003 | Video | late Friday evening

[relinquishing]

[It's taken him a great deal of time to get his composure together, after everything is said and done. He might have his body back, but the rush of memories and actions and guilt guilt guilt is enough to make him want to vomit. The images of himself, coated in women, stained in blood, saying one thing while meaning another, leading people astray while knowing otherwise - PRETENDING....

How dare they... How DARE they...

...

As overwhelming as it is, he can't just wallow. Someone HAS to know, and as much as it might hurt to hear it so soon, they have to know immediately.

So Guy slips to a terminal, holding himself composed if not extremely worn... and as strong as he tries to stay, he can't quite keep the small tremble out of his words as he starts to speak.]

If you're hearing my voice right now, then you need to stop and listen. What I'm about to tell you is going to be hard to hear, and I'm sorry. But it's important.

This week was a mess. No one can deny that. But some of you here in the Tower might have been aware of a few of us wandering around, claiming we had "control" of our minds. To some of you, we were your superiors, ordering you to do or say things for us. The few of us that had mixed colors in our collars or could maintain a conversation like normal, despite our modifications, claiming that the Administrators had failed and that we were fighting back.

We sent out a message this week, gathering people and information to try and establish what we claimed was a counter-resistance. Many showed up. Many put confidence in us.

[He pauses, swallowing hard.]

That was a mistake.

The truth is that we were just as brainwashed as anyone else... Even more so, I guess. Despite what we might have said or made people think, we were all actors. The few of us you may have talked to were sent out specifically for sabotage and information, all for the ones that did this to us. We were spies, and before coming back to normal, many of us just gave away information that...

[Another pause, a deep grimace crossing his face.]

Well, it might prove to be a disaster for quite a few people. If you spoke to a drone in what you thought was a form of confidence, especially against the Tower or in details of the resistance...

[His expression pains, grimace thinning into a guilty frown.]

Then I'm sorry. We've done something truly horrible.

[...

There's another long pause, the man at the screen tense and quiet. Either he's searching for something else to say, or his composure is about to slip from him. It's hard to tell.]

There's nothing we can do to take it back. Think what you would like of us. But we've tricked you, and you deserve to know. And right now... I'd recommend to be prepared for the worst.

[...]

If you have questions, then feel free to ask. I'm... not sure what any of us can tell you. I'm sorry.

[And with a tired, forced smile, the feed ends.]

Comments

[Text; logged in] Assuming text for both until otherwise noted.

[no_longer_a_king]

Is it truly always the same people?

[great_king_of_evil]

Not always the same people.

But often you will see the same people subjected to our administrator's spell or complaining about what happened on the network. On the other hand, some are never being robbed from their free will; or at least they show resistance.

I do not believe in coincidences. The only logical explanation is that Jason chose who is most susceptible to fall.

[no_longer_a_king]

I do not doubt there may be a pattern to those who were chosen, but Jason's choice could be anywhere from people who opposed him to those with no will to simply those he thought would amuse him.

If I may ask, what other things have happened before in which our minds were toyed with? I have only been present since January and the only other time I'm aware of in which our minds were toyed with was when we were made to believe much time had passed in the Tower when it had not.

[great_king_of_evil]

Whilst this may be true, it is most logical to assume he went for the weak-willed one. Possibly for those actively oppose the administrators as you said. After all considering what happened to Dax, he must be eager to please Ruana not to suffer the same fate.

As for your question, during the month of October. Whoever died in the context of Ruana's game returned with... Let us simply say, a different mindset. To a lesser extent in previous experiments as well.

You should find more answers on the network, there is always at least one person posting after an experiment to apologize or express hatred toward the administrators before forgetting and going back to their daily lives.

[no_longer_a_king]

Thank you for the information. I shall have to make a note to look further into the network. Is there any other advice you would give in the future when dealing with these sort of situations?

[Because he might not have the best reputation, but she'll give him some benefit of the doubt when it comes to survival here.]

[great_king_of_evil]

Keep your eyes directed to reality at every instant, no matter how attractive and comfortable the alternatives are.

And do not trust anyone. Especially those that you think should be trusted.

[no_longer_a_king]

Of course. We have no idea if those among us who were taken are now sleeper agents or not as well. Prudence is our only option at this point.

[Though she will have to trust in some people. No one can accomplish anything here alone, after all.]