Chipped Chaos Session 4

Princess Guard - The New Era 2016/06/30 	 Titan Charm Harlequin Caleb 13

Stronghold, Interviewing HeXer
The trip to Stavros Benton and the Post Office have been at least productive. The heroes have a good idea of the identity of one of the people involved, even if no idea where he is or how to find him.

It is remarkably easy to make official arrangements to visit HeXer in Stronghold. Only a few strings needed to be pulled. Although Titan is advised that whether HeXer wants to talk to the team is up to him.

Titan goes ahead and meets with HeXer, bringing along anyone on the team who wants to be there.

Caleb wouldn't miss this. While he's recovered from his Twist addiction long since, he still takes it rather personally.

The interview room is a bit grim. Bolted down table and chairs. Only three chairs so some have to stand. HeXer is brought to the room. He is thinner than his pre-incarnation photo showed and has a beaten down hang-dog look to him.

Harlequin accompanies the team commander, pulled along in the wake of his charisma. Or just because he is curious more likely.

HeXer sits in the chair behind the table and looks over the heroes silently.

Charm looks about curiously. SHe's still trying to get the idea of how prisons work here.

Titan smiles. "We just wanted to have a quick word with you, HeXer. If you don't know who we are, we're the Princess Guard. I'm Johnathan Vasilikos, also known as 'Titan'."

HeXer looks up and a trace of a wry grin comes to his lips. "Not guilty, whatever it is. I have the perfect alibi," he says and waves a hand to indicate the room.

Titan chuckles. "We know whodunnit, and we're sure it wasn't you. But we thought you might be able to help us anyway. Do you know a hacker named 'Snakebyte'?"

Harlequin murmurs in his European muddled RP accent, "It is more in the nature of information, HeXer, that we are here." He tilts his head to one side. "Of course, we cannot coerce you. But we can ask the warden about providing privileges."

Charm doesn't seem to be paying that much attention to the prisoner. In fact she pulls out the painting she was working on during the trip, and places it as if to consider further changes - in full sight of the room.

(editor's note: The painting is enchanted to imbue a sense of camaraderie.)

HeXer nods, "Yeah. Not personally but I know the tag. He's a hard-core ILF guy. Good with code but I've never heard that he knows hardware so kind of a one-shot pony."

Caleb says, "Anything in particular you'd look for if you wanted to identify a hack as his?"

Titan nods, "And he's a local, it looks like. Any idea where he might hang out?" . o O (Huh. Other than Hacker's Rage. Would that be too obvious?)

HeXer nods, "Yeah. He tags his hacks. Look in the 'junk' bytes and somewhere you'll find a Unicode character string for Jormungandr. The Midgard Serpent."

Caleb nods appreciatively.

HeXer actually appears regretful as he shakes his head. "Sorry. Like I said I've had no contact with him. Just know him by rep."

Caleb says, "Know anybody he's been known to work with?"

HeXer shrugs, "Again, not personally. But the ILF would be a good place to start. And I did bump into one of their top hackers once. A woman calling herself Cypher. She's kind of a gray-hat. Dedicated to the cause but not a fanatic."

Caleb frowns. That name sounds _awfully_ familiar. "What does she look like?"

Harlequin murmurs gently, "From your professional opinion, HeXer, does hacking all the ATMs in Colonial bay to spew out money seem like something the ILF would do? Or Snakebyte for that matter?"

HeXer smiles in recollection, "Japanese African-American. Ultra cute."

Caleb nods, a nostalgic smile on his face, then attends to Harlequin's question.

Titan smiles slightly. "And where did you run into her?"

HeXer considers Harlequin's question, a frown of concentration on his face. After a longish pause he shakes his head. "It doesn't sound like their MO. They're moral and upright, by their own standards." he says. "If they had a grudge against the banks, and who doesn't, they'd hack in and dump the dirty info onto a public web."

After answering Harlequin's question HeXer turns back to Titan, "A hacker con in Paris, in 2059."

Caleb waits for HeXer to seem as relaxed as he's going to get, then asks "So what have you been talking to your lawyer about these last few months?" as smoothly as he can, looking for any signs of anxiety, etc.

