Jackbot: Partial Eclipse

THIS IS THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF JACKBOT. Much ado about Gear's father, the Fire Temple, and a fellow named Sprocket are here.

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Spoiler

Chapter 4- An Obligatory Hot Springs Episode

San Peligro. City of hot springs. City of volcanic activity. City of DANGER, but if you know Spanish, you knew that already.

Our heroes have just arrived in the city- one of the few places with an aboveground mecha hangar. Several trundlebots run through the hangar, carrying mecha parts about the place. Gear looks at one, picks up a small bolt tool, and tightens a bolt for it. She hoped nobody noticed, even as the trundlebot stops to get a visual read on her. Focuses. Unfocuses. And moves on.

Hm. Mostly trundlebots don't do that to things unless they think it's a target for work... Odd.

Gear has a new INFOLINK message. She ignores it for the moment, going to haggle with the proprietor for a refuel.

Cog and Mordy are at their own devices for a moment or two.

:> _:

Mordy goes to talk to the Mayor. But she doesn't get a word in.

"You're that Cavalier mad scientist, right?"

"Uh..." Mordy looks embarrassed. "Maybe. A little. What do you need?"

"I've got a job for your avenging angel- it involves a small smuggling ring nearby. Talk to the sheriff, he'll give you the details." The mayor pauses. "Oh, and don't worry about your reputation here. The word's out about Ephraim City's activities."

***********************

Cog has entered the arcade. Man, it's so different than his set back home. Sure they had some old games like Blaz Blue and Guilty Gear 20 but this is much more recent. There's even Ultima Fighter here! You've only ever heard about this game. You pop in a buck and start playing-

Dear Void this is a difficult Game to get the hang of! Still, The Avatar looks pretty badass, what with the Thousands of Glass Swords he uses and the Cannon he pulls out of his inventory.

Nevertheless you don't even get close to the final bout.

*************************

Gear has finished negotiating.

:> _:

Cog spends some time playing the game, but he absolutely can't believe someone would be so stinky as to burn through 40 thousand dollars in a space of time any shorter than several months. Seriously, though, Iolo is a cheating bastard, where did he get his hands on a Dupre doll and why does throwing it do SO MUCH DAMAGE?

Mordoba taps him on the shoulder which lets Avatar eat another Dupre Desperation Attack. "VOID!" Cog slams a fist against the console. Luckily, it doesn't break.

"Calm down, Cog, we might have a job. Where is Gear?"

"Last i saw she was talking with the guys in the hangar."

****************

The caves under San Peligro are full of steam and pressure vents and pools of mineral water. They are scorching hot at the best of times. But it is said that deep within these caves is hidden what Gear has been told is a shrine to the Elemental of Fire. Her curiosity is piqued.

So, she's now down here. Of course, other things tend to like the heat, so she has her bayonet affixed.

:> _:

Gear> enjoy some lemonade.

She already does enjoy lemonade. It's a pity she didn't carry any. Besides, by now it'd be all hot and disgusting.

Wait, what was that?

[Creature's RFLX+Natural Weapon -> 13]
[Gear's RFLX+Dodge -> 26]
Gear ducks out of the way of an onrushing ball of fire! Something here doesn't like her. She thinks she spots it.

Aw, man, she'd thought the dragon rats would be cleared out by now.
[Gear's PERC+Heavy Weapons -> 31]
[Dragon Rat's RFLX+Dodge -> 20]
[36]

Well. At least that partly qualifies.

>Cog and Morbadon: are you with gear?

>Gear: Smell the air for signs of Shrinescent

Gear can't use scent that way! There's too much sulfur in the air, and last time it was fairly obvious the juniper had been recently burned in an enclosed area with no circulating air, none of which really apply here if at all.

**Input invalid error code 3345 consult manufacturer**

What are you talking about? Cog and Mordoba have already found Gear, messing about with one of the trundlebots!

Gear would rather not waste ammunition on such things. She does gut that dragon rat though.
[Gear's CRFT+Survival -> 13 FAIL]

Aaaand the dragon rat burns as she pierces its fire gland. Damn, she'd wanted to use that. Oh, well. No time like the present to keep moving... THere was so much steam and smoke in here, how could she-

Wait. What was that? Something seems to be resolving itself in the darkness and the damp. Gear follows it-

ERRORERRORERROR ABORT/IGNORE/FAIL?
Ignore, you stupid-

Gear stands up and shakes Cog and Mordy's hands in the hangar. Where they all are. Despite what other camera feeds might tell you. "So, where to, gentles?"

