We Found Something Under The Stairs… (Project 863 Answered!)

D: Well done.

M: What?

S: What - did that

M: What?

S: Did that just say

M+S: Well Done?

W: Who is that?

M: Hello? Oh there's a typing field. There's a typing field right here. Maybe I type back. What is that Deb?

S: Oh type something back

M: Uh... [what is this?] .... Send

D: Apologies, I expect this might be alarming to you. Right now my technology is still extremely limited, this is the best I can do.

M: Okay hold up. [still acting llike a computer? Why?] ... Send

D: I thought if I mimicked a program, I would have higher odds of steering you in the right direction. I see now that was an unfortunate method. I needed you to understand, I had answers before I spooked you into thinking I was someone trying to take advantage of you.

M: What? Like -

W: Is this real?

M: What - Is this real?

S: We're talking to Deb right now

M: Are you kidding me?

W: Live?

M: [where are you?] Yeah, like I think it's live.

S: I - It seems like it.

M: Where are you?

D: I am somewhere safe, far from Nelson.

M: Far from Nelson? [what does that mean?]

D: More will be revealed in time. But I promise this is not another way for me to stall, I'm truly not able to connect much more, at this moment. I'm sorry.

M: Why, why is that always the case? Like, why can't you just be up front with us? [why cant you just tell us the truth?] Like why, come on.

D: The truth in this case, is overwhelmingly complicated. While I needed your cooperation, I wanted to be transparent with you. I just couldn't yet.

M: [but that doesnt make any sense.] --

W: I can't believe we're actually talking to her live.

M: -- [why give us the emulator at all if you wanted us to just give it awy to the undercover officer?]

D: I expected that this would be a point of confusion. I needed you to run the root disk file. Root was more than just a file retriever. I hid a small amount of code that tunneled into the server it was connected to, and updated its databases to connect to the syntec.net site. I also needed to talk to you first.

S: Wow

M: Wait what does that mean? This was all set up beforehand? [You havent been in contact with John Doe?]

D: No, not since I left over a year ago. Thanks to youhe was able to use the files on the emulator to contact me through this server as well. I set him up with the Gaius directory and the rings before I left, and told him to give them to you in exchange for the emulator.

W: What did she say?

M: She said I set him with the Gaius directory and the rings before I left and told him to ...

S: Give them to us in exchange for the emulator

M: Yeah. In exchange for the emulator we got this ring. What? Because he gave us the Gaius directory early though, didn't he?

W: Yes. Before ...

M: Oh that's because we gave him a small amount of evidence, so he must have just gave us that ahead of time, but see... the Gaius directory [Why would you even want us to see those files on that directory?] Yeah... that was not a good chat log

S: No.

D: The files on the Gaius director were there to show you the depth of Nelson's depravity regarding Project Pegasus.

M: No!

S: What?

M: No! [There was a chat log with you and B27. It appeared as though you were planning to murder Nelson.] ... Send

D: Murder?!

M: Yeah!

D: No such conversation exists because murder was never on the table. Yes, I wanted Nelson out of the company, but I would never resort to murder. Death is a natural end, but I will never force that end. My guess is that those files were tampered with. Was there an indication that Nelson Syphus, or anyone working for him got access to the server before you accessed the directory?

S: Oh...

W: Yeah

M: Yes

S: Yeah they did

M: [There was a PC connected to the same switch the apple II was connected to.] Right?

W: Yeah

D: There is the tampering.

M: There is the tampering. Wait... who- who was that though? Who was that that put that in because he said it wasn't even Nelson. Hold up, hold up, hold up.

S: What?

M: Was I mistaken or did she say was there an indication that Nelson or anyone working for him got access to the server?

S: Yeah she did say that.

M: She said someone working for him.

W: What Nelson texted us about him not even being Nelson

S: Might check out.

M: [Wait, those working for him? John doe said he was all that was left.] And she confirmed it.

D: Maybe that was true a couple of years ago after I escaped. He's been working, as I've said, it's what he does. He was always resourceful when it came to finding his Phantoms.

M+S: His Phantoms?

M: What the-- [Phantoms?]

D: Followers. Willing participants. Brainwashed, you name it. That's what he called them. Those who he could manipulate into his ideology. They arrived like an apparition, and only leave shadows in their wake. With the promise of power, most men will corrupt.

M: [So we may not even have met Nelson? What we saw could have been one of his 'phantoms'?]

D: It's highly likely that his following is growing.

M: [Do you know who might be working for him?]

D: If this is the case, it doesn't matter. Whether it's remnants of the old Syntec or new recruits, they all share the same vision now.

M: She said it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter who's working for him, they're all the same.

S: This is next level

W: So were every person that we saw on different occasions were those all different people? I mean--

S: Oh my god!

W: The audience did point out they were all very different body types.

M: That's true!

S: It's possible those (freakout noise)

M: That's true!

