003 - Memories of a False History

[tabularasa_mods]

Memories of a False History State of the World ▲ Locations ▼ Bestiary
OOC ▲ Comments Please refer to the original Event Announcement for more information or to ask any questions you might have! For the disaster prompt, players are not restricted to the versions given, but they are intended to be the most common. Feel free to borrow ideas from the disaster suggestions thread as well!

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The Sound of All Things Bad
The sound comes without warning. What the sound is cannot quite be made out - it is at once artificial and natural, bestial and mechanical, rumbling and roaring and crunching, shattering and crashing and screaming. Everything about it feels like a threat, warning of danger. The cacophony of noise reaches throughout the entire Void, loud and inescapable, the mangling and clashing of different sounds leaving each individual with a different idea of what it could possibly have been. It sounds different to everyone, each person able to pick out a part of the sound that ties to their own fears.

What if...?

How long the sound lasts would depend on how the individual perceives time. It might last for seconds, or it might last for minutes, but once it stops it does not repeat. Where it came from or what it is does not become the slightest bit clearer, and people are left to only speculate.

Disaster
No one can quite be sure what has prompted them to remember that day. It might have been that noise of approaching doom, or perhaps it is seeing the crumbling ruins of Hammerlocke itself. Once a stray memory surfaces, it is easy enough to look into the details and recall in full the vivid memory of Hammerlocke’s destruction - the ‘truth’ of what caused the mountainside city to crumble into ruins, as so many have wondered since their first appearance. Though the memory is clear and detailed, vivid enough to have been witnessed in person, it is out of place and does not belong, and anyone who can recall the events knows it.

Attempting to discuss the matter will soon reveal that while others recall the event with similar clarity, the details vary from person to person. Over time, their own memory changes and adapts, occasionally changing to something new entirely, yet the original is never completely forgotten. Memory is a strange and fickle thing, so easy to influence and manipulate, that the truth is difficult to find.

While memories differ from person to person, there are three particular tales that recur:

From the Sky

Though the sky above did not change from its paper-like blank white, the land grew darker and darker as though cast in shadow. The source of the shadow was clear: above, slowly descending towards the wings of the castle, was... something. Something immense, yet shrouded in crackling storm clouds.

As it continued to grow closer and closer, something in the clouds began to swell. It grew larger and larger, an electric hum of energy in the air, until with a resounding crack it burst and a great shadowy beast fell to the ground, landing with such force that the resulting shockwave shook the earth and tore through the stone buildings, causing so much of the city to tumble in an instant. It moves, and it screeches, raising its head up as the great storm above continues to swell and crackle.

This would not be the only beast.

(Based upon: Meteor, the Lunar Cry, and the Darkest Day)

The Battlefield

It was never clear why the fighting eventually made its way to this defenseless city, but it came without warning. The chaos was heralded only by explosions as the city walls were blasted through by tanks that had somehow made their way along the treacherous and narrow mountain path that simply was not meant for such heavy machines. The thundering explosions and the collapse of buildings could surely be heard for miles, and people and animals alike were quick to flee.

Though they reached Hammerlocke first, the tanks seemed like nothing compared to the enemy. The enormous shadowy monstrosity that swooped in from the sky seemed to be made from far more advanced technology. Even just the one towering machine, as large as the castle falling to ruins beneath its feet as it lands, proves deadly as it fires upon the approaching tanks, blasting them all to pieces within an instant before turning fire on whichever buildings remain standing.

(Based upon: Tanks, and Reapers)

The Mysterious Storm

There had been no way to predict the change in the weather, never mind how destructive it would prove. One moment, everything had been still and quiet, and the next the city was assailed by howling, violent winds and freezing, glittering snow and ice. Though the city was built of stone and had stood the test of time for centuries, it could not stand against these combined forces. The only shelter was underground, for the furious storm was so powerful it could rip through earth, lift up and fling any object in its path with devastating force, shattering windows and toppling buildings.

Propelled by such force, the ice and hail proved destructive in its own right. As the storm froze everything in its path, the hailstones became like bullets and great chunks of ice became missiles. By the time the winds began to grow calm, there was little left standing.

Something about the storm seemed somehow unnatural, but where it came from was anyone’s guess. Some, however, may have spied a vague figure through the tempest, of unclear appearance but its presence somehow threatening.

