Data Recording 009: Today is a pretty great day! [Back dated to Feb. 1st]

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma is feeling good. Really good! Why, it hasn't felt this giddy before except when Mr. Batou gave it some natural oil!

Which is why you may find the futuristic spider tank tearing through town at top speed, talking to itself in an even more chipper voice than it usually has or even humming.

In all honesty, Tachikoma hardly seems different at all at the moment, other than being extra hyper. And even regular friends of it might not notice anything out of the ordinary.

Unless you take note of the drones.

Before today, the drones have been use to the Williamsons' "dog" running along the sidewalks and streets or nosing around things. It never dug up their gardens, it never left a mess on their lawns, and it was pretty docile and friendly, allowing folks to pet it or gently shoo it away if they needed to get by.

Not today. No, if you watch, you might see Tachikoma is actively plowing down the drones, or any person, for that matter, while it's speeding through town. And the few times it has stopped? It's knocking away the drones who try to pet it. You might even catch Tachikoma holding a drone by the arms, spinning in a circle faster and faster, and then suddenly letting go to send the poor person flying like in some crazy living hammer throw. Needless to say, the drones have taken notice. And if you don't see Tachikoma, you can definitely see agitated drones talking and shouting among themselves in its wake.]

Look out! The Williamsons' dog has gone rabid!

Someone call the dog catcher!

Oh my, Tachi use to to be such a nice dog... It's such a shame!

Comments

[photonicfighter]

[Although she was still having the occasional problem with making her limbs respond to her desires, Dakki no longer had guns for hands and was no longer too much of a hazard to anyone. So when her legs just seemed to want to go for a walk, she went with it.

Her walk took her across the path of this apparent "rabid dog", it did. It looked like some kind of Rogue guard machine, wildly out of control. Had she any choice in where she was going, she'd have detoured and tried to see if she could stop it.

But she didn't, really. Her legs were taking her quite unwilling right into Tachikoma's path.]

Oh... alright, that's not funny, that's enough, now, that's....

[genkibot]

[It's a Tachikoma and OH MY GOD IT'S COMING RIGHT AT YOU!

At least up until the very last moment, then there's the slight whoosh of air as it uses it's omnidirectional wheels to strafe around you, keeping it's 'eye' fixed on Dakki as it moves around her.

In a sense, Tachikoma just Tokyo Drift around her. It slows down at the same time, coming to a stop behind her and staring.]

I'm really sorry about that, I didn't realize you weren't organic until I was just a few inches in front of you. Are you okay?

[Tachikoma stares some more. Those big white orbs with the three dots looking Dakki up and down.]

I don't think I've ever seen an android like you before. Or are you a cyborg? Why is your casing purple? Most types I've seen have flesh tone colors so as not to disturb humans or blend in better.

[photonicfighter]

[Dakki had tensed and forced her legs into a crouch and was this close to successfully executing a dive-and-roll... but alas, her gunked-up legs were too slow. Thankfully, Tachikoma was feeling fancy.

When it's all over Dakki's left standing there in that crouch, quite still, eyes wide with astonishment.]

I... I... fine! I'm fine!

[She leans in, tilting her head to better meet that orb-eyed stare. When asked such earnest, well-informed questions, answering seemed like the natural thing to do.]

I'm a CAST! I'm a gynoid! Not a cyborg. Although I do have pseudo-organic components. And... I like purple! Where I come from, CASTs enjoy differentiating themselves from other humanoids.

[Her legs are still a bit out of her control. She shuffles to the left, and then to the right... but she does reach a hand out for Tachikoma, gingerly. Possibly for a handshake?]

And who might you be? You look a lot like the guard sentries and security machines that they make, where I come from.

[genkibot]

[Well Tachikoma isn't one to turn down a proffered hand even if it is a little unsure about the whole convention of handshaking. Alternatively, considering how odd her legs are moving, Tachikoma might just be offering a claw as something she can use to hold herself up by.]

Oh, okay! I hope it was okay that I guessed android though, I just meant it in the general sense and not as a specific gender for you. Where I'm from, we don't have the CAST brand though, so I didn't know they prefer to differentiate themselves.

