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"As... tempting as that is. I..." You sigh. "You know, I could really use a run to clear my head." A deep ache had set into your bones- a combination of nervous energy and all the stress you had been accruing since this morning. Running always seemed to beat the stress out of you after a long day.

"Sure." Kara seemed surprised, but soon enough simply shrugged and nodded. "Meet up later, then?"

"After school, maybe?" You shrug. "I'll text you."

"Yeah, sure. Hey-" Her trademark grin returned as you began packing your things up, wadding up the bags to be washed later. "You're gonna need to get new clothes sometime, right?"

"I did think about that..." You admit.

"And what's your grand plan? More ratty jeans and grey t-shirts?"

"...it might have been." You push open the door back into the hall with your shoulder.

"You've gotta take me with you." Kara caught up with you after tossing her empty wrapper into the cans. "If you-"

"I'll think about it." You held up your hands in a placating gesture as you made your way towards the locker room. The bell rang somewhere above your head, but it didn't grate against your ears like normal after a soft click from your implants.

It felt like a lifetime ago that you'd last donned this ratty jumpsuit for PE, but here you were again. The whole thing was a lot less baggy on you than it had been before, and was actually somewhat tight against your chest. Didn't you implants say that your chest was still getting bigger? Granted, you actually were hoping it would, but it seems like it's edging on impractical, especially since you'd seen what a pain large ones seemed to be for athletes.

PE didn't have a final, but every year you had to take a special fitness challenge. There was a passing grade, but it was so piss-easy that even Kara could pass it, and you'd never had to really worry about whether or not you'd manage it. You remember hearing that they were planning on raising the passing requirements of the test or something- wonder how that'll really go down. Like anyone who was having trouble passing these cared about exercising outside of class.

Your preparation for the challenge was really just practice for the 'real' one. Oh, sure, the end of finals was marked by a big field day where everyone could blow off steam playing dodgeball and the actually fun sports- but the only test that actually matters is the challenge.

The warm-up was a succession of sit-ups, push-ups and crunches that you were split off into pairs for. When you're asked to spot first, you don't think anything of it- to be frank, you sort of tune it out and let your implants do the counting for you. You notice after a few minutes that he's working harder than he needs to- pumping up all the way to his knees on the upcurl... just so he can get his face up close to your tits. Flattered, you tilt your head and smile encouragingly, and lean forward a bit.

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>>4142782
When it comes your turn, you expect yourself to have marginally improved on your previous record. Sixty, maybe seventy? A rep or two more than your normal fifty, fourty range. When your implants reach into triple digits, you nearly wonder if they had glitched out until your poor, mystified partner announces the same as well. You barely felt winded!

Pull-ups you'd never managed more than two or three, but when you pass ten is when you start to realize that something had fundamentally shifted in your body. The PE coach was starting to give you weird looks, and you ended up dropping down before you hit twenty. There was barely any sweat on your body from all that, and when you touched a hand to your face you were surprised by how hot your skin was to the touch.

When the run finally comes, you think that this is finally your chance to disappear back into the crowd and just get outside of your own head for a little bit. You pull ahead of the pack, as per usual, and then you lap them- again, as you usually do. Kara shoots you a little smile and a wave as you pass her in the crowd before you pull ahead of the pack. You relax and let your eyes unfocus, losing yourself in the familiar rhythms of the run - now mixed with the different natural sway of your hips, the bounce of your chest and the small twitches and corrections of your limbs as your implants help make it all work.

You pass the sports kids without really realizing it, and it's only when you realize that you've lapped them that you start to take note of exactly what you've done. You've slowed down to just a walk by the time you cross the finish line. A little over fourteen minutes for three miles, your implants inform you. That was... roughly four and a half minutes per mile. A few people start to stumble in after you, but you were the first.

>Quality upgraded: 'Good Condition' has become 'Augmented Condition'
>'Tiiris' body has been retailored at a genetic level, giving her unnatural strength and stamina for someone her size. Further augmented by her own natural propensity towards athletics.'

You realize the coach is staring at you, and you feign an innocent smile and get back into the locker room as fast as possible. Collapsing on a bench, you rub your head furiously and sigh. So much for not making a scene, but at least you feel better. Now to avoid the coach for the last week of the school year before she can needle you about joining one of the teams and you'd be fine.

The school day was almost over, and you'd managed to weather it without much going wrong. You think. There had been a lot of stares your way today, and you kept imagining someone around the corner lying in wait with a camera, ready to jump out with evidence of- you really need to stop doing that.

You shake your head. Focus less on the theoretical, more on the present. What were you going to do after school?

>>4142783
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
>Okay, work can really wait until you understand exactly what Kara did with this drone.
>You have something you want to retrieve from the Rontah. Arrange a meetup.
>[Write-In]

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
More money means more food, and that we won't become a hungry skeleton because we ran out.

We should consider saving some money to get some food and water to put in reserve on the Rontah, so we be sure that we won't starve while we figure out what to do if we ever need it for whatever reason.

>>4142774
Can we have a list of our robots on the inventory too?
>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
Need money to buy new clothes

>>4142784
>Okay, work can really wait until you understand exactly what Kara did with this drone.

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
And start thinking of how to explain this to Sana.

>Quality upgraded: 'Good Condition' has become 'Augmented Condition'
I didn't ask for thi WAIT I TOTALLY DID. Hell yeah!

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
Amused at the idea of some cop being assigned to keep track of Tiiris the suspected kidnapping victim and discovering that she... went back to her usual daily schedule with no deviation or suspicious activities whatsoever. Well okay then.

>>4142784
>Okay, work can really wait until you understand exactly what Kara did with this drone.
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
Take Kara to our work?

>>4142784
>Okay, work can really wait until you understand

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money.

>>4142784
>Go to work- after all, you need the money

>>4142806
https://pastebin.com/Fu79rVbL
Sure.

>Go to work- after all, you need the money.
Writing.

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"Hey, Tiiris." Sana smiles at you as you walk in the side door. "How was school?"

"It was fine." You lied, preferring not to think about what happened in physics. "How are-" You were interrupted by the sound of the bell opening and closing.

Sana turned and began speaking to whoever it was while you ducked behind the corner and changed into your work shirt. Normally, you wouldn't really worry about changing in front of Sana, but without a bra and with a customer in the store... yeah, better to be safe than sorry.

The man only pays you a small look when you step out from your hiding spot. From his look, you'd guess he was in his late fifties. He turns his gaze back to Sana, who was still speaking. "-do certain custom orders, it all really depends on what you're hoping to get. We can't really place orders for something, but if you'd like me to watch our incoming inventory for something, I can certainly do that."

You walk over to the bench behind Sana and heft the new arrivals off the bench.

"Is it not in your system?"

"You made it sound like a custom book. Those don't normally have codes we can scan. Does it have a title?"

"No, it is an artist's sketchbook..." He sighed. "But it sounds like you don't carry those."

You feel your breath slow down, and it's only the faint buzz of stimulants into your system that keeps you from looking over your shoulder to eye the man with suspicion. Was he talking about Kathari's sketchbook? Was he Valkan? A death cultist?

"No, I'm afraid we don't." Sana made a sound of consternation. "If you like, I can write you a recommendation to a local art dealer. Was the artist published? They might know where the works are."

"They were, but it was a long time ago. A number would be wonderful..."

You hear the sound of a pencil scribbling against paper. Come to think of it, you had no idea what that signature you encountered the very day you found the book was. Was that a drone of some kind? It was certainly a bright ass signature, you remember it blinding you. And who was this guy, then? Was he hostile, or maybe just a collector of old Valkan shit, like the ones you robbed?

>Involve yourself in the conversation to try and find out who he is.
>Send Easy after him alone.
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.
>[Write-In]

>>4144294
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

>>4144294
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

>>4144294
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

Are drones be able to distinguish if someone has Valkan heritage, or augments.

Also how recent would you need to have a full blooded / augmented Valkan in your family history to be considered to have the right genetic markers?

>>4144294
>>Send Easy after him alone.
PARANOIA TIME

>pic
>On the Origin of Species
"It sure as shit wasn't here." - Tagaran Charles Darwin

>>4144294
>Involve yourself in the conversation to try and find out who he is.

>>4144294
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

>>4144294
>>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.
Definitely not plot or something no siree

>>4144294
>Involve yourself in the conversation to try and find out who he is.

>>4144294
>[Write-In]
Use our valkan senses to see if we can sense anything different about him from other people we've sensed, or see if we can sense anything valkan or abyss related

2nd option
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

He is looking for our book, and we need to go to kathari's island soon

>>4144294
>Just keep organizing books

>>4144294
>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.

>Just- relax. It's not suspicious to look for a book, even if it sounds vaguely similar to yours.
Writing.

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You busy yourself sorting through some of the new arrivals. With Sana occupying the computer, the most you could do was weed through the ratty and water-damaged books and toss them into the recycling or donation piles. While you're sorting, you spare a glance back at the man and - just for a few seconds - focus your senses, peering him over for any sign of the Abyss. It couldn't hurt to be safe, right?

Fortunately enough, he didn't have any obvious signs of the Abyss or augmentation about him- not even the small wires you'd noticed under the skin of hammer-guy. Then again, if signatures were just your brain funnily interpreting the broadcast of Valkan hardware, could you say for sure if someone was Valkan or not if it really didn't want you to know? Something to keep in mind...

The man took the number from Sana and politely thanked her before leaving. The shop bell jingles as he leaves and youn find yourself wondering if he was really anything more than an old art collector. He had money, after all. Rich people had tons of weird hobbies.

"Okay, sorry about that, can you-"

"Already on it." You lift the heavy box of remaining books and slide it onto the counter so you can use the computer. "So who was that guy, anyway?"

"You remember that guy who bought out half our inventory? It was that guy."

"Seems like kind of an odd move if he was looking for a specific book."

"It's... not reasonable, but he was possibly worried about me jacking the price of whatever he was looking for. Plus, it's not uncommon for the rich to buy up a load of random books to fill out empty shelves." Sana shrugged. "Point is, it was good business."

"I guess..." You say uncertainly, before starting to scan in the new books.

It was still light when you get off. The days had been slowly, but surely been getting longer ever since the beginning of 4th, but it was only now that the difference became really evident. When you had first gotten wrapped up in all of this, the sun was already setting when you got off work, but now there was still an hour or two before it really went down.

