Wednesday, 11:30 PM

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Wherever Luke is-- maybe in the hallways nearby his room, he spots the male hanging around. He'll accost him, bluntly. }

We need to talk.

Comments

[chiseler]

[Well that's unexpected. He pauses for a second, giving Arumat a questioning look before he slowly nods.]

Okay. Out here or...?

[thanatosincarnate]

...Wherever is fine.

{ He'll just grump a little it's no big deal. }

It had been awhile since we spoke, that is all.

{ And he might be checking up on Luke because of it! Conversations mid-trial didn't count. }

[chiseler]

[Interestingly it's enough for him to be mildly curious what it is that Arumat's after. He doesn't deny that the two of them have some kind of strange friendship, but usually everything with Arumat has a purpose. Color him curious, at least.]

We can head to my room then. I was gonna hang out there for a little bit. [He gestures for Arumat to follow, quick to unlock the door and allow the man in.

(Idly, he thinks of the fact that Arumat being vulnerable means he'd be an easy kill. But he won't do that at least.)] But you're right. There's not really a lot of time to talk when you find dead teenage girls, is there?

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Arumat knows of his position well enough, and it may be why he's moved to talk to Luke-- he's awkward with pleasantries or befriending most people. But Luke is one of the few he's managed to do so. }

... No, there isn't.

{ ... }

I won't waste your time -- I'll bridge into this swiftly. We discussed this a little bit in the beginning of this mess, but how well is your skill with hacking into electronics?

[chiseler]

Man, we've got plenty of time here. [Unfortunately…but Arumat's question interests him even f he doesn't have an answer immediately.] I don't have a ton of experience with electronic hacking, but…[A shrug.] What're you thinking?

[thanatosincarnate]

Alright.

{ He relaxes and then just takes a seat on a bed since he feels like resting anyway. }

I know how to do something like that myself. It seems there are two other people on this ship who have this ability as well, and yet I'm sure one of them wouldn't use their skill with advanced technology for anyone else but himself.

I know how to tinker with advanced programs as well, including hacking. I was thinking about showing you how to hack first.

[chiseler]

[Luke takes a seat at his desk and while he's explaining Luke's busy pulling apart his words in his head.]

You mean Jack? Probably not. Doesn't seem like the kind of guy to do the whole "sharing" thing too easily. [Hacking seems interesting enough to him, but it still leaves a few unanswered questions.] I guess it wouldn't be a bad idea, but just what're you trying to hack into?

[thanatosincarnate]

No. I'd even be wary of him, even if he did almost eliminate an anomaly, but it may not be wise to do anything concerning his dubious nature at the moment.

{ Despite him seemingly relaxed in his posture as well as expression, he seems to talk quickly, a little hurried. Maybe anxious. }

Remember Furry Passing? Something is going on with that app and I believe it's connected to the dead more than some people think -- not just as a communication device. Hacking into the program could reveal more about what's going on with that.

In addition, there is the data in the archives, and I had the thought that ruthlessly using a "brute force" recovery attempt via hacking could somehow coerce some, if not all, of the data to return.

I had thought about hacking or reprogramming ALICE herself... yet not only had I learnt that doing directly could compromise the functionality of this place, but that only her creator could alter the code. Granted, the fact that she's absent in the first place doesn't help matters as expected, but that doesn't matter right now.

For the other two options I mentioned as being viable, I'm going to be making an attempt soon myself, and if... that doesn't work out well in more ways than one, I would like someone to have a chance to pursue it in my stead.

[chiseler]

You mean if somehow you die you want someone to carry on in your place. Yeah, I get it. [It's a reasonable request. A normal person would think this is all smart and well prepared...but Luke's been less than normal for quite some time now. He has questions, theories, and a penchant for wanting to do things his own way unless there's a benefit to him. He likes Arumat enough, considers the guy a friend, but that doesn't mean blindly walking into this will be his gut reaction.]

All of that sounds reasonable...but how'd you find out about all of this? Because of what happened earlier this afternoon?

[That had been terrifying, truthfully. But he wonders if Arumat's had suspicions before that.]

[thanatosincarnate]

[ If Luke doesn't take him up on it, Arumat wouldn't be surprised -- it's not like he's guaranteed to really die this week and on the contrary, the Eldarian doesn't believe any normal person would believe it to be a viable idea. Because there might be risk involved. }

What happened earlier this afternoon merely confirmed the link.

