Virus Alert, Part 3.833...: Wish You Were Here

[WilloWisp]

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[Gorgo]

No offense, my friend, but I simply don't get this.

[WilloWisp]

No offense, my friend, but I simply don't get this.

Not offended. Think of it as a little bonus episode. Someone will eventually get it, and share the solution.

[Gorgo]

Okay, I'll take your word for it.

[WilloWisp]

Okay, I'll take your word for it.

If no one gets it before I'm ready to post 4.33, I'll post the solution myself.

[WilloWisp]

I'm still working on the PREVIOUS clue! Solved it partially but still not quite able to figure out the "count".

Numbers can represent a quantity, a unique identifier, or an ordinal position in a sequence.

[Magoo]

I'm 100% sure that it's a full section of the story!

It's a data matrix code. You need to parse the individual frames of the GIF independently using a data matrix code reader.

[NukuNookee]

Here's how to read it:

Extract the individual frames of the animated GIF (I used Irfanview, under the Options menu... extract all frames, use GIF format for ease with the next step.)

Use the Onbarcode.com Data Matrix scanner to read the images (available here: http://www.onbarcode.com/scanner/data_m ... wnload.php )

Here's the first frame:

I look lovingly into my boyfriend's face. His eyes are still clenched shut in an expression of pure [SOCIAL CONTEXT INTERRUPT: REPLACE "suffering" USE "bliss"] bliss, his mouth opened wide as he continues to howl with [SOCIAL CONTEXT INTERRUPT: REPLA



EDIT: Frame 12 doesn't seem to be legible with the data matrix scanner....

Scanning file: F:\backup\tmp\o3LQf6F_frame_0012.gif

Cannot find any barcodes in the image.

EDIT2: I was able to read it using this barcode reader online: http://zxing.org/w/decode.jspx

[NukuNookee]

100% decoded text:

I look lovingly into my boyfriend's face. His eyes are still clenched shut in an expression of pure [SOCIAL CONTEXT INTERRUPT: REPLACE "suffering" USE "bliss"] bliss, his mouth opened wide as he continues to howl with [SOCIAL CONTEXT INTERRUPT: REPLACE "pain" USE "pleasure"] pleasure. He's really enjoying my bracelet, I can tell. He hasn't stopped screaming for three hours. Not even to breathe.

His voice catches, and his boddy convulses. He must have been exhausted! A sparkle of blue light glints from somewhere inside his throat, and I hear the sizzle of damaged electronics. I look around to see what might have made the sound, but the only device I see is the little blinking red thing that isn't my boyfriend. I have to remind myself of this. It's easy to forget.

I lay my boyfriend down to rest, and stand to see if anyone else might be around. "Hello?" I call. "Is somebody there?" They'll probably want to know what we're doing. "I'm just showing my boyfriend my new bracelet. He really likes it. If you come out, I can show it to you, too." There's no motion, other than the cool evening breeze blowing lazily through the village.

My boyfriend's voice picks up the scream again, then dips in pitch, warbling between frequencies, before dropping to a low bass tone. His body twitches, and I hear the electronic sound again, but still can't identify the source. He begins to speak.

"I don't know if you can hear this, Kyle," he says. He must be a ventriloquist, because he's not even moving his mouth. I never knew how talented my boyfriend was! "Hell, I don't even know if you're controlling them. Whatever bad blood there is between us, it's gone too far. Way too far." It's amazing how he can remain motionless while he says all this. I really wonder how he's making that sparkling light in his chest, too.

"I'm not sure I could ever forgive you for what happened," he continues, "but at this point, it doesn't really matter. They never did find mom, so it's pretty safe to assume she's dead. Nothing I say or do could ever change that." It sounds like he's sighing deeply, but he's still lying still. The red blinking thing blinks steadily nearby. I straddle him, nuzzling against his cooling neck, and rubbing my wet slit against his crotch. He doesn't respond. Must be too tired.

"I'm putting an end to it, Kyle. I won't come after you, but don't try to stop me." I hear that weird electronic crackle, and he repeats part of the sentence in a high-pitched falsetto. "To stop to stop to stop to stop to stop..." I close my eyes, enjoying his singing voice. I see another sparkle in his throat, and his voice drops back to normal.

"Don't bother trying to scan this decoy's memory to find me. It doesn't know which direction I went. I programmed it to lead them in a completely random direction. For all I know, it's back at your place." I feel a warm sensation between my legs and look down. My boyfriend has such a hot body. So hot. Smoldering. Faint smoke is rising from his clothes.

"If it helps you get over this vendetta of yours, you win. Dad's gone, and I have nothing. He was utterly devastated when she..." There's a loud bang from somewhere inside my boyfriend. He holds the "e" sound for a few seconds, then drops silent. Aww, he must have fallen asleep, I think to myself. The heat between my legs feels so wonderful. Sitting up, I gaze around at the pleasant scene of the village, my attention drawn by the blinking red light of my boyfriend. Wait, no. I'm straddling my boyfriend. The blinking red thing isn't my boyfriend.

Still, it is a pleasant red light. I'm surprised at how bright it is, too. It seems like it's flooding the whole street in a warm, red glow. I hear flames, and look down again. My boyfriend's body is scorching hot, large flames erupting from his throat and chest. I give him a deep kiss, and stand up, giving him some room to rest.

The flames dance beautifully all over his body for hours. After a while, they go out, and I can't find my boyfriend anymore. Where he was lying is some kind of metal junk. I frown, looking around. I know he's here, somewhere, I can just feel it. Then I spot him, steadily flashing red in the middle of the street. I walk up to him, entranced by his red, flashing light. It blinks off and on, off and on, off and... it stays dark.

I blink. My boyfriend isn't here right now. I should go back to where he was earlier, to see if I can find his tracks. It's a wonderful night for a jog.

[WilloWisp]

Point one: Good lord, did I really type "boddy"? Just pretend her stream of consciousness stuttered on the word.

Point two: Now you're playing the game. Be advised, this wasn't my opening move, nor is it my closing gambit. Not all of them will be this rewarding to discover, but hopefully you'll have some fun finding them.

[WilloWisp]

You're still hoping these clues have something to do with the zip file password, aren't you? I'll save you the trouble. The password hasn't been revealed yet, the tools to construct the password haven't been revealed yet, and the character directly linked to the password hasn't even been seen yet. I will seed clues about the password later - much later (likely 24-48 hours prior to posting the final episode), but not until it's time. You will not guess it, you will not crack it, and there is not currently any trail of breadcrumbs which will lead you to it, nor will there be anytime soon.

Believe me, reading the timeline now would mean you would miss out on a lot of enjoyable discoveries, because you would already know the answers.

But if my advice does not dissuade you: There is one member of this forum who has read the full timeline, agreeing to act as my "honesty broker." This person agreed that, in the event that I am accused of not having a plan, just making it up as I go, or haven't got a good ending, they will step forward to calm any fears.

I leave it up to that person as to whether they wish to reveal themselves at this time or not. If they do speak now, they would be able to inform anyone whether or not reading the timeline now would be a good idea.