| From: | Necromancer <shilberg@********.UNI.UIUC.EDU> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Necromancer's Meet |
| Date: | Sat, 5 Mar 1994 22:45:27 -0600 |
>>>>>[Security Feed from: Neon Skyline Mainframe
***Beginning Video Feed Alpha***
The camera, positioned over the door to the Neon Skyline, shows nearly
all of the bar. A few patrons sit at tables in the middle of the room,
most of them plugged into the Matrix. Icepick, the owner, sits behind
the bar, and nods to Durandal as he enters. Across the bar, Necromancer
and an elf wearing a long coat and a katana over his shoulder sit in a
booth. Necromancer has his deck next to his leg. Durandal sits at the
booth.
Necromancer: Nice to see you finally made it. This guy's a buddy of
mine out of Chicago. Name's Silversabre.
The elf nods to Durandal, silent, and then continues watching the room.
Durandal: Did she come yet?
Necromancer: Not yet. And we don't know if it is a he yet.
Durandal: You mind telling me who the hell this She-Devil is, er, was?
Necromancer: Someone from my past. I....I used to run with her. But
she died two years back.
Durandal nods and says nothing more. THe phone at the bar rings
suddenly and Icepick answers it, then calls Necromancer over.
Necromancer picks up the receiver, listens, and then hangs up, a strange
look on his face.
Necromancer: She wants me to deck....here....
Necromancer pulls out his deck and plugs into the Matrix via a jack
under the table.
***End Video Feed Alpha***
***Beginning Matrix Feed Alpha***
The picture is that of the Neon Skyline's "virtual bar" in the Matrix.
A black robed figure, Necromancer, sits at a "table" in the bar, red
eyes staring into the bar. A mountain climber, Icepick, stands behind
the "counter".
A black-winged soccubus sails into the bar and lands near Icepick. With
a single motion, her razor-sharp claws slice through Icepick, causing
him to break up in seconds, before Necromancer can react. The demoness
floats over to Necromancer and sits down next to him, claws retracted.
Necromancer: Who the hell are you....
She-Devil: It's me, Alex, Jarred....I've come back.
Necromancer *laughing*: Despite my name, there is no one who can bring
the dead alive again. Who are you really?
She-Devil: Jarred....What about that time we left Kiev and told Sergei
that we were going to the Moscow conference? And we went to -
Necromancer: How do you know that?
She-Devil: Because I am Alex....Jarred, do you remember the Rasputin
Project that Viktor was working on?
Necromancer: Making a construct of a real person's thoughts?
She-Devil: Yes.
Necromancer: Yes, I remember. But he was never successful.
She-Devil: No, he was....he just never understood what was happening.
When he encoded the person, their construct...it faded into the Matrix.
Most of them dissolved into very complex viruses. I was different,
Jarred. When Viktor modified my deck, and you wouldn't let him do it to
yours, he added one of his "thought encoders", his latest model....just
before we left.
Necromancer: So what happened then?
She-Devil: The black ice that killed me....it activated the
encoder....sent my consciousness into the Matrix. I am stuck in here,
Jarred. I need your help.
Necromancer: What took you so long to find me? If what you are saying
is true, why didn't you talk to me earlier?
She-Devil: I didn't think you would believe me....But you have to
believe me, now....Jarred, I am dying....
Necromancer: How can you die if you are a construct?
She-Devil: My code is breaking down, because the Matrix is too unstable.
I need a physical system to inhabit....one that is made to hold me.
Like the machines used by AIs. You have that knowledge, Jarred. I need
you to make me a body for my mind.
Necromancer: I don't know if I can trust you.
She-Devil: I understand....just think about it....I only have a few
weeks left. If you can't help me, maybe someone else can.
Necromancer: Wait....Do you remember why I chose my icon?
She-Devil: Because you were going to raise from the dead to be with me.
Jarred....You would have helped me once.
Necromancer: I'll help you, Alex. I'll help you.
She-Devil: Thank you....
The demoness floats out of the bar and into the Matrix, leaving
Necromancer alone at the table. He reaches up to his hooded head and
then disappears, jacking out.
***End Matrix Feed Alpha***
***Beginning Video Feed Beta***
The camera shows Necromancer pulling the cable from his datajack,
trembling, and the elf and Durandal watching him closely.
Durandal: What happened? You looked really strange....
Necromancer: Can't talk now....gotta get home....find research....
Silversabre: You aren't going anywhere, Jarred....You look worse than
when you're drunk.
Necromancer: Maybe I will have just one drink....where's Icepick....
Durandal: He went in back about the same time you jacked in. What the
hell happened?
Necromancer: It's her....gotta be....
Durandal: It's who? Who is it?
Necromancer: It's Alex....it really is....she's a ghost in the
Matrix....never seen one before....
Durandal: A what? You're crazy, man. They don't exist.
*****Internal Alert. Security Breach*****
*****Cmd: System Shutdown. Alert*****
*****End Feed*****]<<<<<
- Neon Skyline Mainframe <Icepick Signature> <22:42:56/03-05-55>
>>>>>[Don't ever do that again, Icepick. You aren't to eavesdrop on my
private conversations....]<<<<<
- She-Devil <22:43:41/03-05-55>
