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{{character-infobox
{{character infobox
|image=[[File:Tec face.PNG]]
|image=[[File:PMTTYD Staff Credits 44.png|304x239px]]
|full_name=TEC-XX
|first_appearance=''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[List of games by date#2004|2004]])
|first_appearance=''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'' ([[List of games by date#2004|2004]])
|species=Computer
}}
}}
{{quote|Good night, [[Princess Peach]].|TEC-XX|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door}}
{{quote|How amusing. I am right here, before your eyes. I am this laboratory's main computer. I am the TEC-XX. Many call me TEC. You may. Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer, one that is flawless in its reason.|TEC-XX|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door}}


'''TEC-XX''', better known as '''TEC''', is the main computer of the [[X-Naut Fortress]] during the events of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''. TEC was apparently designed to be "flawless and perfect", though a sort of [[glitch]] resulted in him (despite his being mechanical) being apparently able to feel [[Wikipedia:Love|love]] and ultimately revolting against [[Secret Society of X-Nauts|his X-Naut masters]].
'''TEC-XX''', better known as '''TEC''', is the main computer of the [[X-Naut Fortress]] during the events of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]''. TEC was designed to be "flawless and perfect", though a sort of glitch resulted in him feeling love, which led to him ultimately revolting against the [[X-Nauts (organization)|X-Nauts]]. After each chapter, he talks to [[Princess Peach|Peach]] in an intermission.


TEC is typically seen after [[Mario]] and his [[partner]]s complete a chapter; more specifically, TEC is most often glimpsed during scenes where Princess Peach is controlled. As stated above, a strange glitch gave TEC a crush on the princess, although TEC himself could not fully understand love. This particularly annoyed TEC, who had apparently been told earlier that he was designed to fully understand everything known to the universe. Peach was also one of TEC's only companions and therefore the only person who could possibly teach him about love, and TEC saw an opportunity in this: Peach greatly sought TEC's ability to e-mail anyone (which was her only way to contact Mario, who had armed himself with a [[Mailbox SP]] sometime before the events of ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''), so TEC offered her to use this e-mail feature in return for lessons about love. He would also often request that Peach go undercover and retrieve secret information from [[Sir Grodus]], his master, for he wished the know the X-Nauts' secret plans as to reveal them to the heroes. (This was because his apparent love for Princess Peach had slowly converted him to her side).
==History==
{{quote|I am unsure. An unusual program deviation occurred when I observed you earlier. My higher-brain circuitry malfunctioned and nearly overheated at your image. Also, an unidentified impulse sped through my processors. These events are new to me. There is more to this phenomenon, as well. I ran diagnostic programs...and their solution was...I want to know more about you. I want to observe you. Such a compulsion has no precedence. Cause unknown. I, the perfect computer... I must diagnose this unusual situation. I will not fail. That is why I led you here.|TEC-XX|Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door}}
When Peach is first kidnapped by the X-Nauts and held in the X-Naut Fortress, two doors leading to TEC automatically open for her. When she meets TEC, he first praises [[Sir Grodus]], then explains that he had a special reaction to Peach and wants to "observe" and learn more about her. Peach finds this weird and questions if TEC is in love with her; he reveals that he cannot comprehend the idea of love and is incapable of feeling it. Wanting to be the world's most perfect computer, TEC asks Peach to help him feel love, offering to grant her wishes in exchange. Peach asks to be able to contact Mario, and TEC allows her to do so on her keyboard, sending a message to Mario's [[Mailbox SP]]. He states that he does not have any need for Peach to leave at the moment and allows her to leave.


By the end of Chapter 6, TEC (thanks to Peach's escapades) seemed to have developed a complete understanding of Grodus's plot. TEC was just about to reveal exactly why Peach was being held captive (which was actually so the X-Nauts could let the [[Shadow Queen]] possess her later on) to her when Grodus himself unexpectedly burst into the room. Peach and TEC were both seemingly horrified as Grodus, stating his awareness of TEC being a traitor, ordered two of his [[X-Naut]]s to press the red buttons on TEC's sides at the same time, permanently shutting him down. The X-Nauts succeeded in their plans and Peach was taken off to unknown parts, but it was revealed that TEC had apparently learned of love and its acquisitions at this point, for he said to Peach "I love you" as his last words.
After Chapter 2, Peach is heard in her room, wondering if she will ever be able to dance in the Mushroom Ball again. TEC calls Peach into her room and assures her that Mario has received the email, then admits to eavesdropping on her. TEC explains that, having heard Peach, he now wants to dance with her, and creates a holographic clone of Peach for her to dance with. After the dance, TEC realizes that he had fun doing it, and lets Peach send another email to Mario before sending her back to her room.


