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

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

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.

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?

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.

...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.

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.

.... [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.

[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.

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.

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.

It's all right: I know a cure will be found. Remember to take care of yourself too, okay? You'll be great - but you're at your best when you fuel and rest your body. Don't let him hurt you in retrospect.

I'll make sure to be in my best shape just to spite the Trojan in you. Don't worry.

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

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