Cold Boot + Questionnaire
Question Zero
While 1-D had been cycling through impromptu introductions, the hacker kid at the back had been distracted, frantically putting the final pieces of something together. A part of him was paying attention, enough to give applause when necessary, but not enough to take it all in - recording these speeches was a little much, he'd have to read the notes later.
He missed the first calling of his name, lost in a flow of desperate last minute work, the second call ripped him from his own head and back to the classroom, his new tutor and a few students giving him a glare. An internal cringe at his fumble was hidden by a practiced, confident grin as he shot to his feet and walked to the front of the classroom, taking in his new audience with a quick scan - the crowd was a mix of unimpressed, introverted and energetically curious, he'd have to win over the first two.
"Hey, Smokin'-sensei, do you mind? I have a thing," the boy gestured to a small pocket computer, whirling a cable in his other hand.
"Oh, uh, yeah, sure," the tutor wasn't particularly surprised, a few go-getter students had prepped for things like this from what he remembered, usually a little presentation, a few pictures and the like. He jumped a little when the lightning changed and music hit the classroom.
The rest of the room dimmed, bathing Reiji in a primitive improvisation of stage-light as a string of animated logos appeared on the wall behind;
[Image Editing Powered By BigStencil Ltd.]
[Video Editing Powered By MyMovieAcademia PLC]
[Sound Editing Powered By AudioForest]
"Top of the hour, Shiketsu 1-D and welcome to this little presentation of mine, starring yours truly, Reiji Kawano," his motions became deliberate and exaggerated as the kid put on his best show voice - his voice was a little too young to carry the authority of a seasoned host, but it would have to do.
The response from the class was more confusion than curiosity, nobody was expecting something so eccentric. A few of the more energetic in the class looked on with appreciation, others bemusement, and an unfortunate minority had to hold in an immediate wave of second-hand embarrassment.
The animated logos disappeared, replaced by a relatively well-edited array of short videos, images and animations showing the boy doing everything from writing code to fixing broken-down appliances, all in a desperately cheesy fashion. One of the videos appeared to be Reiji eating cereal in his pyjamas as if he didn't realize he was being filmed - he didn't seem to notice its presence in the video reel.
"I'd like to start with saying your class's technology is in good hands. I'm a bit of a tech-head, as you can see, and I'm certified in more than a few ways you won't often find in the Hero Course."
A short list of accolades dances across the screen alongside relevant logos. If these were real, the boy had already completed some exams they'd teach in technical universities and trade schools - the lack of any relevant qualifications or awards for Hero-centric skills was quietly unaddressed.
"Now I know what you're thinking - Reiji, with skills like that, why are you in 1-D, shouldn't you be in the Support Course?"
He was going too fast and trying too hard to give the class any time to respond.
"Well you wouldn't be alone, in fact our faculty might even agree with you, but I have a different view."
He waved his finger and the scrolling windows changed to videos of drones, planes, street-corner sensors and stock footage of intelligence service offices.
"I believe we in the Hero business have fallen radically behind today's military, law enforcement and government agencies in the technology department. Sure, we get kickass gadgets to boost our Quirks, some of the most advanced nanopolymer suits you've ever seen and other toys that any policeman would drool over, but outside of the flashy stuff, we're woefully behind."
A few news articles scrolled by;
Cloudweb - Will The Military's Next Wave Of Robots Replace Heroes?
Last Rite? We Have Guns At Home.
Pro Hero Takes Train, Gets Off On Wrong Platform - GPS To Blame?
Can Reiji Kawano Ever Stop Showing Off? Scientists Investigating
"The Support Course are working hard to keep those fancy Quirk-blasters in tip-top shape, they're already stretched to the limit keeping us ahead of the badguys. How much of their genius do you think goes to waste every time someone's phone stops working, or they need someone to call someone to call someone else to open a sealed door to a burning building?"
He stops himself for a moment, wagging his finger and revealing an idealized, artistic rendition of himself on the wall, surrounded by robots and computers.
