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526952 No. 526952 ID: d38f67

"You could've sent a forward messenger to give me a heads up before having the fucking Black Nova show up on our doorstep unannounced. Scared the shit out of me, and more importantly, this place. Green force reports... 3 deaths, 12 wounded. Pilon... 7 wounded. We're going to have to open that hospital ward early. And this is... good?"
>"From our original standards, no." Wendel says. "Compared to how it went, I'm happy any of us made it back."
"It's the Green Force taking the heat for this one, but Pilon's group were the ones with expertise in surface missions. Input, Pilon?"
>"Yes, I will say that Karri felt an undue level of pressure because of me. Our group has a great reputation for seeing jobs through to the end, and the only abandoned ones are ones that were prove illegitimate. Karri is prideful of that reputation, and this is the first major mission she has ran without my supervision. She would have felt awful if she let it go, and not just her, but her siblings, and much of the Green Force if I'm not mistaken, thought the mission could be salvaged up until it was too late. But, if I may say, we are also used to jobs being investigated for legitimacy before we send people to accomplish the mission."

Yes. Jells gave that job, fresh off the bandit mobile that fought Pilon directly. I've got to scrutinize that guy.

>"I believe we were able to salvage some loot left behind, and a bio armor of interest is currently in the custody of Itcher and Jessica." Pilon continues, looking over his shoulder for a moment.

Right, and those two. Their interview is after this meeting, and they're sitting on a piece of armor more valuable than what I gave Rokoa. She wanted to come 'renegotiate' as well.
907 posts omitted. Last 100 shown. Expand all images
>>
No. 577022 ID: d470e9
File 140184753819.png - (21.57KB , 800x800 , 946.png )
577022

"At-at-at. No guns from the underbelly, Nulba. Keep your hands where I can see them."
>".... Hok. Why did you infiltrate our group? You appear to be throwing that away now, just to deny yourself an easy job."
"Surprisingly little, but I'm not going to play a fair game of Q&A. This is going to be one of those occasional days where I get all proactive and nip things in the bud, no-cide."
>"No-cide?"
"Yeah it's a miklik speech thing, sort of like no-homo, exce - don't distract me. I might have some use for you still, so you might get outta this. First, name those anonymous sources and who's behind this job."
>"Waska is the one who saw the opportunity. Mimi wasn't around when he made the decision. Scratch is the one who recommended you, and Miss backed it up. You are actual friends with these neumono?"
"I owe Pilon one, and I'm trying to not get in Rokoa's kill list book."
>"That cannot be the reason. You know how far 100,000 zeny can go here. Plus, you can hide from a few lumbering balls of fur. You hid from Whiskers for two months. This is cake."
"Yeah okay if you're gonna bring up that Whiskers thing, and I really recommend you don't talk about that anymore, a hundred thousand doesn't do me much good cause the economy in sewage drains isn't that robust. Second off, I'm pretty sure you underestimate just how uncool Rokoa and Pilon can be about stealing their significant others compared to Whiskers having a few knick knacks stolen."

There actually wasn't any game plan for saying he could still be useful, I just want to think for a moment if there's any reason not to just shoot him now and go have a word with Mimi.
>>
No. 577024 ID: 0ee153

>>577022
Insurance? Pilon, Rokoa, Sharpa, or whoever might want to decide what happens to him. Plus if we decide to mess with the trucks having him around would help him convince nothing's gone wrong.
>>
No. 577025 ID: 2bfcdf

>>577022
Welll, I remember once upon a time you didn't like killing people. So instead, how about you get him restrained, call Tin up and get some soldiers down here for extraction, then go talk to Mimi. Also ask for a reward from Tin, since you're passing up such a lucrative job. The trade goods in the sack must be worth something!

Also holy shit you stole from Whiskers? That must be a hell of a story.
>>
No. 577026 ID: a7868d

Too much of a liability. I don't see any way to use them to your advantage. This entire mission is ridiculous, no one is gonna pay that much for them anyway.

Maybe if you hadn't had him take of the blindfolds and earplugs, we could've let the yich eater live, but since they saw and heard this exchange, you don't have a lot of choice. Shoot to kill, make SURE both of them are dead, and then help the Neumono.

Keep in mind Hok, that you have one safe place and one group of people who are on your side. Protecting Pilon is protecting that, and Pilon has already protected you. Zero tolerance where people fucking with the trade hub is concerned.
>>
No. 577029 ID: 0ee153

>>577026
Yeah.

Also, Nulpa and Jahsaps have guns, right? Have a couple of the kids take their guns in case they have to deal with Scratch, Miss, or Waska.

How're they looking, by the way? Like they want to murder you?
>>
No. 577030 ID: 57a559

>>577022
Kill Nubla. Headshots kill Yich Eaters right?
Leaving him alive is too risky. He's good at what he does, Hok. He managed to get these guys, he'll get you too. I don't care how lucky I think you are. Letting this guy live is stupider than letting Lakkat live.
We'll be killing Waska soon, too. We're done with that asshole. Mimi will take the reigns officially soon enough, hopefully she won't be butthurt about it. Just get another, less ambitious and roudy, dumb boytoy to play leader while she does the real work.

I hate how long your list is, Hok. I think we need to trim it one way or the other.
>>
No. 577031 ID: dc4b80

Tell him you would have been perfectly happy continuing along with his group but you owe Pilon and Rokoa to much. While money is nice on this rock connections and friends are worth far more.

Your tail is getting awfully close to him and I have no idea how dangerous Yich eaters are so be careful.

I honestly can't think of many reasons not to just kill him right now. If he lives a lot of people will know what happened here. No need to have more of your enemies know where you hang your hat and that you care for this place. If you had backup I would say to take him prisoner but by yourself trying to do so gives him to many options to escape and overpower you. Letting him live for now would be nice so we could get more info later but if he escapes it could end badly.

So if you think you can safely keep him under control until reinforcements get here go for it. Am just worried he will jump you if you divert your attention for a second to make a call or turn off the jammer. Can you use your tail to flip the off switch?
>>
No. 577033 ID: eaa372

>>577029
Shoot him dead then check him and the heef for electronics, they may have stored information on the kidnapping job. Then let the hostages loose but leave the jammer on for now.
>>
No. 577034 ID: 0ee153

>>577033
Yeah, we may not want people finding us in the middle and thinking we're trying to kidnap them.

>>577030
>kill Waska
>hope Mimi isn't too butthurt
I don't think that'd make our list any shorter, and that seems like a vain hope. Beside anything else, Waska's an influential guy. He's involved in lots of deals, and I suspect if we kill him we'll mess up those deals and get more people to want to kill us.
>>
No. 577039 ID: cee89f

Waska can't find out you're Hok yet, and there's no way this guy will keep quiet. Shoot to kill.

We'll think of what to do after.

