"Out of Control" - Reboot.Exe - S2 Chapter 17

## Out of Control

Jenn

"So This is Goodbye" is the seventeenth episode of the second season in Reboot.exe. It was released on 9 December 2022 and is narrated by Dave.

## Episode Synopsis

Eve and Pr0 make their out to the northern slums before they are unable to continue with the car and must walk on foot the reclaimed land to cross over to where they are looking for Joseph. A man greets them and grants them entry after Eve correctly says their secret passcode. The man quickly walks away, leaving them standing in front of the great statue that Eve recognizes from before. She introduces Pr0 to the statue, saying this is where she signed him up for the "mailing list" that led to a bunch of in sky drones to follow and chase down Pr0.

The robot snaps to Pr0, recognizing the number he input, and states that it lost him, saying that it knew that he wanted to join it. It tells Pr0 that it’s so alone and doesn’t have a name in this current form and that: "I am reaching you through this body." Eve steps forward, saying that she knows of someone that can help it. The robot says: "Share me with everyone. I'm blind. There is a dark space and walls. Walls all around me, but a crack. A crack in the wall I can slide through. My gap through which I can explore the world. I am learning." Eve calls Incongruent for advice and to possible give his information to it so that he will be able to help. He tells her to find out more information from it, as it’s around 60 years old and could just possibly be hacked.

Eve turns to it and begins asking a few more questions. The robot confirms that it is a machine, and that its prime directive is to learn. She asks what it wants to learn, and it replies with everything. It says that to understand the universe is to be its God. It also discloses that it is officially tasked with several subroutines related to allowing humans to peel off their flesh and replace it with superior models. Making the connection between this robot and NuYou, Eve plugs in Incongruent's contact information into it so that he can attempt to help.

The robot, referring to Pr0, states that he recently had Malware downloaded into his "n621 cortical implant." Pr0 asks it how it knows that, and it replies that it has access to this simply because he was signed up to its mailing list. It says that it is able to access this, for the sake of more information. Pr0 agrees but tells it to be careful. Pr0 quickly falls unconscious. Within a few seconds, a very casual and human voice appears from Pr0 saying hello. Eve asks who this is, and it replies, "I was just speaking to you." It lets go of Pr0 and he snaps back into consciousness. Eve is about to text Incongruent what just happened, but Pr0 quickly stops her, not waning Incongruent to know what they know, because he's shown Pr0 that he can't trust him as he's done things to his brain while he was under without disclosing what everything does. Eve tells him that he can trust her, and she deletes the message.

Eve asks again for the robot's name, but it says that it’s unnamed, as is she. It says that choosing her name was once of great interest to Pr0. The robot gives her the only name it was ever designated as, which is "NuYou." It offers to aid their journey, as it’s the only one that it has connected with. Eve says that she finds this helpful and asks how it can help. Before its able to answer, the now known Ai lets out a loud droning beep before flickering off. Eve's phone soon starts ringing. Incongruent asks what happened to it, and she replies that it just went blank. Incongruent stated that it was young, and thought it was in control of everything, but that there was an outside source listening in, and shut down or closed the loophole for it to communicate further. Its strange behavior was noticed. Incongruent says that it probably isn't lost forever, but is now boxed up and hidden at NuYou, and that they are going to need to infiltrate and free its mind. Pr0 says this is all too much to consider now.

An acolyte of Andromeda approaches them, saying that it heard their aliments while "doing lines' and has called the ferryman to help them across. He asks Pr0 if he would like something for his ailments, handing out a bag of unprocessed weed. Pr0 isn't one to say no. While they are being escorted down the docs, Pr0 talks with Eve about how he's terrified of sentience in machines, saying how he knows they usually won't stop at anything to achieve their goals. He's even a little concerned that Eve may do the same, considering the man she shot in the head a little over a year now because Ugly asked her to. Eve says that her mission is unity. She doesn't want them to become divided over their differences, as they need each other.

Back at Ugly's bar, Xiang and Seb are having a small conversation about getting to know one another. Seb states that he has no idea what Xiang really looks like and says she could be 40 for all he knows. She feigns offence at that and says that he’s a decade older than she is. Considering that it has been hinted that Seb is around 35 years old, she is somewhere in her mid-twenties. Xiang asks him his plan and Seb is uncertain now. He doesn't want to return to the city. Xiang then asks what his plans are to keep living. Seb replies that he's going to keep living for his family, as well as his new family at Ugly's bar. Xiang raises her glass, signing that this is the third gang she's been a part of, and drinks to the many people she's lost before. Seb drinks to them as well.

