He looks a little awkward, like he's not comfortable with his own body? I wonder if it's one he just... well, threw on, as it were, for disguise and utility, with the strength. It'd make sense with the lack of volume control, too. Better play along for now, but tell Vix sorry about this and that you think you can settle this with minimal disturbance if she waits outside a moment while you and him talk quietly. Extra emphasis on the quietly while looking at him.

Pff, laugh at how silly this is. Whoever this is they may be way worse at infiltration than you! They couldn't be a trained agent assignee in some conspiracy. Or they're just really that desperate. Especially for you to play along.

(The story couldn't possibly be real, right? Because that'd mean the real Pillet - or her body at least - has resided on the very planet as a memory-damaged woman for goodness knows how long while Paporron has been trying to contact her. And that the phenocosm was wrong or lying about her being dead.)

Is it somehow Paporron himself in a differently-sculpted body? Or a secondary phenocosm infiltrator, maybe, equally unprepared for life on this world? Perhaps that's what they'll say, and it's a check to get you to reveal yourself. I think playing bemused (and actually being amused at the way this is playing out) is the best way through this.

Like, you'll just go ahead and entertain everything that's going on here, from one perspective or another, and either way it'll be fine that you did so.

Say it's fine to Vix, and then look the guy up and down. Smirk and comment drily if that really is the best they could come up with for why you'd be using different names? He'd better pay your poor host back for that door. They've been nothing but nice - and also by pure happenstance mentioned a doppleganger of yours heading for Gravkon, which you feel perhaps ought be followed up on - but you can discuss that with more privacy.

Yes, you will be coming with YOUR BODYGUARD (it's a better story), they can stop panicking now. Tell Vix if she could keep that customer confidentiality thing in mind, you hope this will all be smoothed over. She needn't worry - or if she does, well. You imagine some would say it really is none of her business. You're not looking to share troubles today.

Aelsaw 2024/04/12(Fri)16:14 No. 1088595 ID: ce93a7
File 171296364512.png - (55.04KB , 1200x1200 , 687.png )

Maybe I should've hid behind Vix? Ah, he likely would've spotted me while pushing past her. Now's a good time to try acting a little more like Pillet, I suppose.

"Buddy, I have no idea who you are - hang on, Vix." I can see her open mouth about to speak. "Can I talk to this guy for a second, alone, quietly?"
>"... If you feel safe enough to. I'll be nearby."

Vix slowly shuts the door again. With the doorknob broken, it hovers slightly ajar, and so this man gets close to me to whisper. He's armed with multiple guns in those baggy pants.

>"Right, I need to get you outta here - "
"Slow down, I'm not going anywhere with you yet. Was that really the best story you had? You'd better pay 'em back for the broken door."
>"No, of course it's bullshit, but it's not bullshit for you to believe, it's bullshit for her to believe. Vix, right? The last thing me or my conscience needs is to to be put on witness extermination duty, so please play along. We'll all be better off for it. 'Specially Vix, who didn't do anything wrong except see two of you. If this has to escalate, they're going to have a lot more go wrong for them today than a broken door."
"Keep convincing me. Tell me about the body double."
>"That's my boss, Gel. He had one hell of a plastic surgeon to turn him into you. I don't know who the hell you are, but you're important enough that some people in high places want you in two places at the same time. Somehow, extracting the real you is a job that came down to me. I'm Rewk, by the way."

I don't know the name Gel any more than I know this man. I have memories that I've extracted from phenocosm agents to help give me some knowledge of how they operate, but those agents are at a high a high level of intelligence operations. Rewk here has the disposition of an inexperienced, untrained individual at the bottom tier. His heart is beating rapidly. It almost makes me feel better about my own infiltration expertise or lack thereof, but I should not hold myself to the lowest bar I can find.

It's unlikely he knows the phenocosm exists, but he knows that he is got tossed into something he'd rather not be a part of.

>"Let me put it like this. If you don't know already, you've got some people in high, high places, and they want you to be in two places at the same time. I don't know exactly where they want the real you, but I'd bet my modest saving's account that you sure as shit aren't meant to be fucking around in an overpriced spa with weird healing chakra shit dangling off the ceiling."

Yeah? Because it sounds like another one of you was, given that you just found out about it here. Sounds more like they didn't want you to find out there was more than one of you around. And if this guy doesn't have any idea where you're supposed to be, why should you go anywhere? What's his plan? Where will he take you if he doesn't know?

