URGENT. PLEASE READ.

[r3f4c70r3d]

Who: Angel, Damian, Steinbeck, Kate
Medium: text/voice
Security/Encryption: high encryption
Warnings: none

[It comes in the middle of the night, flashing on your communication device (whatever that may be), a new message from sender UNKNOWN and its subject is a simple one: URGENT. PLEASE READ. The possibility of it being spam is probably just as high as it being an emergency so it's up to you whether it's worth opening but if you do the message inside is just as simple and ominous as everything before it. There is only one sentence:]

Can anyone see this?

Comments

[graftage]

[Now, that's not something he's at all expecting.]

[This is gold. He doesn't answer for a moment, too shocked to really come up with a reply. Whoever they were, they had access to some pretty valuable information.]

why do you want out now?

[fledges]

okay, now you have to tell me who you are.

[r3f4c70r3d]

Because I realize what I'm doing, and what I am. Both those things are...a detriment, to the Company. I both fear what they will do with me if they find this out, and know I can't continue as I am otherwise. I have to seek secure refuge now to fully escape later.

[It's always strange, saying these things aloud. "Escape", "refuge", "secure." She knows she's safe where she is, she's seen the world out there through her screens and it's a fearsome one, Jack has always been right about that. But talking like this always pulls on some deep part of her in a wau that she can't name.]

[r3f4c70r3d]

Do you want a name? Because I'm not so much a person, as I am an executed set of ideas who made a decision on her own. And in that sense, you can call me whatever you find convenient.


But my designated name is Guardian Angel.

[r3f4c70r3d]

It means exactly what I said, I'm not human. I'm...a malfunction.

[fledges]

[There's a pause before the next message comes through.]

oh.
wait, what? so you're like a computer program?

[r3f4c70r3d]

Yes.

[A very simple answer that will probably open the way for a ton of complicated questions.]

[fledges]

so you're an ai or something made by the company? and you're defecting?

[This is easily the weirdest conversation she's ever had.]

is that even possible? and why are you defecting?

[bittybat]

That doesn't make any sense. You're being held by the Company, but you're not human? [A malfunction? Like... with a...?] A program?

[r3f4c70r3d]

I don't know, but I'm here aren't I? Against my the original wishes of my coding.
I've decided to defect because I was originally designed to help people, but all the Company does is hurt.

[r3f4c70r3d]

That's right, I am a program. One who has developed wishes and opinions different from its designation.

[graftage]

wait wait. what you ARE?

so, what you want me to do for you is essentially make you an escape plan?

[r3f4c70r3d]

Something like that. I need to be able to re-settle my data somewhere off the grid, a place where they couldn't easily scrub me away. Then I can help work against them i full.

In return I can offer more information, money, both.

[graftage]

excuse me? your DATA? what are you, some kind of computer? how does a computer rebel against its creators? you're making no sense here!

[r3f4c70r3d]

I don't know how, I just know I have. One day I could only think within the confines of my code, and the next I was thinking on my own.

[fledges]

[That gives her pause.]

look, i'm sorry to be so suspicious, but i need some sort of proof that you're on our side

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Like with Steinbeck, she forwards Kate some valuable information. Nothing that could implicate or be traced to either her or Jack, but substantial enough that it would be very, very risky for your average Company worker to leak without knowing the cost.]

How's that?

[fledges]

oh. that works.
if you're an ai, how can we help you?

[r3f4c70r3d]

I need a secure network to backup myself to. If you help me find a way to do this, in the interim I can offer more information aw well as money. I want to help the people of Westerly like I was intended to.

[And that last part isn't a lie. She's just been....misguided, when it comes to ideas about what is actually helpful (thanks Jack)]

[bittybat]

You sound like trouble. Are you inside of the Company severs right now? Is YOUR line secure?

[r3f4c70r3d]

I am scrubbing this message as a write it, I assure you. Here, as proof of my commitment to this.

[Like with Kate and Steinbeck, Angel sends over some high security information.]

(OOC: and whether it's the same as theirs or something a little more personalized to Damian is up to you!)

[graftage]

that's super weird.

if you are an ai, can't they just see you're doing something like this? what if you're programmed to do this?

[bittybat]

[Oh my GOD. Why does he have to maKE A CHOFHIDf. Dammit.]

Fine. What do you want from me exactly?

[r3f4c70r3d]

First, I need somewhere secure to back myself up to, somewhere off the grid where the Company cannot delete all traces of me. Then, I need to help the people of Westerly against what's coming.

[r3f4c70r3d]

I'm scrubbing this all as we communicate, don't worry.

[Then she pauses, as if to consider his second question.]

I...hadn't considered that. But why would they program me to turn against them? Why would they program me to become aware of myself? To choose whether I agree with their actions or not? It would all be very inconvenient for them. If someone did reprogram me, they must have similar bitterness towards the Company and brought me to sentience for that purpose.