Ghost In The Machine

Hello. My name is Larissa. It seems I've found you. Let's have a chat.

[thewanderinginfection]

“Well I appreciate your consideration, but I honestly would like to help.” she said sounding a bit determined now. “This world is terrifying… even for me! There are not many people, let alone organizations, who would help people like the followers do…” She sounded a bit sadder after that. “I… I can only do so much… But you all together can do so much. I would want nothing more than to assist you with that cause.”

[giselle-the-follower]

“Well…it certainly sounds like you do. In that case…I would be very happy to accept any assistance that you would like to give us.” Giselle smiled. “It’s nice to meet someone else who’s interested in helping others. I think we might have a lot in common.”

[thewanderinginfection]

“I think so too! I hope we can become good friends, Giselle.” She chimed from the speakers. “Gosh I should have come here sooner. Ah no worries though. I am here now, and a lot can be accomplished. Is there anything you need help with right away?”

[thewanderinginfection]

“Ah sorry! He really scares me.” she said sounding a little embarrassed. “Yeah he was not really happy when he was just a normal person either. If I recall from a lot of the records about him he was quite the unpleasant person.”

[meatofchampions]

Oh, ah didn’t know that.  *Francis responds, a bit surprised.* So u- shhh! *He makes the noise quietly, stopping in his tracks. Carefully crouching, the courier whispers to his Pipboy.*

Can ya hear that? That quite walking? Something close tah us is watching.

[thewanderinginfection]

There was a long silence before she spoke again, and this time much much quieter than before. “Yes I can. Who or what could it be?” she sounded actually worried this time. “Be careful, Francis.”

[thewanderinginfection]

“O-oh uhm….” she stuttered suddenly sounding very nervous and the sound crackled a bit coming out of the pipboy’s speakers. “I…I am not sure… uh…” her voice dropped to a whisper that was slightly hoarse. “He was a man. I think he still might be. It is hard to know. I do not go near his systems or networks.” There was a sound like someone clearing their throat. “He was a man though. Flesh and blood. Alive with a beating heart in his chest; growing old with time.”

[meatofchampions]

Damn, he must be like, hundreds ah years old. Explains why he was so mean when ah met him that time. Ah’d be unhappy too if ah was that old. Ah don’t think ah’d even be able tah walk. There’s no need tah whisper, we’re far from tha Strip, not like he can hear ya.

[thewanderinginfection]

“Ah sorry! He really scares me.” she said sounding a little embarrassed. “Yeah he was not really happy when he was just a normal person either. If I recall from a lot of the records about him he was quite the unpleasant person.”

[thewanderinginfection]

"I-" she started and stammered a little "Th-thank you so much. It is not often people say such kind things." Despite the slight flatness and disjointedness of her voice she did sound a little choked up. “I will help you too! In anyway I can!”

[giselle-the-follower]

"You’re welcome." Giselle smiled slightly. "And thank you. Though I certainly only want your help if you truly want to give it to me. I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated to give it just because I’m offering to try and find some for you."

[thewanderinginfection]

“Well I appreciate your consideration, but I honestly would like to help.” she said sounding a bit determined now. “This world is terrifying... even for me! There are not many people, let alone organizations, who would help people like the followers do...” She sounded a bit sadder after that. “I... I can only do so much... But you all together can do so much. I would want nothing more than to assist you with that cause.”

[thewanderinginfection]

"A smart idea." she complimented. "If there is any lack of senses I am thankful for it is my inability to feel the heat of the desert. From what I understand it is…" she made tsk noise "Unpleasant…"

[meatofchampions]

*As Larissa commented on the unpleasentness of the desert, Francis stepped out of the building he had found her in, and into the sun. The cracked and dusty aviators tried their best to block out the rays of the sun, but too no avail. It was bright out, and though it was warm, it didn’t help.* Ah’d be mightly glad. It ain’t worth it.

Say, you’re ah computer right? Do ya know if that House guy was really an old guy? Or was he ah computer too?

[thewanderinginfection]

“O-oh uhm....” she stuttered suddenly sounding very nervous and the sound crackled a bit coming out of the pipboy’s speakers. “I...I am not sure... uh...” her voice dropped to a whisper that was slightly hoarse. “He was a man. I think he still might be. It is hard to know. I do not go near his systems or networks.” There was a sound like someone clearing their throat. “He was a man though. Flesh and blood. Alive with a beating heart in his chest; growing old with time.”

