Toxoglossa 2016/06/23(Thu)18:49 No. 731607 ID: 0bf568
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Tiring of his tantrum you step up your game.
"No you found answers! You just don't like what you learned! So what are you going to do about it?"

The copy of Doug looks genuinely shocked, as if a harmless animal had suddenly bared its fangs.

"Now we could leave you here in your prison, all alone, or you could come with us and help us make sense of all this. Maybe you can even get back at the real, er other Doug, for doing this to you..."

There's a long pause as he rolls this around in his mind.
>"You'd... let me go with you? You'd trust me inside your head?"

>>731607
"As long as you don't start actively fucking with my head we'll probably be fine.
Just don't be a dick in there and you'll be fine."

>>731607
>You'd trust me inside your head?
...ask him if he thinks he's going to freak out again. With his skills you think you can give him a purpose- there is another presence in what seems to be your inner world which appears to be up to no good.

But uh, warn him that you've got a head full of space. If he's agoraphobic or something it might not be pleasant.

"You have no reason to be loyal to Doug, or to what he made you to be. Why not? Are you going to sit here in self-pity as you fade away or are you going to decide to exist?"

Better than the wasps. Your relation with Doug is complicate, but in the end he is a friend. And we could really use his help right now: there is another friend we need to find before going to space.

Will having Tch'arl and Doug mean Nathan will have a good and a bad genies? Well, genies at least, not sure good and bad would describe them well enough. But it would be nice to see those two in his shoulder wearing fake devil horn.

Also, Doug is been cute again. For some reason that makes me imagine Nate's fear and discomfort of the guy worked itself as some sort of unconscious attraction for him. Nate is a very submissive figure after all.
You don't need to validate my idea.

Shouldn't you be the one worried about trusting me? I might decide to make you pay rent once you move in.

So, am I the only one still wondering where Diego is?

>>731682
Well he's lying right there on the floor, of course. >>724780

>>731684
I know that. I'm not talking about his body, I'm talking about his mind. Shouldn't it be in here with us?

>>731688
He could just be regular passed out, not in a trance. Or he's in a separate doug-related mind prison.

Toxoglossa 2016/06/25(Sat)14:15 No. 731818 ID: 0bf568
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"You trusted me when you came forward about your insects, so I'm... willing to trust you. We need your help Doug, and you need ours."

>"I knew I was right about you. I'm looking forward to this, Nathan."
You tentatively reach out and take his hand in yours.

Toxoglossa 2016/06/25(Sat)14:15 No. 731819 ID: 0bf568
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The shattered remains of his maze start to fade and you find yourselves standing in the infinite void.

>"Huh, I wouldn't have thought your head would be so empty."
He smirks as you gawp for a response.
>"Kidding! Lighten up, Nate. So that's the Axle I've heard so much about then? You know, according to your friend, very few people can even access it? Tch'arl had quite a lot to say about it..."

Skipping a fell steps, aren't we? When things get less chaotic you got to have some lessons from Doug. Not now though, you got stuff to do.

What do we call this Doug? Nathan's Doug? Head Doug?

we need the other parts for our contraption. or a better tether. the main line from the hive would work better, we have anything else we could use?

The enemy's constellation has grown further. Tell Doug that you need parts to prevent the Axle from being used.
Get Tch'arl down here so he can contribute too.

Also you should find out what Doug learned. If Tch'arl wants to add anything this would be a good time.

Toxoglossa 2016/06/27(Mon)18:10 No. 732234 ID: 0bf568
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"What'd you learn?"

>"Welllllllll, Like I told you earlier; they found the Axle once they became aware of the 'parallel' as they call it. Its like the world is a stage and the parallel is backstage, full of weird machinery."

"Like the Axle?"

>"Its different; it seems almost like.... an edit tool or something. For moving things around, 'deleting' things. You need special devices just to get near it."

