1; text

[predestinarianism]

Hello, everyone. It looks like I'm not the only person just now becoming aware of this... forum, for lack of a better word. I've already read through the FAQ, but while I admire the dedication of those maintaining it, I still have a few questions:

• Is there any meaningful distinction between using "pulses" and "echoes" to describe the memories (or other things, I'm lead to believe) that we receive? Is one preferred over the other, or is it a matter of personal preference? Do they carry different connotations?
• I've seen numerous references to aliens in multiple recent posts that I haven't found explained in the FAQ. Could someone kindly summarize?
• It sounds like people who don't receive pulses/echoes can't access or sense this network. If I were to access it by writing on a piece of paper, say, and I left that paper lying around somewhere, what would my parents see? What if they look at my screen as I'm typing on it? I'd rather not take unnecessary risks, particularly as I'd like to keep my involvement as minimal as possible.

Thank you in advance.

Comments

[Text | Handwritten]

[scramasax]

Welcome.

- "Pulse" and "echo" refer to the same thing... We still don't understand what they are, but had to call them something. (Of course!) Both terms seem have "stuck"... It is a matter of personal preference.
- Several people assume we are being threatened by an alien invasion. An invasion was spoken of in the video in which Paul Ben was killed, and we have fought "monsters."
- No one who cannot use the network can see anything on it... If someone was watching you write, I think that although they would see you writing, they would not see what you were writing... (I used to connect often class, but I am not sure if anyone anything!)

I hope that those are somewhat useful answers. I can explain things or try to answer any other questions that you have the best that I can.

[handwritten: datebook]

[moonlitblade]

I think I have some answers for you, but it might be a good idea to get together with other people and make sure I'm right.

- The difference between "pulse" and "echo" seems to just be which one you heard first. A lot of the people that have been here longer use "pulse", and the newer ones like "echo". They both mean the same thing, I think. And you can get more than memories. You can get things, like a weapon, or weird powers. Do you remember the big beam of light in the sky a month or two ago? I think that was from someone here.
- I'm not sure on the aliens thing. There was something a while back that some people were told it was aliens that are trying to take over the Earth, and we're the last line of defense, or something. But I don't know anything on that myself, sorry.
- People that don't have numbers - that don't get pulses - can't see this network. Someone did some tests a while back. If someone is watching you, they can't see what you're doing, or anything more than that you're sitting in front of a computer, or a notebook. I don't know what would happen if you left the piece of paper somewhere, though. I always write in something I carry out with me, and if I'm getting rid of the pages I used, I tear them up into little pieces and shred them when nobody's around to ask what I'm doing. It seems like just using the network is safe enough, though.

I hope some of that helped at least a little.

[predestinarianism]

[She takes a minute to appreciate how cool the handwriting looks, okay this network thing is pretty neat, before typing back]

Re: 1 and 3, that's good to know.
How graphic is the video? I haven't seen it yet, and I'm honestly not sure if I want to.

Thanks for responding. I hope these aren't things everyone asks, or else answering would be pretty repetitive. [and, also, because she'd like to avoid asking stupid questions that she could've figured out on her own.]

[predestinarianism]

That was someone's power? Do most people get something like that?

That sounds like the safer bet, then. It's good to know that I can still use the computer when they're around.

[moonlitblade]

Not everyone gets things like that, and we gets things at different rates, too. I've been here for about a month, and I only have one memory. I think it's related to getting out and doing things, though - pulses aren't free, basically. A lot of what you get depends on the person you're getting them from, too - someone that didn't know magic can't pass magic on to you, for example.

I think using something like a computer is best, but in a pinch, almost anything works. You can draw your number in the fog on a mirror, or etch it into the ground, or paint it on a wall. You can type it into a cell phone, which is how a lot of people make voice posts, it seems like. There are lots of ways to use the network, if you're creative.

[scramasax]

It isn't graphic, besides showing a person being shot repeatedly onscreen. [Which is to say it wasn't messy, to his memory.] I do not think that you have to see it, as long as you believe that it happened. (It has been used in the past to warn people that this is serious.) And these are not, actually! Several people have not even already found the guide by the time that they first speak to everyone.

You're welcome... And my name is Anthony Janvier, by the way. (I understand if you would prefer not to give your name.)

video; {iphone}

[ursoreckless]

[here have a Japanese guy with an accent come on the screen. he seems to be in a room filled with a lot of files and folders, there's a sound of people talking in the background - also in Japanese - and he also is dressed a bit like a rock star, including a rather elaborate hairstyle that was half cornrows and half teased curls.]

No real differences outside those of us that's been hooked up longer use pulse while newer people use echo. It's up to you want you wanna call it. It's the same with the club - us older members call it the Numbers Club, others like to give us ridiculous super hero team names or something.