>>577030
We could get her hooked up with Pilon? The Trade Hub gets a new ally out of this mess and Mimi gets to continue playing the role of secretary-who's-actually-in-charge.
>>
No. 577040 ID: dc4b80

>>577039

While Waska is a idiot Mimi does care for him. From what we know of Neumono empathy they cant fake that sort of stuff. Waska is the sort to just see a opportunity and jump on it without thinking of the consequences. He had no idea just how bad a idea this would be or that you would object. If Hok had not here would have ended with Waska and most of his crew being hunted down by Rokoa and Pilon eventually.
>>
No. 577042 ID: 6fad9a

Shoot him, *then* tell him you can't have him tell Waska who you are. Of the whole gang, Waska is the only one out of the loop, and you'd rather keep it that way.

If anyone asks about Pip, just say he declined because *he* isn't stupid enough to piss off Rokoa's hive or Pilon, let alone both.
>>
No. 577045 ID: c7a241

Poor Heef. They really don't last on screen very long.

>You appear to be throwing away [your cover]
...technically not, if we kill Nulba. 'Pip' can these guys were dead when he got here. He missed the action, and wisely got the hell out.

Then again, Nulba was pretty much the only person in Mimi's group who didn't make you.

>trying to bribe you with monies
You do have your own agenda here. And as I outlined here, >>576926 , nipping this in the bud serves at least 3 of them.

>kill Nulba?
...it's the smart tactical decision. He could backstab you or call for reinforcements if you let him go. He could fuck up your whole little thing with Mimi if he tells Waska who you are.

...call Mimi. Tell her Waska fucked up bad, and if it's important to her if Nulba gets out alive. If it is, she can order him to back down.

Alternative, ask Nulba who he's loyal to. The right answer gives us a way to control him without killing him.

If she doesn't care, shoot him.

>We'll be killing Waska soon, too.
No, he's an idiot, but Mimi earned enough respect on that last mission. Mimi gets a warning- Waska almost fucked up real bad, she needs to keep a tighter leash on him.

>what else
When the yich eater is dealt with, go up to the Pilon-lings, and tell them who you are, and that they understand you're helping them and no crazy bite attacks or anything when I untie you, okay?
>>
No. 577049 ID: d470e9
File 140186028345.png - (8.78KB , 800x800 , 947.png )
577049

>Your tail is getting awfully close to him
Well I'd say my tail is on him, since he was reaching places with that arm.

>How're they looking, by the way? Like they want to murder you?
Nope. A bit cautious, but it looks like they know who I am and that I'm not gonna be selling them out. Well, cept for Sakarra, but I'll untie her last.

>Do you have cell phone reception
Not even a bar, but I'm less than a minute of getting close enough to get reception.

"Keep your arms wide, Nulba, and walk over so I can get cell phone reception."

He does it pretty well, so I call up Mimi.

>"Hello. Pip?"
"Hey, Mimi? How important is Nulba's life?"
>"Don't ask questions without an explanation."
"Well, he kidnapped a couple of Pilon's kids, and one of the warhives, trying to get a ransom out of -"
>"Did he decide that himself?!"
"Nope."
>"Then figure out who did it, then blow that idiot's brain out and meet me in room 251!"

"Welp, Nulba, I went ahead already and put on my Hok-Hat, sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo-" BLAM
>>
No. 577050 ID: d470e9
File 140186029434.png - (28.17KB , 800x800 , 948.png )
577050

I untie Pilon's kids. They're wobbly from the whole getting-shot-multiple-times thing, but they help me pull Sakarra out and can walk on their own. So I give them the guns from the corpses.

>Check them for electronics, they may have stored information on the kidnapping job.
Nope, looks like they packed minimally. The Heef had a zeny chip on him though, I guess I'll take that.

I get a call from Pilon pretty quick.

>"You said you shot the person who had the job, Hok?" says Pilon. "But that there's more people involved."
"Yeah uh, apparently Waska, but I don't think Mimi would do something like this. I'm gonna go over to her in room 251. If you want you can come along to tell if she's lying with your neumono psychic magic bullshit."
>"... I'd prefer you called it empathy, but yes, I plan on seeing Mimi. Thank you by the way, Hok."
"Hey no problem, and thanks for the whole grudge bearer thing."
>"The CAI has already hacked into her phone, and it doesn't seem like she's had any contact with Waska's group outside of the hub in the last couple of hours, and they did just lean in on your conversation. I'll also be sending a few of my kids over to take care of Rief, Runa, and the warhive's negotiator."
>>
No. 577051 ID: d470e9
File 140186030458.png - (16.63KB , 800x800 , 949.png )
577051

Pilon's kids intercept me and take the ex-hostages, and Pilon and a couple other Pilon-lings meets with me as we go up to Mimi's room.

"Hey, Mimi?"
>"Pip, and Pilon, your reputation is preceding you."
>"I've heard of you as well, Mimi, although I have kept a grain of salt with the tales."
>"Is it confirmed Waska tried to pull that shit, Hok?"
"Well, that's what Nulba said."
>"Waska had better hope Nulba is full of shit."
>"Miss." Pilon says. "You just shown your innocence to me - you don't need to worry about that, but we will be having a word with Waska."
>>
No. 577052 ID: d470e9
File 140186031136.png - (18.60KB , 800x800 , 950.png )
577052

Mimi does a 180 to her dresser before doing a 180 back at us.

"I will be having a word with him first. Pilon, you've already decided to come, and I'm not going to stop you. Hok, you can come if you want, but if he pulled this off, Waska is going to learn you've been under his nose the whole damn time. In which case, you're not going to come with us on any more outposts."
>>
No. 577053 ID: 0ee153

>>577052
Does she never change her clothes or something? Also, how likely is it that their empathy will give away that it's you anyway? If it's likely, might as well go along and point an extra gun at them.
>>
No. 577054 ID: 2bfcdf

>>577052
Tell her you would like to keep that option open in the future, so you will bow out, unless Pip is invited, but... actually how is she going to explain that the mission failed without the Trade Hub breathing down their neck, without outright saying Hok was responsible?

We should get our story straight.
>>
No. 577055 ID: 0ee153

Also, you should bring that truck up sometime soon.
>>
No. 577056 ID: c7a241

Look, as far as I'm concerned, Waska is just some guy I stole from once, who makes bad decisions, and who's never tried hard enough to kill me for me to care. I don't need to be there for his comeuppance; I'll be happy if you can just tighten the leash enough to keep him from making a mess where I sleep.

...if you're going to put the fear of you in him, or just murder the shit out of him for fucking up one too many times, well, that's personal, and your business, not mine.

Back off, Hok. You did your part.

Maybe suggest she might want to find out where he got the idea from. Waska doesn't seem like he'd have come up with much more than harebrained attempts to get high on his own. There's a good chance someone gave him this idea.

Man, I kind of hope Mimi doesn't kill him over this. The ruthless crime-lord dominatrix who can't see past her own nose or text worth a damn and her hapless idiot were kind of cute together, in a terrible way.
>>
No. 577057 ID: c7a241

>>577054
Pip's story is simple. Nulba wasn't there when you showed up to meet him. You missed the action. Because Nulba and co had already been killed by trade hub personnel. Pilon and co, or hell, blame Hok.

