"I..." You list in your seat, eyes closing for a tantalizing second before you jerk back up. "I-I need sleep." You shake your head furiously. "Can't think."

"I would not recommend retiring at this time." Rontah replied. "We may need to maneuver."

"Can I just sleep in my seat?" You ask, fighting back another yawn.

"Of course, captain."

"That's good..." You say, relieved that you could finally go to-

Sleep.

Your eyes bug out as you feel a wave of exhaustion pass over you. All at once, you thoughts come to a sluggish halt, as you pitch forward in your chair slightly, then flex back so you're laying in it more properly. Whatever objections you had to the comfort of the chair were lost as within seconds you've passed out.

---

0730 HOURS
20TH OF 5TH, 1173
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION

You knew this whole thing was a bad idea. Why the hell couldn't you have had children like a regular person, Joran? Maybe then you wouldn't have gone full hero of justice the second some kid gave you a pleading look.

Yeah, right.

"You don't have anything you'd like to say, Captain Charan?" The man pacing on the other side of the table paused momentarily. He was a young officer, and unsure of how to conduct himself around a superior officer who was on trial. Standard bravado, then.

"Not until my legal counsel arrives." You answer evenly.

"Surely you understand that doesn't make your case any better." He said with an exasperated sigh. It was a false one, and poorly done at that.

"False condescension will get you nowhere, lieutenant." Your fingers twitch slightly. Of course you knew how this looked, it was a risk to stick your neck out like this in the first place. Now you were paying the price for a bad gamble.

"Any information you may be able to give on where she may have been taken will look good on your case..."

That one nearly gets you to respond. Good thing you have a cybernetic face. "Not without counsel present."

He sighs and pushes away from the table. Part of you debates about whether they assigned him specifically because he was young and incompetent, in the hopes that would get you to let your guard down. Either way, this trial was going to be a farce. That was rather the point, you suppose. Something to throw into the press as chaff later, or maybe a play to allow an admiral to secure a big favor from Silva later. Unless Silva had filed this?

Hmm. No. He wasn't the type. Silva had always been direct to a fault, which made him both horrific at any role that involved interaction with civilians, but also made him exempt from most military political bullshit. Of course, there may be no foul play involved at all- rather, it might have been an overreaction of the legal office in an attempt to cover their asses. If so, it was a bad move. These kind of things left paper trails, and it would have simply been far easier to state that she'd been lost in the chaos.

>>4099481
Plus, there was the fact that- well you didn't kidnap Elson or whatever sex crime they thought you could commit while in a different section of the base. If you did, you wouldn't have done it in so brazen a manner- well, there you go considering how you'd perform different crimes again. You'd give this trial maybe one day in actual court before the judge threw it out on baseless grounds. Probably get it stricken from your records, as well.

It wasn't really the trial. That was almost a distraction. What you actually cared about was the fact that you were here, stuck in this stupid room while everyone else was working on the incident. And there was barely anything you could do with the rest of command so distracted.

You picked up the cup of shitty coffee in front of you and took a deep swig. Military politics. Gotta love it.

---

Bridge, Rontah
20th of 5th, 1173. 9:20AM.

Wake.

Your eyes snap open as consciousness suddenly returns to you in a wave. The ceiling of the Rontah was dim, barely lit by the bridge lights, and with the water beyond the bridge windows being pitch black in color, there wasn't much to see. Groaning slightly, you lean forward before being caught by the straps of your seat.

Despite your uncomfortable accommodation, you actually felt great- incredibly well-rested, to an even greater degree than you'd felt while still wearing the rosary you'd found. There was a persistent ache to your body, but to a far lesser degree than your previous day of ridiculous exertion would have lent itself to. The sudden clarity of going from sound asleep to perfectly awake was somewhat off-putting, however- although as soon as that thought came your felt your senses dull slightly as you became pleasantly drowsy.

Shaking your head, you fumble with the straps of your seat before the ship's wheel slides over and undoes them itself. "Thanks." You mumble as you stand up carefully. "I take it we lost them or whatever?"

"To my knowledge, yes. The Tagaran military is still searching, but we are outside their current sweep zone."

"Did you get in touch with anyone?"

"We chanced surfacing to make contact with other drones. I'm told you may recognize this drone?"

"Miss Elson?" A synthesized voice came from behind you.

Turning, you blink in surprise as a familiar orange drone drifts into the bridge. "Easy?" You break out into a smile, immediately relaxing slightly at the adjutant's presence.

Easy floated over to you, looking you up and down with what you imagine was a critical eye. "It appears that you have become quite dirty in my absence."

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>>4099482
You look down at your uniform, which by this point was completely soiled with a combination of dust, sweat, mystery Valkan medical fluid and so much ash that your formerly black blazer and skirt had taken on a splotchy gray color. There was no mirror around, but from the thick bundles of ashy hair you feel when you reach up, your hair wasn't in much better shape, either. "Um..." You flush. "Yeah, my trip got a lot more... hands-on than I thought it would."

"So far it seems you are indeed someone for over-achievement." Easy drawled. "If only this ship had a shower..."

"I'd settle for anything at this point-" You were distracted by a deep rumble from your stomach, followed by a abrupt tightness. "...and also some food."

All the drones present shared a look with each other. "About that." Easy began.

"We are currently undetected by Tagrans, but our supply will not last us indefinitely."

"Are we running out of power?" You ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Power, fuel and life support are all functioning normally." The Rontah supplied. "The limiting factor is you."

"Me?" You ask, surprised.

"We have no food." Xol explained. "Water, yes. But with your machine heart growing in..."

"The caloric demand of your body is about to skyrocket." Easy glanced at you. "Somehow, we'll have to find you something to eat. And none of us are built to hunt. Plus, whatever else is on your agenda."

"Right..." You stop and think. "...about that- what happened?"

"A city emergency has been declared in Miir." Easy continued. "All traffic in and out is being monitored, and flights have been canceled until further notice. The Tanoh's wreck is on lockdown, and the military appears to be attempting to suppress leaks on the situation inside the SIZ."

"Uhuh. And how well did that go?" You drawl.

"It failed."

"Mmkay." You sigh. "...dare I ask if Dad's okay?"

"He's fine." Easy said a bit too quickly.

You glance at it. "...fine? Did you tell him I was okay?"

"Yes." Easy paused. "He required some calming down."

"I'm... not going to ask." You shake your head, then rub your temple. "Okay, so... okay, wow. That's a lot to take in. Um..."

>Not starving sounds good, but... if Miir is under lockdown, maybe we shouldn't go there directly...
>>[Sub-Option] ...what if I went to visit Jess again?
>>[Sub-Option] We could get off in a coastal town and just drive into Miir.
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.
>Would it be too obvious if we went somewhere else to hide out?
>[Write-In]

>>4099486
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.

We should take a limited number of things with us, LL and enough machine seeds for our friends. the rest of the stuff should be able to be left on the Rontah for now.

>>4099486
>Not starving sounds good, but... if Miir is under lockdown, maybe we shouldn't go there directly...
>>[Sub-Option] ...what if I went to visit Jess again?

>>4099486
>Not starving sounds good, but... if Miir is under lockdown, maybe we shouldn't go there directly...
>[Sub-Option] ...what if I went to visit Jess again?
Yeah. Miir being under lockdown, probably not the best to go home right now. Suddenly showing up would raise a lot more questions.

We do have Jess's number though! Should make for quite a phone call. Hey, I did this thing, maybe it was a little dumb and impulsive, can we talk... also I have no food... kind of recovering from brain surgery too... did I mention I'm really hungry...

>>4099486
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.

>>4099486
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.

>>4099486
>Would it be too obvious if we went somewhere else to hide out?
There are other cities than Miir on Tagara
But otherwise
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.
We have food at our house, and we can cloak back out of the city later

>>4099486
>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.
Did the military really think that Joran kidnapped and raped us? Lol

>>4100518
Joran himself notes that he seriously doubts anyone thinks that. It's more the military is trying to cover it's ass legally or create a potential diversion in the news, by his reckoning.

>We have crazy stealth technology. We should just sneak back into Miir. If it's just me, nobody is going to notice, especially if I cloak.
Writing.

"Remind me why I have to get wet?" You mumble, holding you bag up.

Easy takes it, stuffing the dusty thing mostly inside it's storage cavity. "Because we can't surface or they'll see us. The Rontah will get as close as it can before letting us out."

"Yeah, but I'll get wet."

"A bath is hardly the worst thing that could happen to your appearance at this point." Easy said flatly. "We will wash as soon as we retur-"

It was cut off by the sudden hiss of air in the airlock. Your ears immediately popped, and you felt your anxiety spike at the ominous sound of water rushing in the hull. Immediately, your implants suddenly kicked in.

Activating high-pressure environment mode.

An odd clammy sensation takes over your guts and chest. Something shifted inside, and you blinked as you felt your heart... whirr, almost. The muscle contracts in an odd way, and you shudder as the beat slows down, the normal steady thump of your heart suddenly pulsing from side to side in your chest. You start instinctively breathing faster in short, rapid breaths.

It's so distracting that you almost miss the water starting to rush up over your shoes. Blinking, you glance down as it rushes above your knees, creating a small cloud of ashen water around you. Uneasily, you grip onto Easy as the water comes above your hips... your chest, and finally...

A dull thunk echoes throughout the hull as the door opens, and the ship rotates beneath you. Shaking your head and blinking stinging eyes that were already starting to develop an odd film on them, you tighten your grip on easy as the floor drops away beneath you. The Rontah suddenly pitched down into the depths, throwing you out towards the surface. Water floods around your head, whipping your hair and pulling ash off your body in a grey cloud that drifts away.

Unconsciously, you bend your legs back and straighten out in the water. Blinking furiously, you look around at the dark water around you, then at Easy.

It's camera spins around to look at you, while LL1100 sped towards the surface past you. "Is everything okay, miss?"

You speak, but the command never seems to reach your mouth, which stays firmly shut. Instead, something in your skull reacts to your will, releasing a wave into the water around you that you somehow know Easy can understand. "Just surprised. Shouldn't I be sick this deep?"

"I wouldn't know." Easy began ascending towards the surface, tugging you upwards with it.

"Oh." You thought a moment. "...hey, LL. Would a normal human be sick this deep?"

"Normally, no. However, as we ascend you will generally fail to develop decompression sickness and other long-term health effects. Additionally, most humans would be developing hypothermia in water this cold."

"And I won't?"

"Not yet."

>>4101140
You shudder as the water starts to brighten more above you. Your guts churn oddly again as you start to reach the surface, reverting to their old balance and configuration. Easy tilts, leading you on a sideways trajectory, then eventually having you let go and claw your way to the surface yourself. You break the water gasping for air, treading water under... you think it was a dock?

Easy and LL1100 surface next to you, disappearing into thin air as their optical camouflage engages. For the first time, though, you can see their data tags instead of the signatures you had become accustomed to.

There were rocks at the far end of the structure, and you carefully paddle over before crawling up onto the shore. You wring out your skirt with a grimace. "Is..." You cough a little. "Is ST nearby?"

"Yes, he is-" Easy began.

LL1100 interrupted it. "Why don't you ask it yourself?"

