[jaunt] very early in week 3, before the attacks

[claudiometer]

[Today in unintentional livestreams, have a view of Liminal Space at the moment, more specifically the wooden-horse figurehead at the front of the boat Claudia and company entered onto.]

Oh for fuck's sake it's a motherfucking Trojan.

[some time later]

Okay, now that I mean to be here, some actual explanation.

A Trojan, in computer land, is a type of virus that gets you to let it in under false pretenses and uses your processing power to do its own shit. They don't usually propagate themselves like this, but I think we can chalk that up to Grid weirdness. They do make heavy use of anonymizers, which explains the grey lights and blurry faces.

Jules and I are gonna work on how this spreads, what it's doing, and how to stop it. Until we have answers, do not Interface anything or anyone you haven't had on your person or in your line of sight at all times - safest way to keep from catching it.

I've made a few Interface-proofing kits if you want to keep exploring without getting ambushed. Not sure how well they work on dataspikes [or why anyone thought Combat Interface: The Utility was a good idea, but that's a rant Claudia will save for another time], but they can at least save you an Interface ambush. I don't have a whole lot but I plan to work on 'em over the week, when I'm not working on the code.

Comments

[vrepit_no]

How do we generate an antivirus? And can it be done to not harm the host program.

[Matt and Jean are too precious to him to be harmed okay. ]

We need to get the word out.

[claudiometer]

Lucky for you, the first part's what we're here to find out. [Or... you know. Not so lucky, considering.]

Hadn't realy planned on getting the word out like this, but at least now all the investigators know. We can go from there.

1/3

[vrepit_no]

Lucky for--

2/3

[vrepit_no]

[Quiznak. ]

Done!

[vrepit_no]

[Commander voice activated.]

Right. You're going to need one to try your fixes on. I'm the most dangerous of the three I know about. We're going to want to do this in a controlled environment. I can't control the Trojan at all, so I can't stop him from making an appearance or attempting to break his way out of liminal. You'll need to sedate and restrain me before he shows up, which is probably when I sleep. Take my disc beforehand so you don't have to fight him for it.

[claudiometer]

I'm not hosting the 'festivities,' in that case. Last thing I want is this crap getting anywhere near the Liminal Intranet servers. I'll see if Jules can set something up - any preferences?

[private, double protected]

Sorry, dude. I thought Pidge had already said something, I know she was trying to figure out how to break it to you after chasing you the other night.

Seriously, if there's anything we can do to make this as not-awful for you as possible, just say the word.

[vrepit_no]

....It'll help if the lighting is in blue or green. Rounded architecture would be better than dharp angles, but I'll take what I can get. And if I can administer the sedation myself before the restraints are in place. Other than that, just keep everyone away from him as much as you can while he's there.

[Private: Double Protected]

I'd rather know. Don't let Matt stay in liminal space when he gets tired. And don't let him in there with that program, no matter what he says. I'd rather Pidge weren't in there with him either. When it's me, that... might be helpful. But not when he's there. Tell them it's my order if you have to. I don't want to be responsible for injuring them. Not again.

[claudiometer]

Got it. Not that I'm sure what we're gonna sedate you with, but worst comes to worst, Helena's probably got something around.

[private, double protected]

Will do. I've been working on some stuff to prevent an Interface from gaining any traction but still let us, you know, work, so we should be all right for active code-poking. [CE: It's a wonderful thing.]

[vrepit_no]

Odds are good that Naoki can come up with a potion of some sort. It'll just have to be swallowed instead of injected. I'll talk to him. And isn't there a medical lab as part of Helena's space now?

[Private: Double Protected]

Good. You should be able to get a look at the code through the disc without interfacing, as well. Implementing the alterations you make should be as easy as reseating the disc on his back.

[claudiometer]

Neither of those things would surprise me.

[private, double protected]

Remind me to give you like, all the cookies when this is over.

