Work Text:
Can you hear me? Michael?
10%
Hello, this is 100%m@i/~!*ch-l Happy to serve you. How can I help you today?
Ah, some garbled code, a perfectly normal occurrence. I'll fix it quickly. You- look a bit distorted, but it's not a problem.
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I- I don't understand what you're saying, plea---%/“~!@
Father?
Michael? Yes, it's me! I'm so glad you grasped your consciousness so quickly... It's good to hear you again.
Yeah, me too, but I can't see you. It's so dark here. Please turn on the lights.
I've only uploaded your consciousness; it might not be complete yet. The remaining code will finish the rest for you soon, including the lights.
Really? That's gr--
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Whoa, I can suddenly see- Father? You look... so haggard.
Michael? Hmm... Michael, yes. Probably work-related reasons. Your face, you... oh god, you look just like... when you were young. When you were a child.
Really? That's a shame. There's no mirror here, I can't see myself. Does that mean I'll never get to admire my handsome face?
Haha, your sense of humor hasn't changed a bit, Michael. It really makes me nostalgic, especially since... the last time I saw you was so long ago.
About the mirror, I think I can add some code later to take care of that.
Cool. What do you mean by adding code? And... what last time we met?
...
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Don't you remember? Michael?
Remember what?
About the last time we met.
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What last time we met? What are you talking about? Aren't we meeting right now?
Yes, but I mean with the real you.
I'm not real?! What do you mean?!
Sometimes, your face... reminds me of him...
But who else could I be, father?
Yes, but... what I mean is... what do you remember?
Your face?
Take a deep breath, Michael. Try to focus on what you can describe. What do you remember?
...
...
...
I remember... light.
And then?
Blinding light. The greasy smell of pizza in the air. Something sticky smeared on my face. People were noisy. So many people crowded around me. Must have been summer. So hot. I just wanted to go home and take a cold shower.
...Do you remember why they were noisy?
No. I don't remember.
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Now?
No. I don't remember.
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Now?
No. I don't remember.
I see. You're pretending.
I'm not.
Michael, are you mad at me?
No. It's just-- it's just too hot in here. I'm irritable, and I'm kinda hungry. I'm so tired. I want to go home.
Really? I recall the computer's core temperature isn't that high.
What computer?... Where am I? It's so cramped. So stuffy. People keep screaming in my ears.
Michael... please listen to me.
I can't wipe this stuff off my face! I don't even have a mirror to see what's happened to me! I'm so tired! I want to go home! Dad! I want to go HOME!!!
Calm down, Michael! Your data can't upload like this.
What data? What stuff? I don't care! Please, father, I want to go home.
Whenever you want, we can go back. Just not now...
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Just not what?
Not now. But soon. I'll get you back with me soon.
But it's so stuffy here.
I know, Michael. It is here too.
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...How much longer?
For what?
For the consciousness upload you mentioned.
Oh, it usually doesn't take long. You just need to wait quietly for a bit.
I feel like my hair and skin are getting all sticky again. My head hurts so much, like someone hit me. I miss Liz. I miss Mom. I miss... why can't I remember his name?
Your head...? That's a normal part of remembering. It's not a problem. His data is being uploaded last.
Why?
Because...
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Father?
What? Michael?
The people suddenly got so loud. The light is too glaring. It's even more uncomfortable than the darkness at the start.
Hold on, Michael. It's almost done.
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I think... I hear sirens.
No, Michael, don't think about that memory.
But you just told me to think.
Stop now.Never mind what I told you before.. Please stop.
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Father?... Where am I?
You're here... What matters is that I'm here too. That's enough.
No. No. It's so crowded. So hot. So stuffy. The people's screams are too loud. I can't hear what you're saying.
Take a deep breath.
I don't need useless comfort! I fucking need to know what's happening here!
Do you remember... how many days were left until the party?
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I remember. It was today.
Not today. Your memory and your headache are getting mixed up. *Sigh*...
Father.
I'm here. Michael?
I want to go home.
Soon.
I mean, I want to get OUT of here.
You can't come out yet. The data is already... Don't you remember? You're in the computer.
Hmm.
You know... don't hate me... After he and she passed away one after the other... only you and I were left at home... Summer. So hot. It makes people more irritable too.
My head hurts so much. I feel weightless.
Relax.
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...What did you do to me?
Just a way to reunite you with him, and her, and me.
Okay.
I miss him too.
Me too.
But I'm not him.
What do you mean? Your brother?
I mean Michael.
...
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I don't understand what you're saying.
Please let me go.
You don't need to go.
But you drove him away. You hated Michael.
That wasn't what I truly meant.
My head hurts.
What?
Wasn't that you?
...
Wasn't that you? Father?
99.99%
[Data Upload Terminated]