Jason emerges from the amber-lit service corridor into a gutted laboratory chamber. A torn-down wall at the opposite end exposes structural ribs and a direct passage toward the Lonely Asteroid’s docking access.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
The route remains open. I detect docking guidance relays beyond the junction, but the archive-containment signals are weakening beneath this facility.
Through the exposed ribs, dim docking beacons blink in sequence, marking the ship’s distant access tunnel. Dust drifts through the open laboratory like slow-moving snow.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
Emergency shutters are cycling behind us. They are sealing sections automatically, not pursuing. We still have a clear passage to the ship.
The direct route crosses an active systems junction. Bundled conduits pulse beneath transparent panels, one cluster feeding the laboratory’s lower life-support network and another guiding the docking corridor.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
I can reach the Lonely Asteroid from here, but the junction appears linked to the archive’s life-support feed. Proceeding may alter its remaining support conditions.
✓ Quest Accepted
Stabilize the archive's life support
““I feel like that shouldn’t matter as long as I get to actually use the speed buffs I’ve got stored up…” I knew full well that that was never going to be a certain thing proven by the performance during chase from earlier… “Damn it, I wish you weren’t so right all the time… alright, show me what to fix, buddy.””
SUCCESS (Good Engineering, rolled +0)
Jason
I feel like that should not matter if I can use the speed buffs I stored up. Damn it, I wish you were not right all the time. Show me what to fix, buddy.
The sentient Nintendo Switch glides over the junction panel, casting blue diagnostic lines across the transparent conduits. Amber indicators divide the network into docking guidance and archive life-support.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
Displayed. The speed buffers are available, but using them here would draw from the archive’s support feed. That is the fault requiring correction.
A branching schematic unfolds in the air. One narrow conduit carries stabilized power toward the archive chamber, while a damaged regulator bleeds energy into the laboratory’s inactive systems.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
Reroute this regulator before departure. I can isolate the dead systems, preserve the archive’s life support, and leave the docking relay powered.
The Switch highlights a manual junction beneath the panel and projects the required sequence beside it. The relevant controls are now clear, exposed, and ready for Jason’s intervention.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
Once corrected, your stored speed buffers will no longer compete with the archive. The safe route to the Lonely Asteroid remains open.
Director's note
the several digitized human consciousness’s
“I started to follow the sequence closely, trying not to deviate much so I wouldn’t need to do it twice. Once I was done I pulled up a display showing the duffle bag full of micro chips. “This feels way to convenient… An entire bag of brains turned into microchips on a planet for abandoned failed experiments… this feels wrong on so many levels and one of them I think we’re gonna be figuring out pretty soon…””
SUCCESS (Good Engineering, rolled -1)
Jason follows the projected sequence carefully, fingers shifting the manual junction contacts in the indicated order. The damaged regulator disconnects, and the conduits settle into stable blue and amber pulses.
The archive life-support feed brightens while dormant laboratory systems power down. Docking guidance remains active, and the junction confirms the corrected routing without requiring a second pass.
Jason
This feels way too convenient. An entire bag of brains turned into microchips on a planet for abandoned failed experiments. This feels wrong on so many levels, and one of them I think we’re going to figure out pretty soon.
Jason pulls up a storage display from his gear. The image shows the duffle bag packed with microchips, each sealed in a separate protective sleeve, its contents stark against the laboratory schematic.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
Your concern is consistent with the evidence. The archive contains several digitized human consciousnesses, and this facility’s systems were built to process abandoned experimental subjects.
A new diagnostic line appears beside the archive feed. Its metadata is fragmented, but repeated references to identity separation and neural emulation remain readable.
the sentient Nintendo Switch
The life-support correction is complete. We can proceed to the Lonely Asteroid, but I recommend preserving the archive intact until we understand who authorized its creation.
Learn who authorized the consciousness archive's creation
Quest Complete
Stabilize the archive's life support
Skill Upgrade: Engineering Good→Great