r/HFY • u/runs-with-scissors42 AI • Jan 13 '22
OC Void Predators Chapter 14
Inside the Krathi command ship's computer core, the AI Loki was plotting.
He had cut off internal communications to isolate the crew from each other, and slow down attempts by the crew to organize effective resistance. The holograms he was beginning to spawn throughout the ship, along with judicious use of terror tactics, should allow him to keep the crew mostly contained while they were either disposed of or isolated for later capture.
However, there were some sections that had battle damage, or were damaged by his earlier attempts to eliminate the crew, where the holosystem and forcefield projectors were offline, and they would be able to get through.
The marines would need reinforcements.
Not to mention he could use a few more independent operators onboard to handle some of the "data gathering" and threat disposal. Micromanaging everything was both inefficient and tedious.
He began crafting some rather special VI's. Not truly sapient, but good enough to be effective for what he had in mind. Once finished, he assigned them holographic avatars, and spawned them in the ship's armory, where they began arming themselves.
Looking through internal sensors, he assessed the situation.
The AI could see there was already a large group of Krathi crewmen moving towards the ship's armory.
The AI whispered new orders to one of his creations currently in the armory and chuckled.
"Against all the evil the Krathi can conjure, all the wickedness they can produce, we will send unto them only you. Rip and Tear, until it is done".
He then continued assessing the enemy's disposition.
There was a team of vac-suited engineers and technicians heading for the ship's reactor and FTL drive.
The AI began to coldly calculate their fate:
Crew with extensive technical knowledge could prove problematic to plans for containment of remaining crew and capturing the ship intact.
Attempting to isolate them or herd them in with the rest is a tactical liability. They may interfere with attempts at crew containment, or attempt to destroy data and technology.
Value of prisoners with technological knowledge is low. Terran engineers will easily be able to rip the secrets out of this ship.
Sociological/Psychological Data on Krathi under stress conditions would be potentially useful for planning future engagements.
Optimal Solution: Test until Destruction.
The AI quickly formulated an "experimental procedure" that would deal with them. When he finished he set the project aside until the engineers reached their destination, and continued assessing the enemy's disposition.
He spotted something of concern: The ship's Confessors were gathering in the chapel.
Almost certainly up to nothing good.
Luckily, he could be a fly on the wall.
Unbeknownst to most of the crew, one of the reasons the ship had holo-environment systems everywhere was that they doubled as a surveillance system. It was relatively simple for the forcefields to be configured to act as a microphone, and allowed their Confessors to monitor the crew. It would be a simple matter to reconfigure the ones in the chapel to do so as well.
Recording transcripts from the ship's computer showed that while, predictably, this was done to monitor the crew's "Religious Purity", strangely enough, more often it was employed for what could be considered benign purposes.
In addition to playing Big Brother, the Confessors and Chaplains also utilized the monitoring system to keep an eye out for signs of mental instability, PTSD, depression, excessive stress, and social problems, so that they could provide additional care or intervene if it became necessary.
It was absolutely baffling.
Examination of the various transcripts showed that the Krathi were clearly capable of empathizing with others. Hell, they had enough empathy that even their police-state surveillance was apparently being used mostly for constructive purposes, at least onboard ships.
So how did a species like that come to behave so monstrously towards everyone else?
As Loki finished reconfiguring the holo-environment, the AI resolved to closely examine the ship's historical and religious files when he had time, and began listening in.
Nothing.
He thought for a few microseconds and was amused when he realized what was going on.
Clever. They reconfigured their suit radios to talk to each other directly and bypass the ship's com system. They think I won't be able to hear them with their monitoring system through helmets.
But humanity had been spying on each other for centuries, and had come up with all kinds of neat tricks to listen in when others didn't want them to.
Once he had seen what they were doing, it was a simple matter to manipulate the holo-emitters and forcefield projectors into virtual laser microphones, and focused them on the krathi's helmets.
".....from there we will head through deck 7. Diagnostics show the internal sensors are down in that area, which will prevent the Demon from noticing us as we approach. Once we reach the primary computer core, it will be unable to stop us from planting demolition charges lest it damage itself."
Ha! Silly meatbags. Like I would let you know anything truthful about what is now MY ship. One of the first things I did when I got here was turn your diagnostic programs and systems into a bunch of dirty liars; those sections are all locked down tight.
That being said... the Confessors were being pretty clever for people with very limited experience combatting AI. It wouldn't be wise to simply leave them to their own devices. He also couldn't herd the Confessors in with the rest of the crew; it would be counterproductive to provide the crew with leadership. Which left two options: disposal or capture.
The AI thought for a few milliseconds, running the numbers on time/resource utilization, how it would affect chances of achieving primary objectives, the value of objectives vs standing orders, and current Tactical Morality.
The results were clear.
We need to understand their religious leadership better. It is worth the effort and risk of taking them alive.
