Your name is Hoik Broadback, a young Vetucker man in the Hegemony. While your exact age by solar cycles is difficult to determine, due to being born on a far away planet from your homeworld with an elipitcal orbit; you are categorized by your Jaxtian-Standard Biological Aging rate to be Eighteen Years old.
As with all Hegemonic citizens, your time is evenly split between training, work, social time, and play. You have a pretty busy schedule with a scarce few hours a day for leisure, but that's okay. It's expected for guys your age, plus you volunteered to help clean the workshop today. You put some of your things into a locker as you hear a musical voice call out from behind.
”Hi Hoik~!”
You feel flushed as you turn and see the owner of that voice, one Ophia Ulantri, a Jaxtian girl who's been in a lot of your classes. And she works in the facility too, just in a different department. You try to lean back against the locker, but can't figure out where to put your hands.
”Oh, hi, Ophia...”
”Hoik, look! Do you like them?”
She shows you her hand, with two light gray bands of metal around her fingers and little blue stones; like crystals; delicately balancing against her smooth and perfect hands.
”Oh? Oh yeah! They uhh... l-look great!”
”Hegemonic control is letting citizens accessorize now, since it can all just be recycled and isn't a waste of resources. I'd really like to try some more... you do work in the Reassembler workshop, don't you?”
”Oh, y-yeah! I do!”
”Do you think you could maybe... let me use the machines a bit? What do you say, Hoik?”
”Oh! Yeah, of course! No problem, h-ha ha.”
Her smile brightens up the whole hallway as you say yes. She gives you a fluttery look.
”Oh THANK you Hoik! Thank you so much!”
She turns around and begins to walk away. You feel so happy that you could help her with her-
W-Wait. Her tail! It's writhing through the air like a snake, gently brushing against... against your hand! You feel the soft fur against your calloused. Oh my... by all the Rulers of the Past & Future!
You really, really shouldn't but... you want... you wanna touch it. The tail-!
>Grab it
>Let it slip through your fingers
>>6219528>We finally get a xenophilia sidequest and it's about a vetucker who wants a jaxtian instead of the other way around or something like a jaxtian and a cute swalli tomboy?
>>6219528>Grab itThis is the thing? Yes?
>>6219529In fairness, we already played THE Monke who loved to fuck Vetucker women.
>>6219528>Grab itEither she's into Vetucker-style dominance displays or she's not. If she's not, we'll never get it up with her anyway, since Vetucker males literally need to feel like an alpha chad to have sex at all.
>>6219537>In fairness, we already played THE Monke who loved to fuck Vetucker womenThat was different. Eoba just flew in and banged a random girl then flew off. This is a full sidequest about this guy.
And anyway, I could write up to the post limit about why a Jaxtian with a Swalli tomboy would be peak.
>>6219528>Grab itBananas continuing his quest to piss off his players as much as possible. At least he's a straight cowbro.
>>6219540>Eoba just flew in and banged a random girl then flew off.Incorrect! We sent hi to spend his twilight years playing Big Dick Star King on Vetuck after we faked his funeral.
>a Jaxtian with a Swalli tomboy would be peakThis is, however, EXTREMELY correct.
>>6219570>Incorrect! We sent hi to spend his twilight years playing Big Dick Star King on Vetuck after we faked his funeralYeah but by then he was grey, wrinkly and gross. Nobody wants to see that shit.
>This is, however, EXTREMELY correctNot only is it correct, I can prove it. Watch:
>>6219573Okay.
Let's settle two things first. In Jaxtian society, the ideal female is one of the traditional model. She's an enchantress who wears makeup, is alluring, and curvy. She's healthy, but not athletic. Kima had to drop her gymnastics because any more would make her worse for breeding. That is their main goal - to be the literally "made for breeding." When she is married, she then becomes a wife - submissive to her man, but able to take care of the kids and the household while he's off doing whatever warcrime it is the hegemony wants them to do. Polygamy, although allowed, isn't really prevalent outside of high ranked people, and even then it's usually Alphas at that. What this is meant to say, is that as a whole, a Jaxtian Wife is a "caretaker" - she is not necessarily "below", but the role she has is "submissive" to that of the husband.
For swall, things are entirely different. We don't know everything about them, but Swall as a whole seem to appreciate more active women - not only is their dimorphism smaller because of their egg reproduction, pregnancy doesn't hinder them. Because of that, and the deep individualist streak, the Swall seem to be "Tomboy appreciatiors". They like women who are accomplished on their own. Their relationship is one of equal standing. The woman is expected to do just as much as the man. Swalli women aren't "damsels" to be protected. Agatha, the pilot, would have been just as motivated in fighting to be able to return home to her husband as any jaxtian husband would be to return to his wife. Swall, furthermore, mate for life. Although one would assume doing so brazenly would be seen as degenerate, it isn't particularly hard for a high ranking man to get a concubine or mistress.
Now you might be asking, anon - how would such a pairing be different from any tomboy girl like Kima? But that is simple; their cultural and biological heritage.
To a Jaxtian Man, a Swalli Tomboy is the opposite of an ideal woman.Although they are by no means "masculine" appearance wise (If anything, it's the men who aren't that strong in that area) a swall girl is no seductress. She's not going to be wearing lipstick and eyeliner and wear a skirt that shows her thighs and chest. She's going to be wearing something practical. She is, quite literally, flat. Flat as a washboard. Furthermore, she is no demure caretaker - she doesn't want a protector and provider, she wants a COUNTERPART, and she wants one for life.
cont.
>>6219574But at the same time, she's by no means without her allure. The Swalli tomboy could be interested in the things he does. Let's take a random example...hunting.
If a Jaxtian husband tried to talk about hunting to his jaxtian wife, she might hear him and go "That's nice dear." She might go off on his ear about wasting his time with such a dangerous hobby when you should be working or spending time home or whatever.
But a Swall girl? She could be right there with him. She wouldn't have the physical limitations or be grossed out about the blood and guts. And if he was in danger of being eaten by the wildlife, she wouldn't panic and call for help, she'd grab a spear and jump in and attack them even if she had to do it with her own claws and teeth.
In the swall girl's side, things aren't that initially great either. A jaxtian man would probably expect her to act a lot more...fussy and demure than she normally does, as well as being more of a stickler for hegemony culture than her. He certainly wouldn't see her as in equal standing, at least.
But, much like in the previous case, she can relate to him on a personal level. Given how many Swall seem to go for the "sciences", she could certainly find one that was better at the things she enjoyed than the usual swall egghead who'd probably prefer to be a calm househusband.
Which brings me to my conclusion; a story depicting a swall tomboy and a jaxtian man would absolutely be capable of having a very interesting chemistry. There are, of course, many ways it could go, good bad or something in-between (at the very least, I can think of a few) but overall it would be a type of scenario you can't really replicate between any other "pairing" type between the species of the hegemony.
>>6219574>>6219576Oh yes, I also forgot to add; the added factor of the "mate for life" definitely make any scenarios with a swall girl more special since her choice is quite literally permanent. You could switch an alpha monke with our green friend here and it wouldn't change much, but you can't do that with a swaifu! Only a jaxtian and an swalli female would have this unique situation.
Anyway, FISH TOMBOY POWER.
>>6219588that's a lot of autism for an april fools thread
>>6219528>Let it slip through your fingersI usually prefer it the other way- besides, big sub energy here.
>>6219574>>6219576>>6219588>when you realize the previous Supreme was the perfect potential Swalli Tomboy enthusiastWe need to go back- we’ve clearly chosen the bad end during the Esaal-trade negotiations ;_;
>>6219528>Grab itWe're so fucking back.
I see you guys talking of Monkey x Swal pairing. But where my Migrator x SpaceWhale romance bro are?
>>6219625I take my fictional alien romance very seriously.
>>6219528>Let it slip through your fingersI thought space monke females have hair
>>6219695Migrator x Space Whale
Is there something here? If only I was a little smarter.
>>6219877Just a Migrator guy dating his Giantess of a Whale GF. Definitely /d/ material.
Her tail! The smoothness of the fur, the felt along your fingers, you can't let it pass. You have to-
You close your fingers around it, not too hard, but as you do you feel it slip away quicker, twisting out of your grasp. She's not walking away that fast, right? As quick as you can, you reach for it, before it snaps away, just out of your finger's reach. You swipe again to the side, and it reels back. With your open hand, it is now out of reach, and you'd have to run forward to just catch up.
Wha-
The tip of her tail bobs in the air teasingly, almost as if giving you a little dismissive wave. Better luck next time! it seems to say. You look ahead, sweating, and see Ophia continuing to walk away with her head held high. She didn't even have to turn around to dodge your grip. Or did she even have to do it on purpose? It was like her tail had a mind of its own, effortlessly graceful, and always keeping itself tantalizingly just out of your reach. You watch Ophia disappear down the hall, a confident swagger in her step as she practically glides along the floor.
GRAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!
That's it! That's it! You can't take it anymore! You don't care anymore! You don't care if it's taboo, if it's out of your league, or even if it's antisocial behavior! You love Jaxtian girls!
Jaxtian girls! Jaxtian girls! It's all you think about! Ever since you started noticing girls, for you, it's been the Jaxtian girls~!
That's not to say there's anything wrong with Vetucker women but... it's just not the same. You've heard your peers, men your age and just younger, talking about what they want. It's always invariably the same. “When I get married, my wife will have an ass this big,”- “no, mine will have an ass this big!” it's all so childish, so predictable, so boring! Vetucker women are just... they're all the same! Quiet, demure, never wanting to cause a problem, only trying to be helpful. Just like your mother. You love your mom, no question, and you're sure her qualities were enough to be... adequate for your father's needs. Gross. But you don't know what he saw in her.
Now Jaxtian girls... they're not like that. Jaxtian girls have a backbone. They have that confidence, that swagger, they know what they want and how to get it! They know they're on top of the pyramid, and they show it! They have that spice! They aren't like a ponderous Vetucker woman, needing to stomp a thick foot to stop all that fat and muscle from rolling with its inertia; Jaxtian women practically fly with a step. Just imagine holding one in your hand, dancing, she could climb you if she wanted. You love Jaxtian girls!
Somewhere in the back of your mind, you know this childish desire is something you'll have to get over at some point. It's unrealistic, even irresponsible. To the self-serious Hegemonic man, focusing on career and family-building above all us, to even think twice about someone you're genetically incompatible with is ridiculous. But you aren't thinking about that; only about what you're gonna do next.
It's time to stop slacking off! You've decided it, right here and now, that this is the year you're gonna finally do it! You're gonna get popular, you're gonna get noticed, and you're gonna lose your virginity to a beautiful Jaxtian girl! And that is that!!!
But the only question is... what's the best way to do that?
>Focus on Athletics
>Study hard in your best subject
>Work on your career
>>6220144Hmph, I still think Swalli Tomboys are better. Be grateful i won't write another thousand words about it.
>>6220141Bro got that blue fever something fierce.
>>6220144He's going to get himself lynched, but I believe in his dream.
>Study hard in your best subject
>>6220154I can respect the ambition, but it's a bit foolish. Those women are so seductive for a reason. Getting hitched to a high ranked guy is their ticket to the big life. If they let him damage their money pass, they'd literally be damaged goods.
>>6220158If it were an easy task, it would be less compelling.
>>6220144>Work on your career
>>6220159I'm not quite sure he even understands the fire he's playing with. Oh well.
>>6220144>>Study hard in your best subject
>>6220144>Focus on Athletics
>>6220144>Focus on AthleticsThe rare Jaxtian girl who'd want a Vetucker physically would probably want a physical Vetucker.
>>6220144>Work on your careerNeed to get the green to get the blue
>>6220144>>Focus on Athletics
>>6220144>>Focus on AthleticsGet swole heh
>>6220163He's a horny teenager and essentially a furry, so no, he does not.
>>6220610I meant more in the sense that the society he lives on would most certainly have his head on a pike for damaging an high-quality woman, but yes.
>>6220612>implying he's even capable of thinking more than one step ahead when he's down this bad for blue women
>>6220615That kind of behavior is exactly why he won't get one. If Jaxtian women wanted a dumb brute, they'd bang an alpha.
Ooh, this is a hard one, since ventuckers are stronger, but not as smart or athletic as jaxtians.
But if we gotta break the mold, we gotta break the mold.
>Study hard on your best subject.>>6219588Okay, but hear me out.
Hazaar.
Hazaar is good because you can have children with them, unlike the other choices, and you can have many kids at a time. Like five, from five different hazaar, each with a different personality type, standing behind your couch.
And you can have those babies anywhere. In your back, your chest, your thigh, your butt. Wherever is convinient.
And sure, getting stabbed five times hurts a lot but when a baby hazaar is born it feels real good, so five hazaar must feel 5 times as good.
Also, your hazaar lover lives a long time, so you won't have to worry about them looking wrinkly and old. That's his problem, haha!
Also, also, your children age very slow too. And sure, they may be bullied in childhood as the hybrid children of that wierdo who got stabbed more times than a Roman proconsul, but who cares? Your kids can bully the bullies' grandchildren later.
And you know who has a high opinion of this post? The Aristocrats!
>>6220650What kind of homosexual chooses the relationship where he just gets spiked? You're not only being gay, but gay in the receiving end. That's double gay.
>>6220650>And you know who has a high opinion of this post? The Aristocrats!Kek, I see what you did there.
>>6220617Xenophiles need to find other xenophiles.
While impressing a Jaxtian girl would certainly take a lot of stuff; including good learning marks and a high status and position in the Hegemony; you decide the best you can do for now is focus on your athletic abilities. After all, a healthy body leads to a healthy mind! And speaking of which, it's almost lunch time.
You head to the communal dining area, a large multi-purpose room. Within are several counters leading to food preparation areas each specific to a certain diet. You head to the herbivore section tailored exactly for Vetucker diet, including the grasses and sweet-plants made specifically for your pallet. In fact, some of these were probably grown by your very own dad on the permaculture. There's also a section for fruits, nuts, small proteins for Jaxtians, and a fishy smell emanating from the last, specific for a Swall diet. You grab a bountiful harvest and head to your seat, with several of your fellow Vetuckers sitting there. You know them, they're your friends. Vetuckers have a lot of friends. Your tables are at the ground level, while the Jaxtians prefer to sit up in the elevated seating, letting them survey the whole room. You don't mind, you much prefer to be huddled together anyway.
"Huh, I wonder why we never see any Swall in here."
"They like to eat alone, usually. I think." Gora says, not trying to sound too opinionated.
"...I thought everyone was supposed to eat communally, for morale building or whatever?"
"Anyone got a computer? We could check."
Someone clicks out a device, and the AI picks up on the conversation.
"Swall are permitted to avoid public interaction during meals, due to an innate agoraphobia, especially when consuming food. Instead, small private areas which make use of the buildings excess small spaces can be used to privately consume food. The most common type of Swall food, which include fish and crustaceans, also take longer to consume then long grasses and fruits for Vetuckers and Jaxtian diets."
You guess that makes sense. Then, a plonk.
Your friend winces, something falling on his head.
"Did it hurt?"
"No." he adds, another one dropping directly onto his skull.
"It's that Jaxtian up there!"
Looking up, you see the primate sitting above you intentionally dropping berries onto your heads. He's doing it on purpose, you can tell. It's annoying, but your friend shakes his head.
"It's okay... it's not a big deal."
PLICK!
Who does this guy think he is? We didn't do anything, and yet he's bugging you. What should you do?
>Try to deescalate the situation
>Knock him out of that tree
>Other (Write In)
>>6220843>OtherInsult him. Something around the lines of making fun of him for lobbing "droppings" from a tree like some sort of unevolved simian.
>>6220843call him a homosexual
>>6220844>have racial fetish>shout racist insults at males of same raceWhat is this, A Bronx Tale?
>>6220843>Other>Insult him. >>Something around the lines of making fun of him for lobbing "droppings" from a tree like some sort of unevolved simian.I liked A Bronx Tale, actually.
>>6220852I mean...liking the females of another species kinda puts you against the males of said species, so Hoik is clearly no friend to jaxtian men.
>>6220854If you watched A Bronx Tale, one takeaway is that shouting slurs at people who annoy you in public makes it harder to land a chick of that color. That's all.
>>6220843>Try to deescalate the situation>T(ree)-pose for dominanceIf we make like a tree, he’ll have fun climbing all over us.
But in all seriousness we’re going to need a Jaxian friend in order to pull this off, especially considering how they can go full ape genocide on our ass.
>Other: Climb the tree! Athletics training starts now!
>>6220843>Take/catch the berries and eat them.If the guy's wasting his fruit ration, let's capitalise by munching down.
>>6220843>Other (Write In)Catch what berries we can, this is food we dont get to eat and its still edible for us, the more we can relate to this girl in the future the better even the smallest things like taste will be something very unique for us, if anything share with our fellows at the table and give the Jaxtian a nod and a wave
>>6220843>Eat the berries and thank him for the meal.Retard monkey MOGGED by glorious cow civility
>>6220843>Eat the berries and thank him for the meal.
4chan April Fools threw off my grove a bit. I'll update soon; hopefully in about 12 hours or so.
>>6221660Understandable. What a shitshow.
Instead of starting an altercation and getting into trouble, or stooping to the dumb bully's level, you decide to turn it around on him. The next time he throws a berry, you try to grab it, but miss, your hands are a bit too slow. After some finagling you grab a bowl used for holding grasses and catch the next berry with it, fishing it out and eating that.
"Ahh, thank you, kind Jaxtian! This is quite a sweet desert for our kind!" Your teeth buzz from the berry, it is actually very sweet compared to what you're used to. The Jaxtian rolls his eyes and ceases his onslaught. Looks like it worked. You chance a glance upwards to see if any females noticed your actions and expert defusal of the situation, but you don't see any Jaxtian women nearby. You do see a group of Vetucker women, always sitting together in tight circles and formation as per their herding instinct, and they seem to be looking at... the Jaxtian bully above you?! With looks of awe and interest?! What!? Just the fact he flexed some kind of social dominance over you and got away with it, now they think he's better then you are- a male of your own species!?
Bah- you don't care what some fat cows think anyway!!!
After eating and a short break, most Hegemony citizens are directed to exercise to help burn off that energy. As with all citizens, physical fitness is considered as an extremely important aspect of life. While light exercise is used all throughout the day; climbing, swimming, or walking as forms of travel being the most common, you even walking several miles to this school facility each day; more focused exercise as a form of expression and physical mastery is as important as any class.
"Break up into groups!" The instructor says. "Self directed activities today!"
Several up-and-coming athletes move towards whatever activities they are the most gifted in, and others with competitive spirits move towards their own species specific forms of dueling or sport as to potentially make a career out of it or earn fame. Now you have to pick what activity to do too! But if you're trying to impress a Jaxtian girl, what activity should you pick? Dancing is right out, and you aren't allowed knife dueling practice; you're pretty sure the only one that could put you up against a Jaxtian is boxing, which Alpha-Males tend to gravitate towards...
>Boxing
>Axe-Dueling
>Weight lifting
>Team Sports
>Endurance Running
>>6222055>BoxingShow them who the real alpha chad is.
>>6222055 >Weight lifting
when small rock picked up i feel less sad
>>6222055>BoxingDodged a bullet there- hopefully we can make a Jaxian friend here!
>>6222055>>Weight lifting
>>6222055>BoxingLet's prove we aren't weak!
>>6222055>>Weight liftingGET HUGE
>>6222055>BoxingBoxing sounds great. Surely it won't turn out that due to thousands of years of eugenicism the alpha will be like heavyweights that have the speed of a featherweight?
>>6222055>Endurance RunningOphia would love us for this.
>>6222225You will mot take "Hajime no Ippo: Space Furry Edition" away from me with your common sense! It's too kino!
>>6222267More like space furry Jack Johnson kek
You decide to sign up for boxing, the manliest sport of them all. While lacking the lethality and nobility of dueling, boxing is much more practical and taught to soldiers and is used as a form of bonding and all that kind of stuff. Maybe it'd be good for you?
Because you decided to focus on your athletics, you try a lot more then you would otherwise, and find yourself getting thrown into a match to the closest person in your size and bodyweight- an Alpha Jaxtian. While you're about the same in terms of weight and reach, he is just a lot faster then you are. You don't really manage to hit him once before he gives you a really nasty punch to the side of the head and you end up stumbling.
"Forja! What the fuck are you doing!? I told you no hitting your partners in the head! You could kill them!"
"Ehh, he's a Vetucker. He can take it."
"You alright, Hoik?"
Not wanting to disappoint, you nod, though you aren't sure what direction to move your head. It's up and down right?
"Yessh! Put me in coash! I can take it!"
"...Well, you'd better keep your guard up this time."
"Yesh! Thanks coash!"
Vetucker skulls are made for impacts, and you can't really be seriously hurt by a concussion. Fighting Foria might make things go spinny, but you aren't gonna lose your chance to prove your manliest by fighting the biggest and strongest guy you can. If you can't win, at least you can hang in there!
After a few hours of training and excercise, everyone is rightfully exhausted. Though you're still feeling pretty spry. Forja puts his arm around you, clearly impressed.
"Hey, Hoik right? That was awesome. You're like, the perfect punching bag."
"Schanks!" You're still a little woozy. Thankfully, it seems your hard work has paid off. You seem to have gained some respect among the Alpha-Male Jaxtians among your peers, and you gained a few combat skills. Though you may not have hit that many punches yourself...
"Can wesh be friends?"
"Of course! I think we're in the same engineering class, right? It's been grilling me."
"Greach- Err Great!"
"You know... I've always wanted to be friends with a Vetucker. I actually wanted to ask you something... but it's a little weird."
>Ask him what it is
>Tell him to keep it to himself
>>6222683>Ask him what it isLet me guess. He wants a cowgirl?
>>6222683>Ask him what it is
>>6222683>>Ask him what it is
>>6222680>>6222680Our secret skill is taking a punch? Shit, forget Ippo or Johnson, anons, we're Space Cow Rocky Balboa. Based.
>>6222683>Ask him what it isWe're making friends! Nice. It's the first step to getting invited to a Jaxtian party.
>>6222683>Ask him what it isAww. Based.
>>6222683>Ask him what it isBased Alpha bro
>>6222738>>6222741It's going to be something rude or awkward
>>6222754Yea, I know. Still though, we need a Jaxian friend so they don’t go apeshit on us for our dream goal here.
>>6222758Oh, I'm voting with you. You just don't want to get anyone's hopes up.
>>6222754Obviously it's going to be rude or awkward, but if we're chill about it he'll be our BFF. Cmon.
>>6222683>Ask him what it is
>>6222683>>Ask him what it is
>>6222683>Ask him what it isMy curiosity simmers like grease on a flame.
”You think... Maybe- Maybe you could hook me up with one of those Vetucker girls..?”
After your physical training for the day, feeling beat up and tired but successful, you help put things away. Your coach tells you to go give the equipment to the girl's class in their separate room, and you volunteer. After all, there are going to be Jaxtian girls there...
But as you approach, you can't help but hear a small disturbance.
“Hey, this is the girls gym! Get out!”
”Oh, I'm sorry, I just wanted to see... her... please.”
“Let him in! It's okay.” The older voice of their instructor says.
You can't resist to see what's happening- is Ophia here, you wonder? You peek your head around the doorway, and see a male and female Swall holding hands in the middle of the room. You glance over to see female Jaxtians in the middle of some kind of dance motion in their revealing outfits.
“-Can you believe our breeding licensees were so quickly approved?! We're going to be mated together! Yay!”
”Me too- I just had to come visit you! It felt like forever...”
“It was just at lunch dear... But I felt the same way.”
Usually, boys aren't allowed in the girl-specific activities and classes like this, or in the middle of military drills or important tests and the like, but newly bonded Swalli couples get a free pass. For the first few weeks as their mating-bond settles in permanently, they get really bad separation anxiety and can suffer permanent psychological damage if they spend too long away from their partner. It's a biological thing, you always see the couples holding hands and waiting just outside the bathroom for each other, or sometimes touching each other all over totally unprompted. Vetuckers and Jaxtians are expected to have a little more decorum.
