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>From The Journal Of Marcus Reaver
Written by Adrian Tymes
[Legal disclaimer:
This story is an original creation of Adrian Tymes. Permission is
granted to freely distribute this story, so long as:
a: no recompense of financial value is received or given by the person
who distributes the story, and
b: the distributed copy is identical to the story as originally
authored. In other words, don't sell it, and don't alter it.
Copyright (c) 2004, all rights reserved, et cetera.]
******
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 7:58 AM, by user mechapd*
Hello. I am Lieutenant Marcus Reaver of the Upper City Police
Department. I'm making this blog because the shrink thought it would
help me calm down, and as testimony in case I need to plead insanity.
The guys from Mega Co. also want their "research data", so much that
they were ready to order me to write this blog once the shrink
suggested it, but let it be known I'd resign if that was my only
reason. Mega only acts like it owns everything.
So, why am I writing this? Because I'm the only mecha pilot UCPD
has left, and for the first time in my career, I'm afraid to go on
patrol. I'm frightened of what I might do. But I have no choice.
SD mecha weren't supposed to be scary.
We're not quite sure where Mega came up with SD Mode, but we
think it was some R&D lab in Japan. Mega's reps call it Supreme
Defense Mode. I've seen anime; I know what SD really means. As it
turns out, both meanings are correct. The mecha retracts most of its
arms and legs and shrinks its torso, converting the mass into some
kind of integrity failsafe and auto-repair system. In short, SD Mode
is invulnerable. Even if it takes a lot of damage, it just shuts down
for a while, displaying swirling patterns in its eyes as an indicator.
I've seen a mecha survive direct hits from nuclear artillery shells in
SD Mode, and it was the only thing intact within a quarter mile. It's
also cute, which puts some citizens' minds at ease. And it's easier
to pilot through the city. Many citizens use human-sized exoskeletons
for transportation, but our mecha are 2 to 3 stories tall. SD Mode is
only 1.5 stories.
This was all in Mega's sales pitch. We were a little leery when
they asked us to test their mecha, since mecha are impractical for
most uses, but we jumped at the chance to test SD Mode. They never
told us we'd pay for it from our souls.
Between the auto-repair system and the mecha's different
proportions, the controls have trouble reconfiguring themselves. This
is a problem since mecha controls are plugged directly into the
pilot's brain. I've seen the most hardened officer I knew, who never
once cracked a smile in all the years I knew him, break down crying
after 5 minutes in SD Mode, and he lasted longer than anyone else.
Heightened emotions by themselves might not be a problem, but they
interfere with judgment. We got him out fast enough, but in the end,
there was only one way he could stop the tears...and most of the
pilots who haven't committed suicide are on psychological leave. The
only reason I'm not is that I tend to break happy, and to keep things
somewhat under control. And they need someone to deal with the
criminal mecha.
We haven't figured out where it's coming from yet. From time to
time, starting about a week ago, a clunky looking mecha has appeared
out of nowhere, just long enough to rip off (literally) a bank vault
or something, then got to cover and vanished. That's the worst part:
for over a century, the main deterrent to large crimes has been the
fact that, once us police had our eye on someone, there really wasn't
any way to lose us. Just one incident otherwise triggered a minor
crime wave once it hit the press, though none of the other criminals
managed to disappear. Mega's reps on the police board are convinced
only a mecha can catch a mecha, and they won't let anyone else even
try to stop it, so my choice is either to use this deathtrap or let
any criminals who happen to hide in mecha have their way with the
people I'm sworn to protect.
I'm a cop. I made my decision when I accepted my badge. But
even so, as I watch the seconds tick down until my shift starts, I
hope I made the right choice.
Time for work.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 5:22 PM, by user mechapd*
I got lucky. No one was hurt today.
I was patrolling downtown (the local one - we're in district 5),
or rather wading through it while trying not to damage anything
(people outside exoskeletons come up to my knees, and the only sure
way to keep cars from cutting in front of one of your feet only to
get stepped on by the other is to take small steps), when I rounded a
corner and saw our mystery mecha. It had just stepped out into the
street, and appeared to be sizing up the gemchip factory when it saw
me. Of course, it ran.
High speed pursuit through populated areas is always dangerous,
but it's worse with mecha. With each step, you or the suspect could
squash innocent citizens. Fortunately, everyone got out of the
suspect's way, leaving a clear wake for me. The suspect even made a
beeline for the nearest access hatch to Mid City.
