dude, carapace.

Female, carapace.

dude, electric body

Dude, electric body. C'mon, I wanna play a prettier version of Palpatine here, who's with me?

Manly man-bro, electric body.
Let's solve the energy crisis!

female
carapace

Female, claws

Female with that electrifying body.

Female, Carapace

Female, claws

??? (Experimental Sex Chromosomes), Electric Body.

Dude, electric body

female, carapace

Female
Carapace

Dudette, carapace

Male, claws

Female with a penis, electric body

>>684925
Female, Electric Body.

More useful than just zapping people, damn near everything runs on electricity. Hacking powers!

Female.
Hard carapace.

Weapons are easier to find than armor.

A little nudge on the genetic level and his creation would be a female. Wonderful, he'd always wanted a daughter. Someone ruthlessly beautiful and beautifully ruthless. Amazing he'd never thought to just make his own. Too late for those thoughts now.

Another, much more prominent nudge of the genetic strands and his creation developed a sub-dermal layer of armor. It wasn't much, but it would certainly help. Incubation now. Just a few minutes and she'd be ready to emerge, fully formed. Oh this would be so much more exciting if there wasn't a-

The sound of metal being torn from its hinges echoes from behind the man, and he spun to face his arch-nemesis.

"Doctor Revile! Your nefarious deeds end here!"

The man, Dr. Revile(not an actual PHD in anything, but it sounded good) snarled as he was confronted by the handsome visage of one of the world's great defenders, Mr. New York. Not very creative, naming himself after the city he'd grown up in.

"Now is not the time for this, idiot. I'm almost done! I just need a little more time!"

"You're time is up! I've foiled you time and again, but still you prefer a life of crime! It ends here! Your life will be forfeit, for the good of the world!"

Before any retort could be offered, Mr. New York launched himself in a super powered burst of speed across the room, slamming into the more fragile villain and sending him hurtling into the wall behind him. The Doctor coughed in blood, breathing ragged and painful, even as he glared evilly at the man who was set to take his life.

"Since when did heroes get to decide who lives and dies?"

"Since you were marked to dangerous to allow to live. Die knowing that at least your death serves to save the lives of many from your evil."

The hero stalks forward, reaching down to wrap his arms around the villain's neck and, with a simple exertion of his superhuman strength, killed the man with a sharp snap of his neck.

And behind him, the cocoon pulsed and began to open, releasing its precious cargo onto the floor.

--------

You emerge from you gestation, collapsing naked onto the steel of the floor. You hack and cough as embryonic fluid is forced from your lungs, struggling to suck in precious air even as you mind struggles to process the world around you. You feel inside you that something is wrong. What's wrong? What is missing?

You feel someone grab you by the shoulder and lift you to your feet, and your eyes are assaulted with a smug grin from someone you don't recognize. For a moment, there's a silence, as if he expected something, before the grin turns into a slight frown and the man cocks an eyebrow.

"Are you alright? You seemed a bit... uh... unsure."

You remain silent, eyes taking in the man's face. Or rather, a sixth sense takes in the "scent" of the man. Viable genetic sequences. That's what you're missing. You need more sequences, more strength, more genetic diversity. You hunger for it. The man looks more and more confused, and he leads you over to a chair by what looks to be a lab desk, looking concerned.

"Lady, look, I get it. It's not everyday a woman gets to be rescued by Mr. New York, but come on, some reaction would be nice. Maybe a little gratitude."

Your eyes follow him and his gestures, letting thoughts whirl in your head. You are... naked, which is considered undesirable. You are also hungry, though not in the sense that you need food. Your hunger for further genetic material, evolution of further viable and useful abilities. Something in your head speaks to you of it.

You need to consume genetic material and assimilate it into your own. Evolve. Grow. And eventually... eventually...

You frown, that part seems to be missing. But your need to grow remains. It seems this man before you, Mr. New York, he contains viable genetic material to integrate with your own, but something tells you you'll need to consume large quantities of his flesh and blood to get at it. Though... perhaps it would be better not to give your hand away at first...

>Kill Mr. New York
>Question Mr. New York
>Feign Admiration
>Feign Confusion
>Investigate the Room
>___

Feign confusion. Shouldn't be too hard to be convincing considering how long you've just sat there doing nothing.

>brutally kills a scientist who's evil plan seems to consist solely of bringing one life into the world
>more concerned about his ego than the condition of a perceived victim
Right. So... this hero is pretty much an asshole. I have no moral qualms about killing him.

