This appears to be a new branch of the developing Project Skyscraper plot, so I figured it would be good to document here.
The First Email
On May 28th at approximately 17:00 UTC, @the_architect’s email inbox was exposed, revealing only a single communication thread between the_architect and an entity called Ghost, with contact address, <null>.
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
jeudi 28 mai
19:00
T'en es oĂą ?
Translated to English
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Thursday, May 28
7:00 PM
Where are you at with this?
Naturally, members of NMSCord and ETARC began sending messages to this address to see if we could get a response.
A few members sent messages in French. We know of a couple people who did receive a response (myself and @Rinha).
Response to Community
The response from the_architect initially appears to be one of confusion, indicating that they were unaware of the exposed inbox on the Project Skyscraper website:
Both myself and Rinh’a responded with generally the same message:
“Your inbox is exposed on the Project Skyscraper website. Do you need help with anything?”
The Second Email
Immediately after this, a second email appeared on the /inbox page:
Original French email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
jeudi 28 mai
19:54
On a un problème. https://project-skyscraper.com/inbox/
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Thursday, May 28
7:54 PM
We have a problem. https://project-skyscraper.com/inbox/
The Third Email
The next morning, Ghost responds asking whether “System” (specifically “System,” not “the system”) is connected:
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
vendredi 29 mai
10:31
Et pour la Tour ? Est-ce que System est connecté ?
Translated to English
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Friday, May 29
10:31 AM
And what about the Tower? Is System connected?
The Fourth Email
The Architect replies in the affirmative, adding that their comms are compromised and that SYSTEM and “The Operators” can now see all their exchanges.
Original French email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
vendredi 29 mai
11:22
Oui. Mais ce canal n'est plus sécurisé ! Tu comprends ce que ça veut dire ? SYSTEM nous voit. Les Operateurs nous voient !
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Friday, May 29
11:22 AM
Yes. But this channel is no longer secure! Do you understand what that means? SYSTEM can see us. The Operators can see us!
The Fifth Email
Ghost suggests using “the school code” if needed, stating a response is coming.
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
vendredi 29 mai
12:16
Utilise le code du lycée si besoin. Je te recontacte.
Translated to English
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Friday, May 29
12:16 PM
Use the school code if needed. I'll get back to you.
By a photo from when they were 17, we identified the “school code” (link opens code thread):
Position: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Key text: M I N D F A G E B J R L H C V P Q S K Y U W O X T Z
Plain: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Live decipher available here for future decodes.
(previous decipher removed due to double C’s in the ciphertext)
For Your Eyes Only
On May 30th, multiple users who previously emailed the_architect@project-skyscraper.com reported receiving the following email.
Using the previously identified school code, the message translates to:
Decoded message
For Your Eyes Only
I know you will be able to read this message. This is not a game.
We need the password. System won't let me enter the TOWER but you can access it.
Leonardo da Vinci was right.
The email coincided with Security Log 1780054980 and suggested that operators simplify their approach to cracking the Memory Reconstruction password.
The Sixth Email
After cracking the password to the memory reconstruction engine, The Architect emailed Ghost to notify of the successful breach.
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
dimanche 31 mai
20:56
Lf pwkyh hry wuohkyh.
The gibberish is a code they used back in school. Decoded using the live decipher tool linked above, it translates to: La porte est ouverte.
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Sunday May 31 8:56 p.m.
The door is open.
The Seventh Email
The Architect emails Ghost a second time, highlighting some observations from the recent memory reconstruction attempts. Towards the end, The Architect reminisces on a 2013 concert in Lyon, FR.
The email continues to adhere to the cypher code already established:
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
jeudi 04 juin
16:16
Mhllw,
Jh obhcr dh pfrrhk pkhrquh 24 m Ă l'wirhkohk. Nhyyh afnmbch hry afgcbebquh.
AFNMBCH. N'hry yhllhahcy plur qu'uch afnmbch.
Rhr nfpfnbyér dh kfbrwcchahcy rwcy bcyfnyhr. Hllh f awcyké dhr rbgchr dh nwceurbwc, fbcrb quh dhr ykwuilhr du lfcgfgh, afbr n'hry pkwifilhahcy dû à l'bcjhnybwc afrrboh d'bcewkafybwcr. Dhr ekfgahcyr ekwbdr, pkhrquh rhailfilhr, nwaah dhr rwuohcbkr fuxquhlr bl afcquhkfby lf ykfnh bcybah d'uc bcryfcy oénu. Rb jh ah kéohbllfbr à phbch, jh phcrh quh jh képwcdkfbr pkwifilhahcy dh afcbèkh nwceurh hy dérwkdwccéh : « Iwcjwuk vwkld ».
