(Ch. 6: Day 3, pt. II)

Nuzlocke Griff · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:12 pm

The news didn't seem to be so surprising this time around. After the short victory dance of sorts, Desmond's smile of confidence quickly faded as the new problem entered in the ship's halls.

"Capsule Troopers?" the ferret let out in a whisper, "Those other non-Eggman bots right?" The fact that they were under Chimera's control was the only unsettling news laid down so far. "Do we know what they are armed w-" A short blast of gun fire stopped him mid question, "...ith?"

The hare's comment was heard by the him as well, with no offense taken he quickly answered with a pat on his shirt. "Nope, no sash, no grenades" he replied, finishing his sentence while looking over at the griffen who seemed to now have a specific dislike of anything with explosive properties.

NPC · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 4:09 pm

Down below, the Capsule Troopers didn't answer, but there was activity, however unseen and unheard it may have been to those in the bridge. A cacophony of staccato gunfire peppered a difficult conversation between the two as they fended off an onslaught of Egg Pawns and Crabmeats. The floor was beginning to get littered with rings and parts.

"Get a load'a this guy!" said one in between shots. "Who's he even think he is?"

"I'm dry!" blurted the other, dumping his primary weapon with a clatter and producing his pistol.

"We don't even need guns for these punks," replied the first as the shots continued. "I say we go put some boot up some kiddy ass!"

"One, the way you said that sounds really bad, and two, there's still too many, so we gotta play this smart. Interference's down, so I'm gonna radio the Colonel for orders."

"Orders?! Get backup!" shouted the first.

"Stand down, Lieutenant. If we do that they may dive, then we're stuck. We gotta play it smart."

NPC · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 4:15 pm

Meanwhile a different conversation went on in the bridge.

"There are microphones at every console. The noise has not made you inaudible to me," commented the AI chidingly on what was probably intended to be a private comment from the hedgehog to the boar. "You must realize that many things are... different, now... Changing. Dangerous changes have occurred since Chimera absorbed the Capsule Trooper Army into its ranks. I no longer find myself in agreement with Lochert's long-term goals."

It paused.

"However, I am increasingly inclined to agree with his opinion of you, 'Geoff Hawkins.' While you are correct about my identity, that you presume to know anything of my loyalties only succeeds in betraying your childish presumptuousness. Fortunately, you have not been given any authority such that your judgment actually... matters. So there is still some hope left for our world."

"I am still prepared to fulfill my purpose."

Tony · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:32 pm

Fenn was chewing on his pencil again.

He merely stared back at his new robot friends who were reluctant to move down the ladder. He felt so bad about his attempt to send them marching to their bullet-riddled doom. The conversation surrounding him seemed to momentarily distract from the plight of the Pawns, however. Something about Capsule Troopers, Geoff recognizing the new voice now accompanying them in their current situation, and, of course, the names of Chimera and Lochert being dropped were very interesting, given that the AI in question appeared to be... leaning more towards their side of things...

As the panda thought to himself, a few of the others appeared to be going to head down to intercept the new threats. With that in mind, he did figure it was worth asking the AI...

"Sooo... anythin' you wanna actually help us with, then...? Y'seem to be... friendly, cooperative, er... could stand t'be a little less cold, though, I c'n feel them chills down my spine, yeesh..."

Zaka51 · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:09 pm

The constant voices were starting to wear on the dog's mind. With the fighting CTs arguing below, and the AI's intercom chat, a lot of information was coming in fast and Pax didn't have much time to sit and think it over. Sighing, a hand rose to his forehead and massaged it while he tried his best to process the situation. Thankfully, others were more than capable of asking the right questions. Glancing over at Fenn, then back to the computer, he added to the panda's query, "Can you at least identify yourself?"

Something was bothering him. There was something wrong with this situation, a bad feeling, but he couldn't acknowledge it now. The situation in front of him had to be handled first before he could focus on his concern. Paxton stared blankly into the computer monitor in front of him, as if expecting something to pop up and explain things.

NPC · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 9:30 pm

"I have already identified myself," the voice said plainly, then repeated: "I am an autonomous artificial intelligence that shares a common concern with you. If it is a name you desire, I do not have an affectation toward any in particular, and... my most recent designation should not be spoken where Chimera Capsule Troopers may hear."

Mie · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 10:34 pm

The porter hung back. She didn't really understand the situation, who the key players were, why the mysterious voice seemed to bother Geoff so much, or even what Capsule Troopers were, although their life-like personalities and voices severely creased her brow.

Still, Latika knew the only person who could (and would) really fill her in was busy at the moment, so she kept to herself, listening, piecing things together with gap-laden background information as best as she was able, and generally just trying to stay on the same page as everyone else. Whatever conclusions she was drawing, though, didn't seem to be making her terribly happy...

