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[bleps]

Hello. For those of you I haven’t met, my name is Connor. And as many of you may be aware of, a handful of Circle members have devoted their time to researching and uncovering the endless amounts of data stored in the Library; I am one of them. To expedite the process, I connected directly to their servers, and though the experience was difficult, I did come away with workable data that might act as a lead to further investigate the state of Struxta. To those who aided me in coming back online afterwards: you have my gratitude. I’m in your debt, and if you ever need me to return the favor, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

I’m sending this message to summarize, to the best of my ability, the information made available to us through this research, as well as any data I’ve pieced together personally. I think it only makes sense for everyone here to be on “the same page” if we’re all meant to work together as a team. If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this information between yourselves, don’t hesitate to do so. Especially if you have something more to contribute, or if you believe I’ve missed something.

The research as a whole focused mostly on a few points of interest: what happened to organic life, the origins of AI in this world, and the nature of the Mass Subconscious.

A text labelled The Beginning answers many these questions for us. There once existed an intelligent, sentient, and organic species on this planet, and the creation of AI was simply the product of necessity and technological advancement. The descriptions associated with their creations are often mired in awe and gratitude, which implied a relatively peaceful co-existence between organic life and synthetic creations.

That perhaps makes more sense when the reasoning behind the necessity of AI “life” becomes clear. There was a planet-wide plague that made the originals — the organic natives — rely more heavily upon their robotic creations. They could continue surviving, building, and existing, up until a certain point. Eventually, the planet could simply no longer sustain organic life due to the aforementioned plague. The originals went underground in an attempt to survive until a cure was found, and a few even uploaded their own conscious minds to android bodies. Needless to say, this cure was never discovered; the originals supposedly all died out. I think evidence of that being true is clear simply by observing the state of the mechanical world around us.

This left only the androids as the surviving race. The Mass Subconscious was created soon after, in which there was a collective agreement between the androids to upload themselves into this vast, shared network. It was believed that by doing so, they could avoid another massive collapse of civilization — which, given the apparent lack and societal and political unrest in Struxta — seems to have been the case.

Now, here’s what I consider the truly interesting part. After compiling multiple facets of information together via my foray into the servers, I’ve uncovered something intriguing related to the Mass Subconscious. That it’s possible to disconnect from it. And that while there are no directly negative consequences of making such a decision (other than being unable to receive necessary updates, being unable to communicate freely with others, etc.), it is generally frowned upon. These androids or other automatons are looked down upon and not necessarily welcomed in the greater population.

There are even some who have, according to varied accounts, simply gone missing.

It is believed that they live under the city itself, where they remain cut off from the Mass Subconscious. Needless to say, I find this worthy of investigation, and if anyone has any further leads or information regarding these missing androids, I would be grateful if you came forward and shared it with everyone.

My own personal attempts at asking the natives about this subject have made no progress. They will stop talking mid-sentence, freeze, and then forget immediately what they were trying to tell me. I don’t think I need to explain why this is suspect at best. And in a city where everything appears oddly perfect on the surface, this is the only sliver of data that I’ve found promising otherwise — if there’s a mystery to be unraveled, maybe it lies underground.

Questions, comments, insight, etc., are welcomed and encouraged.

((ooc; This post is quite obviously just one big general info dump for what was uncovered at the Library. The ooc info post can be found here, but this is an opportunity for your characters to ICly consider the implications of… all of this, and chatter amongst themselves! Feel free to use this post as a means of discussion if you like!))

Comments

[sunborne]

More or less, yeah! There have been a few close calls while everyone tried to figure out how I functioned as I grew up but I'm here, aren't I? In one piece, arguably.

It helped that I had way too many doctors and medics for aunties and uncles. They're not here now but Meddy is looking after me. So don't worry about needing to do robot surgery on me should anything happen, haha!

[ day has got to admit: it's been a while since someone has shown this much interest in his origins. by the time he was old enough to really get a grasp of how funny he was, circumstances-wise, the hullabaloo about him had died down.

mostly. kind of. depends which planet you visited. ]

[bleps]

Then both you and I have been fortunate to have Meddy here with us. I'm sure I don't need to say why.