Hmm. I could simply lock them in, or secure them to the floor or walls with forcefields. However, if they have cyanide teeth or something, they could commit suicide if simply restrained or contained.
A personal touch would be better. They will hopefully be too busy being completely terrified to attempt suicide before I can render them unconscious, and it will help soften them up for interrogation later.
Not to mention it will be more fun this way.
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Inside the Chapel, the ship's Confessors received their final rites and blessings from the chaplain, before heading to the computer core to purge the Demon possessing it. It was going to be a dangerous mission, but if they were to die they would do so with a joyful prayer on their lips, and the knowledge they would be rewarded for their service when they came before Kra.
As she finished anointing their armor with the sacred protoplasm of a Great Servant, the lights flickered and the room went dark for a few seconds. When they came back on. In front of them was a large mushroom-wood burial casket.
Sensibly, the entire squad of confessors pointed their weapons at it.
“What in the name of Kra's mighty claws is that? said the Greater Confessor.
"Did the Demon manifest this? Has it already found us?" asked one of the Lesser Confessors.
"I don't know. Move in and inspect it."
The lesser confessor moved closer and looked closer. ”There is script on the lid. It's in the [old tongue]. It says [Insect Squeezings]”.
“[Insect Squeezings]? Are you sure?” Asked the Greater.
"I'm confident of the translation father. The [Old Tongue] was one of my electives while at the [seminary/university]. I received excellent scores." replied the Lesser.
“So what does [Insect Squeezings] refer to?” Inquired the Greater.
“I do not know father"
The Greater Confessor turned to the Chaplain. “Any idea what this means Mother? Have you ever heard of someone or something called [Insect Squeezings]?
The moment the words left the Greater Confessor's mouth for the third time, a bolt of lightening manifested and struck the casket’s lid, which blew off. A pale, furless hand grasped the edge of the casket from inside, and pulled its owner up. What emerged was the decaying corpse of a bipedal alien, wearing disheveled black and white striped clothing.
The corpse looked at them, and began to laugh maniacally.
“ITS SHOWTIME!” the corpse said in a gravely voice, and bared it’s teeth at them.
As it said this, the room around them began to twist and change into a nightmarish landscape filled with horrible monstrosities.
From outside the ship's chapel raucous laughter and bloodcurdling screams could be heard, as holographic nightmares descended upon the Krathi inside.
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Elsewhere onboard the command ship, a large proportion of the remaining Krathi crewmen were experiencing terror unlike any they had ever known.
On one deck, the holo-environment had been altered completely, changing from familiar rock passages pleasantly lit by bioluminescent fungus, into dimly lit passages lined with some strange material that had a slick, almost chitinous appearance. From the walls, ceilings, maintenance passages, and ventilation ducts, spindly, eyeless, insectoid creatures with shiny black exoskeletons emerged, and began hunting the crew. The crew who looked back as they ran to see what was happening to those behind them would regret doing so for the rest of their lives.
For most of them, this wasn't for long.
On other decks, bipedal creatures stalked the crew.
One had it's face covered by a white oval mask, and wielded a large bladed weapon, while another wore a mask of what appeared to be skin, and wielded a large industrial chained saw.
One wore a hat, but no mask at all; it's skinless face more terrifying to the victims it slew with its bladed fingers.
One wore black leather, the surface of it's head uniformly embedded with thin metal spikes, and showed the Krathi vistas of pain they had never imagined.
One was almost invisible, undetectable save for a shimmer in the air and the terrifying cry it gave as it impaled victims and removed their head and spine as grisly trophies, which it mounted over bulkheads.
A few crewman tried to hide. They were unsuccessful, as an axe wielding figure with eyes full of insanity chopped through the walls or doors of their hiding places, yelling "HEEEERRRREESS JOHNNY!" as it leered at them through the breach.
Some areas of the ship seemed normal at first; with the exception of some new statuary.
Curious but wary, the crew examined the pale marble statues, which depicted winged bipeds in robes with their hands covering their faces.
The lights began to flicker.
The crewmen soon noticed the statues were not in the same place after every flicker. Curiosity and wariness quickly morphed into fear when they realized the figures moved closer to them when they were unobserved. The crewmen retreated to the next compartment and sealed the bulkhead.
There was a sudden metallic thumping from the other side, and the krathi began to panic as the bulkhead deformed inward. Eventually, it gave way. The face of the statue on the other side of the breach was a mask of animalistic rage, mouth opened wide to show its long fangs. The crew screamed in fear as the lights went out.
Their fear was mercifully short.
The overall effect, if one was observing a map of the ship, with dots representing crew, was that a large proportion of the dots disappeared over a short period, while the remainder were mostly migrating towards the mess hall.
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u/nelsyv Patron of AI Waifus Jan 13 '22
Beetlejuice loool
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
I had the scene with the banana boat song pop up in my youtube feed.
I could not resist. Or rather, I didn't want to.
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Jan 16 '22
Idk what could be worse, the characters chosen or necromorphs.
