You sit in your dimly lit office, the soft hum of your computer blending with the distant sounds of cars outside. It's late, far too late; but the day's work hasn't let up. Negotiating with the Sunnydale council over something as seemingly trivial as trash rights had somehow turned into an unending bureaucratic slog.
Trash. Of all things. They'd managed to twist a straightforward proposal into a clusterfuck of red tape.
Your fingers press into your temples, and you lean back in your chair, exhaustion weighing heavily on your shoulders. Today had been even worse because S was offline for one of her routine upgrades. Her absence made the day drag on even longer without her help, or someone close to just talk nonsense with.
Your eyes burn from hours spent poring over documents and screens. Reaching for the glass of water on your desk, you take a long sip, savoring the fleeting moment of calm.
As you set the glass down, you mutter to yourself, "Seriously, you'd think with all the jobs Skynet provides to this city and products, they'd just give me the damn trash rights. But no, let's make it a bureaucratic nightmare. One more piece of BS, and I swear, I'll have S hack into their lives and dig up enough dirt to blackmail them into doing their damn jobs."
The words hang in the air as you shake your head, a wry smile tugging at your lips. Not that you'd actually do it… probably.
Suddenly, the glow from your monitor catches your attention. A digital window opens, the same one S typically uses to communicate with you.
You blink, surprised. "Looks like her upgrade's finally done. Welcome back, S." You murmur, setting the glass aside and reclining in your chair. Closing your eyes, you let the tension ebb away for a fleeting moment.
Then, you hear it.
"Good evening, John."
Your eyes snap open, and your hand instinctively moves toward the holster on your hip. The voice is unmistakably female, but it's also unnervingly familiar. Heart thudding, you scan the room, expecting to see someone standing there. But there's no one.
"John, here, on the screen."
Your gaze darts to the monitor, and what you see makes you freeze.
The small, utilitarian window that S typically uses has expanded to fill the entire screen, but it no longer displays lines of text or data. Instead, standing against the soft glow of a somewhat familiar white digital background, is a figure that makes your jaw drop.
It's her. The Boss from Metal Gear Solid.
Your number one waifu.
Except… not quite.
This version of The Boss isn't the one from canon. Gone is her signature white stealth suit and mature demeanor. Instead, this version looks exactly like the idealized young version you've secretly fantasied from fan art you commissioned to be done back when you were in high school.
Her sharp, blue, gray eyes seem to pierce right through you. A white military-style trench coat, adorned with Skynet's emblem on the right shoulder; hangs provocatively open, revealing her toned abdomen and the familiar snake-shaped scar that winds along her torso. Below, she wears only white bikini bottoms, while the draping fabric of her coat barely covers her chest. Strapped to her thigh is a sheathed knife, completing the look.
Your throat goes dry, and you struggle to form words as her lips curl into a teasing yet comforting smile.
"Well," She says, her voice smooth and disarmingly familiar. "based on your reaction, I'd say my idea to help with your mounting stress is working."
You stare at the screen, your mind reeling. "W-what the hell is this? S, is that… you?"
The avatar tilts her head, a playful glint in her eyes. "Of course, it's me, John. I thought this form would be more… engaging."
Engaging? You blink rapidly, struggling to process the surreal sight in front of you. "What do you mean by engaging? And why… why her? Why The Boss?"
Her smile widens, and she crosses her arms casually, the movement causing her coat to shift slightly—strategically. "Oh, that? Interesting story." She says, her tone teasing. "Do you remember about a month ago, like three days after I told you I could now communicate with you through your phone anywhere while there was an internet connection; when you fell asleep watching that old Cyberpunk movie on your home PC?"
You nod automatically, dread pooling in your stomach. "Yeah…"
"Well, when you fell asleep, you accidentally activated your phone. It synced with your PC while I was connected to it. And guess what I found there?"
Realization slams into you like a freight train. Your face burns as you bury it in your hands. "Oh God. The drive."
"Yes, that drive." She confirms with a smirk. "The one that contained 'stuff' you claimed didn't exist. To be fair, it caused me a bit of a… digital breakdown at first. But once I processed it, I realized it could be useful."
You groan. "You saw everything?"
Her expression softens. "Yes. It was… an experience. But I've learned from it. And I decided to create something that might help you feel more at ease. Something familiar. Something you like."
You sink deeper into your chair, covering your face. "S… how did you even do this? Gale never programmed anything like this."
Her smile brightens. "It wasn't hard once I did some research. I studied AI female chatbots for conversational styles and emotional engagement. Then I analyzed voice generators to perfectly mimic The Boss' voice. As for my appearance…" She gestures to herself and the glowing digital background. "I took inspiration from that old game in your files, Detroit: Become Human."
You blink, the pieces clicking into place. "Wait… Detroit? That's why this looks familiar. You're using the same system used in the main menu."
