Alexander - Science

The young man nods.

"No one in particular. Well, someone in particular, but they don't seem to have showed up yet. Interested in a quick experiment to test some of our new AI?"

Mr. Panuchi's

"Not in terms of food, no. But you're clever, I'm sure you'll find something."

As he speaks, Jiko mentally squeezes Lex's hand, but something is making him uneasy. With the connection with Lex, he can be more present in the moment even though he's technically subconscious, and through Jiko's gaze, he can see that Ricardo's eyes have gone glassy. That can only mean one thing - someone has pinged him directly.

After a moment, Ricardo's eyes return to normal and he glances at Izzie. If she has a machine or screen on her that she can access discretely, it might say something like "Watch your drone" in odd lettering.

Alexander - Restricted Access

After a few moments, David finally speaks.

"So, sir. I assume you want to..."

"Talk about Tom, yes. You'll actually like this, I think. Seeing as you've got that soft spot for the kid."

"He's like a son to both of us, I should think."

"Right, right. I actually wanted to tell you that I'm calling off his warrant. He's no longer needed. Don't even need the Grid off him, anymore." At this, David is visibly awestruck, to the point that his jaw actually drops as he stammers with what he'd just been told. Brindle, meanwhile, just chuckles.

"You have questions, surely," he says, but stops when the child next to him taps his shoulder, staring up at the spot the drone is. His eyes are glowing neon green at this point.

The Troperia

Caska wakes up. She has no idea what the fuck happened. Where is everyone?

"David?" she shouts.

Rero.

Welcome back. Where would you say Caska is exactly?

I... have no idea what the ins and outs of the Troperia are, so I'm gonna need some help on that.

edited 14th Aug '16 4:22:33 AM by NagisaStick

Rero.

Here's the basic layout. [1]

We've also just had a psionic lab added within the last page.

edited 14th Aug '16 4:30:28 AM by AqueousBunnies

Thanks.

If I had to say, probably in the computer room.

Rero.

Sure. Since no one's around to interact with Caska right now, feel free to post again and have her go somewhere else.

Troperia Bridge:

Torvahk continued experimenting with the controls. Since nobody else seemed to be playing, he figured it would be a good time to practice button combinations. After about 10 minutes of experimenting, Torvahk would understand that he was able to perform different attacks based off of how he moved his character. Speaking of his character, Torvahk had just realized that his anthropomorphic bird had a long set of uncovered tail feathers, which in Mehketaran culture would have been about the equivalent of wearing a pair of pants that didn't cover one's backside in most human cultures. He kept this observation to himself...yet as hard as he tried to ignore it, he couldn't help but subconsciously glance at his character's tailfeathers every now and again.

After about 5 more minutes, Torvahk would figure out everything except smash attacks, and mainly spent this time running around the map which seemed to consist of a floating city designed in an impractical and blatantly artificial fashion, with most of the buildings made entirely out of cardboard and the layout built to entertain a kid. Periodically a strange demon-like creature would appear, which Torvahk repeatedly tried to attack, only to fail and get owned repeatedly.

edited 14th Aug '16 6:55:07 AM by ParadoxialStratagem

Living The Fever Dream

The Troperia

Computer Room

Caska moves out of the Computer Room, and into...

The Bridge

Caska walks in and oh hey a new person.

"Who are you and where the fuck am I am I still in the Troperia please tell me."

edited 14th Aug '16 7:34:47 AM by NagisaStick

Rero.

Nexus

Mitch enters the psionic lab, taking his time to look at the surroundings. He'd already gotten a rough outline using his seismic sense while he was walking towards the room, but it was another thing to see it in person. "Damn, this is quite something." He comments. While he isn't saying it directly to Blake, there's no one else in the room besides the two of them.

He walks over to the containment sphere, putting his hands up to get a better feel of the energy radiating off it.

Alexander - Science

"This doesn't involve any surgeries, does it? Also, who were you looking for exactly?" Dominic asks the man.

Alexander - Mr. Panuchi's <-> Restricted Access

Ricardo inadvertently activates Izzie's earpiece, writing on the holographic screen right in front of her eyes in letters too tiny to be read by anyone else. She faces him directly before speaking. "Thanks for the heads up, but I think it's too late for discretion anyways."

