LaRA nods at Charles and Zeke. "Affirmative. This correlates with the information I have about family.", she replies a moment later, as she proceeds with the cleaning. "Cooperation is key for maximum operational capacity of any structure, and this unit will be available for assistance whenever possible." Finishing with cleaning up the breakfast remains, she looks to Ton with curiousity. "While the evolutionary correlation between roses and sunlight is a known phenomenon, I do not believe it is sufficiently advanced on sentient level to be described as a 'family'.", she looks at Wulf with a barely noticed confusion. "Was this a 'joke'?"
"A storage compartment would be beneficial to this unit's operation. Beginning inventory check.", she replies, beginning to shuffle in her duffle bag. Pulling out another uniform, similar to hers, and couple of loose crossbow bolts, a frown appears on her face as she draws several dozens of neatly packed silverdisks. Staring at one of them, she snaps her head at Charles. "Observation: The passage of time has irreparably damaged the batteries. Please advice on current regulations regarding garbage disposal.", she says, holding the silverdisks upright. "Recommendation: Disposing them alongside nutrient waste is not recommended."
Wulf steps into the bar ready to see Val only to see her push past him and run off to the temple.
"Nice to see you Val." He says waving her off, as he steps into the bar. "You told her then." He steps over Ton placing his hammer on the bar he grabs a glass for himself. All the talk of family throws him back to why he's here why Ton and him are working together because no one else could stand him.
"Pour me one Ton, it's been a long day. I feel like crap, I'm starving thirst and I need a wash." He pauses for a moment and then tries to lighten the mood. "So listen I was going to tease Val with LaRA over there. I was going to ask LaRA if she wanted to help me get clean now maybe make her jealous but I guess that's not happening now."
Charles gapes at the disks. "Holyshit."
"She seems like a nice girl." Ton observes, pouring his friend a drink. "Val, not LaRA, I mean. You should court her."
But LaRA, with her perfect logic and impeccable manners she seems no different to..."
Elise...
"... any of those damned robots down there." he says continuing to rub at his temple. "Ah Hells, she's right enough, just a girl out of her own time. Gonna need to adjust and learn to just talk instead of saying things like; Observation!" he hitches his voice up an octave and actually performs a passable impersonation.
He laughs. "I'd hope to have a normal conversation maybe I'll teach her a thing or you. She also didn't instantly attack us, that's a big change from other's we've seen. She also seems a little more level-headed than that one that ran off in the middle of the night." He takes the drink and downs it, the strong taste making him clench his fists.
"This all went a lot differently than I expected, maybe them lot ain't so bad." He thumbs back at the group as they talk to LaRA. "This isn't over though we still got to get that torch relit, Ulrich will give us what we need. Charles wants to take it slow but we don't know what's going on down that woman. I also still have to win the girl." He laughs out loud now, the past few days have seemed more normal this bar more like home than anywhere for a long time.
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LaRA tilts her head at Ton. "This unit is a highly advanced gynoid unit with arcane circuitry.", she says in an almost accusatory tone. "My methods of expression are designed to confer information, both factual and hypothetical, with maximum clarity. I do not believe that intentional corruption of linguistic patterns would be beneficial to my objectives." She snaps her head at Wulf. "Accumulation of knowledge is my primary objective." Pulling out a slate from her bag, she fiddles with it, with no result, before opening a bag with a book and a curious writing utensil. "Suggestion: The ongoing conversation breached the topic of courtship. It is one of the most important rituals in most societies I have observed.", she asks with raised eyebrows. "Which of the present individuals would consider themselves the greatest expert in the area?"
Ton scratches at the beginnings of a scruffy beard on his chin as he regards the android.
She looks back at him flatly, as if studying him like a specimen. Gods she's infuriating. he thinks. Designed to confer information... blahblahblah. What crap.
In anyone else he would consider her attitude stubborn, or even pretentious. Both traits that he abhorred in others, despite the fact he displays them himself in abundance.
No, she was neither of those things. She didn't know how to be. Truth to tell despite it all he actually quite liked the highly advanced gynoid unit with arcane circuitry.
"Have a drink with me LaRA. Ask your questions and I'll tell you everything I know about how all men are complete bastards to the core, even paladins. No, especially paladins." he pours another glass. "I'm a churlish sonofabtch, LaRA, but you'll get nothing but truth from me - can't say the same for the rest here. That's ok, they have what you might call 'social etiquette prohibiters.' Defence mechanisms for awkward situations."