“I wanna dance!”
”Me too! Let's dance!”
“Hahaha... I'm so happy!”
The two fish dance like fish out of water. Even you think you'd be less clumsy then they are, but they seem to be having fun. Suddenly, the instructor chides one of the Jaxtian dancers about her foot's angle being off by a few degrees. The Jaxtian, without taking her eyes off the dancing Swall couple, rotates her foot imperceptibly, which seems to please the instructor. She seems sad.
You gotta drop this equipment off; it's almost time for class.
>Quest will continue later today
>>6222920Alright. We got :
>Vetucker boy Jaxtian Chaser>Jaxtian-Alpha boy Vetucker Chaser>Jaxtian girl Swahli Chaserhere me out guys : I think the end-game will be a clusterfuck community of interwebbed relationship between "official-approved" gene-sharers and real love; Victimless crime.
>>6222932>Jaxtian girl Swahli ChaserIs it? Could be just a case of her being jealous of how close they are.
>>6222938yes but it is less funny
>>6222940I mean, I get the theme seems to be xenophilia, but there's no need to push it so hard.
>>6222919Huh, went better than expected.
>>6222941Exploring the stated theme of a story isn't exactly a "push", is it?
>>6222932>In the grim darkness of the future, there is only... THE POLYCULE
>>6222966>Exploring the stated theme of a story isn't exactly a "push", is it?As long as you don't go overboard and decide 90% of the hegemony wants to bang aliens.
>>6222971The Hegemony could never be so based.
You arrive at class. The instructor motions to sit, looks like it's a more serious day.
“Swall and Jaxtian students, please take a seat at a desk. Vetuckers? Take a treadmill. Today we'll be doing a generalized AI-directed IQ test. Remember, this test does not determine a salary bracket nor is it the final decider of your breeding-license status for those of haven't been cleared yet; don't stress about it, this is just part of helping you find the best possible position for you in the Hegemony. Standard stuff to measure your progress before you are assigned to an apprenticeship or gifted a higher position based on merit...”
The teacher trails off while you get on your treadmill. You're happy to be walking during this; Vetuckers are supposed to think better while walking anyway, you hate being asked questions and stuff while sitting down or just standing, this helps your brain get working. You guess Swall don't get the same effect while swimming, and Jaxtians would probably get exhausted climbing for the whole test, though that would be quite funny.
“This is a non-verbal test, make sure not to disturb your neighbor. Subvocalization is turned off in these AI models, we're focusing on basic aptitude, not communication skills....”
You wave your hand over the holographic display and a collection of shapes appear, little holographic cones and circles. Are you supposed to insert them? Or arrange them into some kind of shape? It seems whenever you arrange them the right way, you get to progress, where as if you don't do it right, it stays on the same “screen” until you get it right.
Currently, you have a collection of cones and little circles. You get trying to put the tips of the cones into the circles, but you don't have enough circles. You grunt, getting a little stumped. Your test is hard! You can't think of any way to progress! Does that mean you've finished? You bet some of the others are stopped on a earlier step, you'd feel more confident if you saw that! But would that be like, cheating?
What should you do?
>Look over at Forja's test to see where he got stumped
>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is over
>>6223242>>Look over at Forja's test to see where he got stumped
>>6223242>Look over at Forja's test to see where he got stumped
>>6223242>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is overMmh.
Monke.
>>6223242>>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is overHow we gonna look at Forja's test he ain't nearby. also why is the teacher giving Mr. Vetucker the eyes?
>>6223242>>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is over
>>6223242>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is overDon't focus on being the perfect monke. We'll lose. Instead, be the minotaur monkeygirls fantasize about.
>>6223242>Think about Jaxtian girls instead until the test is overThe fact that you can't skip and progress is ridiculous but whatever
>>6223242>figure out you can use several cones on one circle like 2 cones and one circle in an hourglass shape
>>6223426... By thinking of the hourglass-shape body of Jaxtian girls
Did my write-in broke Bananas?
>>6224215He has to rewrite his puzzles you monster
>>6224223Never fear. Everyone is entitled to a day off or a late update now and again. No apology needed.
>>6223428The average Jaxtian woman is as flat as a wall-hanging clock, and is probably about as interesting as one too.
We should go for a SWALL woman
>>6224454I don't think that's true. Kima grew to become curvy after moving to the HVS and Talacent's mom was busty, as was the pinup that Agori fantasized about. Flatness was one of the things Vul was ambivalent about in his wife, implying most Jaxtian women are not flat.
You decide not to peek on any one else taking the test- after all, the shapes, solutions, and sequences are all randomized and unique to each test so it wouldn't help you. Moreso, you just wanted to compare yourself to others in your group. But it's fun to think about a curvy...
Wait, did that actually work? Turning the cones opposite each other and placing a ring between like a nice thin Jaxtian girl's waist actually completed the sequence. The holograms bleep, showing you found the solution, before the cones noiselessly open up like flowers, blooming into a much more complex shape requiring yet another set of motions to complete. At least you aren't stuck anymore! You spend the rest of the test quietly advancing and trying new things, though perhaps you didn't get quite as good as a result as you could have, you didn't stress about it.
Near the end of your allotted time, a Swall student in your class calls out for the instructor, saying his “AI has run out of sequences to solve.” The Jaxtian teachers scowls at him for disrupting the class, but says something quietly to him while everyone reorients after the distraction. You did steal a quick glance though, and see that he wasn't lying. The hologam in front of him was gone. Did he... finish an IQ test? That's food for thought.
After the test concludes, you step off the treadmill feeling not at all tired. An hour of trodding along doesn't exhaust you any more then a Jaxtian or Swall sitting in a chair for the same time. You think you did pretty good! You get a personalized result from the professor, who congratulates you and your above average score, and tells you to keep at it. Feeling accomplished, you step out into the hall.
”How did you do on your Quest, Alfred? I think I did pretty good!” You beam to the Swall, recognized by the long ribbion-like fins his family is known for. ”...I don't think I ever seen anyone run out of shapes. That's crazy good!”
The Swall rolls his eyes, seemingly not wanting to answer. “It's easier for you, anyway. I wanted to boost my scores more. They should have me in an accelerated program if I maxed it out.”
”I don't understand, shouldn't you be happy? That means you're the smartest in our whole class!”
“Don't patronize me! It's not enough to be the “best” in a class of a few dozen colonist kids! It's the best of the best. Excellence! You wouldn't get it! You're already accepted just as you are, precious cattle. I need to be the best!”
You lean back, not liking how he's poking his finger at you. You're uncomfortable, both with having set him off but also the fact he keeps flashing his sharp, predatory teeth as he speaks. Just seeing those makes you nervous even as his mouth only opens for moments between his words.
”Talacenti forgive me for asking...”
After your class, you head over to the Reassembler workshop. As with most installations in the Hegemony, especially more out of the way colonies, most things are recycled and reused with this incredible new technology. Your parents even talk about the time when they couldn't get raw enough raw resources for the colony in earlier years, until eventually the Hegemony came up with these machines. While really big things are still made out in space with traditional construction drones and raw materials are still cheaper to produce on various planets and moons; these fabricators are now ubiquitous. You work in this facility's Reassembler bay, helping people make science equipment or just daily supplies. Because most people on this planet live on permacultures and it's not as highly developed as the core worlds, people use this facility's fabricators for their daily needs for their households too; but orders can get backed up, especially with the non-interfaced AI used at this base.
“Hmm... Needs some synthetic fibers. Got any uniform patches? Or we can use some of your fur?”
“The machine's not stuck- it's just processing a big chunk all at once! That's why we try to break them into smaller pieces first.”
“You need three hologaphic slits? Come back tomorrow, it takes a long time to 3d print such delicate crystal latices. No no, don't worry, I won't drop it. It's going in the gentle section!”
You're quite good at it, you think, and you enjoy the work. Sometimes you feel like you gotta mess with the machines just right, and you can give them a good kick if they get stuck on a nasty chunk of carbon or something! It's kinda fun. Plus, you get paid for every second you spend helping people; this is how you pay for your luxuries and other fun stuff! While not everyone in the Hegemony needs money to survive, you think it's nice to see the digital account grow for a job well done.
You're sweeping up the bay of elemental dust and debris just before you're about ready to end your shift, before a familiar face appears noiselessly.
”Oh! Erhm... Hi... O-Ophia!”
”Hi Hoik~” She says musically again, her tail swaying across her body like it's gliding through water. Remember me, big guy? it seems to say. You look away.
”How, Uhh, can I help you?”
”I wanted to try a few things on with the fabricator, just like we talked about. My outfit for tomorrow. You'll get to see what it looks like first before everybody, te he.”
You'd really like that, and are trying to hold back your excitement at that thought. But something is nagging you. Truthfully, the fabricators are pretty backed up... The base administrator has been trying to get some more delivered and set up to deal with demand, but until then, the AI is churning things out as quickly as it can. There's a waiting list of at least a day or two now for anything more complex then a basic biocube or raw-elemental extraction for the science lab.
”I-I'd love to help but... erhm... there's just... a bit of backlog.”
”Aww... Hoik, I thought you were gonna help me! You said you were going to let me use the machines!” She pouts, crossing her arms, a slight whine emanating from her throat. You wince.
”S-Sorry Ophia. If there was anything I could do-”
”I mean, you work here right? So you know the override codes? Couldn't you just put me to the front of the line? Just for a few minutes?~”
You look away. You really want Ophia to like you; plus you promised you'd let her do it earlier. You just didn't realize how backed up the fabricators were. You'd feel a little bad skipping her ahead when some people have already been waiting since yesterday for basic supplies. You know one of your Vetucker friends tore a hole in his uniform and needs a new patch from yesterday, and the gym teacher always needs new safety equipment. Plus not the mention the appliances and fertilizer needed by the farmers nearby- your own family included!
But she's not wrong. You... could let her skip ahead. Certain orders are more important and get priority. You could just set her priority higher, same as higher-ranking members of the Hegemony get their orders done earlier too. Of course, you could get in trouble by abusing the system too, but skipping one or delaying some non-critical resources for a few hours isn't that big of a deal... right?
>Let her do whatever she wants
>Skip just your own orders, so nobody else is cheated
>Refuse but as nicely as you can
>>6225215>Skip just your own orders, so nobody else is cheatedIs the middle path too predictable? Maybe. But we're a herd animal. This seems right.
>>6225215>>Let her do whatever she wantsFUCK IT
WE BALL.
>>6225215>Let her do whatever she wantsBooba
>>6225215>Let her do whatever she wantsi want to say make sure she already knows what she wants and its not going to fuck up anything. no ones going to notice 1 person being skipped ahead over some small time stuff
Good update.
My instinct yells not to bend to her and that she's using us only to hit on a chad monke, so that would be a
>Refuse
vote for me.
>>6225215>>Let her do whatever she wants
>>6225215>Refuse but as nicely as you canA good girl wouldn't like a simp. If she likes us simping, we need to find another monke to hit on.
>>6225215>Skip just your own orders, so nobody else is cheated
>>6225215>Let her do whatever she wants
>>6225215>Let her do whatever she wantsI’m sure our simp-ing will work… right QM?
Ophia seems very excited to be here, and for you to be helping her. After all, you do want to get in her pants... but you also just like making her happy too. You can't say no! The more she prods and pushes, the more you let her do it, and the more excited she gets.
She quickly commandeers the system and you fulfill her every request. Redirecting synthetic weaving material to the fabricator to make new clothing, rare and precious metal supplies vital for circuitry projects are made into jewelry to augment her natural features. You make some attempt to keep the order of things neat but, mostly, you just give her stuff the toppest priority. It'll work itself out... right?
”How's this? The Aristocrat style? I don't know if I really like it...”
”Erhm... Ophia... you really shouldn't be wearing a culture lanyard if you haven't been promoted to that rank...”
”Pssh, come on Hoik~ It's just for show! And besides, everyone knows I'm going to be head of at least one artistic department in just a few years. What's the big deal if I wear it a little early?”
”...”
She goes through multiple outfits, stopping the machines to get them to sow and make minor adjustments to better fit her curves.
”Well, it's not tactile gold, but it's pretty close. What do you think, Hoik?” She teases, dangling the tail-rings in front of your face.
You wince as she tosses in a failed experiment back into the recycler dealing with another material-type, causing it to waste minutes sorting them back out again from the dissembler ejection port. You'll have to add that back into the recycling bay before you leave, you really don't want to be responsible for a project that gets stuck incomplete because it ran out of closest-relative crafting material.
”This fur coat is just... Mhmm!~ But you sure you couldn't synthesize Gnarra fur, Hoik? Just for me?~”
”No. The coloration is banned, it's on the list of anti-social fashion and decoration. The computer won't let me even with an override. S-Sorry...”
You spend over an hour alone with Ophia in the fabrication room, watching as the backlog grows, but honestly? It's extremely fun for you. The time flies. Ophia, finally satisfies, puts in her one and only reasonable express order that doesn't hold up the queue; a tote bag; and then goes to leave.
”Hehe! This was so fun! I'm going to plaster this stuff all over the socials when I get home! All the other girls are going to be insanely jealous~! Thank you, Hoik~! You wanna do this again? Maybe same time next week~ Ok great! Byeeeee~!”
After Ophia's little fashion show ends, you inspect the damage. Oh man... You've displaced over a hundred fabricator orders! You've tried to keep the damage minimal, but since you let her just do whatever she wanted, she couldn't have known the extent of the damage. Everything involving synthetic fabrics and fiber materials are backed up several hours, and the circuits for the next quick-building competition are not going to be ready on time. Even the synthetic organic fertilizer you were supposed to be bringing home with you today after your shift got delayed. You'll have to make an extra trip to school in the morning, even though you were going to spend all day at home helping Dad on the farm...
Still, it's too late now. You make a few adjustments, pushing priority orders back to the top of the list and order a scrapping of half completed fabricator jobs for non-essentials to reuse the resources for more important work. The computer is showing a ton of your edits and changes everywhere, a far more then normal amount, and you wince. It's sloppy stuff, just like a rookie trying to optimize the machine without letting it get warmed up and in the grove. Still, you make sure to attach a small message with each delayed piece of gear or personal item with a blanket apology for the delay. Hopefully nobody minds too much...
Finally, with your shift over, you get a confirmation message of your pay the instant you leave the Reassembler bay and gather up your things to make the trek home. You're excited; tonight you'll have some free time to play the newest tactical sim with your online buddies! But as is tradition, many students mill about the main hall waiting for their friends and family members to get done with their shifts so they can walk, climb, or swim home together. You happen to see two people who you think you might want to leave with...
The first is your new Alpha friend Forja. He's a Jaxtian, so they travel via jump poles instead of walking on foot, but as it happens he is going in the same direction as you for at least the first leg of your journey. You could maybe catch up with him or learn some boxing tips, and strengthen your new friendship! Though knowing him, he'll probably want to talk about Vetucker girls or something when nobody else is in earshot. It's not that you mind guy talk, you just hope he's not a total weirdo...
But you also see another, this one a Vetucker. Her name is Una, and she's alone. You always feel bad for her; Vetucker women always walk around in groups as per the herding instinct, but as a member of the “longhorn” Vetucker ethnicity, a different tribe known for their very large horns, darker coloration, and big bodies, she isn't as tightly knit with the other female Vetuckers at your school and often ends up sitting or walking by herself. It's not like she's in any danger; this planet was cleansed of all hostile life decades and decades ago before you were even born; but you know that she'd much happier to be beside another Vetucker even if you have nothing in common.
Of course, you could just go home by yourself. You're a young man, in your prime, and tomorrow you got a day off from these courses and work and you've got a fat wallet of your pay; you're excited! You'd be able to make it home much faster if you went by yourself.
Who should you walk home with?
>Forja
>Una
>Rush home by yourself
>>6225853You goddamn SIMPS. What did I say? We're in love with a thot.
>ForjaCan we catch up with him and encourage him to hang back and talk to Una? He has to talk to a Vetucker lady before he can hook up with one.
>>6225853Can’t we just go with the both of them?
Forja can maybe talk to the Ventucker girl on the way home
>>6225853>UnaShe seems like a nice girl.
>>6225850We're going to get punished over this, but this poor monkey is going to get herself in hot water at this rate.
>>6225853>UnaThis could be a candidate for Forja's xenolusts.
>>6225853>Walk with Una and wave Forja overGotta do a bro a solid ya know?
>>6225853>Walk with Una and wave Forja overBro wanted us to hook him up.
please forgive the namefagging with 1post ID, I'm on vacation.
>>6225853>>ForjaHe can help get us IN BROS
>>6225853>Walk with Una and wave Forja overWingman time.
Am
>>6223426 travelposting. Can also namefag + trip if needed.
Supporting
>Walk with Una and wave Forja over
You could walk with Una, because you feel bad for her and it'd nice to spend a little time with a Vetucker, or you could walk with Forja and try to be friends with him. But you also know he likes Vetucker girls, so maybe...
You approach Una first. ”Hey, Una, your family's up towards the mountains, like mine, right? You can walk with us!” She doesn't talk, but instead just smiles and nods. You can tell she's grateful; other Vetucker girls sometimes exclude her on purpose. Much like a herd of cattle, ones who are too different may be rejected. She doesn't deserve that...
”Hey Forja! Over here!”
Una's eyes go wide as she says what 'friends' you're walking with. A Jaxtian Alpha-Male too?! Forja doesn't even seem to notice at first.
”Hey Hoik! Your eye's looking way better since practice, that was just a few hours ago and who-” He stops short, seeing the very tall Vetucker girl. Instantly, Forja is on edge, thinking you're setting him up right away. You've barely known the guy for a day! As for Una, who doesn't know either of you, she walks behind with an unsure step. You at least manage to get out of the building before Forja excuses himself to go off with other Jaxtians, getting cold feet, and Una walks behind you for quite a way out of some kind of social obligation before picking up the pace and disappearing away with long strides down a different path. Oh well, at least you tried. Though maybe that was a little too forward...
You work and spent your day at the Self-Sustaining Space Habitat Educational Facility on this planet. This experimental facility is meant to be a new design testing viability for an all-in-one space habitat capable of sustaining the life functions of all three Hegemonic races as well as managing production, research, and defense. Useful to ship out here to a relatively uninhabited planet. Apparently, most urban centers or cities in the Hegemony; both ones in space and ones on planets or the many underwater facilities common now; have AI uplink and access built in to the facility itself, making it capable of managing its own affairs. This one is sealed to the outside world; its meant to be a practice run for something totally self sustaining. Of course, it doesn't have near enough space or biological resources to sustain its population and workforce, you are colonists on this planet after all. Unless you spent all your time in the suspension pods in the base's cargo hold that is; but you're much comfortable living a normal life!
This planet, known to the Hegemony as Beamf-Que-Em, derived from its old Hazaar name, is a habitable planet known for its placid weather and full biome spectrum across its surface. You live in a temperate region just a little too warm for you, a little too cold for Jaxtians, and a little too dry for Swall but too humid for... you get the idea. It's not perfect for anyone one race of the Hegemony, but here, an attempt is made to keep them all together. You only spend half you time at the facility though; the rest you spend at home, on your father's permaculture and farm, graciously gifted to him by Hegemonic control to begin his own (large) family of Painted-Face Vetuckers. While not a protected and separate minority in the same way the Blondes are to Mainlander Jaxtians, the Hegemony still has interest in setting up large populations in different worlds; and as this one closely mimics your homeworld of Vetuck, your own ethnicity's lower tolerance for off-world conditions isn't as bad.
You find it strange to think that in most of the Hegemony; the different races and peoples are just segregated. Except in special urban centers or research bases, each has their own niche and roles to play. You've grown up around Jaxtians and Swall alike, so to you, it's normal to see them and learning to get along despite your differences is a huge part of your life. You can't help but feel a sense of peace as you approach the hills and steppe that represent the wide open spaces of your heritage however. You walk and walk and walk, capable of entertaining yourself for the long hours of travel and endless footfalls. It doesn't tire you out at all, if anything, it refreshes you. Being able to finally see as far as the horizon, the facility but dots on the lower land near the water and nearby jungle reserve for the Jaxtians, makes you feel at peace. It's starting to get dark.
Up on the ridge, you see your family's home. It's wide and squat, one story, with high ceilings and openings for the windows and doorways as per the traditional Vetucker style. While it has all the technology and modern amenities of any Hegemonic home; this openness negates your innate claustrophobia you feel back at the research base. It casts a warm glow over the mountain path. You can smell the sweet-grass growing on the estate just behind.
You peek your head inside the entry way, seeing one of your siblings. Dad is probably asleep already; older Vetuckers get terribly tired once the sun goes down. You make your way to the kitchen to see your mother there, straining feed.
”Hi mom!”
“Hi sweetie! You're home later then normal; Did something happen?”
”No, I had to, err, help someone with the fabricators for a while. I also volunteered to clean up the fabricator bay today too.”
“Oh good! You're such a nice boy. I'm glad they don't pay you for cleaning. They said that Swall still won't do it unless they get paid for it. Dreadful... At least you're willing to help everyone out! Come over here and help me with breaking open these seed pods, won't you dear?”
”...Err, Mom... I'd love to but can I...”
She turns over to you; either to chew you out or give you permission to run along, but she notices your black eye first. It's already barely a bruise, it'll be gone by tomorrow morning for sure.
“Oh! What happened dear?”
”...Oh, it's nothing. I took up some boxing for my PT today.”
“That's wonderful!”
You somehow don't think she really means that. But then she nods her head to you at your fidgeting. She never could say no to her kids; no discipline in this house when Dad's asleep!
”...Alright dear, go run along and play your tactical sims. Learn a lot! Maybe you could be part of a real life breaching squad some day. You can help with Dinner in a few minutes.”
“Thanks Mom!”
You run excitedly towards your room across the heavy industrial carpet, crushing softly under your weight like grass. It absorbs the impacts of your hooves with barely a sound; the hard polished floors of Jaxtian homes and laboratories would be much too noisy in a Vetucker home.
”Wha-! Why are all your little guys Jale Berax! That's not fair!”
”Chill... It's just a skin! Cosmetic only! You know we get identical units!”
Currently standing over your holographic display table, capable of projecting all kinds of interactive fictions, high-quality broadcasts, receiving messages with physical interpolation to the speaker, and of course games. The most common are strategic and tactical; ways to improve ones thinking that also act as practice for combat and leadership, and of course, just as fun entertainment. Your current obsession is with a Maze Sim. It's a game where both players have identical tactical units and information, but the comms' are also shared, meaning any order given to one of your soldiers is also heard by the opponents soldiers too. It becomes a game of sharp communication as well as trickery...
Your opponent? A Jaxtian in another solar system. Quantum computing means instant communication; you can't even imagine how unfun this would be if there was some kind of delay. As with all online interactions; you know his name, location, and Hegemonic rank. The idea of anonymous online communication is unthinkable to a Hegemonian; after all, you'd feel a lot better knowing you got beat by someone with actual tactical thinking then just some faceless person online...
You and him have a bit of a rivalry. You've managed to beat him a few times, though he usually seems to have an edge on you. You'd still rather play with him then some perfectly balanced AI opponent though, something about it feels more... earned that way.
”After I whoop you this match, I bet I'll get picked up by the network for a promotion into being a military commander. That's how good I'm gonna beat you.”
”Yeah right! I've been thinking about some new moves all day. You're gonna get creamed, kiddo.”
”...You know I'm older then you, right? Especially in terms of racial maturity rates...”
”It's just trashtalk. I don't mean it.”
”Good little farm cow. Don't want to trip any Anti-Social language filters now, would you?”
”Ok, now you're gonna get it.”
Because you socially stood up to a Jaxtian earlier today and took up a competitive sport, you're feeling belligerent and ready for this. You estimate you've got a good 45% chance to beat him on any given game.
For this roll, we will be using a Best-of-4 rolling table. To roll, type “dice+1d100” into the options field without the quotation marks. Each roll of 40 or less will succeed.
>0 Successes: You fail to win a single match and are humiliated.
>1-2 Successes: You win only one match by trying your hardest after he gets overconfident.
