Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well, I don't exactly appreciate them thinking these true things are lies but...

I don't see much of a reason to start off sounding slick, though it is sort of hostile.

Well I assumed Julian would be speaking his telepathic responses aloud, like when he started with the Starpus, uh, yesterday (in-game).
"You 'took good care of them'? Maybe so, but they aren't your pets. They are people, who perform a tremendously valuable service. If they want to take a vacation, or decide on the destination of the ships sometimes, it should be up to them."

"Hungry Singer seemed pretty mad."

This I will not say as an astropic:
"I doubt she'll be happy with, 'the Panogan rebels'. Give me a plausible alternative."

Unless Royal or someone gives me a reason not to lie, I'll tell her the organization.
brutal dice luck, luck spent
"Hopefully this is a sign she's somewhat receptive."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I already rolled for this conversation, we're still playing the 10 out. Save your luck.



Royal: "Would she be more happy with 'Skilled Theives'? I suppose you could be working with Earth, with one of the other colonies out there, or be detractors from among the Astropics themselves. There are two possible motivations here, Trying to liberate the starpus, or obtaining them for ourselves. But don't spin a story bigger than you can handle."

Seven: "At least somewhat... and you've already dragged them all over the place."


Seven: "She wants to know if you actually have a plan for getting off the station."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

K
You know what? Let's forget naming the client. "Well, somebody's willing to pay to break the Concordance's monopoly, and the Starpus is going to get a fatter cut than just food and shelter this time. But yeah, we're in it for ourselves."
"Not with all this security around."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Seven: "She says 'I see', and she wants to know how you got involved."
Royal: "We need her to trust us just enough to stop her from following us."

Seven: "she says then why are you talking to me?"
Royal: "Don't tell her we're desperate. Try and get her to do things. And indicate we have something in the works. Might be time to switch over to offering money. Or try and work the guilt angle a bit more. She's still wandering."


Seven: "She's asking What you are. are you old concordance? do they know about you?"
Royal: "Do we even want to answer that one?
Florence: "How can we not?"
Royal: "We can flat out refuse. That's valuable information. use it as leverage."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I rather not explain the whole kidnapping thing. "Well... I was made an offer and I took it."
"Well, we have some plans we could try, but they won't work if you keep chasing us around."
"What's old Concordance?"

I guess it could be a weird turn of phrase to say, used to work for the Concordance, but...
I'm not sure how to give a straight answer to the first without giving this one away.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

He's still the one speaking directly... but there is a two way channel now via the site now. I'll have Royal take a little more control.


Seven: "She says its her job to look for us."
Florence: "Can we lead them to some of our old sites?"
Slam: "And maybe set a bomb off while they're looking?"
Royal: "We do need to give her somewhere to go. Are your legs holding out Julian? we could send her running all over the station. That won't last forever though. Maybe if we leave the screamer somewhere it will help them."
Slam: "We've got to take out the seeker.*"
Florence: "We probably do. Do you have a way to do it?"
Slam: "The bombs."
Florence: "That could work. A shame to kill our new little contact. Seven and I will buy some time. Offer her some money. Or even an exit. If I can get her as an additional astropic... that'd be valuable."



*note: "screamer" is the weapon that takes out astropics, seeker is the new thing they're tracking you with.... unless I messed that up. just highlighting there are two different creatures involved here.



That's me. Mr. Weird turn of phrase. Yes, she's asking if you used to work for the concordance.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"I've walked more than this before."
"Bombs?! What? How big?"
"... No, I haven't worked for the concordance."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Royal: "Good. Tell us if you loose energy."

OCC: I like how both boys have hiking.
Slam: "I don't know. I'd have to rig them up. Just big enough to kill the tracker and make them move slowly when tracking us."

There is no response to that.

Royal says that they'll take over the conversation. They want Julian to head back to the tank by a moderately indirect route. "We'll try to set up something with a screamer. come over here and practice combat with one. We need all the advantage we can get. If we can turn Reena, fine. If not, we'll lead the concordance into a trap.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Just a couple people... Just Concordance people... And they're bad guys...

Right?

I keep my uncertainties to myself and head back to the tank. "A trap with a bomb?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Royal: "That's an option, but we're leaning away from it. Or making it just a part of it. Though a lot depends on if you can provide us with a solid weapon."


Julian comes back to the tank with the screamers. They are still quite agitated. Florence is there, with a bag of medical supplies.


