??? 2011/04/29(Fri)18:33 No. 300240 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130412721046.png - (4.92KB , 580x640 , 0.png )

...

You are conscious.

Everything is dark. There seems to be dirt covering your visor.

Brush the dirt off. I hope I still have hands/arms.

Shake off the dirt. We can't see!

Are you sure that is dirt? Looks like a sheet of solid black. You would have to be buried alive or something.

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)18:45 No. 300246 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130412791825.png - (41.43KB , 580x640 , 1.png )

>>300243
You brush the dirt off, then place both hands on the ground and lift yourself up.

Standing unsteadily, you swivel around, taking in your surroundings. You're met with a barren, dry landscape, with nothing but rocks and reddish dirt as far as the eye can see. A light wind whistles in your helmet.

...in fact, that probably shouldn't be happening. You seem to have a hole in the back of your helmet.

>>300246
Put your thumb over it for now.

cover the hole with your hand and see if you have any tape on you.

Got any duct tape?

Inventory check!

up up down down left right left right b a start

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)18:56 No. 300253 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130412857883.png - (41.52KB , 580x640 , 2.png )

You quickly reach your hand up to your helmet and cover the hole, but your gauntlet does a poor job of sealing it. Meanwhile, you search yourself for something that could create a more permanent plug, while trying to conserve oxy-

...

Wait a second...

You're not losing suit pressure, and you're definitely not suffocating. In fact, now that you think of it... you don't seem to be breathing at all.

>>300253
Shit. Looks like you are the demons. First thing's first. What do you remember? How did you get here?

[1/2] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:09 No. 300265 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130412935353.png - (41.35KB , 580x640 , 3.png )

>>300256
You try to remember how you ended up here, and think back as far as you ca-

*click*

[2/2] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:10 No. 300266 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130412941301.png - (41.43KB , 580x640 , 4.png )

*click*

...

What the hell was that?

>>300266


...are you a robot?

oh, huh. neat.

Oh, you're not undead, you're a robot. Very well! Let's follow your own tracks, to see where you came from.

[1/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:28 No. 300276 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413051152.png - (41.45KB , 580x640 , 5.png )

>>300268
You... you could've sworn you were human a minute ago. This is all very... strange.

>>300271
...but there's no sense in standing around, robot or otherwise. You follow what appear to be your own footprints to the north.

[2/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:29 No. 300277 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413058370.png - (42.53KB , 580x640 , 6.png )

You continue to follow the tracks. Along the way, you come across a few small, mucky puddles of water covered in simple algae, but nothing of actual interest.

[3/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:30 No. 300279 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413062419.png - (82.89KB , 786x802 , 7.png )

Your footprints come to an end at the edge of a wide, dusty road.

c:/run diagnostic.bat

algae on mars? the terraforming project must be in full swing then.

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)19:49 No. 300287 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413177614.png - (82.59KB , 786x802 , 8.png )

>>300280
>c:/run diagnostic.bat

You think of this phrase, hoping to get some kind of response.

...

...nothing happens. If your brain is some kind of computer, it apparently doesn't work like that.

oh well. walk next to the road, but not on it, northward.

agreed, although maybe we should walk on the road, so we don't leave prints. At least until we uncover more about our situation, a little precaution doesn't hurt.

[1/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)20:22 No. 300298 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413376142.png - (82.49KB , 786x802 , 9.png )

>>300288
>>300293
You follow the road as it turns north.

Looking ahead, the road seems to lead straight to the foot of a lone, snow-capped mountain. In that same area, you notice a cluster of unusually square, gray objects, sticking out against the red landscape. Possibly a settlement of some sort.

[2/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)20:23 No. 300299 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413382364.png - (73.38KB , 786x802 , 10.png )

A while down the road, you come across a small, lit sign:

Biblis - 5 km

Hopefully, this 'Biblis' place will hold some answers. In any case, you'll be arriving there soon.

[3/3] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)20:26 No. 300300 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413398187.png - (74.67KB , 786x836 , 11.png )

After about an hour of walking, you arrive at the edge of the settlement. You're met by another sign:

Welcome to Biblis

Population: 1,562

Small place, but it's sure as hell better than more desert.

In addition, there appears to be a small structure just behind the sign. There's a display on its front made up of mismatched neon letters that simply reads 'Jerry's Pit Stop'.

>>300300
Knock.

Well why not let's check out the pitstop. Might have something useful, or somebody who can help us.