"Well what two places am I to exist at? You will forgive me for not blindly rushing into the arms of a stranger spouting vague threats unless he can give me a good reason to follow him other than threatening a masseuse I met a hour ago."

"As for fucking about in a spa? My business is my business. Don't go betting your modest savings on what the high high places want."

Start looking for your clothes but don't directly act like you are going to resist him. Just start getting dressed if you can.

Aelsaw 2024/04/12(Fri)20:33 No. 1088645 ID: ce93a7
File 171297919135.png - (187.29KB , 1200x1200 , 688.png )

"You only just came in now. It almost sounds like you didn't want me learning there was another one of me. What's your plan, if you don't even know where I'm supposed to be?"
>"Just... somewhere hidden."
"Like?"
>"A basement. Somewhere that isn't a public spa."
"My business is my business. Do forgive me for not blindly rushing into the arms of a strange man who wants to take me into his basement after making vague threats." I feel a little funny putting on a sarcastic tone when I would normally say almost the exact same words genuinely.
>"The threats aren't for scaring you, they're for showing you the situation that you're in!"
"Which is?"
>"Ahgh..."

He turns and puts his forearms on the wall, and nearly bangs his head into it. I'm sure frustrating him. I'd be getting clothed about now, but my clothes are in a locker at the front of the spa.

>"What do I have to do?" He whispers at the wall. "What do you need from me to get you out of here?"

>"Hey what's going on out here?" I hear a high pitched voice from the hall.
>"Oh, it's nothing," Vix answers "Just a surprise visit from someone. Can I help you?"
>"Oh, no, no. We're veterans from the Klivanian peacekeeper corps, and our habits are for life. So a better question is, can we help you??"

Rewk is pawing at one of the guns hidden in his pants. I don't believe this is a man who is here because he was the best one for the job. Either he is a great actor with an inscrutable motive, or he is losing it.

Ask him why he's trying to draw so much attention to there being two of you. Normally lookalikes aren't that significant an affair.

>>1088647
Also what the hem zippers are for.

Better try calm him down. Take on a more soothing tone. Tell him not to bang on the door and to just come over and sit on the table with you so that if someone peeks in they can see you're just having a conversation. This might be an expensive place but it's pretty hidden for the moment, right? Then... I'm not sure how to phrase it so I'll trust that you know the kind of thing necessary, can you sorta quietly interrogate him about things without saying them directly? I'm wondering if he's worried about bugs picking up what he's saying, not just Vix. See if you can find that out, and meanwhile try convince him there's no immediate rush and that trying to rush things will just cause more trouble. They're fine for a few minutes, right? Then maybe lead into saying that you can see he's a bit too antsy to be the top pick for this sort of job, and asking him if he can be a bit more honest with you. I mean the guy is sketchy but if you play on his apparent inexperience right then you might be able to get more info out of him, or at least learn how likely it is he's gonna get violent. Like, he might have last resort orders to kill you if it looks like you're going to get in the way of whatever someone's planning to do with the face you have on. Just to be clear, a 'hell of a plastic surgeon' wouldn't be enough to convince the people you really want to get in contact with that they're you, right?

To get out of here? Just leave first, before his presence becomes an issue. You'll walk out later, it'd be weird if you did it together now, after you said you didn't recognize him.

Let Vix think this was a weird attempt at some manner of coercion related to a personal matter, and let Ellie carry on with her dang day, unperturbed 'It's fine'-ing anyone who asks.

And if there's anything else, you have a phone and can take a clue, so just call or message like a normal person, whatever that is. Suggest a friendly invitation for pizza, cake or anything delicious and caloric as a sufficient apology and bribe for your attention.

A full explanation for this 'Gel' going all body double on you best be forthcoming soon though, or you're going on a real vacation just to watch folks squirm. This ghost itinerary 'sit in a basement' shit sounds like a load of crock you'd quite like to pay back on someone.

(obviously you're still considering other means of escape here, but getting him to retreat would be the first step)

>>1088645
Let's just go. Tell him he can wait outside like a normal visitor, and you'll get dressed and join him. Also that if anyone brings it up you can just say that the other person who looks like you is your sister and you don't like talking about her. Basically pretend you and her are not on speaking terms but you're still interested in what she might be up to.

>>1088645

Play him for information by feeding him what we know.

Our body-double, this Gel, is going to Gravkon, which he was exceedingly forward about in mentioning to our attendant just outside, and made no effort to hide official paperwork with its seal.

So, what purpose would Gel, as our body-double, have to go to an entirely different country, and why?