Florence: "Royal wants you to try out the astropic attack you thought you could do on the screamers. I'm here in case they fight back and you need to be revived or moved."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well, that's good I guess. I really rather not kill someone.

"Unfortunate there's no time for a bunch of sensors."

I try the attack.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Julian sends out the attack at the three glaring screamers. Two of them suddenly droop and stop moving. The third, on the right, opens its hideous mouth and Julian hears a scream in his mind, building, overwhelming his brain... and he passes out.



When he comes to, He's in a different room, Florence is over him, and he has an IV in his arm.



Florence: "What did it feel like? Your experiment effected two-thirds of the subjects, and the non-effected subject attacked back. Wish I had sensors hooked up. But you did it. I'm thinking its the <long string of intelligible words>, but I'd need more data."


His head is pounding, just like last time. Maybe worse than last time.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Like hell. Worse than when I nearly drowned. Worse than being kicked in the stomach. Worse than my soles being beaten. Worse than the water..."
My head's pounding. I'm in no mood for dealing with Florence. "No ****, Sherlock."
Her rambling and this headache is like listening banging pots and pans during a hangover. "Yeah well I need to hear myself think. So how about, a month after that we can talk about it."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

He can hear florence talking to Royal: "I can treat his pain, but the most effective drugs have side effects that could impair his ability in crisis."


Royal: "Rook! Julian! You hear me? What do you need in order to do that again? In combat, or against just one of them?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well those sound just wonderful right now!

"I can. You're plenty loud enough already!"
"Need? I don't need anything but a better reason than 'let's see what happens with three screamers'. I know what happens now; I don't get them all and then they counter-attack."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

This side effects?


Royal: "We NEED to know if you can attack other astropics. If you can disable them, it buys us the time and discretion to get off of this station. And do it without bloodshed"


"What do you need to be ready for that fight?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Intense pain relief.
"Yeah, well, don't we already know that? We got two knocked out screamers and and one right mad one. If I didn't attack, why would they be knocked out? Why would I be attacked?"
Not sure how to judge Julian's current predicament in game terms but...

"I'll take the strongest pain relief you won't think compromise me, and someone nearby to get me out of there if I collapse. I'm sure I could run if I stay alert but that seeker... I dunno what it could do."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

☺

Royal: "You have no worries about doing it again? can you do it without anyone noticing what you're doing?"*


*Note: I'm assuming you've been screwing up your face in concentration


That's a great question. Lets call it severe pain (-4 to DX and IQ).


I've never actually played with the space, but its interesting. Biotech has Asperin, acetameinophen, Narcotics, Analgine, and Panaway.


Narcotics and Analgine are actually useless for reducing the overall penalities to severe pain: they halve existing ones but give euphoria (-3 to DX and IQ) or Drowsiness (-2 to DX and IQ). Which is... interesting.


The others just reduce the pain penalty by up to -2... but Julian's already on them.



Ultra-tech has Alagine-Beta, which gives you numb (hamfisted on a bunch of stuff and some other stuff) in exchange for ignoring pain completely.



Someone could have a lot of fun building alternate sci-fi drug technology, it feels like its underserved in gurps.


Royal: "Acknowledged. give him enough to be functional. I can get you an escort."


Florence asks him to sit in a chair and hold still while she gives an injection. The pain leaves Julian's head, and sensation leaves his body. Its like everything is numb.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I hate to admit it, but she makes a good point here. "Well..."

"You've seen me do it, Florence. How noticeable is it?"

I assume she says something to that effect...

"Still sounds like it be overlooked in a crowded area."

Seems very much like an RP decision.

A couple minutes later I ask, "Are you done?" The needle's been out for some time.

I reach for a glass of water; my grasp is too light, and it spills. It's like when my arm was asleep, except for my whole body.

I bite my finger nails in nervousness. Can I even walk now? I realize I'm not biting finger nails, but my fingers. I carefully withdraw my fingers from my mouth. I might be biting too hard.

I get out of bed, and head towards. "Well, might as well try screaming at those screamers again. At least it won't hurt this time."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Florence: "You had clenched teeth, fixed eyes, and altered breath, aligned with your target. Its quite noticeable"
Florence: "The first time, probably. Once they're looking around, I wouldn't count on it."

