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

voice

[memori3s]

You're... not going to try to reset it, are you?

[ All things, artificial or not, earnestly expressing their wish to live brings back Very Specific Memories for Minato. ]

[foxphorus]

This creature used what could very well have been its dying breaths to give us the means to save ourselves.

I do not intend to waste that.

[memori3s]

[ That's true, but. ]

What if there's another way? There... must be something else we can try. If it's still here, that's --

[ That's like killing it for something it never intended to do, isn't it? ]

[foxphorus]

Have you any suggestions, or only hope?

[computation]

I have a suggestion! I have a whole plan. Make a backup and then reset it, then restore.

Want to help?

[foxphorus]

[ Oh, hello? ]

Do you have reason to believe this will work?

[ Not that he's outright doubting, he's just. So, so tech illiterate. ]

[computation]

I sure do. I'm a professional AI helper.

Seriously, I normally work for an AI at home.

[foxphorus]

I see. Better credentials than most I've seen here.

Alright, then. What would you need of me?

[computation]

I do actually know what I'm doing.

Just stand by for the moment, but once we're ready we'll have coordinated teams looking to find the terminals. What's your skill set?

[foxphorus]

I'd rather keep moving until I've found what I'm looking for if it's all the same to you. Once it's found, then I can await further instructions.

Primarily spiritual protection and cleansing, with plenty other spells up my sleeve should they be required.

[computation]

Fair enough. Can't argue with that.

Does spiritual protection and cleansing only work against spirits? Just wondering.

[foxphorus]

I can bind and create barriers effective against living humans as well, if that is what you're asking. The process is only slightly different.

[computation]

Oh, in that case. Happy to have you! Name, please?

[foxphorus]

Abe no Seimei. And yourself?

[computation]

Call me Root.

[foxphorus]

I'll keep you informed of anything I find.

[memori3s]

Before it was only hope since I'm not that good with computers. It looks like now there are people who have a plan.

[computation]

See our conversation below. You can join the party, too.

voice

[memori3s]

[ He goes through the conversation between Seimei and Root. It's lost on him how exactly Root intends to this, but that's a Root problem and not a Minato problem. ]

I don't really know that much about computers, but I can help find the terminals.

[computation]

Great! You're on the list.

[ hey if he's not gonna ask, she's not gonna volunteer information ]

[memori3s]

[ It's okay. He doesn't need to know any details! Just point Minato in whichever direction he needs to go in and he will be a happy camper. ]

Okay. I'll wait for my assignment from you then.

[ His ass is NOT organizing anything. ]