Answer that as best he's able, and we'll at least happily walk to somewhere we can hold this conversation less conspicuously (like that place with the cake) (which he's paying for, by the way).

1/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/13(Sat)11:03 No. 1088678 ID: ce93a7
File 171303140219.png - (56.60KB , 1200x1200 , 689.png )

"Hey, Rewk. Come sit down. Rushing and panicking won't help anyone."

He looks at me, and sits down on the other end of the table, bed, or whatever it is I'm on.

"Say, what're the zippers for?" I point at his sleeves.
>"Wha? I dunno, weird fashion shit, a lot of - why are we talking about this?"
"To try and calm you down a little."
>"Kinda got bigger things to worry about. I was kinda led to believe you'd play along, damnit."
"I can walk out later on my own time. This spa isn't all that public, right?"
>"Public enough that someone saw two of you as a result."
"Normally, lookalikes aren't that big of a deal."
>"Normally, my grumpy old man of a boss doesn't go turning himself into a hot orange chick. I coulda worded that better."
"You could've, but forget about that. Tell me more about Gel. He seemed eager to tell my attendant out there where he was going."
>"The less I know about Gel, the better. He pays me to keep my snout pointed down, so I do."
"You don't know? Okay. I think I'll continue my little vacation here."
>"Gah! Damnit, wh - "
"Calm yourself, please. I have a phone."
>"Huh, where?"
"I might've left my clothes in the locker room, but I've kept my phone on me in case I need it."
>"Wh....where...?"
"The towels have pockets. You can use it to call me after I leave and bribe me with the local food to get my attention. I've seen menu items like pizza and cake I'd like to try. For now, please leave before you make more of a scene."
>"I dunno about this, I - wait, phone - fuck, I have one too!"

Rewk pulls out his phone and starts mashing buttons. The conversation outside gets quieter as Vix starts ushering whoever she was talking to away from the hall.

2/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/13(Sat)11:08 No. 1088680 ID: ce93a7
File 171303172034.png - (42.87KB , 1200x1200 , 690.png )

>"Gel's been paying attention. I'm, uh, starting a conversation between you and him. You can borrow this phone, I've been told to, er, quietly look around and smooth things over with the locals. I got another phone on me, the number's here."

He passes the phone over as well as his contact information, then leaves.

>Hi, this is your body double. Rewk is complaining you're being hesitant. I don't blame you, but we are on your side. A couple days ago I received information from a trusted source that you are an individual being watched by one group who expected you to travel to Spokesperson Varther's location. And that you had to report somewhere else, probably whoever's above me. So I'm filling in for you so you can do what you need to do. I'm not told the details, but I'm told there will be potentially catastrophic outcomes should the wrong group of people think you're skipping out on going to Varther. It seems like Rewk has already made a scene.
It may be calming down. He seems inexperienced.
>He's got plenty of experience, he's just a clown. That said, I'm also in over my head, and I don't currently have the means to contact the people above me. I had take the initiative on this. The informant managed to foresee that difficulty, and pointed me to an impressive surgeon who made me unrecognizable.
>Couple of footnotes. I moved the bugs from your phone to one of mine, and added my own bugs to yours. Sorry about that. Far as my scanners could see, you've got no bugs on your body. Secondly, you've got my apologies about the clumsy nature of all this. I had a nicely practiced team ready to receive you. In the capital. Then your trolley dropped you off thousands of miles away at Winterheight, so you got Rewk instead.
>The whole operation was almost screwed because of that unexpected dropoff, but you were drugged up too bad to travel. That bought me enough time to fetch a discreet flight over there and swap places with you while your handler, some brown guy in a blue outfit, wasn't looking. We actually met before today's sun rose, but I figured you wouldn't remember. Drugs, blacked out, you know. And that's the story, fiddly details aside.
You seemed very open to this spa employee about where you were going. You even let her see official paperwork.
>Yeah, about that. A cab that just so happened to pick up a talkative second passenger after I got inside? I was convinced she was sent to keep an eye on me. Rewk is going to try and keep her occupied and prevent her from reporting in if she really is a spy, but I don't know what to do beyond that. Dealing with it is up to you, now.
>When you're ready, we'll talk about the present. We've got a couple options for you to get back to your people, but first, I want to know whatever you can tell me. Anything at all. I don't even know who you are beyond Ellie and what you look like.

It's not the most important thing, but I do wonder how convincing his look is. Klivanian tech for that wouldn't fool phenocosm scanners, but perhaps we're indistinguishable from the average naked eye.

