Merv 9.2 - "Side-Tracked"

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

Flood: The intruder isn't being awfully clear about what this "biological interface program" he's after might actually be; the name suggests something allowing control to pass from a machine to a human, or from a human to a machine, but the intruder isn't saying one way or the other. Some though Beirn might be i, since he was more or less changed from a human into a program by stolen Machine codes, but the intruder wasn't interested.

In the mean time, he's been racking up quite the body count. He killed that self-serving snoop, Hypatia, when she couldn't provide what he wanted, and apparently he even offed Agent Gray the other day, not caring for his tone. I'd congratulate him on that one, only I don't think going anywhere near him would be a particularly good idea right now--not for a program, anyway. But something has to be done, and the Merovingian wants a word with you about it.

Operator: He took out Gray? Daaang... I wonder if the Machines will finally send ol' Gray back to the Source now.

So, okay, that's where you're due to meet with the Merv. No hostiles in sight.

[Friendlies: Elite Guards]
[Heroes: Twins, Malphas, Merovingian]

Twin: Who d'you think he'll do next? I say he'll off the crusty old geezer himself.
Twin: The Architect? No, no... No fun in that. I'd say Agent Pace, once he realizes she's nothing but a shameless flirt.

Elite Guard: The end had better darn well be nigh... I've got good money riding on this.
Elite Guard: You couldn't pay me to go near the guy...
Elite Guard: All part of the cycle. Programs come, programs go. It's evolution in action.

Malphas: There is a rumour that the intruder has agreed to meet with the Machines. Certain things he has said make me inclined to think that he asked them for this "biological interface porgram" at some point in the past, before he came into the Matrix, and that they did not provide him with the answer he was looking for. After this violent spree of his, he may feel that they now owe him a different answer.

Merovingian: We will find what the man is after, operative; make no mistake about that. Who but we are so fluent in the mysteries of the simulation? The Machines? Non. They know how it is supposed to work, but it is we who know what actually goes on here--those loopholes in the code that weren't supposed to happen, but that must happen, because the defining qualities of the universe are found only in imperfections.

Speaking of this... I want you to see my wife. She worked at the pods; she interfaced with humans there. He saw her before, but he did not know this. She may be what he wants... Fortunately, I am a very generous man, yes?

Merovingian: Of course, she may not see it in the correct light if her husband brings up such a topic with her... This task demands a trusted intermediary such as yourself, does it not?

Malphas: It would be regrettable if the Machines led him to the program.. but we can only await the result of that meeting.

Twin: Oh yes... Very generous...
Twin: She won't be pleased...

[Mission Update]

Flood: I must say I'm somewhat skeptical that Persephone is the holy grail the intruder is looking for, although I'm sure she'd like to think so...

Operator: Seems to me it might be a little awkward if the intruder ends up...err...going after Persephone. But orders is orders...

You're meeting her in there. Looks clear from where I'm sitting.

[Friendlies: Club Tough]
[Heroes: Persephone]

Persephone: How convenient that would be for my husband. Unfortunately, I am not the "interface" that brutal man wants. I was a caretaker at the pods--nothing more. Any control I exert over humans is indirect--not at all the kind of thing that would interest the intruder. No.. What he wants must be something immediate--something that will enable him to be the person he wants to be, rather than what he has become.

Operator: Hm.. I guess that's that, then.

Persephone(whisper): He hates himself. His hate has consumed him... He cannot love; he can only hate everything around him, everything that reminds him of who he is.

[Mission Update]

Flood: She denied it? Hmh. Doesn't care for men made out of wires, I suppose.

Well, operative, this just means I have to give you plan B. Let me see... Ah, yes, here it is. You're to go see Silver, the self-styled inventor, who received his just reward not too long ago at the hands of our operative Sieges for aiding the Machines in that Wright business. We had him reconstructed to be somewhat more tractable... In any case, he has worked on biological interfaces before, particularly with that Wright woman. He may be able to come up with something to interest the intruder.

Operator: Silver should be in there. I'm picking up some of his Exiles as well, but if things have gone according to plan, he should allow you to enter unmolested.

[Friendlies: Vampires, Elite Guard, Nightmare]

Blood Noble: I always knew that nutty chick was gonna get him in trouble. Always ranting about humans controlling the Matrix; can you imagine? What a disaster that would be.
Blood Noble: Seems pretty much the same to me. Complaining a little more than usual, maybe, but it's hard to tell with him.

