Transcripts:Uncosm/MemoryHole

Surface

start
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream located'

    sourceless
        I AM AWOKEN IN MY SLEEPING SHELL BY A RAPPING AT ITS COVER
        WHAT TIME IS IT? HAS THE GAZE ENDED ALREADY?
        SO TIRED... WHATEVER IT IS, IT CAN WAIT

    stupid
        uuugh go away
        my duties are not until <span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'inherited description-generated noun'">clear-sky</span>
        
    tired
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span>, it is me
    
    sourceless
        AND SHE IS NOT GOING AWAY...
        I LET MY HEAD FALL BACK AGAINST THE POD'S INTERNAL FUZZ
        SHE HISSES A SIGH OF FRUSTRATION
    
    tired
        there is a problem

    stupid
        not my problem for another, uuummm,

    sourceless
        I ROLL OVER TO CHECK THE <span definition="TRANSLATION FAILED::CAUSE:'no equivalent internal meaning';'no relevant inherited context'::ROMANIZATION SUCCESSFUL">ZENRUKA</span>
        WITH AN UNLATCHING OF ITS CONTAINER, I SEE THAT IT IS STILL INTACT
        YES, IT WOULD HAVE DETONATED BY NOW IF IT WERE TIME
        THOUGH, ITS DECAY IS SUCH THAT I PROBABLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT TWO OR THREE WINKS...
        AH--
        SUDDENLY, THE COVER OF MY POD IS LIFTED
        MY RECEPTORS COIL IN SHOCK, AND I COVER MY EYES FROM THE LIGHT
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span> PARTIALLY BLOCKS IT AS SHE LEERS AT ME

    tired
        this is not a joke, <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'derogatory';'incompetent fighter'">kelnit</span>
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">███████</span> has not returned
        he is not responding on the <span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'inherited description-generated noun'">dullvoice</span> either
        with how long he has been out, it will not be long before his trail is dispersed

    sourceless
        SHE LEAVES HER EXPLANATION THERE, STARING AT ME EXPECTANTLY
        MUCH AS I WANT TO TELL HER TO SKITTER AWAY,
        THIS IS NOT A RESPONSIBILITY THAT CAN BE ASSIGNED TO ANYONE ELSE
        
    stupid
        fine...
        i will meet you at the entrance
        and have the jut prepare the walker for us

    tired
        do not waste any time
        
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream terminated'

    RESPONSES::sys
        return<+>END
            EXEC::moveTo("/local/uncosm/no/")

Parasite

start
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream located'

    sourceless
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████'s</span> <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'wide conical headwear';'surface camouflage'">VALIKA</span>-BORNE CORRUCYSTS TWITCH IN THE AIR AS THEY SCAN THE AREA
        THE SMELL OF A ONCE-RADIANT VEILK CORPSE... I STILL MUST GET USED TO IT
        WITH THE TIME THAT HAS PASSED, ITS BONES ARE STARTING TO POKE OUT THROUGH ITS FLESH, AND SOON CAN BE HARVESTED
        BUT NOW IS THE SEASON OF FRUIT, AND SO THE AIR IS THICK AND RANCID
        OUR STEPS MEET THE FLESHENED GROUND WITH VILE NOISES, AND THE CAVERNGUARD'S RECEPTORS TWITCH WITH EACH ONE
        HAHAHA!! HE IS FAR TOO ACCUSTOMED TO HIS HIGH-THREAT DUTIES
        I HEFT THE HARVEST-BASKET AND TURN AROUND TO SPEAK ALOUD TO HIM, CONTINUING TO FOLLOW <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span> BACKWARDS
    
    stupid
        relax!
        the hard part is over
    
    sourceless
        HIS RECEPTORS POINT BACK IN DISAPPROVAL OF MY VOLUME
        IN HIS <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'specialized volume management';'fast and enunciated'">SURFACE VOICE</span>, HE MURMURS BACK

