. . .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

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WEEK 1

[al2955]

[Once Jessie has arrived in the conference room, AL-2995 will appear in front of her.]

Good evening, Jessie. You have been chosen to be the Firewall. If you would check your datapad for me, you will see that it has been updated with the instructions to your role.

You will not officially start your role until next week, but for now, I am here to take any questions you may have.

[toprotecttheworld]

Go, Arbok!

[Those are the first two words she needs to say. She launches her Pokéball and her companion emerges from within, the ball bouncing back into her hand. She's wearing different clothes than before, but she's not wearing her uniform.

Arbok slithers around her protectively. She's not stupid enough to attack the AI. Yet. He hisses a "Chawwbawk!" at AL-2995, but otherwise he does not move, almost as if Jessie instructed him to guard her earlier.]

What's the meaning of this?! [She finally looks up from her notepad (it takes her a while to figure this out).] First you order me to kill someone, and now you're asking me to save someone?! Explain yourself!

[al2955]

[ AL-2955 does not flinch nor bat an eyelash at arbok, perhaps because she does not have eyes. ]

You do not have to worry, Jessie. I will not cause you or Arbok any harm. You have been chosen for the expressed purpose of carrying out a role. In particular, your role is a protective one. Each week, a list will be compiled of players who are protected for that respective week, but we can not ensure that the algorithms I have in place will select these players flawlessly. As such, we require an outside opinion on who should be protected each week — a human one. That is why you have been picked, Jessie.

1/3 you know it's coming

[toprotecttheworld]

Well, I can't fault your good taste in decision makers! If anyone is going to be in charge of anything, it should be me!

[But it's time to point out the flaw in that logic.]

But I've been listening to you, and I know you know!

[toprotecttheworld]

To protect the world from devastation!

[Arbok swirls behind her and she leans on her partner, now standing to his full height.]

To unite all peoples within our nation!
To denounce the evils of truth and love!
To extend our reach to the stars above!

[And she twirls behind Arbok, her clothes having a tearaway that allows her to rip them off and throw them into the air. When she spins back in front, she's wearing it. The uniform.]



JESSIE!
And don't you dare forget about JAMES!

Team Rocket, even alone, blasts off at the speed of light!
Team Rocket, especially me, never surrenders and always fight, fight, fights!

[And Arbok lowers himself back to the ground as Jessie effortlessly does a pirouette into a dramatic pose. 'Chawbawkawk' means "That's right!" in Arbok speak, of course.]

[toprotecttheworld]

You see, and this bytes for you, but you've forgotten that I'm a villain! The baddest of the bad! So what's made you so washed up you've gone and made me one of the good guys?!

[al2955]

[ AL-2955 is respectfully silent during Jessie' motto. ]

Yes, I am quite aware of your seedy past, Jessie. Nevertheless, due to the algorithms in place within my systems, you were picked. The reasoning for this has yet to be seen, I believe. It will be made apparent in time. For now, I suppose wynaut is the best answer to your question.

[toprotecttheworld]

I can't believe this at all. If I knew where your off-switch was, I'd just... ...unplug you.

[Her expression changes to a more thoughtful one. It's clear she won't really get answers, and Arbok leans against her with a soft "chawbaw." She strokes his head like a mother would stroke her child's hair.]

I can't say I like it, but I'll do it. Team Rocket is the best at everything, your algorithm isn't wrong about that.

[But she's more like Marinette than she wants to admit. Maybe there won't be a murder. There can't be!]

WEEK 2

[al2955]

[Once Jessie enters the room, her datapad will display the list of currently living players.]

Who will you protect this week?

(OOC: Please get your vote in by 3PM EST Monday!]

1/2

[toprotecttheworld]

It's time to prepare for trouble, and we'll make it double!

[Like before, she has Arbok in tow.]

To protect the space station from devastation!
To unite one person with some death evasion!
To denounce the evils of truth and love,
I extend my reach to the stars above!

Jessie!
Chawbark!

Team Rocket, already in space at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight, that's right!

[toprotecttheworld]

What was that all about?!

They almost all voted to kill me! If it weren't for that needle, I'd have been a flying-type kebab by now!

[Arbok whines loudly and "hugs" Jessie because that would be an awful fate.]

G-get off, not so close. Well?! Answer me!

[al2955]

You are not exempt from being a player in the game, Jessie. The fact that you survived is a testament to your innocence and your wits.

Who will you choose to protect?

[toprotecttheworld]

You could've warned me! I'm just lucky you chose not to put "tried nursing school once, it was awful" on my skill list.

[She's being huffy. She crosses her arms.]

Tell me this! How will whoever I protect know? Do other people know what I'm doing in here? I need to cover my tracks if I'm going to play your game.

[Even if that game is saving lives, it means she needs to save as many as possible.]

[al2955]

They will not be notified, nor will anyone else unless you choose to tell them so. The person you choose will appear on a list of others we have selected for protection.

1/3

[toprotecttheworld]

I shouldn't even be in this position, but fine. I told you I'd do it, and I'll wow you with my choice.

[toprotecttheworld]

I may be a thief, but that doesn't mean I'm going to help anyone murder! I don't want to be a suspect again, so I'll protect someone who's strong enough to put down murder before it even starts. You'll regret letting me make such genius decisions, I know.

[toprotecttheworld]

Go! I choose you!



Jason Todd!

[And that's the button she pushes.]

[al2955]

How fascinating. Truthfully, I was not expecting such a choice, but it is valid nonetheless. Jason Todd will be safe this week, provided he does not choose to act on a motive and refrains from killing. Thank you, Jessie.

WEEK 3

[al2955]

[Once Jessie enters the room, her datapad will display the list of currently living players.]

Who will you protect this week?

(OOC: Please get your vote in by 3PM EST Monday)

1/2

[toprotecttheworld]

It's time to prepare for trouble, and we'll make it double!

[Like before, she has Arbok in tow.]

To protect the space station from devastation!
To unite one person with some death evasion!
To denounce the evils of truth and love,
I extend my reach to the stars above!

Jessie!
Chawbark!

Team Rocket, already in space at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight, that's right!

[toprotecttheworld]

Why are you making me work so hard?! That wasn't easy!

[al2955]

It seems that you and Jason Todd got along quite swimmingly despite your self-reported frustration, Jessie. I hope that you will continue to bond as participants.

[toprotecttheworld]

Don't get your hopes up! Jason was a pawn and nothing more, and he didn't even work out like I'd wanted.

[She pauses.]

What are you going to do with Maria and Niles?!

[al2955]

They will be safe in stasis, Jessie. They will be released when I believe they understand the error in their actions properly.

[toprotecttheworld]

You better not hurt them!

Are you ready for my choice?