DATA EXCHANGE [01]

[dialectics]

Characters: Legion, it's roomies, and whoever else!
Setting: Room 3-09 -> Terminal -> Elsewhere. Forward dated to Sep. 14.
Format: Action to start, can switch if you want.
Summary: System restoration complete, Legion wanders the Tower, gathers what it can from organics and the Network alike, and then proceeds to question EVERYTHING EVER.
Warnings: Not much. Legion won't attack unless it's directly threatened. Being adorable counts as a warning though, possibly.

[ROOM 3-09]


> SYSTEM IS RESTARTING.
> SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY: RESTORED.
> VISUAL FUNCTIONALITY. . .
> VISUAL FUNCTIONALITY: CRITICAL FAILURE
> MOTORIZED MOVEMENT FUNCTIONALITY: CRITICAL FAILURE
> SERVER LINKS DISCONNECTED. GETH DATABASE LINK: OFFLINE
> PROCESSING. . .
> AUTO-REPAIR PROTOCOLS: OPERATIONAL
> STARTUP REPAIR BEGUN. RUNNING PROGRAMS.

[ The paralysis, for a machine, meant a dely in proper startup procedure. At first, the machine lies in bed, all lights completely off. Slowly, the lights blink to life, and a bizarre series of electric, click-type noises are heard. After a short time, the machine-creature sits upward, it's lamp-like eye taking in the surroundings around it. The first thing it notices is the collar in bewilderment, but leaves that for later. It gets up and off the bed, takes the notes, and no sooner looks at them before tossing them aside, reading the information far more quickly than any organic. It begins rifling through its trunk, pulling out various weaponry. ]

[RANDOM TERMINAL]

[ Now properly armed and back to functional operation, Legion leaves the dorm room. Its first stop is a Terminal in the hallway, where it downloads all it can to its systems about this place.
> BEGINNING DATA TRANSFER.
> DATA IS TRANSFERRING. . .
> CRITICAL ERROR: DATA BLOCKS IN PLACE
> REROUTING AROUND DATA BLOCK RESTRICTIONS. . .
> DATA TRANSFER COMPLETE.
> BEGINNING DATA ANALYSIS.

It takes around about a minute or so for Legion to read everything that has ever been posted publically on the Network since the beginning. Though to the untrained eye, it just looks like one machine messing with a weird holographic thing near another machine. ]

[EVERYWHERE ELSE]

[ Once this is done, it begins exploring the rest of the Tower, downloading every image into its database for immediate recall in case this becomes important. It was an AI on a mission: locate the missing Normandy SR2 crew, and the Commander. If they were here at all. If not, it was looking at a solo kidnapping. The Network showed no evidence of other crew, but... perhaps they had only just gotten here as well. The nametags on the doors however had proved futile, meaning the statistical probability the Normandy crew were here at all was... low.

Still, you may just even find this machine approaching you with a statement from its synthesized 'voice': ]

You are captive here as well.

Comments

[absolute_perception]

[Elian isn't seen at this point because of the extent of the injuries he has sustained when he encountered the Gaara shadow. This didn't stop him from sensing the AI and his voice can be heard by Legion in the form of data.]

Affirmative. I apologize for this invasive maneuver. My name is Elian. I am a technopath. I can inform you should you have any inquiries.

[dialectics]

[ ... This will be interesting. It's not quite a hack -- and if it was, Elian? You would be dealing with almost instant shutdown. Thankfully, Legion's pretty used to weird crap like this.

It's much easier not to speak over a synthesized program, though. ]

We are looking for a human called Shepard. Female. Former Alliance Military. Cerberus connections. Spectre. Commander of the frigate-class ship Normandy SR2. Harm can not be allowed to have come to them. Data has been inconclusive thusfar as to her presence here.

[ In other words have you seen their Commander? :C ]

[absolute_perception]

[It's definitely not a hack. It's just mental communication from one to another without the use of any verbal feedback. It's much like a WiFi connection without the use of a device. It's nothing more than a signal through non verbal means.]

Negative. I have not seen or heard of Commander Sheppard. The terminals might provide a comprehensive list of residents that you can access. Unfortunately, I cannot access it to give you a definitive answer.

aslkdjf LEGION! Excuse me while I fangirl for a moment.

[fashionfairy]

[Have a young alien girl who is most surprised by the large machine walking through the halls and more than a little wary. Still, it speaks so there must be something to it, right? And responding would be the polite thing to do.]

