<i>
Sat from afar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning;, a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee. She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the grass and it takes a moment for the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[Wake Up|street]]The park falls away like a mirage in the distance.
Fluorescent lights that hang from derelict buildings leak in from the edges of the screen as the visor leaves my eyes.
I pull the headset off entirely, but my bio-connector is caught.
[[Tare the wire from your neck|neck]]
He approaches me; a big guy with a smile engulfed by his cheeks.
He makes some joke about the "lovely weather".
"So... apparently we got some girl is on the fritz. Musta' modified her socket or something." He smiles before realizing he shouldn't. I attempt to walk past him, but he grabs my wrist as I do, staring at me intently.
"After my first one, I always bring this." He holds up a small letter opener with a bronze handle, wrapped in a leather scabbard.
"Since you've requested to conduct this, want it?", he asks.
[["Eugh... Okay, just incase."|knifeyes]]
[["You hold on to it."|knifeno]]I take the knife and holstered it in my belt.
Thunder cracks across the sky, the acid-rain intensifies. We look up at the buildings. Nothing distinguishes it from the others; same balconies, same fluorescent lights, same algae smell.
[[Head inside|ky-inside]]He pockets the knife.
Thunder cracks across the sky, the acid-rain intensifies. We look up at the building, nothing distinguishes it from the others; same balconies, same fluorescent lights, same algae smell.
[[Head inside|kn-inside]]
Moisture lingers in the air. Wallpaper hangs from damp walls painted green by Chlorella.
We aren't alone. Modders lay across the floor, leaning against the walls, or hanging from plastic chairs. Each of them has a visor active.
Suddenly an elderly man rushes in through the hallway. He speeds towards me and I reach for the knife!
But he turns away just in time. I take a breath. My parner looks at me and nodded.
[[Continue to the hallway|ky-hallway.]]Moisture lingers in the air. Wallpaper hangs from damp walls painted green by Chlorella.
We aren't alone. Modders lay across the floor, leaning against the walls, or hanging from plastic chairs. Each of them has a visor active.
Suddenly an elderly man rushes in through the hallway. He speeds towards me. I stiffen in a moment of helplessness, but he turns away just in time.
I take a breath and my parner looks at me smuggly, before tapping the knife holstered against his gut.
[[Continue to the hallway|kn-hallway.]]In the hallway I feel surrounded as the modders glare at us through their visors like robotic cyclopses.
The faint sounds of a scream echoed from upstairs...
"Apparently they tied her to a table in the living quarters, want to go there first?", my partner asks.
[["Let's check her bedroom first"|kn-bedroom]]
[["Let's go straight to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]In the hallway I feel surrounded as the modders glare at us through their visors like robotic cyclopses.
The faint sounds of a scream echoed from upstairs...
"Apparently they tied her to a table in the living quarters, want to go there first?", my partner asks.
[["Let's check her bedroom first"|ky-bedroom]]
[["Let's go straight to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]I take a look at the Modders; all plugged in, all vacant. Trait Visors are as commonplace now as mobile phones were decades ago. They were sold as an biotic enhancement primarily useful for tech jobs, however, Modders eventually found the neural link allowed visors to project fully rendered memory, or "windows".
Windows are highly addictive, but destroy the mind.
"So who first?", my partner asks.
None of the options were enticing;
[["Let's talk to that old man slumped agaist the wall"|ky-oldman]]
[["Let's talk to the couple laying together"|ky-couple]]We head to her bedroom.
Her floor is a landfill of rusted wiring, dust ridden motherboards and empty noodles boxes blooming with mould. The bed was a metallic frame with a single pillow resting against interconnecting springs.
I take it all in surroundings, before spotting a wooden frame tucked behind a leg of the bed.
I pick it up and hold it close so my partner can't see.
It's me, and her...
She's about six here. She's wearing the dress like her mother w--
Before my thought finished, I was transported back to that moment, so [[many years ago...|ky-begin.1]]Other Modders flee the room as we approach. The glare at us with a vacant stare. "Scum". "Scum".
The girl's scream's abruptly halt as she claws for breath.
Then they begin again. My partner rushes ahead.
I stop.
[[I see her|Ky_TheGirl]]I take a look at the Modders; all plugged in, all vacant. Trait Visors are as commonplace now as mobile phones were decades ago. They were sold as an biotic enhancement primarily useful for tech jobs, however, Modders eventually found the neural link allowed visors to project fully rendered memory, or "windows".
Windows are highly addictive, but destroy the mind.
"So who first?", my partner asks.
None of the options were enticing;
[["Let's talk to that old man slumped agaist the wall"|kn-oldman]]
[["Let's talk to the couple laying together"|kn-couple]]
We head to her bedroom.
Her floor is a landfill of rusted wiring, dust ridden motherboards and empty noodles boxes blooming with mould. The bed was a metallic frame with a single pillow resting against interconnecting springs.
I take it all in surroundings, before spotting a wooden frame tucked behind a leg of the bed.
I pick it up and hold it close so my partner can't see.
It's me, and her...
She's about six here. She's wearing the dress like her mother w--
Before my thought finished, I was transported back to that moment, so [[many years ago...|kn-begin.1]]Other Modders flee the room as we approach. The glare at us with a vacant stare. "Scum". "Scum".
