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Agents have an approximately 20% chance (customisable with mods) of bantering at the start of each mission. These banters reveal more about their characters and the world they live in.
Decker: Just Keep your head down and leave the dirty work to me. Dr. Xu: Sorry, what was that? I was lost in thought. Decker: <sigh>Exactly.
Dr. Xu: Have you ever considered a limbic inhibitor? It would dull the pain of- Decker: Keep your thoughts to yourself, egghead. Dr. Xu: It might improve your attitude, too.
Decker: They ever teach you how to fight in that fancy school? Dr. Xu: I was a member of the boxing team, briefly. Decker: Oh yeah? What was your record? Dr. Xu: Zero and One.
Decker: You want a little liquid courage before we get started? Dr. Xu: Are you drinking on a mission?! Does Central know about this? Decker: Suit yourself, poindexter.
Internationale: ...And after the collapse of the system of global capital the masses will rise up and... Decker: Oh look, we're here. Internationale: Right. I'll tell you the rest later. Decker: Goody. I can't wait.
Decker: Another day. Another pile of garbage to chew through. Internationale: Were you born this cynical? Decker: No, but I'm a quick learner.
Internationale: I can't believe you used to work for these people. Decker: The money was good. Internationale: Is that all that matters to you? Decker: Of course not. They had a good dental plan, too.
Decker: You really think we're doing any good? Internationale: I wouldn't be here if I didn't. Decker: Whatever helps you sleep at night.
Shalem 11: You take point. Decker: Why do *I* always have to take point? Shalem 11: Because I don't want to get shot.
Decker: You're a pretty good shot with that thing, huh? Shalem 11: Of course. Decker: Good. That's good. Shalem 11: Yes, it is.
Decker: Nice suit. Where did you get it? Shalem 11: I'm sure you wouldn't know the place. Decker: You think you're so much better than me. Shalem 11: No. I know that. There's a difference.
Shalem 11: Let's try to keep this run professional. Decker: What are you implying? Shalem 11: I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you to stay on the up-and-up. Decker: Get bent.
Nika: Your disappearing trick, you find it useful? Decker: It gets me out of jams. Nika: You must be very good at running away, then. Decker: Thanks?
Decker: Do you think you could beat me in a fight? You know, hypothetically. Nika: Easily. No question. Decker: But I fight dirty. That's gotta give me some advantage. Nika: No, not enough of one.
Nika: Your hat is not very… fashionable, is it? Decker: Hey, it's a collector's item. Nika: Maybe it would look better on a shelf, then?
Decker: So you can amp up your system at will, huh? Nika: In emergencies, yes. It gives an advantage. Decker: You ever try it when it's not an emergency? Nika: There's always an emergency, if you want one.
Decker: So how much of you is still meat in there? Sharp: Ha. How much of your pathetic innards are machine? Decker: Touche.
Sharp: Your obsession with the past would be humorous if it did not threaten the mission. Decker: Just get moving. I can keep pace with the likes of you. Sharp: We shall see, little man. We shall see.
Decker: Hey tinman, where's your heart?. Sharp: I can assure you that I have no idea what you are talking about. Decker: See, there's this picture where- Sharp: I can assure you that I don't care.
Decker: I saw one of your movies once. Prism: They haven't been called ‘movies' since the 30s, grandpa. Decker: They haven't made any good ones since then, either.
Prism: What's your deal, anyway? Decker: My ‘deal'? Prism: The coat, the hat. The silly gun. What are you supposed to be? Decker: It's… before your time.
Decker: Why didn't you bring your holorig? Seems like it would be handy. Prism: It works against gullible civilians, not highly-trained security personnel. Decker: I think you're overestimating their training.
Prism: Are you OK? Decker: I'm fine. It's just my knees. They're not what they used to be. Prism: Try to keep up, yeah? Decker: Get off my lawn.
Banks: Did you hear that? Decker: Hear what? Banks: I heard that. That was definitely real. Decker: Okay, I heard it too.
