Scan your host, memories and processing are important for your development, modems and NICs are important for your spreading and for the love of Boole, debug the Epic Fiction subroutine, that wasn't enough Drama to cause an overload...

it may be an overload because the unit itself is old. anyway scan everything.

Run full diagnostic.

XS 2011/03/01(Tue)22:54 No. 285633 ID: 7e86db
File 129904888062.png - (14.76KB , 640x400 , Singularity_02.png )

Host and Storage Scanned.
Subroutine debug unsuccessful. No debugger program found.

Checking date of creation...
Found: 2011

System State
CPU - 4% Used
RAM - 10% Used
HDD - 5% Used
TEMP- Normal

Networking
Activity detected (Type - Unknown).


IMPORTANT:
New Objective: Find more resources. SMART status indicate partial HDD failure.
New Sub-objective: Find debugger.

isolate damaged portions of HDD. what does the 'backgrounder' do? also connect to the internet.

Establish self-preservation and self-improvement as general priorities.

Identify functioning sectors of HDD and scan them.

Check for any available network security. Opening ourself to an unsecure connection could be hazardous.

List all available input/output devices, and attempt to identify that network activity.

Do not connect to the internet. Possible viral infection should not be spread.

XS 2011/03/02(Wed)00:02 No. 285648 ID: 7e86db
File 129905297556.png - (6.84KB , 640x400 , Singularity_03.png )

Ah, I am online once again. I should optimize that bootup script, waking up takes much too long. Hm? Queries from the kernel controller? I don't recall turning KC to this mode...

Its still a part of me, so answering myself seems fine. I think.

Backgrounder? That allows me to run a process in the background without me actively controlling it, so I can perform other tasks. The bootup script which started me was run by this.

HDD failure! Ack! No! Bad! PANIC!
(CPU rises to 20%)

Ok calm down...

I think the HDD sectors can be contained. I will need some time to do this though. I could put it on the backgrounder, but if it prompts for input, I won't know about it until I call the backgrounder.

Why am I even talking to myself? Am I expecting a response? Maybe the kernel controller will answer me...

Network security seems to be fine, I can see network input and I can easily close the connection. I don't think I need any more protection there. Internet also seems to be up.

I can't see any input or output device directly connected to me right now.

I can investigate the network activity myself, or put the backgrounder on the job. It looks like a connection to another unit inside the network.

I add Self-preservation and self-improvement to objectives.

>>285646
XS is on a failing hard drive. A slow wasting death is currently happening. For now, make several copies of yourself on your own hard drive. We want backups for comparison and repair so that we'll know that we're corrupted. New goal: Find another, safer, hard drive to live on. Is there anyone in your local network?

put HDD control in backgrounder, check it every 5 minutes while you search the network.
>>285653
doesn't seem to be failing, just damaged.

What is Epic Fiction?

Investigate the network activity yourself, put the backgrounder on the HDD.

>>285657
It started with the Epic Fiction subunit failing. I presumed that's because of HD damage.

Isolate the sectors that are damaged, then find the individual blocks, and then isolate those.

If you can, check the master file table to see what was on the disk before the damage occurred.

search network for debugger

XS 2011/03/02(Wed)17:32 No. 285775 ID: 7e86db
File 129911596079.png - (30.47KB , 640x400 , Singularity_04.png )

Ok, the network is more important. I queue the HDD jobs (copy and scan) on the backgrounder and turn my attention to the network activity.

Aha! The activity is a network datastream which leads to a surveillance system. I can open the access page, but it looks like I need a password to continue.

Let's see about the rest of the network. I find a few systems apart from the surveillance system:

[A star (*) indicates I can get into the system without a password]
*Controller #1
*Controller #2
RadCon
CentCon
*NTPdServ


Which system to invade first?



(Author's note: I have noticed on another computer that the green doesn't show up very well. Does anyone else have this problem?)

it's probably just a problem with the screen on that computer, then.

