[IC] Trespassers LF: The Teleglitch Incident

[Yours Truly]

The woman napping on the floor perked up a little as she couldn't help but hear what their host had to offer despite her best efforts to do otherwise, and she let out a slight sigh as she realized that she couldn't properly get back to sleep with how loud everyone and their dinosaurs are being, which is why she decided to slowly sit back up, as even if this was nothing but a particularly lucid dream, it's one that wanted her full attention at the moment.

 

She fished out a pair of goggles from one of her labcoat's many pockets and pulled up her hoodie's... hood before she finally said, "This's hypocritical since I haven't introduced self, but my name is Hirata and I honestly want to know what your name is before I commit to anything," in a slightly robotic tone of voice before she turned to take a better look at everyone else in the room.

[kj1225]

Vratislav looks over at the obviously not human woman. If one were to look into his eyes they'd note a glint that some would call dangerous in them. Still though, he looked diplomatically neutral as he spoke.

"If it's not too rude to ask, what exactly are you? You're obviously not human, but the lack of people screaming and ripping and tearing of limbs implies to me that you aren't some monster from the void."

[Chevaleresse]

"YOU ARE CORRECT. APPARENTLY YOUR WORLD HAS NOT ENCOUNTERED THE ELIKSNI. THE MACHINE-THIEVES, THE GUARDIANS, CALL US 'FALLEN.' I HAVE ALSO HEARD 'MONSTER.' YOUR KIND IS WISE TO FEAR." The alien's eyes glittered beneath her helm, shifting from the robed figure to Vratislav. It was hard to read anything in that look, obscured as most of it was and foreign to most onlookers besides.  "YOUR WORLD HAS ENCOUNTERED THE WHIRLWIND? DARKNESS, AS THE MACHINE-THIEVES CALL IT, OR HIVE."

[kj1225]

That's enough to get Vratislav to properly turn his chair to face the "Fallen". Why they were called that didn't immediately come to mind, perhaps they were a peoples that had somehow fallen into the depths of the earth untold ages ago? Or perhaps they came from the cosmos, much like the crystals infesting the farm... He would have to ask when there was time for leisure.

"Hm, I can't quite say for certain that I recognize any of the terms you've used... But, I doubt what you're referring to is the same as anything I've seen. The void I'm referring to is the one that exists just outside our perception. Generally the creatures from there don't try and enter without invitation from us but... Unfortunately, my late uncle had a hobby of inviting them in and now I'm stuck dealing with results."

Vratislav pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs to himself.

[Yours Truly]

Hirata took a brief moment to wipe her mask's lenses with her sleeves, scroll through her active programs lists to make sure that nothing was broadcasting, and she even took the time to turn her backpack's computer off and on again to make damn sure that she was looking at what she thought she was before she cleared her throat and said, "And wwwwwait is that.... it can't be.... Are you just really good at making costumes? Because that is a really impressive example of one if you are, how did you get the third and fourth arms to move so naturally? And what did you make it out of?," she slowly rummaged around for her backpack before she continued with, "And I'm sorry if I'm asking too many questions at a time, I've never seen a Fallen Captain costume this good in person before."

[Chevaleresse]

"IF ONLY WHIRLWIND WAS SO POLITE." Chelchis made the simple statement, and then turned to face the strange masked human, a vaguely threatening rumble preceding the harsh sounds of the alien's speech. "COSTUMES? YOU SPEAK NONSENSE, HUMAN. AND DO NOT INSULT ME. I AM BARON, NOT CAPTAIN, AND YOU WILL REFER TO ME AS SUCH." Strange beings, and what was probably a servant of the Darkness trying to get Chelchis to do her will. She didn't like any of this, but she was outmatched if she tried to fight all of them at once. Without knowing where her skiff was, or if it was nearby at all, she didn't dare make a move yet.

[Yours Truly]

Hirata made a mental note to consider playing video games less times per day, as if this was actually a dream then the mere fact that her subconcious decided to give her a lucid one themed around an infinite amount of work piling up while she tried to avoid it in the company of at least one video game character was worrying. Although the fact that she was still here being yelled at by a Fallen in a dark room as opposed to flying out of the window in the four arms of said fallen on a rocket cycle made it quite clear that either she doesn't have as much control over her dreams as she's used to, or that Steven Hawking was/is right, but either way she resolved to try and resolve the faux pas she had committed by saying, "Oh, I'm very sorry for not using your proper title Baron, I don't really know that much about  the Eliskni's hierarchy, and I honestly didn't know that you were actually one of them."

