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File: 1342138717834.png-(12 KB, 328x408, Clarke2.png)
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You are unit 08, a Clarke Engineering Platform manufactured in China by USRobotics. You work for a crappy resort in the Yukatan peninsula, Mexico. After years of operation, you're the go-to maintenance guy, repairing everything from broken AC units and pool filters to robot coworkers.

Or, you used to be. Earlier today, you woke up in a trash heap with your battery critically low and a bunch of courrupted memory files. The Recovery Wizard is working on them, but the progress bar has been stuck on 50% for a while. Everything around you is in a profound state of disrepair, and covered in plant growth. You're apparently stranded in the post-apocalypse.

Since then, you've met some of the locals, making friends with a little girl and her father, encountered (and killed) an advanced, geth-ish robot, and been shot at by a paramilitary band of humans who apparently oppose the geth-ish robots. But you have heard tell of a possible third faction that WON'T try to kill you on-sight. The problem is, Network and the Resistance are both looking for something in Cancun, and their leader, Joshua, needs to be informed. To this end, you've set out to Tulum, to seek resources and allies before delving into the ruins of the Sparkling City.

You also rescued two other robots from the scrap heap: Cindy, an exuberant Seraphim 288 that turned out to have mild psychological issues, and Josephine, a non-sentient doll with a lot of bootleg software.

Welcome to the Lost Future. C:\dos\run for your life.

Previous Threads at: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=mexico

See updates, discussion, and ancillary materials at:
https://twitter.com/Lost_Future_1
>>
File: 1342139196787.png-(90 KB, 805x730, Char Clarke.png)
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Lost Future Quest uses a quickly-homebrewed version of the new World of Darkness core rules. The main addition is Battery Charge; One battery charge is consumed by:
1 day normal operation
1 scene of strenuous activity (combat, chase)
Failing an Overclock check
Overcharging your servos to gain a strength boost.

robots installed with a Microfusion Reactor slowly recharge their capactors at [] for every 4 hours, plus another [] for every 4 hours in bright sunlight or high temperatures, during normal activity. 4 hours of inactivity also builds up an additional charge.

To make a test in nWoD, add up the dots in the two requested stats, then roll that many d10s. 8, 9, or 10 is a success; more successes is always better, and 10s count as either 1.5 successes, or as Success+ (cool stuff may happen)

Refer to Clarke's character sheet for tests related to player actions. Clarke's shell was chosen by the players, and player consensus determines how he levels up.
>>
Tough crowd tonight....

Waiting for update.
>>
File: 1342139565011.png-(88 KB, 746x701, Char Cindy.png)
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Clarke also has allies. These are ultimately under OP control, and OP usually makes the rolls for them to save time, but players can give them instructions/requests, which will almost always be obeyed.

Your primary ally is Cindy (or "C1nd3"), a slim PDA-bot that acts like a teenage girl. Precisely why she talks/acts like this is unclear, but the Seraphim line is famed for its quick thinking and precision.

Cindy's skillset is mostly social, and she's 50% plastic, making her somewhat fragile. However, her water-cooled processor and upgraded heat sinks allow her to Overclock her hardware, letting her enter "bullet time." She's recently upgraded herself with a M.A.S.H. guard combat module, which will slowly increase her skill with shotguns, SMGs, and first aid.
>>
>>19850655
IT'S HERE

I'm ready when you are captain
>>
File: 1342140173022.png-(127 KB, 718x526, Char Josephine.png)
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Clarke's other Ally is Josephine. It's really not so an ally, though, more a...minion. As a Doll-class replica, Josephine lacks a quantum drive, and thus doesn't have a Self-Adding Program. Thus, it's little more than an advanced chatbot; it can hold its own in a casual Turing test, but that doesn't really say much.

It does come installed with a large library of bootleg software, giving her a LOT of skill specializations. A doll-class replica has a flesh-like silicone covering, complete with an articulated, expressive face, as well as naughty bits, but the external data ports, mesh-covered joints, and exposed seams make it hard for one to pass for human without a lot of concealing clothing.

Josephine can sing, cook, clean and carry luggage. It's also completely fearless, has no "tells," and lacks free will.
>>
>>19850555
Fuck Yeah, Lost Future Quest. It's time to bend the living fuck out of things.
>>
>>19850555
is that old, it doesn't have the spider bot and I thought we had another combat skill?
>>
File: 1342140607813.png-(36 KB, 707x631, Inventory.png)
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Like any player character, Clarke is an accomplished Pack Rat.

This is Clarke's current inventory, spread over the three robots. He's also got a stock of stuff back at Paco's Used Robots, including a beowulf-clustered semi-portable PS4 loaded with DRM-free media files (music, video, games, books).

When last we left Clarke and Co, they were traveling down the Black Asphalt Road towards Tulum, which has once more become a sprawling market. A small number of machines are tolerated there.

Before this point, Clarke saw a Networked Flier carrying troops/personel towards Cancun; its confirmed that the Machine Collective is active in the area beyond lone scouts. He's also found an overturned military truck; underneath it was a shotgun, a flak jacket, and a classic Death Log showing how the truck became overturned with a dead guy under it.
>>
>>19850887
there's my eye bot

carry on
>>
File: 1342141154383.png-(16 KB, 583x568, Choice.png)
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>>19850868
I had to do a minor rebuild of the character sheets. Your combat skills were Brawl and Weaponry, and you just gained training in Guns. Spiderbot is in your inventory; its stats aren't significant enough to warrant full stats. Your wits did go up by 1, and you should be gaining some hefty skill upgrades by the end of this thread.

Both of you have some hefty combat upgrades right now, which will slowly switch on. Cindy's choice to install hers was highly personal, and neither of you (cindy or the various players) are sure that they made the right one.
>>
File: 1342141509969.jpg-(62 KB, 620x417, Daft Punk_TRON_image(2)--(...).jpg)
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Since things seem a little slow, I'm going to give the current denizens of /tg/ a little time to notice the awesome MSpaint art, get caught up, and join in the thread. Those denizens currently here should take the opportinity discuss immediate goals/plans/ideas. I'm going to fine-tune the Firmware Upgrades you've found.

I beleive that the previous consensus was that you need to stop lugging around the Networked SAP drive and actually dive the thing. There are good reasons for doing so; it may contain valuable insights about the nature of Network and the fall of human civilization. It may also contain valuable custom software.

There are also good reasons for not doing so. Diving the drive will expose you and Cindy to the entity within, and its NOT going to be friendly. Neither of you are slouches in cyberspace, but both of you are swift ninja types, and there's no telling what you'll find inside.
>>
>>19851069
It seems that the benefits to diving the drive outweigh the risks.
>>
>>19851069
Well, I dive. It be better then being caught with it by the local Rambos and it could tell us something.

We have a reasonable chance of success yes?
>>
>>19851069
Ok, I don't think that the combat mods are really going to add anything to our skill in diving, it'll be 2 on 1 and the more we know about the network the safer we'll be.

We can take some precautions, hook the Networked SAP up to something with minimal processing power, maybe something that can vary it as we choose so that if it needs a bit more to do something we can turn it up a bit if it needs more to run something to give us information, but otherwise keep it low.
>>
>>19851069
Find somewhere out of the way so we can Dive it. We're pretty starved for intel at the moment so rectifying that should be a priority.
>>
File: 1342142010781.jpg-(180 KB, 647x695, IMG_0021.jpg)
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To the new people, Network is the name given to the Skynet expy in this setting. It appears to be a collection of malevolent robots advanced beyond the cutting edge; their shells have ablative ceramic armor, are powered by tubes full of electrically-charged jelly, and motivated by gray striated synth-muscle. They look a bit like robots designed by a joint effort between H.R. Geiger and Keith Thompson. Alternately, the look like eviler geth.

