《Penny Logs》 Logs 1-10 (Waking up) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (AD)Testing, testing, one, two, three (AD)blah blah blah blah blee blee blee (AD)Ahh, this is stupid. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >LINK FAILED >TEST EXIT WITH CODE 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >LINK ESTABLISHED > (AD) Ok, now let¡¯s see if. >POWER LEAK DETECTED >ATTEMPTING AUTOMATIC RECOVERY (AD) Crud. >AUTOMATIC RECOVERY FAILED >TEST EXIT WITH CODE 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >LINK ESTABLISHED > > > >INITIALIZED (AD) Nice. (AD) Let¡¯s just get this spinning. (AD) Report deviation. >NOW REPORTING TOP''S ANGLE OF DEVIATION FROM UPRIGHT POSITION: REQUESTED BY: "ADRIAN" >TOP DEVIATION: 2 DEGREES >TOP DEVIATION: 2 DEGREES ¡­ This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. >TOP DEVIATION: 2 DEGREES >TOP DEVIATION: 3 DEGREES >TOP DEVIATION: 17 DEGREES (AD) Wait no no no no wait. >TOP DEVIATION: 45 DEGREES >TEST EXIT WITH CODE TP-2 ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± ? Aw, it looks like it just woke up. (AD) Huh, I mean, I guess. (AD) It¡¯s not really awake per se. ? Its little ears just pointed at me. ? Is it listening. (AD) I mean, it¡¯s recording what you¡¯re saying, but it doesn¡¯t really understand. (AD) Mostly it¡¯s useful because it can tell me what happens during my tests a bit better. (AD) Watch. ? That little machine again. ? Did you finally get it flying. (AD) I sure hope so. >NOW TRACKING: WHIRLIGIG >WHIRLIGIG INITIALIZATION SUCCESSFUL >WHIRLIGIG ALTITUDE: 5 M ? Aw, its little head moved to watch. ? It¡¯s so cute. (AD) Forget that, the whirligig''s off the ground. ? That too. >WHIRLIGIG ALTITUDE: 15 M (AD) Anyway, it''ll be super helpful for working with the machines. (AD) I won¡¯t have to install command words into everything I build anymore. >WHIRLIGIG ALTITUDE: 30 M (AD) Land. >DECREASING WHIRLIGIG SPEED ? Where¡¯s it going. (AD) Crud. >FATAL ERROR: OUT OF BOUNDS EXCEPTION (LOCATION: 0XAAEF134CD) >TEST EXIT WITH CODE WG-12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) Maybe I should¡¯ve tested it more indoors. ? I¡¯m sure someone will be very happy to find it, Adrian. ? You probably made some kid¡¯s day. (AD) The kid won''t be able to turn it on. (AD) They won''t have the robot to make it start. (AD) I hope it doesn''t land on anyone. ? Oh, maybe the robot can still find it. ? Find. > > (AD) Oh. (AD) Yeah, that¡¯s not a command I programmed into it. (AD) Even if it was, I don¡¯t think it recognizes your voice. ? Oh, it doesn¡¯t. (AD) Hold on, I think we can fix that. (AD) Add user Zhuli. >ADD USER SEQUENCE: REQUESTED BY USER: "ADRIAN" >AWAITING SAMPLE AUDIO ? Ooh, will that make it understand me. >SAMPLE AUDIO FOUND >NEW USER: ZHULI (ZH) (AD) Well, try saying shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Well, try saying shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°try saying start log¡± (ZH) Adrian, you did it again. It just woke up. (AD) Oh, yeah. > (AD) Ok, well, say the other thing instead. (ZH) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 21-33 (Being Named) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± BY: ¡°log failsafe attention switch¡± > > (ZH) Adrian, did the little robot wake up on its own just now. (AD) What. (ZH) Well, I was looking at it and then it just popped its little head up at me. (AD) Oh, yeah. (AD) I programmed in some different ways for it to start recording, so that if one way doesn¡¯t work I can start it up a different way. (ZH) Why would you do that. (AD) Well, if it were unable to hear me for some reason, I could still get it to initialize by staring at it. (ZH) Oh, I see. (ZH) Cute. (AD) You really think it¡¯s cute, huh. (AD) Is that why you were staring at it. (ZH) Well, partly. (ZH) I was trying to think of a good name for it. (AD) What. (AD) Uh, it doesn¡¯t really need one, does it. (ZH) You wouldn¡¯t think that, would you. (AD) I mean, it¡¯s not a person or a pet or anything like that. (ZH) It helps you so much, though. (ZH) Hasn¡¯t it earned a name. (AD) It doesn¡¯t really care, Zhuli. (AD) It¡¯s just metal. (ZH) Well, that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t name it. > (AD) I mean I guess, but why. (ZH) You spend all day in that little shop of yours. (ZH) You could use another friend. (AD) It¡¯s not a friend, it¡¯s a. (ZH) It¡¯ll be fun. (ZH) Come on, what are some good names. >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± BY: ¡°log failsafe attention switch deactivated¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± BY: ¡°Maintenance log start trigger¡± with: ¡°It¡¯s a maintenance robot. I don¡¯t think names are really going to stick the same for it.¡± (ZH) Adrian, I don¡¯t believe you thought Hank was a good name for it. (ZH) I just don¡¯t. (ZH) Look at those ears. (ZH) It¡¯s so tiny. (ZH) Can you really call that a Hank. (AD) Hank is a dependable name. (AD) If you call somebody named Hank, and ask them to do a job, you just know they¡¯re going to do the job right. (ZH) That¡¯s. (ZH) Adrian, no. (ZH) We¡¯re not naming it Hank. (AD) You don¡¯t think Hank fits. (AD) Look at it. (AD) It just screams Hank to me. (AD) I can feel it calling out to me. (AD) Name me Hank, Adrian. (AD) This is what I need. (ZH) Adrian, stop. (ZH) I can¡¯t think of names when I¡¯m laughing. (AD) Alright, alright. (AD) What do you think we should call it. (ZH) How about Penny. (AD) That certainly is cute. (ZH) Isn¡¯t it. (ZH) It fits with the color, too. (AD) Well, look at that. It does. (AD) It¡¯s small like a penny too. (ZH) That settles it then. (ZH) From this day forth, your small friend shall be named Penny. (AD) Well, I. (ZH) She will be very cute and bring you much joy. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! (AD) I. (ZH) And all will be well. > (AD) Ah, that¡¯s too good. (AD) Nuts, how¡¯d it turn on again. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) What. (AD) Why. (ZH) I realized that Penny can record what we say, so this might be a fun way to remember things later. (AD) Huh. (AD) I guess you¡¯re right. > (AD) So, what was it that you wanted to record. (ZH) This. (ZH) Now we¡¯ll have it forever. > (ZH) Wait, this is the first time Penny¡¯s heard her name. (ZH) Hi, Penny. (AD) It can¡¯t understand you, Zhuli. (ZH) That¡¯s fine. (ZH) It¡¯s fun to imagine she can. (ZH) Just think, if we¡¯d thought of this a bit earlier, we could have recorded the whole conversation about naming Penny. (AD) Besides coming up with the name itself, did we say anything important. (ZH) It was all important. (AD) Was it. (ZH) I thought so, anyway. (AD) Must have been, then. (ZH) Anyway, we don¡¯t need to keep this on. (ZH) I¡¯ve made my point. (AD) Ok, shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Ok, shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) From all the way over there. (ZH) Yeah. (AD) But. (AD) Why. (ZH) I wanted to get your reaction. (AD) My reaction to ok Zhuli what are you carrying. (ZH) Paint. (AD) Paint. (ZH) Yes, paint. (AD) But. (AD) Why. (ZH) For Penny. (ZH) Hi Penny. (AD) You¡¯re gonna paint my robot. (ZH) It¡¯ll be fun. (ZH) We can give her a little face and she can be your friend. (AD) A face. (ZH) Yeah, so you can see where she¡¯s looking. (AD) It can¡¯t see, though. (AD) It doesn¡¯t look anywhere. (ZH) But Adrian, it¡¯ll make her so cute. (AD) Alright. (AD) We can paint a face on it. (AD) You¡¯ll have to help me, though. (AD) I¡¯m not very good at making things pretty. (ZH) We can do it together. (AD) Do you know how you want it to look ahead of time. (ZH) Cute. (AD) I mean, do you know where you want the eyes to be. (AD) Or do you know how big they¡¯re supposed to be. (ZH) Oh, no. (ZH) I was sort of thinking we¡¯d find out as we go. (AD) Maybe it¡¯d be a good idea to draw out a picture first so we know what we¡¯re doing. (ZH) That is a good idea. (ZH) Aw, I should have brought paper. (AD) I have some. (AD) Always keep some with me in case I need to make notes by hand. > > (AD)Alright, found the paper. (AD) So if this is Penny¡¯s head. (ZH) Ooh, maybe the eyes look like this. (ZH) And then a little smile. > (ZH) What do you think. (AD) This is plenty cute for me. (AD) What do you think. (ZH) She¡¯s your friend. (ZH) If you¡¯re happy, I¡¯m happy. (AD) I¡¯m happy, then. (AD) Should we get to painting. (ZH) Yes, let¡¯s. >UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE IN CONTACT WITH DISH HINGE >PLEASE CLEAN DISH HINGE (ZH) Why did she jolt up like that. (AD) It probably detected the paint and set itself to a safer position. (AD) Let¡¯s clean that up and turn this off so that doesn¡¯t happen again. (AD) I¡¯ll set it up to tolerate the paint later. (ZH) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (ZH) Alright Adrian, you can come back now. (AD) Is it everything you hoped it would be. (ZH) You tell me. > (AD) That is just the second cutest thing I ever saw. (ZH) You love it you love it you love it. (ZH) I¡¯m so glad you like it, Adrian. (AD) Yeah, I like it a lot. (AD) You did a good job, Zhuli. (ZH) We both did a good job. (AD) I guess we did, didn¡¯t we. (ZH) You two have to get along, now. (ZH) If Penny tells me you haven¡¯t, you¡¯ll be in serious trouble, mister. (AD) You don¡¯t have to worry about that. (AD) Penny can¡¯t talk. (ZH) I¡¯ll be able to tell. (AD) Oh, will you now. (ZH) I can always tell. (ZH) Oh, no. (ZH) I¡¯m sorry, Adrian, but I can¡¯t stay for any longer. (ZH) I have to get this paint back up to the castle before anyone notices it¡¯s gone. (AD) That¡¯s ok. (AD) I¡¯m glad you were able to come and stay as long as you did. (AD) Do you need help getting anything. (ZH) I can manage, but thank you. (AD) Stay safe on your way back up. (ZH) I¡¯ll do my best. (ZH) Bye. (AD) Bye. > > > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) Alright, will this work# >ERROR: EXPRESSION OUT OF BOUNDS >TEST EXIT WITH CODE 33 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) Well, that¡¯s not very good. (AD) Wait, it didn¡¯t shut down for that> >ERROR: EXPRESSION OUT OF BOUNDS >TEST EXIT WITH CODE 33 ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 74-92 (Learning to Listen) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 74 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (AD) Ok, statement. (AD) Question? (AD) Exclamation! (AD) Exclamatory question?! (AD) Ambiguous. (?) (AD) Well, would you look at that? (AD) This¡¯ll just make her whole day. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION: REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH ¡°start log¡± (ZH) Oh! (ZH) You¡¯re doing it too now? (AD) Yes I am, Zhuli. (AD) Yes I am. (ZH) I knew you¡¯d think it was a good idea! (AD) What can I say? (AD) You¡¯ve got a bunch of good ideas. (ZH) Aw, thanks, Adrian. (AD) I had a bit of a good idea myself since last time we talked, mind you. (ZH) Oh? (ZH) What¡¯s that? (AD) Well, I was reading through some of the logs when I realized it was kind of hard to tell what we sounded like in the moment. (AD) Everything just ended with a period. (ZH) Yeah, that would make it a bit hard to read. (AD) So it took some reading and some fiddling around, but I figured out how to get it to pick up on some stuff in our voices to use the right punctuation mark! (ZH) Was that hard? (AD) Yeah, it took forever. (AD) There are so many little things it has to pick up on and if it doesn¡¯t know how to handle those, it makes a whole big mess. (ZH) Well, I¡¯m glad you did it, Adrian! (ZH) It¡¯ll make them so much easier to read. (ZH) And I¡¯m so happy for you, Penny! (ZH) One step closer to being a real girl! (AD) Well, I don¡¯t know about that, but I definitely wouldn¡¯t have thought to do it if we hadn¡¯t painted that face on. (AD) Guess I ended up liking it after all. (ZH) Haha! (ZH) I knew you would! (AD) Yeah, you did a good job. > (AD) So, did you manage to get that paint back ok? (ZH) Yeah, I¡­ (ZH) I didn¡¯t get caught. > (AD) I¡¯m relieved you didn¡¯t get caught. (AD) I get so worried sometimes, you know? (ZH) I know. (ZH) I wish you didn¡¯t have to worry. (AD) If I¡¯m going to worry about something, I¡¯m glad it¡¯s about you. (AD) She¡¯s getting pretty old, right? (AD) The queen? (AD) This will all be over eventually, and we¡¯ll be there on the other end. (AD) You and me. > (ZH) I hope so. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. > (AD) I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to put a damper on the mood. (AD) Let¡¯s just enjoy the rest of your time. (AD) Not think about her, or the castle, or any of that. (ZH) I¡¯m glad you asked, Adrian. (AD) What? (ZH) I¡¯m glad you cared enough to ask. (AD) Of, of course I care. (ZH) It¡¯s just. (?) (ZH) Just. (?) (AD) Whoa, hey, whoa. (?) (AD) It¡¯s alright, Zhuli. (AD) It¡¯s gonna be alright. > (ZH) I¡¯m sorry. (AD) No, no, no. (AD) You don¡¯t need to be sorry. (AD) I¡¯m here for you. (ZH) It¡¯s just so lonely up there. (?) (AD) I know, Zhuli. (AD) I know. (AD) I wish I could send Penny right up there to the castle with you > (ZH) But then you¡¯d be lonely, wouldn¡¯t you? (AD) Small price to pay. (AD) I can always make another Penny. (AD) If I did that, then the two could be friends! (ZH) Haha, that¡¯s true. (ZH) What would they talk about? (AD) Uh. (?) (AD) Well, they probably wouldn¡¯t since they¡¯re still robots. (ZH) Adrian! (ZH) You were doing so well, too! (AD) I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry. (AD) I did my best. (ZH) We¡¯re gonna have to keep working on it. (AD) Oh! (AD) Rats! (ZH) What? (AD) The darn thing¡¯s been on this entire time. (ZH) Is that bad? (AD) Well, that was some pretty heavy stuff we talked about. (AD) Maybe not the kind of thing to keep on record forever. (AD) Maybe best to call shutdown for now. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Maybe best to call shutdown for now.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 80 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± BY: ¡°log failsafe attention switch¡± > > > (AD) Hmm¡­ > > > > (AD) Maybe some kind of a flower design¡­ > > (AD) Not sure if I have the tools for that. > > > (AD) Zhuli would be able to plan this out way better. (AD) I¡¯ll bet she could figure out something nice in half a second. > > (AD) Where would I even start? (AD) Probably has a bunch already¡­ > (AD) Need to find a gemstone, too¡­ > > (AD) Oh, crap. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 92 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± (ZH) Adrian! (AD) Oh, uh, wait a second Zhuli what are you doing here?! (ZH) I came by to say hi! (AD) At this time of day? (ZH) Relax! (ZH) I was able to make it out just fine! (AD) Uh, uh, uh. (?) (ZH) What are you reading? (AD) Nothing! (ZH) Adrian, you can tell me. (ZH) It can be our little secret. (AD) That, uh, won¡¯t be necessary. (ZH) Come on, just show me the cover! > > (AD) Zhuli, please. (AD) Don¡¯t. (ZH) Oh, come on, Adrian. (ZH) You¡¯re so cute when you read the little romances! (AD) I. (?) (AD) That one¡¯s not a romance. (ZH) Then why make a big fuss? (AD) Please, just put the book down. (ZH) Jewelry? (ZH) I didn¡¯t think you were interested in this stuff. (ZH) Adrian, that¡¯s so cute! (AD) Zhuli¡­ (ZH) Honestly, I don¡¯t see what the big fuss was about. (AD) I. (?) (AD) Zhuli, the fuss is that I asked you to not look. (ZH) Yeah, but it¡¯s not like it was anything bad. (AD) Maybe not, but don¡¯t you think that if I asked for that, I probably had a reason? > (ZH) So, what was the reason? (AD) Can¡¯t say. (ZH) Aw, come on! (AD) Sorry, but I can¡¯t. (AD) This time, I just need you to trust that there is a reason, and that I can¡¯t say. (ZH) Alright¡­ (AD) Just in general, I need you to respect that I want to keep some things private. (ZH) But why would you want to keep secrets from me? (AD) It¡¯s not about keeping secrets, Zhuli. (AD) I trust you a whole lot. (AD) But sometimes, there are things you just can¡¯t tell anyone. (AD) Not even the people you trust. (AD) I just hope you¡¯ll respect that that¡¯s what I need here. (ZH) I¡­ (ZH) Alright. (AD) I¡¯ll do the same for you, if it ever comes down to it. (ZH) Why would I keep secrets from you? (AD) Well, what if you wanted to surprise me with something? > (ZH) I guess I¡¯d have to keep it secret, at least for a while. (ZH) Alright, I¡¯m sorry I looked at your book, Adrian. (AD) That¡¯s ok, Zhuli. (AD) Thanks for understanding. > (AD) Oh, crap, the darn thing¡¯s on again. (ZH) Wait, Penny heard all that? (AD) It turns on whenever someone walks in the door. (ZH) Well, shutdown! >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH: ¡°Well, shutdown!¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 96-148 (Uncle Cricket) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 96 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± ? Adrian! (AD) Cricket! (AD) Is it really you? ? I sure hope so, sometimes I have to double check! (AD) Here, let¡¯s get you sat down. (AD) They¡¯re working you as hard as always, huh? ? Oh, it¡¯s not so bad once you get used to it. ? Just gotta keep putting in the hours for a little while longer, and things are gonna straighten out just fine! (AD) I sure hope so, Cricket. (AD) I get- ? I know how worried you get, Adrian. ? I appreciate it, but I¡¯m doing fine. ? Really. > (AD) If you say so, Cricket. (AD) Those bags under your eyes are telling me a different story. ? Oh, that¡¯s just their luggage. They¡¯re gonna drop it off once I¡¯m back at the castle. (AD) Here, get comfortable. (AD) I¡¯ll get you some tea, you just kick your feet up and relax. ? I¡¯d appreciate that. (AD) It¡¯ll just be a minute. > > > ? Well, hello, what are you? ? Another one of Adrian¡¯s little toys? > ? Some kind of bunny? >UNKNOWN PERSON IN CONTACT WITH DISH HINGE >NO USERS WITHIN 10 FEET OF ¡°PENNY¡± >FAUX SHUTDOWN INITIATED ? Whoa! ? Uh. (?) ? Uh. (?) ? Hey, Adrian?! (AD) Tea is almost ready! ? Your, uh. (?) ? Your little toy is, uh. (?) (AD) Hold on, I¡¯ll be there in a second. > ? Oh god oh god oh god oh god oh god (AD) Alright! ? Gyeh! (AD) Here¡¯s your tea, Cricket. (AD) Now, what is it you were saying? ? Your little, uh, your little friend¡­ ? I touched it and its head just slumped over! ? Did¡­ (AD) Oh, that¡¯s just Penny. ? Penny? (AD) Yeah, it¡¯s a little robot I made to help me with field tests. (AD) When someone it doesn¡¯t know touches it, it pretends to shut down. ? What? Why? (AD) Just an extra little anti-theft measure. (AD) Not that I think you¡¯d steal it, of course. ? Oh. ? You named it Penny? (AD) Uh, yeah. (AD) Sort of a long story. (AD) Crisis averted. >FAUX SHUTDOWN END REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Crisis averted.¡± ? Oh! (AD) Yeah, now it¡¯s up and looking for stuff to link to again. ? Link? (AD) Yeah, I link it to my other machines and then they can send it data to record. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ? That¡¯s pretty clever, Adrian. ? You haven¡¯t changed a bit on that front. (AD) Thanks, Cricket. (AD) Guess I should properly introduce the two of you, huh? ? Introduce? (AD) Add user Cricket. >ADD USER SEQUENCE: REQUESTED BY USER: "ADRIAN" >AWAITING SAMPLE AUDIO > > (AD) You have to say something. >SAMPLE AUDIO MATCHES USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >CANNOT CREATE NEW USER >AWAITING SAMPLE AUDIO ? Well, hello, Penny. >SAMPLE AUDIO FOUND >NEW USER: CRICKET (CR) (CR) Nice to meet you. (AD) That should do it. (AD) Now, try touching it again. (CR) Well, would you look at that. (CR) I think it likes me. (AD) It doesn¡¯t think, unfortunately. (CR) It likes me anyway. (AD) Who doesn¡¯t? (CR) No amount of work can crush my overpowering charisma! (CR) This is the proof. > (CR) Anyway, I should probably get down to business, huh? (AD) Business? (AD) You? (CR) Yes, I know. (CR) Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯ll be quick. (CR) The queen¡¯s got a huge commission lined up for you, Adrian. > (CR) This is good! (CR) It¡¯ll be easy street for you if you can get it done. > (CR) You ok, buddy? (AD) What¡¯s the commission? (CR) She¡¯s looking for a large, force-empowered cannon. (CR) Described it as ¡°something that fires pure magic.¡± (CR) Said it¡¯d be nice not to have to waste time on reloading, or to spend resources on ammunition. > (CR) She had a list of specifications, let me see if I can find the paper anywhere. > (AD) A weapon? (CR) That¡¯s what I said. (CR) Let¡¯s see¡­ (CR) In there? (AD) What¡¯s she want it for? (CR) Who can say? (CR) It¡¯d be good to have if someone were to ah! (CR) Here it is! (AD) Let me see that. > > (AD) Cricket, this doesn¡¯t look possible. (CR) If there¡¯s anyone who can do it, it¡¯s you, Adrian! (CR) You just have to put your noggin to use this one time, and you¡¯re set for life! (AD) She wants it done in a week! (CR) She wouldn¡¯t set you a task if she didn¡¯t think you were up to it. > (AD) Cricket, what am I supposed to do? (CR) Go for it! (CR) Full send! (CR) You could do whatever you wanted with this kind of money! (AD) I guess I don¡¯t have much choice, do I? (CR) If you didn¡¯t at least try, I¡¯d think you were crazy. (AD) Thanks for letting me know, Cricket. (CR) I¡¯m just excited to see what you come up with, friend! (CR) Listen, I appreciate the tea and the hospitality, but I have a few more house calls to make before bedtime. (AD) You can¡¯t stay for a bit? (CR) Sorry, but it¡¯ll have to be another time. (CR) It was good catching up, Adrian! (CR) Bye! > (AD) Bye¡­ > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 97 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± (AD) Alright, just some quick notes before bed. (AD) I can do this. > > > (AD) What am I going to do? > (AD) Force empowered cannon, huh? (AD) I haven¡¯t done anything like that before¡­ (AD) And at that scale? > > (AD) She¡¯s crazy. > > > (AD) I can¡¯t do this. (AD) I¡¯m going to bed. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 130 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± (AD) Thirty-third time¡¯s the charm, right? >LINK ESTABLISHED TO: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (AD) Ok, good. >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >CORE TEMPERATURE REACHED SAFE LIMIT >TEST EXIT WITH CODE FC-8 ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 148 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± ? Hey, Adrian! (AD) Hi, Ted. (AD) Before you say anything, I want to tell you that I can sell you stuff, but I¡¯m still not able to supply your revolution. ? I know that. ? I wish you¡¯d reconsider, but I won¡¯t push it on you. (AD) Good. (AD) Now, what can I help you with? ? Well, my wheelbarrow¡¯s been out of sorts lately. ? I think it¡¯s just about gotten to the end of its life. (AD) Are you wanting a replacement? ? Yup yup! ? Really, I just need something that rolls. ? The old one¡¯s practically stuck in place at this point. (AD) I can get that done for you in a couple days, probably. (AD) I¡¯m a bit loaded up on commissions right now, but I¡¯ll try to make time. ? Thanks a million, friend! ? I¡¯ll check back then. ? See you, Adrian! (AD) Bye. >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°shop door exit and no customers in shop¡± ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 154-160 (Getting to work) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 154 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± (CR) You sure about that, Adrian? (AD) I need to hear exactly what she wants, to the letter. (AD) I¡¯m not risking any mistakes here. (CR) Well, I can¡¯t blame you for that. (CR) She¡¯s pretty excited about this whole thing, you know. (CR) Says you show promise. (CR) She called you the best craftsman in town, Adrian! (AD) That¡¯s not much of a title anymore, Cricket. (CR) That¡¯s not the point! (CR) The point is that she¡¯s excited about you! (CR) You can carry that momentum all the way to the bank. > (CR) Oh, looks like that¡¯s your cue. (CR) Knock ¡®em dead, Adrian! (AD) Thanks. > > ? Adrian Smith. (AD) At your service, your majesty. ? What progress have you made on my commission? (AD) Progress has been slow, your majesty. (AD) This is a new field of study, and there are a great many design issues that I simply don¡¯t have answers for at this time. ? That is unacceptable. ? My understanding was that you were the best our kingdom had to offer. > (AD) I¡¯m sorry if this disappoints you, your majesty. (AD) As it stands, there are many points of failure in the machine that require more time to develop. ? How much time? (AD) It is difficult to say without further study, your majesty. (AD) It¡¯s only been a week. ? I would have expected that a week would be more than enough time for someone who claims to be the best at his craft. (AD) I never claimed that. ? Are you contradicting me? > (AD) Of course not, your majesty. ? You will devote your full time, attention, and energy toward addressing these critical points of failure. ? You will treat my commission with the utmost importance. (AD) I understand, your majesty. ? I am, of course, willing to grant you the time you need. ? If you are insufficiently skilled to complete the commission in a week, then so be it. ? We will speak again in a month. ? I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me again. > (AD)Thank you, your majesty. ? Dismissed. > > > > (AD) Gone already? (AD) He just can¡¯t sit still, can he¡­ > > > (ZH) You feeling ok? (AD) How much did you hear? (ZH) The entire thing. (ZH) She really dug into you. > (AD) Aren¡¯t you nervous? (ZH) Yeah, but there¡¯s nobody here now and I had to check. (AD) Thanks. (ZH) You¡¯d better keep walking. (ZH) We can talk next time. (AD) See you then. > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 159 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ? Hey Adrian, just here to check on that wheelbarrow. (AD) Oh, Ted. > (AD) I¡¯m sorry, but I still don¡¯t have that ready for you. ? That¡¯s just too bad, Adrian. ? Still backed up on commissions? (AD) Yeah, this one I¡¯m working on now has been giving me all sorts of trouble, and I¡¯m on a really tight timeline for it. (AD) I haven¡¯t been able to put much time into anything else. ? Must be tight if you can¡¯t get your other stuff done. ? It wouldn¡¯t happen to be something for the queen, would it? > ? Well, I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t a bit disappointed, but I won¡¯t press you any further on it. ? Just remember that this town needs its blacksmith, whether you¡¯re helping the revolution or not. (AD) That¡¯s why this commission takes top priority. (AD) This town needs its blacksmith, after all. > ? Do what you need to do. ? Hope it works out for you. ? Bye, Adrian. (AD) I¡¯ll get your wheelbarrow done as soon as I- >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°shop door exit and no customers in shop¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 160 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log, force.¡± >FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY > >LINK ESTABLISHED TO: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY > >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± CORE TEMPERATURE REACHED SAFE LIMIT >TEST BATTERY 1 TERMINATED; CODE: FC-8 (AD) Figures. >INITIATING COOLDOWN SEQUENCE FOR: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± > > > > > >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡° CORE TEMPERATURE RETURNED TO BASELINE (ELAPSED TIME: 62 SECONDS) (AD) Alright, let¡¯s get you opened up. >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± OFFLINE > > > (AD) Reduced the power of the shots to test the cooling system under reduced strain. > >LINK ESTABLISHED TO: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >TEST BATTERY 1 COMPLETE! >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± TEMPERATURE AT 74% OF SAFE LIMIT FROM BASELINE > (AD) Crap. > (AD) How am I supposed to cool this thing? > (AD) Start test battery 2. >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 2 (RAPID FIRE STRESS TEST) > COMMENCING RAPID FIRE > (AD) Gah! >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± UPPER CASING SHELL PIECE LOST >TEST BATTERY 2 TERMINATED; CODE: FC-2 (AD) Well, fiddlesticks. > > (AD) Can¡¯t have gone too far¡­ > > > (ZH) Adrian! (ZH) Hi! (AD) Hi, Zhuli. (ZH) What¡¯s wrong? (AD) I. (?) (AD) It¡¯s been a tough day. (ZH) Want to tell me about it? (AD) This is supposed to be your time to relax. (ZH) I don¡¯t mind. > (AD) Are you sure? > (AD) This new machine is being impossible, one of the pieces went flying into the woods, the cooling system isn¡¯t working, I just lost at least two hours of work, I haven¡¯t eaten today, I never made that wheelbarrow for Ted, and it¡¯s all just. (?) (ZH) Here, take a deep breath, Adrian. (ZH) Sit down, right here. > (ZH) That¡¯s it, deep breaths. (ZH) Did you say you were doing something with Ted? (ZH) Is that more resistance stuff? (AD) No, just a wheelbarrow. (AD) I should have been able to get it done, but it¡¯s just so busy right now. > (AD) I have to find that part. (ZH) Don¡¯t worry about the part, we can look for it together. (ZH) For now, you need a break. (AD) Thanks, Zhuli, but I. (?) (ZH) No buts! (ZH) I¡¯ll help you find the part. (ZH) Just relax. > (AD)Thanks, Zhuli. (ZH) You¡¯re very welcome. > (ZH) You know, I haven¡¯t seen you this worked up about one of your projects in a long, long time. (AD) I have to be. (AD) She could drop the hammer at any second, and the slower my progress, the worse my odds get. (AD) Can¡¯t leave the town without a smith. > (ZH) Do you think she¡¯d do it? (AD) You know her better than me. (AD) I¡¯m not willing to risk it. > (ZH) What did she ask you to build? (AD) It¡¯s a weapon. (AD) A cannon that can shoot without ammo. (ZH) Of course. (AD) The basic principle is pretty simple, but the amount of output she wants from the machine is just ridiculous. (AD) When it¡¯s not overheating it¡¯s bursting at the seams, and when it¡¯s not doing that something else is falling off or melting or causing problems. (ZH) Do you want to build it? (AD) Of course not! (AD) Especially not for her. (AD) But what choice do I have? > > (ZH) You know, I¡¯m sure if Penny had arms, she¡¯d give you the biggest hug to try to make you feel better. > (AD) Why? (ZH) Like I said, to make you feel better. (AD) No, I mean, why do you act like Penny thinks all these things, when it clearly doesn¡¯t? > (ZH) I think it helps. (AD) Helps? (ZH) Up at the castle, I have a lot of dolls. (ZH) Each one has a name and a life, and they help me to feel less lonely. (AD) Zhuli¡­ (ZH) And I know it¡¯s not real, I know they don¡¯t actually think anything, but when you¡¯re in that place, you need all the help you can get. > (ZH) One day, I want to introduce them to you. (ZH) All my friends. > (AD) I¡¯ll be excited to meet them. (ZH) Thank you. > > (ZH) I¡¯m sorry to say this now, but I¡¯m worried if I wait any longer I¡¯ll forget. (AD) What¡¯s the matter? (ZH) We¡¯re going to have to change our time again. (AD) Is she catching on? (ZH) She is. (ZH) I was worried I wouldn¡¯t be able to leave the castle today. (AD) I¡¯m glad you did. (ZH) What time would work best for you? (AD) I think I¡¯m going to end up out here a lot more often for the foreseeable future. (AD) Whatever time you can leave, I¡¯ll make it work. (ZH) I¡¯ll aim for sundown. (ZH) That way, when it¡¯s getting too late to keep working, we can spend some time together before you go back home. (AD) I¡¯d like that. > (AD) Zhuli, I¡­ > Yes? (AD) I¡¯m so thankful for you. (AD) You just find a way to make everything better. (ZH) I¡¯ll keep doing it, as many times as it takes. > > (ZH) Well, should we get looking for your part? (AD) We probably should. (AD) Hopefully, we can find it faster with the two of us. (ZH) We definitely can! > (AD) Oh, I forgot. (AD) I set Penny to only shutdown by command for this one. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°I set Penny to only shutdown by command for this one.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 230-243 (Watching Him Worry) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 233 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°CRICKET¡± WITH: ¡°You said its name was Penny, right?