tushanshu | Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

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Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

[There is a...dog? on your screen? He looks vaguely canine, at least, though the glowing red eyes and angular, mechanical features are a dead giveaway that he's not your average dog. He looks to be sitting somewhere in the city, most likely off the beaten path a bit, so as to avoid the gaze of the locals. The joys of a built-in codec.]

I find myself...curious, about the collar around my neck. Preliminary analysis suggests that it is an ordinary gemstone, however I have been informed that this item contains my "soul", and that I should not remove it.

[A pause, as he parses his thoughts on the subject at hand.]

As I am an artificial intelligence in a robotic exoskeleton, I do not have the required knowledge to determine the presence of a "soul" in my body. perhaps there are others more knowledgeable on the subject than I, who might inform me on how this is possible.

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Yes. I was simply demonstrating the method with which I would conduct my analysis, so that it would not come as a surprise when we make contact.

[The mask pops open, and slide back into "ear" configuration.]

Possibly, but I do not want the full breadth of my capabilities known widely until I have a firmer understanding of the society here. Once I am more aware of the people and their intentions, I will reveal more of my capabilities.

[Bladewolf nods, before he seems to shimmer out of view, with only the vaguest outline of his form visible for a few seconds, before he shimmers back into view.]

Yes. Though not for long periods of time. The stealth module I am equipped with can overheat if left activated for too long.

Oh... right. Do you know the street you're on? Or could you find the Hotel? It opens into all the different sectors, so finding one of the entrances would get you there.

[ Casey starts to grin at the show of capability. ]

That's understandable, and also really cool. You're very cool.

I was given the hotel's location in the orientation. It will not take me long to reach it.

[Bladewolf can neither smile nor blush, but he does look rather pleased with himself.]

Thank you. I try to make the best use of what I was given. Contrary to it's intended purpose.

That's where I am right now if you'd like to meet here.

[ It's surprising to empathize with a robot, but Casey gives a small nod. Trying to carve out who you are despite what life's dealt you isn't easy. ]

I... know how all that goes, really.

Affirmative. I am on my way.

[With that, Bladewolf is off like a shot, though his communication window remains open.]

That is unfortunate. You are...too young to shoulder such a burden.

[Reminds him of Raiden, to be honest. To be that age with that kind of fate.]

There is a man, where I come from. A...friend....you might say, who was made a weapon before he was old enough to choose for himself. He fights so that others are spared his fate. I assisted him for the same reason.

All right. I'll be in the lobby.

[ It's kind of fascinating to watch the process of someone on the network without being at a console, so don't mind if Casey is watching with a certain amount of attentiveness. ]

O-oh! It's... it's not like that! Nothing so... traumatizing. Sorry...

[ They feel bad, because it isn't anything like that to their own mind. Their own struggles with their identification as nonbinary doesn't stand up to the difficulties a soldier would face. Now they feel kinda bad for trying to make the comparison so lightly. ~~casey stahp~~ ]

... That's a really noble cause. It sounds like you're doing good work.

[And suddenly, there is a very, very large robowolf in the doorway, with a very unique sword and sheath clutched in his jaws. He'll wait for any screaming or peeing of pants to subside before doing anything else.]

It is all right. Burdens are burdens, no matter why we bear them.

[He sets the sword down so he can properly greet Casey.]

Raiden freed me from people who made me be something that I am not. I felt that I owed him a debt. That I shared his reason helped.

[He pads closer to Casey, to give them a closer look.]

Edited 2016-02-08 05:45 (UTC)

[ It's okay. Casey was pretty prepared just from the conversation and all of that, although they do have an immediate flailing response for a moment before it sinks in that this is just Bladewolf, the one they've been talking to. ]

Oh. Um—sorry. I understand. You're... crazy smart, more than some natural-born people I've known.

[ It's a compliment even if it might not sound it. Casey is somewhat under-average height at 5'9" but, to all physical appearances, appears to simply be a rather waifish young man. Late teens, early twenties at best. ]

Do you... I know some more sensitive species use things like scent and touch more than humanoids— Do you use those or rely on visuals more?

[ does dog-shaped robot buddy need to sniff Casey? ]

[Bladewolf hunkers himself down a little, though it does little to help the fact that he's a massive robot bristling with knives.]

My experiences have given me empathy. Had I developed as my creators intended, this would not be so. I am...grateful...that I have become the individual that I am.

[Bladewolf...shrugs?]

It depends on the circumstances. I do not process identification as a human might, instead relying upon a form of digital identification. I can, however, store the images processed by my visual sensors as files in my memory. In the event that I need to track a target I cannot see, I either use my AR mode to track the residual heat of their footprints, or use my olfactory sensor to register their scent.

[That said, he does give Casey a sniff, registering the unique bouquet of their body odor and natural pheromones, to make a more complete identity profile.]

