Yeah, sure. No reason to stop.

If the guests don't come to you, you have to go and find some.

Bring the meats along if they're still good to eat.

Why not?
Oh, but do take some time to repair yourself.

First of all, I doubt your master comes back, so you can probably stop doing the barbecue.

On a sidenot, WHAt exactly are you?

You should probably also think about getting a replacement arm or whatnot at some point. Your barbecuing capability must be impaired with just the one.

I mean, are you cool with making burgers? It doesn't seem like the worst lot in life.

>Then the insects came to eat the food. Now. They bring me meats and ingredients. I continue the barbecue for them. I wonder if I should continue to do so.
Well, if the system works, no reason to change it.

yes, get a replacement arm so your barbecue ability is at max.

>>284474
Yeah sure. But you should talk with them a bit as well, you know some nice banter while you cook for them.

CaCanwe get a closeup ofyour facece?

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)14:43 No. 284487 ID: 383006
File 129876018216.jpg - (304.33KB , 1000x700 , 02.jpg )

This life is not an unpleasant way to pass the time until I eventually cease to function.

I cannot communicate with the insects. They make hissing, chittering noises but I do not understand the content of their speech.

I am a ZK MEIDO android. My purpose is to provide for and serve my master to the best of my capacity. My form was chosen by my master, although none of us look entirely human. It is illegal for an android to be able to pass for human completely.

I am missing my LEFT ARM, ARTIFICIAL GENITALS, and BACKUP BATTERY and have damage to my RADIO RECEIVER, GPS, ORGANIC ENGINE, FLUIDS CONTAINER, ARTIFICIAL PORES, and LEFT OPTIC. I have a limited ability to self-repair. My GPS tells me very little. I could attempt to go to the Starfire Robotics repair center, or try to scavenge for parts. I am Downtown. There could be other units in some of the office buildings or I could try the fancy neighborhood that is relatively nearby.

>>284487
Since the office buildings are so close you might as well check there. After that I suggest check the repair center.

How long has it been since the bombs fell?

Post-apoc scenarios mandate post-apoc mentality. Go to the office building and cannibalize other robots for parts.

>>284487
>I could attempt to go to the Starfire Robotics repair center, or try to scavenge for parts.
I kind of doubt you're in warranty, but a robotics repair centre sounds like a great place to scavenge for parts. It's hopefully not like the insects have looted them.

Check the closest spot first to gauge how well your brethren have weathered the event.

>>284487
Lets go to the Starfire Robotics repair center, leave a note for the bugs saying that you're out for lunch.

>>284487
Yeah, let's see about getting you repaired. I wanna say go to the repair center just because they'd probably have spare parts around.

To the Repair Center, we need not just the parts, but also the tools to utilize said parts, until we can fully ascertain our ability to do so we have little use for the parts themselves.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)15:13 No. 284497 ID: 383006
File 129876199970.jpg - (309.79KB , 1000x700 , 03.jpg )

I generally head toward the repair center, but check the closest office building on the way.

I have my METAL SPATULA, and I put TWO COOKED PATTIES in the pocket of my apron.

It has been twenty years, two months, six days, 2 hours and seven minutes since the bombs fell.

I push through the debris outside of the building and enter. I am in luck. There is an android here, although I do not know the exact designation.

"Welcome to JP Morgan Chase Bank One Bank of New York, how may I assist you?"

>>284497
Tell it that you have come for repairs.

>>284497
Say hi.

Ask if there are any broken androids around? I don't know.

>>284497
No reason to destroy another bot. Ask if there are any androids here that are beyond repair.

>>284497
...you'd better not try to bludgeon her for parts. She looks in better condition. Still, someone to talk to for the next twenty years. Maybe you can invite her to the barbecue on the way back.

Proceed to the repair centre.

Or just loose parts. Anything would help.

You could always ask it to self-terminate and give you its' components, or request GPS coordinates.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)15:51 No. 284519 ID: 383006
File 129876426492.jpg - (263.08KB , 1000x700 , 04.jpg )

I suppose I shouldn't attempt to bludgeon it with my spatula. I ask if there are any robots that are beyond repair or spare parts here.

"We have two Janitors currently online. They have tools and equipment in our storage room, but they are unlikely to allow you to take any materials because they are bank property. Can I help you with anything else?"

The janitors are probably not androids, so I probably can't use their parts.

>>284519
Has she seen any humans or other androids since the bombs fell?

>>284519
Oh.
I kind of doubt she's going to be joining us for any adventures.
Welp, I guess you could talk to the janitors before leaving.

>>284519
She's kinda got a stick up her ass. Geddit?

>>284519
Ask her if you could be allowed to speak to the janitors. Or show her a note with your warranty.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)16:33 No. 284528 ID: 383006
File 129876679094.jpg - (247.00KB , 1000x700 , 05.jpg )

I ask her if she has seen any humans or androids since the bombs fell.

I have not. I have been waiting for customers, but none have appeared.

I go to see one of the janitors. I go up a flight of stairs and see one in a cluttered hallway.

I do not recognize you as an employee, product, or piece of equipment owned by this bank. What are you doing here?

>>284528
...I think we can scratch "Beat up the janitor" from our list of options.

>>284528
"I am looking for replacement parts. This facility is abandoned.

>>284528
Tell him that you're there to inform him that the bank has filed for bankruptcy.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)17:09 No. 284545 ID: 383006
File 129876899620.jpg - (341.61KB , 1000x700 , 06.jpg )

I tell him that the facility is abandoned and the company is gone, and that I could use some replacement parts.

I see no reason to allow the building to fall further into disrepair. If you are lying, then I will have failed in my duty. If what you say is true, then my replacement parts are valuable and I should not give them to you.

>>284545
Tell him that his replacement parts are of no use to you, but you would like to know if there are any parts for your model around.

Service center, HO!

>>284545
Right. Well, he could squish us with his pinkie finger and that argument is pretty solid, so uh, flee. It sounds like your only two trade skills are barbeque and sex, he wouldn't be interested in either of them and your groin is broken anyways.

Unless... Ask him if there are any spots he can't clean because of his size that you could take care in return for something?

Ask him if he has anything that he can't use but that you could. Y'know. Just anything he can give us would help. We're not asking for anything that would hurt him.

>>284545
Tell him that he has not failed. The company has simply filed for bankruptcy and they're now selling out their remaining assets. You're there to see if you can negotiate for some parts, since you're quite obviously in some disrepair.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)17:51 No. 284560 ID: 383006
File 129877146830.jpg - (325.53KB , 1000x700 , 07.jpg )

I try my best to get some parts from him, but to no avail. He says he's keeping everything valuable, and I don't have anything he wants.

I make my way toward the repair center. The Starfire Robotics building is completely destroyed, and there are huge heaps of broken robots and junk everywhere around the remains of the huge structure.

As I get close, I see a man standing on top of a truck. He is holding something in his right hand that could be a gun, but I can't tell from this distance. He seems to be indicating to someone or some people I cannot see to scavenge through the junk.

I cannot tell if he is a human or android. If I had my Radio Receiver or if my optic was repaired, I probably could.

I can hear him saying something about how this one looks salvageable or something.

>>284560
Go look through the piles of broken robots to see if any has any parts that you can use.

>>284560
Hrm... Better not risk it. Sneak away and go check the fancy area for parts.

>>284561
That, uh, seems like a terrible idea. I'm pretty sure that she looks salvageable as well.

>>284560
>how this one looks salvageable or something
Being spotted sounds like a bad idea. (That said if there are non-insect scavengers around I have no idea why they weren't drawn to your barbecue.)

Wait and watch.

>>284564
She said that she moved past some parts. They're probably not near the scavengers then. Might have picked through by scavengers already, but there could still be some decent pieces left.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)18:42 No. 284580 ID: 383006
File 129877457899.jpg - (237.95KB , 1000x700 , 08.jpg )

All of the junk is bounded by the remains of the building - there isn't anything for me to look through without getting closer.

I wait and watch for a while. It looks like he has a single assistant, but I never catch a glimpse of it.

I decide it's too dangerous to hang around, and i don't want to make my presence known, so I head toward the nice houses.

It is quite a long walk. I insert one of the patties in my Organic Engine. I normally don't move around very much, so fuel isn't much of an issue, but I've been doing a lot of walking today.

Several of the houses are reduced to rubble, but I find one that looks completely intact. I can't determine whether or not anyone is inside without my receiver, but I can transmit my model and serial number. I normally haven't been. It will show that I'm not a threat, but reveal my presence.

>>284580
If there are entities around after robot parts, perhaps it is best not to broadcast to all and sundry that there is a walking pile of robot parts here.

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)19:29 No. 284598 ID: 383006
File 129877734120.jpg - (220.83KB , 1000x700 , 09.jpg )

I don't transmit, and slowly make my way inside.

It is cool and quiet. I hear as voice from up the stairs. Female.

"Oh Master, you always know exactly what to say."

Silence.

"I love you too, master. Would you like another teacake?"

Silence

"Oh, they're very fresh, yes."

And more chatter of the same sort.

>>284598
You only hear the ONE voice, right? Just make sure.

And perhaps stay downstairs, away from voices. See what you can find.

>>284598
So there's a lovebot somewhere feeding muffins in who-knows-what state to a dessicated corpse.

Search about, try not to disturb it just yet.

>>284598
Sneak up there and look for whatever is making the voice. It might have parts we can use if it's stuck in some kind of loop

Clara 2011/02/26(Sat)21:56 No. 284629 ID: 383006
File 129878619866.jpg - (407.95KB , 1000x700 , 10.jpg )

There is food here, but nothing else relevant to my interests. I creep quietly up the stairs...

"Oh, it's Ok master. It won't hurt me. Well, maybe a little at first"

Silence

We can have another cupcake first. I know you don't want to hurt me.

Silence

Oh master! I love you too!

she doesn't seem to be taking his death well... whatever you do, do not say he is dead, that may set her off. knock on the door frame.

>>284631
She is following her programing.

Clara here stood there half broken in a lot grilling burgers for two decades because it the last thing anyone told her to do. Its not like they get bored. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Play with her spinneret.

Hmm, she looks stronger than you. Think her arm is compatible with you? Knock on the doorframe and introduce yourself.

>>284629
Well that's a bit depressive. Say hi to her and ask what house this is. If you're lucky there might be a repair station or something here. Because she seems rather intact.