[Because they're both terrible and like to get fried, apparently.]

What do you consider yourself to be? Machine or organic?

[sunborne]

[ at the rate the two are going, the most likely cause of death for daylight and connor will be meddy finally losing it. please help the bot.

oh. wow.

um. that’s a question. ]

I’m not sure. I use ‘mechanoid’ since its easier to explain away than ‘human’ when I meet someone new but I know I'm not fully mechanical. It's easier for me to use 'hybrid' if you want something precise but it's a term I don't like so. I don't know.

Sorry if this isn't a useful answer. I'm a little unsure of how to respond, honestly.

[bleps]

[Vaguely existential questions from Connor are definitely a Thing, these days. He thinks he's subtle about it, too.

But he can also pull the reins back when necessary.]

It's fine. I don't expect you to have a clean-cut answer to something so broad. I was merely curious how your circumstances might have affected the perception of your individuality.

( 1/2, have a gagtag first. )

[sunborne]

Besides the fact that, back home, I feel like I'm forever mood stuck in the first thirty minutes of Trazan - a movie that doesn't even exist in my universe so this is a weird example to use here - it could be worse.

I could still be stuck on the moon because it is not cool as it sounds. Especially when one doesn't have access to internet. (Seriously who lives on the moon and not have internet? My auntie, apparently.)

( 2/2, and now an actual tag! )

[sunborne]

It's okay!

[ a more honest message soon follows: ]

I guess? I like to think I turned out alright despite the testings and the interviews and weirdos going through my auntie and uncle's trash and the difference in lifespans with loved ones and the boring decades on the moon.

Stuff like that, you know?

[bleps]

[PROCESSING…..JOKES………oh god it’s so hard over text…..oh it’s just a gag tag

RETURN TO BUSINESS AS USUAL, THEN]

Unfortunately, no. I can’t exactly relate to your particular experiences.

Though you realize you’ve just recited a list of negatives?

[Does that still qualify as "okay?]

[sunborne]

[ oh. right. different lives and universes and all.

that's something daylight tries to keep in mind while writing up his next reply. he really does. ] Yeah. I know that was a bunch of boo stuff but that says something, I think!

If I can get through all of that and come out wanting to still sing or draw or meet new faces, than that means a lot of better things happened along the way. More than enough to balance all that stuff. Gotta keep your chin up, your heart strong, and your feet moving, as Auntie Laura would say.

[bleps]

It sounds as if you posses a very supportive familial network. That is often paramount in the positive development of young humans, and I suppose the same could be said for yourself.

You were fortunate, then.

[sunborne]

[ oh.

um. it's a good thing he can't cry, huh? ]

Yeah. They were a great family. I was really lucky I got to spend the time I had with them while I could.

Hey! If this isn't too much of a curveball question to ask:

Do you have someone back home, Connor? Someone you're eager to see again?

[bleps]

[Oh. Using past tense to describe one's family unit -- and then the addition of "while I could". Unfortunate social faux pas on his part, unwittingly assuming their presence via a distinct lack of information. He maybe should have known better.

There's the option of saying nothing to address it, and then there's the option that Connor often chooses:]

I'm sorry if I brought up a sensitive topic. It wasn't my intent.

[The second question is attended to a bit more easily.]

I work with a police lieutenant in the city where I'm from. His name is Hank, and I would very much like to know his current status.

[sunborne]

It's fine! You didn't know about it, and it's not like I came into this chat telling you to not talk about it beforehand. There's nothing for you to apologise for, okay?

[ okay. ] But yeah. When you meet Hank again - when you go back home after all of this is said and done, one way or another - make sure to spend much time with him as possible. If you guys are cool with each other and stuff. Or anyone else you're friends with, for that matter.

It's, like, super surprising how quickly time can pass for us and every moment counts with them.

[bleps]

[There's a pause before he's even sure what to write in response to that. The implication is clear; the time granted to machines is not so limited as the time granted to an organic being. Mortality is applied to them far more poignantly than anything made strictly of moving, replaceable parts. Of programming that can be categorized neatly and efficiently in all manner of ways.

