"Multiple sensory hallucinations since leaving the Spoils of War. Slight delusional element that keeps me from immediately recognizing the impossibility of what my senses report," Grunt told him, "Was hoping it was simply psychological stress and trauma but Burning Feather's concoctions haven't burned out the response."

"Wait, you took a drink from Burning Feather?  You sure that isn't the problem?" He asks as he starts the cart rolling again, "Serious question man, why haven't you headed to Sanctuary yet?"

"First time was so brief that I didn't have a chance to respond. Freshly off being in close confines with that thing inside its ship? Just chalked it up to the fact that everyone on the line has some cognitive scars," Grunt replied as he pushed the experiment along, "Thus, the only truly reliable method for handling such stress. This was the second, and it lasted considerably longer. Fairly sure she'll have that reported and I'll be under quarantine shortly."

The Skunkworks is just ahead.  Renkden grunts as he keeps pushing it, "OK, so, how about a deal Grunt.  Once we're done with this, you get checked out?  I don't want to get the same thing you've got.  No offense.  Far as she goes, she's originally Underforge, she's not the type to squeal about a little old hallucination."

"If they think I cracked then we both know what the next few weeks will be. On the other hand, if I admit to cracking then it'll catch me coming and going," Grunt retorted as they reached the skunkworks, "Ah well, no more flirting awkwardly with that nurse I suppose. Managed to keep from having any real medical record as long as could be hoped."

"Wait, what's her name again?  Is it the one with the red hair or is it the goddess?  Or is it the other?  I can never keep track.  I don't like going to the doctor."

The Skunkworks is, strangely, abandoned.  Normally Grunt would almost expect there to be one of Shun Xiao's lackeys there just to take advantage of Renkden not showing up, or perhaps to try to pressure him out of it.

In the center of the skunkworks- complete with an entire open hole leading to space, protected by an Essence shield- is a 9 foot metal monstrosity, steel and cables jutting out of it at odd directions.  It may be a piece of powered armor, but it certainly resembles a junk pile.

"Huh.  They put it together better than I thought."

"I don't go for divinities. They're a bit too like Casius in the old play," Grunt retorted, "And I have no idea what her real hair color is, nature doesn't make that shade of blonde."

He looked at the prototype.

"Is that finger servo taken from an exhaust fan?"

"You know I don't go to plays.  Or read them.  Waiiiiiiiiiiit, are we talking the yellow the color of a canary dipped in paint, or the one with three different shades?"

He stops,

"Wellll, no, it's actually an intake fan.  Close though, you're getting better at this.  You sure you don't want to take up crafting?" He looks at the hunk of junk and pulls down on a lever, "Alright, we'll have to put you in before we put in the core or else the whole thing will burn out."

"What makes you think I only awkwardly flirt with one of them?" Grunt asked as he moved towards the dignity free metal coffin, "Please, it wasn't that hard to spot."

"Allllllright!"  The suit springs open as the lever clicks down, revealing a surprisingly comfortable looking- wait, Grunt knows that chair.  He's ripped it from a luxury shuttle.  There's also several levers inside, pedals, and tactile gloves.  Ah, there it is, an old scavenged Oculus Rift to top it all off.

"Hey, I won't say a word if you won't.  And there's always the Florence Nightingale effect."

"I've not been a patient but now I'll be a psych case at best," Grunt grumbled as he climbed in, "What's the feedback delay expectation?"

"Wellllllll, the first test had a feedback delay of 10 seconds.  That caused.... problems.  On the bright side, nobody got sent to the hospital!  But now that you're going to align with the core, I'm hoping it'll be instantaneous."

He slaps the back of the power suit.

"Downside is there won't be any pain, you know.  Alright, let me know when you're ready to synergize."

Grunt started strapping the various....controls gave them too much dignity but peripherals might work into place. When most of that was situated he closed the latch and let the tiniest whisper of the whirlwind that existed roughly parallel to his spirit move into the cold metal and plastic.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaallright, here goes nothing-"

Renkden pushes in the power core.  Grunt doesn't move his power into the metal, but instead to the core, which is warm like a soft blanket and twice as comfortable.  His power belongs there, belongs with it, and he can feel his power flowing out into the suit.

Of course, that's when he notices the Navarino interceptor floating silently just outside of the Essence shield separating them from space.  He can see the Imperator's black-green eyes glinting, watching.

(What's the roll to not freak out and difficulty?)

((Confidence, difficulty 30))

(Failed, floating the 7-7)

Grunt can't go for a knife, or a gun, under these circumstances. Instead he guides the heap towards the edge of the shield, trying to at least take visibility cover from the void seeker. The damn thing's probably not ready to move as fast as a Chosen of Air in a hurry, attunement or no.

The Navarino turns its nose towards the essence shield as Grunt nimbly skips the hulking mass of metal towards the edge of the wall.  It will grant significant cover.  The Navarino opens fire, gatling guns peppering the shield- breaking through- ripping Renkden to wet red rags- pushing vacuum-

"It's working!  HAHAHA, IT'SSSSSSS WORKING!" The hallucination shatters as Renkden's shouting carries over the hangar, "Oh man, you moved that thing like it was a ballet dancer!  Grunt, I knew it!"

"You knew what?" The door opens up to reveal a statuesque woman, stylish and flanked by a dozen researchers and armed guards.  The raven-haired woman bundles up her overcoat as she steps in, high heels clicking on metal. "Renkden, just what are you doing here?"

"Hey.  This is my space today,"  Renkden points a finger at Shun Xiao.

"Yes it is.  That doesn't mean I can't visit."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:42, Fri 09 Dec 2016.

Grunt is capable of long, intricate, almost poetical profanity. A fact which is immediately obvious as he swears the entire time he pulls back his attunement and strips off the suit's gear.

He looks at the Queen of the Engineering Hive, then over to his friend.

"Your project worked, it's your allotted time, and that means you can tell them to take a piss into hard vacuum," he said flatly, "But I'm not going to be able to spare much more time here. Might want to play nice to see how other Chosen handle that thing."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Sat 10 Dec 2016.

"Other Chosen can't handle it," Renkden tells Grunt, "C'mon, don't get out, we still need to test the weapons!"

"I think you're misunderstanding things," The Engineer says to Grunt, "I'm not here to watch him play with piddling pieces of scrap.  I'm here to speak with you."

"I'm not testing weapons on the first trial. Get approval for a second run," Grunt told Renkden before looking to the Engineer, "That seems unlikely. Our circles don't form a Venn Diagram except at the outer edges."

He kept steadily removing the controls.

She waits until he finishes while Renkden sputters out protests about how the flamethrower is totally safe.

"Don't they?"  She remarks, "I can think of an awfully big intersection.  You and I need to speak about the war spoils.  Come on," She gives him a smirk, "You're the only living person who's operated an Abyssal ship.  And you're one of two people who've seen the inside of one of their flagships.  Of course I'm interested."

"The guest seems a richer vein for such information," Grunt observed, "But you're the sort to keep at it. The debriefing will have to take place on the way to Sanctuary."

"The- guest- is being kept prisoner, and completely quarantined from everyone, including me.  That means either you or Endings, and nobody's seen Endings in a while."

She beckons him over, "Sanctuary?  Not a problem.  Come, come, let's talk."

"C'moooooon, Grunt, I still have some time..."

"I damn near shot you, the short answer to the lady's question is that my head hasn't been right since we got back," Grunt told Renkden, "Sorry man, but it worked and I don't want to break it if I go crazy again."

He moved towards the Engineer.

"Ask, but if I get twitchy best make sure your people aren't in arm's reach."