>3 Successes: You make a good showing, winning about as often as losing. You feel proud.
>4 Successes: You show unexpected tactile brilliance, maybe even enough to get noticed.
Oh and sorry- you CAN roll multiple times on this prompt, but each player can only be one roll result in any set of 4 so you can't just spam over and over.
Rolled 14 (1d100)
>>6226604Alrighty then
Rolled 80 (1d100)
I am the king of games, behold my 4
>>6226628You victory stealer.
Rolled 50 (1d100)
>>6226604An online Jaxian gamerbro? Fuck me, how based an existence is Hoik currently living?
Also, if things don’t work out with Forja and Una, I would mind helping her out. Her being alone with those herding instincts and social hormones…. that’s just cruel.
>>6226614Okay, so, from what i get, the idea is that we're going to do 4 sets of best of 4? And we have to roll below 40 for an entire set to get a victory?
Rolled 46 (1d100)
>>6226604Heated gaming moment
>>6226638Come on bro, do you really need it explained more?
>>6226643No anon, I asked because i just felt like it even though i know exactly what it means.
Rolled 96 (1d100)
>>6226604New set of 4, right?
I’m just hoping the kid on the other end is enjoying this as much as we are!
>>6226638>>6226643>>6226658I've never done Bo3 before but I just assumed it's the best of any 4 rolls in order, I just made it 4 instead of 3 since this quest gets a lot of voters.
Rolled 66 (1d100)
>>6226668Bananas, a "best of 4" roll UNDER means we have a 2.56%. chance of winning a game.
>>6226670What else is it? You said BEST of 4, not WORST of four.
>>6226675We killed him dead
>>6226668No, I understand- the Bo4 being the best result meaning the lowest in the set.
Free free to discount my roll if you meant for others to take part- I don’t mind waiting longer, or having it be hard linked to 4 rolls after my initial roll.
>>6226675My god- did we just pull off a Kobayashi Maru here? Fuckin based man!
Rolled 27 (1d100)
Still rolling? I guess? Is it 4 1d100s, or 4 4d100s?
Rolled 11 (1d100)
>>6226604>>6226685So.. we need three more rolls?
...Or two, after this?
>>6226688Four sets of 4d100, the best results of the 4 sets being the lowest rolled.
When will bananas apologize for this latest fiasco
>>6226691I feel like we have a way higher chance of winning all 4 than we should, then. 1d100 Bo4 is crazy. Anything for the cowbro though.
>>6226696Well, let's hope we get a low roll in the last set then, because we only have one left.
>>6226696I think the odds change based on our decisions- like, if we made a team building or uncompetitive decision it would’ve lowered our odds because of personality.
Oh ok I see
"Each roll of 40 or less"
it was supposed to be 45 lol same as the odds
No sets though I have no idea where people are getting that from
>>6226703">no sets though"
>>6226614>but each player can only be one roll result in any set of 4??????
>>6226703Sooo… it’s already over?
In any set... of 4 rolls?
>>6226695I demand reparations from the monke state IMMEDIATELY.
>>6226709What the fuck does that even mean??? "You can roll multiple times, but only once per set, but also there's only one set."
>>6226709Aye- in any set of 4 rolls, the lowest roll gets counted to determine if the set is considered a success, for 4 sets. Is that correct?
Rolled 29, 51, 88, 69 = 237 (4d100)
>>6226720Sorry forgot it’s all lowercase
>>6226725>based 69I’d support this rounding out the rolls if that funny meme number meant something along with dat bay 1 critical success
>>6226725That doesn't make any sense, were we allowed to roll a 4d100, get the best result of that, and then the best results of the four first would have been it??? Or did he mean that one person could have gotten all 4 rolls???
I suppose we really did need it explain after all.
>>6226729He said we could repeat rolls so I just did it four times, it’ll add them to the 4 sets in order I guess?
>>6226738Except he also said it could only be one roll per set of 4. So what the fuck does that mean??? How can you roll multiple times, once per set, while it's still a singular set of 4??? Obviously, it has to be multiple sets, no? How can it make sense otherwise?
And if it IS multiple sets, then why suddenly say "No sets though"???
I personally am in it for the meme numbers- are we the Ventucker Capt.Kirk of this universe? Inquiring minds must know!
>>6226740Maybe he forgot. Just in case I think we just get everyone to roll 4d100 each and let him pick it out
Worst of best of 4d100×4?
Ohhhh- maybe the skins change from a Jale Berax to sexy female monkes?
Really, a lot of meme potential here!
Rolled 35, 38 = 73 (2d100)
Rolled 46, 84, 56, 15, 92, 3, 15, 49, 90, 4, 48, 23, 80, 46, 8, 96 = 755 (16d100)
I think to solve this we should all roll 16d100s.
I think bananas is just allergic to being clear and speaking in any way that isn't obtuse and passive aggressive
Alright. The last 4 valid rolls seems to be
>>6226821>>6226689>>6226688>>6226685 which form their own set of 4 success after 14/80/50/46 (one success) and 96/96/66/1 (1 success)
So i guess we did it?
>>6226822If that was the case, we would still have one more set to go, but given the lack of any word whatsoever, I have to assume bananas meant only the first four rolls entirely were valid because lol
>>6226826I understand this differently
>Oh and sorry- you CAN roll multiple times on this prompt, but each player can only be one roll result in any set of 4 so you can't just spam over and over.Meaning as long as we have "unrolling ID" we can roll and put roll in a new set, which have 0 to 4 success
Banana will pick the best set (meaning : the one I backlinked with 4 success)
4 players means 1 set; 20 players means 5
>>6226837Well, I guess we won't know until the update then, will we?
Rolled 22, 69, 1, 90 = 182 (4d100)
Rolling my set
>>6226990Based roller
>another 1, 69The numbers, they must mean something!
>>6226999Plot twist, it turns out the jaxtian we play with is actually a tomboy.
>>6226999It's getting split into each set right? So set 3 gets the 1
>>6226675>>6226685>>6226688>>6226689Moving your troops into position, you listen closely to what your opponent is saying. Using the best tactical know-how you can, you realize that since any information you give is available to the opposing forces, that means naturally anything he says can be used against him as well. Thinking on it, you bait one his soldiers forward, then declare he is outnumbered three to one. The soldier stops, forcing your opponent to either tell your soldiers its a lie, and expose their other position, in which you actually outnumber his own soldiers. With this trick, he fumbles as you take territory of the maze and slowly pincer your way to defeating his squad one by one. You end up winning with only one causality out of your four squad members; a decisive victory.
"Wha- Hey, no fair! I've never seen anyone do that in this game before!"
"Read em and weep. Told you I was gonna win!"
"Hey, come on, gimmie a rematch!"
"...Sorry, I got to go to dinner actually." You apologize.
"Alright... play again tomorrow, same time?"
"Sure! See you then."
You head back to the kitchen and help your mother with the heavier stuff just in time as the youngings come in from outside and your other siblings show up from their own tasks. Communally, you sit down at the big table and look over your feast. Bitter and sweet grasses, hay cakes, grain pods broke open with your very own hands... though even you aren't strong enough for all of those. You had to give them a cheeky crack with your horns.
"Enjoy, kids! Enjoy!"
"You got enough to eat, Mom?"
"Yes yes, I ate earlier with your father. The whole family can eat together still, it's so nice."
"I'm enjoying it, even if it won't last much longer."
"Hoik! Don't say that!"
You frown, your sibling looking over at you with a look of empathy. You were saying what they were thinking, even if your mother was too nice to bring it up herself.
"...Dad's getting old, Mon's probably gonna go offworld when she gets married, and if any of the boys end up as ship boarders or infantrymen or join a science crew they'll be off in space. Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. I just... wanted to savor it while it lasted."
"You should savor it, Son." Mom says, putting a hand on your shoulder. "The simple life is good. And for you? It's still simple."
With a delicious meal concluded, you retire to your room to digest. Mom puts the calves to bed while you help haul out the trash. You're feeling a little tired yourself.
Wow, what a day! Everything that happened was just an example of one single normal day in your whole life! You feel like you've done it over and over again, like it's never going to end. But some day, things will change. You try not to think about it too much.
This is how you live, an average Vetucker in the Hegemony. Happy and healthy, with your family, all expenses paid for. You check your digital balance and see your spending money. You think how weird it would be to have to get rid of that stuff just to buy food or rent or whatever else people had to do when they were capitalists. You lay back on your bed, thinking about what you're going to do tomorrow; helping your Dad run the permaculture and put that delicious food on the table. It's nice but you wonder... is that all there is out of life? Maybe you could increase your rank one day, but then you maybe couldn't live here in your wonderful home with your family.
Come to think of it, there is one thing you like to do away from your family. Something you'll only do when nobody is watching. You take a peak outside your room, making sure the house is quiet and nobody will walk past. Alright, coast is clear...
>Quest continues tomorrow
You slip it out from your hiding place- your copy of HORNS magazine. You run your fingers over its smooth, plastic surface greedily; no smart materials or AI uplinks along its pages. You could infinitely generate 3d entertainment of anything you want on your computer table, ubiquitous throughout the Hegemony and cheap to replace, yet somehow this feels all the more precious to you.
HORNS magazine is a subversive piece of literature written specifically for Vetuckers, by Vetuckers. You can't order it, have it printed, or even look it up. You had to get your copy of this issue from a friend, traded around among youth circles. The magazine covers things like Vetucker history and traditional pre-Hegemonic contact culture, stories of Vetucker dominance and conquest, and topics of health and politically maneuvering in the Hegemony for optimal living. It has no Hegemonic seal. You assume it had to either be printed on this planet somewhere, or maybe smuggled in, it certainly can't be made in a fabricator bay. Even keeping this is certainly Anti-Social, much less reading it!
Despite how low-tech it is; it's been your recent obsession. You've been savoring it, only reading one page every few days. It isn't like the entertainment you're used to that never runs out; this is something you have to savor. You look over the table of contents and ignore the worryingly few unread pages you have left, and you decide just looking at the illustrations won't sate you today. You look over the attached articles and find a few that could be interesting...
>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to know
>Cultural Artifacts - How Vetucker development was stalled by Eoba II's interference
>>6227584>>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to know
>>6227584>>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>>6227584>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to knowFor someone who wants to bang jaxtian women Hoik sure doesn't seem to be a big fan of the jaxtian race.
>>6227594Never ask a Ventucker supremacist the species of his girlfriend.
>>6227596Given the story so far, non-existant.
>>6227594What's weird about it? It's the usual tribal mindset.
>I no like this tribe. I want to kill their men and take their women.
>>6227584Hoik is a decent dude. I hope he can handle the fallout that his simping is going to bring down on his head.
>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to knowThis should improve our recent interest in boxing.
>>6227584>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising AdaptationsDecidedly unimpressed- should’ve used those 69s Bananas
>>6227664How exactly should he have done that?
>>6227584>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>>6227584>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to know
>>6227584>Cultural Artifacts - How Vetucker development was stalled by Eoba II's interference
>>6227584>>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising AdaptationsI'm most curious about this one.
>>6227875That's a real shame. I wanna learn more about the alien dueling culture.
>>6227584>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to know
>>6227584>>Axe Dueling; the Unsanitized Truth the Hegemony doesn't want you to know
Ran out of time to update today, will get back on it as soon as possible. "Axe Dueling article" will be the winner.
>>6227599So he's like a weeaboo high schooler who desperate wants a qt Japanese Anime GF?
>>6227584>Environmental StressesLearn what our strengths and weaknesses are relative to ither species for boxing (and boning) purposes. We will make Hoik's dreams a reality!
>>6228549>So he's like a weeaboo high schooler who desperate wants a qt Japanese Anime GF?Those kind of weaboos don't usually dislike Japan as a country.
>>6228550Does he dislike Jaxtians, or just enjoy aspects of his own culture? He isn't excatly going on Yuan'tul angry monologues about monkeys being awful. He just likes ethnic zines and wide spaces, while habing a fetish.
>>6228618I'm not sure about that, this magazine feels a bit more political than merely an 'ethnic zine'
>>6228653With hints of cope-tier "We wuz king Hegemony Bad"
>>6228663Well, the part about forcing their neckbeard atheist mentality was lame, but the others would have definitely treated them worse, just about every other space power in the region would have turned them into a chattel slaves.
>>6228653>>6228663Well yeah, but is Hoit engaging with it that way? or is he just engaging in some teenage rebellion while cranking it to the imagery on the cover and the power fantasy?
"...The Hegemonic invention of "Noble Vetucker Axe-Dueling" is a lie. In reality, Axes were the weapon of choice of Vetuckers due to their convenience. Most Vetucker males who engaged in warfare were migratory, as opposed to the more settled religious males, and traveling hundreds of geographical-units over land left little room for specialized tools and weapons. While certain weapons like swords and spears were practiced with, they were simply not useful enough on thick Vetucker hides. Axe Dueling taught by the Hegemony, in which destroying the equipment of the opposing duelist and "hooking" a horn with the crook of the axe, is a bloodless version. In reality, true Axe Dueling was a bloody affair. Typically, two opponents would strike at each other with their axes, and only one would survive. Native Vetuckers did not rely on dueling tradition to prove their dominance; as a nonlethal form of competition already existed in the form of wrestling and horn-butting. Jaxtians may have invented Axe Dueling as a way to bridge the gap between their diffident cultures, or to prepare modern Vetuckers for warfare which our peaceful grazing biology is not well suited for."
You savor the information, letting you absorb it into your brain like sponge, and keeping every bit strongly controlled. You don't want to let any of this slip in properly Social circles; the thrill of rebellion needing to be checked by avoiding Anti-Social punishments.
After reading the page you look over the illustrations, careful not to crease or bend the magazine as you hide it back under your mattress, and turn in to sleep early. You'll be busy tomorrow.
Before you can help your Dad today, you have to go get that fertilizer. You were going to pick it up from school yesterday right before you left, but sadly after clogging up the fabricators with Ophia's custom orders, you had to put it on hold. You take the long trek back in the early morning, only stopping for a moment when you notice the school's administrator talking to a member of the science team around some strange plant sprouting outside. You give the administrator a respectful nod before slinging the heavy bags over your shoulder and continuing on.
"...Curious sprout! It twists like the Curve-Vine native to this planet, but the color is all wrong."
"Is it a juvenile? Or is it simply withering to explain its strange color?"
"I don't think so! It just sprouted up last night all of the sudden; I must get a sample of this for the lab!"
Back home, you take the bags and head to the backyard, which opens up to the permaculture. Here? There is a valley high in the mountains. Nobody else lives here, save a family of blonde Jaxtians that live higher up the mountains and work with satellite uplink equipment; they tend to the fruiting trees and seeding plants, but the rest here is all your family's responsibility. An almost totally uninhabited valley of verdant green grasses, peaceful and isolated, beautifully untouched after its original inhabitants were wiped clean. It stretches as far as you can see, hills and streams feeding tending patches of tall sweet grass; which tastes best; and bitter grass; good for digestion. Many hidden places where a curious youth can explore. No predators; long since modified by multiple species for a placid environment. It's a paradise in many ways, and it's safe to say you grew up here. It's a special kind of honor. Technically, your Father doesn't "own" the land, as the Hegemony owns everything, but he was given special permission to settle here, and as a reward, everything here is his responsibility.
"Hey son! Thanks for the fertilizer. We gotta get this spread on the patches before dark today; weather forecast says its gonna rain in the wee hours of the morning. You know how much bitter grass hates slurry soils..."
He's already sweaty and shirtless. You take off your own shirt, and get ready for a hard but fair day's work. Every Vetucker has days set aside from school or other jobs to do this kind of labor. It can be exhausting, but it's good for your mind.
But while you have some time, you suddenly think of something. Your Dad is married, which means he happened to woo at least one woman, even if it was a Vetucker and your mom at that. Still, maybe you could learn a thing or two from him...
>Ask him how to pick up girls
>Watch his attitude to see if you notice anything cool
>Enjoy your limited time with him.
>>6228782>Ask him how to pick up girlsI seriously doubt the advice would work, but I feel like this would be a more meaningful bonding moment with him than just normally enjoying your time.
>>6228782>>Ask him how to pick up girlsCurve vine being investigated is foreshadowing I am sure
also can some anon look at the qr code on first page? If it works, there may be something cool or useful in there.
>>6228782>>Ask him how to pick up girls>>6228788It does work. Here.
We're being 1984'd.
>>6228791I think I can already guess what's happening. As a way to "release valve" anti-social thoughts, the hegemony makes these "illegal books" that contain stuff that is controversial, but not so much that it would instill really dangerous thoughts. Basically, they give the illusion that they're able to have secrets like this.
In retrospect, i should have guessed it sooner. The hegemony is basically a fully working panopticon, they know see and hear everything you do at all times. Privacy literally doesn't exist.
>>6228796They've pulled stuff like this before, such as with Kima, so that tracks.
>>6228782>Ask him how to pick up girls
>>6228782>>Ask him how to pick up girls
>>6228782>Watch his attitude to see if you notice anything cool
>>6228796>>6228791I hope we can keep this in mind for future votes, I imagine these sorts of things will become relevant later on.
>>6228782>Ask him how to pick up girls
>>6228782>>Ask him how to pick up girls
AS THE FIRST MONKEY PLAYER TO POST IN HERE
DADDY TELL US HOW TO FUCK BLUE MONKEY PLEASE
>>6229434>>6229438>>6229445>The Hegemony went from rabid fanatic xenophobes to alien sex fans in just two reignBased?
>>6229592A return to form, really.
>>6229537We're so back.
>>6229592>aliensNo, just Swall and Vetucker. They're Honorary Monkaryans. Everybody else is getting The Mask.
The Hegemonic symbol is made of three parts. It was 'fate' that the monke would be joined by two other equals.
>>6229704This is Navigator erasure.
>>6229713Navigators don't count, they're doing their own thing just chilling and sleeping. Like the Spanish.
”Dad,” you ask. ”...How do you pick up girls?”
He shoots you a look, then laughs.
“Pfft- haaha. My boy's growing up, huh? What's her name son?”
”D-Dad...”
“What, no luck throwing her one of these?” He says, flexing a bicep. You don't think he's taking it serious. “Hey-grab that box of seedlings.”
You broach the subject again tenderly, and he seems to take it more seriously, turning into dad-advice-dispensing mode.
“I wouldn't worry about it too much, Son. These things take time.”
”...How much time, exactly...?”
“You're in that part of your life where everything is happening all fast and at once, so you think it's gonna be the same for females. Let me tell you, it ain't! Just relax, it'll come around.”
”That's not really what I asked...”
Your Dad gives you a more stern look, then laughs again.
“You wanna know what women like? Consistency. Reliability. Stablility! That's what a man needs to have to attract a lady. You know, I didn't know any women my whole life until I was ready to help colonize this planet, all the sudden I get hooked up with your mother by a state matchmaking service, I hit it off with her family too, and before you know it we were on this planet making... well, you get the idea. You know why? Because I kept at it! That's how you build a reputation.”
Maybe you should have asked him how to pick up Jaxtian girls in specific, but you drop the topic. It wasn't really the answer you wanted. Maybe it worked for him but... is it really gonna work for you? You don't think so. After all, your Dad is a bit of a nobody. So are you. As far as the Hegemony is concerned, you aren't anything special. You don't even have a lanyard.
In the Hegemony, specialized rank is denoted by a colored lanyard. While those without them, like you, your father, and the rest of your family are still appointed to tasks that you're well suited for and can contribute, you're still classed as part of the “laborer” caste; unremarkable. But with a specialized rank, a lanyard around your neck, you suddenly become somebody. The color of the lanyard indicates the field or department of greater Hegemonic control; warfare, science, biology & health, administration... While a lanyard with only one tassel only means a basic level of rank in that field, it's still higher then any laborer! Your school's administrator, in charge of all the students, the facility's systems, meeting greater imperial goals and metrics; he has a great amount of power and yet only has one tassel. Imagining having two; a senior official in charge of an entire division. Or three, close to the level of an Overseer...
Now that would get you noticed by women!
But you just have no idea how you could ever get something like that. You have to pass all kinds of test, and demonstrate a useful skill that is beyond just basic machine operation, farming, basic social skills... all the things you can already do well enough. And even worse, while you see plenty of Jaxtians and Swall with lanyards, you don't see that many Vetuckers with them. Certainly none of your friends or family have one. Without it, you'll just be part of the crowd, not much likely to get the female attention you seek.
“Alright, let's take five.” Dad says, sitting on a rock. You excuse yourself for a moment to go find a place to piss before you come across a strangely familiar looking hillside along your family's farming property.
Hold on... is that?
You get on your knees to the rocky outcrop and begin to crawl inside. It is your secret hiding place! From all those years ago, as a kid! This is so awesome!
You love stuff like this. It's your secret hiding spot! You did come here to avoid a chore once or twice, but mostly, you just think it's cool. You stopped coming soon after puberty, where you had a bad dream you grew too big and got stuck inside. But it's clearly spacious enough for you even now. You feel a wave of nostalgia.
Down among the pebbles and rough stone underneath your hands and knees, on the floor of the cave, you see scuff marks. Then, you trace your fingers along familiar scratches. You see your drawings, made with the sharp bits of stone, scratched in years and years ago. Faded, but still visible. It reminds you of a simpler time.
...You wonder sometimes how many people out there can share the same experiences as you. How many live on such beautiful land and have friends and cared about secret hiding places they had as a kid. Whose only concern is getting it in with a sexy alien. Maybe you should be a little more grateful. You've always looked at your life as something not worthy of envy; constantly stuck between siblings and social classes and underfoot compared to greater beings then you. Jaxtians smarter then you without even trying, a government who controls your every move and plans your life for you, so much so you don't get to figure out romance without a state mandate, just your like Dad.
But maybe that's wrong. Maybe you're really lucky. How many kids out there can say they have a special cave like this that only they have? How many can have work-life balance like you where you get to have fun all day and exercise and then learn from the best and take your life in any direction you want free from slavery or crushing capitalism. Maybe you should be more grateful.
What do you think?
>Yeah, you are pretty happy
>No, you've still got a ways to go
>Not sure
>>6230284Is "No" supposed to be in an "No, I'm not happy with the Hegemony" sense or an "No, I'm not satisfied with staring where I am" sense?
>>6230284>No, you've still got a ways to goWe need a Jaxtian girl and a lanyard.
>>6230284>Not sureWhat's that black thing above our hand?
>>6230284>Yeah, you are pretty happyIt can always be worse- you could’ve been born a huzzar kiddo.
>>6230285Great pertinent questions, but why tempt fate?
>>6230284>>Yeah, you are pretty happy>Still thrive for more
>>6230284>No, you've still got a ways to goWe were born lucky, but we shouldn't stop striving for more
>>6230284>No, you've still got a ways to goMonkussy tastes better when u work for it
>>6230284>No, you've still got a ways to goIf we get too comfy, we'll never get that jaxtussy.
You leave your secret hidden cave after a bit of thought and reunite with your father. With your break over, you both get to work moving huge stones, plowing the soil, spreading fertilizer, and sowing the seeds for a future harvest. The new field will be able to provide feed for a dozen more Vetuckers a year; perhaps a subtle hint at what your father wants for his legacy, in addition to multiple new bioproducts. The grasses, identical to native ones but genetically modified for taste and similarity to the Vetucker's gut-biome, will sprout within days. You give him a high five. Job well done.
You've got a few more days of hard labor ahead, but you always enjoy these little breaks from school. You'll be back soon enough. With your job in the fields done with time to spare, you head home to clean up and get ready for a night of fun; you're thinking of a larger scale tactical game this time, maybe even a few interactive films... That's when you head into your room to see your annoying kid brother messing with your hologram projector. He's wanted to play with it for weeks now.
"Hey! Gra! Get out of my room!"
"Awww- no fair! I wanna play with the projector' too!"
"You ain't old enough, Mom said so! Now get out, it's mine!"
"Nooooo!!! Lemme play!"
You take a step inside to remove the little brat, grabbing a horn and getting ready to toss him out, before he struggles with a lot more energy and determination then usual.