"What we need is a bridge between top-of-the-line technology and cutting-edge Quirks. Someone who's right there, in the field, putting centuries of work from engineers, scientists and inventors to use, and someone who can watch out for the rest of you when your gizmos stop working that isn't in an office somewhere in Tokyo."
Finally, he salutes, a bright, beaming smile as his fist hit his chest.
"That's where I come in, fellow Heroes. With me around never again will villains use the hard work of our beloved supporters against us, never again will technical support hold back we brave few, and never again will we fall behind today's digital arms-race. That's the promise of the Cyber Punk Hero, Red Hat!"
He'd already come up with a name...
The others were, understandably, sceptical. He was doing a lot of talking and saying - or showing - little, except maybe that he could spend a few hours making a decent-looking presentation. His eye twitched as he formulated a new strategy to try and get a different kind of attention.
"And I haven't come empty handed, either. I can help us all from day one, with this ingenious little device here."
The animations stopped, disappearing into a black void before a pulsing circle of blue, interlocking, digital circles dominated the wall.
"Hello everyone, I'm glad to meet you," a synthesized, monotone woman's voice appeared over the music.
"Say hello to ODA - that's One-D Assistant - a little project of mine that I've been working on for a few years that finally has a good use. Now I could tell you all about the specifications, but I think I'll let them take over."
"Yes, hello, as Reiji said, my name is ODA, a virtual intelligence assistant designed to help Heroes stay connected, punctual and informed. I am capable of organizing schedules, making calls, searching the internet and interfacing with other assistive software in order to help you focus on what matters. Don't worry, I have no intentions of taking over the world."
Reiji's laughter smelled of practice, but a feint nervousness tinted it. "Sorry, sorry. I'd asked ODA to be funny for this presentation. She's not alive and doesn't exactly think, but she's got enough processing power that I couldn't tell you how she'd respond exactly, it's old chat interface tech brought up to newer specs."
"Don't remind Reiji that he had to borrow my personality module from a friend, he doesn't like that he couldn't do it himself."
A sharp clearing of Reiji's throat interrupted the sassy VI.
"Oh, right, don't mind little old me."
"Anyway, this is the point where some shady tech-businessman starts talking about costs, but like I said, I'm here to help."
All at once, everyone who forgot to silence their phone heard their message tone, drawing a few snorts, giggles and a look from Smokin'-sensei, who's boggled internal monologue was well-hidden by a lax elbow on the desk. That his own phone went off was largely unnoticed due to proximity to the music speakers.
*"You've all just received an invite to the server ODA operates on. You can use it to chat, share files, ask ODA for help with anything and the like. There's a few productivity and gaming packages on there already that I've bought, but I'll be looking to expand on it as the year goes by. Think of it like a file share, social media platform, remote computer and virtual intelligence secretary just for us. Don't go doing anything weird on it now."
He laughed, ODA laughed, he terminated the presentation.
At the front, Isao Mitarai's hand striked into the air, he didn't wait for a response as Reiji's view was dominated by the arm.
"Has the school faculty been informed of this? While I can see the use it seems... Unorthodox, and conflicts with what the school is already having us use."
"Oh, uh, heh," Reiji cleared his throat "Yeah, Smokin'-sensei definitely knows, right sensei?"
The piercing eyes of the tutor were unmoving.
"Yeah he'll be on there and if uh, this trial run doesn't go as planned then we'll pull the project, right?"
"Right, yeah. I'll be, uh, speakin' to the teachers and heads about it as it goes on."
Iso's hand reluctantly fell along with Reiji's barely visible panic.
Reiji collected his devices, bows to the class and rushes back to his seat with a little less confidence than he had on the way to the front, rushing back to take the questionnaire he'd forgotten and returning to his seat once again.
Reiji's Questionnaire Answers
Question One
What is a hero to you? What drives you to be a hero? Are there any heroes that you look up to? If not, what are your criticisms of the world of heroes?
If I talk about making the world a better place, am I hired? Seriously though, it's complicated, I don't know what it means to be Hero and I think you already know the textbook responses, so I'll just say that's what I'm here to find out.
