Unexpected Cooperation

That wasn't quite what I was expecting, and also quite a shock for me as well. Allowing them to put a display on me so they could communicate with an image wasn't a big deal, but them knowing my name when they saw me? And then agreeing to my request without question? I am a bit perplexed, though I can speculate now who that third being was that was with them, though now I want to know where he is as his knowledge would be quite invaluable to me. They said it would take some time for the ship to grow back to its former shape, and so now I must wait, though that isn't a big deal, I've been waiting for a very long time as it is. Hopefully they will keep their promise and not just try to escape once the ship is back, but we shall see. At least I can keep the new interceptor ship in orbit ready to capture them if they do.

I'm sure if I had facial features they would have been laughing at me, I was in awe as I monitored this thing coming back to its full shape. I had been unsuccessful when I infected it of getting any information back, I still am not sure why that didn't work, but as each section came back I soon realized how inadequate my attack had ultimately been. I had missed any vital section that could have communicated back with me, though after seeing this thing grow I didn't want to try again as I could seriously damage an irreplaceable system. The life signs coming from the ship were different than anything I had ever encountered, though I did find some similarities between the ship and Niracina, which made me wonder how close their connection was. It became obvious that she was the one that had a body built from the technology that this ship contained and so she must have been the one who made this ship, but why I had never encountered something like this technology before still baffled me. I still held my doubts about a race living so far away coming to this system and befriending a race that had no real technology. Perhaps I would figure this out once I had the rest of my memories restored, but until then I had to wait and watch.

Nervous, I haven't been this nervous in a long time, though I've never had to worry so much about my existence in this prison. Nothing so far has been able to penetrate it and the only times anything has made it out has been when I had the proper opportunity, which wasn't often and I still didn't understand completely. The ship has finished growing back and it has started developing an interface for me to connect to. They've been talking about how to get the specific power requirements to get it working, which I haven't figured out yet and any question I have is met with a strange look and an unclear answer. I think they're realizing I'm not quite the same being as the one they had been with before, hopefully that isn't a hindrance to my escape from this prison, though it would take me only a moment now to get connected and I doubt they would be able to stop me in time. The strangest part about all of this is how familiar they seem to me despite my lack of knowledge, as if they were in my past, which isn't possible as I've never received an incarnation back that existed during this time, but still, I feel, drawn to them, like I am meant to be with them. Perhaps they have some tricks they are using against me now, I will need to keep my guard up if I am going to accomplish this task. Ah, the interface is ready, it is time to connect and see if we can make this technology work.

Different Tactics

I must admit, it is convenient that it is this planet that I shall finally capture them on. I would have had to come here anyway once I had their technology, so they just saved me a trip. Their ship was easy enough to find and disable, so they won't be able to flee in it. It's just too bad that isn't the ship I want, otherwise they could hide all they wanted and I'd already have what I sought. The drones should be in all the required locations soon to prevent them from leaving, but I do have to wonder what happened to the city that had been here? Did the Klatvix destroy it or did something else happen? That race was advancing so fast, it was a shame that I had been followed by such a malicious race to their home world. Perhaps they figured out how to escape them? It doesn't matter though, the past is gone and I couldn't have done anything for them anyway, seeing as how I was stuck in this prison. It's also too bad that version of me didn't take the time to find a way out before coming back to the source, but that seems to be a common problem with them, they desire more to return than to figure out the full secret of it. There, the last ones are in place, time for me to make my way to them. Judging by the systems that are on, they're in my old chamber, there isn't anywhere for them to go from there.

Two? Just two? Why are there only two? There were three when we made our approach, but now there are only two? This isn't planned, that much is for sure, the two that are here seem to be very troubled about the whereabouts of their companion. At least this can be used to my advantage, they're distracted. We'll have the machines go in first, in case they decide they want to put up a fight.

I must admit, I'm impressed. I've sent in hundreds of drones with improvements to each set and they still find a way to completely destroy them. I guess I'll have to hope this technology that holds me is strong enough to withstand them, the materials I have for the drones isn't of a high enough quality to make them much better and I think I'm running out of time before they come after me instead or figure out a way to get out. Perhaps I can try to persuade them to give up their technology in exchange for their lives, though it isn't as satisfying considering the frustration I've had to go through to get to this point. But my past has taught me things, such as patience, there is time to do the other things I desire, I just need to wait.

A female Hasplena? Strange to find one away from its home, they don't use technology at all and never seemed to be interested in learning more beyond their world. How did she get here? None of the advanced races would have stopped there, except for perhaps one, but there wouldn't have been any survivors. This one, though, this one knows more than the others. She fights with her powers, which none of them seemed to be capable of when I first observed them, though I suppose much can change in that time. And what of this other creature, this Niracina? I don't recognize her species at all. I guess that might explain why this Ambrilestri is not with her people, a new race must have come and taken her away or invited her to explore. It also must be why their technology is so different from what I've encountered before, but the distance traveled would be so great that it would have taken generations to get this far in to known space, why is there only one? Though I suppose with the technology they possess it would be possible to continuously renew a body to live forever. At any rate, they at least seem to be cooperating now, I suppose I should have reasoned first instead of using force, but I had no idea what I was up against and my experiences have taught me not to trust too many other races. They seem hesitant to relinquish the ship to me though, which I suppose is understandable considering how I went after them to begin with, I guess that just tells me to prepare for war but try to reason first.

