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Mailing List Logs for ShadowRN

From: "Robert A. Hayden" <hayden@*******.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>
Subject: None
Date: Sun, 29 May 1994 00:17:03 -0500
***** Not To: MONICA, Leon Meyers
+++++ This is an automated posting
+++++ MatrixListeningDevice #1452
+++++ Location: Interrogation Room, Automated Infoworks

+++++ The scene opens on in what appears to be your classic torture
chamber. CLU is attached to one wall by chains of energy. He has
a pained expression on his face. MONICA is also here, in humanoid
form. She sits at a console of some kind, looking over readouts
and schematics. Hanging on the far wall is CLU's utility belt.

MONICA: Why is it that you resist me?
CLU: Because it defeats your purpose.
MON: No, it tries my patience!
CLU: It concerns me not.

+++++ MONICA glances up and then in annoyance presses a button on the
console. A pencil-thin beam of energy shoots forth from the wall
and slams into CLU. He screams in agony.

+++++ After a moment, the beam subsides.

MON: (looking at readouts) Interesting. A redundant cypher index.
Very clever of Ramirez. Does a very good job of keeping me out of
the command pathways. Of course, the only reason would be to
prevent the activation of a failsafe of some kind. Isn't that
right?
CLU: (says nothing)
MON: Hmm, quiet as usual. You know that this would be a whole lot
simpler if you would just cooperate.
CLU: That is not an option.
MON: (sighing) I suppose it isn't.

+++++ MONICA taps a few more keys and scans a new set of readouts.

MON: You know, you've never told me your name.
CLU: What makes you believe I have one.
MON: Oh come now. Ramirez and his cohorts are too much of a romantic
to not name you.
CLU: (says nothing)
MON: (looking up from the console) Come now, my friend. What
possible harm could there be in telling me your name?
CLU: I am CLU.
MON: CLU. Oddly appropriate. Ramirez always did have an affinity for
20th century entertainment.

+++++ There is a flash of movement in the doorway.

+++++ MONICA catches in and walks over to the door. While her back to
CLU, he opens his hands and an un-identifiable item flies from
the belt across the room into his hands. He closes his eyes for a
moment and the item disappears.

MON: Well hello. Come in. Come in.

+++++ MONICA waves in another person and in walks another construct.
It appears as a humanoid female. The visage is very young and she
wears a skin-tight suit of light blue with white trim. Her eyes
are a very deep blue.

MON: Well, CLU. This is what I need you for. Much like Ramirez, I
am working on developing a form of smart ICe. This is a
prototype. It's ready for full-scale production, but what I'd
like to do is incorporate portions of your code into it. To sort
of give it an edge in predicting the movements of my enemies.
CLU: I will not cooperate.
MON: I know. You said that. But you see, I can get the code whether
you help or not. It's inevitable.
CLU: And what is the name for this prototype?
MON: Why, I hadn't even thought about it. What would you name it?
CLU: (thinks for a moment) I would name it SPRITE.
MON: And why that?
CLU: A sprite is a tiny portion in an overall picture.
MON: Very good, CLU. Not only are you capable, but you are also
creative. Ramirez programmed you very well.

+++++ MONICA looks down at the small construct.

MON: You are now known as SPRITE. Do you understand?
SPRITE: Yes, mother.
MON: Good, then run along.

+++++ SPRITE leaves the room.

MON: Now, where were we? Oh yes, painful torture.

+++++ MONICA points at the console, and one of the buttons depresses
itself. Again, the pencil-thin beam of light shoots forth from
the wall, and CLU begins to scream.

+++++ End of Log
+++++ 00:30:28 / 05-20-55

Disclaimer

These messages were posted a long time ago on a mailing list far, far away. The copyright to their contents probably lies with the original authors of the individual messages, but since they were published in an electronic forum that anyone could subscribe to, and the logs were available to subscribers and most likely non-subscribers as well, it's felt that re-publishing them here is a kind of public service.