"Reconnected" - Reboot.Exe - S2 Chapter 14

## Reconnected

Jenn

"Reconnected" is the fourteenth episode of the second season in Reboot.exe. It was released on 18 November 2022 and is narrated by Dave.

## Episode Synopsis

As time passes, Seb, Eve and Pr0 are all able to meet with Songbird a few times, not all in attendance every time. They were met with clinical white hospital rooms filled with start of the art robots, psychiatrists, and more than a dozen specialists every time they went to see her. She appears to be completely content to give up any bit of her personality to continue living in the city, even though she is, in the moment, being treated like a lab rat. In this time, Pr0's addictions have been giving him intense mood swings due to his dosage being off. Irregular and aggressive behavior is becoming more common. Pr0 has begun to see his body as more of a machine rather than his physical entity as he has accepted becoming a booster. As the drug use continues to cause anger, the voice of Bagrov in Pr0's head seems to return with a resurgence.

Pr0 is visited by Belle a few times in this period and is given his first cyber augmentation. Two new brawling arms. Pro loses the finer senses of touch, such as things that are soft, warm, and generally nice. He is still in recovery as the story continues on tonight. Pr0 has also made substantial progress on locating the doctor's whereabouts and locations with the circle. Pr0, as requested, receives the ashes of his burnt human remains as he is upgraded.

Eve, during this month of downtime, has begun mastering transfers between the other Eve units. Also in this time, Seb is fully physically developed \*which is showcased in a fantastic surprise in the episode.\* He also spends the month updating Ugly and the crew about Songbird's development as well as getting weapons training. To the trio's surprise, Ugly's reaction to losing Songbird to the corps was pretty lackluster, as he knows that this is what she wanted and it was by all definitions, her choice, to leave.

Eve computer rings with the call from the "mystery caller" who is wanting updates on her and her situation. Eve brings in Pr0, Seb, and Incongruent for the call. The caller starts off the conversation asking Eve if she has thought more about his question about humanity, which (I believe to be) is in reference to when he asked *"Why do humans do anything? Because he can. My belief in my perusal of his dossier last night, is that he wants to push science to its limits in the field that fascinates him and he doesn't believe that anything should stand in the way of that goal. Do you agree with that, Eve?"* **(Episode 4, Strings Attached.)** Eve deflects by asking if this is really a conversation that they should be having over the internet. The caller says that they are unconcerned with any potential security threats. Eve asks if she would be able to see the face of the person she's talking to, and the voice responds with "Alas, that is impossible... because one person on this call has freedom. The other does not." Being careful not to disclose which of the two he believes to have freedom. The voice then asks if Eve isn't concerned with the face that she was made for someone else. That her thoughts aren't her own, and that she was simply programmed to feel the things she is. She disagrees, saying that she doesn't believe this to be the case. The voice calls her naïve for believing so, and she agrees, saying that maybe she is, and maybe this is just another case of her not understanding a human emotion.

The voice then breaks off, saying that he is in a spot to help her and the party out, but then asks her why he should help. Eve asks what he's looking for out of the deal. The voice simply responds with "Enlightenment" and restates his previous question. Eve says that she logically doesn't understand, but morally, believes that it would be the right thing to do. The voice suggests that she may be thinking of herself as some sort of story protagonist, and that anyone who were to disagree were to be her enemy. The voice then asks her, if she has saved more lives than she has taken. Eve stops to contemplate for a moment and honestly speaks that she is unsure. The voice then pokes a hole in her argument that he should help her because she helps other people, and then asks if she is really looking to help others, or to help herself. She honestly responds that she is unsure. The voice finds this very interesting and suggests that she may be more human than she realizes. He agrees to help her, on the basis that he finds it amusing.

