Status Update: 10
For once, you actually get to watch the rain outside. The lightning flashes grew annoying quickly, but you gave up on trying to turn down your light sensitivity after the eighth flash. The walls are all clear, so there's no real point in dialing things back unless you're turning off your visual processor entirely. Instead, you watch the rain, trying to find some enjoyment out of it as you absently hold up some of the worm grass to your neurons. (-2 worm grass)
You really do wonder how the scavengers are doing. With how strong the rain is, the burrow would flood immediately if the scavengers didn't have some means of handling it. But they didn't seem too bothered by that prospect. They must have something in place to divert the rain water, you just don't know what. You'd love to study it more.
[3 actions left.]
>Maybe their little burrow curves upward, that they have an air pocket? Though that's going to be annoying for them when they get out after rain.
There is likely a portion that's elevated relative to the entrance, but without a proper drainage system for the rain water, the burrow would flood overnight from the sheer volume of rain it would receive. Which means there has to be some sort of drainage system constructed down below. The question is what, and how. Sophisticated tool use was surprising enough, but to construct a drainage system, however primitive? Perhaps all of you have been underestimating the local fauna.
Of course, this all is simply guesswork. It could be that the ground absorbs more water than you would think; there were water collection systems in this part of your facility grounds, once, though by now they likely do not function anymore. But the mud around is already highly saturated with water, so it's unlikely it would absorb any significant portion of the rain water.
A drainage system. Built by scavengers. How wonderful. You have to wonder what it could possibly look like.
[2 actions left.]
>Now we are getting some rest, maybe clean the mud a bit? We can always find some water later but it would make you feel better now.
You almost forgot about that. You pull your lance closer with a sigh, half-heartedly scraping at the mud with your hand and watching as it falls to the lower level as splatters of brown. Really, it'd be better to rinse it in water, then dry it off, but it's not like you can be picky right now.
One cycle of being coated in mud shouldn't damage the lance too much, or at least you don't think so. It would take prolonged lack of care for it to begin to fall apart, even with your clumsy attempt at crafting this lance, so for now it should be okay. It's unpleasant to put aside the lance with smears of brown still on it, but what else can you do, really? With another sigh, you wipe your hands on the floor around you, with little effect on the amount of mud stuck to them.
It would be appalling to present yourself as you are right now to anyone. Covered in dirt and grime, carrying a weapon, mingling with the lesser beings... you're barely an iterator at this point, some would probably argue. More of an animal than a divine construct. No proper iterator should ever allow even a speck of dust to rest on their puppet, let alone accrue the degree of filth on you currently.
You scratch at the mud on your hands. It feels like you should care more, but truthfully, you don't. It's hardly like you were a 'proper' iterator to begin with. This changes nothing.
... forgetting. You almost forgot about the mud on your lance. If you were still in your can, you would have retained the knowledge with ease. You can keep so little in your active memory now. Though... you kind of prefer it this way.
[1 action left.]
>So Innocence, when we get into Pebbles’ facility, do we go see Moon first or Pebbles? And which route do you have in mind?
…
Is there a point in seeing Moon? She’s dead.
That is the point of this all though, right? You’re saving her. After you’ve dealt with Five Pebbles, maybe you can… see what’s left of her. Figure out what to do.
You just… need to get this done as quickly as possible. You just need to be fast about it. Whatever path you end up taking. The sooner you get to Five Pebbles, the better. Once you’ve done that, you can figure it out. You just need to deal with Five Pebbles first.
You look down at the ground again, at where you know where the scavengers are. What little miracles they must create. Silver would have loved to know about this. None of you had ever discovered such ingenuity from them back when you were all still connected—back when he was still alive. If only you could let him know your findings.
You curl into yourself, staring down at the ground as you prepare your processes to ride out the end of the cycle. If only, if only, if only.