I made an impulse decision for my last module selection to cash in a Symbiote imbalance for another module. I don’t have any more imbalance, so that’s not going to happen, but I need to figure out what direction I’m going now that I have what feels like a solid base in engraving. Lets see what we have:

Choose two of the available modules for advancement: Basic Enchanting—Imbue material with Aether. Effects may vary. Intermediate Aether Engraving—linking shapes, triggers, and so much more! Beginner’s Guide to Constructs—More than the sum of its parts Intermediate Space Manipulation—How to not get lost in space-time

I need to bounce some rough feelings off you. There seems to be a lot of track overlap in these modules. Enchanting seems like wrote spellcasting and Constructs seems very close to Golomancy. Am I missing something? Also, why does intermediate engraving sound fine and intermediate space manipulation feel like a threat?

Yes, you are missing something. The Matrix synthesizes tropes from the knowledge base of the assimilated sample and creates tracks to fit what that species is familiar with so that they are more likely to adopt and flourish within the Matrix. For example, there are millions of examples of “magic” wielding martial classes, but one of the sampled identities could have created a “Jedi” track based on those preferences.

In your case, Artificer is an interesting blend of Archaic technology and Magic being imbued or carved into components that are then guided by magic to perform a task. So far, you seem to lean more toward magic, oddly enough, in that you are currently creating magical effects and guiding them with tech, or trying to replace tech with those magics, the skill Aether Insight was specifically designed to do this. Enchanting infuses a component with an innate property. A construct in this case is a technological working driven by Aether. And in advanced cases, constructs can use runes to create Aether effects as well.

Okay, wow. The Andromeda Matrix creates an entire Sub System per species? That’s a whole lot of something. So I’m definitely taking intermediate engraving. I need trigger effects and links between rune shapes. Feels importante for my boots on moons goals. Enchanting could provide a whole host of materiel benefits such as more durable, heat resistant, all important things for a ground to space vehicle. But Constructs feels like it would give me the ability to just “make it work”.

But at the same time, I know how all the hull and pushing parts work, and Mel knows a lot of the electronics stuff with some solid mind-link capabilities . . . I don’t have to do this all by myself.

I don’t have to do this all by myself!!

I’m so proud of my little baby.

Don’t be an ass. So if Mel can help me “make it work” Enchanting and Intermediate engraving seem like the right choices. Lock ‘em in Tessa.

Integrating Engraving module first.

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“I think she’s having another seizure.”

“Ivanka, she’s probably just loading a module. She’s been working hard and probably advanced.”

“I still cannot believe that you have this game inside your head.”

“And you saw how the little bunny just popped in here? I think she plays a different game.”

“Ladies, I am literally right here.” I roll my eyes.

“Maybe I wish you were having a seizure.” Ivanka nearly shoves me out of my chair.

“I have this technology swarm, it has done great for me, but do you have actual magic?” Petra asks.

“Kind of a mix, but yah. I asked for a space walk so I could test a new thruster idea. Worked better than expected.” I unwrap another sandwich.

“You are such a waste. Using magic for technology. Good thing we like you.”

And now I choke on my sandwich. As soon as I recover with a sip of coffee and an ugly snort, “You like me? Since when?”

“Petra has since ISS training. I didn’t trust until you helped her recover.” Invanka reaches over and mutters something in Russian to Petra. “A soft heart, this one.”

“Aww, you two are adorable.”

“If you say that outside of this space, I will boot you out of an airlock.” Ivanka growls in an attempt to be threatening after looking so lovingly at Petra.

“I can teleport, soo . . .” and I do the most adult thing I can think of: I stick my tongue out at them.

Ivanka slaps my shoulder and Petra leans across the table, and they both start chittering at me about how unfair that is and what it feels like, etcetera. Minutes later, Melissa tells me she’s outside and I stand to let her in.

Newcomer immediately kills the alien tech vibe in the room and I’m giggling internally. The Russians start whispering to each other.

>M] It is strange to hear people gossip about me right in front of me.[<

>P] you can hear them? That’s freakin sweet. [<

>M] I picked a sensor suite mod. The visual acuity when working with small components is pretty clutch. I think I’m going to go for body enhancements next.[<

>P] Ooh, Meli, Super Sailor is a pretty nice mental image. [<

>M] someone’s has to protect you while you’re doing science to a planet. [<

>P] Hot [<

“Chiefs, she knows. It’s okay. Plus, after the bullshit I’ve been doing with the gravity plates and the Bottomless Bench, everyone in engineering knows that I’m playing with cheat codes.”

“Da. Petra has been helping out too much to hide it as well. I doubt the Captain will ever be comfortable with spreading the swarm to the whole crew.”

“If he does, come to me to get it. I don’t know why it matters, but I know that it does.”

“Yah, sure? But you didn’t ask your girlfriend to the mess to talk about politics.” She waggles her eyebrows salaciously. “We’ll give you some time to yourselves.”

I snort at that, “Thanks Senior.” I grab her hand and pull her into my shared quarters.

“You have so much space!” she cried as soon as she saw only three bunks per rack and a little desk

I can’t help myself and my lips hunt hers for a kiss I’ve been missing for months.

“Penny, no. We still have our suits on, and I do want to watch a movie and cuddle with you.”

“Okay babe. Sorry if I seem needy, I just really missed you.”

“Babe? So you’re okay with them calling me your girlfriend then?” There’s a meekness to her tone that I don’t expect.

“I am. Should I not be? We both confessed to being in a relationship, and I’m not your supervisor at all anymore. Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Ugh, you’re so dumb for a genius” she lowers her head and grabs my suit with both hands, thumping my chest softly with them. “I just wanted it to be more romantic, and then bam! Confessing at a court martial.”

“I don’t know, Mel, after months of best friend hangouts and cuddles, I thought ‘I want to watch you cum’ was pretty romantic.”

“I mean, yeah, I got it that you liked me, but there’s supposed to be a progression to these things! And then I can’t see you for months and then our sleeping together seemed like those tropes when friends sleep together and then . . .”

I reach up and steal a kiss, and start laughing, “I wasn’t avoiding you hon, I got arrested. And you, missy, read too many Yuri novels.”

She uses her grip to pull our faces within inches of each other, “You take that back.”

“Are you saying that we should rewind and go back to a ‘will-she-wont-she’ for another six months?” I’ve clearly made a mistake. Her scowl deepens and her hands move from my shirt to dive into my suit to the sides of my tank and tickles me ruthlessly. I squeal and plead but she will not relent.

“Okay, I give up, you don’t read too much Yuri!” Her fingers stop poking me in the sides, but she starts focusing on petting my belly?

“How much weight have you lost Penny?” Is she turned on and scared? Huh.

“I don’t know, but I look pretty good right?” I pull up my tank a hand span and poke at my tummy.

“Yes, but that’s not the point. Okay it’s nice. But they were starving you!” She looks into my eyes with concern, still has her hands on my middle.

“I, uh, kind of got some cursed mutations from exposure to too much raw Aether. I now can’t live without it, and though I can now convert food to regular energy and Aether, I do both at reduced efficiency.”

I felt the same way when I first found out. Then I set out to steal a bunch of food.

“Damn, I’m really glad you’re not dead. And now you should be naked so I can appreciate your sacrifice.

I reported as ordered, sporting brand new hip bones.

I neglected to put a movie on, but everyone knew what we were doing in here.