006 [video/public]

[otakuro]

[Saturday night, the screen flickers on to display Atsuro wearing a fatigued expression. As he begins to speak, he pauses, then turns aside to yawn momentarily before facing back to the camera again.]

...Sorry about that.

But, uh. Guys? ...We've got a problem. Again.

[In lieu of giving any explanation, he simply readjusts the COMP so the camera is directed at his computer screen: playing in what seems to be fast forward is a video of a horde of smiling, overly cheerful yellow creatures in a strange black and green world, running rampant in every direction and chowing down on electrical wires and large floating images of the typical 'folder' icon. Occasionally, they freeze, shudder for a moment, and explode into ten new smiley faces.  After a few moments, Atsuro comes back into frame, though he leaves the video playing in the background.]

...That's not what's actually going on, before you ask.  It's a cutesy little representation, but... you guys get the gist of it. I thought it was just my PC at first, but it's looking like slow COMPs aren't going to be the worst of our troubles if this goes on. The network already looks to be pretty badly compromised.

If you've accessed the network in the last few days without a bunch of firewalls, you're probably infected. ...Actually, you might still be infected even with the firewalls. I don't know what's going on, but these aren't like any viruses I've ever dealt with. I haven't slept in like, 24 hours [he checks the clock at this point] ...30 hours, and it's like Hercules against the Lernean Hydra. Clear one and three more files are infected before I'm done - and the original file still isn't totally clean. ...I'd almost think they were learning if I didn't know any better.

[He pauses awkwardly at this point.]

The other thing is... I know this is a little bit private, but could you guys who aren't... totally organic check in? Since our COMPs are basically wired to our brains through the nanomachines, and your brains are... computers, I think, uh.  You see where I'm going with this.

[He leaves it hanging there.]

Someone should probably do something. ...Who's even responsible for keeping the network running, anyway?  Why hasn't the government said anything?

Comments

[terminally_clever]

It's going to require programming an antivirus script from the ground up.

[otakuro]

...You mean you want to write a program specifically tailored for these infections? That could take a while. Especially since I'm pretty sure we're dealing with a few variations - either that or it's updating itself.

[terminally_clever]

Do you have any other ideas?

[otakuro]

...

Not really.

OK, how far have you got? I know everyone hates having their code looked over, but maybe we can help.

[terminally_clever]

Currently, I'm occupied with making sure the viruses don't get through the government network or JP's firewalls.

[In other words, no progress, even though she didn't say as much.]

[otakuro]

...Someone should probably get on that, then.

[A slight pause and a sigh.]

I've never tried anything like this, but it can't be too hard, right? If you know how to make a virus, making an antivirus shouldn't be a stretch...

[terminally_clever]

As soon as I grow a second head and a spare pair of hands, I'll get right on that.

[otakuro]

...I meant I would try it, Fumi.

Someone's offered to help out and give us a clean place to work. Once I've cleared my systems as much as I can, I'm going to see what I can do.

[terminally_clever]

Us?

[Fumi raises a bleary eyebrow at that.]

So I'm joining your crack team of hackers, then, am I?

[otakuro]

...If a team is 'me and you and anyone else I can pick up off the street', sure.

[Atsuro gives a shrug.]

If you're busy defending the important stuff, the rest of us have to fill in the blanks, right?

[terminally_clever]

[Well, at least he knows how to properly phrase things in deference to Fumi's ego. Still, though, from the looks of things she's not going to make it more than another half day holding down the fort by herself.]

Ask Naoya.

[otakuro]

[A slightly wooden smile at that suggestion.]

Sure.

Naoya will help if he wants to, depending on his whims. But it can't hurt.

[terminally_clever]

Well then, I'm going to get back to rebuilding this firewall for the thirtieth time today.

[otakuro]

...Er. Right.

Make sure you get some food and... all of that kind of thing. The firewalls won't keep themselves up if you end up passed out.

[terminally_clever]

Thank you for the concern.