The only evidence to condratict that is (1) testimony by people who are dead (2) testimony from the people on our side and (3) the base cameras showing us at Nulba's room. And the CAI owns the base cameras, and can show false evidence that Pip never met up with Nulba if anyone checks up.
>>
No. 577058 ID: cee89f

>>577052
Fine, fine. I don't really care about Waska one way or the other, I don't need to see this. Just tell me what story we're going with here, then you two go have fun and try to come back in one piece.

...

Each.
Come back in one piece EACH.

(I'm kinda hoping Mimi and Pilon don't kill Waska either. Mimi and Waska's relationship was kinda cute)
>>
No. 577059 ID: dc4b80

For all of Waska's stupidity she does care for him and is worried you will want to kill him for his part in this. She already has to worry about his drug use and general stupidity. Tell her you have nothing against Waska personally but you had to act to protect your home and friends.

Am hoping that Pilon will just put the fear of god into Waska and let him go. But is out of our hands at this point.

Tell Mimi that you would like to keep working with her and if she calms down and helps you concoct the right story then we might not have to worry about things. Not entirely sure what story to go with considering the whole lying with empathy thing.

Maybe something about Nulba coming to Pip with the hostage plan and how he wanted to take the reward money and then implicate just Waska for the kidnappings. Would stay close to what happened while giving you a excuse for killing them. Then you threw yourself at Pilons mercy and he agreed to spare you as long as he got to slap Waska around a bit.

Bring up the idea and see what they think. After that we should probably leave things to Pilon to deal with. He is a much better at dealing with people than you.

Be on the watch for any third party trickery. Just because Mimi had nothing to do with this does not mean someone is not manipulating Waska. Wiskers could have tricked them into this plan just to get Pilon out of the trade hub to confront Waska so they could go steal his computer core. With your memory issues involving that card its best to just start assuming that Scratch or Miss or someone is trying to use you for something. Who knows what sort of crazy plots are afoot as long as they avoid hurting the trade hub we could care less.
>>
No. 577062 ID: c7a241

Actually, wait, I think I see some hope for his survival.

If she was going to kill him, Waska discovering you're Pip wouldn't prevent you from doing business with her in the future. Meaning she's probably not planning on killing him. I hope.
>>
No. 577063 ID: 0ee153

Yeah guys, she's not likely going to kill him. I'm guessing he's getting a kneecapping, worst case. Maybe a stomach shot. Asking her if she knows who might have given him the idea sounds good.
>>
No. 577067 ID: 2bfcdf

...actually I find it somewhat likely that the Whiskers agent gave him the idea, then wiped his memory of it like they did Hok.
>>
No. 577070 ID: 0ee153

>>577067
>wiping neumono memory
Biologically impossible, especially since they never had access to salikai tech. Made him forget it in a drugged stupor, maybe.
>>
No. 577073 ID: eaa372

Bring up the possibility that someone else might be running a shell game through Waska. Point out the stupidly high risk undertaken by such a high profile kidnapping attempt and how it could be a move to reduce the chances of an intruder encountering Rokoa or Pilon inside the outpost. Nulba did mention that Rokoa was assigned to retrieve the hive representative, it would only be logical to assume that Pilon's kids were grabbed because someone thought he would want to personally look for them. Pilon should stay here at the outpost while you take the truck to the meeting point to see who shows up, you might be able to play along as though nothing went wrong and find out who Waska may be dealing with.
>>
No. 577075 ID: 57a559

I guess we shouldn't go. I mean, we really don't care at this point. We helped our Bro's kids out of a bad situation, so if Pilon's cool going with this feisty lady alone, then sure. If he'd like our company, than also sure, we'll go. Honestly Pilon's choice at this point, cause fuck it.

Mimi, you do know that pistol, at most, is useful against Hok, right? And we're not dumb enough to try and piss you off with your connections and power. Hey Pilon, don't take offense to this much, this woman's probably one of the smartest neumono on this Asteroid, so like, super useful. So please, don't make her angry at you or fight her. She's cool, and we'd like both of you alive, since you're both cool.
Really Mimi, you're a great boss, and we'd really prefer working with you instead of Waska from now on without having to hide bullshit most of the time. So we'd definitely like you to take over Waska's group officially, or put up another person besides Waska to fake-lead. One that doesn't do so much dumb shit behind your back, hopefully.

Also warn Mimi that the CAI may already have been making it's own steps against Waska, it's a huge wild card and runs this place. Tin's just a formal leader, the CAI's got a personal investment in this place. It might not really like Waska all that much for what he's trying to do. It likes neumono a lot and will listen to Pilon, most of the time.
>>
No. 577087 ID: 96d48f

Unfortunately you have no good excuse to confront Waska. Best if you sit this one out and maintain that you weren't involved. CAI, any cameras or microphones we could use to spy with?

Tell them it's probably best to keep Waska alive in case he's part of a bigger plot.
>>
No. 577111 ID: c7a241

Oh and maybe not the thing to talk about right at the moment: but let's make sure the nice friendly rogues are the ones taking care of poor pathetic Sakarra. Give the hive's negotiator a new the perspective on the people he's supposed to be negotiating against. Maybe that'll help, down the road.
>>
No. 577135 ID: 9fccdf

Now probably isn't the best time to bring this up, but is Nulba actually dead? Dr. Ben said Yich Eaters can survive a lot as long as their critical organs are in place. How much does Hok know about Yich Eater anatomy?
>>
No. 577184 ID: c7a241

>>577135
...now I'm hoping the trade hub is organized enough to have collected the bodies for Ben to autopsy or something, and not just left them down there.
>>
No. 577188 ID: 0ee153

>>577135
Hok was supposed to blow his brains out, so it sounds like his nervous system is centralized. The brain is almost always near the sensory cluster, and Nulba's was on his face, so his brain is probably in his head. So yes, Nulba's probably dead. Still, should check that sooner or later and possibly ask Agnes.
>>
No. 577189 ID: 6fad9a

>>577188
No no no, Hok should not ask Agnes. But the CAI can, if it doesn't already know.
>>
No. 577285 ID: d470e9
File 140201822646.png - (18.63KB , 800x800 , 951.png )
577285

>Yich Eaters can survive a lot as long as their critical organs are in place.
Yeah Nulba's brain is definitely both critical and not in place. I made sure he and the Heef are dead as dead gets.

>Also, how likely is it that their empathy will give away that it's you anyway?
Probably just that something's up with me, but if Mimi's been able to dodge giving it away thus far, I don't see this changing a whole lot.

"So uh do you just never change your clothes?"
>"You're going to be doing my laundry if you ask shit like that."
"Okay well, we should get a story straight, there's-" she pushes her way past me.
>"He doesn't have enough brain cells to care about stories."
"Okay fine, but would he have even thought of this on his own?"
>"Every couple of years he does this kind of shit."
"Cool so I assume you're just going to bust his kneecaps or something?"
>"Or his teeth."
"Okay well, if I'm still on board after this, you're not a bad boss, Mimi."
>"We'll see."
>>
No. 577286 ID: d470e9
File 140201823741.png - (14.96KB , 800x800 , 952.png )
577286

I whisper to Pilon while Mimi moves ahead.