The whole alien thing comes from early on. We were given a web address to look up by an art exhibit that no one else could see, and when we accessed it, someone claiming to be a 'Gardener' referred to the human race as being 'pests' and needed to be 'weeded out'. From what it said, it gave everyone the impression of being not from Earth.

No one can access this unless they have numbers. I've played with the network while at work and many times someone has walked in and not said a thing outside of telling me to stop playing my silly games. That being said, I'd still be careful. There's no telling what the enemy can and cannot do with any traces we leave behind. They can find us through sniffer dogs, so I'm sure they can pick up invisible writing.

Any more questions?

[predestinarianism]

That still sounds rather violent. I think I'd rather not watch it. I heard about him on the news...

[and rather than dwell on that, she's just going to enjoy the fact that she's one step ahead of most newcomers already]

I'm Lynn.

[predestinarianism]

I see. So if I'd rather stay as I am, I can simply ignore it? [well, that's good to know; maybe this won't be as bad as she was thinking]

That sounds fascinating. I'm assuming it's magic, or something like it?

[predestinarianism]

[She blinks for a second, scrambling to find her headphones and move away from her laptop, only coming back when she has to type up her response.]

Can you see/hear me? [which suddenly takes precedent over any other questions; if this thing could... turn on her webcam without her permission, or something sketchy like that, maybe she just wouldn't use it at all.]

[moonlitblade]

I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Now that you have numbers, the only way to really not change is to leave the city and never come back. Talking to someone, making some gesture, hearing a sound, going somewhere new - any of those can trigger a pulse. They're broken into two kinds: the kind we get when something happens that's part of the mission to save Earth, like when fight certain things or there are lights in the sky, and the kind we get when we do something the "other you" did during their life. That kind usually gives pulses that are like what you did to trigger them, so if you swung a sword, you might be able to fight with it when you didn't know how to use it before. Or if you were standing next to someone with a gun when it went off, you might have a fear of guns you didn't have. It's kind of weird, but it makes sense if you look hard enough.

We don't know what makes the network work, actually. Some people think it's magic, but there just isn't enough to go on. Sorry.

[Text] -> [Video-as-Audio]

[scramasax]

[He's a touch worried in retrospect that sounded either facetious or downright foolish but what's said is said - part of why he gets to talking toward the paper - at an angle a bit, so the only view's of the ceiling, let sufficient polite pleasantness come through in his tone.] It's, er - pleasant to meet you, Lynn. And uh - I'm not -- asking you to, er -- to stop writing - either, if you - if you would rather not.

[predestinarianism]

[She frowns at the computer screen for a moment, before she thinks she gets it]

That déjà vu feeling, right? [She asks, once she's looked up the proper accents] So there's no way to stop that from happening? This is all very interesting, but it sounds sort of troublesome.

[staying text]

[predestinarianism]

[It takes her a second to put together what she's seeing, and bites her lip for a second, worrying it in thought.]

I'll keep typing, if that's okay. No offense, but this is a little odd. If I start talking, would you be able to hear me too?

Handwritten text

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

I dunno anything about aliens
but I used to be worried about my Grampa hearing me going on video
so I'd wait for him to be taking a nap but then one time I realized
he'd been cooking in the next room the whole time and hadn't heard anything

text;

[titansno]

It looks like people have already covered the basics.

Unfortunately, it's not so easy to avoid this. I'm not about to fault you for trying, though - it's a lot to take in.

[predestinarianism]

So people can't hear it, either? That's good to know. [so she... takes her headphones off.] Also, the aliens are based on a comment made back when this first started, according to what I've heard.

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

oh I fought some snake monsters one time
but mostly I thought we were fighting bad cops and those gang guys?
I guess I'm not the best person to talk to about this stuff
I kinda ignore a lot of stuff on the network when I don't get it

[What follows next is a picture of a stick figure shrugging.]

[scramasax]

Er - correct -- [His voice is high by default, but comes from a lower point more resonant through the current hoarseness for that, for decisiveness.] -- I a - apologize; I - I realize this is odd; but uhm -- [She's read the guide. He'll not be telling her anything she doesn't already somewhat know, drops to more of a halting mutter.] - it's uh - it's true; the... network -- can be used a - number of ways...

[predestinarianism]

Yes, I appreciate how helpful everyone has been so far.

I understand that there's been some trouble, but I'm not planning on running into gangsters or tangling with the police.

[predestinarianism]

[She frowns, and almost hums out loud before catching herself.] It's fine. You're not the one who created it. I'll just have to be careful when I'm responding.

[predestinarianism]

But even though you're avoiding the network, you're still getting mixed up with the police and the gangs? [That's not... a good sign]

[scramasax]

That's un -- understandable -- [Sheepish quick throat-clear.] -- there isn't much point for me to - hide anything since I've been -- giving my full name - and -- everything since the beginning -- ...

[predestinarianism]

That hasn't gotten you into any trouble?

[scramasax]

What uh -- what sort of trouble - ...?