- Location
- Sweden
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Apologize and say that you were curious about Gregor because you recently lost your memory and discovered you were a parahuman.
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
Safe Mode (Worm)
- Thread starter UnwelcomeStorm
- Start date
Tithed_Verse
Vainglorious
- Location
- Iowa
- Pronouns
- They/Them
This sounds like a crossover with The Dark City....
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
I'm not familiar with that setting.
Tithed_Verse
Vainglorious
- Location
- Iowa
- Pronouns
- They/Them
It's a movie about a man who has psychic powers in a city that's running experiments on humans via aliens in an effort to awaken human's psychic potential so that the aliens can breed. To do so they're trying to study what makes humans individuals and how they feel forced into different life circumstances. Their memories are altered every night. For some reason your first couple of posts reminded me of it. Your later posts don't. Though still a little bit, really.
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- Location
- Boston
[X] I uh, was trying to find a way inside or maybe to the roof because going through the front door seemed like a bad idea and saying it out loud makes the whole 'breaking in' thing seem like an even worse idea but it also happened to be my only idea since the big guy seemed like he might know something about what's happening to me but he also doesn't seem to like me which is I guess fair but I just want to know whats happening and why and I figured even if I couldn't find anything out about that then maybe I could learn more about the bombs and help that way and the roof seemed like a better place to work on that than the street since I really didn't like the look those guys with guns gave me, well it was just the one guy actually but that's not important I just want to know what's going on.
>outing ourselves
No thanks, completely pointless and out of character. Let's not mention Armsmaster searching for us either, since that's also a strong indicator of us being a parahuman.
>outing ourselves
No thanks, completely pointless and out of character. Let's not mention Armsmaster searching for us either, since that's also a strong indicator of us being a parahuman.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Vote Results
The Stranger is not panicking.
The Stranger is willing to confess to having amnesia.
Inserted tally
The Stranger is not panicking.
The Stranger is willing to confess to having amnesia.
Inserted tally
Last edited:
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Chapter 6 Results
The Stranger is not panicking.
The Stranger is willing to confess to having amnesia.
7
Friday, April 15th
Midnight
"So. Perhaps you will explain what you are doing, sneaking around here?"
The stranger stared at his captors like a deer caught in headlights, just registering the question, for a little too long for the pause to be comfortable. "I-- I'm sorry, I was just... curious."
"So it would seem. Curious enough that questions did not suffice?"
"What? You had a conversation and everything? He didn't just follow you?" The smaller monstrous parahuman received a nod from the other, and scoffed. "And he still came creeping around? Who's this joker?"
The question was rhetorical, or at the very least not directed at him, but the stranger answered it anyway. "I don't know."
"Hm?"
"I said I d-don't know," the stranger insisted. "I just kinda woke up and-- and I don't know anything. Except for all this random crap I apparently do know, about computers and math and engineering. I can't remember my name or how I got here, I just..."
The stranger trailed off. The two parahumans were watching him, expressions inscrutable and skeptical respectively. "And that's why you followed Gregor?"
"He said... he said parahumans like him didn't have any memories either, so..." It kind of sounded dumb when he said it out loud like that. The dark-colored Case 53 still holding his neck gave the stranger a very obvious once-over. Maybe the monstrous capes did have to have something visibly weird about them. He tried not to squirm under the examination.
"You do not look as though your situation is similar to ours," the one called 'Gregor' said. "Tell me, do you have any tattoos or markings on your body?"
"I... haven't looked?"
"Uh... how long you been around, man? That you remember."
"Since last night."
There was a moment of silence between his captors. The smaller one shrugged and looked over at Gregor, who made a phlegmy-sounding hmm in his throat. "We will let Faultline decide what to do with you. Come."
The hand left his throat, only to grip the stranger's shoulder and turn him to follow Gregor into the service door. "Newter. Take him to the other VIP room and search him. I will inform Faultline that we have a visitor."
"On it. Play nice, new guy, or I'll have you over the rainbow before you can say 'boo.'" What was that supposed to mean? That didn't make any sense.
"I... don't understand."
