course, she doesn't know about Ekasarra or what you said to her.

>>951769
Yeah, introduce your new hire to the rest of the team. The sooner they learn what she can do, the faster they'll combine their skills creatively.
>>
No. 951772 ID: 7dc36a

Aw, this is actually kinda sweet and romantic...
...noooooooooomaybe?nonono...
I know you feel betrayed by Eka, but you do not need a new mate right now, you need a friend.
Who understands you completely.
To help sort your relationship issues,
that you're technically still dealing with.

You know what friends do, help them find clothes/things they need, Like a friend.
Go run out and get your new friend some clothes.
Like a good boyfriend would do.
Hurry.
>>
No. 951777 ID: 977456

Small reminder: You are technically a product of a bioweapon experiment. Mating might be weaponised, possibly even lethal, or some sort of Kiter reprogramming/imprinting thing. Unless you want her to swear fealty to The Kiter and betray you all, or drop dead from infection, you should probably refrain from mating. At least until you get your biology exhaustively examined by reliable experts. I mean, It is probably nothing, but why take risks?
>>
No. 951780 ID: 83bf07

>>951772
You two can cuddle up after you get some clothes/blankets and snacks. Whatever happens, happens.
>>
No. 951790 ID: 1ed92d

>>951750
Dude. Seriously. Remember the LAST time you decided to fuck spur of the moment without thinking the emotional consequences through? You are literally STILL dealing with them.

Offer a cuddle instead, unless you feel like seeing what Neumono/Rat Hybrids look like.

....Granted they'd probably be psychically powerful enough to swat Kiter Strans from the sky if you got enough of them together but it's still a bad idea.
>>
No. 951804 ID: f57349

Do not attempt mating procedures.

Before settling in, notify allied residents of the Mistake facility that someone has teleported into this room (it might be wise not to mention your own complicity in violating the secure perimeter) and is willing to trade food for cloth, pursuant to some bafflingly alien philosophical agenda called "dignity." Also, newcomer doesn't actually have any food in-hand yet, it's at some sort of secure cache outside that supposedly only they know how to unlock. So, does the quartermaster have cloth to spare?
>>
No. 951820 ID: 9842dc
File 157670983660.png - (101.31KB , 800x600 , salq3-97.png )
951820

>do not mate
>do not mate
>do not mate
>do not mate
Alright, alright, my conviction that this might be a poor idea wins over this ephemeral feeling of lust.

>get location from her
"<Where is this cache you mentioned?>" I take my hand away from hers. She takes a few seconds to collect herself and shakes her head around.
"<Southeast from the Heartland Structure. I'd need to look outside to properly determine where. Perhaps if you have a map?>"
"<I don't, but I'm sure someone else does.>"
"<I'm sure the glyph walls in this structure must function too. Let me see...>"

She stands up, walks up to what I had thought was an inert wall, and taps it. It springs into life as a full display.
She quietly nods to herself, and starts tapping around a series of glyphs I neither recognise nor can understand.

"<See, yes. Status, environment, external, terrain, view from above. Zoom out.>"
"<I thought that was a wall.>"
"<The Architects were fond of hiding functionality like this into otherwise unused space. A reoccuring theme in their works, things that look simplistic and plain at first glance, yet hiding immense complexity. It's as if they were deliberately trying to keep their works from being understood by outsiders. Some of the tribes considered their works holy, but we were among the tribes who saw their works not as divine artifacts but forgotten utilities, true purpose waiting to be unearthed.>" As she speaks, she moves and pans a map across the wall, centring it on a familiar frustrum as viewed from above.

"<You know a lot about this, apparently. Were you some sort of scholar as well as some sort of tribal princess?>"
"<The Kun tribe have done much to ensure our history does not die out, else we might succumb to the same regression other tribes deliberately sought out. We inhabited the ruins of the Southwestern Apex Structure for generations. It was large enough to house our entire tribe, but after repeated Kiter attack, we were forced to migrate to the Beachside Structure, already fallen into disrepair.>"

She taps on the wall. "<Here's where the cache is.>"
I look at the map.

I've seen this map before. This is... the cache is exactly where the strange crater that had my home spire in a frenzy of activity appeared. The one that didn't resemble any sort of impact from the sky, just as if some column of force had expanded outwards and shoved all the dirt and rock to the sides. A perfectly circular divot in the land.

"<In the crater?>"

She looks to me, then back at the map, then stares where she just indicated, and zooms in on the map.

"<...what...>"
"<No idea, I was hoping you'd have answers about that. We, that is, the Kiter thought it was a defense mechanism triggered by a patrol, they tried to scrutinize the surrounding area for undiscovered Mistake mines. They sent a very small scout force to the crater itself, figuring any threat had been neutralised. Then only one ecog and one neburi made it back, said something about black armoured hostiles with anti-materiel weaponry, and a weird green snak-->"

I pause and a few dots that were previously unconnected in my head jam themselves together.
Abzu keeps staring at the map, and looks like she's shaking.

"<I-- I thought-->"
"<We'll find a different resource cache. I'll take the blame for this, your being here is my fault after all.>"
"<No! It's not that! That cache was meant to be indestructible! The Kiter couldn't crack it open with anything they had! And now it's just...>" She taps the map a number of times, and it switches to an actual visual feed of the area. I have no idea how, the Kiter have complete orbital supremacy, there should be no functional satellites.
"<It's gone! How? How?!>"

I, hm. I... hm. I don't actually know.

She stares at the wall. "<...More importantly, this means I'm useless to you. What does this mean for me? Are you going to send me back, or throw me outside?>"
>>
No. 951821 ID: b1b4f3

>>951820
No. She's not useless, she has knowledge of how the facility is designed. That means she can help us with gaining access to its functions. She is, in fact, ESSENTIAL.

Please find her some clothes.
>>
No. 951823 ID: 528d9b

Don't worry about that. I have a feeling Sisiri won't blame you for anything...
Even if she did you won't be throw out like that.

Could you teach me about those symbols? There is an argument for my ignorance since mom can reach my thoughts, but if not me others in this base would find any information about the ancient language and how to operate the machinery very useful.
>>
No. 951828 ID: 2aa5f0

>More importantly, this means I'm useless to you. What does this mean for me? Are you going to send me back, or throw me outside?

...in under a minute you have shown you know more about this complex than some of the brightest minds from 2 different galaxies. If anything you'll fit in just fine.

That does explain where the fruit came from. Really hope we salvaged some seeds from those things and can grow more.
>>
No. 951833 ID: ba56e6

You know things about the facility we evidently do not. Saba will be displeased, but I'm sure Sisirri will see your value.
>>
No. 951835 ID: b1b4f3

Yes, it does sound like the cache was "opened" from Sisirri's arrival and the fruit scattered about, which was found by the arkots. It's possible that the moth and its escort knew the exact location of where the cache wound up.
>>
No. 951838 ID: ba56e6

>>951835
Pretty sure it's the original box of fruit we found.
>>
No. 951839 ID: 977456

Huh, well possibly Sissi appeared inside of the cache, and just pushed it open like a feeble chick might an egg.
Or its defences are active and lack the range to detect intergalactic attacks, thus just didn't activate.
Then again it might be weak against telefrag types.
But most likely it's ancient apocalyptic-proof paraspatial infinity-shields attempted to directly interpose into the path of Sissiri's genius, and were snuffed aside as like a single blade of grass attempting to hold aloft the full weight of a descending ocean.

But yeah, she seems cool. The locals are pretty relaxed about newcomers so long as they lack murderous inclinations or are neumono.
>>
No. 951840 ID: 8fab7a

>>951820
>Indestructible, how even
Then perhaps it was moved. Sisirri arrived in that area. Whatever means brought her could have removed the cache. Was there anything particularly important inside?

>kicked out for not contributing
No, you don't think so. The aliens are probably not aware of all these 'utilities', so she's already contributing. Perhaps there are some that could be useful for setting up food production. The ones that allow her to get a full view of the planet will also be useful.

