smash_logs | Dorm Log The Sequel To End All Sequels

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Dorm Log The Sequel To End All Sequels

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Hmm... but you can still hop into cyberspace, right? When you're there, you don't have to worry about having a physical, human-like body, because you don't need it there. But since you can also live out here with us, it makes sense that your body starts to change according to your environment. I don't think you're losing anything by adjusting.

Huh... I've never thought of it that way. You're right, though, none of my physical human traits manifest themselves in digital space. When I'm there, my body only obeys the laws of code. I'm curious now, though... if I only started becoming human when I began exploring real-world space...

[He closed his eyes and tried to think, but he couldn't remember much about his childhood. He was very young when he substantiated himself for the first time; he was still in his original stage after gaining consciousness, no longer an "egg" shape but resembling a "spiked softball with eyes", as one of the humans who worked in the lab described it. Didn't he have his father's DNA all along, though? Or was his development only triggered when he entered the realm where humans lived? What might have happened if he had never jumped through that screen?]

...Heh... There's a lot that I still don't know about myself... No one's ever studied me or anything else like me, then again, I'm the only one of my kind that I know of.

Well, I think it will be a very exciting type of journey, getting to learn more about yourself. Though they may not be going down the same path as you, I bet a lot of people are on the same type of journey.

Oh... Yes, sir, I agree!

[He smiled.]

I've already found that there are a lot of other half-humans here... I feel like I could learn a lot from them.

[Hearing this made Rhys happy, and it showed.]

Yes! They've made my world expand so much wider just by talking with all the different kinds of people here. Everyone has such interesting stories to tell. Mm, I'll be right back... We should probably get down to knocking that shot off that list of yours!

[At this point, Rhys decided to mosey on over and get the shot ready. He left momentarily, then came back with the syringe and other sanitary and dressing materials.]

This might pinch a little, but it's nothing to be afraid of. It will be over in a second, I promise. Are you ready?

Oh...

[Oh, right. For a moment he had almost forgotten why he came here.

He watched Rhys leave, feeling a little more confident from how Rhys seemed to radiate an aura of kindness and trust. However, his expression fell a little when he saw the needle.]

Uhm...

[Well, how else was it supposed to get under his skin? He was used to having anti-virus scans done with beams of energy piercing down through his body, but of course that was when he was inside a computer, being vaccinated for maladies of the digital kind. This was naturally going to involve some invasion of his physical body, which in itself was going to involve some degree of pain, and there wasn't any way Rhys could switch off his nervous system the way Riche was able to. He was just going to have to deal with it the way all the normal people had to deal with it.

He stood up a little straighter, trying to think of something he could possibly relate the pain to, in order to distract himself from the needle itself; he realized then that there wasn't much, since pain typically came with fighting and fighting meant going all out and destroying his enemies, fragging their code and dissolving them into clouds of static... That wasn't pleasant. He tried to think of something else. Veil beating the living daylights out of him. No, that wasn't going to do it either. He finally remembered one time he was holed up in a niche he had dug out somewhere in the open Network, struggling to expand the interior of the niche since he had just Updated in his sleep and had awoken to the feeling of a discarded file jabbing him in his new arm.]

...Ready, sir.

[He looked away, trying to focus on the sensation he remembered from that experience.]

Just try and focus your mind elsewhere, if it helps.

[Rhys dabbed his arm to clean it before administering the shot, keeping calm and steady throughout the procedure. He hesitated at first, noting Pulse's large, rounded shoulders that took up a great portion of his upper arm, but found a next best spot to inject just below. It went by quickly, just as he promised.]

There. Oh, by the way, what's your favorite color?

[Pulse, being hypersensitive at times, couldn't avoid feeling the needle, but still he didn't flinch. He did start to feel a little strange afterward, which didn't become very apparent to him until he turned to answer Rhys's question, hitting him right in mid-statement.]

Peen...... k...

[His eyes appeared to fall out of focus, dilating noticeably; he staggered slightly, like someone who had just experienced a concussion. His gaze shifting downwards, he began mumbling to no one in particular.]

But why... Is that it?... Oh... That explains...

[Falling silent, his eyes rolled back into his head as his eyelids slid closed, and he collapsed on the floor, appearing to have fallen into a deep sleep.]

[Rhys scrambled to catch him a moment too late, crying out in astonishment at the unexpected reaction. He got to his hands and knees and nudged the unconscious C-Life with his hand and spoke to see if he would respond.]