[[File:PM2 TEC-XX.jpg|thumb|Princess Peach talking to '''TEC-XX'''.]]
During the intermission after chapter 3, TEC again calls Peach over. This time, he asks her to question Grodus on an issue. TEC opens the elevator and instructs Peach to wear an X-Naut uniform, then talk to Grodus. While in disguise, Peach asks what Grodus plans to do with her, and he responds to keep her in her room but not harm her, although refusing to say why she is needed. Grodus unknowingly tells Peach about their plan to conquer the world. Upset at TEC, Peach returns and asks why he intends to take over the world. TEC asks Peach if she likes the world she lives in, and she answers that she does. TEC refuses to tell Peach about how the Crystal Stars are involved in the plan but allows her to send Mario a message about it.
The last scene involving TEC occurs during Mario's infiltration in the [[X-Naut Fortress]], specifically right after Mario had destroyed [[Magnus von Grapple 2.0]] and collected the last [[Crystal Stars|Crystal Star]]. Here, he locked all of the doors except the one leading to his own chamber (which had previously been unavailable), eventually leading Mario and his partners to the room he was in. He then told the gang that he was running on backup power and cached memory, and, while such rations allowed him to survive, they were running out and affecting the quality of his operations. (Indeed, TEC spoke in a strange, pause-filled sequence in this form and seemed immensely weak, although he was still able to remember Peach and his apparent love for her, even being able to produce an image of the princess standing in her room.) After explaining a few things to Mario and telling him that Grodus had taken Peach to the [[Palace of Shadow]], TEC released the room lock in the Fortress and commanded Mario and friends to save Peach, giving them the specific order to tell her "thank you" on his behalf. He then revealed that, in order to let Mario and friends escape the X-Naut Fortress, he would be forced to send all of the AI energy programmed into himself to the teleporter room (presumably because the X-Nauts had somehow disabled it in hopes of trapping Mario), causing him to "cease to exist as an artificial consciousness." This, however, was a price he was willing to pay for Peach, and he ultimately shut down after his speech as an unknown voice reported a "TEC system failure." TEC's final words were "Peach... Goodbye...", before a great explosion engulfed the [[The Moon|Moon]] and he was seemingly destroyed. However, at the very end of the adventure, TEC reboots and the X-Naut Fortress is up and running again, although the whole place is deserted. (This is because it was apparently TEC himself who detonated the Fortress as to remove all traces of the X-Nauts, though he seemingly destroyed himself in the process.) He seems to have been restored to his original state after Peach gave Mario the last of her power during the battle with the Shadow Queen, which is inferred by the fact that he claimed to have seen a bright light and heard Peach's voice as he awoke, though he himself did not know how he had survived.
 
Peach returns to TEC after chapter 4. TEC is quiet and asks if it is more important to carry out Grodus's order or continue keeping Peach safe. For her to send Mario a message, TEC asks her five questions about Grodus's plan. After doing so, she is shocked but continues to send a message, then goes back to her room.
 
While initially angry at TEC, Peach goes to his room after chapter 5. TEC requests a data disk from Grodus's office and makes Peach go to a laboratory and mix an invisible potion so she can sneak into the room. When Peach changes the disks, TEC is allowed to view info from other computers and analyze the data. Saying that he will tell Peach when the data is figured out, he lets her email Mario and then tells her to leave.
 
After Chapter 6, TEC has finished analyzing the data and calls Peach into his room. He explains Grodus's plan and realizes that it is more important to ensure Peach's safety than to follow Grodus. TEC says that Peach must escape as fast as possible, telling her she is on the [[Moon]]. As Peach writes an email to Mario before escaping, Grodus enters with two X-Nauts and calls TEC a traitor. The X-Nauts shut off TEC and deleted his data, to Peach's horror.
 
