un: twinArmageddons | text

[p2iioniic]

[Approximately 22 hours after arriving in Pollux, any mission-going Etrayans gets notified of a new post on their internal network with an unfamiliar username. The post loads, refreshes itself randomly, and even displays strange screen effects sometimes when loading in.

te2t te2t

there we go.
2o echo fiinally deciided two take piity on u2?
ble22 u2 wiith a round of 2aviior2?
or maybe a round of chucklefuck2.
about tiime eiither way, iit'2 been gettiing really me22y in here.
mo2tly becau2e of the corp2e2 and undead lmao.
anyway welcome two the 2hiit2how fellow clown2.
make 2ure two giive your no2e a 2queeze before enteriing.

that 2aiid ii’m puttiing my neck on the liine here by even po2tiing thii2 2o
let2 get 2eriiou2.
what’2 your plan, and how can "the re2ii2tance" help?

Comments

un: Dankovsky

[thantagonist]

If this is a cypher, I’m not sure who it’s meant to elude who would not simply be effectively confused and diverted by slightly advanced vocabulary. Or can our captors not see yellow?

Regardless, it’s actually not any worse than what I’m used to from a sheer quantity of corpses standpoint. Still, I’ve been inspecting them to understand what caused their deaths.

I should be specific. I can see the gunshot wounds, but there is a lot of glass imbedded in them, which paints a rather macabre picture. Is there some sort of glass disposal facility they’re keeping prisoners?

[p2iioniic]

oh THII2 captor can 2ee yellow alriight ehehehe.
anyway.
thii2 ii2 ju2t how ii wriite.
gue22 that mean2 no troll2 iin etraya.
for the be2t really.
iit'd be a total daymare iif i had two deal with mo2t of them.

theiir death2 were cau2ed by beiing 2tupiid moron2 who got caught and triied two fiight back wiithout a 2trategy.
whiich ii2 why you guy2 need a plan before you joiin the corp2e party.
a2 for the gla22, probably a part of the game2 they’re beiing forced two play.
you know liike grubtuber mr. veriim?
"iin thii2 viideo ii’m goiing two force a hundred people two walk on gla22 and the la2t per2on 2urviive wiin2 a miillion doll haiir2! liike and 2ub2criibe!"
except there ii2 no 2ub2criibiing.

oh THII2 captor can 2ee yellow alriight ehehehe.
anyway.
thii2 ii2 ju2t how ii wriite.
gue22 that mean2 no troll2 iin etraya.
for the be2t really.
iit’d probably be a total daymare iif i had two deal with mo2t of them.

theiir death2 were cau2ed by beiing 2tupiid moron2 who got caught and triied two fiight back wiithout a 2trategy.
whiich ii2 why you guy2 need a plan before you joiin the corp2e party.
a2 for the gla22, probably a part of the game2 they’re beiing forced two play.
you know liike grubtuber mr. veriim?
“iin thii2 viideo ii’m goiing two force a hundred people two walk on gla22 and the la2t per2on 2urviive wiin2 a miillion doll haiir2! liike and 2ub2criibe!”
except there ii2 no 2ub2criibiing.

[thantagonist]

Sounds like there isn’t any liking either. Save for whoever is running this.

[Daniil survives this on context clues alone. Sure. Why not. Elves, fairies vampires, now trolls. But they were clearly more technologically adept than his own culture, since it’s clear he’s describing some manner of deranged television show. It seemed like perhaps television was deranged by default? He’d have to asks someone later.]

Alright, so if I understand, there’s some manner of torture competition being held by some manner of sadistic pervert. I have to assume survival is actually impossible.

Who are the players on the board? Do you know what chess is? Perhaps we can speak in culturally nuetral terms.

Hes taking a stab. Thankfully chess seemed to be a universal constant so far. Maybe he would continue to luck out.

[p2iioniic]

ye2 ii know what che22 ii2.
a2iide from the player2 iin the game, who ii gue22 we wiill con2iider pawn2.
there ii2 my2elf, and at lea2t three other2 who haven’t 2uccumbed two the game2.

ye2 ii know what che22 ii2.
a2iide from the player2 iin the game, who ii gue22 we wiill con2iider pawn2.
there ii2 my2elf, and at lea2t three other2 who haven’t 2uccumbed two the game2.

[thantagonist]

So, do you know who the kings on the other side are? Who do we need to deal with and neutralize to make the games stop? Or are they merely a distraction? I know we need to replace their AI, and we apparently have the means to do it, but do you even know where it’s physically housed?

[Daniil realizes that’s a lot of questions, and he’s not trying to come to this empty-handed either. But all this computer shit was frankly just enough for him to still feel slightly disoriented by, all of it new enough to still feel surreal.]

