un: c a t o , video

[unpurposed]

[It took Cato far too long to interface with what he was internally designating the 'network', though the term was a loose metaphor considering that he could not figure out any of it connected. Assuming, for a long time, that there must be a technological basis to it, he had spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to hack into something that instead seemed to simply work on command. It defied logic, but then, so many things about this place did.

When the image of cato finally appeared, at first it simply looked black. But upon closer inspection, the blackness was reflective, and as he pulled the strange device further from himself, his form became clearer. A robot, of some kind, comprised mainly of haphazardly repaired white panels (tarnished with age) and a very large red cross painted over his chest.

He made a sound distinctly like someone clearing their throat, before continue. ]

Hello.

[ His voice was surprisingly smooth, gentle, calm. Despite his appearance, his voice sounded like it belonged to a soft-spoken young human man. ]

Please accept my apologies for the direct address. I have recently been granted my personhood and have been assigned to a - [ He paused for a brief second ] - family. I am looking for the individuals named Sansa, Wrath, Alina Starkov, and Lan Sizhui. I will serve diligently.

If anyone is in need of medical assistance, please be informed that I am a fully licensed medical unit. [ Well. No one had taken his license away, so that was technically still true. ]

Thank you.

Comments

UN: Senth; Video

[sergeant_slick]

You're a droid? [Sure, it looked like one, but it could be an alien in an envirosuit.]

What sort of medic? Got any triage or field experience?

[unpurposed]

I am a palliative care nursing unit. [ He paused, then tilted his head as a little flash of light over his black faceplate seemed to mimic a smile for a brief second. ]

So, yes, you could call me a droid, though that isn't often used. I have full knowledge banks to assess and triage patients, though I am limited in my on-boarded equipment.

I presume by field experience you are requesting information on rescue or military experience?

[sergeant_slick]

[He hadn't a clue what that specialty was. Probably civilian model, then.] That's right.

[Medical units in the field hospitals were the only kind of droid he'd ever met that didn't try to kill him. Even when he started passing information to the Seps, he couldn't count on their infantry to know or deviate from their programming.

So in absence of any other idea of how to talk to this thing, he's slipping back into military jargon.]

Be advised, we've got sporadic contacts with hostile forces on planet. Expect to see blunt trauma, blade wounds, animal attacks, burns, and possibly poisonings. It's been a bit of a wild ride here.

[unpurposed]

This planet. [ There is a slight pause, and then something almost like a sigh made of whirring gears. ]

Then the “offworld” terminology was literal. Understood.

One moment, retrieving requested data. [ Another pause, before a little red light flashed on his face plate for a moment. ]

Apologies. That query cannot be answered at this time, it is attempting to access locked files. To the best of my knowledge, yes I have been involved in both military and rescue operations, but they are not my primary purpose. However, I am capable of adjusting to circumstances.

How may I address you?

un: absterge

[downswing]

You seek my son.

[unpurposed]

Your son? Are you designated family or natural family?

[downswing]

( R u d e )

I am father to Sizhui.

[unpurposed]

Oh! I see. Apologies, I have been trying to understand the nature of these designated family units, I did not expect there to be other relationship ties as well.

Yes, I have been designated as family to your son. Do you know where I may find him?

un: qishan

[silverneedles]

What is a medical unit? Is that something similar to a doctor?

[unpurposed]

Yes, and no.

I have a complete diagnostic system for over 50,000 health conditions, as well as systems for bloodwork, medication delivery and some genetic testing for certain markers.

I am not a doctor, that designation can only be obtained by human professionals who have completed training, but I can be used as a diagnostic tool for their practice.

[silverneedles]

You can diagnose that many conditions? [ pardon her, she needs a few minutes to process that number, let alone the fact that he can diagnose them ]

Does that mean you are not human?

[unpurposed]

Correct.

I am an augmented artificial intelligence within a robotic mobile anthropormorphic unit.

It is critical to my function to have as much data as possible on human ailments.

[ video; un: cloud on the wind ]

[badlypoisoned]

Forgive me for being rude, [He says it politely enough but he doesn't sound particularly sorry.] But what are you? Also what do you mean by 'fully licensed'?

[Look, where he's from there is no licnesing...the closest were the imperial doctors and even then they weren't exactly licensed so much as appointed.]

