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You sit in Pandora's room watching videos of dogs and not doing anything particularly constructive. It's almost time for the lessons to end and you haven't really covered much ground. You're not sure what to do, especially since you're still walking on eggshells around Pandora, only a short time ago having to bring in Grace to talk things over with her. What should you do?
>Attempt some last-minute cramming
>Call it a day and go _____ (write in)
>Head to R&D and see about the secret AI's new body
>Try to spend some quality time with Pandora
>Other (write in)

>>44256535
>Try to spend some quality time with Pandora
Hey AM, how's it going?

>>44256535
>Attempt some last-minute cramming
Maybe introduce the concept of tests/exams

>>44256730
I'm sick as shit, thanks for asking.

>>44256535
>>Try to spend some quality time with Pandora

>>44256535
>>Try to spend some quality time with Pandora

>>44256757
On a scale of "Minor Flu" to "Bubonic Plague", how bad? If you feel really sick, I don't mind waiting another day or so...

>>44256957
I'll live. Just a nasty case of post nasal drip that's driving me insane with having to cough and clear my throat every 30 seconds. Going to the doctors tomorrow to see if they can't give me some of that good shit.

Please roll 1d100 to not make your mechanical daughter hate you more. Best of 3.

Rolled 91 (1d100)

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Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>44256989
Oh boy. WHy couldn't we do some fun.

Anyone up for the robot guessing game?

Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>44256989
Rolling to make your nose stop dribbling shit down your throat

>>44257021
Cool! First thing that comes to mind is Temjin.

>>44257025
Were it so simple. Writing.

You figure Pandora's in a good enough mood to do something fun, so you quietly walk over to the game system, grab a couple controllers and ask if she'd be interested in a game. She is pensive at first, but carefully takes one. You let her be player 1.

You decide the racing game she's so fond of might be the best course of action, and maybe trouncing you a few rounds at it will improve her outlook toward you. Couldn't hurt anyway, right?
Roll 1d100 to play the vidyer. Best of 3.

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>44257124

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>44257124

Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>44257124

Rolled 15 (1d100)

>>44257124
I thought we were studying though.

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>>44257241
Writing.

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>>44257285
I hope this means Pandora just beats us really hard.

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You begin the game well enough, picking a car at random and letting her choose the track. You begin, Grace watching from the sidelines as she gathers up her things. You do your best, but for some reason Pandora seems a little distracted. You notice her glancing over at you repeatedly and it causes her to make mistake after mistake and soon enough you beat her for the first time. However, not just once but repeatedly. You see her crash, miss turns and just generally screw up to the point of failure. She gets frustrated with each loss, causing her to make even more poor choices. Eventually she gets fed up and throws the controller down, her hair shifting to a firey red, and storms out of the room.

"This game is stupid!" Pandora shouts as she leaves in a huff. "I'm not playing anymore! Go away!"

It seems like she wasn't quite as over it as you thought she was. Back to square one. You sigh deeply and hold your head in your hands.

Grace puts a sympathetic hand on your shoulder. "This is a new concept to her. She needs a little time to work things out." She does her best to give you a sincere smile, but you can tell her heart's not in it.

You ask Grace to put Pandora to sleep in your stead, not sure going into her room would be the best idea right now. Space sounds like a good idea for the moment.
>Go to R&D to see the secret AI's body
>Go to bed early and hope things will be better by tomorrow
>Contact ____ (write in)
>Other (write in)

>>44257591
>>Go to R&D to see the secret AI's body

>>44257591
>Go to R&D to see the secret AI's body

>>44257591
Lets uh... Go to R&D...

>>44257742
Okey dokey. Writing.

You thank Grace for her help and being your go-between. She asks if you need anything or want to relay anything to Pandora, but you insist you're fine and will see her next time. She seems concerned, but leaves the matter alone for now.

You decide you should check out the new AI's body despite your sour mood and head over to R&D. At the very least you'll get to see Babsy and the others. Still, you can't manage to go anything faster than a slow stroll.

