Search Posts
Doc Newblossom pays little attention to Laboni, instead wondering aloud: "That turned out to be a fun little project. It's interesting to discover that transmodulating the quantum capacitor together with a cross-modulated tweak to the gravitometric disperser could boost the engines like that...but it was clearly just a short term effect. I wonder, is there a way it could be stabilized...?"
Seeing that Ratrod isn't going to catch up, Urfehrumah takes a shot at Nyizin.
"You're doin' it, Acoria!" The tiny raxilite bounces with excitement. (Sadly, bouncing doesn't really help their aim.)
Doc Newblossom tries again to pierce Ratrod's defenses, but still finds themself having difficulty adjusting to the speed and odd angles.
Urmferumah does another quick calculation--trying to predict how the chaingun will handle as they accelerate--and takes another shot at The Hedgehog.
"Nice flyin' Acoria!" With Yxov providing cover, Doc Newblossom continues to aim their chaingun at The Hedgehog. We've gotta make a dent sooner or later!
Doc Newblossom furrows their brow, does a quick calculation, and aims the chaingun at Ratrod again. "C'mon, Team Starfinder! We've got this!!"
"Nice piloting, Acoria! As the saying goes, keep your petal to the metal!" Doc Newblossom takes a shot but (like Simar's) it bounces off the Hedgehog's impressive armor.
"Alright, well...this is a race right? Let's see if we can squeeze a bit more speed out of this hunk of steel. "Hey! What if I added a solid rocket booster on the top? It could give a burst of early speed, and then drop off to lighten the load..."
"Wow. Velocity wasn't kidding. Their engines are miserable." Shaking their head, Urmfehrumah leaves Velocity's racer and returns to work on Laboni's. "I wonder what I can do with these weapons? Lemme see..."
Urmfehrumah comes over to take a look at Velocity's engines. "OK, let me see what I can do here...Oh yeah, I should be able to optimize this a bit for you, just a sec...Oh! This is a bit finicky, isn't it? "Carter, can you hold this hear? Oh and Mao, maybe hold that piece there? "Sorry, a little higher! Oh, hmmmm, Velocity, can you pass me that nanowrench?"
Good news! A great player I know, leinathan, is interested in joining us, and Cwethan has given'm the thumbs up. They'll post to Discussion soon!
Seeing Acoria pissing off Nyizin, Urmfehrumah comments, "Hmmmm. Now can we persuade Nyizin that you're on Ratrod's team? Or otherwise that they should be pissed at him? "I figure, if any of you persuasive types can get folks to start gunning for Ratrod...well, it couldn't hurt, right?" And with that, the cheery doctor gets back to nanowelding.
Doc Newblossom grins as Carter's mods bear fruit. "Hey, nice idea with that gravitometric disperser tweak. I've never read of anyone doing anything like that! Between you and me, we'll have this hunk of polymer as fast as the Hedgehog in no time...but it ain't there yet. "Carter, why don't you keep working on speed? I'll see if I can improve her armor next." The tiny raxilite's flower bobs up and down happily as they attempt to beef up the racer's defenses.
Hey Adam, I'm sorry to hear it, but I'm glad you're taking care of yourself. As Cwethan says, let us know if things change in the future...but in the meantime, take care!
Urmfehrumah looks at the pile of junk with interest. "Hmmmm. I can see why these quantum capacitors are in a junk pile; they seem to be dangerously out of phase...but perhaps if we transmodulate the quantum capacitor with tachyon-infused dihydrogen monoxide? If only I could find...” The tiny raxilite trails off as their Lifting Floret Activation Network start to dig through the pile of junk, excitedly. After they've done as much to improve the racer's speed as possible, they wander over to take a look at Ratrod's rig. Just what has he done?
