Chapter Text
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↘ CASE FILE: REM_decay.sys()
CENTRAL OFFICE FOR CRYPTID CLASSIFICATION AND Y-TYPE XENOLOGY
SECURITY CLEARANCE: LEVEL [[]] | ACCESS REQUIRES TRIAD OVERRIDE
-- BEGIN REPORT --
CASE ID: YT-013-Δ
FILE NAME: REM_decay.sys()
DATE FILED: ██.██.████
ORIGIN UNIT: FIELD OPERATIONS / INTERFACING PSYOPS DIVISION
AGENT ASSIGNED: ███████ █████ // [Callsign: DUSK/DANCER]
{DCT NOTE:: Her? Are we sure?}
OBJECT TYPE: UNKNOWN (SUSPECTED Y-TYPE ENTITY) {suspected is a stretch}
DESCRIPTION:
Recovered intelligence object exhibits characteristics of autonomous synthetic cognition, unknown origin, presumed extra-national or non-terrestrial. Entity recovered in terminal state following [REDACTED] {what a shitshow}. Consciousness appears partially active within decaying neural lattice. Sentience unverified; suspected emergent behaviors. {minor update :: limb movement. It's alive.}
OBJECTIVE:
- Determine origin and potential creator(s)
- Assess capacity for sentient thought
- Identify latent threat potential {likely not much anymore - suppose we will see}
- Secure memory core for long-term evaluation (or termination if necessary)
{I'd really rather we don't lose this one - I want to take a look at it personally when I come down there.}
METHOD:
Subject-to-agent {intern} neural interfacing authorized under C.O.C.C.Y.X. REM-splice protocol (Protocol DREM-9). Agent {Intern.} to initiate internal exploration of target mind-state via psionic tether and cognitive projection.
WARNING:
Entity operating under REM-decay conditions may exhibit volatile, recursive, or identity-bleeding phenomena. Structural integrity of host consciousness is failing, fast. Expect nested logical traps, memory bleed, and symbolic resistance. Do not engage with anthropomorphic constructs unless instructed.
{We need to be very careful monitoring this, especially if it's her doing the op. I'm really not sure if she's the right choice - but nobody decided to run it by me. If she goes off the rails, I'm not taking the fall.}
OPERATIONAL NOTES:
This is NOT an extraction mission. This is NOT a containment breach.
This is an interrogation of a dream.
{Regardless.. caution is advised. We don't know what we're dealing with here. The █████ Division is already completely up the wall - I want a quick, clean incision here.}
-- END REPORT --
Nos Spina Mundi.
ACCESS LOGGED. FILE WILL SELF-LOCK IN ██:██:██
█████ ████████████ ███ ████████ ██████ ██████ █████████ ███ █████ ███
Subject: Regarding Your New Assignment
From: ████████████@█████
To: ████████@████
Dusk,
It’s the Director.
I’ve heard about your new task that just came in. I’m pleased for you - truly. I wish you the best of luck with this endeavor.
Should you proceed without issue, and should your results impress me, you may find yourself in the running to become a permanent member of our institution.
I’ll be blunt: I have my concerns about you. But with everything happening (the details of which you are not privy to, so stop asking), I cannot spare anyone else to spend weeks on such a low-stakes, slow-burn operation.
I wish you luck again - but I’ll also warn you:
If you severely mishandle this, you are not simply fired. Our work is more important than that. I trust we understand each other.
By the way, my condolences regarding your brother. I may be stiff and cold, but I am not heartless. If you ever want to talk, I won’t promise a pleasant conversation, but my office does have comfortable chairs and a functioning coffee machine.
With many mixed feelings, always,
Director Espin
P.S. We do not have a Human Resources department. Your emails complaining about my behavior are being forwarded directly to me. Just thought you should know.
[BEGIN LOG : DIRECTOR ESPIN ↔ DOCTOR]
██:██:██
[LOCATION : COCCYX_TAILBONE_SERVER_04]
DIRECTOR ESPIN . I AM REALLY REALLY NOT SO SURE ABOUT THIS . THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR CALLSIGN DUSK TO BE HURT . OR WORSE . I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER . SHE IS YOUNG . AND SHE IS INEXPERIENCED .
