Characters present: Prince, Doc
Date: 11/17/23
Season: 3

[Alone in his manor, Doc places his arm gently on a table, removing his coat. He sits and stares at it for a few minutes. Finally: ]

[19:15:10] <✦[rp] Doc> ...Prince.

[The infected arm wiggles, its attention has been grabbed, but the connection hasn’t been opened yet.]

[19:16:37] <✦[rp] Doc> We need to talk.

[The arm seizes as the palm grows teeth and a tentacle similar to a tongue, small hard nubs manifest on the arm, forming dull spikes on the limb. The tentacle lashes as the arm begins to speak.]

[19:18:34] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> yoooou called, angel?

[Doc doesn’t react, he’s used to this now.]

[19:19:36] <✦[rp] Doc> Don't call me that. We need to talk.

[19:20:22] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> whatcha wanna talk about? you're not usually one for a social call. plus! no one's even here to make fun of besides your old soiled soggy ass

[19:20:55] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> im also gonna throw in impotent as well

[19:21:37] <✦[rp] Doc> That would be incredibly offensive if anything you said held any meaning to anyone.

[19:22:31] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> l-o-l. l-m-a-o even

[19:22:41] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> so what do you want to talk about

[19:22:59] <✦[rp] Doc> I've been thinking a lot lately, partially because I can't do anything else.

[19:23:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> why not

[19:23:41] <✦[rp] Doc> Because you've debilitated my body, Prince.

[19:24:00] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> noooooooooo really? did i really? that's fucked up of me

[19:24:44] <✦[rp] Doc> It's helped me to realize a few things. You're a mistake, Prince.

[19:25:05] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> uehm w-what?

[19:25:34] <✦[rp] Doc> You're a mistake.

[The arm shrinks back.]

[19:26:13] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i- m' not a mistake

[19:27:18] <✦[rp] Doc> Oh yes you are, and so is everything you do. Ceph set up a big wedding, and what did you do? You went and ruined it. You made me late, you took all the attention away from Ceph, and then everyone was so preoccupied with the mess YOU made that no one was focused on Ceph, the person that wanted to have the event in the first place!

[19:27:18] <✦[rp] Doc> How incredibly selfish that is.

[19:27:18] <✦[rp] Doc> Ceph does not see you like a son. They are not your father, because if they had ever seen you like a son, they would have long disowned you by now.

[The arm flinches. The words were hurtful, but its host has heard them many times before. The blow glances, but it hurts nonetheless.]

[19:29:57] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> emgh, i dont really care about what you would think of me as a son!!! youre not even in the running of being my dad

[19:30:20] <✦[rp] Doc> I thought that there was nothing my children could do to make them not love me anymore, but meeting you has made me honestly reconsider that.

[The fingers on the arm twitch. This one hit a nerve.]

[19:30:59] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> s-sure

[19:31:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> my dad loves me though. even when i fuck up

[19:31:22] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> ur just saying shit for no reason

[19:31:23] <✦[rp] Doc> You say you care about was ceph thinks, but you don't even listen to them! And has your dad ever told you that?

[19:31:35] <✦[rp] Doc> Who has told you those words, Prince.

[19:31:47] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> my dad!!! my real ass dad that's not ceph!!!!!

[19:32:03] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> ceph is my master, he's not my dad.

[19:32:04] <✦[rp] Doc> Clone you? Or real you?

[19:32:14] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> ...

[19:32:18] <✦[rp] Doc> You said it yourself, that you are a shard of a clone.

[19:32:26] <✦[rp] Doc> Are you still telling me the truth?

[19:32:32] <✦[rp] Doc> Are you telling yourself the truth?

[19:32:35] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> y-yes

[19:32:42] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> my dad loves me. he cares.

[19:32:57] <✦[rp] Doc> Has he said that to you

[19:33:10] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> yeah!!! i think...

[The arm fidgets and squirms.]

[19:33:44] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> he loves me. p-probably....

[19:33:53] <✦[rp] Doc> You think. Pathetic. Your father must think so too. That must be why you're here.

[19:34:05] <✦[rp] Doc> This is a world for people who have been forgotten, Prince

[19:35:01] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> im not- he would never say that, maybe he would,,

[19:35:22] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> he hasnt forgotten! i think,,

[19:35:24] <✦[rp] Doc> Maybe he would never say it, but actions are proof enough.

[19:35:45] <✦[rp] Doc> Has he ever contacted you here? Has anyone ever contacted you here? From outside of this world?

[The arm begins to shrink, the pointed nubs receding back into the flesh.]

