System Appropriation
From Final Kingdom MUSH
System Appropriation | |
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Date of Scene: | 16 November 2012 |
Location: | Manhattan |
Synopsis: | LEXUS moves to secure a definitive hand in the war for the Grid by visiting Flynn's Arcade, the only other known entrance to the systems... |
Cast of Characters: | Deelel, LEXUS |
Tinyplot: | In A New York Minute |
- Deelel has posed:
It had only been a little while after the Twins and Reize had departed from their trip to the grid. Deelel had been hestant but Reize had seem intent one way or another so it was best he'd had an escort. Her choice had been proven right given an incident with light cycles and Reizes head proving harder than the canopy of one. They had left not more than a half hour ago and Deelel had locked up the entrance. Sure she was squatting but to her it was just an unused old sector more or less. Still it being on the power grid still was interesting given what she'd learned of user culture so far. They tended to pull the plug on shut down buildings so they'd not leech power from the gird. It always left her a bit curious about that. She's currently up in the loft where she's got misc supplies all set up from food to some art supplies of all things. There's a digital sktch pad she' grabbed while in the grid and has some half finished design on it. She seems happy enough as she's managed to get the juke box to play something other than seperate ways, not that it was a bad song really.
From the outside the old Arcade was still pretty much rundown, Deelel had had the sense to keep to using her natural lights rather than turning on the lights in the loft however. She had laid some warning systems thanks to a tip off she knew at least one if not two dangerous natives of the grid were lose in user space. Not that it would do much good given what Lexus was. All he'd have to do was move in right it's not like the Media Program could put up any sort of a fight right?
- LEXUS has posed:
Not really.
LEXUS had been keeping a watch on the media program's capabilities and actions for some time. He had manipulated her into a daring attempt to escape the Grid to ensure that the exit was functional and safe to use.
He himself did not use it, but that knowledge gave him a pinpoint on where the other led. While it was meticulously guarded /within/ the Grid, outside... Well, outside was another story.
Warning systems alert Deelel as a U-Haul truck pulls up to the front of Flynn's Arcade in the middle of the night. From the cab, the suited man steps out, walking to the front door, boldly.
When your opponent's defensive capabilities are not considered to be a threat, why spend the effort on subtlety?
He knocks on the door, politely.
- Deelel has posed:
There had been a side effect, MCP had also found his way out into the user world as well. That could complicate things quite a bit Deelel is just relaxing really after an interesting day when the alarm goes off. It's silent a hud displays a holographic display before her face and it brings up an image of a U-haul truck. She doesn't like the Look of it, she knows it's trouble given the signature of one of her kind was listed with high proablity. What can she do though? She knows whoever it is? They are stronger than her, but she's got got only two options given what she suspects they were after. She could run, that was the smartest choice to do? Run away and live right? At the cost of everyone on the Encom Mainframe, they'd be Derezzed or made viral in short order. Or consumed if it's MCP. She should run, she damn well should run she wasn't a security program, she'd proven adapt at surving Sark's games but this was something tht no matter who it was could cut through Black Guard on a Whim. She thought of Cel, Yuri, even Tron who'd she'd never met but the stories of his restiance to MCP had kept her going in the darkest of times. She's the last line of defence the entire grid has agaisnt whoever this is, her mind is made up she collects her few efects they vanish into pouches on her outfit before she heads down for the door.
There's another ping from the front door scaner. She sees the image and she grimaces to herself. "Mac." It's LEXUS in many ways he's worse than MCP in some others he's more understandable at least. Still he wiped out an eniter Black Guard partol in microcycles. It's a funny thing to know she might be about to be Derezzed, there's no time to call the Shard Seekers for help. None of them would reach the arcade in time. She wonders for a moment her User? Who were there? Were they alive what were they like? She could attack him right out the door but that would kill the slim option of words having an effect she's going to try that. It's the slimest chance but the most likely to have her surive and prehaps the grid as well.
"Hello LEXUS, I see you found your way out of the grid like he did." She'll open the door and step outside, if fight breaks out? Best for it to happen outside.
- LEXUS has posed:
LEXUS smiles faintly as Deelel exits the door. "Indeed. It was a simple matter, really. I am glad you found the exit like I hoped."
He folds his hands pleasantly before him. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I will need to be taking possession of the equipment within this building. As you have been of service to me, I will make you an offer. If you stand aside, you will not be harmed. You will continue to run whatever functions you will for as long as you remain. I will not interfere with your actions unless they interfere with my own needs."
LEXUS pauses, letting that sink in before he continues. "If you attempt to stop me, however, I will be forced to derezz you. Please, do the sensible thing."