Apparently, a hot orange chick.

"I am hot orange chick. That is all the info I can give you."

This whole thing reeks of amateur hour double crosses by multiple parties. Don't give them any information that is not super vague cover identity stuff. Keep up cover story until 100% certain (Aka you can memory check your husband or something.)

Continue to play along for now. Your options are limited and it looks like a choice has to be made. Continue along to Varther's location and lose Rewk or go along with whatever direction they try to prod you in.

"So where exactly am I supposed to be going now that I have been so rudely yanked out of my nice day of sking?"

"You're in luck. I'm an asshole! That ought to throw suspicion off you."

Despite what he says, assume you’re still bugged and under surveillance. Especially if Vix is someone surveilling you, they might have re-bugged you just now (which may explain why she was okay with leaving you alone with Rewk). It’s still confusing on whose behalf these guys are acting, too.

Note to Gel that you have severe doubts to everything that is going on right now, and is frankly unsure who to trust with what.

For the moment you’ll stay here, under the thumb and probable surveillance of whoever put you here. Really, for all you know, half of town is in on whatever conspiracy he seems to intimate was on and any attempt of yours to leave be naturally stymied, and he already be well and truly made in whatever he was told to do. It was, by his own admission, a terribly rushed swap.

Which would also be a good reason to drop you off in such an isolated small place after your, hem, processing. That he took on part your briefing routine also explains your present confusion regarding what is going on and your lack of tickets and such for travel to Gravkon. One mystery less, at least.

As well, whatever you agreed to in your drug-added state, you are not originally here to meet anyone else. You were going to meet Varther, and if he wants to do that as you on someone’s behalf, uh, go ahead you guess. Your best bet is that this is all politics from your place of work, and he and his organisation is caught in the crossfire. If you’re dead honest, it may even be a good idea to not show up as you with Varther. Some folks may prefer "Ellie" officially dead. And oh my, look, a convincing body.

Your honest opinion, frank as it comes. Though, concerns of them being pawn’d off aside, this whole situation does have you intrigued. You’ll stay in touch by the phone and may entertain leaving town to pursue the thread of whatever this is provided Rewk’s humble savings account can put you in a sufficient food coma. Let there be chocolate.

>>1088680
Uh right, and how did they get to your phone to move the bugs around? And if they were monitoring you closely why did they not just tell you to get moving and go to your meeting quickly instead of the spa? Thirdly, it should've taken a long time to use the body shaper, enough time that they wouldn't have been able to get on that early flight after realizing you were dragging your feet. I think we can assume these guys are the enemy, but... what is our win condition here? We want them to think you're not a spy, how do we convince them of that now, when they're acting like they're already sure you're a spy?

...okay let's think about this from a Pillet perspective. You're a rebel, who is trying to avoid attracting attention, but these guys just made a bullshit story and set up a body double to talk to someone you had a meeting with that you're one month late for. From a Pillet perspective this is the worst case scenario, where it looks like the phenocosm is trying to kidnap you. I think what you want to do is get rid of Rewk by siccing those officers on him, and then yell at Gel over the phone accusing him of being phenocosm scum. Then you call your underground contact and tell THEM that the phenocosm are onto you and you need to get back to the subdimension to finish it before shit hits the fan.

Assuming this guy is legit and needs to play your role for now, throw him a small bone. Tell him about your personality and mannerisms.

1/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/14(Sun)08:52 No. 1088752 ID: ce93a7
File 171310992798.png - (52.87KB , 1200x1200 , 691.png )

I'm the hot orange chick who's thinking she'll stick around town.
>Okay, okay. If that's how it is, just stick there for 2, 3 hours. Once I reach Varther, I should have a way to contact my higher ups. If my info's right, he's got a way to call in a real extraction that'll get you back to your people. That's all I can do for you.

I'm deep inside this facility, but I can't hear Rewk talking to anyone out there. At least whatever scene he's making can't be that bad.

>If you change your mind and want to tell me more, I've got a brand new set of big ears to listen with.
But you're using your brand new eyes.
>That's smart. Please use it to solve your situation, not for quips.
I can be a real ass, I know. He should have a basic grasp of my personality by now based on my texts and his spying. Well, maybe. It might end up somewhere between Aelsaw and Pillet.

He stops responding. That's fine. I need to take a step back in my thinking.

My ultimate priority is to go back to the phenocosm. Varther's request should only serve to make the founders allow me back to the surface. The only point to me going to Varther's would be to demonstrate to the founders that I'm not flying away to unforeseen locations.

