001 ♞ [ video ] → you'll wake the thought police

[oxidantshappen]

[ Evening Abax. Have a very... very familiar face on your phones fishing out a lighter from his pocket as he peers down at the object, debating how to proceed with what's guaranteed to be a highly awkward conversation. It's evening and Erik's sitting at a rather empty table in the middle of what appears to be a cafe, chewing on the tip of a

Comments

[notglitching]

[text; encrypted] (until described otherwise)

[Ah. Rinzler was just asking about this.]

Query. Duplication process?

[text; encrypted]

[oxidantshappen]

[ Give him a few minutes, Erik hasn't mastered the texting process just yet. ]

I don't understand what you mean.

[notglitching]

[Rinzler would sigh. But he doesn't sigh. Or talk. Or...

It's been a long milicycle.]

Two of you. How?

[oxidantshappen]

That's exactly what I'm here to ask. I've learned enough about this man and there's quite a few theories, but beyond that I'd say I'm clueless.

[notglitching]

Provide theories.

[oxidantshappen]

None of them seem plausible without further information, though I'm inclined to go with experiments, government testing.

[notglitching]

Sysadmins capable of user duplication?

[That-it shouldn't be possible. Users were...]

[oxidantshappen]

Whats a sysadmin?

[ It's not like Erik has much to go off on beyond theories, simple ones, but the technology, and the jargon simply has him confused. ]

[notglitching]

System administrator.

[He goes through a half-dozen possible explanations before opting for the simplest.] In charge.

[oxidantshappen]

[ That would make sense. ]

I don't know. If they could, I wouldn't be surprised.

[notglitching]

[No known methods, then...]

Request. More data if obtained?

[oxidantshappen]

It would help if I knew the other lookalikes. I can provide what information I learn, if you repay me in kind.

[notglitching]

Specify data requested.

[oxidantshappen]

Allies. We'll trade. I give you information when I find it, you give me information when I need it.

[notglitching]

[...not a simple exchange, then. Rinzler's... less than sure about this. If the lack of encryptions on this user's other conversations is any trend, he could just as easily keep creeping on learning from the user with no trade at all. And "alliance" is...

Rinzler's not used to alliance.]

Alliance: intent limited to data exchange on topic: duplicates?

[oxidantshappen]

For now. There is also the obvious - getting out of here. But that can wait I suppose.

[ There's more Erik wants answered, but he doesn't have the questions just yet. How they came there, why they're here, and of course, the ever pressing matter of clones has him on edge. So he'll take whatever assistance he can get. ]