Pattycakes

[Uso]

Pattycakes

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Hawking System
New Cambridge
Archology 24

Wazu’s face was laying down on the countertop among floating displays and increasingly strong coffee-drinks. There were messages from the CCM regarding the fate of his current ground-team leader aboard the deming. There were more messages from members of the American Union and their corporations. Even more messages from the associated sub-assemblies on Rotislav creating and designing.

There were always more responsibilities now that they had achieved their independence.

But right now, his calendar had its time devoted to Patty’s request for help with… something.

It was once again time for adventure and discovery!

—

Leaving the Archology to go to Concourse Alpha did nothing to dissuade his feelings of the sheer change in the world around him. The national focus on defense and prosperity in the face of the AU had begun a snowball effect after the first enemy offensives had failed, and New Cainbridge was now expanding like a nanomachine colony under a microscope.

Constant road construction, a half completed monorail system and some kind of ongoing beer festival had resulted in absolutely diabolical traffic, forcing him to hire an aircab and view the city from a couple of dozen feet above.

SEER’s primary facility was itself expanding rapidly once more, most visibly in a massive octagonal area of town ominously known to the locals as ‘the appendages’- A huge yard of super-sized crane arms coiling inward like a colossal dead spider.

Darting through those imposing limbs, his auto-driver guided him down into more familiar territory, the secondary complex within which Echoni were exposed to the natural environment within a triad of large agri-domes. The xenotechnologies research department now had an official office here, a reasonably sized grey oblong with lines of crimson. A far cry from the basement they had operated within during the war, though that sprawling complex no doubt still existed below…

Landing on the roof, his aircab was accepted onto an automatic parking bed that lowered downwards through folding doors, depositing the vehicle directly in front of the elevator doors, before folding the empty vehicle away into an empty space.

Classy brass lamps lit silver-edged marble paneling, though the design of the building meant he was still getting natural light from far above. Quiet and comfortable, it would have been easy to mistake this for a fancy hotel, if not for the looming presence of E2s and 3s, as well as the total lack of english signs to back up the six-cog iconography etched into the stone.

Patricia had told him to meet in the rather flatly named Sanctuary Chamber A-12.

The silver doors opened without him needing to knock, presenting a rather dark room of black metal paneling with cushioned crimson pit in the direct middle- It was likely one of those apartments with ‘auto furniture’ that rose out of the floor only when needed. The only light came from the massive bay windows surrounding the other three sides, showing a strong presence of blue sky shimmering through the occasional jutting crane-arm.

Patty was in the sofa-pit, unaware of his entry, and wearing a VR headset of minimalist design. Completely contrasting with the aesthetic, sitting on the couch opposite, was a gnarly brass thing easily as large as a motorbike… Or perhaps a sarcophagus. Covered with pipes and greeblies, onto the click-crunch of computational activity gave a clue as to its purpose.

“Analogue computing?” Wazu couldn’t help but investigate, leaving the multitudes of the city behind as he delved further into Patty’s domain. His voice was a mix of informed speculation as he tried to discover the purpose of the device in the center of the room.

“Why pipes? Perhaps moving fluid?”
“Does it compute using the fluid or is it for cooling?”
“Or perhaps a liquid-fuel.”
“Brass…is a specific choice for materials. Decorative?”
“And then there is the internal clicking…”

He would manage to spend just enough of his time to remember to send a message to Patty digitally, a small chime to let her know he was there without being too disruptive to the VR immersion.

Patricia Gladwell bolted upright as if they hadn’t realized the time, unburdening her head from the VR set, then spending several paces more untangling the wires from a black cotton dressing gown. Considering her normally extreme adherence to visual protocols, it was pretty clear she hadn’t slept all that well due to the bags under their heterochromatic eyes.

