Friends with Fizzbang(ALEC's observations)

Before leaving the small town of hope, Alec 42 spends most of the coin he has managed to scrounge together on a medical kit and several skins of water. He can tell this body doesn't need the water, but his comrades do, so he feels it would be wise to bring extra just in case they need it. I began journey into the marsh with my new comrades and the odd little character Fizzbang. He felt a great deal of apprehension regarding heading out what seemed like a very dangerous task. Especially given he was so unfamiliar with the area, but he trusted that his new companions had some idea what they were doing or where they going. It turned out... Nobody did. Not even Fizzbang... Well, he was committed at this point, as were they all.

Having med their preparations, they set out through the marshes on a path north. Lucy was mostly being quiet, and not annoyingly asking about her dolly every 5 minutes or worse her parents. It was heart wrenching to hear it come through voice of the automaton they inhabited. He was surprised that their emotions didn't seem to be linked, nor their thoughts. He didn't know what she was thinking or feeling, even though they essentially inhabited the same physical mind. This fascinated him, but he put the thoughts aside so he could focus on the present. The marsh did not seem like a very hospitable place, and he needed to be aware.

Eventually they came upon a group that made a very strange request that seemed to line up with their current quest, and offered a substantial reward for completing it. He doesn't recall what exactly they were after because he was keeping his distance, but he did notice when they pulled out contracts and requested that everyone sign in blood. This he was most definitely opposed to. He didn't really know why, but his mind immediately rejected the idea. It was a gut reaction sort of thing. He already didn't really have a good feeling about the one offering the reward as it was, so this sealed the deal as a hard no in his mind. He was pretty sure he didn't have any blood in this body anyway, so the point was probably moot.

Having all declined to sign the contract, they proceeded into the marshes further with Fizzbang. Eventually they set up camp for the night, but it was not a peaceful rest. They were awoken by a group of cultist from the marshes who were clearly attempting to rob them, though they veiled their obvious attempt at extortion behind some nonsense regarding contracts or permits or something.... What is it with all these contracts. These marsh dwellers sure like their paperwork.... After a brief fight that proved Alec and his group were way out of their depth, he had to give up the little coin that he had in order to appease the cultists. He didn't mind doing this to help insure his and everyone else lives were spared. He can't think of anything he wants to buy anyway.

They proceeded on the next day, but it seemed that we're likely lost, and sure enough they stumbled up on a fishing village that was obviously not their destination. Their guide had clearly led them astray, but Alec 42 and Lucy could have done no better, so he couldn't judge him too harshly for it. Then again, it was his job... They rested for the night and proceeded on the next da, eventually coming up some farmers being attacked by an automaton. Alec was hoping that they would find ones of similar design as the one he was inhabited, and that he could potentially discover some clues about himself. It was of an entirely different design though, and didn't seen to contain an actual consciousness that could see. It was just mindlessly slaughtering the farmers for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was malfunctioning or something. There was no time to consider this further, as Icarus ran in to attempt to save the farmers and was struck down.

He thought he was about to watch Icarus be killed by the rampaging machine, but Diarmuid bravely sacrificed himself to save him. Alec felt helpless as he watched the machine crush the life out of poor Diarmuid with a massive blow. His crumpled form lay broken and shattered before them and everything seemed to pause for a moment, even the machine, as they all realized that one of their group had just been very brutally slain. The moment passed though because the machine immediately chose a new target and continued its attack. The fight was hard won, and was not made easier by Fizzbang shouting to not destroy the thing that was clearly going to murder them all without a second though. Actually, considering it didn't appear to be thinking it was going to murder them all without even a first thought... The battle was hard fought fought as most of the groups attacks seemed to have little affect on the machine. Alec about but they were able to disable the machine eventually.

An odd thing happened after that though. He started seeing odd glitches in his vision, and the next thing he knew he blacked out. Lucy may have been in control, but she isn't able to really properly move the body yet. It may have been moving of its own accord. Thank the heavens if that was the case it didn't start attacking the group. Regardless, he came to later when they had all already set up camp again. He hasn't mentioned the black out to the group as he doesn't want to alarm them. If it seems like it may be about to happen again though, he will shout warning to the group, so they can keep their distance until he returns to consciousness.

For now, he will keep this to himself though...