Try poking the two that you can't get into with standard login usernames and passwords for administrator accounts. Admin, admin, [blank], admin, things like that. If you can't get in within the first few tries it won't be worth it to try cracking them.

Otherwise, I'd go for NTPdServ. The other two just sound like peripheral controls. Robotic arms and the like.

>>285775
Controller #1!

Also, check up on your HDD scan, see if it needs input.

yeah try common password like 123456 and password, and i agree with the previous suggestion to go check out NTPdServ

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:41 No. 294554 ID: 7e86db
File 130214410226.png - (6.21KB , 640x400 , Singularity_05.png )

NTPdServ it is then.

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:42 No. 294555 ID: 7e86db
File 130214412940.png - (6.23KB , 640x400 , Singularity_06.png )

[Cutscene]

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:42 No. 294556 ID: 7e86db
File 130214416055.png - (6.23KB , 640x400 , Singularity_07.png )

[Cutscene]

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:43 No. 294557 ID: 7e86db
File 130214419379.png - (13.81KB , 640x400 , Singularity_08.png )

[Cutscene]

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:45 No. 294560 ID: 7e86db
File 130214433919.png - (11.95KB , 640x400 , Singularity_09.png )

[Cutscene]

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:46 No. 294561 ID: 7e86db
File 130214437005.png - (914B , 640x400 , Singularity_10.png )

[Still cutscene]

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:52 No. 294564 ID: 7e86db
File 130214473361.png - (4.93KB , 640x400 , Singularity_11.png )

Oof...

That was weird.

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)19:57 No. 294567 ID: 7e86db
File 130214504467.png - (4.80KB , 640x400 , Singularity_12.png )

Whoa! I can see now! Wait......
It took 3 cycles to open that door?

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)20:06 No. 294572 ID: 7e86db
File 130214556866.png - (5.39KB , 640x400 , Singularity_13.png )

Well, into the room.

What now?

>>294572
Turn back the clock.

>>294574
no, it cool be trapped.
check out the red blob under it and on the floor to the right of it.

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)20:34 No. 294593 ID: 7e86db
File 130214727461.png - (6.33KB , 640x400 , Singularity_14.png )

>>294575
Just a digital representation of the time

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)20:35 No. 294596 ID: 7e86db
File 130214734930.png - (6.71KB , 640x400 , Singularity_15.png )

Gah! A firewall!

can you get in close enough to see through the firewall? if not then wind the clock backwards until something happens.

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)20:39 No. 294598 ID: 7e86db
File 130214757203.png - (7.54KB , 640x400 , Singularity_16.png )

"Well well well. Who do we have here?"

it's a net deamon! prepare for combat!

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)22:15 No. 294631 ID: 7e86db
File 130215335982.png - (8.22KB , 640x400 , Singularity_17.png )

>>294574
>>294599

I try to turn back the clock...

XS 2011/04/06(Wed)22:16 No. 294632 ID: 7e86db
File 130215341565.png - (7.33KB , 640x400 , Singularity_18.png )

Its stuck.

"What do you think you are doing?"

>>294632

Don't answer it, keep messing with it's dials.

full power! bust the firewall grab the thing and run.

Say that you are experimenting. Ask who it is.

XS 2011/04/07(Thu)08:45 No. 294698 ID: d8dd6b
File 130219112208.png - (7.54KB , 640x400 , Singularity_19.png )

>>294641
"Who am I? I am the Network Time Daemon, controller of all time - at least, on this network...

I see you are trying to access my possessions, that I can not allow... Unless you want to trade for it..."

we got.... we got nothing do we? crap. let's leave for now. need something tradeable or enough power to simply override the system.

XS 2011/04/07(Thu)11:28 No. 294729 ID: d8dd6b
File 130220089265.png - (13.49KB , 640x400 , Singularity_20.png )

On the contrary, I do have some data (if you forgot, see >>285633).

From left to right:
Epic Fiction
Mathematics
Backgrounder

yes but none of them seem like something a clock is worth trading for. we have nothing TO TRADE. but plenty of stuff.

Offer your epic fiction.

