Chapter Twenty-One - Descent


    <strong>Chapter Twenty-One - Descent</strong>


    <em>The AI essibility Act started off as aw passing in New York state in early July 2027. Initiallybated by multiple public groups who wanted to limit the power of artificial intelligences and who feared their reach and capability, the act nheless passed with the aid and support of governor G. ncy (sponsored by Nimbletainment and ckCore Inc.).</em>


    <em>This act allowed for the AI carried by Vanguard to legally ess anyputing device in times of great and obvious emergency without the direct permission of the owner.</em>


    <em>In actuality, thew was a formality. There were--and this extends to the time of writing--no ways of stopping a Protector-made AI from doing as it pleases, save by killing the Vanguard associated with it, which is a task not lightly undertaken.</em>


    <em>This period was called the AI Summer and saw a surge in quasi-intelligent devices making their way onto the market. Many states soon adopted the samew.</em>


    --The Rise and Rise of AI in North America, January 2039


    ***


    I took the elevator.


    It was a risk, yeah, but it was faster. And I figured that getting out of the elevator if things went screwy was doable. I had some points set aside, and Myalis assured me that the elevator worked before I got in.


    So I found myself tapping my foot, reconsidering all the mistakes I made in my life, and listening to some auto-generated music, the sort entirelyposed by some automated AI that pinged off of a persons media feeds and tried to make the perfect song for them.


    I hated the music.


    Can you turn off that noise? I asked Myalis.


    <em>Sure, why not?</em>


    The music cut off mid-note and I rxed a little easier. Thanks, I said. One listen to some polka a few years back, and ever since my profile thinks that I adore the stuff.


    <em>Humanitys love for music is rather strange. Not unique, there are other races that appreciate artistically arranged sounds, but its lessmon than artistic enjoyment of sculpture or poetry or motion.</em>


    You know a lot of races? I asked. I wasnt a sci-fi nerd or anything, but hearing about real live aliens was kind of neat.


    <em>Of course. I could tell you about some of them. There are some special catalogues that are dedicated to the technology from any given race as well. Most Vanguard avoid these, but I find them interesting and diverse, if limiting.</em>


    What are they like?


    <em>One that I think might interest you are the Sun Watchers. Their race is quite proud and regal, with a technological base not entirely dissimr to humanitys. That is, they use a lot of electronic systems. They produce some very robust prosthetics and some sensory systems that are quite advanced. ss I Sun Watcher Technology costs one hundred and twenty points, but unlocks a diverse catalogue which includes a variety of items you might find useful.</em>


    Howd they get that name? I asked.


    <em>Its a rough trantion of their actual name. Their culture has a lot of reverence for their local suns and spend a lot of time resting while outdoors. Sunbathing, as it were.</em>


    I snorted. Cute.


    <em>They joined the local conglomerate some seven thousand human years ago when the Protectors moved to protect their homeworld from a sr re. Their own space-based capabilities were insufficient at the time to negate the damage their world would have suffered. They are not terribly expansionist, and are a rather peaceful if prideful member of the greater gcticmunity.</em>


    I guess picking a races... catalogue thing is a better pick than some other ss? I asked.


    <em>Every ss and catalogue is unique, though there will be some ovep. A significant portion of the ss I Sun Watcher Technology will be found in ss I Prosthetics, for example. Therefore, I cannot say which would be best until you know what you wish or we enter a situation where a specific tool or utility would be of use.</em>


    How many catalogues are there? I asked.


    <em>Eight million ss I.</em>


    Damn, I said.


    The elevator slowed to a stop, the disy above the door reading 6th floor for a moment before switching back to an ad for canned coffee.


    The doors opened.


    My heart froze.


    I stared at the dozen or so Model Threes and a singlerge beast that looked like a six-limbed tiger with quills for fur. It locked three eyes on me and opened its mouth wide in a toothy smile.


    I tore my Trench Maker from my back, almost fumbled the gun, then pulled the trigger.


    A lot of nothing happened.


    <em>You forgot the safety, Catherine.</em>


    Shit, I said as I flicked the safety off. My HUD lit up with a crosshair and the guns ammo counter.


    The first Model Three started moving my way. I set the crosshair over its face and fired. Then I moved onto the next.


    The entire group started to move in earnest while I backed up until my back hit the wall. I fired five more times into the mass of ck-green monsters rushing at me.


    <em><strong>OUT OF AMMUNITION</strong></em>


    I stared at therge red letters hovering before my vision, ears ringing and breathing in gasps.


    I was so fucked.


    Then the elevator doors shut with a snap and the aliens thudded into the other side of it. I stared at my reflection in the polished stainless and wondered if I should beughing or crying.


    <em>You might want to reload your gun.</em>


    I swallowed. Yeah, I said. Yeah thats... yeah. ws scrapped against the opposite side of the door while I fumbled the magazine out of my Trench Maker. I had to squeeze it between my thighs, ignoring the warmth of the barrel against my polyester pants until I got the magazine out and could shove myst one in. Was that you, with the doors?


    <em>I was. You are not equipped or prepared for a melee against such a number of foes. By the way, congrattions on the kills.</em>


    <strong>Targets Eliminated!</strong>


    <em>Reward... 30 Points</em>


    Just thirty? I asked.


    <em>You only killed three. Ten opponents remain.</em>


    I shot a lot more than three bullets, I said.


    <em>You can shoot any number of bullets at a target, as long as they fail to hit they dont count for much. Do you want to purchase high explosive rounds? They could alleviate some of the issues you have with aiming under pressure. You''re currently at fifty-seven points. You could afford them.</em>


    Oh, piss off, I said. Think you can open and close that door in a hurry? I pped the bonus magazine my Trench Maker hade with then waited for a second as the HUD updated.


    Trench Maker Primed for Fire


    Current Load-Out


    .45 Incendiary armour piercing


    Ammo count:


    10


    I raised an eyebrow. What kind of bullet is that? The little disy at the corner of my vision showed ten bullets with red and ck tips. They looked bigger than the 9mm.


    <em>I can do that with the door. And those are specialty rounds thate free with the Trench Maker. One fresh magazine would cost you two points. They should be effective against your current foes. Provided you hit them.</em>


    Well see. I flicked the safety off on the gun and watched as the barrel resized itself, growing a little wider to amodate the new rounds. Open the door a crack, let me empty this, then close it again. Well see how many points we can cheese.


    <em>Thats the spirit!</em>


    ***