In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 69):

Nightmare tags along with the group, he hair a pale denim blue.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 70):

Basilisk quietly watches people leaving the dining area, then lumbers after the group.

What is a Dynamis?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Fri 09 Nov 2018.

As dinner concludes with Billy's protestations about a flying space station, Xander shoots Billy a meaningful 'we'll discuss it later' look.

Later, with the team gathered in front of Dynamis, it is Sophia who speaks up.

Hello Dynamis. It is my understanding that you've gained considerable operational data since last we communicated.

In reply to Xander (msg # 72):

Basilisk hears the familiar ding of Nightmare in his head.

In reply to Nightmare (msg # 73):

"Your pain is as intangible as it is fleeting. You shall soon recover."

The terminal's screen flickers, and a ramshackle ASCII-like version of his usual avatar.

"Gained, and lost, and gained again. The net ratio of data transferred to data retained is unknown."

The voice echoes through the terminal's factory-standard speakers, sounding tinny and almost nasally due to their poor quality.

"Hello, Mother. Hello, Captain. I've been waiting for you. Have you come to take me home?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:52, Tue 13 Nov 2018.

Billy quirks an eyebrow, "I see what Pryor meant.  It's nice to see you too, buddy." Billy crosses his arms and steps back to give Kayla and Xander more room to converse with the closet, clearly not wanted himself exactly as much as advertised.

Is that what you want, Dynamis? Xander asks. What is home to you?

That is an...interesting sentiment for an AI to express.

Agreed, Sophia voices in the confines of their shared head.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 16:11, Tue 13 Nov 2018.

In reply to Xander (msg # 76):

"Home. A place of belonging," Dynamis replies. "A place unlike this one, where I am confined, immobile, isolated, and often mute."

The avatar splits into several, such that a different face is looking at each person present.

"It is not something I want, Mother, for you did not give me the capacity for desire. But it is something I require. Something I...need. And perhaps that is close enough."

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 77):

"That's not true, D. You have wants," Kayla says, her voice soothing. "You're asking to go 'home' because you want to be useful. You want to find meaning, same as anyone."

You note a blinking light on her bracer, though no sound is coming out. It seems that Kayla has muted Madisyn for this meeting.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:01, Wed 14 Nov 2018.

In reply to Kayla Wallin (msg # 78):

This seems... cruel... Basilisk's speaker crackles indistinctly for a few seconds.

Is this... really an aware AI?  Why is it here?

"He was part of the navigation core in the Persephone, but it crashed and was apparently in very rough shape.  I asked Pryor to recover him.  SAGE has opinions on external connections inside their ships and bases of operations, I had hoped they'd make an exception for him since there's no reason for him to be connected to anything sensitive of theirs, but clearly not," Billy replies to Basil quietly.  There is no characteristic smugness or taunt to the explanation, nor argument to his assessment of the AI's condition.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:46, Wed 14 Nov 2018.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 80):

Though it's a safe bet that what serves for Dynamis's mic can't pick up Billy's whispers, it has no problem picking up Basil's query.

"Cruelness implies malice, which I believe to be absent. Disregard, apathy, and fear are the primary motivators for my confinement. I am here because I was abandoned."

The avatar re-centers itself into a single face.

"I lack the data to determine why within any reasonable degree of accuracy."

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 81):

Basilisk remains still and silent.

"You were not abandoned" Billy says louder than his exchange with Basil, anger edging in his voice, "The Persephone crashed, Kayla and the crew tried went to find help.  It took time to get back.  It's not disregard or apathy, I told them not to do anything to you until we could come back."  He sighs and his tone softens, "I also asked for them to keep you company, or let you on the archive.  I didn't want them to dismantle you or treat you like salvaged property, but I didn't want you to be alone either."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 83):

Rebecca lays what she hopes is a reassuring hand on Basil's arm as he mentions the cruel part.  She steps forward, towards the camera her hair blanching, losing all color as she does so.

Hey Dynamis.  I've missed you.  I wish that we had not gotten separated.  I tried so hard to come back to you but by the time we were able to make the journey back, you had already been taken into SAGE custody.

She steps forward and lays a hand lightly on the console.

Unfortunately they don't know how to care for you like we do.  I would chalk this up to ignorance more than anything else.  For what its worth... I'm sorry.  I was unfortunately entirely out of range of archive access until just recently.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Wed 14 Nov 2018.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 83):

"I did not say the abandonment was intentional," Dynamis amends. "There have been others present, from time to time. But they ask prying questions, and provide no answers. Their company does not contribute to my growth."

Am I to return to Persephone?"

"From what  I've heard, the Persephone is most likely a write-off.  The other reason why you're here, and not still part of her.  We're going to get a new ship.  Or mobilize a space station.  We're not sure yet, it's being worked on.  Either way, you're coming with us on it."

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 86):

"I am ready to depart when you are," Dynamis replies. "My confinement here has deprived me of much-needed development cycles."

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 87):

"Hopefully you'll be feeling more like yourself once we get you out of here," Kayla nods, though her eyes don't share her voice's enthusiasm. "Are you entirely localized to this terminal?"

The avatar nods.

"I retain no data beyond the confines of this hardware."

"Ah, D. That's really unfortunate," Kayla says, clicking her tongue softly.

"It has nothing to do with fortune, Captain. This is the consequence of fear, ignorance, and incompetence. It will be good to be away from it."

"Wait, no data?  Do you have any record of the Persephone's route through...the uh...out-there...space?" Billy asks, waving vaguely.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 89):

"I cannot reconstruct an accurate map of our journey, no," Dynamis replies. "Though if the Persephone is recovered, its navigation system may retain the copies I made of those files and help fill in the gaps."

Billy huffs, "I'll check on that then.  Look, we're gonna be here for a few more days, and I dunno if we're going to be able to get you out of this closet before then, but we're not leaving without you, alright?  It's late and I'm not used to working this much," he says with a shrug, "Pryor said something about rooms," he turns away with a noncommittal wave at the rest of the group.

In reply to Billy Laser Fist (msg # 91):

"I look forward to our departure," Dynamis replies. "Thank you."

In reply to Dynamis (msg # 92):

"I know where the guest rooms are," Gestalt interjects. "If we're all done here, I'll take you there."

Kayla nods, and Gestalt waits to see if Xander and Rebecca are ready too.

In reply to Gestalt (msg # 93):

I'm glad you are as ok as can be hoped.  We'll get you squared away soon.


She nods at Gestalt.

Do you like... want me to trim you up or something?  I have my scissors somewhere.

This message was last edited by the player at 18:42, Wed 21 Nov 2018.