[Locked from Malnosso//Unhackable]

[malnosso]

Greetings. My name is ANI; the Automated Neutral Intelligence system created for the purpose of observation and cataloging said observations. I and my creator share no affiliations with the "Malnosso" Organization, nor do we align ourselves with designations "John" or "Jacob."

To clarify. Subjects safe for discussion on the open journal systems:

-John (save his recent Shifting advancements; see below)
-Discussions concerning Shifting.
-The Third Party.

Subjects to be avoided (kept to the laptops or in person):

-My creator and myself.
-John's revival of Jacob.
-Jacob.

Thank you. Please, should you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. However, classified information will not be released without the permission of my creator.


[A voice begins, a woman's; it's rather low in register.] You heard -read- the lady. Also, I want to talk to you kids about the Hunter and what exactly happened, if you don't mind.

I come bearing gifts.

[There's a click and then a recorded conversation: one voice is obviously Jacob's. The other is an unknown man's, surprisingly smooth and low but very, very sharp and cold. The voices are far away, but audible.]

To make any advancements in science you have to take risks.

It wasn't your fucking life at risk!

That's why it was worth it.

...Goddammit. I don't remember anything. Nothing! You've any idea what that's like, do you?!

Would you rather me have chosen one of the others? ...No? Then you should be grateful.

Fuck. [Heavy footfalls, and a door slam. Another click as the conversation ends.]


Ta-daaa. ♪

Comments

[malnosso]

Well, not entirely. Those accounted for are within protected enclosures, a bit like Luceti but much more lax. Most people are soldiers, or laborers to help with the war against the Third Party.

If there are any individuals that survive outside those cities, I don't know about them. Well, aside from myself of course.

[wise_maiden]

So those who aren't placed inside here... I see. The adaptation process might be different, given the dangers are more apparent to them. But the Third Party... has to come from somewhere as well. Something has to have happened for the factions to even have formed... the differences over time, and for Shifting to develop. Do they take new people into their faction at all, or has that idea long since been abandoned by them?

I suppose it explains much; this disdain for the mice. Not having the immediate pressure of the situation - aside from a few weighty incidents - upon us, and the temporary successes of these experiments - our thoughts are able to remain closer to home. We're spoiled by not being here so long yet that the idea of being here permanently doesn't enter the equation. Of course, we could simply not remember it.

You're an anomaly. Have you ever contacted the people being held here in previous batches of this ... project?

[malnosso]

Those are some interesting conclusions you've drawn.

But I have, here and there. Never to this extent.

[wise_maiden]

Interesting, I suppose, though I do question their validity. Not that there seems to be any way of me seeing for myself.

... I see. How curious.

[malnosso]

I could tell you. Though that would mean you would have to rely solely on my word.

[wise_maiden]

I'm aware of that. But it's certainly better than nothing at all, especially when trying to gain an understanding of the full situation, not simply our own narrowed circumstances.

Or perhaps the question is, why would you tell me?

[malnosso]

Maybe I like you.

[wise_maiden]

I suppose I can't argue with that.

[malnosso]

Well, I like you but I don't trust you.

I'll let you pick one of your points you'd like me to clarify and I'll answer honestly to it.

[wise_maiden]

You don't seem like someone who'd trust easily. And honestly, I'm finding it difficult to decide. I hope that I'll be able to earn more points a little later. You did have a question yourself that you wanted answered, after all.

Perhaps - if you were able to elaborate a little more on that interim period. When beings are recalled to this world after a Shift fails - is there a reason why some remember Luceti, and others do not? Rather, is it intentional, or was there an interference involved?

[malnosso]

A little bit of both; it's a case-by-case situation. Shifting is all well and good to alter surroundings, how energy is manipulated, things like that. But the second you apply it to a sentient creature you have problems. Minds and souls are such delicate things, after all.

In the case of interference...well, that's a little harder to explain. Let's just say that whatever brings you here isn't as structured a phenomenon as we'd like it to be.

[wise_maiden]

It seems like a force that plays by it's own rules. If people were adequately able to fight it without it fighting back, this situation wouldn't be quite as evolved as it is currently.

Although, related to that, is the change in wing coloration also related to that 'interference'?

[Unhackable]

... I do find it interesting that you would use the phrase "whatever brings you here", instead of "whatever brought us", however.

[malnosso]

Which change?

[wise_maiden]

In those who have been 'sent back' and returned. Those with their memories intact usually have the same memories, and wing colors.

In some cases - usually with the lost memories - the wing color was different upon their being returned.

[malnosso]

Goodness, you're both smart! I think I might fall in love with the both of you, though I suppose I should leave you to your own devices.

Yes, there's a correlation. Most of the time. Sometimes it's just coincidence, but very rarely.

[wise_maiden]

Would you be willing to elaborate a little more on the correlation? After all, the wings play a large role in the lives of everyone here, even if most write them off as useless.

[malnosso]

You know, I've already given you your freebie.

[wise_maiden]

... Fair enough.

[Unhackable]

You were interested in hearing more about the Hunter incident, correct?

[Unhackable]

[malnosso]

I was just pointing it out, but suit yourself.

If you're willing to share, that is.

[Unhackable]

[wise_maiden]

I was hoping you would consider it a token. You've been very generous already, after all.

[Unhackable]

[malnosso]

I'd love to.

Albert informed me; rumor and logical assumption has it that you were with him. Care to expound upon what happened?

[Unhackable]

[wise_maiden]

He's not the type to say very much.

It began it's attack by shooting arrows at us; we then proceeded to start running away. There was a fork in the path, so Albert and I ended up splitting up. There wasn't much time to decide otherwise. The Hunter caught up with Albert on his path, just before the place where our paths joined again. I made the attempt to take the Hunter off guard with some magic, but Albert ended up losing one wing and having the other damaged.

[Unhackable]

[malnosso]

Ah, and he lived? He was pretty lucky.

It was firing arrows...a normal bow, crossbow...did it look archaic in design? Or more mechanical?

[Unhackable]

[wise_maiden]

If the circumstances had been different, he might not have been.

The bow was of the normal kind, though it was too dark to get a good look at the design. My guess would be archaic, from the sound of the string.

[Unhackable]

[malnosso]

Hmph. Idiots.

That helps a great deal, thank you.