NPCThe two strangely dressed officers bow deferentially at the sight of you. The older one, a tall and wrinkled voidborn, steps forward. The tails of long neural cords embedded in his head dangle unpleasantly down his back like a ragged cloak.
Augmented Aristocrat"Allow us to introduce ourselves: Kantus Zehir Otto Toliman, officer of Vox-Repeater LMXIV on Upper Deck 6, Sector 2. And this young man is my eldest son. We are here on a serious matter, and we would be most grateful to Your Lordship/Ladyship if you would lend your support to our fair petition for the staff of the Sector Bionica."
Vivisector Martinax"Master Toliman, as I have already told you both: you will be seen when you reach the front of the queue! Now I have work to do, please do not distract me, or, Throne forbid, the Lord Captain!"
Genetor Ferrenz"Scanning has revealed two lower-priority life forms in the operating area. Request: dispose of less effective crew members to make space for valuable officers." Out of the corner of your eye, you notice that the Genetor is already standing near the cogitator that controls the mechanisms of the individual beds.
YOU"You belong to the Toliman dynasty? The same as my Vox Master, Vigdis?"
Augmented Aristocrat"Indeed. My son and I are distant relatives of Vox Master Toliman. Our family serves the ship faithfully, and sacred implants like ours are passed down from generation to generation along with our position." The old man inclines his head in a bow.
YOU"You belong to the Toliman dynasty? The same as my Vox Master, Vigdis?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain what is going on here."
Augmented AristocratKantus retreats a little to the side. The cables in his head jangle with the movement, and you notice that some of them have melted. "We are members of a noble clan that has spent years overseeing the sacred vox systems of this voidship. It is a job that requires frequent maintenance, for many machine sparks must pass through our augments. Recently, the frequency of their augment inspections has decreased as access to the Sector Bionica has become more fraught. Instead of esteemed officers, the local medicae officers prefer to cater to crippled vagrants..."
Vivisector Martinax"I have already explained to you: we do not give preferential treatment to anyone. Your implants will be serviced according to your place in the queue, which is in turn based on the urgency of the required procedure. While you're too slothful to coat your own head in sacred coolants, someone else is dying for lack of a lung." The Vivisector exhales heavily: judging by the dark circles under his eyes, fatigue is making it hard for him to maintain his usual cordiality.
YOU"You belong to the Toliman dynasty? The same as my Vox Master, Vigdis?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you want to be treated without waiting your turn?"
Augmented Aristocrat"I find it fair to assume that those who belong to a high and esteemed clan have some privileges over those who can barely read. Our augments require careful maintenance as they are directly connected to the machine spirit of the ship's vox-stations."
NPCThe young man, who has remained behind his father throughout the conversation, suddenly cannot restrain himself: "I saw an armless man being loaded onto an operating table! Why should he be treated at all? He should be disposed of, the ship is full of trash like him!"
YOU"You belong to the Toliman dynasty? The same as my Vox Master, Vigdis?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you want to be treated without waiting your turn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No officer on my ship will ever have to stand in a queue. Let them through."
Genetor Ferrenz"Request granted. Initiating the voiding of the medical equipment in accordance with the Lord Captain's decision." The system mounted above the operating area springs into action, and, muffled under the rumbling of its mechanisms, Genetor Ferrenz lets out a binharic trill of satisfaction.
NPCWith a loud clang, the two beds tip over, sending their still living occupants hurtling into the corpse pit. One of them screams briefly before his body lands on the conveyor belt with a crunch.
Augmented AristocratThe old officer smiles and bows low to you. The young man behind him casts a sneering look at Martinax and walks to the vacated spaces with his nose in the air.
end of branch
YOU"There are no unimportant people on my ship. Everyone will be treated equally — and based on your place in the queue."
Augmented AristocratThe old man frowns, but still bows respectfully to you. The young man behind him looks outraged and tries to step forward, but the older officer deftly seizes his son by the long cable embedded in his head. A stifled splutter erupts from the vox-repeater replacing the young man's mouth, but it is drowned out by the father's booming voice: "We will accept your decision whatever it may be, Lord Captain."
Vivisector Martinax"Lord Captain! I don't know how to thank you for your timely intervention. These people still don't understand that there are some things that can't be bought with a noble name or a lofty position."
end of branch
YOU"Take these upstarts out of here and have them flogged. That will teach them that, on this ship, the only person with preferential privileges is me."
Augmented AristocratThe faces of both officers tense. The young man tries to step forward and block his father, but the older officer hurriedly speaks up: "We beg forgiveness for our insolence, Lord Captain, and will accept our punishment with humility!"
Vivisector Martinax"Thank you for your intervention, Lord Captain! I always welcome your visits to the Sector Bionica — it brings blessed order to this place like nothing else."
end of branch
NPC(sequence)
Marazhai"For once, an intelligent thought from the lips of your kind." The Drukhari's gaze rests intently on the young man, compelling him into sudden silence. "Then again, implanting such cattle with metal only increases the pain I can derive from them, so I must disagree in this instance."
end of branch
Argenta"I have witnessed the blood of a single martyr become a spark that ignites thousands of souls! His raiment was humble, but his word shone brighter than any fabric. Will you, then, presume to judge by mere uniform alone whether this broken wretch has fulfilled his duty to the Holy Throne?"
end of branch
YOU"No officer on my ship will ever have to stand in a queue. Let them through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There are no unimportant people on my ship. Everyone will be treated equally — and based on your place in the queue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Take these upstarts out of here and have them flogged. That will teach them that, on this ship, the only person with preferential privileges is me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you want to be treated without waiting your turn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No officer on my ship will ever have to stand in a queue. Let them through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There are no unimportant people on my ship. Everyone will be treated equally — and based on your place in the queue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Take these upstarts out of here and have them flogged. That will teach them that, on this ship, the only person with preferential privileges is me."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Explain what is going on here."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"So you want to be treated without waiting your turn?"continues where this line first appears above
YOU"No officer on my ship will ever have to stand in a queue. Let them through."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"There are no unimportant people on my ship. Everyone will be treated equally — and based on your place in the queue."continues where this line first appears above
YOU"Take these upstarts out of here and have them flogged. That will teach them that, on this ship, the only person with preferential privileges is me."continues where this line first appears above