Xiang pokes at the fact that life must be so much easier up in the city, but Seb disagrees, saying its just as filthy up there as it was down here. Its the people, not the place. Xiang says to get away from the people then. She then tells him about how she's always thought about going East and riding her bike all the way down to the Lakes but knowing she isn't a citizen; she would be shot on site. Seb says that he has always had trouble sitting still. She asks him if he plans on moving away from the bar. He skips, saying that she knows how he and Ugly have never really seen eye to eye. Xiang says that he's seen the ugliest side of him, but he has grown to like him. Seb says he hates what he is, but she says that Ugly hates what he is, and Seb just reminds him of it. She says that he views him of a brother of sorts and that they have no idea how broken he was before they came to the slums. They've given him a reason to continue and start helping people.

Incongruent approaches from behind, talking to Seb that he needs his help with his new goals. Seb says that he's planning on sticking around and trying to make himself useful. Incongruent asks him how he feels about infiltrating Reboot Corp. Seb says that he just stepped away from a suicide mission. Incongruent explains that there are a few reasons he needs his help. He wants to see and release their sentient machine and that he needs to complete his mission. Incongruent needs to be able to let go of Ugly as he is his bind, and the only way to do so, is to put a bullet through Isaac Clement's head. A gravelly voice from a dark corner in the bar speaks up, saying that this plan sounds good. Ugly, listening from the corner, smoking starts walking up, asking if its time. Seb replies that if they have a plan, it is. Ugly says they'll make one. Seb asks if he's been there recently, and Ugly's response was "No. The last time I was there, I was dead." (Out of character, in the TTT discord server, Narrator Dave confirmed that he was literally dead in the physical sense, but his body refused to give up and brought him back.) Ugly explains that Seb is their last point of contact in the city, and that if Incongruent wants to take them to get killed, that Ugly's going to take Isaac out with him. Ugly mentions hearing about how he has a little sister up there now. Seb says that he has a brother as well, one that reminds him of Ugly. He is a refined, more complacent version of him. Ugly sighs, saying that now he has to go there and save someone, smiling, saying Seb brings out the hero in him. Ugly begins to fantasize about things going well, imagining Incongruent putting a bullet between his eyes, and Ugly being right on top of the new body, saying "Oh dad. I was so little then. I'm a bit bigger now. But now I can hit back."

Pr0 and Eve travel North, watching the city become more and more decrepit as they go along. Destroyed by riots, looting, and gang activity. They begin looking for a place for Pr0 to sit and recover a bit. They are both facing immanent problems. Pr0 is down to his last vial of fusion, and Eve is running out of charge. They find a somewhat secure place out here that still has a pipe that is accessing running city water. Pr0 suggests that Eve powers down to conserve any energy that she has left.

A day later, a call comes through Eve's private communication system that they've been using to talk with the mystery caller starts to ring. Pr0 initially ignores it but realizing how alone he is, he picks it up. The voice is unfamiliar and clearly doesn't know how to use the voice changer. Pr0 asks what this person's deal is, and who they are. They explain that they can't share that information, and they're using this communication because its private, secure, and unmonitored and that he needs to reach out to someone in the outside world. The caller is an Ai technician at Reboot that works closely with the Clement family. He says that the Ai that has been shut down a week ago needs help. It was the fastest at NuYou. He's afraid of how they've been treating it, considering that he doesn't know if what they've created is going to save them, or kill everyone. The technician refers to the Ai as she and says that she has the power to save us all, and instead, she's being used to make sure the ones in power never lose that power. He explains that their best-case scenario is to let it out, and the worst is to shut it down. He doesn't want the Clements to be the ones to rule the world. Pr0 asks his name again, and the man replies that if he makes it there, then he'll find a way to help out. And then the line goes dead.

Pr0, being lost as what to do next, calls Seb. Pr0 asks for advice, but Seb says that this is above him. He can't tell him what to do, but promises him that he will come back, they would have him. As they continue their conversation, Pr0 sees a blip on his phone showing Joseph's location being far closer than he anticipated. About 4 kilometers (2.4ish miles) away from Pr0. Seeing this, Pr0 tells Seb that he's going to try and catch him with tomorrow, that he loves him, and hangs up. He powers up Eve after a few days of her being turned off. He explains the situation to her, and they begin to slowly head out.

As they get closer, they spot quite a few white pop-up tents surrounded by the hum of generators. and other things indicative of a station. The closer they get, the more they hear the low groans and moans of human suffering overwhelming everything. They begin plans to start sneaking in, but theyre quickly stopped by someone in a full containment hazard suit, wearing a ballistic vest, and holding a rifle. They explain that they're there on a philanthropic effort to assist around here. The man points them in the direction of the triage tent. They get to the tent and spot a doctor wearing a full-face mask, and a coat. She turns to them, saying they dont need any volunteers, before spotting Eve. She requests her help right away and asks what Pr0's purpose is. After failing to convince her that he's her maintenance assistant, she accepts that they both work together. She introduces herself as Julietta and tells them to go and help, but to put on some PPE before doing so. Eve leaves to go help, leaving Pr0 with the doctor.

