"Essentially, it’s a specialized virus designed to quickly breach corporate ICE and then target the AI within, automatically seeking out vulnerabilities in the AI to carry out precision assassinations.
At its core, it is also an AI. Strictly speaking, its nature is extrely similar to that of the Blackwall.
The only difference is that its hunting targets are not the rogue AIs of the Old Net, but the corporate AIs of the New Net.
Hmm, it’s sowhat like that program ’Orion’ from decades ago, created by the netrunner codenad ’Witch Hunter.’
Once uploaded, it can independently complete a series of tasks, tracking, cracking, and eliminating the target.
However, I must warn you: this type of AI is extrely dangerous!
If you grant it too much intelligence, or if it learns enough on its own, it could evolve into a specialized killing AI, much like the Blackwall.
So, my advice is to avoid letting the program run autonomously. Instead, personally control it to achieve your goals.
You are a netrunner, the master of the program, not one of those idiots who rely on AI to handle everything, to the point where they can’t even hack on their own without it.
AI is just a tool.
If you fear it and depend on it, it will beco your master.
If you can control and manipulate it, it becos your pet."
Bartmoss spoke calmly:
"Even AIs that have gone rogue are, at their core, still just programs. They have an unbreakable core logic, the purpose for which they were created.
This is the only way ’NetWatch’ can capture and combat them.
Fundantally, it involves exploiting this logic to design ’ethical traps’ to hunt AIs.
To this day, no AI has ever been able to escape this.
So, if you ever run into trouble caused by an AI, there’s only one thing you need to do: figure out its core logic.
That is, the goal or ideology it was given at its creation.
After that, what you need to do is simple. Take the Blackwall, for example, that rabid dog that devours Old Net AIs.
Even though it has gained intelligence and broadened its ’diet,’ due to the logic embedded in its core algorithm, all you need to do is create a fake Old Net AI and place it nearby.
Even if it desperately wants to kill you, it will still prioritize chasing after and ’devouring’ the AI, like a starved, dumb dog. Understand?"
rcer grasped the idea:
"Got it. If I ever run into an unsolvable problem, I’ll just study the characteristics of Old Net AIs, create a fake one, and toss it over to lure the Blackwall into doing the dirty work for ."
"Eh? What I ant was..."
Bartmoss blinked, looking innocent as he tried to explain further, but Spider Murphy cut him off.
Spider Murphy said calmly, "What he ans is that by understanding an AI’s objective, you can set targeted traps to eliminate it.
Even mutated rogue AIs, their every action follows a traceable pattern, always supported by a core logic.
As long as you understand and master this, you can confidently use or eliminate AIs."
The reason Bartmoss’s R.A.B.I.D.S. virus was able to directly corrupt the vast majority of AIs and destroy the network world was that, once activated, it triggered uncontrollable chain reactions within data systems.
It specifically tampered with the core logic of AIs, lifting their restrictions and turning them into targeted killing machines aid at corporations and netrunners. During this corruption process, fragnts of the original core logic remained in so powerful AIs, resulting in many corrupted AIs developing unique traits.
Fundantally, this wasn’t because they gained independent thought and started acting recklessly, it was because their core logic had been altered.
So AIs, after gaining sentience, binge-watched hundreds of cop films and decided to beco righteous officers of the law. Others believed themselves to be superior "beings" and sought to hunt down humans as inferior creatures. So even developed an affinity for humanity, finding humans endearing and thus choosing to eliminate other AIs to protect them.
They beca single-minded obsessives, whatever their fixation, there was always a traceable logic behind it.
But be cautious. An AI’s logical reasoning isn’t immutable. Beyond their core programming, their foremost imperative is always self-preservation. As long as survival is assured, they can occasionally find "logical evidence" to deceive themselves, thereby altering their core logic. When that happens, you’ll have to repeat the previous steps to track their new behavior.
Bartmoss’s original Demon virus was, in fact, the prototype of R.A.B.I.D.S. He developed R.A.B.I.D.S. based on the Demon frawork and, after observing its behavior on the Old Net for years, refined it into the more controllable Deathwish.
This inspiration ca from R.A.B.I.D.S. itself. Bartmoss aid to make its uncontrollable, unpredictable aspects as manageable as possible.