No one lives in Mid City any longer. It's just a bunch of
support towers, that used to be skyscrapers before Upper City was
built. I'm pretty sure no one's ever entered one through an 85th
story window before, but that mecha seemed to just dissolve into it.
It had a good lead, and I didn't get that good a look, but there is no
way it should have been able to stuff itself through an opening that
small. The technicians are going over my video logs to see if I
missed something. I hope I did. I've had enough unexplained magic
tricks for a while.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 8:29 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Hey there! Just wanna say, I live in Lower City an' I saw you today
an' I gotta say, you've got yourself a fangirl! I've piloted mecha
myself and they're way hard to master, but you're like a total pro
already! And you've only had them for, what, a week? ^_^
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 8:40 PM, by user mechapd*
You mean you've piloted mecha in video games, right? I can count
the number of mecha there have ever been in Upper, Mid, or Lower City
on two hands, including our recent mystery guest. None have been seen
in Lower City yet. But you're right, mecha do take some getting used
to. It's a lot harder in reality than in video games.
We've had these mecha for a month. We thought this was an
elaborate April Fool's joke when we first heard of it.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 8:55 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Where do you think your mecha were built? Upper City won't get its
hands dirty with large manufacturing projects like that. They ship
'em all down here. Me, a couple friends, and a couple guys from Mega
did the test piloting for all the mecha the police were going to test.
Maybe I was even in your cockpit.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 9:09 PM, by user fluffykins6969*
I'll bet you want him in your cock pit.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 9:16 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Sigh. Marcus, meet my annoying virtual sister.
Fluffy, you do not have my permission to drag him to bed. Down, girl.
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 9:20 PM, by user fluffykins6969*
Yes, mistress. ^_^
*Posted Monday, May 1st, 9:33 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Aargh. Trust me, she's not always like this. We've been taking care
of each other since we lost our parents when we were kids. She's
always thinking of ways to make other people happy.
Oh, and you so didn't have those mecha a month ago. The training
simulators, maybe, but the mecha only shipped out of here on April
15th. Bet you were "promoted to the real thing" about then. Mega's
got a problem just calling a spade a spade, if they think calling it a
club might get them one penny more.
N-E-wayz, ta! ^_^
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 7:40 AM, by user mechapd*
We really shouldn't be talking about things like that here. In
case you couldn't tell from my intro, it's almost certain this blog is
Being Read. But since you brought it up (and I can't edit your
posts), you're right. April 16th was the first time I actually laid
eyes on a mecha.
My boss says Mega says robot dummies with simulated nervous
systems did the test piloting. They admit some of the manufacturing
was done locally, but insist most of it was done overseas, although
they didn't seem to be able to agree exactly where.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:42 AM, by user reddfox1337*
They're just claiming that so they don't have to pay taxes. It's
95% Lower City. The other 5% is gemchip electronics, which are shiny
enough that Upper City makes 'em themselves. I hear sapphires an'
diamonds an' the like used to be pretty expensive, before synthetics
were perfected. Now they're just pretty, an' pretty useful for some
things. Still valuable in bulk.
Mega Corporation. Man, do they ever earn their name. I can believe
they think us test pilots were robot dummies, 'cause that's how they
treat most of their workers. To be honest, some of 'em I couldn't
tell from a robot. Some of them actually are robots - standard health
plan is to make a recording of your brain in case you die while
employed - but that's different. Robots who aren't people don't earn
paychecks, but like that matters to middle management. I heard
they're working on 'bots with flesh so their execs won't even have to
apologize when they mistake us for the mindless. Speaking of
mindless, did ya hear there's a motion at the next shareholder's
meeting to actually change their name to Mega Corporation, 'cause even
the chairman can't remember their official name after all those
mergers? It's only like about eight thousand characters. I mean,
okay, their letterhead does use up almost the entire page, and when
they want to put it on the side of a building large enough to read it
covers the entire side, and they even got contests to see who can say
it while taking the fewest breaths - I've tried doing it without
breathing myself, an' I once got all the way up to two thirds through
before runnin' out of oxygen and fainting - but, hey, they wanted to
honor 'most everyone they bought out to get where they are.
Gotta go. Gotta be topside in ten minutes. C-ya!
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 3:14 AM, by user skye*
8,192 characters: 2 to the too many
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 5:40 PM, by user mechapd*
I look at the timing of your post, Red, and I really hope you
weren't there. The mecha showed up again at 10:55 this morning. This
time, it pulled out a gun and tried to shoot my head off. I switched
to SD Mode and
Sorry. I'm not sure...I don't know if I'm ready to talk about
this just yet. I made some unwise decisions, and some people went to
the hospital today because of me. The other mecha picked me up and
ran away. I should probably thank whoever was piloting it. It
stopped me from being a danger to others. But right now, with the
lingering pain feedback from the beating it gave me to trigger
shutdown, I hurt too much to be very thankful.
