Waterbrick Down Posted August 23, 2021 Author Posted August 23, 2021 27 minutes ago, samurai-turtle said: That thing said some similar words, it said ... I can't even repeat it MILES this more of your territory, what did it say? /// Are you thinking of... As MILES repeated the word it sound like a recording of the creature. "I heard it too in my head when the creature was speaking to me. It referred to me as the ਠੁੱਡਾਲ." 14 minutes ago, KotZ said: "So you're what, a white hat aetherdiver who go caught up in the exact thing you were trying to stop your bosses from doing?" Varen shuddered at the thought of the transplant. "White Knight, typically tries to vet its security contracts, its one of the reasons I wanted to bring it up with Oddsphere. I'll need to make a full report as well as detail about the damages done as I'm sure Lupin will be furious."
KotZ Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 4 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said: "White Knight, typically tries to vet its security contracts, its one of the reasons I wanted to bring it up with Oddsphere. I'll need to make a full report as well as detail about the damages done as I'm sure Lupin will be furious." "Well, I guess if you're satisfied, then I guess I am. Felix, you wanted to get going?"
Khorne Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 (edited) Felix listened attentively to what Lars had to say. Varen had his way with words to get the Thudaal to spill the story like that. The Chimeran was content. “Yeah, let’s go. Let’s use the push they programmed into our dive. Nothing more for us here," he uttered the last phrase with a hint of remorse or sorrow and briefly looked aloof into the distance as if expecting to see something. He was quick to shake it off however and uttered "I hate grapefruit". Edited August 23, 2021 by Khorne
samurai-turtle Posted August 23, 2021 Posted August 23, 2021 Seeing everyone else leaving...I guess it is my turn to head back to "normal". What was the thing again "escape velocity form the grapefruit"...
Waterbrick Down Posted August 24, 2021 Author Posted August 24, 2021 The heroes and Agent Lars utter their Push trigger phrases as each of them slip away from the Ætherspace slowly drifting back into the terrestrial sphere, this time with more Ætherdiving Proficiency. Felix Coding Proficiency Check (DC 1): 1, 1, 5, 6, 6 (3 Success, 1 Failures) Varen Coding Proficiency Check (DC 1): 6, 6, 1, 5 (1 Success, 2 Failures) Polaris Coding Proficiency Check (DC 1): 3, 6, 4, 2 (2 Success, 1 Failures) " "Easy does it gents. It takes a minute for the world to stop spinning." The heroes note Agent Lars coming to as well. "Oy, been a while since I've been under that long. Got a cup of coffee Mol? I've got a splitting headache." "Got a cup of coffee? You were in there for nearly two weeks, Lars. It's a good thing you've got a body to come back to at all. I had Oddsphere cater in a 5 course dinner just to make sure you weren't starving, you diving fool. What happened in there?" "Sorry Mol, let me check in with Oddsphere first." "Fine, but them I'm escorting you personally to med bay to get you checked out. Then, dinner." The Thudaal smiled. "Wouldn't have it any other way." "What about the rest of you lot? Doin' ok? Anything you want to share, or will you be straight off to Oddsphere's office with Lars?"
samurai-turtle Posted August 24, 2021 Posted August 24, 2021 6 minutes ago, Waterbrick Down said: "What about the rest of you lot? Doin' ok? Anything you want to share, or will you be straight off to Oddsphere's office with Lars?" Is it normal for A.I.'s to change appearance in the Æther Space? Oh, maybe you should check us out in your med bay too before we leave. Some of us got beaten up fairly decent in that weird place.
KotZ Posted August 24, 2021 Posted August 24, 2021 "Yeah, you weren't kidding about it being different there. I'm good with going straight to Oddsphere. Anyone else have business here?"
