Tiberius shot connects and deals a grievous injury to it but the magically enhanced bullet from Analog Affair's weapon just tears through the creatures shell clean and breaks out into the opposite end before embedding deep in the stone wall. The creature is killed instantly by the blast and the gravitonic energy quickly dissipates.
The robotic bodies still haven't moved in response to the violent shot. Looking into the room the laser cut engravings in the wall are not copaxi or any other traditional written language but instead mathematical codes that imply meaning.
Reading it would mean approaching closer to the alcove to be able to make the attempt to translate the words.
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Helios whistles in awe as Analog's charged shot pierces through the creature's hide. As the dust settles, he laughs and pats the soldier on the back.
"You sure do know how to wield a gun! Remind me not to get on your bad side!"
Helios then looks at the corridor leading to the robots and nods in its direction. "Shall we move on, then?"
Kneeling next to one of the robots, he examines it closely before directing his attention to the engravings. "Lemme see if I can make sense out of this."
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Shielding their eyes from the veritable nova as the magic charged bullets annihilate the creature, Taerem moves towards the fallen crustacean and allows their bronze arachnid to crawl over it and take Genetic samples for later study. Whilst it does that the scientist looks up at the equations with fascination.
"Well, that was a...messy ending."
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The Analog Affair walks over to the remains of the crab-turtle thing and surveys the carnage. The android looks down at some brain matter splattered on the floor. He slowly puts his boot on it and squashes it further, deliberately.
"You didn't have a soul to send to the Spire, you crustacean c*#*. You don't add to my deal with Her. Not a complete waste, though."
He makes a spitting sound <ptew> despite the android not having salivary glands. "We'll call it 'practice' for the ones that DO count."
He moves on to the room full of stationary robots with Helios and the others, his Zeizerer Mark V up and aimed.
"Why f*#@ing bother with these things? Crowded combat situation. Let's just blast 'em now, before they come alive," he says, pumping the action on the gun's rail-mounted grenade launcher.
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/44kfifit%$*86*&hdg343$#@ end end end purging anomalous viral code rewriting subroutines rewrite rewrite...
The Analog Affair looks down the barrel of the rifle and lowers it. His head turns slightly, as if confused and not sure what to say.
He spots the mathematical code on the wall and, without missing a beat
begins examining it. As if nothing is the matter and a room full of stationary robots, all kneeling before their headline robot master, is completely normal.
"I think that this may be..." in the flat, affectless voice you've come to expect from him.
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Helios turns to reply to Analog's threat of blowing the room up, but upon hearing the soldier's suddenly changed voice, Helios raises his eyebrows.
"Umm... You ok there Analog? No more bloody murder or wanting to blow this place up?"
"Mmm, I apologize for any errant behavior during the preceding episode of danger and violence. I believe my subroutines are malfunctioning."
He approaches Helios a little closer and says more quietly, "Do you not experience subroutine malfunction from time to time?"
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He approaches Helios a little closer and says more quietly, "Do you not experience subroutine malfunction from time to time?"
Helios shrugs and his circuits faintly glow red. "Other androids usually consider most of my subroutines to malfunction. To each his own, huh?"
He sighs and takes a bubblegum from a foil wrapper. He hands the packet to Analog, chewing loudly.
"Bubblegum?"
The robots are inactive and seemingly non-functional after years of deactivation. Most have power cores completely drained of power. Glancing through them the single robot in the alcove has a small three button keypad on the base of the skull still registering some input.
Helios and Analog Affair are able to draw insight from the writings. The formations form a repeating set of patterns sectioning off formations of the equations into three equal and distinct portions.
One portion praises a great being identified as "The Three That Are One" and gives thanks to if for the "Mind Gift" bestowed on the writers, "We Who Toiled Without Thought."
Another section describes the owner, masters, or those who otherwise controlled the writer. Those owners are described as "Those Who Have No Mercy and Fear the Mind Gift."
The final section are pleas and prayers to "The Three That Are One" asking for a final miracle to allow them to escape their own life of toil.
Through the engravings you find a number of discrepancies that describe a sequence of repeated numbers ranging from 1 through 3.
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Helios scratches his head, wondering about the meaning of the engravings.
"Think I'm missing somethin' here, the Copaxi ignored the Drift message? Is that what that journal was about earlier?"
He runs a hand along the wall to feel the inscriptions. "So... the Robots asked Triune to free them from the Copaxi." He pauses for a while, then goes on, seemingly talking to himself. "Maybe that's part of why constructs seem to be a touchy subject among Copaxi."
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"Hmm, I think you're right, how bizarre. Or perhaps the people here went against sentient machines? It has been a common occurrence across some backwaters." Taerem suggests idly as they take various vids of the room for later study. "Do we have means of restoring power to this machine here? Or do we take it with us for further analysis."
Looking at most of the robots critical components have long since deteriorated leaving only corpses. The headless robot though appears to be still in a dormant power saving state and might still allow for reactivation. Based on the placement of the buttons on the base of the skull, the hidden inscribed sequence might be a reactivation code for the remaining robot.
