Logging #BESM to 'logs\#BESM.Chatsociety.log'
Alice	's description at some point}
The_Guild	So what's first on your to do list?
Alice	First thing is to get the thought absorbing orb modified by Otsilliw.
The_Guild	A message to Otsilliw reveals that she is currently working in Shargat engineering. She lets you know that you can come visit if you play nice.
Alice	Okay, I head over, playing with Natila-Vv as I go.
The_Guild	After a moment's confusion over access (Otsilliw 'forgot' to grant the correct permissions after talking to you,) you appear on the workfloor, looking into an area largely filled by an immense machine of indeterminate design. Pieces float around it, occasionally applying themselves to the machine and fastening with self-screwing nuts. Otsilliw and a redolent panther preside over it all.
Alice	Redolent panther? Can I guess the purpose of the machine?
The_Guild	A panther lies next to Otsilliw, looking bored. You could guess, but coffee maker would be as good a guess as interdimensional communicator. The parts on the outside seem generically non-descript for just that reason.
Alice_Whitehouse walks closer. "Hello again Otsilliw. Here's the orb. "
Alice	~Thinkers, who/what is that panther?~
The_Guild	Otsilliw doesn't turn around. "Don't cross the line. Put the orb down on your side."
Alice_Whitehouse stops and places the orb on the ground.
The_Guild	The line, by the way, is the thick yellow line delineating the various work spaces from one another. One would probably suspect these to be warded barriers in time of need.
Alice_Whitehouse is taking this chance to examine the room. She doesn't hide the fact.
Alice	"How long will it likely take to complete the modifications?"
The_Guild	~Shargat Krtrr Rruumuu, Quedileq panther.~
Alice_Whitehouse nods toward Krtrr, "Greetings>
The_Guild	"A couple days, a week, depends when I find the time." She seems vaguely annoyed by your presence, which is somewhat of an improvement in her disposition. The other Shargat pays no attention to you.
Alice	"Thank you. I appreciate your time. I won't stay and bother you."
Alice_Whitehouse turns to leave.
The_Guild	"Alice, wait."
Alice_Whitehouse turns back. "Yes?"
The_Guild	"Uh...." Otsilliw pauses as several pieces fall into place, "Bite my ass, bitch."
Alice_Whitehouse smiles.
Alice	"Sure thing.... you filthy cunt."
The_Guild	There is a clang as one of the heavy metal braces accidentally jostles against the machine, but no other reaction from the Shargat. "See you later."
Alice	"Ciao." Alice leaves.
The_Guild	Shargat Engineering spits out back out to the observation deck.
Alice_Whitehouse starts laughing to herself.
The_Guild	Where to now?
Alice	Okay, there is a psi research area correct?
The_Guild	In a manner of speaking, yes. Shargat Psionics, where you first received your Thinker Receptivity.
Alice	Okay, I am going to head that way. ~Adder, are you busy? I want to talk with you about getting some food for Natila-Vv.~
The_Guild	It is a short trip through the library to reach Shargat Psionics.
Alice	Any reply from Adder?
The_Guild	~What can I do for you?~ Shargat Psionics is as small, as cramped and as dim and empty as it was when first you visited.
Alice	~I was wondering if you knew if there was somewhere I could get Natila-Vv some fresh memories to feed on. I'd like to reserve the use of the orb for emergencies and keep Natila-Vv well fed while I am here.~
The_Guild	~The only source of fresh memories is fresh experiences. You would have to find volunteers to donate memories, or feed her your own. There's still the possibility of getting the Thinkers to cobble together false memories, but that project is not complete, and we won't be sure of it's usefulness until we try to feed your symbiote from it.
Alice	Do I know if there is the psi equivalent of a departmental email? I want to broadcast a low priority message to all shargat researchers. Is that allowed? Is it really rude? If I don't know I will check with the thinkers.
The_Guild	There is a method for doing it, sort of a free-floating bulletin board that everyone on the Thinkers is privvy to.
Alice	~Thanks Adder. If you hear of anyone who needs to jetson memories, I would appreciate it if you would pass them onto me. Do you want an update on the symbiote or is the remote monitoring providing you with enough information?~
The_Guild	~You have an appointment to see us in five days, an update then will be fine.~
Alice	~Okay, thank you very much.~
The_Guild	~You are welcome.~ ~Alissssssse comesss to ssssee ussss again....~ ~Welcome back to the Thinkersssss, Alissssse...~ ~Have you reconsssssidered joining ussss?~
Alice_Whitehouse stops
Alice	~Joining? How do you mean?~ How is Natila-Vv reacting to this?