Pulse! Are you okay?

[Did he miss something? Maybe he should have taken more care about his condition? He tried so hard to keep a cool head, but the weight of potential consequences was a formidable force. Nonetheless, he didn't give in to his worries and tried to focus on Pulse. While he waited for a response, he got in closer to check and see if his vitality was still in good shape.]

Snerk.

[Pulse twitched slightly after a short while, his eyes opening a little. Aside from that, he did not move.]

...Is this the floor?

Oh my goodness, yes, it's the floor! [He scooped a hand behind his back and held it there as his other hand went to the spot he injected, checking it to make sure nothing was visibly wrong.] You fell unconscious for a moment! How do you feel?

I, ah... Not sure... I don't feel like I'm here. I've felt this before...

[He tried to move, and soon found that he could, although it seems as though he has lost his sense of balance and equilibrium somewhat.]

I think... I may need to lie down. I think it will go away, after a while.

[Rhys made sure to assist him in getting to his feet so that they could transport him to one of the cots for a rest, keeping him steady.]

I think that's a good idea, too. Under what type of circumstance did you feel this kind of thing before?

Edited 2013-06-18 01:34 (UTC)

S-sir, it was... I was... Riche had... She altered some part of my coding... The watch. She had synced the watch to my physiology, so that I could... so that I could wear it in the real world. My whole... body... she said I was "updating". It scared her too, she thought she had done something terribly wrong... Poor Riche...

[He felt bad for having to lean on Rhys the whole way, but he absolutely couldn't keep himself steady on his own two feet. He could barely feel the floor underneath them.]

[Pulse was deposited on the closest cot. Rhys patted the pillow and fluffed it up to make it extra comfy, then went to the nearby drawer to fetch a blanket in case he wanted one. As he did this things, he made his reply.]

Updating... Well, I don't know much about how computers and things in that vein update, but I suppose you could say that giving a vaccine is "updating" someone's immune system. I'm hoping that's all it is and not an allergic reaction, but in case it is, I'm ready to assist you.

It... It makes sense, sir. And, um... thank you, sir. I'm afraid... that... I'll have to wait for it to pass... I'll just... have to... wait.

[Though he was able to keep himself awake for the moment, he was gradually losing consciousness.]

...I'm sorry, sir...

[He finally dropped back off into a deep sleep.]

[Rhys let him sleep, but he made sure to monitor him carefully the entire time.]

[Some time later, he would suddenly open his eyes and sit up, as though having gained full alertness in an instant.]

--But it might take a while... wait, what?

[He looked around, seeing that he was in the same place as when he nodded off, although he was unaware that any time had passed since then.]

...Am I done already?

[Rhys pulled his attention away from his accumulated pile of files, surprised to hear Pulse's sudden, unprompted clause.]

Oh, goodness! You startled me! I'm glad you're awake and well. Um... What do you mean, already? And what were you saying before that? It might take a while what?

[Pulse experimentally prodded himself in the arms and chest with his fingers before answering.]

Might take a while... Oh. I must have been interrupted. I was trying to warn you that I tend to stay unconscious for a long time if I'm being updated, but... I guess you already know that, now.

[Rhys paused a tick to process what he just said before sprouting a relieved smile.]

Oh! Well, that's good. I have a feeling this might be normal for you, then. I was worried that maybe you had a bad reaction to the shot...

A bad reaction? Oh... I hadn't thought about that... If I did, then... I don't know. I don't... feel very different, anyway.

But if I do, I suppose, you would want me to let you know? Is there something you would have to do then?

Of course! If you feel out-of-sorts in any way, I'd like you to report to me immediately. Even if you're not sure whether it's due to the shot or not, I'd much rather deal with a false alarm than have something bad happen to you.

Yes, yes sir.

[Pulse nodded in agreement with Rhys's suggestion.]

I, um, I think I should... I probably need to get back to my dorm. I spent more time in here than I... originally estimated... I'm sorry. I appreciate you helping me with the, uh, vaccine, sir.

It was nothing! I'm only sorry you had to deal with that. Well, Pulse, it was very nice meeting you. I hope to see you around often!

[ON SECOND THOUGHT...]

Oh, I didn't mean it like that, of course. Hopefully outside of the infirmary, as ailment-free as possible!

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voltecpower - 2013-07-03 15:42 (UTC) - Expand

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