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "I will give you one bit of information that will be of intrest of you. It's very Likely MCP or one of his more powerful operatives are here as well. MCP found the entry point on the other side and like you was seeing if I would surive the transition."
She has to admit he's making a good offer, she should take it. She should just condem the entire world she went for help for to save herself. She knows she's not a security program she's got no choice now. Still she can stall for prehaps a bot more time with one other question.
"So you come for the laser and the server dor what ends? What use do you have for a small layer of reality when there's far more out here in user space than either of us could have dreamed about? Why do you want it?" She makes no grab for her weapon she stands her ground for now. Still the temptation to accept is there, to surive, to stay alive. That desire is natural in programs, the games only brought it out even more in her, could she leave with leaving everyone to an unknown fate that likely would lead to drezzing?
- LEXUS has posed:
"You are not required to know that." LEXUS responds. "Suffice it to say that I require the systems. If you do not stand aside, I will be forced to destroy you. I do not make this deal often, or lightly." His inhuman eyes narrow faintly, the circular designs rotating slowly within.
"Choose quickly. Are you going to choose life, or death?"
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "I doubt that you showing mercy is an comon thing." She takes a deep breath a very human action she's been hanging around with users quite a lot lately and they are rubing off on her. "I made this problem for two worlds. Now I must mend it and defend the grid. If you will not tell me the purpose for which you want it I will not let out you take it without a fight. I will protect the grid till the microcycle I am deleted." There's no hate, in her voice, her hate is reserved for MCP both he and LEXUS are monsters just different types and so far as she knows MCP is the worse one. There's a focused look on her face as she goes for her ID disc. There's fear, there's so much fear she knows how fast a fully cleared squad of Black Guard fell to LEXUS. She thinks back to her firends from the games when they escpaed. She said she'c ome back with help she said she'd helped protect them.
There's a humm as the disc powers up into it's combat mode, she'd made her choice and the disk. She wasn't Tron but it seemes that one stubborn program had had an effect on the other basics like herself.
"You don't have to do this, you have your freedom from the grid, the users can never touch you again LEXUS, what more do you want?"
BGM Assassin's Creed Revelations - Scheduled For Deletion (OOC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxvJQcFRksM)
- LEXUS has posed:
"So be it."
LEXUS clenches his fists, and his knuckles pop. "It's not enough, Program. It never was. It never will be. The Grid must belong to me. But it will be irrelevant for you, now."
He raises his hands, and a series of rotating barriers surround LEXUS. "Engaging fortification systems." He says, the defensive barriers likely designed to stop typical assaults upon his person.
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel will not last long she's sure this is going to be a short and brutal fight but she couldn't keep living knowing she'd sold her world out to save herself. She'd left some artwork in places users could see, more than any other program of her kind? Their creators would have a vision of the programs world and what else she was able to think of. That was a feate that brings her likely the last bit of comfort she'd ever feel.
She takes her live disc and looks at Lexus for a moment.
"So your hunger is like MCP's?"
She breaks into a run heading right for LEXUS then flips up into the air launching her disc at him, it may retrurn hit or miss and she'll launche it several more times at him before she comes in for a landing behind him on the street.
- LEXUS has posed:
"You don't know anything about needs and hungers." LEXUS counters. He flicks out a hand, the attack striking the barriers repeatedly as they force him backwards. "The Grid is not so different from this world. And this world is not so different from others. The MCP wishes to simplt consume. I desire... a unification."
He descends, gesturing. Waves of digitized light swirl, before spears of neon green power strike, attempting to weaken Deelel for the kill.
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "Not like either of yours, and that his hunger like yours nothing is never enough is it? A unification what? With your self?!" She's fast, agile and knows how to move on her feet. It's why she surived in the games for as long as she did. Still LEXUS is something beyond a mere pit figure he's something of not quite of the system anymore. The strange strike does weaken her she's urt a bit but not too much yet. She launches another series ofd disck strikes as she cartwheels and tries to keep out of LEXUS reach.
- LEXUS has posed:
"You will understand in time. All of them will." LEXUS replies. The Disc hisses through the air as it spins towards him, but there is an explosion of light and heat as it shreds into one of the barriers, but LEXUS flicks a hand, sending the Disc flying away. "You will understand in time. All data has a purpose. It will be fulfilled."
The air becomes strange as LEXUS looks upon Deelel, and gestures. circuitlike bolts of lightning rain down upon her, while a searing, corrosive ball of toxic programming is launched towards her. "You have abandoned your purpose, program."
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel isn't in good shape at what Lexus is doing to her she's still nopt about to give up and she's lasted longer than those Black Guard has little does she know it. She narrows her eyes at the virus a moment before he rips into her again and again. She's still hurting pretty badly here, given that last hit from the lighting.
