Wait for Annie.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/24(Mon)19:04 No. 818177 ID: a6af03
File 150094826384.png - (105.33KB , 600x600 , 3-71.png )

You wait for a moment to catch your breath. A gloved hand pats your shoulder and Annie steps beside you.
"You okay?" Worry etches itself across her face, "you look pale..."
"Yeah..." your voice quavers strangely, "just waiting for you."

Toxoglossa 2017/07/24(Mon)19:04 No. 818178 ID: a6af03
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Together you step into the bright room and a flurry of medical activity. Bucky is being held down, groaning while Dr. Spencer wrestles with his helmet. 
"We need this EVA gear off, now! Kent, how're we doing?"
Dr. Kent has his arms around the terratoma, trying to untangle it as it snaps at him. "We're going to have to cut this off! Get me a saw or something!" 

Toxoglossa 2017/07/24(Mon)19:04 No. 818180 ID: a6af03
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"No, we can't risk fluid transfer, just pin it d- oof!" Dr. Spencer finally undoes the latches and free's Bucky's panting face. She looks suddenly distracted, "...uh..."
"Cheri! I need a hand here! What's the holdup?" Dr. Kent glares daggers at her. 
"Sorry!" She spots you, "Sam! His collar is wearing off, he needs another pulse if we're going to do this!" 

"Fine, but ONLY one more! Three in a row would cause permanent brain damage, so make it count!"

>>818180
Okay, but we gotta be careful with that stuff.

Hey, I wonder if Old Sam wants to see this.

>>818180
Is there an alternative to the collar? Would manual stimulation of some sort be enough? If not, then definitely collar.

The good doctor is distracted because Bucky looks exactly like someone she used to know, in case y'all missed that.

Anyway, presumably, the doctor knows what she's talking about. I mean, she is a doctor. Follow her wishes.

"Are you sure? We're not really supposed to use it multiple times in a row. And it might get very awkward with the noises he's gonna make."

You might need to explain why he's not supposed to use it multiple times in a row if they don't understand. Explain it the same way Bucky explained it to you and explain why you and Annie have control over it instead of him being able to administer it to himself.

>She looks suddenly distracted
She knew Old Bucky didn't she.

If the collar can tie into his nervous system the way it does to elicit "O" level sensation, can't it also be used to just...muffle or outright block pain receptors?

You don't like giving Bucky another shot of cyber-bliss right after the previous one, but given the lack of any other anesthetic or pain deadening choices, it's the only option Bucky has. Do it, but check that Dr. Spencer knows that it's not going to be as effective or last as long as the previous one. That's because, while it'll be the same intensity level, his pleasure centers will not have recovered. We'll have to be quick about this.

Ask how you and Annie could help them. You two could assist in removing Bucky's suit, then in wrestling that terratoma down and peeling it off. Both you and Annie could don your EVA suit gauntlets to aid in that task, or possibly lend them to the medical staff to use. And does that space tape have any means of removal built into its applicator? Because if it does, you ought to use it to get the tape off Bucky's leg.

Ask Dr. Kent and Dr. Spencer what's the risk of fluid transfer, and what methods do they know of to remove or kill a terratoma with the least risk to Bucky. Cauterization? Acid? Laser? Electroshock? Precision directed ionizing radiation? Poison? Tranquilizers? Other? What about ways to entice a terratoma? Could we possibly give it a more desirable place to be than wrapped around Bucky's leg? ...It has to be real hungry and thirsty, so could we feed it booze until it is passed out drunk?

If they can't think of a good option to get that terratoma off Bucky without harming him, you may need to consider conferring with Old Sam. Her genius invented the regeneration process from which this terratoma came, so she may know how to neutralize it with minimal risk.

And looks like Dr. Spencer knew Old Bucky. Given his engineering expertise, most likely he was involved in building the Sunfish, but that's just a guess. And any questions on this will have to wait until Dr. Spencer isn't occupied saving Bucky.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/25(Tue)18:58 No. 818384 ID: a6af03
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You bring up the neural uplink control on your datapad, "Are you sure? We're trying to keep them under control."