“...Oh, Mister Heram Wazu! It’s great to see you again!” A no-less soft and cheery tone emanated from their lips, as they hopped out of the pit and shook his hand with both of her own. “...They… cannot hear you right now, but please show some respect to my guest. Exemplar

 

[Uso]

Serpenta is two hundred and fifteen earth-years old, and used to being treated with a high degree of religious significance… I trust your ride here was pleasant? How are you!?”

He was quite happy to hold her hand again, “Better now,” He said, while realizing he’d already said too much. Wazu carried his marks of exhaustion internally, hiding them under well pressed, professional, green and black clothing. His mind was racing to figure out how to transition away from discussions of the city, the responsibilities, and the inevitability of needing to focus on the work at home.

That meant a comment about how fast the city was changing was not viable.

And a discussion of the weather was always boring.

A quick response to her question, and then a pivot to Serpenta was in order.

“I ended up having to fly here, the Festival is pushing transit to its limit… but the air system is still as smooth as ever.” He said, turning his attention to her guest-pod, “How is Exemplar Serpenta? I’m afraid I’m not familiar with them. Are they using Cyrosleep? Relativistic effects? Or are they actually two hundred fifteen in subjective time?” Life extension technology was getting better every day, but it was not yet common to see Humans with such long lives.

“Oh, well… Let’s just say it would be unrealistic to expect a whole human body to last that long.” Her tone was hushed as a mark of respect, though she was still giving Wazu that comely smile, trying to brush off any of the unease he might feel. “They are extremely intelligent, though it has been some time since the outside world has interested them in the more base sense. They are also an Ethemeralist, which means the incorporation of relic components… Hand me downs, if you will.”

A chrome-plated fingertip to their mouth, the next sentence found itself buzzing upon Wazu’s data tab. It contained a working history of the elder being’s exploits. Should he skim through at more than the surface level, it was also clear that Patty was this ‘person’s acolyte apprentice at one point, before being accepted into SEER.

“Truth be told, I would like your eyes on a few things, Mister Wazu.” With a pop-clunk, a countertop raised out of nowhere, allowing Patty to browse the beverages inside. “But perhaps you would like some refreshments before browsing the media?... It’s a little hot…”

It was actually pretty boiling in this room specifically, he realized. Analog technology will do that.

“Something with Ice,” He asked, that mechanically generated heat feeling like standing by an oven if you were in just the wrong place. His attention was drawn to the other Exemplar’s history, looking through their accomplishments over the centuries. Their rejection of the Human form was certainly something that many of the Assembly found attractive. It wasn’t that long ago that even he’d been moving towards something less humanoid.

He did have friends within the Ephemeralists.. SEER… The Iron Cavalcade… and even the more fringe groups like the Continuous Wave or Less Than Three. More and more he acted as the bridge between all of these different groups which meant getting to engage with them deeply less and less.

“Is it that we have become boring to someone so accomplished? It would be a shame to lose someone to apathy. We have need of experts in integration of legacy platforms. Have they seen the latest of the Iconmen? Ancient Grawla machines returning to activity after thousands of years certainly should present interesting questions.”

“Just… please be patient with them. You’ll understand when we attempt interface.” Patty’s words were calm and evenly paced, but even their evergreen demeanor took on a slight veneer of embarrassment, as if Wazu was meeting one of their direct relatives. “They have, of course, been exposed to such data. They are a very educated in the deciphering of such things, and was once a well-known archaeologist for the more limited relics that were discovered on Yelton Veda.”

What she handed him was a chilled ice coffee, still in the can. Probably something to be said about most of her visitors being machines, within that.

Her hands carried the cold of the fridge across, though, synthetic structure grasping his hands again, almost absent minded of this inhuman ability.

“Is this okay?... Oh… and my apologies about the pajamas. It’s been a long night. I wasn’t expecting to work with organics today. Though you are looking very sharp.” As she was talking, a second, rather old fashioned VR headset presented itself from a cabin adjacent to the floor pit, automatically. “This… shouldn’t take long…”

“Who am I to make you uncomfortable in your own home?” Wazu asked, holding the cold can for just a moment before switching it over to his other hand. Extreme temperature mitigation was always something that machines had been better at than people. There was consideration given to returning the compliment but did such a thing overstep the bounds of what was appropriate?