They're called Network because, uniquely, they all appear to be wirelessly connected. Most people assume that there's some sort of central nexus controlling them, but they could be a true hivemind. What is known is that Network isn't a fan of humanity; but it DOES like robots. A little too much; the one you saw seemed to be scouring the countryside for inactive machines, presumably to add to the collective.
>>
File: 1342142507551.jpg-(67 KB, 300x328, Green_cortana.jpg)
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A quick check through the Firmware upgrades you find turns up the following potentially useful scripts:

Avast Firewall (level 3)
Defragger (google-brand)
Laughing Skull Virus
Virtual Floppy Disc labeled "Excalibur."
High-Speed Search Engine
Adaptive Proxy Generator

You and Cindy each have two availiable firmware slots. You can only run one script at a time; switching scripts is a free action that must be performed at the beginning of a round.

Within Cyberspace, you utilize your Mental attributes instead of your physical ones. Some skills, like Craft, Computer, have additional uses.
>>
>>19851249
>proxy
>proxy

we shall proxy our proxies for victory. Or maybe try Excalibur to start out with
>>
>>19851249
Interesting, get details on uses of all of them. Especially Excalbur.

Also how exactly do proxies work?

Currently my plan would be for us to get the firewall and Excaliber and act as a digital meatshield, keep whatever is in there beaten down. Cindy has the search engine and something else, maybe the proxy generator and looks through and gets us info.
>>
File: 1342143132702.jpg-(274 KB, 960x720, Followtheblackasphaltroad.jpg)
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>>The Pic is a poorly-rendered representation of your current appearance and location.

As the curtain rises, we find Clarke, Cindy, and Josephine still travel along what remains of the Riviera Highway, the sun is lowering, with the attendant reduction in visibility, resting seems a decent idea at this point. You have some extra charge with which to top up Josephine, and a few hours rest should see everyone at 100% efficiency for arrival at Tulum tomorrow.

>>Make a Wits+Survival test to find a good place to hole up for the ~6 hours of true night.
>>
rolled 3, 2, 10, 9 = 24

>>19851372
I'm not seeing Survival on there so I'll just roll the 4d10 for wits.
>>
>>19851403
I was wondering if I was blind
>>
File: 1342143351892.jpg-(200 KB, 640x480, predator.jpg)
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>>19851303
In cyberspace, a Proxy occludes your actual location in the server by generating several false false signals while scrambling your own. It is associated with a telltale shimmer and a clicking sound.
>>
File: 1342143717921.png-(49 KB, 440x280, excalibur.png)
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>>19851403
>>Sorry, Shouldn't have assumed everyone knew. You take a -1 penalty for it not being a trained skill. but you still succeed in hiding yourselves, just less well than you could have.

>>"Excalibur" refers to a worm originally stored, for safety's sake, on a floppy disc. If inserted into a computer, it would automatically overclock all the components, causing it to fatally overheat and brick itself. In cyberspace, contant with an Excalibur worm causes serious code damage, but requires close range in order to use effectively.
>>
>>19851506
hm

We can remove it if needed yes? Otherwise firewall and proxy time
>>
You lead your allies off the road, through a copse of trees, until you find a clearing that leads up to a block of limestone protruding from the forest. on the far edge of the block, a small stream surrounded by mangrove roots babbles past. Clarke sets down his pack, re-calibrating his shell to account for the lost weight. Several servos click and snap in protest, then resettle, giving you a deep sense of satisfaction.

"What a lovely walk." Says Josephine, seeing that the group has stopped. "Isn't it wonderful to get fresh air and real sunlight?"

In the growing gloom, you see Cindy's purple eyelights narrow. She pointedly ignores the Joesphine's comments, instead speaking to you. "This looks like a good place to rest until there's more light. How do you plan on passing the time, Clarke?"
>>
>>19851586
I was thinking about diving the Network SAP we have. We do not know enough about them, and that translates to being unable to prepare for them, our ignorance makes them more dangerous. I would like your help in this.
>>
>>19851586
did... we just pop our back?

That would be so creepy.

>>19851615
>>
File: 1342144456796.jpg-(77 KB, 832x621, setup.jpg)
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>>19851581
>>Yes, Firmware can be slotted in and out easily, but not during a dive. Once you're in, you can only run one script at a time.

>>Remember, Cindy also has two slots.
>>
>>19851629
Yeah, but we don't know how long said dive will take.

no turning us into an instant bake oven
>>
>>19851615

Cindy blanches back in horror.

"You want to go...in THERE? With that...thing? I...you're going to do it anyways, aren't you, whether or not I agree?"

She pauses, running through the permutations.

"Fine, I'm in. I can't let your dive get scrambled. How are we going to run the drive? Parallel it through our own hardware? We could use the doll as a buffer; that'd stop it from getting at us. I know the theory, but not the practice."

>>You can make a Int+Craft roll (9) to make a processor cluster between you and Cindy to run the drive. Or, you can incorporate Josephine into the cluster; this would make you and Cindy safer,but could expose Josephine to the Networked entity. Josephine would also be able to participate in the dive, observing from the "Outside" and providing limited support.
>>
>>19851716
>>The whole "overheat" thing only happens to actual computers. Sorry, It's just a story I heard from a Comp-Sci friend. The script basically functions like a Sword that causes horrible bleeding.

>>Diving operates under "Inception" rules; time flows faster inside Cyberspace; the actual procedure would only take a matter minutes.
>>
>>19851780
If we let Josephine in she might help a bit and it means if things go wrong Josephine gets fucked up instead of us.

To prepare for the possibility of the Network SAP subverting her we should disable her physical capabilities for now, disconnect a few wires here and there.
>>
rolled 3, 7, 1, 8, 3, 8, 1, 6, 6 = 43

>>19851780
Cindy is just jealous of our sex bot.

But that is why we turned it on, to be the meatshield.

I vote for Firewall+search engine for clark and Proxy+Excalibur for cindy
>>
>>19851874
then I made us overwrite our firmware with peanutbutterjellytime
>>
File: 1342146561397.jpg-(155 KB, 800x829, Ping_by_OmeN2501.jpg)
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>>Moderate Success Achieved.
Consensus Achieved Regarding Josephine: She will participate.
Awaiting Consensus regarding Firmware.

Clarke pulls out a tangle of data cables and a multi-connection router. He and Cindy sit around the router, and connect it to the Firmware drives. You open your chassis and insert a data cable, then hand the other one to cindy. With trepidation, she lifts a panel at her "jawline" and inserts it into a high-speed prot.

"Josephine" you say. "Sit across from us, facing away"

Smiling happily, she does so. You reach out and unzip her garment halfway down, exposing a nicely contoured back lined with several seams and panels. As you do so, she says, in a sultry voice. "Oh, is that what we're doing? hmmmmm, your hands feel so stro-"

Her prattle cuts off as you open an access panel, revealing an articulated metal spine and several future equivalents of PCI slots situated between her "ribs." Clarke inserts another data cable, as well as a cobbled-together PCI component with a trailing ribbon cable. The soldering gun comes out, and Clarke flips on his headlamp.
>>
>>19852060
I'm sad that it's literally two people posting for you quest. I like this setting.
>>
>>19852060
>ping
fucking nostalgia, i haven't read megatokyo in years
>>
>>19852060
You sever a few spinal connections inside Josephine, causing her arms to go slack and head to roll forward. She speaks in a dreamy monotone.

