driftfleet | video broadcast

Who: The Vision
Broadcast: Fleetwide, open
Action: The abandoned bug ship
When: 6/27 late in the day

[The video opens up to show what sure is a red-skinned guy in a skin-tight blue suit with a bright yellow jewel on his forehead. Someone isn't going for subtlety with his look. When he speaks, it's with a cultured voice and a light British accent.]

Good evening. For those of you I have not yet met, my name is the Vision and yes, this is my normal appearance. I am an engineer aboard the SS Windrose. Like many of you I have been exploring the derelict ship and I believe it is possible to cleanse it of the fungal infection using a process known as vacuum sterilization. Essentially this means moving the air to one half the ship and opening airlocks on the other half, allowing anything not securely bolted to be swept into space - including infectious spores. We would then close the doors, filter the air, move it to the disinfected side and repeat the process. Once it is clean, we may investigate further without fear of infection to ourselves and determine if the ship is capable of being used by us, either for our own purposes or to return to its original owners.

[His expression softens to one of sorrow.] However, in order to be fully confident this cleansing would be effective, it would be necessary to release the infected bodies of the fallen life-forms into space as well. They were once fully sapient individuals, before the infection took hold, and such an action should not be undertaken lightly. Is this a course of action the Fleet would support? If there are any of you who are conversant in such things, would you consider holding a funeral or memorial ceremony for those who have been our enemies?

I welcome your input. Thank you for listening.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yes, very much like that. Before I was reborn into this form, I helped run a set of complex battle armor. I've since gained several layers of complexity and a share of unique abilities, but the concept is quite similar.

That's...

[Hard for him to wrap his mind around. For a number of reasons, not just the tech talk.]

Are you...alive then?

[That's an interesting question--but not one he hasn't heard before.]

I certainly like to believe so. If I am cut, I bleed. I require air and pressure as much as any human. I do not need to eat or drink or sleep because the stone sustains me, but I can do so for pleasure. And I am self-aware and feel emotions, which is enough for most to define me as alive.

That...certainly sounds alive to me.

[All those things do sound pretty close to what it was to be human. Especially the eating part. Points for liking to eat man. Still, he's uneasy about this. Does this mean this android has a soul? That they were able to create not only artificial intelligence, but a soul?]

And...you were created by man? You know Earth references.

[Yeah. After what he's seen of humanity- he's really not sure he likes the idea of people being able to create this. Playing God and all that.]

[Now that's an even better question, whether or not he has a soul.]

There were several forces involved in my creation. Three humans, two AI, and the lightning powers of Thor of Asgard in addition to the power of the Mind Stone. But I awakened in New York City on Earth in the year 2015, if that is part of your question.

[...A pause. Wait. What. What the hell kind of orgy was that??? His unease gives way for just sheer confusion]

Thor of Asgard-

You mean...the Norse god of thunder?

[Welcome to the Avengers, man.]

Yes, Thor Odinson who controls thunder and wields the hammer Mjolnir. I count him as my closest friend and most valuable ally.

I...see.

[There's a pause, and so many questions. Why is Thor real? Why is he in New York City? Why is he hanging out with two AIs and three dudes making an android baby- why is in New York City?]

[But well, at least it sounds like a god was involved. Even if he doesn't believe the Norse gods (who are apparently real??) are actual gods. That almost makes it...a little better. If anything, it means it's unlikely this guy can be mass produced. Whew.]

So you were made from men, other AIs and...thunder god magic?

Essentially, yes. I know it must sound strange. [It sounds strange to him and it's hos own backstory.]

Though, ah, to clarify, Dr. Cho is a woman and it was she who grew this body from tissue samples. I am not made from pieces of other living men like Frankenstein's monster. The other two men helped in the design process.

[Yeah if it looked like you were made out of people parts this probably would've been a bad turn conversations wise. but if anything, the magic brings a sense of familiarity to it, in a way.]

...Actually, it doesn't sound too different from what I know about making a golem.

[He nods, expression clearing up a bit.] Yes, that's a reasonable comparison from what I know of golems as well. Thank you for the analogy. [It could help a lot with people who are more familiar with magic than technology.]

[He gives a little half shrug. Okay, golems he can deal with. Just a super intelligent golem- which makes sense if the sorcerer who made him is on "god" level . But then he frowns, feeling guilty]

...Sorry. I shouldn't have asked all those personal questions before introducing myself.

I'm Allen Walker.

I'm glad to meet you, Allen. And your friend is "Toph"?

[Only friends bicker like that, right?]

Er-

I...don't know if we're friends yet. She's our newest crewmate.

[Totally friends. Well, or else one of them will have to leave the ship, probably. They're not exactly spacious enough to avoid someone you dislike.]

It sounds like a lively ship.

[He smiles fondly, thinking of his crew.]

Mm. It most certainly is.

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