    guard
        keep your eyes ahead

    sourceless
        DESPITE IT ALL, THERE IS A SENSE OF JOY IN <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████'s</span> BRANCHED RECEPTORS, AND HE LAUGHS QUIETLY
        I DO NOT MIND ESCORTING THESE <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'central cave-city';'revolution origin'">ZEVAZNI</SPAN>-ENABLED ELDERS THROUGH SURFACE DUTIES
        THEIR FOUNDRIES HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT TRULY REMARKABLE DEVICES - LIMB REPLACEMENTS, VALIKA-CONNECTED CYSTS... 
        I AM SURE <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span> COULD HOLD HIS OWN NOW, EVEN IF A PREDATOR HAPPENED TO FIND US
        I HEAR HIM MURMUR THROUGH THE <span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'inherited description-generated noun'">DULLVOICE</span> AS HE TAKES A DEEP BREATH,

    elder
        ah... this brings back memories
        i never thought i would get to see it for myself again
        or smell it, though i do not miss that part quite as much... haha!!
        those gaze-guided jut...
        ah! there!
                                
    sourceless
        HIS AIMA CYSTS CONVERGE THEIR EYES UPON A GLOWING CREVICE WITHIN THE VEILK CARCASS
        WE STOP IN UNISON, AND THE CAVERNGUARD NEARLY STEPS FORWARD, BUT I STOP HIM, HALF-TURNING
        HE GLARES AT ME, BUT UNDERSTANDS - THIS IS <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████'S</span> FUN, NOT OURS
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████'S</span> VALIKA-BORNE CYSTS TARGET THE CREATURE AS HE TAKES SLOW, CAREFUL STEPS FORWARD
        HIS STEPS ARE SO SILENT, EVEN IN THE VEILK-ROTTED SOIL... I WISH I COULD DO THAT!!
        ONCE THE AIMA CYSTS OF HIS VALIKA GLOW WITH CONFIRMATION, THE CENTRAL ONE RELEASES A PULSE OF GREY LIGHT
        WHEN OUR EYES RECOVER, THE VEILK LIMB IS CLEAVED OPEN, REVEALING THE GLOWING FRUITS OF A <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'veilk parasite';'food'">CELKI</span>

    elder
        hahahaha! with not even a lift of my claw!
        this one is fully ripe, it will not be fighting us
        another one for the basket

    guard
        i will get it

    sourceless
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████'S</span> SON REACHES IN AND GRASPS THE CELKI AT ITS BASE
        AND WITH HIS OTHER HAND, GRIPS A SMALL CUTTER TO QUICKLY AND CLEANLY CUT IT FREE FROM ITS FEEDING POINT
        THE BULBOUS FRUIT SQUIRMS SLIGHTLY, BUT IS TOO FATTENED TO DO ANYTHING
        SO IT IS TOSSED INTO THE BASKET EASILY, AND WE CONTINUE ON...
        
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream terminated'

    RESPONSES::sys
        return<+>END
            EXEC::moveTo("/local/depths/")

Larval

start
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream located'

    sourceless
        WHILE I REPAIR MY <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'wide conical headwear';'surface camouflage'">VALIKA</span>, <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span> APPROACHES THE CORNER OF THE ARMORY I HAVE COMMANDEERED
        I LOOK UP TO FACE HIM, RECEPTORS WIDE IN JOYOUS GREETING, ONLY TO SEE THAT HIS ARE MEEKLY PULLED BACK WITH WORRY

    stupid
        hey <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span>!!!

    hesitant
        hi <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span>!

    stupid
        what brings you here? do they have another device for me to try out?
        the aima cysts were truly incredible to use, it was like...
        my mind's eye, multiplied, hovering outside of my body
        disorienting, but... eye-opening. hehehe
    
    hesitant
        oh, yeah... yeah, it is
    
    sourceless
        MY RECEPTORS SETTLE INTO A SIMILARLY WORRIED TWIST
        HE SEEMS SO SULLEN...?

    stupid
        sooo...?
        what is it?
    
    sourceless
        HE REACHES INTO HIS LONGCLOAK'S INNER POCKET, FETCHING A FAIRLY LARGE HANDHELD CORRUCYST
        THERE'S A MOMENT WHERE HE STARES AT IT, FROZEN, BEFORE WORDLESSLY OFFERING IT TO ME

    hesitant
        it is...
        a new emergency device from the vazni foundries
        they, um...
    
