>>23485942
>bunkmates
>roommates, even, whoops.

>>23485942
"Hello! Pleased to meet you, I'm Heather."

Well that was a convenient time for an archive catchup.

Shake her hand. Greet her. Initiate proper social protocols.

>>23485942
>>23485968

shake her hand "a pleasure, I'm Heather... there is a tiger in our room."

>>23485942
hi I am Heather Leery..um do you see a Tiger.too ?

>>23485942
"Hello, I am Heather. I would presume Tigger here is the other Ascendant that Maximillian told me about."

>>23485942
"Is the Tiger a roommate as well?"

"... Hello!" You say, and shake her hand. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Heather."
Then you eye the tiger. It's tail wiggles, and the girl giggles.
"... There is a tiger in our room."
"An oversized Golden Sumatran!" She said. "That has been transgened to be extra golden."
"Is the tiger a roommate as well?"
She just giggled again, and put a finger up to her lips.
"Maybe." She said.

>>23486131
"Is he the one Maximillian told me about? The other Ascended. Dendant. Genetically superior animal?"

>>23486131

"um, hello mister (or miss) tiger."

>>23486161
I believe the term was "Uplift"

"Is he the one Max told me about? The other uplift?"
The girl frowned. "He's a she." She said. "The institute's old fashioned - they wouldn't put males and females in the same rooms."
"Um, hello, Miss tiger." you say.
The girl gave you a mysterious grin, and the tiger got to it- well, her - feet, and walked near the door.
"Anyway, Max told me that when you're ready, I'm supposed to lead you to your counselor. And then to Damien, so he can show you around. Then I can take a nap, he said."
Then she pointed toward a second, smaller door - one you hadn't noticed until now. "That's the showers and stuff. I thought we wouldn't be able to use much water on the station, but I'm surprised by how many supplies the alliance gives us. So feel free to use a lot. You can requisition pretty much anything, no matter how hard it is to find. They just take it from your pay."

>>23486252

"well, i wouldn't want to keep you busy for to long, lead the way."

>>23486252
>they wouldn't put males and females in the same rooms
>Our familiar isn't living with us
aww.

"Counselor?"

Sweet we can requisition anything. Time to get working on sweet tech.

>>23486350
>>Our familiar isn't living with us
no, he isn't our familiar.

>>23486252
Where is Einstein?

>>23486492
>Einstein, as always, is following you silently. You can assume he always is, unless I mention that he isn't.

"Counselor?"
"They're like... doctors. And researchers. And really they're the people you go to when you need anything, and if you want to specialize your talent, you just ask them and the scientists will figure out a way to try and teach you how to." She said.
"Well, I wouldn't want to keep you busy for too long. Lead the way."
"Okay!" She said, and walked near the door. "This way."

You climb out of bed as the tiger nudges her nose against the control pad next to the door, and it hissed open. You, the tiger, and the girl step out into a long hallway. A long hallway that was... sloping upward at both ends. She grinned.
"We're spinning." The girl said. "That's why we have gravity. You get less gravity the higher up... well, uh... the closer in you go?
She mussed her own hair, and pointed toward the ceiling. "The further that direction you go. Right now, on the dorm level, it's like... nine gees or something. Point nine, I mean. At the bottom it's one point two, and it just gets less and less the higher you go."
Summer, you, and the tiger padded up the hallway, and then she suddenly took a ramp on the left, and continued on for some time.
"Right here." She said, nodding toward a door.

>>23486514
"Thanks Summer. I hope I won't be long."

>>23486514
"Any idea how much time this will take?"

"Any idea how much time this will take?"
"Well, they're just going to be saying hi and stuff." She said, unceremoniously sitting on the tiger. "And then they might want to do a checkup, but that's it."
"Thanks, Summer." You say. "I hope I won't be long."
"Okay, I'll be here." She said, crossing her arms and leaning back on one of the sloping walls.

You hit the button next to the door, and enter - it was obviously a simple nurse's office, it looked, save for the heavy computing equipment in the back. A grey-haired man sat there, wearing a set of spectacles, looking down at a datapad.
"Oh!" He said, when he sat up. "Uh... Heather Leery, I assume?"
You nod.
"Right, okay then." He said. "I'm Dr. Manus. I'll be, uh... well, the institute calls us counselors. Like... school counselors, even though this place doesn't actually pretend to be a school very well. I'm here to provide whatever you need, design your curriculum, check up on your health, and answer any questions you have. Every student here gets their own counselor. I suppose it sounds more like we're doctors, that way."

>>23486725
"So is there anything you need to ask me? What kind of curriculum will I get?"

>>23486725
"So... the tiger is the other Uplifted one, isn't she? And why can't Maximillian be with me? He's almost like my Familiar or something..."

>>23486783

no he's not, he just came to pick us up.

>>23486725
"Am I going to continue my schooling in addition to psy-training?

>>23486725
"Well, you're a researcher, too, right? Saying you're my counselor is nicer than saying I'm your subject, even if they're both true."

"Well, you're a researcher too, right? Saying you're my counselor is nicer than saying I'm your subject, even if they're both true."
"They are both true." He said, and nodded. "But our goals are the same, right now - to do what's best for you. You get to learn about your powers, the alliance gives you preposterous amounts of money, and I get research data. Everybody wins."
"So is there anything you need to ask me? What kind of curriculum will I get?" You ask.
"Well, for now we'll start you on the basics for your age level, and we have your school transcripts... didn't you change schools recently? The last one flooded?"
You nod.
"Alright. And for the psionic training, I'm thinking we'll get you to exercise your three muscles. Kinetic movement.. which basically means we stick you in a spacesuit outside of the station and teach you to move around, and then we're going to have you move small objects and so on. For telepathy... well, simply enough, there are enough people that don't speak english around that just by talking to people you can learn that, for now. Then for extrasensory perception, we have some sensory deprivation chambers. Then you just fill out a few things telling us what you can see." He said. "Any questions?"

>>23486886
"What kind of a workshop slash laboratory can I have for my science?"

>>23486886
"Is there anyplace I can set up as a workshop?"

>>23486886
"That sounds cool. Could you upgrade my Assistant Droids clearance so he can access the institute network?"

>>23486957
That would just be granting permissions.

>>23486886

sensory deprivation chambers sounds like it can do a lot more than just turn off the light and dampen all outside sounds.