You also suppose you had to walk half an hour back home then, but now you just got in ST and were ferried home. A small thought niggles at you that dependence on ST and your drones was making you weak, but you try and put it out of mind. Damn, you were hungry...

Dad was gone - running errands, it looks like - when you stumble in through the doors. Fine by you, since it meant you could satiate your incredible hunger without feeling too guilty about it. An entire day of having to eat like a normal people or with just what was on you had made you shaky and a little grouchy. Easy quickly prepares you a small snack, but that doesn't quite cut it, and soon enough you're boiling pasta.

"So..." Wander starts to make small conversation. "I've been thinking... we haven't exactly been furthering your studies of the Abyss lately, have we?"

>>4145586
"No, we haven't." You arch an eyebrow and look at her. "But who's fault is that?"

Wander huffs. "It's not my fault I have trouble remembering. But think about it this way- we have that grimoire now. We already delved into it a little already. Why not take our free time and delve a little more?"

"As tempting as that is..." You say hesitantly. "I- well, on second thought..."

>Let's do it.
>Not without a teacher to prevent you from fucking up.
>You're not quite sure you trust Wander, in all honesty.
>[Write-In]

>>4145588
>Not without a teacher to prevent you from fucking up.
Or someone else around to render aid if we need it, though that doesn't mean we can't try and learn to read it without help.

>>4145588
>Not without a teacher to prevent you from fucking up.

>>4145588
>Let's do it.

>>4145588
>Not without a teacher to prevent you from fucking up.

>>4145588
>You're not quite sure you trust Wander, in all honesty.

>>4145588
>Let's do it.
I'm for it. Wander's a bit single-minded about pursuing Abyss Necromancy stuff, but she's also coached us in the basics and coaxed us back from having a meltdown in the middle of a military base. I think she can be trusted to constantly promote Abyssal solutions to most of life's problems without actually going overboard, for whatever you think that is worth.
>Not without a teacher to prevent you from fucking up.
But this would be my second choice. Very cautious. Lil' bit insulting to Wander, though.

>>4145588
>Let's do it.
I think we're past the stage where we might accidentally blow up the wall. We might accidentally blow up the whole building instead!

>kAtHiJ/I
So close to being kAtHaRi! y u taunt me, 4chan

>>4145588
>Let's do it.

>>4145588
>Let's do it.
Somewhere safe, where massive whirling vortexes of abyss energy won't be noticed and won't tear apart buildings
And then we'll need a teacher for more advanced techniques, I suppose.
Kathari's been waiting for students for all these years, can't hurt to make her wait a little longer...
Remember when Kathari said someone would have to be crazy to go to her island for training? I think we're at least crazy enough to break into Hull II.

>>4146159
Abandoned building or something, maybe. Even with a cloaking device, sneaking out again is a bit iffy with the city on lockdown. Imagine if the cops come back to talk to us for some reason, but no one can find us and Dad can't get phone reception. Not a great look.

...come to think of it, that would also severely limit our potential teachers. We don't know of any Valkans in Miir. It'll be a week or so before we have a day free to meet Jess, with school finals being done on the upcoming weekend.

>>4146318
Are we still on lockdown? I think it's been a few days at least, and things seem to be back to normal.

>>4146340
Dunno. Between Tiiris's work, school, and eating the fridge bare, I don't think it's come up.
Hey Bentus, is Miir still on lockdown?

>>4146430
>>4146340
It was never quite on 'lockdown'. Think more 'heavily watched'. They're ramping up the security theater with extra checkpoints and greater police presence, plus watching who comes in and out. But you're still free to move around.

>Let's do it.
Writing.

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Despite your hesitation, a grin spread across your face at the idea. "Okay, but... where the hell will we do it? I can't exactly risk blowing up my house."

"Oh." Wander put a hand to her chin. "Shit, I didn't think about that... in the city? There's... um, abandoned factories, right?"

"Kinda." You rub your chin, thinking. "I suppose it depends on what we're practicing. If it's something quiet, I think we could get away with doing it in the city- maybe somewhere on the ground floor. Else, we can trek back out into the countryside, maybe the old forest..."

"Jess?" Wander suggested.

"Nah, too far for light practice." You ponder. "...maybe we should think about this the other way."

"How so?" Wander asks as you pick up your school bag.

You rummage through it and pull out the grimoire. "Think about what to learn first, before deciding where to do it. There's no point in running out into the forest if the big power I'm going to learn is making rocks float, right?"

Sitting down on your bed, you open up the grimoire. Your grasp on the Valkan language had been building lately, and although a good chunk of the more passages escaped you it only continued to become clearer. It was coming to you like no language ever had, and you can't help but wonder how responsible your implants were for that.

Quickly, you find the same basic exercises you'd read about before- making fire, making things float and something to do with growing flowers. Of the three, you obviously have the most experience with telekinesis, but the point of this was to push past what you already knew. You flip a few pages past each one, to the techniques that would succeed those small exercises. Differing diagrams spelled out each technique, and a few fragments of writing gave you a decent idea of what each one did.

Following the description of telekinesis - the basic exercise of making objects float and move was something you were very intimate with at this point - were some familiar diagrams. A field of objects being suspended in midair, figures floating as if in freefall while others stayed firmly planted on the ground. One showed objects carefully juggled and thrown with enough force to be broken and pierce into others. One diagram almost looked like it was depicting hovering across the ground!

You flip back a few pages to making fire. If you knew anything about physics, that would be a subset of telekinesis, right? Making things vibrate? You already made one thing burst into flame with your current abilities, but what you find in the pages are... odd. Living fire, with different shapes dancing within it, a diagram that you were pretty sure showed someone exploding into flame, swords and rifles that burst into flame when held- did you skip a page somewhere? Was fire the only thing they knew how to summon?

>>4147181
The flowers- ah, okay, the flowers make a lot more sense. Making plants grow, making them bloom- with the natural transition clearly being to closing wounds. That made sense. It quickly progressed to other, more complex tasks, however. One depicted what looked like a series of transformations- humans becoming beasts, other humans, but they were interspersed with what looked like... games? Maybe discussions? Remarkably cerebral tasks, with people sitting in circles and talking.

Beyond all of that, though, was a section that you knew you'd always have to make your peace with. A single figure raising it's hand to meet a sea serpent- or maybe some kind of bird? Surrounding them, though, was a procession of skeletal figures. Necromancy. You knew that Valkans apparently loved their necromancy, but you still weren't sure how you felt about the process...

Finally, after all of that - and making up a sizeable amount of the grimoire's bulk - was pages upon pages of technical diagrams and very little instruction. Fabricating things- what did Jess call it, the 'Art'? You weren't even sure where to begin with this, but if what you've seen of Valkan technology was even an inkling of what it could do... one of the pages describes a 'fabric that twists and shifts texture to suit the wearer'.

Damn, that was a lot of choices...

>Telekinesis was something you knew a lot about, but you'll need a big place to practice in...
>Maybe do something just a few degrees to the left of your current knowledge? Ditto on a big, hopefully private place, though.
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.
>Time to bite the bullet. You're a Valkan, therefore you're a necromancer. The Army of the Dead answered to you, after all.
>It would take a bit more work, but starting with small trinkets seemed like an easy, safe path.

>>4147182
>It would take a bit more work, but starting with small trinkets seemed like an easy, safe path.

There seem to be lots of broken things lying around out there that could be useful if we could fix them, the first steps towards returning them to a somewhat working order would be a good place to start.

>>4147182
>Maybe do something just a few degrees to the left of your current knowledge? Ditto on a big, hopefully private place, though.

Caught this error ahead of everyone's votes this time:
>Maybe do something just a few degrees to the left of your current knowledge? Ditto on a big, hopefully private place, though.
Refers to pyromancy/elemental arts.

>>4147182
>Telekinesis was something you knew a lot about, but you'll need a big place to practice in...
Still have a lot of powerful potential for improvement
Or if not:
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.

>>4147182
>Time to bite the bullet. You're a Valkan, therefore you're a necromancer. The Army of the Dead answered to you, after all.

>>4147229
>degrees
>pyromancy
noice

>>4147182
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.
Druid me. I CAN TAKE IT. (no i cant)
>Time to bite the bullet. You're a Valkan, therefore you're a necromancer. The Army of the Dead answered to you, after all.
Second choice this, because interviewing the Army of the Dead at some point would be cool. And I want to see what kind of powerups we could apply to Wander.

>>4147220
Since this is going to be a fragmented vote, my second choice is necromancy

>>4147182
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.

Second choice:
>Telekinesis was something you knew a lot about, but you'll need a big place to practice in...

>>4147182
>It would take a bit more work, but starting with small trinkets seemed like an easy, safe path.

>>4147182
>Maybe do something just a few degrees to the left of your current knowledge? Ditto on a big, hopefully private place, though.

second
>Telekinesis was something you knew a lot about, but you'll need a big place to practice in...

>>4147182
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.

>>4147182
>It would take a bit more work, but starting with small trinkets seemed like an easy, safe path.

1 telekinesis >>4147230 2 as second choice >>4147301 >>4147616
2 degrees pyro >>4147220 >>4147616 0 as second choice
3 shapeshift >>4147276 >>4147301 >>4147724 1 as second choice >>4147230
1 necromancy >>4147247 2 as second choice >>4147276 >>4147294
3 trinkets >>4147186 >>4147495 >>4148498 0 as second choice

Hope you know how you're counting these cause my brain just came out my ears.

>>4148640
It's easy to do, just time consuming. Shapeshifting is currently leading.

>>4148645
It reminds me of something. Back on the Tanoh a couple of threads ago with that powerful object thing we touched that we chose to release the energy instead of letting it do its thing, OOC what would have happened if we had allowed it? Induced shapeshifting before learning how to do it properly? Or is that still a bit spoilery?

>>4147182
First choice
>It would take a bit more work, but starting with small trinkets seemed like an easy, safe path
Because we gotta fix the things
Second choice
>Even with your body changed as it was, shapeshifting - and healing - still held a special appeal. You could probably do it in your room, too. Or maybe in the factory.
Because flowers are cool and so is healing from injuries

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Rolled 1 (1d2)

Guess it goes to show that you can balance it all you want, but occasionally you'll have to roll off anyway. 1 for the trinkets, 2 for shapeshifting.

>>4148673
The one in the artifact bay while you were still on the tour? It was basically a repeat of what happened to Tiiris in class before- she had a ton of energy contained in her and was basically a live wire. Releasing Abyss energy once you've taken it into yourself is intentional, you can't just let it go.