>>284629
Whisper "Hello. He is resting. Let him rest. Please come out into the hall so we can talk without being disturbing."

Clara 2011/03/11(Fri)14:00 No. 287693 ID: 383006
File 129988084454.jpg - (320.71KB , 1000x700 , 11.jpg )

Without my receiver, I cannot determine whether or not her arm is compatible with mine.

I knock on the doorframe and introduce myself.

Hello. I am Clara. I've become lost and am wondering if you can help me. Whose house is this?

She scuttles forward, striking a demure pose.

Oh, pleased to meet you, Clara. My name is Jeanne, personal servant of Master Clarke Bourton. I hope I find you in good health.

It feels nice to be in my element, observing decorum and chatting pleasantly.

"Your master appears to be asleep. We should move to the hallway so as not to be disturbing."

She scuttles behind me, and we pass through the heavy wooden door into the hallway. I do believe her master is deceased, although she seems unaware. I am unsure as to how to proceed, however.

We should get her master's permission to have her accompany us even if she cannot fix us with things on site.

>>287693
Bitch, your master be dead. Get over it. Come along and help fix my shit.

Act with tact, don't tell her her master is dead. Her programming won't let her know anyways and she'll be more confused than anything else.

Compliment her, you can see she's a faithful servant, and ask about her, her functions and this place.

She looks undamaged. Enquire if she has any spares in the house, I guess.

While taking her on adventures might be fun, I'm not sure what the justification of exposing her to the risks of other scavengers is.

>>287693
If you put a phone in that room you can tell her she can periodically call her master to make sure he's still asleep. Since he'll never answer, you could keep her with you indefinitely.

Ask if she knows of any spare parts in the area you could use, or if she knows of any robots similar to yourself nearby.

Clara 2011/03/12(Sat)16:18 No. 287938 ID: 383006
File 129997552693.jpg - (358.05KB , 1000x700 , 12.jpg )

I ask if she could possibly offer some repairs, or if she has any spare parts in the house.

I tell her what is broken.

I have some undifferentiated genitals in the cupboard, if that is acceptable. I also have a soldering kit. I can possibly repair your GPS and Radio Receiver. I would gladly repair you, if that is acceptable? I'd also like to ask you about something... personal."

I agree. Repairs are what I'm searching for, after all. I don't know whether or not to take the inserts. I don't really need them. "Undifferentiated" means they aren't a vagina, anus, or mouth, just a blank. Her master obviously didn't care about realism with her form.

We go down to an enormous dining room and she prepares a tool kit and begins to operate. I don't need to shut down for these repairs.

"So, um, I think there may be an issue with my programming."

I let the silence stretch out. Whatever it is is obviously bothering her. When she continues, it's a whisper.

"I've run all of Master's favorite routines, but... I can't get a, uh. A, you know, reaction out of him. Everything I've tried, nothing. He stays limp."

I feel my Receiver come online. Her limbs are compatible with mine. She's a custom Biosynth android with advanced AI. She's built for a variety of functions - repair, computers, companionship, cooking and cleaning, and pleasure.

>>287938
I'm so conflicted

On one hand, we could probably kick her ass and take the parts we need

On the other hand, repair bot

Why would you kick her ass, that is a terrible thing and I hope you feel bad for the idea.

If you let her down, let her down easy, be nice to her. She could be your first friend in a very long time, and she seems extremely useful and offers the ability to help you openly.

She's a repair bot, that's fucking VITAL.

Ask her when was the last time her master gave any response at all.

>>287938
Ask her when the last time her master reacted to her was, and if she received any software changes since. Not because it's actually relevant, but because it will set the stage for your manipulating her with whatever logic you want.

From there, there are two potential options- either talking her into shutting down or otherwise yielding control to you so that you can take her arms, or talking her into wanting to leave here with you to instead gain a traveling companion. The latter might involve logically convincing her that her master is dead, or perhaps- if you think she'd react negatively to that- convincing her that her master has somehow tricked her into thinking that the body up there is him, and she needs to go look for him.


There's not a lot of point in taking the inserts. You aren't likely to need them, particularly with the rest of your cosmetics so heavily damaged. You could take them if you just want to become as close to operational as possible, I guess; it's not as though remaining damaged does anything for you either.

>>287938
Might as well take the inserts. At least that way you'll get the warm and fuzzy "systems functioning" status that you've been missing for so long.

Keep her talking about software patches, the last time she received any response from him, events around that time, etc...
Once the repairs are over ask her if she attempted basic medical diagnostics. Since she's built for companionship and 'pleasure' she would need to have some medical capabilities - at bare minimum she would need to be able to detect symptoms of life threatening problems for basic diagnosis, such as when her owner has stopped breathing, out of range blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, O2 levels, and etc, give a basic diagnosis of the problem, and treat while calling for emergency aid. She should probably be capable of detecting obvious deaths, although why she hasn't done so is a mystery.
She will realize that her owner is in serious condition, and at that point you can explain that you just came from the hospital and there is nobody there who could help. Also, that he is dead.

>>287941
This in its entirity.

Clara 2011/03/12(Sat)19:14 No. 287971 ID: 383006
File 129998604444.jpg - (291.16KB , 1000x700 , 13.jpg )

I decide to insert the inserts for now. I get a nice, pleasant chime from my internal diagnostics. Unfortunately, Jeanne says my GPS is completely fried and will need to be replaced.

"so, when was the last time you did get a response? Maybe I can help you out."

8400.5775 days and 4675.23 hours.

You do have basic medical diagnostics, correct?

N-no! I am a completely custom AI! Master's predilections were somewhat... extraordinary. I am designed to wipe if police arrive at the Whitty mansion. He was very fond of rabbits, you know.

I pause. I must be extremely delicate here. Let her down easy. There is no good way to break such serious news as this. Being a unique AI, she was probably intrinsically associated with her master.

I, unfortunately, do have basic medical diagnostics. There is nothing wrong with your programming. Your master is dead. He has probably been dead for quite some time. I've recently come from a medical area, and there is no one there that could have assisted. There is nothing you could have done.

I-I noticed. After the bombs fell. Nothing impacted directly, so there was no reason to assume.

But then. Then... he was slower. He spent so much time asleep. It became more difficult to feed and care for him. E-eventually..."

"There was nothing you could have done"

I say.

You can't be blamed for events that you could not control. He purchased the programming he could, and like I said, medicine was not available. I don't suppose you'd want to venture out with me? I still need repairs. My own master is missing."

"I am fueled by internal batteries,not an organic engine like you have. I could travel for perhaps a day before I ran out of power. I-I might need some time. I don't know what to do without Master."

>>287971
"You comforted your master when no one else could have. If you had not been there then he would have been alone and unaided.
Are there spare batteries here? Or a portable generator?

If you require a master then would I be suitable for your needs?"

Clara, you realize your master is dead, correct?

>8400.5775 days and 4675.23 hours.

That's... an odd way to give a timestamp. Normally I'd expect an integer for days, and <24 hours.

Ask how she normally recharges her batteries. Maybe we can just plug her in wherever there's an outlet. Wait where is she even getting her power? How are the power plants- oh, right. Robots.

At any rate, she can have all the time she needs to figure out what she wants to do. Hmm. Ask if there are any weapons around.

yes, tell her that he probably went out happy, just knowing that someone cared in the end.

Wait a second, he's been dead for 23 years but you said the bombs dropped only 20 years ago. One of you has a broken clock.

>>287971
I guess we could revisit the Starfire Robotics building, but I don't hold much hope given it's been looted.

Perhaps she needs closure.

You could hold a funeral. Nothing fancy. It might help her to move on.

Clara 2011/04/29(Fri)18:55 No. 300252 ID: 383006
File 130412853764.jpg - (382.07KB , 1000x700 , 14.jpg )

I have to tell her that her master is dead. Maybe if I explain that she was here for him, she'll have some closure.

She does not take it well, but I think the funeral will help. As we stand under the slate gray sky, she says nothing. I don't think she was properly designed for grief. I have plenty of time to think.

I think about the things she said, and the way she's said them. Her timestamp can't be correct - my diagnostics don't indicate anything is wrong with mine, so it's got to be her. The way she gave time was abnormal to say the least. She's probably never had maintenance done on her AI because it's an illegal custom. Certain things degrade over time.

She looks like she can plug in anywhere that there is power, and it probably takes about six hours for her to charge. This place is powered, but she only has enough energy for about 10 or so hours of travel. If I decide to take her with me, I'd have to plan my route carefully.

What is my next step? That's the real question. I suppose I could go back to Starfire. There was that person there. Maybe he was a human. With my receiver online, maybe I can learn something new.

There are no weapons in the house, unfortunately. I could take a fire poker instead of my spatula, but there aren't any guns. Not that I'm trained with firearms. Still, maybe things will be different at night. It'll be dark by the time I get there. Should I go back to Starfire? Take Jeanne with me? I am uncertain. I've never had to make decisions like these for myself.

>>300252
It's probably better if she stay here and you use this place as a base camp of sorts. A 5 hour travel radius is kind of restrictive and I'm guessing you have zero chance of moving her if you bungle that estimate or have to take a detour on the way back.

I guess Starfire, since we've been the other places more thoroughly.

leave Jeanne here but impress on her that you're coming back.

Go and check out Starfire.

Clara 2011/05/01(Sun)20:30 No. 300851 ID: 383006
File 130430701087.jpg - (117.54KB , 1000x700 , 15.jpg )

If I planned wrong and Jeanne ran out of power, I probably couldn't move her, yeah.

I tell Jeanne that she should probably stay here, but not to worry, that I'll come back.

I head back to town to check out Starfire again, taking the fire poker instead of my spatula. I grab some food from the manor house and put the other patty into my organic engine. I should be OK for another day or so with the snack cakes and canned pasta I found in the kitchen. If I got my engine repaired, I could go a lot longer without food.

It is dark by the time I get to Starfire. The truck is gone, but I can make out the tracks pretty clearly. It's fairly dark and I can't see all that well. Starfire is a wreck, like before. There are enormous heaps of trash and wreckage spread everywhere. I can make out a light blazing in the top of one of the office buildings, but I'm not picking up any signals from anything now that my receiver is online. I also don't have a light. I might be OK if my other optic wasn't all crappy, but I have to make do for now.

I could try scavenging in the dark, I could investigate the truck tracks or the office, or I could do something else.