"I basically sweat LSD," Newter chuckled behind him. Oh. That would explain the gloves, then. Now it made sense, in the same way that parahumans made no sense at all. Newter kept a hand on the stranger's shoulder and escorted him through a few hallways, never straying into anything that looked like a public area, until they came to a heavy-looking door. He opened it and gave the stranger a small push to move him inside. The stranger jumped when the door shut behind the Case 53.
"Alright. Dump your stuff on the table there and then I'll pat you down," Newter said with a gesture at the table in question. Now that the stranger got a better look at him, the parahuman was actually orange, with a lanky build and a long tail swishing behind him. He actually looked rather young, too, outside of the menacing half-light of the neon-lit alleyway. Regardless of how intimidating he was or not, the Stranger complied with his request, and set down his stolen laptop and small roll of cords on the desk. He followed it with the loose jumble of spare parts and electronics he'd managed to fit in his pockets, his lockpick, and well the charred remains of the bomb he'd picked up. Newter raised an eyebrow at the display, but didn't comment, and instead conducted a quick search of the stranger for concealed weapons.
It seemed like a long wait for Gregor and the mentioned Faultline to show up; the stranger was directed to sit on one of the room's two couches, under the watchful eyes of Newter. When they did show up, the three parahumans took up seats on the opposite couch, with Gregor and Newter flanking what must have been Faultline. The stranger couldn't tell at a glance if she was also a monstrous parahuman or not, as her costume wasn't anything like the New Wave bodysuits. Instead, she was wearing an eclectic collection of pieces of armor, a dress, and a welding helmet. Faultline's fingers were visible, though, and they seemed normal.
"Alright. You've got my attention. Start talking, and make it worth my time."
The stranger fumbled his way through an accounting of what he could remember. He kept the PRT out of it, in case she had sympathies to them, saying only that he'd woken up in 'a small room' and had panicked until he'd found an exit. He finished with his haphazard search for bomb cores leading him to Gregor, and then came the interrogation. He didn't know if he had any tattoos, his lack of need to sleep was the only obviously abnormal thing about him, he was pretty sure he was a Tinker, he didn't think his laptop had the processing power to demonstrate the data-miner he'd built but some spare parts could change that, and he did think he could disarm the bombs if he could get a good look at them. I can help with that, if you'll let me... actually, please let me, I don't want you getting us killed.
When he was finished, Faultline leaned back on the couch and tapped her foot a few times in thought. "Look-- I don't really appreciate you showing up on my doorstep out of the blue, but things are kind of a mess right now outside, as you can see. So I'll give you two options: you can stay here tonight, under watch, and we'll discuss your situation in the morning; or, you can leave. What's it gonna be?"
Staying here seemed like it offered a slightly better chance of not being blown up. Also, the dim possibility of requesting some much-needed supplies or even a meal. As long as it wasn't too small a room, the stranger thought he could manage. He agreed.
Newter and Faultline left after that, eventually to be replaced by someone called 'Spitfire:' a young woman in a gas mask who seemed rather surly about having been woken up for guard duty. Gregor stuck around long enough to ask the stranger if he needed anything, and the stranger requested some paper and pencils. And if there were any electronics or computer bits that the Palanquin capes didn't want, those would also be useful. The translucent-skinned man brought him a notebook with a single pen, a second laptop with a large crack in the screen, and—greatly appreciated by the stranger—a sandwich with a bottle of water. See, I told you it'd be fine! Now, take a nap so I can get to work, okay?
Spitfire wasn't interested in talking, and honestly neither was the stranger now that he had materials and the slightest measure of safety. He sat cross-legged with his back to the wall and examined his options.
It is Saturday, April 16, 2011
It is past midnight.
What now?
[ ]Write-in
The Stranger is not panicking.
The Stranger is willing to confess to having amnesia.
7
Friday, April 15th
Midnight
"So. Perhaps you will explain what you are doing, sneaking around here?"
The stranger stared at his captors like a deer caught in headlights, just registering the question, for a little too long for the pause to be comfortable. "I-- I'm sorry, I was just... curious."
"So it would seem. Curious enough that questions did not suffice?"
"What? You had a conversation and everything? He didn't just follow you?" The smaller monstrous parahuman received a nod from the other, and scoffed. "And he still came creeping around? Who's this joker?"
The question was rhetorical, or at the very least not directed at him, but the stranger answered it anyway. "I don't know."
"Hm?"