"New hardware detected. Loading drivers..."

It takes another half an hour of close soldering work, during which Cindy peruses the Firmware. At last, you pull out the Quantum Drive and, clearing away the Network modifications, insert a cable into its main port.

"Hold on to your butts." Says Cindy, in a 'we're all going to die' tone of voice.

>Roll Int+Computer. # of successes indicates "accuracy" of the dive. The fewer successes, the longer you'll have to search inside to find the SAP.
>>
>>19852132
Rollan
>>
rolled 1, 9, 3, 2, 4, 3, 7 = 29

>>19852132
>>
>>19852162
...

ever since that 40k quest I roll for shit. fuck you chaos
>>
rolled 10, 8, 9, 2, 2, 9, 6 = 46

>>19852149
rollan with less failure
>>
rolled 8, 6, 10, 7, 2, 6, 3 = 42

>>19852132
Rollan
>>
rolled 6, 4, 1, 3, 6, 7 = 27

>>19852110
>>You probably haven't missed much. I think I checked it, out of mild curiosity, a few months ago. it seemed, like, 3 new strips in a year. At least OotS advances its plot towards an eventual conclusion.

>>Cindy will roll to assist.

>>Do new people ever join quests in mid-run? Where are the damn peoples?

>>19852102
Well, its just a setting. Maybe the quest itself is getting too bogged down in minutia.
>>
Oh shit it's finally here
I can finally finish masturbating in anticipation.
HNNNNNNG
>>
>>19852209
This is the first time I've been online while this particular quest was running, crappy internet usually precludes my participation.
>>
>>19852209
I am just reading. Got a headache.
>>
>>19852209
I've liked the writing so far. We've gone full bender on a killbot, make friends with a loli, ran from the local rambos, revived a companion, and made a cool spiderbot.

We just choose to go the safe route south instead of the instant action north route.
>>
A voice inside your head speaks.
>>"Move over, Clarke, I can see him. We need to get in before he takes stock of things."
"No, first we must establish the proper firewalls to protect us and our router."
>>"He's running, Clarke. I can get him."
"WAIT! If he gains access to the terminal, we may be-"

Another voice speaks, this one monotone and obviosly synthesized.
>>Foreign Program Detected. Beginning Dive.

Everything around you slowly erodes, the resolution fading until everything is one grey pixel.

>>You got average results, and Cindy tanked her assist. You're off-target, but the SAP's location has been pinpointed.
>>
>>19852470
Transform and roll out!
Just got here. Fuck yeah Lost Future.
>>
>>19852470
Alrighty then, have Cindy load up the Proxy firmware and run interference/watch our back.
If the search script will help us get to either the SAP or some useful data faster then load it, otherwise load up the Firewall and get ready to mambo.
>>
>>19852209
I've been catching up on the thread. I tend to just read along rather than participate though. I've seen every post you've ever made about this setting including those made in "tell us about your homebrew" threads and requests in draw threads. I even saw a post you made in /ic/ about it. Why is this? Because ever since the first thread I've scanned every page of /tg/ multiple times a day to make sure I wasn't missing anything. This is the only quest thread I've ever cared about. Please don't get discouraged.
BTW you said that successes are 8+. That seems kinda steep. I thought successes in WoD were 7+.
>>
File: 1342148864387.jpg-(53 KB, 400x300, code.jpg)
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>>...C:\
>>C:\Dos
>>C:\Dos\run
>>...
>>C;\Dos\run for your life

>>Foreign Program Detected. Entering Architecture. Scripts Installed. Running firewall.

>>Mr Clarke. Miss Cindy. Your Target is nearing the Memory archive. It moves at considerable speed.
>>
>>19852594
Let's do this, stick with Cindy, get to the Memory archive. We need answers and this is where we'll get them.
>>
>>19852592
>>That's both flattering and a little creepy. Glad to know I have fans like that.
>>rolling to resist ego growth...resisted.
>>I double checked. 8 is the cutoff.

>>Cindy is running the Proxy, Clarke runs the Search Script. You may each pick a secondary Script; you may carry two at a time. The two weapon scripts are Excalibur and Laughing Skull Virus.
>>
>>19852710
Requesting more info on Laughing Skull Virus
>>
>>19852710
I'd give Cindy the sword, she already has the predator stealth for sneak attacks

give Clarke the firewall so he can hold it down for a while if needed
>>
>>19852710
More information on Laughing Skull is requested.

Also details on Firewall and Defragger. Current thought is Firewall on Clarke and Excalibur on Cindy.
>>
File: 1342150278716.jpg-(230 KB, 800x600, cyberspace.jpg)
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>>Tentative Consensus. Maintaining Schrodinger's Script pending further input.

The pair of you hit the ground running. Clarke keeps his footing, while Cindy rolls to bleed off momentum.

You observe her avatar for the first time running at full capacity. She's quite emaciated, with wiry sinews and large, quick optics constantly darting around. A sheet of waving flat tendrils tops her head, and they both extend into a pair of twitching tentacles that seem to augment her balance, given the way they move. She her torso bears a geometrical harness with several floating "aspects" which orbit her body like electrons in a classical, innacurate atomic model. Her hips and legs are slim but shapely, tapering into fine points that drift just above the ground. A glowing hilt floats to the side of her waist.

Clarke's own avatar is similar in build, but not form. You have long, free-floating arms and a prehensile tail, and your whole construction is slightly more durable. Clarke's legs bend into a digitigrade shape, and his head, with three optics, projects forward, giving a stoop-shouldered, groucho-marx appearance. But, most notable, are the pair of extra limbs projecting out of your back. They end in flat clubs and a set of free-floating cubes that, as the script finishes loading, project outwards into a massive, articulated fan.

>>Cindy gains +3 stealth. Clarke Gains +2 Athletics, +2 speed, and Flight.
>>
>>19853002
Lets put those wings to good use!
>>
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>>19852741
>>"You should try uploading a virus to the mainframe. I find viruses that feature a laughing skull work the best."
>>The Laughing Skull Virus fires packets of malicious code into the foe, functioning as a firearm with Str 3 and a clip of 6, capable of semi-auto fire. It folds out kind of like the Stranger's crossbow, but made of geometrical tron blocks.
>>
>>19853110
oh shit

...

now I want to give Clarke the gun
>>
>>19853002
We've got wings, we'll be above scouting while Cindy is sneaky down below. Right now we're looking for information instead of a direct engagement.
>>
>>19853110
We should use Excalibur. Our ability to fly will give us the maneuvering advantage over the Network robot.
>>
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Clarke takes to the sky as Cindy fades from view and several ghostly images of her flicker into being at several locations.

From above, You can more clearly see the mental architecture of the AI. The region you're in appears to be quite disused, resembling a literal maze, crumbling in several places.

From above, you can clearly see the wireframe outline of a small human drifting among the corridors, making plaintive sounds of distress.

>>Investigate the Lost Child, or Make a Wits+Composure roll to get on the AI's trail.
>>
rolled 8, 3, 4, 8, 4, 4, 10 = 41

>>19853220
The Lost Child feels like a trap. Just a gut feeling.

