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

[testgasm]

[Yep, that is a Long Time.]

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

[watashinonamaewa]

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.

[testgasm]

[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?

[watashinonamaewa]

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.

[testgasm]

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.

[watashinonamaewa]

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.

[testgasm]

It, uh. It certainly sounds it.

[watashinonamaewa]

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

[testgasm]

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