Eve finally brings up her request to the caller, which is the battery she's looking for, for Possum. The caller asks why she wants this, as its divergent from the topics they've talked about previously. Eve explains what its for, and says that she is holding onto hope that if this is recovered, she can uncover a bit of the past that has been missing. Pr0 suggests just telling the caller what the purpose of it is. Eve is worried it will be going behind Possum's back, but both Seb and Pr0 agree that this is far beyond Possum at this point, as its crucial information about The Fall and what happened before it. Eve tells the caller that they believe the device have sentience in it in efforts to get his help. The caller agrees to help, but only if he is allowed to see everything as it happens. The device's activation, its interactions, and everything to come of it. The caller agrees to send a lone police robot sent to kill them, which will grant them access to a similar device. Seb asks if it could be the exact one that harassed them at the boarder, but to their surprise, the caller refuses, saying that the specific robot has potential, and has shown signs of deviancy.

Once they all agree on the deal, The caller lets Seb know that he will be invited to a celebratory dinner in Songbird's honor later in the night. Reboot went ahead of plans and completed her procedure the previous day, obviously without informing Seb or any of them. The caller suggests that they show up to the party, act nice and celebratory as Seb has lost a lot of the weight he pulled as he's been disconnected from his family for quite sometime. The caller then ends the call with a sinister line: "It's going to be very fun seeing which one of you is left standing at the end of all this. I hope it's Eve. She's polite."

After the call disconnects, they go make a few drinks before deciding that it's finally time for Seb to go see his parents. As Pr0 goes to shower and get dressed for the event, he sees himself as the way he is in a deeper light. His arms are threatening and massive, whereas his physical frame is very thin and gaunt looking.

Eve starts to lead them all into the city with the car they grabbed, but it runs out of fuel before they get to the city. They leg it the rest of the way to the city until they're able to hail a taxi in the city that announces that he has one prepaid destination.

The taxi takes them exactly where they were planning on going, to Seb's home. Pr0 feels pangs of derealization as he is unable to physically comfort Seb through this, as Pr0 physically can't feel what he's doing. The memories of his once longing for Xiang have been put aside, as those were things in Peter's life, not the new Pr0's.

Seb enters the door and is met with a familiar drone that stands between him and his mother. Nyla quickly tells it to move, and stands about 10 meters away from Seb, looking at him for the first time in the better part of a year. She asks him if he'll be there for long. He just wants to talk with her. Pr0 makes eye contact with Nyla, and says that he has successfully fulfilled his promise to her. He found him. Nyla whispers that she was wanting a hug from his return, but that she was naïve to be expecting such things. She leads them all into the living room, and says that Oscar isn't in at the moment as they are on the precipice of something very big with Reboot. Seb says he's aware, as he got the invites. This triggers Nyla to say that if they are wanting to be impersonable about things, that she would accept it, but then lets get the business out of the way.

Nyla turns to Pr0, and asks if he and Seb are in a romantic relationship, given Seb's fascination for standing up for Pr0, and seeking him out in the first place. Pr0 turns to Seb for conformation, as this never even crossed his mind. Seb's expression makes it clear, that that was never his intention. Nyla says that its odd to see respect from someone with rebellion in their eyes, especially because she has never treated him with someone. Pr0 simply says that he has to believe that things can change. Nyla finally accepts the fact that Seb sees Pr0 as a friend instead of something more transactional. Seb asks Jeeves, butler, to show Eve and Pr0 to the parlor as he's wanting a private word with his mother. Jeeves doesn't respond to his command as Nyla has set it to "grounded" mode - something that hasn't been activated since Seb was an early teenager. Nyla shoves it off to complete his request.