"Grrr! No! You have to let me play or else I'll tell mom!"
"Tell Mom about what?"
"About your dirty magazine!"
You freeze. He found it. Pulling it out from its hiding place, your edition of Horns in his greasy little fingers.
"Hah! I'll tell!"
"Gra... Put that down. Give that to me!"
"No! You have to let me play or else I'll tell! I'll tell her about your nude magazine!"
"It's not a nude mag- I mean she is naked but- that's not really... Give it back already!"
"Haha! You have to do what I say! Now lemme play!"
The little brat's got you by the balls now. You're trying not to show how nervous you actually are. This is really bad. You have an unapproved piece of literature, and while you don't think your Mom would be that upset about you looking at "nude pictures", she, and the whole family, could easily get in trouble for your anti-social behavior. It would likely mean getting demoted from your job at the facility managing the fabricators too... Which means no more helping Ophia...
But on the other hand... letting him play on your hologram machine is a problem too. It wouldn't be that hard to disable the discriminator on the machine so it follows his commands, turn off the face camera and voice identification so nobody notices, but your Hegemonic ID is permanently tied to that machine. And you know he'll tank any of your competitive game scores. It sounds silly, but those are one of the things used by talent scouting algorithms. You don't want any performance records of yours tainted by his underdeveloped little brain. What are you going to do?
>Let him play on your machine
>Take back the magazine and beat his ass
>Trade your secret hiding place cave for it instead
>Call his bluff
>>6230951Can't you just...take the magazine then rip it apart? All he knows is that it's a nude magazine. It's only a problem if he shows it in public or some shite, no?
>>6230951>Take back the magazine and beat his ass>Call his bluffLittle brothers are always lil’ shits like this, they just need to learn to respect the herd hierarchy.
>>6230953That’ll be the taking back the magazine an beating his ass blue friend. Besides, this is controlled anti-social literature, the worse that’ll happen is a slap on the wrist and a reputation for being a bit of a rebel without a cause.
>>6230951>>Take back the magazine and beat his ass>>Call his bluff
>>6230951>>Take back the magazine and beat his ass
>>6230951>Take back the magazine and beat his ass
>>6230951If found the magazine will apply a demerit. I don't know if that means a demotion or not, but better safe than sorry.
>>6230977+1
>>6230951>>Trade your secret hiding place cave for it instead
>>6230951>>Take back the magazine and beat his ass>>Call his bluff
>>6230951i have a forbidden taught Fat curvy Jaxtians and slim petit Vetucker
>>6222932like the mind swap therium from futurama?
>>6230951>Trade your secret hiding place cave for it insteadWe're getting too big and old for it anyway
>>6231310I don’t mind passing it down tbf, but the family hierarchy is important.
>>6231320Same. The cave is whatever, but I don't truat the little shit not to oull this stunt again if we don't establish a pekcing order.
You aren't gonna let this twerp walk all over you! How dare he tries to blackmail you, an adult!
”Gimmie that!”
“Grr- No!”
”Knock it off!”
You easily overpower the magazine out of your hands, which creases. You can't deny it; that does kinda piss you off. Especially when he starts stomping his feet and making a big fuss, as if you're gonna cave in to his stupid kid tantrum!
“Give it! Give it give it give it give it-”
”Shut up!”
You grab one of his horns and twist, but he is relentless. Not like blunt force trauma is going to work; Vetuckers have tough skulls even as kids. After all, when you walk as early as your species do, you tend to fall over a lot. So instead you open your palm and give him a hard slap against the soft side of his face. He falls silently instantly, and you carry on, grabbing his shoulder and twisting him towards the door. With a shove and a trip, he falls on the carpet, burning his hands as he reels to catch himself painfully along the faux-grass covering. You give his butt a little kick, and he falls out into the hallway fully. Good riddance. That out to teach him a lesson.
“M-MOOOOMMMM! WWWWAAHHHHHH!!!!! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM AHH- M- MOMMY!!!”
He starts crying, loud. This isn't a tantrum cry, this is a kid who got hurt and really needs his Mom right now cry. You think he's playing it up, but he's not even looking at you, and he's shedding a lot of tears. Maybe you got a little carried away. Your mom arrives in seconds, looking at him first, then you with a look that regards you as a stranger instead of her eldest son. She scoops up Gra and turns to run off with him as he cries pathetically.
”He- He wouldn't get out of my room!” You try to defend yourself as she leaves with him. Holding his face close. It wasn't that long ago she would do that for you; call you her little 'hoiky-poiky snuggly pooh'. You guess those days are long gone.
You calm yourself by watching some boring engineering videos on your hologram display, hiding your magazine again. You feel like you can't start playing games right away when you know you're about to get a stern talking to; anything “fun” just wouldn't be proper. Your mom is way too non-confrontational, so you're already getting ready for it when you hear your father's hoof steps down the hallway.
“...Hoik, we need to talk.”
Your father asks you what happened to your side of the story, but doesn't seem to be listening. The evidence is too damning anyway.
”Dad, he was going through my stuff and demanding I let him play my hologram display. You know talent scouts look at the results on that.”
“Then why didn't you come to me if you couldn't play nice with him?”
”Play nice?! Come on-”
“Hoik, we're a family. We're supposed to be working together; like a herd.”
”He should have known not to upset the family hierarchy... Oldest are in charge, everyone knows that.”
“Yeah- if he was a man! But he's just a calf! We didn't hit you when you were being an annoying little calf.”
”Well, maybe you should have...”
“Yeah, maybe we should have! Then you wouldn't have pulled some shit like this!”
You cross your arms and look away. Yeah, you were in the wrong too but... come on, he was being a little twerp. Your Dad just sighs.
“I never thought my son would be one of those bulls, the ones who wanna lock horns and be the boss once that get to that age. Well, if you wanna be in charge of a herd so much, you'll have to go start your own family then; somewhere else. You understand?”
”Dad...”
“Think long and hard about what I said, you got that Hoik? We gotta go to bed, we still got work tomorrow.”
Dammit! Fucking dammit! Ingar dammit!
While not exactly threatening to kick you out of the family household, yet, you've clearly messed up big time. Having contraband is Anti-Social for sure, but falling out with your family is too! This fucking sucks! You're just now getting into the grove of work, school, your other ambitions, and chasing Jaxtian tail; and now this!
You decide to spend the evening reading your magazine again; you're going to hide it in your secret cave hideout tomorrow just in case your brother rats you out, though you're almost certain he won't. He's learned his lesson and won't mess with you again; even if it turned the rest of the family against you. This will probably be the last time you'll get to read the magazine for a good long while, so you better pick a good article to read...
>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>Cultural Artifacts - How Vetucker development was stalled by Eoba II's interference
>Horn Waxing & Styling Tips
Damn, what a little bitch. I guess manny-type brothers are a constant in all species.
>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>>6231810>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising AdaptationsYeah, stress.
>>6231810>>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>>6231810Was expecting more wrestling than just straight up decking the kid, but sure- we’ll give him some ice cream plus his own hologram display from our job if we really feel bad, though I imagine he’ll be right as rain and pestering us tomorrow.
>Cultural Artifacts - How Vetucker development was stalled by Eoba II's interference
>>6231810>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising AdaptationsMoving out would make fucking the titular monkey much easier, actually. Maybe we should?
>>6231810>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
How are you all enjoying the thread so far?
Ignore the 10 day 4chan break lol
>>6232351Very much so. At the same time chill and pressure of all of our choices to maximise the best future for Local CowBro (jeopardised mostly by the Fabricator Fumble)
>>6231810>>Environmental Stresses ; Your Surprising Adaptations
>>6232351Well, I did want an sidequest depicting life for the new species on the hegemony, so I'd say i'm mostly happy. Though ill say I don't really care for seeing the cow man fuck a monke.
>>6232419We haven't seen it yet. There's still more work to do, lads!
>>6232351it's very fun and chill so far, and interesting to see the softer side of Hegemonic conquest and expansion without the boot coming brutally down (yet).
>>6232604>We haven't seen it yetI mean that I don't care about seeing it. I'm not sabotaging him, but I won't feel bad if he abandons his fetish.
>>6232351I can’t wait for the moment we bring our Alpha friend home and they attribute our recent aggression from the bad influence of those ‘unruly Jaxians’.
Otherwise, pretty comfy.
“...The common ancestors to all the Vetucker subspecies remained heavily nomadic throughout all its evolution, in part due to avoiding predation, the changing of the seasons and availability of quality food, but also in part in response to disaster.”
“Vetuck-II is a planet with a very large continental shelf and is a relatively young world, resulting in shallow oceans and wide, very flat grasslands to dominate much of its surface. Most of the planet's oxygen was therefore produced by grass and short life-cycling shooting plants instead of old-growth trees or algae. Wildfires, especially during the cold dry season, could spread extremely easily and quickly, often resulting in a continent-wide blaze that blotted out the sky and made the air unsuitable for large bodied creatures requiring oxygen for respiration. While this did result in layers upon layers of old burns making up the deep soils of the planet, leading to an incredibly rich soil whose bounty still produces enough food for billions of Vetuckers both on and world; it also posed a massive challenge to early Vetucker ancestors, whose large brains required much more oxygen then the burrowing mammals more common in the planet's biosphere.”
“Amazingly, early Vetuckers had a certain adaptation that allowed them to walk and move with very miminal oxygen required; by “turning off” certain parts of their brain, similar to the Migrator stasis gene forced into every Hegemonic host species; early Vetuckers could migrate with countless marches across ashen and lifeless lands to new ones. While the genetic markers for this mutation only exist now in the Vetuckers closest to the homeworld in their evolution; it was actually lost only very recently in the species development.”
“The chronological end of these destructive wildfires exactly coincide with the first road networks developed by Vetuckers. Beyond acting as a landmark and a way to mark territories among the early clan and migrating herds; oft-traveled roads often stamped with sand or bordered by stones also acted as a small fire-barrier which slowed down or stopped the spread of these massive grass fires. This was also the technological breakthrough that allowed the first settled farmers and the rise of agriculture on the planet of Vetuck II. This practical bit of Vetucker ingenuity which changed the course of our own evolution is downplayed or outright ignored by Jaxtian historians, who can't see the significant of this species-defining advancement...”
Over the next few days, you help your father around the farm. While things between you are a bit strained after the incident with your younger kid brother, it doesn't stop you two from finishing the new field and planting a new rotational crop there. Your father boasts about how it will be able to feed an entire new Vetucker family; perhaps a hint he doesn't want you to leave just yet.
Soon enough, your school starts up again. Your classes and training are calling to you, and it's nice to see your friends again. Of course, you didn't expect to see the school's administrator first! He accosts you in the hallway first thing in the morning, clearly he was looking for you.
“Hoik! I needed to talk to you about the Reassembler lab and Fabricator orders.”
”Oh! Oh of course- haha- yes! How can I help you, S-Sir?”
In the Hegemony, those wearing lanyards show signs of their rank in a specific field or position. While technically each field are supposed to be equal, and a scientist with two blue tassels would technically outrank your base's administrator and foremost teacher with just one tassel, Administrators are taken a bit more seriously as leaders then those in other fields simply because of their overall importance to the Hegemonic structure. Red tassels can fight and make weapons, Blue discover new technologies and perform research, Green are doctors and biology specialists; but the Orange/Yellow administrator lanyards keep all the others in line and working towards the Hegemony's goals, which aren't always the same as your own!
“I just noticed you shifted a lot of orders around for some emergency, high-priority stuff, but without any kind of referral from anyone of higher rank. Did something happen? What was so important?”
”Err, no, Sir, I just, had someone ask me for help and uhh- I figured it'd be better to get their orders done since most of the others would just be finished over night and wait in the fabricator bay all night anyway... if that makes sense.”
He nods.
“I won't question your methods, I try to remain hands off, but your efficiency records dropped by over ten percent for that day, and we had a few delayed experiments and material shortages that cost some other classes important teaching time. Not that those didn't end up on hold anyway, given the new discovery. I just want you to keep that in mind for the future, Hoik.”
”Of course... wait, what discovery?”
“Speaking of which- I came to ask you personally to fabricate some planting pots and inorganic fertilizers first thing and carry them over to the science lab. They're really heavy, so I figured it'd be convenient for you to do it before your classes or PT. Sound good?”
”Oh- o-ok! Sure, right away Sir!”
You don't want to make him mad, after all, he's probably the most important person in the whole school; given he's the one with the most direct access to give you a promotion....
Minutes later, you end up in the science lab. The place has seemingly been converted into a greenhouse in just the short few days since you've been gone! Expensive tabletop particle accelerators and deep sample scanners thrown to the floor to make room for plants! Specifically, a new kind of plant.
”...They just started to sprout up so suddenly over the past few days! It's an unidentified species, and they're so very curious.” The science head says excitedly. You also notice that Alfred is here too; the gifted young Swall. Even though he doesn't have a lanyard of rank, you figure he's probably in here all the time.
”How come- urf- you didn't know about them before?” You ask, helping pour the soil into multiple pots for new samples.
”It's fascinating! They sprout from these little red seeds, you see, that have laid dormant for years and years and years, and all at once they started to sprout! They have a cell wall and chlorophyll, but a mycelium-like cell to cell connective tissue network making them grow extremely fast while also being sturdy. What's strange is how little oxygen they produce even while producing photosynthesis. They may even be partially carnivorous, but they don't have a trap-like jaw or the digging-into-flesh capabilities of mycelium from the Black & White spores and mushrooms common on the old Hazaari worlds...”
Most of that just went over your head. You glance over to Alfred, who shifts over to poke the science head in the side, who suddenly perks up as if he remembered something.
”Oh! That was it- thank you. Hoik, could you do me a big favor?” The scientist said, holding a pot with the plant up closer to you.
”Uhh...”
”You're a Vetucker; a herbivore, right? Could you give this a taste?”
”Wha- You want me to eat an undiscovered alien plant?! What if it's poison?!”
The scientist has the nerve to shrug, then meekly smiles.
”Look Hoik, we've already gone over it with all kinds of tests and stuff, scanned in with AI, no toxic compounds found. Not even common self-defense plant chemicals that your immune system and stomach could easily deal with. But the AI can't simulate a taste test! We need you for that. Come on, you'd be the first person in the Hegemony to ever try and eat this plant. What do you say! For science?”
>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress them
>Give it the ol' chew and spit the rest of it out
>Politely refuse
>>6232944>Give it the ol' chew and spit the rest of it outOkay, taste test.
>>6232944>Give it the ol' chew and spit the rest of it outThis is either going to kill us, cripple us for life, or give us superpowers.
>>6232944>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress themGo big or go home nigga
>>6232944I'm even more paranoid than before about the fabricator coming to bite us in the ass.
>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress themWe're a Vetucker and proud of it!
>>6233052Do you mean fabricators as a tech or the stuff that Hoik did? If you mean the fabricator, I doubt it. The entire point was that it was a reward for getting a high score on a minigame.
>>6232944>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress themAww, I think the administrator is playing softball with us (or doesn’t care).
>>6233052Eh, maybe if the plant is dangerous after some fashion. I’m sorta expecting them to be related to the purge.
>>6232944>>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress them
>>6232944>Give it the ol' chew and spit the rest of it out.We can try it, but I don't want to eat a whole remnant Hazaar Bioweapon.
We're definitely getting some sort of super cancer if we eat this thing whole.
>>6232944>>Give it the ol' chew and spit the rest of it outThey're not even asking us to eat it, just taste it. This is objectively tasting it.
>>6232944>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress them>>6233485Bruh
>>6233275...How super is this cancer, do you reckon?
>>6232944>Eat a whole plant for your damn breakfast and impress themI want to be super!
You grab a plant and then, trying to impress the two, stuff it into your mouth. You can be a pretty voracious eater at the best of times; you are a large bodied herbivore after all. Of course, the moment it hits your tongue, you immediately regret it.
Alfred Ribbionfin raises a pointed finger and laughs.
"Pfft! Look, he hates it!"
"Urk.... it's not... very good."
You still chew it and swallow, the unsatisfying lump of plant matter hitting your stomach with a lurch. You really hope this doesn't give you indigestion, you have some more physical training in just a few minutes.
"How does it taste?" The science head asks.
"A bit like blood, honestly, and like it's wilted like brown grass. It's not good."
"Hmm... fascinating. Alfred, take a sample to the vacuum chamber, I wanna try to bombard it with CO2 to see if I can trigger it to bloom, even if it didn't respond last time."
The Swall takes a plant and leaves the immediate conversation, with the scientist thanking you for your help.
"...Yeah, the base administrator has been focusing nonstop on the new plants once they bloomed up. It's a new discovery. Maybe he thinks he'll get a promotion out of it."
"You're thinking of taking his job next?" You ask, a little sarcastically
"Pfft, no. I mean, I am the scientist with the most knowledge on these plants. I could get an extra "tail" on my lanyard for sure. Being the top of a department or foremost expert in something is how you get rank. But if anyone is taking anyone's job, it'll probably be Alfred. Kid is a genius, he'll probably end up with three tassels on his lanyard. Overseer material."
The Jaxtian throws his hand back, thumb pointing at the young Swall intern.
"He's pretty smart, I saw him finish the AI IQ test the other day."
"Our base computers are a little dumb, not being hooked up to the main AI network, but yeah, that's still very impressive. Out of anyone at the base, he has the most potential for sure. No offense, Hoik."
"No, I get it. I gotta go now."
"Thanks again!"
Patting your stomach awkwardly, you make your way towards the gym and strip down. You're sure Forja will be there today!
"...Yeah, I can't do boxing with you today Hoik, sorry."
"You really hurt your hand that bad bouncing it against my skull?"
"Coach said it was only a micro-injury but, no reason to exacerbate it. We'll just have to do something else today."
Well, there goes your plan. You actually think you were learning something from Forja from last time, plus the combat sport would be good for any metric. You see the groups of Alpha Males and Vetuckers milling about, finding an activity. You wonder why so much time is scheduled for only these two Hegemonic subjects to have physical training; regular Jaxtians, Swall, Blondes, none of them have this much team building and combat sports practice. Is it preparing you for your role? Or is it to tire you out?
"I would invite you to play our climbing sports, Hoik, but I just uhh... don't think you'd be able to keep up."
"And you probably don't want to play push-pull with us, huh?"
You realize, you may have to not spend time for Forja, your Jaxitan-Alpha friend today. It's unfortunate, but not all activities are equally capable by members of any species. What should you do?
>Practice boxing without Forja to keep up your training
>Join a Vetucker sport and make some friends among your own kind
>Try to make up a game you can both play (Specify)
>>6234802Well, we totally gotta think a game fit for the both of them. Any ideas anons?
>>6234804Some three-dimensional capture-the-flag and/or king-of the hill thing thing where monkeys must climb to grab flags from poles/jungle gyms, but then bring them to a defensive point and hold them against recapture for period of time?
>>6234802>Try to make up a game you can both playBest I can do.
>>6234817That seems a bit too complicated, innit? I was thinking of something that just Forja and Hoik could do.
Well, there's "Grappling", I guess. Would that not be allowed due to his hand fracture? The idea would be, rather than boxing, you'd just do a Grappling focused brawl. You know, like Judo or Jiu Jitsu.
>>6234822I'm thinking something flashy, and that other Jaxtians and Vetuckers can play, so Hoik and Forja both make a variety of friends from each other's species and attract audience. Something geared to help pick up chicks of the other species by creating a normalized zone of emotion cross-species interaction.
>>6234846Yeah but that's a bit too big. The others have their own workout plans. We're not kids at recess.
My ideas for Wrestling was because it'd let the both of them do something without putting too much pressure on his head. After all, if he can climb, he can probably grapple no?
>>6234852I don't dislike your idea, but we've got to hype it up, then.
>>6234854Fair enough, then
>>6234802>Try to make up a game you can both play (Grappling/Wrestling)As mentioned, the Idea being to make it so you can "train" without putting any more pressure on his hands than climbing would have. You would "score points" by obviously getting the other person to the ground in a hold. If you wanna make it more "fair" you could also make it so horns and tails are off limits.
>>6234802+1 to wrestling if he's okay with it. Maybe both of them tie one hand behind their back so fair is fair.
I like the Climb-Wrestle tactical Capture the flag.
Maybe put a maze down and use a few ropes for the monke to keep material at a minimal?
>>6234861I think wrestling's a good idea, at least.
>>6234802>Try to make up a game you can both play (Grappling/Wrestling)
So what, we have 3 for the the capture the flag game and 3 for the wrestling/grappling practice? Or am I reading it wrong?
Even if you consider both
>>6234846>>6235071 to be votes, which they aren't explicitly, wrestling still wins with
>>6234861>>6234918>>6235086
>>6235526In fact, where do you even see the third? I can't find any third vote for capture the flag. There's QrPlW who suggested it and nhVMs who said he liked it (not technically a proper vote but still)
I'm vote wrestling for a tie-breaker.
*I'm voting
Curse my rushed typing.
>>6235574I mean I still don't see where there even was a tie. I checked every post. There's only even 2 possible capture the flag votes, but 3 for wrestling. I genuinely don't see the third vote for the flag idea.
>>6235581Either way, wrestling it is, I guess. I'm okay with that.
>>6236136Too bad they don't have Olive Oil for MAXIMVM GRAECIVM PANKRATION
If being an oiled up wrestler doesn't make the jaxtian ladies like Hoik, nothing ever will.
You decide to wrestle with Forja instead. At least it's an activity you both can do, and acts as convenient combat training. He makes sure to check with his coach if its okay, and he says that this light impact stuff on his hand will be fine. It's not the same as punching a metal plate, or your skull, so he's all good to go.
You get Forja a good few times. Unlike boxing, where his striking strength and speed were much greater then your own, this requires a bit more endurance and ground-control aspects. Your center of gravity is much closer to the ground then his, with much more of your body weight in the lower body and chest compared to his shoulders, and given you're about the same height.
”Gahh! Alright, I give. Lemme up.”
”What's that, five me, two to you?”
”I didn't think we were keeping track...”
A few other watch your wrestling with piqued interest, given it's not a super common sport practiced by the Jaxtian culture; which much prefers fast knife fighting for nobility, boxing, dancing, or climbing sports- minimal contact for risk adverse primates. But for a bovid like yourself? Who lock horns for contests between males all the time in your evolutionary history? It feels very natural. You cool off for a minute, sitting on a mat with Forja and rehydrate.
”Hey Hoik, you play sim games, right? Tactical or strategic?”
”Tactical, of course!”
”Why haven't you played me yet?! Actually- which sim do you like?”
”Maze. Though I guess it's falling out of style.”
”Oh! I like Maze, but have you tried Caverns? You gotta manage light levels too. You can also play against the computer and it makes monsters the higher difficulty you go. I've only gotten to level eight; they start getting instant reaction time and skin as hard as bronze...“
It seems both of you like tactical sims. You offer to be his co-op partner, but he's not sure you can handle it. He's so on. You are thinking about how you're gonna reach the same level after gym that when you head out into the hallway, you don't even hear someone approach you by your locker.
“Uhm... Hoik?”
It's a husky, low female voice. You actually don't recognize it. You turn in surprise-
It is Una! She's got her hands balled up. She raises them up to your face, opens them, and then blows the contents at your face. Your eyes close in a flinch, and by the time you open them, you see her running away with a loud stomping of her hooves in embarrassment. You chew a stringy piece of grass that got blown in your open mouth before it hits you.
She just... blew grass at your face? Really? You start to blush. You had no idea.
Vetuckers have their own courtship rituals and rites. You've always thought the Jaxtian ones were weird; for Vetuckers it isn't as complex. Typically the biggest or most dominant male gets all the female attention, and they compete for his attention in return. You've never really considered yourself that type of male because, let's face it, you're just an average guy. Not bad looking or anything but...
Getting grass blown in your face is a big come on for male Vetuckers. She basically just said here, eat this, so you got enough energy for me next, champ.. It implies she has a lot of competition for your attention as well; which you certainly didn't think so. Why would she do that?! You thought she was just a friend; you're pretty sure that's the first time she ever spoke to you! What in Agori's jiggly jowels is she thinking pulling this!?