"Hey Pilon, there's kiiiiinda a chance someone pulled this off to get you to move out of the outpost to go steal shit."
>"Oh?"
"Yeah there's a Whisker's agent in Waska's group."
>"One moment..."

Pilon dials someone.
>"Karri? Please take 5 of your siblings and guard the CAI, and to the CAI, I recommend TIN put the green force on alert for a thief... Alright. Thank you."
"What about the thing you took?"
>"It's already been cracked, Hok. Ben was able to point the CAI at where the vulnerabilities would be, and it didn't take long from there. There was only valuable information in there, and it's with the CAI now, and erased from the container. Unless Whiskers planned on stealing the whole outpost, the CAI is the only thing that we'll be hard pressed to replace."
"Well, I think I'm gonna sit this one out, unless you're not actually cool with going to Mimi alone?"
>"I plan on taking a couple of my kids, just in case. But, if you want to sit this one out, I won't need any of my kids." He pulls up his phone again and dials a number. "Yes, Grudge-Bearer? I have a favor to ask."

That's my cue to vamoose.
>>
No. 577287 ID: d470e9
File 140201824572.png - (19.00KB , 800x800 , 953.png )
577287

>I'm hoping the trade hub is organized enough to have collected the bodies for Ben to autopsy or something
The CAI confirms for my curiosity that the Green Force did, in fact, retrieve the bodies.

I kill a bit of time before I get a text from Miss.

>"Hey, you wanna go on another fake date? Also, a good place to get my arm fixed finally?"

Oh yeah that reminds me I should give Jessica the 'I'm sorry for traumatizing you' gift before I forget again.
>>
No. 577290 ID: dc4b80

Tell her you will join her after finishing a errand. Then go apologize to Jess and give her the booze. Oh and tell her she needs to get on seducing Itcher before Wiskers shows up again.
>>
No. 577291 ID: 0ee153

>>577287
The date sounds good. It'll keep you away from GB, and if he does show up you can protest that you're occupied with other matters and he has no reason to harass Miss. Do tell her that you have to go apologize to someone for intimidating them via rapid skin-shedding, though.
>>
No. 577296 ID: 7f9410

>>577287
Tell her you can take her on a tour. Tell her you'll meet her at x place in like 15 minutes or whatever. Leave some wiggle room for giving Jessica the booze or whatever it was.
>>
No. 577300 ID: 88960e

Sure, agree to the fake date. Why not let yourself be put in awkward situations. And you can have the resident mad doctor fix her arm. Ben owes you anyways.

But schedule it in a bit so you can give Jess and Itcher their booze, first.
>>
No. 577331 ID: d470e9
File 140202920319.png - (14.06KB , 800x800 , 954.png )
577331

I should probably stop holding phones to my ear when I get texts.

Yeah sure Miss. Give me, uh 15 minutes. Meet at my place.

I give her directions, and move on to Jessica.

>"Who i.... what do you want?"
"Well I got this booze as a present for you since, you know, my reflex is to traumatize people in order to make great escapes so this looks kind of good. I dunno if you know of some brand that has a weird looking cat or something on the label but-"
>>
No. 577332 ID: d470e9
File 140202922266.png - (19.15KB , 800x800 , 955.png )
577332

"Forgiven!"
>"Cool. Yeah by the way Whiskers could come any time, so, you know... "
"What? I know she could be coming. Itcher's already got his butt planted on that container or whatever it is in case Whiskers actually comes by. I mean, the CAI even told him there's nothing left in the container, but he says - " she tries to make her voice all gruff - "'Jus' in case it had sentimentals to her.' So, yeah, he can be all cold in some forgotten room, he'll regret it when it comes back to a third of the bottle already gone!"
>"Uh I am not a neumono specialist but I am pretty sure it is recommended to not actually consume that much alcohol by basically any doctor or anyone that doesn't make coffins for a living."
"Don't be a spoil. Uh, thanks, though. Do you want to come in?"
>"Nope, I got people to entertain. Enjoy that."
>>
No. 577333 ID: d470e9
File 140202923483.png - (32.22KB , 800x800 , 956.png )
577333

I meet up with Miss and invite myself and her in to Ben's still makeshift lab.

"Hey, Ben! Could you fix Miss's arm for me? I assume you know how to do that."
>"Mrs?! What, you got yourself married?! I have my doubts!"
"No, uh, her name is Miss."
>"That name is dumb! Yeah I'll fix the Pomi's arm! Of course I know how to do that. I'm the best belenos on the asteroid!"
"You mean best scienti-"
>"One and the same! CAI! Fetch me the Pomi knockouts!"
>>
No. 577334 ID: d470e9
File 140202925694.png - (17.94KB , 800x800 , 957.png )
577334

>"Uh." Miss says. "Isn't there supposed to be some kind of pre-surgery process just to make su--"
>"You take me for a hack?! I do not use any possible Pomi allergens in my formulas! Now don't make an old man hoist a girl up on the operating table and get on there yourself! Hok, she's going to be out for an hour. Go maximize your usefulness here and get out of my lab!"

A pretty good start to our fake date.
>>
No. 577335 ID: 7f9410

>>577334
Ask him if he's gonna give her a cool cybernetic arm.

Then let's go shopping. You have a ton of dosh, let's use some of it! See if you can find any hacking aides or a silenced tranq gun so you don't have to kill people as much. OOOOH or a disguise kit!
>>
No. 577337 ID: c7a241

>you got Jess some weird looking booze with a cat on the label
>instantly forgiven
...oh gods. It's from the cat pin bar. They know she loves that. Scratch gave you that booze, right? Suddenly odds are looking real good that she's the Wiskers agent.

Unless we can blame the accidental perfect purchase on Hok's luck being just that good.

>drunk Jess is a happy Jess
Although there is an upside.

>A pretty good start to our fake date.
Yes, drugging and knocking the girl out is always a classy way to start a date. Certainly, it's more creative than ending one that way.

...hey, while you're here, maybe you could have Ben run you though some kind of fancy science scanner? In case there's anything else you didn't know about hidden under your skin, or he sees something that explains that memory lapse (lapses?) you had.

Failing that, we have an hour to set up antics for the fake date. We could make kind of a game out of it.
>>
No. 577343 ID: 7f9410

>>577337
Hok didn't buy it. Scratch gave it to him, saying she drank the old bottle.
>So, I got you a bottle of gin from the rich sector. It's pretty good!"

Knowing this... maybe we should call Itcher and tell him Jessica is gonna drink all the cat-label booze, but that could be considered metagaming. Maybe Itcher is gonna find out about that next Asteroid Quest thread anyway.
>>
No. 577344 ID: 0ee153

Yeah it's Scratch. For all I know Scratch is Whiskers herself, they're both female belenos. A shame Ben just tranquilized the one person who might know.

You may want to find Scratch/Whiskers right now.
>>
No. 577345 ID: cee89f

>>577337
Eh, Hok doesn't know about the cat-bar-place.

