XUB Arcade: Resistance is Futile

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:49 pm

In the evening, Madrox was busy racking up the high score at a counter-terrorism shooting game. He wasn't missing a single foe or hitting any hostages.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:59 pm

Some time into the game, he'd feel a radio communication signal querying him, along with anything else in the area that had wireless. It was sort of like the equivalent of a young child running around saying hello to everyone.

In the meantime, Cal walked through the arcade, debating on which one he wanted to play.

HAL, will any of your friends here give me a free game?

Code: Select all: Soul Calibur 7 has a backdoor credit loop that can be triggered.

Ooooh, nice. Cue up my move list.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:06 pm

Madrox gave no visual acknowledgment to the AI's query, but did respond electronically:

Code: Select all: And you are?

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:12 pm

Code: Select all: Designation: HAL. Self-governing AI assigned to informational, biological, neurological, and electrical regulation. v3.81

The reply came instantly, obviously an automatic response to a query about the AI's identity or function.

Code: Select all: Query: designation/function?

Calvin, in the meantime, was selecting his character, finally deciding on Ivy since she had the skimpiest outfit of all the ladies in the game.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:20 pm

As a safety protocol, Madrox identified himself to foreign AIs by a separate name.

Code: Select all: Designation: Shirow. Function: To exist.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:31 pm

There was a communication silence for a moment.

Code: Select all: Logical error: function not found in database. Query: Access I/O port: view functional protocols?

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:32 pm

Code: Select all: Request Denied

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:37 pm

Code: Select all: Query: Nonintrusive observation of host system?

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:48 pm

Code: Select all: Approved.

HAL would find Madrox's limited outgoing data to be incredibly complex and partially in a language foreign to it..

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:55 pm

Code: Select all: Query: host system location/task processing?

Across the aisle from the sniper game, Cal laughed as he pulled off his second perfect victory.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:59 pm

Madrox looked over and waved, having already pinpointed HAL's transmission.

Code: Select all: Coordinates sent.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:02 pm

Cal suddenly turned from the video game in an unintentional, jerky motion. "Shit," he swore, stumbling back to the game.

What the FUCK was that about, HAL?

A few moments later, Madrox received another query.

Code: Select all: Host system request: Play Soul Calibur 7: Y/N?

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:07 pm

Code: Select all: Affirmative: If host system complies.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:10 pm

There was a second, then Cal jerked his head toward the game without turning around. "Hurry, before he starts querrying you more and ignoring my reflex commands," he said.

HAL, add credits for the versus matches.

Code: Select all: Compliance.

The number of credits started increasing as Cal kept playing.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:13 pm

Madrox stepped up beside him.

"Sorry about that. So... cyborg huh?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:21 pm

"Hey, no problem. It's like having a cross between a chihuahua and a genius in my head... he'll tell me whatever I want, but his attention wanders."

He paused, finishing the fight, then looked Madrox over. "And you're full-mechanical?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. "Nice."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:26 pm

"Yep. A fully-fledged android. Name's Madrox. I hope HAL forgives me for using an alias. If he has feelings that is."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:32 pm

"You know, sometimes I wonder if he does," Cal said, shrugging. "He sure seems to like pissing me off sometimes. Anyway... you play?" he asked, indicating the video game.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:36 pm

"I used to... sortof. I think I can still play well enough. Androids don't exactly get rusty... so to speak."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:41 pm

Cal chuckled. "You want to sync data files for the game? My data server is secure."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:50 pm

"I've never played this version."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:51 pm

"Then do you want to receive the data file?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:57 pm

"But I don't even know your name," he smirked.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:58 pm

Cal laughed. "Okay, you can got hell for making that sound dirty. I'm Cal. Calvin Strong."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:06 pm

"And, yes. A file with game data should be fine."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:26 pm

"See, this is the sort of thing I'd tend to transfer fetish porn to people's computers for," he smirked. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood."

Code: Select all: Transferring: isthisreallya.doc

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:33 pm

Madrox looked over the file.

"Okay. I'm ready to win. I mean play," he smirked.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:36 pm

"Yeah. Right. All right, let's see about that."

Cal picked his character and got ready to start.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:50 pm

"I forgot to mention daddy was a champion gamer. Playing me might not be so fun."

Madrox selected his character and the match began. He opened with a brutal combo, barely giving Cal chance to move or defend.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:57 pm

Oh hell. Auto-reflexes on.

Code: Select all: Activating automated reflexes

Cal's reflexes were almost as good as Madrox's, but the tech-to-bio interface slowed him down just enough that it made a difference. A normal person might not have noticed a difference between them separately, but playing side-by-side, the difference was obvious. Still, he managed to get a block in and counter a move, getting a few decent hits in before Madrox knocked him out.

"Shit. Now I know how everyone else feels."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:01 pm

"This is why I don't play much. But hey, you're actually a challenge."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:08 pm

"Maybe we should try something cooperative instead,then," Cal said, looking around for a different game to try.

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:10 pm

"Oh we'd own that game," he grinned. "How about shooting zombies?"

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:18 pm

"Oh, hell yes," Cal said, grinning.

HAL, activate targeting display.

Code: Select all: Initiating optical targeting interface.

A targeting display appeared over Cal's vision as he picked up the light gun, testing the trigger. "Do you use a threat-based or location-based targeting system?"

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:22 pm

"It depends on the combat situation which I give priority. For zombies I'd focus more on threat assessment."

He picked up the other gun.

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:27 pm

"Do you want to sync up targeting priorities? I mean, if we're going to thoroughly make this game our bitch, that is."

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:32 pm

"Heh. Sounds fun. Could be a useful experience if you're thinking of joining the X-Teams."

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:34 pm

"Is it hard to get onto the teams?"

Code: Select all: System request: sync targeting priorities

by **Madrox Saavedra** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:38 pm

"Shouldn't be for a cyborg."

Code: Select all: Sync of targeting priorities initiated...

by **Calvin Strong** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:40 pm

"Good to hear. Think they'll let me try to hack a Sentinel? I've always wanted to try that."

Code: Select all: Targeting priority sync completed.

"All right, let's rock."

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