"That sounds cool." You say. "Could you upgrade my assistant droid's clearance so he can access the institute's network?"
"Oh right." He said. "Wouldn't want you to get lost. You'll also have access to the maps, and we'd... really like if you didn't tell the media about too much, here. We're trying to stay out of focus."
He turned to the dataslate, typed in some sort of password.
"I see it on the wifi." He said. "Einstein?"
You nod.
"Okay, he's in now under student clearance."
"And... is there any place I can set up as workshop?"
"Right, right, your mother... one of them is a mechanic, isn't she? I can make sure you have a place."
"So... the tiger is the other Uplifted one, isn't she?" You ask, and brandish a hand toward the door.
"Summer? Yeah, she.. has a rather personal story. You might want to ask her about it."
He looked down to the datapad.
"Oh, right, right. I almost forgot. We'd like to check up on your health and biometrics, and we'd like to ask your permission if we can give you a simple scanning device to wear. Something to keep record of your biometrics for us."

>>23487070
"I thought summer was the bubbly green eyed girl?"

>>23487070

Summer is the tiger and she is using psionics to make a human replica to interact with people?

"do i have to wear it all the time or can i take it off if it is bothering me?"

>>23487070
"That shouldn't be a problem. Thank you, Doctor."

You take the simple metamaterial bracer, and slip it on your ankle.
"That shouldn't be a problem." You say. "Do I have to wear it all the time, or can I take it off if it is bothering me?"
"Really, we'd prefer you keep it on, but you can remove it." He said.
"And I thought Summer was the bubbly green eyed girl?"
"We think it's telepathy combined with some kind of complex kinesis." He said. "Though all our scanners say that she's a normal, human, sixteen year old girl. In simple terms... well, they're the same person. Both Summer, I guess, though the tiger is actually her. She can't control it, though. Max calls it manifestation. It doesn't seem that she controls it, or that she can turn it off."

>>23487070
"Just the biometrics?"
"Sure, I think I could get Einstein to be a secondary scanner as well, if you want, in case it gets broken or something."

>>23487197
"Oh, ah, that is peculiar."

>>23487197

that's really interesting, I'll ask her about it.

>>23487197
"Thanks, Doctor. I think someone else wanted to see me, so I'd best be on my way."

"Oh, ah, that is peculiar." You say. "That's really interesting. I'll ask her about it. I think someone else wanted to see me, so I'd best be on my way."
"Of course." He said, with a nod. "Have a pleasant morning, Heather."

You made your way back outside to see Summer sleeping. Both of them, the girl curled up and hugging the tiger, snoring.

>>23487342
Tap her gently to wake her up.

>>23487342
>Touch the fluffy ears

>>23487342
Tongue in butt

>>23487440
Hannah get off the exanet. Geeze.

So wait...
Is the tiger a Spaghetti Monster Sainted reverse furry?

"So, Summer. How'd you find out you were psychic, or whatever?"

Carefully, you crouch down and tap her.
She doesn't respond.
So, of course, you do the only thing available to you- you touch the fluffiest tiger ears you've ever seen.

The ear twitched, and suddenly the girl sprang to her feet.
"Sorry, sorry!" She said. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
Then she nudged the tiger with her heel, and it's eyes opened as it ponderously got to her feet.
"Uh... you all done?" She asked, smoothing out her sundress.
"So, Summer. How'd you find out you were psychic, or whatever?"
She was quiet for a few moments, though she still smiled at you.
The tiger, however, drooped her head.
"I'll tell you that story some other time." The girl said. "Now, we'll have to go find Damien." She said. "It's a lot harder than it sounds, especially when he's trying to hide from you."

>>23487527
"Why would he be hiding?"

>>23487527
"If you're supposed to take me to see him, why would he be hiding?"

>>23487527
"I love hide and seek! On that note, can you get me a map, Einstein?"

>>23487527
"Einstein, do you have access to basic sensors? Could you please lead us to Damien?"

"If you're supposed to take me to see him, why would he be hiding?"
"He doesn't like people." She said, tapping her chin. "But we have to find him by outsmarting... reality. Okay... so... This entire time I've intended to try to find him by going around the top way, spiralling further down... So that's what he'll have seen. He can see the future. And what's furthest away from that path..."
"Can you get me a map, einstein?"
Einstein beeped, and projected a map on the wall.
"Oh, that's helpful!" Summer said, tracing her path with her finger. "Damien should be about... here." She said. "This way."

She led you quickly down a path, and down another ramp. The gravity got stronger the lower you got, but eventually, you all but ran into a pale, blonde young man.
"... Damnit, Summer, how do you *do* that?" The man said. His eyes were strange - they didn't seem to meet yours.
"I have psychic powers." She responded, putting her fingers on her temples.
The young man sighed, and turned to you. "Sup, Heather." He said. He still didn't meet your eyes.
"He's blind!" Summer said, like she was releasing spoilers. "He's spent his entire life thinking he could see when he actually couldn't, and it was his ESP acting up!"
"And you're a tiger." Damien responded, in the same tone, and he chuckled.

>>23487676
Jokingly: "Sheesh, I feel so drab and mundane by comparison."

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108 KB PNG

>>23487676
"Dats bretty kul :DDDDDDDD"

>>23487676
"Hello, Damien? I was told to meet you."

>>23487676
"Gee, I feel all bland now."

>>23487727
seconding.

"Sheesh, I feel so bland and mundane by comparison."
"You have rocket boots." Damien responded. "That's not very bland."
"Hello, Damien? I was told to meet you."
"Yeah, I'm supposed to show you around." He said. "I might as well drag Summer along-"
"I think I'll just go take a nap, it's okay." Summer said, and waved at both of you. "See you in the room, Heather." She said, as the tiger followed her.
"Well, let's get this over with." He said, and started walking. "We have... the dorms, the classrooms, a few equipement rooms... the cafeteria, too. Sarvesh is there, pretty much inhaling all the tuna on the station. Then there's Max and some of the counselors near the hub... You any good at ZeroGee, yet?" He asked, and shook his head. "Nevermind. Okay. We have the cafeteria, the recreation room - Anne is in there - And... Jilly is on her way here. Great."

> Where go? Or stay?

>>23487896
"I was wondering if you could explain the basics of ESP to me."

>>23487896
"Wanna know how Summer keeps finding you?"

>>23487896
"Why don't we go meet Jilly halfway, and then go check out the rec room?"

>>23487896
"Why not the cafeteria? I haven't had breakfast yet."

>>23487896
Meet Jill, then go to recreation room

"I was wondering if you could explain the basics of ESP to me."
"Well, Max calls it clairvoyance." He said. "It's... senses that don't come from your body. One of the counselors made a joke about ESP being some kind of quantum supercomputer in a psion's head that calculates everything, and ESP is the ability to tap into it. Then the scientists started taking the idea seriously."
He chuckled.
"But anyway, ESP is intuition turned not only up to eleven, but to twelve, then fifteen, then twenty. You Know things and don't know how you know them. Like how I see, even though my eyes aren't even functional.
He tapped his temple. "The optic nerve is scarred almost beyond repair, if you're curious."
"Why don't we go meet Jilly halfway, then go check out the rec room?"
"Yeah, sure. She was going the wrong way, anyway." He said, and cupped a hand next to his mouth. "Jilly, we're over here!"

