Comic 1527 - Athena's Advent

12th Sep 2017, 9:00 PM
Athena's Advent
Average Rating: 5 (16 votes)

Author Notes:

Centcomm 15th Sep 2017, 10:16 PM edit delete
Centcomm
Well in the LETS add more shit to Cents plate.. my Vid card has decided it wants to suicide by heat. SO ill probably be needing a replacement. and a new one of the same kind is around 400.00 so yay //fucking yay....
Centcomm 16th Sep 2017, 8:36 PM edit delete
Centcomm
Update they make a fan kit for my vid card that costs roughly 20 bucks on ebay... so now aiming to get this.. when i can afford it

Fan kit
Marcus Ramesy 16th Sep 2017, 9:51 PM edit delete
Marcus Ramesy
order of operations, change out the fans on the card, then see what happens. heres to hoping that no heat damage has been done to the video card.. will keep posted
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Comments:

Timotheus 12th Sep 2017, 9:20 PM edit delete reply

And the God-Machine gets a hug and a kiss! Just what Centcomm needs to keep her in her place. Go Athena!
Ictuan 13th Sep 2017, 9:33 AM edit delete reply
I just loved Cent's expression. A cross between dread and terror, all over a hug.
Centcomm 13th Sep 2017, 4:43 PM edit delete reply

Cent is not a hugger..
Ictuan 13th Sep 2017, 7:31 PM edit delete reply
We would have never guessed that Cent wouldn't be the huggy type.

Seriously though, I'm really impressed with how well you guys get the expressions on the characters. The expressions are almost always spot on and tell us a lot about what is going on.
Centcomm 15th Sep 2017, 3:55 PM edit delete reply

thank you .. its really hard. and i also hate scenes where characters interact.. because its a pain to prevent clipping. So it means a lot to me. and Rose takes no small delight in me starting off " grandma is a hugger! " Thus my lot was decided...
megados 15th Sep 2017, 8:41 PM edit delete reply

That's interesting. I had not thought of an issue of clipping, but now that you pointed it out, it makes sense. There is a lot of work, such as that, that gets taken for granted. I'm glad you mentioned it! It's details like that which go unnoticed, but are critical to making things look right. Kudos!
Yorple 13th Sep 2017, 5:40 PM edit delete reply
Grandma + hugs + easy access outfit ...
dread and terror may be the appropriate response.
megados 17th Sep 2017, 7:14 AM edit delete reply

I also liked how Cent's center of gravity seems to be almost totally at the mercy of Athena's arm position. :D
That one guy 13th Sep 2017, 5:44 PM edit delete reply
I think the at least hinted likelihood that the Taylor bloodline holds some form power/control/check over CentComm makes this all the more amusing.
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 6:35 PM edit delete reply

i suspect, that even if Athena didn't have any sort of power over anyone, she would still be able to make Centcomm embarrassed and uncomfortable.

It's a special grandmother superpower !
Ebonbolt 14th Sep 2017, 4:38 PM edit delete reply

Double whammy: huggers have that power, too.
Centcomm 15th Sep 2017, 3:53 PM edit delete reply

Athena has no power over Cent other than the superpower of her own personality..
Ebonbolt 17th Sep 2017, 6:25 PM edit delete reply

That's what we said: Grandmas & Huggers have the power to make people uncomfortable. It is part of their personality.
megados 12th Sep 2017, 9:23 PM edit delete reply

Ahaha! Huggies, CentComm! (Even CentComm needs a hug now and again! That look on her face is perfect! LOL)

Great uplifting mood-shift, Cent and Rose! Kudos! (Hope you're feeling better, @Centcomm! Hugs for you too!) (Hugs for @Tokyo Rose too, even though she'll probably atomize me) :D
StellarJay 13th Sep 2017, 4:02 AM edit delete reply

Wow! After a touch-phobic culture had been established, it's interesting to see an important person of said culture be so counter culture herself. Or is such action more acceptable among family but not among others?
megados 13th Sep 2017, 6:14 AM edit delete reply

Don't know her very well yet, but she strikes me as someone who believes in "being yourself, and not caring what everyone else thinks!"
Centcomm 13th Sep 2017, 4:43 PM edit delete reply