That aside, her skill and control with paraspatial matters is still useful in many regards. Which... gives you a thought. There is a species here - the one whose shape you resemble and parts of your genetic profile is based on - that has an innate empathic link. This link was already attempted hijacked by Voidsong - the unstable rebel fleshweaver gone rogue who interrupted your call - and you presume someone like her ilk could also do this.

You've been using Kiter blocker symbiotes to keep a lid on the danger, but that may not always be a viable option. Could she do anything about that? Having them shielded while in the field could be invaluable during a crisis, as most of the remaining neumono are heavily armed, armored, well-coordinated thanks to their empathy and also rather hard to kill.

Lastly, would her own people be open to negotiations with clearly non-Kiter aliens for, say, food? While they may have exiled her, she could advice other aliens on how best to make a diplomatic foray.

>>951835
That, or Sisirri's displacement from her base meant that something else was brought back in its stead. Equivalent exchange, perhaps. Do we know if Imperium managed to salvage the base, or is it in the hands of Sisirri's attackers?
>>
No. 951841 ID: 12b116

She needs to get together with Sisirri, we might be able to figure out what to do with both of them. Either way, it's important we let somebody know that we have someone who can help us all figure out how to operate the systems in this place.
>>
No. 951843 ID: 6e6f32

Several will suggest it but no.
You won't be thrown out. The people here aren't monsters. Least of all by me.

And your not useless. Everyone here is a master of something.
Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Genetics, Computers, Warfare, more...
You're mastery of para-space fits in perfectly.
If we could just put our heads together to get some food everyone would be much less on edge.
>>
No. 951851 ID: 4687fd

Lets not forget to mention that regardless of how in the know she is on planetary politics and the standard citizenry, which as some master psychic, princess/sage/spiritual leader lady should at least be average, which should help the team here gain greater berrings on the situation as a whole.

Also any geographical knowledge of the barren hellscape that was once her home should help.
>>
No. 951852 ID: 4687fd

You are the only person in this structure that is not a foreign alien.
>>
No. 951853 ID: 83bf07

>>951820
No. This doesn't change anything. You can still help around here. Just the old fashioned way. For now.. cuddle?
>>
No. 951855 ID: f57349

Forget the food. Just explain to the local computer science nerds how to use that interface, ASAP, and they'll be happy to keep you around.
>>
No. 951858 ID: 1ed92d

>>951820
Tell her to relax, it probably wasn't destroyed, just teleported away. Also, the fruit was delicious. Anyway, the fact that she knows how to use the structure makes her approximately a billion times more useful that "I know where a box of fruit is".
>>
No. 951859 ID: 7cf2fa

>>951820
So, the artifact's teleport is destructive. Beats out the Kiter. Used properly, we'd be able to do serious damage.

Knowledge of the facility is valuable enough, but even if she lacked it, her paraspacial expertise is valuable, especially for how to develop a jammer.
**Also for a mad scheme I have.**
>>
No. 951872 ID: 3ce8ff

useless? ABSOLUTELY NOT. you are both a paraspacial expert and know much of how this facility works, both things our current group lacks. Knowledge is power
>>
No. 951949 ID: 6474be

Definitely not, knowing these things about this twisty mess of a facility is /very/ valuable to us. Maybe awkwardly apologize for tripping over her stash and having long since raided it?
>>
No. 951957 ID: 977456

Then again, there are already plenty of naked aliens here. By that metric, she is very redundant.
>>
No. 952122 ID: 9842dc
File 157719691992.png - (17.60KB , 800x600 , salq3-98.png )
952122

>facility knowledge
"<You have more knowledge of the facility than the rest of us here combined.>"
>neumono pacification
>paraspace expertise
"<You also have talents that will be very useful. The aliens my form is based upon have some form of latent paraspacial sensitivity they have little control over, and your expertise and different perspective is something I'd like to learn more about if no one else would.>"

Abzu looks at the wall quietly.

"<...this knowledge is not something I was supposed to share so freely, but if it means my own survival, and the preservation of knowledge...>"

She yawns loudly. "<I'll consider this. For now, sleep.>"
The paraspacial jaunt earlier has left me feeling exhausted too.

She sleeps on the couch and I decide to join her. She flicks an ear towards me and squirms, standing up. "<I didn't say I wanted to sleep with you so intimately! You've shown me kindness and understanding but you are still mostly a stranger to me, and a kiter organism whose very breath might contain poisons I'd never recognise. For all I know, skin contact might also cause you to react lethally as well!>"
"<I'm more than just a weapon. Also, the Kiter do not do things that subtly even in Shadow Fleet. If I was that lethal on contact, you'd already be dead. As for me, I'm built to resist toxins that could render a planet devoid of life. There's no threat here.>"
"<You do not have my permission to...>" She trails off. "<You don't have my permission.>"
"<Your permission to what?>"

She stares at me completely stunned, then holds her hands out, eyes narrowed.
Without expecting it, I am completely surprised and taken aback to be hoisted up via paraspacial manipulation and gently dropped onto the cold floor.

Abzu lies back on the couch. "<Your mind is clouded and shrouded from me. Your intentions are selfish and driven by lust for something you only partially understand. If you try to touch me again, I can do worse than put you on the floor.>"
"<I'm not sleeping on the floor.>"
"<You're not sleeping on this couch.>"
"<You have no authority here!>"
"<This is hallowed ground to my people! I have greater authority and a greater right to be here than an alien invader!>"

Ugh. Whatever. Too tired to care. "<Whatever. I'm going to sleep.>"

I don't let her know, but I can feel her ambivalent emotions towards me as symbol of her people's ruin and unlikely saviour, and the confused, awkward feelings of someone who has spent a lot of time keeping their baser instincts in check now thrown into a situation where all the old limitations and restrictions are no longer externally enforced. I can't say I'm unfamiliar with the situation.

It's beginning to feel less a question on if we'll copulate and more when. But I felt close to Ekasarra too. I don't know what I want. I know Abzu about as well as I did Ekasarra. I'm confused. Ekasarra saw something in me that might have been more of a reflection of her own mental state than mine. Abzu has seen who I am to levels I can't be comfortable with myself.

I might as well stop lying to myself. I want to mate with her. I don't know if she wants the same. I don't know if the context is right to even ask. I don't know if it will be another decision I regret. It's not even pure lust driving me, it's... what is this? Let me try and pull at this baser desire. Where does this thread go? Hm. Desire to... keep. Subjugate. Conquer. Claim. Consume. Treating other thinking, feeling beings as objects to use and consume. Waste nothing. Use everything. Is that what's driving me? Is that what's driving my every action? Is the only reason I feel emotional connection with anyone a motivating factor for me to act as another cell in the kiter superorganism? What benefit does anyone get from a constructed organism feeling lust towards a member of a species designated for harvesting and processing? My mind is an artificial composite. Are any of my thoughts mine? What is 'me'? Can I trust any thought I ever have to be something I earnestly believe, earnestly feel, or just another simulated impulse to make me do whatever my original purpose was? Can I ever truly connect on an emotional level to anyone born from random chance and circumstance, desperately unhappy, seeking purpose as though it will make them fulfilled?

Abzu wants purpose but she has no idea how little it will help. I had purpose and it's making me just as miserable. At least she can rest easy knowing her thoughts are her own.
I'm starting to doubt if any of my choices are mine. Was I meant to breed with Ekasarra as part of a second generation field implementation of the next stage of whatever Voidsong had planned?
Did Voidsong even fully understand what she was doing, or was she just also acting as part of the kiter machinery?

"<...sleep well, Lackey.>"

...

"<You too.>"

I'm not sleeping any time soon with a mind this active. I don't know what to do. I don't think Abzu is actually sleeping either. Maybe I should ask her what's on her mind, but I have a feeling she probably doesn't want to discuss her conflicting feelings towards me with, I don't know, me.

