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

[querulus]

I can try to talk to it. Lot of "if"s here.

If it actually has a mind to begin with. If it even wants to talk to me. If it's not just pulling on our heartstrings so it can get its greedy little robo-hands on my soft fleshy body to escape its hellish disembodied existence. If it doesn't fry my brain on the spot. But hey, what are the X-Men if not the dumb shmucks risking life and limb to save any pathetic thing that needs help, right?

Oh, and uh, I'm gonna need all the other terminals protected until I'm done. I don't know what would happen, and I'd rather not find out.

[digthefuzz]

I don't like the sound of some of those if's...! [He says a little nervously. He's really hoping for something that's not instant brain-frying!]

Well I can be on hand to help you out however we can. But we're definitely going to have get more people to cover all the terminals.

[querulus]

Hey, look at this way: if it all goes to shit, it was already heading there anyway. Only way to go is up! [Is that encouraging? Do you feel encouraged, Kurt??]

Get with Summers and put your little heads together. I just found out there's a sick nerd club that I'm gonna go join.

Later, elf! I'll touch base when me and the dweebs come up with something.

[digthefuzz]

[Nope not encouraged in the slightest!!]

Sounds like a plan! I'll go talk to him now. Keep me updated on how things go with the other brainiacs!

[If anyone can crack this, it's them, right?]