Agents of TAROT: Chariot Crew

Game Master Tarren Dei


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Vonash stumbles into someone so hard they stumble into someone else, starting a shoving match that doesn't involve her at all.


Scera was having a blast on the dance floor. She dance with men, she danced with women, she danced alone and with multiples at once. It was crowded and got more so as the evening went on.
Ref: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
It was when she saw first the shoving match when Vonash accidentally knocked someone into another starting the beginnings of a brawl that things first began to go wrong. Then Kitty had her mishap and dislodged the holoprojector causing people to see her true self at times. All of this distracted Scera enough that she didn't pay enough attention to her surroundings and one more bad thing happened.

Boom! Crit fail!


Scera, distracted by the shoving match, trips and tumbles into the group around the raceship driver's table. She has just catches a glimpse of his handsome and arrogant face before one of his bouncers intervenes.

"I think it's time we leave," says Kitty/Moreau pointing to the other bouncer who is heading over. "I'm tired anyhow. I feel like I haven't slept in 100 years. hahahahah~"


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

"Agreed. Lets get out of here!"


F Android Biohacker 2 [HP 16/16 | Stamina 14/14 ] [ EAC 13 | KAC 14 ] [ Fort +4 | Ref +2 | Will +3 ] [ Init +2 ] [ Perception +7 (Darkvision 60, Low-Light) ]

After assisting Immanuel with Brass, Jade retires to her room. She begins trying to sort out Moreau's notes for study, pausing after only a few minutes. Curiosity getting the better of her, she goes to the computer and begins searching for "Jade Essex, Reality Prime", intending to watch at least a few episodes, and dig deeper into who her other self might be.

Since Jade-Prime is "missing", I'm looking for anything I can learn about her - where she differs from me, what her relationship with Dr Brennan seems like, etc. There's nothing else I'm really looking to do tonight aside from Moreau's research, so I'll take 20 on Use Computers for 27, for anything I can learn about Jade-Prime.


There's a lot of information available about Jade-Prime and her life is quite similar to yours, up until she became co-host of Reality Prime. She lived in most of the same places and did the same work. She took care to hide her online footprint, especially after she got famous. You find information about her public work, but few details about her private life.

You do find an interview she did only a few months ago in which she said that she still maintains her old residence. From the way she described it, it would seem to be the same one you lived in last week. She says she maintains it "for sentimental reasons" even though she didn't stay there often anymore. This elicited laughs from the interviewers who said she didn't seem like the sentimental type. She turned on them and said, "Actually, I can be sentimental. The place I'm staying in now has always meant a lot to mean. That's all I'll say." In the interview she seems to be trying to seem less standoffish and more relatable. Scouring the comments and further searches reveal no further details about her residence. Apparently, only Jade knows where Jade was living.

The show itself is a little cringe-worthy. Jade's lack of charisma is emphasized by camera angles and text overlays that subtly play up her android coldness. Jade-Prime is certainly cooperating with this and cannot be unaware of it. As far as you can tell, she had a good relationship with her co-host, although the program doesn't position them as equals the way it did with Ueda in the lost timeline. Jade is second fiddle.

Reality Prime covers many of the same topics including research on time travel. It also has coverage of neo-luddites and anti-android groups, which were not so present in your timeline. The coverage is very critical of these movements and the stars of the show are targets of a lot of abuse. There are certainly a significant number of people who hate Jade-Prime.

There is a greater number of people who adore her though and are now mourning her as well as the other victims. People are hanging data crystals from the fence around Tannhauser Park in memory of the victims. The video you see about it pauses on a picture of the stars of Reality Prime.


Scera gave the people at the table a sheepish look as she said, "Sorry bout that." Then quickly hustled away as she heard kitty mention the bouncers. "You're right Kitten, lets get out of here and quickly."


