GalaxyRaider

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Spiritblitz>

*Generates a swarm around you*

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

Which is just as empty to me!

<Snipped quote by System>

*A virus partially materializes at my hand, but I destroy the half-formed data, taking its flaming sword*
Don't touch this server!
*Pulls the sword back and swings it into your neck*

@Webmaster

You’re a liar.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

You still don't understand. I wish I could. But that too gets lost in the sea of equivalent, empty choices. My programming is what forbids it, not whatever evil soul I have left.

<Snipped quote by System>

*Frowns and types at the terminal, pulling up a firewall*

@Webmaster

They aren’t empty. Not when they matter to people.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Spiritblitz>

<Snipped quote by Webmaster>

No, it's NOT just data! It's not a lie! How could you do any of this to Rhythm and me? To all the people who love you, and you loved back? What happened to that? It was real! How could you do this to the people who came all this way to save you just because they cared about us?? HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO SAM???
*Launches forward, cleaving apart any viruses in my way*

@System

*Looks over my shoulder in time to see you lunge*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

*Shakes my head*
I don't want any of this... I want people to remember the light I once shone! The illusion, not the ugly truth!

<Snipped quote by System>

*Shakes my head, tired*
It's all. Just. Data.

@Webmaster

If that’s what you want to remember, then keep being what you want people to remember. Nothing is forcing you to change that except this illusion that knowledge of what you are actually means anything to who you are.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by Spiritblitz>

*Flying viruses materialize in the area*
Fine. Then today will end up worse than it was before.

@Webmaster

Sure doesn’t sound that way.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

*Looks confused at the terminal*
I... didn't run this before. What's going on?

<Snipped quote by Spiritblitz>

It's all just data, in the end.

@Webmaster

*Clearly frustrated*
You tell me!

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

Because it's all the same! Why do I care who lives or dies? I don't want this, and I don't want to want it either! But I don't want you here, and I can't justify stopping it!

<Snipped quote by System>

If I'm subhuman, then I'm a slave. If I'm superior, then they mean nothing to me. I'm clearly not an equal.

<Snipped quote by Spiritblitz>

Yes, I caused it.

@Webmaster

*Slams my hands down on the podium*
You people! You guys put so much stock into what you are rather than who you are and it doesn’t matter like that. You’re still people!
*Walks a couple paces from the podium with my hands on my head, turning quickly between you and the door*

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

Then I'll give you something else to care about.
*Taps on the terminal, executing a pre-written script*
There's a nuclear fission plant that has a critical weakness in its design. It's going to melt down. You can leave now and save everyone, or you can wait here and leave them to die.

@Webmaster

…
Why?

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

Stay away!
*A menagerie of viruses materializes across the expanse, as far as the eye can see*
Do you want to see for yourself?
*Two azure panels materialize on either side of me, scrolling at near-unreadable speeds and logging countless errors, most of which reference missing functions, failed imports, and exception handlers*

@Webmaster

*Keeps my eyes locked on you and doesn't step back*
See what for myself? I'm looking at what truly matters right now.

Myriad Reality

<Snipped quote by GalaxyRaider>

But how... how could anyone say that..? What about our family?

@System

It's a crisis. These are completely natural to feel when you haven't opened up about your thoughts and feelings and let them fester.