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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 16, 2017 3:40:14 GMT
Yes, wise and reasonable... He wasn't one to get swept up in some misfire and lose his head. When they left the Engine, he would correct whatever was at the root of this malaise, and until then he would just swallow that doubt and carry on with their objective. In accordance with that, Ulrich said, "Good, good. I don't imagine it will take long to sniff out the cause, then."
To the second statement, no matter how ridiculous a suggestion it was both a distraction and a step toward what he had asked for. So, pursuing the latter to ignore the former, Ulrich rationalized, "I haven't met his host, Hugh. But we can consider it, alright. You're right to note that his behaviour suffered a major shift, but I would wager you mistook a mere correlation with the cau- Oh. Right. Aah, Just because Evan is acting strange and met this individual doesn't mean that individual is responsible for the way Evan is acting."
"Besides, it was Three, not Evan, who decided to seek them out. Evan is reaping those rewards, but its just as possible he doesn't want to complicate things later. Just like Gunshow has a particular relation toward Kiai, it stands to reason even Evan can follow along with the locals... Does that all make sense?" As he spoke, the Yamask began drifting forward toward their destination once more, eager to put this overwhelming green mess behind them.
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Post by birdy51 on Aug 16, 2017 9:45:08 GMT
"I suppose that would make sense then." Hughshow says with a nod, following after his spectral friend. "It the same for me and the Gunshow. It is easy to think like the Gunshow while being the Gunshow. He is just such a happy creature, I cannot help it!"
He smiles for a moment, then asks, "I don't suppose you feel anything as Ulrich that you might not otherwise feel as Ulrich, do you?"
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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 16, 2017 21:58:25 GMT
"Phrasing, Hugh. The tree is a tree, not a big wooden stalk. The shuttle is a shuttle, not a magnificent metal space-cage. This one is Ulrich the Second... Ulrich II would work, and I might want to see what our errant colleague thinks of just Two... Enough of that." Ulrich chided, before losing steam as he considered the question itself. Naturally, he wasn't smiling himself, just given to explaining and analyzing.
"Given your preamble, and that we just discussed sensory differences, I'm going to assume you're talking about emotional states. And in that case the answer is: No, not really. I've known Ulrich II to display and convey any emotion one might expect. This most recent wave was simply far more intense than I anticipated, nothing more." There had been a few other such incidents, but always with a clear and immediate identifier... So a pronounced effect with no obvious source surely had some unexpected, hidden variable at play.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Aug 17, 2017 11:50:33 GMT
Ulrich and Hugh's discussion carries into dusk with the boughs and canopies of the first forest they have ever known nesting them in a growing shade, but this darkness was not at all like Gol's. When one travels the streets of Gol at night, there is light and activity. Work continues, travel continues, recreation continues. Come dark the sounds of the forest fade out to just the rustle of the trees and the distant cry of some predator or another. It is cathartic for Ulrich II, but for the Gunshow the dark is unsettling in some respects. The phrase 'you cannot fight what you cannot see' comes to Hugh's mind from Gunshow's memories, paired with the silhouette of a mentor figure.
After a few hours of listening to Sheila's brood sharing stories about the difficulty of the hunt, and complaining about shedding, or losing a fang in a particularly hardy prey along the mountainside, it is time to bed down for the night. The cool air settling into the valley encourages nesting balls in the serpents. The young, having sunned themselves late in the evening, gather into tight clusters to keep warm for the night. Seeking out Sheila, Evan finds her wound tight against the long-fanged, tail bladed serpent he had noticed earlier. She invites the Dunsparce to join them, but her other partner's expression very much suggests it would be unwise. To reject such an invitation though...
Things begin to blur at the edges, dizziness setting in as the time on the engine expires and the automated system stops with the transmission. The tight confines of the Carnate Engine coming into view as eyes flutter open, the faint rattle and scrape of tools nearby as the pods slowly slide open.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 17, 2017 18:25:46 GMT
After the protracted time spent listening to the young snakes, Evan's suddenly thrown back into the realm of having to tread carefully. His mind begins to race, as he considers the best course of action here. Either one would probably be dangerous, but-
He's a little confused by the sudden blurriness, but then realizes what's going on. All at once, he's no longer in the burrow, but above the Ark, without even the comfort of gravity. As he gets his bearings, a litany of cursing runs through his mind. Maybe they could send him down again? No... by the time he was sent into either, it would probably be too late. Not to mention, they'll want to do all that debriefing stuff.
