Charles strides confidently into the structure, searching for what to destroy to cut out the roots of this infestation.
Zellgato follows suit, making sure his weapon is loaded and primed giving Charles cover from paces behind.
Nissa replies to Jupiter-Theo, “Oh—I mean Zellgato would know all that stuff. Unless you know, Henri?”
As for putting up a fight, Nissa says, “My ticket home just needs until dawn to recharge, but if Zellgato says there’s more to do, Hector, I’m staying.
“The reason I ended up here was that I went to Greer’s world to take care of a problem that was moving to my world. On my world, there was another man much like Greer. He died because some people from this world attacked mine.”
We’re all connected, she meant to say. But the mental image of Ms. Grey prompts Nissa into reliving that moment again—the sound of Greer shot dead. Moments before, decapitating four men at once. Before that, Verve lecturing Nissa about killing. She can’t look at Greer. She can’t look at the children.
Genius looks away from Nissa, obviously uncomfortable but trying to hide it. Those who know her would recognize this as her 'I'm not listening; I'm respecting your privacy' face. It's not her fault Nissa is feeling so loudly.
"Is that what you do," asks John, interested. "Travel from world to world righting wrongs?"
Alt-Greer grunts.
Charles strides confidently into the structure, searching for what to destroy to cut out the roots of this infestation.
A small jungle of plants drinks up the blue light that shines throughout this large room. Lots of stuff could hide in this tiny jungle. A path cuts through it leading to what looks like a small, round pool that glows with streaks of white light.
Theo pays attention to Genius for the first time.
He opens his mouth to ask something.
"Yes," she answers.
He says, "Do you want to see the hors-" but then stops, a bit confused.
"Still yes," says Genius looking embarrassed.
"Don't wake up Gygax," says Hector. "Someone should go with them ..."
"Is that what you do," asks John, interested. "Travel from world to world righting wrongs?"
"They might. I was sent to the camp to figure out what was going on, be a medical volunteer and keep my eyes open. I haven't been there long enough to learn anything, but I can tell you - several of the doctors there either aren't doctors or they aren't really trying to heal people. They keep trying to get folks to accept 'alternative treatments' for conditions that are easily treated."
Henri is a little lost at all this, too, to be honest, and probably looks like it.
"Is that what you do," asks John, interested. "Travel from world to world righting wrongs?""They might. I was sent to the camp to figure out what was going on, be a medical volunteer and keep my eyes open. I haven't been there long enough to learn anything, but I can tell you - several of the doctors there either aren't doctors or they aren't really trying to heal people. They keep trying to get folks to accept 'alternative treatments' for conditions that are easily treated."
Henri is a little lost at all this, too, to be honest, and probably looks like it.
"That tracks. Everyone about 5 miles around can use the camp's medical services if they want, so we took our son Theo in for a cough back about a month ago; we just wanted them to rule out anything serious with a quick antibody test. They wanted him to stay over night for examination. We said no," PaliDad John explains.
Henri gives him a "you dodged a bullet" sort of look. "Good choice. I'm not sure what the alternative treatment entails, but it is changing the people it is applied to. According to our friend still back in the camp, they aren't people anymore..."
Without warning the power fails.
Dozens of devices in the game room and around it blink off before the whirr of a motor outside indicates a generator has started.
"Funny," says John, "No storms to knock lines down or planned brown-outs.... Power will be out at the camp and the Town of Chapel too then."
Nissa finally says, “Yes. It’s what we do.”
She has her armor glow its full brightness… almost. (She doesn’t want the illusory wings to show, or everyone will think she can fly.)
“John, I need you to mind your son, the girl, and her family. Hector, Henri, Greer… I don’t think we can relax right now. We should keep watch—as two pairs.” Genius, not the time to see the horses—I need you to look after the adults. I can pass through walls if you need me back in there.
Nissa plays it like she’s used to taking charge, and is *in* charge.
Nissa finally says, “Yes. It’s what we do.”
She has her armor glow its full brightness… almost. (She doesn’t want the illusory wings to show, or everyone will think she can fly.)
“John, I need you to mind your son, the girl, and her family. Hector, Henri, Greer… I don’t think we can relax right now. We should keep watch—as two pairs.” Genius, not the time to see the horses—I need you to look after the adults. I can pass through walls if you need me back in there.
Nissa plays it like she’s used to taking charge, and is *in* charge.
