Chapter 13
- Location
- Somewhere in South America
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hey fellas, just wanted to ask a question before today's chapter: how do you deal with trying to emulate handwriting's text imperfections. For example, making an "O" look like an "A" even if the lowercase of said letters don't look similar on an electronic apparatus? Or making an "r" look like an "n". I know I did it somewhat poorly on the prior chapter, and this is an issue I want some feedback towards so I can address it in the future.
On another note, beginning today, Eliksni speech will follow the little that we know of it's grammar rules. I am not one for learning a new language, but I'll try my best. Quotations will also be changed from these-> (**) to these (<<>>)
………………..
RECYCLE/REUSE PART 2
I don't think my legs will ever forgive me for that.
And quite frankly, rubbing my legs does not ease the pain.
Sitting in a corner of the… mainframe room, I think it was, was never very interesting. I mean, it's a pretty big room with a small bridge leading over. If I'm being perfectly honest I'm not quite sure what I'm waiting for, really.
I look back down at my swollen feet.
Yeah, it was probably that. Turns out jumping off cliffs repeatedly is not a smart move. But then again, what was I meant to do half of the time? Jump while I was barely getting the hang of walking, and possibly fall into the shining blue pit of doom? No thanks. As I said before, I'd rather live beaten and bruied than exist as an undead carcass that was bloated and bleached.
"After rigorous checking, I have confirmed that in fact, this frame is devoid of any pre-existing personality. The battery and powering are empty, though."
"Anny way to fixx it?" I attempt to massage my feet, though I stop shortly afterwards. Turns out the long nails are not that good for massaging swolen tissue.
"It's integrity is passable, friendly Dreg! Though it might as well be broken."
"Whhy iss that?" I ask, leaning on the wall to attempt to meditate the foot pain away, though my attempts fail as my mind drifts on something that I keep finding grating about this new voice: I'm going to fix that voice croak one day. Or at least I hope. The Spider did it, so why couldn't I?
"The radioactive powering fluid got flushed out through several of the cracks present in the frame and the tubing itself, friendly dreg! If you're going to find a replacement, don't submerge it in the water! Exo powering fluid is easy to dilute in water, gallium, mercury, and other room temperature liquids! How did you even manage to get the insides soaked anyhow? These are meant to be waterproof."
"No cclue." This really sucked. It reminds me of my terrible luck with waterproofing and anything. Water-proof camera? Drenched. Water-proof pouch to carry the electronics while you're swimming? Oh, I thought it was meant to capture water instead! This trend better dies out before it ends with me even more irradiated than I already was.
"Do you possess any leads on where to find a replacement? That is not my insides. Trust me when I say the rest of the Fallen have taken it all." I believe that's a lie, but I can understand the purpose behind it so I'm not going to pressure that.
"…As a mmatter of ffact. I ddo! "
"It's on Earth, isn't it."
"Unfortunately, yyou are correctt." That was kind of the whole point. I already told the bipolar artificial intelligence I wasn't going back to the so-called 'Disposal facility' and I'm pretty sure there is little reasons for exos to exist on Mars.
"Did you know that… 100% of the distress calls produced during the past day all originated on earth? To further this point, nearly all of them had as a main theme that of a Cabal invasion. Knowing this information, are you still willing to head into the Earth?"
"I once hheard that sstupidity and bravery are vvery similarr. I accede." After all, that was the whole point. I was going to hopefully make use of one of the Exo bodies to hopefully find a replacement for the damaged parts.
I ignore the connections with grave robbing and attempt to internally reason it as nothing more and nothing less than an 'organ donation'.
"You do you."
And just like that, I was faced with the prospect of going all the way back to the ship and trying to do so before it was scavenged for pieces. I just hope that there will be one day when my legs feel no pain, and walking and running is the only thing they are forced to deal with. Not dealing with my constant mess of jumping down cliffs. Or tall buildings.
In fact, if I could do without jumping or having to face down hostile aliens and eldrich forces I'd enjoy that very much.
Wincing as I stand up, using the wall for support, I reckon this is a moment to make a small request to avoid more ear-ringing in the future, if one may.
"Iff I come bacck, could you not send out an "Intruder Alertt", pplease? I wouldd nott be content withh you bblowing your rest off the inhabitantss… if you may."
