This RPG is based partially off of Chobits and partially off of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, with a little bit of my sci-fi inventiveness thrown in.
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"There's one, sir!" the first scientist announced.
"I got a lock. Screen dating estimates the year 2004, almost a hundred years." The second scientist fiddled with the screen.
The scientist captain held the reins of the Box. "Three...two...one...capture!" With a sickening schlorp the Box closed around the freshly captured soul. "Now to bring this one to the lab to help identify it." The captain left with the box while the two other scientists put away the equipment and shut down the Soul-Capturer for the day.
-~-~-~-~-
The year is 2102. For the past 40 years, technology has allowed the viewing of the souls of the dead. These souls, which are permanently on a separate plane (called the "Spiritual Plane" by most everyone), wander aimlessly, almost completely ignorant of the physical world (the "Physical Plane"). Within the past 5 years, new advances allowed scientists to "capture" these souls in special boxes.
Of course, it's only been in the past few months that anyone has figured out how to do anything with these souls. New humanoid androids have been developed, with a special "brain" that allows the soul to anchor to the Physical Plane once again.
See, scientists have known for over 50 years that the brain is an inter-planar organ, allowing the souls from the Spiritual Plane to function in the Physical Plane. Finally, they have developed a mechanical brain that mimics the human brain. The mechanical brain controls all functions the same way a human brain does, with a section for consciousness, which is where the soul is inserted.
These androids are almost splitting images of humans. However, they have two distinct physical differences. One, their eyes are pupil-less, an impossibility for humans to duplicate. Two, around their neck like a collar is a small band of colored skin that identifies the android and where it was brought to life.
However, not all is happy in the world. While in the past month, the Android Revival Revolution (ARR) has brought the ratio of Androids to humans up to about 1:1000 (closer to 1:100 in the big cities), not everyone accepts the androids into society. The androids have become the next generation of newly freed blacks or native Americans. Also, gangs have come about, intent on stealing the blueprints for the eight Soul-Capturers that are only in 8 major cities throughout the world.
Can peace ever come to the world? Or will the world end in war, and if so, who will win, if anyone does?
-~-~-~-~-
Four types of characters are needed in this RPG: Androids, Scientists, Gang Members, other humans.
Descriptions
Androids:
The Androids that the souls are being inserted into are 100% inorganically fabricated. All Androids look and feel exactly like humans (anatomically correct, but no reproductive organs), except for two appearance differences: all androids have no pupils, and all androids have a ring of colored skin around their neck. The eyes may be any color except black, white, or any color that is close to that. The colored skin ring indicates where the Android was manufactured and contains information on who it is. (See Soul-Capturers, below)
Androids need no external energy source, and will not die as long as their head remains intact (and Android heads are extremely hard to break).
Souls:
Souls are the essence of people, where their personality comes from and so on. Through the Soul-Viewers, people see souls as translucent white clouds (imagine DBZ souls, if you've seen them, but partially see-through). They all permanently lie in the Spiritual Plane, but connect to the Physical Plane through the human brain, and now through the Android brain. Bodiless souls tend to stay towards areas of large human population.
Soul-Capturers:
These huge machines are set in 8 major cities, and each city has its own manufacturing color (see Major Cities, below). Soul-Capturers are made up of 3 parts: a giant Soul-Viewer (see Soul-Viewers, below), A Soul-Screener, and "The Box." The Soul-Screener is like carbon dating for souls; it identifies how long ago the body of the soul died. "The Box" is the capture and transport device. It is also inter-planar, keeping souls locked inside and preventing them from wandering.
Soul-Viewers:
Originally giant screens, then simple goggles, these devices allow humans on the Physical Plane to see the Spiritual Plane and any souls wandering there. As part of the Soul-Capturers, they are giant screens again so that all people working on capturing a soul may see it.
Major Cities:
These are the 8 major cities that have Soul-Capturers in them. The color next to them is the color of the band that goes around the neck of Androids manufactured there.
