[Department] Bert says, "Log on."

Peregrine disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Susan has arrived.

[Department] GM asks, "Just waiting on lps, right?"

[Department] Penny says, "As usu - I mean yes"

[Department] Susan says, "Yeah."

Letitia has arrived.

Letitia wave!

Maria sets her current fate point total to 3.

Letitia sets their current fate point total to 3.

Susan sets their current fate point total to 3.

Penny sets her current fate point total to 3.

[Department] GM exclaims, "Woo!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Oh, right--I swapped Craft and Will, so I'll have Craft at 2."

[Department] GM says, "Last time, on the Department of Unusual Affairs:"

[Department] GM | GM says, "But meanwhile, Penny *does* discover signs that someone has broken into through the back door, possibly multiple times."

[Department] GM | GM says, "While looking to see *what* might have been tampered with, you discover that the cabinets in the pantry -- containing cans of baked beans, Spam, peas and peaches in syrup -- are only about half full. And it looks like someone has used the bathroom without cleaning it."

[Department] GM | Susan asks, "So somebody accidentally forgot we were human and served one of us coffee flavored for robot consumption?"

[Department] GM | GM says, "'Yes. It's very bad for humans. Depending on the dose, it's frequently fatal. I'm very glad that we caught this in time.'"

[Department] GM | GM says, "'I was coming out of the hangar, and I just felt this... this *jolt* on the back of my head.'"

[Department] GM | GM says, "'Hey, doc, do you know what mighta happened to me?'"

[Department] GM | GM says, "'I couldn't say.'"

Letitia asks (of Doctor), "could you tell him if we were gone?"

GM says (to Letitia), "'Unfortunately not.'"

Letitia asks, "Is there someone you *could* tell?"

[Department] GM says, "And to recall the present scene: you're all in Doctor Julius' medical office, along with the doctor, his wife, and Hank."

GM says, "'I couldn't say.'"

Letitia asks, "Could you tell an employee of the post office?"

[Department] GM says, "Penny is in one bed, with an IV in her arm, and will need to stay there until morning. Hank is in the next bed, with a bandage on his head."

GM says, "'No.'"

Letitia asks, "Could you tell a robot employee of the coffee shop?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "He's a doctor, not a lawbreaker"

GM says, "He looks slightly pained. 'That is a difficult question to answer.'"

Letitia says, "OK, sorry."

Letitia asks, "Could I ask you about particular people?"

GM says, "'It's quite alright. I understand your conundrum.'"

GM says, "'Certainly.'"

Letitia says, "So, you can't tell Hank, here."

Letitia says, "And you can't tell us."

GM says, "'Correct.'"

Letitia asks, "Could you tell Daniel, of R&D R&D?"

GM says, "'*If* I knew anything about it, I don't see any reason why not.'"

Letitia nods.

Letitia asks, "Could you tell Ruth?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Er, was it Ruth?"

[Department] Susan says, "Rose"

Letitia says, "Wait, no--Rose."

Letitia says, "Sorry; I'm horrible with names."

GM says, "'Ah. Like Daniel, I don't see any reason I couldn't tell her anything I might happen to know, if I knew anything.'"

Letitia asks, "Could you tell Beth?"

GM says, "'I don't think there's anything useful I could tell Beth.'"

Maria hmms.

Letitia asks, "Could you tell Sandra?"

GM says, "'I don't think I could keep any secrets from Sandra.'"

Susan thinks she knows who the secret human on the island is.

Letitia says, "OK."

Letitia asks, "Is Beth roughly equivalent to a random post office employee in the whole secret-of-Hanks-behavior circle?"

[Department] GM reads that twice.

[Department] Letitia says, "He had a different answer for Beth than 'employee of the post office', so I'm wondering if that's significant or not."

GM says, "'...I think you could say that, yes. If I udnerstand you correctly.'"

[Department] GM says, "Ah! OK."

[Department] GM says, "Then I stand by my answer."

Letitia says, "OK--your answers just got a little more detailed as we moved on from the post office. In case you were wondering."

GM says, "'Ah, yes. I see now.'"

GM says, "'I know that you probably have a lot of questions, but I *do* think that both of you--' he says, directing that last part to Penny and Hank '--should get some rest. There's a button you can press to wake me or my wife if you need anything during the night.'"

GM says, "'So if you don't mind, I'd like to finish charging, so that I can be at full power tomorrow.'"

Penny says, "Thank you, doc."

GM says, "'You're very welcome.'"

Letitia says, "Good idea; thanks."

GM says, "The doctor and his wife leave the room. As their footsteps go down the hall, you hear the sound of a doorknob opening."

GM says, "Hank lies back in his bed and apparently goes unconscious again."

GM says, "So it's just the four of you and Penny's IV pole left."

Letitia peeks down the hallway.

Penny asks (of letita), "Good work! Now how de we want to play this?"

Susan says, "Well, I guess the advantage of interrogating robots is that you don't need to light matches between their toes."

GM says (to Letitia), "The door at the end of the hall, probably leading into the doctor's home, is closed. But another door partway down is slightly ajar."

Letitia waits a few minutes, and then she and her drones go quietly into the open room.

[Department] Letitia says, "(minus the one in Hank's hat ;-)"

[Department] Maria says, "Haha, right"

GM says, "It looks like an office. There's a desk, a telephone, some filing cabinets, photographs of landscapes on the wall, and a framed medical degree -- apparently from an online university."

Susan says, "Well, guess his doctorate wasn't doctored."

[Department] Letitia asks, "Computer?"

[Department] Alex says (to Letitia), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that The Computer is your Friend."

Penny asks, "What's an online University? Is it one that has telephones?"

[Department] GM says, "No computer."

[Department] GM says, "If you're looking for files, you'll need to go old-school."

Letitia pulls open the filing cabinet, and looks for patient files for the thus-far-named people in this adventure.

Susan says, "Look for 'Sandra'."

Letitia says (to Susan), "Yeah."

GM says (to Letitia), "You find private medical records for Hank, Beth, Rose, Daniel, the people you rescued from the lab whose names I forget..."

GM says, "...but no, no records for Sandra."

Susan says, "Huh."

Susan says, "Given that he's the only doctor on this island..."

Letitia looks up the project that was named in the doc/Rose correspondance.

GM exclaims (at Letitia), "Hey, here it is... 'Wet Upgrade'!"

Letitia smiles and gets an intent look in her eyes.

GM says, "The file is made up of a mixture of technical medical jargon, scientific formulas, and various diagrams."

GM says, "Some of the diagrams at least are pretty easy to recognize: this one is a carefully labelled drawing of a human brain."

GM says, "And this other one is a labelled diagram of a *positronic* brain."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "I bet Wet Upgrade turns out to be robot talk for French Kissing."

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Ew."

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Maria), "You'll feel differently when you get older."

Penny asks (of gang), "So maybe they're trying to make robots more human?"

Maria says, "Sounds like it."

Susan says, "Oh, you manatee."

Letitia says, "Yeah, so this might not be a human at all, but a robot upgraded so that everyone now responds to them like they're human."

[Department] GM asks, "Are you wheeling Penny around on her bed? Or is she walking around with an IV pole?"

[Department] Maria says, "i was assuming the latter"

Penny asks, "And maybe Sandra is the first of them?"

[Department] Penny says, "The latter"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "In this case, I've giving you the aspect 'Tethered to an IV Pole'."

Penny says, "There is still someone clearly human on the island."

[Department] Penny says, "Sounds fair. (Do I get a FATE point?)"

Letitia says, "Well, they eat. Might be a robot that now eats."

Susan says, "... BRAINS! Hoh."

Letitia looks through the file some more to see if other things besides the brain might be upgraded.

[Department] GM says, "If a situation comes up where it causes you a real problem, yes, you'll get a compel worth a fate point :)"

Penny says, "If the build artificial humans, that would be ... there was this novel in my time, called Frankenstein, I don't know if that's still relevant...""

GM says (to Letitia), "To parse the medical jargon or formulas, you'll need an Overcome using Academics."

GM says, "Vs. +3"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Who's our Academics person?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "me!"

Penny rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 0 | Good (3)

Letitia says, "Penny? Can you have a look at... ok, then."

[Department] GM asks (of Penny), "Out of curiosity, do you think that being Out of the Loop might cause any complications here?"

[Department] GM asks, "I.e., do you have any good ideas for a compel worth a fate point in this situation?"

[Department] Penny says, "Not really, off the top of my head."

[Crows-Nest] Susan asks, "Or in other words, taking the previous session as an analogy: do you want to drink that coffee?"

[Department] GM says, "Alright, than we'll pass on a compel here."

[Department] GM says, "This is a tie, so there will be a minor drawback..."

[Department] Penny says, "(At least, nothing that wouldn't just mean "We actually don't understand the contents")"

[Department] Letitia says, "Normally I'd say yes and take the fate point, but I'm kind of ready to know what's going on."

[Department] Penny says (to Letitia), "That was my thinking"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "The truth, at last!"

GM says (to Penny), "As you read through this, it reminds you of some of the fringe alchmical theories you've read, back in the olden days, about attempts to prolong life..."

GM says, "In this case, it looks like someone is studying ways to try to take information -- *all* the information -- from one mind and pour it into another one."

[Department] Susan asks, "Does Penny explain this to us?"

GM says, "Some of these equations are a bit strange, though. It's like, just putting them into your brain is affecting *your* mind. You feel dizzy..."

[Department] Penny asks, "So, not a min-swap, but adding one mind to another?"

GM says, "Penny goes glassy-eyed, and swoons."

Susan exclaims, "Nooo! Frosty!"

Maria tries to catch her.

[Department] GM says, "Right. One-way transfer."

Maria says, "You feeling all right? Maybe you should lie down."

[Department] Letitia asks, "Transfer and overwrite? And which way--human to positronic?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Or the other way 'round?"

[Department] GM says, "Human to positronic, indeed."

Penny says, "Thursday"

Maria asks, "What?"

Susan asks, "Thirsty?"

Maria says, "Oh."

Penny exclaims, "I have to get ready for the ball!"

Maria tries to lead Penny back into the other room. "Seriously, you should lie down."

Letitia carries Penny back to the bed, asking someone to get the IV stand as she goes.

[Department] Maria says, "Or that!"

[Department] GM says (to Susan), "(And to answer your earlier question, it's up to Penny if she explains this to you.)"

