Subject: Well, technically speaking...
Author:
Posted on: 2015-08-15 23:57:00 UTC
The killer that Skeet created was under his control. It's just when it gained sentience that things got a little awkward.
As I explained to Des, the sounding like HK-47 thing was unintentional, although the things that I was meaning for it to sound like do sound very similar to HK-47. So I guess it still sort of works.
- Irish
Is it just me, or have there been more stories posted than usual recently? I'm sure I'm not used to seeing so many Missions and Interludes out all at once :)
So, the inspiration for this piece came from a conversation a couple of weeks ago which suggested that the PPC using autonomous attach drones wouldn't make for an entertaining story. But we've previously had several conversations along the lines of making workable stories out of 'bad' ideas.
Hopefully, I am now able to offer further proof that there really is no such thing as a bad idea.
For reference, this takes place a little later on in my spin-off, when Skeet and Amy are fairly used to working with each.
- Irish
I agree, it definitely sounded like HK-47.
The killer that Skeet created was under his control. It's just when it gained sentience that things got a little awkward.
As I explained to Des, the sounding like HK-47 thing was unintentional, although the things that I was meaning for it to sound like do sound very similar to HK-47. So I guess it still sort of works.
- Irish
I chuckled. (There goes my Stoic reputation. :P) Well-written, dood. I particularly liked the HK-47 reference.
That wasn't actually meant to be an HK-47 reference - it was supposed to be a reference to Schlock Mercenary (the continuum that the mission ostensibly took place in). A.I.s in that 'verse have a tendency to refer to organics as 'meat'.
Even the friendly ones use terms like 'meat-glacier' when referring to how slowly organic intelligences think and act compared to them.
Having said that, I'm not sure that the specific term 'meatbag' actually appears anywhere in the comic, and I've now remembered that HK-47 says it a lot. So, entirely unintentional on my part.
Still, glad I was able to make you chuckle. That was the intention, after all :)
- Irish
Technically, it did open a portal, but instead of the usual doorway-style opening, the portal was a circle just under a metre in diameter, at about head height.
I can see where this is going and I love it already.
“Hmm, well, I see two realistic options. One, we rig up some kind of slide…” Skeet gestured at the hole in the wall, “... aimed at the portal. If we tuck our arms and legs in like we’re on a water flume, we should get through without any splinching.”
ACTUALLY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS.
“Amy, are you going to let me build a killer robot, or are you going to insist on being the voice of reason?”
Priceless. I gigglesnorted.
Amy rarely went into Skeet’s room, because (she claimed) it smells like boys’ feet.
Can confirm, my brother's a teenage boy and it smells like feet in his room.
“Droidsy! You came back!”
“You named it ‘Droidsy’?”
Can I say just how much I love this? Because I do. *huggles Droidsy*
“You can talk?”
::Statement – Duh::
“And you know sarcasm. Well, isn’t that just great.”
Sarcastic droid OMG
The drone swivelled to look at Skeet, who suddenly became aware of the fact that this meant it was also pointing its weapon at him.
OH NOES
::Query – What factor could be more important than efficiency?::
OI, DEPARTMENT OF EFFICIENCY! GOT YOU A NEW RECRUIT!
Droidsy tipped slightly to one side, either as the result of damage to its propulsion system or mimicking human behaviour while thinking about its creator’s point. Meanwhile, Skeet’s aimless wandering had just so happened to take him up to his weapons cabinet.
Very nice. Very nice indeed. :D
“Query-” Skeet realised that he was copying the droid’s speech patterns. “I mean… out of interest, when I built you, did I include an off switch?”
Department of Efficiency, sorry about that, you can go home now.
Basically, I liked this. A lot.
Skeet would like to point out that his room doesn't smell any different from the rest of the RC.
Amy would like to point out that Skeet is clearly lying, and thank you for backing her up.
Your comment about wanting to see agents sliding in through the portal got me to wondering if there any times that would be particularly appropriate. The results of some very silly thoughts are presented here:
* * *
Amy walked back in to her RC to see Skeet glaring at the console as if it had just insulted his mother. "What's up?"
Skeet gestured at the console screen. "Oh, just someone trying to ruin another happy memory from my childhood."
Amy frowned to herself, wishing that her partner would be a little more consistent with his facial expressions. "What canon?"
"Thunderbirds," Skeet said. "You ever watch it?"
Amy shrugged. "A little."
"Well, I watched it a lot. And the others, like Stingray and Captain Scarlet. And the recent reboot isn't bad, but this..." Skeet gestured at the console again. "This just doesn't sound good. Grab us each a pistol, would you?"
Amy fetch a pair of weapons, while Skeet pressed buttons seemingly at random.
Amy was waiting by the wall when Skeet pressed the final button, which usually resulted in a portal for them to walk through. On this occasion, however, Amy was left staring at a blank wall.
"Um, Skeet, I think our portal generator might be broken again."
"What? Oh, no, you don't think we'd start a Thunderbirds mission by just walking through a hole in the wall, do you?" Skeet was on the other side of the RC, near the bookshelves.
He reached out and grabbed one of the books, 'Secret Rooms and Hidden Passages: An Observer's Guide', and tipped it back slightly.
The bookshelf began sinking into the floor, revealing a hidden compartment behind it.
[5]
"Argh!" Amy jumped back in surprise, loosing her balance. "Was that the console?"
"Yup." Skeet grinned. "I added a little to the programming."
[4]
Amy picked herself up and joined her partner by the bookcase, just as it slid out view entirely.
The small alcove that had been revealed contained a pair of harnesses, that looked sort of like the safety harnesses for a rollercoaster.
[3]
Skeet took the right one, and Amy took the left. Once they were both in position, the harnesses clamped down on their shoulders.
[2]
The floor and wall jerked slightly, then the whole assembly moved up and over, tipping the agents so that they were lying on their backs, head first pointing down a slope. At the bottom of the slope was the telltale blue glow of a portal.
"Waaaah!"
"Relax, Amy, you've got nothing to worry about."
"Oh yeah? Then next time we get tipped upside down, you can wear a skirt!"
[1]
Skeet looked across at his partner, as she tried to preserve her modesty. "Riiiight, sorry about that."
[Thunderbirds are go!]
Amy glared at Skeet, and was just about to reply when the clamps released, and they were both sent hurtling down the slide.
A/N: I take no responsibility for this whatsoever. Thunderbirds was created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.