New York, New York, USA ~ White
Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Black
Tokyo, Japan ~ Red
Beijing, China ~ Orange
Sydney, Australia ~ Yellow
Rome, Italy ~ Green
Paris, France ~ Blue
London, England ~ Violet
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Any Late Sign Ups will have to be humans, because we just have too many Androids in proportion to the number of humans.
Also, this RPG may turn towards the mature side (since A. the androids are anatomically correct and B. there will be fighting). Don't sign up if you can't handle the possibility of sexual innuendos/comments or large fight scenes.
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Human Sign-up Form
Name: (...)
Gender: (again, I'd prefer M or F, but PM me if you really want to be something else)
Age: (suggested age range: 10-100; life expectancy has been extended, almost everyone gets to be over 100)
Appearance: (be specific please; include clothes)
Group: (Scientists, Gangs, None)
Androids?: (are you accepting of Androids?)
Residence: (Preferably somewhere near, if not in, a major city, but not necessary)
Personality: (generalize, please)
Relationships: (whatever fits here)
Other: (whatever doesn't fit anywhere else)
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Android Sign-up Form
Originally
Name: Mike Rampart
Gender: Male
Age at death: 18
Date of death: March 14, 2004 (yes, the one from the story above)
Reason of death: Was beaten up to more than just a bloody pulp by a bunch of guys when they overheard him carelessly comment on how he wondered what it felt like to be a girl. Dang anti-feminist bas- *ahem*
Currently
Name: Elizabeth "Betsy" Trampar
Gender: Female
Age of Appearance: 18
Eye color: Maroon
Manufactured at {neckband color}: Tokyo {Red}
Remaining Appearance: about 5'10", slightly pale skin, blond hair just below the shoulder-blades, is 32C *ahem*; is fond of skirts because she thinks they're flowing and non-restricting, wears baby-doll shirts and T-shirts almost all the time; prefers dark colors, but not anywhere near black.
Residence: Currently Tokyo, soon going to be New York
Personality: Happy at the second chance for life, and hopes to live a lot longer this time; friendly, doesn't like fighting or arguing; watches what she says more carefully this time around.
Relationships: Nobody yet.
Other: Chose to be female because the thought of being was the last thing on his mind before he died, and therefore was the first thing on his mind when he was captured.
-~--~~--~-
Android Sign-up Form
Originally
Name: Kathy Derose
Gender: Female
Age at death: 19
Date of death: (no offense to anyone) September 11, 2001
Reason of death: why the heck do you think? */touchy subject*
Currently
Name: Mark Derose
Gender: Male
Age of Appearance: 16
Eye color: Green (matches May's eyes)
Manufactured at {neckband color}: London {Violet}
Remaining appearance: around 5'11", with short brown hair, a fairly strong build, and skin that's tan in appearance. Most of his clothes are May's old clothes (no skirts >_>) so he could be seen as looking gay, even though he's trying to act straight (although he tends to avoid any situations like that).
Residence: Lives in London with the scientist who was in charge of creating him
Personality: Misses his old life, so is often depressed. Is not upset that he was revived, but still wonders what would have happened if he hadn't died in the first place.
Relationships: May is now a good friend; Ange is distant at first, but they'll get to know each other.
Other: Was the first successful Android Soul, and therefore did not choose any part of his appearance (including being a he). By the time the scientists had figured out how to transfer souls between androids, he felt it was some kind of destiny that he be put into a male body, so he didn't change back. He still longs to be female again, but doesn't express this openly.
-~--~~--~-
Human Sign-up Form
Name: May Kenning
Gender: Female
Age: 40
Appearance: Tall, around 6'1", skinny but not weak, with long light-brown hair midway down her back, bright green eyes (the color she chose for Mark's eyes), and a fair complexion. When not in her white skirt/lab coat, she's very casual, skirts/shorts/jeans (whatever the weather agrees with) and matching shirts.