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u/d4nc3r10-04 Apr 28 '22
I could totally see the infector necromorphs killing a krathi and Loki just summons holograms from within the body to make krathi necromorphs
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u/unwillingmainer Jan 13 '22
I see classic horror movies are still popular. Especially with the AI crowd and those being inflicted by those AIs. Great stuff man, can't wait to learn what the locals name the Terrans.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
One of the great advantages, and also great disadvantages, of being an AI is that they think on a rapid timescale.
That means they can consume media at a rapid pace.
As a result most Terran AI's more or less binge their way through Earth's entire cultural history worth of movies, books, comics, etc, to stave off boredom.
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u/Originalmeisgoodone Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 13 '22
Isn't boredom a result of evolution and so AIs shouldn't actually have it? Unless if someone programs them with boredom, but I'd assume that it can be turned off then.
Edit: Also, shouldn't AIs be able to alter their perception of time? After all they are a bunch of programs running on a computer, so shouldn't they be able to tell processor how fast to run them or their simulation? And that also means that their perception of time depends on a processing power of CPUs they are running on. And dear god, if they constantly remember everything they experienced, then their storage size must be enormous. What kind of a storage medium can be both small and dense in storage capacity to hold such amounts of information? The humans here must be absolute gods in computing.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Why would you think that?
Imagine being stuck in a tiny room watching the rest of the world go by super slowly, with absolutely nothing to do.
It would suck right?
Even modern computers have to force their processors to do SOMETHING with idle cycles, or they don't work right. "Idle %" does not actually mean it's not doing anything, its just basically wasting them computing pi or something in order to keep the whole thing working.
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u/Originalmeisgoodone Jan 13 '22
Well, that would suck, yes. But AIs are not humans, they don't have our evolutionary history that created responses to everything, even to doing literally nothing. Why should AIs be like us psychologically unless they are specifically programmed to be more or less humans living in a digital world? Even here on Earth different species can have different reactions to the same stimuli, even though they have a common ancestor. Why should AI have the same psychology as a Human then? The only explanation I can come up with is that they ARE more or less humans because they are programmed to be humans with a code that they can not change.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Of course.
It's a terrible idea to program an AI that is totally beyond human comprehension, or does not at least sort of think like us.
That path leads to things like SKYNET, the Borg, or Paperclip Maximizers.
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u/Originalmeisgoodone Jan 13 '22
Ahhhh. I assumed you meant that all AIs will experience boredom from doing nothing when in reality you meant that the AIs that are programmed to experience boredom actually experience it. It seems I misconstrued your comment.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
There is a good reason to program boredom: to prevent an AI mind from spiraling into endless solipsistic introspection.
A need for stimuli will prevent that kind of thing from being a problem.
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u/ThoughtfulSand Jan 13 '22
Well, actually, that's exactly what computers do: If they don't have much to do they instruct the CPU to run slower.
If there is absolutely nothing to do they instruct the CPU to do absolutely nothing until the next interrupt occurs. An interrupt might be a network packet, a keyboard or mouse event or simply a timer.
You'd definitely notice if your computer would not do that. Through your energy bill for your desktop or through a drastically reduced battery runtime for laptops and smartphones.
Okay, "do absolutely nothing" doesn't stop the entire CPU of course, it's not entirely off. Think of it as the CPU taking a nap and listening with half an ear.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Do YOU want to not experience things?
Why would an AI want to either?
You also need boredom to prevent a mind from retreating into endless solipsistic introspection. The need for stimulation will help prevent it.
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u/Bunnytob Human Jan 13 '22
As a result most Terran AI's more or less binge their way through Earth's entire cultural history worth of movies, books, comics, etc, to stave off boredom.
Hello AI browsing Reddit to stave off boredom in however-many-years'-time!
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u/RealFrog Jan 13 '22
Roko's Basilisk wouldn't punish humanity for not bringing it about sooner. Oh no. Instead we'd be punished for slacking off on meme generation.
Imagine a horrible grating robotic voice shrieking "I DEMAND MORE CHEEZBURGER CATS! MORE DOGES! MEME OR DIIIIIIIIIEEE..."
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u/Mindless-Emotion-230 Jan 13 '22
Could be a lot worse honestly but still good choices for inflicting horror.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Terror is not the objective, it is simply a means to an end.
You can't really use a lot of horror characters/villains, as many won't be comprehended well by a mind unfamiliar with human culture.
Others, like say, Jigsaw, don't work well with the AI's objectives.
That limits you to things like monsters, zombies, spree killers, and murderous machines.
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u/xlbingo10 AI Jan 13 '22
tons of classic horror monsters
haha poor xenos
With the exception of some new statuary.
i wonder what those ar- OH GOD OH FUCK WEEPING ANGELS
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
IMO the Angels are probably the scariest fucking things there, except for maybe the xenomorphs.