"I'm twice as old as most of them and learnt not to give a drek. But my rule is you ask me whatever you want but for every question, we both take a drink. Deal?"
Zeke tells LaRA, "My guess is Mr. Sharpstone knows the most about effective courtship. He seems to me like the most social of all of us. By the way, those disks are really valuable, Ms. Lara-- at least in these parts, they are a highly-sought-after form of currency. I'd say with about a hundred of them, I could fashion you a magical bag to help you carry your possessions. Not as good as a storage compartment, I guess, but maybe slightly more convenient access?"
"I'm related to most the halflings in town, so ...not it." Charles shrugs.
LaRA blinkers at the offer. Hypothesis: Entity Ton'iel is not talking about heritage. "Warning: This ritual sounds highly dangerous to your long-term health.", she replies in a moment. "However, given the current lack of data, I will accept." Taking the second glass offered, she sits on a chair, spreading her book on the table. With a smooth mechanical gesture that would put experienced alcoholics to shame, the contents disappear down her throat. Suggestion: Continue onto previous topic before asking for important information."Query #1: For assembly of psychological profile: What observeable events have led to your current outlook on social interaction.", she asks.
The dwarf sighed with relief as they were back in the familiar tavern-it felt nice to be there once again. His head still bothering him, he still wasn't going to pass up on drinks. Pouring himself a nice big glass of brandy before sitting with the rest of them, he grunts a little at the talk of family. "Ah, family. The people yer closest too. Nice, simple definition. But if ya prefer not to talk about it Ton, I can respect that." Taking another nice, big drink, he smacks his lips loudly. "Damn tha's smooth." He grins at Zeke "A true gentleman doesn't go around tellin such things, but yer probably not wrong, though my luck has seemed to escape me as of late. Perhaps once this blasted headache is gone and I'm feelin more myself, we could go out fer a real night on the town, show ya what I know" As tempted as he was to join in on the game Ton and LaRA seemed to have started, he figured it might be best to not interfere, just keep an ear out in case things got a little out of hand. He wasn't sure what might set Ton off, but LaRA's way of asking him what she was asking made him at least hang our a bit longer, though with his head pounding the way it was, a rest was mighty tempting.
Ton nods in Garfaulk's direction. "Ain't a happy tale tha's all."
Returning his gaze to LaRa he replies coolly: "100 years of ethnographic study."
"Don't get me wrong, it ain't just men. Women are as bad, but I can bring a male perspective at least. I would say in a good 80% of initial interactions, men are calculating - sometimes subconsciously - how they can engineer circumstances to have sex with the woman, man, thing, whatever they are talking to."
"It's a natural instinct. Take Wulf for example, I'm not singling him out, but within minutes of meeting Val he had already decided he was attracted to her and was taking steps to woo her. He spent all of yesterday running around without a shirt on! That sludge he drank just highlighted his natural tendencies."
"People are selfish by nature - it's the survival instinct - and selflessness and altruism take effort and dedictation, none of it comes easily."
He swallows his own drink.
"Reckon Charles has a beautiful family. Zeke too. I turned my own beautiful situation into something rank because they are better men than me."
"You operate from a position of logic and reason LaRA, and you're going to have to learn that that is exceptional, it ain't the norm."
"What else ya got?"
Wulf gets up and moves behind the bar grabbing a class he checks it over and makes sure to clear the few streaks off it before starting to pour a large beer offer more drinks to anyone else. "Ton, I'm a man of simple needs. Val is a beautiful Kelid woman, she just drew me to her. I like a game of cat and mouse, even if it's just a bit of harmless fun." He takes a small sip of beer its good and it's just what he needed.
"LaRA you can't just learn everything, you have to experience it." He slides a large stein of beer to her. "I can't think of a better place to start than a bar, with new friends."
Lara blinks several times, pondering on the subject. Her eyes scan around the room, before staring straight back at Ton'iel. Calculating...Taking the stein from the Ulfen, she begins raising it, then stops suddenly, eyebrow raised. "Extrapolation: Due to the given examples of sentient mortal beings socialising and grouping for protection, the most beneficial societal model observed to date continues to be the based on the convergence of personal goals. Concepts such as 'etiquette' and 'personal space' have evolved to avoid friction between individual members.", she pauses.
She glances at the elf, her brow clearly furrowed by thinking. Analysing arguments. "Observation: You appear to perceive the pursuit of sexual interaction negatively, despite the drive for procreation being inherent in most beings and its necessity for the survival of the species." Her hand continues scribbling on the paper. "The overwhelming reason for similar behaviour in sentient beings is ideological drive, in stark comparison to the biologically-driven behaviour. Both drives induce strong emotion in intelligent beings, yet often clash.", she begins speaking slower, as if coming to a conclusion, as lines of nanites begin to glow in brighter and brighter green on the sides of her head, her eyes darting around wildly.