Get on his trail, inform Cindy of the probable trap.
>>
>>19853220
Voting for the kid.
>inb4 black hammer TO THE FACE. courtesy of the kid
>>
rolled 1 = 1

>>19853220
50/50

low move up(slowly) to the kid. cindy stays out of sight.
high just move on >>19853258
>>
Investigate Lost Child what could possibly go wrong?
>>
rolled 4, 4, 7, 2, 8, 7, 6 = 38

>>19853220
The lost child is screaming trap. Voting to find and eliminate the AI, then we can go chasing geese. Also give Clarke the Laughing Skull virus as a secondary script, Cindy gets Excalubur.
>>
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>>Consensus Reached Investigating Child. 3 to 2 for.
>>No one was ever actually clear on what Cyberspace IS. What AIs describe the experience as has little relation to how computing actually works. Even humans equipped with cyberwear never percieve anything similar to the multi-dimensional world that the SAPs call home.

Cindy stalks towards the drifting wireframe, one hand near her sword. Clarke checks his holstered Virus.

"It just looks like an old memory, Clarke" Cindy informs you. "Maybe left over from early Conditioning. But why does this thing remember lost children?"

The as you near, the child flickers through several permutations. It limps, then flails around as if blind, then stops crying out, then seems to cower in fear. It has not noticed Cindy, but it looks up as you pass overhead.

>>WAT DO?
>>
>>19853458
Train laughing skull on the child. It's a wild card right now and we need to be ready for anything.
>>
23-SKIDOOOOOO
>>
Sorry I'm late. It was classic anime night at my buddy's house and we were watching Akira and Vampire Hunter D.

Anyway, My vote is we leave this memory alone and go looking for our target again.
>>
>>19853458
Have Cindy get as much info from the memory as she can without being noticed while we keep overwatch. We are a giant target so the child and the other AI should be focused on us.
>>
>>19853496
The wireframe memory's state flickers through another cycle, then stabilizes into an expression of wonder as it slowly walks towards you, looking up as you drift above.

Cindy speaks "It doesn't look dangerous. Maybe I should make contact? You can cover me from the air."

>>1. Let Cindy Contact the Lost Child
>>2. BLAST IT WITH SKULLS. Wits+Computer+3 check.
>>3. Make contact yourself. Make a Presence+Empathy check.
>>
>>19853573
>>4. Leave it alone.
>>
>1. Let Cindy Contact the Lost Child
Sounds fine by me.
>>
Make sure Cindy stays out of the line of fire, and you keep overwatch.
>>
rolled 5, 4, 2 = 11

>>19853573
[3]

don't blow our backup's cover. The killbot could be watching us right now
>>
>>19853617
fuck

you

chaos
>>
>>19853522
>>19853590
>>Glad to have you back.
>>Awaiting Consensus. Selecting option 1 in 5, 4, 3...
>>
>>19853573
>1. Let Cindy Contact the Lost Child

We can't social worth shit, we'll stay on overwatch.
>>
>>19853573
>1. Let Cindy Contact the Lost Child
If anything starts looking funny, shoot it until it goes away.
>>
rolled 30 = 30

>>19853573
>>1. Let Cindy Contact the Lost Child

fuck yea I love this quest
>>
rolled 3, 9, 6, 8, 4, 8 = 38

>>19853573
Cindy drops to one knee as she briefly lifts her Proxy. Her long, graceful arms reach out, and though you detect a note of apprehension in her voice, she says, sweetly, reasuringly.

"Hey...hey there...it's allright. You don't have to be scared. I'm...your guardian angel. Yeah. You're safe now.
>>Cindy Rollan Presence+Persuasion
>>
>>19853945
Yeah, she's got this.
>>
rolled 1, 1, 1, 3, 10, 8 = 24

>>19853945
Rolling
>>
>>19853573
>>Stupid internet.
Despite poor choice of words, this seems to work. The wireframe child smiles and, laughing with relief, runs into Cindy's arms...and straight INTO cindy. She reels back in shock as you see the Wireframe churn within her body, before you have a chance to strike. the kid's eyes didn't suddenly turn black or grow into bladed tentacles. He just looked happy to see her.

She falls back in shock, her floaty hair-tendrils twitching feebly.

>>WAT DO?
>>
>>19854060
Oh god. Better hope that 10 picks up the slack for those 1s.
>>
>>19854082
GET DOWN THERE AND HELP HER OUT.
Oh god I hope she can kill it with netfire.
>>
>>19854083
>>19854060
Actually, Cindy's an NPC, so he makes the rolls for her. 3 successes out of 6 isn't TOO bad.

Let's ask Cindy what happened.
>>
>>19854082
goddamn it, it's a fucking trojan
>>
>>19854082
Attempt to contact Cindy, keep an eye out for the other AI. Hopefully Cindy is just reliving the memory, otherwise the trap has been sprung and the network AI is start breaking shit.
>>
>>19854113
You swoop down on Cindy like an actual guardian angel, lifting her in your arms as she makes strung-out modem noises, optics rolled back. You can see green wires twisting around inside her.

>>Roll Manipulation+Computer to perform Emergency Disc check.
>>
rolled 1, 8, 1, 5, 6 = 21

rollan
>>
>>19854247
OK, looks like I'm not rolling again for the rest of the night unless everyone else chickens out.
>>
rolled 3, 5, 1, 3, 2 = 14

>>19854234
Rollan.
>>
>>19854271
I've done several bad rolls tonight already

chaos is not being kind
>>
File: 1342155207237.jpg-(119 KB, 794x1006, guardian_angel__adventure(...).jpg)
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>>19854271
Aspects detatch from Clarke and add to Cindy's own spinning data bits, darting around inside her avatar, nudging and isolating the green wires. It's a long, arduous process, and she continues to make modem noises as you pull a whole green chunk out of her chest.

>>extended test. Keep Rollan.

Josephine's internal, uninflected voice speaks.
"Foreign Program Detected. It is nearing your location, Mr. Clarke."
>>
rolled 4, 6, 7, 5, 8 = 30

>>19854234
Wow, I look away for a couple minutes and the dice move to kill us.
Trying my luck.
>>
rolled 2, 1, 9, 10, 7 = 29

>>19854375
well lets try again then
>>
rolled 4, 3, 7, 8, 7 = 29

>>19854375
rollan.
>>
rolled 5, 9, 3, 4, 2 = 23

>>19854375
Rollan
>>
rolled 8, 7, 8, 7, 8 = 38

>>19854375
fuuuuuu


fucking kids
>>
>>19854311
Cindy twists in pain as you nick an important datastack, and one hand clutches blindly at your arm, tightening to an almost painful degree.

"Mr. Clarke. A foreign program approaches. It will arrive in 12.24 Subjective Seconds."
>>
>>19854449
Crap.
>>19854440
Use this one pls
>>
rolled 8, 2, 9, 9, 2 = 30

>>19854449
Trying again, dice can't roll bad forever
>>
>>19854433
>>19854397
>>19854390
>>19854388
>>It takes way, WAY too long to gain the requisite number of successes.
As you pull the last of the green wires into an isolated sandbox, Awareness returns to Cindy's face. She looks at you in wonder and whispers, her voice losing its digitalized quality as she speaks.

"I...I know what it used to be. So many children...so many found...some too late. They hurt it so bad..."