[dice=Bluff]d20+14+d6
"Yes, sir Commander Firefly!" says Genius saluting. She turns to Theo and says, "Do you have any more games? I think I'd like to play them."
"Computer games are fun because I can't read the other player's mind," Genius thinks at Nissa and Henri. She then blows a mental raspberry at both of you, "Also, pffffttphlummphphph"
Hector says, "We have a state of the art security system, which I designed and installed myself. If I could keep the Mars Corporation Mercs out of Copernicus Station, I think I can keep some half-baked cultists from sneaking up on us here."
"Hector should take care of the kids," whispers John to Nissa and Henri. "If he's forced to kill a human, they'll decommission him. That new law they passed ... Androids no longer have the right to self-defense."
A small jungle of plants drinks up the blue light that shines throughout this large room. Lots of stuff could hide in this tiny jungle. A path cuts through it leading to what looks like a small, round pool that glows with streaks of white light.
"Heads up, I wasn't in this area before. Careful. A strange pool-thats certainly unusual."
Nissa sighs in relief. “Thank the Dawnflower for that. Watches are so boring! Hector, just lemme know if the power outage affects your security system.”
She says to the kids, “They got Super Street Fighter XXXVII Champion Edition Turbo on this world? I could so own you in that!”
Yeah, Genius. I know you know I’m bluffing.
(_|_)<PPPPT!
That’s a ‘brain fart’ because I can be a ‘smart ass’ too!
A small jungle of plants drinks up the blue light that shines throughout this large room. Lots of stuff could hide in this tiny jungle. A path cuts through it leading to what looks like a small, round pool that glows with streaks of white light.
"Heads up, I wasn't in this area before. Careful. A strange pool-thats certainly unusual."
Zellgato's analysis of the pool reveals traces of omnisium in the water. You're familiar enough with this metal to know that it reacts to transdimensional radiation.
"Its not my forte, but this is that metal Kai works with. That stuff is everywhere isn't it? Or this might be some kind of transit or portal? Not sure if we should touch it." Zellgato comments to his two cohorts. "Not sure how you can destroy that either.
Charles's side heads keep watch as he strides up near the edge of the pool. Once they're near it, his right head turns... and spits acid all over it.
They observe the results of his actions for a moment, then comment, "We may not have the strength to pull this infection up by the roots.""But perhaps there is damage we can do here.""Or perhaps we may at least draw out the Invaders to defend it."
They look around for anything suspicious in the space.
The Sword of Truth thrums hard as Charles approaches the pool. Spitting acid doesn't change the thrumming. It thrums as hard now as when Charles walked past mysterious doors and alleys in Tarokh or, for that matter, in the moment when Nissa opens a gate with the Wand.
"I don't have enough poison to poison a pool.. Don't have any explosives. I don't know if they had an armory they were hiding either."
For lack of a better idea, Zellgato will find a chair, or something similiar sized and toss it into the water. "When in doubt, make the other side react."
The steaks of white light in the pool gather around the chair for a moment, touching it, circling it, and, then, heading off in the opposite direction. For a moment, the light seemed more like a living organism than an electrical phenomenon. If Zellgato and Charles achieved anything by attacking the pool, it is not immediately apparent.
"Not a pool.""A portal.""If it cares not for acid I doubt it would care for poison.""A pity. We shall have to be content with the destruction of the current invaders.""Without them there will be time for more thorough destruction here."
Charles turns, his tail whipping behind him as they trot back outside to see if the gate remains closed.
The pool is about 3 and a half feet deep. The chair is still in the pool. The water is fine. Wanna swim?
While Charles goes out and look Zellgato just... throws everything he can over and on the pool. Maybe it'll gumk up something. Grunting as he drags and tosses items. "I really need to figure out world travel and magic crud...."
"Not a pool.""A portal.""If it cares not for acid I doubt it would care for poison.""A pity. We shall have to be content with the destruction of the current invaders.""Without them there will be time for more thorough destruction here."
Charles turns, his tail whipping behind him as they trot back outside to see if the gate remains closed.
When Charles opens the door of the small building he sees that his efforts did have an effect. About 20 Gaians, clothed in white uniforms, are standing in the courtyard, armed, and ready to assault the building Charles and Zellgato are in.
"Are you sure we can't go to the stable and see the horses?" asks Genius of Nissa. "I want to see their other robot."