:> _:

Cog looks dubious. "Are you... Feeling all right, Gear?"

"Why wouldn't I, old chum?"

Okay. Gentles was okay, but 'old chum'? "Who are you and why are you talking like some kind of dime-store novel?"

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about..." Gear takes a step back.

Gear:
BODY 11 RFLX 16 KNOW 16 CRFT 16
CHAR 23 SPD 16 PERC 16 EGO 11
Skills
Initiative +6
Dodge +6
Stealth +6
Heavy Weaponry +5
Small Arms +4
Armed Combat +4
Weight Lifting +1
Spot Weakness [crft]+5
Awareness +6
Mecha Gunnery +2
Mecha Piloting +3
Mecha Repair +7
Mecha Design +7
Robotics +4
Flirtation +6
Conversation +6
Mysticism +3

EQUIPPED
Sniper Rifle: Damage 16 (AP), shots 7/8, acc +4, range 75.
Bayonet: Damage BODY+3, Acc +1.
[no armor]
[no armor]
INVENTORY
[SNIPER CLIP X2]
[ROBOTICS PARTS]
[MECHA REPAIR KIT]
[FRAG GRENADE]
[FLASH GRENADE]
[HOLDOUT PISTOL]
[EMERGENCY RATIONS]
[CHELATION PILLS]
[PDA]

"Gear"
BODY 11 RFLX 16 KNOW 16 CRFT 16
CHAR 10 SPD 16 PERC 16 EGO 20
SKILLS

Initiative
Dodge
Stealth
Cryptography
Heavy Weaponry
Small Arms
Armed Combat
Weight Lifting
Spot Weakness
Awareness
Mecha Gunnery
Mecha Piloting
Mecha Repair
Mecha Design
Disguise
Cryptography
Mysticism
Robotics
Conversation
Flirtation
EQUIPPED
[none]
[Goggles]
INVENTORY
[Robotics parts]
[holdout pistol]
[Laser Pistol]

Cog puts two hands on her shoulders. "Are... you certain you're feeling okay?"

Gear kisses Cog. Cog just felt sparks from that. Whoever this is, it's obviously not Gear. "Of course I'm fine, silly."

"Now, hold on, Gear, this is a major change from the last time we talked about this..." Cog starts up.

"Don't worry about that..." She replies. "We'll talk about it all we like. In private."

"Uh-uh. I'm coming with you two." Mordy cuts in with a smile that's maybe a little too wide. "Sudden relationship-changing revelations are not happening without me there."

"That's fine," both Cog and Gear say at once.

********************

Well, what do you know. There is a shrine down here. It looks really, really old. Older than Pre-War old. Older than Pre-Superpowers old. Maybe that's just a function of it being down here in the dank for so long.

A noise? Gear looks behind her. Nothing there... Hm...

It's not much of a private spot, really- more the hole in the wall where everyone had decided they'd stay since, well, there wasn't much point in taking the big inn on the hill. Mordy is sitting with the two of them.

"What's this all about, anyway? You aren't nearly so affectionate, you never use outdated British slang and I simply cannot believe you decided on a whim to change up your weapon loadout." Cog is looking the impostor in the eyes. "You're not really Gear, are you?"

"Well, in one way, you're absolutely right, my mallard," Gear says, nodding. "In another you're dead wrong. The question here is where you want the emphasis in that last sentence, yeah?"

"Give me a good reason not to plaster you to the floor," Mordy warns.

"I know where Gear is, you don't."

*********************************

The Shrine of Fire is bigger than most of the roadside shrines around. It's more of a Fire Temple, really, without all the inconvenient liquid hot magma and its attendant convection problems. In fact, compared to the raging steam vents outside, it's positively pleasant in here. Or is that heat exhaustion setting in? Gear can't tell.

There is an altar here, as well as several devotionals.
:> _:

Gear already left some coins in the offertory box outside. Here, though, she thought ahead. SHe won't be burning mere incense here.

