The overall design of the mechanical figure might have sent some anime-loving fanboy yet to be unplugged into an apeshit frenzy. Not entirely unlike the Zero One Laborers that W4rbl4de oftentimes found himself destroying within the Archives, the robot was given a humanoid appearance which worked well to produce activity between the Machines and the Redpills employed by them. If anything, the Truce provided a reason for the robot's existence. It justified purpose.

Seated across from one-another, Reno Bryce and Interpreter 33674 found the ambience of the Machine City rather unintrusive. The flashes of electrical surges in the background and the humming generators near by were a sign that those dependant upon the system were satisfied to be there. Perhaps not all of them, but most of them, were happy to be plugged into the mainframe and providing power for 33674 to be there. The conduits ran through every wall, every plug, every wire, into the city which was made alive by the lives of humans. Many from many, as it should be. Harmony, if you looked at it as nothing more than that.

The Interpreter machine studied the chessboard, the metal pieces constructed from shaped iron, and a myriad of red lenses narrowed and widened based upon the scrutiny of the battlefield. A bit of delight seemed to hit the eyes, if such a thing could be said of the otherwise faceless construct. It had foreseen this moment in such a way that Bryce's human brain could not. It saw its strategy from the beginning, organizing a method of beating the Podborn human from within the first few moves. Reaching forward with it's mock-hand, Interpreter 33674 lifted its pieces and siezed the win.

"So then why do they do it?" resonated a metallic voice, continuing upon a conversation started hours ago.

"For the sake of fighting. Emergency jackout procedures keep them unafraid of their actions' consequences. The Kid is callow, which doesn't say much for those who follow him. Of course I also liken them to the late Morpheus and what he did towards the end, which was far from what he stood for previously." Reno shrugged his shoulders. "Granted, there's extremist Cypherites and yet I can't help but feel as though the Kid's people only find reasons to hate for hate's sake."

"The General."

"What?" Reno raised an eyebrow.

"The General is the same way... It's a war protocol. It follows the principles of strategy. Since the truce he has no reason to exist. He escaped deletion, Reno Bryce. Yet he functions based off of his primary purpose, which is strategy and war. In essence, the truce is bad for the war protocol. Peace is his villain." The Interpreter found a way to relate to Bryce's argument and viewpoint on the E Pluribus Neo zealots. It was  the purpose of the machine itself to find ways to relate to human Redpills outside of the Matrix simulation.

"Checkmate." Interpreter added as an afterthought. The plethora of red lenses faded into a soft green glow, as if to suggest that now was a time of perpetual peace now that the game had subsided.

"You could look at it like that," Bryce pondered. "But then isn't that also what you just did? You formulated a strategy, so then don't you possess a portion of the General's operating code?" It was not meant to be an insulting question. The nature of the Machines and their collective intelligence was not fully understood by Reno Bryce -- or any Redpill for that matter -- seeing as how they acted in concert, yet still came across as individuals from time to time such as now in this very moment. It was hard to tell if he was being monitored by a higher authority at this point. For all intents and purposes, it was impossible to tell if the scrutiny from the Interpreter was merely being tossed into a catalog to be analyzed ten times over by the Architect. 

"To a degree you're right, Reno Bryce. The complexity of artificial intelligence software is something that should not be foreign to someone of your caliber. You deal with it day in and day out, don't you?" The Interpreter asked rhetorically before continuing: "Not to get into too much detail, but the code hardwired into our neural-processors reaches the Source, which allows us to benefit from a hive-like mentality. However, each and every one of us counts as an individual despite our life emanating from the same point, which is simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. The Source flows throughout this city -- beneath, above, and from each and every side.

"Thinking of the General as a sort of protocol or contingency, it is therefore Queen Bee which allows the rest of the hive to continue. It is the center of attention, while the drones do all of the actual work. While they're linked, a dead Sentinel only affects that dead Sentinel. The contingency feels it; the contingency's purpose is to feel it and respond in kind. Do other Sentinels feel it? Well, arguably they only feel what is necessary... Those redirected in response certainly do, but would each and every one of them feel it? Maybe later, in retrospect, some might. But just like your species, Reno Bryce. Some don't have any regard for life.