"Other robot?" sniffs Hector, obviously offended. "Miss, I am an android. Gygax is a robot. You're lucky I'm not easily offended."
Von Junzt stands, armed with a small submachine gun, among the 20 Gaian devotees.
All three of Charles's heads bare their teeth. "Come to defend your portal, invaders?""Then come in and stop us...""If you have infected enough bodies for it!"
With that he turns and plunges into the vegetation around the pool.
Nissa finally says, “Yes. It’s what we do.”
"Except it's not what we do," mutters 80's Greer, half-asleep, stoned on some military grade pain reliever Hector administered. "Oh, no, not TAROT. We just share information and make treaties. 'TAROT can't be the multiverse's police force'," he says the last part in a voice that sounds high-pitched and b$&#&y and only a very little bit like the Marshall's. "No, we just stand by and watch as icky demons invade each other's dimensions in giant sentient phallic symbols. We're not here to save you from the transdimensional body snatchers or the Thing or whatever it is inside those people at the camp. We're here by accident. We could be so much more ..."
Hector gives him with a second dose and he dozes off without finishing his rant. Hector examines the packaging for the pain reliever: "Hmmm. Brutal honesty is listed as one of the side effects."
"Are you sure we can't go to the stable and see the horses?" asks Genius of Nissa. "I want to see their other robot."
"Other robot?" sniffs Hector, obviously offended. "Miss, I am an android. Gygax is a robot. You're lucky I'm not easily offended."
“Not unsupervised,” she says. “Zellgato entrusted me to keep you safe.
“And I wanna see the robot too.”
She would also like another adult to come with.
Nissa finally says, “Yes. It’s what we do.”
"Except it's not what we do," mutters 80's Greer, half-asleep, stoned on some military grade pain reliever Hector administered. "Oh, no, not TAROT. We just share information and make treaties. 'TAROT can't be the multiverse's police force'," he says the last part in a voice that sounds high-pitched and b+$~~y and only a very little bit like the Marshall's. "No, we just stand by and watch as icky demons invade each other's dimensions in giant sentient phallic symbols. We're not here to save you from the transdimensional body snatchers or the Thing or whatever it is inside those people at the camp. We're here by accident. We could be so much more ..."
Hector gives him with a second dose and he dozes off without finishing his rant. Hector examines the packaging for the pain reliever: "Hmmm. Brutal honesty is listed as one of the side effects."
Nissa replies to Greer, “Oh believe me, I was brutally honest myself with the Marshall when some stupid trial-by-combat almost resulted in an Atlantean Prince getting away with murder.
“It was one technically after another, and I couldn’t just split an atom in his brain when he fake-surrendered or my girlfriend would’ve been forced to fire me. But it’s not just TAROT. We don’t gotta go off-world to search for bureaucracy. Take the Moron Twins as an example—killed nine people at least and served a 137-year sentence virtually. How is that even a punishment? It’s like being immortal for a century! You can’t expect redemption when you reward bad behavior!
“Cherish your second millennium if we can make its last decade demon-free.”
Nissa realizes that Hector knocked Greer out. “Oh Hector, sometimes brutal honesty is the side-effect our sick multiverse needs!”
The Olympian unsheaths The Angel Sword with a flourish.
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 5
The Olympian unsheaths The Angel Sword with a flourish.
[dice=Intimidate]1d20 + 8
Theo might notice that Charles has gone back inside the building and hidden. Does Theo do the same?
Nissa replies to Greer, “Oh believe me, I was brutally honest myself with the Marshall when some stupid trial-by-combat almost resulted in an Atlantean Prince getting away with murder.
“It was one technically after another, and I couldn’t just split an atom in his brain when he fake-surrendered or my girlfriend would’ve been forced to fire me. But it’s not just TAROT. We don’t gotta go off-world to search for bureaucracy. Take the Moron Twins as an example—killed nine people at least and served a 137-year sentence virtually. How is that even a punishment? It’s like being immortal for a century! You can’t expect redemption when you reward bad behavior!
“Cherish your second millennium if we can make its last decade demon-free.”
Nissa realizes that Hector knocked Greer out. “Oh Hector, sometimes brutal honesty is the side-effect our sick multiverse needs!”
"Brutal honesty is my default setting, but I was getting tired of listening to him," replies Hector.