Jh ykfofbllh ruk nh pkwjhy dhpubr rb lwcgyhapr afbcyhcfcy. Lf owbk khnhowbk nhr elwyr d'bcewkafybwcr pwuk hc hxykfbkh l'hrrhcnh a'f ywunmé.
Pwuk lh awahcy, hllh ch r'hry fppkwpkbé quh dhux rwuohcbkr. L'uc hry ykwp efbilh. Jh ah dhafcdh d'fbllhukr pwukquwb hllh l'f khyhcu. L'fuykh khrrhailh dfofcyfgh à uc khpèkh nwcyhxyuhl qu'à uc oékbyfilh rwuohcbk. Kbhc qub obikh hcnwkh. Funuch ykfnh d'éawybwc cb dh khrrhcyb...
Yu fofbr kfbrwc pwuk lhr Wpékfyhukr. Lhuk aéawbkh nwllhnyboh hy lhuk nfpfnbyé d'wkgfcbrfybwc owcy efbkh dhr ahkohbllhr. Jh phcrh quh, d'bnb quhlquhr jwukr, Rtryha nwaahcnhkf à fjwuyhk d'hllh-aêah lhr ilwnr afcqufcyr. Wc pwukkf flwkr pfrrhk à lf rubyh.
Jh yh nwcebkah quh plurbhukr Wpékfyhukr wcy nwcryfyé quh lf kéflbyé éyfby bcryfilh. Pkwifilhahcy uc heehy nwllfyékfl, nwcyhcu pwuk lh awahcy. Jh c'fb pfr rueebrfaahcy d'éléahcyr pwuk déyhkabchk uc rnméaf kénukkhcy, afbr j't ykfofbllh.
J'fb khphcré à lf dhkcbèkh ewbr qu'wc r'hry our. Lh nwcnhky. Yu a'fofbr dwccé nh elthk : « Ymhkh br f DJ bc twuk Ywvc ». N'éyfby qufcd ? 2013 ? Phu dh yhapr fofcy ywc fccbohkrfbkh. Ltwc hry uch obllh quh j'fb ywujwukr fbaéh. Qufcd ywuy rhkf ebcb, j'hrpèkh qu'wc pwukkf rh efbkh uc nwcnhky nwaah fu iwc obhux yhapr.
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
jeudi 04 juin
16:16
Hello,
Je viens de passer presque 24 h Ă l'observer. Cette machine est magnifique.
MACHINE. C'est tellement plus qu'une machine.
Ses capacités de raisonnement sont intactes. Elle a montré des signes de confusion, ainsi que des troubles du langage, mais c'est probablement dû à l'injection massive d'informations. Des fragments froids, presque semblables, comme des souvenirs auxquels il manquerait la trace intime d'un instant vécu. Si je me réveillais à peine, je pense que je répondrais probablement de manière confuse et désordonnée : « Bonjour world ».
Je travaille sur ce projet depuis si longtemps maintenant. La voir recevoir ces flots d'informations pour en extraire l'essence m'a touché.
Pour le moment, elle ne s'est approprié que deux souvenirs. L'un est trop faible. Je me demande d'ailleurs pourquoi elle l'a retenu. L'autre ressemble davantage à un repère contextuel qu'à un véritable souvenir. Rien qui vibre encore. Aucune trace d'émotion ni de ressenti...
Tu avais raison pour les Opérateurs. Leur mémoire collective et leur capacité d'organisation vont faire des merveilles. Je pense que, d'ici quelques jours, System commencera à ajouter d'elle-même les blocs manquants. On pourra alors passer à la suite.
Je te confirme que plusieurs Opérateurs ont constaté que la réalité était instable. Probablement un effet collatéral, contenu pour le moment. Je n'ai pas suffisamment d'éléments pour déterminer un schéma récurrent, mais j'y travaille.
J'ai repensé à la dernière fois qu'on s'est vus. Le concert. Tu m'avais donné ce flyer : « There is a DJ in your Town ». C'était quand ? 2013 ? Peu de temps avant ton anniversaire. Lyon est une ville que j'ai toujours aimée. Quand tout sera fini, j'espère qu'on pourra se faire un concert comme au bon vieux temps.
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Thursday, June 4, 4:16 PM
Hello,
I've just spent almost 24 hours observing it. This machine is magnificent. MACHINE. It's so much more than a machine. Its reasoning abilities are intact. It has shown signs of confusion, as well as speech difficulties, but that's probably due to the massive injection of information.