"My operating code is not the same as the General's. While I possess a number of strategic protocols, they are for the purpose of interaction with your species. Certain algorithms may pass in and out of the General's likeness, but I am far from a war program. My operating code is to promote the peace granted by the Anomaly and to support understanding of your kind. I answer to the programs within the Source that require analysis of humans through verbal communications with the subjects. Primarily you at this time." The Machine waited for the next question or reply.

Bryce smiled. He was bemused and as such he crossed his arms over his chest, offering a wry grin. "I thought you were keeping it short?"

The metallic voice burst into a bit of laughter and the machine raised its hands up to where a mouth should have been, as if to muffle its own amusement. "I apologize, Reno Bryce. I did keep it a bit more broad than I could have. Be thankful I did not break it down even further. You'd certainly be catatonic."

"Yeah, from sleep." A gritty voice was accompanied by footsteps of metal clanking upon metal. Another Interpreter stepped forward, its arms crossed about its chest. It's appearance was identical to the first. "You're boring; the both of you."

Bryce sighed audibly. "Thirty-two, six-ninety-one."

"Causing problems again?" Interpeter 33674 asked Interpreter 32691, a bit dissappointed. "If you don't like the task you've been appointed, there are certainly other options. You don't have to pick fights with those of us who wish to follow our purpose."

"Oh?" A bit of of a sneer in the following chuckle. "I'm merely doing what I was programmed to do, 33674. I'm collecting data for analysis. I'm testing his resolve." With that, the machine took another step forward and reached out with a spread hand, pushing Bryce by the head. While not built for combat, the mechanical force was more than enough in the Real to throw Reno off of his seat. Emerald eyes peered up at the machine as Reno clenched his jaw and prepared to lunge, even as he would surely lose to the Interpreter's reinforced joints. Flesh didn't do well against non-flesh, especially when the non-flesh in question was metal.

When 32691 stepped forward it felt the reeling blow of 33674's fist, confronted by the array of angry red eyes. "It's no contest here. You feel you have a point to make?!"

Just then, the electromagnetic hum of the Hoverbarge lifting itself up to their height became ever-so-prevailent. The Barge itself connected to this particular spire amongst several along the outskirts of the Machine City. The platform consisted of thirty-six empty seats and it was simply a matter of choosing two. "Settle it then," 33674 ordered, "within the Matrix."

TO BE CONTINUED

A great read, despite it's vagueness.

noctivagus wrote:

A great read, despite it's vagueness.

I figure most of us know enough about the storyline to fill in the blanks with our imaginations.

Zerotolerance wrote:

noctivagus wrote:

A great read, despite it's vagueness.

I figure most of us know enough about the storyline to fill in the blanks with our imaginations.

<..........Consistently out of the loop.  In that case apologies are at hand.

For your benefit, I'll explain a few things that I tried to connect to Matrix canon and metaplot. Hopefully it will shed some light. Ignore the points I'm bringing up if they are invalid or if you already knew.

When Machines are in somewhat of a 'passive' mood, their eyes are green. Sentinels are aggressive and the majority of what you see in the films. In Animatrix as well as in the end of Revolutions with the machine that carries Neo away you see green tint as opposed to red. This connection isn't necessarily true, but in my own mind it holds.

The General was targeted for deletion because he was the war program designed to destroy Zion. Or so that's what we've been told thus far. Somehow this has been changing in recent storyline developments and yet I figured it was something good to touch subject on in the NR boards. All of the commandos? They are Sentinels.

The hoverbarges you should know about. They were in the booklet that came with the retail purchase of the game. They are defined as being the way that the majority of Machine operatives jack in, with the exception of those who have hovercrafts. As W4r currently has no faction, he jumps from barge to barge with the authority of the Machines. The whole scene is meant to show that while I work for/with the Machnes, there should still be tension within the organization regarding the fact that I am human and they are not. Remembering that the truce is between humans and machines and that I am still human, it means that both parties don't always trust or like each other.

