004. Text // the world is an ashtray, we burn and coil like cigarettes

[manufactured]

I know there have been questions related to this sort of thing before – questions regarding people who serve a recurring position in our memories, people that were clearly important but that we've never met in this lifetime. People that we know intimately without directly knowing them at all.

For those who have experienced that sort of person... Have you begun to miss them, as time goes on? Or does it just feel empty in some way, for lack of a better phrase – as though you should care about these people, but inexplicably do not?

Are you somehow fonder of them now than you were in your memories, after having gotten to experience them with some distance between you as opposed to living in the moment with them?

I suppose there's some irony in spending the turn of the year dwelling on something I never had in the first place, but then, no one ever claimed anything Retrospec brings on is convenient in any way.

Comments

[manufactured]

I wouldn't know. I chose to reject the purpose I was created for, only to ultimately try to carry it out anyway.

So I suppose that's fair enough.

[playdolls]

And what did they create you for?

[manufactured]

Passing judgement on humanity.

[playdolls]

What did you... decide. About humanity?

[manufactured]

That they all needed to die, save for a select few.

[playdolls]

Were you going to do that, personally?

[manufactured]

Technically. There was something that I had created to help me do it - something impartial, that would kill without bias and without remorse or emotion. Something that would spare those that deserved to live and destroy the rest.

[playdolls]

Something programmatic, or something biological?
Or a hybrid?

[manufactured]

Primarily biological, designed to target specific traits among the population.

[playdolls]

That sounds exciting. You must have had such resources at your disposal. I remembered my lab, I don't know where I got all the pieces, but I saw it in a memory.

What traits? How were they identified?

[manufactured]

I amassed a good amount of money and resources over several years of activity; I was good at what I did back then, and saw no point in not utilizing those talents to my own benefit. I haven't recalled the lab specifically, though I do know I had a large amount of technology at my disposal.

Certain markers in one's DNA would allow them to bond with what I had created, sparing their lives and elevating them to a higher state of existence, a further stage of evolution. The gods of a new world, so to speak.

[playdolls]

DNA sniffing creatures. How exciting. I'd love to research such a thing.

I'm itchy for it. Everything they led me to think I knew in this human mind feels so small.

[manufactured]

I haven't received any of my own research proper; Retrospec hasn't seen fit to allow me to have it - which may be for the best, given how difficult the project I was creating is to kill.

As objectively terrible as I know the things I was doing then were, since I started learning about it I can't say that I've ever feared the creation itself, as an entity. If I could see it myself, outside of the context of my memories, I'd likely find it fascinating above all.

So likewise on the sentiment, I think.

[playdolls]

We could start over.

[manufactured]

[There's a considerable pause, once that's out there, before he replies.]

For research's sake, or to fulfill some sort of purpose?

[playdolls]

Research is always its own purpose.

[manufactured]

I certainly can't disagree with that.

If I can find the means, I'll let you know.

[playdolls]

Maybe if we asked Retrospect very, very nicely...

[manufactured]

I'm not asking them for anything with regards to my research.

[playdolls]

If what they say is true, they have some very powerful equipment indeed.
Powerful enough to rend and mend reality.

[manufactured]

How willing are you to believe that to be true?

[playdolls]

Incredulous but curious. If it were true that would be very interesting indeed.