[Video] Apply within...

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Agatha has been working on the stuff they pulled out of the MAGI building for over a month now. All kinds of interesting research, odd looking clanks that seem to be used for visitors that need physical bodies, and a delightful array of small arms that do anything from replicate spells to supress personas entirely have been keeping her occupied for a while. People in the Saggittarius district have probably been seeing strange lights and hearing odd sounds from the already foreboding castle Heterodyne.
But now she's reached the point in her research where she needs a little help.

Specifically, she needs minions to test our some of her 'improvements' on Kandori's designs. Her voice has an excited edge to it. Not quite in the madness place, but close to it.]

This is Agatha Heterodyne. I've been working with some of the weapon designs that were salvaged from the MAGI building. The protoypes are all ready, but I'll need some minions to help me test them.

Is anyone interested?

Comments

[terminally_clever]

From a certain perspective, it certainly looks that way.

[Fumi walks over to a chair in the corner - a safe distance from whatever it is Agatha's going to do, but still close enough to watch.]

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Agatha doesn't notice. She's carefully inspecting the equipment and humming to herself. Strangely, she seems to be able to produce several notes at once. Occasionally, she mutters to herself.]

No.... no.... Yes.... Superfluous!

[She tears off a piece and tosses it aside.]

And this can be replaced, and this and.... YES! I have it!

[The humming starts again and she starts working faster. The dingbots can barely keep up. At this point, a good half of what she's doing probably shouldn't work.]

[terminally_clever]

[Fumi leans down and picks up one of the pieces Agatha threw away, staring down at it in disbelief.]

How is this superfluous by any definition of the word...

[But she just sighs and looks back at the madwoman in action.]

[ding_bots_are_done]

Because it can easily be replaced by using this simple watch spring!

[No it can't. Whatever she's crafting, it is considerably smaller than Fumi's original device.]

[terminally_clever]

Springs don't work th-

...you know what, never mind.

[ding_bots_are_done]

[She resumes her humming and fiddling with various tools. After another few minutes, she holds aloft a small device meant to be strapped to your arm.]

Ha! Finished!

[terminally_clever]

At the risk of receiving an explanation that will cause my brain to bleed out of my ears, how does it work?

[ding_bots_are_done]

I'm glad you asked! Here, watch!

[She straps the device to her forearm and presses one of the buttons. The small screen lights up. As she does this, she continues explaining the more technical aspects of it's construction.

As predicted, it casually ignores anything resembling physics. When she's finished, she calls out her persona. Normally she prefers not to use it at all because reasons, but being firmly in the madness place offers it's advantages. The screen lights up with recorded data.]

[terminally_clever]

Amazing...

[Fumi's eyes light up as brightly as the screen itself, once again marveling at what Agatha's spark is capable of.]

I was right, though. I didn't understand a single word of that.

[She gives a somewhat self-deprecating laugh, shaking her head.]

[ding_bots_are_done]

[Agatha is about to launch into how they could also add something fun like a shrinking ray when Fumi admits to not understanding her explanation. With some effort, she shakes herself out of the madness place. She's starting to feel a little guilty about Fumi's understandable frustration. She can remember what it was like for her before she broke through. She'd spent years desperately trying to reach that level of understanding.]

A-anyway, it records all the physiological and mental responses whenever a persona is used in any way. That way we'll be able to see if there's any difference between using attacks and support abilities.

[terminally_clever]

[Someday she will understand all of this. Or drive herself crazy trying. Those are really the only two options.]

Good. This should further my research by leaps and bounds.

[ding_bots_are_done]

[They really are....]

Glad I could help. Have you found anyone to test it on yet?

[terminally_clever]

Not yet, but this should make it easier to find test subjects. A wrist-mounted unit is far less intimidating than the Frankenstein's monster of medical machinery we started with.

[ding_bots_are_done]

True. People do get a little intimidated by large machines for some reason. We could start just jumping on people the first time they use the network. Ask if they'd like to participate in an experiment.

[That's probably the best way to get data on first time persona summoning.]

[terminally_clever]

Considering I'm one of the first people to know when a new person uses the network for the first time, that shouldn't be difficult.

[ding_bots_are_done]

Well, I'll keep an eye out too. Can't hurt.

And I'll let you know when I have some decent results from the weapons tests.

[terminally_clever]

Good. Keep up the good work.

[ding_bots_are_done]

You too. I was actually going to ask if you wanted to be involved in the testing of the suppressor.

[terminally_clever]

I believe you should already know the answer.

[ding_bots_are_done]

Heh, then I'll give you a call when it's ready.

[The real question is who they'll get to test it on.]