The girl's scream's abruptly halt as she claws for breath.
Then they begin again. My partner rushes ahead.
I stop.
[[I see her|Kn_TheGirl]]<i>
Sat from afar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee.
She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[Snap out of it|kn-awaken]]<i>
Sat from affar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee.
She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[Snap out of it|ky-awaken]]We head out to the hallway.
Her faint screams vibrate through the walls.
My partner turns to me.
"So... where now?", he asks.
[["Let's see if anyone knows something"|kn-modder]]
[["Let's go straight to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]We head out to the hallway.
Her faint screams vibrate through the walls.
My partner turns to me.
"So... where now?", he asks.
[["Let's see if anyone knows something"|ky-modder]]
[["Let's go straight to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]As the wire comes loose it scratches.
"Argh!" The pain fades slowly. I flick the metallic sheath on my neck back in to place.
"Still need to get that fixed...", no one was listening, least of all me.
"Talking to yourself?", my new partner calls out as he climbs from his cab.
[["I guess I must be."|shelter]]I shake the memory away and find myself back in the bedroom.
My partner is waiting for me. I place the picture back where I found it... he can't know who she is.
"No picture in the frame", I lie.
One thing silently bothers me; that memory was so clear, yet I didn't need my visor on to see it. Perhaps I should see it as a precaution of what lay ahead.
[["Let's keep going"|ky-Decision.1]]I shake the memory away and find myself back in the bedroom.
My partner is waiting for me. I place the picture back where I found it... he can't know who she is.
"No picture in the frame", I lie.
One thing silently bothers me; that memory was so clear, yet I didn't need my visor on to see it. Perhaps I should see it as a precaution of what lay ahead.
[["Let's keep going"|kn-decision.1]]We approach the Old Man. As he sees us near he tares the jack from his neck and his visor powers off.
"SCUM!", his voice was enraged, yet fragile. "Scum the lot'a ya". Neither myself or my partner say a word.
"You're hear to trap her, aren't ya? You're gonna pull her out and cage her in this... this... hell!". My partner pulls the mans head back, I now see his missing teeth, scarred eye and blotched skin.
"My uncle went the same way. Fucking things, man... and he thinks out here is hell". My partner reflects.
"You've not used one, have you?" I ask to no response. He puts his hand on my shoulder; had he seen my using mine?
[["I don't mod mine."|kn-oldman2]]We approach the couple. They lay against a torn leather sofa with their limbs entwined. His visor plugged into her neck, her visor into his. Both expressionless, however they occasionally let out a moan.
"I don't need to guess what they're watching", my partner quips.
"So long as it's not themselves..." I reply.
"Ohhh, so you do have a sense of humour", his smile enfuriates me.
I push my boot into the man's ribs and he grunts. This was hopeless.
"Hey, you chose to speak to them.", my partner informs me as we return to the centre of the hallway.
"Where next then?"
[["Let's talk to the old man"|kn-c-oldman]]
[["We're wasting time, let's get to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]We approach the Old Man. As he sees us near he tares the jack from his neck and his visor powers off.
"SCUM!", his voice was enraged, yet fragile. "Scum the lot'a ya". Neither myself or my partner say a word.
"You're hear to trap her, aren't ya? You're gonna pull her out and cage her in this... this... hell!". My partner pulls the mans head back, I now see his missing teeth, scarred eye and blotched skin.
"My uncle went the same way. Fucking things, man... and he thinks out here is hell". My partner reflects.
"You've not used one, have you?" I ask to no response. He puts his hand on my shoulder; had he seen my using mine?
[["I don't mod mine."|ky-oldman2]]We approach the couple. They lay against a torn leather sofa with their limbs entwined. His visor plugged into her neck, her visor into his. Both expressionless, however they occasionally let out a moan.
"I don't need to guess what they're watching", my partner quips.
"So long as it's not themselves..." I reply.
"Ohhh, so you do have a sense of humour", his smile enfuriates me.
I push my boot into the man's ribs and he grunts. This was hopeless.
"Hey, you chose to speak to them.", my partner informs me as we return to the centre of the hallway.
"Where next then?"
[["Let's talk to the old man"|ky-c-oldman]]
[["We're wasting time, let's get to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]My partner's stare is remorseless. I see his eyes fall to my neck.
"I didn't think you did." He studies me.
We turn back to the old man.
"Pluggin. Pluggin." The man begs us. I shake my head.
My partner grabs him by his collar. I lean down and speak calmly.
"The girl. I need to find the girl."
"She's gone... too gone. "1903", she said", his words were spoken through a whisper, but I recognize my daughter's birthday.
"Are you going to debug her?" He asks us.
I nodded.
"SCUM!", the word is followed a ball of saliva in my eye.
My partner throws the man to the ground.
[[I wiped my eye and sighed.|kn-oldman3]]My partner's stare is remorseless. I see his eyes fall to my neck.
"I didn't think you did." He studies me.
We turn back to the old man.
"Pluggin. Pluggin." The man begs us. I shake my head.
My partner grabs him by his collar. I lean down and speak calmly.
"The girl. I need to find the girl."