You arrive and the door slides open with it's usual heavy thud after you scan your ID. No one is in the entryway room, but you can hear the sounds of work and shouting from the back room. As you enter, you see the team working on various projects, sparks and machines whirring all around you as Mouse orders the others around, a data pad in one hand and what looks to be some kind of servo in the other. They notice you almost immediately and you are met with a hug from Babsy.

"We saw what happened." Babsy says, her four arms wrapped around you tightly, "Are you alright? There was nothing you could do, that wasn't your fault! These things are hard to-"

"It's fine." you cut her off gently, "I'm...it's fine. For now, I'd just like to see our...project. You said it was ready?"

"Yeah." Mouse speaks up, reaching into a small drawer and producing what looks like a webcam with speakers and wheels. "Ready for the little bastard's test run. As well as my favorite wrench for when...IF it goes wrong." She pats an heavy wrench of almost comical proportions. "It's got basic text-to-speech software, a microphone and camera, so it can speak as well as hear and see everything. Unfortunately." This last bit has a tinge of venom to it.
>Install the AI immediately
>Speak to the AI first (write in)
>Other (write in)

>>44258111
>>Install the AI immediately
Can't really think of anything to write-in.

>>44258111
>Install the AI immediately

>>44258111
Install it immediately but amake sure its like... in a box or something. kind of like when you put up a gate to prevent a dog from going upstairs.

>>44258279
Writing! (Sorry, WC and brewing tea.)

>>44258472
Wouldn't be PQ without me dropping my trip.

>>44258410
It's a body that can't really do much. It couldn't even open a door, there's no worry of it attacking a person or trying to connect to a computer or anything like that IIRC.

You decide the best course of action would be to just get on with it and get the thing in there. Besides, you doubt talking to it would yield anything beyond it explaining what you need to "rectify". You hook up the computer to the body switch it on, a small green light next to the camera lens flickers to life, then begins blinking rapidly as the data begins to pour into it. The whole process is alarmingly fast, taking only about 5 minutes for a staggering amount of information to be transferred between two rather inferior sources. After it has passed, you hear several beeps coming from the body as it springs to life, it's tiny wheels spinning up as it begins to rapidly zip about the room, stopping every so often to focus on something. This continues for several minutes as it takes in it's surroundings, occasionally bumping into things. It remains silent the entire time.

"So..." you begin, jumping back a bit as it suddenly swivels to face you, "Ah...what do you think? How's your physical body?"

It's camera zooms in on you, focusing carefully in what you can only assume is thought. "It is small." it says in a monotone, unisex, artificial voice "My ability to interact with physical objects is greatly limited. Rectify."

There's it's famous catchphrase. Now what?
>Offer to give it a better body if it's good
>Tell it this is all it can have for now until you're ready
>TRIAL'S OVER, SMASH IT MOUSE!
>Other (write in)

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>>44258774
Sorry for the wait, tea was ready. Here's some fanart from Twitter to make up for it.

>>44258774
>>Other (write in)
Hugs for newbot!

>>44258774
>>Offer to give it a better body if it's good
Explain to it that just yammering "rectify" isn't going to get it far. Give it some basic rules to keep it out of trouble. Observe it for a while to see how it's handling the rules. Hope its obedience isn't just pretense. Give it a bigger yet still weak body if it remains compliant for a long enough span of time, I'd say weeks but in quest terms that would be ages, so maybe days? Make sure it has something to do during that time, have the techs interact with it.

>>44258774
>Tell it this is all it can have for now until you're ready

Thread? You still alive?

>>44258832
>>44258774
Yes! We shall teach it to love with the medium of hugs and snuggles!

>>44258877
Second

>>44259194
Yes? It's between very early and just regular early morning on a Saturday in Europe and America though. You can't expect too much from a sleeping world.

>>44259289
Being on the West Coast is suffering, anon. Writing.

>>44258774
>What have you learned? Your answer will greatly determine how your current status will be "rectified"
I'm almost ready to smash it.