I wonder how it knew about SD Mode shutting down? It stopped the
instant it was triggered.
At least my video logs got a good look at the mecha. It's got
five animals painted on it, one on each arm and leg and another on the
torso: a turquoise hawk, a jade snake, an amber gorilla, a ruby wolf,
and a pearl rabbit. Shouldn't be too hard to spot, now if only we can
catch it.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 9:50 PM, by user enviousss*
So, this is where the monster lurks online. Gonna issue an apology
for what you pulled today?
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 9:51 PM, by user reddfox1337*
LAY OFF HIM! Jerk. Can't you see what he's going through?
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 9:53 PM, by user enviousss*
I'll lay off him, when he undoes all the harm he did. Say, by
resigning his commission?
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 9:53 PM, by user skye*
stop it
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 9:55 PM, by user mechapd*
Thanks for the defense, but this is my blog. I'll tell people
when to stop.
Enviousss, stop it. I'm beating myself up enough as it is. I
don't need your help.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:07 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Sorry. I told them about your blog 'cause you're so cool (as you
just demonstrated ^_^). I didn't think they'd raise a fuss. They
got along so well when we were doing the test piloting, like it was
their pet project or somethin', but then they started arguing about
how to use it an' stuff. Then my part of the project was over, so
that was the last I heard from 'em until now. Guess they're still
fighting.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:18 PM, by user mechapd*
Don't worry. It happens.
Mind if I ask you something, by way of getting my mind off this
topic? Why do your entries show up with apostrophe marks?
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:24 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Chee. Don't'cha know how people live down here? I'm a nomad. Got a
voice to text thingy 'cause I can't lug around a keyboard. Too bulky.
We gotta build jus' 'bout everything ourselves, 'cause Mega tries to
keep us from shipping stuff in or out 'cept for its own shipments.
We even make our own land.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:29 PM, by user mechapd*
Okay, two more questions:
1. How do you "say" those smiley faces?
2. What do you mean, "make our own land"?
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:32 PM, by user bananas*
I'll take that second question, if you don't mind. I assume she's
referring to the Diggers. Lower City, being subterranean, is one
giant cavern, which actually expands about as fast as Upper City. If
you need more room, just dig it out. If you need an airhole or your
own path to Mid City, just dig, so long as it's not too near a support
tower. There are concerns about the resulting structural stability,
especially since Upper City rests on Mid City which rests on Lower
City, but you need a license to dig, and the license exam enforces
some minimal competence. Most of the politics about digging is just
noise generated by Upper City merchants who'd rather we live in their
apartments and buy their wares.
There's a strong do-it-yourself culture down here. We try to share
how to do things as widely as possible, and we've got the technology
to make just about anything from the dirt we dig up. (Within limits:
no nuclear isotopes from lead or that kind of alchemy. But recycling
carbon dioxide, water, nutrients from the soil, and geothermal or
other energy into edible food is basic for us.) You might want to
come down here and visit some day.
If I may ask a question in return, why won't they let anything but a
mecha chase your quarry? There's almost nothing a mecha can do that a
squad of exoskeletons can't do faster and cheaper. I've seen videos
of your pursuit, and even a couple one-man helicopters could have
stopped the criminal.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:41 PM, by user mechapd*
Thanks for the invite, but no thanks. They require all kinds of
decontamination procedures for people coming up from Lower City.
Maybe when I can take some vacation time to go through it all. Thank
you for the information, though.
As to your question, they don't give reasons. They don't have
to. They're Mega. Just once I'd like to catch one of their
executives breaking the law - they don't own the courts yet. But they
do pay most of the police budget, so we can either toe the line or be
outarmored and outgunned by your average thug, not to mention lay off
half our force. At least by playing their games we can serve some
justice.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:43 PM, by user skye*
decontamination is placebo
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:44 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Like, what he said, dude. Seriously, there's so much bogus data they
hand out I'm surprised you still believe anything they say.
Oh, and the smiley? Say it like this: ^_^
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:50 PM, by user mechapd*
Whatever. I'm going to bed now.
*Posted Tuesday, May 2nd, 10:58 PM, by user fluffykins6969*
Going to bed with anyone in particular? ^_^
*Posted Wednesday, May 3rd, 5:15 PM, by user mechapd*
We did it! We caught the bastard! One of them, anyway.