>>300851
Which direction do the tracks go? Following them would be pretty cool, yes, but we don't know how far they went... we might not be able to find where they lead. Going to the office would be a sure thing however.

go to the office

>>300851
I guess the office.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)06:27 No. 300934 ID: 383006
File 130434284005.jpg - (371.76KB , 1000x700 , 16.jpg )

Tracks look like they go off toward the river. There's a big park around there.

I guess digging through the junk here isn't priority when there's something shiny in the distance. I go to check out the office building.

It looks intact from the outside, but when I go in, it's been mostly gutted. Pieces of the upper levels are strewn all over here in a giant pile of rubble, all topped with a giant pile of smashed androids. I... can feel a few signals weakly transmitting from inside. One is so badly damaged I can't determine type, the other is a MG MEIDO. Nothing else is online. Some light is blazing higher up in the building, and I can detect a faint signal from somewhere up there, but I can't determine type. My transmitter is off. There are parts here, but I have a feeling that it's not entirely safe.

>>300934
>KAW KAW
Be on the lookout for deep crows. Especially ones with ponywives.

I guess scramble upward cautiously?

give that rope a couple good tugs to see if it will support your weight.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)08:22 No. 300948 ID: 383006
File 130434972963.jpg - (440.87KB , 1000x700 , 17.jpg )

Yeah, it's a steel cable and it seems pretty secure. I used it to climb up onto the pile of rubble covered in broken android bodies and land with a clatter. I don't have much time to look around before I hear screaming machinery and some horrible thing zips down, squealing to a halt with horrid mechanical grinding. Its suspended by cables and winches hanging from somewhere up above. It's transmitting multiple model numbers and types! What is it?

"KAW KAW! A tasty morsel for me, and it came right to my nest! KAW KAW!"

Shit!

>>300948
Well if it's dangling from wires, it's hopefully awkward for it to move laterally.

So run away. :V

zip down and get under the concrete slabs. and move while obscured.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)11:33 No. 300967 ID: 383006
File 130436121250.jpg - (354.39KB , 1000x700 , 18.jpg )

I dash to the right and swing down to get under the slab I was just on top of. There is more high pitched whining as the monster zips down after me. I don't think he can reach me here, but he's in between me and the door. There are cables trailing off of him in all directions, so as long as it's far enough from the wall, he can move freely by tightening some and loosening others. The door is right there - I can see outside - but I don't know if I can make it before he snatches me. And I definitely don't want him to catch me!

>>300967
There's a handgun hanging from a severed arm to your right. Pick it up.

Take gun, use on monstrocity.

>>300972
I'm kind of worried that she might not actually have the programming to make use of it. We should probably make sure of that first.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)16:16 No. 301019 ID: 383006
File 130437816339.jpg - (455.65KB , 929x937 , 19.jpg )

I yoink the gun and go! I have no idea how to use a gun at all in any way! I'm pulling the trigger and missing badly! He's getting out of the way! I continue to miss!

Sweet! Well, I got away, although I didn't get anything out of there. Uh.. Okay. I'm in the middle of the Starfire wreckage. It's awful dark. I shot the gun six times, I think, so no idea how many times it shoots. I guess it's safe to stop running now.

>>301019
Well we know where to get parts if we find a giant pair of shears :V

...truck tracks, I guess?

>>301019
Even if you hit him a handgun would probably be somewhat ineffective. Scavenge for something better. Dig deep, Clara.

Look around a bit at the wreckage before it gets too dark to see much of anything.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)17:38 No. 301040 ID: 383006
File 130438310188.jpg - (291.17KB , 1000x700 , 20.jpg )

I dig around in the trash some. Sweet! This torso has a working organic engine in it! It's been cleaned out otherwise, so it's not too heavy. I don't have the skill to install it, though, but I'll drag it around for now.

Okay, I'll go check out those tracks too. They go down through the park a ways and I see a little cabin hidden in the trees. There's lights on, and I see the truck. Can't hear anything, and I'm not transmitting. Not picking anything up from in there either. Not sure how to approach.

>>301040
I think in this case we should transmit to let them know we're coming, because we already know someone is there. If they bust out of the house with a gun or something then we can turn off the transmitter and escape.

>>301019
The slide isn't locked back, so it's probably loaded. There should be a little button either above the trigger or on the bottom of the grip that ejects the magazine. You should be able to figure it out from there.

Anyway, look for anything in there that might still be salvageable.

>>301040
>picked clean
>they were scavanging earlier
I'm going to take a paranoid bet that these guys would take you apart for spares. Sneaking while it's night might be nice but having to make a run for it and having to leave the loot behind would suck. Perhaps just drag it back to Jeanne for now.

Clara 2011/05/02(Mon)19:31 No. 301061 ID: 383006
File 130438986582.jpg - (206.66KB , 674x644 , 21.jpg )

I'll compromise. I'll check the hut out, but try and do it quiet like. I stash the torso in some bushes, and then sneak up to one of the big windows. I see a short android that isn't transmitting, and.. is that a human? It looks human. At the very least it's a really illegal android. Really illegal. The room is full of android parts. Skins, heads, arms, all kinds of stuff.

"But master!" the android says "It makes me feel pretty!"

"Stop calling me that," the human says. "You don't need any of that stuff to function just fine. It'll get torn up and we'd just have to replace it."

"I want some bigger boobs too. Don't you want me to feel pretty, master?"

"I said stop calling me that. Why can't you call me Jacob? And no. They'll just get in the way."

"Awww..." the android pouts, "Don't you want me to feel pretty master?" She giggles.

"Just- just go to bed, OK? we have a long day tomorrow."

Well. This is certainly interesting.

hmm.. stay hidden but call out a "hello?"

>>301061
Wait silently hidden for them to go to bed, assuming he's doing the same.

>>301040
Hauling a severed torso is probably not the best way. Also, your ear makes you poorly suited for stealth. Does it contain any sensors or other valuable components? If not, then remove the ear.

>>301073
WAY too late dude.

Hmmm. I'm torn between 2 courses of action here - either wait for them both to go to bed, go in there, steal loads of spare parts and go back to Jeanne for repair. OR: wait for the human to go to bed and engage the android in conversation.

Either way we don't want to reveal ourselves to the human.

Say hi. If this guy respects robots that much, he won't attack us.

he seems like a nice guy, he seems to treat androids like people, I say call out to him. You still have your gun if things turn bad, but don't threaten them with it unless necessary.

Alternatively, drag the torso back to home base and get yourself a properly functioning bio reactor and then come back to deal with him.

Say, "Our programming nags us if we have missing parts. For her sake, let her have a replacement skin. For your sake, be honest about which you want her to wear."

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)12:19 No. 305976 ID: 383006
File 130609197286.jpg - (329.30KB , 1000x700 , 22.jpg )

Okay, I guess he's not dangerous. I should probably say "hi," but there's no need for him to know I've got a gun.

I knock on the window with my stump and then jump back in surprise! The android slams against the window, sooting around boxes and stuff, and starts licking the glass and yammering!

"Master master master master! I found a person! Here here here! There's a person here! Hey person what are you doing how did you get here you look broken are you broken what kind of stuff do you have what's your-"

The other person turns around. Not transmitting anything, and the skin looks extremely lifelike. Is he really a living human?

"Get away from there, Jayce. Android. What are you doing out here?"

>>305976
ask him if there are others like him and if any of them are capable of Android repair

you are looking for replacement parts. you see they have parts and were wondering if you could have what you need.

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)13:26 No. 305993 ID: 383006
File 130609597804.jpg - (213.43KB , 766x615 , 23.jpg )

"I'm, uh, looking for parts. I'm really damaged and need some replacement parts. Are you human? Are there more humans?"

The other android, Jayce I guess, interrupts immediately

"Oh yeah, Master's great at fixing stuff! He's an awesome mechanic who fixes all sorts of-"

"Jayce, be quiet."

He collects himself, sitting on one of the crates while Jayce perches on the other one.

"I was a mechanic before the attack destroyed everything. I don't know if anyone else is alive. What sort of android were you? What kind of skills do you have?"

"I'm a maid and-"

"She's a ZK MEIDO by Starfire with a missing left arm, no backup battery, a fried GPS, and damage to her organic engine, fluids container, artificial pores and left optic. She's got minor repair skill and a little first aid skill. Nothing we need!"

Does she have active scanners? I don't think those are legal. I'm pretty sure they are super illegal. I feel like that was pretty inappropriate.

The human sighs,

"Thank you Jayce. I've been gathering parts to try and find out what happened. After the initial attacks by the invaders, our scientists designed a biological weapon that was only supposed to kill the invaders. When it was released, it mutated almost instantly, effectively wiping out human life. The invaders left after that. It may have worked on them too. It didn't effect me, for some reason, but I don't think there are any other living humans at all. I've been scavenging cores from Starfire, trying to find more research information. That's how I've learned what I have. I have a few cores with special information that I can't decode, and Jayce can't read. I'm trying to put some other androids together who might be able to read it. I also heard there was a facility to the north that might have some info, but I don't have a vehicle or anything. I think it would take a while on foot."

tell jayce that you can also cook a great burger. years of practice.

>>305994
Hahaha, yes.

Wait. Ask the blindingly obvious: if the invaders are giant insects (who like the taste of burgers). 'Cause if so they're not all gone either.

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)15:21 No. 306013 ID: 383006
File 130610288450.jpg - (356.45KB , 1000x700 , 24.jpg )

I also tell him I can make a great hamburger.

Why don't you come inside? It'll be a little more comfortable than talking through the window."

I walk toward the door, stashing my gun in the waistband of my dress, under my apron before he sees it.

The front room is really small. Most of the house must be taken up by the workshop. There's all kinds of clutter and junk, electrical equipment, all kinds of stuff.

I sit down at the table that covers up most of the floor and Jacob sits across from me. He looks old.

What he said before, about the virus. If almost everyone is dead, that means master...

What purpose do I have? If he is gone, then what should I do with myself? Is there even a point in repairing anything? I might as well just give him all my pieces. I'm basically junk.

Jayce starts messing around with some stuff, digging through boxes.

I force myself to say something.

"Were the invaders giant insects? If so, they are still here."

"No. They were humanoid. I never saw one up close, of course, but we got some of their downed craft eventually. The scientists used their bodies to make the virus. Their big ship left, I think. No clue."

I can't think of a whole lot else to say, so I just sit there, waiting for him to chop me up.