"She's gone... too gone. "1903", she said", his words were spoken through a whisper, but I recognize my daughter's birthday.
"Are you going to debug her?" He asks us.
I nodded.
"SCUM!", the word is followed a ball of saliva in my eye.
My partner throws the man to the ground.
[[I wiped my eye and sighed.|ky-oldman3]]We approach the Old Man. As he sees us near he tares the jack from his neck and his visor powers off.
"SCUM!", his voice was enraged, yet fragile. "Scum the lot'a ya". Neither myself or my partner say a word.
"You're hear to trap her, aren't ya? You're gonna pull her out and cage her in this... this... hell!". My partner pulls the mans head back, I now see his missing teeth, scarred eye and blotched skin.
"My uncle went the same way. Fucking things, man... and he thinks out here is hell". My partner reflects.
"You've not used one, have you?" I ask to no response. He puts his hand on my shoulder; had he seen my using mine?
[["I don't mod mine."|kn-c-oldman2]]I take a step back. The old man claws at his neck, but can't find the jack.
"Don't help him." My partner orders me.
[["Let's just go talk to that couple"|kn-couple2]]
[["Let's just get to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]We approach the couple. They lay against a torn leather sofa with their limbs entwined. His visor plugged into her neck, her visor into his. Both expressionless, however they occasionally let out a moan.
"I don't need to guess what they're watching", my partner quips.
"So long as it's not themselves..." I reply.
"Ohhh, so you do have a sense of humour", his smile enfuriates me.
I push my boot into the man's ribs and he grunts. This was hopeless.
"Hey, you chose to speak to them.", my partner informs me as we return to the centre of the hallway.
"Where next then?"
[["We've wasted enough time now, let's get to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]I take a step back. The old man claws at his neck, but can't find the jack.
"Don't help him." My partner orders me.
[["Let's just go talk to that couple"|ky-couple2]]
[["Let's just get to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]We approach the couple. They lay against a torn leather sofa with their limbs entwined. His visor plugged into her neck, her visor into his. Both expressionless, however they occasionally let out a moan.
"I don't need to guess what they're watching", my partner quips.
"So long as it's not themselves..." I reply.
"Ohhh, so you do have a sense of humour", his smile enfuriates me.
I push my boot into the man's ribs and he grunts. This was hopeless.
"Hey, you chose to speak to them.", my partner informs me as we return to the centre of the hallway.
"Where next then?"
[["We've wasted enough time now, let's get to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]We approach the Old Man. As he sees us near he tares the jack from his neck and his visor powers off.
"SCUM!", his voice was enraged, yet fragile. "Scum the lot'a ya". Neither myself or my partner say a word.
"You're hear to trap her, aren't ya? You're gonna pull her out and cage her in this... this... hell!". My partner pulls the mans head back, I now see his missing teeth, scarred eye and blotched skin.
"My uncle went the same way. Fucking things, man... and he thinks out here is hell". My partner reflects.
"You've not used one, have you?" I ask to no response. He puts his hand on my shoulder; had he seen my using mine?
[["I don't mod mine."|ky-c-oldman2]]My partner's stare is remorseless. I see his eyes fall to my neck.
"I didn't think you did." He studies me.
We turn back to the old man.
"Pluggin. Pluggin." The man begs us. I shake my head.
My partner grabs him by his collar. I lean down and speak calmly.
"The girl. I need to find the girl."
"She's gone... too gone. "1903", she said", his words were spoken through a whisper, but I recognize my daughter's birthday.
"Are you going to debug her?" He asks us.
I nodded.
"SCUM!", the word is followed a ball of saliva in my eye.
My partner throws the man to the ground.
[[I wiped my eye and sighed.|ky-c-oldman3]]I take a step back. The old man claws at his neck, but can't find the jack.
"Don't help him." My partner orders me.
[["Let's just get to the girl"|ky-livingroom]]My partner's stare is remorseless. I see his eyes fall to my neck.
"I didn't think you did." He studies me.
We turn back to the old man.
"Pluggin. Pluggin." The man begs us. I shake my head.
My partner grabs him by his collar. I lean down and speak calmly.
"The girl. I need to find the girl."
"She's gone... too gone. "1903", she said", his words were spoken through a whisper, but I recognize my daughter's birthday.
"Are you going to debug her?" He asks us.
I nodded.
"SCUM!", the word is followed a ball of saliva in my eye.
My partner throws the man to the ground.
[[I wiped my eye and sighed.|kn-c-oldman3]]I take a step back. The old man claws at his neck, but can't find the jack.
"Don't help him." My partner orders me.
[["Let's just get to the girl"|kn-livingroom]]=><=
INFERNIUM
By
Brendan Ford
[[BEGIN|begin]]The table shudders as she thrashes her body back and forth across it. Her arms and legs are bound to each table leg. She cries out in agony, her eyes transfixed on the window of her visor. Blood pours from her bio-connector. I stare at her withered face. Scars connect from her mouth to her cheek, her eyes bloodshot and unfamiliar. But it is her hair that brings the most anguish; it is still the same shade of mahogany from when she was little.
This is what became of my little girl. Guilt and regret flood through me uncontrollably. Naturally I reach for the visor tucked in it's sheath.