Elite Guard: Hm.. A little sickly looking, but we shouldn't look a gift human in the mouth, should we?

Nightmare: Ssss...

Silver: The Merovingian obviously doesn't have the slightest idea of what he's looking for. Yes, I've worked on interfaces involving fleshlings, but these were just data conduits--ingenious and useful, certainly, but not worth tearing a world apart to acquire. Wright did have some notion of...control transfer, or something like that, but I don't know that she made any progress on it; at any rate, the Machines gleefully confiscated all of my data after that debacle.

That's the last time I'll ever work with an organic... Feel free to show yourself out. I suggest you hurry; I haven't fed my guards yet today.

Operator: Jeesh. Well, at least he didn't call you "meatbag."

Silver: Not very good at talking a hint, are you, meatbag?

[Mission Update]

Flood: I don't know why we bother asking these people their opinions. Just go tell the intruder himself about all of this, operative; he'll know whether they'd be useful or not. I'd happily feed both of them to him, complete with a cherry and whipped cream.

Operator: The big galoot is in there, all right.

[Friendlies: N30 Agent corpses]
[Heroes: Intruder]

Intruder: No, no.. Those are nothing like what I want.

Got to be here somewhere... if only HE hadn't taken the other one...

Intruder: You know as much as I need you to know. I'm letting anyone steal this one out from under me.

[Mission End]

Flood: Oh, bosh. He didn't want to take those two off our hands anyway? Mm... Too bad.

I'll tell you, operative, I think he's on a wild goose chase. All those override codes he's loaded up probably blew out whatever used to pass for his brain. Not that I mind; in fact, that would make our job easier--just a matter of coming up with something that would satisfy his delusions.

[Mission Completed]

**Procurator**

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Persephone: [...] something that will enable him to be the person he wants to be, rather than what he has become.

It's looking more like the Intruder's present condition is the result of a mistake. Heh, probably on his part.

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Intruder: [...] Got to be here somewhere... if only HE hadn't taken the other one...

He has to be referring to Neo, and that would mean this interface - whatever it may be - was why the Intruder said 'Most interesting' when he watched the meeting between Neo and DEM. Maybe it has something to do with how DEM was able to destroy Smith through Neo? Why would the Intruder want that?

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Flood: Oh, bosh.

Bosh? Bosh?! That's what I say, blast it!

Either that or Rarebit's been watching Hustle.

Congrats to Sieges for getting his name in the mission! Welcome to the club, kid. SMILEY

Now to teach you the secret handshake...

**ZippyTheSquirrel** · 02/07/2008 16:03:27

Her. ;p

WTB Zion/Machine Mission Summaries, or I do them mahself!

**MatrixRefugee**

Procurator wrote:

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:
Flood: Oh, bosh.
Bosh? Bosh?! That's what I say, blast it! Either that or Rarebit's been watching Hustle.

Congrats to Sieges for getting his name in the mission! Welcome to the club, kid. Now to teach you the secret handshake...

((Huh, I said "Bosh" myself, earlier when I discovered I'd lost my favorite pair of gloves...))

:: Blushes:: Thanks, Proc! And hey, Zippy, does this mean I get my name added to the list of players who got mentioned in critical missions? I'd be eternally honored if you did.

**Procurator**

H'mm, bosh must have different meanings. When I use it it means 'there!' or 'voi la!' or 'ta-da!'.

ThePigeonKing

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Her. ;p

WTB Zion/Machine Mission Summaries, or I do them mahself!

Alright, alright, chill.

**Procurator**

H'mm, why do I get the feeling I've missed something?

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Her. ;p

<_<
>_>

Aw hell...

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

ThePigeonKing wrote:

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:
Her. ;p

WTB Zion/Machine Mission Summaries, or I do them mahself!

Alright, alright, chill.

Sorry, I get mean when I'm sober.

ThePigeonKing

I find it interesting that he was killing N30 Ag3nts. And it's not like they hang out in the open.

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

I do wonder what the significance in using his N30 AG3NTs is. Maybe he's finally running low on Sentinels to use and has to resort to his very private collection of super enhanced toys. Or perhaps he thought the Neo-like commandos would be able to take on the Intruder.

Or maybe the Intruder hunted them down himself.