TEC (PM:TT-YD)

The TEC-XX, more commonly known as TEC, is the main computer of the X-Naut Fortress in 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. TEC is likely based on HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, because of his intelligence and security systems. However, TEC makes no attempt to harm anyone on the station, unlike with HAL's attempts at self-preservation following logic errors. In the Japanese version of the original game and the Nintendo Switch remake in all regions, TEC's camera "eye" is red, further emulating HAL. Since "X" can be pronounced "Cross" according to the X-Yux tattle log, his name can be interpreted as "TEC-Doublecross"—foreshadowing how he double-crosses Grodus near the end of the story.