Part I: I've Got This Idea

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It started with a simple sentence, "I've got this idea" and from that sentence everything would change. Later I would ask myself "was it worth it?". I'll probably never stop asking that question, because I don't know if I'll ever be able to answer it truthfully. All I know is, things will never be the same again. My Name is Miranda Hannalore Tannenbaum-Koenig, and this is my story.

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LOCATION: University of [DATA LOST], Food Hall
GA: I've got this Idea.
EC: This should be interesting.
MB: Hey, she came up with Bard Quest didn't she?
EC: True, true.
GA: Are we done interrupting, boys?
EC: Hai, sumimasen.
GA: An RPG that adapts and shifts to the players choices and initial settings.
PC: What do you mean by settings?
GA: I mean where the player lives, what kind of person they are. The game would need to be able to access a very large database of information to do it, but what it would mean is a completely unique experience for every player.
MB: Hmmm... It's interesting love, but does it have a basic story or goal?
GA: Win the war for Skaia, ascend to godhood, and create a universe.
PC: Well I'm sold.
EC: Meh, I've got nothing better to do.
GA: Rubin?
MB: Hhhrrummm, it'll be expensive, and we'll need a bigger team, and it probably won't work...
GA: Bbbuuuutttt?
MB: But I'll always support your genius, my love.
GA: Then it's settled, the Skaianet Project is go.

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LOCATION: University of [DATA LOST], Stryker Hall, Flat 14
GA: Rubin, I need to tell you something.
MB: hmm?
GA: I got someone I want to bring into the project, but you might not like it.
MB: why?
GA: He's an absolute genius when it comes to AI programming
MB: I do not see the problem here.
GA: It's my Ex. It's him.
MB: Logan?
GA: Yeah... is that... is that alright?
MB: Hon, see this ring, It means I've no doubt in my mind that you and I are loyal partners in life, inseparable. It means there's a very obvious reason to me why you're not with him anymore.
GA: You're not worried at all?
MB: didn't you tell me the break-up was mutual?
GA: it was.
MB: Then of course not, I love you and you love me. You married me, not him. I've never understood jealousy of past flames. I'm sure he'll be a wonderful part of them
*sound of kissing*
GA: I love you.
MB: and I, you.

> END TRANSMISSION

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LOCATION: University of [DATA LOST], Stryker Hall, Flat 14
GA: LOGAN!
CA: Hey, Miranda
GA: this is my Husband, Rubin
MB: Hello Logan, it's good to finally meet you.
CA: Oh, has Miranda told you about me?
MB: Only the bad stuff, so practically nothing.
*laughter*
CA: Well good to know I'm held in good esteem. You're from the Oberherr Family correct?
MB: That's correct.
CA: I helped write the Butler-Lestrade AI.
MB: Really?! How old were you?!?!
GA: Did I not tell you that, I thought I told you that.
CA: haha, I was a Freshman in High School.
MB: Thats... ridiculous, You're right M, this man is a genius, I look forward to working with you.

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LOCATION: Skaianet Labs
PC: Takumi, did you bring the Sketchs?
EC: Yes Abigail, I brought them, chill out.
MB: everyone is here I see.
CA: seems like it.
GA: So what have you two done behind my back?
CA: You'll see. Custodian, Lights.
*pause*
GA: HOW DID YOU DO THIS?
MB: Family Fortune that no one uses.
PC: Are those Rezuvia Digireal Tablets?! Those cost 7,000 dollars EACH!!
MB: spared no expense.
GA: This is brilliant.
CA: Custodian, Play some music
* Music plays *
GA: Custodian? You've still got him around?
CA: Her you mean, never got why you thought Custodian was a guy.
EC: Run me through what we've got to work with Rubin.
*EC, MB, PC's voices trail off*
GA: I always thought Custodian was Gender Neutral.
CA: Well technically I had to base Custodians Personality Matrix off of a real person... So I based her off of you...
GA: Me? why would you do that?
CA: You're a great mother figure. I thought it would work well... I'm sorry?
GA: It's fine just... ask next time kay?