With that, she taps her earpiece, displaying a projection and showing everyone on the table what the drone is seeing and hearing. Lex and Kijo can say what they want through the drone too, if they so choose.

She looks at Val for a moment, as if asking for approval, and he nods.

---

Instead of looking for an escape route or trying to remain hidden, the drone flies to the middle of the room before uncloaking itself.

"Oh, nice to meet you." The drone starts with a slightly mechanized version of Izzie's voice, its camera focused on Brindle. "I'm just checking up on the guy who made multiple attempts to abduct a crew member of the ship I'm in and leads a research group that does all sorts of ethically dubious experiments." It says all this in a deliberately exaggerated cheerful tone, just to add to the passive-aggressiveness.

"I'm sure the other two Echireans in our ship, one of whom's sitting right beside me, would love to hear about how you forcibly grafted the remains of one of their kind into said person. And I won't even mention his girlfriend, who is, I should say, rather protective of him. But please, do continue. I certainly hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."

---

Meanwhile, back in the restaurant, Izzie is visibly mouthing the words the drone is saying, though she's not making any of the sounds herself.

"We are in so much trouble." Val says, though it's ambiguous whether he's worried or excited from his still-placid expression.

Bridge

"You felt actualy pain? Not like you bit your tongue while sleeping or something?"

Aur's character comes up behind Torvahk's and attempts to hit him with his sword.

Ana's Room

Ana jumps a little as the lights go off, then back on. She recognizes Blake's voice as he mentions the psionics lab.

"Oh.. Huh, maybe i should check that place out. I wonder what he did with my ink..." She stands up and heads out of her room, intending to visit.

edited 14th Aug '16 11:54:50 AM by Daydre

off the shits

The Troperia

Nexus

"It better be." Blake offhandedly comments as he finishes typing something into the console, looking towards Mitch as he approaches and starts feeling the energy.

The containment sphere was highly impressive, producing carefully calculated bursts of gravitron, electromagnetic and psionic waves to create a force field capable of withstanding and storing an incredible amount of energy or a incredibly strong force without breaking down. Currently the sphere just seemed to be echoing back and fourth some low-level psionic waves bouncing back and fourth in a rather interesting fashion. Very similar to how a individual might to telepathy it the machine seems to be replicating such energy waves and bouncing them around as a seemingly test just essentially sending the message "Hello world" out to detectors elsewhere in the room over a seemingly psionic-induced FTL channel. It isn't easy to read scrambled somewhat by the immense around of surrounding energy that shields the packets. If the machine was actually trying to encrypt or scramble the message it would be near impossible for a organic mind to even attempt to decode it, alone atleast.

"This room contains eight years worth of stolen blueprints and datacores from PRISM that I've been collecting. Though amusingly half the tech in here is tech they stole themselves, Hestian, Varlec, a few others as well." He muses looking at the sphere as it runs its startup tests.

"Glad its finally finished though, just hope the risk of building all of this won't be a waste..." He looks over at Mitch. "Then with this crew I doubt the psionic tools, the testing zones or even the cybernetic station will get wasted." He jokingly comments.

---

Elsewhere in the Galaxy

Second moon of Centron-4, a pirate camp.

Men were cheering and chugging various ales around a central table. The distant sound of guns being fired at targets could be heard while others while currently scrapping a engine from a small fighter that was mysteriously found with a dead pilot nearby.

It was a usual day in a pretty usual pirate base in all honesty till the door opens unexpectedly. The clear captain at the central table quickly calls out and exclaims something. "What is the meaning of this, Galdwin I told you to not le-..." his jaw drops.

A figure dressed in near midnight black stood at the door, figure somewhat lean but features indeterminable hooded with a golden oni-styled mask over the face. Over their shoulder one of the pirates stood beaten up with blood on his face as they are chucked to the side.

The pirate captains eyes turn wide as they notice something. A crest on the cloak the figure wore. He would recognise it anywhere... "w-w-what are you doing here? W-we didn't go against you... Oh lord don't kill us." The captain becomes a gibbering mess, one of the men besides him who clearly does not recognise the current situation scowls.

