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

[sinningtree]

That is also a possibility, I'm afraid. If the AI is truly interested in helping us, fixing it might enable it to do so. It may also be our jailer, and doing so might trap us here indefinitely. Every option is a gamble, as far as I see it.

[He's so new here, he's just trying to get everyone's perspective and an understanding of the information presented. While he's absolutely of the mind to reset, he's never been one to go into things without first gathering intel.]

How do you propose breaking free, if we don't have another day to live here? Your plan must involve acting quickly, I imagine.

[southernchere]

I'm not much of a leader, that's Scott's, Erik's, or the Professor's know-how, but I was them, I'd say we'd find the weakest point. — Them terminals could be it, or maybe there's a place on this island that's vulnerable enough for us to shred through somehow.

There must be a force field that's malfunctioning so bad that it could be a window.

[sinningtree]

So, it would seem our best plan is still locating the terminals, no matter which side of the argument we happen to be on.

That could make things very tricky if people are approaching with intent to destroy and reset the terminals, simultaneously.

[This is about to be Aldrip: Civil War, the way he sees things. One name on her list catches his attention, though. A beat before he adds:]

By Scott, you don't mean someone here do you?

[southernchere]

It's... a lil' complicated. I do mean Scott, but the Scott who is here with us is a younger version from my Earth. Possibly from a different timeline, too.

[sinningtree]

[There's a pause as he digests that, essentially confirming his own fear about things.]

I see...

I have heard that's possible here. It does make the suggestion to ask his advice more complicated, unfortunately. If he's not quite the same person you're accustomed to, perhaps someone more experienced with this level of technology may be better suited.

[southernchere]

Unfortunately, I'm still gettin' to know the folks around these parts. And if I known this was gonna happen ahead of time, I would have thrown myself to the STEM club when it was offered to me.

[sinningtree]

Being a recent arrival as well, other circumstances took priority at the time or I certainly would have been looking into things sooner, myself.

I suppose without the technical knowledge of what's involved, you may have to rely on trusting someone with a better understanding of the situation for those leadership qualities.

[If there even is anyone with enough tech know-how on Team Break Shit to act as a guide there.]

[southernchere]

[ there's a brief pause on her side of the receiver as her heart breaks in two. she knows what he said wasn't out of harm or hurt, but... she is a hero, and her sole duty is to save everyone from all kinds of calamity. rogue never claimed to have good leadership skills, absolutely not.

the mutant is the muscle, the tank of the X-Men, however, hearing her heroism may not be enough or strong enough to solve this problem. and with so many people against her possible solution.... it does bruise her pride. ]

... I'm gonna fly around for a while. Clear my mind.

[sinningtree]

[Well, he's clearly struck a nerve and doesn't know Rogue to even attempt more than disconnecting from the conversation without making it worse.]

Of course.