"Look like you've seen a ghost", my partner studies my every move. He knows something is up. It doesn't matter either way.
[[Hesitantly, I approach.|Kn_TheScan]]
The table shudders as she thrashes her body back and forth across it. Her arms and legs are bound to each table leg. She cries out in agony, her eyes transfixed on the window of her visor. Blood pours from her bio-connector. I stare at her withered face. Scars connect from her mouth to her cheek, her eyes bloodshot and unfamiliar. But it is her hair that brings the most anguish; it is still the same shade of mahogany from when she was little.
This is what became of my little girl. Guilt and regret flood through me uncontrollably. Naturally I reach for the visor tucked in it's sheath.
"Look like you've seen a ghost", my partner studies my every move. He knows something is up. It doesn't matter either way.
[[Hesitantly, I approach.|Ky_TheScan]]
My partner begins the procedure. He pulls out his visor and scans her.
"Her neural activity is hyperactive. Nothing showing on her visor though... looks like she's stuck in a render loop." He looks at me and continues. "She can't find what she's looking for".
Suddenly I am flooded with debugging procedure; erase her memory, sever her connections, or the psychological torment of repair. I made a mistake requesting this job. I shouldn't make this decision.
"What do you think we should do?", he asks.
[["Let me manually try and repair"|kn_repair]]
[["You have to decide"|kn_partnerchoice]]
[["Erase it all"|kn_Erase]]
My partner begins the procedure. He pulls out his visor and scans her.
"Her neural activity is hyperactive. Nothing showing on her visor though... looks like she's stuck in a render loop." He looks at me and continues. "She can't find what she's looking for".
Suddenly I am flooded with debugging procedure; erase her memory, sever her connections, or the psychological torment of repair. I made a mistake requesting this job. I shouldn't make this decision.
"What do you think we should do?" He asks.
[["Let me manually try and repair"|ky_repair]]
[["You have to decide"|ky_partnerchoice]]
[["Erase it all"|ky_Erase]]
My partner nods and plugs her visor into his scanner.
"We need to be careful now", I warn him. "If she wakes she might be violent".
"I know, I know. No running debugs without testing first", he returns to the monitor.
A bar trailes across his scanner while images appear on her visor.
[[The windows began.|kn_window]]My partner is flustered.
"I've not made that kind of a decision before", he informs me.
"You have to this time", I respond.
"Why?"
"Just do it", I order.
He hesitates, looking at his scanner.
"Well, it's pretty severe... we could try a repair but... it's probably futile and I don't want to cause perminent damage on my first decision".
I give him nothing.
"Let's erase", he hangs his head in shame, then looks at me, hoping I'll intervene.
[[I nod|kn_EraseConf]]Her body writhes and pulsates. Her visor searches frantically for a window. I know what she's looking for. I remember it, but I don't remember it how she does.
What is it I did that caused such a block?
"You really want to jump to an erase? I mean we can, it's just quite a jump", a look of understanding in his eyes. Suddenly I notice my eyes, a stream of tears fall onto my cheeks.
[["Yes, erase."|kn_EraseConf]]
[["No, let's try and repair"|kn_repair]]My partner nods and plugs her visor into his scanner, a stream of code runs down the monitor.
"We need to be careful now", I warn him. "If she wakes she might be violent".
"I know, I know. No running debugs without testing first", he returns to the monitor.
As the data ran through the monitor, images began to appear on her visor.
[[The windows began.|ky_window]]My partner is flustered.
"I've not made that kind of a decision before", he informs me.
"You have to this time", I respond.
"Why?"
"Just do it", I order.
He hesitates, looking at his scanner.
"Well, it's pretty severe... we could try a repair but... it's probably futile and I don't want to cause perminent damage on my first decision".
I give him nothing.
"Let's erase", he hangs his head in shame, then looks at me, hoping I'll intervene.
[[I nod|ky_EraseConf]]Her body writhes and pulsates. Her visor searches frantically for a window. I know what she's looking for. I remember it, but I don't remember it how she does.
What is it I did that caused such a block?
"You really want to jump to an erase? I mean we can, it's just quite a jump", a look of understanding in his eyes. Suddenly I notice my eyes, a stream of tears fall onto my cheeks.
[["Yes, erase."|ky_EraseConf]]
[["No, let's try and repair"|ky_repair]]My partner looks at me, somehow disappointed, but I have learned a single truth in the past 23 years; you can't polish something that's broken.
Millions of lines of code cross the screen in a flash, then again, then consistently.
Her eyes turn pale. Everything is taken away, I know that includes me.
[[The program finishes|kn_EraseComp]]My partner looks at me, somehow disappointed, but I have learned a single truth in the past 23 years; you can't polish something that's broken.
Millions of lines of code cross the screen in a flash, then again, then consistently.
Her eyes turn pale. Everything is taken away, I know that includes me.
[[The program finishes|ky_EraseComp]]Her muscles relax, she falls limp. It's complete.
My partner sighs and turns away. I lean over her body. Gently I rest my hand against her forehead.
"I'm sorry". I whisper. I wish I knew what for. My partner heard. I know he did.
Slowly her eyes begin to open.
"We should go before she wakes, we'll send social services to see about this place", I order.