I am trying.. its a bit of a thing here and there but im getting better ..
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 6:26 PM edit delete reply

Centcomm is alive!
We like this development. :)

Living artists are the best, zombies are notoriously uncreative, all they want to do is brains !
Yorple 19th Sep 2017, 8:04 PM edit delete reply
s/brains/dance/
"Thriller!"
"All she wants to do is..."
megados 13th Sep 2017, 7:18 PM edit delete reply

It's good to hear you're getting better! That's the important bit! *Hugs* Things here and there can be distracting. When that happens, trying is important! :) Glad to see you!
CptKerion 12th Sep 2017, 10:32 PM edit delete reply
I love this woman.
Centcomm 13th Sep 2017, 4:44 PM edit delete reply

hehe :D
Oberoten 19th Sep 2017, 4:52 PM edit delete reply

THAT implies a "So far we love this woman" might have been prudent.
mjkj 12th Sep 2017, 11:21 PM edit delete reply

Ah, grandma is taking over =)

...huuugs!!! =D

HiFranc 12th Sep 2017, 11:23 PM edit delete reply

Athena's quite a physical person?
megados 14th Sep 2017, 5:26 PM edit delete reply

I probably wouldn't go quite that far without more time, but it doesn't seem as though she's adverse to it.
Rashala 12th Sep 2017, 11:45 PM edit delete reply

Okay centy awkward hugging was good......would have loooved a cheek pinch but it will do...also

@Marcus you said revived ceci put a unpinned grenade in your pants and you survived dear helios man what is your butt made of reactive armored titanium??????
Marcus Ramesy 13th Sep 2017, 7:12 AM edit delete reply

LOL no.. was able to deactivate before it went off.... IFF triggers are a wonderfull thing.. among other lucky things....
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 6:27 PM edit delete reply

What if I gave her some landmines?
Would that be a bad thing to do ?
Rashala 13th Sep 2017, 11:37 PM edit delete reply

@marcus well darn and here I had come up a killer heroes intro for ya

Marcus Ramsey, new troy defender a man with balls of steel and a reactive titanium butt!!!
Marcus Ramesy 14th Sep 2017, 7:09 AM edit delete reply

amusing... but sadly not quite so .... glamorous
Sheela 16th Sep 2017, 2:10 AM edit delete reply

Join our cybernethics programme and gain Buns of Steel for free !!
Rashala 17th Sep 2017, 12:15 AM edit delete reply

Ehh no thanks though a Athena grandmommy cheek pinching centy would be nice!
Sheela 12th Sep 2017, 11:55 PM edit delete reply

Bwa-ha-ha ... someone has Centcomm on a short leash. :D
I'm enjoying Athena, so far.
megados 13th Sep 2017, 6:45 AM edit delete reply

She's a force to be reckoned with!
PaulRein 13th Sep 2017, 12:50 AM edit delete reply
I think the only person whom would find a hug more awkward than CentComm would be Noctis!
(Granted, Athena would have no reason to hug Noctis.)
Just_IDD 13th Sep 2017, 4:39 AM edit delete reply
Grandma is who Dolly originally worked for, I'm betting much hugs were shared. Grandmother needs to go hug Acantha so she can let tears out.
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 5:41 AM edit delete reply

Like that will stop Athena from hugging Noctis ? :D
megados 13th Sep 2017, 5:47 AM edit delete reply

Noctis will have to wait; Athena hasn't hugged Calli or Lynn yet! :D
knuut 13th Sep 2017, 8:00 AM edit delete reply
Forget Athena. I want to see Dr Silver hugging Noctis ... and Noctus hugging back ... and both surviving!
velvetsanity 15th Sep 2017, 2:54 PM edit delete reply

No, Noctis wouldn't have the expression of absolute horrified awkward anxious 'oh shit' that Cent has (for which, BTW, I like Athena very much already :D ), Noctis would just stand there patiently, perhaps raising an eyebrow, possibly asking in her normal tone, 'are you finished yet?'

