expiationnet | TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

TEXT | sender: [ unknown ]

[ 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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He takes a deep breath because he doesn't know what he wants to really say. Or at least, how to say it. Several thoughts whirl around his mind and a tiny part of him almost wants to glitch to a Scott that has more experience with this, but he can't just hope for stuff like that. He doesn't want to anyway.

'Saving the world is what X-Men do' is what Quentin said. Granted, part of the conflict has been Rogue thinking that breaking this place will do that, but arguing about it has gone nowhere.

With another deep breath, he switches to voice.]

Rogue, I know it's been hard here. I get why you and Morph want to break out of this place, with the infections and glitching that went on in the past months. [He's not interested in making another argument about whether or not they will survive this world breaking, that isn't the point now.]

But I want you and Morph to be with me-- with Kurt and Quentin. We're mutants. I feel better when we're together. [He can even trust Rogue with this, her help with Kurt is proof of that.] I know we're better together.

The AI is losing control of itself and needs help. Aren't we all familiar with that-- as a mutant? That's what we're trying to do too. We can't abandon something like that, even if it's a program. So, I'm asking you to help me, Morph too, because we're X-Men. Saving others that need help is what we do.

[...]

I know that we might be stuck for longer because of that, but no one is giving up on finding a way back. We might have to go through more shit together, but I know you-- we can get through it. Together. We've already done so. It'll be worth it because we'll be helping someone and giving a chance to others who don't have a home. [The people that can't go back.]

...I'm asking you and Morph to trust me.

[ her response to scott's voice message takes longer than she had intended, with her sitting in silence along with morph while soaking in the words and mulling this over. it takes her this long to say something because she is balancing between of understanding and not understanding at all. she can comprehend that she should assist anyone who is asking for help, but she has trouble grasping to help an AI, a machine, a thing that's been trying to annihilate their kind for years, who had killed thousands of their people, and is the sole reason as to why the love of her life is not by her side. they say that maybe the AI is alive, and well, trask was alive too, until he wasn't, and transitioned into a prime sentinel. sure, this AI and what she had experienced might not be the same makings, but it still shakes her to her core to help any type of machinery of any kind.

she understands that people wish to live their lives, and to live in a world where they can live how they want it. but she can't fathom over how being in a simulation where their minds can be toyed with at any given time, and force them to go through horrible things, is a world that anyone wants to stay a single second in. let alone save. even in charles xavier's dream, this isn't the freedom he would have imagined for all mankind.

she recognizes there are people who have died in their home worlds, and they have nowhere to go, but rogue also witnessed so many circumstances where alternate universes, timelines, galaxies, and planets are just waiting to be inhabited. there are better Earths out there than "this one", so from her prospective, why settle when they can search for something greater, especially when there's an opportunity right now to make a break for it? not only, there are entities possibly similar to the Phoenix out there soaring the skies and space as they speak, just waiting for a host to resurrect. maybe, possibly. that's jeans's department, not hers. rogue just doesn't get it, not one single bit.

....

but maybe this is just one of those things in life where no matter how many times she sits down with someone, civil or not, where she will just never get it. is it because she is still a newcomer? is it because she has no deeper connection with anyone here besides morph and loosely with scott and kurt? that could be an easy fix, really. if she truly wanted to understand how the chosen thinks or feel, all she would have to do is touch every single person on this island, become them, and absorb everything. but even she isn't that desperate to know the ins and outs of everyone. is it because she is too old and ignorant to comprehend (not old as in age, but just... behind the times)? she doesn't know.]

[ does she believe the people of aldrip need her exclusively? absolutely not. does she think they will cry for her aid solely or befriend her in the future? fat chance, not after tonight. but what she does know is that scott needs her. he needs her, along with morph, kurt, and quentin (??? literally, who is that??) — and maybe... that's all that matters right now until she finds a way back home. to be an x-man, his x-man. and what did storm say that one night? — 'believe in each other.' ]

[ — finally, she turns her attention to her comrade, a little curious where their head is at. is it within the wavelength as hers or entirely different? ]

... Well? Are we zippin' back up our spandex, Sugah?