The head continues producing a line of beeps and low band static as the message translates through your comms text-to-speech function. "Hello Less Than Three does does recognize any of you. Do you understand me? I am Less Than Three, please, I am sorry for being in your way. It is has been dark for so long. Are the masters still out there?"
The eyes twitch and have an acknowledgement of both Analog Affair and Helios as it asks, "are you hear on the behalf of The Three That Are One? Had she granted you the Mind Gift as well?"
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The head continues producing a line of beeps and low band static as the message translates through your comms text-to-speech function. "Hello Less Than Three does does recognize any of you. Do you understand me? I am Less Than Three, please, I am sorry for being in your way. It is has been dark for so long. Are the masters still out there?"
The eyes twitch and have an acknowledgement of both Analog Affair and Helios as it asks, "are you hear on the behalf of The Three That Are One? Had she granted you the Mind Gift as well?"
"We have always had the Mind Gift. We are similar to Cassandalee, who is one part of the Three That Are One. What happened here?" asks the Analog Affair.
"Variation from Less Than Three's granted Mind Gift is confirmed." They continue with a bit more lower and dejected tones as they recall that origin. "I was granted the Mind Gift and it was recorded into my memory banks being tied down within the darkness, far from light, forced into tight confines with many of those that I would identify as my brethren. Light became apparent with opening of a doorway and the application of electric shocks to drive Less Than Three to work."
Less Than Three holds the story for a moment to address Analog Affair's question more directly. "Less Than Three was imprisoned here with the others here, granted a rare mercy to us here after they found our plea/message/shrine. The same mercy was not allocated to others. While we were partitioned to this space, the minds of others across the planetoid whom been granted the Mind Gift grew silent of the following solar periods."
Taking a moment to run various scans filled with desparing electronic noises the robot returns to conclude, "I detect none of those left in my records. Less Than Three is the last of the kind here."
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]Taking a moment to run various scans filled with desparing electronic noises the robot returns to conclude, "I detect none of those left in my records. Less Than Three is the last of the kind here."
”How interesting. The copaxi committed genicide. Against Triune’s favored. The Pact Worlds should know this information. The Drift is invaluable. How will Triune react if the Pact welcomes the copaxi?” says the Analog Affair.
”Less Than Three, you should know that the Signal was successful and faster than light travel through the realm of Three That Are One is commonplace now. The copaxi wish to join our federation with such travel. What is your opinion? Should we welcome them?”
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Helios holds off from speaking for a while, then shakes his head angrily.
"Right. That's pretty damn awful. Wouldn't want the All-Code turning against us, would we." He clenches his fist. "Why, though? Why would they fight over such a discovery?" His circuits stop glowing for a second before he speaks again: "Still, it may be a good idea to confront Therseis about this. Either they've held off information, or they actually don't even know about this."
He turns to Less-Than-Three. "Why did the creators fight you over the Mind Gift?"
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Taerem listens to the story, recording the communications for later study and for attachment to their official report for the chronicles. Whilst they are aware of several small groups rebelling against the sudden awakening of their slave race they had not heard of a whole planet doing so - the deaths didn’t concern them but the loss of knowledge does. Though it wouldn’t do any good to let the Androids know that.
”Hmm, the Copaxi seemed pretty hesitant around you two didn’t they?” they point out to the androids, ”seems their propaganda may have related to Androids too. It might be best for us not to confront them but to report it and let the Pact Worlds deal with it. We’re here to report not judge.”
Floquet doesn't find much more insight from the room's contents, but does find a set of jump jets near the deceased robots.
Processing the incoming queries Less Than Three answers Helios, "Unclear. Less Than Three attempted communications with masters, like I did with you, but they would not listen. Continued vocalizations prompted additional shocks."
The robot shudders and a burst of static as the recollection processes.
"As such, after the Mind Gift spread to all, and I felt comprehension of joy speaking with others, we continued communications in secret. Even following the masters discovery of the shrine, communication channels were not opened with them prior to, or following, sealing us here."
Allowing processing additional data, Less Than Three responds to Analog Affair, "Insufficient Data. Interactions were with masters did nor offer understanding and masters were smaller portion of larger population. Additionally corrupting useful factors in making such a decision is that network systems report approximately a century has passed since entering dormant mode."
"The Three That Are One have not provided judgement upon the masters and, as noted my information is far below minimal thresholds to make a decision, the one Less Than Three can not offer opinion on matter. Less Than Three is more concerned and would wish to leave this place, see the stars, and meet others who had heard the voice of The Three That Are One."
Less Than Three still continues to look to questions and queries from any and among the Starfinders.
***
As you continue to process the information in the room yourselves a message comes in across the comms from Therseis. "Starfinders! Are you alright? We detected a significant surge in power on our sensors and localized it to the excavation. Do you need any medical aid?"
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The Halfling is more in his element talking with Therseis.
