That seems kinda fiddly for doing something right under people's noses short of eating the phone or something. Actually you know what eat his phone. In public.

"Will see what I can do."

Not sure how this model of phone works but can you take out the memory card without her noticing? That being said if the peacekeepers show up they might want it for evidence and could mention the missing card.

We do want any info on this phone to not fall into the hands of anyone but it would be nice to track down some leads from the info ourselves.

Prioritize destroying it if you can't get info out of the phone.

>>1088922
That would be standard procedure for phenocosm wouldn't it? Take the phone and rummage through it before destroying it.

>>1088924
Excuse yourself to the bathroom. See if you can discard the components in the toilet or the tank.

1/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/16(Tue)18:05 No. 1088980 ID: ce93a7
File 171331591312.png - (33.32KB , 1200x1200 , 694.png )

I'd rather not destroy a phone right in front of this girl, it would be very suspicious looking. I think I could swallow it. If her ears can be evolved to sense energy, my stomach can be evolutionarily adapted to break down electronics.

No... that doesn't sound like a regular Klivian biotype at all. I don't even think many robots in Vultura, one of the two lower fleets under Shuzenza, do that.

I do peruse Rewk's phone, though. It's disappointing. There is only one conversation from Gel, and it only has a picture of what must be Gel in a mimicked body. Even Klivanians can do this well enough to at least be convincing in a picture, huh? I always wondered why Pillet's eyebrows were sometimes darker and sometimes the same as the rest of her face. I wish this was the most pressing mystery at the moment.

It looks like conversations are regularly purged. Otherwise, his browsing history is predominantly a mix of workout music mixes, strategies for a multiplayer shooter game, and porn.

I hear Rewk raise his voice unintelligibly.

>"Hands up, keep your palms to the sky!" Another voice rings out.
>"Alright, alright! I'm not doing anything - "
>"Palms! Up!"

2/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/16(Tue)18:05 No. 1088981 ID: ce93a7
File 171331593379.png - (66.23KB , 1200x1200 , 695.png )

"I need to use the bathroom." I tell the girl.
>"Really, at a time like this?"
"At a time like this."

I get up, and she stands aside. There's a bunch of people in the halls peeking around corners and out of doors to gawk at the scene unfolding from Rewk, but thankfully there's a bathroom farther away. I shut myself behind a stall and open the phone. There's a few components inside. I don't really know what any of them do, so I take them out, clasp my hands over them, and give them a powerful energy burst. I don't have much in me, but it's enough to destroy basic electronics like this.

After their destruction, I flush it all down the toilet, though I save the case. I hear someone come in.

>"You in here, Ellie?" It's the same girl.
"I am. Do you need something?"
>"Nah, just wanted to make sure you're okay."

In truth, I'm not. Without the phenocosm to lay my situation out for me and make the decisions with more expertise, I, Aelsaw, am at a complete loss as to how to navigate my situation with any real finesse. I want to leave town and deliver my report. I want to finish my brush bath; my unbrushed legs feel absolutely ragged compared to my upper body. Most of all, I want to see my husband.

I feel like I would rather leave this situation than make heads or tails of it. Perhaps I can sneak out the back with this nimble body and, to keep witnesses at a minimum, buy or rent a car instead of flying publicly.

Or perhaps I should mimic Pillet further? I wonder what she would do. She has several memories that almost seem like close memories, but they are barely constructed and the details over what exactly was said and how things played out are missing, but she has proven herself to be both ruthless and tricky.

I think she would have tried tricking Rewk into letting her take his memories. Perhaps it's too late for that. Beyond that, I think in the later part of her life, she acquired a taste for hiding in plain sight. I think that she would still sneak out the back and then... buy bulky clothes and masks at a sports store and then go skiing.

I don't think trying to navigate whatever messy situation is going on here is going to do me any favors. I must admit I could be wrong, but I so strongly want to be free from whatever's going on. There is an irresponsible part of me that almost wishes Rewk pulled a gun on me just to have an excuse to call Quaps. I still have his number on my phone that Gel is still eavesdropping on me with, but it clearly states only to call him if I am face to face with death.

When there's an information asymmetry, the most important thing is to correct it. The ideal approach is to create chaos until no one else has any idea what's going on and you're the best informed person around.

Seduce these two into accompanying you to the mission target. Via asking nicely I guess.

You can't just take his memories secretly can you?

Go skiing. I think you will find out more and get to your goal faster if you just act pretty dang normal and wait for whoever to come mess up your day.

>>1088981
Let's go skiing then.

Aelsaw 2024/04/17(Wed)09:26 No. 1089032 ID: ce93a7
File 171337120826.png - (74.07KB , 1200x1200 , 696.png )

>You can't just take his memories secretly can you?
It's possible. At my low energy level, a target must lower their passive energy defenses for me. I could then read his memories and make him forget I did anything. Judging by Pillet's memories, it's possible to brute force it, but it requires a great deal of energy beyond the target. There is a sense that she had a good idea of how much energy is required, but the details are lost with the memory's damage.

I think Pillet might've tried to trick Rewk, but he's been taken away. I suppose I could try and visit him, but from his phone and Gel's attitude, I think it's unlikely that he's got valuable knowledge in that head of his.

"I'm okay." I answer. "I think I'd like to go skiing after this."
>"Really? So were we. Are you skiing with anyone?"
"Nope."
>"Ever done it before?"
"Nope."
>"Wow, tell me you've scheduled an instructor or something."
"Can I not just show up and ask any local instructors?"
>"Pff, last I saw all class signups - "

Her response is cut off by but Pesh and Vix following us in. Pesh flashes us a thumbs up.

>"There you are. Are you okay, Ellie?" Vix asks.
"I'm okay, thanks. I think I'd like to finish that brush bath, and then... I don't know your name, miss...?" I ask the talkative round eared one.

>"Tesh. Twins with Pesh there, if you didn't notice. So Ellie, right? As I was saying, you can't just walk right into the middle of a class, and you can't just ski without knowing how! You'll crash right into a tree or something. Some of the slopes are nasty here."
"Would you be willing to show me how to ski?" These two could be spies sent to keep an eye on me, but they've already found me. I'll just be careful not to give them any sensitive information.
>"I'd love to. You mind, Pesh?"

Pesh shakes her head and clicks twice.

That's how I'll spend my day until someone new comes to interrupt it. The only question I think I have now is if I should keep my phone knowing it's been bugged by Gel, or drop it.

You want to be able to leave it somewhere, or hide it in someone's bag, so he'll think you're somewhere else, but you won't have much time until he figures it out, so keep the phone for now and only get rid of it when you have to make your move.

That said, it would be hard to say Gel's not on your side. He went through reconstructive surgery to pose as your body double, so he has to be at least equally committed to this as you are. Still be ready to misplace the bugged phone when you need to go dark.

Hang out with the other possible spies for a fun ski day and find a signal blocking bag for the bugged phone on the way.

Should not hurt to keep contact with Gel open. Even if its to send someone after him later because it turns out he is bad news.

>>1089032

Probably more suspicious to drop it at this point, and keeping a line to Gel may be worthwhile, if only to be able to receive any information.