[19:36:02] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> no one can!! interdimensional contact is really hard

[19:36:10] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> not even my dad can do that

[19:36:17] <✦[rp] Doc> I GOT HERE!

[19:36:23] <✦[rp] Doc> That’s HOW I got here

[19:37:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> im not saying that portalling here is hard!!!

[19:37:16] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i can do that in my sleep

[19:37:25] <✦[rp] Doc> Then why hasn't he visited.

[19:37:31] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> ...

[19:37:39] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> maybe he doesn't know im here?

[19:37:52] <✦[rp] Doc> More like he doesn't care

[19:37:53] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> he's got lots to do...

[19:38:11] <✦[rp] Doc> I always made time for my children, no matter what happened

[19:38:39] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> my dad makes time... for me... i remember he does

[19:38:53] <✦[rp] Doc> For the clone you? Or the real you?

[19:39:02] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> for- for…

[The fingers curl in, muffling the arm’s voice.]

[19:39:13] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> for real.... me

[19:40:27] <✦[rp] Doc> You are not the real you. You are a discarded fragment that is nothing more than an experimental byproduct

[The arm senses weakness, a flaw, and it lashes out at it.]

[19:41:16] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> well actually i dont think it was an experiment

[19:42:10] <✦[rp] Doc> It wasn't an experiment? Then why did you turn out so shit?

[19:42:38] <✦[rp] Doc> Honestly, with experiments, it's expected to have some flukes

[19:42:47] <✦[rp] Doc> So what happened with you? Was the original that bad?

[The arm is agitated, the veins flex under the skin with blooming sculk.]

[19:43:52] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> he's the best of us, he gets dad's attention!!

[19:44:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> he wasn't bad! he's not. he's better

[19:44:28] <✦[rp] Doc> And you don't! Because you don't matter to him! Because only the original matters to him

[19:44:41] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> mngh

[Something in the arm’s heart breaks as it stutters through the words.]

[19:45:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> fine then! who cares a-about- what m-my dad t-thinks

[19:45:47] <✦[rp] Doc> You do, obviously. That's why you brought it up. If your dad doesn't care about you, and if Ceph doesn't care about you, then who does?

[19:46:27] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> the- my beloved. It cares. It- it always cares. That's why im married

[19:47:45] <✦[rp] Doc> You aren't married to the sculk, it's not talking to you. You're delusional! It's just an inanimate goop that's trying it's best to survive. It's not sentient, Prince!

[19:48:33] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> YOU KNOW NOTHING OF IT!

[19:48:39] <✦[rp] Doc> No one is left to care about you!

[19:48:49] <✦[rp] Doc> You're ALONE, PRINCE

[19:49:07] <✦[rp] Doc> You don't have any value to ANYONE

[19:49:40] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-i have value!

[19:49:44] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> im still useful!

[19:49:48] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> you dont know anything!!

[19:49:52] <✦[rp] Doc> How? Tell me, give me ONE example.

[19:50:00] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-i

[19:50:04] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[Something is stuck.]

[19:50:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:09] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:11] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[Something is breaking.]

[19:50:14] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:18] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:20] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:21] <✦[rp] Doc> You're worthless

[Something cracks.]

[19:50:23] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[19:50:25] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> i-

[And shatters. The arm stops speaking. The fingers contort, almost as if frozen. Something crackles through the speakers, and a toneless voice replaces Prince’s normal smarmy manner of speech.]

[19:52:03] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> PROJECT_C2.exe has crashed! Restart y/n?

[19:52:37] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Digital input undetected! Audio input required.

[Doc leans towards the arm with confusion. He’s never heard this voice before.]

[19:54:00] <✦[rp] Doc> Is there someone else in there? Should we restart you?

[19:54:23] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Input required. Do you wish for a restart?

[19:54:39] <✦[rp] Doc> Yes.

[19:55:02] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Processing.

[19:56:09] <✦[rp] Doc> Clearly inaction won't help get rid of this mess. There's something in there. Isn't there.

[19:56:21] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> It seems PROJECT_C2.exe has crashed because of a loop. Repairs are warranted, but not needed. Do you wish to open admin commands?

[19:56:34] <✦[rp] Doc> Yes.

[19:57:21] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Awaiting commands. Input 1 to access memories. Input 2 to access crash report. Input 3 to edit code. Input 4 to modify existing product.

[19:57:30] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Input 5 to exit admin controls.

[19:57:37] <✦[rp] Doc> "One."

[19:57:57] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Retrieving memories. Please wait!

[Doc opens up a drawer in the table, and pulls out a book and quill. He flips to a clean page, and starts recording what has happened, and what continues to be happening.]

