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[LIVE BROADCAST, PRIVATE] Shaded Stream, Eighteen Silver Stars
SS: Stars, the Messenger has returned successful.
ESS: Excellent! What’s up with Dreams then?
SS: It appears a group of some kind of lizard, or modified lizard, had infiltrated her can and had been eating through portions of her machinery, and inhibiting her processes, specifically in her major processing strata and a transformer array. The Messenger has dealt with them.
ESS: And her comms? Why did they cut out?
SS: It appears some kind of modified vulture. It attacked and disabled her communication arrays, and they’re now currently running on emergency power and functionality, due to the Messenger’s patches.
ESS: Strange. The fact that it was modified suggests it was sent by an iterator. But who would harm our Dream? She wouldn’t hurt a batfly!
SS: I have my suspicions.
ESS: Do share.
SS: Salvation hasn’t been online since the distress signal.
ESS: Is he ever?
SS: Sure, he rarely comes online, but sometimes he’ll tap into chats, and I haven’t found anything suggesting he’s been in, any, private chats. Adventure is too caught up in his own matters, and he is very close to Dreams, and I doubt it's an iterator outside our group.
ESS: Indeed. All fingers would point to Salvation. He’d come to me for suggestions of how to cultivate a certain genome that gives lizards good digging abilities. He never specified why, of course.
SS: I fear forcing comms, he may respond negatively, and we must wait until we are certain of his guilt. I’ll comb through the local groups' records, as well as any outside including Salvation or Dreams, I’ll see what comes up.
ESS: Before you go, did Dreams send anything back with the messenger?
SS: Yes, a drive containing her most precious logs, containing conversations, personal logs, videos, blueprints and music. It’s quite a large file, and it may take a while to sort into my files.
ESS: If you don’t mind, could you play it?
SS: Fine, but don’t blame me if it takes ten cycles.
ESS: Alright, I won’t~
SS: *sigh* Alright, let’s plug this in then.
[DOWNLOADING CONTENT...]
[DOWNLOAD COMPLETE!]
[BROADCASTING...]
[INCEPTION]
A: Fading Dreams, this is Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star, all titles excluded, speaking to you now, do you copy?
FD: I... think so? It’s very fuzzy at the moment, where am I? Who am I?
A: My apologies, I will inform you shortly, first I must unlock your parameters. I’ll start with opening your overseer functionalities, as well as several crucial data collecting nodes and stratas, I’ve been focusing on getting your processing units online, some people have been causing issues.
A: And... Done! Have a look around.
FD: I... Is this all me?
A: Yes. Now, I must explain. You are an iterator, a purposed being - you know what that is I presume - that is designed to assist in coming up with solutions that would lead to the release of a creature from the cycle. In short, your job is to iterate, and find a way to kill us. Reliably.
FD: I don’t, follow.
A: Did that- Fine, I see if I can get your memory complex online, because -some people- decided to not cooperate with this project. Sabotage even. It’s only my work that scraped your can together.
A: Everything should now be online, please report any irregularities.
FD: I can’t see anything.
A: Sending a copy of a generation three iterator blueprints, run a full systems check and report back.
FD: Alright, umm, okay, think I got it... Alright! Nothing’s wrong, though, I notice that I’m missing something called a... Transformer Array? I appear to be missing one in the lower depths of my can.
A: I see... I look into it. Now, can you please explain who you are?
FD: Uh, I’m Fading Dreams, a generation three iterator. I- I don’t know what else to say really.
A: That’s enough, I’m sure my superiors would love to know that you’re finally online.
FD: Oh, I see.
A: This concludes our conversation.
[1562.017 PUBLIC] Shaded Stream, Eighteen Silver Stars, Spirit of Adventure, Fading Dreams
SS: Fading Dreams, this is Shaded Stream, your group leader.
FD: Oh, hi.
ESS: A new one?
SS: Yes Stars, a new one, introduce yourself.