And if it gets weird, we can tell Tesh and Pesh that it's our twin sister, and while Rewk went about things really poorly, she's concerned about us.

How oddly convenient, they were gonna go skiing too! They're certainly not the most subtle at this.

Also, keep the phone for now. Can't exactly destroy it in front of people, and it'd suck if someone managed to snoop through the phone before it auto-purged anything in it.

1/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:08 No. 1089501 ID: ce93a7
File 171391011646.png - (134.24KB , 1200x1200 , 697.png )

It's settled in my mind. I'll bring the phone with me for now. I don't think I've seen any wireless blocking containers around, but I can always leave it in a locker. I would be surprised if Gel was not on my side, too.

I finish up the brush bath, and Pesh and Kesh finish what they're doing to join me. I purchase some masks and goggles to slightly obstruct myself. Even if they're agents that are trying to follow me around, they know how to ski and show me how.

Within a few hours, I'm about to go down shallow slopes at good speed. Hovering snow machines sometimes levitate down to replenish the snow even on populated slopes, and so any time I fall, it's always cushioned even if I'm really going down. I think I have the hang of it, and I'm glad, because these two girls seem happy to go higher up the mountain. There's even little cafes in the woods!

They're not even asking me many personal questions. I get a 'where am I from' to which I answer the capital, and what I do, in which I answer I work at a dry cleaner's. That's it. If they're truly trying to drill me for information, they're taking it remarkably slowly. There's plenty of time to speak. With me learning how to speed down slopes, we end up spending more time making conversation on the ski lifts than skiing!

They even have hover tech. Apparently Klivania has had it for a long time but is unable to perfect the tech. It can be quite wobbly and the internal engine spends every waking moment groaning. It's still rather slow for safety reasons, and I can see why. I would feel like I'm in danger if not for it being reasonably low to the ground over soft snow. It's so easy to slip out, I even see a few people leap out of a lift now and then to land on a slope midway up the mountain for some reason. There's a little voice line from the lift begging them not to do that.

I'm starting to no longer care if these two are agents. Pesh does act a little suspicious, as she's frequently speaking her language into her phone. I have no idea who she's talking to, but Tesh catches me looking and explains that Pesh has a lot of trouble speaking in person. Pesh speaks again, but this time, she holds up her phone to me.

>"I can speak like this. I'm sorry if it's weird." Her phone appears to translate her speech for her, and can play it back in an approximation of what I think her voice sounds like. "I'm a consultant for the disabled, and I frequently talk people through troubling situations."
"That's very interesting! Do you speak a custom language only for yourself?"

She shakes her head. I think that was a weird question. I back off, anyway, as it seems even that took a lot of effort out of her. I'll still be careful with what I say, of course, but I'm having fun with these two.

2/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:08 No. 1089502 ID: ce93a7
File 171391012617.png - (132.60KB , 1200x1200 , 698.png )

Before I know it, evening's come. The low overcast skies have somewhat cleared up, and the slopes are lit up by spotlights lined over the slopes and casting large, sharp shadows underneath each ski lift. People do all sorts of tricks with their hands to entertain themselves as they wait to get to their destination. It doesn't obstruct the view of the sunset, and I get to view it as I go down more and more slopes. I feel gratitude to sister Pillet that she kept her body in such good shape. There are few memory artificers I would have the body of that could handle today like I have.

>"Hey, Ellie! We want to go off the slope, is that okay?"
"Is it safe?"
>"Of course! The snow this way is totally untouched. We'll show you something nice!"

My alarm bells ring for a second about this being a trick, but it must be paranoia. There have already been a few times where we go down less populated slopes in which there was no one around but me, these two girls, and increasingly dark, forboding woods. If they wanted to kidnap or harm me, they've had plenty of opportunity.

"Lead the way." I say, and soon we're slowly, carefully skiing off the usual path and land at a lake. The facilities look abandoned.

Pesh takes off her backpack, and activates some Klivanian storage container that acts as a collapsible oven.

It's a picnic, it turns out, over this lake.

Someday, the phenocosm will cleanse my memory of distractions, and the memory of this day will be excised. But it won't be lost. It will go into a personal vault of my excess memories. Every so often during my off time, I go in and relive some fond memories based on what I wrote about them when I first experienced them. I have many lovely memories that are forgotten, so it's hard to compare, but I will write about today very fondly and place this excess memory into the vault section dedicated to my favorites.

I'm getting ahead of myself. I let the mood set in. Night falls and the only light around is from the scattered light off the slope's spotlights, the stars overhead, and Tesh's phone playing a live TV show.

3/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:09 No. 1089503 ID: ce93a7
File 171391014112.png - (35.98KB , 1200x1200 , 699.png )

The wind picks ups, and we instinctively huddle in our jackets. During this, I feel something tug at my jacket hoodie.

I look down and see a thin piece of paper sticking out of the hoodie pocket that wasn't there before, so I take it out. A crumpled piece of paper?

No. The way it's crumpled up has me recall memories of an ancient means of cryptography. It's a remarkably niche, rarely used means of cryptography. It seems like the phenocosm has found me. Whoever gave this to me evaded detection from the girls, and I would not have detected them, either, if not for the tug on my jacket below the table, and below where these two locals could see.

The paper explains that my extraction is ready. There's a list of directions for me.

If I scratch my left ear, I delay the extraction by an hour for each time my hand reaches the apex of its scratch.
If I scratch my right ear, I get to have an emergency extraction involving the death of my two new friends.
If I stand up, I'm to excuse myself into the woods and be extracted out of sight from these two.
And finally, if I take off my cap, my extractor will openly come out and assist me in reading the memories of these two, should I think it's worth it.

Pesh sees me looking down and speaks into her phone for a translation.

>"Is there something wrong?"

Hmmm I am torn between delaying a few hours to drop these two back off at the lodge or disappearing in the woods all mysterious like.

Lets be polite and assume our friends for the day do not need to be murdered or confused and delay for 2 hours so we can leave back at the ski lodge?

No need to ruin this nice memory with a mess.

Wow, a message encoded in the crumples of a blank piece of paper. That is subtle.

Keep this memory as something to cherish. Delay extraction by a few hours and enjoy yourself.

Delay long enough for you to get away from these two without making them worry about you. If they think you got kidnapped they'll investigate and potentially cause problems or get killed. Plus if you leave on good terms they might be a useful resource in the future!

>crumple cipher
Does Current Pillet know of any papers found that had crumples on them that might be enciphered like that? Maybe the newspaper we found in the fountain?

Give them two hours. One to head back and hopefully part ways amicably, another to head to extraction and make sure you're not followed.

Say "No, bit tired is all." then scratch your left ear once or twice.
Be very careful to make sure it's the left one.

Play it by ear so to say and just scratch your ear to delay by an hour for now.

1/4 Aelsaw 2024/06/06(Thu)17:14 No. 1092542 ID: ce93a7
File 171771925995.png - (68.92KB , 1200x1200 , 700.png )

>Is current Pillet familiar with any papers like this?
I'm not! This is new to me.

I scratch my left ear up and down three times over.

"No no, I'm just thinking to myself."
>"Whatcha holding?" asks Tesh.
"Hm? Oh, nothing, just a piece of paper blew on me."