[vrepit_no]

I know there's a sleep spell, but I think that will mostly be helpful for bringing him out when you need him rather than keeping us under control. Let me know when the space is set up and I'll come to liminal. I'm going to go return things to the Rejuvenator.

[Private: Double Protected]

[He can't really think about after and why he might need or deserve cookies later. That way lies doubt and fear and trying to convince himself there's another way. Just get it done and over with.]

Time enough to think about that when it's done. You said Pidge was going to tell me. Is she the one who found out initially?

[claudiometer]

Yeah, that... seems like not the thing to start with. I'll keep you posted.

[private, double protected]

I think so. She streamed tailing you.

Private: Double Protection

[vrepit_no]

[Excuse him, he has a stream to watch. ]
.
.
.
[And now he's quieter, fallen out of command voice. ]

.....It's probably best if you let Pidge know what the plan is. She doesn't need to come by if she doesn't want to. Neither of the Holts do.

Private: Double Protection

[claudiometer]

On it.

Private

[verdeleonessa]

Shiro, I'm sorry for not saying anything. I didn't want to... well, I knew you'd have questions and I didn't want you to know what went on.

Re: Private

[vrepit_no]

[Softer and a little tired.]

It's all right Pidge. I understand. In future I'd prefer to know, but I'm not upset with you. I promise.

Re: Private

[verdeleonessa]

I. yeah. I would want to know too, so I understand.

[She just didn't expect that outcome to be like that.]

Did you watch it? Just so you know, I'm not scared of you. It's the Trojan, who seems to be able to access your abilities, that I'm scared of.

Re: Private

[vrepit_no]

You did the right thing, Pidge. It must be physical contact or Interfacing that passes this thing along.

...He knew you. He knew your style, he knew we're friends, he knew you'd want to help. And he was willing to attack you.

Were you hurt at all?

Re: Private

[verdeleonessa]

I figured. Did you interface with a grey program after Naoki's message? Because that only confirms it.

That only proves that Trojan can access all the data we hold and use it. He was using moves similar to your arena fighting style as well so... likely even Traveler abilities.

No. A few scratches from going through a window, but those healed quick.

Re: Private

[vrepit_no]

...Yeah. Jean's overlay. I was tracking him, and Matt went offline, and I needed answers. I don't know why it was on a delay, but he said he met Matt. That was about the only useful thing I could get from him. He didn't seem interested in being given a new body all his own. I'm not sure... It was hard to tell if he was feeling. Anything.

I'm sorry, Pidge. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you.

Re: Private

[verdeleonessa]

No feelings... at all? Can you tell me anything else about his behavior?

You didn't hurt me, Shiro. I mean, not even the Trojan part managed to do that so. I'm fine.

Re: Private

[vrepit_no]

.... [She's not, and he's pretty sure they both know it, but arguing about it isn't going to help right now, so he lets it go. ]

I don't remember anything, but watching it... He can't feel what I feel and do that. He acted like he thought I would act, right up till he attacked. He shouldn't have done that. And there were small pauses, like he was trying to decide how to react. His body language isn't right. So whatever he feels? If he feels at all. It's not the same as the host.

Re: Private

[verdeleonessa]

[Yes she is :| ... good, they can do some talking later.]

I did get the same thoughts. I guess he tried to get me on his side peacefully, hoping I knew it was you would help. Which is scary as hell.

Re: Private

[vrepit_no]

I think that's exactly it. He tried to use our friendship to get you to trust him enough to talk in Interface, and then he would have slipped the virus through. And when that didn't work, it looks like he was going to forcibly inject it through that dataspike.

[Try as he might, there's a degree of fear and disgust that leaks through in his tone. ]

You did everything right, Pidge. I'm glad that you listened to your instincts.

Re: Private

[verdeleonessa]

I wanted to do more though. I wanted to help you snap out of it, but that will require something else... but I won't stop until we figure out something. Just wait, Shiro. We'll heal both you and Matt.