"Huh?" You tilt your head.

"Your bio-antenna appears to have grown in. Why not start learning how to use it?" LL1100 paused. "Like this."

"Okay..." You pause. "Like... like this?"

"Think about it less. The implants are directing the communications for you."

"Right, but... how do I know who's getting it?" You ask, accidentally alternating between speaking with your mouth and implants.

"Don't think about it." The medical drone repeated. "Just speak to your drone."

"Um... ST?" You ask, feeling like an idiot. "Are you there?"

"Yes, miss." The familiar voice of your warskin emanated from inside your head.

You blink a few times. Instinctively, you twist your head and look over your shoulder, somehow knowing that the voice had come from that direction- despite, well, it being inside your head. "Are you nearby?"

"I am on the corner of 26th and Moor."

Taking a moment to cloak yourself, you peek out from under the dock, instinctively ducking back under the dock when your see the soldiers beyond. On a second look, it was a sparse gathering- maybe a single squad in fairly basic exos milling about, keeping an eye on the docks. Kind of odd for them to be here, but Miir was supposedly on lockdown, so it made sense that the docks would be guarded.

Carefully, you creep out, waiting a few seconds for one of them to shout out at you. When that doesn't happen, you start making your way across the rocks, heading for the small set of service stairs that wound down to the beach. Easy and LL1100 slowly slide past you, after a few seconds to make sure none of the soldiers had thermals.

>>4101144
It's uncanny to walk past people who have no idea that you're there. As you're climbing up the stairs, one of them looks over at you, with an odd look on her face. You freeze in place, watching as she scans the stairs intently for a few seconds, looking for the odd hammering sound she had just heard. Undoubtedly, the sound of your shoes hitting the old wood hard. She shrugs after a few moments, then turns away. Letting out a breath, you begin climbing again, carefully making sure to be quiet.

Climbing back up to the street level above, you spot a familiar-looking green station wagon parked on the curb, perfectly ordinary except for the data tag attached to it. You make to wave at it before realizing you're cloaked, so you duck into a nearby alley to reappear before stepping out once again. Immediately, the navigator side door pops open, and you hurry over and slip in.

"Welcome back, Tiiris." ST greets you.

"It's good to finally be back." You agree with a smile. "Miss me?"

"Your absence has been felt."

"Rrrright." You drawl, glancing to the right as the windows roll down. Easy and LL1100 slip into the car, and you realize OH is in the back. "Hey, OH."

"Miss." It's data tag flashed. "You look nice today."

You honestly weren't sure how to respond to that. "...thaaanks?"

"OH is commenting on your implants, miss." Easy said.

"...how can you tell?"

"We can."

"...right." You turn back around in your seat. "I could really do with home right now."

Without another word, ST pulls away, shifting onto the roads of Miir. It seemed like weeks since you'd seen the familiar sights of the city, and as you pass through the midday traffic, a part of you that you didn't realize was there relaxed. It was good to be back in familiar territory. As you passed by, you noticed that quite a few streets had military vehicles parked along them. Mostly jeeps and large, armored vehicles.

"Seems like kind of an overreaction..." You murmur. "Miir's miles from the Tanoh."

"Show of force." ST said bluntly. "That or incompetence. They are not deployed in a manner that would be effective for protecting the city."

"Knowing what I know of the military now, the answer is both of those things." You say, leaning back with a sigh.

Easy drops your bag onto the center console as you pull onto your home street. You shoulder your bag and - once ST has pulled over - step out onto the sidewalk. Despite having just slept, you suddenly start to feel incredibly tired as you haul yourself up the steps to your apartment block. Tired and extremely hungry. You just wanted to eat a whole stack of waffles before collapsing into bed.

The key slides into the lock and you twist.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Elson, I..."

Rubbing your eye, you look up in dull surprise at the two police officers standing in your living room. Your father was on the couch, looking ashen faced... but now confused at his daughter standing in the door, soaked with water and a trace of ash.

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>>4101148
>"Uh... hi?"
>"I can explain, um..." (Write-In)
>Act innocent.
>>[Sub-Option] Claim that you left the base early.
>>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.
>"...am I in trouble?"
>[Write-In]

>>4101149
>"Uh... hi?"
There is absolutely nothing abnormal going on right now, if anything claim we don't remember anything about the day in question at all.

>>4101149
>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.

>>4101149
>"Uh... hi?"
If anyone asks, we dived into a pond to escape the explosions and in the chaos nobody noticed us leaving.

If they try and nick us, then
>Shut the door. Vanish.

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>>4101149
>"Uh... hi?"
>Act innocent.
>>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.
>"...am I in trouble?"
Basically, uh... all of them, in that order, please.

>>4101269
This

>>4101149
Say that you got lost in all the chaos.
Claim that you left the base early.

>>4101149
>Act innocent.
>>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.

>>4101149
>Act innocent.
>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.
When in doubt, blame headaches and disorientation.
They didn't really want any linguists in their science program anyway.

>>4101149
>Act innocent.
>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.

>Act innocent.
>>[Sub-Option] Say that you got lost in all the chaos.
Writing.

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"Um... dad, who are these peo-" You never get a chance to finish, as not more than a second later, you're wrapped up in a hug. "Dad..."

He doesn't say anything except hug you tight, your vision obscured by the bulk of his shoulder. When he finally releases you and moves aside, you can see the two officers standing awkwardly beyond. The first one was a woman in uniform, her dark hair pulled back in a severe bun. Standing next to her was a man in a ill-fitting navy blue suit that hung on his lanky frame.

Blinking in surprise from behind glasses, he glances at the woman, before glancing back to you and eventually speaking. "Excuse me, but are you..." His attention was gotten by the woman next to him, who held up her phone brief. He glanced at it, then back to you. "You're Tiiris Elson?"

"Yeah?" You raise an eyebrow in what you hope was a convincingly confused manner. "I'm also very hungry."

"I'm sorry, it's that..." He blinked a few more times in confusion, before glancing at your father. "I... how did you return to the city? Are you hurt?"

"A bit bruised?"

That might have been a mistake. Immediately, the two of them stiffen, and you wonder what was wrong with what you said. "...Mr. Elson." The female cop spoke up. "I know you're anxious to be reunited with your daughter, but can we ask some questions of Tiiris? I understand if you don't, but it would go a long way to finding out who's responsible for all this."

"Responsible for what?" You ask- this time with genuine confusion.

"Of course." Your father says, after a moment's deliberation. "Uh... here, in the kitchen..."

You're somewhat confused when you're sat down, the man in the suit sitting across from you. Dad sets a plate of fruit slices in front of you, and you perk up immediately.

"I'm Detective Norr Gates, and this is Officer Yale. Tiiris..." He pauses and thinks for a few moments. "...can you tell us where you were last night?"

"...Y'avel?" You answer plainly, picking up another slice and making it disappear. You manage to get another three into your mouth before he gets his wits together for another question.

"Right, and when did you leave the facility?"

"Uh, you know..." You don't know how to express it any other way, so you just make vague finger gun gestures. "When they started shooting at it, I ran."

Gates checked his notepad carefully, before scribbling in a note. "Right, so that was at ten last night- can you tell me exactly where you went before that?"

You got the sense that he was avoiding something, but given you're in this conversation already, you might as well answer... "Um. Well they brought us up to the wreck, got these- um, specialists to talk about their different jobs. You know- the program turned out to be a bit like a job fair. Nobody was really in my specialty, so I hung back."

"And what would that specialty be?" Gates asks.

>>4102907
"Linguistics." You try to say with a straight face. Dad looks at you with a raised eyebrow from where he was putting a sandwich together, and you end up finishing off the fruit.

Gates made another note. "And where'd you go after that?"

"Er- well, the ship opened up at that point..." You begin carefully. You knew nothing about what had actually happened outside after you went in, and that wasn't good. If anyone thought to look closer at your story... "So when the alarms started going off, I turned and tried to run."

"Where?"

"Um..." You wrack your brain for an excuse. "I went to, uh... in the dunes, I, uh..."

Gates eyed you carefully, before asking. "Do you not remember?"

"Yes." You answer quickly, trying not to wince as he made another note.

"Tiiris, did you interact with anyone after the alarms went off?"

"Huh?" You blink. "No, I- I just got out of the base as fast as I could?"

"Nobody you can remember at all?" He asked again.

"...am I in trouble for something?"

He frowns. "Did you speak at all to a Joran Charan? He's a captain in the Planetary Guard."

"Huh? Joran?" You blink. "He was there?"

Gates glances sidelong at Yale before answering. "Yes, he was called in later."

"Uh, no." You answer truthfully. "I never saw him. I had no idea he was there."

"And how do you know him?"

"He's the one who recommended me to the..." You grimace. "'CATY' program."

Gates nods. "Right, that's interesting."

"...is he in trouble for something?" You ask, glancing between the two cops. To their credit, the both of them stay silent.

"It's an investigation, any little detail might be important." Gates smiled reassuringly, before glancing back down at his pad. "How did you get out of the base?"

"...walking?" You say.

"Do you remember what exit you used? Did you see anyone along the way?"

"I dunno." You shrug. "I just kinda picked a direction and started running? I was outside, eventually. There were soldiers?"

"Of course." Gates said with bland reassurance. "How did you get back to Miir? Did you walk?"

Well, you obviously couldn't say that you walked. Y'avel was several hours away from Miir- and that was by car. Saying you walked would be ridiculous. But that meant explaining who took a girl covered in ash several miles away at night... and also how you got past the police checkpoint in the city. Although you hadn't seen it except for the one at the docks. Maybe they were just letting people through.

"Ah..."

>I just walked, you know?
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.
>I called a friend to give me a lift. Her name is... Jess.
>I found a nearby bus line and rode it the rest of the way.
>I can't say.
>[Write-In]

>>4102910
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.

>>4102910
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.
If we need to, vaguely describe ST's outward appearance while camouflaged, so it gives them something to go looking for, that they probably won't find.

We really shouldn't be telling them anything, it's probably going to complicate things later on, especially without legal council present and even then, unless they have someway to compel us to do so.

>>4102910
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.
They drove really fast in the dark. Scary.

>>4102910
>I found a nearby bus line and rode it the rest of the way.

>talking to the cops without legal counsel
Oh SHIT valkan what are you doing
>>4102907
>>4102910
>I can't say.
Stop talking, Tiiris.

>>4102910
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.

>>4102910
>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.
Bus records are traceable, probably

>>4102910
>>I can't say.
Never speak to cops Tiiris

Sounds like Tiiris is going to be under secret observation for the rest of her life now.

>I hitchhiked as soon as I got out of there.
Writing. Work is a monster, so expect the update in about eight to ten hours.

>>4104266
Further delay due to fucking mondays.

>>4104766
Dead quest
Dead QM
F
:^)

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"I just kinda..." You stick out a thumb and shrug. "Caught a few rides back?"

"Tiiris!" Dad exclaims, and you automatically flinch. "You know you're never supposed to get in a car with a stranger!"

"I just wanted to get out of there..." You mumble.

Dad's expression softens. "I know, but that's when you should call the police."