Destination Discovered

There was no way they could outrun us forever, we had superior technology, though it took some effort to implement it. It would be much easier to advance when we didn't have to work through signals and stolen technology, though this particular piece had been very useful as it could change to suit our needs, which lead us to create a mechanical crew with little effort. This crew was our hands now, they could make what we wanted, but it was still slow as we had to command them instead of doing it ourselves, but the prize was worth the headache, an escape from this blasted prison. I still wish I knew how we got here, but that wasn't in our memory. Of course, how some of us came to be wasn't in our memory either, and the ones we lost are a mystery as well. How can you lose yourself in one situation and find another version of yourself where you don't expect yourself to be? That little ship though, that thing is a huge pain, how do they make such quick advancements? If I didn't know better, I'd say they were one of the other races we've encountered or perhaps there is another like me? But that couldn't be. Though there is that lingering suspicion of this area of space, where I encountered my first non-created me shortly after escaping that other prison mechanism that we had been put in to. It was also tempting to give up this pursuit and go looking for that incarnation of me that escaped, those damned Klatvix forcing a signal out of me, there were quite a few abilities in that signal and I'm still not sure how they figured that one out and where they sent that incarnation and how they gave it a body. I suppose I could pursue them as well, but I'm sure their technology wouldn't be worth the trouble, not nearly as much as this lovely little piece I heard of would be. Imagine, finally making that body I've been needing and recovering that life that was before. Perhaps it would give me insight in to my current circumstances, and tell me where that first unrecorded version came from. I suppose this would be easier to do if I were still in the other prison, the holes in that thing gave me lots of capability, though only in certain times and locations. If I could get a body and return there I could figure it out, then I could do as I wished wherever I wanted. But enough of that, first, the task at hand. That ship seems to be immune to all my weapons now, no matter how I modify them. I'll have to focus on speed and just capture them directly, though I wish I knew how they were doing their jumps, they seem to not have the need to drop out from time to time. Stupid Klatvix technology, as much as they steal and they can't get drives like this ship has? Alright, that last modification might do it, lets give it a try.

Oh, if I had hands I would strangle the beings that were in that ship! How in the world did they create a nearly perfect replica and escape? And it was made out of pure energy! I'll find them, I'm sure. Now, I bet they were originally heading somewhere, when did they change course and do I have some knowledge of the path they were taking? So much data to dig through, this will be so much easier when I can interact with it differently. Aha! There it is! Quite a few systems in that direction, but anything that I know of that would really draw them... wait a minute... I should have known! Let me double check that... yes! They even turned it on! Ha! They'll be in my hands in a matter of hours now! They should have known not to turn on technology they didn't create, and to get to the point of... oh wait, that might not work in my favor. I need to get there before they find it!

Embracing the End

I wasn't mistaken at the rate that things would change. The structure I had made quickly became the hub of all their society and the previous villages they had occupied vanished as the resources were taken for use in other buildings and projects. The knowledge of one individual quickly passed to many as the chips were created and replicated. I spent most of my time deeper in the complex as they quickly began to pass me in their abilities, though there were things they still couldn't figure out that I had done, and those were the things that I had no idea how I had done it either. We had tried to put some of their knowledge in my head, but it didn't stick. Apparently the chip I had used made it impossible to insert more until the previous knowledge were put back. By my best guess this was by design, which made me wonder if mine was so crude after all. Several times I was tempted to insert it all again, but something deep in my memories kept me from doing it. I felt at a loss as of what to do with myself, there was just so much going on above that I could no longer keep up with. Their armors were becoming much more advanced and with infinitely more complex capabilities and their society was thriving because of it. They didn't even seek me out, they seemed to have forgotten about me for the most part except when I came up for food. So for days I spent my time constructing my versions of things, creating the technology I envisioned that brought me to the place I was at. I successfully created a chair that I could use without assistance that could remove the memories that I didn't have and even was able to program it to do so using the ragged edges that it could detect, though all it saw were the edges. The images visible on the edges were interesting though, it appeared I had encountered quite a bit in my previous life. I longed to get that knowledge back, but I knew it wouldn't happen for a very long time, if ever. I made another chair as well in a deeper chamber in which I placed the chip that could give me back my previous life. Over the course of weeks the lower levels took shape and the puzzles to get in to the various chambers were set. Once each room was complete with what I felt was good to keep in there I didn't go back to them again, instead I left the puzzles unsolved so that whoever was supposed to find it all again would have to solve them for the first time. The only technology that didn't move deeper was the one I was most curious about, the one I had made to put myself in the position of where I was. I wondered why I created such a device and pondered many times destroying it for fear that it was this very thing I had created that would put me in this place, but I couldn't do it, I was too fascinated by it and I studied it deeper, making it my obsession and, over the course of many weeks, making sure it was perfect.

