Stones of farspeech; within a day of the intro log

[conscientiousobject]

This is very sudden, and perhaps badly timed, for which I apologise.

[He really hopes he's not wasting the time of people trapped in rockslides or something, but--well, he would also hope someone trapped in a rock slide would be focusing on that and not. This.]

But I've just... returned to this place after a long absence and I've been informed there are other robots here now?

Is this true?

My name is Epsilon, and I am--was? Am. A robot myself.

So if anyone who can hear me has any kind of AI, or a similar form of existence... at your convenience, I'd like to speak with you! It's been a long time since I've known any others.

.... also, if you do need help, Ginko and I are able to move a great deal of earth between us, so please say something.

Comments

[counterblows]

Can't say I have.

[But he keeps to himself, for the most part. He's probably seen them here and there - they're hard to miss - just hasn't spoken to them enough to know their names.]

Also can't say that sounds like any kind of standard science, but I'm not going to ask for this place, or any other place, to start making logical sense.

[conscientiousobject]

It is very unscientific.

[Is that a sense of humour? Yes.]

At the very least, I can assure you this was a peninsula, separate from the islands we inhabit and visit here. So your odds of becoming a magical horse or sentient tree are fairly low.

[counterblows]

Thank god.

[About as deadpan as he can manage it.]

Sorry for any confusion. It was important enough that I had to check. And...uh, it might get confusing for almost everyone else from home. If you haven't been yelled at about the name already.

[conscientiousobject]

I am... experiencing that, yes.

[He didn't know it was possible for this rock to 'blow up,' proverbially speaking, but... it kind of is.]

On that note, may I have your name? For future reference.

[counterblows]

Agent Washington.

[Usually he just goes with "Washington," but he probably owes the guy his full title, considering the grief this unfortunate association is going to start giving him.]

Just Washington is fine.

[conscientiousobject]

[Agent Washington... agent of who? What organisation? Likely none that Epsilon would recognise. Hmmm.

He's a bit caught between the need to be respectful and the need to protect all involved parties, but nothing is insurmountable, and smiles warmly when he finds a compromise--the kind of smile that Washington can hear.]

How about I call you Agent Washington for now, and we'll work towards just 'Washington' in the future?

[counterblows]

Most people just call me "Wash."

[This would be a first. The Project always preferred that extra layer of formality, a barrier between relationships that might develop otherwise - presumably, anyway. It never really worked out that way.]

But - sure. If that would, uh...make you feel better. [He's better at being surly and interrogative than he is at small talk. Who knew?]

[conscientiousobject]

Chalk it up to my AI.

[He's half-joking, but since technically everything he thinks, says, or does originates in his AI, which was written by a human being... knowing one's consciousness and awareness are an intentional product of design is a very robot-specific experience.]

Thank you, Agent Washington.

[counterblows]

Uh...huh.

[He thinks it's a joke. He thinks it is, but doesn't feel confident enough in that assumption to laugh at it, just in case it isn't. It's fine, though; he doesn't laugh at much of anything anyway. If he tried, it would probably come across as forced and insincere.]

Don't worry about it. Sorry about the misunderstanding.