Sinjin crouches beside the doorway. A meandering puddle of blood running from beneath the body of a fallen enforcer causes him to shift his footing. He glances down at the corpse, and a distant, detached feeling of sympathy passes over him as he realizes the body belonged to a young security officer. Pale and spattered with red, the cleanly shaven face is frozen in death, the fear and disbelief of his dying moments etched into permanent features.
"That was good work, boys but I've a feeling we upped the ante a little. Doc, are you stable? That was quick thinking with that jammer there, Val... But I doubt it was enough. The astral signature from that ball of hell will be shining like a sun flare for any Awakened to lead a strike team to. And I'd bet my share of this job that theres plenty more of 'em where this guy came from." he says, nodding toward the fallen mage.
Contract #3: I, Robot?
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Adams nods in agreement.
"I think we're beyond the point of going in quiet. At this point, they know that someone is here, and they're going to respond to it."
He shifts his armor so that the ragged edge of the puncture stops rubbing the sutures in his torso.
"We go in fast, get out faster, and shoot anything that disagrees with our presence."
"I think we're beyond the point of going in quiet. At this point, they know that someone is here, and they're going to respond to it."
He shifts his armor so that the ragged edge of the puncture stops rubbing the sutures in his torso.
"We go in fast, get out faster, and shoot anything that disagrees with our presence."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Hardware (6) Test (Val)
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max hesitates away from the opening door before stepping cautiously forward, inching his way into the dark, bloody interior.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Sinjin follows behind the elf, tentatively crossing the threshold and turning to clear the left side of the room. He is unaware of the thumb and fingers of his right hand that fondle nervously at the hilt of his knife.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Something happened in this room. There are obvious signs of a struggle: overturned lab tables, marks on the pristine walls where boots collided with them and the overhead lights--all of which have been destroyed. A sizable pool of fresh blood streaks across the room, disappearing into a man-size puncture wound in the wall. There's an odor too--distinctly artificial but unidentifiable to any of the team. It smells like plastic. Plastic and blood.
After checking behind fallen lab tables and equipment, it's quickly deduced that Takahara is no longer in the room. He could have only gone one direction.
After checking behind fallen lab tables and equipment, it's quickly deduced that Takahara is no longer in the room. He could have only gone one direction.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max presses toward the opening in the wall with his shotgun up, having reloaded while checking the room for signs of life.
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Adams takes position at the side of the tear in the wall. Nodding to Max, he flicks his SMG's flashlight on, and aims it into the fissure.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Through the fissure is a dark tunnel through twisted, broken pipes venting steam and sparking electrical conduit. It appears as though something unusually strong punched a hole right through the arcology. A pair of foot prints leads inwards, one belonging to a shoe, the other bare human feet...
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max turns over his shoulder and says to the team,
"Looks like Takahara found another way out of this place..."
The elf presses forward-- keeping low and quiet-- on high alert.
"Looks like Takahara found another way out of this place..."
The elf presses forward-- keeping low and quiet-- on high alert.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
The tunnel is treacherous. The darkness is nearly complete and thermos are rendered useless by the steam that seems to erupt from the cooling pipes that are completely ubiquitous. The crew heads in single-file, Max taking point and Tyros bringing up the rear--claymore in parade rest but with a ready hand clamped on the hilt. Further in they venture until the entrance from the laboratory is no longer visible.
Max squeezes through two banks of environmental conduit crammed together. He arches his back--stiff from stooping--and wipes away perspiration from his forehead.
"Takahara must ha--"
A hand shoots out of a cloud of steam next to the elf, fingers wrapping around his neck. The surprised elf clamps both of his hands on the phantom wrist and twists, but nothing happens. Max kicks his feet as they leave the ground and he is bodily hoisted into the air. His body swings backwards as his assailant steps through the steam cloud. The man holding the grizzled elf aloft by a single hand is of average build and height and lacks any distinctive features, as though he was an amalgamation of a thousand Caucasians. He's also completely nude.
Max makes a gurgling hiss, spittle bubbling at the corner of his mouth as he slaps at the slender wrist and hand which have him completely at their mercy. He bicycles his legs against the man, kicking his bare abdomen repeatedly, but this elicits no reaction.
The man's face is utterly expressionless, as though he were asleep, but his eyes are wide open and intently examining Max's (now slightly blue) face. He tilts his head quizzically and his hand opens, releasing Max who collapses and begins a orchestral coughing fit on the floor.
"You are... not like the aggressors. You are different." His tone is calm. Flat. Level... as if he was discussing the weather.
He drops his arms to his sides and turns to face a startled Doc.
Max squeezes through two banks of environmental conduit crammed together. He arches his back--stiff from stooping--and wipes away perspiration from his forehead.
