Eldritch's disappearance

FS, RS, ATML, TOB

FS: They did it.

I'm... I'm back.

[User Online]

RS: What happened?

[User Connected]

[User Connected]

FS: The Slugcats you sent did it.

My operations are back online.

TOB: ...Ah...that's a relief.

RS: Yes, that is very good.

FS: It seems that the source of the problem was an accumulation of rot that had interrupted my connection to my Memory Arrays.

TOB: That is good. My overseer footage started to cut out in the lower levels, so I was worried for a bit that they had encountered an issue.

...Rot?

FS: Unfortunately, yes. It was concentrated. How it got there or why it refused to spread is beyond me.

Now looking back on my records, there is no trace of anything that could have caused it.

RS: That is quite strange.

TOB: ...Interesting...

FS: It's over now.

RS: Are you fully sure that your memory arrays are completely back online?

FS: Yes. I am now fully aware of my facility's condition,

Including the macinations going on in them.

TOB: If you need a few purposed organisms to get all of the arrays in check I can create some for you.

The memory spiders always amaze me with how tidy they can keep things they are set to work on.

FS: It appears that I was the one who created the robots running the Quarry.

Though my systems may still be a bit rusty, I should be able to have them take care of it.

They appear to have kept the mines in very fair conditions, after all.

RS: That would makes sense.

TOB: Your mining robots have remained intact all this time?

FS: aside from the rubble of the Auraboros, everything seems to be perfectly functional.

Thankfully. It seems that they sustained themselves on the Quarry's extra supply of food.

For how long, I'm not sure. I have a theory they are replenishing their resources from somewhere.

It would appear that there are parts of my facility I had forgotten about...

ATML: And how long had your problem been persisting?

FS: It had started occurring shortly after I lost communications with the rest of my unit.

ATML: Around how many cycles ago, would you say, that would be?

FS: The youngest of our group lost contact 132 cycles ago.

RS: That is… quite a long time.

FS: Yes...

A long time to forget.

TOB: Problems that long can still be... at least mended...

I was inactive for quite some time after my people went away, but I have still been able to scrape off whats damaged and repair it.

FS: I hope so.

ATML: I’m surprised your mechanical organisms are still functioning and following their duties after such a long period of neglect.

FS: ... yes.

Anyway. I didn't come to talk about myself.

I called you to confirm the condition of your servants.

RS: Ah yes. How are they?

FS: I was... actually going to ask you the same question.

RS: ...?

FS: ...

ATML: My overseers cut off after recording footage of the battle with the “Auraboros”.

TOB: Too long a distance, too deep.

FS: They haven't made it back yet?

RS: Mine has not.

ATML: They have not.

Where are our messengers?

All three of them are missing.

No overseer managed to record any sign of them outside of your can.

FS: Let's not jump to conclusions.

They were there when they reactivated my systems.

I saw them.

I saw them riding the lift back to the surface.

...

With...

Him.

ATML: Would you care to elaborate?

RS: Him?

FS: Smog.

RS: I remember that name.

The...rot cluster?

FS: I thought I told that thing to stay away from me.

Apparently I didn't make that clear enough.

RS: None of us directed him towards you.

FS: So it has free will?

TOB: That thing has been a mystery to me as long as I have known about it...

It would appear to have that, yes.

It showed up in my own tram systems while I was testing out the...

Retaining Dam 16.

FS: And it's just walking around on it's own accord?

RS: Yes.

TOB: It doesn't seem to pose any threat to us or slugcats from what I have observed...

FS:...

It appears I need to have a talk with them...

Anyway. I know I saw them leave.

I sent an Overseer to meet them in Fabrication Arrays.

TOB: I am still curious as to...what about it you dislike...but I will let it go.

FS: I saw the three of them leave.

Not counting that thing.

TOB: Three?

FS: Yes.

RS: There were four slugcats.

FS: What?

TOB: From my footage there were...3 other slugcats alongside my collector.

RS: Are you sure you were monitoring them?