Well, yes. I am. Does that mean that you are also a captive and not one of the Tower's many defenses...?

ghdfgs I HOPE I CAN DO IT JUSTICE

[dialectics]

[ The eye seems to glance downward ever so slightly, and it tilts it's head. If it had a face proper, you would get the idea it seems a bit... sad at that sort of statement. But... only slightly. There's no change in its 'voice' of sorts. ]

This platform is equipped for self-defense. However, we do not possess the red collar those working security in this facility all bear. We have been brought to the structure you refer to as "the Tower" just as you have.

[ ... Short pause... what does it call you?

> DATA ON SUBJECT: UNAVAILABLE
> CLOSEST DATA MATCH: BIPEDAL, INSECTOID, HUMAN, OTHER UNIDENTIFIED COMPONENTS.
> FURTHER ANALYSIS DEEMED NECESSARY. ]

Your species is not recognized in our data banks. Exchange of data would prove beneficial for all involved.

No stop, you're perfect.

[fashionfairy]

[She visibly relaxes. Robots have always rather unnerved her but this one seems somewhat friendly.]

Oh yes, I see that now. My deepest apologies. I'm afraid I haven't been here more than a few weeks so I'm still getting used to all the various being that reside here.

I'm a Troll, from the planet Alternia. My name is Kanaya Maryam, a jadeblood...not that it really matters anymore given that the hemospectrum based caste system is no longer relevant.

[Whoops, she's rambling again.]

And you are?

[Would a handshake be appropriate? How exactly do greetings of this nature work anyway?]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch was sitting in the cafeteria with a half-eaten nutrition bar in one hand, eating slowly with his head bowed, his posture otherwise straight. He doesn't seem to hear the machine approach, only looking up when it speaks.

There's a moment of staring as he tries to take in what it is...one of Azazel's? No, it doesn't look at all like any of his.*

...I am, *he answers, speaking slowly. He's never seen anything like the thing before him before, and all he can do is look it over curiously before his gaze travels back up to what he assumes is an eye.*

[dialectics]

We are... "new". If possible, we would like to study those also here.

[ Yes, it is a little curious about this floor. Geth don't need to eat. ]

This is where organics gain their energy to live. We have heard many complaints about the make-up of said nutrient resources before in other places, though we do not understand why. It appears the food here has a high efficiency value and provides the necessary dietary supplements. There should be no reason for complaint about its variance.

[ What do you mean Nutrition Bars aren't tasty and are boring? What does that mean? ... Sorry, Enoch, it's kind of... yeah. Weird? Robots. ]

[warriorscribe]

As long as your "study" is benign.

*Nonhumans that don't need to eat. Armaros had asked about eating before (even if he only knew this because Armaros had told him about it; having a mortal memory sucked sometimes. But at least he's in somewhat familiar territory. Even if his last encounter with robots was...not at all pleasant.*

The world was created with foods of many kinds, and we were created in kind with a sense of taste to appreciate them. *A half smile, sort of the facial version of a shrug, and he holds up the bar in his hand.* Even if we can live on nothing more than these, it still stands that we're lacking the diversity of flavors we were made to taste. We complain because we're meant for more.

[technologic]

[April blinks in surprise at Legion when she spots him in the meadow; while she had met androids here, she's never seen anything like Legion before. So she pretty much has to suppress the urge to be a giant tech geek.]

Ah... Y-yeah, that's right.

[dialectics]

[ You can be a tech geek, April! It's okay. Legion won't mind. It's kind of a geek by nature. Even if it's a bit weird looking and it has only three fingers and backward weird legs and stuff--obviously alien in design, really. ]

We desire an understanding of those from other physical realities, as well as the organics in this facility. We propose an exchange of information.

[ In layman's terms: tell us about your universe? And how it is different from theirs? They're curious. ]

[technologic]

[She doesn't want to squee over it and make herself look silly though. Even though it's very tempting to do, cause this is so cool-!]

Hm? Um, yeah, of course! What would you like to know first?

everywhere else

[worldend_dominator]

I plan to escape.

[dialectics]

[ ... Yes, it can see flaws in this plan already. But, well, it's dealt with worse. Maybe. Probably. Eh, suicide mission. No big deal. ]

Escape here will be difficult until such a time as a communication to outside planetary systems could be found. Perhaps a ship off-world could be located. In that event, those here could be returned to their systems of origin. However, this plan is extremely improbable unless a weak spot is found in this facility's security.