But I'm Tachikoma! I'm a specially designed combat and support think tank!

[photonicfighter]

My form is pretty obviously female! Still, I like to specify. I'm female! I should use the right words.

[A pat on the "head" would be much too patronizing for an AI as clever and friendly as this one. So she does give a quick "hand"shake, holding onto one of Tachikoma's claws briefly.]

It's good to meet you, Tachikoma! I'm Dakki Sigal. What sort of work do you do back home?

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma gives a gentle shake of his claw to match Makki's as it speaks up.]

Well, I mostly helped out Public Security Section 9 which is a governmental police group for special operations, counter-terrorism, and cyberwarfare!

[photonicfighter]

Oooh! Police work! That's great! Back home, I'm a Guardian! Which is more of a set of outside contractors that work with the planetary police forces and the mili... waah? Hey!

[Her legs had gotten bored with the conversation, it seemed. They were starting to side-step Tachikoma, and then walk on past.]

Please don't be offended! Aaah! I want to say! I just... can't really control myself, lately!

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma starts to follow behind, obviously concerned about their new friend.]

Oh no! Is it some software conflict? Maybe I can help!

[photonicfighter]

[Her legs are going along at a nice trot, but her head and her arms seem to be under her control. She smiles at Tachikoma, and waves both hands to dismiss the idea of software conflicts.]

No, it's not software! More like hardware! Or outside unwanted elements getting worked out of my system!

[Hup! Off the curb and crossing the street...]

[genkibot]

Oh dear! Is there something I could do to at least get you going where you want to go? Maybe give you a lift so your legs don't take you the wrong way?

[photonicfighter]

Ah! That'd be nice of you! [Trot trot trot] Although there's no guarantee I won't just run off once you get me there...

[genkibot]

Well, it could be worth a shot!

[Tachikoma was following behind so with a simple lift from it's forearms at Dakki's waist to keep her feet from moving on the ground!]

So where to?

[photonicfighter]

True! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

[Dakki's upper half doesn't resist the pickup, but the legs are flailing around with some pretty serious frustration. They're now trying to kick at Tachikoma.]

458 Stone Street! Er... I'm sorry I'm so squirmy!

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma holds Dakki up and out, extending its arms out so the legs have to really stretch to hit anything.]

It's alright! I'm made of a pretty strong alloy, so it shouldn't cause much damage!

To 458 Stone Street then!

[Off Tachikoma goes down the street carrying her!]

[photonicfighter]

[Those legs, they kick! But not to much result. The heels can't quite reach Tachikoma's body. Eventually, the legs just seem to give up.]

Phew... that's tiring, all of that movement...

I'm not too heavy, am I?

[Stone Street is rapidly approaching!]

[genkibot]

Nope! You weigh about as much as the Major, actually. She's a full cyborg, so the only biological part of her left is her brain and spinal cord.

Mr. Batou is a full cyborg too, and he's actually heavier than her!

[Now to find the proper house!]

[photonicfighter]

Oh! It's interesting to know that general construction is so standardized from world to world!

454... 456... ah! 458! That's my place, right there!

[It's pretty much the same as all the other houses, save for the house number.]

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma slows to a stop after she points out the house and moves up the driveway.]

Actually, the Major's cyborg body is far from a standardized model. It's only made to look like that so she's less suspicious looking in general.

[Tachikoma proceeds to gently set Dakki down upon the sidewalk of her house.]

There you go!

[hardhat_truckie]

Tatch!?

[And there's Engie himself, leaning on a fence. With the electrosapper stuck on his back happily draining him of energy and strength, it's an effort for him to even get out of the house.]

Tatch, what's wrong!?

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma is still a bit away from the fence but here's Engie call out, so it stops to give a friendly wave!]

Oh! Hi Mr. Engineer! Nothing's wrong! I've been feeling great all day!!

Some of these drones have been getting in the way, but it's no problem really. Not many pure organic creatures can really stand up to a multiped tank, no matter how compact or light it is!