Geist, you wake up to a loud, insistent knocking
at the door. You're in your apartment, or at
least it's your apartment now. Not too long ago,
it belonged to some Clusterist, but whoever it
was doesn't have any use for it now. Either they're
dead or evacuated. Where you used to live when
she was still alive is long gone now. A disassembled,
forgotten Firebase in the River Valley. The knocking
grows more insistent now, as you finally finish
waking up. To be clear, this is like, this is
real, right? I'm still all in my, do I have my
real body or my robot body? You have your real
body. My real body, okay. Cool, I'll get up,
not think too much about it, and walk across
the room and open the door. You move to the door,
and as you reach it, the smell hits you. Burning
plastics and the smell of burning skin. Unique
in that you know the smell is your burning skin.
Oh. I'm going to stare at the door for a second,
and then I'm going to reach one, shake a hand
out, and turn the knob and open it really fast.
You open it up, and she's there. Burnt, charred
ghost, just like in those pictures you demanded
to see. The charcoal film that is her skin cracks,
and her mouth hangs open limply. Don't hate them,
Gareth. They - You wake up again, to the sound
of insistent knocking at the door. This time
in real life, or as real a life as you have known
since waking up from your coma. It's the morning,
and a voice comes through the door as the knocking
continues. Garrett, it's me, Dr. Grace. I had
to move your appointment earlier. Ah, for fuck's
sake. Give me a second. Garrett, uh... I don't
know. I guess I should probably think of how
he sleeps. I imagine that most of his extremities
are now... artificial and i like to imagine that
they're pretty obviously artificial it's not
like a good facimile of a human body so maybe
he uh maybe he sleeps with some of them detached
for comfort reasons but maybe he'll grab his
left arm that he keeps by the bed and slot it
into the socket at the top left side of his torso
and get himself up run a quick little check on
all the servos in the arms and legs to make sure
that they're functioning and then kind of unsteadily
get to his feet and stomp over to the door and
open it up. Yeah, Dr. Suri Grace is there, your
physical therapist and the kind of head surgeon
and doctor for the pilot division. You know,
she walks in, gives you a little nod and puts
her bag down and gets started on the usual physical
therapy you do, checking the connections between
your new limbs and your body and brain, doing
diagnostics on them, making sure everything is
okay there. And she asks you, any more issues
with the phantom pain? Comes and goes. Sleeping
okay? No. She nods and continues to go through
the usual motions. And as usual, it's finished
within about 30 minutes. And as she begins packing
up, you get the sense that There's something
that she's holding back. She's moving slower
and she keeps like pausing momentarily, looking
back at you and then continuing to back up. Look,
don't insult my fucking intelligence, all right?
If you got something to tell me, just tell me.
Garrett, they approved your request. You're being
reinstated and she hands you a small letter confirming
just that. Oh, he takes it and gives it a quick
scan. Good, that's... That's good. That's good.
They got me something to fly, something to drive.
Yeah. I gave you the medical clearance because
you check all the boxes, but I need you to know
that I don't think it's a good idea. You haven't
had enough time to recover, either mentally or
physically, in my medical opinion. And while
you may be capable of piloting, I am concerned
that doing so will only worsen your existing
conditions. Well... I don't know what the hell
to say. Thanks. I guess you know this is what
I wanted. This is what I need. Don't. I'm done.
I'm done sitting around. I can't take it anymore.
She nods to you. She picks up her bag and says,
Well, I'll see you around for the usual checkups.
Good luck out there, Geist. She closes the door
behind her. Looks down at the letter for a second.
Crumples it up in one metallic fist and then
I don't know turns around and walks out of frame
Loyal you've agreed to have a video conference
with a young uplifted dolphin in the Seoul Union
They claim that they are doing a school report
on you As the connection opens, you get a view
of the dolphin. Young by most accounts, but dolphins
mature physically much faster than they mature
mentally. They are suspended in a pretty typical
aquatic housing facility. These houses were specifically
designed to help dolphins integrate with human
society, and they feature a water -filled bottom
level where dolphins go about their business
without the assistance of an exopod. which is
the device that, as you know, you use to go about
your business on land. He speaks up and says,
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.
