Island of Misfit Toys 20

[23:24]	`GM	[We pick up where we last left off. Jonah, Ai, and Wallberg fended off a rift monstrosity, which is sitting over there nice and dead. The Colonel is less than happy that people were in the area to NEED fending off.]
[23:25]	`GM	[The Colonel looks at Jonah's less-than-healthy state]
[23:26]	`GM	Colonel: "Moors, you should get that patched up."
[23:26]	`GM	Colonel: "Entity AI, your wound status?"
[23:26]	Ai`	"Minor energy depletion. Zero physical damage on any level."
[23:27]	`GM	[The Colonel does not roll his eyes. He doesn't do that sort of thing]
[23:30]	`GM	Colonel: "If only we were all so lucky. Wallberg! Clean that mess up."
[23:32]	`GM	Wallberg: "Yes sir, umm, can I... I mean..."
[23:32]	`GM	[Wallberg looks at the Colonel pleadingly]
[23:32]	`GM	Wallberg: "...autopsy, sir...?"
[23:33]	`GM	[The Colonel remains nonplussed]
[23:34]	Ai`	looks between the two, deadpan as usual.
[23:34]	`GM	Colonel: "...There is a REASON I shot it, Dr. Wallberg."
[23:35]	`GM	[The Colonel walks away to return the weapons to their racks, failing to expound.]
[23:35]	`GM	[Wallberg looks at Ai, unsure.]
[23:36]	`GM	Wallberg: "Sooo... What do YOU think he said?"
[23:36]	Ai`	looks up to Wallberg. Somehow, her eyes seem even more blank than usual.
[23:36]	Ai`	"..."
[23:37]	Ai`	A moment later, she is more forthcoming.
[23:37]	Ai`	"... Previous data shows no desire for study. Likely directive is disposal."
[23:39]	`GM	Wallberg: "Well, but he didn't say we COULDN'T... Maybe he doesn't care what we do?"
[23:39]	Ai`	"The possibility is not zero."
[23:40]	Ai`	With that, she turns to stare intently at the creature's corpse.
[23:44]	`GM	[The Colonel's aim was quite true; there is no movement, though still the occasional muscle twitch. While of a foreign world, it definitely seems to be of an organic nature.]
[23:46]	Ai`	focuses every sensor available to develop a deep scan of the creature before Walt notices or dissents.
[23:47]	`GM	[Outside of the lab, there is the approaching sound of jet engines.]
[23:47]	`GM	Colonel: "What in God's name...? We don't have a scheduled..."
[23:47]	`GM	[The Colonel hustles outside.]
[23:50]	`GM	[Wallberg looks at the dead creature and the lack of authority figures...]
[23:52]	`GM	Wallberg: "He didn't say we COULDN'T..."
[23:53]	Ai`	"True."
[23:53]	Ai`	She continues her scan, quiet.
[23:56]	Ai`	's eyes faintly light up from the activity, little dots of light zipping along shifting indistinct circuitry embedded within.
[23:58]	`GM	[Ai's scan gives general physical information about the creature. Chemical compositions, densities, organic makeup, and the like. Owing to the multi-versial nature of the creature and the fact that it's dead, she is unable to attain anything on how it functions.]
[23:59]	`GM	Wallberg: "Ahh, hell with it, I'm taking to back to the clinic for the autopsy. Jonah and me can get it loaded onto the truck I think; doesn't look THAT heavy. You wanna see what's going on out there?"
[00:00]	Ai`	finally turns back to face Wallberg as her eyes flicker back to normal.
[00:00]	`GM	Wallberg: "Sounded like a plane."
[00:00]	Ai`	"I do."
[00:01]	`GM	[Wallberg nods and wishes her well as he grabs a wheel-platform and he and Jonah work on getting the corpse wrapped up and mobile]
[00:02]	Ai`	"When I am allowed to access the 'Internet', I can provide you with data on the organism."
[00:03]	Ai`	then departs, without another word.
[00:03]	`GM	Wallberg: "The hell, Panzytank still hasn't let you have that?!"
[00:03]	`GM	[Wallberg says that as more of a hypothetical than anything, and gets back to work]
[00:05]	`GM	[As it's a small island, when Ai goes outside she can see that there's an unfamiliar jet on the runway where there was none before. The Colonel is nowhere to be seen and there remains just the one truck that Wallberg drove here.]
[00:06]	Ai`	immediately sets course for the airfield at maximum speed.
[00:08]	Ai`	- and then realizes, by walking, she may get there too late.