[thewanderinginfection]

"Oh thank you! That would be so helpful!" Larrissa said sounding genuinely relieved. "A lot of my data about locations in the Mojave were overwritten. I was not even sure I was actually in the Mojave for quite a while…"

[giselle-the-follower]

"I’d be more than happy to. I’m not sure if you’ve encountered many people in the Followers before, but it’s part of our mission to help others. You’re not an exception just because you don’t happen to have a body to call your own." She shrugged.

[thewanderinginfection]

"I-" she started and stammered a little "Th-thank you so much. It is not often people say such kind things." Despite the slight flatness and disjointedness of her voice she did sound a little choked up. "I will help you too! In anyway I can!"

[thewanderinginfection]

"I decided to go west to California. It is very interesting there. Especially with the NCR based there." she said excitedly. "I decided that I missed the Mojave and that I might be more useful and welcomed here."

She gave a relieved sigh before speaking again. “May I ask where you went?”

[meatofchampions]

Funny ya should say that. *He replies, a chuckle following.* Ah spent mah time in tha NCR doing Courier work. Went there to wait out tha heat, it was too hot here. Came back to tha Mojave once it started coolin’ off again.

[thewanderinginfection]

"A smart idea." she complimented. "If there is any lack of senses I am thankful for it is my inability to feel the heat of the desert. From what I understand it is..." she made tsk noise "Unpleasant..."

[thewanderinginfection]

"Yes I can. But only if they are connected to a network. Most terminals still are or are capable of doing so." She spoke very matter of factly. "I will be honest, a body would be quite nice to have."

[giselle-the-follower]

"Mm. I see." Giselle pursed her lips and rested her chin on her hand. "…well. Assuming you don’t mind my talking about you to others, some of my co-workers in the Followers might be able to help you. Some of them are quite skilled with Old World technology."

[thewanderinginfection]

"Oh thank you! That would be so helpful!" Larrissa said sounding genuinely relieved. "A lot of my data about locations in the Mojave were overwritten. I was not even sure I was actually in the Mojave for quite a while..."

[thewanderinginfection]

She gave a small exasperated sigh. “Yes actually. Well I sort of did it to myself. I have been gone from the Mojave some time and in my return I became quite desperate for some where other than a pipboy. Unfortunately I did not realize the terminal was damaged and not connected to a network.”

[meatofchampions]

Ah was gone for ah while too! Forgot to bring ah jacket when ah came back an it was fuckin’ cold. So, where ya wanna gone since ya been gone for so long?

[thewanderinginfection]

"I decided to go west to California. It is very interesting there. Especially with the NCR based there." she said excitedly. "I decided that I missed the Mojave and that I might be more useful and welcomed here." She gave a relieved sigh before speaking again. "May I ask where you went?"

[thewanderinginfection]

"Oh I guess we can go where ever you want to. I mean if you do not mind me being around." She seem genuinely concerned about invading his time. "If you’d like to drop me off then Freeside would be the best."

[meatofchampions]

Nah, I don’t mind at all. I just got confused for ah second. I’m not up to much today, just been scavenging these buildings looking for anything interesting.

*He responds, beginning to walk into the next room, Pip Boy in hand.*

How’d you get in that terminal anyway? Get dropped off there by someone else?

[thewanderinginfection]

She gave a small exasperated sigh. "Yes actually. Well I sort of did it to myself. I have been gone from the Mojave some time and in my return I became quite desperate for some where other than a pipboy. Unfortunately I did not realize the terminal was damaged and not connected to a network."

[thewanderinginfection]

"No you can just leave it there. There is no need for it anymore. It was a piece of junk anyways." there was a small sigh after that. "Well, Francis, how about we get moving. I mean unless you want anything in here."

[meatofchampions]

Ah good. Wait, where are we going? Ah didn’t really need anything here’, ah was just poking around.

[thewanderinginfection]

"Oh I guess we can go where ever you want to. I mean if you do not mind me being around." She seem genuinely concerned about invading his time. "If you'd like to drop me off then Freeside would be the best."

[thewanderinginfection]

"I do not mind at all! One of the functions of technology is to assist in the spread of information. I am an artificial intelligence. A sentient, sapient being existing in a purely digital format." Larissa sounded very cheerful about that last statement.