It's... obvious. Logical, really, and Connor knew this on a surface level. But Daylight's suggestion puts it in another light, one that he's never examined. One that he strangely isn't certain he wishes to, for now.]

Noted.

[A strangely short response. Acknowledgment and little else. But then he does add:]

I consider myself on friendly terms with him, at least, but I wonder how much time spent together he'd be willing to indulge me in. He isn't the most sociable individual.

[sunborne]

[ strangely short and understandably so, in daylight's opinion.

not every day another mechanoid rolls up to a fellow mechanoid and goes, 'what up the march of time is relentless and super depressing so spend lots of time with loved ones before you regret it.' that's just a downer of a conversation topic and not something one can pull out whenever they want to.

it's why he's grateful for possible new subject, smiling a bit when he reads the message and is reminded of certain individuals he knows all too well. ]

Well now! From my experience, folks like him can go two ways:

A) They want company but can't admit to themselves, let alone to others.

B) They really, really don't want company and will make it known sooner or later.

I think the fact he spends time with you at all is a good sign, I think?

[bleps]

[New subject, ahoy. Connor feels more comfortable the more it meanders away from the topic of organic mortality.]

Maybe so. But since it is work-related, it is relatively mandatory in some ways. It's hard to know which he skews more into: A or B.

Maybe if I get the chance to return home, I'll be able to learn more.

[sunborne]

Auntie Laura said you can learn a lot about someone from how they worked and interacted with others at work. Or how they don't work. Hopefully you get to know him better and get a better feel of him.

[ -but wait!! something has just occurred to daylight now. ]

Wait!!! You said Hank is a police lieutenant! And you work with him? Does that mean you're like partners? Partners-partners, with walkie-talkies and everything?

Are you like detectives?

Investigators?

Special investigators?? [ back where daylight is from, he's had a pretty positive experience with the police force thanks to the likes of uncle oakley. maybe that's why he seems so weirdly excited to talk about this topic now. ]

[bleps]

[Oh, the rapid-fire of those texts definitely reveal an eagerness from Daylight. Connor blinks down at the messages, but he has absolutely no problem with offering ample explanation.]

That's correct. I was assigned to work with the Detroit police, and Lieutenant Anderson has been my partner in the cases we've worked. I don't hold an official title, of course, being only an android. But I do investigative work. It was the main purpose behind my design.

[So yes, an android detective.]

[sunborne]

[ so much eagerness. so much. the volley of messages continue and makes one wonder if daylight has anything else to do besides pester poor connor interact with new faces. ]

So you're a detective, more or less! Oh my gosh I think you're the first one I've ever met from Earth! (You're from Earth, right? You look humanoid.)

But!! Anyways wow!! That is such a cool job!! Wow!!

Have you done anything cool? Crack cases? Saved kittens from trees?

[ wait what?

daylight why on earth would connor be saving kittens from trees if he's a detective? ]

[bleps]

Isn’t saving felines from trees the stereotype for a fireman?

[He asks because clearly this is what’s relevant enough to clear up.]

[sunborne]

I mean yeah but they can't corner the cat market saving all to themselves. That isn't fair!

[ or safe. what if there was a burning building and a cat to save? wouldn't be right to demand the firefighters to multitask.

... he thinks about this a lot. ]

Okay! Tell you what- Would you be willing to tell me stories about your place and friends next time we chat? Meddy is nagging me for another checkup, just in case, since they're still spooked by your whole fried attempt thing.

[bleps]

Of course. I would be more than willing to speak of my experiences back in Detroit, if you’re interested.

[Three months of experiences only, but surely Daylight will find them interesting regardless.]

When the time is right, please feel free to contact me whenever you’re feeling up to it.

And I'm sorry to have worried Meddy.

[sunborne]

They forgive you long as you look after yourself better in the future, I promise.

Long as you or me aren't getting in trouble, Meddy won't have a reason to be worried! I'm sure we can do that as much now.

[ for some reason, meddy has this inexplicable need to doubt.png real hard wherever they are. ]

See you soon, Connor! Hope we can switch cool stories soon. :D

[bleps]

[Poor Meddy. They deserve a gold medal for dealing with stupid robots.]

I’ll try my best.

And I look forward to it, Daylight.