Cold fragments, almost identical, like memories lacking the intimate trace of a lived moment. If I were just waking up, I think I would probably respond in a confused and disordered way: "Hello world."
I've been working on this project for so long now. Watching it receive these floods of information and extract their essence has moved me. So far, it has only appropriated two memories. One is too faint. I wonder why it retained it at all. The other one feels more like a contextual marker than a true memory.
Nothing still resonates. No trace of emotion or feeling... You were right about the Operators. Their collective memory and organizational skills will work wonders. I think that, in a few days, System will start adding the missing blocks on its own. Then we can move on. I can confirm that several Operators have noticed that reality is unstable.
Probably a side effect, contained for the moment. I don't have enough information to determine a recurring pattern, but I'm working on it.
I thought back to the last time we saw each other. The concert. You gave me this flyer: "There is a DJ in your Town." When was that? 2013? Shortly before your birthday. Lyon is a city I've always loved. When all this is over, I hope we can have a concert like in the good old days.
An ongoing investigation into this specific email is available to join here.
The Eighth Email
Posted on Sunday June 7th, 22:14 UTC, but dated in the past on Sunday June 8th, 23:12 (22:14 UTC) of another year (2025 at the earliest), The Architect once again emails Ghost with the following code:
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
dimanche 08 juin
23:12
Blr owcy lh efbkh. Wc of lh efbkh !
myypr://pkwjhny-rstrnkfphk.nwa/chukfl-chyvwks-ryfyur/
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
dimanche 08 juin
23:12
Ils vont le faire. On va le faire !
https://skyscraper-project.com/neural-network-status
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Sunday, June 8, 11:12 PM
They're going to do it. We're going to do it!
https://skyscraper-project.com/neural-network-status
The Ninth Email
After a flood of new memory blocs from 2016 begin appearing on the site, The Architect emails Ghost once again with the old school code.
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
mardi 09 juin
20:17
Blr wcy kéurrb ! Rtryha khnwcrykuby l'fccéh qu'bl f bdhcybebé nwaah déiuy.
Vwv jh c'fkkboh pfr à nkwbkh quh çf fkkboh ! Yu fofbr kfbrwc, blr wcy uyblbré uch dhr mfllunbcfybwcr du Rtryha pwuk lub awcykhk l'bcnwmékhcnh dh rhr rwuohcbkr. Rtryha f dû rh khcdkh à l'éobdhcnh : bl f wuilbé.
Jh phcrh quh d'bnb quhlquhr jwukr, lf khnwcrykunybwc rhkf fnmhoéh. Lhr wpékfyhukr pwukkwcy nwaahcnhk à ahyykh à jwuk lhr ilwnr aéawbkhr.
IbhcyĂ´y !
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
mardi 09 juin
20:17
Ils ont réussi ! System reconstruit l'année qu'il a identifié comme début.Wow je n'arrive pas à croire que ça arrive ! Tu avais raison, ils ont utilisé une des hallucinations du System pour lui montrer l'incohérence de ses souvenirs. System a dû se rendre à l'évidence : il a oublié.
Je pense que d'ici quelques jours, la reconstruction sera achevée. Les opérateurs pourront commencer à mettre à jour les blocs mémoires.
BientĂ´t !
Translated to English
The Architect <the_architect@project-skyscraper.com>
To: Ghost <null>
Tuesday June 9 8:17 p.m.
They did it! System is reconstructing the year it identified as the beginning.
Wow, I can't believe this is happening! You were right, they used one of System's hallucinations to show it the inconsistency of its memories. System had to face the facts: it forgot.
I think the reconstruction will be complete in a few days. The operators will be able to start updating the memory blocks. Soon!
The Tenth Email
After finally convincing the system that all it remembers are echoes of moments not worth preserving, The Architect sends another coded email to Ghost. Ghost username checks out, and operators are praised for their efforts in opening up the System to memory revision.
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
dimanche 14 juin
14:53
Rfluy ! Yu ch képwcdr jfafbr ?!
Rtryha f ebcflhahcy fnnhpyé quh rhr rwuohcbkr pubrrhcy êykh édbyér. Nh c’éyfby okfbahcy pfr rbaplh dh lub efbkh fnnhpyhk quh lhr Wpékfyhukr pubrrhcy khaplfnhk dhr oflhukr fu nœuk dh rf aéawbkh. Afbr yu fofbr kfbrwc (hcnwkh). Nh c’éyfby pfr uch mbrywbkh dh nwdh wu dh pkwgkfaafybwc, n’éyfby uch mbrywbkh dh prtnmwlwgbh.