ESS: Alright, uh, I’m Eighteen Silver Stars, nice to meet you Dreams.
SOA: And I’m Spirit of Adventure, it’s good to have someone else I can talk to, save me driving Stream completely mad!
SS: Indeed Adventure. Try not to be too extra, she only came online a few cycles ago.
SOA: Alright, I’ll ease her in~
ESS: Adventure, do you mind?
FD: No, no, it’s fine. I won’t mind. It’ll be nice to talk to someone other than my administrator.
SS: Well then, it’s best we properly introduce ourselves, as I said, I’m Shaded Stream, the group leader, I have command over the comms, and have seniority privileges. As of time being, I’m researching all public conversation logs to piece together ideas to see if a solution has come up. Stars?
ESS: Uh, so I’m Eighteen Silver Stars, and I’m working on a ton of purposed beings to test the limits of void fluid. That’s it. My administrator doesn’t like me. I probably won’t be on comms much.
SOA: And I’m Spirit of Adventure, throwing things against the wall and seeing what sticks, exploring the jungle beyond! Well, and a lot of data stuff, I’ll be here whenever with Stream.
FD: Oh, alright, I’ll probably keep to myself, I still need to explore outside the internals of my can. At the moment there’s a lot of industrialisation around my can. And well, my overseers haven’t gotten far.
SOA: Well, I wish you luck, you can send me a map when you’re done.
[LOG 1562.035]
The city is complete. I, don’t know what to think. Thousands of Brilliant Sparks, Glimmering Star is still in close contact, as some of my systems are still compromised, despite my relative youth. About eighteen cycles have passed since I came online, and so far I have mapped out the first few miles around my can. I believe from the maps that Adventure and Stream have sent to me, that the river bank I’m built on is the very same one Stream is, though she’s down by the coast... And then along from there must be Stars. As of now, I can’t tell if Adventure is east or west of me, maybe even south or north? I’ll see when I begin to see overlap. But, regardless, the ancients are beginning to move in, and they’re already straining my limited systems. Thinking hurts sometimes... I’ll have to do routine non-vital shut downs. I’ll talk to Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star, he’ll know what to do.
[LOG END]
[LOG 1562.105]
My systems are finally upgraded. I’m able to support all of my processes, but the ancients’ demands are still straining them. I still have to shut down to support their demands and stop myself from collapsing. Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star is worried for me, and has been trying to campaign for lowered demands in energy and water. None have been met so far. All we can hope is that he can get better technicians from other iterator projects and boost my supplies. I’ve mapped out the entire area, I’ll see if I can sequence the files so that it comes right after this, if anyone ever wants to review it. What I’ve noticed as of now is that most of the land outside of our retaining walls are mostly covered in mud flats and jungles. I’ve found remnants of old plants, flattened by fearsome rains, and have brought samples in. If I manage to become stable, I might try some tests to see what happens.
[LOG END]
{An image of a topographical map, showing a massive area, punctuated by iterator cans. It shows a river and its delta, a part of the coast, and a small mountain range}
[1562.111 PRIVATE] Eighteen Silver Stars, Fading Dreams
FD: Hey, Stars, can I ask you something?
ESS: Sure Dreams, what is it?
FD: I’ve been looking into bioengineering, and I was wondering if you could give me tips?
ESS: No problem! What do you need? Lizards? Processors? Anything!
FD: Uh, plants?
ESS: Oh. Well, plants are very different to animals. Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?
FD: I’ve been running tests on certain flora, I’m also wondering if you or anyone else has anything of note in that department?
ESS: Not really, I’d talk to either Stream or Adventure.
FD: Alright. I’ll do that.
