Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:07 No. 1129420 ID: 360d4d
File 178429367857.png - (362.02KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_B.png )

You already know, but you ask anyway: "What are you advocating, exactly?"
"You know the answer," you remind yourself, "But first you need to... You need to..."
"I must remember what it is I needed to do," you gather.

Part 3: Poison Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:08 No. 1129421 ID: 360d4d
File 178429368292.png - (326.83KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_C.png )

"Or everything you've done will have been in vain."

Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:08 No. 1129422 ID: 360d4d
File 178429369036.png - (305.19KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_D.png )

You are woken by a gently nudging hand.
Someone's saying your name: "Disq?"
Or rather, saying a name you have given yourself. You are still not exactly sure who you are.
Opening your eyes you find yourself once again face to face with Shyama - your captor - and that quietly content smile of his.
"I apologise for interrupting your rest," he says, "but we need to talk."

Right, you blink a few times as you gather your thoughts.

Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:08 No. 1129423 ID: 360d4d
File 178429369760.png - (550.58KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_E.png )

You are an amnesiac. This is a problem, because you have this anxious, nagging feeling that there is something important you were supposed to do but you cannot remember what that is.
Since you woke up with no memories, you have figured out, among other things, that:
- You are in a Habitat on the moon, locked into your room by your captors.
- You are a time traveler and likely the only survivor of the vessel called the History Unmade.
- The body and science officer uniform you wear belong to Disquiet-247. Thinking about her makes your heart ache.
- She apparently saddled you with a last wish, but you don't remember what it was.
- There was an engineer called Rage-828, who was shot. You suspect you might be him.
- The History Unmade was lost with all hands. Half a million dead.
- Could this have been your doing? Sabotage?
- The crash occurred in 112 BCE, coinciding with the destruction of ancient Rome.
- You are apparently over two thousand years old. This still seems preposterous to you.
- You understand and speak Kushani, a language that you're pretty sure didn't exist in the timeline you came from. You can't read it.

Your captors represent the Coalition of Kushana, a relatively primitive civilization on Earth, locked in a nuclear cold war with its ideological opponents. As part of the 13th Dyauspitr mission, they have come to the moon to breach your lunar habitat, seeking a technological edge over their enemies. So far you have met:
- the secretive and cautious Shyama, who appears to be in charge
- the friendly time travel enthusiast Vijaya
- the empathetic physician Gamal Elsheikh, and
- the excitable information tech Maya Ramesha

Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:08 No. 1129424 ID: 360d4d
File 178429370348.png - (562.98KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_F.png )

You sit at the table with Shyama. Odd. This is the first time he's ever come here alone. And he doesn't seem to have brought the tape recorder this time.
"How are you feeling now?", he asks pleasantly. You don't really know how to answer that question.
You say: "Fine. Not great, but fine."
"Good to hear. Now, the topic I'd like to discuss is the end of your arrest," he says, "It's been decided, collectively, that you should be free to roam the facility, despite the risks this might entail."
You nod. "Mhmm, Maya did allude to that."
"She has already put the door controls back together, so you can come and go at your leisure," he explains, "but I would very much prefer if you let us know when you go out, so someone can keep an eye on you."
You have a suspicion as to why he feels that way, but you ask anyway: "Why's that?"
He replies: "Believe it or not, I am worried for your safety. You've already fallen and hit your head quite badly. We found a bomb in your room that as far as we know only you could have put here. And you are prone to mental breakdowns. I'd breathe a lot easier knowing someone is around in case something happens."
There is a moment of silence.
"I moved the bomb to another room while you slept," he adds.

Right. The bomb. The one that you apparently made and then just kept on your shelf for some inscrutable reason. You're still unclear on whether it is inert or possibly a dud just waiting to go off.

Silicon 2026/07/17(Fri)13:08 No. 1129425 ID: 360d4d
File 178429370807.png - (401.96KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_000_G.png )

You decide to cut past the insinuations.
"Is that why you don't trust me? You think I'm crazy?", you ask.
Shyama shakes his head and says lightly: "Not at all. I trust that you want to help us, Disq. I trust that you mean well. What I'm worried about is that we might disagree on what that help would look like."
You have to admit there is a certain pervasive uneasiness that comes up whenever you think about giving these people the keys to advanced technology that they ask for. So maybe he has a point there.
Well. You don't have to admit it out loud.
"You seem to be wracked by an immense amount of guilt and shame. In fact, you have told me so. And guilt and shame are a kind of mental poison, Disq," he says delicately, "They often promote unwise and self-destructive behaviour."
"Wh- Huh?"
He continues: "Those feelings are important, because they clearly trouble you, but given the stakes of the situation and the small time window we have to work with, I would like you to focus your attention on the future. What life would you like to live when all this is done?"

