melodiesoflife | Event || The Enemy Within

Entry tags:

Event || The Enemy Within

Characters: All characters who signed-up for the event.
Where: In their heads.
When: January 15th.
Summary: The Heroes of Light have a vision-- They are living through a hypothetical future where the Sage share his knowledge with them, and things went horribly wrong as some Heroes of Light became the villains in this timeline. Maybe they'll revise their thoughts on getting all of that knowledge.
Warning: The apocalypse, deaths, tragedies, overall a lot of very bad things.

Mingle Threads: The Antagonists || The Protagonists || The Others || General
Free Open Threads: The Two Years || Other Events

#01 Attempts at Negotiations || Trano Golsaucia
#02 Tactical Espionage Action || Aqures Ixen
#03 Judgmental Glares || Aerilon
#04 The Fight for the Crystallized Bodies || Aqures Tosf
#05 The Dusk of the Heroes || Mysidia
#06 The Fight for the Moon || Lunar Gate
#07 Conflict Above the Stars || Moon Base
#08 The Birth of a God || Crystal Life Tree
#09 The Death of a World || Moon Base
#10 Where Everything Ends || Pandaemonium

Conclusion || The Sage in Mysidia

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Once Chiaki appears Rikku reels back in surprise, then leans in. Back. Side to side, studying intensely. Yes, it was well known the girl was a computer genius. What she never seemed to be was a trickster.]

Whoa! That's really you? Hi. That's amazing!

Yup. My Custom Job is Artificial Intelligence. This is what I was before I came to Crystallis. I'm pretty used to it, I guess.

[Indeed, she doesn't seem to be particularly out of sorts or upset about her current state. After all, it's a choice she made herself.]

Ah, so...

[She scratches at her cheek. None of the explanations had made a lot of sense, even to someone familiar with machines -- this was way beyond what she'd seen. Some people were acting like Chiaki had died. To Rikku though - if anything, this sounded like a means to being immortal.]

You were already an AI when you came here? Did you like it better having a physical body?

Well, before I was here, anyway.

[Chiaki's reasonably certain she's been essentially human for most of her stay in Crystallis. How that works is beyond her. She mostly resolved to stop thinking about it.]

It wasn't much different from before, really. The simulation I was in was pretty high class.

[There's a short pause.]

...This is actually the most different I've felt, since the computers here aren't as advanced. I do miss being able to touch things.

[Rikku's folds her legs up in the chair and rests her elbows to the desk, chin to hand. Part of her is trying to hide how intrigued she is. This part is failing.]

Simulation?

[Just like that, the excitement Rikku showed up with is gone. So something was taken away from Chiaki. She frowns, getting a calculating look as she wonders if there's any way she can help.]

That sucks, I'm sorry.

Yeah. A world inside a computer. They're capable of that, where I'm from. People can connect directly to it and experience a different reality created by the computer. That reality is where I existed.

[Chiaki smiles at the concern, but shakes her head.]

It's okay. Technically, I can switch out my jobs and have a physical body again, but I'm more useful to everyone like this right now, I think. It's hard to get people together to talk anymore, so I've been trying to act as a go-between.

[She blinks a few times as her eyes grow wider at the explanation.]

A whole world?! Different realities? Something someone programmed so - a place where no giant fiends are trying to attack, or the Empire, or friends are killing each other?

[Rikku looks at Chiaki with newfound respect, giving up touch so people can communicate. It would be hard not to feel a hug, or the waves during a swim. It would feel so isolating...like prison.]

I'm glad you can go back if you want. This whole thing is so awful! Everyone's fighting everyone instead of focusing on what's important.

Yeah. A virtual reality, specifically. With a powerful enough computer and a talented enough programmer, you can create just about any world you want.

[A peaceful world is, in fact, exactly the sort of place Chiaki's previous home was meant to be. But that's another story.]

As long as Mogomi is still safe, I can. Otherwise I can't change Jobs anymore. But she knows how to take care of herself.

[Chiaki smiles, trying to be comforting.]

We have to keep trying. There's got to be a better way that will satisfy everyone.

Any world at all huh? Even stars for the ground and a sea for the sky and big feathered floating shoopufs?

[Rikku would only build peaceful worlds, though there's a side quirk of a smile and a twinkle in her eyes, whatever place the trickster is creating must be an amusing one.]

Good! You tell her if she runs into any trouble to come find me. Taking care of yourself is good and all, but sometimes you need backup. I'll keep her safe.

[Rikku returns a smile. Finally! Someone who gets it.]

Exactly! We just haven't found it yet.

I guess so. The only limitations are really the talent and imagination of the programmer, and the capabilities of the computer system being used to build the world.

[Rikku paints an interesting picture, though. Almost like something out of a video game.]

Yeah, I'll let her know. She's in a safe place, but if that changes, I'll tell her to stay with you. Until then, I'll keep working to try to find a way to bring everyone together.

[There's a small nod, as Rikku grows serious for a moment.]

That's part of why I'm here. I'm going to do everything I can, to find a way. On my end -- I'm going to be trying to find out what the Calamity is, and ways to fight it. I don't know I...

[There's a bit of a frown.]

I'm sure there's a way, so. I thought, I would come to you. I don't know what you may know, or be capable of with your abilities linked within a computer. I know you're super smart. And, since you're talking to lots of people too, you must be hearing things - maybe you can give me leads? Anything worth looking into, I can bring what I find back to you for analysis. If we can find a way to stop the calamity...without killing people, we find a way to stop the fighting.

Good luck.

[It's a comment that could certainly be interpreted sarcastically, but Chiaki really means it. She genuinely wants Rikku to succeed.]

I haven't found out as much as I'd have liked. A lot of people don't trust me since I'm talking to both sides, and even the antagonist faction isn't united in purpose. I can only really make guesses at this point.

You too.

[Rikku's sentiment rang as true as Chiaki's, her expression determined.]

I really do think, most people mean well -- and just ... sometimes, do really bad things. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I'll work with anyone, on either side, if it means finding a way. Provided I don't have to kill or sacrifice anyone.

[ She threw Chiaki a bright smile. Rikku felt insignificant, compared to the other heroes she put on pedestals-- but she would always throw in everything she had.]

I'll come back with anything I find. All I have are guesses too but, at least we are still trying.

I feel the same way. I don't think anyone should have to die to save this world.

[It's the core of Chiaki's beliefs, riding alongside her unshakable resolve to maintain hope in the face of despair.]

Okay. I'll be here. And I'll let you know if I find anything out, too.

[Rikku is much the same -- though perhaps a bit more realistic, she doesn't let that side show to continue the hope for those beside her, and she makes a quick victory pump with her pugilist arm to the side for Chiaki, offering the hero who restricted herself to the wires for the benefit of everyone an optimistic grin.]

You on the inside and me on the out, no way we can't win!

Edited 2016-02-01 03:07 (UTC)

Yeah.

[Chiaki nods, mimicking the gesture. It's a bit out of place for someone as soft-spoken and linefacey as she is, but it's very heartfelt.]

Good luck, Rikku.

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Event || The Enemy Within

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