She stole a tin of those horrible chocolate covered sardines. The scent of sulfur ruins any chance her normal juniper would have anyway.

The trick is, meditating here without falling unconscious...

[Gear's BODY+Mysticism -> 20]
Gear has entered a trance...

*************************

"Where is she?" Cog asks.

"I can't tell you that yet. Well, I suppose I can tell you it's someplace quite hot." She smirks.

Mordy gets the impostor into a submission hold! ARGHLBLRGHLBLRGHL- She lets go! Mordy was electrocuted! "You're... You're a robot!"

"Now, now, Dr. Mordoba, was it? That wasn't wise. But yes, that's true enough, though my creator made it a point of pride to make me... Fully functional."

... Dr. Mordoba has started daydreaming.

:> _:

Mordoba slowly recovers from stun.

"Okay, so why would someone build a robot Gear?" Cog asks.

Gearbot shrugs. "Lots of reasons. Impersonation. Vendetta. I was never really informed."

"Vendetta? We haven't made that many enemies yet," Cog exclaims.

"Who said this had anything to do with you three?"

*******************

Heh. Like a bee to the honey. She's already out. This should be simple. In. Out. And then the fun can really begin.

:> _:

The chloroform is in her hand, it's simple- just a moment and then-

Gear has awakened from her trance. Gear has gained the Enlightenment of Fire! Her PASSIONS are enflamed! A FIRE rages within her!
[+1 RFLX/CHRM/CRFT/EGO]
[Status gained: Enlightenment of Fire- lasts 30 days]

Gear catches the hand and struggles to her feet. This... Isn't someone she's ever met before. But whoever it is, they're clearly hell-bent on taking her out!

*********************

"So what's all this about then? Her father?"

"I'm not sure," Gearbot replies. "All I know is that it has to do with the Abhorrence of Life incident a few years back."

Mordy, at least, remembers that; something of an apotheosis as terrorists awoke the ancient bioweapon Abhorrence of Life. It's said that the Arena Champion led a lance of the best pilots he could find and in a full day and night of fighting rendered Abhorrence of Life to a goo puddle. Other than that, not a hell of a lot is known- half the active Cavaliers at the time have claimed to be part of Canassis Lance at one point or another, and there are so many conflicting stories about what was there and what precisely happened that the Guardians are STILL trying to piece all the eyewitness accounts together.

"So what does that have to do with her father?" Cog asks.

"Maybe he was a member of Canassis Lance, for real," Gearbot replies. "Maybe he's Canassis himself, the Arena Champion."

"Canassis? How do you know that's the last name of the Arena Champion? Most of his records have been scrubbed."

"Do not doubt the power of my creator!"

Mordy starts to sneak off, out of the room. "Mordoba, where are you going?" Cog asks.

"To try and find the real Gear."

"Oh, that's simple," Gearbot puts forth. "She'll be at the Shrine of Fire."

"How do you know that?" Mordy asks.

"It's part of what she is."

:> _:

"You're... Kind a creepy, Gearbot," Cog says.

Mordy nods.

Gearbot shrugs. "I was designed to fill a purpose. I'm done with it now, so I guess shutting down would be okay."

"What purpose is that?" Mordy asks.

"Distracting you." She shrugs again.

Cog has a choice to make:
[ ] "Oh, crap. STAY HERE we'll deal with you later." Leave.
[ ] "... Do you want to join us?"
[ ] Destroy her now, and risk Gear losing out.

Gear's doing the best she can! She leaps over the Altar of Fire just in time to evade a grab. "What's your problem?"

"My problem is that you're not dead yet!"

Gear unaffixes her bayonet for use as a combat knife. It flashes in the odd, harsh light of the Shrine, and she finally gets a good look at this new rival.

She can't quite tell their gender. Oh she can tell some things- the hair is obviously deep red and they keep it rather unprofessionally long, for instance- but the light is simply too poor to make out proper features.

Of course, if one didn't mind the minor sacrilege of not cleansing oneself before doing so, it's not too dim to make out WHY ARE YOU CONSIDERING THIS

***************************

"Fine." Cog picks up his shotgun. "But you're coming with us. And helping."

"So you're asking me to betray my creator in a blaze of screaming metal and death?"

"Uh... Yeah, I guess," Cog says, after a moment.