Tiiris was essentially on the verge of accidentally casting a spell- shapeshifting is a spell, so her body was getting soft and starting to shift just based on subconscious thoughts. The other options would have accidentally cast different spells- I believe allowing yourself to change would have shifted you into a pretty researcher you'd seen a few minutes before, diverting into Wander would have SPOILERS and voices would have activated all the drones in the room by accident.

>>4148862
>Rolled 1
Artifact maker Tiiris its happening.

>>4148868
or magical Valkan knitting
>>4147182
>one of the pages describes a 'fabric that twists and shifts texture to suit the wearer'.

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"I wonder how all of this works..." You murmur to yourself, looking over the page depicting the construction of what looked like a rifle. "Is this just forging a gun by hand while using the Abyss, or is it something different?"

"Let me see..." Wander leaned over your shoulder, partially phasing through your shoulder as she peered at the book. "Hum. They're definitely working the parts with the Abyss as they're forged- see the dark lines? Kinda like an aura, right?"

"Right, but I don't exactly have metal forging equipment, do I?"

"Doesn't mean you have to start with any." Wander pointed out. "What's that one? Whittling?"

"Yeah, but I'm not sure what it does..." You tap on the page. "Maybe a light? I'd need to translate more."

"Sounds kinda boring..."

"It's as good a place to start as any." You chastise her. Speaking of, actually... "Easy?"

"Yes, miss?"

"The factories downstairs. Exactly how abandoned are they?"

"Unknown. Vagrants visited several of our monitored locations before."

"Why'd you monitor them?"

"Suspected creator artifacts or other intelligences. Monitoring was dropped as locations were cleared of association."

"Right. What do you and ST think about maybe setting up a workshop in one?"

"It would be an obvious move." ST's voice cut in across the network. "Logically, with as many abandoned facilities as Miir has, hiding would be easy, but such sites are not normally written off by their owners. City officials would wish to see if the property could be returned to work, owners will make sure the building's structural integrity was not compromised. Any Valkan with a passable drone retinue could sweep the city manually to find it."

"Okay, so that's a 'no' from you, I take it."

"Maybe." ST answered after a moment. "Such burdens typically fall upon the tenant by law."

"Yes, and...?"

"If we were the tenant, we could simply submit our own information."

"...ST, I don't know if you've noticed, but I can't afford the lease on a warehouse."

"True. But an alternative space, perhaps."

"And what if I can't afford that?"

"Build a treehouse." ST suggested in it's typical, absolute seriousness.

You blink a few times before pointedly turning your voice back towards Easy. "Any thoughts?

"Your home is reasonably secure. I do not know of any particular disasters that practicing the Art causes." Easy stopped itself, then hastily added. "So long as you are not planning to manufacture explosives."

"From the looks of it, I couldn't even if I wanted to." You wave the grimoire in the air, then realize Easy isn't actually in the room with you and put it back down. "You think the forest could be a good idea?"

>>4149446
"If you are willing to go that far, miss, it may be more prudent to rendezvous with the Rontah and use it as your workshop instead. It is more mobile."

"It is less secure." ST spoke up absently, it's attention preoccupied.

Both of them made some fairly compelling points. A dark corner of your mind mused over the possibility of a more prominent base inviting another Valkan to try their luck on you- and whether their stuff would be up for grabs afterwards. You shake your head. Bad thoughts, bad thoughts. Regardless, you would need a place to practice, even if it was in your room.

>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.
>Look into a space somewhere in the lower levels. A warehouse or abandoned office building would be perfect.
>>[Sub-Option] You have no idea how you'd pay for it- but renting a space legitimately?
>Secluded spaces in the forest worked fine for practicing with a plasma rifle, it should work fine again.
>>[Sub-Option] ...was ST serious about the treehouse thing?
>Keep everything onboard the Rontah. In case you have to run.
>[Write-In]

>>4149447
>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense

>>4149447
>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.

Start small, if we need anything bigger look into places around Sana's bookstore, so we have some sort of reason why we should be there in the first place.

Another possibility is to convert a utilities crawl space, or storm water drain for use as a dump space.

>>4149447
>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.
No needless complications
But also
>Look into a space somewhere in the lower levels. A warehouse or abandoned office building would be perfect.
>>[Sub-Option] You have no idea how you'd pay for it- but renting a space legitimately?
I wonder if the bots could find some way to edit the electronic registry to show us as the owner to a casual inspection. But other than that I'm sure there's load of nooks and crannies around the city we could use if we're willing to turf out the resident hobo.

>>4149447
>Keep everything onboard the Rontah. In case you have to run.

>>4149447
>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.
For now we should stick to our usual habits just in case the Tagaran cops/military are still tracking our activities.

>>4149447
>Secluded spaces in the forest worked fine for practicing with a plasma rifle, it should work fine again.
>[Sub-Option] ...was ST serious about the treehouse thing?
This so silly, I love it.
Between ST, drones, our burliness, and potentially plant control in the future, we could build a kickass secret treehouse hidden up high.

>>4149769
Lies, Tiiris is soft and qt

>>4149798
Right, yes, wrong word. Sleek and elegant. Not burliness. But secret mightyness! Exactly like a secret mighty treehouse.

>>4149447
1st choice
>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.
2nd choice
>Look into a space somewhere in the lower levels. A warehouse or abandoned office building would be perfect.
We may eventually need to build something huge

>>4149447
>Secluded spaces in the forest worked fine for practicing with a plasma rifle, it should work fine again.

>Just practice right here, and obviously don't build anything huge. Common sense.
Writing.

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"...then I guess we just won't stick our heads out too far." You get up and move over to your desk, dropping the grimoire on it and flipping past the page depicting a rifle with only a twinge of regret.

You weren't quite sure how this section of the grimoire was arranged. Most of the other sections followed a roughly logical layout, beginning from the most basic exercises and becoming more and more complex over time. This section of the book clearly wasn't made with learning in mind- or at least, learning solely out of the book in mind. Designs began with complex engines before abruptly transitioning into fans, something involving a pump and pipes and then abruptly back into robotic arms and small, thick scales. A surprising array of simple items and machines which were essential, if not exciting. You're fairly certain a few of these are fuses and fancy lightbulbs.

All of this stuff could be Abyss-forged? What was the point? Robots and guns you understand, but a lightbulb? What was the point of making a fan out of the Abyss? If you were reading this correctly, all of this had to be hand-forged with hammers and tongs and whatnot if you were involving the Abyss, so what was the point?

"Okay, so start small..." You mutter to yourself, flipping through the grimoire. You couldn't read the labeling text, but you could see the diagrams- all you needed was something small and made out of easily available materials. That instantly ruled out anything involving forging or electronics, since... well, you didn't have anything hotter than an oven, not even a soldering iron.

One of the diagrams depicts something simple- what looked like a wooden lever atop a long rod. With Easy's help, you translate the page and discover it is a proof-of-concept machine for a Valkan 'engineering principal', and... ugh, it was a bit boring to read, in all honesty...

"Right, I can figure this out."

---

Two days later...

Residential District, Miir, 1st Floor
28th of 5th, 1173. 8:00PM.

"I don't get this..." You groan into the wood of your desk.

"Look, I'm sure it makes sense, we just have to look at it a different way..." Wander soothed.

You glare at the grimoire, propped up against the wall, held open to the current page by a bottle of water and an attentive Scuttles. You were an idiot- this thing had about as much in common with a textbook as a magazine did with a schematic. It wasn't even close to a instructional manual, it was more akin to... a report, or a research book. It had schematics, and writings on techniques. Musings from previous people from... well, you suppose your family. You were effectively attempting to teach yourself how to build a gun by staring at the schematics.

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>>4151481
To be blunt, you still weren't entirely sure what this thing was supposed to do when built. Rotate? Maybe fit into any hole, and be a door handle? That made sense, considering how all Valkan stuff seemed to transform. You'd call that a engineering principle- that's what an engineering principle was, right?

Rubbing your face, you look down at the failed attempts covering your desk. They weren't high quality- in fact, most of them were made out of sticks or bits of scrap wood you'd gotten Easy and OH to gather up for you. Some glowed faintly with the Abyss- the product of you clumsily trying to force the energy into them while you pared them down with a knife like the schematic implied you should.

It showed a fairly simple, cylindrical doorknob in the technical image, but a few sketches showed different designs. Did the shape matter? Is that what was messing you up?

Your implants were barely helping, either. When it came to the Abyss, they couldn't do much more than steady your hands and keep you from cutting yourself with the knife. So at the moment, they were currently plucking away at your technology final. Fuck you, Clinsky, you were going to let the AI do it and there was nothing she could do about it!

One of your failed attempts vibrated weakly on the desk, threatening to eventually topple itself over the edge if you didn't move it back every few minutes. You rub your tear ducts hard, wondering what exactly you were supposed to grasp about this.

You were distracted by your phone buzzing, and you absently picked it up to see a few texts from Kara.

>K: So when are you planning on getting new clothes?
>T: Soon?
>T: I get paid on Friday...
>K: Finals are this weekend, what say we hit up the mall afterwards as a victory celebration?
>T: I think I'll be too tired...
>K: Finals aren't that taxing, just sleep it off.
>T: Easy for you to say.

You relax with an easy smile. Kara and Elan really were wonderful sometimes. You had no idea where the two got the energy to pretend like everything was normal, but they did. Maybe it was just easier, not knowing what you did.

Kara did have a point, though- your clothes really didn't fit anymore. According to your implants, you had finally stopped growing, although they occasionally muttered about needing to perform 'system integration and calibration'. In addition, on top of being unable to see your own stomach past your chest, your clothes had officially gone from 'kind of tight' to 'noticeably way too tight'. At school today, you'd been forced to tug your skirt down onto your hips just to pass the dress code, and there was only so much tactically positioning your tie could do to cover up the gaps in your shirt buttons. Or the tears starting to appear in your pantyhose.

>K: Well, we could go next week after it ends, then.
>K: That or we could go tomorrow, I guess.
>T: I have to study, Kara.
>K: Are you really going to improve your odds with one day of studying?
>T: Maybe?

>>4151483
Honestly, you were focusing all of your attention on the humanities. With your worst subject helpfully covered by your implants, that left the finer points of... giving bullshit opinions on two hundred year old novels for you to contemplate. Plus, art, which was not one of your greatest subjects.

>K: Oh come on.
>K: It'd be better to go into finals not stressed about how you look.