>viable genetic sequences. That's what you're missing. You need more sequences, more strength, more genetic diversity. You hunger for it.
Can you tell if this hunger is necessary to your immediate survival? There's a big difference between needing those sequences to stay alive, and needing them to grow stronger / fulfill an instinctual desire.

The former we kind of have to act on, the later we can delay out of caution or strategic considerations.

>what do
First concern: we are ignorant of our current circumstances, and dead men don't talk. We need actionable intelligence more than we need an immediate fix. Second concern: we don't know our own strength or capabilities, or those of the hero before us. We could be killed or captured if we tried to attack him.

Caution first. Feign confusion and question him.

Where are we? What's going on? Who's lab is this? Who are you? ...how did you save me? (information about his powers, play to ego). Are there others nearby? (Villains or heros. If he has allies we don't want to risk being found feeding, if our creator has allies, we might turn to them).

If we attack, we want to opt for a surprise attack, preferably from behind. Or from inside an embrace (help me up, hold me, etc). We need to know our circumstances, first.

Remember: our immediate objective is survival. Feeding is second to that, if choosing to do it at the wrong time could get us killed.

>>685420
Look around and ask question, like where are you, who this guy is (maybe we'll get lucky and he'll tell us all his powers), and why are you naked.

Gather information first and try and get him to lower his guard. We can strike when he's not expecting it.

Investigate the room. Pander to York's ego; make him think that you're too stupid to admire him or even confuse yourself. If he takes you in as a pet, he won't deliver as many psychological attacks to reform you into a superheroine. Just let him teach you some stupid tricks and slowly learn to outdo him.

He named himself Dr.Revile, he got what was coming to him. Clearly the only solution to the moral dilemma created by the need to obtain genetic material is to consume copious amounts of semen.

>Investigate the Room

"I... I don't..."

You let yourself appear confused(which honestly isn't too hard). Talking feels odd, your throat still raw from the coughing fit you had when emerging from your birthing cocoon. Still, you manage well enough, even with your voice slightly raspy. The "hero" in front of you hardly seems to notice, instead focusing on your apparent confusion.

"Whoa! Whatever Revile did to you, must've hit you hard. Well, fear not. I, Mr. New York, have made sure to deal with the nefarious man-"

The hero keeps going, apparently initiating some sort of heroic speech. You ignore him, taking the opportunity to take a look around the room. It seems to be a laboratory of some kind, and if you had to guess it was almost exclusively dedicated to your birth. Machines and computers are hooked up to the now empty cocoon that harbored you, all inactive as their task is apparently done. The only other thing of note is another man, laying prone on the ground and presumably dead. Doctor Revile, if you had to guess. A twinge of... pity... is felt, but ultimately you decide he is no concern of yours. He bears no viable genetic strains to assimilate into yourself, and is therefore useless to you in his current corpse state. Your attention returns to Mr. New York just as he seems to be winding down with his speech, which is fortunate because you're beginning to find his constant talking annoying.

"-and that is why, no matter what, you have nothing to fear so long as I'm here."

"Are there... other?"

"Others? Have no fear, Dr. Revile only had a few, thinking henchmen. Loved his creations, that one. But no, his two lieutenants fled soon as they saw the writing on the wall. They may cause some problems later, but nothing I can't handle."

More of his ego. Joy.

"I'm sure there's probably some low level grunts around too, somewhere, but I'll take care of them before we leave. Got to get you back and get check up on, no telling what Dr. Revile did to you in there."

The hero gestures at the cocoon, to which you wordlessly reply that you were born from it, idiot. Mr. New York seems less inclined to continue talking, instead looking around and eventually pulling off Revile's labcoat, slinging it over your shoulders to cover your nakedness. After that he reaches out a hand, clearly meaning for you to take it so he can... you assume take you to wherever he's going to take you.

Now if only you knew where that was...

>Take his hand
>Attack him now
>Trick him, then attack
>Refuse to leave
>___

Put on the coat and cling to him. Ooooh, you're so scared. Then when his guard is down, assassineat him.

Time to sell the deception.

Walk on all fours. "Ruff" a few times. Make him think that you were a canine. When he brings you back to his base, you can pretend to be incapable of understanding "good" and "evil". Then stalk enemy heroes in the night and tear them to shreds. When they finally get suspicious, go feral and use guerilla attacks. Look stupid and play the part, and when they finally find a way to outsmart your feral tactics, switch to intelligence mode and hit them hard.

