technically i posted these already but i dont like the layout of that post so. Assorted RAR doodles. The specifics of their outfit were a bit of a struggle for me.
MIP Interactive Scenario 2: The Personality Donor Process
Part 5 (Final) - Your MIP Unit's Activation
[Part 1] <-
???: "Oh! There you are! You don't seem to be able to speak properly just yet, but that's okay! Um... I'm just glad you seem to be able to see and hear me!"
???: "You can hear me, right…?”
This time, you reply more coherently. Something between a “yeah” and an “uh-huh”.
???: "Oh, good! I got really worried for a moment..."
???: "Y'know, I had a pretty rough time with my activation, too, so don't feel bad!"
???: "Um... S-Sorry, let me get back on track... Do you remember your name and designation?"
You tell the being before you that your name is Y██N██Y██N██Y██N██.
???: "N-No, um... Your name, silly!! That's your Donor’s name… Um… Wait, d-did we even get you a name beforehand? Oh, oh voids…"
You tell her your correct name, which is "Ode To The Void".
???: "Oh…! Yes, that works. I mean, um, yes, that’s it! Yay; I'm glad..."
She notes something on her clipboard for a moment and then returns her focus back to you. She smiles.
SLS: "I was worried you wouldn't remember… Um, my name's Starlight Symphony, by the way! I'm MIP_09. Do you remember your ID number?"
You tell her you're MIP_44. Somehow, the knowledge comes to you immediately.
SLS: "Yes!! Yes, you are! We're doing great! Okay, um... Lemme tell you the Mission Statement..."
SLS: "The Mobile Iterator Project is an experimental project heralded by No Cost Too Great, with the stated goal of supporting Iterators in their productivity, maintenance, and longevity, so that they can operate at maximum efficiency, even after the inevitable mass ascension. ‘MIP Units’—mobile iterators under the project—are created puppet-first in the ‘MIP Development Center’ and later assigned to Local Groups, where their structures are built to support the Iterators around them."
SLS: "Uhh, that's you! You're a MIP Unit! And that name you mentioned earlier was your Personality Donor. They gave you their memories and experiences… Um, they're no longer with us, so please cherish those gifts."
There is an awkward silence. You sort of half-process whatever she's saying.
SLS: "So, eventually, you'll get a Local Group, too! And, um, here—"
She motions to the room around her.
"—Is the ‘MIP Development Center’! Um… The full Project Mission Statement is a bit longer, but you can just read that on your own time. It's in your ID drone!"
She points to your ID drone. It seems unfamiliar, and you can faintly recall owning one with a different shape. Or was that your “Donor?”
SLS: "Um... Do you have any questions?"
Despite the presence of far more pressing concerns, you ask SLS if she knows anything about your plush toy. You can't entirely remember what it looks like, but you're certain you had one, and that it was very important to you.
SLS: "Oh... You remember that...?"
SLS: "I-I mean, um... Of course! Plenty of your memories were transferred over from your Donor; we just haven't given you the important ones they decided to save yet, so your Activation wouldn't be so overwhelming, haha..."
She doesn't sound particularly convincing.
SLS: "Um, that does remind me, though..."
Starlight Symphony presents you with a plush toy of some sort of Ice Fairy. You feel an intense connection to the object.
SLS: "Um—Your Donor really wanted you to have this! Th-They, um, had us save this for you...!"
Something stirs beneath your processes. A flash of euphoria, followed by a wave of concern. You ask SLS if Umbra is okay and about what happened to them.
SLS: "Y-You... Remember a lot more than I, um, expected you to, haha..."
You begin to realize that this Unit is terrible at keeping confidentiality.
She stares at you for a moment with a worried expression. Her brow furrows, and then she seems to commit to something.
SLS: "Um.. Well, if you promise to cooperate and not freak out, I'll tell you the truth..."
SLS leans in closer to you, ready to whisper something. It's kind of an adorable gesture, given it's utterly and completely pointless. Whispering isn't going to make a difference in a room under constant surveillance, especially with two security cameras speaking to one another. But, sure, whatever, you guys keep up your little farce.
SLS: "To be honest... Um... W-We're not supposed to keep this kinda stuff... Your Architect displayed a lot of attachment to this item, so it was meant to be used in the, um, Transfer process..."
SLS: "But... Well, Umbra tried to save it anyways, so they, um..."
SLS: "Well, they'll be in trouble when they wake up again... R-Right now, they have to undergo maintenance and stuff because of an accident..."
A well-deserved punishment. They were interfering with the Transfer Process. It's a good thing that the Director is clever enough to come up with solutions on the spot.
SLS: "Well, uh, anyways... Since you seem to be functioning properly, we can help assimilate those data pearls into your system, and then you can keep them in your living quarters at this facility. And you can take them with you once you get assigned to a Local Group!"
You ask SLS what you need to do next.
SLS: "Um... W-Well… Once you're in your living quarters, you can talk to Sand-Smoothed Reckoning, maybe? He’s the Iterator we're living on! He’s, uh…"
SLS: "Nice."
You can tell she doesn't think particularly highly of him and that she is avoiding giving you a direct answer. You prompt her to finish.
SLS: "...Um, unfortunately, you'll have to be deactivated again… But juuust for a little bit, okay? To make sure everything is 100% perfect! Um, but this time, you should have the rest cycle subroutine running, so it won't be so scary..."
SLS: "Um... Sorry. But if you need help with anything in the future, you can feel free to ask me...! I-I’m an Assistant, so it's my job to help!
You nod.
SLS: "..."
SLS: "Have a good rest..."
You are deactivated.
[SCENARIO END]
---
Author's Notes:
You might notice a pretty stark difference between the first image here and the rest of them... Originally, there was only one image, so I drew more uh... like. As I was transcribing this. I also re-wrote large chunks of the later parts.
This Scenario is... A little atypical, I think. OTTV was activated during a time period in which there was a lot of demand and a lot of activity, so quality control for each particular Unit was a bit spotty. I think 44 was also just... particularly unlucky; this was probably the worst handling they had. They didn't even confirm their Unit's name first! (which was because I hadn't confirmed a name for them yet oops . but yknow instead of shoving that in somewhere earlier I just... incorporated it.) But, like, normally, the whole... idea of direct consciousness transfer is broached pretty early on. If someone doesn't seem into that, and genuinely just wants to copy their personality into an Iterator, they tend to be let go for ethical and practical reasons. The... Method is a little... Less explicit, oftentimes. Volunteers are aware that the Transfer Process is risky and often necessitates Ascension, so they at least go in with the idea that they might be ending their life on the carnal plane. (See Item A on SLS's Log Page! Complimentary Void Fluid Baths are offered to Volunteers.) But... The details of how one is transferred, while present in the Contract, are not oft or readily discussed. It... Depends, really. The Ethics Committee has summoned the Director many a time.
Is 44 canon? Only dubiously. It's... schrödinger's canon, I think. They're a can of worms and a half. Why is YNYNYN's name censored? I was really lazy and didn't want to make one for them. I really do hope 44's Donor's initials are not actually YNYNYN.
I think the scanner design needs to be updated. It's gotta be larger so you can have walls that slide in the interior. (since the interior is filled with void fluid.)
I considered making two separate machines, but... if the samsarite is thick enough, and the machine is being properly maintained, then I think it's fine tbh.
speaking of I still need to make that comic explaining samsarite eventually. maybe I can cheat and make that a series of images instead, too? kinda fun format. sigh. we'll figure it out, surely...
The narration in the later parts was inspired by the sort of prose my friend Viridi writes.