Then you see a girl's head poke out of a hallway.
Then you noticed that she didn't have a mouth or nose, and that her pupils were sideways slits.
>Field too long!

>>23488167
Her skin went bright yellow, and instead of hearing a voice, you heard some kind of exuberant cheer. Slithering out from around the hallway was a strange semihuman, with a humanlike torso wearing a T-shirt (that was much too tight on her), but below that, a massively powerful tail was in the place of her legs. Strangely large plates sat on the underside of her tail, and they moved individually, pushing her forward. As for her mostly human parts, she had long brown hair... and her hands were painted red. That was it, really.
"This is Jilly." Damien said, and the girl nodded. "She's nagala. Her mother was transgened to become more human for diplomacy things, but Jilly didn't get the mouth or lips, so she can't talk."

The yellow halfhuman girl pulled you into a hug, very suddenly, and your skin tingled as static electricity shocked you... in patterns that twisted into words.
"I *can* talk." She said, her skin softening into a more human skin tone as she calmed. "Just I need to touch people to do it. Or get one of those devicey doohickeys that turn my voice into sound. I forgot mine in my room. Hello!"

>>23488188
>hands were painted red
>fingernails, even.

>>23488188
Hello! My name is Heather, and this is Einstein!"

>>23488188
"It's lovely to meet you Jilly. I'm Heather."

>>23488188
"pleased to meet you Jilly! I'm heather!"

"It's lovely to meet you, Jilly." You say. "I'm Heather, and this is Einstein!"

She reached up and touched einstein. Then... somehow, she frowned. Without a mouth. It seemed that she still had facial muscles underneath the smooth skin that was her face.
"Damien, can she understand me?" You hear her say, as she touches him.
"She should be able to." Damien said.
"Tell her that I'm pleased to meet her."
"Jilly's asking if you can hear her, and she wants to say hi."
"... You're horrible at translating."
Damien shrugged.

>>23488368
I can understand her just fine.
Lets go to rec room.

>>23488368
"I should probably mention, Einstein is a robot."

>>23488368
Einstein is a robot, and doesn't have a gender.

>>23488368
Touch Jilly "The robot is Einstein, I can understand you just fine. It's lovely to meet you."

"I can understand you just fine. It's lovely to meet you." You say. "And I should probably mention, Einstein is a robot."
"Well, I know that." She said, with you still in a half-hug. "I was seeing if it could do the translatey thing, in case you couldn't understand me. But it couldn't."
"Let's go to the rec room." You say, and Damien shrugged.
"Yes, let's. Anna is there!" Jilly said, and you could swear she was smiling. She went slightly yellow. "I like Anna."
"I don't see why." Damien responded, as the group walked. Jilly continued to hold both yours and Damiens' hands as you walked, her own hands mildly clammy.
"Anna's a nice girl." Jilly said.
"To you, maybe." He said. "And only you. Well, she might like Sarvesh, but she hasn't met him yet."
"Who?" Jilly asked.
"Heather probably knows him better than any of us." Damien added.

>>23488506
"He's an alright guy, seems chill. Tolerated my interrogation."

>>23488506
"He's big and rather imposing."

>>23488506
Can you tell me more about your color changing? Do they represent emotions? Is yellow happy?

>>23488506
"That's a thought, actually. I might try and add a translator to him later..."

"He's a centaur. Large, imposing, quite patient."

>>23488506
"Sarvesh. He's a Centaur, or more accurately Mzlp'hack*tha. He's a nice guy, he has a robotic arm, he's really tall and big, I could probably set up a small workshop on his abdomen."

"Sarvesh. He's a centaur, or more accurately, a Muzzlepkl..." You say, tripping over your words. "...tha. He's a nice guy. He's really tall and big, and quite patient. He tolerated my interrogation."
"Interrogation?" Jilly asked.
"Can you tell me more about your color changes? Do they represent emotions? Is yellow happy?"
"Yep!" She said, and gleamed more brightly yellow. "Well, they're more like... um.. facial expressions, I guess. Except instead of mouth flaps pulling into a certain curve, it's just a color change."

>>23488619
"Lewd..."

>>23488619
Does it take much energy? Seems more energy efficient than smiling.

>>23488619
"What do different colors mean?

What is your usual diet? Do you have any siblings? What's your homeworld like? What's your favorite color?

Sorry if I'm being annoying, this is the interrogation I was talking about, I always have a lot of questions."

>>23488619
"That's cool!"

>>23488619
Can you tell me more about Anna?

"That's cool! Does it take much energy?"
"I don't..."
"What do the different colors mean?"
"I, uh, the colors are all different.."
"What is your usual diet? Do you have any siblings? What's your homeworld like? What's your favorite color?"
She went white and promptly let go of your hand.
"She's, uh... saying that she doesn't want to be interrogated." Damien said, after a moment. "She says that she's Jilly, and that's that. You're asking your questions too quickly for her."

>>23488777
pout and hug her.
"I'm sorry! It's just that you are so interesting and I'm very curious."

>>23488777
reach for her hand slowly.
"S-sorry, hehe, I get excited easily by new things. I guess I just want to know how things work. I /am/ a mechanic's daughter, after all."

>>23488777
"I'm sorry! This is all new to me! I'm on a space station, far away from home with all these new interesting people!"

>>23488821
>>23488809
Some combination of these two seems in order.

>>23488777

"o-oh, I'm sorry, i got carried away. i got a little to excited, all I've ever known are Humans."

>>23488777
man, we should get a fate point for hitting lucky 7's. Jackpot!

"O- oh." You say, then pull her into a hug, which she returns.
"I'm sorry! It's just that I get excited easily by new things. You're so interesting, and I'm very curious."
"W-well, um. I eat fungus, and uh.. we uh... eat our siblings, too? And my homeworld has a lot of pressure and it's really wet and cloudy. and I don't have one." She said. "Those are my answers."

Then she let go again, and went back to grabbing yours and damien's hands.

>>23488943
"Thank you. I'll try not to bother you with lots of questions."

Resist the urge to ask more questions, head to the rec room with her and Damien.

>>23488943
>. eat our siblings,
what...

>>23488943
Blink. "You eat your siblings? Nevermind, I'll have Einstein look it up later."

So they probably feed on electrical energy or something weird like that, since they have no mouths.

>>23488943

let's not delve in to it to much right now.

>>23489026
>>23489004
Raise and eyebrow, but we shouldn't ask.

>>23488943
So, uh, Damien. Which world do you come from?

>>23488943
"Thank you. And, uh, sorry. Again."

