Jade, Dracos, Shadow, Codec and Screed get into their comfortable chairs.  Their heads are plugged in and they find themselves...

You are standing in a grassy area.  Behind you are many trees.  In front of you is a stream.  There is a small wooden bridge going over the stream, and beyond that you see an Asian style wood complex...four one story, rectangular buildings surrounding a clear dirt area.

Sitting in the center of the dirt area, legs crossed and head bowed, is an old Oriental man.

PM
Experience points for your adventure outside the Matrix (i.e. no CBP's for this):


Please let me know what edits you are making to your characters, or whether you are saving them.  If saving, please make sure your character sheets have a place to put all saved XP and CBP.

Screed bows to the old man and says, "Hello, old Oriental man. You're not going to call us grasshopper or anything are you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Thu 12 Oct 2006.

The man raises his head as Screed approaches and says, "My name is Zhang Sanfeng.  Why, may I ask, are you here?"

Screed looks at the others as if wondering what is going on.  He crosses his arms the way he's seen those martial arts guys respectfully do it, bows again, and answers solemnly, "We are here to learn your secrets, O Great Master."

"But what are secrets?  Are they not merely the answers to questions you have not yet thought to ask?  And what is it you would think to ask me that I may assist you?"

Screed tries not to sigh in exasperation, "Shouldn't I ask to learn that which I do not know?  Are not my mind and body tools that should always seek improvement?  Are you not that which has what I have not?  Are these not what I do seek?"

"I do not know your mind, nor do I know what you have or have not.  For that, you must be tested."

Oh, sh*****, Screed thinks.  Swallowing hard, he looks down at his weak and pale frame.  He walks to the right and turns to face the man and says, "Okay, then test me."

The man looks up to answer, but Screed has suddenly disappeared to the corner of the farthest building.  "Ah," the man says, "so you fear me, you fear the unknown, no matter how much substance it lacks.  But every test begins with a question.  You must ponder this question carefully.  Take time to think it through."

He stands, a frail old man just over five feet tall.

"You are in a program.  I am not real.  This," he says, pointing around, "is not real.  You would desire to fight that which is not real, would you not, that which you call Zero-One.  So for this, you must answer my question.  Why in this virtual world are the martial arts, the way of Judo and Karate, Jujitsu and all the rest...why are they essential to defeating Zero-One?  Why are your guns insufficient?  Why is your mind alone insufficient?  Why must you master the most ancient of fighting arts to defeat an enemy made of zeroes and ones?  Answer me this, and we will continue."

Jade looks to Screed and the others.  "So what do you think?  Why would we need to know martial arts to defeat a computer program?  Is it to protect ourselves or because they can dodge bullets?"

Screed peeks from around the other side of the building.  _{"Blast, I look like the right good wanker don't I?"}  He begins walking back to the group.

Yet you all feel naked without your weapons or guns, and without any hardline to talk to X, nothing to tell you what's going on in the "real world."

PM

PM

Screed sheepishly walks up, "Well, if I were a brave guy, I would say we don't need them."

"Blah, Blah, Blah.  A whole lotta kung-fu talk for a program. The answer is Force of will.  We use ourselves, our minds anyway, to change the programming of Zero-One."  Shadow moves to the old man and crosses his arms, "I am already trained in some hand-to-hand and would like to learn more."

"It's not just force of will, but a belief in what you are fighting for. That is what makes you strong. Not guns, not hacks, but a belief that you can win."

"You must think harder about this matter."

Screed responds, "Because knowledge is power.  Knowing more creates more avenues for success.  Because this is their world, we fight on their terms.  We seek to destroy the programs from within and from without.  These are the tools that are here.  Martial arts is but the language of the moment.  You would not speak latin to an oriental and hope to be understood.  To know your enemy is to know yourself."

"You are a very interesting group, but the fundamentals of how our virtual world works...and can be manipulated, still seem to escape you.  Otherwise, you would appreciate the paramount importance of these arts in defeating your enemy."

Shadow looks confused then closes his eyes and relaxes.  "Everything has rules here, Karate can allow you to bend those rules."

The old man says slowly, "You cannot affect that which you cannot touch."