She puts Buckys helmet aside and pulls open a cabinet: inside is an ancient, frayed collar. "Just for a minute, so we can get everything stable, then I can switch him over to our neural collar for full anesthesia. Damn thing takes a while to set up, just thought his would be faster."

Annie cradles Bucky's head in her arms, "What happens if there's fluid transfer?"

Toxoglossa 2017/07/25(Tue)18:58 No. 818385 ID: a6af03
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Dr. Kent manages to pin the recalcitrant limb, "Our immune response is very strong, can do a lot of damage to a healthy body. Learned that from a liver transplant we tried. Wasn't pretty." He tugs at the knee joint, "What the hell is this? Tape? Can we get this off?" 
You pull out your tape dispenser and flip open a nozzle in the handle. Tape as strong as this comes with a canister of nanites designed to break down the adhesive, for safety reasons. You spritz some around the edges of the seal and start pulling away at the strips of carbon fiber. 

Careful not to agitate the teratoma.

Also yeah activate his collar again.

Can you lure the thing off by showing it a very nice leg or stump of a leg so that it leaves willingly?

It seems to know what it is and more than anything wants to be a leg. Enticing it with a shiny prosthesis stump might be a option.

Does there happen to be anyone around who's missing a leg? It might favor someone who "needs" it more. Obviously beforehand you'd provide the person with a cover or something that would make removing the leg afterwards easier than it is here.

>>818385
>>818384

Let's ask Bucky. He's the one who has also been rather hesitant to misuse the collar's abilities, perhaps more than ourselves. If he feels he needs it for the meantime, may as well let him.

If not, then ... we have to trust his judgment in this.

Ok, weird thought, can we try using the pleasure collar or the anesthesia collar on the monster limb thing?

>>818410
Well, we're surrounded by people who could regrow the leg if they really had to, and have plenty of time to wait around for it to do so.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/26(Wed)18:59 No. 818687 ID: a6af03
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"Maybe we can find it another host? Is there anyone onboard missing a leg?"

The two doctors exchange a surprised look and Dr. Kent's eyes roll back in his head as he mentally scrolls through medical records. "Uh... Avi Stone, last I heard he was on Recycling duty. You'd need to talk to Polly. Ive got one someone on ice who might be able to do it, I'd need time to defrost her though. Now where's that anesthesia?"

Toxoglossa 2017/07/26(Wed)18:59 No. 818688 ID: a6af03
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You hit the button and watch as Bucky lets out an exhausted sigh. He lays on the table, breathing heavily as Dr. Spencer removes his neural uplink and attaches the older medical collar. "This'll take a few minutes..."

>>818688
"Who was old Bucky?"

>>818687
>>818688
>Dark and gritty shading in the background ...

I dare say we've taken a turn for the worst.

>>818687
I think attaching the teratoma or whatever it's called to anyone is a BAD IDEA. Has attaching someone elses teratoma to a non-"immortal" person had any negative consequences? Like what about it being rejected just like any other implanted bodypart. Or even worse, what if contains enough neurons/nerves to implant memories in someone? We don't want to pull a ReNu "slave" re-enactment on someone just so we don't have to deal with this thing.

For now, stroke Bucky's ears and hand softly. This is going to get worse before it gets better

Toxoglossa 2017/07/28(Fri)16:27 No. 819128 ID: a6af03
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You look behind you; seeing only brilliant white walls and sterile surfaces. For a moment you felt a... a presence, as though someone was standing in the corner.

Someone calls your name and you turn back around. You feel yourself practically sloshing around in your spacesuit, not realizing how much you were sweating.

"Sam! Call down to Recycling and see if Avi is willing to lend us a stump. There's a console on the wall, Polly will probably be more open to it from you." Dr. Kent throws one of Bucky's gloves in a corner as he works to remove what he can of the spacesuit.