He would instead move towards the presented VR headset, taking a spot on the sofa as he seated the can in his lap and prepared the headset for use. “Well, lets see what is keeping them interested in a virtual space.”

The world he spawned into was, for lack of a better phrase, nostalgic to the point of feeling like a meme. There were endless blue skies and rolling green hills, a direct copy of the default world hub from the classic ‘blockpoint 8’ system from infrocom. Which was a copy of something older.

 

[Uso]

Patty chose an avatar that was recognisable at least, not that the system had many options- A lower poly representation of themselves in a very simplistic blue witches hat and robes. The face was off, but had something akin to their hairstyle.

The other occupant was… Much stranger. A reflectionless black orb surrounded by a silent thundercloud, long black arms hanging limply all around, like cables.

Assembled before it, 3D representations of partial schematic files, presented in a scattering of wireframes and transparent green. They were all engineering parts of sorts, though the formation and meaning of them was quite opaque.

Patty waved him over whilst moving their avatar straight through the impressive mass, physically shrinking in scale as they waved him over to something.

“...This… This part here…” They were pointing at a large cone-shaped axel, with cylindrical protrusions behind it. “...Doesn’t it look familiar to you? The banks at the back, with this exo-transformer connector? The… It’s… very similar to a part from Noriko’s iconman schematics, isn’t it?...”

The system was able to load Wazu’s default avatar, which was set to a suited-version of himself with decent polygon count. The safe yet dreaded work avatar. He tried looking at the shapes before him, but it was nearly impossible with the nagging feeling he wasn’t dressed for the occasion. First he’d switch to his preferred avatar, a basic cube… but that didn’t feel quite right.

Second attempt was an image of himself but with ‘Witch’ overlaid, which resulted in a black witch-dress, hat, and broom… which also wasn’t quite what he was looking for.

The third attempt was ‘Man Witch’, which resulted in the inexplicable choice to turn his avatar into a sandwich.

A brief pause for thought was required. Something Spooky was more appropriate, but not something that matched Patty or Serpentina too closely. With that requirement set in his mind the obvious choice was his preferred brand of Spooky and Scary.

With Wazu’s Avatar now set to a Skeleton, he could focus on the task at hand. “I saw Noriko’s Iconman first hand. I must admit there is nothing about it I found familiar.” He replied, trying to divine some greater meaning by examining the bits. A cone shaped Axel? Cylindrical Protrusions? The Z-23-exophage-reactor-thing? He would make his best guess, “Perhaps some kind of power transmission system? An Exophage-Differential or Transmission? If we need Noriko to explain I am certain I could get her here.”

“Well, that’s just the thing, we-” Patty began, but was caught a little off guard for a moment when they looked upon the sudden spooky that was Wazu’s skeleton.

The silent cloud interfered with the pieces impatiently during this lul, now hovering ominously above the both of them.

What it lined up was a series of parts that totally didn’t match by any stretch of the imagination, but were noted as having a similar real-world scale.

“T-T-That’s just the thing.” Patty forced the words out. “This pattern was filed ten years ago. Nobody knew it’s function at the time, and… Well, now we can say it has some function to do with transforming raw exophage energy between a ‘bacterial’ and ‘body’ state, but… This scale… It’s way too small! It’s about the same size as a wine cooler!... With all due respect to Exemplar Noriko… I wasn’t even sure how to report this. Is it really wise to let the Grawl know we might have a more efficient, smaller design?...”

Something else was on the tip of their tongue, but they were obviously finding it difficult to phrase correctly.