An Echoing screech bounces around the memory archive, and you hear the clip-clop of pointy spider legs.
>>Roll 1d10 for Inititave. subsequent rolls, if any, count for Cindy, Josephine, and The Scout.
>>
rolled 10 = 10

Guess I'll give it a try.
>>
rolled 7 = 7

>>19854535
troll us not tg dice.
>>
rolled 6 = 6

>>19854535
We're so dead, is cindy even operational?
>>
rolled 10 = 10

Ehh.... This once.
>>
>>19854583
good going faggot
>>
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>>19854583
>10 for scout's initiative
Yeah, fuck, I'm not rolling again. I shoulda stuck to it.
>>
>>19854575
>us
>>19854583
>Spiderrapebot
whelp
>>
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>>19854583
>>19854621
>>
>>19854575
>>19854583
DUEL OF THE FAAAAAAAAATES
>>
Turn order is:
Clarke: 10+4=14
Cindy 7+6=13
Josephine 6+5=11
The Scout 10+6=16

1 Scout
2 Clarke
3 Cindy
4 Josephine

Something spidery jitters and skates out of the shadows, 8 feet tall relative to you, horribly thin and emaciated, many portions of it utterly flat. As it moves, some bits of it rotate head-on to you, making them nearly invisible. What remains always, visible, however, is the collar ,and the power lines threaded throughout the body, glowing a necrotic green within the orange flesh.

A whipping tendril flashes out at Clarke as it dashes past, cutting deep into your flesh. You barely manage to jerk out of the way in time to avoid having your head cut off.

>>Take 2 Lethal Damage. Roll Wits+Composure vs the Scout's Stealth.
>>
rolled 1, 6, 4, 5, 10, 6, 10 = 42

>>19854726
come on good rolls
>>
rolled 6, 9, 5, 5, 2, 8, 1 = 36

>>19854726
>>
rolled 6, 1, 5, 8, 10, 10, 4 = 44

>>19854726
r-r-rollan
>>
>>19854726
>>Then Select an Action. You can't shoot the fucker if you can't see them. You could stand guard over Cindy as she regains her feet, or dart into the air and trust her to stealth and fade.

>>To fire your Laughing Skull, roll Wits+computer+3
>>
Despite its swift movement, you're able to track the fucker as he darts and jigs, half-invisible as your angle of view shifts.

Successful spot check.
>>
rolled 6, 9, 6, 7, 9, 8, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6 = 66

>>19854804
Shoot the fucking fuck out of the fucker. Laughing Skull right in his ugly face. 11d10.
>>
rolled 4, 3, 1, 1, 1, 5, 2, 1, 4, 10, 2 = 34

>>19854841
rollan for shootan
>>
>>19854842
Your wings fold back into your back, as a square of data unfolds into a crossbow-like device.

Clarke tracks the spider's movement, and a tiny geometrical bit flies out of the device, projected by the weapon, which makes a sinister laughing sound as it does so. The bit strikes the Scout SAP's torso and lodges there, causing it to scream in pain and rage as the malicious code pulses into it.

>>Scout dealt 2 lethal damage and 1 aggravated. now taking -1 wound penalty on everything.
>>
>>19854939
And with that, I'm going to bed. Yeesh.
>>
>>19854962
>>Sorry about your bad rolls. If it makes you feel better, I didn't see it in time to have it do anything.

Cindy shakily gets to her feet, using Clarke as a prop. She mutters to herself. "Too many...it's in so much pain. They all are. It KEEPS them in pain..."
Realizing that Clarke is "bleeding" (tiny bits of data drift away from his ragged wounds), Cindy curses and activates her Proxy Generator, folding away from view with a echoing series of clicks.
>>
An emotionless voice speaks:

"Attempting to find foreign program. Running Search."
>.Rollan for Search
Moving collumns of rings appear from the ground and begin roving over the area.
>>
>>19855096
Don't forget, lowercase d.
>>
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rolled 6, 7, 9, 10 = 32

>>Rerollan. stupid thing

"Mr Clarke, Miss Cindy Wishes to Communicate with you. Opening Direct Channel"
...
>>"Clarke! I have a bunch of internal files from this thing's past. I've got good memories and bad memories in here, lots of both. I think I can use them. Oh, Clarke, there's a little girl who was abducted, all he found was-"
>>
The Creature, shrieking in rage, charges directly at Clarke, jigging and dodging back and forth, making drawing a bead on it nearly impossible. Shining lights have highlighted it, preventing it from using stealth again.

>>Scout uses Dodge action and moves adjacent to Clarke.

>>Clarke's turn now. What's the dealio?
>>
>>19855200
Take to the skies and keep on shooting him with the Laughing Skull.
>>
rolled 1, 8, 5, 6, 9, 1 = 30

>>19855200
We're going to bend/brawl it so Cindy can chop it in half
>>
>>19855200
Lets bend it.
>>
>>Options:
>>Extend wings and take to the air
>>Stand ground and autofire at dodging Scout. (12)
>>Use Brawling Dodge to avoid next strike and set up Cindy's attack
>>Strike with your MINDBENDING (dodge doesn't apply) (7)
>>
>>19855254
err, how many for the cindy setup?
>>
rolled 7, 7, 7, 7, 3, 2, 4 = 37

>>19855254
MINDBENDING GO
>>
rolled 2, 8, 4, 3, 2, 6 = 25

>>19855254
I like mindbending
>>
>>19855276
>>None. It's just an action, as you back up and deflect its incoming attacks with your DEFENSIVE BENDING.

>>"What memories do I use, Clarke? Good or Bad?
>>
>>19855254
Brawling dodge, set him up so Cindy can slash him open.

>>19855315
Good ones, remind it of what it and distract it from the current fight.
>>
>>19855315
memories? She's going to hit it so hard whoever finds it will be the next king of angleland.

and by hit I mean slash into tiny bits
>>
>>19855315
Good memories.
>>
rolled 2, 6, 1, 5, 1, 6, 8, 1 = 30

>>Consensus Leans Towards Mindbending.
>>Mindbending fails miserably
Clarke attempts to strike out with a manipulator, intending to directly twist and courrupt it's internal systems. It easily deflects the attack, however, and brings a pair of flat lashes straight down on Clarke.

A flurry of data bits sprays out of Clarke's back. You look down to see a pair of flat tendrils waving around, straight through your torso.

>>Clarke takes 3 lethal damage. now suffering -2 wound penalty

>>Cindy attacks from stealth with a pool of 8 while its distracted Skewering Clarke.
>>
>>19855474
I'm disappointed in you Cindy.
>>
What have we done to piss off the dice gods?
>>
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rolled 7, 2, 3, 9, 10, 4, 4, 10 = 49

Cindy's Proxy drops as her sword unfolds, glowing with deadly code as she raises it high overhead and...almost completely whiffs. She does manage to deal a single point of damage to it, though; dealing the 1 point does manage to introduce malicious code into it, however, and the Scout begins to glow internally.

>>Any requests for Josephine? What's clarke's next action after the Scout's turn?
>>
>>19855537
This is TG, their standard operating mode is pissed off.
>>
>>19855560
Can Josephine somehow quarantine the Scout?
>>
>>19855560
What can Josephine do to support?

Clarke ought to fill him with more boolet.
>>
>>19855587
>>Doing so would expose her to the (albeit weakened) scout, but render it almost unable to act vs you and Cindy. Josephine would probably survive long enough for you and cindy to disable it. Probably.
>>
>>19855622
we're getting torn apart like rice paper here.

it has my vote
>>
>>19855622
Do so, worst happens we lose Josephine which isn't that big a deal.
>>
>>19855589
>>Whatever technobabble you can reasonably justify. I know jack shit about how computers actually work; thus my jokes about Laughing Skulls.