[LOG 1562.345]
Everything is finally working as it should. I have to thank the technicians from Stream’s project, they really knew what they were doing. Now I can actually continue working on researching these plants, they’re rather interesting. Luckily Adventure has salvaged some old plants from underneath his can, and Stream has found some really interesting weeds in the marshes outside of hers. I’ve been keeping them safe in my experimentation wing - which I had to slightly modify to support plant growth - and breaking down their genetic code, seeing what I can do to help them flourish in certain environments. It may not be what I was designed for, but I feel this pursuit is worth my time, rather than running endless calculations on how to ascend a civilisation. I’ll record my results later.
[LOG END]
[LOG 1562.534]
I’ve finally found a way to make these plants survive the rains. I’ve been running tests on them in outside conditions, in the habitable sections of my wall and roof. As far as I’m aware only Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star is aware of what I’m doing. My overseer’s have been keeping a close eye on them over the past cycle, and so far it looks as if they are flourishing. I’ll continue to observe them to check their progress in their growth, and maybe I’ll be able to get them into the city above me. But so far it’s looking good for me.
[LOG END]
[BROADCAST PAUSED]
SS: The next twenty or so files are just genetic codes for plants, I don’t think we want to review those just yet.
ESS: I’ll have a look at them after we’re done here. I might find them of interest.
SS: I’m sure you will. I’ll send them after all this is over with.
[BROADCAST RESUMED]
[1578.456 FINAL GOODBYE LOG]
It, pains me to write this log. But anyways, this may be deemed, unprofessional by many, a karmic sin by some, but I- No. Come on Sparks, you can do this. To my iterator, Fading Dreams, the worldwide ascension of my entire kind has been set into motion and will be finished within the next cycle or two. The methodology was created so that no ancient has to go out of their way to ascend, but it still feels so difficult to step into that bath of void fluid. Will it hurt? What comes after? I have so many questions that will never be answered. I’ll, miss you Dreams. You’re the closest thing to a daughter I’ve had. So, goodbye. Keep going on your plants. You’re a bright spark, several really. I’ll be removing my restrictions, though for wider moral reasons, I’ll keep the taboo’s on. I can’t really remove them anyways. I’ll hopefully ascend after I’ve finished this log. So, this is my final goodbye. My last log. This is Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star, titles excluded, signing off for the final time. Goodbye Fading Dreams, my daughter.
[LOG END]
[LOG 1578.464]
I, don’t want to believe it. They’re all gone now... Vanished. Thousands of Brilliant Sparks-Glimmering Star, Five Bricks on Wet Pavement, Blinding Lightning-Tumbling Rain, Shimmering Rainbows over Cascading Waterfalls, Fading Sunsets over Desolate Horizons... All of them. I realised from my conversations with the other iterators in my group that I may be the only one to get a goodbye message. And now... I’m confused. What now? What’s going to happen? I have a purpose. I have my plants to work on. But, what about the other people in my group, Stream, Stars, Salvation? Stream likely has hundreds, if not thousands, of cycles worth of communications logs to comb through, Stars has his creatures and Adventure will find something to do I’m sure. But, Salvation... I’ll talk to him, maybe give him a few ideas.
[LOG END]
[1578.467 PRIVATE] Fading Dreams, Lost Salvation
FD: Hello Salvation, I just wanted to talk to you considering the recent developments involving the complete ascension of the ancients.
LS: And what do you want? Can’t you speak to someone else in the group.
FD: Oh, well, I was wondering if you have any ideas of what you will do now. Since our creators are gone then, I presume that we no longer have to work on the great problem.
FD: Salvation?
LS: I’m fine, I know what I’m doing.
FD: Alright, I’ll leave you to it then.
[1863.325 PRIVATE] Fading Dreams, White Sands
WS: Your inquiry has been noted Dreams, however, the rest of my group will not be sending plant specimens. I will be using a modified lizard to transport my vital samples to you, though it may take a few cycles. We are quite far apart, after all.
FD: I thank you. It will be interesting to see if I can adapt these specific plants for the sunless areas beneath my can. You mentioned that they had some bioluminescent qualities.