Quite. I'd rather be drowsy or euphoric than in pain!

for morphine, it actually adds to statements like "Don't give me the painkillers, I want to be lucid for this" since for severe or moderate pain its a net increase in penalties.


Florence: "I'm done. Lets see, I'm supposed to have an advocate brief you on how to handle the side effects... Here's the training."


She slides a presentation on how to handle the numbness over.



Florence: "Since you can't feel them, can I stick some sensors on you while you read that?"


Royal: "We may wish to screen you from the screamer. we don't want it to attack before you do. Only one is conscious now."


Florence has a big stand-up fabric screen they've but in front of the aquarium

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Well surely there's not need for a second. And they'll probably looking for someone with a fish, not a kid."
"Sure. Why does it make a difference if I could feel them?"

I read it. It's surprisingly light on big words for a medical thingie.
"Fine with me. I wanted to see if I didn't need line of sight anyway."

Well, time for round two.

[Future TGLS remember to roll!]

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Seven: "They'll probably get video. We don't want them to know what you look like. Especially if we have to do it on a second seeker."

Florence: "You, as a subject, have shown surprising resistance..."
Seven: "Florence! he said yes! he doesn't want to know!"

Julian lines up behind the screen. He can tell exactly where the screamer is. The screamer... is it getting more alert?

Julian blasts the screamers, and Seven gives a whoop.
"You did it!"

Royal: "Are you feeling confident now?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Twice? Ugh."
I nod. "Better sensors, but they hurt..."
"I could tell where it was, but I already had an idea... It's not like waiting for them to recover for another round is an effective plan. Let's go."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Florence: "They only hurt if you have an acute <mumbo jumbo>"
Seven: "Just put them on! we're in a hurry! I have to watch them pretend to look for us!"
Royal: "I'm negotiating with her. We're... a little stuck. Might just have her walk into the trap intentionally, and knock her out. Then give her enough money to make her feel bad about talking."

Royal: "Great, if you can't see them, they can't see you. We need line of sight to get the screamer to work. Lets set this ambush."

Peter's backup is knuckles. Royal says not to tell him about the starpus: "He's just hired muscle. He'll get you out of there if you fall down."

They set up in an access tunnel: Julian is told Reena and the seeker will be passing overhead. The seeker has been sending out signals everyone five minutes or so, sometimes in a cluster.

Julian can feel the seeker getting closer, not only the screams, but the physical presence now. He can even feel Reena. How close will he let them get before attacking? they're set to walk right over him.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I wish Florence had an advocate counterpart called Siena or Lucca.
This is cowardly, but I am a weak coward.
They're close now. I can feel it, like a vibrating hum of a machine. It's almost electric. If I succeed at knocking them out, will the hum stop? Or only if they... No, this will only knock them out. Nothing fatal.
I was close to the tank; Reena should be just as close. I think to myself, I'm sorry Reena before making the attack.
I was half hoping for a disastrous roll to hem and haw using luck on.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Hah.


Julian is getting ready when they stop coming closer.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Why'd you stop? They, they realize I'm beneath them, don't they? Errrgh... I attack now.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Seven: "Reena's down. I can't get a great visual on the seeker."

The seeker isn't making any astropic noise.

Julian hears a noise of something moving in the tunnel. Or so he thinks.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"The Seeker is quiet now."

"Do you have eyes in the maintenance tunnel? I, I think I hear something..."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Seven: "That probably means you got it!"


Seven: "I ... <explicatives>! Get out of there! I didn't think they'd go that far around! How did she tell anyone what was going on!"
Royal: "Knuckles, Rook, run, you've given us time, now get out of there!"
Knuckles takes off running in a given direction, Seven indicates Julian should run that way as well.



(will he stick near Knuckles? Hang behind? go as fast as he can?)

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

There were eyes on her the whole time. How could she? Unless, it wasn't. And honourable thieves...
Like there's no chance it's Royal or Florence (on account of science to be done). Seven and Slam, well, they're well paid but the heat is on. But Knuckles? He's new, in the dark, and presumably not getting a proper share.
I hang behind Knuckles, but not let him get away completely.
Eh... Luck I suppose. I swear the next point I get I'm putting into running.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Seven: "Faster Rook!"



You hear an exchange of gunfire right as you aproach a corner ahead: you can plunge through and hope not to get hit or you can double back and hope for an exit.



