Old ServantThe typical sounds of the medicae facility are cut off by a bone-chilling scream. It is coming from an old man, who has sprung from his bed and is now using it as a barricade against the medicae officers. He is partially disrobed and the scraps of the bed restraints hang from his wrists. From toe to hip, the old man's legs have been replaced with high-quality augments.
Old Servant"No! Don't touch my legs! They're all I have left!"
Genetor Ferrenz"Request: cease the attempted sabotage of the operation! Protocol stipulates that augments must be removed from ineffective life forms!" The Tech-Priest tries to reach the patient, but the old man evades his grasp with unexpected spryness.
Vivisector Martinax"Leave him be, Ferrenz. Let the poor fellow live out his life with his own augmentation. You can still cut it off after he's dead."
YOU"What is going on here?"
Old ServantThe old man's frantic gaze latches on to you and he begins wailing piteously: "Lord Captain, please help me! These beasts want to cut off my legs! I was a senior gunner on a macro-cannon. I lost my legs in my youth — it was only thanks to my implant I was able to fulfil my duty, guiding teams of haulers! And now they say that that's it, I have to give my legs back, but how can I give them back? Butchers!"
Genetor Ferrenz"The patient disrupted the augment removal procedure and is resisting the accepted treatment protocols."
Vivisector Martinax"It's hardly surprising, Ferrenz. You're trying to cut off the poor man's legs."
YOU"What is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are your expert opinions?"
Genetor Ferrenz"The service life of this life form lapsed long ago, but the installed augmentation is of rare quality — it will be functional for hundreds of cycles yet to come. The sacred machine's efficiency is seriously compromised by the substandard biological part." The Genetor's visors are directed unmistakably at the old man's gaunt frame. "The principles of maximum-efficiency service require immediate replacement of the augmetic carrier."
Vivisector Martinax"This man does not have long to live — let him walk the rest of the way on his own two feet. He is unlikely to survive the augment removal procedure." The Vivisector casts a sympathetic glance at the patient.
YOU"What is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are your expert opinions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where did you even find this old man?"
Genetor Ferrenz"This augmented life form arrived on board along with the rest of the replenishment from Rykad Minoris and has since dwelled in the ship's cannon bays. One of the servants of the Machine God noticed the incongruity of a high-performance sacred augmetic being worn by such a life form, and he was brought here."
YOU"What is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are your expert opinions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where did you even find this old man?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"His augmentation is truly that valuable?"
Genetor Ferrenz"Sacred machines of augmentation are blessed in their own right," grumbles the Genetor jealously. "But this particular set is slightly rarer than others. With proper care, it can greatly increase the speed of a high-quality recipient."
YOU"What is going on here?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are your expert opinions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where did you even find this old man?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"His augmentation is truly that valuable?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sort it out among yourselves. And if you interrupt me again for such trivialities, I will have both of you strung up by your thumbs at the entrance to the Sector Bionica. Understood?"
Vivisector Martinax"I apologise, Lord Captain! Genetor Ferrenz and I will endeavour not to trouble you again." Martinax bows deeply before you, doubling over until he touches the floor, and Ferrenz follows suit, pitching his body as low as the mechadendrites at his back will allow.
end of branch
YOU"Remove the augment. A sacred machine should be put to good use, not employed as a crutch."
Old ServantUpon hearing you, the old man seems to lose all will to resist. A moment ago he was ready to fight, but now he slumps onto the bed listlessly, and the surgical instruments are thrust into his body. Despite the pain, the man no longer screams, but stares at the ceiling with glistening eyes.
Genetor Ferrenz"Thank you for your timely intervention, Lord Captain. Commencing the procedure."
end of branch
Genetor Ferrenz"Thank you for your timely intervention, Lord Captain." The Genetor focuses his visors on you. "The augment carrier's efficiency class will increase exponentially."
end of branch
YOU"Leave the old man alone. Let him live out his last years in peace."
Old Servant"G-God-Emperor protect you!" The old man sighs in relief.
Vivisector Martinax"Thank you for talking some sense into my colleague, Lord Captain. We will send this man back to where the Tech-Priests found him and retrieve the augment when the time comes."
end of branch
YOU"The screaming is wearing on me. Get rid of the troublemaker and have his implant cut out and brought to my throne. The finest things on this vessel are mine alone."
Old ServantUpon hearing you, the old man seems to lose all will to resist. A moment ago he was ready to fight, but now he slumps onto the bed listlessly, and the surgical instruments are thrust into his body. Despite the pain, the man no longer screams, but stares at the ceiling with glistening eyes.continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sort it out among yourselves. And if you interrupt me again for such trivialities, I will have both of you strung up by your thumbs at the entrance to the Sector Bionica. Understood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remove the augment. A sacred machine should be put to good use, not employed as a crutch."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Leave the old man alone. Let him live out his last years in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The screaming is wearing on me. Get rid of the troublemaker and have his implant cut out and brought to my throne. The finest things on this vessel are mine alone."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"His augmentation is truly that valuable?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sort it out among yourselves. And if you interrupt me again for such trivialities, I will have both of you strung up by your thumbs at the entrance to the Sector Bionica. Understood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remove the augment. A sacred machine should be put to good use, not employed as a crutch."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Leave the old man alone. Let him live out his last years in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The screaming is wearing on me. Get rid of the troublemaker and have his implant cut out and brought to my throne. The finest things on this vessel are mine alone."continues where this line first appears above
Elite(sequence)
Marazhai"Debating such a trivial matter..." Marazhai arches an eyebrow. "It would be simpler and quicker if, instead of arguing, you let the implant owner assert his right to it in combat against the challenger."
end of branch
YOU"Where did you even find this old man?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"His augmentation is truly that valuable?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sort it out among yourselves. And if you interrupt me again for such trivialities, I will have both of you strung up by your thumbs at the entrance to the Sector Bionica. Understood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remove the augment. A sacred machine should be put to good use, not employed as a crutch."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Leave the old man alone. Let him live out his last years in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The screaming is wearing on me. Get rid of the troublemaker and have his implant cut out and brought to my throne. The finest things on this vessel are mine alone."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"What are your expert opinions?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Where did you even find this old man?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"His augmentation is truly that valuable?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Sort it out among yourselves. And if you interrupt me again for such trivialities, I will have both of you strung up by your thumbs at the entrance to the Sector Bionica. Understood?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Remove the augment. A sacred machine should be put to good use, not employed as a crutch."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Leave the old man alone. Let him live out his last years in peace."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"The screaming is wearing on me. Get rid of the troublemaker and have his implant cut out and brought to my throne. The finest things on this vessel are mine alone."continues where this line first appears above