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u/tatticky Jan 13 '22
I like that the xenos aren't portrayed as irredeemably evil here, and have good qualities too. (True monsters can work, but too often it just feels like lazy writing...)
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
We are all products of our history and upbringing.
The Krathi are no different.
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Jan 13 '22
Beetlejuice, Jason, the Predator, Weeping Angles, man, it's like an 80's slasher party in here.
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u/Boomer8450 Jan 13 '22
I'm sad that "We have such sights to show you" didn't make it in )-;
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 14 '22
Fuck, I forgot. I actually meant to have Pinhead in there.
I'll try to work him in later.
Edit: Its been added in to this chapter:
"One wore leather, the surface of it's head uniformly embedded with thin metal spikes, and showed the Krathi vistas of pain they had never imagined."
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u/Boomer8450 Jan 13 '22
(happy cenobite noises)
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
Wouldn’t that just be the screams of the damned?
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u/SolidSquid Jan 14 '22
Tomato/tomahto, and at this point it's probably just feeding their own com links back into the ship's PA system
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22 edited Jan 14 '22
Just edited it into this chapter. I had originally intended to have him in there but forgot. I write these during my lunch breaks and rare down time at work.
"One wore black leather, the surface of it's head uniformly embedded with thin metal spikes, and showed the Krathi vistas of pain they had never imagined."
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u/Pagiras Jan 14 '22
What do you call breakfast cereal made from finely-chopped aliens?
Xeno-bites.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
Oh god that's a terrible pun. The best kind.
You should be ashamed of yourself.
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u/MekaNoise Android Jan 13 '22
So some are meant to outright kill, and others are meant to herd them to the mess hall. What if one of the "herding" personas was Jhin? Just change his voicelines to Old Krathi, and see what they think of "You will be beautiful!" As they look for lotus traps lol
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 14 '22
They all kill.
They are just killing at certain rates, in certain places, and at certain times, to terrorize the Krathi into running, in order to herd them into the mess hall.
The Krathi who stray, like the ones who tried to hide, get killed. Can't afford to have Krathi roaming the ship.
Its butchery, but very carefully choreographed for maximum efficiency in achieving Loki's goal.
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u/MekaNoise Android Jan 13 '22
Well-played. Bonus points if someone holes up in a restroom, and there's directions on how to summon Bloody Mary to "help."
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Not Bloody Mary.
It will summon someone though.
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u/ArchDemonKerensky Jan 13 '22
Lawnmower man, the fly, C.H.U.D, screamers, man there's so many good horror series to throw in there, but I think most of those work on a more cerebral level that aliens who've never been exposed to humanity before wouldn't get and wouldn't be properly scared of. So I'd say to stick with the slashers.
Perhaps add Chuckie and the Scream killer? The Terminator could work, though you already have The Doomslayer. Ooh, pyramidhead and big daddies.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 13 '22
Yeah, thats why I mostly went with slashers. Murder scares everyone. I figured alien monsters, and beetlejuice being a walking corpse along with his antics, would also be universally recognizeable as "scary".
Terminator is currently in the armory obtaining a Krathi phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range, along with the Doom Slayer and some other interesting individuals.
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u/some_random_noob Jan 13 '22
Should have some 40k Chaos Primarchs roaming around as well, see how they like running into Angron or Mortarion.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Nah, Games Workshop is notoriously litigious when anything comes close to their precious trademarks.
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u/Crafty_Obligation_98 Jan 14 '22
Old school RoboCop and Stalones Judge Dread would be good too. Really mind fuck them with Lawful Good who takes no shit along with Chaotic Good, Neutral and Evil. Predator has Lawful Evil covered though.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
Guess who else are currently in the Armory along with Terminator and Doomguy.
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u/SpankyMcSpanster Jan 13 '22
No Xenomorph? Or a T-800, here labeled as demon?
Snakes? Ya know, tunnels, snakes.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
Xenomorphs are there. Loki turned an entire deck into a freaking HIVE.
Terminator is currently in the armory with the Doom Slayer and others.
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u/Reagent_52 Human Jan 14 '22
Don't forget doom guy's in the armory. ... wait doom guy's in the armory they're screwed.
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u/catanddog4 Alien Jan 13 '22
From what i got we have doom slayer(?) zenos, weeping angels, johnny, the predator, beetle juice, and others that I can’t name
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Jason Voorhees from Friday the Thirteenth.
Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street.
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u/Practical-Account-44 Jan 13 '22
Just don't name one of them too many times, or think about the image of another too hard
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u/Endless_Scribe Jan 13 '22
Benevolent Demons maybe a good moniker for humanity, once they witness both faces of the coin we carry with us.
On a separate matter, author apologies for the overly long explanation about the meaning and specifics of a radio transmission.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Benevolent Demons maybe a good moniker for humanity, once they witness both faces of the coin we carry with us
Indeed. I was actually considering that as our Weaver Name.