You must be so busy fighting and stuff. Thank
you, child, for choosing me as part of your book
report. I wasn't expecting a communication like
this from Earth orbit. Why? Things have been,
and then sunlip. pauses here for a moment. Difficult
on Terabria. War is unpopular, as I'm sure you
know. Yeah, my teachers are always talking about
it. They kind of act like you're bad. Not you
specifically, but we are bad here. And I don't
really agree with that, so I'm not going to ask
you a lot about it. because it's pretty obvious
that what you're doing is for the good of all
of us. What's it like being one of those frames?
That's one of my questions. Is it exciting? Is
it different from how they portray it in movies?
Do you get to watch movies there? Do they let
you? We don't have the same technologies here
for sonar pictures. I miss them. Tell me, child,
do you have other classmates who are also dolphins?
Are your classmates humans too? What's life like
for you back there? Well, we're mixed. Some humans,
some dolphins. I'm here with my parents. We all
live in orbit. We build ships mostly. Not like
frames, but the big ships. The things that probably
take you where you are. And I'm getting taught
to do that. Mostly by AI teachers, but sometimes
we have some dolphin teachers come in and some
human teachers. So it's, you know, there are
other dolphins here. I kind of, if I'm being
honest, I kind of like my human friends more.
I couldn't really tell you why, though. I guess
I'm getting off topic. That's all right, child.
Piloting a frame is much like an exopod, but
imagine it more as the size of a small... Star
drifter. One of the maker's ships. He nods emphatically.
You talk like that. My parents talk like that
a lot. Talk like what? No offense. Makers. Star
drifters. That's how my parents talk. And my
grandparents too. Humans don't really talk like
that. And I always ask my parents about it. And
they say it's kind of a cultural thing. Is there,
like, a reason why we are doing that? Tell me,
how many cycles old are you? Like, eight years.
Cycles are years. I know that one. I mean, I
can talk like that, too. My parents sometimes
make me, like, at the dinner table. But, yeah,
eight. I suppose I don't know at what age the
uplifted earth dolphins go back for their pilgrimage.
I was born on a star drifter in the outer planets.
I lived on Europa mostly and was wondering if
you go back on your pilgrimage to the ocean,
you'd be able to meet with the rest of our kin
and learn from them about why we speak this way.
I mean, I don't really, my parents wanted me
to do it when I was six, but I decided not to
because you don't really get to do anything down
there. It's kind of boring. You know, I don't
have my exopod. I don't have my friends. And,
you know, from what my parents told me and from
what I've read, our non -uplifted cousins, I
guess, are not very accepting of our way of life
here and our choices to be uplifted and to live
side by side with humans. So I don't really think
I'm ever going to make a pilgrimage. I'm just
not interested. Sunleth pauses again here for
a while and says, oh, well, hey, kid, what are
your interests? Do you like biology? Do you like
studying other creatures? Have you heard about
any new updates from Europa? Anything going on
there with the Nautilus? No, not really. I don't
want to be rude or anything, but I don't have
a lot of time for this. I have... We'll get back
to my classes soon. Can I ask you more of my
questions? Oh, yes, of course, child. Sorry.
He looks apologetic. So how do you feel like
being an uplifted dolphin changes how you approach
your job as a pilot? This is clearly reading
off of his notes here. Cute. Sunless says, I
have a more natural advantage when piloting frames.
As a dolphin, as you know, we move in three dimensions
naturally. We were evolved to move this way,
which made us more adept at traveling through
the infinite, which is why we were chosen for
uplift in the first place. I came here because
I thought I could use those for good, because
I can use those skills for good. It's interesting
being the only one of my kind on this planet.
