None of you find anything strange or even personal in this space. How... odd.
Sophia continues to process Hawthorne's sensory data until she suddenly thinks that she's identified the solution to a math problem that she was working on!
Sophia. Are you there?
"What? Yes. Of course. Nothing special in your feed."
Id-Sinitis uses his vibration sense to test the walls, his keen senses finding a tiny and cunningly hid compartment. The compartment holds only a single outdated comm unit with a cracked screen. The device is relatively simple to hack. Indeed, Sophia hacks it without breaking stride, and discovers that it contains only a single thread of messages with an unidentified contact.
The messages on the recovered datapad details an agreement to repair a device referred to as the “Abrogation Matrix,” along with an explanation of how to activate its “altered features.”
Welcome to your Abrogation Matrix, the ultimate in android control devices! Why deal with a pesky personality issue when you can insert your own? At your behest, I have of course added a few other custom features that I think you will appreciate as a spymaster. This device makes information retrieval a snap, especially when you may literally bridge over into your subject's mind to uncover their secrets.
Detailed descriptions on using the machine and hooking it up follow.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
With only one room to go, you proceed to Historia-7's study. Historia-7’s study is well-maintained, but not as immaculate as her predecessor’s. There is a single holo picture on her desk of she and Ziggy hiking in a lush garden, both looking more relaxed than you've ever seen them. Most notably, her terminal has not one display but eight mounted in an array above the desk.
|
Hawthorne moves to stand beside Historia's desk. His datajack cover pops open and a universal jack cable spools out, moving like a snake preparing to strike. "This is not going to be easy, especially if she has installed the upgrade following the data breaches," the Triunite says. "Let's see if we can't at least log in, but I am certain this is going to require every trick we have in our cumulative repertoire ."
|
Naylor starts poking around the office looking for any clues Historia-7 may have left. If she was really sneaky she would have left a non-digital clue as Historia-6 would be less likely to pick up on that.
As they look they comment over their shoulder to the others, "Let me know if you want assistance with those computers. It may not be my strongest skill set but I have been known to be useful in the past."
Hawthorne, Sophia and Naylor find Historia-7's computer to be incredibly well secured, but with basic functions available without a login. Once woken from sleep, however, the computer resumes playing the Star Sugar Heartlove!!! album, but at a far more reasonable volume than you heard from Zigvigix’s briefing.
♫ Still don't know what I was waitin' for
Just catching up in a seat not mine
A million questions and the Scoured Stars
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
How the others must see the faker
How did I miss this, the final test?
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a puppet on a string
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Not when you’ve become my everything
They may change me
But I’m fighting back
I watch the ripples change their size
Never leave the data stream
Of warm impermanence
And someone else looks through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these new souls that you spit on
As they try to take their worlds
Oblivious to your calculations
Quite unaware of what they're goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame?
You've left us up to our necks in it
They may change me
But I’m fighting back ♫
Then all eight screens light up with a rotating series of photos of a gray-skinned android with a shock of short, bright-red hair, each with a time stamp and the label “Historia-4.”
Meanwhile, Naylor has noticed a box that was apparently checked out of the Lorespire's archives. A box alongside the desk contains a stash of Eoxian equipment.
|
Antoine looks at the screens. " Look!
notice subtle shifts in the pictured android’s expression and a transition in her circuitry’s color from bright red to silver, a progression of changes that took place over several weeks’ time. This suggests that the mental takeover of Historia-7 wasn’t instantaneous, and that there might still be time to intervene."
Antoine shudders at the mention of the corpses fleet. I am so happy that Libre saved the world from the Stellar degenerator.
As you dig deeper and deeper into Historia-7's files, you find more and more layers of protection. One thing becomes absolutely clear, though... The faction leader was obsessively investigating her prior namesakes, though much of the information was purged from the Society’s data stores. The only note, beside the images of Historia-4, are indications that files pertaining to Historia-3 were locked out by order of Guidance.
