. . .firewall

[al2955]

the pygmalion. . . ONLINE LOGGING YOU IN . . . FIREWALL AL-2955 visits you, as if she's followed you through the tubes and connections aboard The Pygmalion. She waits in your room, as though she were tipped from the basins held by the twin angels into existence. She is patient, but instructs you to return to the conference room. Her hologram flickers, and she zips out of existence, back into the basins, back through the connections. Entering the conference room, you see that a small holographic terminal has lit up and is waiting for you. A list of the remaining participants displays itself, images of them staring back at you. The dead are blacked out, gone but not forgotten. Only hours ago did you vote on execution in this very room, and now AL-2955's robotic voice commands you to select one player to be safe for the week. Selecting a player you've already chosen simply does not work, and she urges you, coolly, to choose another participant. Make your choice. firewall rules taken characters information cards

Comments

[toprotecttheworld]

Of course I'm losing my gusto! You've left four bodies out for me to find in three weeks!

[do niles and maria count]

What's the deal with the viewport?! You told me they'd be safe!

[al2955]

I am only responsible for two of the bodies you have found, Jessie, and one was yet living. Do forgive me for Cucaracha, however.

[ she's silent for a moment. ]

What happened in the viewport was unforeseen. I am unable to give you a worthy answer as time stands. Please bare with me.

[toprotecttheworld]

I'll bare with you, but next week I want to know more! I might be a little harsh to you during our trials, but behind all of that we're still on good terms. Do you hear me? I'm just keeping up appearances.

[Well, that, and she's always angry. All the time.]

I'm at a loss for who to pick this time. Nothing I'm doing seems to be working, but since that's exactly what you want, you must be pleased.

[She's thinking, just give her a second.]

[al2955]

I believe you will become instrumental to the project as we go on. For now, it may seem as though you are shooting in the dark. That is because most of the murders thus far have been attempts to weed out weak players. There will come a time where only strong players remain, however, and you will choose who is the strongest. These are choices I believe you can shoulder well, Jessie.

[ she's silent again. ]

For what it is worth, I appreciate your sentiment. I am doing my best as well.

[toprotecttheworld]

The strongest aside from myself, you mean.

[It was a given, though. Right?]

Let's get this over and done with. There's no fanfare today, I'm just going to pick someone who could use a break.



I choose him. It looks like he's becoming more confident. Maybe this will help.

[al2955]

You have become quite fond of him as of late. This also appears to be the first choice you have made because of a participant's integrity as opposed to any skill or asset they bring to the group. Clover Field and Jason Todd notably are participants you do not get along with publicly.

[toprotecttheworld]

This job is about protecting people, isn't it? If he can get some smug sense of self worth out of this or think he's doing something right, it might save him more than just this week. It's just as smart as any other choice I've made.

...I hope.

What do you think, Alice? Who would you have saved?