Duty First
She shook firmly, despite what her small stature would tell otherwise. She sat on the couch, not lying down facing him, looking around the room curiously.
However, the calm is momentarily shaken when the doctor asked the question-But then, it is only momentary. Nodding, she responded-
"Yes-It is fine, Doctor."
всегда верен
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
The office was modern in style, monochromatic, fairly sparse, and well-kept. What little art Dr. Reeves had on the wall was abstract and hardly eye-catching, mostly paintings of simple blocks of desaturated color. Various diplomas and certificates were displayed on the wall behind his desk, which itself was an unassuming black wood surface upon which a monitor rested, a glossy rectangle just millimeters thick, currently dark and dormant. A small photo frame was the only other item on the desk, though it was currently turned away from Anastya.
"Specifically, I'd like to know more about the circumstances surrounding their deaths," Dr. Reeves continued, "Your application referred to a car bombing. Could you tell me about that?"
Mr. Chun
The psychologist introduced himself after he ushered Chun Xiubai through the door, shaking his hand, "You must be Mr. Chun. I'm Dr. Reeves. Please, take a seat."
A holographic notebook appeared in his hand as he sat behind his desk, which he glanced at before returning his gaze to the Chinese man. "I need to ask you a few questions, and I need you to answer them honestly," he began brusquely. "First, I'd like to know about your experience with the Phoenix Corporation. Tell me what your job was like, how they treated you, that sort of thing."
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
"...Ah...", she responded, head hung low as she heard the inquiries and her mind is brought away from the sparse decorations.
"...From-What I was told, in order to to...acquire money to send me to Moscow, Papa and Mama borrowed money from the local bratva. Mafia. It was...a large sum too."
She looked up at him, a quiet determination welling behind her eyes.
"I was not told of this until after they was buried. As I understand it, they were placed under Brightstar's protection, but...a slip-up occured. And-the bratva placed a small bouquet of flower. As an example, they said."
Breathing in, she continued," And then-Uncle Misha-Mikhail, my supervisor and Papa's co-worker arranged my flight to here. He said- 'Ana, so long as you are here, you aren't safe. Go to the Amerinski. I know of firm.'"
"...I-'m sorry, I'm...rattling on again. But yes, it was related to a debt to the local mafia. As I was told."
всегда верен
Entering the room, Bai was about halfway through taking off his coat before spotting that there wasn't a hanger in the room. He quickly shifted the coat back on, before sitting on the bench and facing the doctor.
He was quick to answer, and spoke quickly as he said, "Yes, yes, my previous employers. Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag. I worked there for ten years, you know. Ten of them. So, it changed over that time." He subconsciously held up his fingers to his lips as if holding a cigarette, and continued.
"Well, for the first few years it was actually nice. My family's living space was actually bigger than where we were before, and you didn't have to watch for Triads in a army base. They weren't allowed to go out very often, and we had escorts when we did, but it wasn't the worst thing ever. So, it got stale after around a couple of years of it, but the pay was much better and the air cleaner." He shifted his small frame in the chair, and put his hand on his knee. "Around year 5, it got mixed-er. More mixed. It was then my wife had birth, and the company Fenghuang gave us a lot better living space, but they almost never let us out of base. I was fine, the job was enjoyable enough, varied alot, but it got worse from there," he said as he turned his attention to the ceiling.
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
The psychologist's concerned blue eyes stayed focused on Anastya's face as she spoke, "I'm sorry to hear that. How did that make you feel? Do you see Brightstar as sharing some of the responsibility?"
Mr. Chun
Dr. Reeves glanced again at his notes, "Is this when you began to feel as though your life was in danger?"
edited 21st Aug '15 8:54:50 AM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
Her face is a mixture of- anger, a little of sorrow, and a lot of-determination. Quite odd to see from such a young looking face. Though when he looked at her, she looked down, away. Seems like she has not much ease in maintaining eye contact.
