exsilium | when one bypasses the brain [video]

[Billy is located in his garage, a number of shiny orb-like devices lining the walls behind him. There are a few gun-like shells too, though when questioned he'll be all too eager to explain that none of them are lethal.

He has the pale, bags-under-eyes look of someone who's hardly slept in a week. It's well earned.]

I've been thinking about the battle all week. And with what I know---or think I know---of the United Earth, I think I've committed an unforgivable crime. The UE citizens are guided from birth to hold certain opinions and aptitudes, slotted into their roles by a totalitarian organization pulling the strings, aren't they? If that's true, the soldiers never made an informed decision to fight against us. They were innocent, and...I murdered without acknowledging that. They never had a chance at freedom, and now they'll never have it.

[He hangs his head, drumming his fingers against the worktable.]

I know there's no penance for what I've done, no excuse that justifies it. Nothing will ever be enough. But to make it easier for others to fight without killing, I've been drawing up blueprints and making protoypes for some more effective non-lethal weapons. I understand if you don't trust me with them, or if you would rather develop them without me, but I'm willing to assist if you'll have me.

And before I end this: please don't think I'm passing judgment on anyone else about this. That world was worth trying to save, supplies were low. I simply allowed myself to cross a moral line I swore I wouldn't. I don't know how to live with myself, but I fully acknowledge that this is my own fault.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's all I can do.

[He stared at his hands, guilty.]

I need to be able to stun people en masse, to stop as much fighting in a sector at once as possible. I made a gun that causes people's feet to stick somewhere for a few hours, and a portable shield, but they're all in testing phases. I need various tranquilizers as well.

[Nodding... Though this raises the question he's been asking himself,]

What would you do with the men, then? Would they be captured?

[If they're simply allowed to return to the UE, they'd only go on to fight more battles. But what could the Transports or Initiative do with them, if they were taken prisoner?]

That's what we were thinking. If there was any chance to save them...I realize it wouldn't be feasible on a large scale, but perhaps smaller.

[His eyes widen.]

Do you have an idea how they can be saved?

Break the programming. Rehabilitation. We'd need more research to know for sure, but it's worth a try.

It definitely is.

I'm not a scientist. I'm afraid... I don't have any experience building weapons or breaking programming, but if there is any way I can help, I want to.

Edited 2013-05-31 05:20 (UTC)

I might be running testing in the future? I want to make sure everything I build is fairly intuitive to use.

...Then, please let me know when you're looking for assistance.

My name is Allen Walker, by the way. [It says so on the tablet, but it's only polite to introduce himself properly.]

I will!

Thank you for that. It should definitely help us prepare if testing's finished faster.

Mm, good.

Thank you for doing this. I'm glad we have your help.

when one bypasses the brain [video]

video;

video;

: video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;