Disgust and disappointment are shot at me from my partner's eyes.
[[We retreat from the building|kn_eraseend]]A shadow of guilt hangs over as both as we step into the acid rain puddles outside.
"Who was she? I know you know her", he asks me.
[["It doesn't matter"|kn_no-one]]
[["She was my daughter"|kn_daughter_t]]
END OF LINE |
Her muscles relax, she falls limp. It's complete.
My partner sighs and turns away. I lean over her body. Gently I rest my hand against her forehead.
"I'm sorry". I whisper. I wish I knew what for. My partner heard. I know he did.
Slowly her eyes begin to open.
"We should go before she wakes, we'll send social services to see about this place", I order.
Disgust and disappointment are shot at me from my partner's eyes.
[[We retreat from the building|ky_eraseend]]A shadow of guilt hangs over as both as we step into the acid rain puddles outside.
"Who was she? I know you know her", he asks me.
[["It doesn't matter"|ky_no-one]]
[["She was my daughter"|ky_daughter_t]]Her body pressed down against the wooden table. Her eyes welled, mouth trempbled, neck cranked, fists clenched and nails dug deep.
The window showed a glimpse of her throughout her life; years hiding away in dens, watching repeats of childhood wonder. She robbed and mugged to find money to pay Jailbreakers, in hopes they would modify her further.
In her teenage years she toyed with whether or not to get a visor, probably scarred from -- Her childhood. I look away.
"Shall I keep this running, looks like she's in distress, I don't want to do any damage in there." A smart question.
[["Keep it running"|kn_windowcont]]
[["Let's run a diagnostic instead"|kn_correct]]
I force myself to look back, after all it's why I came.
Her childhood; her father, a shadowy figure hidden behind a visor and a beard. One day she walks into a room to find Infernium taking place, a modder tied to a table screams in agony as I wipe away each memory.
She asks me what Infernium means. I tell her it means to fix someone. She asks why it's called Infernium... I tell her it's named after the place they return to once they are free.
I think back to my own window, sat in that field watching her. Were we ever okay?
[[She begins to fit.|kn_kill]]I left it too long!
I rush around and grab her head. My partner frantically checks the scanner!
I need to decide quick... but there are no right answers now.
Please don't be lost.
[["Continue the repair!"|kn_death]]
[["Erase her, now!"|kn_EraseConf]]
[["Stop the process!"|kn_attack]]More memories flood through her.
Then the one I fear most appears...
[[Exactly how she remembers it|kn_parkmemory]]=><=
INCORRECT PASSCODE SELECTED
[[ENTERING SYSTEM LOCK|kn_attack_2]]<i>
Sat from affar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your whiskey.
She looks straight through you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment the horizon line to remain still.
Composure gained you look around; why was I here? Who was I here with?
[[You leave.|kn_death_2]]And there it was, the confirmation of all my failures. 7 years old, left abandoned at a park. I cannot remember how I found her again, whether it was the Police or if she just walked home on her own.
However, I know what my failures did to her, the girl who's father was routinely lost to the bottom of a bottle, to the vision of a time when the world wasn't "infernium". I can only just see it through my window, only when I drown out everything else.
[[The process ended.|kn_death_3]]She falls lifeless on the table. My partner logs the date and time. We look at one another. He thinks I'm a failure, a lying, despicable failure. But, right now I can take comfort in knowing he thinks the same of himself.
[[Together we leave the building.|kn_deathend]]
Her body pressed down against the wooden table. Her eyes welled, mouth trempbled, neck cranked, fists clenched and nails dug deep.
The window showed a glimpse of her throughout her life; years hiding away in dens, watching repeats of childhood wonder. She robbed and mugged to find money to pay Jailbreakers, in hopes they would modify her further.
In her teenage years she toyed with whether or not to get a visor, probably scarred from -- Her childhood. I look away.
"Shall I keep this running, looks like she's in distress, I don't want to do any damage in there." A smart question.
[["Keep it running"|ky_windowcont]]
[["Let's run a diagnostic instead"|ky_diagnostic]]
I force myself to look back, after all it's why I came.
Her childhood; her father, a shadowy figure hidden behind a visor and a beard. One day she walks into a room to find Infernium taking place, a modder tied to a table screams in agony as I wipe away each memory.
She asks me what Infernium means. I tell her it means to fix someone. She asks why it's called Infernium... I tell her it's named after the place they return to once they are free.
I think back to my own window, sat in that field watching her. Were we ever okay?
[[She begins to fit.|ky_kill]]I left it too long!
I rush around and grab her head. My partner frantically checks the scanner!
I need to decide quick... but there are no right answers now.
Please don't be lost.
[["Continue the repair!"|kn_death]]
[["Erase her, now!"|ky_EraseConf]]
[["Stop the process!"|ky_attack]]=><=
INCORRECT PASSCODE SELECTED
[[ENTERING SYSTEM LOCK|ky_attack_2]]A shadow of guilt hangs over as both as we step into the acid rain puddles outside.
"Who was she? I know you know her", he asks me.
[["It doesn't matter now"|End]]"Jesus Christ, your daughter? We just erased your daughter?" He reaches for breath.
"Are you gonna report me for it?" I asked.
