[Epsilon Chapter 46]

[Starcat5]

46-01 - It's all in the presentation.

Hah! Classic. "I have good news and bad news. Technically it is the exact same news, but the consequences both good and bad require it to be listed twice." 

[Infranscia]

This one got me laughing. XD  I'm guessing there are both good and bad aspects to this situation?  Hence the way Daryil presented it?

[ProfesseurRenard]

This one got me laughing. XD  I'm guessing there are both good and bad aspects to this situation?  Hence the way Daryil presented it?

That's the thought I had, but we'll have to wait and see. Meanwhile, Daryil's aforementioned presentation put me somewhat in mind of the Cat from Red Dwarf. "*mournful tone* We ain't gonna find 'em [Kryten and Rimmer]. They're gone, buddy. But look on the bright side. *suddenly chipper* They're gone, buddy!"

[Starcat5]

This one got me laughing. XD  I'm guessing there are both good and bad aspects to this situation?  Hence the way Daryil presented it?

Daryil had to hide the fact that he faked Richard's Dad's death and couldn't tell him about it so it would be convincing. This had the knock-on effect of giving Richard undeserved trauma.

[ProfesseurRenard]

This one got me laughing. XD  I'm guessing there are both good and bad aspects to this situation?  Hence the way Daryil presented it?

Daryil had to hide the fact that he faked Richard's Dad's death and couldn't tell him about it so it would be convincing. This had the knock-on effect of giving Richard undeserved trauma.

That is technically a possibility, but I'll wager five quid it's the more likely scenario of Daryil uploading Callahan's soul into an android body. I'm content to leave the question of how he retrieved the soul after the execution to be answered in the next page.

[Starcat5]

This one got me laughing. XD  I'm guessing there are both good and bad aspects to this situation?  Hence the way Daryil presented it?

Daryil had to hide the fact that he faked Richard's Dad's death and couldn't tell him about it so it would be convincing. This had the knock-on effect of giving Richard undeserved trauma.

That is technically a possibility, but I'll wager five quid it's the more likely scenario of Daryil uploading Callahan's soul into an android body. I'm content to leave the question of how he retrieved the soul after the execution to be answered in the next page.

Sucker bet in my favor. Remember, the body had a non-functional brain, and Daryil has been experimenting with non-standard Avatars. 44-01 through 44-03 heavily imply more is at play than a simple Android body as well.

[Starcat5]

46-02 - This is a bit like berating the Pope

There we go. One emotional cocktail of Happiness, Sorrow, Hope, Despair, and Cubi knows what else. Served up fresh to an audience who is not enjoying it one bit. 

[Tapewolf]

There we go. One emotional cocktail of Happiness, Sorrow, Hope, Despair, and Cubi knows what else. Served up fresh to an audience who is not enjoying it one bit. 

This of course being why Syd and Sheila were brought along, in case they're needed to provide emotional support.

[ProfesseurRenard]

46-02 - This is a bit like berating the Pope

There we go. One emotional cocktail of Happiness, Sorrow, Hope, Despair, and Cubi knows what else. Served up fresh to an audience who is not enjoying it one bit. 

On another note, I owe you five quid.

[Starcat5]

46-03 - Confessions of a Clan Leader

Not much to add here. Just spelling things out to the wee bairn. And no, I didn't pick that expression just to be verbose. It just popped into my head while typing, and then I spent 20 minutes trying different spellings in Google until it offered up the correct one. 

[ProfesseurRenard]

46-03 - Confessions of a Clan Leader

Not much to add here. Just spelling things out to the wee bairn. And no, I didn't pick that expression just to be verbose. It just popped into my head while typing, and then I spent 20 minutes trying different spellings in Google until it offered up the correct one. 

Aye, Scots terms have their charms.

[Tapewolf]

Not much to add here. Just spelling things out to the wee bairn.

To be fair, it would look bad if Daryil wasn't seen to apologise to Richard for putting him through the emotional turmoil of thinking he's lost a parent and not being able to tell him otherwise.

And, even though Callahan is liable to spend the foreseeable future in the base where they can protect him and provide the support he needs not to relapse into murder and certain execution, having Richard blurt out about his father still being alive would still complicate matters.

It helps them that the Prof assumes that Callahan never existed, but if Richard challenges that viewpoint, then he may behave unpredictably, especially if Lady Finch isn't there to sway his opinion.

[Starcat5]

46-04 - How to fake someone else's death

Panel three: The word bubble is pointing towards the wrong character.

[Tapewolf]

46-04 - How to fake someone else's death

Panel three: The word bubble is pointing towards the wrong character.

That'll have to be fixed when I get home tomorrow

[Starcat5]

46-05 - Trust exercise

Well, that is half of the economical truth. I presume that the other half will show up next week.

[Liatai]

Aye. 14-07 has Daryil saying "Remember, Callahan, I put you up to this" re: breaking a clan tenet. That sounded to me like he was "voluntold" to do the job, especially with his nebulous "past deeds" mentioned in 14-08.