Group: Scientist
Androids?: Very much for Androids, although she still hasn't forgiven herself for putting a girl soul into a guy android (even though none of it was her fault).
Residence: London, with Mark and soon Ange
Personality: When not in the lab and not doing work, she lets loose and acts like a little girl, sometimes even acting a bit ditzy. In the lab, however, she's very orderly and strict, but in no way mean or harsh. Good person to be friends with, and makes those friends easily.
Relationships: Good friends with Mark, even though she still feels sorry for what she did to him; doesn't get quite as close with Ange, though
Other: "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me...for me...for me!" ~Bohemian Rhapsody
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Mike
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"Oh man, what a newbie," Josh said, finishing up his story about the idiot on IRC the previous night.
"Yeah," Jill piped in, "Wondered what 'OMG' meant and thought we were insulting him when we told him." She laughed and looked out the window, her blond hair flying around. "Oh sh!t, didn't realize my parents were already here." She ran out rather fast, with only a quick goodbye.
"Heh, newbies can be fun at times," I commented. I hadn't been on the chat 'cause I had a stupid writing assignment that I had left until the night before. Damn my procrastination.
"Well, I better be heading out too," Josh said, picking up his bag and heading towards the back entrance to the school. With nobody left to talk to, I started back towards the computer lab to finish up my graphic design project.
As I walked there, I passed the cutest girl in the senior class. Nobody argued the point. Her hair was long, down to her butt, golden yellow in color; blue eyes that just sparkled when you looked at them; skinny, but not too thin, large bust, perfectly shaped. The amazing thing is she didn't have a boyfriend. I had asked, but she quite politely declined. Said something about waiting for college.
But she was the perfect example of a girl. When I had passed her and was out of her earshot, I stupidly muttered out loud, "Wonder what it'd be like to be a girl like that..."
Sure I was out of her earshot, but I bumped into two of the largest kids on the football team. It was apparent they had been 'beefed up' (with steroids, that is). The taller of the two looked down at me, "What are you, some kind of gay? Wanna be a girl now so you can look straight?" His buddy chuckled and grabbed me before I could get away.
Faster than I realized, I found myself with my head in one of the toilets, getting my back beaten up by their constant punches. Suddenly a resounding CRACK filled the bathroom, and I felt myself go numb all over.
"Oops, I think I broke his neck," was the last thing I heard. I faded to black.
~-~-~
<Hello, can you hear me?> I heard a bland voice in my head, like I was reading text off of a page.
<I...yes, I can,> I thought back, not feeling any mouth about me. My words also seemed flat, like they were on paper.
<Can you tell me what gender you were?>
I stopped. <...what do you mean?>
<Let me explain something,> the drone continued after a pause. <It is the year 2102, in the middle of March; you died in 2004, also sometime in the middle of March. We have captured your soul and wish to resurrect you. Can you tell me what gender you were so we may build you a custom Android?>
Android, human robot. That was sci-fi stuff. But they said it was 2102. My thought space went back to my last real conscious memory. A girl walking down the hall...I always wondered what it would be like to be a girl. Maybe...maybe now I had my chance...
<Female,> I thought at last.
<Can you give me details on your appearance? How old you were?>
I thought about it for a bit, shaping a new girl from the one who had walked down the hall. <I was about 18 years old. Five-foot-ten, shoulder length blond hair, nice skinny body, average chest size, pale skin, blue eyes->
<About the eyes: you can choose any color that's not too close to white or black.>
<Um, maroon, then.> My favorite color.
<Okay, thank you. Please wait for a few minutes while we fashion you a body.>
~-~-~
"How do you feel?" The woman (who said her name was Dr. Yuuta) asked me.
"I feel..." I searched for the word, then looked down. "...naked. Can I get some clothes?"
"After I finish checking you up. Do you feel anything wrong with moving around? With moving any part of your body?" I checked my arms and legs, even got off the table and walked around. I didn't feel at all like a robot. I moved normally, like I was human again, but I knew I wasn't.
