[jaunt] SURPRISE - during the second attacks

[leftbehindagain]

...uh, guys?

[Before Naoki continues, there's a brief livestream of what happened when he tried overloading some Trojans with power to incapacitate them.]

I think I found the Signifiers.

Comments

[leftbehindagain]

For now. I don't know how long it's safe to stay put, given that I don't plan on letting these guys corner me.

[triggerhappytraitor]

If you can give me a minute to portal there, I think I might be able to further what you've started.

[leftbehindagain]

By all means.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[It's less than a minute later when the portal opens up, Tachibana emerging swiftly, entire posture on tense, but focused.

He gives Naoki a small nod, approaching.]]

Where's the one you disabled?

[leftbehindagain]

There's a couple of them over here.

[Sure enough, not far away a couple of Programs are still on the ground - and still flickering between grey and orange.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Another small nod before Tachibana turns, walking over to kneel down next to one of the fallen Programs. Slowly, he let out a deep breath, hovering hand over the flickering form and closing his eyes, his face a mask of concentration. Seconds later, light began to gather under his open palm, a warm beam of summer sunlight washing over the prone figure, Apollo's power reaching out to drive out the infection that the virus had caused.]]

aaaand switching to prose because that's easier for juggling two speakers

[leftbehindagain]

The Trojan's lights steady out - as Signifier orange, not grey, which is a good sign - and, after a bit, the Program stirs, rubbing her head like it took some kind of blow. "What - who the glitch are you?"

"We're part of an exploratory probe sent to your system," Naoki says, figuring that's the easiest place to start.

"...That's ridiculous. Why would it need exploring?"

I'm very down with that~

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana blinked. "It's been in a state of abandonment and overrun by a virus," he pointed out, sounding a little unsure. Did she also have memory loss, like S3NT0 had...?

"What's the last thing you remember?"

[leftbehindagain]

"How can it be abandoned if we haven't gone anywhere?" she grumbles, but turns her attention to the question. "There's a rumor going around that the recharge efficiency initiative is getting out of hand - I'm a communications Program, I relay this stuff to the system - and I'd left the towers to investigate. There was a power outage. That was... well, it should have been no more than a millicycle ago, but I calculate you're about to tell me it's been longer." She sighs. "Where's - do you know where TAR0 is?"

"We haven't exactly been able to get anyone's designations," Naoki says. "You're right, though. The initiative did get our of hand, and it has been longer. You'll have to forgive us if we skip an Interface - that's how it spreads."

"...Acceptable parameters, given the circumstances. Designation YAMA-NO, Gemini Control Tower."

[triggerhappytraitor]

And that matched with what S3NT0 had told him...

"The outage must have triggered the secondary system, an artificially induced rest cycle," he reflected with a faint frown. "The efficiency initiative may have seen it as a risk, and not returned control to the primary system to avoid further possible loss of activity."

He nodded at the introduction. "Garren," he returned, not quite sure how to make it sound all cap like everyone else had managed yet.

[leftbehindagain]

Don't worry, Tachibana, Naoki hasn't figured that out yet either and he's been here before. "And I'm Naoki."

"Well, greetings, Programs," YAMA-NO says. "I'm not sure I want to know how long it's been, but I'm going to have to find out sooner or later."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"Unfortunately," Tachibana nodded, not without sympathy. "Is there anything else you can tell is about the efficiency initiative? Anything that might be helpful in releasing it's hold on the others."

[leftbehindagain]

YAMA-NO shakes her head. "I barely knew the initiative was happening at all - mostly because TAR0 processed some related files. When things started going wrong during the standard recharge cycle, it was an easy connection to make. How long has it been?"

"I haven't encountered anyone who knows for sure, but I think I know a way to narrow it down," Naoki says. "What's the last thing your system heard about the Grid?"

"It was overrun by viral code and taken offline. That was several cycles ago, but I don't recall how many."

Naoki nods. "That's still something to go on. The Grid was offline for two hundred cycles - I don't think it's been reconnected to the Network at large yet, but it's been active again for a few cycles as of this time."

YAMA-NO falls silent, but Naoki can't really blame her, after that bombshell.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana glances over at Naoki, giving YAMA-NO a moment to deal with her shock. "Is there anyone we can refer her to, to help monitor her condition and bring her back up to speed with how much time has passed?"

[leftbehindagain]

"The Defenders have a quarantine operation set up. Luckily, we're not far from their base." Also luckily, he trusts these Defenders to behave themselves a lot more than he would have trusted the ones on the Grid.

"True quarantine?" YAMA-NO sounds almost bitterly amused. "Well, I can't really blame them. If it'll help acquire the data to stop this problem, I'll gladly consent."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"And if we can locate and restore your friend, we'll be sure to send him that way as well," Tachibana offered, giving a hopefully reassuring smile.