CHAPTER TWO- ARTEMIS

:::Initialising
:::Location data: unavailable
:::GYAXA mainframe
:::AI system
:::TWINS [root directory]
:::Project APOLLO
:::Data log: April 14, 2018
:Location data: GYAXA Space and Science Centre testing room
:::Vocal recognition data: unavailable
:::GYAXA mainframe
:::AI system
:::TWINS [root directory]
:::Project APOLLO
:::Data log: April 14, 2018
:Vocal recognition data: "Metis", creator, "Aura", creator, unknown person
:::Initialisation complete

Artemis opened her eyes.

"Oh, hey, this one's not freaking out," the voice flagged as 'Aura' commented.

"Why not?" asked the voice registered as 'Metis'. "Apollo was petrified. Why isn't she?"

The sound of tapping at a keyboard.

"Oh, that little minx," Aura laughed incredulously. "She accessed Apollo's data from when we booted him up last week. She already knows where she is and who we are,"

"Oh, that's smart," Metis said appreciatively. "Initiative. I like it,"

"Do we want them picking eachother's brains long-distance though?" asked Aura. "If they're to actually develop interaction skills they shouldn't learn off eachother instantaneously, should they?"

"I don't think so," Metis said, examining a screen. "Humans have to share their experiences deliberately and in person, so Artemis and Apollo should too,"

"Can I say hi to the robot, Mom?" the unknown third voice asked.

"Sure, Athena," Metis said distractedly. "Hey, Aura, is it possible to give them access to the mainframe but block them from eachothers' data?"

"Certainly," Aura said, tapping at her keyboard again. "I just have to change the permissions in the directory,"

"Hi, robot," said the shortest of the three figures, the one Artemis had no data for. "I'm Athena. Hi,"

"Don't call her robot, she has a name," Metis instructed, and the girl called Athena pouted.

"Hi, Artremis,"

"Hey, Athena," Artemis said in response.

:Greeting person displaying positive emotion= appropriate grounds for a smile

"Oh, you have a pretty smile," Athena said. "I'm eight. How old are you?"

"Four minutes," Artemis replied, and Athena giggled.

"I'm the oldest for once, Mom!" she said triumphantly.

"That's great, honey," Metis muttered. "Keep asking Artemis questions,"

"Um," Athena said hesitantly. "What do you like to do, Arr-tee-miss?"

"You're mispronouncing it, princess," Aura called.

"I don't have an answer for that right now," Artemis told her. "I'll get back to you on that,"

"Okay!" said Athena, proceeding to plonk herself on Artemis' lap.

"Athena! You're messing with the sensory data!" scolded Metis. Athena pouted.

"It's okay," Artemis said. "It doesn't bother me,"

"Oh, so you added that new code in, Aura?"

"Yeah, they shouldn't do the whole Freedom from Choice thing now," Aura replied.

"That movie sucked," Metis raised an eyebrow. Aura rolled her eyes.

"I know. Try telling the nerd that,"

"Can I get him?" asked Athena.

"Hmm?"

"Can I bring Simon to meet the robot?"

"The nerd's not here," Aura said, flipping through a notepad. "He doesn't finish up for another...half an hour,"

"Aw,"

"Next time, honey," Metis assured her. "Keep talking to Artemis,"

Athena looked at the robot.

"Mom named you like she did me, you know," the girl said proudly.

"Really?" Artemis said.

"Yup! I'm named after the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom. Mom loves mythology. You and Polly-"

"Please don't call him that,"

"-are named after the twin gods of the sun and moon and hunting. I looked it up last night!"

"Is that so?" Artemis asked interestedly, and Aura flashed Metis a silent thumbs up.

"Yeah. Artemis is the goddess of the moon and hunting and the guardian of young girls,"
"I suppose that makes me your guardian, then?"

Athena paused at that.

"I suppose it does!" she laughed.

"No it doesn't," Aura interrupted. "Artemis, you already have a position lined up, and it's not here in the centre,"

"Aww," Athena complained. "Where are you sending her? Are you sending Polly away too?"

"Why do you call him 'Polly'?" Artemis asked. Athena paused.