[p2iioniic]

black kiing’2 iidentiity ii2 currently unknown even two me.
but what’2 crazy ii2 there’2 ba2iically no computer 2y2tem2 onliine.
liike your network’2 the fiir2t 2park of a connectiion out2iide of my own network acce22 (whiich ii obviiou2ly can’t tru2t riight now)
what’2 2tiill avaiilable ii2 magiic whiich ii2 a liittle weiird.
who goe2 “let’2 turn off the power but keep the thiing that let’2 people fire la2er bla2t2 through theiir eye2?”
2omeone who hate2 me per2onally ii gue22.
ii don’t know where the 2erver room ii2.
but you could bully ca2tor iintwo telling you probably.
he’2 really wiimpy now.
blubberiing over the companiion bot2 2omerwhere.

black kiing’2 iidentiity ii2 currently unknown even two me.
but what’2 crazy ii2 there’2 ba2iically no computer 2y2tem2 onliine.
liike your network’2 the fiir2t 2park of a connectiion out2iide of my own network acce22 (whiich ii obviiou2ly can’t tru2t riight now)
what’2 2tiill avaiilable ii2 magiic whiich ii2 a liittle weiird.
who goe2 “let’2 turn off the power but keep the thiing that let’2 people fire la2er bla2t2 through theiir eye2?”
2omeone who hate2 me per2onally ii gue22.
ii don’t know where the 2erver room ii2.
but you could bully ca2tor iintwo telling you probably.
he’2 really wiimpy now.
blubberiing over the companiion bot2 2omerwhere.

[thantagonist]

Unless they’re unable to control it. Do they even have a goal, as far as you can tell? Or is it just chaos and terror for no apparent good reason?

What do you mean? What happened to him? Here I’d thought Castor would be a Queen, at least. But he’s useless? Worse than a pawn?

[p2iioniic]

cau2e a2 much 2ufferriing a2 they can.
that’2 iit.

wor2e than a pawn.
all he doe2 ii2 mope around and look all freaked out.
he’2 liike iif you had a pawn that only knew how two lay down and cry in2tead of chargiing ontwo the battlefiield.

cau2e a2 much 2ufferriing a2 they can.
that’2 iit.

wor2e than a pawn.
all he doe2 ii2 mope around and look all freaked out.
he’2 liike iif you had a pawn that only knew how two lay down and cry in2tead of chargiing ontwo the battlefiield.

[thantagonist]

You make it sound like he’s easy to track, if nothing else. So, shake him down for information to where to go next. Well. That won’t be me personally. I’m a doctor, and there’s a never ending parade of injuries.

As a doctor, I need to ask if you’re situated somewhere safe. In a relative sense, I mean. For example, you’re not starving to death, are you? Any serious injuries or addressable complaints?

[p2iioniic]

he ii2 ea2y two track.
look for a dead bot and 2tart kiickiing iit.
he’ll ba2iically 2how up out of thiin air.

ii am 4 can2 of miicrowavable good2 away from 2tartiing two 2tarve two death so you guy2 better wrap thii2 2hiit up iin liike le22 than a week or you’re goiing two have two throw my body onto the corp2e piile two.
but other than that ii’m fiine.

he ii2 ea2y two track.
look for a dead bot and 2tart kiickiing iit.
he’ll ba2iically 2how up out of thiin air.

ii am 4 can2 of miicrowavable good2 away from 2tartiing two 2tarve two death so you guy2 better wrap thii2 2hiit up iin liike le22 than a week or you’re goiing two have two throw my body onto the corp2e piile two.
but other than that ii’m fiine.

[thantagonist]

I could use a little stress relief. I’ll get to kicking.

Why not come to base camp? I’d hate to have that particular time pressure on my conscience of you starving to death. We’re doing well for now.

Also there is truly no need to throw yourself in the pile of corpses. I gather from the cream of the crop around here, so you may as well pick a bed in my morgue. You’d save me a trip with a stretcher. I imagine it is surely more comfortable. Moreso than the rotting pile of flesh ruining the playgrounds.

[p2iioniic]

”ba2e camp”
you mean “ea2y piickiing2 iif anyone betray2 u2 or an enforcer fiind2 iit”
no thank2.
on top of that, ii work alone.

oh boy a 2peciial re2erved death bed ju2t for me?
true luxury.
riight before ii pa22 away ii’ll be 2ure two fly on over and perii2h iin a niice human bed.

”ba2e camp”
you mean “ea2y piickiing2 iif anyone betray2 u2 or an enforcer fiind2 iit”
no thank2.
on top of that, ii work alone.

oh boy a 2peciial re2erved death bed ju2t for me?
true luxury.
riight before ii pa22 away ii’ll be 2ure two fly on over and perii2h iin a niice human bed.

[thantagonist]

Fortitudo in numeris. We have some incredibly powerful people here. Besides, we’re the group sent to save you. That has to count for something. I heard these different cities have different types of groups. Ours are heroes, apparently.

I called it a bed. It’s a very cold table. But I’ll still take very good care of you. I promise to be nothing but professional about your undoubtedly strange troll organs when I try to understand what they used to look like before you starved to death.