>>819128
Since you're more familiar with Bucky's spacesuit, help the doctors get it off faster.

Also, check Bucky for any other injuries he might have. His leg might not be the only thing we have to worry about!

>>819128
Do the thing they just told you to do.

Call Poly, then go help get Bucky's space suit off.

Do the thing.

OBEY

Toxoglossa 2017/07/30(Sun)11:02 No. 819500 ID: a6af03
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You hurry over to the console and send a message down to recycling. A minute or so later it chimes and you see Polly's face materialize on the screen. Her expression flickers from suspicion to surprise as she registers who's calling, "Sam! I'm glad you're alright, To what to I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm in Medbay and we've got a bit of a situation. The doctors said there's someone named Avi in your section that could give us a hand."

"They already took a leg off of him; not going to be much left if they keep it up." She puts her hands on her hips and glowers.

"Well, its about that: we've got one of those terratoma things wrapped around someone's leg and can't get it loose. We thought it might let go if we gave it another leg."

She mulls this over for a minute and Dr. Kent shouts over, exasperated: "Oh come on Polly! We don't have time for this!"

"I'll ask him, but I want his cryo date pushed back six months if he does it."

"Yeah, fine! Whatever! How do you get this off?" Polly hangs up and you help Dr. Kent open the front of Bucky's space suit.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/30(Sun)11:03 No. 819501 ID: a6af03
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You pull aside the layers of protective clothing and reveal Bucky's chest. A livid line of bruises blooms under his fur, and you feel your stomach clench in terror.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/30(Sun)11:03 No. 819502 ID: a6af03
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"Sam, are you okay?" You look up at Annie and you feel dizzy. Suddenly there isn't enough air in the room, and you feel yourself taking great heaving breaths just to stay alive.

>>819502
Sam, take deep, slow breaths. It's okay if you need to leave the room for a bit and sit down. People will understand. Maybe Annie can come with and hold you.

Bucky is going to be okay. These people will make sure of it.

I don't think it's going to be productive to stay and watch this, anymore.

Excuse yourself and go reacquire your nerves.

Your friends are okay, and they're going to be okay. Leave the room for a second with Annie. Just let her hold you for a little bit. You don't have to look.

Say you think you're hallucinating.

You are in a medical center, with doctors, after all. It's a good place to be. If they ask you what you're seeing say you're seeing injuries on people that aren't there.

If you can't speak, gesture at your throat and pat yourself on the chest.

>>819511
I don't think it's hallucinations.

If I remember correctly, Old Sam was a doctor, right? These purple lines might be Old Sam using her skills as a doctor to highlight injuries for Sam to see, but only Sam can see them.

In fact, at the beginning of the thread, Old Sam and Sam seemed like they came to an understanding and Old Sam isn't trying to take over Sam's body anymore. Old Sam even said, "Let me know if you need help...". So I think Old Sam is trying to help!

Instead of leaving the room, we should ask Old Sam for help!

>>819519
I think at this point it would make more sense to call oldSam "mom". She clearly set things up for Sam to live as her own person, after all.
So, yes, see what mom has to say about those purple marks.

Freak the fuck out.

>>819523
I don't know if this is exactly the right time, but I have to agree; the two are about as similar as...well, a mother and daughter. They share genes, but that's about it.

>>819560
I'd say closer to identical Twins.

Besides that, genetics plays a frankly uncomfortably large roll in who you are.

It wouldn't surprise me if over time, Sam became similar enough to old Sam for the personalities to just... spontaneously merge.

Ask Old Sam to show you more clearly what's she's trying to say here. You could use her help right now!

Say what you're seeing-- Annie, your neck.

Sam is seeing what she saw in the morgue. Annie strangled her clone to death.