[GodofGamingRWBY]

Evelyn

 

"Evelyn" the one eyed Hunter replied, just before the extended conversation began. Thankfully, she didn't have to sit around and continue to analyze the situation, as the mage had created a letter and writing supplies in front of Evelyn. For a second, the Hunter didn't move, until she reached a hand out to grab the supplies, before getting to writing:

 

"Dear Queen Annalise

 

It would seem there are those with the power to traverse other 'worlds', like the Great Ones do. I am not yet sure how, but I am writing to you in order to reassure you that I am fine. I have no current way to return to Cainhurst, nor Yharnam. But, with the Executioners dead, I expect that you will be fine. If I find anything of use to your rule while I am away, I shall make sure to return it with me.

 

Evelyn"

 

Evelyn wasn't the best of writers, but she believed she got what she needed down. Making sure the ink was dry, Evelyn folded the paper, folding it up and placing it into the folder, before standing up and handing it to the mage.

[StormLord]

"Fear not your Excellency, your companions are resting well in a nearby room."

With a wave of her hand the woman created a misty vision showing that Chelchis' soldiers were indeed fine, all asleep in what appeared to be a large room somewhere in the castle.

 

She dismissed the image and upon noticing the Evelyn had finished she turned her attention back to her.

"I shall send them with my most trusted servant with them."

The woman took Evelyn's letter and bound it together with hers before holding them up in the air.  Suddenly the bird from the window swooped into the room, blowing past Morp in the process, and grabbed the letters before flying back out the window into the night sky.

 

"Now that you are all finished I will explain where you are going and how you shall get there."

She waved her hand to create another projection, this one was of a rocky, smoke laden planet with the occasional crystalline formation.

"This rock, known as 'Medusa-1C' by the natives of its world is home to an abandoned military research complex.  The computer running the complex was touched by a creature known as a Trespasser, an interdimensional horror.  If you secure enough of the complex and obtain a duplicate of the corrupted computer it will allow us access to the factories and resources needed to raise an army."
As she spoke the projection shifted from rough terrain to a clearly man-made metal structure of stone and metal sealed off from the harsh environment of the planet's surface.

"For your method of travel...I have another associate working on something more permanent, but for now I shall personally create a pathway from here to there."

[Powder Miner]

Yoko considered the cloaked woman's words, nodding slowly to herself (she didn't fully understand but she expected to be sent to kill things) before she spoke:

"Okay, horrors from... other realms, I assume? That seems the likeliest explanation to me. But what is a computer? And are there things for me to hit? If I'm expected to be going somewhere, I had better be given sufficient chances to pursue enlightenment. Which, because I am a kikage zumi, would mean that I expect sufficient chance to be beating things to death."

[Yours Truly]

Hirata immediately extended an arm up to get the woman's attention before she quickly stated, "If the computer was corrupted by this 'Trespasser' then what's preventing the duplicate from being corrupted as well? And do you have a map of the inside of the complex? Or at least a general idea of what dangers we'd be facing off against?." 

[DragonRage]

"A computer?  Psh," Yweniwa scoffs, "Those things are of dubious enough worth before an aberration from the void messes with them.  Besides, the talking boxes don't make armies.  Only meaningless drivel, memes, and porn.  And that is when they function as intended."

[kj1225]

Vratislav waited for the questions of the others to be answered before he asked his own question.

"I am prepared to assist, but I would first need some mercenaries to assist. Normally I'd provide my own but the bandits around my hamlet have been most vexing lately and I need every hand there."

[Endlessblaze]

"How do you intend for us to obtain this duplicate? Do you just want us to copy its programing and what I assume is corrupting magic off to an enchanted flashdrive? Is it safe to connect another computer wirelessly? My PBA might be able to access it, but I'm not sure how it would react to corrupt military system"

[Yours Truly]

Hirata turned slightly to face Yoko before she rapidly stated, "Computers are devices which can automatically perform mathematics, and can make decisions based on the results of that mathematics, such as writing on paper, using tools, or emitting lights using trapped electricity," she then slowly picked up her backpack and started to walk towards the table, "For example, the computer I'm carrying in my backpack can perform mathematics to assemble things, such as other computers."

