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.