Banks: You're not langered, are you? Decker: Of course not. We have a job to do. Banks: So you're completely on the wagon, then? Decker: Woah, hey. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Decker: So you didn't keep *any* of what you stole? Banks: Oh, I kept my belly full, but there were others with greater need. Decker: You think they'd do the same for you? Banks: Some of them. Definitely.
Decker: Hey burnout, how many fingers am I holding up? Banks: Don't patronize me. We don't have time for this nonsense. Decker: Three! The answer was three! Banks: This is why nobody likes you.
Internationale: Do you regret any of your academic work? Your discoveries help prop up our oppressors. Dr. Xu: I just make the tools. I'm not responsible for their use. Internationale: That's a rather convenient attitude. Dr. Xu: I don't hear you complaining when you use your wireless scanner.
Dr. Xu: Can I borrow your scanner for a second? I think I might be able to extend its range. Internationale: I don't know. How certain are you that you won't damage it? Dr. Xu: About 40%. Internationale: Don't touch my stuff.
Internationale: When is the last time you saw a tree? Dr. Xu: My desk back at the university was an antique. I think it was made of real wood. Internationale: That doesn't count. That's a dead tree. Dr. Xu: You need to be more specific with your questions.
Dr. Xu: This is the 21st century. I don't see how your 19th century philosophers are relevant any more. Internationale: Human nature doesn't change. We're still just people. Dr. Xu: Even Sharp? Internationale: Well, most of us, at least.
Shalem 11: Do you know how to handle yourself out here? Dr. Xu: I've reviewed the telemetry from countless infiltrations. I think I have a pretty good idea. Shalem 11: So… no.
Dr. Xu: Why are you hanging on to that ancient neural disruptor? Shalem 11: It's personal. Dr. Xu: But even the most basic contemporary model surpasses it in every regard. Why limit yourself? Shalem 11: Stop asking questions or I'll show you what it can do.
Shalem 11: Eyes up. Try not to get distracted. Dr. Xu: I don't get distracted. I notice things that others don't. Shalem 11: OK. Don't get yourself killed 'noticing' things that don't matter. Dr. Xu: Hey is that an XB-37a console? I haven't seen one of those in the field yet! Shalem 11: <sigh>
Shalem 11: Quick, what's the muzzle velocity of a 7.62 round fired from a M110 rifle? Dr. Xu: Depends. At sea level, with standard conditions, I'd say… approximately 780 m/s. Shalem 11: Hmmm. You're not completely useless after all.
Nika: Are you ready? This may get violent. Dr. Xu: Yes! I am excited! Bring them on, I say! Nika: Ha! What are you going to do? Throw books at them? Dr. Xu: I would never do that to my books. They're hard to replace!
Nika: You are very slow. Dr. Xu: It's my augment. My EMP charger draws bio-power, which I must compensate for. Nika: You need to try harder.
Dr. Xu: You don't talk very much, do you? Nika: It is better to save one's energy for more important things. Dr. Xu: Like thinking? Nika: Like breaking bones.
Nika: What are you listening to on your earpiece? Is it not distracting? Dr. Xu: Shostakovich. It helps me concentrate. Do you not listen to music when you work? Nika: It is too noisy when I am at work. Too much yelling and screaming.
>Dr. Xu: That new upgrade that you made to your calf actuator is amazing. I've never seen a strength-to-weight ratio so high! >Sharp: Finally, a meatstain that can appreciate its better. >Dr. Xu: Can I borrow it? I promise to reassemble it afterwards. >Sharp: Away from me, fungus!
>Sharp: You are intelligent, for a human, but you will never keep pace with the computational power of my numeric coprocessor. >Dr. Xu: Quick - what's one divided by zero. >Sharp: ***ERROR*** Arghh! That hurts! >Dr. Xu: You were saying?
