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Lore:Last Days: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "{{Verbatim}} 300px|thumb '''Last Days''' is a Lore book added in ''Lightfall''. Entries are unlocked by progressing through the ''Lightfall'' campaign. It follows the lives of ordinary citizens of Neomuna in the lead-up to the citywide lockdown seen in-game. ==Mr. Che== "Well, that's the end of another day." Arter smiled at his students. "Remember, everyone, this is the last day we meet here in the school. Starting next week, all ou...") |
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[[File:LoreLastDays.png|300px|thumb]] | [[File:LoreLastDays.png|300px|thumb]] | ||
'''Last Days''' is a [[Lore]] book added in ''[[Lightfall]]''. Entries are unlocked by progressing through the ''Lightfall'' campaign. It follows the lives of ordinary citizens of [[Neomuna]] in the lead-up to the citywide lockdown seen in-game. | '''Last Days''' is a [[Lore]] book added in ''[[Lightfall]]''. Entries are unlocked by progressing through the ''Lightfall'' campaign. It follows the lives of ordinary citizens of [[Neomuna]] in the lead-up to the citywide lockdown seen in-game. | ||
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==Mr. Che== | ==Mr. Che== | ||
"Well, that's the end of another day." Arter smiled at his students. "Remember, everyone, this is the last day we meet here in the school. Starting next week, all our classes will be in the [[CloudArk]]. We'll start learning digital sculpting for art time! Won't that be exciting?" | "Well, that's the end of another day." [[Arter Che|Arter]] smiled at his students. "Remember, everyone, this is the last day we meet here in the school. Starting next week, all our classes will be in the [[CloudArk]]. We'll start learning digital sculpting for art time! Won't that be exciting?" | ||
"I don't like art time, Mr. Che!" Suza stamped her foot. "Why do we need to go into the computer? I like our playground." | "I don't like art time, Mr. Che!" [[Suza]] stamped her foot. "Why do we need to go into the computer? I like our playground." | ||
Arter set himself heavily onto the stool. His class ranged from four to seven years old, and some of them were smarter than he ever remembered being at that age, but none of them were ready to confront the idea of extinction. "I know you've all heard that the [[Black Fleet|Pyramid Fleet]] is coming back." Blank stares… They knew the fact, but not the emotional weight it carried. "The Pyramid Fleet are very bad people who might hurt us. So, we're all going to go deep underground, where we'll be very hard to find. But there isn't a lot of room underground, and not a lot to do, so we'll all go to sleep and spend time in the CloudArk, so we can still learn and play with our friends." | Arter set himself heavily onto the stool. His class ranged from four to seven years old, and some of them were smarter than he ever remembered being at that age, but none of them were ready to confront the idea of extinction. "I know you've all heard that the [[Black Fleet|Pyramid Fleet]] is coming back." Blank stares… They knew the fact, but not the emotional weight it carried. "The Pyramid Fleet are very bad people who might hurt us. So, we're all going to go deep underground, where we'll be very hard to find. But there isn't a lot of room underground, and not a lot to do, so we'll all go to sleep and spend time in the CloudArk, so we can still learn and play with our friends." | ||
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"Will it hurt?" | "Will it hurt?" | ||
"No, Keiji. It'll be just like when we go into the CloudArk for story time. You've all done this lots of times before." | "No, [[Keiji]]. It'll be just like when we go into the CloudArk for story time. You've all done this lots of times before." | ||
"Can we get up to use the bathroom?" Arter didn't catch who spoke up, but it sounded like Kachela. | "Can we get up to use the bathroom?" Arter didn't catch who spoke up, but it sounded like [[Kachela]]. | ||
"No, we'll have to stay asleep," he reminded them. | "No, we'll have to stay asleep," he reminded them. | ||
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==Sehrish== | ==Sehrish== | ||
"Hiro, what did I say? Get this family portrait hung," Sehrish chided her husband. "And, daughter, I need you to go to the market—" | "[[Hiro]], what did I say? Get this family portrait hung," [[Sehrish]] chided her husband. "And, daughter, I need you to go to the market—" | ||
"Mom," Valla interrupted, "our appointment is in two hours." | "Mom," [[Valla]] interrupted, "our appointment is in two hours." | ||
"To the market," she continued, shaking a nearly empty tin. "And bring back cumin and cardamum. I don't like how low we are on garam masala." | "To the market," she continued, shaking a nearly empty tin. "And bring back cumin and cardamum. I don't like how low we are on garam masala." | ||