>>577334
Dat face xD Ben continues to be awesome.

So what exactly at this point is the difference between the fake dates you're having with Miss and a real date?
...
Aside from the whole drugging thing.
>>
No. 577377 ID: c7a241

>Hok didn't buy it. Scratch gave it to him
Um, yes. That's what I said?

The problem is we have no way to discriminate between a happy coincidence (Hok being lucky enough that Scratch bought replacement booze Jess loves) and an informed decision (ie, Scratch works for Wiskers so she knows about Jess and Itcher's booze run and the pin game).

...I suppose we could argue coincidence is more likely since Scratch shouldn't have known what Hok was planning to do with the booze. Unless Whiskers people actually have been messing with his head.

>Eh, Hok doesn't know about the cat-bar-place.
Yes, there is that. The details of Jess and Itcher's paranoia mission are out of character for Hok, so it doesn't make sense for him to act on our paranoia.

>Terrible horrible thought
Wait... if someone really has been messing with Hok's head, and/or he has memory issues, suddenly his book makes more sense. He doesn't need it just because that many people want him dead- it's a memory crutch, to keep him from slipping. Worst case, you don't even need to mess with Hok's head to control him. Just the book.
>>
No. 577380 ID: d40239

You know what just tell the Cai that Wiskers might be coming for the data it has or some other convoluted plan.

Then tell Itcher that Jess has cat booze and will be smashed shortly if he does not watch over her.

The only thing to really worry about is the Cai getting kidnapped. The data is important but we can make copies and such. Would rather loose a copy of the data than have the Cai get kidnapped. I can't imagine Wiskers would let it have the amount of freedom it gets here. When you have a army of giant robots its not a good idea to let a Cai anywhere near them. Besides its proven itself as a friend so we watch out for it.

Don't get to paranoid about what might happen and just keep a eye out. Wiskers is pretty tricky and if she wants something here she will probably get it. Just make sure everyone is safe in case it does happen.
>>
No. 577381 ID: 0ee153

>>577380
>she will probably get it

Let's not give up before it starts, eh? Most of the reason she stole the Zozu gold so easily was because we already knew it was coming and wanted it to happen.
>>
No. 577395 ID: d40239

>>577381

My biggest worry is that Hok's memory loss means that he has been compromised already somehow and will make things worse if he tries to hard to guard things.

Like say someone hypnotized him to go steal the Cai module if he got alone with it. Or just put some nano-tech on him like what happened to Itcher.

The problem is it might be nothing and telling people would just distract them from the real issues. Heck maybe someone is counting on you panicking and telling someone. Maybe Ben would know. He seems both surly and knowledgeable enough to be impartial.

Maybe tell the Cai that if you start looking like a zombie and trying to steal them they have permission to taze you unconscious.
>>
No. 577425 ID: d470e9
File 140209287099.png - (65.60KB , 800x800 , 958.png )
577425

>Yes, drugging and knocking the girl out is always a classy way to start a date.
Uh I didn't do either of those things that was all Ben.

"So hey Ben are you gonna give her a cool cybernetic arm?"
>"Wh-?! You said fix, not replace! I'm afraid I don't have any Pomi cybernetics shoved in my drawers, unless she wants to have 'Miss Hookarm' as her new name!"
"Okay okay. By the way I've found stuff in me in the past and it's a little weird, could you run me through some fancy science scanner-"
>"Fancy- fancy science scanner?! Do you think this is magic, green man?! Do you think we take cardboard boxes and write 'fixer-upper' on them?! What you do in your spare time is not something I wish to scan for! Get out of my lab unless you want your friend waking up to her bone being welded together!"
>>
No. 577426 ID: d470e9
File 140209289667.png - (19.28KB , 800x800 , 959.png )
577426

>Maybe we should call Itcher and tell him Jessica is gonna drink all the cat-label booze
In honor of Grudge-Bearer not going to kill me for the time being, I am going to spend today trying to make a point in not getting all up ons other people's business.

Except for Scratch's. I call her up and go visit her just a bit outside of the trade hub. Then tell the CAI they have my permission to knock me out if I go acting like a zombie or something. I mean I have had a single memory lapse in the past several days and it is not the first time so the chances of this being anything special are preeeetty bad.

I was gonna not be a spoil by telling Itcher that Jess was gonna drink all that, but it was gonna be a gift to Itcher as well. I mean I can't help but notice that I didn't get gouged again coming back inside despite having a pretty nice amount of zeny that I can go shopping with soon enough, so I let the CAI know to let Itcher know.

Message errands done, I head out to meet Scratch.

"Hey so any chance anyone's gonna listen to us?"
>"You tell me! I'm not bugged, if that's what you're asking. Where's Miss?"
"Getting her arm fixed up."
>"Nice. I hope by a competent doctor?"
"Y....yeahhhh... well worst case scenario, I'll pay for a cool cybernetic arm?"
>"Well don't say that, or Miss'll chop her arm off herself.
"So, are you one of Whisker's agents?"
>"Yep."
"Okay uh I was sort of expecting not an actual answer. So that was your card after all?"
>"Nope, I really don't have any idea where you got it from."
>"My cover's actually already been blown for a few people, so I won't be working for Whiskers soon. I do have one last task, though. I'd like to take a look at what Pilon stole. Since you're here, could you arrange for that soon?"
>>
No. 577427 ID: 7f9410

>>577426
Heheh.

Yeah, okay. We'll distract the guards so you can sneak into where it's stored. (and Itcher will be waiting, of course)
>>
No. 577428 ID: 0ee153

If you mean pay to get a copy, that might work. If you want me to steal from Pilon, you saw what happened to the last guys who tried that.
>>
No. 577432 ID: 7f0da5

Ask if, once her employment is over, she'd like to hang out at the Trade Hub here with Miss. You could always use more friends that don't wanna kill you.
>>
No. 577433 ID: 88960e

Your boss's boyfriend is kind of sitting on it.

I could probably get you a look, if that's really all you want. I mean, you look out for Miss, I look out for these guys. Rather not see them get screwed over, you know?
>>
No. 577434 ID: 88960e

Oh, wait, and ask if she knew what she was recommending you for with that last job. Was she trying to have Hok mess up their little kidnapping?
>>
No. 577436 ID: d470e9
File 140209904633.png - (16.87KB , 800x800 , 960.png )
577436

"Uh do you want me to distract the guards or somethi-"
>"No, what? I mean just tell them that I want to take a look at it. Only mention I'm with Whiskers if you think it'll help. And I mean the container, not the data. I want to see the container."
"Yeah okay I think I can arrange that. Or at least propose it. Are you looking to buy it?"
>"Yeah, but I want to make sure it's in the same condition we left it at."
"Oh okay. Wanna hang out at the hub after your employment is terminated?"
>"... yeah, that'd be nice."

Oh great she's hiding something. Oh well.

"So uh, apparently you recommended me to Nulba?"
>"Yeah. It was more convenient for you to deal with it than it was for me. I expected either you'd shoot them right away, or you'd play along for a little bit. Either way, I knew the key information that Nulba didn't."