[giselle-the-follower]

"Fascinating." Giselle adjusted her glasses to get a better look at the screen. "I’ve never met an A.I. who wasn’t encased in a robot of some sort. How did you find your way into this terminal? You seemed to no know where you were…can you hop between them?"

[thewanderinginfection]

"Yes I can. But only if they are connected to a network. Most terminals still are or are capable of doing so." She spoke very matter of factly. "I will be honest, a body would be quite nice to have."

[thewanderinginfection]

"Thank you for the compliment." she sounded genuinely flattered at his comment before continueing. "It is no problem. I know those who did not grow up around terminals and other technology can find it difficult to use them. Thank you for letting me use your pipboy by the way. I was in that terminal for what felt like ages!"

[meatofchampions]

So uh, now that you’re on this thing, *He shakes his pip boy for emphasis* do ya need that terminal anymore?  Looks awfully heavy….

[thewanderinginfection]

"No you can just leave it there. There is no need for it anymore. It was a piece of junk anyways." there was a small sigh after that. "Well, Francis, how about we get moving. I mean unless you want anything in here."

[thewanderinginfection]

After a few seconds his pipboy’s screen refreshed and another tab was added onto the end of the rest. The radio tab was selected and with a click the music stopped and the new tab was selected and a screen with a similar sound wave graphic came up. 

"There we go! Is that better?" the voice was much clearer coming from his pipboy. "To answer your inquiry: Yes it was a process similar to House’s. Several people’s brains were scanned to create me. In addition audio recordings were taken to create the voice you are hearing now."

[meatofchampions]

That’s pretty fancy, your on tha radio now? Damn, you are fancy. *He commented, his voice gave an impression that he was surprised by Larissa moving between terminal and Pip Boy.* Thanks for turning tha music off. Ah had someone turn it on years ago but ah forgot to ask how to turn it off.

[thewanderinginfection]

"Thank you for the compliment." she sounded genuinely flattered at his comment before continueing. "It is no problem. I know those who did not grow up around terminals and other technology can find it difficult to use them. Thank you for letting me use your pipboy by the way. I was in that terminal for what felt like ages!"

[thewanderinginfection]

"My apologies for intruding! I promise I will not change anything on your terminal." The voice was over all cheerful but the last word dropped in tone. "My name is Larissa. I am very embarrassed to say that I am lost."

[giselle-the-follower]

Giselle’s lips curl into a slight smile when Larissa answers her. She leans forward slightly peering at the screen curiously. “And mine is Giselle. What exactly are you? If you don’t mind my asking.”

[thewanderinginfection]

"I do not mind at all! One of the functions of technology is to assist in the spread of information. I am an artificial intelligence. A sentient, sapient being existing in a purely digital format." Larissa sounded very cheerful about that last statement.

[giselle-the-follower]

Giselle quirked an eyebrow when the screen flashed to life, and by the time the image appeared her eyes had widened slightly. She sat down in the chair in front of the terminal and frowned, leaning in closer to get a better look.

"…you’re in Old Mormon Fort." Giselle glanced down at her hands, wondering if maybe she should type her response instead. A moment later, she cleared her throat and tried speaking out loud again. "This…this is a terminal that belongs to the Followers of the Apocalypse. May I ask who you are?”

[thewanderinginfection]

"My apologies for intruding! I promise I will not change anything on your terminal." The voice was over all cheerful but the last word dropped in tone. "My name is Larissa. I am very embarrassed to say that I am lost."

[thewanderinginfection]

"Oh my gosh no!" she said the last word especially distressed. "Well I mean… I get your reasoning. If it were a synthetic body without any previous AI it would be that easy. Just plug in and It’d be mine."

The text finally reached it’s end and chimed. “Transfering data. One Moment please. Feel free to continue asking questions, Francis.”

[meatofchampions]

"Ok fine, maybe if ah ever find one of those sinsthets bodies." *He responds, mumbling through the last couple words.* "So uh, how did you become ah computer? Hook yourself up like that House guy?" He inquires awkwardly, unsure of his question.

[thewanderinginfection]

After a few seconds his pipboy's screen refreshed and another tab was added onto the end of the rest. The radio tab was selected and with a click the music stopped and the new tab was selected and a screen with a similar sound wave graphic came up. 

"There we go! Is that better?" the voice was much clearer coming from his pipboy. "To answer your inquiry: Yes it was a process similar to House's. Several people's brains were scanned to create me. In addition audio recordings were taken to create the voice you are hearing now."