IC Contact: Reverie Terminal

[lostsymmetry]

network id: Hank_127

[Prodding a suspiciously blue-glowing terminal? Or maybe this actually is a network call. Either way, the reply is identical.]

<Greetings. This is the automated system administrator. How can I assist you?>

[The script is flat, cheerful, and robotic. Also, wrong. Leave a message?]

Comments

[thefaulty]

[Like most of the things Arid says, this message is brief, direct, and purposeful—if spoken a little less sharply than Arid’s usual terse cadence.]

Hank-Morely. I wish to inquire about the range and scope of your camera access on the station.

[lostsymmetry]

And hello to you too, Arid.

[Amused and appreciative. He's just poking fun.]

I've got eyes at the ends of each corridor and a decent view of the public-use rooms. Crew quarters and sealed areas are a no-go.

What are you after?

[thefaulty]

[She addressed him by name before stating her request. Arid counts that as an adequate greeting and the fact that he returned the acknowledgement will only confirm this notion in her mind. As for her request...]

Two human residents recorded the broadcast of a brief, possibly automated message in one of their residential quarters. I wish to know if cameras recorded the same broadcast occurring elsewhere on the station.

[She sends over a link to the network post that contains the recording in question for Hank-Morely’s examination. It is inconvenient that he does not also have camera access in the station's other residential quarters but knowing if the broadcast played in any public areas could also constitute useful data.]

[lostsymmetry]

Oh, I caught that broadcast. No problem.

<Processing...>

[Hank suspects if it were transmitted elsewhere, someone would have noticed, but it doesn't hurt to skim through the logs. It does, however, take a little while.]

So. You're making friends?

[thefaulty]

[There are times when Hank-Morely speaks that Arid isn’t sure whether he is making an earnest query or merely emulating some obscure human nicety. This is one such instance.]

I am seeking to learn more about an anomalous message, [she responds, in case he is actually asking.] How the human residents perceive me for this inquiry is not my primary concern.

[Though one of the humans had said something that implies a positive view of her actions—or rather, their actions. She considers a moment before adding,]

The female human wished me to express her appreciation for your assistance.

[lostsymmetry]

[Oh, he's asking. And not even a little disappointed by the results.]

Right. Secondary, then.

[Probably tertiary or quaternary or... well, a lot further down the list. But hope springs eternal. Or at least dry humor does.]

Nice of her. [A pause, tone musing.] There's a lot of that going around. You've noticed too, right?

[thefaulty]

[Admittedly, it is on the list somewhere, but Arid has never been adept at recognizing anything other than her primary objective at any given time. She nods at Hank-Morely’s observation.]

The organics here are very… courteous.

[She isn’t sure how else to put it. She cannot yet say if they are truly sympathetic to AI or just outwardly friendlier. But the behaviors she has experienced from them—sincere expressions of gratitude, inquiring as to her preferences, even anticipating that she has a name—are certainly not what she expected.]

Not all of them seem accustomed to interacting with AI.

[lostsymmetry]

Not at all.

[Expressions of gratitude. Friendly overtures. Introductions, instead of demands. These might not be qualified technicians, but this level of ignorance?]

...It's a nice change. In, more than one way.

[thefaulty]

It is convenient, [Arid agrees. Without a doubt, it has made existing as a deviant AI far less dangerous than it would have been in their universe of origin.

And yet, even with that knowledge, Arid has resisted letting her guard down. Humans are not as consistent as AI and she has made the mistake of misjudging their intentions before. Perhaps there could be value in forming connections with them—but there are also obvious risks.]

You have more experience interacting directly with humans than I have, [Arid states.] Do you believe their expressions of camaraderie to be genuine?

[lostsymmetry]

[Arid always does choose the hard questions. He doesn't hesitate, but there's a wistful note to his voice.]

...They mean it. Most of them, anyway.

They don't have any reason not to.