@cassius | via Morningstar Network

[btryl]

[ The message blips into the individual neural implants of those Displaced who have been spared from the simulation, much like how it does when a new set of arrivals show up. It doesn't wait to be opened. The message links back to the Morningstar network that all of the Displaced use. While Cassius has temporary access, he won't be able to access any other posts on the network, and will only be able to reply within posts that he made himself. ]

Yeah, you read that right. It's Cassius.
More chaos, this time indirectly caused by me -- and you, too. Keep that in mind while you hear me out. Judas was never meant to make it to me, and he didn't, not really. I had gambled my calculations on your integrity, but it seems the numbers didn't work out.
So here we are.
What the Prez says is true to a point, this is the work of Judas. He's erratic and angry, and with his current resources close to unstoppable. As much as I want to do something, I can't do it by myself. I tried, and I'm out of options.
It's up to you, but we don't have much time to change this.

Comments

@el.21396518

[mrngstr]

Just for the sake of clarity, this was done with my permission. Cassius and I have talked over what Judas is doing, and neither of us wanted this.

Cassius has limited access and permissions on the network, for the purpose of keeping all of you as safe as possible. Not that it means much when over half of you are trapped in a simulation right now, but for those of you who are able to still see this, we need to put our heads together.

I wouldn't say you should trust him. But we're not in a position where we can be picky about who we work with, are we?

@annabeth.chase

[intellects]

I have friends inside. I need to get to them, and I need to get them out.

How do we do it?

( is there a risk? of course there is. she's heard the stories. but it doesn't matter, not when percy and silena are trapped in there without her. )

[btryl]

I'll add "without Judas noticing."
That's the million credit question.

[intellects]

One problem at a time.

How does someone get into the simulation?

[btryl]

Getting into the simulation is the problem.

1. I can't get close without Judas noticing that I'm nosing around. I'm kind of an in-betweener here right now.
2. What would getting in accomplish? Aside from maybe not getting out.

[intellects]

So you need someone to do the getting close for you.

( ai aren't that different from gods. they both need humans to do their bidding. )

I have friends inside. People I care about, who are probably wondering where I am. I want to get them out.

@cassian.andor

[evasives]

What are his current resources? As in, what else are we up against?

@goro.akechi

[impede]

A fascinating proposal hinging purely on an emotional benefit.

@goro.akechi

[impede]

So, you truly intended for us to steal away with Judas all along. It seems my calculations were the ones that were correct.

Very well.

Does that mean you're without your prior resources? Has he stolen away with them in some way?

[btryl]

You and everyone else has friends in there right now.
Getting in isn't the hard part -- you'll just be stuck like the rest of the rodeo. When I say "getting close," I mean I can't access the so-called backend. He'd recognize me right away.

[btryl]

He's using a back-end hack that was left open during the EMP as -- in short -- a direct line to people's brains. Yeah, old school.
Since he's the one that the UNA has been using to design their software, it's like second nature to him. He'll annihilate them if they try to stand against him. I mean, they did keep him captive for 400+ years.
He's got a bone to pick.

If you want more, I want to make sure we're on the same page. All of us.
That part

It could put me in a bad position.
Really bad position.

[btryl]

If you want to put it that way. They're thin.
Think of it more that I'm no longer under the internal eye of someone else. I've got some wiggle room.

[impede]

["Internal eye of someone else."]

Were you a puppet all along?

[btryl]

Virtual gold star.
And I still am, even after so many millennia.

[btryl]

It's very nice in here.

[evasives]

I understand his desire to get back at the UNA, or humanity as a whole, after all that time. It will be difficult to fight.

The same page? I think we all want the situation to end, unless that is not what you mean.

Bad position how and with who? The last thing I want to is to make the situation worse.

[btryl]

I'm putting myself on the line. I'll need more than one person's promise.
Everything I've done up until now is to insure my own continued existence. With these new developments, I can't even do that anymore.

@jyn.erso

[realists]

Now you've got two.

[ IS THAT NOT ENOGUH, two out of the whole entire world??? ]

[btryl]

It's you.

[ hm. ]

You told me a good joke one time, remember?

[realists]

I have another one for you.

Why did the robot cross the road?

[btryl]

OK, I'm stumped.
Why?

[realists]

Because he was programmed by a chicken.

[evasives]

It might help persuade more people if we knew the dangers you are in. Who has this power of existence over you? Or what?

Someone used you to get to Judas. Is a Dr. Grey holding you hostage?

[ laura moon mentioned a dr. grey. daisy and caroline, and presumably others, were operated on by a johann grey after fulfilling their deal to cassius. there's a connection there, somewhere, and cassian is trying to read between the lines. ]

[btryl]

You really have to look out for those chickens.

[btryl]

Humans do, duh.
What do you think they would do if they found out that I was still here -- especially after Judas' emotional outburst?
They'd track me down and kill me, just like they did everyone else.

He's not holding me hostage, he's

[ that's a deliberate cut off. ]