Simar...Simar...Oh! Urmfehrumah lights up when they realize who their new comrade is. "You're part fo the Simar Communion, yes? I'm Doctor Urmfehrumah Newblossom. Do you do any bioengineering? I'd be fascinated to discuss your cloning techniques." Then, turning to Carter, they add, "I'd love to see your designs. I haven't built much myself, yet, but I went through an accelerated sixty-three data crystal sequence of chemically-mediated engineering studies and I'd love to try it out." Back to Radaszam, "This is an interesting project. I'm quite happy to help out with it. Can you explain more about what we've got to work with, in terms of supplies and budget? And is there anything you can tell us about our competition?"
Doc Newblossom nods. "The Dealmaker it is."
"I believe so! For whoever it is you're becoming, at any rate. Ceren of course, died tragically today." Doc Newblossom flexes their petals briefly, in what approximates a wink among Raxilites.
Wise words!
Odd Ball quickly cuts in crinkly, wry tones, "Huh. Well. Good news. This fire won't have to look nearly as accidental if they're already on her. As long as we actually do save her neck, this really just makes her disappearance seem even more likely." Doc Newblossom's petals twitch slightly, in confusion. "You mean we'll make it seem that her assailants have killed her? For that to work, don't those pursuing her have to be dead, so that they can't tell a different version of the story?"
Nothing about these thugs rings a bell, based on the Cultural Studies data crystals Urmfehrumah has read...but it's clear to her that the thugs are armed with nice, new pulsecaster pistols. Those'll hurt, for sure...but at least they're more likely to stun than kill. Still, I'd rather not get shot by one. They pause to let a smoother talker reply to the thugs, but as they do, they step behind the massive Acoria and (out of sight of the thugs) slip a syringe between her scales. "That'll help you fly a bit faster, for almost a minute." Doc Newblossom also looks around (casually, they hope) for sources of cover, once the firefight inevitably breaks out.
Urmfehrumah sets to work cheerfully on the corpse, as one might approach putting together a difficult but engaging jigsaw puzzle.
All the talk of fertilizer makes Doc Newblossom start to salivate some digestive enzymes. "Mmmmmmmm, didn't your seed-parent ever tell you not to talk about fertilizer on an empty stomach?" The doctor happily agrees to the terms, and then heads to a hardpoint to log in, excited about the intellectual challenge of trying to find and edit records.
Doc Newblossom scratches their neck petals curiously, noting that Ceren"s Med-Grade Datajack likely indicated a fix for some kind of brain damage. Hmm, I don't recall reading any data crystals specifically about faking corpses...but what could I apply in a novel way?
"We're happy to help. Maybe we should come in with you and speak to your jida? I'm sure we can get everything straightened out."
Doc Newblossom smiles. "Hi Jubair. I'm Urmfehrumah. Something very valuable was stolen, and tracked to this residence. There are some very angry people who're on the trail of it. Fortunately for the person who took it, we can help protect them...if they're very honest with us right now."
Oh no! I will definitely hold them in my prayers. Take care of yourself, as best you can.
"I know my way around computers, but it sounds like we're going to need to find this hacker themself as well. That said--" Doc Newblossom turns to Odd Ball "--If we have a digital lead, I'm happy to start there."
Hmmmmm "OK, let's get going. How do we want to gain entry, to meet this hacker. Odd Ball, do you have their name? "This sounds fascinating--and I'm curious about the data myself--but it's not like anything I've ever done before. Have any of you done so? Do we trick them into letting us in? Do we engage in breaking and entering?"
The tiny doctor nods their flower in agreement. "No reason to keep Historia-7 waiting."
"Hmmmm. Grenades do seem fun, but..." Doc Newblossom looks over the heavy iridishell armor and scratches their head. "I'm not sure I could fit in that...and if I could, I suspect I couldn't hardly walk. No offense intended, but you don't by chance have anything lighter, do you?"
As the beast falls, Doc Newblossom hustles up to Alex, busily scanning them with their custom microlab. "What was that blue glow? Did you make it, or did the Stalker? Are you feeling OK?"
The tiny raxilite stays back, briefly, to collect some specimen samples from the Stalker. "I'll examine these later!" They say, stowing them in sterile capsules in their microlab, before rushing to catch up with their teammates. "It was fascinating! I suspect, working together, we could encounter all manner of interesting phenomena."