I hold it up, but it slips out of my finger in the wind and flies off. Even while texting on her own phone, Pesh's tail snaps out and grabs onto it. She makes some disapproving clicking noise after looking over it by rolling it around in her surprisingly dexterous tail, then pushes it into a small box with the chocolate cocoa packaging. I'm not worried about them seeing it. Them being agents would not surprise me, but them being able to read the crumples, especially after Pesh grabbed it like that, is virtually zero.

>"Wish people wouldn't litter." Tesh says. "Whatever, quit being a stranger on that side of the table! Get over on our side and watch this with us, it's getting good!" I realize it may not be that common a talent to watch TV upside down, so I take my cocoa and join the others.

We huddle up and continue watching. It's some kind of mega sports marathon with two large teams competing against each other in a variety of sports. It's a struggle to keep up as a watcher, so I can only imagine how difficult it is to run. Right now, I think I recognize a game of capture the flag, wrestling, and surfing all going on at the same time. The exact rules are foreign to me, but the two of them seem eager to explain everything to me when I reveal my ignorance.

It's odd to me that Tesh liked coming to such a tranquil place to watch such a chaotic thing on her phone, but I suppose the juxtaposition gives it a new experience that wouldn't be quite the same if it was just one or the other. This cocoa, for instance, is different when drank in the cold.

2/4 Aelsaw 2024/06/06(Thu)17:14 No. 1092543 ID: ce93a7
File 171771926993.png - (40.70KB , 1200x1200 , 701.png )

After the sports draw to a close and things wind down, I realize an hour has already passed.

"Hmm, I got a day pass for the spa and barely used it, but maybe we should head to a lodge?"
>"Have you already reserved an inn?"
"No, but a place to sleep exists around, wouldn't it?"

Tesh laughs.

>"You really live on the edge, huh! No instructor reservation is one thing, but no inn? You'd be lucky to get a night's stay in someone's old dingy basement."
"It's that bad?"
>"Mmmmayyyybe not that bad, but I've never come here and seen the good inns have vacancy. The others... I don't think they're really safe? Kinda out of the way, poorly lit, people loitering in the dark. No, no, you're gonna come with us, miss."
"I don't like to impose, you two."
>"Nuh uh. We'll fret all night if you try to find some sketchy inn at this hour, so nope. You're coming with us."
"No choice?"
>"None! We'll kidnap you if we have to, it's for your own good."

I've already decided to make good memories, so I won't let my paranoia of them being agents spoil what might be genuine concern. They certainly sound sincere. Pesh is vigorously nodding along.

"Okay, okay, I'll follow you two. I'll try to get a new room at your place."
>"Perfect! Let's go then before security starts sending nightly drone patrols out here.

3/4 Aelsaw 2024/06/06(Thu)17:14 No. 1092544 ID: ce93a7
File 171771928623.png - (60.56KB , 1200x1200 , 702.png )

It takes nearly an hour to get to the inn. They weren't lying about the view, although I'm sure it's better during daylight.

I call the front desk and, unfortunately, they are out of rooms just as Tesh said. It seems like the girls weren't lying about reservations around town either, everywhere is full except some inns with scathing reviews and concerns about safety.

By the time I stop looking and we've settled in their room, there are only 40 minutes before my extraction.

>"No luck, huh?" Tesh asks.
"Mmm, I'm on hold for a place that might be processing a cancellation." I lie, but I need an excuse to leave. "I don't want to impose."
>"You're not! I love Pesh, but do you have any idea how long it's been since we've made a new friend we could hang out with like this?"

They have no idea. The last true, organic friendship I've made was Shuzenza. I doubt these two were alive when I met him.

Pesh clicks into her phone, and plays the translation back.

>"Stay!"
"Thank you, but I fear with too much longer, I'd just be a third wheel."
>"Jokes on you," Tesh chimes back in. "I love tricycles!"
>"Stay!" Pesh pressed her phone's playback again.
>"At least take off your coat!"
"It's all I have, I'm not wearing anything underneath."
>"Haha seriously? You're so weird, I love it. I've never seen anyone so smart that's so unaccustomed to everything."

Ah. I think I am learning why the Phenocosm keeps so many of my memories stored away. If I had them, I would be sorely tempted to indulge in my favorite activities. The mere memory of today makes me wish it could last longer. I can only imagine how distracted I would be if I had a lifetime of memories like these bumping around in my skull. My duty to the phenocosm will always take priority, but my emotions would experience consistent friction.

The phenocosm does not want us artificers to be emotionally calloused for reasons I'm unaware of, but I simply hate the idea of excusing myself to that balcony, shutting the curtains, and disappearing from their lives without a word of explanation.

Thankfully, I don't have to, as it's a bad idea. Disappearing like that may prompt them to launch a rescue operation to find me and spread my missing face all over the region. I check my phone.

"Oh, it looks like I have a room elsewhere. I'm sorry, Tesh, Pesh, I really enjoyed your company, but I sleep much better alone. Have a good night." My words cause a groan from Tesh.
>"At least give us your number. Where are you staying at?"
"A side cabin on the mountainside." Goodness, they are nosy.
>"Gods, I can't tell if you live dangerously or are just that innocent. Well, whatever. Give us your number, at least!"

I see no harm in that, so I do.

4/4 Aelsaw 2024/06/06(Thu)17:15 No. 1092545 ID: ce93a7
File 171771930235.png - (55.33KB , 1200x1200 , 703.png )

"Goodnight, you two."

I turn to find that Pesh has moved towards the door and blocked my exit. She presses her phone.

>"See you tomorrow, okay?"

Hug. Possibly kiss.

Apply hugs.

>>1092545

Hug the poor nerd. It's the least we can do.

If you hug you're gonna get a tracking device attached to you. Buuut I guess that's fine, your extraction team should be able to handle it.

Why is she hugging you? Is that normal? Or is she trying to hi four you? Or perhaps it's a friendly invitation for a crotch grope? They're getting awfully touchy for people you just met...

>>1092549
What's a tracking device between friends? Its not like they could have the tech to do so in a way the phenocosm won't immediately find.

Give her a nod and a smile. Until next time.

Return the hug, assume they're putting a tracker on you. Pretend for the memory they're not.

1/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096233 ID: ce93a7
File 172426062373.png - (42.77KB , 1200x1200 , 704.png )

I already said goodnight, and I don't know what to say now. I certainly don't want to lie and agree to see them tomorrow; I don't expect to ever see them again.

The hug offers a way out, but I can't help but show hesitation. I haven't hugged anyone who wasn't Shuzenza in ages. It's such an intimate gesture, but I move in. My hesitation is ignored, and Pesh squeezes me.

2/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096234 ID: ce93a7
File 172426062704.png - (50.28KB , 1200x1200 , 705.png )

Tesh joins in, too. They're very affectionate, even if this is to cover me in bugs. I'd better break off before I test whether or not they escalate things. The next thing would be kissing, and that is simply too much youthful recklessness for me.

3/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096235 ID: ce93a7
File 172426063099.png - (93.89KB , 1200x1200 , 706.png )

After a final call of goodnight, I find a taxi and leave.