"Everything feels fine," I said, then noticed a mirror. I hadn't seen what I looked like yet. I hoped it was what I asked for. Instead, I got quite a shock. I had no pupils, and around my neck was some kind of red band.
"Don't worry, all Androids are designed that way. It's to prevent them from looking like normal humans, helps us to differentiate between us."
"It's still freaky," I said. "So, can I get some clothes now? I'm getting kinda cold." She nodded, reaching into a closet and handing me what looked like a Japanese school uniform. Then something clicked: Dr. Yuuta had been speaking Japanese the whole time, but I had understood every word of it. "How can I understand you when you're speaking Japanese?" I asked as I put on the underclothes.
"Universal translators," she said, taking what looked like a very small hearing aid from around her ear. She put it back and added, "Everyone has one, they get it when they're born. All androids have them built into their ear structure."
"Wow," I said, finishing up with the bra (it had caused me a little trouble at first). I put on the top, "I really missed a lot of technology while I was...dead." I looked at the skirt; it took me a good minute to figure out how to put it on, and I ended up needing help from Dr. Yuuta to put it on.
"Thanks," I said. "Not really used to wearing skirts, never wore them before." It was the truth, one that didn't need bending. The tight-like socks and shoes were easy enough. Then a thought struck me. "Where am I going to stay?"
"Oh, we let the new androids stay in the lab the first few nights. You can worry about finding a place to live tomorrow."
~~~~~~~~
Okay, that was WAY too long...
Mark
~~~~~~~~
"I'm home, Mark," May called from the newly closed front door.
"Good, I'm starved!" I called out from the den. I knew I didn't have to eat, but after I automatically said it the first time May had said her line, it stuck as a little joke.
"Well, we have some...news," she said. "Dunno if it's good or bad news for you, but personally I think it's good news."
"What, you've brought back some of my old friends?" I said, too hopefully.
She gave me a look that said 'not really.' "Not exactly...we actually do have a new Android, and I hope you'll be friends." I looked at her quizzically. "His name's Ange, and he was just recently brought back in Paris. The lead scientist there asked me to take him in, and I just couldn't refuse."
"Hm, 'kay," I said, not totally interested. Sure, I was missing my old friends, but it wasn't really all that bad. I had online games I could play, since outside really didn't interest me anymore. Of course, everyone picked on me for always choosing a female avatar. 'If only they knew,' I always thought.
But they didn't need to know. Only May needed to know who I was before, and she did know. Nobody else needed to know how I had died...
~~~~~~~~
May
~~~~~~~~
Another android around the house. I wouldn't think of Mark any less, of course, but at least the house wouldn't be as empty.
"Turn on the news," I said to the blank wall. Light immediately danced across the wall, forming the local newscaster's face. Sound emanated from the wall, he was talking about some new discovery that could end world hunger.
"And the projected time for world hunger to end has been estimated at 5 years. In-" He stopped, because something on his screen had obviously changed. He looked at it, brow furrowed, before muttering, "Oh my..." He straightened up and looked out again. "This just in: Three on-duty scientists from the Rome Soul-Capture Center have just been found dead in the lobby. They appear to be-" He continued talking, but I didn't listen.
Three of them...killed? What the hell happened? This must be the work of either the AAR or the Soul Gangs. AAR would have killed them to show their dislike for supporters of Androids, but the Soul Gangs would have killed them to try and get access to the Soul-Capturer.
Either way, There was definitely going to be talk about this for a while to go. For a second I considered not going in to the lab tomorrow, but then realized I'd look both silly and cowardly if I didn't go in.
"Whatever, this happened in Rome anyway..." I said out loud. "Turn off the news," I said to the wall and the lights and sound died. I got up and headed to my room so I could get out of my lab clothes.
~~~~~~~~
Hope everyone has fun with this one! ^-^
~ Android Souls ~ (Semi-Mature)
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everely dislikes the human tendency to give in to fear, thanks to how he died.