"Hey! What do ferns have to do with this?!? Feathered Stalkers aren't even plants!!" Urmfehrumah protests at Yxov's comment. They start to hustle closer to Alex, hoping to be able to help...and fire wildly as they hop toward them.
"Alex! Get back!!" Doc Newblossom squeaks, and then shoots another dart at the beautiful, deadly creature.
Watching the feather-harpoon-spasm, Doc Newblossom says "Woah. Fascinating! "Are you OK, Acoria?" They load in another minor neurotoxin dart, attempt to steady their tiny rifle, and shoot again.
"Eeeep!" Doc Newblossom slaps a toxicological inhibitor into their dart rifle and fires at the feathered stalker, but their nerves makes them pull the trigger early (while they're still aiming) and the needle bounces harmlessly off the wall. Then they duck behind the catwalk railing--right under Alex's legs--hoping to make any retaliatory shot as difficult as they can.
The tiny Doctor trails behind Mao, whispering, "Remember, it could be anywhere...but we know they're good climbers, so be sure to keep one eyestalk aimed at the sky."
With large, delighted eyes, Urmfehrumah exclaims "Oh, you're a battleflower! "I'm Doctor Newblossom and I've read an entire data crystal about your order. Triaxus is interesting to me in general--the way various species have adapted to your seasons is fascinating--but I confess that your order's affinity with flowers really shakes my stamen. "One of my siblings is even thinking of traveling to Triaxus to study the discipline themselves. After all, what could be better than a battleflower who's actually flowering?" Pausing, they add, "Of course, then it occurred to us that we're not quite sure how renunciation of outward expressions of gender is defined. Raxilites rarely have a gender (they just aren't part of our culture) but it's a bit hard for us to renounce outward expressions of sexuality--I mean, we have both female and male reproductive organs literally growing out of our heads." Doc Newblossom shakes their flowery reproductive organ, proudly. Seeming to just remember what they're up to, they add, "I'd love to discuss it more...but I suppose we'd best go deal with the feather stalker, eh?" Doc Newblossom walks in right behind Mao (having decided that she was safer to shelter behind, given that she doesn't tend to explode). They have their (adorably tiny) rifle in their hands, and are scanning the ceiling looking for the feather stalker.
"Ahhh...I didn't realize that dragons go supernova. "My epidermis gets quite itchy when exposed to extreme heat. And my neck-leaves burn rather easily as well. Maybe I'll just keep on walking behind." Doc Newblossom stands a healthy bit behind the (suprisingly explosive) dragon and bops along toward the warehouse.
Urmfehrumah's verdant eyes go wide as they realize they've bit off more than they'd bargained for, dodging under the various legs. Respirating rapidly, they ask "Yikes! Is shopping on Absalom Station always this...exciting?" They almost tumbles backward a second time at Acoria's booming question, but they nod eagerly. "If you don't mind, perhaps the next time we go shopping, I'll ride on your shoulder. "Or in you pocket."
Doc Newblossom says, "Let me see if I can get through the chaos." and starts to dart under larger people's legs, aiming for the front of the line.
"Hehehehehehe. I'll give it a try." Doc Newblossom channels the delight that comes from sudden progress on a new biohack, and then starts to scream, waiving their LFAN prosthetic vines excitedly in the air.
Doc Newblossom nods (their petals drooping slightly) when Yxov declines to sample their biohacks.
Immediately after Doc Newblossom starts to pepper the humans at their table with questions, they get up and walk off. ”Wait, why are you leaving? Do humans not like to talk during meals?” Doc Newblossom tries to think back through what they’ve read about humans, and whether perhaps they’re mixing them up with the pahtra or ysoki again. Sigh. Why are mammalian aliens so hard to keep track of? They’re just recording a note in their handheld to research humans more when another human comes and sits down across from them. "Hey, mind if I join you? Food's better when eaten with others." she says, repeating something she'd heard once while trying to ignore her growling stomach as a child. Urmferumah starts a bit but unfurls her neck-leaves, grateful for the company. They release a brush of pollen into the air as a greeting...and then remembers reading that humans shake hands instead of sharing pollen. They hold out their (3 cm long) hand, and shake it wildly in the air. ”Greetings. I am Doctor Urmfehrumah Newblossom. Who are you?” They consider asking their list of questions about what it’s like to be a member of a dioecious species...but decide perhaps dioecious species don’t like to discuss themselves over meals and instead, between bites, asks ”Where are you from? What brings you here?”