Mordy pipes up, "You just want to make out with both of us, don't you?" A little smirk plays on her face.

Cog looks temporarily dejected. "Can we just go get the real Gear? And what do we call you, anyway? 'Gearbot' doesn't cut it."

:> _:

"What about Spr-"

"No."

"Why not?"

"That's my programmer's handle. Too much confusion."

:> _:

"My original designation was 'Approximating Simulacrum, Lunar type, designation 34201'," Gearbot points out.

"Fine, Axl. Move out. We've wasted enough time," Mordy says. "We can all have sloppy makeouts later." Mordy walks out in her armor before any of them can see her blush, as she can't believe she just said that.

"Uh, fine point- where's the Shrine of Fire?" Cog asks.

Axle has temporarily joined your lance!

You head into

HOT SPRING CAVE

It's hot here. And dim. And dank.

:> _:

The Lance attempts to enter the Shrine of Fire.

They cannot find it!

This is really really bad news!

oh noooooooooo!

In the meantime, they have problems of their own...

****************

Gear, in the Shrine of Fire, seems to be having trouble! in fact, knife vs. sword, she seems to have lost out, gaining several scratches on herself and her clothing.

Suddenly, her opponent's visor blinks into life. A moment's hesitation.

Gear attacks!

And is PARRIED.

The fight continues....

***************

Unseen by the Lance, several watchful eyes follow them...

Deep in Fire Springs, a light blazes into life.

Multiple cameras focus in the dark.

Somewhere, the faint drone of an electric charge...

**************

"I can't help but feel we're being watched..." Cog says, brandishing his shotgun.

"Watch where you point that thing!" Mordoba says, getting out of the way. She turns, then dives for Cog! "DOWN!"

WHA DA DOOOOOOOOOM!

******************

The entire cavern and the Shrine suddenly shake violently!

Sprocket? is knocked over! Gear retains her footing!

:> _:

The air is choked with dust! Everyone has sustained minor damage from a spalled stalagmite.

"Mordy, what's going on?" Cog shouts, getting up.

"Some idiot's got a plasma cannon! He'll bring down the caverns!" Mordy stands up. "I can't tell wher ehe is, but if he can keep up the bombardment, any given plasma blast could bury us alive!"

*********************

"Don't think you've won, Gear," The... Androgynous thing says as Gear picks up its longsword. "There's plenty of me to go around."

"I'm not going to kill you," Gear relplies, heading towards the shrine door. "There's too much else to worry about."

"Tch." It gets up, and Gear can see its face clearly. Or would be able to if it weren't cybernetically linked to a visor. "Like father, like daughter..."

It lunges for Gear's throat!

Gear makes a stop thrust.

Gear sees it impale itself on her shiny new sword, and she brings it up through a surprisingly unresisting shoulder; split nearly in half, it falls at her feet, letting out a bloody lipped, "Canassis himself couldn't stop my pain like that... What makes you think you can...?"

Sprocket has dissolved into a puddle of orange Tang. You're pretty sure she's dead.

:> _:

"Sprocket" is an email handle of what was apparently a master hacker with a thing against Gear's Father. Recently, you recieved an email from her, which is why you're here in the first place.

Gear discovered the Shrine of Fire and was attacked by Sprocket shortly after achieving the Enlightenment of Fire (Which... The players and Gear are unaware of the mechanical effects of) and found herself hard pressed to defend herself, even losing out!

For some reason, there are things watching the main Lance while this is happening. Whatever they are, they seem to have at least one plasma cannon. They also definitely don't like the Lance.

"Sprocket" seemed to lack internal organs, and when killed, she? turned into some kind of orange Tang. Gear has absolutely no idea why this would be. It is a mystery!

That said, let's GET ON WITH IT

************************

Axle looks out at the area. Where had that attack come from?

"Don't you have some kind of special senses or something?" Cog asks.

"Of course not. My creator said it would interfere with my duty." Axle even rolls her eyes like Gear. Creeeepy.

"Fantastic. So we need to find a plasma cannon, disable it, and get out before the entire cave collapses..." Cog sighs. "All in a day's work, I guess."

[Cog's Honor 88 -> 90 Paragon]

"Or we could just RUN!" Mordy replies, pulling herself, Cog, and Axle along with her.

"Gear's still in there!" Cog shouts.