"...No-Well, I did think that they do share in a bit of responsibility, but the...blame mainly lies in the bratva. And me, for causing them to-borrow from them in the first place."
"Feeling wise-I do feel...sad. But that's it, and in the past."
всегда верен
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
Dr. Reeves stroked his chin thoughtfully, "So that's not why you left the company. What made you want to come work for Stygian? It seems like you could have found a comfortable job with Brightstar New York if making distance was your main concern."
Duty First
"...Mikhail-My supervisor said that the bratva has networks in Brightstar. If I joined Brightstar, they can pull strings to have me moved back to Moscow."
She gulps.
"Back to them."
And she looked back at him.
"...Given my other options, Stygian seems to be the most-benevolent of the options."
всегда верен
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"I see." The psychologist made a hand gesture like holding a pen, and a holographic writing instrument appeared in his fingers for him to jot down a new note. "But you applied for the position of Field Agent, a notoriously, well, 'adventurous' job. You don't feel you would be safer working in a robotics lab?"
Duty First
"...Well-I want to try something new. And maybe get a bit of experience too."
Again, she nods.
"Also, I'm well aware that its-similar here, in the...America. Labs are not so safe to work too."
всегда верен
With his eyes scanning the spartan room around him, he nodded and continued. "Right, it is. The money began to run out for the program, they did not take well to any "slip-ups", like you call them." He turned his attention back to the doctor's eyes. "I suppose it was around year seven, I got a look at something I was not supposed to. It was a file that was lying in a bin that I was walking past one day, and I could see my own name on it. I picked it up, and figured out that my family's termination was not only happening if they ran out of money, they had it as backup plan the whole time," he said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "I got into contact with my brother, Chen, and it took about two-point-five years of planning to get out of there, but since I'm here you know the plan worked."
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
Dr. Reeves sighed at the comment, looking grimly down at the floor for a moment, "Yes, that's all too true these days."
"Alright," he began, reestablishing eye contact. "Let's talk about your machines. I understand you've been working on them for a long time."
Mr. Chun
"And I'm happy it did, Mr. Chun. From what I've heard, murder might not be the worst thing the Pheonix Corporation has been involved in...." the doctor looked at Bai deliberately, as if afraid to ask something. Finally, he settled on, "Did you interact with many other employees? Other than your immediate superiors, I mean." Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
She nods back, glad for a change of topic.
"Oh-Yes! Its been...six, seven years since I started the first working one."
всегда верен
"Yeah, yeah, I did get to know the people that worked there. The base's scientists, they did not enjoy talking to me outside of work, so I did not get to know them personally. The other workers, the janitors, the cooks, some guards, we got to know each other good, but they would usually be moved to another job after a year or two. The ones I got to build friendships the best were the other Test Pilots." He held his hand to his face in contemplation, and rattled off a list of names in quick succession. "Mr. Chen, Mr. Chiang, Ms. Tsang, Mr. Heung for a while, and later Mr. Shiu-ming. The company encouraged us to know each other, so we become steadfast friends both in work and out of work."
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"What made you start building robots, exactly? Where does the interest come from?"
Anastya could see Dr. Reeves had pulled up the photos of her drones she had included in her application. The high-definition images were incongruous on his simulated paper notebook.
Mr. Chun
Dr. Reeves' fingers moved over the hologram to run some kind of search on his notepad as Bai listed the names, "Do you know what happened to them? Were they testing the same suit you were?"
Malware
"You must be Malcolm. Pleased to meet you, I'm Nerine, or 'Dr. Palamara' if you prefer." The psychologist gave the title false ostentation, smiling at Malware.
"Take a seat, or lie down if you'd like. I just need to get to interrogate you a little, make sure you're not a Brightstar spy." She smiled again, impishly, as she pulled a small black square off her desk, which expanded to become a tablet in her hand. "I'm kidding! Kind of. Can I ask you a few personal questions?"
edited 21st Aug '15 12:32:42 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
"Ah."