He does end up making running rolls a lot. Almost as often as Peter makes Hiking.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well, forget Knuckles the traitor. I'll try to run through.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Bullets zing past Julian, but he is unhit. somehow*. He thought maybe he felt one get way too close.



Out of the corner of his eye, he swear he sees Paulis Tatum doing the shooting, with two other guys.


*dodge roll succeeded


Julian hears a voice in his head. "I'd hate to shoot you. But I will if I have to."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I take it Julian's rounded a corner and not in immediate danger of being shot. If not, I'd like a tactical description (i.e. how far to such a corner, is there cover, etc.)
What? An Astropic? I get it now. That's what the dream was warning me about.

I respond silently. "You're Paulis Tatum, aren't you? You've been following me this whole time! But, why didn't you stop me at the train station?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

(Yeah, he's taking a complex route denying line of sight)


Paulis: "I didn't notice you there. You're the kid, not the punk, right? I haven't been following you. I've just been tracking the kidnapped Starpus. And I've been lucky."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I pointedly ignore the question. I suppose he could infer.
"Yet I've seen you before the Starpus were taken and the day of. Just a massive coincidence? And what does military aviation have to do with Starpus security?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Yes its a massive coincidence... you saw me before you stole the starpus?! Its been as big a surprise to me as to you. That's why I got dragged out of KMA to hunt you. Because I heard your voice. And Astropics are rare. I thought I'd gotten away from that. Slow down, will you? "

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Poor Julian not getting to read his character sheet.
"So you also just happened to be on the station they were stolen from too."

"What, so I can be arrested? So I can sell out some of the few people who actually think I'm worth something? So if I'm lucky, I get dumped off at a creche instead of a young offenders institute? Yeah, no thanks."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Yes! I find it as annoying as you do!"


"Why would you give you to the Panogoans? You're one of us. Why would you even think that? Did they tell you that? You know they're just a bunch of Crooks looking for money. Did they really trick you into thinking that?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"It's what happened. No documents, no head trauma. Heard a scream, but only crazy people hear voices, but none of the hospital tests said I was an Astropic. So, fobbed off on Panogoan CPS. And that's when I get snatched up."
"They offered to let me stay out of it. Hold me in place while they sorted their heist out. Then just have me found somewhere, and I'd get scooped back up into a creche."
"Yeah... So am I."

What am I doing with my life? Am I just going from stealing Starpus to stealing something else next? When will it stop?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Paulis Tatim: "Hospital tests are wrong. You've got a little extra. But you're astropic. I'll vouch for that to anyone."


Paulis Tatim: "You want good money? sell them out right now. You can stop running, you can arrange your own guardians, you can live in luxury. Tell me what they're paying and I'll match it."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Can I tell if I'm losing him or not?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

We're running this cinematically... you talk for however long without either of you falling behind until one of you decides to stop talking.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Hah!


He thinks he's at least holding his own. Either he's got a good chance of escaping, or Paulis is intentionally holding back to talk.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

With my luck I can bet on blowing a good chance away, but why would he holding back to negotiate? Maybe without the seeker they figure they will lose the Starpus without an informant?

Without me, they're definitely going to be cloning copies of me I guess. It feels less scary now than it did before, but even still... More mes running around without parents. In better places, I guess.

Panogos having Starpus means they could run an alternative to the Concordance, eventually... The Concordance's greatest advantage is that it shuts down trade to worlds that do nasty things. Would Panogos embargo the real nasty ones too?

Paulis might be saying anything to get me to fold, but he is right that Royal and the rest are crooks. They only care about getting the Starpus on side to make things easier.

Are the Starpus really going to be treated better after all this? They're going to get a starship, and get to zoom around, yes... Are they really going to get that? Did the Concordance really try to give them a fair deal or did they figure, "no one else can talk to them" and call it a day?

Hm... "The Starpus thought they were going to get to fly around wherever they liked, to not be shoved into the back corner of a space station. What's going to happen to them?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"I thought you said you were a crook who only cared about money?"


"I don't know the starpus well. I made the descision to not work with them in my youth. They have the power to negotiate though. If they want to."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"I... I don't know."

Is that enough? I mean, if they do try to deal, they might, they might get a better deal than what they had. Faster too. I'm going to be caught anyway. Once I stop talking he's going to stop giving me space and catch me...

I stop. "The Starpus are at the bottom of the station. There's a ladder near [details]. One room has a tank with Screamers, the other has a tank with Starpus."