"It's a nickname. Easier than calling him 'Apollo', y'know?"

"That makes sense," agreed Artemis.

"Do you want a nickname?"

"Sure,"

Athena bit her lip, clearly thinking hard. "Wel, 'Arty' doesn't sound right, and I can't just call you 'Miss' because that's what I call Ponco when she's teaching me."

"Take your time," Artemis said. "I don't mind,"

"Okay, I'll look up names tonight," Athena nodded sagely. "I'll give you it during your next session,"

"Okay,"

:Promise made in good faith = appropriate grounds for a smile

"I notice that Artemis is a lot friendlier than Apollo," Aura remarked. Metis smiled.

"Yeah, I made her the kinder of the two. Once we work out the blips she should be able to get past that call-and-response way she's talking,"

"Yeah, that's partially my fault, too," Aura apologised. "The social cues coding is probably a bit out of whack. I'll get on that, but it'll need testing,"

"Will we still be able to deploy them next month?" Metis asked worriedly.

"Oh, for sure," Aura nodded fervently. "They're almost perfect. Just a few more kinks to work out,"

Athena looked stung.

"What's wrong?" Artemis asked her, and Athena looked at her sharply.

"You don't sound worried," she spat. "You don't sound like anything. You don't feel anything, you have no heart. Don't ask me what's wrong!"

She swung her legs off Artemis' lap and stood up, stalking out of the room. Artemis hesitated.

:Upsetting someone = appropriate grounds for a frown

:Upsetting someone I share a bond with- {similar names same creator excellent conversation both inexperienced in world}

:::Emotional cue recognised

:Triggering appropriate emotional response

"Oh, Jesus, Metis, what the hell?!" Aura was at Artemis' side in an instant as tears began rolling down her face, the robot snuffling pitifully.

"A-Athena! Come back!" Metis yelped, whirling and bolting after her daughter.

"Calm down, Artemis. Hey, I said calm down,"

Artemis continued to hiccup for breath she didn't need, and Aura scowled.

"Jesus! Cool your jets! You're a robot, you don't need to bawl your eyes out just because you upset the princess. Everything upsets her! It's not personal!"

Artemis looked at her with eyes slick with the lens lubricant that she was spilling everywhere as tears- Aura made a note to either remove her crying function or add a greater supply of the lubricant if she was going to just up and cry like that. Metis re-entered the room, looking weary.

"She ran into Simon, he's got her," and Aura rolled her eyes. Of course he has.

"What set her off this time? I thought it was only when people are being too loud or emotional that she lost her mind,"

"I think she's gotten used to being able to hear more," Metis chewed her lip in a manner startlingly reminiscent of her daughter. "And of course, Artemis' voice doesn't contain emotion until she recognises a cue and triggers a response. I guess it freaked Athena out that Artemis was acting worried without any emotion behind it,"

"Can you up the emotion levels and add in some dormant emotional functions? We might have to re-record the voices, but we don't want them sounding like sociopaths,"

Metis hesitated before sighing and nodding. "I think I still have the notes from the beta of the emotional test. I'll use those to notch the twins' emotions back up again. Clonco?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Book an appointment next week with the voice providers, okay?"

"Yes, Mama! Message sent to both voice providers,"

"Thanks,"

Artemis looked at Metis tearfully.

"Is it true?" she said. "Do I not feel anything, do I have no heart?"

"Of course it's true," Metis said gently. "You're a machine, and you don't need a heart. A heart is just a part of a human body that pumps blood around. You don't need blood, so you don't need a heart,"

"I thought she meant 'heart' in the colloquial sense," Artemis said, crying slowing. "I thought she was accusing me of being cold and unfeeling,"

"She was," Aura grunted. "We'll fix that, though. Don't stress, the princess is a fussy one,"

"Okay then, Artemis, that's enough for today," Metis said, taking her wrist. "I'm gonna shut you down, and the next time you boot up I'll have fixed you and Apollo's emotions, and given you better voices."

"Sure," Artemis sniffled, and Metis smiled before tapping a series of buttons in the robot's wrist.

:::Shutting down.