Mission Failure - Another Janx Quest

[Janx]

/* LOADING */ – BOOTING SYSTEM…

Commencing System Check
Memory Unit: 3%
Vitals: 72.5%
Apathy Shielding: 50%

Initializing Tactics Log…
Loading Geographic Data…
Activating IFF…
Activating FCS…
Launching DBU Setup…
Initializing Selective Local Concept Negation…
Initializing Origin Sensors…
Initializing Mana Detectors…
Authenticating Equipment Permissions…
Attempting QE Communications… … … … … !!
Posting FC…

/*ALERT */ -- Significant corruption of memory banks detected. Recommend return to base for reformatting.
/*ALERT */ -- Communication System unable to reach paired device. Base communication is unable to be established.


My conscious goes from a blank void to a sudden storm of information. Between strange terms and a barrage of corrupted data, it’s all just noise to me. I groan as I get to my feet, fighting off the stiffness of ages. To make matters worse, the floor is not level.

My Optical Receptors coming into focus, I find myself in a moderately sized chamber of black metal. Amidst the faint light that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere, I can make out the forms of countless bodies piled around me due to the 30 degree decline of the floor towards me. Terminals seem to line the wall to my right, though their screens seem as dead as those around me. My only way out of this grim compartment is a half-opened double door on the opposite side of the room, at the top of the sloping floor.

Where…was I?

Who…was I?

My queries get only error messages and static from the background processes of my mind. I look down at the bodies around me. Should I care about them? Or did I kill them? Did they try to kill me?

My thoughts are suddenly distracted by a titanic roar echoing through the chamber. My Audio Receivers tell me its source is quite far away, though anything that can make a sound like that is sure to be a threat.

/* Tactical Input Requested */
/A/ Investigate the bodies.
/B/ Investigate the terminals.
/C/ Remain idle and try to assess the situation further.
/D/ Leave the room.
/E/ Custom Input

/* ADDENDUM: Displaying Log Index */

Spoiler:

Log 1 - Awakening
Log 2
Log 3
Log 4
Log 5 - Taylor's Camp
Log 6
Log 7
Log 8 - NSFW
Log 9

[RacingeR]

/A/

[GhostDIGIT]

/A/ we could find something useful.

[Vritra]

/C/

[arkturus]

/B/
Datamine this shit

[Zurvan]

/B/

[Tobias]

/E/

memory banks restored from back up

......back up data currupted.

...fragmented data file recovered!

i think I remember killing these people....

[Janx]

Well we sure tied fast.

[Tobias]

Well we sure tied fast.

Fine fine B

i guess

[Zurvan]

We can always find out that we're a mass murdering cyborg later, ​right?

[R.Lock]

/A/

[Janx]

/* LOG UPDATE 01 */
Geographical Orientation: Calibrating…
Temporal Index: Calibrating…

/* Begin Log */
Information.

I need information.

A part of me instinctively knows the terminals should allow me to access the ship’s information network. While their darkened screens didn’t give me much hope, I wasn’t going to find out anything if I didn’t try.

I try to tentatively walk over the bodies piled around me, still unsure as to if they deserve my respect. I trip over an arm and land in the bosom of one of them.

I look up to a familiar sight.

She’s me.

Somehow, despite my having no recollecting of seeing myself, I instinctively know that we are identical. I jerk back and try to scramble away. But they’re everywhere. They are all me. Though I try not to dwell on them for long, they all seem to be in more or less the same physical state as me.

Why am I special? Am I next? Or am I the first?

I give out a sigh of relief as I finally reach the terminals. Even if they reveal nothing, they at least get my mind off what I’d seen.

The monitor glows to life as it detects my presence. A long scroll of reports seem to suggest that whatever I’m in is perhaps in a more sorry state than I am. However, while my reports claim corruption in my knowledge centers, the terminal tells another story.

Data purge has been performed in accordance with Awakening countermeasures.

Information was purposely removed.

The machine does little to respond to my commands. Even touching the various warnings and alerts merely moves them around the screen. I get no answers, simply questions.

I then hear a scuffling noise coming from the door.

“Oh hey! You finally woke up! I was starting to worry it didn’t work!”

Poking around the ajar door is the head of a pink-haired humanoid with an impish expression. It has a welcoming and innocent appearance, though my systems seem to tell me otherwise.

/* Subject present does not register on Origin Sensors */
/* Subject’s Mana is under a masking effect */
/* Subject is attempting communication in True Speech */
/* Subject’s gender is indiscernible */


/* Tactical Input Requested */
/A/ttack.
/B/e curious and engage in conversation.
/C/autiously arm self but do not engage in hostilities.
/D/etermine action in a custom manner.

[Rafflesiac]

/D/ Hug.

[arkturus]

/B/e cautious and let him give us info

[Zurvan]

/B/e sure to ask for her gender

[Tobias]

A

kill all humans

[GhostDIGIT]

/b/ let's see what boygirl wants

[R.Lock]

/A/

Exterminate

[Janx]

/* LOG UPDATE 02 */
Geographical Orientation: Calibrating…
Temporal Index: Calibrating…

/* Begin Log */
The figure before me is an enigma. Though my sensory inputs warn me that ts nature is obscured, my curiosity is hungry for answers. I don’t know who or what I am. Why should I judge another?

“….”

/* Analysis: Audio Output is reading as Green. Lack of response unknown */

“W-where am I?”

It looks concerned for but a second before resuming its impish grin.

“Ah that’s…a bit hard to explain. You’ve been here for a very…very long time. And it’s a bout time we got out of here. Can you move?”

“…”

It seems quite presumptuous that I would just follow along. However, I have no desire to remain in this room with the other me’s. I give a small nod and make my way up the ramp towards the stranger. It surprises me by grabbing my hand and dragging me with it. It’s stronger than it looks.

/* Party Member Added: ???? */

“Where are we going?”

I finally managed to speak up as I get over the shock the continued contact as it leads me through the hallways. In the corners, I see more of me.

“Away from here. There’s a bit of an…angry Dragon on the loose. “

That seemed like a good enough reason to leave.

Eventually sunlight pours through an opening up a head. I’m almost blinded by the sudden intense natural light. As we near it however, the roar echoes through the hallway. My companion throws me against the wall.

I am about to complain when suddenly a great red beast suddenly flies past the opening, shrouding us in darkness but for a moment. After a heavy percussion, the whole chamber starts to pitch to one side, turning the far wall into our new floor.

As we get our new bearings, my companion’s cheeks redden as it realizes its head is resting on my chest. It quickly gets off of me.

“He’s almost found me. We need to move!”

“Why is it after you. Who are you?”

Despite his urgency, I put my figurative foot down as it helps pull me up. I was following it for answers, not to be tossed into its own conflicts.

“….Excuse my manners. I am Tr…Taylor. And you are?”

/* Data located in damaged Sectors. Requiring input */

[arkturus]

>>This unit's identification is [NULL].

Spoiler:

get it because it means nothing and we're a robutt without a name.