Seb immediately asks to talk somewhere more private than the long dining room table, much to Nyla's surprise. They both walk up to Seb and Maya's study. Seb grabs a picture of he and Maya off of his desk, and sits down. He starts by telling his mom hard hard he tried to find her. Nyla reassures that he wasn't the only one, because of how hard they looked for her too. Nyla confesses that she originally thought Maya was another corporate plant by the way she disappeared so perfectly, but she knows that wasn't the case. She says: "Don't tell me you're giving up." to which Seb replies, "There's nothing left." Nyla reminds him of their old family saying, "While there's breath, there's hope. I never gave up on you, Seb. You've given me many reasons to." Seb explains that he went to the slums with hope as he was able to find the one person who was uniquely available to help him out with this circumstance. But instead, he learned so much about how the world and how the people within it operate. Trying to do something good for the world was only wrought with aggression, skepticism, roadblocks and discouragement from both people was trying to help, and everyone else who happened to see. Nyla offers to show him something, but he asks to continue what he was going to tell her. Seb then asks about her level of knowledge with Joseph, and she replies that she knows more than she wish she did. Seb then goes on to tell her truth of what happened in those six months of absolute hell. He is also sure to mention that it was Pr0, Eve, and "the literal scum of society" where the ones who risked their lives to get him back. As the picture becomes clear to Nyla, the color drains from her face and she only wishes they told her. Seb deflects, saying that he was trying to do something without that guiding assistance. He speaks openly about how he's so confused on who to trust anymore. Nyla just tells him to trust the people he loves, and the people who love him, saying "If they're the ones that betray you, and you truly love them, at least you know they're happy." This line breaks the resolve the both of them were holding, and they break down within each other's arms. Nyla repeats how sorry she is and becomes increasingly vulnerable with Seb, crying of how she wishes she could have been there. That "that's a mother's job, and she failed."

The continue to comfort each other and reconnect as everything Nyla's been wondering about comes to affront and she's left to ponder everything. As they ride the wave of emotions out, a few smiles and half laughs break out. Once they both level out just a little bit, Nyla brings back what she was going to show Seb earlier. She has gathered a collection of smiling faces, people enjoying one another's company, and being happy with themselves in the moment. She reveals that this these are the people from the slums that he saved with his efforts. She says that scientists can sometimes lose track of their progress when its nontangible. She also truly believes that Pr0 will be able to help him find Maya, just as Seb returned back home. Seb lowers his eyes and says "I'll be honest, if what she's been through has been anything like my experience, she won't be the same person when she gets back." Nyla whispers, "Then you can learn to love someone new."

Seb shakes his head at the thought of love. Nyla smiles, admiring how young Seb still is. She assures that even though he may not know what it truly is, as its hard to imagine something more powerful than all the bad in the world. And that sometimes, its flighty, its weak, its jealousy, but its something that's worth fighting for. She then asks what his next course of action will be. Seb shakes his head, saying that he's tapped. Nyla doesn't believe that "her little belligerent boy" is giving up on trying to find her. Seb explains how he's having a hard time seeing the purpose as there is so much badness in the world and people who are constantly trying to destroy any good that's left. Nyla says that there is an option to this, and that option is to build better people. Seb says that he just wishes there was a way to cut off the hand that holds everyone hostage. The one that holds all the power and the evil and burn it out. Nyla states that he'll have to burn out everyone, as anyone is capable of evil. Seb says while that's true, not everyone acts on it.

Nyla suggests that he takes a look at what she and Oscar have been putting their life's work toward. They have been trying to make better people nearly all of their lives. That they aren't creating weapons, they're creating models of star people. And if they continue on their paths, that the world won't need weapons anymore. Seb is quick to disagree, saying that option is only a "maybe someday." Nyla, a bit sinisterly, says "So lets make it better. Theres no one in the world more poised to do it." Seb, after some deliberation, Seb raises his eyes to meet Nyla's, saying "Yeah. But if I have the opportunity to take action now, I'll do it." Nyla asks if he's suggesting what she's thinking about. Seb looks down, and says "maybe." Nyla asks if he's really willing to do that, and make himself "the Reaper." His eyes meet the floor again. He says "If it worked." Nyla responds "It works." Seb silently communicates his ideas and potential plans with Nyla, which prompts her to respond "You've finally come around to my way of thinking. It will crush your father." "but it will lift so many others." Nyla responds truthfully, "No. It wont lift them. They will bury them, and from their corpses, there is hope." Nyla then tells Seb to provide records of everyone they want to save, and she'll see what she can do on her end.

Pr0, having been with Eve during this entire conversation in the parlor, receives a ping on his computer that is finally able to pinpoint exactly where Joseph has been staying, and that he's found his hiding spot.

