- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
357
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>PENNY LOG INITIALIZED
>MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: “ADRIAN” WITH: “Start log, force.”
>FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: “ADRIAN”
>LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY
(AD) Alright, where did I leave off…
>
>
(AD) Right.
(AD) This shouldn’t be too bad to scale up.
(AD) I’ve got this.
>
>
++++
PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY
++++
>
>
>
(AD) Phew.
(AD) How are they supposed to get this up to the castle?
>
(AD) Guess they’ll just have to move it in parts.
(AD) Anyway, shutdown.
>SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: “ADRIAN” WITH: “Anyway, shutdown.”
>SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
358
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>PENNY LOG INITIALIZED
>AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: “CRICKET” BY: “Shop door entry”
(CR) Adrian!
(CR) How’s progress?
(CR) The queen sent me this time, so I need something good to tell her.
(AD) Yeah, it’s moving along at a good pace.
(AD) I’ve almost got the main parts for the first build done.
(AD) That’s what all these parts are.
(CR) Your first build?
>
(CR) We’re down to six weeks, Adrian.
(CR) It took you way longer to test the little gun.
(CR) Are you sure you’re taking this seriously?
(AD) Of course I’m taking this seriously.
(CR) It’s just that since that last audience with the queen, you spent your first week doing nothing, and you’re only now rounding the corner on your first build.
(CR) Is everything really going ok?
>
(AD) It’ll be fine, Cricket.
>
>
(CR) Say, what’s that on your counter?
(CR) A ring?
(CR) I didn’t know you were doing more artsy stuff now.
(AD) Ah.
(AD) That’s actually a commission for somebody else.
(AD) I’m not supposed to say much else about it.
>
(CR) Another commission, huh?
(AD) This one was urgent.
>
(CR) Gotcha.
(CR) Can’t just leave people hanging on something like this.
(CR) Whoever it’s for is definitely getting their money’s worth.
(AD) I hope so.
>
(CR) Now that I think about it, you have been getting a bit more artsy recently, haven’t you?
(AD) What do you mean?
(CR) Well, you hadn’t drawn a face on any of your inventions before your little robot friend, had you?
(CR) You named it too, right?
(CR) Wasn’t it Penny or something along those lines?
>
(AD) I suppose I did, didn’t I?
(CR) Normally I’d say that’s very cool, and point out how much more charismatic it would make you, but right now I’m a bit too concerned about our time crunch.
(CR) I can’t help but feel like you’re not only risking yourself by taking all this time away from the project, but also risking me here.
(CR) We’re in this together, remember?
>
(CR) Anyway.
(CR) About how long do you think it’ll be before this thing fires its first shot?
(AD) A couple weeks, probably.
(CR) What?
(AD) This thing is too big and unwieldy to test like the prototype.
(AD) I can’t get it out to the spot without moving it in parts.
(CR) So you’re just spending all this time without knowing if it’s gonna work or not?
(AD) The schematics are good.
(AD) The prototype works.
(AD) I promise you, Cricket, that this will all turn out fine.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
>
(CR) I just hoped it would be more of a priority for you, is all.
(CR) What am I gonna tell the queen?
(AD) Tell her…
>
(AD) The construction is going well.
(AD) Seems like I’m on pace to have a finished build of the cannon for her by her due date.
(CR) And if she asks about your firing tests?
>
(AD) I worked out the issues with the prototype.
(AD) The focus now is on building.
(CR) She’s going to want to hear that there have been tests.
(AD) Isn’t your specialty telling her what she wants to hear?
(AD) I’ve got a lot more time to work on this now.
(AD) I’m doing everything I can to make sure this blows over fine for you.
>
(CR) I’ll think of something.
(AD) Thank you so much, Cricket.
(AD) I’ll have more results for you by next time.
(CR) I’m hoping so.
(CR) Best of luck, Adrian.
(AD) Thanks.
(CR) I’ve gotta get some other work done, so I’ll see you later.
(AD) Bye.
>AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: “” BY: “shop door exit and no customers in shop”
++++
LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY
++++
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
376
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>PENNY LOG INITIALIZED
>AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: “” BY: “Shop door entry”
(AD) Ah, Ted.
(AD) Got a plan for me yet?
? As a matter of fact, I have.
? We’re planning a two-phase assault.
? First, we use the prototype and any other ranged weaponry we can muster to clear the ramparts.
? Then, with them cleared, we can move up safely with the bomb and blow open the wall.
? From there, we’re in the castle and it’s up to us.
(AD) And my condition?
? I’ve talked it over with the others, and they’re willing to agree to it.
? No one in the castle gets hurt during our attack besides the queen.
>
(AD) That sounds like it should work.
(AD) Alright.
(AD) I’ll give you your bomb.
(AD) The prototype, too.
(AD) I don’t need it anymore.
(AD) I hope you can bring her down.
? I appreciate it, Adrian.
? We’ll make sure it happens.
(AD) I can hand over the prototype now, but not the bomb.
