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The Oracle must ever guard what she reveals. Knowledge of the future is a heavy burden. We cannot know all that she knows...and I believe that she operates under restrictions of some kind--rules. Because of what she is, she will always be forced to play a very dangerous game.

We spend much of this existence in conflict. Rarely do we have an opportunity to engage in combat with a constructive purpose. Even when such an opportunity arises, there will be those who treat it as conflict--those who refuse to bow to the wishes of the majority, or who feel confident only in violent opposition to others.

So it is reason to celebrate when such an opportunity has not only been made possible, but has been utilized in full measure. I am honored to be asked to participate in such a celebration. We hope by our own example to inspire ourselves, and those who come after us, to follow the true path of the warrior.

Oracle--

As you said, I did not find him. However, I believe that he found someone himself. Rumors may spread.

They are very old, but still very young. Like children, they question neither their own motives, nor those of the hand that guides them. They seek no causes. They acknowledge no law. They are unfeeling, unrelenting, guided by one thing alone, which they follow blindly: purpose.

I have been unable to reason with them. Their only reaction was the predictable one. They now see me, along with the rest, as impure, tainted, imperfect--in need of salvation.

"Salvation." Yes, that is how we used to put it. The current phrase lacks the same warmth, but is less deceptive: termination.

We have seen many new arrivals lately, many eyes newly opened to the world as it is. They have much to learn, and much to teach.

Every time I go among them, I learn many things. The Oracle says that you don't stop learning until you're dead. Death does not hold exactly the same connotation for programs as it does for the awoken, but I think I understand what she means.

I have learned to better adjust my ability levels for sparring against others. I have found that I have much to learn against certain tactics. I have also learned that chance plays a role; at one point, an unknown virus struck me, leaving me mostly helpless through an entire sparring match. It left as quickly and mysteriously as it came. What if this should occur again, at a truly critical moment?

There are so many things I have yet to understand.

A good fighter learns by matching themselves in battle against a worthy opponent. I have come to realize that my own advancement in knowledge has been limited by the extent of my current abilities. I do not mean that they are too weak; I mean that they are too powerful. One cannot learn an opponent's strategies--no matter how valuable those strategies might be when applied against an opponent closer to one's own ability level--when the opponent cannot withstand more than a few attacks.

For this reason, I decided to attempt to moderate my own fighting ability, in order to have the chance to train more strenuously. My initial sparring sessions were a vast improvement, but still not entirely successful. I soon realized that my sparring partners, famouz530 and DarkStride, while more than willing to match themselves against me, were not of sufficient experience to counter even my intentionally decreased fighting capacity.

Fortunately, they were quite resourceful, and able to call upon much more experienced warriors. These new opponents pushed me to my self-imposed limits, and gave me the first true education in combat that I have had in quite some time. I studied their tactics very carefully, and learned many new, and quite useful, techniques. In constantly fighting opponents of roughly their own power level, these fighters have been forced to take advantage of every available strategy--not just those of the body, but those of the mind.

I am proud to say that I learned defeat at the hands of one of their number: Outlaw54. By doing so, I achieved a new level of understanding. I am greatly indebted to the warriors who took the time to train with me. I hope that the future will allow me further opportunities to test myself against them in this manner.

The plague of Sleepwalkers is over. Warriors, tell me your stories of battle against the "Security" guards at the concert sites. From what I have heard, they were worthy, if sometimes strange, opponents.