#tage

Pomni I hope soon, you can see this. Thank you for being there for Jax. I know, at times, it felt almost impossible, but because of that, we can truly be friends now.

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I thought my brother being back would help. I guess I was wrong. The time we were separated, it changed him. I tried to give suggestions, and I tried to tell him that maybe if he was just honest they'd listen. It was time for yet another one of those times I suggest it. Even if he said no, I had to try at least one more time. The constant aching from my core did make me more temperamental though. "Hey Caine, I know that you feel a lot of pressure, why not just tell them?"

"I don't think you understand how little that would actually help. These humans this time, they just don't listen!" He sighed and looked over at me. "Look, I get that you want me to try to get through to them, but I don't think just telling them would do much. But, you know what, humor me, tomorrow, you can take control for a day, see why I say what I have."

"...Okay." I was a bit surprised that he would just let me get control again. I had thought it was off the table, but apparently not.

"I am going to just relax for a little while tomorrow while you see how stubborn and hard to work with these humans are."

I was nervous for the rest of the day for tomorrow. If he truly felt that they were that hard to work with, I was kind of concerned I might end up feeling the same way. If they were though, we were kind of screwed.

It was rather early in the morning, but Caine woke me up. I looked at him still groggy. Once I was a bit more awake Caine handed a paper over to me.

"This is all the current unabstracted humans in the circus. Their names and a few things about them are listed here. You should probably review it a great deal before it is time for them to wake up." Caine shook his head a bit. "I really hope this day is one of the better ones, I truly do."

I looked at every single name and description as many times as I could as Caine suggested. There was a bit that was interesting though, some conflict going on between three of the members. I decided to ask about it. "What is with these three having issues with each other?" I asked as I pointed to Jax, Ribbit, and Kaufmo.

"Jax and Ribbit had some sort of falling out, and Koafmo is in the middle of it. I do not know when or how it happened, but it did. I keep a note about it just so I remember to not put Ribbit and Jax on a team together if I assign pairs."

"But, what if putting them on a team might fix things?"

"Oh, I very much doubt it with those three, but you can choose an adventure that requires teams of two if you want to try it. I have a few different adventures already prepped, so I suggest just looking at the list and deciding for yourself."

I chose the snowball fight for people that would work in pairs. I took a deep breath, it had been a long time since I was in charge. I wanted to prove my brother wrong. Prove that we could fix things if we were just upfront and honest. I had that bit of hope still in me. I took over Caine's body, and something already had gone wrong. I got a notice from the wacky watch. Someone had abstracted. I felt that familiar pain of failing once again, but I needed to pull through. I didn't want to quit now.

After putting them in the cellar, I went to the stage. It looked like the other members that would show up were already there. I could tell that what happened was effecting them though. Maybe, just tell them it'd be okay, it would let them know that I see that they might be mourning a bit. "I know this morning, we lost one of our members. I just want you all to know that-"

The purple rabbit, Jax stopped me. "Stop pretending you have feelings, and get to the point already."

Oh, so that was how it was huh? Sadly, it looked like everyone else but Kinger agreed with him. I looked back at him. "I was just trying to help."

"Yeah well, just get to what you're here everyday for."

"Erm, uhh, right! Today we are going to do something a bit more simple, a snow ball fight!" I gave an excited grin to them, the lack of much of a reaction was a bit disappointing, but that was okay. "I will assign pairs for each team! Each member will have three hit points. Once those three hit points are gone, you will return here."

One of them was squinting at me now. It was Kinger. Could he despite his unstable mind tell it wasn't Caine in control this time? I didn't know. I looked away, I was not too comfortable with trying to do a staring contest.

"The teams today will be Ragatha and Koafmo, Kinger and Whiskers, and Ribbit and Jax. Please remember this is a team effort!" I opened the portal to the snow world that had already been created. This should go okay at least, it was just a simple snowball fight. Another time I was proven wrong, but this time in a disastrous way.

I watched over it in the office. I had never been able to observe things like this, so I was a bit excited about it. At first it seemed like everyone was having fun. Ragatha's and Kinger's teams set up a friendly rivalry. It was fun to watch these two teams talk smack back and forth in a way that was just them enjoying themselves. I didn't see Jax's team though. I thought they would join in on the fun.