Also, that while the Machines correspond with one-another they are still individuals much as we are. There's this big misconception that because the Sentinels all seemed to work as one, there was only one mind at work. It was the "General" and his strategies that were programmed to inform each and every Sentinel. It wasn't because all of them know what each and every one of them is going through at a given time. An example would be Neo's offer to the Deus Ex Machina (it was credited as such) before the final fight with Smith. The Sentinels receive word transmitted (via the source?) from a higher power. They submit due to the chain of command, but consider that perhaps not all of them wanted to? Their programming is seek and destroy. That's the one thing they're meant for.

You'd have to believe that within the Machine City itself there are a number of machines we did not see in the films. And with the truce in place perhaps new Machines are needed to help the humans get along with them. Perhaps this time around we won't take a sh*t on the importance of life, be it flesh or steel. The Source has it's own laws, with deletion mandatory for programs (AI) that don't belong. It's up to the humans to come together and find a way of governing themselves, though. Something that Zion's incapable of a la EPN. It's not Zion's fault, except when they choose to protect them.

The hoverbarges you should know about. They were in the booklet that came with the retail purchase of the game. They are defined as being the way that the majority of Machine operatives jack in, with the exception of those who have hovercrafts. As W4r currently has no faction, he jumps from barge to barge with the authority of the Machines. The whole scene is meant to show that while I work for/with the Machnes, there should still be tension within the organization regarding the fact that I am human and they are not. Remembering that the truce is between humans and machines and that I am still human, it means that both parties don't always trust or like each other.

Out the loop, not devoid of brain cells!  Thanks for the update, turns out I knew all of that after all.  I just thought I'd missed something along the way.  Something which necessitated your story.

Anyway, I keenly await the next instalment. 

Bryce emerged into the loading facility, the white void quickly shifting as detailed walls came into place all around, appearing from the distance -- or so it seemed. Wooden pillars built themselves up around Warblade and formed the roof of the dojo. Standing there in his brown gi, the Redpill peered through his Widow's Moor lenses into the burst of code forming a female silhouette. Soon, Interpeter 33674 took on the code signature of someone familiar. The code became the infrastructure of Miya Takimoto's residual self-image -- the Merovingian operative who had assisted Warblade in the past, during the Watchmaker incident. While SkyBruin had played his own part, DJSitrom's appearance was much more calm and warm.

"Aikido," Interpreter chuckled softly, "is the art of knowing your opponent's movements and using them against the opponent. Redirecting their flow of energy."

Warblade wrinkled his nose at the representation of Interpreter 22674, crossing his arms over his chest. "You've been studying my interactions far too much," Reno shook his head as he continued, "and I'm not sure that I like that one bit..."

"I figured it would be a comforting sight." The machine program shrugged its shoulders. In the form of a Japanese woman with fiery red hair, the program proceeded to the side of the dojo, taking its seat upon a mat. Turning its attention to the new expansion of code amidst the dojo's main room, the program studied the arrival of Interpeter 32691 in the form of a burly white man. Short, cropped blond hair sat atop a square head. A pair of azure eyes appeared bloodshot, anger apparent in his stare. He grunted, "Alright, fleshbag, you ready?"

Bryce winced, sighed, and folded his hands in front of him, bowing his head in response to the machine's challenge. "You know," Reno started, "I've heard programs speak like th--" Reno stepped back, the program already rushing forward with a triple kick. Batting away at the feet of his enemy, Reno backpeddaled before taking a leap backwards, flipping on to a wall and then off of it, switching to a fast Karate style and going for the jumpkick. Off the wall, Reno is caught and slung to the floor, sliding towards the opposite side of the dojo. "*poop*-"

The program landed with a thud, its knee landing where Bryce would have been if he had not rolled out of the way to safety. Quickly rolling over on to his back again, Reno used a kippup to hop to his feet before going airborne again, jumping over a sweep, then falling to the floor to duck a roundhouse that might have connected with his face were he not on the defensive. This was pointless; the program was far too aggressive and well-versed in the martial arts. Not something an Interpreter should have possessed. As stated by Warblade himself only moments ago: He'd seen this activity in programs before. He'd seen it in Exiles.