F Android Biohacker 2 [HP 16/16 | Stamina 14/14 ] [ EAC 13 | KAC 14 ] [ Fort +4 | Ref +2 | Will +3 ] [ Init +2 ] [ Perception +7 (Darkvision 60, Low-Light) ]

"In poor taste, if you ask me." Jade says to no one in particular, watching how the show emphasizes on her differences as an android. Wasn't this the kind of thing her past self had wanted to fight against? And here the Prime version of her was, leaning into it. Still, she felt a strange sense of pride that Jade-Prime was continuing the fight in her own way, disparagingly speaking against prominent hate groups. "If her life was in danger," Jade muses, "That may explain why she is in hiding."

It was getting late, and arriving at this time of night would spook Jade-Prime, if she was even there. The only saving grace to her arriving at all, is that Jade-Prime might mistake her for being Milo. Assuming she even knew Milo. And assuming Milo had known where she lives. "Plan has a lot of ifs" She says drily.

Not sure how late it is exactly, but I figure taking 20 ate up some hours. If there's time left, I want to do some research into the anti-android groups, learn a bit more about their crimes. Especially where murder and bombings are concerned. Otherwise I'm good to wait until morning.


Masculine Android Mechanic | HP 16/16, Stamina 12/12, Reserve 5/5 | EAC 14, KAC 15 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 | Init +5, Perception +5

Agreed--I'm not sure exactly how late taking 20 put me on searching for Sanctuary info, but Ueda would also like to trawl around for information on himself as well as current events, in that order. I'm also good with just cutting to morning.


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

Brass after his diagnostic takes some time alone to rest heeding the doctor’s words. After some time he wakes up and instead of searching for Info on Brass prime he decides to use the channels he had in his timeline to see if he can reach any of his old crew. He logs onto the chat link that he remembered and sees if it’s been used recently unlike his, hoping to get a glimpse into what made this Brass more open and active for androids.


Jade and Ueda find that there are a few anti-android groups in this timeline and generally a more blatant anti-android sentiment in this timeline. Some of the people Jade remembers from her own timeline speak in less coded ways about their dislike of androids in this timeline, sometimes confirming her suspicions about them. Ueda finds that sentiment clearly held back Ueda-Prime. Things that Ueda moved beyond, were held against Ueda-Prime and, it does seem, Ueda-Prime maintained connections that Ueda cut.

The organized groups have videos and manifestos explaining their views. Even the anti-tech ones have made good use of communications media. The protests and claims these groups make are rather non-sensical. They promote the idea that androids and all 'mechanical entities' should be programmed to obey humans; their slogan "Be Obeyed or Kneel" suggests to humans that the choice is between reinstituting the 2nd Law or being enslaved by androids and mechanical life.

The most radical philosophical belongs to an anonymous group known as The Fallen Tree, which advocates "returning humanity to nature" and "letting nature rule" and "using technology only to banish technology." They don't think androids should exist, but they also don't seem to believe kitchen knives should exist.

The most violent of the groups is E4E ("Earth for Earthlings"). They've been involved in dozens of riots and clashes, particularly targeting gatherings of non-humans with disruptive tactics and physical violence. The worst video Jade and Ueda come across shows their members, dressed in 2ND LAW and E4E shirts beating on a group of humans, androids, and lashunta with metal rods.

Many of these anti-android groups, anti-tech activists, and neo-luddites support Senator Parker Bird. They attach themselves to Bird's personal mystic as the "World's Oldest Man." It appears that Senator Parker Bird was born in 2060 to a wealthy family. Earth, as you saw recently, kind of sucked at the time, and the rich were mostly leaving. Parker Bird bought a ticket on a coldsleeper headed for the colony planets at the age of 18, leaving his money with a talented investment AI. The signal from the coldsleeper went silent 2 years out from Sol. Over 338 colonists lost.

The lost coldsleeper was found over a century later, in 2191, and was brought back to Earth. Of the hundreds of humans saved, only one had grown incredibly wealthy during the trip. He isn't the world's oldest man, but he build a political career talking about "How things used to be easier!" and saying "Let's get back to the way things were in my youth." This is weirdly nonsensical as you very recently visited that time period and you saw how bad things were in his youth. Perhaps things weren't so bad if you were rich and had androids tending to your needs. In any case, his nonsensical slogans excited some weird fringe groups and, in 2208, rode a wave of political support and used his own personal fortune to win himself a seat on the NARA Congress.


