The_Guild	So you were studying physics and such of Shar Torin.
Alice	yup. and waiting for a message back from the Rauka researcher. I am going to go find a new place to relax and digest info.
The_Guild	As you are heading to another garden, you do get a message from Temond, the Rauka researcher. He invites you to Guild Engineering.
Alice	[Okay, do I remeber how to get there from previous maps?]
The_Guild	[Yes. You can get pretty much anywhere in Shar Torin.]
Alice	Okay, I head out. As I walk, I am muttering to myself, formulating arguments and counter arguments about the research.
The_Guild	Okay. People generally ignore you, though some do look at you, thinking that you might be speaking to them.
Alice	I lower my voice a bit but not much. It really does sound like Alice is physically arguing with herself.
The_Guild	You reach Shargat Engineering and find yourself in the same glass box as before, looking down on the workfloor. It doesn't seem that things have changed much, but looking closer you notice several new projects, including one or two that don't seem to have any physical components.
Alice	I try and ignore the new projects and concentrate instead on my arguments and metabolizing this physics info. ~I need a personality report on person I am going to meet. Send me anything freely available plus transcripts of conversations, papers, and speeches made.~
The_Guild	A three foot tall woman appears beside you. "Come with me, please."
Alice	Alice is trying to match her arguments with the personality given.
Alice mods and follows.
The_Guild	You and the three foot tall woman vanish, appearing amidst the experience of Shargat Engineering, standing with your toes to the edge of a yellow line surrounding an area occupied by two other Shargat, a cage with monkeys, and a glass box with a wormlike thing suspended in it, rotating slowly. ~Temond is an experienced researcher, his work going back a couple hundred years. He concentrates mainly on biological interface research, integrating all manner of things into the flesh. He also worked for a while on the VonExis project, as well as the Lazarus Trials.
Alice	Okay, I modify my arguments. Is the worm a rauka?
The_Guild	You would assume so. The short woman steps into the work area, and a dark skinned young man steps toward you. "Alice Whitehouse? I am Sadesar Temond. Step into the work area, but do not touch anything."
Alice	"Very well." I enter, being careful not to brush against anything.
The_Guild	"Welcome to the Guild."
Alice	"Thank you. I have found it most enlightening so far. Have you had time to read my proposal?"
The_Guild	"Yes, intriguing. It comes at a most fortuitious time, for we were pondering our first ventures into testing on humanoids."
Alice	"And it appears from your previous research that I am a prime candidate. Not only do I have the mental strength to combat the controlling effects but I am also experienced enough in biological research that I can provide detailed feedback."
The_Guild	"You do realize that there may be unforseen consequences, side effects that extend beyond the symbiosis with the Rauka?"
Alice	"Yes but from my analysis I believe it is worth the risk for me. We are both fortunate in that the Rauka satisfies many needs of mine, so I can take some chances. Are there particular risks which have not been identified in your previous research?"
The_Guild	"It's difficult to judge, but the Rauka symbiote, or the removal of the Rauka symbiote, may deteriorate natural psychic ability. It seems like the Rauka replaces whatever natural potential you might have. We haven't studied the phenomenon yet, so it may be reversible."
Alice	[Have i been tested by the thinkers for natural psychic potential?] [That I know of course.]
The_Guild	[You might have been, but you weren't told about it.]
Alice	"As far as I know, I have no psychic potential to lose. A test for that would be a good idea."
The_Guild	~Low to moderate potential over a period of ten years.~
Alice	"Well not much to lose then. Anything else I should be aware of? Do you yet know how sentient the Rauka will be after bonding? How much it will be a seperate intelligence?"
The_Guild	"Motor control seems to default to the original creature, though there is evidence suggesting that the Rauka can commandeer weakminded creatures."
Alice	"Will I be able to communicate with it as a sentient intelligence?"
The_Guild	"Tests indicate that that will be the case, yes."
Alice	"Will it only be sentient after the bonding or can we communicate with it now?"
The_Guild	"It is in preservative stasis at the moment, so no, communication with it now is impossible. It does not live long outside a host, so when separated it concentrates mainly on taking a host, so isn't very communicative."
Alice	"Very well. Do you need to perform tests on me? I am effectively completely at your disposal."
The_Guild	Temond glances at the third Shargat in grey, who nods. "Our tests are complete. We are ready when you are."
Alice pauses for a second and does her own internal analysis...
Alice	"Very well. I am also ready."
The_Guild	"Alright. Present your hand to the Rauka. Here." He motions where you should put your hand, palm facing one of the ends of the wormlike thing.
Alice shaking slightly. She takes a breath and tries to calm herself. Then she moves forwards and gently places her hand on the spot.
The_Guild	The three grey-tuniced Shargat surround you, eyes on you or the Rauka. Behind you, the monkey screeches, hands shaking the bars of it's cage. The cube of stasis shimmers and the Rauka squirms, lumpy muscles extending and contracting in an ugly manner. The 'head' drops and then raises to your hand, and several threadlike tendrils lash out, attaching to your palm. "Would you like me to dull the pain?" the short Shargat who brought you here asks.
Alice inhales sharply.
Alice	Through gritted teeth. "Will it have any adverse effects on the procedure?"
The_Guild	"No."
Alice cosiders for a second. "Not yet. Most turning points in my life involved pain. Just help me make sure my hands don't move."
The_Guild	More threadlike tendrils attach to your hand - your palm, your fingertips, your wrist. More and more, each one a little prick, until it feels like your hand has fallen asleep and is waking up with pins and needles. Your hand pulses, and you can feel your heartbeat trembling in your hand. Your hand becomes cold, then hot, and then heavy. Though the creature has attached itself to your palm, you think you see/feel it on the back of your hand, like slight ripples flowing beneath your skin.