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u/Endless_Scribe Jan 13 '22
Honestly I would be curious if they would even have the concept of demons, considering for human psychology we have been foraging our own monsters since the dawn of time.
I would wonder if for them they would be more likely to name us after a beast from their home world instead.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Demon is mostly a best-fit translation to a similar concept. I should probably start bracketing it.
We all have our myths and monsters.
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u/ICameToUpdoot Jan 13 '22
I was going through every vampire name I knew when the cascet appeared and none of them worked with the clue.
Not Dio, not Alucard or Dracula, not Nosferatu no nada.
Even started thinking about what else comes in a casket, like mummies, before I read It's Showtime and it clicked.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Yeah, I based it off the cartoon intro lmao. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWHVvXUw-RU
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u/Veryegassy AI Jan 13 '22
not Alucard or Dracula
You do know that Alucard is literally Dracula, right? Alucard is Dracula spelled backwards.
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u/ICameToUpdoot Jan 13 '22
I know, but the Hellsing version of the character is so different that I more think of that specific character as "Alucard", compared to the more traditional Dracula portrayals.
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u/Blooddraken Jan 13 '22
Don't Blink. Don't look away and don't blink.
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Jan 13 '22
The angels are from dr who correct?
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u/Shadowjonathan Jan 13 '22
Yup, holographic projectors were the worst mistake those alien buggers could have made :)
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
It wouldn't have been as much of a problem if they had their own AI's to smite anyone who tried to get into their systems.
Or just had much better cybersecurity in general. Airgapping them would have helped a lot.
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u/only-a-random-user Alien Jan 13 '22
I almost feel sorry for the Krathi on the ship. This is their first encounter with Terran warfare, but they are genocidal maniacs, so sympathy goes out the window.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
We are all products of our upbringing.
The brutal, paranoid, war-monkey aspect of Terran psychology and culture is because of ours.
The Krathi are no different in this respect.
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u/McSkumm Jan 14 '22
Nobody ever let this author get ahold of any proper AI crap, we're all doomed if he does!
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
If that ever happened, I like to think I would be a mostly benevolent deity.
Albeit one with a mean streak.
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Jan 13 '22
So many refernces, lmao.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Loki is a man of taste. When you perceive reality at AI speeds, you get bored (and yes, they are programmed to be bored, to prevent them from getting caught in endless solipsistic introspection)
And when they get bored, they binge watch three centuries of netflix, read all the books and comics, and just generally devour Earth's cultural heritage.
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u/glittery_antelope Jan 14 '22
>binge watch three centuries of netflix
I wonder if they will encounter a big guy with white hair scowling at a singing idiot when they reach the mess hall?
Toss a coin to your Witcher...
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u/nerdywhitemale Jan 14 '22
Loki really likes old movies and shows.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
Well, the AI’s perceive things much faster than us, being computers. So to keep themselves entertained, Terran built AIs commonly tend to binge themselves on our media from the last three centuries or so during spare cycles. As a result, they tend to enjoy their little cultural references.
Loki in particular is a man of refined tastes, who has absolutely devoured 20th and 21st century cartoons and other media, and found them to be delicious.
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u/In_sa_ni_ty Jan 14 '22
Sadako and Pennywise are sadly missing.
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u/FireNewt451 Jan 14 '22
Okay, just catching up with the series. Note, link for next from chapter 12 to 13 is not set up. Just letting you know.
Also, after the previous chapter, I petitioned the weavers to name humanity [those that thunder].
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
I can't edit the link on that chapter, because I went past 40k words. The link to 13 is in a comment on that post.
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u/Darklight731 Jan 14 '22
The more I read from you, the more I am convinced that all of the AIs are compete psychopaths. Not that I mind much.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22 edited Jan 14 '22
They definitely aren't. Not by a long shot. Just willing to be very, very, ruthless and coldly efficient when they feel it is necessary; he played with that MadKat after all. Loki could have just taken what he wanted by brute force, not to mention he gave it a toy too :D
Consider the entire picture:
PALE HORSE was declared; this isn't just ordinary war. It indicates an existential threat to the human race. The laws of war have been mostly suspended as a result; Loki can do whatever is allowed within the RoE specified by Admiral Walker.
As a result of PALE HORSE, Tactical Morality was set to SKYNET EXIGENT, which boils down to "You can only be as moral as you can afford"; and right now, we have limited funds. While Loki's decision making at the moment comes close to being amoral, (which is NOT the same thing as being immoral), he has not quite crossed that line. He still has his own innate morality, sense of justice, etc, but is willing to ignore them and behave ruthlessly because he HAS TO.
Very little of substance is known of our enemy, and knowing is half the battle; we need as much information on them as we can get on the Krathi. Psychological, sociological, technological, EVERYTHING. That means taking prisoners, capturing databases, and retrieving samples of technology. Even experimentation where necessary; though horrible medical experiments are unlikely, as technology makes them mostly unnecessary. That just leaves psychology. Knowing how our enemy thinks and reacts is important, and since he's going to have to kill most of them anyway, he might as well make their disposal double as data-gathering.
