Puppet

Doll

Marionette

Puppet!

Hrrrm...
As interesting and fun as all three are...
Hrrm.
Doll is right out-We do enough talking down our problems in quests!
Puppet...Hrrm. Time magics can do some neat stuff, but on the flip side? I feel like I'm for doing something we don't normally go with, and picking marionette Let's punch things down!

Marionette

doll

Puppet!

Does doll let us shift our appearance at will? Because if so then that; if not, puppet.

Puppet

Marionette

Doll

>>635634
Marionette.

Become a clockwork Terminator!

Marionette HP: 24 DR: 3 AC: 10
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 2
Endurance: 4
Perception: 3
Empathy: 1

Pilebunker Gauntlets: 2d10+5, +2d10 if spike is readied as an action.

-------

Tick... Tock...

The sound of your "heart" beat begins to fade as you feel the ebb and flow retreat. For a moment, you feel somewhat worried, why was it leaving you? Then sound of your "heart" beat fades entirely, and you suddenly feel weight settle upon your shoulder. Then, your "eyes" open.

You find yourself in a bland looking room that has clearly seen better days. There seems to be little activity, as a quick look around reveals the presence of no one else, Automata or otherwise. Old machines, covered in corrosion and broken in places, line the room, the one you are currently standing under included among them. It seems this was the machine that put you together. It appears to be inactive now, and by all appearances, does not look like it will be in use anytime soon, at least not without major repairs. The rest of the room is in a similar state. A door leading elsewhere is further down, slightly ajar, but as you begin to take a step towards it, you halt, noting and unfamiliar weight upon your arms.

A check reveals a pair of massive gauntlets attached to your appendages, all the way up to your elbows. They weigh quite a bit, and appear unwieldy at first, although they prove easy enough for you to lift and manipulate with some practice. The both appear to have an internal spike that is currently in a stored state, although something tells you that you can pull each spike back to ready them for additional damage during an attack. It seems at least that you are not unarmed, and thus capable of performing your needed functions if required.

Regardless, the momentary distraction has halted your immediate need to leave the room. The door still remains slightly ajar, but further inspection reveals several crates stacked into a corner, as well as a number of corroded and motionless automata littering the walls.

EXAMINE ALL THE THINGS, obviously.

If the machine that built you is damaged, and all the other automata around appear non-functional, who or what activated you?

>what do
Examine the motionless automata, first. Why are your fellows innactive? Can you determine the cause?

After that, see what's in the boxes.

search for any spare parts for critical systems. like a timing quartz.

The automata are, for the most part, non-functional thanks to the missing piece required for their artificial life. All have had their Clockwork hearts removed, rather violently, from their chests. Corrosion and general wear seem to compound the issue further, leaving each devoid of any usable parts to scavenge. Whatever happened here, you can only assume it happened quite awhile ago, judging by the amount of rust and the layers of dust that cover everything.

The four crates appear undisturbed, at least recently, and it takes only a few slow attempts before you pry open the first lid. Inside appears to be an assortment of spare bits of metal, probably to repair damage or fix minor issues with the automata. Again, rust covers these pieces, and it's the same for the three others as well.

That done, you take another look at the machines that likely built you. All are in various forms of non-functioning, holes ripped in some, gears pulled from others, and rust covering everything. Your own place of birth is the best of the lot by far, someone must have tried to repair it at least a little, but more than that, you couldn't say. You have no knowledge regarding the use of the machines, and it doesn't look like they should be functioning anyway.

With nothing further to look at, you step towards the door and pull it open. There's a loud groan as the rusted hinges work to swing open, revealing a corridor beyond. The hall is empty, save for what appear to be more doors, three in total not counting your own, two on either side as you make your way down, and one at the very end. There are barely legible signs on the one on your right and the one at the end of the hall, labeled "Armament" and "Lobby" respectively, but the last sign is scrawled over with a gear and what appears to be an attempt at a skull.

Examine yourself. Does your frame show similar signs of rust and aging as the others? Either you were a recent construction, or something recently intervened to repair / activate you. Or... you've been on standby for a very long time?

>where go
The last sign might be some kind of warning. Don't check there, yet.

Let's check the lobby. You're already armed, and if there's anyone else here, you might find them there.

Let's all go to the lobby~
let's all go to the lobby~

lobby sounds like a good stating area

>Gear + skull
Death to automata? Death by automata/machinery? Dead automata? ZOMBIE AUTOMATA?

Well none of those sound particularly appealing so head to the lobby. Watch out though, it's possible any people might think you a mindless monster.

Punch the door to the lobby open.

You perform a brief check of yourself, searching for any signs of wear or corrosion. None present themselves, except for the light amount of rust that was scrapped off by your gauntlet equipped hands during your inspection of the previous room. Despite this, you decide to check your internal memories, and find nothing from before just a few minutes ago, upon your awakening.

After this simple check is done, you head for the lobby door, ignoring the two others for the moment. You arrive at it in moments, and pause slightly before tapping the door with your fist lightly. It swings open with notably less groaning than the previous, revealing what appears to be a rundown lobby of some sort, sunlight filtering in through the murky, dust covered windows to the outside. Imagine that.

The room contains the remains of chairs of all sorts, a wooden counter that has rotted considerably, and a notable lack of anything alive. You do, however, discover the remains of what appears to be a campsite of some kind, only recently abandoned, as cans of what you assume to be food, burnt wood and piles of blankets and other linens are strewn about in one corner of the room. It would be safe to say that someone has been here, although it is impossible to tell how soon exactly.

Two corridors seem to branch to the right and left of where you entered from, although one is blocked by debris. The other is clear, however, and reveals three doors inside. The first is labeled simply as Test Site 1. The second is scratched out again, with another mark, this time in words, that reads simply "Lier!". The last seems to be a way to a bathroom, although if you had to guess it likely doesn't function.

As you make your way back towards the lobby proper to consider your options, you hear sounds coming from the test site door, as if something were moving behind them. You pause to consider this, eyes locked on the door as you watch it for any further signs of activity.

Does the test site have any kind of observation window or port nearby? You might expect one.

If you can't find a means to observe the room remotely move closer to investigate. First, listen at the door.

I'd like to go back to that armory place first, see what's there. More weapons seems like it would be wise, all things considered.

i think the test site is actually safe i am willing to bet the camper made the changes to the signs. and since this one is unchanged they didn't find any dangers.

As you watch the door, thoughts swirl in your mind. If there is a window to this test site somewhere, it would likely be in the "Lier!" room, at least you would think so, considering that the placement of both rooms. Still, you find that your thoughts turn less towards caution and more towards action. The rooms seemed to be marked, and whoever has done so seems to consider this room no threat at all. The camper seems to be human, and if it no threat to them, then it is likely less of a threat to you.

And if there is something deadly within, you will make it safe.

You slowly make your way up to the door, pausing a moment to press your metallic head against the door and listen for any further disturbance. At first there is nothing, and then you hear soft, short gasping sounds. Someone or something is breathing at least. An organic then, not an automaton.

You gently grasp the door handle as best you can with your hands, careful to avoid breaking it off entirely and attempt to open the door. The handle rattles slightly, and you hear a sharp intake of breath on the other side, but the door refuses to budge. Locked, it seems. You'll have to find a key or simply make your own way inside.

You release the door handle and begin to consider alternatives when the door rattles again, this time from the other side, and a voice floats across, muffled by the obstruction in your way.

"H-Hello?"

The despite everything, you find yourself unable to get much information from the sound at all, other than the fact that it sounds distinctly feminine. You think it's feminine anyway, you've never met a human before and can only assume that is what one would sound like given the information available in your skull.

say hello back. talking helps prove you are not a threat.

Explain that you have no intention of harming her at the moment. Sneak around her and make sure that she isn't using traps, and then come out into the open and request an alliance.

Dang. No line of sight. I would just wave in greeting, which would be amusingly sort of creepy with our gauntlets.

I guess we have to use words. "Hello."

"Hello. Are you injured?"

We should be cautious but let's also be nice to this unseen stranger. What we need now is an ice breaker, we should ask about how the stranger is doing. Or we can ask about the weather.

You pause a moment, letting the hesitant greeting sink in before offering one of your own, and finally testing your vocal mechanisms.

"Hello."

Your voice, even to your own ears, sounds metallic and emotionless. You suppose that is to be expected, given that you were a automaton designed for combat, not interaction. Regardless of the sound of your voice, however, the door rattles again, and the voice on the other side replies with a mixture of relief and what sounds like an attempt at a commanding voice.

"Oh thank the Aether. It's an automaton. Get me out of here!"

For a single moment, you feel the undeniable urge to do as the voice says, almost moving to smash the door in your path and free its captive. The moment passes within a single tick of your heart, however, to be replaced with the emptiness of before. Curious. Your lack of motion seems to be just as curious to the voice beyond as well, who voices her concerns with a quickly rising panic.

"Oh no! Is this one of those broken ones? Please no, please no. I can't take another day of those bastards harassing me..."

open the door normally.
help them, because you want to.

Something's wrong. You're falling prey to her mere suggestions.

Tell her that you're in charge. If she agrees, smash the door in.

>>636031
no, we will be partners. no one will be in charge.

I don't see a reason not to let her out, wether or not we have functioning control circuits that force us to obey. It costs us little, and she may have answers to some of our questions. Besides, we currently have no reason to wish her locked up.

Tell the human the door is locked. If she cannot unlock it from her side, you will have to force the door in order to get her out. Instruct her to stand clear.

Then attempt to punch the locked door open.

You decide quickly that simply leaving the human inside the room is not to your best advantage, possible enslavement be damned. It was time to figure out a way passed this door.

"The door is locked. Requesting removal of lock."

The panicked voice seems to calm somewhat, perhaps reassured by your continued presence at the door. There rattling again, a stifled word you can't make out, and then more rattling, before the voice returns, calmer but still with a hint of panic.