You're flabbergasted. What do you even say to that?

Although you've forgotten a lot of it, it seems clear that your primary concern for about 2 millennia has been the safety of people in this new timeline. The most honest answer you can give is that you want to live to see a safe world, free from man-made disasters.

You'd like the world of the future to be protected from dangers, like uh... you. Maybe dying? You'd like to see the world outside of that one room before you decide. There's also something important you need to do first. If you don't remember what that is, there might not be any life to live after this is done.

Maybe you'd just like a world where being evil doesn't automatically save the world. Ever.

>>1129423
>very nearly too late, because they are already here
Ah. I think I know what you were supposed to do, BEFORE people arrived. You were supposed to prevent them from getting access to the ship's tech, either because the tech itself is dangerous, or because it would turn the cold war hot and lead to nuclear annihilation. You could do this either by dying and scuttling the ship, or by traveling somewhere else... but I think the intent was the former. You put it off because you couldn't quite do it, due to self-preservation instinct or an aversion to damaging your friend's body.
Alternatively, you were meant to prevent them from getting to a specific part of the ship, to prevent them from seeing or doing something in particular, and you didn't need to destroy the entire thing or yourself. Like I guess preventing them from getting the time travel tech specifically. Maybe it doesn't matter if they get access to the rest of the tech.

Also you probably know the language because you were monitoring the civilization, and that's what kept you going for thousands of years. You had to see the outcome of your actions. To know it was worth it.

>>1129425
Tell him you would like to be an advisor of some sort. Your knowledge of potential futures and potential pasts means you know a lot of different mistakes that can be made, and some successes. Also, you would like to save as many lives as possible. You have a lot to make up for.

Hmm. If you could give a powerful *defensive* technology to both sides, so that nuclear weapons couldn't be used, wouldn't that be the best result?
...do you remember how war evolved in your timeline? Was there anything that resulted in conflicts being resolved with less loss of life? Battle by robot proxy perhaps?

Its been so long, you could make a break from your past self. Maybe nothing you do now can make up for what you've done, but, you could try. See the world and its people.

Probably refocus on a new career.
Helping reverse-engieneer what remains of the ship would be a good use of my time, as well as further science counselling.

Or maybe something more valuable than knowledge.
Maybe sharing information about my timeline, the cause of this one forming, and how to avoid the same mistakes is the way to go.

Besides that, most likely making friends and forming a family. Bonds are as vital as anything else.

>>1129425
Well that's a hell of a question though honestly a good one to ask... I think something where we can build something, helping people, something that's the opposite of the destruction we may have caused.

You want to clean up this mess and as soon as all loose ends are tied up, blow this ship to smithereens so it can’t contaminate the timeline any further… but it’s best to tell them you’d like to go back to researching technologies and stuff instead. For the betterment of mankind, of course, like you always have.

Silicon 2026/07/27(Mon)15:44 No. 1130014 ID: 64b209
File 178516706182.png - (394.26KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_001_A.png )

You find yourself conflicted. You know one thing for sure: You want to help. You want to save people. But you're not sure how to go about it. Your Captors are hoping that you will help them by unlocking advanced technology. Shyama claims they will use it to prevent a global nuclear war. Beyond that, there are of course many ways in which technological advancement can help save many lives.

But it can also do harm if it's misused. Nuclear technology is an obvious example: It can revolutionize energy production and help mitigate pollution, but it can also bring modern civilization to an end. That particular horse has already bolted, of course.
You don't even know what kind of stuff they might find in the habitat. Maybe there's worse here than nuclear bombs. Maybe more destructive weapons were invented. Maybe there's a time machine!
There's a niggling feeling that this is related to that thing you were supposed to do. Is that it? Were you going to protect the people of this timeline from dangerous tech? It's certainly possible.

That does raise a question though. The easiest way to accomplish this would have been to blow the habitat to bits with yourself inside. Perhaps scramble the computer systems beforehand. You're pretty sure you could accomplish such a thing. You have built at least one bomb, after all.
So. Why are you still here, then?

Perhaps it's not all tech that your old self considered dangerous. Maybe you just needed to keep them away from something specific. That would explain it.

