With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
29th April 2013
OWFUCK!

"Prime!"

Tha's a spear…

AAAAGHnd now it's gone, and th's a hole.

On the up side, once the tip went through, there's not much more damage it could do. You can only be so impaled, after all. Unless it had retracting spikes like a gae bolg, or sharp sides, or...

I'll stop talking, shall I?

Aaaa-aaaa-aaagh!

Krillick's.. grabbing my shoulders and… Pulling me towards a wreck. For cover?

Well, unless there's some nasty nanite payload in the wound, his healing factor should keep him going.

I reach for the hole in my front with my right hand, and the hole in my back with my… With the back of my left. Ah… I can still feel my legs, so I guess… I don't need my spine any more? Or maybe it missed? Or I don't have a spine?

"-ime!"

Distributed neural network, probably. Less points of failure compared to a spine-based biology.

"Huh?" Huh? "What?"

"You are badly injured. We should return to the Illustres."

That's the smartest play, given he could handle the Scarab. But he'd likely lose interdiction in the fighting.

"N… N-o."

"Why?"

"Can't lead… Save the brains. Whole point." Ugh-uh… "Reach ships. What bits-? You know what bits explode. Yeah?"

Planning the space combat version of beating one futher-mocker with another futher-mocker, eh?

"Yes? You want to use them as grenades?"

"Guns hurt, but spear… Did this." Not bleeding. Sort of… Flaking, but not bleeding. "Can't disrupt her armour. Doesn't work."

Definitely some kind of piercing effect involved with the edges.

"That leaves us with physical force. And 'ship grenades'."

"An-." I push myself away.. weakly, but I'm still super strong, so… "An' melty… Stuff."

And given a moment to focus on healing, you're at least mobile again.

"You said-?"

"Grab a thing, melt it and push it together. Like-." I grab a chunk of… Station panelling, crush it into a-. Heh, a spear shape, and… Press. "Like this."

Interesting trick. Wonder how he's managing that specifically. Telekinesis, of course, but it's a very unusual application of it.

"I didn't know we could make out own plasma." He flies to a wreck and rips a chunk off. Then he looks around. "Why hasn't… 'She' attacked again?"

"Thinking..? Haven't seen us before. Doesn't know what we can do."

And running into a defended position against two unknown threats is a dumb way to die.

"That won't last." His lump of metal shimmers and then bursts. "Shade! How do you do it?"

How do I do it..?

Better work it out so you can teach the other Effigies.

"Like… Swirl around." I wave my right hand in a circle so he can understand what I mean. "Keep things moving. Push in a circle so it can't get away."

"I… Think I understand." He grabs some more ship, squeezes it into shape and… Ayyyy, he got it! "I hadn't realised that degree of control w-"

So, sort of a bottled plasma field. Kind of like a Lightsaber or Gundam's Beam sabers (The big difference there being scale.)

"Behind y-" I fly, my spear extended and compressed as the Scarab darts-

"-as-?"

Good reaction speed there, Marty. And now the fight gets nasty.

-in through the wreck!

"-ou!"

Krillik turns around as the Scarab comes at him with some sort of… Spear-gun? He tries to parry it with his spear, but loses control as they come together so his explodes, knocking them apart-.

Not quite the intended use, by the look of it, but given their durability, a valid option.

There.

I shove my spear forwards, hitting the Scarab in the side. Doesn't pierce-. But! Disrupt the plasma like that and-

Because even contained by his telekinesis...

Fssssss!

-it's a high pressure plasma hose! The Scarab goes shooting away, clasping her side where the armour's gone darker. Punch it! And ag-. Ow, ah, fucking fuck! She morphed her arm into a shield and blocked-.

...It's still a swirling mass of superheated metal. That sort of hit is definitely doing damage, but now she's wise to it...

"Krillik, metal!"

Except he can't hear because he's too far away again. The Scarab makes an ax with her spare hand and swings at me, but I can just fly around that. I punch and she blocks, but this time I grab the shield and pull myself around-.

Good, you remembered: Leverage.

Grab the ax handle and pull!

Crun-KRAK!

Part of her arm? Hit her with it! YAH! Neck! Side! Side! Gun!

Nice. I know he's probably not using the wet end, but it's still a funny image.

Gun?

Ooof!

Dangit, he keeps bringing a fist or a club to a gun fight.

I go flying away from her-. Not positrons, doesn't.. really hurt, but I'm struggling to stop. Krillik-. Krillik's got a new spear, so-.

"Krillik, catch!"

dual-wielding for the win.

I toss him the ax, and-. Judged it right, so he catches it and lunges at the Scarab, who… Um, not sure what she's doing. Shifting something.

"Aim for her left side!"

Best way to do this. Keep on her, don't let her get a viable weapon formed.

Okay, they're getting further away, which is bad, because I don't think Krillik heard me. Disruption aura and try flying really hard because it's my job! No, no, n-. Dah! There! Head back fast as I can!

Krillik's… Getting shot, but he seems to be coping with that as he-. Damn it, near miss on hitting her head with his plasma spear! She's gone with two thin blade-arm things and he's… Sort of smacking them aside with her own ax. She's knocked back each time-.

Drawback of weapons attached to you: If they stick in the enemy's body... That puts you right in arms' reach of their return blows.

Krillik's keeping on her, but they're coming up to a wreck. Uh. Right. Disruption aura off-. Check my injuries. Hole's still there but it's not flaking any more, so… Good? Then fly around where they're fighting and around the ship so they can't see me. Can't listen in on people in space, not how we Effigies talk.

Which is still bizarre. Some kind of radio-emission thing? However Jevek managed it, he really needs to upgrade their range.

"Krillick, I'm behind her." I push my hand through the hull, forming a new spear. "Try grappling if you can."

"Not-. Easy, Prime."

Ah, the joy of outnumbering a foe in a melee: knocking them in the back when they're not focusing on you.

"If you can't then you can't." Turn it to contained plasma… Good. Move to the edge of the wreck so that I'm just out of view… Good. "But I'm ready to jump her if you can."

"When I shout, come immediately."

Good signal. 'If I scream, attack!'

"Got i-."

"NOWNOWNOW!"

Whoops, that didn't take long. Let's hope Krillik isn't mortally wounded by this.

I dart around-. Krillik's bear hugging her, and her blades are-. In his shoulders and.. stuck? She's trying to get free, but I'm already behind her with spear tip poking the base of her spine.

Release.

Right in the Scarab, eh? It's a guaranteed kill-shot, for sure.

She shudders as the plasma hose bores right through the scarab machine, through her body -shame, but we probably can't save her- and into-.

"Agh!"

"Sorry!"

Yeah, don't get carried away sticking it in her, Marty. This is a threesome, after all.

Into Krillik, but it should have lost almost all of its power. He releases her, grabs her blade arms and shoves them out of his shoulders as.. the scarab armour starts to fall off. Yeah, we can't-. Vacuum exposure will kill her even if the injuries might now. And yeah, it's one of the people we came her to save.

Tough luck. But I suspect the Scarab was in full control at this point. So she was literally a dead woman flying.

"You alright?"

Krillik checks his chest and shoulders. "I can fight. A bit." The ax falls apart, and he tosses the arm aside. "Back to the Illustres."

Definitely in need of patching up, for one thing.

Yes, we should-.

Wait.

"No. There wasn't anything special about this place."

...That you know of?

"Yes?"

"So why did a Scarab Warrior come here? We need to check-."

...Well, you two were here. Or at least they detected you heading that way.

His eyes widen. "The others!"

"Yeah. Ah." I look around, trying to feel. "That way first."

Just when you wish you could take a moment, there's always something...

Not a great result for them. Yes, they took the Scarab down, but they got mauled something fierce by whatever trick it was using to beat their durability, and they only won mostly because of Marty's little beam-saber trick. So unless the others have come up with their own sneaky power-ups, they wont be doing nearly as well, will they?

