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

[otakuro]

[Atsuro's right eye twitches a bit before he groans and covers his face with his hand.]

Guess that answers that.

I think the virus went for your communication centers first, Nano. ...What about writing?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano scratches her cheek, looking around the room briefly before shaking her head.]

[otakuro]

...Right.

[After a few more moments of sighing, Atsuro will try on a reassuring smile that looks slightly out of place on his exhausted face.]

Don't worry, Nano. As soon as we figure something out, we'll clear your system of the viruses, too - it will be just like that time with the foreign memories.

[no it wouldn't but there wasn't a need for her to work herself up.]

In the meantime... we need to make sure it doesn't mess with anything more critical. What kinds of safety measures do you have?

[all_wound_up]

Я не думаю, что у меня есть.

[otakuro]

...Right, I can't understand you. ...Er.

[An elongated pause now as Atsuro thinks this over.]

OK, whatever kinds of firewalls and antiviruses you have, go ahead and throw those up. Try to sequester the files it's already corrupted.

...Is that something you can do?

[A nod or shake of the head would do fine.]

[all_wound_up]

[Instead he'll just get this face.]

[otakuro]

...
...
...

That... is something you can't do. ...Alright.

[He is out of advice. 'Sit still and try not to imagine the virus infecting everything inside of you'?]

Do you have an emergency safety mode?

[what kind of computer doesn't have failsafes]

[all_wound_up]

[If she does, she doesn't know about it. Although the chances of such a thing are slim anyway, considering she was built and programmed by someone who probably thought snack storage space was more important than things like that. Nano shakes her head.]

[otakuro]

...OK, then.

[He would have to have a talk with Nano's creator if they ever showed up here.]

Sit still and try not to imagine the virus taking over don't panic. That's probably the best thing you can do right now.

...Well, you don't have to sit still if you don't want, but it might help you calm down.

[all_wound_up]

[Nano nods, closing her eyes and trying her best to calm down.]

I er ked af, Mister Atsuro. I er så ked af. Du ser ud for mig og at være så sød, selvom jeg gjorde du føler dig så akavet før...

[otakuro]

[still not understanding la la la~]

You can... think of this as a vacation! Take some time off from work and, er. Maybe you're be able to learn all of these foreign languages when this is over.

[...Atsuro's advice is stretching it at this point.]

[all_wound_up]

[Nano sighs. She'll have to apologize to him properly once he can understand her again. Right now she's just getting herself worked up. So instead of saying anything else, she bows her head deeply to the feed.

'I'm sorry.'

'Thank you.'

She hopes at least one of those two sentiments gets through.]

[otakuro]

[Atsuro will recognize the gesture for what it means, and he will offer a smile in return.]

We'll figure it out soon, Nano. ...I've got to try and work out a solution, but... hang in there.

[all_wound_up]

[Nano nods, smiling even as tears well up at the sides of her eyes. This is so frustrating for her. All the worry about what happened at Tanabata is still fresh in her mind, and then to have this happen on top of it but for Atsuro to still be so sweet and helpful... it really makes her think that maybe it doesn't matter what his eventual answer is, or even if he gives her one at all.]