i.

[illneverforget]

[This voice belongs to someone who has a very even, calm tone.]

Excuse me. The way this works is I communicate to this network, everyone may choose to respond, and it may not necessarily be in real-time, correct? Then, if one of you wouldn't mind, I have a few questions when you're available to answer.

I'm going to ask them now to save time.

[The display changes while he speaks.]


The welcoming committee didn't address my question regarding these devices. I was told I can purchase electronics different from what they offered there if I disliked them.

My question was "Who manufactures these?"

[Like a slide-show with a voice-over, it changes again:]


If anyone could give me an overview on trouble experienced while using this network, I'd be grateful.

[It changes one last time:]


I'm also interested in how the peace is kept, along with the local crime rate.

Thanks for your time.

Comments

(frozen comment)

[reanimated]

You're serious?

(frozen comment)

[illneverforget]

Yes. Is there a reason I wouldn't be?

(frozen comment)

[reanimated]

Cos if you are, you've won the race for Most Boring New Moore Resident. Congratufuckinglations. D'you want a certificate?

(frozen comment)

[illneverforget]

There's no point in saying "if you are" when I've already explained I am. Either way, a certificate isn't necessary.

(frozen comment)

[illneverforget]

Actually, neither is this conversation. Bye.

(frozen comment)

[reanimated]

(frozen comment)

[illneverforget]

I'd appreciate it if you would stop wasting our time by trying to get my attention. Thanks.

[tiiger]

[ This, without any doubt, is the most boring speech he ever heard. ]

[tiiger]

[ …. Man, he sounds familiar, though. ]

[tiiger]

[ Oh.


Wait a second. ]

[tiiger]

... Bunny?

Oi, Bunny! Is that you?

[notjohnsmith]

I) Like many things on the island, the origin is secret. There doesn't appear to be a factory locally, but there's also no visible means of importing devices. However, there are also very few farms on the island, but somehow enough food is provided for us all, so it's safe to say that a secret import economy of some kind exists.

However, government origin is definitely safe to conclude.

II) There are occasional complaints about compromised security, and it's safe to assume that the people who provided us with the devices could monitor all data on them if they chose, but there's no particular sign that they have chosen to do so.

When it comes to individuals with complaints about security, I believe they were both rather personal and involved tampering by another unwilling immigrant to the island, so I'll leave it up to them whether or not to disclose any details to strangers.

III) The government that gives the orders seems to be mainly connected to the scientists in the hospital and the staff of the visitor's center, but any solid information on them is lacking. After island protest, our current chief of police, and his immediate predecessor, have both been "fictional" residents, but it's clear that some orders and organization are kept out of their hands.

The government people who handle housing, stipend checks, and other such matters are all "nonfictional" people working out of the vistor's center. Since they occasionally withhold stipend checks unless the residents perform some sort of task such as rounding up thousands of stray cats, they're not generally regarded as either professional or friendly.


I hope this answers your questions.

[illneverforget]

[Call it what you want. This method is preferable to accidentally switching on video-recording, wearing an awkward face, and staring miserably at a crowd of people who you can't see, but who can see you clearly. Honestly. Is that the kind of first impression someone wants to make? Barnaby hasn't seen that far back yet on the Network, but rest assured: he will.]

[illneverforget]

[There is a distinct lift in the speaker's tone.]

...hah?

[illneverforget]

[It's obvious to figure out by listening with ears that this isn't a person the speaker expected to reply.]

Kotetsu?!

[illneverforget]

[It takes a moment, but the voice is almost-level again.]

You shouldn't be here!

[Then truly-level. It's not that he sounds unhappy, it's just--difficult to put into words.]

What are you doing here?

[illneverforget]

...stray cats?

[illneverforget]

Thank you very much. You've been extremely helpful. If you wouldn't mind, I have a couple more questions.

Please take your time if you need to and don't feel you need to reply. I don't want to inconvenience you. I appreciate the time you've taken to answer me already.

[illneverforget]

I'm sure this has been asked by new-arrivals before, so please forgive my redundancy. Have you heard of any ships or planes arriving on this island? From what I've gathered, it seems like this occurrence is rare and a previous incident involving a ship also involved said ship sinking.

In regards to security, that's about what I expected. Even with devices that come with us, as long as we use this Network, it's likely we'll be tracked to some degree.

On the issue of government... I see. Then essentially our freedom and choices are limited, but they prefer to maintain the illusion that they are not until it's convenient for them.

I guess my other question is regarding crime. The serial murderer I've read briefly about doesn't seem consistent with other public records regarding crime in New Moore. Most nuisances experienced seem arbitrary and illogical. Am I correct?

[illneverforget]

Sorry. I got ahead of myself. It's rude of me not to give you my name after you've been so helpful.

I'm Barnaby. Thanks again.

[notjohnsmith]

Everyone calls me Kyon, and according to the island that has unfortunately become my official and permanent name, so to reduce confusion it will have to do for introductions.

Despite how improbably it skews the logic of any import-export scheme, there have been no visible planes or sea vessels passing through the barrier, although ships have been sighted on both sides.

"Arbitrary and illogical" is as concise and accurate an explanation as possible. While there have been such things as kidnappings and apparent murders before, they're not nearly as common as whimsical alterations of reality that might as well have been the result of a bored adolescent demigod of some type.

Such as depositing well over a thousand cats ranging from adorable kittens to lions and tigers across the city.

I suppose we can only be grateful that the feline theme meant bears had to be omitted from the list of creatures deposited.

1/??

[illneverforget]

Is that so? Well, then. It's nice to meet you, Kyon.

[illneverforget]

That's interesting. So inside or outside, but never passing through...

The fact it's an island seems to rule out underground cargo transportation -- and I'm sure everyone would have discovered a tunnel in the ocean by now.

[illneverforget]

That said, the technology here seems more advanced than where I'm from. It's amazing. I've never encountered anything that restricted me like that before. It's entirely possible that most consumable items are manufactured locally.

[illneverforget]

Wait.

"Demigod"?

That's-