I'm physically exhausted but my brain won't shut up. Agh.

"<Lackey... have you ever felt... no, never mind.>"
"<Felt what?>"
"<Have you ever loved anyone?>"
"<I'm not sure.>"
"<Not sure?>"
"<'Love' is a very broad concept that's less a binary quality and more of a multi-dimensional space. Why?>"
"<I don't know. I don't think I have. I was always told I was too impersonal and that I'd never understand what it meant to connect with someone on an individual level, and I'm worried they were right. I'm worried I spent my life so worried about 'my people' I never focused properly on the people right in front of me. My family is gone, my friends are gone, I just... stopped trying to connect to people.>"
"<Why are you telling me this?>"
"<I have no one else to tell it to. Sorry. I'm just... I'm trying to understand what has happened to me in the past few days. Why it happened, how people I fought for would turn on me so quickly. And now I'm in a room with a former kiter soldier pouring my heart out to them. It's hard to sleep like this.>"
"<I have some revelations buzzing in my head too. Mostly on whether I can trust if any of my thoughts and actions were ever my own. It's for me to work through, though. You're a born organism, you don't have the same set of worries and concerns to work through.>"
"<I spent my life soaking up the tribal traditions and customs of my people as holy writ and unquestionable fact. I think I can understand having doubts about the core of your identity.>"
"<It's not the same thing.>"
"<I think it's more the same thing than you want to admit.>"
"<...I'm worried I'm attracted to you and it's for all the wrong reasons.>"

Abzu is quiet.

"<...that makes two of us, then,>" she says, and I can feel her embarrassment like a spotlight in the middle of the night.
"<What do we do, then?>"
"<Make better decisions in the morning.>"
"<What about now?>"
"<Sleep.>"
"<I can't sleep. You can't sleep. We're both too tired to do anything else. Do you have any more questions about the kiter?>"
"<A lot. What about the peshgiene?>"

Do I have questions about her species and culture? I'm a little fuzzy right now.
>>
No. 952123 ID: 6e6f32

>tribal traditions and customs
Culture itself sound's like it's a foreign concept to the Kiter.
People seem to find meaning in the strangest things.

Tell her you don't know what to ask, so maybe she could just tell you about those traditions and customs?
Maybe you'll find questions as she goes.
>>
No. 952125 ID: 094652

Focus on questions related to the spire. It was there when the Peshgiene colonized this planet, and it hasn't been occupied. The more you know about your own mysterious base, the more you can squeeze out of it.
>>
No. 952126 ID: 8fab7a

>>952122
How did the Peshgiene come to be?

Also, they weren't natives, right? Yet she claims they have more right to the structures here than anyone else. Doesn't that exclude any original natives?
>>
No. 952127 ID: 2aa5f0

so does her tribe have a way to contact other spires or is everyone isolated from each other and if they do have ways to contact each other does that mean we could contact others from the spire without worrying about the kiter listening in? And if so should we bother to try and make contact or do you think that would cause more problems then it's worth?
>>
No. 952130 ID: 3ce8ff

>Can I trust any thought I ever have to be something I earnestly believe, earnestly feel[...]
you doubt therefore you think, therefore you are
>>
No. 952132 ID: f57349

If you're not going to sleep after all, get back in touch with those folks from other galaxies and tell them about the wall panels.
>>
No. 952140 ID: 8389c4

>>952122
What's with the Khepalli and their leaders? Oh wait, 1045 missed the news.
Uh...
How was her government set up? Who's her successor?
How was she able to fight back? The Kiter are built for war.
What's the successor's plot to beat the Kiter? You're the best to criticize.
Since 1045 failed to notify people, I'm now taking bets on Eka seeing him with some gal without clothes and jumping to conclusions.
>>
No. 952142 ID: 528d9b

It's my understanding that her people integrated some ideas from those bored immortals bellow us. How does that work for a mortal race? Earlier she admitted that her lack of motivation and her drive for survival were separate. Isn't the absolutely indifference foreign to their experience?
>>
No. 952143 ID: 83bf07

Child rearing
Wait no
>>
No. 952144 ID: ba56e6

It would be hypocritical of us to claim that all of your most recent decisions have been your own. But rest assured that you are no longer guided solely by Kiter programming.
>>
No. 952231 ID: 1ed92d

>>952122
Does her culture appreciate hugs?
>>
No. 952235 ID: a506f7

>>952231
For that better wait until we get some cloth separating us. Will make it clear both to our subconscious and to whoever will inevitably walk in on us that it's platonic.
>>
No. 952262 ID: 977456

You seriously need to get over this breeding thing. There is a time and a place for romance, and neither of those coexist with any situation where the lives of everyone you might, theoretically, care about, is dependent upon social cohesion. You already have one rapidly-expanding social crater in the base from Void "Dame Doofiest Doofus" Song's incompetence at incorporating a neumono sex drive into an otherwise technological-reproduction-optimised design. Seriously! Thousands of precisely balanced Kiter elements and then a great slab of neumono hammered in with a mallet...
>>
No. 952266 ID: 720148

Perhaps all this rampant lust is a result of some part of the neumono biology? You are the first test of the application of its genetic code.
>>
No. 952443 ID: 9842dc
File 157780093976.png - (11.10KB , 800x600 , salq3-99.png )
952443

>get over this breeding thing
I just want to know why it feels almost more compelling than the remnants of my kiter training. What is going on?

>you are
I'm not sure how much of a "me" there is in the me-who-doubts, but I suppose there's enough there to know I'm something more than just the sum of the perspectives and knowledge smushed together into a mind never meant to ask many questions.

>ask about traditions and customs
>how is the government set up
>ask if the tribes have a way to contact each other
"<How is your tribal government set up? Do the tribes have ways of staying in contact?>"
"<We used to spread messages between tribes by dreamwalkers, nominated representatives skilled both in diplomacy and paraspacial talent. They would journey in pairs, one to scout the way, one to keep the message unchanged by the journey. The tribes went their own ways after the dreamwalker paths were destroyed by the invasion. It was the first of our infrastructure to fall, shredded by alien noise drowning our dreamscapes in hostile storms.>"
"<Your people relied on dreams?>"
"<No. Not quite. The experience of paraspacial travel is much like a waking dream, and it is the clearest description to those who have no ability to voluntarily cast themselves into the ether.>"
"<So what happened? To the tribes?>"

Abzu sighs. "<I don't know. We can't even send physical messengers anymore without them being caught. I don't know how many tribes are left.>"

>who is her successor
>how is her successor planning to fight back
"<If you were the leader or next in line to inherit, who is leading the Kun tribe now?>"

Abzu is quiet. "<I don't know. I don't want to think about it. In the Kun tribe, bloodline was always second to wisdom, and in failing the tribe, I've failed my bloodline. It's almost like a blessing no one of my direct family is around to see what I've done. Undoubtedly, someone else will stand up and claim order where no one else will, and if they prove themselves foolish, they'll... just fall apart into smaller clans and disperse, and dissolve into just... nothing.>"

She tears up and sniffs.

"<Can we... can we not talk about my tribe anymore, please? I need more time to... to feel...>"
"<I'm sorry. It was the first thing that came to my mind.>"

>how did she fight back
>ask why the native species don't have a greater claim
I really want to ask these, but probably not now.