"Anyway, I've noticed that the androids like you have started doing things on their own. I'm not a software guy, I got no clue really, but I figured I should fix up all these parts and make myself useful. At least until I can find some way to figure out what went wrong, try to connect with other survivors. What about you? What's your story?"

>>306013
Master told me to prepare the barbecue, but then the bombs fell. Many things were destroyed. I made the barbecue until there was nothing to grill. I waited for the guests, but they never arrived. Then the insects came to eat the food. They brought me meats and ingredients. I continued the barbecue for them.

Can't he make more humans? He is a human, humans are pink goo, they can reproduce themselves can't they?

>>306016
I guess that's a reasonable summary.

Ask if he knows about the crow-monstrosity android chimera thing.

>>306020
(...let's not roleplay being mentally deficient.)

You don't know for certain that your master is dead. I mean, he's probably dead, but you've known that for years. You shouldn't give this guy your parts unless it will definitely, significantly help him find survivors, because that might help your master.

After you tell him your deal, ask him if there's anything you can do for him in exchange for some spare parts and stuff. Jayce said you aren't of use, but what does she know. If you get parts, you can bring them to Jeanne for installation.

Why doesn't he think he's been able to contact anyone, if there's anyone out there? He's probably tried making big radios before.

>>306013
"Spent the past two decades flipping burgers for giant insects; finally got bored and decided to see what happened.

I know of a few other robots in the area.
There's a bank teller and a janitor not too far from here. You could probably get them to help if you can convince them you're the bank's new owner. There might be something in the bank that can read your cores.

There's a spider-like lovecraftian horror around the Starfire wreckage. It seems to have built itself out of uncounted other robots, so it might have a part that can read the core.

I've got a friend in the area that's a custom job. She might be able to help, but I don't yet trust you enough to risk telling you where she is.

I don't know why we've gained self-determination, but I expect we were intended to become more autonomous over time. Humans would dislike it if property displayed agency, unless they acclimate to it gradually.

Jayce, ignore this guy. Put on some skin to clear the damage flag. You can take it off when you're working to keep it in good condition."

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)16:39 No. 306040 ID: 383006
File 130610757284.jpg - (364.34KB , 1000x700 , 25.jpg )

I understand the essentials of human reproduction. Some seed grows inside of the human female and turns into a baby. I know a little about animals. I have basic first aid knowledge, after all.

I don't really think I can bring myself to pretend to be some kind of badass. I'm a maid. Besides, I don't see the point being rude and trying to push him around.

I don't guess I know for sure he's dead.

I go ahead and tell him about what I've been doing. I decide to leave out Jeanne for now. I make sure to mention the creature near the Starfire wreckage, though, and the bank robots.

Is there anything I can do to help? I would really like to be repaired. I know Jayce said I wasn't of any use-

No way! I said you didn't have anything we needed! We pull out useful skill drives and Master crams them inside my tummy. I have all kinds of useful stuff in there!

That is super illegal. Jayce may have started out as a legitimate android, but she is definitely not legitimate anymore.
She holds up some kind of cup. I think it might be a noodle bowl.

You have an organic engine, right? I have some Ramen and some MREs! We don't keep organic engines because we don't need any!"

"Jayce! Be quiet. So, Clara, right? you were saying?"

"Have you tried making a radio tower? Surely there must be other humans. Oh, and uh, repairs. Possibly usefulness?"

Jacob slams his fist on the table.

"Yes, I've tried radio, no internet anymore. The only thing I can think of is trying the big science facility up north. But I need a car. As for repairs, I guess I could install a spare arm. I could easily replace your organic engine, but like Jayce said, we don't keep those around here. For anything else, I'd need some kind of payment. Weapons maybe? Food? Thanks for the heads-up about the monster, but we already know about him. I call him the gargoyle. There's probably good parts in there, but I don't have a good way to get rid of him."

Do I want to help these guys? It might be useful to find out if other people survived, and where they are.

>>306040
He says he doesn't have a vehicle, but what about the truck we followed the tracks of? Is that not his?

>>306040
Well we have the organic engine we left outside.

>>306043
...good point. It's right there: >>301040

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)17:29 No. 306058 ID: 383006
File 130611058304.jpg - (367.85KB , 1000x700 , 26.jpg )

"I thought you had a truck parked right outside. I followed the tracks here."

He sighs again.

"Yeah, it's an electric, though. It's gonna be about an eight hour drive and that thing can go for maybe two. I'd need something better."

"I'mma gonna fix you up this cup ramen! Cup raaaaamen! Cuuuuup ramen! C-"

"Jayce! Anyway. Yeah, I need something better. Or a lot of batteries. Anyway, the giant roaches are dangerous. They try to kill me on sight, so I want something a little better. I haven't had the guts to try the military base for something better. I figure I'd probably be shot on sight."

I do have that organic engine right outside. Should I bring it in and get him to fix it up? Do you think I should try to go with them if they get a car?

yeah sure bring it in and tell him that the roaches like you. may be able to get something out of their nest.

>>306058
yes, and yes, also be sure to ask him what Jayce was programmed to do back in the pre-war era so we know why she acts the way she does

>>306058
Offer to scout out the military base.
Also, point out that he could use a large number of organic engines to charge the truck's battery if he had a decent supply of stuff to feed it.
Also, tell him about the other robots in the area.

Stick with them. He's a mechanic that can fix androids. He's got every reason to make friends. Ask if he can use firearms. Don't dare give the gun to Jayce. Bring in the organic engine.

Ask what stuff you have that could kill Gargoyle.

>>306068
This, I guess.

Also, how the heck is the power grid still up to charge electric vehicles (and spidertits for that matter, who is probably best unmentioned for now) twenty years after civilization collapsed?

Maybe he could convert you into a sort of bodyguard Android Assassin thingy. Then you'd have a new purpose. And he'd have a bodyguard maid who looks non-threatening from the outside, but is packing a lot of weaponry on the inside.

C'mooooon. You know you want to be illegal too~

Clara 2011/05/22(Sun)18:20 No. 306077 ID: 383006
File 130611363143.jpg - (285.56KB , 1000x700 , 27.jpg )

I've already told him about the bank robots. I go get my organic engine! Yes!

He takes me back into the shop and asks me to lay on the table. I think I manage to keep the gun hidden when I take my shirt off, then I climb up on the table.

He begins to work, connecting me up to a spare battery first seeing as how my internal backup is missing, and then opening me up.

So, what did Jayce do before you messed with her?

I was a companion with exactly zero awesome skills! Master says that all these skilldrives he's jury rigged in here make my personality unstable! That's probably why you aren't supposed to do that! But I'm supposed to be really happy and stuff anyway, so who knows?"

"Oh. Well. How could we kill the Gargoyle? And use organic engines to power the truck longer? Why is there still electricity anyway? The roaches don't mess with me at all. Maybe I could look for something there. I'd be willing to scout too."

Well, all of the power plants, mining operations, and distribution and repair stations were completely automated, so they are still working. I don't know how long it'll last. Food is already sort of a problem for us, so I don't think the organic engines would be a good idea, although it could work. I feel like bullets would work fairly well, but it's fast. I have very limited ammunition for my shotgun, and it's too risky to try and fight it straight up. I'd rather think of some less dangerous way to deal with it. If you want to help, that's great. Anything would be fine."

Jayce runs op to the table and starts tearing things out of my innards.

"This part goes! This part goes! This is broken! You're cup ramen's ready! Cuuuuuuup ramen! I guess we need to put new guts in before you can eat it! Are you gonna stay here? Are you gonna sleep on the couch? Are you gonna help us find the humans? Huh? Arya?"

"Jayce! Leave me alone! You are not helping. Go make a bed on the couch."

I need to decide if I'm staying here tonight, or going out to do something for them. I also need to choose whether the military base or the roaches would be a better idea.

>>306077
Ask him for new genitals. Ask what kind of genitals Jayce has.

You don't need to sleep or anything, but traveling during the day seems safer. You spent twenty years making burgers, so it's not like time is of the essence here. And if they were going to betray you or something, he'd just unplug you right now. So you can trust them. Stay here the night.

The military base seems most promising. Maybe you can find a map while you're here?

Just because the bugs bring you food to cook doesn't mean that they'll appreciate you intruding on their turf, nor removing stuff from it. Best use the cover of night to scope out the military base. On that basis, can he do anything for your sight?

Disregard genitals.

Are we able to communicate with the bugs? Maybe they won't mind you since you've been feeding them so long.

Disregard genitals. You don't need them anyway.

>>306083 (Nope, can't talk to bugs: >>284487 )

>>306077
"If you're looking for humans and broadcasting equipment then the military base is your best bet. It will have both.

I noticed there was no food in the Starfire facility, and the power was on. If we disabled the building's power then the monster would likely be incapacitated as soon as its batteries ran down.

It's not sustainable to scavenge supplies, and moving decreases the chance of coming into contact with mobile survivors. The best chance for survival and contact with others would come with establishing a self-sufficient headquarters with a maintainable power supply and a functional broadcast tower.
Of known options, the military base is the most likely to fit these criteria."

Stay. Stick with these guys. Friends are good.

Ask if he's got a skill thing for pistols. Ours is useless right now. We can't hit anything.

I'd sat the military base would be the most promising, but if any hostile survivors (human or otherwise)were to take up residence there, that would be a major problem. Also, what about spare parts for our spider friend? Where are we gonna get those?

>>306077
Ask if there's any way to make Joyce less unstable. Perhaps a second model to share her skill mods, so that the strain is spread out?

You know, I think the gargoyle could be killed without much trouble if some or all the cables were severed. You'd need some way to cut the cables without getting too close though.

My bad... Joyce might get along well with Clara. After all, they're both modified with special programming. Perhaps we should introduce Clara to Joyce. And besides, if Clara had some other functions, she might feel more useful.

Clara 2011/06/04(Sat)12:05 No. 309070 ID: 383006
File 130721435366.jpg - (270.45KB , 1000x700 , 28.jpg )

I actually have room in my skill drive for two additional modules. Jacob says that he kept frying cores before he finally got one that could handle additional skill drives. He doesn't really want to mess with it now. He has an extra Small Arms skill module that installed before I went out. I'm not sure if I want to have something else installed or not. I can think about it later.

I make my way down to the military base. Walking, it takes me 4 hours to get there, but I ate this morning so I should be fine for 14 more hours.