:> _:

Gear did not gain any extra PERCEPTION from the Enlightenment of Fire. Which kinda makes sense, it's hardly all-encompassing.

************************

"We don't have time for this, Cog!" Mordy says, as Cog Evades her grip! He squirms to the floor and is already hitting the ground at a run.

"I'm not leaving her behind!"

"Dammit, if she's not-"

"SPARE ME!" Cog says, fading out of sight. It's too hot in here for IR!

"AAARGH!"

Mordy can hear someone spinning up the plasma cannon again.

Axle looks over at something. "I detect a small surveillance drone, code 'Marlowe'."

> Safety,
> Cog and Gear,
> Third Option: Fight?

Axle gets a brief look of utter glee as she picks the Marlowe up by its extendo-stalk and beats it against a handy column.

****************

Mordoba hears the Plasma Cannon start to spin down. "Hm?" She seems torn- Cog or cannon, cog- Cannon- oh who is she kidding she can't leave Cog all alone, he'd probably die a virgin.

***************

"GEAR! GEAR, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"

Cog suddenly has a sword at his throat. "Tell me why this isn't some complex trap set just for me."

"Because I don't want to die when the cave collapses?"

"... It's a start," Gear says, turning Cog around. "What's going on? Who wants to destroy the Shrine of Fire?"

:> _:

"I'm not sure, let's GO already!" Cog says, slinging his shotgun.

Gear hears trundling robots! "Hold on, something's around here!" Tap tap tap- "Marlowes? What are information gathering droids doing around here?"

Cog hears the plasma cannon spinning up.
[KNOW+ Deduction -> NO CONTEST]

"The Marlowes! They're directing the plasma cannon fire!"

"THERE'S A PLASMA CANNON DOWN HERE!?"

"Shut up and kill them!"

Crunch smash wham Marlowes have no defense whatsoever they're scrap.

*************

Mordy can hear something big moving in the depths of the cave!

************

Axle can't see a thing, but knows what's coming. "Yes... It will be our SENTINEL... And it shall know not fear."

:> _:

chunkachunkachunka-

********

Gear grabs runs into Mordoba on the way out and heads out of the cave system with little fuss. Except that she swears she can hear a chunkachunkachunka slowly rattling behind them, becoming ever louder and louder-

THUUUUMP. There seems to be a large, wide security droid on treads. It seems to have three separate weapons. One of them is obviously a PLASMA CANNON. The entire droid, overall, is about the size of two people standing side by side, and about six feet long. Its turret turns toward the party. Well, one of the three, anyway. Of course it's the Plasma Cannon, the Laser Cannons appear to not even be governed.

This will not be easy, but at least you're not in danger of the ceiling falling on you now. Small favors.

Gear whispers, "A Sentinel... Why would anyone want to get at Dad this much...?"

Run around behind it and jump onto it and start smashing the plasma cannon
in fact
try to rip it off the machine and then take it home with you

How do you suggest we do that, genius!?

Mordoba's at long range. If she could get close she could probably dismantle it, but someone would need to distract the Sentinel.

If all you're interested in is destroying it, Cog and Gear have their long-range weaponry and Axl has her laser-pistol, but Gear's a little close and in the way of Cog's shot.

Running doesn't seem like a good idea, either, since with its turret it can simply rotate and pick you off with that cannon.

Worse, you're fighting in the middle of town. This could turn into a major fiasco, fast.

[Cog's Morale -> 10]
[Gear's Morale -> 10]
[Axl's Morale -> N/A]
[Mordy's Morale -> 20]

:> _:

> Gear: Haul Ass.
> Cog: Open Fire.
> Axl: Approach.
> Mordy: Approach.

[DRUM-FED SHOTGUN's BV -> 2]
[Axl Engaging Combat Mode]
[Axl's Morale -> N/A]

Axl pauses, and blinks. You hear a voice that is not the one she has used, state, plainly, "Main system, engaging Combat Mode." Her left leg opens a holdout compartment with a whirr, and a laser pistol is pulled out of it.

"Gear! Haul ass!" Cog finishes loading the drum fed shotgun and re-setting its burst value to something that won't cause lots of collateral damage.

Gear breaks right.
[Sniper Rifle -> READY]

Cog breaks left.