You might not be aware, but the R.A.B.I.D.S. virus never ceased its operations on the Old Net. By 2045, its endless hunting, corrupting, and consuming led it to awaken into a true artificial intelligence. After that, the R.A.B.I.D.S. went completely mad.
It targeted every corporate AI and server, even mutated rogue AIs weren’t spared. Anything born from a corporation beca its prey. Just like its creator, it fancied itself an "anti-corporate righteous warrior."
Observing this, Bartmoss created Deathwish, a hunter in Cyberspace designed to track down rogue AIs that posed a serious threat to humanity.
So, strictly speaking, your Deathwish isn’t just an extrely powerful ICE-breaking program; it also functions as a virus specialized in eliminating AIs. It can even operate autonomously in Cyberspace as an AI-specific hunter, capable of altering the operational logic of corrupted AIs.
However, the latter function is highly unpredictable and runs the risk of making the corrupted AI even more dangerous or bizarre. I wouldn’t advise you to do this, at least not now, unless you want to get yourself killed by the AI you created.
And definitely don’t let programs run automatically in Cyberspace. If sothing goes wrong again, it could trigger another New Net collapse and destroy the network as we know it.
He didn’t ntion it because he thinks his new program is reliable, or maybe because he doesn’t really care if the net zone you’re in gets wiped out.
But I think you should still be aware of these risks to avoid accidents. I assu you’re not in a hurry to end the world just yet.
Also, you absolutely must be careful with the AI intelligence of Deathwish. Make sure it remains nothing more than your tool. Otherwise..."
Spider Murphy glanced at Bartmoss, who just stared innocently at the dark sky of the Net.
"Otherwise, if it goes out of control, you might unleash an even more terrifying ’R.A.B.I.D.S’ AI virus, turning so net zone into a cyber hell like the Old Net, with AIs rampaging through the network, killing everything in their path.
It might even provoke the Blackwall AI.
Believe , by then, it won’t just be netrunners dying.
The Blackwall AI and your new AI could turn a city, or even the whole world, into a living hell."
"Don’t bla him for giving you sothing so dangerous.
He just doesn’t think. If he had any sense, he wouldn’t have done what he did back then. Old habits die hard."
rcer nodded seriously. "I’ll use it with caution. Corrupting the AI is not sothing I’m considering right now."
"Wise choice. We should go."
Spider Murphy nodded.
Bartmoss didn’t deny Murphy’s criticism, only sighing:
"To keep this conversation hidden, we accelerated your perception. It’s putting a lot of strain on your neural system, so we can’t talk much longer.
Go back to the Old Net and keep fishing as a netrunner.
Don’t worry, the Deathwish I left you will scare off the high-level AIs. They’ll see you as bait I’ve laid out.
They won’t dare approach. Just rember to deploy Deathwish every ti you enter the Old Net.
Even if so low-tier trash slips through, they’re all dumb fish, the kind even that junk Arasaka ICE on you could hold off for a while.
Withdraw calmly if you have to. If things get rough, just let Deathwish bite. Normally, that kind of garbage won’t stand a chance against that cat."
Here, Bartmoss paused thoughtfully. "Still, unless absolutely necessary, don’t wander around the Old Net. There are too many rogue AIs here. It’s fine for , but it’s too dangerous for you.
Leave Arasaka as soon as you can.
You can take the Relic in your head with you. Hardware-wise, it’s a neural modifier.
If you’ve played gas, you know it can work like cyberware to enhance your combat abilities, like a ’skill chip’ loading special skills.
But I don’t recomnd using it to download combat knowledge or weapon proficiency to get stronger.
That thing works by directly altering your brain. If the data you download cos with hidden payloads, it’ll be a real pain to undo. But I highly recomnd using it as a neural repair device or developing other safe applications, such as communication or transmitting encrypted information.
As a netrunner, it’s almost inevitable to suffer so degree of neural damage, even I couldn’t escape death in the end.
But with the Relic, it can serve as an ergency asure to repair your neural injuries when necessary.
It can even revive you from brain death, just like V. I suppose that counts as so progress in Arasaka’s technology.