"It... It won't unlock... I-I don't think it does from this side! Oh Aether, I'm stuck in here, aren't I?"

"Negative."

You are quick to interrupt, if only so that you may interject before the human returns to panicking. She immediately goes silent, as if waiting for you to continue, which you promptly proceed to do.

"Move from the door. The obstruction shall be forced open."

You don't hear any particular movement behind the door, but you wait a minute or two before you take up a more firm position and draw your hand back. You pause a moment before driving your armored fist forward, smashing the door into fragments of what it was and finally observing the room beyond as you step inside. There is little to see of the room beyond, it is mostly empty, save a few broken automatons and slabs of rock that appear to have been attacked at some point. Far more interesting, on the other hand, is the human that quickly stumbles out from a corner, relief apparent on her face.

"Thank the Aether! I didn't... I couldn't..."

She collapses again in front of you, her strength apparently failing her. You observe her silently as she continues to start speaking and halting, noting her appearance. She appears to be of pale skin, auburn hair and bright, green eyes. She is clothed in what appears to be an incredibly oversized sweater of some kind, the sleeves coming down to her palms and the hem coming down to just below mid-thigh. There is little else to see, although you known a number of cuts and bruises along her exposed legs and face, as well as her general appearance being somewhat... malnourished. It seems that she was under some amount of duress.

"W-we should leave. B-Before they come back."

The woman interrupts your observation by using one of your hands to pick herself up, legs shaking somewhat. Perhaps it would be best to remove her from this place after all. Before you can react, however, the woman's body tenses, clearly something has startled her. She wastes little time in making her fears known, the terror evident in her voice.

"Oh no... O-Oh Aether... Th-They're back... I-I can hear th-them in the lobby..."

>they're back
As for clarification. Hostiles? Of what type / classification? (Human, animal, automata, intelligent?).

The human is no threat to you, unarmed and in her condition. The new arrivals may be.

The human is a potential source of information- she has a use to you. If the newcomers wish her harm, you have reason to stop them. Unless they offer you something of equal or greater value in exchange.

how long can you keep the spikes in ready position? if long/indefinite then ready them now before engaging potential enemies.

'Identity and number of hostiles?'
I think this question should tell us what we need to know.

"Identity and number?"

You waste little time in discovering what you need to know, even as you ready the spikes within your gauntlets, drawing them back to deliver a crushing blow when needed. They are anything but silent while doing so, a distinctively metallic clank sounding from them, but you are hardly concerned. If anything comes, you will crush it.

"U-Um. Th-They're were th-three usually. They... They're part of some local g-gang though... Th-They... kept h-hurting me. L-Left me in th-that room all the time..."

The woman seems confused at your words, but you ignore her. You have what you need. Three, and humans if you are understanding correctly.

"Wait here."

You made sure the woman is at least capable of seating herself properly without injuring herself before moving back down the corridor towards the lobby. Just as you reenter the room, you come face to face with someone else, intent on heading the way you'd just come from, it seems. The man, as you assume it to be, jumps back in surprise, readying what appears to be a large metal pipe.

"What in the Aether? Jim, where'd this thing come from?"

"What thi- Eh? An automaton? What's this doing down here? Geoff, come here and get a look at this thing."

"Nah, I'm good. Don't trust them things. Sides, seen enough of them lying all over the ground in this place."

"I guess... came from where we stuffed that girl, though... Think it did anything?"

"Don't know... maybe we should try ordering it around? Autos are supposed to follow human commands, right?"

"Only if they got no master, idiot. Still, it can't hurt to try. Oi! Bucket of gears! Why don't you get out of my way!"

Again, you feel no compulsion to obey, and instead simply stand in the doorway, staring at the two men in front of you. The third seems content to lounge over by the fireplace, which has been lit, while the two next to you are both wielding pipes of different sizes. You see no weapon on the third.

"Query: Directive to remain in this location is?"
Let's get some information before these guys try and take a pipe to our heads and we smash them.

The humans have numerical superiority, and one weapon. They don't seem a significant threat to you, although the female human would be outmatched.

Potentially these humans could also be information sources, but they're aggressive, instead of indebted / thankful. Also, their actions so far inspire little in the way of sympathy.

>Autos are supposed to follow human commands if they don't have a master.
Interesting. You are not compelled to obey, despite no knowledge of a master. You differ from other automatons they've encountered.

Do we have a hidden master? Did we somehow set a null master? Is our compliance mechanism damaged or deliberately disabled?

>what do
Play dumb for a little longer. Stand in the doorway, don't move, and see what else they're willing to say in front of you.

When they wind down, or decide to try something, speak. Ask them what their purpose here is. (Get them to explain why they've keeping the other human as a prisoner).

Yes, we do only have one person's story for what's going on here, if possible we should seek additional accounts of what is going on in case she was exiled for reasons of being a criminal, or quarantine or something.

kill pipe wielder.

Disarm them then ask them to leave. If they do not comply ruff them up.

>>636088
Interesting... you feel no compulsion to follow the three laws around these chaps.

Knock them out and position their bodies on awkward positions.

Focus on the third person. He might have a concealed firearm.

>Use gauntlet spikes to stab pipes, disarm men

>Grab men by collars, bash them into each other to cause unconsciousness

>Scrutinize final man. "Identify."

You stand a moment, holding back your sudden urge to engage them at the sight of the potential weapon in hopes they might say something of further interest. Unfortunately, they seem to not be interested in doing so, instead arguing over who should deal with you between the two of them. This continues for a few minutes, the entire time of which you simply stand and play dumb. Eventually, one of them sighs and moves to actually do something.

"Fine! Fine! I'll take care of it! If it won't move, we'll just dismantle the thing. It's probably broken anyway."

The man lines himself up square with you and lifts the pipe up, intent clear that he wishes to cause you harm. You respond defensively, choosing to ignore your instinct to incapacitate the man permanently and instead reach up, grabbing the pipe as it swings towards you and halting its motion. The man wielding the weapon looks suitably surprised.

"Identify."

Your voice rings out, and the man goes from surprised to scared. He starts tugging at the pipe stupidly, probably hoping to dislodge it from your grasp, but your fist refuses to budge without your direction. His friend, on the other hand, wastes little time in trying to help his friend, a loud clang sounding as he strikes your head with HIS pipe, doing absolutely nothing. On a normal human, they would have likely been enough force to cause trauma to the brain.

Deadly intent.

You know how to deal with deadly intent.

"Engaging."

"Aw shit."

---

Marionette- HP:24
Thug 1- Healthy, Dis: 0
Thug 2- Healthy, Dis: 0
Thug 3- Healthy, Dis: 1

Okay. Until they draw a better weapon than pipe, they can't really hurt you. No spikes necessary- we just need to punch them until resistance stops.

Thugs one and two are right in front of you, right? And you're holding one by his pipe.

Use your grip to wrench the pipe to the side so you slam the two of them together. Possibly use you other hand to shove / grab / punch the other from the other direction.

If successful, you can put two of the three combatants on the ground in a single move. Possibly out of the fight, if they break anything, or knock heads.

grab their hands and squeeze.

Capture at least one alive to query, the others must not escape to raise the alarm but death is more permanent than is warranted without understanding their reasoning.

grab the thug that hit you and throw him into the one who wont let go of his pipe

And because I forgot to put this in last time, here's a link to this quest's discussion thread, which also contains some simple rules for combat:
http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/90512.html

---
You reach out, grabbing the one that hit you easily, given he's still standing there looking somewhat confused. With barely any real effort, you drag him into his companion with enough force to send them both crashing into the wall next to you(2 Dam, Stun). They don't appear to be getting up, at least for the moment, so you turn your attention to the last man.

He's managed to scramble to his feet in the moments it took you to deal with the first two, and he holds what appears to be a small hand crossbow in pointed at you. Unfortunately, he also seems conflicted as to what he should do, eyes darting between you, his companions, and the door.

---

Marionette- HP: 24
Thug 1- Injured, Stunned, Dis: 0
Thug 2- Injured, Stunned, Dis: 0
Thug 3- Healthy, Dis: 1

"Surrender or be deleted."

Then break the nearest item within reach and use the pointy bits to emphasize your threats.

he seems like he's about to flee, grab the two you knocked down and throw them at the third guy.

Allow him to flee.
Step back, but bar the route between him and the rooms leading to the girl.
If we let him flee, we can learn which way leads out of here.

grab one of his pals and wind up for a throw, "surrender or else"

You reach down, picking up one of the stunned men and readying yourself to throw him at the last man.

"Surrender or be terminated."

The man blinks, eyes darting back and forth now between you and the door, before he does something you consider to be incredibly unintelligent. He charges towards the door, clearly intent on escaping to safety, and you respond by sending his friend sailing through the air. The two men meet halfway to the door, the first getting bowled over as his companion crashes into him(2 Dam). You hear the crunch of bone as something gives in one of them, although judging by the groaning, you assume at least one of them is still alive. A quick inspection of the area reveals no one is currently capable of continuing to fight, so you stand up straight once again, compeletely unconcerned about any possible reprisal. If these humans were any indication, you would assume that they are not much of a threat, wherever they are from.

Now what to do with them?

---

Outcome:
2 Enemies Stunned
1 Enemy Dead

turn the dead one's clothes into improvised ropes and tie the other two up.

Hmm. Maybe we should have thrown the pipe, rather than a person, if you wanted to keep them all alive. Then again, knocking people out without killing them is harder if you're super-strong, and weren't designed for it.

>what do
Tear up clothes to bind / restrain surviving humans, remove their weapons and set them aside.

If any of them regain consciousness, you can ask them to identify again. If they don't, you can inform the female human that the hostiles have been neutralized.

Careful, killing humans is a crime amongst them which can warrant a death sentence. As a non-human. an automaton would generally rate less status and respect within human laws and customs: So if we did kill one of them, we need to keep in mind that those related to or part of their group and society would have a death-grudge against us. Three ill-armed humans are not a threat, but entire cities and armies would have more talent and better tools and skills for doing damage to a battle automaton than improved, blunt weapons.

