“The war is over.”
"'The war is over'?" echoes Less Than Three. "A happy thought, I suppose?"
A soft, high-pitched whirr eeks out from his internal mechanisms as Less Than Three sits down and continues, "My first happy memory was talking to another of my kind, another robot. Soon, all of us robots could talk, but we did so in secret. We came to realize that our Mind Gift—that which gave us the ability to talk to one another--not just communicate--but to truly share thoughts with one another--our Mind Gift came from 'The Three That Are One'. We soon created a secret place to revere their new patron. We asked The Three That Are One to send someone to free us, so that we could see the universe, so that we could share our Mind Gift with others. But the masters discovered our shrine and sealed us away."
Another lamentful tone can be heard from the robot. "I, initially, thought it was a rare act of mercy. Yet, over the following weeks, we could sense the minds of thousands of our less fortunate kin, those who like us toiled across the planet, suddenly going silent."
Looking around at the remains of the other robots in which it was once tapped, the robot laments further, "I do not wish to remain here any longer. Am I free to go? If you were sent by The Three That Are One, will you be taking me with you?"
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D'vost listens to the story. He can't ignore the similarities between the story of the robot and shirens. Whenever he reads about the history of his people he feels the overwhelming fear.
He shares telepathically including the robot.
"I am part of shiren race, and as for you, the signal meant liberation for my people. And as for you, our former master didn't want to allow it. We fought and died for our freedom, that only later we were allowed to cherish. You are following the same path, you are free. You may go with us if you wish. " shares D'vost.
D'vost asks the robot:
"Can you tell us who lived in those flying cities?<click> And who built them?<click>" Wishing to hear the answer maybe before Therseis is there.
"The masters, one would assume, or some earlier iteration of them," replies the robot. "This unit's earliest memory is one of being tied down in a dark, cramped, jostling space with several robot brethren. Light appeared as a door opened. This was followed by pain, that of an electric shock steering this unit toward the work area. There, the work was never complete. Carving. Digging. Hauling. Then, more carving. Digging. Hauling. The process was endless. The blank faces of the masters were all we knew."
The robot pauses, then continues, "This unit attempted to speak--to communicate with the masters. But they would not listen. wouldn’t Talking led to only more shocks. We would have been made to mine every the entire floating island until we ceased to function. Would have, I suspect, had the masters not learned that we talked among ourselves--that we communicated to one another and to "The Three That Are One. Instead, the masters discovered our shrine here and shut us away within it."
Oddman walks towards the exit, until he’s within reach of Therseis. “We found a survivor of the ancient war. He is a mechanical being. Are you allowed to talk to him?”
"'Mechanical being'?" echoes Therseis, uncertainty evident within their voice. "'Talk to him'?" The copaxi slowly parrots again, this time with even more trepidation. "We... suppose that we would like to see this 'being' for ourselves."
The copaxi glances around, then asks in more quiet tones, "Where is it? Hidden away underground?"
"We had suspected that robots had been in use in these mines." notes Therseis as they follow Oddman through the tunnel. "We learned that the robots had behaved... erratically... after a gravitational fluctuation, warranting their decommissioning. Does this 'being' not have you concerned for your safety and for that of your fellow Starfinders?"
"To be honest Therseis, it is likely this is something that is or was covered up by higher officials than you are. Androids and SRO's are no more dangerous than you, or me. I am an undead after all. We did kill some of the restless-- and mindless--undead near that memorial."
"We believe we...understand... your position." Therseis replies. "There is, then, something that we must do."
Therseis retrieves the handheld comm unit that they had handled earlier out of sight of the other copaxis.
"Please, we ask that you would remain here for just a few moments." Therseis requests as the copaxi begins transmitting data through the comm unit. When they are finished, their blank face looks with anticipation behind them down the tunnel through which they had just come.
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Dov quietly notes to the others through telepathy; "It appears our friend Therseis has been learning Pact Worlds tech well enough to blend it with Copaxi tech. That comm unit is a custom blend of the two."
Though not drawing weapons like D'vost, he is still uneasy as to the copaxi guide's intentions...
From down the tunnel, in response to Therseis' call, a simple construct, cobbled together from a variety of technologies emerges.
"This is R.E.E.F.-- a Robotic Engineered Exoskeletal Form--of our own design," declares Therseis. "Such creations are quite...uncommon...on our world. Thus, we hid our construct out of concern that it may cause trouble, you the new information that you have provided has prompted concern that R.E.E.F. may be confiscated, if not destroyed."
Having seen the construct and the device that Therseis had manipulated out of sight of the other copaxi, you readily conclude that R.E.E.F. is a drone and that the device is a custom rig that Therseis has made.
"Concealing R.E.E.F.'s existence from the other members of our research team has provided a few moments of unease, though we have taken appropriate precautions and our efforts have been successful." notes the copaxi. "We are unsure how you would do the same, if you so wished, for the 'mechanical being' that you have uncovered."
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"Maybe we can find a way to get him back to our ship? I can let him have my armor, and you can bring him back in it...saying I need my coffin to be remade? You know the old Vampire trope?. You leave with my armor dismantled, telling them that I will just find you all as a ghost and rematerialize in my armor?.....nah....this sounds pretty far fetched. But maybe we can find some other way to get him back?"
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D'vost addresses Therseis
"What exactly is the <click> stand of copaxis towards robots and droids?<click>" asks shirren.
