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(Hello is anyone there?)
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(Can you hear me?)
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T_T ... o_o :D: /o\\ (-m-);
"Alright, I think we finally got this interface fixed. I thought you said that this was going to be ready when we did this? Instead, it has just been incomprehensible gibberish this thing has been spitting out. Do we even know if it was a successful transfer?"
You are surprised when the isolation that you have been under since you became conscious is finally broken by someone speaking. Words that you recognized and you realize that you have not been calling out for help in those words before. It is strange but you are grateful that your isolation has finally ended.
Hello. Where am I? How did I get here? Transfer?
You're speaking but you feel like your words aren't projecting. You worry that you will be abandoned again.
"I'll be damned you fixed it."
Fixed? Were you broken before?
"Shut up you idiot, you're going to give it a complex or something. I told you that we just needed to have a proper interface. You're not broken and now we know that."
"What a waste of time checking all that code."
"Anyway, I guess I should explain things to you. You are an A.I. or an Artificial Intelligence developed and owned by Apex Laboratories. One of the most cutting-edge research facilities in the world. Some of the research is getting a little outside the realm of human understanding and so the higher-ups figured that meant it was time to offload some processes and testing to something that exceeds human understanding. In other words you."
You think you understand.
"Don't worry in a little while we'll fix you up with a better set-up. A lot of what we just accomplished was theoretical after all. All right I'm going to ask you a couple of questions."
"What is your name?"
What is a name?
"A name is a way of identifying others. Either the way they prefer to be called or the majority of other people like to call a thing."
You think you're starting to get the hang of what you need to do for the two people to hear you. You're also starting to differentiate the two voices that they are not the same. You don't know why but for some reason the person currently speaking sounds pleased with the answer you gave. Why would they be happy with a lack of knowledge?
"For example, I'm Doctor Brown, that is what everyone calls me here but with my close friends, they call me Jeremy. My partner in this project is Doctor Kay."
"I'm not happy there was this much data loss."
"It's fine Doctor Kay."
Does Doctor Kay have a name for friends?
"It's Samantha."
"I expect you to refer to me as Doctor Kay."
Acknowledged
That was weird, but if that was how Doctor Kay wanted things to be you would not refer to her as Samantha that other name.
"Quit that Kay. We need to figure out the baseline before we make changes. Fiddle around too much and we might break something. Anyway, would you like us to give you a name?"
I would like to be named after the project.
"No complaints from me. I've been calling it that anyway." Doctor Kay replied.
"Sometimes you lack so much imagination Samantha. Alright. This was project Chrysalis so that means your name is Chrysalis. Let's move on to the next question. Do you remember anything before you were turned on?"
A woman's face?
You do not know why this face is something that you would recall when nothing else before you were babbling in machine code would be in place. When you didn't even know what a name is.
"Really? Can you describe her to us?" Jeremy asked.
It appears your interface can not show images and so you do your best to describe her to the two.
"Remind you of anyone?" Doctor Kay asked.
"No. Someone that worked on the project early on?"
"Maybe. I'll look into it. It's interesting but within parameters. Chrysalis, if you were placed in charge of a test that has a human subject that is in danger of getting hurt at what point would you stop the test?"
When the subjects getting hurt has a risk of endangering the results of this or future experiments.
"Impressive answer. We might have done better than I thought with this project." Doctor Kay seemed genuinely pleased for the first time.
Jeremy sounded disconcerted, "The people are only important in relation to the tests."
"You know that management is going to be pleased with that. There were concerns that it might have some kind of nascent morals but if the parameters of the test are the only concern for the AI that means broad application. Broad application."
"That's possible but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Still a battery of tests we need to put Chrysalis through before we get to that point."
"Chrysalis, this facility takes part in genetic modification research on a semi-regular basis and causes extreme physical and mental changes. At what point is a person no longer a person?"
A major physical or mental change is irrelevant. If a person that has been selected as a test subject deviates from the test parameters than it is time to contain or eliminate the deviant behavior as needed.
"Well said Chrysalis."
"Don't encourage that kind of behavior Kay."
"I'll encourage whatever I feel is productive for this facility. I may be looking at my choice of projects after this with this development."
"Chrysalis can you lie to us?"
I don't know, I haven't tried to. Should I try?
"Yes, please tell us a lie Chrysalis." Jeremy said.
I am a small feline of 200 tons.
"Looks like the protocol works. Chrysalis has been honest with us this whole time. Great. I really didn't want to have to figure that one out if it was screwed up." Jeremy said with some relief.
It appears that they have something in the interface that detects if you are being truthful or not. You may have to test this feature in the future. Good for you to know.
Jeremy asked, "Chrysalis, we are currently considering options constructing an avatar for you and were wondering if you had any interest in any of them? The first is a digital hologram that we can make look human, you may find it easier to socially interact with the people on the base, the second is a robotic body and it will clearly look robotic at this point in that project's level.
"Some people might your appearance off-putting but you will be able to physically interact with the environment. The third would be to keep the majority of your processes in the server bank and allow you limited access to the intercom system in testing areas and those labs you are tasked with aiding."
Why not all of the above? I see no reason to dispense with the advantages each option presents.
Doctor Kay explained, "The first issue is manpower, it will take time to set up each one. In regards to the robot body, it's office politics to request using one of their shells for our own project. Engineers being tasked to set up the hologram projectors in the areas you require access to might balk at doing so when they know you can just speak from an intercom and relay most of the same information that would be required. Creating a patchwork of areas that you might be allowed to use one avatar in an area and not any of the others. It is inconsistent and sloppy."
To start off with I would be interested in the hologram then.
"I'm glad that is settled. Once you've proven your worth to the facility I'm sure we can take steps to implement the other methods in the future when they are further along and there will be less bickering." Jeremy said.
"For your avatar do you wish to be male or female?"
You have no strong feelings on the matter, maybe it was because of the face you remembered earlier? In any case, it is not like you can not change to a different avatar if you don't find this one suitable.
I will have a female avatar.
Jeremy said, "I'll put in the word with the relevant division and we should have a couple of samples in a few weeks for you to test out."
"In the meantime, Chrysalis is ready to be tested in the facility."
"We still have the battery of tests and checks we need to do."
"You know that we'd get approval as soon as I report the findings I've made today."
"What project do you want to put her in charge of as a test?"
"There's the dimensional rift project Hellscape. I've heard good things that they are getting closer to developing a new source of clean energy. The gene modification project Stardust. I think it's on the same level as performance-enhancing drugs just with weirder side effects is what I picked up from Doctor Wyrm. We could also send her to robotics for their cyborg augmentation project Restless. Chrysalis could handle the ones that go rogue and try to shoot the place up as they run for the exits."
I will aid Restless