>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.
>No, you really do need to study. Your implants made you smarter, not a genius.
>You knew enough to pass just fine. Focus on figuring out this Abyss stuff first.

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.

Ask LL what the implants mean by system integration, it seems sort of like a big step forward. I would assume that this is what Jess meant by her own implants not being a distinct entity.

If it is, Kara and Elan might appreciate a heads up beforehand.

>>4151486
>No, you really do need to study. Your implants made you smarter, not a genius

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.
Never test stressed.
If you're reasonably calm, you can still guess at right answers without blanking entirely.

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.
We need new clothes

>>4151486
>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.

Tiiris needs a wardrobe change. She can't dress like a dork outside school anymore. She needs to dress like the hot girl she is.

>>4151486
>>You knew enough to pass just fine. Focus on figuring out this Abyss stuff first

>Kara's right- your clothes were stressing you out. Go and indulge a little before finals.
Writing.

>>4152864
Update will be delayed due to some bullshit.

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>>4153100
BULLSHIT UPGRADED TO HORSESHIT.

CLOTHES SHOPPING SOON.

SAD MAN OMIKRON.

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Skyview Mall
30th of 5th, 1173. 6:00PM.

"People are staring at me..." You mutter, leafing through the rack.

"Cute girl with a huge rack in a lingerie store?" Kara deadpanned. "I can't imagine what they're hoping to see."

"I'm not buying lingerie." You snatch up another set and look at it. Plain white, just like your old training bras, but with a number on the tag that made you blush. Self-consciously holding it up to your chest, you let your implants think it over for a moment.

Band too loose. Can alter. Cups OK.

Frowning at them slightly, you toss them into your basket, while leafing through the rest of the rack.

"I keep forgetting how tiny your torso is, even though your chest is..." Kara shook her head, then glanced at your basket full of white bras mixed with occasional polka dots. "Aren't you going to go with anything a bit more adventurous?"

"Why? It's not like anyone's gonna see it." You pick up another set and frown at the tag. What the hell does t-shirt cut mean? Do bras normally print through shirts for people with bigger chests?

Kara snorts. "Oh, bullshit. Besides, what happened to wanting to look pretty because you like it? You're telling me you wouldn't look sexy as hell in lace?"

"Well, no." You admit sheepishly. "But this is- I've gotta buy my whole wardrobe, you know? I don't want to spend all my savings on fancy clothes. So first up... some plain ones, for the day to day."

"Well... alright." Kara looked dubious. "But I'm dragging you back here later if there's time."

"If you insist..." You take up your basket with it's little collection of bras and a packet of panties and boyshorts that hopefully wouldn't strain to contain your rear. You wince at the total price tag- normally, you would haunt thrift shops and clearance sales for your clothes, not buy them new. The only reason you were here was- well, you really could do with a day out, now that your hunger pangs were starting to subside. That, and they didn't really carry bras in your size at your local store...

It was Friday, and that meant Sana had paid you- and you had been saving up lately.

>Quality upgraded: 'Savings' has become 'Large Savings'
>'Money you've earned from your past-time job working at a bookstore. You've been saving and saving lately, and it's paid off with a significant wad of change, enough to get your foot in the door on a very expensive purchase or a string of smaller ones.'

In the upcoming section, your savings will be abstracted to four points. Some options may reduce your savings.

You had quite a lot saved up, in all honesty. Hopefully it'd be enough to cover replacing virtually your entire closet.

Kara led you out of the store, the first paper bag of the day self-consciously hugged to your chest. "So!" She said brightly. "I was thinking we'd do a walk around, see what you're thinking."

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>>4154510
You nod, glancing at the glass storefronts around you. At the end of the hall, you see a closed off section of the mall- plastic sheeting and signs advertising renovations and new stores that would be coming after they finished 'restoring' that section of the mall. You could still vividly recall the smoke and the screaming, the gunfire- and yet, you didn't feel anything other than a twist of nostalgia twinged with unease. Not suffering the trauma of such an event was a good thing, but it unnerved you sometimes.

Kara looks in the same direction as you and frowns. "Shit, I'm sorry, should we not have come here?"

"It's fine, but it's just, ah... weird." You frown. "A hard scene to forget..." You clear your throat. "And not worth dwelling on. Well, my oh-so knowledgeable guide. Where to first?"

"How are your shoes fitting?"

"A little tight..." You admit. "I seem to have gained a few inches..."

"Thought so." Kara mused. "Although if you're only a little tight, you might just be able to get away with an off-the-shelf pair of shoes."

"Then I need just a few casual clothes and to get my uniform jacket let out."

"And some nice clothes, if you can afford it."

"I don't need-"

"Of course you don't need it! The point is to look nice." Kara crossed her arms. "At least try it on."

"Fine..." You hold up your hands defensively.

Kara practically pushed you by the shoulders through the more densely populated parts of the mall. Normally, the halls outside of the popular stores got lots of foot traffic, but with the closure of an entire wing of the mall it was even more packed than usual. Large groups came and went from stores with the latest fashions in glass fronts- unchanged from when you last visited, but you hadn't been paying attention to them before.

The popular, trendy stores- ones that you never considered shopping at before due to the expense, showcased aggressively cut and imposing garments. Double-breasted buttoned tops, blazers with ribbed patches sewn onto the shoulders, jumpsuits with perfectly bloused boots and models that alternately wore them zipped up or open, showing bikinis underneath.

All military-inspired, imitating the ridiculous influence the military wielded. It was a style you were plenty familiar with, too, considering the uniform you had on right now was styled after military dress uniforms. You couldn't help but feel amused at that thought, having witnessed the 'saviors and protectors of Tagara' work first-hand at Y'avel. There were good people in there, you were sure - Joran was in the military, after all - but from what you've seen, they had more staff than they knew what to do with.

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>>4154513
You couldn't deny the fashion they inspired was imposing, though. The mannequins were universally set in more aggressive poses, with puffed up jackets that looked like they went with flight suits and heads tilted up. Also an overt fondness for hats- berets and field caps mostly. Very few of them went unadorned without a scarf or stripe of color that set them apart from actual military uniforms.

It wasn't all military, though. Mixed in with the imposing jackets and pencil skirt suits were more modern outfits. The kind you saw in music videos and passing by Sana's on their way to the more upscale clubs in Miir. They were all tight spandex and shiny fabric, hugging close to the plastic curves of the mannequin underneath. Each of them was tactically skimpy- a razorback cutout running down the leg, or a top that bared midriff, or a pencil skirt that would have restricted mobility if it came down any further than the hip. Some had elaborate, voluminous jackets that helped cut out some of the night chill caused by the lack of any insulation on what was underneath.

You and Kara try to briefly ford into the crowd, only to realize your mistake instantly and divert for the calmer family retailers at the other end of the wing. These were the things you had in mind when you came here today- classic and comfortable jeans, t-shirts and sweaters. None of them were particularly bold, with their greatest indulgence being a bit of lace or being pulled in beneath the chest, but they were simple, cheap and rugged. Instead of tight pencil skirts, they had loose, shapeless skirts and shorter, pleated skirts like the one you were wearing.

The only bold choices they really offered was the occasional short jacket that revealed your waist, or a embroidered shawl worn over a sweater. Even their active wear seemed a bit more subdued compared to the clubbing clothes you had seen. A sports bra and yoga pants under a hoodie didn't seem that risqué compared to halternecks and short shorts.

...despite Kara's protests otherwise, you couldn't help but duck out of the nearby side entrance to a few of the thrift shops below the mall. The spaces down here, inbetween the mall's machine rooms and public transportation access and skypaths were used for specialty stores, like the arcade you had visited with Taylor before. Down here was that most wonderful of shops- a thrift shop.

All the fashion of thirty years ago, ratty and ready for your perusal. All the ratty jeans, t-shirts and old suits you could ever want, sure... but if you were spending some money, you could also indulge in the vintage fashion of yesteryear. There was a big war over the polar regions sixty years ago or something- your grandma fought in the Tanis theater when she served, and a military fashion swell had followed, just like this one had followed the war with the Valkans.

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>>4154515
The War for the Poles was before all the on-demand synthetics and polymers that clothes were made from now. When you pull them out of their hampers in the store, you're immediately hit with the distinct musk of ancient leather. They were bonded, sewn and reinforced to the cuffs and back, creaking slightly as you unfolded them. The boots went halfway up your calf, but had small socks sewn into them that hiked up even further to keep the snow out. All of it was sturdy, old and more than a little silly looking- but you were kind of silly looking yourself.

You want to go for...

>Trendy clothes. (Cost: 2)
>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Thrifty clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
>>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
Should cover all our needs

>>4154510
>Your savings will be abstracted to four points. Some options may reduce your savings.
Do these four points comprise our entire savings?

>>4154516
Unless we can only buy clothes in one style then..... Uhhhh go for clubbing clothes. Tiiris is a cool kid now. She needs to dress and act like it.

>>4154519
That they do - unless you somehow found a way to make money by selling your things - and I should have put a disclaimer that there will be other opportunities to buy things during this trip, so you might want to save some money.

You've gone from:
>Pocket Change -> Small Savings -> Savings -> Large Savings
As you've worked and saved. Each 'stage' is one point.

>>4154520
You can buy multiple styles, yeah. Just keep in mind that money is useful in general.

>>4154516
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Thrifty clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
Two sets for two things, and if the slightly nicer stuff costs the same in the crunch, why not?

>>4154516
>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)

>tagaran modern military fashion.png
Does the military approve of exposed melons?

>>4154586
No, but when has that ever stopped the fashion industry from taking something and running with it?

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>>4154516
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Thrifty clothes. (Cost: 1)
Casual because it's closest to Cute Librarian.
Thrifty because good looking people that know they look awesome wearing weird old fashions either set trends or defy them. Sturdy clothes are good, and the fluffy collar is fantastic.

>>4154516
>>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
>>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>Trendy clothes. (Cost: 2)
This is something Easy would probably be more approving of
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>Casual, comfy clothes.

>>4154516
>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
Sometimes skimpy might be needed
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4154516
>Clubbing clothes. (Cost: 2)
>Thrifty clothes. (Cost: 1)

In case people are getting confused, I tallied the votes so far

>Casual: 9
>Sporty: 4
>Clubbing: 5
>Thrifty: 3
>Trendy: 1

I don't know how the results will be decided. Most popular two?

>>4155652
Most popular X, depending on how many people are voting for. So for example, if the majority only voted for one, then I'd pick the top one, if the majority voted for three, top three, etc. Most people are voting for two, though, so it'll likely be top two.

