----- Original Message -----
From: "XStylus" <xstylus@cts.com>
To: <ffml@fanfic.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2000 2:12 PM
Subject: [FFML] [Ranma/Matrix] Interface - Chapter Three
"This is a sparring program, similar to the programed
reality of the matrix. It has the same basic rules, rules like
gravity. What you must learn is that these rules are no
different from the rules of a computer system. Some of them
can be bent. Others can be broken." Morpheus explained.
"Or rewritten." Neo added.
Heh.
"Sorry, I'm not in the practice of cheating." Ranma said.
...Liar.
Always, when he's, er, she's at disadvantage, he cheats, or,
attacks the opponent's weak point (naked women, bad eyesight,
whatever. )
Thus, began the battle. Akane's first attack, a gorilla
strength forward thrust, was easily dodged. She continued
with a series of all-out attacks, leaving a lacking defense
which was an open invitation to Morpheus who had already
managed to get in several cheap hits.
Nice. Akane isn't used to blocking or dodging.
It's partially Ranma's fault, I guess.
"Don't be so critical on yourself. You haven't even had any
training yet."
"I've had a lot more than you!"
Heh.
"Am I too fast for you?" Morpheus questioned, blocking a
two fisted strike, returning the favor with a knee to her
stomach.
I'm expecting Ranma to say something about this...
"The battle is in your mind, Akane. Fight smarter. Know
that your strike will hit."
Hmm... Akane should have an advantage over Ranma, here, since
she's slightly smarter than her.
Morpheus leapt high into the air, intending to make a
descending strike. Akane countered by leaping into the air
with him before he could even execute the strike. Into the air
they hung as the moments in time slowly passed. An
unsuspecting Morpheus caught off guard by the surprise
attack, and Akane in the air meeting her attacker having a
clear advantage. -KAPOW!-
Nice.
Akane coughed, still slowly recovering. "Find my speed?"
...Then again, Akane *thinks* she's slow, and clumsy, while
Ranma thinks him, er, herself to be the best.
"Have you ever fought as a girl before, Ranma?"
Ranma nodded. "Yeah, now and then."
Er, half the time, and some major battles. (Half of the Herb fight, kicked
Taro's butt.)
Then again, she might not want to emphasize it...
returned the favor with several kicks, a cheap thrust to
Ranma's stomach, and an even cheaper foot sweep. All of
them were blocked or dodged.
I don't understand the use of 'cheap', here. It's not like they're
fighting
with tournament rules or anything. 'cheap' shots would, IMO be
strikes to the groin, eyejabs and other nasty stuff.
"Very good!!" Neo praised.
"You're holding out on me."
Considering, that Neo really doesn't *HAVE* to fight...
In the matrix, the closest comparison to his power would be,
say, L-Sama, or maybe Cefiro's Pillar.
"You're faking." Ranma muttered. "You're not tired in
the least, aren't you?"
That's... very perceptive of Ranma. Perhaps, in the Ranma-Matrix,
'ki sense' is some kind of rudimentary understanding of the generic
dataflow. Would make sense.
Hmm...
Maybe *that* peculiar corner of Matrix might actually be some kind
of 'code-debugging zone.' I mean, surely the machines try to improve
themselves. Maybe there are even some renegade AI's, though they
probably are soon lynched as 'defective', I mean, without some kind
of slack, the 'ecosystem' would fall pretty fast.
"Wait a second! Answer my question!" Akane yelled.
NEO:"Well, I'm the Messiah. Want to be my diciples?"
"That's where skill and creativity comes in. If you're
matched for skill in there as well though, then you're in for a
long fight. Keep in mind, confidence wears down eventually, just
like stamina. It's all a matter of who tires out first." Tank
Er...
The resistance just gained a MAJOR asset, it would seem.
I can't think of *any* character portrayed with more confidence
than Ranma, even if her confidence is of a bit fragile sort.
Hmm...
Maybe Otoko-Maze, but Maze's an amalgam with the assets
of two persons, so that's kinda cheating.
"You DON'T learn martial arts by simply loading it into
someone's mind like a program!"
Even in the face of evidence she says this.
then again, she's right. You don't learn the responsibility,
or morals of martial arts like that. Then again, you can't
say she didn't learn the techniques and reflexes required
to perform the moves belonging to a certain school...
Actually, there's a plothole there.
As people develop reflexes, the neural pathways get stronger,
the amount of connections increases by a factor of ten, or so, as
a completely new move becomes a reflex, so, people who learn
the way described in the movies, should start out like very rusty
martial artists who have never actually competed...
OR the neural pathways should burn, and cease to function completely.
*sigh*
There's a huge load of plot holes in the movie, but I'd rather ignore
them,
'cause I like it.
"This is stuff you need to know!" Tank argued.
"Maybe those disks can teach the moves, but not the spirit.
It doesn't teach the -art-!" Ranma said.
*piku*
That's what I said.
"Fine. If you have enough confidence in your own skills
then that'll be enough.
True. Neo could prolly beat Agents with a bar-drunk haymakers. ^^
"So, Miss Ranma... are you ready for junior high?" he
asked as he held up another disk labeled 'The idiot's guide to
really nifty GUNS'.
~~~
A sorta-civilized Ranma? Brr...
(Now is that a "Way COOL" brr, or a "Scary!" Brr...)
"Can you say 'information overload'?" Ranma
muttered.
RANMA:"I couldn't, before. But now I can."
"Making a mockery of the art, it seems. I can't even
perform a simple kata!"
That's again pretty relative.
Anyone's capable of performing a kata simple enough,
but I wonder what Ranma's definition of "simple" is...
"I've been training most of my life. I doubt those programs
have even half of what I learned."
Prolly not, but probably about equal amount of stuff *Ranma* doesn't know.
...Then again, the more realistic martial arts would be a hindrance to
him, most likely.
Ranma glowed in fury.
Er... Literally?
"I got bored." Trinity answered. "I figured I'd drop by
to talk. Akane's been making herself scarce practicing with
Morpheus all day. She's quite determined."
I wonder how Ranma takes *the girls* treating her like
"one of the guys." The girls in Furinkan were not a very good
example, in general...
"My friends..." Akane interrupted, still bumping into
people.
"Are you sure?" Morpheus questioned
There *are* people, friends, in Matrix.
the problem is the sentient programs calling up
an interrupt. Still, the possessing procedure *does*
operate within the rules of a matrix, eg. the image
of a person changes as time passes. whether the image
includes accessories or not, is of no consequence to the
matrix.
(Sheesh, designing a CRPG *does* give some insight
on how simulated enviroments work...)
"...Into the body's original form. That is how they move
throughout the matrix. They possess a body and they do not
leave that body unless it becomes damaged. Consider a body
taken over by an agent to be as good as dead."
er, "MOON HEALING ESCALATION!"
Oh, this wasn't an Smoon crossover, sorry...