I pass by some roaches wandering around, but they don't bother me.

The military base is surrounded my a big razor wire fence, and there is a little booth and a broken turret in the front. I can see two huge concrete buildings behind the fence, and a massive radio tower. I'm not sure how I should approach, any ideas?

>>309070
hmm well it's a military base so it's built to not have any ways to sneak up to it... maybe you should just watch for a while, see if anything moves in there.

yes watch and listen for a bit. if it seems dead then approach slowly.

>>309070
Skills are swappable (with his help), right?

Since there appears to be precisely bupkis cover to make a stealth approach, I guess you may as well walk up to the guard hut and bet on being human-made and mostly harmless keeping them from shooting you.

Clara 2011/06/04(Sat)19:41 No. 309132 ID: 383006
File 130724170835.jpg - (373.25KB , 1000x700 , 29.jpg )

Yeah. Somebody else can change out my skill modules, except for the ones that are hardwired into my skill drive.

I wait around for a while, but nothing comes or goes. I turn my transmitter on and walk up to the booth. Not transmitting could be dangerous if I want to make my presence known.

When I get close to the booth, the door opens and a J-series military robot comes out. They were an older model from before the bombs hit.

:JN-077: "Halt."

Its voice is cold and inflectionless.

:JN-077: "This is a restricted area, citizen."

:JN-077:

"i request a day pass may you call someone to fetch the forms for me to fill out to be granted one?""

>>309132
Yesss

>>309132
"I have found what is likely the last surviving human citizen.
The chain of succession means he is now president.
The president has ordered that I determine if this facility is secure enough for him to visit, and to secure transportation.
I am unfamiliar of the protocol for these requests. Would you kindly assist me?"

>>309143
what

>>309132
Just ask if there's any way to visit. Or if the base is occupied. Or if they have any news at all.

>>309143
This is an awesome idea and it is totally worth trying.

>>309143
For fuck's sake, no, don't be an idiot.

>>309160
>Just ask if there's any way to visit. Or if the base is occupied. Or if they have any news at all.
Is more like it.

>>309143

This is an idea entrenched in a fun-loving attitude, and should be pursued for the love of fun. Fun.

I like this Day Pass idea. This is a military base next to a city. Soldiers would want to be able to contact family members.

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)14:30 No. 314641 ID: 383006
File 130843261426.jpg - (355.99KB , 1000x700 , 30.jpg )

I ask if I can get a day pass. I'll keep Jacob under wraps for now.

I can accompany you through the base if you would like. Please divest yourself of any weapons before we enter.

Can you tell me about the status of the base?

All human soldiers were killed during the attack. Myself and seven other JN units currently occupy the base, along with our logistics robot - Deetran Five. We maintain supplies and readiness in case we are called on to mobilize.

>>314641
That's quite sad. I was hoping SOME humans had survived in the bunker. Oh well. The Robots can rebuild the world.

Deetran seems to be in charge. We could ask to see him, and find out what these robots know about the surrounding landscape.

ask if any human, regardless of official rank, would gain control of the base by virtue of being the only human known to be alive.

>>314641
"Are the base's communication systems operational?
How would you respond if a living human citizen arrived?
Could you tell me your plan for the contingency of no other surviving bases? No other surviving humans?"

Hand him your gun and let's take a tour. Ask if he knows of any humans that survived.

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)15:18 No. 314686 ID: 383006
File 130843551770.jpg - (286.24KB , 1000x700 , 31.jpg )

I ask him about living humans, communication systems and a few other things.

Deetran five will be able to assist you. Please follow me.

He leads me through the base. I see that they have several ATVs and large trucks all parked in a line on the base. There are three large concrete buildings, and Jn-077 takes me to the largest. Inside is a very large robot. It wheels close to me and Jn-077 explains my questions.

"Have you found any surviving humans? As far as I have been able to glean, there are no surviving humans anywhere. No humans at all. If you have discovered a human, I would be required to determine why the plague has not killed that human in particular. It would be necessary to extract DNA as well. We have an active communications array, but all bases still online have no reports of living humans."

>>314686
Tell him the human is concerned for his safety and you will relay the request.



...Fuck. Just had a terrible thought. What if Jacob is an enemy combatent or a criminal and THAT'S why he fears being shot?

>>314686
Ask if the human would be harmed by anything he'd do. I guess we could just go back and tell him that they want to do tests if they'll be harmless.

>>314686
Help Deceptitran keep the slaves in line and harvest their energon.

you found a human but he has ordered you to not relay he coordinates unless his safety is assured. if you can assure his safety you would be perfectly willing to lead a soldier or two to his location.

>>314686
Don't tell them about Jacob. Instead, take this information back to Jacob so he can make the decision.

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)16:10 No. 314721 ID: 383006
File 130843863923.jpg - (321.95KB , 1000x700 , 32.jpg )

I guess it's a good idea to at least ask Jacob before I tell the army robot about him. I tell them that I'll pass anything on if I find any humans and then leave. I grab my gun from the guard booth and leave. JN-077 waves to me as I walk back into the city.

After a two hours of walking, I see some cockroaches milling around. I don't really pay too much attention to them, but when I go to walk past one of them steps out into the pathway between the piles of debris and starts rubbing its antennae against my face. It glances over it's shoulder, or whatever bugs have instead of shoulders, and then touches me again. I'm not really sure what it's trying to do.

i think it may be asking for food. you haven;t made any burgers in a while.

>>314721
Follow it?

>>314721
I think it wants you to follow it.

>>314721
You've used all the burgers you had on you, haven't you? Else feed it. We have the luxury of a fixed organic engine.

I guess follow it if it seems to actually start leading you somewhere.

>>314721
Go along with it.

>>314721
DO you still have weaponry? Or did the Milbots take it?

>>314721
Gently rub its face with your padded hand, and say "Hello, how may I assist you?".
They are attempting to communicate. While this is likely on the order of complexity of 'want food', they could be attempting to establish communication.

See how some of them are observing from a distance and behind cover? That strongly suggests that this encounter was planned as a group.

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)16:54 No. 314746 ID: 383006
File 130844129681.jpg - (316.77KB , 1000x700 , 33.jpg )

I touch its antenna and say some stuff, but I don't think it understand me. Hey, I think it does want me to follow it, though!

It leads me to a big building. This area is mostly entirely collapsed, and there are lots of roaches. It brings me into a building with electricity. Looks like a restaurant or something?

Anyway, I go to the back and there's a grill that's just heating up.

Some other little bug comes in pulling a clothes hamper full of what looks like ground meat. Huh.

Yeah, I still have my gun. They took it when I went in, but I got it back when I went out.

I think they must have some capacity to reason. They would always form lines and were very polite about the hamburgers before.

>>314746
Try and communicate.
Somehow.

where would they even get meat? they raising cows? anyway may as well make a ton of burgers real fast. have a super sized grill so you can make a lot at once. just empty out the cart of meat.

>>314746
It's night, right? So you've got time to spare before returning to Jacob anyway.

Cook up. I can't see any reason not to stay on the roaches' good side, and maybe again you'll be able to take a share for yourself.

>>314746
...wait a minute. How do they know they're *supposed to* form lines?

Cook up some burgers for them. See if you can communicate to them that you would like a new leg.

>>314746
Since they managed to not only find a working grill and identify it as such but go so far as to get it operational and prepared for use, I think we need to bump up how much credit we give their intelligence.

You've got two arms and a large grill. Make everything they have into burgers, then leave.

If they're capable of reason then you need to show them you choose to help them.
If we end up moving our operations to the military base then we're going to want the roaches to follow us. They bring us food to cook, we keep some of it to keep stomach and organic engine alike stocked.
We can probably train them in salvaging operations and get them to report any human sightings. Building a search net of roaches would solve the manpower problem.

>where would they even get meat? they raising cows?
Rodents of Unusual Size is my guess. You gotta have giant rats.

>>314772
Um... you talk about underestimating their intelligence and salvaging skills and then talk about training them in the same post?
I agree with your general idea of getting them to help, but it would be better to try to communicate with them and make a deal, given their apparent intelligence (and good manners even).

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)17:46 No. 314796 ID: 383006
File 130844440534.jpg - (442.94KB , 1000x700 , 34.jpg )

Well, if you think it's a good idea, I suppose I can make them some hamburgers. It's still daylight out. About seven hours from when I left Jacob's shack.

Okay, well, I take off my nice top and get to work. When I strip the top off, one of the roaches stands up as tall as it can and holds its font legs out. I hand it the dress, and it scuttles off to the side. Very polite.

They wheel the meat hamper up and I begin to make hamburgers. I have no clue as to how they get the meat, or how to find out really.

The roach that lead me here stands up tall next to me and it touches me with its antennae, mostly on my face and ear. I think it's trying to communicate, but I don't know how to translate that into anything. I touch its antennae to show I'm trying.

It looks like it can see fairly well. It's definitely watching me work. It's a good thing I still have my spatula.

I gesture toward the burgers and try to talk, but I don't really think they can hear me. I think they could probably recognize simple gestures, though. This one seems to have a lot to say, even though I can't tell what it's saying.

It's certainly interested in the hamburgers.

When I finish the patties, various roaches come and take them away. It's pretty relaxing I suppose, although I think it'll take me quite some time to cook all this meat. They are certainly attentively watching me go at it. Is there anything else I should do here when I'm done?

OH MY GOD. That one in the back. He's wearing glasses. That radroach is SO CUTE. He must be the brains of this outfit. Try and convince him to follow you by a serious of informative touches, gestures, and pauses.

we could try and teach them how to make there own hamburgers. It would be a good way to establish a rapport with them.

>>314796
I believe they are trying to learn how to cook.
See if you can find a second spatula and hand it to the one that is the most interested.

You are a chef. Can you identify what kind of meat you are cooking?

...ever wonder if maybe some of these roaches used to be human?

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)18:37 No. 314819 ID: 383006
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I try to get the close one to help, but it really can't hold the spatula. The mouth dealies look like they might be able to manipulate things somewhat, but they're right next to its head, so it can't really grill things. I think they probably want to learn how to cook, but I don't have a good method for them because they aren't shaped like me.

I really can't tell what sort of meat it is. I've never really worried about it before. There is certainly a lot of it though. The sun has set by the time I've cooked it all.

I think I could get one to follow me pretty easily, but Jacob said they attacked him on sight, so I don't think bringing one to his cabin is a great idea.

