A Very Short SOS: text; 5/22

[notglitching]

Data request. Repair: mental functions (users).

[Is somebody taking the time to be comprehensible? Not today! A second later, one word appends itself to the end of the mass text.]

Urgent.

Comments

[t65]

[To be fair, Luke can't really tell when Rinzler's glowering.] But you've never seen behavior like this before? I've only met him once before this; I'm not sure how deep this runs.

[notglitching]

[There's a beat of hesitation, then the program's head shakes. Wash had problems. Rinzler even knew some of the reasons for the bugs. But nothing like this.]

Didn't glitch.

[t65]

Didn't glitch.

[Talking to Rinzler is sometimes like a constantly evolving riddle. Luke takes a moment to consider that. Didn't glitch. Droid programing glitches... they were talking about the past- Luke's eyes light up.] You mean- he didn't act like this the last few times you spoke?

[notglitching]

[Long, dubious stare... followed by a nod. He just said that. Twice.

For a user in charge of technology, Rinzler isn't very impressed by this one's comprehension.]

[t65]

[To be fair, Luke is used to technology with better manners.]

I mentioned a technique that might help him, but I'm not... I'm not well versed enough. I don't want to make it worse. [Luke stares, absent-minded, trying to figure if discretion or bravery is the better course, here.]

[notglitching]

[The program stares back. He'd tracked the network exchanges before. He has some idea of this user's capability. But vague musings are less than useless. The helmet angles to the side: clarify, data-request, but if Luke doesn't answer quickly, he moves on to text without much lag.]

Memory edit?

Summarize risks.

[t65]

[Luke looks over to Rinzler, thinking.] That's the thing, I don't know all the risks. I haven't mastered the technique, I don't know all the angles. It could leave permanent damage... or make it worse, or make him forget the wrong thing... it's too great a risk.

[Luke has already decided.]

[notglitching]

[The harsh rattling of the enforcer's sound skips, harsh and irritated. Rinzler is the last person to argue in favor of memory removal, particularly when the editor in question judges the benefit not worth the risk. But it's infuriating to have the possibility of help floated, then dismissed out of hand. All the more so for his own inability to be of use.]

What can you do?

[t65]

[Luke steps forward, reaching out his hand. He looks down into Washington's eyes, and tries to get in his line of sight. Waving his hand, he says,] Sleep.

[Washington's eyes flutter closed.]

There, that should help, I think.

[notglitching]

[That answer, Rinzler hadn't been expecting. He stills, watching as Wash quiets and subsides. It is helpful, even if the demonstrated vocal compulsion is more than a little terrifying. Could the user do that whenever it chose?

A question for later. For now, the program's helmet ducks a little, gratitude and respect grudgingly surrendered.]