"Given the circumstances, Mr. Elson, I think we should all consider ourselves lucky." Yale said to your father. "It's not an usual to forget about things like phones in a panic. Thankfully whoever gave her a ride was genuine."

"Yes, and-" Gates began, before a hand was placed on his shoulder. Yale gave him a disapproving look, and he sighed to himself before standing up. "We've taken up enough of your time. If we need anything else, we'll be in touch."

Yale made a pointed motion towards the door, and Dad nodded and stood up to show them out, slipping the sandwich onto the table in front of you. As you dug into the sandwich, you quietly strained your ears to pick out their conversation.

"Are you going to do anything?" Dad sounded more concerned than anything.

"Giving rides isn't illegal, Mr. Elson." Yale said. "And as it was a Planetary Guard base, it is not our jurisdiction to determine if a crime took place or not. We will be rescinding the missing person's report, obviously."

"Right, um... thank you again..." Dad began.

"Have a good day, Mr. Elson." The voice of Gates, somewhat grumpy is followed by the door shutting.

There was silence for a few minutes as Dad waited by the door. The cops, as relayed by ST outside the house, wandered over to their patrol car on the other side of the road, got in, and after a few minutes of talking, pulled away. Only then did Dad come back to you. He lumbered into the kitchen and fixed you with a look.

"...so, um... I should probably tell you about what happened, huh?" You grin sheepishly.

"Yes." He said grumpily, sitting down across from you.

"Well..." You think. "I, um, I went to visit one of the crashed shipyards."

"So I gathered from the news." He drawled, before sighing. "I'd ground your ass, but I have a feeling that particular punishment won't stick anymore."

You wince. "Uh, yeah, probably not."

"I wonder what Valkan parents made their children do as punishment." He stroked his beard thoughtfully.

"Extravehicular chores." Easy commented. "Typically painting the exterior hull. Sometimes without thrusters."

"...another point for Valkan ludicrousness." Dad said dryly before turning to you. "Well. Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Um..."

>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>>[Sub-Option] I have a few more robot friends now.
>>[Sub-Option] I met a fragment of a Valkan... diety? Messiah? It's complicated.
>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident.
>Nooo?
>[Write-In]

>>4104769
Not dead yet. But I am sick. No update tomorrow while I hopefully sleep off the worst of this.

>>4105682
>Yes
>I... may have caused a military incident by accident.
Blood pouring out of his mouth in 3, 2.

>>4105682
>>...yes.
>>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident

>>4105682
>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
I managed to fix my eyes.

>>4105682
"I found an old picture of Mom."

>>4105682
>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident.

>>4105682
>>...yes.
>>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?

>>4105682
>>...yes.
>>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident.

>>4105682
>Nooo?
But only because I want to see her instantly cave when he gives her The Look.
>...yes.
>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident.
>[Sub-Option] I have a few more robot friends now.
Also seconding this >>4105829

>>4105682
>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
Also fixed eyes, will finally hit puberty, and won't die of siezures and Valkan Supercancer in the future
>>[Sub-Option] I have a few more robot friends now.
And a submarine spaceship
>>[Sub-Option] I met a fragment of a Valkan... diety? Messiah? It's complicated.
>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident.
>>4105829
So everything. A lot happened.

>>4106439
Shit. Yeah. That's one way to take the wind out of his sails if he starts to freak out. Hey Dad, the doctor says I'm not going to die of seizures in my thirties anymore...
Ouch.

>>4106188
Support

>>4105682
Got metal? I'm hungry

>>4105682
>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?

Ded valkans
Ded bentooz
Ded quest
:")

>...yes.
>>[Sub-Option] So I'm a cyborg now. Can you pass that load of bread?
>>[Sub-Option] I... may have caused a military incident by accident
>"I found an old picture of Mom."
Writing.

"N-" You wither under the look he gave you. "...yes." It takes a few seconds for you to gather your thoughts. "So... I may have caused a military incident."

"That's understating it."

"It was an accident!" You protest.

"Tiiris-" Dad rubbed his head. "I don't know if you've checked the news lately, but it's all about you- every single channel is showing clips of a huge explosion- the ship burnt out. What did you do?"

"Um... well, I got onboard. And I explored..."

"Why did you?" Your father asked in an exasperated tone.

"...well." You consider telling him that it was mostly because Easy and ST asked you to. For a moment. Then it passes and you decide it's better for him to be mad at you instead of mistrusting your drones for the rest of time. "I needed to get implants installed."

"Cybernetics?" Dad shook his head. "Tiiris, that's way too extre-"

"No, no, no!" You interrupt him. "These are Valkan cybernetics, not clunkers." You shake your head. "I, um, need them."

"What could you possibly need cybernetics for?" Dad asks, switching to that weird chastising dad tone he uses when he's he trying to make you realize what you did wrong.

"...to keep me from dying in a few years." You answer quietly.

Your father blinks, before leaning back in his chair. "...from what?" He asks.

You look away and scratch your nose. "From complications due to being... you know, only half. Seizures, apparently. It's what causes my eye problems." You pause. "...caused."

"I was getting to that..." He began.

"I still have them." You dig around in your bag for a second before pulling them out. "And I-" You pause, looking down at the photo your hand had brushed at in the bag. Pulling it out, you hold it in your hands a moment before passing it to Dad. "...I found this by the way."

He takes it, a frown coming across his face. "It's your mother."

"And her brother, apparently."

"I never knew she had one..." He flipped the photo over, frowning at the Valkan writing on the back.

You shrug. "Neither did I." You glanced behind him. "Can you pass me that loaf of bread?"

"Huh?" He glanced over his shoulder, before passing the long paper bag to you. He makes to get a knife for you to slice it, but you just immediately tear off a chunk and stuff it in your mouth. "Don't you want a plate?"

"Hungry." You mumble- and you were. Almost ravenously so. It wasn't any kind of dark, horrific hunger, but you felt like you hadn't eaten in days. Really, it was like you had been for a while just upon entering your teens- devouring everything in sight to fuel a puberty that had long since slowed down. You'd gotten through a good half of the load of bread while Dad was watching, before remembering the nutritional supplement you were supposed to take. Pausing briefly, you get up and pour a glass of water that you mix one of the odd packets into.

Dad leans over and sniffs it experimentally as you stir, then makes a face. "Eugh. Smells like metal shavings."

>>4108613
You sniff it yourself, having not had the chance to really examine the nutritional slurry properly before. It... does smell like metal shavings. Hell, it looked like it contained metal shavings. The water had turned a cloudy green color, reminding you eerily of kitchen cleaners. It had a bitter ozone smell, but it also... smelled like warm flour, grass in summer and the pleasant artificial flavor of medicine. A confusing blend of natural things cut with pure metallic nonsense. Honestly, it smells pretty good.

Dad makes a face as you pick it up and quickly drink the whole thing down. "That can't taste good."

"It's... bitter." You make a slight face. "Not too bad, though. Like prune juice, but... more metallic."

"Right..." Dad looked back down at the photo in his hand.

You smile, then stand up. "I'm going to go take a shower, okay?"

Dad looks at you sharply, then after studying you for a few seconds, decides to let it go. His gaze is drawn back to the photo in his hands, and he falls quiet.

Easy materializes as you walk into the bathroom. "How deep are we cleaning?"

"Oh. We're getting it all out." You promise.

Finally getting a chance to peel out of your sweater, ash-stained, water and medical fluid soaked clothes is a pleasure you had almost forgotten you had. Each article of clothing is casually tossed to the side by Easy, who forgoes it's normal task of folding them in favor of attacking the gunk on you directly. To the cursory eye, you actually appeared pretty clean, but to touch or any solid look, you had clearly been through the wringer.

Easy immediately begins attacking your matted up hair, bonded into messy, uneven plats by a combination of water and ash from the bog. Meanwhile, you started an at-least courtesy scrub down of your body. A thin film of ash had clung to every physical surface, nestling into the folds of your skin around your joints and coating the fine hairs on your arm. Thankfully, your underwear had spared your nethers and chest from such treatment- figuring out how to extract sand from such a place was not something you exactly relished figuring out. Even so, your legs in particular bone a particularly thick coat of the sand and ash that had dried onto your skin, instead of merely clinging and falling off into the water, earlier.

As Easy worked on separating your hair into more than one strand, you consider what you're going to do next. You...

To be plain, you did it.

>>4108615
You got your augments and a whole mess of other things besides. You got LL1100 to help Kara and Elan with their individual problems, and a whole treasure trove of Valkan technology besides. But in the process you shook up the world a bit. Dad seemed freaked out, but- well, the news had a wonderful tendency to exaggerate to sell papers. Until things settled down, trying to plan for the future seemed to be a lost cause, and even then- you were tired. Time to take some short term rest- especially before you had to go back to school.

So, um. What now?

>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
>>[Sub-Option] Invite Kara and Elan over- although Elan probably is still in the hospital.
>Go and visit your friends. You really would like to feel normal for a little bit.
>Go and visit your friends. You've gotta show them all the cool Valkan stuff you discovered!
>No time like the present- get in touch with Jess and tell her what happened. Your powers just keep getting stronger, so it's time for Valkan boot camp.
>Your position is more secure, so it's time to poke into the Valkans that seemed more dangerous- Alich and Kathari.
>[Write-In]

>>4108618
>Go and visit your friends. You really would like to feel normal for a little bit.
Also note down our puberty growth

>>4108618
>Go and visit your friends. You really would like to feel normal for a little bit.

>>4108618
>Go and visit your friends. You really would like to feel normal for a little bit.

>>4108618
>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
LL said there could be some side effects to the implants growing in and I'd rather adjust to that before going outside and mass broadcasting our thoughts over radio or something.
Also we can talk to Scuttles now

>>4108618
>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.

>>4108618
>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
We may have averted our own death, but we'll cause that of our dad from stress the way we're going.

>>4108618
>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
Maintain that normal teenager act. Laze around. Eat everything. Ignore homework. Keep watch for SPIES.

>>4108618
>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
>>>[Sub-Option] Invite Kara and Elan over- although Elan probably is still in the hospital.

>Just stay home. Dad will appreciate it, and you'd rather not be doing anything while your implants are growing in.
Writing.

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You were tired. Tired, mentally strung out, and overwhelmed with information and changes. You just needed... to rest. A few days of just being home sounded good, for both you and for Dad. Plus... well, you weren't terribly sure you wanted to be doing anything while... whatever was going on in your body progressed. Anxious flashes about your face melting off as you turned into some mutant came into your mind, but you pushed them away.

Emerging from the bathroom, you change into a fresh pair of ratty jeans and a t-shirt before settling in to your room with the door open. Out of habit, you slip your glasses on and get caught off guard by how blurry the world is. Taking them off, you frown at them for a second before setting them down on your bedside table. It takes only a few minutes for the boredom to kick in.

At first, you simply thought to break out your terminal and indulge in some mindless vids and streams. It only took about five minutes before the first mention of the explosion came up. No matter what stream, even if the host declined or deflected the question- it came up. Every forum you found was covered in political comments, well-wishes or even just a containment thread for the memes.