Anything that isn't getting back to my ship in the starport should be in the service of maintaining my cover and gaining the trust of the founders so that I can move more freely and, if possible, sabotage them and destroy their means of hiding in their subdimension.

The shortage of information and an abundance of confusion does make it tricky. I can't even be sure who Gel and Rewk are working for. They act like they don't know, and that makes sense to me. Both the subdimension and the phenocosm are taking great strides in not revealing themselves to the Klivanian surface, and I certainly wouldn't trust Rewk or Gel with that knowledge either. There's some details in their story I'm confused about, but I simply can't be bothered to grill Gel on the little details when I can't trust his answers anyway.

I barely think on these thoughts before there's a knock on the door. I look over just in time to see them open the door. It's not Vix, but yet another person.

>"Heyyyy." Oh, it's that high pitched voice I heard earlier.

2/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/14(Sun)08:52 No. 1088753 ID: ce93a7
File 171310995175.png - (97.35KB , 1200x1200 , 692.png )

And a second additional person, too! She has a similar looking girl behind her, holding up a piece of paper telling me to breathe out and relax my neck if I need help.

>"I'm so sorry for the intrusion, but are you safe? That guy sounded unstable. He's also holding an illegal amount of power, and we're wondering if he should have the cops called on him."

Oh, I know that voice. It's those officers. Or veterans? I'm not familiar with the peacekeeping corps, but I was just starting to think they would be very helpful if I wanted to be rid of Rewk.

oh shit lookalikes better call Rewk and that guy and tell them to start crying and panicking this is surely tipping people off to a different ultra secret double reverse plot

ask them how they could tell and how much of a problem that is. unless there's an alternate plan there's not much to gain by sabotaging this one.

although it's tempting to preempt whatever this is and see what they're trying to do with the target location/guy.

>>1088753
Well you need to get back to your ship, and you do not want to be seen doing so. So getting rid of Rewk is a good idea. Tell Gel that some peacekeepers noticed he has illegal amounts of power so to keep a low profile you're going to have to turn him in, sorry.

Give them the signal. Rewk has already blown his cover by letting people see this all go down. He yanked a door off and bothered a civilian at a massage parlor! While having a illegal amount of power and letting everyone notice!

If you leave with him the girls here are going to assume you are being kidnapped at this point.

Even if he is on your side, his inexpert fumbling has fucked this all up. Let the girls do there thing and assume all of them are probably spies as well.

No one, not even those you would normally trust, gets told anything until you can prove (somehow) who they say they are. Right now you are the hot chick and you are having a nice vacation that is being threatened by people being weird.

Probably tell Gel this? "Hey Rewk has made such a scene I can't be seen leaving with him. Gonna go about my day and wait for word so could you please have him politely leave before everyone assumes he is a crazed stalker?"

Aelsaw 2024/04/16(Tue)12:09 No. 1088922 ID: ce93a7
File 171329455405.png - (61.82KB , 1200x1200 , 693.png )

I tip my neck, but I don't need to be as discreet as that note would allow me to be.

"How could you tell he's above the legal limit?"
>"Our ears are evolved for energy sensing as much as listening. That, and he kinds sucks at hiding it."
"Interesting. Is him having that kind of power a problem?"
>"Hey, could be. Is it a chance you'd want to take when he could blow up half the building?"
"Point taken. Please have him arrested."
>"We're on it. Pesh, go call the cops and keep an eye on that oaf, alright? Give the signal if you need help."

The other mousey one nods and pulls out her phone. She starts making a lot of throaty clicks and hums into her phone as she leaves towards the lobby.

>"She's mostly mute," The talkative one keeps being talkative. "But her phone is translating her speech for the cops. In case you were wondering."
"You read me correctly, thank you."

I spend the moment on my phone. This girl is still glancing between me and the hallway behind the halfway shut door.

"Gel, there's two lookalikes here. They're peacekeepers and are going to arrest Rewk. He's over the legal energy limit and has all but blown his cover."
>"So I heard. Mind opening his phone up and destroying the components?"

That seems kinda fiddly for doing something right under people's noses short of eating the phone or something. Actually you know what eat his phone. In public.

"Will see what I can do."

Not sure how this model of phone works but can you take out the memory card without her noticing? That being said if the peacekeepers show up they might want it for evidence and could mention the missing card.

We do want any info on this phone to not fall into the hands of anyone but it would be nice to track down some leads from the info ourselves.

Prioritize destroying it if you can't get info out of the phone.