Maria wheels the stand behind Letitia.

[Department] Penny exclaims, "It's a mind-transfer! Human to positronic! Who knows to what nefarious ends!"

Penny exclaims, "It's a mind-transfer! Human to positronic! Who knows to what nefarious ends!"

Susan says, "WHAT."

Penny says, "Nefarious means bad"

Letitia says (to Penny), "Shhh; not so loud. And thank you."

Susan says, "Sorry, I -- THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEY CANNOT CHEAT ME LIKE THIS -- I'm sorry, this isn't usual for me."

Susan says, "Why am I even apologizing."

[Department] GM says, "Hee."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "'Shhh; not so loud.' 'THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.'"

Penny exclaims (at susan), "Don't take any wooden nickels!"

[Department] Penny found his list os 20s slang again.

[Department] GM says, "Yay."

GM asks, "What do you, the heroes, do now?"

Letitia makes sure Penny is settled in bed and comfortable again.

Penny says (to Letitia), "Thanks, I feel likem Berries now"

[Department] GM says, "(Possibly: 'go to sleep and pick up in the morning'?)"

[Department] Susan asks, "If that is an option, then yeah?"

Letitia says, "So. Some sorceress finds out about robots, and comes here to set herself up as a robot and thus immortal."

[Department] GM exclaims, "It is!"

[Department] Penny asks, "To recap: A human is on the island and plans to use the robots, probably to transfer their mind into them?"

Letitia says, "But makes sure everyone will respond to her as a human, so she can have an island of minions."

Susan says, "Immortality. Ugh. That old ploy."

Susan says, "And now I feel super pissed for some reason."

Penny asks, "If she already transfered her mind, do we have any chance of finding her?"

Letitia says, "Works with the doctor and Rose to work out the details."

Letitia asks, "Then sets off the law bomb for... some reason?"

Letitia asks, "To check if it worked?"

Penny asks, "To cover her tracks?"

Letitia says, "She may have already."

Letitia says, "(already transferred herself)"

Penny asks, "Or maybed the robots set it off to get us here?"

Susan says, "That's more likely."

Letitia exclaims, "The law bomb didn't get us here!"

Letitia says, "The note on the crate did."

Susan says, "Huh, you're right."

Letitia says, "And the crate was sent a month ago. The law bomb just went off a few days ago."

Penny says, "Damn facts ruining a good theory."

[Department] Letitia asks (of GM), "Am I remembering correctly?"

[Department] GM says, "Yes."

[Department] Letitia says, "Cool."

[Department] GM says, "(I don't remember if I specific said 'a month' or not, but that's a reasonable number if I didn't.)"

Letitia says, "The timing discrepancy was the first thing that tipped me off that someone was covering their tracks with orders."

Penny says, "I wonder what she wanted to hide to hide with the law bomb"

Letitia asks, "Maybe to stop someone else from upgrading?"

[Department] Penny asks (of gm), "The signs of someone living here were pretty recent, right?"

[Department] GM asks, "As in, just recently arrived, or were still here as of recently?"

Susan says, "At any rate, we can assume, given the low tech nature of the bomb, that she only just learned we were coming and had to improvise stuff."

[Department] GM asks, "Or both?"

[Department] Penny says, "Both"

[Department] Letitia says, "The former we can assume 'no', but I do wonder how recently food had been eaten."

[Department] GM says, "From the state of the bathroom, you would guess that someone had been using it as recently as this last few days."

[Department] Letitia says, "(if we can tell)"

Penny asks, "Is there a risk she'll sic all of these poor people on us if we get too close?"

Letitia says, "Yup."

[Department] GM says, "From the state of the pantry, you would guess they had been stealing cans for at least several weeks if not more."

Maria says, "Probably! She already tried to kill us."

Letitia says, "Hmm. Do we think she has, perhaps, tracked us here? If so, we could set an ambush."

Penny asks, "You mean while poor Penny is still recuperating?"

Letitia says, "We'd put you in a different room."

Penny says, "I'm willing to be the bait again, but it better not end up like that case with the long-toothed Vampire"

Susan says, "Frosty, why are you speaking in the third person? That cyanide must have really messed you up"

Letitia says, "And a stunt double where you are. Or pillows."

Penny asks (of Letitia), "Why did you say sorceress earlier?"

Letitia says (to Penny), "From the way you were explaining things, it seemed a little bit mystical in addition to scientific."

Penny says, "ah"

Penny says, "Okay, so let's try that plan"

Penny says, "And we need to get Hank out of there too"

[Department] GM asks, "So your plan is to wait here, saying awake all night (except for Penny, who'll sleep in another room), being ready to ambush anyone who arrives to attack you?"

[Department] Penny asks, "Maybe we'll sleep in shifts?"

[Department] Letitia says, "I can set up the drones as guards."

[Department] GM asks, "Ooh, so like a motion sensor kind of thing?"

[Department] GM asks, "With an alarm to wake you if they detect anything?"

[Department] Letitia says, "Right. Or if the network is disrupted in any way."

[Department] GM asks, "Sounds good. Where will they be located? Inside, outside...?"

[Department] GM says, "(How many do you have?)"

[Department] Letitia says, "'a flock' ;-)"

[Department] GM says, "Oh, right, of course."

[Department] Susan says, "I want to spend a fate point to find out if Penny will be attacked here... unless that's not fun for you guys"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

[Department] GM asks, "Using which Aspect?"

[Department] Penny says (to susan), "Better save your FATE points for now."

[Department] Susan asks, "Tied To An IV Pole?"

[Department] GM says, "It's up to you."

[Department] Letitia says, "Let's say a perimeter of them, plus one by the door, and leaving the one in Hank's hat."

[Department] Susan says (to Penny), "okay then."

[Department] GM asks (of Letitia), "Perimeter outside the building, one in the hall by the door of the room?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Maybe put both Hank and Penny in the office, and set up myself as Hank and Susan as Penny in the ward?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "And Maria wherever you want to be?"

[Department] GM asks, "Are you rolling Hank's bed in there?"

[Department] GM asks, "Unplugging everything and plugging it back in in the other room?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Does it seem like that'll work?"

[Department] Penny says, "That sound potentially troublesome"

[Department] Maria says, "Hm"

[Department] Susan asks, "I'm happy to take Penny's place. Will a disguise be needeD?"

[Department] Susan says, "Cause I have Deceive"

[Department] GM says, "It's certainly possible. It'll be a tight squeeze to fit both beds in the office, but you could probably manage it if you pushed the desk up against the wall."

[Department] GM asks, "So that's what you're doing?"

[Department] Letitia says, "I am OK with that plan, at this point mostly because it's *a* plan, and we should do something ;-)"

GM says, "Hank stirs as you're maneuvering his bed out into the hallway. 'What's happening? What are you doing?'"

[Department] Letitia says, "But am happy to consider alternatives."

Letitia asks (of Hank), "It's OK, we're just moving you. Can you go to sleep again?"

[Department] Susan asks, "I'm happy with the plan. Can I disguise myself as Penny? Please?"

GM says, "'Oh... can you plug my bed back in?'"

Letitia exclaims, "Yup!"

Letitia says, "Sorry for the disruption."

GM says, "'Alright. See ya tomorrow, then.'"

Penny gives Susan her blazer.

GM says, "And after you plug it back in, he slips back into charging mode."

Letitia frowns as she sets up Hank in the new room.

[Department] GM asks, "Susan and Letitia are in the other two beds in the ward, and Maria is trying to sleep sitting up in a visitor's chair?"

Susan says (to Penny), "That should do perfectly. When they come in to bump me off I'll be ready to *blaze* away at them."

Letitia pulls out her phone and runs a scan for wireless signals, to see if Hank could possibly have transmitted something while awake.

[Department] Maria says, "Yeah, that makes senes. I was gonna sort of hide, but that works better."

Penny says (to susuan), "Be careful, you little goofy woman"

GM says (to Letitia), "The only nearby wireless signals you detect are your drones."

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "irta "dreams""

GM says, "Sleep comes, eventually, and time ticks past..."

GM exclaims, "...until Letitia's drone alarm goes off!"

Penny blinks. "What's all this then?"

Maria startles awake.

Letitia says, "sshhh."

Susan pretends to sleep.

Letitia looks at the remote screens to see what it was.

Susan waits for it.

GM says (to Letitia), "It's the drone in the hallway, outside the room."

GM says, "And in fact, you hear footsteps coming from that direction."

GM says, "And then suddenly..."

Maria puts a hand on her gun, and freezes.

GM exclaims, "...Dr. Julius comes in!"

GM says, "'Morning, good morning, how did everyone sleep last night?'"

[Department] Susan says, "I think we didn't think this plan through."

Penny says, "We slept very well. In case you're wondering, we always wave our guns around in the morning for exercise."

[Department] GM asks, "Is Penny even here?"

[Department] Maria asks, "Penny, aren't you in the office?"

[Department] Maria says, "Timing"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Oh, I thought this was the office! Sorry!"

Maria checks her watch.

GM says, "'Wait, you're not my patients!' He grows alarmed. 'What did you do with Hank and Penny?'"

Letitia gets up. "Thanks, I slept OK."

Letitia says, "They're in the other room--we thought whoever attacked Hank might try again."

Susan says, "It's a me, Mario! I mean, it's me, Sullivan."

GM says, "He frowns. 'Well, if you'll excuse me, I need to go check on them.'"

Letitia follows Dr. Julius.

GM says, "He crosses the hallway to the office, where he can barely fit into the room with the two large beds in there."

GM says (to Hank and Penny), "'There you are. How did you sleep last night?'"

[Department] Letitia says, "For what it's worth, I replaced all the files, of course."

[Department] GM says, "Good, good."

Penny says, "We slept very well. In case you're wondering, we always wave our guns around in the morning for exercise."

GM says, "'Yes. I come from America too, although it's been several decades since I was there. I suppose things have only gotten worse in that regard.'"

GM says, "He sets about examining Penny and Hank to verify their progress. Meanwhile, you hear a doorbell."

Letitia checks her drones to see who it is.

Penny says (to gm), "Thank you doctor."

GM says (to Letitia), "You see an image of Rose standing at the front door of the clinic. As you're watching, the doctor's wife opens the door."

Letitia turns up the volume.