HeXer answers without hesitation. "I'm coming up for my first parole board in a month's time. Look, I'm cooperating fully, agreed. If you want to thank me, mention I was cooperative to the Governor here. He's on the board."

"You been talking to the Count," Cale asks conversationally, "since that Twist fiasco?" This admittedly no longer has much of anything to do with their current problem, he's just got a personal stake here.

HeXer shakes his head. "No. I worked for him, and that got me here. When he escaped did he make any effort to get me out? No. If I'd known what he was planning I wouldn't have had anything to do with him. But once I was in... well he had those black leather twins and you didn't say no if you get my meaning."

Harlequin murmurs in a deadpan voice, "Well, yes, it is difficult to say 'No' to twins in black leather." He looks at HeXer for a long moment. "If you make parole, with your skills, I think I can find work for you, HeXer, improving the infrastructure of a depressed neighborhood. If you are allowed, look me up in Colonial Bay. Leave a message at Past Times."

Titan smiles slightly, "Yeah...I'm sure we know what you mean." He pauses and taps the table. "Well, I'll be sure to put a good word in for you. Is there anything else you can think of that might be of help?"

HeXer looks at Harlequin in grateful surprise. "Seriously?" he asks.

HeXer turns back to Titan. "You said someone hacked - all - the bank systems? All of them?"

Caleb nods, reluctantly at first, then more readily. "Yeah, I do, all joking aside. They were fierce." He exhales strongly through his nostrils. "Well, damn. I was all ready to come down on you like a ton of bricks for your part in that -- I was one of the kids that got hooked on the stuff," he reveals, though he hadn't really intended to be quite so trusting. "But damned if I don't think you're legit. All right, then. You've got my good word too, for what it's worth." He subsides at HeXer's question to Titan.

Harlequin nods to HeXer's question. "As serious as a sin, HeXer." He then lets Titan field the question HeXer put to him.

Titan furrows his brow, "We thought so. But perhaps we should check to see if there were some particular banks that were spared."

HeXer whistles, "That's impressive. I could do it, but it would take me months even with Qubit. I wouldn't have thought anyone else but an AI could do that, and maybe not even one of those."

Harlequin murmurs, "They utilized a quantum computer. Well, I know I have that wrong, HeXer, but then I am not a hacker or very computer literate."

Titan says, "Yeah, but you could set it up over months, and then trigger it all at once, I'm assuming?"

HeXer looks surprised, "Someone else has a working quantum computer? I thought Qubit was unique."

Harlequin adds after a momnent, "Quantum router? It was quantum something."

Caleb nods. "Yeah, it was pretty tight work." He frowns... he really does not want to go up against another AI. The last one only didn't kill him because it didn't want to. "So... here's what it looked like to me," he adds, again feeling unusually inclined to disclose details. Can't imagine why. He discusses the signs of quantum computing revealed by the hack in some detail.

Charm says, "What's Qubit?"

HeXer listens. Then answers Charm first. "Qubit is a working quad-byte quantum computer. It is my masterpiece. The achievement I'm most proud of." he smiles, "That was going to be my ticket to honest riches. But from what you said," he looks at Caleb, "someone else has got one. One better than Qubit."

Titan nods. "Well, we believe the hardware was designed by Stavros Benton. Not that he had any idea what it was going to be used for.

Caleb nods. "That's what it looks like. I mean, don't get me wrong, this stuff is way over my head, but that's why you came up on my radar in the first place... there aren't that many folks doing work in that area. If it makes you feel any better, they aren't exactly using it for _honest_ work, so it's not like they're gonna trump you getting published."

HeXer snorts, "Stavros? That clown? If he invented a quantum computer I'll eat it. Unless... unless he somehow found mine and copied it."

Caleb blinks. "You got any watermarking we could look for?"

Charm thinks. o O (Maybe I *should* have asked if it was possible that someone else got hold of Qubit, like I was thinking....)

Titan chuckles quietly, "Well, the routers were his. Probably coupled with software that this Snakebyte has. I don't know the full details. Not really my field of expertise."

HeXer chuckles softly, "I wasn't an ego driven hackerist. I tried very hard not to leave tags." he says. Then he comes to a decision. "If you promise to give it back when I get out of here, I'll tell you where I left Qubit. You can see if it's still there."

