We Just Write
Blatantly Plural
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
J: While the praise is appreciated, more detailed feedback is one of our major motivations for writing.Thank you! Always happy to see that this story is still alive.
Built To Last
- Thread starter We Just Write
- Start date
- Superhero
JVR
Contessa's #1 Fangirl
- Location
- Cauldron Compound
Hmmm....
Not really sure what feedback to give you. Positive portrayals of transhumanism in fiction are still so rare that I love the story for that alone. I also agree with the company's design philosophy, especially since we live in an era of "planned obsolescence." They're actually trying to do something productive, as opposed to just wallowing in doom and gloom (like the other 99.99% of Earth Bet).
Honestly nice story here.
Only hang up after binging it to here is the way Tattletale is handled. One master for another there. PRT are not going to treat her nicely no matter the setting. I understand why she was removed for plot reasons, but man.... She got screwed extra hard this Timeline.
As I said though other than that Nice Story.
Only hang up after binging it to here is the way Tattletale is handled. One master for another there. PRT are not going to treat her nicely no matter the setting. I understand why she was removed for plot reasons, but man.... She got screwed extra hard this Timeline.
As I said though other than that Nice Story.
We Just Write
Blatantly Plural
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
C: I mean, yeah? That said, the Ruggedizer crew didn't particularly care about Tattletale's feelings, they just didn't want her killed.
Explosion 7-5
New
We Just Write
Blatantly Plural
- Location
- New England
- Pronouns
- Plural
(Melissa)
Armsmaster and I were taking a brief break from designing his new body, when he asked a question that I wasn't expecting to come up again.
"Ruggedizer, I'm still kind of confused by how you avoided a concussion when you were thrown from Squealer's truck."
I raised one of my eyebrows, the cartoon face on my visor matching the expression,
"Oh?"
"As you are now, that would make perfect sense. But that event significantly predates the uploading technology you developed."
I took a sip of my coffee as I thought. What was Armsmaster's angle here?
"What do you want to ask me about that?"
"A question you previously refused to answer, as is your constitutional right."
"I do believe continued refusal would be within my rights as well, then."
"Unless you were provided with a legally binding promise of immunity from prosecution stemming from your answers."
I tilted my head,
"Not that I don't trust you, but I'm going to need to see notarized legal documents to that effect before I say anything concrete on the matter."
"I don't believe I can give you that, unfortunately. What I can say is that this is purely a matter of personal curiosity, and this is the last time I will be able to ask with even the slightest bit of credibility that I'm not recording you."
"That last statement is true at least; synthetics are recording all the time, almost by definition."
"So, will you indulge my curiosity?"
No.
"Why don't you tell me what you think happened, and we'll go from there?"
Armsmaster nodded,
"I think you were already a synthetic at the time of your altercation with Squealer."
I remained silent and poker-faced, but motioned for Armsmaster to continue.
"As we have already established, that means you were synthetic prior to the development of uploading technology."
I continued to remain silent.
"Therefore, you were not in fact ever human. Am I correct?"
"I am invoking my 5th amendment right to remain silent."
Armsmaster nodded,
"Off the record, you aren't the only artificial intelligence I'm secret-keeper for."
Ah, so he knew about Dragon. Armsmaster continued speaking.
"Also, there are some rather obscure legal precedents regarding citizenship for Tinker creations. You are provably a person, and so long as you were built in America, you would count as having birthright citizenship."
"So I have rights either way, then?"
"Correct. I am now curious about your relation to one Emmy Sykes, by the way. Again, entirely off the record."
I considered exactly what to say for several moments. Eventually, I asked my own question.
"There won't be legal consequences for her based on my answer?"
"There won't be. Regardless of the letter of the law, antagonizing one of the most beneficial organizations on the East Coast would be utterly foolish. Not to mention that Dragon would be incredibly displeased with me if my actions caused trouble for one of her business partners."
"Emmy's family, I love her, and that's all I'll say on the matter."
"Very well. Now, I do believe we still have work to do on my new body."