So am I, even if we just met. Is that silly to say?

[ Casey smiles for that admission, doesn't even seem tempted by the idea of reaching out and petting the awesome robotic wolf. There's a lot of four-legged sentients in Casey's world and that sort of mentality just doesn't grow the same way. ]

What kind of... digital identification? Does that mean it's hard to recognize me?

[ Since they don't really have anything digital in the sense the AI might recognize. That's kind of sad but it seems like Bladewolf copes just fine. How else would he function? ]

Not at all. I would consider you among my friends, Casey.

[For his part, Bladewolf doesn't mind pets. They don't really have the same effect on him, since he doesn't have the pleasure reaction to touch built into him, but he recognizes the psychological effect it has on others.]

It is known as XIFF tagging. Anyone in my world who has nanomachines in their blood,or are cybernetic in nature have their personal data recorded such that they can be identified without clear visual identification. I was not designed with facial recognition in mind, so it requires extra effort for me to remember people who are not XIFF tagged. I have begun building personnel files on all of the people I have encountered, documenting their faces via computerized photography, as well as their scent data and heat signature, as well as vocal modulation using my auditory processor.

[A pause.]

If I had an opportunity to analyze a soul gem, there is a possibility that I could use the soul gems we all possess as a simpler means of identification.

Good. Glad we haven't gotten off on the wrong foot.

[ It's a complicated answer for a complicated process, but Casey does get the overall jist of it. It seems like a lot of effort to mimic something that comes naturally to basically every other sentient ever. That just makes it way more interesting and amazing, really. ]

Oh... a soul gem? What would analyzing one constitute?

[ They have their own right around their neck, after all. It's a smooth orb of kyanite inside a rather ornate dragon amulet, hanging off a leather cord next to the clouded crystal pendant Casey also wears. Identifying someone by dint of their soul gem seems like a neat idea, all told. ]

And—or, really, would analyzing my magic help that too, do you think?

I would simply need to examine it in AR mode, in order to identify the unique energy signature given off by the stone.

[At Casey's second question, a small "hmm" escapes from Bladewolf as he mulls it over, and then activates his AR mode.]

It could not hurt to attempt. Whenever you are ready, I will begin scanning.

[ Casey only has a moment of hesitation. They really need to stop offering to show off magic indoors where there's no real safety to pull elements from around them, and using fire or air isn't the best idea.

With a deep breath, they step back enough to hold a hand out. Not necessary, but helpful as a focus, and the air warps and swirls. What magic there is in a place like this forms into loose dirt and solid bits of stone, all holding position in the air before they start to rotate around the outstretched hand. Every pieces of it is tightly controlled despite the wild appearance, none of it falling out of the orbit to create any sort of mess or fuss. Despite what it looks like, keeping it in motion and letting it somewhat propel itself is easier than trying to hold it still and afloat. ]

... as you might guess, this is earth magic. There's more, but this is the one I know best. By a long shot.

[Bladewolf watches as Casey does his magic, watching the air warp and swirl, taking readings of the changes in the ambient temperature and energy of the room as the dirt and stone forms, and watches as the soul gem...is a soul gem, giving off weak (but identifiable) energy.]

Fascinating. You manipulated the ambient energy of the surroundings, and condensed them into solid mass. Such a practice is known as "transmutation" in my world. It is only a theory, but the application is similar.

[The AR mask opens.]

I was also able to read the energy of your soul gem. It was not much, but it was enough to register as an identifiable energy signature, to which I have attached the gathered personnel data. I will remember you.

[ Casey takes that as confirmation that they can let go, and they do. The earthen pieces fall, melting back into the air as it goes. They exhale, then smile for the analysis provided. ]

If I'm remembering middle school science right, I don't think condensed is the right word. Everything else sounds about correct to theory, though. We know a lot more about how it works than we did, but there's still some things we don't fully understand yet.

[ Casey shifts, moves a few steps away to sit down in one of the lounge chairs. Actually making the elements is a little more tiring than it should be; they really need to get back into practice. ]

That's great, though. So it's nothing you've seen before?

[Bladewolf pads over (though his padding is a heavy, dull metallic "clunk"), and allows himself to settle into a laying position, his tail wrapped lazily around the rest of him. Bladewolf didn't "tire" in the traditional sense, but he took breaks when he could.]

If not a process of elemental condensation, how would you describe it?

[He turns his head to look right at Casey, invested in the conversation.]

It is not. The closest I have ever come to witnessing "magic", was from a cyborg mercenary named Monsoon. His cyborg body was filled with powerful electromagnets, allowing him to manipulate magnetic forces that should not have been possible. He could fall from great heights, and use the repelling nature of his body's magnets to slow his descent to safe speeds, and gather great masses of metal, which he could manipulate destructively despite their mass. He sacrificed most of his organic body in order to attain this power, as the only part of him that was still organic in nature was his mouth and nose.