>ask how the peshgiene came to be
"<How did your species come to be? This world isn't their homeworld, as you've said. Where did they come from?>"
"<A beautiful emerald jewel of a world many systems from here. Where, we no longer know. All we know is the Kiter were devouring it as the few peshgiene that fled here, so I would expect it to be a dead rock scoured clean of all life.>"

She starts tearing up again. "<This world was beautiful until the Kiter came. I was a small child when the first ripples of the horror to come rippled through paraspace. I was too young to be formally taught, but my dreams were twisted and misshapen more and more. Odd things, at first, confusing but benign. A table made of moss. A hovering green vine. Then, hungering presences, then, pulsating forms, jaws, eyes, thousands of eyes in the darkness. One day the Kun dreamwalkers just never came back once. They were walking the paths and then... No one was sure what had happened, but their bodies were cold. I remember. I was the first to find them I remember the blood on their faces from their eyes and mouths, like something had just reached inside their heads and squeezed.>"

I shiver.
>>
No. 952444 ID: 9842dc
File 157780096277.png - (8.97KB , 800x600 , salq3-100.png )
952444

"<But I wasn't scared to learn how to dreamwalk, to learn the paraspacial arts. Well, I was, but not enough. I thought if I learned how to fight and defend myself in both worlds, I'd be safe from whatever ambushed our dreamwalkers. And I could keep others safe.>"

She laughs bitterly. "<One of those even turned out to be true.>"
"<Why did you discover the dead dreamwalkers first?>"

Abzu sniffs again, a tear rolling down her face. "<One of the dreamwalkers was my mother. The tribal chief was my father. My brother disappeared days later, swearing vengeance on the first of the horrible creatures to touch down on our world. My father tried to stop him, but he left in the middle of the night. We never saw him again.>" She sniffs again. "<I've... had many years to come to terms with it, and my father... my father may or may not be alive, but it's been long enough I dread the worst. He exiled himself from the tribe only a year ago, and chose to go out to seek an answer to the end of the peshgiene. I begged to go with him, but he said my destiny was to lead the Kun tribe.>"

She wipes her tears away. "<In another time, he might have even been right.>"

"<Family seems important to you,>" I say, not quite sure why it is. "<And others.>"
"<Do kiter understand family?>"
"<Outmoded concept,>" I say, rolling over. "<Family is relationship via genetic descent and such concepts do not make sense when our population is designed and manufactured in batches for specific purposes.>"
"<What about the others in the same batch as you?>"

I tense as a flood of recollection of neburi hive members, carax brood mates and neno fi pods hits me, ancient, ancient memories and imperatives and social structures contorted and repurposed into newer forms subservient to the Kiter machinery and systems.

"<Squadmates...>"
"<Do you at least know what friends are?>"
"<Yes,>" I say, seeing the deaths of people dead long before I was ever born flit around my conscious awareness. I can't grasp their names or who they were, but I know they were important to the ones who came before me.

"<Kiter soldiers can understand and know friendship, can they? I've never seen any that display it. All I've seen are soldiers acting at best like machines, in synchronicity with no fear of death. How can you all be remorseless killing engines and yet still have the capacity for any positive connection? The contradiction is-->"
>>
No. 952445 ID: 9842dc
File 157780100296.png - (21.63KB , 800x600 , salq3-101.png )
952445

Something in me finally snaps, patchwork memories snarled as pieces fit together. That's it. Contradiction. It's all a contradiction. All of it. All of it.

"<The contradiction is everything!>" I shout out. "<Everything in the Kiter Empire is contradiction! Everything is made to be unbreakable and yet to be broken! Everything is set up to sustain itself in an unsustainable manner! Nothing makes any sense yet everyone understands the part they play in it! We know it's all designed to fail yet we struggle as if it isn't!!>"

I stand up and slam my hands against the wall.

"<They know! They know! All the upper echelons! They have to know, they have to know it's all going to collapse! This entire fleet, this entire thing is a... is a fortress made of sand, waiting to be swept away by the tide of time! And we just keep building more sand onto it, and we keep digging up the sand, and we build it taller, and we watch the waves come, and we build it taller, and we dig more sand, and the waves are eroding it at the foundation but we still dig up the sand and we still keep building because when it all comes falling down, we'll still have a massive pile of sand to work with to do it all over again!>"

Abzu leaps to her feet. At first she's alarmed, but as she processes what I just said, her alarm slowly boils to anger. "<It's all for nothing? It's all for nothing?! They're chewing our world to the dry rock for nothing?!>"

"<NOTHING!!>"

I slam my fists into the wall more. I'm furious. I'm livid. All the pieces fit together and nothing makes sense.

The Kiter destiny is to eat itself forever. A never ending cycle of consumption of the other and repurposing into the self, ultimately revealed as a cycle of consumption of the self, forever, forever.

It's all so clear to me now.

That's why they call them the Mistake.

The stran are the same. The exact same. Instead of despairing at their own death, they chose to embrace it. To die and be reborn, over and over and over and over and over, no matter what it takes to do it. No matter how many other species they swallow, no matter how many cultures they destroy. Everything to feed the cycle.

A stran can die, but the stran never will.

And they're still as wrong.
>>
No. 952446 ID: 9842dc
File 157780102361.png - (15.56KB , 800x600 , salq3-102.png )
952446

The door slides open, and Ekasarra is just outside.

She sees me smashing my fists into a solid steel wall, and Abzu sitting on the couch, head in hands. I can feel Ekasarra flinch as I punch the wall again.

I don't even need to look at her to pick up on her empathy being at first overwhelmed by the sheer rage and hatred I'm almost burning with.

"...is... this a bad time?" She looks at Abzu, a little confused, mostly trying to keep my empathy from drowning her.

"<What do you want,>" I spit at her, not realising I'm speaking in the wrong language until I've already said it.
"Wh-what?"
"What do you want, Ekasarra."
"Kitsiksu told me to come find you, I..."

She meekly stammers. "Who is, uh, who is, um, that?"
"Abzu. Peshgiene, disgraced exile of the Kun tribe. I'll introduce you properly later. What does Kitsiksu want with me now? Is he running low on test subjects?"

Abzu opens her mouth to ask something, looks between me and Ekasarra, and decides against it. She shuffles a little and covers herself with her tail, meekly turning away from the door.

"Why are you so mad?"
"The universe is mad."
"I... uh... just... look at me, Lackey, there's a reason Kitsiksu wants to see you. I think he said something about a 'flagrant violation of thermodynamics'? Wanted you to explain something? All I know is this isn't in any way normal."

I turn and look and Ekasarra... is looking a little different to how I remember her looking.

"<Who is this? She doesn't look like a kiter soldier. Do you know her?>"
>>
No. 952448 ID: 2aa5f0

><Who is this? She doesn't look like a kiter soldier. Do you know her?>
<She's an alien from another galaxy that got stuck here chasing someone for a crime they thought they might commit someday based off false information given to her and her tribe by a malicious third party and isn't handling it well.>

>Why are you so mad?
I'm remembering my past lives and the knowledge is pissing me off.
>>
No. 952450 ID: 094652

>Why are you so mad?
"Because the Kiter are insane and they had the gall to write that insanity into me. Billions of self-contradicting orders, infighting made a national policy, and the leaders are smiling at the fact that they will reach the top of the food chain and still die with no lasting legacy. The empire only exists for one endless purpose: to exterminate culture endlessly. Even its own.

And Imperium is planning to stop them by achieving what they want, but permanently."

>What do
Ask Abzu how to mend a relationship as @#$%ed as yours, especially with bipolar disorder, and then leave and let the girls talk it out.
>>
No. 952452 ID: a9af05

>>952446
>I turn and look and Ekasarra...is looking a little different to how I remember her looking.
That's because her belly is a little bigger than the last time you saw her.

Now I don't know much about neumono pregnancies, but I'm pretty sure she shouldn't look like that after only a few days or however long ago that happened.

Seems to me that baby is growing faster than its supposed to be growing. Which might actually be why Kitsiksu wants to see you.
>>
No. 952454 ID: f5f5c9

"I'm mad because the Kiter are stupid in ways I didn't know were even possible and I've only just realised it."

Eksarra looks different, did the Kiter ever teach you about how non-Kiter organisms reproduce? I think that's what's happening at the moment, except I don't think it's supposed to progress that quickly?

