video; | id: hank_127

[lostsymmetry]

[The call registers as video, but displays only a geometric mess of blue. Those who recognize the logo won't be too surprised by what comes next.]

<Welcome to Domesticon. Working together today, for a more efficient tomorrow.>

[Cheery and automated, like a call center recording... and replaced, immediately after with a much more human range of tone.]

Hey. Me again.

So, your friendly local techs took a crack at system access the other day. Most functions are still locked, but we're reading big electrical spikes along the shaft and behind the sealed area on Deck Two. Something to think about, if you're the type to pry at doors.

[If, unfortunately not the only thing.]

This also, ah... showed up on the camera feeds.

[The AI's "face" vanishes from the video display, replaced with a view from one of the consoles. It shows a young, fair-haired human making his way down one of Reverie's many halls: Snake, for those who knew him. He doesn't do anything unusual. But after a moment, the human's outline distorts... shimmers... and melts away, leaving no trace of flesh or clothing.

The video reverts, and Hank's voice picks back up, tense with concern.]

He's not the only one. Run a headcount with your friends?


[[ooc: The tech collaboration he's referring to is here. While not OOCly planned in conjunction, the Deck 2 spike is the same area Team Door will be ICly going for on the 15th—so feel free to have your characters connect the dots!]]

Comments

[lostsymmetry]

[The screen may show events at human speed, but Hank's internal cataloguing works considerably faster. Soon after they start, he knows exactly what they're watching. Exactly why Alex hadn't wanted to come here. Which means that Alex knew too, and nothing he could say will soften what's gone on. So Hank is also silent—no interruptions at all, until his operator tears away to vomit.

The playback pauses. Flickers quickly, the blue of Domesticon's mangled logo overriding the record. Hank can't change anything, but when Alex does come back in the room, he won't be confronted with the image of his corpse. Again. Right now.]

I'm sorry.

[It's not a script.]

[donkeyballs]

[ It takes him a little while, and he's a little unsteady when he reappears, green in the gills. ]

... It don't look the same. [ As if that's the most important part, here. ] I thought maybe, the video of that guy disappearin' -

But it's just somethin' else entirely.

[lostsymmetry]

[It's not the most important part. But if Alex doesn't want to focus on what is, Hank is hardly going to push him.]

It is.

[Something else. Baffling, and sickening—not least of all in the power it implies. The disappearances might be disposal of some kind, but this looked personal. And makes very little sense, especially in light of what comes next.]

You get on somebody's bad side?

[It's mostly joking. Mostly.]

[donkeyballs]

[ He sucked in a long, slow breath, before shaking his head. ]

I mean I - I heard voices, durin' it. Angry ones. But not - hell - they'd never do somethin' like this. Even if they could.

I don't know anyone who could do anythin' like this.

[lostsymmetry]

You're not the only one. [A beat, then he clarifies.] Hearing things, I mean. I wouldn't think too much of it if, well. You can.

[They'd never.

So, not great odds on the ignoring thing, then.]

There's a little more to the vid. I can sum it up if you'd rather.

[donkeyballs]

I just don't know how someone who didn't know me, didn't know be better even than my crew, could-- [ He cuts off, swallowing. ] No. You're right. Gotta - gotta set it aside.

[ He looks at the console queasily, then steps up slowly. ]

... No, I... I want to see it. Maybe just - maybe just fast forward through it, real quick.

cw: creepy body-horror-ish respawn

[lostsymmetry]

[There's a beat of hesitation.]

If you're sure.

[Hank's face vanishes, the screen returning to the view of Alex's corpse. Thin and motionless. Dessicated. And very clearly dead.

And then, as the speed picks up... less so. Hollow cheeks fill out. Loose skin tightens, and the emaciated look recedes from the body. Until the corpse shudders, dragging in one breath, then two. Until Alex staggers out the door.

The screen returns to blue, and Hank speaks quietly.]

No one else came in or out.

[donkeyballs]

Christ. [ He doesn't throw up again. There's that, at least. But he suddenly felt very, very wrong, like he shouldn't exist at all. ]'

That ain't-- that ain't possible, bodies don't do that.

Humans don't do that.

[lostsymmetry]

[Humans don't. He knows—he's watched, for years and decades, as rot and scavengers did their work. But this place...]

They do here.

There was a network post awhile back. A woman. "Rogue"? [Her username.]

She said she'd died and woken up.

[donkeyballs]

I - I remember that. [ He looked up at the console, again, as if searching for Hank's face. ]

I thought she just - got knocked out, didn't remember gettin' saved, or -

I didn't think that could have been real.