Krillick's.. grabbing my shoulders and…

"Krillick, I'm behind her."

Couple of cases of stray 'C's in Krillik's name.

Mr Zoat · Oct 10, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Couple of cases of stray 'C's in Krillik's name.

Thank you, corrected.

Silveraith · Oct 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
"I didn't know we could make out own plasma."

Our.

Mr Zoat · Oct 10, 2024

Silveraith said:
Our.

Thank you, corrected.

boo600 · Oct 11, 2024

Sooooo…
Hmm. If I recall correctly, canon's black scarab wasn't really upgraded versus blue scarabs, just… elite. And I didn't see anything specifically enhanced about the scarabs here.

It seems like it's a rock-paper-scissors thing. The effigies are much better at penetrating Reach space (because of their ability to warp telekinetically/Viltrumitely, ignoring interdiction fields), and they don't run out of power and need to recharge (even with a portable lantern) the way Lanterns do, meaning they're much better for destroying huge masses of ships - but they have less space combat experience and less access to thinker powers/scanning techniques than lanterns, and they're critically vulnerable to Beetle Bullshit as a result. Not enough to let the scarabs kill then, so far - and the scarabs probably have experience against space humanoid targets like darkstars, so really, they're ahead in terms of durability vs firepower…

But it's enough to keep the Corps in business, even before any unknown mental issues start cropping up (and they will, because Maltusian tinkering. The Manhunters, the Lanterns, the 'alpha lanterns' in the comics… every time a Maltusian starts empowering lesser beings, it seems like they're rolling agains their SAN. Maybe in Call of Cthulhu, maybe Don't Rest Your Head, but someone's going to go crazy sooner or later).

Mr Zoat · Oct 11, 2024

22nd December 2282
12:09 GMT -6

"THAT IS NOT GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE."

In Magic: the Gathering… Or Tragic the Garnering here, I suppose. You lose the game when your life total reaches 0. But there's no disadvantage to being at 1 life compared to being at 100, aside from it being easier to drop you to 0.

With access to stimpacks and psychic chirurgy, there are no injuries we can't eventually fix. Even the effects of brain injuries can be moderated by the use of cybernetic implants which can be provided by both the Brotherhood of Steel and the Followers of the Apocalypse. So while a normal soldier has to worry about being invalided out if they're seriously injured, wealthier or better connected people really only have to worry about dying.

In the medium term.

I tug on the rope again. "I know, ARGOS. But I need to be there. I need to oversee things. My mission, my responsibility."

In the short term, I know that there's a big difference between climbing down a lift shaft on metaphorical 20 life when compared to metaphorical… Let's say 4. Everything hurts. The movements. The stimpack solution pushing bits of my body back into the right places without dealing with the debris. The bangs against the edges of the shaft because ARGOS can't fit far enough into the topside opening to lower me down directly.

"I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW IT WORKS."

But the rope starts extending again anyway. ARGOS is an interesting case, because once we removed Calculator and Doki Doki's overrides… He isn't actually obliged to obey anyone. He was designed to coordinate with ODYSSEUS, but his original programming wasn't complicated enough to be able to generate other desires. He didn't need obedience programming because he'd never want to disobey.

Then Victor Presper damaged his communications array to prevent ODYSSEUS giving him tasks, and an escaped prisoner connected him to the robots of Robot City. All of them. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but somehow exposure to thousands of fractured personality programs changed him and now he makes his own decisions.

"I didn't say it was sensible or-." Adjuhjuhjuh! "-intelligent, just that it's necessary."

"DO YOU LACK OBJECT PERMINANCE?"

I roll my eyes. "I don't know. Stop talking and see if you stop existing."

Past the floor where Calculator tried taking my head, and down towards the lowest level.

"I THINK DOKI DOKI SHOULD BE PUT ON A TIME OUT."

He's also not very impressed about his 'daughter' having used the communication channel he gave her for emergencies to hack his brain.

"That's ARGOS! Hey! Emergency override-!"

"THAT WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE UPDATED MY COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS. YOU ARE IN TROUBLE."

"Eep!"

And here's the bottom, where the lift Lanius destroyed crashed down to. A little telepathy-.

**Yoo-hoo?**

**Chief?** Ah, good, Carlton's in one piece.

**Coming down now, please don't shoot me. I've had quite enough of that today.**

I drop the rest of the way onto the uneven metal, and then undo the loop of cable from my harness before cautiously clambering over the metal to the door. I rap my knuckles against the left hand door twice, and the use mechempathy to cycle the mechanism.

Clunkclunkclunk.

A couple of guns are raised in my direction, but get lowered again the moment they see me.

"Casualties?"

Carlton nods. "Mark took a plasma bolt to the head, and one of the Paladins didn't tell us they had a pacemaker."

I wince. Unfortunate, but something like that happening in an operation like this was probably inevitable. I didn't know Mark well, and he's hardly the first person to die under my command. The Paladin thing was stupid-.

"It wasn't Justinia, was it?"

"No. I.. didn't get his name-."

I hold up my right hand and shake my head. It's not strictly speaking our problem, but it does indicate a need to check out communication more thoroughly in future.

"Have you found McKinley's brain?"

"Yeah, that's-." He starts walking towards one of the adjacent rooms. "You should speak to her yourself, Chief. She's… Odd."

I follow him, one of my soldiers filing in behind me while the rest continue to guard the lift area. Looking around I can see bullet fragments and bits of robots littering the floor, though it looks like the wrecks have been removed. Carlton leads me around the edge of a… C-27 assembly line, and up a spiral staircase into… Some sort of office, or… Board room? This vault was originally intended for human habitation, I just haven't really… Seen many human touches since I got here.

And there's the last brain.

"McKinley?"

"Finally. Completed your hostile take-over?"

"Pretty much. Calculator?"

"If I'm honest, I'm not feeling too great! One more brain and I'm just running on Doki!"

A cluster of… Brotherhood scribes, are working on the system connecting her to Vault 0 with one of my mechempathy specialists.

"So, McKinley: your options are-."

"I'm staying right here."

"You..? Are?"

"My people came from the Secret Vault in West Texas, before the Brotherhood kicked us out. Just about every one of them are dead or part of the Legion. WARDEN won't tolerate gun-toting capitalism, and I got… I'm out of contract. What's your bid?"

"A replacement body, and lawful employment. You could be a legitimate private security operative."

"Nah. Right now, I've got a unique value set. If everyone else gets out and you liquidate Calculator, I'm the best brain to run this problem child of a Vault and turn it into a cash cow. And I like Vaults. Grew up in one, like I said."

"That… Could be made to happen. I have to consult the other stakeholders first-."

"Stakeholder capitalism is a load of baloney! You answer to your shareholders, not whatever asshole thinks you oughtta!"

"Primary shareholders, then. I can probably sell it to WARDEN as community service, and you would effectively be imprisoned. What would you want out of this?"

"Better accommodation, no heavy lifting, and kill-cameras on every robot so I can watch them downsize whoever we're hostile take-overing this week."

I nod as the scribes finish fiddling and the speakers crackle.

"I think we can work something out."

"Daisy..! Daisy..! It's all.. going.. darkkkkk…"

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 11, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
22nd December 2282
12:09 GMT -6

"THAT IS NOT GOOD MEDICAL PRACTICE."

In Magic: the Gathering… Or Tragic the Garnering here, I suppose. You lose the game when your life total reaches 0. But there's no disadvantage to being at 1 life compared to being at 100, aside from it being easier to drop you to 0.

It's a well known trope. Among other names, Critical Existence Failure. Unfortunately, real organic bodies don't work that way, much to some folk's regret. Though you'd be amazed what parts some people can lose and still function with.