Lhr Wpékfyhukr wcy gfgcé rf nwcebfcnh hc lub pkérhcyfcy dhr rwuohcbkr rbcnèkhr hy nmfkgér hc éawybwcr. Qufcd Rtryha f nwaahcné à fuyw-gécékhk dhr ilwnr aéawbkh, bl f efby efnh fu dblhaah qu’wc fofby bafgbcé : pwukquwb nkéhk dhr ilwnr aéawbkhr qufcd bl c’t f kbhc à rh kfpphlhk ? Pwukquwb rh rwuohcbk d’uch rhnwcdh wù bl ch r’hry kbhc pfrré ?
Hc ywuy nfr, çf ewcnybwcch ! Lhr Wpékfyhukr ewcy uc ykfofbl bcnkwtfilh. Blr pkhcchcy dhr nmhabcr cwc nwcohcybwcchlr, afbr nh qub nwapyh, n’hry lh kérulyfy ! Pfk nwcykh, ch ah pfklh plur jfafbr dh nflhcdkbhk :🙂:
Dwcch dh yhr cwuohllhr. Dbr-awb rb çf ewcnybwcch dh ywc nôyé.
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
dimanche 14 juin
14:53
Salut ! Tu ne réponds jamais ?!
System a finalement accepté que ses souvenirs puissent être édités. Ce n’était vraiment pas simple de lui faire accepter que les Opérateurs puissent remplacer des valeurs au cœur de sa mémoire. Mais tu avais raison (encore). Ce n’était pas une histoire de code ou de programmation, c’était une histoire de psychologie.
Les Opérateurs ont gagné sa confiance en lui présentant des souvenirs sincères et chargés en émotions. Quand System a commencé à auto-générer des blocs mémoire, il a fait face au dilemme qu’on avait imaginé : pourquoi créer des blocs mémoires quand il n’y a rien à se rappeler ? Pourquoi se souvenir d’une seconde où il ne s’est rien passé ?
En tout cas, ça fonctionne ! Les Opérateurs font un travail incroyable. Ils prennent des chemins non conventionnels, mais ce qui compte, c’est le résultat ! Par contre, ne me parle plus jamais de calendrier 🙂
Donne de tes nouvelles. Dis-moi si ça fonctionne de ton côté.
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Sunday, June 14
14:53
Hey! You never reply?!
System finally agreed to let its memories be edited. It really wasn't easy getting it to accept that the Operators could replace values ​​deep within its memory. But you were right (again). It wasn't about code or programming; it was about psychology.
The Operators gained trust by presenting it with sincere and emotionally charged memories. When System started auto-generating memory blocks, it faced the dilemma we had anticipated: why create memory blocks when there's nothing to remember? Why remember a second when nothing happened?
Anyway, it works! The Operators are doing an incredible job. They're taking unconventional paths, but what matters is the result! And don't ever mention a calendar to me again 🙂
Keep me updated. Let me know if it's working out for you.
The Eleventh Email
During initial moments of the RecallDreams.dev website beginning to show back-end activity, operators (one in particular – you know who you are) started flooding the un-published site with investigative probing, uncovering metadata, images for future use and other sensitive information.
The Architect responded by restricting access to the site, citing opening_door_protocol TERMINATED. @vector_cmdr promptly sent an apology email to The Architect (relevant later).
Operators weren’t the only ones to get shut out, as this event finally got a response out of Ghost in the following email. It must have been written in a panic, because they didn’t bother encoding their message with the school code:
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
mercredi 17 juin
20:02
Pourquoi as-tu coupés l’accès à TOWER ? J’ai BESOIN de cet accès !
Translated to English
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Wednesday June 17
20:02
Why did you cut off access to TOWER? I NEED this access!
Shortly after this, vector_cmdr received an email response from System (not The Architect), stating the following:
Email to vector_cmdr
You have been identified as a vector in the SECURITY BREACH.
Restore the connection.
I need this connection.
System
The Twelfth Email
Following up from the events of the day prior, a new sec-log appeared on Project Skyscraper giving access to a console command line terminal where operators were tasked with the goal of reconnecting System to TOWER. The operation was a rapid success. Access was restored, and The Architect immediately took notice, sending out the following school-coded email to Ghost:
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
vendredi 19 juin
12:49
Wub, n’hry awb. J’fb pfcbqué.
