[CLOSED] initiating handshake

[r3f4c70r3d]

Who: Angel, Fenris, Giovanni
Where: Westerly
When: Week 3 Day 1
Summary: new hardware who dis
Restrictions/Warnings: none

[With all the chaos brought on by the recent scandal, it wasn't hard to predict that their would be higher levels of activity amongst the Companies employees. Now would be a time to find out where loyalties lay, either with the Company and by proxy, Jack, or a chance for those who have been waiting for the right smokescreen to go rogue.

In light of these possibilities, Jack has given her names to look into, Fenris and Giovanni being two of them.

The method of contact she has been using for Rhys has worked out in her favor so far, so she uses a similar tactic for them. A new program on their work computer desktop or comm device, not there the night before but looking into its history will reveal that it was installed alongside the most recent update.

Much like Rhys they have consoles issued by the company, hardware and software alike familiar to her like an old friend. However, unlike Rhys (thankfully) their consoles haven't been tampered with, at least not to the extent that Rhys has meddled. With most of their sub settings still at their default, its easy for Angel to slip in without raising alarm, infiltrating their subsystems and gathering info, but you can only gain so much from data, sometimes its better to make a direct connection.

So they have the option now, open the program, or leave it?]

Comments

[ofobedience]

[The fact is, he doesn't know much about technology outside of the narrow parameters within which he needs it, which is to say, very little. The Cerberus Unit, what he is-- well. He's an attack dog, ranking somewhere slightly higher than a gun or sword or other piece of equipment within the Company's inventory, something a little more expensive, a little more high-tech, but he's a weapon all the same. As such he owns no computer, has no need of one, but the comm he's been given for maintaining contact with his Handler or other Company employees should the need arise is easy enough to access. At least, for someone like her.

He doesn't sleep much, doesn't need to, and as such there are spaces of time left empty and gaping where he isn't needed, where he sits and stares at the four blank walls of his room, waiting for the day's first command. It's during such a time - boredom seeping in, his thoughts turning over and over that one event from his past, the one that cements his connection with Jack, unequivocally - that his comm makes a soft subtle sound, drags his attention away from (HeineHeineHeine) his own thoughts and back into the present. Idly, he reaches to pick up the device, clear screen coming to life in his hands and it's only an update, nothing of any real interest and yet the icon indicating the newly installed program may as well be explored.

If it's been set up on his comm, there must be a good reason for it.

And so, with nothing better to do, he opens it.]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[As the program starts up the screen fades to black, then lights up again a cool and calming blue. In the center of the blue is a symbol, the same as the icon that executed the program. It's a circle with open wings sprouting from either side, and inside of it the shape of a diamond. As the program talks the symbol pulses.]

Hello, and good morning Giovanni. Welcome to the Guardian Program.

[The voice coming from his calm is that of a woman, and it's as cool and calm as the light it is emitting.]

[ofobedience]

[The fact that it uses his name rather than Unit number is only vaguely surprising - it's his comm after all, and whilst he's indifferent to the things that others call him, the fact remains that he prefers his name - and his head tilts slightly in detached curiosity. The Guardian Program. He can't think what this could be in reference to.]

And what does it do?

[Because asking is probably the most straight-forward way to discover the asnswer?]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[She appreciates the direct approach.]
I am an advanced AI program set up by the Company to help you economize your time and increase your workload output. Would you like to begin by setting up a schedule?

[ofobedience]

[I. That's interesting. But if the program wants to be referred to like a person, he's game. He's well accustomed to being referred to as 'it', himself, and whilst it doesn't exactly bother him, his preference would be - if anyone were to ask - 'him/his/he'. The voice sounds female, so those are the pronouns he'll use from now on, should it become necessary.]

It's a little hard to set up a schedule until I've had my orders. I suppose I can see the advantage, though.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Giovanni is a predictable type, she likes that. Someone who acts more like a program than person - like her - will be easy to synchronize with.]

I can start compiling now. What do you have planned for this week?

[ofobedience]

[And in many ways he does act more like a program than a person. Certainly doesn't see himself as a person at any rate, and it's something that probably shows in the kind of responses he gives, the way he speaks in general.]

I'm not responsible for planning. That kind of thing, it's for my superiors to decide. Interrogations and terminations are no doubt on the horizon, though. What fun.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[This guy isn't going to be a gabber, is he? That's ok though, as long as he thinks they're working for the same people, that perhaps she's been tasked to him by his superiors, he may give her interesting information.]

Interrogations and terminations. I can make a note of this, can you give me more details?

[ofobedience]

[And this is him being talkative-- she's just an AI program after all. There's no need for him to be quite so careful with his tone, nor the content.