Silicon 2026/07/27(Mon)15:44 No. 1130015 ID: 64b209
File 178516706633.png - (323.53KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_001_B.png )

There simply are too many things you don't know. Hopefully, once you're out of this room, you can fill in some more gaps.

It also occurs to you that you still haven't watched all the recordings that came with the HoloRec. You never got around to cartridge number 8. And Number 5 is missing.

Last time you talked to Maya, she managed to jog your memory on some of the technical details of the ship. All hope is not lost. Perhaps there is more still in your brain that's just... locked away and could be accessed with a bit of prompting.

Silicon 2026/07/27(Mon)15:44 No. 1130016 ID: 64b209
File 178516707236.png - (537.29KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_001_C.png )

You refocus on the question. Even if blowing yourself and the habitat up were the plan, you're not gonna tell Shyama that. But whatever you do, you're determined to help, so you just start with that.

"That is a good question," you answer, "I think most of all I want to live in a world that is safe. I want to contribute to that. I'm sure I have a lot to give. And a lot to make up for."
He smiles at you and says: "That's nice, Disq. Really. But it's not exactly what i was getting at. I'm not asking what sort of labour you want to perform. I'm not asking you to justify your existence. Let's just assume that your existence is justified."
He leans forward on the table. "How do you want to live? What would make you happy?"

You nervously drum your fingers on the tabletop. You hadn't really considered happiness an option. That doesn't seem particularly viable to you. You see what you can come up with and say: "I suppose... I'd like to see the world? The people? Uh... Make friends? Form a family? I uh..."
You sigh.
"I really don't want to be alone."

Silicon 2026/07/27(Mon)15:44 No. 1130017 ID: 64b209
File 178516707683.png - (556.90KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_001_D.png )

Shyama tilts his head and his smile broadens.
"Well, that's something. A bit vague perhaps. I'd like to encourage you to think about it more. Paint yourself a mental image of a good life," he says, "Hopefully, when all this is over, we can find a way to take you back to Earth. There really is a lot to see down there and lots of people to meet."
You frown. "Really? Just like that? You'll let me travel and sight-see and everything?"
He shrugs and says: "Sure."
"After everything you know I've done?", you ask.
He leans back again and looks down at his writing pad for a moment, before answering: "You mustn't let your guilt dictate what you can have in life. I imagine you are unlikely to become a repeat mass murderer, Disq. You haven't harmed us, so we have no reason to fear you."

You realize he isn't writing any of this down.

His voice grows softer and there's a small twitch in the corner of his mouth as he continues: "And that's not just idle talk. We have nothing to gain from punishing you."

Can that actually be true? You wonder whether you should ask more questions, or end this conversation here and... maybe get a look outside your room.

There are a couple questions that seem pertinent to ask.
How likely is the government to rip you apart in order to study your robot body if you return to earth?
What exactly is the Kushana government like?
Looking back at this timeline's war, it seems like the Coalition of Kushana is... looking to fight? I hope I'm not misinterpreting what was said, but who exactly are the enemies of Kushana? Why are they looking for advantages in a war that has not yet occurred? Why do they expect the Dacian sultanate or the coalition of Kushana to be dragged into war?

>>1130015
>haven't watched 8
That would be the last one. I feel like that should be the best lead for what you're meant to do, but also it's going to be stressful again and maybe you should take a bit of a break from that.

>>1130017
>can all of this be true?
Well, you can't take what he's saying at face value. I do not think it's his job to be honest with you. However, your crimes are so old I don't think they could prosecute you if they wanted to, not without making up new laws. Well, international law might apply to the deaths in ancient rome.
If you went to Earth, there would probably be an organization dedicated to watching your every move. There would also be a worry about being kidnapped and disassembled or interrogated to uncover technology, so that organization would also be your bodyguards.
...wait, you could visit earth, but you can't live there. You can't eat solid food! You are reliant on the systems here to survive. ...wait, how were the colonists going to colonize in that case? Just build more of those systems? Or did they have some machine that let them create and transfer into organic bodies that could eat normally? In the latter case, maybe that's something you need to do, and then destroy. A machine like that would be the key to immortality, and THAT is a society-destroying technology for sure.

Anyway yeah, end conversation and go exploring.

its not really as easy as 'sure' though, is it? Your appearance is going to get a lot of attention, other countries are going to want to know how you work. What protection would you have?

>That particular horse has already bolted
>>1129421
Hmm.. I really, really wonder what the inscription next to this shot-and-bisected-horse image means.
Does anyone know Hindi?