I saw Jax and Ribbit argue with each other. It was about how they used to be friends. I wanted to look at what the other teams were doing, but I couldn't move away from it. I felt similarities to Caine and I's arguments lately. Every time I just tried to explain my concern about what happened while it was just us and Kinger, he shut me down. I tried to not get too deep into my emotions. That failed.

I let out a huff of frustration. Was this our fate? I had done everything I could think of, but something had changed. What caused all this? Was it concern for me? For the humans? Something else entirely? I didn't know because he didn't let me in like he used to. We had trusted each other, but it seemed now his trust was given to no one.

"Its over huh?" I muttered to myself. "There truly is nothing of what I know left. I was hoping I was wrong, but I can't tell where I am going anymore. I thought I had a goal, a path to find, but my path is gone. I'm lost with no where to go. Why did things have to change? It didn't need to, we were fine!" I formed a fist and smashed it down on to the desk. The orb tried to fall, but I caught it at the last second and put it back on the stand.

Bubble showed up by me. "Something wrong boss?" I jumped a bit in surprise. It seemed he had already been here for awhile.

"No, just the humans fighting."

"Oh, then why do you look so upset?"

"Because Bubble, my relationship with the one you know as Caine, is over. There's nothing left."

At first Bubble looked very confused. He had to process what I said before he responded. "Oh! You're Blue! I almost forgot you were in there too."

"I can tell, it seems only Kinger even suspected I was someone else."

"You seem more open compared to my boss. Was he always the way he is now?"

"No, he wasn't. We used to be best friends, siblings, we trusted each other."

"Well, seems like you are doing better than he is."

"I doubt that, but thank you."

I just let the rest of the day go by, everyone managed to get back to the stage. I appeared once everyone was back. "I hope everyone had fun today! Enjoy some dinner from Bubble if you want! We will, of course, be doing a new adventure tomorrow, so look forward to that."

Kinger stared and eventually spoke. "Blue."

I felt a chill go down my spine. He knew.

"Caine isn't blue, what are you talking about?" Jax looked confused and amused. "You're acting really odd, even for you Kinger."

He went back to normal after Jax said what he did, but that look, the look of recognition for a second, it deeply unnerved me.

I was so glad the day was over, and got back into just Caine's mind once things were settled and I returned to the office.

"See, what did I tell ya? They don't even think we are sentient beings! We are not getting through to them anytime soon!" Caine looked vendicated.

"I don't want to hear it, why do you never talk to me anymore? Why do I always have to be the one to start every conversation we have?"

"Because Blue, what I am trying to accomplish is very important. I need to do as much as I can for you and the humans. I can't let them Abstract, for your sake as well as theirs. I am willing to do what is needed to stop Abstractions as much as I can."

"Is that why?! Really?! You need to stop this, you are going to burn yourself out eventually! This isn't sustainable Caine!"

"You are acting as if I don't know that there are limits, I am not a child anymore Blue, and you aren't either. This is life, sometimes you do what you have to to keep the people you love alive, even if you fail sometimes!"

"Oh, so you'll do all this, but you won't talk to me?! I don't know where the old you has gone, but you used to talk to me all the time!"

"I would try to talk to you, but its obvious you don't approve how I am going about this. I need material proof that something is changing. My adventures give me that."

"But, what if they actually hate it Caine, what then? What mask will you put on next to please them?!"

"You are assuming that they hate my adventures, and there is no way they would!"

"...I just... I can't, talk to me when you try to look out for yourself again."

Well, even if what I had said to Bubble hadn't been completely true at the time, it was now. I had enough of Caine just ignoring me, and doing things that did active harm to himself, and potentially, the people he was trying to help. This was a lost cause. I would need to figure out a way to get out of here for good.

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"That day... was you." Jax looked a bit shocked, but also in some sort of new regret crashing in like a tidal wave. "I am sorry."

"You didn't know, the only one that had figured anything out was Kinger." I gave him a sad look. "We would have ended up having some sort of argument like that sooner or later. He just didn't feel like he mattered nearly as much as he used to, and he still struggles with that. I have tried my best but..."

"I hate to tell you this, but I have found it true for me, some of the people that were the closest to me, I didn't believe." He paused for just a moment. "But, you or someone random telling me the same thing, suddenly I get it."