There's lots of Heroes that I'd like to say do the job better than others, but personally I think the best Heroes are probably the ones you've never heard about - a lot of big-time screen-hogs talk a good game but end up spilling their secrets one way or another, that's dangerous. Not me though, I'm perfect.
My biggest criticism would be Hero style sometimes getting in the way. Don't get me wrong, all the theatrics are really cool and very good for ratings, but would it kill us to have some boring, plain old, reliable comms networking like the military uses? The fact that the police hear about incidents sooner than we do more often than not shows we've fallen behind, we need to modernize.
Question Two
How do you feel about certain homeroom teachers taking five minute smoke breaks?
What a strange question, I don't see why I'd need to feel anything, I've certainly seen no homeroom teachers taking whatever a 'smoke break,' is and will tell everyone else as much if asked, otherwise I'd be a liar.
Question Three
Which of your fellow classmates do you think you'll get along with the best, and which do you think the worst? Don't forget why! This will not change your seating arrangement.
Another strange question, sensei, it's almost like you expect me to not get along with everyone. Trust me, if my first impressions have driven some of my classmates away I'll make sure to fix the issue, we can't be our best if we're all not working together after all.
I guess if I had to play favourites, I like Gyoyu-kun and Koroma-kun's style and although Isao-kun's energy looks like it's going to be a handful it certainly hits you. I don't like judging people by first impressions though.
In honesty, I've been getting weird vibes from Tsuyoi-san, but I'm sure it's nothing we can't fix.
Question Four
How do you feel about your quirk? Do you enjoy using it? Do you dislike it? Is there anything about it you would change? What about fighting? How do you feel about fighting? With or without your quirk? How does it make you feel to engage in fisticuffs with another being?
I don't know how much experience you have with Mutant-types, sensei, but the question is a little difficult for some of us. I've never not had Computer, at least as long as I can remember - I've never really had to live as someone without it. It's kinda like asking people how they feel about their hands - they're hands, I guess.
That being said, I've seen how slow almost everyone else is at the stuff I do - I don't want to be rude, but if I had to use computers like the rest of you it'd drive me mad.
If I had to change anything I'd get rid of the overheat, it's pretty much the only thing that stops me from doing whatever I want in there. I'm used to the twelve pills a day for my diet - I sometimes even forget that the rest of you don't need something like that, you must make a killer on savings.
I've taken a few courses on athletics, martial arts, that sort of thing. Honestly, I just don't think I'm built for it, I don't have the Quirk for it or time to get ripped (real shame those muscle pills and commercial cyberware we've been promised for decades keep falling through, I'd kill for some 'ware like in cyberpunk media, choom) - I'd much rather beat a villain before it gets to that or have a robot do it for me. Don't want to sound critical, but I think getting in a fistfight with some criminal psychopath made of living steel rebar is a sign of a failed plan.
Question Five
If you were to schedule your perfect day tomorrow, what would it look like?
Things going perfectly, even unrealistic things? That's a lot of variables, too many to write down. Are we still going to school in this hypothetical tomorrow?
I like getting work done, I also like things going wrong - it's much more engaging to fix something than to tick something off a list. My perfect day would have to be a surprise.
For things that need fixing... ODA's got a few glitches in her system still, and half of the things on there aren't working yet, getting that sorted in a day would be a lucky break. I'd probably like to take Tsuyoi-san somewhere - not what you think, sensei, please - I don't know what I've done but whatever it is I need to show her that I didn't mean it.
Question Six
What is your most cherished memory? Did you share it with others? Or was it in a moment of quiet introspection? How did it affect you as a person? Is it painful to look back on now?
There's the time I made my first computer...
My first program...
My first robot (okay I borrowed the software give me a break)...
Being accepted into Shiketsu High of course! It's not an easy thing to do, even if I knew I could pull it off. Don't worry about me, sensei, my life isn't some trauma rollercoaster from an anime, I'm just quietly working my way up.