ONCE AGAIN TO WALK ON BERNERS-LEE'S GREAT GREEN INTERNET

[will_be_god]

Who: Cyrus, whoever else
What: COMPOOTERS
Where: COMPOOTER LAB
When: Weekend of 6th/7th


A message was posted around the dorms. The only thing that would draw the eye to the unremarkable-looking pages was that they seemed to be...printed. From a printer.

Anyone reading it would find that it read thus:
I am near to establishing computer connectivity and require aid in remote connectivity testing. That said, the computer lab is now open.

It wasn't signed. It wasn't dated. But surely that wouldn't be noticeable once people read "computer".

Comments

[megabuster]

Rock had no idea HOW whoever left this message did what they said they had done, but if it were true, perhaps that meant he could contact Dr. Light... He had to know, one way or the other. So he went to the lab as the notice suggested. He didn't know who it was, but how bad could it be?

[will_be_god]

Well it involved Cyrus, but that wasn't as bad as it used to be.

The man was engaged in typing something, but he glanced up briefly as Rock entered.

[megabuster]

"Cyrus?" he asked as he arrived and caught sight of him. "You're the one who left that message? You got the computers working?"

[will_be_god]

"I am." It required restarting the generator and tinkering with every computer individually. They ran the gamut from the latest technology--the one Cyrus had taken for himself--to machines that were older than Cyrus himself.

"I am in the process of establishing connectivity. While it will take some time to establish an internet--or more precisely an ARPAnet--we will be able to communicate between computers at that point. That is why I require assistance."

And a robot may be the perfect person for the job.

[megabuster]

"I didn't think any of this stuff actually worked anymore... That's really impressive!" Rock replied looking over the computer that Cyrus sat at. It was a bit of a hack job, to be sure, but the results spoke for themselves.

"Well... I'll do whatever I can to help," he replied. If he'd come this far, then Rock was more than willing to help in any way he could.

[will_be_god]

"It may be fortune that you were the first to answer the call," Cyrus mused. "Do you believe you are capable of running a test on your own connectivity?"

[megabuster]

"Well, yeah," Rock answered, shrugging. "I can perform self-diagnostics easily enough, but my comm system hasn't worked properly since we arrived at the mansion. Why? What do you need me to do?" he asked.

[will_be_god]

"I wish you to attempt to get online. You are capable of doing so internally, yes?" Cyrus looked at his computer. "I have posted a message for the campus once we are able to connect en masse. Go anywhere on the grounds and attempt to read it."

[megabuster]

"Assuming my comm equipment is even compatible with the infrastructure in the mansion," Rock said. "Even so, I need to know the connection details. Do we have a wireless connection?"

[will_be_god]

"That is what I wish to test. I am able to send messages between these computers, so we do in a limited capacity. However, I must know the distance in order to adjust this properly."

[megabuster]

"Well, I'll definitely try," he said. "Just give me the SSID and security credentials and I'll give it a shot!"

[will_be_god]

Cyrus handed him a piece of paper. "Here are the necessary specs. I trust you will be able to use them properly."

[megabuster]

"All right, let's see..." Rock took the paper and started to read it. His eyes twitched back and forth as he attempted to reconfigure his comm systems to connect to the network information Cyrus provided him. "I think... I'm having trouble maintaining a stable connection... Are the antennas receiving enough power?" he asked.

[will_be_god]

Cyrus checked under the desk and followed a cable up to a dish by the window. "They ought to be. I am implementing a low-power system, as I had to reconfigure the generator, but this ought to be more than sufficient to cover the building and surrounding area."

[megabuster]

"Well, let me get further away and try to send you a message," Rock said, waving as he ran out of the room.

He started to wander the halls, attempting to establish a signal. Spotty connections were cropping up most of the places he tried indoors. Outdoors he had a little more luck maintaining a stable connection... For at least an hour he just walked the halls, checking his connection over and over again. He must have looked crazy doing it... But at least he could bring some valuable data back.

when he returned to the lab, he said, "You may need to rig up a few more antennas... I think they're having trouble getting through the walls."

[will_be_god]

"Very well. I trust you are able to show me the optimal spots." Cyrus untangled some wires from a handful of antennae. "Will these do?"

[megabuster]

"I guess we'll find out," Rock said, nodding. "So... If you don't mind my asking, do you think we'll actually be able to communicate with any other worlds like this?" he asked, hopefully. He wanted to let Dr. Light know he was okay so badly. He worried so much...

[will_be_god]

"For now, I am focusing my efforts on this one. To communicate elsewhere would require a compatible receiver there."

[megabuster]

"Do you think... Do you think it'd be possible to actually get a signal to any other world?" he asked again. He wanted someone, ANYONE, to tell him he might be able to see his family again.

[will_be_god]

It was possible, Cyrus reasoned, but something like that would be a long way off. "Eventually, though we must focus on this for the time being."

[megabuster]

"Yeah... Yeah, I suppose so," Rock answered. "Come on, I'll show you where they need to go."

[will_be_god]

Cyrus followed, setting aside the cords.