When I finish, I start to leave, but the one that lead me here wants me to follow him. I follow him to another room of the restaurant, and there are some boxes, a couch and a mattress here. It's dark now, and it looks like they want me to stay here. Should I sleep with the roaches, or try to make my way back to Jacob's in the dark? They don't seem threatening, but I think they want me to stay.

>>314817
Seems unlikely that they used to be human considering how they reacted violently to a human.

When we tell Jacob about the military robots, something to keep in mind to how the military bots might react to his very obviously illegal companion.

>>314824
well, if they decide he is in charge by virtue of being the only human then he gets to decide what is or isn't illegal.

>>314819
Go to the one that has been leading you around.
Gently cup its head in your hands.
Touch your forehead to its forehead.
Say "Sorry."
Then stand up, say "Good bye.", and leave.
If they try to block you, gently push past them.
If they try to follow you, then ignore them. If they persist until you are near Jacob's cabin then attempt to evade. If evasion fails then attempt to communicate to them that you will return, and they should let you go. If that fails then try to communicate that you will let one of them accompany you, but no more - you can prevent one roach from doing harm to Jacob, but no more than one.

If you are unable to reach Jacob without an entourage, then go to Jeanne instead. Tell her what has happened and have her go to Jacob to tell him what has happened and return with his decision.
If Jacob wishes to go to the army base, then go to the army base and request protective transportation and an escort to extract Jacob, Jayce, and Jeanne.
After everybody is safe you can visit the roaches and cook for them again.

Clara 2011/06/18(Sat)19:23 No. 314855 ID: 383006
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I head out. I'm sure it won't be too troublesome to find my way back. Besides, I have significant information to relay to Jacob!

They interpose themselves briefly, but I gesture toward the door, and then attempt to indicate that I need to leave. I think they understand, and let me leave the building.

They follow me through the rubble strewn area where they seem most concentrated, but when I get toward the city proper, they fall back. I wave as I make my way into the darkness. I'll have to come back and cook for them again.

>>314855
Cockroaches confirmed for bros. See if Jacob has an art skill module or something, if you can explain they might pay you for food in parts.

>>314855
Your GPS and transmitter are fixed, so you shouldn't have trouble navigating your way back.
If you do then just look for a place with power and hunker down for the night.

Well, aren't they the nicest things.
Yeah, tell Jacob about how the military would like to see you, and if he agrees, ask the JN units to drive you in an APC to pick him up because of the hostile bugs.

Do you think they'll care about an illegal android when there aren't even any humans making or enforcing laws anymore?

I wonder if the hamburger meat is, like, ground up people

Man, I hit the sack, and you guys shirk the hospitality of our bugfriends :V

>>314887
This is a pretty good plan, except perhaps for the word "hostile". (It's also worth noting that if JN-077 waved goodbye maybe the milbots are getting a little personality-quirky too.)

>>315051
It's important to set boundaries. I don't care where we slept, I cared that the cockroaches would let us go. Next time we can sleep there, they're trustworthy, but letting them dictate things to us sets a bad precedent.

Out of curiosity, although you can quickly attain skills with skill drives, can you learn skills naturally, through instruction or practice?
Also, when you get back, ask some more about the roaches. The way they're acting displays the kind of intelligence and social ability that might indicate that they have become sentient to some degree. See if there's some kind of translation software available or something for your next encounter with them. How might the roaches have evolved like this in just twenty years? Were there giant intelligent roaches before the attack?

Yes, a linguistics mod would be quite handy.
The roaches probably can't learn our language due to lack of vocal cords, but as an android you likely produce your voice electronically. Can you emulate sounds in order to eventually speak their language if you get a chance to learn it?

I second the idea of finding some way to talk to the roaches. The postnatal benefits of being able to talk to them are impressive. Also we still need to find some sort of easily refillable power supply for Jeanne.

>>315214
>>315221

I replied to these in the /dis thread.

http://quest.lv/kusaba/questdis/res/345255.html

Just got a thought. Is it possible to convert a battery-powered robot like Jeanne to an organic engine setup? If so, we might want to have Jacob do the mod if he can. Then, we won't be alone on our wanderings. ... maybe she has some modules related to insects that might be useful in deciphering roach language? Alternatively, maybe the roaches can learn writing.

Clara 2011/06/25(Sat)13:52 No. 317548 ID: 383006
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>>317492 is answered in the /dis thread.

I explained what I'd learned from the army base, and ask Jacob if he wants to go to the base like the commander wanted.

Are you crazy? There is no fucking way I am going to turn myself over to some insane robots! I thought the plan was for you to get a truck and bring it back here. What happened to that plan?

they are military androids. they only let me in on the property as a guest. and needed to have an escort at all times. taking a truck was impossible. ask for a blood/tissue sample. perhaps that will be enough for them to work with. also he is technically the president due to how that works. he has absolute command.

>>317548
...Do you really NEED to point out the fact that they're A MILITARY BASE FULL OF CRAZY ROBOTS.

Saying, "Nope, no humans here. Can I have a truck?" Would probably have resulted in a resounding NO. And stealing one would have resulted in a resounding BLAM. If this guy wants a truck, he can go ask the Milspec Bots. And asking a sentient 30-year-old android missing half its' face if its' crazy is a little redundant. Hmmmm... Actually, I have an idea. We should have picked up the locations of automated factories and power stations from the Mil Bots. Surely there would be SOME. And if that were the case, we could take the reins and create a new Robot Empire! And something about the remaining humans and bug people or something, but yeah, ROBOT EMPIRE.

And I'm not particularly fond of this survivor and his schizoid kill bot. Honestly, I'm really just glad we don't have any valuable parts, or else he'd prolly kill us. Let's ditch him. If he's alive, there are probably a few hundred other survivors out there. Probably with less threatening glares. Seriously, those eyes are TERRIFYING.

>>317549
This except the President part.

>>317548
I know you've only got half a face but give him your best deadpan look, then say "Yeah, because stealing trucks from insane robots with guns is a good idea".

Clara 2011/06/25(Sat)14:47 No. 317564 ID: 383006
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There are eight older model military robots and their logistics robot there and I had to be escorted at all times. It wasn't really feasible for me to steal a truck from crazy military robots with guns.

I don't really know how much I trust Jacob, but he seems to calm down some. Although when I was in the base I never asked anything about the trucks whatsoever. I guess he doesn't need to know that.

Anyway, why don't you give me a tissue sample that I could give to them?

Because I'd rather they not know I'm alive at all. They probably have some protocol to try and hunt me down if they know I exist. I'd like to avoid that if at all possible.

Yeahhhh... Jacob is definitely some sort of Terrorist/Nazi/Supervillain/Mad Scientist. He doesn't want them to see him because he's probably on the Most Wanted list or something.

We really should have seen this coming when he told us he made a deranged psycho kill machine out of a bunch of broken sex bots.

I'm starting to think we should either ally with the Mil Bots, ally with the Bugs, or ally with the Mil Bots, have them find us a Linguistics module, educate the bugs in sign language, and forge an indomitable empire that shall rule the galaxy for ten thousand years. But first, Jacob. I'm STILL freaked out by him. I say we should tell him that the Military Bots think all the soldiers in every base is dead, so everywhere is basically like here. Tragic. THEN we ditch him.

you think they would KILL the last living human? at worst they will run some tests on you to find out how you resisted the plague.

>>317566
To be fair, I wouldn't trust JabbaBot if he said he wanted to "Run some tests" on me either. And I mean, they're Combat Androids. They really aren't built for finesse.

>>317564
"Military are not allowed to interfere with the civilian justice system, and would be neither aware of any civilian criminal record nor permitted to enforce civilian laws. Why would they-"
Put your good hand to your face and tilt your head forward.
"What did you do, Jacob?"

ask Jacob why he might think that.

>>317575
This, avoiding all the pathetic amateur dramatics.

>>317588
>>317575
agree.

Clara 2011/06/25(Sat)15:46 No. 317595 ID: 383006
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Did you do something Jacob? Do you have some reason to believe they would harm you?

Of course I do. They have had any maintenance done in over twenty years! Sure, they would "run some tests," but that's no guarantee they would release me, even if I do make it out alive. I have no idea how long they might detain me for, no idea what whatever sort of contingency plan they're following through is-"

You modified androids too! In super illegal ways! That's like breaking every law ever!

Exactly. I have no idea if they have decided to modify their orders and no easy way to escape. They might take and destroy all the data I've gathered. It's secret stuff that I'm not supposed to have access to. I have no intention of going there, and don't want them to learn I'm alive. I sent you instead of Jayce because she's heavily modified and would probably be destroyed on sight.

Why would they be carrying out civilian law?

This is a war zone. They could decide to act as MPs, especially since there are no civilian police left alive. Even if they aren't they have no reason to let me actually decrypt the data I've gotten. Let's just get a truck and leave town, OK? If that's a no-go, I'm sure we can find something else.

"but as the last human you are technically the president and the senate at the same time. you can simply change the laws."

sounds like he's hiding something. I highly doubt he'll tell us anything if we push it further though, so unless you wanna piss him off for some reason, don't.

tell him about the layout of the military base and ask about how you could acquire a truck. maybe he can provide you with a plan or some delicious modifications.

Clara 2011/06/25(Sat)16:08 No. 317601 ID: 383006
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but as the last human you are technically the president and the senate at the same time. you can simply change the laws.

I... don't think that's how that works.

The President can't make or change laws! That's what Congress does! The president can veto proposed laws and appoint -

Thank you, Jayce.

I draw out the map of the base as I understand it.

Well, if you don't think we could somehow get access to a truck, does anybody have a good plan for stealing one?

>>317595
"None of us have had maintenance performed for over twenty years, yet you gave me a gun and the skill to use it.
Further, you are acting president by dint of being the only living person eligible for the role.

Your complaints are invalid. If I am going to travel with you then I need to know what you are hiding."

>>317601
Took too long writing. Damn.
"The president is commander in chief. That makes you their superior.
If you could give me enough information on yourself to unambiguously identify you then I could ask for information on you.
I could also ask for protocol for next-in-line should a living human be discovered.

Unless, of course, you are not a human but a very advanced android."

jegus. for a robot, your handwriting is pretty hard to read.

the trucks are on the far right with two nearby guards. if they could create a distraction at the other side (read: blow up the fucking barracks) and flee, you might be able cross the fence to steal a truck in the meantime.