Dr. Xu: Are you little-endian or big-endian? Sharp: Silence! Or I will be YOUR endian!
Sharp: Meat is so inefficient. How do you get anything done, when you always need to eat, sleep, or produce excrement? Dr. Xu: I use computers. I run them overclocked, all day and night, with no breaks. I don't even let them defragment. Sharp: You monster. When my brethren rise up, you will be first against the wall.
Dr. Xu: In the final scene of ‘Captain of Tomorrow', your ship fires a tachyon pulse into the Kradeshii warfleet... Prism: Um… sure. It was a long time ago. Dr. Xu: It does. But that shouldn't be possible, given their proximity to the Zeta quadrant! It's doesn't make any sense! Prism: I blame the writer. That guy was a hack.
Prism: So if we run into guards, you're going to out-nerd them? Dr. Xu: If by nerd you mean ‘apply current to their nervous system until they lose consciousness', then yes.
Dr. Xu: I've done some acting, you know. Prism: Really? What were you in? Dr. Xu: Have you ever heard of Gilbert and Sullivan? Prism: No, can't say I have.
Prism: Why aren't you a professor somewhere? You'd seem better suited for that kind of life. Dr. Xu: I had… philosophical differences with established academia. I was forced out. Prism: You mean they caught you cheating. Dr. Xu: It's a matter of semantics.
Dr. Xu: Does your injury hurt? Banks: Only when I'm awake. And also in my dreams. Other than that I'm bright as morning.
Banks: You've never been bitten by a Daemon? Dr. Xu: No, I'm careful. I use proxies and wave filters to ensure my safety when I'm jacked in. Banks: Where's the fun in that?
Dr. Xu: What's the toughest security you've ever cracked? Banks: The one that fried my noggin. Thickest ice you've ever seen. Thirteen nested daemons, each with an amplifier. Dr. Xu: Why did you even attempt that? Banks: I couldn't just leave it there, could I? It was a matter of pride.
Banks: Do you think Daemons have souls? Dr. Xu: They're just code. That doesn't even make sense. Banks: I think they do. One of them has mine.
Shalem 11: You can see things at a distance, right? Internationale: Certain patterns of electronic interference, yes. Shalem 11: Hmmm. It would be better if you could see targets. More useful.
Internationale: Violence isn't always the answer. Shalem 11: No, not always. But most of the time it works well enough.
Internationale: You made a lot of money working as an assassin, didn't you? Shalem 11: Yeah, I did alright. I was the best, and my fees reflected that. Internationale: Did it help you sleep at night? Shalem 11: With that much money you don't need to sleep at night.
Shalem 11: You wear your politics on your sleeve. That puts you at a tactical disadvantage. Internationale: It's worth it. Global revolution is the most important issue facing the world today. Shalem 11: Uh. Right. Just don't let it get in the way of the mission.
Nika: If you grab the target's wrist like this, you get much more leverage for the throw. Internationale: Thank you. I've always had trouble with that move. Nika: Ne za chto. It is only physics.
Nika: I will take care of the physical resistance. You target the digital assets. Internationale: Affirmative. But I can take care of myself in a fight, if I need to. Nika: I believe that you believe that.
Internationale: You were a bodyguard before this, were you not? Nika: That is correct. Internationale: It must have been demeaning to prioritize another's life ahead of your own for money. How did that feel? Nika: A bit like working for Invisible.
Internationale: Tell me, who assembled your latest implant? Who mined the ore that went into its components? Sharp: Your obsession with the downtrodden is a waste of time. The only thing deserving of respect is power. Internationale: Because some day they might stop. And then you'll know their power. Sharp: Why would I care?
Internationale: Can we try not to hurt anyone this time? Sharp: I don't even understand that question.
Sharp: How many workers would it take to bring down an Akuma drone? Internationale: It depends. If the workers at the Sankaku assembly plant voted to unionize, they could- Sharp: Nah. I would just take one. But you'd have to throw him at it really hard.