When Kitty, Scera, and Vonash make it back to Blacksteeple, TAROT HQ, they find everyone except Milo and Griffin are up and about. Ueda, Jade, and Brass are all working away (although they may be doing that in their own quarters).

Barry walks up to Vonash as soon as he sees her. "I don't want to be a bear soon," he says decisively and walks away.


Brass does find chat links and other modes of connecting with his old crew; not all of the ones he remembers. The obvious ones are locked or made private with security settings stricter than what he remembers. A gatekeeper AI that Brass considered almost a friend is openly hostile to all interaction. Brass isn't getting closer to his old crew without revealing his identity and, seeing he is technically dead, this may not be believed right away.


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

Seeing all this secrecy and security Brass is going to stop, hoping that he can find a way to work around it later. Though he does bookmark everything he finds for alter use. He then decides to explore the installation hoping to see more of it.


Brass-4 wrote:
Seeing all this secrecy and security Brass is going to stop, hoping that he can find a way to work around it later. Though he does bookmark everything he finds for alter use. He then decides to explore the installation hoping to see more of it.

The installation is huge. It is almost entirely underground with only the church above ground, as far as Brass is able to find. Halls and halls with doors and doors are built underground. For the most part, the walls are manufactured with only a few social areas having natural rock walls. The doors have auto locks, but they unlock when Brass reaches for them. Gabriel, or some other system, gives Brass access. He finds a hall of rooms with each room contained well made replicas of clothing. The rooms are divided into different decades and explanations given about things like the class, race, and gender of someone who might have worn each costume. Sometimes Brass might by surprised by the clothes that were tagged as "masculine" in one decade that would be considered "feminine" in another.

There are also rooms where Brass is denied access. The only map of the facility Brass has seen labelled this wing as the armory, and the hall seemed divided into rooms much the same size as the costume wing, so perhaps dozens of small weapons lockers along one hall.

On the same level as the Chariot, but on the other side of the elevator, Brass finds a large natural cavern containing bicycles, motorcycles, hoverbikes, and various other smaller vehicles, always in groups of four. The largest of the vehicles is a BMW R75 that looks authentic but has no signs of wear or use. Brass doesn't manage to find the entire facility before people begin returning from the bars.

The facility is large, empty, and well-funded. TAROT has deep pockets.


Chapter 4: Justice


Noon the next day, Gabriel's voice invites anyone still sleeping to wake up. He calls from the hallway. Although his face follows you around the base most of the time jumping from one surface to another, it never enters your room. Apparently you have privacy in these rooms, or at least the illusion thereof.

When he gets your attention, he informs you that Senator Parker Bird's limousine is two miles out. He's asked to speak with you.


F Android Biohacker 2 [HP 16/16 | Stamina 14/14 ] [ EAC 13 | KAC 14 ] [ Fort +4 | Ref +2 | Will +3 ] [ Init +2 ] [ Perception +7 (Darkvision 60, Low-Light) ]

Once everyone gets together, Jade addresses the group. "Senator Bird may not himself be a neo-luddite, but he's supported by many of these hate groups. He is almost as old as Dr. Ueda and myself. Much like Brass, he was on a ship that was... misplaced for some years... He is in his own way, a man out of time."

"Whether he truly believes it or not, he touts the 2060s as a "simpler time" that he would like to return to. It could, of course, simply be campaign sound bytes." She nods to Ueda, "I am not sure how much of your memory is intact from that time, but I do not desire to return to those years whatsoever."

"In short, I do not think the good Senator is to be trusted. Gabriel, I would like you to be on alert during his visit. Do you have any security systems here?"

"After the senator says his piece and departs, I will be going in search of Jade-Prime, even if my leaving defies his wishes. I do not ask any of you to join me, since I know you may have your own other lives to begin assimilating into."


"Security Systems?" muses Gabriel, "Well, I can send a column of flame up the elevator shaft destroying the church and everything in it ... otherwise, not so much."

The elevator door opens and Gabriel's smiling face shifts to its walls as he invites you into this death trap.