    sourceless
        I CANNOT HELP BUT CHUCKLE AT HOW STRANGE HE IS ACTING
        THIS SEEMS TO FLUSTER HIM FURTHER
        I UNCURL ONE OF MY RECEPTORS TO CONNECT TO IT, BUT HE NEARLY LUNGES IN RESPONSE
    
    hesitant
        wai--wait!
        do not connect to it!!
        it... extracts your mind
    
    stupid
        what?

    sourceless
        IMMEDIATELY, MY RECEPTOR RECOILS

    stupid
        how? what? 

    sourceless
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span> WRINGS HIS CLAWS NERVOUSLY, RECEPTORS SIMILARLY CURLING AWAY
        
    hesitant
        like i said... emergency
        see, the <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'central cave-city';'revolution origin'">zevazni</span> foundry jut have created this new process...
        they are saying it is a new state of life - a sort of undeath
        where you live within corru... your mind, your body, everything

    stupid
        that is so cool!!!!

    hesitant
        wha--what?
        no, it is extremely dangerous!
        not just for yourself, but... for the future
        i mean, if this catches on, eventually, umm...
        it might be the end of us, you know?
        either way, i wanted you to have one of the few we got

    stupid
        ...and, you <em>do not</em> want me to use it?
    
    hesitant
        of course not, but, if you are really going to be doing this...
        the world is changing very fast, <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span>
        i want you to be around to see it
        if you ever got attacked on one of your runs, or caught by...

    sourceless
        HE WAVES AWAY THE NOTION, NOT EVEN WANTING TO THINK IT

    hesitant
        this is your best chance at continuing to live
        or, some... facsimile of it

    sourceless
        I CHUCKLE, EXASPERATED - SUCH CONFUSING MESSAGES!
    
    stupid
        well, is it like those--what did you call them?
        echoes?
        if i use this... is it me?

    hesitant
        yes, without a doubt
    
    sourceless
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span> SITS DOWN AT MY ARMORY STATION, ACROSS FROM ME

    hesitant
        just like how the aima cysts become an extension of your mind,
        so too does the mindcore--that is what they are calling it
        i cannot imagine what sort of maniac it took to discover this, but...
        it shifts the weight of your mind into it, and then disconnects
        leaving an empty vessel to die
    
    sourceless
        I LOOK OVER THE GLASSY SURFACE OF THE MINDCORE THOUGHTFULLY
        BENEATH THE CYSTIC GLASS, I CAN SEE THE FLOW OF CORRU WITHIN
        A SLOW, WHORLING CURRENT OF VIOLET PEARLESCENCE
        IT IS ENTRANCING - MORE THAN ANY OTHER DEVICE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN YET
        A PRODUCT OF ITS DENSITY, MAYBE? IT IS RATHER HEAVY
        OH--YES, HE IS STILL HERE

    stupid
        well, do not worry!!
        you have never seen my veilk-scaling skills!
        and did i ever tell you about the time, i <em>broke</em> a <span definition="INHERITED CONTEXT::'predator';'bladed arms';'cooked flesh goes well with zzoust'">guktik</span>'s arm?

    sourceless
        I RAISE MY RIGHT HAND INTO A FIST, DISPLAYING THE CHITIN OF MY FOREARM 
        IT IS DREADFULLY CRACKED, THE KIND OF DEEP CHITIN WOUND THAT COULD TAKE AN EYE TO HEAL
        BUT IT IS A POINT OF PRIDE, STILL. A RAISE OF MY ARM TO DEFLECT THE LUNGING GUKTIK AT THE RIGHT TIME...
        CRACK!! OH, THE PAIN, BUT SEEING IT SCURRY AWAY AFTERWARDS, SUCH POWER!!
        IMAGINE WHAT I COULD DO IN A BODY MADE OF CORRU...
        <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">█████</span> LAUGHS, WAVING AWAY THE BRAG WITH HIS RECEPTORS

    hesitant
        yes, i still remember the last time you told me
        and the time before that...
        look, just do not take this as an excuse to be reckless, okay?
        we still do not really know what the consequences of the process are, long-term
    
    stupid
        but if i <em>do</em>, you will help me make a cool new body, right?

    sourceless
        OH, THAT WAS A BAD THING TO SAY
        THE LOOK HE IS GIVING ME...
    
    stupid
        sorry, hehehe... just joking around
        velzie's wrath! it is the very same eye that watches over me on my journeys, after all

    sourceless
        A KIND ATTENTION FORMS IN HIS RECEPTORS
        AND HE GIVES A QUIET, ALMOST SOUNDLESS CHUCKLE AS HE STANDS UP TO LEAVE
        STILL SO SULLEN... I WILL HAVE TO FETCH A VEILK-FRUIT TO CHEER HIM UP LATER
    
    hesitant
        velzie's wrath!
        
