[network] @IAmLegend; video; Day 182 [open]

[definingfuture]

In case anyone hasn't spoken to a friend for obvious reasons, we seem to have all cooled off. I know now might not seem like the best time, but after what happened it's more important to keep in contact with each other and stay with people.

[Tony really wishes Steve were here. It should be him making this kind of announcement.]

What happened the day before wasn't an accident. It was something, the town maybe, trying to reach out and assert its influence over all of us. And if we react by dropping the work everyone has done so far? It wins. It gets exactly what it wants, because all of us break apart, making us easier to pick off. Or we give up. What we should be doing is pushing back and finding out who the prophet really is. We need to try to figure out what they intend to do for our own safety.

If there's anything I can do to help the rest of you, I still intend to do that. I'm not going to stop. I want everyone to be safe. And the best way to help each other is communication. Like the man said yesterday, don't shut down. He's a good guy.

So, on that note, my name is Tony Stark. I'm considered a superhero on the Earth I come from. We handle organizations that want to endanger the world, the occasional intergalactic threat, and... Things like this when they happen. Some of you might consider that a police force, but we're more of a general emergency response solution. I just want to give you a fair idea of who I am.

[He's holding the tablet up so he can address them properly, and raises his off-hand to gesture.]

Also, I have questions. First, how are your eyes? If you are still showing signs of change, I'd like to know. Do you feel different? Secondly, if you are alone right now and weren't with someone when this started, please check in. Let us know everyone is still here and no one is stranded without help. And if you have questions, today I'm going to be completely open.

Comments

[definingfuture]

[He's going to care and somehow check up on House. The more House avoids the subject, the more Tony worries.]

I have friends that are on the Russian defense team.

[Yes, granted, he does know the tentative relationship their countries have and have had. He frowns over the video, briefly turning his gaze away from the tablet. Being Iron Man and being part of SHIELD makes it difficult to deny House's claims. Thanks, Doc.]

We don't know the explanation they gave us is true. I'm just saying it's convenient, that's all. It fits right into the puzzle.

I think you might be onto something. Whatever they were building might actually be tied to the doorway out. It would explain some of the odd occurrences.

Water, by the way? Are you staying warm enough?

[rubikscomplex]

golly, mr. stark
have you figured out how to hand people water over the internet?
because it sounds like you're asking me for some.
and if i wasn't staying warm enough
there's hell all you could do about it

as for the actually important part of this conversation
yeah
pretty much
alternative is that the device that was meant to pull people from across the country somehow to fill the population quota failed after a certain point because no more people
and the ais
(or the regular old dumb computers)
warped the tech along with whatever virus got into the system
to fit the new needs
take from wherever you can get
or maybe make your own people based on these templates
and that's what we are

[definingfuture]

Don't try me, Doctor Grinch. I'm a superhero and a professional in business. I can find a way to mass-produce TLC just for you. Answer the questions, or I'll work on a hug delivery service.

Everything I talk about is important.

[Sometimes he has to repeat things like this just to remind people he's smart.]

A replicator? I guess the application could be militarized. That doesn't seem like what we're dealing with, though. If we were, I would think we'd see more failed copies of ourselves. Making people out of data even just to fill the quota seems like a long way around. Pulling people from other places sounds more likely.

I wonder why people? They had AIs. I could produce a population of AIs if there were no human resources and fill this quota they apparently keep. But they need real people.

Right now I want to know if the device picking us up was a malfunction caused by possible sabotage, or if that was actually part of the original plan. That could help us figure out what they were originally working on. Not a traditional weapon, but maybe something that needed the townsfolk? A quota means they had a plan for them.

[And as someone that focuses on energy production, Tony thinks that his field might apply.]

[rubikscomplex]

stiffi has you beat on the hug delivery service

[In case you missed the video of his torture, Tony. Also continuing to not answer the question because screw you, authority figure. You're not his dad!]

they had a few ais that were actually at the level of sentience
maybe it's something to do with neural activity?
or the functional equivalent for an ai
no idea how you'd harness that
but with the anomalies being tied to our memories
there's an argument to be made there

[definingfuture]

So you're saying I should send one along, then. Do you want anything with it?

[Still not accepting the non-answer, House. He's the Avengers dad.]

Imprinting thought patterns, you mean? Now that's an idea that might work. It would be experimental enough that they could have pulled it off.

