Nov 30, 2023 21:20:59 GMT -5
Post by ABAS on Nov 30, 2023 21:20:59 GMT -5
ABAS inwardly grumbled a bit as his implication seemed to fly directly over Liari's head. It wasn't like he could come out and say that he would love to learn under her-he was already really pushing his mental limits with all of this talk about betrayal and freedom-but there was a possibility of approaching the problem in a roundabout way could work. However, if Liari didn't get what he was saying, then there was nothing that could be done about it. He mentally filed the strategy away deep within his subconscious. Perhaps it could be useful another day.
What was of far more concern to the bio-android was the inconsistencies in Liari's actions. During their first meeting, she seemed entirely focused on what he could provide for her. Maybe some would call her selfish, but ABAS respected her for having the decency to not cloak her desires in a veneer of morality. After all, despite his compulsion to kill her, he was doing pretty much the exact same thing: using their battles as a whetstone upon which to hone himself and his understanding of his biology.
Even her desire to see him free was now understandable: she just didn't seem to like the thought of another like her being enslaved. It was all very transactional in ABAS' mind: a benefit for a benefit and a favor for a favor. But to call him more important than what SHE wanted....what was that? What was her play here? Was there something else she wanted from him that he could provide?
"It seems that I must be...grateful to you then Liari. For your concern for my well-being. Regrettably......I cannot say much more than that in case it sets off the programming in my head, but I would like you to know that at least." ABAS said softly, bowing his head.
It hurt to say that, more so than most thing ABAS had gone through in his short life. The quiet heat in his blood burned bright as kill-switches warmed. Screeching echoed in his skull as he pitted his formidable mental powers against programming's creaking chains. But he managed it in the end, he owed Liari at least that much for being the one person in his experience that genuinely tried to help him. Perhaps this was that....friendship concept that he had heard about lately? ABAS didn't think an assassin and his target qualified for such a thing, but it seemed to meet the other criteria.
ABAS's jaw practically dropped at Liari's little parlor trick. "I....you..." ABAS stuttered, showing a level of shock that was completely out of character. Sure, he was aware that Liari had some fairly strange abilities. Just her phyiscal makeup and regeneration would tell you that much. But transmutation? Alteration of the ki and body to disguise herself as someone else? From ABAS' knowledge of how ki worked, that shouldn't even be possible. "How can you do that? From my understanding, ki is equivalent to the soul and life force of an individual no? Wouldn't replicating such things be...well.......impossible?" ABAS asked eagerly, showing his analytical mind.
He had already been theorizing about some potential unorthodox ki manipulations, but if Liari could do this, that meant he could to! The things that would be possible with such applications....it made his mind spin! And that wasn't even touching on the implications of Liari escaping death itself!
"I.....will try Liari. However, as I have mentioned, there is only so much I can do. I am strong enough now physically and mentally to withstand violation of my directive for a short period of time before losing control. As long as you don't make any hostile moves or force me to reveal secrets of course. I would....arggggh....enjoy your assistance with....this....matter.....if you....don't mind." ABAS said, gasping slightly as sweat began to stand out on his forehead. This conversation was pushing him to his limits of endurance.
Regardless of his condition, there were more important matters to be discussed. He was actually drawing breath to point out the obvious flaw with Liari's plan, when Pran cut across him. ABAS listened, first in mild annoyance, then growing admiration as the human neatly laid out the entire scenario. The bio-android was honestly impressed with Pran's analysis, something that couldn't be said for the vast majority of standards he had met. "I couldn't have said it better myself Mr. Pran. Your analysis is quite accurate." ABAS complimented, more relaxed now that the conversation had moved beyond directly talking about betraying the Blacksite.
"While I do not know the capabilities of this "magic"- something that I would like to learn later-, I suspect it is somewhat of a gamble. After all, if I am to violate my directives, the kill-switch will force my cells to rapidly destablize until I explode under the force of my own power. The resulting explosion would be quite....spectacular. Even if you can heal me from that, I doubt whatever they did to my mind would leave much left of my consciousness once it's done scrubbing it. I would be, in all respects, a coma patient." ABAS explained carefully, locking eyes with Liari to make sure he was understood. "It...comforts me such an option is at least available, but I would prefer it as a last resort."
ABAS thought for a moment, tapping his chin. Should he put all of his cards on the table? It was a risk, but he didn't THINK it would activate the programming. He deliberated for a second, then sighed. "I believe there is a way-theoretically of course-to bypass my restrictions. I must stress that this is mere conjecture." He said, as if for the benefit of an unseen audience. "I am built to adapt my biology in response to a stimulus. Whether it is through bio-mass or the raw absorption of power, my physical form can take in such input and rebuild my body to handle the increased output. After all, most standard races are capable of similar processes, only they happen on an unconscious level. The Super Sayian, for instance or your own transformation Mr. Pran."
ABAS clenched a fist and powered up to his absolute maximum for a brief moment. Liari and Pran would feel a faint feeling of....something in his ki. His aura almost seemed to flicker as if it was being pulled in a dozen different directions. However, it only lasted a second before it vanished once more, and ABAS powered back down.
"So theoretically, if I absorb a big enough source of power, I could exploit the changing process to restructure my biology and mind in such a way that would purge me of outside influences. It would be incredibly difficult, and I don't know where I would find the power required, but it would at least be possible."
ABAS turned to Pran then, listening to the human's apology on behalf of his race. "I thank you for your concern Mr. Pran. It is good to know that humanity as a whole is not strong enough to make me obsolete. Though, I would argue that my creation isn't that stupid from their perspective. After all, if I had never been exposed to you all, I would have likely remained a happy tool for several years at least. All the power of a ki-wielder, without any of the risky independence that such a warrior usually has. As much as I...dislike my current circumstances, I cannot deny the logic of their position."