>>685539
Follow him but seem shy and just try to stay close behind him, when you see a moment to strike hit him hard, fast, and try to end it before he even knows what's going on. If he seems to have his guard up "trip" into him and give home a hug, then while hugging, Rip his throat out.

Take his hand, but be shy about it. Maybe you could try to also ruffle this guys ego up a bit.

Can you tell what Mr New York's strength comes from? If it's biological in origin, or if he'd wearing gear or other equipment that helps him? Is he armored? What's his appearance here? Assess him.

All you know of your own strengths is you have an internal carapace for protection. I hope we have some instinctual knowledge of how to fight, or better than baseline speed or strength or something. Otherwise any attempt to attack him could end baldy for us.

>Take his hand
Buy time, assess him, and possible attacks. We want to hit him somewhere where he's open.

>Trick him, then attack
Probably what we're gonna do. We should approach this from a worst case. Assume we're not powered in any way. We're a naked female against a larger male with superhuman strength. If we want to murder him, we need the element of surprise, and something very lethal, assuming he's not super durable. Major arteries, his airway.

>Got to get you back and get check up on, no telling what Dr. Revile did to you in there.
That's not an allowable outcome. If someone competent examines you, they should be able to determine your origin. At which point you're as good as dead. Or a prisoner. Or at the very least, under close surveillance.

Take his hand. While he's still in his nemesis' lair, he is probably still on guard to threats. Let him take you somewhere he feels safe; somewhere he'd never expect to be attacked.

We were created by Doctor Revile.
Mr. New York killed Doctor Revile, and claims to have killed the creations thereof.
If Doctor Revile was capable of making something that could stop Mr. New York, he would have.
Therefore, Mr. New York can kill us.

Stay with him and watch him, and perhaps try to get an idea of how strong you are in comparison first. It may be more efficient to gain his material from another route, or to use him for social leverage.

Attempting to murder this guy probably won't go well.

1. a) He's very powerful.
1. b) We aren't.
2. He's likely both famous and well liked, killing him would get the public against us, we'd have to go into hiding.

If we really need his genetics, there are methods other than killing and eating him that we can use.
If we need a wide variety of genetic material and we don't have any morals, then we could become a serial killer. If we left a minimum of evidence and we never got caught in the act, then we could probably live that way indefinitely, assuming we never stayed in one place for too long.

His powers, whatever they are, are genetic. You wouldn't find his strains viable otherwise. Besides, the way he's dressed hardly seems to suggest technology. No, whatever his powers are, they are biological in nature, and you hunger for the genetic sequences that cause them. Still, open confrontation would likely end... badly. You need a more subtle approach, at least this time.

You slip your arms into the sleeves of the coat, feeling the roughness of it against your skin, and as you stand you let yourself stumble slightly. Mr. New York is quick to steady you, wrapping his arms too closely around you for simple worry over you. Nor does the smirk he give you suggest his motives are pure. Still, it serves your purpose. You cling to him, as if truly unsteady and taking comfort in his embrace, even as your hand slips into one of the pockets on the lab coat, looking for something you can use as a weapon. Your hand closes around a pen, and though it isn't much, it'll have to do. Now to wait for the right moment.

He leads you out of the room and through corridors, your hand in his, and you take in the result of his assault on this place. Metal doors, reminiscent of blast doors, are ripped from their hinges, robotic machines are scattered across the various floors, some torn apart and others ripped limb from limb, some still sparking from the conflict.

"Doctor Revile's creations. I don't know what he was trying to accomplish with you, but whatever it was, it was certainly new for him. Don't worry, we'll get you patched up."

You make a noncommittal noise, more interested in what's around you, and possibly picking up something better than a pen to try and kill him with. You're musing are interrupted by the sound of movement, metal on metal, to which you and Mr. New York react to within the same moment. Fortunately for you, whatever it is seems to have little interest in you, instead tackling the hero and sending them both to the floor. He shouts something unintelligible before kicking the thing off him and scrambling to his feet.

The thing lands roughly but is back on its feet quickly, facing off against the man before it. It looks like a robotic construct made of a shiny whitish metal, roughly human in height, though perhaps slightly shorter. It's appearance is feminine, in so much as the curve of its body shape, and even its face could almost be described as an approximation of a woman's face. Still, while there is no emotional expression on its "face", its "eyes" glow red, and it clearly does not harbor any good will towards Mr. New York.

"Damn, thought I'd taken care of them all! Stay back lady! I got this!"