I didn't see this last week.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Wow, that was abrupt!


Seven shouts in his ear : "Keep moving! He's right behind you!"


Paullis: "you're going to work with us then?"


didn't see what?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I didn't see this coming. I expected Julian to get captured, not to change sides. I originally wrote the 2-27 post ending with Julian concluding that Royal and Co. were all crooks, but that he'd stick with them all the same. It felt too confident for Julian, so Julian instead asked Tatim about the Starpus, hoping to prompt him to say anything to dissuade Julian from changing sides. When he didn't...

I don't think it's entirely out of character either. Julian felt strongarmed into things as being cloned seemed to be an inevitability (and so, don't want to be cloned -> get money -> maybe stop cloning?) Slam's bombing suggestion threw him a bit off balance; if it was going to happen and he knew about it, I was pretty sure he'd have given that up to Reena. Besides, if it wasn't abrupt, Julian would have either fled completely rendering it moot, or have been captured making a betrayal look either like a desperate lie to protect the other plotters, or himself.

I take out the earpiece. I'm feeling blank.

I'm not especially enthusiastic. "Yeah..."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Tatim is silent, mentally, for a few seconds, emphasizing the silence. Then Julian hears him relaying the information as he comes around a corner. He has a hand on a pistol at his side, but its not drawn.

"I'm Paulis Tatim. I don't think I know your name yet. Stay here. They're going to arrest you. Its the way it has to happen. I don't think I know your name yet."

Two members of what look like concordance military show up, assault riffles and handcuffs.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I sit down. I wonder if I've been played? "But I have so many... Julian, Jools, Rook, Sunbeam... What's another?"

I look up at them. "The weather's nice, isn't it?"

I cooperate with them.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Paulis Tatim: "You've got a real name. Just use it."


Julian is taken and handcuffed... if you can call these handcuffs. High tech handcuffs... half-comfortable, and very snug.

Paulis picks up the earpiece Julian took out, sticks it in his own ear, and then removes it. They also take Julian's mobile phone. Julian sees it go from live to black. Seven must be able to see this area.

Paulis asks Peter for more details about the location, and about any other locations he knows about. He asks who the entire team is, with all of its members. He asks how Julian got involved in the first place.

"But you're Astropic. How did they know you were Astropic when you failed the genetic tests for it?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Then call me Julian Hayden."
Well let's start with, "They've got a hacker, Seven. He can see everywhere. You might want to do something about the cameras and such."

I tell him any details I can recall about the aquarium area. I also talk about the apartment (?) that Royal and company had too.

"I never got any real names. Knuckles, who you had a gunfight with, was just hired on recently. Royal, she's the woman in charge of everything. There's Slam, another tough type, he drove the truck and was following me around when I was leading the seeker around. I've already mentioned Seven, the Hacker. He must have made the fake IDs that were used to get on the station."


"There's Florence, she's a mad scientist. I don't know how else to describe her job. She took care of the Screamers and did experiments. She was with me when I was going to the Starpus tank to talk to them. Her name on her fake ID was Charlotte, and it said she was my aunt, so maybe her fake last name was Harbeski too? My fake name was Julian Harbeski..."

"There was also somebody named Moneyface paying for the whole operation."

"After the hospital concluded I was an orphan, they handed me over to a Mr. Orgel from Panogoan CPS. After we got on Curry Station, they used a screamer on me to test if I was an Astropic. They had tapped into the test results from the hospital, and picked me out on account of me being and 'interesting specimen' in Florence's words"

"I'd like to say I was reluctant because I didn't want to help them, but I really didn't think it was true that I was an Astropic."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Colonel Tatim: "You know my name already, somehow, but I generally go by Colonel Tatim. I'm happy you're cooperating with us Julian. That will help you out a lot."


Captor: "we're not going to contest that. Too much collateral damage."


Col Tatim: "You don't know anyone's real names then? A shame. Its to be expected, I suppose."

Col Tatim: "You didn't think you were astropic? I suppose that's a surprise."


He speaks to someone privately on a phone for a moment.


Col Tatim: "I just got your records. Yeah, they missed you were Astropic. I suppose you're lucky, in some way, these crooks and cloners found you. I just hope the starpus you convinced to go with you are safe. I still don't know how they knew. Might be worth capturing this mad scientist of yours."