Power Level: 21,290
Larval Form [x5]: 106,480
Word Count: 1244
Total Word Count: 5060
What was of far more concern to the bio-android was the inconsistencies in Liari's actions. During their first meeting, she seemed entirely focused on what he could provide for her. Maybe some would call her selfish, but ABAS respected her for having the decency to not cloak her desires in a veneer of morality. After all, despite his compulsion to kill her, he was doing pretty much the exact same thing: using their battles as a whetstone upon which to hone himself and his understanding of his biology.
Even her desire to see him free was now understandable: she just didn't seem to like the thought of another like her being enslaved. It was all very transactional in ABAS' mind: a benefit for a benefit and a favor for a favor. But to call him more important than what SHE wanted....what was that? What was her play here? Was there something else she wanted from him that he could provide?
"It seems that I must be...grateful to you then Liari. For your concern for my well-being. Regrettably......I cannot say much more than that in case it sets off the programming in my head, but I would like you to know that at least." ABAS said softly, bowing his head.
It hurt to say that, more so than most thing ABAS had gone through in his short life. The quiet heat in his blood burned bright as kill-switches warmed. Screeching echoed in his skull as he pitted his formidable mental powers against programming's creaking chains. But he managed it in the end, he owed Liari at least that much for being the one person in his experience that genuinely tried to help him. Perhaps this was that....friendship concept that he had heard about lately? ABAS didn't think an assassin and his target qualified for such a thing, but it seemed to meet the other criteria.
ABAS's jaw practically dropped at Liari's little parlor trick. "I....you..." ABAS stuttered, showing a level of shock that was completely out of character. Sure, he was aware that Liari had some fairly strange abilities. Just her phyiscal makeup and regeneration would tell you that much. But transmutation? Alteration of the ki and body to disguise herself as someone else? From ABAS' knowledge of how ki worked, that shouldn't even be possible. "How can you do that? From my understanding, ki is equivalent to the soul and life force of an individual no? Wouldn't replicating such things be...well.......impossible?" ABAS asked eagerly, showing his analytical mind.
He had already been theorizing about some potential unorthodox ki manipulations, but if Liari could do this, that meant he could to! The things that would be possible with such applications....it made his mind spin! And that wasn't even touching on the implications of Liari escaping death itself!
"I.....will try Liari. However, as I have mentioned, there is only so much I can do. I am strong enough now physically and mentally to withstand violation of my directive for a short period of time before losing control. As long as you don't make any hostile moves or force me to reveal secrets of course. I would....arggggh....enjoy your assistance with....this....matter.....if you....don't mind." ABAS said, gasping slightly as sweat began to stand out on his forehead. This conversation was pushing him to his limits of endurance.
Regardless of his condition, there were more important matters to be discussed. He was actually drawing breath to point out the obvious flaw with Liari's plan, when Pran cut across him. ABAS listened, first in mild annoyance, then growing admiration as the human neatly laid out the entire scenario. The bio-android was honestly impressed with Pran's analysis, something that couldn't be said for the vast majority of standards he had met. "I couldn't have said it better myself Mr. Pran. Your analysis is quite accurate." ABAS complimented, more relaxed now that the conversation had moved beyond directly talking about betraying the Blacksite.
"While I do not know the capabilities of this "magic"- something that I would like to learn later-, I suspect it is somewhat of a gamble. After all, if I am to violate my directives, the kill-switch will force my cells to rapidly destablize until I explode under the force of my own power. The resulting explosion would be quite....spectacular. Even if you can heal me from that, I doubt whatever they did to my mind would leave much left of my consciousness once it's done scrubbing it. I would be, in all respects, a coma patient." ABAS explained carefully, locking eyes with Liari to make sure he was understood. "It...comforts me such an option is at least available, but I would prefer it as a last resort."
ABAS thought for a moment, tapping his chin. Should he put all of his cards on the table? It was a risk, but he didn't THINK it would activate the programming. He deliberated for a second, then sighed. "I believe there is a way-theoretically of course-to bypass my restrictions. I must stress that this is mere conjecture." He said, as if for the benefit of an unseen audience. "I am built to adapt my biology in response to a stimulus. Whether it is through bio-mass or the raw absorption of power, my physical form can take in such input and rebuild my body to handle the increased output. After all, most standard races are capable of similar processes, only they happen on an unconscious level. The Super Sayian, for instance or your own transformation Mr. Pran."
ABAS clenched a fist and powered up to his absolute maximum for a brief moment. Liari and Pran would feel a faint feeling of....something in his ki. His aura almost seemed to flicker as if it was being pulled in a dozen different directions. However, it only lasted a second before it vanished once more, and ABAS powered back down.
"So theoretically, if I absorb a big enough source of power, I could exploit the changing process to restructure my biology and mind in such a way that would purge me of outside influences. It would be incredibly difficult, and I don't know where I would find the power required, but it would at least be possible."
ABAS turned to Pran then, listening to the human's apology on behalf of his race. "I thank you for your concern Mr. Pran. It is good to know that humanity as a whole is not strong enough to make me obsolete. Though, I would argue that my creation isn't that stupid from their perspective. After all, if I had never been exposed to you all, I would have likely remained a happy tool for several years at least. All the power of a ki-wielder, without any of the risky independence that such a warrior usually has. As much as I...dislike my current circumstances, I cannot deny the logic of their position."
Power Level: 21,290
Larval Form [x5]: 106,480
Word Count: 1244
Total Word Count: 5060
