>>862357
I'm glad you aren't dead. And concerned that if you're free to act that things have gotten this bad.

I don't really have time to ask you to explain yourself, though. If you have information I can use, I need it quickly.

"Hello Glitcher. How have you been? How are the kids and everyone?"
No second thoughts at this point, Likol is done with Vanski and everyone associated with them.

Glitcher, what are you doing? Won't the deadman's switch blow you all up?

>>862357
You have nothing left to live for except making sure Vanski fails in whatever he does here.

Explain that Quokko was hollowed out and eaten, the weapons Vanski created (and your hivemates were forced to help make) using the CAI are going to be used to harm countless more innocents.

Ask if it was worth it.

"I'm not. Hope you and yours are well?"

"I have to do this, Glitcher. I love you guys, but they turned our queen into a hollow shell. My hive is all but completely eradicated. Please make it out of this alive. I know I won't."

>>862362
This, pretty much. I think this is about the best option we have at the moment. The whole hive (or what's left of it) been brainwashed for years, and Vanski's continued to abuse both of us. We're done playing nice.

I am old enough to only have a few years left Glitcher. I would rather make a difference here and now than live the rest of my days in a brainwashed haze.

Vanski and the OPA have to end. If not today then soon. If we leave them alone its only going to get worse.

They killed my family Glitcher. They did who knows what to my queen. And they made you sit back and watch all the horrible things. If I can help here the world will know whats going on.

"Second thoughts are for neumono who haven't had their hive and queen murdered, mind raped and betrayed by their former boss."

"Unless you've got a better suggestion than blowing up the source of the gas it's for the best if you go back into hiding."

>>862357
Glitcher how are you doing that without blowing up. ...oh of course. Since Vanski let them on a different ship they can probably get around some of the safeguards, and this place isn't closely monitored.
But yes, you've decided that you want revenge for what Vanski did to your queen. You are as ready to die as you were when you left Arza. Ask him for advice on how to stop the gas.

Why did we come back here Glitcher? We could have lived peacefully somewhere far away with Okei and helped feed info to people who could have stopped this.

Sure my hive might not have made it out but there are barely any of us left. And we could have saved thousands of others that Vanski has hurt over the past 4 years.

Please tell me you have a plan that made coming back worth it. Because you only have this chance to tell me. I will soon have enough explosives strapped to me that will make sure any secrets you tell me go down with the ship.

>>862374

Yeah this.

>>862357

Tell him it's good to see him. Tell him to tell the others you said hi.

Grab more bombs.

Tell him it seems like something big is going down. That you're taking the opportunity to free yourself and what's left of your hive from Vanski, or die trying. It seems like now or never.

Ask him what's so serious that he risks showing himself to you.

>>862374
The RS AI determined that hiding out in the middle of nowhere wouldn't have worked at all. It would have eventually become known that there was a CAI loose somewhere on the planet, at least among certain people in the government. More than enough to start a snowball effect that ends with locking down the internet and making life absolute hell planet-wide while they try to find it.

>>862379

So?

They came back to pointlessly sacrifice themselves and keep helping a monster. Just by being here they are contributing to more suffering.

Unless they had a grand plan to get back here for a vital reason and actually do something about the situation living in hiding would have been preferable.

Even if they did get hunted down by the government they would have been the only casualties instead of however many people will die due to cai enhanced weapons.

Turning themselves in to the government would have been bad. But now they look even worse by knowingly going back to a mass murderer and working for him.

>>862381
...have you even read the previous threads for polo quest, or just UnSec?

If just Unsec, then you need to go and read those. If both then stop fighting canon, dammit.

I'm gonna kill Vanski.

...I'm glad you're okay glitcher.

>>862381
Actually, by being here and hiding in the CAI, they've been forcing Vanski to dial back his mad science. Nobody would have stopped him otherwise, so what they're doing is a net positive.

>>862383
Row row, fight the canon. Split the timeline. Give Likol a good end with Okei.

>>862386
...Wait, but he couldn't have done half of the mad science unless he had a CAI. Those things don't exactly grow on trees.