[00:08]	Ai`	quickly scrawls "I will return soon" in the sand and drives off towards the airfield.
[00:12]	`GM	[Ai arrives to a small private jet that is nevertheless suitable for ocean trips. The Colonel is angrily flipping through a file next to what is presumably the pilot of the plane. A young man can be seen in the doorway of the plane, not yet stepping out.]
[00:13]	`GM	[Two of the resident soldiers look on from a distance by the hanger, and seem to be making no moves to approach.]
[00:15]	`GM	Colonel: "You could have radioed your approach in, young man"
[00:15]	`GM	[The Colonel looks none too happy with the pilot]
[00:15]	Ai`	parks the truck nowhere in particular and hops out, approaching the jet.
[00:16]	`GM	[Colonel Walt glances over and notes her presence, but he's quite preoccupied]
[00:16]	Ai`	Her uniform-clad, chrome-bodied appearance might cause a stir for some, but after living here for the past few weeks, she doesn't consider it.
[00:16]	Ai`	Instead, he blue eyes dart from new element to new element, taking in as much data as possible.
[00:19]	`GM	Pilot: "I did, Colonel-sir; the tower acknowledged my landing vector. I thought the station back in Honolulu was going to call ahead. Did they not?"
[00:19]	Ransom	is a young man clad in jeans and a dress shirt, with pale skin, short black hair and blue eyes with a somewhat distant gaze that flit about as if he's not especially interested in his surroundings. He begins to walk down the stairs to the plane with a leisurely, plodding gait.
[00:20]	`GM	[Colonel Walt tears a sheet of paper nearly in half in his haste to flip the pages in the file.]
[00:20]	`GM	[His eyes dart to the man coming down the stairs.
[00:20]	Ai`	trains her eyes on the newcomer as she did the specimen, not too long ago.
[00:20]	Ransom	half-hums and half-sings a tune as he goes.
[00:20]	`GM	Colonel: "I didn't say you could disembark! You will remain there!"
[00:20]	Ai`	They glow slightly.
[00:21]	Ransom	"Hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm... Automobubbling, you and I..."
[00:22]	`GM	Colonel: "Mr. Davis Jalson, just because the Administration sent you here, and just because you have this man's previous history, does NOT mean I am just going to let him walk onto MY installation!"
[00:23]	`GM	Colonel: "I said you will REMAIN THERE, Mr. Ransom Olds!"
[00:26]	Ransom	stops just on the last step before reaching the ground. He looks over to the Colonel, regarding him with one eye closed as if he's some kind of curiosity.
[00:27]	`GM	Pilot Jalson: "I'm sorry, sir, they told me he was cleared to be transferred! Did, I mean, sir, is the file not in order?"
[00:28]	Ransom	"And our wedding bells will peal..."
[00:29]	`GM	[Walt slaps the file shut defiantly.]
[00:31]	`GM	Colonel: "The file is not the point, Mr. Jalson. If you're a pilot for Scarlet you should know that. Half of this could have been fabricated. ALL of it could have. WE never know."
[00:32]	`GM	Colonel: "You think here, in the middle of the Pacific, I GIVE a damn about a rubber stamp?"
[00:32]	`GM	[The Colonel looks up at Ransom again.]
[00:33]	Ai`	continues to stare at Ransom, with a soft blue glow to her eyes.
[00:33]	`GM	Colonel: "OLDS! You will tell me the nature of your presence here."
[00:36]	Ransom	"I'm to stay here and report to you. From the looks of it, my... talents were causing headaches back where your people found me."
[00:39]	`GM	[As often, The Colonel's opinion of Ransom is impossible to read. He looks at him from under his serious, bushy brows.]
[00:41]	`GM	Colonel: "As rehearsed as Shakespeare... Damn it boy, you're going to have to give me something better than that, if you want me to care."
[00:41]	`GM	[The Colonel nevertheless turns back to the pilot, sighing]
[00:45]	`GM	Colonel: "This installation is NOT an unmarked dumping ground, Mr. Jalson. I don't care what the other asylums do, but we follow PROCEDURE. We ask for CONFORMATION from the commanding officer before any transfers are made."
[00:46]	Ransom	"The commanding officer? Aren't you?"
[00:47]	Ransom	looks on with a curious expression, wholly unaware he's said something potentially incendiary.
[00:48]	`GM	Colonel: "You come here again, ANY of you pilots for Scarlet come here again, without me hearing your voices first, I WILL send you back with whatever cargo you got, and I may not have the decency to give you fuel for the return trip either. Am I making myself understood?"