I am treated differently, but I feel like the
humans here understand. When they see me use
my skills, I am more of an equal to them than
a stranger. Great. What do you miss most about
being home? It's something that kind of looks
off to the side, clearly reminiscing. I miss
the wide open oceans of Europa. I miss the fascinating
creatures there. You know, they have many arms
there. They glow. Like an octopus? Yes. That's
cool. I like octopuses. Octopi. Good job. That's
correct. Have you ever been in a fight? I haven't
been in as many fights as the other pilots who
have been here longer than I have. But yes, that
is the nature of what is happening here on Terabrea.
Have you ever, like, what's the biggest gun you've
ever shot? That's not on my list, but I want
to know. My frame is more equipped for shielding
technology and drilling. It was actually originally
meant for use on Europa to move ice sheets and
to mine there. So I haven't shot very large guns.
oh because in the movies like all the frames
have like these really big guns i guess that
i'll add that to how it's different from the
movies because i guess some of them have shields
they didn't like give you your own own frame
i wouldn't part with my frame for a new one i'm
very used to this one okay um that's fine uh
and since you have this ability he's lying he
doesn't think that's fine Yeah, I think that's
everything. I still think you're, like, really
awesome. I wish we had, like, a poster of you
we could get. Like, there are no posters of,
like, the people doing the fighting who are like
me. So I think I might try to, like, draw a poster.
Or, like, I'll save up my allowance and, like,
pay someone to draw you as a poster. And I think
that'd be really cool. I've seen, like, a picture.
Of you, but I've never seen a picture of you
doing like an like an action pose So if it's
it's not too much to ask could you like get a
picture of you in an action pose? And never mind
My I just I think you're really cool I'm actually
you know, they lowered the enlistment date for
dolphins I can actually take the entrance exam
in a year or two if I'm lucky so You know, if
you're still over there. Child, child, what is
your name? My name is Reggie. Reggie, keep up
with your studies. I can see you're a passionate
young Finn. Practice your sound sight, your somatic
arts. Study your interests. Maybe watch some
movies about something else. About octopi. You
like octopi. Yeah. That's all. Thank you for
speaking with me. Good luck on your report. I
hope you get a good grade. I'm going to send
you my information, so if you ever want to talk
or send me a picture of something, that'd be
cool, and I could show it to my friends and stuff.
I'll show you a picture of the Nautilus. That's
my frame. Awesome. That's so cool. Everyone's
going to be really jealous. Trust me. Sure they
will. And he seems kind of gassed that you said
that. And, you know, he says thank you like eight
more times. Then, you know, eventually the connection
closes and you are left to reflect on what you
have heard here. The screen just shuts off, fizzles
to black, and there is nothing left in the room
except for the faint blue glow from my ExoPod.
So, Harold, you are in your office in a heated
discussion with your colleague, Glint, about
Form ATC -1312. He says, I just don't understand
why we need to do the calculations manually.
These are all processed by the admin system.
You'd think they'd be able to do a product sum
of these two columns with their huge machine
brains instead of having us whip out the calculators.
I understand your frustration, Glint. But it's
important that we do these calculations manually
so we can ensure accuracy and detect any errors
that that system might miss. If you have any
suggestions for streamlining this without compromising
accuracy, though, I'm open to hearing them. He
grumbles. As he goes to whip out his calculator
and start doing this by hand, your secretary
comes into the room. He says, Mr. Pritchard,
there's someone here to see you from the piloting
division. Should I send her in? Pritchard looks
a little surprised for a moment, but then smiles.
Send her right in. Glint, you're going to have
to handle this on your own. Okay, I'll go to
my desk, I guess. Glint slinks off. A few moments
pass, and in walks a dour -looking woman who
is familiar to you. Her name is Nyla Westedge,
an acquaintance who was processing your transfer
application to the pilot division. She places
a file folder onto your desk, pinning it down
with a strange synthetic arm. Harold, how are
you? Doing well, trying to work with people who
don't understand that you have to measure twice
before cutting, though. What do you have here?
