tushanshu | ➢ 002

[It has been a very interesting two months for Aya thus far. The young not-so-Artificial Intelligence has already learned so much. About Keelai. About the multiverse. About her fellow Foreign "visitors" and, perhaps most importantly, about herself. And how little she actually knows about herself, and the circumstances surrounding her apparent unique creation.]

[Which is what brings her to the Network for a third time. Her eyes are shining with their usual curiosity, although this time, they are enhanced by a certain...hesitation behind them. An uncertainty that emphasizes her surprisingly (and deceptively) young age.]

There is something I am curious about. As your localized Network System appears to be the best place to make such public inquiries, I have chosen to make mine here as well.

[Somehow, when she preempts with this rather innocent statement, it sounds like she's apologizing for wasting everyone's time. Despite the importance to her, personally.]

I have had several conversations regarding...memories. In particular, those that people are able to access, and those they are not. It has been drawn to my attention that, upon departing from this world, any and all memories of this place are to be deleted from one's memory banks without fail. [She is not okay with this, of course, and yet this is still not the main focus of her post.] It has also been drawn to my attention that there are certain memories in which the majority of organic beings are capable of retaining as well as forgetting.

I was programmed to never forget. And yet...I have been made aware that there are certain events which must have occurred in my life that I cannot remember. I find this both curious and disconcerting. Which is why I must ask:

Is it common for one to possess no memories of the circumstances surrounding one's birth?

More so, I am also curious as to precisely what kinds of memories everyone appears to retain best.

[[PRIVATE MESSAGE - TONY STARK (MCU)]]

[Shortly after her more public message, one in a drastically different change of tone will appear on Tony's screen. For either him or JARVIS to encounter first]

I have completed the designs of the sweaters--[here, a small image of said sweater will appear on his screen for visual]-- you requested for the office. Pending your approval, and a total count of sweaters necessary, I shall proceed to create one for each member of the company.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I haven't seen any here. [Liar, liar, pants on fire!]

But where I come from, people can make them. With science.

Science is defined as a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.

Theoretically speaking, all things are created with Science.

[SHRUG.]

That's what it is. I don't pretend to know much more. Not exactly my area of expertise.

But you have experience with these doorways, correct? Otherwise, you would have not brought them into this conversation.

Anyone can step through one.

I was just saying, maybe that's what this is. We're all brought here from other worlds, right? That's... it messes with your memory, is all I'm saying. So maybe that's what some people here have experienced.

Perhaps. But not everyone has.

Your theory holds merit, were it not for two very important factors to take into account. The first is that, as of this moment, my memories remain precisely as they were from the time I had been displaced in my own world. I recall each and every experience I encountered for the several months' of my existence. If traveling through one of these portals was meant to disrupt any and all memories, then I would not be able to retain what I do at this time.

Which brings me to my second point: the memories I have lost...were memories lost long before I arrived in Keelai.

Well, I know that, but you switched to the whole part about folks here not remembering this place when they go back.

[God, stop confusing him!]

Look, like I said, I'm sure there are as many reasons for messed up memories as there are people with them.

Also, until recently, I had a big gap in my memories that I didn't even know was there, because they'd rewritten themselves. So don't be too sure.

Yes. Would it not make sense to assume the same means of travel that brought us here would also return us? And yet, if that is the case, why would such an effect only take hold when transporting us away from Keelai?

[In her defense, the whole thing was confusing.]

Your memories were rewritten? How was that possible?

[He sighs, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. He never should've brought this up.]

I don't know, okay? The first time I went through, my memories got all scrambled up and rewritten - like my brain was trying to put together a story that made sense. I didn't even know it happened until recently.

Sometimes, I've been through to another world and nothing's happened. Once, I went through and I had two sets of memories in my head at the same time, from another version of me. I don't know how or why.

[Oops. Sorry, Booker.]

My apologies. I meant no offense in asking.

[She simply couldn't not ask. It was in her nature to do so, and not simply because she was an Artificially Intelligent computer, either. Because she was Aya.]

The effects of your travels, then, appear to be random and unpredictable. That does not sound like the effects our means of traveling from our words to Keelai are presenting.

Assuming our memories haven't been scrambled without us knowin' about it.

Another possibility, yes. Though I can assure you, I do recall many facts about my home world still.

[Meaning they haven't been removed.]

So do I. Doesn't mean there's no way a big chunk can't be missing. A big, important chunk.

We have no immediate evidence of this occurring, however.

Truthfully, I would be a poor test subject, as I am currently isolated in representation of my world. There are others, though, who are not, and conversations over the Network indicate that many facts and points match up far too well for their to be sporadic gaps in their own memories.

I didn't either, until the nosebleeds started.

My physical form does not possess a circulatory system. I cannot bleed, let alone through my nose.

[In other words, that particular hint wouldn't do much good for her.]

So I guess there's no way for you to know at all, is there?

If that is the only indicator...then no, it is not.

Have you experienced any of these nosebleeds since your arrival?

Yeah, I did get them, until I realized that my memory was all messed up and everything slotted back into place.

And let me tell you, it wasn't pleasant.

Then there is a high probability that your own memories have been affected in some way.

[Interesting. Assuming that his reactions were consistent, that was the closest they'd come to proof in this entire discussion.]

Yeah, I figured that out already, thanks for the help doc.

[His voice is dry as bone.]

I am not a doctor.

While I possess rudimentary medical knowledge and, it is not sufficient to equate me with one who has specialized in the area of medicine.

Whatever you say.

[An...interesting response.]

Is that all you have to say on the matter?

Should I say somethin' else? You sound like the doctors I know, but you're not.

Okay, then.

video;

looksfine - 2014-02-17 19:02 (UTC) - Expand

washitaway - 2014-02-18 04:55 (UTC) - Expand

➢ 002 | VIDEO

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;