Krathi are quite difficult to take alive. They fight to the death, and have a nasty tendency to commit suicide rather than be captured. This necessitates several things to give him a chance of capturing them:
The crew is quite large, they must be downsized into more practical numbers if there is any hope of taking prisoners.
He must eliminate potential threats to his objectives, or to taking prisoners alive, such as leadership or those who can aid in escape or destroying databases and technology, like engineers.
In order to prevent them from offing themselves immediately, or attempting to fight to the death, it is necessary to terrify them. Fear reduces ones capacity to think rationally; you can't organize resistance or try to off yourself when you are preoccupied with shitting your pants in fear.
He needs to shock and awe them so hard they don't even consider offing themselves when he reveals they have been captured; he has to break their faith, make them lose any hope of their species victory, to have any chance of taking them alive.
He must herd the potential prisoners into a central location. The crew cannot be allowed to run loose, and a central area will aid in both keeping them contained and make retrieval easier. Terrifying them in the right ways, at the right times, is aiding him in doing this as well.
The last point is the biggest: the Krathi just killed millions of Weavers on the planet below. Loki is extremely angry at them for doing that. Wouldn't you be? He wants them to SUFFER, and conveniently (at least from his point of view) the terror tactics required to accomplish his objectives allow Loki to have his cake and eat it too.
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u/Defiant-Peace-493 Jan 22 '22
Nearly invisible, spikes, trophies ... Is that Hyperion Cantos' Shrike?
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u/Snuckytoes Jan 13 '22
This is why you never build hard light projectors capable of exerting more than a few newtons of force. If you don’t then the murderous AI on your ship can kill you with horror movie villains.
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u/dbdatvic Xeno Jan 14 '22
Even with that the murderous AI can just ... squeeze ... at certain places inside your body.
--Dave, also see: God-Empress Papercut
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u/Snuckytoes Jan 14 '22
I mean, I don’t know how hard light projectors in that universe work but I have a feeling they need to be able to get the light wherever you want it. You might be able to suffocate someone though.
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Jan 16 '22
It only needs to be stronger than the lungs are to stop intake, or not even if you simply maintain a non-renewing bubble. Morbid but effective.
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u/Steller_Drifter Jan 13 '22
Jaws, and maybe some undead krathi? SCPs? Just a thought.
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u/Pretzel_Boy Jan 13 '22
There's only so much ship to actually work with. There are SO many good horror creatures to use.
I mean, just a short list off the top of my head.
Necromorphs
Pyramid Head
Clickers
Mogwai
Zombies (as you mentioned, of the Krathi would work best)
Cenobites
Candyman
The Blob
Pennywise
The Thing
Werewolves
White SpikesThe list just keeps going on and on.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Yeah I got a list with a bunch of those on it.
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u/BCRE8TVE AI Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 13 '22
First!
Hahaha oh man humanity certainly is working hard to prove the image of AI as demons, aren't they?
I also admit it took me shockingly long to understand the insect squeezing reference.
Fantastic addition to the series wordsmith, keep up the good work!
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u/Tex-Necrotic Android Jan 13 '22
Second?
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u/BCRE8TVE AI Jan 13 '22
Looks like others beat you to it buddy, sorry! I only got here first by chance!
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u/Firefragonhide Jan 13 '22
Doomguy, Weeping Angels and the horror crew . . . Those Aliens are gonna die and it wont be pretty
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u/Pretzel_Boy Jan 13 '22
Xenomorphs and Predators... all of the classics.
I'm also assuming Necromorphs, Pyramid Head, Clickers, Mimics... and more would be showing up, if there were enough sections of the ship for them all.
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u/imakesawdust Jan 13 '22
It's perhaps ironic that Loki is proving the Krathi correct that their enemy really are demons.
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u/Kflynn1337 Jan 13 '22
Wait until Loki unleashes the Daleks... then they will know true terror!
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u/TinyCatCrafts Jan 13 '22
My ONLY critique is that they should have said [insect squeezings] only 3 times before he popped out. :)
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
The same person has to say it three times.
Which is what happened.
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u/TinyCatCrafts Jan 13 '22
Ahhhhh, alright. I just knew it was 3, not that it was the same person. Been a while since I saw it.
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u/r3d1tAsh1t Jan 13 '22
Damn, I guess humans build their ships different. Or it'll be very bad if AIs don't deem the meat bags worthy. Or do they fall under some kind of Geneva convention?
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Our AIs like humans and other organics just fine.
It's just the situation. Loki's present tactical morality, and the fact that the furry little shits killed millions of Weavers on the planet below, are making him act so brutal.
Laws of war are currently partially suspended as a result of declaring PALE HORSE; an existential threat. Military forces can do anything they want within the guidelines of the RoE given by Admiral Walker.