"I said I d-don't know," the stranger insisted. "I just kinda woke up and-- and I don't know anything. Except for all this random crap I apparently do know, about computers and math and engineering. I can't remember my name or how I got here, I just..."
The stranger trailed off. The two parahumans were watching him, expressions inscrutable and skeptical respectively. "And that's why you followed Gregor?"
"He said... he said parahumans like him didn't have any memories either, so..." It kind of sounded dumb when he said it out loud like that. The dark-colored Case 53 still holding his neck gave the stranger a very obvious once-over. Maybe the monstrous capes did have to have something visibly weird about them. He tried not to squirm under the examination.
"You do not look as though your situation is similar to ours," the one called 'Gregor' said. "Tell me, do you have any tattoos or markings on your body?"
"I... haven't looked?"
"Uh... how long you been around, man? That you remember."
"Since last night."
There was a moment of silence between his captors. The smaller one shrugged and looked over at Gregor, who made a phlegmy-sounding hmm in his throat. "We will let Faultline decide what to do with you. Come."
The hand left his throat, only to grip the stranger's shoulder and turn him to follow Gregor into the service door. "Newter. Take him to the other VIP room and search him. I will inform Faultline that we have a visitor."
"On it. Play nice, new guy, or I'll have you over the rainbow before you can say 'boo.'" What was that supposed to mean? That didn't make any sense.
"I... don't understand."
"I basically sweat LSD," Newter chuckled behind him. Oh. That would explain the gloves, then. Now it made sense, in the same way that parahumans made no sense at all. Newter kept a hand on the stranger's shoulder and escorted him through a few hallways, never straying into anything that looked like a public area, until they came to a heavy-looking door. He opened it and gave the stranger a small push to move him inside. The stranger jumped when the door shut behind the Case 53.
"Alright. Dump your stuff on the table there and then I'll pat you down," Newter said with a gesture at the table in question. Now that the stranger got a better look at him, the parahuman was actually orange, with a lanky build and a long tail swishing behind him. He actually looked rather young, too, outside of the menacing half-light of the neon-lit alleyway. Regardless of how intimidating he was or not, the Stranger complied with his request, and set down his stolen laptop and small roll of cords on the desk. He followed it with the loose jumble of spare parts and electronics he'd managed to fit in his pockets, his lockpick, and well the charred remains of the bomb he'd picked up. Newter raised an eyebrow at the display, but didn't comment, and instead conducted a quick search of the stranger for concealed weapons.
It seemed like a long wait for Gregor and the mentioned Faultline to show up; the stranger was directed to sit on one of the room's two couches, under the watchful eyes of Newter. When they did show up, the three parahumans took up seats on the opposite couch, with Gregor and Newter flanking what must have been Faultline. The stranger couldn't tell at a glance if she was also a monstrous parahuman or not, as her costume wasn't anything like the New Wave bodysuits. Instead, she was wearing an eclectic collection of pieces of armor, a dress, and a welding helmet. Faultline's fingers were visible, though, and they seemed normal.
"Alright. You've got my attention. Start talking, and make it worth my time."
The stranger fumbled his way through an accounting of what he could remember. He kept the PRT out of it, in case she had sympathies to them, saying only that he'd woken up in 'a small room' and had panicked until he'd found an exit. He finished with his haphazard search for bomb cores leading him to Gregor, and then came the interrogation. He didn't know if he had any tattoos, his lack of need to sleep was the only obviously abnormal thing about him, he was pretty sure he was a Tinker, he didn't think his laptop had the processing power to demonstrate the data-miner he'd built but some spare parts could change that, and he did think he could disarm the bombs if he could get a good look at them. I can help with that, if you'll let me... actually, please let me, I don't want you getting us killed.
When he was finished, Faultline leaned back on the couch and tapped her foot a few times in thought. "Look-- I don't really appreciate you showing up on my doorstep out of the blue, but things are kind of a mess right now outside, as you can see. So I'll give you two options: you can stay here tonight, under watch, and we'll discuss your situation in the morning; or, you can leave. What's it gonna be?"
Staying here seemed like it offered a slightly better chance of not being blown up. Also, the dim possibility of requesting some much-needed supplies or even a meal. As long as it wasn't too small a room, the stranger thought he could manage. He agreed.
