dropoffs | AUDIENCE 🚀 SCIEN

[ He stares at Scien, thinking expression on. ]

... I don't think so, but I'm not... [ Headache. ] Did something like that happen?

[ Unsure again, instead of sure that everything went smoothly. ]

Yes. But the consensus seems to be not giving you additional details since it causes headaches in your attempt to remember. Though it's why I believe the Senior Crew has had their memories tampered with.

I won't treat you with kid gloves if you don't want me to, but I don't know how productive it would be to keep giving you more details when you might pass out as a result.

You guys think that's a good idea? The headaches aren't that bad. I think I'd rather know—or try to know.

[ But Vash also has a much higher pain tolerance. So far, it makes sense to him. It's difficult to know if something is a pattern when you're the only senior crew down here. ]

I can take it.

[well. alright. scien makes a gesture for vash to turn where he's sitting.]

Shift so that your body weight is primarily on the counter. It'll be easier than me trying to catch you if you pass out.

[but scien isn't going to like. hold back if this is what vash is asking for?]

Every Tuesday, members of your crew from your last tour seem to appear in the canteen as ghostly wisps of themselves. Two of them shared that they died during a moment where the ship crashed into a storm, and they last remember debris falling on them.

Another one this past week told me that they were the Chief Communications Officer and died from a thorn prick from a new cross-breed of plant developed. I presume that the other one also died, seeing as they weren't tangible. [dana just hasn't read that thread]

That makes at least four deaths from your last tour, with more likely on the way.

But whenever I ask you or the other members of the Senior Crew on the matter, I'm told that everyone from your last tour retired.

[that's already a lot of information! but as scien speaks, he watches vash and monitors his status. if it looks like he's going to just keel over from the information, he'll stop.]

[ :0 Scien would catch him? He's a little surprised by that since he thinks this guy would just let him fall onto the floor.

He will do as directed, getting comfortable, and he won't at all consider that maybe this would be better in their capsule rooms. That really is a lot of information and Vash is of course shocked to hear all of this? At most he has heard there are ghosts, then they instantly hushed when he got a headache. ]

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?!

[ Why is this happening to him!! He does have a headache and it hurts, but he is lashing out about it to distract himself. ]

[unfortunately scien would catch him.

but scien frowns. he anticipated something like this. he sighs. and shifts to turn to face vash properly]

How much were you able to process?

[ Holds his head and shrimps forward a little. What if it's time to become a fetus. ]

I took in all of that. Can't say that I remember anything that matches right now, but I survived?

[ Curls up into a ball on this cafeteria bench. Vash, whispering to himself: ]

Is this what it's like to lose a bunch of brain cells at once?

[goodbye sweet vash... scien sighs, but if he's not falling over, he's not going to go out of his way to help]

It seems like you did.

That seems to be where we are right now... But now I expect some information in turn. What are you willing to share about your homicidal brother?

[ He's good... Though he will never say no to being carried anywhere like a sack of potatoes. Growing quiet, he just looks somewhere.

It is an uncomfortable topic, but it'd be best if people are prepared if Knives is here. ]

What do you want to know?

[scien isn't nice enough to hesitate, but at least his questions are geared with an interest for peoples' general well-being]

How dangerous is he?

Do you believe it's accurate that his greatest motivation is to get to you?

Do you think he would be willing to put everyone else aboard this ship in danger just to secure you?

Pretty dangerous if he gets his abilities back.

I think his greatest ambition is to wipe humans off the map, but that doesn't sound off either if he's here.

He would.

[ Because of the second part. ]

At the very least, in his dreams, I'm going to guess he had his abilities.

[scien skewer... but he nods.]

So then? What is your recommended course of action in dealing with him?

He shouldn't have them if he also got nanited, which works for us.

[ No real Scien skewers for now! ]

If he wants me back, he has to compromise working with everyone here. He can put his hatred aside if it brings him closer to what he wants. [ After, he thinks... ] If get out of here, I can handle him.

I'd say we focus on figuring everything out and seeing how to return to our bodies, but maybe consider some escape plans if things get bad. We should be okay as long as the nanites are active and suppressing him, though, but... You never know.

It would be very fitting for the nanites to conveniently stop working just as we're encountering an enemy who wants us all dead... though there are enough who say that the nanites are also suppressing their own powers.

[but he tilts his head then, contemplative]

I take it your relationship with him isn't exactly familial in the most common sense. Do you not want to go with him?

Edited 2024-03-17 06:29 (UTC)

That would be incredibly bad luck. Plan Bs and escape plans are always great, though.

Going with him isn't the problem. It's the rest of it.

[ Attempts at human extinction, being a psychopath, etc. Mostly that Knives will hurt people. ]

I can't just stand there and watch him do that, so we fight.

Plan Bs and Escape Plans will first require having even the most basic clue on how to get out of here, but I understand the sentiment of your statement.

[let them out....]

Fair enough. Do you suppose he could be so desperate to find you here that he would be willing to assist on the other side to bridge the gap? [a beat] Well, depending on how much he even remembers from interacting with us in dreams.

We can cross that bridge when we get there.

[ Going to be... Week 3... ]

He's worked with humans before, so... As long as he gets what he wants, I think he'll work with us. [ Nodding. ] Do you guys have a clue how well they remember?

Not yet. I've only begun corresponding them this week, but more chatty individuals like Dahut or Busybody might have a better idea.

[my npc cr......]

Are you open to using your own brother this way? I suppose you do get something out of it.

[getting back to the living...]

... We both get what we want, don't we? I come back and you guys come back. He would know we're using him, like he's using us.

[ He's fine with it. ]

Goals are aligned for now.

Do you anticipate a point in which our goals won't align?

[since 'for now' is a lot to be staking things on]

... Well, if I get back, who knows what he might do. Depends on his mood? And he's pretty moody!

[ The Gamble. ]

Maybe a hostage situation would do? That could make him angrier...

[

help.]

I see. And do you think he's strong enough to be able to overpower and outsmart everyone else on board the ship? There's no way to detain or remove him as a threat?

[ Listen... He's trying to help and he doesn't mind being a fake hostage or bargaining chip.

He thinks about it for a long time. ]

I'd rather you guys not have to handle him... If it comes to that point.

Did you get a feel if the nanites have been neutralizing him over there? If they work, then he's just like anyone else while they're in his system.

[he shakes his head]

The method of communication for us is via dreams. He seemed to have access to his abilities in that...

But if he isn't using them in the waking world, I imagine the nanites act the same. Or do you think he would go along with pretending he's affected while posing as you when actually he's not?

Dreams. Kind of cool, but also kind of weird and personal.

[ That's their private nighttime? ]

... With people dying weekly, it'd be easy for him to take out people he finds annoying and not get caught if he had his abilities, but Adrastea does have a lot of cameras. [ ... ] Still can't imagine Nai's tolerance being that great, so I think you're right.

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