[network] @dulcedeleche; A Message [MORNING 251][filtered from @admin, @robertmiller]

[snowblindmods]

Whoa, did the network go down for a second there or was that on my end?

Comments

@309_W1C_2DZ; text;

[howdull]

I suspect that you know that it wasn't just you, otherwise you wouldn't be speaking to us now.

[snowblindmods]

I was going to talk to you guys either way, actually.

[howdull]

About?

[snowblindmods]

Everything that's been happening since I last connected. I've been caught up to speed to some degree. You guys aren't still monsters, right? I don't know if monsters can use the network or not over there in Crazy Town.

[howdull]

No.

We have been informed that we did not turn into monsters, there has been footage released of one of us just running around as normal. The Admin does not recognise what is happening.

What have you been doing that has kept you from 'keeping up to speed'?

@theiceman, text;

[holmesice]

My name is Mycroft Holmes. I demand to know everything you can tell us about what's been going on recently with the anomalies.

[snowblindmods]

Yeah, I'm betting on brain manipulation there. Anyway, I can't stay permanently connected to your network or I'll get detected. The last thing I did was help out with the power plant.

[howdull]

There is a large amount of leeway between permanently connected and scheduled or frequent communication.

Not that it matters, you will show up when you want to. Which brings me back to why now, what insight have you got on all that's been happening?

@Spoiler ; text

[spoileralert]

Hey Winter. It was on this end too.

How's things?

[snowblindmods]

At least you introduced yourself first. I'm Winter. The anomalies aren't something I really understand, but my guess was they were feeding off of your memories in some manner. If you're more specific about what's been going on I might be able to give more info, all I know is the ones that looked like people you knew came back and were following you guys around.

@jphawkins, text

[rattlingthestars]

Not just you.

Long time no see.

[snowblindmods]

The computer I'm on seems to still be working, so I guess good enough.

It crashed when I tried to connect, but I wasn't doing anything that should have crashed it. Sorry anyway, I guess.

[snowblindmods]

Yeah, last time I connected it was to help out with the power plant.

[snowblindmods]

Time doesn't really flow when you're a backup, it's hard to schedule things. I've got some alerts, but that's the most I can do. As far as what's been happening, it sounds like in general there's been more direct manipulation of you guys than there was before.

[howdull]

Sterling deduction, but I was rather hoping you would go beyond the obvious.

[rattlingthestars]

-That was you? Thanks. We managed to get the place open and make some real progress because of you.

[snowblindmods]

What I mean is the nanomachines are either being given more leeway or no one is stopping them from taking it themselves.

[snowblindmods]

I do want to help out where I can. Have you gotten any farther since then?

[howdull]

Why would the nanomachines want to alter our brains in order to make us hallucinate in this manner?

[Honestly, he didn't even realise that the nanomachines had any sort of AI capabilities.]

@jwatson; text

[jumpthegun]

Hi, Winter. Sorry I didn't get another update to you. I'd been meaning to, but I sort of lost my memories for a bit. We were put back to humans, but we did end up transforming into anomalies again. And people that looked like the ones we knew from back home turned up to follow each of us.

I think we knew what the anomalies are now, though. They told us, in a way. Mr. Beckett had a full conversation with one, but I'm pretty sure they're bits and pieces of people from other universes who came through and were all stitched together to try to make a person. They're angry at us because we were all 'lucky' enough to have our lights or get lucky or come through whole.

You said the lights were a metaphor for AI, though. You're absolutely certain we're flesh and blood people? Or, well, whatever we happen to be.

[rattlingthestars]

We're into an area - south of the power plant - that looks like it was pretty badly damanged by the bomb. Everything's radioactive. Like, really radioactive, not just the normal amount.

We passed through a diner, if that works for a landmark. Any tips for what direction to head next?

[snowblindmods]

I wouldn't say "want" is the best term exactly, unless they've been upgraded a lot since the last time I was aware of them. If it's not someone directly manipulating their programming, it's probably a malfunction. I'm going to say "the nanomachines developed sentience and are also evil" doesn't fit Occam's razor.

[spoileralert]

New security measures maybe? Anyway you're alright and the net is back and that's what's important.

[snowblindmods]

Well, nothing was radioactive when I last remember visiting, but can you head directly west from there? That would be the general direction of the town hall.

[howdull]

If their primary function is to prevent radiation sickness, then why would a malfunction cause this sort of effect? That's patently ridiculous.