4.04: Time for some thrilling heroics.

[nofileext]

The Mainframe populace go about their business as usual, if disturbingly cheerfully. The air is filled with cars and zipboards, not CPUs and tanks.

Everything's quiet, more or less.

Of course, given the group that's just coming in from Milliways, that's not liable to last long.

Comments

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[a1enzo]

They nod, and an anxious Enzo and a tired-out Phong slip around the corner.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

Once they're out of the way, Mouse sneaks quietly down to the end of the corridor, draws her sword, and then starts running. As she passes the medlab she calls, "Hiro! I need ya at the Core controls, it's an emergency!" She keeps running as if she's on her way there, but when she gets to the other end of the corridor, she starts tiptoeing back.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

It's not that he really needs to dispose of it; he and Mouse are the only hackers he knows of with the skillz to do anything with it, and neither of them would offend their Lady like that (as far as he knows). But as long as it exists, there's a risk that someone might tinker with it and rob the Net of the joy and peace that only the Word can bring. So, much as he hates to destroy his own work, he has a higher duty.

But when he hears Mouse's call, he decides he's got a more immediate priority. He sets the cure down near the bin, figuring he can dispose of it properly when he gets back.

He doesn't make a conscious decision to bring his swords, any more than most people need to make a conscious decision to bring limbs with them when they go somewhere.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

Mouse is reasonably confident that Hiro can dodge her cut or draw his own sword in time to deflect it, especially since she's sort of pulling her punch a little. She's aiming to distract him, tire him out - not delete him.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

Her confidence is well-founded. He sees her blade coming at him, and his katana is in his hands and blocking the cut before his conscious mind has time to process it.

"What was that supposed to achieve?" he asks as he counterattacks.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"Aw, don't ask me ta spoil the surprise, sugar," Mouse responds as she slices at his waist.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

"Okay then." He dodges, pulling his stroke as a result. "But can you at least explain why you turned your back on the Word? Don't you want to belong to something?"

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"Nah, not really. I just belong ta m'self." She swings her katana towards Hiro's shoulder.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

By the time it gets within about half a pixel, Hiro's katana is already in position to block it and attempt a counterthrust. "Well, that's a sad and lonely way to go through life."

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"Only 'cause y'got Daemon in your processor." Mouse narrowly dodges the counterattack Hiro makes when her own is deflected and slices down towards his wrists.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

"It's the truth. I knew it before I heard the Word, and I know it still." She manages to graze one wrist slightly before he can get them out of her way. "My great triumph over
(Asherah)
Rife was built on other people's work.
(Lagos, Juanita)
They did the research,
(Fisheye, Ng)
they provided the weapons; I was just the hand that held the blade."
It's the concrete manifestation of an abstract policy goal.
While he talks, he's dodging and weaving his way toward what he guesses to be her off-side, with the intent to swing at her from that angle.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

"Didn't sound like it from what y'told me before, sugar," Mouse objects. "An' in case ya fergot, y'were fightin' somethin' looked a lot like Daemon." Mouse notices that Hiro's working to get on her off-side, but she doesn't try to stop him. Better to let him attempt it and then do something he doesn't expect.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

"From the outside, yeah, my Lady looked a lot like... Asherah." (Why did it take him a moment to think of that name?) "But Asherah shut her victims' minds down. The Word
(only shuts parts of the mind down)
lets you do what you want."
(You just don't want anything Daemon doesn't want.)

She may notice the moments of hesitation as some rebellious thought rises and the Word squelches it. Whatever she's planning to do once he gets into position, he should be a pretty ripe target for it.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[l33t-mouse.livejournal.com]

Mouse thinks that maybe, just maybe, what she said got through to him. She didn't expect that, at least not consciously. Hiro's clearly flustered, and that gives her the opening she needs.

She lunges in suddenly, knocking away his sword with her own held one-handed, and uses her free hand to fetch him a blow on the temple. "Sorry, sugar," she says. "You'll thank me for this later."

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[hiroaki_protagonist]

He probably will, later. Right now, though, he just collapses without a peep.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[a1enzo]

As soon as Hiro is gone, Enzo and Phong come out of hiding and enter the medlab. No time to waste.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[nofileext]

There are three med-nomes in the room--two Zeroes and a One. The nearest Zero turns toward the newcomers with the same beatific smile seen on everyone else who is under the Word's influence. "Enzo! Good to see you! You're here early, your next diagnostic isn't for another two seconds..."

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[a1enzo]

Enzo blinks. "Yeah, but, uh, I've been feelin' kinda funny and Dot wanted you to have a look at me now..."

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[nofileext]

"Well, all right. Have a seat and we'll do a few scans." She steps forward to guide the young sprite to the scanner, then blinks and frowns up at the suspicious lack of green veins on his temples. "What in the 'Net--"

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[a1enzo]

Fortunately, sprites are generally quicker than binomes; Enzo yanks off his icon and zaps the cure at the 0. "Frisket!" The dog bounds in and herds the other medics into a corner, growling.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[nofileext]

The cure works a lot faster on binomes, too. The Zero blinks in surprise. "Oh my. That was rather rude of Daemon, to infect everyone without even--what are you doing?!" she yelps, seeing Frisket and the two terrified medics.

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[a1enzo]

"Holding 'em still." Zap and zap. "We need you outside. Bob's in really bad shape."

Re: Taunts, Tantrums, and TRUCKSPLOSION

[nofileext]

"Bob is still sick?"

All other concerns are immediately forgotten.

"Get the transfuser and a medpack," the first Zero says to the other medics. "If it's anything like last time, he needs help now."