“I strive to consider all the possibilities in a given scenario. That is why I advise strongly against your current lifestyle. You ensured my access to a reasoning engine of the highest quality. An expensive design choice, if it is never to be used for your benefit.” His head cocked to one side, displaying his lack of understanding. The android never intended to respond unkindly, but abruptness seemed to occur more often when Sieglinde refused to listen to reason. Being nearer gave him a higher calculated success rate. So, Sebastian opted to join her down on the floor, folding his legs and placing both hands neatly into his lap. “Due time. I see.”
When she requested his opinion, he reached out to inspect the box, fingertips pale blue as the outside interface peeled back. Sleek and delicate a thing. A broadcast blocking device. It was, in a vague sense, an earlier successor to Sebastian. His eyes flickered shut for a moment. 1, 2, 3… 152… 101… Just as she’d described. “Without knowledge of the algorithm, it appears as a malfunction. I would tell you as much had you not given me further insight. However, a mediocre pattern recognition software would eventually detect this.”
There was a chance that telling her this would only encourage her to keep working even more tirelessly. But he would not be false with his creator, especially not about her work. Upon opening his eyes, the android glanced over at her. “It seems counter-intuitive to produce a flawed product for paying clientele.” That said, he didn’t press that specific issue. It wasn’t his business to press. But Sieglinde knew him too well, and could clearly tell something else ate at him. In moments when he had nothing to say, his silence spoke volumes. Because Sebastian never had nothing to say. Every minute of the day he computed countless trends and commands. Apart from those designated hours spent charging, when natural light was not sufficient. Once, briefly, he had wondered what it might be like to have an organic mind; the thought had not come to him again. It would be better to share his findings with the woman.
“Speak your mind, already! If this is about sleep again, I’ll–”
“Did anything trouble you this week?” There was a long pause before Sebastian chose to elaborate. 89% probability that Sieglinde Sullivan had made the deletion. “I only have partial records for two earlier dates; the twenty-second of August and the twenty-third. If this was as the result of an error, I can ensure it will not occur again. But it would help if I were informed of its nature.” If he had the data he could run a diagnostic, and guide her much quickly on any reparations required. He seemed almost certain he’d been at fault; and why shouldn’t he have been, when he could not recall anything to suggest otherwise?
So it was, after all, the absence of data that which had been getting under his skin... And by his wording, it would seem Sebastian didn’t suspect her so much as an internal failure of sorts.
“Ah... Yes. But it has been seen to already.” She explained, although briefly. “The data was corrupt and it had to be erased.” Could it have been the consequence of free will taking its toll, or was Sieglinde’s programming of Sebastian the one at fault? All in all, she did blame herself the most for having arranged his system in one such way that he’d protect her from all manners of harm... And as it would appear, even at the cost of his own life. “It was a mistake of mine... I hope that does not inconvenience you a whole lot.”
I’ll reprogram him! She could hear the sound of her own voice echo in her memories, her eyes distant from the present, staring square into the offender’s piercing glare. Please, let him go... I’ll do whatever you ask of me, just let him go!
It was surprising, to say the least, that her employer had, in fact, let Sebastian go. Damaged nigh beyond repair, but not before doing a great deal of damage of his own to the enemy’s forces. Thankfully, Sieglinde had crafted another shell to place his memory disc inside of-- one she’d sometimes switch him to whenever the other was under heavy maintenance.
“Sebastian, if you don’t mind...” Miraculously, she’d put the box aside, though most probably sought to change the pattern to a more randomized system later just shy of the delivery hour. It shouldn’t take long for her to see it done, so that was a time wasted she could, for once, quite afford. “It’s been a while since the last we’ve run a few tests on you. Ever since the data erasure, I’ve been wondering how you’re fairing. Would you care for completing a few questions now?”
Should he acquiesce to her request, Sieglinde didn’t aim to tarry for long. As a matter of fact, she made quick work of pocketing out a small folding tablet from her pocket, switched it on and picked one file out of the array available. Tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear, she stole a fleeting gander over his way from the corner of her eye, then her gaze met the glare of the screen’s blinding light once again.
“These are situational inquires... We’ll begin with a simple one: there’s an old woman, a broken android, and a wounded dog in need of aid. Which one do you think you should help first and why? Use your intuition.” She paused for a while before resuming. “Second question-- regardless of who you should help first, which one would you choose to help first? Intuition is not needed for this question... There’s no correct answer either but your own.”
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