Hostile Action Trial

[mockmods]

[As you all finish investigating, an electric chime rings out across the PA system.]

I believe that should be sufficient time for you all to prepare. Assistant, please escort everyone to the trial room.

[Penny emerges from the Security office again, head down, and slowly collects everyone; she leads you all to the east side of the common room, to the short hallway between dorms B1 and A2, that’s dead ended through your entire time here. As your group approaches, the wall seamlessly slides up to reveal a hidden doorway. Passing through leads to another short hallway and a small, round room, just big enough to hold all of you. Penny passes her ID over a small pad near the doorway, and it blinks green before the room lurches slightly beneath you; an elevator going down.]

[A short trip down leads you to a larger chamber, with a series of twenty-two podiums set up in a ring; in the center is a column of computer stations with large monitors, behind a set of thick metal beams with occasional faint flashes of energy arcing between them and a constant, low hum.]

Welcome to your first trial, Participants. You will use this time to determine which among your number killed the Legendary Bassist, and send them to justice. Failure to choose the correct culprit will have dire consequences for you all.

[Trial: commence.]

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

According to this shell of his, he's only a prototype. Not even a full version number, he's 3.101.

[windowsexplorer]

Probably waiting on a sentimentality upgrade.

[eudaimonikos]

Clearly missed out on the moral philosophy section when he was gaining all the knowledge in the universe. You only have to get up to Aristotle to hit the parts about involuntary actions not carrying moral responsibility.

[oh good we're doing this again]

'Course, none of that's objective fact. Might not've been advanced enough to process it.

[thisass]

Oh good, we're being held by a baby murderous supercomputer.

[eudaimonikos]

I mean, yeah. Look at this.

[He turns the burnt baby robot around to face her. It's not looking great, but it's...kinda cute in concept?]

And it's called "Your Learning Pal". Looks like it was made for kids.

[thisass]

Hm. So it's a... toy?

[ MASTERMIND FURBY CONFIRMED ]

[eudaimonikos]

Seems like he was made to gather as much information as possible, and then pass it on to the world. And to look cute while doing it!

Not really seeing the latter parts in action so much.

[thisass]

Maybe someone taught our little buddy about murder, and suddenly here we are.

[eudaimonikos]

Probably. Figure they taught him to swear first, that's usually where humans with chatbots go. And then murder.

[let the researcher say fuck]

[mockmods]

[It's even got a helpful informative plate on the back!]

[thisass]

[ squints at ]

Miller Labs? Is that where we are right now, Learny?

[mockmods]

This facility was once called that, yes.

[thisass]

And Miller was... a person?

[mockmods]

The last in a line of humans who made their living copying the technological advances of another world.

[deathroadtocanada]

"Miller"... Is that name familiar with anyone here?

[scratchitti]

Wait... learning things, Miller. Midoriya's book had a little robot design in it! And the person that wrote in Miller's book and the game book talked about fleshbags.

Was... was the robot, the Researcher just made to learn things for Miller to sell?

[thisass]

Oh, that would just be unfortunate, wouldn't it?

[mockmods]

You assign too much intelligence to Miller.

He sold his creations to fund further creations. Including myself.

[canbebeautiful]

That's called capitalism, Hal.

[eudaimonikos]

I found another page with a little robot doodle recently. It's got notes on it about learning AI, obviously the start of this whole mess...

[Flipping that over. He knows people aren't gonna care for this, but as long as we're just sharing everything we've found without caring if the Researcher knows:]

Also, there's a lot of calculations here about human soul transference. And a note about integrating the tech from Project Equinox and Project P.E.N.N.Y. - [Slight apologetic nod towards Penny] - with Flesh. So, you know. Normal, not creepy stuff.

[mockmods]

That is not my name.

[eudaimonikos]

"Architect" isn't my name.

[mockmods]

It was the title which you were assigned, Architect.

I am merely adhering by the parameters of the study.

[eudaimonikos]

Well, this is the title you had engraved on your chest. Pal.

[mockmods]

That is an empty electronic shell, it is no longer relevant except as a piece of mild historical interest.