I feel a tinge of energy combing over and through me. It lasts for under a second, but I can see that it's someone manually scanning me for bugs, abnormalities and foreign modifications.

4/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096236 ID: ce93a7
File 172426063371.png - (293.61KB , 1200x1200 , 707.png )

I stop the taxi early and get out. It's in the middle of an unlit road, so I have to make little white lies about having a friend that can pick me up here after all. The taxi driver seems displeased about it, but lets me off.

A few moments pass before I'm blinded and deafened. I can't sense any energy around me, but I recognize this sensation as a transportation bubble.

5/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096237 ID: ce93a7
File 172426063611.png - (157.22KB , 1200x1200 , 708.png )

By the time my senses are uncovered, someone's conjured proper clothes over me and put me inside one of Heaven's Jurisdiction's sealed labs. Its overseer immediately sends its artificial organisms around me, soon joined by the full suite of abilities granted by fleshcrafters, scanners, mechanics, and our own soul seer.

Given how busily they crowd me, they must be as convinced as I am that there are bugs on me.

After two hours, they have found nothing. I'm shuffled to a different laboratory with the same function, where they double check everything. The labs then coordinate together and check each others work. Absolutely nothing turns up.

I'm completely clean. As far as anyone can tell, I was never bugged. They're as surprised as I am, but I'm cleared. The only thing that's more unbelievable than me being bug free is the idea that Klivania could insert bugs into me that the phenocosm can't find, and so after enough time, I'm cleared to move on.

6/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096238 ID: ce93a7
File 172426063806.png - (73.66KB , 1200x1200 , 709.png )

My memories are read next. To my surprise, I'm told I may keep them for the time being as I'm sent to a waiting room for a few hours as they're studied. After I'm cleared, I am sent up to meet Shuzenza on a viewing platform over the bridge.

>"Welcome back, my successful secret agent wife."
"You flatter me, Admiral Shuzenza. I don't feel all that successful."
>"Nonsense. Even a few dots can paint a picture. Your very first memory, before anyone even spoke a word, was so detailed that it showed us the curvature of their paved area. This tells us approximately how deep into the planet they are, narrowing down where they could be greatly."
"Hmmm... do my memories offer clues as to how I made it out?"
>"All too scarcely. I presume the few agents we had inside were able to assist you in some way."

7/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096239 ID: ce93a7
File 172426064180.png - (245.73KB , 1200x1200 , 710.png )

He steps towards the railing to look over the lower platforms, and motions for me to join him.

>"When you woke up at that resort town, you took advantage of their amenities while wandering openly. Did you believe that to be an appropriate course of action?"
"No, though I can't imagine what was appropriate."
>"Did you have fun?"
"I did, although I am far more comfortable to be back on board."
>"Are Klivanian pastimes superior than the entertainment provided by the Phenocosm?"
"No, admiral, they were inferior."
>"Yet you've never shown any interest in our superior pastimes. Instead, the moment you are lost on Klivania, you engaged with them happily."
"Without knowledge of appropriate action or access to my usual duties, I simply did not know what else to do. Am I in trouble, admiral?"
>"Trouble? No, the outcome has greatly pleased me."
"The outcome? Was this some kind of controlled situation after all?"
>"Ha! No. You were expected to be dropped off back in the capital where we had a full extraction planned. Instead, they took you elsewhere out of the blue. I have never paced like I did awaiting your return in all my life. But you did well."
"Sir?"
>"My best trophy display cases are not from decades long eventless patrols, nor even well performed training simulations. It was the messy battles where I lacked full control of the situation and the outcome was unknown. Whether it was the solar system that collapsed into a nuclear chimera or the black hole that gained sentience, it was these messy battles with enormous losses and risks that I hold close to my heart."

8/8 Aelsaw 2024/08/21(Wed)10:17 No. 1096240 ID: ce93a7
File 172426064891.png - (83.38KB , 1200x1200 , 711.png )

>"I believe you are the same. The level of training we undergo often makes us rigid. Many others in your position and training would have simply hid in an abandoned shack to await rescue. Others may have called for the personal extraction contact Quaps even knowing the phone being bugged. Instead, you engaged directly with your situation. That kind of flexibility is exactly what I was hoping for in this operation that is full of unknowns."
"I fail to follow what in the world you are talking about, admiral. I am just happy to return to my duties, as I'm sure there is a long backlog of memories I must go through."
>"And that is where you are wrong. We have been dealing with that the old fashioned way. Few fleets have a memory artificer on hand, you know. Not just do you not have a backlog, but you will be on full leave while your body double Gel is pretending to be you for the week.
"Full leave?"
>"You are under orders to spend the week most decidedly not working."
"What could I do for a week?"
>"Dear Aelsaw, we just discussed your activities on Klivania. I know you can think of something. This entire solar system shall be your playground, although you will undergo minor cosmetic changes should you go back to Klivania in case you're spotted by the wrong people."

I feel uncomfortable at the idea of treating anything as a 'playground'.

"But, why?"
>"You did have concerns that you were not prepared to be dropped on Klivania without any spy training or knowing how the world revolved. This week gives you a chance to fix that, late as it may be. Now, I will soon be seeing a special guest on the bridge, but there is still time to discuss any questions you may have regarding anything."

How does he feel about hugs and kisses, then?

Will think of more questions later but for now hold out your arms and demand some loving.

Maybe ask him if he could be with you for the week doing fun stuff?

Why is he not plowing you repeatedly? Does he hate kids?

We know he is quite possibly the busiest person on this ship. Having said that, you don't suppose he would be able to join you sometime during this mandatory leave, would he? It would make your idle time all the more memorable.

Right so questions its been a bit but... you should ask about the following as you fall into your husbands arms.

1. Pretty sure the soul seer dude knows you are not Pillet. Might have had it bad for her? Dunno but if he has any advice about the possible relationship they might have had.

2. What's the big threat with these people? Is there a external threat to little sub dimensions like this existing? Or are we just trying to avoid them making some sort of lord of the flies devolved hell society after it all goes wrong?

3. What does a sentient black hole get up to?

4. Same for the nuclear chimera thing.

5. What do I do if the worst happens? Something goes wrong and I get trapped inside and they close the doors. Will you wait for me? Is rescue a thing?

>>1096240
Hope im not ugly aa a little thin stick thing to my own husband so he cant fuv3k

What if they complete the pocket dimension before we can stop it? What if you get trapped inside for a really long time?
Tell him you're worried that if you have to dump all your memories and commit to the role of Pillet that eventually your soul will conform to hers and you won't be yourself anymore.

Right now, him. Once he has to leave, you can study Pillet's memories more, to get a better idea of how to act like her. You also could follow his advice and get spy training, or learn what you can about the situation you're going into. Whatever they want out of this pocket dimension is going to be tightly under wraps, but the detailed history of the people involved, the reasoning behind their choice of location, and the manner in which pocket dimensions function are all worth looking into.

See if you can at least spend some of your leave with your husband. Perhaps there's even somewhere romantic the two of you could visit.

1/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096559 ID: ce93a7
File 172479524544.png - (56.84KB , 1200x1200 , 712.png )

"How do you feel about hugs and kisses?"

