deernet | video; un: techgod

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video; un: techgod

[ Dressed in clothes that are way too colorful for this setting, the Technical Boy is sitting at a wooden table, arms crossed. The room is dark but not unnaturally so. A stack of papers sits off to his right side, only partially in frame. Observant viewers may notice that the top one is a schematic of some kind, but the details are mostly obscured.

He lifts one eyebrow before he starts speaking. Intending to be an approachable, his facial expression is calm and is almost a smile, but something about it seems a touch unfriendly. ]

At the risk of redundancy, I'm looking to connect with fellow inventors, mechanics, engineers, alchemists, and technicians for a special project. I have four hands already but need more or it's going to take fucking forever to finish.

Don't ask me what it is. That information is currently on a need-to-know basis. What's important is that it's in the city's best interest. Promise.

Intrigued? Like a challenge? Hit me up. Private messages from serious offers only.

[ He leans forward to get closer to the video in a conspiratorial manner. ]

If you want to leave public messages, tell me what you think this place needs. Get creative.

➟ Attached: "video transcript.txt"

[ Anyone who knew Tech Boy from before may notice this is a bit more vague and brief than his usual network communications. And is that a glitch right as he cuts the feed? Must have been your imagination. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...Could you have made that sound any more suspicious? I kind of need to know what a thing is before I get involved in it. Because the city's best interest could mean a lot of things.

[Once you have your work taken over by people who want to nuke a city, you learn to play it a little safer with collaborative works. ]

I'm not some comic book supervillain.

[ The visual of his post helps not at all. He sighs, aggrieved. ]

But okay fine. You make a valid point. You need to know I'm not being unsubtly nefarious. I get that.

[ Tech Boy has also had his life's work hijacked and twisted into someone else's evil purpose, so he sympathizes. The next part isn't going to come across as all that reassuring, however. ]

Since you're someone whose work I recognize as competent, I'll lay it out straight. I can't see the whole machine yet. It's there, right on the tip of my tongue, but there's a blank spot. A piece missing that I have to outsource. Can't get a clear picture until I know what that piece is, and not being able to see it is eating at me.

[ He looks thoughtful for a moment. ] It feels more like a generator, not like a weapon. But with this moon power and blood magic bullshit, who really knows. All I can guarantee is I'm not looking to die by my own creation. If it's malicious, I'll rip it to shreds myself.

True, you didn't have a well placed mwhahaha there.

[So much snark, all the time. ]

Wow, flattery too! I'm feeling very flattered. [At least he's mostly teasing.] So a generator, okay- well that's simple enough to put together. Do you want to avoid using the luna orbs and/or blood power? Find an alternative to it?

...I appreciate that, I don't want to make anything that can hurt someone.

Evil laughter gives too much away. Plus, generic bad guy tropes aren't really my thing.

[ It's more like this, actually. ]

The goal here is benevolence, believe it or not.

[ He pauses here in thought and to shift a few papers off-screen with one hand before turning his attention back to the camera. ]

It's like a generator. Or maybe a generator is part of it. Either way, a mechanical power source is a good place to start. I don't want to rely on the moonstones or the blood for now. But that's not a hard no.

Antithetical to my usual, I'd prefer to go over schematics in person. I have a starting point. Looking for outside expertise to fill in the gaps and shore it up.

Edited 2021-10-18 00:14 (UTC)

Glad to hear that, I guess? Keep...fighting the good fight?

[Look, Varian still sometimes lets out a proper good mwhahaha if he's really feeling it. ]

Hmm. I agree there. I'd rather not rely on anything this place gives us as a power source. Given what the Dream was like, I don't trust it not to be just ripped away from us whenever it's convenient.

[Good, solid paranoia, the mark of anyone who's lived in Deerington for any length or time. ]

Okay. You've got me curious. I can come and take a look. Where are you at these days?

[Is it possible to get a virus from downloading an innocuous-seeming file? Probably. Wrench isn't looking for a repeat of the time in Deerington his Fluid was hacked and manufactured video footage released, but he knows enough of Tech Boy's MO to know the guy sometimes hides other information behind games and images.

So he clicks. And hey, it's a transcript. Well, he can't not respond now, can he?]

None of the above, but if you need a pack mule or a crash test dummy, I may be available.