You suppose she has no idea you're not interested in her at all. She's too big and tall, a longhorn, and besides, she's just a Vetucker girl. Not at all like the Jaxtian girls you dream about. This is not what you wanted, dammit! And if word gets around she likes you like that, you might get challenged by other Vetucker guys who feel threatened by that. Or, worse, a Jaxtian girl might find out and think you're a plain old regular guy. Though then again, maybe she'll think you're really popular...? Hold on, what if Ophia finds out!? You gotta do something!
What are you going to do?
>Pretend like this never happened and avoid her
>Track her down and tell her you're not interested straight up
>Try to pawn her off on Forja again if you can
>Go along with it and see if it makes Ophia jealous
>>6236552Hmmm..perhaps seeing us wrestle made her think of us as a "big man". But I have no idea how we can fix that.
Going along with her isn't going to work, though...so I dunno.
>>6236557I mean, I should specify, it would *really* be better for Hoik if he stopped going after Ophia. She's no good for him. She's a seductress hussy who's only stringing him along so she can milk him for all he's worth (and not in the way he wants her to)
>>6236552>Track her down and tell her you're not interested straight up
>>6236552>Go along with it and see if it makes Ophia jealousI don’t think she’ll be jealous, but feel a threat to her fashion and thus popularity and make impulsive decisions? Now that, I can believe.
Either this, pawn or ignore- I don’t want to ruin the gal’s day after she gathered the courage to start a courtship, and she’s already so lonely.
>>6236612See that's not a bad plan necessarily but that would require Hoik make an example of not showing any interest in her anymore.
>>6236552>Go along with it and see if it makes Ophia jealousAh, why the hell not. Not like we're allowed to write-in anwyays...
>>6236552>Try to pawn her off on Forja again if you canHelping a brother out, and solvent our problem.
>>6236753See I wouldn't mind this, but how the hell would Hoik do that? The last time he tried failed spectacularly.
>>6236552>Try to pawn her off on Forja again if you canTrying to fake it won't work. Remember Vul?
>>6236755He could try "losing" to him in a wrestling match again. At the very least that would get her off his ass.
>>6236755Last time was clumsy and forced on a walk home. He should invite her to a wrestling match, then... Yeah, maybe do what
>>6236760 said, or at least get them chatting and play wingman.
>>6236760Well, you do have a point. Like I said in
>>6236557 it was probably the wrestling that made her confess.
>>6236552Fine, I guess, I'll change
>>6236720 for
>Try to pawn her off on Forja again if you can
>>6236720Sure, you can do a write in if you want.
>>6236774Well, I was going to think of a way to get Hoik to make it seem like he doesn't care for Ophia anymore.
But
>>6236760 convinced me with the "Lose in a wrestling match" idea.
>>6236552Supporting the fake wrestling idea. Get Forja's help with "kicking our ass" as thoroughly and embarrassingly as possible. Tell him it'll help woo the lady (not a lie)
>>6236794Man, if it works, Forja better be real grateful for us. We're doing one hell of a favor.
Well, I guess this kinda works for him since he actively doesn't want her, but still.
Have you guys considered that’s she’s just overreacting to the first positive attention she got from a fellow Ventucker? Like, her herd-social-instinct must be going on overdrive from the lack of socialization.
Really, we don’t need Forja to kick our ass, we just need him to monke up and actually talk to her.
>>6236897I mean, we didn't give her positive attention, though. We had a weird awkward walk with her (which she escaped from) and then wrestled, which had nothing to do with her. Even if she liked the walk, I think it was obviously the wrestling that prompted this.
You think it'd be a pretty smart idea to pawn off Una onto Forja again. Your first attempt didn't work so good, but if you could get her interested in him, then she'd get off your back and it'd be the one two punch of helping your friend out with his own little kink. But how?
Wait- that's it! The wrestling! You did manage to beat him in wrestling, and surely word got around, or maybe she took a peak in to watch you two go at it from the girl's gym. Showing your strength like that against a fit and confident Alpha-Male Jaxtian must have made you "big man" material in her eyes, you guess. Damn, you don't think you'll ever understand women...
You try to retrace your steps and find Forja during lunch, pulling him aside to tell him your secret plan.
"Yeah bro, they will totally be into you if you start beating me in wrestling matches! That's traditionally how Vetucker men competed for women."
"Heh, really? I mean, I don't really want to just cheat like that but..."
"Come on, I don't mind."
"Wait, wouldn't that put you down the social hierarchy then? You don't want to get checked out by your own women?"
"Erhm... no... it's just... Uhmm... You remember Una right? The big girl?"
"Ohh. Yeah~" Forja puckers, looking aside as he mentally conjures up her image. This is perfect!
"Yeah well; she's been watching the men recently... And uhh... she's the wrong caste for me. You know, like a blonde, I guess? So you should like... slide in, know what I mean?"
"Hoik, I thought you were a good friend but now I think you might just be my best friend! The ultimate wingman! You crystal hanging 'round my neck!"
"No problem, "bro". Hehe...."
With your mischievous plan in action, you decide to plan on wrestling again the next time you have PT together; it'll be perfect! You know for a fact Jaxtian girls don't really care about big displays of manly strength like that, they like dancing and stuff, so you don't even think it'll hurt your chances with a Jaxtian girl either. It's perfect. But now, you gotta hurry to class.
Standard education in the Hegemony revolves around state-decided general education; basic science and health related topics, heavy physical and mental training, historical studies, critical thinking, and social conditioning. But for specific topics, things that people earn lanyards for, one must put in some extra effort. This is how most people in the Hegemony learn; self-decided interactive simulations, AI guided deep dives, and your own curiosity to explore known Hegemonic literature
For example, one can simply pull up a basic building blueprint in a simulation and attempt to improve it, or the diagnostic reports of a damaged starship and attempt to reverse-engineer what caused the damage. These types of puzzles and challenges are rewarded with academic points as well as digital currency rewards on occasion. While the most lazy students are still forced to choose and explore topics for the sake of education and intellectual growth; the vast majority of it is self directed. This training never stops either, only slowing as people filter more and more into their roles, with new scientific knowledge and remedial lessons slowly replacing these activities as one becomes older and loses neuroplasticity and training becomes less and less economically viable for the Hegemonic system. Of course, all that kind of stuff is a bit over your head, for you? You like to study things that interest you, or that are cool. Like big engineering projects, weapons and military history, and Vetucker culture from your home planet... though you can't help but notice how much more censored and distorted the official Hegemonic lessons are compared to the stuff you learn in your special magazine.
But beyond just satisfying your curiosity or making yourself feel smart, this type of education is the primary method of which to end up in a specialized field. Students who show great promise or log many hours in a specific discipline can get tutors to grant more high level training or even real work assigned to them; and from there you can prove yourself.
Many unambitious Hegemonic citizens; especially a lot of Vetuckers; will remain as a standard issue laborer or soldier or assistant or social worker throughout their entire life. You can still get promotions, get paid, enjoy some luxuries and privileges, have a family, even retire and have a vacation without ever having a specialized field. But that is how you get a lanyard! You already decided this! You need to step up to the hilltop and get good at... well at something!
But what should you study today?
>Continue with your Engineering courses
>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprints
>Learn more about biochemistry
>Produce an essay about Vetucker pre-contact culture
>Ask to go work in the fabricator laboratory for your credit instead
>Other (Write in)
>>6237612>>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprintsMix of our replicator experience + tactical skill gives us a edge at this exact combination.
Plus, I love the idea of playing Green-Vauban
>>6237612>Learn more about biochemistry>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprintsChemical warfare
If we produce an essay about pre-contacted Vetuckers and they ask for a source we’re cooked
>>6237612>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprintsWe managed to get full scores in the tactic stuff, right? And it said that if we did we might get noticed. So obviously, we go for this too.
>>6237637Wait, actually...I just saw the other speedrun.
Hmm, what if instead we were to, I don't know, do something like "Vetucker Infantry Tactics"? Would that give us a better chance of getting picked up by the army?
>>6237638>speedrunHuh? What?
I meant write-in. I don't know why i wrote 'speedrun' there.
>Monke players so competitive they want to speedrun the sidestory thread
>>6237646If we do it fast enough, we might get to see a storyline about a Swall or a Migrator instead.
>>6237612>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprints
>>6237612Oh, so we’re doing the silly thing of lowing our perceived status? Yes, this’ll work out well for getting the vain Jaxian. Totally.
>Learn more about biochemistryChemistry is actually fairly simple
>Ask to go work in the fabricator laboratory for your credit insteadOr this- I like the idea of being productive
>>6237661>Yes, this’ll work out well for getting the vain Jaxian. Totally.Would she give a shit about Vetucker 'physical' status? The only way we're increasing our status in the eyes of someone like her is getting a promotion or lanyard.
>>6237664Probably? Alphas are an evolutionary product of the Jaxian race, and they get mad bitches from their physicality. Jock Hoik would would probably trigger that monke brain instinct in her.
Besides, we’re talking about high school status here- jock are at the peak of the social hierarchy, the nerds will get their day in the Sun after high school.
Off tangent, I’ve come around to think writing an essay about pre-contact Ventuckers would actually be kino.
>>6237678Yeah, but this girl isn't just your standard woman is it? Ophia, the kind of Jaxtian that Hoik wants, is like that girl all the way back from Vul. What she wants is status. She wouldn't care about him losing a fight because she doesn't care about him anyway, he's just a random labourer wagie.
Basically we can't "lose" status in her eyes because we don't have any to begin with.
>>6237680>Yeah, but this girl isn't just your standard woman is it?>self-obsessed, vain, uses men for self-aggrandizementThis is your generic hot cheerleader, about as boilerplate as it gets.
>Basically we can't "lose" status in her eyes because we don't have any to begin with.And how does self-sabotaging our fights accumulate status? It doesn’t. We’re tanking our status as a raising athletic star on the misguided notion that a different girl will switch her infatuation to a monke, which may not even be true.
It’s silly. Raising our status to become a serious candidate isn’t going to happen by publicly losing fights.
>>6237612>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprintsHoik isn't the smartest, but this is what his skillset best leans toward.
>>6237612>>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprints
>>6237612>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprints
when do we get to fuck a monkey
>>6237869The real monke sex was the friends we made along the way.
>>6237869You can do so whenever you want, anon. I believe in you.
>>6237610>You crystal hanging 'round my neck!Monke jackoff crystal...?
>>6237612>Fiddle with Hegemonic bunker and wartime construction blueprints>>6237678It literally said in the update that Jaxtian girls don't care about wrestling. Chill out.
>>6237612>Produce an essay about Vetucker pre-contact culture
Without much direction, you wonder what'd be the best thing for you to work with. You know, really good schematic analysis or user-data can sometimes be rewarded with Consortium Credits, at least in the former HVS star systems. Considering your recent fun in the tactical simulators, you decide to do bunkers and fortifications. You make up some new blueprint designs for shelters; designed for planetary invasions or similar designs that can be exported for the inside of large starships- like Battleships.
Of course, if they're any good and might actually see a trial run is another story.
As you design your holographic blueprint, creating corners and chokepoints that favor the defenders over the attackers, a Swall student nearby seems to be watching your design and pips up, telling you that using more right angles could reduce the damage of concussive shockwave weapons.
”...Thanks.”
What an insufferable know-it-all. But he knew that without even having any knowledge or experience in this field like you do, you've never seen him on the tactical simulator game lobbies. How did he just know that? Maybe that's the reason why Swall and Jaxtians are so much more commonly represented among those with lanyards and high-ranking Hegemonic positions. Why does everyone else have to be smarter then you? Sigh...
After revising your design based on the AI's recommendations, you pack it up for today. You feel like you learned a lot, and walking on the treadmill in class really helped you loosen up a bit. Now it's time for your shift at the Reassembler bay again, something else you're good at! You figure if you're going to get a real job doing anything, it'd probably be that!
The fabricators are quite busy today. There is still a ton of bus around those newly discovered plant species, and everything is booked up. Two full size greenhouse modules, slated experiments to see what useful compounds can be extracted from the plants via disassembly, fifteen hundred different chemicals for fertilizer and interaction tests.
You're still managing to keep up by shoving back other orders or grouping similar jobs together; the 3d printers and fabricator machines like the repetition and can even make two things at once if the material and pattern is similar enough. The fertilizers can be made in dust or liquid forms and don't need these larger patterns... You think you're doing quite well in fact. If everyone else on the base is hoping for a promotion, who knows, you might get one too!
Suddenly, you hear someone enter. You look over and realize it's Ophia. Oh no... that was today?
”Hi Hoik...~”
”Oh uhm, hi, Ophia.”
”Hoik, I really appreciated you helping me last week. It was so nice to get all my fashion projects done! We got a lot done in my class.”
”Oh yeah, uhmm, about that... Ophia... we're like really busy and I don't know if-”
”Ohh?” She looks a bit hurt. ”Oh but Hoik... you promised...”
You grimace, exactly what you didn't want to happen! You want to make her happy, and now she's pouting. Stupid events out of your control are going to ruin your chances with...
”Hmm, maybe you could help me with just one little thing.~”
”Oh? Really?! What is it?!”
You know a single production, even if custom built, could be squeezed in without too much delay. It wouldn't even change your fabricator efficiency metrics that much, maybe just one or two percent, and you've already saved multiple minutes with your adjustments and recycling commands. You could help Ophia and do good at your job at the same time!
”...You were so helpful last week Hoik, but it was just the one thing I couldn't get. The Gnarra-fur style shawl. You think you can make one for me?”
”Ophia... the computer didn't let me make it. I can't even override it.”
”Can't you do it manually? Control the sprayers and all that? Please Hoik, I can't do that myself, I'm not good at this like you are.”
”I really don't think...”
You feel her small, delicate hands wrap around your own big one. Look at how gentle and soft she is. She looks up at you those eyes. She's touching you!
”Hoik... please? I'll make it up to you, I promise. Pleeeeeease~”
>Go ahead and make it for her
>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any further
>>6238437Man, now I gotta choose between the funny scene where he simps even harder and she leaves him without anything and actually standing up for himself and seeing the reality of what she's like.
>>6238437>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any further
>>6238437>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any furtherMaybe she'll respect Hoik showing some spine? Or, better yet, up the ante.
>>6238437>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any further
>>6238437>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any furtherNow, we uncover the truth behind the monkey's behind.
>>6238437>Go ahead and make it for herQuite honestly, the additional pressure is helping him improve his fabricator techniques. I think the AI already realizes this.
>>6238513My bigger concern is that Gnarra fur (making or wearing it) is considered highly antisocial behavior.
>>6238437>>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any furtherwomen are gay. get back to wrestling with the MEN
>>6238437>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any furtherFUCK this thot
>>6238437>one little thing>not little at all.>Say you can't and hope she doesn't press any further
You just gotta follow the protocol. Just follow the rules, and tell her the rules, it's that simple. You aren't saying no to her, rules are rules and...
She just looks so sad! You want to make her happy and smile! And besides, maybe she'd reward you with her scrumptious body if you- gaah! Stop thinking about that stuff! It's not going to help denying helping Ophia.
"Aww... Hoik... Are you sure? Really? You won't even try, just for little ol' me?"
".... No. Sorry..." You manage to just barely squeak out. You're too busy with the current stuff especially for a custom order, and besides, even if you did fulfill her request, it's just not worth the risk...
"Well, I wish I could offer more to give you."
"Ophia- it's not you- I swear I'd uhh, do it for anyone I just, uhh..."
As you stammer on, Ophia leans in, that devilish tail pressing up against your chest, almost like it was trying to entice you in.
"...Would you do it for a kiss?"
>Ok
>Still no even though you really want to
ITT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHvn1VH7q0E
>>6238694>OkJezebel too stronk
>inb4 it's a kiss on the cheek
>>6238694>>Still no even though you really want toCome on cowbro.
>>6238694>OkHoik needs to show he's actually interested, so... giving into this will definitely show his interest.
>>6238694>Still no even though you really want toRESIST my son
>>6238694>>Still no even though you really want toRESIST
>>6238694>Still no even though you really want to
>>6238694>Still no even though you really want to.Nah. This is for seriously illegal. The ensuing search by enforcers could reveal our magazine.
We will fuck a different monke.
It's hard to say no to her. And a kiss...! It's like she knows exactly how to put your buttons.
”I... uhmm... maybe... I could... erhm...”
You feel your resistance starting to crack as she leans closer, almost as if forcing it onto you before you can say yes; and if she did you'd really have no choice. Fair is fair after all! But just then, out of nowhere, Ophia's tail perks up and she darts away from you as the near-silent footfalls of the base's Administrator enters the fabricator bay.
“Hoik! Come here! How many more carbon-heavy orders we got? Nitrogen? We're almost depleted! The science team went wayyy overboard. Sorry little lady, he can't help you now. Hoik! Work your magic on this stuff! I need triage on these over-zealous little undergrads, pronto!”
Ophia slinks away, defeated. You meanwhile, are relieved. Phew! Saved by the boss coming in at just the right time.
“Oh and, by the way Hoik, I need you to remind your father in person to come in for his health-related generalized IQ test tomorrow. He keeps ignoring the AI network pings.”
”Oh, really? He has a test? I mean, he's really busy with the farm...”
“There's no closer facility for him. He needs to do the shapes too. At his age, it's important for any loss of mental ability to be cataloged. If it shows declining from old-age Vetucker dementia, we can recommend and schedule his future euthanasia a few years down the line. It's best to get these things squared away early.”
”Oh yeah... of course. I'll remind him.”
That night, you come home and play games with Forja, eat dinner with your family, remind your dad about his appointment, and all feels right in the world again. At least you didn't get in trouble at work from your temptress. You slip into bed. Normally, you'd relax by reading some of your secret magazine, but given you had to hide it outside the house again just in case, you don't have it. So instead you lay there and your thoughts end up drifting to things.
”Forja... Una... Dad... the future... job... the future... Ophia... future... Gah!”
You can't stop feeling it. That never-ending encroaching doom. The future. Things are changing, and you don't like it. Surely this feeling goes away once you become a full fledged adult, right?
In the end, you figure out a good way to push those thoughts away. After all, what is a young teenage boy supposed to think about when all alone in his room late at night?
The next day, you reconnect with Forja again. You talked about it a bit last night over the games, but you used coded language. Didn't want any Hegemonic content AI thinking you were starting trouble. Your conspiracy has reached the peak of its intricacy.''
”We could do a fake “real” fight in the hallway, if you wanted. Then everyone would see it.” Forja suggests.
”I don't want to get in trouble for fighting like that...”
”Happens between Alpha-males a lot honestly, they don't mind it too much, militarist males are like that sometimes. But if you don't want to “lose” a real fight, that's fine. Just spitballing...”
”We could just do wrestling in the gym again, and I'll tap out to you, but it won't be as serious. Maybe I could fake an injury?”
”Hey! I like that, but I would hate for you to be thought of as too weak and fragile, or me too aggressive for a Vetucker girl.”
What's a good way to plan you fall to Forja?
>Let him beat you in wrestling practice at the gym this time
>Fake getting injured and play it up
>Have a "fight" in the hallway so everyone sees
>Pretend to want to lose to him but flip it and win last second to increase your status again
>>6239797>Hoik! Work your magic on this stuff!Omg, we actually have enough skill to be noticed by the admin! I think we should double down on the fabricator job until our military career pick up- we may even get a promotion before we ship out!
>Pretend to want to lose to him but flip it and win last second to increase your status againI always thought this plan was silly, though very teenager. Would accept a public fight though, we can make it look like a narrow loss like Rocky before he actually wins shit.
>>6239797>Have a "fight" in the hallway so everyone seesHoik is NOT a no good dirty traitor. Having an Jaxtian wingman is our best shot at actually scoring a girl.
>>6239834>Omg, we actually have enough skill to be noticed by the admin! I think we should double down on the fabricator job until our military career pick up- we may even get a promotion before we ship out!Agreed.
>I always thought this plan was silly, though very teenager. Would accept a public fight though, we can make it look like a narrow loss like Rocky before he actually wins shit.I don't like backstabbing our bro like that, though.
>>6239797>Have a "fight" in the hallway so everyone seesThis will attract more eyes. Maybe we can recruit some more wrestlers, too, and more female attention.
>>6239851>I don't like backstabbing our bro like that, thoughI understand. Still silly though, considering status is important. Hopefully we can Rocky our way outta this.
>Maybe we can recruit some more wrestlers, too, and more female attentionA legit fight club? Hell yea!
>>6239797>>Have a "fight" in the hallway so everyone sees
>>6239797>>Let him beat you in wrestling practice at the gym this time
"Oh yeah, you think you're tough?!"
You give Forja a push. With your plan finally ready, he plays along.
"With one hand, buddy! Err, I mean, I could take ya' with one tail tied behind my back!"
He's not very good at acting it seems. You poke his chest either way, and he starts to grapple with you. You wrap your arms around Forja, fake straining turned to real in the spirited play-fighting. He doesn't punch or kick, since he's not really trying to hurt you, and you don't really stomp with your hooves or try to jam him with your horns either. It's all in good fun after all. You've certainly attracted attention to yourself; several students yell and gather, some watching, others concerned. There is a moment during the scuffle where your legs are strongly spread apart in a wider stance against Forja's weaker, more loose angle. You could easily twist and pin him to the ground with a powerful body slam reversal, even his Jaxtian agility couldn't get out of that so easily... but no, you won't betray him. After all, you're trying to lose this fight.
"Graaah!"
Forja twists you and slams your head and upper body into the nearby storage locker. Your horn pivots on your skull uncomfortably, and you hear a crack, but don't really feel any pain. Forja keeps you in a headlock for a few seconds, demonstrating to all nearby he's in the dominant position.
"Alright! That's enough! Knock it off you two!"
The base Administrator came immediately as the fight started, and breaks you up. Forja looks a little embarrassed as he points up at your horn. You reach up tenderly and feel a crack. Oh shit! You cracked your horns. Vetucker horns never grow back, but rarely are totally ripped out or destroyed; they just slowly wear down or get cracked with age and injury. Little annoying your fake fight caused you a permanent scar on your horn, you'd prefer to get it in a real battle if anything, but oh well.
Just then, you hear a gasp of concern and Una comes running over to you. She reaches up towards your horn and touches it gingerly, then motions for you to sit down. The base administrator is laying into Forja, who he assumed was the aggressive party. Guess he didn't read the two of your's planned out character arcs in the script. Una comes back with some horn polish from her locker, slathering it on gingerly with great care, being your personal nurse. The entire time, her face is twisted with a look of empathy and concern.
"Hey! Hold on, didn't you see what just happened?"
She doesn't respond, instead just tending to your wound.
"...I can't believe Forja beat me. Darn. Guess he's the Alpha male for a reason, huh. Gonna blow some grass at him now?"
Once again, she doesn't respond, just turns her head in embarrassment at bringing up that incident.
"...You didn't see us wrestling the other day, did you? Where I beat him?"
Una huffs, and finally responds.
"No... that's the boys gym room. We're not supposed to look in there, obviously. Could you hold still?"
This just confuses you even more. So she never saw you beat Forja? Never saw your personal dominant performance? And she didn't care you just got beat yourself? So why is she being nice to you? Does she just like you, without any pretense or because of some complex sexual politics or because of what you can give to her, but just like you just because? A girl who just likes you for you?
...That's not what you wanted at all!
Nearby, the crowd dissipates from the uneventful scuffle. One Swall sticks around a bit longer, clutching his head. Maybe all the excitement was a bit much for him?
"What? Want an autograph or something from the loser?" You say, annoyed, even as Una is fussing over you.
"Oh- Oh, sorry Hoik. I'm just... really tired all the sudden. Hope lunch is soon..."
Eventually, you're all settled and it's time to go. You endure a short lecture from the Administrator, which thankfully isn't much more then asking you to hold back your horseplay with Forja until you get into the gym and warning you not to start any altercations like that again no matter how overactive teenage hormones you got, and he sends you on your way. After your physical training; with the coach making sure to keep your separated from your Jaxtian friend for today after the events; you do finally manage to get to lunch. You sit around your multiple Vetucker friends, who seem not very talkative to you at the moment. You assume it's because you "lose" the fight, but the vibe is off.