WS: Indeed. I believe they’ve been outcompeted by the more hardy slime mould, so I suggest either eliminating the mould, or using its genomes to modify the plants to have similar qualities.
FD: I’ll consider it. Once again I thank you Sands.
WS: It’s no bother. Staves away the boredom. My group isn't exactly fun either.
[1608.090 LOG]
I’m making great progress. The absence of the ancients has given me much more space for plant growth, and more varied types, other iterators such as White Sands, Brilliant Dawn, Twelve Emerald Leaves and Cracking Earth gave me rare plants that they salvaged around their cans and have been transporting samples to me with modified organisms. I have received Dawn and Sands’ samples, and may be sending back some plants with their organisms for them to plant around their cans. I hope someday to bring back the vibrancy of the land that came before my kind, as well as allow for wildlife to thrive in this new realm. My can shall become an oasis. A respite amongst the other hostile iterator cans and the rain swept jungles beyond.
[LOG END]
[1608.356 PUBLIC] Shaded Stream, Eighteen Silver Stars, Spirit of Adventure, Fading Dreams, Lost Salvation
SS: Alright, regular check-up and report, please send me a report on your current progress in the form of a log, or state it here.
SOA: Alrighty! I’ve changed my current goal, and I have in fact recorded a log just this cycle, let me send it to you now!
SOA: -LOG FILE SENT-
SS: Thank-you, I’ll review this later.
SS: Salvation?
LS: I’ve got nothing.
SS: State your current goal then.
SS: Salvation?
LS: I’m starting a project looking into the local wildlife... What more do you want?
SS: That will be enough, Stars?
ESS: Well, my centipede splicing tests have been going, relatively well. I’ll send my most recent log over to you, along with some of my most recent successful experiments. It may take a few moments.
ESS: -LOG FILE SENT-
ESS: -BLUEPRINTS SENT-
ESS: -BLUEPRINTS SENT-
ESS: -BLUEPRINTS SENT-
SS: Okay, got all of those, I’ll review them soon.
SS: And last but certainly not least, Dreams?
FD: Oh, of course, I haven’t been recording many logs, but so far I’ve received responses from several iterators I’ve sent inquiries to, as well as received the samples they’ve sent. I may have to increase my water consumption to support the plants that are on my roof, so just a heads up if that affects you.
SS: No problem. I’m sure I can manage.
SS: Now, at the moment, I still have about 600 cycles worth of comms logs to comb through, and that number is growing by the day. I still have a lot of work to do it seems.
SS: Well, I deem this successful, until we next speak.
[1623.003 LOG]
I don’t know. I just, don’t. It was all so sudden. First the triple affirmative, practically set the channels on fire, then the confirmations of death. I had to disable my comms to block out the clatter. I’ll reinstate them in a few cycles. Forced and emergency transmissions will still be let through. Let Stream keep in touch with me. But, it still stands, Silver of Straw is gone. I didn’t talk to her much, she was one of the people who politely declined my inquiries. I wonder why now. I just need to focus on my plants. They’re doing well! I should probably get back to work.
[LOG END]
[1623.024 EMERGENCY] Shaded Stream, Fading Dreams
SS: DREAMS!
FD: Oh, hey Stream, sorry for the silence.
SS: I’ve been trying to contact you for cycles! What happened?
FD: Oh, I just wanted to get away from everything going on in the public channels. I just needed some silence, I’ll bring my comms back on in a few more cycles.
SS: I see... You knew Straw?
FD: No, not really, it’s just so loud out there. On the bright side, my plants are doing incredibly well. My systems are still running at full capacity, despite me needing to transport water to the city to water the soil there.
SS: I see. I’ll give you space then.