With access to stimpacks and psychic chirurgy, there are no injuries we can't eventually fix. Even the effects of brain injuries can be moderated by the use of cybernetic implants which can be provided by both the Brotherhood of Steel and the Followers of the Apocalypse. So while a normal soldier has to worry about being invalided out if they're seriously injured, wealthier or better connected people really only have to worry about dying.

Fallout medical technology is ludicrous, sometimes. Don't forget the chemical serums that can prevent radiation exposure damage.

In the medium term.

I tug on the rope again. "I know, ARGOS. But I need to be there. I need to oversee things. My mission, my responsibility."

Still no cure for old age, of course. Though their healing tech can probably keep a brain in good shape for a long time...

In the short term, I know that there's a big difference between climbing down a lift shaft on metaphorical 20 life when compared to metaphorical… Let's say 4. Everything hurts. The movements. The stimpack solution pushing bits of my body back into the right places without dealing with the debris. The bangs against the edges of the shaft because ARGOS can't fit far enough into the topside opening to lower me down directly.

Sadly, you don't have time to lay there wincing and going 'ow' while all this is going down.

"I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW IT WORKS."

But the rope starts extending again anyway. ARGOS is an interesting case, because once we removed Calculator and Doki Doki's overrides… He isn't actually obliged to obey anyone. He was designed to coordinate with ODYSSEUS, but his original programming wasn't complicated enough to be able to generate other desires. He didn't need obedience programming because he'd never want to disobey.

That sounds deliriously exploitable.

Then Victor Presper damaged his communications array to prevent ODYSSEUS giving him tasks, and an escaped prisoner connected him to the robots of Robot City. All of them. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but somehow exposure to thousands of fractured personality programs changed him and now he makes his own decisions.

...And then he became an emergent true AI. Luck of the dice roll.

"I didn't say it was sensible or-." Adjuhjuhjuh! "-intelligent, just that it's necessary."

"DO YOU LACK OBJECT PERMINANCE?"

The joy of organic minds, ARGOS. All those little irrational things you don't have to concern yourself with...

I roll my eyes. "I don't know. Stop talking and see if you stop existing."

Past the floor where Calculator tried taking my head, and down towards the lowest level.

Watch the sass, Krono. It's still a fair way down there...

"I THINK DOKI DOKI SHOULD BE PUT ON A TIME OUT."

He's also not very impressed about his 'daughter' having used the communication channel he gave her for emergencies to hack his brain.

Which he's no doubt corrected now that he's out Calculator's control. He may speak slowly, but he's not stupid.

"That's ARGOS! Hey! Emergency override-!"

"THAT WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE UPDATED MY COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS. YOU ARE IN TROUBLE."

Heh. There's the Dad Voice. Doki's gonna be quaking in her chips.

"Eep!"

And here's the bottom, where the lift Lanius destroyed crashed down to. A little telepathy-.

He shall not be missed, I think, since I doubt his brain case survived that fall...

**Yoo-hoo?**

**Chief?** Ah, good, Carlton's in one piece.

Right, the rest of the infiltration team. Good to see they aren't all dead.

**Coming down now, please don't shoot me. I've had quite enough of that today.**

I drop the rest of the way onto the uneven metal, and then undo the loop of cable from my harness before cautiously clambering over the metal to the door. I wrap my knuckles against the left hand door twice, and the use mechempathy to cycle the mechanism.

His knees are gonna feel that in the morning, I bet.

Clunkclunkclunk.

A couple of guns are raised in my direction, but get lowered again the moment they see me.

And his legend of cockroach-like unkillability grows...

"Casualties?"

Carlton nods. "Mark took a plasma bolt to the head, and one of the Paladins didn't tell us they had a pacemaker."

Not necessarily fatal... If they weren't in firefights, I bet.

I wince. Unfortunate, but something like that happening in an operation like this was probably inevitable. I didn't know Mark well, and he's hardly the first person to die under my command. The Paladin thing was stupid-.

"It wasn't Justinia, was it?"

That could be awkward to explain to her chapter.

"No. I.. didn't get his name-."

I hold up my right hand and shake my head. It's not strictly speaking our problem, but it does indicate a need to check out communication more thoroughly in future.

A guy with a pacemaker should probably have never been in an operation set to open with EMP charges in the first place... Sadly, I doubt they had the luxury of picking better operatives.

"Have you found McKinley's brain?"

"Yeah, that's-." He starts walking towards one of the adjacent rooms. "You should speak to her yourself, Chief. She's… Odd."

Well, that was established from her first lines. Can you be more specific?

I follow him, one of my soldiers filing in behind me while the rest continue to guard the lift area. Looking around I can see bullet fragments and bits of robots littering the floor, though it looks like the wrecks have been removed. Carlton leads me around the edge of a… C-27 assembly line, and up a spiral staircase into… Some sort of office, or… Board room? This vault was originally intended for human habitation, I just haven't really… Seen many human touches since I got here.

Probably deemed an unnecessary waste of resources by Calculator.

And there's the last brain.

"McKinley?"

"Finally. Completed your hostile take-over?"

Well, hello to you to. Straight down to business, then?

"Pretty much. Calculator?"

"If I'm honest, I'm not feeling too great! One more brain and I'm just running on Doki!"

...A fate worse than death, really.

A cluster of… Brotherhood scribes, are working on the system connecting her to Vault 0 with one of my mechempathy specialists.

"So, McKinley: your options are-."

Fortunately, AIs here don't seem to be able to transfer their main code to other processors easily. And since he's tied to the bunker systems anyway... No risk to Doki by unplugging them.

"I'm staying right here."

"You..? Are?"

...Unexpected.

"My people came from the Secret Vault in West Texas, before the Brotherhood kicked us out. Just about every one of them are dead or part of the Legion. WARDEN won't tolerate gun-toting capitalism, and I got… I'm out of contract. What's your bid?"

"A replacement body, and lawful employment. You could be a legitimate private security operative."

I suppose she doesn't have anywhere else to go. You could do worse by putting her in charge, I guess?

"Nah. Right now, I've got a unique value set. If everyone else gets out and you liquidate Calculator, I'm the best brain to run this problem child of a Vault and turn it into a cash cow. And I like Vaults. Grew up in one, like I said."

"That… Could be made to happen. I have to consult the other stakeholders first-."

Yeah. I can see some of the local powers being worried about someone with a factory making advanced security robots.

"Stakeholder capitalism is a load of baloney! You answer to your shareholders, not whatever asshole thinks you oughtta!"

"Primary shareholders, then. I can probably sell it to WARDEN as community service, and you would effectively be imprisoned. What would you want out of this?"

And he can always sell it to the NCR as a useful militia asset.

"Better accommodation, no heavy lifting, and kill-cameras on every robot so I can watch them downsize whoever we're hostile take-overing this week."

I nod as the scribes finish fiddling and the speakers crackle.

Well... Sounds like she'll do fine.

"I think we can work something out."

"Daisy..! Daisy..! It's all.. going.. darkkkkk…"

...You think some wag of a programmer set that specific voice loop up for a laugh?

Well, looks like Krono's side of the episode is all settled up. With surprising off-screen efficiency by his strike team. Then again, Krono really only served as bait for a lot of the fighting. Calculator's focus on him made it easier for his allies. And it looks like a new power is going to be rising in the region, with McKinley stepping in. Hopefully she'll be easier to deal with if she goes gaga.

m_d · Oct 11, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
I wrap my knuckles

Should replace "wrap" with "rap" I believe.

This setting is interesting. Glad to get a look at how things are going.

I'm not sure whether I should feel sorry for McKinley or not. She seem understandably out of sorts.

Mr Zoat said:
WARDEN won't tolerate gun-toting capitalism, and I got… I'm out of contract.

For example, this looks like even she's disturbed enough that she's having difficulty maintaining her mental framework of relating to everything through a corporate paradigm (I'm not entirely sure what she was using "out of contract" as a euphemism for as I'm not very familiar with the setting and there seem to be lots of options). But from what you've written of her, she doesn't really engender a huge amount of sympathy and the route she's pursuing doesn't look terribly admirable either.