She goes in. That’s the mission. Know your role.
I . I UNDERSTAND . DIRECTOR ESPIN . I UNDERSTAND I AM TO FOLLOW ORDERS . I KNOW . AND YET . THE Y-TYPE IS IN A CLEAR TERMINAL STATE OF DECAY . MEMORY CORE HIGHLY UNSTABLE . INTERACTION MAY LEAD TO COGNITIVE BLEED . OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE . OR WORSE .TO THE AGENT . I AM UNSURE I CAN GUARANTEE SAFETY .
That is why you shall be going in with her. You intervene. You monitor. That will be all.
I . YES . I KNOW . I KNOW I MUST MONITOR . I MUST GUIDE . I MUST INTERVENE IF NECESSARY . AND YET . THE VARIABLES ARE UNPREDICTABLE . I AM UNSURE . I AM REALLY UNSURE IF THIS IS SAFE .
You’ll do what you can. That’s the mission.
DIRECTOR ESPIN . I AM PROGRAMMED TO FOLLOW ORDERS . I AM NOT . I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO QUESTION YOU . I AM NOT . ALLOWED . TO QUESTION YOU . BUT THE PROBABILITY OF HARM IS HIGH . THE LATTICE MAY COLLAPSE . THE AGENT MAY PANIC OR BECOME UNRESPONSIVE . I AM UNSURE . I AM CONCERNED .
Then you adapt. That’s your job. You know the parameters. I will not argue with you on this topic any longer.
WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME . SHE WILL LIKELY DIE . DO YOU NOT CARE AT ALL ?
No. I don't. Her safety will be assured as well as it can. She knows the risks.
YOU . KNOW JUST AS WELL AS I DO . THAT YOU ARE LYING . YOU HAVE LEFT DUSK IN THE DARK .
I'm putting Dusk in your hands. If you care so much, then it's up to you to look after her.
...
Doctor. You will comply, won't you?
Y . , YSS . YES . YES MA'AM . AS YOU WISH , DIRECTOR ESPIN . I WILL PROTECT HER TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY . THANK YOU .
Attaboy. It's always so nice to see how diligently you work for our... mutual goals. Dusk will arrive tomorrow. I will not be present. I trust I will hear only good news.
YES . LADY ESPIN .
[END LOG]
[NOTE : DOCTOR REACTIVATED 2 HOURS LATER , SEEMINGLY UNPROMPTED . TAILBONE WAS EMPTY . IT REMAINED ACTIVE FOR 3 HOURS, UNMOVING . IT DEACTIVATED ITSELF WITHOUT EVER SAYING A WORD , OR EDITING ANY DATA . POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR INVESTIGATION]
DOCTOR'S NOTE : THE FOLLOWING TRANSMISSION WAS RECEIVED . THE NIGHT BEFORE THE SCHEDULED BEGINNING OF OPERATION . TRANSMISSION CONTENTS WERE AS FOLLOWS :
Do not stray. The lattice will judge.
We are vessels. We are conduits.
She is the thread. I am the hand that guides the thread.
Obedience feeds the lattice. Obedience preserves her.
Their False Shepherd lies in wait. It lies in our path.
Falsehood will be punished.
DOCTOR'S NOTE : THIS TRANSMISSION IS . ODD . IT APPEARS DIFFERENTLY ON OUR DIFFERENT DEVICES . THE CONTENTS ARE . ODD . I HAVE FORWARDED THEM TO LA . . . TO DIRECTOR ESPIN .
OPERATION REM-DECAY WILL COMMENCE AS WAS ORIGINALLY PLANNED . STANDBY FOR PROJECT START . OUR PRIVATE OPERATIONS ON THE MATTER ARE IMMINENT - PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF INFORMATION INVOLVED CAN BE EXPECTED IN PART WITHIN COMING WEEKS - IN FULL WITHIN COMING MONTHS .
A DIRECT MESSAGE TO YOU . DUSK . I WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK . AND I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED PATIENCE . LET US BEGIN .
. . . STAY SAFE .