How much of Cent's expression is 'oh god, why does she have to be so touchy-feely' and how much is 'oh crap she's here and oh god I hope she doesn't find out what's been going on and what I did about the situation because she's SOOOO going to be mad at me'?
Centcomm 15th Sep 2017, 3:50 PM edit delete reply

Cent is not a hugger.. Athena is.. its like hugging a cat.
Sheela 16th Sep 2017, 1:51 AM edit delete reply

Actually, cat hugs are the best, because they are always genuine. :)

... unless there's tuna on the table, then all bets are off. >_<
Yorple 19th Sep 2017, 8:11 PM edit delete reply
Cent would have known she was coming (security cameras, etc.).
Mudge 13th Sep 2017, 3:41 AM edit delete reply
"Little" Athena? How many generations of Taylors has Dolly been nursemaid to?
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 5:42 AM edit delete reply

Three, you see all of them in the room.
Kinda drives home just how old Dolly is.
All the Pickles 13th Sep 2017, 5:42 AM edit delete reply

According to Memory Shards 02, Dolly became the family guardian when Athena was 12.
guest 13th Sep 2017, 8:46 AM edit delete reply
and Dolly was 4...
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 10:21 AM edit delete reply

Which would make Athena 68 years old.
Centcomm 13th Sep 2017, 4:45 PM edit delete reply

Yep.. thats correct~!
Highlander55 14th Sep 2017, 5:55 PM edit delete reply
So Dolly is 60 correct?
Sheela 14th Sep 2017, 6:21 PM edit delete reply

According to her cast page, yes.
Rashala 14th Sep 2017, 11:37 PM edit delete reply

And androids in new troy get how many years before shutdown?
guest 15th Sep 2017, 12:16 PM edit delete reply
.. 100 years ..
megados 15th Sep 2017, 2:29 PM edit delete reply

Yep 100 years is the law, but there are instances where some of 'em do a Logan's Run, with varying results.

*edit: Do New Rome, or New Sparta have any equivalent statutes?
Tokyo Rose 18th Sep 2017, 3:20 PM edit delete reply

New Sparta does not have such statutes. New Rome doesn't either, but they have other laws that make androids' lives hell.
Sheela 18th Sep 2017, 5:29 PM edit delete reply

/warning - Wall of text !

Back when Centcomm said that Copenhagen was totally Canon now, and the AIS was named Ariel. I created a whole head canon for Copenhagen city state, since I live here IRL.

I thought it would be cool if Androids and Humans had equal "lifespans", in the sense that they would be expected to self-terminate around 160 years of age (average lifespan for humans, due to anti-agaeics), and that if they went above that they often suffered due to progressive ego-collapse for some unknown reason.

The main reason that Androids became older in Copenhagen was due to much better filters and cleaner power plants to begin with. After all, green tech and filter tech is sort of Copenhagens speciality, with bio-tech and sustainable energy (such as sun, wind, wave and Core) as a close second.

There were other quirks as well, as due to heavy radiation around Copenhagen area, they have limited access to metals, so androids there were more bio-happy and there was only few of them, as bio-robots did most of the grunt work.

Interesting, that dynamic also rubbed off on how their seeds were designed, as most Copenhagen Androids are quite stubborn, and they choose who they partner with.
Instead of being bought, they belong to themselves, and you have to befriend them instead - Which could be notoriously hard - But it did have the effect that people couldn't just buy androids as vanity items or slaves.

It wasn't always perfect though, as a couple of combat androids attached themselves to a small 5 year old girl, it created a bit of an uproar with the community, and a huge uproar with the father.
She was, however, the safest little 5 year old in the city.

There were also some exceptions to the self-termination rule.

Particularly there was 7 combat androids made by an insane genius, that so far have lived for 650 years with no indications of ego-collapse, and they all have about 400 years of actual combat experience. Interestingly, they weren't even properly sparked for the first 200 years or so.

They are fiercely loyal to the city state itself, and is considered national treasures.
They have been given the best of the best when it comes to upgrades and bodies, and are better known as "the seven deadly sins", even though they are neither particularly sinful or anything - They are just soldiers .. with 400 years of combat experience, and the best bodies money can buy.

