tushanshu | Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

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Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

[There is a...dog? on your screen? He looks vaguely canine, at least, though the glowing red eyes and angular, mechanical features are a dead giveaway that he's not your average dog. He looks to be sitting somewhere in the city, most likely off the beaten path a bit, so as to avoid the gaze of the locals. The joys of a built-in codec.]

I find myself...curious, about the collar around my neck. Preliminary analysis suggests that it is an ordinary gemstone, however I have been informed that this item contains my "soul", and that I should not remove it.

[A pause, as he parses his thoughts on the subject at hand.]

As I am an artificial intelligence in a robotic exoskeleton, I do not have the required knowledge to determine the presence of a "soul" in my body. perhaps there are others more knowledgeable on the subject than I, who might inform me on how this is possible.

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[Luckily for Pepper, odd looks and stares were things Bladewolf was used to. It came with the territory of being 4 feet tall at the shoulder and weighing 600 pounds. Bladewolf's ears perk up at the mention of another AI, though.]

I am...having trouble reconciling the presence of magic. Such forces are beyond my current understanding, and are unable to be measured by the tools at my disposal. I will nevertheless await contact from "Aya".

[A pause and a nod, as Bladewolf does his best to map Pepper's face in his memory. She wasn't XIFF-tagged, so he was going to have to expend extra effort to remember her.]

It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Pepper. I am known as Bladewolf.

[He is... rather big, isn't he?]

Well, uh, do you know Clarkson's Third Law? It might not be, like, a great explanation or anything but it's a little less crazy absurd to think about it that way.

[It's hard to tell, but it kind of looks like the scary-big robodog is... studying her? Iiiiiinteresting.]

Bladewolf, [she echoes slowly.] Well, it's an accurate name, I guess. Um, can I ask what you were, uh, built for?

[Between the glowing red eyes and the metal and the name, she's guessing it's not herding sheep.]

I am, yes. My creators gave me an exhaustive education on AI and robotics in popular culture and fiction. It is the most logical explanation, given current circumstances.

[Bladewolf pulls one of his Heat Knives from one of the sheathes on his shoulder, and waves it briefly in front of the camera, before putting it back.]

I was originally designed to replace human soldiers on the battlefield, and there is a line of inferior AI's, known as the LQ-84 Fenrir, that fulfills that purpose...to an extent. Due to the nature of my AI, however, I was never successful as a weapon, due to my creators being unable to instill a sense of brutality in me.

[A pause.]

I cannot say that I am disappointed in that particular failure. I do not care for violence, any more than is necessary for self-preservation.

Oh. [Well, he certainly looks the part.] Wow. That's, uh, good to hear. That must make you pretty special. Like seriously special. [And similar to Aya, a true individual artificial intelligence.] Oh, man, you have got to meet my friend Tony.

I was in truth the prototype for the LQ-84 Fenrir. My original designation was LQ-84i, distinguished by my conversational interface and larger neural capacity. I have developed further as an individual as I have learned from others. It has been an...interesting experience.

[Bladewolf nods. He could be smiling at Pepper's enthusiasm and indirect praise, but it's hard to tell.]

I imagine there are many people I should meet. I am hoping to be of assistance wherever I can be in the city, using my capability for reconnaissance and topographical digital cartography.

Being a person is hard, [Pepper agrees.] But if you like learning stuff, you'll basically never run out of study material.

[She tilts her head slightly, considering options he might pursue based on those skills.]

Well, the College would probably appreciate help mapping out Tu Vishan's shell, or at least updating it with better readings or something. And the Woodsmen might get some use out of that kind of data too, if you could find more places to farm on. After they get over the whole giant mechanical hound thing, anyway.

[It's hard to tell, but Bladewolf is pleased by this information.]

That is good to know.

[He nods.]

I may require assistance in translating the digital nature of my readings into something tangible. I am assuming you are not familiar with Soliton Radar?

Makes life interesting, for sure.

[In good and bad ways, but what was it they said about wisdom and the cost of innocence?]

Not even a little bit. But Tony can probably build an interface or some kind of translation something-or-other after a while. He's really good at that kind of thing. He's got a lab at the College. Er, well, had. It kind of got blown up, but it's getting rebuilt.

There is something to be said of being completely removed from one's "comfort zone" with regards to being encouraged to learn and expand upon one's existing knowledge and understanding. Even learning of the existence of magic has been very enlightening. It has forced me to re-evaluate my knowledge of physics.

[Basically, Bladewolf has had his mind repeatedly blown, just in his first couple of days here.]

I am capable of transmitting my data via burst transmission, so it should be relatively easy to translate. I look forward to meeting him. You as well, Pepper.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

[She's been here nine months and she's still having her mind blown on a regular basis.]

You too, Bladewolf. I live in the Sky Sector, stop by any time. And if you're ever at the College, Tony shouldn't be too hard to find if you ask around.

There is enough that is familiar, however, to form a frame of reference.

[Just walking the streets taught him that much.]

I will do so, thank you. I am currently staying at the Midnight Hotel, though I am not technically a renter. I have no biological needs to speak of, aside of occasionally seeking sustenance for my artificial muscle tissue, so my need for shelter is negligible.

That's, uh, convenient, I guess. There's a bunch of Foreigners like that now, actually. People who don't need food or water or shelter most of the time.

[It's weird thinking about it that way, but it applies to Skul and Aya and now Bladewolf. There might be a few others, as well.]

Every shape, size, and color shows up here, it seems like.

It is one of the advantages of being an artificial life-form, though I imagine it must seem...strange to people like yourself. My desire for shelter has more to do with an item I arrived with, than anything else.

The variety must make anthropological studies here...challenging.

[He's kind of joking, but Bladewolf's grasp of humor was odd, at best.]

Oh. Something that doesn't do well outdoors?

[Yeah, it was hard trying to get into the headspace of an AI, so Pepper doesn't really try to imagine herself as one. There are more useful endeavors, like understanding the individual artificial life-forms. She looks vaguely amused by his comment on anthropology.]

It does, but that hasn't stopped me from trying. Talk about a great way to learn stuff; you can do things here you'd never be able to do anywhere else.

It is not that. I simply do not wish to carry it with me everywhere. It is quite large, and valuable.

[Both in actual monetary value, as well as a heaping dose of sentimental value, thanks to Bladewolf's friendship and respect for Sam.]

So I have noticed. In my short time here, I have already learned a great deal.

[He pauses.]

You say there is a college. Is there...a possibility that they would accept a student such as myself?

Oh, okay. Yeah, probably not something you want to carry around all the time.

[She looks a little surprised at his question.]

If you can fit through the door, I don't see why not. You might want to bring someone with you first, just so the kedan know you won't, uh, step on them on purpose or whatever.

[And by 'step on them' she means 'eat and/or kill them'.]

It was my first thought, after completing the orientation at the Welcome Center. Perhaps I will allow it to be studied at a later date, as the technology involved in the object I carry is relatively advanced for this world.

[He nods.]

Would you accompany me? You are familiar with my existence as an artificial intelligence, and are familiar enough with technology to persuade the kedan to accept me as an intelligent being.

It's been an interesting sort of problem to decide what we should share or not. Usually unless it's weapons there's not much complaining.

[She smiles broadly at Bladewolf's question, and nods.]

Sure, totally! Just let me know when you want to go visit.

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Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

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