You put it aside and lean back on your bed. For a moment, you debate having your implants put you to sleep again, but you weren't tired. No good books checked out recently, and you didn't own many movies... which just left self-reflection. Something is nagging at you- a small suspicion that you've had for weeks now. Your eyes flick over the walls until you spot LL1100's data tag through them.

"Come here, I want to ask you something." You say, aware on some level that only it can hear you.

The drone promptly floats into your room. Again, you're reminded of it's somewhat larger size with surprise. "Are you feeling ill, ma'am?"

"No, I-" You clear your throat. "You, uh, do you treat mental illnesses as well as physical ones?"

"Where possible, yes. Granted, not everything can be solved by a placebo and psychochemical therapy."

You weigh your words carefully. "I've been in a terrorist attack, been ambushed by a crazy person, threatened by machines and... everything, but... I..." You think. "I really don't care? No- I do care, but the thought of being attacked and killed doesn't bother me. And- and I've seen some messed up stuff, but I don't feel as messed up as I should. The fact that I'm not bugged by it is what bugs me. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, ma'am." LL1100 replied, waiting for you to speak more. At your shrug, it continues. "Not experiencing trauma is entirely normal for a Valkan. The trait has been engineered out of the genome for hundreds of years, along with several other undesirable traits."

"Like?"

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>>4109908
"Killing hesitation, cabin fever, schizophrenia and most forms of dementia. A lessened adrenaline response. Your implants additionally prevent and reverse the effects of addiction, hallucination, depression and anxiety."

You stare at it. "So I'm a psychopath."

"Define 'psychopath' in your own words for me."

You slowly turn your head to look up at the ceiling. "Someone who doesn't care about anyone else. No empathy, no love or regrets and kills anyone who mildly inconveniences them."

"Do you not love your father?" It asked.

"Of course I do." You frown.

"Have you ever hurt someone you love and felt the guilt? Wished you could do something different?"

"Yes!" You flush, mind flashing back to middle school.

"Then you're fine." LL said flatly.

"Feeling no hesitation to kill is fine?"

"Have you ever lashed out and attacked someone before?"

"Er... well, no..."

"Then, once again, you're fine." LL repeated. "The full breadth of the Sentient emotional spectrum is open to you. To limit it otherwise would inhibit your powers. Simply not hesitating once you've committed to harm another Sentient does not mean you are incapable of deciding not to. It actually lowers the violence rate, as you are thinking more clearly in such situations."

"Right..." You trail off. "It just feels weird, is all."

"I understand. But you're still normal. The mere fact that you are concerned about not being so is generally proof enough that you are."

You nod carefully. The thought of that sticks with you the rest of the day, as you can't help but consider some of the decisions you made up to this point in a new light. Was the only reason you ran from the hammer guy because you were thinking clearly? Would you have lashed out with your powers otherwise? Is that how you got the will to walk through the entire SIZ invisible? Or was that a trait of your own? The thought that you might have a more 'heroic' mindset brings a little smile to your face...

Those thoughts take you all the way through lunch, dinner, another glass of slurry and quite a few snacks inbetween. You felt oddly tired as bed approached, your limbs weighed down by sudden fatigue and your thoughts sluggish. The implants were doing something again, squirming in your brain and sinking their connections in deeper into your consciousness. The lack of knowledge of what they were doing at any given moment admittedly frightened you, considering their apparent power to make you sleep on demand...

Sleep...

---

Y'Paar Short-Range Gas Depot No. 15
9th of 10th, 1163.

"Daddy, Daddy! Can I go play in the arbo... arba- in the trees?"

Sigmund squatted down in order to be on roughly the same eye level as his daughter. "As long as you ask Mr. Tiimn if it's okay and promise to be extra careful."

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>>4109909
"I will, I will!" The words were barely out of her mouth by the time she had bolted around the corner of the hallway, nearly bumping into another worker returning from his shift. She ran and giggled with her friend, each taking turns reaching out to tag the other when they proved too slow.

Sigmund watched his daughter run off by herself. He had his reservations about giving her so much freedom at so young an age, but a space station was practically as good as a gated community when it came to safety either way. That, and with long days working and constantly having to take her on runs, he could use the break from work that it provided. Thankfully, Tiiris was the kind of kid who didn't seem to get into trouble when left to her own devices.

---

Residential District, Miir, 1st Floor
21st of 5th, 1173. 11:00PM.

Your bed is soaked in sweat when you wake up. The back of your pajama shirt and pants have prominent stains on them, and the sheets themselves, while not visibly marked, are definitely wet to the touch. Blearily, you reach out for your glasses before stopping yourself. Your mouth tastes like sandpaper, and your skin is dry all over.

Before you can really say anything, Easy is there, pressing a glass into your hand. You drink it all down, tasting not water but the now familiar metallic taste of your nutrient slurry. The next glass that you get handed is actually straight water, though. After getting both of them down and sitting stewing in your sweaty misery for a few minutes, you crack open your eyes and properly get to your feet.

Something was a bit 'off'- and after a few minutes of sluggish probing at your senses, it wasn't to do with your mind. Tugging slightly at your pajamas, you realize that the sweaty fabric is clinging to your body in a different way than usual. Frowning, you carefully feel yourself over, looking for... well, extra arms- or some sign that you're becoming non-human.

You get to your chest, pause, check again and then quickly lock yourself in the bathroom. A drop of stimulant into your system brings you mostly out of your half-asleep funk as you carefully study yourself in the mirror. Peering carefully into the mirror, you frown at your reflection. Something, was different, but it was subtle, a change that was just barely starting to express itself. But you could swear you looked a bit prettier.

Before you would have described your face as not quite 'coming together'- which was a more polite way of saying you could have been pretty. A nose that was a good shape, but oddly high above lips that were a cute shape, but perpetually chapped and ribbed with scar tissue. Eyes that were a bit too sunken and close to your nose for comfort. It was like someone had dragged a pretty woman's features around, creating a warped appearance to your jaw and head.

>>4109914
Already, though, you could tell that there was a difference. Like your face had scrunched closer together- it seemed smaller with the features more in line with each other. Nose in more of a normal position, lips softening out, eyes starting to come out from behind the hooded brows...

On top of that there, you could see...

>That your face was gaining an intense appearance. Thicker brows, straight features and a serious look.
>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.
>That you actually looked rather plain and unassuming. Very pretty, but plain.
>[Write-In]

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Told you we'd eventually address it in-story. For those of you worried about bust sizes, there'll be more votes on appearance, don't worry.

...don't make me regret that write-in option.

>>4109916
>That your face was gaining an intense appearance. Thicker brows, straight features and a serious look.

>>4109916
>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.

>>4109916
>That you actually looked rather plain and unassuming. Very pretty, but plain.
It always amuses me when the powerful wizard/warlock/demon/etc. turns out to look like a normal person (by Hollywood standards of normal).

>>4109916
>That your face was gaining an intense appearance. Thicker brows, straight features and a serious look.
Most important vote in quest ever

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>>4109916
Ah yes, the coomer vote.

>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.

>>4109916
>That you actually looked rather plain and unassuming. Very pretty, but plain.

Whatever is chosen Tiiris is a 10 now right?

>>4110205
It's more accurate to say that Tiiris will be a ten outta ten in her eyes. The implants are working off of what she wants.

>>4109914
>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.

>>4109916
>That your face was gaining an intense appearance. Thicker brows, straight features and a serious look.
We bidness now

>>4109916
Actually what's a typical Valkan appearance? The more intense look?

>>4111290
From what you've seen so far, there isn't much of one other than 'attractive'. When shapeshifting is a fairly common power, after all, people can look like whatever they want- with some limitations. If it helps, Tiiris mother was on the softer, cuter side.

>>4109916
>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.

>>4111491
Ahhh, so the intense look comes from her father then I bet. Well, we already look like Mom, I'm >>4110039 gonna switch to this:
>That your face was gaining an intense appearance. Thicker brows, straight features and a serious look.
Add some Cool Scary Dad resemblance to balance it out.

>>4111491
In that case I don't care what gets voted for then. Just pick a good one Benty-chan.

>>4109916
>That you actually looked rather plain and unassuming. Very pretty, but plain.

>>4109916
>That it seemed to be softening. More rounded edges, more innocent and cute features.

>>4111589
This because genetics
Nobody said intense couldn't be cute, either

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Rolled 1 (1d2)

Okay, I think that's a tie between intense and cute, if I've got it tallied right.

...I'm gonna do a roll-off, but if there's some strong objection I'd be willing to do a tiebreaker vote. 1 for the cyute, 2 for the srs.

>>4111781
Every option is to some degree cute, yes.

>>4111628
And ruin their fun? Bah.

>>4111783
Nuuuuuuuu. The coomers have this one
Please give an "I'm very serious face" as well

>>4111783
>Okay, I think that's a tie between intense and cute, if I've got it tallied right.
You didn't, cute won.

Serious:
>>4109923
>>4110116
>>4111116
>>4111589

Cute:
>>4109948
>>4110145
>>4111051
>>4111565
>>4111740

>>4111897
Was >>4111781 not a supporting vote for serious?

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Carefully you trace a hand around your face, probing it like it might shatter under your hands. Your normally gaunt cheeks were filled in more, your eyes bigger and wider. If it weren't for the habitual flat expression you held, you'd say the girl in the mirror looked cheery, and also a good few years younger than you really were.

Carefully, you made a few faces, noting that you could do pretty good death glare- not as good as Dad's, but close. It was funny, actually, you looked like you were more related to him and your mother than before. At least, in a non-superficial way other than your hair and eyes. There was a bit more puff to your lips than you remembered, too...

A knock on your door make you jump. "Tiiris?" Dad's voice called. "Are you up?"

"Y-yes?" You call, coughing to try and clear your throat. Your voice sounded a bit funny...

"I'm heading out, do you want to come with?"

"Where are you going?"

"Just picking up the groceries. Thought you might want to come with and pick out what you wanted."

That did sound nice, although going out meant facing the world while you were still changing, and you weren't sure you wanted that...

>I'm good, Dad. Thanks.
>No, I'm not feeling too good...

>>4112015
>No, I'm not feeling too good...

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>>4112015
Is it time to post pictures of Tiiris?

>I'm good, Dad. Thanks

>>4111934
>Was >>4111781 (You) not a supporting vote for serious?
It was

>>4112015
>I'm good, Dad. Thanks.
Both options are different ways of declining, right?

>>4112015
>I'm good, Dad. Thanks.
THE FOOD MUST BE EATED

>>4112426
Same meaning as "I'm good to go, Dad. Thanks." I think.

>>4112015
>I'm good, Dad. Thanks.

>>4112015
>I'm good, Dad. Thanks.

>>4112426
...son of a bitch, >>4112552 has the right of it. It should have been 'I'd like that, Dad. Thanks.'

>>4112346
If you like.

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>>4112346

>>4113225
Oh then uhh I'm changing to
>>4112015
>No, I'm not feeling too good...
Conserve energy, eat food, grow big and strong

>>4112015
>No, I'm not feeling too good...
Tiiris would probably look like Annabeth from Percy Jackson

>>4113421
But if we go with Dad, we can bully him into buying All The Food.
Have to take big risks to make big gains!

