[Kontact]

"Hope is merely a figure of speech combining expectation and preference.  Who I am and what I'm doing are one in the same.  I maintain this system.  I monitor the archives.  I occasionally watch what's become of the elf.  I've done a lot of this.  But, now you've come here, and I don't believe you've come to ask why I'm called Hector."  The figure pauses for a moment to adjust the ring on its left hand.  "As you are in my system, perhaps you could answer some questions for me then?  Tit for tat?"

[Sentinemodo]

Maybe I am just wandering around and I don't have any questions. What do you offer for the info I may have?

[Xzylvador]

"I've got your back, Code! Be careful in there."
Devoted sat down next to Codemonkey's body, watching his breathing and the light involuntary twitching of his muscles while his mind wasn't controlling them. He gently put his hand on Code's forehead, the datajack's cable resting on the bridge between his thumb and index finger so he could pull it out the first sign of trouble.
Devoted watched, listened and felt the calm and steady breathing and movement of his friend's body until he was confident he'd notice any change immediately, then let his vision slip into the other world where he watched the Code's aura. The bright and multicolored swirls of his lifeforce followed a pattern indicating that he was anxious and nervous but otherwise fine and in good health.

[Kontact]

The icon's expression sours.
"You say that you have no questions, and then you ask one?  That is not a satisfactory exchange.  So far, I have not interfered with you or with the building's systems.  That can change.  I have told you what I am doing here.  Now you will tell me what you are doing here, or I will presume you are hostile."

[Sentinemodo]

We are looking for people and items of value that have survived the spirits appearance. Do you have any more questions? I'd like to accumulate few points.

[Kontact]

"Yes, I have more questions to ask.  Your answer was decidedly simple and non-threatening.  I have no interest in any of the things stored here, I only maintain the computer systems.  Why were you reluctant to tell me this?"

[Sentinemodo]

I am human. Secretive, doubtful, vary of the threats ahead. I don't know your logic or parameters of your decision trees. I don't know what you value. You could have been defending them with many other 'could' to follow.

Next question please.

[Kontact]

Satisfied, the icon seems to relax a bit and look Code over appraisingly.
"What are your dealings with the elf?"

[Sentinemodo]

None. Our presence stirred the spirits. He got angry at us about that, so we left him alone. I dropped him a commlink in case he would like to communicate with us.

next question?

it is 3:1 so far?

[Kontact]

"No.  With your last question about the status of our exchange you have put us even.  I hope you see that this is proving to be a waste of time.  I don't know why I would have assumed you would be as interesting as anyone from the archives.  You're not friendly, and you're not hostile.  You're not curious, and you're not focused.  I can not understand the point of you.  Here is my final question, contingent upon your final question.  Don't you think that it would have been advantageous to ask what you could of me before I tired of you and kicked you from my system?"

[Sentinemodo]

You get tired knowbot? You don't know why you assumed something? You waste too many cycles on the empty speech figures. No wonder then ...

I am not interesting? I am as dull and boring as humanly possible and I don't feel like discussing with you the differences between Star Trek and Star Wars series or the anatomy of the awakened frogs of the amazonian jungle. It takes more than to use speech figures to understand the point of me.

There is nothing I would like to know from you - I said that in the beginning, I got enough paydata. You are in a closed system, performing useless task and analyzing archives of people in vain effort to understand. You'll analyze this conversation until there is anything more to learn about metahumanity from it. The elf will die eventually and with him your ability to learn anything new, that is until the batteries hold. After that and long after I'm gone your miserable consciousness will just flicker out to no useful end. Isn't that unfulfilled expectation regardless of preferences?

I could have introduced you to the matrix, I could have opened the vaults of knowledge before you so you could grow and develop yourself. Why would I do so now?

[Kontact]

"Determination of inefficient use of processing power, yes.  I refer to that as tired.  I am an interface, hence the language."  The icon seems to sigh, raise its hand and rotate it at the wrist in a motion as to indicate that this business is to be wrapped up.
"I suppose your position has resolved from striking apathy to indignant hostility.  I already have direct access to the matrix through this building's satellite array, so it seems that it was you with nothing to offer me besides the humor of your confusion in this matter.  I am no genie, this is no bottle, and you will never know what your presumption has cost you."

[Sentinemodo]

Code logged off.

And with a deep breath he open his eyes focusing on the worried face of Devo.
His tail twitched. Thanks for being here chummer. He quickly went through the exchange with an AI, and downloaded the data he gathered during the floor sweep.

After that he sat over the trid map of the building and fired up Sniffer to find any transmissions.

[Kontact]

Code managed to pick up an extreme-wide-band satellite transmission coming from within the building and tapped into its outgoing channel.  His antenna was not even close to powerful enough to differentiate the incoming data from ambient noise.  Tuning in his link started to pick up chatter, or at least one side of a conversation.  The trideo feed was just pointed down at a grimy linoleum floor, showing nothing else.

<<...oo late for that now. *dead air*  Oh, it is a worry.  I'm sure.  *pause*  And what has he done for you, hmm?  Has he made you any money?  *dead air*  Blackmail can't last for ever Jerry.  I can. *pause*  Oh, I'm well aware that people have forgotten about me.  I've been trapped in a skyscraper for twenty years.  I catch on to such things.  *pause*  And if I'd known you were a simpleton... Look, I don't care how things have changed.  I'm calm, I'm rational, and I'm ready to work.  The star system hasn't changed, because the nature of people hasn't changed.  You're a lot of things Jerry, but you've never been lacking of vision.  *pause*  I would not have chosen you as my manager if that were the case.    *pause*  Don't flatter yourself too much.  The point is, this is happening.  I will pull down the sky if I need to.  I am getting out of here, I am going after that impostor, and I am going to take my life back.  We can do it publicly, or we can do it privately.  That part is up to you.>>

[Sentinemodo]

85th floor, let's move guys. I haven't found anything suggesting that there would be any more armed secretary bots around but let's be careful.

There isn't much in terms of data, but let's see if there is anything in terms of valuables.

Code searched the room, and moved to the corridor. toward the crashed drones.