"The problem has been addressed, Friendly Dreg!"
"Andd hhow is that?"
"You've been signed in as a visitor, Friendly Dreg!"
Not even a crewmate?
As long as alarms don't drum me into silence, I'm fine with that but it does make me slightly upset.
The ether flow runs out once again as I take on last breath, leaning on the corridor leading back to the exit.
"Is ttherre anyone bback by your entrance…?"
"My sensors detect no-one, friendly dreg!"
I attempted to flavour the last of the sickeningly sweet gas. I knew about the cloaking tech the eliksni had and still have. I'm unsure if Failsafe knew, but she probably did. She does monitor everything.
I hope.
And a one.
And two.
And a… run.
It's unlikely that the other Fallen didn't see me land, and if they did, it's likely an ambush was in wait. Or at least, that's how it seemed. The fact that no one popped out was probably the most jarring bit as I did my best not to trip down the staircase, and ran by the creek to the cliff-face.
And anyhow, the Captain that once held control over my food supply would probably want some payback for stealing one of the servitors under his protection. That, and running away with a pistol and a knife. I didn't need a whole course history to know that Drehks were worth less than dirt if I remembered correctly. So if I had made off with some supplies, that "less than dirt" quickly became a "less than shit". An active detriment upon all of those who had co-existed with me.
In short, returning to Nessus was going to bite me in the ass, sooner or later. "Enemy of my Enemy" be damned, eliminating a disgrace went first. Just like eliminating a guy who's trying to accomplish a goal similar to yours is a priority over eliminating whatever is poisoning the water supply.
Soon enough, I managed to reach back into the Cliffside. So far, none of the Eliksni I had spotted so far seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. They're just going about their business, checking machines, talking with each other, drawing on the dirt when no Vandal was looking...
But what if they did?
What if they knew, and they just were not acting out of the ordinary because they had established something with Talas?
What if they saw me exit out of the core chamber, and they're just not notifying me because they don't give it importance at the moment?
Then they would point to me... and it would be curtains.
The end.
I'd get my arms removed and I'd be left to bleed out.
Other than anxiety doing most of the talking for me, in my brain (do I have a brain anymore? Failsafe did mention neural pruning, but what if Eliksni thought with their spines? I might never know, and I was unwilling to submit myself to a biopsy to find out) I was doing about as well as someone with sprained legs can be doing while climbing a nearly vertical rock and metal face, especially without trying to be seen.
In which this case it meant attempting to speed-climb without a standardised wall to do so.
Climbing... it used to be one of the things I practised before I ended up back here. I preferred bouldering over the wall...
It used to be around this point, half-height, where I would usually get a thrill by looking back down at how small everyone else looked.
This time, however, I just focus on finding the next hand-hold to stretch out upon. My feet and back already hurt enough from just the run over here, and there's no belay to carry me down to safety if I slipped. So I just focus on reaching the top.
Eventually, I managed to do so. I simply roll over, never having had the chance to actually climb an actual cliff face before I ended up in this thing.
The valley really looks small from up here. I can't even see the direction which those below me are facing. From up here, it simply looks like some odd render of little copper figures and little brown figures shooting each other out as the Vex attempted to create a conflux.
I may not like the Fallen, but I disliked the Vex more. I bid them luck before I began my short walk back to the ship.
While I had landed it close, I planned this entire thing to be an in and out deal. Checking the PDA as I walked over to the White Ship once more. Having linked the two apparatuses on my way here, I trigger the Door-opening sequence.
Like always, It's taller than me. I grimace as I hop to grab ahold of the open hatch, but the feeling of displeasure is shortly replaced by relief as I lay on the floor of the large, empty, cargo room.
I felt safe. In very brief moments, I was surely going to be free of this entire mess, at least, until I needed to return here to deliver the spare Exo parts.
I enjoy the smooth coldness of the ship's floor for a moment longer before I stood up to get to the cockpit once more
Door closing behind me, I recline on the pilot's seat, accommodating it somewhat to adjust for my seating, I look for…
Right, if I hadn't placed it on the seat, then it must have fallen to the floor? Or maybe it was on the shelf? I know I never had the best memory but...
