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; un: shades

[laserguy]

You're aiming to reset, right?

I agree, but also, before we go through with it, can you give some of my friends the chance to talk with the AI? It might be a good idea to at least save it in some way before we reset this world.

[melnik]

Yes. Although I don't like putting my trust in this system, I see no other viable alternative.

[ Either they reset it, or they probably die. Simple as that. Anyway, he might not usually be so agreeable, but he trusts Scott's judgment at least enough to hear him out. ]

If you think talking to it will be valuable, I'm willing to help. My only concern is managing our time. I don't think the opposing side is going to make things easy.

[laserguy]

[He appreciates that Miller is willing to at least hear him out.]

I do. Don't worry, we aren't going to waste any time with this. [Well, Scott mostly means Quentin and the other people who have knowledge of the AI. STEM Club people. He trusts their knowledge about that.]

...And if the opposite side wants to destroy this place or the terminals, then I'll handle that too.

[melnik]

[ He's not in so different a position; infiltrating an AI is a little over his head. At some point he has to trust that others are acting with good intentions. In this case, his support in defending their cause is enough. ]

OK, I hear you. I'm trying to make sure we mobilize in the most efficient way possible right now, so let me know if your friends need any support to get to where they need to go.

A woman by the name of Root is trying to organize the technical efforts. Maybe your people should collaborate with her.

[laserguy]

Thanks, Miller. I'm still gathering people, but I doubt we'll be short on volunteers, at least when it comes to travelling and protecting the terminals.

She just contacted me as well. I think her plan is solid. There's another mutant here that is a telepath and he's going to be working with her more and the others when it comes to the technical stuff. I just want to be ready to go once they are.

[melnik]

Yes, I'm happy to report the same. I am pleasantly surprised to find that our coordination is going smoothly. Don't lose sight of our objective though. Even if there are some who object, this isn't a sacrifice we can afford to make for the sake of keeping everyone happy.

[laserguy]

Yeah, we... can't stop for them.

[At the very least, there's not a lot of people that are objecting to this. That's nice. Of course, there may be more out there that just didn't want to voice their thoughts now. It's something to keep in mind when sending out groups, along with the possible danger that's already out there, like monsters and stuff.

Some time later though, Scott sends another message.]

Colonel? Just wanted to let you know that Morph and Rogue are on board with us. I'm thinking of sending them to the ruins to provide backup to the team that you'll have there. Both of them can fly.

private

[melnik]

[ Yes, thankfully they are dealing with rather small numbers when it comes to the opposition. This will leave them room for the rest; it's unpredictable, but he can't imagine that this world is just going to allow itself to be reset.

Anyway, he's satisfied to leave it there until that second message comes through. ]

Really? So, you were able to convince them? [ After talking to Rogue himself, he's not entirely surprised, but the other person... Miller privates the conversation at this point. ]

How can you be sure they don't plan to sabotage?

private;

[laserguy]

They're my teammates.

[Future teammates? X-Men from a different timeline?? However, Scott doesn't elaborate on those details. Maybe he should, but... it's hard to forget what Rogue said to him. She sounded so lost, unsure about stuff. She really needed his help.]

...More so, I'm their leader. [Sort of, but he doesn't want to sound uncertain about it. Not now. Besides, he does trust Rogue and Morph, especially since they said they're willing to do this for him.] And they said they'd fight for me because I asked them to.

I know they won't go back on that.

private;

[melnik]

[ Okay... this is interesting. When he first met Rogue, it was because of Scott that he already understood her concept of what a mutant was. So it turns out that their connection is no mere coincidence.

But a kid like him leading a woman like her? ]

What do you mean you're their leader?

[ He can't help but ask—but ultimately, he doesn't want to miss the forest for the trees either. ]

If you're vouching for them, then I will accept it... but just know that I will be looking to you if things go awry. Keep the lines of communication open.

[laserguy]

I'm the leader of the X-Men. We're... that's what we call ourselves, a group of mutants working together to help others. Save the world, that kind of thing.

[He at least sounds mostly certain about that. It's probably not good if keeps on sounding unsure in front of others, right? Besides, it's what Morph and Rogue want of him, at least right now.]

I understand, Colonel. If something happens with them... I'll take full responsibility. I know I'm asking you to trust me on this.

[He appreciates it.]

[melnik]

[ So that's the connection. As ridiculous as it sounds from the outside, he's probably heard fifty more ridiculous things by now. In which case... so be it. ]

Very well. Good luck out there. We will meet again when this is all over.