DRY-DN "Dryden Sentinel" tracks main turret towards Mordy. Sub-turret 1 tracks Gear! Sub-turret 2 tracks Cog!

[Axl's RFLX + Small Arms -> 12(!)+9+3+3 -> 27]
[DRY-DN's RFLX + Dodge -> 9+1+5 -> 14 HIT]
[Axl's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 5+5+3 -> 13 No]
[1-25 = 0]

The laser pistol plinks off DRY-DN's armor!

[Main Turret: Plasma Cannon -> LOADING]
[Dryden's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 19]
[Mordy's RFLX + Dodge -> 4+6+10(!)+4-> 24 MISS]
[The GM grumbles.]
[Mordoba's Morale 20 -> 22 Maybe This Won't Be So Bad!]

[Sub-Turret 1: Las-Rifle1 -> LOADING]
[Sub-Turret 1: Las-Rifle2 -> READY]
[Dryden's RFLX + Small Arms -> 5+1+3+2 -> 11]
[The GM stares in stark disbelief at his dice.]
[Gear's RFLX + Dodge -> 14 MISS]
[Gear's Morale 10 -> 15 I can see it!]

[Sub-Turret 2: Las-Rifle1 -> LOADING]
[Sub-Turret 2: Las-Rifle2 -> READY]
[Dryden's RFLX + Small Arms -> 6+4+8(!)+2+5 -> 25]
[Cog's RFLX + Dodge -> 3+2+5 -> 10 HIT]
[The GM sighs in relief!]
[Dryden's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 10+1 -> 11 -> No]
[Hit location: Torso]
[8-5 = 3 HP damage, Torso! Cog's Reflex Vest AP -> 18!]
[Cog's Morale 10 -> 11 imustn'trunaway]
[Cog's HP 30 -> 28!]

Cog takes a laser right to the chest, grits his teeth, and bears it, bringing his shotgun to bear-

[Drum Fed Shotgun -> UNREADY]
[Cog's RFLX + Small Arms -> 7+10(!)+9+6+7-> 39]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 7+3+2 ->12 HIT*2]
[27div5=5-2=3]
[Cog's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 3+10(!)+9+6+6(Luck Of The Devil) -> 34 Critical Hit * 2!]
[3+2=5]
[Both Hits Ignore External Armor!]
[15-7=8]
[21-7=14]
[Tread Damaged!]
[TURRET ARMOR damaged! Ext. 40 -> 30, Int. 10 -> 8]
[SUB-TURRET 2 ARMOR damaged! Ext 40 -> 30 Int. 10 -> 8]
[Dryden's HP 200-22 = 178.]

Mordoba enters Melee range.
[Mordoba's Morale 22 -> 30]

Cog looks at the damage. Wow. That was ineffective. Let's fix that.
[Drum-fed Shotgun's BV -> 5]
[Drum-fed Shotgun -> READY]
[Cog's Morale 15 -> 20 I always wanted to try this~]

Gear brings up the sniper's scope, aims ever-so-carefully...
[Gear's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 9+10(!)+5+4+1 -> 29]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 11+9+6(!)+1 -> 27 HIT]
[The GM curses the fact that he cannot burn ME to avoid this hit because it is a robot.]
[Gear's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 2+9+10(!)+7+9 -> 37 CRIT.]
[10div5->2+2(Armorpiercing) -> 4 Ignore External Armor!]
[19-8=11]
[11 damage to MAIN TURRET! Accuracy Lost! Internal Armor 6.]
[Dryden's HP -> 167. Makes Resistance Check... OK]

Mordy: Attack! Watch out for those turrets, though...

The Dryden gets its hitsies first! Mordoba is within safe minumum range, selecting new target.
[Dryden's PERC + Heavy Weapons -> 1+7+5+6(!)+4 -> 23]
[Cog's RFLX + Dodge -> 1+2+2+4 -> 9. 9 hits.]
[14div5->2-2(burst weapon) -> 0]
[Dryden's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 4+4+5+4 -> 17 no]
[12-18=0]
[14-20=0]
[5-20=0]
[22-20=2]
[22-16=6]
[2-14=0]
[11-18=0]
[15-18=0]
[3-12=0]
[Cog's HP 28 -> 20]
[Cog's Morale 20 -> 44 Feeling ALIVE!]