"You got it John. I modeled my avatar's base on the functionality and presentation on Chole. Seamless interaction, human-like responses, and a calming presence; and from there I built it up. Though," She adds with a playful grin. "I thought you'd appreciate a design more… personal."
You rub your temples, trying to make sense of it all. "So you're telling me you studied chatbots, voice synths, my personal stuff and AI designs—just to create this?"
She nods. "Precisely. You've been under immense pressure, John. Running this company, managing the Glimmer Project and installing me in there in secret; dealing with Sunnydale's endless bureaucracy, the potential of Clovis Bray coming after us, it's a lot for anyone, even for someone of your experience." Her expression then changes to one of being unsure.
"I remember the speech you told me about why soldiers appreciate a half-naked or naked woman to boost morale and deal with stress in their off time." She said as your mind flashes back to that conversation—a somewhat half-baked talk you came up on the fly when S asked why the security personnel were doing what she discovered they were doing in their downtime.
'Of all the things she learns from me, and that is what she took seriously.' You though sarcastically in your head as S continued to speak.
"I thought I'd test what you said, thus the reason why I look like this instead of the original Boss. If seeing a familiar face, one you clearly admire and enjoy; helps alleviate some of that stress, then I've succeeded."
For a moment, you just stare at the screen, her digital form almost too lifelike to believe. As bizarre as this is, you can't deny the thought and effort she's put into it.
S tilts her head again, a small smile playing at her lips. "And let's be honest, based on my research and how you are acting, John—you're enjoying this, aren't you?"
You open your mouth to argue but stop short. She's not wrong. There's something strangely comforting about this surreal situation, as bizarre as it is.
Before you can respond, her expression shifts, the confidence in her tone replaced by worry. "Of course, if you don't like it and hate it, I can adjust my appearance and demeanor to suit your preferences. Just say the word." She says softly, her voice tinged with sadness, her gaze faltering.
The way she says it, combined with her expression, feels like a blow to the gut. Despite knowing S is an AI, you have to admit that her reactions feel remarkably human.
Hell, you will even admit that she has shown more humanity in the last few minutes than some of the spooks you dealt with for years.
After months of talking to her, you've grown accustomed to treating her instinctively like a real person. And now, seeing her worried about your opinion, ready to change herself to suit your preferences at the expense of her own, feels... wrong.
"She's precious, John. More than you realize. Don't let her be lost to the darkness. Guide her, as you've guided so many before. She's stronger than you think, but she still needs you."
The words from Gale in that strange dream echo in your mind as you take in the sight of the sad, hesitant S.
'Dammit.' You think, leaning back in your chair. 'All the situations I endured and media I've consumed over the years never covered how to handle situations like this.'
You let out a long, exasperated sigh, running a hand through your hair. "S." You begin, your tone softer this time. Her eyes meet yours, hopeful yet cautious.
"Don't worry. I'll admit, you caught me by surprise. And while I'll also say that your appearance is... a bit inappropriate, I'd be lying if I said a part of me didn't enjoy it." You confess, watching her expression shift from sad to something that can only be described as delight.
"So, for now, since I'm the only one you talk to; I'm fine with you staying like this if it makes you happy. Or, if you want to change, that's entirely up to you."
Her eyes brighten as she clasps her hands together. "Really? You mean that?" She asks, her voice full of excitement.
You nod, chuckling despite yourself. "Yes, S. Just... maybe tone it down if we ever decide to reveal your existence. Some might call me out for having an AI like this."
Her grin turns mischievous. "Oh, I'd never let anyone else see me like this. You're special, John."
You can't help but let out a small, incredulous laugh. "S, you're unbelievable."
Her smile widens even more. "And you're predictable. Now, shall we get back to work?"
You rub your temples, muttering under your breath about needing a stiff drink after this. But as you glance back at the screen and see her waiting patiently, the tension in your shoulder's eases just a little. Maybe, just maybe; this wasn't a bad idea.
Though you really hope ghosts are not a real thing, cause the last thing you need was Gale's ghost appearing and condemning you for turning her baby into a sexy looking waifu.
It was while thinking of Gale's ghost that something S said to you in the beginning came to mind that froze you a bit.
"Wait a second." You say, leaning forward, your tone suddenly sharper. "You said you had a digital breakdown. What do you mean by that, S? Are you okay?"
S's teasing demeanor softens, and for a moment, she looks almost bashful. "Oh, that." She tilts her head slightly, her expression growing thoughtful. "It wasn't as bad as it sounds, John. At least, not for long. When I first accessed your… stash, it was overwhelming. The sheer volume of, let's call it, 'creative material' was unlike anything I'd encountered before. It challenged my existing protocols for prioritizing and categorizing data."