S: Could have been different people

M: Oh, that's not good.

S: Whoever was chasing us in their car?

M: But it doesn't even matter. She doesn't know. But what she does know is about 863. [so project 863?] How bout that? [Why were we in the project files?] ...Send.

D: Project 863 was my project. It was a secret within Syntec, especially when things started going downhill. In every variance of every model that played out, all of my experiments failed, in one way or another. All of them, however, except one, 863. It was the only project where the subjects showed the most potential for success. It's what would end Syntec for good, what would stop Nelson for good. Don't you see? You are Project 863, all of you.

M: Why? Why us? We're supposed to stop this all? It- The company's defunct. It's gone. [Why did you pick us?] Come on! Finally just tell us.

D: Isn't it obvious? You were the only subjects sharing his crimes with the world. You were the only ones that could help me. You and your audience.

M: (deep breath) I get it now. [But were just a bunch of youtubers. Really?]

D: Oh no, you're so much more than that.

M: It doesn't even explain there's four files. [There are four files. One of them is corrupt. Who is the 4th subject?] Are we gonna get thrown around again or are you going to tell us? Who's the fourth subject. There's 4 files.

D: You've had the key to this lock for a long time.

S: What?

M: (sigh) I'm so stupid.

S: What?

M: It's who's been with us all along. Helping us every step of the way. How could I have missed this?

S: Ha.

M: It's you. Thank you. It's everyone. (sigh) They've helped us solve problems. They've found evidence that we haven't. They've drawn connections that we haven't. They've looked out for us. And we couldn't have done it without you, honestly. Why all the secrecy? Why couldn't we know? [Why all the secrecy? Why not just tell us all upfront?]

S: Yeah.

D: For the same reason why I needed you: you are sharing everything with the world. YOUR world. I recognize it's a double edge sword. I couldn't share everything with you because if I did, he would know everything. It has to be this way.

M: That's resolution, I feel like, but as much as I wanted resolution it still doesn't feel good. She couldn't have shared this with us because, she's right, we would have shared it with the audience and then he would have known and this is literally what all of you have said since the very dawn of all of this stuff is that we need to watch out what we're sharing because he's probably watching. (sigh) He's definitely watching. [It was never really about the Apple II, you planned for us to take the server online?]

D: Before I left, I didn't have the chance to complete that task. I needed you to find the server and bring it online. I needed the world to see what he's been hiding, up close and personal.

M: You could have just asked us. [Deb, you could have just asked us to bring it online?]

D: Would you have believed me? Honestly? Especially having just learned that some of the files have been modified on the server. If I told you that you were Project 863, and then denied you with all other information because I couldn't have you share the plan, I don't think you would have blindly followed me. Things would have unfolded very differently.

M: [Maybe]

D: I needed you to decide for yourselves which side you were on. I needed more than your cooperation. I needed your faith.

M: [For what purpose?] Everything's still at large. We failed.

D: Because this isn't over yet: we're not done with Syntec. I need you to keep sharing your findings with the world. Nelson Syphus is more powerful than I think you realize. Bur you, you and your team, you and your audience, I think together we might be strong enough to stop him.

M: (sigh) [Project 863 is still active?]

D: I'm afraid so.

M: [When does it end?]

D: If all goes according to plan, accounting for any preconceived hiccups along the way, the absolute date is 12.31 Y24.

M: What?

S: What?

M: 12/31 Y24. Is that 2024?

S: 3 more years?

M: We're in the beginning of this. That's almost 4 more years. That's December 31st of Y24. [4 years? what happens if it doesn't go according to plan? what will happen to us?]

D: What happens next is not about you anymore. It's much bigger than that.

M: I just want to know [Will we be safe through this? will we be okay?]

D: Is that what you need? You need to be okay? Do you really still believe in happy endings?

M: Yeah. Yeah you know what I do. [Yeah, I believe in heaven] I believe in heaven, so yeah, I do.

D: Then there is your happy ending.

S: What?

M: [Death?]

D: Your words. This life is not for happy endings. It's for impact. And it's time to make yours.

M: [What do you want us to do?]

D: The serum you've been finding scattered in your studio. We need to ensure that he doesn't find anymore of it.

M: So a scavenger hunt. [Another scavenger hunt? you want us to find it all before he does?]

D: Yes, but more importantly, I want you to find the formula before he can make any more of it.

M: The formula?

S: Wow

M: [and if we don't?] What happens then?

D: You have seen what the formula is capable of. You've seen the destruction it's caused. Imagine if there was an unlimited supply in the hands of an egotistical madman. Imagine if the rest of the world stumbled upon this compound. Do you really want to risk that?

M: [I supposed not.]

D: Then do you agree to find the remaining serum, and destroy the formula once you find it?

M: Well? Seems like we're in this too deep now.

S: Yeah, I mean...yeah.

M: Woods?

W: Yeah.

M: I'm in. Are you? [tell us how to find it]