Or at least, it should be there, I don't know. Things don't grow legs and walk away but sometimes, that's how-
<<Are you looking for this?>> The voice interrupts my thoughts and I immediately know... I am not alone in this ship.
On another note, beginning today, Eliksni speech will follow the little that we know of it's grammar rules. I am not one for learning a new language, but I'll try my best. Quotations will also be changed from these-> (**) to these (<<>>)
RECYCLE/REUSE PART 2
I don't think my legs will ever forgive me for that.
And quite frankly, rubbing my legs does not ease the pain.
Sitting in a corner of the… mainframe room, I think it was, was never very interesting. I mean, it's a pretty big room with a small bridge leading over. If I'm being perfectly honest I'm not quite sure what I'm waiting for, really.
I look back down at my swollen feet.
Yeah, it was probably that. Turns out jumping off cliffs repeatedly is not a smart move. But then again, what was I meant to do half of the time? Jump while I was barely getting the hang of walking, and possibly fall into the shining blue pit of doom? No thanks. As I said before, I'd rather live beaten and bruied than exist as an undead carcass that was bloated and bleached.
"After rigorous checking, I have confirmed that in fact, this frame is devoid of any pre-existing personality. The battery and powering are empty, though."
"Anny way to fixx it?" I attempt to massage my feet, though I stop shortly afterwards. Turns out the long nails are not that good for massaging swolen tissue.
"It's integrity is passable, friendly Dreg! Though it might as well be broken."
"Whhy iss that?" I ask, leaning on the wall to attempt to meditate the foot pain away, though my attempts fail as my mind drifts on something that I keep finding grating about this new voice: I'm going to fix that voice croak one day. Or at least I hope. The Spider did it, so why couldn't I?
"The radioactive powering fluid got flushed out through several of the cracks present in the frame and the tubing itself, friendly dreg! If you're going to find a replacement, don't submerge it in the water! Exo powering fluid is easy to dilute in water, gallium, mercury, and other room temperature liquids! How did you even manage to get the insides soaked anyhow? These are meant to be waterproof."
"No cclue." This really sucked. It reminds me of my terrible luck with waterproofing and anything. Water-proof camera? Drenched. Water-proof pouch to carry the electronics while you're swimming? Oh, I thought it was meant to capture water instead! This trend better dies out before it ends with me even more irradiated than I already was.
"Do you possess any leads on where to find a replacement? That is not my insides. Trust me when I say the rest of the Fallen have taken it all." I believe that's a lie, but I can understand the purpose behind it so I'm not going to pressure that.
"…As a mmatter of ffact. I ddo! "
"It's on Earth, isn't it."
"Unfortunately, yyou are correctt." That was kind of the whole point. I already told the bipolar artificial intelligence I wasn't going back to the so-called 'Disposal facility' and I'm pretty sure there is little reasons for exos to exist on Mars.
"Did you know that… 100% of the distress calls produced during the past day all originated on earth? To further this point, nearly all of them had as a main theme that of a Cabal invasion. Knowing this information, are you still willing to head into the Earth?"
"I once hheard that sstupidity and bravery are vvery similarr. I accede." After all, that was the whole point. I was going to hopefully make use of one of the Exo bodies to hopefully find a replacement for the damaged parts.
I ignore the connections with grave robbing and attempt to internally reason it as nothing more and nothing less than an 'organ donation'.
"You do you."
And just like that, I was faced with the prospect of going all the way back to the ship and trying to do so before it was scavenged for pieces. I just hope that there will be one day when my legs feel no pain, and walking and running is the only thing they are forced to deal with. Not dealing with my constant mess of jumping down cliffs. Or tall buildings.
In fact, if I could do without jumping or having to face down hostile aliens and eldrich forces I'd enjoy that very much.
Wincing as I stand up, using the wall for support, I reckon this is a moment to make a small request to avoid more ear-ringing in the future, if one may.
"Iff I come bacck, could you not send out an "Intruder Alertt", pplease? I wouldd nott be content withh you bblowing your rest off the inhabitantss… if you may."
"The problem has been addressed, Friendly Dreg!"
"Andd hhow is that?"
"You've been signed in as a visitor, Friendly Dreg!"