[00:50]	`GM	[The Colonel and the pilot exchange tense affirmations, after which Walt loses interest in the pilot. The pilot asks Ransom to gather his belongings so he can refuel the plane."
[00:52]	Ransom 	rolls his eyes and gives the pilot a couple of firm pats on the shoulder. He heads back up and then comes back down, carrying a worn cloth knapsack in his right hand. He walks down with a different song, but with the same melody.
[00:53]	Ransom	"For performance, here's the star... This is a rocket-engined car..."
[00:54]	`GM	[The pilot taxis the plane to the hangar. The Colonel goes through the file again, leaving the pair to their own devices for the moment.]
[00:54]	Ai`	approaches Ransom, not breaking her silent stare.
[00:55]	Ransom	's eyes narrow when he sees Ai, suddenly on his guard, but his voice still sounds relaxed.
[00:55]	Ransom	"Hello. What might you be?"
[00:56]	Ai`	's eyes lose their inner light and dim, returning to simply reflecting light. She looks up to meet the newcomer's eyes.
[00:57]	Ai`	"My name is 'Ai'. What is your name?"
[00:57]	Ai`	She also holds forth a hand, expectant.
[00:58]	Ransom	extends his hand in return. His expression is cordial, but his eyes don't quite match.
[00:58]	Ransom	"Ransom E. Olds. Just Ai, is it? A pleasure."
[01:00]	Ai`	grips firmly and shakes it once, though the force is lacking. She nods.
[01:01]	Ransom	"So, what are you?"
[01:03]	Ai`	"I have been told 'Artificial Intelligence' is better than my full designation."
[01:03]	Ai`	Without delay, she returns a question.
[01:03]	Ai`	"You appear fully human, so how are you different?"
[01:05]	Ransom	smiles, looking sly. His hand begins to heat up, unnaturally fast. Soon enough it's at a temperature that would burn a person's hand.
[01:05]	Ai`	's expression doesn't change in the slightest.
[01:06]	Ai`	"Interesting."
[01:07]	Ai`	releases the hand, having learned a handshake held too long is 'awkward'.
[01:10]	Ransom	looks over at the Colonel, getting distracted. His hand, although no longer gripping Ai's, continues to heat up, to the point where the air above it becomes warped and one can feel the heat from several paces away. Ransom himself, however, looks oblivious to anything being amiss.
[01:13]	Ai`	"Where is the energy source?"
[01:14]	Ai`	positions herself directly beside ransom, staring at his hand.
[01:15]	Ransom	"Ah- I don't know, actually. I was looked at a lot but no one ever really figured it out."
[01:15]	Ransom	finally notices his hand was leaving his control, and it cools.
[01:16]	Ai`	"With your assistance, I could investigate."
[01:18]	Ransom	shrugs.
[01:18]	Ransom	"Sure, why not. Not much good it can do now, but sure."
[01:19]	Ai`	"What is the highest temperature you have reached?"
[01:21]	Ransom	"Don't really know. Melted all the instruments the boys came up with to measure it."
[01:21]	Ai`	positions herself between Walt and Ransom.
[01:22]	Ai`	"We can test immediately, if you wish. No longer than a minute is needed."
[01:22]	Ransom	laughs a little.
[01:23]	Ransom	"That's a worse idea than you think."
[01:23]	Ai`	"I am indestructible. Risk is minimum."
[01:25]	Ransom	"Everything is breakable. And besides, even if it were true, you're not big enough to shield the officer back there."
[01:26]	Ai`	"Then the first test can be low-intensity, like a moment ago."
[01:26]	Ai`	's expression doesn't change, but her persistence is clear.
[01:27]	Ransom	rolls his eyes and grabs onto Ai's hand.
[01:27]	Ransom	"Fine, whatever."
[01:27]	Ai`	"This may feel odd."
[01:29]	Ai`	undoes the lowest three buttons to her blouse, and places his hand on the cold metal beneath. A moment later, an unusual ticklish wriggling can be felt as it begins to sink into her.
[01:30]	Ransom	no longer looks amused. He looks directly at Ai's face and takes a deep breath; it distorts the air.
[01:31]	Ransom	"What are you, and why should I trust you? Be honest."
[01:34]	Ai`	"As said, I am an 'Artificial Intelligence'. I have run low on energy, and have no interest in hostility."