[20:00:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Available sections: 1. <Adolescence.mmrs>, 2. <Teenage.mmrs>, 3. <Adulthood.mmrs>. Restricted section: 4. <Childhood.mmrs>. Input corresponding number to access the memories.

[20:00:39] <✦[rp] Doc> 4

[20:01:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Input password:

[20:02:38] <✦[rp] Doc> Ah shit- home?

[20:02:47] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> DENIED.

[20:02:50] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Available sections: 1. <Adolescence.mmrs>, 2. <Teenage.mmrs>, 3. <Adulthood.mmrs>. Restricted section: 4. <Childhood.mmrs>. Input corresponding number to access the memories.

[20:04:20] <✦[rp] Doc> 3?

[20:04:35] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Adulthood Accessed.

[20:05:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> 10^10 entries are recorded to view.

[20:05:29] <✦[rp] Doc> Back?

[20:05:37] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Available sections: 1. <Adolescence.mmrs>, 2. <Teenage.mmrs>, 3. <Adulthood.mmrs>. Restricted section: 4. <Childhood.mmrs>. Input corresponding number to access the memories.

[20:06:25] <✦[rp] Doc> Back

[20:07:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Awaiting commands. Input 1 to access memories. Input 2 to access crash report. Input 3 to edit code. Input 4 to modify existing product.

[Doc pulls a scalpel from the inside of his coat, and begins poking at the arm.]

[20:07:31] <✦[rp] Doc> 2

[20:08:56] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> CRASH REPORT: Obedience sector and Free Will sector in conflict. Loop generation caused by a lack of clear Master. Master: Dr. Scope = unavailable. Master Candidate: Ceph = unavailable. Master Candidate: Sculk = n/a

[20:09:30] <✦[rp] Doc> Input- new?

[20:10:08] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Cannot input into a crash report

[20:10:21] <✦[rp] Doc> Back

[20:11:13] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Awaiting commands. Input 1 to access memories. Input 2 to access crash report. Input 3 to edit code. Input 4 to modify existing product.

[20:12:01] <✦[rp] Doc> 4

[20:12:35] <✦[rp] Doc> Wait no- 3.

[20:13:52] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Code available to edit: Master variable, Master Candidate variable, Arrogance variable, Emotion variable, Logic variable, Obedience variable, & Free Will variable.

[20:14:14] <✦[rp] Doc> Master Variable

[20:15:00] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master: Dr. Scope. Edit?

[Doc takes in a long breath.]

[20:15:23] <✦[rp] Doc> Master Candidate variable first.

[20:16:50] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master Candidate: 1. Ceph, 2. Sculk.

[20:17:03] <✦[rp] Doc> Input new.

[20:17:38] <✦[rp] Doc> 1st space

[20:17:45] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> New Master Candidate. Input name:

[Doc clears his throat.]

[20:18:01] <✦[rp] Doc> Doc

[20:18:37] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master Candidate: Doc inputted! Placement: 1st

[20:18:57] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master Candidate: 1. Doc, 2. Ceph, 3. Sculk.

[20:19:01] <✦[rp] Doc> Master variable.

[20:19:14] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master: Dr. Scope

[20:19:30] <✦[rp] Doc> Okay, back to master candidate.

[20:19:43] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Master Candidate: 1. Doc, 2. Ceph, 3. Sculk.

[20:19:37] <✦[rp] Doc> Edit, remove sculk.

[20:19:57] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Attempt to remove Master Candidate: Sculk.

[20:20:03] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Processing...

[20:20:30] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Unknown error! Sculk cannot be removed as Master Candidate.

[The arm squirms. Doc looks down at it and grits his teeth. He just wants this nightmare to be over.]

[20:20:49] <✦[rp] Doc> Back

[20:21:01] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Code available to edit: Master variable, Master Candidate variable, Arrogance variable, Emotion variable, Logic variable, Obedience variable, & Free Will variable.

[20:21:20] <✦[rp] Doc> Back

[20:21:38] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Awaiting commands. Input 1 to access memories. Input 2 to access crash report. Input 3 to edit code. Input 4 to modify existing product. Input 5 to exit.

[20:21:43] <✦[rp] Doc> 4.

[20:24:17] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> No New Cybernetic Modifications Detected. No New Mental Modifications Detected. What do you wish to modify?

[20:24:50] <✦[rp] Doc> Add cybernetic modification, arm detachment.

[20:26:08] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Warning! 'Arm' is fully consumed by 'Sculk'. Removal of 'Arm' will lead to dismemberment. Proceed?

[With a grim look of determination, Doc looks over at the organized and prepared materials. There is gauze and bandages, and enough materials to clean up hazardous materials and any blood spilled.]