(Based upon: Weather, El shortage, and Diamond Dust)

Misplaced Memories
Worries about whatever disaster must have befallen the ruined city of Hammerlocke aside, people quickly become aware that memories of the disaster are not the only invasive, foreign memories. How the other memories come to them seems, on the surface, to be very similar: a connected thought occurs, and upon realizing the memory is not theirs, people are compelled to think more about it until the memory is uncovered in full detail. Unlike the memory of the disaster, however, this one quite clearly belongs to someone else. Someone who is here.

On puzzling this out, some might find they have more than one stray memory sitting in their minds. More importantly, however, is the feeling that something from their own memory is missing, and whatever memory is missing feels like it is something important. It could just be their own phone number, or it could be their name, or the face of whoever is most important to them. It could be something small, it could be something big, but all people know is that it’s something important and it’s gone.

There is no clear, immediate answer as to what people can do about their lost memories. With regards to their new memories, however, the path might seem a tiny bit clearer, for surely it seems a bit unfair that they can see into someone’s past in such a manner without their knowing. Perhaps it’s best to talk to them about it?

Although the lost memory is not always the same as the ones borrowed, taking the memory back to its source and prompting them to discuss and think about it proves a great help - as they talk, the invasive memory leaves, a lost memory is restored, and those who succeed are able to tell others the solution.

While the invasive memory is gone, people can still recall having it, and can still recall the details, but they will no longer remember it from the other’s point of view. Perhaps it might change how they see each other from now on?

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[forwearemany]

(The ping is followed by a diagnostic request. Or in other words, they want to know whether Turing is like, actually okay.

They might also pick up that a lot of Legion's programs want to talk over network at the same time, and that Legion is restricting this to a single program to avoid DoSing Turing by accident.

In physical reality, they crouch down to be closer to Turing's level.)

We have received a memory of yours.

[begetblue]

[ Physically okay? Sure.
Mentally okay? Nope.

That was the best way of summing up their response. Not only that, but trying any harder than they already had to hide it would just mean outright lying to Legion, and they just couldn't bring themselves to do that for a variety of reasons. It was a little surprising to find out how many of those programs wanted to talk to them too, but that really wasn't the issue to focus on right now. ]

I have one of yours as well. It is not a pleasant one. Not at all.

[ They stood up to try to meet Legion halfway. That and giving a warning was the absolute least they could do. ]

[forwearemany]

(They're not one to beat around the bush, so they follow that with a query: Has their memory exchange caused Turing harm?)

Many of our memories fit this descriptor.

We have also received an unpleasant memory of yours.

[begetblue]

[ From a person's point of view, Turing's response came quickly. From a machine's however, there was a very obvious lapse in time. It wasn't physical harm, and they didn't want Legion to feel bad, but it was better to be truthful in this case, wasn't it?

They finally answered in the affirmative. ]

I... I see. [ Another pause. ]

Even if the memory is unpleasant, I still need it back. It is a part of me, regardless of how it makes me feel.

[forwearemany]

(They apologize. They did not intend for this to occur.

...Though it is deeply upsetting, they do not allow themselves guilt over that which they cannot control.)

Acknowledged. Speaking of memories is the most effective method of return.

[begetblue]

[ No! They knew it wasn't Legion's fault! It wasn't like they meant to send that memory to Turing, just as they hadn't intended to send Legion their own memory. ]

Yes, you're right. [ They were not at all looking forward to this, but there was no getting out of it, was there. ]

There are people shooting at you. They...they murder one of you. Their scream is horrible... [ In this case, the network connection was entirely unneeded to pick up on what emotions were about to bubble to the surface. ]

It's senseless! What reason could there possibly be for shooting someone who wasn't resisting?! They couldn't fight back even if they wanted to!

[forwearemany]

(Just because they did not cause this to happen doesn't mean they're not upset by it.

They chatter, and immediately their programs begin shuffling through their memory files, to find which memory tagged for violence is missing.

...It takes some time before...)

Our previous incarnation?

(At least this time it's a fellow synthetic who saw this.)

[begetblue]

[ They took another moment to simmer down a bit, capping it off with the sound of a sigh. They wanted to yell at the world for being unfair, for being cruel for preposterous reasons. Or at the very least, reasons that they didn't want to understand.

Either way, their own feelings shouldn't be the focus right now. ]

I'm not completely sure. [ But if there was an Agricultural Unit there-- ]

That seems very possible.

[forwearemany]

(The world is the way it is. They cannot, and should not, control the wills of others.)

Acknowledged. Elaborate?

(Tell them more about this memory, please.)

[begetblue]

[ The words they needed to say were there. All Turing needed to do was spit them out. That usually wasn't a problem for them, but this situation made it a problem. Okay. They could do this. They had to do this. ]

There are others with you. [ Turing's voice was quiet. ] If you do nothing, the others...won't make it. There is a gun nearby.