[IntSys]

"Interdimensional Horror? Heh. I've been called that too. Anyway, we just have to fortify the research complex after taking it back from the Trespasser, Hirata. It shouldn't be hard with whatever machinery the factory can build. No-Name Witch over there seems to want us to use it as a base for our interdimensional army, after all," Shamhat said, turning her head toward Hirata as she finally approached the table.

[Chevaleresse]

Chelchis nodded once, sharply, when shown the vision of her soldiers sleeping. It reassured her slightly, even if her sense told her not to trust this meddler in Darkness. The mission didn't raise many questions for her, as it was quite simple: breach complex, clear complex, loot complex. She hadn't become a Baron without doing more than a few of these things, though it seemed she preferred the computer largely intact rather than stripped down for parts and offerings. The disparagement of computers, though, drew her attention. "YOU ARE MISINFORMED. . . CREATURE." She wasn't actually sure what she was; this Yweniwa didn't appear human, nor did she take the form of any other species she recognized. "A MACHINE CAN GIVE LIFE, IF IT IS CARED FOR, AND DEEMS YOU WORTHY. I SHOULD INTRODUCE YOU TO PRIME, AND LET YOU TELL IT THAT IT IS MEANINGLESS."

[Hal Henderics]

"Computers.  I'm reminded of the Dark Tournament.  One contestant claimed to be able to calculate the results of combat.  His team lost like the rest."    Deadlift derides.

 

He pauses, in thought.

 

"Horrors, however, I am very interested in.  It will be a good test of my strength, bringing some twisted creature to heel."

[Yours Truly]

Hirata turned slightly to face Shamhat before she said, "That's if we manage to reclaim it from the Trespasser; everyone knows that malevolent rogue AIs have a robot army right? Which worries me since I brought a bodypillow to a war," upon saying that a stifled but audibly robotic voice could barely be heard saying, "MAYBE IF YOU HAD GIVEN ME A BODY I'D BE ABLE TO HE-" before it was cut off by Hirata crunching it closer to her chest.

[Hal Henderics]

"If you're weak enough to die to something so trivial, then perhaps you should practice your swimming.  Crushing steel with nothing but a pillow is a parlor trick, not an impossibility."
 

He sneers, before looking around the room, his gaze settling on Yoko.

"I imagine those of us who aren't weaklings will have little trouble with tin soldiers."

[Powder Miner]

Yoko considered Hirata's words for a moment. "Hmm. I see. I must say, though I understand that machines may be useful, it seems foolish to me to be dependent upon them. If one can't do something oneself, and has to rely on something else to do it for them, then there will always be something which will take account of this, and they will be forced to pay for it at some point." Yoko stared at Hirata, then, and raised an eyebrow. "I don't know what a robot is either, but perhaps if you do not want to worry about being slaughtered, then you should learn to fight instead of... instead of bringing a pillow apparently. Me? O-ho-ho, I very much intend to fight. An army, hmm? That sounds like it would be fun. We tattooed monks have been known to fight off armies on our own."

[IntSys]

"Whatever's going on in the Trespasser's mind, really. It might not be building an army now, and it might not be able to build the army quickly enough upon noticing us," Shamhat assessed. "And, we should at least be able to beat our future mooks without breaking a sweat, no?" She gave Hirata a closer look. "Hm? Was that a pet robot?"

[kj1225]

Vratislav inspects his finger nails.

"An over reliance on one's self is just as much a flaw as relying too much on others."

[Powder Miner]

The look Yoko gave Vratislav in response to this was... dripping with disdain, actually.

"You don't look especially capable of relying upon yourself in a fight to me, which would explain your saying that. One does not reach enlightenment by using others as a crutch -- one reaches enlightenment through their own efforts, and their own relation to the world... their own soul. Relying on others to take care of your soul and mind for you is simply leaving them alone, and relying on others to do things physically for you is simply closing yourself off from the ability to use your inner chaos... or, I suppose, to use much of yourself at all."

[Hal Henderics]

"What a joke.  One's own strength is the only  thing you can rely on.  Those who cannot do that are grist for their betters."  Deadlift bites out at Vratislav's comment, almost immediately after Yoko.

"What good are armies against people like me.   Against people like her?"  He gestures to Yoko.

 

"Relying on others is something we value in our cattle, so they might not run off.  Not something you should strive for over personal strength."