GM says (to Penny), "'Well, you seem to be recovering very well. I think you're set to make a full recovery, in fact.' And he removes the IV and helps Penny up from her bed."

Letitia returns to the ward room.

GM says (to Letitia), "'...group of humans last night?' asks Rose. 'I have a message I need to deliver.'"

Penny says, "I have a bad feeling about this"

GM says, "The doctor also tells Hank that he's fit to go home, and to come back in about a week and he'll do the final cosmetic reconstruction to remove his scar."

Penny turns to the group, proudly "Star Wars"

GM says, "The doctor's wife leads Rose inside, and brings her in to the group of you (whome we'll assume are now all in the same room)."

GM says, "'Ah. Hello,' says Rose. 'I have something to tell all of you.'"

Letitia stays in the ward room, watching remotely, but herself out of sight.

Susan crosses her arms.

Penny is wary.

GM says, "'The mystery of the logic bomb has been solved. It was all just a simple prank.'"

Maria raises an eyebrow, but says nothing.

GM says, "'We will increase the security at the lab and handle the rest of the matter ourselves.'"

GM says, "'There is no need for any further assistance from any of you, and you are encouraged to return home. Thank you for a job well done.'"

Susan says, "I personally prefer them rare."

Susan says, "Hohoho."

Maria looks around at the others.

[Department] Susan exclaims, "I want to trick Rose!"

Penny asks (of maria), "Can you tell us who did the prank?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Rose!"

[Department] GM asks, "OK, what are you trying to do?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Too many women!"

[Department] Susan says, "I want to make her believe we're dropping the case and leaving"

GM says, "'It was one of our lab technicians.'"

Susan asks, "The one who needed shaving?"

Susan asks, "Or someone else?"

[Department] GM says, "OK! That would be a Deceive Overcome roll, with active opposition from her Empathy."

[Department] Susan says, "Wehee."

Susan rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 -1 | Average (1)

GM says, "...yes. That one.'"

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 +1 | Fair (2)

[Department] Letitia asks, "Maybe tag 'go team'?"

[Department] Susan asks, "Unless someone else wants to use it?"

[Department] Susan asks, "Do we have a free invoke or do I spend a fate point?"

[Department] GM says, "Sounds good to me."

[Department] Letitia says, "Free invoke."

[Department] Susan exclaims, "yes!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Go ahead and roleplay it!"

[Department] Letitia says, "(we had it x2, so we still have an x1)"

Susan knows from experience that in situations like these, the best way to get the drop on the enemy is misinformation. Bolstered by the speech Penny made the day before when on the brink of death, Susan smiles and steps towards Rose:

Hunter disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Susan says, "Well, it's a shame we didn't get to do anything exciting, but I guess not all missions have to have high stakes. Anyhow, I speak for everyone when I say that in all fairness, this island isn't really a place for humans like us, and I guess that extending our stay would be disruptive."

Susan says, "Thanks for your hospitality."

Susan says, "We'll leave as soon as Hank is well enough to take us back."

GM says, "Rose smiles weakly. 'I'll be sad to see you go. I hope we meet again at some point.'"

GM says, "And Rose and Hank leave together."

Susan waits till they're gone, then goes: 'Ha! Got 'em.'

Penny says (to susan), "Nice work."

Susan says (to Penny), "I might have picked a thing or two from working with you, Frosty."

Letitia returns. "Whew. Thought the message for us might have been 'I'm here to kill you'."

[Department] Maria says, "Is the doctor in the room? Heh"

Maria says, "Yeah, me, too."

[Department] GM says, "Unless you made sure he wasn't."

[Department] Susan says, "We made sure."

[Department] Maria says, "Ok"

[Department] GM exclaims, "In that case, no!"

[Department] GM says, "He's probably trying to get the beds back out of his office."

Letitia assists with the beds.

GM says (to Letitia), "With your help, the beds are soon back where they were, with only a few extra scuff marks added to the walls."

Penny says, "I wonder if this was an inane attempt to trick us. Whoever's behind this doesn't seem to be that good at this."

Letitia says, "OK, I guess we need to head out! Thanks for everything, Doctor."

GM says, "'You're welcome! Please come back if you find yourself in need of any more medical help.'"

[Department] GM asks, "OK! Where are you going now?"

Susan says (to Penny), "That's because we're seasoned veterans! Wait, is that pepper... atchoo! Just kidding."

Letitia exclaims, "Hopefully we won't!"

[Department] Penny says, "Good question"

Letitia hops into the car rather quickly, then pipes the audio from Hank's hat drone to the car stereo. "Follow them?"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Crap. This is suddenly going to be much harder."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "There's now a cat lying on all of my notes."

Letitia says, "Ha"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Aw"

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "Er, 'ha' here."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says (to Letitia), "You might have been laughing at my pun."

GM says (to Letitia), "'...safe to fly the plane?' asks Rose."

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "Let's keep the game at least vaguely realistic."

[Department] GM asks, "Are you trying to follow them secretly, so they don't know what you're doing?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Good thing we're just "tailing" the bad guy for now </Susan>"

[Crows-Nest] Allen says, "that gets a quotebook entry"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Aw"

GM says, "'Sure, I feel great. Doc J does great work.'"

[Crows-Nest] olethros says, "ha ha"

[Department] GM asks, "Or are you just making sure you don't lose them, not worrying about whether or not you're being followed?"

[Crows-Nest] olethros says, "what are y'all playing"

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "FATE"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Are they going back to the airstrip?"

GM says, "'You don't think you might be risking... *harm* to the humans, by flying so soon after your injury?'"

[Department] GM exclaims, "In fact, it looks like they are!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Sure, i'll try to keep my distance."

[Department] GM says, "OK, I'll trust your driving skills without a skill check here."

[Department] Letitia says, "Shouldn't be too hard; I'm not trying to keep them in sight, just in range of my drone audio. Which hasn't been established, so presumably it's 'whatever's interesting'"

[Department] GM says, "Yeah, exactly."

GM says, "'Nah, you're worrying too much. I just need to make sure the plane's in good shape, and we'll be good to go.'"

Penny asks, "Why are we following Rose? Think she'll leads us to the human?"

GM says, "'Hank, what if something happened to the plane?'"

Letitia says, "Yeah, I'm hoping Sandra checks in on them."

GM says, "'Oh, I'll make sure it's in proper condition before taking off. I always give it a full inspection before any flight, *especially* with humans on it.'"

Letitia asks, "If not, I guess we check by the coffee shop?"

GM says, "'So... if someone *did* something to the plane, damaged it somehow... then they'd be stuck here, and there'd be no risk of them being harmed by it, because you'd never take off?'"

Letitia says, "Aww, Rose is so sweet."

GM says, "'Rose, what are you suggesting?'"

Penny says, "I think Rose knows someone did something to the plane"

Letitia exclaims, "I think Rose wants to do something to the plane herself!"

Letitia says, "Sandra just wants us gone."

GM says, "And then you hear what sounds like them getting out of the car, and the voices fade away -- as if Hank had hung up his hat on a hook and left it there."

Letitia says, "if the plane was damaged, they'd send someone else."

GM says, "(Are you still following the signal, or are you going someplace else?)"

Letitia asks, "Let's go to the coffee shop, then?"

Penny says, "Yes"

GM exclaims, "OK!"

Letitia heads there!

Penny says, "We have a coffee date ... with Destiny"

GM exclaims, "The Coppertop Cafe!"

Penny says, "No wait, her name is Sandra"

Susan exclaims, "Coffee dates? Those aren't real fruit!"

GM says, "Where Sandra is back behind the counter, looking a bit tired, but still smiling. And her assistant is running the espresso machine, and a few other assorted patrons are seated drinking their morning hot beverages."

Letitia rolls down all the windows in the car, and sets up the stereo so she can turn it on and pipe a really loud noise through it.

[Department] Letitia says, "(Create Advantage: 'Car So Loud You Can't Hear Any Orders')"

[Department] GM asks, "Ha. Are you intending it to block sound in the parking lot near the car, or inside the building as well?"

[Department] GM says, "(That will affect the opposition.)"

Penny asks, "What's the plan here, gals?"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Inside the building!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Crafts, vs. 4!"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "OK!"

Susan exclaims (at Letty), "Noisy stereo? That *sounds* like it could backfire, but sure!"

Letitia rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 +1 | Fair (2)

[Department] Letitia says, "I will spend a fate point, from Race Car Action Movie Hero, because I did this before in one of my movies."

Letitia spends a fate point, leaving them with 2.

[Department] GM asks, "OK! That makes a tie, which would create a boost rather than an aspect. Are you going to invoke anything else for a clear success?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "The difference is that it goes away if it's just a boost?"

[Department] GM says, "Right -- say, you can remotely activate the stereo for a few seconds at a key moment, but it'll blow out the speakers in the process."

[Department] Letitia says, "Oh, sure; maybe tag Go Team? If the rest of you are OK with me spending that."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Sure"

[Department] Penny says, "I don't want to deal with a coffeeshop of angry robots"

[Department] GM asks, "Alright -- so you're turning the stereo up full blast right now, before you go in?"

Letitia, feeling particularly inspired by Penny's speech the other day, spends a little more time, and realizes she almost set things up to blow out the speakers, but fixes it so that doesn't happen.

[Department] Letitia says, "It's up, but not on yet."

[Department] GM exclaims, "OK!"

GM asks, "So you're at the cafe! What do you do now?"

Hunter arrives at home.

Penny asks, "We need to take her down quicky, right? Or should I try and talk her down?"

Letitia exclaims (at Sandra), "Hello!"

GM says, "'Good morning! You're still here, I see.'"

Letitia says, "Not for long! This coffee was so delicious, we thought we just had to get some before leaving again."

Penny says, "No coffee for me, thanks."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "so cyan-nice"

GM says, "'Oh, you're on your way back home? That's lovely. I hope you enjoyed your stay here. What can I get for you?'"

Susan says, "Lost! Hohohoh. Just kiddin"

Letitia exclaims, "I'll take the same thing we had last time!"

Penny asks, "A tea maybe?"

GM says, "'Of course.'"

Susan says, "Or perhaps another letter of the alphabet? Like P? Hohoho."

GM says, "And Sandra goes to work making your orders for you."

[Department] Letitia says, "I'm kind of winging it, if anyone else wants to jump in."

Maria sighs and rolls her eyes at Susan.