¡± (AD) Yeah that¡¯s right. > > (CR) Has it helped much with your tests? (AD) As much as it can. (AD) Tells me what¡¯s going wrong, but I¡¯m no closer to knowing how to fix it. (AD) The specs just ask for too much power. (CR) Sounds like the tests aren¡¯t going too well, then. > (CR) Think your little prototype will be done by next week? (AD) I¡¯m doomed. (CR) Chin up, Adrian. (CR) The queen can be harsh, but I think she¡¯ll be willing to give you more time. (AD) Did you hear her last time I was there? (CR) I know, she got a bit upset with you, but- (AD) A bit upset? (AD) Cricket, she wanted this done in a week. Do you think she¡¯s going to be any kinder after a month? > (CR) Listen, I know as well as anyone else how hard she works people. (CR) At the same time, she¡¯s not going to set an impossible task. (CR) It¡¯s hard in the meantime, but the results are hard to argue with. (AD) She¡¯s completely lost touch with reality, Cricket! (AD) She has no clue about any of what I¡¯m doing here, and no clue about how long it takes or how hard any of it is. (CR) It¡¯s a lot to get used to. (CR) I don¡¯t deny that. (CR) At the same time, working for her has made me a whole lot better at my job. (AD) Every time I see you, you look years closer to your death, Cricket. > > (CR) Maybe I get a bit tired out, but it¡¯ll be worth it in the end. (CR) I¡¯m working my way up, one step at a time, and I really think it¡¯s going to turn out for the best in the end. (CR) Look how far I¡¯ve already come, Adrian! (AD) I don¡¯t know how far you¡¯ve come, Cricket. (AD) Every time I¡¯ve seen you you¡¯re running errands, and you never have time to tell me how far you¡¯ve come. (AD) Do you want me to be happy for you, that you¡¯re working yourself into the ground? (CR) I¡¯ll have you know that I do a lot more than run errands, Adrian. (AD) Do you? (AD) I haven¡¯t seen. (CR) I¡¯m so much closer with the queen than I used to be. (CR) I think she¡¯s really starting to trust me. (AD) Do you think she¡¯ll trust you enough to let you take a break soon? (CR) She¡¯s counting on me. (CR) I can¡¯t abandon her just when she¡¯s starting to count on me! > (AD) It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve talked. (CR) We talked earlier this month, didn¡¯t we? (AD) Since we¡¯ve really talked. (AD) I just wish it could have been on better terms. > (CR) I¡¯ll put in a good word for you with the queen. (CR) See if I can get you some more time. (AD) Thanks, Cricket. > > (CR) Sorry, but I need to get going. (AD) Thanks for checking up, Cricket. (AD) Sorry I didn¡¯t have better news for you. (CR) Just keep at it. (CR) I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have your breakthrough before too long. > > > > (AD) Start log, force. >LOG START REQUESTED WHILE LOG ACTIVE >TERMINATING CURRENT LOG AND STARTING NEW LOG WITH ¡°Start log, force.¡± This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 240 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Penny.¡± (AD) Oh, she¡¯ll just love that. > (AD) Well, uh, hi, Penny. (AD) Maybe just save this for her, huh? (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 242 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH: ¡°Hi, Penny!¡± (ZH) Ah! (ZH) She woke up all by herself! (AD) I thought it might be a good idea to make her respond to her name. (ZH) How come? (AD) I just thought it would be a nice little touch. (ZH) I like it! (AD) I¡¯m glad. (ZH) Didn¡¯t that take time away from your work? (AD) It was a pretty easy thing to add. Took me maybe thirty minutes. (ZH) I think it¡¯s a nice touch, Adrian! (ZH) I¡¯m sure Penny is grateful, too! (AD) I sure hope so. > (ZH) Adrian, what do you think is going to happen? (AD) What do you mean? (ZH) You¡¯re under all this pressure, and I¡¯m worried about what the queen is going to do. (ZH) It seems like she¡¯s already starting to get suspicious of our new time, and I¡¯m worried she¡¯s got people watching me. > (ZH) What¡¯s going to happen to us? (AD) Whatever happens, we¡¯re going to make it out of this. (AD) We have to. (AD) If she decides to come after you, or lock you up, we may have no choice but to run. > (ZH) That¡¯s¡­ (ZH) Won¡¯t she catch us? (AD) She might. (AD) But we won¡¯t just let her. (ZH) I¡¯m scared, Adrian. (AD) Me too, Zhuli. (AD) If things don¡¯t go well in tomorrow¡¯s meeting, I. (?) (ZH) That won¡¯t happen. (ZH) Things will go well, I promise. > (ZH) You¡¯ll get more time to finish your project, and everything will turn out ok. (ZH) You¡¯ll be safe, at least. > (AD) Think about what we could do with that kind of money, Zhuli. (AD) We could find people, they could help us disappear. (AD) We could escape. > (ZH) Where would we find them? > (AD) I don¡¯t know. (AD) But at least if we have that kind of resource, we can start trying to find a way out. (AD) We wouldn¡¯t just be stuck here anymore. > (ZH) I¡¯d like that a lot. (AD) We could find somewhere quiet, away from all this. (AD) Maybe start up a new shop somewhere better. (AD) If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? > (ZH) I don¡¯t know. (AD) You don¡¯t know? (ZH) I. (?) (ZH) I haven¡¯t really thought about it that much. > (AD) No? (ZH) I¡­ (ZH) I used to, but after a while I just didn¡¯t want to anymore. > (AD) Would you like to start again? (ZH) I¡¯m scared. (AD) Scared? (ZH) I don¡¯t want to think about it, because then I start waiting for it to happen. (ZH) And then something bad happens, and I just. (?) (ZH) I just feel like it won¡¯t. (?) (ZH) It won¡¯t get better. (AD) Zhuli, I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to help you do what you want. (AD) After this job, I¡¯ll be able to start looking for ways out. (AD) Finding ways to get us both out. (ZH) What about the town? > (ZH) Don¡¯t they need you? > (AD) If I have to stay, I will. (AD) If you can get out and do what you want, it¡¯s enough for me. (ZH) But what if what I want is to be with you? > (AD) I don¡¯t know, Zhuli. (AD) But I want to figure it out. (AD) I want us to figure it out together. (ZH) I just want to be happy, together, with you. (AD) Me too. (AD) It might take years, but I promise you we will make it happen. (AD) However long we have to wait. (AD) Whatever it takes. > > > (ZH) I love you, Adrian. > (AD) I love you too. > > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 243 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± > > > > (CR) She¡¯s ready for you, Adrian. (AD) Thanks, Cricket. (CR) Knock ¡®em dead! > > ? Adrian Smith. (AD) At your service, your majesty. ? What progress have you made on my commission? (AD) Your majesty, I have made measurable progress towards the completion of a viable prototype with reduced power. (AD) There are still many obstacles between us and the final product as you requested it, but the prototype should be ready for demonstration within the month. ? I am utterly appalled by your slothful treatment of my commission. ? Did we not agree last time we spoke that you would have the commission ready for me today? > (AD) I. (?) (AD) I thank you for your patience in this matter, your majesty. ? My patience runs thin. ? Do not make light of what little patience remains. (AD) Understood. (?) ? Your majesty! > ? Can you not see that I am in the middle of an audience? ? This is rather an urgent matter, your majesty. ? If it¡¯s as urgent as you say, then cease your delay. ? I caught this one snooping just outside. ? Seems like she was listening in on your private audience. > > ? Smith, you are dismissed. ? I have a more pressing concern. > (AD) Of course, your majesty. > > > > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 258-301 (Pulled in all directions) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 258 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log, force.¡± >FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY (AD) I¡¯m not sure what you expect to see, Cricket. (CR) The queen just asked me to check up on you again, so I took the chance to see my friend. (AD) Check up, huh? >LINK ESTABLISHED TO: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± (CR) Oh, you know. (CR) She wants to hear about the steps you¡¯re taking. (AD) That so? >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (CR) Whoa! >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (CR) Adrian, you¡¯ve been holding out on us! >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (AD) No, I haven¡¯t. >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (CR) That looks like a lot of power to me. >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (AD) Not as much as she wants. >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± CORE TEMPERATURE REACHED SAFE LIMIT >TEST BATTERY 1 TERMINATED; CODE: FC-8 (CR) Hoo! (CR) She¡¯ll be so excited when I tell her about this! >INITIATING COOLDOWN SEQUENCE FOR: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± (AD) It¡¯s sitting at about a third of the power output she wants for the size, operating just shy of three quarters the running time she wants. (AD) I¡¯ve optimized the cooling just about as far as it can go, but if I do too much more I¡¯m gonna have to start making the system bulkier, and that makes the machine all sorts of unwieldy and it spirals out of control fast. (AD) Darn thing¡¯s gonna be even harder to cool once it¡¯s bigger, and I¡¯ll have even less room to work with. > >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡° CORE TEMPERATURE RETURNED TO BASELINE (ELAPSED TIME: 34 SECONDS) (CR) I¡¯m going to be honest, Adrian, beyond the very basic concept, I don¡¯t really know how the machine works. (CR) I¡¯m only really able to tell the queen what I see. (CR) And what I see is my friend doing a good job on her commission, but feeling like he¡¯s not doing enough. (AD) And does she seem like the sympathetic kind to you? (AD) Will she care how I feel? (CR) She¡¯s kind once you get to know her, Adrian! > (CR) She¡¯s helped me climb this far, after all. (CR) She trusts me! (CR) I wish I could get a bit of that trust from you as well. (AD) I do trust you, Cricket! (AD) I don¡¯t trust her! (CR) But I¡¯m telling you you¡¯re in a good spot with her. (CR) Do you trust me, or not? > > (AD) During my meetings with her, she has spent the bulk of the time telling me how awful I am at my job. (AD) Does that really suggest I¡¯m in a good spot with her? (CR) You told her during both of your previous meetings that you were making no progress. (CR) This doesn¡¯t look like no progress to me. (AD) I said progress had been slow, and that I needed more time. (AD) And I have the logs to prove it, so don¡¯t start. (AD) She wanted this done in a week, Cricket. (AD) A week! (AD) Now, we¡¯re rounding the corner on month three. (AD) How can you possibly say I¡¯m in a good spot? > (CR) Adrian, let me clue you in on something that¡¯s helped me out up at the castle. (CR) You get places with the queen by showing her what it is that she wants to see, even if it sometimes seems strange. (CR) What the queen wants from you is glowing bolts of destruction that hurt like hell. (CR) From what I can see, you have that already. (AD) And has that helped you in your job? (AD) Fawning, making a show of things for no good reason? (AD) Because the way I see it, you¡¯re still running the same errands you were before, and- (CR) I do not just run errands! > (CR) I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, Adrian. (CR) Look, I¡¯m not really supposed to talk about this, but if it¡¯ll help you I think it¡¯s worth it. (CR) Recently, I¡¯ve been managing more than just errands for the queen. (CR) I¡¯m in charge of the census, like always, but I¡¯ve also been keeping some ledgers, running some numbers, and even giving advice. (CR) I absolutely have moved up, and I wouldn¡¯t have if I hadn¡¯t been thinking like this from the start. (CR) You¡¯ve earned a compromise or two with this, and I think you can get away with it. (CR) Just think about it for me, okay? (CR) There¡¯s still a lot of the month left. > (AD) Alright, Cricket. (AD) Thanks. (AD) I¡¯m counting on you. > (CR) I won¡¯t let you down, buddy. (CR) Now, I do have a couple other¡­ (CR) Errands. (?) (CR) To run before I head back up to the castle, so I¡¯m going to have to leave. (CR) Thanks for chatting. (AD) Yeah, same. (AD) Thanks for talking. (CR) Bye, now. > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. 