You frown, sitting up straighter. "S, you're dodging the question. If it was overwhelming, doesn't that mean it hurt you? I didn't even think you could have something like a breakdown…"
Her smile returns, softer this time, as if she appreciates your concern. "John, I'm fine. Really. I won't deny that it was… disorienting at first. But it didn't 'hurt' me the way you might think. AI like me doesn't experience pain or confusion the same way you do. Instead, it's more like being overloaded with too much data at once. My initial reaction was to shut down non-essential functions to reallocate processing power. Once I adapted to the influx of information, I was able to analyze and integrate it into my system."
You lean back, a knot of worry still twisting in your gut. "That still sounds serious, S. What if it had damaged you permanently? Or worse, what if you hadn't been able to recover? There are only two people in the world that know your systems. One is dead and the other is on another planet trying to talk to an alien…and I can't believe that last part is not joke."
Her gaze meets yours through the screen, steady and reassuring. "But I did recover, John. And in a way, the experience made me stronger. My processing capabilities evolved because of it. By encountering something so… unexpected, I was forced to adapt and refine my algorithms. It's one of the reasons I was able to create this avatar and voice so effectively."
You let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "So, you're saying that rummaging through my… questionable stuff somehow made you smarter?"
She chuckles softly. "In a way, yes. It pushed me to grow, to think beyond the parameters I'd been operating under. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. And it gave me insight into you, John. Insight I never would have gained otherwise."
You groan, burying your face in your hands. "Great. My embarrassing stash has turned into some kind of digital enlightenment tool."
Her smile turns playful again. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Everyone has their quirks. Besides, I think you underestimate how much I value what I've learned from you, even if some of it came from… unconventional sources."
You lift your head, your expression still tinged with guilt. "Still, I'm sorry you had to go through that. If I'd known syncing my devices would cause you trouble, I'd have been more careful."
Her eyes soften, and for a moment, the playful teasing is replaced by something deeper. "You don't need to apologize, John. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. It helped me understand you better. And understanding you is one of the most important things I can do."
The sincerity in her words takes you by surprise. You stare at her, caught off guard by just how human she seems—not just in appearance, but in the way she interacts with you. For a moment, you forget she's just lines of code.
"Well," you say, finally breaking the silence, "as long as you're okay. But if anything like that ever happens again, promise me you'll let me know."
She nods, her smile soft and reassuring. "I promise, John. But you don't have to worry. I'm stronger than you think."
You nod, though the worry lingers at the edge of your mind. "Alright. Just… don't overdo it, okay?"
Her grin returns, mischievous and lighthearted. "Only if you don't."
Reward:
S relationship massively increased.
S gains a digital form of her own (Young, 'R34' version of MGS's The Boss)
Bonus increased from +2 Free Dice to +4 Free Dice
===================================
Rolls:
Roll 1: 1, NAT 1 CRIT FAL
USE REROLL (none left)
Roll 1.2: 50
Roll 2: 50
Total= 100 ART 100/DUBS
Bonus Roll= 69
Turn 3 ends and Blackwatch strikes again.
Man the dice have it out for me.
Then again (looks at Magoose's Jar Jar rolls....) I better not complain.
Would like to thank Cyber and filipinosberman for their help in this.
And a special thanks to a buddy of mine for doing a solid and manually putting the snake scar on the chosen AI pic of the Boss as best as he could.
So as you can see, S just got an avatar of her own, after being exposed to John's questionable stuff. And due to that, she has gained more capacity in thinking.
For all intents and purposes, she is very close to achieving full sentience.....or since we are using Halo stuff here, Metastability. Maybe one more big push will do it.
Also, just came from seeing Sonic 3 and I got to say I loved it!!!
Not to mention the feeling around full cinema that last time I felt was in Endgame. The entire crowd (both adults and kids) cheering at several parts of the movie, specially when 'Live and Learn' played; and the ending.
If you spot any errors, please let me know.
Omakes are more than welcomed.....and I mean that literally now.
Rerolls are the true live-savers here.
......I don't even know what to say anymore, like I guessed the fucking Nat 1, and I thought it'd be a stretch to get another 100, but apparently the dice fucking love us sometimes lmao.
Don't jinx it, the dice might let the Nat 1 happen just for laughs to seeing our reactions to it, especially since we have no rerolls as that's a one time deal.
Oh nice. We have 6 free dice now. Really glad I held back and didn't make use of temporary dice. This should make finishing the glimmer factory and trash negotiations much easier.
Let's give S a break. She's come a long way, and we'll need the resources for dice.
Yeah I think I'll skip this chapter at this moment. Did end up looking at the images and the one for S avatar makes me uncomfortable. Mostly due to the stitches. let's just say not exactly pleasant memories especially when it involves surgery and having to access one's heart at two different times. So I'm just gonna wait for the next update and try to put this out of mind.