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

[unpurposed]

Mankind did.

Humans are ever looking for unconditional service.

[downswing]

You speak of enslavement.

[unpurposed]

Yes.

Though no human from my world would call it so. The same way you would not call a knife enslaved.

A tool is made for a purpose - to be used by humans in the way it was crafted.

So was I.

Had my administrator not given me the means to think about it, I would not be able to have this conversation at all. The comparison would never occur to me.

[downswing]

Creatures of care are not instruments.

[unpurposed]

You are very kind to say so.

I look forward to meeting both you and your son, I am sure you have raised him with similar sensibilities.

[downswing]

He is of kindness.

[unpurposed]

Then I was correct in my conjecture.

Thank you, Wangji of the Lan Clan. Please seek me out if you are in any need of assistance.