“A JUST conquest. Current political climate, net result, unfavorable.” The could spoke, its voice a whisper that seemed to come from all directions. A dull rasp of something truly ancient. “SEER obtained these parts upon the defabrication of a native organics organization. Situation, result, complex.”

“We don’t yet fully understand what we have here. We should understand the situation more before making that decision,” Wazu said, echoing what Serpentina said using some more diplomatic wording. While there was an obligation to inform their Grawla allies of such things, there was also an obligation to do so tastefully. “If we received this a decade ago… then does that mean we got these schematics from the Grawla in the first place?”

“The situation is pertebatory.” The cloud mechanically delivered its statement more as if it was simply inconvenient, and not actually caring about the concept that real life pain might have been caused. “The artifact recovered was an inoperable real world component. Sanctified 60.1282° N, 18.6435° E. Data recorded in SEER archives for future cross-examination.”

“It’s troublesome, because it was from a Grawla stockpile of technology. One of the earliest SEER peacekeeping missions involving Echoni…” Patty tried to be a bit more helpful in their response, placing a boxy glove to their textureless beige face. “We haven’t made these records public to the Grawla mostly because it’s unclear what centralized power to report it to, or what format they would prefer- Furthermore, the Hawking natives seem to abstain from alien technology, or at best use it without trying to deconstruct it- After we found out that the ‘Iconmen’ were somehow related to the Grawla themselves, well… That’s what made me dig up this confusing situation in the first place. It’s a real mess? You see what the problem is?…”

“The native organics technological progress… stunted… record keeping, null and void…” In the time that Wazu had looked away from the cloud above, it had opened its own eyes, red and menacing. It was constructing something using the virtual parts, rapidly assembling something like a missile from the virtual components. It was something uniquely diabolical and vicious, yet artful in a way that perfectly represented the greenskin’s aesthetics. It was totally something they could build, given the time and imagination… ”Predicted yield 156 megatons, achieved through hyper-acceleration… Consider example; Every rocket is a weapon. Addendum consideration; Iconmen technology used with more efficiency… very much a fearsome weapon.”

“...I’m… I’m just a field researcher, Mister Wazu.” Patty’s voice sounded fearful, though it hid behind a 3D model that looked more like a dejected finger puppet. “This… Can I even report this?... T-This is d-d-dangerous…”

“The Grawla already possess weapons that have considerable yield. Our safety comes from them not wanting to use them, rather than them not having such weapons…. Not that we need to share anything until we have a full understanding of what is going on.” He said, slowly looking over the newly assembled device and the connections to the very rocket-like-devices that he understood. “... As for the applications. This could be used to accelerate anything. Iconmen. Starships. Even our fusion devices might have some benefit discovered by studying this device. Am I right to understand that this device hasn’t been shown to anyone outside this small group from SEER?”

“Machine Exemplar Serpenta is not a formal part of SEER, but I asked them to help me review this information as a guest. Other than that, I have only informed you.” Patty formed a triangle with their fingers, half an indication of their higher loyalties to the magnetic assembly themselves, and half calming themselves by forcing this self-acknowledgement. “Of course, the idea that the Grawla already have an understanding of this technology, but simply have not shown us an example… That is possible, too.”

“Conjecture; It would be wise to assume that is the situation.” The cloud added, still looming above the holographic weapon. “The method in which they contain active Exophages without an organic body is still not understood.”

“If this has exophage containment applications…” Wazu thought outloud before thinking internally this time. Of course this had exophage containment applications. Any kind of device that could channel the energy had the possibility of helping the Echoni. “SEER would need to be informed. But that might mean also informing the Grawla. Perhaps we should try and understand some of the sub-components here and inform them of that. We don’t have an obligation to share everything all at once.”

Then there was the lingering question. The one he’d been avoiding since the Grawlante first appeared and irradiated its path up to the Grawla Mountain-Fortress…

 

[Uso]

“How does it avoid creating a Grawlante? I thought all machines channeling Exophage energy were susceptible to a semi-sapience event?” Wazu asked.