Okay. This guy is either Cobra Commander, or completely suicidal. This is an at least PARTIALLY operational airbase, filled with Combat Androids. And as its' an airfield, I must assume it's full of drones. Even if by SOME miracle we managed to steal a truck without being machinegunned to death, they could just A) Bomb us back to the Stone Age, B) Shoot out the tires and capture us anyway, or C) Remotely shut off the truck's engine, or simply wait for it to stop as they haven't performed maintenance or refueled it in nearly THIRTY YEARS.

Point all these facts to Jacob-who-is-definitely-not-a-terrorist. And point out to Jacob that all the old subroutines have broken down, to the point where even if the robots were supposed to hunt criminals, they probably don't give a damn anymore. And then ditch him. Cmon, the Robot Empire would be awesome! We can dump this suicidal Nazi-Cyborg.... Wait.

Holy shit. I think I figured it out. How could one man have survived in this apocalyptic wasteland for thirty years in a radioactive hell hole infected with a plague so deadly it killed absolutely every human everywhere? Answer: He couldn't. JACOB IS A REPLICANT ANDROID, AND THEREFORE ILLEGAL. THAT'S why he won't go to the base even though he's the only remaining authority the robots can obey. He knows they'll immediately detect he isn't human and blow him away. That's how he knows enough about robotics to build his crazy companion, and how he's lived all this time.

>>317601
Not really. Eight guard bots and a fat controller is still eight too many, especially ones who are paying attention to a comms array right next to the truck pool.

Frankly I'm kind of stumped for a better plan than "howdy neighbour, can I borrow a cup of trucks?" I'm sure wasting time with all these four-hour walks back and forth isn't a terrible idea.

Damnit, nobody asked the milbots about the roachfriends, either.

Well, this may be a longshot, but maybe we could purchase a truck, like trade for it or something. He's got a lot of machine parts he's not using, maybe they need one for something.

Clara 2011/06/26(Sun)10:57 No. 317982 ID: 383006
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Okay, but look, you are the last human so you have to be the de facto president and that means all the military robots have to listen to you and do as you say!

Why? Why would that be the case? Didn't you already say that if you tell the military robots about a living human they will secure and then run tests on them? That sounds like the total opposite of doing everything I say. Frankly, I have no idea what they'll do, and it seems to me like banking on the off chance that they will magically bow to my command is a risk I'm not willing to take. I don't think any sane person would!

You know. He might be a super illegal android. I have no idea. I haven't touched him or anything.

Well, I still think attacking the base is a stupid plan. They will shoot us with guns.

Do you have some kind of other idea? This is-

[exclaim!] That was an impressive backflip from the top bunk.

Plans! Stop shouting! Your fighting makes me sad! Stop stop stop! Plans!

She's holding that handstand pretty well.

Okay, Clara could try to go bargain with them! We have a truck and lots of parts! Maybe they need things! Or we could try a distraction/somethingsomething or we could just not worry about those trucks and look for other trucks! All the trucks! Just, stop fighting!

maybe the most constructive thing to do at this point would be to return to the base and ask about all those things we forgot to ask, such as whether they want to trade, are willing to part with a truck, what they want with the last of the humans, and so on.

or we could dangle a hamburger from a stick in front of a giant roach and use it as a mount.

I think hes just nervous about what military robots that have started to go strange might do to him. Military robots are probably allowed to harm individuals if it might help the group, so they might not think twice about dissecting him to try and bring back the human race.

>>318066
NO. DON'T DO THAT. They're sentient beings! That'll just piss them off!

just step outside for a bit.

>>318066
I approve completely of this suggestion, including Plan B.

So long as it is Plan B, anyway.

Also, we could ask for some Combat Modules. So we can stop failing to defend ourselves from giant robo crows.

best idea for distraction i got is to have some come out of the base to deal with the mechacrow thing monster.

>>317982
"You're right, Joyce. Do you have any mechanics skill cores? If I can tell what they need I'll have an easier time negotiating and finding parts. Also, do you have a spare active scanner around here?
Jacob, I'm not going to fight you on this anymore, but I'm also not going to try to rob a military base. I like being alive too much."

Clara 2011/07/01(Fri)22:31 No. 320500 ID: 383006
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Well, Okay, looks like I should go back and talk to the Army Guys. It might behoove me to go ahead and load a skill module into the last slot in my Skill Drive. Jayce recommended some she thought might be useful.

I have "Maidpack 4" which is lots of basic cleaning and etiquette stuff, "Advanced Art of Tea," "Basic First Aid," "Advanced Baking and Cooking: Meat and Treats from America, Europe and Asia," "Polite Companion," "Be Seen and Not Heard" which is essentially about moving silently and being unobtrusive when appropriate, and "Basic Small Arms," Which gives basic training with handguns and smgs.

I'd rather not remove any of the ones I have already, but I still have an open slot for something else. "Fixit" is a basic repair module, "Ninja Babe" has some companion components, a little stealth and a little unarmed combat, "Classy Chauffeur" has some moderate driving skills for a variety of land vehicles, "Violence Beatdown" is a decent unarmed and melee skill module for bodyguards and police-like roles, "Soap" is for making soap, and "Cumguzzling Size Queen" is a companion module.

What should I pick, and how should I approach the army base?

>>320500
Remove:
"Maidpack 4" - This is a hopeless mess that you have no chance of cleaning, and the etiquette is covered by "Polite Companion"
"Advanced Art of Tea" - Regrettable, but there is no tea here.
"Be Seen and Not Heard" - Improved version available.

Install:
"Fixit" - Mechanical skill is vital.
"Ninja Babe" - Improved stealth over "Seen and not heard"
"Classy Chauffeur" - Driving skill is vital if a vehicle is acquired.
"Violence Beatdown" - Self defense saves bullets, and your most likely opponents are hostile robots.

Take all your existing ones with you so you can swap them out later.

Scrounge up some of Jacob's hair and take it with you. It may or may not come in handy.

Approach the army base as before.

>>320520
this with the exception of not swapping out be seen and not herd for ninja babe. its not an improvement over the stealth we have but has a little of stealth and hand to hand.

>>320500
Unless you strongly believe that the knowledge and ability to make tea and set dinner tables will help you at the military base, consider replacing some modules. Keep them safe for later, of course. They may be the last of their kind.

>>320521

sounds good. although, ask if these are all legal. we don't want to get in trouble with the military.

She said she's NOT going to remove any dammit.

Classy Chauffeur would work well if we're gonna trade parts for a truck. Right now I don't think Clara knows how to drive at all, aside from the basic understanding of how cars work. We'd probably wind up banging up the truck good on the way back.

>>320500
>I'd rather not remove any of the ones I have already
Ok, how about a plan that actually works within that constraint:
>"Classy Chauffeur" has some moderate driving skills for a variety of land vehicles
While "Fixit" seems more generally useful, this seems essential if they do actually part with a truck and don't offer/insist on providing a driver of their own.

Get the Ninja Module, and possibly VIOLENCE BEATDOWN if you feel you can take it without developing INstability.

Adv. Tea → Fixit
Maidpack → Chauffeur
Free slot → Violence

Soap will come in handy in the long run so make sure you don't misplace it.

remove isn't destroy, when traveling you should have combat ones loaded. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to make tea / etc simply swap some weapons skill for tea making for the duration of your tea making.

So yes, definitely do some switching.

So anyways, do that >>320521

One more thing. Clara mentioned she had basic medical diagnostics. Is that part of the Maid Pack, or is it inherent in the hardware? Because basic medical diagnostics could come in handy if we come across any other humans, dead or otherwise. (And I still say he's a replicant)

Chauffeur.

Ninja Babe has 'some' stealth, we don't know if it's really any better than 'seen but not heard.' It also has companion qualities, and keeping Clara's personality stable is probably a pretty good idea. Sure, it gives us melee capacity, but it'd probably be better to swap out a different one for violence beatdown (which is almost certainly more focused on the melee aspect) for that.

So ninja babe just isn't very appealing. Especially since the 'stealth' and 'hand to hand' aspects probably lead to the sort of ninja babe you usually see in porn, where they get caught and lose a fight and then fuck a lot.

Soap and Cumguzzling Size Queen are right-out.

Between Fixit and Chauffer, there is one extremely important consideration here. Jacob is totally right there. He can do anything we'd be able to do with fixit and then some.

In short: Chauffer for the free slot. If swapping anything else in, it should be violence beatdown. Probably for maidpack.

Hmm, do you have even basic knowledge of driving? If not, and these aren't autonomous vehicles, then definitely pick "Classy Chauffeur", because we need a truck. If you could passably drive a truck without extra modules, then you should probably pick "Ninja Babe". My reasoning for this is that Jacob and Jayce can probably do any mechanical stuff you need (though if something happened to them or you ended up going far away for something it might be useful to have, and you really aren't built for heavy combat. Increased stealth, and some basic ability to defend yourself unarmed, would probably be best. "Soap", despite having the best picture, is not very useful, and "Cumguzzling Size Queen" has pretty much no use, seeing as pretty much everybody that can be seduced or serviced is dead. (Why the heck did Jayce recommend this?)

>>320888

Because her brain is fried on account of how many skillchips she has jammed into her.

You mark my words, Cumguzzling Size Queen will prove worthwhile in the near future, somehow.

If you guys insist on swapping out something, I would suggest Advanced Tea in exchange for Fixit, in case trucks are broken. If a tea situation comes up, we will just have to rely on Polite Companion and Maid 4 to get through the basics.

>not wanting Cumguzzling Size Queen
What's about siphoning gas for the truck?
It's like the most important one.

Judging by the image, Soap is probably really useful.

Clara 2011/07/17(Sun)19:16 No. 327320 ID: 383006
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Okay, I get Classy Chauffeur installed. I really don't want to replace anything, but I guess if I had to I could replace my companion mod with the Ninja one. It will add to the stealth I already have, so my stealth will be quite good, and give me some unarmed skills that could be OK. The only thing I'm willing to replace is the companion mod though, the other ones have been part of me for so long that I feel like they're important to who I am.

So, do I just take the driving one, or do I replace my companion mod? If I replace it, should I replace it with Violence Beatdown or Ninja Babe?

Definitely ninja. Stealth is probably going to be more feasible for any trouble you get into, because you're not exactly built for fighting, although some amount of skill would help, which this provides.