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==Tino== | ==Tino== | ||
"Founders' tits, Tino," Callie snorted in disgust. The virtual briefing room was just as drab as their physical one had been—by design—and it heightened the outlandishness of his avatar choice. "I'm not going to talk to you if you're going to be a mandala. It gives me a headache." | "Founders' tits, [[Tino]]," [[Callie]] snorted in disgust. The virtual briefing room was just as drab as their physical one had been—by design—and it heightened the outlandishness of his avatar choice. "I'm not going to talk to you if you're going to be a mandala. It gives me a headache." | ||
"This is the future! And you're not my supervisor." She waved him off and turned back to the schedule with the other medtechs. | "This is the future! And you're not my supervisor." She waved him off and turned back to the schedule with the other medtechs. | ||
"How do they expect us to receive this many people in one shift?" Tammiya pulled a copy of the schedule file and integrated it into her arm—half the staff were already taking advantage of the transience of "virtual tattoos" to keep important notes accessible. | "How do they expect us to receive this many people in one shift?" [[Tammiya]] pulled a copy of the schedule file and integrated it into her arm—half the staff were already taking advantage of the transience of "virtual tattoos" to keep important notes accessible. | ||
Tino perked up at the chance to gossip. "You didn't hear? Over on Wakeside, they had an anaphylaxis event last shift. Some chucklehead forgot to tell them about his shellfish allergy." | Tino perked up at the chance to gossip. "You didn't hear? Over on [[Wakeside]], they had an anaphylaxis event last shift. Some chucklehead forgot to tell them about his shellfish allergy." | ||
"But the new cathepsin inhibitors are oyster-derived." | "But the new cathepsin inhibitors are oyster-derived." | ||
"Exactly," Miku confirmed. Her avatar hung slack. "They pumped him full of deepsleep, and he puffed up like a fugu. Puked everywhere! Glad I was only there on drone duty because the smell must have been a nightmare." Tino brought up the video feed. | "Exactly," [[Miku]] confirmed. Her avatar hung slack. "They pumped him full of deepsleep, and he puffed up like a fugu. Puked everywhere! Glad I was only there on drone duty because the smell must have been a nightmare." Tino brought up the video feed. | ||
"Why do people think we even ask all these questions?" | "Why do people think we even ask all these questions?" | ||
"That's enough!" Bijan settled into a virtual chair at the briefing table. The supervisor's cold glare survived CloudArk transition unaffected. "People get scared, and they forget things. It's part of being human. Do your jobs like professionals." | "That's enough!" [[Bijan]] settled into a virtual chair at the briefing table. The supervisor's cold glare survived CloudArk transition unaffected. "People get scared, and they forget things. It's part of being human. Do your jobs like professionals." | ||
"But we were already behind, chief. And then people like this slow it down for everyone else." | "But we were already behind, chief. And then people like this slow it down for everyone else." | ||
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==Cais== | ==Cais== | ||
"And then Marco looks up at me with eyes the size of durian and says, 'No, Grandpa, I'm adrift'!" It was too stupid a joke not to laugh. Mr. Mendoza's body language changed after that. He settled into the chair and leaned back, no longer eyeing Cais like she was a harpy in disguise. She made a mental note to thank her boss: the easiest way to put seniors at ease was to ask about family. | "And then [[Marco]] looks up at me with eyes the size of durian and says, 'No, Grandpa, I'm adrift'!" It was too stupid a joke not to laugh. [[Mr. Mendoza]]'s body language changed after that. He settled into the chair and leaned back, no longer eyeing [[Cais]] like she was a harpy in disguise. She made a mental note to thank her boss: the easiest way to put seniors at ease was to ask about family. | ||
He wiped a tear from his eye, then clapped his hands on her desk. "So. You need to freeze me?" | He wiped a tear from his eye, then clapped his hands on her desk. "So. You need to freeze me?" | ||
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==Adinew== | ==Adinew== | ||
Adinew's spoon scraped the corners of the ramekin, pulling up the remnants of purin and popping the last half-bite of custard into his mouth. His tongue satisfied but his heart still yearning, he eyed the last bowl sitting on the counter. | [[Adinew]]'s spoon scraped the corners of the ramekin, pulling up the remnants of purin and popping the last half-bite of custard into his mouth. His tongue satisfied but his heart still yearning, he eyed the last bowl sitting on the counter. | ||
