003; [voice]

[interspace]

So, who knows anything about AI and/or fixing some seriously delicate hardware? Both, even. Got a buddy of mine who fries like an egg in sunlight here and I'm hoping to get him up and running like the good ol' days. My nest egg seems to have disappeared from the last time I was here, but... I'll do whatever I can to pay you back for your time. Errands and stuff.

Seriously, I would really just appreciate getting ALFRED back. It's weird not having him around. You know?

Who the heck's Alfred?

You've seen her cool glasses? That's him!

Comments

[interspace]

Don't you kind of need a sample of the original to make a vaccine for it?

[codes]

We do have a sample. [ Why does that sound so ominous? ]

[interspace]

Don't tell me it's some kind of digital corpse.

[codes]

Our partners.

Don't you have a second one now? It must have been explained to you.

[interspace]

Yeah, I've got a second one. Something about our first partners actually being kinda genetic siblings to the ones we just recently met. Right?

[codes]

Yes, they're created with the SCOPE Virus.

A bit more lively than a corpse, but we do have samples.

[interspace]

Oh. [ There's a slight pause before she laughs. ] That's ridiculously simple. At least we don't have to do anything stupid to get past that first step, huh?

[codes]

Considering it appears we don't die, it'll be all right to test it on ourselves as well.

[ How morbid. ] Anyway, I'll get you all caught up when I get back in.

[interspace]

That's a new one.

[ There's a huff. ] I'll look forward to it. Give me a ring when you're settled, I'll bring everything by.

[codes]

There's really been a lot that's happened. I advise asking one of those more helpful types for a guide to fill you in.

[interspace]

Absolutely. Keeping an ear to the ground is something that I can do. It's just like me to miss all the excitement, too.

[codes]

I'll count on your next disappearance as a precursor to more bullshit then. Sounds fair, don't you agree?

[interspace]

Oh, absolutely. If you can time a terrible event to me taking a vacation, all the better for the both of us.

[codes]

I'll be sure to ask Titamon next time to go away if you're still around. Surely he'll see reason and count on it.

Okay, I better get going before Ed gets jealous.

[interspace]

If only all the crises had such easy ways to get rid of them.

Tell him it's just a fling, not to worry. You're coming back!

[codes]

I don't think he's into threesomes. Trust me, I tried to talk him into one already.

Not with me, but with some other stuff. It's complicated--but don't worry, I'll return.

[interspace]

[ Misha just laughs. ]

I believe you. You've got a better track record than I do.

[the_lion_roller]

Oho man, too bad Aviva isn't here. She's amazing with technology.

[But she's not here and neither is Koki, so that's kind of not a help at all.]

You know, my brother is pretty good with hardware too, especially delicate, detail-oriented stuff. Maybe he could take a look at it?

[He hasn't seen any other tech work here though besides what seemed to be originally from the city, but that's no reason not to try.]

[interspace]

Well then, you've got me wishing she were here. I mean, if Hank doesn't beat her to it.

Hey, the more the merrier. If he's up for it, he can definitely take a look at the workings... long as he doesn't break anything up, either.

[the_lion_roller]

Hah, nah, no worries there. Chris is real careful with technology.

[...Maybe it's a good thing Aviva isn't around to over-hear that.]

I'll let him know. We've been trying to get some devices we had on us from home up and running again but no luck. Who knows? Maybe we can get both up and running?

[He's pretty optimistic about this.]

[codes]

Hey now, you've returned. It just took you a few weeks. [ Teasing. ]

It'll be before you even know it. Just wait.

[interspace]

Oh, I'll bet you knew I was coming back all along.

I'm good at waiting, don't worry about it.

[interspace]

If you say so. I'll still be supervising just in case.

You think so? What kind of devices?

[the_lion_roller]

Sounds great!

[This is excellent. With all of them working together, the problem of technology from home not working might finally be solved.]

Oho, well, two of them are our creature pods. They're a little bit like the D-Terminals here, only with a lot more features. My brother and I'd use 'em to communicate with each other and our crew during our creature adventures, but they can also project videos and create holograms.

[interspace]

[ Don't get your hopes up too high, Martin. Misha is smart, but she isn't smart enough to actually help get sophisticated technology up and running again after a mysterious, world-induced meltdown. ]

Creature adventures?