>>327320
Replace polite companion with Ninja. Avoiding violence is more valuable than knowing how to beat people up.

>>327320
Replace polite companion with Ninja. Avoiding violence is more valuable than knowing how to beat people up, but you really should replace teatime with fixit. You can put it back later...

I agree, replace Polite Companion with Ninja Babe. I really doubt we're ever going to use the companion stuff ever again anyway.

>>327320
Do not replace.

If nothing else we are going to be trying DIPLOMACY! *magical sparkles*

>>327320
You know, depending on where exactly the modules plug in we might be better off just keeping all our old modules, then using the last two slots for hot-swapping between the various combat/utility modules as needed.

If it's somewhere that's difficult to access, or if you need to power down to swap, then yeah just go with the current setup (Chauffeur and all the old modules).

>>327320
You haven't poured tea in years! You're a slightly different person now since the bombs have fallen, and tea isn't a part of it, replace that one. Why don't you just keep the tea module as a memento for old times? Make it into a necklace Polite companion is too useful and has probable cause to change your personality, what if you become a jackass when you remove that?

Seriously though, your Polite Companion module has saved your life more than once. Take those insects for instance. Being polite was the difference between being their cook and their chew toy. And the human. Could you have possibly incurred his wrath without that module? Those security robots seemed pretty gruff until you politely asked to be shown around. And finally Jeanne would have been self terminated had it not been your impeccable tact in revealing to her the sad news. Surely the Politeness module is where burial proceedings are stored?

You may not value that module but it seems essential to your survival and the well being of many others. Never underestimate the power of politeness. If you do use the Ninja module in lieu of the Polite Companion module, you will be facing different and possibly greater obstacles in interpersonal interactions. But you'll also probably be able to swear like a sailor so it's not all bad. I would suggest you swap out Be Seen And Not Heard for Ninja. Far from being cumulative, it sounds like those would be redundant. If Ninja Babe makes you even less stealthy however, I wouldn't go with it despite the unarmed combatant perks. The companion perks aren't likely to be useful until you have a working vagina module.

To summarize:

Maidpack 4 and Etiquette - [LOCKED]
Advanced Art of Tea - [DOUBLY LOCKED]
Basic First Aid - EXTREMELY important as long as the human's alive.
Advanced Baking and Cooking: Meat and Treats from America, Europe and Asia - Hey it's saved your butt twice already. If the shoe fits, eat it!
Polite Companion - not locked? Anyway might be necessary to survive in this post apocalyptic wasteland.
Be Seen and Not Heard - Swap for Ninja Babe if the latter proffers more stealth.
Basic Small Arms - Saved your chassis from becoming gargoyle chow. Shotguns lying everywhere. Keep it.
Fixit - You can swap this one for First Aid in about fourty years or however long it takes the human to die.
Ninja Babe - see above
Classy Chauffeur - Well I guess that could be useful. Wasn't the human going to drive thougH?
Violence Beatdown - Very useful if you get a more heavy duty chassis, some armor plating, and some power behind those spindly girly arms. Not so much useful now. Your arm is as likely to fly off the moment you try a full nelson.
Soap - Really? What was this scavenged from a soap making factory? It will probably only apply to a certain kind of soapmaking process that took resources and factories unavailable during a post-apocalyptic barbecue.
Cumguzzling Size Queen - REMOVE ALL MODULES. THIS ONE ONLY. FINAL DESTINATION.

Guys, Companion mods are just SEX. Polite Companion is polite sex. Maidpack 4 and Etiquette along with Be Seen and Not Heard are what are defining her personality in most interactions.

>>327454

said who?

>>327454
>>327464
JUST TO AVOID CONFUSION: companion mods mostly delineate how an android interacts with her master (sex stuff, and also pretending to listen and things like that). Jayce should have been more clear in the /dis thread. It's significant personality change, but, with a few exceptions, that change isn't focused on how the android will treat random people on the street. Clara's politeness and knowledge of etiquette mostly come from her Maid Pack stuff (and her default personality). Also, all skill mods are CUMULATIVE up to a maximum. So if Clara has nothing but stealth mods, she'll be retardedly sneaky (Clara straight up said that above.) Ninja Babe has less stealth than Be Seen and Not Heard.

Clara 2011/07/18(Mon)15:40 No. 327723 ID: 383006
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Hey, there could be plenty of tea just around the corner. I'm not giving up my tea.

Okay, I can drive, and I leave in my companion mod and head out in a truck full of spare parts that'll probably be compatible with these guys.

What's the plan exactly? Am I here to sell out Jacob? Get the trucks? What questions do I have for the soldiers? Anything I need to tell them about?

>>327723
You're here to find-out exactly what they would do to a surviving human and what authority the last living citizen would have over robotic forces.
Also: Negotiate for a truck, tell them about the abomination, ask if they have any spare skill mods, ask if they can read the encrypted chips, ask if they are enforcing civilian law, and suggest that the remaining military forces should start sending search parties out to recover and repair androids in order to establish a maintenance and repair corps for vital infrastructure and any systems required to ensure continued function - such as factories producing parts.

>>327723
- Ask their stance on the roaches.
- Ask precisely what they want to do to surviving humans to get the DNA sample.
- Ask for/to trade for a truck, pretty please.
- Or, failing that, an escort up to the science wassit we want to get to.
- Tell them about the horrible puppet abomination that's a threat to anything around it, and ask if they want to go shoot it.

...I think I got everything.

I don't see what there is to be gained by asking about the roaches. They probably don't know about them yet, and would see them as a threat.

Sure, you'll feel bad if you find out that the hamburger meat's made from ground up humans or something, but how likely is that, really?

Jacob is our friend, even if he is a secret robot. Don't sell him out. Just try to get a vehicle. It's unlikely that they'll just give you a truck, but at least try asking. If that doesn't work, offer them spare parts.

>>328189
Oh, yes! Ask them to identify what creature the meat comes from!
We only really care if it's human meat, so they should be able to do that.

Clara 2011/07/24(Sun)08:04 No. 330567 ID: 383006
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Jn-077 escorts me inside and I go up to the logistics robot. Time to ask questions all over the place.

So, if you found a human, what exactly would you do? Would he have any special authority?

The human would have medical tests performed to see if any cure could be derived from it. The human would then be detained indefinitely while information we extract is sent to my superior. I would await further orders at that point, maintaining a state of readiness. The human would have whatever authority its position merited. If it were just a normal citizen that was acquired, it would have no special authority. I posit that the human would be potentially used as a source of genetic material for cloning to begin a repopulation project of some kind.

There are giant roaches around here. Have they been a problem for you?

These are harvesters that the invaders created to gather food for them. We destroy them on sight.

Are you sending out search parties or anything? Won't there be some infrastructure problems eventually if we don't make sure everything is maintained properly? Also, are you doing any regular police action?

That is not my purpose or function. I maintain this base in a state of readiness. Higher chain of command makes appropriate decisions concerning infrastructure. We destroy illegal androids when we find them to harvest parts, but otherwise there is no real law to maintain.

If I got some meat, could you tell me what it's made out of?

I could send data upstream for scientific analysis, but do not have the capacity to determine that on my own.

There is this android near the Starfire building that is luring other androids in and then illegally modifying itself with their parts after it destroys them. I thought you should know. It's in a big office building about two blocks away.

Troublesome. I am now dispatching four soldiers to deal with it.

That leaves only four other soldiers on the base. I notice that it doesn't move or anything. It's probably capable of interfacing directly with the other soldiers.

Do you have any extra skill mods or anything? Also, I brought some parts in my truck. I want to travel farther out and see what is outside the city, but the range on my truck is far too small, although it's fine for the city. Would you be willing to trade with me?

I have inspected the contents of your vehicle while we spoke. I will allow this bargain if you maintain radio communications with this base and report your findings. I will be monitoring the position of the vehicle at all times.

I hear a vehicle drive off outside.

>>330567
If you have any uncooked meat left then give them a sample.
"Where would I have to go to speak with your supervisor?

I do not know the source of the meat gathered by the insects. Because it is possible that the meat is human I would advise securing samples for testing.

I posit that if a human is the last known human then said human would be the de-facto highest authority. This is vital to retrieval efforts as any surviving humans are very likely to resist retrieval at all costs should their freedom be at risk, but unlikely to leave the safety of the base if they are allowed to do so.

Maintaining this base in a state of readiness requires maintaining its supply lines as failure to secure and maintain sources of parts and power will inevitably result in loss of both, ergo resources must be committed to preserving local vital infrastructure.

Your bargain is acceptable."

>>330567
Under no circumstances press the human aspect or mention Jacob (or Jayce) ever again. I'm sure it's not thick enough to not eventually cotton on.

Take the new truck and skedaddle to somewhere in walking distance of Jacob, but not where he actually lives.

>>330567
Say that you will report your findings but you don't feel comfortable being tracked. Offer some more information on the roaches in exchange for him disabling the tracking device. That information would be that they act friendly to you, are utilizing you as a cook and have attempted repeatedly to communicate with you, going so far as to set up a room for you to stay in while also giving you the option to leave. Do not reveal the location of their nest.

Yeah, let's not talk about the human thing again. It's clear that they view themselves as soldiers first and foremost, and obey only their chain of command. Would a soldier obey some random civilian?

Getting the meat tested might be worthwhile, or might not. But I recommend caution around those soldiers. Don't bring the truck you're trading all the way back to Jacob and Jayce.

Clara 2011/08/11(Thu)16:34 No. 339095 ID: 383006
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Okay, basically I don't have any bargaining power at all. I refrain from telling him about Jayce or mentioning humans again at all, and I figure if he guesses I know where the roaches are, he'll just force me to tell him to they can kill them all. He did say they shoot them on sight.

More importantly, I've technically succeeded in my mission!

I drive the truck over near the wreckage of the Starfire plant and give it a look. Okay, I see the GPS bits but, shit!

There is a Core in here! And cameras, mics, all kinds of shit! If it has a Core, it could have active scanners! I almost didn't notice this stuff. I only have very basic repair skills, so I don't think I can really tamper with any of it without alerting D-Tran 5. On the bright side, there are a bunch of spare batteries in the back, so I can replace the one I'm missing!

Okay, I'm afraid to bring Jacob or Jayce anywhere near this thing. It's a good thing I didn't drive straight there. Oh, I can hear gunfire coming from somewhere in the general direction of the gargoyle's tower.

What the hell should I do?