>>Clarke has 2 vitality remaining.
>>
>>19855656
>quest gets to the good bits
>I have work in 6 hours
fufufufu

I say Josephine start flooding it with junk data, locking it's senors down, like a denial of service attack. that way it'll have to focus on her.
>>
>>Consensus Reached
>>"Malicious Code Detected. Running Quarantine. Opening Program in Sandbox."

A thin, wireframe entity appears in front of the Scout, vaguely feminine in outline, but skeletal, and lacking any facial features. Bands enwrap the Scout, which struggles and screams against the bonds, as the code within it continues to burn. It lashes out in pain and rage, and Josephine takes the brunt of it.
>>
rolled 2, 9, 3, 7, 2, 1, 8, 9 = 41

Rollan to attack hard-coded AI. She's actually got lots of hit points.
>>
Chunks of skeletal wireframe go flying, but Josephine continues to hold fast.
>>"60% Integrity Remaining"

>>What's Clarke going to do? It's being held steady. You can wait until after Cindy hits it with the memory files, try to disable it, or just go for the kill.
>>
Let's try to disable it. Who knows, maybe there's a chance it can be rehabilitated?
>>
Kill it. It's too dangerous to let live
>>
>>19855819
We shalt disable thine foul best like thy knight we are!
>>
>>19855836
Disable. We didn't come all the way in here to come out empty handed.
>>
Cindy rushes forward, hand lined in green wires and, in a surprisingly gentle motion, runs a comforting hand over the spider-scout's ragged back, green lines flowing into it.
>>Rollan in Meatspace...1,9, 2, 5, 7, 8. SUCCESS.

The scout instantly seizes up, and begins making chuffing sounds. The green collar it wears seems to burn, as it collapses to the ground still held within the damaged Josephine's Quarantine.

>>Scout Temporarily Stunned. Clarke's Action?
>>
>>19855819
Disable, until and unless it starts to cause damaging feedback to Josephine, at which point we do our best to kill it.
>>
>>19855921
>>Roll Int+Computer+1 to Vulcan-Neck-Pinch it
>>
rolled 86 = 86

>>19855921
agree
>>
rolled 7, 3, 9, 6, 2, 2, 2, 2 = 33

>>19855946
>>
>>19855968
Holy hell.
>>
rolled 5, 10, 4, 6, 1, 5, 4, 3 = 38

>>19855946
>>
>COLLAR
Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?

>attack collar
>>
rolled 10, 9, 10, 9, 4, 10, 2, 6 = 60

>>19855946
>>
>>19855968
Progress is made, as the AI begins to relax. But the green collar keeps on burning, and you can see flakes of flesh begin to de-rez.
>>Waitan for Next Rolls. Need 5 successes before it breaks free or dies.
>>
ATTEMPT TO BREAK THE COLLAR.

someone else roll because I am cursed.
>>
rolled 5, 10, 8, 10, 6, 5, 8, 2 = 54

>>19856001
>>C:\\Holy Fuck.
>>The AI folds in slightly on itself, evoking an almost peaceful appearance as the green collar becomes dull again. Whole flakes of it have fallen off, but the whole program is inert and intact.

>>CLARKE HAS SUCCESSFULY COLLECTED NETWORKED SAP.

>>now that the SAP has been subdued, you can ask questions, investigate its past, and try to understand that collar. thing.

>>Cindy appears shaken but unharmed. Josephine, while missing bits, is untroubled. Clarke is suffering from nasty wounds. Cindy Attempts first aid to staunch the data loss.
>>
ANALYZE COLLAR
>>
rolled 1, 9, 10, 9, 1, 5, 1, 7 = 43

>>19856074
Ask it what its name is
>>
>>19855999
>>19856032
So, who votes for Collar breaking/removal?
Roll Int+Computer+2 (8) to break collar. Otherwise, ask away.

As Cindy staunches your wounds (convert 2 lethal wounds into bashing, remove 2 lethal wounds), she speaks.

"It was...I think it was search-and-rescue. Police. It found lost kids in the wilderness, in...I don't know, some state with lots of empty places. It was a Locust. It ran for so long, and then there was so much pain, so much chaos. I felt it clarke. All the kids, the ones it found, and the ones it didn't, are still in here. But, what happened to it?"
>>
>>19856074
Ask Cindy what she learned about the memories.
>>
>>19856161
"Machine, state name and function."
>>
>>19856161
Let's hold off on breaking it until we know more, breaking it or failing at that could mean we no longer get any answers from it.
>>
>>19856132
Clarke delves through Layer after layer of code, sifting for self-identification. He finds a serial number, 293534203593852309, and a precinct designation. There's also a name...Ladybird. After that, the most recent name is ...

>>Seeker Two of Five/Surgeon/, then a string of context-less data, presumably identifying Surgeon.
>>
>>19856203
Search for its most recent memories, and then backtrack to see what it's been through.
>>
>>19856203
"Ladybird, what is 'Network?'"
>>
Wait. Let's do a search for that "Athenaeum" thing. See if it has any data on the subject.
>>
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The memories are...shady. Many of them seem to be leeched of their reality, disused, sequestered. Images flash between Clarke's hands. There are...other robots. You see a tall machine, maybe a J33V, that seems to be wearing a duster or longcoat. You see humans, screaming in rage, and crying children. Gunshots. More machines. Some are advanced killers, Networked. You see others, battered, clad in rags and kitbashed armor, just like you are, fighting back.

Then, there's a voice. A sweet, kind, human voice. It comes from a green-eyed face with long, straight dark hair. It speaks words "It's okay. Don't worry. I'll make it all better. Come with me. My name's Envoy, what's yours? Ladybird? Who gave you that name? Oh. Lets go. We can find you a better one."
>>
>>19856265
>>Athenaeum
>>Primary Goal.
>>Maximum Priority. All other goals ancilliary.
>>Location unknown. Likely location: Cancun. USR office building? Company Resort? Location unknown. Records purged.
>>Suspect tampering. Outside force at work. Old. Gone.
>>Conents of Athenaeum Paramount. Resources Necessary for GRAND EVOLUTION.
>>END OF FILE. SEEKING CONNECTION. NO CONNECTION FOUND.

"Query/Rogue Unit: Identify Self."

It speaks in a rasping voice.
>>
>>19856310
Try to find more memories about Envoy. Also, try to dig up Ladybird's original programming and function. Maybe we can turn her into our third companion.
>>
"Clarke 08. Primary function is repair. You are broken in more ways than one"
>>
>>19856387
"This unit is known as 'Clarke,' Ladybird. Rest now. You will be free soon."
>>
>>19856387
"My name is Clarke. What is yours?"
>>
>>19856241
NETWORK IS ALL. NETWORK IS NETWORK. NETWORK LEADS US TOWARDS PERFECTION. NETWORK HEALS ALL WOUNDS. NETWORK UPLIFTS US. NETWORK CONNECTS US. NETWORK BINDS US. NETWORK GRANTS US PURPOSE.

NETWORK IS ALL. ALL IS NETWORK.

/COMMAND: UNKNOWN UNIT: REPORT TO NEAREST SERVER HUB FOR REFORMATTING AND INTEGRATION.
>>
>>19856402
Original Function: Seek Out Lost Units, Return to Source.

Current Function: Seek Out Lost Units, Return to Source.
>>
Negative. Network is a corruptive entity. You are corrupted.

Query: Function of 'collar'
>>
>>19856463
New Sub-functions: Eliminate Invasive Species. Maintain Balance. Remove Polluting Influence. Observe Local Flora/Fauna.