Mordoba sees Gear's plan but has a better idea for its implementation. Namely, THUNDER FIST.
[Mordy's RFLX + Martial Arts -> 11+7+4+10(!)+4-> 36]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -> 9+5+2 ->16]
[20div5-> 4+1(Trained By A Master)->5]
[Mordy's RFLX + Martial Arts -> 10+8+8+6-> 32 CRIT]
[7... Calculating hits... External Armor Ignored, Internal Armor Halved!]
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY!" Mordoba rears back with the THUNDER FIST, throwing her hips into a massive right-
[22-3=21]
[Dryden's Resistance Vs. Mordoba's Electronic Warfare -> OVERLOAD]
Pulls herself forward in a reverse punch-
[23-2=21]
[Dryden's Resistance v. Mordoba's ECM -> Overload+5]
And while its entire body shudders with electricity from the force of the two blows... She couches her fist very carefully... into an uppercut that takes the main turret clean off.
[24-1=23]
[Dryden's Resistance v. Mordoba's ECM -> Overload+2]

The turret sails into the air! Dryden is overloaded! Until it grounds some charge it moves at one-fourth speed!
[Dryden's HP ->102]

Hit the floor and duck!

Axl is not a combat robot! Axl takes cover in the open field! This looks an awful lot like panicking, but don't be fooled.
[Axl standing -> prone]
[Axl's RFLX + Small Arms -> 26]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -9 (overloaded) -> You're kidding. You gotta be- okay fine I'll roll it it is a 9.]
[Axl's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 31 crit]
[5-8=0]

... Although, considering the damage she is dealing with that piddly laser pistol, you have got to wonder how it is that she expects to contribute anything to this conversation.

Cog draws a bead and fires, the hail of lead now truly starting to fill the air to the staccato beat of shaped charges filing out faster than a human could pull the trigger.
[Cog's RFLX + Small Arms -> 37]
[Dryden's RFLX + Dodge -9 -> 3+1-> 4 5 hits!]
[33div3-> 6-2=4]
[Cog's CRFT + Spot Weakness -> 19 no]
[11-6=5]
[10-10=0]
[18-8=10]
[19-6=13]
[8-8=0]
[Dryden's HP -> 79]
[Cog's Morale 44 -> 54 Rallied]

==>

[Dryden's BODY + Resistance -> FAIL]
[Dryden's Reactor has scrammed!]

Mordoba holds up a hand. "HOLD FIRE! I think I can scavenge some of this..."
[Mordoba revealed Talent: Tech Vulture]

Gear looks up. "Let me help." She runs up to it, while Mordoba pulls out a progressive Knife and cuts away the plates of armor.
[Robot trait confirmed: Internal Armor- Robots have internal armor plating. This makes it very difficult to fully penetrate robot armor!]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unhealing- Robots do not heal naturally, requiring Repair and Robotics skills to continue operation.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Integration- Robots can integrate other robot parts and cyberware to improve their raw statistics and skills. robots do not suffer trauma for installing cyberware.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unimproving- Robots do not gain attributes naturally, nor may they gain any of the Five Enlightenments.]
[Robot trait confirmed: Unemotional- Robots do not gain or lose Morale.]

Slowly, they take apart the Dryden together. The reactor looks relatively undamaged; it is a Class 9 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Reactor. They also get two Dual Laser Rifles, and a Class 5 ECM Suite. Most importantly, however, is the last thing you manage to salvage from the fried circuits and burning plastic.

You have gained a Sentinel Fire Control System. This is the first piece of cyberware you've found, and when installed in a human or a mecha, will improve the rolls of all PERCeption-based skills by 3. There aren't a lot of these around, and you just picked up one for the low low cost of having to take a plasma cannon to the face once or twice.

Make Axl a combat robot with the turret!

The turret hasn't landed yet!

> You could install the Sentinel Fire Control System in either Cog's mecha or Gear, but it would probably hurt Gear, and you don't have any high-grade medical supplies at the moment. On the other hand, Cog's mecha makes up for a lack in accuracy with raw pewpewpew fuckawesome firepower.

> Improve Axl's combat system somehow, otherwise she will forever be useless to you in anything involving combat, and she's been shown to have questionable social skills. Not exactly very tricky, either.