>>819501
Take big, deep breaths. To focus yourself on a breathing rhythm, stroke Bucky's ears, let him know you're there but STAY AWAY FROM THE CANCER TENRDIL ON HIS LEG. That will calm you down, and then you can call on Old Sam/Mom for advice on what these purple splotches in your vision mean.

stroke them ears

>>819502
>Suddenly there isn't enough air in the room
Decompression drill time, kitty. First, put your helmet back on. You remember where you put it, right? Never forget your helmet. Then, look around for where they keep the hull patches, or if you can't find any, the nearest intact bulkhead and an airlock through which to depart the immediate area.
Yes I'm probably taking that too literally, but it isn't completely terrible advice for a panic attack either.

>>819502
"...I'm not certain. I'm either suffering from hypoxia, or having a manic breakdown. Because right now your neck looks like you've been having fun with auto-erotic asphyxiation without me."

>>819689
"Or Old Sam is trying to give me medical know-how via highlighting injuries with visual hallucinations that look like augmented reality overlays. Or something."

>>819603

Oh, that makes a lot of sense. Also the white-out eyes, since Annie's are usually black.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/31(Mon)20:03 No. 819798 ID: a6af03
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You clutch at your neck, "I- I- uh, I um... Annie, you-"

The world lurches and spins like a butterfly in a hurricane, and as you feel yourself losing control someone takes over. You stand upright and you hear yourself speaking, "Sam's going to be fine, she just needs a minute..."

Toxoglossa 2017/07/31(Mon)20:04 No. 819799 ID: a6af03
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From a distance you watch as your hand touches Dr. Spencer's shoulder, and she looks back at you, eyes glittering with emotion. You watch as the creature is lured off of its perch, onto the stump of a stranger. From there, the doctors strip away the spacesuit, revealing a distended, swollen leg. Old Sam gets to work; using the meager supplies available to reduce the swelling and treat his many bite wounds. You float somewhere in your own head, observing the procedure with detached horror, but thankful for the help.

Toxoglossa 2017/07/31(Mon)20:04 No. 819800 ID: a6af03
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Hours later: you're sitting in the waiting room, exhausted and sprawled out like a broken marionette. You cautiously try moving your hand and you see it twitch.

"Sorry about that. I got spooked and Old Sam had to drive for a while. How're things?"

Avoid stepping on tail as you awaken, fail.

Apologize for freaking out. Tell her you're probably going to let Old Sam drive again whenever there's a medical emergency like that.

Would this be a good time to ask her what the deal is with the cloned soldiers?

>>819801
This, but halfway through, accidentally do this: >>819802 , and scream, "MEEEEOOWWCH!!!"

Then, finish by saying this: >>819803 .

>>819800
Mumble "thank you" to yourself. She's still there, in the back of your head, she'll hear. And she was there for Bucky when you needed her.

When you can: "I'm me again. How'd she do?"

>>819800
"Mom wanted to help. I'm back now, but need cuddles."

>>819800
You just suffered involuntary control from your clone mom. I know you're at peace now, but don't get too comfortable with it. A persons brain is only built to handle one mind. If you have any anxieties about this, share them with Annie.

Then grab yourself some grub, an' check on your bunny/boyfriend

>>819813
>A persons brain is only built to handle one mind
Historical precedent suggests otherwise. The Odyssey leads off with "Sing in me, muse, and through me tell the story of that man skilled in all ways of contending," and that sounds an awful lot like Homer asking some storytelling-specialized alternate personality to take over, doesn't it? The idea of 'spirit possession' in general, really, which has parallels across cultures that had little else in common.

Anyway, give Annie an assessment of how you're feeling, as honest as possible. Relationships live or die on clear communication.

Toxoglossa 2017/08/01(Tue)19:01 No. 820014 ID: a6af03
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"How is he?" You croak. 

Annie flops down next to you, "They managed to save his leg, no sign of contamination yet. They think the vacuum kept any fluids from crossing over." She sighs, "He's sleeping now."

Toxoglossa 2017/08/01(Tue)19:01 No. 820015 ID: a6af03
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"What about you?" She leans towards you and you feel her hand envelope yours. "What happened there?"