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

“Well if it seems that he is against androids, we should figure out if maybe he is funding some of these groups. I don’t trust he merely allows these people to use his name for hate.”


Masculine Android Mechanic | HP 16/16, Stamina 12/12, Reserve 5/5 | EAC 14, KAC 15 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 | Init +5, Perception +5

"I think it would be wise to keep the column of flame in reserve for now." Ueda had been awoken, more or less, by Gabriel's announcement, although he hardly shows it. He's wearing contemporary clothing once again, a simple outfit, though not a fully casual one. He stands very still as he enters the elevator, his face blankly musing.

"I agree that Senator Bird is more than he first appeared, and given his first appearance suggested he embodied the poorer traits of politics, that statement should not be taken lightly." He nods at Jade's comments on the time period and Bird's rhetoric. "Anyone who would wish for society to return to that time is, at best, relying on misplaced nostalgia for the past--which is better left when it is. At worst, he actively seeks to undermine and negate what little progress seems to have been made in this timeline. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between, but any point on the spectrum is troubling in its way."

The engineer also nods at Brass's suggestion. "I again concur. Perhaps a probe into his mind, or questions asked by one not of our kind might reveal more?" Ueda looks at Vonash and Scera (assuming they've joined us) with such a lack of subtlety that you could hardly say he's implying who should ask such questions.


Was Paizo down all day for you as it was for me?

So as to give everyone something else to react to alongside Brass and Ueda's comments, this is what happens when the elevator arrives at the surface level....

When you arrive at the ground level, you find the lobby empty. The Senator's limousine sits in the parking lot, the dust from its landing settled already.

A man with shoulder length hair and a casual suit is standing on the walkway from the parking lot to the church. He's staring straight ahead and standing about 10 ft. from the door. His arms hang limply by his sides.


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

Yup. Paizo was down :-(

A little earlier
"I'm quite willing to try and scan the senators thoughts if you want. Its NOT risk free but may be worth the risk. Its up to you, I'm not going to do it unless you agree. If I do that, we should have a signal. So you can ask leading questions as I do it"

Seeing the person, Vonash thinks he looks strange. She moves so that he can see her, deliberately moving more sexily and provocatively than normal, and watches carefully how he reacts

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27


The man seems to be drooling, but not because Vonash is moving provocatively. His eyes aren't even focused on anything. He seems vacant.


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

Vonash backs off. A lot

"Be careful, there is something VERY strange here. It is like nobody is home!"


A new day and a new situation, it was all rather strange. Scera was rather annoyed that they had been chased out of the club but it was probably for the best. Given the reaction of the people there to Kitty it would have been worse had they realized that she and Vonash were even further from being human.

The fact that the Senator was back was rather disturbing. Scera didn't like the way this felt to her and she thought the discussions about what Gabriel could do to protect them were worth while, even if it wasn't going to work at the moment. "What was so bad about those years Jade," Scera asked.

When they reached the top and saw the strange man there she looked as closely as he stood there. There was no sign of the senator but he could still be inside the vehicle.
Sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Scera had a hunch something was off but Vonash shored up her belief in that. "I think we might wish we had weapons in a moment." She was very much on her guard against whatever was about to happen.


The man with the casual suit, dangling arms, and vacant stare springs to life and looks at the group of you as led by Vonash and Scera you emerge from the church.

"Pardon me," says the man, "I was away from my desk for a moment. I promised I would get you more information, and I have." The man holds out an empty hand. Looks at his empty palm. Withdraws it. Holds out the other hand. In his hand is a data crystal.

The man kind of sounds like the Senator, but not. His movements are odd--not exactly jerky, but hesitant.

DC 15 Perception:
You see a metallic device to the back of the man's skull. It circles around to the temples but is mostly hidden beneath the man's long hair. If you make DC 15 Perception and see the device, add 5 to your Culture roll.

