CHAPTER 7
963.251
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
MLOC: Catastrophes, weren’t you on about an orange overseer? Splay told me that you asked.
TC: Ye-es ma’am. It had sent me-
MLOC: The encrypted data. I’m aware. I got some from that overseer. I cannot trace the eye back to anyone in my contacts.
MLOC: This is what you’d been trying to get my attention for this whole time, I assume? Well, you have it.
MLOC: So help me out here.
TC: Is that a Command or an Order…?
MLOC: Neither. I’m taking your offer from earlier.
TC: Forgive me for misunderstanding. What would you Like to Know?
MLOC: Is this about me being senior now?
MLOC: Nevermind, what was in the data?
TC: I deleted it.
MLOC: Okay.
MLOC: I got sent an image… actually. I’m going to do something here. Just wait a moment. Don’t respond back until you get a broadcast from me again.
====
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM04. TC ROOT
MLOC: This is slower, but it should keep us undercover.
TC: Is it really that serious that you need to use Direct Communication?
MLOC: Listen, I’ll truce with you. But only on ONE condition.
MLOC: Do not. Tell your supervisors, your citizens, or any random bureaucrat about anything discussed between us. We don’t know what trouble it could get us into.
TC: What do you mean by that?!
MLOC: I’ll admit, I don’t know you very well. But what I do know is that you can’t keep your mouth shut.
TC: If that’s how you perceive me…
TC: …Sure.
MLOC: I’ll send that image your way.
MLOC: …
MLOC: Give it some time.
MLOC: Really, it was just typical overseer footage. My theory is that it was only encrypted to get our attention. The method of encryption was VERY primitive, I brute forced it within minutes.
TC: Apologies for not Doing It Before. I did not Think it’d be that Easy.
MLOC: Hmm.
MLOC: What else do you have?
TC: Some other odd broadcasts from Horizon of Sulfur. I could send them to you.
MLOC: I was about to ask. After you send them to me though, I’m leaving to return to what I was doing before. The longer I stay on direct communications the more likely I am to be inspected again. I can’t afford that now that I’m a senior.
TC: Well you should’ve-!
TC: No, no.
TC: I’ll send them.
964.770
I don’t feel Right not telling Anybody about My little Mystery Here. SBC was so Odd about it.
Horizon of Sulfur… I worry for him.
Missing Link of Chain can Solve it for me.
It’s Odd that she’s suddenly Approaching me and asking to Truce as if she didn’t Threaten me and reject me just Earlier…
965.030
[LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE – Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
OW: CATASTROPHE
TC: WHAT WHAT? Are you okay? Is Everything okay?
OW: I just wanted your attention . I know you’re not in charge of me anymore- or, however they worded it . I never paid attention- but
OW: Can we just talk ?
TC: Don’t Scare me like that. And, yeah. We can talk. What’s on your Mind?
OW: What have you been up to ?
TC: Same thing as you. Work.
OW: Oh, I thought you were old enough to have hobbies by now . What’s your favorite organism ?
TC: What? What do you Mean? And I don’t have One.
OW: Really ? Not even a specific microbe ? A silly looking thing ? Or maybe something more practical would suit you
TC: …You Count as an organism?
OW: I’M your favorite ?!
TC: Through process of elimination, yes.
OW: A little less sweet when you put it like that
TC: I sense you came here for another Reason than to “Just Talk.”
OW: You’re no fun
OW: Nine Purple Mountains hasn’t been responding to me, you’re the only other one I have contacts with who I feel like I can trust
TC: I’ve been aware of your Recent Condition. Things are not Well.
TC: You can tell Me. I Won’t Judge.
OW: Alright . You already know about the physical issues . But, that’s not all of it .
OW: Unending Canvas thinks it’s a great idea to invite me to EVERY meeting he’s a part of, distracting me from the tasks that he wanted me to do just earlier . It’s so hard to stay in those meetings . Anytime I start to focus on something else he just yells at me .
OW: I can’t even get a say in anything, He just has me there to make a point
OW: I don’t even know what that point is ??
TC: Is he the only Supervisor?
OW: Pretty much . The entire “House of Bows” is just Horizon of Sulfur’s “House” split over here and renamed . Really, I don’t know why they exist
TC: Wait- Split?
OW: Yeah, I put a little research into it from some old documents they left around with an overseer, and turns out it’s all part of the same bloodline . Doesn’t seem very fair to me
TC: Can they even do That Anymore? The House of Bells isn’t entirely in Charge though at least, Correct?
OW: We don’t have a council
TC: I’m sure they know what they’re Doing at Least… I hope.