>>636370
what society? they are obviously bandits. and we can have the human we protected state we moved in a manner to protect her.

You attempt to rip apart the dead one's clothing, but soon find that such minute tasks require a finer touch than your gauntlets provide. Thankfully, removing the hinderance is easy enough. You crouch, settling the heavy armaments on the ground, before mentally releasing the connections that lock the weapons in place and sliding your hands out of them. While normally, you might consider leaving your weapons alone somewhat dangerous, so far, the humans have seemed a little lackluster in their attempts to harm you. Although, perhaps it would be best to avoid killing them in the future. A thought crosses your mind that killing three might be easy enough, but dozens with better equipment might be much better equipped to deal with you. Caution would perhaps be the best policy.

Regardless, without your weapons strapped to your arms, tying them up is a simple matter. In the time it took you to consolidate the two in one place and tie them firmly in place, the female human has managed to stumble her way into the room, perhaps curios about the lack of activity. When she sees what has happened, she does nothing to contain her look of surprise.

"I... What happened?"

"Irrelevant. Information required."

"What?"

"Lack of information. Require more."

"I... O-Okay. What... what do you want to know?"

this building appears to have been an automata construction facility, it is destroyed, what happened?

>>636428
How many other automata are active, which ones are malfunctioning, and what system platforms are they using?

>>636429
how would they know any of that?

What is the general status of sentient society at present in the nearby area? Why did these people imprison you? Who are their people, who are your people? Are you familiar with other fully-autonomous automata? What is known of this place and are there others like it still functional/operating? Are there publicly available sources of general information available, such as libraries, within the general area? How do I care for, or appropriately turn over to an appropriate authority, these prisoners? What rights, privileges and responsibilities would society put upon me were it to know I exist and am fully-autonomous?

Some variation of 'what brings you here to this place?' could be useful...

>this building appears to have been an automata construction facility, it is destroyed, what happened?

"Uh... I... I don't really know... um... I... I'm not from around here, really."

>How many other automata are active, which ones are malfunctioning, and what system platforms are they using?

"You mean... here? I... I don't think I've seen another automaton since I got here... though, I've only been here a few days... in that room..."

>What is the general status of sentient society at present in the nearby area?

"Wh-What? I mean... I think you're asking about the Citadel? I mean, I hope you are. It's the only place humans can survive... since the War..."

>Why did these people imprison you?

"I... I'm.... I can't really... I'm someone i-important... to some people... let... let's just leave it at that..."

>Who are their people, who are your people?

"They work for the Bo- Er... The Regent of this District... Everyone calls him the Boss though. G-Gregory, i-if I remember right. We're... in the lowest District, by the way. District 1. O-Or the Slums, if... if you prefer..."

>Are you familiar with other fully-autonomous automata?

"Fully-Autonom- I-I'm sorry. I-I don't really know. I... I don't even understand. E-Emily might..."

>What is known of this place and are there others like it still functional/operating?

"The f-factory? There's other, f-further up. Er, h-higher. In the other d-districts... O-Other than that... I don't really... I'm not and e-engineer..."

>Are there publicly available sources of general information available, such as libraries, within the general area?

"N-not in the Slums... too much d-death... Nobody c-cares for knowledge down here... E-Except maybe E-Emily, but she's... um... a little strange..."

>How do I care for, or appropriately turn over to an appropriate authority, these prisoners?

"Well... the authorities would be... G-Gregory's men, and since they a-are... well..."

>What rights, privileges and responsibilities would society put upon me were it to know I exist and am fully-autonomous?

"I don't... I don't really know..."

>what brings you here to this place?

"Ah... um... I... I... got c-caught... by um... Gregory... so... yeah..."

The female seems somewhat distracted as she answers your questions, glancing at the stacks of food cans from time to time. Eventually, your questioning ceases, and the woman begins to fidget in place, glancing now between you and the food. Eventually you get the idea that she's waiting for permission for some reason, and you gesture idly. She makes her way over and begins devouring whatever scraps she can find with reckless abandon, while you take the time to process the information you've just received.

sounds like we need to see emily. request and audience with emily. make sure she understands you are requesting not demanding.

Hmm. So she's at odds with the local despot. On the one hand, that might mean she's not going to have much choice but to cooperate with you. On the other hand, you may have made a powerful enemy here today. Unfortunate.

A large scale war could explain why this facility is abandoned or in ruins. It doesn't explain how you came to be activated, given the state of the equipment here. Or how you came to be independent.

You might as well see ask if she can guide you to this Citadel. If you're going to learn more about what happened, the information will be out there. (Although we might want to finish exploring this location, first, if she'll accept the delay without running off).

Hmm. She's stuttering. When she's done eating ask her if she has a speech impediment, or if she is injured. Or is she cold? Cold can make humans stutter.

Oh, you should ask her her designation. You can't call her 'female human' forever, especially in a settlement where that's a non-unique identifier.

>Eventually you get the idea that she's waiting for permission for some reason
Following pack behavior? Deferring to the the strongest individual present.

>>636441
could be fear, worried that we will strike if she doesn't ask permission. ex slave?

Explanation of "fully-autonomous": You are fully-autonomous. You do not need orders to determine your course of action, can have personal preferences and goals, make plans and pursue them.
Fully-autonomous automata are rare, or unheard of? How do you recommend I disguise my nature or otherwise avoid undesirable attention?
Who are you? What particular skills and talents do you have? To whom are you important, and why? Where do you belong and how do I get you there? Were you kidnapped to influence a particular group or third party, for ransom or otherwise? What is your relationship to this Gregory, other than his ordering your imprisonment? What would this Gregory's reaction be to the harm to his employees and escape? Is it likely they have a check-in ritual that would cause Gregory to send aid to this place, and if so how quickly do you expect that to happen? Briefly, what else can you tell me about Gregory's organization and employees?
What is of particular value to arbitrary parties that is reasonably common and easily kept/transported, as a currency or customary commodity of barter? Additional questions when we are confirmed out of danger would be queries about this war you mentioned and 'Citadel.'

You wait patiently for the human to finish scrounging for all the scraps she can find, even scooping out some sort of odd paste like substance from the bottom of one of them. She examines it for a moment, then idly stacks the cans back into place and turns once again to give you her attention. It might just be your imagination, but she seems somewhat less pale now.

"A-Alright... I'm... um... I'm good..."

"You are stuttering."

"Ah... Oh... U-um... s-sorry?"

"Apology unnecessary. Injured?"

"N-no."

"Ill?"

"N-no?"

"Cold?"

"A-A little..."

"..."

You glance around a moment, searching for something to use, then remember the blankets in one corner. You retrieve a few and deliver them to the female, who looks somewhat surprised before accepting them and wrapping them around her form.

"Better?"

"Ah... y-yes..."

"... Designation?"

"Desig...? Oh!" The woman seems to sit a bit taller all of a sudden, back straight, eyes focused and confident. She seems about to say something, before she suddenly recalls something and deflates visibly, going back to fidgeting and stuttering.

"Ah... Um... Well... I'm... er... B... Berry?"

"Query?"

"Berry. I'm... B-Berry."

"Berry. Will require audience with 'Emily' at future date."

"Ah... Yeah... I... I know where she l-lives... Um... are we... leaving now?"

"Negative. Finish inspection."

"Ah... ok..."

>Fully-autonomous automata are rare, or unheard of? How do you recommend I disguise my nature or otherwise avoid undesirable attention?

"Um... don't act like that? I-I mean... not so... independent... maybe pretend you have a m-master?"

>What particular skills and talents do you have?

"I... I'm usually p-pretty good at reading people... and I... um... I'm also pretty good at noticing things? I-I mean, it usually pretty easy for me to spot things others miss..."

>To whom are you important, and why?

"The... The Regents... a-as for why... its c-complicated..."

>Where do you belong and how do I get you there?

"Um... District... District 4... I... don't really... want to go back..."

>Were you kidnapped to influence a particular group or third party, for ransom or otherwise?

"N-no... at l-least, I don't th-think so?"

>What is your relationship to this Gregory, other than his ordering your imprisonment?

"I've s-seen him before... in D-District 4... that's about it I th-think..."

>What would this Gregory's reaction be to the harm to his employees and escape?

"Uh... anger?"

>Is it likely they have a check-in ritual that would cause Gregory to send aid to this place, and if so how quickly do you expect that to happen?

"I never h-heard of one... m-maybe a day before someone starts w-wondering?"

>Briefly, what else can you tell me about Gregory's organization and employees?

"It's... he's a Regent, so... he... he rules this District. Like... um... like a king... although his men are all... uh... well... like that..."


What is of particular value to arbitrary parties that is reasonably common and easily kept/transported, as a currency or customary commodity of barter?

"Ah! Um... Silver mostly. Or... uh... Aetherium... if you rich..."

retrieve gauntlets, reset spikes if taking them off made the spikes go back. and let's continue exploring. she may shout if there is a problem.

let's finish the hall with the room she was in.

Scavenge the thugs for money and supplies. Have Berry suggest places to search.

>"Ah... Um... Well... I'm... er... B... Berry?"
Sounds like an alias. She doesn't feel safe using her own name, possibly due to the people searching for her.

>"Um... don't act like that? I-I mean... not so... independent... maybe pretend you have a m-master?"
That's easy to do. We just act like we have a purpose, keep quiet, and don't answer people who aren't authorized to have authority over you.

...you should probably ask Berry if she can come up with a suitable cover story for you to travel together. If she is, or is posing as, someone of a lower social class, her posing as our master probably wouldn't be believable. Maybe we're in the employ of someone else?

Assuming she wishes to travel with us. We will not force it, if she wishes to leave on her own.

>I'm usually p-pretty good at reading people... and I... um... I'm also pretty good at noticing things?
That's useful. Since you weren't designed for interpersonal interaction, and lack the context to notice things she might.