>End Transmission

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LOCATION: Skaianet Laboratories
IT: This is bad.
HC: What happened?
IT: Janus was murdered
NC: By who?
VP: Who do you think, Alex?
IT: Gone completely mental, he has
GA: That happened a long time ago, this is just proof
CA: He's your husband, Miranda, you should've stopped him!
GA: And if you hadn't built that program we wouldn't be in this mess, Logan.
CA: How was I supposed to know it would grow this much?
GA: You made a program that limitlessly self-evolves! that can never turn out well!
CA: It was your fucking idea!
EC: Baka, the both of you! shut up and stop blaming each other, it will solve nothing!
[PC enters room]
CA: Abbi.
PC: Have we come to fighting each other now?
HC: How are the kids?
PC: Asleep, but only if everyone stops yelling. Logan, no more beers
CA: Abigael
PC: Now.
EC: He got Janus, Abigael
PC: oh my god... what about Grace?
IT: Her father was never part of the team, thus, not a threat. he's still alive.
PC: Thank goodness.
IT: So now what?
VP: I think it's obvious. The Gavony Gambit.
CA: No, too risky
VP: Too risky? seriously? have you even looked at the alternative?
NC: Tabitha is right, 3 of us are dead already, If the Gambit succeeds, everything resets.
HC: And if it doesn't we're trapped in there.
CA: Exactly
EC: we get that Logan, but what would you have us do? idly sit by while he kills us all, when we have a means of fixing it all?
CA: It can't stop her from dying, Takumi.
*EC punchs CA*
EC: This isn't about saving my wife, it's about saving my daughter!
CA: WHOSE GOING TO SAVE HER IF YOU DIE?
PC: Logan... he's right.
CA: Abigael, you can't be serious?!
PC: Stay here if you want, pretend you're doing the best thing to protect Morrie, but in the end this is the only way to stop him.
CA: .........
VP: Miranda?
GA: If we do this, it's volunteer only, no one will be forced to, the kids need caretakers. But if we decide to do it, theres no going back, no quiting half way. are we agreed?
VP: Yep
PC: Agreed
NC: Agreed
EC: Hai
IT: Right
HC: I... I can't... Scott has no one else...
GA: I understand Shaina.
PC: Logan?
CA: I... fine...
EC: When?
GA: Tomorrow night.

> End Transmission

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Location: Skaianet Labs
MB: Logan can you come into my office for a sec?
CA: Sure thing.
*Door closes*
CA: You get those Consort AI Mockups I sent you?
MB: Ja.
CA: Pretty fluid eh?
MB: I like how you gave them background processes even when players aren't around, But I wanted to ask you about Genesis.
CA: Oh yeah?
MB: as I understand it, this Game Engine is self-evolving. It constantly pulls from any external data it receives and manipulates it to recreate the game in more unique ways?
CA: Exactly, it's still a bit buggy, but when me and Custodian are done compiling it, it should be able to essentially access and process pretty much anything connected to the internet, barring illegal actions of course.
MB: So there is safety parameters keeping it from exponentially increasing in ability?
CA: Of course, This is only a game, we don't need to create a program that could discover time travel or anything like that... though that would be kind of awesome?
MB: Good, logic paradoxes only stop Rampant AI's for so long.... wait time travel?!?!
CA: *laughs* yeah... I'm not saying it's very likely, I'm just saying it's theoretically possible for this program to randomly calculate something like that.
MB: How is that even possible? I'm not sure we've got the server space to handle something this heavy.
CA: I know, I'm actually not entirely clear how it works, me and Custodian kinda accidentally'd it the other night, I was throwing randomly generated code through the build to make sure there was nothing too exploitable by hackers or something, and suddenly Custodian started freaking out, telling me... hold on, let me get the transcript.
*pause=01:21*
CA: she said a lot of indecipherable date, stuff I've tried plugging into white boxes and it doesn't do anything, but one thing that was coherent was this.
*recording plays*
CN: Intermission 763914 concluded, Ouroborean Game Resumed, Score is 763913 / 763914, Turn goes to Bilious Slick
*pause=00:33*
MB: Thats all?
CA: Yep.
MB: Weird... it sounds like some sort of announcement for a game, but the terms don't have anything to do with what we've written for Sburb.
CA: I know right? but that code I threw in, however it does what it does, it's exactly what we needed to make the game like Miranda wanted. and I think that's all that matters
MB: Do you still have feelings for her?
CA: what? how can you just ask me that?
MB: Like I just did. I'm not judging you at all if you do, Heck you'd be crazy not to, I'm just curious.
CA: *sighs* What me and her had... it was a long time ago, we've both moved on.
MB: that's not what I asked.
CA: I don't know Rubin, I know there was pain on both sides, but there was also enough love for us to be friends again, whether I do or don't have feelings for her, I don't think I'd ever want to pursue them. Where we our, as friends, is a good place, I wouldn't want go down that road again. besides, I've already got a pregnant wife who means the world to me, why do I need another?
MB: *Laughs* You're a good man, Logan. I trust you. Can you send me the all the transcripts from when you put that code in? including the code itself?
CA: Sure.
MB: Thanks, I'm gonn-*interrupted by phone ringing* Speak of the devil, theres Miranda now *hits speaker button* Hello lo-
GA (over phone): so, I'm pretty sure my water just broke.
MB: What!?!
GA: pop sound. sitting in puddle. get me to the birthing center. NOW! *hangs up*
MB: ... shit...
CA: Congrats!

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