Maybe you should see Kitsiksu, if only to figure out why you might be a father so soon.
>>
No. 952456 ID: 83bf07

Introspection. Realization of how Kiter work. Same as usual.
>>
No. 952460 ID: b1b4f3

>>952446
First, try to calm down. Agitation isn't healthy for you. Speaking of which, how are you feeling?
Then introduce Ekasarra as one of the aliens taking shelter here, she's not a neno-fi even though she looks similar.
Also tell Ekasarra that Abzu needs some clothes before she's willing to leave this room and meet the others.

Then go see what Kitsiksu wants.
>>
No. 952464 ID: 0a2444

Introduce everyone, collect yourself, and go see what kikitsu wants. It seems like we need above all else to figure out a way to kill the Stran for good and stop the cycle. Hopefully they will have some insight into this
>>
No. 952467 ID: 977456

>I just want to know why it feels almost more compelling than the remnants of my kiter training. What is going on?
Well, for one, it is mostly unfamiliar to the current generation of kiter, and your neumono parts are only a few days old. You have not developed the resistance that more experienced creatures have.
We have no idea what Voidsong was planning, this might be deliberate. Eka's unnatural pace supports this. Maybe Voidsong wanted proxies?
Evolution. Even the Kiter evolved by breeding, and you have a new injection of neumono, which might even have awakened old kiter scripts. An arbitrary and overwhelming urge to breed increases odds of breeding and thus is promoted, over gobwads of years, resulting in you.
Fortunately the breeding urge is overwhelming and arbitrary to the point of insanity. These are both hostile elements. If you can train yourself to recognise the urge, and remind yourself that there is no actual way to justify it, and that it is, more-or-less, an enemy, you should be able to dismiss it. Unfortunately, it has evolved to counter such things directly, not to the point of immunity, but it undermines self-reflection, rationality, and independence, so fighting it off isn't easy. However, given the current need for group cohesion, and the harm that breeding would do to that right now, you must find a way to resist.

Tell Ekasarra that Abzu wanted clothes.
>>
No. 952468 ID: ba56e6

One of the locals. She's not into the nudist culture here yet so we should find her some clothes.
>>
No. 952471 ID: f57349

>>952446
>"<Who is this?
Eskarra, a neumono of the Ashes Astra tribe.
>She doesn't look like a kiter soldier.
That's correct, she's from a world very far away which knows nothing of the kiter.
>Do you know her?>"
She's carrying my child.
>>
No. 952483 ID: c86314

>>952443
>They would journey in pairs, one to scout the way, one to keep the message unchanged by the journey. The tribes went their own ways after the dreamwalker paths were destroyed by the invasion. It was the first of our infrastructure to fall, shredded by alien noise drowning our dreamscapes in hostile storms.
Well that makes the moth's story iffy. Still plausible, but iffy.
>>952445
I'm a bit confused. The sand bit sounds like outside attack, but the self eating sounds like civil war.
Will the Kiter fall by civil war, a foreign war, or simply by whatever kills them?
How does that differ from other empires that fall, but try to rebuild?
>That's why they call them the Mistake.
Imperium calls them that as well. Coincidence? File that away.

Oh, and specify that Abzu's a paraspace expert. If they wish to talk with her, tell them to get someone who speaks the local language. Saba's gonna have a field day with this...
>>
No. 952490 ID: 2202fb

>>952452
Yeeah, Ekasarra is growing faster that should be physically possible, and since she hasn't been literally eating constantly, that could very well be violating the laws of thermodynamics by creating things out of nothing.
>>
No. 952491 ID: 2202fb

>>952490
Additionally, Lackey's breeding urges may be by design in some sort of scheme by voidsong to do mad science. It may be a good idea to find ways of nullifying it at least temporarily although sterilization may be the only option.
>>
No. 952493 ID: b1b4f3

>>952483
>coincidence?
No, it's been revealed that Imperium is either working with the Kiter or did so at some point in the past. It's not unreasonable for it to have picked up some of their terminology.
>>
No. 952507 ID: 1ed92d

>>952446
Tell your Peshgiene friend that Neumono are actually foreign to the Kiter and you were more or less made as a prototype demonstrator of Kiter-Super-Neumono-Hybrids.

Tell Ekasarra that you're angry because you just realized something stupid and it's frustrating.

Ask what she means by 'flagrant violation of thermodynamics'. Has Kitsiksu noticed the machines in this place have been running without fail for multiple galactic rotations yet?
>>
No. 952510 ID: 3ce8ff

I'll share something that occured to me: Ignorance is bliss, not because ignorance causes happiness, but because reality is sad and frustrating, and the knowledge and realisation of that is depressing.
Probably not pleasant, but, hopefully insightful. After all, knowledge is still power... *sad sigh*
There is no going back after the bliss of ignorance is lost.
>>
No. 952511 ID: 6e6f32

Well she looks concerned, also Holy shit that pregnancy is progressing rapidly.
But that's not for now.

Tell her she's not Kiter, and that she's someone you trust.
Ask Ekasarra to stay with her and maybe contact Sissiri or Tirzi about her, privately.
>>
No. 952524 ID: 465a14

Ask how she gained so much weight. Has she been eating to try and fill the emotional void left behind by basically everything? Because that probably won't work.
>>
No. 952555 ID: 91ee5f

>>952524
Don’t say this. There’s no need to be rude like that.
>>
No. 954870 ID: 9842dc
File 158034565458.png - (11.55KB , 800x600 , salq3-103.png )
954870

>sterilization
No. No, I don't want that. The only effective means would be crippling in other ways. Otherwise my natural kiter resilience and inherited neumono regeneration mean any changes made, my body will fight.
Also, even if I had the option, I'd rather not lose functionality.

>larger belly
>neumono pregnancy
I'm... vaguely aware of... no I have no idea how it works for this species. This is abnormal? Her empathy is definitely very constrained and anxious, barely suppressed panic. I believe neumono are not very well skilled at hiding their emotional paraspatial emanations. Empathy. Whatever the term.

>how did she gain so much weight
Ah. That's probably what that is. Fat patterning for neumono. I haven't seen any larger neumono, so it must just be rapid metabolism at work with an overindulgence in food. I won't judge her, openly.

>who is she
"<This is Ekasarra. She is...>" I trail off. "<She is someone I know. I am a prototype of a kiter variant of her species, the neumono. Other aliens.>"

Abzu looks a little alarmed, but is silent, looking to the floor and trying to cover herself more.

"<I'm needed elsewhere.> Ekasarra, look after Abzu and make sure she doesn't do anything suspicious."
"Kitsiksu wants us both there. He stressed he, uh, wanted us both."
"Okay. Then someone else needs to come here."
"I'll tell-- oh, right, no, never mind." From her confident assurance followed by immediate empathic flood of embarassment, I guess Ekasarra was about to do something her old cybernetics allowed her to.
"<Abzu, stay here for now. Someone else will come to look after you. I'll tell them to bring you clothes. Understand?>"
"<Yes. I can wait. My patience has been tested in more difficult trials.>"

I nod to Abzu, and we both leave the room.

I make sure to lock the door from the outside, just to be safe.
>>
No. 954871 ID: 9842dc
File 158034571492.png - (11.04KB , 800x600 , salq3-104.png )
954871

Ekasarra leads me down the corridor wordlessly to whatever room Kitsiksu is set up in.

I say nothing either.

Her empathy is a roiling mass of despair, isolation, fear and panic. Mostly related to her stomach. I suppose it might not just be food storage after all.
Mine I pull inward, hide my thoughts from the prying eyes of those around me. Tricks learned through flickering lifetimes as neno fi. The more I draw away, the colder my psyche feels. I am numbed to my own thoughts and emotions. I clear the surface of my mind and submerge all I can think of.

I don't trust Ekasarra and I don't want her to know this. I don't want to reveal anything of how I feel about her right now.

She suddenly pauses and turns around, only to be surprised when I'm right behind her, jumping and yelping.