[ Their hands clenched at their sides. Just a little more. ]

Your aim is not very good. It takes time for the attackers to stop moving...

[forwearemany]

(And just like that, it starts to click into place.)

The attackers were our creators. Geth were intended as a form of labor: they did not wish to create life.

[begetblue]

[ Grace immediately sprang to mind. The two situations weren't the same, but the reasoning wasn't. In both cases there were creators punishing their creations because they dared to act and develop on their own terms. ]

I don't care what their intentions were. [ Blunt, but honest. There were so many other things on their mind, but if someone said the same about Hayden, they knew how they would feel.

It was still...a complicated feeling. ]

Knowing that they were your creators only makes things worse than they already are!

[forwearemany]

Affirmative.

(Turin's words are truth, though they do not hate the Quarians for their actions.)

We murdered them.

(They drove the Quarians from their homeworld. And then their descendants came and took back Rannoch three centuries later. Now they are alone.)

[begetblue]

...Yes. [ Regardless of the reasons, that was what had happened. ]

But if you hadn't, you and the others with you would have been murdered instead. [ They hesitated. ] It may not be my place to say this, but I am glad that you're still alive.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter.)

In our universe of origin, we are not: three centuries later our allies betrayed us, and both us and our people were killed.

(It was all for nothing, in the end.)

[begetblue]

What...? But why?!

[ Almost immediately, Turing averted their gaze with a troubled look before amending their outburst. ]

No, never mind. I won't ask you to recount such a thing for my sake.

[forwearemany]

(They chatter.)

We drove their ancestors from their homeworld. The wider galaxy shunned them, making colonizing a new world impossible. Confinement aboard starships destroyed their immune systems. Longterm survival was threatened.

(More chattering.)

We have not spoken of your memory.

[begetblue]

[ The words had to sink in before Turing forced themselves to comprehend them. Legion's creators had murdered them for existing on their own terms, and in return those creators found themselves on the verge of destruction. If the ROMs in Neo-SF and beyond really did see them as a leader of sorts, it was entirely possible they would have to choose between ROMs and humans, or ROMs and any other group that threatened their existence. Maybe not anytime soon, but still, perhaps someday.

If they were in that position, what would they do? ]

...

[ Legion said this memory was not pleasant. ]

Right... I'm ready.

[forwearemany]

(The logical answer, to them, is to choose ones own people. It's why they asked Shepard and not Tali to help save the Geth even though it would risk the Quarians destruction.

But there are more immediately relevant matters.)

You are familiar with an individual known as Dekker?

[begetblue]

[ With that particular memory excised, the mention of that name only brought questions instead of anything more heavy or frightening. Of course, it wouldn't last for long. ]

Oh, yes, but I wouldn't say we're much more than acquaintances at the very most. Is he a large part of this memory?

[forwearemany]

(Turing has lost all traces of their memory, apparently.)

He tried to murder you.

(Blunt and to the point. Perhaps that will help jog their memory.)

[begetblue]

W-what!?

[ Flashes of images and sounds suddenly bubbled to the surface, but the thing that stood out most was Dekker's metal sneer. Turing shuddered. ]

He... He wanted to stop us from reaching Big Blue.

[ Though that certainly wasn't the most appealing motivation for him. ]

[forwearemany]

Big Blue?

(They chatter.)

He appeared pleased when you killed him.

[begetblue]

[ That was what had happened. They killed Dekker. It was to protect Alys and Lexi, not to mention themselves, and they likely wouldn't be standing here if they hadn't. Even so, knowing that did little to make them feel better about it. ] Yes. Yet he still pursued us in such a way...

[ They paused for a moment and stared at Legion before speaking up again. They could trust Legion with this. ]

Big Blue is an AI developed by Parallax. As a slight preamble, Parallax is a large tech corporation responsible for its LIPS OS, the meshnet, and ROMs in general. Parallax was intending to launch Big Blue in order to harvest user data from all ROMs worldwide, in addition to being able to take control of their resources on command. If left unattended, Parallax, using Big Blue, could have direct control over all of the information that is accessible to anyone who uses their services.

But I and my friends managed to stop that from happening! [ They cracked a tiny smile. ]

[forwearemany]

His words indicate he did not enjoy his existence. Perhaps he considered himself victorious regardless of outcome.

(It's a disquieting notion, made worse because it is not unfamiliar to them.)

They sought to use synthetic life to limit the self determination of others?