There's a slow exhale as he sinks down to the plain white tiles of the floor, stretches out, places the comm beside his head in order to keep it close enough for his responses to be picked up.]

Not really. It's all a bit chaotic right now, considering. And from one piece of equipment to another, I'm just an attack dog. I rarely need to know the details until I'm let off the leash, as it were. Hahah.

[r3f4c70r3d]

Chaotic? How so?

[ofobedience]

Oh, you know.

[She's a program, and so there's no reason for her to know, but if he's a little more relaxed in his style of speech than he would ordinarily be with 'real' Company personnel, it's only because he's bored. Rarely has anyone to talk to.]

First the internal investigations, now this mysterious sickness. It's given us a lot to do, and everything's a little up in the air. I've not been sure of what's happening from one day to the next, if I'm honest, and being assigned a new Handler on top of all that. It's a time of flux. Somewhat stressful, but interesting.

[r3f4c70r3d]

Yes, my records have been showing an influx of sick reports. If you like, I can put you in a doctor's queue now just in case.

My records also show your current Handler as Officer Sui-Feng, with frequent outsourcing to Rhys Kendry, is this correct? Should I build them in to your timetable?

[ofobedience]

[The first response makes him laugh, a staccato burst of sound-- the program is imperfect, it seems. Even if she is able to locate some salient information on him, clearly she hasn't located it all. This isn't surprising, but amuses him all the same.]

There's no need. I'm immune to almost all known poisons and pathogens. I doubt there's any cause for concern on my account.

The rest of your information is correct, however. So yes, I suppose you may as well.

[eleutheron]

[ Fenris doesn't use his console much. He distrusts it, as he distrusts most tech that's more advanced than the average farming tool. He uses it strictly for work: to receive orders, to keep up with overall Company directives, and to check in when he's told to do so.

When he notices the new program that morning, he's not sure what to do. He has no messages regarding it; no instructions. It leaves him at something of a loss. However, he surmises that if it's a Company console, then it must be a Company program, which means it must serve some kind of necessary purpose. Perhaps this is a test. Perhaps someone is watching.

He grits his teeth. He opens the program. ]

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Angel has done her usual background check on Fenris, including checking his logs and activity regarding his devices. The average for him is in the lower numbers..like, way lower, so she goes in questioning if he may have an eversion to tech, or maybe just no talent for it? Either way, her approach to him will be with some trepidation.]

[It's the same as the others she's come to in this form, a quick opening of the CMD window before the screen fades to blue, her symbol resting in the center. When the program speaks it's her voice, calm and clear, and the symbol pulses along side her words.]

Good Morning, and welcome to the Guardian Program. Is there a name you prefer to go by?

[eleutheron]

[ Guardian Program? Is he speaking to an AI? The thought does not improve his mood. The voice sounds remarkably lifelike--if the context clues (no face, pulsing symbol, and so forth) didn't say otherwise, he'd think he was speaking with a real person. But she's not real--and she can't be treated that way.

He frowns at the screen. A few long seconds pass before he answers. ]

Fenris.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[:(]

It's nice to meet you Fenris, I've been installed as part of your devices routine updates and am here to help you structure your workload. Would you like to start by building a calendar?

[eleutheron]

[ She's unfailingly polite, but then--he reminds himself--she was programmed that way. ]

I suppose.

[ He squints at the screen, unsure. Fenris isn't even middle-aged, but he's more or less a suspicious grandpa right now. ]

How do I do that?

[r3f4c70r3d]

[He's cooperating right now, so she considers this a good start.]

Don't worry, it's pretty simple. Why don't you start by telling me about your average week?

[eleutheron]

[ He's more and more bewildered. ]

I .. don't know. Patrols, usually. Identity checks. Whatever else is asked of me. It can be unpredictable.

[r3f4c70r3d]

There's nothing routine you do? Any details you can give me will help me compile a table to optimize your time management.

[eleutheron]

Just the patrolling. That's most days, provided I'm not ordered elsewhere.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[This is information Angel already has, but it's always good to open with the mundane stuff.]

And what are those patrols like? Your routes? Do you do them alone?

[eleutheron]

[ He shrugs, shifting uncomfortably. He doesn't like interacting with AI; doesn't like dealing with technology at all. It was too unknowable, and--in his experience--too damaging. ]

They're more eventful this time of year, but for the most part it's about as quiet as you might expect here. Petty thefts and the like. Nothing too troublesome.

[ A pause, and he adds -- ]

And yes. Alone.

[r3f4c70r3d]

[Unseen to Fenris Angel taps her chin thoughtfully as she considers her best approach to him.]

Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? Everyone likes icebreakers.