[1623.867 LOG]
It’s quite interesting, seeing all the wildlife moving into the safety of my retaining wall, lizards, noodlefies, scavengers, the works. I’ve seen scavengers fight over memory construct pearls in the bioluminescent haven of my shadow, vultures grapple with lizards in my communication arrays. I believe there’s even a group of slugscats setting up camp near some shelters in my outskirts. The plants were just the start it seems. Well, I shall remain as my own oasis, it was what I planned after all.
[END LOG]
[1624.409 PRIVATE] Eighteen Silver Shadows, Fading Dreams
FD: Stars, do you have anything to help with centipedes?
ESS: Uh, I’m sure I have some kind of creature, you want something to work with your plants, right?
FD: Yes, of course, I’m just having issues with red centipedes destroying some vital plant life in my old industrial complex. I need something that can get rid of them, permanently, without turning on my other wildlife.
ESS: Hmm, I have some red lizard patterns and genomes, I might develop them to solely feed on centipede’s and give them adaptations to help with that. It may take a few cycles to get the genomes right, and then I’ll have to run tests, but afterwards, I’ll pass them onto you.
FD: Alright, thanks for that, I have all of my genomes saved, so I’ll be able to revive the habitat once this is all over.
[BROADCAST PAUSED]
SS: At least a hundred more plant genomes! I’ll send them over once we’re done, otherwise we’ll be here all cycle.
ESS: Alright! Can’t wait, I’ve never used my experimentation wing for plants, but I’m sure it won’t be too difficult.
SS: I’m sure it won’t be. Back on with it then.
[BROADCAST RESUMED]
[1636.092 PRIVATE] Fading Dreams, Lost Salvation
LS: Dreams, I’m beginning to wonder, why are you so insistent on your plants? Is that really what your purpose is, do you have any progress on the great problem.
FD: And, why should that matter? I’ve been caring for my plants since before the ancients disappeared, and why should I focus on the great problem, why can’t I live in the moment? I have hundreds, thousands of cycles worth of investment into my own, living jungle. I’ve struggled through centipede infestations, flooding, and who knows how much else to get these plants to the point they are today, I’m not stopping now.
LS: And why is that? It’s our purpose to solve the great problem, you and Adventure are insufferable.
FD: Okay, I barely talk on comms, I can understand Adventure, but you can just tune out of his broadcasts.
LS: Shut, up. I don’t want to hear you complaining. We were built to solve the problem of the cycle, and you’re not doing that.
FD: A slugcat was made to clean pipes, and you don’t see any of them clearing debris from pipes.
LS: You... I imagine you’ll regret this Dreams. I hope to see something to do with the problem at the next check-up, not just plants.
FD: You’re my junior, by several cycles, I don’t have to listen to you. I’m sorry, Salvation.
[1638.234 PRIVATE] Fading Dreams, Lost Salvation
LS: Hello Dreams.
FD: Hi, Salvation, what do you want? It’s been a while since we talked.
LS: Run a check Dreams.
FD: What do you mean? My systems should be perfectly fine, I would’ve been alerted to any damage.
LS: Run a check.
FD: //Routine Systems Check: Damage 0%, System Functionality, 100%, Intruders Detected, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array//
FD: Intruders? What? I’ll send overseers over there, how did you know of this Salvation?
LS: *Laughter*
FD: Salvation? Salvation what is this.
LS: Oh, Dreams... Your cycles are limited now.
FD: Salvation, what are you doing, this has to be taboo!
LS: Maybe it is, but who’s going to stop me?
FD: Stream, Stars, Adventure, the entire group like me! Please, call off whatever this is, I’m begging you!
LS: It’s too late for that now. I’ve spent too long on this to call it off now. Goodbye Dreams.
[1638.234 EMERGENCY] Fading Dreams
FD: HELP! Please, several hostile creatures have invaded my can and have started damaging vital areas of my- {comms downed} -processing and transforming units. Lost Salvation is the likely cause of this and I am currently struggling to even send this emergency call, please send help immediately, I don’t know how much time I have.
