june event.

[falsitates]

JUNE 15, 2021

The heatwave has passed and the weather has never been better. The city is full of life once again, and the streets are busy as people return outdoors to enjoy what summer has to offer. Everything appears to have returned back to normal.

For everyone, but you.

The newcomers are given an envelope that is either addressed to their current residence or placed in their belongings. There is no return address, and inside is a New York state government-issued ID. It appears to be authentic. The residents, on the other hand, receive a similar envelope, but with a SIM card. There are no other notes.

Are these your rewards?

  MISSION BOARD

Your phone vibrates.

It doesn't stop until you pick it up and when you do, it's cold. The buttons do nothing as it shuts down, unresponsive to whatever actions that you take. Then, much like last time, white lettering on a black backdrop appears.

WELCOME TO WEEK THREE.
A NEW MODULE HAS BEEN UNLOCKED.
YOU MAY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT.
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO USE IT.
AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT

A new section has been added to the app. It reads as 'missions'. There are currently three tasks available right now.

  BEGINNINGS OF A FOREST

The barrier continues to grow in size. Vitae's outskirts are gradually, but surely, expanding, and in its new area is a sea of trees. There has never been a forest surrounding the city, yet one is unmistakably forming. It's small, extending outside for less than a quarter-mile, and asides from its sudden appearance, there's nothing unusual about it. Only trees, the barrier, and the nagging feeling that someone is watching you.

Nobody in the city seems to notice. When questioned, they claim that the forest has always been there. In fact, the city was created in the heart of a forest, and it has remained that way since its inception. None of them are aware of the fact that these trees were never there until now.

It's as though the forest has always been there.

  DECISION TIME

By the end of the day, your phone vibrates again. A new message appears.

ALLY?
BETRAY?

One of the two choices must be selected. Otherwise, you won't be able to use your phone.

Make your choice.

Comments

[rightminded]

How refreshing! It seems you too noticed the issue with considering this a Prisoner's Dilemma. It has the surface appearance of the classic problem, but none of the stakes, unless they are implied by the choice itself.

As you say, there is a certain amount of danger to our familiarity. It could be bait for those of us with knowledge of game theory, when the question is instead a binary choice, or a false one, or a mind game of a totally different nature. We have no way of knowing, and it seems you all haven't been connected to this network for very long. We have next to no context to inform our decision.

If nothing else, it is a devilishly clever way to sow paranoia! That may be the intent in and of itself, more so than the outcome of the poll.

[cislunar]

What an excitedly paranoid thing to say.

If the question is meant to be productive, it could color their choice of missions in the future. If their audience is the type to choose ally, why not add in some things that will test their selfishness? If their audience is the type to choose betray, push them to throw aside their instinct and sense of self-preservation? If that's the case, I respect their intent.

Or they could just be enjoying our thoughts on what is the equivalent of a meme.

Regardless, I don't believe I caught the answer to your own question, Goro. With how much careful thought you put into this, I'm inclined to believe you chose Betray. However, with your willingness to assist... You could simply be a meticulous Ally. What would you like me to believe you chose?

[rightminded]

I prefer to see it as cautious. For myself, I'd rather see everyone remain calm.

You present an interesting point. No matter our choice, it's likely the creator of the poll will benefit in some way simply from seeing our reactions. Then, perhaps observation is at the core of this little experiment. As you say, "enjoying our thoughts."

As the purpose of this choice remains so unclear, I'll have you believe the truth: I chose betray out of an overabundance of caution.

[cislunar]

Excellent. I'll gladly fall into your truth, since you're much more interesting that way. For now, you'll be the helpful detective who would like to see me calm, but also admits to me so easily that he chose what could be a rather unsettling option.

As we've gotten to know each other a little, allow me to pose a less vague, uncertain question. How are you finding Vitae, my fellow traitor?

[rightminded]

You said yourself you picked betray, after all. Are we not compatriots in thought, or at least in spirit? And of course, I feel no shame in admitting to a rational decision.

Pleasant, so far. There is certainly no lack of interesting company.

[cislunar]

Ahaha. Well, you shouldn't feel any shame in that, it's true. But if you're as cautious as you say, we might come at odds with each other now and again.

Though... that isn't a bad thing. It's another exciting thing to add to our abundance of exciting things -- disagreements despite how we might come to the same conclusion, this application, the novel company we're coming to know.