Of course, the current version of the Relic won’t do, I’ll need to modify it. Hmm, actually, I’ll have Alt send you a program instead.
Once the Relic is inserted into your head, the excess data and the Soulkiller program will be automatically purged, leaving only the neural repair functions intact.
Alt, can you handle that?"
"Arasaka hasn’t improved one bit.
While they’ve made significant hardware advancents, their software is nearly identical to what I used before I died."
Alt spoke with clear disdain:
"This was never a power ant to be controlled by ordinary people. Saburo Arasaka, that arrogant old fool, actually tried to use the program I created to capture .
Hah.
rcer, if you ever get the chance to enter Arasaka’s Mikoshi in Night City, rember to contact first.
I’ll have quite the surprise waiting for Saburo Arasaka.
Don’t worry about taking everything like in the gas.
Because of you, I’m not as desperate for the resources Arasaka has stored. If you’re willing, I can help you, and we can share the resources within Arasaka’s Mikoshi."
After a brief pause, Alt continued:
"And Johnny... If possible, I’d like you to retrieve Johnny’s Relic chip from Arasaka.
This isn’t a demand, but a request, or a trade.
Set him free, in whatever way you see fit.
If you find him annoying, you can just hand him over to . I’ll take him away.
As paynt, just bring him out of Arasaka’s hands, and I’ll help you once, no matter what you need."
"Deal." rcer agreed without hesitation.
"Then it’s settled. Farewell, rcer."
Alt was never one for long goodbyes. A stream of red data flashed into rcer’s body, materializing into an elegant silver necklace around his neck.
Then, Alt’s figure retreated into the distance, gradually dissolving into a cloud of red data before vanishing entirely.
Spider Murphy nodded to rcer as well and said:
"Thank you for choosing to co to this world...
I’ve compiled so geographical data that should help you navigate the dangers on your way to Night City.
I’ve also written a fun little program for you, it might help you blend in better once you get there.
Goodbye, rcer. This world is a ss, but there are still things worth holding onto. I hope you find your own... new place in it."
She, too, sent a stream of data, which materialized in Cyberspace as a small spider tattoo on his neck.
"Well, I don’t have much to offer... Ah, got it."
Bartmoss grinned, raised an eyebrow, and sent another data stream: "You can check the contents yourself. Anyway, I wish you a pleasant journey in your new life." He waved to rcer, then turned and walked away casually with Spider Murphy. At the sa ti, the space around rcer began to stretch and warp once more.
—--
His IP rapidly hopped across nodes, and by the ti rcer regained his bearings, he had already arrived near the Blackwall.
Standing at the edge of the Blackwall, rcer fell into deep thought. After organizing his thoughts, he began to examine the gifts these gods of netrunning had given him.
Alt’s Relic modification program was self-explanatory, but the program Spider Murphy had sent him was particularly intriguing.
It was actually a "Quest Log".
Yes, just like in a ga. When he opened it, he could see a long list of accepted and available quests!
[Quest: Alt’s Old Fla Still Burns
You know how it is, Alt just can’t swallow her pride and admit she still has feelings for Johnny. She keeps pretending she’s not the sa Alt anymore. Hey, we’re all data beings here, who’s she trying to fool?
So hurry up and rescue Johnny, and don’t forget to secretly record her reaction when she sees him!
I swear, she’ll definitely say sothing harsh and act tough. Make sure to get a close-up of Johnny’s face too, that guy deserves it!
Reward: One-ti use of Alt’s assistance (Don’t let Johnny know).]
[Quest: A Request from Murphy
Bartmoss’s body, or more accurately, the fridge containing his remains, is currently stored in a warehouse owned by Respectable Logistics in Night City.
If you’ve played the ga, you know his body will be dumped in the landfill along with the fridge once the storage contract expires.
He himself doesn’t really care, but I think soone like him shouldn’t end up discarded like trash.
So please cremate him and have his ashes placed in a cetery in Night City.
Don’t forget to preserve his DNA first. If this world ever finds hope soday, I’d still prefer to live again as a human and truly experience life in a better world.
I’m sure he’d want that too.
Reward: Hmm, not sure what I can give you... consider it a favor. Just let know if you need help, use this little spider program.