(Andrea)
Ultimately, we just put Trainwreck through the QUD and Body Builder, using a shielded destination brain. A shielded destination brain with a certain encrypted directory present. As for Trainwreck's new body? He came out looking like a seasoned lifeguard. Though attempting to swim when you were three times the density of water was a recipe for a quick trip to the bottom.
Anyway, as soon as Trainwreck was clothed, Marcus and I directed him to one of the private meeting rooms. Trainwreck blinked in surprise, but came along with us anyway.
"So... what exactly is this about?"
Marcus answered,
"This is about the encrypted directory of extremely dangerous secrets, that you've probably noticed by now."
Trainwreck blinked,
"Really, that's what's in there? Why?"
Now I spoke up.
"You deserve a somewhat informed decision. If the contents of that directory leak, the world dies. The directory also contains an extremely narrow mind-control program that will prevent you from leaking those secrets without an absolute guarantee of maintaining infosec. You have a choice to make; you can just stay on the public-facing side of operations with all memory of this conversation erased, or you can be onboarded into the conspiracy."
Trainwreck seemed stunned.
"Do I have to decide right away? This is... this is just a lot to process."
"Not immediately, but before you go back to the public-facing side of the factory."
Two hours passed, during which Trainwreck spent a long time thinking, and occasionally asking questions that infosec didn't permit us to answer. Eventually, he came to a decision.
"I'm out. Whatever you're doing down here, I don't want the stress of dealing with it."
Marcus nodded sadly,
"Wish granted, now open up your access port; we've got to erase the majority of this conversation from your memories, along with the encrypted directory."
(Rachel)
Date Point 0900, Monday, March 21
I'd agreed to come with Emmy for the grand opening of Reliabuilt's Manchester factory, which was also going to be my public debut as a Reliabuilt affiliated "cape". In my case, I'd dressed up in something vaguely resembling a military officer's uniform, but in a black-and-brass pattern that didn't match any of the world's armed forces. Oversized brass goggles concealed part of my face - which I honestly just swapped for a different one when I was off-duty. Somewhat similar to Melissa, I had both Dress and Combat versions of my getup.
While the majority of the new employees just came in and started familiarizing themselves with their jobs, myself and Emmy had a small crowd of journalists to appease before we could go in.
Emmy started.
"Hello! I'm Emmy Sykes, owner and CEO of Reliabuilt. This is Watch, a time controller we've hired as head of security for the new Manchester site."
Some basic 'getting to know the new cape' questions followed, before one of the reporters asked a question I'd been thinking about since I was built.
"If you can control time, do you think you can pop a Grey Boy bubble?"
I shrugged,
"I don't know. I'm certainly willing to try, but I'll need someone to cover for me while I'm off doing that."
Armsmaster and I were taking a brief break from designing his new body, when he asked a question that I wasn't expecting to come up again.
"Ruggedizer, I'm still kind of confused by how you avoided a concussion when you were thrown from Squealer's truck."
I raised one of my eyebrows, the cartoon face on my visor matching the expression,
"Oh?"
"As you are now, that would make perfect sense. But that event significantly predates the uploading technology you developed."
I took a sip of my coffee as I thought. What was Armsmaster's angle here?
"What do you want to ask me about that?"
"A question you previously refused to answer, as is your constitutional right."
"I do believe continued refusal would be within my rights as well, then."
"Unless you were provided with a legally binding promise of immunity from prosecution stemming from your answers."
I tilted my head,
"Not that I don't trust you, but I'm going to need to see notarized legal documents to that effect before I say anything concrete on the matter."
"I don't believe I can give you that, unfortunately. What I can say is that this is purely a matter of personal curiosity, and this is the last time I will be able to ask with even the slightest bit of credibility that I'm not recording you."
"That last statement is true at least; synthetics are recording all the time, almost by definition."
"So, will you indulge my curiosity?"
No.
"Why don't you tell me what you think happened, and we'll go from there?"