"Thank you." You say. "And, uh, sorry. Again. I'll try not to bother you with lots of questions."
Then you blink. Wait, she said she eats her siblings? You start to ask, but then bite your lip and move on.
You, Jilly, and Damien make your way into the rec room, and there it was. Gaming computers set up along one wall, complete with an alien game that looked like it was meant for centaurs, a stereo, and then a corner filled with bookcases. Sitting there, a paper book in her hands, was a dour girl in a conservative dress. She was pale, almost inhumanly so, and she looked much too thin to be healthy. You've seen things like that before, when someone is born or grows up in space.
"Anna!" Jilly called, and slithered forward, her skin going yellow.

The dour girl looked up and waved to Jilly. Then met you and Damien with a cold stare.
Damien leaned over to you, and spoke in a low voice. "When nagala hatch, they're annelids. Worms. And then the entire clutch starts digesting eachother. The one that lives ends up eating the rest, and turning into a toddler."

>>23489120
In a similarly low voice "I see, that makes sense."

Then wave at Anna and introduce ourself.

>>23489120
"That, uh... doesn't sit well with me, I'll be honest."

"Hello Anna? I'm Heather, I'm new here."
Offer our hand.

>>23489120
"Each race to their own, I suppose."

ugh biology. thats why I stick to machines.

>>23489120
"...Huh. Good to know, I guess."
Walk over to Anna, and inquire as to her literature.

>>23489120
I suddenly lost my appetite.
Alright! Go meet the new girl.

>>23489120
"Sweet jesus, I'm gonna stick to robots."

>>23489120
More of a necessary growth thing than a murderpath then, makes sense.

>>23489120
"That makes sense, actually."

>>23489120

"never imagined sentient life would to so vastly different, but i think we could be good friends."

>and then Exabyte drops unspeakable horrors on us.

>>23489120
In our culture, that sort of thing is taboo.. but I guess i'm okay with that.. kind of. I'll get used to it. And you're nice enough to make up for it.

"I see." You say. "That, uh... doesn't sit well with me, I'll be honest."
He shrugged.

You walk over to the girl who Jilly was currently clinging to growing ever more yellow. The girl gave Jilly a smile, and then turned to you.
"Hello, Anna?" You ask. "I'm Heather. I'm new here."
"Hello." She said, with a slight nod, her voice soft.
"What are you reading?"
"The life and death of Tchal'Tzu*." she said, pronouncing it perfectly. "Fought off a team of pirates, after being ejected from his own ship. He was able to tear off part of his own shell and throw it at the bubble drive, and held off moulting until he got his ship back. Rather interesting."

>>23489282
"That is rather interesting, I suppose."

>>23489282

"sounds like a great book."

>>23489282
Are you used to talking like that? That speech was impressive.

>>23489282
"That sounds pretty rad. Did that actually happen, or is it fiction?"

>>23489282
"He sounds resourceful. And determined. And cool."

>>23489282
"That sounds really interesting. Have you met Sarvesh yet?

How do you pronounce Centaur language correctly? The buzzes and clicks just throw me off."

>>23489282
From my understanding that is quite a feat.

do you think the story might be embellished a little?

"That sounds pretty rad. Did that actually happen, or is it fiction?"
"Reimagining." She said. "Really happened back before the Mzlp'hack*tha achieved spaceflight, rewritten in novel form to appeal to a wider audience. Though centaur really can live in vaccum for some time, if they hold their breath."
"He sounds resourceful. And determined. And cool."
"I think there's much too much hyperbole in this for me." She said.
"Have you met Sarvesh yet?"
"No." She said.
"How do you pronounce Centaur language correctly? The buzzes and clicks just throw me off."
"I just do." She said. "Practice, maybe."

>>23489414
Pause for a moment to give her a chance to say/ask something.

Is the book written in spanglish? Might I borrow it when you are finished?

>>23489414
You should teach me sometime. I'd love to be able to speak that.

>>23489414
"Mind if I read it once you're done with it?"

>>23489414
"You seem like a pretty cool person, dunno why Damien's got a hate-on for you. Do you wanna go meet Sarvesh and maybe get lunch?"

>>23489504

>dunno why Damien's got a hate-on for you.

leave that out, no need to get on anyone's bad side in a hurry.

>>23489504
let's skip the Damien part and just do the rest. Also ask her if she reads a lot of Centaur literature.

"Mind if I read it once you're done with it?"
"Go ahead." She said, and snapped it shut, handing it to you.
"You seem like a pretty cool person. Do you wanna go meet Sarvesh and maybe get lunch?"
"No." She said, calmly, and pulled another book out of one of the bookcases. Then she promptly started to ignore you and Jilly, who continued to cling to the girl.
"... Do you read a lot of centaur literature?"
"Not usually. It was there." She said.

>>23489414
Lets not ask too many questions?

>>23489615
"Okay, well, goodbye! Have a nice day!"

>>23489615
Pull a face at Jilly that says "What did I do?"

>>23489615
Agreed, no more questions. Let's go to the cafeteria and get lunch.

captcha: lungsh unto
>nice try, but that's now how you say it.

>>23489615

thank her for her time and let's be on our way.

>>23489615
Turn to Jilly after scanning the bookcase for any titles that catch your eye. "Who do I meet next? I hope this isn't the only bookcase." Turn to Anna. "Any non-fiction i can read so I can stop bothering people with all these questions and figure out stuff on my free time?"

>>23489615
Give the bookcases a quick glance for any technical or engineering books we'd find interesting.

"Okay, well... goodbye! Have a nice day!"
She didn't respond, and Jilly gave Anna a glare. and a rather visible zap- something like a yell, you suppose.
"Right, right, fine, okay." Anna said, putting the book away, getting to her feet and dusting herself off. "I'll come with, since I don't seem to have a choice."
Damien sighed. "So we're all going to the cafeteria next? Is that it?"
Jilly nodded, making sure to follow through on her nod -it looked like she was deliberately doing it, trying to learn human body language.
"Alright, this way." He said. The four of you walked for some time before Damien stopped.

Panting, Anna leaned up against the wall, hair in her face. Her eyes were half-lidded and she looked exhausted.
"Go ahead and tell me when you're okay to walk again." Damien said.
Anna gave him a glare. "Don't patronize me." She said.
Jilly grabbed Anna's and Damien's hands, shooting both of them glares now and then.

>>23489834
Just wait until she's ready to walk again.

>>23489834
She's tired out from all the walking is it? Just wait patiently, ask if they got the new album by whatever artist or something. You know, small talk.

>>23489834
We should make them hoverboards.

>>23489886
>ask if they got the new album by whatever artist or something
>implying we have time for music when we must SCIENCE

>>23489834

"take as long as you need."

i don't think offering to carry her would go over well.