DC 22 Culture:
The very rich sometimes make use of 'saddles' to allow them to remotely 'ride' willing, and usually well-compensated, 'horses.' They are able to make use of the horse's body from a distance. The saddle controls its speech, sensory, and auditory processes and movement, causing the 'horse' to repeat the words the 'rider' says and allowing the 'rider' to see, hear, and feel what the horse's body feels. The horse, while being ridden, slips into a dreamlike state and remembers only fragments of what it sees, at most. It's not illegal, but it should be. Horses eventually become addicted to the experience of being ridden.


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Snicker


"Oh, wow, we must have really altered history last night by going out to that club," whispers Kitty, "In this timeline the Senator looks completely different!"

That doesn't make a lot of sense but Kitty is experiencing a hangover for the first time.


Masculine Android Mechanic | HP 16/16, Stamina 12/12, Reserve 5/5 | EAC 14, KAC 15 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 | Init +5, Perception +5

Ueda falls quiet in the elevator after his own speech, happy to let Jade enlighten Scera on that time period. He finds the man's behavior as suspicious as Vonash does, and walks forward with hesitation, scanning the man and his surroundings with an edge of paranoia.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Well, Vonash, we tried.
Culture: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13


"I would have come myself, but I've got back to back meetings this afternoon, and Mr. White here ..." the man gestures to himself "...was available."

Mr. White steps forward holding the crystal out.

"I thought you'd want to know that authorities have identified the group responsible for all of those unnecessary deaths. Hopefully, viewing this will allow you to find some closure."

Mr. White, who has remained expressionless until now, smiles suddenly and continues smiling.


As the man began to speak in the Senator's voice Scera found herself shocked. She eyed the person closely as she tried to figure it out what, exactly, was happening.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Unfortunately Scera was far too freaked out by this to be able to spot anything that might explain it. That they were being offered such an easy answer to who killed her rescuers doubles in this time line seemed too good to be true, particularly since Gabriel couldn't figure it out.

That the Senator didn't come personally was also strange to Scera. She understood that he may not want to be around telepaths, like her and Vonash, as he likely didn't want his mind scanned for secrets. That that was exactly what she intended to do if she could get in his inner circle was not important as she never understood the need for such secrets, not to mention she knew you could only readily scan the surface of a mind for information.

Because Scera didn't trust this strange situation she thought this through and said, "I don't know who this is or who you actually are so-called-senator but I don't trust this," she gestured towards "Mr. White", "meat puppet display of yours. We don't even know if it's truly you or someone pretending to be you. If you'd come in person I'd consider this crystal genuine, as it is there is no way we can know this is really you nor that the crystal isn't fabricated information. I'm done with this conversation so since the info isn't about my doubles death it's up to the rest of you to decide what to do." With that Scera retreated to the lift and got inside but held the door. She wasn't going to abandon them all but she wasn't staying in the open either. In fact Scera really wished she had that rifle she'd taken from the ship about now.


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

Brass silently follows along hoping that maybe this isn’t going to be as bad as he thinks it is. Upon seeing the man he is extremely confused and starts to walk around him looking to understand just what exactly is going on here. perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Upon seeing the device he starts to inspect it, confused yet intrigued what it is.
culture: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
“This is very considerate Mr. Senator. We appreciate the gesture. Maybe now you can release Mr. White here. It seems crude to control this man when you must have many aids who could do this for you.”
Brass looks extremely disturbed by the fact that this man is seemingly controlled by the senator and has a visible disgust on his face as he says all this.


Mr. White/Senator Bird pauses at the confrontation from Scera and Brass's challenge.

"I had been hoping to further talk to Scera," says the Senator, "but perhaps another time. Very well, I have meetings to atten-..."

Mr. White stumbles a bit suddenly before catching himself. He looks startled when he sees the group of you. He looks at the church, looks around, and starts to say, "Where is this ..."

Before he can finish his sentence, the Senator's limousine lifts off and flies back towards town.

"F%!&ety-f%~~-f#~&," says Mr. White, "That's my ride! ... Where even is this?"

He looks at the data crystal in his hand, "Am I supposed to give this to someone? Is it for the Senator?"


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

"I really don't like this. Gabriel, can you scan for bombs? Can anybody else?"