"Of course we cannot affect what we cannot touch. However some things are beyond touching. Sometimes you just have to sense them. Everything is connected, and therefore can be manipulated."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Sat 14 Oct 2006.

"It gives us the confidence to even try though."  Shadow once again looks confused.

"Its not about strength... its not about laws... its not even about willpower," he steps forewards, "It simply is. The code is here," he motions around, "And its in the real Matrix. That code is just like the code I learned how to program on 'computers' inside the Matrix. Every program has loopholes, backdoors, and entryways that only those who are skilled can find."

He scratches his head, "Sometimes you don't know what skills are needed... until you have them. Only once you begin to learn the programed reality, and how the machines coded that program... can you even begin to try and manipulate that code to your benefit...."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:31, Sat 14 Oct 2006.

Screed nods at the others, "Yes, programs have to obey their code, we don't."

Codec turns around confusedly to remark, "But what about free will? How come I'm here or Cala or why do the Merovingian walk about? Don't we have a say in all of this too?

Zhang looks to the computer experts standing around him.  "Do you know what a sprite is?"

Jade says, "Isn't that a soft drink?"

Screed answers, "Well, yeah, of course.  You are basically covered in a sprite.  You have a program animated underneath you, but your covering, your outer layer, is a sprite.  Well, actually, you are probably a composite with several layers weaved together.  OHHHH, we have to stop thinking of shooting them in the chest, which is just an outer layer of sprites and be able to find the inner core of the program and target it to destroy the whole thing.  But in the older days, sprites were just filler in an online world.  Like that wall of the building over there, it is just a two dimensional rendering that you could go around if the programmer made mistakes. Is that right?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Tue 17 Oct 2006.

"You are beginning to understand.  A sprite as it applies to the Matrix is an individual program within the program, something that moves about on its own, something...independent.  If something leaves a sprite, such as a bullet, it is not part of that sprite and has little impact on other sprites except as defined within the framework of the code."

He looks around at you.  "But each of you is an individual sprite.  You are a program within the program.  This means that the program within you...what we call your residual self image...can become entirely independent of the code we call the Matrix.  It may also transmit its code...or information...or force...to other sprites or manifestations of code within the Matrix.  If your residual self image is strong enough...if it has the will and power behind it...then the force of your fist or foot or a blade in your hand can do more damage to other sprites...to other POWERFUL," and he says this with a booming voice, "sprites.  They may resist or dodge bullets or other relatively insignificant sprites, but they cannot resist the power behind your residual self image...if the power in that image is strong enough.

"And this is why our martial arts are so critical within the Matrix.  It is your opportunity to have a power as strong as Zero-One itself manifest onto the Matrix with enough force to change the course of world history.  Ponder this for a moment."

He steps forward to Screed, the last to speak to him, and holds out his hand, palm up.  It is empty.  "What do I hold in my hand?" he asks.

looking down at the hand, Screed chuckles as he answers, "Ummm, enough residual self image and willpower to kick my butt into next week?  I have absolutely no skills in that area, you know."

"If you have the will, you can learn," he says.  Then he turns his empty hand to the others and says, "What is it I hold in my hand?"

Screed frowns and speaks in a rare moment of anger, "I have more will to destroy zero-one in my mind than you have in your whole body!"

Zhang smiles.  "I have no body.  But I am glad you have the will.  Now you must learn how to use it.  What is in my hand?"

"You are holding multiple sprites, and very powerful ones at that. They are the sprites of gravity, air, dust, inertia, and various other laws of physics. All laws that can be altered, and even with enough power...broken. Guns do not affect our enemies for our enemie's sprites are stronger than that of guns, bullets, and blades. These ultimate physical laws control our enemies sprites, and us as well. But if we can overcome these sprites then there is nothing that we cannot do..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Wed 18 Oct 2006.

"You are thinking wisely, my young friend, but too philosophically.  There is nothing philosophical about my question...or the answer."

_{"*sigh* crap..."}

Screed laughs, not as angry, "No, I don't think that one's right either, Codec.  Maybe it's coded air."  He smirks at the obvious master.

Codec whispers, _{"Yeah, he's talking around us in circles and tongues, but I wouldn't provoke the guy. He'll haul off, and get us mauled. I don't think getting to a hardline is gonna be easy either..."}

"Are you holding an extension of your Residual Image? Is that how attacks can become so powerful the the Martial Arts? You're not just using a shell picture, but your entire digital being to attack someone?"