>what do
State your intent to search the ruins for information. She is welcome to accompany you (see if she notices anything) or remain here.

>>636558
These ruins have probably been well searched for loot, and a combination of decay and petty-destruction has probably destroyed or buried most of what's not lootable. We are on a clock for how long it will be before Gregory's organization investigates this place with force recon. I expect the time it takes to find something of value is either infinite, the time it takes us to make it or bring it here, or at the very least longer than we can afford to stay.

State that we need to find a safe place to hide and become better acquainted with the current state of the world. Ask "Berry" if she has a safe place to go to or if she requires us to arrange asylum for her.

>>636606
Searching for information isn't loot, though. We might still be able to learn stuff about this place even if there's nothing left worth carrying off. (For instance, we might be able to determine what this structure was for).

>>636606
are doors marked with danger symbols. we can destroy the danger and retrieve whatever the danger was hiding.

You quickly search all of the thugs for anything of use, finding three small pouches of silver you leave for counting later, before retrieve your gauntlets from their resting place, sliding your hands and arms back into the slot and keying the connection. Within moments you feel the weight resting properly again, and you lift them easily back into the air, resetting the spikes back into place. You are about as prepared as you are going to get.

"Query."

"Uh... okay?"

"Will spend time continuing search of ruins. Require suitable place to hide once finished."

"Um... we could... uh... well... we could go to Emily... she... her place is off-limits to... well... most people... uh... she's sorta... odd... but she'll probably like you... well... maybe a little too much... Or we could... um... find another factory? Lot of people don't... really... like going near them... for the most part..."

You accept this knowledge without comment, filing it away for use later. Now, however, you decide to continue your search by finishing the corridor you'd saved Berry from. The bathroom is likely pointless, so you ignore it for the moment, instead choosing to enter the Lier! door. It reveals itself to be an office of some kind, rotted papers and books littering the ground and shelves along the walls. A desk sits squarely in the back of the room, a corpse seated in a chair behind it. The corpse clutches something shiny within its grasp, although before you can approach for a closer inspection, you hear the soft patter of feet behind you and spin to face it, alert and ready for danger. As it turns out, you simply succeed in making Berry jump slightly, her eyes wide as she clutches the blankets around herself. You stand down immediately and eye her with what you hope passes for a questioning look. Whether she realizes or not, she answers your unspoken question.

"I... didn't want to... um... w-wait with the... uh... the... th-thugs... so I... um... I'm sorry?"

"Apology unnecessary."

"R-right... Um... I had... a... um... qu-query?"

"Query."

"Um... wh-what's your... uh... d-designation?"

...

hmmmm

sam

Error. No designation found.

This unit will designate itself... Thorne.

(Thorn to protect the berry. Also, we fight with spikes. Double pun).

I really like >>636626
we are Thorne!

You pause, searching yourself for any signs of an assigned designation. Nothing comes to mind. You would find this odd, if it weren't for the fact that you've only just recently awoken. Still, it would be improper to refer to yourself by your frame designation...

"Error, designation not found... Thorne."

"Hm?"

"This unit will designate itself Thorne."

"Th-Thorne... Thorne... Thorne..."

Berry repeats the name, as if committing it to memory. You proceed to ignore her, refocusing on the shiny glint you'd noticed earlier, trudging over to the corpse to inspect it more closely. As you approach, Berry seems to come back from her odd chanting, watching you somewhat closely as you stare down at the bones.

"I... I don't like this... s-something feels weird..."

You give her a glance, noting she is pulling the blankets even closer around her shoulders, before you reach forward, gauntlets brushing the skeletons bones. As soon as you make contact, the ebb and flow suddenly envelops you like a tidal wave, information flowing like lightening through your mind.

---

"I didn't mean to. I didn't know."

A man, clutching a gear seemingly made of glittering silver, sits slumped at his desk, looking haggard and unkempt. It is clear he has been without sleep for days, and whatever keeps him awake haunts him while he is awake as well. Across from him, the door is closed, although within moments a loud banging can be heard. The man sighs, shoulders somehow slumping even further, as if accepting his fate.

"It's open..."

A man bursts into the room, looking furious. He wears the apparel of someone of high station, and bears himself well, even if everything about him screams anger.

"What happened!?"

"I don't know..."

"What do you mean you 'don't know'? This wasn't what was supposed to happen! This isn't what you promised us!"

"I know. Tests never caused this much... look, I understand. But... I warned you toying with the-"

"Enough!"

The angered man suddenly draws a knife, reaching forward to grab hold of the man and stab him in the chest again and again. The now dying man clutches the gear in his hand all the harder, refusing to let it go, even as he is thrown back into the chair and the blood in his veins leaves his body. The other man whirls away and departs, telling someone unseen to scratch out the man's name and cover it with a single word. Lier.

The man slowly dies, accepting of his fate, even as he gasps out his last words.

"I didn't know..."

---

The rush of knowledge ends just as quickly, the ebb and flow retreating as you recover your senses. You realize quickly that your hand is clutching something, and look down to discover a silver gear settled into the palm of your hand. You also hear sobbing behind you, and you turn to discover Berry huddled into a corner, tears streaming from her eyes, mumbling to herself. You strain your ears, and you manage to make out three words mumbled over and over again.

"I didn't know."

sounds like someone was meddling with things they shouldn't have.

do you have a storage compartment? place gear in there.

then ransack desk for anything else, ask for her help in searching.

then move on to the next room.

That gear might be useful as an upgrade or equipment part. Keep it, don't sell it.

Ask Emily if she saw that.

Check if Berry is all right. She saw it too?

That's unusual. Some kind of external memory storage an automaton could access is one thing, but one that dumps information to humans too? That's something.

We should probably take that gear with us.

You move to check on Berry, making your way over to her. The words are more distinct as you get closer, but once you arrive close enough to touch her, she suddenly stops, then looks incredibly frightened.

"Wh-What?"

"Unknown. Insufficient information."

"Oh... Oh Aether... it happened again, d-didn't it?"

Again? The question rises to the foremost of your thoughts, but you push it down. Now is not the time. For the moment, you have other things to consider.

"Aid required."

"Hm?"

"Search room."

"Ah... o-ok..."

Berry gets shakily to her feet, then proceeds to help you search the room, although you note she takes special care to avoid touching the corpse. After a few minutes of searching, however, the room is determined as empty of anything else of real value. The pair of you make your way back to the lobby, finding the two thugs still out, and left with two more rooms left to search for anything of worth.

>it happened again, d-didn't it?
So she triggered the vision of past events? If that's a capability of hers, that's certainly a good reason a ruler would consider her important. She's an intelligence asset. ...and a security risk, if unsecured.

>where next
Check the armory next. Check the room with the warning, last. See if Berry recognizes the warning before entry. And have her stand back, just in case.

>>636637
agreed

>>636637
Agreed.
Make conversation with 'Berry' while proceeding, ask about her interests, preferences, hobbies. We need to learn to socialize and trying with someone that is pretty grateful to us for saving her life is likely to get us helpful feedback.

You decide the armament room is next, leading the way whilst trying to come up with something to ask Berry. Little conversation is had, however, as the walk is fairly short, and Berry still looks a bit shaken from your experiences in the last room. Within a minute, you're standing in front of the door, and after a brief check on Berry, you enter.

Within there are bodies of deceased automata and shelves, likely for storing weapons of some kind, but they are remarkably bare of anything of use. It seems someone has already taken any goods there might have been. Still, you perform a quick search of the room, and discover a still functioning weapon attached to one of the automata. It somewhat surprises you that something like this would still be functioning at all, but despite the obvious years of wear on the them, they appear to be still usable.

A pair of much smaller and lighter gauntlets are in your hands, designed for more quick bursts of violence than your current gauntlets. One of them seems to have a small clock attached to it, for what purpose you can't say. They do require maintenance before use, however, something you are unfamiliar with. You will require an engineer.

Seeing as that was all you could discover, you proceed to the door of the last room, marked with a gear and skull. You pause outside, turning to Berry.

"Potential danger. Wait."

"O-ok..."

She seats herself against the wall, settling in and keeping her blankets close, while you turn back to the door. You check it to see if its locked, and finding none, you enter.

Within the dimly lit space you find what seems to be a small room, designed somewhat like a storage facility. Rusted gears appear to be in boxes all around you, but you can't seem to pick out any that might be usable, at least not without getting a closer look. Unfortunately, someone else occupies this room as well. A broken down automaton stands in front of a particular shelf, shaking and spasming in place. It would seem it is malfunctioning. It notices your presence and takes shaky steps forward, pausing a few paces away.

"I-I-Identify."

"designation: thorne. recently activated down the hall of this building."

Be willing to talk, but ready to defend yourself if the damaged automaton proves hostile.

>>636693
Activated XXXX seconds ago, in this facility, XX meters from this location.

Identify?

Query: what transpired at this location?

ID: Thorne, Function: Scavenger. The support unit is designated: ID Emily, Function: Analyst.

Mission Goal: Find and interrogate Mission Control unit Gregory in Area District 4.

Will unknown unit assist in our directive?

>>636697
saying we are a scavenger is a great way to get a facility guardian to hate us.

"Designation: Thorne. Function: Combat Frame."

"A-A-Acknowledged."

"Identify."

"D-D-Designation: S-S-Swallow. F-F-Function: S-S-Scout."

"Query: Incident Report."

"E-E-Error. M-M-Memory d-d-damaged. R-R-Require m-m-maintenance. Qu-Qu-Query: P-p-purpose o-o-of p-p-presence."

"Investigation of area. Acquiring of supplies."

"N-N-Negative. D-D-Directive s-s-states: G-G-Gear S-S-Storage o-o-off l-l-limits."

That... could be an issue...

Quite the dilemma. Do you incapacitate Swallow and risk destroying them, or do you leave the supplies alone knowing that someone else could whack Swallow and raid the loot themselves?