Susan exclaims (at Maria), "Hey, puns are a valid coping mechanism!"

Letitia stays by the counter and watches Sandra.

[Department] Penny exclaims, "I was trying to follow your lead!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Sure, I'll just go for it, then."

[Department] Penny asks, "Are we playing it straight, or what? Try to confront her?"

GM says (to Letitia), "She makes a coffee with some kind of flavored syrup, as well as a cup of green tea."

Letitia takes her coffee and sniffs it appreciatively.

[Department] GM says, "(Did Maria or Susan order anything?)"

[Crows-Nest] Susan exclaims, "I ordered the same coffee!"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Almond?"

[Department] Alex awwwks. "Want cork nut!"

[Department] GM exclaims (at Letitia), "Almond!"

[Department] Maria says, "I did not."

GM says, "She gives everyone their beverages."

Penny smells her tea, but doesn't drink.

[Department] Susan says, "I wouldn't mind *pretending* to drink my coffee and then dying unexpectedly before Sandra."

[Department] Susan says, "That would be amusing."

[Department] GM says (to Letitia), "Hmm. No, more like hazelnut, you think."

Letitia, when handed her beverage, grabs Sandra's hand, holding both it and the cup.

Letitia says, "You know, funny thing about the coffee we had last time."

GM says, "'Yes?'"

Letitia says, "It was almond. Not hazelnut."

GM says, "'...oh?'"

Letitia says, "Interesting that you gave us that flavor. Knowing we were humans."

GM says, "'That must have been a terrible accident. I'm so sorry. Are you feeling OK?'"

Penny asks (of sandra), "Was it really an accident?"

Letitia asks, "And how, do you think, that accident could have happened?"

Letitia says, "The laws are pretty ingrained. Kind of fundamental, I would think. For robots."

GM says, "'I'm sure it was! Chip, come here! Apologize to these people for accidentally giving them almond coffee!'"

GM says, "Chip hurries over."

[Department] Penny asks, "Did she just give an order?"

GM says, "'I'm sorry for accidentally giving you almond coffee.'"

[Department] Letitia says, "Yup."

[Department] Maria says, "yes"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Game's up!"

Letitia exclaims, "That was a pretty quick response!"

GM says, "'There,' says Sandra. 'I'm sure that will never happen again.'"

GM says, "'He's usually a good worker, but you know. Nobody's perfect.'"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Robots don't bleed, do they?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Only one way to find out!"

[Department] Penny says, "(Ask the Doctor)"

[Department] GM says, "They might leak fluids, but from what you saw of Hank, you could easily tell the difference."

[Department] Letitia says, "We saw Hank banged up."

[Department] Letitia says, "Right."

Letitia says, "So, if you could just indulge me a second..."

GM says, "'Of course. What is it?'"

Letitia pulls Sandra's hand to the counter, then pulls out a hairpin, clearly intending to poke her finger.

GM exclaims, "Sandra yanks her hand back!"

GM says, "'What are you doing?'"

Letitia asks, "Can I counter with Physique?"

[Department] Letitia says, "er, on channel."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Yes!"

[Department] Penny asks, "Could I try rapport to let her allow it?"

Letitia's grip tightens!

Letitia rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 0 | Great (4)

[Department] GM says (to Letitia), "That's overcome."

[Department] Susan says, "I thought Letty was an actress, not a key grip"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "I think Letty already has it under control."

GM exclaims, "'No!' shouts Sandra. 'NO!' shouts Chip, and he lunges for the hairpin!"

GM asks (of Letitia), "Do you try to stop him from grabbing it?"

Maria says, "Sandra, what are you so afraid of? It won't even hurt."

[Department] Penny says, "I suggest Susan try and stop Chip"

[Department] Susan says, "ok"

[Department] Susan says, "I'll trip him."

[Department] Susan asks, "What's that? Fight? Physique?"

[Department] GM says, "OK! Let's see... he'll be using Athletics to try to grab it, and you'll be doing active Opposition with the same."

[Department] GM says, "Or, you're right, Fight is better."

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 0 | Average (1)

Susan rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 0 | Average (1)

[Department] Letitia says, "Also, he will be trying to not hurt her."

GM sets his current fate point total to 4.

[Department] GM says, "I'm going to invoke 'Under Sandra's Thumb' to give Chip a +2"

[Department] GM asks, "Are you invoking anything to counter that?"

[Department] Penny asks, "Could I join in when I see Susie is struggling?"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "If you have an aspect you'd like to invoke, you can."

[Department] GM says, "Otherwise, it will all be happening too quickly for you to intervene during the same action, I think."

[Department] Penny exclaims (at gm), "I don't, so carry on!"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 3.

[Department] Susan asks, "I'm going to invoke 'Adorable Pet Rottweiler' to suggest that I'm assisted by Wick?"

[Department] Susan asks, "Who sort of tries to lick Chip?"

[Department] GM asks, "Ha. Was he sitting in the car this whole time?"

[Department] GM says, "OK, that makes it 3 vs. 3 -- that's a tie, which means that Chip succeeds with a minor drawback."

[Department] GM asks, "Unless you're invoking anything more?"

[Department] Letitia says, "You could invoke Chip's First Law, to say that he can't stop you without hurting you, which he tries to avoid."

[Department] Susan asks, "Is that an official Aspect?"

[Department] GM says, "Yup, that's a valid Aspect to spend a fate point on."

[Department] GM exclaims, "It is now!"

[Department] GM says, "In fact, let's call all three laws separate aspects."

[Department] Susan says, "okay, then I spend another fate point to invoke the First Law."

Susan spends a fate point, leaving them with 2.

Susan spends a fate point, leaving them with 1.

GM says, "Chip lunges for the hairpin, but..."

[Department] GM asks (of Susan), "Would you like to narrate his failure?"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "yep!"

[Department] GM asks (of Letitia), "And are you gonig to go ahead and stab her?"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "I am!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Just to see if she bleeds."

Susan is too fast, and was expecting something like this would happen, so she whistles for Wick and kicks Chip in the knee. As Chip tries not to fall on anyone, Wick comes galloping with his tongue lolling out and pounces on Chip, knocking him further off balance! The poor robot teeters and falls backwards, his face now being vigorously licked by an over-enthusiastic Rottweiler.

Susan says, "Good dog."

Penny says, "Ain't that a wick in the head"

Letitia is ready to activate her own anti-law bomb.

GM says, "And as Letitia pokes Sandra with the hairpin..."

GM says, "...from the prick, a single drop of crimson blood wells up."

Letitia says, "Sandra, you're under arrest for living in a human-restricted area."

Susan asks (of Sandra), "Messing with mortality, were you?"

Maria fixes Sandra with a glare.

Penny says (to sandra), "Please, don't try anything Silly"

GM exclaims, "Forget that! Robots, don't let them leave here!"

GM says, "And the patrons of the cafe move to block the exit"

Letitia tries to activate the sound before that happens!

GM exclaims, "And we're in initiative!"

Susan registers Susan at init 0.

Susan displays the initiative: Maria(3) GM/LETITIA/PENNY(1) Susan/Susan(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "OK! That sounds like Notice!"

Penny registers Penny at init 1.

[Department] GM exclaims, "Versus her Provoke!"

Letitia rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 0 | Fair (2)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 0 0 | Average (1)

[Department] Maria says, "Whew"

GM clears the initiative.

Maria registers Maria at init 3.

GM registers GM at init 1.

Susan registers Susan at init 0.

Letitia registers Letitia at init 1.

GM asks, "The cafe is filled with the deafening sound of... what?"

[Department] Maria says, "Smooth jazz. (kidding)"

[Department] Susan says, "As Deadpool would say... DUBSTEP"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, ""Dance! Everybody dance!""

[Department] Susan says, "Or better"

[Department] Susan says, "Who Wants To Live Forever"

[Department] Penny says, "OPEN YOUR EYES OPEN YOUR MIND FEEEL THAT MACHINE THAT BURSTS IN YOUR HEAD"

[Department] GM says, "https://www.webwhiteboard.com/board/gzaqghj5"

[Department] Letitia says, "I was going to go with a high-pitched whine, but clearly it needs to be the soundtrack from Q&Q 2, which was a lot of, uh, hang on..."

[Department] Penny asks, "Fury against the Electronics?"

[Department] Letitia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HORkT4a2MhQ

[Department] Susan says, "haha"

GM advances the initiative: MARIA(3) GM/Letitia(1) Susan(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Maria!"

[Department] Maria says, "Anyone mind if I just shoot her? :D"

[Department] Maria says, "Not fatally"

[Department] Penny says, "Penny : Yes. Tale: No."

[Department] GM says, "Hee."

[Department] Maria says, "Oh, all right. I guess the robots would take action and hurt us."

[Department] Maria says, "Since inaction, blah blah blah."

Penny registers Penny at init 1.

Maria yanks a power cable out of the nearby espresso machine and goes to tie up Sandra with it. (athletics?)

Maria rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 -1 | Superb (5)

[Department] GM says, "Hmm. That seems like a multipart thing: first Physique to hold her down, then Athletics as a separate action to tie her up."

[Department] Maria says, "Oh, ok"

[Department] GM says, "But you can keep that great Athletics roll for later :)"

[Department] Maria says, "was about to ask"

Maria rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 +1 | Fair (2)

[Department] Maria says, "That's physique"

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 +1 | Great (4)

[Department] Letitia says, "I could do the Physique thing."

Maria invokes survivor, not victim, for a +2 to tie

Maria spends a fate point, leaving her with 2.

[Department] Penny says, "That is such a good name for an aspect."

GM says, "OK! You suceed with a minor drawback:"

GM says, "You manage to pin her against the counter, and she can't get away from you, but you weren't able to restrain her arms, so she's still able to use them freely."

GM says, "(For the time being.)"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/LETITIA/PENNY(1) Susan(0)

[Department] Penny says (to letty), "Ladies first"

[Department] GM asks, "Man, why did I start the habit of letting you guys win the init ties?"

[Department] Letitia says, "Ha"

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "You can change if it works better for the narrative. I wouldn't mind."

[Department] Letitia asks, "So, the scoop is that she didn't quite get her order out?"

[Department] GM says, "I'd like to go first this time, if you guys don't mind."

[Department] Letitia says, "Go for it."

[Department] GM says (to Letitia), "Right. She said something like 'Robots, don't LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR! LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR!'"