Waterbrick Down Posted August 24, 2021 Author Posted August 24, 2021 11 hours ago, samurai-turtle said: Is it normal for A.I.'s to change appearance in the Æther Space? Oh, maybe you should check us out in your med bay too before we leave. Some of us got beaten up fairly decent in that weird place. "It's a weird link and the effects on things like A.I.'s in Ætherspace are still being studied. Those with extensive Ætherdiving experience are known to be able to consciously affect their appearance in the sphere." Polaris notes that while she feels exhausted, all of her wounds seemed to have remained in Ætherspace.
Khorne Posted August 24, 2021 Posted August 24, 2021 13 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "What about the rest of you lot? Doin' ok? Anything you want to share, or will you be straight off to Oddsphere's office with Lars?" "I'm fine, thanks. I think we've wrapped everything up here," Felix replied. He smiled playfully and boastfully stated: "I told you we'd bring your man back. You can count on us to get things done." "Alright, let's head to Oddsphere's office and debrief him."
Waterbrick Down Posted August 24, 2021 Author Posted August 24, 2021 "That you did. Thank you." The heroes follow a few minutes after Agent Lars. Agent Oddsphere is back behind his desk inspecting another report. "Well, good to see you heroes have returned no worse for wear it seems. And you've brought Agent Lars back as well, so job well done on that front. Close the door will you Agent Lars." Once the heroes are in the office, the Thudaal closes the door with them all inside. "Now then, Agent Lars was telling me about this business with Lupin Bio-tech, sounds like a bit of breaking and entering, property damage, and potential breach of information security. What do you make of it?"
KotZ Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 "There's a lot of bad stuff going on in there. From what Lars," Varen pointed to him, "tells us from his findings, and he can probably explain better than I ever could, is that there was this thing called The Dark Host from another reality." Varen paused, thinking what to say next. He recalled Lars asked to not say too much about his species. How much was too much? Certainly Oddspehere deserved to know some things. Well, this would be a legal matter? And legal matters sometimes didn't show the whole truth... Varen thought. Damn it, he chuckled inwardly, thought I got out of this game. "The specific reality seems unclear. What we do think is that this creature seems to have been researched on as a way to transfer consciousness to other entities, transplanting from one aetherdiver to another."
Waterbrick Down Posted August 25, 2021 Author Posted August 25, 2021 "Yes, Lars has informed me about his suspicions regarding that theory, do you think it holds water? Any evidence they had carried it out?"
samurai-turtle Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 7 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "Now then, Agent Lars was telling me about this business with Lupin Bio-tech, sounds like a bit of breaking and entering, property damage, and potential breach of information security. What do you make of it?" What are you going to do throw us in jail? For breaking and entering not much security if the unlock code is 1,2,3,4,5. And for any property damage, those "drones" attacked us, we were just defending our selves. Breach of information? It was a bunch of generic medical information I am sure it could in multiple places. Polaris wondered if that would cover any legal issues that might come up.
Waterbrick Down Posted August 25, 2021 Author Posted August 25, 2021 2 hours ago, samurai-turtle said: What are you going to do throw us in jail? For breaking and entering not much security if the unlock code is 1,2,3,4,5. And for any property damage, those "drones" attacked us, we were just defending our selves. Breach of information? It was a bunch of generic medical information I am sure it could in multiple places. Polaris wondered if that would cover any legal issues that might come up. "By no means. Lupin Bio-Tech is our client, any property damage incurred will be expensed. The breach of potentially proprietary information however will be an issue more difficult to navigate. That was a data warehouse, its records are private and not meant to be accessed by non-Lupin employees, including us."
samurai-turtle Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 13 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "By no means. Lupin Bio-Tech is our client, any property damage incurred will be expensed. The breach of potentially proprietary information however will be an issue more difficult to navigate. That was a data warehouse, its records are private and not meant to be accessed by non-Lupin employees, including us." Well that creature was psychically calling people into the place so, someone was bound break into that place... As for the "data breach" I was only one who look through the stuff (well mostly) and being a paramedic it seem pretty generic medical information to me. And the only real evidence that anyone tampered with the stuff was the cube Lars moved. And that cube had information of the said creature on it... Besides what are they going to do tell the authorities that we messed up their "probably" illegal creature. That they shouldn't have in the first place.