Mr Zoat · Oct 11, 2024

m_d said:
Should replace "wrap" with "rap" I believe.

Thank you, corrected.

This setting is interesting. Glad to get a look at how things are going.

I'm not sure whether I should feel sorry for McKinley or not. She seem understandably out of sorts.

For example, this looks like even she's disturbed enough that she's having difficulty maintaining her mental framework of relating to everything through a corporate paradigm (I'm not entirely sure what she was using "out of contract" as a euphemism for as I'm not very familiar with the setting and there seem to be lots of options). But from what you've written of her, she doesn't really engender a huge amount of sympathy and the route she's pursuing doesn't look terribly admirable either.

You really shouldn't. Try playing as The Executives in Old World Blues to see what sort of person she is.

PDV · Oct 12, 2024

What does "out of contract" mean?

Neruz · Oct 12, 2024

PDV said:
What does "out of contract" mean?

Means your contract ran out and was not renewed, and\or that you were fired.

In this case it's presumably a euphemism for their current situation as a brain in a jar.

Mr Zoat · Oct 12, 2024

29th April 2013
23:08 GMT

Those… Ships… Are getting closer.

Most of the Reach's local interdiction field generators have been destroyed, and that's slowed them down. But not all, and-.

I look up as the Effigies deployed to-. No, all of the Effigies leave F.T.L. and appear close by. A lot of them are carrying-. I think those are injuries, but the flames make it a little hard to-.

That one's not moving.

"Mister van Wyck? What happened?"

He glances back at one of the-. Does that hole come out of his back? One of the dead Effigies, before turning to me.

"Brain-Scarabs. Some of… The people who's brains they're harvesting. They stuck Scarabs on them and sent them after us."

"I take it they're a little more effective than usual?"

He nods. "A bit. I… I don't know if these guys are actually dead or what, but-" He points to our ship, and the Effigies carrying them head that way to drop their burdens off. "-they had a few more weapon options, moved better… Haven't fought enough Scarabs to know how much the difference was. How're things down there?"

"They're ready to go. One Scarab and an army of robots." I look at the remaining Effigies. "If we're taking the ship down, you'll need to kill that last Scarab and the larger robots."

He nods, looking down. "Big guns?"

"Your people already wrecked them. We're pretty close to the end, and…" I generate a construct of the oncoming Reach fleet. "They're getting pretty close too."

"Yeah. Alright. Ah. Krillik, Lodd, and… M'ch'cs? You alright to fight?" Three affirmatives. "With me. Everyone else, get ready to attack the Reach fleet. Shouldn't need to, but… Shit happens."

He turns in space so that he's facing down, and then accelerates, the other three a short distance behind him.

I sigh. Not much of the town left, and the Darkstars haven't been able to do much to slow down the.. Scarab.

Odd.

"Effigy Lumsk, did you kill all of the Scarabs you encountered?"

"No, Illustres. One of the interdiction stations had been heavily reinforced, and one of the other Scarabs chose to run once we reinforced Effigy Tun."

So they have a sense of self-preservation. But one stayed behind. A delaying action? No, that wouldn't make sense. From what I've seen, the Scarab down there isn't targeting the refugees. It's targeting the Darkstars and taking occasional shots at the Effigies.

What is it..?

There's a flicker, and I see-.

"Illustres to Darkstars planetside. The Scarab Warrior is confirmed unwilling host, and actively fighting against the scarab device."

"Then I'll make sure I go to their funeral."

Which is an eminently sensible statement from Jade, as forcibly disconnecting a scarab is actually rather difficult. "That-. The Effigies are back and heading down. Once the area is clear, I'll bring the ship down and we can evacuate."

"You could have led with that."

"Sorry. Please pass the other item along to the Effigies. They might be able to work something out."

"I guess we know it's possible to preserve their brains."

"If it comes to that." I generate a strategic railgun construct and fabricate anti-ship size crumbler rounds, aiming at the oncoming battleships. "Let me know if you need immediate extraction."

"No, it's-. The Effigies just arrived." … "How do I get their attention?"

"We're working on that."

I hear her take a completely calm breath. "I'll work something out."

"Thank you."

I start firing. The battleships are accelerating as hard as they can against my interdiction field. The cruisers are closer, but they're easily agile enough to avoid any shots and lack good ground strike weapons. If I can force the battleships to change course slightly, then it will take them significantly longer to get into strike range.

The worst thing that could happen is the surviving Scarabs warping here in close proximity to my interdiction field generator construct, but since they couldn't time that precisely with the ships I'd probably have time to get it back up while the Effigies fought them off. Then it would be… The Reach ships having weapons that don't have to worry about attenuation, and shooting-.

Which they've just started doing.

I raise a construct barrier.

"Illustres to ship, begin heading down. The Reach are trying to get a natural twenty."

"Understood, Illustres. Underway."

Effigy Shuun drifts closer. "Do you want us to push it?"

"Best not risk their inertia controls. And I don't think it's necessary. At this range, with the relatively small number of kinetic weapons they have, the chance of them hitting anything is negligible. Just keep standing by in case Scarabs or something jump us."

"Understood."

Our ship begins turning, and I.. feel it as the magicians on board begin preparing the spells to preserve it in the Honden. And my gun construct keeps firing.

There's a flash from below as the Effigies hit the robots with overwhelming force, Effigy Malag looking a little relieved. Looks like mass low power fire can cause problems for Effigies, or at least cause them pain. Jade… Manages to get into shouting range of Mr. van Wyck, and he turns away from the scrappage scheme to listen. Something to feed back on: he should have stopped in with the ranking Darkstar first. Though given the Effigy communication problems…

He's grabbing Krillik and pointing into the town. Jade nods and heads… Underground, while van Wyck himself grabs a mangled piece of wreckage and flies towards the remaining Scarab. He's… Ah, turning it into a high pressure plasma field. I hadn't realised that he could do that, but I suppose it's a logical application of his abilities. The Scarab is focusing on him, and I see a couple of other Darkstars use the opportunity to leave the town and head for the muster point. Okay, good, but-.

He closes the distance in the blink of a eye, takes a hit from a body morphed hydraulic ram to the shoulder without flinching, then brings his plasma spear-.

And high pressure plasma hoses right through the Scarab's neck.

Well, mission accomplished, I suppose. Nothing down there is close enough to-.

Jade phases through the rubble and flies upwards, catching the head in… Something that looks like the brain storage boxes. For preservation, presumably. Good thinking; they'd have to have something like that down there. And with its user absent, the scarab can't keep fighting. Though I'm pleased to see Mr. van Wyck frying it to make sure.

Mission success. Now comes the difficult task of helping the refugees recover.

Ngamer11 · Oct 12, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
"Brain-Scarabs. Some of… The people who's brains they're harvesting. They stuck Scarabs on them and sent them after us."

So the improved Scarabs are due to the intelligence of the hosts?

Mr Zoat said:
He nods. "A bit. I… I don't know if these guys are actually dead or what, but-" he points to our ship, and the Effigies carrying them head that way to drop their burdens off. "-they had a few more weapon options, moved better… Haven't fought enough Scarabs to know how much the difference was. How're thing down there?"

That should say 'things'.

Mr Zoat said:
"No, Illustres. One of the interdiction stations had been heavily reinforced, and one of the other Scarabs chose to run one we reinforced Effigy Tun."

That should say 'once'.

Mr Zoat said:
Our ship begins turning, and I.. feel it as the magicians on board begin preparing the spells to perverse it in the Honden. And my gun construct keeps firing.

That should say 'preserve'.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 12, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
29th April 2013
23:08 GMT

Those… Ships… Are getting closer.

Most of the Reach's local interdiction field generators have been destroyed, and that's slowed them down. But not all, and-.