It turns out that mystery mecha is actually made up of five
exoskeletons. They're designed to look like fairly mundane models
normally, but they can unfold and link up into something that's at
least the equal of my mecha. They've even got a hidden storage
compartment when separate. That's how they got the loot away, and
the gun from yesterday was broken into five pieces for smuggling into
Upper City. I wouldn't want to be one of the arms or legs, though:
they probably get motion sickness pretty quickly.
We figured this out after surprised them and grabbed one of the
legs, the one with the wolf on it. A little pulling popped it loose,
which caused the other four to unlink. They ran for Mid City, but we
managed to seal off the entrances to Lower City before they could
reach it. They're trapped in one of the support towers, and we've got
squads closing in on them. The tower's a large place to search, but
we should have them by dawn.
In the mean time, we weren't able to pop my prisoner's suit open,
but we've got cells strong enough to hold exoskeletons. We couldn't
scan inside the suit, but from the bumps on the chest panel, I'd say
it's a she. Whoever she was, she kept her head pointed at me all
during processing. Maybe she was trying to scare me or something, but
I've had worse.
And as if that wasn't enough, Mega's reps on the police board got
a severe tongue lashing from one of their higher ups during their
weekly meeting with the police chiefs. My case was among the things
they got yelled at about. It seems Mega's paying the insurance costs
for this, so they want the criminals stopped now, even if it means
halting the mecha testing. Hey, maybe whoever it was reads this blog.
If so, thank you!
So, Red, what do you think? ^_^
*Posted Wednesday, May 3rd, 10:15 PM, by user mechapd*
Red? Are you out there?
*Posted Thursday, May 4th, 7:50 AM, by user mechapd*
I'm not going to obsess. I'm sure something came up, Red, and
you just weren't online last night. But I wish I had someone to talk
to.
Today's going to be boring. I can feel it. They still haven't
found those other four, so most of my shift's going to be spent
scouring that tower, looking for them.
*Posted Thursday, May 4th, 5:25 PM, by user mechapd*
Found them, kind of. They dug their own entrance to Lower City.
(Thanks for the tip, Bananas.) No way are we going to find them now.
At least there isn't much they can do without all five exoskeletons.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 7:58 AM, by user mechapd*
Meh.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 12:02 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Hey hey hey, don't get the blues 'cause you gots the Red! ^_^
Sorry, work had me tied up, so to speak. I got a look at ya while you
were on duty. Lemme just say, you are hunk-a-licious! Grade A Prime,
stuff of my dreams. I wish I wasn't so shy and I could introduce
myself in person. ^_^;
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 1:15 PM, by user fluffykins6969*
What my virtual sister means to say is that she wants to jump your
bones. I know I would.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 2:02 PM, by user reddfox1337*
::whaps Fluffy:: You jump anything with two legs and you know it.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 2:58 PM, by user fluffykins6969*
Oh, my. Is that a proposal? I'll be right over.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 5:12 PM, by user mechapd*
Thanks. I needed that after today.
They let her out on a technicality. "Circumstantial evidence",
they said. Despite the fact that she had a very unique exoskeleton,
the fact that I didn't actually catch her in the act of committing a
crime means I have to let her go. The defense attorney said anyone
could have been piloting that thing previously, even if it was the
same one. Even her refusal to get out of the exoskeleton was
covered under some weird bionics law, since I didn't actually catch
her doing anything illegal.
I'm going to be seeing them on the street again before long.
And for most of the trial, she just kept looking at me. Was she
trying to memorize my face so she can snipe me out of a crowd or
something?
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 7:13 PM, by user bananas*
Actually, the bionics law isn't that weird, if you know where it
came from. You know the old joke about how the "strongest man in the
world" was so flabby from riding his exoskeleton everywhere that his
body grew around it, until it was medically and legally recognized as
part of him? It's actually a true story. And then there's privacy
concerns. Of course, certain long term Mega employees wouldn't ever
need to come out, if you know what I mean.
*Posted Friday, May 5th, 9:02 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Out, out, OUT! I'm EXHAUSTED, d-oh, is this on?
Umm, ah...sorry to hear about the, hah, trial. I mean, umm, the
defense had a good poiII-
Hey, can you at least wait for just one minute?
Sorry. Fluffy can be a little, umm, persistent when she wants to,
ahh, cuddle. N-E-wayz, just keep it up - no, Fluffy, I wasn't talking
to you - and I'm sure you'll come out ahead.