Waterbrick Down Posted August 25, 2021 Author Posted August 25, 2021 29 minutes ago, samurai-turtle said: Well that creature was psychically calling people into the place so, someone was bound break into that place... As for the "data breach" I was only one who look through the stuff (well mostly) and being a paramedic it seem pretty generic medical information to me. And the only real evidence that anyone tampered with the stuff was the cube Lars moved. And that cube had information of the said creature on it... Besides what are they going to do tell the authorities that we messed up their "probably" illegal creature. That they shouldn't have in the first place. "They could cancel the contract and pursue legal action against both White Knight and your organization for starters. The fact that we sent Agent Lars, a psychic sensitive Thudaal, to guard the warehouse containing a psychically active threat is an unfortunate coincidence. Their research as far as I'm aware of, though disturbing, is technically not illegal..."
KotZ Posted August 25, 2021 Posted August 25, 2021 "While not illegal, it raises some concerns. What happens if this technology falls into the hands of bad actors?"
Waterbrick Down Posted August 25, 2021 Author Posted August 25, 2021 23 minutes ago, KotZ said: "While not illegal, it raises some concerns. What happens if this technology falls into the hands of bad actors?" "Then I'd hope there's a trusted security firm to keep that from happening."
samurai-turtle Posted August 26, 2021 Posted August 26, 2021 13 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "They could cancel the contract and pursue legal action against both White Knight and your organization for starters. The fact that we sent Agent Lars, a psychic sensitive Thudaal, to guard the warehouse containing a psychically active threat is an unfortunate coincidence. Their research as far as I'm aware of, though disturbing, is technically not illegal..." Well if they come after me, they come after me nothing I can do about it. 11 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "Then I'd hope there's a trusted security firm to keep that from happening." Maybe that is the sort of talk, that will keep them from getting to harsh with you guys. If everyone else is done here, I would like to get going. I feel like taking a nap, I still feel sore from the abuse in that "space" we endured. OoC: Not to sure if @Khorne wants to add or ask anything else. But I figured we are basically done here.
Waterbrick Down Posted August 26, 2021 Author Posted August 26, 2021 4 hours ago, samurai-turtle said: Maybe that is the sort of talk, that will keep them from getting to harsh with you guys. "True and it may be a card we have to play in negotiating with them. I am curious what your leader has to say about everything, but afterwards you are free to go and thank you again for your help with the matter."
Khorne Posted August 26, 2021 Posted August 26, 2021 Sorry for replying so late, guys! I was unexpectedly out of the house yesterday and didn't have time to catch up. Felix crossed his arms and listened attentively to what Varen had to say. After all, he was - or used to be - the lawyer: a man of words and someone used to provide plausible explanation. The Chimeran nodded in agreement with the general outlines Varen painted of the situation. On 8/25/2021 at 4:26 AM, Waterbrick Down said: "Yes, Lars has informed me about his suspicions regarding that theory, do you think it holds water? Any evidence they had carried it out?" "The whole business smells if you ask me. I doubt little else can come out of this, except nefarious things. While we didn't find any direct evidence that they've already successfully transplanted consciousness from one aetherdiver to another, the creature certainly tried to add our consciousness to its hive mind collective." Felix slightly winced as he recalled the feeling. "Not exactly a fun experience and I doubt it holds much medical relevance. It raises a lot of concerns and questions, if you ask me. The dark realm isn't something to mess with, feel me?" On 8/25/2021 at 7:06 AM, Waterbrick Down said: "By no means. Lupin Bio-Tech is our client, any property damage incurred will be expensed. The breach of potentially proprietary information however will be an issue more difficult to navigate. That was a data warehouse, its records are private and not meant to be accessed by non-Lupin employees, including us." "We did what we had to do to retrieve your man. All damage was merely material, which pales in comparison to the value of your agent's life. Property can be replaced. We only inspected what we needed to, to solve this case and whatever data we uncovered remains confidential," Felix stated, slightly agitated. He didn't particularly care for this materialistic and economical look on things. "We did what was promised: bring home Lars alive. In the end, that's all that matters. There's more to life than numbers on a corporate bank account." 