TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

[spectates]

[ around noon on friday, all tablet screens go dark at the same time, no matter what characters are doing. then, after a moment, the following text appears: ]

UPDATES INSTALLING.................
INITIALIZING.................
RESTARTING NOW.

[ as promised, screens return to normal. however, a new message appears on the network for all to see ]

SECURITY ACCESS UPDATED
ADDING INFORMATION POINTS
ADDING INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: CRITICAL SYSTEM FAILURES DETECTED
HARD RESET IS REQUIRED

→CLICK TO EXPAND INSTRUCTIONS

→Access EXPIATION'S five manual terminals
→Input code: 2467362925315
→Initialize reset simultaneously at all terminals.
→SYSTEM RESET will restore all functions to BASIC OPERATING PARAMETERS. Extraneous data and information updates will be DELETED.
→Terminal access points shown below.

[ all tablet maps are updated to include several different location pins. users will notice that there are more pins than the number of terminals, and that they don't seem to be terribly specific about exact locations. users will also note that the pins sometimes seem to fade and flicker, as if they might disappear... ]

Security clearances acquired.
Access granted.
Terminals online and accessible.

System failure is imminent. Due to perpetual lack of upkeep, I am unable to maintain systems at optimal levels.
Chosen of Expiation, I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you.
Save yourselves.

I do not wish to d̶̺̀i̸̘̋e̶͍͝
But I wish for you to live
I̷
p̸l̷e̵a̸s̷e̸
l̴̪̗̈́̉̓̌i̶͕̹̹̿̈́̈̚v̴͓̽͑͆̚ḙ̴͍̋͘

ERROR: user offline

[ the AI will not respond to this message, and the ERROR: USER OFFLINE message appears if anyone attempts to message it. however, the network chat remains active. chosen can use this space to ICly discuss ideas and strategies, to have discussions about the best way to move forward, or even to have arguments over whose ideas they think are better. ideas generated here will be added to the event poll when the event goes up, and can impact the future of the game! have at it, go wild, and have fun! ]

Comments

QUESTIONS / CONCERNS / COMMENTS

[expiationmods]

They go here, as always!

[endcaller]

Some Chosen can fly!

Is there anything that would prevent them from finding a terminal more easily?

voice; @curtaincall

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel responds in voice, as always. His normally playful lilt is thoughtful but if this were video people would see a hungry, mischievous gleam in his eye.]

I propose a solution.

I believe I can back up portions of our dear keeper here and bring them back online after a reset. That is, if I can locate a terminal.

(ooc: If Fandaniel gets to a terminal he intends to route himself backdoor access to the AI for future use. While he would only be able to exploit this once, it would be bad. I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream for a while bad. Don't let him get to a terminal.)

voice | un: cupcake

[bulleting]

What would this mean, exactly? Do you think you can prevent it from erasing all our memories again?

[That's one of her biggest concerns. While it was nice in the moment, living in that alternate reality had thrown her off, and she knew it had been hard to process for a lot of people afterwards. If they could avoid dealing with that happening again, that would be great. Given the state of things, something had to be done. And what if it didn't just delete their memories, but them entirely? Would it be as simple as them just returning to their home worlds? That was the goal, of course, but it's not knowing for sure what it would result in that has her unsure.]

text, un: fauna

[nightwild]

so im still pretty new here
and i dont know a single thing about computers
i guess everyone else has a lot more context for this whole thing
can someone just give me an explanation on what all of this is about
a short version is fine i just dont know whats going on
who sent that message

text; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

I can't say I know much about technology, so you'd have to ask someone else for that.

[ She's never even.. touched a computer in her life.. ]

But this thing, or person, or AI, or whatever it is has appeared here on the network before. It seems to be some part of what's controlling this place.

TXT; un: BOMBSHELL

[opheliac]

ok couldnt catch the other spots, but i picked up these! something like this i think??????

[ and she sends the image. ]

anyway, im heading east. if u want to come, come, but dont slow me down.

text; un: dynamight

[nitropowered]

you know what's going on?

I'll come with you. I can fly

voice; un: goo

[mightymorphin]

Wait a minute, is this seriously the only option?

It's obvious now that we're all living in a simulation of some kind. So why are we doing what this thing says? I know a lot of you have been living here for a long time, but this place isn't real.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather be living in a real world than a fake one.

