Chip

Chip was once a small fox just trying to survive in the harsh deserts of Agelta. By chance, he was found by Dr. Baker and brought to Laboratory 1718 where he was genetically enhanced with superior intelligence and tasked with testing the lab's portal technology. However, he has always been lazy by nature and just wanted to enjoy a carefree life. When an inner power struggle took place at the secret lab, Chip's life was turned upside down and he ws forced to make a tough decision. To be able to return his carefree life, he had to work hard one last time... Dear Dr. Baker: You must be shocked that, I, the carefree Chip, would ever write a letter, right? After all, normally I just recline in my hover chair and snack on potato chips all day. But I can no longer do that, my old friend, because your indecisiveness has been interfering with my carefree life, so we need to have a long chat. Once upon a time, before I met you, I was just an ordinary little fox, no different than the thousands of other foxes across Agelta. I slept in my burrow under the sand every day and foraged for food when I had to, until that day when I came upon a bag of half-eaten potato chips graciously left behind by a traveler. My world was never the same after that. That unique taste and crispy texture was surely the pinnacle of human ingenuity I thought; their miracle to the world of us chip-less peasants. After that divine experience, I waited along the trade routes day in and day out, but never got another taste of that golden delicacy. I even stole some potatoes from a village and was almost mauled by their mangy mutts, but what are potatoes compared to potato chips! Alas, the gods did not send down a second bag of potato chips, but calamity instead - an earthquake threatening to collapse my burrow. I did not panic like the rest of my kin. I made the softest bed with hay, put the empty bag of chips over my head, and was ready for whatever came next. But as it turns out, you just happened to be passing by my burrow at that very moment. The sight of my calmness, or perhaps the bag over my head, must have piqued your curiosity, so you took me back to your laboratory. When I woke up, I found that I had been altered by your strange science. I had gained extraordinary intelligence and was soon tasked with testing the lab's portal technology. I was so naive back then. The great Dr. Baker had granted this little fox the ability to get his own potato chips! From that day on, I became a being of higher intelligence, named myself "Chip", and was free to enjoy a lifetime of potato chips that I could reach from anywhere. Surely the portal I was testing was for reaching the snack rack while lounging at home, right? I was thankful, Dr. Baker. But if only things were that simple. You later informed me that in addition to eating potato chips, we intelligent "scholars" must also perform endless scientific research, record experimental data, assemble robots, and even catch those slimy energy jellyfish in the sea around the island. In other words... work. What a dreadful concept! Wasting my life away is what it is! I was devastated by this revelation, and from then on, all I could do at work was find ways to slack off and eat potato chips. I know you blame yourself, thinking it was some error in your calculations that caused me to become this lazy... but you're wrong. I was always lazy. Now don't get mad, I've finished my rant. What follows is just a recount of some events. Soon after, Dr. Octavius became the new head of the lab. He transformed it into an arms factory and used your technology intended to benefit the world to make weapons of war and sell them to Los Pecados. At that time, you couldn't accept what was happening and ran off. I originally thought you were taking a break on the island, but turns out you were secretly working on an android, Angela! Once Octavius found out, he had all of us work overtime to develop an even better android; to surpass you, he wanted to mass-produce weapons with artificial souls. The workload for all of us increased tenfold... we worked from dawn till dusk, without any breaks to enjoy even a single potato chip. That's no working condition for man or fox. I couldn't bear another second of it, so I was forced to do something drastic. I took the initiative and volunteered to lead the search and retrieval team for you. I used the portals to find your residence and brought you back. I hope you're not too angry. It's not that potato chips are more important than you, but I had to bring you back so everyone could finally take a break. Anyway, you were captured and brought back to the lab, but Angela escaped. You were so worried about her that you fell into a depression, while I received a hundred bags of original flavored potato chips as a bonus. But life likes to play cruel tricks, as I've learned. That blasted Octavius gave me a promotion and a raise, but most importantly gave me even more work and responsibilities! Will this nightmare ever end? I want to retire with my stash of potato chips! So, you gotta get back on your feet, my friend. Think of those suffering from war, the victims of the weapons made in this lab, and the poor little fox forced to work overtime! Listen, I'll help you retake control of your lab. I thought it didn't matter who ran this lab as long as it wasn't me, but now I know it must be you! Otherwise, people will expect me to work! As for your "daughter" Angela, don't worry, I'll find her and bring her back but promise you'll keep her away from me. She forced me to wear a frilly pink dress in our last encounter... Truly one of your most terrifying creations. In conclusion, pull yourself together, Dr. Baker! I know that your technology will bring joy to all living creatures, and I should be first on that list! I can already see the golden beaches of the Agelta coast. I've stashed all my chips there, waiting for that day. One last thing. You didn't think I actually wrote this letter myself, did you? I hope the ChipBot AI program I developed has done a good job of conveying my thoughts... or thoughts the real Chip should have according to my algor... Never mind. If you miss me, just contact ChipBot. Although it will only reply that it's off duty. - Your good friend, Chip