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Post by Kamui.EXE on Aug 15, 2004 7:30:15 GMT -5
[chat1: We're in the arena. It seems that Katrice won't leave us alone until she helps us. She seems to have taken a real shining to us.]
~kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 15, 2004 20:49:01 GMT -5
Tweaker was in an argument with the ring attendant. "What do you mean I can't bring my sword in here? This is a martial arts tournament, isn't it? I believe martial arts uses swords?"
"Suh, that lovely specimen you ah carrying is what as known as a broadsword. That is of the type used in England, especially during the Crusades, I believe. Japanese swords are entirely different, being lighter, longer, and much more precise. In addition, they are used for thrusting instead of slashing. Your sword, suh, with that ugly squared-off point, cannot be used for thrusting. Therefore it is inadmissable. Rent a locker, if you please."
Not good for thrusting? You wanna find out how good it is for thrusting? Silently Tweaker bent over his sword, interfaced with the handle, and adjusted the blade paramenters. The rectangular plane shooting from the cross-shaped handle narrowed into a long triangle. Tweaker presented the sword to the attendant. "How's that?"
The attendant looked down his nose and sniffed. "One moment, if you please, suh. I must consult my manager."
Tweak stepped away from the entrance, leaving the sword at the booth, and walked over to the practice rings. Stepping onto one of the rings, he first stretched a few different directions to limber his circuits and get used to his new agility, then leaped into the air and performed a quadruple-flip over to the other ring. "W00t! This is fun! ;D"
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Post by Harpo989 on Aug 15, 2004 20:58:59 GMT -5
About then I came trotting up to the trio. I spoke quietly to Tweaker: "They certantly like to keep a lid on things around here. they encoded all of the access terminals for high-level employees only. anyway,I downloaded all the data I could about that warrior. they had a whole lot of info on 'im. I didn't take time to read it all though." I handed Tweaker a small data packet that he could read on his HUD. "Also... I don't think he knows they know all that. check out these packets I found." I handed Tweaker three other packets, all with nearly full bios on the three of us.
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 16, 2004 14:30:26 GMT -5
Tweak nodded. "Good job, Harpo." He accepted the data packets and stored them. "I'll read these before the competition starts. Right now we should probably concentrate on winning the tourney, though."
Tweak jumped back up onto the rings and did a few flips. On the last one, though, he misjudged and came down at an angle, hitting the hard surface with an electronic whummmm. "Ouch!" Slowly he got up. "Yikes. That could have cost me... almost invalidated my footer..."
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Post by Harpo989 on Aug 16, 2004 15:25:31 GMT -5
I walked over to the equipment rack an grabbed one of the ring game's iconic gloves, then slipped it onto my right hand. the glove was large at first, then the part that slipped over my hand twisted and conformed to my lower arm, changing colors to my suit's purple ad becoming almost part of my arm. "Woah... impressive." I commented. I walked over onto one of the practice rings and tried doing a few slinging moves with the glove. "Hey, you should check these out, guys! this has to be the lightest ring game glove I've ever used!" then I observed a small control unit on the side. I pessed one of the buttons and the glove suddenly straightend out and the end suddenly turned into a sharp point. I arched my eyebrow. "Interesting."
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 17, 2004 12:36:18 GMT -5
"Wow. Nice dueling stick." Or assasination weapon. Tweak walked to an I/O node, sat down, and ordered several martial-arts .dat files. Streaming them live over the Internet, he began to install them one by one.
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Post by Harpo989 on Aug 17, 2004 13:23:51 GMT -5
I saw there was about four buttons on the glove, but I decided not to try the other two now. I pressed the first button, and the glove reformed to the familiar ring game style. I walked over to Tweaker and spoke quietly. "Am I just crazy, or does this whole thing seem suspicious?"
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 17, 2004 14:40:25 GMT -5
Tweak spoke slowly, his concentration split between conversation and installation. "I don't think you're crazy, Harpo. I think that may be the most astute statement I've heard all day. In fact, I think we may do well to keep a few weapons hidden when we compete, even if it means losing the advantage in runtime speed. I just hope they don't take away our discs and your meshes when we compete."