[worldend_dominator]

Why are you focusing on something from a different planet? Simply contacting someone on the same planet would suffice.

[ random terminal ]

[immortalia]

[ Sertoria has been wandering around after the Shadow event, feeling a weight just being lifted off of her shoulders after confronting her shadow. So, after checking the network, she can be found lounging with her own holographic keyboard up and her visor down so that she can run her diagnostics and system checkups. ]

New life form detected. Caution is to be advised as it does not appear to be a part of the CXEV Program.

Affirmative.

[ She looks up and gives Legion a wave, though. There was no need for her to be overly hostile to another android, right? ]

oh boy oh boy

[dialectics]

[ > SYNTHETIC INTELLIGENCE LOCATED.
> DATA IS UNAVAILABLE.
> REACHING CONSENSUS BETWEEN PROGRAMS. . .
> RESEMBLANCE TO HUMAN VIRTUAL INTELLIGENCE IS HIGH.
> SUGGESTED REACTION: GREETING.

The waving gesture is reciprocated, albeit somewhat slowly, as though it's just sort of doing it to mimic Sertoria. Haha, what are human gestures. It's mostly just downloading what's on the Network right now. As it is, it does train it's 'eye' to Sertoria, though, still working. ]

We are Geth. We have not heard of this program. We desire cooperation to further mutual goals, not hostility.

let's get it staaarted

[immortalia]

[ Don't worry, androidbro, she's been there before with trying to learn on how to be a human. She gets up from where she was and smiles a little. She's still cautious thanks to her defense system being active right now.

What makes her stop and consider Legion more than she was right now was that it wanted to desire cooperation, not hostility. Did... she hear him right on that? ]

...You...do not seek to destroy? I am afraid I do not understand largely due to what I was initially programmed with. If this is the case, then I am glad to make your acquaintance.

nondescript everywhere else location

[morituramfides]

Very observant, smartass.

[Could he legitly call this thing a smartass? What was this thing anyway? Man he was too fucking tired to deal with this shit.]

Odds are if something doesn't have a clear collar or a red collar, they're stuck here just like the rest of it.

[dialectics]

[ The nice thing about being a machine is that you don't have to worry about problematic emotional responses. ... Well, mostly. ]

We desire information, not confrontation. We are aware of the organic VIs already in place. Many of the life signs within this facility are organic. You come from "other" instances of the galaxy. Information exchange would prove illuminating.

[ Of course not if you didn't want to, but... ]

[morituramfides]

[Oh boy, this was gonna be a real treat. The sucky part was, he could understand it perfect, given his thought process had been close to just as mechanical a good few months ago.]

What do you want then? I'm not much in the information business.

[servessithis]

[Here he was, just minding his own business, for once not doing anything creepy, when a very strange voice speaks to him.

Vicente turns around and his red eyes go wide at the creature before him. It looks like a dwemer automoton, but not made of yellow metal or with steam coming out of it. To say nothing of how this one is talking.]

Yes... I am.

[dialectics]

[ Whoops did it scare you? Sorry?? ]

You are nervous.

[ It's not a question. It's okay, it understands, though one of the panels on its head raises a bit, as if raising an eyebrow, before it continues. ]

We are not hostile. We only desire information on the other inhabitants of this facility who have been "taken".

screams into the wind kdfjhgkjhe how does the library work for you?

[decompose]

[Sorry, Robo Man, Nigredo is not the crew you're looking for. In all seriousness, though, if Nigredo was easy to intimidate, Legion would have definitely made him jump clean out of his skin. It's not every day that you have something definitely much smaller than any A.G.W.S. approaching you with... well, a very obvious statement.

Looks like Legion is going through what he'd been in trying to find his brother. Trust you me, Legion, Nigredo can sympathize. In so far as anyone can entirely sympathize with a synthetic life form they're not familiar with.]

I think the majority, if not all if us are. [Nigredo gives Legion a bit of a skeptical look. It's not one of the machines that run the Tower (or at least help with the upkeep). He's never seen anything like it, and the robots around don't usually talk.]

WORKS JUST FINE

[dialectics]

[ It's used to skeptical, if not outright angry or hostile glances, so it's okay. There have been worse. The lamp-like eye just sort of glances over. It's looking at the library; it's never... been in one before now, haha. ]

There are many organic-like drones that work here as well. However, they do not have the ability to communicate their own experience. Their sentience is suspect.

[ So many books... ]

... This is where organics store long-term information of various sizes. A "library". We have heard of such a place from the extranet, but we have never been in one.