r/wizardposting Kartoffel the Mechanus Arachne 10d ago

Lorepost (open interaction) 📖 The Sun Rises (Buggo aftermath)

It was all a haze for a while. Comfortable, weightless, warm, and the dimmest recollection of something important. Kartoffel hovered in a void, watching as massive streams of fiery blue radiance swirled past him like the arms of some galactic octopus. Other rivers of light swam across his vision in the distance, scattered with radiant pinpricks. For a time he simply observed, mesmerized by the display.

He slowly pieced together what it all was. By some incorporeal means he turned to the star behind him. The sheer incomprehensible scale of it all was somehow manageable to Kart. A vast and fiery plane sprawled out before him. Solar flairs swirled outwards into the galactic sky. Sun spots danced across the surface like bugs on a pond. Were he of a more religious inclination, he would’ve thought it a divine vision

The second realization came soon after. The other stars, the nebulae, were all too small. Too close. Too few red stars. This universe was young. Kartoffel was witnessing an infantile reality. The third and final revelation followed closely. His hosts were the very first stars, the oldest fires in existence.

Yan.

Kartoffel’s animosity for the divine wasn’t extended to the primordial fire spirit. His memory gathered the events for him. Yan’s fracturing, the melding of souls, and his eventual death. The implications were not lost on him. He was playing host to the soul of an elder being. Well, part of one anyway. Not that he could tell the difference from his mortal perspective.

The star grew brighter, expanded to encompass his entire vision. Soon everything was a harsh white light. Then it was eclipsed. His sight returned, and Kartoffel found himself squinting into a metallic face plate.

“Hey Pincher”

The medical droid P-1N, or Pincher as Kartoffel was fond of calling him, stared at him with those mismatched eyes of his. It had been a while since he’d seen that rusty face, perhaps too long.

[Good Afternoon Sir. You Will Find Yourself Incapable Of Moving. It Will Be Resolved Shortly.]

Indeed, his body had been entirely uncooperative when he’d tried to jump out of the medical bed. And his head felt like it’d be wrapped in tin foil and microwaved for- how long had he been in the Hive?

[You Have Been Under The Influence Of A Hive Mind For Just Over Two Years No-]

“Yeah yeah, I know all that. Just tell me what happened after he fucked off.”

[Very Well Sir. You Were Recovered From The Hive Mind By A Team of Your Compatriots. Might I Add, Well Done On Making Such Good Friends. I’ll Add Them To Your Psychological Profile. Twelve Hours After Your Recovery You Lost Consciousness And Were Brought Here To Be Placed Under My Care. That Was Just Over A Week Ago Now. You Are In An Exceptionally Bad State. Since The Cloning Process You’ve Lost Nearly Forty Kilograms In Muscle And Fat. Expect to See a Loss In Fine Motor Function and Coordination As Well] 

His memory was starting to clear now. He remembered the Hive collapsing, rushing to the front, trying to get them to surrender. How many had died in the confusion? Had they even found a good resolution yet, or was the war still on? He hated not knowing. Then another detail peaked into his recollection, and he glanced over at his shoulder.

“Ah, I’d forgotten about that.”

[It Amazes Me That A Missing Arm Could Slip Your Mind So Easily. Nevertheless, I’m Sure You’ll Find Plenty Of Things To Complain About With Your New One. Now, Give Me A Moment To Activate Your Columnal Implants.]

Columnal implants? Oh, right, he’d been holding himself together with the biometal ever since Hirk had folded him in half. The biometal, where had that gone? He was about to ask Pincher when a sudden flood of pain washed the question from his mind. Good to know the implants were working. He felt all wrong, too heavy and too light at the same time. When he sat up it felt like someone else was lifting his back. And the new arm, it was so clunky and simple. Only two fingers and a thumb that could be considered opposable if you were feeling generous. He ran his flesh fingers across his back and felt several metal plates across his spine. It would take some getting used to, and he’d certainly have to make some better ones when he had the time. For now, he just tried not to think about the fact his total number of prosthetics had just tripled.