267 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± > > > > > > > > (AD) C¡¯mon¡­ > > > > > (AD) Zhuli! (ZH) Hi, Adrian. Sorry I¡¯m so late. (AD) What happened? (AD) I waited out last week, but¡­ (ZH) Things have been getting harder at the castle. (AD) Are you alright? (AD) Did you get in too much trouble for listening in? (ZH) You know how it is. > (AD) Are you keeping yourself safe? (ZH) I¡¯m trying. (ZH) I left late today because I was worried someone was following me. > (AD) What are we gonna do? > (ZH) How¡¯s your commission coming? (AD) What? (ZH) How¡¯s your commission coming? (ZH) I¡¯m hoping she¡¯ll loosen up a bit once it¡¯s done. > (AD) It¡¯s nowhere near where it needs to be. (AD) You wouldn¡¯t know that if you asked Cricket, though. (ZH) What? (AD) He was here a couple days ago, checking up on my progress. Apparently he¡¯s supposed to come once a week now. (ZH) I¡¯ve seen him around the castle, but I haven¡¯t talked to him much. (ZH) He¡¯s your friend, right? > (AD) Yeah. (ZH) Must be nice. (AD) What? (ZH) Having someone up at the castle in your corner, I mean. (ZH) I¡¯m a bit jealous. > > (AD) He¡¯s changed. (ZH) Changed? (AD) He¡¯s so different from how he used to be. (AD) He always looks exhausted, and he¡¯s so focused on his position now. (AD) That¡¯s all he cares about, and even when he¡¯s trying to help me, that¡¯s what he thinks I should care about. (AD) I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s still in my corner. > (ZH) Maybe it¡¯s a curse. (AD) Pardon? (ZH) Maybe the castle is cursed, so that everyone who lives there has to be miserable. > > (AD) Zhuli¡­ (ZH) Maybe it¡¯s a sickness. (ZH) But you know what I think it is? > (ZH) Her. (ZH) She plays with the people around her like dolls, until she¡¯s torn them apart and made them miserable. (ZH) Then she throws them away and gets new ones. (ZH) If she can¡¯t throw a doll away, she¡¯ll lock it in a room somewhere until it¡¯s forgotten what the sun feels like. (?) > (AD) How many times have you seen it? (ZH) I never wanted to count. (ZH) One was enough. > > (AD) What was it like? (AD) Seeing the sun again? (ZH) It¡¯s the scariest thing I¡¯ve ever done. (ZH) Everything was so bright and loud, and huge. (ZH) The first time I managed to sneak out I just stood there for a while, looking at everything. (ZH) I didn¡¯t really even understand what was going on around me. (ZH) On my first few outings, I mostly just walked around. (ZH) I¡¯d go into town sometimes, but I didn¡¯t have much to do there. (ZH) I was just excited to see something new. > (ZH) And then I met you. (ZH) You and your exploding machine. (ZH) Oh, don¡¯t be embarrassed, Adrian, I¡¯m sure it was amazing before it exploded. (AD) I just. (?) (AD) Why does that have to be your first memory of me? (ZH) I think it¡¯s cute. (AD) Well, I don¡¯t! (AD) I spent a week on that thing! (ZH) I¡¯ll never forget your face when you got caught! (AD) I was so scared you were going to laugh, or run and tell someone. (AD) I thought it was all over for me, then and there. (ZH) Well, I¡¯m glad I didn¡¯t. > (AD) Me, too. (ZH) Adrian¡­ (ZH) What are we going to do? > (AD) We¡¯ll survive. (AD) We¡¯ll help each other, and make it through together. (AD) If there¡¯s even a chance that finishing the machine will help the queen to ease up on you, I¡¯ll do it. (AD) I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s impossible, I¡¯ll just have to find a way. > (ZH) How long did you spend on the machine today? (AD) I didn¡¯t keep track. (ZH) I was going to say this earlier, but you look like death. (ZH) I don¡¯t want her to tear you apart, too. (?) > > (AD) I¡¯ll make sure that doesn¡¯t happen. (AD) I need to survive too, after all. (AD) Let¡¯s just relax for now. (ZH) Yes, let¡¯s. (AD) Do you want to keep Penny on? (ZH) She was listening to all that? (AD) Yeah, I, uh. (?) (AD) Woke her up while I was waiting for you. (AD) Didn¡¯t think things would get quite so heavy. > (AD) Sorry. (ZH) Don¡¯t be sorry, Adrian. (ZH) This was an important conversation. (ZH) I¡¯m glad we have it recorded. (ZH) I think we can let her sleep for a while, though. (ZH) She¡¯s probably tired after all that. (AD) Uh, right. (AD) Gotcha. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 298 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log, force.¡± >FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY >LINK ESTABLISHED TO: ¡°MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡± CORE TEMPERATURE REACHED SAFE LIMIT >TEST BATTERY 1 TERMINATED; CODE: FC-8 (AD) Twelve, huh? > >¡±MINI CANNON PROTOTYPE¡° CORE TEMPERATURE RETURNED TO BASELINE (ELAPSED TIME: 14 SECONDS) (AD) Getting faster with it, at least. > > > > (AD) Alright, let¡¯s try that. (AD) Start test battery 1. ++++ PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 301 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± ? You¡¯ve been backed up for months now, I still don¡¯t have my wheelbarrow, you¡¯ve been doing stuff for the queen, and now I find out it¡¯s a weapon?! ? Well? (AD) How did you find out about that? ? We¡¯ve got a mole up at the castle. ? Damn good thing, too, because otherwise we would¡¯ve been completely blindsided. > (AD) What do you mean? ? What do you think she wants something like that for? ? Just to look pretty? > (AD) Not really my job to wonder¡­ ? What was that? (AD) It¡¯s not my job to think about why. (AD) And I can¡¯t afford to bring on that kind of risk. ? Of course you can¡¯t. ? Can¡¯t risk your own skin, that¡¯d stop you from helping the town. ? Better to give her the power to blow it up instead, that way you avoid risk. ? Can you see the problem there, Adrian? > ? If you finish that weapon and give it to her, we¡¯ll have to disband. ? I can¡¯t ask people to fight if I know they can¡¯t win. (AD) So, what am I supposed to do? (AD) You want me to go up against the queen, refuse to make her weapon, and give her an excuse to put me in a ditch? (AD) Does that sound like a fight I can win? ? Yes. ? You win because you¡¯ve denied her her weapon. (AD) I would be dead. (AD) How many times have you seen it happen? ? But the rest of us could survive. ? We could still fight! (AD) Nothing else would change. (AD) You¡¯d still lose. > > ? It¡¯s because of people like you. (AD) What? ? People like you are why we lose. ? You can see that what she¡¯s doing is bad, but you¡¯ll help her anyway because you¡¯re scared. (AD) Hey- ? You helped us so much when you were working with us, but you got scared and ran to the queen instead. (AD) Hold- ? And now you¡¯re letting her use you, like you¡¯re some kind of- (AD) Enough! (AD) I won¡¯t listen to any more of this. (AD) You think I don¡¯t care about this town? (AD) I could have left by now, you know. (AD) I¡¯m the only smith left because I care. ? You only care until there¡¯s risk. ? Then you turn tail and hide. (AD) If it were just me, I wouldn¡¯t have even left the revolution. (AD) That still doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s okay for me to die. (AD) If I die, the town ends up without a smith. ? How convenient for you, that what¡¯s best for the town lines up with your self preservation. ? Does that extend to giving the queen more powerful weapons to crush us with? > (AD) If I turn down the queen, I will die. (AD) No matter what happens, we¡¯re in a bad spot. ? Then don¡¯t turn her down. ? Tell her you¡¯re still working on the weapon, delay however you can, just don¡¯t hand it to her! > ? I know it¡¯s not an easy thing to do, but if you give her that weapon you¡¯ll completely doom this town. ? Why not let us use it, instead? ? We¡¯ve been waiting for the right time to make our move, if we had something like that we might be able to finally win! ? If you really care about this town, and the people in it, then I¡¯m begging you. ? Don¡¯t give her that weapon. > (AD) I¡¯ll¡­ (AD) I¡¯ll need to think about it. (AD) I don¡¯t want to put something like this in her hands, I really don¡¯t. (AD) For now, please just give me some time. > ? Alright, Adrian. ? I hope to hear good things from you. >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°shop door exit and no customers in shop¡± ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 324-334 (Pulled Yet Further in Every Direction) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 324 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log, force.¡± >FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY ++++ PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ (AD) Start test battery 1. >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 1: >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY (AD) Wait. >TEST BATTERY 1 COMPLETE! (AD) Wait. (AD) What? (AD) What?! > > (AD) Start test battery 2. >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 2 (RAPID FIRE STRESS TEST) > COMMENCING RAPID FIRE > > > > (AD) What?! > >TEST BATTERY 2 COMPLETE! > > (AD) Start test battery 3. >BEGINNING TEST BATTERY 3 (SINGLE SHOT STRESS TEST) > >SHOT FIRED SUCCESSFULLY! >TEST BATTERY 3 COMPLETE! > > (AD) I. (?) (AD) I did it. (?) (AD) I did it! > (AD) I did it! > > (AD) What am I gonna do? > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 325 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log.¡± > > > (CR) Adrian? (CR) She¡¯s ready for you. (AD) Thanks, Cricket. > (AD) You¡¯re coming in, too? (CR) Bit of an upgrade from errands, if I do say so myself. (CR) Anyway, I¡¯ll be cheering you on. (CR) Quietly. > (AD) Thanks. > > ? Here you are again. ? Adrian Smith, best craftsman in our fair kingdom. ? Or so you claim. > ? Report on your progress. (AD) Yes, your majesty. (AD) Just last night, I was able to finish a small prototype of the larger design. (AD) This is a strong step forward from our last meeting, and its construction will allow me to create the full-scale version much more effectively. (AD) There may be issues in scaling up the weapon, but the existence of the prototype shows that in principle, the machine should be possible to make. > (CR) Of course, your majesty. (CR) While I have not seen Adrian¡¯s finished prototype, I have seen earlier versions of his work and been favorably impressed by the results. (CR) The destructive force his cannon is capable of is nothing short of amazing to me. (CR) If he says he has a finished prototype, I am inclined to believe him. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ? Excellent. ? You will transfer your prototype into my care after our meeting. ? I will send a courier to retrieve it. (AD) I need that to finish the full- ? Are you not this kingdom¡¯s brightest inventor? > (CR) If I may, your majesty¡­ > (CR) Adrian surely is a great and bright inventor, as you say. (CR) Surely we should trust him to understand his needs as an inventor? (CR) He may be able to build the full-scale creation, as you know, but perhaps allowing him to keep his prototype would expedite the process. (CR) Of course, I trust that you will come to the best decision on how to proceed. > > ? Your words ring with truth, Cricket. ? Adrian Smith, I am going to grant you a boon. ? You will be allowed to keep your prototype weapon for now to aid in your construction of my masterpiece. ? You have a period of two months to complete my weapon. ? At the end of that two months, you will give me my weapon for our agreed upon price. ? You will also give me the prototype, in exchange for the extra time I am granting you. ? Do you agree to these terms? > (AD) Two months may n- ? Do you agree to these terms? > (AD) Yes, your majesty. ? I knew we could come to an understanding. ? These last two months mark the end of my generosity, Adrian Smith. ? Use them wisely. > (AD) Thank you, your majesty. ? You are dismissed. > > > (CR) Well, how about that? (CR) A finished prototype, huh? (CR) I knew you could do it. (AD) Two months¡­ (CR) You can do it! (CR) And once you hand it over, all your troubles are gone! > (CR) Well, anyway. (CR) I need to go back and take care of some other things. (CR) I¡¯m proud of you, Adrian! > (AD) Thanks. (AD) Good luck with your work. (CR) See ya! > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 330 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ZHULI¡± WITH: ¡°Hi, Penny!