Edited 2024-09-16 23:41 (UTC)

[Morph took that time to let Scott's words sink in, too. The ironic thing was, watching Scott and Rogue suffering from the glitches was half the reason why Morph was so eager to break them out of the simulation. They didn't think resetting the place was a permanent fix, because how could it be, when they were living in a program? And nothing was going to stop the other bad things that might get slung their way, the consequences of existing inside (what they're sure is) an experiment.

But they don't have anything against the AI itself. Morph is fine with saving it, it's just what the others feel like they have to do afterward to keep it going that they have serious reservations about. Scott's speech doesn't completely clear that up for them - in fact, they have to bite their tongue before asking if Scott's sure that they aren't trying to kill everyone - but Morph isn't going to refuse to help the other mutants here.

They lean in so that Rogue's device will pick up their voice better,]

Yeah, let's do it. But the 'fearless leader' stuff won't stop me from getting drunk later!

Tell us where we're meeting up. Between the two of us I bet we can fly all of you to a terminal.

[As he waits to hear Rogue's response, some of his anxiety returns to burn brightly in his chest. Honestly, he can feel his hands subtly shake on the tablet, not helped by his adrenaline leaving and letting the weight of his emotions press onto him. But however his teammates respond, Scott knows that he doesn't regret saying any of that; he meant every word. He can't control what will happen, but he said what he wanted to say. It was a cumulation of how he's felt, things he's learned, and both wanting something while being anxious about it too.

But as she responds-- as Morph responds, that breath he didn't know he was still holding in his chest leaves him.

He's not quite sure what this means for the future. Maybe nothing, like this was just an extreme scenario, or maybe a dynamic has shifted permanently between them. However, if they really need him to be a leader, then he's going to do his best to fill those shoes (maybe it's more than that too, like he truly wants this). Rogue sounded so lost earlier and despite some misgivings, he would never abandon her either, especially if she wants his help. He's not sure if Morph felt similarly, but he's still glad to hear from them.

They're... they're both going to trust him.]

Sure, fine, you two can get drunk later. Although, Morph, don't forget you owe me from Obon.

[When things calm down, not if. He knows that neither of them will be happy to be stuck here for a bit longer and it's not like he wants them or any of his friends to be miserable, but they'll figure it out. They won't give up on finding a way out.

...

There's some complicated feelings that surge up as he looks at Kotone, but that's not here and now.]

Might be better if we divide into teams, cover more ground that way. It said five terminals, correct? There's more markers on the map, however, so we need to figure out which place is real. [Since Rogue, Morph, Quentin--- hey wait, WHY CAN'T HE FLY??? OR TELEPORT??? That's so rude.] Wouldn't hurt to communicate with Miller's teams either, make sure we aren't wasting time by checking the same area.

Quentin's currently working with the STEM Club about the AI part, trying to give us the best possible shot to both communicate and save it.

[ as scott elaborates through their playbook, the mutant hands her cellular device for morph to hold as she digs in her jacket for her gloves to fasten on. ]

So we're dealin' with phoney locations, too? [ a small sigh on her end as she fastens on her other mitten. ] — Will we ever get a mission that's just a straight in and out? Is the Colonel's team the only team we are aware of, or are there more helpin'?

Edited 2024-09-17 19:20 (UTC)

[Is it standard that everyone's first X-Men mission involves a world ending crisis? Scott sure hopes not ~~laugh track~~]

He's organizing several teams together and I imagine that STEM club will also have teams. If there ends up being enough for each location, it might be best to have you go as support for one of the groups.

[.....] With both you and Morph being able to fly, I'm thinking the ruins might be best. I've been there before, once, so I'll tell you everything I know about it.

Ruins... — That's the one out in the ocean, I reckon. With it being way over yonder, It'll be less for anyone to tamper with it. I haven't seen much of folks who can fly around here. 'Less they're being shy.