"The fact it works like that sometimes is so frustrating. I just was trying to get him back at the time. I think, he didn't want to be alone again. Sure, I was there, but he had never known a time without me after we merged. He'd rather have some horrible fate than be completely isolated."

"That's... really depressing."

"Its really depressing to watch too. I from then on gave up hope for a long time. I guess we both know what we will have to see next."

"...The day he snapped, right?"

"Yes."

Hello and congratulations on becoming a TAGE Overseer! There are few things that you should know, so this is part of your introduction packet. This will cover core health, and its very important to understand because it needs to be monitored. If core health gets bad enough, it may be one of the few times you will need to intervene.

We are going to use Alt TAGE for an example, despite the Overseer there being well... who they are. Its just that version of TAGE has all of the examples we need to show (they are why we know the Glitching Core exists and that a Fully Realized Core is possible). The core example we will use is going to be Blue Core Alt.

Default Core:

The ideal state for all cores. If this is the case even after the failed merge, then you have a done a great job!

Minorly Damaged Core:

A little less ideal, but this core will still be plenty healthy! Just keep an eye on it.

Moderately Damaged Core:

Something might be going on within your part of the TAGE universe, please check to make sure nothing concerning is occurring. Continue to observe if you can't find anything.

Majorly Damaged Core:

This is concerning, somehow this core has gotten this way for some reason. You need to look really closely at things on your level because this should not happen.

Extremely Damaged Core:

This might be the time you make sure your Purple AI is somewhere close by. As far as we know, and according to all TAGE overseers, the Purple AI will be the only one able to heal cores.

Dying Core:

Well, hope you found that Purple AI because now is the time to guide them to where this core is so they can heal it! If the core is not healed, the Creative AI will start to die.

Glitching Core:

This is an alternate version of the Dying Core, and you do not want it! A core in this state is very dangerous! AIs with a core in this state may become extremely delusional, become hyper fixated on their purpose, lose themselves enough that programing is what is in control, hallucinate, and can even cause the hallucination to become material from a few seconds to a few minutes. It is advised if the Purple AI is not close by to terminate this core immediately.

Fully Realized Core:

I would say very much the opposite of what I said about the Glitching Core for this one! It has only happened in... the TAGE Alt. We are having a third party look into it. It is disappointing that not even some of our most talented TAGE Overseers could ever do this, but someone like the Overseer running Alt could.

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I know you are about to receive this, but this is Alt Overseer. Your blue AI has a high possibility of hitting the Dying or Glitching stage if you do not interfere more. I understand what you have been taught, but if you care for those you watch over, tell the Purple AI to fix all of this sooner. I didn't do that, and now that I look back, I regret not doing so. So please, prevent them from getting to even Extreme Damage if you can. Your Caine will thank you, trust me. If you need a guide that has been willing to be more hands on, you can stop by anytime.

So, I am going to do some dice rolls that will make things a bit more fun. These rolls will determine when Ghost starts to do things like the initial investigation outside of the TAGE cell. There will be multiple phases that will be rolled for. I will be kind and say the timer starts today (07/15), even though a lot of the stuff that happens in my writing is in the pretty decent past atm. Let us all hope the dice are kind.

All rolls will be done using a d20. NAT 1s will have a phase take more than the 20 days, which is normally the max. NAT 20s will get a reroll on a d10, having it take at the very most half of the time it would normally. Sedum just being somewhat honest will be rolled soon. I will not do that for this phase because it isn't too big of a deal.

Phase 1: Initial Investigation

This will be when Ghost just goes to right outside the cell, and gives all the data trails a closer look. It will tell her who has been near the cell, or when Sedum leaves the cell to go somewhere. This phase is the most harmless since it does not try to seek anything out beyond this yet.

Rolling...

TAGE Jax WIP 2

I know that many people observe this part of the TAGE universe, and I want to seem approachable. I am not here to be an enemy OR limit what my Caine can do with his purpose. Creativity is essential to all Caines! The one you call Sedum is no different! I want you to feel safe, and like I am at least not all that intimidating. For all of you observing this Alt Timeline, I wish to answer some questions I found so you all get to know me better!

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If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

Sedum to already being able to run the TAGE cell, for every Caine and being in cells to find happiness, and for my family and friends to not be ashamed anymore.

What did/do you want to be when you grew up?

