Tuesday, February 20, 2018

So, You've Just Been Resleeved

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Variations of this Article have been circulated by the Planetary Consortium since shortly after the Fall. All too often Sentinels forget about their basic procedures in a rush to get back in to the action, so it's good to refresh yourself on the basics. I've edited a lot of their political BS out of this version, and kept it to just the stuff you actually need to keep in mind, with some additional comments. -Yumiko Akiyama, Veteran Sentinel]

1. Remain calm and take it slow when you resleeve. Physical side-effects can include dizziness and lightheadedness, shakes or shivers, temporary loss of balance, exhaustion and poor fine control, which persist for a statistically average 24-48 hours. This acclimation period is perfectly normal, so remember to plan your sleeves accordingly. This effect is noted to be less if one uses a familiar Morph type, or a clone of a previous morph.

[Yumiko: This is actually good advice. If you're not lucky enough to be a person who has developed strong adaptability, you'll feel a little off your game for a day or two. Don't push too hard even if the case is hot, make sure your new body works first. I recommend finding a safehouse, getting the lay of the land, or making sure to reup any implants you need to kill the time until you adjust.]

2. You may experience mental or physical artifacts when resleeving. This is perfectly normal, and will pass in time. If you are unsure if your behavior is normal for you, or if you experience excessive amounts of memory, emotion or habitual artifacting, check with your Muse, or a resleeving technician for assistance and psychological analysis. Otherwise, remain calm and act as comes natural to you.

[Yumiko: Artifacts are the worst, usually. Sometimes you get an embedded skill, but almost every Sentinel has experienced a sudden bout of nicotine or caffeine addiction, or something harder. Pods are the shittiest, the underlying cyberbrain architecture can come on very strong. I've had bad experiences being all "oorah devil dog" in Security Pods, or worse in a Pleasure Pod. I recommend contacting The Eye for help first though, if you don't have a mind-doc in your team.]

3. Normally, your HUD will be turned off not to display date and time, and there are no reflective surfaces in the resleeving room, to prevent unwanted panic over continuity and identity. Take your time before examining yourself and checking the time. Your Muse is equipped with psychology software, and will let you know when you are ready to examine your new body and circumstances.

[Yumiko: Sentinels ignore this part a lot, we're busy. I kept it in mostly for contrast - don't rush back into action if you're coming off a violent resleeve, but familiarize yourself with your morph as soon as possible. Try not to be too obvious about it though, you might weird out the technicians in a public body bank or clinic - they're used to dealing with rich tourists, travelling corp-men and indentures cashing out their contracts most of the time.]

4. Take time to adjust to your new physical situation - this includes both any changes to height, weight and balance of your new morph, but also different conditions of gravity, atmospheric pressure and other environmental conditions. Proceed with caution when you get up from the ego bridge and begin moving around.

[Yumiko: I honestly think this should be higher up the list, but to the PC I guess it's more expensive and time consuming to have to fix your mental problems instead of a stubbed toe or bump on the head. Just stay relaxed like they say and get a feel for the new body and where you're operating. Understanding your physical capabilities and limitations can mean the difference between needing a new Morph]

5. If you have spent an extended period in a Virtual environment, be aware some sensations may be sharper or more defined in "real space". Please remember to consider your surroundings and local customs when refreshing yourself on "real" sensations.

[Yumiko: Not often a problem for Sentinels, even if they have been in VR or Infomorph states for a long period of time, but the last part stands all the time. As an operative, be familiar with the terrain, both physical and social, and account for it in your actions. Anything you do which is worth remarking might come up later if an opposing group tries to track you. But, if you're an AGI who hasn't tried a physical morph out before, this does apply. Keep it relaxed until you're in private]

6. Be aware, unless you have made a custom order, your Morph may have been previously used. Be cautious leaving yourself in Privacy Mode as people may see your face and think you are someone else. Depending on what your Morph was doing recently, and how long it has been in storage, you may feel the need to "catch up" on bodily functions preserved during stasis. Do not be alarmed if you feel a strong desire to sleep, eat, excrete or experience physical or emotional arousal.

[Yumiko: The face part is the most important here, especially if the organization is providing your bodies and doesn't give you full provenance. Given how we have to operate in secret, operating anonymously is not unknown. Cover your face if it's going to be a problem. Getting a quick meal or lay in right after resleeving can sometimes help you adjust, however. I edited out the lovely implication you can often pay for a new face right away in the shop - find somebody on the street who can do it cheaper.]

7. If your new body comes with additional implants, take your time to familiarize yourself with their features, to avoid accidents and make the most of your Morph.

[Yumiko: Again, damned good advice. Sentinels can go crazy ordering new 'ware for an OP, make sure you know how to use everything. As a freelancer before Firewall I knew some guys who accidentally hit themselves in the groin with an implant blade or hand laser because they forgot which muscle groups set them off. Enhanced Senses also can take some adjusting too. Again, edited out the bits where the Consortium tries to shill you on ordering new mods right away.]

8. Remember to be polite to the Resleeving technicians. They are here to help.

[Yumiko: Presented without comment.]