Chapter Fifty-Two - Fab
Fandoms are an interesting social phenona. People who enjoy a piece of dia or a celebrity congregate together to discuss the things they like. At the onset, this is completely normal human behaviour.
What makes the phenona more interesting is how modern societys trend towards mass communication allows this communication to spawn new artwork, new s, and new sub-groups. It turns into an echo chamber, where ideas are reinforced and repeated and reiterated upon.
It isnt terribly uncommon for early fandoms to focus on sothing entirely new, for example a freshly erged Samurai. They will find, research, and dissect any bit of information they can about the new object for their obsession.
This can co as a shock to so Samurai. For example, Hairumas, a Samurai interviewed in 2034 said, I didnt expect it. All of a sudden these guys and girls with afros just kept asking to sign stuff. It was wild!
--Excerpt from a Scientific Yesterday paper, 2036
***
Okay, I said as we reached the vault. It was in about the sa condition as I rembered, minus the dead bodies. The floor had little pock-marks as if sothing had eaten away at it, mostly round where I rembered the corpses being. That felt like it had been months ago. Well start by paying the corps their due, I guess.
Huh? Lucy asked.
Yeah, Myalis gave the list of shit the building sellers want. Its all blueprints except for a bunch of nano-regen things, I said. Think theres a box around here we could dump them in?
The Dumbass following up piped up at that. The containers most items co in are stackable. Shall I inform the broker that the thirty-five Nano-Regenerative Suites are ready for pick-up?
Yeah, sure, I said. We can leave them at the door I guess, with one of the Dumbasses.
What else did they buy? And whats those nano-whatsit do?
They inject these little bots in you that un-sses you up. I think thats what I gave you for your MS, right? Crap, I cant rember. Anyway, I guess so rich dudes just want to live longer or whatever.
Nano Regenerative Suites can alleviate a lot of the ills caused by aging. Issues with joints, with eyesight, minor stress issues in musculature and in the cardio-vascular system. Even an outwardly healthy human has hundreds of very minor issues that can be repaired, Myalis said.
As for the other stuff they bought... I looked over the list again. Just blueprints. A lot of clothing stuff from my decoy catalogue, so cyberwarfare stuff. Uh, mostly looks like protection stuff.
I limited the offensive options, Myalis said. Giving offensive electronic warfare packages to just anyone seed like a bad idea.
No shit, I muttered.
Lucy shrugged, Alright then. So were buying that big machine that makes stuff?
Yup, I said. Blueprints and nano stuff first though. Can you not swarm my augs with ssages though? That little chiming noise is a bit annoying.
Very well.
New Purchases: Blueprints x 8 - Various. Nano-Regenerative Suit x 35
Points Reduced to... 3420!
I winced at seeing my points total dropping so low.
The blueprints have been sent. You also retain a copy for yourself, of course.
Ohh, so we can make stuff! Lucy said. Can I see the list?
Yeah, sure, I said.
Lucy grinned. Okay so.. Boring, boring, creepy, ohh, is a Clothing Creation Fabricator a thing that makes clothes?
Based on a template, yes. I suspect that the corporations purchasing it will be stymied, at least temporarily, by the complexity of the models required to get the machine to function.
But we have a you, Lucy said. Could I show you pics of cute things then have you make them with this thing?
Certainly, Myalis said.
I rubbed at my temples. So, lets change up the design of our room a little, I said. Were going to need, like, a walk-in closet.
Does it make shoes? Lucy asked.
The Clothing Creation Fabricator can, yes.
A big walk-in closet, I muttered.
We moved over towards the back of the room and where I imagined the armoury would be. I never fancied myself much of a gun-nut or anything like that. But the idea of having a room in my house entirely dedicated to weapons was kinda hot.
Right, Myalis, can you place the creation engine right here. I gestured, raising and lowering both arms as if dropping a big box on the ground.
Certainly. Let just verify that the structure can support its weight.
How big is this thing? I asked.
Its approximately two ters long, two high, and three wide.
Damn, thats big, I said. We need like, a couple of feet of clearance all around, right? Wheres the bit where you dump stuff in?
The front, as is the area where materials and items can be picked up.
Ah, alright, I said. We can squeeze it in a bit more.
I have modified the blueprints to your armoury and room in accordance with the room required to fit everything in. Is this suitable? Myalis asked as a wire-fra hologram appeared over the Dumbass she was using. Our bedroom was a bit smaller, with a long, narrow room added to the side that was no doubt the walk-in closet. It wouldnt be as big as the penthouse bedroom, but still, it was bigger than any room back at the orphanage.
That looks great! Lucy cheered.
I nodded. Thatll do. Okay. Big machine ti!
New Purchase: Mark Two Creation Engine
Points Reduced to... 335!
The machine took a mont to appear, longer than when Id summoned... anything else. When it did appear, the pause made sense. It was a big, lumbering thing. It reminded a bit of the front-end of one of those moving vans, the ones with a flat front. A large screen took up a decent portion of the front, currently running through so idle animations. To the side was a heavy-looking door and below that a sort of hopper thing with little coasters. It looked a bit like the place where toys would fall out from one of those old coin-operated gacha machines.
Shiny, Lucy said.
It was pretty shiny, all chro and rivets and brass-coloured knobs.
To utilize the machine, tap the screen. It will verify your identity, then bring you to the main controls. From there, you can pick the thing you wish to build. The Creation Engines matter content is currently at optimal levels. In the future, you will either need to add items to be reclaid, or purchase more raw matter through point expenditure.
Lucy stepped up and poked the screen. A digital kitten ran after a rolling ball of digital yarn.
Did you customize the loading screen? I asked.
I may have, Myalis admitted. I also added a loading screen. Its quite unnecessary.
I rolled my eyes and refocused on the screen. There was a list of options for Lucy to pick from. All of the blueprints Id just bought to buy the museum, and one labelled generic materials.
Lucy picked the Prosthetic Ears option and scrolled through that for a bit. There were so two dozen options, and the ability to customize those further. From adding colour to tweaking how the prosthetic worked. Do you think Id look cool with cat ears? she asked. Yours are really cute.
Theyre embarrassing, I said. I couldnt help but flick them back.
They wiggle a bunch when youre about to get off, Lucy said without even glancing back.
My more human ears felt warm. They what?
Its cute!
Dammit Lucy, I groaned. You should have told .
She shook her head, then pointed to the screen. Pink? The ears on display were an ear-searingly bright pink, like soone had gone nuts with a radioactive high-lighter.
Thats a bit much, I said.
Yeah, I should go for sothing that matches my hair, she said before tapping a colour-wheel option.
I shook my head. Are you really getting cat-ears?
Do you not want to? Lucy asked.
I huffed. telling Lucy not to do sothing had never prevented Lucy from doing sothing she already wanted to do. I couldnt see how that would change now. Its up to you, I guess. Dont see why youd want that, your ears work fine.
So do yours, Lucy said. I just wanna be on-the.
On the?
Well, yeah, theres you, Stray Cat, with the tail and the ears and the cat-thed jacket. And then there are the kittens, then theres . Im the only part of the equation thats not cat-thed.
I stepped up and hugged Lucy from behind. Youre such a moron, I said.
I am not, she protested. Not that she tried to move out of the hug.
I was enjoying the mont when Myalis twitched. Catherine, you have a visitor.
One of the contractors? I asked. Already?
No. Its Deus Ex.
Oh, fuck, I said.
The little laser girl? Lucy asked as she pulled out of the hug. Did you have business with her?
No, but shes the sort to dump so trouble on . Co on, lets go see what the pipsqueak wants.
***
User Comments
0 comments from readers