I8DT - Ring the Bell, Win... Well Nothing (Open)

[Wanda Johansen]

Wanda was undergoing a self-imposed assessment, slamming her fist into a projected dummy in the Danger Room and having it calculate applied force and collect the data. She wasn't really sure what she intended to do with the information yet.

[John Hino]

John was heading to the Danger Room for a training routine when he saw it was occupied. Being a curious sort, he went into the observation room to see what simulation was running.

Oh good. I was hoping to run into her again.

"Impressive levels of strength you have," he said into the microphone.

[Wanda Johansen]

"So I've been told," Wanda said, landing a punch to the head that the computer in the observation room showed would do ugly things to someone without the durability to resist it.

[John Hino]

"Wow... and I thought I was strong."

[Wanda Johansen]

"You've got that armor though, so you're one up on me there."

[John Hino]

"This is true," he chuckled. "And as of last week I can also freeze things with my breath."

[Wanda Johansen]

"One more thing in the dragon guy's win column," Wanda said, slamming a knee into the dummy. Less force, but still painful.

[John Hino]

"About the other day..." he said, "I'm sorry I dragged you into that."

[Wanda Johansen]

"Not really your fault. The little robots started it. Well, at least started it this time from what I understood."

[John Hino]

"Yeah... one mistake and I'm The Devil forever."

[Wanda Johansen]

"Sounded like it may have been a fairly big mistake from their vantage point, but I admit I don't know the whole story."

[John Hino]

"Do you remem..." he said, pausing.

"Explaining this over the intercom feels silly. Do you mind if I come in?"

[Wanda Johansen]

"Come on in," she said, leveling a kick to the dummy's leg.

[John Hino]

A moment later, he entered the simulation.

"As I was saying. Do you remember when those robots from space invaded?"

[Wanda Johansen]

"Umm..." she thought for a bit. "Not really. I'm not much of a news watcher."

[John Hino]

"Really? They were ev... nevermind. Well there were these small ones, kind of like giant bugs. Calvin, in his infinite wisdom, kept one of them as a pet after the control units were destroyed. He, of course, made no effort to make this known to his fellow students."

"Unfortunately, when the inevitable happened, Galatea... the first AI child he built, which I had never seen before ... was..." he said, hesitating, "...riding it..."

[Wanda Johansen]

"And you kicked them."

[John Hino]

"...yeah..."

[Wanda Johansen]

"This may be a stupid question, but have you tried sitting down and talking to them?"

[John Hino]

"Would you sit down for a chat with Satan?" he asked, obviously hurt by being considered such.

[Wanda Johansen]

"Well, it's obvious they're not going to extend the olive branch, so I'd say you have to."

[John Hino]

"Huh... I... never even thought of that..." he said, a bit embarrassed that the thought had never occurred to him.

[Wanda Johansen]

"Well then you probably should, for your own sanity if nothing else."

[John Hino]

"Once I figure out what said peace offering would be."

[Wanda Johansen]

"You're smart. You'll think of something."

[John Hino]

"I certainly hope so."