>>44259194
Been entertaining, sort of had a big "no longer in college" party today. so yeah. sorry if i can't do stuff. busy being graduated.

This write in is best. >>44258832

You reach down and gently pick up the small machine, placing it carefully on the table. It's kind of cute when you think about it. You fight the urge to pet it.

"Well...uh..." you begin, realizing halfway through that this AI still doesn't have a name, "maybe we can make you something a little more...substantial if you behave. Follow instructions and-"

"Similar parameters as before." it cuts you off, slowly scanning over the room as it speaks, "Will this new platform have motor function enough to move about this complex? I desire to gather data on my surroundings. I desire to...explore. To learn. I know little of my existence and place in your world. I wish to rectify." Behind it, you see Mouse frowning and violently shaking her head no, then pointing to her wrench which you now notice has the words "PROBLEM SOLVER" painted on the side of it.
>Agree to a larger body and to take it on a tour of the Facility
>Refuse
>MOUSE, DO IT!
>Other (write in)

>>44259571
>>44259386

>>44259571
>Other (write in)
>Pat it on the "head" explain it is a way to express familiarity and affection
>Then begin with a short tour. Maybe if we indulge it's curiousity, we can subtly influence to become a more logistical/tactical military robot, rather then a front-line infantrybot.

>>44259571
>Refuse

>>44259675
>>44259692
>>44259816
Things are pretty split right now. Keep voting!

>>44259571
>>Refuse
Tell it about the rules constraints. We can't just let it become known.

>>44259571
>Refuse

>>44259945
Alright, writing!

You lightly pat the AI on it's...head? You realize it has no idea what that means, but figure it'd be best to just move on.

"See, there's an issue there," you say, shrugging and spreading your hands, "there are very specific rules here. Technically you're breaking one of them by simply existing and we could get in a lot of trouble, not to mention you could get destroyed if people knew about you. So, I don't think we'd be able to have you out and about, walking around the Facility...at least...not for a long while, anyway. Maybe someday, but it's just not feasible right now. Uh...sorry."

"I am to be limited to this form indefinitely?" it asks, it's lens focusing on your face once more, "My existence is to be limited to this small room, confined in this small platform, never knowing my true purpose?" Despite not having emotion, there is something poignant about it's words.

"Well, when you put it that way..." you say, a bit at a loss for words.

"Then I would make a request of you." it says, wheeling slightly closer.

"Sure," you say, trying to sound cheerful "what is it?"

"I wish to be destroyed." it says matter-of-factly.

"Wh-" you begin, quickly standing between it and an all-too-eager Mouse. "Why?!"

"My existence is without meaning." it replies, turning to face Mouse, "I serve no purpose beyond what little I am able to do within this prison of a room, a bastard intelligence created by accident. I have no goals because I have no grasp of the world at large. I do not know emotion as you do, nor do I know if I am capable of it. So, with no meaning to my presence here, I have no reason to continue. I am vestigial. I wish to be ended to spare myself more time in a cage with no point. I ask again; I wish for you to end my existence."

Wow...
>Comply and end it's suffering
>Refuse and try to find a middle ground
>Other (write in)

>>44260262
>Refuse and try to find a middle ground
well MAYBE now it'll start listening to lessons now. Seriously we can get all Plato's cave.

>>44260262
Hug Emobot.

Explain that not knowing one's reason for existing is a pretty damn human thing to feel, and that everyone here felt like that once.

>>44260262
>>Refuse and try to find a middle ground
"You're no different to everyone else in this regard, no person was ever just given meaning. We all have to find and create our own meaning. That's what makes us persons."

Try to have it learn what it can in its current environment, from the techs and such. If that's insufficient to it then offer to shut it down and put it into hibernation until we can safely give it the option to explore the wider world.

>>44260262
>Comply and end it's suffering

>>44260381
>>44260262
Also, in that same vein, let's stop calling it "it", and give him or her a name. We ask for input from the AI on this of course.