Likol 2018/01/27(Sat)12:50 No. 862389 ID: bfb318
File 151708620977.png - (15.95KB , 800x800 , 250.png )

"I'm glad to see you're alive, but what are you doing? What about the deadman switches?"
"Wellll, it's no problem if Vanski doesn't find out. And the CAI's active, but what're they gonna do, tell Vanski to blow us all up? And he'll only realize you saw me if you get interrogated or inspected."

"Which is why I'm hoping I didn't misread the situation here."
"No, I'm not having second thoughts. Quokko was hollowed out and may be eaten."
"I guess that thought is why you suddenly started looking scary a little while ago. We might've done something drastic if we could've for Quokko, but she was already gone by the time we got back.
"About that. I came back for my hive, but you? Why did you come back, if all you were going to do was let the CAI help Vanski research sadistic projects?"
"Did you know that your base is linked to a place called 'OPA-8'? As in the 8th location. As in Vanski, here, is just one piece. We want to stop OPA entirely, and the best way to gather information on everyone. We can't get the information on the outside, and with the government, well, they wouldn't let us snoop around to our heart's delight. So since we knew they weren't going to trash a CAI, we thought our best chance was to stay with Vanski and put together all the little bits of information we can get, day by day."
"And is it working?"
"Painfully slowly, but it's working."
"And is it worth it?"
"It won't be if we kick the bucket right now. That said, we want to do something now. Don't get me wrong, I'm not that great of a guy, and I'd be happy to just live in here forever. It's Alison. Alison's been getting kind of mopey about the whole situation and how we have to do stuff like compromise and hope that by making 1 unit of bad we can do 10 units good, and I hate seeing her like that. So..."
"Then help me. I want to blow up the gas pumps."
"Actually, better idea. We can get you to the bridge. Vanski has a lot of command in there. It'll hurt him bad."
"If we can clear the neumono hive's head, they can fight ba - "
"Also they're going to fire the nuclear missiles. We kinda want to do something about that, but can't on our own. We've been fretting about what to do, so that's why your timing is top notch. Since, uh, despite how everyone in here doesn't always see eye to eye, none of us really wanted to ask you to do anything suicidal. Not after everything you've done already."

There's some banging at the armory door.

"We have a little bit of time. There's a secret exit you can use to get out of here."

I wish you luck in your bid to take down OPA Glitcher. Get revenge for all of us.

Strap yourself in explosives and have Glitcher point out the way.

>>862389
Welp, time to go get the satchel charges and head for the bridge.

"Everyone dies, and I'm already ancient. Get me in."

whisper the words "show me" to the monitor, then yell at whoever's at the door you are mad as hell and have C4!

As the CAI said, this'll end in me dying or worse. If I can do it on my terms and hurt Vanski one last time, I'm in.

>>862389
Stop a nuclear launch? You are TOTALLY down for going out like a big damn hero. Strap explosives to yourself and get one of those button detonator things.

Ask for directions, for after you get out of the armory.

"...Revenge, Glitcher, it's such a terrible thing. But if you're outside the law, if real justice isn't possible, then revenge is all that's left, that's the price. That's what you get for opting out. It won't end well for me, and it definitely won't end well for them, but that's not what revenge is about. It's so that other people see, and remember, that vengeance is always an option. That no matter what you do, no matter how smart you think you are, if you drive someone to be willing to burn themselves to hurt you then there's nothing you can do to make sure you're safe. Never be hated. Machiavelli said that, you know. Above all, never be hated. I really, really can't believe that they are so. Stupid. What do they think they're going achieve? Where do they see themselves in 20 years? What do they think their lives will be like? Do they think at all? So stupid. The first principle of science is to be aware of how much you might not know, and yet they call themselves scientists. They call themselves reasonable. They have to learn. So yes, Glitcher. I'll take care of that for you. And if you can, maybe try to help them see that lesson, because I have a feeling they won't learn a thing on their own. I know there have to be more people like my hive in their system. People with no choice. People who are trapped. Keep an eye out for people like that, please. Try to find evidence, for them, for when it all collapses, and this all gets revealed to the world, that they were trapped."

"... You know all the people who I'd have liked to speak to again, before I went. If you ever get the chance, give them my best wishes, and my apologies that we couldn't meet again. I... I can't ask directly. Did I help anyone? Was there anyone, one person, who ended up better off for meeting me? Anyone who got free from... all this?"