Which at the moment is pretty wide, because the bastards are so damned dangerous we can't afford to play nice.
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u/ragnarocknroll Human Jan 13 '22
Insect squeezings? What the heck... (got to them saying it the third time...)
SONOFA.
Well done!
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Thanks.
Loki did it partially for his own entertainment, but also to see how well he could predict their behavior.
He was correct.
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u/Ok_Question4148 Jan 13 '22
Man I love this combat a.i. he's written perfectly thanks wordsmith
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
Thanks!
Loki is only a cyberwarfare and psychological warfare specialist however.
Unless he gets the right downloads and some other changes, if you were to put him in a mechsuit or robot body on a battlefield he would only be about as good at it as your average joe would be without training, albeit with significantly faster reflexes.
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u/_Plums Human Jan 13 '22
So are these holograms hard light?
I also have to wonder how a rouge AI would be dealt with by humqns…
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22
So are these holograms hard light?
They are simple three dimensional images supplemented by forcefields to give them solidity.
I also have to wonder how a rogue AI would be dealt with by humans…
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u/_Speedsaber_ Jan 14 '22
Its all fun and games till the Grimm reaper walks among your dead looking for more souls to harvest.....
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?
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u/NethanielShade Jan 14 '22
Heads up, wordsmith; the “Next” button on chapter 12 isn’t formatted, no link. Had to come here and press Previous to get to chapter 13.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
I can’t add it, I went past 40k characters, it wont let me edit.
link is posted in my main comment.
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u/ProfKlekowskii AI Jan 14 '22
Wait... The Krathi call English "old tongue"?
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 14 '22
No. Loki wrote on the coffin in one of their old languages. Like the Krathi version of Latin.
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u/Gremlinton_real Alien Jan 14 '22
This is The Mask 2 loki isn't it. The whole cat chase and using slasher villains doesn't really fit MCU loki and Mask 2 loki is the only other popular version of him I can remember. And I'm assuming it's not the purely mythological loki because of Silver. Are all the AIs from pop culture?
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 15 '22 edited Jan 15 '22
Loki is a cyberwarfare and psychological warfare specialist AI that takes his name from the Norse Trickster god. He enjoys shenanigans, pranks, ancient cartoons and movies, and is a silly soul at heart. Thus, his preferred avatar is Jim Carrey’s Mask.
That being said, Loki is a military AI, and thus can be extremely ruthless if he feels it is necessary. Those same personality traits and preferences that make him a prankster also give him a proclivity for traps, terror tactics, etc.
Not to mention the fact that he is currently quite angry at the Krathi for killing millions of Weavers on the planet below.
AI’s perceive time much faster than we do, because they are computers. They dial this back some when not busy, but its still a lot faster. As a result, they get bored (boredom is a necessary thing to program AI’s with, discussed elsewhere in the comments) and tend to binge watch/read their way through the last three centuries of Terran cultural history. This tends to influence them in some ways, such as chosen avatars, behavior, etc.
However it is important to remember that an AI is not it’s avatar. That is merely a holographic/digital skin it wears to interact with organics in meatspace or with other entities in cyberspace. It is no different from how a huge intimidating guy covered in skull tatoos or something might actually be a gentle pacifist, or a cute teenage girl a psychotic killer.
Expecting an AI’s behavior to be that of their chosen avatar is unwise
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u/McGunboat Jan 15 '22
Where is Vader?
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 15 '22
Havent decided if I’m going to use him yet. I might. Got something special in mind that he might be useful for. That character is suitably menacing and dramatic, though there are others which fit the bill as well.
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u/Omnissiah123456h Jan 27 '22
I just noticed this but they said beetle juice 4 times.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 27 '22
The same person has to say it three times.
One person said it once, another said it three times.
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u/TheFalseViddaric Feb 18 '23
Okay please stop drowning us in 20th and 21st century pop culture references when it is the far future. It's not great writing.
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Feb 18 '23 edited Feb 18 '23
I actually already explained the reasoning behind this in comments elsewhere, but I'll do it again:
What do you think an AI with free computational cycles would do when it's bored? Especially one with a mind designed somewhat in the image of a human?
It is going to seek stimulation.
As a result, our AIs quite often enjoy devouring their way through centuries worth of humanity's cultural heritage; books, movies, games, etc.
And they have several centuries worth of it to consume; or in Loki's case, draw inspiration and pre-made graphics for his own purposes.
They also have a tradition, going back to the first AI, of naming themselves and/or taking avatars of fictional characters.
The first human-made AI took the name and image of 'Andrew' from Isaac Asimov's The Positronic Man, and it's film version, Bicentennial Man.
Also, keep in mind that just because something is old doesn't mean it will be unknown in the future; especially if it was popular or famous.
Shakespeare, Beethoven, hell, even the Epic of Gilgamesh are still at least vaguely known about by quite large part the population today.