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
I don't like this. We need bring Historia-7 back. Zigvigix's mouth barbs twitch. I might be able to use the psychological bridge the Abrogation Matrix provides to help you all enter Historia-7’s mind, combat the malicious entity directly, and lend Historia-7 strength by helping her hold onto her memories. They read the instructions from the cracked screen. It says here that in order to send multiple personas, the device would require a psychic interface... Right? As a naturally telepathic being, I volunteer to take on this role and transition you all into Historia-7’s mindscape.
Ziggy sits down, heavily. I admit that this would require applying the connector to my own body, and the prospect of having to jab the connector through my chitin does not excite me. But we've got instructions, and some of you have medical training, right? I think everyone here who wants to help Historia-7, right? Are you ready to help get her back?
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Naylor looks at Zigvigix, a great deal of empathy not showing on the android's face.
"Yes, we are all willing to do what it takes to rescue Historia-7. I only question if you are currently strong enough for the role you volunteer for. It would seem recent events have taken a great toll and I want to protect you too. Losing one leader in exchange for another is not a great trade. Is there no other way?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I have been out of breath. Ziggy admits. I... am not as fit as I used to be. But if I am not anchoring all of you, I would be leading the charge in that mindscape to try and free our Historia from whatever that conniving predecessor has done to her. And would that be any better? From what I understand from these instructions, the injuries of the body carry over into the mind. Ziggy meets all of your eyes, their antennae quivering. Someone has to anchor, and I want our team to be at full strength. I refuse to risk losing her forever by waiting too long.
Then they pause. But... if it will make you feel better, I will send a note to Naiaj telling her what we are doing... just before you crossover. It might be wise to have a backup plan. Now... who wants to help me attach the cable so I don't have to drill through my own chitin?
Ziggy insists that you all lie down so you don't fall. As Zigvigix warily watches Yuqab attach the Abrogation Matrix’s bladed connector, the shirren’s mental voice buzzes urgently. Please be careful, Starfinders. I won’t let anything happen to you on my watch, but please hurry! Without further hesitation, they plunge you into the mindscape.
As you feel the world fade away, you hear Naiaj scream over a comm unit, I did not authorize this!" But the gnomish Venture Captain's voice fades away with the rest of the world.
The scenes that play out in a mindscape follow the same rules as in the normal world. In the mindscape, you have all the gear you were carrying when you entered the mindscape, as well as the same Hit Points, Stamina Points, Resolve Points, and other conditions. Damage taken in the mindscape psychically transfers to your body and remains even once you leave, as do any abilities or boons used in the mindscape—but not items. You can't rest overnight in the mindscape, nor can you recharge batteries, and you can't call upon resources or benefits from outside the mindscape—though companions like drones manifest in the mindscape just as you do.
As soon as you manifest in the mindscape, you realize one benefit of the semi-simulation: consumable items used within the mindscape are used up only in the mindscape, and the version of the item that exists in the real world is not consumed.
While immersed in the mindscape of Historia-7’s consciousness, a PC can spend Resolve Points to accomplish these effects:
Alter Terrain: Spend 2 Resolve Points as a standard action to change the terrain in 10-foot-radius area. This can make an area difficult terrain, turn difficult terrain into normal terrain, or create an area of hazardous terrain that deals 3d6 damage of a physical type of the player’s choice to a creature that starts their turn in the area. This lasts for a number of rounds equal to the PCs’ highest ability score modifier.
Change Recollection: Spend 3 Resolve Points as a reaction to reroll a single d20 roll you or an ally just made, by rewriting the psychic memory of that event. You must declare use of this ability before the results are revealed, and this ability can be used only once per d20 roll. If you have an ability that would already grant a reroll, you can use this ability to gain a +4 bonus on the reroll.
Draw an Item: Spend 2 Resolve Points as a move action to produce from your inventory a single consumable item that you had in your possession prior to entering the mindscape, such as a grenade, a spell gem, a serum or a similar item, whether or not you actually have any more of those items remaining on your mindscape simulacrum. This item exists only in the mindscape.
