ataraxion | 002 | Voice | Text → Scout, Blake, Murphy

[ An audio transmission kicks on around four in the morning. Cibo sounds out of breath and her voice is shaking. There's not much other than the shuffling of sheets. ]

Every time I fall into my restful state, I have these terrible... visions.

[ More shuffling. She sniffs up her runny nose. Sounds juicy. Gross. Then a cough. Now it's obvious that her voice was dry and suffering from the exhaustion. ]

In them, I'm in The City again. Killy is still gone, passengers of the Tranquility are there and the Safeguard have — I just feel like we're all really there. That we're all...

[ Her voice trails off. A small hum and the occasional zapping sound of her electrical prod breaks the silence and coaxes her to speak over it. ]

I've never felt like this before. Never so... I'm so tired. Can someone please tell me what this means? What's happening to me? Why do they feel so real?

[ The transmission cuts. Text to follow. ]

I am looking for RESNIK or WARD regarding my wire-cables for connection to the Tranquility's technology. Sulu said that they may be able to help me. I am also still looking for XAVIER or DATA for information on the Science Department. I have already spoken with Doctor Elizabeth Ross, but I am looking for further confirmation.

TEXT → SCOUT
Are you up? I thought of you first. Are you okay?

TEXT → BLAKE
This message may be interrupting your sleep-pattern, but I am concerned. How are you doing?

TEXT → MURPHY
If you are awake, please reply. I have questions that I feel you would be able to answer.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So, to us, it must be some sort of side-effect from boarding this ship then, right?

Sulu told me that Resnik or Ward may have been able to help with my cables. But this is the second time that I've heard they would be difficult to contact. I'll give up trying to contact them for now.

I spoke with Doctor Ross about the Science Department and taking up a position there. She said it was just something that I assume for myself, but I just wanted to make sure.

I wouldn't say a side-effect of boarding the ship, exactly. Maybe in a roundabout way. You didn't dream, back home?

But, yeah, Ward and Resnik are a bit difficult to get a hold of. A bit difficult in general, really, you'll find. Just sort of announce your intent, your tattoo will change on its own. Ssssomehow.

No, I didn't have dreams. I can't think of anyone who might have who weren't human.

And thank you for your information. I will take care of it accordingly.

You said--no, don't tell me, I do remember you telling me about about clones, and you being one, or something. Stop me if I've got that wrong. You are organic, though, right? Mostly organic?

Yes. The body itself is organic. It's complicated, but the brain of the body is technologically able to sustain the data of my mind and give me control as if it were my own.

Replicated human organs, though they serve no purpose, and various other things...

It is--it is possible the ship has done something to your brain. That's making you have dreams. Not sure if it's the case, really, but, ah. It would be my best guess. At the moment.

That appears to be the most likely theory. Though, I'm not sure how it would have achieved such a thing. Is the technology aboard this ship that far advanced?

This ship has done...a lot we can't explain, as far as that's concerned. You're lucky it was just your brain, if that's the case.

Yes, I believe that would be the case. The connection I have to my human memories seem to be very strong now. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that I feel like a pure human again. I had forgotten what it felt like after all of this time...

Okay, uh. I didn't really want to be the one to have to tell you this, but. Um. You might...actually be human. Don't--don't be alarmed, you wouldn't be the first. You'd just...be the first who didn't realize it right away. Probably because, if my assumption is correct, your body's always been some kind of organic platform.

You're positive of that? [ Oh, the silence that followed after. ] I see. That... makes a little more sense, but I'm confused.

Yes, my body is more organic and the control I have over it is similar to a human's mind and body. I just can't understand how this facility would have been able to integrate my data so far into this body that I... feel human again.

Pretty sure, yeah. Like I said, you wouldn't be the first. I am. Also experienced as far as that's concerned. We're not really sure how it happened, only that it did, and it is--it is wholly unpleasant. If I'm honest.

In my reality, it is not strange for A.I. to have a physical, human-like form. Actually being human, though? Not as much. I can understand how this is strange.

[ A small smile even if he can't see it. It's in her tone, though. ]

It's been more than three hundred years since I was human. How strange that I still count the hours since it happened... I don't think I even realized I was doing that.

That is--that is quite a bit of time.

[And she can probably hear in his voice that the idea of having once been human is not one he particularly enjoys.]

I'm surprised you even remember.

Yes. Approximately 4,014,745.867 hours. [ Small pause. ] That is not including the time I have spent aboard this facility.

Much of that time was spent traveling through The City in search of the Net Terminal Gene...

[Yep, that is a Long Time.]

What's that? Net Terminal Gene...?

The Net Terminal Gene is a specific strand of genetic coding only bred within humans. If a mutation damages the DNA sequence in any way, the gene becomes useless. This is much more common than we would like it to be.

The gene is used to access the Net Sphere — our major information database, which the Safeguard counter program protects. The Safeguard destroys anyone who attempts to access the Net Sphere without the Net Terminal Gene. Then they sweep a large area in search of other human life.

Because of this elimination process, the Safeguard have withered the human species nearly to extinction. It has been impossible to find a living human who is able to harbor the Net Terminal Gene.

[He interjects hmmmms and ahs when appropriate, totally pretending to know what she's talking about.

He has no idea what any of that even means.]

Right, uh. Any luck? As far as that's concerned?

Yes, actually. I obtained the genetic coding of a pure human some time before my abduction. We weren't sure of its properties — if it held the Net Terminal Gene or not — but I was certain we could make use of it.

We lost the information to the Silicon Life shortly after obtaining it, though. I was connecting to the level's mainframe to retrieve it when I was taken.

Oh! Good! [Yaaaaay happy endings

except wait, no, that's not happy.]

Well, um. Not good that you lost it. But if you found it in the first place, I'm sure you could do it again. If we all weren't...kidnapped onto this ship.

I'm hoping that will be the case. I really can't be sure until I am back on the mainframe and able to search for it.

[ She pauses with a small sigh. ]

It will be a complicated process.

It, uh. It certainly sounds it.

I don't imagine I'll have many options, but I will just have to wait until I return to The City to see.

Yeah, uh. That might...be a while.

002 | Voice | Text → Scout, Blake, Murphy

Voice |

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject