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: Winter

[worthallthis]

[Winter has been following along with the conversations and he is... alarmed. And unhappy. And he had no idea so many of his co-workers thought feeding entities was a good idea.

He makes one statement. He may or may not reply if anyone tries to engage him. He's not really an online talker, okay. But he does feel like he has to say this much.]

we should not b working for an entity or its avatar

period

[hellojon]

I'm afraid it is far too late for that sort of dogmatic thinking.

You HAVE been working for an Entity. Half the people here have been working for an Entity. They may try to resist it, but they're marked all the same.

Drawing such hard and fast lines in the sand will leave you alone and powerless - a poor position to be in for the inevitable battle.

[worthallthis]

[Okay, so he's going to reply at least a little.]

using our powers feeds them so trying to fight them like that makes them worse

and i will never be alone because i have my team

[hellojon]

For some people, using what ADI deems 'powers' is their day to day life.

[ And he reaches out with the Eye to simply Know a bit about how Winter's arm works. ]

Those like Rue, Hobb. Even you, perhaps. Do you think a normal human could manage that arm of yours?

[worthallthis]

[Somewhere on the other side of the line, Winter rolls his eyes.]

i was not a normal human before but i am now

i pay for not feeding the stranger with pain because of this arm

i would rather be in pain than give them more power

[hellojon]

And fortunately you can make that choice. Do you think nonhumans can stop being what they are?

[worthallthis]

the nonhumans dont have to use powers

dont think all of them even do

[He's thinking about Rue, who as far as he knows is just a big not-human person.]

they can just be odd looking people

[hellojon]

Perhaps. But what qualifies as a power? For those who can't see, sight is an ability. Someone might view talons so sharp they can cut through steel as normal to their race—while it isn't to humanity.

It's not the hard and fast line you so desperately wish it is. This area is more gray than you can possibly imagine.

[worthallthis]

[Oh, fuck right off with the weasel words.]

i dont have all the answers

but serving an avatar is serving an entity and we will only make it stronger

and i wont do that ever

stay if you want to but i wont

and if someone not human wants to leave i will protect them

un: parkour

[heyunderoos]

Working with her probably feeds the entity, doesn't it?

[worthallthis]

yes

also weakens its competition

[heyunderoos]

Okay, that's good to know.

I'm still not sure what to do right now, but, I don't want to feed these things. Not anymore than we might have been before now.

[worthallthis]

yes

[He considers, then adds,]

i dont know what to do either

[heyunderoos]

God, this suuucks

Like, its an understatement given how complicated this all is, but I don't know what else to even say. There are so many things to think about right now, and not enough time.

[worthallthis]

hargrave is going to go stop the ritual thing at least and i said i would go with her

so we can do that first and think about what to do when we get back while we do it

[So it's a little time, at least.]

[heyunderoos]

Stopping something more immediate is... a good thing.

Just we need to figure out what we're doing if we do leave. There are people who need more support than we could give outside of the ADI.

[worthallthis]

cortana is telling me that yes

we will figure something out even if it doesnt happen immediately

[He has faith. Mostly in Yelena for showing them how to do things sneaky-like, to be honest, but he can believe in his team.]

un: Chosewell

[failedpromise]

I'd rather not be either, though some of us are unlikely to survive without ADI's infrastructure.

[worthallthis]

then we get those people what they need

there has to be a way for you and the others to not have to rely on them unless you want to

[failedpromise]

You think it's that easy? I don't know what the others need specifically beyond the obvious, but let's see:

A way to be out in public safely for those who are noticeably inhuman.

Millions of dollars to purchase the components and materials for my less easily replaceable parts.

Access to manufacturing facilities to build those parts that aren't off the shelf or able to be made at home. Like my bones, for instance. Or did you think there was some sort of skeleton store where I could just buy those?

Trustworthy people with the knowledge and skill to help with repairing, replacing, and upgrading my body. Right now at least if the people I normally work with disappear I have an entire department of techs I can go to.

Distilled water isn't hard to come by, thankfully, but if someone other than me has alien dietary needs sourcing the necessary nutrition could be a nightmare.

You'd need a way to provide this stuff and handle any needs newcomers might have since we don't currently have a way to stop them from coming. There are likely potential problems neither I nor anyone else can anticipate that would still need to be prepared for.

[worthallthis]

[There's a long pause while Winter reads that several times over. That... is a lot. It's probably not insurmountable. Probably. The money part is probably the hardest, as far as he's heard you can do and get anything if you have enough money, but Yelena seems less worried about that than she should be, so maybe she has plans.]

give me some time

i will talk with belova and steve and see what we can do

we can make plans all of us to get you free

if thats what you want

[Because if she doesn't want to be free of the Hunt's avatar and influence... that's another story. But right now if she and Rue and the others are only there because there's no way to be safe without it, well. That's fixable. Maybe not immediately or all at once, but Winter can't help but believe his team can do anything they set their mind to.]

[failedpromise]

I want to see if I can try to steer things from their current path.

But if they don't? Then yeah, striking off on our own or working with them but not for them may be a better option.

If nothing else, it may be useful to have contacts on the inside.

[worthallthis]

it might not be necessary

lehrer might step down because she did say she was going to

[He can only hope. He will be wrong, but he can hope.]

if you stay anyway while we get things ready on the outside you have to be careful

if you got hurt and i was not there to help it would be terrible

[failedpromise]

And if she changes her mind after realizing at least some people don't want her to? I don't think she wants to serve an entity or go full people eating avatar but it seems pretty clear that intentions don't always matter when it comes to the entities.

I'll keep that in mind.

[worthallthis]

if she stays i cant

im sorry cortana i cant work for an entity not again

i wont go away just not working for an entity