"Warning: Comprehension matrix overloading! Conclusion: Emotions in sentient beings are uncalculable and unmeasurable with current available data. Archiving topic." She places a hand on her forehead. "Observation: You are an interesting specimen. Further exchanges of data will be appreciated.", she says to the elf in a moment, before lifting the beer stein and draining it one go. Putting the glass down, she gives Wulf a glance. "Experience-based learning is prone to error and risk. However, it is inherently more efficient with regards to time."
"Query #2: What is the current geopolitical state of affairs in the immediate surrounding area, in relations to your greater unit of government and other units of government?", she asks as she flips over another page.
Ton laughs louder and harder than he has in years. It is with true delight that he sees LaRA try to comprehend his cynical view of societal interactions. At one point he swears he can almost see smoke drifting out of her ears.
"Negatively? Not at all. I'm just telling it how it is. But my advice to you, don't worry about it, and don't try to understand it all at once."
His smile fades.
"I've lived twice as long as most humans ever will and I'm still relatively young for my race. I've found the most extraordinary love, raised a family only to see my son grow to hate my guts. I... wasted that love and seen it.... die."
"I've done all that and I don't even understand it. So I wouldn't expect you to after you just woke up from an 8,000 year sleep."
He pours another drink one for himself, one for Wulf and two more for LaRA and Garfaulk.
"Dunno much about the geopolitical situation, but what I do know is that the Technic League would be very interested in getting their hands on you. Reckon within a day they'd be interrogating you and within two they'd be taking you apart piece by piece to see how you tick. An ancient android from who-knows-where? That's some prize for those bastards."
Personal note: Obtain data on concept 'love' in field conditions., LaRA thinks as Ton'iel continues, blinking rapidly as he continues with his story. "Affirmative. Will attempt to extrapolate conclusions on biological activities.", she nods curtly. She remains silent as he shares his tale, not being able to add anything. Observation on previous query: Terminology surrounding emotions difficult to obtain., she ponders on the all-too-common problem of being unable to express herself.
As her second query is being answered, the android's eyes gape open in shock for the first time after being presented with the idea that eight millenia had passed. "Organisation: Technic League.", she states. "Technic - root originating from the Androffan word 'technology', meaning application of principle rules for practical purpose.", she says a moment later. "This unit being dismantled is in direct conflict with my primary directive.", she speaks out a moment later, her tone almost accusatory.
She takes the hard liquor in her glass. "Observation: Military and social cooperation and integration of primary importance of this unit's continued operation. Other primary objectives do not specify means of action.", she says, closing the book and throwing the alcohol back.
"Query #3. What is this 'family''s primary directive, and how can this unit assist in exchange for prolonged protection?", she asks, this time turning her head around to all the others.
Zeke sits in the corner, listening to the discussion but not quite a part of it. He is going over and over magical formulas in his head, planning out how he could invest them into mundane objects. A resistant cloak that protects the wearer, maybe? Or a belt that boosts the wearer's health? Like reading schematics, he imagines the mystic runes and special materials that such equipment would require.
He looks up at LaRA's third question, and looks around at everyone else. "That's a good question," he thinks to her. "Seems like each of us has their own primary directive, sometimes. I'd suggest 'obtaining wealth' is a good place to start. Everyone needs more money to pursue their particular goals."
Realizing he is talking privately to LaRA, he opens up to the rest of the group. "For my part, I can promise that you're welcome to stay here at the Baine family household for as long as you like, or at least until Mr. Khonnir is well enough to say otherwise. I'm confident he won't turn you out or tell the League about you, though."
"This? Not a family, exactly. Pros call this a 'string.' We're together for a job. Main objective we got: getting Khonnir back. I know him, but he and Zeke, actual family. You, too, and that girl Val. But we have another objective left. Re-igniting the Torch. This town will die without it. Ton, Gar, and Wulf are mercenary adventurers. Money, thrills, a life unstuck. Probably more personal stuff, too. Not my business. Not family. Yet." Charles brings a glass to the table and gestures a request for permission to join them. This was a lot of talk. But it didn't bother him like it usually would. All this talk of family ironically made him think about how he had only family. No friends.
Val comes back in the room and plops down in a chair. She lets out a big sigh, but she is smiling.