OW: I have no faith in my citizens anymore
TC: Now! That’s Harsh, you Shouldn’t say Things like that. Your Citizens and your Creators work very Hard for you, and you in Return give to them.
OW: In your case !
TC: I think you just need to Show a little more Respect.
OW: I’m not respecting those who don’t respect me back .
TC: Hm.
TC: What’s a Good Thing that’s Happened at least?
OW: Well, I finally have those extra facilities that I lacked before . Mostly just things to transport more resources
OW: I still am unable to reach the increasing quotas .
TC: That’s Terrible. This Cannot continue. I will ask my Peoples if they can provide some Help as well-
OW: I’m not your responsibility anymore . I don’t need to be a burden on anyone else . I can’t
OW: I appriciate the offer, but if I accept it I worry that UCIAS will lecture me again, and I’ll lose the little amount of support I get
TC: What little Amount? What Support?
OW: -I can’t talk any longer now
OW: Bye
TC: …Bye.
965.034
Does Open Waters actually Care for me back…?
I wasn’t expecting to get so Attached. I wanted to do This for my Creators… not for it. But, when Given the Option to leave, I didn’t take it.
I don’t quite know Why.
970.441
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
MLOC: So. Uh. What’s going on with you…
TC: Nothing that’s Related to you. What do you want?
MLOC: No need to be snappy about it. I just recalled something you might want to know.
MLOC: Back around 810, “Horizon of Sulfur”- or whoever was behind him that day- demanded contact with me at a certain date. After that point I filtered out all his broadcasts as spam.
TC: Do you… Still have These?
TC: Also spam? That seems like a Terrible idea. Why would you toy around with that Prospect?
MLOC: All just empty threats from his moronic supervisors.
MLOC: The House of Bells has no reign over me. I have a scholar council. Not a political one.
TC: Stop putting His broadcasts in your Spam. What if it’s Important?
MLOC: I’m not taking the gamble between being lectured and ordered around and having garbled, nonsense broadcasts. He needs to cry to YOU for help. Not me.
TC: Yes, but wouldn’t it be Good for Archival-
MLOC: I have standards. Besides, Sulfur really only brings me trouble… you’ll have an easier time with him.
TC: Why are you here then?
MLOC: Well… I do want to help. I also am curious about what may be going on. I would just rather not be the one talking to him right now.
TC: I see…
971.323
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
MLOC: Contact me by 990. I have some stuff to speak with you about.
TC: Why that Date?
MLOC: I chose it arbitrarily.
TC: Why not Discuss it now?
MLOC: I thought I could at least set your future expectations.
TC: Ah. Since we’re here, How has Cage of Membrane been lately?
MLOC: She’s ok. She mentioned you once or twice. I forgot why.
MLOC: I don’t really like how… close you are with her.
TC: …What??
MLOC: I worded that wrong, ignore it.
TC: No, You clearly meant Something by that.
MLOC: I do NOT want to deal with you being an instigator right now.
TC: Sorry ma’am-
MLOC: Please, please just use my name!
TC: Missing Link of Chain-
MLOC: Just talk to me normally! We are equals, peers! I get uncomfortable when you start to get formal, Catastrophes.
TC: I thought you wanted to be Formal.
MLOC: You make me uneasy. I don’t feel safe talking to you, but I want to figure out what’s going on and you’re the only outlet I have. And as the new “Group Senior”, I think I have to get over some grudges.
TC: What do you want Me to do about That though?
MLOC: Nothing.
MLOC: I’ll see you in a few cycles.
972.560
Another conversation I overheard.
====
[Pearl - Ivory]
UCIAS: UNACCEPTABLE!
UCIAS: Your Biomass has Grown into the COUNCIL BUILDING!
OW: “Council”
UCIAS: There is NO Place for that Tone! You must Find a Stop to this Problem!
OW: What part of uncontrollable growth do you not understand ?!
OW: I have tried so many times to find a solution to this acceptable by you, and all of them involve my DEATH
UCIAS: How will you discover the Solution to The Problem if you Cannot find a Solution to something as Simple as this. This is Purposeful!
OW: Is it so much to help me just a bit ?!
UCIAS: We are Not here to Clean up Your Mess.
OW: And yet you expect me to clean up yours ? You want me dead, don’t you ! Why can you not accept that I am the way that I am !
UCIAS: This is not who You are. Where is the Open Waters we used to have? What have you Done to Her?
OW: I REFUSE to pretend any longer !
UCIAS: Fine. Then we will no Longer help You.
UCIAS: You should be more like Thirteen Catastrophes. He knows when to Listen.