"The 'constructs'?"
You point to the glittering constellations, one of which has noticeably grown. He nods.
"You know what they're going to do with it right? Move the Earth?"

Doug is uncharacteristically quiet for a moment....
>"You know what I learned? The Parallel is so important to them, because it connects them you see, that they view anything unaware of it as.... a lesser form of life. But we're aware, right? It should be trying to preserve us. I'm.... not so sure what it wants."

"Tch'arl told me it may... be unhinged."

>"Maybe. I think you'll find some answers in that data dump we received."

>>732234
Hiro is still working on that, last we heard. As for the drone's motivations, we really need to speak with it.

Wonder aloud if the government is keeping the parallel under wraps. You can't be the only ones who became aware, right? ...maybe that's why the drone is acting like it is. Is it possible our government is doing some shady things with the parallel and the drone decided we deserve to die for such a blasphemous act?

Anyway, we need parts for the device. Ask everyone present if they can contribute.

Since we got the opportunity to talk to someone well informed that isn't obliged to keep secrets, ask him about the company secrets. What is Cobalt? Why would an alien drone want it?
At this point it have to be either a computer from Maar or a communication mechanism connected to one of the parallel's machinery.

>>732286
Sure, why not.

I think that Right now is a good time to explain officer Hunter about what's going on.

Toxoglossa 2016/06/29(Wed)18:09 No. 732653 ID: 0bf568
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"Well, I'm hoping Hiro can help us out there, hang on here comes officer Hunter..."

The dragonfly hovers overhead and Hunter slides off and squares off while Tch'arl cowers behind her.
>"Okay which of you is going to tell me exactly what the fuck is going on? One minute I'm in a server room standing over your passed out body, next thing I'm in some glowy maze and a giant bug is talking to me , now.... this shit, what is this?"

You run the days events through your head and realize a working summary is kind of out of your league.
"Okay, well.... basically you're inside my mind right now, we just left... I think it was that guy's mind" You indicate Tch'arl "Who's an alien by the way.... annnnnd we're trying to save the world. We think..."

>"You think? You're not sure? What's that mean?"

"We... we're still kind of in the dark here. But it has to do with that big, dark thing. Its called the Axle, and we need to build something to stop it, or control it, or... something. I was hoping that everyone here could help. We still need more parts for the machine."

Toxoglossa 2016/06/29(Wed)18:09 No. 732654 ID: 0bf568
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>"What do you mean 'parts'?"

"Basically borrowing pieces of other people's minds, I mean, with their permission of course."

Hunter stares at you with visibly increasing incredulousness.
>"Man, I don't understand a god damned thing that's happened today, and you're expecting me to help you save the world?"

"No, look, um... Doug, do you have anything we could use?"

>"I think I might, hang on...."
Doug reaches down and plants his palm against the stone, then brings it up sharply, pulling with it a white stone column.

The explanation wasn't near as bad as I was expecting. Objective completed. Sort of...

Fancy statue, but what does it represent? All I can think is Doug personal taste and attraction to symbols of status. We need to visit his head later.

Check Tch'arl. They've been trough a lot and is probable disturbed by Doug presence.

>>732654
Well that's symbolic. Let me guess, the bust of a philosopher? Well, it's not reacting yet. Try touching it.

Touch Doug's erect column.

Toxoglossa 2016/06/30(Thu)20:28 No. 732949 ID: 0bf568
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You wonder who the broken bust is, but aren't sure if you want to know more about what's happening in his mind.
"Huh, lets see..."
You reach out and touch the column, which vanishes in a flash of light. A moment later, a new light blinks into existence around your construct. If you had to guess, you'd say that was a "brace".

Toxoglossa 2016/06/30(Thu)20:28 No. 732950 ID: 0bf568
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You realize that you should check on Tch'arl, who is still huddling behind Hunter. You stoop down to address them.
"Hey, its okay now. Are you going to be al-?"
The alien suddenly pounces, and wraps their arms around you. You're aware of some kind of chirpy sound being emitted and that their skinny arms are shaking; although that might be you... yeah probably you.