Urmfehrumah beams at Voxy’s glowing greeting. ”Thank you. I am sure there are many pleasures unique to non-flowering sentients as well, but I have to say that ever since I’ve flowered I’ve felt a fuzzy warmth in from my rootlets to my stamen. I’ve heard I’ll lose it when I go to seed, but my siblings who've already gone to seed assure me it comes back whenever they flower. “Tell me...what pleasures are unique to Shakaltas?”
Doc Newblossom happily accepts the implant. ”Woah. Eukaryotic! Of course I’ll take one. After my LFAN, this will only be my second implant...at least until I can start developing my own.” When paired up with Voxy, Acoria, Mao, and Carter, Doc Newblossom waves one of the prosthetic vines that sprout from their neck at each of them. The one Urmfehrumah knows least is Carter, but when he mentions engineering, she unfurls her collar-leaves in his direction. "Greetings, Human Carter. I've studied some engineering, but have had few practical opportunities so far. Perhaps we will have the chance to collaborate on some, in the near future?" As they discuss their talents, the Doctor puffs out proudly and explains, ”In my doctoral work, I dug my roots deepest into xenobiology and toxicology, but also branched out into a smattering of computer programming, cultural studies, engineering, medicine, and physical sciences. “I’m only just starting to feel comfortably with my rifle, but while I learn I hope to help others with medical care and an assortment of nanites and biohacks. You know…TO HELP MAKE YOU AWESOME!!!”
Doc Newblossom had only known the basics about Absalom Station, and was only OK at gathering info about local happenings...but their prosthetic vines quivered with excitement when they heard about the feather stalker. ”Great Berries of Benziyin-5! Of course I’ve studied the feathered stalker. They are beautiful, aren't they? I can see why someone illegally imported one...but they're tricky too. I’d keep an eyestalk to the sky, as they say, since they're excellent climbers. Fortunately for us, they need to rest for a second or two after the spasm that launches their harpoons, so you can at least be comforted that they'll be skewering us one at a time. "I hope we can keep some of it’s genetic material intact when we kill it. Oh, and I hope it doesn't kill us all. “Shall we go?”
I'll be back to Gameplay tomorrow, for reals!!
Whump! The tiny, onion-headed Raxilite tumbles backwards at the dragonkin's booming voice. After collecting themself and brushing themself off, the tiny plant-being say proudly, "I'm Doctor Urmfehrumah Newblossom, and I'm a Raxilite. We're a highly advanced botanical species from the planet Raxil. Who are you?" Turning to the Shakalta, they add, "Ooooh, you do have two names? The data crystal I read didn't make that clear and I was wondering. I'll confess, we Raxilites are actually one of the few non-photosynthetic botanical sentient lifeforms. It was a side effect of bioengineering ourselves to have our roots atrophy at the end our our Nursery Year. It means mature Raxilites can walk about...but it also means I have to eat food much like your dragon friend. Prior to that, we stayed rooted all our lives. "On the plus side...you can count on me not to eat you, eh? "Oh, and this is a custom microlab. My siblings and I hacked it together using parts of a chemalyzer and a medkit and a bunch of other useful nanites, pharmaceuticals, and catalysts. It's really handy for figuring out just what something is--that's what I was scanning for--but I can also use the pharmaceuticals and nanites in it to biohack people. Say, if you wanted to be able to move faster, or to have a temporary biochemically edge in completing some tricky task. "I've only tried it on carbon-based lifeforms so far, but in principal my nanites should be easy to adjust for a light-based lifeform. Shall we give it a try?"