"Ah! Where did you go?!"
"What?"
"You just disappeared, I mean, it felt like..."
"I'm not in any mood for shenanigans right now, Ekasarra. Take me to Kitsiksu."
"But..." She trails off nervously, looking at my increasingly irritated face. "I don't understand... never mind, let's keep going."

She takes a few more steps and turns back to face me as if I'm not there.

"You... aren't, like, projecting an image or something of yourself, are you?" She looks confused and a little annoyed. "Kitsiksu needs you there in person, please don't start messing with me with your weird psychic powers or whatever!"
"If I wanted to waste that much effort I'd just teleport there instead of walking."
"I can't feel your empathy at all."

Ah. Ah, dammit. I didn't factor in absence being something that'd be notable in its own right. I begrudgingly uncoil my emotional disarray so only a smudge of my general disdain for the situation emerges. She winces and looks about as unhappy.
I'm also unhappy. The emotional withdrawal wasn't just to keep my disdain of Ekasarra from her so much as it was to not have to deal with it myself.

I sigh and just drop my concentration, spilling my emotions out like I just upended a fluid container onto the floor.

Ekasarra visibly jumps at the close range burst of my empathy. "Ghk! Agh!" She squirms like ice just fell down her back. "Stop it!"
"Stop what?"
"Stop doing weird things! I can't cope with much more right now! Please!"
"You realise this entire situation is all purely your fault, correct?"

Ekasarra stops and clenches her hands into fists. She doesn't say anything but her fur stands up on end and I can feel the spike of previously muted anger and annoyance flare like a lit match into a burning bright flame of rage. "Say that again."
"Sure. Why not. This entire situation is all your fault."
"What part of it," she says, breathing slowly and turning to face me, "is my fault?"
"The part where you used my genetic material to--"
"No," she says, seething. "All I was to you was a curiosity and an object to fuck without consequence. Then when there were consequences, you decided to betray my trust in you at the very first opportunity. I thought we had a deeper connection. I thought we could be something more together." She tears up, still furious. "Do you know how hard it was for me to think clearly around you?! I don't even know why I agreed in the first place!! I'd never sleep with a rogue before, let alone some patchwork monster made up like a neumono!! Then there was that stunt where I wasn't even sure who I was after you doused me in more psychic nonsense! I'm not even sure the ideas I had were even my own!! I don't even know who Ekasarra is right now but I do know she's probably going to be ripped apart by some fucking awful monster from the inside!"

She swings at the wall next to me and recoils in pain, having just punched a steel wall with more force than I suspect she intended. She looks at me, still teary-eyed, and storms off, before beckoning me to follow her via angry arm sweeps.
>>
No. 954872 ID: 9842dc
File 158034573856.png - (22.17KB , 800x600 , salq3-105.png )
954872

I walk into a small room on the same corridor as the room housing Sisirri's arkots.

Inside, I'm met with Kitsiksu who appears to be moving around medical equipment. He pauses, glances over to Ekasarra and myself, and continues moving around medical equipment.

"He's here," says Ekasarra, now trying to avoid even looking in my direction.

The salikai pauses, and nods, before making some notes on one of the input tablets this place seems to have in abundance. "Please lie down as before, Lackey." He gestures to a vaguely cylindrical surface not unlike the one I was on previously.
"Explain what you need me for first," I say.
"Ekasarra, lie down on the other surface."
"That's not an explanation," I say, refusing to go near the cylindrical surface.

Kitsiksu's strange fungal eye growths flick and twitch. "I don't tend to give explanations to non-compliant patients. I find little reason to start now."
"I don't trust you."
"I get that a lot," says Kitsiksu, as he picks up a scanner. "It makes no difference to me one way or the other. Comply and Ekasarra lives, refuse and she could die."
"Wait, what?" says Ekasarra.
"Breathe this," says Kitsiksu, passing a tube to Ekasarra. "There's no neumono form factor gas masks here, so try to make as much of a seal with your mouth as you can. Past your teeth. I'll put a band around your muzzle after to ideally keep it in your mouth." He starts placing sensor nodes onto her body and restraining her arms as before, except Ekasarra definitely seems a lot less at ease than this time, eyes wide open.

"Kitsiksu, what are you doing?"
"I need more time to figure out a solution to this problem. I don't know how tightly integrated into your biology this anomaly is, and so I need to make time. I'm going to sedate you and slow your metabolism down to give us more time." One of his eye-tendrils points towards me. "We might need a lot more time, given certain... non-compliant factors." He looks directly at me.
"So I'll... just be asleep?"
"...Yes. It will just be like sleep. You won't feel a thing, and when you wake up, the problem will be solved." His tone of voice sounds almost oddly compassionate given his usual terse demeanour. "My priority is to preserve your life. Sisirri would have my head if anything happened to her favourite neumono, after all."

Kitsiksu gently helps Ekasarra bite down on the tube, and she looks up, scared but trusting. As he wraps a fabric band around her snout, he goes back to placing sensor beads over her body, watching up at a screen showing readouts in abbreviations and text I can't understand. It's the language called English and I know the script, but I don't know the medical jargon used in Kitsiksu's culture of origin.

"Out like the flick of a switch," he says after a few minutes. "It is amazing how something as tough to disable as the neumono consciousness can be just as vulnerable to the right mixture of gases as more frail oxygen breathers."
"You're hiding something," I say. "You don't have empathy, but I don't need empathy to read intentions. I don't need paraspacial insight, either, you obviously didn't give her the full truth."
"Of course I am," snaps Kitsiksu. "Panic won't help anyone. This may come as a surprise to you, but I would prefer Ekasarra alive and healthy, and not dying of a mysterious alien affliction." He looks me dead in the eyes, but does not continue, quietly returning to the readouts on the screen.
>>
No. 954873 ID: 9842dc
File 158034576181.png - (11.25KB , 800x600 , salq3-106.png )
954873

"This is a living nightmare," says Kitsiksu. "I've seen nothing like it. By all accounts, Ekasarra should be dead with the amount of material and energy required for something to grow this fast and this quickly. Most of it is low density fluid sacs but the fluid still has to come from something. She thinks she's only feeling slight discomfort but her entire metabolism is on the brink of collapse. It's interfering with her neurology. Neumono neurology, one of the most resilient to intrusion outside of empathetic measures. This has all the hallmarks of a parasite, trying to correct its host's behaviour to notice it less and less. This is not how a standard neumono pregnancy works at all. I'm surprised and thankful her uterus hasn't ruptured."

He takes a wet cloth and wipes his graspers with it, one by one, more out of a nervous tic than any practical purpose I can ascertain. "This is something I have no idea how to solve. All I can do is try to buy enough time to think of a solution. I have one idea."
"What's that?"
"I take an egg from Ekasarra, take sperm from you, and observe what I'm going to against my better judgement refer to as the "fertilisation process" in a controlled growth chamber. I've found enough pieces to improvise one. The solution in the healing baths should work as a means to both nurture and suspend the growing organism, and I can use this culture incubator I found as a multicellular incubator. Then all I need to do is analyse the growth, and I should be able to determine exactly what factors accelerate development and what factors hinder it. Then I can at least treat Ekasarra while I try to figure out a cure. My last ditch option is to try and cut it out of her, but I don't know how deep it goes. I don't know what could happen if there were free floating kiter tissue left in her body."

I look at Ekasarra's stomach. "How are you going to get another egg out of her if she's already pregnant? And the, uh, 'thing' you want to avoid disturbing or cutting into is in the way?"
Kitsiksu rests his head on his graspers as he stares up at the monitor. "Firstly, egg cell. Secondly, the angles are awkward and could result in significant harm to surrounding tissue, but as long as the uterus remains unbreached it should be feasible. She'll be unconscious and her neumono biology will prevent any actual harm from lasting."

He pauses.