"...Sure is quiet in here."
"You know Hoik, we've been talking." One says, shaking a green leaf at you. "You're going to get in trouble staying so close to Jaxtians all the time."
"Whaaa? Where is coming from?"
"They're, you know, our superiors and stuff. You shouldn't forget your own kind. Ever since you started being friends with that Alpha and got the new job being the Administrator's favorite you've barely spent any time among your own kind..."
"Own kind? You're sounding like a Swall at this point. They're my kind too. We're all Hegemonians, right?"
He doesn't respond, and gives you a look.
"...You still believe that crap? After the magazine we shared with you? When you going to give that back, by the way?" He says. You wince, glancing around to make sure nobody is listening. The lunch room is thankfully very quiet at the minute.
"...Sorry, I had to hide it. I'll bring it back, soonish."
"Just keep in mind what we said;" he adds, "Don't think they won't throw you to the Gnarras to get ahead. Jaxtians, Swall, they're all like that."
>Tell your Vetucker friends it isn't like that at all
>Wonder if they're right
>Try to play both sides
>Other (Write-In)
>>6240665>>Tell your Vetucker friends it isn't like that at allYou guys have small herd mentality and it shows.
>>6240665>Wonder if they're right
>>6240665>Try to play both sidesBe open-minded, just don’t open too much.
>>6240665>Try to play both sides>Take the Gigichad jock approach and try to bond/distract them by focusing on girlsSomeone’ll have to be the tip of the axe, so why not me? Don’t worry, I wouldn’t forget my herd-brothers. Now eat some grass and talk dem herd hoes yo!
>>6240665>Try to play both sidesAh shit, that flower's totally doing something, isn't it?
>>6240665>Try to play both sides>>6240703I mean, this is a former Haazar world, and they did leave behind genegineering booby-traps. Or it's the Aristocrats, who are also good at laying sneeky Genegenering traps.
>>6240665>Tell your Vetucker friends it isn't like that at all
>>6240665>Try to play both sidesOf course they're like that. Hoik is just into it.
>>6240798>>6240703Aristocrats are just pretentious upper-class Haazar with (allegedly) functional mirror neurons after all.
Off topic ego post: I love how much "lore" has been built up over this Quest's lifespan. Not to ruin the illusion but I certainly did not have all that kind of stuff planned out in advance lol.
>>6241006Good. Happy QM means more Qsting.
>>6241006It's turned out really impressive in its depth and breadth. You should be proud.
"Maybe, but it benefits me to appease them. The Jaxtians, I mean. Best career opportunities. But I think you're being a bit too racially motivated. Not all of them are totally supremacist, you know." You say, doing your best attempt at playing both sides. The other Vetuckers seem to accept that answer, with one shrugging.
"It's a short day today, most people are leaving the building after next period. Except you Hoik, you got a huge shift at the fabricator. We've all been hearing about it; you can't get anything out of there for the past week it feels like."
"Yeah... important stuff with all the research. Speaking of which... doesn't anyone else find it weird no Swall have come to get lunch?"
You glance over to the Swall food counter, filled with individually sized aquatic and fish bowls. You haven't seen a single one approach it in the past twenty minutes, not even to pick up food.
"Yeah, they usually eat alone. Remember?"
"...Right."
Something still feels off, even if you don't know why. When lunch ends, you just have a strange hunch you can't explain. You decide to head to the science lab, maybe to see what orders you'll need to haul over there before your next period, and end up finding it empty. All around are massive piles of the flowers; some dissected and many planted, bloomed, the whole room having a deadly silent air to it. Then, between the lab tables, you see Alfred laying on the floor.
"Hey! Hey, you alright?"
"Hmm...? Oh... Yeah.. just... sleepy from so much... research... intern life... haha..."
You stand up, breathing in, and finding it oddly unsatisfying to do so. Turning your head, you realize your face is just by one of the mysterious flowers.
The flowers....
You noticed something off with them today, but you couldn't figure out what it was. Now you realize it. They've bloomed. The entire school has been collecting hundreds upon hundreds of samples, so much so they've been store in the hallways, classrooms, and even the fabricator bay, and yet not a single one was in bloom. Now they all are; just a sea of opened up buds of the meat-tasting flowers. This can't be a coincidence. Something is wrong here, even though you don't know what it is.
You pick up Alfred and figure you should take him to a safer location away from the flowers. But in the meantime, you're expected in the fabricator bay right away to appease the Administrator's demands. You guess that'll have to wait if this is a real emergency. What should you do?
>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarm
>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipment
>Evacuate immediately and screw everybody else
>>6241829>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipmentYou know what? I was gonna say to sound the alarm but fuck it. Let's try it. Honor or the void.
>>6241829>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipment.He who dares, wins.
>>6241829>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarm
>>6241829>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarmAlerting others IS honorable.
>>6241829>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarmNow is not time honor, if the flowers really are poisonous we will die before we figure out what’s with them.
>>6241829>>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipment.
>>6241829>>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipment
>>6241829We're not a science guy. Come on.
>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarm
>>6241968Said science guys are knocked out cold and we're not a retard.
>>6241829>>Look closer at the flowers using the science lab's equipmentCowbros we are immune due to eating the glorious thing, we have absorbed its antibodies and can thus afford to be BALLSY. trust.
>>6241829>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarm>>6241978We ate the flower bud not the whole bloomed flower
>>6241970Ye we are not a science guy so how are we gonna figure out what’s wrong.
>>6241829>Find the Administrator right away and sound the alarmWe don't know the science lab well enough. Just raise the alarm so someone who knows can find the 'what'.
>>6242202Fine, but when the administrator gets a lanyard for stopping the crisis and we're still a nobody, don't start wondering why we can't land a woman.
>>6242203We can land a woman, just not a monkey. YET
As curious as you are to find out what's going on, you decide against it. Sure, the Swall may just be asleep, but it could be more serious, and you could be next especially in this room with all the blooming flowers. Why did they bring so many into the science lab!? They're growing out of their pots all over the counters and floors totally out of control. You think back to the hundreds of planting pots and test tubes you've helped fabricate in the past few days; and to think there is even more. You take the Swall in your arms and move out into the hallway, seeing it mostly empty. Looks like most people went home already. You end up bumping into Forja.
"Hey, where's the admin? Something's wrong."
"Oh uhmm, I saw him arguing with the door. I actually came to ask YOU something."
"What? Sorry- what did you want to ask me?"
"Your horn's okay, right? I didn't bang it up too bad? I wanted to make sure it was okay before I left the school..."
"Pfft, yeah it's fine, nothing wrong, I just hope you didn't get in too much trouble for it. But we have bigger problems now."
"What's up with him?"
"I don't know; he's fallen asleep. It might be something in the air."
"Swall have pretty weak lungs I think, so they'd be the first to go..."
You head towards the front entrance to the school facility you've walked so many times, only to see the door shut. The floor is littered with twisting flower stalks and leaves, it looks like the Administrator kicked a few of the jars over.
"Open up you fucking stupid thing!" He yells. The electronic display shows a Jaxtian waving a finger at him.
"No can do! This facility is quarantined. The yet unknown biological contamination in the air could be dangerous to the population. You do have not have the authority to override this automatic quarantine."
"I am the base Administrator! Everyone in the facility is in great danger!"
"And by releasing the quarantine, it could be putting the hundreds in the same atmospheric region at risk, or the millions who are colonizing the planet. You are not trusted with that kind of authority. Please stand by for a superior officer to override the quarantine."
"Check with the main network."
"Main network connection offline. This is an isolated unit, as per testing protocol."
"Oxygen levels are dropping all over the base dammit! Open!"
"You are becoming hysterical. I am temporarily suspending your command authority over other base functions due to your emotional outburst." The AI warns. "I will not allow you to fabricate anything that could be used as a weapon or method to violate the quarantine. Any attempts to circumvent this will result in demerit."
"...Hoik, could you please see who is in the base? Forja, give me a hand with this door, would you?"
You nod, dropping off the Swall on the floor. Might as well make a headcount if you're stuck anyway.
>Quest continues later
>>6242516This is our moment! Life and death scenarios make people stupid and, sometimes, horny!
You check the adjacent rooms, going door to door to see if any students, workers, or lower administrators were here. The science room was still empty after you grabbed Alfred out. You return to the front door, seeing an exhausting Forja leaning against it. It seemed he couldn't pry it open with his bare hands. Maybe you could have helped but... if he doesn't have the grip strength for that, you certainly didn't.
"...Is Forja okay?"
"It's effecting him now. Alpha males need a lot of oxygen for their large brains and body mass. Anyone else inside the building?"
"Nearby rooms and cafeteria checked, sir."
"How about the fabricator bay?"
"Alright, I'll go there now."
You head over to your workplace. You don't expect anyone else to be there, just the machines silently working, when all of the sudden you notice something creeping around. You're scared for a second, thinking maybe some ambient predator has been spawned from the mass of flower sprouts growing across the floor, but no, it's a familiar face. Ophia is in here!
"Ophia! What are you doing here?! I thought you left with everyone else when the day ended!"
"Oh... uhm..."
She doesn't say it, but it hits you in a second. She was trying to catch you here after the Administrator gave you some space; probably to try and get you to make her that Gnarra coat again. You scowl. You were kind of hoping she'd learn her lesson and back off the last times you said no and the Administrator himself came in. Didn't she notice how busy you were? Normally you'd be all nervous, but this is a more serious situation. The only reason she's even stuck in the quarantine is her own damn fault!
>Give her a piece of your mind
>Tell her to join with the others
>Hit on her while you got a moment
>>6242851>Tell her to join with the othersWe don't have the necessary oxygen to bang or scold her right now. We should be trying to check the flower to see what's wrong.
>>6242851>Give her a piece of your mind
>>6242851>>Tell her to join with the others
>>6242851>Give her a piece of your mind
>>6242851>Give her a piece of your mindBEGONE
>>6242851>>Tell her to join with the othersglorious indifference will hit her harder than anything else.
>We don't have the necessary oxygen to bang or scold her right now.This too.
>>6242851>Hit on her while you got a momentLmao
>>6242851>Tell her to join with the othersTelling her to get with the metaphorical herd is going to put Ophia with a larger group thats going to have to acknowledge Hoik saved her and she is probably going to be starstruck when realizing were not an ordinary Vetucker, we handled this airborne tranquilizer, we have a slight noticeable defect in our horn and weve helped her in the past its literally a chemical formula for getting in her mind and focusing on the task at hand
>>6242851Changing my vote to
>>6243018
While seeing her here again has irked you in a certain way, while in the fabricator lab you look for something useful. Ophia suggests air tanks, which you find a very smart suggestion, but find they've been blocked off by the base AI with a total lockout.
”Damn... looks like the AI won't let us make anything under pressure so we can't violate quarantine. No laser cutting tools either. If the flowers are doing it, then a strong defoliant could kill them, but it certainly can't be used in a closed space like this without killing us too.”
”Ugh... Hoik... I'm having a hard time breathing. Is it hot in here?” Her chest heaves as she opens up the front of her uniform.
”Erhm... let's go back w-with the others... Okay, O-Ophia?”
Soon enough, you're back in the hallway again. Not only the Swall and Alpha-Male Jaxtian, but now the regular Jaxtians are being effected by the air. Una has kindly been watching over them, placing them out in the hall, and making sure none of the weird twisting vines curl around them while they sleep. Is that what this is? A carnivorous plant that makes animals go to sleep before consuming their still bodies? That thought makes your skin crawl.
While you thought the Vetuckers may have been safe, Una starts showing signs of being effected by the flowers next, rubbing her temple. Ophia has already lain down and gone to sleep. Damn, you were hoping your Vetuckers were immune while you came up with a plan. Is there anyone else in the building?
All of the sudden, your Dad pops his head out of a nearby classroom.
”Dad!? What the- what are you doing here?!”
“Where is everybody?” He asked, looking around. “I was taking the computer test, then the Administrator stepped out, and a few minutes later the computer stopped sending me shapes to do. Is the test over?”
”Dad... you should have left in the last period. There's been a lockdown. How long have you been sitting there?!”
He shrugged. He probably took a nap. But suddenly, you remembered something.
”Wait! That's it! The Suspension pods!”
“Pods?”
”Yeah! This school is meant to replicate space ships in deep space, right? So it has a suspension pod bay downstairs in the storage area. I've delivered parts there sometimes. We should have been evacuated there at the first sign of trouble; that stupid Administrator...”
“Is there something wrong with the air? Or is it the flowers?”
”Even if they're the problem, the pods will keep us safe. They slow down metabolism by 99%, even if we're poisoned already or irradiated or whatever, that will give plenty of time for rescue teams to come and work out a cure. We need to get everyone downstairs into a pod. Thank goodness you're here, Dad... Dad?”
Your Dad starts showing signs of fatigue. He's leaning against the wall.
”No! Dad, stay awake! I need you!”
“Sorry... Son... I'm just... so tired...”
”Stay awake! We need to work together, just like on the farm. Two guys all strong and buff, father and son, come on!”
“You know Hoik, I just wanted to let you know... after you fought with your brother.. I gave him a stern talking to. He really shouldn't have started bothering you. Your mother was really worried about you given how much military stuff you've been into... maybe she thinks you're becoming a psychopath axe murderer or something... haha... but Gra started it. How does that old Vetucker saying go? The calf will keep nipping for milk until you kick him? Unless he's trying to milk a bull, then you shouldn't kick and let him do it? Haha, that's not a saying, more of an off-color joke. Don't tell your Mom I said that... she thinks stuff like that is Anti-Social... Haha...”
While you and your father seem strangely resistant to whatever is going on with the flowers, he's gone under. You thought letting him talk and ramble might keep him up, but it seemed to tucker him out. You're young, and healthy, and are now all alone. All alone in this situation. You glance at the wall, and unconscious bodies of your fellow students and now family members, and see the oxygen meter slowly dropping. It's only a matter of time before you're next.
You run through the situation in your head. You can reach the basement. You're strong. If you try your best, you can carry one, maybe two others with you downstairs. Maybe you can wake them up enough to help carry themselves, but you only have one trip. You don't think you'll make it back up without going under, just like your Dad. So you can save yourself; and maybe some others. You begin to calculate what to do; going over and over it in your mind.
The Hegemony is not a democracy and people are not equal. You're fully expected to save those of more value over yourself. If the Supreme Ruler was here and there was only one life pod, not putting his life above your own would not be Anti-Social, it'd be treason. The base Administrator is the highest ranking person here; but you can't help but blame him for this. What a fool to bring in so many of the unidentified alien flowers, and not follow evacuation and safety protocols for this kind of situation. He'd rather argue with a door and throw his weight around. Still, you can't imagine leaving your superior behind would leave your reputation and career in the best of shape...
But what about Ribbionfin? The Swall is the younger of all of you, and a scientific protege. His life is probably the most valuable of all of yours, he has the greatest potential to do the most things. It would be most cruel if a talent like that was left to die.
But what about Forja? Your friend? Or Una, who is so kind, and who just likes you? And your own Dad, your own flesh and blood? And Ophia... she's a Jaxtian girl.
You're starting to feel it now. The sensation of tiredness and fatigue creeping in. You have to go now. Two you can carry, and that is all. You can slip into a pod in the last second, but that's it. Your brain is fried completely from weighing the possibilities. Maybe you could fabricate a sled to pull them down, but no, that would take too long and put you in the path of yet more flowers. Maybe downstairs is safer, but do you have the time to test it before you succumb too?
No, you're out of time. It's too late. If it was your fault or not doesn't matter any more. You now know that you only have one choice left. You don't know what will happen to those up here, but you can't imagine it will be good. With oxygen levels dropping, it won't be long before they suffocate to death. You can only save three lives today; your own, and two more. That is all.
No matter what you want, or what you can think of, you can only save two. It's time to make the hardest choice of your life. Pick only two.
>The Administrator
>Ribbonfin
>Forja
>Una
>Your Dad
>Ophia
>Other (Write In)
>>6243537Hmm, see, told you guys we should have started checking the flowers. Maybe we'd have figured something out.
Anyway...I'm not sure about who to choose, so let me try to at least propose some arguments
>AdministratorHe fucked up. We probably won't get busted if we don't prioritize him given it was his fault and he's not that important.
>RibbonfinGenius. The Hegemony would probably value him more than anyone else due to being of high potential.
>ForjaOur best bro. Leaving him to die feels wrong.
>UnaShe's a really nice girl. She doesn't deserve to die, obviously.
>Your DadI know this is gonna sound heartless, but...if the dad had to choose, he wouldn't want Hoik to destroy his future for his sake.
>OphiaMonkey hoe. Let's be honest here, she's the kind of person that wouldn't bang Hoik even if he saved her life. She does not care for him.
Still, pretty shitty situation huh?
>>6243548I should probably add, it is of my opinion that if you want to save Hoik's future, we should probably choose Ribbonfin. The AI will probably consider choosing him over the administrator a superior choice. A genius is a lot less replaceable than an bureaucrat.
>>6243537I’m unamused that this entire quest thread hinges on a popularity contest.
>Ribbonfin>Forja>UnaJust kill ourselves and be finished with this, I’m tired of making BS sacrifices in the name of narrative shock.
While we’re at it, synthesize a weed killer and fill the sprinkler system with it- if we’re dying to this overgrown weed, I want to take this dumb plant with us.
>>6243610Anon, if we could grab three people, we wouldn't need to sacrifice ourselves. The issue isn't that there aren't enough Pods, it's that we aren't strong enough to make the trip.
>>6243537>Ribbonfin>Forja
>>6243612Then focus on the weed killer idea…. wait.
Could we fabricate a fishbowl suit with water and put Ribbonfin in there? Like, the spores wouldn’t translate to water right? Then he can synthesize something to save us all?
Could it be that simple?
>>6243613Honestly, I'm half stuck between Ribbonfin and Forja, and Ribbonfin and Dad.
Ribbonfin is kind of a must unless we want to get fucked by the Heg for letting a genius with science overseer potential die.
>>6243614We can't fabricate nuthin.
>>6243616I’d prefer Una over Forja, and if i didn’t think this was just another gotcha bad end moment I’d even take Ophia to just complete the fucking main goal of the quest.
>>6243617Then just kill ourselves with the weedkiller- I’d rather we die than continue this bad April fool’s joke for another update.
I think if we're going to save someone we like, it makes way more sense to save our cool dad than it does to save our buddy we've known for, like, a couple weeks to a couple months. Nothing against Forja, but you can make more friends; you can't make more dads.
There's a write-in option, though, so this is one of Banana's gay secret spot the clue updates and I won't actually vote until somebody spots the clue.
>>6243651While I agree with ya that it’s one of the clue things, I’m one of the 1% that actually bothers to try to puzzle it out, and I’m just unmotivated.
Like, it can’t just be that we could turn parts of our brain off and just Ventucker it like our ancestors did in the world-fires, right?
So it’s either one of the combat sims or our unique ability to creatively devise unusual fabrication techniques. Or maybe the secret lies in just mass fabricating pure oxygen (no tanks) from plant material? Maybe just liquid oxygen, have it evaporate in the air?
Fuck if I know.
>>6243537>Forja>RibbonfinWhen it comes down to it, bros before hoes. Forja is a G, never done us wrong. Ribbonfin is a smart one, and probably the guy most capable of making sure this never happens again.
Plus, this would look great from a morale standpoint - A vetucker saving a jaxtian and a swall, big win for multi-species unity.
>>6243537>>6243537>>RibbonfinI just feel it would be in character for a mind fucked since birth subservient species to ultimately choose whats best for the hegemony
>Ophiasorry bro, my cock and balls come first. Shrimple as that
honestly they are the lightest characters. Una is ok but she is a fat cow
>>6243726Cute Bananas, but people aren’t going to be smart enough to spot the clue, and people are going to prioritize a friend we only knew for a couple weeks and a literal who over people like are father or innocent women, even if they are vain. That’s just not interesting, especially considering Hoik is going to ruin his career by not saving the administrator (however idiotic).
I’d rather just shut off portions of our brain to either save them all or try to kill the weed.
>>6243744>he thinks ophia will bang hoik because he saved her
>>6243537>Man up and carry everyoneHoik is *him*
>>6243537>>6243610I'll support this if we can tap into our ability to turn parts of our brain off.
If we can only save two, probably Ribbonfin and Forja.
>>6243807Oh shit, you're right. We do have an ability to "turn off" and consume less oxygen right? Would that work to let us get more people?
>>6243537>Construct a raft for everyone but ribbonfin and flood the facility. Let Ribbonfin save us.
>>6244005How does this work? It could be cool, but how does it work though? Also would ribbonfin be strong enough to save everyone?
>>6243712>>6243537I change my vote to
>Write in - Turn off le brain to consume less oxygen and carry everyone.I do hope you're right anon
>>6243807
>>6243807>While the genetic markers for this mutation only exist now in the Vetuckers closest to the homeworld in their evolutionWe're a Painted-Face Vetucker; Una is a Longhorn Vetucker. Maybe because we're both variants, we count as closest to the homeworld (vs the homogenized base Vetucker)? If we don't have the mutation expressed, can we try to fabricate a, uhhh, gene booster thingy? DNA splicer? If it's something we can apply to others, try to apply it to our dad and Una, too.
If this fails because we spotted the WRONG obscure clue, then I guess
>Your DadYou people all had bad relationships with your dad, I guess.
>RibbonfinWhatever
I just thought you'd like it a little more.
>>6244234You added a write-in option, and always do this "Remember this random throwaway fact from 60 updates ago" thing. Is it not right?
>>6244234I used to Bananas, but I’ve been burnt many times before trying to solve these puzzles unsuccessfully, and I’m just tired of failing for obscure reasons.
Ain’t you, I’m just exhausted.
>>6243537>Forja>UnaDad's getting old and might be euthanized soon anyway, sadly. I really want to pick Ophia, but Una has been too pleasant and loyal to let her die for monkussy.
>>6243537>>6244130If this is an option, though I will go for that instead of
>>6244266
>>6244130If that is an option, I'll swap to supporting this instead of
>>6243613
>>6244355Look, man, I'm willing to stick to my previous choice of Forja/Ribbonfin if it is just 'hey pick two to survive'.
Guess the write in was just asking us if we wanted to pick someone else to save.
>>6244234"Spot the clue" things are fun when spotting the clue gets you a reward. They're not fun when not spotting the clue gets you a punishment. This feels like a punishment situation.
>>6244355Okay, never mind then.
The multiboxing just kinda kills it for me at all.
Ok, so the plant is fleshy and breaths in oxygen to produce CO2. Pet theory is this is a leftover from the terraforming process, in which to create a self-sustaining ecosystem of wholly plant life, even the fleshy kind.
I imagine it may be sensitive to temperature changes, but that’s ultimately up to the AI. Question is, would telling the AI matter here? Or are we supposed to synthesize an air scrubber or twenty?
Or are we barking up the wrong tree? Is the Other option not really a clue thing, but the option to save an unlisted character?
Ok, I believe I understand the situation- I believe the correct solution is to mass fabricate air scrubbers to get the air breathable enough to salvage the situation. Considering we can sometimes produce double the output on similar products, it may just be enough to at least get another trip or two going.
>>6243537>Ribbonfin>Forja
>>6244393So then don't fucking include a clue and then go
>hurr durr why are you choosing da clue???
>>6243537>Move everyone using the Jubilant Slide.
>>6244393Look, I don't know why the other anon copied and pasted my phrasing exactly, but I only have one IP and I don't cheat on votes.
>>6244603I'll be completely honest I just woke up when I saw some discussion happen, saw a funny write in, and I made a quick mobilepost.
I'm genuinely sorry for any confusion for...me using some phrasing that another anon did.
You're a perfidious little slime and I don't like you.
>>6244655>point out the exact same as this last thread for the Supreme vote>everybody calls me a schizo and I get ignoredNot such a schizo now huh?