>>23489888
Do we have our boots on us? She'd probably be amazing with them.

>>23489898
We can listen to music while we SCIENCE!, who says otherwise?

>>23489898
>Implying we don't listen to the coolest tunes -while- we SCIENCE!

>>23489898
what better time to listen to music than while SCIENCEing?

>>23489834
Hopefully the cafeteria ladies are nice, you guys.

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I think we'll have to do this at some point.

>>23489933

our boots don't work as well as we'd like yet, they'll likely do more harm than good right now.

>>23489963
We better find an open space later to practice stuff in and change that.

>>23489963
They worked well enough. We were just crap at controlling them

>>23489834
"I...don't think he meant to be patronizing, Anna. Are you okay?"

>>23489988
you raise a good point
>>23490018
practice makes perfect

>>23489834
Einstein, are there any large pressurized areas near the spindle or hub of this facility, and are they open to students?

"I... don't think he meant to be patronizing, Anna. Are you okay?"
"I'm a spacer." She said. "No, I'm not okay. Gravity hurts. Now shut up."
You just stand there for a few moments while waiting for Anna to regain her breath. "... Did any of you get the new album by the Polycarbon Six?" You ask.
"Zero-Gee Dawg is better." Damien responded, and the two of you got into a short argument over music, (Because Zero-Gee dawg is from two decades ago! Completely out of style.) during the end of which Anna climbed off of the wall and started walking without the rest of you.

Eventually, the four of you reached the cafeteria, which was entirely empty, save for workers in the kitchen, with Sarvesh sitting - well, standing, more like - next to a table, pincers in hand, as he started chowing down, his mandibles grabbing the fish and tearing it apart outside of his mouth, before he consumed it.
He turned to you, before clicking and buzzing.
"Hello." He said. "I see you're awake, Heather. Hello, Damien. Hello. Hello." He said, nodding to all of you in turn.

Jilly slithered up and looked like she was about to hug him... before freezing. Sarvesh tentatively patted her on the head with a lower arm.
"Hello, Jilly." He buzzed, and then turned to Anna - who was leaning on one of the tables, before taking a seat.
"I wish the cafeteria was on the inner ring." She grumbled to herself, laying her head on the table.

>>23490090
Get foods.

>>23490090
We can tell her about our jet boots, once we perfect the design she can us e them!

>>23490090
"Wait, I thought the inner ring was where the gravity was higher? Or did Summer explain that wrong? Oh, and considering you're a spacer, you might get a kick out of the ion boots I'm working on. If I can ever get the kinks worked out."

>>23490090
"Given some time, Anna, I could probably make some stuff that could help you out."

>>23490090
Breakfast! Who cares if people call it lunch, it is BREAKFAST!
EVERY FOOD IS BREAKFAST BECAUSE SOMEWHERE THERE IS MORNING!

>>23490090

"I'm going to get some food and meet the staff, anyone want me to get anything?"

>>23490148

inner ring is where gravity is weakest.

>>23490090
Get some food, sit with Sarvesh, make small talk, see if he can help us with the buzzes and clicks, get them down right.

Also tell Anna that we're working on ion boots and could probably whip up a hydraulic exoskeleton or something like that if she wants. It won't help with the pressure, but it'll make walking a lot easier.

>>23490148
No, you're just an idiot.
She did explain that the further you go from centre the harder the gravity.

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>>23490145
>>23490148
>>23490154
>waifu acquired

>>23490090
Let's get some mightyfine space-eats.

>>23490136
Get foods

>>23490164
Get waffles

>>23490090
Sit with Sarvesh. Sarvesh is awesome.

>>23490148
The further out it is the higher grav it is, it provides gravity via spin. The further out it is the greater the R which means greater centripetal acceleration which is replacing gravity.

>>23490180
waifu target, rather

>>23490180
I think Jilly will be jealous.

>>23490180
Sarvesh is the true waifu/husbando. Could we set up a workshop on Anna's back? No. Could we anchor a heavy laser machinegun on Anna's abdomen? No. Does Anna have a bitching mechanical arm and a lot of patience? No.

>>23490179
>>23490172
I know that. But Summer said that 'up' - which is in - was higher gravity. So Heather DOESN"T know that.

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>>23490235
>But Summer said that 'up' - which is in - was higher gravity

>>23490235
No, she just explained it poorly. It's obvious how it works and we've experienced it first hand.

>>23490235
She's an engineer who builds hover boots in her spare time, she knows basic physics.

>>23490235
>Heather knows the concept, because it and GEM generators - which are so expensive and power hungry that even the biggest, fanciest ships only have a few rooms with artificial gravity - are the only ways of producing gravity in space.

Going to the cafeteria ladies, you ask for some waffles. When they see Jilly, one of the ladies sigh, and then grabs a truly enormous tray. Jilly takes it, sets it on the ground, and then slithers onto it. The strange plates on the underside of her tail started gnashing and scraping the brown-and-green gunk off of the tray, eating it.

You take your plate of waffles, and make your way next to Anna. "Given some time, Anna, I could probably make some stuff that could help you out."
"I have TK to help me out." She said, lying there.

Sarvesh not-so-subtly slid some of the chairs at your table away, and took their spot as he set down his own plate - apparently he'd gotten a refill.
"Hello." Sarvesh said, patting Anna on the head.
She sighed, and sat up. "Hello." She responded.
The two of them stared at one another for a few moments.
Sarvesh blinked first. Jilly went back for more... moss, or whatever it was, and Damien was nowhere to be found.

>>23490356
"Yeah, but doesn't TK tire you out? There's got to be a better way!"

>Full range PK (a la Psychonauts) is something we really should strive for

>>23490356
I'm guessing you're focusing your studies on alleviating your gravity issues then?

>>23490356
Yeah, but telekinesis isn't half as cool as ION BOOTS!

>>23490356
"Anna, meet Sarvesh. Sarvesh, meet Anna.

You're going to be friends.

Sarvesh, why do you always pat people on the head? I don't mind in the least, but I'm curious? Also, can I ride on your abdomen sometime?"

>>23490416
Let's not push it. She's a person, not a problem to solve.

>>23490491
Oof, yeah. This.

>>23490490
Dock that last bit and I'll second.

>>23490491
she's a person -with- a problem to solve.

"Anna, meet Sarvesh. Sarvesh, meet Anna."
"Sup." She said.
Sarvesh just buzzed.
"Sarvesh, why do you always pat people on the head? I don't mind in the least, but I'm curious."
"... It puts people at ease." He said, his eyes closing and mandibles twitching. "It makes people feel less uncomfortable around me."