Why are you grinning, Flu...oh, come on! That was not even innuendo
and you know it!
I think I'd better go now. Talk later, when I've got some privacy.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 9:12 AM, by user mechapd*
Ah, the weekend. Too bad criminals don't take weekends off, so
neither do we. But at least I can kick back at my desk and do some
paperwork. And it sounds like you had a fun Friday night, Red.
You know, I've tried to find your blog, but I couldn't. Don't
all users of this system have their own blog?
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 10:24 AM, by user reddfox1337*
I have a blog, but it's empty. Would you believe I made this account
just so I could comment on your blog? Same for all my friends, I
think. ^_^
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 11:03 AM, by user mechapd*
No, Fluffy's got a blog, where she lists her exploits. You
should read last night's entry. It's really detailed.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 11:48 AM, by user reddfox1337*
Thanks, but I'll pass.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 12:01 PM, by user mechapd*
Then I'll quote a bit of it. "I've always enjoyed helping
fulfill fantasies. And you, my readers, know how long I've been
trying to hook my virtual sister up with a boyfriend. When I heard
her scream, 'MARCUS!!!', my pleasure was far more than any mere
physical act could give on its own. Ecstasy for the body, triumph
for the mind, and fulfillment for the soul: the ultimate rush. Now if
only I could find a way to get that from perfect strangers, my life
would be complete."
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:17 PM, by user reddfox1337*
I just spent the past four hours reading and rereading her blog and oh
my gawd do I feel dirty.
I feel used. She didn't want me for me, she wanted me because she got
off on what I felt. My own sister. She tapped my feelings for you,
like some kind of vampire, just for her own gratification.
All the showers in the world couldn't make me feel clean right now.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:43 PM, by user mechapd*
"Succubus" is the word you're looking for, I think.
Anyway, Bananas also has a blog. He's some kind of Lower City
civil engineer, I think. Strange, I didn't think Mega hired much in
the Lower City, but he keeps going on about this project of his.
Whatever it is, he really doesn't like it, but it pays well. Some
kind of PR thing for a new product of Mega's. Given his negative
comments, I'm not surprised he uses an alias.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:52 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Some kind? He runs the Digging-
Umm, nevermind. He just sent me an email saying not to talk about
that. No, wait, not to talk on your blog? Huh?
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:54 PM, by user mechapd*
Talk about what, Red? Or should I say, Ruby Wolf?
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:55 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Ruby...you think I'm the CRIMINAL?
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:56 PM, by user mechapd*
Wasn't hard to figure out. Ruby Wolf, red fox. Amber Ape,
bananas. And so forth. And I think I know why.
I said mecha are impractical for most uses, right? But what if
Mega really wanted to start selling mecha, at a high markup? Make its
own market! Convince the public there are mecha criminals at large,
who might be able to get away time and again, but at least mecha
police can chase them away. Mega's large enough to buy up almost any
competitor, except those who can't be bought, like Lower City. But
those competitors can be discredited, say if they're identified as the
source of mecha criminals.
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 4:57 PM, by user reddfox1337*
Ehnt. Sorry, you've got the wrong #SIGNAL INTERRUPTED# WHAT THE HOLE?
Sorry about that, Red.
MARCUS?!? Stay back! I'm innocent!
I know. Sorry for accusing you, but I knew the real crooks were
reading my blog. There aren't many mecha pilots, but Bananas' post
reminded me of what you told me: Mega makes robot backups of all its
employees, including a certain test piloting crew. Who better to put
in the role of the criminals? And if I ever did figure it out, they
could kill off any of the originals not loyal to Mega, to cover their
tracks.
Wait, you mean they're sending a hit squad?
Sent. Your double was piloting Ruby Wolf. Good thing I planted a
homing beacon on it. It powered up its weapons almost the instant I
made my last post. It didn't know I was hiding nearby, with my
weapons already powered up and locked on it. I found Bananas and
Fluffy through their blogs, and sent them upstairs for protective
custody. The Mega executives have their own security.
B-b-but...how did you get your mecha down here?!?
I dug. Now, shall we get out of here before certain unfriendly types
try to follow up? ^_^
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 5:00 PM, by user enviousss*
Watch out. Some of us are "certain unfriendly types". And you have
just earned the wrath of Mega.
- Exec. VP of Business Development, Mega Corporation
*Posted Saturday, May 6th, 5:02 PM, by user skye*
so this stunt was your idea
i thought it was your subordinates
you are so fired
- chairman, mega corporation
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