Believe in the sign of Theta

[mecha_eihwaz]

[A new ship appeared in the hangar, right next to Lily's old one. This new one looks similar, but it's much smaller, with just enough place for one person and not much else, and clearly built for speed. And unlike that crashed one, this one works.

And then there's Lily herself. Her robotic parts might've changed, with a more armor-like appearance to her dress, but it's definitely her, wandering all over White Chalice, looking at all the oh-so-familiar places, even if some of them changed a bit in the weeks when she was gone.]

I missed all of this...

White Chalice... I am back.

Comments

[emorangerpink]

Well, everything was recorded. There's a whole lot of other stuff hooked up besides it. And it's calmed down a lot... Prometheus has been helping!

...It's over here.

1/2

[mecha_eihwaz]

Your help consisted of Prometheus and a Chaos-built Pepen, and you managed to make them operate a long-range radio receiver, and to tame the Pepen at least a bit?

2/2

[mecha_eihwaz]

Your ability to pull off miracles amazes me sometimes, Laura.

[emorangerpink]

I was motivated.

And I already needed a miracle for you, so I had to assume the universe wasn't being stingy.

[mecha_eihwaz]

Well, it was a correct assumption. Good job.

[emorangerpink]

If we're going to start talking about who pulled off a miracle, I think you'll win.

[Laura squeezes Lily's hand.]

Here we are. Prometheus says its name is Sovereign.

[The Pepen is still in its cage, but one of the sides has been made to open, thought it's locked at the moment. It has a few items keeping it company now, knickknacks courtesy of Prometheus' foraging. It's focused quite intently on one of them, not looking up when the two approach. A cable still runs from the back of its head and out to a console near the cage.]

I've been calling it Goldie.

[mecha_eihwaz]

Hmm...

[Lily squats down so she'd be closer to the Pepen's face, and throws a few nuts and bolts to grab its attention.]

And which name do you prefer, Pepen?

[emorangerpink]

[The Pepen looks up curiously, pecking at a few of the scattered components before making any response. Its flippers flap energetically as it answers Lily.

Apparently it doesn't mind Goldie - it just doesn't want Prometheus using it.]

[mecha_eihwaz]

You won't bite me if I put my hand in, will you?

[emorangerpink]

[Of course not! How could you think such a thing?

...Whatever the Pepen equivalent of inscrutability is, this one displays it.]

[mecha_eihwaz]

Oookay...

[Lily puts her hand between the bars to pet the Pepen.]

[emorangerpink]

[Golden Sovereign approaches with a gleam in its eye. Its beak nears Lily's hand, and...

...nuzzles it cautiously, confirming by touch that she's a version of the fake Lily it was created to obey. It lowers its head to accept the petting, giving a chuff of grudging acknowledgement.

Laura watches apprehensively.]

I'll unhook it, then...?

[mecha_eihwaz]

Sure! But don't let it running around the ship without supervision just yet. We need to make sure it's completely tame beforehand.

...Actually, that'd be a pretty bad idea with normal Pepens too...

[emorangerpink]

Well, I'll follow your lead. You're the one who'll best be able to judge if we can trust it.

[Goldie's definitely enjoying the petting, at least.]

How did you keep your original Pepens in line, anyway?

[mecha_eihwaz]

Well... Pepens are friendly and polite by nature, especially if you give them snacks...

[In other words, she didn't really.]

[emorangerpink]

[Laura's not going to ruin this happy occasion by calling her girlfriend a soft touch. She quietly and efficiently unplugs the Pepen from the cables running to the back of its head, winding them back out of the enclosure.]

Well, it's been well behaved so far. I'm sure it can keep that up. Soon enough, maybe it can move up to the same rules as the others.

And I'll make sure Prometheus doesn't try to recruit it for anything.

[mecha_eihwaz]

I wonder will it get along with the Servbots...

[emorangerpink]

The servbots get along with everyone! But I'll tell them not to accept orders from it.

[mecha_eihwaz]

That...

That would be bad, yes.