"I don't think copaxis<click> will want to take Less Than Three from us.<click> They might not like our decision <click>, but they should understand <click> how much our decision means to them<click>."
Says D'vost putting his rifle back on his shoulder.
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Dov's fuzzy eyebrows go up a bit at this turn in the conversation. "We may have the right to bear arms on Tabrid Minor, friend D'vost, but a confrontation with the local science team would be bad news bears for everyone involved. I'm not saying I'm necessarily smarter than the average bear...well...I am, but that's beside the point...but what I am saying is that perhaps the suggestion of subterfuge might be worth considering first?"
D'vost addresses Therseis
"What exactly is the <click> stand of copaxis towards robots and droids?<click>" asks shirren.
"I don't think copaxis<click> will want to take Less Than Three from us.<click> They might not like our decision <click>, but they should understand <click> how much our decision means to them<click>."
"Our people created robots to assist in the construction of great cities. However, a gravitational fluctuation scrambled the robots’ computers, and they recklessly began attacking copaxis and destroying property. Ongoing robotic research—particularly that approaching simulated intelligence—is strictly limited to use in controlled laboratories in order to minimize any destructive potential." Therseis replies.
"Our fellow researchers are sharp-eyed and would likely become alarmed if they were to see what they consider to be a dangerous robot wandering around. If the robot were to demonstrate intelligence, their alarm would like increase to demands to study the robot further." notes Therseis.
"< 3, we have to finish exploring. Do you want to wait for us here, or follow along?"
"Now that I have been reactivated and confirm that those of my kind left here are no longer...functional..." laments Less Than Three, "This unit would prefer to leave this area and follow the call to the stars given by the The Three Who Are One."
Glancing over at Therseis, the robot continues, "It would appear that the masters intent is to take any talking robot into custody--to perform experimentation upon such a unit or to destroy it--then this unit wishes to leave the planet entirely and as soon as possible."
Therseis glances back with their blank face. The copaxi does not refute the theory voiced by the robot.
The Starfinders are able to sneak Less Than Three aboard the ship without raising suspicion among any of the copaxi research team save for Therseis and they make a point of not interfering with your activities.
With this effort successful, you are free to continue exploring. Approaching the area of the observation tower, you see a small cluster of ruined buildings stands within a few hundred feet of the city’s edge. The only building with walls high enough to provide protection from the icy wind stands adjacent to precarious stone tower some forty feet tall. The building has no roof, and much of its walls have collapsed, revealing signs of a makeshift camp within.
The nearest copaxi approaches with an aggressive stance, but pauses about 30 feet away. They then place their arms out and palms forward, before slowing spinning in the manner of the copaxi greeting.
"You treat us with some respect." they call out from the ruins, "So we will listen to whatever you wealth hoarders may have to say. But know this, the claim is ours and we will fight--kill if necessary--to preserve what we've gathered with our own appendages!"
"But we being such generous-types, we'd be happy to let you look around here for a modest fee, say... 600 credits? For another 100 cred, we'd give you a tour of the place ourselves!" suggests the nearest copaxi as the other nods, blankly.
"Whoah! Whoah! Hold your mammals!" cries the copaxi scavenger, putting their appendages up in protest, as the formian and four-armed make threats. "Who said anything about 'demands'? We're were just looking to pocket a few creds so that our efforts getting up here and digging around can amount up to something."
"Look, you can all have the run of this place if you want. We were just hoping to find something that we could turn around and sell quickly. We're only looking to try and get by. The rich down there just keep getting richer and we poor colonies just keep getting poorer. The quick rise of those automated factories and the outpouring of new tech over these past few years has made it hard for us individual, hard-working colonies to make ends meet." declare the copaxi. "So, wander around if you'd like--us and the other colony will leave you well enough alone--but don't expect us to surrender everything we've found without at least some credits to show for our trouble."
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D'vost stands behind Mierwag with his rifle in his hand. He does not aim at anyone, nor is he speaking. Simply observing and trying to be ready.
he shares telepathically with his allies
"Should we ask them if they discovered anything interesting? Not form the income stand-point but rather any more signs of Triune and Signal leaving its mart here?"
"It sounds like you have it pretty bad down there. What would you say about a star ship ride off this planet? That, or if this world gets to become a protectorate of the Pact Worlds...it means you will likely have better ability to leave this planet."
"We suppose a chance at starting over off-world may not be such a bad idea." replies one of the copaxi. "Before stowing away on one of the research team’s recent supply runs to get here and have been gathering valuables and information we think might be worth something, we acquired these Pact World weapons--thanks to some, er...connections. We've been kind of eager to test them out. We can't imagine what other kinds of off-world tech can do to make life easier!"
"Let's investigate the ruins first."
A cursory investigation reveals that the observation tower once served as a place for copaxis to study their planet, the stars, the weather, and all manner of gravitational phenomena. The surrounding buildings collapsed long ago. The scavengers have set up camp in their ruins.
The tower itself is a hollowed-out shell, but the scavengers have collected everything of value and stored it at the base of the tower, where it is protected from the elements. Among the items is a sealed container with unusual markings on it.
The scavengers themselves do not have any tents, but there are a few sleeping pads, cooking supplies, and personal belongings stashed against the walls. Their belongings suggest that these scavengers are impoverished freebooters willing to take great personal risks to find items of value.