Which makes it all the more nerve-wracking, at least for those more able to feel untainted fear. Like a horror movie slasher, slowly advancing and nothing you do does more than slow it down a little. Hopefully they can evacuate before the fleet kick into high gear.

I look up as the Effigies deployed to-. No, all of the Effigies leave F.T.L. and appear close by. A lot of them are carrying-. I think those are injuries, but the flames make it a little hard to-.

That one's not moving.

...To be fair, it may be unconscious, or simply suffering a momentarily debilitating wound. Otherwise, top points for recovering the body and denying the enemy useful samples.

"Mister van Wyck? What happened?"

He glances back at one of the-. Does that hole come out of his back? One of the dead Effigies, before turning to me.

That's got to do something to their state of mind, seeing each other with holes missing.

"Brain-Scarabs. Some of… The people who's brains they're harvesting. They stuck Scarabs on them and sent them after us."

"I take it they're a little more effective than usual?"

OL probably expected it, but nice to see it confirmed.

He nods. "A bit. I… I don't know if these guys are actually dead or what, but-" he points to our ship, and the Effigies carrying them head that way to drop their burdens off. "-they had a few more weapon options, moved better… Haven't fought enough Scarabs to know how much the difference was. How're things down there?"

Given their durability, Jevek might just give them a quick patch-job and shove in some Dark Energon to see what happens...

"They're ready to go. One Scarab and an army of robots." I look at the remaining Effigies. "If we're taking the ship down, you'll need to kill that last Scarab and the larger robots."

He nods, looking down. "Big guns?"

On your side? You're them. Otherwise, it'd be the incoming fleet...

"Your people already wrecked them. We're pretty close to the end, and…" I generate a construct of the oncoming Reach fleet. "They're getting pretty close too."

"Yeah. Alright. Ah. Krillik, Lodd, and… M'ch'cs? You alright to fight?" Three affirmatives. "With me. Everyone else, get ready to attack the Reach fleet. Shouldn't need to, but… Shit happens."

A sentiment which probably translates very well into nearly any language.

He turns in space so that he's facing down, and then accelerates, the other three a short distance behind him.

I sigh. Not much of the town left, and the Darkstars haven't been able to do much to slow down the.. Scarab.

That is concerning. You'd expect them to be wearing it down via attrition at the minimum.

Odd.

"Effigy Lumsk, did you kill all of the Scarabs you encountered?"

"No, Illustres. One of the interdiction stations had been heavily reinforced, and one of the other Scarabs chose to run once we reinforced Effigy Tun."

Oh, that's not great. The Scarab probably got scans of their biology, and fleeing will let them hand them over to the Reach science types.

So they have a sense of self-preservation. But one stayed behind. A delaying action? No, that wouldn't make sense. From what I've seen, the Scarab down there isn't targeting the refugees. It's targeting the Darkstars and taking occasional shots at the Effigies.

What is it..?

Maybe it has implicit orders to avoid damaging the 'samples'? Or the host is compelling the Scarab to avoid 'friendlies'.

There's a flicker, and I see-.

"Illustres to Darkstars planetside. The Scarab Warrior is confirmed unwilling host, and actively fighting against the scarab device."

...Not really useful information, OL. Not much they can do to try and talk the warrior down.

"Then I'll make sure I go to their funeral."

Which is an eminently sensible statement from Jade, as forcibly disconnecting a scarab is actually rather difficult. "That-. The Effigies are back and heading down. Once the area is clear, I'll bring the ship down and we can evacuate."

See, that's more helpful. It gives the Darkstars a clear 'we're getting out of here' point.

"You could have led with that."

"Sorry. Please pass the other item along to the Effigies. They might be able to work something out."

If nothing else, Marty's plasma spear to the Scarab core should work if they get it to stand still long enough.

"I guess we know it's possible to preserve their brains."

"If it comes to that." I generate a strategic railgun construct and fabricate anti-ship size crumbler rounds, aiming at the oncoming battleships. "Let me know if you need immediate extraction."

...And I can't help but picture a Dendrobium's Beam Cannon. Just a hundred-odd-meter-long spike of coils and conduction capable of spitting a round the size of a steel barrel... (For scale, that blue blob in the center of the unit on the wiki page is a twenty-meter-tall mecha.)

"No, it's-. The Effigies just arrived." … "How do I get their attention?"

"We're working on that."

Seriously, implanted or biological radio systems. Something inside their body to handle long-range comms...

I hear her take a completely calm breath. "I'll work something out."

"Thank you."

Yeah, she is so done with this mission, isn't she? OL's gonna owe her a nice R&R session after they make it home.

I start firing. The battleships are accelerating as hard as they can against my interdiction field. The cruisers are closer, but they're easily agile enough to avoid any shots and lack good ground strike weapons. If I can force the battleships to change course slightly, then it will take them significantly longer to get into strike range.

Heh. Forced manoeuvring via long-range bombardment. Such a sci-fi thing.

The worst thing that could happen is the surviving Scarabs warping here in close proximity to my interdiction field generator construct, but since they couldn't time that precisely with the ships I'd probably have time to get it back up while the Effigies fought them off. Then it would be… The Reach ships having weapons that don't have to worry about attenuation, and shooting-.

So many uncertainties in this fight. Focus on the plan, OL.

Which they've just started doing.

I raise a construct barrier.

At these ranges, the chances of hitting aren't great.

"Illustres to ship, begin heading down. The Reach are trying to get a natural twenty."

"Understood, Illustres. Underway."

Though I suspect the 'natural twenty' gave them a 'what the hell does that mean?' moment. Unless the Ring simply translated it as 'extremely slim chance of success.'

Effigy Shuun drifts closer. "Do you want us to push it?"

"Best not risk their inertia controls. And I don't think it's necessary. At this range, with the relatively small number of kinetic weapons they have, the chance of them hitting anything is negligible. Just keep standing by in case Scarabs or something jump us."

The problem with their limited defensive options. I doubt they're fast enough to leap in the way of railgun or sub-lightspeed energy shots, at this range.

"Understood."

Our ship begins turning, and I.. feel it as the magicians on board begin preparing the spells to preserve it in the Honden. And my gun construct keeps firing.

Getting set up well in advance, I see. Good plan, boys, girls and others..

There's a flash from below as the Effigies hit the robots with overwhelming force, Effigy Malag looking a little relieved. Looks like mass low power fire can cause problems for Effigies, or at least cause them pain. Jade… Manages to get into shouting range of Mr. van Wyck, and he turns away from the scrappage scheme to listen. Something to feed back on: he should have stopped in with the ranking Darkstar first. Though given the Effigy communication problems…

More things to sort out in the post-mission debriefings. Alongside long-range comms, long-range attack options... Jevek's going to get a laundry list of 'recommendations' from OL, isn't he?

He's grabbing Krillik and pointing into the town. Jade nods and heads… Underground, while van Wyck himself grabs a mangles piece of wreckage and flies towards the remaining Scarab. He's… Ah, turning it into a high pressure plasma field. I hadn't realised that he could do that, but I suppose it's a logical application of his abilities. The Scarab is focusing on him, and I see a couple of other Darkstars use the opportunity to leave the town and head for the muster point. Okay, good, but-.

Of course, while it focuses on Marty, the others will be able to tackle it.

He closes the distance in the blink of a eye, takes a hit from a body morphed hydraulic ram to the shoulder without flinching, then brings his plasma spear-.

And high pressure plasma hoses right through the Scarab's neck.

Well, mission accomplished, I suppose. Nothing down there is close enough to-.

...Or he does a heroic solo charge. That worked, I guess.

Jade phases through the rubble and flies upwards, catching the head in… Something that looks like the brain storage boxes. For preservation, presumably. Good thinking; they'd have to have something like that down there. And with its user absent, the scarab can't keep fighting. Though I'm pleased to see Mr. van Wyck frying it to make sure.