You pause, considering your options. This is clearly a creation of Doctor Revile, has to be. Whatever it is though, you can't know if it'll even know who you are, or if it'll attack you after its done with Mr. New York, or even if its going to win. Still, this is a significant distraction. If you struck now, or when the machine attacked him, you'd likely catch him by surprise, and would have a good chance to defeat him. Or, you suppose, you could simply watch things play out.

>Stand back
>Attack Mr. New York
>Wait, then Attack
>___

Decide for yourself if your "sister" would accept you as your father's heir. Attack immediately if you think so.

If not, then try to make York show mercy just before the killing blow. If he persists and your sister shows fear, kick his ass.

Wait until the doctor's robot waifu is almost finished, then strike.

while they're fighting try and find a better weapon. Also see what New York can actually do and gauge what you think your chances would be if you had to fight him.

Use this chance to watch him, gauge his capabilities. Maybe look for a better weapon.

If he dies, great, but he already took a whole facility's worth of these things.

>Mr. New York is quick to steady you, wrapping his arms too closely around you for simple worry over you. Nor does the smirk he give you suggest his motives are pure.
...letting the hero think he's getting the 'reward' he wants might be the best opportunity to kill him, actually.

The main downside is if we don't kill him before getting offsite, we can't just pretend to be a damsel in distress and claim Mr New York and Dr Revile (via one of his creations) killed each other.

You let the two begin their battle, watching as Mr. New York trades punches with the machine for a moment or two before quickly glancing around for a better weapon. You settle on a piece of sharpened metal, you think from a blade of some kind, before turning back to the battle. It seems Mr. New York has come out of it mostly unscathed, though clearly breathing heavily, while the robot is being held down. He seems a bit eager to end the thing, but, after a moment's hesitation, you decide you'd rather keep the machine around. It might have useful information.

Besides, his genetic strands call to you.

As the hero gets ready to deliver the "final blow" you step up and jab your newly acquired weapon through his chest, aiming for where you believing the heart or lung would be. As you pull back to jab again, he lashes out, catching you across the face and sending you to the ground. He whirls to face you, surprise in his eyes, before the robot pounces on him again, wrapping it's arms around his head and then violently twisting, the sickening crunch and tear of bone and muscle being heard. Mr. New York collapses, eyes dead, as the robot releases its hold and steps back, but you hardly notice.

Fresh meat.

Fresh strands.

You take up you scrap of metal and begin tearing into the corpse, pulling meat and blood into you mouth with hands, metal, anything. Your body begins processing the stuff quickly, sucking in the resources being provided, and before long you feel you vision get cloudy as your body reaches its limit. You feel yourself hunch over as spasms of pain begin to rock your frame, but you don't panic. Something inside says this is supposed to happen.

Your body is adapting new strands to a purpose.

>Select One
>Absorb genetic material: Evolve Enhanced Musculature
>Reconstitute genetic material: Evolve Clawed Fingers
>Use genetic material: Upgrade Hard Carapace

As your body's spasms cease, you raise yourself to a kneeling position as find the machine standing over you, it's once red eyes glowing a soft blue. It regard you a moment, then bows slightly.

"This one acknowledges Master Revile's instructions. Adjutant unit 021 awaiting order or inquiries."

>_____

>>686603
Enhanced Musculature seems good.

As for miss robot, uh... well first things first, who else is in this base? We want to clear it of heroes and rescue any other of our siblings. Also hiding the evidence of Mister New York's grisly murder might be good. At the least we should wash any blood off of ourselves, so as to better fool any future heroes.

https://wiki.teamfortress.com/w/images/0/09/Heavy_sandwichtaunt17.wav?t=20100625221956

enhance muscles
Ask for help or a list of commands or something. Order it to answer your questions. Ask it what standing orders it has. Ask if Mr.Revile ever did anything sexual with it. Ask it which way leads out. Ask it about where Mr.Revile left his valuables.

>>686603
>>Absorb genetic material: Evolve Enhanced Musculature
He may have been a few sandwiches short of a picnic, but we clearly still looked normal enough to pass as a normal human to him. The other two options sound a bit too overt to keep that up.

Dang. He shrugged off a collapsed lung and still decked you. It's a good thing we didn't chance attacking him earlier- the element of surprise might not have been enough.

>Select One
I think we should go for Enhanced Musculature. From the "absorb" discretion, and the fact it wasn't available before, I think it's Mister New York's power. If we don't take it now, or we use him for something else, we'll miss it.

Also, I think we should prioritize choices that still allow us to pass for a baseline human. Claws, while useful, will be obvious, unless they're retractable.