>>4154516
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Thrifty clothes. (Cost: 1)

So that means the vote is tied on second option? I could pick a second choice to head off another dice roll I guess.
Second choice after >>4154662 would be Casual + Sporty, because it's still frugal. We may want that dosh to buy trinket crafting materials or something.

Aight, so that's:
>Casual, comfy clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Sport clothes. (Cost: 1)
No cosplaying K/DA or whatever for Tiiris (for now). Writing.

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"I wanted to see you in the sexy jumpsuit..." Kara pouted with an armful of clothes.

"Then go try it on yourself." You sigh, leaning on the frame of the changing room. "How does this look?"

"Pink definitely looks good on you. And blue. And black." Kara paused. "Really, anything looks good on you. Anyway, I don't have the bust for it. Or the cash."

"Sure you do. Er- maybe not the cash." You close the changing room door, stripping out of the breathable exercise clothes. You were quickly coming to understand the appeal of sports bras, even with your apparent ability to lock down your chest. On the bench in front of you, a small collection of jeans, sweaters and shorts was building up. Honestly, the yoga pants and sports bras were already a lot bolder than you were used to.

"Yeah, well, I don't need anything new- anyway, I'm not the one we're shopping for. Does it fit?" Kara's voice came through the stall as you pulled a new sweater on.

"Is it supposed to come down this high?" You ask, tugging on the hem slightly.

"Yep!"

"I dunno, it's kind of revealing..."

"But your sweater puppies are amazing." Kara whined. "C'mon you have all these boring loose things except for like, two yoga pants. Get something a little more feminine, please? You look so good in them."

Kara started to say something else, but your attention was rapidly drawn elsewhere, your other senses drowning out as your struggle to process the massive wave of Abyss energy that washes over you. Turning sharply, you stare into the wall of the changing room behind you, eyes and senses straining to perceive anything after that brief, black pulse of energy. Where was that? Didn't that lead out of the mall?

Something in your face felt hot, but you ignored it. "Easy, did you notice anything just now?"

"No, miss. Is something wrong?"

"Do me a favor, check..." You need to wait an instant for your implants to feed you the information. "Six hundred meters southwest of me?"

"The parking lot? ST is present in that location, it reports nothing out of the ordinary."

"...I see." You frown. Was it just ST you were sensing, then? Something else? Were waves like this common or- wait, shit, you couldn't be surging again, could you? That had gone away after you got your implants, but maybe it was another thing that Valkans just had to deal with.

"...Tiiris?" Kara asks. "Hey, you okay?"

"Huh?" You blink and turn back around, feeling the heat fade from your face. "Oh, no, sorry, I just was... looking at what I got so far."

"Which brings me back to my point." Kara folded her arms. "All of this is cute on you, but none of it is really feminine, you get what I'm saying?"

"I like practical." You quirk an eyebrow. "Besides, I thought it all looked pretty good on me."

"It does, but... c'mon, don't you want to try any shorter skirts? Heels? Shorts that don't make you look like you're pining for the days of cargo shorts?"

>>4156108
You roll your eyes. "So I like shorts that have pockets."

"Short shorts have pockets."

"That stuff is expensive, though. I look plenty feminine considering I couldn't hide these if my life depended on it." You hop on your toes slightly for emphasis.

"I- true, I guess... but c'mon, you look so good in what you have on!"

>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)
>Save your money.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4156110
>Save your money.

>>4156110
>Save your money.
We've already spent half our savings already. I think we should keep a cash reserve of at least 2pts.

>>4156110
>Save your money

Could we check on Wander, since shades and the Abyss don't exactly mix very well and she might have something to say.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)
Does this mean more hot pants and strategically exposed melons?

>>4156110
>Save your money.
Oookay starting to get confused by Kara's need for Tiiris to dress up super girly. She in the glass closet or something? Not fooling anyone but yourself, hun.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4156219
That actually makes sense. If we don't buy feminine clothes we should try a few for Kara just to see how flushed she gets

>>4156219
A fair chunk of it might also boil down to a fashion-savvy girl seeing an opportunity to get her extremely-not-fashion-savvy friend interested in it. That or the gays. Maybe both.

>>4156262
It makes some sense, but doesn't in other ways. She denied being gay before, hence my confusion.
>>4156278
Or that. But she might need a different angle than 'you look good in that!' if she wants to find common ground with Miss Responsible Savings Plan.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4156110
>Save your money.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)
Tiiris cute

>>4156110
>Save your money.
>Ask Wander if she felt that huge pulse

Anons pls we gotta save money to become a powerful space wizard

>>4156998
Ah, the one thing that can truly tempt you people... being cute.

>>4156110
>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)
CUTE!

>Spring for some more feminine clothes. (Cost: 1)
Writing.

Bentus is secretly relieved because he can now dump the cute, sexy and feminine pic folders.

>>4157802
If I dumped my entire folder, by my math we'd be here two months.

Besides, I have horrible things to do to Tiiris.

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>'Large Savings' has been downgraded to 'Pocket Change'
>'Money you've earned from your part-time job working at a bookstore. It's not much- maybe for a small purchase, maybe food for a few days if you stretched it.'

"I'm not sure that was worth it..." You mumble, hefting the heavy bags in your hands.

"Sure it was." Kara said cheerily. "Plus, don't you feel good?"

"Eh..." You mumble.

"What was that?" Kara cupped her ear.

"I do..." You sigh, adjusting your grip on the wad of bags. "Look, do you see a bathroom so I can get changed into something that fits right?"

"I'll hold the bags." Kara says cheerily.

Rummaging through the bag, you pull out a fairly basic outfit - sweater, skirt, boots - and make your way over to the nearest restroom. Ducking into the side hall, you shut yourself in one of the bathrooms and gratefully strip out of your uniform. Finally, you could actually breathe again!

You fold up your uniform and tuck the blazer, blouse, tie and your shoes into your bag where your work shirt was, leaving your pantyhose on. The synthetic fabric of your new outfit felt soft against your skin, much more than any of your normal ratty shirts. These were actually nice clothes, which you hadn't bought for yourself... well, ever. You slip your ill-fitting school loafers into your bag and tug on the new pair of boots before lacing them up. They were stiff and new, and your foot clicks and shifts to rest better inside it as you test them out.

Carefully, you step out of the stall as peek into the mirror. You looked... almost fashionable- or maybe not fashionable from Kara's grumbling, but at the very least presentable. More than presentable. In fact-

Your senses were drowned out by a pulse of Abyss energy again, and you automatically turn sharply to face it a hand clapping down on the hilt of your sword as you grip it tight. Seemingly staring into a wall, you look beyond, straining to see the source of the pulse. It was a bright flare, increasing to a great pulse for but a second before a faded echo passed over the city around it.

"You catch that...?"

"I did." Wander manifested next to you, her eyebrows furrowed behind her visor. "That was- I don't think that's aimless emissions. Someone's casting a spell over there."

"At us?" You hiss under your breath.

"No, just nearby." She tilted her head downward, seemingly in thought. "Except... wait, what could they be casting out here? What's so big we could feel it a quarter of a mile away?"

"How much... uh, 'footprint' do spells manifest normally?"

"I'm sure ones much smaller than that. But... did you notice? It's not coming from the same level as us. It's coming from down below. It must be in the floor plate."

"Why down there?" You tilt your head.

Wander thought. "...remember the arcade? We were lured underground, once. Plenty of empty spaces to hide in there."

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>>4157901
You swallow. Not a pretty idea- except, no, wait. Wouldn't that mean there's another Valkan over there? A sudden fear that you need to check on Kara came over you, and you turn on your heel to leave, one hand gripped loosely around your sword as you reached out to Easy-

S... sword?

You glance down, and find gripped in your hand a familiar glass scabbard, broken sword still firmly set within. Out of reflex, you drop it, but manage to catch it before it hit the floor and alerted everyone else in the bathroom. You were lucky nobody had walked out of a stall where you were busy gawking at it. How the hell was it here- no, more importantly, what the hell were you going to do with it?

Weapons were so, so not allowed in the mall! Even the local gunstores had to do business on the second floor only. You couldn't just waltz out of here with a longsword of all things in your hand, you'd get your ass arrested! Easy couldn't come and take it off your hands, either- it was too long for him to store and camouflage with.

>Fuck it, just take it out. Damn the consequences, you were leaving anyway.
>Stash it behind a toilet.
>Throw it in a garbage can.
>[Write-In]

>>4157904
>[Write-In]
Do we still have our Lensing Field Generator with us?
If so bind it up and carry it around with us like nothing is wrong, activating the field would be use full if we need to.

otherwise
>Fuck it, just take it out. Damn the consequences, you were leaving anyway.

>>4157912
You do in fact have it on still.

>>4157912
Supporting. Gtfo immediately

>>4157904
Leave it in a stall and then try and 'summon' it when elsewhere. Then we can hide it somewhere and just summon it at home and stash it there.

>>4157904
Just leave it, the sword is magic. It can appear again when we need it.

>>4157904
>[Write-In] It appeared out of nowhere. Maybe you can will it to go back home?
But if not because it's feeling stubborn:
>Stash it behind a toilet.
People leave their swords behind toilets all the time by accident.

>>4157904
>Fuck it, just take it out. Damn the consequences, you were leaving anyway.
Classic coade. 13 votes for looks, less than half of that for PLOT.

>>4157904
>Fuck it, just take it out. Damn the consequences, you were leaving anyway.

>>4157904
>Stash it behind a toilet.

>>4157912
>>4157916
Do this
why do I remember something about being cursed by this sword

>>4158956
It's just grateful is all, we rescued it from abandonment in a crashed ship so now it's a bit clingy. Poor old sword just wants a hug.
... I just made myself feel bad for wanting to leave a sword behind a toilet. Good job me. Forget this >>4158127 we can walk it out with the lensing field thing. >>4157912

>>4158956
That would be a pretty trolling curse, "cursed to appear at its owner's side at inconvenient times"

I come back after a few days of work and we aren't dressed like a slut? I am disappoint.

>Wrap the sword in your lensing field generator and carry it out invisibly.
Writing.

You stare at it for a long moment, then silently attempt to will it to return back to... wherever it came from. Can't it go back? When that doesn't work, you try flaring your power to perhaps energize it, and are only rewarded by the sword humming sharply, glowing with it's own energy and-

THOU SHALT KNOW ME BY THE POINT OF MY BLADE.