>>4113592
>Tiiris, you can't just eat a bag of sugar!
>Sorry Dad, the voice in my head tells me I have to.

>>4112015
>I'd like that, Dad. Thanks.

A though that's just occurred to me is that we'll have to get new ID mugshots if we look different. I'm not sure if we have anything like an ID card (though Miir seems like the sort of place in which you might), but there's doubtless official photos of us that will need to be updated,

>>4113670
Tiiris has a passport from when she was living in space- but it hasn't been current since she was eight. Otherwise, there's her school ID for the free bus pass and library card. She never bothered going for a permit because of her eyes- which is in her official medical record.

>I'd like that, Dad. Thanks.
Writing.

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"Uh, give me a minute to get ready!" You call through the door. A quick dive through the shower gets off the sheen of sweat on your body, and a few minutes later you're dressed and in the car with your father. Despite your best efforts to ignore it, you can't help but notice that your normal clothes are ever so slightly ill-fitting on you. Your bra, in particular was digging into your shoulders a bit more than usual today. Thankfully, the actual shape of your body seemed to be mostly unchanged, just different in ways that mildly bugged you.

Admittedly, it's been a while since you were in Dad's ratty car. It was cheap in a way that Valkan hardware distinctly wasn't, or even ST's mimicked station wagon form. For a moment, you quietly debate to yourself whether or not to ask ST to shift something a bit more homey instead of the upper end model it usually took the form of. You make a mental note to ask it exactly what the limitations of it's shapeshifting was one of these days, especially since the rules might soon apply to you as well.

Dad pulls into your usual grocery store- a global chain called ThruWay. There was also a continental chain, but it was nicer and thus not on the first level where you could drive straight to it. More expensive, too.

An anxious thought niggles at the back of your mind as you approach the sliding door, a small stack of cardboard pallets hugged to your chest. That someone is going to recognize you and ask about what's wrong with your face and start asking uncomfortable questions. What would you claim it was? Plastic surgery? A new acne regime? As tempting as it was to say that you were just a late bloomer - you had plenty of photos of Mom to back up that this ran in the family - you knew from bitter experience that things didn't change overnight.

As if to prove your point, Dad starts giving you funny looks as the two of you are in the store, picking through stacks of crackers and bulk snack bags.

...okay, maybe he was looking at you funny because you'd already picked out three bulk boxes of crackers and an extra large jar of preservatives, but still. He'd been looking at you more and more carefully for a while now.

"...what is it?" You ask- if for anything else but to get him to stop.

"Are you wearing makeup?" He asked with a quizzical expression.

"Er- no?" That was the truth, at least. "Do I look like I am?"

"No, but you look a little different... any growing pains lately?"

You cough. "It's, uh, it's related to my... thing?" You flush. "Er, not that kind of thing- the other thing. Like, Mom."

"Oh." His face fell at that, but he made an effort to be upbeat. "Is that why I have a pound of jam in my cart?"

"A little?" You smile sheepishly. "I have some extra saved up, don't worry."

"Speaking of." Dad made an effort to cover up his usual frown when you mention working. "Have you gotten in touch with Sana yet? I'm sure she's worried about you."

"No, I haven't." You sigh. "I've probably made her worry..."

>>4114203
"You've made a lot of people worry, Tiiris." Dad gives you a flat look. "Me included. You keep running off into dangerous situations- some of them I anticipate, but then a few of these have looked completely innocent from the onset. Try and imagine what this looks like from our perspective- it's frightening."

>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
>"I'm a lot tougher than I look."
>"It's not like I can stop."
>[Write-In]

>>4114204
>>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
>>"I'm a lot tougher than I look."

>>4114204
>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."

>>4114204
>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
I know I can't stop you worrying, but I'm a hell of a lot more capable of handling myself than I was. Obviously I can't show you what I can do, but if I could you'd be more worried for everyone else than me. And besides, I've got the robots looking out for me and if it all goes pear-shaped, they'd definitely be able to pull my ass out of the fire. So with all of this considered, while it's not "safe", it's much less dangerous for me than you might think.

>>4113683
What use is a passport on a seemingly single-state planet?

>>4114204
>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
It balances out to neutral because the robots on our side are just as scary as the threats we face, right? That's how robot math works.

>>4114275
>What use is a passport on a seemingly single-state planet?
>Thinking in terms of single planet civilizations
IIRC there are other inhabited planets and moons in our solar system, and it's possible they could be controlled by other governments. Or the Tagaran government is more paranoid than we anticipated and is trying to track everybody's movements.
>>4114204
>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."

>>4114275
>What use is a passport on a seemingly single-state planet?
It would be like an ID card

>>4114204
"Did Mom really never tell you anything?"

>>4114507
She really didn't. He only ever suspected that she could have been a Valkan. Some quotes from thread 2:

>"Where are you from, again?"
>"Me?" Dad grumbles in surprise. "Miir, same as Grandpa and Grandma."
>"...and what about Mom?"
>"Oh, up a ways north." He answered vaguely.
>"Yeah, but where?" You ask again.
>"I think on the other end of the continent, in Sothim?" He shrugged. "Dunno, never really bothered asking her. She never liked talking about her home that much. Think her family wasn't great or something."

>You pause. "How'd you meet again?"
>"We stayed in the same shelter after the war." He shrugged lightly. "I'd lost my job, she'd been messed up in a bombing. We were lucky she healed so well. Ended up moving in together to save some money on rent and... well, that's how we got you."

And thread 3:
>"What? I..." You groan. "Dad, that's not what I meant! Was Mom a- uh..." You stammer. "...was Mom a Valkan?"
>Dad seems surprised at first, then his expression grows more somber. "...I don't know."
>"You don't?"
>He shakes his head. "I was too worried about what the answer would be, I guess. There were signs, but..." He looks at you. "...what brought on this question?"

>>4114204
>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
I'm a fucking jedi, dad

>>4114275
>>4114360
Degrees of both. The Tagaran passport is primarily concerned with travel to and from space, which is still legally considered stateless territory. Other colonies are extremely small, but legally are separate states and self-governing due to the travel times involved. At the same time, Tagara isn't run as a single region, and travel between city-states can involve customs that a passport or other ID is good for.

>>4115059
Sounds to me like Tagara is sort of a federation of city-states living in big built up arcology things, with rural areas falling into the sphere of influence of one big city or another. Does that sound about right? The vibe I've got off Miir so far is like a 40k Hive World where the population and industry is mostly in urban hubs, except the cities aren't giant heaps of misery, and nature is still preserved where 40k would put super-edgy blighted wastelands.

>>4114204
>"I'm a lot tougher than I look."

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>"I know it does, but it's a lot less scary for me. Trust me."
Writing.

>>4115242
Pretty spot on. They do it to conserve land for agriculture, since basically everything around the equator (aka the Broken Desert) is virtually uninhabitable, which doesn't leave much room for farming, relative to population. That's why on your short jaunt to Reese the land whiplashed to basically pure farmland after just a few minutes. The city-states basically sprung up where the best harbors were, and a given region of control includes both the continent and the surrounding ocean and islands.

The major city-states are Miir, Tanis, Kana and Esari- although Kaath, Sothim and Dael are lesser, but still important cities.

"I know it does." You pause, turning over your words carefully. "...but it's not for me. It's not safe, but I'm a lot more capable than I look. Trust me."

"That's such an odd thing to hear from my daughter." Dad breathed. "Before, I thought that it would be foolish to try and lock you up, but now I'm realizing that I can't anymore. Really, I never could, huh?"

You grin lightly and shrug. "This is a family full of surprises. Maybe you could?"

"Don't tempt me." He muttered, pushing the cart down the aisle.

The cart's quite a bit heavier than normal when you finally roll up to the checkout. A lot of it was impulse purchases- and you weren't quite sure why you went for the fresh fish, but something about their smell was almost intoxicating. You casually hand Dad some cash to help with the groceries and wander off towards the front while he makes small talk with the cashier.

Something under your skin was irritating you- the nerves a bit more raw and sensitive than they usually were, even as you implants were trying to adjust. Glancing down at your arm, it looks normal- maybe just a bit more svelte than you were used to, but normal. It wasn't until you thought to check with your inner senses that you realized what was happening.

There were tiny wires growing through your arm. Small pinpricks of Abyss energy that traced out their paths as they pulsed and grew through you. You were eerily reminded of the man who jumped you, although it seemed what was growing under your skin was much more complex than his was, from the way it was tangling through your muscles.

From the second your implants went in, you had noticed a change in your reflexes, but you couldn't help but wonder if that was only the beginning. The only thing that stops you from immediately trying to push your reflexes further was your implants gently impressing that it would be very visible if you did. It would probably pay to ask LL1100 exactly what changes you were going to go through at some point.

You're interrupted from further musing by Dad arriving with the cart and a raised eyebrow. You shrug him off before helping him load the stuff back into the car.

When you arrive home, you barely get the groceries into the fridge and cabinets before you're snacking. The entire time you were at the store, you hadn't eaten and now you were starving.

Dad gives you an odd expression. "Just how much are you going to be eating?"

"I dunno." You answer somewhat defensively. "A lot?"

LL1100 glances at you from across the kitchen before speaking up. "During implant gestation, it is not uncommon for a Valkan to increase their normal food intake by thirty kilograms per week to compensate for the increased nutritional demand."

Dad starts somewhat at the new voice, and peers at LL1100 with a bit more scrutiny. "I'm sorry, are you new? I thought you were..."

"I am her doctor." LL1100 answered evenly.

"What kind of doctor?"

>>4116104
"My programming is generally focused on internal medicine and cybernetics. I also handle simple surgeries."

"Right..." Dad said. "But- that's a lot of extra food."

You eye the groceries you'd gotten. "More than this..."

"We'll make it work." Dad assures you quickly.

You're not quite so sure. The two of you already cut it close on the monthly grocery bill...

Dad puts down an extra large plate in front of you for dinner that night. Whatever guilt you felt was quickly forgotten under the influence of delicious stir-fry that you pack away to a degree that surprises both of you before you collapse into a food coma for the night.

Each morning, you wake up - usually shivering or soaked in sweat - before performing the usual check over your body. Each day, your face changes slightly more, narrowing and rounding progressively. Each day, your chest and eventually your rear feel just a bit puffier. Each day, you look inward and realize that more and more of you is being transformed into a machine.

So the cycle repeats, until the end of the week, when you're awoken early by a piercing pain in your eardrum. Groaning, you flip over in bed and smash the nearest pillow over your head to try and drown out the sounds of construction. It seems your implants had seen fit to affect your hearing this time, judging from how you could hear every single hiss and click of the jackhammer outside your house. Your implants catch your discomfort - same as with your eyes before - and slowly begin to dull your hearing, but it's slow.

Realizing you're not going to get any more sleep unless you force your implants to put you back to sleep, you get up and stumble out into the kitchen for your now-habitual glass of slurry and two bowls of cereal plus a fruit. You grimace slightly at how much you've eaten through the food you bought just two days ago. You know the household budget, exactly how are you going to pay for more?