FS: Of course.

RS: I would think I would notice the amount of slugcats.

FS: ATML sent The Nomad.

TOB sent The Collector.

And you sent that strange crystal servant.

RS: …I did not send the crystal one.

I sent the orange and black slugcat.

The Eldritch.

COS:...BEEP! ["Eldritch... is..."] He seemed out of breath ["my gods I had to slingshot myself... holy hell..."]

RS: Eldritch is what. Spit. It. Out. Tell me.

COS: ["Something... took him... it had rot but was huge... hooooh.... hurgh..."]

RS: Smog. what about the others?

Smog, WHAT TOOK HIM.

COS: ["They are safe... I'm worried about Eldritch"]

RS: You… Fragmented Solitude… what did you do with him.

FS: I didn't do anything.

RS: You wanted to know how I did it. You wanted me to replicate the excitement. You wanted to do it yourself. WHAT DID YOU DO WITH HIM.

FS: I didn't take your precious slugcat.

COS: Inhaling and exhaling. ["I'm... gonna send a picture... just give me a moment..."]

FS: Even if I wanted to I lack the facilities to do anything with them.

TOB: ...

Smog, WHAT TOOK HIM.

RS: Fragmented Solitude… what did you do with him.

FS: I didn't do ANYTHING.

Revising Synthesis

BOT

COS: keyboard and hologram interaction sounds can be heard.

What Smog sent was... horrifying to say the least of the many bad vibes it showed off.

RS: ...

…Fragmented what is this.

COS: ["Rot thing... big... I don't know myself"]

["it could have been a part of- oh the problem! the problem... uhm..."]

["When I arrived, there was this whole thing connecting between Fragmented's structure and the rest of the area... there was a WHOLE lot of rot on it that I cleaned off by devouring it... after that I went around and found the slugcat friends you all sent, I brought them to the damages and they fixed it"]

FS: ...

He...

Never left.

He's... alive.

COS: ["what is it?"]

RS: You know this thing Fragmented?

TOB: Is that even a...slugcat?

ATML: Fragmented Solitude.

Tell us. What do you know of this… creature?

FS: ...

Whatever happened down there...

Eldritch... is alive.

They're still down there.

RS: Then how do I get him out.

FS: I...

I don't know.

RS: FRAGMENTED.

FS: I'm looking.

TOB: Are the other 3 in a similar condition?

FS: No.

I saw them leave.

They're ok.

RS: Why did it take Eldritch. Seems like an odd coincidence doesn’t it.

FS: I didn't take Eldritch.

RS: I am inclined to believe otherwise.

Must I pull up the logs where you asked me to continue the Rotcat experiments?

FS: I DIDN'T DO IT.

TOB: Revising...I understand that you are more than upset but...we have to focus on getting Eldritch out of there before we point fingers.

RS: So you’re going to side with him then?!

TOB: No.

FS: I WARNED you about this.

Neither of us knew what was down there.

If I had...

Maybe this wouldn't have hapenned.

RS: It just seems coincidental is all. But fine. You’re right. I knew the risks. But I swear to you, if I find out you had used him to start your own Rotcat experiments…

FS: I would never do that.

TOB: Justice will be served to whomever is responsible.

RS: You seemed rather keen to get me to start them again, but fine. For the sole sake of the others I will not do anything rash.

But... I do not trust you FS.

FS: I...

I know.

...

Wait.

I see him.

Eldritch.

RS: You do?!?!

FS: He just walked out the gate to Fabrication Arrays.

RS: Good. I apologize for my words.

FS: Um...

...

Was he always blue?

RS: …he was orange and black…

FS: He's blue.

TOB: Like the...conventional rot coloration?

RS: …are you sure that it’s still Eldritch?

Show us, please.

FS: I'm getting closer.

...

He...

he doesn't look good.

oh no.

RS: …

Show. Please.

FS: I...

I feel like I shouldn't.

RS: Please. I need to see.

FS: ...

I'm sorry.