(AD) It’s too big to move easily, and the queen’s been watching me work.
(AD) She needs to see me making progress.
? How are we gonna get it?
(AD) We’ll move it in parts when you’re ready to take me into hiding.
? Alright!
? Can you believe it, Adrian?
? We’re almost there!
(AD) Just make sure you win.
? You can count on us!
(AD) Be careful with this.
(AD) Don’t let anyone see you with it.
? Of course.
? I’ll be going now.
(AD) Stay safe.
? You too.
>AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: “” BY: “shop door exit and no customers in shop”
++++
LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY
++++
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
381
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>PENNY LOG INITIALIZED
>MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: “ADRIAN” WITH: “Better have you listening for this one, Penny.”
>
(AD) Think she’ll like it?
>
>
>
(ZH) Hi, Adrian!
(ZH) Hi, Penny.
(AD) Hey, uh, Zhuli.
(ZH) Everything alright?
(AD) Uh, yeah, I’m just… nervous.
(ZH) Nervous?
(AD) I handed the weapon over to Ted, and I promised him the bomb.
(AD) He came to me with a plan, and it’s all I can do now to help however I can.
(AD) I just hope that when the time comes, everything goes the way he says it will.
(ZH) It’ll all go ok, Adrian.
>
(AD) That’s not all I’m nervous about.
(AD) Zhuli…
>
(ZH) Yes?
(AD) I don’t know how things will go up at the castle.
(AD) I don’t know how much time we have left together.
(AD) And just in case things go south, I don’t want to leave anything unsaid.
(ZH) Adrian. (?)
(AD) It took me a long time to figure out how to make this.
(AD) It’s not something I usually do, and I don’t really know much about what makes something nice.
(AD) I couldn’t just get it working and call it a day; I had to think about what would really make it special.
(AD) That’s why I had to ask you what made things special to you.
>
(AD) No matter what happens next, I want this moment, right now, to be something special.
(AD) You and me, right here.
(AD) Will you accept this ring from me?
>
>
(AD) Uh-
(ZH) Yes. (?)
(AD) Really?
>
>
(ZH) I can’t believe you made this for me. (?)
(AD) Well, of course I did.
(AD) You’re my Zhuli.
>
(ZH) I won’t forget.
(ZH) And when I look at this, I’ll remember just how much you care about me.
(ZH) Just how special I am to you, and how much you mean to me.
(ZH) And with that, I feel like I can make it through anything.
(AD) Hopefully, you won’t need to.
(AD) Hopefully, we can just be happy once this is over.
(ZH) Yeah.
>
(ZH) Do you remember how I said there was something I wanted to do?
(AD) Yeah.
(ZH) Well, I’ve done it.
(ZH) I’ve been spending my time up at the castle writing this.
(AD) A letter?
(ZH) Yes.
(AD) Is it for me?
(ZH) It is, but you can’t open it yet.
(AD) How come?
(ZH) It’s for after.
(ZH) Once all of this is over, when we can just be together.
(AD) Alright.
(AD) I’ll keep it safe until then.
(AD) I’ll hold it right here, in this pocket.
>
(AD) What’s in it?
(ZH) Adrian!
(ZH) That would be cheating!
(AD) Oh, alright.
>
>
>
(AD) What do you suppose Penny thinks about all this?
(ZH) I think she’s just happy for us.
>
(AD) Think she’s worried?
(ZH) I hope not.
>
>
(ZH) Maybe we should let her sleep for a bit?
(ZH) Just in case.
(AD) Sure.
(AD) Shutdown.
>SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: “ADRIAN” WITH: “Shutdown.”
>SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL!
++++
LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY
++++
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
403
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>PENNY LOG INITIALIZED
>AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: “” BY: “Shop door entry”
(AD) Uh, hello.
? Adrian Smith?
(AD) Yes, that’s me…
(AD) Why are you all here?
? We’ve been ordered to place you under house arrest.
(AD) What?
(AD) Why?
? It was uncovered that you made a romantic proposition to a member of the royal family.
? Not only did you do this without notifying Her Majesty the Queen, but you also did this while you were supposed to be working on a commission for Her Majesty.
(AD) What?!
? You will spend your time working on the commission for Her Majesty.
? This will be your first priority.
? You will not communicate with anyone outside of your house until you have finished the commission.
? Entry to your shop will be barred for the duration of your arrest.
? In the event that you need to test your invention, you will be accompanied to your preferred testing ground by at least two members of the Royal Guard.
? You are to show Her Majesty a finished product by her deadline, and pray that she has mercy on you.
? Effective immediately, you will be monitored at all times.
? We will position ourselves around the perimeter of your property for the time being.
? You will knock on your door from the inside if you need to carry out a field test.
(AD) Hold on!
(AD) You can’t just do this!
? Her Majesty has ordered that it be so.
? We’ll be taking our posts now.
? I suggest you get to work.
>AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: “” BY: “shop door exit and no customers in shop”