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)21:11 No. 300314 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413666743.png - (76.08KB , 786x836 , 12.png )

You walk up to the door and start to knock, but it simply slides open automatically with a hydraulic hiss. You step through the door.

Just inside, you find a balding, middle-aged man sitting behind a workbench-turned-counter, fiddling with a few tools and bits of scrap. As you walk in, he looks up from his work and greets you.

>"Oh, welcome back. Can I getcha anything?"

ask if he happens to sell repair nanites. if not ask about your gaping head wound.

>>300314
Yeah, uh, tell him you got hit on the head and got disoriented. You backtracked, so ask him what you were here doing.

He said, "Welcome back."

We've been here before then, but we should ask about that. I think we should tell him of our predicament, and have him tell us what we did/bought/said last time we were here.

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)21:44 No. 300327 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130413867707.png - (76.09KB , 786x836 , 13.png )

"I took a pretty bad hit to the head back there. I'm actually having some trouble remembering... well, anything. I've been following my own footsteps, trying to figure out what happened. Could you remind me what I did the last time I came here?"

>"Oh man. Yeah, sure. Uh, you came in somethin' like two days ago. Maybe three. Anyways, you jus' bought a few spare parts, some scrap, few small motors an' the like, then left, jus' like that. You were a lot less... chatty that time, too."

"What do you mean?"

>"Well, I'm not tryin' to sound bitter, but... you didn't say more than a single damn word. Jus' dropped an armful o' parts on my counter, transferred the creds, then left... oh, an' how's your head doin'? I got some first aid kits back here if you need one. I mean, you'd still have to pay for 'em, but... yeah."

He doesn't seem to have realized you're not human quite yet. Then again, he hasn't seemed to notice the gaping hole in the back of your head, either.

Show him your head.

"I think I may be a robot."

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)22:28 No. 300334 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130414133923.png - (75.86KB , 786x836 , 14.png )

"About that... I think I may be a robot."

>"Wait... what?"

He looks at you incredulously.

"Just, uh... take a look at this."

You turn around and show him the hole, along with the metal and circuitry within. He stares for a second, then backs up into the wall.

>"Oh, J-Jesus... you mean..."

"Yes, I'm a robot. A machine. I'm guessing this isn't normal?"

>"Hell no it ain't!"

He looks down and begins to mumble to himself.

>"I knew it. Them goddamned ruskies... 'conspiracy theory,' my ass..."

Then looks back up, face shining with sweat.

>"Look, I don't know anythin', alright? Nothin'. You jus' leave me be, an' I won't say a word, I swear..."

We don't want any trouble, we just want to know what happened to us!

>>300334
Tell him you know as much as he does. You thought you were human too before you found the hole in your head.

??? 2011/04/29(Fri)22:51 No. 300341 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130414270906.png - (75.76KB , 786x836 , 15.png )

"Look, I don't want any trouble! I just want to know what happened to me. That's it."

>"You mean... you mean you're not a Russian roboman sent here to shut me up?"

"What? No. I'm a robot, sure, but the rest... well, I guess I don't remember, but probably not."

He relaxes slightly.

>"I... okay. Okay, fine. What do you want, then? I already told you what I know. Really, that's all. Never saw you once before you came in here that one time. I mean... unless you wanna buy somethin', but I'm not sure what a roboman would want with my stuff."

Check your backpack for anything.

right now i could use some tape and anything you think would be useful in fixing this hole.

[1/2] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)23:53 No. 300364 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130414639683.png - (75.96KB , 786x836 , 16.png )

You quickly check your pack, but find nothing. You're not sure if your pack was empty before you took that hit to the head, or if someone emptied it out afterward. It's just about impossible to tell at this point.

"Do you have anything I could use to fix this hole?"

>"Uh, maybe. Repair kit'd probably take care o' that... oh hell, jus' take a look at the list."

He walks over to his computer and taps a few keys...

[2/2] ??? 2011/04/29(Fri)23:57 No. 300370 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130414666266.png - (29.24KB , 852x812 , 17 - shop.png )

...and a digital menu suddenly fills your vision. Neat.

>Details:

>AM-18 Pistol (500 credits)
>>Ascraeus Manufacturing Model 18. Low stopping power, armor penetration and range. Meant for civilian self-defense.

>Night Vision Optics (350 credits)
>>Simple light-enhancing optics for dark environments.

>Improved Armor Plating (500 credits)
>>Armor upgrade. Able to deflect several low-velocity rounds at range.

