[The communication doesn't technically come through the earpieces provided, because Murderbot decided it didn't need one, but the message functions in a similar enough way. It's already communicated with Vic, so it's easy to reach out again.
Murderbot's voice comes directly into Vic's head, unless he tries to push it out.]
[ how novel and strange, to be spoken to this way. The machines on Earth aren't nearly this advanced, the Kryptonian ship had been afraid, shrinking from him and this - ]
[Maybe if Vic calls it Rin often enough, Murderbot can overwrite the twinge of pain that comes from being reminded of Miki.
Stupid, selfless Miki.]
Many here are from a similar time. I was wondering — [The pause is milliseconds, the tiniest flicker.] — would it be possible to receive an information packet on the subject?
[What it's asking, in a roundabout way, is for Vic to prepare said information packet, since it will be easier for him than it would be for a human.
Honestly, Murderbot had considered just asking if it could access his memories, but it suspects he's human enough that it would feel too intimate. It wouldn't go rifling around in anything personal, of course, but it also wouldn't blame Vic for not trusting it yet.]
Level of technological advancement. Economic systems. Daily life for typical humans. Geography. [That covers the basics, but:] Anything you think would be helpful for someone attempting to understand humans from your time.
[Mostly it just wants to interact as little as possible, and sometimes that's easier with a better understanding of how to communicate with humans.]
[ There's a standard information packet - describing the geography, climate, various cultures. Victor has a significant amount of historical information on hand, but includes only the twentieth and twenty first century. An overview of different technologies available: medical, military, scientific. ]
[ Daily life... Victor doesn't have much for her. He has some National Geographic documentaries he sends over. ]
Let me know if you want more information on anything.
[ A pause. ]
My Earth does have... superheroes... but they weren't quite real until recently. It could be different somewhere else.
[Out of a sense of... sharing, Murderbot leaves the packet open in the feed as it rifles through it, marking certain things to review later while others are digested fairly immediately. It makes a few notes visible to Victor, drawing similarities to its own experience; the clothing worn on PresAux seems to be similar to South East Asian clothing, which is good to know if Murderbot wants more outfits, and it highlights terms like 'Capitalism' in relation to the Corporation Rim, and 'Socialism' in relation to the Preservation System.
It helps to have words for these things that humans will be familiar with.]
There are minor differences between versions of Earth represented here.
[So... yes, it understands that other places might not have superheroes. It could've just said that, but why make life easy for anyone.]
Do you have information on the general population's opinion on robots and artificial intelligence?
[Probably good to know what sort of reactions to expect.]
[ Victor waits, listening, patiently. At the question — ]
[ He may be a hero now, but he so rarely inspired awe. ]
Most people would be afraid. [ As they feared him, when he was outside, on the streets, his glowing red eye in the dark of Gotham. ] Artificial intelligence is not very advanced, or well-understood.
[For context, there's a recording dropped into the feed; two adult humans, Ras and Eletra, trying to convince Amena to leave Murderbot because SecUnits are dangerous and how it could go rogue and kill them all.]
Have you had negative experiences with the people here?
[Unspoken but heavily implied is the fact that Murderbot can and will eviscerate someone if they've been mean to Vic.]
[If Vic is expecting any kind of judgement, there is literally none to be found.]
Humans are exhausting.
[Normally, Murderbot doesn't let emotions bleed through into the feed, but it expresses a sense of hesitation, before asking:]
You are... atypical for your world and time period.
[It's been wondering about this, about how Vic came to be the way he is and how the humans around him must treat him. He shows too much empathy for Murderbot's experiences for him to have had a perfectly easy life.]
[ Simply. Humans are... exhausting. His father was — ]
[ His father was. The statement ends there. ]
... I am.