While exploring the X-Naut Fortress in chapter 7, Mario comes across TEC on the bottom floor. Running on backup power, TEC tells Mario that Peach has been taken to the [[Palace of Shadow]] with Grodus. He opens the door to the teleporter leading to [[Rogueport Sewers]], instructing Mario to save Peach and give her his thanks, before shutting off.
 
In an email sent to Mario by [[Goombella]] in the game's ending, it is revealed that TEC is still alive. Goombella says that TEC wants to see Mario and Peach again.
 
==Quiz==
In the Peach intermission after chapter 4, TEC is in a conflicted mood and asks Peach to have a quiz. If Peach answers a question incorrectly, TEC will restart the quiz.
 
{|class="responsive" width="100%"
!#
!Question
!Answer 1
!Answer 2
!Answer 3
|-
|data-label="#"|1
|data-label="Question"|What will happen if you collect seven [[Crystal Stars]]?
|data-label="Answer 1"|Your wish is granted.
|data-label="Answer 2" style="background:#99ff99"|[[The Thousand-Year Door]] opens.
|data-label="Answer 3"|A thousand [[coin]]s appear.
|-
|data-label="#"|2
|data-label="Question"|What is the goal of [[Sir Grodus|Grodus]], leader of the [[X-Nauts (organization)|X-Nauts]]?
|data-label="Answer 1" style="background:#99ff99"|To conquer the world.
|data-label="Answer 2"|To get rich.
|data-label="Answer 3"|To become a superhero.
|-
|data-label="#"|3
|data-label="Question"|What is the legendary treasure that waits behind the Thousand-Year Door?
|data-label="Answer 1"|100,000,000 coins.
|data-label="Answer 2"|An extremely rare [[badge]].
|data-label="Answer 3" style="background:#99ff99"|A 1,000-year-old [[Shadow Queen|demon]]'s soul.
|-
|data-label="#"|4
|data-label="Question"|What does Sir Grodus wish to do with this ancient demon's soul?
|data-label="Answer 1"|Cherish it always.
|data-label="Answer 2" style="background:#99ff99"|Bring the demon back to life.
|data-label="Answer 3"|Hang out with it.
|-
|data-label="#"|5
|data-label="Question"|What is required to seal up the demon again?
|data-label="Answer 1"|A legendary sword. 
|data-label="Answer 2"|A magic spell.
|data-label="Answer 3" style="background:#99ff99"|Crystal Stars.
|}
 
==Gallery==
<gallery>
TEC-XX Face JP.png|TEC's camera in the Japanese version of ''Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door''
PMTTYD Staff Credits 12.png|TEC-XX, as seen in the end credits.
PMTTYD TEC-XX Surveillance 1.png|TEC's screen, showing Peach captured
PMTTYD TEC-XX Surveillance 2.png|TEC's screen, showing Peach captured
PMTTYD TEC-XX Surveillance 3.png|TEC's screen, blank
PMTTYD TEC-XX Opens Door 1.png|TEC opening a door for Peach
PMTTYD TEC-XX Opens Door 2.png|TEC opening a door for Peach
PMTTYD Peach TEC-XX First Encounter.png|Peach's first encounter with TEC
PMTTYD Peach Typing on Keyboard.png|Peach typing on TEC's keyboard
PMTTYD NS TECXX.png|TEC-XX as seen in the Nintendo Switch version
</gallery>
 
==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=TEC-XX<br>''Tī Ī Shī Ekkusu Ekkusu''<br>テック<br>''Tekku''
|JapM=TEC-XX<br><br>Tech
|Fre=TECH XX<br>Tech
|Spa=CIM <br> Computador Inteligente de Mega X
|SpaM=XIC <br> X-Naut's Intelligent Computer
|Ger=TEC-XX (Tech)
|GerM=-
|Ita=TEC XY<br>TEC
|ItaM=-
}}