"Well... I don't know man. I've not seen anything like this before." When he's uncomfortable his cheeks roll back into a smile.
"I guess not..." He concludes.
[["I need you to do one more thing for me"|kn_self]]He searches for words.
"Think you're in the wrong profession." He smirks, I smirk too and immediately regret it.
I turn and walk away from him. He shakes his head and looks up for a cab.
Like a mirage he fades away as my visor activates. One day I'll stop, but not today.
[[I look into the window.|kn_window_1]][["Erase me."|kn_eraseme]]I walk through the streets...
It seems cleaner than usual...
[[Or was it always this way?|End]]<i>
Sat from afar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee.
She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment for the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[I remain|End]]He searches for words.
"Think you're in the wrong profession." He smirks, I smirk too and immediately regret it.
I turn and walk away from him. He shakes his head and looks up for a cab.
Like a mirage he fades away as my visor activates. One day I'll stop, but not today.
[[I look into the window.|ky_window_1]]"Jesus Christ, your daughter? We just erased your daughter?" He reaches for breath.
"Are you gonna report me for it?" I asked.
"Well... I don't know man. I've not seen anything like this before." When he's uncomfortable his cheeks roll back into a smile.
"I guess not..." He concludes.
[["I need you to do one more thing for me"|ky_self]]<i>
Sat from affar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee.
She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[I remain|End]]My partner ends the repair and uses his monitor to access an administration terminal.
=><=
TERMINAL ACCESS GRANTED
[[RUN DIAGNOSTIC|kn_loop_1]]My partner stares at me, time freezes as the weight of the error washes over us.
I see his hand glide down to the knife in his pocket. I shake my head, "don't". Before turning back to the girl.
Her visor de-activates.
[[Her eye flickers open.|kn_attack_3]]"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" My ears ring as she screams.
She claws at her throat, gasping for breath. Tears stream down her face. Clear white returns to her blood shot eyes. She searches the room, onboarding herself back into reality, or is this a dream to her?
Without a moments hesitation she throws herself up from the table. Thrusting with all her strength, forcing her binds free.
Me and my partner take a step back, he pulls the knife out entirely.
"DON'T", I shout, but his eyes are focused on her, his arm poised and ready to attack at a moments notice.
[[The table topples and she falls.|kn_attack_4]][["Erase me."|ky_eraseme]]I walk through the streets...
It seems cleaner than usual...
[[Or was it always this way?|End]]As her body slams against the rotten plank floor it sends a shockwave through her with one instinct; survive.
In an instant she's on her feet, evaluating myself and my partner. Her eyes dwell on mine for a moment of recognition and my heart swells with a glint of hope. Her eyes are the same as they always were, from her years as a hyperactive toddler to a distanced rebellious teenager.
"NO!" I roar in anticipation, knowing what is imminent.
My partner's hand now fully gripping the knife, he draws it with his clammy hand. Fear overpowers hope and in an instant she is lost again, returning to the feral Modder she had grown into.
She jumps at him as he prepares to thrust the knife!
[[Stop him.|kn_partnerdeath]]
[[Stop her.|kn_youdeath]]
I throw myself at him, together we tumble across the room before falling down a break in the floorboards. A shockwave of algae followed by murky ice water washes over us.
He forces my hands off his collar, while kicking himself up for air.
[[I let him go.|kn_partnerlives]]I throw myself at her, pulling her weight down with me onto the ground!
She cries out in pain and I find myself above her, holding her down with what little strength remains in my frail body.
My partner drops the knife, falling back.
I continue to wrestle her down. She adopts a new strategy, exploring her surroundings with a free hand.
The knife! She grips it firmly just as my partner notices and attempts to stop her.
[[She drives the knife between my ribs.|kn_youdeath2]]In her whithered face, before the skin that clung tightly to her skull, I saw the little girl [[I had failed.|kn_youdied]]
<i>
She would return to another squat like this derelict we were in. She would find a new visor, perhaps steal one. She would find the money to have it moddified. She would sit day after day looking through a window to a false past that hides the one I gave her.
In the days of religion, the Priests would excorcise the devil from the innocent. Deep down I had known my role in today's world would effect her, would force her into reality sooner than she might comprehend it.
But it was all the other failures of mine, that forced her down this path. If only I could confront those too.
[[Reflections faded, as did I|End]]
My partner stares at me, time freezes as the weight of the error washes over us.
The sheathed knife presses against my hip... my hand twitches in anticipation.
Her visor de-activates.
[[Her eye flickers open.|ky_attack_3]]"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" My ears ring as she screams.
She claws at her throat, gasping for breath. Tears stream down her face. Clear white returns to her blood shot eyes. She searches the room, onboarding herself back into reality, or is this a dream to her?
Without a moments hesitation she throws herself up from the table. Thrusting with all her strength, forcing her binds free.
My fingers twitch again, catastrophe imminent if only I can act!
[[The table topples and she falls.|ky_attack_4]]As her body slams against the rotten plank floor it sends a shockwave through her with one instinct; survive.
In an instant she's on her feet, evaluating myself and my partner. Her eyes dwell on mine for a moment of recognition and my heart swells with a glint of hope. Her eyes are the same as they always were, from her years as a hyperactive toddler to a distanced rebellious teenager.
