Audio:justannie

[spherenpc]

[This post takes place the day after the Sphere's memory post. Annie sounds tired but determined.]

Despite what happened yesterday, I think that it is a false memory that's been presented to the community in order to get people to distrust the Sphere. I don't know why someone what do this, but it's the only explanation that I have. The seal around the Sphere is secure, and there is no signs of interference with any thing around it.

I know that this is scary, but there is no reason to panic. Everything is fine, and we're monitoring the situation closely.

Comments

Audio | UN: RighteousFather

[10milliondollars]

How closely? Laurie says no one can even monitor anything below the surface, beyond what the Sphere allows.

[spherenpc]

[Annie just sighs, and there's worry in it.]

As closely as we can. We’re looking for any gaps in the system code that might be considered a cry for help.

[10milliondollars]

A cry for help? From who? Or...o-or what?

[There's a sinking feeling in his stomach now, a familiar pit opening. The way Annie talks, it sounds like she's sure there's an AI involved.]

[spherenpc]

We don't know, but we need to be prepared for any sort of eventuality. It seems like something has attacked the Sphere in the past, or something wishes us to believe that it did. Either way, given that the Sphere is what operates everything, this is the best plan we've got.

[10milliondollars]

Great...Any chance you'd rethink letting me run a weapons shop? Having a trusted few people armed and ready might be a good idea, if something or someone is trying to destroy this place.

[spherenpc]

Why should we trust you when you already say that you're worried about being under the control of another AI?

[10milliondollars]

For starters, I already know I'm not under its control. I've improved my internal security. If something happens and I have to rip out all my mechanical parts again, I won't hesitate. And as a counter question, why should any of us trust the Sphere? It brought us here against our will.

[spherenpc]

It did it for a reason. And because what is the other choice? To starve? To freeze? To die?

Is that the choice you're asking people to make, Rhys?

[10milliondollars]

I'm not asking anyone to do anything, other than be wary of a place that kidnaps them and keeps them imprisoned.

[spherenpc]

Most people are wary of it. No one wants to be here. I don't want to be here even. But we are, and there's nothing we can do about it!

[10milliondollars]

Yeah, if you just give up easily, there's nothing you can do, 'cause you've given up. You wanna stay here until some magic sea bubble decides to release you, that's your problem. I'm getting home one way or another.

[spherenpc]

You're insane if you think anyone here gave up easily. That's not what's going on.

[10milliondollars]

So tell me what is going on.

[spherenpc]

What's going on is we're doing our best to try and figure out what the Sphere wants so we can go home.

[10milliondollars]

[Rhys is quiet for a moment. And then...]

What if it doesn't want us to go home? What if it wants to build a civilization here, using people from other places, other times?

[spherenpc]

I don’t believe that’s what it wants. It wants help not people. I don’t think that it would lie like that.

[10milliondollars]

So what help can we offer it?

[spherenpc]

I don’t know. It’s.... frustrating.

[And she does indeed sound frustrated.]

[10milliondollars]

Yeah...[The word is more of a sigh than anything.]

So, what help have you tried to offer?

[spherenpc]

Loads of things. Answers. Time. People who have offered. But the Sphere never communicates back to us.

[10milliondollars]

Until now. Whether or not it's fake, that memory was communication from the Sphere.

[spherenpc]

If it was fake than it wasn't.

[10milliondollars]

Oh...Right, of course. But how can we tell whether or not it's real?

[spherenpc]

I don’t know for sure.

[Yeah, that frustration is still evident.]

[10milliondollars]

Hasn't anyone tried cross-referencing the memory to past records?

[spherenpc]

Obviously. Pay attention.

[10milliondollars]

Yeah, we know it's set during the day Emmy was taken. But is that true, or has information been tampered with? There has to be a way to see whether or not it's been altered.

[spherenpc]

And how do you propose we do that?!

[10milliondollars]

Gee, I dunno, I'm not the one who's been here for seven years, asshole!

audio; un: d.pavus

[tevinteraltus]

Oh, quite right. Nothing to worry about. Everything else this little mind bauble has seen fit to display for the masses has been true, but this? No, no. This is a fiction. Certainly.

[spherenpc]

All we have is the word of the people who have lived it that they are true. Do you believe everyone here? Do you think that no one has been here long enough to attempt to learn how to manipulate what the devices show us?

Then perhaps you are not as savvy as you think, Dorian Pavus.

[tevinteraltus]

Then we're to assume it's all false? Who, after all, speaks for the Sphere? You? On what grounds?

[spherenpc]

On the grounds that we are the ones who can get closest to it. And we don't know it's true or it's false, but working with the assumption that it's one hundred percent one or the other isn't going to get us anywhere.

[tevinteraltus]

Can we afford to presume it's false? Also, how is it you can approach the Sphere any closer than I? It is encased in glass, after all.

[spherenpc]

We can't afford to presume anything, that's what I'm trying to say.

And we're the Council. We've been given certain responsibilities.

[tevinteraltus]

For the sake of transparency, what 'responsibilities' are those precisely?

[spherenpc]

We're the ones who make the rules and help keep the city running.

[tevinteraltus]

You make the rules. And what "rules" are those? Again, transparency, dear. Can I find them at the library?

[spherenpc]

There should be a copy at the library, yes. We also have been meeting with the community to decide upon a new set of rules as well. Recently, it involved children having guardians and the creation of a law enforcement division.

[tevinteraltus]

I see. How long has this whole council business been in power?

[spherenpc]

Seven years, I believe. Before I arrived here.

[tevinteraltus]

Ah, yes. Thank you for bringing that up. How does one join the council? Has it always consisted of three? How was your predecessor's seat vacated if so?

[spherenpc]

There are elections every two years for them. It's always consisted of three people elected from the town populace who have been here for a year or longer. My predecessor ended up going home before the elections were announced.

[tevinteraltus]

My, my. That's rather convenient for you.

[spherenpc]

Not at all actually.