ASH/HCC: Coherent Super Stories #37 - Louie and the CU-Ts

[Andrew Perron]

On 5/29/2015 5:54 PM, Dave Van Domelen wrote:
>       [The cover shows LU-62 trapped on an action figure blister card.
>        He shouts at the reader, "Help!  I've been merchandised!"]

Awesome.o

>       "Your sister doesn't need to be left out, Timmy," LU-62 notes.  "Here
> comes Jenny's own CU-T, Taff-33!"
>       An eye-searingly pink and neon purple robo-puppy leaps into frame,
> barking in a slightly higher pitch than the other CU-Ts.

That's terrible. XD

>       "Um, I think some functions got cross-wired.  I...just imprinted them
> all."
>       LU-62's body was ill-suited to smacking his own forehead, but being a
> member of ASH had given him ample time to practice the skill.  "Tell me you
> can turn it off."
>       "Um...no.  It's the permanent loyalty function that turns the toy into
> the kid's friend forever.  Needs a factory reset."

Yesssssss :D This was a terrible idea

>       "Granted," LU-62 nodded.  As a robot drawing power from infinitely
> regenerating Probability Capacitors, he didn't need much for personal
> expenses.  But he managed a number of important projects behind the scenes,
> and more money always helped with those.

Oooooh. Implications.

>       "Number two, Purcell is making these robopuppies with or without your
> involvement, and you're bound to get linked to them.

It's a good point - "robot dog" isn't so terribly specific of a concept that 
you could get an injunction against it.

>       On the surface, the licensing arm of the Department of SuperHuman
> Affairs was pretty much just the moneymen end of the game.  They helped
> licensed supers promote themselves, earn money from merchandise and personal
> appearances, and keep them from being taken advantage of by sleazier agents.
> It meant giving up the chance to be rich...no matter how much money your
> merch made, most of it would go into the insurance fund.  There were a few
> supers who went outside the DSHA system and tried to get rich, but they
> tended to avoid actual superheroing, and could end up losing it all if a
> battle broke out and they ended up liable for damages.

Oooooh! WORLDBUILDING I LOVE IT.

>       "Oh, right, School Mode," Gary started stabbing at controls.  "Don't
> want kids getting in trouble because their CU-T follows them into the school
> building."
>       "Good thinking," LU-62 nodded.  "So, is it done?"
>       "Yeah, really good thinking.  But it's still in beta...and not working.
> Sorry."

D'oh. ^^;

>       A robot version of Jenny was probably tried, but abandoned as too
> creepy.

Indeeeeeeed

Andrew "NO .SIG MAN" "Juan" Perron, nyurgle