@fairchild/var/log

[Fairchild]

@Fairchild/var/log/012.log # Time 26 August 827 A.S. 17:25 SMT # Location Planet Manhattan, New York # Involvement • "Fairchild" • Little.Trashmaid • Isla.Nazumaki

<CV-Palantir> Nik: Good day, Silverstone. <Little.Trashmaid> Oh huh. <Little.Trashmaid> So you are actually still alive! <CV-Palantir> Nik: In a sense. <Little.Trashmaid> I thought you went missing or something like that. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Why would I go missing? <Little.Trashmaid> Beats me. You just were not around for quite some time. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Not sure what to respond to that. I haven't gone away from Liberty. <CV-Palantir> Nik: If you wanted to get in touch, you could have just sent a comm on the Net, you know. <Little.Trashmaid> I am not fond of that idea, really. I prefer not to use Neuralnet if possible. <Little.Trashmaid> Anyhow, i suppose i found your little cute weirdo. <CV-Palantir> Nik: You would have saved yourself some hass-- Oh! <Little.Trashmaid> Hah. That sure makes you hyped. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Please tell me she's okay... <Little.Trashmaid> Depends on what you consider to be okay, really. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Tell me everything. <Little.Trashmaid> Her ship did not have any additional holes in it, i suppose <Little.Trashmaid> But she has some funny manner of speech and is somewhat weird to talk with. <Little.Trashmaid> Not much to tell, really. I was drinking the whole time on my way to Delta, thinking i should start looking from that freeport. <Little.Trashmaid> Or at least stare at some zoner cuties while i was at it. <Little.Trashmaid> By the time i arrived i was somewhat tipsy and my head hurt like hell. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Delta... Damn, that's far. <Little.Trashmaid> So i did not realize it was her first. <Little.Trashmaid> Is it? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Well, it's the Omicrons, no? <Little.Trashmaid> Yep. Then again, it depends on your definition of "far". <CV-Palantir> Nik: I guess. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Has she told you what she'd been doing all the way over there? <Little.Trashmaid> I mean, the amount of time you waste to get there is not that horrible, copmared to your normal lifespan. <Little.Trashmaid> No idea, really. She wasn't THAT talkative. <Little.Trashmaid> I suppose, all she said about it is that she was lost. <CV-Palantir> Nik: She might have sustained some brain damage, just so you know. So be courteous. <Little.Trashmaid> But i am not completely sure, since she talks with riddles all the time. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Riddles? <Little.Trashmaid> Ugh... No, she did not look brain-damaged in any way. <Little.Trashmaid> If you omit her manner of speech, she acts sort of logical. <Little.Trashmaid> And yeah, riddles. <Little.Trashmaid> You'll get it if you talk to her. <CV-Palantir> Nik: That might be complicated given that she is in Delta and I am here. <Little.Trashmaid> What's the problem, really? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I am... a little more paranoid than usual about leaving the safety of Liberty. <Little.Trashmaid> *He scratches his cheek.* Now when i think of it, i was supposed to pass you a message. <CV-Palantir> Nik: A message? <Little.Trashmaid> Give me a moment to recall where did i write that down. <Little.Trashmaid> A riddle, a message, a tiny useless something. Call it however you like. <Little.Trashmaid> Oh, there! Umm... <Little.Trashmaid> Jeez, is that even my handwriting? More messy than i expected it to be. <CV-Palantir> Nik: At least you have hands to write with... <CV-Palantir> Nik: Anyway, carry on. <Little.Trashmaid> "Tell the crystal ball of a moon that says good morning..." <Little.Trashmaid> Huh, how do i read that... <Little.Trashmaid> Something-something deserts. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Interesting. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Oh. That's... <Little.Trashmaid> Around deserts. Yeah, that's what it says. <Little.Trashmaid> Good morning around deserts. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Well. I understand that part. <Little.Trashmaid> Suppose i should not spill alcohol all over the place. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I think I get it. <Little.Trashmaid> You do? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Yes. At least I think so. <Little.Trashmaid> Like, it actually makes some sense? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Well, the second part. Not sure about the ball. <CV-Palantir> Nik: "The moon that says good morning" would be the moon of Planet Crete. <Little.Trashmaid> I somehow think she meant you by that. <Little.Trashmaid> Eh? <CV-Palantir> Nik: It's called "Kalhmera", meaning "good morning" or "good day" in Greek. <Little.Trashmaid> How does THAT ONE say good.... oh. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Which would make sense given the deserts of that planet... <Little.Trashmaid> Suppose you are some sort of a scientist, afterall. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I am. But the location is significant for another reason. That's where we last saw each other. <Little.Trashmaid> She was at the freeport, though? <Little.Trashmaid> I bet she still is. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Have you told her that I've been looking for her, though? <Little.Trashmaid> Err... i am not sure about that, sorry. <Little.Trashmaid> Drank too much, afterall. <CV-Palantir> Nik: What do you mean you are not sure?! <CV-Palantir> Nik: You either did or not! <Little.Trashmaid> Mhm, and i am not sure if i did? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I need to think about this. <Little.Trashmaid> I mean, onboard AI takes a detailed record of my every breath, but i am not fond of interacting with h... it. <Little.Trashmaid> Interacting with IT. <Little.Trashmaid> Damn ions. <Little.Trashmaid> Anyhow, as i was saying. <Little.Trashmaid> Onboard AI keeps records of everything. But i am not fond of interacting with it. <Little.Trashmaid> And hey, what's there to think about? Didn't you plan to pay her a visit? <CV-Palantir> Nik: As I have already told you, I am quite paranoid about leaving the safety of Liberty. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I would much rather have her come to me... But I don't know how to convince her to do it. <CV-Palantir> Nik: From what you told me it seems like something is seriously wrong with her and I don't think she would- <Little.Trashmaid> You can stay at the freeport in Delta, it's pretty safe. I know the one in charge of it. <Little.Trashmaid> Or you can stay on Crete. <CV-Palantir> -even know if I sent her a message through the Net or not. <CV-Palantir> Nik: No, aboard... No, no. That's not really possible. <Little.Trashmaid> Why not? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I can't really leave this ship. That's why I cannot risk it getting shot down or damaged or anything. <Little.Trashmaid> Huh. <Little.Trashmaid> What, are you telling i should capture her and bring her here? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I sincerely doubt you would be able to capture her. <CV-Palantir> Nik: But perhaps you could... convince her, somehow, maybe. <Little.Trashmaid> Eh? Why not? <Little.Trashmaid> Oh, right. No CD on this toy, she can just run. <Little.Trashmaid> Convince her, eh? <Little.Trashmaid> Hell, given how she acts... I am not even sure where to start. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Uh oh. <CV-Palantir> Nik: That's... <Little.Trashmaid> Huh? <CV-Palantir> Nik: You know what, on a second thought, maybe going to the Omicrons would not be that bad of an idea. <Little.Trashmaid> You can call that freeport cutie, she will sure tell you a good route to get there. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I would have to hire escorts, though... Oh, what a hassle. <Little.Trashmaid> Name's Max Cosmo-something. FP11 admin. <Little.Trashmaid> Just tell her i sent you. <Little.Trashmaid> As for the escorts, umm... Let's see... <Little.Trashmaid> Depends on the path you are willing to take. <CV-Palantir> Nik: That's the thing. I cannot go without anything short of a good escort, and I cannot get a good escort <CV-Palantir> -because I haven't got money for one. <Little.Trashmaid> If you are fine with getting there through Rheinland - i suppose you can use my name for that. <Little.Trashmaid> Guys owe me one anyway, so it will be free. I suppose. <Little.Trashmaid> But they are a bit shady, so i wonder if you are really fine with that. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I am not sure about your Rheinlander friends. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I asked around about the people you told me about last time we talked. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Reeves... Unfortunately, as I was told, my good friend Avery Reeves is dead. <Little.Trashmaid> Oh, those WILL obey if you ask properly. <Little.Trashmaid> Maybe just once, but they will for sure. <CV-Palantir> Nik: And that other name, Jeff something. He hasn't replied even though I asked repeatedly. <CV-Palantir> Nik: So I don't really know how reliable that is. <Little.Trashmaid> Say, ever heared of the Syndicate League? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Rings a bell but not really. <Little.Trashmaid> They are reliable, i am telling you. <Little.Trashmaid> Just call Gunda Rheil. Or anyone of the Unioner Syndicate Leagues. <Isla.Nazumaki> Hey there. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Oh, yeah, Unioners. That's definitely a good idea. <Little.Trashmaid> Tell them you need escort. Tell them i sent you. <Little.Trashmaid> Hey, no sarcasm. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I like your ideas sometimes, Silverstone, but this is not one of those times. <Little.Trashmaid> I am telling you, they WILL listen and obey if you mention me. <Little.Trashmaid> Just tell them i asked. <Little.Trashmaid> And hey, boobies. On your day off? <Isla.Nazumaki> Eh... not exactly. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Good evening, Miss Nazumaki. <Isla.Nazumaki> I quit. <Isla.Nazumaki> Good to see you again Doc. <Little.Trashmaid> Mhm, funny joke. <Isla.Nazumaki> Been a while. <Isla.Nazumaki> It's not a joke, Silvy. <Little.Trashmaid> Anyhow... Nik, was it? <Isla.Nazumaki> I couldn't really take it anymore. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Yeah. <Little.Trashmaid> Just call Gunda Rheil and the Union. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I don't think I will. <Little.Trashmaid> They will listen if you mention John Silverstone. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Look, I need an escort, not a God-damn labour strike. <Little.Trashmaid> *Shrugs audibly.* Up to you, really. Just telling you the easy way. <Little.Trashmaid> *Chuckles.* Woah, that was one funny comment. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Hm. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I wonder, though, if you tried tallking to Fairchild, she might be able to make the journey. <CV-Palantir> Nik: If you haven't told her that I'm alive and looking for her, that is, she might not even know. <Little.Trashmaid> Talking is the problematic part, really. <Little.Trashmaid> She is... well, you know. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Well, that's the thing, I don't really know. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I would need a... let's call it, a closer look. <Little.Trashmaid> What happened between you two, anyway? Some lovers quarrel? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Not exactly. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Not at all, actually. <Little.Trashmaid> Huh. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I guess I can tell you a part of this story now, as payment for finding her, I suppose. <Little.Trashmaid> Sure, i love stories. <CV-Palantir> Nik: She is, in a way and by her own volition, a test subject. <Little.Trashmaid> Wait a moment, you experimented on her - and she ran? <CV-Palantir> Nik: In short, yes. <Little.Trashmaid> Woah. <CV-Palantir> Nik: But I wouldn't really call it "experimenting". <Little.Trashmaid> I am not sure if bringing her back would be a good idea. <CV-Palantir> Nik: "Experimenting" invokes imagery of sawblades and blood and stuff. <Little.Trashmaid> She may hold a grudge agains you, you know? <Little.Trashmaid> Well yeah. Isn't it usually sawblades and blood? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Not in that case. In that case it was a computer program and a few electrical impulses that went the wrong way. <Little.Trashmaid> A shocker and electrical chair, eh? <CV-Palantir> Nik: No, no... <CV-Palantir> Nik: Look, the long and short of it is that I broke her, so to speak, and I'm the only one who can fix her. <Little.Trashmaid> Huh. <CV-Palantir> Nik: The other two people capable of this would have been Reeves or Stenn. Reeves is dead. Stenn is missing. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I'm the best hope she has. <Little.Trashmaid> Still, she'd probably not be happy to see you. <CV-Palantir> Nik: And for what it's worth I am /very/ sorry this has happened. <Little.Trashmaid> How am i even supposed to convince her? <Little.Trashmaid> Stenn, eh? <Little.Trashmaid> Wait, Nick Stenn? <Little.Trashmaid> Blueberry's boyfriend? <CV-Palantir> Nik: That one. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Of the Forlorn banner. <Little.Trashmaid> EEEEEEW! <Little.Trashmaid> Gross. <Little.Trashmaid> I mean, what could possibly be worse? Auxesia? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Oh, Auxesia would definitely be worse. <Little.Trashmaid> So he was into experiments on humans. Hah, knew that! <CV-Palantir> Nik: Bloody chromeheads. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Not really. <Little.Trashmaid> What do you mean "not really"? <CV-Palantir> Nik: If Fairchild was the alpha subject, Stenn and Reeves were the beta ones. <CV-Palantir> Nik: They had the same tech that Fairchild uses. And that, coincidentally, keeps me alive and able to talk. <Little.Trashmaid> Stenn has... Hah! <Little.Trashmaid> Let me guess it. <CV-Palantir> Nik: You aren't going to guess right. <Little.Trashmaid> Nanites in his head or something? Like Birdy? <CV-Palantir> Nik: --Oh. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Yes. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Although "nanites in his head" is a bit reductionist. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I am, however, the humble creator of that technology. Although we call it "Vergil". <Little.Trashmaid> I mean, that was sort of Sapphire's and Hunt's idea. <Little.Trashmaid> Along with huge alien tentacle guns. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I don't know who these are. <Little.Trashmaid> Did Stenn get to that part, too? I bet he did. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I mean, I heard of Sapphire Raven and Auxesia. But no clue about the other one. <Little.Trashmaid> Those two are the lover-birds who founded Auxesia. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Interesting. <Little.Trashmaid> *Shrugs audibly* And i was the idiot who sold Josh a functional tentacle thingy. <Little.Trashmaid> But let's not get to this part, i suppose. <Little.Trashmaid> And Birdy was the idiot who forgot that i hired her to spy on Josh and banged him instead. <Little.Trashmaid> And so it became their private tea club, which became Auxesia later. <Little.Trashmaid> But let's not get to that either. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Auxesia and their approach to technology is frightening me, to be honest. <Little.Trashmaid> Jeez. I swear, all the idiots are somewhat alike. I knew someone will try that. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I am definitely not looking to associate myself with chromeheads of any kind. <Little.Trashmaid> Someone else, since Josh failed. <Little.Trashmaid> I mean, the nanites thingy. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I'm a regular scientist, not a mad one. <Little.Trashmaid> Yeah, yeah, that's what they all say! <Little.Trashmaid> *Chuckles.* Really, jeez. <Little.Trashmaid> So, basically, you put nanites into poor thingy's scull, failed to use proper software, messed her up - and then she ran? <Little.Trashmaid> And now you want her back? <CV-Palantir> Nik: It was an accident, for crying out loud. <Little.Trashmaid> Still, i can sort of understand why did she run away. I would, too. <Little.Trashmaid> Why are you sure she'd be willing to come back, though? <CV-Palantir> Nik: First of all, I was not the one who "put nanites in her". <CV-Palantir> Nik: She took Vergil herself, without any kind of coercion or anything, she was instrumental in its development! <CV-Palantir> Nik: She pioneered this technology as much as I did, or even more so! <CV-Palantir> Nik: Look, the fact that she mentioned me and that she wanted a message passed to me means that she- <CV-Palantir> -at least remembers and wants me to know that she remembers. If you tell her that I can fix her up then she- <CV-Palantir> -will probably want to talk to me. And I can get through to her more efficiently than you with your words and speech. <Little.Trashmaid> Hmm. Fine, allrighty. And what happens after you patch her up? <Little.Trashmaid> If you want her back - it means you have some plans for her. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I don't know that. I hope that she forgives me. Or she kills me. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Either way, if I have no hope of having her on my side again, I am as good as dead anyway. <Little.Trashmaid> *Scratches his cheek.* Still, i think it would be way, way more easy to simply capture her. <Little.Trashmaid> Any hints, then? How do i even convince a former test subject? <Little.Trashmaid> Or do you actually expect "come back, he can patch you right up" to work? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I... Yeah. I kinda hoped that it would, yeah. <Little.Trashmaid> Given how it sort of failed before, you could at least add a canty to the list. <CV-Palantir> Nik: It hasn't really failed, I haven't talked to her since that incident. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Until thirty minutes ago I didn't even know she was alive! <Little.Trashmaid> Oh, didn't it? How did it -become- an incident, then, Sherlock? <CV-Palantir> Nik: I was going to tell you but you kept interrupting. <CV-Palantir> Nik: She wanted a more fine-grained control over her ship with Vergil. An upgrade, basically. <CV-Palantir> Nik: So, we tested the software "dry", so to speak, on simulators and what not. <CV-Palantir> Nik: But when the push came to shove, she went into the craft and ran it, it worked for about three seconds. <Little.Trashmaid> *Shakes his head for some reason.* Believe me, a more... fine-gained control is not a good idea. Was there, did that. <Little.Trashmaid> Hell, i was still in that test group from The Order when they tried it first. <CV-Palantir> Nik: After that, she had a seizure, epilepsy kicked in. Then all comms cut out and her Lich just went into the distance. <Little.Trashmaid> And not even a single time since then it ever did end well. <CV-Palantir> Nik: It works for me. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I've since adapted it to run it. And it enables me to pilot this Democritus without a single crew member. <CV-Palantir> Nik: In fact, there is not a single body on board this ship at all. <Little.Trashmaid> Took us four men to manage a Reseph back then. <Little.Trashmaid> One is in front of you. Guess what happened to other three. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Well. <Little.Trashmaid> Mhm. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Testament to the poor engineering of the Order, I guess. <Little.Trashmaid> It wasn't exactly poor. <Little.Trashmaid> It's just that... <Little.Trashmaid> You know, letting an AI become something more than it is supposed to be never ends without troubles. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Ha, that's your problem then. <Little.Trashmaid> Using a direct interface to interact with AI is even worse. <CV-Palantir> Nik: AI is a technological dead end. <CV-Palantir> Nik: It never ends well. <Little.Trashmaid> Just look at the birdy. Sapphire Raven, i mean. <Little.Trashmaid> She is coo-coo. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Yeah. Well. <CV-Palantir> Nik: That's why I don't touch AI. <Little.Trashmaid> Look at Joshua Hunt. He has metal hips. <Little.Trashmaid> Look at Jeremy Hunter, Gwyn Archer, Audrey Hudson. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I don't know these names. <Little.Trashmaid> Maybe at Kate Miller or Chris Dangen. <Little.Trashmaid> Of course you don't. Guess why. *Shrugs audibly.* <CV-Palantir> Nik: Look, Silverstone. I'd love to explain to you the intricacies of why flexible logic of machine- <CV-Palantir> -learning artificial intelligence is never going to work properly, but we'd be here all day. <CV-Palantir> Nik: And maybe we can do that, but to be honest finding Fairchild and getting her to the Palantir is a bit of a bigger- <CV-Palantir> -priority for me. <Little.Trashmaid> Oh, you don't have to. I have a toaster talking to my head 24/7, i guess i can figure the flaws. <Little.Trashmaid> So yeah. Suppose i'll try. <Little.Trashmaid> But if it were me, err... Well, in best case you'd be troubled when i find you. <Little.Trashmaid> As i was saying, i am not sure that's a good idea. <Little.Trashmaid> But fine. At least that's promising, as a show. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I appreciate it. <Little.Trashmaid> Jeez. I wonder if she'll even understand if i talk to her. <Little.Trashmaid> And if she will try to shot me after, hah. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Your guess is as good as mine. <Little.Trashmaid> Huh. <Little.Trashmaid> And what if she doesn't? <CV-Palantir> Nik: Let's just hope she does. <Little.Trashmaid> Should i actually seize her? <CV-Palantir> Nik: If you manage that. <CV-Palantir> Nik: But I'd really rather this done gently and persuasively rather than by force. <Little.Trashmaid> *Shrugs* If she'll be foolish enough to fight me, suppose i can snatch her without hurting her much. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Back when we worked together, she was one of the best pilots in Sirius. <Little.Trashmaid> Unless she gets hurt from wrecking her ship, that is. <CV-Palantir> Nik: I'm sure you'll figure something out. <CV-Palantir> Nik: Anyway. Nice talking to you again.