As the pods open, he sends a silent 'good luck' down to the surface, in hopes that the Dunsparce can make it out all right.
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Post by birdy51 on Aug 17, 2017 19:17:15 GMT
Hugh did not like to think. Words were such an unwelcome thing in his life. Action always carried more weight. Willpower. Strength. Courage. Honor. Duty; tangible in the works of a true man. Hugh was not afraid of the dark, even when Gunshow was. However, everyone was afraid of something.
Hugh? Hugh was afraid of words.
Hugh awakens from this dark reverie with a start. How long had he been sitting there in the pod? When did he get back to the pod? His eyes fluttered as they adjusted to this dim world. His world. The world of Hugh. The Beef groaned noisily, longing to stretch his muscles and do something other than to sit around in a cramped space for hours. He closes his eyes tightly. The engine doors were opening as a bright, garish synthetic light burst through. He loosed a drunken groan and strove to push the door open faster, declaring noisily that, "Hughshow does not like the light..."
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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 17, 2017 19:34:34 GMT
With the gloom and dark closing in around them, masking that offensive sea of life they were drowning in. It was also fascinating to observe the day-night cycle of the Surface from that perspective, with all the changes it brought...
And speaking of changes, before long, so too did the setting as they were whisked back to their true bodies. But, while there were inevitable reports and debriefings and interrogations in the intervening time between their next attempt, Ulrich elected to wait a few moments longer in the pod.
...but, that couldn't last, so with all the enthusiasm of his counterpart, Ulrich too exited, first checking to ensure his cohorts had followed suit.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 17, 2017 21:00:11 GMT
"I suggest getting some sunglasses, or something," Evan mentions, reluctantly exiting the confines of the pod to the blinding rest of the ship, and following his own suggestion with putting his pair on. Much better. "Although, you might have a hard time just finding some lying around here. Probably'll have to wait until we return to Gol."
Once again unaccustomed to zero-gravity, he awkwardly makes his way out, thankful that the initial responses didn't seem to be yelling at him. So, that's promising at least. Or, at least a silver lining. Getting his bearings (more or less), he looks around, taking in everything again. And already lamenting the fact that it isn't the burrow.
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Post by Robot on Aug 21, 2017 0:15:15 GMT
Professor Rosewood surprisingly wasn't immediately on top of the trio begging for every little detail as would be normal, instead she had sections of her pad apart and seemed to be working a new storage drive and some form of woven metal mesh into the relay with relaxed diligence. "With the elapsed time, I take it your days observations went well?" She asked coolly, wiring the drive into the remainder of the pod. "Jacob opted for a shorter dive, but came back acting full of himself, but he insists Vorp is going to achieve great things."
(Intuition Please.)
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Post by birdy51 on Aug 21, 2017 3:23:58 GMT
"We learned a little." Hugh said, rubbing his eyes. He probably was going to have to bother Ace for a pair of sunglasses later, but he didn't want to alert Evan of this. Speeking of Eva- Bah. He wasn't in the mood to be yelling. Hugh was tired and exhausted, and therefore launched straight into the debriefing.
"Our Pokémon have landed in a valley ringed by four mountains. In this place, the local Pokémon have seemingly created some kind of settlement led by a particularly powerful Fighting type by the name of Kiai. A single canyon leads out of the valley, but we were unable to explore it due to several delays."
Here, Hugh stares pointedly at Evan. "Were you able to uncover more information from your host?"
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 22, 2017 16:32:40 GMT
"Yes, they went... fairly well," Even says, looking at Rosewood with a little suspicion at the laissez-faire attitude. "Although, unfortunately, the engine disengaged at the exact worst time. There was a slight bit of kerfuffle, and, well... hopefully Three makes it through. I don't suppose there's a way to implement some form of manual disengage to try and avoid that sort of situation in the future?"