[Department] GM says, "(So clearly, if any bodies are falling, they *will* be permitted to hit the floor, provided doing so does not harm nor cause a human to be harmed.)"

[Department] Letitia says, "Yeah, the fact that there are orders in that song is kind of hilarious ;-)"

[Department] Penny says, "ha ha"

[Department] Susan says, "beautiful."

[Department] Penny says, "Should've gone with Don't stop believing, though"

GM says, "Sandra reaches behind the counter and pulls out a machine. It consists of a backback with lights and cables on it, which she puts on, and a helmet with electrods on it, which she also puts on, and a long, glowing yellow rod with a handle, which she wields in one hand."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Letitia!"

Maria just kind of gapes.

[Department] Letitia says, "Can I oppose? I still had her hand, I think."

[Department] GM says, "(Helmet and wand both being attached to the backpack via said cables.)"

[Department] GM says (to Letitia), "I think that Maria's struggle with her re-arranged where everyone was standing a bit."

[Department] Letitia says, "Or we can say no if you want to use your toy ;-)"

[Department] GM says, "Which isn't to say that you can't, but you would need a stronger justification in this case :)"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Sounds good to me!"

[Department] GM says, "(Not being able to sounds good, or coming up with a stronger justification?)"

Letitia leaps at Sandra, and yanks some cables out of the backpack!

[Department] GM exclaims, "Woo!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "This seems like the perfect time for me to offer you a compel!"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Yay! For what?"

GM exclaims (at Letitia), "You *recognize* this device!"

GM says, "You saw the plans to it last night at the lab."

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "Mum?"

[Crows-Nest] Alex says (to Penny), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that mum is the word."

GM exclaims, "And you Believe You Understand It Perfectly!"

[Department] Susan says, "hahahaha"

GM asks, "So you *definitely* thnk you know exactly what you need to do to disable it, right?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Is that a compel, or just a straight-up free tag?"

Letitia says, "Oh, clearly."

[Department] GM says, "It's a compel, with the free fate point for you if you go along with it."

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Sure, I'll take the compel, then!"

GM gives a fate point to Letitia.

Letitia twists a dial on the backpack, and goes, "a-HA!" You think you can hear a rising whine over the BODIES HIT THE FLOOR BODIES HIT THE FLOOR.

[Department] GM exclaims, "Penny!"

Letitia exclaims (at Sandra), "S.. ... .ee y.. g.... .p .ow!"

[Department] Penny asks, "Is it too lout to try Rapport?"

[Department] Letitia says, "Yeah, you're too much of a lout to try Rapport."

[Department] Susan says, "I would hardly call you a lout, Frosty"

[Department] GM asks, "How are your interpretive dance skills?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Hm, I'm not sure what to to then. Hold Action!"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) SUSAN(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Susan!"

[Department] Susan says, "Does interpretative dance fall under the heading of Unsettling Knowledge -- oh, my turn"

[Department] Susan is trying to think of something to do that *doesn't* involve shooting an NPC to death.

[Department] Letitia asks, "Shoot the helmet off her head?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Shoot the wand thingy?"

[Department] Penny says, "I'm from the 20s! I learnt how to dance! Not like that tweeting all the women do these days? What's that? Twerking? That can't be right."

[Department] Susan says, "Sure, why not."

[Department] Susan says, "I'll aim for the wand thingy."

[Department] GM asks, "OK! That seems like creating an advantage?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "With Shoot!"

[Department] Susan says, "What a surprise."

Susan rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 0 | Good (3)

GM says, "At least four different robots see you aiming your gun in the general direction of Sandra and Maria."

GM says, "Of course, none of them realize what an excellent shot you are, or even that you're aiming at the wand."

GM says, "So all of them leap into the line of fire, using the rules for assisting:"

GM rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: 0 -1 -1 +1 | Great (4)

[Department] Penny says, "Stupid selfless robots"

[Department] GM asks, "Are you going to invoke anything?"

[Department] Susan says, "Well, I'll spend a fate point and invoke my 'Formerly An Infamous Hitwoman', because dammit Susie can shoot."

Susan spends a fate point, leaving them with 0.

[Department] GM exclaims, "Excellent!"

[Department] GM says, "Of course, I am also going to invoke The First Law, which we just recently established is an aspect :)"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 2.

[Department] Susan says, "Oh, I'm out of fate points."

[Department] GM asks, "Which leaves us at 5 vs 6, and they succeed at opposing your Create Advantage?"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "We still have a free invoke on Drone In Hank's Hat!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Um."

[Department] GM says, "Ha ha."

[Department] GM says, "Sadly, that's at the airstrip at the moment."

[Department] Penny says, "I wonder if there is anything I could say to the robots to calm them without giving an order"

[Department] Letitia says, "No, because it's too loud."

[Department] GM asks, "Like LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR?"

[Department] Penny says, "Maybe "It's just a toy gun!""

[Department] Penny says, "Aw"

GM says, "One of the robots -- Chip, as it turns out -- manages to throw himself directly in the path of the bullet, which embeds itself in his chest! And, indeed, his body does hit the floor."

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "I just got an email with the subject "Happening: Man, it's so loud in here!""

GM exclaims, "And so the aspect that you've created is, alas, 'Severely Wounded', on Chip!"

[Department] Penny says, "The chip is down"

[Department] GM asks, "Penny, do you want to use your held action?"

Susan exclaims, "Now I've got a chip on my shoulder -- or more accurately, the floor!"

[Department] Penny asks, "Can I use investigate to figure out what kind of machine that is?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Sure!"

[Department] GM says, "Opposition 3."

Penny rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 0 0 0 | Good (3)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Success with a minor drawback!"

[Department] Penny asks, "Can I choose that depending on what kind of machine it is?"

GM exclaims, "You realize that this is an early prototype of the device you were reading about in Dr. Julius' files. *This* is the machine for transferring one mind into another!"

[Department] GM says, "I was thinking something like 'it's too loud to tell anyone what you've realized'."

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Yes!"

[Department] GM says, "But if you have a better one, go for it."

[Department] Penny asks (of gm), "Sorry, what?"

[Department] GM says, " "

GM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

GM advances the initiative: MARIA(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) Susan(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Maria!"

[Department] Maria asks, "Do I need to re-grapple her?"

[Department] Maria says, "Since her arms are free"

[Department] GM says, "If you want to just tie down her legs, then you can definitely do that with just an Athletics roll."

[Department] GM says, "If you want to pin down her arms, that would be a separate Physique roll."

[Department] GM says, "(And if you do the former, your previous roll is already a success.)"

Maria goes for the arms, forcing her to drop the wand.

Maria rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 +1 | Mediocre (0)

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "Oh, man."

[Department] Maria says, "or not"

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: 0 0 0 -1 | Poor (-1)

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Ha!"

[Department] GM says, "Ha ha ha."

[Department] Maria says, "Haha"

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "You roll like a PLAYER"

GM exclaims, "Maria goes for Sandra's arms -- but Maria is still new to this. This is her first time trying to grapple a crazed lunatic: invoking New Girl!"

GM spends a fate point, leaving him with 1.

[Department] Maria says, "Shit."

[Department] GM says, "Bringing this to +1 vs 0."

[Department] GM asks, "Do you counter that?"

[Department] Maria says, "Hmmmmm.. Probably not, unless I use survivor again, because that bitch isn't taking us out."

[Department] GM asks, "Up to you. Do you want to use up the fate point?"

Maria spends a fate point, leaving her with 1.

[Department] Maria says, "Yes."

[Department] GM says, "(I'm burning through mine like a dried up Christmas tree.)"

Maria growls, "Drop it, bitch."

Penny gasps. "My word!"

GM exclaims, "You pin Sandra's arms to her sides, and the wand clatters to the floor!"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/LETITIA/PENNY(1) Susan(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Sandra!"

GM exclaims, "Sandra takes a deep breath screams at the top of her lungs, trying to Overcome the the volume of the music!"

[Department] GM asks (of Letitia), "What did you roll when you created that advantage?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Craft?"

[Department] Alex says (to Letitia), "Awwwk! Word on the street is that craft is not macaroni and cheese."

[Department] Letitia says, "Oh, the number."

[Department] GM says (to Letitia), "I mean -- right."

[Department] GM says, "That's my Opposition."

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "A 6!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Crap!"

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 -1 | Poor (-1)

[Department] Letitia says, "(my opposition was 4; spent 2 fate points to bump up my 2 to a 6)"

[Department] Maria says, ""Robots-- SOMETHING's GOT TO GIVE""

[Department] GM exclaims, "Spending my final fate die to invoke Distrusts the Department!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "To re-roll!"

[Department] GM says, "(Can I roll a +4 here?)"

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 +1 | Great (4)

[Department] GM says, "(No!)"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Close!"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Phew!"

GM says, "She apparently screams herself hoarse, but you can't har a word that she's saying."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Letitia!"

Roger has arrived.

Letitia attempts to take off Sandra's helmet, and then the backpack, if possible.

[Crows-Nest] Susan exclaims, "Roger, Sandra's lover and the second human on Vomisa! Twist!"

[Crows-Nest] (from Susan) Roger stabs Susan in the back.

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Roger Carbot"

[Department] GM exclaims, "That would be an Overcome, using Physique!"

Letitia rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 0 | Fantastic (6)

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 0 | Mediocre (0)

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "what what"

[Department] Letitia says (to GM), "*That's* how you roll a 6."

[Department] GM exclaims, "You succeed with style, giving yourself a boost!"

[Department] GM sighs. How did he swap rolls with a player?

[Crows-Nest] Susan says (to Roger), "The villain was screaming something and then you arrived"

[Department] Penny says, "We used a dice-swapping machine, obvs"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "mwahaha"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Can I get a boost 'look like I'm helping' from the robots' perspective?"

[Department] Letitia says, "Given my acting background."

[Department] GM says, "Alright."

[Department] Susan says, "'It's A Heimlich Maneuver!'"

[Department] Susan says, "'Honest!'"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Penny!"

[Department] Letitia says, "roleplaying it:"

[Department] GM says, "Oh, right."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Not Penny!"

Penny jumps over the counter, and hopefully close enought to talk now, tries to talk Sandra down from any further violence.

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Aw!"

[Department] Susan exclaims (at Penny), "Unjump!"