Doug laughs.
>"Told you they were social, its like a drug to be around other people. All I really had to do was isolate em."

You gently extricate yourself from Tch'arl's embrace.
"You're fucked up, you know that, Doug?" He smirks. "Are you two going to be okay in here? I don't really know how this works..."

>[Recover(active tense)///Selfmass eager to help Nathan decode memorycascade/// Am glad to be reconnect(active tense) with parallel///

Feel free to build a little house here. All I ask is that its somewhat space themed.

Give the alien a pat on the back. We should probably get woken back up so we can check on Diego and other Doug.

>>732952
This

"Who"? So the person been represented that is important. Must be a father figure that was challenged or discredit.

I'm sure Tch'arl will understand you have a problem with contact, you are giving them access to your mind after all, but it would be a nice gesture of consideration if in the future you menage to reciprocate his demonstrations of affect.

That has been interesting, but it is time to wake up. Next time we see those two they better be wearing fake looking horns and halo.

>>732950
We brought Diego's inner self in here once, but he wasn't here when we got back. Ask why. Can they freely leave, assuming they have somewhere to get back to?

Ask Tch'arl to contribute if there's any missing pieces he's attuned to. Also, tell Hunter the gist of what you're trying to do with your device and what the parts are called. Maybe she can contribute even without knowing exactly what is going on.

Toxoglossa 2016/07/03(Sun)14:43 No. 733441 ID: 0bf568
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"You're free to stay here if you want, although.... what happens to people once I've brought them here? I've brought a couple people here and haven't seen them since..."

>[Self will remain here/// Liminal form become part of extended Parallel network/// Remain connected/ allow for low level communication/ observation/// As more immersed functionality/strength grow///]

"So the more people I bring, the stronger the network? Is that how Diego knew to come rescue me earlier?"

>[Yes/ likely///Strong Parallel networks are(past tense) the foundation of Maar society/ communication///]

I imagine a society that communicate telepathically would be more receptive to diversity, since knowing the same language isn't a prerequisite for communication and different viewpoints would be easily understudy.

>>733441
Oh, so if we bring inner selves here, then they become part of a growing network that will likely become planetary in scale, like the aliens' world. Probably a good thing, overall, and seems to be the most solid confirmed development of Nate's abilities.

Show him your hive-body (break off a piece of your ear, for example) and ask if he's ever heard of people giving up their forms to their Custodians, like you did.

Does Tch'arl knows anything about what your wasps were talking about, or perhaps why are they acting like they do?

Toxoglossa 2016/07/05(Tue)19:58 No. 733887 ID: 0bf568
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You twist one of your ears it easily tears away.
"What about this? Have you ever seen anything like this before?"

Tch'arl stares at the torn chunk of flesh before taking it from you and rolling it between their fingers.
>[Curious/// Interrogative: Liminal entity responsible (past tense) for this?/// Appears counter-intuitive for liminal entity to compromise hostform/// No memoryrecord of similar event/// Supposition: Maar memorycascade contain (active tense) example///]

Toxoglossa 2016/07/05(Tue)19:59 No. 733889 ID: 0bf568
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Hunter approaches the two of you cautiously.
>"Okay, seriously, what the hell are you guys talking about? This guy sounds like an old modem in my head which makes the fact that I can understand him even weirder..."

"Yeah, sorry, this is Tcha'rl: a sentient computer program from some planet called Maar."

Tch'arl waves a strangely jointed hand.
>[Express (active tense) gratitude: Save (past tense) selfmass Tch'arl from isolation///]

>"Oh..kayyy."

"Yeah, I know, right? Anyway, apparently their world is dying, and they sent some kind of 'probe' here to swap their planet with ours."

>"The fuck?"

"Wait, it gets better: apparently the probe is what's been causing all the problems. It can somehow make itself look like other people, and has been trying to access a message we have on our computers all day."

