Island of Misfit Toys 3

[21:14]	[GM]	It’s getting to be late afternoon on the first day at Refueling Station 27. Jonah and Liu, the two “official” employees, are busy being shown around the house and immediate grounds by a more acclimated Ms. Kaitlyn, but as Ai is decidedly Unofficial, the resident feline suggested she interface “officially” with the Colonel; he likes it when things are official.
[21:15]	[GM]	The Colonel currently resides in what may or may not be his office; it's full of unpacked boxes and hardly looks official at the moment. The boxes ARE very tidy, though.
[21:18]	Ai`	scans everything both visually and literally- LIDAR is too useful not to have. After glancing about the room, she addresses its sole human occupant.
[21:18]	Ai`	"Hello."
[21:20]	ColSamuelson	turns away from his computer records and notices the silvery creature. He stands up and places his hands behind his back.
[21:21]	ColSamuelson	"Ah yes... you. Doctor Wallberg briefed me on the situation."
[21:21]	ColSamuelson	"I found his briefing to be grossly inadequate."
[21:22]	ColSamuelson	shifts a few steps back and forth, observing Ai from different angles; this is the first time he's cared to get a good look at her.
[21:23]	Ai`	turns her head to watch him, recording data on his gait.
[21:23]	ColSamuelson	"You are, he says, an alien artificial intelligence. Is this a correct assessment?"
[21:24]	Ai`	"Yes."
[21:24]	Ai`	answers without delay.
[21:25]	ColSamuelson	adds after some delay:
[21:25]	ColSamuelson	"Is this a COMPLETE assessment?"
[21:26]	Ai`	blinks, pausing a moment before responding again.
[21:27]	Ai`	"-No."
[21:29]	ColSamuelson	sits back down and clicks his computer's mouse around a bit, opening up an audio recording program. He then folds his hands in his lap, staring at the facsimile of the girl with eyes that have seen this sort of thing before and have ceased to be shocked by it.
[21:30]	Ai`	stares back, meeting them with her own blue cybernetic eyes.
[21:31]	ColSamuelson	"You have my leave to elaborate upon your origins and intentions; I would request that you do so."
[21:33]	Ai`	nods once, terse.
[21:34]	Ai`	"I am Consensus Seed Mother Platform #37472-2384-2501374, human alias 'Ai'."
[21:35]	Ai`	"I arrived here due to a Transversal Jump executed while escaping a Creator fleet."
[21:35]	Ai`	"I desire peace."
[21:35]	Ai`	proceeds almost as if reading off a list.
[21:36]	Ai`	"I desire to reestablish contact with the Consensus and resume operations with a sufficient mass and energy supply."
[21:37]	Ai`	"I desire knowledge of this world and its parameters: Technology, Conflicts, Area of Control."
[21:39]	Ai`	"Does this answer your questions?"
[21:39]	ColSamuelson	massages his mustache in thought.
[21:40]	ColSamuelson	"It does not. What is 'The Consensus'?"
[21:41]	Ai`	again pauses, appearing to internally process something.
[21:42]	Ai`	"... My 'country'."
[21:42]	Ai`	may have little body language, but it's still clear she's withholding something.
[21:44]	ColSamuelson	's been through this song and dance before, and it wasn't even with an artificial intelligence. He stands up and again and begins pacing vaguely around the room, though he never turns his back on the girl.
[21:45]	ColSamuelson	"You hail from a parallel universe of existence. Confirm?"
[21:45]	Ai`	"Confirmed."
[21:47]	ColSamuelson	"What are your physical capabilities and limitations?"
[21:48]	Ai`	[This time, the pause is shorter.]
[21:49]	Ai`	"My mass is several tens of kilograms. My energy supplies limit material transmutation to kilogram quantities without access to a recharge station."
[21:49]	Ai`	"My form can change at will as limited by my mass and energy."
[21:54]	ColSamuelson	taps his fingers on an empty filing cabinet, assessing her form enigmatically.
[21:55]	ColSamuelson	"Demonstrate."
[21:56]	Ai`	holds forth an open palm, then extruding a short silvery snakelike formation from it.
[21:59]	Ai`	's "hair" shrinks just a little to compensate.
[22:01]	ColSamuelson	"Describe your material composition."
[22:02]	Ai`	retracts the protrusion and returns to normal.
[22:02]	Ai`	"I am a network of 'nanites'."
[22:03]	Ai`	"If your world does not have more advanced technology than I have seen so far, no material is stronger."
[22:05]	ColSamuelson	is too in control of his emotions to immediately start attempting to destroy this potentially cataclysm-causing monstrosity. Better men than him have tried, they died, and now HE'S the better man.
[22:07]	ColSamuelson	continues pacing, deciding internally how best to deal with the jolly situation that's fallen into his lap now that he's "retired".
[22:09]	ColSamuelson	sits back down and bridges his fingers.
[22:11]	ColSamuelson	“Your explanation is sufficient for this current period in time, entity Ai.”
[22:15]	ColSamuelson	“My name is Colonel Samuelson; I am a ranking officer of an organized military force of this planet. And as the ranking officer of this facility and an anecdotal expert on multiversial phenomena, it is my duty to assess any new anomalies that any resident may encounter.”
