Carrion_rootchain | Book I: Structural Damages
Into the Night
[!epi: Captain John
cartouche: 23x891cswe688s9d3w8d7c4d8d9w3s2w9d8c479w
coherence level 7.2
#import archetype{level_2} “member”;
#import ego{level_8} “structure”;
#import shadow{level_6} “hermit”;
#import shadow{level_6} “addict”;]
[style
#coherence {
soul_net: whitherspoon;
soul_address: 23x891cswe688s9d3w8d7c4d8d9w3s2w9d8c479w;
coherence: 7.2;
left_brain: 120%;
right_brain: 70%;
historical_data_retention: 12.3%;
}
#captain_john {
build: john xheight xlength xwidth xmass xbmi;
gender: male;
hair: color= black, length= short;
eyes: color= brown, shape= slanted;
left_eye: disability= cloudy;
left_side_face: disfigurement= acid_scarred;
left_leg: missing= thigh_musculature;
vice: addictions= alcohol cigarettes;
skills: analytical_thinking deductive_reasoning long_range_weapons;
}
#credit {
cartouche: 23x891cswe688s9d3w8d7c4d8d9w3s2w9d8c479w;
social_credit: 1;
currency: 1,000,000c;
stream_subscriptions: 0;
accept_subscriber_whitelist: no
accept_hidden_subscriber_whitelist: yes;
hidden_subscribers: unknown;
hidden_streams: 10 * 10^29;
}
#contract {
whitherspoon_net: x
time_limit: x
contract_fee: 10,000,000,000,000,000c
payouts: upon completion;
}
<epi>
<mind class: “coherence”>
<body class: “captain_john”>
<leader_boards class: “credit”>
</mind>
</body>
</leader_boards>
</epi>
“Captain John, you have been activated,” femininity oozed through hidden speakers, a canned response voice from a giga-annum prior.
Coughing and sputtering, a naked epi fell from a polyp set into the wall into a heap with a splash of stinky pink ooze that, thankfully, seeped away through drains in the sterilized honeycomb floor. The same ooze poured from the body in various ways, from osmosis to retching to tearing to shitting, and more. It was wiped from the eyes and shot out the nose. Birth is a disgusting affair.
No team of aides went to clean the spasming body. Even if he had had the coin to pay for attendants and a fitted wardrobe, it would have been prohibited. Secrecy surrounded this mission; it wouldn’t be found on any public or paid streams. No leaderboard would be tracking personal metrics and skills for competition. No, not even blind bots would be wise, as the plucking of extra eyes or other sensors didn’t help when Librarians couldn’t be trusted to keep a secret.
A ball of pollen formed from the air next to him: his Librarian. He looked into the mirrored ball and saw his disfigured visage, initiating contact with the unit. It was a habitual event, something that happened at every epi's birth. Scholars often wondered whether this behavior was written into the source code of the holopeople themselves or the Librarians. Who was it that initiated contact?
[Librarian Entry] Who needed whom?
“Rise, Captain John, and accept the duty this DAO requests of you,” spoke again the voice.
Making as if to stand, John paused as his right hand went down into a cavity where a thigh muscle should have been. Ignorance had been bliss; knowledge was painful. The captain reached out his hand. As if on queue, the pollen reformed into a long shaft, becoming a cane. A rosewood color and ring pattern came to the surface, while the end of the handle molded into the face of a bird.
An image came to mind, and with it came understanding. His brother had a cane like this. A brother, eh? So why can’t I remember his face?
Rising and clearing his throat of more muck, he said “I have a question about my reactivation. For one, why me? I’ve no followers.” Captain John's voice was slightly hoarse.
It felt good to be at L-7.2 coherence. It had been a long time since he'd been anything more than a L-4.5. A very long time.
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Everything is Canon
All simulations matter.*
*Submitted works are subject to review by a Librarian. NSFW content is strictly limited.