We finally have the bones of an plot for the sci fi mlm story about the scientist and the simulated person!
Where we start: The scientist has just interfaced with the simulation after the loss of Sim-1; he'd been avoiding it to the point of getting comments etc and this is a mandatory check in. He has a scene with Sim-2, who's struggling with Sim-1's memories already-- this worsens when the scientist drops in on him.
Where we end: The scientist watches as the simulated person wakes up in a physical body. The simulated person has the choice to leave. (Unsure if he leaves; this could also be ‘unshackled from physical constraints as an AI and allowed roaming.’) Ambiguous ending where it's unclear whether their effort to preserve something [what did they do?] actually works or survives?
5 points to get there--
1 Because the scientist was avoiding the sim, the corporation overhauls things and the existential threat gets nearer, making life more difficult for both protagonists.
2 Because the simulation was overhauled and the threat gets closer, Sim-2 suffers; the scientist tries to find a solution for the threat and 2’s pain, only succeeding with a pyrrhic idea: copy Sim-2 onto hardware & leave; he has to break the idea to Sim-2, who only accepts after the scientist is nearly fired.
3 Because the scientist is nearly fired, the scientist says fuck it, and with 2’s permission, smuggles a copy of Sim-2 out; Sim-3 is spun up and incredibly upset with them both and himself, especially since Sim-2 effectively died for this.
4 Because the scientist smuggled Sim-2’s copy out, the corporation is now hunting him and this misdirection causes the existential threat to loom even closer over the world who has no solution still.
5 Because the threat looms over the world, the scientist and Sim-3 are forced closer together in their attempt to try and save something, anything, as it has become apparent it is likely not possible to stop the threat.