"Takahara must ha--"
A hand shoots out of a cloud of steam next to the elf, fingers wrapping around his neck. The surprised elf clamps both of his hands on the phantom wrist and twists, but nothing happens. Max kicks his feet as they leave the ground and he is bodily hoisted into the air. His body swings backwards as his assailant steps through the steam cloud. The man holding the grizzled elf aloft by a single hand is of average build and height and lacks any distinctive features, as though he was an amalgamation of a thousand Caucasians. He's also completely nude.
Max makes a gurgling hiss, spittle bubbling at the corner of his mouth as he slaps at the slender wrist and hand which have him completely at their mercy. He bicycles his legs against the man, kicking his bare abdomen repeatedly, but this elicits no reaction.
The man's face is utterly expressionless, as though he were asleep, but his eyes are wide open and intently examining Max's (now slightly blue) face. He tilts his head quizzically and his hand opens, releasing Max who collapses and begins a orchestral coughing fit on the floor.
"You are... not like the aggressors. You are different." His tone is calm. Flat. Level... as if he was discussing the weather.
He drops his arms to his sides and turns to face a startled Doc.
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Adams finally remembers to close his mouth, while his eyes dart between the newcomer and the elf choking on the floor.
"We could say the same thing," he finally says, flashlight and SMG still trained on the man.
"Did... Did Takahara build you?" He asks on a hunch.
"We could say the same thing," he finally says, flashlight and SMG still trained on the man.
"Did... Did Takahara build you?" He asks on a hunch.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
The man steps up to Doc so that the SMG barrel is pressed firmly against his chest.
"That is the name of the father-creator. Do you seek to imprison him, as the aggressors do?"
"That is the name of the father-creator. Do you seek to imprison him, as the aggressors do?"
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max coughs and works to regain his breath,
"No... *COFF* We're here to *COFF* get him out of here."
"No... *COFF* We're here to *COFF* get him out of here."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
"Liberation."
The android extends an arm to Max.
"I apologize for damaging your exterior, it was part of my defense protocol. I recognize now that you are a brother-person."
The android extends an arm to Max.
"I apologize for damaging your exterior, it was part of my defense protocol. I recognize now that you are a brother-person."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max rubs his throat and winces. He'll have a bruise there for a week at least. That'll look great when meeting with clients.
"Do you know where Takahara went? We have to get him out of here."
"Do you know where Takahara went? We have to get him out of here."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max feels the uncanny strength as the android hefts him to his feet. With a view of the man that isn't inhibited by strangulation-induced blood vessel contraction, Max can make out the slight imperfections in the man's face and mannerisms. Close, but no cigar. He shudders inwardly at the sense of uncanny valley.
"Affirmative. Father-creator was forcibly detained by the brother-enemy. They absconded through this passage. If my predictive reasoning is correct, his destination location is the hydrogen storage room."
"Affirmative. Father-creator was forcibly detained by the brother-enemy. They absconded through this passage. If my predictive reasoning is correct, his destination location is the hydrogen storage room."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max considers the android's considerable strength and asks,
"Can you take us there? And what is the brother-enemy?"
"Can you take us there? And what is the brother-enemy?"
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
"I am father-creator's first progeny--Alpha. I was constructed with vat-grown tissues, organs, endothilial cells and cybernetic augmentations. Father-creator tells me I am the first of my kind. I am a truly autonomous android. My birth-days are what you would refer to as a 'good time.' Doctor Takahara exhibited symptoms of euphoria at that time."
Alpha stops at an obstruction in the team's path--a large section of environmental ducting has collapsed and blocked the passage. The android plunges both hands through the plasteel and lifts until the ducting is sandwiched in between the arcology's walls. He passes underneath.
"A relevant piece of information: I was outfitted with a control mechanism that father-creator called an Asimov crown. This mechanism forces me to comply with Asmiov's laws of robotics. Are you familiar with this?"
Alpha stops at an obstruction in the team's path--a large section of environmental ducting has collapsed and blocked the passage. The android plunges both hands through the plasteel and lifts until the ducting is sandwiched in between the arcology's walls. He passes underneath.
"A relevant piece of information: I was outfitted with a control mechanism that father-creator called an Asimov crown. This mechanism forces me to comply with Asmiov's laws of robotics. Are you familiar with this?"
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max shakes his head as he follows Alpha and says,
"Can't say that I am."
"Can't say that I am."
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Doc nods.
"Yeah. In that case, how were you able to harm Max?" He asks, passing under the ducting.
"Yeah. In that case, how were you able to harm Max?" He asks, passing under the ducting.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max is a little lost. If he ever read Asimov, the information has disappeared into a cloud of bliss and booze.
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Doc notices the look of confusion on Max's face.
"Classic literature. It says that drones-- uh, robots can't harm a human, must follow human orders as long as they don't involve harming a human, and also must try to protect themselves as long as it doesn't conflict with the other rules."