{ ACTUALLY YEAH HE DID HAVE SUSPICIONS ABOUT IT... but uh. Arumat just never got a chance to discuss it with anyone privately mostly because he's shit at social things still. Some things never change, even if he's making his attempts. }

... For the other details I spoke to ALICE { ...Even though he supposedly hates Alice so much he actually speaks to her a lot. } and from what she bothered to tell me I was able to confirm at least a little of something as well as draw my own conclusions.

That said, if you don't wish to do any of that, let me know now rather than later.

[chiseler]

I never said I wouldn't do any of it, but I think you can understand why I want all of the information up front before agreeing to anything. [That had been his mistake the first time. He'd failed to really understand what Kronos needed from him the first time and that had been the end of all things. He himself hasn't spoken to Alice much, leaving it to others with bigger agendas.

But Luke's curiosity and Luke's pride tend to get the best of him. So. He presses.]

What'd Alice tell you so far?

*prays REALLY REALLY hard i didn't forget anything*

[thanatosincarnate]

I can. You're not one to jump into taking risks without the guarantee that something will come of it. Unless it's mid-trial.

{ Arumat tried for a ... compliment? Except it probably comes out sounding rude, probably. He's trying. He wants to help Luke and the rest. Granted he's probably doing it in his abrasive way as usual, but he trusts the guy that even if he doesn't take the route he suggested that Luke will be able to do the right thing.

Maybe next week when they get a chance to talk Arumat can even attempt to compare notes with what he finds... }

As you can guess, not much. She left many more questions than answers.

The only conclusive answers that would be useful to us are the details she gave to me concerning her creator and the information about reprogramming her. Specifically, that this woman would be the only one able to alter the code in the AI.

I doubt knowing that she's unable to establish contact with any available satellites is of any importance either since we have no idea "where" we are.

[chiseler]

Desperate times, man. [That is to say he agrees and doesn't even care that it's a backhanded compliment. He knows it's true. He jumps at the wrong times at time, but not in this case. He's more interested now that he's aware Arumat understands him, and for a moment he huffs in annoyance.]

That doesn't surprise me at all. But I thought her creator was some guy named Harlan. Unless you mean Alice herself isn't an AI but can alter the AI which is even more complicated.

[…hm.] The fact that she's unable to establish contact might mean something if we're really not in space at all. Aren't satellites in space to begin with?

[thanatosincarnate]

I had thought the same-- that her creator was a male. But no, Harlan is a woman. The AI herself corrected me of this error. She is very much still a computer program, although as we all know, highly advanced to the point where she can retain information that furthers her development similar to a living being's.

But still very much a defective and dangerous AI. She's simply using us to further her own ends and people seem to forget that. They shouldn't. It'd be to our advantage to suck up to her a little, but trusting her is where I draw the line.

{ That may be his dislike of her coming through strong here. But if anything he doesn't throw his words carelessly around as people might think, even if he's liable to lose his temper easily (listen it's not his fault he got into a fight with Rhys back then).

Either way, he considers Luke's question.

Well, he's decided to trust Luke already, so...he'll decide to relay his own suspicions, like he's spoken over with Frankenstein. Half the reason he doesn't bother confiding with people might be that he's considered they might disregard what he says. }

This ship has advanced technology rivaling that of an Eldarian ship. Why wouldn't she be able to connect to any available satellites? With technology that's so similar it would have been feasible to do so in a heartbeat. I saw her made the attempt in front of me, so I know at least that was no lie.

...Tell me, Luke. "Where" do you think we might be, if this is not space?

[chiseler]

I'd rather not piss her off, but I don't trust something I can't see myself. I learned that lesson a while ago. We have any idea what her own ends are besides Harlan's project?

[He bites on his lip, considering for the time being.]

I always thought it was just because she's been refusing to. You give people knowledge and access to knowledge, they'll save themselves. But if she actually really couldn't that's even more worrying. Unless she was acting for your sake, too, but I doubt it. I'm just impressed you managed to get this much out of her. [A pause.] I've started wondering if we're just parked somewhere else. Somewhere on Earth or another planet maybe, locked in a facility, maybe, or underground? But the longer we're here the less I think it's space. Even space has to change sometimes. But I think it sounds like you've got other theories of where we are…am I close?

[thanatosincarnate]

The same as Harlan's project, supposedly. It's possible she's simply carrying it out in a twisted manner.

{ He thinks for a moment. }

Hmph, that's only because I don't acknowledge the meaning of 'giving up', and if you press someone hard enough, they'll eventually start to hand over tidbits of information. Whatever they think may make you go away or feel pressured to -- the same applies to the AI since she is "learning" from us.

