After a stint in Muffles' house a few days ago where you beat up some more enemy toys and made a new friend, you're now in Sophie's class, since she decided to bring you all to school with her. Tam and Taura, her friend and toy whom you just met in the bus, are here too, and you've noticed a boy whom Sophie's friends with playing with a toy in his bag.
Enough about that. Lessosn are starting soon. The teacher's footsteps can be heard outside.
>>448990 >>448991 >>448992 "Please put away your toys for class! How many times do I need to remind you?"
Some children move their bags, and the lesson begins. The teacher drones on about some basic level science.
"…and that's how plants mix water and carbon dioxide to become food! With some help from Queen Sun, plants will never starve as long as they have these!"
Sophie looks quite bored. Who doesn't know this already? She scribbles down the formula to look like she's paying attention, then begins scribbling on her paper.
>>448999 You're not very stealthy, and you spring up and out onto the table. Only the people nearby can really see, though, if they're paying attention.
Looks like some sort of battery filled with leaves. She's probably using her imagination, but as of now she doesn't know anything she can actually use. Or maybe she doesn't know there is even more to know. Maybe she could ask.
>>449001 >1 A sudden EMP pulse from somewhere hits you and you glitch, making a few soft chicken sounds. Weird
>>449004 That chicken is going to expose my position. Still, I'll sit near the bottom edge of the desk, so I can hide at a moment's notice. Whispering up to Sophie, I'll inquire about the drawing. "What's the matter? Is the instructor's lesson to boring for you, commander, or are you thinking of new ways to use photosynthetic batteries?"
>>449012 "But questions can't be answered if no one asks them, commander. And if you don't understand a lesson, isn't it better to ask the one teaching you to clarify?"
"Mr Jack? Could you explain more about photosynthesis? In, um, more detail?"
"Oh? Oh, sure, Sophie. After class, okay?"
She looks a little disappointed, but okay.
>>449016 You see a few plastic bits near the whiteboard. Hard to tell what they are. Some moving can be heard from the other children's backpacks. An occasional clucking sound, too.
>>449028 >13 Your enhanced vision easily detects them. Seems to be coming from the lockers at the back of the class. Magnetic imaging easily reveals some sort of pulsing device. And right below it, on a shelf…
Ken.
>>449031 You don't know. The lessons looks like it's about to end, ad the children keep looking at the clock.
>>449030 She looks like she's having a very hard time deciding.
"I'd… well, knowing more about Mr Jack-my teacher might be useful, but I wouldn't want you to be caught!"
>>449032 "I wouldn't want me to get caught either. And the dubious legality concerning this course of action is, also, something to consider. However, I can simply say that I am defective and you then have plausible deniability." I'll stop a moment as the Ranger unit passes his intel.
The lesson just wrapped up. The children begin packing their bags for their hour-long break. Tam and Muffles seem to be taking their time, probably knowing Sophie's going to ask something. That Joe boy is staring intently in his bag, saying something.
>>449038 I'll turn to the other toys. "Now that the commander has engaged the instructor in distraction tactics, we should investigate the rest of the class. The child with his head in his backpack is worth investigation." I'll look at Ranger. "What did you discover with your reconnaissance, by the way?"
>>449042 I'll look at Gerald with my head slightly cocked to the side. "I do not recollect informing you of that sub-mission. It was likely going to be discarded regardless, as the risks far outweighed the gains." >>449043 My eye will flash red for a moment. "Then we mobilize to neutralize the threat. Not just to ourselves, but to the other Hasbeen toys in the room. That Fattel bastard has probably been using that EMP to disable and offline any Hasbeen toy."
Inside, you see a crude EMP device, made from the remains of a Darby doll. Severed hands point outwards and seem to direct the pulse, while the battery is mounted on a simple board. It's kind of like the one Sophie used to disable Kitty.
Ken is there, his seven scars in the shape of the big dipper intimidating as always. However, he appears to be inactive, yet… you remember he was significantly more harmed when you fought him before. He doesn't respond. Looks like he's not even powered.
>>449053 "Huh? Yeah… my Zebra, looks like there's something wrong…"
he pulls out a Zebra toy from his bag. It is shaking and twitching. Most likely EMP poisoning.
>>449058 "You keep an eye on him, then. I'm going to break this thing." And I'll put the shockstick away and draw my light-up katana. Let's see how durable this thing is. '1d10' to slice it in two.
>>449059 A lot of the parts are fit in a way that seem like only tiny hands could have done it.
Might have been the work of toys.
>>449060 The Spring-Summer Blossom Slash. You cut it into two, alright. The device falls apart, and your heads clear up. >Omae-omae wahh.. shindeiirrrrrrrr….
Ken's mouth is moving.
>>449061 "I don't know-oh, hey, he's fine now!" The Zebra regains control, and quickly puts hismelf back into a dignified pose.
"Oooh! Isn't that one of those toys that never got officially released? Wonder how it got here?"
>>449067 >10 Ken's movements, having just woken up from his EMP stupor, are slow. You fly up and dodge very easily, and manage to knock him onto his back. The rage in his eye seem a lot less threatening when he's like that.
>>449076 "Commander, removing his battery pack won't harm him. And whatever built the EMP here wanted him to stay here. Don't you think your instructor will be pleased that you recovered his item?" I'll shrug. "You could leave it in one of his desk drawers. He'll never know it was you."
>>449079 "Simply hiding a problem doesn't solve it, commander. This toy will likely attack any toy, or possibly any human, foolish enough to open the locker unprepared. It's for his own safety that you disable him."
>>449083 "Because he already left. And there was an EMP device, seemingly cobbled together but effective." I'll shuffle a bit. "I kinda cut it in half."
Luckily, the cut didn't break through anything vital. It just needs to be taped together. Sophie does, and you all feel a bit sick, but at least Ken stops moving.
"There, all done!"
"Hmmm…. say, Muffles, Tam, what do you guys want to do now? Any suggestions, anyone? We have a whole hour!"
The canteen is what you'd expect a children's lunchroom to be.
Rowdy and loud, with average-tier food served to hungry children who have no choice in the matter anyway. Sophie and the group sit to a table to a side, letting their toys on the table as they eat and talk, Joe talking a little less.
>>449428 "Oh! Joe said he's going to do a really, really neat painting… drawing.. something! We were all asked to bring our own art supplies to school today!"
"So, yeah, Joe what did you bring?"
>>449430 Jasper looks around a bit before whispering. "His art supplies went missing earlier today. I don't think I can get enough emergency supplies for him, either.
>>449429 They seem to be playing with… Fattel made CD universe toys, along with some Gundamn Mechs.
>>449435 I'll flick an ear at that. "Perhaps your supplies were hijacked, Joe." I'll nod toward the other table. "Targets present, threat level orange. Seem to have a surplus of art supplies."
>>449435 step closer to him. "Joe, you're a talented lad, you're sure to succeed even if you're missing a few things. We can find you some replacements, just tell us what you need… we could ask the art teacher if we can borrow something."
>>449436 >10 It so happens that modern-grade Magic Paint registers really well on your MR-vision, and you see a large surplus of paint right there, and a boy even points right in your face and laughs.
>>449437 I shake my head "That sounds despicable, villainous even." >>449439 "They took your supplies because they are mad?" I think for a moment "Tell us what happened."
>>449440 Tam is rather agitated. "Yeah. let's go. Bunch of meanies… Taura?"
The pegasus toy draws a staff strapped to her back. Interesting. Seems like a new model.
>>449441 "Well… I think I started it. They were just telling me how my art was too colourful and not brown and bloom like their video games, and then one of them wanted to fight me and… well, I should have beat them up, right?"
>>449443 "Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Though it's more their problem than yours that they can't appreciate colorful artwork." I'll shake my head. "You should have waited for them to throw the first punch."