He closes his hand and opens it again.  You see a Chinese star there.  "I can manipulate the code surrounding my residual image so that you see nothing.  But even this," he says, nodding down to the star, "is nothing at all.  Nothing but code.  You did not see it because I did not let you see it, but had your eyes been open to the code instead of to what your minds perceive through the code, ah, then I could hide nothing from you."

He pauses, lets the star fall to the dirt at his feet.

"Before we continue," he says, "you must prove yourselves to me.  How do you prove yourselves to an Awakened AI?"

Screed snickers, "Put him to sleep?"  His youthfulness strikes again.

Zhang stands still as a statue.  It is apparent to you that he will not continue until you get the right answer.

Hint:  The answer is in mission 4.

Screed shakes his head as he smiles, "See, programs have to obey their rules, don't they?  Fine."  He states in a singsong voice, "There is nothing but the Matrix."

"You are very wise," Zhang says.  "Now, do you know why that is true?"

Screed throws his hands up in frustration, "Because you guys are stuck in here, except for the ones who can escape."  He looks at his compatriots that do belie that rule of there being nothing but the matrix.

"Ah, you shall learn the truth in time.  Now, are you ready for your training to begin?"

He holds out his hand and says, "Take my hand."

Screed conctentrates as he holds his own hand out.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:16, Wed 18 Oct 2006.

"Are you afraid of me?" Zhang says.  "Grasp my hand with both of yours tightly."

Screed shrugs, "No, not really.  I wasn't before.  It's just I used my normal method of hand to hand fighting in my previous actions."  He glances left and right to the others, "Okay, guys, you can't do worse than me.  That means I'm the strongest one here in terms of ability since I'm holding all of you up off the bottom of the list."

He grins widely as he steps forward and does as the master asked.

Jade says, "Are you sure you want to do that?  We don't know what he has in store for you, Screed."

"Screed, I believe that there is definitely a difference between an awakened AI, and a Human..."

Shadow snickers at the comment of Screed's offensive talent, "Don't worry, what's the worst that could happen besides this program attempting to rewrite your brain or just deleting it."  Shadow smiles big at Screed, "Have fun and remember, it only hurts if you let it."

Screed laughs out loud as he takes the master's hand.

Dracos watches silently.

Screed takes Zhang's hand.  Zhang concentrates for a moment and then strikes out with his other hand, hitting Screed directly in the chest.  Screed flies across the open area and lands against one of the boxy buildings before slumping to the ground, unconscious.

"Who is next?" Zhang says, turning to the rest of you.

Codec approaches and announces, "I'll go next..." As he takes the man's hands he tenses in concentration.

OOC: Do I roll something or just pray? ;)
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Thu 19 Oct 2006.

OOC:  Praying is always good.

Zhang takes Codec's hand and also strikes him in the chest, sending him flying back to where Screed is, and also knocking him unconscious.

"Who is next?" Zhang says.

Gone is Shadow's frivolity, replaced with a look of shock.  When the small man asks for the next volunteer Shadow looks back and forth at those still standing and shrugs his shoulders,
"This should be...different."
Moving forward he places his hands around the man's hands and closes his eyes.
"C'mon you sprite, hit me."

Zhang hits Shadow and knocks him back unconscious, just like the others.

"Who is next?" he asks.

[unconcious dream sleep]
[this guy needs to get beaten...harshly]

Jade looks nervously around.  "I guess I'll take you."  She extends her hand, ready to block his attack.

Zhang does the same to Jade and then turns to Dracos.  "You must be last he says," and before Dracos can respond, the old man has clasped his hand and hit him in the chest.

You all awake feeling somewhat dizzy, almost drunk.  Your fingers tingle slightly and you feel...more powerful and distant from this code you are in.  Somehow, you realize this old man through his punch has imparted some of his code to you, has imbued you with power you did not have before.

He sits in a lotus position, eyes closed.  Without opening them or raising his head, he senses your alertness and says, "When one receives power, one often does not realize the scope of that power until it is tested.  Now it is time to test your power.  If you are as good as I hope you are, then you will survive."