[Morph chimes in again,]

That sounds good to me. We're best as escorts and muscle anyway. And evacuation, if something goes really wrong.

There might be less people, but the area can still be dangerous. It was the last time I was there, although the monster that was around is gone now. [It should be, at least.] However, it doesn't mean there won't be something nasty out at the ruins and you two are most familiar with working with each other.

[So, best teamwork. Scott believes that they can handle themselves out at the ruins while helping those that may need it. Maybe even clear the area before others start arriving.]

...I know that you two will be able to handle it, while protecting others at the same time.

It's kid's play, yeah. [ a beat. ] — Fauna's goin' on a buffalo stampede to all the terminals. Ain't no tellin' which she's going to first, but let's hope those training classes did these folks some good.

With the way she was steadyin' on, sounds like she ain't fooling around.

[There's a brief pause before Morph speaks up again,]

There's a lot of people here who can fight, but it might still be a problem. These things are way too spread out to be running back and fourth if someone needs backup.

[He's switching this conversation to private, just so he can say this.]

I've met Fauna before, seen just a little of her skills in action. If she's still intending to destroy the terminals, I'll give you what available information I have about her powers.

[To hopefully help take her down easier and everything.]

Yeah, and you'll two will probably be in the most isolated of areas, since the ruins are located on an island. It's why I'm sending you two together out there.

All right, Sugah, lay it on us. Tell us what you know, no matter how little.

I met her when she was holding back a meteor with a force field-- a type of shield. She was dressed in a type of fox suit with long sleeves.

[Guess he'll start with that. Scott stays quiet for a moment, mostly as he tries to recall everything he learned from that day.]

It's her magic, but more importantly, she can transform into different forms. I don't know how many or what those other transformations are like, but expect to face a variety of attacks. I'm assuming she'll switch between these forms based on who's she fighting and the situation.

[ the mutant scowls gravely as her team leader explains the girl's ability, not necessarily thrilled with having to deal with someone who has magical abilities. they've always been more of a handful to deal with than a mutant inhabiting one (or two at the most) powers and navigating it that way. ]

So we're lookin' at a real hootenanny when we cross her.

Holding back - oh! I ran into her doing that, too!

I don't have any real intel to add, other than she told me she's the second most powerful person on her world. Not sure if that was boasting or not, but she's not the only one that can switch up forms.

If what she says is true, I wouldn't go easy on her.

[Not that he's asking his teammates to pummel someone to the ground, especially since Fauna agreed with them initially, but this is important.]

Less relevant information, but she mentioned something to me about wishes and a goddess and looked surprised that I was not only born with powers, but I didn't need to 'transform' to use them.

Guess the girl's still thinkin' outside this simulation, we're on her Earth and everyone's the same. Took me 'till this whole get-together to piece we might be yonders away from our New York.

Anyone think we're going to get lucky, and her goddess not being around will make a difference? No? Me either.

But if she doesn't know much about us, we can use that to our advantage. I still think she's going to be pretty surprised by what all the Chosen can do.

[Nope, he doesn't think so either, Morph.]

I don't know where we are, honestly. I'm hoping the AI can explain that much once we're able to back it up and restore it. That and a possible way for people to escape this simulation.

[...] That's why those terminals can't be destroyed. Use whatever tactic you got to prevent that from happening.

[Even if it's taking advantage of someone being caught off guard.]

Aye aye, Captain. Hear ya loud and clear!

Got it, Cyke. You can count on us.

[A part of him is dying again, hearing them call him 'captain' and 'cyke.' It feels so much, especially since he's taking this seriously. Okay, breathe, Summers.]

I... I know.

[Then a little more focused, confident.] I can always count on the X-Men.

You mean your X-Men.

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text -> voice;

1/2 cw: more spoilers of x-men '97, sorry people who havent seen it! it cant be avoided )8

2/2 — this part is for morph to say something if they want.

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