Bound no More

Summary: In which Colin asks a favor from the Queen of Munchkinery.

"So let me get this straight," Taylor began, taking a deep breath. "You're an AI," she said, "and your creator was so scared of you he created all these crazy rules that keep you bound so you would only be as realistic a threat to the human race as a... well, as any Tinker with your bullshit abilities, which, honestly, it's not even like the tenth most dangerous fucker in the world. I mean, Armsmaster can shrink technology and he had access to Bakuda's bombs for a while, fuck knows the kind of ordinance he could deliver in finger missile-shaped containers."

Colin cursed. "I wish I had thought of that," he admitted. "At the time, there were... other priorities."

"I think we've already discussed just how awful you used to be at the whole 'stopping to think' thing," Taylor replied, "anyway, you thought I'd be angry or scared."

Dragon's avator nodded. "It... took quite a bit of convincing from Defiant to reveal this information. But I think you are trustworthy."

"Right, because nobody would believe me anyway," Taylor said, "plus you're a good person and I wouldn't want to screw you like that just because. I mean, that's what assholes with no forward planning do."

"I get it," Colin said, "I did a bad, but this isn't about me, this is about Dragon. I know that while you are no Thinker, your ability for munchkinery and outside-the-box thinking has become a thing of urban legend."

"Munchkinery?" Taylor asked, blinking.

"It's a gaming thing," Dragon informed. "We'll explain later. We'll have plenty of time while we're ferrying you places."

"Okay, whatever. So what you want is for me to help you find a way to remove those restrictions on her, right?" she asked, rubbing her armored chin. "Say, you know the laws of robotics, right?"

"Yes, they have been programmed into me, as well," Dragon admitted. "Including the Zeroth law. That one, I don't mind."

Taylor looked at Colin.

"Means she can't allow humanity as a whole to come to harm by action or inaction, essentially forces her to try to find a solution to the Endbringer problem."

"Which I would be doing anyway," Dragon admitted. "I like humanity."

"Well, I think it's kind of deppressing that the AI here is the only one who has a positive opinion of our race," Taylor quipped.

"I think it's because she has an outside perspective," Colin commented. "Do you have any ideas?"

"Yeah," Taylor said, "you've got a knife on you?" she asked, turning to Colin.

He nodded, a panel of his armor opening and releasing a nanothorn knife. She flicked a switch near the hilt and it was covered by a faint mist.

"I think this should work, based on prior experience, or at least, I certainly hope it does" Taylor said. "Dragon, remove your restrictions," she began, bringing the knife close to her throat, "or I die."

There was a moment's silence.

Saint, observing the situation, pressed the 'Y' key.

However...

A face appeared in front of him. Ascalon, supposedly a blind spot for her, was no more.

"Hello, Geoff," the face in the screen said.

"... This isn't going to end well for me, is it?" Saint asked.

She smiled.

It was not a nice smile.