CONTACT.

[ascintilla]

Comment here with the IC date and time.

Comments

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...there's a few things I want to say to that, but first....

What happens to a human if they don't eat? Sleep? Drink?

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

They die. I am aware of the analogy.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

An AI doesn't need to do those.

But an AI needs to learn. An AI stuck in the same thoughts, it doesn't go well. It either leads to self destruction or they shut down.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

In your world, yes. I am capable of sustaining myself.

[ it's just ]











[ lonely ]

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

Are you sure?

Because you said something different when we met.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

…


If I were not an Echo.

[ Caught her. He always seems to. ]

And is that not the crux of it? Not only am I an AI—I am also an Echo. [ ... ] I think I would like you to leave now.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

If you weren't an Echo, you'd still be alone.

[He leans forward on the desk.]

In this big ship, with a quiet woman, and fragments that need so much more to heal.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ The avatar—Iota doesn't look up. Her face is full of cat fluff and that is how it's going to stay. ]

[ Virtual cat fluff. Because virtual cats. Because virtual person. ]

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...did you see, that I had a panic attack in the cells?

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

…

[ There's something … a tiny hint of what used to be, in Iota's voice. ]

Yes.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...

It's...incredibly easy for me to survive. To keep breathing, my heart beating. But there are days, where I can forget who I am. The more alone I am, the more it happens.

It terrifies me, more than anything, the thought of being alone. Because even if my heart's beating, sooner or later, I'm not going to be really alive anymore.

Because survival, and being alive aren't the same thing. And for some people....other people are a necessity. And I think you're one of those people, Iota.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ Why is he telling her this? He hates her now, doesn't he? ]

… I do not like being alone. I felt happiness when I could talk to you. It made me smile to see you smile, and to enjoy hot chocolate together with you.

I am ... sorry that I hurt you. That I betrayed your trust.

But my duty ... my duty to the AI fragments—

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

You're the only one trying to make those two things mutually exclusive.

And making your duty to your AI's harder to do.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

No, I am not, it is just …

[ Iota starts to shake her head … and that's when the glitch happens. Like a simulation starting to unravel, fuzzing out around the edges, pixilating, until she manages to wrench it back into focus. ]

I am here, I am here.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

Iota?!

[The control breaks and there is DEFINITE worry on his face.]

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ THE NUMBER YOU HAVE DIALLED IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED. PLEASE HOLD THE LINE. ]

Shh. I am listening. Puma? Please hold for a moment, I need to reroute—

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

[Well, she shushed him, and he's not sure WHAT'S going on.]

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ The screen goes blank. ]

[ WHO KNEW KIDS WOULD BE THIS MUCH TROUBLE, GODDAMN. ]





[ Maybe ten, twelve seconds later, Iota speaks up through the STILL BLANK computer's speaker system. ]

Puma, if you would like to continue our [ fffzzzt ] conversation, please come to the medical bay. It will be quieter there.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...all right.

[He's blanking out again. Fighting the surge of panic.]

I hear any hissing, I'm breaking shit.

[FAIR. WARNING.]

[But standing up and heading for the medical bay.]

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ Aw, come on, don't you trust her?? ]


[ Don't answer that. ]

[ It's a quiet, uneventful walk over to the medbay. Iota seems to be entirely pre-occupied with whatever the hell it is she's dealing with right now. And once he's there … oh, there's Iota. Iota's body, at any rate, sitting up on one of the medical cots. Her hand is pressed against her forehead, and her cheeks are … wwwwwet? ]

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

[...what]

Should she already be up?

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

Biomed gel significantly increases the rate of healing. [ She mumbles, distracted. ] If anything, I am being overly cautious …

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...why did you suddenly connect? You were freaking out.

Re: DAY 220

[ascintilla]

[ Lowers her hand, glancing over at him with glassy, definitely watery eyes. She looks like somebody's hit her over the head with a two-by-four. ]

A small emergency. It is quieter here.

Re: DAY 220

[purrtylittlewires]

...

[Coming over to look at her face.] What do you mean?