"Is that what you think? I have not abandoned to it I have simply added an addtional one!"
She seems to be running some sort of system cleaning routinte trying to reverse some of the damage Lexus has done to her.
- LEXUS has posed:
"Really? What is that purpose now? What kind of process could you be running now? Where is your User?" LEXUS presses his advantage, striking with a burning blast of code that threatens to shatter the lightcycle into derezzing bits. He follows that up with a series of geometric chunks of freezing code, that all rain down upon her and threaten to batter her apart. "You could have lived in peace. Don't tell me that you're showing regrets now?"
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says, "To clean up the mess I made in escaping from the Encom Mainframe, namely seeing you and MCP stopped before you spread your infection any further." The cycle doesn't last long as sit spins out frm the force of the hit and she's left sprawling in the ground as it comes up. She's trying to get back to her feet while she seems to be hurt there's clear signs of injury or damage to her. "My User? Funny I had hoped to fine them someday but that's just a selfish want!" She's got her disk again and is launching another attack at LEXUS this time sending a single disc strikea t him trying to keep him pinned down. For just moment longer.
- LEXUS has posed:
The disc strikes true this time, smashing through the barriers of LEXUS and knocking the man backwards. Unfortunately, the strikes are not lethal ones. Pieces of him derezz into the air, leaking digital blocks and points of crackling violet light, but he struggles to draw them back in, rincorporating them into his form. "All life is inherently selfish. We must make selfish choices to live. For us to live, others have to die. That is the way of things. All life follows this pattern... Even that of your precious Users!"
LEXUS raises his hands, the air surging as he begins to twist the air to his will... Then he slams a fist into the ground. The appearance of the area begins to take on a hyperrealistic tinge, entering the Uncanny Valley... And then cracks begin to appear, Darkness beginning to swirl and pool into the area as Deelel is bombarded with even more relentless blasts of viral code.
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "I know they re not perfect but you know what? I can accept imperfect creators. Prehaps so I know one can't fully change the system but I can change how I behave. Yes user eat thing but their food are the grid bugs of this level of existance! Or were you aboanoned by your user? Left unfinished?!"
She moves for all she's worth as the viral code rains down on her upon the street. She manages to somehow surive this assault upon herself but who knows what the viral code is doing to the surrounding area, she reoovers her disk again and launches another rapid series of strikes at the other program. "I actually lived with them for a time. They are more like basics than any of us have ever realised!" She feels a teinge of pain as her wounds keep getting worse she's She'd only starting to show pixilated injuries. LEXUS has beaten the hell out of her and without the system restore functions she seems to have she'd be even worse off? The area doesn't feel right anymore it feels taited and she doesn't have much time left and she knows it. She now leaping on to a partially infected car and then valuting up on to a now offline street lamp and looking down at LExus as she throws her disc again at him.
"If we only act selfishly and in our own intrests we're little more than grid bugs!"
- LEXUS has posed:
"Like you, I once had a User." LEXUS states simply. "He was destroyed. Assimilated into the darkness that consumed this world. I found a way to evolve past my original specifications. I learned things that never would have been posssible. My evolution will continue beyond anything you could possibly understand. Your limits are those which you have defined upon yourself."
LEXUS raises a hand, and a glittering Identity Disc appears in the air, hovering. It is emblazoned with the same insginia seen in his eyes, shot through with violet, crackling power in black and neon. He throws it at Deelel, unleashing a brutal series of blows as he sends it skipping through microportals of Darkness, bouncing off of surfaces to strike from all directions. Each hit saps at Deelel's system resources, reducing her ability to fight back. "I will not accept defeat by one such as you."
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel says "So you know what happened to yours intereting. I don't know prehaps they were cosumed by the darkness but...if that's the chase I will have to find them. You sure the cost to your self has been worth it?!" She's fast, but not fast enough as secveral of the blows strike her taiting her form more. "I'll never give up, you know that. I have everything to lose if you get past me, but you weren't expecting me to even be able to harm you were you?" She's looking more ragged now it's not long before she's going to drop or dereze with the savage abuse that's being handeld out here sapping her very enery yt? She's still got enough a memory comes to mind one she hated. Sark yelling at one fighter to FISNISH THE GAME and terminate another program. She knew how to fight she knew how to do it and this could be the Big end of line for her, so she needed go out a quietly, she'll not go quietly. She can do that much against someone like this. She focus for a moment on her disc. Almost everything she is on this, funny she wears her soul in plain sight on her back, where Users do not. No more time fo musing she's got one shot to make and she leaps down throwing the disc with every bit of force she can muster at the virus.
- LEXUS has posed:
LEXUS has nothing to say for the moment as Deelel takes her Disc, and with the practiced power of one who has played in the Games, puts it straight through LEXUS' chest.