Newter and Faultline left after that, eventually to be replaced by someone called 'Spitfire:' a young woman in a gas mask who seemed rather surly about having been woken up for guard duty. Gregor stuck around long enough to ask the stranger if he needed anything, and the stranger requested some paper and pencils. And if there were any electronics or computer bits that the Palanquin capes didn't want, those would also be useful. The translucent-skinned man brought him a notebook with a single pen, a second laptop with a large crack in the screen, and—greatly appreciated by the stranger—a sandwich with a bottle of water. See, I told you it'd be fine! Now, take a nap so I can get to work, okay?
Spitfire wasn't interested in talking, and honestly neither was the stranger now that he had materials and the slightest measure of safety. He sat cross-legged with his back to the wall and examined his options.
It is Saturday, April 16, 2011
It is past midnight.
What now?
[ ]Write-in
- Location
- ?
Well that went better than expected. I guess we might as well get to tinkering.
I imagine there were be cameras around, and disabling/avoiding them will probably be suspicious and/or rude. So no checking on our hero-spy virus' info.
Well that's interesting. The other personality also has access to the tinker power (or is actually the only one with the tinker power)? Does the "nap" mean that he takes over during "tinker fugues", or just during sleep?
Let's talk to the voice and ask it about itself and what we should do next. Maybe we could stretch our specialty's "bypassing concealment" into making some form of lie detector?
[X] Try mentally communicating with the voice in your head
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
I imagine there were be cameras around, and disabling/avoiding them will probably be suspicious and/or rude. So no checking on our hero-spy virus' info.
Well that's interesting. The other personality also has access to the tinker power (or is actually the only one with the tinker power)? Does the "nap" mean that he takes over during "tinker fugues", or just during sleep?
Let's talk to the voice and ask it about itself and what we should do next. Maybe we could stretch our specialty's "bypassing concealment" into making some form of lie detector?
[X] Try mentally communicating with the voice in your head
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
- Location
- Earth
[X] Take a few minutes to close your eyes and rest; it's been a long, eventful day, and it might be nice to be able to relax for a bit. That idea that popped in your head about a nap sounds good, no need to sleep be damned.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
The second voice doesn't sound like Armsmaster's personality, but definitely has more information that you do. Interesting.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
The second voice doesn't sound like Armsmaster's personality, but definitely has more information that you do. Interesting.
Last edited:
Silvereagle21
Soaring through the Sky
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Take a few minutes to close your eyes and rest; it's been a long, eventful day, and it might be nice to be able to relax for a bit. That idea that popped in your head about a nap sounds good, no need to sleep be damned.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
[X] Take a few minutes to close your eyes and rest; it's been a long, eventful day, and it might be nice to be able to relax for a bit. That idea that popped in your head about a nap sounds good, no need to sleep be damned.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Try mentally communicating with the voice in your head
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
- Location
- USA
[X] Try mentally communicating with the voice in your head
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
Ultramandalore
Errant Quester
- Location
- just south of Parts Unknown
[X] Take a few minutes to close your eyes and rest; it's been a long, eventful day, and it might be nice to be able to relax for a bit. That idea that popped in your head about a nap sounds good, no need to sleep be damned.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Try mentally communicating with the voice in your head
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
-[X] Try to avoid any verbal reactions; don't want to seem crazy to Spitfire or invite questions
-[X] Ask who it is and why it's there
-[X] Ask it what it thinks you should do next
-[X] If it seems friendly, ask for help in making a lie detector
- Location
- Over there
- Pronouns
- She/Them
[X] Take a few minutes to close your eyes and rest; it's been a long, eventful day, and it might be nice to be able to relax for a bit. That idea that popped in your head about a nap sounds good, no need to sleep be damned.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
-[X] Eat your sandwich first.
-[X] Plan your designs while you rest, so that you can implement them better after you're done with your breather.
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Vote Results
The Stranger feels like taking a nap...
The Stranger has become ill.
Inserted tally
The Stranger feels like taking a nap...
The Stranger has become ill.
Inserted tally
Last edited:
UnwelcomeStorm
BARK! BARK! BARK!
- Location
- United States
Chapter 7 Results
The stranger feels like taking a nap...
The stranger has become ill.