>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
>You feel it's a bit risky, but is there any way your drones could help you make some money?
>Looks like you've finally found the point where you'll beg- can you get in touch with Elan?
>ST is familiar with the Valkan black market... could you sell some of your...?
>[Write-In]

>>4116105
>You feel it's a bit risky, but is there any way your drones could help you make some money?
Ugh Tiiris? Eating that much would get you fat not sexy.
Repair phones and electronic stuff with our bots.

>>4116105
>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
b o o k s t o r e
but she's also nice and pays oddly well for a hobby bookstore owner.

>>4116105
>You're a lot prettier now, and there are those websites where people pay to watch girls play video games
Twitch thot arc unlock

>>4116280
Oh no.

>>4116105
>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
She probably worries about us

>>4116105
>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...

>>4116280
Right, because publicly broadcasting our existence will totally help us avoid the government from spotting us.

>>4115902
The fishing and aquaculture industries must be pretty beastly. Kelp and shellfish for days.

>>4115902
Also, Miir is only 15N? That's similar to Hawaii, and it must be pretty toasty and wet all year and get some monstrous tropical storms.

>>4116424
It is fairly tropical- however it's worth noting that everywhere on Miir is hot and wet and almost entirely overcast year round.

>>4116105
>>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
You have the skills. Now it's time to pay the bills.

>>4116429
If the planet is tropical all over and dominated by water with little landmass to disrupt cyclogenesis, I'd imagine tropical storms that make the biggest hurricanes and typhoons the Earth can produce look like a bird's fart are a regular occurrence all over the world, and Miir is right in the bullseye of the tropical storm belts. No wonder so many people live in the cities.

>>4116105
>You feel it's a bit risky, but is there any way your drones could help you make some money?

>>4116398
The government will never suspect Tiiris if she uses a name like 'KillAllValkans69'

>>4116105
>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
B O O K L A D Y I M U S T E A T

Hey where's our god damn training ghost gone?

>>4116865
SHIT you're right it's been days now.

>>4116865
There was an option earlier to poke Wander and ask her something. I think she's still there just in standby mode.

>>4116104
>weren't quite sure why you went for the fresh fish, but something about their smell was almost intoxicating.
Mercury in the fish?

>>4116865
I can't believe we forgot about Wander
>You feel it's a bit risky, but is there any way your drones could help you make some money?
>[Write-In] Where the fuck is Wander?

Quick question, is there a Tagaran version of Seinfeld?

>If you don't work, you won't eat. You should probably get back in touch with Sana...
Writing.

>>4117482
Absolutely.

Or at least, another show that was funny during it's heyday but has become very dated. Probably pre-war.

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Commercial District, Miir, 2nd Floor
24th of 5th, 1173. 10:00AM.

"Hey, Sana, I-" You barely manage to push the door open before Sana sweeps you up in a hug.

"Tiiris! I was so worried about you, dear." She said quickly, pushing you out to arms length with a concerned expression.

"I wasn't gone that long." You give her a sheepish grin, looking up at her through your bangs.

"Can you blame me for not being worried?" She huffed. "Barely a word out of you and then you vanish for days. Imagine how I felt when your father told me he didn't know where you were."

"It wasn't like that." You blatantly lie.

"Well- it's certainly been a long time since you came in on a weekend." Sana shot you a concerned look. "Are you sure you're up to it?"

"A day in the shop won't kill me." You smile. "Besides, uh- I could really use the money..."

"Say no more." She gestured airily to the back room. "Never let it be said that I don't get my pound of flesh. Big arrivals today- there's about ten boxes that need to be sorted."

"...ten?" You tilt your head. "Why so many?"

"Take a look for yourself." Sana pointed out into the shop front.

When you get behind the front counter, you blink. "Holy shit, did someone buy half the shop?"

"We shifted a ton of inventory over the past week. Mostly to this guy- a collector, I think. Got a list of things he said he was interested in aaaand hopefully he'll indulge in us some more today."

"What was he looking for?" You ask.

"Eh, old portfolios, a couple of history books. I think he was looking for a specific edition of something."

"If he's that dedicated, why not just order the one he wants directly?"

Sana shrugged. "I'm not exactly running a vintage bookstore here-" She corrects herself upon seeing the flat look on your face. "A vintage vintage bookstore. We sell old cookbooks and used textbooks, not priceless tomes of lore."

Rolling your sleeves back, you get to work on shelving the ten boxes of inventory that Sana had piled up in the back. Normally, most of this would be going onto the cart for being low-quality, but considering all the empty space most of what you came across was going up there. You're shelving constantly from when you clock in all the way to your lunch at two... when you come back an hour later and three hamburgers heavier, you shelve another two hours before you're done.

You collapse back in your chair behind the counter, mind just about melted from the monotony of it all. A stream playing in the background could only help so much when it's several hours of work. At least it was done, now, and you had the next... five hours to fill until closing.

>>4117726
It takes about fifteen minutes for the usual boredom to set in. You swing your feet under the table, trying to resist the urge to bust out any of your illicit Valkan materials. Briefly, you debate asking your implants if they could put you into a waiting trance or delete your boredom, only to be informed that, no, they could not. Pulling out any of your stuff would be a bad idea, though! This was a public place, and despite it being... abandoned at this time of day, there was no telling when someone could walk in.

>Do it. Look at your Valkan goodies.
>>[Sub-Option] You never took your mother's grimoire out of your bag, did you?
>>[Sub-Option] Practice with your telekinesis in small ways to amuse yourself.
>>[Sub-Option] Bug LL1100 about your new capabilities - that, or discover them yourself.
>Be responsible. Resist the urge to do magic.
>[Write-In]

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>>4117728
You know what you really want to do. But the risk is too high.

Let's consider the options. I'm 90% sure the "collector" was actually looking for the gimoire (we pulled it off the shelf in the first thread), and if they walk back in to see us reading it we're in big trouble. And obviously if someone sees us surrounded by floating objects we're even more busted, and trying to train here risks damage and missing customers.

>Be responsible. Resist the urge to do magic.
You are in a bookstore. You are surrounded by books. Read one, you overstimulated youth. Perhaps material on the death cults, since I'm pretty sure we haven't seen the last of them and they may be more of a threat than we think.

>>4117728
>Be responsible. Resist the urge to do magic.

>>4117728
>Do it. Look at your Valkan goodies.
>[Sub-Option] You never took your mother's grimoire out of your bag, did you?
Seems pretty inoffensive to read a random book while in a bookstore. Just snap it shut if Sana or anyone else gets curious, "It was my Mom's" is a fine excuse to be ultra possessive.

>>4117793
Grimoire is the Mom-locked book from the Tanoh, literally no one know we have it. You're thinking of Kathari's artbook.

>>4117728
>Be responsible. Resist the urge to do magic.
No reading the grimoire either, it's in valkan

>>4117890
Oh, my bad. In that case switch to
>Do it. Look at your Valkan goodies.
>>[Sub-Option] You never took your mother's grimoire out of your bag, did you?
Nobody will question us reading a book in a bookstore. I'm still suspicious of the buyer though. Maybe just paranoia.

>>4117728
>Try and summon Wander

>>4118000
Terry Pratchett novels have taught me that booksellers are inherently suspicious of anyone who purchases books just in case they're planning to do nefarious deeds with them.
So you're in good company!

>>4117728
>Bug LL1100 about your new capabilities - that, or discover them yourself.
>>4117726
>No Black books anime.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

I believe that's a tie, since one of our three votes for resist changed over. 1 for resist, 2 for grimoire.

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A hand slips down into your bag, and you pull the somewhat unassuming tome into your lap. Unfortunately, it seems that it isn't supernaturally self-translating, as when you open it, you're greeted by pages of neat Valkan text. While you've grasped a thing or two since the Tanoh, you're a far cry from fluent or even conversational - not like you can practice when nobody speaks it, except maybe for Jess.

Regardless, you were able to read a small amount as you leafed through the pages. Many of them were marked with surprisingly simple diagrams sketched in the same distinctive pen-and-ink style that was in Kathari's sketchbook. Maybe it was the result of their implants helping them write?

Several sections of the book were dedicated to what you presumed to be martial arts, judging from the diagrams. Opposite rows of neat writing were diagrams showing different stances held by generic armored figures holding swords, spears, rifles, pistols... it was surprising to see something like in what you thought was a book of spells, but there was some weird Abyss shit going on with this- perhaps that wasn't entirely surprising.

In fact, the book seemed a lot shorter than it looked - even for it's thin size - with you reaching the cover after only about fifty to sixty pages, by your rough count. Other than the sections on weapons, there were several chapters that from your primitive grasp of Valkan seemed to deal with more simple exercises, more of the same shit you've been doing, but the diagrams showed moving objects, flame and- flowers? You weren't sure what the deal was with that, but you could make out some of the words in the passage. With a bit of time - or cheating by calling on a drone - you could probably work out what you were supposed to do.

>Try an exercise- but keep it small, obviously.
>>[Sub-Option] Practice what you know. This one was obviously about training telekinesis.
>>[Sub-Option] You weren't sure if you were okay with conjuring fire in a book store. Can it be done with anything else?
>>[Sub-Option] Blooming flowers seems to be the most innocent thing you've seen so far.
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>>[Sub-Option] Take a closer look at the weapons, while you're at it.
>[Write-In]

>Wake Wander up to help you.
>Nah.

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Nah

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Wake Wander up to help you.
Nooo silly girl Sana clearly keeps the shop as a No Thaumaturgy area. Rules are rules!
Bit o' light necromancy ought to be fine though. Proper hauntings give a bookstore style.

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Wake Wander up to help you. (and ask her why she left in the first place)

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Wake Wander up to help you.

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Wake Wander up to help you.

>>4119608
>>Try an exercise- but keep it small, obviously.
>>>[Sub-Option] Blooming flowers seems to be the most innocent thing you've seen so far.
>Wake Wander up to help you.

>>4119608
>Stick to just reading and learning the language.

>Stick to just reading and learning the language.
>Wake Wander up to help you.
Writing.

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Carefully, you leaf through the pages. Each letter was unfamiliar- Valkan had a very geometric script, with individual letters resembling different arrangements of dots and dashes. It almost reminded you of blind script- except the patterns were far more complex. It also is becoming apparent to you that Valkan had a very different grammar structure to Tagaran. When checking one or two words, it was fine, but as soon as you got into anything longer you had to start wrapping your head around the alien order.

Interrogating Easy for information wasn't exactly helpful, either. Your adjutant could translate things flawlessly, feed you definitions and - most helpfully - correct your translations if they were wrong. But Easy didn't seem to have any knowledge on how to properly teach a human the language. Asking the drone always seemed to invariably end in it trying to recite lists of definitions to you.

So that was no help. Would be that you could ring up Jess for a tutoring session, or anyone else who knew Ancient Valkan- wait...

Wander was a Valkan, wasn't she? Granted, her actual memory was so degraded she might not remember how to speak it at all. It occurs to you that you don't know if she can speak Tagaran or not, either. Her grasp on the language might be entirely taken from you, or it might be weird magic telepathy disregarding language. You resolve to ask her about it after waking her up. She'd been dormant for a five or so days, now, and while you were welcome for the brief respite in your own head, you could use the additional perspective.