Good show with the foreshadowing, with Daryil reacting so strongly to "Callahan's" death! It was very easy to read as a clan leader's reaction to losing a member, which I'm sure was what it was passed off as by Fa'rana! Honestly, I'm pretty impressed Daryil was able to stay lucid and cogent.

Especially given the energy expenditure likely required to grow a full adult-sized clone of someone that fast! They probably didn't have the clone on ice in the 24+ years since Callahan last got in touch with Daryil, and it can't have been more than a few months since this started... not to mention there were probably quite a few false starts. Biological tissue is a lot more finicky with assembly than machine parts. x3; Fella was probably sipping on Soul Food at a rate unseen since his pre-ascension days.

[Starcat5]

Honestly, I'm pretty impressed Daryil was able to stay lucid and cogent.

Especially given the energy expenditure likely required to grow a full adult-sized clone of someone that fast!

To be fair, they have machines for 3d Printing the clone, so the "energy expenditure" for Daryil was limited to piloting the organic drone. Not that the tech in question has been mentioned since the pre-Epsilon days. Either way, the power required came out of a wall socket, not the Clan Leader.

[Tapewolf]

Aye. 14-07 has Daryil saying "Remember, Callahan, I put you up to this" re: breaking a clan tenet. That sounded to me like he was "voluntold" to do the job, especially with his nebulous "past deeds" mentioned in 14-08.

We get to hear more about that later, but short version is he offered to be Daryil's sleeper agent in exchange for keeping his head on.  That will be next chapter as we have to catch up with Finch first.

[Liatai]

Ahhh, that all makes sense! Cool cool.

[Starcat5]

46-06 - The shoe drops

Look boss man, I know you like your terror with a side of confusion, but this clearly mock punishment to wipe the slate clean really should be handled better. The boy has enough mental scars as it is, and may very well panic and act out on incomplete information just like his mother did. -_(\

[Tapewolf]

46-06 - The shoe drops

Look boss man, I know you like your terror with a side of confusion, but this clearly mock punishment to wipe the slate clean really should be handled better. The boy has enough mental scars as it is, and may very well panic and act out on incomplete information just like his mother did. -_(\

On the other hand, if Richard is ushered out of the room, will he truly believe that his father has earned forgiveness, or will he spend the foreseeable future worrying that Daryil is suddenly going to bereave him?

[Starcat5]

46-06 - The shoe drops

Look boss man, I know you like your terror with a side of confusion, but this clearly mock punishment to wipe the slate clean really should be handled better. The boy has enough mental scars as it is, and may very well panic and act out on incomplete information just like his mother did. -_(\

On the other hand, if Richard is ushered out of the room, will he truly believe that his father has earned forgiveness, or will he spend the foreseeable future worrying that Daryil is suddenly going to bereave him?

We agree on the end point, but not the leadup. In that last panel Richard thinks that Daryil is going to bereave him right now! Soothing the boy's nerves by informing him that Capital Punishment is off the table would have been the smart play. Remember, his mother was being given a way out, but panicked and lashed out before receiving full clarification.

On the other hand, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" is the unofficial Cubi motto. This is all entirely in character and I'm just snarking and throwing popcorn at the screen. Want some? *Offers bowl* 

[Raskahn]

On the other hand, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" is the unofficial Cubi motto. This is all entirely in character and I'm just snarking and throwing popcorn at the screen. Want some? *Offers bowl* 

Oh, don't mind if I do. I love emotion flavoured popcorn!

[ProfesseurRenard]

On the other hand, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" is the unofficial Cubi motto. This is all entirely in character and I'm just snarking and throwing popcorn at the screen. Want some? *Offers bowl* 

Oh, don't mind if I do. I love emotion flavoured popcorn!

Fear or anger?

[Raskahn]

On the other hand, "It seemed like a good idea at the time" is the unofficial Cubi motto. This is all entirely in character and I'm just snarking and throwing popcorn at the screen. Want some? *Offers bowl* 

Oh, don't mind if I do. I love emotion flavoured popcorn!

Fear or anger?

Fear, dangit! My profile banners have gone.
Relevant since I had the clan tattoo in there, among other things.

[Liatai]

Ooh, got any confusion and a side of relief? :9

[ProfesseurRenard]

Ooh, got any confusion and a side of relief? :9

We shall see.

[Liatai]

46-07 - I'm starting to think Daryil might be winging this.

Ooh, got any confusion and a side of relief? :9

We shall see.

Well, there's the confusion, judging by Richard's face. X3

[Liatai]

46-08 - This is why they like wearing those gloves

Lovely page, but do you want ants insectis? This is how you get ants insectis. X3

The poses are fantastic, great job Merlin! The hug at the end feels very warm. Poor Richard must be so overwhelmed though X3;

[ProfesseurRenard]

46-08 - This is why they like wearing those gloves

Lovely page, but do you want ants insectis? This is how you get ants insectis. X3

The poses are fantastic, great job Merlin! The hug at the end feels very warm. Poor Richard must be so overwhelmed though X3;

Yep. I myself am marveling at Callahan being made to fetch a drink that Daryil admits to hating. Though it has been awhile since Daryil did something this eccentric.