PT 014 Theo and Cassandra

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Here we are.

[10:34 PM]

So, you are giving your mother a tour of the engineering bay

Theo06/20/2020

*is, pointing out all the stuff that Planefleet changed from his original designs and all the stuff he's done since they've been lost.*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Honestly. Removing the fourth ion cylinder completely depowers the thruster."

Theo06/20/2020

Exactly.

[10:37 PM]

I swear it's basically a fourth of my free time just putting things where they should be.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Ha. Well, I hope some day they see the brilliance of your design."

[10:39 PM]

Cassandra: "Now is that--Ooooh."

Theo06/20/2020

I doubt it.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

As she points up she flinches slightly.

Theo06/20/2020

You all right? You've been weird since the explosion.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...we need to talk. I will be fine, we should start there."

[10:41 PM]

Cassandra opens a panel in her abdomen and reveals some shrapnel within, messing with her parts.

Theo06/20/2020

... why didn't you say something.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Oh, I can fix myself up easy. And there was so much else going on. I can handle not being the most important thing in the room...most times."

[10:42 PM]

Cassandra: "...I also didn't want to make you disappointed."

Theo06/20/2020

Disappointed?

[10:42 PM]

...Oh, the black box.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra nods. "I haven't had a chance to check yet...but I can tell some of the information within it was lost."

Theo06/20/2020

Well, it's okay. Anything we can integrate with our own data will be useful.

[10:45 PM]

I do hope this situation has given you some perspective on joining these people.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Well, if nothing else, this whole process sounds far more permanent than I'd like...also, I wouldn't mind spending some more time on board with you. ...and your captain."

Theo06/20/2020

I wouldn't mind either. He's not that bad. He likes basketball and he's terrible at cards.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Ah! I can work with terrible at cards."

Theo06/20/2020

What about your current person?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Tos? Oh they're just lovely. But we do like to keep things open."

[10:49 PM]

Cassandra: "Apparently changelings don't believe in monogamy."

Theo06/20/2020

Fair enough. Oh, you should meet Guest.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...who?"

Theo06/20/2020

It's complicated.

[10:51 PM]

Guest, are you hanging around?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Guest floats down after you call him. "Hi...Theo. Is Theo ok? I know you weren't crazy about Poppa."

Theo06/20/2020

Theo is much better.

[10:52 PM]

This is my mother, Guest.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Guest: "GRAMMIE?!?"

Theo06/20/2020

.... I sort of instantiated Guest after interacting with an alien data repository containing billions of life forms.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...you had a grandchild and you didn't call me?!?"

[10:55 PM]

Cassandra goes to hug Guest. "Oh, look at you! You're the biggest, fluffiest sweetie ever!"

Theo06/20/2020

I figured you two would get along.

[10:55 PM]

And I was literally incapable of calling you.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Guest: "I like grammie. She's really shiny."

[10:56 PM]

Cassandra: "Did you select the flumph DNA? Is he all flumph? Also...did you say alien data repository?"

Theo06/20/2020

*nods. "Let's head to Williamson's lab, I wouldn't mind getting your take on it."*

[10:57 PM]

The artifact was leaking data. I was able to repair it, but in the process I activated it enough for Guest to appear. A fully grown and functional flumph, but a blank slate.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "My son repaired ancient alien tech! See, I always knew you were a genius."

[11:01 PM]

You eventually walk into Williamson's lab, with Williamson in it. She's pouring over a mark board.

Theo06/20/2020

*waves.*

[11:01 PM]

This is my mother.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Williamson signs. "Dr. Forgewight? Is everything ok?"

Theo06/20/2020

Mother, this is Williamson.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Williamson: "Oh! Hello Mrs. Forgewight. It's nice to meet you."

[11:02 PM]

Cassandra bows politely to Williamson then takes in the lab. "...well...it's fancy. ...something to be said for that I guess. But it just seems so...unused."

Theo06/20/2020

She's the ship's Arcane Officer, mom. She's not really had too much of a chance to do what she's here for -- all our efforts have been put toward surviving and getting back.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Williamson: "...I also work rather regularly...I'm not sure I see what you mean."

[11:04 PM]

Cassandra: "Well it's just so...neat. No papers anywhere. No half-finished projects. How can anyone work without all that clutter keeping them motivated?"

Theo06/20/2020

Mother, we've discussed this, you have to be tolerant of other people's research methods.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Williamson: "...different perspective, I guess. I've found it much easier to work without distractions like that."

[11:06 PM]

Cassandra: "...oh have you. Well...I suppose if it works for you. So...what are you working on?"

[11:07 PM]

Williamson: "I've been analyzing the orb, actually. It's rather fascinating. It's rare to see conjuration capabilities this advanced in something so small, not even counting the abjuration and divination work keeping it's databanks safe. Your son's input after making Guest has also proved valuable."

Theo06/20/2020

*nods. "She was curious about the artifact after meeting Guest."*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "I was, as a matter of fact. May I see?"