8
There was a lot vying for the stranger's attention, as he ate the meal provided for him and set up his workspace, such as it was. There was the obvious issue of the bombing, which was brought to the forefront every time a far-off shudder from another detonation somewhere in the city made itself known. There was the semi-immediate concern over exactly what sort of place he'd come to; the stranger still didn't know if Faultline and her (friends? employees?) group were aligned with the Protectorate, like New Wave was. The thought of that second hero group reminded him that he needed to retool his laptop and hope that the data-miner was finished. What he was even going to do with its results, he honestly didn't know, he'd mostly been concerned with finding a target for the virus to sharpen its teeth on. Circling his worries back to Faultline, the stranger wasn't sure what she'd meant about speaking more in the morning-- what more could she want to know that he could provide? And was it a good idea to provide it? Did he even have a choice in the matter?
It seemed like enough to make his hair turn gray, and that wasn't even touching on the biggest issue of the PRT.
The stranger sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Worrying wasn't going to keep him alive and out of a cell. Worrying and acting might. The stranger closed his eyes so he could stop looking at the mess of computer parts in front of him and the problems they represented. There wasn't much time to waste like this, but he needed a few minutes of calm silence. A few minutes to unwind and try and get his thoughts in order. Maybe make a list or someth
The stranger woke up.
It wasn't like rousing from sleep. No preamble, no fading dreams, just all of a sudden his eyes were open and he was there. 'There' happened to be Faultline's couch, where he was sitting with all his work spread out neatly on the low coffee table in front of him. The laptop was looking considerably more Frankenstein, having apparently been disassembled, then reassembled with at least half the contents of the broken laptop he'd been given by Gregor; the stranger could see it was held together with rubber bands in a few places, since the case had no chance of fitting over the computer's internals. There was a plate he didn't recognize sitting off to the side, away from all the electronics, as well as three empty water bottles. The notebook, blank the last time he'd looked at it, was filled with handwritten notes.
The stranger glanced up to the closed door and spotted Newter, but the teen was absorbed in his cell phone and hadn't noticed the stranger's confusion. He looked down at the notebook and felt a pit form in his stomach.
Hi there, pleased to meet you. I wish I could say it was under better circumstances, but to be honest, I'm not sure that would be possible. Even so, once everything calms down I hope we'll be able to get along. But, for that to happen things have to calm down first, so we'd better make the best of things, right? Right!
So, to start off, I have to apologize for butting in on your tinkering, especially when you're just getting started, but Bakuda's stunt is more important than courtesy. That's the Tinker responsible for the bombing, if you're unaware. She's a recent ABB recruit and she's very dangerous. Anyway, I went ahead and rebuilt that computer you're using and I'm quite proud of how it turned out, given the available materials. Since you left an executable to recall that data-miner I went ahead and did that, too, and the hardware's holding up just fine.
Oh, speaking of, that program? Very nice work. I poked around in it a bit (I didn't change anything, don't worry!) and while I'm pretty sure I could have done something similar, it would have taken me a whole lot longer to get it together. You've definitely got a knack for this.
Oh, and also speaking of, I went ahead and purged a lot of the info it brought back on New Wave. I left a summary if you really want to show it off, but they're good people and don't deserve to have their everything stolen. I'm sure it was just for practice, but please don't go after heroes, okay? There's more than enough villains and common criminals in the world.
On a more immediate note, I examined the bomb fragments you picked up, and took the opportunity to log in to my systems and get a copy of what the Protectorate has on them. (I covered my tracks pretty well, so they didn't manage a trace on me, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be at all happy with us right now. Sorry about that.) It wasn't as much as I'd like, but after mapping out where the bombs were going off and when, I think you're on the right track in regards to finding a detonator. Bakuda's targeted cell towers and transformers, which has knocked out a lot of the more modern forms of signals she could be using, but that didn't stop the bombs. In addition, each bomb's effect once detonated seems to be unique, there's reports of gravity distortions, acid, cryokinetic blasts, you name it-- so there's not a lot of extra options for having a different detonation triggers for each type! My money's on a radio frequency, it'd be easy to keep some relays hidden around the city and trivial to install in each bomb, and the bulk of the tinkertech involved is definitely in the esoteric effects, not the shell you provided.
I've left my notes and the data I accumulated on the computer for you. Good luck, and be good.