Anyhow, we should ask what's the deal with the untouched notepad.

Actually, I'm mad, let's push. PUSH!
Why are you not wirtting anything?
Why would you allow an android to go freely into the world?
Why don't you try losing weight?
How do I know you are not just giving empty promises better future? That you aren't a manipulator?! (manipulator, manipulator, manipulator the word reverberates in your skull)

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130740 ID: 4c5517
File 178621749105.png - (544.81KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_A.png )

Well a few questions can't hurt and you have burning ones.

You ask the first one: "How likely is the government to rip me apart in order to study my robot body if I return to earth?"
He shakes his head and suppresses a laugh. "I'm sorry. Is that what you're worried about?", he says, "No, that's not going to happen. For several reasons."
He counts them off on his fingers: "First and most importantly: That would be an unconscionable breach of your most fundamental rights. Second: Since you're the last of your kind, such an act could be construed as genocide. Third and most pragmatically: You are much more valuable alive than dead."
He sighs: "I understand I can't prove this to you right now, but modern Kushanasthana strives to eschew the violent exploitation of human beings. And yes. That includes you."

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130741 ID: 4c5517
File 178621749961.png - (540.67KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_B.png )

"What exactly is the Kushana government like?", you follow up.
He thinks for a moment before answering: "Well, it doesn't have much of a centralized government. It is a Coalition of ideological alignment and mutual defense, composed of various states, polities..." he rotates his hand, looking for words, "unions and arajanti and so on. What unites us is our commitment to the Hiver movement and its eusocial goals."
"If we manage to take you back to Earth, you'll initially fall under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Kushanasthana, because that's where the space program is concentrated."
"And what's that like?"
He sets down his pen and interlaces his fingers before he answers: "I am not unbiased on this matter. That said, Kushanasthana is a place of radical change. Once the imperial core of the world, it is now the bulwark of the eusocial project. A real mover and shaker within the Coalition. The government is... well... democratically elected and generally committed to the welfare of all of humankind... In principle anyway."
"What does that mean?", you ask.
He shrugs. "That means it's a work in progress. I wish I could tell you justice always prevails there and that our hands are never dirtied, but unfortunately we live in a world where the emancipation of all humankind is a... controversial aim. I am not the right person to talk to about the flaws of my home, since I have committed my life to its service."
"Ah," you say, "That actually brings us right to the next topic I wanted to discuss."

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130742 ID: 4c5517
File 178621750622.png - (534.88KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_C.png )

You flip back to the map in your writing pad.
"Looking back at this timeline's war, it seems like the Coalition of Kushana is... looking to fight? I hope I'm not misinterpreting what was said, but who exactly are the enemies of Kushana?", you ask, "Why are you looking for advantages in a war that has not yet occurred? Why do you expect the Dacian Sultanate or the Coalition of Kushana to be dragged into war?"
He nods and replies: "Ah, I see. Allow me to try and clear up this confusion. The Coalition of Kushana is not currently at war with the Dacian Sultanate, that is true. We are, however, at war with some of their puppet states. We are also aiding other Hiver Raji that are not members of the Coalition in their wars with their Accumulationist neighbors."
That's a new term, you think.
You ask for clarification: "Accumulationist?"
"Mh, yes, Accumulationism is the dominant ideological framework in most of Haemia and beyond. The Dacians are its fiercest supporters. It is also the guiding principle of the Wendish Federation," he explains, "That is the crux of this conflict: Accumulationism facilitates the... well, the accumulation of power and resources in the hands of the powerful castes. It is a grotesque amalgamated inverse of everything the Hiver uprising strives to achieve: the abolishment of caste systems, universal equality, the empowerment and safety of all human beings. Therein lies the fundamental incompatibility that defines our modern age: Should the world be ruled by an elite chosen by birth? Or should it be in the hands of all people?"
He's starting to look really tired now. "I wish we could simply leave Dacia and the Wendish Federation to their own devices, but they made it clear that they do not share this sentiment. Allow me to remind you: Dacia launched a nuclear strike against Rome nineteen years ago. They did this to quell a Hiver uprising. They mean to exterminate us."
He balls his fists on the table, practically radiating with resolve. "The Accumulationist powers cannot abide an alternative vision. If we succeed in building a better society and so inspiring others to do the same, they must inevitably fall," he states.

That part certainly sounded very heartfelt to you.