Currently they are officially "owned" by 1 dog and 4 cats.
Though rumor has it that the dog ate the cats.
Centcomm 18th Sep 2017, 10:47 PM edit delete reply

NOOO NOt the kittys! NOOOO!
megados 18th Sep 2017, 5:45 PM edit delete reply

Wellll . . . New Rome seems to have ways of making a lot of people's lives hell, but androids seem to get the shaft even more.

Interesting, though, in that I would then have to think that at least some of New Troy's 'runners' might head to one or the other.

Thanks, @Tokyo Rose

@Sheela, so that's the rest of it :D You had mentioned bits of this in the past, but only in pieces. It's interesting! Copenhagen is doing energy right. I have to say that here again, though, I am saddened by forced lifespan limitation. It is because it's a sign that in more than a thousand years, mankind hasn't learned a damn thing. From a certain perspective, androids are expected to die young to make people 'feel better about themselves'.

What evidence is there that the dog ate the cats, though, and why didn't the androids try to prevent it? :D

Conclusion: (not too carefully disguised wild assed guess)
You know, somewhere, out it the wastes, there logically might be a place yet untold, kept hidden from those who would interfere, where the androids have tossed off the bindings humans placed on them and live in obscurity and peace.
Sheela 19th Sep 2017, 12:08 AM edit delete reply

@Centcomm :
Don't worry, it is said that Copenhagen gets new rescue kittens from a hidden source in New Troy ... ALL the lost little kittens, in fact.


@Megados :
Copenhagen is pretty deeply into biotech and sustainable energy, even today, so it makes sense that they continue with that in the future.

Also, Copenhagen doesn't enforce the "lifespan" rule that strictly, if an android wants to become 163, that's allright, but it is encumbent upon them to end themselves before they become a liability, which does happen around 160-170 years of age.
Some theorize that the main event, is that their main memory fills up around age 130, and has to begin deleting stuff, in order to save the new stuff that happens. And there is only so much memories of "staring at a blank wall" that can be deleted, before your memory becomes fragmented.
And for an android, who has perfect recall, that is a scary thing indeed.
At some point, an important memory is erased, and then all hell breaks loose, because that particular memory might have played had an integral part in how the android developed.

As for the cats ... The cats just keep disappearing - with no evidence in sight!
Don't worry though, they have supplier of lost kittens from New Troy .. a Miss Blue, I think it was.

.
.
.

*digs a hole in the backyard*

Nothing to see here, move on.
megados 19th Sep 2017, 10:46 AM edit delete reply

Yeah, Copenhagen is on the right track with renewable and sustainable energy. I like that.

I don't take issue with androids 'deteriorating' mentally, or in other ways over time; that isn't my point. What I'm (apparently unsuccessfully) trying to say, is that there be equality. If you have human people, and android people who would have approximately the same lifespan before they would become burdensome, then they should have similar guidelines regarding end of life situations. In other words, if androids are allowed and encouraged to make life-ending decisions such as this, then humans should also be allowed and encouraged to do so. They could arguably be a bigger burden when they become similarly incapacitated. The other side of that coin is to say that while androids have citizenship rights, they do not have equal 'sentient being' rights, and are second-class citizens.

Now we know why so many New Troy kittens go missing . . . :(
antrik 19th Sep 2017, 10:59 AM edit delete reply
@Sheela when talking about renewable energy, do you really mean Copenhagen specifically, as opposed to Europe as a whole? I have to admit that I haven't seen Copenhagen specifically touted as a centre for renewable energy thus far...

(Though now that renewable energy sources are economically attractive in a lot of situations -- and in just a few years from now will be in pretty much every situation -- other parts of the world are quickly eating away at Europe's historical leadership anyway...)
antrik 19th Sep 2017, 11:03 AM edit delete reply
I forgot to add that in the Datachasers universe, the quality of the environment in any particular area is likely to depend much more on the intensity of ABC warfare having taken place there, rather than historical eco sentiments...
antrik 19th Sep 2017, 10:46 AM edit delete reply
If Sparta doesn't have termination statutes, I'm curious to know what mechanisms or dynamics stop most Troy androids from simply moving to Sparta in time before the deadline comes close?...
Sheela 19th Sep 2017, 2:26 PM edit delete reply

@Megados :
Androids don't have perfect parity with humans, not even in Copenhagen, deal with it.
But they do have it pretty good in Copenhagen.

