002 | Voice | Text → Scout, Blake, Murphy

[watashinonamaewa]

[ 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.

Comments

[watashinonamaewa]

There could be several reasons why such a thing is unknown to me. I was once pure human, but I was not that way for very long. I had never experienced one in that time. Or I cannot remember doing so, at least.

Or that the data of my mind processes what I learn faster than the brain can, so there is no need for what you called Rapid Eye Movement. The only time I rest is when my body chemicals run low and I must rest to rejuvenate them. Adrenaline is the main reason. My reserves run low after a week.

It is also possible that because I waited much longer than I should have to rest, my body produced a bad mixture of chemicals to compensate and it triggered the nightmare. I really am not sure.

[godofthemachine]

A lack of sleep causes the body to attempt to make up for it by increasing the amount of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It's possible.

How long, though, were you a human?

[watashinonamaewa]

I had been alive in my original body for six years. Under the care of clones in The Capitol. Then the Bio-Electric Corporation was created by the Governing Agency. But in order to begin work at the facility, I was required to be placed within a sterile body. Once it was complete, they downloaded all the information I would need in order to survive and work as a scientist.

That was all a very long time ago.

[godofthemachine]

Fascinating.

I wonder: what are your thoughts on being robbed of your humanity.

[watashinonamaewa]

Humanity? I do not quite understand what you mean by this. I can only assume that this has already happened to the inhabitants of my reality though. When the Safeguard took control of the Net Sphere, they began to hunt the humans down. We survived through cloning and back-up memory spaces.

Life is expendable to most. Dead or alive, we do not put much thought into it. We only continue to live in order find the Net Terminal Gene.

[godofthemachine]

Well, your reality is something I'm not familiar with, so forgive me for making false assumptions.

Tell me about this Net Terminal Gene.

[watashinonamaewa]

[ Like clockwork, this one. Still, she replies promptly. ]

Humans with the Net Terminal Gene are able to access the Net Sphere without activating of the Safeguard counter program. If anyone without pure Net Terminal Genes were to attempt this, the Safeguard would be alerted to the user's location and terminated.

This was one of my projects with the Bio-Electric Corporation, To recreate a working Net Terminal Gene. We failed and the Safeguard destroyed us.

[godofthemachine]

[Her prompt replies are a relief. He doesn't have to go in circles to get answers. Had this been a video conversation, she would see a sly smile cross AM's face.]

Cibo. Your world is so different and yet so similar. It fascinates me.

[watashinonamaewa]

Similar? I have heard only the opposite from other passengers. Please explain your reality to me.

[godofthemachine]

Human life is expendable, at best.

[watashinonamaewa]

It seems that everyone aboard comes from different realities. It is possible that your reality is more parallel with mine. Though I would hope not. I have traveled to an alternate reality of my own before and it was not a pleasant place.

Do you have any other questions?

[godofthemachine]

Ah, I have a million questions about your reality. But I am content for now.

Perhaps we should meet sometime and you could explain everything to me in detail.

[watashinonamaewa]

I will answer any question to the best of my ability. A lot of information has been locked away within the Net Sphere, which will make it difficult to answer complex or historical questions.

When would you like to meet?

[godofthemachine]

Anytime is fine. I spend most of my time in the science labs.

[watashinonamaewa]

Tonight will not work. I am with Scout. And Murphy is bringing alcohol.

I will message you tomorrow.