I text Tin.

Hey Tin someone from Whiskers is looking to get that container without the data apparently. I guess that someone named Scratch is gonna appraise it and might just buy it off of the Hub if you want.
>Ben would be the only one to complain, but he already has a sample of it. Make sure it's as expensive as it can be before it's worth stealing from us instead, because Whiskers is only buying it so long as it's more convenient than stealing it.
>>
No. 577437 ID: d470e9
File 140209906436.png - (43.92KB , 800x800 , 961.png )
577437

Mimi also sends a text while I show Scratch to the container room.

>"Hok, despite med beingh jhonesv t, Waskia doesnl;t believce you'be been trailingf usd tge whhjole time. Come top uis so I can prolve it."

Well that's inconvenient after deciding not to so I'm just gonna go ahead and send the pictures. There's a pretty long silence after I send the first image, and the two I took while Waska was drugged up and one more just before I left the cavern to go to the Hub in advance.

>"Io will breajk yuour camerab and indexc fihnger if I catxch you doing tghat aghain."
>>
No. 577439 ID: d470e9
File 140209949161.png - (23.46KB , 800x800 , 962.png )
577439

Sure enough, Itcher's right on the container. Scratch has a pretty good laugh.

>"Whiskers told me I might see you here. How did you know she was after the container itself?" asks Scratch.
>"Just a hunch."
>"You had no idea."
>"Pretty much, but I wasn't gonna be allowed to hang out by the CAI, jus' in case. Hok, ya damn bastard, ya had to choose now to give Jess that booze. Now she's pressurin' me to get back in that room. And I may do jus' that, if Whisker's ain't showin."
>"I'm sorry, but not unless the offer is declined. I'll give the Hub 50,000 Zeny for this, if it appears to be in as good condition as we left it in.
>"With no data? What's this stuff made out've?"
>"I don't know, I'm not buying it for myself. I've been told, though, that it's just as good as common stone."
>"Dunno if what I know of Whisker's is true to her actual personality or not, but she sure didn't strike me as an avid collector of worthless stone. Tell Whisker's this thing ain't goin' for anything less than a half million digits."

>"Yeah you tell 'em, Itcher!"
>"Itcher please, you just want to see Whiskers come in person!"
And so continues the CAI chorus.

>"Sold, if you throw in a truck for me to use." says Scratch.
>"Wait, what? Are you fuckin' serious?"
>"Whisker-bots don't mobilize themselves, and it's not often some of Whisker's things get swiped from underneath her. In fact, two-thirds of the swipers call this hub their home, now, even though one of them did so unwittingly."
>>
No. 577440 ID: 7f9410

>>577438
Hok, investigate that container. There must be a secret compartment.

Or maybe this is Whisker testing Itcher's resolve. Seeing if he's willing to take a large sum of money instead of trying to get to her again. I mean Scratch just basically said "Whisker will only show up if you don't accept the money", so...

Well, I see a third option. Accept money for the container and then Itcher can just go along with the container. Maybe as a driver for the truck, with the excuse of "We'd like the truck back."
>>
No. 577441 ID: 0ee153

Tell her you want to discuss it with the CAI in private. Ask the CAI if they can mock up stone container exactly like it just in case.

Search it for secret compartments.
>>
No. 577442 ID: 88960e

>>577437
Haha, sorry, Mimi. (Although getting burned with silly pictures is getting off pretty light in the Hok zone). Why'd you decide you wanted him knowing I was there?

We'll have to talk later, since that probably means Pip is out if the gang. We'll have to say our goodbyes to our favourite bespectacled and fat-finger crime Dona.

>what do
Hey, sounds good to me. And if this thing is really worth that much dosh or more, we're not gonna be able to keep it when the big fish come hunting for it. We're better off selling.

...if Itcher wants to play games to get to Whiskers, that's his thing. The trade hub isn't gonna turn down that kind of cash (or take on that kind of risk) just so he can get the girl.

But yeah, poking at it for a minute or two isn't a bad idea.
>>
No. 577443 ID: 3921cd

>>577439
>unwittingly
Might mean you Hok

consider having your head examined, even if it means telling grumpy ol' Ben why
>>
No. 577444 ID: dc4b80

Other than secret compartments or other hidden info the materials could be exotic enough to not replicate on the asteroid. Or it could have been created with some sort of method that she does not want anyone finding about. Or its a awesome transformer robot.

We know she has access to advanced nanotech so could be something involving that. Or she just needs a nice secure storage and it would be a pain to replace one of this quality.

Have Ben come over and look at it after he finishes with Miss. Say that surely the best Belenosian on the asteroid can find why she wants this so bad. Tell him he has however long it takes to get it ready to load up and that the Cai has a betting pool to see if he succeeds. A bit of poking at his ego might motivate him.

Tell Itcher to make it half a million and some dates with Wiskers later.
>>
No. 577449 ID: d470e9
File 140210473544.png - (17.33KB , 800x800 , 963.png )
577449

>Might it be Hok who was the inwitting stealer?
Nooo that was Pilon, he didn't realize Whisker's had her eye on that thing. What I took was definitely knowing full well what I was doing; course, I sure did bite off more than I thought.

>Or maybe this is Whisker testing Itcher's resolve. Seeing if he's willing to take a large sum of money instead of trying to get to her again.
Well it sure wasn't thought out, cause Itcher isn't in charge of whether or not this thing gets sold.

I do however start poking around at it, but the CAI tells me that it's already been scanned through everything anyone has, and aside from the hole with the data that was retrieved; it's a solid object.

I whisper to the CAI while out of earshot of Scratch, who starts inspecting the container as well.

"Hey can we just, like, make a perfect mimic of that?"
>"I think we could!"
>"No. Ben's inspected it, and there's definitely something unique about the stone. We can't make a replica that Whisker's won't be able to distinguish from the real thing."
>"Yeah, let's just sell it before she changes her mind!"
"Yeah that's for the best I think. Just throwin' ideas out. Hey connect me to Ben, would you?"

There's more internal dialogue as they talk about it, I'm sure.

"Hey Ben, we're gonna sell this container here for a nice bit. You're the best belenos, as you put it, on the asteroid, I don't suppose you could figure out why this hunk of stone or whatever is worth so much?"
>"Ye?! Maybe the best belenos would have time to figure this out if certain people wouldn't dump Pomi's on the operating table to take up my time!"
"Well I mean after that."
>"I've been studying it, you incessant leaf! The hub will know what it is when I identify it, should it be anything but odd stone!"

"Hey, Itcher! You want to take the car and say you want to take the truck back here? I mean we only have so many vehicles."
>"There's an idea. Course, Tin's keeping me busy, and it's sure sounding like Whiskers doesn't want to see me. I don't suppose I could get a trip over to Whiskers, huh?"
>"Nope, sorry. You'll have to try harder than that or get luckier than that to see her again."
>"So I can't throw in "Date with Whiskers" as part of the deal?"
>"Heh. No."
>>
No. 577450 ID: d470e9
File 140210474989.png - (23.02KB , 800x800 , 964.png )
577450

Well that's sold, so that's a pretty nice break for the Hub. Even moreso than that silenced bio armor since Rokoa said she wanted a cut of that for, I believe as it was put, an 'extraction share'.