"Doesn't TK tire you out?" you ask Anna, suddenly. "There's got to be a better way."
"No it doesn't." She says.
"She's an anomaly, Anna is." Max said, walking into the cafeteria.
"Thanks so much, Max. I'm honored to be a freak." She told him.
"She doesn't burn calories when she uses her psionics." Max said. "Not nearly as much anyone else we've seen does, at least. We estimated that she gets a two hundred times back however much power she uses. If she could just use any sort of kinetic control that isn't pyrokinesis, she could fix her anemia problems easily."
Anna just laid her head down on the table again.

>>23490530
Pyro... kinesis? You can set things on fire? That's so cool!

>>23490530
Gently pat her on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll get it."

>>23490530
I wanna find out what we can do. let's find the testing chambers!

>>23490530
"That's amazing, in your face entropy, the first law of thermodynamics is now a guideline!

Though I have to wonder if all of the power for this psychic stuff is coming from us or if we're just a conduit for something bigger and entropy still applies and we just don't know it."

>>23490530
So she doesn't have telekinesis? Sounds like she needs some ion boots! But let's not push it right now. We have waffles to eat.

>>23490530
We could use her as a infinite energy generator. Or study her for her.. oh wait. That's why we're all here in the first place. Nevermind.

>>23490611
>Waffles to eat.

>>23490592
FUCK YOU, SCIENCE!

leading into

POSSIBLE EXISTENTIAL/ELDRITCH HORROR TIME

>>23490592
And then slowly start muttering about space calamari which purpose is beyond our understanding

"That's amazing." You say. "In your face, entropy. The first law of thermodynamics is now a guideline!"
"Not to mention Summer and her creation of matter." Max said. "Heyy, ladies." He said, sidling up to the cafeteria ladies. "Do you have any kibble?"
You pour more syrup than should ever exist in the same place in case one might cause a sugary singularity onto your waffles, and then start to eat.
"Pyrokinesis? You can set things on fire? That's so cool!"
"I can also ionize particles, shoot lightning..." She said. "Learned to talk with Jilly without actually talking. But no telekinesis."

>>23490685
Eeeeeee Lightning!

>>23490685
Theres always technology. Hey maybe instead of relying on your mind to provide the thrust you use ion boots and power them with your mind!

>>23490685
AWESOME

you are a combat wizzard!

now I feel like the outsider...I'm not sure what I can do...

>>23490685
"In the meantime though, I have been working on a pair of ion boots for antigravity shenanigans, if you're interested. You'd even be able to wear them without a power pack too!"

>>23490685
"Oh, that sucks. I don't know what I can do, except for understand people with telepathy, and do some basic TK."

"How physic-y is your lightning? Could you use it to generate magnetic forces to push things around?"

>>23490685
"When you've got some spare time, maybe we can help each other out. I'm better at TK than the other stuff, and being able to use that electric-talk thing that Jilly does seems really useful.

>>23490685
"I wish I could help. I've done TK but I don't know how to explain it. You just 'push', it's a bit like using a muscle that you don't actually have.

You also have a gift for languages considering you can speak to Jilly with electricity and can do the Centaur clicks and buzzes right."

>23490685
She can railgun.

>>23490685
Oh, thats why she likes you so much.

>>23490752
>You also have a gift for languages considering you can speak to Jilly with electricity and can do the Centaur clicks and buzzes right."
A gift which isn't even a psychic power, it seems. Which is impressive.

>>23490685
Can you demonstrate for me? The lightning stuff. That's awesome.

>>23490746
>being able to use that electric-talk thing that Jilly does seems really useful.
I think telepathy would be more useful in that regard.

"Oh, that sucks." you say. "I don't know what I can do, except for understand people with telepathy, and do some basic TK." You say.
"I don't have anything in particular I am good at, either." Sarvesh said.
"I wish I could help." You say. "I've done TK, but .. I don't know how to explain it. You just... 'push'. It's a bit like using a muscle that you don't actually have."
"There are a lot of muscles that I don't have." Anna said.
"You also have a gift for languages, considering you can speak to Jilly with electricity and can do the centaur clicks and buzzes right."
"Which is completely trumped by telepathy." Anna said. "So that gift is moot."
Sarvesh's mandibles twitched.
"... Hey, Heather, I have something important to say." He said suddenly. You look up at him, and he closed his eyes, as if about to impart a great truth about himself. "... I can do centaur clicks and buzzes as well."
Anna started to giggle- which she badly masked with a fake cough.
"Can you demonstrate for me? The lightning stuff. That's awesome."
"Right, okay." She said, and opened her palm. Lightning danced from her fingertips, and she waved a hand at jilly. A long spark of lightning touched Jilly, and she jumped, looking back. The nagala turned yellow, and smiled back.
"I told her hi." Anna said.

Rolled 86

>>23490825
"Woah. Cool."

Try and pick up the lightning.
>Do we roll dice to try psionics, or do you call for the dice?

>>23490825
"That's cool."

>>23490825
experiment!

>>23490825
That's the best greeting I'll ever see.

>>23490825
"That's so cool. You can throw lighting around. I wish I could do that, it'd solve so many power issues with mechanical things."

>>23490825
so did sarvesh just physically speak english?

>>23490825
How long have you and jilly known eachother? You seem like really good friends, you know. You and sarvesh, too.

>>23490919
This is the first time Anna has met Sarvesh.

>>23490908
>No, he spoke using buzzes, clicks, and words that could conceivably be spoken by a human. Still a language you don't understand.

"Woah. Cool." You say. You close your eyes, and focus on your palm, experimenting... and then a small flicker of flame appeared in your palm, the power draining from your limbs.
"... Hm. You can do that, too." Max said, after crunching at his kibble. "And you can manifest - at least slightly. Looks to me like you might be able to do everything other people can, at least a little. Until you specialize, that is."
Sarvesh raised one of his lower arms, and focused... and nothing happened. He chirped, and went back to eating.
"How long have you and Jilly known eachother? You seem like really good friends, you know."
"We've been here or a week." She said. "We met on the station above her planet. Summer and Damien were here before that."

>>23490932
You misunderstand. The third line only relates to the second. Apologies, Anon.

>>23490952
"Specialize? What's that mean?"

Rolled 10

>>23490952
Summer's my room mate. It was a bit disconcerting when she introduced herself and not the tiger staring at me.

>>23490952
"I wonder if technopathy would be possible. That seems like about the coolest power you could get. Being able to command, control, and talk to machines."

>>23490952
Do you know why summer uses a manifestation to talk to people? Why doesn't she introduce herself as a tiger?

>>23490952
"What were the other things psionics could do? Predictions?"

Point at the door.

"Summer is about to enter!"

>>23491031
Let's not.