>orders
Should any heros or civilians come across us, you are to pretend I am an escaped prisoner of Dr Revile's, not one of his experiments. Feign hostility towards me to sell my cover as 'normal'.

*point at Mister New Yorks remains* Pummel that. I wish to conceal that he was eaten. (Is there an incinerator, or open fire, or acid we can dump him in?).

>queries
Current location.

Estimated time of arrival of first responders or any additional heros.

Do any of your peers or other Revile units remain functional?

Locations of any of Revile's nearby facilities, safehouses, bolt-holes, or supply caches.

Do you have access to Revile's data or research in portable storage media? (Important! The records of the man who created you could be very useful / enlightening, and we might need the medical data someday if anything goes wrong, or if you want to create peers).

Exfil options.

>our priorities
We need to grab anything here that could be useful to us and scram, fast. The 'bot counts as a useful resource we'd prefer to keep, but we'll sacrifice it to buy us time, or to sell our cover, if necessary.

Upgrade the Carapace (not that this will win the vote). You don't know what else is on this base, and until you do, you'll want to evolve for defense.

For now, talk to your "sister". She is now going to carry around any corpses that you find for further consumption. If they rot, then trapping the bodies with bombs should prove effective.

Claws or muscles work for me.

As for orders, tell to give you the run down on the base. What's left, who's left, and how can we get out of here. Also where exactly is here?

>Absorb genetic material: Evolve Enhanced Musculature

We have defense, we need a weapon and super strength, even if it isn't super man grade is a very good weapon. You can do a lot with it, beyond just punching people hard.

As for what we should do right? We need to learn what other threats might be near by, what resources we can gain access to and where else we can gain genetic material.

Also here is a thought. Should we see if our late father has anything valuable? He was a supergenius after all.

Upgrade Hard Carapace.

Enhanced Musculature

Also query what instructions are being acknowledged.

musculature or carapace, whichever is less likely to make you less visibly human.

Your body's absorption of the genetic material has developed into an Enhanced Musculature, resulting in increased physical strength. While it is only the basest form at the moment, meaning you are really only at the peak of human physical fitness, you now have access to using other viable genetic strands to increase the purity and strength of the genetic strands that make up your increased strength.

"What instructions are being acknowledged?"

You waste little time in launching into questioning this apparently subservient robot, who wastes just as little time responding. It's voice, however, suddenly becomes male as its eyes shine green.

"Listen, Adjutants. My death, while unwelcome, is likely to come. In the event of such an occurrence, you are to place yourselves at the command of my greatest creation. You'll know it when you see it for its enhanced evolutionary tendencies and varied genetic data. Got it? Good."

"Right... is there anyone else in this base?"

"No other life forms are detected. All combat drones and all other Adjutants are non-responsive. Conclusion: Mistress and Adjutant 021 are only remaining subjects within the current location."

"What is the current location?"

"Doctor Revile's Laboratory, located on a small volcanic island west of Africa. Records indicate the island was artificially made, though specifics are undetermined."

"... Are there any other facilities we can use?"

"No other locations remain functional at this time. Security records indicate simultaneous attacks on each that coincide with the attack on this base. However, assets within the base remain operational, specifically the mobile command ship, the main data base and the factory complex."

"Wait, mobile command ship?"

"Yes. Command ship, capable of both flight and submersible actions, currently docked within the bases shipyard. It is operational, though certain systems remain damaged or inactive after a previous engagement with registered heroes Mr. New York and Lady Sovereign."

"There's how we get out... How long till others arrive?"

"Others?"

"Heroes, civilians, outsiders who might ask uncomfortable questions."

"Calculations indicate most likely response will come within the hour. Heroes will likely converge here to confirm the defeat of Doctor Revile at the hands of Mr. New York."

"Not a lot of time... do you have access to Doctor Revile's records? Research data, plans, anything."

"All plans exist within the main data base. This information can be downloaded to this unit at any time. Would you like to do so?"

>______

yes, and prep the ship for both getting us the hell out of here and for you to be repaired... there is somewhere on the ship to repair you right?

Well now, we're either going to have to go on a recruitment drive or find a way to build robot henchmen to crew the ship but we can worry about that later.

Prepare to leave within a half hour, salvaging as much of value as possible. The database takes priority.
We need to know more about this factory complex, chances are it's designed to manufacture, or remanufacture, these robots but I doubt it'll work adequately against what's coming if one of these super vigilantes was enough to assault the base.

Get to the main database and download all blueprints from the computers. Do not destroy them yet, but set up a bomb in the corner in case you need to. Head to the factory and use the blueprints to build a few robots. Have the robots carry the equipment (and the database if they can) to the airship and get this show on the road.