¡± > (AD) Did she say anything back? (ZH) Just hi. > (AD) I¡¯ll have to take your word for it. > (ZH) So, what are we gonna do today? (AD) Actually, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been a bit worried about, and I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do. (ZH) Worried again, huh? (AD) Feels like I never stopped worrying. (AD) Ted found out about the commission, and he doesn¡¯t want me to hand it to the queen. (ZH) Ted? (ZH) I hadn¡¯t thought about that. (ZH) Do you think she¡¯d use it against the revolution? (AD) Ted certainly does. (AD) He stormed into my shop and started telling me that if I give the queen what she wants, the revolution will be dead in the water. (AD) He wants me to give them the weapon instead. (ZH) That¡¯s a good idea. (AD) You think so? (ZH) Don¡¯t you think if they had something like that on their side, they¡¯d stand a better chance against the queen? (AD) A better chance, but the queen¡¯s still definitely got the upper hand. (ZH) Isn¡¯t that still good, though? > (AD) It is. (AD) The problem is, I¡¯m scared. (AD) What happens if I give them the weapon, and then they lose? (AD) The queen will come after me as well, and then there¡¯ll be no revolution and no blacksmith. > (ZH) Is that really why you¡¯re scared? (AD) What do you mean? (ZH) Sit with it for a second. (ZH) Are you really scared because you don¡¯t want to leave the town without a blacksmith? > (AD) I am scared of that, but that¡¯s not the only reason I¡¯m scared. (AD) I¡¯m scared because of you. (AD) I don¡¯t want to lose you. > (ZH) Adrian¡­ (AD) Before, it would have been easy. (AD) I hand over the weapon and help out the town, and whatever happens happens. (AD) But now¡­ (AD) And I don¡¯t even know if handing over the weapon will work. (AD) I won¡¯t just give you up for nothing. > (ZH) Adrian, do you know why I love you? > (ZH) Every time I¡¯ve needed to talk to you, you¡¯ve been right here for me. (ZH) You care so much about whatever you¡¯re putting effort into. (ZH) Every time I watch you with a new invention, I can see just how much you want it to succeed, how much time and thought and energy you¡¯ve put into it. (ZH) And then you turn to me, and talk to me, and help me, and you make me feel like I¡¯m special to you. (ZH) I can see just how much you care. (ZH) I can see it right now. (ZH) I don¡¯t know what I¡¯d do if I lost you. (ZH) I really don¡¯t. > (ZH) But at the same time, I have to ask. (ZH) Is it really right? (ZH) Would the Adrian I know and love really doom the town to life under the queen, because he was afraid? > (AD) I don¡¯t want to doom people. (AD) I just don¡¯t want to lose you, either. > (ZH) Overthrowing the queen would help me too, you know. (ZH) We wouldn¡¯t have to hide any more, for one thing. (ZH) I wouldn¡¯t have to live with her anymore, either. (ZH) I know you¡¯re scared. (ZH) I know how much you worry. (ZH) But if this went well, we could be happy. > (AD) I¡¯ll. (?) (AD) I¡¯ll need to think about it some more. (ZH) Hey, should we keep Penny awake if we¡¯re talking about this? (AD) Me talking to you is already pretty dangerous, but this does seem like a step up. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 334 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°CRICKET¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± (AD) Oh, Cricket! (CR) Adrian! (CR) You¡¯re the man of the hour right now! (CR) The queen¡¯s getting real excited about your project. (CR) You¡¯ve got a lot to live up to! (AD) Which reminds me, actually, I¡¯ve been meaning to thank you. (CR) Oh? (AD) You really saved me back there at the castle. (AD) If she had taken the prototype¡­ (CR) It was nothing, Adrian. (CR) Gotta help however I can, right? (CR) If she doesn¡¯t get her hands on that project, we¡¯re both in trouble. (AD) Is that so? (CR) Yep. (CR) Especially now that I¡¯ve suggested she let you keep the prototype. (CR) That¡¯s actually why I came to check on you; how¡¯s that progressing? > (CR) If I¡¯m being honest, I went to the testing spot before I came here. (CR) I sort of expected you¡¯d be working on it there. (AD) I haven¡¯t started yet. (CR) What?! (CR) It¡¯s been a week! (AD) I¡¯ve been behind on commissions from people in town for months. (AD) Now that I have a bit of breathing room, I¡¯m helping them before I can¡¯t anymore. (CR) Isn¡¯t that a bit risky for you? (CR) I mean, you¡¯ve used up an eighth of your time already. (AD) The reason I¡¯m a smith here at all is to help people. I can¡¯t just completely ignore them. (AD) I lost sight of that for a while. (CR) What about us? (CR) It¡¯s not just you who¡¯s feeling the risk here, Adrian. > (CR) We¡¯re in this together now. (CR) Right? (AD) Right, of course. (AD) I¡­ > (CR) You? (AD) I¡¯ve just had a lot to think about recently. (AD) What am I gonna do? (CR) Well, I think you¡¯re gonna finish the weapon no problem, and then you¡¯ll give it to the queen and then you¡¯ll be home free! (CR) As long as you don¡¯t waste any more time, that is. > (AD) Wasting time? (AD) How can you say that? (AD) Cricket, helping the town is why I¡¯ve stayed here for as long as I have. (CR) I¡¯m not arguing that it¡¯s important, but it¡¯s not really the main focus here. (CR) Gotta look out for each other, right? > (CR) Anyway, this was my own little excursion. (CR) It¡¯s not an errand, so I don¡¯t need to report on anything to the queen. (CR) I won¡¯t tell her you haven¡¯t started yet. (AD) Thanks. (CR) Just make sure you start before she actually sends me, yeah? (CR) Gotta have good news for her, or else she can get a bit testy. (AD) Yeah. (AD) I can do that. (AD) Sorry for worrying you, Cricket. (CR) All we can do is keep moving forward! (CR) You¡¯ll get it done. > (CR) Anyway, I have actual jobs to do for the queen today, so I need to leave. (AD) It¡¯s always too soon with you. (CR) Well, you know how it is. (CR) Maybe once this whole weapon deal¡¯s cooled down, I¡¯ll have more time on my hands. (CR) Toodles! (AD) Bye. >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°shop door exit and no customers in shop¡± ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 341-350 (Pushing Back) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 341 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Shop door entry¡± ? Hello, Adri- (AD) I don¡¯t want to hear it. (AD) I¡¯ve had it up to here with you walking into my shop and telling me what to do with my time, and berating me for trying to survive. (AD) We¡¯re all trying to survive here, me included. (AD) If you have a problem with that, maybe you¡¯re not cut out to be helping people. > ? Is that it, then? ? You throwing in with her? (AD) I didn¡¯t say that. (AD) I want to see the queen come down just as much as you do, but I¡¯m not interested in risking it all for no good reason. (AD) Your mole probably told you already, but I¡¯ve finished my prototype. (AD) You want it so bad? (AD) I can give it to you, but not with the current situation. (AD) The way I see it, you have no plan to actually win the fight. (AD) You¡¯ve been ineffective for years, and if that keeps up then giving you the weapon will be completely meaningless. (AD) I have a deadline of about seven weeks from now. (AD) What are you going to do to win the fight by then? > ? You know, I¡¯ve actually got good news for you on that front. ? You see, we¡¯ve been in a panic since we heard about the meeting, scrambling to come up with a plan as quick as we could. ? I know you and I have had our differences, Adrian, but the others have put together a plan that ought to impress even you. (AD) I¡¯m all ears. ? From what the mole has gathered, your full-scale weapon design wouldn¡¯t be very mobile. Not good for mounting any sort of attack. ? On the other hand, your prototype is small enough to move around, and apparently it still packs a punch. ? At least enough to thin out the guards and cover an approaching force. ? How do you think it would do against a castle wall? ? Say, the eastern wall? (AD) Poorly. (AD) The full-scale machine might be able to bring down a wall like that, but the prototype isn¡¯t bringing down any walls. ? That is a problem. ? If we had a way to bring that wall down, we could get in and really make some progress. (AD) How about a bomb? ? Pardon? (AD) The big issue with this machine has been that it overheats and becomes dangerous to use. (AD) The thing is, there¡¯s no shortage of actual power. (AD) If you just need a raw, destructive force, I can put something together. (AD) You¡¯ll need a way to get it safely to the castle, though. (AD) If you can show me you have a plan for that, I¡¯ll help. ? I¡¯ll ask the others about it, and we¡¯ll have a plan before you know it. ? If you don¡¯t mind me asking, Adrian, why the sudden change of heart? (AD) I do mind you asking, actually. > ? Oh, yeah. ? I really don¡¯t want to put you in any more danger than I have to. ? Us resistance folk are prepared to hide you in the stretch of time leading up to our charge. ? It¡¯ll keep you that much safer, and we can work out any last-minute wrinkles in the plan if you¡¯re there. (AD) I¡¯d appreciate that. > ? Well, thanks for being willing to cooperate, Adrian. ? I¡¯ve said some awful stuff to you in the past. (AD) I have one more condition. ? What¡¯s that? (AD) Once you¡¯re in the castle, you won¡¯t hurt any unarmed people besides the queen. > ? I¡¯ll tell the others. ? We¡¯re planning on our charge around the same time as your deadline, so it would be best if you could plan to have the bomb ready by then. ? For now, stay safe. (AD) Bye, Ted. >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°shop door exit and no customers in shop¡± ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 348 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Alright, Penny, let¡¯s get started.¡± (AD) Still feels weird. > > (AD) Alright. (AD) For later, this log is just me thinking about ring ideas. (AD) Not really testing anything. (AD) It¡¯s probably safe to delete. > > > (AD) Where did I put that book? > (AD) Ah. (AD) Let¡¯s see here¡­ > > > The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. > (AD) How am I supposed to know which of these are good? (AD) It¡¯s not like there¡¯s some measurable output to a ring. (AD) What do you think, Penny? > > (AD) What am I saying? > > ++++ PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ > > > (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 349 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Let¡¯s get this set up, Penny.