OW: YOU CAN’T-
UCIAS: I will Terminate the Support units within the next 5 cycles. More than enough Time to Reflect.
[Faint sound of gravity returning to normal]
OW: It’s not FAIR-
972.599
I really don’t Want Unending Canvas to Drag me into this. This is not My business. Open Waters should Not be anything like Me. I’m not sure- I don’t even Know what it means to be like Me!
I don’t…
…
I can’t afford Waters hating me as well. For once, I might finally have a Stable, Positive relationship to another Iterator where I- I am not the one Blamed for their problems. Where my creators don’t interfere and one where I don’t Need to pick a side.
This has been the main Problem in this group that I feel Prevents Me from being a part of anything now. And it is much Worse than I had initially thought.
However, I chose this path, and I’m locked into this fate.
Unending Canvas needs to be replaced.
975.422
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: TC ROOT, TC COMM12. MLOC ROOT
TC: I want to ask Something. Casually, I guess
MLOC: Oh. What?
TC: What’s your relationship to Your Creators?
MLOC: I don’t remember. They’re long ascended. Some of them died though-
TC: Not the ones who Actually built you.
MLOC: Oh? Distant would be the best word to describe it, then. I do my own thing and they do theirs.
TC: Not even with your Councils? Supervisors? Citizens? Anyone?
MLOC: No. They give me things, actually. Data, old scriptures, diraries, gossips. All deposited for me to sort through. My city does not have a government. I am a massive library of data being managed by the most dedicated scholars.
MLOC: I much prefer that, I’d rather not be constantly pestered or bothered. I feel sorry for you for being willing and enthusiastic about that sort of thing.
MLOC: Are you asking me this so you can tell on your buddies about how I have no respect for their kind or whatever else?
TC: NO. I don’t Know You very well is all, I thought I’d Start somewhere Simple?
MLOC: I don’t know anything about you either, though I know I’ll never truly understand you, so why bother?
TC: What’s Wrong with me?
MLOC: You place your faith in very odd places. What have your creators ever done for you?
TC: …
MLOC: Alright, I shouldn’t be so rude. Your work is admirable in its own ways. I would have never been able to handle having any population above a couple tens of thousands. The work you’re demanded to do is for the wellfare of the common person, which is it’s own skillset.
TC: Thanks?
MLOC: It’s just easier to become submissive when your life practically revolves around them.
TC: Please stop calling me Submissive.
TC: What are those you Live with really like? Do you even know their Names?
MLOC: Of course I do. What database would I be if I didn’t?
MLOC: I can’t entertain questions all day though, and I don’t think you can either.
TC: Wait don’t leave so Suddenly I still need to-
MLOC: Bye.
977.006
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE Open Waters, Thirteen Catastrophes
OW: Hey ! I have more free time again
TC: Waters, Is Everything ok? I saw what happened Earli-
OW: Do you need help with anything ?
TC: You should be Focused on trying to get Your Support units back.
OW: I want to return the favor-
TC: You don’t have to. There’s nothing You could do for me.
OW: …
TC: That argument you had with Your Supervisor-
OW: You were spying on me… ?
TC: I- I try Not to, usually.
TC: This isn’t about That though. Are you feeling okay?
OW: NO !!!!
OW: I’m so ANGRY at my own people ! It’s, just- ! UGH
OW: I want to make them happy-
TC: That’s good, that’s Normal to want.
OW: But only because I have to . I don’t have a choice . When I mess up, I end up suffering more than say, you or Mountains would . And I’m pretty confident that Canvas knows this and is using it to his advantage
OW: I want what you have . Freedom
TC: Us? Freedom?
OW: You don’t get it
TC: Fighting your Supervisor isn’t going to make anything better though.
OW: And neither is sitting there and letting myself get trampled !
OW: I HATE fighting him .
TC: Don’t fight him then.
OW: What else can I do… ?
TC: Nothing. Sometimes you can’t do Anything.
OW: That sounds very personal, are YOU ok ?
TC: It’s not Your Worry. You need to focus on the Problem at hand.
OW: Alright- fine
OW: What should I do
TC: Give him what he Wants. Compliance.
OW: But I don’t want to do that .
TC: I don’t want You to either, but it’s Your Only option.
979.204
TO “THIRTEEN CATASTROPHES”
READ:
We our Blessed to Announce that Splintered Light, Five Rusted Bolts, Count of 5 Blocks, Head to Council of Twelve Droplets, and Supervisor to Thirteen Catastrophes, has with great Finality, decided to Forfeit all Mortal possessions and Step into a Higher Plane. His Memories will be Stored as long as the Celestial Bodies stay Fixed in the skies and our Cities withstand Time. As His Soul departs to a Blissful Existence, His Body returned to the Universe- His final Destination; Fourteen Scales, A Cloak Adorned, High Scholar of North, previously a citizen of Nine Purple Mountains, shall take his place as your Grand Supervisor by 999.
