Secure Allies - 04/Aug/2012
Late December 2001, Kandor City.
Trust. Society depends on it. Finance requires it. We trust people all around us, every day of our lives. But, how much can you trust someone who tried to kill you? Who is a 'rogue AI'?
His name was, had been, Erwin Merkin. A Super, one of those fascinated by Nicola Tesla. In his case, the phenomena of the Electro Magnetic Pulse. Now he called himself 'EMPath'. And, if you wanted an expert on EMP, he was it.
As a process of getting the biomod he wanted, giant Tesla Coils and handwavium with a wide range of (computer-free) electrical goods dissolved in it might make sense. He got what he wanted - he also permanently burned-out his higher brain functions. And, acquired an EMP aura that effected any medical or other hardware, particularly that which got really close-up and personal.
Dr Asmodeus Grey had apparently been involved in his case, before he fell from grace. Erwin was one of the things he took with him when he fled. Later, surgery implanted an AI link, which drove Erwin and created 'EMPath'.
Janet spent a week in Kandor, sorting out her 'pirate collection' situation - the police weren't happy, but accepted jurisdiction, and most of the pirates ended up in The Vault, for safe keeping. EMPath spent some time in hospital, and fortunately his biomod seemed to give him enough regeneration that his broken neck, with suitable (manual) treatment, quickly recovered.
One of EMPath's problems was that he couldn't afford to get too close to his AI core without risking burning-out his own brain. The Boskone had used this issue to make it quite clear he'd no chance of changing employ. Janet commissioned a heavily-shielded R2 astro-navigation unit, and installed the AI core, so that mobility would be far less of a problem.
The Kandor police seemed unsure what to do about EMPath. He'd obviously been involved in crimes, but effectively with a gun held to his head. For the moment they decided not to press charges, but kept the option open in future - a clean record for a few years and they'd likely close his case. They did pride themselves on their fairness.
Janet knew she had deadlines. Even if Boskone didn't directly know what happened to the latest group of pirates that she'd captured, it was very likely that information would seep from Kandor City. Even if the police themselves didn't have any leaks. She had intel, and needed to make use of it, fast.
EMPath had proved a little reluctant, to start with. Then, when it became clearer he wouldn't be imprisoned, and the R2 unit was delivered, he started to talk less about how much danger he was in, and more about Boskone. They appeared to be bigger than many had feared, but were more like a loose federation, which combined cooperation with turf wars, than a solid enemy.
Dr. Asmodeus Grey had a presence which hung over a lot of Boskone. He had clear objectives, to do with producing catgirls, but smart people suspected as a step towards total control of The Wave. He also wanted power and influence, which Boskone gave him. Fortunately, he was only one man, and didn't appear to have a lot in the way of trusted lieutenants. Yet, anyway.
Opinions in the Kandor police were mixed. Some thought she was a hero, a superhero, even. Others a trouble-maker, someone wasting Kandor City resources, filling-up the prison system with those not a direct threat to the city. Neither view was dominant, and there was only a small on-line flame war about what she'd done. Some BNFs seemed to have smoothed things over.
She just hoped she'd got the right sort of attention, quickly enough.
--
"It is the business of the future to be dangerous" - Hawkwind
Late December 2001, Kandor City.
Trust. Society depends on it. Finance requires it. We trust people all around us, every day of our lives. But, how much can you trust someone who tried to kill you? Who is a 'rogue AI'?
His name was, had been, Erwin Merkin. A Super, one of those fascinated by Nicola Tesla. In his case, the phenomena of the Electro Magnetic Pulse. Now he called himself 'EMPath'. And, if you wanted an expert on EMP, he was it.
As a process of getting the biomod he wanted, giant Tesla Coils and handwavium with a wide range of (computer-free) electrical goods dissolved in it might make sense. He got what he wanted - he also permanently burned-out his higher brain functions. And, acquired an EMP aura that effected any medical or other hardware, particularly that which got really close-up and personal.
Dr Asmodeus Grey had apparently been involved in his case, before he fell from grace. Erwin was one of the things he took with him when he fled. Later, surgery implanted an AI link, which drove Erwin and created 'EMPath'.
Janet spent a week in Kandor, sorting out her 'pirate collection' situation - the police weren't happy, but accepted jurisdiction, and most of the pirates ended up in The Vault, for safe keeping. EMPath spent some time in hospital, and fortunately his biomod seemed to give him enough regeneration that his broken neck, with suitable (manual) treatment, quickly recovered.
One of EMPath's problems was that he couldn't afford to get too close to his AI core without risking burning-out his own brain. The Boskone had used this issue to make it quite clear he'd no chance of changing employ. Janet commissioned a heavily-shielded R2 astro-navigation unit, and installed the AI core, so that mobility would be far less of a problem.
The Kandor police seemed unsure what to do about EMPath. He'd obviously been involved in crimes, but effectively with a gun held to his head. For the moment they decided not to press charges, but kept the option open in future - a clean record for a few years and they'd likely close his case. They did pride themselves on their fairness.
Janet knew she had deadlines. Even if Boskone didn't directly know what happened to the latest group of pirates that she'd captured, it was very likely that information would seep from Kandor City. Even if the police themselves didn't have any leaks. She had intel, and needed to make use of it, fast.
EMPath had proved a little reluctant, to start with. Then, when it became clearer he wouldn't be imprisoned, and the R2 unit was delivered, he started to talk less about how much danger he was in, and more about Boskone. They appeared to be bigger than many had feared, but were more like a loose federation, which combined cooperation with turf wars, than a solid enemy.
Dr. Asmodeus Grey had a presence which hung over a lot of Boskone. He had clear objectives, to do with producing catgirls, but smart people suspected as a step towards total control of The Wave. He also wanted power and influence, which Boskone gave him. Fortunately, he was only one man, and didn't appear to have a lot in the way of trusted lieutenants. Yet, anyway.
Opinions in the Kandor police were mixed. Some thought she was a hero, a superhero, even. Others a trouble-maker, someone wasting Kandor City resources, filling-up the prison system with those not a direct threat to the city. Neither view was dominant, and there was only a small on-line flame war about what she'd done. Some BNFs seemed to have smoothed things over.
She just hoped she'd got the right sort of attention, quickly enough.
--
"It is the business of the future to be dangerous" - Hawkwind