Caleb considers that slowly, then nods. "You have my word." Then he chuckles and adds "Not that that's worth a whole hell of a lot, I admit, but... I'd sure as hell rather have you working on our side than for the Count's next crazy scheme."

Titan nods. "That would certainly be helpful. Just to at least rule that out, at the very least."

HeXer looks at Caleb. Then he says, "One of my safe houses in Colonial Bay was Gillian's Electronic Store. Go down to the basement and open the wall safe. Combination is 3,1,4,5,9,6. When the safe is open pull out the back wall of the safe. You'll see another keypad. Reverse the safe combination to open the hidden room. Uh, be careful. There are replicators in there. They will be dormant but if you damage any of them they'll become active."

Caleb nods. "Gillian's, not quite pi, back wall, reversed, watch out for the Replicators. Got it." Again going for casual and paying close attention, he adds "So when you get out, what're you going to do with your leftover replicators?"

HeXer says, "Destroy them. If I can. They're too dangerous to have around. They can't be stopped from replicating and once they reach a certain number they can bypass my command code."

Charm thinks she understands that. Magicians who deal with spirits have similar control problems past a certain point.

Titan nods. "Thanks again for your help."

Caleb nods slowly, looking disturbed. "So... they activate automatically when damaged, they replicate automatically, they develop autonomous agency when they replicate enough. Am I getting this right? Um... so what _is_ that command code? And would someone in possession of QuBit be able to get their hands on it?"

HeXer says, "The command code mutates with time. It needs to be calculated at the time it's used. But, yes, that's one of the things Qubit can do. Qubit can send all - possible - command codes to a replicator network so one will work. Assuming the number is below the critical mark."

Harlequin smiles slightly behind his mask as he asks, "And does the critical mark change as well?"

HeXer shakes his head, "No. Well not really. Network conditions make a slight change in the number but it's going to be about 500-600 bricks. You know how replicators function?"

Charm shakes her head.

Harlequin murmurs, "Not a clue."

Caleb nods slowly, digesting the information. Finally he adds "OK. Not a great answer, but not as bad as I'd expected. I don't suppose you built a convenient back-door shutdown command into them?" he asks, more as a joke than a genuine question. To Titan he adds "I think Gillian's is our next stop," before returning his attention to HeXer's explanation.

HeXer settles more comfortably on his chair and talks...

HeXer tells you, "Replicators are comprised of small units I call bricks. About the size of a domino. They are all networked together and the more there are the smarter the colony becomes. Each brick on its own is fairly harmless but they can assemble into larger groups by linking physically together. The larger the group the more dangerous and capable the group becomes. The largest group will become the 'mother' and start replicating. The other groups bring food, any material will do, to the mother and defend it by attacking everything that isn't a replicator nearby.

Caleb says, "How many replicator stashes do you have out there?"

HeXer tells Caleb, "Probably a couple of dozen. I've forgotten some of them. Minus any that have been discovered while I've been in here."

Caleb nods. "OK. Thanks."

Charm asks, "*Why* do you have them?" which seems a more interesting question if they go out of control so easily.

HeXer shrugs, "I was a criminal. Heroes, like you, were looking to put me in here. I created them for protection. A case of being too creative for my own good. I hadn't intended them to be able to bypass my command."

Harlequin murmurs, "Life strives, HeXer, even artificial life. A lesson to remember." He then nods to him. "Remember my offer. Be well."

Exiting the Stronghold Prison is easier for you than the inmates. The Governor asks if HeXer was helpful on your way out. Then the trip back to Colonial Bay City.

Gillian's Electronics Store
Gillian's Electronics Store is on the southern edge of Old Town. The store is closed, the window display empty and the exterior showing signs of long abandonment.

Caleb hums the theme to The Sorcerer's Apprentice as he attempts to follow HeXer's instructions, keeping a careful eye out for replicators as well as other potential traps and alarms.

Charm stands a bit nervously, harp in hand, really wishing she understood computers and replicators.

Titan looks at the building. "I don't' really want to break the door. Any chance someone else can open t his without breaking anything?"