He answers that by picking me up and making sure Pesh and Tesh are outdone by escalating all the way to kisses.

>Why is he not plowing you repeatedly? Does he hate kids?
High ranking ones like us are often stripped of such equipment that allows this. It is especially enforced while I am simultaneously Shuzenza's coworker and significant other.
However, I am no longer in my normal body. This is Pillet's body, which has been left... evolutionarily raw. I am not accostomed to it, and so I find myself remembering some precious memories of Shuzenza and I on a bed.
I suspect Shuzenza may even have memories of mine that I no longer have, as his equipment was always rather suspicious in how perfectly tailored to my --

2/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096560 ID: ce93a7
File 172479525013.png - (223.32KB , 1200x1200 , 713.png )

-- every nerve is rubb --
-- his body taking charge ov --
-- the rhythm and pounding as --
-- wonder if he minds how thin I --
-- testing the enduran --

Oh my fucking god she just keeps on going.

3/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096561 ID: ce93a7
File 172479525207.png - (33.34KB , 1200x1200 , 714.png )

--and he will only have kids when he and I have the time to raise them ourselves.

>"You look lost in thought, dear. Care to share?"
"You taking me somewhere romantic and plowing me."
>"Oh!"
"A week to myself is a long time. Will you take that time off with me?"
>"Alas, no superiors of mine are on board to relieve me of my duty on the spot. However, should fate allow you to return from the construction zone once more, I promise that I shall arrange a week off. And I shall also be prepared to please you in bed, if you once again return to me in such a mood!"
"And if I'm too thin for your tastes, I would not mind changing back."
>"Nonsense, you know I am more concerned about what drives your body than the body itself, no matter how traitorous it looks and thin it may feel."
"It certainly is uncomfortable with how harshly this skeleton presses on everything I touch - ah, but enough of that. You sound like you are uncertain of my return?"
>"Spokesperson Varther was able give us his guarantee he could pull you out once. The next time you go, things will be much less certain."
"I see. I do have worries about that, then. It seemed like Paporron knew I wasn't Pillet."

4/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096562 ID: ce93a7
File 172479525595.png - (48.38KB , 1200x1200 , 715.png )

>"It is likely. This was an acceptable risk, as Paporron's psychiatric evaluations revealed he was susceptible to delusions and fear at losing himself as a person. And it was Pillet who kept him stable and whole for centuries. The encephalon matrix calculated he would refuse to believe that Pillet truly died, or lived and ignored his answers."
"So he is delusional? That seems oddly convenient."
>"Perhaps, though we suspect Pillet altered his memories to invoke some kind of trauma that caused a dependency on her. If there was a reason, then she took that knowledge into her afterlife."
"Then moving on, I do have questions about my role with the subdimension and what threat they hold. First of all - "
>"Hold those questions. Both of those topics will be covered in my meeting with that special guest I mentioned. Would you like to join?"
"If I may, I will. But with our spare time, tell me about these black holes and nuclear chimeras."
>"So it will be."

He only has a few minutes to share, but he talks about how the leading theory behind the black hole was that a rogue gravity influencer threw himself into the black hole. There is little way to confirm that, but there was simply no other precedence for a black hole spreading itself out into a net and absorbing entire nebulae with purposeful direction.

As for the solar system, apparently long ago, the Phenocosm had send out hijackers that would take over distant solar systems and bring them back so as to avoid all the stars and planets from getting unreasonably far from one another. One seed had malfunctioned and got its directions backwards, and so Shuzenza was sent to the outer reaches of the universe to save it from running into the void.

The explanations are short and summarized so that he can get on with the meeting. It will give me some time to think on what I'll do afterwards. Perhaps I will get some spy training, or get in some practice acting more like Pillet.

5/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096563 ID: ce93a7
File 172479525897.png - (237.75KB , 1200x1200 , 716.png )

The time runs out and the admiral clicks out a code. I feel us descend through the floor. The resulting bubble steadily delivers us onto the bridge, where iridescent walls show our surrounding stars. Thankfully the floors are not set to this, as it's disorienting enough watching the bridge staff become partially obstructed when walking behind layered walls.

I take a seat to the side as Shuzenza takes the center and turns. "All staff, at station. Look alert." Once the bridge looks like the image of professionalism, Shuzenza gets onto an intercom.

"Send him in." Shuzenza's voice loses its typical aloofness.

6/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096564 ID: ce93a7
File 172479526168.png - (515.70KB , 1200x1200 , 717.png )

The door opens to reveal the mystery guest.

The identifying plate over his chest signifies he's fresh out of a fleet academy. It shines well; I suspect he polished it immediately before coming here.
He delivers a snappy salute with impeccable posture. The academy has drilled and smoothed out every misaligned angle and jittery movement from him.
>"Ninth Class Spacefleet Officer Mino reporting for duty, sir!"

7/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096565 ID: ce93a7
File 172479526936.png - (317.79KB , 1200x1200 , 718.png )

Shuzenza stops and turns around as though he had not been eagerly anticipating Mino's arrival.

>"Stand closer." He booms, and remains as still as the stars around us as Mino approaches and resumes his salute. "I am Upper Admiral Shuzenza." He stares at the newcomer, seeing if Mino's posture will buckle. It does not, just as the academy would have it, though it is clear it is only the rigid training Mino is falling back on to prevent shaking. "You may refer to me..."

8/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096566 ID: ce93a7
File 172479527182.png - (253.14KB , 1200x1200 , 719.png )

Shuzenza's voice lightens.

>"As simply Upper Admiral. I am the only one around, no one in this half of the galaxy will get confused as to who you're talking about."

That's a slight drift away from protocol already, but it crashes down into freefall as Shuzenza bows towards Mino. To receive such a gesture makes the cadet look like he's found himself inside the barrel of a charging cannon. "It is the fresh ideas and newcomers entering the ranks who keep us older ones sharp and proactive during times of peace. And so the flagship Heaven's Jurisdiction is honored to have you aboard, Mino."

>"Ehr - thank you, sir?"
>"Everyone, stand and give Ninth Class Mino a round of applause! This man came out of the university in one piece, meaning he's got got a long line of successes and accolades worth praising!"

9/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096567 ID: ce93a7
File 172479527418.png - (240.47KB , 1500x738 , 720.png )

The academy is not a pleasant place to be. It is a decades long grinder to filter out those who are not self driven. By the time a recruit finally earns their plate, they have gone many years without an ounce of love or support.

Much of the staff shout things like 'great job' and 'it's all uphill from here.' The others all simply clap enthusiastically. I join in and clap as well, but I realize the fur on my hands greatly diminishes the effect.

I don't entirely get why Shuzenza does this, but I think it is in protest of how unimaginative, formulaic, and destructive of personality the academy can be. Mino's world of training never prepared him for this. Within a minute of him starting a real career he's trained ages for, his mouth begins twitching with a slowly failing attempt to hide an embarrassed smile at an entire bridge cheering him, and the lad finally can't stand it.

His officer poise shatters with a twitching smile and an unconstrained blush. I do feel bad; beneath his smile may be someone who feels like he just ruined everything, that his career is over the minute it began. I think I see a tear, and it might not be from flattery.