You instinctively jerk back, your hand smacking against the visor of your helmet, waving the sword dumbly as wind blows against it.

SHOW ME YOUR CONVICTION AND USE ME TO TEST YOUR FOES.

Shaking your head to clear your thoughts, you look for somewhere to hide it- oh, who were you kidding, it was a public bathroom, they didn't have hiding places! Thinking quickly, you roll up the sleeve of your sweater and quickly start tugging off the lensing field generator from your arm, where it still resembled an arm warmer. Your arm feels oddly bear without the familiar silky fabric against it, but you don't have time for that.

With a quick flick, the sock turns loose, becoming a length of fabric in your hand. Pinning the end under your thumb, you wrap the cloth down the length of the scabbard as far as it can go before you run out of material. It adheres to itself, and runs almost to the point.

One of the stall doors opens- you're out of time. Bracing for a bad time, you grip the sword and begin to channel your energy into it, just like cloaking normally.

A woman steps out and walks to the sink, putting her hands under the water and scrubbing. She glances your way for a brief second before moving on. You glance down at the empty air you're clenching in your hand. So far, so good.

It takes a bit of maneuvering to get your sword into a manageable position that didn't make it too obvious you were holding onto something tangible, but you manage. A few minutes later, you push open the door and very carefully make your way back over to Kara, pretending like you're just resting your arm on your bag.

"Oh, you look great!" Kara claps.

>Excuse yourself quickly. You need to go look at what's going on outside.
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.
>Try your best to hide the sword and get on with your day.
>[Write-In]

>>4159481
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.

>>4159481
>Try your best to hide the sword and get on with your day.

>>4159481
>Try your best to hide the sword and get on with your day.
Let Kara know that something weird is happening outside, and have ST go and wait somewhere else, so we don't have to get closer to it in order to leave.

>>4159481
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.
This is big Space Magic. Hoping it'll go away on its own doesn't seem wise. At least we have the lensing field if we want to get a closer look.

Every trip to the mall must inevitably end in chaos for poor Tiiris. Such is the way of things.

>>4159481
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.
"Wander, what's up with this sword?"

>>4159481
>Try your best to hide the sword and get on with your day.
Fuck off sword, we just wanted to go clothes shopping.

>>4159481
>Try your best to hide the sword and get on with your day.
Shut up stupid sword. Someone with that much power is way beyond our league.

>>4159481
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.

>>4159481
>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.
THE SWORD HAS SPOKEN

It better not be a fucking scimitar. I've had enough of cursed scimitar combat.

>>4160665
Nah, it's a straight sword.

>>4160700
(it was just a really oblique in-joke to another obscure quest)

>Tell her you need to go look at some Valkan shit happening outside.
Writing.

"Yeah, uh..."

Kara's smile slowly fades at the look on your face. "What is it?"

"There's something going on outside." You murmur in a low voice. "I'm going to head over and check it out."

"What do you mean?" Kara tilts her head.

You were already turning away. "A Valkan thing, just... hold on until I get back."

Kara scoffs and as you make your way to the exit - holding your sword close to your leg so it doesn't bump into anyone - you realize she's hurrying up behind you. "I'm coming with."

"Kara-"

"Go on, force me not to in the middle of a crowded mall. See how that works out for you."

You sigh. "Fine. Just... don't rush into things, okay?"

Kara scoffs. "I should be the one saying that to you. Who's the one rushing into danger all the time?"

"I do not 'rush into danger'." You scoff.

"...what's in the parking lot, then?"

"I... don't know." You shrug off her flat look and reach out to Easy. "Can you and ST look around out there? Tell me what you find."

"At once." Easy replies.

You push into one of the exit tunnels in the gaps between stores, just like the one where you'd first met one of the dead soldiers. Thankfully, you aren't jumped by a death cultist this time, and instead find your way to one of the stairwells that leads down towards the parking lot.

"So..." Kara begins. "What happened?"

"I dunno, but someone's using a ton of... er, well... magic."

"Magic?" You could hear the disbelief in Kara's voice behind you.

"Yes? No? It's..." You almost want to say that it's not magic, but it sounds too absurd to say out loud. "It's complicated." You're greeted by the overcast sky as you step out into the parking lot. Over in the charging stations, ST was plugged in where you left it, although you didn't spy Easy's signature anywhere. "Find anything?"

"I have been searching, but I cannot detect any signs of a disturbance."

"What's down there?"

"Independent stores. A liquor store. A thrift shop. A vintage audio store. A gym."

"Not exactly a logical starting point in there, is there..." You scratch your chin thoughtfully while wandering over to ST. "Okay, well, here's the deal, Kara. They- Kara?" You glance over at her. "What are you looking for?"

"My frieeend- wait, I think he's here."

You look at the sky warily. "This your drone? I don't see him."

"He turns invisible, just like yours, silly."

Looking to the sky again, you realize that you actually can't see a data signature up there. You were so used to sensing Easy and the rest of your drones at a glance it was slightly jarring for one to not be immediately evident. No shadow, no ghost or orb of light- nothing.

You make a mental note to ask LL1100 about getting thermal vision- hell, it wouldn't surprise you if you already had it somehow, but the idea of invisible drones being all around you is extremely unnerving.

>>4161414
Eventually, a data-tag does appear in your vision, floating down between two parked cars and fading into existence for a brief instant, before moving over to ST, who rolls a window down surreptitiously. Gesturing to Kara to follow, you both clamber into the car. "So, this is your friend?"

"What do you mean? Is he in here with us?" Kara looks into the backseat with confusion.

A long shape appears between the two of you, and you realize it's the barrel of a gun. Looking back, you see a square plate of some kind, with a very odd pattern of camouflage painted on front. It almost reminds you of eyes, in a way. That was, of course, completely discounting the robotic eye swiveling underneath the gun itself.

Kara grinned. "Tiiris, meet Skaal."

"SK4415." It corrected her in a harsh mechanical voice. It was aggressive and inhuman in a way that reminded you of ST's voice, although ST's voice was not directly intimidating on it's own, just... mostly from context. "Close support drone."

"So... you shoot things." You say, eyeing it. The look was certainly much more aggressive than any of your drone's rounded edges and beady optics.

"Yes." Skaal says with a definite hint of pride in it's voice.

"Right..." You lean back, then look over the gun barrel at Kara. "...right, so I know something's going on down in the plate, but I don't know what. Someone's doing something down there, but unless they cast again, I'm not sure how to figure out where they are."

"There would be obvious signs if they were fighting." Skaal says, eye swiveling between the both of you, then the cars next to you, then all around.

"Okay, but if they had magic, couldn't they just make it look like they weren't fighting and that everything is okay if they really wanted to?" Kara asks, taking the sudden revelation surprisingly well.

"Generally, no. The Art has only a limited capacity to affect the minds of others." Skaal said with confidence.

"That's great and all." You interject. "...but what do we do? It's not like we can search the entire floor." You feel a slight pang of regret that your dock scarabs aren't here. You could use a small swarm of drones. Then again, they were idiots.

>Is it possible to actively track magic usage? The faint traces left where they've been?
>Search the whole floor manually. You'll have to split up.
>Go for a specific store.
>>[Sub-Option] The liquor store.
>>[Sub-Option] The thrift shop.
>>[Sub-Option] The record store.
>>[Sub-Option] The gym.
>[Write-In]

>>4161425
>Search the whole floor manually. You'll have to split up.
Passive detection is best detection.

Ask the sword, why it decided to turn up, and what it can do, because at this point it may as well be a fancy letter opener.

So HH5995 doesn't tear the Rontah apart looking for the as of now missing sword, we should probably let them know what happened.

>>4161492
We have no way of contacting the Rontah without going out to the sea though

>>4161425
>Is it possible to actively track magic usage? The faint traces left where they've been?
And ask Wander what's up with the sword, and ask the sword what's up with it

I feel as if encouraging Kara to run around on her own with her Burt Gummer bot looking for trouble would be a bad idea, for some reason.

>>4161425
>Go for a specific store.
>[Sub-Option] The gym.
We just bought the perfect 'disguise' to be walking around this place. Sweet.
>[Sub-Option] The thrift shop.
Second choice this, because all kinds of weird things go through thrift stores. Spooooky things.

>>4161567
They do surface intermittently.

>>4161425
>Go for a specific store.
>>[Sub-Option] The gym.

>>4161571
UNDER THE SEA
JUST WAITING FOR ME
THE VALKANS ARE OUT THERE
LIVING WITHOUT CARE
UNDER THE SEA

>>4161425
>Is it possible to actively track magic usage? The faint traces left where they've been?

>>4161571
The Hunt for Red Rontahber.

You know, there's one other benefit to going to the gym with our sporty new clothes.
Showing off!
But of course we'd never take time to do that, no sirree, we are here on very serious business hunting a wizard after all.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

And that's a tie. Rolling off. 1 for gym, 2 for attempting to actively track it. And also the stuff about asking Wander.

Update delayed in the interest of me not staying up through the night and until noon three days in a row.

Ha. We haven't actually decloaked the sword yet, have we?
Should make for some funny reactions when Tiiris pulls it out of thin air.

Goddamn I need to fix my sleep schedule holy shit. Update should be up within the hour.

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"It's not like we'll ever find out by sitting here..." Kara begins.

You smile at her. "No, you're probably right." You move to get out of the car again, only for your sword to catch on the seat and stop you. "Right, forgot about you."

"About wh-" Kara blinked and her eyes widened as you pulled the cloaking device off the sword as a ribbon and it blinked back into existence, as if the frame had skipped on a bad special effect. "Woah! What's that?"

"It's a bound blade." Skaal said quietly.

You turn in your seat to look at the gun drone. "You know what it is?"

"Yes. Very powerful Abyss-forged weapon. Extremely dangerous."

"It's broken." You look down at the scabbard, then tug on the hilt a few times without the sword budging. "I heard it speak before."

"That would be the will of the weapon."

"Will? It can think?" You look down at it warily. "Is it an AI?"

"No, it is a shade. Fragment of Death."

"Why's it broken, you think?"

"I don't know." Skaal admitted. "I have only known of one such weapon, and it was not broken."

"What was it like?" You ask, turning your attention inward towards the blade again. A gloved, suited hand wraps around the hilt, and you bite your lip behind your helmet as you yank at it again. Nothing. Not even an experimental probe with your powers generates any response. So consumed by this were you that you barely notice as Skaal doesn't reply. "Well, it's not doing anything for me now." You slide it through the gap between the seats and toss it into your rear seat, then look to Kara. "There's a slight chance this could get dangerous. You okay with that?"