Armsmaster nodded,
"I think you were already a synthetic at the time of your altercation with Squealer."
I remained silent and poker-faced, but motioned for Armsmaster to continue.
"As we have already established, that means you were synthetic prior to the development of uploading technology."
I continued to remain silent.
"Therefore, you were not in fact ever human. Am I correct?"
"I am invoking my 5th amendment right to remain silent."
Armsmaster nodded,
"Off the record, you aren't the only artificial intelligence I'm secret-keeper for."
Ah, so he knew about Dragon. Armsmaster continued speaking.
"Also, there are some rather obscure legal precedents regarding citizenship for Tinker creations. You are provably a person, and so long as you were built in America, you would count as having birthright citizenship."
"So I have rights either way, then?"
"Correct. I am now curious about your relation to one Emmy Sykes, by the way. Again, entirely off the record."
I considered exactly what to say for several moments. Eventually, I asked my own question.
"There won't be legal consequences for her based on my answer?"
"There won't be. Regardless of the letter of the law, antagonizing one of the most beneficial organizations on the East Coast would be utterly foolish. Not to mention that Dragon would be incredibly displeased with me if my actions caused trouble for one of her business partners."
"Emmy's family, I love her, and that's all I'll say on the matter."
"Very well. Now, I do believe we still have work to do on my new body."
(Andrea)
Ultimately, we just put Trainwreck through the QUD and Body Builder, using a shielded destination brain. A shielded destination brain with a certain encrypted directory present. As for Trainwreck's new body? He came out looking like a seasoned lifeguard. Though attempting to swim when you were three times the density of water was a recipe for a quick trip to the bottom.
Anyway, as soon as Trainwreck was clothed, Marcus and I directed him to one of the private meeting rooms. Trainwreck blinked in surprise, but came along with us anyway.
"So... what exactly is this about?"
Marcus answered,
"This is about the encrypted directory of extremely dangerous secrets, that you've probably noticed by now."
Trainwreck blinked,
"Really, that's what's in there? Why?"
Now I spoke up.
"You deserve a somewhat informed decision. If the contents of that directory leak, the world dies. The directory also contains an extremely narrow mind-control program that will prevent you from leaking those secrets without an absolute guarantee of maintaining infosec. You have a choice to make; you can just stay on the public-facing side of operations with all memory of this conversation erased, or you can be onboarded into the conspiracy."
Trainwreck seemed stunned.
"Do I have to decide right away? This is... this is just a lot to process."
"Not immediately, but before you go back to the public-facing side of the factory."
Two hours passed, during which Trainwreck spent a long time thinking, and occasionally asking questions that infosec didn't permit us to answer. Eventually, he came to a decision.
"I'm out. Whatever you're doing down here, I don't want the stress of dealing with it."
Marcus nodded sadly,
"Wish granted, now open up your access port; we've got to erase the majority of this conversation from your memories, along with the encrypted directory."
(Rachel)
Date Point 0900, Monday, March 21
I'd agreed to come with Emmy for the grand opening of Reliabuilt's Manchester factory, which was also going to be my public debut as a Reliabuilt affiliated "cape". In my case, I'd dressed up in something vaguely resembling a military officer's uniform, but in a black-and-brass pattern that didn't match any of the world's armed forces. Oversized brass goggles concealed part of my face - which I honestly just swapped for a different one when I was off-duty. Somewhat similar to Melissa, I had both Dress and Combat versions of my getup.
While the majority of the new employees just came in and started familiarizing themselves with their jobs, myself and Emmy had a small crowd of journalists to appease before we could go in.
Emmy started.
"Hello! I'm Emmy Sykes, owner and CEO of Reliabuilt. This is Watch, a time controller we've hired as head of security for the new Manchester site."
Some basic 'getting to know the new cape' questions followed, before one of the reporters asked a question I'd been thinking about since I was built.
"If you can control time, do you think you can pop a Grey Boy bubble?"
I shrugged,
"I don't know. I'm certainly willing to try, but I'll need someone to cover for me while I'm off doing that."