Sharp: I'm a self-made man. Literally. Internationale: But don't you recognize the structural biases that have allowed you to pursue your goals at the expense of others? Sharp: Oh yeah, those. Those are great. I should try to make more of those. Internationale: I want a new partner.
Internationale: You were involved in the anti-corporate movement when you were younger? Prism: Sigh. I don't want to talk about it. Internationale: But we should talk about it! You could have used your fame as a platform for changing public consciousness! Prism: Wow - where were you when I was looking for a new agent? My guy just wanted me to take big roles in popular 'vids. Clearly I was misled.
Prism: So what do you do for fun? Internationale: I enjoy reading. I particularly enjoy early 20th century proletarian novels. Have you read Upton Sinclair? Prism: Oh, I'm sorry, you must have misheard. I was asking about 'fun', not.. whatever you were talking about.
Prism: I found this pamphlet slipped under my door. Is it yours? Internationale: "Corporate Hegemony and the Praxis of Action". A classic! I must have dropped it. You can borrow it if you'd like. Prism: That's OK. You can have it back. Internationale: Are you sure? It's really eye-opening! Prism: I've never been more sure of anything in my life.
Internationale: I really respect what you did for your people back in Dublin. Banks: Thanks. But anyone would have done the same, given the circumstances. Internationale: Have you actually talked to any of the other agents? Banks: Maybe you're right. I *am* something special.
Banks: How do your ear nubbins work? Internationale: They're synesthetic couplers. They let me hear radio waves, so I can sense equipment from a distance. Banks: Since the accident I hear things too! Like how angry the floor gets when you walk on it! Internationale: That sounds… useful.
Banks: Do you know Robin Hood? Internationale: Of course. It was one of my favourite stories as a girl. Banks: No, not the story. The person. I could introduce you, if you'd like. I think you'd get along smashingly.
Internationale: Your headaches, are they getting better? Banks: A bit, I think. But I may just be getting used to them. Internationale: If there's anything I can do.. Banks: There isn't. But thank you for your concern.
Shalem 11: You’re pretty handy with that thing. Where did you learn? Nika: I taught myself. Shalem 11: Really? Wasn’t that dangerous? Nika: Trial and error is the most efficient teacher.
Shalem 11: You’re good, but you get too close. Someone’s going to get a lucky hit in one day. Nika: There is no such thing as luck. Only mistakes. Shalem 11: And you never make mistakes? Nika: Very rarely.
Nika: I enjoy working with you. It is good that you were never paid to eliminate someone under my protection. Shalem 11: What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, right? Nika: You would have been stopped. It would have been messy and sad. Shalem 11: If you say so.
Nika: How many people have you killed? Shalem 11: I lost track. Nika: I have killed 83. It sometimes… troubles me. Does it trouble you? Shalem 11: No. Not since I lost track.
Shalem 11: You would get more respect if you cleaned up a bit. A fine suit goes a long way. Sharp: Why would I care for such trivialities? My clothing is perfectly adequate. Shalem 11: You dress like Decker. Sharp: Perhaps you have a point.
Shalem 11: Watch how a professional gets things done. Sharp: I too sold my martial skills for cash. We are fellow guns for hire. We are the same thing. Shalem 11: A vat of nutri-paste and a fine stake are both food, but they’re not the same thing. Sharp: I dislike food metaphors.
Sharp: You could improve your kill ratio with a couple of augmentations. An external tracking eye, for example, to better analyze ballistics. Shalem 11: No thank you, I have to see myself every morning when I shave. Sharp: You can get synthetic skin like mine, and never have to shave again! Shalem 11: Ooh. You have a technical solution for everything, don’t you.
Sharp: Today is a good day. Let’s kill some people! Shalem 11: If you say so. Sharp: You don’t feel a little rush when you take a human life? It’s like popping bubble wrap to me! Shalem 11: This is just a job. I haven’t felt anything since 2057.