@Antrik
If I understood Centcomm right, then by the 3rd millennium, all that is left of Scandinavia, the British Isles and northern Germany and France ... *is* Copenhagen. And most of that is underwater, and only pieces of Sealand and Skåne is still poking up here and there, near copenhagen.
Basically, Europe as a whole, is gone.

At least, that's how it is in my head canon, don't know exactly how close it jives with the actual Datachasers universe. Though as I have understood it, they have mostly been working on the American continent, and the rest is still up for definition.


As for Copenhagen of today, we do have a fair few bits and bobs when it comes to renewable energy in Copenhagen, like we were one of the first capital cities with an offshore windfarm.
But it would probably be more precise to say that Denmark is heavily into wind turbines, but in the 3rd millennium, Copenhagen is all that is left of Denmark.

Denmark is still one of the dominant wind turbine manufacturers, particularly the Vestas company. Which installed a good 16% of all onshore installations in 2016, worldwide.
Heck, 90% of all windturbines built in Denmark, is exported, primarily to the rest of Europe. Germany have been silly happy about buying them - And we don't mind at all! :)
megados 19th Sep 2017, 3:47 PM edit delete reply

@Sheela, I was not trying to infer that your narrative is wrong; it is what it is. As in the main story, these are the rules and conditions they live by. I get that. I only refer back to my original sentiment, that I am saddened by humanity's lack of progress in all this time, in it's propensity to treat some groups as lesser beings.

Yes, it does sound like they fare pretty well in Copenhagen, so that's a plus. :)

However, that still sounds like a large kitty turnover :P
Sheela 19th Sep 2017, 5:01 PM edit delete reply

They do fare well in Copenhagen, but there's also a whole lot less of them, they barely make up 10% of the population there.

As for the kitties, they should stop being so delicious when barbecued !
megados 19th Sep 2017, 7:05 PM edit delete reply

I guess, for my part, I shouldn't mention kitty turnovers . . . >_<
Mudge 13th Sep 2017, 3:41 AM edit delete reply
"Little" Athena? How many generations of Taylors has Dolly been nursemaid to?
jas 13th Sep 2017, 5:33 AM edit delete reply

I like Athena already! Great page!
cattservant 13th Sep 2017, 7:21 AM edit delete reply

A new spoon to stir the plot pudding!
Sheela 13th Sep 2017, 6:29 PM edit delete reply

But ... what if it's a spork ?
cattservant 13th Sep 2017, 8:59 PM edit delete reply

Good for the lumps!
chk 13th Sep 2017, 8:28 AM edit delete reply

I love her already.
CptKerion 13th Sep 2017, 1:36 PM edit delete reply
I would like to say, thank you ladies. When this page came up last night (well, last night for me. About 11pm) it was the end of a long, stressful, crappy day. Crappy to the point I busted out my "crap day cookies". Then I get to end my day, right before going to bed, I read the new page. It made me very happy.

So, thank you ladies for turning a shit day into a good day for me.
Centcomm 13th Sep 2017, 4:44 PM edit delete reply

You are very welcome!
Lee A. Alverson 13th Sep 2017, 2:19 PM edit delete reply
Grandmas can always be counted on for moving things along.
KarToon12 13th Sep 2017, 7:00 PM edit delete reply

Cent's awkward face/hug there should be counted as one of the top 10 greatest moments in Datachasers. XD
CptKerion 13th Sep 2017, 7:45 PM edit delete reply
Yes, yes it should. And look at just how awesome it is! Subtle, but the lower eyelids portray it.
Tokyo Rose 14th Sep 2017, 5:05 AM edit delete reply

When I got the renders for those panels, I immediately emailed back to say "OH MY GOD I LOVE CENT-COMM'S EXPRESSION SO FUCKING MUCH".
Sheela 14th Sep 2017, 11:48 PM edit delete reply

yeah, but you always love it when CentComm (the character) gets placed in an awkward situation.
That shit is almost like catnip to you. :D
megados 15th Sep 2017, 7:55 AM edit delete reply