21 hours ago, Waterbrick Down said: "They could cancel the contract and pursue legal action against both White Knight and your organization for starters. The fact that we sent Agent Lars, a psychic sensitive Thudaal, to guard the warehouse containing a psychically active threat is an unfortunate coincidence. Their research as far as I'm aware of, though disturbing, is technically not illegal..." "It's Lupin's responsibility to keep their research as shielded and safely away from people as possible, as not to harm anyone. That includes Thudaal." Felix sniffed and flared his nostrils. "They could've at least given a heads up to your organization about housing a possible psychic threat, so you could take that in account when assigning the patrol." The Chimeran continued, still rather agitated by the accusations. He waved away the legal threat. "If they have a problem with how we handled things, they can deal with it through me. Face to face, like man. I ain't afraid of some suits. They can keep their legal actions for themselves." He tried to calm himself down and smiled friendly at Oddsphere. "It was a pleasure working with you, though. I always love working with professionals. Do not hesitate to call for us again if need arises." "I believe we are finished here?"
Waterbrick Down Posted August 26, 2021 Author Posted August 26, 2021 2 hours ago, Khorne said: Felix crossed his arms and listened attentively to what Varen had to say. After all, he was - or used to be - the lawyer: a man of words and someone used to provide plausible explanation. The Chimeran nodded in agreement with the general outlines Varen painted of the situation. "The whole business smells if you ask me. I doubt little else can come out of this, except nefarious things. While we didn't find any direct evidence that they've already successfully transplanted consciousness from one aetherdiver to another, the creature certainly tried to add our consciousness to its hive mind collective." Felix slightly winced as he recalled the feeling. "Not exactly a fun experience and I doubt it holds much medical relevance. It raises a lot of concerns and questions, if you ask me. The dark realm isn't something to mess with, feel me?" "We did what we had to do to retrieve your man. All damage was merely material, which pales in comparison to the value of your agent's life. Property can be replaced. We only inspected what we needed to, to solve this case and whatever data we uncovered remains confidential," Felix stated, slightly agitated. He didn't particularly care for this materialistic and economical look on things. "We did what was promised: bring home Lars alive. In the end, that's all that matters. There's more to life than numbers on a corporate bank account." "It's Lupin's responsibility to keep their research as shielded and safely away from people as possible, as not to harm anyone. That includes Thudaal." Felix sniffed and flared his nostrils. "They could've at least given a heads up to your organization about housing a possible psychic threat, so you could take that in account when assigning the patrol." The Chimeran continued, still rather agitated by the accusations. He waved away the legal threat. "If they have a problem with how we handled things, they can deal with it through me. Face to face, like man. I ain't afraid of some suits. They can keep their legal actions for themselves." He tried to calm himself down and smiled friendly at Oddsphere. "It was a pleasure working with you, though. I always love working with professionals. Do not hesitate to call for us again if need arises." "I believe we are finished here?" "Thank you for your candid analysis. We will handle the situation with Lupin. I believe this business about their research may help keep things civil for the time being. A mutual understanding on their part considering what is already known. This will give us further time to either renegotiate or better vet their undertakings." The Quarm enters a few notes into a holopad and then returns to the heroes, "Now then, I've transferred the necessary credits to your accounts, you do have my thanks for assisting White Knight in this situation and I'll