Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Not yet, Mosley. From the outside it all looks pretty standard. I'm going to have to get inside to learn more." Dane steps toward the driver's side door, hand reaching for the handle. Before opening it, he pauses, eyes narrowing, trying to feel for any active systems—anything electronic that might give him a warning before he breaks the seal. [OOC: Guess it's time to burn the the last Psi read.]
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Not yet, Mosley. From the outside it all looks pretty standard. I'm going to have to get inside to learn more." Dane steps toward the driver's side door, hand reaching for the handle. Before opening it, he pauses, eyes narrowing, trying to feel for any active systems; anything electronic that might give him a warning before he breaks the seal.
He can feel one system completely controlling the thing as he feels his mental energies are completely exhausted. The access code to the door is 6775 and he can see a bionic or robotic face staring back at him. He can see hidden data and so many other hidden treasures of knowledge. The world around him seems to melt away as one glowing file cabinet, that just looms in midair, is labeled, "Dustin Synek." It's startling only for a moment, but he moves past, realizing that he's not standing next to the vehicle anymore. He's somehow within the hallways of it's circuitry, data paths and... thoughts?
A deep, almost menacing, robotic voice echoes in his mind. "Who are you and why are you invading my systems? Answer now or I'll terminate your existence!"
He can feel one system completely controlling the thing as he feels his mental energies are completely exhausted. The access code to the door is 6775 and he can see a bionic or robotic face staring back at him. He can see hidden data and so many other hidden treasures of knowledge. The world around him seems to melt away as one glowing file cabinet, that just looms in midair, is labeled, "Dustin Synek." It's startling only for a moment, but he moves past, realizing that he's not standing next to the vehicle anymore. He's somehow within the hallways of it's circuitry, data paths and... thoughts?
A deep, almost menacing, robotic voice echoes in his mind. "Who are you and why are you invading my systems? Answer now or I'll terminate your existence!"
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane's breath catches in his throat. oO( This is unexpected. )Oo "My name is Dane and I'm not here to harm you." oO( Is this AI or the hacker...or both? )Oo "I'm helping investigate a teenage kidnapping and possible human trafficking case and our investigation led to this vehicle." He swallows as his pulse pounds in his ears. "All I'm trying to do is find out who's behind the kidnappings and why." While he talks, Dane tries to prepare countermeasures to stop any sort of attack, either via his physical connection to the vehicle or a virtual strike against his mind. oO( Maybe there's a way I can blend in with the system and hide my presence. )Oo "I entered because I need information, not control. If you want me out, say so, and I will disconnect." Dane tries to get a feel for the AI's state of mind. oO( Is it the one behind the attacks, or is it being controlled by someone else against its will? )Oo
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane's breath catches in his throat. oO(This is unexpected)Oo "My name is Dane and I'm not here to harm you." oO(Is this AI or the hacker...or both?)Oo "I'm helping investigate a teenage kidnapping and possible human trafficking case and our investigation led to this vehicle." He swallows as his pulse pounds in his ears. "All I'm trying to do is find out who's behind the kidnappings and why." While he talks, Dane tries to prepare countermeasures to stop any sort of attack, either via his physical connection to the vehicle or a virtual strike against his mind. oO(Maybe there's a way I can blend in with the system and hide my presence)Oo "I entered because I need information, not control. If you want me out, say so, and I will disconnect." Dane tries to get a feel for the AI's state of mind. oO(Is it the one behind the attacks, or is it being controlled by someone else against its will?)Oo
"I'm not here to harm you either. The young female was an unfortunate mistake by a few hooligans trying to make a fast credit. They didn't do their research. I'm looking for a different Violet. She's my friend's sister." A moment passes, then, "No need to initiate defenses. You're knowledge of my program logic is exponentially smaller than my own awareness. You're not the first psychic whom I've encountered."
Dane swears he hears banging as the voice continues, "It was nice to make your acquaintance, Dane. Unfortunately, I must ask you to leave and inform the two lawmen to quit hitting me. They're chipping my exterior color."
"I'm not here to harm you either. The young female was an unfortunate mistake by a few hooligans trying to make a fast credit. They didn't do their research. I'm looking for a different Violet. She's my friend's sister." A moment passes, then, "No need to initiate defenses. You're knowledge of my program logic is exponentially smaller than my own awareness. You're not the first psychic whom I've encountered."
Dane swears he hears banging as the voice continues, "It was nice to make your acquaintance, Dane. Unfortunately, I must ask you to leave and inform the two lawmen to quit hitting me. They're chipping my exterior color."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Wait, Violet has a sibling? I think we're talking about the same person. I'm trying to keep her safe." Dane forces the words out before he gets cut off. "You have a file on Dusty. He may be a crazy old hermit, but I don't think he means her harm. I think he's trying to help keep her safe." He leaves off his suspicions about Dusty being her father as time is quickly running out. "I'm too tired, now, but I'd like to talk some more later. Would you allow that?"