I've been thinking that if we're transferring thoughts and using those to generate energy for the town, then side effects like the anomalies might occur. In theory, we might create our own vision of reality.

[rubikscomplex]

i'm saying there are 50 other people here who would appreciate you playing mommy more than i do

so is the solution here to think happy thoughts?
where's tinkerbell and her fairy dust when you need it?

[That's another potentially relevant theory to add to his list, though.]

[definingfuture]

A mother doesn't do it for appreciation. I'm pretty sure it's more about making sure her kid has what he needs.

Well, I think it's more like finding a way to control the input we're feeding the machine. If it really is using us as a resource for data, than we can find a way to manage what it takes from us. At the very least, it would help us know how the process works.

[rubikscomplex]

i'm honestly a little shocked i have to say this
but you're not my mom, stark
you'd have to be way shorter for a start
and you're not my dad, either
you'd have to be way more of a bastard

and how do we manage the inputs?
we aren't in control of the environment and all communications are monitored on the network
unless you've got the local workaround on that

[He means the shadownet.]

[definingfuture]

You're so grouchy I assumed you were older than me, hot stuff. You really don't have to point it out.

Concern doesn't have anything to do with being parental. I'm just asking.
Is it that bad to want to know you're okay? It's free.

I haven't figured that out yet, but they are drawing information from our nanites, right? There must be communication other than the network.

We only use a small fraction of the tablets' abilities.

[rubikscomplex]

it's horrifying
the worst thing i could ever think of
be my hero
never care again, iron man!

you know the last guy who hacked the network had his brain fried?
i'm all for second time's the charm
but just a heads up

[He's assuming that's where this is going, anyway.]

[definingfuture]

What is it with you and the allergy against people honestly asking if you are okay?
It's not like you're obligated to say yes.
Just call me Tony. Don't be weird.

Omelets and eggs. Although I won't do it without a plan. I still think we could figure something out.

[rubikscomplex]

but i like iron man!
that burning hunk of man metal

so you don't mind breaking a few eggs to get the job done?
that's interesting
i thought you hero types were against people sacrificing themselves

[definingfuture]

You haven't met Iron Man. Tony is just fine.

Firstly, I'm assuming this isn't actually death. We've seen that it doesn't stick. I doubt you're really sacrificing yourself, although I can't say I'm thrilled either way.

And I'm not sure what your mental image of heroes is, but I run a company that deals in electronics and development of new technology. My activity as a hero lately is with a world peacekeeping organization, not a vigilante Indie band. I don't think you should do anything stupid, but I do want answers.

[rubikscomplex]

preeeeetty sure everyone met him when you were like
"i am not tony stark
i am iron man"

people think i do stupid things all the time
you want in on the results on the experiment, then?
it'll probably break your tablet
but you can find another one easy

[definingfuture]

Okay, I guess that's true. But my name is actually Tony. And I don't think Iron Man has much point here.

I can sacrifice my tablet.

[rubikscomplex]

what was the point of him before?
apart from playing your superhero alter ego
anything?

i'll loop you in

[House isn't going to readily admit that this had helped on some level. Wilson's death is still too close for him to do something like thank Tony, but it's on House's mind.]

[definingfuture]

He was my second chance.

[Simple as that. Iron Man has been a new life for him. The escape from himself Tony really always sought.]

I look forward to it. I'll keep the tablet ready for whatever you've got in mind.

[rubikscomplex]

second chance at what?

[definingfuture]

Meaning.

[rubikscomplex]

in life?
you're not the one who got ecks asking me what my meaning of life is
are you?

[definingfuture]

I don't think so? Was she asking you about the meaning of life?

I almost died. Before that, I wasn't contributing much good anyway, but someone still decided I was worth saving. He saw something, and I built the Iron Man on that idea.

[rubikscomplex]

the near-death redemption arc?
ugh
spare me the rest

and yeah
i told her there wasn't any meaning
you live
you die
you do crap in-between
that's it

[That's all it should be, anyway. Here... here, everything is FUBAR.]

[definingfuture]

I wouldn't call it redemption. I was living off of inherited wealth and doing nothing with it. And I just felt empty.

It was a way to fill the void. To be someone, anyone but me. The crap in-between wasn't doing it for me.

[rubikscomplex]

you just did different crap
it doesn't ascribe any grand meaning to life

[definingfuture]

That's not what I'm saying. Life is what it is.
I just want mine to matter.