The white plastic walls of the Cortex slide away, replaced with a blank, electric blue like an unprogrammed terminal screen. A thin line appears, speeding across the visual expanse, turning and wiggling into a circuit-like pattern. As it continues, the shape resolves into a humanoid form whose features become clear as Historia-7 turns away from the lines tracing out a larger room. The image flickers and scatters periodically, and as she speaks, her voice is staticky and garbled. “It's hard to keep track of everything,” she says. “I need your help—” her next words are lost in static. “—we can force Historia-Prime out.”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
By the time she finishes speaking, the tracing circuitry behind her has drawn in a spacious office in the Lorespire Complex, where a sluglike humanoid sporting a Starfinder symbol on the lapel of his robes stands. Historia-7 turns to face him and speaks calmly. “I've traced the missing artifacts to your alma mater, which holds them in their museum and credits you with their discovery.”
The slug creature waves a hand dismissively. “You can't prove anything, Celita.” Historia-7 wordlessly hands over a datapad. After glancing over it, the osharu sputters in fury, glaring at the android—until that android's image scrambles again and disperses in a scattering of silver light.
A key memory of Historia-7's life is dissolving before your eyes. What do you do?
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Naylor looks on in dismay. This is completely new territory. They turn to their companions and ask, "We came here through technology, can we use technology to prevent or repair damage? This looks like a memory and should be preserved if possible. Let me assist. Please!"
This is the most distressed anyone has ever seen Naylor. The idea of memory wipe is akin to torture and death in their mind.
Naylor becomes even more distressed and addresses the culprit in the memory, "Stop right now! You are a Starfinder and must be held accountable for your actions. We claim the right to hold you while higher authorities are summoned. You will not deal with us so easily!"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I'll leave the imp sniffing around in the system," Hawthorne says before getting into position for the transfer. "Remind me to retrieve it when we are finished."
----------
The Triunite manifests in the mindscape prepared for war. His helmet--crafted to resemble the Precursor aspect of Triune--is engaged, and he holds his plasma-fork at the ready. The image blurs and doubles for a moment before a second armored body steps out of the first. This one bears a helmet fashioned to resemble the Transcendent aspect.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Wow! This is new!" a distinctly feminine voice projects from the helmet's speakers. "Wait. This will not do."
The armor blurs and morphs to reveal a young human woman wearing an archaic dress from the lost world of Golarion. Those studied in ancient history might recognize the style as from the ancient, pre-electric nation of Cheliax. The dress changes subtly each time someone looks away and then looks back, and her entire form intermittently appears translucent. He eyes resemble dark screens across which endless streams of code spool.
Antoine notices that when he interferes coming in as a journalist, the memory starts to stabilize, but looks cartoonish and off, and nothing like what was there before.
Meanwhile Hawthorne and Naylor try out computers in the digital world... Hawthorne's ampliflied glitch attacks the traces of silver, pushing it slightly back.
Then they realize that they can search Historia-7's memories like a self-contained infosphere. As they search, they realize that they can find echoes of what happened, and painstakingly reconstruct it, and then re-enact the original narrative.
After records of the discovery and existence of certain Starfinder relics were erased, Historia-7, traced the activity back to a senior Starfinder officer, an osharu named Blilslip . Blislip had been stealing the relics and sending them back to his home world as his own discoveries to further his own reputation among the intensely academic osharu society.
Historia-7—then using her original name Celita— was not only confident enough to call him out on his theft, but also smart enough to have a backup plan in place lest he respond poorly. Her backup plan was trigger the sonic feedback program Celita planted in the osharu's office sound system, temporarily stunning him, and notify the reinforcements she had lined up. Unfortunately, the corruption intruded into the mindscape, effectively erasing Celita before she can initiate her plan.
You can also think on the things you remembered before you left on this mission with Ziggy. So... Knowing what you know, how do you bolster Historia-7's dissolving memory?
"Id, where's that null space?" Sophia says while Hawthorne corrects Antione. "I think we can replace Celita in the memory with that magic hat."
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Historia-Prime? Does that mean Historia-6 was another victim?" If so, his current condition doesn't bode well for Historia-7.
Seeing her image of the other Starfinder fade and sputter, Yuqab moves forward and mimics the creature's speech as best he can, trying to reinforce the memory of what he just saw.
“You can't prove anything, Celita.”
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Pangea pulls out a mike, speakers, and a little beat-box from one of its belt-pouches, and starts a rhythm going on the box, before setting up the speakers and starting to speak into the mike and broadcasting it.
"Historia-7, remember who you are, we remember you and shall forever, as you and your story is set in the marble of our memories!"
Pangea narrates the adventures it has carried out on Historia-7's behalf, or doing her bidding.
"Off near the sun, where you asked us to fight as gladiators..."
"Going after the big megacorp with Ceren..."
"And with Ziggy, out to find a lost vessel with ghost-dead on board..."
Pangea tries to remember all of Historia-7's words, in the briefings, the final reports...
Sophia arches an eyebrow at PANGEA's performance and then wirelessly dumps the information gleaned from the mindscape into the androids comm device with an audible ping.
"Try composing from that," the AI suggests.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Yuqab provides excellent voice work as Blislip! Pangea provides voiceover of relevant events, including the accurate memory that Sophia provided. Id-Sinitis takes out the hat to provide an image of Celita holding her ground, and then Naylor triggers the sonic feedback of the alarm!
Then all of you hear the calm voice of Historia-7 echoing through the memory. "So that's how it happened."
The blurring memory suddenly solidifies, becoming crystal clear. Celita stands her ground as the sonic feedback rolls over the Osharu, temporarily stunning him. A slightly younger Venture-Captain Naiaj arrives only a few minutes later, along with two Starfinders acting as security, to take the stunned osharu into custody. The bleachling gnome raises an eyebrow and offers a rare word of praise before departing. “Outstanding work, Celita. With a demonstration like that, you're sure to have the eye of some senior Starfinders. I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll accomplish.”
★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★
The empty office reverts to the same circuitry patterns it originally formed from, rewriting itself into the shape of Historia-7. “Historia-6 was impressed with my research,” she says, without further explanation. The light-blue circuitry under her skin flickers silver for a moment, before reverting to its natural blue hue. “The fact that I'm still here suggests the other Historias might also retain some aspect of themselves. Will you see if you can find them?” She vanishes except for the circuitry lines on her skin, which trace out the shape of a door on the bright-blue background.
"We have our work cut out for us!" the semi-solid Sophia grabs her father's hand and pulls him after Naylor.
The circuitry door opens onto a starship's bridge, the view screens filled with the Drift's unmistakable purple-pink clouds. The ship's aesthetic is about fifty years out of date, but the bridge seems to be in immaculate repair.
Two androids sit at the two forward consoles: one a perfect match for the lifeless body in the server room, save that this version of Historia-6 is in much better physical condition and the circuitry marking his android skin has a faint yellow hue. The other is a pearlescent white individual with androgynous features and a smooth, hairless head; their voice is similarly indeterminate. “There's no reason to waste time instructing those who aren't suited to the kind of work the Dataphiles perform,” they say, in flat, brusque tones. “But you have shown you have the potential to accomplish great things, and I can't continue to lead the faction forever.”
As they finish the statement, the console under the pearlescent android's hands flares with a silver light that reflects in their eyes. That same silver light races along the console and up the circuitry of Historia-6's arms. Both androids stand and turn to face the door. “You shouldn't be here,” the pearlescent android says, matter of fact, and Historia-6 adds, in an identical monotone, “You can't be allowed to interfere.”
What do you do?
"Working on it!" she replies. "But there might be more than one intelligence here."