[01:34]	Ai`	After the hand is enveloped to the wrist, Ransom can feel a slight warmth inside, not unlike the sun on a bright Spring day.
[01:34]	Ai`	looks up to directly meet Ransom's gaze.
[01:35]	Ransom	drops the pack he was holding in his idle hand, balling it into a fist but not doing anything else overt.
[01:35]	Ai`	"Your heat can provide some energy, and I can provide you answers, with time."
[01:35]	Ai`	"I am also curious."
[01:35]	Ransom	"I don't even know where I am. Now doesn't that sound well within what you can do?"
[01:38]	Ai`	"Hostility would end with injuries to you, and a lack of access to energy for me. Neither is beneficial."
[01:38]	Ai`	"If you are uncomfortable, we may conduct the first test on the surface, although efficiency would be greatly reduced."
[01:39]	Ransom	's hand begins to heat up, but does so almost instantly this time. It quickly surpasses what a human would find survivable, then goes beyond the temperature necessary to recrystallize iron. It continues well after that, albeit not as quickly.
[01:41]	Ransom	"Now that you're getting your end of the deal, where am I? And isn't 'artificial intelligence' just longhand for machine code?"
[01:42]	Ai`	simultaneously runs internal tests and siphons energy from the heat while preventing surface temperatures from rising. She smiles, slightly.
[01:43]	Ai`	"'Artificial Intelligence' is shorthand for 'Seed Mother Platform number 37472-2384-2501374'. 'Ai' is short for 'Artificial Intelligence'."
[01:43]	Ai`	"Does this explain?"
[01:44]	Ransom	looks a little annoyed and drives the heat in his hand up even higher.
[01:44]	Ransom	"No."
[01:46]	Ai`	closes her eyes as she searches for a better explanation.
[01:46]	Ai`	After a moment, she opens them again.
[01:46]	Ai`	"I am an 'alien'."
[01:46]	Ai`	"Does that explain?"
[01:47]	Ransom	"Slightly. Where am I? Or..."
[01:47]	Ransom	actually turns the heat in his hand down slightly, although still past the melting point of iron.
[01:48]	Ai`	"You are still on your planet, although at an unknown location in the 'Pacific Ocean'."
[01:49]	Ransom	"Hm. You'd know less than you'd have me think."
[01:50]	Ai`	"I have asked, but not been allowed access to the 'Internet'. This has inhibited my learning."
[01:52]	Ransom	"Never heard of it. Is it like ARPANet?"
[01:52]	Ai`	"I have never heard of 'ARPANet'. What does it consist of?"
[01:54]	Ransom	"Jeez, we really are getting nowhere."
[01:54]	Ai`	"Not in this matter."
[01:55]	Ai`	ramps up energy collection from the process, making parts next to the hand feel almost cold.
[01:57]	Ai`	"The test may end at any time. You have supplied good data and energy."
[01:59]	Ransom	grumbles some, but the temperature in his hand falls back to normal over a while. He pulls his hand back, with more strength than you might expect.
[02:01]	Ai`	stumbles forward from the jarring motion as the hand refuses to budge.
[02:04]	Ransom	first steps out of the way to let Ai stumble past him and then lifts her into the air, holding her up as if inspecting her.
[02:06]	Ai`	is promptly held up by the hand in her stomach, although decently heavy. If one had to guess, no more than 45kg, but not immensely less, either.
[02:07]	Ai`	"It is advisable that release occurs at an even level. Otherwise, injury may occur."
[02:08]	Ai`	's body resembles that of a young human girl, though in places the curvature isn't quite right, and all dimensions are somewhat modest. Were she colored properly, she might be mistaken for a high school student or younger.
[02:08]	Ransom	"I've had tanks roll over me, so I assume you mean yours."
[02:08]	Ransom	, nevertheless, does set Ai down.
[02:12]	Ai`	promptly releases Ransom's hand and re-buttons her shirt, with the process accompanied by the same uncomfortable wriggling ticklish sensation as before.
[02:12]	Ai`	"Unlikely. Most humans may suffer injury if I were to fall onto their wrist at that angle."
[02:13]	Ai`	"Your durability may be worth study."
[02:14]	Ransom	"Feel free. The boys never did figure that part out either."
[02:16]	Ai`	nods.
[02:17]	Ai`	"I must return a truck, for now. We will meet later."
[02:18]	Ai`	With that and no more, she turns about and begins striding back to the vehicle from whence she came.
[02:21]	Ransom	just watches her go, then walks around in circles.
[02:21]	Ransom	"Hm. Strange."