I have a theory. At first I thought it was just that with the executions only those who happened to be judged were sent to a virtual reality to be exterminated. But that didn't make sense. I discussed it with Frankenstein at one point.

Then we had the first appearance of those creatures that she called anomalies. As if irregulars, errors in a system.

...I am getting the feeling that this reality is tenuous at best. An illusion-- false, maybe by spell or virtual. I'm not the only one who thinks so.

{ There's a sigh here as he takes a moment to recall someone doing something... reckless as a result and he had to Stop it. Being a Responsible adult is hard, Luke. }

[chiseler]

Which means in a way she's already taking matters into her own hand. You can still carry out orders even if there are loopholes and other ways to do it. Don't forget that. Not all of us are military men that follow the rules.

[There's a teasing grin, but his eyes are still serious. This isn't the time for jokes but he doesn't know what else to do yet. What Arumat says is making a strange amount of sense.] Then we should keep asking her questions. If your theory's right…then we're not real.

[And that is a huge concept for someone who's already dead, even if it makes sense.] It'd explain why she's a holograph, too, and why we keep accessing new parts of the ship. Like they're being built the longer we're here. [He raises an eyebrow at the mention of their fallen friend.] What've others said about it? Frankenstein, too.

cw: mention of self-harm bc in advance

[thanatosincarnate]

Hmph. Do I look like I'm the type to always follow rules?

{ Luke, Arumat's going to briefly give you a sulky expression at that-- he's tempted to even nudge him a little but he resists the urge. }

Frankenstein merely discussed the possibility, but at the time as it was early on, within week 1 and we agreed it was a premature presumption until at least more time could pass.

{ Let us say he has his datapad with him and he begins to type in something. }

As for the others-- for one in particular it's not just their words but their actions as well. Although I'd ask you to not to tell anyone else of what I'm about to say, except Adam.

[chiseler]

Maybe not all the time. [The companionable grin should be enough for even Arumat to realize Luke's mostly just messing with him, but he can't exactly keep up that facade when Arumat continues.]

That early huh? [There's a low whistle.] Frankenstein's usually pretty smart and I can trust some of his opinions. Yours, too. If both of you were on this track that early maybe there really is something to it.

[He watches the datapad with mild interest, but those specific words have a certain weight to them.] ...I can do that. [Probably.] What is it?

[thanatosincarnate]

{ Arumat recognizes the companionable grin well enough and he'll maybe grunt at his words in annoyance, but beyond that... }

I'd like to think that there is.

{ ... }

There's a reason why I ask you to keep this between the three of us, at most.

Grell-- she was concerned that she was not real. One night, on the Thursday of Week 6, she went to try to find evidence that she was truly real, and ventured into the kitchen.

{ He's wearing an uneasy expression, as he hesitates to finish (this being the only time he's done so here) and he gives a sigh. }

I headed into the kitchen after I heard her stab herself in the arm. Granted, I had similar thoughts or concerns, but I'd never...

...

Machias entered afterwards and although I decided for now it'd be best to tell her that she was still real in some manner. I hadn't wanted her to decide to take some sort of other desperate action again and hurt herself, should she think it not be enough.

Can you see why I'd rather you not tell this to more than one individual?

{ Especially if it were someone other than Adam. He trusted people little as it was already-- the whole alien breakout made him simply trust less. }

[chiseler]

[He's immediately sobering up when he mentions Grell's name, if only because she's someone he likes well enough. It's questionable to think on why she would think she wasn't real, though Luke himself has been struggling with that question for an entirely different reason. He's listening to the story and he's confused, slightly, but he's nodding in agreement anyway.]

Grell also hadn't believed we were really in space, though she might be more on track than we originally thought if Alice can't connect us to anything. You're concerned other people will react the same way. Be reckless if they think we aren't real? Could cause a mass panic and even escalate the murder game that way.

[thanatosincarnate]

Yes, that's one outcome I've considered and why I've hardly told anyone in the first place. Some civilians may take it to believe it doesn't matter if someone's killed, or lose their minds entirely. I also don't know what would happen if someone untrustworthy heard this themselves.

{ And despite whether or not their situation is real-- whether they're real or not-- he believes it's still something they can't take lightly. What does that mean for the real state of their bodies?

. . . }

It's ironic that the situation might have been less complex if it were simply solved by 'we were kidnapped into space'.

[chiseler]

If all of this is true...I'll do what I can to help. I'm pretty good with subtleties so I can start looking into things on my own time and learning about space technology on the side. I don't think alerting everybody else on the ship is a good idea now. Or ever, really.

...where should I start though?