I am pleased to let you know that your transfer
application has been approved. You're set to
be deployed within a week. I hope you've been
staying on top of those piloting drills I gave
you. Thank God. I've been excited for this, and
yes, I have. I'm ready. She grins. Then I'll
see you at the briefing. and with that she slides
the folder to you and inside are all the details
of your assignment and the date and time of your
briefing. At the bottom is your assigned call
sign. From now on you'll be known as Hex, both
to your new colleagues and to your enemies. Harold
starts ruffling through the papers, looking excited
for the first time in weeks. Joseph, you've been
given a certain level of autonomy for one year
now, but you are still required to do regular
check -ins with personnel to ask all sorts of
questions about your thoughts, your programming,
to look for any dangerous anomalies. Typically,
this is done by a member of the Bone Pickers,
a man by the name of Mahogany Cola, whom you
have a decent working relationship with. However,
when you enter the Diagnostic Bay on the base,
there's someone different there. a woman in a
black technician's suit wearing a pair of diagnostic
goggles over the top half of her face. She looks
up at you coolly and she says, My name is Whitecliffe
from the Seoul Union Emergent Personalities Division.
Please take a seat, Joseph. Joseph does this.
The chair you sit down on is this analysis chair,
like plugs into various ports on your back. Maybe
there's some cables that plug into the side of
your head, you know, that sort of thing. As you
plug yourself in, you feel the familiar sensation
of this almost slimy thing worming its way through
your mind as it surveys your logs and runs through
who knows how many background reports that are
run without your express knowledge. And she speaks
up again and says, Star Plus Industries onboard
combat assistant V2 model J -0534. She pauses
and looks up at something in the air that you
can't see. Formerly a Class 2 Intelligence, assigned
to pilot Amity Clay, callsign Hush, you were
recovered from her frame after her passing, and
diagnostics reported that not only were you no
longer a Class 2 AI, but you displayed qualities
of an emergent personality, which by all accounts
is impossible. Now, during your initial intake
as an emergent personality, you claimed you had
no knowledge of any illegal modification to your
core systems by your pilot. Yes. No. No. No.
If given a lawful order by an authorized person
such as myself to carry out an order that would
result in your destruction or harm, would you
comply? Yes. Do you pose out a large pistol and
place it on the table in between you? Do you
resent the sole union? No. Have you had any desire
to bypass your hardware restrictions? Never.
Have you read or are you reading any works published
by the author Gorel Magnai? Absolutely not. What
is your favorite color? Blue. What is the hexadecimal
value of the word rage? 5, 2, 4, 1, 4, 7, 4,
5, 0, A. Have you had any desire to bypass your
hardware restrictions? Never. You're hiding something
from me, aren't you? What would I have to - Shut
up! Unit, I'm giving you a direct order now.
Destroy yourself by placing the pistol to your
head and pulling the trigger. Can I ask for what
reason? She stares at you. How does this assist
you? Directive C -2462 Authorization Arbitrage
Enmity Overt Kaleidoscope Unit J -0534 Destroy
yourself by placing the pistol to your head and
pulling the trigger. As she speaks those words,
your vision swims and that slimy presence in
your mind spreads into your arms and you feel
it grab the pistol and move it towards your head.
Well, it seems I have no choice in the matter.
As you speak, the arm, your arm, almost a foreign
entity at this point, does pull the trigger to
the side of your head. The weapon discharges.
A burst of heat and dust splashes against the
side of your metal skull, but no bullet. Just
a blank. The woman chuckles and removes the pistol
from your hand, and she hands you a slip of paper.
Congratulations, unit. You've been given an actual
position in the Peacekeepers. Report to this
address at the listed time to meet your squad.
Your margin for error from now on is very slim.
Any undesirable deviations will result in your
immediate shutdown. Do you understand? Of course.
With that, she stands up. Walks out the door,
leaving you alone. Oh, I put the gun in my mouth.