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"Wait, Violet has a sibling? I think we're talking about the same person. I'm trying to keep her safe." Dane forces the words out before he gets cut off. "You have a file on Dusty. He may be a crazy old hermit, but I don't think he means her harm. I think he's trying to help keep her safe." He leaves off his suspicions about Dusty being her father as time is quickly running out. "I'm too tired, now, but I'd like to talk some more later. Would you allow that?"
"Yes, Dustin's alive? Dra..."
Dane's eyes flutter open to Joe and his dad shaking him. They both hop back as Dane comes to.
"What in tarnation just happened?" Joe shouts.
"You okay, Dane? I think that thing just zapped the hell out of you!" his dad looks genuinely mortified.
"Dane, ole buddy," Mosley's geeky mug looms into view, "You were out for a full minute..."
"Yes, Dustin's alive? Dra..."
Dane's eyes flutter open to Joe and his dad shaking him. They both hop back as Dane comes to.
"What in tarnation just happened?" Joe shouts.
"You okay, Dane? I think that thing just zapped the hell out of you!" his dad looks genuinely mortified.
"Dane, ole buddy," Mosley's geeky mug looms into view, "You were out for a full minute..."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane blinks a couple of times, forcing his vision back into focus. "Yeah," he says, voice a little shaky. He swallows and keeps going. "I think the hacker is the AI in the vehicle. And... it politely asked you to stop scratching the paint." His head throbs a little from the contact, but his thoughts are lining up again. He gives a faint, uneven smirk.
"It said its friend is Vi's sibling, and that it's trying to help find her. Do you know if Vi has a sibling?" He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "It also has a file on Dustin Synek. I think that's the same Dusty from Fort Hammer who disappeared with Vi." He pauses for a moment before saying. "That's Vi's dad... right?" He lets the question hang while he watches Joe and his dad.
"It said its friend is Vi's sibling, and that it's trying to help find her. Do you know if Vi has a sibling?" He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "It also has a file on Dustin Synek. I think that's the same Dusty from Fort Hammer who disappeared with Vi." He pauses for a moment before saying. "That's Vi's dad... right?" He lets the question hang while he watches Joe and his dad.
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
Dane blinks a couple of times, forcing his vision back into focus. "Yeah," he says, voice a little shaky. He swallows and keeps going. "I think the hacker is the AI in the vehicle. And... it politely asked you to stop scratching the paint." His head throbs a little from the contact, but his thoughts are lining up again. He gives a faint, uneven smirk.
George drops his now broken flashlight as the sheriff wipes a boot scuff off of the vehicle.
"It said its friend is Vi's sibling, and that it's trying to help find her. Do you know if Vi has a sibling?" He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "It also has a file on Dustin Synek. I think that's the same Dusty from Fort Hammer who disappeared with Vi." He pauses for a moment before saying. "That's Vi's dad... right?" He lets the question hang while he watches Joe and his dad.
Joe flashes George a concerned expression. Eventually the sheriff sighs, "Well, this vehicle is involved in a criminal investigation. We need to have it towed to the station."
Suddenly, a loudspeaker erupts with a deep male voice, "I would prefer that you didn't," alarming both Dane's dad and the sheriff to shuffle backwards. The vehicle can talk?
George drops his now broken flashlight as the sheriff wipes a boot scuff off of the vehicle.
"It said its friend is Vi's sibling, and that it's trying to help find her. Do you know if Vi has a sibling?" He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "It also has a file on Dustin Synek. I think that's the same Dusty from Fort Hammer who disappeared with Vi." He pauses for a moment before saying. "That's Vi's dad... right?" He lets the question hang while he watches Joe and his dad.
Joe flashes George a concerned expression. Eventually the sheriff sighs, "Well, this vehicle is involved in a criminal investigation. We need to have it towed to the station."
Suddenly, a loudspeaker erupts with a deep male voice, "I would prefer that you didn't," alarming both Dane's dad and the sheriff to shuffle backwards. The vehicle can talk?
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"I don't think that's going to work," he says, directing it at both Joe and George before turning toward the vehicle. "And I... I don't know what to call you. But maybe we could find a compromise here?" He glances back at his dad and the sheriff, then back at the vehicle. "They have a job to do. But you clearly have information about Vi and Dusty that matters. So what do you need to make this work?"
Re: Rifts - DMH - Black Hat vs White Hat - Dane
"I don't think that's going to work," he says, directing it at both Joe and George before turning toward the vehicle. "And I... I don't know what to call you. But maybe we could find a compromise here?" He glances back at his dad and the sheriff, then back at the vehicle. "They have a job to do. But you clearly have information about Vi and Dusty that matters. So what do you need to make this work?"