Carefully, you reach into your mind, feeling out the little thread inside of you that was Wander. It was quiet, compared to the liveliness that usually accompanied Wander's presence inside of you. Part of you wondered if Wander would wake up eventually on her own, and if she would be miffed from you doing this. Carefully, you pluck the little thread of thought and carefully yank it 'out', for lack of a better term.

As you pull, the little bundle of thoughts and ideas shifts as it slowly separates from you, starting to gain independent life of it's own again. You expected the slowly increasing consciousness, the amorphous shadow of abyss energy separating from your body and taking a familiar, humanoid form- what you didn't expect was for Wander to wake up screaming.

She recoiled from you, scrabbling and grasping with incorporeal hands as she pulled herself free from your body and crawled across the floor. Her chest beat up and down as she sucked in... air? Whatever invisible substance she breathed.

"...are you okay?" You ask, keeping your voice low so as to avoid alerting Sana.

>>4121761
Wander looks up at you, her eyes wide behind the visor of her helmet. Something about her suit was slightly different than before- the design and colors slightly different, more similar to the suits you'd seen aboard the Tanoh. "I-I-I..."[/i] She stuttered, before forcing herself to breathe easier. I... yes, but I'm- just a little shaken."

"From what?" You frown. "You just sort of went silent..."

"I remember..." She shook her head. "I'm not sure. All I remember is feeling like I was drowning."

"Drowning?" You shiver. "So... you weren't just sleeping?"

"Not willingly..." She muttered, before abruptly tilting her head and thinking. "I see you've been busy while I've been gone." She announced.

"Speak for yourself. You're also different."

"Am I?" She looked at herself - almost in surprise. "Oh. So I am. That, and I take it you can see me? You've grown more powerful."

"A little." A grin twitches at your lips.

Wander got to her feet slowly, as if she were unsure of her body. After a force of effort, she stands. "No use second-guessing ourselves. What do you need help with?"

"Do you speak Valkan?" You ask, gesturing at the open grimoire on the table.

"What? No." Wander tilted her head at you. "Why would I?"

"...you're Valkan."

"Who says that all Valkans need to speak Valkan?" She tilted her head, thinking. "Although I suppose that makes me a poor Valkan- and by extension, you."

"Thanks." You drawl, before turning back to the grimoire. "Well, if you don't know, you can at least give me an extra pair of eyes on this. Or not."

"I can always try." Wander said mildly, leaning in to look over your shoulder.

Part of you was still worried about Wander's obviously rough condition when she woke up. She had bounced back quickly, though, and seemed to be more concerned with the immediate task than whatever had happened to her. As the two of you work, you make an effort to try and fill her in on the past few days, although she seems to have perceived a great deal of it within you.

You're so engrossed in your task that you barely notice that you're an hour past closing when Sana comes downstairs to ask you why you're just sitting there.

"Huh?" You ask dumbly.

"Tiiris, it's nearly ten." Sana says with bemusement. "Get outta here. I'll close up."

"Oh! Um... right. Thanks." You don't try and stay like you would normally, though- your growling stomach is more than enough motivation to send you home with all due swiftness. Easy goes on ahead of you, and by the time you get home you're staring down the face of a veritable mountain of food to fuel your progressive transformation into a... well, a Valkan.

>>4121764
It's to that end when - the next day - you wake up to find your clothes no longer fit quite right. They felt borrowed from someone else, and draped and wrapped awkwardly around your torso and hips. Your old clothes wouldn't fit right on all this. It looked a little goofy, in fact. How could you show up to work and expect Sana to believe that you'd inexplicably grown a cup size overnight? At least your uniform wasn't exactly tailored, although the lack of a bra would be awkward to explain...

>Go and rush to the store before work, get some clothes that fit.
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.
>All of this is just a distraction, really. You'd rather focus on learning for now. Clothes can come when it becomes a problem.
>[Write-In]

>>4121766
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.
No bra needed for work!

>>4121766
>Go and rush to the store before work, get some clothes that fit.
I'm sure a tropical world in The Future has some inexpensive, loose-fitting garments that can easily accommodate figure changes. We'd probably get some funny looks in a sari, but we can live with that.

But if not, hold off on that and we can say they shrunk in the wash.

>>4121766
>Go and rush to the store before work, get some clothes that fit.
Awkward teen adopts loose clothes and long skirts to obscure her size? Such a thing has never happened before in all of history.

>>4121766
>>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.

>>4121766
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes

>>4121766
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.

>>4121766
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.

>>4121766
>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.
Our girl is growing up in all the right places!

>>4121766
>Idly wonder if turning yourself from half to full alien was a good idea.

>>4122657
Are Valkans actually proper aliens if they're just a human subspecies?

>>4122657
>fixed headaches and eyesight
>getting prettier
>no longer dying
>can do magic
>can radio-talk to robots
>owns a fucking spaceship

>feels conflicted due to needing a new bra

This is indeed a common teenage mindset.

>>4121766
>Go and rush to the store before work, get some clothes that fit.
Baggy hoodie and sweatpants though, just one pair to wear until the changes stop and we can get some clothes that will fit and stay fit

Sure are a lot of 1 post IDs in this thread. Are people on dynamic IPs? Drive-by voters? Samefagging? No accusations, it just seems unusual is all.

>>4123061
Dynamic + phone posting. Almost every vote weren't bitterly contested.

>>4123061
I phonepost sometimes away from my home wifi's IP but I only vote once, for I have honor

>Don't be wasteful- wait until your body has finished changing before buying any new clothes.
Writing.

Looks like it's no bra day for Tiiris

>>4123061
I myself must admit to being curious as to how many regular voters I actually have. From what I've seen, I have five dedicated voters and then perhaps three to five voters who vote intermittently for whatever factors, but I'm not sure.

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Feverish thoughts of quickly running down to the nearest convenience or clothing store occur to you, but you dismiss them. There wasn't any time, and you didn't want to spend any more money than you had to- whatever you bought would have to be replaced if your body changed too much in the interim. Frankly, you were equally excited and apprehensive at the thought of your body changing any further.

You had to admit, it was weird having any sort of curves to your body- especially in your chest, considering up until about five days ago it hadn't grown since it had puffed up a little in middle school. Verdict was out on how other people would see your changing body, but for the moment, you thought you liked it.

The fit was all wrong for a bra, so you put on an extra shirt beneath your work polo to stop yourself from printing through it. In all honesty, it felt kind of unnecessary, but it was for your own comfort than anything. You remember that other girls would sometimes wear sweaters to prevent printing when they didn't want to wear a bra, but you had no such luck. The polo shirt was the one thing Sana asked you to wear, and a sweater wasn't an option in this summer heat anyway.

As fun as thinking about how big your bust might eventually get was, after you solved that problem, something more pressing was grabbing your attention. Instead of it being just you in the car this morning, you were joined by someone else.

Wander lounged in the passenger seat, her feet up on the dashboard. Her expression behind her helmet was inscrutable, except for the movement of her eyes behind the visor. They were unfocused, flicking idly around the outside world.

You search for something to talk to her about, wanting to break the awkward silence that had persisted since you resummoned her. "So..." You began. "I've been working on my powers a little."

"A little seems to be a bit of a stretch." Wander says idly. "You've improved a little. It's your raw power that's gotten better."

"I know that." You reply somewhat defensively. "But it's still exciting, isn't it?"

"...fair enough, actually." Wander shrugs, before lapsing back into silence.

You get out at Sana's - Wander flickering out of the seat and appearing in the alley next to you before following you in through the side door. Some invisible force seems to tug her along after you when you move, lifting her off the ground lazily after you.

Sana shoots you an odd look when you come in, then goes back to sorting the box of new arrivals she's working on. "It's been a while, why don't you give the front a good mopping, Tiiris?"

>>4123539
You nod before rummaging through the back closet and wheeling out the old mop and bucket she kept. Mixing together a bucket of your normal solution, you wheel it out front. You carefully maneuver the brush around the shelves, getting it into the cracks without bumping them too hard. A few times, you glance back only for Sana to quickly look away, a neutral look on her face. Paranoid thoughts that she'd somehow figured out what you were scurried through your head, only for you to vigorously dismiss them. Something was on Sana's mind, but you knew from experience how obtuse she could be when she wanted to. It's only when you're dumping out the bucket of now dirty water that you finally get to hear what she's thinking.

"Tiiris." She began carefully. "Have you been wearing makeup lately?"

"Uh, no?" You answer truthfully.

Sana's voice was neutral, but you knew her well enough to detect the undercurrent of concern. "Oh? I'm sorry, it's just that you're looking different lately."

"Oh." Right, you knew this was going to happen eventually. You can't go through the kind of insane growth spurt you've gone through without a few people noticing, and Sana had known you since you moved to Miir. "Well, um..."

>"I just thought I'd start putting a little more effort in. You know, dress nicer..."
>"I'm not that different, am I? I know it's been a week since you saw me..."
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"
>"Maybe it's just a trick of the light? I look the same as always."
>[Write-In]

>>4123543
>"I'm not that different, am I? I know it's been a week since you saw me..."

How hard would it be try and learn how to transmute our features to look more like we did previously, then relax it slowly over time.
We should only really need to focus on it if there are cameras around.

>>4123548
You haven't learned anything about how shapeshifting works yet other than it's supposedly the most instinctive power to use, but you can try.

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"

>>4123543
>"I just thought I'd start putting a little more effort in. You know, dress nicer..."

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"
how dare you mother me i am a strong independent girl who is not at all worried about how to balance paying for food vs clothes
so. there.

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"
Been around since thread one. IP changes everyday.

>>4123543
>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"

Oh, if we're sharing: I've been around since about midway through thread 2 I believe. Noticed people were mostly greentext voting and figured a vote with a comment or unhinged stream of consciousness alongside would make things more lively. Haunted ghost cars and janitorial secret-agent hijinks! Good times!
(later, the haunting became literally true. trippy)

>>4123543
>>"I just thought I'd start putting a little more effort in. You know, dress nicer..."
>>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"

Is deleting posts broken?

>>4124875
Nope, working fine

>"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately- maybe I just look more mature?"
Writing.

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"I have been going through a bit of a growth spurt lately." You shrug, biting down on the instinctive urge to ramble- to justify as hard as you could. "Maybe I just look more mature?"

The concern vanished from Sana's voice, and she shrugged. "Maybe. I just thought after you'd been a stick for so long..."

"That I'd never grow some tits?" You ask, trying to keep the sardonic tone out of your voice.

Sana's disapproving expression sends you walking back with your arms in the air. "Partially that. I just also-" You were both distracted by the bell to the shop jingling. A young couple came in, browsing the books and talking lightly with each other and saving you from this awkward conversation.

That did remind you of the man Sana had mentioned visiting before. Buying up half an unrelated bookstore seemed like an odd thing to do- and expensive. You recalled the thing that had started this whole parade of nonsense - and, as much as it made you feel queasy to think about it, spared you from an early death - Kathari's sketchbook. It was still in your bag, along with your mother's grimoire. Was he looking for that? Can't be, you'd never noticed it before that day- in fact, you still had no idea who delivered it to you, or for what reason.

