video; un: viktor

[runeing]

[ the video feed opens with the shot of… the ground, and a pair of strangely purple, metallic-looking feet, some blue fabric covering the legs. faintly, one may hear viktor’s voice saying, ]

This proves it without a shadow of a doubt. You were right. It is possible to make them remember… to help them.

Wobbles, hold this for me, please.

[ the tablet shakes for a moment as viktor sets it in the hands of the little robot, and as his face comes into focus, it is framed by a hood, and his cheeks, while not quite purple, certainly don’t look to be made of flesh anymore. ]

Observe this, if you would, [ he says this to those watching, and then walks away, long staff in hand, entirely steady on his feet. the surroundings reveal themselves to be in rumpitur; there is a snake person standing nearby, seeming panicked as viktor approaches, watching someone off to the side of the view of the camera. ]

It will not hurt, I promise. Let me help you become who you once were.

[ what happens next is nothing short of unbelievable: viktor lifts his hand, and the purple lines in his metallic body all start to glow at once, an otherworldly light emanating from his limbs, spreading to his eyes, and finally exploding outward as it connects with the naga. for a moment, the light is too bright for anything to be seen clearly; though if one tries, there are circles inside the light, forming a strange sort of a pattern as they wrap around the duo, standing there.

when the light finally dies down, viktor is still there, leaning onto his staff, visibly exhausted — but opposite him, there now stands a person, a man looking mostly human, with some scales still along his arms, his eyes still with slit pupils, like a snake’s. ]

How… do you feel?

[ the formerly-a-snake blinks, shakes his head as if trying to gather his bearings, and says, ] Like… it feels like I’ve been asleep for a long time. Just woken up from a dream, except there was nothing there, you know? Just… emptiness.

[ before viktor can say anything more, there is clamoring to be heard, coming closer; other snakes, shouting, an indistinct mess of he’s hurting them, see and stop that — the others are clearly not pleased, and viktor sighs before holding out his hand towards wobbles the robot, signaling for it (and the tablet) to come closer. ]

Can you see? It can be reversed. What the previous AI did. I could only save this one and two others… but it can be done. We are not helpless. This simulation is not all-powerful.

[ that is all he has time for, though, as the yelling comes closer, and with a frown he takes the tablet and cuts the connection. ]

( ooc: viktor is back from his canon update and is now from between acts 1 and 2 of season 2! his responses come with a slight delay as they are currently being kicked out of rumpitur. some responses to the post may also come from octavian, who is off-screen throughout the post. )

Comments

[unsunder]

You shall have to forgive me if my patience for unhelpful mysticism wears thin.

[ Also, this is just how he is. Sorry about that. ]

Let us start at the beginning, then. How did you come to realize they were changed in the first place?

[manifestering]

No.

[But anyway.]

Many months ago several of us reset the AI from its control terminals. The terminal relayed the AI's records as a vision. It showed the AI's desperate attempt to rescue corrupted Chosen through transforming them into the people of Rumpitur.

[unsunder]

[ Fair and valid. Even if he does make a face at his tablet, unseen. At least this man is answering him, which is more than he got before. ]

Were you able to discern from whence the corruption stemmed?

[manifestering]

[Luckily, his vested interest in spreading this information is pretty high! He can reserve his pettiness for later.]

No. The AI was unable to discern their origin. Its diagnostics reported that the corruption did not exist despite evidence to the contrary.

[unsunder]

And yet it endeavored to save them, regardless.

[ Hm. Hmmmm. ]

If I may, what is to say that turning them back will not invite this corruption to resume itself?

[manifestering]

It cared. In its way.

And I do not know. This place is allegedly cyclical in nature. Perhaps our cycle has been cleared of the corruption that once threatened them. We are not yet melded into some manner of animal after all.

[unsunder]

Is that the prevailing theory? That this is the fate of all cycles before us?

[ The same end, again and again. Is this the fate of those who cannot or will not be "rehabilitated"? Or is there something more at work? ]

[manifestering]

To become creatures. I doubt it. The AI seemed... surprised by the onset of the corruption.

[A beat.]

But the possibility of failure does hang over our heads. All of its previous cycles ended in failure. One must assume the failures have varied.

[unsunder]

Something new, then.

[ Not sure if that's better or worse. ]

Well, yes. The odds do seem stacked against us, though I am given to understand this cycle has outlasted the previous ones.

[manifestering]

Meaningless in my opinion. We are not well-liked.

[Guy who just got kicked out of Rumpitur voice: For Some Reason they don't like us.]

We have not proven ourselves rehabilitated in a way that matters to the simulation. We are still here.

[unsunder]

I wonder why.

[ I WONDER WHY. ]

Mayhap the simulation is simply designed to fail.

[manifestering]

[It was worth it to be correct about the snake people. And also out of spite.]

In that case our longevity is a "bug." Not a story of success.

[unsunder]

I have always wanted to be a glitch in the system.

[ No he hasn't. ]

To circle back around, do you have any clue as to how your friend was able to reverse the AI's changes? Clearly others have tried and failed.

[manifestering]

I do not. I will find out. Probably.

[Will he share... probably not. Sorry to others.]

[unsunder]

[ Yeah, he's kind of getting that vibe. ]

I suppose the matter of greater concern is whether or not this "healing" proves beneficial in the long run.

[manifestering]

They are restored.

[This he says like that should be enough.]

In any case. We will look after them. They will be taken care of.

[unsunder]

[ Ohhh, he has a lot he could say about restoring things that have been changed, for better or worse, but at the end of the day he hardly knows these people and owes them nothing, so. He'll keep his council to himself. ]

Very well. Do please share if aught of note happens. Until then, my apologies to your friend.

[ He sounds earnest enough about that, at least. ]

[manifestering]

[Oh, a whole apology. That's nice!]

I will pass on your regards.

[unsunder]

[ Look, he may be a grouchy asshole 97% of the time, but he does realize that he needs every source of information he can get if he wants to get out of here. He'll play nice when it suits him. ]

Appreciated. I am Emet-Selch, by the way.

[manifestering]

Okay.

[.........manners,] Good to meet you. If we make any other discoveries I will remember.

[unsunder]

[ "okay" help. ]

Thank you.

[ Alright Octavian you can be free. He won't make you socialize anymore. ]