DENSHA: LEVEL OBSERVED WITHIN THE BACKROOMS, HENCEFORTH REFERENCED TO AS LEVEL 200 N. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER ALONG WITH JJ HAVE BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THIS LEVEL FOLLOWING ENTRANCE INTO A DOOR FOUND IN PREVIOUS LEVEL.
LEVEL STRUCTURE RESEMBLES THAT OF AN INTERIOR FOR A SEGMENTED TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE. SAID VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE ELONGATED IN AN INFINITE MANNER AND SEEMS TO BE TRAVELING THROUGH AN ENCLOSED TUNNEL OF EQUALLY INFINITE LENGTH. BECAUSE OF THIS, ONLY WINDOW VIEW THAT IS OBSERVED IS DARKNESS, THOUGH A CONCRETE WALL-LIKE STRUCTURE CAN BARELY BE PERCEIVED. DESPITE COMFORTABLE TEMPERATURE LEVELS, CONSTANT SHAKING AND LOUD ROARS ARE OBSERVED WITHIN THIS LEVEL, POSSIBLY DUE TO HIGH-SPEED TRAVELING, CREATING AN UNCOMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
honestly, i'm kinda used to this kinda thing. it's the lighting that's annoying me right now. bit too bright.
NO ITEMS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THIS SPACE, ALONG WITH PRODUCT-PROMOTION OR WRITTEN SIGNS STANDARD TO SEGMENTED TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE INTERIORS. CEILING-MOUNTED SIGNS ARE REMOVED ENTIRELY, AND WALL-MOUNTED SIGNS INSTEAD CONTAIN MAP CLIPPINGS AND LANDSCAPE IMAGES. NO DRIVER SEGMENT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN THIS LEVEL, SEEMINGLY CONTAINING ONLY PASSENGER SEGMENTS. ALL PASSENGER SEGMENT INSTANCES ARE KEPT IN CLEAN CONDITIONS, AND THEIR SYMMETRICAL STRUCTURE OVERALL CREATED AN ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT.
too clean, almost. not that that's a bad thing. want to sit down?
JJ IS OBSERVED TO MAKE A REQUEST TO REST ON ONE OF THE SEGMENT'S SEATS. THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO ACCEPT THIS REQUEST, LEADING TO BOTH JJ AND THE ROTWATCHER TO SEAT THEMSELVES ON INDIVIDUAL SEATS.
AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD OF SILENCE, SAVE FOR THE ROARING AND SHAKING PRODUCED BY HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL, JJ IS OBSERVED TO INITIATE CONVERSATION.
have you ever ridden on a train before this?
EXAMINATION OF THE LOST PROGENITOR'S KNOWLEDGE REVEALS NO INSTANCES IN REGARDS TO TRAVELING WITHIN A SEGMENTED TRANSPORTATION VEHICLE.
so basically, you never had, either?
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO CONFIRM JJ'S QUESTION.
hm. well, i've been using these things pretty much my whole life. well, when i'm not simply walking.
the first few times were a real jarring experience, i remember. riding a train, feeling myself bounce on my seat at every motion, it felt like i was experiencing an earthquake. took a while to get used to it.
but i did, eventually. of course i did. i had no choice, if i wanted to survive.
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you were curious earlier, right? about the tendrils, you called them, when i manifested them back in that lingerie shop.
THE ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO CONFIRM THIS ASSUMPTION.
right. i remember you were wondering if they had anything to do with the- the secondary consciousness, as you call it- them.
and, well, i think you're pretty much correct. definitely i wasn't able to do this before i found myself in the backrooms.
i know you're wondering what exactly this secondary consciousness is. and the answer is- i don't know. i'm not sure i can comprehend what they are.
doesn't help that they don't exactly communicate in a coherent manner with me. like, at least with you, your thoughts manifest as definable concepts, words i can understand.
what i get from whatever's in me is just... vague.
of fish swimming in schools, their numbers as vast as the waters they live in,
of coral reefs, so many species living around these vibrant things,
of so many strange creatures lurking in the abyssal ocean.
like, it obviously has to do with the ocean, i know, but i have no idea what it all means. not yet, at least.
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER OBSERVES JJ TO SLIP INTO A FRUSTRATED SILENCE DUE TO THIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING IN REGARDS TO THEIR SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS. RECOMMENDED ADVICE FOR THEM IS TO PRACTICE CAREFUL PATIENCE IN ANALYZING THEIR SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS, ALONG WITH PREVENTING ITS MALICIOUS INSTINCTS.
...
yeah. yeah, you're right.
oh, but you're wrong in thinking whatever's in me is malicious. they're not- or, i don't think they are.
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO REQUEST FOR ELABORATION REGARDING THIS LACK OF MALICIOUS INTENT.
they didn't do what they did because they wanted to kill, or even hurt you, back when we first met.
their end-goal was to absorb you into them- into myself, us- which i know you didn't want.
but from what i can tell, from their perspective, they thought they were doing you a favor.
to them, absorbing anything into myself, us, is a blessing. and, as far as they're concerned, it's inevitable.
AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THIS NEW INFORMATION, THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IDENTIFIES JJ'S SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS AS POSSESSING THE MORALITY THAT CONGLOMERATION INTO JJ'S BODY IS AN INEVITABLE TRAJECTORY FOR VARIOUS ORGANISMS. THIS MORALITY SEEMS TO EXTEND BEYOND BRIGHT-ORGANISMS, SINCE IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO ATTEMPT ABSORPTION OF THE ROTWATCHER INTO ITSELF.
pretty much.
CONVERSATION IS OBSERVED TO CONCLUDE. FOLLOWING THIS, THE CURRENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO CONDUCT AN ASSESSMENT ON ITS CONDITION. SYMPTOMS RELATED TO A PROLONGED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THE ROTWATCHER.
oh? you should probably rest, then.
THE PRESENT ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO PONDER OVER JJ'S SUGGESTION. RELUCTANCE TO ENTER TEMPORARY STASIS IS PRESENT, MOST LIKELY DUE TO NEARBY PRESENCE OF JJ'S SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS. TION. SYMPTOMS RELATED TO A PROLONGED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED WITHIN THE ROTWATCHER.
...
i told you: don't worry, i have them under control. get some shut-eye, you'll be fine. i promise.
DUE TO JJ'S REASSURANCES, THE SUBJECTED ROTWATCHER HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO ENTER TEMPORARY STASIS.
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psst! hey! wake up!
THE SUBJECTED ROTWATCHER IS OBSERVED TO EXIT TEMPORARY STASIS AT THE REQUEST OF JJ. IT IS OBSERVED TO INQUIRE THE REASON FOR HAVING BEEN FORCED OUT OF ITS PREVIOUS STATE.
the doors- look.
SEGMENT DOORS PREVIOUSLY OBSERVED IN A CLOSED STATE ARE NOW OPENED, DESPITE THE VEHICLE STILL BEING IN MOTION. IT IS POSSIBLE THIS CHANGE REPRESENTS AN ENTRYWAY, THOUGH CAUTION IS ADVISED IF ATTEMPTING UTILIZATION OF THE OPENED DOORS FOR LOCATIONAL EXCHANGE.
i haven't seen any other exit out of here... this may be our best chance, unfortunately. come on.