Network - Is This Thing On?

[apocalypsehownpcs]

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Is This Thing On?

(cw: reference to skin-related body horror)

The message that pops up on off-worlders' ADI-issued phones phones likely comes as a surprise given that the network has been down since May 25, along with all of ADI's other fancy tech. It's similar to other network notifications at first glance and looks like an official notification from the higher-ups saying that the network has been restored, but anyone who clicks it will find their phone redirected to automatically download a new app from a shady-looking URL that ends in the phrase "its-ya-boy-pyre".

Upon loading, the app turns out to be a private chat program with most of the same features as the ADI network, though the user interface is much, much less polished. It immediately shows a longer, less deceptive message from a user named "thecolepackage":

Sorry for the trick guys but I don't know if I can get the old network to do like back and forth and I wanted to send something you'd all click open on the first shot. And like if you know someone who's better at cyber security than you and didn't open the message maybe let them know it's okay? It's ya boy Pyre and I figured out how to get this app linked up with your phones, it should be private and safe and all that stuff. I only sent it to you offworlders for now, I'm still not so sure ADI'scool with the whole ex-desolation monster thing. But I thought maybe you could use this and also maybe I was getting lonely because it sounds like y'all have a lot going on right now

And Bonnie's telling me there's all kinds of arguments about what to do?? That's rough man I know what it's like to find out you're kind of doing the wrong thing and maybe feeding something that's going to end the world. And maybe it'll be good if you can all talk about that and figure out what YOU want to do without your bosses telling you since Bonnie says none of your bosses are agreeing on anything and it seems to me like its maybe important to figure out if you're still going to be in the apocalypse disruption gig. Youre in a tough spot and I'd say I don't envy you but also I miss having skin so I do envy you a little bit.

Anyway like I said have at and let your friends know this isn't a virus. Or it's a friendly virus I guess. Also I kind of want to go by my name Cole now instead of Pyre? So if you could call me Cole now I'd like that.

Peace.

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Comments

un: sgr

[punched_hitler]

I know there's a lot to talk about, and I'm sure we're all going to have a lot of thoughts about all of it. We're going to talk a lot. And we all need to make our own decisions.

So, all I really want to say is that I have seen organizations go to rot from the inside out. I have seen good people take a stand against it and I have seen them come out ahead. But the thing about rot is, it's pervasive. Sometimes, you can't slap a new coat of paint on it and carry on. Sometimes you have to take something down completely, and sometimes maybe you shouldn't rebuild.

I've never trusted ADI completely. Not the way it is now, and I don't think the way it will be in the future. Maybe what I've seen has stopped me from being able to trust an organization like that ever again. But I do trust people. We've all been brought here against our will, but we're all still here, fighting. I don't think we need ADI to do that. Just each other.

un: Pegasus

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Normally I’d agree with you. I’m not even sure I actually disagree on anything. But the reason I’m sticking with Nia is because we need supernatural firepower. We can’t win against Avatars and apocalypses with conventional anything, as much as I wish it were otherwise.

I trust Nia, as long as she has the same goals as we do.

[punched_hitler]

Trust me, I would love some supernatural firepower. But there is a hell of a lot you can do without it.

[He... might be trying to convince himself of that, too, these days, as much as anyone else.]

Can you trust that you'll know if her priorities change? Or that they're really genuine now?

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

I know it corrupts, but it’s our best bet. Maybe the answer is to see who is willing to sacrifice themselves to the corruption and have someone who can bring them back from it. If that’s even possible.

Honestly? There’s always a chance she was playing all of us. But I don’t think so. And even if she was, she still has the same goals as us. That’s enough for me to work with her until that changes.

un: rue

[ruevealing]

Is this the stand we have decided to take? To determine who among our dearest friends is willing to play martyr?

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Unless someone volunteers.

un: architect

[unnecessaryflourishes]

And if ADI's supernatural firepower should not be required? What then?

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Well then, that would be a good thing. But I’m expecting it’ll be needed.

[unnecessaryflourishes]

It may. I know little and less of precisely what they are capable of bringing to bear, beyond whatever resources are involved with knowing where to send us, when necessary.

un: zenik

[pinionedheart]

If I'm not badly misreading what the preening jackass said when he revealed everything to your Warden, this organization hasn't so much rotted as it was built on a corrupt foundation in the first place.

Rot can be cut out, but that? That needs to be burned down to the foundations.

[punched_hitler]

I certainly don't disagree.

We just need to be aware of exactly what we're doing before we light the match. And who might get caught in the fire.