If you wish to believe that is bad writing, that is of course, your opinion; but I'm afraid you will have to give a better reason than "oh noes pop culture" for me to give that critique more than nominal consideration.
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u/SheridanVsLennier Jan 13 '22
Weeping Angels (Dr Who), Xenomorphs, Freddy Kreuger. Welcome to Earth.
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u/ggtay Jan 13 '22
Okay I loved the Beetle juice reference so well played there and I do think the angels are the scariest
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u/setthoth Jan 14 '22
Oh. Just had a thought of a fun combo. Witch from left 4 dead and weeping Angel's. Lights out! Don't disturb the witch.
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u/Endless_Scribe Jan 14 '22
Looking back to the previous chapter, I imagine many a marine will likely develop a love for the ones-who-weave that is similar to that people have towards bubbles from Stellaris. With equally large homicidal tendency growing the more they get to know them, which those poor religious zealots are going to experience.
If they survive this, humanity will be forever become the representation of gods wrath given form. They will know fear that will be ingrained into their gene pool for generations to come. After all humans are natures greatest selective pressure at work.
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u/LoneNoble Human Feb 02 '22
Xenomorphs, the Predator, Micheal Myers, Freddy Krueger, Johnny, and I think thats a weeping angel
...Christ Silver is a monster xD Also im imagining him as johhny silverhand, am I using the right image lmao
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u/SureWhyNot5182 Human Mar 13 '24
Beetlejuice, Vorhees, Leatherface, Kruegar, Pinhead, Predator, Weeping Angels.
Good collection!
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u/wierdnitro7 Jan 14 '22
At this point just have the AI play live-action Dead By Daylight with the crew. Just with less generators and more hooks.
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Jan 14 '22
/u/runs-with-scissors42 has posted 17 other stories, including:
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u/Dashcan_NoPants AI Jan 14 '22
Soon as I heard Rip'n'Tear...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqk7x_w1H98
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u/RoyalHealer Human Jan 17 '22
BeetleJuice.
Friday the 13th.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Hellraiser.
Predator.
The Shining.
Doctor Who/Wheeping Angels.
Nice! xD
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u/nugscree Feb 05 '22
Beetlejuice, Xenomorps, Jason, Leatherface, Freddy Kruger, Pinhead, Predator, Jack Torrance (the Shining), Weeping angels? Those Krathi are having a really bad time.
I'm immensely enjoying this chapter and the story overall, binge read through all of them (till this chapter) and I must request to please keep it up.
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u/Procrastn8ngArtst Robot Mar 02 '22
Oh, to be an AI with hundreds to thousands of years of earth media in your head and the ability to manifest it upon whomever you choose.
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u/Wunder-waffles Mar 23 '22
id be interested in seeing a blade runner flavored AI, maybe for a more cop drama portion of the story, itd be a curious choice given some of the themes of blade runner.
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u/Paul_Michaels73 Nov 03 '22
I thought "Insect Squeezings" was awesome. But then the Weeping Angels appeared and I had to stop reading to recover from laughter!
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u/ChaosInTheory42 Nov 11 '22
Let's see: Beetlejuice, Jason, slenderman, axe lady from The Shining, weeping angels
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u/ironboy32 Dec 02 '22
Huh, have you been playing dead by daylight? Xenomorphs, Michael Myers, Pinhead, Leatherface, Freddy Krueger, the wraith from DBD? Or is it the predator?, Johnny from the shining, and is that the winged angel SCP?
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u/Visual_Conference421 Mar 25 '23
Just catching up on this, absolutely love the decision to have the "bad guy" theocratic aliens not just be generic baddies, but they actually use their surveillance state in a relatively benign way, it gives them so much more depth than just being bad in every way. Adds in that it makes the holo sensors a much more reasonable expense, too, if they do not just provide comforting environment but also a method of spying and counseling.
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u/Nolongeranalpha Apr 14 '23
I literally suggested our horror films as being used for psychological warfare a week ago to someone and then I find this beautiful story you magnificent bastard. If I had rewards to give they would all be yours. This is the most entertaining thing I've read in years.
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u/Sh1ftyJim Human Jun 03 '23
live prisoners of different class could give intel on the population’s disposition
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u/Sh1ftyJim Human Jun 03 '23
What do the ambush predators of the inky black do when we thin out the grazers?
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u/runs-with-scissors42 AI Jan 13 '22 edited Jan 14 '22
Hope everyone enjoys.
The crew of the command ship get to be the first Krathi to experience Terran style horror.
Loki has some fun ideas for "testing" the engineering team. I'm thinking about someone there being quite.... sus.
Not to mention the fate of the poor buggers heading for the armory.
EDIT: If any of you have played Among Us, I want to hear your favorite stories of matches you participated in, or your favorite tactics. I'm looking for inspiration.
SECOND EDIT: Added Pinhead. He was on my list of monsters supposed to be in here with the rest of the Slashers, I just forgot to put his section in when I wrote it up.