reach the residents

[ximilian]

● ● ● REACH THE RESIDENTS

For any questions you want to ask Viveca or Degar and receive an IC response, please direct them here. Please indicate in the subject line who you are trying to contact.

// VIVECA

Hi, what can I help you with?

// DEGAR

Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to you. And by now, you should've somehow realized what you're not to do.

▶ NAV

Comments

[vivecai]

Yes, more or less.

[ it's a good way to describe how the teleportation machines work. ]

I have set in parameters for what we need, but if you mean whether I hand-pick everything that comes through... no. I could, but it would take far too long.

[chronosynthesis]

[So the supply drop is always going to look like this... suffering.]

Not like you hand-picked us? [A pause.] Was that you? From the dream.

[His dream but like, also everyone else's.]

[vivecai]

[ sorry to disappoint... ]

It's a little more complicated than that. [ a lot more complicated than that, actually, but she's not going to go into details. ] But no, actually, it wasn't. That's not part of my job description.

[chronosynthesis]

How many of you are part of this... team? [Organization? Right now, he doesn't quite have a scale of the operation.] I assume they are aware we have arrived ahead of schedule.

[vivecai]

That's not something I'm at liberty to say right now, but let's just say.... not many. [ she sounds like were she a human, she might be grimacing. ]

And yes, I'm doing everything I can to get everything prepped for your first mission as soon as I can.

[chronosynthesis]

There is a lot being asked from someone we really don't know much about.

[Secret organizations, he understands. But he'll still prod them for information if they're going to present themselves as allies.] All right, how much are you at liberty to say? Anything about this... trade, of changing the course of regret for cooperation?

[Is it probably an effective bargaining chip? Well... he's still here. But damn, personal.]

[vivecai]

All you can do is trust that we know what we're doing.

[ which... considering the whole power out that's about to follow, is maybe a lot to ask. ]

I can tell you about the orbs, if you want. They've been scattered all around the universes, and they — they're powerful. They have the power to alter the fabric of reality. That's why we have to get them back, because if they're left alone, they'll eventually cause enough disturbances to destroy entire worlds.

But we need to direct that reality-altering power somewhere... and we need people capable of getting the orbs back. People who will commit to it. So the contract you've made, it isn't just with us. It's with the orbs as well. It binds your regret to them, and their power to you.

[chronosynthesis]

I... see. [There's silence as he considers that. It's not even the most wild concept he's ever heard of, but it's new and he's realizing they're pulled in far deeper than it seemed.]

If one of you could bond us to those through our dreams, does that mean you have some sort of connection to them already? Where did these orbs come from?

[vivecai]

Not us, the station. We don't know everything, either... but the orbs are supposed to be here. This station is meant to contain them, so what we use to be able to speak to all of you is also connected to the orbs, wherever they are.

[ then, a little wryly, ] I wish I could explain this better, but against popular belief, I'm not all-knowing.

[chronosynthesis]

[Lightly:] I didn't assume you would know everything.

[Just... maybe more than seeming like they're jumping into this blindly.]

But then how did you come to learn about the orbs and station?

[vivecai]

I —

[ she pauses, as if she were about to say something and be unable to; after some seconds have passed, she speaks again. ]

I'm the AI of this station. Isn't that enough of an answer?

[chronosynthesis]

... No? [Was it supposed to.] It does not sound as if you've always been with the station, or the orbs.

[But he can take a guess why she deflected so abruptly.] I assume that, too, is something you are not at liberty to say.

[vivecai]

... you're perceptive.

[ she manages to sound aggrieved and impressed at once. ]

But you're right. This is who I am, now, and this is what I have to do. To help you with all I am. If I could, I — [ the words break off, suddenly, as if she had been forced to stop talking. ]

... Unfortunately, right now, that's all I can say.

[chronosynthesis]

I understand. [He doesn't like not having all the pieces, but asking Viveca for what she can't tell him won't do either of them any good.]

I appreciate the clarity either way. I've promised to return and help with sort the... supply drop. [More like supply dump.] So I'll leave you to it.

[To do whatever it is AIs do. He'll figure it out.]