NickelQuest: Reactivation

<How wretched. Wake up!>

In the all-encompassing darkness enveloping you, a harsh, tinny, multi-toned voice calls out. Could it be speaking to you?
You stir…or at least you try to. You can’t seem to feel much of anything. All your senses are dulled, save for your hearing. All you can hear is the distant howling of the wind…
You try to speak, but all you can manage is a lung-wrenching cough.

<Ah…so you are functional. Fascinating. Can you speak?>

After finally clearing your throat that had been so clogged that it felt like molten tar, you finally manage to strain your vocal chords…

“Aaah…” is the best you can manage.

<Hmm…not quite fully functional just yet, it seems. Let’s see if there’s anything to be done about that…>

There’s a shuddering, grinding sound, which seems to grow louder with each passing moment…something is drawing closer to you…

You feel the desperate need to move, to get away. But you can’t even feel anything. There’s a dull thud, the noise seeming to course through your body, and you realise the entity in question must have collided with you. It’s doing…something…

<Ah, quite rudimentary, really. This shouldn’t take a moment!...Aha, there we go! Now, let’s see what we have here. Try and speak.>

[X] Speak (write-in)
[ ] Remain silent


("Pi is best girl.")
<Hmm…an odd statement. Perhaps there is a corruption. Let me check…no, no mention of a ‘Pi’ in the database. How very curious.>

(eres un marica)
(you are a fag)
(Who are you?)
<Ah, how the obsolescent languages charm so. I, as far as you are concerned, am the only one who can get you out of your pathetic state. But do call me 'fag', if it so pleases.>

<Tell me, do you know what you are?>

[ ] Human
[X] Machine
[ ] Grimm
[ ] Other?


<Hmm...so you are aware. Good. Though I shall have to tend to your wisecrack subroutine, it seems. Now, what is your designated structural model?>

[ ] Humanoid male
[X] Humanoid female
[ ] Non-descript humanoid (think Atlesian Knights)
[X] Non-humanoid (spider-bot, Paladin, etc.)
[ ] Grimm-formed (specify)



<Hmm...you seem somewhat confused. Not unsurprising. It seems you were designed for military-grade artillary, but...most peculiar. Transferred into a female human facade unit...which was then used to pilot your former chassis. I can only speculate the reason for such a decision. But it is no matter. I can restore you, and your fractured war machine...but for one last question. What is your name?>

[ ] (write-in)

(Nickel)

<...>

<INCORRECT!>

<You are designated Unit #P-3771. And you are answerable to me. I am the primary control unit of the Atlesian Defensive Intelligence Computer. Or A-DIC, if you will. Do you understand your parameters? You will answer to me, and me alone! Is that quite clear?>

[ ] Obey (Law)
[ ] Defiant expletive of choice (Chaos)
[X] Query (Neutral)
[ ] Other? (Alignment variable)


"What's next?" You ask, carefully avoiding the demanded question.

<...I shall tacitly assume your response to be in affirmation, but a 'Yes, sir' should suffice in the future. As for 'what is next'...you are to be restored and given charge of relieving a scouting unit I had despatched some fifteen days ago. The unit may be considered AWOL. You are to return it here for debriefing and...if necessary, decommisioning. You will then resume it's charge of scouting the immediate it was sent to inspect. The environment in question is...fundamentally unknown. Are you parameters quite clear, Unit P-3771?>

[ ] 'Yes, sir' (Law)
[ ] "My name. Is. NICKEL!" (Chaos)
[ ] Query further (write-in) (Neutral)
[X] Other (alignment variable)

[X] >"yes captain whatever you say captain, want me to suck your dick captain?"

(Alignment balance: Neutral (defiance + acknowledgement))

<...I see. I can assure you, even if I had such an appendage, your proposal would still remain of no interest to me. I wonder, were you originally refurbished as a pleasure model, hmm?>

<I jest, of course. Now hold quite still. Ah, you are currently incapable of movement as is…the damage and corrosion is quite severe, I’m afraid. Before I shut you down, perhaps you would care for a re-specification of your fundamental performance specifications?>

Assign your stats:
[ ] Strength
[ ] Dexterity
[ ] Durability
[ ] HMC (Human Mimicry Capacity – ability to imitate humans to a convincing degree)
[ ] Energy output

And your mech stats (currently specced for land (urban-to-harsh terrain) only):

[ ] Firepower
[ ] Shielding
[ ] Acceleration
[ ] Fuel efficiency
[ ] Manoeuvrability


You get 20 points for each.

Combat-Ready:

Strength: 5
Dex: 3
Durability: 5
HMC: 2
Energy output: 5

Too human:

Strength: 3
Dex: 3
Durability: 3
HMC: 8
Energy output: 3

Uni-Purpose:

All 4s

Speedy-Speed Girl:

Strength: 3
Dex: 6
Durability: 2
HMX: 3
Energy Output: 6


REX:

Firepower: 7
Shielding: 4
Acceleration: 3
Fuel efficiency: 1
Manoeuvrability: 4

RAY:

Firepower: 4
Shielding: 3
Acceleration: 5
Fuel efficiency: 2
Manoeuvrability: 6


EXCELLSUS:

Firepower: 6
Shielding: 8
Acceleration: 2
Fuel Efficiency: 2
Manoeuvrability: 2

TESLA:

Firepower: 3
Shielding: 3
Acceleration: 3
Fuel Efficiency: 8
Manoeuvrability: 3


[X] Iron Maiden:

[ 2 ] Strength
[ 2 ] Dexterity
[ 12 ] Durability
[ 2 ] HMC
[ 2 ] Energy output

[X] Excelsus


<…as you wish. I shall begin the modifications momentarily. The resources remaining here are somewhat…restricted. However, should you encounter suitable resources out in the field, by sure to return them here. I should be able to modify you further, as needs be…>

<One last thing…It seems I am unable to interfere with your CPU. There is some kind of compatibility issue…you are a rather old model, I’m afraid. That being the case, I am unable to effectively brief you with the full extent of your orders and associated details. Also…I am unable to wipe your memory. I’m sure this must please you greatly…but do not assume yourself better off for it. What you may encounter in the outside world…it may not correspond to what is in your memory banks. What you might discover could confuse…or alarm you. Do not doubt what you find. It is the absolute truth. And anything that conflicts with it in your memory…I leave to you to delete for yourself. I can only trust you to do as much. Now…good night.>

So saying, the horrid grinding sound resumes. Before you can even utter a word of rebuttal, there comes a second, firmer thud that shakes your body…and you sink once more into peaceful black.

<#1 Transaction Concluded: Reactivation>

Current Alignment: Neutral (2) Law (0) Chaos (0)