>"So that's why Jones said he brought me home? It was this probe posing as me? This is fucking weird and as a police officer I'm pretty much the authority on weird. "
She sighs.
>"So what do we do?"

You direct her attention to the partially assembled construct.
"Before my wasps went AWOL on me, they were trying to get me to assemble some kind of device to stop the Axle. I have most of the parts now thanks to Doug, but I think I still need... an Engine and.... a Lever.... They're like, concepts: some kind of concrete idea that represents something. Put them together and they become a machine. I was hoping you might be able to help us out by lending us something."

>"You mean by going into my head?"

Unless you can just conjure something here like Doug did, but he's had more experience at this than even I have.

>>733889
Maybe. Doug pulled his contribution out of thin air once he was here, maybe she can do the same? If she can't manage it then yeah we'll need to go looking around in her head for something that would work.

...it occurs to me that the music box's mechanism would have made an excellent engine. I wonder if we can get a copy of it by asking the owner? We obviously can't just steal the main one, it would cause some trauma I expect.

We could also try to get a better Tether, don't forget that. The current one is weak.

>>733891
I think we need to get the black goop out of Zeke's head. It's adhesive, so it should work as a tether to hold everything together.

Let's take a look at foxy head. It will be nice to learn something about her other than she is a police officer.

>>733891
maybe we could just have the shaft extend into here, engine doesn't need to attach directly to the wheels of a car to make them go, you use a drive shaft to distribute power.

Maybe you don't have to jump into Hunter's head here. Ask Doug if he could explain to Hunter how he pulled that... Er... Is the term "aspect?" ...That broken bust aspect out of his mind for you. Then perhaps she could do the same, though I suspect it'll probably not be something that can be done easily with just a simple explanation.

Also point out to Tcha'rl the part of the construct you got from Zeke and tell it that you're not so sure that part will hold, given it wasn't a "core" aspect from Zeke's mind, and ask its opinion and if it can tell how strong that part is. And also tell Tcha'rl about all the malform black goo from your neighbor's mind that got pulled into Zeke's mind and his symptoms. What can you do to dispose of it before it drives him mad like it did your neighbor?

And ask Tcha'rl if there's any records of parasitic liminal entities, or even if they've been theorized. Explain that you're asking because only a short while ago you saw one of your wasps emerge from one of Diego's beetles, which you found was a husk and crumbled when you touched it. Further explain that they've been acting independently of you as well. ...And with what they did to you to make you their "hive..." If they are actually parasitic then they won't much, if any, care for the long-term well being to their current host while they further their own agenda, which makes you very concerned for obvious reasons. ...And further thinking, if they are parasitic, they it's possible they aren't even your original insects. They could have killed your original ones long ago and took their place.

Lester has an engine, and if we explain everything to him, especially after what we did, I bet he'll lend it to us. He'll take it as being right all along. Such wonderful Gratification.

Hunter on the other hand, we need to do some head diving. We need to find someone with a lever.

Alright then, Perhaps you should mention Diego's situation too, maybe he knows something that could help him. If not, at least we found him.

>>734339
This, too.

Toxoglossa 2016/07/08(Fri)21:11 No. 734577 ID: 0bf568
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"Maybe, can you try, like, summoning something, like Doug just did?"

Hunter starts waving her hand uncertainly. Nothing happens.
>"I have no idea what I'm doing here... If you're going to get anything I think you're going have to go in. How do we do this?"

"When I bring someone into my head, I try to think of my safe space; its like my 'home'."

>"Okay, lets try this..."

Toxoglossa 2016/07/08(Fri)21:12 No. 734578 ID: 0bf568
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You take hunters hand and feel space change around you. The night is filled with the soft murmur of rain on concrete and the hum of neon.

END OF CHAPTER 6

>>734578
Cooooool.

It's the first time we can explore one of those mind spaces with someone who is both aware of what is going on and capable of remembering the experience (I think).