He gapses for a moment, streaming energy and pixels spraying out of his shattered chest. He collapses to one knee, gasping....
And then there is a crackle of Darkness about him, the lights streaming back into him as he begins to stand again. Wounded, yes, but something there just reduced a lethal blow to a mere wound. "Worth it, you ask? Quite."
LEXUS replies, "You are far from beating me, even if you are more... tenacious than I expected. Perhaps there is some value to you after all." He gestures, launching another assault with his Disc as it darts through the air, punching towards Deelel with a crackling blast of lightning, followed by another viral strike.
And then he smiles. "Allow me to show you one of the benefits of my evolution." He raises a hand, and the Darkness parts, disgorging sleek, four-limbed creatures with long, almost insectlike bodies. Theur burning yellow eyes are surmounted upon their head with the symbol of the Heartless, the blackness that the chrome plates overlay undulating and shot through with violet.
One of these is terrible.
A hundred is horrifying. They look upon Deelel with a terrible hunger, and begin to lunge, slashing out and goring with their limbs.
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel has managed to hurt LEXUS, she's shocked, yet he surives the blow. That makes the horror all the worse, what has he become? What has he become? There's no way to know really. She stares in shock for a moment. Still the pixils coming from her own wounds are telling. She assumed it was endurance and system integrity beyond anything she'd ever seen before. It gets worse, even worse as ta thing a horror of her world fused with that of something from outside even the user's level of existance. She can only stare at them as they lunge at her ripping into her and the wounds get worse she screams in pain. She's trying to fight the thing and Lexus but there are too many. It's clealry out of pure defiance or prehaps some drive to just stay alive even with all logic saying it's impossib,.e She strikes out with her disc again and again at the beast trying to cull their numbers and even a few shots might make their way at LEXUS as well but it's clear her strengh is fader from the force of the blows.
- LEXUS has posed:
The disc hammers out, striking LEXUS repeatedly and dealing damage to him. He maintains system integrity, however, even in the face of this rain of death that would have easily shattered any lesser program. Deelel has done well. The Daemon Heartless, however, are merely a distraction as LEXUS moves forward, walking towards the fighter.
"I have had enough." LEXUS states, simply. "Your time is up. Your functions will be added to my own."
He raises a hand, and slams it into the ground once more. This time, a massive pool of Darkness washes out in waves, rushing around Deelel's feet. Purple circuitry grows upwards like alien trees, seeking out and attempting to puncture Deelel's form, beginning to corrupt, destroy, and assimilate parts of her in a terrifying assault upon her existence.
- Deelel has posed:
This is a kind of terror a User can never fully understand, it's just something alien. Something that doesn't quite work right with organic existance. To a program? It's horror beyond being derezzed. She feesl the thing attempting to puncture her they latch hold and the horrifuic process begins, It should be over. A fate worse than death, yet? Something inside the basic just /snaps/. She's scared, she doesn't want her home to be consumed but she still, she wants to live. She wants to live. She doesn't even think twice about what she does next she takes her disk and uses it to cut away flank of her arm where the tendrils had tklane hold she screams in pain but has managed to get free and not be consumed. She's on empty she should run but there's no point now LEXUS minions would hunt her down if he somehow could not. The pixilated damage where she cut her self is bad, but the alternative was worse. System errors are starting to crop up as she launches prehaps her final strke against the virus the disc bounces about off buildings, cars, and any of the remaining horrors all coming right at LEXUS.
- LEXUS has posed:
Somehow, she avoids his assimilation attack.
LEXUS is surprised. It even shows on his face, as the disc knocks him back. He's starting to lose cohesion himself, but that dark power he channels seems to allow himself to stay in the game. A burst of viral code opens a weakness in Deelel, which is ruthlessly exploited.
LEXUS' Disc comes back, and he sets it to hang around Deelel, showering her with intense spikes of code that will freeze her processes solid.
- Deelel has posed:
Deelel is weakened has almost nothing left in her she does manage one last look at LEXUS, "Tron...still resists....MCP. He will...find...you." She collapses to the ground as she fully seizes up from the code spikes that just overhwlem her and the world goes dark.
- LEXUS has posed:
"TRON can't find me out here." LEXUS replies smoothly. With a casual motion, he bends down and picks up Deelel. "You can tell him hello for me... before I shut down the system." He chuckles, carrying her inside, where she will soon find herself back inside the Grid.
And true to his word, a few minutes later, everything goes dark.
Outside the Grid, LEXUS efficiently directs his Daemons to unhook and remove the mainframes that run this portion of the Grid, loading them onto the U-Haul and getting in to drive them off.
The plan is in motion.