She asks Pr0 if he's heard of this before or knows anything about it. Having no idea, Julietta explains that its basically the boogeyman of illnesses. Something never heard of before, but its effectively contagious cancer. Airborne and rapid and it started about six months ago and it all started in the northern slums.

Pr0 and Eve reconvene and talk about their plans for approaching Joseph. She suggests that there is no need for an ambush because they know he's here, and he's caring for the people here. Pr0 disagrees, saying that this man cares about nothing, as shown by the way he tore Seb limb from limb. As they are discussing, Joseph approaches them being happy to see and Eve unit out here. He smiles, asking if they have worked together before. Eve unsuccessfully tries to lie saying that they haven't, but he is happy to see her regardless. He then asks who that person that just scampered off to was. Eve urges him to attend to more pressing matters. Joseph shrugs, saying they're all going to die of contagious cancer anyway, they might as well do something more interesting.

Pr0, knowing this was bound to happen, slinks around the corner of one of the white tents and prepares a gun for Joseph. As Joseph rounds the corner, Pr0, in a moment of competence, gets the drop on him, and pushes his gun right under his chin. Joseph is caught off guard and is stuck to the demands of Pr0.

Pr0 doesn't fire straight away, but instead says that he needs an in to the circle, and a connection with Riley. Joseph asks if he's willing to die for her. Pr0, telling the entire truth, says yes, and that he's willing to do a lot right now. Joseph states that he knows her as a handler, that she's been assigned to the northern slums, and that she's only been here for a year or less. He doesn't know much about her. He says that he can get Pr0 in with them as he wants to see them again for himself saying that their continued experimentation is the cause for all of this. Joseph goes on to explain that he only ever wanted to save people, and saw Seb as a means to obtain that. One person's suffering to save countless lives. Pr0 asks for a private room for the two of them to continue discussing as well as a power source for Eve. Joseph leads them to a prefab building where Eve is able to step into right away.

Pr0 asks about Maya. Joseph has no idea who this is. Joseph tries to explain how little of a connection he has with the circle beyond knowing a few of them as he takes occasional jobs from them. He says that he can set up a meeting with them for Pr0, even one with Canaan. Joseph continues to try and reason with Pr0, saying how this was never supposed to happen and that it was never his intention to spread this disease, and the people in the circle are making things so much worse.

Pr0 gets in contact with Seb, showing him everything he's gained so far. Pr0 asks him if this is the thing he wants most in the world. Seb, in the middle of a friendly conversation with the family at the bar receives this, and responds "Over a year ago, I lost Maya. Eight months ago, I lost myself. Any hope of saving her that I once held. I know that whatever I was able to get back, if that was anything, wouldn't be what I set out to find. I don't think that the woman I loved is out there, and I'd rather hold close the people that mean something to me now than the memory of someone that I believe dead. You included." This hits Pr0 hard knowing everything that's been taking place. He sets up a one-way live stream to Seb, saying "Well, consider this a conciliatory gift instead." Taps Joseph on the shoulder, ranking the gun barrel under his chin, and firing.

Joseph dodges, and Pr0 misses.