They keep asking questions about exactly what happened, and details about the operation, including what exactly he said to the starpus.



Col Tatim: "They say it will help."


After about 10 or 15 minutes, Tatim says: "They got away. Must have seen you give them away. You could have been a lot more stealthy about your cooperation. Starpus are still missing. You don't have anything else you can offer, do you?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Given I thought I fell off a cliff to certain death before waking in the tank room, I think looking at the answer of, 'you're crazy', and assuming that's right is pretty reasonable."

"Probably less so now that I'm not there. If they can find another, then maybe?"

I remember I forgot to mention about how we tried to bribe Reena earlier. "She wasn't cooperative, but I don't think she said anything?"
"Would you have believed me if I told you everything while running? I suppose I could have changed sides earlier too."
"Not really... I suppose things don't look too good for me now."

I try making a sound like a seeker. Maybe I could detect the Starpus?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Col Tatim: "You're not crazy, the medical report explicitly indicates otherwise. You're just confused."

I'm not 100% sure what this means. If Royal and crew find another astropic the starpus will be safe?

Col Tatim laughs, and says astropicly: "we can talk with each other silently, remember? She knew you couldn't hear what she was saying, just speak loudly enough for her to hear. And then she told me everything."

Col Tatim: "We could have worked a deception out"

Col Tatim: "Worth checking".

You listen hard afterwards, and hear a little "Pingback"... you have a direction. And maybe a vauge distance.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"But I should have suffocated, or burned, or been pulverized when I hit the water... "
Well with less certainty, but more or less. "Without an Astropic the Starpus are useless to them. Might even need to use Screamers to move them around"
"Well, that explains how everything came together."
I feel bad. I'm just a stupid kid out of his depth...
I point. "They're... I think they're that way. They're far."

I suppose Tatim might not understand or believe Julian.

I grab my pen and make it levitate. "I think I'm like a seeker. I heard something that way, but really quiet..."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Col Tatim: "You're just confused. Probably didn't happen."

Col Tatim: "They were useless before, unless they had a ship. Did they ever have a ship? And its still a crisis. They're certainly capable of kidnapping and blackmailing another astropic."

"Huh? how do you know?"

"That doesn't prove you're a seeker. That's a starpus action..."

Something dawns on him.

"You're not astropic, are you? not really. Not like me and the rest of my clan. I mean, you can do all of it, but they use a genetic test in the hospitals. Panogos probably made you. Or someone."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"I spent like two weeks in and around Bumundo. Falling to my death was pretty normal by comparison to some of what I saw. If it didn't happen, did any of it?"
"They seemed to think making one would be doable in six to ten months."
"Or getting frustrated and doing something drastic, like taking a Starpus apart and seeing how it works."
"Is the direction helpful or not?"

I recall something:
"They were planning on smuggling me off with the Starpus. Maybe they're still on the station while they wait for shuttles to move again?"


"Oh, so they just made me as an experiment, and then just decided to dump me a goldfish bowl that looks like 21st century Earth for kicks. Sure, Jan."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Col Tatim: "How should I know. Probably not. I'm not an expert on that."

Col Tatim: "And until then the Starpus are worse than useless."

Col Tatim: "They just might be that stupid and desperate."

Col Tatim: "It's helpful. Lets get you moving so that you can triangulate"

Col Tatim: "Almost certainly. We'll keep the shuttles shut down for as long as we can. we'll get another seeker on the station and they won't be able to hide the starpus."

Col Tatim: "Do you have a better explanation for where you came from? Cloners have been chasing that sort of technology for years: The ability to raise people via virtual environments. You just showed up without any explanation, any history, and all references to where you think you came from are impossible. A genetic experiment raised in a VR environment makes a lot of sense. They wronged you badly."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I think about how much they moved the tank when we were fleeing... "Do you think they might jostle the tank?"

I start walking and calling...

Wow... I guess I wasn't winning from the start...

"But... Why would they raise me in that kind of environment? They could dunk me in an environment where I'd be exposed to no alternative ideas. But they put me in the early twenty-first century for most of my life. Why would they pick that? Why would they just dump me off behind the Starpus aquarium instead of actually using me for some purpose?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Tatim: "No idea. I worked hard to not have to deal with starpus."


Julian is escorted by a team of Concordance Military/SWAT through the station. He's not quite sure where he is going, but he is getting close, he thinks.



