1
"What do you mean that's what the results are?", Desdemona demanded.
2
"What do you mean that's what the results are?", Dr. Ayo demanded.
1 & 2
The General rubbed the bridge of her nose. "You can either accept the results or you can accept the alternatives. And their consequences.
"You rigged this test as heavily in your favor as you could. And you failed.
"Fortunately for everybody, this works out in everybody's favor. Because I've accounted for it.
2
"So you expect us to abide by this?", Li asked.
The Director scoffed. "That's the Brotherhood talking."
"And your attempt to act like these machines are people is the Railroad talking!", she replied.
"It's the science talking.", the younger woman asserted. "Isn't that what the Institute abides by? Isn't that what I, as Director, should be concerned with?"
"Binet/"
"Binet has designed the very synths we're talking about. If their behavior shows not only as sentient but unpredictably so, even to the entirety of Robotics, indistinguishable from our own then there's no more evidence that they're machines."
Binet objected.
1
"What about the others?", Desdemona objected.
"They didn't pass.", the General stated. "The deal was a fair test. You got it. All above board. And not one of the machines you brought in here passed. They all responded to stimuli just as their design specifications dictated.
"Including the ones you've mind wiped. You know, the ones the Institute can't have the psych evals or personality profiles of. Because that's exactly why you gave them new memories. To evade exactly this."
The spymaster reminded. "But you said that two passed."
"Neither of which were yours. Or should I say, the Institute's property that you obsconded with when they malfunctioned.", the General stated. "Not Glory, who you should have known better than to try. Really? An ex-Courser who when granted the opportunity to do whatever she would decided to be a semi-clandestine combat operator for an underground organization. I was impressed that you managed to find K4-90 though: I never thought I'd see him again after he chose to confide in the humans he called his friends. Then it turns out he was designed solely for companionship and sex ed training and its systems couldn't keep from being absolutely honest with anyone. It's why you cut him loose from the Railroad isn't it?"
"But two passed!", Desdemona repeated.
"They were my people. And I expect you to thank me."
2
"We're not thanking you for this.", Binet finished.
"Sure you are.", the Director told him. "It provides opportunities.
"Because now your field can advance beyond what you thought possible, sooner than you ever imagined. Psychology, A.I., pathway design... Singularity could invent a sentient beyond ours. And if we are to compete in this universe, it will have to be at the best capacity we can obtain. Our sentience will have to be matched, if not mimicked, before that's possible.
"Because it offers the chance to show the entire Commonwealth reform. By acknowledging the synths that pass have a right to citizenship, you show a whole new side of the Institute. One that's judging itself, and taking care not to fall into its old ways. Because eventually we are going to have to do something that isn't going to pass mustard with the Commonwealth. And an Institute that's seen as having turned over a new leaf and willing to judge itself and its past misdeeds harshly is going to have a lot more credibility denying an incident we can cover up or claiming we can correct a situation that we cannot.
"And finally, because it was the deal. We now have control of the Railroad.
1
"You're calling everyone I've been fighting for property and you expect me to follow your command?", Desdemona exclaimed.
"Yes.", General answered. "That was the deal. We test the synths for sentience. If someone makes it, they're a citizen of the Commonwealth. And in exchange, the Railroad is now under the command the Minutemen.
"So there may be some small ceremony as Sheriff Curie is formally acknowledged as the first artificial life form that is a full fledged member of the Commonwealth. And I assure you, that's the only one that will be any time soon.
"But I am not unkind. Because I believe that I've realized the key to true sentience for these people. So there will be testing for every synth. And every synth that says they want freedom will be monitored for potential sentience, given time and opportunity to develop that sentience, and granted citizenship should it achieve a level of real thought. After all: we don't ask babies to be kings.
"Nor am I stingy. Yes, you will expose every single synth you've taken into custody. However - any synths that aren't mimicking criminal behaviors can be allotted to my Intelligence Colonel as necessary equipment. Glory serves no one in a box. The unit she is now could end up serving her future self just as well as the rest of the Commonwealth in the meantime.
"Now. Is the Railroad going to keep its end of the bargain? Or are you going to put all your people and your synths directly in the line of fire of a public Institute, the entire Minutemen and a populace that doesn't trust you? Because I would much rather have the Institute understand that there is another layer of responsibility in generating a Mark III synth. I'd much rather have Minutemen not running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
"And if you won't think of the Commonwealth, think of your goals. Civil rights at the option of peace and the threat of violence often come so much faster than at the point of violence. The Kennedys' surrender to Martin Luther King Jr. in the light of Malcolm X. The LGBT movement's rise after its rash of riots came to an end. Whereas the Civil War didn't really give rise to a successful Reconstruction - instead it gave birth to the Redemption."
Desdemona pointed out, "Not all of us have a 21st century education. You're after me because I'm much more knowledgeable about current events.
"But we'll do things your way.
"I do want to know. Who was the other success."
The General shook her head. "Already dead. So it doesn't matter anymore. But more than that, I actually can't tell you."