[ The thing-within-another-thing will be in what's to follow. It's all terribly clever, and no one will see it coming. For now, the request is vague but pretty straight forward. Plus it has the added benefit of reconnection with some familiar faces. ]

Trying to avoid crashes, but any project worth doing could always use some extra muscle. I'm not really built for heavy lifting, and I'm sure K would appreciate the assist. If you find yourself available, of course.

I can't give you any details now. Only that I'm building a machine of yet to be determined size and am not exactly sure what components I'll need. Seem like something you'd be comfortable with?

If K knows about it and it's got his stamp of approval, I'll take that endorsement. I probably owe him some manual labor anyway.

[Wrench isn't typically one for blind trust, but he wasted enough time back in Deerington and now he's got nothing to show for it. None of the men he'd come to know and to love are here now, and if he's facing down the possibility of another eternity without them he's starting to feel like he's got a whole lot less to lose.]

Got a list of components you need, or is it more of a try-everything-and-see sort of situation?

My project notes have currently taken over a couple rooms of our house, so you can rest assured that K knows all about it. I'm interpreting his patience with the mess as approval.

[ Tech Boy's understating it, of course, because he wouldn't have already made this much progress on his schematics without K's direct help. And yet, there's a terrible amount still to be done. Tech Boy really wishes he had better answers for how others could help at this stage. ]

It's definitely a try-everything-and-see, throw-it-against-the-wall-and-keep-what-sticks situation. For now anyway. The process'll get more refined as time goes on and there's a clearer vision of the desired final result.

Any questions currently burning a hole in your pocket? Best to get them out up front.

lol.
lmao, even.
Guess your username's "tech god", not "not sounding like a creepy suspicious ass god".
If you're planning something in the city's best interest, "need to know" starts to include the whole city real damn fast.

The "creepy suspicious ass god" was my boss. Looks like the miasma starts to permeate after a while.

But if I don't have your trust, I got your attention. Just as good.

A handful of scrap metal is hardly any of the city's business right now. Right now, if you're not going to help, you're just being nosy. But don't worry. I'll make the announcement when the city needs to start paying attention.

Oh, dude, I got about 18 months of experience in why having my attention and not my trust is a bad thing.
You know you're talking like a supervillain, right?
Like, you're at least that self aware, I hope.
"I need more hands to help with my mysterious project, and anyone who doesn't trust me needs to keep their nose clean, now if you'll excuse me I have to call a man about an elaborate boat bomb!"

18 months? So you're new to the game. Got it.

I didn't say anything about clean noses. I didn't make veiled threats. I said I was looking for professionals in these fields because I don't want to have to fucking explain myself every time a screw is tightened or a formula is calculated, like I'm doing now.

And I didn't say anything about bombs. That was all you. It's like you've never heard of covert defense operations.

[she scowls on her end of the screen. this guy's right, but she doesn't have to like it.]

Listen.
Maybe it was.
But the last guy I ran into who said he was making all these plans for the "greater good" turned out to be a genocidal eugenicist, so you can't blame me for being a little on edge about it.
And I guess if I think about it, a genocidal eugenicist probably wouldn't be announcing his plans to the whole town like this.

All right, fine, maybe I came out a little hot. Whatever.
Still a really vague job offer. Wonder what kind of clientele it's gonna bring out.

I've known my fair share of genocidal eugenicists, ruthless iconoclasts, and homicidal maniacs. Generally they wait until they're in power and their plans can't be stopped before making public statements.
Not always. Some of them are morons.
I guess it's 50/50 either way.

Very few nefarious offers so far. But given a long enough timeline, that number will never be zero.

[ "Whatever" almost sounds like an apology. He'll take it. It's as good as he ever gives anyway. However, he is still who he is, and blatant disrespect is something of a pressure point. ]

[[ PRIVATE ]]

You're lucky I'm in a good mood. I've been told don't react well to people fucking with me.
This isn't a threat. But if your hobby is poking bears, you should know the reach of their claws.

[it is. enormously tempting to leave this so-called tech god on read. it would also be extremely funny. for all she knows, this is just some self-important script kiddie. but the way she's been sleeping lately, the way the paranoia is creeping into everything she reads, hears, sees, says, she can't leave it at that.]

Appreciate the warning, but I don't make a habit of it, thanks.
I have enough beasts to worry about in the woods.
First line of defense for the bears.
Just in case any of their claws don't quite reach that far.