"NO!" I roar in anticipation, knowing what is imminent. Fear overpowers hope and in an instant she is lost again, returning to the feral Modder she had grown into.
She pounces at my partner, her shadow engulphing him as she looms above.
[[Grab the knife!|ky_grabknife]]
[[Get between them!|ky_interrupt]]
In an elongated moment my hand quivers as it plucks at the scabbard.
She wrestles him to the ground! Clawing at his face. He wrestles, forcing her head into the ground. But he fights as one does when they still feel pain, futile against her numb verocity.
I finally find my grip around the handle! All I have to do is unsheath the knife and end it!
[[But that would mean...|ky_flashbackagain]]I throw myself at her, pulling her weight down with me onto the ground!
She cries out in pain and I find myself above her, holding her down with what little strength remains in my frail body.
The knife in it's sheath still pressing into my hip.
I continue to wrestle her down until she adopts a new strategy, exploring her surroundings with a free hand.
The knife! She grips it firmly just as my partner notices and attempts to stop her.
[[She drives the knife between my ribs.|ky_youdeath2]]In her whithered face, before the skin that clung tightly to her skull, I saw the little girl [[I had failed.|ky_youdied]]
<i>
​
She would return to another squat like this derelict we were in. She would find a new visor, perhaps steal one. She would find the money to have it moddified. She would sit day after day looking through a window to a false past that hides the one I gave her.
​
In the days of religion, the Priests would excorcise the devil from the innocent. Deep down I had known my role in today's world would effect her, would force her into reality sooner than she might comprehend it.
But it was all the other failures of mine, that forced her down this path. If only I could confront those too.
​
[[Reflections faded, as did I...|End]]
​<i>
Sat from afar you watch her playing in the park. She's only 7 here. She's wearing the clothes you picked out for her this morning; a calico dress like the one her mother wore.
You take a sip of your coffee.
She looks straight at you before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly you pull yourself up from the dead grass. It takes a moment for the horizon line to remain still. Composure gained, now; do I chase after her or do I let her continue out of sight?
[[Wake Up.|ky_failher]]I wonder if she can't control the memories too?
Reality struck me as she dug her nails into his neck and blood spurted. She was feral, terrifying and inhuman.
I had let go of the knife... a decision I could not make in the moment!
She scratches at his neck again, piercing through another layer of flesh. He drowns as blood pours down his Trachea. In an abyss of despair, he looks at me and just as he gasps his final breath, his nervous smirk returns one final time.
[[Her shock fades.|ky_shesback]]My daughter lingers over the body of the fool. The verocity fades, but she does not return. She fall back away from the body and begins studying the room.
Various squatters had watched the comotion from afar; the addicted girl brutalizing a man while her father watched.
I search for words, anything I can say to her in this desperate moment. She shoots me a look like a bullet to the heart and no words come.
[[...|ky_sheflees]]
[[...|ky_sheflees]]She climbs over the body, clutching it by the collar. She drags it across the room.
She's lost now, fallen into the cycle of disconnect like all the others I had tried and occasionally succeeded in helping. Like those she had watched me treat the very same way I had intended on treating her... if only things had transpired that way.
She drops the body down a crack in the floorboards, leading down into a murky pool of collected rain, topped by algae.
[[One final look at me; recognition?|ky_recognition]]
Her head falls. She knows who I am now...
Fear and anger and despair and disgust and regret and need and need and need.
With a certain swiftness she washes her hands off in the pool, then returns to collect her visor.
I continue to search for words. But before they come she's fled.
<i>
[[I stand still, watched by those on the same path, myself among them|End]]As we rise to the surface a pair of hands break through the algae. I reach out in trepedation, perhaps she remembered me? Perhaps it is a rescue attempt!
The hands swish back and forth as a cloud of red drifts from each hand. Now clean of blood, they vanish from the pool before we can reach.
[[We reach the surface.|she leaves]]After deep breaths my partner looks at me in fury and confusion. I have little time to explain, pulling myself up on the damp floorboards.
She stands awaiting my return. As she sees me her head falls. She has recognised me...
Fear and anger and despair and disgust and regret and need and need and need.
With a certain swiftness she collects her visor and before words reach me she's fled.
[[Having failed, we left the building|kn_eraseend]]A stream of code runs down the monitor with functions labelled after memories.
Some are clear fabrications; memories of sunshine, beaches and a birthday party. She probably payed good money for them.
The functions vanish as the error is found, one memory stuck on an infinite loop.
1 System Error Found;
[[//park_father_1903;|kn_loop_2]]<i>
Sat from afar he watches me play in the park. I was 7. I'm wearing the clothes he picked out for me this morning; a calico dress like the one mother wore.
He takes a sip of his coffee.
I look straight at him before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly he pulls himself up from the dead grass; out of sight I wait for him to find me.
[[The memory is the same as mine...|kn_loop_3]]
Why had this memory infested my mind and eaten away at other memories until they serve only as a brief escape?
Was it the same for her?
My partner steps forward.
"Nice job! Should be an easy fix from here."
"What do you mean?", I hesitate.