And if you run into Lady Sovereign, tell her that you murdered York and that she's welcome. If she shows any sign of affection for York, tear her limbs from their sockets and take her captive to be tortured, because you'd expect his girlfriend/crush to be a prejudiced self-sexist sociopath. If not then treat her with respect and attempt to recruit her; currently, you're a heister, not a supervillain.

What can the factory produce in an hour? Can you fake the place being completely destroyed but leave the factory intact.

>>687068
>However, assets within the base remain operational, specifically the mobile command ship, the main data base and the factory complex.

- Download database
- Abscond in command ship
- Have Factory Conplex rapidly assemble shell of command ship, and have it installed in dock
- Move Doctor Revile's and Mr New York's corpses to the false command ship
- Activate base self destruct

The longer the world can be kept thinking that both perished in the conflict and all research was destroyed, the better.

>[The Ship] is operational, though certain systems remain damaged or inactive after a previous engagement
Damage report summary. What systems are affected? (If the ship's damage such that it will impede our escape, we need to get working on repairs, fast).

>All plans exist within the main data base. This information can be downloaded to this unit at any time. Would you like to do so?
Time estimate to complete operation? (Assuming less than an hour, yes).

>>687106
Yes, this should be our plan. We're faking the deaths of everyone here, and becoming an underground supervillian. If they don't know you exist, they won't hunt you down.

>>687106
I like this plan.

One Hour Later

"Welcome to the Ragnarok."

You find yourself on board the command ship, standing within what you guess serves as the command deck of the carrier sized ship. While walking through it has given you a clear picture of its damaged nature, it's exterior is pristine of battle damage, giving it at least the appearance of functionality. While it certainly lacks for subtly, it's current place, submerged beneath the surface and distancing itself from the rapidly self destructing headquarters of the late Dr. Revile, means that, at least according to your robotic assistant, you are unlikely to be noticed. This provides you plenty of time to plan your next move, though what that should be remains up to you. Your assistant, of course, continues to drone on.

"As requested, all data has been downloaded to this unit. Back-Ups have also been downloaded to the Ragnarok's internal database. This unit requests permission to suggest actions based on available data."

"Proceed."

"Research data procured from the data base suggests you are a highly evolutionary organism, capable of consuming genetic data to augment or improve your own abilities. Focusing on increasing your genetic diversity, and therefore your powers, would ensure your continued survival. Hunting heroes who are confirmed super-humans would be a wise course of action."

"Who says I want to be a villain?"

"Apologies. This unit was under the impression cannibalism is a crime. Should this unit update its parameters?"

"No... continue."

"Data packages, received from what remains of Dr. Revile's information network, suggest that at least two of his lieutenants managed to escape the destruction of his facilities. It might be wise to track them down and attempt to recruit them once more. No doubt they would bring expertise and staff to the ship that we currently do not possess."

"Couldn't hurt to have a bit of help running the place."

"Finally, resources are necessary to bring the Ragnarok's systems back to working order. These can be obtained through various means, though the most obvious are the most classic. Bank robberies, thefts of artifacts, and other means of villainy can be used to collect money and materials for use on board the Ragnarok. Similarly-"

The Adjutant suddenly stops, eye color shifting to purple, and a distorted voice comes through, thought it is impossible to tell if its a male or female.

"So... someone made it out alive. I suppose you are either one of his creations or a lieutenant. Either way, that means you're in control of what remains of Dr. Revile's work. I represent a... corporation... that benefits of the markets provided by superheroes and their villainous counterparts. We side with neither side, providing both with a means of trading information, resources and artifacts for whatever they require. The Ragnarok already has a link to our villainous listing, feel free to peruse it at your leisure. We hope any future transactions remain... beneficial... for the both of us."

The Adjutant shifts back to its normal coloration, and continues right where it left off, not even missing a beat.

- setting up means of obtaining resources over time is an option as well, whether through trade deals, shell companies or any other forms you might be able to design."

"I... see..."

"That is all this unit has to offer. The decision of where we go now is up to you."

>Hero Hunting: Focus on finding a hero to consume so you may grow in power.
>Lieutenant Search: Track down Dr. Revile's surviving lieutenants, they might still be of use.
>Resource Gathering: We need money and materials to get back up to speed. The sooner we have those, the better.
>_

>super corp knows you survived
That's.... annoying. I would have preferred there being nothing that lead back to us. Now we have a potential path of exposure.

