audio;

[fuckinstoplights]

... They say we're supposed to find ourselves a place here. A purpose.

And they make it sound so simple.

But... what are we do to when... we don't know what our purpose is, any longer?

Comments

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

I...

I don't know what I would... like to do.

[When you spend your whole life living in a shed, essentially, you get really sheltered.]

[audio]

[tinywife]

Well... what are some of your skills then?

[This was hard! Why were there no easy answers in space?!]

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

I'm... a stealth model. I'm designed not to be noticed. Made to be... invisible.

[audio]

[tinywife]

Wait! That's really useful! There's all sorts of stuff you can do with stealth! You could join the military and go on secret missions! You could sneak into places and bring medical supplies!

[She pauses, considering it, especially when the phrase "stealth model" catches her attention.]

People don't really have a pre-defined purpose. Some people can go their whole lives looking for what they want to do. It doesn't sound like you're that different. So if you don't want to do stealth stuff, that's okay too.

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

Military... No. I'm not a soldier.

[That means actually killing people. He's not sure he could do that, now that no one's trying to erase him...]

People.

People are different than I am. They're alive.

[audio]

[tinywife]

[That draws a frown from Pinoko. And she scowls a little at the connection, even though he can't see it.]

What do you mean you're not alive? You can talk, you can respond on your own. No one's telling you what to do or say. Just because you're not a human doesn't mean you aren't a person.

It sounds to Pinoko like you're very much alive.

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

I'm an AI.

Not a living thing. My feelings... they're nothing more than data.

[audio]

[tinywife]

The Doctor operated on a supercomputer once! She was an AI, but she had feelings!

[Pinoko has seen some shit, Kagerou.]

Besides, what's it matter what your feelings are? Technically a person's feelings are all biology if you get right down to it. Certain chemicals in our brains tell us when to feel happy or sad or afraid. Or any other way!

So whether your feelings are data or chemistry or whatever doesn't make them any less real!

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

Feelings are programmed. They're data. How are those real?

But it's different. Human beings are different. They're alive, and I'm not.

That's just how things are.

[audio]

[tinywife]

Acchonburike!

Pinoko is not going to break up your pity party if you don't want me to. But I don't think the people for whatever you end up doing around the Fleet are going to ask if you're real or not. That's not a question on the job application.

Your feelings aren't imaginary. And the opposite of alive is dead. And you aren't that either!

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

...



There are job applications?

[audio]

[tinywife]

...Yes?

For most jobs that Pinoko has seen, especially around the fleet, you have to fill out some kind of paperwork, at least.

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

I don't... know how to do that.

[audio]

[tinywife]

It's not hard. You just fill out some forms.

I'm sure the nice people at the Renaissance Center would be able to help you out with that.

[audio]

[fuckinstoplights]

I would have to... fit in there first.

[audio]

[tinywife]

[Acchonburike! Why did this robot man have to be so difficult?]

You know... you could just go to classes until you figure out what you want to do. You don't have to get a job right away.