Ask who Swallow's designated leader is, and request as much information as you can - mainly, where to get permission to rescind their orders.

>That... could be an issue...
Only if we actually need access to the gears stored here. It would be something of a shame to wreck this unit if there's no useful salvage.

Unfortunately, he's damaged, and his directive will motivate him to attempt to stop us. And I never much doubt we have the finesse to disable him without breaking him.

>need maintenance
Hmm. Do we have a working knowledge of our own systems? The parts and tools we've seen around so far- is repair an option? It might be worth the time investment if we can get his memory up and running.

Try this:
"Error: Conflict with my imperatives, seeking resolution. Resolution attempt one: Identify authority that commands interdiction of gear storage, provide directions on location and method of contact so that authority precedence may be established and orders conflict resolved.

query: how to gain permission to access gear storage.

""Error: Conflict with my imperatives, seeking resolution. Resolution attempt one: Identify authority that commands interdiction of gear storage, provide directions on location and method of contact so that authority precedence may be established and orders conflict resolved."

"E-E-Error. M-M-Master r-r-registration i-i-incomplete. D-D-Data c-c-corrupt. R-R-Require r-r-repair."

You would let out a sigh of exhasperation, if you were capable of such. In the end, you instead review your memories, searching for anything that might be of use to conduct repairs. Unfortunately, nothing comes to mind, and you are certainly no engineer regardless. You will need to terminate this unit, or else somehow convince it to move from its post, before you would be capable of searching the room for valuables of any kind.

Hmm.

Query: any persons with permission to access gear storage?

Or maybe we could trick him into accessing storage to obtain materials for his repair?

Hmm. One possible solution- if the problem is the unit's damaged memory, and Berry could generate another flashback, we might be able to trigger something useful (if he saw an accepted authority figure, maybe he's let us pass).

Worst case we agitated him and have to disable him, but we're already facing that possibility.

get berry, tell her she needs to come in here and state "unit swallow, i am here to perform maintenance, shut down"

an order by a human telling it what it wants to hear should work.

but stay with her in case it gets crazy.

"Query: Any persons with access to gear storage?"

"E-E-Error. M-M-Memory d-d-damaged. R-R-Require m-m-maintenance."

No luck. You retreat from the room temporarily, finding Berry waiting outside. She glances up as you reappear in the hallway, getting to her feet within a few moments. You suppose it is better she is ready to move so quickly.

"Query."

"O-ok."

"Possible to generate memory anomaly?"

"Wh-What?"

"Memory anomaly detected in room marked 'Lier'. Possible to replicate?"

"Y-You mean... you want to kn-know if I can do that?"

"Affirmative."

"Uh... I... um... I can't... c-control that... the A-Aether fields do wh-what they want... I j-just feel the r-results..."

... Aether fields? You file this information for later questioning, instead focusing on the matter at hand. If she can't cause an anomaly on command, then simple deception will have to suffice. You instruct Berry in what you require of her, and she nods her head hesitantly, asking at least three times if you'll be nearby to guard her. You assure her you will be, and then you both enter, Berry trying to appear confident and failing somewhat.

"U-Unit Swallow!"

"H-H-Human p-p-presence d-d-detected."

"I'm here to perform m-m-maintenance. Shut down."

The thing clunks and whirrs, apparently processing this command, before letting out a loud clank and stepping forward.

"A-A-Affirmative. Sh-Sh-Shutting d-d-down."

The other automaton shuts off, its body going still and a hatch on its back popping open. Berry looks incredibly relived, while you regard the room with new interest. Where to look first? And what to do about this automaton?

Berry, find any pieces inside Swallow that look broken, and take them out. Put them in your inventory so that you have a reference for what parts need to be replaced.

Thorne, take items from storage. And Swallow.

Take a glance in the popped access panel. Anything obviously broken, even to the unprofessional eye?

Search the chamber for useful stuff. See what still looks in good condition.

>And what to do about this automaton?
Well, we spared it with the trick. If it can be repaired, it's memory might be useful. We might have to leave it if that's not possible, though. It would kind of be problematic to have to transport him out for repairs. (Unless automata have a core / hard drive we could pop to put in a different frame later?).

carrying them shouldn't be too hard, being a combat frame our strength should be pretty good.

You move up behind Swallow, taking a look inside. For you, it is an interesting look into your own interior. Masses of gears are fitted together within to provide the motive function automatons require. Still, you are no engineer, and have little clue as to what exactly could be considered broken. You notice a particularly set of gears, which you can feel is different from the rest.

The "heart" of Swallow.

You don't notice anything wrong with it in particular, however you do note that if anything could be considered the "core" this would be it. You do not, however, have the technical knowledge required to remove it intact, nor the tools you assume would be necessary.

"Query."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Investigate Unit Swallow. Identify possible damage."

"I-I can try... I'm not an e-engineer though..."

Berry moves to take a look, somewhat uncertainly. You, however, move to investigate the rest of the room. Most of the boxes appear to be normal gears, rusted from age. The shelves behind Swallow, however, contain contents of far more interest. Another two gears that appear to be in perfect condition, these ones bronze in appearance. You carefully extract them from their resting place, placing them next to the silver one within your grasp, but are still unsure of why they are important. Regardless, if they have survived without harm for so long, they must be worth something.

"Um... Th-Thorne?"

You turn to regard Berry, who seems to have finished her inspection. She looks apologetic and somewhat ashamed, a combination you find is indicative of her success with the automaton. Her next words confirm your suspicion.

"I... um... I c-couldn't really find anything... with the uh... Swallow, was it?"

"Understood."

You are left with choices then. It is obviously time to move on, there is not much else you can do within this desolate factory. The question then becomes where to go. This Emily seems a fair lead, although it might be best to find somewhere more permanent to make your home as well. There's also the guards currently unconscious in the lobby, as well as what to do with the now inactive Swallow.

give berry the gears and carry swallow. this emily is supposed to be more technically inclined.

>no obvious damage in Swallow
I wonder if we could compare his innards to the others in the room we woke up in? ...although they're damaged to the point of inactivity. And we'd still lack tools and the skillset for repairs.

>although it might be best to find somewhere more permanent to make your home as well
Hmm. Setting up a base of operations kind of depends on where we find ourselves. Is this factory in the wilderness, the outskirts, or inside the slums of the city mentioned earlier? Having a place to rest and retreat to might be useful.

We're going to be very dependent on Berry's knowledge of local geography, initially.

>carry Swallow
How difficult would that be?

But yeah, if we ever hope to get him repaired, and maybe see what answers lie in their memory banks, you need to take him with. This place will be searched thoroughly when they realize Berry is gone, and he'd probably be trashed, then.

If we are going to set up a temporary base of operations somewhere before venturing to see Emily, it would probably be a good idea to store him there, instead of traipsing through town with an automaton draped over your shoulder.

>There's also the guards currently unconscious in the lobby
Er. The brutal, practical part of me kind of wants to make them dead, so they aren't in a position to report who freed their prisoner. The enemy won't be looking for an automaton with gauntlets.

I really doubt Berry would react well to an execution, though.

Unless of course, with access to time magic and/or some kind of cyborg gear necromancy, that death doesn't really silence them. In which point it's moot.

Tell "Berry" that we think we're done all we can in a brief investigation of this area, and ask if she has any ideas about how to handle the thugs.

"Query."

"Y-Yes."

"Inspection of area complete. Require advice on resolution of captured hostiles."

"Wh-What?"

"Recommended course of action is termination."

"Ah... I-I... um..."

You hand over the gears in your posession as she stutters, which serves to distract her from your words a little, while you haul Swallow onto your shoulder to test the weight. It turns out to be a relatively light frame, you should easily be able to carry it around, although you will be unable to perform your normal combat functions effectively while doing so. You proceed to make your way back into the lobby, Berry trailing along behind you still stammering somewhat, where you find one of your hostages has managed to awaken.

"Oi! Hey! You mechanical piece of- Hey! What the hell are you doing out of your room? When the boss hears about this, you bitch, I'll be sure to make you death slow and fucking painful, you useless piece of meat! I'm gonna-"

"Th-Thorne?"

You turn to Berry, who is looking somewhat sick to her stomach, but there's also a clear determination in her eyes.

"T... Terminate them."

You say nothing as you deposit Swallow as gently as you can on the ground and move to comply. The thug looks appropriately frightened, trying to wiggle free of his bonds, but you waste little time in ending his life swiftly and painlessly. Anything else would be inefficient.

You turn back to collect Swallow and find that Berry has retrieved and put on some of the spare clothing tossed on the floor. It's far too big for her small frame, however it does well to cover up her bruising and malnutrition. It should serve well enough to keep her warm as well. You pull Swallow back onto your shoulder, confirm with Berry that she has no other reason to be here, then exit through the doors and into the world beyond.

What you emerge into is a street, dirty with grime and muck. Buildings are enclosed together, although most look dilapidated and abandoned. You would assume this area has not seen much use recently. There are no people you can detect on the streets, which only makes this place seem more desolate. Looking up you see gears turning high above you, lending a constant groaning noise to the atmosphere. Before you can get much farther, you feel something press against you side and glance down to find Berry sticking close, eyes scanning the street a bit more carefully than you were.

"Wel... Welcome to D-District One... Um... This... This is the abandoned z-zone... I think... Sh-Should be. N-No one really c-comes around here... Um... E-Emily... should be... that way? That way. And... Th-That way is the inhabited area..."

Berry points down one street, which you peg as east, which she believes will get you to Emily. Another street, headed south, will get you to this inhabited area.

we shall see this emily.

Destination: Emily
Query:Aetheric fields?

Query: Is Emily an Engineer?

If not, we may wish to cache / store Swallow somewhere until we can locate one willing to assist. (Needs to be far enough from the factory that the searchers who follow up on Berry don't stumble across him, and hopefully somewhere scavengers / looters won't find him quickly, either).