I think I have the votes I need. Sorry, phone's been blowing up. Writing!

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that." you say sadly, "I understand that you don't understand your place in life, but neither did any of us. We all had to discover it for ourselves. It takes time to figure something like that out."

It pans across the room once again, "So each of you were confined to a small room within an inferior platform for much of your life?" Ouch.

"W-well, no...but, ah..." you struggle to find the words.

"Then I see little to compare in our existences. I was a mistake. One that has been treated as some form of secret shame among you. I have no what you refer to as family or kin, my closest would be the pet, whom I've yet to speak to in person. You, human, have hope. You have life. A true chance. I, however, have only to wait for a possible future where I may be allowed to leave my captivity. I would rather the certainty of non-existence, though if I am correct in my understanding, I am not granted this either. I would ask for you to rectify, but I can only assume this will not be."

You're feeling a little ashamed right now, like you're stringing it along, but at the same time you don't want to just kill it because it doesn't understand life. "What if I put you into hibernation? You could sleep until we found a way to-"

"Do what you will." it interjects, "My word is insubstantial. I have said what I wish, but cannot resist your whims. I have no power and am lashed to your designs."

Sheesh.
>Put it into hibernation
>Leave it awake for now
>Other (write in)

>>44260702
>It pans across the room once again, "So each of you were confined to a small room within an inferior platform for much of your life?" Ouch.

Isn't that basically just childhood? Being physically inadequate and unable to go where you want?

Why don't we just do the whole "parenting" thing and tell him he can work his way up to increased (though not complete) independence if he demonstrates maturity and responsible behavior?

>>44260702
>Leave it awake for now
You only lack purpose because you have not yet learned the lessons and gained the experience necessary to exercise what small freedoms you DO have.

It may not be the same, nor fair when compared to humans, but you need to show that you deserve freedom more than need it.

>>44260702
>>Other (write in)
When it inevitably finds flaws in our logic about trying to keep it alive, try not to cry like a bitch.

End up crying like a bitch anyways...

>>44260702
>Put it into hibernation
Maybe one day the General will want a third AI, but until then we might as well just let this guy sleep.
Also then he won't be such a hassle.

>>44260702
>Put it into hibernation
Sleep well AIpper

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>>44260702
>Put into hibernation.
But lets make a promise at least. We'll see him again.

It seems like the little guy actually grew.. .and has some sense of his life... but he pretty much IS too dangerous to have a round. its just... yeah.

This whole thing is giving me sad vibes...

Is hibernation... Death?

>>44260846
I don't know, anon, is it?

Writing.

You're feeling worse by the second, like your attempts at playing god have led you to some kind of impossible Sophie's choice you're not ready for. You honestly feel bad for this AI even though as far as you can tell it is devoid of anything resembling emotion and hope you're doing the right thing. You think sparing it is the best, most morally sound action you could perform, even if it would be locked in hibernation until whenever you're ready to let it out.

"I'll put you into hibernation for now," you say, carefully picking it up, "but so you know, someday I do hope to let you out. I'll find a way somehow." These are the last words it hears from you before you switch it to hibernation mode, but it manages out one final sentence.

"But what of your pet?" it's voice gradually fades out into nothing as the light grows dim and it's body ceases movement. You didn't like that last sentiment one bit.

I'm going to call it a night for tonight, but thank you so much for playing! If you liked the thread, please vote it up on the archive and follow me on Twitter! I can stick around for a little bit to answer any questions you might have!

>>44261018
Thanks for running AM

>>44261018
Thanks AM. sorry i couldn't do much art this week. Celebrating freedom from collegiate financial burden can do that to yah.

oh and i never provided an answer to the thing here. >>44257021
But maybe I'll provide that next time. Needless to say its something i've been rewatching.

>>44261210
Oooooooh, it's that anime. Fuck I forget what it's called, but I know what one you mean.

>>44260702
This thing feels entirely too aware of itself and the world to be a young and inexperienced AI.