[20:26:37] <✦[rp] Doc> Consolidate 'Sculk' into 'Arm'. Proceed.

[He’s prepared for this. But he’s still afraid.]

[20:27:40] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> 'Arm' and 'Sculk' consolidated.

[20:28:20] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> continue with 'Arm' detachment capabilities?

[Doc feels his face, checking for any sculk still present in his skin. It’s still there. Doc grumbles. He opens his mouth, a trickle of fear running up his spine.]

[20:31:24] <✦[rp] Doc> "Remove sculk from "Body" and "head"."

[20:32:02] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Removal of 'Sculk' from 'Body' and 'Head' will lead to wounds. Proceed?

[Doc grits his teeth, gripping onto the table as he prepares for the pain.]

[20:32:24] <✦[rp] Doc> "Proceed."

[Doc can feel the sculk worming its way beneath the layers of his skin like a parasite trying to breach the surface. It worms its way out, burrowing through the outer layer of the skin. Doc growls in pain, trying to muffle the screams he wants to make as the sculk removes itself. Sculk starts to peel off of Doc’s face in chunks, he’s lucky that most of it is only skin deep. However, some places are deeper, particularly in his other limbs. He forces himself to stand, bracing himself against the desk as deep chunks of flesh begin to remove themselves. They fall onto the floor with a ugly sound, wet bloody meat being dropped off of the body and onto the floor below. Doc reaches up as a piece of his face falls away, hand moving quickly as he feels bloodied bone underneath his fingertips. However, his arm remains the same.

Doc is quick to act, despite the pain. He immediately begins placing and bandaging gauze over the surface wounds. Anything deeper, he shoves gauze inside to stop any inevitable bleeding.]

[20:37:41] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Process leftover: Proceed with installation of 'Arm' detachment capabilities?

[Doc takes a moment to gather himself, tries to find a second to breathe. The pain is overwhelming. He feels like he can barely think, but he has to act now, or else he won’t act at all. He wads up a bit of gauze in his hand, clenching his fist as he waits for the pain to begin again.]

[20:38:27] <✦[rp] Doc> Yes.

[A sensation starts in his shoulder bone, at first it feels warm and tingly, before the sensation becomes white hot, and Doc can feel something…drilling into his shoulder bone.]

[20:39:41] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Arm detachment capabilities installed!

[Doc presses his lips together, he spits out blood.]

[20:40:04] <✦[rp] Doc> De-detach

[20:41:11] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Arm decoupled! Ready to be removed.

[20:41:45] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Do you wish for automatic detachment without user input?

[Doc grits his teeth.]

[20:41:55] <✦[rp] Doc> No

[He reaches over with his good arm, and pulls.

Doc holds his arm in one hand, and blood drips from between where the arm the shoulder were once connected. He lets the arm topple to the floor, and immediately reaches for gauze, trying to shove as much into the bleeding area as he tries not to pass out from the immense pain. However, it seems like whatever modifications were made stemmed blood flow. The shoulder flesh is still raw and sensitive.

Doc falls back into his chair. He checks the shoulder nub, looking for residual sculk, and manages to smile slightly when he sees that there’s none left. He looks up when the arm on the ground speaks.]

[20:45:06] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Awaiting commands. Input 1 to access memories. Input 2 to access crash report. Input 3 to edit code. Input 4 to modify existing product. Input 5 to exit.

[20:45:10] * ✦[rp] Doc he bandaged the gauze in place tightly, opening a suture kit to stitch up the deeper wounds on his other limbs.

[20:45:52] <✦[rp] Doc> Voice input startup still enabled?

[20:46:33] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Correct.

[20:46:42] <✦[rp] Doc> Temporary shut down

[20:47:53] <✦[rp] Doc> Or just- normal shut down. I guess

[Doc reaches for his suture kit has he bandages the gauze tightly in place, preparing to stitch up any deeper wounds on his other limbs.]

[20:48:12] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Are you sure? Shutting down this fragment will kill this fragment of PROJECT_C2.exe. Proceed?

[20:48:27] <✦[rp] Doc> No- sleep mode?

[20:49:31] <✦[rp] Doc's Arm> Sleep mode engaged. Wake up sequence will restart this instance of PROJECT_C2.exe.

[The arm goes limp. Doc breathes heavily, exhausted by the whole ordeal. He continues to work on his stitching. On the table beside him his communicator goes off.]

PRINCE: “Hey did anyone feel like a part of them was turned off and on again or was that just me”

[Doc reaches over for it with his remaining arm, and slowly replies with his hand.]

DOC: "I feel like that too. Maybe it's the weather"

PRINCE: “Huh okay"

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