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

[solperierat]

And what am I, chopped liver?

[conscientiousobject]

.... I didn't want to volunteer you without asking.

[forwearemany]

(The voice that answers is so obviously mechanical it's painful.)

Greetings Epsilon. We are Legion, relict of the Geth.

[solperierat]

It's not like I was gonna say no!

[in4apounding]

[Very, very cautiously.]

Are- um. Are there? You. ...Robots, I mean? ...Would that be a good thing?

[Nailed it.]

[conscientiousobject]

[There is no polite way to say 'I had no way of knowing that' in this situation, so:]

Certainly not if I'd made the assumption.

[He's teasing.]

[conscientiousobject]

[....hm.]

I'm sorry?

[conscientiousobject]

[If by 'painful,' you mean such a relief that if he were human, he'd probably physically feel it, then yes. Absolutely.]

I've not heard of the Geth, but... relic?

[solperierat]

[The tired look he's giving the rock is nearly audible, to be honest.]

You know what I meant.

[conscientiousobject]

[He does know, yes.

So he answers on a more practical basis.]

It's probably better if we split up our efforts anyway.

[forwearemany]

Relict. We are the last.

(Not just of the Geth though. Of all machine life in their universe of origin.)

[counterblows]

Your name is...Epsilon.

[Oh, boy. That's not going to get horribly confusing any time soon.]

[conscientiousobject]

Yes.

Is there a problem?

[conscientiousobject]

I see... I'm sorry.

[This is a sincere statement. Robots can't lie, but Epsilon as an individual is particularly sympathetic to others, and... uh.]

I hope this is not the case for my own earth, but we may have that in common.

[counterblows]

No. No, no, no problem. Christ, this is going to get confusing. Just - word of warning. [It's clear that this is Not Fine due to how vehemently Wash tries to smooth that over, but he just keeps talking.]

There's someone by that name from...where I come from. Someone else.

[vagabone]

[This is fine, really. Well, no, it's boring as hell and he did get bashed around a little, but other people are much worse off!! What with the needing to breathe and drink and eat and all.

At least he has his... rock-radio for company.]

Oh, cool, another robot. [He's not being sarcastic, it's a little on the cool side.] Hey, you met Ginko already?

[forwearemany]

(Mechanical chatter.)

Elaborate.

[conscientiousobject]

[Yeah, he really lost the chance to pass this off as fine and normal after the second repetition of the word 'no.']

I take it you're not a fan.

[counterblows]

It's complicated.

[THAT IS THE SHORT VERSION.]

I just don't want anyone I know jumping down your throat because you have the same name.

[conscientiousobject]

Yes; I used to be a robot in the same fashion that he used to be human.

[He isn't not a robot now, mind, but Ginko is also still essentially human.]

Are you two friends?

[solperierat]

Eh, probably...still, if you guys do run into trouble let me know, okay? I've got my alchemy back now, so I can actually keep things from collapsing to some extent.

[conscientiousobject]

.... it's a little complicated, but... the last moment of my consciousness entailed an imminent threat to the world.

There is very little hope that anything could have been done.

So I may be the last 'living' being from my own version of earth. There are others. Most of them haven't developed AI, at least not to the degree mine had.

[Epsilon took very easily to the existence of multiple realities and worlds, but such theories had been around for centuries. Also, when you've been turned from artificial 'mineral' life to organic animal life to quasi-magical plant life in the span of one (1) month, you learn to accept what comes.]

[conscientiousobject]

[Sorry, what? Back up a second there.]

You got your alchemy... back?

[solperierat]

The local god's willing to restore things for us if we give them enough stories. They couldn't restore it entirely, but it's better than the goddamn nothing I had before.

[forwearemany]

Query: what was the nature of this threat?

(They chatter some more.)

Affirmative, this is corroborated by our own data.