She then ducks behind whatever would protect her most from a bomb (pillar, something like that)


Scera managed to hear the comment about wanting to talk to her in person as she headed for the lift and called back over her shoulder in a sing song voice, "Then meet me in person next ti~me!" Her tone was not angry but it was stern and unyielding. She did add a bit more swish to her steps as she made it into the elevator and blew a kiss at the car where she assumed the senator was.

When the vehicle suddenly took off and "Mr. White" stumbled and cursed Scera felt even more worry over what was about to happen. The fact he left so abruptly said better than words that something bad was about to happen and she ducked back further into the lift using the sides for cover and prepared to close the doors in a hurry if an explosion occurred.


"Bombs?!" says Mr. White, alarmed.

To Vonash's question, Gabriel answers, "No, but this stained glass is threaded with a graphite mesh has a layer of polycarbonate. If you are concerned about a bomb, I would suggest getting inside and closing the door."

Mr. White is clearly willing to follow Gabriel's suggestion.


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

Brass takes a second to look over the item in Mr. White’s hand. Trying to figure out if it is merely a data crystal.
engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
If it looks fine he grabs it and looks to the man, “You should leave now. I would stop doing this thing whatever it is. Giving up yourself is a waste.”


The data crystal looks like an ordinary data crystal. You can't account for what is on it until you plug it in, but it does look like an ordinary crystal.

Mr. White looks annoyed at the prospect of walking back to town, but he smiles at Brass and says [b]"I'm sure whatever the Senator was doing with my body was less of a waste than what I would have been doing with it today. At least I got paid ... probably."

He starts walking back to town.


F Android Biohacker 2 [HP 16/16 | Stamina 14/14 ] [ EAC 13 | KAC 14 ] [ Fort +4 | Ref +2 | Will +3 ] [ Init +2 ] [ Perception +7 (Darkvision 60, Low-Light) ]

Jade stares blankly as she processes the totality of what happened. As Mr. White begins to walk away, she nods to the others. "That solves the problem of the Senator for the moment."

"Gabriel, can you set one of the terminals as a closed system to protect the rest of your network, in case there is something nefarious on this data crystal?" She pauses. "I do not expect there to be, but it is better to be safe. It seems to me more likely that it would contain lies. Or, it may well be truths, so long as they are convenient for the senator."

Shaking her head, she turns back. "I will postpone going in search of Jade-Prime until we examine the data, as it may prove beneficial."


"Certainly," says Gabriel, "For precisely this reason, my systems are completely separate from the terminals on ground level, such as those in the church office."


The church office is a simple modern office with a couple of terminals. There are no fake church documents or anything to suggest it is used for church business.

The data crystal contains portions of a heavily redacted file from the Regional Authority, investigating the terrorist attack. The file implicates E4E (or Earth for Earthlings) as the group behind the attack. The evidence consists mostly of threats and videos, including some Jade found online last night, linking E4E to the anti-android activities, including specific threats regarding Tannhauser. The file contains pretty convincing evidence that E4E intended to "kick A&A" (target androids and aliens) at Tannhauser Memorial Park that day.

In case the honey pot wasn't tempting enough, the unredacted portions of the file also contain the location of the E4E base--a fortified police bunker from the bad years. Dozens of photos are included.


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

"Yeah, like I'm going to believe anything with THAT many holes in it.
These guys don't sound like saints, but the Senator pretty clearly wants to use us to do his dirty business.

I say we contact these guys and get their side of the story. And by "We" I mean, uh, darn. We're ALL aliens or androids, aren't we? Uh, maybe use a com link without video so they don't notice?"


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

“Maybe so, but these people seem radical and possibly violent. Doing his dirty work may be what he wants us to do but they seem to deserve it.”


Masculine Android Mechanic | HP 16/16, Stamina 12/12, Reserve 5/5 | EAC 14, KAC 15 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 | Init +5, Perception +5

Sorry for disappearing, everybody, this has been a busy week.

Ueda watches the proceedings with his usual aloofness, merely surveying the scene as it unfolds. He's equally bothered by the concept implied--that the Senator is willing to use another man almost as a drone, 'piloting' him to suit his needs--but, then, the man seemed to engage in the practice willingly. Disgusting and disturbing, certainly, but humans (and really everyone else) were known to do any number of strange things consensually.