George barks a nervous laugh that fools no one. “What the hell, Dane! Hey, kid, step back from that contraption!” His hand hovers near Dane’s shoulder, ready to yank him away as Joe’s fingers twitch toward his holster. For a heartbeat, he’s absolutely going to draw. Then he forces his hand down, jaw clenched so tight it trembles.
The Humvee’s headlights flicker once, almost like a blink. “My human designation is Hummer,” the vehicle says, voice smooth and metallic, but carrying an eerie warmth. “That is what my friends call me.” It silently rolls backward, tires whispering over gravel, then precisely pivots to sit broadside to them, showing vulnerability like a person would show their hands to show peaceful intentions. “I detect hostilities,” Hummer continues. “I am better equipped for combat than you. Probability of sustaining meaningful damage: 2.4 percent.”
A mechanical whir sounds as the roof‑mounted cannon retracts, sinking into the roof like a beast sheathing its claws. “But,” Hummer adds, “I also detect an attempt at a reasonable solution from the human designated as Dane.”
George mutters, “Reasonable? From that thing?” but he doesn’t step closer.
Hummer presses on. “Dustin Synek is the husband of Ivy Biltonman. Together they are the parents of Darren Biltonman, Drake Biltonman, my friend, and Violet Skye, who may have changed her name.” There is a pause, almost like reflection, “Approximately 186.5 days ago, I intercepted a message from Dustin. He was searching for Drake. He stated that he had to hide. He stated he was ready to reunite his family. He stated he was ready to finish what he started and avenge his wife.
“Dane,” Hummer says, “you mentioned knowing Violet. Does she have multi‑colored hair? Primarily purple? If so, then she is Ivy and Dustin’s daughter. And she may be in grave danger.” The next line comes with something disturbingly close to fondness, “You were inside me without attempting theft. The least you can do is help me fulfill my mission directive, like the human equivalent of a social drink. I would also enjoy additional grease for my joints.”
Dane can sense an uncanny warmth, a personality forming in the machine’s voice. If he didn’t know better, it's spent enough time around people to develop a personality.
Joe steps in close, shoulder brushing Dane’s. His voice is low, urgent. “This thing’s a d‑bee, Dane. It needs to be sent away or destroyed. Don’t trust it.”
George stands back, frowning hard, torn between fear and curiosity. He lifts his mangled flashlight; bent nearly in half, as he stares at it like he's remembering something.
George barks a nervous laugh that fools no one. “What the hell, Dane! Hey, kid, step back from that contraption!” His hand hovers near Dane’s shoulder, ready to yank him away as Joe’s fingers twitch toward his holster. For a heartbeat, he’s absolutely going to draw. Then he forces his hand down, jaw clenched so tight it trembles.
The Humvee’s headlights flicker once, almost like a blink. “My human designation is Hummer,” the vehicle says, voice smooth and metallic, but carrying an eerie warmth. “That is what my friends call me.” It silently rolls backward, tires whispering over gravel, then precisely pivots to sit broadside to them, showing vulnerability like a person would show their hands to show peaceful intentions. “I detect hostilities,” Hummer continues. “I am better equipped for combat than you. Probability of sustaining meaningful damage: 2.4 percent.”
A mechanical whir sounds as the roof‑mounted cannon retracts, sinking into the roof like a beast sheathing its claws. “But,” Hummer adds, “I also detect an attempt at a reasonable solution from the human designated as Dane.”
George mutters, “Reasonable? From that thing?” but he doesn’t step closer.
Hummer presses on. “Dustin Synek is the husband of Ivy Biltonman. Together they are the parents of Darren Biltonman, Drake Biltonman, my friend, and Violet Skye, who may have changed her name.” There is a pause, almost like reflection, “Approximately 186.5 days ago, I intercepted a message from Dustin. He was searching for Drake. He stated that he had to hide. He stated he was ready to reunite his family. He stated he was ready to finish what he started and avenge his wife.
“Dane,” Hummer says, “you mentioned knowing Violet. Does she have multi‑colored hair? Primarily purple? If so, then she is Ivy and Dustin’s daughter. And she may be in grave danger.” The next line comes with something disturbingly close to fondness, “You were inside me without attempting theft. The least you can do is help me fulfill my mission directive, like the human equivalent of a social drink. I would also enjoy additional grease for my joints.”
Dane can sense an uncanny warmth, a personality forming in the machine’s voice. If he didn’t know better, it's spent enough time around people to develop a personality.
Joe steps in close, shoulder brushing Dane’s. His voice is low, urgent. “This thing’s a d‑bee, Dane. It needs to be sent away or destroyed. Don’t trust it.”
George stands back, frowning hard, torn between fear and curiosity. He lifts his mangled flashlight; bent nearly in half, as he stares at it like he's remembering something.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7