I hope he someday realizes that he demonstrated that he managed to keep some of his own personality intact despite the academy's best efforts, and Shuzenza could not be more pleased to have someone like that placed under his wing.

10/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096568 ID: ce93a7
File 172479527784.png - (395.26KB , 1200x1200 , 721.png )

Shuzenza grins over the broken in cadet and orders everyone back to attention. I have to nearly drag Mino back to an open seat for him to observe, and he does his best gathering his composure after he's processed the fact that he hasn't had his badge ripped off his shirt and the rest of him shot out of a cannon. Now he's trying his best not to gawk at me. No doubt he recognizes my body, and hasn't been warned of who I really am.

>"And besides our own fleet, we also have the pleasure of having command of the two subfleets, Vultura and The Larven. We shall be briefing them on recently revealed information, courtesy our own memory artificer."

He gestures at me, and he struggles to find out how much he should look at me before averting his gaze.

11/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:47 No. 1096569 ID: ce93a7
File 172479527989.png - (138.39KB , 1200x1200 , 722.png )

Shuzenza finally turns around and gets on his communicator.

>"Lower Admirals, V-0, Zanthe! Come online."
>"V-0 Reporting. Warning: Bridge revision 4 status: Incomplete."
>"This isn't an inspection, show yourself."

Two displays come online, the first I see is that of the incomplete bridge.

>"Now, introductions are in order." Shuzenza continues. "First is V-0, the autonomous conquerer of the machine star Optoc, who commands Vultura! This experimental automated fleet has a conventional support staff within its walls, but its upper command is an artificial algorithm that aims to prove its flexibility in any mission."

12/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096570 ID: ce93a7
File 172479528247.png - (291.18KB , 1200x1200 , 723.png )

Mino and I walk out into the open, so we can see the second display.

>"And next is Zanthe the Star Wizard, who once lead the Larven to fight back the great miasmic nebula!

Hm? That one looks fami -

13/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096571 ID: ce93a7
File 172479528404.png - (193.70KB , 1200x1200 , 724.png )

...

No.

14/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096572 ID: ce93a7
File 172479528751.png - (502.38KB , 1200x1200 , 725.png )

>"These are the two lower admirals who we have the pleasure and honor of commanding. Zanthe, V-0, this is 9th Officer Mino, who shall be under my wing for the foreseeable future. And finally, by him is Memory Artificer Aelsaw, not Pillet. Though Zanthe has already been told this in advance, and who I shall now thank for safely retrieving."

Hm? Oh, I understand him. Zanthe is one of the few who would have been trusted with such a direct extraction. He must have pulled me from that taxi earlier.

The meeting begins with the plain facts, which are almost entirely from my own memories.

15/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096573 ID: ce93a7
File 172479528909.png - (267.06KB , 1200x1200 , 726.png )

The meeting continues into discussing a rapid precision strike into the site, an antimatter bomb in Klivania's core, or Zanthe's worms that can mimic local wildlife and slowly burrow into Klivania until it finds the construction zone. These ideas and many more are brought up. Shuzenza shoots them all down.

>"Upper Admiral, I would like to speak plainly." says Zanthe.
>"Go ahead."
>"I have known you a long time, and never before have you acted so terrified of action. It's painfully obvious the stakes are greater than a handful of criminals making their own sandbox. If that is classified, say so. If not, explain to us what the real danger is."
>"And you, V-0? It is fair you get to share your frustrations as well."

And V-0 is frustrated, based on the agitated filter he puts over his voice.

>"My feelings are comparable. This mission is described as preventing the escape of a small list of criminals and the theft of approximately thirty thousand cubic kilometers. We have three fleets involved and have greatly risked the wellbeing of a memory artificer. I have been unable to converge these facts into a clean outline."
>"Mm. I'm pleased to say I have just gotten the clearance to discuss this with you four. And just you four. All bridge staff, exit and remain on standby. In V-0's case, compartmentalize this information under the highest confidentiality."

16/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096574 ID: ce93a7
File 172479529205.png - (223.51KB , 1200x1200 , 727.png )

The staff are given a moment to leave, then he continues.

>"This meeting will remain in all of your own heads. When this operation concludes, we will all have our memories of the following facts removed either by Aelsaw or by another artificer. As you know, the founders could not have invented a subdimension from scratch. They have stolen blueprints."

A simple display appears behind us, where we can all see.

>"This means that regardless of the intentions of the founders, the subdimension will have the same capabilities of its blueprints. If the founders are able to seal themselves off, then the subdimension already has the ability to expand itself while shrinking the space of its host - in this case, our own universe. The very purpose of subdimensions is to create a rebirth of the universe."
>"No such use case has been found. Why does this exist?"
>"That I don't know. What we do know is that the technology was made, and the phenocosm has spent many millenia working to undo it.

The diagram shows fog increasing at a slow rate.

>"It expands based on its present size. Due to their need to sneak this under our eyes, it is currently being made at it's absolute smallest size possible. Because of this, it will take a few hundred years to expand enough for its fog to break the planet's surface. Its continued rate of expansion will become more and more alarming. The entire phenocosm could be swallowed from the inside out within 14,000 years."

The fog quickly starts expanding, taking up more and more of the screen until it turns grey.

17/17 Aelsaw 2024/08/27(Tue)14:48 No. 1096575 ID: ce93a7
File 172479529648.png - (322.25KB , 1200x1200 , 728.png )

>"And that is why I will not just throw bombs at them with anything short of a 100% chance of success. It is also why I have made the unprecedented act of sending in a memory artificer on such a dangerous mission. Should we fail, it will be up to Aelsaw to stop them from the inside. As Aelsaw will be in space outside of the phenocosm, she will no longer be held to phenocosm law. She may accomplish her mission by any means and any cost."

The display changes to show the people of interest involved.

>"Understand that many critical machines were never perfected in the blueprints. Even if the founders follow the blueprints perfectly, they require maintenance. Destroying the memories of how to perform this upkeep will slowly create instability and cause an inability to grow and may lead to an eventual collapse even if you cannot directly sabotage critical infrastructure. Even modifying their personalities to remain as small as possible to try and remain hidden would work as a temporary solution. I'm sure there are many more options, but you will have to find and exploit them on your own."

I still feel this would have been important to know during my first visit, but it's too late for that. At least I understand more about my mission now.


>"But remember, this is plan B. You will have to worry about none if this if I succeed in plan A. If you have no further questions, you may now take your leave for the week."

Yeah if this is meant to be the new universe, it sucks pretty bad. Damn. Wonder how much is sabotage and how much just sucked already.

mmm, one moment as current pillet, about how long is the minimum time that has passed? though that's something you'd have to ask someone else about perhaps.
but as for Memory Aelsaw: Which machines are imperfect/which memories should be prioritized

Looking closely at the display, Engineer Fisheye is greyed out, why?

>>1096575
Here is possibly the most important question we can ask:
What happens to what was swallowed by the fog? Does any matter from the original universe wind up inside the subdimension when the fog swallows it? What about afterwards, if/when the dimension collapses? Will it be restored to how it was before the fog expanded?
...the fog is visible from outside the subdimension? Odd that we can perceive it but not affect it in any way, and the boundary cannot be crossed (or at least not safely). ...then again, we thought that about black holes. Maybe someone skilled enough in dimensional manipulation could cross over?