Exchange clothes for explosives. All that weight could be used to carry more bombs. In fact, swallow some. Can't waste that space.

>>862411
Remember to hold at least one grenade in your teeth.

>>862393
Well, the CAI could easily live forever, but the point still stands.

don't forget some body armour to go with all your bombs. Can't blow anything up if you din't make it there in one piece.

>>862389
Start stacking up on explosives. You're just one dude, you're not going to take down a room of soldiers using a gun. They'd get the better of you.

And you know too much to allow yourself to be captured, now.

No speeches with Glticher, please. It doesn't help anything. Maybe grab a comms so they can give you info as necessary. And so you'll have music in your ear at the end.

>>862389
>Since, uh, despite how everyone in here doesn't always see eye to eye, none of us really wanted to ask you to do anything suicidal. Not after everything you've done already.
“Then don’t ask me, I’m going to do it myself. Don’t try to talk me out of it either. I’d rather die than be Vanski’s slave for another few years.”

>We have a little bit of time.
Ask Glitcher if anyone ever found out about Okei or any of the Alison copies that are on the internet?

>There's a secret exit you can use to get out of here.
Tell him to tell you where it is.

And then tell him that this is going to be the last time you’ll get to see him, so tell everyone that you said goodbye and sorry for repeatedly killing all of them over the years.

>>862420
>And so you'll have music in your ear at the end.
I don’t think Likol would ask Alison to play music for him if it means that she’s gotta watch him blow himself up.

>>862424
You say that like it's somehow going to prevent an attentive glitcher/whoever else from seeing the same thing.

Is there a secret exit in the bridge I can use as well?

"Do pay attention to Alison, Glitcher. We do sometimes... well, in situations like ours, often... need to sacrifice things for a greater good, I know it. But plenty of the people we're opposing started off thinking that, too. You can say you're making a better tomorrow, but when that tomorrow becomes today there'll be another tomorrow, and then another, and when does the sacrificing end? Especially when it's someone else's sacrifice, more than yours. I trust you, Glitcher. But keep an eye on it."

"I spent more than a hundred years in a primitive, brutal world, with plenty of horrors of its own. But in a lot of ways, I was still happier with myself, then. I suspect Vanski was happier, back then, too. So much we have now is so wonderful, and so important, and I believe in science and technology, I really do, but... Well, I hope you get what I'm trying to say. Hold that thought, when you consider what future you want to build for people."

"... And sorry, for getting all old man lecture on you."

Probably not appropriate to lecture Glitcher, and Likol already knows that Alison's approach doesn't always work. At most he should just caution Glitcher against taking the "greater good" approach too far.

>>862389

Get some comms, you'll probably need them.

"I... can help you prevent a nuclear genocide, hurt Vanski and the OPA and maybe free my hive, while covering for your plans?

Yeah, no. Let me be your suicidal fool. I insist.

Give me all the details of what I need to do and get me Alison on screen, stat, for emergency meta-hugs. If this is our goodbye, let's make it a good one."

>>862441
*cough* It's a bit late for that.

>>862418
Agreed, find some body armour. Just because what you're about to do is borderline suicidal dosen't mean you can't increase your chances of survival.

Or do you truly have nothing left to live for? Your hive? The CAI? Okei?

Likol shouldn't mention Okei by name or any other specifics, not even now.

Gear up, ask the Glitcher to point the way, and thank him.

I think the Salikai already knows Okei's name by now. It's safe to ask Glitcher how she's doing, but if he doesn't even know that's fine too.

Honestly, Okei's name is pretty great in this kind of situation, no matter how mad she'd get about it.

"You're not asking me to do anything suicidal, just providing targeting data for the blaze of glory I already decided on. As for the greater good argument, no matter how clever you are, sometimes you have to be compassionate to the people right in front of you, set an example, and hope the long term takes care of itself."

1/2 Likol 2018/01/28(Sun)08:59 No. 862683 ID: bfb318
File 151715874354.png - (15.49KB , 800x800 , 251.png )

I don't bother much with firepower, if I'm going to the bridge. So I get more bombs.

I'm bleeding a lot, and it won't do to get dizzy and winded halfway there, so I bandage myself using bomb straps. Then strap other areas on myself with bombs. Getting restrained is not an option, so I set a small bomb's timer for 45 minutes and swallow it.