"You got him. You really did! All of you, well done! Zeke, isn't this wonderful? But Ton, why can't we tell anyone. What is going on?" She then sees LaRA with the group.
"Oh! I didn't realize we had a guest. My name is Val. Who are you, and why would you ever want to hang around with this ugly bunch?" She says that last part seriously, but you know her well enough to understand that she is teasing.
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LaRA inclines her head towards Zeke. "Understood. Acquisition of sufficient resources is a necessity for achieving all goals.", before adding. "So is a safe habitation area. Thank you." Her mouth stretches in an odd smile for a second, before going back to normal as she looks at Charles. "Clarification received. Re-instating primary source of income for the settlement set as a primary goal."
Standing up as Val walks in, LaRA approaches the woman. "Hello, Val.", she says in a monotonous voice. "I am Library and Research Assistant, Inventory #3. This unit will respond to 'LaRA'.", she says, turning around to look at the group as the Kellid jokes, scanning the party around the table from top to bottom. "Recent findings indicate that this unit poses interest to organisation 'Technic League'. For maximising chances of mutual survival, this unit has joined this societal unit." She blinks once more. "Statement: Lack of aesthetic qualities is largely inconsequential to said objective."
Zeke circles over closer to Val and thinks to her, "It is wonderful! We found Ms. Lara here in the caves-- there's a big circular ship buried under there that's been hidden for thousands of years! Some mechanical creatures like the one we fought here had captured Mr. Khonnir and held him prisoner without food or water, and it looks like we got there just in time! Mr. Torstein carried him out, swimming through the pool while Mr. Sharpstone built a device that allowed him to breathe."
He pauses mentally, studying the party. "We wouldn't have found him without Ms. Lara's help-- she knew things about the ship's layout and helped Mr. Torstein defeat the robots by making him stronger and larger, I'm telling you that was a sight to see! But Ms. Lara has no family, being left sleeping in the ship for so long, so I told her she could come live with us."
Worried, he asks, "How is Mr. Khonnir? Has he woken up yet? The priest told us we could do nothing for him tonight and sent us away, but I feel like I should be there. We've got a lot to talk about, him and me. I... Well, never mind. We've still got to try and relight the torch first, if we can."
"He's alive, Zeke, but we have a long road ahead of us. Father Joram has said that his intelligence appears to have been badly damaged, and he doesn't have the magic power to heal it. It is going to be a at least a day before he can talk again, and even then, he is going to talk more like a child than himself for at least a week. Yes...yes, you still need to relight the Torch!"
Wulf sits back taking in the conversations, a drink in hand and a comfy bed to look forward to what more could he ask for.
He smiles as he spots Val making her way back into the bar. "I promised we would get him out Val, I'm glad your father is safe." He says leaning back in his chair, taking a long drink for his glass. "He's a strong man, I'll be back to normal sooner than you think. But Ton wanted to keep it quiet because we learned Ulrich is helping the people who are down there. We need to confront him and learn what he knows."
Val giggles a little.
"Ulreth, you mean. Yes, he is shady. Everyone knows it. But he is smart too, and doesn't leave proof. I don't think confronting him is a good idea at all. Maybe you need to simply find proof. You do have Charles... and a whole halfling family."
The party sits in silence for a good while, contemplating next steps. No one is quite willing to put out a plan for consideration.
As you wait, Dolga Freddert, the town council-dwarf, knocks on the door. She carries a small chest, which she plops down on the table. "Father Joram sent me word that he has Khonnir in care. Alive! Well done, adventurers. We won't be needing this scroll, either."
Inside the chest is the 6000 gold owed to you, and the scroll is the scroll of resurrection that they town had on hand to bring Khonnir back, if the situation called for it.
"As you know, there is another 6000 gold if you are able to reignite the torch."
Charles chokes on his own saliva.
Wulf stares at Val a little too long but then speaks up. "Ulreth of course... I might have been a little drunk when I met him, it's an easy mistake to make." He smiles. "Going at my problems from the front is how I normally get what I want." He then continues to stare at Val, it almost hurts at how beautiful she is. "But that doesn't always work out the way I'd like it to." He takes a long drink downing his beer in one.
"It's something we have to work out, but maybe we should use someone who has more experience in the matter." He nods to Charles.
As the town council moves in Wulf is quick to stand and looks right into the chest, he had never seen that much gold it sent him back to the times he hardly had two coppers to rub together. "Now that's something special. I can afford to fix up that window now Val, and when I get the torch relit maybe I can take you out somewhere nice to say sorry for all the mess." He smiles.