>>1088922
That would be standard procedure for phenocosm wouldn't it? Take the phone and rummage through it before destroying it.

>>1088924
Excuse yourself to the bathroom. See if you can discard the components in the toilet or the tank.

1/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/16(Tue)18:05 No. 1088980 ID: ce93a7
File 171331591312.png - (33.32KB , 1200x1200 , 694.png )

I'd rather not destroy a phone right in front of this girl, it would be very suspicious looking. I think I could swallow it. If her ears can be evolved to sense energy, my stomach can be evolutionarily adapted to break down electronics.

No... that doesn't sound like a regular Klivian biotype at all. I don't even think many robots in Vultura, one of the two lower fleets under Shuzenza, do that.

I do peruse Rewk's phone, though. It's disappointing. There is only one conversation from Gel, and it only has a picture of what must be Gel in a mimicked body. Even Klivanians can do this well enough to at least be convincing in a picture, huh? I always wondered why Pillet's eyebrows were sometimes darker and sometimes the same as the rest of her face. I wish this was the most pressing mystery at the moment.

It looks like conversations are regularly purged. Otherwise, his browsing history is predominantly a mix of workout music mixes, strategies for a multiplayer shooter game, and porn.

I hear Rewk raise his voice unintelligibly.

>"Hands up, keep your palms to the sky!" Another voice rings out.
>"Alright, alright! I'm not doing anything - "
>"Palms! Up!"

2/2 Aelsaw 2024/04/16(Tue)18:05 No. 1088981 ID: ce93a7
File 171331593379.png - (66.23KB , 1200x1200 , 695.png )

"I need to use the bathroom." I tell the girl.
>"Really, at a time like this?"
"At a time like this."

I get up, and she stands aside. There's a bunch of people in the halls peeking around corners and out of doors to gawk at the scene unfolding from Rewk, but thankfully there's a bathroom farther away. I shut myself behind a stall and open the phone. There's a few components inside. I don't really know what any of them do, so I take them out, clasp my hands over them, and give them a powerful energy burst. I don't have much in me, but it's enough to destroy basic electronics like this.

After their destruction, I flush it all down the toilet, though I save the case. I hear someone come in.

>"You in here, Ellie?" It's the same girl.
"I am. Do you need something?"
>"Nah, just wanted to make sure you're okay."

In truth, I'm not. Without the phenocosm to lay my situation out for me and make the decisions with more expertise, I, Aelsaw, am at a complete loss as to how to navigate my situation with any real finesse. I want to leave town and deliver my report. I want to finish my brush bath; my unbrushed legs feel absolutely ragged compared to my upper body. Most of all, I want to see my husband.

I feel like I would rather leave this situation than make heads or tails of it. Perhaps I can sneak out the back with this nimble body and, to keep witnesses at a minimum, buy or rent a car instead of flying publicly.

Or perhaps I should mimic Pillet further? I wonder what she would do. She has several memories that almost seem like close memories, but they are barely constructed and the details over what exactly was said and how things played out are missing, but she has proven herself to be both ruthless and tricky.

I think she would have tried tricking Rewk into letting her take his memories. Perhaps it's too late for that. Beyond that, I think in the later part of her life, she acquired a taste for hiding in plain sight. I think that she would still sneak out the back and then... buy bulky clothes and masks at a sports store and then go skiing.

I don't think trying to navigate whatever messy situation is going on here is going to do me any favors. I must admit I could be wrong, but I so strongly want to be free from whatever's going on. There is an irresponsible part of me that almost wishes Rewk pulled a gun on me just to have an excuse to call Quaps. I still have his number on my phone that Gel is still eavesdropping on me with, but it clearly states only to call him if I am face to face with death.

When there's an information asymmetry, the most important thing is to correct it. The ideal approach is to create chaos until no one else has any idea what's going on and you're the best informed person around.

Seduce these two into accompanying you to the mission target. Via asking nicely I guess.

You can't just take his memories secretly can you?

Go skiing. I think you will find out more and get to your goal faster if you just act pretty dang normal and wait for whoever to come mess up your day.

>>1088981
Let's go skiing then.

Aelsaw 2024/04/17(Wed)09:26 No. 1089032 ID: ce93a7
File 171337120826.png - (74.07KB , 1200x1200 , 696.png )

>You can't just take his memories secretly can you?
It's possible. At my low energy level, a target must lower their passive energy defenses for me. I could then read his memories and make him forget I did anything. Judging by Pillet's memories, it's possible to brute force it, but it requires a great deal of energy beyond the target. There is a sense that she had a good idea of how much energy is required, but the details are lost with the memory's damage.