Holding his posture under Hugh's pointed stare, Evan replies, "I was in some regards, although it's more pertinent to Ulrich. Apparently, there is a 'dark master' or something that all Ghost types either answer to or are held by. The specifics weren't exactly clear. But, supposedly he does not suffer lightly ghosts to roam free from him. So, that could prove problematic. Ghosts themselves are considered extremely ill omens, so there's probably not going to be subtlety with one involved. At the mere story of a ghost in the area, my... host changed her plans to instead hunt in a different area entirely. So, proceed with caution. You'll likely be unhindered by anything except perhaps other ghosts, but you will also probably not learn much from other beings."
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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 22, 2017 17:08:26 GMT
Not spending time to wonder how Doctor King extolling Vorp was anything notable, and thinking that observation from the shuttle must have been exceptionally tiring for the Professor, Ulrich confirmed, "The details on the valley and its settlement were provided from the same Kiai. As well, the information Evan was given seems accurate; Aside from our Operators, Kiai a scattering of injured and incapacitated specimens, and the Golett, it would seem the local wildlife avoided our ghost."
Then, adding some details of his own, "Before regrouping, observations were also made of said Golett. True enough, even on the Surface it has yet to go berserk, but it was engaged in business that transfixed the Yamask before I assumed control. Its current goal is, admittedly, poorly understood."
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Post by Robot on Aug 23, 2017 15:19:00 GMT
(Intuition 20 - Professor Rosewood is carrying herself with a hint of jealousy, and there is distinct irritation at the shift in Doctor King's attitude, particularly where he was the one that suggested she remain behind in the first place.)
"Then if I am to understand all of this correctly." Rosewood sat back, toweling her forehead and scrubbing the grease from her delicate fingers. "You have discovered a society complete with some manner of caste system favoring the strong, and Ulrich the Second for all the ways he vexed us in the labs is similarly avoided for his unnatural nature on the surface." Scrubbing at one of her eyes, she back into the compartment where she was working, measures of frustration still managing to slip into her tone despite the shift in posture and attention.
"It sounds like it was an eventful day. As to your request for a manual ejection Evan, I am working on something that may enable that venue but it won't be for some time. Manual ejection requires that you be able to physically or mentally manipulate the pod in some fashion. Right now, the only shutdown protocols are the timer, and if your vitals spike in unhealthy ways that should not occur under normal circumstances. Designing a transmitter that doesn't wholly place your consciousness into the dive body obviously comes with it's own dangers and concerns. The alternative would seem to be... maybe a trigger when certain parts of the brain become active? They would have to be very specific..."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 23, 2017 16:48:00 GMT
"At least in the my own case," Evan says, "I didn't find so much a caste system, as a system where the strong eats the weak. I know there was a group of Pokémon I encountered that was very surprised I wasn't going to eat them. So, I think that that's the case for most of the world. And I think that Doctor King may be a little... ahead of himself..." he tries to speak diplomatically, "if he thinks he can do whatever 'great thing' after one day. This is a whole new world. Thinking we really know anything about it is a mistake. Making decisions off of that lack of knowledge is... probably not the best idea in the long run."
"Anyways, I'm no scientist," he changes subjects, trying to be tactful and not discuss too much the actions of their non-present colleague, "But I was raised by some working on gene-treatments. So I have at least some rudimentary understanding of physiology. Would sleeping be able to trigger distinct enough mental triggers? I seem to recall something along those lines. Or I might just be remembering wrong. If that's possible, though, it'd probably be helpful. Since if you're in a place that you can sleep, you're probably in a relatively safe place, not in the middle of anything delicate, and so forth. The biggest drawback I can see is that it would, by necessity, make jumps a daylong endeavour. But, I suppose the timer would be there if we needed to limit times."
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Post by birdy51 on Aug 24, 2017 1:35:18 GMT
Hugh listened passively to what Evan and the others were saying and surprisingly agreed with most of it. The information that Ulrich the Second was reviled upon the planet was news to him. Not good news, but it did mean that Evan's time with the host was not entirely wasted. Though, that did raise some troubling thoughts. He raised his mouth to speak. "If Ulrich the Second is so reviled, then we will have to make sure that he does not come to harm. I am more than willing to beat acceptance into them, but it may do well to force others to adapt to Ulrich the Second's presence in a less aggressive manner."