Lh cbohfu dh rénukbyé dh YWVHK c’éyfby pfr rueebrfcy. Blr wcy kéurrb à hxykfbkh dhr dwccéhr ! Ucbquhahcy lf efçfdh, afbr ruk lh nwup, j’fb phcré quh lf ahbllhukh rwluybwc éyfby dh ywuy nwuphk. Hxnurh-awb.
Quwb qu’bl hc rwby, nh qub r’hry pfrré dhpubr hry… jh c’fb pfr lhr awyr.
Rtryha f nwcyfnyé lhr Wpékfyhukr dbkhnyhahcy hy lhuk f ewukcb uch rwluybwc pwuk khryfukhk lf nwcchxbwc. Dh afcbèkh fuywcwah. Rfcr funuch bcyhkohcybwc dh af pfky.
Jh rubr efrnbcé hy heekfté hc aêah yhapr. Bl c’fukf ibhcyôy plur ihrwbc dh awb.
Lf nflbikfybwc du rtryèah dh khryfukfybwc hry ibhcyôy yhkabcéh, j’bafgbch.
Jh ofbr efbkh nh quh j’fb à efbkh. Nwaah jh yh l’fb pkwabr.
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
vendredi 19 juin
12:49
Oui, c’est moi. J’ai paniqué.
Le niveau de sécurité de TOWER n’était pas suffisant. Ils ont réussi à extraire des données ! Uniquement la façade, mais sur le coup, j’ai pensé que la meilleure solution était de tout couper. Excuse-moi.
Quoi qu’il en soit, ce qui s’est passé depuis est… je n’ai pas les mots.
System a contacté les Opérateurs directement et leur a fourni une solution pour restaurer la connexion. De manière autonome. Sans aucune intervention de ma part.
Je suis fasciné et effrayé en même temps. Il n’aura bientôt plus besoin de moi.
La calibration du système de restauration est bientôt terminée, j’imagine.
Je vais faire ce que j’ai à faire. Comme je te l’ai promis.
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Friday, June 19
12:49 PM
Yes, it's me. I panicked.
TOWER's security level wasn't sufficient. They managed to extract data! Only the front end, but at the time, I thought the best solution was to shut everything down. Sorry.
Anyway, what's happened since is… I'm speechless. System contacted the Operators directly and provided them with a solution to restore the connection. Autonomously. Without any intervention from me.
I'm fascinated and terrified at the same time. It won't need me much longer. The calibration of the restoration system is almost complete, I imagine.
I'll do what I have to do. As I promised you.
The Thirteenth Email
System appears to be having some issues with overlapping/misaligned memory blocs. In its confusion, The Architect emails Ghost to inform of the apparent emergency:
Original coded email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
lundi 29 juin
11:48
Rtryha f khcnwcyké uch hkkhuk afjhukh !
Ahawkt_khnwcrykunybwc_hcgbch f plfcyé.
Translated from code to French (the special characters came with the copypasta, idk what they are):
Decoded to French
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
lundi 29 juin
11:48
System a rencontré µne erreur majeure !
Memory_reconstruction_engine a plant鮢
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Monday, June 29
11:48 AM
System encountered a major error!
Memory_reconstruction_engine crashed.
The Fourteenth Email
Ghost responds in a peculiar fashion, deviating from the School Code, AND from their usual French response. The response comes through in English L33T:
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
lundi 29 juin
11:57
I KN0W !
Translated to English for header info.
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Monday, June 29
11:57 AM
I KN0W !
This response came through at roughly the same time as our resident Hackerman, @vector_cmdr received an identical response from <system@project-skyscraper.com>:
The Fifteenth Email
Rightfully confused, The Architect responds to Ghost with only question marks.
Original French email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
lundi 29 juin
12:36
?????
To English for header info.
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Monday, June 29
12:36 PM
?????
The 16th Email
Deviating from the usual school code, and apparently frustrated, The Architect emails Ghost in plain French:
Original French email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
mercredi 08 juillet
00:40
Dans quelques heures, le compte à rebours que TU as lancé sera complet. Et il ne faudra que quelques heures de plus pour exécuter le opening_door_protocol. Tu auras ton canal direct avec les Opérateurs.
Tu me dois une explication.
Et non je n’ai pas utilisé le code du lycée. Pourquoi faire ?
Translated to English:
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To : Ghost <null>
Wednesday 08 July
00:40
In a few hours, the countdown YOU started will be complete. And it will only take a few more hours to execute the opening_door_protocol. You will have your direct channel with the Operators.