I think Pillet might've tried to trick Rewk, but he's been taken away. I suppose I could try and visit him, but from his phone and Gel's attitude, I think it's unlikely that he's got valuable knowledge in that head of his.

"I'm okay." I answer. "I think I'd like to go skiing after this."
>"Really? So were we. Are you skiing with anyone?"
"Nope."
>"Ever done it before?"
"Nope."
>"Wow, tell me you've scheduled an instructor or something."
"Can I not just show up and ask any local instructors?"
>"Pff, last I saw all class signups - "

Her response is cut off by but Pesh and Vix following us in. Pesh flashes us a thumbs up.

>"There you are. Are you okay, Ellie?" Vix asks.
"I'm okay, thanks. I think I'd like to finish that brush bath, and then... I don't know your name, miss...?" I ask the talkative round eared one.

>"Tesh. Twins with Pesh there, if you didn't notice. So Ellie, right? As I was saying, you can't just walk right into the middle of a class, and you can't just ski without knowing how! You'll crash right into a tree or something. Some of the slopes are nasty here."
"Would you be willing to show me how to ski?" These two could be spies sent to keep an eye on me, but they've already found me. I'll just be careful not to give them any sensitive information.
>"I'd love to. You mind, Pesh?"

Pesh shakes her head and clicks twice.

That's how I'll spend my day until someone new comes to interrupt it. The only question I think I have now is if I should keep my phone knowing it's been bugged by Gel, or drop it.

You want to be able to leave it somewhere, or hide it in someone's bag, so he'll think you're somewhere else, but you won't have much time until he figures it out, so keep the phone for now and only get rid of it when you have to make your move.

That said, it would be hard to say Gel's not on your side. He went through reconstructive surgery to pose as your body double, so he has to be at least equally committed to this as you are. Still be ready to misplace the bugged phone when you need to go dark.

Hang out with the other possible spies for a fun ski day and find a signal blocking bag for the bugged phone on the way.

Should not hurt to keep contact with Gel open. Even if its to send someone after him later because it turns out he is bad news.

>>1089032

Probably more suspicious to drop it at this point, and keeping a line to Gel may be worthwhile, if only to be able to receive any information.

And if it gets weird, we can tell Tesh and Pesh that it's our twin sister, and while Rewk went about things really poorly, she's concerned about us.

How oddly convenient, they were gonna go skiing too! They're certainly not the most subtle at this.

Also, keep the phone for now. Can't exactly destroy it in front of people, and it'd suck if someone managed to snoop through the phone before it auto-purged anything in it.

1/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:08 No. 1089501 ID: ce93a7
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It's settled in my mind. I'll bring the phone with me for now. I don't think I've seen any wireless blocking containers around, but I can always leave it in a locker. I would be surprised if Gel was not on my side, too.

I finish up the brush bath, and Pesh and Kesh finish what they're doing to join me. I purchase some masks and goggles to slightly obstruct myself. Even if they're agents that are trying to follow me around, they know how to ski and show me how.

Within a few hours, I'm about to go down shallow slopes at good speed. Hovering snow machines sometimes levitate down to replenish the snow even on populated slopes, and so any time I fall, it's always cushioned even if I'm really going down. I think I have the hang of it, and I'm glad, because these two girls seem happy to go higher up the mountain. There's even little cafes in the woods!

They're not even asking me many personal questions. I get a 'where am I from' to which I answer the capital, and what I do, in which I answer I work at a dry cleaner's. That's it. If they're truly trying to drill me for information, they're taking it remarkably slowly. There's plenty of time to speak. With me learning how to speed down slopes, we end up spending more time making conversation on the ski lifts than skiing!

They even have hover tech. Apparently Klivania has had it for a long time but is unable to perfect the tech. It can be quite wobbly and the internal engine spends every waking moment groaning. It's still rather slow for safety reasons, and I can see why. I would feel like I'm in danger if not for it being reasonably low to the ground over soft snow. It's so easy to slip out, I even see a few people leap out of a lift now and then to land on a slope midway up the mountain for some reason. There's a little voice line from the lift begging them not to do that.

I'm starting to no longer care if these two are agents. Pesh does act a little suspicious, as she's frequently speaking her language into her phone. I have no idea who she's talking to, but Tesh catches me looking and explains that Pesh has a lot of trouble speaking in person. Pesh speaks again, but this time, she holds up her phone to me.