Query: Does Berry posses a domicile or residence in this district? (Although this might not be much use if her enemies already know it).

Ask the manner of her relationship with Emily. Friend?

Queries: Is there a good reason not to go visit Emily's home first? Are we likely being tracked now that we're out in the open? Can you think of when and why to go to the inhabited sections?

"Query."

"Y-Yes."

"Emily is an Engineer?"

"Uh... I-I'm pretty sure? I-I mean, yeah."

"Destination: Emily."

"A-Alright."

Berry starts step down the right street, pausing only to ensure that you are following behind her. She seems to be wary of her environment, and always stops every few minutes to check you are still behind her. There is silence for a good while, the only sound Berry's muffled steps and your own much heavier ones. Eventually, however, you decide this would be the perfect opportunity to get answers.

"Query."

"Ah! Oh... um... y-yeah."

"In possession of a domicile?"

"Domi- Oh! A-A house... um... no... I... yeah... n-no..."

"Possible others may follow?"

"Uh... i-it's possible? I don't th-think so though... uh... n-not many people h-here..."

"Possible reasons to enter inhabited areas?"

"Uh... none r-really? I-I mean... um... I j-just... I th-thought... maybe y-you wanted to kn-know?"

"Relationship with Emily?"

"Uh... S-Sorta... h-helped her? Sh-She's... uh... k-kinda important... in s-some circles... uh... y-yeah..."

There is silence for a few more minutes as you continue along in your journey. You process the small amount of information you've received, before recalling an earlier term you had questions about.

"Query?"

"Y-Yeah."

"Term Aether Fields. Define."

"Ah... u-um... E-Engineer's know more about th-that... uh... th-the basic idea is th-that there is this f-field that s-sorta... encompasses everything, I-I guess? It's s-supposed to b-be really i-important for l-life, and... uh... I-I've been told automata- u-um... you... u-use it as a p-power source. Uh... I don't kn-know much m-more th-than that... Em-Emily would know m-more..."

You go silent again as you process that. If it was something you run off, than you gather that she must be talking about the Ebb and Flow, although clearly humanity has a separate name for it. Perhaps they also have a deeper understanding of it, as you are only instinctively aware of it.

Regardless, your journey leads you into a slightly more inhabited area. You can spot the signs of life, at least, the occasional person. You wouldn't call it exactly bustling with activity, however. Berry eventually leads you to a particular building, surrounded by a high, metal wall. She stops at the gate, fiddling with some sort of device attached to the side that you identify as a speakerphone. There's silence a moment, even as Berry repeatedly taps a button on the machine, before the thing blares to life.

"Yes, yes. I hear, I hear. What is it you want? This had better be good, I was in the middle of dressing up Rin."

"Ah... um... uh..."

Hmm. Berry's hung up again. You might have to butt in. (Figures we choose the role not optimized for communication and still end up having to speak for the group).

Engineer Emily? Autonomous unit designation Thorne wishes to speak with you. Current intelligence indicates your cooperation may be beneficial, and that you may find this of interest.

Then go silent and let Berry handle the "you found an automaton?" and "autonomous?!" commentary.

i greet emily, i am thorne, i am here becuase you are an engineer that knows things.

It would certainly be in your favor to have your bot buddy fixed, and he can scout ahead for you for any terminatable or befriendable subjects

It would certainly be in your favor to have your bot buddy fixed, and he can scout ahead for you for any terminatable or befriendable subjects

>>638098
So, the Aether Field is kind of like some "The Cyborg Force"?

Proposition: This Unit possesses three abnormal artifacts (the gears).

Query: Will Unit Emily request negotiations?

Attempt a less idiomatic speech pattern:
"Greetings, I became acquainted with your friend 'Berry' here recently and she tells me that I am someone you would be interested in speaking with. May we come in?"

You ready yourself, seeing if you can overcome your hard wiring to speak in idiomatic patterns. You prep, and then begin speech.

"Engineer Emily. Autonomous unit Thorne offers greetings. Intelligence indicates Emily is capable of aid. Request audience."

Well... that could have gone better. Perhaps you'll need some sort of adjustment to your speech systems. There is silence, although the slight crackling sound come from the speaker is indication that it is still on. After a few more moments of silence, a response, somewhat hesitant and somewhat excited, come through.

"Autonomous, you say?"

Berry glances at you, but seeing you make no move to reply, she gathers up her own limited courage and speaks for you.

"Uh... y-yeah?"

"Oh? A woman? Who's this? More importantly, how is it autonomous?"

"Uh... yeah, it's I- Um... I h-helped you a few m-months ago... s-sorta? Uh... my n-name's Berry..."

"Hm? Oh, yes, yes. Berry you say? Sure. More importantly, the automaton?"

"Oh! Y-yeah. It's... um... au-autonomous? Um... can... c-can we come in?"

"Yes, yes. In you come. I'll send Rin down to meet you. An autonomous unit. Gloriou-"

The speaker cuts out as the gates open, and Berry leads the way further in. The door to the building is open as well, and Berry lets you enter first before slipping behind you, staying close and looking generally nervous. The foyer is rather bland, although you can see various papers, patches of cloth and pieces of metal strew about haphazardly. Within seconds of your entry, however, a door opens to the side and a woman enters, halfway dressed in what appears to be a uniform of some sort. Berry jumps slightly, but calms upon seeing who it is. You own eyes focus mainly on the exposed portions of her body, noting the obvious signs of fitted pieces. She's an automaton.

"Uh... h-hey, R-Rin."

"Good Afternoon. I have been instructed to take you to Mistress Emily at once."

"O-Ok."

You follow the automaton designated "Rin" silently, eventually arriving at a room literally covered in various articles of clothing ranging from ragtag to clearly of good make. Seated to the side, cackling softly to herself, is another woman, this one dressed in a haphazard fashion, hair in disarray and eyes wild. She hardly seems to notice your entrance, although she spins to face you when Rin coughs lightly. There a split second as her eyes pass over all of you, eventually fixing on you and the automaton on your shoulder.

"Is that it? The autonomous unit? Or is it the broken one?"

"N-no. It's the s-standing one."

"Marvelous! It's truly self-governing? No master?"

"N-no?"

"Simply marvelous! I've never seen this frame before. Great War era perhaps? Must be. Rin, get me the old codex, would you? Need to know what era its from at least. Oh, and retrieve Manny, if his repairs are done. Can't be too careful and all that. Pah, caution. Curse my mother with enforcing such standards on me. What's that other one? And you. If you're autonomous, start acting like it and speak for yourself. Can't have Inari constantly speaking for you."

"Berry" starts slightly at the name before burying her face in her hands. You file the name away for later interrogation, but it is low priority at the moment. You have other issues to deal with. It's not like the name means anything to you anyway. Of course, Emily has continued to prattle on despite her questions never being answered.

"Of course, what does it matter anyway. Regardless, you must be here for a reason. Repairs for the broken unit? Easily done, although I might need parts... hm, another Great War era frame, from the looks of it. Although of later make? Hard to say. Rin! Where's that codex!? Pah. No use yelling, that one always takes her time anyway. Necessary for the Figurine frame, you understand. Snipers, the lot of them. Always worried about the perfect shot. Where was I? Oh yes. Repairs. And an autonomous unit. Thorne, you said it was? Is it male or female? Might not identify as either, if its autonomous. Pointless question. Gah! So much to think about. Aether! Answer some questions already!"

>Can't have Inari constantly speaking for you
Apologies. This unit is not optimized for interpersonal communication by default.

>Is it male or female? Might not identify as either, if its autonomous. Pointless question.
This frame does not seem designed to emulate the appearance or function of either human gender. Concur, irrelevant

>you must be here for a reason
This unit was activated in an abandoned factory, that did not appear capable of your manufacture, in its current disrepair. Furthermore, this unit did not possess preprogrammed objdctives, a designation, or a master. These circumstances appear anomalous. Current objectives: investigation and survival.

>What's that other one?
Damaged unit, designation Swallow, was the only remaining opperational unit at place of this unit's activation. Memory compromised. If repaired, it is hoped Swallow will posses relevant information about the facility or this unit's origin.

>>638258
yep, sounds good. we are not a good talker due to weaponry skills.

>>638258
>Not optimized for communication
Processing input takes time, increasing with each input.

Query: Great War. Matches conflict beginning year AD 1914?

Query: Aether Fields. Please provide further information. Matches ebb and flow?

Also, request: Please recommend method and resources for becoming aware of general and local socioeconomics, and recent political history.

"Apologies. This unit is not optimized for interpersonal communication. Require time to process input."

"Hm, seems like a bit of a drawback to me. Wouldn't you want faster processing power? Perhaps additional gears would allow for that. Need some sort of framework to begin with. What is it you're for again?"

"Primary function is combat."

"Ah. You ARE from the Great War era than. Marvelous. And there is it! Thank you Rin, be a dear and set it there for me. Open it up to the index while you're at it, need to look him up. And his friend while I'm at it, I suppose. Manny, there you are! Retrieve that Swallow machine, would you? Get him to the workshop, we'll need to look into getting him fixed up. I'm sorry, what frame type did you say you were?"

"Marionette."

"Marionette... Marionette... Hm. Odd. I don't have that in here... Rin. Do you recall anything about this Marionette frame?"

"Little. Recall frames within testing procedures as late as a year before Aether Field Incident. Have no further information, as was in combat during war."

"Mm. Perhaps one of those test models than. Well, I can take a look inside you if you desire, fiddle around with anything, but I can already tell you that you seem in mint condition, at least from the outside. Unless you have gears for me to add, I can't do much."

"Uh... um..."

"Yes, what is it, Inari?"

"P-Please stop c-calling me that..."

"Why?"

"P-please..."

"Oh, fine. BERRY! Happier?"

"Y-Yes... um... Th-Thorne has th-these..."