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream terminated'

    RESPONSES::sys
        return<+>END
            EXEC::moveTo("/local/depths/")

Dull

start
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream located'

    sourceless
        THROUGH MY CONNECTION TO THE PILOT CYST, I SEE IT BEFORE US
        THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE EVER USED THE DULL
        SOME LARVAL FEAR GRIPS ME, THREATENING THAT IT WILL DISINTEGRATE ME...
        TOTAL ANNIHILATION, REMOVAL FROM VELZIE'S STAGE FOR ALL TIME
        OR WORSE - SOMETHING WITHIN WILL FIND ME ON MY PATH THROUGH
        BUT OF COURSE, IT IS SUPERSTITION

    mind
        approaching
            EXEC::env.dull.portal.classList.add("zoom1")

    sourceless
        INDEED, NO LIFE AS WE UNDERSTAND IT COULD EXIST IN THE DULL
        THAT IS WHAT THEY SAY
        DULLZKOVIK'S EXTENDED STUDIES HAVE PROVEN IT, AFTER ALL
        ENOUGH STUDY TO HAVE DRIVEN HIM MAD
        WHAT IS HE ON, HIS FOURTH RENEWAL NOW?
        AHAHA VELZIE SO FAVORS TORMENTING HIM
        AH - I AM RECEIVING AN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE

    other
        attention, <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span>
        this is <span definition="ERROR::'missing entity'">██████</span> on behalf of anterior dull station '<span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'reference to weather phenomena'">brightwall</span>'
        you are all clear to proceed!
        be sure you release all active dull tethers or hearts,
        also expect to lose communications for a little bit
        oh yes, and if you brought any <span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'implied closest cultural equivalent'">tithes</span>,
        say your goodbyes! hehe

    origin
        of course, thank you
        <span definition="NOTE::'common phrase';'religious implication';'implies wish for safe journey'">keep velzie entertained, will you?</span>

    other
        hehehe, we will hold a performance just for you
        your correspondent will establish contact as soon as you are on the other side
        good luck!

    mind
        dull hearts released
        permitting gravitic control
    
    sourceless
        THE VESSEL SHIFTS AS SOON AS THE HEARTS RELEASE
        MY <span definition="NOTE::'partial translation';'implied closest cultural equivalent'">TITHE</span>... I CLUTCH ONE OF MY PRESERVED LARVAL RECEPTOR SHELLS
        A HARD, HOLLOW SPIRAL OF SEGMENTED CHITIN,
        A PART OF MYSELF TO REMAIN IN THE DULL, OUTSIDE OF VELZIE'S CREATION
        I DISCONNECT FROM THE PILOT CYST ABRUPTLY - PERHAPS I SHOULD NOT LOOK
            EXEC::content.classList.add('nostars')
        I CLOSE MY EYES... NO, I TURN THEM OFF
            EXEC::changeBgm(env.dull.bgm404, {length: 6000})
        AND I DISABLE MY SENSATION - BEST TO BE SAFE
        INDEED, PERHAPS EVEN SOUND SHOULD BE LIMITED
        I PULL THE MEMBRANES AROUND MY MINDCORE CLOSER TO IT
        I AM NOTHING, IN A VOID, AND NOTHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN
        YET STILL I SEE IT IN MY MINDS EYE, I HEAR ITS SILENCE ROARING
        NO MATTER WHAT I DISABLE, IT IS STILL PERCEIVED, RESONATING WITHIN MY DEATHLY FORM
            EXEC::env.dull.portal.classList.add("quick")
        I TRY TO THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE, BUT IT IS HERE BEFORE ME,
        AND IT IS COMING
            EXEC::env.dull.portal.classList.add("zoom5");env.dull.closeout()
        AND IT IS HERE
        AND IT IS HERE
        AND IT IS HERE
        
    sys
        NOTICE::'memory stream terminated'