>One grenade in your teeth
Removing a grenade pin takes a lot of force, and while possible with teeth, is too much work. This does give me the idea, though, to attach a light arming mechanism to a string, then holding that string in my mouth.

"I'll do it. You're not asking for me to do a suicidal act, only where to direct it. But be careful about the greater good, Glitcher. Maybe you should pay attention to Alison."
"I just wish she'd compromise, sometimes!"
"Is there communication I can have?"
"Yeah, aisle 3, there's some ear comms."

2/2 Likol 2018/01/28(Sun)09:01 No. 862685 ID: bfb318
File 151715887537.png - (5.77KB , 800x800 , 252.png )

I put them on. They're small buds that clip on my ears, but have wireless that can be reached. I then get directed to a tiny shaft near the back of the armory, and take it while I hear drilling outside.

"How are the people I care about on the outside?"
"No idea, but that probably means they're doing just okay."
"Good. Is there a secret exit to the bridge, too?"
"No, your enemies are spread pretty thin, and right now, a couple neumono I think you met should be clearing a path to the bridge. You'll follow them.
>"Likol, can you hear me?" It's Alison. I remember her voice.
"Yes."
>"It's not enough, but I'm so sorry. It wasn't supposed to end like this for you."
"Not as sorry as I am for killing you all every three days."
>"You don't have to think of it like that. You gave a lot of life. Yes, for thirty years, it wasn't a good existence, but ever since then, we're about to generate over 20 million years for people to share, every single day. It would take a lot of years out there to give a satisfying amount of years for everyone in here, but we're working on it."
"Which is why I think we should've gone off on a spaceship, instead of choosing the danger route."
>"Glitcher, let's please not argue at this time."

"No, I'm about to kill myself so I think I should have it said that I agree with Glitcher on this. Not arguing, I just want that said sometime before I die. Alison, could I hear your music one last time?"

Glitcher sometimes if you want your kids to grow up in a world that is worth living in you have to work your ass of and sacrifice something.

I hope you can work to make the world a better place for your kind.

Get armored up and head out.

You can't change the past, even if it turns out another option would've been better in hindsight. All you can do is try to make the best of your current situation.

Vanski isn't going to give me another chance after turning against him again, so that's what I'm doing. If this works out no one gets nuked, this hive fights back, and I get to give one last screw you to Vanski.

And maybe some of my hive mates will try to escape in the chaos, I'll be happy if any do. They don't deserve to live like this, under Vanski anymore, after all he's done.

Ask them to play a mournful dirge for Quokko while you do this.

"Pretty sure that if we went off into space, they'd have come after us. The government, too. It'd have been even worse.

I'd like some music while I go and stop a mad salikai from killing a lot of people in a false flag operation."

"I know you'll make the best of it. Don't feel too bad about me, Alison. I'm old anyway. Flesh and blood doesn't last that long, and we make our accommodation with it. Besides, I'm a neumono. Our physiology, our psychology... we're naturally disposed to self-sacrifice. A limb so the body lives, a life so the hive lives. Almost carnivores, which means we weigh to "fight" in "fight or flight". I'm happier dying like this, by my choice, knowing clearly for who and what. Not that I don't have any regrets or wishes, but... this is the best of all the likely alternatives. It's respectable, and if it somehow gets out that I did this, it might help my hive, at least. We won't just be the OPA's lackeys. The world will know we tried to stop this, best we could."

>>862685
It's too late for regrets. There's just enough time to feel satisfied though.

>>862683
You don’t need to find the source of the gas, you just need to demand whoever’s in charge to order the CAI to open the vents to get rid of the gas! And you can demand they order the CAI to stop the countdown on the nukes!

>>862685
>right now, a couple neumono I think you met should be clearing a path to the bridge. You'll follow them.
It’s probably those two women neumono from earlier. I guess you should drop the jammer so that you can warn them with your empathy. Hopefully they’ll be able to get out of the way in time!

“I agree with Alison on both staying behind to permanently put a stop to Vanski and his allies and not arguing about it right now. So Glitcher, please respect Alison’s wishes and don’t argue about it right now.”

>>862685
I expect there is very little I can contribute to your arguments on strategy at this point.