Letitia strips the helmet and backpack from Sandra's wriggling form. In the confusion, it seems like maybe the helmet was causing her some distress, and that she's a little calmer now that it's off. Phew! Thank goodness these humans are here to deal with their own problems!

[Department] GM exclaims, "Now Penny!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Rapport vs. +6"

[Department] GM says, "Yup."

[Department] Penny asks, "Where does the #6 come from?"

[Department] Letitia says, "The noise."

Penny rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 +1 0 0 | Fantastic (6)

Penny exclaims, "Tagging Heart of Gold! BOOM!"

[Department] GM says, "Buh."

Penny spends a fate point, leaving her with 2.

[Department] GM asks, "OK! So this is to Create Advantage, I assume?"

[Department] GM asks, "What are you telling her, presumably shouted directly into her earhole?"

Penny exclaims, "GIVE UP! WE HAVE YOU AND THE MACHINE! COME NOW WITH US AND WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT! WE HAVE EXPERT AT THE DEPARTMENT WHO CAN HELP YOU!"

[Department] GM says, "(I think under the circumstances, she'll also get an active opposition to be willing to listen, but I somehow doubt she'll succeed against a +6.)"

GM rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 -1 | Good (3)

GM says, "She looks... defeated."

[Department] GM asks, "Is 'Looks Defeated' a suitable aspect?"

[Department] GM asks, "Or did you have something else in mind?"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Sure!"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) SUSAN(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Susan!"

GM says, "Oh, also:"

GM says, "Chip continues to 'bleed' out some kind of coolant fluid into a puddle on the floor."

[Department] Maria says, "Sad."

[Department] Susan says, "Hm."

[Department] Letitia asks, "You could help Chip?"

[Department] Susan says, "How? I'm not an expert on robots."

[Department] Susan says, "Besides, Sandra has been plotting immortality, and I'm the Angel of Death, so I have this niggling feeling in the back of my head..."

[Department] GM says, "Ha."

[Department] Susan says, "I mean, it's not necessarily the thing that the other PCs would approve of, and it's not exactly protocol"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Sort of tangentially : I won'"

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "Sort of tangentially : I won't actually be able to use Rapport to talk her down enough that she gives up?"

[Department] Susan asks, "Did she?"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "oh!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "If you want to play it that way, then sure, you can make an Attack with Rapport instead."

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Would you prefer that instead of Create Advantage?"

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "That was a hilarious return/typo."

[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Letitia), "Yes."

[Department] Susan says, "But I could use the free invoke on 'Looks Defeated' to improve my shoot attack! Oh well."

[Crows-Nest] Penny exclaims, "Yes!"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Also, yes it was"

[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims (at Penny), "That probably is the 'right' way to handle it. So let's erase that aspect, and say that Sandra has now checked off her mental stress box #3!"

[Crows-Nest] Penny exclaims, "Nothing like an Australian lady trying to talk you down!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "And it's still Susan's turn."

[Department] Susan says, "yeah"

[Department] Susan asks, "I feel like there's a compel of my high concept somewhere if I decide to attack?"

[Department] Susan says, "sorry for being indecisive"

[Department] Susan says, "I'm a little torn"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Ah, I can offer that, sure!"

[Department] GM says, "You have now convinced me: I offer you a compel."

[Department] Susan exclaims, "yay!"

[Department] GM says, "And, with no FP, you can't refuse! You, the Angel of Death, will attack Sandra."

GM gives a fate point to Susan.

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Why couldn't she be the Angel of the little Death"

Susan's dark eyes glare at Sandra with almost supernatural intensity! She points the gun, not at the helmet, but at Sandra's heart! 'You wanted to cheat death? Time to *face* death!'

[Crows-Nest] GM asks, "Is that what Penny privately wishes about Susan when they're alone?"

Susan rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 0 +1 | Fantastic (6)

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "; he he"

GM says, "And of course, even though Chip may be down, the rest of the robots in the cafe are still obligated to do whatever they can to protect her."

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 -1 | Fair (2)

GM exclaims, "But Susan is far too quick on the trigger, and they had no chance -- Susan succeeds, and with style!"

[Department] GM says, "Success with style on an attack means you have a choice:"

[Department] GM says, "Either go for the normal stress (4 in this case), or reduce it by one to gain a boost."

[Department] Susan says, "I'll go for the stress if it forces her to take a consequence."

[Department] GM exclaims, "It does!"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Then yes!"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "And I'll spend that fate point to use Killing Stroke, which increases the severity of that consequence!"

[Department] Susan says, "(mild becomes moderate, etc...)"

[Department] GM erases what he was just typing.

[Department] Susan says, "haha"

[Department] GM says, "I was about to tick off a #2 physical stress box and a mild consequence."

[Department] GM exclaims, "But now it's the #2 box and a moderate consequence!"

[Department] GM says, "And you can name it :)"

[Department] Susan asks, "A Bullet To The Chest?"

GM exclaims, "Sandra is now bleeding profusely from her chest wound!"

GM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

GM advances the initiative: MARIA(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) Susan(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Maria!"

Maria shouts, "Susan!!! What are you doing?" as the body in her arms nearly jerks away from her and starts seeping blood.

Letitia looks up, incredulous.

[Department] GM says, "(And remember there's a free invoke on that.)"

Maria ties up Sandra (+5) and lowers her to the ground (I presume that's easy to do once she's tied, or is that another roll?)

[Department] GM says, "Nah, that roll will cover it nicely. She's now tied up with -- I think it was a coffee machine cord? -- and lying prone."

[Department] Maria says, "Yup! Ok. I just didn't want her falling over."

[Department] GM says, "LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/LETITIA/PENNY(1) Susan(0)

[Department] Maria says, "Good thing I'm not a robot."

GM exclaims, "A mob of robots descends on Susan, trying to forcibly disarm her!"

[Department] Penny says, "Well, she deserves it"

GM says, "Physique vs. Physique"

GM rolls Superb (5) + 4dF: +1 +1 +1 0 | Legendary (8)

[Department] Penny says, "oops. The term "limb from limb" comes to mind"

[Department] Susan asks, "Does it *have* to be Physique?"

[Department] GM says, "Hee."

[Department] GM exclaims, "I have declared it so!"

[Crows-Nest] Letitia says, "They do it *without harming her whatsoever*"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Of course."

[Department] Maria says, "Just start screaming "ow ow that hurts" and they'll back off ;)"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "They pile up on top of her"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "And if Susan feels that that would be difficult, she's free to spend a fate die to invoke the First Law."

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Whoops!"

[Department] Susan says, "lol"

Susan rolls Average (1) + 4dF: -1 0 -1 -1 | Terrible (-2)

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "(Afk for a sec)"

[Department] Susan says, "I'm all weak from having been possessed by the spirit of DEATH"

GM exclaims, "Susan now has the Aspect Disarmed, with two free invokes!"

GM says, "As a mob of robots throws her gun behind the counter and leaves her surrounded."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "(back)"

[Department] GM says, "Actually, let's call it 'Disarmed and Surrounded', since they did succeed pretty impressively."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Penny!"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Can I go?"

[Department] GM says, "Oh, right."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Sure."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Letitia!"

Letitia scoops up Sandra, and runs with her to the car! Trying to look like she's helping, which shouldn't be *too* difficult, since, in reality, she's trying to help.

[Department] GM asks, "How big and heavy is the coffee maker that she's tied to?"

[Department] GM asks, "And also, is it spilling any hot coffee on her in the process?"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "I hope not! I will try to avoid it if so!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Alt: yank out the cord."

[Department] Letitia says, "Or spill hot coffee on myself."

[Department] Letitia says, "Or whatever."

[Department] Maria says, "Oh, I thought I yanked the cord *out* of the coffee maker."

[Department] GM says, "This seems like an Overcome with Physique roll vs. her Physique."

[Department] Maria says, "Not just out of the wall"

[Department] GM says (to Maria), "Oh, OK. If you want to make it BORING."

[Department] Maria says, "Hehe"

Letitia rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 +1 -1 -1 | Fair (2)

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: 0 0 0 0 | Mediocre (0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "You succeed!"

[Department] Maria says, "I mean, I did say it was an *espresso machine*, so pretty big and heavy."

GM exclaims (at Letitia), "If anything, the music seems even LOUDER out here!"

(From Maria) "NOTHING WRONG WITH ME"

Letitia runs to the car, trailing a bouncing espresso machine.

[Department] Susan says, "I love that image."

[Department] GM says, "Yes."

[Department] Penny says, "Me too"

GM says, "Outside, you see the block has been cleared. There's no one around within sight."

GM says, "It seems that anyone who was in the area this morning must not appreciate your taste in music."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Penny!"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "All those ORDERS!"

Penny exclaims (at robots), "Hey, is it at all possible that you get of my friends? You disarmed her and she's clearly harmless now!"

[Department] Penny says, "(Rapport?)"

[Department] Letitia says, "It's still very loud."

Penny says, "*off my friend, sorry"

[Department] GM asks (of Penny), "Are you shouting this into the ear of anyone in particular?"

[Department] Letitia says, "Haven't turned off the music yet."

[Department] Penny exclaims, "I yell at the robots!"

[Department] GM says, "Since I don't think you'll be able to get the whole crowd to hear you at once."

[Department] Maria says, "Better gag Sandra before turning off the music."

[Department] Letitia says, "Right."

[Department] GM exclaims, "But if you do want to, then I can increase the opposition by +1 for each extra robot!"

[Department] GM says, "(Let's say there are three of them.)"

[Department] GM says, "(Not counting Chip.)"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Chip!"

[Department] Penny says, "i try and help Chip"

[Department] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[Department] GM asks, "Are you doing first aid kinda stuff?"

[Department] Penny asks, "Academics, right?"

[Department] Penny says, "Yes"

[Department] GM asks, "Yup! And you don't have a doctoring stunt, right?"

[Department] Penny says, "Nope"

[Department] GM says, "Then let's say +4."

Penny rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 0 | Fair (2)

[Department] GM asks, "Are you going to invoke anything to try to save poor Chip?"

Penny tags "Ice cold touch" to seal stuff up

GM exclaims, "Despite all of the coolant Chip has lost, you're able to keep his internal components from overheating!"

Penny spends a fate point, leaving her with 1.

GM exclaims, "And his 'Severly Wounded' aspect is reduced to 'Patched Up, More or Less'!"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) SUSAN(0)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Susan!"