More coming from me (today, I think/hope)!
OK, got out a good hunk of what I was wanting to explore! Some of writing Doc Newblossom is really slow, since there's so much worldbuilding involved at this stage...but it's really fun to put myself into their head. Looking forward to interacting!
Like most Raxilites, Urmfehrumah was sprouted directly into a bioengineered nursery/PhD program, and stayed rooted there until they reached maturity (at just over one Pact Standard year old). In their case, they’d chosen to dig their roots deep into xenobiology and toxicology, but also branched out into a smattering of computer programming, cultural studies, engineering, medicine, and physical sciences. By the time Urmferumah had reached maturity (their kinder-roots withering and falling off into the soil, their first flower blossoming on their head) they were a Doctor of Life Sciences and ready to leave the nursery for the first time...but had still met few people outside the Raxilites and Lashunta that had nursed and educated them. While waiting to hear if they’d been accepted into the Starfinders, Doc Newblossom had spent a bit of time visiting with xenobiologists in Qabarat on Castrovel, but this was their first time visiting Absolom station. Urmferumah arrived on a classic Raxilite ship (an organic starship that looks something like an enormous, space-faring crustacean bioengineered to survive in the vacuum of space and navigate the Drift). Stepping out of their ship, Doc Newblossom’s eyes go wide and blink rapidly. All around were massive aliens rushing back and forth. Urmfehrumah reflexively takes a step back into the hatch. Relax, Urmfehrumah. You’ve seen other giants before. You just spend three months with Lashunta on Castrovel. ...but there weren’t sooo maany, and they weren’t moving sooo faasst. Talking in a deep breath of CO2, they step out into the street, consult the map in their handheld, and find their way to the Starfinder agent training.
Walking down the hallway toward their first training, Doc Newblossom amuses themself by trying to identify each alien they passed. Not really noticing that they’re speaking aloud, they walk along saying ”Hmmm. Shirren...ysoki...human...human...lashunta...shirren...Oh! Why I think that’s a real dragonkin! Probably from Triaxus. And…” They paused to scan with their microlab (flashing an aquamarine light briefly over the alien. ”No way, a Shakatla! Fascinating!” Suddenly, the 16-inch tall sentient plant notices eyes turn to look at them. Doc Newblossom wears a bulging backpack and carries their tiny, custom microlab/chemalyzer. When they see the Shakatla look at them, they wave both a tiny hand and a whole network of prehensile vines. ”You’re the first being with an energy body I’ve met. Of course I’ve read about you--and how you manage to form one being out of two beings. What’s your name? Or names? Do you mind if I scan you a bit more?”
Yesterday, Doc Newblossom's academic mastery of biology, physics, chemistry, and cultural history had kept them in good stead. This morning though... ...They were drilling with small arms and rifles. They had to run, vault over obstacles, and attempt to avoid each others detection. None of the data crystals Urmfehrumah had read about those subjects prepared them for the reality of doing it. They felt, Surely if I can simply calculate the relevant vectors on both the x- and y-axis, with approximate corrections for the station's gravity, I'll have an advantage with this target practice...and then were confronted with just how wrong they were. Dabbing the sap from their brow, Doc Newblossom was clearly relieved when lunch break finally arrived. They grabbed a tray of replicated animal protein in their two tiny hands, while their LFAN (the network of bioengineered prehensile vines that are attached to their brainstem) pulled over a tall stool so that they could reach the edge of the table. Urmfehrumah settled at a table that had a couple humans at it. "Hey. I'm Doc Urmfehrumah Newblossom. Who're you?" As they ate, she continued, "You know, I've read so much about humans--and particularly loved Pfaeg Ducjikji's treatise Humans: More Than Mere Mushy Mammals. Have you read it? It made me feel almost as though I could view the world through human eyes. "Even so, I still have so many questions. Like, what is it like to be part of a dioecious species? Does having only one kind of reproductive organ make you feel incomplete in any way? Is that you keep your reproductive organs covered in public?"
|