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*TEC is likely based off of [[wikipedia:HAL 9000|HAL 9000]] from ''[[wikipedia:2001: Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'' because of his intelligence and security systems. However, unlike HAL, TEC isn't insane or malevolent. Another ''[[Mario (series)|Mario]]'' series spoof (and a rather unsubtle one at that) of HAL was [[HAL 9001]] from ''[[The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!]]'' live-action episode "[[9001: A Mario Odyssey]]."
*TEC is likely based off of {{wp|HAL 9000}} from ''{{wp|2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey}}'', because of his intelligence and security systems. However, unlike HAL, TEC is not insane or malevolent.
**In the Japanese version of the game, TEC's camera "eye" is red, further emulating HAL.
**In the Japanese version of the game, TEC's camera "eye" is red, further emulating HAL. This is retained in the [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]] [[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Nintendo Switch)|remake]] in all regions.
*Under the assumption that the organization's name is pronounced "cross-nauts" as opposed to "ex-nauts", TEC's name can be read as "TEC-double-cross", foreshadowing his turn against his creators.
*In the Japanese version of ''[[Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]'', TEC's words are given completely in katakana and kanji with katakana furigana, a common trope in Japanese media used for a robotic or hypnotized character. However, Princess Peach is able to send emails that contain hiragana characters.
*Although TEC is mechanical and therefore has no gender, male pronouns are often applied to him.
*The music that plays when Peach dances with her holographic clone created by TEC is an arrangement of the middle section of Waltz Op. 64 No. 2 by Polish Romantic composer [[wikipedia:Frédéric Chopin|Frédéric Chopin]].
*TEC's role is similar to [[Twink]]'s from ''[[Paper Mario]]'' as the communication link from Peach to Mario.
*Since "X" can be pronounced "Cross" according to the [[X-Yux]] tattle log, his name can be interpreted as "TEC-Doublecross" - foreshadowing how he doublecrosses Grodus near the end of the story.


{{BoxTop}}
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{{PMTTYD}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Characters]]
[[Category:Paper Mario Series Characters]]
[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Allies]]
[[Category:Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door]]
[[Category:Robots]]
[[Category:Robots]]
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[[de:TEC-XX]]
[[it:TEC XY]]

Latest revision as of 11:29, January 14, 2024

TEC-XX
PMTTYD Staff Credits 44.png
First appearance Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004)
“How amusing. I am right here, before your eyes. I am this laboratory's main computer. I am the TEC-XX. Many call me TEC. You may. Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer, one that is flawless in its reason.”
TEC-XX, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

TEC-XX, better known as TEC, is the main computer of the X-Naut Fortress during the events of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. TEC was designed to be "flawless and perfect", though a sort of glitch resulted in him feeling love, which led to him ultimately revolting against the X-Nauts. After each chapter, he talks to Peach in an intermission.

History[edit]

“I am unsure. An unusual program deviation occurred when I observed you earlier. My higher-brain circuitry malfunctioned and nearly overheated at your image. Also, an unidentified impulse sped through my processors. These events are new to me. There is more to this phenomenon, as well. I ran diagnostic programs...and their solution was...I want to know more about you. I want to observe you. Such a compulsion has no precedence. Cause unknown. I, the perfect computer... I must diagnose this unusual situation. I will not fail. That is why I led you here.”
TEC-XX, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

When Peach is first kidnapped by the X-Nauts and held in the X-Naut Fortress, two doors leading to TEC automatically open for her. When she meets TEC, he first praises Sir Grodus, then explains that he had a special reaction to Peach and wants to "observe" and learn more about her. Peach finds this weird and questions if TEC is in love with her; he reveals that he cannot comprehend the idea of love and is incapable of feeling it. Wanting to be the world's most perfect computer, TEC asks Peach to help him feel love, offering to grant her wishes in exchange. Peach asks to be able to contact Mario, and TEC allows her to do so on her keyboard, sending a message to Mario's Mailbox SP. He states that he does not have any need for Peach to leave at the moment and allows her to leave.

After Chapter 2, Peach is heard in her room, wondering if she will ever be able to dance in the Mushroom Ball again. TEC calls Peach into her room and assures her that Mario has received the email, then admits to eavesdropping on her. TEC explains that, having heard Peach, he now wants to dance with her, and creates a holographic clone of Peach for her to dance with. After the dance, TEC realizes that he had fun doing it, and lets Peach send another email to Mario before sending her back to her room.