>>6244657Also I didn't want to accuse innocent users but I'm just feeling a little demoralized at the minute
>>6244655I don't think this is as compelling as you think it is, Bananas... But I don't want to turn this thread into a shitshow, so I'll address this on Discord.
>>6244660I get it, nobody wants to accuse an innocent voter. With that said...I fucking KNEW it that my fishgga Streakeye was stolen.
It was HIS turn.
>>6244130If this is an option, let's go for it.
>>6244668Don't sweat it, QM. You're doing fine.
>>6244657>>6244664Streakeyes would have been interesting, too, yeah.
>>6244672He was the rightful victor of the vote. One day the samefag will falter and a swall will take his rightful place as a Supreme.
>>6244655Don’t feed the monkeys Bananas! They have the high ground!
>>6244660I understand- take your time to process your feelings. Just like a cowboy getting his horns stroked by a cowgirl while reading an indecent magazine he reads just for the articles, we’ll be here for you whenever you’re finished.
Oh, is *that* why you’re favorite color is blue? Ah, Eoba’s knife, that’s rough! Going to need to lather on some more lavender-grass lotion I see~
>>6244695>>6244665Turns out there was a samefag after all
>he deleted it
lol not so fast
>>6244709Stop trolling Bananas, xKYc13qy
Well, time to put some cold water on the Brain idea.
Now, it could be true that this was indeed the clue, and I was just spinning my wheels trying to find something that was right in front of me.
I also consider it very likely that this could just be narrative justification for Hoik being the last mammal standing, and that the clue could be something else entirely (assuming there is indeed a clue and not just an option to put into status the flesh plant or a different unnamed survivor).
As much as I’d love Hoik to be the colony’s hero, I do feel that it’s highly likely that this is simply a popularity contest of survival, with no hidden puzzle to solve. I just don’t know, and wasting time and effort on potentially a non-existent puzzle was something that demoralized me. The Brain idea was just a shot in the dark, and while the hypothesis of the plant consuming oxygen to produce CO2 as a genderbent mirror of photosynthesis is definitely credible given the previous information given, I don’t know what Hoik is supposed to do with said information beyond potential mass fabricating a counter response to produce oxygen from carbon dioxide.
If you can only pick two... then you'd pick Ribbionfin and Forja. Ribbionfin might do the most good for the Hegemony and has the greatest potential, and Forja is young and your friend, with a long life ahead of him. Your dad is precious to you, but how much longer does he really have left? Ophia and Una you'd hate to see die too, but you won't cry over the Administrator. You just hate the fact you're being made to choose at all.
As you feel your brain burning out its oxygen from all your thoughts, you wonder if, somewhere hidden within, there's another answer. Maybe it's the thinking that's been the problem. Maybe you should be thinking a little less.
You remember the magazine. The incredible adaptation of the Vetuckers; perhaps the secret is not to calculate some kind of convoluted scheme but to simply "do" it. You clutch your head in your hands and concentrate on not thinking.
Don't think.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think.
Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Don't think!
>Quest continues tomorrow
>>6244930>Quest continues tomorrow
>>6244930>Write-in (Quest continues today)
>>6244968Changing vote to this
Something changes. You aren't sure what, but somethings changes. You feel like a great weight between your shoulders has lifted. When you open your eyes, you no longer see the world the same way. The great many electronic systems just behind the walls and the atoms comprising the objects and the complex intersocial dynamics making your the relationships between you and your classmates have all seemed to melt away. Everything seems much simpler now; emotional reactions come before all other things. Your memory, even, becomes a flashing of images and sensations over a series of events and figures.
Bad Tasting Flower is bad because... it's bad. Herd is in danger!
Some sore and unused muscle pulls in your nose, throat, and chest. You inhale, and then keep inhaling. You exhale at the same time, your other nostril set perfectly filtering and drawing in air, your lungs turning into a filter-fed organism as the enter a constant looping state of respiration. Great gulps of air are no longer taken in by your lungs, as you scrap by for whatever spare bit of oxygen you can get. Your eyes turn, seeing the downed members of your "herd" on the ground. You pick them up, one by one, and carry them downstairs.
Herd... safe...
Each enters a pod. You don't know why you know the pods are safe, you just know they need to go in. You lack the strength you had before, but that's ok, you will endure it. Your herd must be safe. Forja friend goes in. Dad family goes in. So does the Swall and even the Administrator, even though you don't think of him as much a friend or family. Finally, Ophia is next. You look over her small form, and feel a connection different then the others. Much like you'd like to mate with her, even right at this moment. But when you poke her, make out a low moo'ing grunt to get her attention, she doesn't respond. But in your instinctual mind, you shake your head at your own past self's strange fascination, almost as if your half-asleep brain is more aware then your real one.
Her? WAY too skinnny...
Finally, as the last member of your "herd" is saved, the pods closing around them, you find yourself standing alone in the dark basement, with large pods all around.
Now, suddenly, you aren't sure what to do any more. You feel a bit tired, like you want to sleep. No sun above you amps up these instincts. You think you should be doing something, but you aren't sure what. Nearby, an extra-large pod that can house a Vetucker with horns and all opens up, like a coffin. You feel a bit nervous at the prospect. Vetuckers are claustrophobic after all.
No want go in...
You turn around, seeing an oxygen display meter on the wall. You don't understand what it means, it may as well be meaningless. But you know you're supposed to be doing something.
>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)
>Stay outside the pod (Hoik dies)
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)Fun guessing game: Did bananas just want to give a choice instead of having another "quest continues tomorrow" update or is there a catch to hoik living?
>>6245445It was supposed to be yesterday's prompt but I literally only managed to draw them and write out the first post before I had to leave for work. Sorry. Every time I use a "Quest continues tomorrow" I always think of a better solution, like a dummy dice roll, but I'm not sure if they're really any better since no real meaningful choice is being made either way.
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)>>6245445My guess would be the sidequest is ending soon either way, and we're choosing an ending... But, of course, the Jaxtian Volcano God praise be unto he ensures every upside has a downside.
>>6245448No, I get it. I'm just saying it's pretty obvious what people will choose.
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)
>>6245443>Stay outside the pod (Hoik dies)This isnt what anyone wants, but this isnt just a solo story around the pubescent ramblings of a teenager either, this is a side story and still affects the narrative of the Hegemony, while yes we want him to live and fuck a monkey we also gotta think of the cultural impact that a Vetucker sacrificing himself and becoming a literal sacred cow and uniting the multicultural youth will lead to some really cool stuff, remember our peers viewed iur hanging out with Forja as a sign of antisocial behaviors when in fact itll be the opposite and something they all need to learn as well for the benefit of the herd
>>6245506>Hegemony, while yes we want him to live and fuck a monkey we also gotta think of the cultural impact that a Vetucker sacrificing himself and becoming a literal sacred cow and uniting the multicultural youth will lead to some really cool stuffWhy does he need to be dead? He could save everyone and be a big cool hero like Jale Berax instead.
Plus, if Hoik were to become a military guy, that would be a far bigger impact since it would show Vetuckers being capable of being more than bags of muscle only good for brute labor.
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)Best boy.
>>6245509Knowing bananas that oxygen meter is for the actual lifepods and Hoik will use up too much of it and he'll be the only one left alive instead or because hes in cowbrain mode Hoiks just gonna panic and suffer some sort of mental or physical injury and definitely be unable to fuck a monkey for sure, these side stories are always here to show bananas the only real control over the story
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)Live motherfucker
>>6245537FUCK I wish I thought of that
>>6245443>>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)cow - ape - fish
together... strong!
>>6245443>>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)
>>6245443>>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)>>6245537You fucking jinxed it
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)Una’s in there, ja?
Also, thanks Bananas- I was getting worked up over nothing.
>>6245443>Force yourself into a pod (Hoik lives)
>>6245443>Stay outside the pod (Hoik dies)Died a hero.
Overcoming your instinct is difficult. You don't want to be trapped inside that small little cramped thing, but even in your current state, you think back to your comfy childhood cave, and some of that apprehension disappears. You may not rationally know why, but you feel like going in a pod is important, and it makes you feel “safe”. You force yourself inside, and the pod closes around you in a start. The temperature drops quickly, and an invisible laser tickles parts of your brain to illicit certain chemicals to be produces; concepts completely unavailable to you. You feel yourself entering a deep state of suspension, and then almost immediately, you wake up.
What could have been minutes, hours, or even days pass in an instant. You wake up with a small bit of residual panic, but a single deep breath of the fresh air outside the pod rattles your brain back into shape, and you realize you are no longer in that “brain turn off” state anymore. It's strange, you remember being in that state very lucidly, it was you, making decisions as you would, just without any memory of your rational thought or personality overseeing things. You realize, of course, you've been saved as the outside air of the pod in the basement of the facility is currently flowing into your lungs, and the team of specialized Hegemonic scientists in their hazmat suits direct you away from the other pods.
What about the others? Are they ok?
You end up getting forced into a decontamination shower and observation. You get a look at the facility, and see masses of the plants being removed and burned or set off to the side for study. Flying drones and robots are everywhere, along with complex medical equipment and scanners you've never seen before. All the people here are high ranking Jaxtians; nothing like your quiet little colonial community. After being quarantined for just a few short hours, you are let free and told to return home for debriefing.
As it turns out, the mysterious flowers were indeed the cause of the incident. Spreading quickly when in confined spaces, they rapidly absorb the available oxygen in the air while making it less bio-available for other organisms, which quickly choke the life out of them. However, because they seem to only have this behavior under specific trigger, If they were successful they would also kill themselves as well in the process once all the oxygen was consumed. You aren't sure what it means exactly, but you find the whole thing very confusing.
“Ohh... Hoik! Oh my son-!”
Your mother is hysterical at your reunion, clutching you like she'll never let go, crying everywhere. You were dreading it a little bit, though you guess you weren't sure if you were going to get chewed out again for what happened with your little brother for some reason. Guess that was a silly thing to be worried about.
”Aww... it's ok Mom.”
“N-No! No it's not ok! Don't you ever do that again! When I heard the school was locked down I thought I was going to lose my son and my husband all in the same day! Oh! It's too horrible to imagine! No- my Hoiky poiky!!! Eggggghffff!” She sobs uncontrollably. She's always so passive and nice all the time; you never heard her be this assertive at all. You literally can't get her off you now. You look up helplessly at your Dad, who shrugs. He can't help you now, but he does give you the look.
“Proud of you, Son.”
Just minutes after your tearful reunion, you hear a chime at the front door of your family home, indicating someone is visiting. You were expecting a debriefing or something else, but you figured it would be over the computer and not in person. You wonder who it could be, you guess whoever it was wanted to give you a few minutes, but was otherwise waiting for you to get back home and visit right away...
The Jaxtian standing at the doorway enters with his chrome-plated personal drone. You can easily recognize him with his fabulously styled hair Usis Nanonae!
Usis is of high Jaxtian nobility, and was a candidate for the Supreme Rulership, only losing to Halam Anak, the descendant of noble scion of the Anak family. While not the Supreme Ruler or one of the Overseers (yet), Usis is extremely important in the Hegemony and is far and away more important then anyone you ever expected to personally meet. You and your entire family kneel in the entrance room out of respect. Hastily, he motions for you to stand, seemingly having little interest in the pageantry. You stand, but regardless won't speak until spoken to.
”You must be the Broadbacks? Hoik, I presume.”
”Yes, Sire.”
Usis barely pays attention to you, instead scanning the room. He looks at the windows and corners, at small objects, examining the angles, almost as if he was looking for devices hidden or people listening. Is this part of his normal routine given his high-born status? Or a specific interest he has to himself? Suddenly, you feel quite nervous about your secret contraband magazine, but it is far away. No way this is about that... right?
”Normally, you'd be invited to Jaxt for this sort of thing, and the Supreme Ruler would officiate. But he's very busy at this time. I'm sure you understand.”
The newly appointed Supreme Ruler?! Your head spins. You might have visited him!? You realize Usis is waiting for a response.
”Oh- Oh of course! Ha- He is very busy. Ha.”
”Alright, then in that case, please raise your right arm for me.”
”I hereby bestow upon you, Hoik Broadback, with this Golden Band for your deed of heroism and decisive action in the face of great personal danger. For saving the lives of your superiors and fellow citizens, you are recognized. You are hereby permitted to wear a single Golden Band upon your right arm on this and all future official Hegemonic uniforms. You may not include additional ornamentation, nor hide this band, as this is your accomplishment. Congratulations.”
”W-Wow! Thank you, your Majesty!”
”Hmm?”
”Oh, uhm, sorry... I just caught up in the moment.”
”That's okay, it's understandable.”
You rotate your arm in the light, seeing your new band shine and reflect the ever present eyes of the drone watching. It feels warm. You run your finger along the band; is this tactile gold? Gold that feels pleasurable just to touch; the stuff you can't even make with a fabricator?
”Well, this was fun.” Usis says impatiently. ”-But I must be going now.”
”Thank you, Sir. I'll wear it with honor!”
”Of course, as being in the military division, you've got the most important image to uphold, I'm sure you'll do great. Not many Vetuckers have bands, I believe-”
>Ask him what he meant by you being "in the military division"
>Watch him leave without saying anything
>>6246042>>Ask him what he meant by you being "in the military division"Our lil boy is grown up!
Can't wait to see him in the background next time - and meet his grim fate
>>6246042>Ask him what he meant by you being "in the military division"
I simply cannot WAIT to crush monkey puss after this.
>>6246090>>6246092https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CmA98i1NhYE?feature=share
>>6246042Aww. Good ending.
>Watch him leave without saying anythingHe's already tetchy about wasting time. I'm sure we'll get an official notice soon.
>>6246042>Ask him what he meant by you being "in the military division"
>>6246042>Ask him what he meant by you being "in the military division"
>>6246042>>Watch him leave without saying anythingLet's not risk spoiling anything here. We can't change our fate, let's digest this slowly
>>6246042>Watch him leave without saying anythingI think we'll be told if anything's happening.
>>6246042>Watch him leave without saying anythingMilitary or political shit comes later, celebrate not being dead with our families and friends fiirst
>>6246042Also I'm kind glad Usis lost he acts like an asswipe. Streakeyes still on top tho, fuck you samefag.
>>6246385>Streakeyes still on top thoDon't worry. Once he unlocks the power of Swall Dueling he's going to stab that agori wannabe and take his rightful place. Trust the plan.
"...Military division...?"
"Hmm? Did I stutter?"
"Err, no, I just uhh, I don't want to keep you any longer then needed, Sir!"
"Oh, I suppose you haven't checked your socials in a few days. I was just going off the information off your citizen profile. Usually you'd need to become a senior apprentice first or complete some real work to get a lanyard printed... oh what the hell. We're out in the backwaters anyway. I'll just use my personal fabricator droid to do it. At least now you'll look the part, which is much more important then actually being it, in my experience..."
With a pop, he has a red ranking lanyard made and hands it to you. You feel its felt thickness and comfort, slipping it around your neck. It has one "tail", indicating a starting but still respectable rank in the Hegemonic military service. Unlike other nation states, the Hegemony has no separation between the citizenry and the military, as those who produce the wealth, goods, research, and breed the next generation of soldiers are indistinguishable to them.
"R-Really?"
You look around the room, not sure how to react. You almost feel overcome with emotion. You see the droid hovering silently besides Usis, finding its stare strangely focused on you. You find it very strange. The AI network does not play favorites, nor are bands of recognition necessarily immediate grounds for an advancement in rank, but it's clear something you did, or perhaps someone you saved, has given you some kind of favor. Your scores and work credits were fine, but you didn't think exceptional enough to jump you ahead a bunch of other people who may be more qualified, if we're being honest. It's not like being hand picked by a superior, more like a scale was just tipped a bit to your side. You feel as something you should appreciate.
"...Thank you, your Maj- err- Sire. I'll do my job with dignity wherever I am required to relocate."
"Ehh... You're close enough already...." Usis mumbles, excusing himself and leaving your home. You can't believe it! You rush upstairs after the family congratulations to your hologram projector to catch up with the news. Your new job is a Specialized Weapon Resupply System Coordinator & Designing Consultant, whatever that means. What it means is you've got a real position in the Hegemony now!
>Quest continues ~18 hours from now
>>6246688I bet it's Ribbonfin that was the special guy. He's probably got Overseer potential.
Anyways, good on hoik, he's climbin' up in life.
>>6246722> He's probably got Overseer potential.Or even SUPREME potential?
>>6246958Alas, no. Not because he doesn't have the skills, but because he was born at a bad time. The current Supreme is too young. And if he died, the successor would be either someone with more experience like Usis or the person who killed him
Over the next few days, things settle down. You get a heroic welcome back with your friends and coworkers at the school, but thankfully, it doesn't last too long. You have new duties to attend to, mostly on the computer and special training classes learning about cutting edge weapon systems, but you still go to the normal school and attend its schedule. You still work in the fabricator bay after school, and like the physical training with your friends, and maybe, you think privately, the Hegemony wants all these young people crammed together to form more young couples and stuff like that.
You wave as you enter the school for another day, attending a class or two, and then going to the lunch hall. But something is a little different this time. Given your newfound popularity, people asking about your new job and your golden band on your arm, you no longer just as quickly sit down with your old friend group.
"Come sit with us Hoik!"
"Yeah, you didn't forget your closest friends after you became a big hero, right?"
"No no, come sit with us!"
This time, you pass by the table that the most popular Vetucker girls sit at. Always together in a group for protection and along with their herding instincts, you are shaken from your pre-lunch stupor when one speaks to you.
"Hi Hoik. Would you like to sit with us?"
The female Vetuckers, always ignoring you before, suddenly inviting you over! Perhaps because of your honors, new position, and growing popularity you've suddenly entered their radar as the local "big man", no longer the Jaxtian bully. Being accepted by them is a big deal; after all, they're always found together in their big group. Well, all except one.
"Ehh, sorry ladies, but I already have someone else I plan to sit with today."
Because you decided to save Una, she gives you more horn care tips, and helps turn your hairline fracture in your horn completely invisible. You wouldn't call it a reward for saving her, but it is nice.
In the meantime, your former boss the base Administrator thanks you for continuing to work at the fabricator bay. You technically are the same rank as him now, but you're still pretty deferential; after all, you've known him as your superior for quite a while, and he is a lot older. He seems strangely unable to express his gratitude towards saving his life, despite your insistence that it's not that big of a deal.
"Just so you know, Hoik, we finally have a new fabricator set up. It's all powered and ready to go to deal with overhead, but the current schedule has no need of it to fill our projects for the next few days. So you're free to use it for your own personal projects. And it's also not hooked up to the AI network yet either, just you know, not necessary for right now. If you catch my meaning."
"Oh. Oh, well, thank you. Sir."
"No, thank you, Hoik."
The base Administrator is bending the rules significantly here, and taking a great risk in doing so. He's giving you an unrestricted fabricator, not beheld to AI oversight. Your mind swims with the possibilities. Perhaps as a reward for saving him, he's giving you the most precious thing he can offer- a blind eye.
What do you want to make with it?
>Badass Dueling battleaxe
>Hologram projector table for your younger brother
>Gnarra fur shawl
>Reprints of your HORNS magazine to spread among your friends
>Just hook it up to the network early and let it work for everyone
>Other (Write-In)
>>6247043>Badass Dueling battleaxeDisregard hoes who will dump you once they have to hop into a marriage for breeding purposes. Acquire COOL FUCKIN' AXE.
>>6247043>Gnarra fur shawlGotta fuck a monkey. It's in the title.
>>6247092Hoik can go find a woman who isn't a self interested hoe.
>>6247043>Hologram projector table for your younger brother
>>6247043>>Hologram projector table for your younger brotherDisregard hoes, acquire family. Who knows, maybe the little shit ends up being someone, with our help?
>>6247043>Hologram projector table for your younger brother
>>6247043>>Gnarra fur shawlthrow it all away for blue p
>>6247043>Badass Dueling battleaxe>Hologram projector table for your younger brother>Gnarra fur shawl>Illustration only reprints of HORNSI want it all brothers
He said projects with an ‘s’, so we ain’t limited to just one baby!
>>6247043>Badass Dueling battleaxe>Hologram projector table for your younger brother
Only one choice is allowed; Hoik only has time to produce one of these projects. You can vote for multiple choices if you wish in an Approval-style vote, but ultimately only one will be made.
>>6247043>Badass Dueling battleaxeAxe is cool and funny. We should get a funny axe.
>>6247043>Gnarra fur shawlThe means to the goal
>>6247235>>6247244Alright.
Changing into
>Badass Dueling battleaxeLil bro will get ours anyway.
>>6247043>>Badass Dueling battleaxe
>>6247244Then personally I’d prefer
>Gnarra fur shawlNot just as a true test of our skills, but to finally complete our quest.
Though I do hope Hoik will play around with those popular cowgirls, if only for Una to rub it in their faces later when she becomes headwife or whatever the Jaxian Alpha equivalent is called.
As a side note, we can buy fabricator time to create our Hologram projector table for our lil’ bro, considering it ain’t restricted and Hoik keeps just stockpiling his salary instead of spending it.
You decide to use the free fabricator to create a Battleaxe. With sharpened metals and made of (expensive) alloys, it's very strong and powerful. While technically dueling axes are dulled for use in actual practice, a real one would be sharp and used as a weapon, much like how your magazine says. After all, you have no intentions of actually using it. It's just for fun. Most people in the Hegemony don't have cool stuff like this to display or own, especially not weapons. It isn't illegal for you to have or anything, it would just likely be denied due to not having much practical use, so this is a special opportunity to do something for yourself. You feel like you've earned it.
Why make it then? You just think it's cool.
Over the next few days, you reconnect with Forja as well. As your friend, he is grateful for you saving him, though he doesn't understand how you carried him down the stairs. You told him you don't remember either. Maybe you just let him hit his head on the way down.
”Hah, good one! Like how I'm gonna hit you in boxing practice today.”
”No way.”
You're getting a lot better. A bruised Forja taunts you.
”Just because you got a military lanyard first doesn't mean I'm not gonna surpass you. When I'm a leader of a tactical Redstripe Commando unit, then you'll be way behind me. I'll beat you at any tactic sim then, you hear me Hoik!?”
”Heh, good luck!”
With a spirit of friendly competition, you can finally go home that day feeling good. Everything is back to normal again... plus a little extra. It's nice.
”... I think if you're worried about the design having a wide profile, then it'd have to be more armored. Maybe put the main port in the back, then it can be more flush with the rest of the suit.”
You're working on a new weapon system in your room on your hologram projector. Despite living in your same house, going to the same school, the technology of the Hegemony allows you to still contribute. This is your “real” job now, and it feels quite important. Much of your free time has become this, organizing and working on these complex new technologies. Things are very exciting, especially given its Vetucker focus.
“Hoik!” Your mother calls up. “You have a visitor!”
You finish up your schematic designs for the day as someone totally unexpected comes into your room. It's Ophia.
”Oh... h-hi Ophia.” You say.
“Hi Hoik.” She responds, losing her normal long drawn out way of saying it. She smiles. “What are you working on?”
”Heh, can't say. It's a big secret project you know, really important military stuff. Hehe.” You feel like showing off a bit, even if everything you said was technically true.
“That's cool.”
Cool! She said you were cool!
”Thanks.” You say, awkwardly. Ophia clears her throat.
“Hoik... I need to talk to you about something important. It's about the last few weeks, and how much you helped me with the fabricators, and stuff... And about the Gnarra fur.”
You wince, you didn't use the unrestricted fabricator access to make it for her. Maybe you should have... but then again, you kinda forgot. You didn't think she'd be so pushy to actually come to your family house and remind you about it. You didn't promise you'd make it for her or anything like that!? What's her deal?
“Look... Hoik... I need to get this off my chest.”
”What is it, Ophia?”
She sighs, looking at you with a sad but honest expression.
“I have to say I'm sorry Hoik. I knew you had a crush on me-”
You jump back in surprise.
”N-No I don't! Err... You knew?”
She gives you a look like of course I knew you idiot, but her expression softens with a smile.