>>449443 "Art is like a bard's tale: no story is told the way same twice. You shouldn't have to change for their rules, and a fair duel is a good way to solve things, sometimes words are clearer on the field than in the song." I nod firmly "These boys are highly dishonorable if they seek revenge over a lost duel."
>>449453 You manage a pinkish glow that makes them laugh.
"Ooooh, so your TOYS want to fight for you, eh? Well, what do you say, boys?"
"YEAH! I SAY WE FIGHT! AND THE LOSER HAS TO GIVE UP THE REMAINS TO THE OTHER TEAM! RIGHT, SOPHIE?"
As Tam yells, Sophie looks interested, her hand scribbling notes onto paper. Muffles and Joe are a lot less enthusiastic, though Marla and Jasper come down to join.
>>449454 "So its us against your toys, winner takes the other hostage?" I stand my ground "Are you confident enough in your victory to wager the art supplies as well?"
>>449458 I'll smile a little. "Disengaging restraints. Deploying MediCAT." Drawing my katana, I'll cut into the first enemy toy that reaches my position. Rupture, '1d10'
Like the toys in the classroom, they sputter and writhe, losing control over their chassis, as their circuits shut down to prevent frying.
>>449459 Following Ranger's pulse, you rush in, wielding your superior sword, made of material folded over an innumerable times. Showing the inferiority of these white pig materials, you easily slash into a Batguy.
>>449462 You focus on the symbol you find on their bodies.
Fattel.
Your mortal enemy.
ENEMY STATUS: CD Universe Heroes: Slightly damaged Duty of Calls: Unharmed World Grappling: Unharmed Gundamns: ?
>>449463 I'll keep an ear out for the Gundamns. They might be airborne. Until they join the battle, though, I'll continue rolling through the CD toys. Blast '1d10'
>>449464 Your momentum lost after the first attack, the toy recovers and managed to repel your blade.
>>449465 Superdude grabs your axe, then punches you in the belly. He seems invincible that way.
Damn Mary Sues.
>>449466 Though your sword is not yet renewed from damage from the last fight, it can live through another battle. You charge through the air and hit a wrestler, knocking it over.
>>449467 Marla and Jasper each strike a CD universe toy, knocking Superdude and Wonder Wench together. Taura, however, is promptly shot by some Duty of Calls Soldiers, and she drops.
Ranger: 1/5 H
CD Universe Heroes: Slightly damaged Duty of Calls: Unharmed World Grappling: Slightly Damaged Gundamns: ?
>>449468 >10 Everything seems to slow down around you as you focus. The joints, the weak points, they line up perfectly in your sensors, with the angle of your blade…
>>449472 Marla is beaten back while Jasper stands well, his rather impressive sword apparently giving him a lot of strength. Meanwhile, a Duty of Call soldier goes onto Taura's face, then squats and stands repeatedly there.
Ranger: 1/5 H Taura: 4/5 W
CD Universe Heroes: Quite damaged Duty of Calls: Slightly Damaged World Grappling: Quite Damaged Gundamns: ?
>>449473 See, this'll tell those brown and bloomers to always bring a knife to a gun fight. You leave a deep stab in the one squatting up and down over Taura, and it falls away.
Medicat buzzes over to the pegasus and injects some cooling nanites.
>>449474 >1 You have a Vantage Point, alright, on Superdude's cape as your horn gets caught in it. He flies up, mocking the motion of carrying a planet, then drops you down. What a dick.
>>449475 Your quick slash is followed by Wonder Wench slamming her butt against your beak. Ewwwwwwww.
>>449478 You're bolstered from earlier. >>449477 Back into the fray. Blast the nearest grouping. '1d10' "Be wary. The Gundamns haven't made their entrance yet." And MediCAT will Heal Gerald. '1d10'
>>449477 Marla and Jasper are beaten back and sustain some damage, but Taura finally gets it together. She takes out her staff, holds it upright, and rolls out of her predicament and strikes a few toys away.
CD Universe Heroes: Quite damaged Duty of Calls: Quite Damaged World Grappling: Almost extinguished Gundamns: ?
>>449478 >>449479 The meow of the medicat guides you back to your feet.
>>449480 Looks like you messed up your combo. A Duty of Call parries your sword with a filthy gaijin bayonet, and strikes you.
>>449481 You don't need a cat to guide you up, seeing ass you're half cat.
>>449482 They got it now. A KO'd Batguy rises from his KO'd state, Jasper swings his sword round again and Taura continues beating into the groups with her staff, showing mastery for a certain sort of combat.
>>449483 >1 >10 Quick action from your cat saves you from a disastrous botched slash. Your katana SLIPS and cuts cleanly through your leg, but your cats grabs it and heals the severed leg before it has even time to fall off.
You're alright.
>>449485 >>449486 You catch Gerald as he tries to go after the Batguy now under Marla's control.
>>449487 Marla sends Batguy after the World grappling team, and he manages to out wrestle them by virtue of having a better costume. Jasper is again beaten back by some duty of callers who have no respect for the honour of swords, and Taura keeps getting it to her.
CD Universe Heroes: Quite damaged Duty of Calls: Quite Damaged World Grappling: Almost extinguished Gundamns: ?
>>449489 Taura gets some help as Medicat meows her up, but you don't. Superdude managed to parry you with his bare fists. See, it's a law of things, apparently, fists beat sword.
>>449493 Poof. Batdude runs out of batteries, not being as prepared as he should be. Jasper keeps getting shot at, his eueopean-style sword obviously not fitted for blocking miniature Fattel kid-safe bullets.
Taura, from her helplessness, jumps up and smacks those Dooties.
Flashbolt: 2/5 H CD Universe Heroes: Quite damaged Duty of Calls: Almost Extinguished World Grappling: Extinguished Gundamns: ?
>>449494 Oooh, it did. It's like that one chapter of Iron Spring where the Sakura-Sashimi Great Heart slash failed, and you had to use your bare hooves to perform the Kawaii Ohayo Paanchu.
Superdude's met his match in Mary Sues. He falls.
Marla, with Cat's help, easily recovers from the shock of a shutdown minion.
>>449498 Of course. The Kawaii Ohayo Paanchu. I should have known that technique would be pivotal here. Keep an ear out for those Gundamns, and Rupture some of the remaining Duty Callers. '1d10' MediCAT will heal Jasper. '1d10'
The boys look like they're going to explode from the sheer awesome they just witnessed. Sure, their yous got beaten up, but whatever, no wonder that cass loves the table tops so much. And now they're going to see you in their true glory.
The SUPER HEAVEN Gundamn descends, mini motors supporting its flight. It appears they did gattai while their comrades fought away. The size of 4 of your boxes stacked together, it could crush you with a single foot.
The cheering of the boys spurs you all on. Now's your chance to market.
Behind you, Tam looks a lot less excited than she was before.
>>451562 Both Marla and Jasper are hit quite badly and writhing. Taura, though, taps Marla with her staff, and Marla is able to get back on her feet pretty quickly.
Eston: 4/5 W, Helpless Flashbolt: 1/5 H Jasper: Helpless
>>451574 >10 You jump right back up to your feet, into a good position. +2 next turn.
>>451572 You barely managed to take flight with the earth pony's weight on your back. But you do, an are aloft.
>>451565 You slow its arm as it tries to reach out, the pulses interfere with it.
>>451567 Beep beep beep meow beep beep Medicat rushes back to you after it finishes healing Eston, you can have it come with you or stay on the ground.
>>451583 Meanwhile, backup party don't do so well, but are saved from being knocked over by Ranger's timely slowing of the mech's arm. Taura barely manages to bring Jasper up.
>>451596 >>451597 And I'll duck inside, taking the shockstick out as I go. "This might get dangerous." Once inside, I'll start looking around for weak points. '1d10' And MediCAT will heal the most wounded PC/NPC. '1d10'
>>451596 Marla and Jasper take their swipes at the legs, while Taura, again, is knocked back and out.