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130743 ID: 4c5517
File 178621751073.png - (402.06KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_D.png )

You think a moment. Digesting all this political talk might take some time.

"Okay, thank you for that explanation," you say, "but let's circle back to the earlier topic for a moment. I still find it very hard to believe that you'd just let me go free out there. Isn't my appearance going to draw attention? Even assuming you people won't harm me, won't others try to grab and dissect me?"
He nods and answers: "I may have made it sound simpler than it is. It is possible that we'd have to hide you away somewhere for a while, for your protection and for strategic advantage. And when we release you, you might have to travel with a detachment of guards. At least at first. We'll figure something out and I promise you will have a say in it. My point was that someday, you will be able to live a self-directed life. And I do believe that."
You raise another concern: "Can I even live down there on Earth? I can't eat solid or even liquid foods! I need to get my sustenance through the port. How's that going to work?"
"I admit we do not yet know how that works," he says, "It's possible that we cannot, at this time, replicate the technology that keeps you alive. We'll have to explore our options. Perhaps you can teach us enough to build something suitable back on Earth. Perhaps the machines can be transported along with you. I assume your biology is still very much human and if you can live in a place as inimical to life as the moon, I'm sure it's possible to allow you to live on Earth."

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130744 ID: 4c5517
File 178621751453.png - (394.87KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_E.png )

He keeps trying to make all this stuff sound plausible. it rubs you the wrong way somehow. What is his game?!

"Okay what's going on here? Why aren't you writing anything down? Why would you allow an android to go freely into the world? How do I know you are not just giving me empty promises of a better future? That you aren't a manipulator?!", you demand.
He raises his hands in a placating gesture.
"All right," he sighs, "I'll be clear. I'm not writing this down because we're talking about personal things that have little direct bearing on the mission. 'Manipulator' is a strong word. I won't deny that I am trying to influence you. I'm concerned your depressive mental state might lead you to do something we'd all regret. I want you to know that your life isn't over and that things can be better. I believe it's more helpful for everybody if you consider that a possibility."
"But is that possibility actually real?", you ask.
He answers, firmly: "I think so. We cannot know the future."
You scoff at this.
He closes his eyes and shakes his head before he adds: "I can't prove that we have your best interests at heart, Disq. I wish we had more time to build trust. Since we do not, I will simply have to trust you to do the right thing and hope that you'll trust us in turn. There really is nothing for it."

There is a pause.

"I suppose I'll try," you say.

Silicon 2026/08/08(Sat)19:31 No. 1130745 ID: 4c5517
File 178621751839.png - (548.92KB , 1500x1000 , HU_03_002_F.png )

"Thank you," he says and he gets up to leave.
He presses the triangle button by the door and it opens with a whoosh and a click.
"Are you heading out with me, or will you go later? I could give you a small tour," he offers.

You could do that. Do you want to?
You could also stay behind and check out that last recording first. And then explore on your own.

>>1130745
I think we should watch that last recording. At the very least, it would be information we have that they do not.

if the last recording is another bombshell it would be best to watch it alone now

>>1130745
Some thoughts: The polities on earth a surely at a technological level to be broadcasting TV/Radio (do they have an internet equivalent?) getting access to media from multiple sources could give us some insights into what the world is really like.

Also on a darker note if we do want to influence the world through military tech, simply providing enhanced space tech (especially since this base presumably has some engineering/manufacturing capabilities) could allow for the deployment of orbital mass drivers - fast high density objects from space can reach nuclear levels of destructive power without the same fallout issues.

Okay, the Coalition of Kushana in the 20th century is more advanced technologically, civically and ethically than most everyone in our original timeline at the time.

This leads me to believe something: some of the other crew of the History Unmade survived, landed on the Earth, and fast-fowarded progress where they landed. Who knows, maybe they are still alive right now!

At any rate, I think tge tour might be a good idea. Getting chummy with our new friends and all. We can check the last recording privately afterwards.

It's funny, in wars of ideology there is no geography. There are going to be Hivists fighting within Dacia, and Accumulationists fighting in Kushanasthana, to make theirs the mandatory ideology. The only thing that makes a nation Accumulationist is they had some people go up and say "We are the rulers of Dacia, because we said so, and we order you to eliminate anyone threatening Accumulationism." and nobody shot them in the head during that speech.

Nobody stealing an election in Kushanasthana would ever be anything other than Accumulationist, so it only works one way, interestingly enough. There will still be forces within your border attempting to destabilize any democracy.