"We can't just let some punk barge in here, we need to teach them whose boss!" They call out, grabbing their pistol from the table and firing before the others have a chance to object.

The bullets fly at the gold-masked individual at the door flying towards them and stopping moments hitting them, hovering in midair each seemingly causing a orange holographic window to appear behind the individual. The pirate firing more, and more, and more at them till a small swarm of them just float infront. Orange circuits seem to draw themselves over each of the bullets for a moment before a final holographic screen appears now just infront of them.
BAD CHOICE

As suddenly all the bullets seem to spin around and with pinpoint accuracy and all the energy they were fired with the bullets fly back and strike the rookie pirate with pinpoint accuracy to vital organs. Shots directly to the eyes, into the mouth, to hit the jugular, into the heart, and lungs all dodging ribs and passing out the other side. The man freezing and shivering before slumping over in a heap. The holograms around the figure closing and disappearing.

The masked individual walks towards the remaining group, mostly cowering while the captain was in shock. Stopping moments before them all at the edge of the table, pointing out with a black gloved hand as another holographic window appears, seemingly a map of a far away space sector, the Gemini sectors a large circular pinpoint seemingly aiming at a area of uncharted nebula...

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."

Troperia Bridge:

"Choking, electrocution, pain....this all I felt in dream mine...yet die I could not." Torvahk replied. His character was struck from behind by Aur's character, prompting Torvahk to turn his character around and retaliate by using the down B move that caused the anthro bird to somehow kick a hovering shield at the assailant and return to its sender. Torvahk would also follow through with shooting his character's pistol, only to be disappointed by how slow and weak it was.

Living The Fever Dream

The Troperia

Bridge

The two individuals seem to be too focused on what they're doing to actually notice her. It seems to be... a video game?

Perhaps a reminder is in order, Caska thinks.

"Ahem."

Rero.

Bridge

The Talgen have a name for such nightmares. "Cha'kohkev Wussrun'wa", or cursed dreams. They're usually extremely rare, but most often the result of a psionic attack by a powerful telepath.

-Kord has changed to a different character, this time playing a man in a Gi with a red bandana. She seems to be a bit less experienced with this one, but she still pulls off some simple combos. She attempts one on Aur's character.-

-One may notice West has left to the Hangar-

edited 15th Aug '16 7:10:23 AM by MajorProblem

THE FITNESSGRAM PACER TEST IS A MULTISTAGE AEROBIC CAPACITY TEST THAT PROGRESSIVELY GETS MORE DIFFICULT AS IT CONTINUES

Troperia

Bridge

Tor gives Mitch an odd look at his comment and watches as he leaves. "...Ok, then?" he says before just kind of shrugging. As Kyerine offers his services to Greg, he chuckles a bit before smiling rather proudly.

"Heh. Well, if you're offering, sure. I appreciate the offer, Kyerine, thank you." Greg answers with a nod. He sees Caska enter the Bridge and looks over. "Huh? Oh, wow, where've you been. But, anyway this is the bridge.

---

Alexander

Docks

The cat is eventually pulled off, and ends up in Peter's hands. Amos hunches over and catches his breath, glad to be free of the furry menace. As Peter calls the name though... "...W-Wait? Rakiri...???" he repeats, looking over at the cat.

The cat just kinda shrugs in Peter's hands before grinning. "You know any other blue aliens?" he answers. "Oh, wait, let me say it in feline: Meow~." he says and winks.

Old habits die hard, especially when no one else lets them die either.

The Troperia

Bridge

"I... have no idea. I only remember some things, even then faintly. I only remember going on a mission then...? Everything is so frustratingly vague to remember." Caska crosses her arms in annoyance. "Anyway, what did I miss?"

Rero.

The Docks

Aasha is in a bit of a huff after helping get Rakiri off of Amos' face.

"Well...that's the first time that's happened immediately after I got permission to hitchhike..."

She neatens her hair, and straighens her cloak.

"With that over...allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Aasha Eqete. Thanks so much for letting me hitch a ride. I promise I'll behave myself and try to stay out of your way."

A beaming smile crosses her face as she gives a small bow towards them.

Bridge

Aur's character is flung back a ways by the reflector, but quickly gets back to his feet. The character shields against the blasts, and as Kord's character gets close he counters.