Alice closes her eyes and leans her head back.
The_Guild	Your hand feels heavy, hot and dry, and the rippling feeling slowly rises up your arm, the heat and heaviness rising with it. It becomes difficult to hold your hand up, but when you try to lower it, it is cradled in place by some force.
Alice starts directing her will towards keeping her hand in place and her breath regular.
The_Guild	Nevertheless your heartbeat increases, perhaps your body gearing itself up to reject this new invader. The rippling reaches your shoulder, your throat... and suddenly you can't breathe.
Alice looks over sharply at one of the Shargat, her mouth open and her eyes scared.
The_Guild	Then time stops. Things freeze around you. The Shargat doesn't move, sound ceases. ~S''ma'1 alsd *asssski#$%234''{q?~
Alice tries to shake her head and clear it.
The_Guild	~Sssma.l sal'd asssskinS@t'9''ou?~
Alice	~Are.... you.... it? her? him?~
The_Guild	~Sssmall sealed asking about you?"
Alice	~Are you small sealed? I am Alice~
The_Guild	~Alice... host yes make power strong...?~
Alice	~yes.~
The_Guild	~Hungry is eat yes?~
Alice	~you need to be careful when you eat now. That will be one of the rules. There will be rules.~
The_Guild	~Rules yes. Vv eat now is rules yes.~
Alice	~I will get you food but you must only take what I tell you to take. This is a rule, dear one.~ ... ~Tell everything nearby that you want food.~
The_Guild	~Alicefood, Temondfood, Biddefood, Adderfood.~
Alice	~They are food which must NOT be eaten." "tell them that you want food.~
The_Guild	~Eat now, now now now nownownownownownownownownownow....~ ~*Like a sharp pinprick.*~
The_Guild	~*Like a hammering blow.*~
Alice	~Give me control of my body and senses and I will get you food.~ I am trying to yell, "Bring it food!"
The_Guild	~*Like a slashing knife.*~ You feel these things inside your head.
Alice	~*Lash back, knowledge, information, confusion*~ ~*Domination*~ ~You will OBEY ME!~
The_Guild	~A hiss, a screech, a mewling, pitiful wail.~
Alice	~I am you mistress. Obey me and I will reward you.~
The_Guild	~....hungry.....~
Alice	~Give me back my body and there will be food.~
The_Guild	~....hungry.....~ ~Screeches!~
Alice	~*Patience* Scream if you want but you will obey before you feed~
The_Guild	~You feel the Rauka subside, leaving a burning pain like swallowing bile.~
Alice	[Can I feel the Thinkers?]
The_Guild	[yes.] Your eyes open. You're lying on the table that the cube and cage had occupied. The three Shargat stand around you.
Alice	[Can I talk?]
The_Guild	[Try it out. :)]
Alice	"She wants some food. I had to fight her down."
The_Guild	~Purr....~
Alice	~*stroke* Obey me, obey the rules, do not hurt me and I will give food.~ ~We will care for each other.~
The_Guild	Temond looks down at you, "She took your memory of the procedure."
Alice	"Any others!?" ~RULE 1: I AM NOT FOOD!~
The_Guild	"Not that we know of. It's sometimes difficult to remember what you've forgotten."
Alice	"How can I access food for her?"
The_Guild	~Vv is eat now rules yes.~ ~Vv make Alicenest, happynowthought to curdle up on.~
Alice	~I will bring you food but you must never eat from me again. If you eat from me we will become seperated.~
The_Guild	~Vv know. Vv sorry.~
Alice	~I understand. You are forgiven.~ "I need food for her."
The_Guild	"You should be able to convince it to feed through physical contact, using the same sort of thread tendrils that it used to assimilate with you."
Alice	"Okay, bring me somthing to feed on. Something non humanoid preferrably. I am trying to teach her the differences." ~Do you want blood food or mind food?~
The_Guild	~yesyes~ ~Feed you is feed me.~
Alice	"I read that you could simulate memories on the thinkers. I need those memories to feed her."
The_Guild	The three foot tall woman named Bidde places a small blobular thing in your hand. "Try this. It should absorb stray forgotten thoughts, enough to feed the Rauka every few days."
Alice	~Feed on memories from the thing in my hand, eat from it as much as you want.~
The_Guild	Your hand tingles with pins and needles for a few moments, and then the feeling subsides. ~Vv bored memories not smartgood~
Alice	~more satisfying memories will have to wait. We will need to leave and hunt for them but not yet. Feed on these for now. If you feed on these and we grow strong, then we can leave sooner and eat something more good.~
The_Guild	~Alicenest nicehappy memories....~
Alice	~No feeding on me. Feeding on me means seperation. Feed on the ones from the blob and then I will look for where we can eat.~ "She is rejecting the food from the blob. I am trying to convince her."
The_Guild	~grumblegrumblegrumble~
Alice	~We will hunt together for delicious memories.~
The_Guild	Again your hand tingles, for a while longer this time. Again, the feeling subsides. ~Vv is ate now~
Alice	~Do you want blood food stil?~
The_Guild	~You is feed for feed me~
Alice	~I should eat and that will feed you? ~ [Is there any food around?]
The_Guild	~Alicenest happysmart!~ Again Bidde provides you with what you need, and you eat. And eat. And eat.
Alice	~Enjoy. I want to make you happy.~
The_Guild	Twisting veins bulge under your skin, the symbiote shifting as it adapts your food. ~Vv happy is~ You feel quite tired now though.
Alice	~I need to sleep now. Shall we both rest?~
The_Guild	~Sleep good. Togetherness is be.~
Alice	~Lets sleep then. Good night dear one.~
The_Guild	You fall asleep quickly, and when you wake up, you are in your room. Your stomach rumbles. Several hours have passed.