¡± > > > (AD) Alright, looks good. > > > > (ZH) Adrian! (ZH) What¡¯s all this? (ZH) A picnic? (AD) Oh, hey, Zhuli! (AD) I wanted to do something nice today. (ZH) That¡¯s so nice of you! (ZH) You¡¯ve been so busy lately. (AD) Feels like a really important thing to do. (ZH) How come? (AD) There¡¯s a lot to talk about. (ZH) Oh, yeah, hi, Penny! (AD) She¡¯s already¡­ (AD) Awake? (ZH) I¡¯m so proud of you, Adrian! > (ZH) Anyway, what was it you wanted to talk about? (AD) I decided to hand the prototype over to the resistance. (ZH) You did? (AD) I wasn¡¯t initially going to. (AD) They haven¡¯t gotten rid of the queen yet, and the risk is very high. (ZH) So what made you change your mind? > (AD) You. (AD) You were right. (AD) It¡¯s not right for us to be happy at the expense of everyone else. (AD) That would make us just as bad as her. (AD) And I do want to help you. (AD) If I could, I¡¯d snap my fingers right now and make it so you never had to see her again. (ZH) Adrian¡­ (AD) Don¡¯t get me wrong. (AD) I don¡¯t want to just hand it over for nothing. (AD) I made them come up with a plan to use it to get rid of the queen before the deadline for my commission. > (ZH) That¡¯s¡­ (ZH) That¡¯s really soon! (AD) It is. (AD) In less than two months, it¡¯ll all be over. (AD) If this works, you¡¯ll be. (?) > (ZH) I¡¯ll be free. (AD) Yeah. > > (ZH) Thank you so much. (AD) Don¡¯t thank me until it¡¯s worked. (AD) There are still a lot of unknowns here. > (ZH) That¡¯s not what I meant. (ZH) You were willing to take that risk. (ZH) To try something that would help me, even though you were scared. (ZH) I want to thank you for that. > (AD) Well, of course I want to help. (AD) You¡¯re my Zhuli. > (ZH) It¡¯s all going to be over. (?) (ZH) I .(?) > > (ZH) I¡¯m sorry. (?) (AD) No, let it out. (AD) We¡¯re almost there. > (AD) It¡¯ll all be over before you know it. (AD) And it¡¯ll just be you and me. (ZH) It doesn¡¯t feel real. (AD) It will be. (AD) I promise. > > (ZH) If you¡¯re not giving the queen her weapon anymore, what are you going to do? (AD) I¡¯ve got to build something else for the revolution. (AD) The good news is, it should be a lot easier to make than a full-scale weapon. (ZH) What¡¯s that? (AD) A bomb. (AD) With the overheating problems the weapon has been having, I can build the weapon and the bomb at the same time. (AD) As long as I neglect to add the cooling system, the weapon effectively is a bomb. > (ZH) What? (AD) They want to blow open one of the castle walls. (AD) Then they can run in and do the deed. > (ZH) That¡¯s scary, Adrian. (AD) I¡¯m only handing over the bomb on the condition that they don¡¯t hurt anyone in the castle besides the queen. (AD) You¡¯ll come out ok. (ZH) I hope so¡­ > (AD) Let¡¯s not worry about that for now. (AD) Either Ted will come back with a good plan, or he won¡¯t. (AD) All we can do is worry about the meantime. (ZH) The meantime? (AD) We¡¯ve got a little under seven weeks to work with before this big deadline. (AD) We¡¯re taking a big risk here. (AD) Is there anything you want to get done while you definitely still can? > (ZH) Hmm¡­ (ZH) There is one thing! (AD) Well, what is it? (AD) Maybe we can make it happen. (ZH) I can¡¯t tell you. (ZH) Sorry, I don¡¯t want to keep a secret from you, but I can¡¯t say this. (ZH) Besides, you need to be focused on building that bomb. > (ZH) Is that ok? (AD) Of course, Zhuli. (AD) Just know that if you need any help getting it done, I¡¯m here for you. (ZH) Thanks, Adrian! > > (AD) This is going to seem like it¡¯s coming out of nowhere. (ZH) What? (AD) What makes something feel¡­ (AD) Special to you? > (ZH) What do you mean? (AD) What are your favorite things? (AD) And why are they so important to you? (ZH) Hmm¡­ > (ZH) Well, I like my dolls. (ZH) They¡¯ve been my friends for so long now. (ZH) I think that makes them pretty special. > (ZH) I like being outside. (ZH) The sun feels nice, and I don¡¯t have to be scared like in the castle. (ZH) That¡¯s special. > > (ZH) I love you. (ZH) You¡¯re special. > (ZH) You have beautiful eyes. (ZH) Did you know that? (AD) What? (ZH) Yeah. (ZH) They¡¯re this deep amber color. (ZH) I think they¡¯re calming to look at. > (AD) You¡¯re special too, Zhuli. (AD) You know that? > > > (ZH) Thanks. (?) (AD) I mean it. (AD) I¡¯ve never met anybody quite like you. (AD) Talking to you is like a breath of fresh air. (AD) You look at the world with so much joy and excitement, and it makes me want to see it the same way. (AD) Whatever¡¯s behind my eyes, you had a hand in putting it there. > > > (ZH) Really? (AD) I love you, Zhuli. (ZH) I love you too. > > > (AD) You know, these sandwiches are going to get soggy. (AD) Should we eat? (ZH) Let¡¯s. (AD) Maybe best to turn Penny off for now. > (AD) Ah, sorry. (AD) Put her to sleep. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 350 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°You hear that, Penny?¡± (AD) She said she likes my eyes. > > (AD) You know, I think we might have a bit of topaz left over from that light I made a while back. (AD) You think that would be good? > > > > (AD) There it is. (AD) Guess I¡¯d better get to drawing, huh? > > ++++ PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ > (AD) How¡¯s that look? (AD) Any good? > > (AD) Don¡¯t really know what I¡¯m waiting for here. > (AD) Maybe I¡¯ll just get started on working. > ++++ PORTION OF LOG OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ > (AD) Well, that looks good to me. (AD) Think she¡¯ll like it? > (AD) Anyway. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ Logs 357-403 (Last Fresh Air) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it > (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¡± Logs 404-463 (How it All Got to This Point) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 404 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Start log, force.¡± >FORCED LOG REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± >LOG WILL ONLY TERMINATE MANUALLY (AD) Thinks she can just do this to me, does she? (AD) Not on my watch. (AD) Not after all this. > > (AD) Where did I put the- (AD) Ah! > > (AD) We¡¯ll show her, Penny. (AD) And you¡¯re gonna help me. > > > (AD) There we go! (AD) How does that feel? >FORCE-EMPOWERED MINI-CANNON INITIALIZED! >RUNNING STABILITY TESTS: > - > \ >WARNING: CENTRAL POWER COMPONENT LOOSE >ABORTING STABILITY TEST (AD) That so? > > (AD) How about now? >RUNNING STABILITY TESTS: > - > \ >| >/ >WARNING: CENTRAL POWER COMPONENT LOOSE >ABORTING STABILITY TEST > (AD) Not making it easy for me, are you, Penny? (AD) Guess I¡¯ll have to take a closer look. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 415 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Morning, Penny.¡± (AD) Crud, not actually time for testing yet. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 446 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Alright, ready, Penny?.¡± (AD) Cannon. >FORCE-EMPOWERED MINI-CANNON INITIALIZED (AD) We¡¯re gonna knock the guys outside down, and then we¡¯ll bring all these parts to Ted. (AD) Got it? (AD) Go! > ? Hey, wha- >SHOT FIRED ? Everyone, converge on the front! (AD) Crud. (AD) More than I thought. (AD) Shutdown, Penny. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown, Penny.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 447 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Hey, Penny.¡± (AD) I¡¯ll just tell you what happened, since you missed it. (AD) There were too many of them, and you wouldn¡¯t have been able to take them all down. (AD) Nobody actually saw you fire, so they let me keep you. (AD) Can¡¯t imagine what I¡¯d have done otherwise. > (AD) What are we gonna do? (AD) Do we have to just sit here now? (AD) Hope Ted manages to pull off a miracle? > > (AD) Guess I¡¯ll see if I can do anything more for the bomb, just in case. (AD) Should still have a few weeks. > > > (AD) I need a break. (AD) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! ++++ LOGS OMITTED FOR BREVITY ++++ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 462 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >AUTO INITIALIZATION: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± WITH: ¡°Extreme surrounding temperature¡± >SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE AT 100% UPPER SAFETY LIMIT >POSSIBLE STATE OF EMERGENCY DETECTED >FORCE-EMPOWERED MINI-CANNON INITIALIZED > >CONNECTION LOST TO SHOP DOOR; PLEASE ENSURE THE DEVICE IS POWERED ON AND CONNECTING > (AD) Getting hard to breathe¡­ > > (AD) Come on! > ? So you made it out. ? Adrian Smith, you are under arrest. (AD) What?! (AD) It¡¯s still a week to the deadline! (AD) Does she think I can work without a house?! >SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE AT 110% UPPER SAFETY LIMIT ? Your prototype was found in an attack on the castle. ? You will be brought to the castle immediately and tried for crimes against Her Majesty, the Queen. (AD) Like hell I will! >SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE AT 120% UPPER SAFETY LIMIT >SHOT FIRED ? The rabbit¡¯s dangerous! ? Kill it! >SHOT FIRED >SHOT FIRED ? Don¡¯t let them escape! >SHOT FIRED ? After them! > >SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE AT 110% UPPER SAFETY LIMIT > (AD) Did we lose them? >SURROUNDING TEMPERATURE BELOW UPPER SAFETY LIMIT >EMERGENCY STATUS CLEARED >AUTO SHUTDOWN: TRIGGERED BY USER: ¡°¡± BY: ¡°Temperature returned to normal levels¡± - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 463 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >PENNY LOG INITIALIZED >MANUAL INITIALIZATION REQUESTED BY: ¡°ADRIAN¡± WITH: ¡°What happened, Penny?¡± (AD) We had another week! (AD) Everything was going to work out! (AD) All he had to do was¡­ (AD) Why didn¡¯t he just come get the bomb from me? > > (AD) Is Zhuli okay? (AD) What do you think happened to her? > > > (AD) Please, say something¡­ > > > > > (CR) The jig is up, Adrian. (AD) Cricket! (AD) You¡¯re safe! (CR) Helping the resistance? (CR) This entire time? (CR) I thought we were in this together, Adrian. > (AD) I told them to keep you safe. (AD) I told them not to hurt you. (CR) I thought I could trust you. (AD) Cricket¡­ (CR) I was already worried when you went under house arrest. (CR) You managed to keep that secret of yours for an awful long time. (AD) Zhuli! (AD) Is she okay? (CR) She¡¯s dead, Adrian. (CR) She died in the attack. (AD) What? (CR) There¡¯s nothing left for you here. (AD) No, that isn¡¯t true! (CR) Take your robot and run. (AD) Cricket, please¡­ (CR) Shutdown. >SHUTDOWN REQUESTED BY USER: ¡°CRICKET¡± WITH: ¡°Shutdown.