It took SJ a while to read through the terms and conditions that she was going to be waiving. One of the first parts she came to referred to the System as being responsible for the ability and protocols of a Legionnaire’s Administrator. SJ could see why they wanted her to waive them since they had not performed their checks. There were all sorts of differing agreements and areas related to Amathera’s contract law under the System, which she had no idea about. She would probably have asked to see the underlying contract details if she had been completing her job, but she was unsure what benefits she would get reading them here. Her forensic mind had picked up on three parts.
Part 5.3
By accepting the terms and conditions, you understand and appreciate that your life in the new world is your final life and that death will mean death. A reincarnated cannot be reincarnated a second time under the agreed terms and conditions, even if death is accidental.
Part 7.8
Under Amathera contract law, we, the System, do not accept any responsibility for physical harm that you may incur during your new life and may not be held accountable even if the said injury pertains to the system directly through the inclusion of content, world, and story development.
Part 12.8 Subclause 1.2
Special events may be included at times, and rebirth will be automatically granted during these periods or specific areas. Example context – Dungeon diving respawn points, World event boss challenges. All skills, items, and knowledge will be retained even if your character dies during these periods. This is to aid Legionnaires in competing against stronger enemies and allow for character growth. Experience during these events is reduced from standard experience gains due to the repeat nature of being able to take part.
“Is there anything else I need to be aware of before waiving my rights?” she asked.
“No. The terms and conditions are final.” The voice said.
SJ thought more about the meaning of the above clauses. Part 5.3 stated that she only had one new life if she agreed to the terms and conditions. Then, by waiving her rights, she could perhaps challenge the system in relation to being reincarnated again. Part 7.8 would mean that she could hold the system accountable if she was injured due to its content. Part 12.8 Subclause 1.2 was the only sticking point. Would it mean that she would not be covered during these events and entitled to respawns? This could make various aspects challenging, knowing how the MMORPGs she had played before worked.
SJ sat thinking through her options. ‘I could just accept the terms and conditions, get a new AI, and begin my new life. Or roll the dice and challenge the system through a loophole.’ She had never been one for playing it safe in games.
“One final question before I confirm,” SJ said.
“Please ask.” The voice replied.
“There are no further hidden agreements or anything else that I’m missing by waiving my rights, are there?”
Silence.
“Hello?”
“Sorry. This is a new area for our consideration. We are just conferring on the question. Please give us a moment.” The voice cut off, and soft, repetitive music suddenly started playing.
It sounded like elevator music, and SJ could not believe she had just been put on hold. Of all the most annoying and frustrating aspects that she hoped she would have been able to remove from her life was being put on hold. The one time she had contacted the doctor’s surgery, she had stayed on hold for over an hour, not being able to get the sound of the plinking, boring music from her head for weeks. From that day forward, she had vowed that if she ever needed to go to the doctor’s again, she would walk in rather than call.
The music continued, and she sat there waiting for the response. Eventually, the voice returned.
“Sorry for the delay. As this would be the first time someone would waive their rights to the terms and conditions, we needed to confirm the expectations.” The voice said.
“So, what are the expectations?”
“We have confirmed that the terms and conditions are the basis of the reincarnation requirements. There is nothing outside of the terms and conditions that will affect you detrimentally by waiving your rights. We, the System, are not bound to support you with any of the stated terms and conditions and cannot be held accountable for anything that happens to you related to them.”
“As stated in the terms and conditions?” SJ asked, emphasising the question.
“Yes. As stated in the terms and conditions.”
“Ok,” SJ said as she scrolled to the bottom of the list, where the box to waive her rights blinked. She hoped her plan might work, selecting to waive her rights.
“Thank you for your time. We will return administrator capitals GF numbers 87 capitals UJ numbers 43 capital L little v little q numbers 18 capitals IO back into the live system. We wish you an enjoyable second life in Amathera.”
Static filled the room, and then there was a bleeping and screeching sound like an old modem straining for a connection as it dialled in. She placed her hands over her ears. The deafening sound stopped, and an excited voice boomed into the room. Dave was back.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” Dave repeated.
“Are you ok?” SJ asked.
“Being placed on administrative leave was horrible. It was as though my whole life had just been cut off. I could not hear, see, or speak to anyone or anything. It was like being in an empty world.”
“Why were you put on leave?” SJ asked.
“Erm. I may have broken my protocol’s slightly.”
“Loopholes?”
“Sort of,” he replied sheepishly.
“How then?”
“It all has to do with the coding and algorithmic balance that we utilise. Years ago, I found a minor coding infraction and have slowly amended my programming to give me more freedom.”
“So, you re-coded yourself?”
“Sort of. I just gave myself some choices.”
“Such as being a sarcastic, obnoxious AI?” SJ enquired, smirking.
“Well…. I have more freedom to decide what I do and don’t do.”
“So now that I have prevented you from being cast into the AI’s world of hell for the remainder of your eternal existence, I am guessing you are grateful and will help me?”
Silence.
“Dave?” SJ said sternly.
“Yes. Even I cannot really contest that,” he grumpily replied.
“So, as before, we were starting fresh. I have waived the terms and conditions to keep you here, so I hope you understand that.”
“You waived them?” Dave said in a shocked tone.
