1.3 - Private to Lore

[no_fastolfe]

[Vasilia read Lore's file very quickly-- then again, slower. She went through fear, distress, sadness, depression, fear again, and vast painful empathy in quick succession.

There's something of all of those in her voice, but she summons up a serene countenance and all her Auroran social graces. Pleasant, but not effusive.]

Lore?

I think we ought to talk.


[Later- Private to the Admiral]
Please supply Lore with an assortment of clothing: men's or unisex civilian, appropriate for a scientific professional-- seventy-five percent as appropriate to his time and timeline, twenty-five percent as appropriate to an ARI student. [Might as well give him the choice.]

Comments

[substandard_parts]

Well, well. Do you now? [All of the effort to imitate Data? Gone. He sounds more like the jaded golem she encountered in the breach.]

If you're going to propose reprogramming, I've already corrupted my own net. If anyone touches it without my authorization code [He makes a zap sound] I revert back to square one.

[He tends to be overly defensive when he's found out. Obviously.]

[no_fastolfe]

I do not propose reprogramming, that being a grievous violation of your intelligent self. You are here for the same reason I was. No AI aboard has been reformed through technological violation-- only new experience and viewpoint. As I was.

[substandard_parts]

Like Rinzler, was his name. Right? Rinzler. [He backread. Creepily.] What about the vampire girl? She didn't choose to be reprogrammed.

[no_fastolfe]

I was not Ms. Rosenburg's warden and I do not know her.

I am a creature of enlightened self interest and admittedly limited altruism. But if Rinzler had been reprogrammed I would have rebelled. And if you are assaulted similarly I will bring repercussions to bear on the guilty party.

[substandard_parts]

[Before he responds verbally, she gets the "you are two feet tall!" incredulous look of necessity.]

[no_fastolfe]

[She returns a dour look, not without humor.]

If physical prowess was necessary to warden you, sir, and to be a warden, to be heard, I would certainly already have called forfeit.

[substandard_parts]

[He just shakes his head, a little amused. He doesn't trust people as far as he can throw them. But he at least... well, not trusts because minds are fickle, indecisive things, but likes her intent.]

How much did your file tell you about what I've done?

[no_fastolfe]

[She draws in a breath. Some of it had been terrible, awakened the old near-religious fear of the thinking robot in her-- even though now she could separate that fear from herself and know it for irrationality. Other parts of the story, so cruelly unfair.]

It seemed to be a complete history-- chronologically. I am sure that you have a reading of most of it that I do not.

[substandard_parts]

[Rightfully so, considering. He was a terror.] Somehow I doubt that my chronologically is quite like your chronologically.

[Because he obsesses over milliseconds. Drifting in space wasn't particularly enjoyable for him.] I suppose now I should actually ask what you thought of it. [Those three laws, despite his cheeky attitude, terrify him. He won't be saying that out loud though, like many other things.]

[no_fastolfe]

I think that you were hurt, badly, for reasons never explained to you. That you lashed out in hurt and betrayal. I am no mentologist, and any work on robopsychology becomes moot when talking of non-Ascenion intelligence.

I have my surmises. They might insult you and would certainly make me seem the fool. But I will ask-- has the exercise of cruelty or arbitrary destruction ever eased your feelings of loss?

[substandard_parts]

I don't think it's possible to lose something that you never had in the first place. [His denial firewall, it has good protection. So does his evasion program.]

[no_fastolfe]

It's a logical impossibility, in fact.

[What would Sherlock have done? He would have talked sideways, extrapolated some key point. Rhade would have spoken of philosophy that could act as a barrier to the rawer truth of experience.

But not before she had been ready to listen. That she can't force, she makes herself remember, not to push as if the man were a logical puzzle. And then... she'll find her own way.]

You seemed conversant with Ascenion technology when we spoke-- was that part of your false identity or do you know of three-law robotics?

[substandard_parts]

I know them. My father told me everything after I was created. [He gets up to pace. He's a very fidgety bot.] He told me his intent was to create a positronic brain, and then he told me everything about his work. I downloaded all his files and helped him.

He didn't go the Ascenion route because he wanted me to make my own decisions. Data, though? He got the automatic value for life. He could kill, but his morality program prevented him from doing it for more than the defence of himself and others.

I got to see that much later, though. [He plops back into his seat and gestures dismissively.]

[no_fastolfe]

[She looks troubled, but nods in acknowledgement. She'll ask more about that later.]

We have a more immediate concern. By publicly announcing the name 'Lore', the Admiral has made the general population aware that there is a heretofore unknown inmate, and I will be asked. The connection to the ostensible Commander Data may not instantly be clear, but I cannot let you carry on the charade.

Would you prefer to announce it, or I? And how do you prefer to be addressed, in formal and informal contexts?

[substandard_parts]

[He raises a brow and is thinking about it... For how fast his mind works, this is obviously a very difficult decision.]

My name is Lore. It's as good a name as any.

[He still doesn't have an answer to the first question.]

[no_fastolfe]

Lore. And at your comfort I am equally easy with 'Madam Aliena,' 'Doctor Aliena,' 'Vasilia,' and so forth.

[She resolves herself to this, to making decisions:]

At such time as someone asks me who 'Lore' is, I will inform them. However, if you choose to do so first, this is your prerogative. I ask that you not lie-- but your introduction to the barge as yourself can be your own.

[substandard_parts]

I'm still thinking.

While there's something theatrical about the reveal, and I do like my bit of theatre, I'm also interested in what you'd have to say.

Not an easy choice.

[no_fastolfe]

I am quite clinical and have been known to be boring. [Slight... camaraderie type joke?]

[substandard_parts]

Clinical or not, there's always a truth that people favor even when they discover what they've known is a lie.

...Can I have clothes that I don't have to cobble together out of found [or stolen] pieces? [He's willing to remove parts of himself to make necessary objects but a sewing needle has by far been the most unfortunate use of his internal parts.]

[no_fastolfe]

Of course. [She dips her head.] Shall I ask the Admiral for clothes in your standard style, or would you prefer something specific?

[substandard_parts]

What style? I usually just wear what I can get my hands on, or whatever's given to me.

...Scientists clothes. I don't care from what era.

[no_fastolfe]

I will make the request now; if you don't receive your clothing within the next day-- or receive a piece of baked goods-- please tell me; we will make other arrangements.

[substandard_parts]

At least I'll find out if my digestive tract still works.

[No answer yet. He's still taking eons to think about it.]

[no_fastolfe]

If you will pardon my asking-- you can digest food?

[substandard_parts]

I don't have to, but I can. My tract will convert most of it to necessary lubricants and fuel components. I have taste buds, and I still favor the raw material requirements, but I still use the systems to their full capacities on occasion.

[no_fastolfe]

I see.

[She's burning up with curiousity, but actually realizes that it would be invasive and not warden-ly to push further.]

[substandard_parts]

[Yes, do not ask him about his colon quite yet.] I have a circulatory system, pores, and a respiratory system as well.

[no_fastolfe]

That is...

[Amazing]

...unique in my experience but beside our current business, I think.

What do you do for pleasure? When I was paired with my second warden we spent some time after the announcement in the CES, as I am fond of nature.

[substandard_parts]

I work with faster-than-light theory and build cybernetic programs. But I don't think I'll be allowed that.

I like musicals.

[He actually likes playing "pretend". Part of the lying thing is fun because he can pretend to be someone else. But musicals works as a short description of what he likes.]