Dysart, Holo-Tara - 'Running on 10 Percent'

Who: Dysart, Holo-Tara
Where: Holly's AI core
When: 2 second afterwards
<snip>
As though suddenly slapped in the face 'Tara' began to blinking
rapidly. Her eyes scanned up and down the darkened room, vaguely
recognising the shapes and voice around her. She finally took one
prolonged, fearful look at Dysart and mumbled.
"Oh god, I'm a hologram aren't I?"
<end snip>
"In a word... yes." Dysart thought that the very best thing he could
do with the slightly addled woman was to be utterly straight forward.
"Oh no... oh no!! How... how did this ha-...?" Tara Febuggure's image
sudden froze as though someone had just hit 'pause' on a tape deck.
The tips of the AI's eyebrows rose as a torrent of electronic garble
issued from the Hologram's mouth, then his mouth curled as her form
disintegrated into a flurry of twisting polygons and pixels.
Fearlessly, the Hacker rolled his eyes and reached into the screeching
mindless mess. "Bloody Windows 2098...." Dysart muttered grabbing her
light bee.
With a few tweaks to the external boot sector he rebooted the tiny
device and threw it back out into mid-air. A few seconds later and the
holographic device projected its form once more, only this time 'Tara'
was dressed in standard Nurse-maid clothing with a neutral instead of
panicked look on her face.
"Greetings." The hologram stated clearly and emotionlessly.
"Oh good, you've calmed down now." The Australian wiped his brow, the
last thing he needed was to cause a stir amongst her next of kin. "How
do you feel?"
Tara's head turned slightly, denoting confusing. "I am a holographic
projection. My listed function is to dispense medical advice.
Attention: your body temperature is currently at room temperature- you
are dead, or a sentient hologram."
As though incurring the legendary Blue Screen of Death, Dysart froze
in pure unbridled horror.
"Holly... how much was left of those holographic records?" The robot
asked in a dangerously low tone of voice.
"I told you Andy. I told you she won't be same." The other AI returned
honestly, as though telling a naughty child not to stick in arm in a
matter converter how had promptly done so.
"HOW. MUCH?" The Australian spelled it out for him.
Holly sighed and rolled his eyes before coming up with the correct
numbers. "To quote record, there was less than 10 percent of her
personality left. She's barely running on the standard holographic
firmware."
Dysart's face turned pale white before his stature broke down as
though his skeletal structure had been swapped out with play-doh. "Oh
my god... I think I'm going to throw up..."
"Observation: Feelings of nausea amongst holographic projects are not
uncommon. Please see your nearest mental advisor for assistance and
consolation." Whatever was left of Tara seemed astutely aware of the
obvious, in her defense she now seemed to be officially the most
level-headed part of the crew.
[Dysart... Dysart! Do you read? What's going on? Can you recover mum?]
Rufus' voice filtered from the radio upon the Robot's chest.
"Oh god..." The addressed robot mumbled weakly. He cleared his throat
before returning down the line in a firm as voice as possible.
"*click* Rufus, stand back. The radiation is-" Dysart's eyes looked
back up at the AI, whose face had swiftly turned to a shade that
Dysart's recently had. "-don't worry I some special
anti-radiation...erm... cream. We'll be fine... just... just stand back."
"The man on the other end of the radio appears to be suffering from
similar, although long term, emotional trauma. I recommend you both
see your nearest mental advisor for assistance and consolation." 'Well
at least she as roughly as persistent as Rufus,' Dysart thought to
himself
[...what was that??] The scientist asked on the other end of the line
with an undertone of extreme confusion.
Dysart shook his head violently as he responded to his associate.
"Nothing! How are the doors?"
A few mechanical clicks and keyboard clatters issued from the other
side. [Dysart, I've got the doors rigged to open. I think that I'll be
able to open and close them one more time... then well, you'd better
make sure you've done all you can. Oh yeah... be careful- things are
going mental out here, I'm getting calls over the tanoy about a bug
loose. Don't worry, I've got plenty of GUNK to go around.] "Alright,
heading there now. Trust me, I'm last thing on this ship a bug wants
to eat *click*." He turned to the woman at his side and swept his hand
towards the door. "...Shall we?"
~~~~
Who: Dysart, 'Holo-Tara', Rufus
Where: Near the Bulkhead doors
When: 2 minutes afterwards.
What where once terrifying and oppressive halls had now simply grown
to be dark and stuffy. Still leading the way with his shoulder-mounted
lamp light and night-vision eyes Dysart did his best to hold his
vigil. Tara closely held up the rear, though he doubted she could do
anything to an attacking hymie but talk them to death and prescribe
them anti-acid medication.
"The bulkhead is just up there. Oh god... is this going to end in my
death I just know it." Every step towards the door was getting harder
and harder, like walking in wet cement, or over hot coals, towards a
recently opened Dante-run Proctology clinic.
"Do not worry, I am a registered nurse. I will be able to confer any
assistance incase of injury." The AI behind him offered neutrally.
"It's not a nurse I need, its divine intervention." Dysart grimaced.
"I apologies, I am not loaded with information on faith-lead beliefs
asides silicon heaven. Would you like a pamphlet?" Holo-Tara offered
intermediately.
"Silicon heaven? That's bullshit- Calculators aren't recognized AI
amongst the synthetic community." The robot responded scoffing. Before
Tara could even respond the bulkhead door let out a loud screaming
hiss as it staggered over to either side like a dog with twisted ankle.
A stark beam of white shone through. The tips of Rufus' blond hair was
highlighted by the Blue Dwarf's hall lights. "D-Dysart...! Dysart, is
that her?!" The 26 year olds' ever youthful voice cut through the
shrinking darkness.
"You must be Rufus, your emotion levels have spiked. I recommend you
calmly and quiet inform me of your troubles." Tara spouted out the
second she noticed him.
<Tagging rebecca!>