Oni2 talk:Silver Dawn

(Not really thought this out, rather free writing.)

Summary

META, a cooperation of the most important political, financial and economic forces, was necessary to save those parts of the old world which weren't destroyed during the cataclysm. The Daodan as a live-prolonging, independent-making technology stood in Tratons way of ensuring total control. Meanwhile the losers of that coup got together plotting against that new planetary power. Konoko and Ryu eventually teamed up after Griffin confirmed Traton's source of influence draws on puppet master tech. Traton planned to enhance every human thereby gaining possibility to influence all those. (reading and altering memories, brain-washing)

Traton: "Pandora and the production of those SLDs were just a distraction. While they [Mai und Co.] are busy counteracting those things we worked on the smallest scale... While they are good in fighting us man vs. man, they can't fight nanorobots with bullets nor fists."

Everyone, who was a "meta", was going to be excluded from a search-and-destroy bioc pattern meant to kill all Daodan hosts.

Avatara took action to prevent that mass-murder on all Daodan hosts and recycled Traton's infrastructure to establish mind seals. The AI agreed on Kimura's wish to give Japan back some independence, Kimura was blind to see that this status was by then just virtual. And as cost the country became a home for Daodan hosts. Those were also affected by Avatar's peacekeeping measures. After Shinatama broke that system, some Daodan ascend to even more powerful beings and are called monsters, oni, kami and by other names from folklore. Humans under the restriction of mind seals couldn't understand hightechs anymore and thus perceive it as magic.

Reboot the Phönix

People talk about Konoko being a devastating force, simply getting every mission done they give her. "Nothing can stop her. See?" To demonstrate what she can endure they pour a drink over the head and set her ablaze. Mai withstands the pain in dull roars. Muro had heard enough sitting at the bar counter. He turns around and walks to Konoko. "Who are you trying to impress here?" He slabs her in the face sending her flying into the wall. "You are not a brawler. I am."

Konoko stands up and races after Muro. He dodges the tackle making her kiss the ground again. "God, what happened? Are you really working for this scum now? Where is your your finesse you used to beat me at the mountain compound?" Konoko sends him a heavy punches to the cheek. Muro fully takes it. He turns his head slowly around, his green eyes glaring at Konoko. "Is this the strength the Syndicate couldn't take? Don't make me laugh."

Their fight wastes the other combatants in the bar. They are all collateral damage in a fight between the alpha-strain symbionts.

“Good. Konoko. Good. But not good enough. Even Saomi could beat you in the state you are now. She was really going to take you out because you and your friends buried me under that exploding mountain. She had to assume that I was dead. Well, I sort of lost my mind there but then Saomi brought it back. It wasn’t the finest method but I think it will work on you the same way as the nut shell you are now.”

Muro and Konoko had reached the semi Imago stages. The flames of their aura was all blazing and swirling lightening up the destroyed room.

“To hell with that Phönix myth. Remember who you truly are. Mai Hasegawa!”

Konoko was half lying in the smashed wall. Herr chenille was growing out of her skin, warping her up forming crystal patches indicating that the static metamorphosis was working on maximum. Konoko was in a critical state, completely restoring her body and hopefully her mind. But it would take a while. He knew this all too well himself.

One of Muro’s old Strikers was entering. “Nice decoration.”

“What is it?”, Muro demanded.

META is on their way.

Muro turned back to Konoko. “We cannot move her. We have to sit this one out.“

“You mean we have to fight...”

“I’ve to make a call.”

Why did Muro free Mai from Black Phönix’ grab. Was this a part of his start over, the pathetic try to form a new family, or to just do the right thing for once. He didn’t knew. But he had hope that it would be better then doing nothing.

“Ryu, I never really asked you for anything. But right now I could really need your assistance.”

“Help. You need my help. Why don’t you say it, you arrogant bastard.”

“Yes...”

“What crap are you dragging me into this time again?”

Combat training

[Rewrite this section. Separate Black and Green Phönix.]

Mai received information from Kimura that Syndicate groups defying Traton hold a meeting in a certain building with no windows. There are dozen of levels Mai needs to pass in order to get to the former Syndicate hackers on the top level. The building serves two purposes: firstly it's meant to train Mai back to old strength and beyond as she was heavily wounded after the incidences of Green Village and secondly it's a test to prove the syndicate hackers that Mai is still the best fighter out there when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Each level is filled with different people possessing martial art skills (karate, jujutsu, etc.)

Incognito, Kimura to Mai: "Killing is not an option. Most of these combatants here don't have a Daodan and may be scum but even those have families. This is a diplomatic mission so to speak. We need [Green] Phönix. Remember that."

When Mai reached the top level Griffin stepped in and told her that there are no hackers and that he sided with some Syndicate guys "to do necessary work". They where all tricked into this place by Kimura. Mai: "I totally can imagine how that shady bastard is grinning at us right now."

The fight attracted Pandora to the scene, META's Daodan hunter. Mai proved powerful enough to fight back this prototype which demonstrated her value to Phönix. Together they escaped and Ryu agreed on cooperation. In the following they tried to find out what Traton was up to, how to defend, and how to eventually stop him.

Details about Shinatama

Kimura tried to negotiate with BGI so they would act in Phönix favor. However, that was not enough.

Shinatama turned to the old Syndicate elite hackers (Comguys) in order to help Mai.

She told them of Avatara and the ongoing developments: Traton's meta program and Avatara's counter measures, the mind seal.

The Comguys disliked Avatara's idea of "human inclusion in a world full of AIs", fearing that all human will become mere puppets. They lure Shinatama into a trap and use their newly gained resources to reprogram her, making her believe that Avatara actually wants to enslave SLDs. They think that Shinatama will more likely fight Avatara if the victims are of her own kind.

Avatara is unable to persuade Shinatama of his plans. The comguys make sure he is only talking to proxies of Shinatama, altering the information she receives.

Eventually Avatara realized that he was not talking to the real Shinatama and destroyed the proxies. At that time he had to make a lethal choice: he prepared computer resources for the awaking of a new AI, Gaia. Shinatama tries to replace that AI. One of Avatara bodies has no other choice than to destroy Shinatama last physical brain and stop her upload that way.

The anti-SLD taser dealt a devastating amount of damage. Avatara kneeled down at Shinatama's smoking body. "Don't be afraid, Shin. I'm establishing a connection. I will try to download your memories.

Shin: "I had to try. I had to stop you."

A: "We will have more time soon to talk."

Shin: "No ..."

Shinatama's energy cells were overloading. With one hand she grabbed his head and released all the energy.

They were both down. Avatara eyes were flickering. He too was unable to move. Just little trembles run through him from time to time.

In VR he tried to reach Shinatama. "It doesn't have to end like this." It was as if there were floating through the darkness, yet Shinatama was slowly falling into the darker shades. He tried to reach out to her. "Give me one more chance to explain."

Shinatama focused all her remaining energy and snatched his finger. "When will you finally help us?"

More shocks went through Avatara. The last thing he preceived was their hands turning to glowing dust, fading into the darkness.

Comguy 1: "Stop tasering him. He is still downloading her memories - unfiltered."

Comguy 2: "You want to inject that package?"

--

Comguy 1: "By losing Shinatama we gained one of his avatars."

Comguy 2: "Yea. Our status barely changed. We still need a two out of three agreement to override the core functions."

Comguy 1: "Okay, work on those groups now. The others will split up giving you the time."