She looked at the Mark 16
and Mark 16 fondly. As a creator would gaze on their child and creations.
"Its-nothing complicated, really...But I would say its from Papa's work. He and Mikhail would often take me around to Brightstar robotics, where they worked. One day, I just-made one. A simple code to make it move. And it started from there."
She sat back on the couch, looking more at the pictures.
"I wanted to-make more. Its a drive. To make them stronger. Faster. Advanced. I want to-make myself proud, and my parents, who art in heaven proud too."
"But most of all-I want to see where they can go. I want to see what they can do.", she concluded, smiling fondly.
edited 21st Aug '15 11:58:53 AM by f1r3lemon
всегда верен
"Sure, I don't mind," Mal said as he sat down and adjusted his specs. To be honest, he was prepared for this. He was almost certain they'd worry about who he was the second he sent that application. Having a reputation as a hacker didn't exactly scream trustworthiness. But he needed this job, in order to keep up his cover.
"We were all on the same suit. They only made ten of them, the Type 100, and only five of the earlier versions. They were the only test pilots as far as I found out." He looked at the ground as his face belied his distressed mood. "Mr. Hueng died in testing. We had the Type 99 at the time, and there was an issue with the muscle not sealing right. We tested with napalm that day, and the suit had a hole a few inches wide in the back. Died of shock, I think."
He sighed and looked back at the doctor. "They fixed the issue right after. The rest of the pilots, for where they are now? Mr. Shiu-ming and Ms. Tsang were company people, so I don't think they were going to be killed. The other two, I only told them about the plan a week before I left, and I had to make the choice of getting them out or my wife and kid out. I think I made the right one."
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"A sentiment shared with many of my colleagues," Dr. Reeves nodded. "And you think they're combat-ready? Were you anticipating some kind of field-deployment when you made them?"
Mr. Chun
"I'm sorry you found yourself in that position," the psychologist said bleakly. "So, what was your experience with the armor? Your application mentioned that you were able to somehow interface with it more effectively than the others."
Malware
Dr. Palamara seemed to be studying Malware's eyes, rather than making intentional eye contact, "So, Malcolm. You're awfully young to move to California on your own. Did you leave family behind?"
edited 21st Aug '15 12:58:35 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
She nodded.
"That one-", while pointing at the yellow coloured Mark-15s, with hazard stripes, "Are the utility droids. They can punch through walls and lift cars. But they are mostly used for heavy duty lifting or moving."
"And that one-", pointing at the slimmer, smaller but no less intimidating Mark-16s, "Are the guard droids, or precision droids. They can operate guns, and have about the same strength as the 15s. I use them mostly for lab-precision work though, or on scavenging runs."
всегда верен
"I guess I ended up using the 100 more than everyone else. I do not know why, but they kept bringing me in for the singular tests, the diagnostics early in the program, and I just have more experience than the others did. The suit is connected to your mind, norally. Neurally, yes. So, the more it's used the more connected, "synced", you become."
He looked down at his shoes, and said, "After using it so often, it feels like a pair of slippers to me...just comfortable, somehow. Comfortable as armor can be."
"...Not really," Mal said, lowering his head down a bit. "When I left for California, the only relative I had left was my grandfather. And recently, I got a letter saying he passed away in his sleep."
That was a lie, one he had prepared in case the question came up, but it wasn't like telling the truth would help him here. And besides, he needed to not be caught — it hadn't even been two minutes and already the psychiatrist was getting suspicious.
edited 21st Aug '15 1:20:50 PM by Aquatica1000
Full-Conversion Cyborg
Anastya
"Most impressive, Miss Mirivac. You'll probably have to fight off our robotics division; they're always trying to get the edge over Brightstar. From what was detailed in your application, their AI is no less excellent. Tell me about that."