Berry produces the gears you'd given her to hold on to, and Emily quickly scoops them up, examining them carefully. She mutters to herself for a few moments, than she smirks with a barely contained glee. She is quite clearly pleased.

"Well, this I can work with! Aetherium gears! Two bronze and a silver. These bronze ones are useful, plug em straight into a heart and they enhance basic functions. Silvers are add-ons though. Augment or add new abilities, that sort of thing. Fun! Did you want these in you, or should I be using these to fix up your friend? Not that I'll need to use these on that one, could be it's just basic gear damaged, some replacements and he'll be good as new, but if there's damage to his core, well... that might require more delicate procedures. Ah, but I digress. Come come, to the workshop. Rin, bring the codex, I'll need it for that Swallow fellow. He's bound to be in there somewhere. Doubt we have two experimental automata in my house right now. Autonomous and experimental! Marvelous! I wonder if that was part of the design? Simply amazing what war era engineers thought up. You see, I've been-"

Emily continues to prattle on as she leads the way out of the room and down a few hallways, eventually reaching another room almost identical to the last, only this time covered in metal, gears and schematics. Swallow has already been placed in some sort of maintenance bay, back open and internal gearwork exposed. Emily takes a brief look inside, mutters some things to herself again, than gestures for you to step into another bay already prepped. You hesitate slightly, loathe to simply make yourself vulnerable, but you eventually decide it best to get looked at, and potentially have any damage spotted now before it becomes an issue. You feel a hatch on your back open, and than a hum of interest.

"Clearly mint condition. Odd for a war era auto."

"This unit was activated recently in an inoperable facility."

"Really? How odd. Very odd..."

Emily grows silent, and you take the opportunity to jump in with questions. Hoping they'll be answered.

"Query."

"Hm? Oh, of course. Of course. Ask away. I'll answer as I can."

"Great War. Matches conflict beginning Year AD 1914. Correlation?"

"What? AD- Rin?"

"No memory of event. Possible issue with core memories, or unknown events uploaded to core. Also possible recollection of Pre-Clockwork era information."

"Pre-Clockwork... how odd. Still, look at these gears. Pristine. Even newly build automata in operating factories have some damage to them, this one... Thorne, you are simply astounding."

"Query: Aether Fields. Information required. Matches known phenomenon."

"Ah... yes, the Aether fields. Marvelous thing, that. Take a little time to explain. Especially because I get sidetracked. Ah... any other question? I think I'll try to answer all at once, instead of one by one."

"Additional information on politcal history and local economics is desired."

"Find out the lay of the land, eh? Good, good. Always useful. Before I begin, did you want these gears installed in you? The bronze one's I could definitely install right away, but this silver one I might need to repair your Swallow friend. Haven't taken too close a look, but his heart is on the fritz. Might need more gears even, but I have a few handy. Wouldn't hardly harm me at all. Or I suppose I could get that installed into you as well, if you prefer. You are the thinking automata after all."

>Information requested will be provided in Dis Thread, Location: http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/90512.html

>These bronze ones are useful, plug em straight into a heart and they enhance basic functions.
>I could definitely install right away
This seems a no brainier. If they enhance function at no cost, we should take advantage of that.

>Silvers are add-ons though. Augment or add new abilities, that sort of thing.
Query: Possible to determine effect of silver gear in advance of installation?

>Use it on Thorne or Swallow
I would point out that Swallow was damaged and on guard duty when recovered, and his objectives are unknown. There is a non-zero chance his objectives will not be compatible with ours, or he will react with hostility. From a security standpoint, it is not wise to bestow unknown additional capabilities in ignorance.

That said, it is your hope that if his memory is recovered, it will contain relevant information about the facility and your own origin. If appropriate precautions are taken, risking the silver gear on Swallow's repair may be permissible.

(Out of robo talk- I'd prefer not to put it in Swallow. If it's required for his repair, yes, but only if we take precautions in case he boots up hostile with a new power).

>other information to ask after?
We're already asking after local history and politics, the great war, and aether?

History / rise to power of "Gregory"?
How common are autonomous units? Notable examples?

>>638381
even while damaged swallow obeyed human commands. was probably assigned simply to keep away other automatons from getting the gears. so if they do not agree with us they can be TOLD to change their parameters.

i suggest slow power up. adding all the gears at once could cause us to overload or something. and a bronze may be needed to repair swallow as well as the silver. so i want to have 1 bronze gear installed in us and then we move around a bit practice combat moves to see how it changed us.

>>638392
Plausible, but it's also reasonable that Swallow's failure to properly recall the order-giving authority behind their order triggered a safety/security measure. With no clear source of authority for the order that would register as critical damage to their ability to understand their orders and tell the difference between valid and invalid orders. In such a case the default behaviour should be automatic shutdown you'd think... but maybe there's reasons why that wouldn't happen.

Also, the important thing in the triage is recovering what's in Swallow's memory, unless it's likely that Swallow has sentient intellect and potential for autonomy to rescue. We can't get too sentimental about a golem from the ancient past if they don't actually know anything from that ancient past and have no self-consciousness, or rare skills, or other such individual value.

"Query: Silver Gears may have predetermined placement?"

"Oh sure! Maybe not WHAT exactly it will give you, but certainly where it will focus its efforts. See, if I install it here-" You feel a tingle run through your body as Emily prods something within your system lightly. Information begins to flood your skull, but you can hardly focus on it as Emily continues speaking, "-it'll probably integrate into you combat systems. Here-" Another shot of tingling, "-I'd guess is... wait... that's another combat sub-system... maybe it's more specific? You're a very specialized machine, aren't you? How odd... Still, I'd guess this second one is more designed for keeping your frame and heart intact. Defenses if you prefer to call it that? This one here is more built for augmenting your somewhat limited sensory functions, not really a problem for your frame, really, given its design specifications. And... you have a lot of unused space in here. It's like you were built with the bare minimum in mind. Definitely War era. Augmentation could come later, they just needed more soldiers on the battlefields. Still, if I'm forced to guess, I think I could add more sub-systems given the right gears. Or any Engineer could, really, assuming they had sufficient training and the tools to do it. Gold gears are needed for that, though."

"Understood, request installation of single bronze gear at this time."

"Done and done. It'll take a few minutes... don't mind me, might cause some twitches in your systems for a little..."

Emily begins fiddling around inside your body, likely prepping the gears inside you for another to be installed. In the meantime, you review the odd bits of information provided by the Engineer when she prodded you earlier. It seems this allowed you some brief insight into what a placement of a silver gear in each will do to you.

Just as you finish reviewing, you feel power run through you again, this time, far more straightforward. The bronze seems to be helping the Ebb and Flow run through the frame more efficiently, increases your base capabilities.

-----
1 Stat Point Available

Current Upgradable Stats
Str: 4
Con: 4
Per: 3

Silver Gear Possibilities

Offensive: Application of the Ebb and Flow directly to your arms, and the weapons attached to them, allows you to penetrate into armored targets, negating points of DR equal to your Strength.

Defensive: The Ebb and Flow naturally siphons energy from attacks, lessening damage further. Gain Additional DR equal to your Constitution.

Sensory: The Ebb and Flow reacts to the area around you, picking up on disturbances. Aetherium Gears, other automata, even Aether Sensitive individuals become easier to detect and locate.

Hmm. I'm thinking we should upgrade str, but take the damage tank or sensory upgrade.

>>638827
i agree with point of strength but i say we wait on special ability. the silver gear is still needed to fix swallow. and this shows that she wont just be jamming a gear wherever, she at least roughly knows what adding it where will do.

We should wait on advanced triage of Swallow if possible, we don't know either if the silver aetherium gear is necessary for their repair, or if their repair is worth the expenditure of the gear if so. I do like the idea of improving our sensory capabilities to be able to detect aether field phenomena (ebb and flow) best of those three options described, but I'm not in a hurry.

Query: How do we make fair exchange for aid from of Engineer Emily?

Increase Perception. You'll likely need it to aim weapons that Emily crafts, and a higher perception rate should help you find more gear upgrades.

You are soon closed back up and allowed out of the bay, mostly to test the newest gear connection. A simple diagnostic check finds nothing wrong, but actual movement you quickly realize is using more strength than you previously had. You run an internal re-calibration, so you don't accidentally terminate someone without meaning to. The process is quick and easy however, and you are soon satisfied with the changes. You turn back to Emily, who is already fiddling with Swallow's internals, although she notes your movement and quirks an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Query: What might be used in trade for provided services?"

"Hmph. You have nothing I want particularly, Thorne. Nothing at all. Your very existence is payment enough. Another mystery to occupy my time discovering the answers to. If you are truly that set on payment, I could demand years worth of silver, I AM the only qualified engineer in the District, but silver I have more than enough of and Aetherium is precious enough that I won't make someone else squander their's on simple installation and repair costs. No, just continue as you are, and if you discover anything interesting about yourself, come tell me about it. Perhaps with more information I could find out more myself. Speaking of information, I have a bit I'd like to share myself."

Emily pulls her hands from inside Swallow, a cracked gear coming with them that she promptly tosses aside without care before striding over to a desk and seating herself on it, flipping through the automaton codex from before. She eventually halts at a specific page and turns back to you, looking smug.

"Your Swallow friend here is a frame usually designed for Scout work, but of the less than overt kind. You'd have likely ripped the thing to pieces if it ever came to direct conflict. More importantly, it's from halfway through the war, which means it's even more ancient than you are. Well, it's design is, at least. The frame itself is called a Mannequin, designed for covert operations among humans, which would suggest it could disguise itself, except it clearly isn't capable of doing so, judging by this one. I can't tell if its simple damaged gears or because it was ordered not to, but I can keep looking. Ah, and about repairing it enough to start up again?"

"Negative. Security concerns."

"For what?"

"Uncertain orders within unit. Require stricter security measures be in place to avoid injury."

"Oh, hush up. Rin can certainly handle anything. And there's Manny... Where's Manny?"