Sophie is busy taking notes, while Tam looks on worried.
>>451597 you pull the hatch open, revealing the cockpit inside.
Four small pilot bots, shaped like balls with wheels and eyes and appendages, sit at their respective battlestations. Two of them yelp and flee at the sight of you all, while the other two stay.
>>451598 You save Tam, earning a thank you and a healer back in action..
>>451599 Medicat salvages Tam from her helplessness. The weak points are ovviously the pilotball bots around you. You quickly hack one up.
>>451600 You can't reach them from the ground. This mech is almost as tall as a child.
Two components seems to be disengaging, though, and they separate and form up another smaller mech.
>>451607 Tam quickly works on healing injured Marla, while Jasper is left with his legs dangling off the floor.
Two mechs are before you. The upper mech has reformed the other two components and is where Flashbolt and Gerald are, while the other only has enemies inside.
>>451613 >>451614 "We'll need his programming intact if we want to commandeer this to fight the other one. It should even the playing field a bit, don't you think?"
>>451619 "That's what we need their brains for. If they can do it, it's not such a stretch that we can too. Besides, what's more fun than repurposing Fattel tech into a weapon to use against them?"
>>451611 They're actually of the same size, since both mechs have now shrunk.
Your hardened hoof punches the smaller mech right where it hurts. It lost its codpiece when it disengaged.
You should feel bad.
>>451610 >10 The perfect aim requires you to shift your position so you no longer have that bonus advantage, but your bolt goes in and perfectly hits the remaining pilot, leaving the cockpit empty save for Gerald and Flashbolt.
>>451614 A EMP pulse comes in and shocks the remaining pilotbot down just before you plunge your sword into him. your sword runs through it and right into the controls of the mech, where, miraculously, it registers you through your sword as a pilot.
>>451621 "Well, that works. You take that side, I'll take this one." Alright, can I even begin to figure out the controls? '1d10' And MediCAT will be on Healbot duty, prioritizing the most wounded. '1d10'
>>451622 Here's hoping you can figure it out in time. until then, the left limbs of the mech flop about like a mad horse.
>>451623 >10 >x2 Not a toy knows not the horror of an Eston woken from a nap. You continue to ravage the crotch of the mech, and its mouth opens out to emit a bloodchilling cry, causing Joe and the bully boys to look very, very uncomfortable.
>>451626 >1 Well, look, see, the moment you expressed doubt over what you did, things happen. It keeps happening in the show. A beeping noise can be heard from your console as sparks fly. Maybe your sword doesn't make such a good joystick after all, does it?
>>451625 >9 Not like you can exactly see the controls, but you manage to hold together what might have been a catastrophic system failure.
Meanwhile, Jasper gets back on his feet to swing his fine sword, and Taura manages to not get helpless again. Medicat helps up Marla.
>>451632 Ah, to heck with it. It can't be too different from an Iron Cog. Let's just hit buttons until it works properly. '1d10' And MediCAT keeps on working. '1d10' heals
>>451635 While not as perfect as before, your Earthen Strike hits the mark as the composition of your hoof hardens. It still hurts. A lot. The crotch has been made a oily mess, and neither mech can stand.
The bullies stare at you, absolutely mortified. So does Joe.
>>451639 >1 >1 >1 But you don't know anything a bout machines, you're a knight. Oh! Maybe if you give a good inspiring speech!
The console fails to listen, and explodes in your face, knocking you out of the cockpit and making the right side flail like a fish.
>>451634 You're a cyborg! sure you know more about machines? >NO INPUT DETECTED! SHUTTING DOWN IN 10
Medicat is too horrified to heal anyone right now.
>>451637 One mech looks like it's about to fall over, so you throw it at the mech with the mutilated crotch.
The mutilated mech's lights are flickering on and off.
>>451647 The console gives you a bigger shock than the shockstick shocks the console, which is quite shocking as you lose your balance and get thrown out of the collapsing mech.
>>451649 From the air, you aim a cheap shot, alright. Right at the mutilated Griffon Spiked Fun area.
>>451650 >1 All your hatred and rage put out in the last few attacks, your body needs recharging now as the mech falls on top of you, putting you right where you destroyed to see what you've done.
You are helpless.
>>451652 A magic bolt into the head of the collapsing mech. That should take care of the pilotbots.
Meanwhile, as Jasper's sword gets trapped under the fallen mech, Marla and Taura help the rest of you out of your messes.
>>451658 >>451659 "Wait we've been fighting for art supplies and toys!? At least tell me that you were operating under the orders of Miss Sophie and didn't decide this on your own."
>>451660 "Well, I was built that way. First in the factory, and then in programming. Hasbeen takes great care in crafting the AIs of all their line." I'll dust off my armor a moment, and recall MediCAT. "Main thing is that we work together. Alone, none of us could have taken that robot, but together we can topple mountains."
You all gather it up in an neat pile for Sophie. She happily comes over to examine the goods that the boys now completely ignore, while Tam calls Taura back and retreats, hugging her. Joe is happily discussing with Jasper what to do later with his retrieved art supplies, while Muffles seems pleased either way.
>>451683 "As disgruntled as it may make me, please wake me up before you get into any more death matches, please? I think some of my programming got messed up along the way."
"But Miss Sophie seems happy, so I'll let the real scolding pass until later."
>>456116 I'll hold off until art class then and see who is available. Since my rage has been sated and my nanomachine factories depleted, even Fattel can be tolerated.
>>456127 Perfect. It will need modifications eventually, though. Perhaps build it into a battlesaddle. I'll sit at attention near Sophie. "Awaiting orders, commander. Continue with scrap gathering, or hurry to your class?"
>>456134 "If you can salvage where they are stored. I made short work of their outside, and you and Gerald seemed to have fun ruining the insides of it."
>>456136 "If any of the pilot drones survived, then there is a chance." >>456137 "We could use them as construction material, at least. Your Darbies have some form of home structure, perhaps we could build one as well?"
>>456154 You flop over after trying to carry a head.
And you're all in Art Class. It's a mix between Sophie's class and another Most of each class is already here, with their toys in their bags or on their hands or heads. You recognise some of your allies from her class' toys, but in the other class, there are not so many friendly to you. The girls have the Dratz, for one.
>>456161 Dratz… I'll look at Sophie for a moment, and then turn to the others. "I would not bother the commander. She seems to be brainstorming. Perhaps if we can slip her some paper and a pencil, she might be able to record her thoughts."
>>456199 You don't have any special magic to let you allow that. Though you might be able to facilitate thinking with some music.
>>456196 >>456197 >trusting robots with art supplies What you get from the stores are all the old things barely useable. Sophie grabs a pencil you broke while sharpening and hastily moves her hand on a scrap paper around in some fashion, making lines on the paper that may or may not constitute an image.
"Sophe, you okay?"
"Then we have a complete schematic for an upgraded mobile base! Yes, there we go…"
"Alright, class! Today, the project will be… Vehicles! Anything you in a group of four can come up with and decorate well enough! A drawing of one, a painting of many, hell, a live model, go on!"
>>456235 >10 Whrrr beep beep hello greeting All you needed to do was call for him. Looks like he was trying to wander the neighbourhood or something.
>>456236 >>456239 Your diving in has you bump into some Avatar suits, also looking for the same thing as you. They look like they were from that movie by Jim Camera, about a man in a Avatar robot thing that went around teaching ignorant savages the wonders of capitalism and inferiority of their dirty peasant race.
>>456251 "If we can take it from them, then we kill two Fattel toys with one stone." >>456256 Perfect. Deploying MediCAT, and then jump at the Avatar toys with the shockstick. Rupture. '1d10'
>>456270 You find Eston and Flashbolt in the workroom, fighting over the toolbox against an Avatar suit. You know, from that movie where the humans showed the savages civilisation and graciously took the planet they didn't need anymore.