"It sounds like you're frustrated with bureaucracy," says one of Genius' dads. "We get it. That's why we chose the caravan life."
"Well, that and we're broke," replies her other dad.
"Don't beat yourself up. Hector and I were both in the military," says PaliDad John. "We learned on Mars that you can't save everyone."
"Heroes can," reply Jupiter Boy (Theo) and Genius in unison.
"Jinx," says Genius.
"That's the third jinx tonight!" comments Jupiter Boy with happy surprise.
"Tsk-tsk," says Genius's mom, shooting her a look.
None of the stuff you're throwing in is disappearing. The pool isn't working like the portals you can make with the Wand. While it's clearly a portal, it's of a different sort.
"Are you sure we can't go to the stable and see the horses?" asks Genius of Nissa. "I want to see their other robot."
"Other robot?" sniffs Hector, obviously offended. "Miss, I am an android. Gygax is a robot. You're lucky I'm not easily offended."
“Not unsupervised,” she says. “Zellgato entrusted me to keep you safe.
“And I wanna see the robot too.”
She would also like another adult to come with.
”I’m sure Hector’s security system will warn us if anything approaches. I can go with you to see the horses and the robot. Is it an old model or something newer? What is its primary function?”
”I’m sure Hector’s security system will warn us if anything approaches. I can go with you to see the horses and the robot. Is it an old model or something newer? What is its primary function?”
"I'll go. I've gotta check a few things anyhow," says John gathering up the kids and leading the way to the stable. "Gygax is a TROLL--Tactical Response Ordnance with Laser Locator. He's got turreted twin rocket launchers and 4 laser locating tentacles to paint targets."
John sounds proud, then sad, "He's from that first generation of AI military robots, but he's suffering some kind of cascade failure and we keep him in 'stand-by' mode most of the time. He only has two other functioning modes these days,'training' and 'lethal engagement,' and he switches between them without provocation. He's exactly the kind of AI the new laws are designed to shut down."
"Fascinating. I've never work with a first-generation unit. I have some experience with AI - probably not as much as you or Hector, but it would be interesting to see it in person."
The crowd outside the 'Pools of Ascension' building hesitates when it sees Theo, sword drawn, looking fairly intimidating, but, then they remember, they aren't alone, they have 19 other loyal followers and Gaia on their side. What's one man with a sword going to do against 20 of them and the Earth Mother?
Zellgato and Charles, inside the compound, hear the crowd go silent as Theo draws his sword and then hears them shout as they raise their weapons.
"Fascinating. I've never work with a first-generation unit. I have some experience with AI - probably not as much as you or Hector, but it would be interesting to see it in person."
Jupiter Boy and Genius lead the way toward the stables. John walks with Nissa and Henri.
"Well, I wish I could wake him, but he's too dangerous the way he is. I'm still looking for some QRAM S/D chips to handle the backwash; unless I can find those he's liable to wake thinking he's in a firefight on Deimos."
Zellgato and Charles, inside the compound, hear the crowd go silent as Theo draws his sword and then hears them shout as they raise their weapons.
Theo back into the building, quickly closing the door behind him.
Fu<k.
A barrage of bullets hits the door, filling it with holes. Firing blindly into the 3D-printed metal-roofed shed, the Gaians miss Theo. Someone yells for them to stop and shouts that this shed you're in is a "sacred space."
Charles and Zellgato are near the pools, but Theo might not know because Charles is being moderately stealthy.
Hearing the sudden shreeding of the area, catching his attention. "Crud. Charles, Theo. heads up! what happened out there?" Drawing his weapn, while diving and staying low.
"Did everyone make it in? Where's Old Team?"
They take enough time getting ready that you have time to choose where you want to be in the building.
"You four, get in there! Okay, yeah, you too," shouts a voice.
A crack of sunlight shines in drowning out the blue-toned LED plant lights. Shadows break the pattern of the sunlight as five Gaians enter.
After closing the now-swiss cheese door, Theo shouts out into the facility. "We have guests!!!"
Charles tenses in his hiding place, waiting to pounce on the Gaians once he had a clear line to them.
Rolling to the other side of the pool, behind all the gunk he threw into it he calls out to Theo "Back up, let them come to us. Killin ground, go high, I'll follow up
Angling to be mostly hidden behind the pile, he aims his rifle towards the entry way to give Theo cover if they break entry early