Hey Mimi why'd you want Waska to know I was around?
>To prove tgo him thsat he nereds me. Well that basically satiates any curiosity on that.

Miss is finished up, and she's told to just avoid any moderate or heavy lifting with that arm for a couple of days. Scratch joins us on our fake date. The trade hub's bustling more than usual, course, most plans are still in the planning phase.

>"I don't mean to put a downer on this, at least not for Miss." Scratch says. "But this is probably going to be the last time you see me."
>"Wait, what?!" Miss says.
>"Yeah. Retiring as a Whiskers agent doesn't mean I can go wandering around like normal. The opposite, actually! There's a huge list of requirements for anyone in my position, and obviously having my cover unblown is on that list. I messed up on something unrelated to all of Waska's doing."
>"Is... is she gonna?"
>"Don't look at me like that! She's not going to kill me, I wouldn't be so chill about that. I'm not going to say what happens, but I can say that I'll be fine. This is going to be the last day I have, though, so let's make it count."

Looks like our fake date is about to turn into a real not-date.
>>
No. 577451 ID: 7f9410

>>577450
Welp I think we should stop being a third wheel.

Maybe we can hide a tracking device on the container...
>>
No. 577452 ID: c202dd

You three have been through a lot together, make the best of it, if only for Miss' sake!
>>
No. 577454 ID: 0ee153

Oh, so that's what she was hiding. Let's hope it's all she was hiding. Uh, might want to ask how likely someone is to try and kidnap/torture her.

Let's see what the trade hub has. Does she like arcade games? What else does the entertainment center have?
>>
No. 577457 ID: dc4b80

Well a toast to Scratch then. Tell her to get a hold of us once she figures out her affairs.

Oh and have her relay a message to Wiskers. Tell her that Itcher is a good guy but he is to responsible to go adventuring around just to find her. Its not nice to play with a guys emotions like that. We do not want him moping around forever pining after a girl that won't settle down. If she keeps it up to long he will move on.

Anyways enough worrying about stuff. Enjoy your last day with Scratch and have some fun. Just make sure you do not stumble into Grudge bearer in the middle of it.
>>
No. 577464 ID: 88960e

>sums up my curiosity
I still think we should make teasing goodbyes for grumpy Mimi.

>Never see her again, but not killed
What, they hide you somewhere secret? Give you radical reconstructive surgery? Smuggle you off the asteroid?

>what do
Sounds like it's time for a going away party.

...you do realize with her friend disappearing, Miss is gonna latch onto you even harder.
>>
No. 577556 ID: d470e9
File 140216504485.png - (13.47KB , 800x800 , 965.png )
577556

"What about Miss, Scratch?"
>"Please take care of her from now on."

>You do realize with her friend disappearing, Miss is gonna latch onto you even harder.
Yeahhhhh.

>Maybe we can hide a tracking device on the container
The CAI isn't here to tell me that's not going to work so I'm going to go ahead and say that's not going to work and that Whiskers would find it basically right away.

>Tell her that Itcher is a good guy but he is to responsible to go adventuring around just to find her.
"So uh, I don't care too much about this whole relationship concept -" I'm dropping some real subtle hints now - "buuuut Whiskers might wanna know that if she keeps dodging Itcher, she might not see him. Itcher seems all responsible-like not going on adventures to see her, and I mean he sleeps with some neumono. Belenos are into neumono right?"
>"Not... maybe? I don't think Itcher is, although sleeping in the same bed, there's got to be something going on even if it's casual. That's not really our business or even Whisker's, though, although I bet she knows more than we do about that. And I might mention it, but Whiskers might think it's best if he does forget about her. She'd mention it, though, if she thought there was either no chance of a relationship forming, or if there was any chance of him listening to that."
"Well okay then. Back to us. You. You'll be okay? I mean I'm pretty sure some people might come after you if word gets out that much."
>"That's why I'm going away before it becomes public knowledge. Trust me, I'll be fine. Now let's eat."
>>
No. 577559 ID: d470e9
File 140216556986.png - (18.39KB , 800x800 , 966.png )
577559

So we spend our time together. I'm kiiiinda a third wheel but it's somewhere between a weird wheel off on the side of a bicycle and an actual tricycle.

Mimi and Waska show up, too.

>"Hello, Hok, there you are." Mimi says.
"Hey Mimi, hey Waska, what happened to you guys?"
>"We had a fight." continues Mimi. "It's settled now. At least, it's about to be. Waska."
>"Yeah, uh.... I promised Mimi and it didn't help Pilon was there that I'd let it go. The whole, you stole my shit. That wasn't cool though I li-"
>"Waska. First off, Pilon stopped me from outright shooting you, so you're going to thank him next. Second off, focus."
>"Right. Uh. So, you're off the hook. Pardoned. That sort of stuff for past stuff. Not future stuff though! Don't touch my shit. Or me! At night! In bed! But mostly my stuff! So, uh... since you went and shot Nulba we still kinda need a party of non-attachment. So if you want, you can come put on your Pip stuff and keep going through the outposts."
"So, uh, did you actually send Nulba?"
>"... yeahhhhh listen I know it wasn't a good idea but sometimes I get the sense that I'm trapped under Mimi, okay? I do some desperate things just to try to, you know, get some independence so I can live a little. Just... forgot about it, it was a good thing you shot Nulba. He was kind of a dick anyway. Mimi already lectured me about it." says Waska.
>"I've agreed to let him have small tasks he can do on his own that he can fuck up all he likes. We'll be leaving in a few hours, if you and Miss would like to come. I've already heard about Scratch's issue."

So we spend our time together. I'm kiiiinda a third wheel but it's somewhere between a weird wheel off on the side of a bicycle and an actual tricycle.
>>
No. 577563 ID: c7a241

Wow, what's with all these people you've ripped off not wanting to kill you anymore. You've been having a real good streak of luck, lately. Maybe Pilon is worth something as a diplomat after all!

>what do
Well... we probably shouldn't run off until after you know if Grudge Bearer wants you dead or not. Ie, since not running off was part of the deal, and if you're traveling with Waska's peeps, it makes you easy to find.

Tell specs and patches thanks, water under the bridge. They're pretty okay crimelords to work with! (I think these two have been upgraded from "people we may screw over some day" to "sort of friends that we'll mess with, but not completely screw over").

I think we'll need to find out what's going on at the trade hub before we decide if we go off to do more crime or hang around, first. Like the Grude Bearer thing. And maybe talking to Kappi, since having a diplomat to return to the hive means maybe you found him Rokoa after all. And maybe getting all smug with Tin about all that money you just made the trade hub by bringing Scratch in to buy that rock.
>>
No. 577564 ID: 2fc3e9

>>577559
Yeah, you probably shouldn't go anywhere without dealing with Grudge Bearer.
>>
No. 577578 ID: dc4b80

Tell him you will join up with them when they leave and that you are going to go settle your affairs here.