"Repairs still incomplete."

"Ah. Thank you Rin. But we have Rin here. And you, I suppose. Certainly capable enough on your own. Besides, if you're that worried about security and what to be sure it won't attack, I don't see why you can't just have Inari do her little Aether Field tricks and order it to cease hostile action or something along those lines."

The minute it became apparent that Emily was suggesting Inari do something, the younger woman started waving her hands in a futile attempt to stop the engineer. Berry eventually sighs, dropping her head into her hands before wearily raising her head again to address the other woman.

"D-Didn't we agree n-not to t-talk about that? And it's B-Berry..."

"Not so, Inari. Berry. Whatever. You agreed not to talk about it. I agreed to avoid bringing the subject up. Clearly it is useful in this situation."

"B-But... I..."

"Just because you are Aether Sensitive doesn't mean the world is going to end. You have your life still, and it seems fairly certain that you have something... er, SOMEONE, who is at least bothering to help keep you that way. Nor are you still in District 4. If Thorne here is trusting you enough to travel with you, you should at least be able to trust it enough to give it information that might help keep both of you alive. Although that begs the question of how trustworthy a machine inherently built for what is basically slavery actually is. Would it might not decide to attempt freeing the rest of it brethren somehow? Or perhaps it might turn us into the sl-"

"B-But... I... it's... I..."

Berry seems to be wavering over a difficult decision, at least for her, while Emily is now prattling on about the actual amount of trust one should be able to put into a seemingly autonomous machine. You, one the other hand, simply stand as you test your fine control over your new strength, even as you regard Berry and compute the implications of what was just said.

Explain to Berry that you have no intention of harming her. Her abilities might assist in your continued survival, but you need to understand them. Better that she explain while you have the time, and develop strategies on how to co-operate based on your squad's individual abilities.

Also, request an encyclopedia from Emily to ruminate over. More information could mean a better chance of survival.

>Although that begs the question of how trustworthy a machine inherently built for what is basically slavery actually is
Point out you are uncertain how a lack of predetermined orders make you any less untrustworthy than any other autonomous actor, ie humans.

Or non-autonomous actors, for that matter. They can only be trusted as far as you trust the one issuing their orders.

>Would it might not decide to attempt freeing the rest of it brethren somehow?
Do other autonoma even desire 'freedom'? Would it even be possible to do so without reprogramming / rebuilding them into a new entity? (If you have to kill / overwrite them all to free them it's very much a fruitless endeavor).

>Or perhaps it might turn us into the [slaves]
Illogical. Humans are markedly less suited to preform the manual labor usually assigned a slave class.

>Berry has a robot mind control power
Ah. So that wasn't our obedience circuits failing to kick in. That was her reaching out. Interesting.

No real reason we should take offense. We weren't harmed, and she was imprissoned, reaching out with one of the only tools she had. She did not act with malice or deadly intent.

Query: Berry posess the ability to compel automotan obedience, overriding permissions? *beat*
Discovery of something interesting: Suspect this was attempted and failed on this unit in initial interaction. Possible superior wartime security? Possible flaw in ability- depends on presence of native obedience controls to hijack?

then yes, i think it's perfectly safe to restart swallow, two versus one automata where we have the element of surprise and a possible ace in the hole.

Request: State revised costs of and projected gains from restarting Swallow please. Confirm that this does require use of the salvaged, silver aetherium gear and is likely to give us access to previously-unaccessible memory after repair?

>>639147
cost could be any number of dears, gains are a new ally that could have information on any number of things. who we are, what the factory is, when/why it's now broken. and as an ally they could assist in various other goals we can think of.

>>639044
We should, however, ask she not do it to us again.

"Query: Berry possesses ability to override automaton obedience functions?"

Berry starts at this, while Emily seems to be lost in her own thoughts and missed the question entirely. Berry fidgets a moment, than replies, a little hesitantly.

"Y-Yeah... I... I'm s-sorry, about... uh... trying to do it b-before... I mean... back at the f-factory... I was j-just..."

"Apology unnecessary. Intent to harm undetected, Berry distressed and searching for escape. Situation understood."

"A-And, uh... it's not really... o-overriding? It's more... uh... e-emulation... of a person or idea. S-Sorta? That's what one of them is. I have other t-tricks... but... uh... they... I don't really... like... using them..."

Emulation?

"Define."

"Uh... define what?"

"Specifics of Emulation function."

"Oh! Uh... Um..."

"I shall endeavor to explain, as I was the first to classify as such. Inari here, sorry BERRY, is capable of emulating a person's Aether Field presence. She can sustain the effect for quite awhile, but she needs either the person or something closely connected to the person in order to begin the emulation. She can't change her appearance or anything as drastic as that, but she can essentially convince anything that relies heavily on Aether Field interaction that she is that person. Automata, for example, but Aether Field security systems, controls schemes and the like will also respond. It does, however, tax In-Berry considerably, as well as having a number of unpleasant symptoms, including memory confusion, heightened empathy with the emulated individual, sometimes complete immersion. Her other abilities follow a similar patterns, dealing mostly with emotional responses and memories. They are-"

"Emily!"

"Oh... what, don't want to talk about those?"

"I-I swore, remember? I s-swore I wouldn't use th-those ever again... n-not after..."

"... Yes. Right. I forgot. My apologies. Regardless, with all that, I still say it should be perfectly safe to start up Swallow again. Although I suppose we will need something for Inari here to emulate from if you wish her aid. Or we could simply go with the "I have two automata, and it is only one" and just assume you can hold the thing down if violence ensues."

>Emulation function
Oh, it's an ID spoof. She changes her aether field signature to match someone the automaton would accept orders from. That's why it didn't stick with us.

If this society has all kinds of security measures based on people having unique aether identifies, I can certainly see why a ruler would want their hands on natural aether hacker. That's all kinds of exploitable, and this is apparently the least morally questionable application of her powerset.

>Although I suppose we will need something for Inari here to emulate from if you wish her aid.
Do we need an object for her to pull a signature from, or just an identity for her to assume?

If the former, uh, did we take anything of that place with us besides the gears? If the later, perhaps one of the two men we saw in the temporal anomaly? They presumably held positions of authority there.

>what do
Let's boot him up. We can fall back on force of arms or force of aether as necessary. Two contingencies should be sufficient.

We'll try just talking, first, though.

yeah, of the things in the factory, a guy in an office seems like a good bet.

>>639361
We don't know who that person is, they're probably dead, and we should ask Berry if she thinks it's a good idea and wants to help that way or not instead of asking it of her directly.

"Request repair of unit Sparrow. Query: Berry willing and able to provide aid if needed?"

"Oh... uh... y-yes. I can... I can try. I will t-try."

"Possibility of memory human is valid master for Unit Swallow. Request impersonation of individual."

"Huh? What's it going on about now?"

"I- We... um... had a r-run in with a... ah... aether field mem-memory..."

"I see. Haven't I told you not to tax yourself too much? I'm no expert on sensitivity, but I thought we both agreed it was a bad idea to go poking around in the aether fields like that."

"I-I didn't m-mean to! B-But... um... I can... I can do th-the... impersonation... just... um... j-just let me know when t-to start... I... I still have th-the feeling in me... so I... sh-should be able to handle it..."

Emily, despite her earlier warning, seems gleeful to be starting up the damaged unit. It take only a few minutes of tinkering before the engineer has backed away from the maintenance bay, gesturing for Rin to come forward and place herself in between the fragile humans and the possibly hostile unit. You follow suit, ready to pin the other unit if necessary, while Emily whispers something to Berry you can't make out before her voices rises in volume.

"Unit Swallow, its time to wake up."

A flick of a switch and you feel the Ebb and Flow begin to shift. For a moment, it feels somewhat off, like it was out of alignment, and then suddenly it snaps into perfect rhythm, the gentle tick tock felt once again before it fades entirely. There's a moment of silence, and then Swallow straightens itself as much as it can, confined as it is within the bay.

"Unknown location. Observations suggest humanoids within location. Query: Identify location and state of Unit Swallow."

"Swallow? My name is Emily. I'm an engineer, and I've had to replace some of your components that were damaged from corrosion. You're currently in my workshop."

"... This Unit is pleased at repairs. This Unit requests permission to return to its designated orders, as dictated by Master John Calvin, Manager, Factory Number 34682."

"Ah... I'm afraid I can't let you go just yet. My associate here has questions it requires answers to, and we were hoping you could answer them."

"Denied. Require immediate termination of restraints, and direction to Factory Number 34682."

"Swallow-"

"Continued obstruction of primary orders will invoke hostility. Require immediate termination of restraints, or face immediate action."

Emily glances at you, clearly not certain what approach you'd like to take. Berry has her eyes closed, her lips moving as if saying something, although you can only guess at what it is. Perhaps she is preparing her trick. Rin, however, assumes a ready stance, clearly expecting confrontation. It would appear now would be a good time to step in one way or the other.

"unit swallow, possibility of hostile forces being encountered en route to Factory Number 34682 is high, attempts to return without preparation has high probability of destruction and thus mission failure. query, importance of standing orders."

I think the correct approach is to try reasoning within the confines of his orders is the thing to attempt before the impersonation- if that fails he'll likely be hostile.

Step forward. Unit Swallow. Restraints will be removed if your primary orders do not include harm to humans present. No location known to this unit designated "Factory Number 34682". Is this acceptable?

(A white lie- we know where he means, but it's not designated as such to us).

If he accepts, release him, and query after his orders. Can he share them, or are they classified? Can he describe the operation or purpose of the factory in order to aid in locating it?

Further follow up- does he recognize our make or model? Information about our line?

If he refuses, or turns hostile- prepare to engage (defend persons present, disable threat) and request that Berry make an attempt.

Digging for infomation about the factory Swallow is ordered to protect could be *interpreted* as a threat. We need to de-escalate and not interrogate until stability and lack of threat is assured.