The_Guild	Natila-Vv is chatting playing by herself, splashing around in the Thinkers. ~Becoming one with the Thinkerssss, you we me become one. One. One.~
Alice	~I am interested in what you are saying... why me?~
The_Guild	~You are capable.~ ~It issss not to be taken lightly. If you are the Thinkersssss, you are nothing elssse.~
Alice	~I need time to consider it and to learn more about what it entails... but for now I do not think I wish to lose myself. Perhaps later in my life.~
The_Guild	~Time isssss of no conssssequensssse, return when you are desssssided.~
Alice_Whitehouse shivers. ~...Thank you.~
The_Guild	Did you want to remain in Shargat Psionics for any reason?
Alice_Whitehouse heads for comenstibles.
Alice	As I am going I am very affectionate towards Natila-Vv, petting and playing with her.
The_Guild	She brings you tidbits of information that she found while playing in the Thinkers. Mostly quirky things, nothing really useful. She seems pleased with the attention. Comestibles is fairly empty, only a few tables are occupied.
Alice_Whitehouse quickly composes a message to the board, requesting that anyone who need memory erasure please contact me. In it I explain about the Natila-Vv's needs. I work hard to make the bulletin compelling.
The_Guild	It is done with surprising ease. Now all you have to do is sit back and wait for the replies.
Alice	At comestibles I sit down at a table and order some sushi. Once the document is done I redivert all my attention to playing with Natila-Vv.
The_Guild	The sushi arrives and is good enough, though the fish is none you've tasted before. Natila-Vv plays for a while longer, then decides to have a nap.
Alice	Okay, I enjoy the sensation of Natilla-Vv napping for a bit and then do some research into other sources of memories around here or in getting to other dimensions to get memories.
The_Guild	Apart from the donation of memories or the capturing of lost memories, there don't seem to be any other sources of Raukachow at the moment. As for getting to other dimensions, there are several to which the Guild is connected, all accessible through Central TransLoc, though some require special permission to visit.
Alice	Any candidate dimensions? Ones where sucking memories isn't liable to cause a problem? I imagine I would need permission from my emissary before I did this right?
The_Guild	Not necessarily from your Emissary, but from the Emissary of the dimension in question, indubitubly. There is, of course, Holmzfrau, the dimension where the Rauka are from. Holmzfrut, sorry.
Alice	I'd prefer one where people don't know and hate the Rauka.
The_Guild	There are no "people" in Holmzfrut. Only animals.j
Alice	Ah... right. Well I would be interested in Natila-Vv's reaction to other Rauka.
Alice_Whitehouse briefly considers meeting up with Do-N to test the mimicing effects of Rauka but then decides against it.
The_Guild	She's probably never met one. The Rauka population was pretty small. No people except for a small Guild outpost, that is.
Alice	Can she remember her home dimension at all? I am not waking her up btw.
The_Guild	Then you don't know.
Alice	Can I sense her memories?
The_Guild	No. You notice that your mind feels a bit sharper, since she's gone to sleep.
Alice	Okay. Any other dimensions? I'm looking for ones with things like war, reality contamination etc where Natila-Vv's presence wouldn't noticed. Can I do a self check to test my mind?
The_Guild	Test your mind in what way?
Alice	Memory, problem solving. I'll check with the thinkers and see if they have some standard tests. I am interested in getting some idea as to what effect Natila-Vv has on me when she is awake.
The_Guild	There are several dimensions with wars going on, and a few suffering from Believability Quotient Erosion... however, to a dimension, they require permission to visit.
Alice	"Makes sense... ."
The_Guild	You determine eventually that as Natila-Vv sleeps, she is sleeping (and processing new memories and information) not only for herself, but for you as well... thus reducing your own need to sleep.
Alice	"aaaawwww....." Roughly how many dimensions are reachable?
The_Guild	Total?
Alice	Yeah Ballpark figure
The_Guild	A millionish.
Alice	Okay. Thanks, that gives me an idea of scale. Okay, there isn't a ton I want to do before the mods.
The_Guild	Okay. Mods then?