"I'm sorry… its just- For a minute I was back in that room..." your voice is saw-edged and drags at your throat. You swallow, having to fight it down, "wh-where I... where you were dead. Annie, I saw you dead..." Having finally said it, you want to cry; but you've got nothing left, you feel completely wrung out.

Annie is quiet. When she speaks you hear distant, angry thunderstorms, "That wasn't me."

A thunderstorm? Is their biosphere simulation that complex? You've got to go see this!

>"That wasn't me."
...no. Not anymore. They'd already copied over you.

It's still wrong. They've killed you so many times.

>>820017
The point she's making is that she isn't those other clones. Not their original psyches, nor their templates.

>>820015
"Annie, I know! I know that! I wasn't implying anything. I'm sorry. It just shocked me to learn... THAT about the repo men. It's a lot to take in, you know?"

>>820018
Fair point.

Hoarse: "...I know. Doesn't make it hurt less, seeing... what could have happened to you."

But what if it was? I don't want to think about it.

"She wasn't you. But death happened to her. And it will keep happening to other clones who are bred and grown and wiped and reprogrammed and equipped and sent to die, over and over and over...

It's a @#$%ing meat farm. And WE'RE the meat, every last clone."

I know it wasn't you, that doesn't change what I saw, or what it did to me.

"I know that. I know you're not them in any way besides shape. I know that completely. ...What shook me so is it made me come face-to-face with how you could have died trying to save me. And with the very real possibility of you dying. The terrifying possibility it could be, or could have been, you laid out on a morgue slab from a Repoman's bullet or who knows what else. ...It scares me to my core." Slump onto Annie's shoulder.

...And a horrific thought rises from the depths of your mind: One of the Repomen could attempt to impersonate Annie to members of the Sunfish to gain access. Not ones who know or met Annie personally, but those who only know of her and what she looks like. We need to tell Commander Feist this so she can warn the rest of the crew and passengers.

>>820030
>...And a horrific thought rises from the depths of your mind: One of the Repomen could attempt to impersonate Annie to members of the Sunfish to gain access. Not ones who know or met Annie personally, but those who only know of her and what she looks like. We need to tell Commander Feist this so she can warn the rest of the crew and passengers.
..........ffffffffuuucckkk, you're right! Let's go tell the Commander!

>>820032
She already knows what they look like, now.

>>820035
She does and a select few important people. But does the rest of the Sunfish know? I doubt it.

>>820038
Do you really think the Commander would neglect to tell the security team (and anyone else in charge of anything important) such an important detail?

>>820046
Those are the select few people I was talking about. I'm talking about the rest of the Sunfish. The unimportant guys, the guys that're still in cryo, the normal people that aren't immortal. Those are the guys that aren't important enough to be told about this. Those are the guys I'm talking about.

>>820050
Okay.

Why should we tell them? How would we tell them? What point would bothering the Commander serve?

>>820015

This is probably the right moment to ask how many more of US there are. How many more Sams. How many more Buckys.

How many other flakes are going to have to look at the ones that didn't and see themselves or a loved one dead?

>>820032
>>820035
>>820046
You know, we could actually do the opposite if the other repo person doesn't know her comrade is dead. Depending on how many Annies are part of a standard repo crew AND how they are able to differentiate an escaped Annie from a repo Annie, we could totally stormtrooper her onto their side undercover for a bit, if the opportunity arises.

Have you ever done that before? Does it actually work?

>>820106
That sounds like a good way to make Annie trigger her "old self" by putting her under a lot of stress. We're at peace with OldSam, but Annie seems to hate having anything to do with the identity the Investors wanted to force on her.

Imitation is a pretty good idea for a distraction in combat, though.

Toxoglossa 2017/08/02(Wed)18:46 No. 820138 ID: a6af03
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"I know," you manage, "but what if it was you. What if they had shot you? What if I lost you forever?" You gently tip over until your head lands on her shoulder.

