Story Reader / Affection / Rosetta: Rigor / Story
There's a lot I want to tell you about surviving out here on the snowfields, but today it'll have to wait...
Yeah. I like survival, since luck isn't as much of a factor. Card games, though, I like them for their gameplay.
Yeah, environmental surveying. This mission requires us to go conduct fieldwork.
Anyways, engineering wants us to set up our equipment on the designated coordinates.
They're for surveying... I don't quite understand the technical details. They just need us to help set them up.
They'll handle the rest remotely. We just need to help with installing them.
The equipment Rosetta brought resembles various tripods with a camera terminal on top. It appears to also have basic AI functionality.
Stretch it out and put it somewhere stable on the snow. Then the AI will latch this device to the ground.
The engineers want at least some data soon. So, we need to set everything up before sundown—Oh, huh...?
It's gone...
The activation module... It's gone.
Looks like I lost it, but where could it have gone? Did I lose it on the plane... or on the way here?
I equipment-checked with the engineering staff through a checklist. I highly doubt that we've forgotten to bring it over... We must've lost it on the way here.
But that covers too wide of an area. We'll have to spend an hour or two just searching...
Yeah... You're right, Commandant. No choice.
I'll have to write some reports for Babylonia... But this is the safest bet.
I thought we could complete this mission without a hitch, but I guess today's not my lucky day...
With that, Rosetta sighs. She picks up a pebble on the ground and tosses it into the ocean.
The pebble skips on the water—once, twice... all the way up to seven times, before plunging into the sea.
Rosetta notices your gaze and blushes before returning to her normal self.
Some Forest Guards do this to forget about bad things... I figured I'd give it a shot.
Anyway, let's get moving...
Rotten figgins... Who's throwing rocks into the water?!
Huh?
Massive streams of bubbles fizzle near the shore, eventually breaking into a splash, revealing the silhouette of a massive, red-eyed figure.
So, you chucked that rock, aye?! Alright, have at it then, I'm gonna crush you!
Yeti your bear butt! I'm a bear, jellyface! Bionic bear, aye?!
Wait... Why would there be a bionic bear in the ocean?
Well, yeah? Cuz' I was swimming, aye?! What's the deal with you throwing rocks into the sea?! Summoning some watery tart for a golden rock?
I'm sorry.
Oh...
Rosetta's simple and direct apology catches the bear off-guard. He visibly deflates, the rage nowhere to be seen. He asks you what it was all about.
Ah, alright. So you lost some module thingamajig?
Yeah, so I was just skipping rocks to take my mind off it. I didn't think it'd hit you. I'm sorry.
Oh, um, well, 's alright, I'll let it slide. Can't blame no bear for gettin' mad when you get a rock to the head outta nowhere, though. Sorry 'bout that.
So yeah, anyhow. You trying to turn them three-legs on?
Ya, I can help, alright.
Nope. But I can help you get it set up.
...How?
Just plug me right in, aye? I can turn 'em on. There's a control terminal on me back as well.
I never knew bionic bears could do this...
Yeah, yeah—bionics can do a lot more than you Constructs... What's that human's name?
[player name], aye? Alright, just do what I say.
If you're the punchline, I give that a two outta ten... Just grab the cable and plug it to my back!
——
With the help of the bear, you successfully activate the equipment, and Rosetta sighs in relief.
Hah, cake. Done and done.
Them folks' been talking about helping you humans out—figured I'd lend a paw. But don't go redistributin' sedimentary wealth into the sea again, Forest Guard!
I'll try my best not to.
You'll TRY?!