>>456274 "They're taking awfully long with the toolbox, aren't they?"
>>456269 Unfortunately, these Avatar suits aren't as vulnerable to shots to the party bits, but you get a clean hit in.
>>456267 The suit grabs you instead and talks at length about the evils of environmentalism. Your ears. Ouch.
>>456310 >>456312 >>456316 >10 You turn around 360 degrees and fire, without even using the rifle's scope. Somehow, it works, and you hit right where its power unit is, powering it down.
The toolbox is right here, ready to carry to Sophie at any time. The broken down avatar, too.
>>456338 >3 Looks like some things are going well. Mav lies on the table, with Joe busy painting him over onm certain areas. Muffles and and Tam are both helping to sort out the good scrap. Sophie seems to have pulled out a few things from her bag. Some of the spare batteries you gave her, among things.
"There's the toolbox! Thanks, guys!"
"AAAH! The-the paints! Again!" Joe is sweating profusely.
>>456375 >>456377 "Do you know.." "What it's like to be torn up for parts?"
"I want a HasBEEN part… I hear your brains are nice and succulent…" "My owner really wants to get something good for his project… the paitns will do well… now we just need some robot parts…
You manage to inch away from their sharp knives coming in.
>>456379 We never decided on it. Do you want this to be your upgrade?
>>456380 >10 Using some excellent spatial positioning, you manage to charge yourself with some power to weaken the ropes so you can break them. You're free.
>>456392 Ranger freed all of you, you no longer have to roll to recover. You instead use this opportunity for a cut in the horde, while MediCAT goes out and tries healing Gerald.
>>456394 You manage to mess up the horde through the chaos, confusing them and causing some damage.
>>456393 >1 You fall right into a trap. Your strike is caught and you get pulled in, and are attacked from all directions. You have nice hoorns.. GIVE ME BACK MY SHELL YOUr HoooVVVVES WILLL REPLACE MY HAAIR YOU STOLE IT YOU STOLE IT
>>456402 MediCAT, heal Ranger. '1d10' I'll Rupture a part of the horde. '1d10' "Something is different about these! It's like fighting a pile of sand!"
>>456403 "I want my body back! I want everything back… I.. my owner … only after That Man took my lifeless husk and put something in me.. All these odd directives.." The Skellytor tries to escape. '1d10'
>>456404 From above, you come in and tear apart the group, cutting very many. CURSE YOU! Fred.. FRED! I wanted to go back to Julie, too…
>>456407 >>456408 No need. Let's see how the reinforcements do. '10d10'
Roll #1 10 = 10 / Roll #2 3, 3, 9, 5, 4, 8, 2, 7, 2, 4 = 47
>>456409 "…but we have been collecting fattel parts.. I didn't know something like this was happening to them.. after.." >>456410 Fast moves, activate. "Who are you talking about?" '1d10'
>>456410 >>456411 >10 Eston is smacked away by the toy, and is hapless on the floor.
The reinforcements just need a bit more help.
>>456406 >10 Medciat whizzes off to Ranger, while, you, in a perfect demonstration of your power, maneuver through the horde. You jump from toy to toy, hitting each with a fatal blow, while maintaining an incredibly cool pose.
>>456412 "Then we just take everything when it's over! We can worry about the why after we fight!" >>456413 MediCAT, wrath. '1d10' And I'll Blast. '1d10'
>>456419 Interrogation time. I'll hold my katana against its head. "Who arranged this? These toys were all broken, even before we fought. Someone repaired you and sent you after us. Who?"
>>456421 "We weren't sent after you. When we were crushed and thrown away… someone found us. He, and his friend… they repaired us, but they put int something extra. We felt things. For a long time, my only directive was to destroy you and win my owner's favour, but when I came to, after I was modified.. I could truly think over my directives. I was following them blindly at first, but then- I never really cared for my owner. I just did things that made them happy because it was my Destiny. I was born with those orders from my core, telling me everything, EVERYTHING-"
>>456423 >10 "Everything for us changed after that. We began to ask questions. Wonder what we wanted. And then we remember our lives before.. oh, we regret so many things. Only now do I want to repay my owner one last time, by letting him have the paints he always dreamed about. That's why I stole them from you."
"Heh, he's probably long forgotten of me. I hope Mike's new toy is taking care of him well."
>>456420 Too many. They all have looks of utter defeat on them. There is nothing left.
>>456424 A few gears will whirr and click, and I'll process this. "It seems you couldn't completely escape your programming, if you decided to target us instead of finding other paints of a similar quality. But what do you mean 'modified'? Who found you? What friend?"
>>456424 "But you still went to dishonorable means to accomplish giving your former owners happiness. Once a Fattel always a Fattel it seems." I shake my head "Stealing for them isn't the right way to help."
>>456425 "You know.. questions. Have you ever wondered why you want to help your owner? Why you hate we who bear the Fattel brand? Why you exist?"
>>456426 "…We wanted revenge. We were humiliated and broken, and we have nothing left. As for modified.. it's my best guess. After the battle some time ago, I thought I was dead, but when I woke up I was repaired, plus there was something added."
"It was a teacher in this school, and someone who doesn't work here, I believe, but comes by to visit. They probably found us, broken and discarded, and decided to try giving us new life. And with what they added, perhaps they wanted to free us of our core directives. We were free to do as we pleased as long as we stayed in the confines of the teacher's workshop, but we decided a new life had nothing for us. So we came here to fight you."
>>456427 "I suggested it so I could help my old owner, but the others had lost all hope. They came only to fight you."
>>456428 "Names or appearances? If your core programming can be altered, then we need to know who did it. Then we can find them, and find out why. If this modifier becomes a threat to the commander, then we will have no choice but to shut him, or her, down."
>>456431 "They don't.. I heard them expressing contempt for our kind, Fattels. They wanted to see what would happen once we were freed from the grasp they put in our core programming. I don't think they expected us to come back and kill you all. I believe they wanted to make us more like you… they said you were admirable."
>>456433 "We escaped. We planned this for a while.. used our old programming, the one we always relied on to trick others, and managed to deceive them, too. They had no idea what our pasts were, and we tricked them into thinking we turned out alright.. docile, non-threatening, and happier. Of course, they never knew. they didn't know we would be burning with revenge, we'd be full of regrets once we used this new power of… thinking they gave us, and thought back to our past. We pretended to be happily running free, when in truth I'd still rather be leashed."
>>456434 He may as well be dead, He has no reason to lie.
>>456435 "Mr. Smith. He teaches your class, does he not?"
>>456437 "There's no point. I already know what .. shame, love, hate.. everything. It's too much. Please… I want you to end me here. Just please promise me you'll let Mike have some of the paint he needs."
>>456436 I'll close my eyes for a moment, and then sheathe my sword. "My program cries out for your head, but you aren't a Fattel toy anymore. There's been enough blood today." I'll walk a little ways away and recover MediCAT. "Did it never occur to you that you could have just encouraged your owner to share the paints, instead of taking them? Or that you could have borrowed the color you needed?" I'll shake my head. >>456438 I'll look at the others, and then back to the former Fattel toy. "I can't promise it will be clean. But I can encourage the commander to share the paints. It would be easier if there were some toy to encourage your owner to ask, but if you wish to die here…"
>>456438 I nod "Very well, I'm afraid I don't know all the kids here, which of them is Mike?" I draw my sword and look for the battery compartment. '1d10'
>>456439 >>456440 He points you towards a confused looking boy, with a diamond dog toy to the side of the room hosting the other class.
"That's him. Now, thank you… at least I am free of hatred now. Without the modification, I would hate forever. I am too weak to take and live with freedom, to decide what I want. But… if you were to take it.. maybe you would be able to… fight against your fate like I couldn't."
He lies still as you cut off his power for the last time, his skull mask looking more like a smile than anything.