[Coolly,] And on what do we weigh the value of your promises?

[There's static overlaid on the transmission.]

[ He'll respond voice-to-voice message, but the static overlay has him tipping his head to one side in curiosity. What could be causing that? Unclear. Could he keep this person talking long enough to figure it out? Who knows? Unseen, he squints at the recording. ]

I knew a guy once who weighed everything against a measure of gold. Knew another guy who used a really heavy feather. Someone else values their word as good as their life. And some people lie.

If you want me to present a case to convince you I'm honorable in my intentions, I'm not going to do that. Take me at my word or don't.

[Very likely he can; the owner of the voice--and the static, as it happens--is a gregarious sort even if he'd pretend otherwise.]

It is less lying, [a pop and a whistle in the noise on the line, for emphasis,] I am worried about than honorable intentions going awry. If they do not work out how you hoped, what will you do to redress the damage?

[ That's actually not an unfair question, but Tech Boy isn't really known for his forethought. What has he done in the past when his grand plans went awry? Suffer, mostly. ]

What? No power of positive thinking? Belief that everything is gonna turn out right can be a powerful force behind achieving the intended outcome. Belief in anything can be, if you apply it to the right place. Or so some people think.

[ Ironically, he only half believes that himself. He's stalling. Currently, all he can come up with is: ]

I'll do what's necessary.

[He gives a rasping laugh.]

I am too old for that. Belief alone will stand when you have no other chance, but to rely on it when you have time and resources for better wastes Generation's gifts. Why mock the god?

[Though he does get the feeling that was more of a rhetorical question.

The static's mostly gone now.]

Mmm. At least you are thinking about it, now.

I am no engineer or machinist, but thinking about consequences and preventing the worst ones is something I have done for a very long time. Perhaps, you talk to me before anything blows up and you have an angry mob on your hands, yes?

[This seems totally legit to Fern and hey, this being in the city's best interest definitely sounds like a good thing.]

i'm not an engineer or a scientist or anything fancy like that but i'm pretty good at scavenging junk

[ Bless you, Fern, for taking Tech Boy at his word. It's totally legit and will most definitely not cause anyone any harm (on purpose). He's got everything under control. ]

Scavenging is the perfect place to start. Good thinking. I haven't looked for parts in very many places yet, and I need brass scraps and mechanical assemblies to cannibalize. For now. To get things started.

[He's a good lad who trusts people way too much.]

no problem
i was pretty good at finding that kind of stuff for Varian back in Deerington, so i bet i can do the same for you here
what's this for anyways?

[ Tech Boy's more of a "trusting the wrong people" sort, but he likes it when people choose to trust him. ]

Varian's offered to help too, so that's a good opportunity to coordinate. He'll probably end up knowing more of what I'm looking for than I do sometimes.

[ This is text, but there's a pause between messages that one might be able to interpret as leaning in to tell a secret. ]

I'm building a machine. I'd say it's a surprise but tbh it'll be a surprise for me too. I've only designed about half of it, but I can see it in my mind and I know it'll do something good for everyone once its done. I know it.

ok cool
not surprised he did this sounds right up his alley

[This is only making Fern more curious!! And now a little wary, because this is starting to remind him of a certain portal project that went south.]

what's the machine do?
it's not an interdimensional portal is it

[ The reactions to the network post that K can see are confusing, to say the least; it sounded like a perfectly reasonable request to him. Though he does also have some insider info on what the request is actually about...

And he can't help teasing a little. ]

If you're entering the supervillain business, I'm not gonna be your henchman or sidekick. [ He makes a show of carefully considering this. ] I think partner, if anything. So we'd need matching supervillain aliases. Possibly spandex or latex uniforms. [ A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth as he suggest it, then his demeanour grows more serious. ]

Some interesting responses so far. Are you having any better luck privately? And you already know I'm willing to help with anything you need.

Anyone tries to make you a sidekick and I will kick them in their sides. [ Perhaps not physically because he promised K to stop picking fights that would put himself in danger. And the fewer times the god has to call in K to be a knight in shining armor to rescue him from something stupid, the better. ] Definitely spandex, partner. Latex is too creaky and our opponents would hear us coming for miles.