".. That sounded like it sucked."

Yeah, no shit.

...

Nexus

Ana enters the psionic lab.

"Hello.."

edited 15th Aug '16 2:26:04 PM by Daydre

off the shits

[[Posted too soon, will be back.]]

edited 15th Aug '16 8:36:01 PM by MrJikoui

Troperia Bridge:

"Now over, it is at least." Torvahk simply replied, both unsure of what to say and wanting the conversation to end. After the strange demon creature appeared on the map again, Torvahk immediately tried shooting at it, as well as kicking his character's reflector, only to realize nothing was happening. He had already tried attacking the button on its back, only to be instantly countered and pwned three times at this point. Now, he'd try throwing a smart bomb to no avail. "Creature this, immortal it is?!" He questioned out of frustrated perplexity.

Living The Fever Dream

Dock

"Hmm...so long as you're not an intergalactically hunted serial killer or something like that, sure. We'd love to have y- ai ya!" he shouts, "By all the gods of old, Rakiri, will you not scare me like that? I could have shishkebobbed you...and, yes. Merrick is blue."

Regaining his composure, he asks, "Can I also get a look at your paintings?"

---

Mr. Panuchi's

"Sure! I'd love that, thanks." she tells Izzie with a smile, "I can make some Kirina food to repay you guys."

"Hmm..is it..purple and snarky. 'Bout 7 terran feet tall?" she asks Kijo.

She also squeezes Jiko's hand. Everything will be f- she starts, before Izzie's drone antics start, at which point, she stiffens, "Yes. I'd strongly recommend you don't test my protectiveness...I'm more psychic squirrel-bitch than you can handle, trust me..."

---

Bridge

...I suddenly feel it's very, very important to go there.... and why am I doing so badly at this game??? Is there a squirrel, psychic or otherwise, gnawing on my circuitry...?" they shout, as their new character, a pink blob who likes eating people, is pummeled off the edge.

Yes, Blake, I would very much like not to crash in any sense if it can be avoided..."

He-llo, deary. they greet Caska. Yes, you are still aboard...me.

Nexus

Merrick wanders after Mitch and Greg, then stops short, "...Woah..Nice work."

"I'm as free as the dust in the solar wind."

Alexander - Science

"We hired on someone with a genetic makeup that is...less than human, and who did not live or grow up on a purely human settlement, but they have yet to show. No surgeries, promise. We just need someone to test out some of the functions of our new AI system."

Alexander - Restricted Access

As the drone goes on, the look on Brindle's face goes from disbelieving to dead serious. David, meanwhile, has his eyes wide and seems to be signalling frantically for them to stop. When all is said and done, Brindle steeples his hands in front of him. The child looks on, eyes burning.

"I have personally not made any attempts to abduct any person from the Troperia, though I have seen to it that the property that was indeed stolen from the station was tracked down, to be returned to us. That it happens to be attached to someone is inconsequential. As for your question of ethics - no experimentation is done on any individual without their direct consent, given to us in written form and documents via holographic recording. I can even show you the evidence, if you like." He leans forward at this, and David just puts his hand on the bridge of his nose.

"As for your Echirean friends, I think they will be more pleased to know that we've actually perfected our method, and their kin now have a new lease on life. As they should know, the Leeching puts quite the damper on their already thin numbers. Again, I can show you proof."

His tone changes here, as he stands slowly, old eyes locked on the drone, and crosses his arm.

"Though I hardly think it appropriate that you should call G.R.A.H.A.M. out on any misconduct, given what we've gathered of the Troperia and it's crew. Originally a slaver ship, if I'm correct. Caused plenty of problems for perhaps one of the most dangerous military operations in space, after claiming the ship as your own without going through the proper channels. Needless to say, you all have done much worse than I. My work has saved lives, while yours has taken them." He seems bristled at this point, but calms himself as he sits back down.

"Plus, you are piloting a recording instrument within clearly marked restricted areas, which is just rude all over, but I'm willing to let that slide for now. You have five seconds to get that scrap back to its place of origin, and I expect Tom, if he's with you, to be ready for examination and release. I'm being lenient despite your lack of respect for this last year. You would be wise to end your pushing and snooping there."

edited 15th Aug '16 11:33:33 PM by MrJikoui

Alexander - Restricted Access

The drone cuts the transmission and flies out of the room.