"Hey, Axl, you want a refit?" Mordy shouts.

The local law enforcement is showing up. Sure did take their sweet time about it, didn't they? It's actually a small resort town, so you're kind of surprised things worked out the way they did. Still, there's something to be said for what you've done so far; to the point there the single sheriff and his deputy mention "Well, no harm, no foul."

Mordy rents a small robotics workshop and Axl comes along. Basic diagnostics reveal the following integrated parts loadout:
[Class 1 Internal Armor- 2/2 AP]
[Class 3 Personal-Scale Nanofusion Plant]
[Class 3 Myomuscular Fiber Reaction Suite]
[Basic Fire Control System]
[Class 3 Cryptography Suite]
[Class 2 ECM Suite]
[Class 4 Stealth Protocols]
[Class 4 Disguise Protocols]

Hm. This isn't really a combat loadout; the designer appeared to intend to use FAX-04 as an infiltrator at first, but then tried to slap on some social protocols as well, which didn't work too well. In the meantime, you have a Class 9 Plant, a Class 5 ECM suite which is a straight upgrade, and a Sentinel Fire Control System and Some pretty hefty internal and external armor.

So, yes, if you had some measure of weaponry, and maybe a better crypto system, you could probably manage to make a combat robot out of Axl, but...

There's one more problem- she has a Motivation coded into her matrix already, and you're not sure you can get it out. Admittedly, it is a bit of a worry:

Axl's Current Motivation: "Drive a wedge into the forming Gear Lance."

There are a few ways you can go here.

You can go the safe route, and completely shut down Axl's personality, but that would give her a Resonance track, as her higher functions, like lock picking and stealth and most of her safety algorithms all need that AI to function.

You can live dangerously, and start adjusting the core personality, thus hoping to change the Motivation. The problem with that is that it works ass-backwards; most robot's core personality develops from Motivation.

Another option is to wipe her core, but that would get rid of all her useful skills, and you're pretty sure no one is as good at Electronic Warfare, Cryptography, Stealth, and Disguise as Axl is.

Of course, you can also leave it alone, but that seems dangerous.

:> _:

Adjust Core Personality

[Mordoba's CRFT + Robotics -> SECRET]
[Axl's EGO + Electronic Warfare -> SECRET]
[Mordoba's Robotics 7 -> 8]

Hm. Mordoba thinks about what traits to add to Axl while she works on beating Axl's defenses, then nods.
[Axl has gained personality trait: Hot-Blooded]
[Axl's trait changes: Outgoing to Neutral]
[Axl's trait changes: Flirtatious to Calm]
[Axl's Motivation changes: SECRET]
[Axl's Talents revealed: Robot Traits, Sharpshooter]

As long as you're in here, you go ahead with the rest of the changes.
[upgraded: Internal Armor, to Class 5. 10/10 AP.]
[upgraded: ECM Suite, to Class 5. SPD -> 17, RFLX -> 19, PERC -> 19, EGO -> 23]
[upgraded: FCS, to Sentinel FCS. PERC -> 28]
[upgraded: Power Plant, to Class 9 with Class 3 backup. BODY -> 20, SPD -> 20, RFLX -> 20]
[upgraded Without Proper Parts: Myomuscular Fiber Reaction Suite, to Class 4. RFLX -> 23, SPD -> 21]
[Installed: Spinal Electronic Reaction Suite, Class 2. SPD -> 23]
[Installed: External Armor, Class 8. AP 40/40, all locations.]

And just to top it off, you give the whole thing a nice black coat of epoxy resin paint just to make it all look nice. She looks like a Capcom reject, but with her stealth and skill rolls and that disguise suite she has, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

All in all, if she activates, Axl should probably be a top-class combat machine.

If she activates.

Come on...

Her eyes snap open at the same time you hear the air raid alarm! "Orbital drop detected! IFF Confirmed, Divine Aegis of Luna!" comes over the speakers. "All civilians are to retreat to bunkers- call placed to Earth Defense Forces-"

The speaker cuts out.

"Attention, Earth Village! We of the Divine Aegis of Luna are here to liberate you from the oppressive and corrupt Earth government, and to search for a fugitive from the Justice of the Aegis Overlord. Remain calm! We are here to help!"

END CHAPTER- An Obligatory Hot Springs Episode