Alice	Sure
The_Guild	Your appointment takes you down a long glass corridor that looks out onto a swirling violet void all around you, through a pair of double doors that open breezily as you approach and into a well-kept reception area that is empty save for the clerk at the office window. "Hello, are you," the clerk checks the book in front of him, "Alice Whitehouse?"
Alice	"Yes."
The_Guild	"Great. Have a seat please, the Shargat will be right with you."
Alice_Whitehouse has a seat.
Alice	Magazines?
The_Guild	Yes. The magazines are all from 1974 or earlier.
Alice	Yes yes and yes
The_Guild	k
Alice	Alice sits and reads. Are they native to my dimension?
The_Guild	Yuppers. Old copies of Home and Garden, Reader's Digest, and Cyclemania.
Alice	"hmmmm... stunning new prototype cycle pants material created.... Spandex considered as possible name."
The_Guild	A tall womanish creature emerges into the reception area, her pale blue hair braided and wrapped tightly around her. She wears a Shargat grey bodysuit, though her hair is long enough to provide more than enough coverage - it must be at least fifteen feet long, braided. "Ms. Whitehouse? Phaylin Adronozar. I'll be your coach today."
Alice	"Thank you. What first?"
The_Guild	"We'll be working on your willpower and spirit first, followed by a relaxing nap in PEP. Come with me, we'll get you ready."
Alice	I get up and follow.
The_Guild	She leads you to a room and has you sit in a chair much like those at the dentists... except this one has restraints and odd wires protruding from it. "We'll be using a synaptic pathway inducer to create empathic trauma and bolster your natural defense to it."
Alice	"Okay... is there a way to shield my symbiant from the pain of this?"
The_Guild	"Yes. We will be putting your symbiote in no-state for the procedure, it will be quite safe."
Alice	"Thanks." Alice is shivering a bit. She looks very apprehensive. "Shall we begin?"
The_Guild	"Certainly." The restraints rise from the chair and cocoon you, holding you entirely mobile. You feel a prick at the back of your neck... The ceiling shivers. A crack opens in the ceiling. From the crack, waves of black insects begin to pour across the ceiling. Several drop and you can feel them dropping onto you, feel them burrowing beneath the restraints, feel them tickling under your clothes, feel them biting your flesh... The insects continue to flow from the crack in the ceiling, and the crack grows wider, and as it grows wider, the bugs emerging from it get bigger. A spider the size of a baseball zips down on a line of webbing and lands on your face, the red hourglass on it's back is clearly visible. You lie as still as possible, but the deadly black widow bites your nose before scuttling away... Your nose burns from the bite, your body feels ragged by the increasing number of bites from the bugs beneath the restraints, your entire body feels slick with sweat and blood. You can feel the ticklish feeling of the bugs crawling across your skin, and then a sharp pain that you know for a certainty is one of them burrowing into you.
Alice	I writhe in the restraints and scream.
The_Guild	Your nose begins to ache painfully, the burning of it tearing your eyes, and you can smell nothing but decaying flesh as your nose begins to rot away. The burning sensation spreads across your entire face, consuming your eyes and mouth, the smell of rotting flesh growing stronger, unbearable as the skin melts from your face, leaving bare muscle and nerves open to the intrusion of the invading insects... The crevice in the ceiling opens wider and you see a multi-eyed head poke out, a small man-like thing covered in black hair... but no, he too is a spider, and he licks his mandibles lasciviously as he descends from the ceiling on webbing as thick as rope, his talons clicking eagerly as he nears you... And then he is on top of you, and even though he tears away your restraints to get to you you still can't move and even though he tears away your clothes you still can't move a muscle and then he's invading you, while at the same time his mandibles leave trails of blood across your stomach and chest as he begins to eat you alive.
Alice	Alice totally loses it there.
The_Guild	And the sounds he makes are horrible, the scrabbling of insects legs and the deep chortle and slurp of his ugly, hungry maw as he feasts on your flesh.... the agony of the bugs beneath your skin, the smell of your own decayed flesh... It goes on, and on, and on and on, for hours, forever it keeps going and you know for sure that this is what hell is like, because no matter what you do you can't get up and you can't escape and you just can't die no matter how broken you are. But then, you are free. The restraints holding you are no longer there. The hideous writhing beasts around you recoil as you rise and where your eyes fall so too does your wrath. Soon the room is empty, the crack above you closed, your body whole. Your mind rebels against the programming forced on it, your will denies the existence of these things and forces them from reality. You lie back in the chair and close your eyes. When you open them again, you have had nothing but a nightmare, an imaginary terror that slips from your mind like sand from your fingers. The room has returned to normal, the Shargat Phaylin Adronozar is standing beside you, holding your hand as she watches you emerge from your sleep.