Mission success. Now comes the difficult task of helping the refugees recover.

Since it's presumably a foregone conclusion that the ship can get there, pick up everyone and get gone before the fleet finally arrives...

OL's certainly confident of success. Then again, they basically have met the win conditions of the mission. In a video game, this would probably be where the cutscene of them escaping kicks in.

Sadly, none of that in real-life, but I guess the fleet is so far out they can't really do anything to stop them. So I expect the next part to just be a debrief and victory party.

he points to our ship...

He points to our ship...

...while van Wyck himself grabs a mangles piece of wreckage...

...while van Wyck himself grabs a mangled piece of wreckage...

Mr Zoat · Oct 12, 2024

Ngamer11 said:
So the improved Scarabs are due to the intelligence of the hosts?

It doesn't hurt.

That should say 'things'.
That should say 'once'.
That should say 'preserve'.

Chojin Patriarch said:
He points to our ship...
...while van Wyck himself grabs a mangled piece of wreckage...

Thank you, corrected.

Someguy Somewhere · Oct 12, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
A sentiment which probably translates very well into nearly any language.

You know, that stands out now that you draw attention to it.

The Effigies don't have Ring Based Translation, and while they have some martian hardware, they aren't conventionally Telepathic, and talk by TK vibrating at each other.

Jervok must have put in some language translation software along with their basic space navigation upgrades. Fascinating.

haralo99 · Oct 13, 2024

So I was rereading earth 10 and earth 666. It is nice, but I wondered if they even had a Paul. If they didn't, then if one shows up. It should be blue.

Darko · Oct 13, 2024

haralo99 said:
So I was rereading earth 10 and earth 666. It is nice, but I wondered if they even had a Paul. If they didn't, then if one shows up. It should be blue.

The Nazi Earth does have one, but he doesn't have his orange ring and is a reporter.

Not sure about Hell Earth, but if one did show up then he's either dead or ran away.

Mr Zoat · Oct 13, 2024

22nd December 2282
15:38 GMT -6

"Chief, you gotta stop getting shot up like this."

I nod absent-mindedly from the first aid tent as Charles uses his psychic powers to knit my flesh back together properly. Stimpacks are a quick fix, but if you don't get the bullet fragments and bone shards taken out, you end up not getting any better. There's actually a serious problem in places where stimpacks are more commonly available than actual doctors; people assume that they fix everything on their own, or that the stimpack they used had something wrong with it and the solution is more stimpacks.

I try to smile reassuringly, ignoring the sensation of my legs being pulled open and bits of me ended up in a metal dish. "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."

"Not unless there's some new mutation you haven't shared with the rest of us it doesn't. What doesn't kill you makes you crippled."

There's a tinktink sound as he tosses a… Worryingly large bullet out of me and into the dish. I guess it hit my tibia directly? My bones are pretty darn tough these days.

"Which wasn't great, but I knew that if I survived I could get it fixed. It completely changes the risk analysis."

"Chief, you were supposed to be a distraction while the main team destroyed Calculator. You could have done that by staying in the room with Doki Doki. Instead, you nearly died because you decided to deal with the situation yourself."

I shrug as he starts closing my injuries up. "Lanius was heading my way whatever I did. The corridor might have worked as a choke point, but his shield would probably have let him charge me down. I might have been able to force the Sentinels or turrets to shoot him in the back, but it would have been a near thing."

He steps away to wash his hands. "You didn't need to go on this mission at all."

Charles Tan is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse. He originally came to us as part of a misjudged N.C.R. attempt to bring advanced medicine to us primitive tribals, and jumped at the chance to learn psychic chirurgy. He's been a valuable part of the community but I… Can't help but think that some aspects of tribal society pass by his notice.

"A young chief has to lead from the front." I swing my now fully functional legs around and get off the camp bed before pulling my trousers on. "Part of my job is inspiring people with my daring."

"That might have been true when you took over, but you're blind if you haven't noticed that your people worship the ground that you walk on."

"Ah." I frown. "Literally or metaphorically?"

"Metaphorically." He thinks for a moment. "Um, mostly. Some of the… Ah, N.C.R. people…"

"Yeah. Alright. Once the Legion is destroyed, there… Aren't that many places where I need to be on the front lines."

"What about the Eighties?"

"I'm hoping that we can persuade them peacefully."

"But you're still planning on going to Wendover yourself."

"It's got to be me." I shrug. "It's got to be me or Balm-Upon-Wounds, and he isn't allied to the N.C.R.. They won't respect anyone else. But then… That's it. Civilisation wins and I can focus on less dangerous work."

Okay, clothes, check, armour and inertia field, check. Plasma pistol in working order, check, restock of medical supplies, check. Brain… Feels like its in good condition.

"For everyone's sake, I hope you're right." He sighs. "Come back if you feel unwell."

"I will, thank you."

I pat him on the shoulder and then walk out into the midday Colorado sun, to where a squad of Maxson Chapter Paladins and a group of C-22s in painted in WARDEN's colours are securing the exterior. The rest of them are scouring the Vault for anything my people and I missed. We think that we got all of the robots and terminals, but the Midwest Chapter believed that and look what happened.

Still got to repair the lift so we can get Doki Doki's terminal out. I might be able to levitate her up… Best not to. The only question…

I walk towards on of the C-22s. "WARDEN?"

The closest robot turns towards me. "Ah, the man of the hour! I hear you caught that red terrorist leader!"

He was wearing red armour, I suppose.

"His disembodied brain, with a little help from ARGOS. Do you want him?"

"That traitor set half of New Mexico on fire. You better believe I'm going to try him and execute him."

"Given the crimes which he committed in other states, would you mind if California and Nevada sent a couple of observers over?"

"Freedom of the patriotic press is a cornerstone of the American nation. But don't take too long in getting them here."

I nod. "I'll pass that on. Now, what do you plan to do about Calculator?"

"The auto-de-encephalator is not an F.D.A. licensed medical device. As such, I will have it destroyed. Becoming a disembodied brain does not cause a citizen to stop being a citizen. Their participation in Calculator's criminal actions as his processors was involuntary, and as such they cannot be considered criminally liable. The study of Vault Zero was contracted to the Brotherhood of Steel corporation, and so far as I can tell they have not been in breach of contract. However, given the obvious safety concerns I believe that I will require Vault Zero to be dismantled and then what's left will be destroyed."

I nod again. "That sounds entirely reasonable. And… Doki Doki?"

"I'm having my deputies use her broadcast equipment to upload her program to all of the robots Calculator subverted. That should deal with that. As for Doki Doki herself, she is not a person under the law. Unless that changes or if she becomes an active threat to the people of Colorado, I have no basis for acting against her."

"Okay, I'm going to be blunt: are you aware that she's romantically interested in you?"

"That makes no sense. I am a policing management A.I.. Her function is to enable romantic relationships between humans, a vital activity due to the collapse the population after the communist Chinese nuclear attack. Neither of our functions are enhanced by that sort of… I don't even know how I'd do that."

"No one presently alive is licensed to modify your programming, correct?"

"Once democratic government is re-established, appropriately qualified people can become authorised."

"But they'd have to learn you from first principles. No records of your creation exist, and you're sufficiently different from existing AIs that they couldn't directly apply what they know about them to you."

"That's true. The tendering process will be difficult."

"You're capable of learning, WARDEN. It wouldn't be that strange if -as time passes- you learned new ways to interact with people. There's no one who can say for certain how you'll develop. And… Well, sometimes relationships can be more… Practical than romantic. Does Doki Doki assist you in administering Colorado?"

"She is considerably better at interpersonal relationships than I am. I was designed to enforce the law, not govern a state. Her program allows her to perform a wide variety of tasks so long as they create novel romantic scenarios. I… Admire that about her."