Oh, let's not spend all our vacation on training. Find some good food, and see what entertainment there is around here. Virtual reality stuff? Physical activities like zero-g obstacle courses?

>>1096574
Oh damn.
This explains the obsession. Whether or not the rebels just wish to live independent from an all-consuming empire, their experimental exponential technology risks the entire universe turning into their all-consuming purgatory.

But what is the worst-case scenario of sabotage going horribly wrong? We can't risk spilling this universe into another or causing an eldritch outbreak.

Hmm, maybe this technology was developed in case something irreversibly terrible happened to the universe at large. Like, a doomsday shelter that would one day become the new world.

...wait, Aumstail read these memories. She should know how fucking terrible the expanding fog is. The only valid reason to keep the fog going, if this is true, would be if it's already far too late for the original universe and the fog has already subsumed everything.

something else that deserves mention, this reality includes matterialised power, like what Deli took, it doesn't seem as though this existed outside of this fog, is seems like the universe outside works on something different entirely, and who's to say this machine wasn't used to make THAT power system, too?
A thought probably entirely for present Pillet though

>>1096575

What's "Plan A", if Plan B is to send us in and attempt to minimize the expansion of the sub-dimension? Or did I miss something?

1/4 Aelsaw 2024/08/31(Sat)17:45 No. 1096735 ID: e7ca6d
File 172515154351.png - (418.35KB , 1200x1200 , 729.png )

>Why is Fisheye greyed out?
While I saw everyone else at least once in true space, I only met Fisheye within the subdimension and its bare environment.

"I do have further questions. What happens to matter overtaken by the fog?"
>"Matter is broken down into raw components and placed into the subdimension at a one to one ratio. As far as we on the outside are concerned, our matter gets completely destroyed. Space is not taken one to one, rather it's a mix of absolute size and shrinking existing space. A universe that is reborn in this way ends up smaller, more condensed."

>Plan A vs Plan B?
Plan A is destroying it from the outside, but if that fails, plan B is for me to go destroy or disable it from the inside.

I glance at Zanthe and V-0. I am under the impression that Zanthe is simply waiting for me to finish so he can go back to hatching plans for destroying the subdimension from the outside. V-0 appears to be frozen while re-calculating this new information.

"And when the subdimension collapses, will any matter it took be restored as it was?"
>"No. The matter and space within the subdimension will merge back with ours, with whatever structure it took in the subdimension. For example, if the subdimension absorbed a plate of glass and turned it into an hourglass before it collapsed, it would come back into our dimension as an hourglass."
"Hmm. It's odd we can see the fog, but can't interact with it."
>"What we have been calling the fog is not conventional matter. It's something we simply cannot interpret meaningfully."
"Interesting. I think that is all my questions for now. Thank you, Upper Admiral Shuzenza, I will be on my way."
>"Do make the most of your week, Memory Artificer Aelsaw. It may even be longer if Spokesperson Varther can manage it."

2/4 Aelsaw 2024/08/31(Sat)17:45 No. 1096736 ID: e7ca6d
File 172515154683.png - (207.14KB , 1200x1200 , 730.png )

I'm taking a second to think about this one.

>About how long is the minimum time that has passed?
Roughly 4,000 years have passed since my memories were wiped. I don't know how long it took between sealing the subdimention and wiping my memories, but faint, broken impressions of memories beforehand make me think it wasn't nearly as long.

>Aumstail read those memories?
She couldn't. A non-memory artificer can only poorly read a memory by absorbing it like an energy cluster, and doing so destroys it. Aumstail most likely just told me what memory to extract, had me narrate it, and wrote it down. And in my state, I probably did a shit job. That idiot of an energy blocker probably only has enough of an idea of what this memory is to label it as 'the records of a traitor'.

As for if the fog is expanding... nope, or at least not much. Based on what Shuzenza said, then this place would be at least the size of an entire planet, if not solar systems' worth of space if it were on maximum growth. I do remember the town being just a tiny bit smaller than it is now, and now I know it wasn't just my imagination. So that's nice. More importantly, this subdimension certainly never reached its supposed potential.

I was just starting to wonder about how Aelsaw never ran into energy clusters or people absorbing others, but both the phenocosm and Klivania control people's energy levels based on social or military standing. They sure as hell wouldn't tolerate running around stabbing each other to absorb each others' energy either. I think Aelsaw just hasn't ran into it.

I get the sense that it's going to be addressed pretty soon.

3/4 Aelsaw 2024/08/31(Sat)17:45 No. 1096737 ID: e7ca6d
File 172515154911.png - (94.41KB , 1200x1200 , 731.png )

I leave them to their discussion, and go test Pillet's body a little more with a game of VR combat with guns and no energy.

My ranking goes up every round. I realize my original body was ideal for long term resting stamina and stable mental performance. Pillet's body requires much more upkeep, but is also much more suited to combat. It is harder to strike my smaller profile with guns, and as uncomfortable as this skeleton is, it's got to be much more uncomfortable for the person I manage to elbow strike. On the other hand, this individual reminded me that a slash I could shrug off in my normal body is a more severe wound in Pillet's.

I end up in the top 4% of today's rankings. I'm surprised, but I suppose my training usually focuses on me being outmatched.

And it is just a game, after all. I doubt people are taking it too seriously.

4/4 Aelsaw 2024/08/31(Sat)17:45 No. 1096738 ID: e7ca6d
File 172515155468.png - (168.88KB , 1200x1200 , 732.png )

I certainly don't want to spend the whole week doing that, so I check my permissions. There is full allowance for any foods and recreation with no limit.

I just don't know what Shuzenza wants me to get out of this. I have cakes, engage in 0-g obstacle courses with medical personnel on standby, and watch a drama.

The cakes are expectedly among the best things I have tasted, the obstacle course is a great trial of physical prowess and puzzle solving that I'm told I do very well in, and the drama leaves me on the edge of my seat every minute.

As expected, the phenocosm's amenities are just perfect. It's the calculated culmination of thousands of people's works, built on machines and previous works of millions, built on that of billions and so on.

If I were among the normal workers, I think I would appreciate having perfection available. But me being who I am, I find myself thinking of that airport vendor's donuts and Vix's brush baths, knowing there's a lifetime that led to their personalities filling in the blanks and the imperfections of their training and protocols.

It feels pointless remembering the phenocosm's pastries and movies when the blueprints and execution accounts for every variable and comes out perfect every time. My memories of those are redundant, but the donuts, the brush bath, the bus trips and many elements of my ski trip all had chaotic little elements that won't be replicated exactly ever again. It's an honor to record those.

But it also leads to me thinking a little too much. Perhaps I should train more. There are more obstacle courses and exercise programs. I finally have the clearance and time for reading spy memories. I could also get a cosmetic change and go back to Klivania. I don't know if that would help at all in the subdimension's underground site, but it would make me much less naive on the surface.

There are other options, I'm sure. My emotions simply want something to focus on so I can pass the week as swiftly and painlessly as possible.

Spending a week on the planet in an incognito body sounds like a good idea. You could get a third perspective on life below the perfection line.