[p2iioniic]

every bubble ciity ha2 iincrediibly powerful people.
ii.e. me
2ure ii could go iin there bla2tiing.
but that’2 not goiing two 2ave the day or fiix thiing2.
what you have two your advantage ii2 fore2iight and number2.
we lacked both.
2o make your2 count.

now ii’ve diied liike a number of embarra22iing death2 before.
but ii thiink 2tarviing two death and then haviing 2ome human poke my organ2 out of curiiou2iity would probably take the cake.
2o actually ii thiink ii’ll pa22 on that thank2.

every bubble ciity ha2 iincrediibly powerful people.
ii.e. me
2ure ii could go iin there bla2tiing.
but that’2 not goiing two 2ave the day or fiix thiing2.
what you have two your advantage ii2 fore2iight and number2.
we lacked both.
2o make your2 count.

now ii’ve diied liike a number of embarra22iing death2 before.
but ii thiink 2tarviing two death and then haviing 2ome human poke my organ2 out of curiiou2iity would probably take the cake.
2o actually ii thiink ii’ll pa22 on that thank2.

[thantagonist]

You make it sound like dying is a forgone conclusion. I could make a house call. That is, in fact, an appropriate use of my time. Of course I dispense medication, but any proper doctor would give you a meal and ensure you could stay somewhere safe. If a meal would save your life, I will see to it.

[p2iioniic]

dyiing ii2 a forgone conclu2iion.
i have 2een iit.
but doom a2ide, aww.
ii forgot how cute 2ome human2 can be.
all “heroiic” and 2hiit.

you and accelerator have conviinced me.
ii wiil take a vii2iit above ground.

dyiing ii2 a forgone conclu2iion.
i have 2een iit.
but doom a2ide, aww.
ii forgot how cute 2ome human2 can be.
all “heroiic” and 2hiit.

you and accelerator have conviinced me.
ii wiil take a vii2iit above ground.

[thantagonist]

Cute? Checking after your wellbeing is cute?

What would members of your own species do? You called them trolls, right?

[He’s picturing the kind from Norse mythology. Big lumpy guys.]

[Also Accelerator is even softer than he thought he was, speaking of lumps.]

[p2iioniic]

yeah.

we are troll2, ye2.
iit’2 a kiill or be kiilled culture.
iif 2omeone diie2 iit’2 theiir fault for beiing two weak.
that 2ort of thiing.
beiing heroiic iin our culture mean2 wiinniing and cru2hiing your competiitiion, not beiing nice and checkiing up on people.


yeah.

we are troll2, ye2.
iit’2 a kiill or be kiilled culture.
iif 2omeone diie2 iit’2 theiir fault for beiing two weak.
that 2ort of thiing.
beiing heroiic iin our culture mean2 wiinniing and cru2hiing your competiitiion, not beiing nice and checkiing up on people.

[thantagonist]

Oh, that’s horrible. Humankind isn’t perfect. Far from it. We’re war mongers, greed stricken, and impossibly stupid and selfish. But it’s not all of us, and even those people have the propensity to cooperate with each other in hard times. I’m not sure we would have gotten so far otherwise. But that’s right, you must have known that to call us cute.

How did you get along with the others in your city before now?

i forgive you

[p2iioniic]

no 2peciie2 ii2 all bad all the tiime.
they’d ju2t diie out.
de2piite iit beiing a cultural 2tandard two be cruel.
realii2tiically iit can’t work that way.
but tell that two the highblood2.
what wiind2 up beiing the re2ult of all thii2 ii2 that the niice one2 eiither diie young or make iit far enough pretending two not be niice they can be niice covertly.

liike.
fiine?
there wa2 a few people ii liiked.
mo2tly gone now.
ii’m u2ed beiing alone.


no 2peciie2 ii2 all bad all the tiime.
they’d ju2t diie out.
de2piite iit beiing a cultural 2tandard two be cruel.
realii2tiically iit can’t work that way.
but tell that two the highblood2.
what wiind2 up beiing the re2ult of all thii2 ii2 that the niice one2 eiither diie young or make iit far enough pretending two not be niice they can be niice covertly.

liike.
fiine?
there wa2 a few people ii liiked.
mo2tly gone now.
ii’m u2ed beiing alone.

[thantagonist]

[Daniil’s assumptions are cutting out a lot of questions over here.]

That’s incredibly depressing. Listen, just hurry over here. What was your name? You can ask for Daniil Dankovsky if you’re not sure where to go from here.

[p2iioniic]

you reek of 2tranger danger you know.
but whatever.
ii’m 2ollux.
and ii’ll fiind you.
don’t go two 2leep.

you reek of 2tranger danger you know.
but whatever.
ii’m 2ollux.
and ii’ll fiind you.
don’t go two 2leep.

[thantagonist]

You and I know I pose no threat to you whatsoever. And again, I’m a doctor. I’m hardly a stranger.

Don’t go to sleep? I suppose I wasn’t planning on it any time soon, but why?

[p2iioniic]

oh tru2t me ii've met 2trange doctor2.

iif you go two 2leep.
ii wiill maniife2t a2 your niightmare2.

nah jk ii ju2t only go out at niight.

oh tru2t me ii've met 2trange doctor2.

iif you go two 2leep.
ii wiill maniife2t a2 your niightmare2.

nah jk ii ju2t only go out at niight.

[thantagonist]

Strange or specifically dangerous?

We’re already in a nightmare. I know better than to ask if it can get much worse since the answer is always yes.