1968/Systems Nominal

Systems Nominal
Date of Scene:	06 April 2015
Location:	Neo Arcadia-00001
Synopsis:	Harriet deals with being the first of a kind.
Cast of Characters:	276, 399

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Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet has, for the time being, been left in Taro's care for now since the Bishop probably understands a lot more about AIs than Zarenna could ever comprehend (plus her specialty is micro-robotics, not artificial intelligence...). Zarenna definitely wants to avoid some of the mistakes she made with Kari and to make sure that Harriet's AI is stable in the prototype frame.
    The giant shinki is standing at the window, watching Neo Arcadia with a passive look on her face, the familir simply idling next to her and appearing to be asleep.

Taro (399) has posed:
    The fact that he's an AI himself, and particularly the fact he self-uplifted to that state, no doubt helps in his understanding.
    It -is- a very nice view. His labs face the north, meaning that the desert sunlight illuminates but doesn't dazzle too much when gazing out on the city below. A busy city, with a steady stream of hovercars on the elevated streets and trains running along their tracks between the towers.
    Taro himself has been in and out of the lab over the course of the day. He does have other duties to tend to, but he's been close by. His assistants - reploid and human - have popped in and out as well, introducing themselves and checking to see if she needs anything. (And checking her socialization protocols, no doubt.)
    He returns now, a mug of tes in one hand, a couple of jellycans clasps in the other. "One of my favorite views," he comments as he joining the tall shinki at the window.

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    "They're all small from here. Is that why you enjoy the view?" Harriet intones, a soft quiet voice, hands clasped behind her as she half-turns to glance at Taro.

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro sets the jelly cans on the table next to Harriet, and makes an offering gesture for her to help herself. "I didn't know whether you have a preference yet." Then, to the question, "I've always been fond of heights." A small graceful shrug. "The broader perspective more than that below us appearing so small."

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet looks at the selection and selects the strawberry flavored one. Sipping from it, she asks "Does it bother you that you're shorter than the others here?"

Taro (399) has posed:
    While she picks out a flavor to try, Taro brings over one of the rolling chairs and settles into it. While it won't bring him down completely to her eye level, it does bring them closer. "You noticed, did you? Observant." He takes a sip of steaming tea, then lowers the mug to about the level of his chest. "No. I chose to be this height out of convenience. If I was taller, I would be forever banging my head on access hatches when working." There's some dry humor there, but humor with truth. "Though my Vicars sometimes complain I'm a little too compact when it comes to being repaired...little room left for anything else."

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet turns to face Taro directly. Zarenna did not waste space when designing the augmented shinki; the Mach Hare has the lean figure of an acrobat, not the moe stylings of some of the more recent shinki models. Harriet, in fact, looks like a double-sized copy of Kari; the only true physical difference being Harriet's platinum hair being drawn into a bun compared to Kari's black bob cut. The blank skin has since been carefully painted to resemble a very modest thing with boots.
    "So you had a choice. Did you choose to build me so tall compared to my cousins and sister?" There's a hint of anger there.

Taro (399) has posed:
    The note of anger is not unnoticed. "It was a design choice, yes," Taro answers plainly, but not without sympathy. "One made by Zarenna and myself, and by necessity. To build what we did into you and into your familiar," he gives a nod to the resting armored suit, "couldn't be built any smaller, even with the level of technology we have here. That is why you're the height that you are. To have been smaller would have meant leaving something out that she wished for you to have and enjoy."

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet nods slowly. "I'm unique. I'm not a legal entrant in the Battle Rondo. I don't use standard shinki parts. I have artificial muscles instead of servos like Kari does. What purpose did Master and you build me for?"

Taro (399) has posed:
    Why do I exist? It's the existential question of all sentients. Though for machine intelligences, the question often is more important than a mere philosophical exercise...
    "You are unique," Taro says in quiet confirmation, "and no, you cannot compete in the Battle Rondo. Though that is because it would be highly unfair to them to expect to compete against one of your caliber..." He brings his cup up for another sip, then sets it near the edge of the table. "We built you to be what a standard shinki is not. Sturdy, hardy, able to better compete in the games where the dangers and damage are very real and not in a controlled arena, out in the field where a recharge cradle may not be easy to come by."

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet folds her arms across her chest, the hare familiar seeming to reflect its controller's mood by being agitated and glancing around quickly. "So I'm more military hardware than most shinki. Why should I accept this? Organics find their own purpose, why shouldn't I?"
    It's not fair, I'm more a thing!, one can practically hear in Harriet's thoughts. This one is very different from Kari's much more chaotic and un-introspective behavior.

Taro (399) has posed:
    The sharing of moods between shinki and familiar is also noted, and if Harriet were in a better mood, he'd be more interested in testing that. For now, though, it's Harriet herself that has his full attention.
    Well, almost full. He is watching the hare out of the corner of his eye, in case of a misfire.
    "You've only been active for a day," Taro points out, again not unkindly. "Before you go rejecting this shell that we built for you, don't you think you should at least try it out first?"

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet smirks. "I didn't mean a new body, I meant being just a piece of military hardware. I can do a lot more things than Kari because I'm bigger and stronger."

Taro (399) has posed:
    Taro gives a quiet snort in answer to that. "You are no more 'just' a piece of military hardware than I am 'just' an engineering program." He raises his left hand out, palms up and fingers together in an up-and-down motion directed at her. "You are a fully sentient machine intelligence, Harriet, not some drone. I fully expect you to become more than the sum of your parts."

Kari Wolf (276) has posed:
    Harriet nods. "I heard shinki aren't property once we're activated. What does that mean if I'm beholden to Master?" She asks, mood softening to a more curious tone.

Taro (399) has posed:
    "To be beholden to someone is not a terrible thing, but I may be biased in this." His own opinions on slavery and free will are best a conversation for another time. When she's matured a bit, perhaps... "In Neo Arcadia, you are not property, but you would be considered to be as a child due to your age. Zarenna is your Guardian, and she is responsible for seeing to your well-being. As her ward, I imagine she expects you to listen to her and to obey her rules."