oo5 ⊗ video ⊗ fifth move ⟹ backdated to oct 5th.

[oxfordian]

[ charles is visibly distressed when he appears on the screen, this time. he's in what seems to be some underground facility, and there are other faces behind him—notably collette, emma, galadriel, raven, and others. his eyes remain closed for a second and you can hear him take a deep breath. then: ]

We have... borrowed a gentleman by the name of Richard Lawson...—from the United Earth. He is a cabinet member of the President's. Yes, the President of the United Earth. [ charles clears his throat, steels himself. ]

We've learnt a great many things about the United Earth from his head, and we feel it best to share that information with all of you, here on the Network.

[ charles states the next words with a heavy voice. ]

The President of the United Earth is not human. "He" is—artificial. Artificial Intelligence, or what you would call an A.I.. The United Earth... has never seen his face, as far as we have deduced.

We will try to answer questions about what we have learnt to the very best of our ability, but do be patient. Ah—[ he closes his eyes again, considering. then he nods as though he's made the right decision and he knows it. ]

That is all.

( note: wow i knew i forgot something like a winner. THIS TAKES PLACE DURING/AFTER these linked shenanigans: [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] )

Comments

[f_u_wesker]

Unfortunately. We called her the Red Queen, she was the AI for the Hive I worked in.

[oxfordian]

I am a telepath; I was born capable of reading minds.

[tequilaselai]

Ah, that makes sense. [She is just a little disappointed.] This is still valuable information, regardless.

So - when you say you got the information from his head... What do you mean? [oh keelah did you guys give him implants or something]

[whatsupcroc]

What did you end up doing about her?

[totallytrustworthy]

Just what I was hoping to hear. Certainly better than just offing a useful resource.

Yeah, but you have to wonder just how many mp3s the guy can hold.

[oxfordian]

Share it as we had, of course. Ah, honestly—it has been shared with the Initiative. It is only a small piece of a larger puzzle, with many of its pieces still missing.

[raisedbybirds]

It's not surprising. Information is a powerful tool--or lack thereof.

This explains a lot about their society.

[whatsupcroc]

Also the messages we got from them after the bombings. You know, that whole kind of "obviously we have won, resistance is futile, we are the Borg so help you god," thing.

[whatsupcroc]

Killing people isn't -- shouldn't be that easy. Not when you don't have to.

[ She giggles. ]

I'm pretty sure more than we expect, and less than he needs.

[totallytrustworthy]

Wouldn't come as surprise. Though it certainly brings the whole 'government keeping its citizens in the dark' thing to a whole new level.

You think it's just the president that's all machine, then?

permavideo;

[myownbestfriend]

Maybe we can throw you and Tony at it and call it a day.

[It's phrased as a joke, but Emma sounds tired and a little annoyed. Unlike Charles, she doesn't seem bothered either by the fact the baddie is an AI, or that they just ripped secrets out of a man's mind.]

[thornwishes]

[This is where he looks a little frustrated, his eyes darkening slightly.]

Pain makes one talk, more so then kind words. If you had the ability to enter his mind, when other methods were unable to break him. Why not force it from his mind? [This is where he's going to get into trouble.]

[assumeddirectcontrol]

[That's terrifying. Not that every A.I. is going to be a homicidal maniac, but... Well. She's got the experience that most of the time they are.] Who the hell did that?

[whatsupcroc]

That we'll beat it every time in Twister, hands down.

Video;

[gained_a_level]

That makes you special, then.

[ No, he doesn't mean it to be flirtatious, despite how it might sound. ]

[f_u_wesker]

We shut her down at the very core of the Hive and then had to reactivate her so we could escape. We blew her to pieces after but... Umbrella recovered her program. She's still active.

video;

[gained_a_level]

Excellent timing. But as your sister puts it, it seems your talents are more to thank for this revelation.

You should consider yourself fortunate.

[totallytrustworthy]

If you had a part to play in it, I should.

I know it's not the best case scenario, but this could save a few lives. A few hundred, even. The more we know, the better.

[uncalled_for]

[Suspicious...]

What do you mean, 'had he wished to do so'?

[oxfordian]

The Initiative has him currently, to be the most precise. He is not mine to make decisions for.

—we can learn only what information he, himself, has been exposed to.

[whatsupcroc]

[ She whistles... and sighs. ]

That's one of those big bummers with AI's on a big level or just a personality to personality level. Some are totally awesome! Some are complete pacifists. Some try to destroy the world over tea, I guess, but like, how many back-ups of a system can there be?

Video;

[studieswaitressing]

I guess it does.

[Too bad, Cas, that's how she'll take it for now.]

[uncalled_for]

I appreciate the clarification, but that still leaves more questions than it answers.

[oxfordian]

That seems the most likely answer, to be entirely honest.

[strategic_guile]

Ahhh, I see. I have no idea about the Initiative, but I hope they aren't that stupid.

It'd be interesting if a Cabinet member was kept so totally in the dark to be useless. Puppet cabinet, maybe.