Have a Fruitful and Productive rest of your Cycles.
-
====
Oh. Ok. I guess. Why… didn’t he ever tell me that he was going to ascend?
Did I- oh. I don’t think I checked Messages from my Citizens in too Long. I’ve been so Closed off lately… I have failed them…
I can Try again. New Supervisor. New Rules.
980.000
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: TC ROOT, TC COMM12. MLOC ROOT
TC: Hello.
MLOC: Wow- you’re punctual.
MLOC: Let’s get straight to the point.
TC: Sure.
MLOC: After some quick searching, I believe the image we discussed before was of a Memory Bank.
TC: I do not see the Resemblence.
MLOC: Yes. Technology has improved. However… older iterators had very messy banks from what I’ve researched. They stopped producing iterators with these types of banks around 300. I don’t know too much on why or what the difference is in them.
TC: Right, and I Assume this is Sulfur’s Bank?
MLOC: Considering you apparently got it from him? I’m rather confident.
TC: And how old is he?
MLOC: Older than SBC last I checked.
TC: That… CANNOT be right.
MLOC: It was before Membrane’s construction. She and SBC have the same M-Bank model as Horizon of Sulfur. Why don’t I speak to Membrane about it and you speak to SBC-
TC: I can speak to them Both if you want.
MLOC: That’s unecessary. Let’s just go with my plan.
TC: Yes. Sorry.
980.009
[LIVE BROADCAST] – PRIVATE Sixteenth Boundary Collapse, Thirteen Catastrophes
TC: Hello.
SBC: It is nice to see you again.
TC: Let’s make this Quick. You have an older Memory Bank model?
SBC: …You’re still after Sulfur aren’t you? Is this related to that?
TC: Answer. My Question.
SBC: Yes.
TC: Tell me more about it. How is it different from Modern models? Is there anything Special I should Know About?
SBC: I am afraid I can’t afford giving that information to you. The more you push the more likely you are to fall-
TC: YOU ALREADY TOLD ME THIS. You’re No Help-
TC: I’m closing the Connection.
980.011
[LIVE BROADCAST] – DIRECT Missing Link Of Chain, Thirteen Catastrophes
SOURCE NODE TRACE: MLOC ROOT, MLOC COMM04. TC ROOT
MLOC: Membrane said she couldn’t remember anything notable about older mem banks.
MLOC: What did SBC tell you?
TC: Nothing. They Purposefully kept it from me.
TC: I… Don’t want to do this Anymore. My Creators are hiding Sulfur for a good reason probably. What if he was Violent- Dangerous? What if it’s in my best Interest to ignore these Attempts, for everyone’s safety?
TC: I don’t want to get into Trouble.
MLOC: I don’t care. You’re the only one who has any contacts with him. I can’t afford to get up his ass about this, especially after what I went through less than 100 cycles ago.
MLOC: You can lie to them if you’re so tied up about that. It’s not morally wrong. Uncovering this is important, and I need you.
TC: But what if there’s a good reason-
MLOC: There is NEVER a good reason to hide something!
MLOC: Do you hear yourself?
TC: SBC warned me before about this.
MLOC: Boundary is a dying old machine muttering paranoid falsehoods. Don’t listen to them.
MLOC: I figured you’d stop listening to it after you beat it in that war.
TC: I didn’t beat it. It wasn’t a war. It was a political conflict between-
MLOC: It’s semantics! You know what I’m trying to tell you!
MLOC: I will NOT let you slink your way out of this. You need to gain some independence.
980.019
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE Cage of Membrane, Thirteen Catastrophes
TC: Hello Membrane.
COM: c-catastrophes!
COM: been a-a while again-n?
TC: Yes, yes. There’s something I need to ask. Do you have the Time?
COM: more t-than enough~!
TC: Good! Good.
TC: …
TC: How are things Between you and Chain?
COM: w-why do you need t-to know-w?
TC: I just… am curious.
COM: worrying-g. i heard you and cha-ain were doing something toge-ge-gether
COM: i know you t-two dont-t like ea-ach other very much-ch
TC: Yes, but what about My Question?
COM: i-im not sure. Were doing-g fine
COM: you dont-t need to be concerned
TC: I assure you, I’m not Concerned.
COM: youre being odd-d…
COM: i… dont-t want t-to discuss this.
TC: Okay.