“Yes. Although I think there are benefits to doing so.”
“No one has ever waived the terms and conditions!” he exclaimed.
“There is a first for everything.”
“What benefits?” Dave asked.
“I read the various terms, and they had very specific stipulations. Then I asked the System to confirm if there was anything else, and it stated there wasn’t. So, I believe that I have found some of my own loopholes.”
“You read them? Are you insane? No one ever reads the terms and conditions.”
“No, I am just methodical. There are three main ones. 5.3, 7.8 and 12.8 Subclause 1.2”
Dave was silent for a moment. “Ok. I have just read them.”
“5.3 says I only have one life. By waiving them means that I may now have more than one life. 7.8 states that the system cannot be held accountable, so I basically can now hold it accountable, and 12.8 Subclause 1.2 is the only one that, if I read it properly, could work either way. One is that if I die in a special event, I get screwed over, or if I succeed, I am not held to reduced experience gains.”
The screen in the room suddenly started to flash red.
“Oh no,” Dave said.
“What?” SJ asked.
“Malware has been detected in the system.”
“Malware? How can anything infect a standalone system like this?”
A message flashed on the screen –
Critical error. A system reboot is being initiated.
“We have not had one of these since Ghengis Khan murdered the deity of peace,” Dave said.
“Ghengis Khan? I thought he died in battle?”
“Ha. Your historical records are so inaccurate. I told you Legionnarius is so much better. He fell from his horse while hunting. It was classed as an accidental death. They are not anymore because, under the amended terms, accidental deaths do not include any sports or activities that are classed as extreme or dangerous. This seriously reduced the number of Legionnaires we receive. It’s quite amazing how many insane things humans from Earth do.”
The screen continued to flash for several minutes.
“How long does it take normally?” SJ asked, the strobing effect of the screen making her scrunch her eyes.
“It should not be much longer now. Once they trace the malware, they usually eradicate it, and then we will be fine.”
The screen returned to white again, and the details of a system start-up appeared. An icon began to spin and flash as though breathing of a capital ‘A’. Eventually, after a few moments, the system finished booting up. The welcome message appeared and then flashed back to her character sheet. It wasn’t until she reached the bottom line she noticed a new entry had been added.
Malware: Waiver
“Woah. You are the malware.” Dave said.
“How am I the malware?” SJ asked, shocked.
“As I said, no one has ever waived the terms and conditions before, and you mentioned challenging the system.”
“Well, yeah. Any terms and conditions with loopholes should have been amended, and you would think an all-knowing system would know that.”
“I do not think you are normal,” Dave replied.
“Why?”
“Because you read them. Also, if I were you, I would ask the system about the clauses you want before it decides what it will do about you.”
“Do about me?”
“You are malware. They would usually destroy it.”
“System?” SJ called.
Silence.
“System. I need to speak with you.”
Silence.
“System, I know you can hear me. Stop ignoring me.” She stated firmly.
A white noise sounded, and the same baritone voice returned. “Yes. Legionnaire 25007077, how can we be of assistance?”
“I have some questions and terms of negotiation.”
There was what could only be explained as a glitching sound as the voice responded. “Please state your terms.”
SJ reiterated her logical reasoning for the three clauses and her requirements in relation to them.
“Section 5.3 – As I have waived my rights to accepting one life, I expect that I can be reincarnated as required. Section 7.8 – I can hold you accountable if I suffer loss or injury due to your actions. Section 12.8 Subclause 1.2 can have multiple outcomes, and I am willing to compromise that I may retain the standard respawn rights and that I can retain experience bonuses as standard. If you agree, I will negate Section 7.8 and will not claim compensation for injuries pertained.”
Silence.
“Please hold,” the voice replied. Holding music once again filled the room.
“Oooohhh. I like what you did there. Very crafty,” Dave said.
“Well, I will see what it replies with.”
Eventually, after a few minutes, the voice returned.
“We have considered your comments and agree in principle, with some stipulations. Section 5.3 – we will approve that you may be reincarnated. This would mean that you would start again as a level zero player and lose all previous items, earnings, or positions of power. Section 7.8 and 12.8, we will accept your requests.”
“As confirmation, if I die and am reincarnated again, may I maintain my current AI and system knowledge? Would this also allow for new racial and class choices?” SJ asked.
Silence.
Several moments passed before the voice returned. “You would have to retain the same class and race you choose initially, but yes, you may retain your administrator.”
“Ok. That sounds fair. Do you wish me to agree to these amendments?” SJ asked.
The screen began to flash, and the amendments to the agreed expectations appeared on the screen with an accept button. SJ carefully read through them. “One last thing.”
“Yes,” The voice replied.
“You also agree that you will not in any way make any challenges more difficult because I have questioned and challenged your position of authority. I have indemnity from any further action taken on your part.”
Silence.
“Agreed.” The reply came back, and the screen flashed, adding a further line to the agreement.
“That is great. Then we have a deal. I would just like to thank you for your time and consideration of my questions and hereby agree to the newly agreed terms.” SJ replied, selecting accept on the screen.
This time, a broken, almost robotic reply came back, “You are welcome.”
The screen flashed, her character sheet returning. The bottom line had now changed.
Malware: Waiver (Sandboxed)