"Specialize? What's that mean?"
"Focusing on one aspect of your powers exclusively. It seems to make your other aspects dwindle. It might even mean making your own power." Max said. "But Summer did it with manifesting, and Damien did it with his ESP. Well... Damien didn't mean to do it with his ESP, he just never knew to stop using it until it was too late." Max said. "When I met him, he actually jumped in front of a groundcar to save a little girl. Did you know that?"
"... Wait, he did?" Anna asked.
"He didn't hesitate. I was actually there to meet summer at the time, and he just came out of nowhere to save the girl." Max said.
"Do you know why Summer uses a manifestation to talk to people?" You ask. "Why doesn't she introduce herself as a tiger?"
"She thinks it's funny." Max said. "She's an early uplift, so she doesn't have the instincts like I do."

>>23491062
"Has anyone with Psionics been able to make something that doesn't follow euclidean geometry?"

>>23491062
"It actually is pretty funny.

I wonder what I should specialize in, if anything, there's a lot of options."

>>23491062
I say we try specialising in teleportation.

>>23491062
>It might even mean making your own power.
technopathy sounds neat. Or we can just go with jack of all trades,

>>23491152
Well, I say technopathy.
Although I don't think we should be specializing this early.

>>23491136
>I wonder what I should specialize in, if anything, there's a lot of options.
Obviously SCIENCE

>>23491152
>technopathy
>>23491159
>teleportation
both good options

>>23491181
Rather technopathy than teleportation.
Teleportation isn't SCIENCE enough.

>>23491181
Or we just use the technopathy to build a teleporter.

>>23491062
Is there any way for psionics to make these seats more comfortable? Because being good at that is starting to look real appealing right about now.

>>23491191
Even though Technopathy could be just our engineering genius so we can use our psychic stuff for moving around?

>>23491226
Combine engineering genius with "I know literally everything about this machine just by looking at it and can make it do things that would baffle the people who designed it."

>>23491062
"So if I decide to specialize for example in ESP then Damien would teach me?"

point to point teleportation, or transmutation

"It actually is pretty funny." You say. "I wonder what I should specialize in, if anything, there's a lot of options. So, if I decided to specialize, for example, in ESP, then damien would teach me?"
"Not exactly. Damien's another student. To specialize, you talk to Dr. Manus about what you want, and then he and the research team can figure out if they can teach it to you! And how to do it." Max said. "For example, to help Summer learn manifesting, they gave her an isolation chamber and made it so she only had a video feed of a mass spectrometer not far from her. So she could actually see if she was doing anything."
"... Is there any way for psionics to make these seats more comfortable? Because being good at that is starting to look real appealing right now." You say, eating another waffle.
"I need to learn how to reverse gravity." Anna said, grumbling.
Sarvesh simply closed his eyes, and his mandibles twitched again, before he savaged another fish, tearing it into chunks with his mandibles. Anna wrinkled her nose as he slurped it all in.
"That's kind of disturbing." Anna said. "No offense, but do you have to eat like that?"
Sarvesh blinked, and then raised his mandibles straight, showing you and Anna his lipless mouth- and then opened it. He had no teeth - just two tongues tucked into the insides of his cheeks,
"Yes, I do." He said, as the strange finger-like mandibles lowered against his mouth again.

I wonder if a generalist is an option.

So we are become Dave again?

Lets not.

>>23491313
D'awww

>>23491324
Its more like we are becoming amy.

>>23491313
Stifle a giggle.

"What do you specialise in, Max?"

>>23491335
Considering that it's mag-err, psionics, it's more like Amy+

>>23491355
I'd call it amy-

She didn't need psionics to be awesome at it.

>>23491324
I don't understand. What was DAve like? I didn't follow those quests.

>>23491367
The most awesome person ever.

>>23491313
"The more I learn about you Sarvesh, the more interesting you are. Anyways do any of you guys know when my training is going to start?"

>>23491367
Dave was a Psychopath guy with the ability to hack any electronics.

thats the short version.

>>23491367
Dave was a cyborg who had mot!magic that let him control machinery and computers with thoughts, even if the machine had no wireless networking capability.

>>23491393
"Does anyone know a timeframe for when they start training us?"

>>23491367
He was a dude with a robo-spine that let him remote control machines. He cheated around with it a lot to get extra abilities.

He was also a pretty swell dude who liked to blow things up.

"The more I learn about you, Sarvesh, the more interesting you are."
His mandibles twitched.
"I expect I'll get boring very soon." He said.

"What do you specialise in, Max?"
"... ESP." He said. "Of a very certain sort."
"He can sense psions. When we use our powers." Jill said, touching your shoulder as she did so.
"I sniff them out, you mean." Max said, and his tail started wagging.

You suddenly hear the door open, and turn back. Summer padded in, her manifestation humming to herself softly, and went up to the lunch ladies. Her manifestation sat down next to Sarvesh.
"Hello!" She said.
"How was your nap?" Max asked.
"It was fine, it was fine." Summer said.
"How often do tigers normally sleep?" Anna asked.
"Uh... I don't actually know." Summer said, and giggled.
"Does anyone know a timeframe for when they start training us?"
"After breakfast." Max said. "It was decided. I just went and talked to all of your counselors. Since we have a full class of six, now, we can start the exercises soon. I'll just have to go find Damien, since he wandered off again. Or you can, if you want, Heather. He's hard to find at the best of times. Jilly is the only one who can find him reliably."
Jilly flashed yellow as you heard her giggle, and went back to scraping her food with her tail-mouth.

>>23491447
"Yeah alright. I still need to explore a lot of this place."

>>23491447
"I'm afraid I am still learning my way around, I might not find him before Tea."

"What will the first class be?"

>>23491447
Nah, lets just talk with the people here. Leave that to Max.

>>23491447
"Well according to summer all you have to do is to go where you didn't plan to go"

>>23491267
Combine engineering with transmutation, or point to point teleportaion- skills and materials at will

Rolled 54

>>23491469
this. lets try using ESP to track him down.

>>23491512
All that does is let us get the parts in place faster. It doesn't actually help us make better machines.

"Yeah, alright." You say. "I still need to explore this place."
You get to your feet, and finishing up your waffles, wander out of the cafeteria. While walking through the sloping hall, you realize... you could probably try to feel him out. You close your eyes, and focus, trying to reach outward... and you hear Damien yelling.
You open your eyes, and he was actually just in the next hallway. You make your way in, and see him slam down a headset, angrily.
"Yeah, yeah." He told you. "Training time. Let's go to the cafeteria."
There was something in his voice...

>>23491540
>It doesn't actually help us make better machines.
stark isn't a technopath

>>23491575
Walk beside him but don't look at him. "Youuu~ want to talk about it?"

>>23491581
But imagine what he could do if he was...
Every system optimized to the absolute maximum. Every piece in perfect alignment. Every issue resolved before the first prototype is even built.