>options
Let's decide on some priorities. Let's be pragmatic; our main purpose, first and foremost, should be survival.

If we're a villain, it's only because we've been born into a world where it's apparently cool to execute us on sight.

Until it's shown to be necessary for our survival, consumption of genetic strands for evolution is secondary to this.

Therefore, I would prefer to avoid the first option. Hero hunting is a risk that places us in combat situations, and ultimately raises our profile and gives more people reason to hunt us down and try to kill us. We go from being a mere abomination to a real threat.

Also, outside of our immediate needs for survival, we should consider how much extra death we're willing to cause. Presumably, most creatures simply seek survival as well.

Recruited lieutenants are potentially a boon for survival, especially if they have skill sets or knowledge relevant to our creation. The problem is the need to pay them, and their own motivations, both of which could put pressure on us to take risks.

Gathering resources is always useful. The complication her is, again, the suggested means are all rather high profile. I would much prefer something quieter and low profile.

>what do
We probably should try to grab the lieutenants. There's a limited window before they're killed or captured by heros, or recruited by other villains. Worst case, even if they're unrecruitable or useless, we can eliminate lose ends that know stuff about us.

Second to that, I'd like to begin planning low profile means of acquiring resources.

>Lieutenant Search: Track down Dr. Revile's surviving lieutenants, they might still be of use.
Might as well, they'd have a better idea on how to gain money and resources. Although once we gain some money ourselves we could try to start up some "legal" businesses for no other purpose then to gain money and depending on the business could also use them as a front and actually use them and and R&D site or something. But we can worry about that later. Oh and do we have any way of repairing out damaged robo friend here or do we fix her by fixing the ship.

Hero killing would increase your profile, making you an easier target. Just collect genetic samples as you go, no need to kill just yet.

Those lieutenants have no prior experience with you. Let them run, but try to recruit if you happen to find them somewhere.

Resources and intel gathering seem like a very good option. First things first, how much gas does this airship have?

One possible means of collecting genetic strands is to use the supercorp as a proxy and simply buy the corpses of dead heroes and villains. Or outright grave robbing Since our method of genetic gathering requires substantial amounts of the product we can't just buy\steal tissue or blood samples. I think anyway.

Another option is that heroes and villains get injured and not all of them will have access to super powered healing. Attacking them while they are under convalescence is a good way to ensure a less risky victory.

As for right now, we should track down those lieutenants. Once we have access to their skills we can assess risk and reward a bit better.

What happens if you eat animals? Do you get the strength of a shark or whatever? Maybe you should go fishing.

Go for the lieutenants. They'll probably end up getting caught or working for someone else pretty quick.

>>689928
>Or outright grave robbing Since our method of genetic gathering requires substantial amounts of the product we can't just buy\steal tissue or blood samples.
If we can get a cloning vat set up, or find a source of superhero stem cells, we can grow a large amount of material from just a small sample.

On the Lieutenants, we should hold off for a while. Our biggest issue now is detection, so some or all of them could be more of a liability than an aid. Wait a few weeks or months and see which manage to evade capture, then start tracking down the ones who have demonstrated competency.

Wipe the servers that remain on the base. No need to hand over copies of everything to whoever comes later.

"Could I eat animals? Gain their traits?"

"Research data indicates this is unlikely. Genetic similarities between you and most animals is too far to allow proper assimilation of genetic strands. You require a human, or close to human, genetic structure to evolve from. If a human, however, were to develop genetic traits of animal, for instance, gills, you could consume their genetic strands and evolve gills, if you so wished."

"I see... well, we need resources, but we also need people. We're going after the lieutenants."

"Understood. I will begin plotting courses at once. It remains only for you to decide with of the two lieutenants you wish to find."

"Give me what you know on each."

"Gabriela de la Rosa, Spanish born, military family. Grew up under constant scrutiny, being raised by a father renowned for aiding a number of super-humans defeat villains of varying kinds. Gabriela didn't react well to the stress she was being put under, or the strained relationship she had with her father. Her mother's death was the final straw, and she cut off ties with her father and started causing havoc throughout Europe. Dr. Revile eventually snatched her up, putting her in charge of his military assets.

"She is an exceptionally gifted individual, capable at leading operations with finesse and tactical precision. Security footage suggests she was injured in the attacks, though how badly has yet to be determined. Current data suggests she's taken to holing up in Morocco."