"When I saw them hurting you, I thought I was going to lose you… It scared me too."
Her head tilts over and lands on yours. The two of you sit like this and rest, listening to the soft buzz of air conditioning and distant bustle of busy people. You find your fingers picking idly at the ratty surface of the ancient couch. 

"How come you never told us?" Your voice is a tiny whisper, as if coming from far away.

Annie takes a long time before she responds. "I was scared... Worried about what you'd think. Worried about what it would mean. I'm sorry I never said anything, I guess it was just easier to stay angry at them; at myself. I don't want to ever be like them, Sam…"

Toxoglossa 2017/08/02(Wed)18:46 No. 820139 ID: a6af03
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"What was it like? Growing up, I mean…You were raised separate from us, we never knew about what happened."

"They started us young: before we can even walk we were being programmed for battle. They kept us together, encouraged us to fight. Anyone slow, or weak or just different was singled out and hammered into shape by the rest of us. By the time we were integrated with the rest of the kids, we were already Repo-men: reporting on anything suspicious and quietly solving 'problems'." 

You mull this over, "Are all of the Repo-men like you? With your body, I mean." 

"No, there are three 'templates'... but they tend to group us by type."

Toxoglossa 2017/08/02(Wed)18:46 No. 820140 ID: a6af03
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"What about Old Annie? What was she like?"  You've never heard her talk so much about herself and years of questions are spilling out.

"There isn't much of her left. Every generation they combine our combat experience together into one install. Thousands of battles, skirmishes, and scenarios turning children into weapons. There must have been an Annie once but, for the most part, she's… lost in the noise."

"I wonder what it was like…" You wonder out loud, "Signing up to live forever and just…fading away. Do you think she realized what was happening?"

You feel her sigh, "Maybe. Maybe she didn't care. Maybe she had already sold her soul and we're just empty puppets."

>>820140
Maybe she's the closest thing to Old Annie there is. Or a reincarnation. The one soldier that still has a soul.

I think a soul is something you can grow for yourself.

>>820141
>Maybe she's the closest thing to Old Annie there is.
I really like this.

>>820141
If by 'closest thing to Old Annie' you mean 'her own person', then yes.

>>820143
This is nice.

>>820143
Yeah, this.

>>820140
"Well, I'm just glad Bucky and I have you as our Annie."

And then a hug.

>>820143
Really good line.

>>820143
Ring a ding ding baby. Speak that out loud so we can both feel comfort that we're different than what we were made to be.

Toxoglossa 2017/08/03(Thu)17:49 No. 820327 ID: a6af03
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"Maybe, but a soul is something you have to make for yourself..." your voice has a slow, dreamlike tone to it. You realize how heavy everything feels, sinking further into the couch. "A soul isn't just you... it's everyone around you. All your relationships and everything you touch is part of it." 

"Maybe that's why she did it: she didn't have anyone but herself." Annie puts an arm around you and holds you close. "She was scared of dying and having no one left to remember her..."

"Mmm..." your throat rumbles with a sleepy purr, "I'm glad you're our Annie."

"Yeah." You can feel her muscles relax and she closes her eyes. "Me too."

The two of you sigh and she admits, "We need to tell Bucky, don't we..."

"Yep." With that you drift off to sleep. 

Toxoglossa 2017/08/03(Thu)17:49 No. 820328 ID: a6af03
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Deep inside the ship, a young man wanders through unused access corridors. He's muttering to himself words of injustice, having recently been released from security. Their questioning took hours, and looming overhead was the constant threat of being put on ice. The security forces left, saying something about another ship, and when they returned most of them were sporting fresh injuries. They let him go with the instructions that he tell no one what he saw. Now, worried and angry, he looks for his brother. 

He found something else...

"Ello, what're you doing here?"

End of chapter 3

>>820328
He's fucked.
Probably both figuratively and literally, unless those repo-men are on libido suppressants.

>>820328
Mousy boy is kill. F

Next Chapter: https://tgchan.org/kusaba/quest/res/820992.html