System Shock - Fight the Power!

[thesystemshock.livejournal.com]

Gods could be too arrogant. Such was the case of SHODAN, who had turned the Pods into a nightmarish zone where she could freely amuse herself and torture those that had come here.

But arrogance breeds pride which breeds mistakes. Instead of killing everyone off, she had decided to do this more slowly – watch them suffer in a slow agony, and, therefore had not expected them to fight back.

It had been a lucky shot, really, one in a million, But one of the people present that day had accidentally shot a tiny, insignificant object. A tiny little drone, that, once it had been the source of the power damper, had fallen. The tables were turned, and the goddess had been forced to retreat from the pods.

Now she was on a panicked mode, not only because some of the other people on the ship had managed to work their way into her system files, using another AI to send pointless images and sounds to her, distracting her from her task, but they knew how they could defeat her and gain their powers back.

It didn't take long for the message to be sent out, as the word quickly spread. Find the tiny little creatures, and shoot them down. SHODAN couldn't work their shields properly and once they were found, it was only a short matter of time before the powers returned to an area.

It would take time, but, finally, the tide of the battle was turning on the side of the crewmen and women. In vain, she was throwing her all; even more strange robot creatures, attacking in packs, but with hope on their side, they could win this...

[OOC - OKay go for it! NPC players, feel free to NPC as many robots as you like. Players, once your powers return, feel free to make as much scrap metal as you like, no need to have people NPC for you if you just want to write tags of them kicking ass.]

Comments

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

She took the hand offered and straightened herself, eyebrows furrowing when she was embraced. It wasn't that it was bad, it just seemed...foreign, considering how long it had been since she was the one being embraced in such a manner. Slowly, she raised her arms and returned the gesture, her head nodding forward to rest against the cool metal of his chestplate. It almost had a soothing effect for her still-throbbing head.

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

Well. That only made sense, since she'd been all alone up in space for however long. But it was still kind of sad. He leaned his cheek against her head, exhaling. Yes, this was definitely nice. Now if only he could do something to help her mental problems, too, then he'd consider this the perfect day!

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

Her reaction to the sudden return of her abilities made her wonder exactly how the other telepaths and psionic-users on the ship were fairing. Hopefully better than she, though there was cause for concern for certain individuals who'd gone bat-shit crazy during this entire scenario. Linking with that particular mind only brought silence, however.

There was no rest for the weary though, and still so many things to get done. She wasn't looking forward to all the extra work that was going to need to be done as far as security was concerned. With a short breath, Mindfuck let her hands drop to the side and lifted her head, a wry smile gracing her face.

"As much as I would love to hide out in a dark room and sleep all day (or forever), I'm certain there's much more pressing matters currently at hand that require our attention, Maridian."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"You know, from my perspective I'm not entirely sure I agree," he said, but he released her. Honestly, he was a little embarrassed. Sure, he took a very strong interest in ensuring that his friends and allies remained whole and healthy, but never quite such a personal interest. Frankly, it surprised him a great deal. "But I suppose if a bunch of robots suddenly burst in to start slaying us, they would probably not respect a sentimental moment quite as much as we'd prefer."

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"Really, now? Don't you have a certain 'duty' to uphold, good sir? Ah, the downfalls of the morally righteous."

It surprised her as well, given her background, but she was beginning to think that elves (which, in itself wasn't difficult to get accustomed to, considering some of the suprahumans from earth) were either a trusting bunch, understanding, or plain weird on some account. The primordial ooze-man who received his powers via stds didn't even bother speaking with her, given the chance, and that was as low as you could go on the totem pole of Superhomeys. Next to Elyssa, that is.

"Hmm, in my (expert) opinion, I'd say that you're correct on that. There's also their inorganic state to consider; there isn't much (at all) I can do to fight them off, save ineptly firing a gun in their general direction and relying on (my terrible) luck to strike true."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

Naw, that was pretty much Mar. But why shouldn't he trust her? She'd been nothing but forthright, responsible, honest, and friendly with him all the time he'd known her, when with her power what she COULD do was surely much worse, probably without even any consequence to her. Even the most uncharitable person had to respect that.

Then again, he valued those qualities.

"Are you capable of reading them at all, or do mechanical minds not count as minds to you?"

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"Unfortunately not," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm afraid my (mind) hands are tied when it comes to that. Artificial Intelligence, kludge minds, (blah, blah, blah), etcetera aren't actually affected by my telepathy the same way a normal mind is. As in, I could (quote, unquote) 'read' the mind of advanced AI, but due to their nature there's no guarantee that what I 'read' would be accurate."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"But you can sense them?" Mar said, perking up. Just knowing numbers would be helpful, and if she could do direction and distance as well, score!

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"Yes, my telepathic reach can extend many hundreds of miles (fortunately, or unfortunately), though considering our current location, it's just a matter of separating their minds from the (collective cacophony) of the babbleroar (which shouldn't be too difficult considering their thoughts most certainly consist of 'maim' and 'kill')."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"Perfect!" He threw up a fist triumphantly. "You can be my eyes and ears! Knowing what's coming and how many will make it a lot easier to prepare and assault them. And not attacking other crew members would also be helpful," he added as a distant afterthought.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"In that case, I probably should leave you to the grunt work and keep my lamentable accuracy to myself, lest a stray bullet makes its way into a hapless crew member (gun-wielding is not one of my skill-sets)."