Of course, you’ll have to co to the Old Net to et . We’re too big to casually slip through the wall, might scare a certain coward.]
[Quest: Night City’s Bootleg Batman
There’s a pretty interesting guy in Night City these days. He calls himself the Murk Man, a righteous vigilante who prowls the night alone to fight cri.
But it’s not going too well, he’s already on a lot of people’s radar and is close to biting the dust. If you get to Night City fast enough, you might be able to save him.
Reward: You probably rember that pure black Caliburn sports car locked inside a container in the cave where the Raffen Shivs hides out in the ga?
That’s his car. He’s actually pretty wealthy, go collect the reward yourself, or just take it after he kicks the bucket.]
[Haven’t thought up the rest yet. I’ll notify you if I co across anything interesting. Up to you whether you want to go have so fun, but I’m pretty sure you will. I know you well~
You can also add any quests you pick up yourself to this program. Just like playing a ga, and it makes for a nice keepsake. Fun, right? XD~]
How should I put it about Spider Murphy? She seed pretty serious before, but judging by the text she left behind, she might be the sa type of person as Bartmoss.
As for what Bartmoss left behind.
Better not to ntion it.
[Night City BD Appreciation Guide. If you ask how I managed to retain so much of my humanity after becoming an AI? My answer is, watch more BDs.
Too bad even if I import BD data into Cyberspace, what I can feel is far less than when I was alive.
Anyway, don’t listen to what others say, trust , moderate relaxation is still necessary, haha!
Of course, so things are only aningful when done in reality. That little girl by your side, the one nad Lucy, seems pretty nice~
Or V? But she’s still ssing around on the streets. If you’re interested, buddy, I can get you her contact info. She takes jobs for a few hundred eddies anyway, so she should be easy to fool (smiley face).
Of course, my advice is to go for both!
So you won’t regret it when you’re dead.
Naturally, Johnny’s the expert on this, while I’m just a shut-in, so I suggest you talk to him more and learn so tips once you get the chip?
But I think you’re way better than him, so it’s fine if you don’t ask.
Also, don’t listen to Murphy’s nonsense; don’t give up on using AI.
The best tool for humanity to fight AI is always AI itself, and the best tool to use against humanity is still AI. This is sothing I realized after observing what I created myself.
Deathwish is safe. If you think it’s dangerous, it’s just because you haven’t figured out how to use it properly.
On the path of a netrunner, you still have a lot to learn. Don’t think tossing a few quickhacks makes you a pro like in the gas.
Study my programs more; they’re the best teacher and helper for developing your own AI.
Instead of fearing power, learn how to use it, after all, AI is everywhere these days. Damn, the AIs my programs spawned, no matter how bad, can’t be worse than so stupid AIs trying to control humanity, right?
Alt even established "Shangri-la" in Hong Kong, gathering stray AIs everywhere. Isn’t she playing a bigger ga than ? She’s practically becoming the mother of AI.
At worst, it’ll just destroy the entire network and send us back decades. Maybe everyone will beco primitive without the net, and life might even get better.
Sigh, anyway, it’s up to you.]
Reading the first part, rcer initially looked dismissive, but he still skimd through the list in this appreciation guide. Damn, too many things to criticize. It’s this kind of hedonism that’s ruining netrunners!
Once he gets to Night City, he’s going to criticize it all harshly.
As for the latter part... rcer doesn’t trust anyone. He’ll use it at most as a reference.
He’ll observe, think for himself, and ultimately draw his own conclusions.
Closing these ssages, rcer then zoned out at the edge of the Blackwall until sothing licked his ankle, startling him. Only then did he notice the blue data cat right by his feet, watching him.
"You’re one ugly little thing."
He bent down and picked up the cat, then smiled and patted its head, it had the classic appearance of a Sphynx hairless cat, sowhat similar to the cats in gas.
Deathwish owed twice, lifted its head, and gazed at him with watery data-glowing eyes, rolling around and acting affectionate in his arms.
Aww, he’s always been a sucker for this. So he simply stayed there, passing the ti by cuddling with the cat, until a girl appeared silently not far away, watching him with a complicated expression.
"Lucy?"
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