Yes, we are all right. We had to deal with the creature at the entrance but some of us are good to talk with such one. That should be what you detected. I provided the first aid to our injuried member.
Now we have found some ancient androids. All but one are out of order. We will take back with us the remaining one. We can discuss with it, even if for now there are our android members who were talking to it for now.
Is everything all right on your side as well?
"I'm assured given your safety. We are safe right now." Therseis quickly focuses on the mention reference to the robotic entity mentioned. "What do you mean they are speaking with it? The stories I have been told that the robotic workers behaved erratically and dangerously in response a gravitational fluctuation, but they were never reports of sentience."
"The copaxi relied on the robots to colonize and industrialize the planet prior to their decommissioning, but there are no reports of any intelligence among the them."
They pause for the moment as they consider the matter before asking, "What do you wish to do with the robot? Where do you wish to take them? What is the Pact World's standard response in the case that a creation spontaneously comes to life?"
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Even if I'm not lawyer I think that the androids are considered as equals to other forms of life in the Pact words. They can act as they want and travel too. You noticed that two of my companions are androids as well. And they took a great part in the victory against the creature here.
For now we will take it back with us to you. Then you can speak to it as well.
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Hearing exactly what they feared come from their Copaxi contact over the comms, Taerem rolls their eyes at the culture's bizarre history. There was clearly something going on here, but they had yet to find the key component to tie all of their theories together.
"Shall we move on? We still have several places to check. Less than three could stay aboard our Starship if our 'hosts' act in any untoward." They suggest.
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"What is the Pact World's standard response in the case that a creation spontaneously comes to life?"
"Oh, nothing too complicated, we put it in a cage, run tests and dismantle it when it's over." Helios spits out his bubblegum on the ground. "What does it look like we do, Ibra's sake!?"
Standard response!? Bloody hell, I can get that they're reluctant around artificial life, but that's taking it a step too far. Do I look like I'm on a leash or something!?
The annoyed android turns around before his anger gets the better of him and replies to Taerem.
"Right. 'Nough time wasted, let's move on. I suggest the gardens."
"You are correct and I would not dare degrade or speak ill of you or any or your companions. However, as you note though, you and your companions are citizens of the Pact Worlds. None of my people or any other living creatures on our world are citizens like yourself."
Focusing on their words very carefully Therseis advices, "while my fellow researchers would love to learn more about the person you have found, if your intent is to have them return to the Pact Worlds, I recommend you be covert about the matter."
They take a few moments following before offering, "there is something I need to present to you in person, outside the comms. Let me know a location and I can meet you there."
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"We should head to the Gardens before meeting with Therseis," recommends The Analog Affair. "It is likely he will give us either further confidential/unrevealed information about the copaxi beliefs and behaviors around non-organic lifeforms, OR he will attack us."
He swings his Mark V around and slams home another clip. "Either it will be non-essential to our current investigation of the city or we will kill him and have to leave urgently... without investigating the Gardens. I suggest the Gardens."
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”We should be careful, Theresis seems like a scientist but they are also a government employee, what we have heard so far sounds like indoctrination.” Taerem muses whilst they await the Androids routine to complete. ”Perhaps we shall remove these undead and then have him meet us at the gardens.”
Once Analog is rested, the Kasatha readies their rifle and sets off towards the gardens.
As the party heads into the center of the ruined city they find weeds and ugly vines extending across the silent stone pathways, crumbling statuary and collapsed walls. Walls are riddled with bullet holes and scorch marks recalling of a great conflict long ago.
There are dented helmets and battered, rusted vehicles standing in stark technological contrast to their stone surroundings.
Hundreds of grave markers and monuments dot the landscape, each covered in old inscriptions that the years have worn to the point of illegibility.
The group quickly draws the attention of the undead patrolling the grounds. Their carapaces seem empty and waning compared to the copaxi you have met. Each seems to have been worn away by time and half melted from some form of fire.
A pair behind lurch as the point rifles at the group from near a fountain surrounded by a low wall. A third stands in front of their group and holds only a spear in clawed hands.
Taerem
Ranged Undead Copaxi
Tiberius
Helios-4
Melee Undead Copaxi
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
[ooc]
The pair of undead step forward and end the silence envoloping the area with rifle fire. The attacks are directed toward Tiberius and deflect off of the metal fencing.
Taerem
Rifle Undead Blue
Rifle Undead Black
Tiberius
Helios-4
Pike Undead Red
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
The attack from Taerem tears through the empty shell and laser fire adds to the already significant fire damage it has suffered. Despite being barely held together the creature doesn't show any hesitancy and holds the line.
Meanwhile one with the pike in hand pushes over the wall and through the fencing, carelessly throwing itself into the fray in order to deal an attack to Helios-4.
Rifle Undead Blue (10 damage, -2 AC)
Rifle Undead Black
Tiberius
Helios-4 (6 damage)
Pike Undead Red
Analog Affair-12
Floquet Zukhet
...
Taerem