With that said, Mindfuck let her arms drop to her side and inclined her head slightly. "Let's start, shall we?"

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"More like you assign ME to do the grunt work while you sit back in the seat of power and information," he said, even as he swapped out his mace and shield for his trusted two-handed sword. "Be my eyes and ears, my lady, and I shall be your hands and sword!"

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"Oh now, don't act as if you're not going to enjoy it. Isn't protecting the (not-so-innocent) what you're all about?" she teased, then fell silent, though his last comment almost received a laugh.

It was a headache and a half hopping from congisphere signature to signature in such a small vicinity, but it did help that the robots in question possessed AI that didn't quite mimic the minds of the other hundreds of voices aboard Stacy.

"Three within a 15 yard radius, with an additional two, 7 yards beyond that."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"Clustered or separated, can you tell?" Light swirled up and around him as he invoked a blessing on them both -- congratulations, Mindfuck, you've just been Kingsed. Then his seal, then Righteous Fury, then Retribution Aura.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"You must make the most fantastic target with that luminosity.; this should go well. (Anywho...) Two of the three closest are together and..." She paused, head cocked to the side.

"They're patiently awaiting us."

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"Naw, it all fades after the cast," he said, which indeed it was. "Just give me a moment to regen..."

He slung his sword over his shoulder, tapping his foot as he hummed. Waiting, waiting, Retribution has terrible regen, la la la --

"NOW!" He burst into motion, crashing over the table he'd been flipping around, then around the corner. "FOR AZEROTH! SELAMA ASHAL'ANORE! LOK'TAR OGAR!"

Pick a language, Mar.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

If she could blink in surprise, she would have. Instead she simply watched Mar bowl over the table and around the corner, shouting a variety of war cries as he went. After he was out of sight she suddenly remembered to pick her feet up and follow behind him.

The hallway was eerily silent, despite all the noise made. As the short seconds ticked by, a shot rang out from further down the hallway, followed by two more. The robots were hiding, but they were there.

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

Mar did love to shout war cries. No denying that.

The bullet slammed into his armor, stinging him through it but not slowing him at all. In fact, as he made a dramatic gesture and a massive hammer of holy light descended in Judgment on one of those hidden ones, he noticeably sped up, sprinting down the hallway to hew at that same robot with a mighty sweep of his weapon. Holy light shone around the blade as it descended, highlighting his manic grin.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

She was quick to place herself against the wall and crouch low as the paladin ran off towards their enemies. As she watched him charge into the robots with a flurry of light and well-placed bravado, a lopsided smile hung on her face.

It had been quite awhile since she'd participated in this sort of work. Superheroing. Of course, just about everyone on the ship that she'd had the chance (or misfortune) of meeting had some sort ability, so it couldn't really be considered doing a heroes' work aboard Stacy, could it? Ah, it hardly mattered. It was more of the ideal behind the act on why she'd become one, anyways and the ideal was still intact.

"The third is on it's way, six yards (five, four, three...) on your left side!"

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"EAT THE HAMMER OF JUSTICE, METALLIC MONSTROSITY!" the paladin roared, turning to slam his weapon into the approaching robot. Shockwaves rolled out along the blade's path, stunning the robot as Mar immediately spun back with a rising slice of the blade that was so over-the-top he not only turned around in midair, but passed the weapon from hand to hand behind his back just to dissipate its momentum.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. Just. Wow.

Quips, catch phrases or commentary? Check. Eye-catching lights, sounds or appearance? Check. Flashy, hard to replicate fighting moves? Check.

He would have made a fantastic Superhomey, she was sure of it. In fact, she would have paid just to hear the 'witty' banter between Mar and Major Havoc. It would be golden.

"You're really enjoying this entire 'smite the wicked' thing, aren't you?"

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

They're only hard to replicate from an outside perspective! Find any other Azerothian paladin and you'd find these abilities.

"The wicked DESERVE it so much, why shouldn't I enjoy it?" He grinned, the light tone and playful mien belying the much deeper core of savage ferocity that relished in the annihilation of those who would do others pain.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I'm sure (they do). It's an attitude I run into quite often in this business (the colorfully spandexed and caped one, that is). I--oh, visitors (I should really save the small chat for a more appropriate time)!" she huffed, mentally marking each of the machines that shot down the hallway.

She supposed it was about time that she attempted to do something about their numbers before they got out of hand. Her abilities might not be completely effective on AI all of the time, but perhaps she could attempt to subtly encourage them into actions that wouldn't completely defy their previous orders.

[seesbosscrotch.livejournal.com]

"Aww, but I like the chat," he said, quite sincerely. It certainly wasn't distracting him in the slightest. He hammered the robot he was fighting with an obnoxiously powerful blow, sending it clattering to the ground in pieces, then lifted his hand to discharge holy energy directly into the very fabric of another's being... such as it was, for a robot.

[piggyback-ride.livejournal.com]

She smiled. "As long as I'm over here dawdling around in your mind, you'll have some conversation (mostly unrelated). Now," she started, watching the sparks fly from the machines as they clattered to the ground.

"There is an unfortunately large group that we're going to run into sooner than later. As much as I would love (prefer) to blind them to our presence by temporarily shutting down their optic nerves (though that option would leave us with their hearing intact), it's not (as in definitely not) something worth attempting. I'd bet you dollars to dumplings that their AI is a separate device altogether."