Maybe it was just a coincidence, though. Collectors buying up things in bulk to shift through it for valuables wasn't anything new. You think there was an entire series on that, actually. Whoever the mystery man was, though, he didn't seem to appear while you were working, even if paranoia demanded that he must be there. Way to prove that you weren't becoming suspicious of everyone, Tiiris.

Sana comes down at the end of your shift with some cash, putting it into your hand as you looked up with confusion. "You said things were tight- I figured you could use an advance."

"You don't have to-" You began out of automatic politeness, before realizing what you're doing and accepting the wad of cash with a blush. "Thanks."

>'Small Savings' has been upgraded into 'Savings'
>'Money you've earned from your past-time job working at a bookstore. Your small wad of savings has been building up, making for a significant reserve of change- enough for a big purchase.'

"You have a good night now, Tiiris." Sana smiles softly, before turning to sweep off the last lights and lock up.

You hang around for a few minutes, but seeing that she has it well in hand, step away into the alley and get into ST. It rolls away from the shop quickly, and you less than gracefully strip out of your work polo before your overhear in it, rolling up the sleeves of your shirt for some much needed ventilation. Damn, you were used to the heat from years in Miir, but you had never quite clicked with Miirian summers. You much preferred the artificial chill of a ship from an overactive ventilation system.

>>4125611
A glance at your phone tells you it's still fairly early- Sana closed early on Sunday, after all. You had school tomorrow, but maybe you had enough time to do something...

>Find a secluded spot to practice magic for a bit.
>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>[Sub-Option] Kara, although you would see her at school tomorrow...
>>[Sub-Option] Elan.
>>[Sub-Option] Taylor.
>Just go home for now.
>[Write-In]

>>4125612

>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>[Sub-Option] Taylor.

This is probably the fastest way to figure out what happened / is happening to Joran.

On a scale of one to ten how ready is Tiiris for the attention that she is going to be drawn to her tomorrow?

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1.23 MB GIF

>>4125625

>>4125612
>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>[Sub-Option] Elan.
Ayyy buddayyy ya want a smoothie, I hear they're good fer ya bones.

>>4125612
>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>[Sub-Option] Elan.
See how he's getting on.

>>4125696
All the equipment to kick the process off blew up with the rest of Hull II, right?

>>4125612
>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>[Sub-Option] Elan.
I really want to see his reaction heh

>>4125612
>Just go home for now.
Does Tiiris have a crush or some boy she fancies but has no chance with before?

>>4125718
Kick off the what? Machine heart thing? The big medical gear is lost, but we did get LL to loot whatever was important and portable, so who knows what's in storage on our new submarine. Pretty sure LL fabricates smoothie packets on the go as needed though, like an engineer but for meds.

Valkan biology needs this stuff for bone development. Offering Elan that for a while and seeing what happens seems like a casual friendly thing to try.

>>4125612
Go see Elan.

>>4125718
LL1100 took a few machine seeds with them. That and a medical drone that knows how to use it is all that's really needed to start the process, although it's a bit rougher without all the fancy equipment.

>>4125612
>>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>>[Sub-Option] Elan
Smother him with our new bust!

>Go and see a friend for a little bit.
>>[Sub-Option] Elan.
Writing.

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St. Yanna's Youth Hospital, Miir, 3rd Floor
25th of 5th, 1173. 7:12PM.

"Knock, knock." You poke your head into the room.

Elan practically jumps in his chair, before glancing back over at you. For once not in his bed, cast leg resting on a stool in front of him, his eyebrows go up. He turns to the news, which was displaying a segment on the 'ongoing crisis at Y'avel Shipbreaking Yards', then back to you, then snaps the news off. "Tiiris!" He makes to automatically get up, before remembering his leg and flopping back down into the chair.

"Hey there." You grin lightly, dragging over one of the spare wooden chairs. "They finally let you out of bed?"

"More they realized I was going to go insane if I didn't get to move around a little." Elan seemed slightly distracted by something as you bent down to shove your bag under the chair, but he pressed on. "But what the hell am I going on about? You-" He waved at the now blank TV screen. "What did you do?"

"Me? Why do you think it was me?" You say not all convincingly.

Elan shoots you a flat look.

"...okay. It was." You admit sheepishly. "I didn't intend for it to... that." A thought occurs to you. "Easy, we're not being listened to, right?"

"Affirmative. There are no listening devices within range."

"Thanks."

"You broke into Y'avel, though?" Elan asks quietly.

"...yeah." You grin sheepishly. "Well, I didn't exactly break in- I got in through a friend. Then I got aboard the ship and..." You trail off.

"What's it like in there?" Elan kept lowering his tone to a conspiratorial hush.

You feel your face fall. "It's... um... it was cool in there, I guess." There were also a lot of dead bodies. And memories of your mother. A good place, but a painful one.

"...Tiiris?" Elan sounded confused.

You look up. "Sorry, just... I'm kind of mixed about the whole thing."

"You certainly came out different." Elan tried to comment flippantly.

A few seconds of awkward silence pass. "Is it that obvious I've got tits now?" You ask flatly.

"Yes." Elan said immediately. "It's very noticeable. Not just that, but you're also looking very pretty."

You groan and lean back in your chair, putting your hands over your face.

"So why'd it blow up?" Elan tilts his head.

"Er..."

>"I... kind of stole a Valkan spacecraft- or, not stole exactly..."
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."
>"...what was that about me being pretty?"
>[Write-In]

>>4127428
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."

>>4127428
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."

>>4127428
>>"...what was that about me being pretty?"

>>4127428
>>"...what was that about me being pretty?"

>>4127428
>"...what was that about me being pretty?"

>>4127428
>"...what was that about me being pretty?"
Engage tease mode

It wasn't us who did all the blowing up. Sure we did some of it, but the braindead boots did a lot as well.

>>4127428
>"I... kind of stole a Valkan spacecraft- or, not stole exactly..."
I can't show you my super cool spaceship because it's underwater right now but it's so coooool
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."

>>4127428
Sort of in this order:
>"I... kind of stole a Valkan spacecraft- or, not stole exactly... because they said I was the captain, and then the ship blew up because they started shooting at it and didn't stop."
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara. Kara at least, we'll have to get you checked by the medical drone to know for sure."
>"But anyways... what was that about me being pretty?"

>>4127428
>"I... kind of stole a Valkan spacecraft- or, not stole exactly..."

>>4127428
"...The Army shot it a lot."

>>4127428
>"...what was that about me being pretty?"
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."

>"...what was that about me being pretty?"
>"Um, well- I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."
Writing.

You search for a response that avoided telling him the whole truth of what you'd done aboard the Tanoh- and what you'd taken. Thankfully, you don't need to search long, as something Elan said distracts you quite sufficiently. "I- wait, what was that about me being pretty?" You ask, unable to keep some of the childish glee out of your voice.

Elan flushed. "You were already pretty before-" He cut himself off as you raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on, we've been over this before. You were never ugly."

"I'd disagree, but..." You shrug, before grinning again. "Tell me about how I'm pretty."

Elan's face had acquired a dark color to it. "I'm not gonna do that."

"You sure?" You tease. "Tell me about my golden hair, or how my eyes reflect the deepest pit of the sea-"

Elan snorts, and the tension is broken. He leans back in his chair. "Right. I'll just sit back and let you go on, don't mind me."

"I was kidding." You mumble.

"Sure you were."

You bite back the automatic retort that it was all true, but perhaps revealing how much you had appreciated you own appearance in recent days would be too telling.

"So... what were you talking about before?" Elan coughed. "Is it related to, uh..." He made a vague gesture towards your chest.

"Kind of." You stop and gather your thoughts. "I think I know what's wrong with you and Kara."

"Really?" Elan immediately sat up straighter.

"Yeah." You furrow your brow, thinking about how best to explain it. "I found out that when you're only half-Valkan it causes problems. Brain problems like me and Kara, and physical problems like you."

"...so people can really be half-Valkan?" Elan asks with an odd expression. "But that would imply that..."

"Valkans are human." You nod. "Which they are. It's... complicated." You rub your face. "And I'm not sure I understand all of it."

"So my bones are..."

"Probably a side effect, yeah." Your implants gently remind you of another thing LL1100 mentioned. "Oh- or you might be fine, and you're not getting the right nutrients."

Elan gave you a flat look. "I have a nutritionist, Tiiris."

"You do? W-" You shake your head. "Valkans need weirder stuff. I have to drink this glass of... heavy metals and stuff every day, and it smells like it should be pure poison but it tastes amazing to me. You might be missing some of that." You study Elan's face for a reaction... and notice that he seems to have suddenly gone very still. "...and that look makes me think you know what I'm talking about."

"...ever since I..." Elan paused, trying to gather his words. "I get... urges sometimes. When I was a kid, I used to eat all sorts of nasty stuff. I..." He trailed off, then shook his head. "I still get the urges. You're telling me that's... normal?"

"Normal for me after I got my-" You bite your tongue on instinct, before forcing the words out. "My, uh, cybernetics in."

"You have cybernetics?" Elan peers at you in confusion. "I can't see them."

>>4128927
"They're, like... crazy Valkan tech." You wave your hand airily. "Basically invisible." Your implants tug slightly on your mind as you say that.

Implants become visible under heavy load or when running hot.

Ignoring that, you continue. "To put it simply, if you get the same implants as me, your bones should fix themselves. At least, if you get the right nutritional stuff..." You glance at his right arm and notice the cast is also off it. "Has the rosary been helping?"

"The what- oh, the necklace?" He automatically reached up to his neck. "I don't know for sure, but I think so." His expression furrows for a moment, and he looks like he wants to say something, before dropping the expression. Reaching under his shirt, he pulls the chain out and holds it out to you. "I think you should take it back, I think it's done all it can for me."

"Huh?" You reach out automatically and take it. "Are you sure?"

>'Valkan Rosary' added to inventory.
>'A small necklace, typically forged and worn by Valkans which enhances Abyss powers when worn. This particular necklace unlocked your own powers.'

"Yeah..." Elan grimaced. "I'll be real, I don't like wearing that thing."

"Um, okay." You blink, before slipping the rosary back over your own head. "Well, like I was saying..."

>"As soon as we get an opportunity, we'll get them installed in you and Kara."
>"Kara we'll do soon, but I don't know how we'll get them in you until you're out of the hospital..."
>"I think you might just need the nutritional supplement. No cybernetics required."
>[Write-In]

>>4128929
>"Kara we'll do soon, but I don't know how we'll get them in you until you're out of the hospital..."

Delaying his operation until he gets out of the hospital would be a good idea because i don't think we could hide the increased needs while the implants grow in while he is under observation like this.

>>4128929
>>"Kara we'll do soon, but I don't know how we'll get them in you until you're out of the hospital..."

>>4128929
>"Kara we'll do soon, but I don't know how we'll get them in you until you're out of the hospital..."
>"I think you might just need the nutritional supplement. No cybernetics required."
Either of those, sort of? The decision is up to him. Tiiris had weeks to adjust to the idea of Valkan brain surgery before raiding the Tanoh, dunno how slowly he'd want to start.
We've got the stuff available for whenever.

>>4128929
>>"Kara we'll do soon, but I don't know how we'll get them in you until you're out of the hospital..."