During the intermission after chapter 3, TEC again calls Peach over. This time, he asks her to question Grodus on an issue. TEC opens the elevator and instructs Peach to wear an X-Naut uniform, then talk to Grodus. While in disguise, Peach asks what Grodus plans to do with her, and he responds to keep her in her room but not harm her, although refusing to say why she is needed. Grodus unknowingly tells Peach about their plan to conquer the world. Upset at TEC, Peach returns and asks why he intends to take over the world. TEC asks Peach if she likes the world she lives in, and she answers that she does. TEC refuses to tell Peach about how the Crystal Stars are involved in the plan but allows her to send Mario a message about it.

Peach returns to TEC after chapter 4. TEC is quiet and asks if it is more important to carry out Grodus's order or continue keeping Peach safe. For her to send Mario a message, TEC asks her five questions about Grodus's plan. After doing so, she is shocked but continues to send a message, then goes back to her room.

While initially angry at TEC, Peach goes to his room after chapter 5. TEC requests a data disk from Grodus's office and makes Peach go to a laboratory and mix an invisible potion so she can sneak into the room. When Peach changes the disks, TEC is allowed to view info from other computers and analyze the data. Saying that he will tell Peach when the data is figured out, he lets her email Mario and then tells her to leave.

After Chapter 6, TEC has finished analyzing the data and calls Peach into his room. He explains Grodus's plan and realizes that it is more important to ensure Peach's safety than to follow Grodus. TEC says that Peach must escape as fast as possible, telling her she is on the Moon. As Peach writes an email to Mario before escaping, Grodus enters with two X-Nauts and calls TEC a traitor. The X-Nauts shut off TEC and deleted his data, to Peach's horror.

While exploring the X-Naut Fortress in chapter 7, Mario comes across TEC on the bottom floor. Running on backup power, TEC tells Mario that Peach has been taken to the Palace of Shadow with Grodus. He opens the door to the teleporter leading to Rogueport Sewers, instructing Mario to save Peach and give her his thanks, before shutting off.

In an email sent to Mario by Goombella in the game's ending, it is revealed that TEC is still alive. Goombella says that TEC wants to see Mario and Peach again.

Quiz[edit]

In the Peach intermission after chapter 4, TEC is in a conflicted mood and asks Peach to have a quiz. If Peach answers a question incorrectly, TEC will restart the quiz.

# Question Answer 1 Answer 2 Answer 3
1 What will happen if you collect seven Crystal Stars? Your wish is granted. The Thousand-Year Door opens. A thousand coins appear.
2 What is the goal of Grodus, leader of the X-Nauts? To conquer the world. To get rich. To become a superhero.
3 What is the legendary treasure that waits behind the Thousand-Year Door? 100,000,000 coins. An extremely rare badge. A 1,000-year-old demon's soul.
4 What does Sir Grodus wish to do with this ancient demon's soul? Cherish it always. Bring the demon back to life. Hang out with it.
5 What is required to seal up the demon again? A legendary sword. A magic spell. Crystal Stars.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese TEC-XX
Tī Ī Shī Ekkusu Ekkusu
テック
Tekku

TEC-XX

Tech

French TECH XX
Tech
-
German TEC-XX (Tech)
-
Italian TEC XY
TEC
-
Spanish CIM
Computador Inteligente de Mega X
XIC
X-Naut's Intelligent Computer

Trivia[edit]

  • TEC is likely based off of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, because of his intelligence and security systems. However, unlike HAL, TEC is not insane or malevolent.
    • In the Japanese version of the game, TEC's camera "eye" is red, further emulating HAL. This is retained in the Switch remake in all regions.
  • In the Japanese version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, TEC's words are given completely in katakana and kanji with katakana furigana, a common trope in Japanese media used for a robotic or hypnotized character. However, Princess Peach is able to send emails that contain hiragana characters.
  • The music that plays when Peach dances with her holographic clone created by TEC is an arrangement of the middle section of Waltz Op. 64 No. 2 by Polish Romantic composer Frédéric Chopin.
  • Since "X" can be pronounced "Cross" according to the X-Yux tattle log, his name can be interpreted as "TEC-Doublecross" - foreshadowing how he doublecrosses Grodus near the end of the story.