[ Such a nice way of putting it, atypical. Every single person he had sent in that packet had no cybernetic body parts, let alone... how extensive it was on Victor himself. He almost sighs audibly, sensing the question. The accident... Bruce and Diana already knew. To everyone else, it had been spelled out as a matter of fact. There had been a past, and the future had taken root in the present. Victor pauses, only to decide if a memory is better than an explanation. ]
[Murderbots are also sometimes liarbots, but while it would like more information, it doesn't need it, and Vic is... a friend. Or close to a friend. It wouldn't want someone prying into its business and that likely goes the same for Vic.]
I understand enough.
[Both about the world that Vic comes from and how he relates to people. It makes sense, a puzzle piece slotting into place.]
I'm also atypical.
[Not just because of the deactivated governor module, which was likely explained to Victor at some point, but there's also all the changes ART made. Murderbot sends what amounts to a 'before and after' series of schematics and images. It doesn't include the grisly details of how it go to be a couple inches shorter. Vic can likely make some guesses.
There's also code examples sent over, the ones that allow it to grow body hair, that change its gait, that generate random movements so humans don't get freaked out. All the things that Murderbot has done so it wouldn't be immediately identifiable as a SecUnit.
It doesn't really fit in anywhere. It'll never be human, but it can't ever go back to being a SecUnit, not like people expect.]
[ (He had been alone in the apartment, with only Dad.) ]
[ At least now, I may need you becomes true, towards Murderbot. ]
Yes.
[ To being atypical. To the strange inbetween of knowing enough of the wicked nature of the people they have to be among, and yet, touched by selflessness, enough to hope. ]
[Murderbot doesn't have any interest in being more human; it's played at humanness to hide, but it has no actual desire to come across as human. To relate better to them, maybe. That's different, though.
But Vic is (mostly, partially) human, and from what Murderbot has guessed at, he hasn't always been like this.
Sometimes there are things humans do, though, that can be copied to send a particular message. So rather than addressing any of that, since it feels like they've both said all that needs to be said, it shifts focus.]
I found some of my drones on the station. Would you like one?
[The trick of having been created with a feed link already in place is that Murderbot has plenty of practice at communicating like this, so it manages to communicate something akin to a shrug.
It isn't verbally brushing off the thanks, because it also doesn't want to cheap the offer, but it also isn't sure how to deal with gratitude.
Instead, it focuses on decoupling one drone from the small swarm and sending it to Vic's location, while over the network, it sends the code and instructions for how to operate the drone. Once Vic runs the code, the drone will no longer respond to Murderbot unless it goes to the effort to hack it.
A few moments later, the drone appears in front of Vic, a black dot the size of a blueberry. There's no visible propulsion or recording devices, and more than anything else, that might be a clue to just how far in the future Murderbot is from.]
They're most effective if you're capable of running multiple mental inputs.
[Humans, even augmented humans, struggle with that.]
[ His eye lights, analysing the code, and once more the sense of the gift settles on him. There have been so few... Every good feeling has been counted like small change, squirrelled away. And if he wasn't like this? He wouldn't be looking at the little drone in wonder, running the code, and feeling his shoulder shift and adapt to make a place for it to nestle. ]
[There's a slight, intentional bleed through of approval in Muderbot's voice; it had suspect that Vic would be able to handle it just fine.]
They can be used to kill an unarmored human, if you ever need to.
[Things Murderbot hasn't learned yet: not everyone is so casual about killing people.
That isn't a Ximilia thing, even. Murderbot's still getting used to the fact the Preservation humans aren't callous with human life the way the Corporation Rim was.]
[ Yeah, but someone who has been treated their whole life (and it's life, Murderbot is alive. If it's not, then Victor isn't, either.) like a tool, of course it would see this as a way to defend itself. ]
I understand.
[ I understand why you would say that. I understand what I have to do, if I must. ]
[There's a tiny moment of indecision where Murderbot wonders if it should reassure Vic that it knows he could defend himself without a drone, but his tone doesn't seem annoyed or bothered, so it's probably fine.]
It's good to have options.