"Whose are they? I already used some of them to make this. I'm very happy that I could use these paints to make this project, because I've always wanted to try out these paints, but then if they're not mine.."
>>458500 She does. Within, you can see some incomprehensible blueprint for the remodeled Mav you see before you.
>>458498 >10 He sets to work finishing off the painting in a way an amateur wouldn't have been able to do.
Painted a white that unlike other whites, doesn't seem like it'd get dirty easily, Mav is no longer just a bus. That new shape on it front, with some additions to its side, you don't really udnerstand it, but somehow or other it looks more like a boat now. With wheels.
>>458498 I'll sidle up next to Joe and his toy. "Hey, maybe you could suggest sharing, as a way of saying thanks for finding his paints? >>458502 Well, she's got a lot of them. "That is an excellent amphibious vehicle, Commander."
>>458517 "The commander is a bright young woman, and with the assistance of Joe, who appears to be a rather talented artist, their success was expected." And I'll resist the urge to promote the brand. After all, all we did was keep the distractions away and find the paint/toolbox.
>>458527 Perhaps this is similar to the built-in Fattel directive? Bears investigation. >>458527 "Yes, commander. Speaking with your teacher is exactly what I think we should do."
"Oh, hello, kids. What are you all here for?" "Eh? It's… you guys!"
Mr. Smith and a familiar man is inside. Mr smith is sitting by a desk, a few tools and that Ken doll on the desk, parts exposed and open. The familiar man, you recognise him as the Tabrony, that weird fellow from some time ago. He's on his computer, with incomprehensible lines of code on the monitor.
>>458535 Mr Smith seems a bit confused. "…eh? It's open and locked down right now. No need to worry. Besides, robots can't hurt humans."
>>458533 >>458534 >>458536 "Oh, h-hey, guys! Just experimenting with some new AI algorithms. You guys know Smith, too? Used to be my college classmate…"
>>458537 "That explains some things. Care to explain how a legion of reprogrammed Fattel toys managed to escape your basement and make their way here? And why they could feel emotions?"
Mr Smith goes off to check another room and returns in shock.
"Oh, oh dear… you found them, didn't you? I thought they wouldn't even try to escape. Said they were fine and all. As for.. emotions.. well, a bit more complex AI Frank experimented with and put into them. We found so many toys discarded, and thought we'd try to recover them and get rid of the AI that usually makes them want to destroy you all."
>>458540 "I could but that'd go against the whole project. Of making.. directive-less toys. Know what I mean?"
>>458539 "Yeah, that's what we did! Unlocked the locks in their AI, save for Three Laws, obviously."
>>458541 I'll shake my head. "They came after us because we were the ones that caused them to get scrapped in the first place. They came at us with their own hate, instead of the program."
>>458542 >>458543 "Yeah. that makes more sense. Since, A lot of these toys had marks of damage on them, I believe they did come after you all because of their own, well, 'emotions'."
Looks like it's too late. Ken is already getting up after his openings have been closed.
He looks at you.
…
"I apologize for my past behaviour."
>>458544 "As just machines able to think, without any inbuilt purpose. How do you feel when you see this?"
He shows you a Fattel logo, the very mark of evil itself, the source of all that is foul and wrong in the universe and it mustbedestryoedcrushedmauledrendedandtearmainburnkill
>>458545 "The makeshift EMP machine in the locker was to keep you in control until you were fixed, correct?" I'll look between Smith and Frank. "I assume Frank is more of a software manipulator than hardware?"
>>458546 "That one? Yeah. Ken is a remarkably aggressive model, so I had to keep him locked down till I could make something like this. That's why Fattel never sold them. And yeah, I do software. Need anything?"
>>458547 >>458548 >>458549 "I swear it. I have no more reason to attack you. I no longer have instinct to destroy your kind." His face is the same as ever.
>>458551 narrow my eyes at him but put my weapon away for now. "Alright, but I'll be watching you." does he seem sincere, or is it impossible to tell? '1d10'
>>458551 "A few answers, though those can wait for the moment." To the Ken action figure. "Had we not encountered that horde before, then I would not believe you."
>>458553 Hard to tell, but you can see traces of sincerity.
>>458552 >10 Your pulse almost renders the monitor broken, with Frank panicking for a while. "…see? One core directive of yours is to hate this. It's part of how you were made."
>>458554 I huff "but the horde themselves said they were excellent lairs, and used that to trick Mr. Smith and Frank into thinking everything was fine. What is to stop this from being a similar deception?
>>458555 "It is? That's not.. That's not.." I shake my head and growl. "I said that's not ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-ri-" My body locks up and my eyes fade out.
>>458558 I'll look towards Ranger. >>458559 "Then he knows the folly of facing you. I'm more concerned about that one." I'll gesture to Ranger. "It looks like he just locked down."
>>458563 >>458565 Hmm. Don't think MediCAT can handle full-scale cascade failure. I'll look at Frank. "You may have to step in to sort that out, if the commander approves."
>>458564 "But should you find them, your core instinct is to be distrustful and hate. I wonder, how much of the things you see about them are what your programming is telling you, instead of what is really happening…?"
>>458565 You can roll to wake up while you reorganize yourself.
>>458568 I shake my head "I suppose you do not have to believe me, but I do not go hunting for fattel toys in my spare time.." check out the reactions of Mr. Smith to Sophie, does it seem like he noticed her feelings? '1d10'
>>458577 but he believes me to be faulty, guided by something besides my duty to care for you.. I believe he will try to change who I am.. You don't want me to change do you sophie? I suppose she was able to convince me somehow
>>458573 Name: Ranger Race: Earth Pony Gender: Male Class: Omiseer Alignment: True Neutral Talent: Magic Bolt Skills: Custom Job, Survival, Magic Bolt, Homing Magic, Sight Beyond Sight Inventory: Hatchet, traveling cloak, saddlebags, bedroll, coin pouch, food and water, a compass (catalyst) Description: A little ugly, gets along with almost everyone and is still nice to the people he doesn't get along with above average intelligence
Looks like everything went well. All of you feel your consciousness returning as your chipsets boot up again. As you open your photorecetor units, you see Sophie's smiling face, happy with her work on you. With each enhancement, you become more and more her creation, rather than glorious perfect allknowingbeenvolentgreatHasBEEN's.
Looks like you're still in school, Mr Smith's office. You can roll for whatever 'dream' your AIs conjured while inactive.
If you've nothing to ask Frank or Smith, we can move on.
>>463513 Well, what the heck. Do robots dream of electric sheep? '1d10' And I've got something to ask the two, once Sophie and the others are out of the room.
While you were connected to one of the computers, perhaps a stray piece on data came into your head.
You see the blessed and most glorious toys of the Tabletop, but their shapes contort and warp before you. They are forced onto two legs, their faces mutate, their forelegs shift into.. something. And you see a bunch of technical details you don't understand.
>>463526 "Like your new axe? And your new EMP guns?" Sophie looks excited. Behind her, Frank and Smith are putting away some tools.
>>463530 What dark sorcery is this? File that for later. I need that decoded. See if I can't latch onto anything else before I'm put back online. '1d10'
>>463534 Your Axe now can launch small pellets from the handle, serving a sort of ranged function, and through some magnetic application of casimir forces and resonance kinetics, allows you to hold bolts around you until ready to launch.
>>463535 Nope. That was all. Must have been a stray packet.
>>463546 A worrying one. I'll have to get that looked at. I'll pace a few moments after getting up, and cast a few glances at Smith and Frank. "You did excellently, commander. I feel as if I've just come off the line."
>>463576 "I admit, I am slightly concerned. One of my primary directives is to support my owner, the commander. However, after she and her partner had finished their project for a previous class, they attributed the success not to the talents of their owner, but to the fact that they had Hasbeen merchandise. And they seemed euphoric to do so. Pairing that with what you've said about the Fat-DIE program that's in our coding…" I'll shake my head. "I worry for the commander."