Alice_Whitehouse stares back at her.
The_Guild	You hear a quiet beep and feel a slight tug at the back of your neck. An assistant hands the Shargat a small device that looks disturbingly like a small spider. She holds it carefully, and you notice a long needle protruding from it. "How are you feeling?"
Alice	".....that was.... *shudder* ..... but I think it worked."
The_Guild	"It has worked. I will recommend that you do not let your symbiote have any part of that memory, as we are in a crucial time now with regards to the healing of the trauma - should you remove the memory, the desired 'scarring' would not occur, and all would be for naught."
Alice	"I don't give her memories generally. What else should I know?"
The_Guild	"You might notice a slight phobia develop, depending on what form the treatment took. If it becomes too much to handle, you can let us know and we can help you with that."
Alice	"Okay... I will try and keep that in mind."
The_Guild	"Are you ready for the fun part of your treatment?"
Alice	Just a second...
Alice_Whitehouse closes her eyes and then reopens them.
Alice	"Okay, I am ready."
The_Guild	"Come with me!"
Alice	I follow.
The_Guild	She leads you to the door of a changeroom. "Meet me on the other side and we'll get you set up in PEP." She leads you to the door of a changeroom. "Meet me on the other side and we'll get you set up in PEP."
Alice	I head in.
The_Guild	The change room is just that, a change room. You store your things in a locker and put on the bathrobe you find inside. Then you exit into a large room filled with egg-shaped pods.
Alice_Whitehouse is still somewhat shaken.
Alice	I head towards a pod.
The_Guild	Phaylin meets you and leads you across the room to an empty pod, folded open to reveal a soft-looking gel-core interior. "Hop in and relax. If you'd like we could administer a sedative, or you can stay awake to think."
Alice	"I'll stay awake thanks."
The_Guild	"Alright. If you do want to go to sleep because of claustrophobia, you can request through the Thinkers." "Ta ta. See you in an hour!"
Alice	I lower myself into the gel.
The_Guild	You climb into the pod and it closes up around you, the gel bouying your weight effortlessly. Gentle currents sworl around you. Though the gel fills your mouth it is not an entirely unpleasant sensation, and you find that you can still breathe quite easily.
Alice	I relax and take stock of my mind.
The_Guild	Though still shaken from your recent ordeal, you find that you can recall very little of the induced dream. You don't really feel any different though, perhaps a bit more ready to take on whatever the world throws at you, but that may be your imagination making up things to find.
Alice	How is Natila-Vv?
The_Guild	She is still unavailable.
Alice	"Glub" That was an attempt to talk to herself. I take the time to work on designs for a piece of art for my room based on random number generation.
The_Guild	Okay.
Alice	I try and enjoy the hour of silence and peace.
The_Guild	The time passes, and eventually the pod opens again, the gel peeling back from you and leaving you remarkably clean. You hop down and marvel at how light you feel on your feet. Your eyesight seems sharper, smells more pungent. You feel like running, like dancing, like moving!
Alice_Whitehouse does a little twirl
The_Guild	Phaylin walks up to you, smiling. "Feel better now? You may need a couple more sessions to get you to your requested level of fitness, but after that you will only need occasional maintenance."
Alice	"The maintenance will require use of the gel?
The_Guild	"It will, yes." "But that will only be once every few months."
Alice_Whitehouse smiles "Ah, okay. Thanks. Is that all for today?"
The_Guild	"It is, unless you have any other requests."
Alice	"No, that's great for now. Anything I should keep in mind with this?"
The_Guild	"I would recommend a good meal, you will probably need it. And a good night's sleep of your own."
Alice	"That should be easy enough to do. "
The_Guild	"Okay. Have a good day then, and I will see you in... say, three days for your next appointment?"
Alice	"Will do. Cya."
The_Guild	You change back into your streetclothes and leave the enhancement facility, the purple void in the glass hallway now a pleasantly warm yellow.
Alice_Whitehouse does a little skipping jump, enjoying the freedom of her new body. Then I look around to see if anyone noticed and continue on.
The_Guild	If they noticed, they paid no attention. :)