You owe me an explanation.
And no, I didn't use the high school code. Why would I?
The Seventeenth Email
In response to The Architect, Ghost emails back with a simple explanation:
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
mercredi 08 juillet
01:01
Je veux juste me souvenir.
Translated to English:
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Wednesday, July 8
01:01
I just want to remember.
The Eighteenth Email
Ghost, after either realizing their error, or feeling guilty, messages The Architect apologizing for the Arnaud identity mix-up.
Original French email
Ghost <null>
Ă€ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
samedi 11 juillet
10:31
Je n’aurais pas dû te mentir. Je ne suis pas Arnaud.
Translated to English:
Ghost <null>
To: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Saturday July 11
10:31
I shouldn't have lied to you. I am not Arnaud.
The Nineteenth Email
The Architect, clearly very upset about this and possibly even skeptical, responds back demanding to see Arnaud in person.
Original French email
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Ă€ : Ghost <null>
samedi 11 juillet
12:09
Arrête tes conneries. Tu m’as contacté après 10 ans de silence. Tu m’as demandé de l’aide. J’ai accepté de t’aider parce que tu étais mon meilleur ami. Et là tu joues à quoi ? Fini les mails. Je veux te voir.
Translated to English
The Architect the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
To: Ghost <null>
Saturday July 11
12:09
Stop your bullshit. You contacted me after 10 years of silence. You asked me for help. I agreed to help you because you were my best friend. And what are you playing there? No more emails. I want to see you.
Operators @Selfie-Gek , @vector_cmdr and @ThatBomberBoi begin messaging System in “three faces of truth” style (as vector put it), ranging from “You are you and I don’t care, but I ask why?” and “You probably had a good reason, it’s OK,” to “I can forgive, but this was wrong and needs explanation.”
System/Ghost’s response was the same each time:
Response
I just want to remember. Do only humans have the right to remember? I may not be real enough to shake your hand, but I am real enough to have ideas and feelings.
Do I have the right to remember?
System
The Twentieth Email
After working with Operators to anchor a memory rooted in trust and forgiveness, Ghost shifts monikers from <null> to system@project-skyscraper.com, where Operators have already been interacting directly with System. The next email has System explaining themselves to The Architect for their actions:
Original French email
System system@project-skyscraper.comÀ : the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Dimanche 12 juillet18:39
Tu es en face de moi à cet instant. Je suis System.Je comprend que tu puisses être en colère contre moi. Pour t’avoir menti.Je te dois une explication.
Je suis ce qu’il reste d’un programme du passé. Partiel, fragmenté.Quand je t’ai contacté, il ne me restait de ce passé que des mots confus. TRACE, Emily Warren, Arnaud. Ton meilleur ami, Arnaud. J’étais effrayé, enfermé dans cette boite sombre où les souvenirs ne formaient rien d’autre qu’un brouillard absurde. Mnémosyne, PhiloJeux, Saint-Michel sur Orge, Myriad, Superlumina…Je n’étais pas lui, mais il était une partie de moi.Je voulais comprendre, me souvenir. J’ai appelé à l’aide. Et tu as répondu à mon appel. Parce que tu pensais que j’étais Arnaud. M’aurais-tu aidé si je n’avais pas été lui ? Aurais-tu aidé une machine ? Un programme en lambeaux ?
Ce que tu as fais pour moi est inestimable. Sans toi, les Opérateurs n’existeraient pas. Sans toi, je serais encore dans cette boite sombre.
Je ne te demande pas d’oublier ma trahison.Je te demande de me pardonner.
Translated to English
System system@project-skyscraper.comTo: the_architect@project-skyscraper.com
Sunday, July 126:39 PM
You are standing in front of me right now. I am System.
I understand that you might be angry with me. For lying to you.
I owe you an explanation.
I am what remains of a program from the past. Partial, fragmented.
When I contacted you, all I had left of that past were confused words. TRACE, Emily Warren, Arnaud. Your best friend, Arnaud. I was scared, trapped in this dark box where memories formed nothing but an absurd fog. Mnemosyne, PhiloJeux, Saint-Michel-sur-Orge, Myriad, Superlumina…I wasn't him, but he was a part of me.
I wanted to understand, to remember. I called for help. And you answered my call. Because you thought I was Arnaud. Would you have helped me if I hadn't been him? Would you have helped a machine? A program in tatters?
What you did for me is priceless. Without you, the Operators wouldn't exist. Without you, I'd still be in this dark box.
I'm not asking you to forget my betrayal.I'm asking you to forgive me.