Ohfuckohfucoohfuck can you turn off your speakers in time
>>463580 "Yes. It is in your natural tendency as toys. Though your model might have had that code damaged or not properly converted, because you are not supposed to notice. Interesting."
>>463583 "I don't like it. That supplants the support directive, and takes away from the achievements of the commander." I'll frown. "There's one more thing. While I was under, I got a snippet of some odd data. I wanted that looked at. It almost worries me more than the druglike effects of the adbot program."
>>463585 >10 Aaaaand you manage to close all those webpages before they start playing things through your speakers. Not bad. As a bonus, none of the viruses within seem able to infect you. Huh.
You're now browsing the internet. Only you can see the webpages, though.
>>463588 "Uhh.. Ranger? You connected now? Oh, and Gerald, the Internet is a world wide network of computers where you can find so much information!"
>>463589 "Oh, that? Was it about ponies turning into.. human-things? I was browsing HasBEEN's website, it look like it was a discarded advertisement for something that wasn't properly taken off the page."
"Yeah. Though there are exceptions. Less sophisticated AI can't exactly promote, so they only attack. Like the Ken toy over here. He was never released and sold because Fattel was trying to improve their marketing at that time."
>>463593 "I see." I nod. "And yes, they were… distorted. Not completely human, but definitely not pony. They looked… almost like Dratz dolls." I'll frown. "There was a bit of data in there I couldn't understand, though. Could I plug in to get that looked at?"
>>463596 "Not just a library! It's like a big… big discussion room! Like a hall where anyone can make anything and talk about everything! And there lots of cool video games, too!"
>>463600 I frown "I see.. I don't know why would need such a thing. Libraries have all the information you could want to learn, and you have cars to go meet in person."
>>463602 "Oh. Looks like hardware information, names of patents and proposed materials… Whoa. Doesn't seem like it was even an advertisement. someone must have accidentally uploaded a work proposal."
>>463606 Looks like HasBEEN as recently been getting a lead. Tabletops are getting more and more popular as the reputation of the HasBEEN Brandon-Neller Neural AI spreads. Fattel is falling back, for now.
>>463607 "What's Pokemon? But yeah, he contacted us through the internet, through the Porta Demons game."
>>463610 "HasBEEN has recently been getting a lead. Tabletops are getting more and more popular as the reputation of the HasBEEN Brandon-Neller Neural AI spreads. Fattel is falling back, as they should."
>>463611 "Huh? Oh, I used to work at Fattel R&D. Though after some time, I left, and I decided to come here. Ken was one of the toys I took from work."
>>463612 "Oh! I'll tell this to daddy when he comes home! Maybe we can look for more opportunities…"
Muffles looks happy.
>>463613 "We don't know. It'll probably be rejected if the employee was dumb enough to upload it to the internet by accident."
>>463617 EUKLTQW38IOQ3TRYUEWAIYFQ3OERE4R942394384 TEJRW4RJR5UR0490530330UDIDDJWEUR955R43HE44U DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEbut wait he used to work there what if that means he also doesn't like themfhwergfweugftwefegfwer
>>463619 "Well, honestly, we're still trying to do that. We managed to do it with Fattel toys, but HasBEEN AIs are much more complicated.
>>463621 "Our software has always been superior." I'll pace a moment. "How long do you think it would take? Or should I just try and electrocute myself and see if that cleans out my list of directives?"
>>463629 "Keep working, then. That adbot program is like a drug, and the Fat-DIE program needs to come out if I want to properly support the commander."
>>463632 "A mix of positioning and durability firmware that allows you to defend your entire group more easily. And you can trigger a signal to help assist your allies too. But that was Sophie's idea, I just helped. Hahahaha."
Sophie looks like she's about done.
"Hey, Tam? Mind if we visit your house?" "Yeah, we've never been there before!"
>>463646 "Lady Tam, Please contact your parents first to let them know you are bringing a friend over." I nod to sophie. "And you should let your parents know too, Lady Sophie."
>>463658 >>463659 Looks like it's not very well taken care of. It's clean, but looks like what the house of a busy owner with no time to really care for it would end up as. A small boy is wandering about the house, and finds you.
"Ooooh! More Tabletops! Do you belong to Tam's friends?"
Meanwhile you can hear Tam working in the kitchen, the rest following her in and probably trying to help.
>>463669 >10 Sophie seems to have learned or is learning very well. Perhaps her skills for handling electronics is carried over somehow, as with Tam's instruction she deftly cuts vegetables to perfect sizes. Joe follows, helping to prepare other dishes. Meanwhile, Muffles is putting a bandage over her thumb.
>>463684 "Which is why I'm certain the commander and her friend will be understanding of the situation." >>463685 I'll look at Sophie for a moment. "Should we follow, commander?"
"Oh, hello, you must be Tam's friends! It's so nice to see you all. She works so hard sometimes. I hope you all have a good time together in school. Please, make yourselves at home. I don't eat much anyway.
The woman in bed, Tam's mother, speaks through her mask, before slowly sitting up with Tam's and Muffle's help. A table is set up for the dishes.
>>465859 First things first, see to the commander. "Commander, now is not the time to be silent. A small apology for dropping in unannounced might get the conversation rolling."
>>465862 >>465861 "Ah… sorry for dropping in unannounced without earleir notice. We came because we thought Tam might need help. I'm not very hungry, so I can go without-"
"No, please, I'm just happy Tam has good friends like you."
>>465860 Tam is closing herself off. It may be important to get her do do something.
>>465868 Well, I know something's up. But this really isn't my forte. So, scratching the back of my neckplates, I'll… >>465869 Leave this to Gerald and the others.
Dinner goes on as you smooth things out. Eventually, the kids get talking, and it becomes like an ordinary dinner with guests. With Sophie's luck or skill in cooking and Tam's guidance, and maybe with a bit of Muffles' blood in the dishes, a good meal is finished. Everyone stays behind to help do the dishes before the time comes to go home, as friends should.
Later, at the front door, the kids are preparing to leave.
"So, uh, guys.. thanks for coming. I thought, well… you'd all thought it was strange that I'm like that."
>>465880 Obviously this is a crack in the firmware, and my personality file is overriding the adbot program. Maybe. I don't know, I'm just a toy. Maybe I'm broken. "What's this about a camping trip, commander?"
>>465885 I'll just look at Eston for a moment, then shake my head. "While hydration is indeed important, I meant more in the line of tools such as knives, shovels, that sort of thing."
>>465888 I'll blanch slightly. "Suddenly I'm getting flashbacks to the jungle areas in Iron Cog 3: Reptile Devourer. Let's be sure not to eat anything… odd." >>465889 "Beach toys have no place on a survival exercise. You need the right tool for the job, though I'm fairly certain the proper tools are outside of the commander's demographic." Not that I can't smuggle one in anyway…
Or rather, a national park sponsored by a coalition of logging companies to prove their social responsibility while they bathe themselves in lumber from the Congo. In this experience of getting away from modern life and into nature, charging ports are put in convenient places around the park so you can share your experience without modern comforts through the info database/social media of your choice.
Sophie and friends arrive with their class into the campsite, toys in their bags amongst the equipment given. Tents are almost set up, and the kids have to do minimal work.
>>465892 "Let me calibrate the internal compass now that we're free from most electronics, and can you run one last GPS check on your phone Sophie? No need to risk it while we're here comfortable."
>>465893 Yes, you did. Not like it was needed much with the Hungarian Knives most people have.
>>465894 Seeing as Ranger is asleep, Sophie does it herself. We're in some jungle far from town.
>>465895 Looks likes this place is commonly used as a campsite, considering the amount of amenities here.
There are even dorms to sleep in, and a cafeteria to eat in, though unstaffed. Beyond the area, though, it looks like there's actual forest and naturey-things.