The stranger thought he was going to be sick. He'd-- he'd only closed his eyes for a moment! His eyes slid past the array of new documents on the computer's desktop, and located the clock in the lower-right corner. 3:26 PM?! Over twelve hours, gone—no, taken. By someone else. Someone else was capable of controlling his body. He felt faint.
A buzzing sound from across the room managed to draw his attention away from the notebook and the horror it contained. Newter was checking his phone, and as the stranger watched, he typed something into it before turning his attention on the stranger. "Hey, Faultline's gonna be here soon to talk to you, so I'd finish up whatever you're doing. You've had more than enough time, right?" Talk about what?
"U-um..."
"Sheesh, you look like somebody killed your dog, man. Lighten up a bit. You're a lot happier when you're doing your thing, huh?" Newter gestured at the depleted array of parts in front of the stranger, then turned his attention back to his phone.
It is Saturday, April 16th, 2011
It is Mid-Afternoon.
What now?
[ ]Write-in
The stranger feels like taking a nap...
The stranger has become ill.
8
There was a lot vying for the stranger's attention, as he ate the meal provided for him and set up his workspace, such as it was. There was the obvious issue of the bombing, which was brought to the forefront every time a far-off shudder from another detonation somewhere in the city made itself known. There was the semi-immediate concern over exactly what sort of place he'd come to; the stranger still didn't know if Faultline and her (friends? employees?) group were aligned with the Protectorate, like New Wave was. The thought of that second hero group reminded him that he needed to retool his laptop and hope that the data-miner was finished. What he was even going to do with its results, he honestly didn't know, he'd mostly been concerned with finding a target for the virus to sharpen its teeth on. Circling his worries back to Faultline, the stranger wasn't sure what she'd meant about speaking more in the morning-- what more could she want to know that he could provide? And was it a good idea to provide it? Did he even have a choice in the matter?
It seemed like enough to make his hair turn gray, and that wasn't even touching on the biggest issue of the PRT.
The stranger sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Worrying wasn't going to keep him alive and out of a cell. Worrying and acting might. The stranger closed his eyes so he could stop looking at the mess of computer parts in front of him and the problems they represented. There wasn't much time to waste like this, but he needed a few minutes of calm silence. A few minutes to unwind and try and get his thoughts in order. Maybe make a list or someth
The stranger woke up.
It wasn't like rousing from sleep. No preamble, no fading dreams, just all of a sudden his eyes were open and he was there. 'There' happened to be Faultline's couch, where he was sitting with all his work spread out neatly on the low coffee table in front of him. The laptop was looking considerably more Frankenstein, having apparently been disassembled, then reassembled with at least half the contents of the broken laptop he'd been given by Gregor; the stranger could see it was held together with rubber bands in a few places, since the case had no chance of fitting over the computer's internals. There was a plate he didn't recognize sitting off to the side, away from all the electronics, as well as three empty water bottles. The notebook, blank the last time he'd looked at it, was filled with handwritten notes.
The stranger glanced up to the closed door and spotted Newter, but the teen was absorbed in his cell phone and hadn't noticed the stranger's confusion. He looked down at the notebook and felt a pit form in his stomach.
Hi there, pleased to meet you. I wish I could say it was under better circumstances, but to be honest, I'm not sure that would be possible. Even so, once everything calms down I hope we'll be able to get along. But, for that to happen things have to calm down first, so we'd better make the best of things, right? Right!
So, to start off, I have to apologize for butting in on your tinkering, especially when you're just getting started, but Bakuda's stunt is more important than courtesy. That's the Tinker responsible for the bombing, if you're unaware. She's a recent ABB recruit and she's very dangerous. Anyway, I went ahead and rebuilt that computer you're using and I'm quite proud of how it turned out, given the available materials. Since you left an executable to recall that data-miner I went ahead and did that, too, and the hardware's holding up just fine.
Oh, speaking of, that program? Very nice work. I poked around in it a bit (I didn't change anything, don't worry!) and while I'm pretty sure I could have done something similar, it would have taken me a whole lot longer to get it together. You've definitely got a knack for this.
Oh, and also speaking of, I went ahead and purged a lot of the info it brought back on New Wave. I left a summary if you really want to show it off, but they're good people and don't deserve to have their everything stolen. I'm sure it was just for practice, but please don't go after heroes, okay? There's more than enough villains and common criminals in the world.