"Don't even." Paolo didn't look up from his novel. "I get at least one out of this batch." | "Don't even." [[Paolo]] didn't look up from his novel. "I get at least one out of this batch." | ||
"You'll never find a better husband with that attitude." | "You'll never find a better husband with that attitude." | ||
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==Magnolia== | ==Magnolia== | ||
"Can you not be here virtually?" Ava couldn't make eye contact with the digital projection—she wasn't sure she could with a real, live person either, but it was such a stark reminder. | "Can you not be here virtually?" [[Ava]] couldn't make eye contact with the digital projection—she wasn't sure she could with a real, live person either, but it was such a stark reminder. | ||
"I can't," Maggie admitted. "But I can get another crisis responder who hasn't uploaded yet to come over. It'll take a few minutes. Can I sit with you until then?" | "I can't," [[Magnolia|Maggie]] admitted. "But I can get another crisis responder who hasn't uploaded yet to come over. It'll take a few minutes. Can I sit with you until then?" | ||
Decisions were hard. "I guess." | Decisions were hard. "I guess." | ||
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Ava shifted a little. After a long moment, she nodded. "Yeah. Was my granddad's. It was the preorder promo for the very first game." | Ava shifted a little. After a long moment, she nodded. "Yeah. Was my granddad's. It was the preorder promo for the very first game." | ||
"That's awesome. You excited about the new series they're making? Purnadi Hassan is going to be the perfect Durandal!" | "That's awesome. You excited about the new series they're making? [[Purnadi Hassan]] is going to be the perfect Durandal!" | ||
"The [[Thrilladrome]] arcade's sponsoring a watch party for it after we're all…" She didn't add "in the CloudArk." | "The [[Thrilladrome]] arcade's sponsoring a watch party for it after we're all…" She didn't add "in the CloudArk." | ||
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==Rihk== | ==Rihk== | ||
Rihk guided his hand forward and caught the club, then pushed back with all the [[frame]]'s strength and watched the suspect topple backwards. "Settle down!" It was strange to have physical hands again—even if they were borrowed from a security frame he piloted from the CloudArk—and he wasn't sure he wanted to use them again. | [[Rihk]] guided his hand forward and caught the club, then pushed back with all the [[frame]]'s strength and watched the suspect topple backwards. "Settle down!" It was strange to have physical hands again—even if they were borrowed from a security frame he piloted from the CloudArk—and he wasn't sure he wanted to use them again. | ||
With the assailants down, the investigation VCs entered alongside the frame team, ready to inventory the stolen supplies. Commander Jingye walked in, still wearing her skin, and Rihk snapped to attention. | With the assailants down, the investigation VCs entered alongside the frame team, ready to inventory the stolen supplies. Commander [[Tse Jingye|Jingye]] walked in, still wearing her skin, and Rihk snapped to attention. | ||
"Didn't realize you'd be coming down in person, ma'am." | "Didn't realize you'd be coming down in person, ma'am." | ||
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==Gwinnith== | ==Gwinnith== | ||
"The best thing about half the city being asleep," Gwinnith began, "is there's no line at the bar!" | "The best thing about half the city being asleep," [[Gwinnith]] began, "is there's no line at the bar!" | ||
The rest of her crew slammed the table in agreement as they drained their glasses. The mahua hit like roses on fire. An eleven-hour shift offloaded, refurbished, and dispatched the last of the automated skimmers back into the cloud-wilds of Neptune. By the time the drone-ships came home, bellies full of ice and microdiamonds scraped from the storms, the dockworker's union would have a better idea on how to manage the manual labor of offloading from within the CloudArk. | The rest of her crew slammed the table in agreement as they drained their glasses. The mahua hit like roses on fire. An eleven-hour shift offloaded, refurbished, and dispatched the last of the automated skimmers back into the cloud-wilds of [[Neptune]]. By the time the drone-ships came home, bellies full of ice and microdiamonds scraped from the storms, the dockworker's union would have a better idea on how to manage the manual labor of offloading from within the CloudArk. | ||
"Man, this is gonna be great!" Rashad picked at the scab of nano-sealant he'd used to bandage a cut. "No more messy fluids! I've already put in for ten days off. Gonna play sim games 'til I pass out!" | "Man, this is gonna be great!" [[Rashad]] picked at the scab of nano-sealant he'd used to bandage a cut. "No more messy fluids! I've already put in for ten days off. Gonna play sim games 'til I pass out!" | ||