[Especially when it comes to defending yourself. Murderbot doesn't think Vic is the type to hurt people for the sake of hurting them.]
Thank you for the information. [Since it never actually said thank you.] It will help me integrate with the humans.
[In an ideal world, it would just stand in a corner and not talk to them, but that won't make the missions any easier, so Murderbot has resigned itself to being mildly social.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voice/feed
Murderbot's voice comes directly into Vic's head, unless he tries to push it out.]
You're from the twenty first century, yes?
voice/feed
[ how wonderful. ]
[ He replies similarly, warmly, ]
Hello Rin. Yes, I am.
permathat
Stupid, selfless Miki.]
Many here are from a similar time. I was wondering — [The pause is milliseconds, the tiniest flicker.] — would it be possible to receive an information packet on the subject?
[What it's asking, in a roundabout way, is for Vic to prepare said information packet, since it will be easier for him than it would be for a human.
Honestly, Murderbot had considered just asking if it could access his memories, but it suspects he's human enough that it would feel too intimate. It wouldn't go rifling around in anything personal, of course, but it also wouldn't blame Vic for not trusting it yet.]
no subject
Of course.
[ Of course he would, even without being asked directly, to someone who asked if he was a superhero. (Heh.)]
[ A packet is easier than memories anyway. ]
Are there any subjects you're particularly interested in?
no subject
Level of technological advancement. Economic systems. Daily life for typical humans. Geography. [That covers the basics, but:] Anything you think would be helpful for someone attempting to understand humans from your time.
[Mostly it just wants to interact as little as possible, and sometimes that's easier with a better understanding of how to communicate with humans.]
no subject
[ fortunately, he knows it's not normal. ]
[ There's a standard information packet - describing the geography, climate, various cultures. Victor has a significant amount of historical information on hand, but includes only the twentieth and twenty first century. An overview of different technologies available: medical, military, scientific. ]
[ Daily life... Victor doesn't have much for her. He has some National Geographic documentaries he sends over. ]
Let me know if you want more information on anything.
[ A pause. ]
My Earth does have... superheroes... but they weren't quite real until recently. It could be different somewhere else.
no subject
It helps to have words for these things that humans will be familiar with.]
There are minor differences between versions of Earth represented here.
[So... yes, it understands that other places might not have superheroes. It could've just said that, but why make life easy for anyone.]
Do you have information on the general population's opinion on robots and artificial intelligence?
[Probably good to know what sort of reactions to expect.]
no subject
[ Victor waits, listening, patiently. At the question — ]
[ He may be a hero now, but he so rarely inspired awe. ]
Most people would be afraid. [ As they feared him, when he was outside, on the streets, his glowing red eye in the dark of Gotham. ] Artificial intelligence is not very advanced, or well-understood.
no subject
That's familiar.
[For context, there's a recording dropped into the feed; two adult humans, Ras and Eletra, trying to convince Amena to leave Murderbot because SecUnits are dangerous and how it could go rogue and kill them all.]
Have you had negative experiences with the people here?
[Unspoken but heavily implied is the fact that Murderbot can and will eviscerate someone if they've been mean to Vic.]
no subject
No.
[ But he also hasn't been out much. This turns his expression sheepish. ]
But... I haven't met many others yet.
no subject
Humans are exhausting.
[Normally, Murderbot doesn't let emotions bleed through into the feed, but it expresses a sense of hesitation, before asking:]
You are... atypical for your world and time period.
[It's been wondering about this, about how Vic came to be the way he is and how the humans around him must treat him. He shows too much empathy for Murderbot's experiences for him to have had a perfectly easy life.]
no subject
[ Simply. Humans are... exhausting. His father was — ]
[ His father was. The statement ends there. ]
... I am.