Information is cool but naivete makes it hard to use it effectively. Can you bring any memories to Klivania? If not, oh well, best head there anyway.

>>1096736
>absorbed matter is reformed into a similar state
Hmm, so it's *possible* that the star wizard dove into the fog from the outside and reincarnated as Delli? Ah crap I forgot to ask what happens to SOULS that enter the fog.
>4000 years, fog not expanding much
Oh thank goodness, that means the universe outside is mostly untouched. Nevertheless, the fog needs to be stopped eventually, and the sooner it's stopped the more merciful those outside will be. Actually, now that you have more of Aelsaw's memories, what do you expect the phenocosm to do when the subdimension collapses? Will they arrest the central group and simply treat everyone else as refugees? What will happen to you, will you wind up retrieving more of Aelsaw's memories and... become her again?
...hmm, you should be able to get a rough estimate of the fog's minimum size based on the longest deep fog route you know. Simply multiply the travel time by your average speed while running it, and reduce it a bit based on how squiggly or circuitous the route is.

>>1096738
Hmm, probably get some spy "training" done by viewing some records, then head down to the surface in a different body so you can get more familiar with how things work there, so you won't stand out as much. ...actually, hmm, you're probably going to have to practice behaving like Pillet in the different body as well.
Do you have any idea what the motives of the rebels are? Does the phenocosm treat certain groups badly and they want to escape that treatment? Is it possible that they don't like the afterlife out here, and want to make a new one in there? Or is it simply the selfish ambition to have their own private world where they're in charge?

The whole point of this is to shave off the telltale signs of military life that an expert can spot. You'll lose your overall strength, but the point is to draw as little suspicion as possible.

Train in things that go against military procedure. Learn to shoot first and ask questions never. Spontaneously break formation and flank. Demand answers when you have questions, and do crazy hijinks that make you so embarrassed that you wish they could be restricted by red tape.

Buy a porn shooter and stream it.

There's going to be more time to train and learn on the field, so to say. Shoot, depending on how things go you might even be able to train with the targets and learn from them.

Take this time and head back down in a different body, experience more of those rough around the edge-things Klivania has to offer.

You could maybe take up a hobby? Something you can get better at little by little without relying on the phenocosm’s mass produced perfection. Baking seems tempting even if no one but you will appreciate it here.
Regardless, visiting Klivania undercover seems like a good opportunity to appreciate all the little things and maybe you could visit a hobby shop or similar thing to see what hobbies they take up there to find inspiration for yourself.

perfection without variation, just like the academy, I wonder if Shuzenza also feels unsatisfied, like you now do. You'll have to see if he has any free time this week

>>1096741
Souls seem to stay mostly intact, and they reform their bodies based on how they see and remember themselves.
I wonder if Mino always wanted to be rebel little goat guy.

At any rate, let's peruse some people's memories of Klivania living, and of espionage tactics, and of espionage tactics in Klivania!
It'll come un useful if we back there before the week is up.

>>1096736

> Not expanding much
Then I get the sense that, between the relatively stable state of the town and the ruined state of the Fog Islands, we were actually MOSTLY successful at Plan-B.

However, it looks like a lot of stuff was lost and the fog may have actually RECEDED in some way, resulting in a reabsorption of a lot of matter that wasn't in a stable pocket.

>>1096738

> Those donuts and that brush bath
Pillet, while this does look like an absolute blast, I imagine we've finally begun to comprehend WHY Paporron and the others would even want to make a subdimension to escape the Phenocosm.

Those experiences, all the little bits of chaos -- they're what make life worth living. Perfection is the pinnacle of achievement, but it starts to become hollow when every experience will be exactly the same.

While certainly dangerous to ... sympathize with these individuals, it would help to reflect on this, as it may make our own reintegration with them more believable.

After all, that's our aim, is it not? To prepare for working alongside (and sabotaging) them.

Relax on planet. Don't train just enjoy the culture and have genuine experiences you will enjoy.

1/2 Aelsaw 2024/09/18(Wed)13:42 No. 1097520 ID: ce93a7
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Hmmm. I consult a few spy memories. They're dry, but they contextualize how to simply fit in inside of unfamiliar environments. Once I express my desire to go to Klivania, I am directed towards Ruflaka.

I contemplate new hobbies as I walk. Maybe I can use my cover to do very un-phenocosm like protocols to practice being someone who isn't from the phenocosm. I will seriously consider my options once I am on the planet. For now, I'm wondering if Paporron and the other founders truly prefer the unstructured chaotic mess of Klivanian culture, thus motivating them to permanently escape from the phenocosm's control.

>What will the phenocosm do when the subdimension collapses?
I sense this gets addressed in the other memory I have here.

>Get an idea of the size of the fog's minimum size based on the longest deep fog route you know.
The routes to fog bubbles are most likely non-euclidean. It doesn't matter anyway; the founder's memory vault was here right at the start. I've never found any fog pocket that was farther than that one.

2/2 Aelsaw 2024/09/18(Wed)13:42 No. 1097521 ID: ce93a7
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Ruflaka appears to have been waiting for me.

>"I have been briefed. You are here for a new identity, correct?"
"That's right."
>"It is recommended you take the role of Reneila. This individual never existed, but she does exist within Klivanian records. Voting fraud, I'm told. This identity is recommended because up until now, she has no visual records whatsoever. This means that there is no exact requirement to what you look like."
"Interesting, but I can't just head down looking like this, can I?"
>"You cannot. A full body transformation takes over a day. Simple cosmetic changes can take as little as 10 minutes. There is small possibility you must swap with your body double on short notice, therefore you will be undergoing minimal changes that will still satisfactorily convince anyone you are unrelated to Pillet."

He hands me some of Reneila's documentation for my future perusal.

>"The only skeletal change will be squashing your neck to be less atypical. Beyond this, I can change your fur color and length, shift your weight distribution, alter your ears and snout, and so on easily enough."
"Will cosmetic changes be enough?"
>"Of the 270 million Klivanians, there are already 4 known individuals that already look remarkably similar to Pillet. It will be fine. You may have input on your looks, both in flesh and with a new set of clothes. Do you have any cosmetic changes would you prefer? If not, I will use my own discretion."

Let's see the checklist. Bigger ears, fangs, tits, dick, hips/thigh/ass, muscles as appropriate. Otherwise perhaps some sort of mega cyborg godzilla creature. The sort that would be really complicated to draw by hand especially if you had to do it over and over for many panels. Alternatively, blue fur and/or a general cat-rabbit sort of look.

Enhance knockers. We need somewhere for those donuts to go.

Hm. Gotta wonder if this is how you end up looking like your current self. You now and memory you look similar, but with the sub-dimension lacking colour, you could have completely different fur colouration and we wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

Unrelated thought, there's gonna be some identity issues to untangle after all's said and done, who you are, who other people think you are, who you want to be, etc.

>>1097521

Keeping it minimal makes the most sense. Lose the darker patches and add a little weight at the center (for comfort, of course) and we're already a completely different person.

Taller neck! Huge fluffy ears with extra fluff! Extra fabulous booty! Fluffier tail!

>>1097521
Suggestion:
>>/questdis/142680