“I’m… not sure it does. Maybe there is another component of the Iconmen that has gone unlisted.” Patty’s low poly face had the advantage of hiding their nervousness at that question, not wanting to go as far as suggesting Exemplar Noriko had made a grievous error. “...My honored guest, Machine Exemplar Serpenta, do you think we could create a system that discharges Exophage energy in a non-lethal manner? Perhaps by diffracting it into a large area, low impact effect?”

“Doris Muller’s work suggests that exophage power can be focused, but never diminished.” The cloud assembled a new machine, madly swapping, shrinking and customizing parts, almost faster than the eye could see. The spiked sphere of cones they created ran some kind of simulation, but instantly lit up with red warning signs. “The limit of the output had always been the structural failure of the organic body projecting such effects.”

“What about the technology of the absorption collars?”

“There are specialized Echoni on the other end of the wireless transfer of power, as you know. Those who have the specific gene-power classification of energy absorption.”

“...So… you are saying…”

“Yes, enough concentrated energy output would destroy that Echoni’s body also.”

“A suboptimal result,” Wazu speculated, as he gave thought to how the Grawla might have mitigated the problem, “Though perhaps the device does not try to prevent a semi-sapience event? If the device is meant entirely for one-way acceleration then any problems generated along the way would be resolved by the impact at the end.”

There were other questions though.

“Does this device have organic components?”

“The device requires either a bio-reactor of Grawla construction, tremendous amounts of Exophage batteries, or one of our own Echoni.” The cloud spoke quite blankly, though the elder voice made it sound brooding. “Functionally, it is merely an inert magnifying glass.”

“It’s a device that can amplify the available power output of our current storage methods considerably, without harming the ‘input’.” Patty’s voice was careful, wanting to converse with Wazu freely, but also not wanting to stand on their honored guest’s toes. “Though… It seems we are at a strange impasse, where the Grawla might know more about the potential dangers. Are there any potential groups that you trust? Somebody technically able, and not aligned with the major Grawla factions?...”

They knew it was a big ask. Getting one of the greenskins to side with the humans over their own kind was ‘hell frozen over’ sort of deal. They sounded tired.

“We are developing trust.” Wazu admitted, “There are Grawl that I am developing an understanding with. There are even ones that I might be able to extend trust to.” There was a pause, the inevitable caveats were to follow, “But. If we were to make this available to those Grawla then we would be putting them in a position where they would have to decide where their loyalties are.”

There was another pause. The consideration now was just how much the Grawla could be brought into this without releasing this knowledge out into the world. The genie was impossible to bottle once released.

“Do we have a capability that we want to gain from this technology? Or an existing capability that we want to augment with this? A power-enhancement system could be very useful but it also might be out of scope for the moment. We barely know how to harness and use the Exophage reactions. Being able to amplify them might not be something we’re ready for yet.”

“The-the-the… w-we might have some-...” The low poly witch stuttered, suddenly feeling very lonely and shut-off without the ability to correctly emote. What Patty might have said could been seen as quite callus-

“Pure Exophage yield potential.” Interrupted the Exemplar, feeling no such hesitation. “Bombs, rocket motors, even an energy ray such as demonstrated by the Iconman. Considering the amount of enemies this nation can be expected to compete with in the near future, and our relatively small space navy, there is no shame in considering such extremes. Without this nation upholding our current optimized level of morality, the Echoni would be abused a great deal more in other hands.”

Patty’s cone-like form was silent after that. Maybe she agreed, maybe she didn’t, but there was some kind of conflict going on behind those blank, pixelated eyes.

“Perhaps immediate application isn’t the question we need to address now.” Wazu thought out loud, “Is this facility sufficient for further study of this device? We should be connecting your research with other areas of Exophage study. Caxia will certainly have interest in this, as will many within Alpha Concourse… And Patty, if you have reservations about further developing this, please express them now.”

