13S078-03 - Truth and Lies

[betrayalswager]

So, this is a flood. A subtle notion of the term, don't you think? The details are inconsistent, but it's a fascinating phenomenon.

[Private to Buffy]
My, but you have led an interesting life, haven't you?

Private to Rex]
Do you know anything about the condition known as a Barge coma?

Comments

[systmadmin]

I doubt those affected will find this 'fascinating' once they regain their senses. [And CLU's so unaffected this time around. It feels nice, for once.]

We'd all be much better off if these disturbances were completely eliminated.

[betrayalswager]

No, but that's just part of the procedure. No person would willingly submit themselves to such extensive psychological altering. As far as psy-ops go, it's a remarkably effective practice, if indeed that is the practice's purpose.

Perhaps so. That doesn't change the fact that there's very little that we can do about them.

[systmadmin]

Of course. Then you believe these floods might be intentional in some way?

And as I understand. [Apparently irreparable anomalies within the system. Shudder. He'd still like to think there's a way to stop them.]

[betrayalswager]

I wouldn't doubt it. We are on a prison ship, after all. Psychological manipulation has long been a tactic used in controlling inmate populations.

... you're not like the rest of them, are you? [There's something about this one. Something about his speech. While not accented, there's something forced and unnatural about his conversational tone, almost as if it's merely an adept mimicry.]

[systmadmin]

That does sound feasible. Others I've spoken to about this seem to just assume it's merely an uncontrolled, unpreventable phenomenon.

[Very perceptive. There's a short pause from him.] I'm not a User--not human, if that's what you mean.

[betrayalswager]

Lesser people are quick to assume. Why would they strain themselves when they don't have to?

[Achilles leans forward, betraying excitement for the first time.] I take it you are some sort of artificial intelligence then?

[systmadmin]

[The first statement receives an amused 'mm' of acknowledgement from him, a faint smirk. Then his head inclines with a nod at the question.]

Yes, you are correct. A computer program.

[betrayalswager]

Fascinating. [He doesn't bother disguising his interest now. His era saw the first generation of sentient AIs, but he has personally never encountered one before.]

What is your function here?

[systmadmin]

My primary function is to create the perfect system. Here, I have been assigned status as an Inmate.

[betrayalswager]

An inmate? That's absurd. How could you possibly perform your function with inmate restrictions placed upon you?

[systmadmin]

[He agrees oh so much.]

My sentiment exactly; I am unable to. I haven't been given a clear reason for my status assignment yet, either.