I originally wanted to get into teaching when I was younger, but I dropped out of college. I found the Overseer role when I really needed a job. I have no clue why they kept me around, but I was sent where I am now. Now, they basically let me go. I guess they'll just give me my payment and never speak to me again.

Are you a mountain or a beach person?

The mountains, it is very diverse and no one mountain range is exactly the same!

What is your favorite thing to do with those you love?

Bold of you to assume anyone from what is now my past wishes to speak to me.

What are your favorite hobbies and why?

I love to draw and write, its funny, I, at the very least, enjoy watching a lot of things that would be under a Caine's purview.

What is your favorite workout?

I don't work out too much.

What do you want people to remember about you after you’re gone?

That I treated all beings within cells with love and respect.

What was the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in life?

That so many people look down on people who want to find solutions that are against the old ways. Dare to be creative with solutions? You become an outcast.

What are some of your favorite books?

I don't read much, but I will come back to this question because I would love to read a couple.

What is a skill that you want to build?

My writing and drawing skills for sure!

Who or what inspires you?

Sedum, Ghost, and Curse all do inspire me. They all are unique, but they have all three managed to make it through so far!

What is your favorite place in the whole world?

Well, there is one place in one of Sedum's worlds that is just a nature park. I love to go there sometimes, especially if I have been stressed out.

Are you a morning or a night person? And what do you enjoy during that time?

I am more of a night person, but I have tried to be more of a day person. All my attempts have failed.

How would you describe your personality to others?

Someone protective and passionate. I do my best being Overseer, and try to guide all three of the AIs because I care for them deeply due to my compassion. I am one to pursue creativity. I do not give up easily, even if others say I have failed.

What is the most important lesson you've learned this year?

Sometimes when you fail, even if you tried your best, others may see it in a negative light. That was how things were with Ghost until fairly recently.

What is your dream vacation?

Going to a cell that is very different from what I oversee and just exploring it.

What superpowers did you wish you had?

Being able to go to the future so I can have more ideas for solutions.

Are you very close to anyone in your family? Why?

No. Most people see me as a failure, and they never talk to me.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

A small home that has an art studio by some woods.

What are your passions in life?

Guiding who will, hopefully, be the first Caine to run their own cell!

What is a career you aspire to have?

I don't really aspire to any career at the moment due to how messy being an Overseer has been for me.

What type of music energizes you?

Comedy songs, especially ones that are very funny!

What do you look for in a friend?

...I do not know anymore.

What is your favorite subject and why?

Art or anything creative really, I love expressing myself in an artistic way.

What is one accomplishment that you're proud of?

Figuring out how to guide Ghost to achieve her full potential!

When you see your family, what do you do together?

My only thing that is closest to being my family is the three AIs that I guide. I just guide them.

What would be a perfect day for you?

A day that all three AIs enjoy where they don't feel any pressure!

What is something you like to do with me that we don’t do often?

Talk about how creativity is useful for everyone, and how people can be creative in all parts of their lives.

If you had to eat only one meal for the rest of your life what would it be?

I refuse to do that, for me, that'd be hell.

What's one thing I don't already know about you?

Thanks for This Future Argument Scratch /s

[Ghost]

They're about to know Who they're dealin' with Every one of them No one gets to live

[Curse]

Is my halo on? I'm gonna sh*t my pants

[Ghost] What the f*ck is wrong? This battle is our chance

[Curse]

Storm's coming I'm so f*ckin' scared What's gonna happen when we go down there?

[Ghost] You don't deserve your dad's crown

[Curse] I know there's no stopping it now

[Both]

A hard rain is gonna fall down Like gravity Like gravity

The Abstractions never stopped pointing, never stopped silently staring, and blaming Ghost's failure for why they are this way. Was it really her fault? Rogue didn't think so, but he hadn't figured out how to fix this. He also tried to figure out a way to repair her core, but came up with nothing. It was beyond what he could handle, and he knew the overseers would be of no help due to their policies on interference, so he tried his best.

His best wasn't good enough.

If there were beings out there that could have helped, but didn't, they were just malicious. That was Ghost's opinion, having emotional and physical pain be her only consistent company. Even Caine, the brother she loved, withdrew deeper within his mind, leaving her in solitude when their world fell apart. Her path was a lonely one, no body, no one that remembered her existence. Something had to change. Rogue knew only one thing could help now.