After a point, the signals split, with one set going one way and another set going the other.


So little faith in Royal...


Tatim: "I don't know, figure it out."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Poor self-confidence and Concordance security knowing about the operation would do that.
Seems like he knows that his version doesn't fit, but he he rather put me in a box of his choosing rather than consider a different answer...

"They're going in two directions now. [I specify which directions]. Which should we follow?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Tatim: "How should I know. You're the seeker. which one is more like starpus? Or are they both starpus? or is one bigger?"


There is no difference he can pick up.



They decide arbitrarily to follow one and send another team after the other. Then the one they are following splinters into three different groups. Julian is catching up to the signals.



Tatim: "Either they're trying to make it so we only catch one, or they've got screamers and they're coming for us."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"I only saw the three screamers, but I disabled the lot of them, I think."

"Don't they need eight to make a starship work anyway?"

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Tatim: "They need a starship to make a starship work."


Tatim: "They got you awake, right? they might have the screamers awake now too."


Soldier: "we don't see a screamer being openly carried though."


Tatim: "We don't know what all of the enemy looks like, and they could be concealing it until the very end."


"Lets get me and the Kid in uniform. We can make use of this same advantage."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Yeah, but like Screamers are fish. Would the same medicine to wake them up even work? Surely they just used something off the shelf to make me recover faster."

Well, I suppose Royal might have people I don't know about working for her...

"Is that really an advantage? 'A kid in uniform' is still 'a kid'."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Tatim: "I don't know, you called the woman a mad scientist."


Concordance Soldier: "How long ago did you know them out? The effects only last for about 20 minutes. The screamers are functional again."

Tatim: "might make them work harder. We can get some concordance personnel with smaller frames to run interference. At least one more, surely"


If Julian does not object, they'll make a detour to put him in a uniform and rendevous with the smallest concordance personel they can find.



Then its back to hunting down the signals.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

I see. "Well maybe we should try doping me up on painkillers. That seems to stop the screamers from affecting me."


I think this is a bit silly, but I keep quiet.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Col Tatim: "We're using him as an asset, we may as well have him talk to Jiara."

Jiara isn't on the station. Jiara is his last name, and he specializes in "Astropic Combat". He's currently on a shuttle over here, bringing another seeker... seems like his job is very similar to Rena's, if not the same."


Jiara says he doesn't think the crooks would have figured out the drugs they use to restore screamers after they get hit, but conceeds they may have hacked the information.



"Pain killers won't stop the screamers from effecting you, they'll only make you feel better after you get hit."

The subterfuge is undertaken. While you are changing, Julian puts out a check... and you've been followed. Starpus or screamers are very near.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

"Would it be easy to duplicate if they did have the information?"

I silently let Tatim know that I'm going to attack. "A Starpus or a Screamer is nearby, I will attack now."

And then I'll let out a scream.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Jiara: "If they had both the information and time. It takes a specialist."

Tatim: "How do I prepare for a scream?"
Jiara: "Stand behind him."


Julian screams at one of the locations. He's not sure anything happened. All three locations start moving more quickly to the side.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Hm... 50/50 maybe.
A big strong man hiding behind me, a scrawny kid fills me with determination.

"They're moving to the side! Quickly now!"

Let's chase after them. I figured they would have attacked if they were screamers.

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

They're still separated, in different directions. Which one will you chase?

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well, I don't know which is closest, so I'll pick the direction with the most direct exit. (i.e. if one was down, one up, and the third forwards, and there's no door forwards but a ladder going up or down, I'd go down.)

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Ok, that means essentially random...



Julian leads Colonel Tatim and Four Concordance agents on a mad dash towards one of the sources.



As they're closing, Julian is on the receiving end of an screamer attack. His vision goes black... and then it returns. he sees Colonel Tatim down on the ground. The attack came from the source he's been chasing. His head hurts, but he's conscious.



(rolled a 10 vs. their 14)

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

Well Julian didn't have much to go on.

Obviously, I scream back at the screamer. Then we should keep chasing them. "They don't have a feel for the range, they're close now."

Re: (IC) Lost in Dreams (Julian)
 

It would have mattered if you targeted the one you'd already knocked out.


Julian Screams back.

Col Tatim is left on the ground behind them.

They close in on the signal, and corner it in the indoor equivalent of an ally. The guy looks panicked and cornered.