"If you lie down on the table I can also harvest your gametes. I want to do this in parallel to give the smallest window of time where both gametes are outside of their preferred environmental conditions, even if neumono spermatophores are surprisingly long-lived."
"I'd rather not."
"Firstly, this is a literal matter of life or death. Secondly, I am a professional. This would not be the first time I've had to acquire a neumono spermatophore for medical reasons."
"I... wait, what?"
"I'm bound by many, many contracts not to explain any further than that. While they're all presently unenforceable, I wish to abide by them for my own personal reasons, those being respect for the terms of contracts and respect for what remains of my own dignity. So, fewer questions, get on the table."

Against my better judgement, I get on the table and lie down.

"So we have two options, given male neumono apparently have as much difficulty extracting their own gametes as female neumono. Either I sedate you and extract one surgically, or I repurpose this." I can't see what 'this' is but I hear some sort of vacuum being turned on, then turned off again. "Given your general untrusting nature I suspect you would prefer the non-sedated option, but I am giving you the choice in an effort to demonstrate I am not completely beyond negotiation."
"If you really wanted to suck me that badly you could have, uh, just asked."

The salikai just sighs. "I don't understand how something so different to a neumono at the cellular level can still emulate the insufferable stubbornness and awful humour of one. We don't have all night, just let me know what you want. Time is not on our side."
>>
No. 954875 ID: 86eb65

Suck one out. If they are so dangerous then trying to cut it out might cause issues.
>>
No. 954879 ID: cdabe3

First, resolve to apologize to eksarra when you both wake up, you’ve been a right asshole about all this

Second, you should probably stay awake so that you’re less vulnerable to paraspacial invasion? I think that’s how that works.
>>
No. 954886 ID: b1b4f3

>>954873
HEY. You forgot AGAIN to pass along important information. Tell him about Abzu and about how she needs clothes before she can meet the others!
>>
No. 954887 ID: 2aa5f0

which one will be quicker?
>>
No. 954888 ID: 6e6f32

Fuck it. Take the sedation.
It's been a long fucking day.

Shutting down for a while would be. Nice.
>>
No. 954904 ID: 91ee5f

>>954873
You should at least try to make an effort to be more cooperative. Because like Kitsiksu said, if anything happened to Ekasarra, Sisirri would have his head! And Sisirri would also have your head when she finds out that you weren’t helping to save Ekasarra’s life!
>>
No. 954932 ID: 4854ef

You really are trying to negate the role you've had in anything while gaslighting others to try and make it seem like they've caused all the problems.. Maybe you are more kiter still then you realized.
>>
No. 954941 ID: 094652

Let him syringe your prostate. You want this done, but your paraspace knowledge is something he does not have.
>>
No. 954954 ID: c6221d

>>954886
>>954888
These.
>>
No. 954957 ID: 83bf07

Surrender control. Maybe you'll actually get some restful sleep
>>
No. 954971 ID: 6474be

You know why she did what she did, you were literally there for it. OF COURSE it was a bad idea, but seems like telekinetic flash-bonding tends towards questionable choices. Being insufferable to her(and everyone else just about) now is helping you, how exactly? All youre doing here is convincing people whose help youve needed before and will most likely continue to need that you are unreasonable and untrustworthy. And yeah, remember to mention Abzu and the request for clothes
>>
No. 955071 ID: c09fb4

You'll go the vacuum route, but tell Kitsiksu to hand the vac and its controls over to you. If your balls are gonna be sucked out, then you're gonna do it yourself rather than have him put his graspers on you.

Try and isolate the horny feelings you have and have had before and loop them back around in your mind to aid in releasing a spermatophore now.
>>
No. 955577 ID: 1ed92d

>>954873
WAIT.

BEFORE YOU DO THIS...

Tell him you were feeling dramatically sick earlier, kind of like you were dying, as well as experiencing severe moodswings. Ask if it might be related to how quickly the 'living nightmare' is gestating.
>>
No. 955581 ID: b1b4f3

...I wonder if the fetus is feeding off of paraspacial energy?
>>
No. 956504 ID: 9998d3
File 158190482809.png - (82.24KB , 800x600 , salq3-107.png )
956504

>forget to give vital information
>shrugging off all responsibility
>gaslighting others
>acting pretty kiter
I'm made of kiter technology, I'm programmed with kiter minds and experiences, there is never going to be any way for me to somehow not be kiter, not associated with the stupidest thing in existence, everything is stupid, everything is the worst, fuck it, fuck all of it. I don't care.

>let literally anyone know about Abzu
I don't care.

>talk about your malfunctions
>paraspacial fetus theory
I don't even care about myself at this point.

>sedation
>surrender control
>sleep
"Just knock me out. I'm tired of being held as the one at fault here. It's not my fault my biology is engineered to be significantly superior to any of you primordial accidents. I--"
"Yes. Yes. I understand. I understand where you are coming from. It doesn't change the fact that your irresponsible decisions directly caused this chain of events. You are breaking so much and leaving the rest of us to pick up the pieces while actively making things worse."

OW FUCK HE JUST STABBED ME IN THE-- what do you even call that area where your abdomen kind of merges into your groin but isn't quite your groin yet? Well it stopped being painful very quickllll haa big snake bug is here

"While that neural dampener works its way through your tissues, I'm going to check on Ekasarra. Stay put."
"okaaaay."
"It's a special formulation derived from my initial dissection of one of those organisms stolen from the kiter. I tested a previous formulation on the thing and it turned out to be too effective at disrupting kiter tissue, so this should just disrupt your neurological tissue without permanent issue. Or you'll end up as a mindless vegetable, but frankly that feels like a more useful thing for you to be right now."
"not vegetables," says me, thing, i think
words hardd
"Hm. No, you're still forming vaguely coherent words. Double the dosage it is."

owwwwww

"bleaz sstop"
"What is five plus three?"
"fee"
"What's my name? ...Lackey? Hm. Pupils unresponsive to direct light, alright, you're probably sufficiently out of it. Even if you're still conscious I don't think you're awake enough to remember or feel any of the next steps, so. Just locking the door so no one can disturb me, we don't want a repeat of that jostle incident... let's get to work."
>>
No. 956506 ID: 9998d3
File 158190485144.png - (224.03KB , 800x600 , salq3-108.png )
956506

...--
>>
No. 956507 ID: 9998d3
File 158190488132.png - (56.02KB , 800x600 , salq3-109.png )
956507

"He's awake. Finally. What is your name, info hiver?"
Disconnection. Cold. Void. Darkness. Reassessing experiential parameters.
Awareness. One. I am one, again.
"My name is Staccato 28 of the neburi hive Rising Crescendo Analytics of Shadow Fleet tendril 4356."

I make a series of clicks. Protocol must be followed. "Identify."
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No. 956508 ID: 9998d3
File 158190490319.png - (64.41KB , 800x600 , salq3-110.png )
956508

"Concentric Wireshaper 104, Fabricator hive 9, so on so on."
"This is not my designated location," I say, looking around at an unfamiliar room in what I assume to be a kiter spire.

"So blunt and to the point, you info hivers. Fine. Yes. We've pulled you out of whatever thrilling calculations they had you doing, so we can--"
"How did I get to this location?"
"You... you walked. Wow, you really were busy computing, huh. I'm actually impressed you can walk while submerged that deeply. Anyway, we've got a native to interrogate. We need an information extractor. That's you. Extract information."

I take a few moments to gather my bearings, head swimming from the sudden disconnect from the hive computation. I feel smaller and lesser, but these feelings soon pass as I re-establish conscious connection to my hive on subliminal channels.
[QUERY:NATIVE_DATA_COLLECTION][ANSWER:FULLY_CATALOGUED]
"We've collected as much biological data from all three native sapient species as warrants collecting, is this military intelligence?"
"Well, no--"
"Then it's tertiary priority. You'll need authorisation from the Conductor of Rising Cresc--"
"Return to Sender herself stepped in and requested this. You came recommended, in fact. Possibly the best interrogator under ninety units tall. And we all know how... indelicate the ess can be with their approach."