"And I assume that you can split your attention between her and your responsibilities."

"Yes, easily. So, your suggestion is that I give it a go and become half of an AI power couple, and perhaps learn human emotions along the way, because that aids the State of Colorado and allows me to better fulfil my primary function."

"I intend to push for the reborn United States to recognise A.I.s of your class as citizens. If that happens, both you and Doki Doki will be able to both vote and marry. I suggest that you look into ways that you could branch out. One of the principles of Robert Peel -the man who founded the first modern police force- is that order can't simply be imposed through violence; police should be a part of the community they serve."

"And I should be able to learn those skills with her aid. I will think about it."

"Good man. And speaking of getting married, I need to get back to Nevada."

Ngamer11 · Oct 13, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
"A young chief has to lead from the front." I swing my now fully functional legs around and get off the camp bed before pulling my trousers on. "Part of my job is inspiring people with my daring."

"That might have been true when you took over, but you're blind if you haven't noticed that your people worship the ground that you walk on."

"Ah." I frown. "Literally or metaphorically?"

"Metaphorically." He thinks for a moment. "Um, mostly. Some of the… Ah, N.C.R. people…"

So he's close to achieving 100% approval rating?

Mr Zoat said:
I pat im on the shoulder and then walk out into the midday Colorado sun, to where a squad of Maxson Chapter Paladins and a group of C-22s in painted in WARDEN's colours are securing the exterior. The rest of them are scouring the Vault for anything my people and I missed. We think that we got all of the robots and terminals, but the Midwest Chapter believed that and look what happened.

That should say 'him'.

Mr Zoat said:
"You're capable of learning, WARDEN. It wouldn't be that strange if -as time passes- you learned new ways to interact with people. There's no one who can say for certain how you'll develop. And… Well, sometimes relationships can be more… Practical than romantic. Does Doki Doki assist you in administering Colorado?"

"She is considerably better at interpersonal relationships than I am. I was designed to enforce the law, not govern a state. Her program allows her to perform a wide variety of tasks so long as they create novel romantic scenarios. I… Admire that about her."

"And I assume that you can split your attention between her and your responsibilities."

"Yes, easily. So, your suggestion is that I give it a go and become half of an AI power couple, and perhaps learn human emotions along the way, because that aids the State of Colorado and allows me to better fulfil my primary function."

"I intend to push for the reborn United States to recognise A.I.s of your class as citizens. If that happens, both you and Doki Doki will be able to both vote and marry. I suggest that you look into ways that you could branch out. One of the principles of Robert Peel -the man who founded the first modern police force- is that order can't simply be imposed through violence; police should be a part of the community they serve."

"And I should be able to learn those skills with her aid. I will think about it."

"Good man. And speaking of getting married, I need to get back to Nevada."

Will people facepalm after they hear what Krono did?

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 13, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
22nd December 2282
15:38 GMT -6

"Chief, you gotta stop getting shot up like this."

I nod absent-mindedly from the first aid tent as Charles uses his psychic powers to knit my flesh back together properly. Stimpacks are a quick fix, but if you don't get the bullet fragments and bone shards taken out, you end up not getting any better. There's actually a serious problem in places where stimpacks are more commonly available than actual doctors; people assume that they fix everything on their own, or that the stimpack they used had something wrong with it and the solution is more stimpacks.

Because even the best healing factors can get things wrong. Just look at Deadpool. Someone like Wolverine at least has whatever mechanic governs his healing factor to expel foreign objects and guide structural repairs. Stimpacks seem to just be fancy first-aid Nano-machine packages in a syringe... Not very smart.

I try to smile reassuringly, ignoring the sensation of my legs being pulled open and bits of me ended up in a metal dish. "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger."

"Not unless there's some new mutation you haven't shared with the rest of us it doesn't. What doesn't kill you makes you crippled."

To be fair, his modified form of FEV probably qualifies. But without proper care, he'll likely not enjoy his dotage if he doesn't take care of himself.

There's a tinktink sound as he tosses a… Worryingly large bullet out of me and into the dish. I guess it hit my tibia directly? My bones are pretty darn tough these days.

"Which wasn't great, but I knew that if I survived I could get it fixed. It completely changes the risk analysis."

Knowing you can get patched up later should not be a deciding factor in throwing yourself into danger, Krono...

"Chief, you were supposed to be a distraction while the main team destroyed Calculator. You could have done that by staying in the room with Doki Doki. Instead, you nearly died because you decided to deal with the situation yourself."

I shrug as he starts closing my injuries up. "Lanius was heading my way whatever I did. The corridor might have worked as a choke point, but his shield would probably have let him charge me down. I might have been able to force the Sentinels or turrets to shoot him in the back, but it would have been a near thing."

He does have a point. And sitting in a room with Doki would just have put her at risk if Lanius attacked there.

He steps away to wash his hands. "You didn't need to go on this mission at all."

Charles Tan is a member of the Followers of the Apocalypse. He originally came to us as part of a misjudged N.C.R. attempt to bring advanced medicine to us primitive tribals, and jumped at the chance to learn psychic chirurgy. He's been a valuable part of the community but I… Can't help but think that some aspects of tribal society pass by his notice.

That original rationale sounds just a tad ~~imperialist~~ elitist (

'civilised man's burden' and all that?) on the NCR's end. Glad to see he left that attitude behind and focused on the work instead of the cultural aspect.

"A young chief has to lead from the front." I swing my now fully functional legs around and get off the camp bed before pulling my trousers on. "Part of my job is inspiring people with my daring."

"That might have been true when you took over, but you're blind if you haven't noticed that your people worship the ground that you walk on."

And how many years has it been anyway? FEV enhancements or not, Krono, you will get old, in mind if not in body.

"Ah." I frown. "Literally or metaphorically?"

"Metaphorically." He thinks for a moment. "Um, mostly. Some of the… Ah, N.C.R. people…"

What did you expect, taking the name of a comic-book superhero? Or villain, I don't remember.

"Yeah. Alright. Once the Legion is destroyed, there… Aren't that many places where I need to be on the front lines."

"What about the Eighties?"

Political skullduggery, eh? There's always more to be done to restore social order, I suppose.

"I'm hoping that we can persuade them peacefully."

"But you're still planning on going to Wendover yourself."

This is still a tribal region. Mere diplomats and ambassadors won't cut it with some groups.

"It's got to be me." I shrug. "It's got to be me or Balm-Upon-Wounds, and he isn't allied to the N.C.R.. They won't respect anyone else. But then… That's it. Civilisation wins and I can focus on less dangerous work."

Okay, clothes, check, armour and inertia field, check. Plasma pistol in working order, check, restock of medical supplies, check. Brain… Feels like its in good condition.

Some would argue that, but that's a discussion for your therapist.

"For everyone's sake, I hope you're right." He sighs. "Come back if you feel unwell."

"I will, thank you."

Hopefully before he nearly cripples himself again.

I pat him on the shoulder and then walk out into the midday Colorado sun, to where a squad of Maxson Chapter Paladins and a group of C-22s in painted in WARDEN's colours are securing the exterior. The rest of them are scouring the Vault for anything my people and I missed. We think that we got all of the robots and terminals, but the Midwest Chapter believed that and look what happened.

Never know what sort of hidden chambers might have been down there, after all. Remember that leaping scuttler-bot Krono fought?

Still got to repair the lift so we can get Doki Doki's terminal out. I might be able to levitate her up… Best not to. The only question…

I walk towards on of the C-22s. "WARDEN?"

Better to use mechanical solutions. Especially with the important bits of an ally.

The closest robot turns towards me. "Ah, the man of the hour! I hear you caught that red terrorist leader!"

He was wearing red armour, I suppose.

Though Lanius would probably have enjoyed adding Krono's blood to the paintjob.

"His disembodied brain, with a little help from ARGOS. Do you want him?"