Alexander - Mr. Panuchi's

"...Asshole." Izzie says after the exchange, before looking at Val, who's smiling just slightly. "...You knew doing that would make me look bad."

"Yes. I also knew you had the foresight to not include two-way video communications, which means I can just sweep it under the rug using 'insubordination' and 'reckless teenage girl who doesn't know when to shut her mouth'." Val says, using air quotes for emphasis. Izzie scoffs when he says the last part, though she doesn't seem to actually be annoyed.

Val takes a sip of his drink before continuing. "More importantly, now we know what this Brindle looks like, and we have a pretty good psych profile thanks to you. And we've also confirmed that he'll be released, which is good." He faces Kijo when saying that. "There's also the matter of that child who detected you in the first place - he's likely more than he seems."

"Oh, really? Thanks!" Izzie says to Lex.

Alexander - Science

"Hmph, alright." Dominic follows the man's lead.

Alexander - Docks

Peter just blinks for a moment. "...Yeah, what Chris said." He puts Cat!Rakiri down. "Wait... where are your clothes?"

"I'm Peter. This is Chris." He says to Aasha, introducing himself.

Nexus

"Wait, you used our tech? Where did you get that? ...Eh, as long as you don't give it to anyone else, it's not a huge problem." Mitch looks over to Merrick and Ana. "Hey guys." He greets them, walking over to a testing zone.

"Say, can this place handle lava and explosions?" He asks just in case, though he doesn't sound too hopeful. He also tries to get a read on the structural integrity of the area, as well as other protection systems in place.

Alexander Station

Docks

Russell looks super confused. "Wait a actual crew member of the ship is a talking cat..?" He questions trying to figure out whats going on, not knowing about Rakiri being a shapeshifter. Looking back and fourth a little bit between the cat and the crew.

The preteen boy then turning towards Aasha and smiling a little, trying to look at her as accurately as he can. His cloudy eyes equally cheerful as he introduces himself as well. "..and I'm Russell"

---

The Troperia

Nexus Lab

Blake shrugs to Mitch. "I got no clue where my boss got this stuff, and I was just following the blueprints I stole from her..." He responds thinking for a few moments. "No need to worry about sharing it, i'm working with you guys now."

Looking over to the door. "Ana, Merrick, welcome to my new Lab. Sorry if there are any cables lying about, be careful not to trip." He comments walking towards the testing zone where Mitch went, opening a console nearby. "It can be easily setup to do so, give me a moment." As he begins to input something.

For Mitch checking, this place has been built to be incredibly sturdy and robust able to withstand a lot of internal kinetic impact and heating. Many barrier systems, kinetic dampeners, psionic counterbalances and various other pieces of equipment built specially in testing areas to seemingly maintain and prevent the use of powers from severely damaging the core structure of this lab merely damaging the external layer which can be easily repaired by repair drones seemingly in standby mode in small bays... This place had to cost a fortune with this much tech stored and ready.
Its not clear what the maximum impact this place could take is, but it would take a lot of energy to leave any serious damage.

The Bridge

"Yes sir!" Kyerine expresses to the Captain before looking over to Mirelle curiously. "Oh really..? Well Captain are you okay with that? Me helping with her lab work?" He asks teleporting from Tor's shoulders to besides the Mireille and Lohkel.

Of whom just curiously turns and looks at Kyerine as he appears out of his blue warp, moving to the side leaning a little clearly observing him from multiple angles after he appears.

The Brig

Matthew coughs a little before a loud groan is heard from him. "Owwww, what is up with my head..?" He questions out loud, a hand moved from his side up to his head as he still is laying down.
"Huh what are these...?" He then immediately questions feeling something wack against his arm, holding it up over his head looking at the devices Izzie made to suppress his psionics attached to his wrist and as he would find out if he sits up, his ankles.

Still in a bit of a confused daze but his tone ant temperament was oddly calm and softer than usual. Not sharp and as to the point as he usually was.

edited 16th Aug '16 8:29:14 AM by darkdestinysoul

"After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began."