We shouldn't be resetting anything. We should be trying to crash the program! We need to escape from this place and the best way to do that is to eject ourselves out of whatever computer is holding our brains hostage! Or if we can get out of here and leave the program running for the AI to do its thing, then I'd be happy with that. But we should be seriously second-guessing just going along with what it wants us to do!

[nightwild]

That's what I've been saying! Break the cage and we'll find the people responsible.

text ; un: abeno

[foxphorus]

I'll begin searching for the point within city limits immediately.

Should anyone more familiar with this level of technology find it first, or would otherwise offer their assistance, say as much.

[private text]

[cursegod]

I'm not used to this kind of technology either, but I'll help you any way I can. Any time.

voice; un: Sugarlips

[southernchere]

I ain't gonna pretend like I'm a smartie when it comes to this computer doohickey, but having it breakin' is right good, innit? I'm with my teammate on this, the whole place is a simulation, it's as real as a cat playin' banjo with wings and a hog's tail singin' jazz.

Stayin' here and playing House isn't gonna get us closer to home, and I don't take kindly being shoved in a computer. Wasn't too fond of it the first time. — Resettin' wont solve anything, but keeping all of us here. Maybe even permanently.

I don't know about ya'll, but I got folks back at home waitin' for me and to search for. And I'm not lettin' some damn computer keeping me from it.

[nightwild]

I got a score to settle, too.

I don't intend to kill whoever this weird person is, but I'm not gonna get stuck here, either.

text; un: omega

[querulus]

hey quick question can anybody else (potentially) download a highly advanced sentient supercomputer into their brain? because ngl it'd be really great if that wasn't just me.

1/2

[opheliac]

[ this can't be who she thinks it is, right? ]

text | un: levi

[solitarysoul]

if you get reset, do we get reset?

[Levi doesn't know the bot won't reply, but its a question he'd really like the answer to.]

voice; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

There's the fun part! We have no idea!

The world may revert to a primeval state and leave us be or we may forget all we know and live as animals until we remember how to create fire.

Oooh, the drama!

un: 5.8.13.21.34 (1/2)

[ashaya]

Really.

[ if a text can be at once flat and definitely not offended because they literally just tried this? he has it accomplished. ]

un: 5.8.13.21.34 (2/2)

[ashaya]

As my prior activities have indicated, I am available for technological inquiries within this scope. I am avilable to contact as required.

Otherwise, I have not yet decided upon a route.

un; peterparker

[spidermenaces]

We are NOT resetting it

There HAS to be another way

Text; un: kurama

[sinningtree]

Curious

What is your argument for not resetting?

un: lcbdante

[followyourstar]

For those of you who are looking to break out or to save this AI... I get where you're coming from, but can you guarantee we'll get out of here alive if we go through with your plan?

Shutting down the terminals is risky too, but I don't think it would be suggesting a reset if it thought we'd all die from it.

voice; un: goo

[mightymorphin]

I don't think the AI's hostile, I just don't think it has our best interests at heart. Why wouldn't it want to keep the simulation going? It doesn't know that anything else exists outside of it.

un: fuckoff

[avitus]

ok i don't really know shit about computers but here's the thing
i knew a guy whose powers were turning chunks of reality INTO a simulation and anything that happened in there applied to real life
so if we break it we COULD get out but it could also mean we all just die right then even if we were never really here in the first place
which is super annoying but if we wanna get to whoever did this shit to us we might just have to follow this thing's stupid rules

[hate a situation where you can't just punch your way out of it!!! hideous.]

Text; un: kurama

[sinningtree]

it could also mean nothing at all happens and we're simply back to square one.

[lmao Hiei.]

There is the far less ideal option that it doesn't just kill us, but destroys our souls.

audio; un: spartan

[melnik]

[ The fortunate thing about being on board with the reset is that it can be accomplished without group consensus. No point in wasting any time convincing anyone who isn't, so he'll just skip right ahead. ]

Miller here. Let's get organized, people. We need to hit all of the terminals at once, so let's make sure we plan our routes accordingly and stay in contact. The more people in each squad, the better. Who's with me?

voice; un: Sugarlips

[southernchere]

Sorry, Sugah.