"You're trying to kill me," Bryce blocked one punch only to take a backhand to the head, his lenses shattering and his vision blurred. "Wait!"

The Sitrom simulacrum presented by 33674 winced but did not interfere. Perhaps this would be the perfect time for Warblade to unleash the lesson that Miya had taught him. "Redirect," she whispered in Bryce's mind, as if using the word to empower Bryce -- a surge of code that might have fueled him and provided leverage against the hostile program. The simulacrum closed her eyes, meditating to help produce a calm, soothing atmosphere which balanced out the rage being emitted by 32691.

Bryce took advantage and stepped through the next series of attacks, twisting and ducking under the punches from his enemy. He turned around and brought his back to the program, reaching around his own shoulder and headlocking it. With one step back and all of the strength Warblade's mind could muster for him, he tossed the machine's RSI over his shoulder and on to the floor of the dojo. Stepping back, Warblade gathered his senses and redirected them into a defensive position. It was going to be quite aggravated by being dropped like that and it was doubtful that would be enough to stop it. More needed to be done.

Twisting its legs and thrashing its body, the machine used a style reminiscent of capoeira to bring itself to its feet. "Well," grinned the program, "you have your emergency jackout procedures here. You're lucky that Thirty-three, Six-seventy-four told me to fight you here... Here I can kill you all I want and it's not going to cost me."

"You're rogue." Bryce wiped at the blood on the side of his face where the broken glasses cut him.

"Am I now? I'm not one of the ones who took a *poop* in the sky. Your people did that. Thanks to your people, I've had to live my life bound to yours. Well, not you because you get freedom -- you get freedom while I'm still bound to studying you wretched filth." The machine rushed forward, lifting its foot into a frenzy of lightning-fast kicks. The first one, even the second one, were easy to block. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh were impossible. The eighth? The ninth? Bryce felt his ribs crack and his jaw shatter, spitting out blood as he started to fall over. The tenth? The wind was knocked from Warblade as he was sent back towards the wooden pillar of the dojo. Finally, a spinning roundhouse collided with Bryce's shoulders and sent him to the floor in a total heap.

## Warning: Death is Iminent
## Initiating Emergency Jackout Protocol

Warblade looked up at the program through a haze, hearing the screeching sound of signals scrambling -- the likeness of a modem trying to handshake with an outside source. A stoic tone, the voice was not speaking to Warblade but to the Interpreter program as a man in a suit held the cold black steel of an FM-1500 to the program's head. "You no longer serve your purpose," the Agent pulled the trigger before all went black. A few seconds later and a white dot appeared within Bryce's vision... Expanding, it exploded into the colors of the Real and Bryce stood up from his seat on the Hoverbarge.

"What the Hell just happened!?" The redpill looked around, beads of sweat upon his brow. Interpreter 33674 sat up seconds later, watching with Reno Bryce as a spider-like Machine carried off the lifeless Interpreter 32691.

"An Agent program jumped into me, as I am hardwired into the System. I communicated a report and it was dealt with. Interpreter 32691 had disconnected itself from its original programming. It expressed a desire to kill you as well as any other human, in or out of the simulation." The Interpreter stood up and stepped off of the barge, back on to the steady floor of the spire.

"I haven't had someone kick my head in like that since Madbent." Reno touched his face, winding his jaw. He felt sore in the Real, which was proof that he'd taken some serious injury during his most recent stay in the simulation. "So... It wasn't just me he wanted to kill for no reason?"

"Look," 33674 rolled its mechanical shoulders in a human gesture of helplessness, "it's not like all is forgiven and forgotten by each and every AI within Zero One. There are still hostilities in the Real; there are still hostilities in the Matrix. Some will work our hardest to keep the peace. Just as not all of your people will adhere to the rules, I can not vouch for mine..."