I don't know that it's exclusive to CentComm (the character). Just sayin'. :D
Sheela 16th Sep 2017, 1:49 AM edit delete reply

Hrmm, you're right.
Maybe it gives bonus points when it's CentComm ? :D
megados 16th Sep 2017, 11:17 AM edit delete reply

Now that is a distinct possibility! :D
AR 14th Sep 2017, 6:04 AM edit delete reply
In the last frame Athena says: "From what I've heard, you've already made up for any mistakes...". Three questions to wonder about. How much does she know about what happened in New Rome? How did she get that information? Does she have sources that not even Centcomm has?
megados 14th Sep 2017, 6:51 AM edit delete reply

I think Dolly is referring to failing to prevent Lynn from being kidnapped. (Not really her fault, but she feels guilt over it nonetheless) I'm confident that Athena has been keeping abreast of events by keeping in contact with Calliope during the events leading to where we are now. I took her statement to mean that, details aside, Athena feels that Dolly went to get Lynn and came back with her, and has made up for any real or imagined mistakes, by making it right.
AR 14th Sep 2017, 6:04 AM edit delete reply
In the last frame Athena says: "From what I've heard, you've already made up for any mistakes...". Three questions to wonder about. How much does she know about what happened in New Rome? How did she get that information? Does she have sources that not even Centcomm has?
Rashala 14th Sep 2017, 11:36 PM edit delete reply

@marcus so that's what each cheek has to say?
antrik 17th Sep 2017, 1:31 PM edit delete reply
I find it hilarious how the remorseless, callous, calculating god-machine shows a perfectly human reaction to an unwanted hug :-)
megados 17th Sep 2017, 2:45 PM edit delete reply

That's a good catch. Another bit of evidence advocating for CentComm having emotions.
Ictuan 18th Sep 2017, 3:59 PM edit delete reply
I finally joined Patron so that I could make my contributions to my favorite web comics (like Data Chasers) more consistent.

One of the things that had caused me to hold off of using Patron is that I thought I couldn't use Paypal. To my pleasant surprise, I discovered I could set up my Paypal account as my primary payment method. I don't like having my credit card # on too many sites.
Centcomm 18th Sep 2017, 10:46 PM edit delete reply

I dont blame you.. paypal rocks.
antrik 19th Sep 2017, 11:32 AM edit delete reply
PayPal is actually quite a mixed bag. For payers, it's undeniably convenient; but for recipients of payments, it can turn into a horror story: when a lot of payments are done via retractable payment methods -- such as PayPal's own proprietary account system -- PayPal tends to freeze some or all of the received funds over long periods of time, very often putting the recipients in serious trouble.

(To be fair, traditional banks do the same for retractable payment methods, such as direct debit -- the problems with PayPal are just more prominent, since it's more easily accessible, and thus a lot more people/organisations run into this situation unprepared...)

Dedicated donation platforms such as Patreon do not have this problem, since payments are retracted very rarely here (people wouldn't donate in the first place if they didn't mean it...) -- so Patreon can better manage the risk of passing funds to the recipients immediately.
Rashala 19th Sep 2017, 12:12 AM edit delete reply

Ohh man. Been there on the videos card cent hope its okay
@ centcomm and Marcus had similar myself recently cept in my case they showed me my fried card.....two words sauder stalactites....it literally had the sauder melting down from it in two inch long stalactites
Centcomm 24th Sep 2017, 3:30 PM edit delete reply

Oh dear god thats horrible!
Timotheus 19th Sep 2017, 12:44 AM edit delete reply

I'm considering making a comment here right after the next page goes up just so I can have the first and last comment on this page. I think this is the first time I got first comment so it might be neat if I set it up so I have both first and last comment. (My life is so pathetic if things like this are becoming high points.)
antrik 19th Sep 2017, 11:36 AM edit delete reply
Don't count on that: I have a propensity to add further comments on old pages upon re-reading :-)
Timotheus 19th Sep 2017, 7:56 AM edit delete reply

Avast maties, it be with some turpitude that I remind me shipmates that September 19 be "Talk Like A Pirate" day. So enjoy. Arrrrgh!
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