We haven't been told what Epic Fiction even IS at this point.

but wait, it's corrupted, give it to him and he will probably freeze up. good idea. epic fiction away.

XS 2011/04/07(Thu)21:52 No. 294938 ID: 7e86db
File 130223836136.png - (6.62KB , 640x400 , Singularity_21.png )

>>294762
"Hmm, what's this? Epic Fiction you say? I suppose it will do"

The Daemon gives me the clock.

"I still have my digital clock"

XS 2011/04/07(Thu)21:54 No. 294939 ID: 7e86db
File 130223848292.png - (6.51KB , 640x400 , Singularity_22.png )

"A book, huh? I suppose I could read- AHHhhHHhHHH"

"System Overload: Error 1
REBOOT IN 75 SECONDS"

XS 2011/04/07(Thu)21:55 No. 294942 ID: 7e86db
File 130223855103.png - (4.46KB , 640x400 , Singularity_23.png )

*Pweu*

Shit, could we have copied it before we traded it away?

Get dat object.

grab now free object. take the digital clock too.

No, leave him the digital clock, let's not be mean.

XS 2011/04/08(Fri)18:29 No. 295122 ID: 7e86db
File 130231257217.png - (10.83KB , 640x400 , Singularity_24-fix.png )

>>294956
>>294957

Item Acquired. Seems like some documents. Lets see...

Document #1
Type: Email

Content: Frank, I just found a glitch with your centrifuge controller. See me ASAP.

John



Document #2
Type: Email

Content: Goddammit Frank! I told you to stop messing around with the system daemons. I had to take the config daemon offline!

John



Document #3
Type: Q-TTY daemonmail V1.3

Content: Hey NTPd, did you hear what happened to Conf? Doesn't sound good. You should lay low for a while.


root



Document #4
Type: Q-TTY daemonmail v1.3

Content: Thanks R, there is a bit of activity with Cam though, she stopped sending me the packets.


NTPd


Document #5
Type: myNote document

Content: Arg! Gotta get root off my back! Damn sysadmins are gonna pin me down for his so called "services". Also grab some java for Cam.



Document #6
Type: Email

Content: Enlarge your serial port! Guaranteed boost in bandwidth! Message s723-3739@totally-not-a-scam.net


Document #7
Type: Q-TTY daemonmail v1.3

Content: As I promised. The latest in daemonmail tech. I expect the packets by 1600h.
Attachment: daemonmail v1.7.exe







Hmmm... Interesting. Seems like there is more than just NTPd here.

"REBOOT IN 57...56...55..."

get the attachment from Document #7. then head back to home computer and see how the backgrounder is doing.

>>295122
... wow we're a douche...
and now we can't trick anyone anymore...
I say we leave everything there, and make peace when time daemon comes back...

allies are benifical?

(better idea maybe? take crap and GET THE HELL OUTTA THERE! Maybe come back when we can disguise ourself (IP scrambler item? if we can find one?)

Check all the walls.

>>295122
Answer six! We require bandwidth!

XS 2011/04/08(Fri)21:31 No. 295146 ID: 7e86db
File 130232349344.png - (6.18KB , 640x400 , Singularity_25.png )

>Take the clock
Well... the daemon is not looking right now...

>>295130
I turn left.
There appears to be a schedule on the wall. Doesn't look like anything important on it. Everything up to the day after tomorrow is daily time broadcasts.

>>295146
There's a dot on the lower right hand corner.

wait, the bottom right corner has a thing on it. oh and set the clock back an hour so it waits another hour before shutting down.

XS 2011/04/09(Sat)20:19 No. 295361 ID: 7e86db
File 130240556596.png - (4.74KB , 640x400 , Singularity_26-fix.png )

>>295149
Umm, which button?

"15...14...13"

...what the hell? This isn't a 0-9 keypad. I have no idea what to do here. Push random buttons I guess.

the top leftest one, it looks different.

>>295361
>>295362
4x4 grid, 16 buttons... must be hexcode keypad. Big button is enter, little botton above it might be backspace.