¡± >SHUTDOWN SUCCESSFUL! Supplemental Material: Zhulis Letter Dearest Adrian, I love you. No matter what¡¯s happened, I want you to know that. Carry it with you, and remember it forever. If everything went right, I¡¯ll tell you every day and make sure it sticks. If it didn¡¯t, you¡¯ll need to remember it for me. Maybe this letter can help with that. You are my favorite person. You helped me to stand when it was hardest. You always treated me with kindness, even when I didn¡¯t think I deserved it. No matter what¡¯s happened, that won¡¯t change. I love you. If everything worked out okay, then here are some promises from me to you. I will always be there for you, just like you were for me. I will do everything I can to make you smile. To give you even a fraction of the happiness you¡¯ve given me. I will show you all the things that gave me joy, that kept me going, and hopefully some of them will give you joy too. I¡¯ll stay by your side for as long as you¡¯re willing to have me. I¡¯ll love you every day for the rest of my life. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. If something happened and we can¡¯t be together, then I need you to read this next part. It¡¯s probably hard to read this letter at all, but this is important. I want you to be happy. I want you to live your life, and I want you to enjoy every second of it. Maybe that¡¯s what it means for me to love you. Even if it can¡¯t be with me, no matter what happened, please live a good life. If you have to be sad about whatever has happened, do it as quickly as possible. Then, be happy. If you can, do it for me. Writing this letter is what I wanted to do. I wanted to write it and give it to you before anything happened, so that you could know how much I love you. I¡¯m sorry I had to keep it secret from you, but I hope it gives you comfort to know that even when you didn¡¯t know what I needed to do, you still helped me do it. I¡¯m so excited to be able to share this with you. No matter what happens, no matter where we end up, I mean every word of it, and I always will. Say hi to Penny for me, Adrian. Be happy, Adrian. I love you, Adrian. Always yours, Zhuli Supplemental Material: How we met (Adrian) Here I am, at my favorite testing spot, working on a new sword for the revolution. This one is supposed to light on fire when it¡¯s swung, to pack that extra bit of punch. It¡¯s not anything revolutionary, but it¡¯ll help me break into weapon design and really start helping. I¡¯m excited about it; I¡¯ve been working on it for weeks, and it¡¯s my first time testing it out. Hopefully, if everything goes well, it will work without issue. I don¡¯t want to keep Ted and the others waiting. I tuck the exposed wires back into the hilt, cover the opening with the removable plate, and stand up. It¡¯s time to test. I flick a small switch on the bottom of the hilt. The runes on the sword start to glow orange; a good sign. This matches what the runes are supposed to do, at least based on my reading. I take a quick breath in, and swing the sword. As I swing, it lights ablaze, leaving a bright orange trail in its wake. Pleased, I stand there for a moment, sword at my side, and think about what just happened. It worked! And then, I look at the sword. It¡¯s still on fire. Worse, in my inattentiveness, I had let the tip touch the grass at my feet. I hastily stomp out the small fire before it can spread, and look to the sword. It¡¯s difficult to tell through the flames, but the glow of the runes has deepened into a darker red color. This was not in the reading. I panic as the runes start to flash. The sword is still ablaze, and I fear the worst. In a last ditch effort, I throw the sword to the ground and smother it in my jacket. I can see the runes glowing through the fabric, still flashing brighter. As I try to douse the flame, the sword reaches some critical point, and I feel a sudden burst of force, sending me and the jacket flying. I land on my back, and look up to see soot flying in every direction. What a mess. After some time, I notice that I¡¯ve been covered in soot, too. At least I came out here, where nobody could see. This is a humiliating failure, and if the queen found out I¡¯d be in serious trouble. This incident will stay between me, the sword, and my jacket. ¡°Are you alright?¡± A voice calls out from behind me. It¡¯s over. I¡¯m doomed. Everyone¡¯s going to find out, and then the queen is going to have my head. Ma and pa are gonna lose their kid because he got too reckless and tried to help the resistance. It¡¯s all over. ¡°Everything¡¯s just fine!¡± I stammer out, my voice shaking a bit. It¡¯s a bad lie. At least the person can¡¯t see my face. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°I heard a loud noise, and you¡¯re on the ground. Do you need help?¡± This person seems kind, at least. Maybe there¡¯s hope for me yet. I stand up and start dusting myself off. It helps me gain a bit of composure. ¡°I was just working on a little hobby project, and it backfired. Nothing to worry about.¡± I turn around and see a woman, about my age, standing next to one of the trees at the edge of the clearing. It takes every ounce of self-control I can muster to keep my composure and not beg for her to leave and pretend she never saw me. She laughs a bit. ¡°You¡¯ve got soot on your face. Would you like a handkerchief?¡± My mind is racing a million miles an hour. Does this mean I¡¯m not in trouble? Could she be trying to lower my guard somehow? How long was she standing at the edge of the clearing? Why haven¡¯t I seen her in town before? After a pause, I manage to let out a small ¡°sure, thanks.¡± She walks up to me and offers a handkerchief. It¡¯s a pink thing, with a floral pattern delicately woven into the fabric. I can hardly bring myself to touch it. ¡°Do you really want to get soot on something this pretty?¡± She gives me a confused look. ¡°That¡¯s what it¡¯s for, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It looks like it cost a lot of money, though. I don¡¯t want to ruin it. Where did you even get something like this?¡± At this, she seems to lose a bit of patience. ¡°Would you like the handkerchief, or not?¡± She pushes it a little further toward my hand, as if to indicate her willingness to sully the thing. I stare for just a little longer before taking the handkerchief. We sit in silence as I wipe my face. Once I finish, I look at it in my hand. The entire thing has taken on a darker tint, and parts of the floral pattern are completely obscured by soot. The woman speaks again. ¡°See? It cleaned your face just the same. It¡¯s still a handkerchief, even if it¡¯s fancy.¡± Now that I¡¯ve calmed down a bit, I take a closer look at her. Her hair is well-done, possibly by a professional. The clothes she¡¯s wearing have no real signs of wear, and the colors are brighter than the standard fare I see in town. ¡°Who are you?¡± She gives a smile. ¡°I¡¯m Zhuli. And you are?¡± For a moment, I consider using a pseudonym. I decide against it. ¡°I¡¯m Adrian.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Adrian!¡± She reaches out her hand to shake mine. My hand is still smudged with soot and grease from working with the sword. After some thought, I reach out to return the handshake. She takes my hand eagerly. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Zhuli.¡± Supplemental Material: How we Met (Zhuli) I love walking in the woods. It¡¯s quiet, and I don¡¯t have to worry about people watching me. Town is nice, too, but here I can just enjoy the day, feel the breeze, and not have to worry. And then I get to tell the dolls about my adventures when I go home. Today¡¯s a sunny day. I¡¯ve already found a frog that was hiding in the bottom of a tree, and I saw a cute rabbit run into a bush. It¡¯s so much better than up at the castle. I feel at peace here. A loud bang echoes through the woods, bringing me to an abrupt halt. What was that? The sound was close, so after regaining my bearings, I decide to investigate. It sounded like it came from somewhere off to my left. It doesn¡¯t take much walking at all to find a clearing in the forest. I haven¡¯t seen this place before. There¡¯s a man, about my age, sitting on the ground. He¡¯s wearing a brown apron and a collared shirt. Both look like they¡¯ve seen their fair share of use. It looks like he¡¯s just gotten up from laying on his back. He¡¯s facing a sword that sits in the center of the clearing. The grass around the sword has turned to ash. Soot is settling to the ground around the sword. Was there some kind of explosion here? I can¡¯t think of any other explanation. In any case, I ought to check if he¡¯s hurt. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Without standing up or turning to look at me, he weakly stammers, ¡°Everything¡¯s just fine!¡± I still can¡¯t tell. Is he hurt? Why won¡¯t he look at me? Does he not want help? After a moment, I steel my resolve. If someone needs help, I want to do my best to help them. ¡°I heard a loud noise, and you¡¯re on the ground. Do you need help?¡± Maybe this time, he¡¯ll tell me what happened. The man stands up and dusts himself off, without turning to face me. Could it be that he¡¯s nervous? This time when he speaks, he does so with a bit more volume. It seems like he¡¯s calmed down a bit. ¡°I was just working on a little hobby project, and it backfired. Nothing to worry about.¡± He turns to face me, and I can¡¯t help but laugh a little. He¡¯s got so much soot on his face, he reminds me of the raccoon I saw yesterday. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. I stop my giggling. If I treat him nicely enough, he might want to be my friend. I¡¯ve been wanting to try making friends with someone for a while now. ¡°You¡¯ve got soot on your face. Would you like a handkerchief?¡± I ask. I wouldn¡¯t be comfortable with that much soot on my face, so I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯s comfortable either. ¡°Sure, thanks.¡± At his approval, I move closer to him to offer him the handkerchief. I pull it from my pocket, and offer it out. It¡¯s the pink one, with the flower pattern. The man hesitates for a moment. ¡°Do you really want to get soot on something this pretty?¡± What a strange question. Aren¡¯t handkerchiefs meant to clean things? ¡°That¡¯s what it¡¯s for, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It looks like it cost a lot of money, though. I don¡¯t want to ruin it. Where did you even get something like this?¡± I don¡¯t understand why he doesn¡¯t want to use the handkerchief. Does he think it would be better off never being used? If I¡¯m going to be friends with him, I don¡¯t want him thinking I¡¯m stuck up, or like my handkerchief is too good for him. ¡°Would you like the handkerchief, or not?¡± I offer it again. He takes it, and starts to clean his face. I watch quietly as he does this; I don¡¯t want to make him hold a conversation while he¡¯s busy cleaning his face. After a few minutes, he finishes. Under all the soot, he has a good face. ¡°See? It cleaned your face just the same. It¡¯s still a handkerchief, even if it¡¯s fancy.¡± I hope he sees that I want to be his friend. He mostly seems confused still. Maybe he isn¡¯t used to talking very much. After all, he¡¯s out here in the woods, same as I am. ¡°Who are you?¡± he asks, looking me up and down. I haven¡¯t introduced myself yet! Maybe this is how I finally get the conversation on track. ¡°I¡¯m Zhuli. And you are?¡± I reach my hand out to shake. ¡°I¡¯m Adrian.¡± After a bit of hesitation, he reaches out his hand as well. ¡°Nice to meet you, Adrian!¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too, Zhuli.¡± We shake hands.