On a more immediate note, I examined the bomb fragments you picked up, and took the opportunity to log in to my systems and get a copy of what the Protectorate has on them. (I covered my tracks pretty well, so they didn't manage a trace on me, but I'm pretty sure they're not going to be at all happy with us right now. Sorry about that.) It wasn't as much as I'd like, but after mapping out where the bombs were going off and when, I think you're on the right track in regards to finding a detonator. Bakuda's targeted cell towers and transformers, which has knocked out a lot of the more modern forms of signals she could be using, but that didn't stop the bombs. In addition, each bomb's effect once detonated seems to be unique, there's reports of gravity distortions, acid, cryokinetic blasts, you name it-- so there's not a lot of extra options for having a different detonation triggers for each type! My money's on a radio frequency, it'd be easy to keep some relays hidden around the city and trivial to install in each bomb, and the bulk of the tinkertech involved is definitely in the esoteric effects, not the shell you provided.
I've left my notes and the data I accumulated on the computer for you. Good luck, and be good.
The stranger thought he was going to be sick. He'd-- he'd only closed his eyes for a moment! His eyes slid past the array of new documents on the computer's desktop, and located the clock in the lower-right corner. 3:26 PM?! Over twelve hours, gone—no, taken. By someone else. Someone else was capable of controlling his body. He felt faint.
A buzzing sound from across the room managed to draw his attention away from the notebook and the horror it contained. Newter was checking his phone, and as the stranger watched, he typed something into it before turning his attention on the stranger. "Hey, Faultline's gonna be here soon to talk to you, so I'd finish up whatever you're doing. You've had more than enough time, right?" Talk about what?
"U-um..."
"Sheesh, you look like somebody killed your dog, man. Lighten up a bit. You're a lot happier when you're doing your thing, huh?" Newter gestured at the depleted array of parts in front of the stranger, then turned his attention back to his phone.
It is Saturday, April 16th, 2011
It is Mid-Afternoon.
What now?
[ ]Write-in
- Location
- USA
...Well, at least the other personality seems nice.
[X] Look over the Tinkering the other personality did, and verify they were telling the truth in their message.
Is the other personality a member of the Protectorate? Why else would the Protectorate know they logged into their systems?
[X] Look over the Tinkering the other personality did, and verify they were telling the truth in their message.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Wow, implications.
My initial thought was that this is the original personality of this brain, and the person the PRT was so worried about keeping contained. Who somehow created another personality that apparently has a Tinker specialty they don't have (note how they couldn't have built that data-miner as quickly as we did). It kinda makes me think Trump/Tinker power? Or maybe just more of a Trump thing with mundane coding skills.
Has problems though. Even if the stranger enacted this emergency to create a specialized Tinker in himself that could break out, can he not permanently take control? He seems invested in stranger's growth. Spitballing here.
My initial thought was that this is the original personality of this brain, and the person the PRT was so worried about keeping contained. Who somehow created another personality that apparently has a Tinker specialty they don't have (note how they couldn't have built that data-miner as quickly as we did). It kinda makes me think Trump/Tinker power? Or maybe just more of a Trump thing with mundane coding skills.
Has problems though. Even if the stranger enacted this emergency to create a specialized Tinker in himself that could break out, can he not permanently take control? He seems invested in stranger's growth. Spitballing here.
Silvereagle21
Soaring through the Sky
- Location
- United States
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Look over the Tinkering the other personality did, and verify they were telling the truth in their message.
- Location
- Upon the back of the Great A'Tuin
[X] Look over the Tinkering the other personality did, and verify they were telling the truth in their message.
-[X] Continue their work with the aim being to stop the bombs.
I for one do not trust this other us, after all, it's almost certainly their fault that we were imprisoned and that Armsmaster wants to kill us. Also purging the data we gathered was just rude. That said, we have bigger fish to fry. So, let us continue their work and see if we can do something about those bombs.
-[X] Continue their work with the aim being to stop the bombs.
I for one do not trust this other us, after all, it's almost certainly their fault that we were imprisoned and that Armsmaster wants to kill us. Also purging the data we gathered was just rude. That said, we have bigger fish to fry. So, let us continue their work and see if we can do something about those bombs.