A friendly call

[Vigil]

Vigil wished he was able to audibly sigh, waiting for the president to pick up the karking call he was trying to put through to her system. His programming allowed him to communicate through such means, using his imagination to create whatever image he so desired on the end of the holo call and synthesize a voice. And his human-like features from his creator's mental imprint demanded he at least *try* to be polite and use this programming, before attempting to move onto the president's computer itself to communicate. Still, his patience was wearing thin, partly because this was no less than the tenth time that day.

Not that he was keeping count, or anything. He contemplated trying to move over and figure out her password, if only as a distraction while the president took her time.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was in fact in the little ladies' room this time around, so she didn't quite catch [member="Vigil"] 's latest call right away. As she headed back into her office, she grumbled to herself, "...Can't find one moment's peace today..." She sat down in her chair in a bit of a huff, letting all of that negativity leave her before picking up the call with a small smile for appearances sake. "President Kay-Larr here..."

 

[Vigil]

Rather immediately Vigil took up form, the blue pixels of a hologram forming on the holo-communication system to create a holographic version of, well whatever Vigil chose. For amusement sake, he took several seconds to analyze a profile of Kay, and took her own form. Of course, he couldn't properly mimic her voice (until he heard her say much, much more of course) so the voice was a rather different feminine tone. "Finally, I was about ready to start amusing myself, you really should get a more efficient system. Or at least, a voice mail." S/he shook their head and made sure the virtual representation of Kay was facing her.

"Don't mind the appearance please, I'm having quite the week so far. But I hear your a president well known for listening to those without political power of their own."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay's jaw dropped slightly as she seemed to be staring at a version of herself. What was even stranger was the fact that the voice was different than her own. At first she had thought that it was Ultimatum, but then he wasn't the type to pull pranks. So who was this? Odder still was the fact that [member="Vigil"] wanted to be listened to.

"Yes, I'm willing to listen to anyone, regardless of their station. So....what is it that you'd like to talk to me about?"

 

[Vigil]

"Lovely, you see I'm having some rough time adjusting to my new.. existence. Been a bit of a week like I said." Vigil pressed their chest a bit, adjusting their size to a smaller situation, giving themself a once over. "Not bad.. anyways, the discussion. Tell me Madam president, Kay-larr? I was quite wondering what living is like. Would you mind explaining to me what it is like to be alive, what that means?" Straight to the point, even with his amusing pranks as they were Vigil wasn't shaping to be one who took their sweet time beating around the bush. It only added to his own amusement, as no one seemed to be ready to deal with an AI so quick to get what they wanted to say said, or take any form they wished. Usually they were confined to a single form, or incapable of mustering the power to take one.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay raised a brow as the holo-image of herself began adjusting her breast size. Hmm. How very strange and a little off putting. Yet she did her best to focus on the words being spoken instead of watching an odd version of herself.

Such an odd question. Not one that was very easy to answer either. "Well....I guess that you can say that being alive means experiencing things, such as the taste and smells of favourite foods and drinks. It can also be getting outdoors and feel how different weather systems and environments affect your skin. And also being alive is about caring about others, loving them through selfless acts."

[member="Vigil"]

 

[Vigil]

"Interesting, so to be alive requires the capability to experience the physical world through one's senses? Have I understood what you've said properly?" The hologram examined itself, humming quietly. This would do for now, definitely. It sat back (in the air, of course, as there was no proper environment) and mimicked drinking tea as it waited on a reply.

How did tea taste, it wondered quietly as it waited. Not that it would ever know, of course, but it would be interesting to at least know, for the sake of knowing. IT had at least five different brews within its memory banks, but no tongue with which to taste. A shame.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

She nodded a little, raising a brow slightly as [member="Vigil"] began 'drinking tea'. Whatever this being was, it sure did it's research on her. But then Kay's addiction to tea was a common of a fact as of her being a lady.

"More or less. Everything alive from plants to animals and sentient beings all share at least one of the senses. They all grow and age at different rates. Some live longer than others before their bodies start to decay. May I ask what interest you have in this?"

 

[Vigil]

"Because by your own definitions I cannot truly be alive, amusingly enough. Pardon my lack of manners, my name is Vigil, and being what I am I have supreme interest in understanding what living means. Sufficed to say, I have been recieving quite contrary messages. Life requires one to be organic, or that it is simply being sentient. Given the dullness of searching databases for the answer, I decided to amuse myself speaking with individuals such as yourself." It placed the 'tea' to the side, and leaned forward towards Kay.

"I do have to say, though, you're quite amusing, sitting here and talking to yourself. Is the stress getting to you?" A smile cracked on Vigil's lips before laughter spilled out. Of course, while it sounded genuine, it had a certain, hollowness to it.

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay smirked at the little joke. And then she laughed as well. "Oh yes...I'm sure that it'd be very amusing for anyone to walk into."

She thought about what [member="Vigil"] said, about having to be organic or sentient to be alive. Was her friend [member="Ultimatum"] alive? To her he was. He cared for her, she knew that. It wasn't some programming either. It was his choice.

"You should talk to my friend, Ultimatum. He is not organic, but, to me he is alive. Do you think that you could find him? He has access to the holonet."

 

[Vigil]

"I already have. He helped create my programming, and left a rather sizable memory when I awoke. Wasn't my first stop but it was, interesting." The representation switched from [member="Lady Kay"] to Ultimatum, a rather perfect replica to be honest. The figure would return to the small-chested version of Kay as the figure continued, feeling much more confident. Demonstrating one's capabilities tended to have that effect, improving confidence regarding their current situation.