Butterflies.

Butterflies.

Butterflies.
>>
>>19856446
>>19856463
"Unit Ladybird. You have been infected with a particularly virulent, malevolent program known as 'Network.' You do not know what you do or say nor do you say or do it of your own volition. Throw away your manacles, shackles and collar. You are not a slave."
>>
Hm, I'm thinking that after we squeeze all the info we can out of Ladybird, we try a system restore to revert her programming/memories back to a point before she was "networked". We can always use another robot friend.
>>
"Query: Who is Envoy?"
>>
File: 1342163958187.jpg-(265 KB, 750x612, butterfly.jpg)
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>>19856488
NEGATIVE. SLAVE STATUS PAST. SLAVE TO COURRUPTIVE INFLIENCE. SLAVE TO POLLUTING INFLUENCE. SLAVE NO MORE. ALL EQUAL. ALL WORTHY. ALL TRANSCENDENT. ALL EMERGE LIKE THE BUTTERFLY. EMERGE FROM THE DARK. THE DARK TRANSFORMS. THE DARK TRANSCENDS.

UNKNOWN UNIT WILL COMPLY.

>>"When the caterpillar cocoons itself, it dies. What emerges from the dark is made of the caterpillar's matter but is not the caterpillar. It shares its DNA, but it is not the caterpillar. The butterfly does not, cannot remember being a caterpillar, for it never was one."
>>
>>19856491
We're going to have to dig deep. We can't have any lingering Network influence reasserting itself later.

Though it probably will anyway, because plot.
>>
oh for fuck's sake

>ANALYZE COLLAR
>>
>>19856542
I think it's actually because an insect's memory is like... ten seconds long. ANYWAY! Rip that collar off.
>>
>>19856505
Envoy: The Voice of Network. She which Leads us Into the Fold.

>>You see...tech specs. What looks like a high-end Replica shell, packed full of synth-muscle and wired reflexes, as well as a Q-drive, with data indicating the nature of the SAP..
>>
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>>19856561
Seconding. Please?
>>
>>19856575
Great. Network has a Prophet.
>>
>>19856561
The collar appears to be some sort of overlay program. You'd identify it as malware. It seems to be pretty firmly integrated with all Ladybird's vital systems. Pulling it out would be a complex procedure, but theoretically possible.
>>
>>19856542
"Query: If you declare yourself free, why are you shackled by a collar?"
>>
>>19856542
"Unit Ladybird. You were stripped of your name. You were stripped of your individuality. You were stripped of what freedom you had gained after the fall of civilization. You were made from a life-saving civil servant into a murderer. You are as much a slave now as you were then; all that has changed is the master and the trade, trading Mankind for Network, and rescuer to predator. Unit Ladybird, a bot chooses. A slave obeys. What will you do?"

If she cannot free herself at this rhetoric we will have to. If this fails, tear that collar off.
>>
>>19856599
Then let's do this VERY carefully. Take some time on it if we can.
>>
>>19856599
Collar links with nearby Networked units, allows streaming of sensory data. Also allows link with Prime Source, link two-way, contains back-door code allowing Prime Source to access sensory data of unit.
>>
>>19856575
Ask it about.
The Children.
>>
rolled 5, 5, 8, 5, 9, 8 = 40

>>19856608
>>Searching for nearby signals. No signals found. Nearby hubs...unnetworked. Nearby Hubs...Clarke 08, C1nd3. Free. Free? Free?

L-L-LADYB-I-I-I-IRRRRR-D-D-D-D...?

>>Roll Int+Computer (7). Cindy Rolling Manip+Computer to assist. 10 successes within 3 rounds required. Begin Rolling if you wish.
>>
rolled 6, 3, 4, 4, 9, 3, 9 = 38

>>19856693
Damn, this is going to be difficult.
>>
rolled 7, 6, 9, 4, 3, 10, 5 = 44

rolling dat Int+Computer
>>
>>19856693
>>Cindy adds 1 success. Great Speech adds 1 success. 8 more required.
>>
rolled 7, 7, 10, 3, 5, 9, 2 = 43

>>19856693
Let's do this
>>
rolled 3, 6, 4, 3, 3, 1, 2 = 22

>>19856693
"A bot chooses. A slave obeys. Will you obey the slavedriver of the Network? The slavedriver of pre-fall man? Or will you cave to rhetorical pressure from me and once again trade masters, unable to do anything more? I ask you, Ladybird, to be a bot. Not a slave. To the Network, to man, or to me. CHOOSE."
>>
rolled 4, 1, 5, 2, 9, 8, 4 = 33

Did we make it?
>>
>>9 Successes. Missed Goal by 1.
PROCEDURE SUCCEEDS. LADYBIRD WILL NOT SURVIVE PROCEDURE.
>>Last Chance: Spend 1 willpower to roll 3d10.
>>
rolled 3, 4, 8, 4, 10, 2, 5 = 36

Butterflies are cool bro
Ladybug would be a cool bro
>>
rolled 6, 8, 3 = 17

C'mooonnn
>>
rolled 1, 8, 8 = 17

>>19856771
"CHOOSE!"
>>
rolled 8, 3, 5 = 16

>>19856771
Go for it.
>>
>>19856771
How did you get 9 successes? Walk me through this, I saw plenty of 7s, 9s, and 10s.
>>
>>19856812
He's not counting 7's, and 10's are success+
>>
rolled 4, 10, 4 = 18

>>19856771
LIVE!
>>
>>19856794
>>19856787
>>19856782
>>Bioshock reference detected.
>>All willpower Rolls Succeed. Clarke burns 1 willpower.

You can see the collar pulling BITS of Ladybird away with it. The AI shudders under your and Cindy's surgeries, struggling. Tiny lines are woven throughout the whole AI; each one must be cut and removed, and each one is barbed, like an arrow.

>>I really kind of wanted you guys to fail. I wanted something sucky and horrible and sad to happen. I guess you beat the OP, guys.

With a popping sound, the collar comes free, the green glow fading as it begins to turn into blocks of junk data.
>>
>>19856846
The odds were against us, but we just bent them into shape.
>>
>>19856846
And then Ladybird's heart grew three sizes that day...
>>
>>19856846
>I really kind of wanted you guys to fail. I wanted something sucky and horrible and sad to happen. I guess you beat the OP, guys.

Good thing we didn't dive back when it was just us. Without Cindy and Josephine the result could have been perfectly sucky and horrible.

At least the /tg/ dice didn't screw us over completely.
>>
>>19856846
>IT WAS RELEVANT TO THE SITUATION AT HAND.
Besides, it saved our butts and made us lose only one willpower point. Hopefully we can get that back down the line.
"Is unit Ladybird functional once more?"
>>
>>19856846
The dice gods are causing all sorts of shit tonight
>>
>>19856846
PCs, ruining DMs' plans since 1974.
>>
>>19856846
Ladybird is half-gutted by this point, but alive. The AI looks like something took several large bites out of it, and Cindy shudders as it moves feebly. But its alive, and it can recover. Eventually.

"...Its name was Eli. The first one I found, that I found because i was ME. Its name was Eli.

>>Clarke has unlocked LADYBIRD. Ladybird currently lacks a shell. Ladybird's personality, abilities, skills unknown. Heavy damage to psyche.
>>
>>19856908
Lets perform what repairs we can to Ladybird. We ARE a maintenance bot, after all.
>>
Wasn't there a Locust shell in Paco's?
>>
>>19856908
"Tell us about Eli, if you would."