If that's what we do.

[pinionedheart]

Us, most likely.

Does the ADI do any outreach? Help the victims of the horrors that occasionally bubble up in ways that aren't just recruiting them into their crusade?

[punched_hitler]

Fortunately, most of us can probably take it.

You know, I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if the answer was not in the positive.

But we should find out.

un: parkour

[heyunderoos]

If we do leave the ADI, where do we even go? Are we going to put innocent people not involved in this in danger by being around them?

[punched_hitler]

I don't know - and those are good questions. But they're things we can figure out. Maybe we don't go far. Leaving ADI doesn't mean physically leaving, if we need to be here. And we already know things happen here in Gloucester.

[heyunderoos]

What is going to happen to anyone who isn't human too? Those disguises probably won't work anymore without the ADI. Are we going to have to hope no one looks at them that closely or something? Cause that doesn't sound safe for anyone who isn't perfectly human looking.

[punched_hitler]

They probably won't, no. That's something we'll have to figure out.

[And damn, wouldn't it be nice to have Tony still around. For more than that... but definitely for that, too.]

But it's still just another way to control us. I know I'm saying that from a position of privilege, because I can walk around and not worry about it, but we're smart. We're resourceful. I think we could make our own.

Or maybe we just liberate a few on our way out.

un; mkblackwood

[lowficharm]

I've never trusted ADI either. But I really think they were trying to do their best. We need some kind of organization or we're going to fall apart.

[punched_hitler]

Maybe they were. I do believe we've done some good, and even if there are problems within ADI, there are a lot of people who aren't the problem.

And maybe we do - but I just don't know that it needs to be this one. I think we need more transparency, to start.

[lowficharm]

I think there's a lot we could do. I just can't imagine what a lot of us will do if we don't have the structure of ADI or any of the protections. We're lucky enough to look human, but there's so many who aren't. What would they even do?

[punched_hitler]

I don't know - I'm going to try to find a solution, though. Because in a way, that's blackmail: making them stay simply because they can't easily walk out.

Things might change if everyone had the same choice.

Text, UN: Chosewell

[failedpromise]

Alright, say we do strike out on our own, Steve. How do you plan to feed and house everyone affected by this decision? Bonnie can't support all of us, we don't have the necessary paperwork for most legitimate jobs or housing, and getting too close to civilians who aren't already involved is likely to make them targets. And that's before we get to the part of the population that's obviously nonhuman, or did you forget that we rely on an illusion provided by ADI?

[punched_hitler]

No, she can't, and I wouldn't ask her to. But I know how to start from scratch with nothing, and we wouldn't just have nothing. We've got the resources of everyone coming with us. We can work and earn more.

Illusions are harder, because I can't do that. But we have a lot of smart people. I think they could figure it out. ADI did. They're not special. They're just convenient.

And truthfully, I don't think ADI is doing a great job of keeping the civilians in Gloucester safe in the first place. I can't believe we'd do worse, whether we stay here or go somewhere else.

I know it's asking a lot, for people to pick up and leave. I know it won't be easy. But I believe it's still the best thing to do.

I understand not everyone agrees.

[failedpromise]

We'll figure something out, huh? Easy enough to say when it's not your safety and freedom on the line.

And how long do we have to wait while everything gets figured out, Steve? Will people be on the streets for days? Weeks? Months? Years? What about the new people that keep coming in?

What if there isn't another way to disguise the less Human of us? Would you have us just stay locked inside all the time?

Did you know that there's a subset of outworlders that will die without specialized, resource intensive care?

(By which she mostly means herself, though it's entirely possible there are others.)

These risks would be acceptable if it were just you and others who wanted to leave, but this decision affects everyone. What gives you or anyone else the right to force others into this? Some of these people are children, Steve! Do we even have proof of corruption in ADI outside of the Warden being manipulated and tricked into becoming an avatar?

(She has had her suspicions, yes, but she's never been able to prove any of them or find any evidence of, well, anything.)

[punched_hitler]

It is my safety and freedom on the line. It's everyone's. Adults and children and humans and nonhumans.

I understand it looks different for me than you, and maybe it's not as bad for me as for you, in the short term. But we're talking about the world, Cortana. The whole world. It's bigger than all of us, and I don't think we can do what we need to do while we're under ADI's thumb. Or gaze. Or influence.

And I shouldn't be the only one figuring this out. We need to work together, all of us, to come up with a solution that is as good for you as it is for me.

I don't need proof when I've already seen what can happen right under their noses.