[D&D] GDorn says, "with the realization that any clues I drop about the current predicament are extremely likely to be missed in the forest of other clues, I've decided to bring back another NPC to sneak info to just one of the PCs, along with a couple ways to escape their psychic matrix prison"

[Department] Susan says, "Let me see... surrounded by robots, no gun, no Sandra..."

[Department] Susan says, "I think I'm going to run."

[D&D] GDorn says, "one is a weird code puzzle that should be interesting because one player will be dragging the others into it with no info to go on"

[D&D] GDorn says, "the other is for a PC to 'use' the head of Vecna"

[Department] GM exclaims, "OK!"

[Department] Susan asks, "Athletics? opposed by the robots?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Yup!"

Susan rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 0 | Good (3)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 +1 0 -1 | Average (1)

[D&D] GDorn says, "(the 'jump off the building to escape the matrix' solution)"

GM asks, "The robots initially try to stop you, but you're running *away*, and you're *unarmed*, so... how much more damage are you going to do, right?"

Susan spends a fate point, leaving them with 0.

[Department] Susan says, "(from earlier)"

[D&D] Gunther asks, "vecna beej?"

Susan runs out to join Letty.

[Department] GM asks, "So you're now outside, still disarmed by no longer surrounded?"

GM advances the initiative: END OF ROUND

GM advances the initiative: MARIA(3) GM/Letitia/Penny(1) Susan(0)

Maria retrieves Susan's gun, tucks it into her waistband, and heads outside.

[D&D] Roger says, "sounds good"

GM advances the initiative: Maria(3) GM/LETITIA/PENNY(1) Susan(0)

GM says, "Chip is now stable. The other robots in the cafe, seeing no immediate danger, are just watching out the window."

GM says, "Meanwhile, Sandra is struggling against her bonds, trying to get free. Overcome with Physique, vs. Maria's +5 roll to tie her up."

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 +1 -1 +1 | Fair (2)

GM says, "Her efforts are fruitless."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Letitia!"

Letitia loads up all the humans into the car and drives off!

[Department] Letitia says, "(heading to the doctor, I think, after we gag Sandra.)"

[Department] Penny says (to Letitia), "We should've taken Chip, then"

GM exclaims, "And through the streets of the city, block by block, can be heard the doppler-shifted tones of LET THE BODIES HIT THE... FLOOR!"

Letitia will turn off the music after she's safely gagged ;-)

GM says, "Sandra is now gagged in the backseat, lying across several laps, as you pull up to the doctor's office."

Penny says, "Could we hurry? I'm sure this isn't supposed to say "CORE DAMAGED NUCLEAR OVERLOAD IMMINENT""

Letitia asks (of Penny), "What?"

Susan says, "Core damaged? More like brain damaged."

Penny says, "Oh wait, just CORE DAMAGED is blinking"

[Department] Letitia says, "Is that from the machine? Did someone bring it? I was going to leave it."

[Department] Susan asks, "We have a freaking espresso machine in a Lotus Coupe?"

[Department] Susan says, "What the."

[Department] GM says, "Ha ha ha ha ha."

[Department] GM says, "Five people, a rottweiler, *and* an espresso machine."

[Department] Maria says, "Haha"

[Department] Letitia whistles 'and a partridge in a pear tree'

[Department] Susan says, "hee"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "We have Chip!"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Susie shot him!"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Do we?"

[Department] Susan asks, "Didn't we leave him with his fellow robots?"

[Department] Penny asks, "No?"

[Department] GM says, "I suppose Penny was the one tending to him, so she would know if she brought him."

[Department] Penny says, "I have in my inventory 1 Chip (badly damaged)"

[Department] Susan says, "So five people, a rottweiler, a robot, and an espresso machine."

[Department] Letitia says, "I am not super happy about Sandra and Chip being in the same place."

[Department] Letitia says, "But mostly I am driving."

[Department] Susan says, "But Sandra's gagged! What could go wrong..."

[Department] GM says, "So I guess Letitia is driving, with Susan in the passenger side and the dog between them. Penny has Chip on her lap in the back seat..."

[Department] Letitia says, "In that case, I will leave the music on ;-)"

[Department] Penny says, "Saying "There, there.""

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Backup!"

[Department] GM asks, "...while Maria is holding Sandra, with the espresso machine between her and Penny?"

[Department] Penny says, "screaming, THERE THERE"

[Department] Penny says, "You know, I could go for a coffee right now"

[Department] GM asks (of Letitia), "So you are leaving the music going as you go to the doctor's office?"

Letitia hops out of the car, and mimes to the doctor that they need help again, and that it'd be a good idea to not listen to Sandra.

(From Maria) "HERE WE GO HERE WE GO HERE WE GO

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "Yes, because Backup!"

GM says, "The doctor doesn't even try to talk over the music, but he brings both patients into the ward and lays them out on the floor to examine them."

Penny says (to doctor), "Chip has been shot by Su...someone."

Letitia stands ready to clamp a hand over Sandra's mouth if need be.

GM says, "It's clearly a bit awkward for him to work on them down there, rather than on an examining table or bed, but you do what you have to do."

[Department] Letitia asks, "The beds are gone?"

[Department] GM says, "No, they're right there."

[Department] GM says, "He kinda has to work around them to make room on the floor for both bodies."

[Department] Letitia asks, "Why is he doing this on the floor, then?"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Is that weird, or am I not envisioning things correctly?"

GM says, "But with the help of his wife, he's able to get them pretty well patched up -- both of their consequences are now in recovery."

[Department] GM says, "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HORkT4a2MhQ"

[Department] Penny says, "ha ha ha"

[Department] Letitia says, "Oh, ha ha ha"

[Department] Susan says, "Just following orders, ma'am."

GM says, "So both of them are on the floor, conscious. Sandra is both gagged and tied to an espresso machine sitting nearby."

Penny finally cuts that damn cable of the machine.

GM says, "The doctor seems like he might want to ask you what's going on, but clearly that's not an option at this point, so he just shrugs and waits for you to make the next move."

[Department] Susan asks, "How do we interrogate someone who's not allowed to speak?"

[Department] Susan says, "(because clearly Sandra could still mess things up with a well-placed order)"

[Department] GM asks, "Would you like to get on the plane and bring her back home to talk to her there?"

[Department] Susan says, "Seems like the thing to do."

[Department] Maria says, "Yes"

[Department] Penny says, "Yeah"

Letitia mimes carrying Sandra away, and looks questioningly like 'would that be OK?"

GM says, "Leaving Chip, a rather confused Dr. Julius, and a newly cordless espresso machine in the doctor's ward, you drive off to the airport..."

[Department] Susan says, "Oh."

[Department] Susan says, "Rose."

[Department] Susan says, "Sabotage."

GM says, "...where you find Hank working to try to repair the plane's engine."

Maria swears in a not-lady-like fashion.

Penny exclaims, "Language!"

[Department] GM asks, "What, did you turn off the music?"

Letitia stays in the car with Sandra, and drives a little bit away so that she can turn off the music.

Penny says, "(okay fine) LANGUAGE"

GM exclaims, "Once Letitia gets far enough out of range, Hank explains that someone seems to have sabotagued the plane's engine!"

Maria asks, "Can you fix it?"

Maria asks, "Soon?"

GM exclaims, "And rather skillfully, at that. He's not sure how long it'll take him to fix it! Could be weeks!"

GM says, "Unless, y'know, someone could help him."

Maria looks around at the others.

Penny picks a flower of the grass by the airport. "A rose by any other name"

[Department] Letitia says, "I have Crafts 2, if someone wants to come get me."

[Department] Penny says, "I think Rose did this and knows how to fix irt"

Maria jogs over to the car, waving at Letty with both arms.

Letitia, seeing no robots around, and making sure Sandra is still gagged, turns off the music. "What is it?"

Maria whispers, so Sandra can't hear, "*Someone* sabotauged the plane's engine. Can you help Hank? I'll stay here."

Penny says, "We need to get Rose to repair the plane"

Letitia says (to Maria), "Sure; crank the music again if you need me."

Letitia heads over to see if she can help.

Letitia rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 -1 | Fair (2)

[Department] Maria says, "Assuming she can. It's easier to disable something than put it back together, skillfully or not."

[Department] Letitia says, "(crafts)"

[Department] GM says, "Hank has some skill, so he can provide you a +1 by helping."

[Department] GM says, "And here's Rose's roll, for your opposition:"

GM rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 0 | Superb (5)

[Department] Maria says, "Damn."

[Department] GM says, "You are now at +3 vs. +5."

[Department] Penny asks, "Why are we not getting Rose?"

[Department] GM says, "Hint: this is the time to pull out all your spare fate points :)"

[Department] GM says, "(Or at least, *a* good time for it.)"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Letty has 3 fate points!"

[Department] Letitia exclaims, "I will spend a fate point!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Or two."

[Department] GM asks, "OK! What will you invoke?"

[Department] Letitia says, "And maybe even tag 'drone in hat' since that was what tipped us off that this was happening ;-)"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Hee. Sure!"

[Department] GM says, "(And meanwhile, Maria and Sandra are in the car, as the latter is staring daggers at the former?)"

[Department] Penny asks, "Why are we not getting Rose?"

[Department] Letitia says, "maybe tag my drones, and have them help out."

[Department] GM asks (of Letitia), "Alright -- do you want to narrate?"

[Department] Letitia says, "You can if you like? I didn't want to embarass her."

[Department] GM asks (of Penny), "Because Letitia is an independent woman who doesn't need no robot?"

[Department] Maria asks, "Oh, can we say I gave Susan back her gun after we got out of the car?"

[Department] GM says, "(I'm assuming Letitia is typing out a narration right now, so I'll wait for her before I interrupt.)"

[Department] GM says (to Maria), "Sure."

Letitia says (to Hank), "See over there? I bet whoever sabotaged this wanted to do something quick, so they pulled out the... Hmm, can't quite see it." She sends in a drone and aims the camera to the back of the engine. "See? Over there.""

Letitia says, "So all we need to do is..."

GM says, "'Oh, well heck, you're right. I never woulda seen that.'"

GM says, "'Thanks!'"

Letitia talks shop with Hank as they work out the rest of the repairs.

Penny strolls a bit over the grass.

GM says, "And soon enough, you're back in the air! This time, with one extra passenger."