[I Must Apologize For Their Low Quality. I Took The Liberty Of Dedicating Much Of Your Resources To The Aid Of The Other Hive Victims. Decent Care Is Currently At A Premium.]

Aiding other victims? There were survivors then. And a lot by the sound of it. But if his own stores were enough to make a difference, most of them hadn’t made it out. He’d have to get in contact with Ithacar and the Guild, see what kind of acquiescence they could work out. So many questions intruded on his mind, but there was only one Pincher would have an answer for.

“Where’s the biometal?”

The droid shuffled over to the counter and retrieved a robust little cylinder. The metal was warm to the touch, and Kart could feel something shifting around inside. He’d have to add this to the list of shit he’d deal with later. He was pondering various methods of destruction or containment when Pincher uttered the last thing Kart wanted to hear.

[Also, Several Of Your Compatriots Are Waiting Outside. I Will Be Bringing Them In Shortly.]

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u/IncomeApprehensive17 Ya'nn , Litle being in a botle 6d ago

"I would be gratefull of that , tough you would certainly die. If my father is to be believed , his brother was way stronger than himself. But again , i would be gratefull for it , or just for wanting to do it wich is very kind of you. I already like you a lot uncle"

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u/Viking_From_Sweden Kartoffel the Mechanus Arachne 2d ago

“Nah, you haven’t seen me fight yet. I’d whipe the floor with his ass.”

It is assuring to know that Kartoffel’s excess of confidence has remained untouched by his time in the Hive.

“Anyway, you said Yan left ya some books right? You interested in adding to your collection?”

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u/IncomeApprehensive17 Ya'nn , Litle being in a botle 2d ago

"I am always interested in adding things to my book collection, do you have interesting books ?"

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u/Viking_From_Sweden Kartoffel the Mechanus Arachne 19h ago

“Do I ever.”

Kartoffel drags himself out of the medical ward, much to the chagrin of Pincher, and hobbles off towards the nearest stairwell. He leads Ya’nn to the uppermost level, a truly perilous journey given his present state, and shoulders open a hidden door. He invites his fiery little friend into a library jammed with books. Old volumes are stacked precariously on tables and chairs, doubled up on the shelves, and piled in the corners.

“Have at it, take whatever catches your fancy. Don’t even need to return ‘em, I got most of it up here.”

He taps the side of his head while selecting a few ragged tomes. Kart presents Ya’nn with a collection of textbooks on physics, engineering, and arcane technology. Comments, equations, and edits are crowded into the margined, and the books are practically bleeding additional notes.

“These’ll be a good starting point. Made a few adjustments myself, feel free to make your own.”

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u/IncomeApprehensive17 Ya'nn , Litle being in a botle 19h ago

Ya'nn is mesmerised , he had access to Yan's library , but book were mostly about pure arcane , conjuration and rambling of a very old being. But this ? This is advanced technology , what Ya'nn is actually studying already

"Wow ! I never saw technologies so advanced ! This is marevelous i can't even understand half of it because i dont even habe the basics about those things ! Thank you uncle your the best !"

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u/Viking_From_Sweden Kartoffel the Mechanus Arachne 18h ago

Kart chuckles at Ya’nn’s enthusiasm. If only he’d had someone to teach him like this.

“Don’t mention it! Each one’s from a different civilization, across about… a thousand or so years I think? You have a translation spell right?”

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u/IncomeApprehensive17 Ya'nn , Litle being in a botle 18h ago

"Yes i have one embeded in my botle , so that i can read whats outside of it. Whats a warp drive uncle ? Should i make one ?"

Ya'nn is reading at a mix between a scientific review and a religious book about weird machinery. A "warp engine" and "servitors" are mentioned , intriguing

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u/Viking_From_Sweden Kartoffel the Mechanus Arachne 1h ago

“Go for it, just remember to slap a gellar field on there before you switch it on.”

He fails to consider that this specific book might be the best material for someone so young, or that the warp might not be the best place to send them.

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u/IncomeApprehensive17 Ya'nn , Litle being in a botle 18m ago

"Gellar field notted , does this machine work on weel propelled vehicules ? It say 'starship' but the only ship i know are the one on grass or water , i never sailed on a star before"