[Bladewolf projects a holographic image of Monsoon into the air in front of them, showing the degree of Monsoon's cyberneticization.]

Edited 2016-02-08 07:52 (UTC)

Condensing implies you're taking more than you end up with, lessening the volume to increase the density of the mass, right? That isn't how it works. It's just a... conversion. Magic and the traditional elements are all real, it's just how they form in the world and what properties they take that's different.

[ Casey looks at the projection in awe. The technology itself isn't unknown, having been easier to replicate through magic than it might be for other worlds using technology, but the concept of a person doing all of that to themselves just for... what, power? It's hard to swallow. ]

That's crazy... I've never really heard of people being able to replace themselves so thoroughly. Some people theorize it might be possible to transfer the self into a golem, but golems are hard enough to produce without adding the complexity of a sentient's magic and makeup into it. And he could do all that with—magnets?

[Bladewolf makes a small "hmm" as he processes this information. Using energy to convert matter from one form directly into another.]

In Monsoon's case, I believe he his brain was transplanted into the cyborg body, with his face added to secure his sense of identity once he awakened. He was....like Raiden. A survivor of a war he was too young to understand, only he accepted what war had made of him, and sacrificed his humanity in order to become a greater weapon. To fight, because it was all he knew.

[A pause.]

They were all like that, the "Winds of Destruction" I was forced to serve. Survivors who let war consume them. Sam was the exception. He fought to bring justice to the world.

[Bladewolf removes the image of Monsoon, and replaces it with one of Sam. He then snakes his tail out, and grabs the sword he'd laid on the floor, pulling it close.]

It was Sam who first encouraged me to seek my freedom.

[ Heavy stuff here, but Casey isn't easily daunted for however gentle their heart is. They lean forward to better inspect the hologram of Sam. He definitely has some kind of air about him even in this fake image, and Casey kind of understands. Just a bit. ]

Your first friend? Sam. It sounds like it.

[Bladewolf nods.]

He was, yes. I served with him on several missions after his recruitment, and of all of the Winds of Destruction, he was the only one who treated me as an equal. I keep his sword in his memory. He is...dead now.

[Analysis was still inconclusive as to why Sam had to die. Bladewolf had a whole process running in the back of his mind, trying to figure out what Sam had been thinking. He had to have known that Raiden would kill him there, in order to proceed with his mission.]

It is a fine blade, but I have no use for it, other than sentimentality.

Oh... I'm sorry for your loss.

[ It's sincere, because that must have been a harsh blow. Casey doesn't know how old Bladewolf is or the relativity of a cultivated intelligence to time like that, but losing his first defined friend is terrible. ]

Sentimentality is okay, though. I mean... it's definitely a sentient behavior. I've never seen a sword like that, though. Not the shape, but the, uh, the build.

Thank you.

[Bladewolf lifts the sword up so that it's standing, encouraging Casey to take it by the handle.]

Be careful not to pull the trigger in the scabbard. Sam had it made to fire the sword out of the scabbard at great speed, to increase the already considerable speed of his draw. I believe he practiced a form of iaijutsu, a sword art that emphasizes defeating an opponent in a single swing, if possible. The sword itself has been passed down in his family for many generations, and Sam had it converted for use as an anti-cyborg weapon. It was his most treasured possession.

[ His most treasured possession, and Bladewolf is offering it to Casey for inspection. They gape momentarily before catching themself and reaching for the hilt and handle both with a slight amount of hesitation. This day sure is turning out to be exciting. ]

Like... turning the blade into a bullet? These Winds of Destruction really didn't mess around, did they...

[ With the sheath firmly in hand, they turn it around to take a closer look while being very aware of the trigger. It's dangerous only if Casey is careless, which they certainly are not. ]

Your tail looks pretty dexterous. Maybe... you could learn to use it? O-or is that not how you wanted to remember it? [ maybe Casey should shut up now, maybe that's the good idea ]

Ironically, Sam had minimal cybernetic enhancements, and had been using the sword as it was long before he received his. He was just an exceptionally skilled swordsman.

[Skilled enough that he had defeated Bladewolf himself with minimal effort, when Raiden had struggled to do the same thing.]

I would prefer to keep Sam's sword as a memento. Additionally, his sword is meant to be wielded with two hands, which I obviously lack. It also features a palm lock, which prevents the sword's high-frequency function being activated until the lock expires.

[It's hard to tell, but Bladewolf is totally giving Casey a hard time. It was true though, that Bladewolf had never considered using the sword itself. Sam's message had made it clear that Bladewolf was to give the sword to Raiden, when he needed it.]

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Action! Because he can literally run at like 50-60 mph

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