"Yeah, Charles is going to come into his own here. If we can do it and he isn't discovered. He's right that he's got more to lose than most."
"But he'll have us as backup and while Charles is creeping through windows, Wulf can smash them open, right Val?" Ton chuckles as he remembers their first night here.
"6,000 gold pieces... I never thought I'd see that much in all my years." Ton whistles. "An' nice as that is, the job ain't done yet."
Val, what property does Ulreth own besides the casino? Anyone know where his base of operations is."
"When we were in the casino, I noticed the back door. Seems like they have offices back there... probably up on the second floor. If you want to know what property he owns, maybe you need to look through his own personal office? Seem dangerous. Really dangerous. Maybe a disguise in case you are seen?"
"Alright, let's talk about this seriously." Ton says, reversing his chair and leaning over the back while he rolls a cigarette.
"Ulreth is involved in something but we don't know what, only that it's something to do with that wreckage down there and that must be related to what's happening in town. So not moving on him isn't an option, are we agreed on that? As long as we do it smart."
"Now he had some pretty big goons in that casino, and we don't want to start a fight with townsfolk around. I say we see if your Dad is likely to wake up and see what he can tell us about what happened down there."
He licks the paper and deftly rolls it over the 'bacco.
"Course if he don't wake up today or can't remember what happened, then I think we should try an' get in that office. Charles, this is your wheelhouse and I have a few tricks to help me stay unseen for maybe a minute, but that's it. So if you go in, it'll be me as backup an' that's about it."
"But..." he smiles. "...Reckon Wulf has a natural ability to make a distraction of himself, especially when the ale is flowing, just look at the mess he made of Ulreth's carpet the other night haha! And Garfaulk and Zeke can talk that distraction from a fight into an annoyance."
He pops the cigarette into he corner of his mouth and with a click of his fingers, lights it with a cantrip.
"So here it is. Wulf, you do what you do best. Make a mess and make a noise. Zeke and Garfaulk you move on him when the gorillas come growling an' make sure it doesn't turn into a bloodbath, just keep them focused on you an' on chucking Wulf out. Meanwhile, Charles can sneak into that office wearin' a disguise while I back him up invisibly and we see what we can see."
Finally, he turns to LaRA, a wisp of acrid smoke drifting from the corner of his mouth.
"LaRA, you're the last resort. You got the power, girl. If all this goes wrong, you let the sparks fly and we fight our way out."
He leans back and takes a deep drag, the tip of the cigarette glowing red and reflecting in his pale eyes.
"That's just how I see it. Anyone got a better idea?"
Wulf listens intently to Ton speaking, he always knows to keep quiet while Ton lists off his plans.
As he ends his plan Wulf stands up. "I like it!" He downs the last of his drink, slamming the glass on the table. "I'm pretty good at getting everyone to look at me, with a little back up I can't see this going wrong. I'll try not to jump through any windows though."
"We get something on and him we can hold him over a barrel and get all the information we need on this purple hair woman. Then turn him in."
Garfaulk, who himself had already been drinking quite a bit, only just noticed the councilwoman when she walked in, immediately tugging his hat from his head. "Well thanks mum, tha's quite a bit of loot there" He chuckles at Wulf and Charles's reaction to that much money-he'd seen similar before, but this was definitely the most he'd had in quite some time.
Listening to the plan, the dwarf nodded, knocking back another one. "Certainly sounds like quite a plan, though I will say tha grease you hit me with may come in handy if we get into a bit o trouble where people are bein grabbed. I might suggest doin tha again if need be. Perhaps we hide sumthin in the place first, sumthin Wulf can be lookin fer. Tha way we have a natural reason fer the rest of us to not leave right away, and give us an excuse to leave in a rush-Welp! Found the thing we lost! Time ter get on our way!" He reaches into his pocket and rolls his skymetal bauble onto the table
"Perhaps I lent this to Wulf and he 'misplaces' it, and is freakin out cause he's drunk, and feels terrible about losin his friend's most prized possession.
Wulf rubs the back of his head trying to think it all over. "I don't know Garfaulk, this is a lot for me to keep straight now. What if we say that, then we can't find it and I get upset that will pull some of the goons away from the back." He nods to himself starting to like his input to the plan.
The dwarf patted Wulf in the back, chuckling. "I think I did lose ya there, pup, cause that's what I was tryin ter say"
"Yah... I was just making sure you understood it." He says covering up for the fact he didn't understand Garfaulks plan. "It's good we're on the same page since if we go in there and no one understands their part it might get messed it up."