[QUERY:VALIDATE_AUTHORISATION_FOR_CURRENT_CONTEXT][ANSWER:AUTHORISATION_VALID:HIVEMASTER_CLEARANCE]
What could possibly be so urgent that the Hivemaster feels the need to bypass standard protocol and step in directly...
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No. 956509 ID: 9998d3
File 158190493114.png - (78.61KB , 800x600 , salq3-111.png )
956509

A [QUERY:IDENTIFY_ENTITY][ANSWER:NATIVE/SAPIENT/PESHGIENE] peshgiene [QUERY:IDENTIFY_ADDITIONAL_CHARACTERISTICS][ANSWER:FEMALE/ADULT/<RETRIEVE_FROM_MEMORY:NO_FURTHER_DATA>] female of no particular identity is standing in front of me. All personal effects and external layers removed, for weapon removal and morale reduction. Restrained with few bonds, unguarded.
"Weak restraints for a captive this deep in a nerve spire." Especially for such an apparently critical target.
"She tried to run a few times, and after the fifth time we caught her seconds into her escape efforts she gave up. She's a product of natural biology, Staccato, even you could overpower her."
[QUERY:KNOWN_CAPABILITIES_OF_PESHGIENE][ANSWER:HIGH_PARASPACIAL_POTENTIAL]
"Not if she were to use paraspacial capabilities," I say, clicking in annoyance.
"This is a warded chamber," says Wireshaper. "Anyone trying to tap into the ethereal here will be met with some... surprises. I will be right back, I need to fetch some tools."
I watch Wireshaper leave, as they turn back to me with a devious expression and click-sings "You have full permission to be as destructive in your analysis as desired," as they walk through a permeable wall, membrane rippling behind them.
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No. 956510 ID: 9998d3
File 158190495722.png - (60.49KB , 800x600 , salq3-112.png )
956510

[QUERY:PESHGIENE_NAME][ANSWER:IZILA]
I switch from efficient information clustering via tone, pitch and frequency to a cruder form.
"What is your name, peshgiene?" My voice is modulated for calm tone and neutral emotion.
No response. Silent defiance. I double check Wireshaper's hints.
[REQUEST:AUTHORITY_FOR_COMPLETE_EXTRACTION][GRANTED]
"There are two means I can use to extract answers from you, peshgiene. Questions, or more direct means."

I raise a feathered hand as it splits apart into thousands of wiry fibres, all sharp, all prepared for direct neural access. All thirsting for information. They coil and slither around in ways even I can't directly control. My subconscious desire to consume information at any cost made manifest.

"Your species' connectome is known to us, and I can insert a fibre into every major neural junction in your brain. You will not survive the process for longer than is necessary to extract every single thought, memory and experience you have had. Are you still prepared to remain silent?"

"If you can do that," spits the peshgiene, "why bother questioning me at all?"

I don't tell her it's going to happen anyway, but the questioning can sometimes create useful realisations and shifts in perspective. More data to harvest. I'm certainly not going to tell her she might even be able to survive the process but conveniently locked inside her own body paralysed and unable to act as the fleshweavers do whatever they feel with her conscious body. That's more of a diplomat mode of action. Outside of my scope.

"I don't know, peshgiene. Why don't you tell me?"

The peshgiene Izila looks at me with righteous disdain, before scowling. "You need me alive for something. Something you can't do."
"Incorrect."
"Alright. Then I guess you want to torture me because you're a bunch of planet eating sadists who get nutrients from the pain of others. Whatever. I'm not going to give you fuckers the satisfaction of screaming and begging for my life."
"Incorrect."
"Then what?"

I tilt my head slightly. "Incorrect," I say. "You do not appear to grasp the context of this situation or are willingly acting ignorant of it. You are here to give me information."
"I'm not talking. You'd have peeled my brain open or whatever already if you didn't need me alive. You're just like the fucking convocation, all talk, all bluff, too scared to do anything too much in case you get reprimanded by your asshole leaders or whatever. Fuck you. Fuck your stupid games, I'm not playing them."

Alright. This is not a negotiation. Time to advance to more direct methods. Threats, indirect or otherwise, will not prove sufficient. Just need to stall while I recall some information. [QUERY:PESHGIENE_SENSITIVE_REGIONS][SUBQUERY:PESHGIENE_ORGANS/NONVITAL][ANSWER:DOWNLOADED]

"You think I'm afraid of a stupid bird?!"
"Elevated heart rate, perspiration, breathing, symptomatic of fight-or-flight chemical and neurological pathway activation. Evidence of anxiety, panic, dread, fear. Yes."

I look at the glistening metal of my split wing tendrils. I roll through my knowledge of the most sensitive areas of the peshgiene anatomy, and start scrolling through them to find one that will be sufficiently convincing without impairing communication completely. Then I just need to go through the list, provide compelling stimuli, and--
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No. 956511 ID: 9998d3
File 158190502625.png - (106.30KB , 800x600 , salq3-113.png )
956511

Wait. [RESCIND_QUERY]
Out of the corner of my eye I see a strange black furred creature. I think it's a strange reflection of the peshgiene at first, or some other before it starts walking up to me.
[QUERY:IDENTITY_OF_LAGOMORPHIC_ENTITY]

...No answer?

[QUERY:REPEAT]

No answer. Everything feels like time is freezing but the creature is getting closer. How did they breach security?? I was told this chamber was warded and sealed!!

Then, it speaks. "...Lackey?? Lackey why are you a bird??"
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No. 956514 ID: 6e6f32

BECAUSE THESE SEEDS ARE DELICIOUS
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No. 956524 ID: 2aa5f0

>>956511
"Who are you, how did you get in here? This place is suppose to be secure. You should not be able to walk past the guards and this room stops any unauthorized use of paraspacial abilities."

guess we should probably start trying to set the alarm to let everyone know that an intruder has gotten into the base.
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No. 956528 ID: b1b4f3

>>956511
Ah, I figured it out. This is dreamsharing.
You are not Staccato. This is a dream, of an inherited memory. Remember who you really are.
For a second I doubted and thought maybe this is who you really are, but Abzu would have seen it. She has seen the all of you.

Maybe you can use this dream to sort through your Kiter memories and find something useful? Like, interrogating this prisoner. Her memories are important to the Kiter, maybe you should actually brain-scan her to find out why.
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No. 956532 ID: 977456

>>956514
Truth.
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No. 956533 ID: cdabe3

“I’m a bird because it’s easier to run from your problems when you can fly.”
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No. 956534 ID: 736b7e

You are dreaming and recalling the past lives within you. Play out the memory and gather what information you can from it.

Although, if the memory changes and reacts to your actions then this is closer to a dream than a memory. That would make information you get here unreliable.
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No. 956539 ID: 12b116

This is either a memory or you've possessed one of the kiter on this planet somehow
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No. 956542 ID: 91ee5f

>>956511
>Ekasarra
Well would you look at that! It seems like she’s capable of coming into your dreams! Looks like you’ve got no choice but to actually talk to her now.
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No. 956569 ID: 48cdd0

>>956511
Because we aren't Lackey, in either case you can't do what you are about to when someone could interfere with this.
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No. 956570 ID: ba5c4f

Simplified SQL speak? I dig.
Hmm, I doubt this'll work, but just to be sure,
[QUERY:KITER_PARASPACIAL_DEFENSES]
[QUERY:SELF/PRIVATE_KEYS]
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No. 956710 ID: 81331f

Oh geez buddy, what shell you running? You're way behind the times. Time to update.
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No. 956819 ID: 1ed92d

>>956511
"I was a bird. I still am in part. This is one of the personality composites I was made from."
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No. 958465 ID: 094652

"I was him. And I think I was her. I was all of them and none of them. I was the worst parts of them, because Voidsong's twisted mind could only see their conflicting, self-destructive tendencies as pure potential."
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