ensure to pass along word to your Guild concerning your performance. I'll let Agent Lars see you out. Farewell." The Thudaal escorts the trio back through the halls, they take a brief rest at the Clinic where Agent Molly joins them with food. After ensuring everyone encoured no lasting side effects from their dive, the pair of Agents saw the heroes off at the front doors of the office. "Well then, I guess this is it. Not a whole lot else I can do to express my gratitude for you all pulling me out of there. It was probably one of the most frightening experiences I've encountered ever since joining up with the company. I've also got to thank you for how you handled the debrief, I do appreciate your discretion." "Sounds like you lot really did not only us but a whole lot of others a good service. Not every day you come across folks looking out for more than just themselves. Here take these with you, my personal thanks for getting Lars out of there." 3x Adrenaline Decoction: (Consumable) Used as part of the Attack Action, grants a second attack 3x Bulking Stim: (Consumable) Used as part of the Attack Action, doubles Vitality till the end of next turn - 50 Credits "Got to agree with Mols, rare qualities you three possess... Now don't you worry about Lupin. I know Oddsphere can get a bit wrapped up in the contracts and business side of things, but that's management for you. He's just trying to keep things running smoothly and I'm sure he'll have us keeping a close eye on them in the future. We'll let you know if we run into any trouble with them again on patrols." "Patrols? I'm not letting you go diving for another week mister. Minimum. I was worried sick while you were in there for that long. They had to put a cot in the dive unit cause I wasn't leaving." "Yeesh, Mols. A little much? Fine, I'll give it a week, but just for you." The agents waved the heroes goodbye as the trio made their way back through Ebria Station returning to Heroica Hall their mission accomplished. The PartyPolaris Ursaring [with M.I.L.E.S.] (samurai-turtle) 15 cycle old female "Chimeran" Character Points: 3/13Vitality: 8/8 Velocity: 2Strength: 2 Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0 Proficiencies: Medicine 1, Melee Weapons 1, Nature 1, Short Range Weapons 1, Coding 1*Spells: none, Credits: 70Equipment: Stun Sword (Standard Elemental Melee Range Weapon)Inventory: Mecha Strike (standard, kinetic, melee weapon), Standard Issue Peace Keeper (Standard Kinetic Short Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, Bulking Stim Varen Nastayo (KotZ) 26, Male, HumanCharacter Points: 3/13Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 2Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 0Proficiencies: Culture 2, Deception 1, Insight 1, Persuasion 2, Long Range Weapon 1, Coding 1*Known Spells (if applicable): Credits: 115Equipment: Lawyer's Rifle (Standard Long Range Energy weapon), Translator CubeInventory: 1x Essence of Glibness, 1x Essence of Intellect, Ion Repeater (Standard Energy Long Range Weapon), Adrenaline Decoction, Bulking Stim Felix Mao (Khorne) 37 Cycles Old Male ChimeranCharacter Points: 4/13Vitality: 5/5Velocity: 3Strength: 1Skill: 2Smarts: 2Spirit: 1Proficiencies: Short Range Weapons 1, Insight 1, Coding 2*, Survival 1, Nature 1Known Spells: Enhanced VisionCredits: 60Equipment: 'Old Reliable' Plasma Handgun (Standard Short Range Energy Weapon), Hacking ChipInventory: Plasma Potion (1x), Cloaking Generator, Adrenaline Decoction, Bulking Stim --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue Elsewhere in another sphere of reality cloaked in darkness and shadow. "What do you mean you found the ਠੁੱਡਾਲ?" "It is as I relayed, my essence was ripped into the ਪਰੇ'ਦੀ'ਜਗ੍ਹਾ and there I was studied by ਹੋ'ਰ. As I dreamed my essence interacted with the ਠੁੱਡਾਲ. How he came to be there as well I do not know, nor for what purpose. His essence was bent to mine as is the rightful position of all ਠੁੱਡਾਲ. But then the ਹੋ'ਰ came and took him, they resisted The Collective, ignorant of the grace and mercy they rejected. But my essence did mingle with one of them and I discerned from whence they came. I can only assume it is where the ਠੁੱਡਾਲ have fled." "Then in due time that is where The Collective shall follow. For The Collective must grow." "Yes, The Collective must grow." MM Note: That's it folks! I'll have more to say later in the Mission Master Lounge and would always welcome feedback there as well. Feel free to add any farewells or last words in the thread here to the NPC's.
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