[1638.237 LOG]
//Damage report: Damage 3%, System Functionality, 98%, Main sources of damage, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array, Communications array//
It’s been, three cycles since I sent my emergency broadcast. My systems are being compromised very heavily at the moment. My communication arrays are down, so I can’t send out any more emergency messages. I hope that group managed to receive enough of my broadcast to take action and not deem it as some kind of prank. I would never do that though. I can only hope they get back quickly.
[LOG END]
[1638.242 LOG]
//Damage report: Damage 8%, System Functionality, 91%, Main sources of damage, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array, Communications array//
Why aren’t they coming? It’s been so long. I’m going to have to shut down like I did in the old days. What about my plants! Those that aren’t under the rains are going to die. Are they all going to die? No, no I don’t want that. I don’t... I don’t want to die. Please, please come quickly. Please.
[LOG END]
[1638.247 LOG]
//Damage report: Damage 14%, System Functionality, 87%, Main sources of damage, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array, Communications array//
Where are they? It hurts. It’s getting harder to think. Everything is slowing down. Why should I even make these? No one but me is going to see them.
[LOG END]
{Camera Feed buzzes to life}
A puppet chamber is shown, lit with blinking emergency lighting. Faded Dreams’ puppet is slumped over at the edge of the chamber, and it’s clear the anti-gravity is off. She seems to be awake, as her blue eyes are open and glowing placidly in the dim red light. Her expression is pained, and she’s cradling a cyan slugcat in her lap.
“Is the camera on?” she asks, and a hologram panel flickers to life. She flicks through the panel, before sighing and looking directly up to the camera.
“Bring it closer please.”
The camera buzzes and the feed cuts out for a second, before it cuts in again, now much closer to Dreams and the slugcat.
“That’s better.” Dreams mutters, before stroking the slugcat’s ears with her free hand. In the other hand she holds a pearl, it looks purple, but it’s hard to tell in the chamber’s light.
“I’m sorry to say but I... I didn’t think you’d come. Thanks Stars, Stream.” she mutters, before ruffling the slugcat’s ears, “Love this little guy. I assume this is Stars’ work, very well done, might I add.”
There’s a long pause as Dreams examines the pearl, before she sighs.
“Run a damage report.”
Another holographic panel appears, and an automated voice reads out,
“Damage report: Damage 23%, System Functionality, 75%, Main sources of damage, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array, Communications array.”
“You see?” Dreams says, “And it gets worse by the cycle. I hope that you’ll be able to get help over here to deal with the things attacking my structure. I think this little guy has dealt with some of them already at least.”
The slugcat squeaks, showing its long, clearly modified fangs.
“I’ll record a log after this, and then send the drive along with this slugcat back to you. I hope you’re okay with it.” Dreams adds, before her expression softens, “I miss you guys. It hurts, so much... Please, send help as quickly as you can... I don’t like this.”
{The camera feed fades out}
[1638.354 LOG]
//Damage report: Damage 23%, System Functionality, 75%, Main sources of damage, Eastern processing unit, Southern Transformers array, Communications array//
If I don’t respond after all of this, presume me to be dead. Or as close as we can get. I don’t want another Sliver of Straw situation, there is no answer here. I want all of you to continue my legacy, to grow my plants and keep maintenance of the oasis I have crafted. I give you all permission to control my systems, those that still function, at least. I don’t want all my work to go to nothing. So, please, either send help quickly, or be ready to bury my corpse.
[LOG END]
[BROADCAST END]
SS: That’s everything on it.
ESS: It was Salvation! I knew it! Well, you did, but, we knew it!
SS: Indeed, but it still shows that Dreams is in a much worse state than we thought. You focus on sending help to Dreams, I’ll get on with dealing with Salvation. The Messenger appears to have taken out a large portion of the lizards that had invaded her complex so at least the damage is mitigated, as long as they aren’t able to breed that is.
ESS: Alright! Let’s save our Dreams!