auranet | Video

[The message flickers as it comes through, turning on all devices that can receive the network. The background is a grimy blanket hung on a wall haphazardly, with bits of numbers and letters scrawled on the wall sticking out above. In the foreground is a tired and worse for the wear looking Ian. Of course, they could be tired because it was two in the morning. Or because they have been working for hours without break.]

"Let's try it this way then," [they said. There was an exhaustion in their voice that implied that this was far from the first attempt, and that they had little expectation this one would go any better.]

"Alright, let's try this. One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten. One Six Seven Eight Fifteen. Note to self, change my Steam password. Not that anyone's hearing this, because that would mean things worked. And clearly they didn't. Again. Someone has got to bring Chell coffee beans and soon...."

[Clearly the tired Ian was unaware that the message did in fact go out. To everyone. Anyone who responded to Ian was likely to surprise them... But then again, anyone who responded was likely in for a few surprises themselves.....]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

ubuntu_programmer

[Static]

From:

radleyslittleevie

"Oh! More pretty colors! These are different from before. The lines are really thin, so there's lots of them! And some are going up and down while others are standing still!"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"This really shouldn't be"

[Static cut off the rest of their words as a lout sharp tone played.]

From:

radleyslittleevie

Evie jumps.

"I don't like those! Why do they play creepy sounds?"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"If I knew, I'd be fixing it!" [They snapped.]

[They knew snapping was unfair, but suddenly it was like being back home again with everyone thinking all they had to do was waggle their fingers over a computer to fix everything.]

From:

radleyslittleevie

"I mean ever, not just now! I never liked when they played those scary sounds on the TV back home. And sometimes they had the weird noise stop just so this guy and lady could say 'Left.' 'Right.' And then the sound started up again! I'm so glad TVs don't do that anymore!"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"That one... is a new one by me," [they admitted.] "I need to cut the call to try and fix the issue. You can try to contact me again in about an hour if you want."

From:

radleyslittleevie

"Okay! I hope you can fix it!"

[Evie cheerfully hangs up.]

From:

ubuntu_programmer

[About 45 minutes later, Ian's phone accidentally reconnected, calling Evie's device directly. But instead of Ian's voice as the programmer grumbled at the code, phone off to one side, all that came through to Evie was music.]

From:

radleyslittleevie

[Evie blinks, but soon is swaying to the music.]

"This is a fun song to dance to! I'm not sure what it means, but I like it!"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

[Ian jumped slightly, surprised, then looked over.]

"Oh, it's an hour already? Sorry, didn't hear it ring. I'll have to fix that too, I suppose."

From:

radleyslittleevie

"Oh, it hasn't been an hour, but it called me!"

[Evie says cheerfully.]

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"It... of course it did. Well, I knew it wasn't fixed yet..." [They muttered.]

From:

radleyslittleevie

"Oh. I can hang up again if you want!"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"No, it's fine, if you want to watch me work, I guess. I'm coming to get used to it," [added, dryly.]

From:

radleyslittleevie

"Okay!"

[Evie cheerily watches for a while.]

"What do you do to fix it?"

From:

ubuntu_programmer

"Since it is software, mostly programming and cursing at it. If it was hardware I could give it a smack too..."

[Images flickered, one after another before landing on a pencil sketch of a dragon about to hit an unplugged computer with a hammer. It had the caption "If you can hit it with a hammer, it is hardware. If all you can do is swear at it, it is software."]