"Always." Kara answered instantly, and you notice Skaal digitally hum with a note of approval.

You grin weakly, then open your door, dropping your school uniform in the back as you go. Absently, you play with the cloaking device in your hand, and within a few seconds, you're slipping a headband over your hair. Small tendrils lace over your scalp and firmly root it in place, and you tug on it in surprise. Tagara really had nothing on the convenience of Valkan wearables, did they?

Kara finally gets out of the car, followed by a cloaked Skaal. "Okay, well- where do we start?"

You think over the layout Easy had described to you. "...there's a gym down there. Wide open, but there should be a few private rooms open for yoga and stuff, right?"

Kara nods. "Probably? I don't go to the gym much."

"Thankfully, I do. Er, public ones, anyway."

---

You're absolutely sure that this is the place as soon as you step in the door. For one, all of the other businesses you passed on the way in were far too small and quiet to account for someone casting spells unless those giant flashes were produced by using telekinesis to shelve books. Second, not two seconds before you stepped in, another flash echoed from deeper in the facility.

"Good evening!" A man smiles at you briefly from behind the front desk.

>>4164684
"Hi?" You wave a little timidly. Right, shit, private gyms needed a membership, you forgot. The man was looking at you expectantly, and you realize he was waiting for you to check in. There was a thumbprint reader sitting on the desk in front of her, was that how they signed in members around here?

>Sign up for a membership - or buy a temporary pass. (Cost: 1)
>Ask ST to break into the system and make a fake account for you.
>Maybe you could talk your way into an exemption? Make up a story about losing something?
>Walk back out and cloak before coming back in.
>[Write-In]

>>4164685
Ask about joining the gym, see if he can show you the facilities and equipment.

>>4164685
>Ask ST to break into the system and make a fake account for you.
Get him to populate our records using other members data as a baseline, and to loop / copy the data off any cameras on the network that he can find.

Getting ST to also look a little deeper for things like a list of members, those currently present at the gym, past time tables, or financial records really anything he can find before things kick off would also be a good use of his time since it could be critical later, if we find anything of note.

>>4164685
>Ask ST to break into the system and make a fake account for you.

>>4164685
>Ask ST to break into the system and make a fake account for you.

>>4164707
This
Maybe have Wander snoop around? Normal people can't see her.

>>4164685
Yeah this here >>4164707 or a bit of this:
>Maybe you could talk your way into an exemption? Make up a story about losing something?
Two cute teenage girls can get a ton of leeway just by existing.

>>4164685
>Maybe you could talk your way into an exemption?

>Ask about joining the gym, see if he can show you the facilities and equipment, use your out-of-shape feminine wiles?
Writing.

>>4166384
>out-of-shape feminine wiles
Was there ever a time when they weren't out of shape?

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>>4166387
No.

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"How can I help you?"

"Um, well-" You glance at Kara. "We weeere... thinking about joining. What could you tell us about the place?"

"Well." The man nodded, instantly shifting into salesperson mode. "We have some of the best facilities in this sector of the city other than our sister facility in Sector 11A. We have an indoor relay pool, in addition to a weight room and patterball court..."

You nod as he continues his spiel. "Is there any chance we might see for ourselves?" You ask politely.

He glances up at you in surprise and you make sure to smile. That's what you're supposed to do when you're a pretty girl and you want something, right? Bat your eyelashes and smile? Frowning, he glances at the clock, seems to weigh it before continuing. "...sure, although the pool will be closed by now."

"That's fine, we just want to see for ourselves."

The man nods and gets up from behind the desk, spinning a lanyard of keys around his finger. "Alright, follow me." Picking a seemingly random direction, he leads you up a ramp towards a series of doors and rubber mats laid out on the floor. "This is the entrance to the pool, locker rooms..." He gestures down the hall, showing you into a room that smelled of sweat and had mats laid out all over the floor. "These are our weight rooms- you can sign up for classes if you're interested."

"What are those rooms?" Kara gestures to a series of doors set in the far walls.

"Those are private rooms that you can rent out with advance notice." The man gestured. "Usually used for racquetball, but I know some of our members use it for other activities. Hula-hooping, yoga and so on." He leads you on in a small circuit, various specialty rooms lining the outer ring of, while the pool took up the center. "Lastly, our running track circles the upper floor of the facility, with the kinesthetics room just up these stairs."

As he leads you through briefly, rattling off the official spiel about fitness coaches and 'half a MILE of TRACK', you peek across the room and spy two figures currently striking each other on a boxing mat in the far side of the room. One - a man - held a foam shield for the woman across from him to hit, and you could swear there was a faint sheen of the Abyss emanating from one of them. Both of them?

You peer a bit closer and reach out with your senses, and don't notice anything odd about them- no thin wires like you could perceive in yourself, or in that one guy who tried to hammer you. No augments? Could they be what you were sensing?

>Try and sidle on over to them. Talk to them?
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.
>No, it's just a coincidence. Maybe it was whoever used the mat before them?
>[Write-In]

>>4166461
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.
If we want to ask them anything it may be better to wait until we see the rest of the facilities first, and it would probably flow better if wait until they take a break before we approach them.

>>4166461
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.

>>4166461
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.

>>4166461
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.

>>4166461
>Try and sidle on over to them. Talk to them?
Sounds like he's near the end of his spiel. Good time for distractions.
These two are definitely anime martial artists. They were totally throwing around kamehamehas when nobody was looking. Suspicious abyssness. But maybe they're friendly!

>>4166461
>[Write-In]
>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Wander on them for a little bit
Easy can't see abyss stuff

>>4166461
>No, it's just a coincidence. Maybe it was whoever used the mat before them?

>Stick with the receptionist, maybe sic Easy on them for a little bit.
Writing.

I would like to take this time to remind our viewers across our many stations that rumors of a Valkan virus are completely unfounded.

>>4168060
VALKAN VIRUS A REAL! HAPPENING NOW!

Does COADE have 4chan? Does it have /pol/ happeners?

>>4168118
Of course it does, but hell if I know what it's called. Considering Tagaran naming conventions, maybe Y'tard. They'd probably operate at the fringe of Tagara's current politics, which probably aligns them with the anit-military, pro-downsizing faction.

Your intuition said they were the ones you were looking for, but... maybe they weren't. Maybe they were just a pair who happened to be starting their workout a little close to closing time? Maybe they'd have no idea what you were talking about if you went up to them and started asking about the magic they were using?

...yeah, no. Not a good time.

When the receptionist begins to turn away, you follow, sending a brief message to Easy. "Do me a favor, keep an eye on those two for me." You nearly open your mouth to speak to Wander, before realizing that Kara - and, more importantly, the receptionist would hear you. Instead, you make do with a tiny, hopeful jerk of your head towards the pair.

Wander seems to notice, and shrugs. "I think I'll get tugged back soon enough, but I'll try."

Kara shoots you a little look with her eyebrows raised, but you just shrug back at her.

"There's a lot of trace energy in here..." Wander's voice echoes back to you. "Honestly, it could be anyone who uses this room frequently... let me get a closer- woah! There's the range-" You hear a grunt that sounds distinctly like Wander falling over and hitting the floor, followed by scraping. As you near the reception again, she scrambles to her feet and floats back over to you. "That hurts!" She complains.

You crack a little grin as the receptionist sits back down. "Would you be interested in a membership? Currently, we have a new member special where you get an extra month in addition to a free session with our fitness instructors to work out an exercise plan for you."

"In position." Easy quietly reports. "I am not seeing any extraordinary physical abilities, but ST0504 remarks that they are highly skilled. The male partner is just as skilled on the offense as he is defense."

You look down at the sign-up form the receptionist is pushing forward.

>Sign up. (Cost: 1)
>Politely decline.
>[Write-In]

>>4168446
>Sign up. (Cost: 1)
It's worth it, if only because someone is doing something abyss related around here and coming back increases the chances of us being able to narrow down who it is, and if they aren't dumb they will probably approach us anyway since they can probably tell that we have implants.

>>4168446
>Politely decline.

>>4168446
>>[Write-In]
is there any trial membership?

>>4168446
Student discount?

>>4168446
>Sign up. (Cost: 1)
New member special sounds good.
A private Valkan exercise club makes sense from what we know of them. Special nutrition and magic and stuff. Hopefully not a death cult.

>>4168446
Ask these
>>4168701
>>4168757
did the Valkan virus steal your name, Bentus?

>>4168865
Names and trips are all disabled today

>>4168446
>Sign up.
>>4168892
Not the best for qst.

The conspiracy theories on Tagaran 4chan must be so spicy

>>4169062
My ID is still the same, thankfully.

>>4168701
>>4168757
I can tell you right now there's no trial, but a student discount would extend your membership by an extra month on your current funds.

>>4169420
Valkans are a government false flag, Valkans are actually angry spirits returned from the grave, the Kanase are inferior and marked for death by the destruction of their city, Valkans are the saviors, the president is a Valkan shill trying to demilitarize the nation so we're weak, the other planets are fake and we're actually trapped inside a pocket dimension created by our Valkan masters, Valkans infiltrators are attempting to destroy humanity by taking the place of women and interbreeding with our people...

>Sign up with a student discount. (Cost: 1)
Writing.

>>4154510
Apologies- there is an error in the date on this post. It should be:

Skyview Mall
1st of 6th, 1173. 6:00PM.

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89 KB JPG

"Sure." You smile, pulling the tablet towards you and filling it out. Your implants provide your card information as you tap it out, and soon enough you pass it back to him. He asks for your thumbprint a few times, and soon enough you're walking out of the building with a paper copy of your membership information.

>'Pocket Change' has become- b... 'Broke'... (0)
>'Nonexistent savings. You blew it all on cute clothes and a gym membership...'

"Was that worth it?" Kara raises an eyebrow. "Did you even find what you were looking for in there?"

"I think." You smile at her, then contact Easy. "Find out where they live, then come back."

"Understood." Easy replied as you both made your way to the surface.

The two of you clamber back into ST, and you lean back with a sigh. "Okay, sorry about that. I just..."

"I understand." Kara hums. "Shame it's a bit too late to hit up the rest of the circuit..."

You wince. "Yeah, sorry..."

"Are you at least relaxed for finals tomorrow?" Kara tilts her head at you.