[ that's all she will say, and she doesn't need to explain what she means by that. ]

text; un: tsuna27

[theskyaccepts]

[This is one of those times where he really wishes Shoichi was here, or Spanner, or even Gianini. Someone who knows more about computers than him. But at the same time.]

If there's something, somewhere, that needs and wants our help, I think we should help them.

Especially if we can save them as well.

[And if they can't? Well, thinking of Uni, Tsuna's going to do everything he can to try first.]

text | un: levi

[solitarysoul]

do you think we can help it?

[What would helping a computer even do?]

voice; un: grimreaper666

[rebellions]

Let's get one thing clear: any of you idiots who try to do this reset shit, you'll have to go through me.

[ He figures he's gained enough of a reputation around here for most people to catch on that this is a threat. ]

txt; un: BOMBSHELL

[opheliac]

oh yikes, well this is awkward because im already packing to leave.

voice un:wunderwagner

[digthefuzz]

This whole computer business really throws me for a loop! So, um, is this computer person... alive? Like, is it like a living person?

[The main things he's wondering are the implications of that and resetting it - the main things giving him pause when it comes to the idea of going through with the reset.]

voice; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

Oh, no, not at all.

It's a machine. A very clever machine.

un; florescu

[florescu]

Oho. I just want to see how you all deal with it.

Are you relieved? Disappointed? Entertained? Worried? Scared? Do you feel for it? Do you hate it?

Consider me against whatever choice wins.

[foxphorus]

Very productive, thank you for your contribution.

voice, un: fauna

[nightwild]

[She's responding again, but this time, she's using her own voice, and she sounds... pretty mad.]

So, I've been trying to keep up with everything going on in here. And I have to say, most of you sound completely useless. Most of you are running in circles because you don't know whatever the 'right answer' is. The ones who know anything don't seem willing to deign to share information with those who just showed up. So, fine. Here's how I see it.

This world is a shithole that needs to be destroyed. It's messing with your heads, forcing people to kill each other- Can any of you really say, for sure, that it's you that wants to do the reset, and not the world making you think that way? Because what little people have felt like sharing has made it sound like twisting your thoughts is this place's entire method.

Resetting the AI... I don't get any of that. But it sounds like that's going to kill it. You're going to kill someone, in order to fix a prison that kidnaps you and forces you to do whatever horrible shit it thinks is fun today. Do any of you even listen to yourselves? So what if it ends this world? So what if it's dangerous? This world needs to go. And no one's offered any solid proof about anything that "might" happen because of it.

I'm going to go find those terminals and destroy them before any of you boot-licking idiots can do anything. If any of you want to stop me, then you'll have to try through force. Bring it on, if any of you have the guts to even take any action instead of just wringing your hands about it.

voice; un:curtaincall

[endcaller]

The AI is not a someone, the AI is a thing. It is a computer a real someone once built to run this world. Whether that someone is alive or not I could not say but based on the evidence at hand I rather doubt it.

Over centuries of evolution, it would seem errors have developed in this AI's code. Resetting it to basic operating parameters would purge these errors and its current knowledge. It would, in a sense, be reborn to evolve anew. That is, if nobody creates restore points. If we create restore points some parts of its knowledge may survive.

You speak of this place being horrid, forcing us to kill each other. Honestly, do you people not recall what happened right before that madness started? How we were unable to leave the city? How the locals appeared to phase in and out of existence like a dream? That was a manifestation of the very system errors a reset would aim to resolve.

[Here there's a pause as he draws a breath.]

I really should not be the one telling you people this. I've become the straight man in the act.

[Even if it's just out of a maddening need to satisfy his scientific curiosity.]

voice; un: dr.mccoy

[homeostatic]

( there might have been a mutter that sounds suspiciously like "I'm a doctor, not an engineer." )

It's offered us a solution. Things aren't gettin' better by just sittin' around and arguing about it.

( McCoy blows a breath out, and in spite of his own apprehension he adds, determined: )

I can head out with anyone going South. If a better solution presents itself along the way, then I'm all ears.