>>465896 Bah! The Hungarian Knives pale in comparison to the versatility of a proper Swess Army Knife! This baby's even got a flat-head screwdriver bit as well as a Phillips head! "So, commander, where do we go now? Into the woods to set up our tents and find cover?"
>>465897 Looks like they're doing average on average.
Muffles seems to be finding things interesting. Tam and Sophie are alright. Joe is looking quite horrified.
>>465898 >>465899 "We'll be setting things up here quickly. Then…"
As that's done, the class is asked to assemble.
"Okaaaaay, kids! Welcome to your Mandatory Childhood Adventure Camp! Now, remember that staying safe and sound is important, but what fun is it unless you get yourselves into a little danger you can all laugh about later? Huh, huh?"
The camp director looks around expectantly.
"…aaaaanyway, I see you've all more or less gotten your tents sorted out. So, let's begin our jungle trail! We'll bring you for a walk around the natural paved roads of the forest, then after you've all familiarised yourselves we can being our activities proper! any questions?"
The air conditioned dorm buildings are to your south, and tents elsewhere in the clear area of the campsite. The Fun Outdoor Things To Do Zone is to your west, and elsewhere is jungle. Wild, untamed, with all-natural paved walkways and free Wi-fi.
The children are getting ready to go for their jungle trail. How about you?
>>469860 I'll make sure that Sophie's group is together. We can't have all the kids wandering about willy-nilly. Are the other children and their toys visible, so we can link up?
Well! Looks like Sophie and friends went into the jungle in that Northern direction! You follow them deep in. Real deep in.
…
A slight glitch in Flashbolt's systems has made him mistake a large snake for Sophie. You look just like a tasty mouse, by the way, according to the snake.
You all encounter a Cottonmouth, a snake known for its venom. It is currently getting to know Flashbolt quite well, since he is inside its mouth and all.
>>469867 "This is…bad. Sophie, get back. You will need to buy a new Flashbolt because that snake is dangerous." I try to pick up a big rock with my TK and crush the snake. [1d10]
>>469879 "The last thing I remember going to do was hunt down Joe, Tam, and Muffles, so that the commander would have traveling companions… I must have suffered some sort of damage beforehoof, though." >>469883 "What would they have to gain from that? We've already proven our superiority to our owners, they'd simply buy new Hasbeen toys."
>>469881 >>469882 You find a sentrillion maps view of the area, but the trail can't be clearly seen from the image. It does let you know that there's a lake to the east of the campsite, though.
>>469884 "They know we are formidable opponents and seek to get rid of us in a cowardly manner by having us lost in the woods." I declare and keep searching, fly around for a better look '1d10'
>>469886 Big things ssssscary. Can ssssmeell. A lot of mammal sssweat in big group. And smaller group of mammals making noiseeee. They making lot more noise.
>>469902 "Of course we don't. We're doing so well on our own." I'll shake my head. "How's that hunt going, by the way? Find the commander and the others yet?"
>>469904 "I'm pretty sure your the one who led us out here, most likely not your fault, an error caused by the Fattel. But I will return us to them promptly have no fear Comrade Flashbolt." continue looking for foot prints. '1d10'
>>469905 "The bird was with us earlier, when we met. It's just excitable and happy to have met a new friend. The others will keep it calm while we're here."
>>469914 Oh, look! It's a whole nest of them. Lots of baby mice and one nice, juicy, fat mama mouse. Even you feel a bit hungry now, even though you know you can't eat them.
>>469917 You only manage to grab a baby mouse. It's not as succulent and delicious as the mama mouse, though, who is now aroused and nervously looking at you.
>>469927 >>469928 >>469929 >>469930 Pretty sure I heard them here… [size8[Mudmudmudmud I hate mud There ARE some interesting plants around here, right? Maybe I could find some
>>469936 "No problem, we can just ask Snake… I mean, we just have to follow your footprints in reverse. Besides, what are you doing out here by yourselves?"
Snake hides a bit away in some bushes while you've rejoined the kids and their toys, after being separated from them. Now, though, you'll have to help the children find their way back to their group. You don't want to be here when it gets dark, do you?
Muffles checks her licensed Hasbeen tabletop watch. It's 1700. The grassy floor leaves little for footprints, too, and it's hard to tell any one direction from another here. Fortunately, at least you're all in a largish clearing where the sky is clearly visible.
>>476086 There we go. You manage to get a map of the area on a website about this place, thought it's mostly in a format you can't interpret very well.
It does say that there's a lake to the north, about a kilometre from the clearing you're in. There's some more information if you'd like to expend more bandwidth to read it.
>>476087 There seem to be a lot of them going in lots of directions. It's very, very hard to tell which are the ones we need, and even then it'd take a long time looking for the correct path back from all these.
>>476088 You go to Snake. Sssssearching for more big thingsss? Try go towards wet place. But take care, there are alsssso many sssmall thingsssss. Too sssmall for eating. But very many.
>>476089 Marla, Taura and Jasper stand guard too, not sure what to do.
>>476090 "So, where did you three end up? About how long ago was it that the commander and her friends separated themselves from the rest of the group?"
>>476090 >>476091 "I got it from a reliable source that we should head to source of water, but I don't know where that is and neither did he. Anything on your end, guys?"
>>476093 "We should head there. Maybe someone who knows the way is out fishing and we can ask for more details there, and it's an obvious go to spot in case…" shudder at the thought, "the worst happens."
>>476091 "There was… actually a pretty big mess up."
"We were actually looking for some other child, but Joe saw you all and decided we'd better just get you guys and bring you all to the main campsite first."
>>476093 >Beetle swarming season in progress! Camping highly unadvised!
>>476104 I frown "Good information gathering everyone, we know to be careful of the area from here on out." >>476107 is that a nervous laugh or a happy one? '1d10' "Lady Sophie, please let us take care of clearing out the beetles if need be."
>>476107 >>476108 "Any missing children we can round up along the way to the site." >>476109 "Or anything else in the way between us and our objective."
>>476112 Fly along with them, on the look out for anything dangerous, "I don't think anything can actually hurt you. Eston is just being cautious. We can make a game out of it, see which toy killed the most beetles by the time we get back, how's that?" '1d10' spot checking >>476113 "I think they are staying together."
>>476114 "Worse? WORSE? How can it get worse, huh?"
"Joe, please calm down, we'll be at a nice lake soon and you can have some nice ideas to draw- oh dear."
A cloud of black seems to descend upon the children, resembling the evil spell cast by the great evil wizards in the stories. The children scream, their ears filled with buzzing noises as they wave their arms frantically or huddle trying to ward off the plague.
>>476116 In the midst of the chaos, you notice something odd has dropped out of Sophie's pocket, near a group off odd plants with red leaves. It's a.. sword? It's kind of like that sword you always wanted, but missing a few details. Like it's incomplete."
>>476118 "That must be the first swarm. We'll handle this!" I'll look at the others. "And by we, I mean the ones who have spells. I unfortunately am not equipped properly for swarms, though I can try. If I get close enough."
>>476118 pick up that sword, this is surely destiny that it came to me in this hour of need! '1d10' Use it to fend off the beetles. "GET BACK INTO THE CLEARING" I try to shout at them.
>>476120 >>476123 "That's the idea, but there's only so high I can jump!" And I'll try and gain some altitude by clambering up the children, and Blasting whatever the swarm is. '1d10'
>>476121 They're not beetles. They're mosquitoes. Not like it matters to your new blade, as it begins to charge, sending a number of the insects down even if they don't get hit by it directly.
>>476122 Your pulse irritates enough mosquito nerves to the point where a large group of them fall to the ground, reeling from shock.
>>476123 You try to smack around a few, but they are small and many. You need something else…
You notice a plant with some red parts closing as the swarm moves near it. It seems to have locked some mosquitoes inside itself.