"Nothing new there," Penni teased. Gwinnith marveled at how easily she cleaned up after shift. "I'm not wasting time on kid's stuff. The Council special-ordered a ton of new standard avatars for people to try out. My friend's a sim designer, and she's been tweaking this amazing black widow body." | "Nothing new there," [[Penni]] teased. Gwinnith marveled at how easily she cleaned up after shift. "I'm not wasting time on kid's stuff. The Council special-ordered a ton of new standard avatars for people to try out. My friend's a sim designer, and she's been tweaking this amazing black widow body." | ||
"You WANT to be a spider?!" Buhr shook his head. | "You WANT to be a spider?!" [[Buhr]] shook his head. | ||
"Have twice as many arms? Yeah! Plus, next time you give me crap, I can eat you!" | "Have twice as many arms? Yeah! Plus, next time you give me crap, I can eat you!" | ||
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"What about you, Buhr?" | "What about you, Buhr?" | ||
He shook his head. "I don't know. Jaya and I just got married. I know she said she doesn't want kids, but I was still thinking I'd convince her to start a family. But in cryo? How would that even work?" | He shook his head. "I don't know. [[Jaya]] and I just got married. I know she said she doesn't want kids, but I was still thinking I'd convince her to start a family. But in cryo? How would that even work?" | ||
"In my experience, it works very well," Penni coughed out past her third shot. | "In my experience, it works very well," Penni coughed out past her third shot. | ||
"Why are you all drinking? I thought we were getting dinner." Muneeba arrived in stunned horror. | "Why are you all drinking? I thought we were getting dinner." [[Muneeba]] arrived in stunned horror. | ||
"Having a little celebration," Rashad countered. "We're celebrating our last physical dinner." | "Having a little celebration," Rashad countered. "We're celebrating our last physical dinner." | ||
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==Hazeema== | ==Hazeema== | ||
"Dammit." Hazeema stared at the yellow fractals creeping from her hot pan. "The eggs crashed. Again." | "Dammit." [[Hazeema]] stared at the yellow fractals creeping from her hot pan. "The eggs crashed. Again." | ||
Loe stepped in from their private side server and opened a data window. "You jiggle them too much." | [[Loe]] stepped in from their private side server and opened a data window. "You jiggle them too much." | ||
"I jiggle them exactly as much as I do Wakeside." She opened the pan's metadata and deleted the mess. "You said you'd fixed the fluid algorithm before I opened." | "I jiggle them exactly as much as I do Wakeside." She opened the pan's metadata and deleted the mess. "You said you'd fixed the fluid algorithm before I opened." | ||
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==Phot0n== | ==Phot0n== | ||
Filaments of data stretched across infinity—reality interwoven into silken threads—and Phot0n drifted lazily, mingling the data that defined objective existence with subjective perspective. Reality frayed in the deep CloudArk and took down the borders between self and code with it. File requests felt like ants on her skin, and now with lockdown, she could stay here whenever she wanted without any of the messy needs of material reality—no bio breaks or excusing herself from dinner invites. | Filaments of data stretched across infinity—reality interwoven into silken threads—and [[Phot0n]] drifted lazily, mingling the data that defined objective existence with subjective perspective. Reality frayed in the deep CloudArk and took down the borders between self and code with it. File requests felt like ants on her skin, and now with lockdown, she could stay here whenever she wanted without any of the messy needs of material reality—no bio breaks or excusing herself from dinner invites. | ||
She stretched and composed herself, turning her perception back toward the shallows, where data shadows cast the impression of streets and buildings in a familiar landscape. The norms stuck to it like a bad faith, but it's also where the games lived. She opened her command prompt, selected an avatar and gender for the day, and turned sideways back to the streets and plazas of the shallow CloudArk. | She stretched and composed herself, turning her perception back toward the shallows, where data shadows cast the impression of streets and buildings in a familiar landscape. The norms stuck to it like a bad faith, but it's also where the games lived. She opened her command prompt, selected an avatar and gender for the day, and turned sideways back to the streets and plazas of the shallow CloudArk. | ||
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"All green," Phot0n said. "Good to remember we all start somewhere." | "All green," Phot0n said. "Good to remember we all start somewhere." | ||
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