[11:09 PM]

Williamson: "...yes, but I do need you to look from this side of the glass. Guest is lovely, but we can't make any new strays."

Theo06/20/2020

The last thing we need is a whale to materialize in here, and we still don't really know how to operate it.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "But how will you learn without taking it for a test drive?"

[11:11 PM]

Williamson: "Through rigorous study."

Theo06/20/2020

And not accidentally creating whales and crushing everyone.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...very well. I am sure I can get a plenty good look from here."

Theo06/20/2020

This thing packs a lot of energy. IT was damage because it was eaten by a cat.

[11:13 PM]

It turned the cat into a Tressym.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra looks at it in awe. "Wonderful! Imagine the possibilities! Humans with wings! Dogs with gills! Bankers with appropriately slimy skin!"

Theo06/20/2020

Theoretically, the imprints in the device can merge with a living being's physiology, but we're not making any gill dogs until we know for sure that there are not horribly side effects.(edited)

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Williamson: "Also, there are likely more pertinent uses for it."

Theo06/20/2020

Our current theory is that there are more of these artifacts, and they were to serve as a kind of planetary backup system.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Ah. A repopulation effort. Instant terraforming. That's...that's a lot to comprehend actually. Any good place to get a martini around here?"

Theo06/20/2020

Mmm hmm, I'll show you to the cafeteria. I think Sage mixes drinks.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Sage, sadly, is not manning the kitchen at this time, but Ilana of the chefs is there to prepare one.

Theo06/20/2020

*tells his mother about what's gone on since the launch.*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra listens in and eat it up. "You constructed a new power gathering device for the hull of your ship as it was in Void Space? That's wonderful. You should be so proud."

Theo06/20/2020

IT works. I should have had us home by now.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...what do you mean you should have?"

Theo06/20/2020

I should have figured out the right coordinates and pieced together the maps properly.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...Prometheus...do you take me for a fool?"

Theo06/20/2020

...what?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Am I technologically inept?"

Theo06/20/2020

Of course not. You're the smartest person I know.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "I have just lost a good chunk of my own planar records, including the means back home. Do you think there's anyone who knows my current body better than I do?"

[11:35 PM]

Cassandra: "Do you think someone here has a more detailed and accurate map than me, a woman who's spent the past two years hiking my way through the planes?"

Theo06/20/2020

...no?

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "So, do you think given, at most, three months with no additional data, a limited number of tests to run, time devoted to other more pertinent issues and the demands of a hundred other people to live up to I could simply recreate the lost data out of thin air?"

Theo06/20/2020

Maybe? You're pretty smart.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "Possibly, but I doubt it. Theo, we are capable of doing the remarkable, the incredible, and the highly improbable. But there is still such a thing as impossible. And you need to learn to know it when you see it. Cause that's the only way you'll find your way around it."

Theo06/20/2020

*puts his chin on his fake fist and sulks. "... fine. You make it very hard to be a tortured genius, you know."*

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra takes him by the chin in a mothering fashion. "I know. But the tortured part isn't all it's cracked up to be. Trust me."

[11:41 PM]

She kisses him on the forehead.

Theo06/20/2020

I'll work on it.

USS Adventure06/20/2020

Cassandra: "...have you ever talked to this Williamson about possible solutions?"

Theo06/20/2020

Not quite. We're always busy with something or other. She is pretty smart though. Maybe I"l ask her to help when we integrate your data. Maybe she'll see something I don't.

[11:43 PM]

(brb)

USS Adventure06/20/2020

((Ok.))

June 21, 2020

Theo06/21/2020

((Okay, I"m back. Sorry.))

USS Adventure06/21/2020

((No prob, Bob))

[12:00 AM]

Cassandra: "...could be worth talking to her. She seems to know what she's doing."

Theo06/21/2020

*nods.*

USS Adventure06/21/2020

Cassandra: "...and I don't say that lightly."

Theo06/21/2020

I know.

[12:01 AM]

The people here are pretty good. I have to electrocute a lot fewer people than on my last ship.

[12:01 AM]

It's a bit more organized.

[12:01 AM]

....there's more rules, but I only half pay attention to those.

USS Adventure06/21/2020

Cassandra: "I've always found rules to be like salt. Sometimes helpful, but you don't want them on everything and never too much."

Theo06/21/2020

*nods.*

USS Adventure06/21/2020

Cassandra: "...I want you to know something. It's very important and you need to know it now while I can tell you."

Theo06/21/2020

... ominous.

[12:03 AM]

Why wouldn't you be able to tell me later?

USS Adventure06/21/2020

Cassandra: "I almost certainly will, but I'd rather tell you now."

Theo06/21/2020

All right.

USS Adventure06/21/2020

She pulls you into a hug. "You're a very clever man and I always believe in you."

Theo06/21/2020

Oh. I knew the first part. But the second part is nice to know.

USS Adventure06/21/2020

Cassandra: "Good. Just important you know it."