“It’s necessary.” She spoke honestly, but with a tone that suggested complications. “Our enemies would not ignore such developments. And Exemplars like Doris Muller or Mister Stein might have remained working for such institutions, if the lack of morality in such places had not lead them to us.”

They felt like it was an apt way to sum it up, at least- If following this route corrupted them, it would defeat the purpose in following it.

“Exemplar Caxia has the necessary resources.” Stated Serpenta, as if that was not the most obvious statement they could possibly have made. “I am comfortable with this project progressing at their discernment.”

“I can help with communication then, just figuring out who needs this information is going to be full time activity.” Wazu replied.

He’d also send Patty a private message

“We can continue this conversation elsewhere if you have more to say.”

 

[Uso]

New Cambridge,
Robotown,
Trollies (a bar in Robotown)

Robotown had a reputation for being the most Assembly friendly area in the city, and Trollies was certainly a bar that catered to the more esoteric tastes.

In this case, the bar itself was filled with secluded tables, with a low ambient music-noise accompanied by sound absorption on the walls between alcoves to help enforce some privacy between the patrons at each table. There was no drink menu, simply a floating terms of service being displayed above the table by projection.

“I’ve been wanting an excuse to come back here.” Wazu explained, leading Patty to one of the alcoves and taking a seat at the table. This particular one was a tall round table with barstool-style chairs. A quick nod of acknowledgement and the terms of service would be replaced with a list of one liners.

‘Classic’
‘Suicide Node’
‘Jerks’
‘Time Travel’
…

The list went on, but Wazu would select ‘Suicide Note’

Text would then display on the table:

There’s an out-of-control trolley speeding towards a worker. You have the ability to pull a lever and change the trolley’s path so it hits a different worker. The first worker has an intended suicide note in his back pocket but it’s in the handwriting of the second worker. The second worker wears a T-shirt that says PLEASE HIT ME WITH A TROLLEY, but the shirt is borrowed from the first worker.

The table itself would then display a trolley moving down a set of tracks, with a fork up ahead and two small people standing on the tracks. The switch that controlled which way the Trolley went was right in the middle of the table.

Patty was still looking tired, but had the benefit of established protocol to gather up a fetching outfit. A bright red, rather smart-looking ‘air hostess’ style dress with a round hat and matching thigh highs. It suited their bluish hair and chrome gauntlets.

They did, however, seem a little reluctant to sit down.

“...What’s the objective of this… bar-cade, Mister Wazu?” A slightly overwhelmed, distrusting look. “If you answer the question wrongly, do you not get the drink?...”

“In a larger sense?” Wazu asked, his attention fully on Patty as he left her to ponder over the question on the table. “The bar funds itself by observing people’s choices. That big-data stuff is aggregate to feed morality-models for autonomous processes. It is also kinda fun, and gets plenty of donations from patrons.”

The Trolley would keep creeping down the track, the implicit timer counting down before the first worker was hit.

“But on a smaller scale? You do not need to worry about picking a singular correct answer. The Trolley question is more a tool to explore what people consider just. Even not answering is still an answer. Participation in the process earns everyone at the table a drink that corresponds to the question.” Wazu explained.

Patty covered her heat-sensitive eye and leant in closer to the hologram, motivated to give a decent answer now that morality had been stated as the reason, apparently.

“We should… Kill the man in the shirt.” They answered pertly, then looking up at Wazu for agreement, accidentally still covering half their face. “It must be a double bluff, since he knows he’s wearing it, right?...”

“It is your call,” Wazu replied, a smile creeping into his face “I don’t want to color your opinion with my own this early on.” Of course as he said this the Trolley was getting closer. Patty was out of time and needed to make a choice or one would be made for her!

Patty went with her gut instinct, but fretted over it immensely after pressing the button, going board-straight and bundling the ends of all her fingers against her mouth. It still felt like a test of character.