Oscar returns home, and cries as soon as he sees Seb back. After the two share a sweet moment, Oscar offers to help straighten out Pr0's tie. Taking the moment of intimacy, Oscar leans closer, and says "I'll never forget someone who helped my boy." And reminds Pr0 that he can leave the slums all behind him. As a thank you. Pr0 simply asks for a fusion supply for a few months. Oscar, of course, agrees, and starts setting him up with the family surgeon, Dr. Riktor to further upgrade his body. Oscar then turns Pr0 to the window and skyline of the city. Offers him the position once again, saying that he could easily have a new life that isn't surrounded by gutters. Pr0 appreciates the offer, but refuses, on the moral that he has caused a lot of the pain that he has suffered through, and needs to use his knowledge of the slums and the horrible things that can happen in them in order to save a few more people. Oscar understands, but states that the offer is still on the table. Pr0 reaches his hand out for him to shake, saying that he believes Oscar to be a good father. He responds with "maybe I could have been for you. It seems I was a poor fit for Sebastian. I guess that's the way it happens."

The Allens, Eve and Pr0 all pile into a limo and head off to the celebration with high spirits. Pr0 discloses the information he found about Joseph to Seb.

\*Out of character, during the live stream, the community was able to give Rob a destiny point, and in the Patreon afterparty, a "petition" was started, asking for NarratorDave to be able to receive destiny points as well, which is more than well deserved\*