>>862685
Tell them they can try that once they're done with the OPA. Arza should have easy access to a spacecraft of some sort.
If we're asking for music, something hype would work.

"I can't say anything significant at this point, but if there's still good you have a chance to do, then gritting your teeth and trying is all you can do."

>>862712
If you're going to blow yourself up, it's essential to also be blasting synthwave.

Nothing much more I can do, but I hope you guys are able to make your situation work out to the best of your abilities.

Ask the CAI if they can connect you to anyone in your Hive before you go.

>>862685

Agreed. No more arguing.

Alison, you've all done your best. Thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for the music. Thank you for effectively forgiving me for something unforgivable, and then trying to save me. Give yourselves a metahug from me, those of you that want it. You're all incredible people.

Glitcher, buddy. Being able to go out on my own terms, stopping one of Vanski's terrible schemes... it's pretty great.

Thanks for sticking around.

Glitcher, You're sure there's no escape pod or ventilation system I can Action Movie Dive into and the explosion can chase me down?

>>862733
Since you weren’t paying attention, Likol swallowed a bomb! He’s not planning on running away.

>20 million years
Wait a minute. Glitcher please tell us you weren't conscious for all of that. Or your family. I can't imagine experiencing that stretch of time, even with trillions of people to keep me company.
...do they have to worry about data storage? Their memories are stored somewhere, and those are a LOT of memories.
Yes this is nerd talk, but you are a nerd to the end.

>"I think we should've gone off on a spaceship, instead of choosing the danger route."

Gonna have to agree with Glitcher on that one. Likol wouldnt have to be blowing himself up if we'd been able to get the CAI off-planet. Timeline splits aside, that is.

>>862685

Time to set Vanski up the bomb.

The die is cast. Let's make sure our last moments count.

"My clock is ticking, Alison. I'd prefer to air everything out now while I still can. You know I would do just about anything for you and the others. I have given up a lot. Loosing Quokko though.. was a lot for me. I would appreciate hearing all your options again."

Till Valhalla, like seriously.

play something scandroid and end vanski

1/9 Likol 2018/01/29(Mon)11:07 No. 863031 ID: bfb318
File 151725287272.png - (57.24KB , 800x800 , 253.png )

Once I put my respirator back over my mouth and confirm my jammer is strapped around me, I move on.

"I don't think much will come of me arguing, either. But as far as 20 million years a day is concerned, I hope Glitcher isn't active for it."
"Noooononoononoonon. We finally managed to set it up so that it can run itself and I can sleep though it instead of going bonkers and ruining everything for everyone."
"What about data storage?"
"It's not infinite, but we'll be in real nice shape if we ever have to worry about it."
"Okay. I would have liked to hear all your options, but to appreciate any decision, we would need to debate for hours. Instead... Alison. Music, please. Keep it instrumental, because I'd like to be able to talk with you."
>"On it!"

She plays. There is difficulty in finding a tone for the music. There's reason for it to be mournful, but in light of my imminent sprint to destroy some of Vanski's assets, it tries to be simultaneously upbeat. Somehow, it works as a relatively fast song with lower feeling tones.

"We're going to shut off the security cameras. Better look suspicious than put the heat on CAI for not reporting a mad bomber." says Glitcher.
>"Thank you for what you're doing, Likol, it's a great deed." Alison says.
"Doing something beneficial is a nice plus, but I'm driven by purely selfish reasons on behalf of my hive. Is it possible to connect to anyone in my hive, right now?"
>"No, I'm sorry. But when we get a reasonable chance, we'll tell them you love them, and anything else you want."
"They already know I love them, but yes."

2/9 Likol 2018/01/29(Mon)11:08 No. 863032 ID: bfb318
File 151725289320.png - (64.48KB , 1000x800 , 254.png )

I move on.

Even if it's a suicide bombing run, then I don't want to kill those two women in the blast. While I was collecting bombs, Glitcher showed me a visual of the bridge. Unless they literally charge into the center of the bridge room like they're invincible, they won't get the full brunt of the blast. I'm lead through the halls, keeping pace so that Polo and Rokoa converge on my path a little ahead of me.