[ Such a nice way of putting it, atypical. Every single person he had sent in that packet had no cybernetic body parts, let alone... how extensive it was on Victor himself. He almost sighs audibly, sensing the question. The accident... Bruce and Diana already knew. To everyone else, it had been spelled out as a matter of fact. There had been a past, and the future had taken root in the present. Victor pauses, only to decide if a memory is better than an explanation. ]
Would you like more information?
no subject
[Murderbots are also sometimes liarbots, but while it would like more information, it doesn't need it, and Vic is... a friend. Or close to a friend. It wouldn't want someone prying into its business and that likely goes the same for Vic.]
I understand enough.
[Both about the world that Vic comes from and how he relates to people. It makes sense, a puzzle piece slotting into place.]
I'm also atypical.
[Not just because of the deactivated governor module, which was likely explained to Victor at some point, but there's also all the changes ART made. Murderbot sends what amounts to a 'before and after' series of schematics and images. It doesn't include the grisly details of how it go to be a couple inches shorter. Vic can likely make some guesses.
There's also code examples sent over, the ones that allow it to grow body hair, that change its gait, that generate random movements so humans don't get freaked out. All the things that Murderbot has done so it wouldn't be immediately identifiable as a SecUnit.
It doesn't really fit in anywhere. It'll never be human, but it can't ever go back to being a SecUnit, not like people expect.]
no subject
[ (He had been alone in the apartment, with only Dad.) ]
[ At least now, I may need you becomes true, towards Murderbot. ]
Yes.
[ To being atypical. To the strange inbetween of knowing enough of the wicked nature of the people they have to be among, and yet, touched by selflessness, enough to hope. ]
I understand enough.
no subject
But Vic is (mostly, partially) human, and from what Murderbot has guessed at, he hasn't always been like this.
Sometimes there are things humans do, though, that can be copied to send a particular message. So rather than addressing any of that, since it feels like they've both said all that needs to be said, it shifts focus.]
I found some of my drones on the station. Would you like one?
[SecUnits don't give gifts. Humans do.
But Murderbot would like to give Vic a gift.]
1/2
no subject
[ If you can spare one— No. This cheapens the act. ]
[ If it's not too much trouble — No. Social niceties do not need to be so carefully maintained, between them. ]
[ It's a gift. It should be acknowledged, straightforwardly. ]
Yes. [ And only a little softer, with wonder, ] Thank you.
no subject
It isn't verbally brushing off the thanks, because it also doesn't want to cheap the offer, but it also isn't sure how to deal with gratitude.
Instead, it focuses on decoupling one drone from the small swarm and sending it to Vic's location, while over the network, it sends the code and instructions for how to operate the drone. Once Vic runs the code, the drone will no longer respond to Murderbot unless it goes to the effort to hack it.
A few moments later, the drone appears in front of Vic, a black dot the size of a blueberry. There's no visible propulsion or recording devices, and more than anything else, that might be a clue to just how far in the future Murderbot is from.]
They're most effective if you're capable of running multiple mental inputs.
[Humans, even augmented humans, struggle with that.]
no subject
[ Lightly, ]
I have some practice.
[ Heh. He won't argue with more. ]
It's integrated successfully.
no subject
[There's a slight, intentional bleed through of approval in Muderbot's voice; it had suspect that Vic would be able to handle it just fine.]
They can be used to kill an unarmored human, if you ever need to.
[Things Murderbot hasn't learned yet: not everyone is so casual about killing people.
That isn't a Ximilia thing, even. Murderbot's still getting used to the fact the Preservation humans aren't callous with human life the way the Corporation Rim was.]
no subject
I understand.
[ I understand why you would say that. I understand what I have to do, if I must. ]
I have my own means, but this is good to know.
no subject
It's good to have options.
[Especially when it comes to defending yourself. Murderbot doesn't think Vic is the type to hurt people for the sake of hurting them.]
Thank you for the information. [Since it never actually said thank you.] It will help me integrate with the humans.
[In an ideal world, it would just stand in a corner and not talk to them, but that won't make the missions any easier, so Murderbot has resigned itself to being mildly social.]