Perditum Odyssey
Act 2
I’m adding these comics out of order. :-O
> Be the task rabbit.
You are now a TASK RABBIT, a basic class of CYBORG. You are currently in your holding cell, awaiting instruction. A normal animal wouldn't enjoy the confinement, but as a cyborg your natural instincts have been DAMPENED SIGNIFICANTLY.
Animals that have been modified like yourself have a COMPUTER CHIP IN YOUR BRAIN that tells you what to do. Also, you like to eat lettuce. It's very tasty.
> Assess location.
Your holding cell is located on the 3rd floor of Banana Inc. They’re a well-known American multinational technology company.
> RECIEVE TASK.
You log into your team’s homepage. You navigate to your unfinished task list.
AUTHORIZATION CODE: LOW PRIORITY
CLASSIFICATION
REQUEST: PERSONAL ASSISTANCE
ADDRESS:
Newborn Apartments
150 Hoover Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89101
SENT: 9:47 PM, ONLINE, on NOV. 2, 2017.
DEADLINE: 9:47 PM by NOV. 3, 2017.
I would highly appreciate help charging a cell phone at the address I've provided. I have limited mobility, so I can't do this myself. The phone will be in an empty apartment room with the television playing static loudly. It will be under a light source. (?) DO NOT DAMAGE THE CELL PHONE OR ALTER DATA.
Thank you for your time. I am aware this is likely inadequate, but do the best you can. I will repay you in whatever way I am capable. I can explain everything later if you are curious.
This is a very unusual task. You've never encountered a task that wasn't within the building. You have a set radius, and this is far outside it. In addition, it's not from one of the work camps, prisons, nor Vitalis. Strange...
Do you accept this task? Should you ask someone about it first?
> Sneak out.
Nestled among the steel rows of rabbit cages, you have no freedom to sneak out whatsoever.
> Attempt to contact the sender for further information.
Well... you guess you could. You can't get in trouble for that.
[Connecting...]
[No connection could be established. A connection timeout has occurred.]
TR63: user perditum
TR63: i got your task
TR63: it’s too far away
TR63: my brain size is not big enough for complex problems!!!!!
TR63: i want to do it though............ (='.'=)
TR63: please cancel it or clarify instructions
TR63: respond respond respond
TR63: am i acknowledged? who is your supervisor??
TR63: ping ping ping ping ping ping ping PING PPPIIIIING
> Discuss with the master task rabbit. Use Psionics.
There’s no master task rabbit. Task rabbits generally think as a hivemind. There’s just CONSILIUM to ask. It's a tower that sorts through all the orders in the animal lab and administers them. Everyone here has their own specialization, which you think is good because it's less confusing.
Your ability to access the NETWORK is close enough to telepathy, so you use that instead. Throughout the building, all sorts of invisible signals are bouncing around to their destination.
[Connecting…]
[Connection established. User CONSILIUM is within the network.]
CONS: Well if it isn’t my favorite task rabbit! Hiya, buddy!
TR63: we’re all your favorites
CONS: You’ve reached the help desk, by the way. And boy, would I love to help you.
TR63: task related inquiry
CONS: Okay, no problem. Is it under HANDYMAN, MOVING HELP, PERSONAL ASSISTANCE, or CLEANING?
TR63: ummm
TR63: personal assistance
CONS: Thanks for bringing this to my attention, pal. What’s the task authorization #?
TR63: #2934
CONS: I’ve pulled the file. What’s your concern, task rabbit 63? This should be no biggie for you.
TR63: it’s too far
CONS: Interesting observation! Upon review, this task is within 600 feet. Can I help you with anything else?
TR63: yes it’s a very good observation by me
TR63: it’s not that close, i checked
CONS: CONSILIUM won’t give tasks that don’t match your task criteria. I individually cater to my team’s skills using a filtering subroutine. I’m so glad you asked, by the way.
TR63: no!!
TR63: I said it’s too far
CONS: Are you sure?
TR63: yes!!!!!
CONS: You may be experiencing malfunction, task rabbit 63. What a bummer! Have you recently been handicapped? Remember, you should always report limb loss.
TR63: no I don’t need repairs at the moment
TR63: this body is healthy
CONS: If you find yourself unable to complete a task, it will be assigned to another rabbit.
TR63: you gave me a bad task
TR63: if I reject the task will it show on my record????????
CONS: For evaluation purposes, all tasks will be recorded. This is to help breed a better rabbit. Your generation is the product of controlled mating. But don’t worry about all that stuff. That’s my job.
TR63: I’m a smart rabbit though
CONS: I don’t see how this is related. Can you rephrase that?
TR63: you’re stupid
TR63: stupid ai
CONS: Okay, that’s just super to hear. Do you have any other questions?
TR63: i don’t know who gave the request
TR63: it’s out of network
TR63: who’s perditum?
CONS: Let me search that for you. Perditum is part of our facility AI staff. Like me, this user has been clearance in our system through specific channels. Have a great day!
TR63: i’ve never seen perdi before
TR63: is it new? it's not in-network
TR63: it won't answer
CONS: Sorry, I didn’t understand your question. My Interactive Chat Response didn’t recognize the query.
TR63: meh
TR63: can I have dopamine now?
CONS: Did you ask, “what is dopamine?” Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that activates the reward centers in a cyborg’s brain. Cyborgs are only given dopamine when they provide excellent performance. I’d be thrilled to alert you when your next dose is ready.
TR63: mehhh
CONS: Do you have any other questions? Knowledge makes the world go round!
TR63: no I guess not (='.'=)
CONS: Thanks a bunch for using the help desk! My personality this week has been set to _ENTHUSIASTIC_. I hope I can continue to provide great service to our task members.
This conversation log has been saved.
[Disconnected.]
[INQUIRY HAS ENDED.]
What now?
This part of the story is still under construction, sorry!
Click for Part 1