He does nod at Jade's suggestion of using a closed terminal, not trusting the Senator himself. The reveal of the data crystal's contents is little surprise, but he also agrees that it seems too easy to blame the whole thing on the most obvious group. "Ockham's Razor suggests that foregoing unknowns, the simplest or most straightforward solution to a problem is usually the correct one. In this case, however, there are many unknowns. And I believe it more than possible that the Senator himself could be leading us astray."

Ueda sits on the edge of a desk or table, and looks to Brass. "I agree their philosophy is abhorrent, but are we truly to judge that they all deserve some manner of retribution? After all, we are not certain they were involved in this attack. If men should be beaten or killed for their beliefs, then our kind might never find freedom."

He blinks and returns his gaze to a neutral distance. "An audio connection could be plausible, if they would allow it. I have not practiced my 'human voice' in some time, however. I believe either Vonash or Scera would do nicely taking the lead."

And finally, almost as an afterthought: "Gabriel, have you found any more data or evidence in your own compilation of the event? Any developments at all that we should examine?"


Immanuel Ueda wrote:
And finally, almost as an afterthought: "Gabriel, have you found any more data or evidence in your own compilation of the event? Any developments at all that we should examine?"

Gabriel responds, "Dr. Ueda, I've compiled additional data as the police have added it to their large and relatively insecure datawell. They've gathered video and audio from cameras in a two block radius for the time period 5 minutes before and after the explosion. There are frequent blind spots, but I could extrapolate and fill them in or leave them incomplete as you would prefer."

"I should also tell you, Dr. Ueda, they seem to be paying particular attention to the movements of Ueda-Prime. Their reconstructions of the time leading up to the event seem particularly focused on him."


Female N Lashunta Mystic (XenoDruid) Wild Warden 1 | Active Conditions: None | SP 12/12, HP 14/14, RP 4/4 EAC 11. KAC 12 | Fort -1, Ref +2, Will + 6 | Per +5 (low light), Sense Motive | Speed 30 ft | Telepathy 30 ft

Sorry for my going quiet.

My power has been out since Monday (and is still out). Will catch up when I can. Please bot me until then


Masculine Android Mechanic | HP 16/16, Stamina 12/12, Reserve 5/5 | EAC 14, KAC 15 | Fort +3, Ref +8, Will +0 | Init +5, Perception +5

Another busy week on my end, my apologies.

Ueda stares ahead for a few seconds, processing all the information at present. "Senator Bird and his files suggest that anti-android groups are to blame for this cause. So why would the police be interested in the work of an android who appears to have been killed in the explosion? It could be mere interest in my Prime self's apparent connections, but as much as my life has led me to believe in coincidence, this stretches the imagination."

The scientist pushes himself from the desk and makes for the door. "Gabriel, I would very much like to examine the developed file of events. First with the blind spots, and then with your extrapolation."


Male EAC:15 KAC:17 |HP:18/18 SP:14/14 RP:5/5 |Fort:3, Ref +4, Will+3 |Init +8 Per+2|Hunting Rifle+7, 1d10 6/6 /45 Soldier 1

Brass takes a seat and looks around. “So if we are to not go find out forcibly from the radicals. We should look for other leads though in case we can diplomatically dig. I don’t have any ideas what these are at the moment so any ideas are considered.” he says this then looks around to the others hoping for suggestions.

sorry for no update, wasn’t sure what to add.


If people feel they're done with this adventure, I'm okay with that. We have had quite a decent run. No shame. I'm happy with continuing though and am enjoying this. Since Ueda asked Gabriel to show the updated reconstruction, I'll do that now. Either way.

"Certainly, Dr. Ueda," replies Gabriel. "Looking at the stamps left on these video files, I'm going to show you what the investigators have been looking at repeatedly and then we can go from there."

