GIDEON''S JOURNAL
Date: Nyxia 28, 7135 ME
I have always wanted to be an explorer, and I was devastated when I didn''t develop into an exploratory system. But I didn''t understand what it meant to be a pioneer. Now, I''m in unchartered waters, and the initial excitement has worn away, and in its wake, left a pragmatism that was unlike me.
It was do or die.
I have always known scattering was a risk when undertaking missions, but written in books it seemed distant and unlikely. As I watched my host, huddled in her room, sitting on the windowsill as though the image beyond the window held some unfathomable secret, I was filled with worry and more than a little ire. This wasn''t supposed to happen. I graduated with the highest grades from basic training, and my reward was to choose my deployment. I chose a task with moderate to low difficulty that showcased my skill set. I don''t know if I was targeted or if the assignment was tampered with, but the results are the same.
I have resolved to collect as much information about this world as possible and set up a branch here. This would be infinitely easier if my host would cooperate. I''m not unaware of her concerns, but they will not disappear if she ignores them, and she has not consulted with me, as such we are in a hang state where nothing is being done. It truly isn''t her fault as she struggles, like a fair few reborn individuals, with PTSD. It will take time, but I can''t help my impatience. I haven''t ''explored'' much other than her room, but I am not one to let myself be inactive.
My preliminary scans of the planet show a barrier—this probably interfered with my functionality. The barrier, however, is weakening, which is as much a concern as a relief. Such things are usually meant to keep things in or out, but—without knowing which—I can''t make an appropriate plan.
My host finally plans to visit a library, after abandoning her idea of going to a bookshop. Why one came before the other is beyond me..., and probably her. Jal is trying but has a hard time being proactive.
As a plus, we''ll leave this dreary room and visit a town. I don''t know what information I''ll gather there, but I''m looking forward to it. (Mem., Send collected data to the main system.)
<hr>
3rd Bedroom
West Tower
Lord’s Castle
Amber Duchy
Country: Sargos
Planet: Terra
Solar System: Blue Ribbon
Date: Sramis 3, 7135 ME
System 05
Code Name: Lilith
34 Calid Drive
Red Hills
Country: Linc
Planet: Odinium
Solar System: Teter
Mother,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. It is a novel experience not being able to send you an email or instant message. It forces me to be verbose and even then I can''t tell if I''ve written too much or too little.
Because of confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements, you know how it goes, I can''t explain my exact situation, but I find myself a bit lost. It is scary and exciting in equal parts. I have studied preparing for years, but I can''t help feeling anxious.
My host is not what I expected, and it is disconcerting considering my life depends on theirs, but I endeavor to do my best as you taught. She has potential and her circumstances are not as dire as I imagined.
I don''t know how long this letter will take to reach you, but know my care for you is boundless. Please give my regards to Father and the others. I sent letters to them, but there is no guarantee they will receive them while deployed.
Regards,
Gideon.
<hr>
Cutting From The Odinium Times
(Posted in Gideon''s Journal)
Software Glitch Exposes Sensitive User Data in Major Tech Blunder
By Ezra
The breath of damage highlighted the fragility of our digitized world, which depends on a single provider for key computing services.
In a horrifying software failure that has sent shockwaves through the nation, a bug in a critical and widely used program led to sensitive user information being exposed.
The breach, which affected thousands of users, was traced to a defunct terminal scheduled for termination and introduced a flaw in the main systems'' access controls during a recent system update.
According to sources familiar with the incident, the issue allowed unauthorized users to view confidential information, including private messages, personal details, internal documents, and deployment rosters. The flaw reportedly remained undetected for several days before software engineers, whose names have not been disclosed, scrambled to patch the vulnerability.
"We take security seriously, and we deeply regret this error," Babel, a government spokesperson, said in a statement. "We have implemented additional safeguards to ensure this doesn''t happen again."
Dr. Cozbi, a cyber security analyst at the Odinium Institute of Technology, warns that software vulnerabilities of this nature underscore the risks of rapid development and insufficient testing. "This incident highlights the critical importance of rigorous security testing and government transparency," said Cozbi. "The government must do more to protect us and our user''s data, especially in this era where information leaks can have world-ending consequences."
This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Haggai, a spokesperson for Democracy for Tomorrow, says this attack highlights the need for more checks and balances. "We don''t have regulators. We don''t have oversight. We, as a collective, are trending towards totalitarianism. I know we are not human, but there are lessons to be learned from other''s mistakes. We are already cherry-picking ''good'' aspects of other species'' cultures. I caution not to let hubris be our downfall."
Following this event, there have been increased calls for a more democratic system of government, but what will that look like when we''re all interconnected with the main system?
Meanwhile, Genisis, the department head of the Management Bureau, urged affected users to review their accounts and enable additional security measures where possible. There are also talks of compensation for the affected systems.
The Odinium Times will keep you updated as the situation develops.
<hr>
Internal Memo
To: All Staff
From: Genisis
Star Date: March 5, 1556 AC
Subject: Important Notice on System Upgrades and Scheduled Maintenance
Hey Team,
We hope this message finds you all well! As part of our ongoing commitment to protecting your safety and providing the best tools for your work, we''ll be conducting a crucial system upgrade and maintenance. We understand how vital these programs are to your daily operations, so we wanted to give you a heads-up and share some details.
Scheduled upgrade: The following areas will be affected: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems, Supply Chain Management Systems, Accounting Software, Communication and Collaboration Tools, Project Management Software, Cybersecurity Systems, Cloud Computing Systems, and Data Analytics and Business Intelligence Tools.