>Suit-Mounted ESW (300 credits)
>>Basic melee-range ElectroShock Weapon. Capable of incapacitating a target for several seconds.

>Repair Kit (50 credits)
>>Kit for repairing minor damage to synthetic allies (including you), vehicles, and other types of machinery.

>First Aid Kit (50 credits)
>>Kit used to bind and treat the wounds of human allies.

huh, where are you storing those credits? the digital? anyway,
get a repair kit, the gun and the ESW

Seems like it's all on digital.

Yeah, grab a couple of repair kits, the AM-18, and the ESW.

We don't NEED a gun. We could take a peaceful approach, and get say... the armor, the night vision, and the repair kit. While we're here, it's probably a good idea to take a first aid kit too.

Night vision, gun, repair kits.

??? 2011/04/30(Sat)12:15 No. 300452 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130419092407.png - (74.93KB , 786x836 , 18.png )

You purchase the AM-18, two repair kits, a first aid kit, and the suit-mounted ESW, leaving you with 50 credits to spare.

>New integrated weapon available for purchase:
>Blade Gauntlets (600 credits)
>>Powerful, motorized blades built into your gauntlets. Able to pierce most armor types, but only at very close range.

After a quick installation, you thank Jerry for the items, then leave the shop.

>Inventory:
>AM-18 Pistol
>Repair Kit x2
>First Aid Kit

>Abilities:
>ESW (Melee)

We should probably put the gun away for now, lest people be afraid of us, like he was initially.

Can we fix ourselves with the repair kit? Or can we not reach the back of our head well enough. If we need to, maybe we can sheepishly ask Jerry for help with that.

[1/2] ??? 2011/04/30(Sat)13:04 No. 300464 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130419385537.png - (73.78KB , 786x836 , 19.png )

>>300459
Your pistol is already holstered and out of sight. It shouldn't cause any problems.

You figure you could fix the damage yourself using one repair kit. It won't be perfect, but it's better than walking around with a gaping hole in your head.

>1 Repair Kit used

While you're at it, you patch up a few smaller holes, reconnect a few wires, and generally clean yourself up. The end result is a little patchy, but-

*click*

[2/2] ??? 2011/04/30(Sat)13:06 No. 300465 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130419399986.png - (74.97KB , 786x836 , 20.png )

*click*

That... might not be a good thing.

Probably not! We should go. Wish we'd checked where that other set of footprints went, but they're an hour away and all... Might be better to see if you can find a ride in town.

Yea, head towards Biblis. If someone drives by, wave them down.

>>300465
Disconnect those few wires you reconnected.

Then move, back to where you woke up, and follow the other footprints.

[1/2] ??? 2011/04/30(Sat)15:45 No. 300504 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130420353491.png - (75.02KB , 786x836 , 21.png )

You quickly sever the wires that turned the communication array back on. Well, at least these U.N.O. guys won't know where you are if you keep moving.

You then decide to head north, toward the rest of Biblis. Looking around, it seems that most of the town consists of deserted prefab structures, many of which apparently used to be homes, connected by the same sort of ill-maintained, dusty roads you've been following all day. You head to one of the few parts of town that shows any sort of activity.

Along the way, you don't notice any vehicles on the roads, which you find somewhat strange.

[2/2] ??? 2011/04/30(Sat)15:47 No. 300506 ID: 8dd1ee
File 130420364746.png - (202.17KB , 951x939 , 22.png )

In this area, you see several structures: a "Maglev Station" to the southwest, a bar of some sort to the east, and an unmarked cluster of buildings to the northwest.

You also notice a few men in dark, armored suits, with rifles holstered on their backs. They're either patrolling the streets or guarding several structures, including the station and the unmarked buildings.

Oh, and there are people walking the streets without any sort of protection. Mars' atmosphere appears to be breathable by humans.

The bar is probably the least conspicuous place we could go right now. We need to ask about this "U.N.O." and about the town in general.

I still think we need to get as far away from the town as possible so that we don't get 'reclaimed'.

We might have time to quickly ask someone who the U.N.O. are though.

Hey, why wasn't there an airlock at the entrance to Jerry's Pit Stop?

there are puddles of water with algae, algae photosynthesize... mars has been partially terraformed, to the point where it now has an atmosphere breathable by humans.

As for avoiding detection... a lone robot walking away from town would be easily trackable... Blending in with locals might be better... on the other hand someone actually knows what you are and might say so if asked...

I say we need more answers first, lets go talk to people... maybe its actually to your benefit to be retrieved.