>"I can speak like this. I'm sorry if it's weird." Her phone appears to translate her speech for her, and can play it back in an approximation of what I think her voice sounds like. "I'm a consultant for the disabled, and I frequently talk people through troubling situations."
"That's very interesting! Do you speak a custom language only for yourself?"

She shakes her head. I think that was a weird question. I back off, anyway, as it seems even that took a lot of effort out of her. I'll still be careful with what I say, of course, but I'm having fun with these two.

2/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:08 No. 1089502 ID: ce93a7
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Before I know it, evening's come. The low overcast skies have somewhat cleared up, and the slopes are lit up by spotlights lined over the slopes and casting large, sharp shadows underneath each ski lift. People do all sorts of tricks with their hands to entertain themselves as they wait to get to their destination. It doesn't obstruct the view of the sunset, and I get to view it as I go down more and more slopes. I feel gratitude to sister Pillet that she kept her body in such good shape. There are few memory artificers I would have the body of that could handle today like I have.

>"Hey, Ellie! We want to go off the slope, is that okay?"
"Is it safe?"
>"Of course! The snow this way is totally untouched. We'll show you something nice!"

My alarm bells ring for a second about this being a trick, but it must be paranoia. There have already been a few times where we go down less populated slopes in which there was no one around but me, these two girls, and increasingly dark, forboding woods. If they wanted to kidnap or harm me, they've had plenty of opportunity.

"Lead the way." I say, and soon we're slowly, carefully skiing off the usual path and land at a lake. The facilities look abandoned.

Pesh takes off her backpack, and activates some Klivanian storage container that acts as a collapsible oven.

It's a picnic, it turns out, over this lake.

Someday, the phenocosm will cleanse my memory of distractions, and the memory of this day will be excised. But it won't be lost. It will go into a personal vault of my excess memories. Every so often during my off time, I go in and relive some fond memories based on what I wrote about them when I first experienced them. I have many lovely memories that are forgotten, so it's hard to compare, but I will write about today very fondly and place this excess memory into the vault section dedicated to my favorites.

I'm getting ahead of myself. I let the mood set in. Night falls and the only light around is from the scattered light off the slope's spotlights, the stars overhead, and Tesh's phone playing a live TV show.

3/3 Aelsaw 2024/04/23(Tue)15:09 No. 1089503 ID: ce93a7
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The wind picks ups, and we instinctively huddle in our jackets. During this, I feel something tug at my jacket hoodie.

I look down and see a thin piece of paper sticking out of the hoodie pocket that wasn't there before, so I take it out. A crumpled piece of paper?

No. The way it's crumpled up has me recall memories of an ancient means of cryptography. It's a remarkably niche, rarely used means of cryptography. It seems like the phenocosm has found me. Whoever gave this to me evaded detection from the girls, and I would not have detected them, either, if not for the tug on my jacket below the table, and below where these two locals could see.

The paper explains that my extraction is ready. There's a list of directions for me.

If I scratch my left ear, I delay the extraction by an hour for each time my hand reaches the apex of its scratch.
If I scratch my right ear, I get to have an emergency extraction involving the death of my two new friends.
If I stand up, I'm to excuse myself into the woods and be extracted out of sight from these two.
And finally, if I take off my cap, my extractor will openly come out and assist me in reading the memories of these two, should I think it's worth it.

Pesh sees me looking down and speaks into her phone for a translation.

>"Is there something wrong?"

Hmmm I am torn between delaying a few hours to drop these two back off at the lodge or disappearing in the woods all mysterious like.

Lets be polite and assume our friends for the day do not need to be murdered or confused and delay for 2 hours so we can leave back at the ski lodge?

No need to ruin this nice memory with a mess.

Wow, a message encoded in the crumples of a blank piece of paper. That is subtle.

Keep this memory as something to cherish. Delay extraction by a few hours and enjoy yourself.

Delay long enough for you to get away from these two without making them worry about you. If they think you got kidnapped they'll investigate and potentially cause problems or get killed. Plus if you leave on good terms they might be a useful resource in the future!

>crumple cipher
Does Current Pillet know of any papers found that had crumples on them that might be enciphered like that? Maybe the newspaper we found in the fountain?

Give them two hours. One to head back and hopefully part ways amicably, another to head to extraction and make sure you're not followed.

Say "No, bit tired is all." then scratch your left ear once or twice.
Be very careful to make sure it's the left one.

Play it by ear so to say and just scratch your ear to delay by an hour for now.