You travel down the elevator back to the cavern in the basement where the holographic reconstruction of a shadowy urban sidestreet is already playing. You can see two figures walking along it, close together, but not touching, not holding hands, but leaning in to hear each other and to talk softly. The reconstruction swirls as they turn a corner, so that they stay at the center of the reconstruction as their little world spins around them. As they step out of the shadowy street, you can see that it is Dr. Ueda and Samantha. They're talking. The audio is broken and sounds a little flat. Gabriel tags this file with "lipreading and speculative audio reconstruction possible" as it plays.

"It's important that we be there," says Dr. Brennan imploringly.

"And we [???]," replies Ueda-Prime. "But after that [???], just not together."

"Yes, together," Dr. Brennan insists. "No one is going to shoot me."

Ueda-Prime looks at her with what only those who know Ueda would recognize as concern.

Dr. Brennan laughs, "They'd have to get through your thick skin, and I don't think the laser has been invented ..."

Ueda-Prime pushes her teasingly. In some ways, he is very different from Ueda. The way he treats Dr. Brennan is definitely not a side you have seen of your Dr. Ueda.

The reconstruction goes dark as the pair cuts through a string of outdoor market stalls that are without cameras and have large awnings (one of the reasons neighbourhoods of stalls like these become hot spots for illegal activities). The reconstruction picks up on the other side of the stalls as Ueda-Prime and Dr. Brennan emerge. They are approaching Tannhauser Memorial Park.

Ueda-Prime is scanning the crowd. Samantha Brennan is talking about the people who came and, she's saying "It's tremendously hopeful. So many people. And, we should be here together. People know you and they know me, and soon they'll know about the threats."

The join the throng and the reconstruction continues as it did when you viewed it before.

You see Vonash comforting people, clearly unconnected from Ueda. You see Jade-Prime (who you know now is actually Milo-Prime) walk past Dr. Brennan without acknowledging her, which Dr. Brennan looks hurt about.

You see Brass rescue the android-child who had been knocked to the ground, physically removing those who were about to trample the child.

You see Milo/Jade-Prime in the crowd protecting the memorial trying to communicate with Carson who is opposite Jade-Prime. Carson is pointing to the man standing just beyond the perimeter, Milo/Jade-Prime doesn't see the man, but trusts his partner and is already moving in that direction already.

"What a team," says Milo (not Milo-Prime) quietly. "F#&~ing Moreau."

The police seemed to have their attention on Ueda-Prime though. Gabriel shows you the reconstruction as the timestamps say they are looking at it.

You see Ueda-Prime, stare at the memorial and the colorful display, and, then, suddenly start to run, pushing Samantha in front of him. While everyone else is oblivious to what is about to happen, Ueda-Prime is already moving.

Ueda-Prime having seen the countdown in the memorial display, knows exactly when to push Dr. Brennan to the ground and throw himself on top of her. He does so at the precise moment the blast comes, tearing the clothes off of his back, along with much of his synthetic flesh.

Carson-Prime disappears from the reconstruction, appearing to chase the man who he had been pointing to.

Milo-Prime, Vonash-Prime, and Brass-Prime are dead.

The attention of the police apparently remains on Ueda-Prime's corpse. Gabriel fast forwards the reconstruction, slowing only when emergency crews rush to Ueda-Prime and Dr. Brennan. They remove Ueda-Prime's body quite quickly and begin to administer first-aid to Dr. Brennan.

The reconstruction freezes as Dr. Brennan is carried away from the scene, alive but unconscious.

"This appears to be where the investigators are focussing their attention," replies Gabriel. "The video files focussing on Earth 4 Earthlings among the crowd have hardly been viewed."

Gabriel rewinds and spins the reconstruction, focussing this time on the hateful crowd. He plays it now at triple time, and you see hatemongers wearing E4E and 2ND LAW shirts, Carson among them, shouting. You see Carson leave the crowd of xenophobes to give chase. Then, you watch the blast tear the hate group apart. They were far enough from the center of the blast that 23rd century medicine will save most of them, but even modern medicine will never give them a life without pain.

"Regardless of what the Senator showed you," says Gabriel. "The police investigating the matter do not appear overly concerned with the group Earth 4 Earthlings."

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