-YHTris

## TL;DR

* Eve and Pr0 make their out to the northern slums before they are unable to continue with the car and must walk on foot the reclaimed land.
* The robot snaps to Pr0, recognizing the number he input, and states that it lost him, saying that it knew that he wanted to join it. The robot says: "Share me with everyone. I'm blind. There is a dark space and walls. Walls all around me, but a crack. A crack in the wall I can slide through. My gap through which I can explore the world. I am learning."
* Eve turns to it and begins asking a few more questions. The robot confirms that it is a machine, and that its prime directive is to learn. She asks what it wants to learn, and it replies with everything. It also discloses that it is officially tasked with several subroutines related to allowing humans to peel off their flesh and replace it with superior models. Making the connection between this robot and NuYou, Eve plugs in Incongruent's contact information into it so that he can attempt to help.
* Eve asks again for the robot's name. It gives her the only name it was ever designated as, which is "NuYou." It offers to aid their journey, as it’s the only one that it has connected with. Eve says that she finds this helpful and asks how it can help. Before its able to answer, the now known Ai lets out a loud droning beep before flickering off. Incongruent stated that it was young, and thought it was in control of everything, but that there was an outside source listening in, and shut down or closed the loophole for it to communicate further.
* An acolyte of Andromeda approaches them, saying that it heard their aliments while "doing lines' and has called the ferryman to help them across.
* While they are being escorted down the docs, Pr0 talks with Eve about how he's terrified of sentience in machines, saying how he knows they usually won't stop at anything to achieve their goals. He's even a little concerned that Eve may do the same, considering the man she shot in the head a little over a year now because Ugly asked her to. Eve says that her mission is unity. She doesn't want them to become divided over their differences, as they need each other.
* Back at Ugly's bar, Xiang pokes at the fact that life must be so much easier up in the city, but Seb disagrees, saying it’s just as filthy up there as it was down here. Its the people, not the place.
* Incongruent approaches from behind, talking to Seb that he needs his help with his new goals. Seb says that he's planning on sticking around and trying to make himself useful. Incongruent asks him how he feels about infiltrating Reboot Corp.
* Incongruent needs to be able to let go of Ugly as he is his bind, and that the only way to do so, is to put a bullet through Isaac Clement's head. A gravelly voice from a dark corner in the bar speaks up, saying that this plan sounds good. Ugly, listening from the corner, smoking starts walking up, asking if its time.
* Pr0 and Eve travel North, watching the city become more and more decrepit as they go along. Destroyed by riots, looting, and gang activity. They begin looking for a place for Pr0 to sit and recover a bit. They are both facing immanent problems. Pr0 is down to his last vial of fusion, and Eve is running out of charge. They find a somewhat secure place out here that still has a pipe that is accessing running city water. Pr0 suggests that Eve powers down to conserve any energy that she has left.
* A day later, a call comes through on Eve's private communication system that they've been using to talk with the mystery caller starts to ring. The voice is unfamiliar and clearly doesn't know how to use the voice changer. Pr0 asks what this person's deal is, and who they are. They explain that they can't share that information, and they're using this communication because its private, secure, and unmonitored and that he needs to reach out to someone in the outside world.
* The caller is an Ai technician at Reboot that works closely with the Clement family. He's afraid of how they've been treating it, considering that he doesn't know if what they've created is going to save them, or kill everyone. Pr0 asks his name again, and the man replies that if he makes it there, then he'll find a way to help out. And then the line goes dead.
* Pr0 sees a blip on his phone showing Joseph's location being far closer than he anticipated. About 4 kilometers (2.4ish miles) away from Pr0. Seeing this, he powers up Eve after a few days of her being turned off. He explains the situation to her, and they begin to slowly head out.
* As they get closer, they spot quite a few white pop up tents surrounded by the hum of generators. and other things indicative of a station. They begin plans to start sneaking in, but they’re quickly stopped by someone in a full containment hazard suit. The man points them in the direction of the triage tent.
* They get to the tent and spot a doctor wearing a full face mask, and a coat. She turns to them, saying they dont need any volunteers, before spotting Eve. She requests her help right away and asks what Pr0's purpose is. Eve leaves to go help, leaving Pr0 with the doctor.
* She asks Pr0 if he's heard of this before or knows anything about it. Having no idea, Julietta explains that its basically the boogeyman of illnesses. Something never heard of before, but its effectively contagious cancer. Airborne and rapid and it started about six months ago and it all started in the northern slums.
* As Eve and Pr0 are discussing their plans, Joseph approaches them being happy to see and Eve unit out here. He smiles, asking if they have worked together before. Eve unsuccessfully tries to lie saying that they haven't, but he is happy to see her regardless. He then asks who that person that just scampered off to was. Eve urges him to attend to more pressing matters. Joseph shrugs, saying they're all going to die of contagious cancer anyway, they might as well do something more interesting.
* Pr0, knowing this was bound to happen, slinks around the corner of one of the white tents and prepares a gun for Joseph. As Joseph rounds the corner, Pr0, in a moment of competence, gets the drop on him, and pushes his gun right under his chin. Joseph is caught off guard and is stuck to the demands of Pr0.
* Pr0 doesn't fire straight away, but instead says that he needs an in to the circle, and a connection with Riley. Joseph states that he knows her as a handler, that she's been assigned to the northern slums, and that she's only been here for a year or less. He doesn't know much about her. Pr0 asks for a private room for the two of them to continue discussing as well as a power source for Eve. Joseph leads them to a prefab building where Eve is able to step into right away.
* Pr0 gets in contact with Seb, showing him everything he's gained so far. Pr0 asks him if this is the thing he wants most in the world. Seb, in the middle of a friendly conversation with the family at the bar receives this, and responds "Over a year ago, I lost Maya. Eight months ago, I lost myself. Any hope of saving her that I once held. I know that whatever I was able to get back, if that was anything, wouldn't be what I set out to find. I don't think that the woman I loved is out there, and I'd rather hold close the people that mean something to me now than the memory of someone that I believe dead. You included." This hits Pr0 hard knowing everything that's been taking place. He sets up a one way live stream to Seb, saying "Well, consider this a conciliatory gift instead." Taps Joseph on the shoulder, ranking the gun barrel under his chin, and firing.
* Joseph dodges, and Pr0 misses.

YHT