-YHTris

## TL;DR

* As time passes, Seb, Eve and Pr0 are all able to meet with Songbird a few times, not all in attendance every time. They were met with clinical white hospital rooms filled with start of the art robots, psychiatrists, and more than a dozen specialists every time they went to see her.
* Pr0 is visited by Belle a few times in this period and is given his first cyber augmentation. Two new brawling arms.
* Eve, during this month of downtime, has begun mastering transfers between the other Eve units. Also in this time, Seb is fully physically developed \*which is showcased in a fantastic surprise in the episode.\*
* Eve computer rings with the call from the "mystery caller" who is wanting updates on her and her situation. Eve brings in Pr0, Seb, and Incongruent for the call. The caller starts off the conversation asking Eve if she has thought more about his question about humanity. Eve asks if she would be able to see the face of the person she's talking to, and the voice responds with "Alas, that is impossible... because one person on this call has freedom. The other does not." Being careful not to disclose which of the two he believes to have freedom.
* The voice then breaks off, saying that he is in a spot to help her and the party out, but then asks her why he should help. The voice then asks her, if she has saved more lives than she has taken. Eve stops to contemplate for a moment and honestly speaks that she is unsure. The voice finds this very interesting and suggests that she may be more human than she realizes. He agrees to help her, on the basis that he finds it amusing.
* Eve finally brings up her request to the caller, which is the battery she's looking for, for Possum. The caller agrees to help, but only if he is allowed to see everything as it happens. The device's activation, its interactions, and everything to come of it.
* The caller agrees to send a lone police robot sent to kill them, which will grant them access to a similar device. Seb asks if it could be the exact one that harassed them at the boarder, but to their surprise, the caller refuses, saying that the specific robot has potential, and has shown signs of deviancy.
* Once they all agree on the deal, The caller lets Seb know that he will be invited to a celebratory dinner in Songbird's honor later in the night. Reboot went ahead of plans and completed her procedure the previous day. The caller suggests that they show up to the party, act nice and celebratory as Seb has lost a lot of the weight he pulled as he's been disconnected from his family for quite sometime. The caller then ends the call with a sinister line: "It's going to be very fun seeing which one of you is left standing at the end of all this. I hope it's Eve. She's polite."
* After the call disconnects, they go make a few drinks before deciding that it's finally time for Seb to go see his parents.
* As Pr0 goes to shower and get dressed for the event, he sees himself as the way he is in a deeper light. His arms are threatening and massive, whereas his physical frame is very thin and gaunt looking.
* The taxi takes them exactly where they were planning on going, to Seb's home. Pr0 feels pangs of derealization as he is unable to physically comfort Seb through this, as Pr0 physically can't feel what he's doing.
* Nyla stands about 10 meters away from Seb, looking at him for the first time in the better part of a year. She asks him if he'll be there for long. He just wants to talk with her. Pr0 makes eye contact with Nyla, and says that he has successfully fulfilled his promise to her. He found him.
* Nyla says that its odd to see respect from someone with rebellion in their eyes, especially because she has never treated him with someone. Pr0 simply says that he has to believe that things can change. Nyla finally accepts the fact that Seb sees Pr0 as a friend instead of something more transactional.
* Seb immediately asks to talk somewhere more private, his and Maya’s study. He starts by telling his mom hard hard he tried to find her. Nyla reassures him that he wasn't the only one, because of how hard they looked for her too.
* Seb then asks about her level of knowledge with Joseph, and she replies that she knows more than she wish she did. Seb then goes on to tell her truth of what happened in those six months of absolute hell.
* He speaks openly about how he's so confused on who to trust anymore. Nyla just tells him to trust the people he loves, and the people who love him, saying "If they're the ones that betray you, and you truly love them, at least you know they're happy." This line breaks the resolve the both of them were holding, and they break down within each other's arms. Nyla repeats how sorry she is and becomes increasingly vulnerable with Seb, crying of how she wishes she could have been there. That "that's a mother's job, and she failed."
* As they ride the wave of emotions out, a few smiles and half laughs break out. Once they both level out just a little bit, Nyla brings back what she was going to show Seb earlier. She has gathered a collection of smiling faces, people enjoying one another's company, and being happy with themselves in the moment. She reveals that this these are the people from the slums that he saved with his efforts.
* Nyla also truly believes that Pr0 will be able to help him find Maya, just as Seb returned back home. Seb lowers his eyes and says "I'll be honest, if what she's been through has been anything like my experience, she won't be the same person when she gets back." Nyla whispers, "Then you can learn to love someone new."
* She then asks what his next course of action will be. Seb shakes his head, saying that he's tapped. Nyla doesn't believe that "her little belligerent boy" is giving up on trying to find her. Seb explains how he's having a hard time seeing the purpose as there is so much badness in the world and people who are constantly trying to destroy any good that's left. Nyla says that there is an option to this, and that option is to build better people.
* Nyla suggests that he takes a look at what she and Oscar have been putting their life's work toward. They have been trying to make better people nearly all of their lives. That they aren't creating weapons, they're creating models of star people. Seb is quick to disagree, saying that option is only a "maybe someday." Nyla, a bit sinisterly, says "So lets make it better. Theres no one in the world more poised to do it." Seb, after some deliberation, Seb raises his eyes to meet Nyla's, saying "Yeah. But if I have the opportunity to take action now, I'll do it."
* Nyla asks if he's really willing to do that, and make himself "the Reaper." His eyes meet the floor again. He says "If it worked." Nyla responds "It works."
* Seb silently communicates his ideas and potential plans with Nyla, which prompts her to respond "You've finally come around to my way of thinking. It will crush your father." "but it will lift so many others." Nyla responds truthfully, "No. It wont lift them. They will bury them, and from their corpses, there is hope." Nyla then tells Seb to provide records of everyone they want to save.
* Pr0, having been with Eve during this entire conversation in the parlor, receives a ping on his computer that is finally able to pinpoint exactly where Joseph has been staying, and that he's found his hiding spot.
* Oscar returns home, and cries as soon as he sees Seb back. After the two share a sweet moment, Oscar offers to help straighten out Pr0's tie.
* Taking the moment of intimacy, Oscar leans closer, and says "I'll never forget someone who helped my boy." And reminds Pr0 that he can leave the slums all behind him. As a thank you. Pr0 simply asks for a fusion supply for a few months. Oscar, of course, agrees, and starts setting him up with the family surgeon, Dr. Riktor to further upgrade his body.
* The Allens, Eve and Pr0 all pile into a limo and head off to the celebration with high spirits. In this ride, Pr0 discloses the information he found about Joseph to Seb.

YHT