"Ssshi-"

---

Miir City-State Academy, Miir, 3rd Floor
2nd of 6th, 1173. 12:00PM.

You collapse into a chair and sigh. "Ugh, fuck me..."

"What are you complaining about?" Kara peers down at you, tossing a tray onto the table.

"I'm at school on a Saturday?"

"One Saturday, then you get to be home for months."

You sigh. Your science final had gone just about as well as you'd expected, while art... honestly, fuck Mr. Opolis. All that was left was your final with Clinsky, then you got to go home. Math, the humanities and social studies were tomorrow. Your program was done on time, much to your relief, and your AI seems to have done a bang-up job on it, even if you only understood the code in fleeting glimpses.

There were half-hour breaks between each final, with snacks and then lunch served during them. You and Kara were currently seated in the cafeteria, eating through your special finals food - instead of cheap cafeteria fair, they shelled out for local restaurants as a brief respite from the horror that is finals - and small plastic bags of popular snacks. Other students flooded and milled through the space as a crowd, jostling for room and eating or fervently flipping through cheat sheets and textbooks at the last minute.

One guy was trying to study his terminal, but keeps glancing over the top to steal looks at you. He was covering his tracks decently- you wouldn't have even noticed if it weren't for your implants alerting you to the 'Possible observer'. A smile and a wave sends him blushing and back under the monitor.

"Enjoying your popularity?" Kara teases. "Going to abandon me for the cool kid's table?"

"I think they were all busy panicking over finals to notice anything was different." You sigh. "And to think- if I were more politically-minded, I'd be ruling the school by now."

Kara snorted.

>>4170531
"Your immediate reaction of laughter has been noted." You sigh and lean back.

"Maybe it has been noticed?" Kara suggests innocently. "How do you know risqué pictures of you changing for gym aren't being passed around?"

"I'm fairly certain S- er, my friend 'Stu' would have found out about that. And probably killed them." You shrug, finishing up the last of your fries.

"Would he even know to look?"

"I..." You hold up a finger, then close your mouth. "Easy, remind me to ask ST about something later."

"Noted. May I ask what?"

"It-" You're interrupted by the bell ringing. "Shit, next final. Hold on." You sigh and stand up, as Kara fervently finishes her mashed potatoes. "Ready for this?" You whine.

"I thought it was pretty easy." Kara smiles. "You'll do fine."

"You don't know that." You sling your bag over your shoulder and start to push your way through the crowd.

"I do. You've got all your need in your head." Kara puts two fingers to her head and squints.

"Very funny." You roll your eyes.

All that said, the temptation to use your AI to cheat was present. What if you got in trouble, though? What if they thought the sudden grade bump was because you were cheating- which, well, you really were, when it came down to it. Some things, like the improved memory and math skills you couldn't help, but was letting the computer in your head do your technology final really a good idea?

>Of course it is. Fuck Clinsky.
>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...
>The whole point of this is to learn how to do it without any help. Do it like you're supposed to.
>[Write-In]

>>4170533
>[Write-In]
Only have it assist us to prevent / find and correct dumb mistakes like; syntax errors, missing brackets, improperly referenced variable, constants, functions and loops.
so we can focus on the logical side of whatever we get asked to do done correctly.

>>4170533
>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...

>>4170533
>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...
Keep trying, with AI as a backup. The struggle is half the lesson, the other half is learning to trust your brain-cohabitating pal. Just like everyone's high school experience.

>>4170533
>The whole point of this is to learn how to do it without any help. Do it like you're supposed to.

>>4170533
>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...
Slippery slopes are fun!

>>4170533
>Of course it is. Fuck Clinsky.

>>4170533
>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...
It's not like there was ever supposed to be any separation between us and the implants anyway. If we were a normal valkan, we would have been born with them.

>>4170533
>Of course it is. Fuck Clinsky

>>4170533
>The whole point of this is to learn how to do it without any help. Do it like you're supposed to.
We'd probably end up using some weird Valkan code that nobody has any idea what it is.

>Try to succeed without it, but if it's too hard...
Writing.

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96 KB JPG

Maybe it's something intrinsic that comes with having implants in, and not from the implants themselves, but you feel more confident in your knowledge. You sit down for your test and look at the questions and they seem almost... answerable. Yeah, you knew what a pointer was. Yeah! You knew what a binary tree was, these were all easy- oh, this one wanted you to write some code...

As soon as you were faced with the question, it was like all knowledge suddenly fled from your mind. You... right, so you had to implement a kind of string checking, that would require you to- um, right, first you had to check, er...

You skip it, continuing onto questions you were more familiar with. More theory and abstract concepts, things that came to you quickly and easily, but didn't have much to do with coding itself. It's only after you've exhausted every option that you have to force yourself to stare down the barrel of scripts. You give it an honest effort, you really do, but...

Step in?

Please.

As your implants start to tackle the problem, you find yourself wishing you could understand it's thought process a little bit better. It pauses briefly to gently remind you to set aside time for 'final integration' one of these days.

What does that even mean?

...oh.

You suppress a shudder in your seat at it's description of what will happen. Not just one stroke this time, but a series of strokes as it firmly worms itself entirely into your consciousness. It could communicate with your mind as is, even interact with your nerves if you asked it to, but it wasn't truly sharing your headspace with you. At least, not in the way it was supposed to.

It stops moving your fingers, and you stare at your finished code with a queasy feeling. You'd just gotten used to this level of it sharing your head, being able to move your body and trying to help out as best it could. The idea of it getting it's hooks into even more of your senses was- it wasn't bad, but it definitely makes you feel anxious and more than a little uneasy.

For once, your implants didn't step in to tamp down on your nerves, instead only reassuring you that it wouldn't be any more prominent in your head than before, merely prsent in more senses. You weren't sure what the difference was really supposed to be, there.

You hit submit and get up from your seat, barely looking at Clinsky as you hand your terminal over and sign out from the class.

"Have a good summer, Tiiris." Mrs. Clinsky says with a little smile.

"You too?" You force a smile and step out of the room. An involuntary sigh of relief streams out of your mouth as you wander the halls, stopping briefly to grab your bag from your locker. Just some relatively easy subjects tomorrow, and then field day if you felt up to it. As you turn a corner, you suddenly come face to face with a dark-skinned girl coming the opposite direction. "Oh, I'm sorry."

>>4172708
"It's cool, I wasn't looking where I-" She looks up at you, then blinks in surprise. "Oh, it's you."

You frown at her, trying to think of where you met, then it comes to you. "You're... Netana, I think you said?"

"Yeah, and you're moon-girl."

"Tiiris."

"Right, right..." She trails off, eyes sweeping you up and down. "You look different."

>"I've had kind of a growth spurt lately."
>"I don't think I'm all that different."
>"Thank you for noticing."
>"I do?"
>[Write-In]

>>4172711
>"Thank you for noticing."

>>4172711
>"I do?"

>>4172711
>"Thank you for noticing."
Communicates that it's intentional, without saying what 'it' actually is. New clothes preening!

>>4172711
>"I do?"

>>4172711
>"I've had kind of a growth spurt lately."
STICK TO THE COVER STORY

>>4172711
>"Thank you for noticing."
It's pretty obvious. If she's about to call us a Valkan then the jig's probably up whatever we say.

>"Thank you for noticing."
Writing.

"Oh, um..." You blush and tuck some of your hair behind your ear. "Thank you for noticing." You couldn't help but preen a little at the attention.

"Taller, too." Netana expresses the first bit of surprise you've ever seen from her. She blinks, then looks down at your shoes quickly before looking back up. "Way taller..."

"I am?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Netana says with a bit of wonder, her expression cycling between envy and curiosity. Something seemed to occur to her, and her expression soon turned to shock.

"...you okay?" You ask.

"Huh?" She said dumbly, then started. "Oh, um. Yeah- I'm, I'm just gonna get going. It was nice to see you around." She says hurriedly, stepping around you and hurrying down the hall.

"Nice to see... you... too?" You wave awkwardly after her, unsure of what just happened, before shrugging it off. She was a little 'off' before, that might just be how she is most of the time. Nothing to worry about. Honestly, you should probably be more concerned with your humanities final...

---

Miir City-State Academy, Miir, 3rd Floor
3rd of 6th, 1173. 11:00AM.

You sigh and tap on the desk with a huff, going over your lessons in your head. When did you ditch the monarchy? It sure as hell wasn't 1099, and you don't think it was as late as 1130, which left 1120 and 1124. Was it before or after the planetary government? That was 1120, so... dammit. When was it?

1124 comes to you in the form of a brief memory, a dimly remembered lesson being refreshed.

Thank you. You tap the multiple choice bubble and continue on.

A lot of the history portion of your test was simple regurgitation of things you should already know. How the government was run, the basic rundown of each branch and a few things related to history or other fine details. A few of the questions were more tricky, but you were usually able to suss out the correct answer from the provided ones.

The last five questions were short answer, including one based around current events.

In your own words, describe the present day political contention over military spending.

Ah, opinion writing. The most glorious form of writing, because it meant you just had to explain an opinion moderately well and you'd get a good score. With the Valkans gone - or, well not gone, but you were probably one of the only ones who knew that - every election you could remember had anti and pro-expansionists shouting at each other over the military's explosively large budget. And consistently, pro had won out on what seemed like paranoia. 'Just in case'.

Which... wasn't unreasonable? It had taken all of the ships Tagara had to muster to drive back the Valkans, and you now knew that only worked because the Valkans - or rather, the 13th Fleet - hadn't just bombed you all into submission from the get-go. That, and something to do with losing control of the Abyss powers they used had prevented their total conquest of Tagara.

>>4174700
But that may lend some credence to the anti-expansion side. Not all of them called for downsizing, after all, but if your absolute maximum wasn't enough to pose a threat, then was there really a point in ramping up your military until your technology could match theirs? Or at least, compare. There was also the slight fact that... you weren't anti-military or anything, but maybe seventy eight percent of the total government budget being allocated to the military was a bit too much. Especially when a lot of it was in weapon's development and wages for thousands of soldiers that were no longer needed.

You couldn't fully answer this- not when you knew things your teacher definitely didn't. But what stance would you take for what you could write?

>Pro-expansionist. What you had wasn't enough. The real question is spending it most effectively.
>Anti-expansionist. You need the military, but what's there is... way too much.
>[Write-In]

>>4174702
>Pro-expansionist. What you had wasn't enough. The real question is spending it most effectively.

>80% of the budget
Just imagine the lockmart boondoggles Tagara has access to.