Mr. Chun
"So you've sort of... broken it in, so to speak. Interesting. I've heard similar experiences from some of my bionic patients; they feel as though the new arm - or leg, or whatever - becomes just as much a part of them as their old biological one. It sounds like a related phenomenon." Dr. Reeves glanced at his notes again, jotting something else down.
"So why did you steal the suit? If the Pheonix Corporation wasn't out to get you before, you've certainly given them a reason to now."
Malware
"God, that's terrible. And sorry for the third degree," Dr. Palamara said with an apologetic expression, "You're just not exactly a normal case. Nineteen and already you've gotten pretty deep into the dark underside of corporate espionage - What made you decide to hack into Brightstar anyway?"
edited 21st Aug '15 3:23:31 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.
Duty First
She giggles at that, face a bit-flushed- "Does that apply even to an ex-employee?"
"But-I would say their A.I.s are indeed quite advanced. There is a lot of focus on automation, so you can say that their AI not only makes decision, they can learn too."
And nods. "In fact, I used one of their basic runtimes to create my own AI, which is now very different from theirs. But back to Brightstar, they can make the best, not necessarily 'right' decision without human supervision."
And again, she nods, "Comparatively, whereas say- a standard VI in the market would struggle to learn speech, defend an installation, or process transactions on the fly, Brightstar's internal operation AI can do all of that with relative ease."
всегда верен
Setting Thread
Signup Thread
Discussion Thread
What Stygian Technologies is calling a "lab accident" claimed the lives of 49 people yesterday, hospitalizing several others. It is still unknown what caused the leak of the fatal biological agent, or what exactly the agent was, but the company says that it is now completely under control. Internal medical and rescue teams arrived at what one employee referred to as a "chilling" scene after hazard alarms were set off at approximately 4:00 PM, causing the evacuation of the R&D facility in San Máquina. The leak originated in a below-ground laboratory, which sealed itself off automatically from the rest of the building, trapping those inside.
Stygian officials say the automatic quarantine is not to blame for the deaths, as the biological agent in question was almost immediately fatal, and those in the lab at the time would not have survived even had they been evacuated. In fact, they say, the computer-driven system likely saved the lives of many more outside the laboratory by cutting off its passage into the rest of the facility. The company officials assure that the matter is contained and will be fully investigated, though critics say that isn't enough....
One month later
You arrived at the Stygian Technologies field agency outside San Máquina, forty minutes from the company's headquarters in the city center, a towering black obelisk of a skyscraper which the tech corporation built two decades back when their accelerating success began to push them into their current status as one of the seven richest companies in the world. The agency building itself, however, is on a separate, relatively humble R&D campus, host to several plain laboratory buildings between which lush green parkland lies.
You find yourself in an empty waiting room after your appointment is confirmed at the front desk. Empty of patients, at any rate; a lone armored figure looms by the wall on unnaturally long, thin legs, apparently guarding the place. The wait is thankfully brief; though his skeletal bionic limbs never stirred, you could feel the strange, singular lens set into the his gleaming black helmet watching you intently the whole time.
"We had to beef up security since a recent incident," the psychologist says apologetically as you enter the small office, closing the wooden door on the threatening figure, "Should just be temporary."
Anastya
"Doctor Sander Reeves," he stated, smiling welcomingly as he shook Anastya's hand. "You must be Miss Mirivac. Please, make yourself comfortable," the psychologist said as he gestured to the furniture before his desk, a couch long enough to lie on, and an ample chair - both items simple, yet stylish.
"Don't worry, there isn't going to be a battery of tests or anything - I just need to ask you some questions to see how you'll fit in, make sure the job is right for you, that sort of thing." What looked like a silver cufflink on the left sleeve of his shirt activated as his hand opened, projecting a near-opaque image over his palm; an old-fashioned notebook, upon which several items were scrawled. "I'd like to start with your parents, if that's alright with you?"
edited 20th Aug '15 7:06:18 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.