[Last Hope] 15 – We do a little trolling

Another week passed, and by then, I had the beginnings of something that took a painstaking amount of effort to create and get working on the shitty Terminals available in the Institute. After hours of trial and error, I managed to make the first DOOM game—the 2D one with the Doomguy and terrible graphics. At first, I wanted to make some kind of strategy game to appease my boredom, but then, about halfway through, I had a brilliant idea, one that would add a flare of chaos into the Institute and drive a few people mad.

You see, why not add to the fun of the game by spreading it through the Institute's terminal network as a virus and force-installing the game on every single terminal connected to the Institute's network? Of course, the file would need to be compromised to make the transfer speed faster. Still, it would be relatively simple and easy to do, especially considering my skill, so I thought, "Why not?" and got to work on cracking the Institute's digital security system, which did not take long at all since I had already cracked 'Code Defender' the only real cyber security the Institute used, and I doubt anyone in the Insitute had the skill to stop my attempts, especially after I managed to install a backdoor on 'Fathers' personal computer, giving me access to the whole network directly.

Once I had that, I initiated the download and erased all traces of my hacking, smiling in victory as I sipped some water. It'd be an interesting couple of days, that's for sure, and If I could keep the pace up, I would have something else out in a few days due to a few bursts of inspiration and hyperactive frenzies I had.

...

It did not take long for some to notice the new application that appeared on their personal or private terminals. Within the next two hours, nearly everyone noticed the new intrusion into their daily lives. It took even less time for the higher-ups to gather for an urgent meeting.

Sat around a table were the heads of each Divison and the Father at the head of the table. On the other side, closer to the door, was one of the better programmers with the Robotics Division, who set down a terminal on the table.

"What's the situation?" Father asked, his face serious.

"As of two hours ago, around 7:30 AM, an unknown application had begun to appear on Terminals ranging from public to our most secure where we hold the data and documents of our most sensitive projects," Zimmer spoke up, his voice firm but clearly on edge.

"How?" Father asked, curious but with evident concern on the edge of his voice.

"That's the thing. We don't know. Our best expert," Zimmer waved to the man beside him, "On computers has no idea-"

"Well, sir. I do have one, for as to how this could have happened," The man interrupted, getting a frown from Zimmer.

"Well?" Father asked, waiting.

"There's only one way I can think of this application appearing in all of the Terminals across the Institute," the man said before looking to Father. Someone must have used your computer. It has administrator access," the man explained.

Father frowned, "Not possible. I have Synths on guard around my home at all times, keeping watch. Very few people can enter into my quarters, and they number my hand. How else?"

"Well, if not that, then the only other thing I can think of is someone hacked us, which also shouldn't be possible," the man suggested with a frown.

While they based their heads against the conundrum before them, on the surface, a particularly plain-looking Terminal beeped, showing that the file was installed and the man was sipping from a bottle of beer and smoking a San Franscio Sunlight cigar. This man, one with a rough exterior, covered in scars from years of combat and a revolver strapped to his belt, looked up and to the Terminal, noticing the sound of a notification from the Terminal, a sound that usually came with an update, a job, or something else that was important from his Employers.

A single message appeared on his Terminal, along with a new Notification.

"Hope you enjoy my gift, Kellogg, more will come in time." - The Specter.

...

It did not take long at all for the supposed 'game' that appeared across the Institute to become a sensational hit, with many talking about it during their breaks, during work, and even on their downtime, what little they had anyway. This game was revolutionary when compared to the games that the Institute has had since the Great War, games such as Zeta Invaders, Red Menace, Pipfall, or Automatron. 

The author of the game, which was listed as 'The Spectre, ' made many start raising questions. Questions such as who this 'Specter was,' were they from before the Great War, or were they here, now, and just using a pen name to stay hidden.

Whatever the case, many began to dive into this new thing that brightened their daily lives, though the game was more attractive to the kids than the adults who constantly worked in their labs. At first, the adults were okay with their children getting a new distraction to sap some of their energy, but as a few days passed, the concern of many parents grew. 

They thought the game was too bloody, too violent, but the kids? They didn't care, didn't seem to mind the blood shed nor the gore of demons straight from fantasy being blown apart into pieces by shotguns, rifles, and other assortments of weapons by 2d hands.

Religion was not a topic discussed much in the Institute, so the demonic iconography and satanic symbology made many of the parents uncomfortable, especially their children, who, upon seeing this, became curious and started asking questions. These were questions no one knew, questions that likely had answers in the archives.

This left many parents confused when their children took the initiative and sought out the answers to their questions themselves.

Now, the parents didn't know what to think. This once again changed when their kids began bringing up the subject of religion in a much more expansive manner, asking questions about the regions of the world, mythology, gods, divine beings and creatures, saints, blessings, and so much more.

To be frank, it overwhelmed the parents who were not able to answer the questions the kids had, especially when the Archives did not have the answers to the questions they sought. Despite not knowing the answers, this did nothing to stop the kids from repeatedly asking the same questions, as if the answer would magically appear, angering and annoying a great many parents.

Then, a new application appeared on every Terminal across the Institute.