the last voyages // 4. video. no filter except for t-x.

[tobecaprican]

Some corners of my culture happen to take religion literally.

[ Gaius is using video, and sitting in his cabin. The lights are currently playing up, as they're wont to do, reflecting off all the glass and chrome of his replicated expensive apartment. He has a cigarette, a cup of tea, and little better to do but seek some conversation to defeat nerves and loneliness.

But not lonely enough to go outside. Visibly on edge, but his voice is calm, where the video feed doesn't flutter. ]

As in, there are-- were-- colonials in the universe who would swear up and down the pantheon that we really did travel in a boat down the river Styx in the afterlife. [ ffrrzzzztttt ] easy to make fun of, but they'd be the ones laughing now, I suppose. I'm dead, and look where I ended up.

I suppose they [ ffrrzzzztttt ] ing pass.

I haven't talked religion in-- well. Ever since I've been here. Not something I miss, to be clear, but there's a

discrepancy

that I'd like to explore. So talk [ ffrrzzzztttt ] your beliefs, Bargeites. Earthers, witches, the lot of [ ffrrzzzztttt ] first and last time - I'm trying to get it out of the way and over with.



[ OOC: My terribleness -- posting and running! I will tag back solidly in a couple of hours, may sneak in a couple here and there beforehand. ]

Comments

[no_fastolfe]

Yes, from one of the primate species of that world. The fossil record is quite complete.

[tobecaprican]

I see.

You seem to be a reasonably informed, forward thinking young lady. What do you reckon the chances are of two human races, identical in almost every way except for some minor cultural quirks, coming to be, completely independent of one another?

[no_fastolfe]

I have twenty-nine decades, sir. [Brow LIFT] However, I am a roboticist, not a biologist, so take that qualification in mind when I tell you that the possibility is so remote as to be nearly impossible. Convergent evolution is possible, of course, but not to an identical point.

[tobecaprican]

Oh.

Roboticist?

[no_fastolfe]

We are physiologically different from Earthers.

And yes, a roboticist. A senior researcher of the Auroran Institute of Robotics. Not that the robotic and artificial intelligences aboard are of the same principle as Ascenion robots.

[tobecaprican]

No. And I wouldn't reckon your robots are anything like ours, either.

I hope not, anyway.

Does the word 'Cylon' ring any bells?

[no_fastolfe]

[A long pause, a headshake.]

It means nothing. Does the name 'Susan Calvin' mean anything to you?

[tobecaprican]

Not remotely.

Good, wonderful. I mean, generally, I'm quite enthusiastic about robotics and artificial intelligence. It was outlawed, back where I come from, and I often advocated for the ban to be lifted. But I guess some robots aren't to be frakked with.

[no_fastolfe]

...banned.

[Her ick face]

There are examples of robotics gone awry aboard the barge. But ascenion robots are built from first principles to co-exist with mankind. I don't know what is more disappointing; that they were banned or that there might have been reason to ban them. Robots-- that can harm a human!

[Pigs-- that can fly! Rain-- that makes things dryer!]

[tobecaprican]

[ ...welp. ]

Our race was subject to a war when the robots we created rebelled against us. It was messy, long and complicated.

But time had moved on. I completely agree, that obviously Cylon were flawed, and that flaw could be rectified. It would be quite simple, really, to safeguard against if we were to continue research, and perhaps gain a better understanding of--

[ And Baltar realises he's gone into advocate mode, and stops midsentence. It no longer applies. ]

Well, then they bombed the frak out of my home, so I suppose I should leave it alone.

We weren't aiming for coexistence, really. That was probably the issue.

[no_fastolfe]

I should say.

[Yes that sounds like an issue]

If you have interest I could teach you the basics of Ascenion positronic logic. However, if the subject is sensitive, I hardly need prosetylize it.

[Alllmost tactful and yet not quite.]

[tobecaprican]

No, the subject's--

Never mind about that. I'll listen, if you want to teach.

[no_fastolfe]

I thought that you might have an emotional reaction, considering the circumstance.

However! If you do not, I can generally be found at the library between breakfast and noon. Barring employement.

[tobecaprican]

I've been working quite hard at not having an emotional reaction.

How am I doing thus far?

[no_fastolfe]

Admirably! I would not have taken you for being much affected by your loss.

[From a Spacer, the universal champions of 'look out for number one', this is something of a compliment.]

[tobecaprican]

Good.

[ Probably. That's probably good. ]

Library before noon, then, right you are.