Do not operate heavy machinery...

[actuallyselfish]

[Dated after "The Prioress"]

[1]

"Whoah, whoah! Chill out, dudes! I get it: hands off!"

While walking through the hanger, you look up to see Dido getting frog-marched out of a high security bay area that currently holds the Saber units, two security guards on each side gripping her shoulders and forearms. They roughly release her and walk off.

Dido stumbles, sets down the oil-can she was carrying, and dusts herself off. "Dammit. Why can't people take an honest bribe these days?"

Ask her what's going on?

[2]

After maintenance hours, when everyone's gone home for the night, you stumble across Dido lying on her back atop a set of boxes, taking puffs from...something burning inside a roll of paper.

She sighs, and then sits up, starring at the ground. "Dammit..." You hear her mutter. "This is what happens when you try and act like Mom..."

She spies you coming and hastily flicks the burning roll paper behind her. "Ah...Hey! Fancy seeing you here! How, uh, are you?""

Comments

[actuallyselfish]

"Habit, I guess." Dido says with a shrug. "My family's a bunch of health freaks, among other things: "My Body is a Temple", and all that. Plus..."

Her voice trails off. "Lick...Mayonnaise? Is that a thing on Geb?"

[abugslife]

If pure bodies are temples, than mine has been thoroughly desecrated. I think not even half of my current body mass is biological.

And different species are intoxicated by different substances. I could eat tobacco leaves as if they were grass.

[actuallyselfish]

"And egg-yolk based food products would make you trip balls?" Dido wonders aloud.

"For that matter...how long have the Gebs been modifying their soldiers into bipedal war forms? How did that start?"

[abugslife]

Not egg yolk on its own. It is this specific combination of egg, vinegar and oil that does that. I do not think I have to explain to you how chemistry works.

Augmentation was a part of our science for a long time, but it was mostly minor modifications that correct the health issues of the recipient. Major modifications started around three, four decades ago. Their purpose is to include the combat ability of the user - the standard Gebian form is not very good at melee, or shooting - but also to elevate them among others, as a champion whose appearance resembles what we revere.

[actuallyselfish]

"What you revere being ancient Egyptian Deities?" Dido asks. "Or the pharaohs that ruled the culture you revered?"

[abugslife]

Ancient Egyptians specifically, and Earthlings in general. Their society was not perfect by any stretch, but all of our current culture, thousands of years of history that define our species, we owe to them. We cannot deny our roots; even the AEP, who declare Earthlings as inferior, still subconsciously follow in these roots.