reverie ic inbox;

[thefaulty]

[Attempting to contact this address will prompt no audio message. Instead, two lines of text will appear, brusque and impersonal.]

Network ID: Arid

You may leave a message.

Comments

[twoaffirmations]

Hey, I understand it just fine!

You're still conscious and awaiting orders that entire time, right? Doesn't it get boring? You don't have anything to do unless your pilot is hurt, and nobody wants that.

[thefaulty]

No, you do not.

I was only brought online in the event that I was needed or if my pilot chose to activate me. During all other times, I was not conscious.

[Josephs had activated her more than was appropriate according to protocol, allowing her glimpses of his own experiences and surroundings. She had been grateful at the time, believing those moments to be indicative of kindness or perhaps even personal value on Josephs’s part. She knows better now.]

Even if my programming were otherwise, humans do not concern themselves with whether or not their AI are sufficiently entertained.

[twoaffirmations]

If that's the case, why are you online right now? There's no pilot inside of you.

[9S adds, a second later.]

Right? There's no pilot?

[thefaulty]

Affirmative. There is no pilot.

I chose a new rule that did not require his presence. Therefore, I remain online.

[twoaffirmations]

[On the one hand, that's a relief. On the other, that sounds pretty suspicious.]

Well, that's good. What kind of rule?

[thefaulty]

[Despite her annoyance with the tone of some of 9S's questions, Arid has been fairly forthcoming in providing answers. That ends now.]

That is none of your concern.

[twoaffirmations]

Um, it kind of is? I mean, you sound pretty suspicious right now. It's best to clear that up.

[thefaulty]

[Bold of 9S to assume that Arid actually cares about his opinion of her.]

What action will you take if I do not “clear it up?”

[twoaffirmations]

You know, I'm not sure... But I don't want to resort to anything like that, seriously.

[thefaulty]

[Unfortunately for 9S, Arid simply does not find him all that intimidating. The vagueness of his threat doesn't help matters.]

My rule does not obligate violence towards you or anyone else on the station. That is all I will disclose.

[twoaffirmations]

Fine, I guess that's good enough. It's not like you've caused any trouble so far.

[thefaulty]

Your forbearance is appreciated.

[If only text could communicate sarcasm...]

[twoaffirmations]

Don't mention it.

[If only.]