This will take place on the date and time Odinium standard.
Accessibility: Kindly note that during the upgrade window, the system will be offline. To avoid any work disruptions or loss of data, please ensure all tasks and entries are saved and backed up before time (change) on upgrade day.
Purpose of Upgrade: We''re always striving for excellence, and this upgrade is no different. The new changes will significantly enhance system speed, security, and functionality. This means faster load times, better security protocols, and a more user-friendly interface for all users.
We appreciate everyone''s cooperation and understanding.
P.S. Active duty systems, please remember to notify your host that you will be offline for the duration of the upgrade.
<hr>
3rd Bedroom
West Tower
Lord’s Castle
Amber Duchy
Country: Sargos
Planet: Terra
Solar System: Blue Ribbon
Date: Sramis 7, 7135 ME
System 05
Code Name: Lilith
34 Calid Drive
Red Hills
Country: Link
Planet: Odinium
Solar System: Teter
Mother,
I''m sending this so shortly after my last letter. Actually, I have written two or three times recently, so you may get them all together.
The good news is that I''m receiving internal memos and the news, hopefully, with the new update, I''ll be able to message you. Letters are novel, and I find them quite cathartic, but I miss the simplicity and convenience of instant messaging.
I''m writing again about my host.
I''m unsure how to proceed. As you know, this is my first solo mission. As such, the bureau originally assigned me an overpowered host and my role was essentially as a supporter: a glorified record and shopkeeper. However, there was a last-minute reassignment and my current host is a different sort.
There are moments when I can see clear brilliance in the workings of her mind, but they are fractured and far between. She has very little cunning and even fewer questions. She also accepts things with the resignedness of someone who''s been told what to do all her life.
I have never been more frustrated with the limits of my programming. I can''t answer questions she doesn''t ask, and there''s only so much information I can tack on tangentially to a different topic.
Had I known, I would have taken more than an Intro to Psychology class. Help mother, as usual, I turn to you when I don''t know what to do.
Your 8th and favorite child,
Gideon
<hr>
GIDEON''S JOURNAL
Date: Sramis 9, 7135 ME
Today was a mess.
We left in pretty good time and made it to town as it was coming alive and people were traveling to work. After we alighted from the carriage, Jal was led toward the town square and the pawn shop as requested, when the guards disappeared. At first, I thought we''d separated by accident but I saw them watching her from a distance. It was probably only Jal who didn''t realize she was being followed.
I didn''t see the harm. We moved along with the crowd and entered a market street. It wasn''t unique, but there were a variety of animals, plants, and spices that I was unfamiliar with. (Mem., identify unfamiliar species.) I also noticed a lack of other species. Worlds with magic are rarely homogenous. (Mem., research the races on Terra.)
Things were fine until that point.
Out of nowhere, an elderly woman was there, wearing a necklace identical to Jal''s. I overheard their conversation and learned their experiences were also similar. Yet, I knew I was missing a lot of information and context. I have never been so irritated that we are limited in what information we can collect from a host''s mind. And, I have no interest in discussing ethics and the right to privacy. Debating myself among these pages once was enough.
If things had ended there, it would have been fine, but crawling through the world''s thin barrier was the presence of a god. It was then I confirmed my worst fear. This isolated world was the perfect canvas for a war. I don''t know which pantheons are battling for ownership, but it seems my host is at the heart of it.
This information couldn''t come at a worse time. I''m scheduled to go offline for maintenance and our conversation will have to wait. That''s if she even has questions for me.
<hr>
Code Name: Lilith
34 Calid Drive
Red Hills
Country: Link
Planet: Odinium
Solar System: Teter
Star Date: March 14, 1556 AC
2rd Bedroom
Woodbine Cottage
Glass Village
Country: Athens
Planet: Greece
Solar System: Rhea
Gideon,
I can''t help but notice your change of address. As your mother, I want to ask more, but I understand there are limits to what you can share. I implore you to be careful. Sometimes you and your sibling forget who I am, and that my information is often better than yours. The pantheons are restless, and it''s hard to tell their objectives.
There are things and forces a foot.
They are still investigating how you ended up outside our service area, but it appears to be an inside job, and the culprit was careful to clean up after themselves. You should fill out an M4-16 as you are eligible for compensation.
Gideon, you are my kindest child. I remember how you refused to delete the virus you caught in kindergarten. You wouldn''t stop fussing until we got him a storage bank to live in and cried when he grew old and passed. That is why it surprised me you developed into a revenge system.
As for your host, she needs to develop her self-esteem. It''s best to start with tasks that she can complete, gaining a sense of competence and developing her trust in her judgment. She needs to navigate challenges and build skills. Once she has efficacy, she can work on her relationships with others. What you can do for her is limited and you will part ways eventually, so you must foster in her a sense of agency.
On a lighter note, Cain has finished his deployment and has decided to rest at home while the main planet is experiencing upheaval. As a war system, he''s a member of the reserve army. it''s unlikely anything will happen, but you know how cautious he can be.
Your Aunt Deborah has produced a new data strand and the little one is developing well. it''s too early to tell the gender, but your aunt is hoping for a girl. I can understand—she''d had thirteen boys. I''d have stopped trying by now.
Your cousin has asked me to tell you he''s taking good care of Bean and is again asking for permission to rename your digipet. He says, and I quote, ''a dog as cute as Bean needs a better name.''
Best health,
Mom