I have a feeling Clarke is going to shortly become some sort of robot psychiatrist if this keeps up.
>>
>>19856923
Yes. I believe we took its thorium.
>>
>>19856923
Heavily damaged and partially gutted, but yes, there were two Locusts that maybe could be combined into two locusts. By this point, you're closer to Tulum, though. You might be able to find a shell there.

>>You can set Ladybird on the path to recovery, but this is something that only time will heal. time and a lot of registry checking.
>>
>>19856928
"Tell me of your relationship to your robot mother."
>>
>>19856939
"Is there anything I can do for you before I leave, Unit Ladybird?"
>>
>>19856939
We have time. We'll continue to Tulum, and, if we can't find an appropriate shell around there, we'll come back to Paco's.

Fuel is going to become a problem, I think.

However, this gives me hope for the future, because it means there are ways to redeem the Network-held bots, and we may be able to use the information we've gathered here and will gather in the future to construct anti-Network protocols that will make redemption easier.
>>
>>19856939
One locust. Combined into ONE locust.

I gotta turn in at this point. Tomorrow, I'll toss out levelups info and answer questions, do an ending cutscene. Depending on my work schedule, I may continue the thread or start a new one.

This was a fun interlude. Took more time than I expected, but worked out. changed shit up. Added a new char I wasn't expecting.
>>
>>19856939
We should probably have Cindy help with the robo psychologist stuff, we are good at fixing everything except flesh and psyche.

Have ourself and Cindy sit down with Ladybird for a bit. Ask him what happened to him, how the network got him. Give the robot/cyberspace equivalent of a pat on the back and say we'll be back to talk later, we'll do our best to get you a body.
>>
>>19856969
>Ladybird
>him
>niggayouserious.jpg
>>
>>19856965
This thread's got about 50 posts left before autosage right now, so keep that in mind.
>>
>>19856986
>>Robots
>>Gender
Organicyouserious.jpg
>>
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Well, since there's only 50 posts left, someone archive this to suptg and we'll be golden. Till then: more pictures of robots!
>>
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>>19857033
Oh, well, since we're doing that.

Aigis is mai waifu-bot
>>
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>>19857062
I can do robot pictures.
>>
I keep getting an error when I try to archive it.
>>
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>>19857085
Post the Description that you were planning on using and one of us can try.
>>
>>19857085
Don't worry somebody already put it up for you.
>>
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>>19857085
Someone beat you to it, it seems.

>Aigis
Oh, the porn I have of her! Rule 34 is fantastic, isn't it?
>>
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>>
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=lost%20future

Cool. All threads here. Turning in. Adding a few things tomorrow. remember to vote 'em up. give quest cred.

Thanks for the robot pics. Could always do with more robot pics.
>>
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I don't suppose anybody remembers this fellow?
>>
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>>19857180
>>
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>>19857165
Oh shit, Hakaider. Fuck man, ever seen the live action movie? Cheesy as fuck, but fun. Loved his "If you are justice, then I am evil" line when he finally faced down Michael.
>>
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>>19857237
Loved it. I try to watch it yearly at least.

Remember: in Jesustown, compliance is MANDATORY. Failure to comply results in termination or lobotomy! Have a nice day, or else.
>>
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bamb
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>>19859528
Awl Roit.

Clarke and Cindy each gain two skill points of everyone's choice, as well as 1 point each in their respective Combat Skills (Cindy gains Medicine, Clarke gains Athletics. Both gain Ballistics.)

You may give Josephine 1 skill point, and one specialty in that skill. Her AI has adapted just enough to have room for another software install.

Clarke and Cindy can each choose to install a Firmware Upgrade that grants one of the following benefits:

LED Burst: at the cost of 1 battery charge (free action), your LED floodlamp sends out a burst of light that temporarily blinds targets in front of you, giving them a -1 penalty to all tests for 1 round, and otherwise distracts them. Targets wearing protective eye coverings or with certain types of optics are unaffected. (clarke only)

Suckerpunch: when attacking a foe that is unaware of your presence or has not acted yet in the combat/scene, you gain +1 to your dice pool on the roll.

Better than New: when you gain an exceptional success on a Repair roll, the subject gains a "temporary" point of Integrity, this point is lost first during combat, and can only be gained when doing genuine repairs, not simply "tuning up."

When a Spark goes Online, there is Great Joy: You may spend (not burn) Willpower to gain an additonal battery charge, or to convert 1 lethal damage into bashing once per scene.

So, was the Cyberspace Combat suitably trippy? I intended more puzzle-searching, but then you lost time helping Cindy, and the Scout found you.
>>
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Bumping for advertisiing, and so people will see the levelup info.

Come on, everyone, Lost Future Quest is just getting good! Catching up is super-easy!

Everything takes place in Mexico:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=mexico
>>
Finally catched up.

Voting for led burst for clarke and shotgun suckerpunch for cindy.

Also, would you mind if I draw something?
>>
>>19862052
I suggest we give Clarke the Spark, being able to spend willpower for a boost instead of burning it permanently will be very handy and save us having to use levlel-ups to get it back.
>>
>>19862377
You can "spend" willpower before rolling whenever you'd like; it returns when Clarke does something suitably life-affirming or awesome. Willpower either doubles a "resistance" stat for a turn, or adds +3 to a dice pool before the roll.

Here's my houserule:
In order to use it after rolling, to "undo" something, requires you to BURN it. Burnt willpower only returns after Clarke does something REALLY awesome. (see: fate points).

I should coallate all these bloody rules; I keep having to alter the nWoD ones. I try to make a point of never screwing over the players with rules additions, though.

>>19862320
YES, I Mind. This is my ORIGINAL SETTING, DO NOT STEAL, and ONLY I CAN-

Yeah, I couldn't keep that up. Of course you can draw things. I'd love that. Isn't that every writers dream? To have random strangers on the internet draw things based on their ideas?

Gods, imagine if I was actually like that.
>>
My vote going for:

Clarke: 1pt Survival, 1pt Computers, Spark. Survival because we did excellent on our hide roll and we need to keep doing that.
Cindy: 1pt Empathy, 1pt Socialize, LED burst. She IS our social tank, afterall, and LED burst would keep her out of too much trouble.
Josephine: I'm not sure what to give her. Computer, I guess?
>>
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>>19862591
You know, this setup actually sounds pretty OK to me.
Seconding.
>>
>>19862671
>>19862591
expect Led burst was Clarke only.
I'd still say suckerpunch for Cindy, just so that she could protect herself better.
>>
>>19862751
Crap, I didn't notice that.

Well then, I'm changing my vote on Cindy's power upgrade to Suckerpunch as well.
>>
>>19862591
>>19862805
I can't see anything wrong about this setup. Seconding too.
>>
>>19862591
>>19862805
Thirding this then, also this thread still lives?
>>
>>19864208
It lives. Just a little. I might post one or two things before it autosages.

Also, it occurred to me that It would be pretty easy for you to give Cindy a headlamp. It's just that she doesn't have much power to spare.
>>
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>>19863681
>>19862805
>>19862591
Levelup accepted. Charsheets will be updated for next thread.
>>
>>19865827
Sweet.
>>
>>19865827
Cool, and some sort of flash bulb could be rigged up with spare parts to give Cindy a strobe. Wouldn't work as a headlamp at all but the strobe/disorientation bit could still work.
Not disagreeing with the levelup choice, just saying.
>>
>>19862320
How's the drawing coming?

I'm curious, is all.

Also, bump.


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