"Well... we looks like this code was moddified, so all we have to do is revert to a backup. I'm sure she's got it hidden in there somewhere." He's right. The memory has been modified and yet it is the same as mine...
[["I'll do it.|kn_memoryfix_1]]
I take the scanner in my hand and review the memory. One again my partner is right, the code has been modified, but only in fragments.
The backup memory does not exist, but the changes to the base code can be undone...
[[With trepedation, I start.|kn_memoryfix_2]]<i>
Sat from afar he watches me play in the park. I'm 7. I'm wearing the clothes he picked out for me this morning; a calico dress like the one mother wore.
He takes a sip of his coffee.
I look straight at him before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly he pulls himself up from the dead grass; out of sight I wait for him to find me.
(click-replace:"coffee")[whiskey]
(click-replace:"straight at")[straight through]
[[RUN_FUNCTION;|kn_memoryfix_3]]The memory returns to it's original form... so mine is the lie.
My breath evades me and moisture forms across my forehead. Focus. Focus. I take a deep breath.
Her memory now in tact and the modifications are removed. She beggins to shudder, her muscles clench, her eyes spring open!
"She's going into shock!" My partner waits for answers.
I question what I should feel, horror at the corrupted girl before me or horror at the memory that corrupted her? Why is it neither?
"We need to erase her." I order. He hangs his head, like he somehow failed at doing his job.
[["Now!"|kn_codereq]]My partner changes the input.
"Fuck! Fuck! Because we used the terminal, a code is required. I can't remember seeing it in her file, do you know it?" He asks. I approach his monitor. A readout shows a page of different options.
"Get it wrong and her visor will de-activate, that's the last thing she needs right now." He reminds me.
"Yeah, I know." I remind him and turn my attention back to the monitor...
=><=
CORRECT PASS-CODE SELECTION REQUIRED:
[[1962|kn_attack]]
[[9083|kn_attack]]
[[2850|kn_attack]]
[[5985|kn_attack]]
[[8563|kn_attack]]
[[1903|kn_EraseConf]]
[[7520|kn_attack]]
[[9028|kn_attack]]
[[1730|kn_attack]]
My partner ends the repair and uses his monitor to access an administration terminal.
=><=
TERMINAL ACCESS GRANTED
[[RUN DIAGNOSTIC|ky_stream_1]]A stream of code runs down the monitor with functions labelled after memories.
Some are clear fabrications; memories of sunshine, beaches and a birthday party. She probably payed good money for them.
The functions vanish as the error is found, one memory stuck on an infinite loop.
1 System Error Found;
[[//park_father_1903;|ky_stream_2]]<i>
Sat from afar he watches me play in the park. I was 7. I'm wearing the clothes he picked out for me this morning; a calico dress like the one mother wore.
He takes a sip of his coffee.
I look straight at him before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly he pulls himself up from the dead grass; out of sight I wait for him to find me.
[[The memory is the same as mine...|ky_stream_3]]
Why had this memory infested my mind and eaten away at other memories until they serve only as a brief escape?
Was it the same for her?
My partner steps forward.
"Nice job! Should be an easy fix from here."
"What do you mean?", I hesitate.
"Well... we looks like this code was moddified, so all we have to do is revert to a backup. I'm sure she's got it hidden in there somewhere." He's right. The memory has been modified and yet it is the same as mine...
[["I'll do it.|ky_Fixer_1]]I take the scanner in my hand and review the memory. One again my partner is right, the code has been modified, but only in fragments.
The backup memory does not exist, but the changes to the base code can be undone...
[[With trepedation, I start.|ky_fixer_2]]<i>
Sat from afar he watches me play in the park. I'm 7. I'm wearing the clothes he picked out for me this morning; a calico dress like the one mother wore.
He takes a sip of his coffee.
I look straight at him before running to the climbing wall out of sight.
Slowly he pulls himself up from the dead grass; out of sight I wait for him to find me.
(click-replace:"coffee")[whiskey]
(click-replace:"straight at")[straight through]
[[RUN_FUNCTION;|ky_fixer_3]]The memory returns to it's original form... so mine is the lie.
My breath evades me and moisture forms across my forehead. Focus. Focus. I take a deep breath.
Her memory now in tact and the modifications are removed. She beggins to shudder, her muscles clench, her eyes spring open!
"She's going into shock!" My partner waits for answers.
I question what I should feel, horror at the corrupted girl before me or horror at the memory that corrupted her? Why is it neither?
"We need to erase her." I order. He hangs his head, like he somehow failed at doing his job.
[["Now!"|ky_codereq]]My partner changes the input.
"Fuck! Fuck! Because we used the terminal, a code is required. I can't remember seeing it in her file, do you know it?" He asks. I approach his monitor. A readout shows a page of different options.
"Get it wrong and her visor will de-activate, that's the last thing she needs right now." He reminds me.
"Yeah, I know." I remind him and turn my attention back to the monitor...
=><=
CORRECT PASS-CODE SELECTION REQUIRED:
[[1962|ky_attack]]
[[9083|ky_attack]]
[[2850|ky_attack]]
[[5985|ky_attack]]
[[8563|ky_attack]]
[[1903|ky_EraseConf]]
[[7520|ky_attack]]
[[9028|ky_attack]]
[[1730|ky_attack]]