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[bastione]

[ HI EVERYBODY it's Twosix-six, and we're just all going to pretend that his last slightly crazy post never happened, right? Right. Nobody here was crazy and rambling about their angsty backstory. Anyway he's back to normal now, apparently, since he's 1.) apologizing again and 2.) looking vaguely regretful. ]I'd like to apologize for my previous

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[notsoloyal]

How does one get to Hypatia?

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[bastione]

Hypatia is no longer one entity. There is no core to communicate with or to shut down, any more. [They tried that.]

She is dozens of fragments in dozens of locations, and I am not sure that any single piece of her knows where the others are or what they intend.

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[notsoloyal]

[No, this cannot slow him down. He needs to get at Hypatia and get Soundwave back. Think, there has to be something. Anything.]

Hnn, is it possible that one fragment knows more than the rest? One that has more control? What of viruses, could she be affected by one? I am requesting any and all information you have on her.

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[bastione]

Certain fragments are bound to be more powerful, depending on what functions they control and their level of priority. As for a virus, it is possible, yes. Anything is possible.

[ And. He's just going to go out on a limb here.

tentatively, ]

...she cannot bring him back, Shockwave. The rift interacts with the teleportation system, and that is beyond her control.

[universal_boss]

Who are you and what makes you more qualified to answer questions then the rest of the station's denizens?

[bastione]

A single qualification, I'm afraid. I have been here longer. My designation is Twosix-six, formerly of the Resistance.

[universal_boss]

What can you tell me about the Resistance? Who were they resisting? What happened to them? What was the event that incited the movement.

And Twosix-six, how long have you been here?

[bastione]

They are the remaining survivors of the original survey team sent to terraform this planet, and allied rift arrivals who have chosen to migrate to the surface. They resist Hypatia, who massacred the original population of this space station thirty years ago for reasons still unknown.

I have been here for fifteen years.

[eighttotwelve]

Twosix-six. How are you?

[bastione]

[ OH SOMEONE ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT HOW HE FEELS t-this is a novelty. ]

Recovered from that ordeal. [Mostly.]

And yourself, Thane?

[eighttotwelve]

You're likely further along than I am.

I am existing. Rebuilding. Attempting to determine what to do with myself now.

[bastione]

I fear synthetics had the easier time of it, with the Marker.

[ ...and the other things, like station residents doing awful things to other station residents. But at least the word 'rebuilding' earns a small, barely there smile. ]

If there is anything I can assist you with, you have only to ask.

[ delicately, ]

Has your Commander recovered?

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[mymothersshadow]

No catch, huh?

I'll start with an easy one - do you know exactly how fragmented Hypatia is as of right now?

UNSC encryption; hologram

[bastione]

No catch, save that I cannot give answers I do not have.

[ Oh :C Always right to the bad news. ]

The protocols that govern precedence in her sub-routines have been eroded. Each is acting independently... or mostly independently, concerned only with its own specific task.

[ softer ]

They are all afraid of each other, and she will not let me help.

UNSC encryption; hologram

[mymothersshadow]

If she continues to erode, is the station in any danger?

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[bastione]

...not the station. But the inhabitants, yes.

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[manipul8trix]

I guess my question would 8e "what's your motive"?
8ecause much as I would loooooooove to 8elieve that you are doing this from the kindness of your vascular pump, it doesn't seem very likely. At all!
So.
What's with the "Happy Helper Has All The Answers" routine? I 8n't 8uying it.

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[bastione]

I can assure you that I don't have all the answers. I have simply been here long enough to observe patterns and collect data, and there is no reason for me to keep it secret when so many have questions.

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[manipul8trix]

So how long is "long enough"?
Would it happen to 8e long enough to know what happens when - to use a completely random example - some8ody dies of old age or whatever?
I mean. Do they just respawn like every8ody else, or is that it? 8oom, dead?
Just out of pure alien curiosity. Seeing as you are so very eager to answer all the questions! All of them.

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[bastione]

[ Well, you don't seem like you're going to burst into tears if he gives a number... ]

Fifteen years.

I have yet to encounter a station resident that has chosen to succumb to advanced age. There are a great many options here for organ replacement, cloning, even full transfer to a synthetic body.

[ Things are a little different on the surface, though. ]