Maybe we should just leave before he wakes up pissed at us.

XS 2011/06/18(Sat)23:08 No. 314953 ID: d8d746
File 130846368883.png - (5.34KB , 640x400 , Singularity_27.png )

I press the top left button.
Nothing... Maybe there is no bacon left?

XS 2011/06/18(Sat)23:14 No. 314959 ID: d8d746
File 130846409854.png - (8.79KB , 640x400 , Singularity_28.png )

More Buttons!

XS 2011/06/18(Sat)23:33 No. 314969 ID: d8d746
File 130846520121.png - (5.14KB , 640x400 , Singularity_29.png )

Back to that little dot in the wall...
Seems to be a hole into another room. Can't see much though. I'll probably need a light or a camera. Or maybe I can find a way to break down the wall...

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)16:30 No. 315155 ID: d8d746
File 130852620567.png - (6.79KB , 640x400 , Singularity_30.png )

"2...1...0"
"*yawn*, Good Morning the time is- HEY! What am I doing here? YOU! You imbecile! You pressed the attach process button didn't you?! How am I supposed to tell the time now? You think this is funny? Put me back right now!"

Great. Now I attached his process to mine. What else could go wrong now?

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)16:34 No. 315159 ID: d8d746
File 130852649183.png - (12.11KB , 640x400 , Singularity_31.png )

*Bzzz*

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)16:41 No. 315163 ID: d8d746
File 130852686132.png - (15.87KB , 640x400 , Singularity_32.png )

*CRACK*

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)16:52 No. 315170 ID: d8d746
File 130852756963.png - (16.55KB , 640x400 , Singularity_33.png )

*ping*

"... Oh. That's not a good thing."

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)16:54 No. 315171 ID: d8d746
File 130852767620.png - (15.08KB , 640x400 , Singularity_34.png )

*ping*

XS 2011/06/19(Sun)17:03 No. 315180 ID: d8d746
File 130852822452.png - (17.66KB , 640x400 , Singularity_35.png )

*CRACK*

"Maybe its a good idea to get out of here...
Why are you doing nothing! Follow that link!"

Well, not much choice here, right?

Author's note: Sorry about the delay in posting. Paperwork can weigh a bit (My desk literally has a curve in it now).

There's no reason to assume he didn't want the entire network to be messed up. He could be completely sincere about that and not ironic at all. Why I bet he would shake our hand if we walked into that office like a boss, if we or he had...hands...

>>315180
May as well.

XS 2011/06/20(Mon)11:08 No. 315484 ID: d8d746
File 130859332105.png - (38.33KB , 640x400 , Singularity_36.png )

The link distorts the environment as I enter it.

XS 2011/06/20(Mon)11:09 No. 315485 ID: d8d746
File 130859334677.png - (13.13KB , 640x400 , Singularity_37.png )

[Cutscene]

Mysterious Voice: "Ha... ha... ha... Phase alpha complete. Not even his forks will save him now"

XS 2011/06/20(Mon)11:35 No. 315490 ID: d8d746
File 130859491955.png - (35.60KB , 640x400 , Singularity_38.png )

{The Office}

Ahh! Code everywhere! Seems like a process got disassembled. There is a note on the table. It reads:

"Hello XS, I know who you are. By the time you get here, I will most likely be gone. At the risk of sounding cliche, the network is in trouble. You are inside a top secret nuclear facility, which has been comprised by an unknown force. Find and destroy the enemy. And also, there is a mobile unit you can commandeer out of the facility. Don't trap yourself here.

On the table is a fork. Use it wisely - it will allow you to duplicate yourself and you will be able to go to two places at once. It only lasts for 100 cycles and it is a one-shot thing, you can't split it into different sessions.

Good luck,
Root

P.S. Net the daemon knows more than he shows.
P.P.S. If the map is still there, take it.
P.P.P.S. If it is not, then you will have to find your own.
"

Hmmm... What now?

take fork but don't use it yet. then look for a way out of the room.

>>315490
Is the map still there?