driftfleet | Have a friendly robot. :3

Who: Daneel
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: The Marsiva, if you're there. Daneel's permission post is here, if so.
When: Today. Now. May 19th.

[Daneel spends a good chunk of time debating the best course of action. He's on a strange ship, which is certainly not quite like any ship he's familiar with. He doesn't know how he got here, which is... unsettling. And he's spent the last solar year trying to disappear while also trying to put himself in positions where he might be able to exert influence, so frankly he's half certain he's going to find himself being ordered to submit to deactivation and disassembly. And he'd rather not do that. He has far too much to do, for one. But as time goes on, it seems less and less likely that he's going to find himself in that situation, the need to learn exactly what is going on is becoming more... essential. The communication device is new, but not difficult to figure out, either.]

If I am permitted to ask, what planetary system is this ship en route to?

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[Her face suddenly gets very serious. She doesn't have any idea what his past is, of course, but she is aware that even in the Federation, there are those who are suspicious of artificial lifeforms, so she doesn't blame him at all for not saying something right away.]

I understand. I... haven't run into anyone yet in the fleet with any prejudices towards artificial lifeforms, but I can assure you that I at least do not.

[He tilts his head, interested.]

You use the term "artificial lifeform." I don't believe I have ever heard any robot referred to as a form of life.

[She nods.]

I'm not surprised. It's only been within the past decade in my world that they've started to be accepted as such and many people still struggle with the concept.

[She smiles.] You know, Data once asked me what the definition of life was, and what exactly it was that made him alive and not just a series of working parts. I couldn't give really give him a adequately concrete answer, yet I know that he is as alive as I am. And so are you.

That's quite the claim to make, Dr. Crusher, though I thank you for it. Robots are exceedingly common where I am from -- though most do not resemble humanity as closely as I do -- but we are simply property. Partner Elijah once referred to me as being "alive," but while I am conscious, the general opinion is that I merely function, not live.

[Protip: anything that reminds him of Elijah Baley will, in fact, endear him to you.]

Are robots common for you, as well?

Not particularly common, no. We do use automated machinery for jobs that are too dangerous or impossible for most people to perform, but those machines are not self-aware and limited in function. Self-aware robots are fairly rare, and androids as technologically sophisticated as Data - in that he has a positronic brain - are extremely rare. We only know of three others like him.

And Data is not our property. He is a full member of the crew.

[This is a lot to take in. He'd like to meet this Data, himself.]

Then the positronic brain is a new invention for you. I see. In my own universe, it was invented some fifteen hundred years ago, give or take. Early robots were quite primitive, of course, and many such simplistic robots still perform dangerous or menial tasks, but they still possess positronic brains, though less complex than my own. I am unique mostly in how I was built to mimic humanity and how I have developed in response to that, not for the complexity of my brain.

[Daneel frowns, thoughtful.]

It is my thought that humanity is actually hampered by the heavy reliance on robot labour that has arisen on Spacer worlds. It is clear that the situation is very different for you.

The concept of a positronic brain has been around for centuries, but Dr. Soong - Data's creator - has so far been the only cyberneticist to construct a stable one. Data's brother and mother are the only other androids I know of who have survived for any significant amount of time without their positronic matrix failing.

[She considers his words for a moment.]

It's hard to say for sure without having been to your worlds, of course, but it does sound very different, yes. We rely on our technology, but we are not utterly dependent on it.

[She gives him a wry smile.]

At least, I'd like to think we aren't.

I'm certain you're not.

[He's absolutely sincere in that, too.]

I admit that you present some new ideas to me. I'm not quite certain how to process them, yet.

I'd be happy to further explain anything you have questions about. Or if you think of something later you want to talk about you can always reach me on my comm.

That is kind of you, Dr. Crusher, and I thank you for it.

You're welcome, Mr. Olivaw. Once you're assigned to your new ship, I'm sure we will be seeing more of each other.

Have a friendly robot. :3

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