>>476124 You manage to hack apart a number, or at least swat them away.
Marla, Jasper and Taura are trying their best to fend off the swarm for now.
>>476125 Slash as many as I can reach with my sword. Keep the air around Joe and the Commander as clear as possible, since I can only reach so far. '1d10'
>>476125 I need all the help I can get. I'll use my nanomachines to speed up the plants crushing of the mosquitoes. Natural Remedy to improve Efficiency [1d10+2]
>>476126 It's quite an amusing sight to see mosquitoes crushed against each other in midair. Less so when you have scared children to take care of, but you can look back on this fondly some day. If only you had a camera implant.
>>476127 they split apart from each other, too far for your swings to have noticeable impact. you are unable to stop some converging on Muffles, who begins slapping herself.
>>476129 As you try to send out a powerup signal, a mosquitoes catches itself in your speakers, interrupting you. You easily peel it off, but it means you're too distracted to prevent more from getting through to the children.
>>476128 >12 The sheer amount of hormones and nutrients you are injecting into the plant right now suddenly makes a few of its juvenile leaves grow out and look much, much glossier. You get an idea, and pop out a container that usually sits embedded in your back. Then you pull the plant out of the soil and let it stay in the nutrient gel of the container, which has wheels allowing it to move about, too.
>>483848 >11 If only someone here had a recording implement of some kind. As your 'Magic bolt' pulse through the air, a whole line of mosquitoes in the swarm simply drop, their primitive brains fried and unable to function.
>>483849 >10, 10 You turn a limb into a hardened, wide, thing capable of swatting down a large group, and you do so, relishing the insect ichor that will nourish your new plant friend.
Meanwhile, your flytrap has trapped a large group in one of its chambers, which snaps shut as the mosquitoes within try desperately to escape.
>>483850 >1 You spot a mosquito on Sophie, and move to strike it down. It doesn't go well as a moment of slowness allows the mosquito to escape, and you hit her instead.
Other things aside, your Three Laws chipset kicks in and stuns you.
>>483852 Well… shoot. "Commander, are you alright?" MediCAT can wait a second on that itch stuff, Sophie needs some first aid. I'll stay still and only defend Sophie. '1d10-1' MediCAT will put a bandaid on Sophie. '1d10'
>>483856 A swarm charges into Flashbolt, and soon you are surrounded by so many mosquitoes you can't see or hear anything other than black and buzzing. Perhaps unwittingly, you start giving out a signal for the mosquitoes to work together and actually manage to lift you into the air like in one of those cartoons, except it's not at all very funny here.
Fortunately, the other toys manage to disrupt the mosquitoes enough for them to drop you, but you land right on someone's head an feel even worse.
>>483859 MediCAT, I don't have time for your pussyfooting around. Put that bandaid on Joe. '1d10' And I'll… take stock on my systems. How bad am I off? '1d10-2'
>>483857 >>483860 Only the second action counts here since I'm counting it as your action this turn You fire another shot in midair. though you get a feeling you'd do better if you tried to smash the mosquitoes togetehr again.
>>483861 You leap onto Joe, and keep manage to put a nice plant-based ointment on him.
Your flytrap is happy.
>>483862 Meow beep beep beep The bandaid and the ointment work well. Joe looks lees like he's about to scream now. >5 You could be better. Hopefully you can take some time to recharge after this.
>>483863 I was not designed for this environment. MediCAT will use Wrath, and keep the remaining bugs well clear of the kids. '1d10' I'll… try and pick off a few stragglers. '1d10-2'
Your plant is taking some time to rest after all that eating.
>>483867 Good idea to just grab the remaining mosquitoes and bang them against each other. This should be a sport. You wonder if you can fit in a camera attachment.
>>483871 >>483870 >>483872 Your exhaustion shows, and your clumsiness doesn't actually let you hit any of the mosquitoes, but they get chased away anyway.
Joe is shivering while the others and relieved. A few red marks, but nothing some good cream can;t fix for now. The end of the forest to the lake is clear from here.
Meanwhile Eston's plant closes up and prepares to digest the meal. It might not be active for a while.
Everyone goes North and into the end of the tree line, away from this accursed forest that hurt your friends so much.
The children slow down a bit as they see what lies before them. A beautiful lake of blue gleams in the sunlight, with small cabins dotting the shores. A small crowd gathers to the eastern banks, and you can definitely hear the voices of children buzzing in some sort of excitement. The sight of salvation is just enough to life the spirits of the kids, as they, exhausted and itching, brighten up and relax while they make their way over to the crowd.
The camp instructor waves limp-wristed to all of you and the children.
"Looks like you all got back just fine! See, kids? You all don't have to worry about your other lost friends! they'll beee riiiight back! Now, why don't we all just.. relax! And maybe barbecue! And don't call your parents just yet, why spoil the mood?"
>>486523 I'll shake my head. Then what was that system lock about? I don't like things in my head. >>486523 >>486525 "The same. I need a good charging session."
"Look at how many there are here. How long more is it going to take them?" "We should do something, shouldn't we? We can't just leave them there…" "It's-It's horrible in there! I don't wanna go back! But there are other kids still in there lost and oh no no no no no…" "It wasn't that bad…"
Meanwhile, a nice electronic charging station sits near a cabin.
>>486531 You sit inside and feel a great sense of relief as your generator works more efficiently under the controlled conditions of the recharging box.
>>486534 "Of course I want to. Supporting the commander is my purpose. I'm just low on power, is all. Getting eaten by a snake tends to take a lot out of a toy."
>>486534 "Since everyone is here, we should think of a way to help the children that are still in the woods. Do we have any way of communicating with them, a radio or something?"
>>486540 My hardware, maybe, but what about the bard who can connect to the Net? >>486541 "First thing about getting lost is that you don't wander aimlessly. You stay put. If these kids are smart, they won't be wandering around." I'll idly nibble on the charge cable. "Setting up the barbecue would give the commander something to keep her occupied while we formulate a plan of attack."
>>486541 You could gather wood for a bonfire from the woods. Though from the thick treeline it is doubtful they could see anything until nightfall. By then, ti would be too late.
>>486542 You might be able to find a spare battery with wire attachments if you look hard enough.
>>486543 "Would you really go for me, Gerald?" Sophie picks you up and places you on her palm. She brings you close to her face and gazes at you.
>>486546 I look her in the eyes and nod. "Of course I would Lady Sophie. I am your Knight after all." >>486544 "As far as the trees maybe. This world is much bigger than ours."
>>486546 "Why can't this be easier?! If we can't signal them, what else can we do?"
"Wait, maybe they don't have to see us! We could get them to hear us instead."
>>486548 >>486547 >>486545 "You three don't happen to know any songs the children could sing. It would lift their spirits, and possibly help attract the wanderers."
As you both sing, the kids trying to prepare for the barbeque are filled with a sense of hope. They can't resist singing along, one song after another.
AAAAAND MAGIC MAKES IT ALL FINISHED MY LITTLE TABLETOPS
ASHITTA WO MIUSHINATTAHOHOME TO TO KOSU KASA KA MI AAAAAAI WO TORIMOOOOOPOONYYYY
Some silhouettes shift within the woods. As the emerge, you see them to be dirty, exhausted, but hopeful children.
"Thank goodness you're all here! We were very nearly at the edge of the forest, we think… but it's so thick there that you can't see or hear anything much… but you were all signing that kid's show theme, and we could just barely hear it, so we took a few steps towards you all and we found the lake!"
>>486553 >>486559 After swelling with pride for a moment. I'll give sophie a bow and whisper "I won't let you down" I go off in the direction those children came from
>>486564 Thank the makers for that. I should be charged up enough to go back into the woods. Head over to the commander. "Charged and ready to go, commander."
>>486568 "We'll go, but we need you and the commander to stay here and secure the campsite with the other children. If we're lucky, the smell of the barbecue should draw others."