(Preshow) Registration (Where You Sign Up IC)

[The Vision]

Vision approached the sign-up booth in Darkshire. A crowd of people were bustling in a wide ring around it. Vision scanned them and found that, though they had the appearance of medieval villagers, the villagers were nevertheless nonplussed by the anachronistic LED strobe displays. Amps next to the booth blared, “Join the Army! Descend into the Abyss! Emerge victorious!”

> scan localconv.mp3
Error 00430: Input too great

Alas. The obnoxious noise was overloading Vision’s auditory sensors, and the surrounding villagers seemed to be having an equivalent experience. Vision calmly approached the amps and bent over, gently turning the volume down. One of the villagers cried out in response, “Thank Omni!”

The announcer was less amused. She was sitting at a cheap plastic desk between the two speakers, holding a clipboard. At the moment, she was scowling at the synthezoid.

“And what do you think you’re doing?”

“I found the volume to be distressingly loud,” the Vision calmly replied in his smooth, glossy voice. “So I decreased it.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been instructed to make this as loud as possible, so too bad.”

The woman turned up the volume again. Vision scowled. The woman ignored him.

> combat=?
#False

The woman continued, “Can I help you?”

The Vision shut off his auditory sensors, instead using complex formulae to read the woman’s lips. He responded, “I would like to assist the recovery of Mr. Karl Jak’s crew.”

The woman shrugged. “Got an invitation?”

“Yes.”

“Great. So we can skip a few steps… Mind signing this waiver?”

The Vision glanced at the piece of paper, downloading the image into his database.

“Are dangerous accidents prone to happen in the Danteverse?”

The woman chuckled. “You’re kidding, right?”

Vision mechanically picked up a pen and signed the form. He handed it to the woman, who snorted.

“Query: What is funny?”

The woman stifled her laugh. “Nothing, just… I don’t know, the ‘Vision’? That’s your real name?”

“Affirmative.”

“Huh. Well, I wouldn’t be surprised with the overgrown Oompa Loompa look, but the name doesn’t do it justice.”

> combat=?
#False
> override combatprotocols.txt
Error :: entity non-hostile

“Well, you’re on the list, so go right ahead and step on that teleport pad, ‘Vizzy’.”

The Vision walked calmly onto the platform. The woman pressed some buttons, and the Vision sensed the teleportation device booting up. The Vision turned his head to the woman.

“I have one final declarative.”

“And what’s that?”

The device started beeping, and a simulated voice started counting down from 5. A fluorescent blue light started warping around the Vision, which he recognized as quantum energy flow. It would soon transport him to the designated destination.

> pwrlvl=?
83%
> run opticalheatemission.att

The Vision quickly glared at the speakers, emitting a heat beam directly at the cords that were powering it. The chants immediately died, sparks emitting from the wires. The woman displayed a response of shock. The Vision smiled at her.

“I’d prefer it if you just called me ‘Vision’.”

With a flash of blue, radiant light, the Vision warped to the Danteverse.