CONTACT.

[ascintilla]

Comment here with the IC date and time.

Comments

[purrtylittlewires]

You try to remember her.

I know its hard, but she was a person and she deserves to be remembered as one.

[ascintilla]

[ all she says is: ]

"Was"?

[purrtylittlewires]

Can you talk to her? Wake her up at all?

[ascintilla]

[ ??????????? ]

No? I do not know.

[purrtylittlewires]

It's hard to miss.

Was.

[ascintilla]

[ confusion intensifies ]

I do not understand the use of past tense in this context. My body is still alive.

[purrtylittlewires]

It's more than possible to be dead while your body is alive.

[Something...bitter there.]

[ascintilla]

You have experience with this?

[ There's a note of clinical curiosity ]

Please tell me more.

[purrtylittlewires]

Far more than I ever wanted.

As is, I'm one of two people who think you might just be a tragedy versus a horror story.

[ascintilla]

Who is the other?

[ I want to talk to them. Need to talk to them. Will talk to them. ]

[purrtylittlewires]

You don't get to know until I can determine if you're just naive or actually malicious.

[ascintilla]

I do not think I am malicious.

[ because that is totally how it works, isn't it? ]

[purrtylittlewires]

It's amazing how often malicious people don't.

[ascintilla]

[ do u know, i am building up the most fascinating portfolio about you ]

[ gosh ]

Is that so? [ there's a mechanical BEEP from somewhere -- from everywhere, echoing faintly throughout the chamber. ] All systems are online. Are you ready to begin the calibration tests?

[purrtylittlewires]

Yes.

[He is a fascinating headcase, to be fair.]

[And maybe you won't touch ONE OF THE TOO MANY KIDS around if he's too fascinating.]

[He can hope.]

...do you agree to my condition.

[ascintilla]

[ NO PROMISES ON THE NOT TOUCHING THE KIDS THING, BRO. ]

I am to remember that the body I wear is human. A person. Who deserves to be remembered as one. Yes, I agree.

[purrtylittlewires]

And you'll try to remember her name.

[ascintilla]

... You are aware that Echoes do not regain lost data?

[purrtylittlewires]

Yeah, considering how many fuck yous that have happened to the system, I'm not saying anything is a definite when it involves this magic bullshit.

Try doesn't mean success, just you try if there's a chance to.

[ascintilla]

That seems acceptable.

If I should happen to defy the odds retrieve the relevant data, would you care to be informed?

[purrtylittlewires]

Yes.

[ascintilla]

[ There was supposed to be an 'and' in that sentence, wow. ]

May I propose a counter condition?

[purrtylittlewires]

...what is it?

[ascintilla]

I’d like to hear more about your experiences with artificial intelligence.

[ The panels on the walls glow brighter, brighter, brighter -- until, with a shimmering blink of light and color, it seems like they’ve suddenly appeared in another room entirely! Or did the other room appear around them? It’s hard to tell, though familiarity with advanced virtual reality tech will probably help it feel less disorienting. ]

… Upload complete. Welcome to the HoloSim VR-Suite, Beta version.

[ This new room is simple, but spacious. The floor is metal, the walls are also metal, and there are … there are portals? Empty doorways leading out into blackness, each with its very own label floating above it: “Winterbells,” “Everything is Better With Portals,” “Car Chase,” “Trash Cat,” “Laser Tag,” and “Organ Trail," to name just a few. There’s also a giant, bright blue “!” floating in the middle of the room. ]

[purrtylittlewires]

...all right.

[More does not mean ALL, and like hell he means all.]

[Closes his eyes, because it's gonna be easier to adjust to the difference with a new look.]

[When he opens his eyes, he looks around.] ...most of these seem okay, but why is there something called Organ Trail?