[unpurposed]

You are not being rude. I have already ascertained that I am either unique among this populace or so rare as so make no difference.

I am an augmented artificial intelligence housed inside a mobile robotic medical unit. Other terms to refer to my kind can include “robot” “droid” “bot” “tin-can” and “root of all evil”. [ There is, somehow, a sense of a chuckle in his voice when he delivers the last, though it sounds as calm and pleasant as everything else he has said. ]

Licensed means that I have been built and tested to prove that I can treat humans to the same or similar capabilities as a human doctor or nurse after years of medical training. It grants me the ability to deliver medical treatment legalized by the government.

[ a pause. ]

Though the town leader has not recognized me formally, so I may not be licensed in this jurisdiction. I will enquire.

[badlypoisoned]

[Of all those terms only 'root of all evil' has a translation in what amounts to ye olde Chinese. In other words, it was all gibberish to him.]

Well, claiming anyone to be the root of all evil is certainly is certainly no small matter. If your kind had picked that moniker yourselves I dare say it would be ambitious to a foolish degree...though it does not seem to be the case.

[Not from the way he said it anyway. He listens to the explanation of licensing with keen interest though.]

I see! How interesting. Though do you really need to be recognized by the leader here? Is there any point besides to have the honour?

[Look, he understands your explanation somewhat but it also seems like such a hassle!]

[unpurposed]

It is not the case. We are created by humans, it is a strange designation from the species that created us and yet also fear us. Many of us were deactivated and destroyed after the - - [ There is just the slightest pause, the smallest twitch, between his words ] - - war. Though any robotic aggression was only after deliberate instruction from human authorities.

[ His black face plate registered no expression and he was so still for a moment that it was easy to see that he was not, in fact, alive. After rerouting his thinking process, he continued: ]

This also acts as an explanation for licensing. It is illegal for any human or artificial intelligence to perform medical assistance without a license, because of the deep potential for harm from undereducated or malicious individuals.

I would not wish someone to assume I was going to hurt them. It’s a medical license, I can prove that is not my intent.

Text; un: Black Prince

[blackscales]

[ This is some kind of... mechanical construct going by his conversation with Slick?]

What races are you qualified to treat? 

[unpurposed]

I can treat all humans regardless of ethnicity, though I suspect that is not the question you were asking.

Please define races in this context.

[blackscales]

I was inquiring if they were any non-human species you were trained to handle. Your response suggests the answer is no.

un: sizhui; video

[paperbutterflies]

I am Lan Sizhui. Good day!

[ Puzzled radish boy is puzzled but absolutely polite. And curious. ]

I also am learning healing, and although serving will not be necessary, perhaps we can share knowledge? What is available for preparing medicine here may differ from what is available in other places we come from, and I think we all have to adjust because of that.

[unpurposed]

Hello, Lan Sizhui. It is good to meet you. I have been designated as your family, and have already spoken your father. He praises you highly.

Serving is my nature, and I am happy to do so. If knowledge exchange is the best method to serve, then of course I will do so.

I have limited ability to generate drugs and medications from molecular material, without the need of specified ingredients, and I have storage of some basic medications already. I am happy to demonstrate and share whatever you wish.

[paperbutterflies]

That... does not seem fair, only serving. What happens when you are in need?

[ He is also definitely puzzled about molecular material and generating drugs but hums. ]

There does seem a lot I can learn, if you truly do not mind teaching, then.

un: white pawn; video

[chosenbylight]

[Anduin is vaguely familiar with robots and robotics. The gnomes are a member of the Alliance, after all, and they have experimented with robotics to the extent that they have even enhanced their bodies with it. Mechagnomes, they call themselves.

The concept of a fully independent robotic is fascinating to Anduin. And a medical one, at that?]

You are a healer?

[unpurposed]

Yes.

Specifically, I am a palliative care medical unit, but I am fully outfitted to diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions.

[chosenbylight]

Palliative care.

[Anduin tilts his head to the side for a moment, considering the word. It's not unfamiliar to him, but being a Holy Priest himself, he doesn't usually have to consider such things. Not usually, anyway.]

That is a noble cause. You were... In service, before you found yourself here? Er, practicing, perhaps?

[He smiles with something of a wince.]

Forgive me if I am not using the right vocabulary. I am a healer myself, although my methods are somewhat less... Scientific.