Not even a crewmate?
As long as alarms don't drum me into silence, I'm fine with that but it does make me slightly upset.
The ether flow runs out once again as I take on last breath, leaning on the corridor leading back to the exit.
"Is ttherre anyone bback by your entrance…?"
"My sensors detect no-one, friendly dreg!"
I attempted to flavour the last of the sickeningly sweet gas. I knew about the cloaking tech the eliksni had and still have. I'm unsure if Failsafe knew, but she probably did. She does monitor everything.
I hope.
And a one.
And two.
And a… run.
It's unlikely that the other Fallen didn't see me land, and if they did, it's likely an ambush was in wait. Or at least, that's how it seemed. The fact that no one popped out was probably the most jarring bit as I did my best not to trip down the staircase, and ran by the creek to the cliff-face.
And anyhow, the Captain that once held control over my food supply would probably want some payback for stealing one of the servitors under his protection. That, and running away with a pistol and a knife. I didn't need a whole course history to know that Drehks were worth less than dirt if I remembered correctly. So if I had made off with some supplies, that "less than dirt" quickly became a "less than shit". An active detriment upon all of those who had co-existed with me.
In short, returning to Nessus was going to bite me in the ass, sooner or later. "Enemy of my Enemy" be damned, eliminating a disgrace went first. Just like eliminating a guy who's trying to accomplish a goal similar to yours is a priority over eliminating whatever is poisoning the water supply.
Soon enough, I managed to reach back into the Cliffside. So far, none of the Eliksni I had spotted so far seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. They're just going about their business, checking machines, talking with each other, drawing on the dirt when no Vandal was looking...
But what if they did?
What if they knew, and they just were not acting out of the ordinary because they had established something with Talas?
What if they saw me exit out of the core chamber, and they're just not notifying me because they don't give it importance at the moment?
Then they would point to me... and it would be curtains.
The end.
I'd get my arms removed and I'd be left to bleed out.
Other than anxiety doing most of the talking for me, in my brain (do I have a brain anymore? Failsafe did mention neural pruning, but what if Eliksni thought with their spines? I might never know, and I was unwilling to submit myself to a biopsy to find out) I was doing about as well as someone with sprained legs can be doing while climbing a nearly vertical rock and metal face, especially without trying to be seen.
In which this case it meant attempting to speed-climb without a standardised wall to do so.
Climbing... it used to be one of the things I practised before I ended up back here. I preferred bouldering over the wall...
It used to be around this point, half-height, where I would usually get a thrill by looking back down at how small everyone else looked.
This time, however, I just focus on finding the next hand-hold to stretch out upon. My feet and back already hurt enough from just the run over here, and there's no belay to carry me down to safety if I slipped. So I just focus on reaching the top.
Eventually, I managed to do so. I simply roll over, never having had the chance to actually climb an actual cliff face before I ended up in this thing.
The valley really looks small from up here. I can't even see the direction which those below me are facing. From up here, it simply looks like some odd render of little copper figures and little brown figures shooting each other out as the Vex attempted to create a conflux.
I may not like the Fallen, but I disliked the Vex more. I bid them luck before I began my short walk back to the ship.
While I had landed it close, I planned this entire thing to be an in and out deal. Checking the PDA as I walked over to the White Ship once more. Having linked the two apparatuses on my way here, I trigger the Door-opening sequence.
Like always, It's taller than me. I grimace as I hop to grab ahold of the open hatch, but the feeling of displeasure is shortly replaced by relief as I lay on the floor of the large, empty, cargo room.
I felt safe. In very brief moments, I was surely going to be free of this entire mess, at least, until I needed to return here to deliver the spare Exo parts.
I enjoy the smooth coldness of the ship's floor for a moment longer before I stood up to get to the cockpit once more
Door closing behind me, I recline on the pilot's seat, accommodating it somewhat to adjust for my seating, I look for…
Right, if I hadn't placed it on the seat, then it must have fallen to the floor? Or maybe it was on the shelf? I know I never had the best memory but...
Or at least, it should be there, I don't know. Things don't grow legs and walk away but sometimes, that's how-
<<Are you looking for this?>> The voice interrupts my thoughts and I immediately know... I am not alone in this ship.
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