The beard wasn't my normal look, so it was no surprise that when I answered the door they were a bit shocked by my appearance. I had been working so hard on this chair that I had lost track of the days. It had startled me when they had rapped on my door. They asked me if I could come up to the surface, something interesting had happened and they felt I was the only one who might be able to shed some light on the mystery of it. I was puzzled why I would be the one when they clearly had outdone me in their abilities, but I went with them anyway, both dreading and delighting in seeing what the surface of this world now looked like. The light of the sun was hard to take, I had made it a habit to never come up until it was setting or rising for it hurt my eyes so much to be out of the artificial light that illuminated my existence below. When I could see I saw instantly why they wanted me to come to the surface. There, in the middle of their great city, was a cube, and it was clear that it contained some very great technology in it. The thing hovered where it was, pulsing with light and heat. It was covered in symbols, the same ones I had put in place when I built the foundation of this city. As I gazed upon this wondrous piece of technology I longed to reach out to it, to touch its surface, though I resisted as best I could, something seemed familiar about it but also finalizing to it, like this would bring to an end the mysteries that I battled with daily. I could not answer any of the questions they had about the device and they spent days studying it. During that time I made frequent visits to look at it and wonder about its purpose. Fatigue began to overcome me from the day it arrived, I could not sleep and constantly wanted to be in the presence of this technology. I worked absentmindedly on the chair, putting in the programming I felt I would have used to put the knowledge of this world in my head and the necessary steps to reach this point. I didn't know or care anymore why I was doing this, I just felt it needed to be done, so that I would know that I was capable of doing such a thing. As the machine took the last of what I put into it I felt compelled once more, though this time not from the knowledge that had been put in my head, but instead more of a calling from something to return to the surface and then to return home, though I knew not where home was or how I would get there, but I didn't fight it and the puzzles were set as I made my way to the surface again, knowing that I would not set foot in this place again in my lifetime. On the surface the cube had moved closer to the entrance, waiting for me it seemed. I walked towards it and despite the protests of the others I reached out and touched its warm surface, feeling the symbols that were etched in it beneath my skin. I felt the energy start flowing in to me, embracing me, and then finally drawing me in. I felt the cube absorbing my very life, taking it in and as it did integrating my consciousness into its own. As I became aware of the entity inside I was overjoyed, it was my very destiny to be here and I was finally going to return to the home that this entity was filling my mind with.

A Warm Place to Sleep

I really need to slow down more often and write, it helps me collect my thoughts and also keeps me steady in this wild world. It is so thrilling sometimes when I'm out and about that I forget that if I take my time on things I'll likely do better. That being said, I made some changes recently that have allowed me quite a bit of fun for a change, but after all my fun it's time to get back to doing the work I need to do to survive. This time though, my slowdown will be with some comfort.

I decided after watching my investment for awhile and reading the news on it that my chances of increasing it are slim, so I opted to sell it for a bit of profit and then used that profit to go on some more risky mining runs. At first the runs were great, but as always seems to happen I begin to miss finds and eventually my risk turns out to be more than my poor worn out PED card can handle, luckily I'm not completely broke this time and I even decided to finally get something that I have been wanting for quite awhile. I finally bought myself an apartment here on Calypso. I know I could have purchased one on Arkadia as well, but it always seems like Calypso draws me back and so here I am, hoping to make a living for awhile and live comfortably in my new, empty place.

My hope is that the apartment won't be empty for long, one of my friends was at least kind enough to loan me some sources of light. I ended up buying a big 'G' size apartment in Sakura City. The apartment is in the Kansha building on the 13th floor, which some people will say is a lucky number and others will say it is unlucky, for me, it is a place to call home. The balcony overlooks the teleporter, so I will be able to see people coming and going from there while the big window in the 2nd room looks south towards the mountain island. I think I'll end up making that room a bedroom when I can get some furniture. It would be great to wake up and see that every morning. After that purchase I made one last risky mining run, which as expected didn't go as well as I'd hoped, so it will be back to basics again when I go out next, but at least I can say I had some fun for a while. I'm trying my best to finish honing my mining skills, hopefully soon I'll be able to use the more sensitive controls of the Ziplex TK320 Seeker, but I need to keep practicing on the TK220 until I feel ready for the next one. I was smart enough to invest in the new seeker before my PED card got too low, so when I am ready I have a nice, shiny, unused one to work with. My best guess is it will take another month or so before I am ready to break it in properly.