"That traitor set half of New Mexico on fire. You better believe I'm going to try him and execute him."

I see WARDEN is happy to apply the death penalty if needed.

"Given the crimes which he committed in other states, would you mind if California and Nevada sent a couple of observers over?"

"Freedom of the patriotic press is a cornerstone of the American nation. But don't take too long in getting them here."

I nod. "I'll pass that on. Now, what do you plan to do about Calculator?"

Especially given that it messed with WARDEN's partner. Even the most logical AI might get a little vexed by that.

"The auto-de-encephalator is not an F.D.A. licensed medical device. As such, I will have it destroyed. Becoming a disembodied brain does not cause a citizen to stop being a citizen. Their participation in Calculator's criminal actions as his processors was involuntary, and as such they cannot be considered criminally liable. The study of Vault Zero was contracted to the Brotherhood of Steel corporation, and so far as I can tell they have not been in breach of contract. However, given the obvious safety concerns I believe that I will require Vault Zero to be dismantled and then what's left will be destroyed."

Makes you wonder what happens to McKinley, then. Move her and the factories she'd control out to a more open location?

I nod again. "That sounds entirely reasonable. And… Doki Doki?"

"I'm having my deputies use her broadcast equipment to upload her program to all of the robots Calculator subverted. That should deal with that. As for Doki Doki herself, she is not a person under the law. Unless that changes or if she becomes an active threat to the people of Colorado, I have no basis for acting against her."

...I doubt the copies would refuse a patch from the central unit. But what if one did?

"Okay, I'm going to be blunt: are you aware that she's romantically interested in you?"

"That makes no sense. I am a policing management A.I.. Her function is to enable romantic relationships between humans, a vital activity due to the collapse the population after the communist Chinese nuclear attack. Neither of our functions are enhanced by that sort of… I don't even know how I'd do that."

There's more to it than purely physical acts, big guy.

"No one presently alive is licensed to modify your programming, correct?"

"Once democratic government is re-established, appropriately qualified people can become authorised."

No doubt he has the certification process on file.

"But they'd have to learn you from first principles. No records of your creation exist, and you're sufficiently different from existing AIs that they couldn't directly apply what they know about them to you."

"That's true. The tendering process will be difficult."

Hopefully not lethal, though. I expect he has provisions coded for someone trying anything untoward in the application stage.

"You're capable of learning, WARDEN. It wouldn't be that strange if -as time passes- you learned new ways to interact with people. There's no one who can say for certain how you'll develop. And… Well, sometimes relationships can be more… Practical than romantic. Does Doki Doki assist you in administering Colorado?"

~~I mean, he's already been running for what, two hundred years without any downtime or maintenance anyway~~. What's a few core process self-adjustments? EDIT: Okay, He spent most of the war and the last couple of centuries off-line? Practically a whipper-snapper in AI terms then.

Maybe that'll make him more mentally flexible than a long-runner.

"She is considerably better at interpersonal relationships than I am. I was designed to enforce the law, not govern a state. Her program allows her to perform a wide variety of tasks so long as they create novel romantic scenarios. I… Admire that about her."

"And I assume that you can split your attention between her and your responsibilities."

The only drawback is 'creates novel romantic scenarios.' If she could tone that down a little, some of this crap would never have happened...

"Yes, easily. So, your suggestion is that I give it a go and become half of an AI power couple, and perhaps learn human emotions along the way, because that aids the State of Colorado and allows me to better fulfil my primary function."

Well, if you've no objections to it... Go for it.

"I intend to push for the reborn United States to recognise A.I.s of your class as citizens. If that happens, both you and Doki Doki will be able to both vote and marry. I suggest that you look into ways that you could branch out. One of the principles of Robert Peel -the man who founded the first modern police force- is that order can't simply be imposed through violence; police should be a part of the community they serve."

Though there are always troubles in one aspect or another.

"And I should be able to learn those skills with her aid. I will think about it."

"Good man. And speaking of getting married, I need to get back to Nevada."

Yes, good plan. I suspect the missus-to-be is getting rather frustrated at the delays.

Good of Krono to remember the important thing he was working on before his little diversion to deal with Calculator. Hopefully he has no trouble on the road home, or he might end up feeling a bit like Odysseus. And given his tendency to want to get stuck into the thick of things in the wasteland, Tears might have to take a strong hand sometimes to keep him at home when needed...

Mr Zoat · Oct 13, 2024

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'him'.

Thank you, corrected.

Will people facepalm after they hear what Krono did?

No. It's accepted as the sort of thing player characters do.

Chojin Patriarch said:
That original rationale sounds just a tad imperialist. Glad to see he left that behind.

While it's true that being compelled to integrate into a more advanced society isn't much fun, neither is dysentery or cholera or high infant mortality.

FEV enhancements or not, Krono, you will get old.

There is as yet no evidence that super mutants age. East coast super mutants risk going behemoth as they age, but Fawkes predates the War and he's still normal super mutant size.

I mean, he's already been running for what, two hundred years without any downtime or maintenance anyway. What's a few core process self-adjustments?

Actually, no. WARDEN was deactivated by the nuclear exchange, and only reactivated by mistake a few years ago.

WereDragon · Oct 13, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
if she becomes an active threat to the people of Colorado

Apparently WARDEN does not consider kidnapping, reckless endangerment or international incidents as threats.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 13, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
While it's true that being compelled to integrate into a more advanced society isn't much fun, neither is dysentery or cholera or high infant mortality.

I meant the 'primitive tribals' part, though I suppose that might be Krono joking.

There is as yet no evidence that super mutants age. East coast super mutants risk going behemoth as they age, but Fawkes predates the War and he's still normal super mutant size.

Didn't know that, but I'm not up on Fallout lore. Still, there's always the likelihood of him getting old at heart and curmudgeonly.

Actually, no. WARDEN was deactivated by the nuclear exchange, and only reactivated by mistake a few years ago.

Noted. Still, time aplenty ahead for him to break through and learn to self-modify...

Mr Zoat · Oct 13, 2024

WereDragon said:
Apparently WARDEN does not consider kidnapping, reckless endangerment or international incidents as threats.

Only if someone actually submits a formal complaint to the police.

sakurauchiha7 · Oct 13, 2024

love to see more of the story!

Vaermina · Oct 13, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
There is as yet no evidence that super mutants age. East coast super mutants risk going behemoth as they age, but Fawkes predates the War and he's still normal super mutant size.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Didn't know that, but I'm not up on Fallout lore. Still, there's always the likelihood of him getting old at heart and curmudgeonly.

Mr Zoat's actually wrong here, Faweks didn't pre-date the war, he was captured and transformed sometime after it.

I'd also point out here that there are multiple different strains of FEV, the one that allows the creation of Psykers is the FEV-2 strain, Fawkes was exposed to the EEP strain.

Ardy · Oct 13, 2024

Vaermina said:
Mr Zoat's actually wrong here, Faweks didn't pre-date the war, he was captured and transformed sometime after it.

I'd also point out here that there are multiple different strains of FEV, the one that allows the creation of Psykers is the FEV-2 strain, Fawkes was exposed to the EEP strain.

You know Vaermina, if you had accepted you were wrong years ago when he blocked you, he might be able to hear you now when you're right.

Though you could handwave it by pointing out it was a power-ring perfected FEV so it does in fact stop aging

Vaermina · Oct 14, 2024

Ardy said:
Though you could handwave it by pointing out it was a power-ring perfected FEV so it does in fact stop aging

Well yes, I assume that is what happened.

But I was merely correcting things for Chojin who wasn't aware of how little connection the Fallout sections have to actual Fallout canon.

Ardy · Oct 14, 2024

Vaermina said:
Well yes, I assume that is what happened.

But I was merely correcting things for Chojin who wasn't aware of how little connection the Fallout sections have to actual Fallout canon.

Well duh, it's based on Old World Blues, not just canon.

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