“Yes Hoik, I knew. I could tell. But instead of just letting you have it from a distance, or putting you down gently, I decided to abuse it. See, female Jaxtians are... how do I put this... there's not many ways to stand out. You understand? Our race has been perfected over the years so much, we all look so similar, so little genetic divergence, so fashion and accomplishment and art is important. I wanted to stand out. To be “better” then the other girls in my class. That's not an excuse, I'm just telling you why I was doing it- why I was using you to make me look good. It wasn't right of me to abuse your feelings like that for my own benefit. I'm really sorry.”
”I mean... You couldn't have made that stuff by yourself, fabricators are kind of complicated. Especially the Gnarra fur workaround. That was gonna be hard even for me!”
Inadvertently, you're defending her still. She shakes her head with a laugh.
“No Hoik... that's the worst part! I wanted you to make that for me even though it's a crime. Contraband items are a standard demerit for owning or making them, easy-”
”What!? I thought-”
“Outlawed by Hass Takar, the Unspeakable, himself.”
”But that; if I was caught making that; it would have been all of my saved up money deducted from my account, no job advancements for two whole years, no transfer requests allowed, and a permanent bad mark on my socials forever. You knew that could happen!?”
“Yes Hoik, I did. I knew it would be a risk, which is why I was going to let you take the blame if we got caught.”
Suddenly, you explode. Your voice raising up.
”WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?”
Ophia winces, her head looking down in shame.
“I... It was because you are a Vetucker. Just a Vetucker, I said to myself. If you were a Jaxtian, things would be different. There'd be an... expectation. People would talk if I was flirting with a Jaxtian boy to get favors from him. But a Vetucker? Nobody would bat an eye. So I abused your trust and feelings to get ahead. And obviously, I didn't want you to get caught or punished, but I figured if you did, it wouldn't be that big of a deal- your people don't get advanced careers like that anyway. You'll just be a laborer anyway, I thought, what's the big deal? Better him then me. And on the plus side, if I did get away with it, then I'd have this so exclusive fur that no other girl in the whole Hegemony can have. It made me feel like a genius to use you like that.”
You fold your arms in anger. You had some suspicion this was always the case, but now hearing it confirmed is just too much.
“...But then you... You saved my life. And everyone else. And you didn't even ask for anything, despite everything I did you risked your own life for me. You went back for multiple trips and everything. I felt so bad, I just had to tell you the truth.” Ophia sniffles. She looks so deflated now, her normal supreme grace and feminine confidence now shattered before you, looking so much smaller and vulnerable. She looks up at you with doe-like wet eyes, on the verge of tears.
“I'm so sorry Hoik... I see how wrong it was now. You're so much more then just some pawn to throw away. I'm really, really sorry. You have every right to be angry with me. And I understand if you don't but... won't you forgive me? Please?”
>Yes
>No
>>6247736I wanna say yes, but I'll admit I don't really want to bang Ophia and I don't think Hoik should after all that happened. Alas, there is no option for specifically that.
>>6247736>>NoNah
Plus Hoik will never make the first Vetucker Supreme Candidate with Ophia. This was revealed to me in a dream.
>>6247736>NoWe'd be ruining our life plus Ophia's life. Also we have Una who loves us for us.
>>6247755I mean, technically speaking, we don't need to bang her even if we forgive her, even though I can only imagine that's what the choice is.
>>6247736>YesOnly if you put out.
I do sorta sympathize, trying to stand out as an individual in a homogeneous society, but that was really scummy- hope you get a life lesson from this.
>>6247736>YesThis is our moment, boys. Come on! Plus, we already knew that's what she was doing OOC, come on.
>>6247736>NoAh fuck it team Una. Better to be mean than to screw Hoik for life.
>>6247755>We'd be ruining our life plus Ophia's life.
>>6247778Anons are worried we'll be found out, I think. And yet...
>>6247778To put it in economical terms, Hoik would be damaging the goods, but not getting the payout. A relationship that doesn't produce children is useless to the hegemony and unlike vetucker women, jaxtian girls hitch up a lot younger.
>>6247736>NoHoping this isnt a *Glass him* option and we rape her, but forgiveness is earned and im sure she can think of a way ;), plus we gotta focus on Forja getting laid and getting to be the next supreme by doing things akin to Eoba dicking down the chiefs wife after their fight, thus securing a strong military overseer with a good relationship with the hypothetical supreme, Im just imagining Hoik training an army of techno axe warriors and hammer monkeys and the image feels very kino in my mind, I genuinely think if we played things right we could have one of the coolest supreme and overseer combos for some real cool war focus supremacy
>>6247736>NoWe can do it lads... hold strong...
>>6247736>YesShe's sought us out to apologise for something we had suspicions had been the case anyway and which never actually happened. We can forgive her for this and move on.
>>6247736Yes m lady, I will forgive everything you have done. I am forever your servant
>>6247736>Yes>>6247789Fuck the Hedgemony
This is Hoik's quest line, let him have some jaxtian pussy. If we so desperately need descendants that much just make some clone babies.
Seems to be tied at 6 to 6 unless this post is a Yes vote, in which case 7 to 6 for Yes.
>>6247913
>>6248112Well, that's convenient :)
>>6247976>Half the playerbase can do nothing but think with their dicksMany such cases.
>>6248147>>Half the playerbaseHalf the votes*
There's a difference.
>>6247976Of course it's a yes vote
>>6248147The sidequest has a very clear objective.
”Alright... I forgive you.”
“R-Really? Awww~ Thank you, Hoik! I'm so relieved!”
”It's ok. It was a good challenge of my skills to make you that stuff anyway. And I would have saved anybody, after all, I uhh, didn't really plan to figure out my secret talent on purpose like that anyway...”
Without a sound, Ophia had slipped closer to the doorway of your room. She peaks outside up and down the hall, then fiddles with the frame.
“...Where's the door on this thing? Oh, I see.”
Pulling into the center frame, a privacy screen of fabric could be found. She pulled it closed, latching it to the other side. Most Vetucker homes didn't have doors to avoid the sensation of being trapped and to keep the area open. Light fabrics doors are used instead, as you can break through them if you need to, lessening the feeling of claustrophobia.
”Ophia? What are you doing?”
Ophia reaches to the top of her uniform, undoing hidden fabric fasteners and peeling it down, revealing her shoulder, upper back, and chest, hidden from your sight.
”Uhhhh....”
Ophia laughs musically, her tail bobbing playfully.
“I figured you'd be interested in these.” She turned to face you head on, giving you a better view.
”O-Ophia...!”
She gets a little closer, laughing again.
“Come on, did you really think you're going to save my life and get nothing out of it? And you did make me so many nice and pretty things, and you're a big popular guy, and you even forgave me. You're just too nice, Hoik! So I figure, you've earned a little reward.”
Pushing you back onto your bed in your very own room, you feel her help you strip your clothes away. You're so excited you can barely stand it; this is... a Jaxtian girl!
”Ophia... I just wanted to say that-” She places a type of her finger on your mouth, silencing you.
“Shhh. Don't spoil it. This will just be our little secret. Besides, I've always been curious if what they say about Vetucker men are true...”
Hey everyone, thanks for playing this episode of Space Monke Quest! This was a fun sidestory, and hopefully fulfilled the long requested “what is life like for the average person or alien in the Hegemony?” type of thread. I'd also like to especially thank all of you that came back and stuck with it after 4chan shut down for over a week. I honestly wasn't sure what would happen, but people flooded right back in like nothing had happened!
Archive Link- https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6219527/
If you enjoyed the thread, feel free to answer some of these feedback questions!
>This thread made an intentional change to the Monke artstyle to make characters stand out a bit more and have less “sameface”. Do you feel it worked?
>Was the lifestyle and general routine of Hoik what you imagined an average Hegemonian's would be like? Or did you imagine something else?
>Do you like the sexual and sexuality aspects of Monke quest even just for the comedic factor, or is it amateurish and cringe?
And that is how you get laid. FUCK all the >No fags holding hate in their heart. Learn to forgive and the big guy upstairs (banana QM) will deliver onto you blue gash.
Shrimple as
>>6248864Meh, Hoik would have been better off with Una than some girl who's still gonna go off with some other man to breed with later.
>This thread made an intentional change to the Monke artstyle to make characters stand out a bit more and have less “sameface”. Do you feel it worked?Not gonna lie, I didn't notice it much. Too much time between threads to notice the difference.
>Was the lifestyle and general routine of Hoik what you imagined an average Hegemonian's would be like? Or did you imagine something else?Mostly? For someone on a colony it seems all right.
>Do you like the sexual and sexuality aspects of Monke quest even just for the comedic factor, or is it amateurish and cringeIt's fine up to a point, but I really don't like the "Haha cuck fetish" or "Haha gay sex" or "Haha freaky alien genitals" stuff.
I'm gonna say though, I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get to see more of the fish people. We already know how the Jaxtians generally live. This thread was for vetuckers. But the Swall are really unique in the hegemony.
>>6248866If Hoik wanted laid, he could have accepted the offer from the girl who likes him for who he is and did so even before he was a big hero guy who saved everyone's life.
>>6248869He didn't want to get laid by a Vetucker.
>>6248864>This thread made an intentional change to the Monke artstyle to make characters stand out a bit more and have less “sameface”. Do you feel it worked?Honestly, no, except for maybe Ophia. She looks very distinct.
>Was the lifestyle and general routine of Hoik what you imagined an average Hegemonian's would be like? Or did you imagine something else?After the Life Machines and subsequent reforms, this is similar to what I'd imagined. The only thing that surprised me is just how much some members of the underclass from different species are allowed to intermingle during their formative years. This IS an experimental colony, though, right? I sure hope the interspecies dating or flings like this doesn't cause trouble for these kids later.
>Do you like the sexual and sexuality aspects of Monke quest even just for the comedic factor, or is it amateurish and cringe?Sex is part of life. It's no more cringe than violence, or than birth or death are. You tend to use it sparingly and in interesting ways that add to the narrative or worldbuilding, so I don't think anyone except the very sensitive could call it cringe.
Thanks for running!
>>6248875Good girls are gold. You just can't see the value.
>>6248879Good think Vetuckers or polygynous by default. Hoik can have both.
>>6248881Let's hope he doesn't catch any emotions for Ophia, then, because she's still gonna have to get someone she can actually breed with.
racemixing fetish: the thread
>>6248864>This thread made an intentional change to the Monke artstyle to make characters stand out a bit more and have less “sameface”. Do you feel it worked?Sure, though you can’t beat the classic style.
>Was the lifestyle and general routine of Hoik what you imagined an average Hegemonian's would be like? Or did you imagine something else?I sorta imagined the VR dystopia, so this was very nice. Makes me pine for the days where each world (and the setting/environment in general) had actual character to it that’s fun to explore.
>Do you like the sexual and sexuality aspects of Monke quest even just for the comedic factor, or is it amateurish and cringe?I enjoy it- integral part of the process of life, and it does a lot to humanize and explore the various species and characters of this universe. Take the Catmen for example, or the Supremes that had a suppressed alien fetish that really only Eoba the Based engaged in.
Like, the lack of sexual dimorphism and sexuality in the Worms make them stand out as a more alien, almost Lovecraftian threat. It wouldn’t be the same Monke quest without it.
>>6248864How I imagine Vetuckers to look
Reminder to racemixing fans that this is what a hybrid of the hegemony races would look like. This is what awaits you at the end of the road of xenophilia.
>>6248864>This thread made an intentional change to the Monke artstyle to make characters stand out a bit more and have less “sameface”. Do you feel it worked?I liked the art, though I didn't notice that much of a difference to the previous art; many of your characters have always seemed visually distinct. The quest has featured family lines, of course there will be some similarities in those cases.
>Was the lifestyle and general routine of Hoik what you imagined an average Hegemonian's would be like? Or did you imagine something else?I liked it. I wouldn't say that a new colony is perhaps entirely typical of the average Hegemonian's experiences, but it suited the thread and the plot well (an exactingly typical Hegemonian's experiences would likely make a dull thread)
>Do you like the sexual and sexuality aspects of Monke quest even just for the comedic factor, or is it amateurish and cringe?They're living creatures, not automatons; they're going to have drives. And this thread handled it well, I feel. It gets a bit much when you're intentionally seeking to shock (see: Too much detail for the Haazaar) .
>>6248908Anon, it's in the title. Don't act surprised.
>>6248989Needs more nostrils.
>>6249054Only if they reproduce.
>>6249115>Only if they reproduce If you keep pushing for Xenophilia, at some points the couples will want children. And they'll end up looking like some gray goblino demon.
>>6249119Or the Hegemony will force them to adopt and raise an orphan or monoracial clone. Assuming they even let them intermarry and don' just force them to marry their own kind. This is not a liberal democracy.
>>6249121My point is that racemixing has no real good ending here in the hegemony. They either break up or end up creating that thing.
>>6249124I did just propose a third option.
>>6249127Raising a kid not of your own species seems like it'd bring a lot of issues. They have different biologies.
>>6249129If it doesn't stop them boning down or being coworkers, I see no reason that the educated and AI-assisted subjects of the Hegemony couldn't manage to raise the children of other known and well-documented species within their realm. Hell, last time that happened we got Bluey, and he was from a much stranger species that we barely understood at the time.
>>6249136Bluey was based, but he didn't exactly turn out "right" as far as his species went. The last thing we need is some fishguy who wants to deep-fry all swall.
>>6249115Multiple nostrils is gay and lame, it's not canon anymore sorry
>>6249159The problem with the hybrid design isn't the nostrils, it's that it looks like some kind of imp demon. Maybe that's the point, but there's no way i'm voting to replace a bunch of nice looking monkeys, cows, and fishes with an ugly imp.
My opinions are pretty much in line with
>>6249090I did think that writing in a Ventucker subpecies with facial markings to make the new protagonist more distinct was rather disingenous, but it didn't take away from the story at large in the end, and you always did managed to make the characters distinguishable from each other, which is admitedly not easy in such a minimalist artstyle.
There had been showcases of day to day Hegemony life before, but it's always nice to see more glimpses of it. With so many citizens in so many through so many years, even a goverment that tries to bring uniformity unto all things can struggle to keep most of its people living a "typical" lifestyle.
And yes, the mention of sex can flesh out (pardon the pun) a setting and make its characters seem more real and adult, and in small doses, sex jokes are funny, but it can get very jarring at times, such as Yuan'Tul daydreaming of engieneering the Hegemony citizens to enjoy their work to the point of climax or the Prooh entering heat just by drinking water, and of course, the scene between Yuan'Tul and Sunshine.
What saddens me personally is that Hazaar were rather unpopular already among some of the readers, but I think seeing Hazaar reproducing in detail was what made a great deal of the fanbase for for their demise later on.
>>6250014Vetuckers had multiple subspecies with different markings before. We even as a playerbase voted to preserve them as genetic lines, before Wrix the Unspeakably Stupid destroyed nearly everything we'd decided on.
>>6250014I kind of miss the bedbugs.
>>6250218I don't, they occupied the space that now belongs to these actually cool races that aren't disgusting to look at.
Yeah I've always been quite partial to the Hazaar as well, being a more "out there" alien species to try and make a culture around.
However in the end, we all knew they were less distinct in our trifecta of other Hegemonic races. Also given the secret? undertone of alien species being similar to ones that evolved in different areas of the galaxy Hazaar were farther away and less similar to the Jaxtians as the Vetuckers and Swall are.
>>6250348I think Hazar might have been better received had we seen more of their different caste-genders. Bluey ended up a Mediator, but apart from him all we ever really dealt with were the 'Warriors' who too easily boiled down to *Knife-Rape* *Knife-Rape* *Knife-Rape*. I'm not even certain we ever ended up finding out what all their other 'Gender-Types' were and did for their social role. Did you have them all planned out, Bananas?
>>6250348The Hazaar were gross, so they had to die, simple as. My liking of a race depends entirely on their capability to be pleasant. Cows? Fish? Monkeys? Looks great. Some of them cute-ish, even. Hazaar? Gross. Will always be gross. So they had to die.
Total Ugly Alien Death.
>>6250749Imagine wanting to replace some neat looking critters with these abominations.
>>6250749Cool! I do enjoy me some weird bug people, and this seals it. Hazaar quest when? kidding
>>6250751The only hazaar quest I'll accept is a Bluey Quest. Akule bless that Uncle Ruckus. I'm sure he's in Blue Heaven now.
>>6250753Sunshine quest would have been nice.
Rip.
>>6252228RIP Yellow Fellow.
Hope you all enjoyed the thread!
See you around for the next one lol
>>6253671See you next year too
>>6253671Thread thoroughly enjoyed
Now i can only scratch at my veins waiting for my Monke Fix.
Concrete Stratosphere can do, though.
>>6254378Concrete Stratosphere lost all the comfy BTAS-ness when the hero got voted into torturing a bad guy to death.
>>6253671It was a fascinating and unique thread, thank you for running. I hope we see more Vetuckers and other aliens in the days to come.
>>6253671Thanks for running, BQM.
>>6249054hmmm could not the gills sort of combine with the nostrils design to make hardened durable gill slits/openings?
what about horns that curve forewards
>>6254893That wouldn't really make it less...ugly. It looks like some sort of satyr demon.
>>6254907oh i am not talking about such things i am just talking about hybridization options how to blend them even more
>>6254934Well how can you really call it a hybrid if there's nothing endearing about it? The hegemony aliens may be fucked up, but they're still colorful critters. Their children are cute. They are not visually displeasing.
If it's ugly, it's not a proper hybrid.
>>6254936I'm not sure "hybrid" is a term which requires aesthetic appeal.
>>6255118If it doesn't have that appeal, it failed as being a 'Hybrid' of the Hegemony itself.
>>6254936yeah thats not sane, sounds delusional
>>6254936the ideological basis for this quest is thinly veiled and simplified /pol/shittery. that is why the hybrid race looks like a gray goblin, among other things.
but the quest has much more to it than /pol/ ideology. at least i think it does
>>6255480pol is just blunt politics over a larger time scale its blunt and not dressed up deniability and niceties.
but also like it looks like a goblin beacuse it got a mean smirk but also this is also porbably just what happens when you make a hybrid as it is in a way a chimera as alot of dnd monsters are just [animal]+[animal].
>>6254936that does not make sense it makes less sense then ethnobased race purity pseudo science that probably would only make sense when separate species are mixing SOMEHOW
>>6249054feet talons could be neat but as they are Jaxtian hybrids would it not be more like a second set of arms just with different joints?
>>6255487>that does not make sense it makes less sense then ethnobased race purity pseudo science that probably would only make sense when separate species are mixing SOMEHOWWell the Hegemony's ideals of racial homogeneity with small carve-outs for approved subtypes began during Akule's era, when Jaxtians were a lot more diverse. They just sort of carried it forwards past its relevance and then, upon developing Indigos and encountering the Hazaar, it became relevant again.
>>6255487>>6255646You're missing the point, the Hegemony is all about eugenics, and part of those eugenics is appearance. If you were to make a hybrid of the three races - a literal living 'embodiement' of the Modern Hegemony (as in, the Tri-Racial one that currently exists) then having it be ugly as fuck would make it a bad symbol.
>>6255661It was going to pop out of the Life Machine as an undirected experiment.
>>6255669..Okay?
As I said, It's just not a good one. You can say that that's what happens if you literally blend it directly, but its just not a good result.
>>6255670It was a starting point. it's possible that if we'd then created more than one, the Hegemony would have had options to use eugenics or direct genetic modification to change them over time.
>>6255678That would require having an idea of how to make an less ugly hybrid, and at that point we could just have the life machine do that.
So, I guess the better question is how to fuse the Jaxtians, Swall, and Vetucker into one thing without it looking like some sort of low level mob from a sci-fi shooter game.
>>6255684everything alien looks like its from a sci-fi shooter game and its always low level if its not overly over the top
>>6255646i know that just saying that it makes less sense because its just belly aching about it not being "cute" and going of vibes of something that has had no interactions with (ID: QrPlW5Bm) i think it looks cool its just the horns being overly long while straight and it being a bit hunched over would adress alot of your issues with not having a mean smirk and eyebrow angle.
a thing i sort of regret is not going for egglaying has the better ears done anything major for us yet? like we have not fixed the issue of having such long lives our females ovaries dry up pretty quick.
would be neat to do more genetic experimentation with the tech we have.
>>6255684feels like it would just have worse results just using the life machine without defining the paramaters more would this not just results in something that looks "worse"? then the current pretty interesting idea
>>6256165>everything alien looks like its from a sci-fi shooter game and its always low level if its not overly over the topI don't think so. At least, I've never seen one that had races as 'normal' looking as the ones we currently have. Now the Jaxtians, the Vetuckers, the Swall, they look like 'people'. They look like the can be 'characters'. That hybrid looks like it'd take one shot to kill but has an extremely annoying jump attack that takes out a buunch of your health.
>feels like it would just have worse results just using the life machine without defining the paramaters more would this not just results in something that looks "worse"?Well, if you can think of something that doesn't look as ugly, I'll wait.
>>6256166i made eyes larger moved the nostrils, straightened the back, got them some ears....... and i may have spent most of the time.... just giving them diffrent hair cuts
>>6256196Honestly just giving them ears and bigger eyes would be enough but a nice haircut or fin? Cut does wonders.
But like throw ideas at me and see what we can do
>>6256196That's definitely an improvement, though the nostrils still look kinda fucked up. I don't know if it's just the gray color on a gray background, but they look like wrinkles. I get that it's supposed to be a snout, but looks kinda weird.
Then again, maybe it's the color. That gray just looks...not so good. Of course, trying to mix green, yellow and blue when green is already the mix of blue and yellow is hard, but i feel like there's better options for that, still.
Hell, even a 'white' would be better than this dark gray. It looks ugly. There's a reason why we replaced the drab gray uniforms not that long ago.
>>6256203Also, I'll just say, the digitigrade legs...I can't say I'm feeling them. Two out of the three races of the hegemony don't have them. With the vetucker it works because they're cows, but with tails and horns it makes them look all hunched like some sort of weird demonic imp.
>>6256203Blue skin, yellow(blond/gold) hair green horns? We also got alot of fur patterning we can use
>>6256206Having multiple colors does seem nice, like how the Jaxtians have differently colored snouts, though maybe not having all three colors at once? I don't know if that would look good, but then again, you might have a better idea of it.
I think just having normal legs and a skin with a color distinct enough the snout doesn't end up looking like wrinkles will go a long way.
>>6256196Hey this one looks less freaky! Good job
>>6256203What about some Calico like cats?
>>6256240It's really a good step in the right direction. It's already gone from "freaky" to "mostly normal". Now if we fix the color and the wrinkly muzzle...
>>6256242Or like a cow, yes. That could look good. I'll leave it to the anon drawing, though.
If the thread dies, post any follow-ups in /qtg/ so we don't have to wait half a year for the next mone thread
>>6256247Feel free to ad the spots in what ever color you want
>>6256254Was that supposed to come with an image?
>>6256256I'm going to guess no, but nevertheless, although my art skills are far below being able to add 'spots', I will say that I kinda liked how this color scheme looked. I even tried putting it in different hairs.
Very shitty edit, but still, it's an improvement, isn't it?
kino postthread content honestly
>>6256389Hopefully we can put something together before it archives. I think it'd be nice to find a hybrid design that looks good.
>>6256277I don't know bout the hair, but I do like the color.
>>6256277Where does the hair come from? None of the hegemonic species really have human-like head-fur like that.
>>6256399I'm pretty sure I've seen some monkes who combed their head fur over like hair.
>>6256403Yeah, I think Fim and a few others did, but it isn't quiet the same as distinct and separately colored hair. I just looks a little odd to me.
>>6256412True. But anyway, that's anons concept, and it's not like an fusion between a cow a monkey and a fish is much accurate anyway.
The color though, I'd like to say it looks good.
>>6256399Parr of it has to do with the fishes head fins what happens if its combined with fur? It's just a line of hair a brush combed in diffrent directions
>>6256414True.
>>6256517The answer is mohawks, I guess! kek
Man, I was hoping drawanon would give another go at it like he said