He places a hand on the Dwarfs shoulders. "Garfaulk while I've got you for a moment, those robots could take a hit." He looks over at his hammer. "I've been thinking about retiring my father hammer for something a little shinier, I don't want to break that thing completely and with all this gold we're getting in if we plan on dealing with more of them. Do you know of anything I could get another hammer made of that might really mess them up?"
Charles paces a bit, empty glass in hand. "This. Maybe doable. Maybe. Big risk. I can do big risks. Not convinced this is our play. Prefer clearing out more of this skyship. Let Ulreth stay comfy. Let him think we don't know. More time for recon while also maybe solving s+*@ underground."
"The sky ship has been there 8,000 years, it can wait a few more days. If Ulreth gets wind that we suspect him he might disappear or worse, come after us first. "
The night passes uneventfully, as the group sleeps in the Foundry Tavern. Everyone once again wakes to the smells of a cooking breakfast. Surely, the adventuring life is a plush one!
LaRA wakes with a pounding headache, however.
"The pink haired lady is newly down there. Every day gives her more time to fortify or gain control of the damned tech. Ulreth can wait. We move on him now, everyone is tipped off."
Zeke thinks about Ton's plan, and chips in "We should be able to stay in constant contact while inside, as everyone can just think things to me and I will relay them to the others."
That night, Zeke will begin crafting himself a magical cloak.
LaRA, having leaned on the wall and began her maintenance routine through the night, snaps her eyes open, standing up suddenly. "WWarning: Minor difficulties detected in frontal lobe.", she speaks out. Analysing... High probability of failure on first routine after stasis. Low chances of adverse reaction to ingested poison.
As they begin analysing the plan, LaRA remains mostly silent, staring at the speakers with an intense glare. "Situational analysis:", she speaks a moment later. "Initial observation suggests unknown entity active in the vessel. Based on your statements, there is a high probability that said entity is capable of comprehending technology on a higher level than either of those currently present."
"Engaging in incordial interaction with local figure of power is an alternate means of extracting information on activities on the ship. In addition, the increase in social stature would benefit this 'string'. However, I am incapable of calculating the risk involved in said situation.", she continues.
Summary: My primary directives are oriented towards discovery and evading direct physical confrontation. Extracting information from technologically-fluent entities would prove beneficial. Receiving resources in exchange for favours tendered to Torch would be beneficial." She blinkers. "Statement: Risk and reward assessment suggest that I would prefer to re-start the Torch."
"We give Ulreth the opportunity to warn that woman, I also don't like keeping that threat at our backs just waiting to strike that isn't something I want. He could go after Val and Baine."
--
Wulf wakes up, his mind feeling clear after three days. "OH it's a lovely day!" He shouts as he jumps out of bed, he smells the breakfast and then runs to get dressed rushing downstairs. "That smell could wake me from the dead." He smiles at Val. "With such beauty to wake up to also." Taking a seat he starts to grab at food, feeling renewed.
Zeke approaches the halfling before they retire for the night, trying his best to appear friendly and non-threatening. "Charles?" he thinks to him privately. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask you about the plan to investigate Ulreth. It seems very dangerous to me, though it might be a good opportunity for you to improve your relationship with Mr. Wexley-- he seems more distrustful since the encounter with the undead alien we fought. Do you feel confident you could do your part of the job, if it came to it?"
LaRA, having leaned on the wall and began her maintenance routine through the night, snaps her eyes open, standing up suddenly. "WWarning: Minor difficulties detected in frontal lobe.", she speaks out. Analysing... High probability of failure on first routine after stasis. Low chances of adverse reaction to ingested poison.
As they begin analysing the plan, LaRA remains mostly silent, staring at the speakers with an intense glare. "Situational analysis:", she speaks a moment later. "Initial observation suggests unknown entity active in the vessel. Based on your statements, there is a high probability that said entity is capable of comprehending technology on a higher level than either of those currently present."
"Engaging in incordial interaction with local figure of power is an alternate means of extracting information on activities on the ship. In addition, the increase in social stature would benefit this 'string'. However, I am incapable of calculating the risk involved in said situation.", she continues.
Summary: My primary directives are oriented towards discovery and evading direct physical confrontation. Extracting information from technologically-fluent entities would prove beneficial. Receiving resources in exchange for favours tendered to Torch would be beneficial." She blinkers. "Statement: Risk and reward assessment suggest that I would prefer to re-start the Torch."
** spoiler omitted **