"Martin Smith, US born, average family. He's a veritable genius when it comes to the scientific pursuits, though his abilities tend towards application than theories. Smith holds degrees in a number of pursuits, but lends little to the actual running of our operations. However, his presence would allow us to bring our research labs online, as he is a veritable team in and of himself. Many of the systems on the Ragnarok were designed with help from Smith. Records indicate he has returned to the US, likely heading for the familiar stomping grounds of the West Coast."

>Morocco: We need someone who's capable of leading operations on their own. We're finding Gabriela.
>West Coast, US: Our research labs need to be brought up to speed, Smith is our target
>_

Gabriela first. Research and base building takes money and right now operations are the only way we're gonna get some. It also sounds like she is the more time sensitive one given possible injuries.

>finesse and tactical precision
...that's what we need to stay alive, right now. We need to use what little resources we have carefully, lest we bring down more heat on ourselves than we can handle.

Gabriela first.

Although it goes without saying that if Martin has knowledge of our biology, he cannot be allowed to remain at large. That information is useful to us, and also useful to any enemies. As a secondary priority, instruct our adjunct to keep tabs on him. Alert us in case of significant developments (his death, disappearance, or recruitment by others).

>question
Are either of their mental gifts superhuman? Are they likely to posses stands I will hunger for? (That does give them a secondary utility should they end up dead, but it might be easier without that conflict of interest).

Gabriela can help us with sub-missions to recruit more scientists and agents. Much as I'd like Martin on the team, he can handle himself and we should not invade and threaten his house to recruit him. Send an encoded message though.

Since you have a portable robotics factory, construct a small fleet of tiny hoverdrones designed for medium-profile harvesting missions, each capable of holding about thirty pounds. Have them loosely follow you around and collect shiny-looking stuff, as well as remote controls for scavenging yourself if you're bored.

>Send an encoded message [to Martin] though.
Nope. We can't let a potential loose end know we're still alive. (Or that someone with access to our creator's tools is still alive). If he knows, then anyone who recruits or captures him will know. We can't afford that.

"Are either of their gifts super-human? Are they likely to have genetic strands I'll hunger for?"

"Negative. Both were tested by Dr. Revile, both were found to be baseline humans. Both are examples of the results of talent and long work to hone those talents."

Well, that's good then. Wouldn't want you accidentally eating one of your lieutenants.

"Then, we need someone capable of leading operations on their own. We're finding Gabriela."

"Understood. I will begin adjusting the Ragnarok's path at once. We should arrive within a few days."

-----

Three days later, and you find yourself sitting across from de la Rosa's current hideout, somewhere in the middle of Morocco. It's summer in the world, and unbearably warm, though you do your best to ignore it. From the outside, her choice seems a reasonable hideout, for someone rich enough to afford it. You see obvious guards patrolling the perimeter as you take a sip from the coffee you'd ordered, wondering blandly if caffeine will even do anything given your biology. Still, even just sitting here, you've counted at least seven guards, and they seem to be rather focused. Exceptionally well trained, if you had to take a guess. Either that or very much afraid of failure.

Regardless, all information points here, and you have to get inside and talk to her if your going to try convincing Gabriela to join you. Which brings up the first conundrum. Getting inside...

>Peaceful: Go up and ask to see her. If it works, you're in. If not, they'll know someone is sniffing about.
>Stealthy: Sneak in. Perhaps you can find her before her guards find you, and talk her into helping you.
>Violent: Best to charge in, be a villain, and take what you want. Certainly will be the most attention catching.
>Other:_

>Stealthy: Sneak in. Perhaps you can find her before her guards find you, and talk her into helping you.

Mmm, this is probably not the best choice, we don't really have any stealth enhancements, but asking people is boring and beating them up is stupid and likely to get us labelled as an enemy.

Violence seems a bad first option. She's going to assume the worst if you go in (metaphorical) guns blazing, and gunshots give us a time limit before local authorities arrive (although I don't know what police response time in Morocco, or if she or anyone else might have paid them off).

Stealth is risky because you're neither trained in it, nor do your superhuman abilities particularly help you there. Getting caught or failing your infiltration just makes you look weak, and hurts you in negotiations.

I think the safest way to reach out to her is with the data we took with us. There must be standard communications protocols (assuming she still has a comm device from Revile's organization), or code phrases / signals for assests to identify each other with. She'll be suspicious since she believes Revile is dead, and warry of a hero's trap, but it's doable.

>>Stealthy
seems the most likely to succeed

Obfuscate stupidity. Lure one of the guards away, then DON'T knock him out. Repeat distractions until they get bored or engage you, then stealth your way to Gabriela.