02-09-2016, 06:05 AM
Quote:At the Temple
The Ex-Agent couldn't help but to look askance at the green-skinned man. First the fellow all but threatens to destroy Smith, and now it seemed that he wanted to ask for the program's assistance. Logic gates within Smith's programming opened and closed as he contemplated the stranger's offer eventually arriving at a list of benefits and consequences of taking him up on his offer. A bulleted missive sprang into existence in his mind's eye.
Pros:
*Having an ally within this game would most certainly improve Smith's chances at victory.
*It would grant him a scapegoat, should Smith require a diversion from an undesirable situation.
*If the green-skin was powerful, Smith's workload would be significantly reduced in his mission.
Cons:
*The man had already made it clear that he wished to destroy Smith.
*It's unlikely that he would ever trust the Ex-Agent.
*If his prospective ally was weak, he would only burden Smith.
*He'd probably have to put up with the fellow's incessant talk and insults.
In the end, only one logical conclusion could be had. However, before Smith could give him answer, the hologram spoke up from their midst. Apparently it had gotten tired of waiting and would be sending its 'champions' out to do its bidding. And while Smith didn't really care about helping the construct, it was unlikely he would ever make it back into the Matrix proper if he did not. And it didn't much seem that Smith had a choice in the matter anyway.
The world once again fell away from Smith as he was transported to another part of the game.
Quote:Before the Fight
When the world returned to focus, Smith found himself in a vast tract of forest. Well... he assumed it was vast. The trees hampered his vision, effectively blinding him to what was more than a few dozen yards away. Still, the thick canopy overhead and the perpetual twilight that extended in all directions certainly gave the impression of a sizable wood.
The program let out a disappointed breath, a scowl twisting his features. Had this 'spirit' really wished his freedom, why had he not set Smith at the objective? Of course, if this was just a game, a Smith suspected, the search might well be a part of it as well. It was the logical conclusion. Still, it was an irksome one.
Without a guide, or sign, to give Smith a definite direction in which to travel, the Ex-Agent was forced to hazard a guess as to the right way. Another troublesome aspect of this game. Smith was data... a program. While he was highly advanced and could learn, as one would expect with an AI, he still much preferred to have a plan when he acted. His mind ran smoother when the options were more clear.
Smith turned this way, and that, trying to discern a proper path. As he did so, a stray beam of sunlight managed to break through the overhead canopy, lighting upon an object half-obscured by fallen leaves nearby. The glint of metal startled Smith at first, and for a brief instant he considered the possibility that it might be a bomb, or some other sort of trap. Then his recall protocols remembered that the hologram had promised him a weapon to assist in his mission.
The program stepped forward and retrieved his gift from the forest floor. His hand found familiar contours in its grip and a slight smile crossed Smith's lips as he held it before him. A bit ungainly, perhaps, but it would do. Yes... it would do nicely.
Quote:After the Fight
Dashing through the trees like a madman, Smith's body operated on autopilot as his mind furiously worked over what had happened in that clearing. How? How had he been beaten back so effortlessly? And what was that... thing that had been fired at him? It-it couldn't have been... magic, could it? No... that was impossible. Magic did not exist within the Matrix. It was one of the things removed from the simulation in order to facilitate the human's acceptance of it. The creature who had launched that bolt of energy must have had some hidden weapon that Smith had missed in his initial assessment of the situation. It was the only plausible explanation.
The creature itself was an oddity as well. Smith couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen it before, but he couldn't recall ever meeting an anthromorphic mouse in his past duties. And the fact it even existed was even stranger. Was it a program, like himself? If so, what sort of purpose could it possibly have? It was a threat to the stability of the Matrix.
Growling in frustration, Smith came to a halt against a large oak and looked back the way he had come. Moments passed as he scanned the trees for a sign of pursuit, and once he was satisfied that he was not being followed, his mind returned to thoughts of the battle.
How could he have miscalculated so grievously? Yes, there had been two of them, but Smith had studied them thoroughly through the trees before he had made his move. They were weak. With his skills, they should have been easy prey, taken out so as to thin out the herd of prospective victors for this game. When he had made his move, he had definitely had the upper hand as well. Had they acted logically, Smith would have ended their processes right there in the clearing. But first the mouse had pushed the woman away from Smith's attack, a self-sacrificial move only the noblest of humans were capable of. Why would a program choose to risk itself for another?
Even more confusing, after taking a small wound from Smith's sizable weapon, the woman had launched himself at him. It was instantaneous, acted upon by instinct, and completely illogical. Any sane being would have tried to escape after narrowly avoiding that killing shot. Smith spat to the side, the gleaming white of a tooth within the bloody spittle. And to think she could actually injure him with such a mundane tool. Inconceivable.
The Ex-Agent sighed, and turned away from the path back to the clearing. It seemed as though he would need to exercise greater caution in the future. Smith shook his head solemnly and moved off.