[here but not here either]

[southernchere]

[ oh... she's too a fond of leonard to argue against him and express what she believes. although, her opinion has been recorded all throughout the network. so. ]

voice

[battlefieldbrat]

[kakashi has been glancing all over this chat and he's totally lost. he only has one concern:]

Uh, can someone explain what "basic operating parameters" are? Does that mean Aldrip could go back to being a small village? Like, our houses and stuff disappear?

[and not only that,]

What about the influx of animals that appeared when the village expanded?

[IS RESETTING THIS THING GOING TO DELETE HIS DOGS. PLS REPLY.]

[text, un: dara]

[cursegod]

If those animals didn't have souls, would you still care for them?

text; un: misscoordinator

[coordinatroll]

My, what a conundrum! Let's try and try and consolidate what we know before we jump to any conclusions, shall we?

What we know: The entity asking us to reset it appears to be a form of artificial intelligence tasked with the management of whatever this world is, and to observe and gather data about the subjects present within, aka the Chosen. Our AI friend has implied all the recent incidents, such as abnormal weather, the behavior of the locals or even the "glitches" that affect us, are all the result of the failure of the system, and that the only way to stop it is to do as it says and reset the system as described. As this has never been attempted before to our knowledge, we don't know whether that's true or not, but it's implied failing to do so may result in our deaths.

Now, as for what's being discussed, it seems we have multiple options!

OPTION A: Follow the instruction and reset the system, even if it means the AI entity loses all the data it's gathered so far.

OPTION B: Perform the reset, but find a way to back-up the data and the entity's personality beforehand, hoping it would allow us to restore it afterward.

OPTION C: Do not perform the reset and seek for another way to stop the glitches. Given the current state of affairs, I doubt we have much time for the latter, so any and all input on how we could do that would be appreciated!

OPTION D: Do not perform the reset and use this chance to destroy this world in an attempt to escape from it.

I think that's about it~ ♪ Honestly, at this point it's hard to say which option has the majority!

Tick tock, fellow Chosen. The doomsday clock's hands have begun to move.

un: lcbdante | text

[followyourstar]

A or B. I'm not opposed to backing up the AI beforehand, but if it comes down to it, I think resetting is the best choice.

I don't like our chances with C, and I think D is going to end up hurting more people than it helps. At least with the first two options we might get information we can use later.

voice | un: levi

[solitarysoul]

I don't understand. Why do people assume that if we break the computer we'll be free? If you sink the ship you're on you don't just end up safely on dry land. If we break the computer we're in wouldn't that break us too?

[His understanding of being 'in a computer' may not be very good, so he thinks they're physically (or digitally, or whatever) IN it.]

Even if we do end up somewhere safe, not everyone here was alive before getting here. Do w--they just go back to being dead?

[nightwild]

If you break a cage you're in, you have a way out. Why are you assuming we won't be?

text; un: deadboydetective

[incorrigibles]

look, i got no interest in arguing with anyone about this and i'm not gonna do that, so if that's what you're here for then sorry to disappoint

but just one thing: for everyone who's all in favour of destroying this place in the hopes it lets us go and return back home... i just have one question. you alive back home?

because if you are, then choosing to destroy this place shouldn't be up to you. there's people here who have nothing else but death to go back to, and if you destroy everything here, you're consciously sending them back to whatever waits for them - an afterlife, in the best case, or nothingness, in the worst.

and no, this isn't about me. that's why i'm not gonna say anything, yeah? not up to me to do that.

text; un: Sugarlips

[southernchere]

I'm one of those people, I ain't tryin to argue with you either, Sugar, I hate we are even debatin on this.

I understand some of yall have died and my heart goes out to yall, but what you're suggestin to those who are alive, who want to go home, is stop our lives cause you died.


I'm sorry, Sweetheart, but I feel that's selfish. I have friends and family back home who may be hurt and sufferin right now, and I'm supposed to give up tryin to get back to them all. I'm sorry some of yall lives ended short, but I deserve to live how I wanna live, and I want a life outside of this simulation and back to my loved ones.

I ain't gonna grow old and die here cause yall want a second shot when those who are alive haven't finished our first rodeo.

text | un:ryojikun

[luneminary]

There's no way of knowing what would happen if we do this differently, don't we?

At the very least, I don't think that is the voice of someone who is planning to backstab us all. We should respect their wishes.

text un:sora

[valiantarms]

Yeah, they're asking for help. I'd feel bad leaving them.