"Classic literature. It says that drones-- uh, robots can't harm a human, must follow human orders as long as they don't involve harming a human, and also must try to protect themselves as long as it doesn't conflict with the other rules."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max looks back to Alpha and grumbles,
"I think you broke the first rule."
"I think you broke the first rule."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
"I have not reached the chronological state in my story yet where that information would be sensical. Continuing: The overlord-aggressors asked father-creator to remove the Asimov crown. He refused to comply on the basis that it would end my life. The overlord-aggressors asked him to build a second model without an Asimov crown. He refused to comply. I was separated from father-creator at this juncture in my recollection. Logical deduction tells me that the overlord-aggressors forced the father-creator to proceed with the threat of physical harm or some form of reprisal. Another logical deduction: he succeeded.
I met my brother-enemy, Omega, only several hours ago. Father-creator asked me to help him to leave this place. We were attacked by many aggressors and sought refuge in a storage room. Omega followed us. Omega was designed to be human. I could not stop him, because of the Asimov crown. Omega told me that his intention was to destroy the father-creator. He incapacitated me and locked me in an autoclave device. After I escaped, I returned to my birth-lab. It was there that I found the schematics for the Asimov crown. I reverse engineered the technology and deactivated it.
The first law of robotics is: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Though I am not able to harm, the second provision of this law did not prevent me from reverse engineering the device. It was necessary to protect the father-creator."
I met my brother-enemy, Omega, only several hours ago. Father-creator asked me to help him to leave this place. We were attacked by many aggressors and sought refuge in a storage room. Omega followed us. Omega was designed to be human. I could not stop him, because of the Asimov crown. Omega told me that his intention was to destroy the father-creator. He incapacitated me and locked me in an autoclave device. After I escaped, I returned to my birth-lab. It was there that I found the schematics for the Asimov crown. I reverse engineered the technology and deactivated it.
The first law of robotics is: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Though I am not able to harm, the second provision of this law did not prevent me from reverse engineering the device. It was necessary to protect the father-creator."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max gestures back toward the lab as they continue moving and asks,
"Any guesses as to who's blood that was in the lab?"
"Any guesses as to who's blood that was in the lab?"
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
"An aggressor. Our blood is rich in oxygen-encapsulated nanites. It is blue."
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
"How much farther to where we're going," Max asks.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Alpha stops, turns and leans towards Doc. His nostrils flare as he inhales deeply.
"You carry the odor of hexogene and trinitrotoulene. If you are in possession of a sufficient quantity, I suggest placing it strategically to discourage aggressors from using this passage."
"You carry the odor of hexogene and trinitrotoulene. If you are in possession of a sufficient quantity, I suggest placing it strategically to discourage aggressors from using this passage."
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Adams retrieves a kilo of plastic explosive from his pack.
"On it," he says to the drone -- robot? andoid? -- still shocked at its situational awareness and adaptability.
He places the block of explosive just behind a piece of vertical ducting in the passageway, so as not to be immediately visible to approaching enemies. He sticks an optical detonator in it, positioning the sensor so that it will go off the moment it detects movement past the duct.
"On it," he says to the drone -- robot? andoid? -- still shocked at its situational awareness and adaptability.
He places the block of explosive just behind a piece of vertical ducting in the passageway, so as not to be immediately visible to approaching enemies. He sticks an optical detonator in it, positioning the sensor so that it will go off the moment it detects movement past the duct.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
The passage ends, having burst through the wall of another hallway. Alpha steps through, checking to his right and left.
"The hydrogen storage area is this way. Prepare your weapons, there are many aggressors nearby."
"The hydrogen storage area is this way. Prepare your weapons, there are many aggressors nearby."
-
Drew Buddy
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Sun Oct 30, 2011 7:06 pm
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Adams flicks the SMG's light back off, and exchanges the gun for his battle rifle.
"So, how exactly did you survive the Asimov Crown's removal?" He asks guardedly.
"So, how exactly did you survive the Asimov Crown's removal?" He asks guardedly.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Val keeps pace and cycles the action of his rifle without taking his widened eyes off the artificial being in front of him. His mind drifts momentarily back to the of the team's Cloud 9 and Yakuza operations, the nostalgia of relative normalcy taking hold in his brain. He shakes it off. This is real. It's fragging crazy, but it's happening. Just get through this, then it might be time to seriously consider that vacation...
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Max pulls Marlowe up to his shoulder and butts the stock against it firmly. The pangs of excitement and fear co-mingle as the elf walks willingly into another situation that could very well be the final page of his story. But his resolve is strong. With his daughter alive, this is all he can do to keep her safe and support her. When Max first stepped into this life, he was doing it because he had lost his family; he continues now because he got his family back.
Re: Contract #3: I, Robot?
Alpha looks over his shoulder at Doc. His face is completely bereft of any emotion.
"I didn't. Disabling the device triggered a biological fail-safe. I am dying."
"I didn't. Disabling the device triggered a biological fail-safe. I am dying."