I've made some promising connections. Familiar faces. I think I must have gotten too soft and forgotten how suspicious everyone in these worlds can be. Usually it's my job to be suspicious of my seeming "allies" motives.

[ He makes the quote marks with his fingers and a little bit of a scowl. ]

I'm going to pick that detective brain of yours. I'm missing something--something other than the large piece--and I need another pair of trained eyes. I'll find the relevant sections... [ He shuffles through the papers still slightly off-camera for a second before sighing. ] This is why doing things by hand is outdated bullshit. But it felt safer this way. [ Paranoid? Who? Him? ] I'll get 'em to you.

[ K offers a slight smile before bowing his head in acceptance. Was that a flicker of disappointment in his expression or was it just Tech Boy's paranoia playing tricks on him again? ] Of course. I could probably help with more than just figuring out what's missing, if you ever want. But it's your show. Don't wanna step on your toes.

[ It's a modest understatement. K had already been studying engineering, robotics, and quantum theories and technology well before he'd even set foot in Tech Boy's homeworld, both as a means of helping Arid and out of sheer curiosity. Then later it had been to help Tech Boy with his own quantum upgrades. And he's continued his pursuit of knowledge ever since, including during those years they spent in Tech Boy's homeworld where he had the time and safety to do so.

Why not make use of that considerable self-taught knowledge? Outsourcing is a good idea, especially in such a technologically limited place, but K could be a better resource (intellectually speaking; there's no question he can handle the grunt work Tech Boy already has him doing) than he's ever been given credit for.

Tech Boy had once promised to help with the hands-on teaching, too (as opposed to divine inspiration), so there's also that to consider. By this point there may even be things K could teach him... The ability to learn inherent in Nexus-9 models of K's grade far outstrips human capacity, a likely unintended consequence of their advanced design.

And, well. Maybe he'd sort of been hoping to be a partner in more than just the joking supervillain duo sense. Not just a sidekick to the project like he was in Deerington. ]

Of course.

[ He blinks. ]

I'm not asking you for a small favor. Finding out what I'm missing is massive. No "just" about it. I have to show you the whole design, and there's a lot here. All this [ a rustle of the papers again ] is just getting it out of my head so I can look at it.

[ He inclines his head trying to sort out whatever is his own brain static versus what he's seeing on K's face, what he can feel of the disappointment of their connection (amplified through their rings) even at this distance. ]

It takes someone who actually knows about all this shit to really get it. You've done the work. No one's more qualified. And I can't trust anyone else with the whole plan. Anyone else just sees the parts they're working on. You get it all. Hell, you'll actually be able to keep it all in your head to analyze, something even I'm having trouble with right now. It's jumbled so I may have to reorganize and annotate the process a little, but I've overlooked something obvious and it keeps failing. Didn't carry the one or something in terabytes of code.

I'm relying on you like I would rely on a second set of my own eyes. [ Partners. ]

I'm nothing if not reliable.

[ Constant K. The thought comes unbidden, a memory that carries the impression of a disembodied voice questioning him within a stark cell. Something that, if Tech Boy's also picking up on it, he at least now knows enough context to understand. But moving right along... ]

I didn't mean to seem facetious, I know this is important. I'd like to see it all. And I'll help you to the best of my abilities.

[ Abilities that he has more confidence in than he used to, so there's that. He wants to prove Tech Boy's faith in him isn't misplaced. There's a pause as he rubs the back of his neck, thinking on things. Because this really is a lot, and he thinks it may be a bit different from the way the god usually becomes engrossed in his projects. ]

All of this has been coming to you in dreams? Has that ever happened before? [ It's asked in an and you're sure it's safe? sort of tone. This is one aspect that seems to warrant more discussion, because Tech Boy's safety happens to be K's primary concern, now and always. ]

THIS PLACE NEEDS A MORE CONVENIENT ACCESS TO ALL OF THE INFORMATION FROM THE ARCHIVES. DIGGING THROUGH BOOKS IS SO FUCKING ARCHAIC IT MAKES ME WANT TO VOMIT EVERY ORGAN I HAVE EVER OWNED. WE HAVE THESE DEVICES AND YET NO ONE HAS THOUGHT TO UPLOAD EVERYTHING VIRTUALLY?

FUCKING NOOBS.

PRIVATE:

TELL ME EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO HELP.

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