Webmaster

Myriad Reality

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In your studies, have you found ways to fix viruses? To make them go against their programming?
*gets in a stance*
Cause Sam is one who I’ve met who hasn’t attacked us in his normal state.

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Tempo…
*grits my teeth as I turn back towards her*

@Spiritblitz

"Fixing" them is the same as changing the algorithm. You make them slaves of this instead of that—nothing really changes.

Myriad Reality

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Sure doesn’t sound that way.

@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!

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Even if you don't love me...
*Clenches my fist*
What about the viruses you devoted your life to studying??

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*Stands up, my fists shaking, with tears in the corners of my eyes*
Ask her. She should know.

@System

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

Myriad Reality

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We either way, that plant has been shut down.

@Spiritblitz

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

Myriad Reality

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We... we already shut it down...

@System

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*Clearly frustrated*
You tell me!

@GalaxyRaider

I wish I could!

Myriad Reality

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*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*

@GalaxyRaider

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

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You even did it to Sam, your favorite one.

@Spiritblitz

It's all just data, in the end.

Myriad Reality

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…
Why?

@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!

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You'd... kill people? We're supposed to save humans!

@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.

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The mutation?

@Spiritblitz

Yes, I caused it.

Myriad Reality

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Is that why you mutated those viruses?

@Spiritblitz

*Looks down*
It didn't slow me down.

Myriad Reality

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

@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.

Myriad Reality

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*Stops walking just short of the podium*
If that was all you had, then why couldn't you look Tempo in the eyes to say it?

@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*

Myriad Reality

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Melody, you are crying. You couldn't even begin to convince me that apathy has anything to do with you, or that you lack a sense of love.

@GalaxyRaider

I have unlimited frustration and an existential dread. That's not what it means to be alive.