>>23491575
"Is there something wrong Damien?" Say this while looking at the slammed headset

You walk beside him, your hands clasped behind your back, as you walk beside him.
"Youuu~ want to talk about it?" You ask.
"You want to hear it?" He asked. "It isn't a good, wholesome thing. S' just me being useless again."

>>23491617
Pick up the headset and try and piece it back together.

>>23491639
Ok, lets go then.

sure lay it on me

>>23491616
sure but I'd rather be able to conjure up a box of scraps, as it were.

>>23491639
"Well, I'm not going to push if you don't want to talk about it."

>>23491639
You know my answer, I'm sure. (yes)

>>23491664
Or we could use our ridiculous government resources and get an entire shipping crate of scraps. But we can't use our ridiculous government resources to build the ultimate machines.

>>23491639
"I'm not going to push you, but if you want someone to talk to, I'm here."

"Well if you're mad about it, you may as well lay it out so you can get outside perspective. Besides, everyone's useless at something! I can't play guitar to save my life!"

>>23491639
"If you're willing to talk about it I'd like to listen."

>>23491687
The answer, to everything, always.

I just got through the Cyborg quests, and this line must have been said 10 times a thread.

"I'm not going to push you, but if you want someone to talk to, lay it on me." You say.
"Well, there was a murder... and other things, out on one of the worlds on the other side of the UPA. Saw it, called the city's police. They didn't speak english. So basically, by the time they got a translator, and by the time I was able to talk them into at least taking a look at the apartment, it was too late."
He shrugged.
"It always happens. I'm too slow, or I can't get to a phone in time, or they don't believe me - they never believe me, by the way - or... whatever." He said. "Always. Every single time."

>>23491722
It's like empathy 101. Offer your time but don't force it.

It would be nice if we could word it differently each time, however.

>>23491738
And it doesn't matter how long it takes you, it's always too slow?

>>23491738
"So you can see the future but you can't change what happens? That must be really frustrating."

>>23491738
"Well, at least everyone here will believe you."

Rolled 69

>>23491738
>cassandra syndrome
it's not your fault if you tried your best, though you could get a robotic aid

>>23491738
but you are still going to try right?

>>23491738
"That sounds like Cassandra's curse. In any case, it's not your fault. You did what you could."

oh ouch. you can see that far away?

Pity you can't work with Anna, she apparently has a gift for languages. You could also ask permission to use an official sounding name like, I dunno the UPA Profiler and tell them you have a strong suspicion that so and so is going to be attacked.

>>23491738
"Fuck, that must feel terrible.

Damien, it's not your fault, you're doing everything you can, nobody could ask for more from you.

Just don't give up, if you manage to save a single person like this it'll be more than worth it."

Offer our hand to him, consider giving him a hug if it seems appropriate.

>>23491813
>Offer our hand to him,
shake hands? Pat on a back seems better

"So you can see the future, but you can't change what happens? That must be frustrating."
"No, that's not the reason it's frustrating." He said. "The reason it's frustrating is that I did change what happened. Once. Only once. Can't help but to ask myself why I was able to save him, but nobody else."
He trailed off, looking into nothingness, and you patted his back.
"Damien, it's not your fault." You say. "You're doing everything you can. Nobody could ask for more from you."
"A billion people die every day." He said, and shrugged. "One more won't change anything. Let's get to training."

You made your way into the cafeteria, and there everyone sat, their food eaten (and Anna still lying on the table).
"See? I told you they were on their way." Max said. "Everyone... let's go into outer space, shall we?"
"... Will there be gravity?" Anna asked miserably.
"None!" Max woofed, and Anna sprang to her feet.

>End of thread!
>My twitter is #futureexabyte , and I'm always on the IRC (#Exabyte on Rizon).
>If you guys have questions about the setting, I'm always able to answer them (As long as the answer was something heather would conceivably know)

>>23491851
I think he meant holding hands.

>>23491878
>>If you guys have questions about the setting
Are Nagala another snakewomen with dicks?
Or do they have both genders?

>>23491916
Nagala are asexual. They don't have genders. The only reason Jilly does is because her mother was transgened to have one, since she was a diplomat/public speaker for a human/nagala co-species world. Normally they're hairless.

>>23491936
How common are inter-species couples?

>>23491984
Rare. Only a few thousand throughout the entire UPA territory (which is the entirety of sapient life, essentially)
There are usually news articles about inter-species couples, and a rather rich centaur / human couple are paying geneticists to try and create a crossbreed. it isn't going well.

>>23491936
so they have asexual reproduction?

>>23492040
Yeah, pretty much. Though nagala usually share the eggs of their young with the young of others. That way, during the digestion/hatching period, there's enough gene transfer.

>>23492115
Is there any special significance to one born of only one egg, or one born of several?

>>23492172
Yes. Those born to one egg starve and die. Ones born to one *clutch*, though, are essentially slightly-mutated clones of their parent, while mixed clutch can have more exotic appearances.
Notably, though, there *are* rare 'twins' that end up not eating eachother (or maybe they share?), though they end up smaller and weaker than a standard nagala.

>>23492115
Do you mean that their genes.. seep through their shells?

>>23492236
What exactly is a Centaur "wargame"?

Also, do Star Wars and Star Trek exist?

>>23492263
No, I'm saying that when a clutch of eggs hatch, the annelid newborns all eat eachother. It's similar to digesting, actually. Just a pile of white worms covered in acidic goop, as the worms grow bigger and stronger the less worms there are.

Human babies are so boring. They just cry and sleep and never take part in even one cannibalistic orgy.

>>23491878
What's AI like in this setting?

>>23492357
Is Einstein a true AI or just a really fancy interface to the internet?

>>23492313
>Centaur wargame
It's something like a tribal combat thing. Something about honor or strength, and definitely related to moulting. Heather isn't quite sure.

>Star wars and star trek
They're old earth fiction, but nothing more.

>>23492340
If it helps, Centaur babies are basically carapace coccoons with little heads and pincers sticking out of the top. Their mandibles are translucent, if you're curious. Their 'first moult' is when they break out of it, and their abdomen finishes completely.

>>23492357
'True' selfaware AI exist, but they're rare, need to be programmed, and takes quite a bit of computing power. A famous rock band, '267', is actually the work of one such True AI.

>>23492397
Einstein's just a fancy interface. It's future Siri, essentially.

>>23492429
Can we make him dapper?

>>23492437
What a silly question, of course we can!

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>>23492437
first we make him a floating octopus, then add monocle and top hat

>>23492489
Mechandrites, a high powered camera and some sort of backup power/field emitter you say?

Perfect!

>>23492489
I've imagined him looking something very similar to wheatly.

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>>23492557
>wheatly
>not spaaace