*SPLAT*

A tray would descend from the ceiling, placing two shot glasses that were filled with a mix of rum, a white liquor, and fizzy soda water. The recipe for the drink was named ‘suicide cocktail’ and the particular mix of alcohols were forwarded to everyone at the table.

Wazu would then select the classic, bringing up a track with one man on one side and five on the other.

“There are many ways to tackle the problem,” Wazu said, “One I enjoyed was that of Mari. They believe that this collection of data itself is distasteful. That trying to emulate people through archiving every choice they make is the real problem.” Wazu would then flip the trolley to the other side so that it would hit one person instead of five. “In that context. The correct thing to do is to poison their database with bad data.” Wazu would flip the switch again so that the Trolley would kill five people instead of one. “So making any kind of understandable decision is wrong.” Wazu would then flip the switch five more times in quick succession…

*SPLAT*

Another Tray would come down, with just a shot of whiskey.

“B-b-but that’s lying!” Patty seemed a little shocked, still balling their hands. They weren’t even angry about it, simply astonished that Wazu could make the decision so quickly. ‘Sheltered’ didn’t even begin to cover it.

Perhaps they had more to say, but whatever it was, they couldn’t spit it out- Almost like they were afraid of what judgment Wazu might deliver upon their stance.

“Not everyone subscribes to that way of thinking.” Wazu replied, “Some people are just here for the drinks. They let the scenario play out and often don’t engage. We actually use that as a marker for apathy within the population…”

He gave it a bit of thought, and seeing how shocked Patty was, he decided he should skip to the end. “But, I think the whole scenario is rigged.” Wazu finally added, scrolling waaaaay down in the list to find the scenario labeled ‘Wazu’. The Trolley was once again on the track, with one individual on each track. “They always phrase the question so that you only have two choices. But the trap is making you think those are your only options. You could derail the trolley…” He said, reaching down to the track and just picking up the Trolley so that no one was in danger. “But that just explores the possibility space of things you can do in the moment. If you’re building Trolleys and tracks you should be building them in ways that seek to minimize possible dangers.”

Wazu would place the Trolley back down, and scoot it along the track towards one of the individuals. “I wrote this scenario for just that… the Trolley monitors the tracks and stops if it sees something in the way…” The Trolley itself would do just that, stopping before hitting someone. “... and even if it doesn’t stop, it is designed to be less harmful on impact…” He would then scoot the trolley along, causing airbags to deploy when it hit the man on the tracks. “You should always try and save everyone. That would be the best case scenario.”

“I… suppose the intention of the task is to force you to make difficult choices.” Patty tried to control themselves a little more, hiding their more irate emotions by flattening their skirt. “Limitless options makes data too hard to correlate… Though I see that is your intention.”

After a moment more consideration, she finally sat down on the stool, and took a sip of the not-white russian. It wasn’t bad.

“I’m… sorry. It’s in my nature to be constructive.” A slightly embarrassed glance downwards. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but us Vedans tend to view a preference for obstinate results as… A bit of a liability… It would seem I am the inheritor of a soul who existed when such things were a life or death matter.”

She felt awkward talking so openly about themselves, but didn’t want to just let it hang, and come across as if they were negatively judging Wazu. Their comfort during disagreements was just incredibly low.

“It isn’t a perfect system,” Wazu said, going for the whiskey shot and quickly downing it. The slight cringe on his face showed that the quality of that particular drink was not very high… He’d then quickly move to the white russian and use a sip of that to chase the bad flavor down, “Machine learning works best when you have a large number of easily quantifiable choices to process. This place exists to try and apply that kind of learning to the complex space of morality.”

Wazu couldn’t help but feel he was taking things in an awkward direction. Perhaps it was time to refocus things.

“... What has been going on with you? I don’t think we’ve gotten a chance to actually sit down and talk since Gamma Concourse? Not that we can discuss that much either..” He said, referring to the time Patty’s recording-chip was briefly removed for security reasons.