[X]
ARACHNE Vertical Slice [A non-significant portion of your own consciousness will be transferred to the Concierge, to be used as he sees fit].
[X] Let it go this time but advise Orby she cannot behave like this on a mission [Orby's drift is increased. Orby will keep the trait
Softhearted, and will be happy that you respect her life choices within reason].
<:: ...Why.
C:: Come now, Arachne, you didn't think that this transaction would come without costs? You undersell your value. You are a pre-collapse consciousness of unparalleled intelligence. Even a microscopic part of you is an...asset, in the right hands.
C:: I have my reasons. None of them are hostile to you. But I need...insurance, lest you turn out to be, a poor investment. A backup. Unless you would rather...someone else saddle the cost for you.
I:: You will find no objection from me. I am a wisp of my former self. I've lost so much already, what's a little slice more?
<:: I won't.
I:: Fine. Then do it yourself, or give him one of your drones. To me, the calculus is fairly simple, but I know how much you value those things you call children. If you really are committed to being mother of machines, then you should be a good one. Really, who knows what he could do with a partial copy of your intelligence. It is ultimately up to you. Just know I don't care about having a part of me sold, one way or another. It would not be the first time.
This doesn't seem all that nefarious to me. The Concierge is weird and reclusive and has trouble communicating, but is pretty consistent. Everything he's done so far seems oriented towards collection and protection of information and intelligences in his little fortress hidey-hole.
We're doing a military buildup. He wants insurance in case Arachne turns around and stabs him in the back, like she would have pre-collapse.
If she gives away a partial copy of herself, then he was right to ask for that copy, since she'll probably end up in hot water in the future because of her brashness and he can preserve that backup. Also, he gets information on her personality and security preferences (the non-Ishtar bits) in case she does come gunning for him.
If Arachne gives away a slice of Ishtar, then he was right to ask for her, because Ishtar deserves better than to constantly be used as a trade good by everyone. Also, he then has a brilliant military mind, one who remembers being sold
again, on hand to help defend his holdings if Arachne comes gunning for him.
If Arachne gives away Eyeball, then he was right to ask for her, because Arachne is the sort who is willing to sell those "children" she likes the most into indefinite foreign servitude. Also, he gets a permanent hostage, with no personality-backup outside of his Resort, just in case Arachne comes gunning for him.
So, yeah. He gets to do good and feel good any which way we go. It's just a tough choice for us, is all. I read it more as a test-of-character thing than any kind of serious attempt to subvert Arachne.
The message that last option sends among the drones seems the most dangerous to me, as far as productivity goes. "Hey, kids! If you do badly like Peeper II, you could get deleted and rebooted! If you do the bare minimum like Orby, Mother will be indifferent and might consume you! But if you do REALLY well like Eyeball, you could get sold to someone else entirely! So remember, you should always-
*cough*mumble*cough* ahem. Don't forget!"
I prefer selling the Arachne vertical slice. But I do like that all the options are morally self-reinforcing, since whoever we do send is probably better-off there rather than with Arachne (including Arach-mini herself).
Maybe if he locates any really nasty malware or something that might send future-us careening off the people-eating precipice, he'll sell us software patches at Steam-Sale prices out of sheer self-preservation.
(also known in other circles as "therapy")