GM says, "Over the intercom, you hear Hank's voice again: 'Well, I'm about to turn off the two-way, so you'll be able to hear me, but I won't be able to hear you again until we're getting close to landing. I'll give you a heads up when that happens.'"

[Department] Letitia asks, "Should we destroy the machine and maybe even the research before we go?"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Yes!"

[Department] Susan says, "Death disapproves."

[Department] Penny asks, "What's Department policy?"

GM says, "And the seals snap shut on the windows again, so you won't be able to see how to get to or from the island."

[Department] Susan jumps up and down on death-evading tech.

[Department] Roger says, "We've got our best men working on it. Our best men."

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "I think the usual policy is to contain and, when practical, preserve."

[Department] GM says, "But the 'contain' part is usually a higher priority."

[Department] Penny says, "Too bad we had to destroy it"

[Department] Penny pours herself a drink.

[Department] Susan says, "Some things mortals were not meant to know..."

[Department] GM says, "Alrighty. It has been destroyed. While poor Sandra had to lie tied up in the backseat of the car the whole time."

[Department] Penny asks, "Should we question her now?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Wonders who of us will turn out to secretly be a robot"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Yes!"

[Department] Letitia suddenly worries about something.

[Department] Susan asks, "?"

[Department] (from GM) Letitia asks, "Did we leave the coffee maker on?"

Letitia asks, "The brain transfer device--is it destructive?"

Letitia asks, "Like, what happens to the original when it's used?"

[Department] GM says, "(And if you're expecting Sandra to answer that, remember that you haven't ungagged her yet.)"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "@ungag Sandra"

[Department] Letitia says, "No, I was asking Penny."

[Department] Letitia asks, "Since she read the schematics, right?"

GM says (to Penny), "Based on what you saw of the files in the doctor's office, that's related to one of the main problems they were still working on:"

GM says, "The model they had so far was only able to do a surface read and a surface write. The read was non-destructive, and the write was only temporary."

[Department] Susan asks (of Letty), "You're worried that a copy of Sandra is inside one of the robots now?"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "haha"

[Department] Letitia says, "Yup! Hank, specifically."

GM says, "But that's just the prototype -- the ultimate goal of the project was to do a *permanent* write, which could well potentially require a destructive read."

Penny says, "What GM said)"

[Department] Susan asks, "Who is this GM? Where did he come from? How much does he cost?"

Letitia says, "OK. I hope that's enough, then."

Penny says, "We'll see where we land. She won't crash a plane she's on."

[Department] GM asks, "Are you going to ungag or untie Sandra, or are you just waiting until you land?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "I say do it now"

[Department] Letitia says, "No, not untying nor ungagging until we hand her off to people."

[Department] GM says, "Alright then."

[Department] Maria says, "Agreed"

GM says, "Quite a few hours later, Hank announces again that you're coming in for a landing, and the window shades open to reveal the same Department airport that you took off from."

GM says, "There are agents on the ground waiting to meet you and to take Sandra away."

Susan says (to Sandra), "Consider yourself lucky that your time hasn't come... yet."

Susan says, "*sepulchral voice* HEED THE WARNING"

GM says, "There's also a team of human robopsychologists here, ready to get on the plane and fly back to Vomisa, to begin the healing process for everyone there."

Letitia says, "Don't ungag her until the plane is safely away. I don't trust anything about her."

Penny says, "Keep an extra eye on Hank, boy"

Penny says, "+s"

GM says (to Letitia), "One of the armed agents leading her away nods to you."

GM says (to Penny), "'Yes, ma'am. We'll make sure he's OK.'"

[Department] GM says, "Let's jump ahead to:"

GM says, "<EPILOGUE>"

GM says, "You're back in the briefing room where all of this started. You've all turned in your reports, and the relevant information has been sent by radio to the robopsychologists back on Vomisa to help them in their work."

GM says, "Agents have been questioning Sandra under controlled conditions. The four of you are here, with the Chief, who is ready to answer any remaining questions you have that aren't classified."

Letitia says, "I still don't know what the deal was with the law bomb."

Letitia asks, "Who set it off and why?"

GM says, "'Well. You mostly did an OK job on this one, I think. You found out the problem, caught the perpetrator, and most of the damage you did can be repaired.'"

[Department] (from Maria) GM says, "Even the espresso machine can be fixed."

Penny asks, "Woohoo, not as bad the giant goldfish in venice?"

GM says (to Letitia), "'From what we can gather, it was Sandra who set it off -- after she found out that we were sending a team out there to investigate, she wanted to give you a fake problem to investigate, hoping that you'd deal with it and go back home.'"

Maria asks, "Who wrote the original note to send help?"

GM says, "'The name we have here is "Peter" -- he's apparently a dock worker who found out about Sandra before he was ordered to not tell anyone.'"

Letitia says, "Nice! Go Peter."

GM says, "'He got that message out in time. I assume that by the time you got there, that loophole was long closed up, but he saw his opportunity and took it.'"

Penny asks, "How did Sandra learn of the island and got there?"

Letitia asks, "Yeah, what's her background?"

GM says, "'That's a good question. We're still researching that, but from what we know, she was a cyberneticist. She was obsessed with prosthetic replacement limbs, and it seems that she took her obsessions about three steps too far, wanting to replace her entire body.'"

GM says, "'But her work was mostly academic -- so she probably needed help from someone with expert engineering skills and resources to make her "dream" come true.'"

GM says, "'As for how she found out about Vomisa and its location, we're still working on that.'"

GM says, "'Do you have any more questions?'"

Letitia asks, "Would those engineering skills be found in the people on the island? Rose, Dr. Julius, etc?"

Letitia asks, "Or would she have needed a different human collaborator?"

GM says, "'Yes -- Rose is an expert engineer. She designed many of the components in the bodies of the robots on the island today.'"

Penny asks, "And Rose secretly tried to keep us there?"

GM says, "'She knows them inside and out. And Dr. Julius is the foremost expert on robot medicine, so I'm sure his work was invaluable to her as well.'"

GM says (to Penny), "'Yes -- apparently Sandra used her to convince you that you could leave after you had dealt with the Law Bomb. She must have decided it was the only way to make sure he stayed on Vomisa long enough to discover the real truth.'"

Maria nods.

GM says, "The chief looks over the group of you. 'It was a bit gullible of you to fall for that, I have to admit.'"

Letitia asks, "Fall for what?"

Susan asks, "We did not -- what?"

GM says, "'The story Sandra ordered Rose to tell, about a "prankster".'"

Letitia laughs.

Susan says, "Dammit, I'm a *good* liar."

Penny smirks and sips her bourbon.

Penny says, "Susan will be the death of us"

Susan says, "Well, I'll bet you'll be the life of us, so that makes it even."

GM says, "'Are there other questions? If not, I have your mission rating here for you. It goes over the things you did well, and the things that... you should probably work on.'"

Penny says, "Not I"

GM says, "'It's a C+ -- generally passing, but with some significant concerns.'"

GM says, "'In particular, if you're ever on Vomisa again, I would strongly recommend..."

GM says, "'...that you not use a mobile loudspeaker to order 62% of the island's population to "let the bodies hit the floor".'"

GM says, "<END>"

[Department] Penny says, "ha ha ha"

[Department] Maria says, "Hahahaha"

[Department] Letitia says, "Yay"

[Department] Penny says, "I have a question"

[Department] Susan says, "perfect."

[Department] Penny says, "OOC"

[Department] GM asks, "Yes?"

[Department] Penny asks, "If I had told everybody on the island "Be as happy as you can while following the golden rule", what would've happened?"

[Department] GM says, "Well, for one, we'd probably invite RC back for the next mission."

[Department] Penny says, "Alt: "Be excellent to each other""

Susan, late at night, is at her computer. She writes in a special addendum to her report for the eyes of Dr RC alone: 'still pestered by phantoms, but there's more...Abaddon? A higher power... visions...'

[Department] GM says, "But you'd also have a bunch of robots walking around with permanent beaming smiles plastered on their faces and a severe lack of emotional depth."

[Department] Letitia asks, "RC?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Rainbow Child!"

[Department] GM exclaims (at Letitia), "You went to college with her! She helped get you into the Department!"

[Department] Letitia says, "Ha haha"

[Department] Letitia says, "Oh, right, her."

(From Susan) Her shadow seems to shift slightly behind her. Wick whines under the table. 'What the--' CUT TO BLACK

Penny still has some stomach trouble and sets an appointment with her GM. "Sire, set an appoint.." *pause* "Siri, could you set an appointment ..."

[Department] GM says (to Susan), "Woo."

[Department] Penny says, "Ooooh."

[Department] Penny says, "(It's probably nothing)"

Penny exclaims (at gm), "This was a lot of fun! Thanks!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "You're welcome!"

[Department] Susan says, "Weehee."

[Department] GM says, "I knew I was taking a bit of a risk with this setting."

[Department] GM says, "I hope it worked out."

[Department] Maria says, "It was fun"

[Department] Penny says, "It did"

[Department] GM says, "Yay."

[Department] Penny asks, "Will we see our heroes (and Susan) again?"

[Department] Susan says, "I hope so."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Maybe!"

[Department] GM says, "I am still open to anyone else who wants to run a Department story themselves, as long as they don't make their PC into an NPC :)"

[Department] Susan says, "This was a lovely conclusion to a 2018 filled with RPing and rolling ifMUD dice"

[Department] Penny says, "Indeed"

[Department] Penny asks, "And we return January 5th?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "Yes! With Bastafore!"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "Yep!"

[Department] Susan says, "Dark secrets will be... revealed."

[Department] Susan says, "Bards will be unmasked."

[Department] Penny asks, "Bastafore? That's still a thing?"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "Unless it's all been swallowed up by that black sphere in the basement of the world while we were off having pot luck dinner parties."

[Department] GM asks, "Oh, also: is there any character who's now completed three separate Department sories?"

[Department] Penny says, "My plans keep expanding, I just hope we find a good point to switch to Crownsford Again"

[Department] GM exclaims, "If so, they get a Significant Milestone!"

[Department] GM says, "The rest of you get a Minor one."

[Department] Susan looks at Susie.

[Department] GM exclaims (at Penny), "Me too!"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "You're not the only one with Plans."

[Department] Penny says, "Maybe after this Kingslayer Mini Arc thing"