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]

Scott did.

[Morph shoots him a look over their shoulder after they arms into the sleeves, reaching back to pull up the invisible zipper on the back of their costume with the sort of dexterity that only came from doing it many, many times before.]

I don't think my plan is worth digging in my heels over. If no one wants to go through with it, I can't force them all to take the risk. Saving the AI seems like the next best thing, if we have to reset the simulation. And Scott said he needed my help, so that's that.

[Morph still thought it oughta be possible to separate the AI from the simulation - like partitions on the same hard drive - but knowing a little bit about how computers work doesn't mean they could tackle this advanced tech on their own. The very tablets everyone used for the network hadn't existed in 1997, much less whatever the simulation was built on. Lacking that knowledge gave them even less of a say in the matter.]

[nuraridouman]

Scott?

[He doesn't think that he has heard that name before. At least not from Morph.]

I told you earlier that I don't think that your plan is particularly murderous. Not more than doing what that thing asks of you, at least. Has anybody considered that going along with that request could be taken as your agreement to being indiscriminately trapped in whatever this world is? Or that it is not really some "poor" AI asking us for help?

[mightymorphin]

[Morph takes a moment to fasten and adjust the collar at the neck of their costume, then briefly pinches and tugs at the fabric to get everything in place. It's not made of actual spandex but acts a lot like it, so that part was just necessary.]

Yeah. He's pretty young now, but give it another few years and his codename will be Cyclops. He'll be our team leader.

[They pad over to Nura to pluck their shoe out of his grasp, assuming he gives it over.]

The problem is that we can't verify anything right now, but it is a good rule of thumb to help someone when they say they need help. And... as much as well all need to get out of here, making sure the AI doesn't die seems like the next best thing I can do right now. If that bites us all in the tush later, we'll just have to deal with it. Assuming we can get through this in one piece.

[nuraridouman]

[Douman pulls the shoe out of Morph's reach only to swing it and playfully hit their rear with it before dropping it. He remembers the mutant telling him that their costume is made out of some pretty absurd-sounding material, but from the way it looks he thinks that it could be just a full-body version leggings instead. He'd be very surprised if something that thin could offer any sort of protection.]

You've forgotten your pants, young man.

[mightymorphin]

Hey! [It makes Morph jump a little, but the goofing off does also get a quick smile out of them as they turn and bend over to snag their shoe off the floor]

There's no pants involved, old man. This is what kids are fighting in these days.

[They move to sit on the edge of their bed to get their shoes put on and buckled in place, following that with pulling on a pair of yellow gloves - and then almost as an afterthought, they grab the bomber jacket that had been left draped over the end of their bed.]

Besides, Logan's shown me a few of those old samurai movies. I know not all of them have pants on under those kimono!

[nuraridouman]

Seriously? [Douman sounds as skeptical as he feels while he's looking Morph up and down. Nope, still looks like the worst to wear into battle ever to him.]

You're a shapeshifter for gods' sake. You can just adjust whatever parts you're unhappy with, rather than trying to make up for it by empathizing in such a silly way. That alarm color is just screaming "here! kick me in the nuts!"

[Which is something Douman and many of those he employs would absolutely try to do, simply because it's such an obvious target sign. Watching them fiddle with the finishing touches to their outfit, he huffs.]

You're still wearing underwear beneath them, unless you're an utter barbarian. Or do you think I went commando back when we met during Obon?

[mightymorphin]

I don't know, did you?

[They ask the question without even thinking about it, just because it's the most irritating reply they could give. Morph stands and shrugs their jacket on before regarding Nurarihyon, hands resting on their hips.]

Yeah, I'm a shapeshifter, so I can shift to that metal form and make sure whoever kicked me breaks their foot on my nuts. [Or, you know, just get rid of that anatomy entirely for a while.] I do this thing a lot, you know, silly outfit and all. But it's nice of you to be worried about me.

[Or maybe it really was just criticism of the costume, but call it an educated guess. After all, even if Nura's timing was bad, this wasn't the first time that he had stopped by with beer when Morph needed someone to talk to.]

[nuraridouman]

[Rather than an answer they just get an eyeroll and the bottle tossed in their general direction.]

Hmmmmph, who's worried here? I just don't want to be associated with anybody who lost just because they chose to wear a god-awful costume.

[As if having to worry about Karasuma doing the same idiotic thing weren't bad enough. This feels way too much like he's traded an overly fancy idiot for a gaudy one, and Douman doesn't appreciate feeling like he's being called out on something he hadn't even noticed himself up till now.]

I guess I can be nice and reward you by filling you in with what I have gathered about our situation so far - if you manage to make it back without getting beaten up.

[mightymorphin]

[Morph has pretty good reflexes, but they still catch the bottle in both hands to keep it from smashing on the floor. The last thing they needed right now was to have to stop to clean up when they could be called out to a fight at any time.]

Now you're going to blame a loss on my costume instead of my skills? Questioning my fashion sense is one thing, but that's just unfair.

[The beer gets safely put aside on the dresser before Morph turns to face him again, their expression sobering. Yeah, they needed that information, but it seemed like the other Chosen were already heading out for the terminals. There wasn't much time left to use it standing around talking.]

... Sure, Nura. Let's do that, once we're on the other side of the reset. And I'll buy the drinks this time.

[nuraridouman]

Would you rather have me just calling a skill issue instead?

[What a fool. Having an excuse is clearly better, isn't it? Mmmh, but earnest. He can't quite hate that character trait. It's too common in many good men.]

I'll hold you to that. Now then, I should be off to for my own trip as well. Take care.

[Seconds later Morph is alone in their room, because Douman has done it and just vanished in a blink again.]