He crosses his arms quietly. He was suddenly aware of a great hunger in him, the kind that happens only when one has been cooped up inside of a shuttle for far too long. "I require protein." He states bluntly, before making his way back to the personnel quarters to get some kind of sustenance.
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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 24, 2017 2:58:18 GMT
"...right. I imagine the locals would be more leery than overtly hostile, at least based on what we've observed so far. I will... Make sure our Chief of Security understands that." Ulrich said, after Hugh had made his exit. Then it was on to other elements. "While a sleep based trigger should be feasible, as such it wouldn't address your stated concern, Evan. The automatic timer is inadvisable to remove, or even change at this point, for reasons which I hope are obvious, meaning this would let you return sooner. Only sooner. That is to say, we can add triggers to pull an Operator back before the deadline, but extending the dives any longer is dangerous."
After a brief pause to further consider it, he added, "Though if you're really that keen on testing it, it may considered an acceptable risk."
And at last, (mostly) to the Professor the researcher answered, "We can say with confidence that there is organizational structure to the local creatures, yes, and while we were unable to confirm, it seems to not be consistent across the entire valley region. As for 'most of the world'? None of us understands it to the degree we can speculate; 'thinking we really know anything is a mistake', was it?"
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Post by Robot on Aug 25, 2017 15:59:08 GMT
"Reconfiguring the pods to not connect during periods of REM sleep will prevent you from losing time to unconsciousness, and I could certainly set them to disengage their pilot on the host falling into a deep sleep, but going for less then that would mean that sleep effects like Rosebud's powder would trigger an auto-shutoff of the Carnate System." Delilah massaged her scalp for a long moment, taking it all in. "You should all eat something, get some sleep, and exercise before using the pods again. At lower gravity we're even more subject to bone density and muscle mass loss. I am afraid Mister Beef has the right of it."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 25, 2017 16:04:53 GMT
Evan nods. Even if it wasn't perfect, at least it's something that they would be thinking on. Hopefully keep something like his situation from happening again. "I'll make sure to do that. But, before I depart," he addresses Rosewood, "may I request a word in private?" Much as he'd like to get back to some silence and solitude, there're some things that bear discussing.
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Post by birdy51 on Aug 25, 2017 16:07:28 GMT
Mr. Beef indeed had the right of it as he tore open the cubbies for nutritious protein in a bag. Beef big man. Beef need food to power through the day! Sitting for hours took much out of him. He tore open the bag with his teeth and drank down the nectar of the gods without letting an ounce of it escape! Succulent flavor. Protein! Power!
It made him want to exercise, if only it weren't so damnably hard to do so in zero g. Well, at the very least, he could stretch his muscles. It was better than nothing.
A small chuckle rose up in his throat. An idea struck his mind suddenly, like a lightning bolt, filling his belly with mirth. "Yes... If I do that then... Hohohohoho! HOHOHOHOHO!!!"
Hugh laughs heartily, shaking the ship. A dangerous occurrence was taking place. Hugh, was thinking.
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Post by ThRevanchist on Aug 25, 2017 18:34:12 GMT
It wasn't so much... Well, at all out of a desire to be helpful or supportive, but before leaving (for food, not to give his colleagues a moment alone), Ulrich volunteered, "Deep sleep alone would still leave a sizable gap, and a more liberal check can cause involuntary ejection. Perhaps set up a timer to activate on any sleep trigger? Rosebud's abilities are potent, but their duration leaves something to be desired... But yes, we can discuss this later. Professor, Evan." Offering a conclusive nod, Ulrich began his trip outside the pod room.
Ulrich the Original feared that his counterpart on the Surface would retain its superiority in zero gravity...
With just the broad goals of eating, sleeping, exercising (and the unstated but even more essential documentation), he figured it would be best to get the most mundane... and yet most difficult done first, and drifted/swam to the food stores. He very much hoped Hugh was a quick eater.
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