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

[melnik]

[ Considering the amount of firepower some people here have, that's not saying too much to discredit her. After all, established trust is extremely valuable. ]

No need to undersell yourself. Your help is always appreciated.

[entreats]

I don't really think there's any underselling going on when I know absolutely nothing about technology. Especially not the way some other people in this place seem to. [ Looking at you, STEM club nerds!! Sure, Ange has tried getting in on it a little, but she can't say she understands all that much.. Not as much as she'd like now that knowledge is getting very relevant, at least. ]

And I can't fight the way you or others in this place can either. What can I even do to help at that point?

[melnik]

Look. The fact of the matter is there are many here without technical skills or a history of battle. But so long as we work to support each other, this will hopefully not be an issue.

[ It isn't his plan to send her to wander the desert alone or something. ]

In times like these, the ability to think clearly is underrated. If the world keeps "glitching" out around us, we need as many eyes as possible. People to look out for incoming dangers. People who can think with reason even if everything goes to shit. So long as you are willing that is enough.

[entreats]

[ Well, it is true that that is something that Ange is pretty good at. She won't deny that.

And yet she's quiet for a moment. She may not be doubting her own ability, but doubting the situation itself is another matter entirely. ]

You really think that can help in some way?

[melnik]

[ Come on, Ange. Does he really seem like the kind of guy who would give empty platitudes? ]

Yes. I am counting on it. This plan is going to fall apart if we don't have people out there trying to keep it together.

[entreats]

Well, I can do that.

[ Keeping it together. It's kind of Ange's thing - trying to at least look like she's keeping a cool head in the face of danger, no matter what's going on with her on the inside. ]

I don't know how much it's going to help, but I'm not going to freak out, even if this does kill all of us.

[melnik]

I don't know if I should say that's the spirit, but... well, I'm glad to have you on board.

[ That's the important part, after all. ]

We're not going to die. I'm not going to let that happen.

[entreats]

[ ... ]

You sound confident.

[ Ange isn't sure how to feel about that. She's practically grown up while telling herself to never trust a single adult, but.. Miller has been pretty reliable so far, and there's something weirdly nice about someone telling you that they're not going to let that happen.

It's a weird, two-sided feeling. ]

Are you sure you can live up to those words?

[melnik]

Absolutely.

[ It would be poor form for a commander to go into battle with an attitude of anything less than certainty. The reality is that people die all the time in risky operations... but in this case, there seemingly is no physical enemy. It's unpredictable, but he refuses to lean on that. ]

So, are you in?

[entreats]

[ There's still a moment of thought. It's not an easy choice to make, mostly because of how avoidant Ange is about trusting anyone else. It's the sort of thing that has let her down far too often.

It's only a moment though. ]

Okay. I am.

[ It's kind of a scary decision to make, but what else is she going to do? It's not like she can tackle this problem all by herself. Far from it. ]

I trust you. So-- don't ruin that. There's nothing more cruel than ruining a girl's trust, you know?

[melnik]

[ While he isn't the most demonstrative of his feelings, it's a response endearing enough to bring up thoughts of his own daughter. Yes, surely this lesson has been instilled in him plenty enough by her by now, and as a result, he knows he should take it seriously.

Not to mention that Ange is not the frivolous type. ]

Believe me. I do not take it lightly.