♖ 002.

[summerschild]

Who: Bran Stark and YOU
Broadcast: Fleet-wide
Action: SS First Breath
When: Saturday afternoon

[For the first couple of months he was in the Fleet, Bran paid little regard to his actual assigned position on the First Breath. After all, being bound to his bed didn't give him much opportunity to do much maintenance. But now that he's mostly mobile, he's been almost enjoying the task. It gives him a purpose, keeps his mind off of the dark things. It's good, almost.

And he actually really likes these little robots.]

I understand how these work, and that it's "electricity", and "circuits"... but are they actually alive? They can respond to their names, and understand what I tell them to do, like wolves or crows. But they don't have minds. How is this possible?

[The augment gave him the ability to understand their physical workings, but the concept of artificial intelligence is still completely lost on him.

There's a small scuttling noise from across the bridge, and Bran turns to look at it. One of the tiny robots has bumped into a chair, and seems intent that it needs to move the heavy item.]

Shaggydog, stop that!

[Odd name for a robot.]

Comments

[summerschild]

I've never heard of one before. What world do you come from?

[thezerothlaw]

My creators were from a planet known as Aurora, though they were visiting Earth at the time of my initial activation.

[His birth, if you will.]

[summerschild]

I've heard of "Earth", but only from others here. My home is called Westeros.

[thezerothlaw]

I'm not familiar with Westeros, but it seems that some worlds are very different from what I know.

[summerschild]

[Bran nods in agreement.]

All of them sound more like this one.

[thezerothlaw]

And yet, I have also spoken to an individual who comes from a world where the dominant sapient race is the horse.

[summerschild]

[He doesn't know what "dominant sapient" means but he gets the idea.]

How is that possible?

[thezerothlaw]

I'm not certain. Much of what he spoke of sounds implausible to me, but for him, it is true.

[He pauses, thinking a moment.]

I would advise you not to discuss domestic horses with him, if you have such a thing. It seems to be a point of discomfort for him.

[summerschild]

I did have a horse, a long time ago.

[He wonders briefly if it's still alive, somewhere.]

Are they ridden in your world?

[thezerothlaw]

Historically, yes. There are still those who ride them for pleasure, though their necessity for transport or work has passed. There are now machines that can accomplish this, after all.

[summerschild]

Machines? Are those like robots?

[thezerothlaw]

A robot is a type of a machine, but these machines do not have minds. They are merely tools that can be used, by robots or humans, as necessary.