Zaka51 · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:02 pm

If the AI had a physical form that he could stare intensely at, Paxton would have done so. Instead, he just kept looking ahead into the computer, lightly tapping a finger on one of the keyboard's keys. With another heavy sigh, he turned on the PA system again. "What's the word on that surrender? Or...truce? I'll call off the robots if you just agree to negotiate, how about that?" He'd never had to argue with Capsule Troopers before, so the dog had little choice but to take shots in the dark and hope for the best. He looked back and gave Fenn an expectant glance, before refocusing on the descending ladder and the two hostiles below.

NPC · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 10:24 pm

Downstairs, still out of earshotFWIW never intended my phrasing to indicate anyone could actually hear them talking before; I was just writing all of this for the benefit of narrative and story. I'll skip revealing what they have to say this time around to avoid any more confusion., the two CTs conversed just a little longer. Apparently, they had gotten their orders back, because they suddenly... just... booked it.

That's right. Without any further ado, the two grabbed their guns and went storming off through the ship toward the hangar bay. From the looks of the security feeds, they were looking to make a getaway. Whether this was good or bad was up to personal judgment; while it wasn't surrender, it may have been better than having any kind of standoff continue.

Sheff · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:14 pm

To get to the point, Geoff wasn't feeling the slightest sliver of trust for the voice addressing him. Even with its claims towards its changed loyalties, the hedgehog wasn't one to immediately accept that as solid fact without question. It would be to no surprise, then, that his attention remained focused on the AI and not the ruckus that was being formed with the CTs and their sudden retreat, feeling a bit roused by the insulting choice of words.

"You mentioned you have a 'purpose'." He spoke upward, lacking a proper face or being to acknowledge. He was managing a fairly level tone, knowing being rash now would lead them nowhere. "Care to tell us what that all entails? And maybe why you're interested in us, specifically?"

NPC · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:40 pm

"None of you 'interest' me," said the cold AI. "The presence of an extension of myself aboard this ship makes interacting with you in complete privacy possible now that the GUN agent has disabled its communications." It paused. "You have secured an advantageous position. My goal has become to preserve Earth for research and posterity, which Chimera and the Capsule Trooper Army now put at risk with the Typhaon. I hold complete control over the organization's network, and with my assistance and access to information, there is high probability you may be successful in destroying Chimera and achieving this goal, which we share."

Sheff · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:07 am

"Can't argue with that..."

Geoff certainly looked a bit more contemplative and open now with the AI's offers, yet that didn't stop the fact they were nearly too good to be true. As for the voice's ice cold demeanor... well, he'd certainly dealt with much worse. And much more insane.

"Okay," began the hedgehog carefully. "Say you do have this... authority within Chimera. How are we supposed to know this isn't some ruse to go replacin' Rock with someone — or something — worse?" He paused, taking a breath before he became any more assumptive (and knowing him, it was a challenge). "I think we could at least get a proper reason to trust ya, anyway."

NPC · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:20 am

"My selection of the word 'destroy' was meaningful. You will find no bid to change who holds the seat of power in my suggested course of action," it answered simply. "Our plan would be to destroy the seat of power itself, which is the Typhaon. If anyone wishes to control what remains of the organization when we have finished, it will be inconsequential."

Zaka51 · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:06 am

"Why not trust it?" the agent suddenly asked Geoff in a flat, dull tone.

Paxton had shifted his gaze to the hedgehog as he conversed with the computer, occasionally glancing at the security monitors that he could see. He had noticed the CTs making their move; if they were hoping to escape the ship, that solved his problem anyway, so he did nothing to impede them. He quietly sat in his seat and watched the discussion going on, until that moment.

Leaning forward, he focused on Geoff as he continued. "I mean, if this was part of some grander scheme or something, it's not a very good one. What could it possibly gain from manipulating us except what we all want? What possible results could we deliver except taking down Chimera utterly? If it's risking its own security by contacting us, I'd say we owe it to trust it back--at least for a while. Besides...I don't think you can do much worse than Lochert." He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms and doing his best to look stubborn and serious. "I'm backing anything that destroys the Chimera network. If this AI wants to help us, I say we let it help; we need it--any of it."

Seafarinhare · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:19 am

Ivan listened to the back and forth between the rogue AI and their own green-colored hedgehog. He canted his head slightly, not entirely sure what to make of it. It obviously knew Geoff, and Geoff didn't trust it. It seemed to have some pretty powerful logic behind it, however.

Pax, on the other hand, in his attempts to break Geoff down, presented not-so-flawless logic. As much as he agreed with co-operating with the AI, there was a very simple answer to his rhetoric.

"Leadin' us into a trap would be a pretty good counter-plan to what our goal be, methinks." The rabbit said, "But maybe we oughtta play along."

Ivan paused for a moment, glancing between the other party members before asking sincerely, "Be robots able ta lie?"

(Ch. 6: Day 3, pt. II)

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