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

[mightymorphin]

The straightforward approach, huh? I wish everything could be that easy.

[nightwild]

... Me too.

But a lot more things than people think can be that easy.

[mightymorphin]

Yeah, there's always a point where people start overthinking things. That's why you can't have only nerds running the show.

[nightwild]

Yeah, they just talk in circles and jerk each other off about how smart they are.

Easier to just find the bad guys and start punching.

[mightymorphin]

Heheh! I don't mind a little stealth every now and then, but you're right, it's way easier.

[nightwild]

Stealth is for making sure you've got the right guy before you start punching.

And for running from the cops.

But that's it.

[mightymorphin]

But what if the guy is bigger or stronger than you, huh? Then you might need it to hit them where it hurts right away.

[nightwild]

Lots of people are bigger than me.

Only one person's stronger.

[mightymorphin]

Well, I can't match strength like that. Some of us have to be a little more careful.

[nightwild]

Then you just go for the eyes. Or the balls, when you can. Fight dirty.

[mightymorphin]

You know, that just sounds like it'll get the other guy angry enough to pound me into a fine paste. ... And not in the fun way.

[nightwild]

If you win first, no problem.