Point of Order

[standalonehuman]

Hitori Togusa shared a photo. 5/11 near Recolle Police Station

So. A few things. First. Dave! I want my membership card! Talking robot spider tank with a grenade launcher. Apologies to Koutarou for stealing some of his modeling clay to make my toy up there. I still remembered nothing about myself, though, so the betting pool is still open. Anyone who wants in on the 'What Is Togusa Repressing' pool, let me know. I think the odds on 'samurai' just got a lot longer, though. The second thing is a little more important. A few of us made it into the subway, which is supposed to be shut down, the lines were damaged. The trains sure aren't running, but either it's shut down intentionally, or someone has taken advantage of it. Throughout the line connecting Enprise to Tisse, there are these QR codes all along the floor. They're those things you can scan with your phone to see a picture or other information. Scanning them didn't get any data, though. The other area I went through, I don't even know how to explain what I saw. Try going to the middle of town. Next time, I ought to bring a camera with me. I know that as soon as I post this up, Retrospec will probably try to lock it all down even tighter than they already have. But seeing as how I was assuming that's how they were getting things through the city without us noticing? If we can make them stop using it, I'll call that a victory.

Comments

[lostapprentice]

i'll pass. i don't think my sanity can take it at this point.

[god why. not the knights.]

who's to say they're not making all of this up? where could those fruits have come from if not made by them? if these things are from past lives of ours, how the hell are they getting a hold of them?

[standalonehuman]

Crap, that's something I hadn't thought of. They're bringing these things into this world, one at a time. Somehow, if we remember them, they can become real. It's back to that question of whether they are managing to alter the human unconscious. Because that's about the best way I can imagine that they can make such sweeping changes and alter everyone's memories all at once.

[lostapprentice]

whether they're capable of physically changing things or simply changing our perception of it, they control the reality we know.

it makes me wonder if they might simply be placing "clues" for their own amusement as they watch us try to understand.

[HE'S GOT HIS EYE ON YOU RETROSPEC]

[standalonehuman]

But it's strange that the control is almost in our hands. We have to remember it, first. And if these memories are accurate, then Retrospec is just going along and facilitating something that is actually larger than them.

If they're just messing with us, then yes, it's all arbitrary. But I still feel like those tanks are real, even if they defy logic. So I'm leaning more towards the first idea.

[lostapprentice]

then you believe it, as well? that we've all really had some kind of past lives?

if that's the case i have to wonder what they're getting out of it, by making all of us remember.

[standalonehuman]

I was more critical of this theory before. But then I met someone who got a companion back from Retrospec. More than just a pet, she was a friend who could talk. And the two of them remembered each other, their regained memories were almost like shared between them.

I'm still not entirely sure about it. But I can't ignore a piece of evidence that helps prove a theory just because I don't like the theory.

[lostapprentice]

a companion? like a talking animal?

[Now he's heard everything. And he sincerely hopes it's not, like... an actual human that these Retrospec assholes are shipping off to people.]

[standalonehuman]

Yup.

Really polite. Gets mad when you mispronounce his name, though.

[lostapprentice]

[It has its own personality??? This is even weirder than before.]

i can only pray i don't get one of those.

have you been sent anything yet?

[standalonehuman]

Not yet.

That was one of the other points of this post, I'm behind the curve on what everyone else is experiencing. Some people were starting to think I was the odd man out.

Thus why the jokes about the betting pool.

[lostapprentice]

i suppose that's one way to get something out of this nonsense. and a memory of a tank doesn't sound awful.

how long have you been aware? [Ren guesses that's the right way to put it.]

[standalonehuman]

Since the start of February. I was among the first group of users, because there wasn't anyone already using the site when I was added.

First group of us was 101. With the additions and subtractions, I think we're sitting upwards of 160 now. 160 is about what I can verify.

[lostapprentice]

[A hundred and sixty... it's a relatively small number compared to the population of the city, but it's still somewhat comforting.]

i see. i was only added this month. [—wait a minute.]

what do you mean subtractions? have people been removed?

[standalonehuman]

Yes. I've only been able to find a few examples, it's hard to tell when people drop off, because they stop communicating. A fellow officer moved out of the city, and he was removed from the platform when he did.

There was also a kid I was keeping up with. He's perfectly all right, still in the city. But he's no longer on the platform, and he's like everyone else now. Doesn't remember that there was ever anything wrong with chocobos.

[lostapprentice]

so we can spontaneously just forget, as well?

that's even more disturbing than the rest of this. [And he doesn't know if he'd prefer to forget or not.]

[standalonehuman]

Apparently. We haven't figured out if there's some pattern to the people that Retrospec turns loose.

It's not the most advisable course of action, but that's why I keep sharing everything I find on the network. Just in case I wake up back to 'normal.' Whatever normal is anymore. At least then somebody else can follow up on what I was doing.

[lostapprentice]

i understand. if all of these posts stay like they seem to, it's the easiest way to ensure everyone has access to it.

they're apparently capable of watching us wherever we are, regardless, so i'm not sure posting it elsewhere would make much of a difference.

[standalonehuman]

Well, one of my superiors keeps giving me crap over being too transparent. Because generally in police work, that's the last thing you want.

But this isn't an official investigation yet. If we ever get the Department to sign on? Then I'll lock everything up. The spirit will stay the same, keep taking notes so other officers can follow up if I am suddenly off the grid.

But, until the Department decides to shift on this? I can handle him rolling his eyes at me if it means everybody's up to speed.

[lostapprentice]

no offense, but i'm not sure the police are capable of doing much about all of this.

i appreciate that you are posting. i don't know anyone involved with this personally, so i doubt i would have heard anything about the subway otherwise.

[standalonehuman]

Maybe not yet, but that's the end game, isn't it? Find who is behind Retrospec and make them face the law. My end game, maybe.

Wait, no one? Really? When this all started, there was no one else you knew on the application?

[lostapprentice]

good luck, then. [You're probably going to need it.]

maybe there are some i see now and again who are, but i just don't know it yet. i'm not the most social person in the city. i didn't grow up here, either.

[standalonehuman]

Makes sense. There's been an odd pattern of whole families getting pulled onto the app at once, lots of people who are already connected.

Why'd you come here, then?

[lostapprentice]

i have heard of some of that. i would think it's easier, being brought in with your family and friends.

i needed a change of pace, mostly. it seemed like there were a lot of opportunities here.

[It's totally because of that and not because he faked his death for stupid selfish reasons and needed to get far away, nope.]

[standalonehuman]

I can understand that, definitely. I came here straight from Japan for school. I loved Japan, but the change of pace here was nice.

Where's home for you?

[lostapprentice]

it must have been an interesting move. how long have you been here, then?

california.

[Is he lying? He'll never tell.]