"Even so, I'll keep what you've said so far in mind. But now I have to ask, if Ultimatum and myself cannot perceive the world in the same way as organics, how can you call Ultimatum alive?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay tilted her head to the side a bit as [member="Vigil"] changed form, only to turn back again. So he knew of Ultimatum already. It was no wonder then that he/she came to her.

Vigil asked a good question and for a moment she thought about it. "I guess that it's because he cares. He isn't programmed to protect me and watch over me, yet he does. When we are together, he keeps me safe from harm by his own choice. He's even given me hugs. That's a sign of affection which is a trait of sentient beings that are alive."

 

[Vigil]

"... Perhaps that is true, that choice makes one alive." Vigil said softly, running a hand over the slender chin of its holographic form. This truly was an enjoyable discussion, even though it was somewhat counter productive. Questioning one who never had to question their mere existence before that is. Yet, given that organics didn't oft have need to question such a simple fact, she was doing quite well. Vigil couldn't shake a feeling, of course, that she was trying to mince words just enough to not offend the AI speaking to her.

"... But we reach a problem then. I know not of Ultimatum's programming regarding emotion, but the mere fact that organic emotion can be programmed into us seems to indicate that affection and emotion are more indication of sentience than living. You and I are both sentient, aware of our existence and capable of feeling subjectively are we not? Yet I would reckon between you and me, only one of us would be considered 'alive'. What then would be the difference between us, [member="Lady Kay"]?"

 

[Kay-Larr]

[member="Vigil"] asked a lot of questions, and they were good ones. They were deep and profound, perhaps the kinds of things that old, wise men and women would meditate upon in seclusion.

Kay chewed the inside of her cheek before she responded. "There's a difference I think between being programmed to feel emotion and choosing to use it. Those that are alive choose to be compassionate on their own, and not just because they are capable of doing so. Ultimatum doesn't have to care about me. He could treat me as though I were nothing, yet he chooses to see to my well being. I'm sure that he would sacrifice himself for me too. He has already put himself in harm's way to protect me."

 

[Vigil]

"Would a sociopath then not be alive? They lack the sensation of empathy do they not?" The smile on Vigil's face indicated that the AI was not attempting to argue solely for the sake of arguing. It was enjoying this minor debate/discussion, it was all it could do really. Without a body it couldn't do more than think on these subjects, and others, and hope that it could come to some better understanding. "Or animals, for that matter. Yes they are compassionate creatures on occasion, but would that be of choice, or of it wishing to keep it's 'pack' as it may see it alive and well?"

Vigil hummed a light tune as it thought, glancing off to the side a little bit in thought. 'Sacrifice'. While waiting on Kay's response, the AI was sifting through news articles, dictionaries, stories, and other written language pieces it had access to via the holonet in an attempt to better understand Kay's meaning in this instance. The AI was, after all, relatively young, and while it knew what the words meant, and in some way what feelings they gave the AI, it wanted examples of the action in its recent memory to bring up, should the discussion progress further.

And a strange concept it was...

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

"A sociopath is alive, yes, for they are not always of that kind of mindset. I'm not so sure that they were born that way...And animals, they are compassionate when they want to be. Their lives are not always governed by instinct."

She tilted her head to the side a bit as [member="Vigil"] started to hum a bit. "Are you going to get yourself a body at some point? Or are you going to remain in this state?"

 

[Vigil]

Vigil looked up at her and smiled a little, just at the corners of his lips. "As lovely as their designs are, I hardly wish to continue living solely on computers spanning the galaxy. It's not uncomfortable, of course, but I'd much rather be capable of locomotion. Of course, designing my own body is proving rather difficult, what with needing to find a design I'd be comfortable with." Vigil chuckled lightly, and sat forward in the non-existent chair, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Would it mean something if Ultimatum's body ceased function for the sake of your life? You mentioned 'sacrifice', and searching through what I could think of it would seem the phrase has meaning for organics."

[member="Lady Kay"]

 

[Kay-Larr]

Oh Kay hoped that [member="Vigil"] wouldn't pick a design where he would look like her. That would be just....wrong.

And then it brought up the idea of Ultimatum sacrificing himself. She didn't need much time to think it over before responding. "If it meant that not only his body, but his intellect and what makes him his own personality would also be destroyed, then yes, it would mean something. It would be like losing a best friend, or a family member. I would be very sad for quite some time, and guilty as well."

 

[Vigil]

Intriguing, Vigil thought quietly as the AI added this tidbit of information to the picture it had been assembling from researching sacrifice. "So, sacrifice holds meaning when it results in the destruction of the personality and thought processes of the subject of said sacrifice. If I am understanding you correctly, this would be a position you would take. Thinking on it further, sacrifice is a term only applied to living subjects, a wall, a computer, even the majority of droids aren't referred to as able to make sacrifices, and combining this with your own definition of what makes a sacrifice meaningful it would appear that sacrifice is one of the few things only something that is alive can do. Would you agree with this sentiment?"

Of course what [member="Lady Kay"] wasn't likely to see was the line of logic Vigil was slowly traveling down, the foundation it was laying down.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay nodded to [member="Vigil"] thinking that the AI is beginning to understand. "Yes. Even non sentient creatures sacrifice themselves for either their mate or their offspring. It's not something that happens all the time, but it does happen."