Caleb grins. "On it. Serious law and order types might want to be distracted about now. "

Once inside the store the instructions appear accurate. Going down to the basement you see a wall safe. The combination HeXer gave you opens the safe, and Caleb is able to pull out the seeming solid back wall to reveal a second keypad. Entering the reversed combination causes a hidden door to swing open. The room beyond the hidden door is dark and silent. To start with. But moments later a clickering sound starts up and dimly visible movement can be vaguely seen.

Charm says, "Is that....?"

Caleb stops humming and brings up full defenses. "Oboy. Headsup, folks." He misses the days when he could see in the dark.

Harlequin notes the replicators getting ready to attack and calls out as he raises his defenses. "They're awake and look hungry! A dozen small in front and one large in the back!" The sorcerer then illuminates the entire area with his magicks, causing floating balls of witchlight to spring into existence, casting white-blue light over the entire basement.

Now there is light - You can all see into the room. There's a table in the middle of it. The table is empty although there are still cables from a wall interface panel leading to the table. There are also a dozen replicator 'spiders' about a foot in length starting to move towards the door, and a much larger 'spider' at the back of the room."

Caleb sighs. So much for shutting them down the easy way.

Titan raises a brow, "I wonder what woke them up. The Qubit thing isn't here, is it? Whoever took it left them here, I bet."

Caleb says, "One way or another, yeah. Either under control to take out anyone on their trail, or accidentally and they're self-organizing. Not sure which is worse."

Charm regards the "spiders". She doesn't know much about them but it was suggested they were alive, sort of. And so, she hopes, have something akin to emotions to stir. Remembering the warning that they are more dangerous together, she tries to summon up in them a sense of isolation through harp and voice.

The effect of Charm's playing and singing is subtle. There's no visible change at this time. However the course of time will soon show just how very useful her manipulation of the Replicators is.

"Taking out the mother might disorient the others?" Nexus suggests tentatively.

Titan nods. "That's my plan, such as it is. At least for a start." He flies over to where the large spider is and lands. He then tries to put his fist through it.

Up close Titan can see the bricks gleam with a force field effect that overlaps giving defence in depth to the Mother. The large Mother grouping doesn't move or defend itself. It's busy creating new additional bricks. However, for some reason not unrelated to Charm's singing those bricks are not clustering together into a group. Mother's force field is enough to stop Titan's punch before his fist reaches the Replicators.

Titan doesn't get a clean hit against the force field. "Hmm. Going to have to hit it a lot harder than that."

Nexus, not nearly as creative as Charm, settles for smacking the larger spider around, trying to get his hand on the inside of the forcefield.

Nexus hits right above the third left leg, raising a spray of bricks which settle, morose and alienated, on the floor. "Take that, creepy spider brick thing!"

Harlequin murmurs as he stands outside the secret room, "We should have asked if these things have any weaknesses," as he twitches his hands into off configurations. Slowly, relatively speaking, liquid condenses into his hands from 'thin air' then with a pushing motion the cold water blasts out like a geyser to strike one of the twelve smaller replicator spiders.

Eight of the replicator spiders move to try and block the doorway and attack those outside. The remaining four swarm at Titan as he is attacking the Mother.

Titan is attacked by four of the small spiders, while the damaged Mother continues to create new bricks. One strikes at Titan's ankles with sharp pinchers. Another sprays acid at his legs. The other two fire laser beams at his.

Titan mutters to himself as the pincers cut into his trousers, but not his leg. "Gah. Figures."

Clustering in the doorway to block access to the room the small spiders spray acid and fire laser beams.

The spiders fail to hit Harlequin.

Despite intent the acid spray and laser fire of the spiders miss Caleb.

Harlequin just stands there like a loon while gathering the water out of nothingness into his hands. Fortunately, it seems like the replicators respect him enough to miss.

Charm avoids the laser beam by a hair's breadth at the last instance - like her father, she seems to have intuitive sense of just when and how to dodge.

Streams of acid and laser bolts travel unimpeded through spaces that were filled with Caleb mere moments earlier.

The stream of cold high pressure water strikes a replicator right in its 'chest'. The force of the water throws it back into the hidden room it emerged from.

"Must work on speeding that up," mutters the sorcerer under his breath in Russian.

The blast of water from Harlequin knocks about half the bricks loose from the spider group. Those bricks scatter in various directions away from each other rather than rejoining the spider or forming a group of their own.