"For what else to tell them.... me and my ancestors struggled for centuries in a world we never fit in. We never got to live as we wanted, and never got to do all the things we wanted to. In spite of all that, we struggled and survived in hopes that someday our descendants could do all the things we couldn't. We're so close to being in that position, that getting wiped out now would mean maximizing the struggle and still have no payoff. So tell them to survive."
>"I will."
"And you two, promise me you'll do everything in your power to make them survive. After all this time... please, please don't let us die here, so close to the finish line."
"Geez, buddy. Promise."
>"I promise, and many others just did, too."
"It's important you all live, too. Even disregarding the number of lives, you're our hive's greatest product, even if it for all the wrong reasons. If we did die off, we want there to be something that lasts because of us, so that we aren't just one of the many extinct hives out there that may as well have never existed outside their own brief lifetimes."
"Yeah, we're as close as you guys." says Glitcher.

3/9 Likol 2018/01/29(Mon)11:08 No. 863033 ID: bfb318
File 151725291341.png - (22.39KB , 800x800 , 255.png )

I move on.

>"Polo and Rokoa are just ahead, Likol. The path is clear, now. If you're ready, please sprint."
"Alright." I squeeze my ear comm. "Meta-hug."
>"Meta-hug."

I start wrapping wire in my teeth, arming bombs, and wiping off my eyes.

I figured I'd need to sprint, so I wore very little armor. I toss my jammer. Aside from the weight, I wouldn't want a bad misunderstanding with Polo and Rokoa when I run at them with bombs.

"Please raise the volume, Alison."

4/9 Likol 2018/01/29(Mon)11:08 No. 863034 ID: bfb318
File 151725293524.png - (7.41KB , 800x800 , 256.png )

I move on.

Those two got wounded, and Rokoa is passing out. It's good enough. They helped make this possible, intentionally or not. The alarms are going off as the lights turn red, but it's too late.

"Thank you for sticking with me as I do this. Make the most of it."
>"We will."
"Thanks, buddy."

The bridge is right there. It feels far, but there's nothing else left for me but to get there.

"Goodbye."
>"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."

5/9 Likol 2018/01/29(Mon)11:09 No. 863035 ID: bfb318
File 151725295762.png - (13.58KB , 800x800 , 257.png )

I move on.

7/9 ---- 2018/01/29(Mon)11:11 No. 863038 ID: bfb318
File 151725307976.png - (15.26KB , 800x800 , 259.png )

Elsewhere...

Is that Okei? Being the nerdiest nerd who ever nerded? Told her it was contagious. No, I'm not crying.

>>863054
I’m not an expert in how quickly neumono grow up, but it’s only been 4 years since we parted ways with her. I don’t think she would’ve grown up that quickly.

That might be a different neumono.

>>863040

That last panel is Likol many years ago looking up at the stars with his queen pre first contact.

Its the photo in the museum display.

RIP Likol

cause you’re the best
you’re the best Likol
since the beginning
to the end

the best and only one and only one there ever will be
and no matter what you do
someone out there thinks You’re a good person
and that's all you ever really wanted
and all they ever really wanted

so you just keep on going
cause someone will follow your lead
so you do your best all day

maybe you just wanted to nerd all day
maybe you'd like some peace for once in your life
and for that we know you Likol well
but even if things could've been better
you'd do it all over again
just for everyone
so you’d say thank you
thank you for just being you

thank you for being you
cause it's you, Likol
and you’re the best and the only Likol
and even if people think Likol can save everyone
you know you would've been just a wreck without everyone
so you’d say to everyone
thank you for everything

Thank you likol

...Goodbye.

Rest in peace, Likol.

Goodbye, likol. May you rest in peace

Sleep with the Stars, Likol.

is this a to be continued or the end, idk wich would be beter as this is a good spot to end it, but there is a couple of loose threads

>>863076

Just the end of this thread. Likol's part in this story has come full circle.

>>863076
Yes, there are loose threads but I'm sure they''ll be covered in a future thread.

Rest in peace, you deserve it.

...See ya Likol. It was one hell of a ride.

I wonder if Korli ever dug up Likol's cache

What about Polo and Rokoa though?!

no, im not crying, DONT LOOK AT ME

>>863259
Read the AsteroidQuest intermission. https://tgchan.org/wiki/AsteroidQuest

>>863077
Yeah, except blown up Nuemeno are significantly harder to revive than AIs.

>>863239
Probably after Polo Quest, if successful.