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Aug 17, 2004 18:03:02 GMT -5
Kamui.EXe was already preforming some katas. She would fight honourably as the rules stated. She wanted a challenge and she was going to get one. Katrice was setting up some training dummies.
"Katrice helps! Katrice get training dummies for you to practice with, yes?" says Katrice as she sets up.
Kamui.EXe admired the program's spirit. She loved these games apparently and had a lot of enthusiasim.
~kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 18, 2004 3:28:15 GMT -5
/Installation: 80% complete/
As the installation finished up, Tweak considered in the back of his mind the little program helping Kamui. She certainly seemed innocent enough. He wondered what would happen if he ordered her to bring him a power malt and some energy drops. She'd probably do it, too. What's a nice program like that doing in a dishonest establishment like this? Maybe we can get her out of here when we leave. He smiled as a mental picture formed in his mind: Him before his James, saying "User, User, she followed me home! Can I keep her? Pleeeease?"
On the other hand, it was entirely plausible that she was a plant designed to lower their defenses. If they were to be serious about trusting her, some sort of test would have to be devised-- and not an easy one, for Tweak was not one to give out his trust blindly. That way lay heartbreak and deresolution. And how do Harpo and Kamui view this cheery little script? Always remember...
Ph34r t3h cute ones.
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Post by Harpo989 on Aug 21, 2004 21:54:29 GMT -5
I walked over to a control panel on the wall of the training room. I stared at it for a moment, then pressed a button. I ran over onto one of the rings, and a small glowing ball rezzed in and dropped own into my glove. I bounced it a few times, then gave it a swing and flung it at the ceiling. it bounced, and I jumped over to the other ring set just in time to catch the ball. Hmm... too far outside... I'll need to get used to these rings being closer. I bounced the ball to myself a few more times, and kept an eye on the young Katrice. That program... she really is enthusiastic. I wonder how long she's been around... and her odd appearance... I wonder what exactly she was written for. I arched my eyebrow as I thought of possible answers. I made a roll and catch then threw the ball again. Whatever she was written to do... she must not be doing it. suspicious one could have such a great deal of time... and look so odd. of course she may have no idea what's going on with these games... in which case we could take her with us when we leave. I smiled at the thought of coming back to Ming and bringing Katrice. then my face fell again. I jumped to the other ring. Ming... what if we don't win this tournament? what do we do then? so many problems... I glanced at Katrice again. So many mysteries...
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Aug 22, 2004 7:27:05 GMT -5
Katrice was trying to make herself as helpful as she can. Kamui.EXE decided to stop her for a moment.
"Katrice, when you're not here, what is it that you do?" kamui.EXE asks.
"Katrice not busy often. Sorts MP3s. User keeps so few! Katrice get bored. User not around often. About you?" says Katrice.
"I'm not entirly sure about my user at all. I never met him or her." Kamui.EXE says.
Katrice seems supprised.
"No user! Katrice sorry for you!" she says.
~Kamui.EXE
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Post by Tweaker on Aug 22, 2004 15:40:03 GMT -5
/Installation: Complete/ As Tweak backed away from the I/O node, a voice boomed over the PA system. "ATTENTION, PROGRAMS! THE DRAGON'S FLAME COMPETETION IS ABOUT TO START! SPECTATORS, TAKE YOUR SEATS! COMPETITORS, PREPARE FOR BATTLE!"
Tweak winced at the loud noise, then called to the other programs. "C'mon, we'd better get backstage." Then he walked to the weapons booth, where the .uk-based program reappeared holding his plane-sword. Arching an eyebrow, the program silently handed him his sword. Tweak acknowledged with a nod, strapped Ritips on, and headed for the door. The games were about to begin.
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Post by Kamui.EXE on Aug 23, 2004 7:09:38 GMT -5
When the programs got to the locker room. The first pairings were announced. Kamui.EXE looked at hers.
"Oh! Gridbugs! I'm fighting a big fat program! That's just what I need!" Kamui.EXE says rolling her eyes.
~Kamui.EXE
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Post by Harpo989 on Aug 23, 2004 12:42:05 GMT -5
I looked at the first pairings, hunting until I found our names. "Hmm... I'm going against some program named 'aolinstallerapp'... doesn't sound like a challenge. how about you, Tweak?"
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