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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[Bladewolf has to think about this for a moment. He's honestly never given it much thought. Given the overall negative attitude most people had for complex AI where he came from (thanks to The Patriots), he's lucky that people tolerate him at all.]

I have never given it a great deal of thought. Opinions on artificial intelligence in my world are varied. Some see me as they would any human, while others do not trust me because I am not human.

Many here are not human. Nor are they things between. They are alive too.

I hope they can come to trust you.

I am very glad to meet you, Bladewolf.

I have heard this, on the network and among the people. I am glad to know that I am not the only non-human visitor to this location. I will do whatever is necessary for that to become a reality.

[Is that a smile? Bladewolf can't really smile, but his posture suggests it.]

I am glad to meet you as well, Yorda.

It should not be hard. You seem very kind.

You are welcome, Bladewolf.

I have known little "kindness" in my existence. If individuals treat me with respect, I do so in turn. It is the most efficient way to fulfill my directives.

Has there been no one who cared about you?

In my admittedly short existence, there have been two individuals who have shown me what I would consider compassion. The first was a mercenary named Samuel Rodrigues...[An image pops up on the screen] and the second was a cyborg named Raiden [A second image pops up.] Both men treated me as a true individual, instead of an inanimate object, and both taught me the value of freedom and independent thought and action. The sword I carry, I carry in Samuel's memory.

They are flesh and metal. Does that not hurt the flesh? Would you forget Samuel without the sword?

In Samuel's case, the "metal" on his body is merely strength-enhancing armor. Of the warriors of my world, he is one of the few who has not traded in his humanity for greater strength. In Raiden's, his body has been enhanced to the degree that his pain can be dampened such that he does not notice it. He was not given a choice as to his enhancement.

[Bladewolf didn't know much about the "Perfect Soldier" program, beyond what Raiden told him about it, but he knows that Raiden was forced into the program against his will.]

I would not. Samuel was killed, his sword being his most prized possession. I carry it so that another may wield in his honor, should I find someone worthy of it.

[The way he spoke, Sam had intended it for Raiden, but for what reason, Bladewolf didn't know. It was an exceptional sword, sure, but given the enemy they had to fight, Bladewolf wasn't sure it would be enough.]

Armour imbued with some kind of light...?

...It is cruel to make someone become something they did not choose. I hope now that your friend can have a choice. I hope also that you find one worthy of the sword. How will you know?

Yes. It supplements the wearer's strength and durability, such that they can compete with wholly artificial beings, such as myself.

While Raiden's initial transformation into the being he is now was not his choice, he has embraced it, and made himselfa deadlier weapon, fighting so that others do not suffer as he did.

[He pauses.]

I believe the sword was meant for him, but as he is not present in the city, I will hold it until he, or someone who is his equal can claim it.

How is a person also a weapon?

[A point of confusion for Yorda.]

Perhaps he will be brought here and you may give it to him.

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Directive 001 [Video] [Public]

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