Make sure to stop by and let Tin know whats up and see if she has any errands for you. Then drop by Kappi and let him know that Rokoa is testing him so he had better keep improving himself. Maybe if he is lucky she will come by and pick up Sakarra and they can watch that show together while she is here.

Then find Pilon and see if he made any process on the Grudge Bearer issue. If you need to stay a bit longer we can allways catch up to Mimi and Waska at the next outpost.
>>
No. 577586 ID: 3488e6

Explain that you need to stay here a bit, but hope to get free on time to go with them, or failing that, catch up with them.
>>
No. 577588 ID: d470e9
File 140217235871.png - (59.34KB , 800x800 , 967.png )
577588

Okay there are a few loose ends that I try to wrap up so that I can put things behind me. I don't like tight strings.

I tell Mimi and Waska that yeah I'll go with them if Grudge-Bearer isn't going to come hunting me, but I may need more time than they're giving me. Till I can confirm that I'm going at all, I check in with Tin to see if there's anything more she wants me to do, except not too much because I did kind of get the Hub a good break here. Tin relents that point, not quite daring to say good job, but saying I'm right, so she says to just bring back whatever news from future outposts.

Pilon says that Grudge-Bearer saw the fight between Mimi and Waska, and was rather put off by having something in common with someone who wanted me dead pretty bad. Said Waska made a bit of a fool of himself. Pilon claims that GB isn't going to hunt me for the time being till he gets his head straighted out, but can't make any promises! I dunno what that means, but apparently GB will inform me of his intent to kill me in advance before actually going to kill me if he decides that's what he's going to do. I will continue not understanding that person and take it.

Lastly, a bit more time is spent with Kappi wishing him well with his poor judgement of girls. Apparently Sakara is going to postpone the negotiation bit, since she was caught off guard, so it might be a week or something before she returns with Rokoa. From what I hear, I'll still be doing some outpost-hopping by then.

So that is what I do. Mimi leaves Miss and I a driver to catch up with them. Miss is pretty down after Scratch leaves with the container, but she holds herself up by holding onto me I guess. While in the car.

I was thinking I could get some sleep now that here is no yich eater staring at me in the rear view but no I do not think I am getting much sleep.
>>
No. 577596 ID: d470e9
File 140217476984.png - (19.61KB , 800x800 , 968.png )
577596

One week later.

"Hey, Jessica."
>"Hey Kappi. Let's cover your spreadsheet systems today. Are you trying to quit your job or something?"
"Oh, no, but I've been missing more days lately and I need to sleep anyway, and Tin wants more hours to be put in by an organic entity. That... mostly involves what I showed you yesterday. Checking the CAI's work and making sure it, well, makes sense. No offense, guys."
>"None taken."
>"Some taken."
>"I don't have to wear that silly hat, do I?"
"No, no, we can use another one with the same input."
>"Good. There's something else, though, to why you're trying to get some time off.... a giiiirl? Haha, first guess."
>"Y-yes, okay. So, uh, again li-"
>"GIRL ALERT."
"What?"
>"Rokoa!"
"Oh, shit. Er, Jessica, sorry, but we might need to postpone this! CAI, where is Rokoa?!"
>>
No. 577597 ID: d470e9
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577597

>"She's about to enter your room!"

Oh geez it's not a practical joke this time, it really is Rokoa! She did come back! Even though it's probably with a negotiator for business, this time.

"Crap, Jessica, you probably want to leave before..." It's too late.
>"Her?! You?!"
>>
No. 577598 ID: d470e9
File 140217485194.png - (17.55KB , 800x800 , 970.png )
577598

>"Kappi."
"You came back!"
>>
No. 577599 ID: d470e9
File 140217488281.png - (20.29KB , 800x800 , 971.png )
577599

>"Observant as always. I hear you've been getting trained by Pilon to be less of a wimp."
"Ah, yes. I mean, I have a long way to go, but I'm really trying!"
>"He says you've been doing well. Pretty motivated, and your punches might be a more effective weapon than a pillow in a couple of weeks. What's that you're drinking?"
>>
No. 577600 ID: d470e9
File 140217491894.png - (17.08KB , 800x648 , 972.png )
577600

"Uh... coffee?"
>"Give me your ear."
"What?"

uh
>>
No. 577601 ID: d470e9
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577601

"Ahhh!!.... that... didn't hurt as much as I thought it would."
>"Have you never lost an ear before?"
"No, I haven-"
>>
No. 577602 ID: d470e9
File 140217494852.png - (13.65KB , 800x800 , 974.png )
577602

uhhhhh

>"Pilon hasn't told you a damn thing about how to eat, Kappi. You still taste like shit... you've been having caffiene at the usual pace. And... chocolate. That's going to stop - no, you don't get one last taste. He's still as soft as he looks. Did you get gold stars in training for showing up?"
"N....no...."
>>
No. 577603 ID: d470e9
File 140217496131.png - (14.90KB , 800x800 , 975.png )
577603

>"No? I saw you playing that one belenos game, so let me put this in the nerdy ways you're familiar with. We're going to play a game with two endings. The ending you want is beating the game at an adequate difficulty setting. The other ending is anything short of that. Pilon's training was, on that belenosian scale of difficulty, 'Toya'. I'm bumping you up to the next difficulty."
".... Organic?"
>>
No. 577604 ID: d470e9
File 140217498036.png - (26.42KB , 800x800 , 976.png )
577604

crunch

>"Jetal Emperor."
>>
No. 577608 ID: c7a241

>>577588
>getting Mimi and Waska to hold an embarrassing fight may have shamed Grudge Bearer into sparing Hok's life
...wow. Crazy how all your convoluted antics came together for you. Now that's luck. Couldn't have worked out any better if you'd planned it that way.

>dat hug.
Daaaaaaw.

>>577604
Pretty sure that one hurt more than the ear. (Even if Kappi's grief is mitigated or distracted or conflicted by the hotness of seeing Rokoa-boobs splattered in coffee).
>>
No. 577609 ID: 2fc3e9

>>577600
Jessica wheeling out is great.
>>
No. 577610 ID: dc4b80

Don't worry Kappi. Everything worth doing is worth doing well. And Rokoa is um worth doing?

That might have come out wrong. Anyways you got her interested so go prove you deserve her. I have high hopes for the next time we see you two.
>>
No. 577682 ID: cee89f

Ya know, I'll be honest.

I thought Miss was gonna turn out to be the Whisker agent.

>>577604
Good news: She REALLY wants you around
Bad news: Rokoa's training involved what amounted to self-inflicted torture.
>>
No. 577695 ID: 9ddf68

>>577604
My question is how the fuck does she know video game lingo? Holly hell you two have more in common then we thought.

Oh and be glad your day job is a desk job, I have a felling that walking is going to be difficult for the next few... weeks? and no I don't mean that in a cute way, I mean if you end up in anything other then a body cast I'll be fucking amazed.
>>
No. 577723 ID: f759c0

>>577604
RIP in peace Kappi
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