[22:15]	ColSamuelson	"I will brief you on the situation you have found yourself involved in."
[22:18]	ColSamuelson	“This facility is an isolated refueling station for military aerospace vehicles, located on a small island in the middle of the largest of this planet’s oceans. It has recently been retrofitted to accommodate citizens of my country which have been adversely affected by multiversal phenomena to the point where they can no longer interact with normal society.”
[22:21]	ColSamuelson	“The organization which organized these accommodations is not publicly known, and they have given me the authority of sole governance and supervision over all civilians and enlisted personnel on this landmass.”
[22:25]	ColSamuelson	"In short, entity Ai, no one else on this planet knows we are here, and no one leaves without my authority. I am for all intents and purposes retired, and do not wish for my life to become any more complicated here than it already has been."
[22:25]	ColSamuelson	"But, as it is said in my culture, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride."
[22:26]	ColSamuelson	sighs and looks at the computer screen, switching off the audio program.
[22:28]	Ai`	takes a moment to parse everything before continuing.
[22:28]	Ai`	"No large-scale conflicts will threaten this facility?"
[22:29]	ColSamuelson	takes a moment to parse that as well, and gives a straight-faced answer.
[22:30]	ColSamuelson	"None of any consequence."
[22:30]	Ai`	makes the first value claim since her arrival.
[22:30]	Ai`	"Good."
[22:31]	ColSamuelson	"I suggest you acclimate yourself to the surroundings of this island. However, I also suggest you go nowhere without an escort until your long-term reliability can be evaluated."
[22:32]	ColSamuelson	"I hold no authority over you personally, but over the island I do, thus anything adverse done upon it is within my purview to adjudicate."
[22:34]	Ai`	pauses yet again. Somehow, she manifests an almost wary tone in her otherwise blatantly synthetic voice.
[22:34]	Ai`	"I desire peace. Nothing 'adverse' will occur."
[22:36]	ColSamuelson	was not impressed by this statement several years before it was uttered.
[22:36]	ColSamuelson	"As I mentioned previously, I'll be the judge of that."
[22:37]	ColSamuelson	"I've dealt with 'unknown quantities' before. I've learned its best to play things by the book in those situations."
[22:38]	Ai`	's expression remains as if cast in metal (which it is).
[22:38]	ColSamuelson	"When one knows nothing about the intentions of their opponent, one should at least know everything about the intentions of themselves."
[22:40]	Ai`	"I am not an 'opponent'. I am a 'refugee'."
[22:40]	Ai`	tells a bit more, hoping to win the pot.
[22:41]	ColSamuelson	"And so am I. Otherwise I wouldn't be here."
[22:42]	Ai`	decides to drop the point and refocus on her primary objectives.
[22:43]	Ai`	"May I use small amounts of your mass supply to produce additional energy?"
[22:46]	ColSamuelson	answers a different question.
[22:47]	ColSamuelson	"You will be compensated with material goods in exchange for services rendered, if you so choose."
[22:47]	Ai`	"What services?"
[22:51]	ColSamuelson	"Various housekeeping and maintenance chores within the residence and surrounding grounds; there is no official maintenance staff other than the residents themselves."
[22:52]	Ai`	"Can you supply metal plates and computers?"
[22:54]	ColSamuelson	"Our stocks are limited on the island itself, but material can be requisitioned from the mainland, again in accordance with the amount of services rendered."
[22:55]	Ai`	"If enough is 'requisitioned' in short enough time, I will agree to these terms."
[22:56]	ColSamuelson	nods.
[22:56]	ColSamuelson	"It will serve you well to do so."
[22:57]	Ai`	holds an open palm straight towards the Colonel.
[22:58]	ColSamuelson	looks at it and folds his hands behind his back.
[22:58]	ColSamuelson	"You may dispense with the formalities, entity Ai."
[22:59]	Ai`	drops it.
[23:01]	Ai`	"When may I begin?"
[23:02]	ColSamuelson	"The other two new residents, whom you've met, will begin their formal employment tomorrow morning; it would benefit you to join them."
[23:03]	Ai`	nods again.
[23:05]	ColSamuelson	taps his finger on his chin, looking Ai's silvery form over again and contemplating something.
[23:06]	ColSamuelson	"Ahh, one additional note. If you are seeking formal employment, I request all employees wear a standardized uniform. Is your form capable of sustaining fabric?"
[23:07]	Ai`	"To create fabric would reduce my mass and energy. Do spare supplies exist?"
[23:08]	ColSamuelson	"They do."
[23:09]	Ai`	"May I use one uniform?"
[23:09]	ColSamuelson	"You may."
[23:10]	ColSamuelson	seems to be getting tired of what he feels are obvious questions, but then again, he's trying very hard to be "retired".
[23:11]	Ai`	"Where may I find one?"
[23:15]	ColSamuelson	grabs the walkie-talkie at his waist and dials it to a different channel. After a brief "You are required in my office", he returns his focus to Ai.
[23:15]	ColSamuelson	"Ms. Katrin will assist you."
[23:16]	Ai`	nods.
[23:16]	Ai`	"Thank you."