oo5 ⊗ video ⊗ fifth move ⟹ backdated to oct 5th.

[oxfordian]

[ charles is visibly distressed when he appears on the screen, this time. he's in what seems to be some underground facility, and there are other faces behind him—notably collette, emma, galadriel, raven, and others. his eyes remain closed for a second and you can hear him take a deep breath. then: ]

We have... borrowed a gentleman by the name of Richard Lawson...—from the United Earth. He is a cabinet member of the President's. Yes, the President of the United Earth. [ charles clears his throat, steels himself. ]

We've learnt a great many things about the United Earth from his head, and we feel it best to share that information with all of you, here on the Network.

[ charles states the next words with a heavy voice. ]

The President of the United Earth is not human. "He" is—artificial. Artificial Intelligence, or what you would call an A.I.. The United Earth... has never seen his face, as far as we have deduced.

We will try to answer questions about what we have learnt to the very best of our ability, but do be patient. Ah—[ he closes his eyes again, considering. then he nods as though he's made the right decision and he knows it. ]

That is all.

( note: wow i knew i forgot something like a winner. THIS TAKES PLACE DURING/AFTER these linked shenanigans: [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] [ x ] )

Comments

permavideo;

[andfutureking]

I see.

[ His voice carries a contemplative weight to it. ]

[oxfordian]

—that was something of the reaction I had anticipated. I am still... mulling over its weight, myself.

video;

[gained_a_level]

How can you be certain?

[ Cas might not be convinced unless he knew humans were capable of the kind of... thorough interrogation methods angels employed. He of course doesn't know a thing about Charles' abilities. ]

[fe_male]

No shit? An AI? Is it too early to arrange playdates?

[ He's just opening with glib he does know there's some gravitas here ]

[Voice]

[uncalled_for]

What do you mean he's artificial?

And more importantly, how did you even find this Richard Lawson? Let alone, how do we even know he's telling the truth about the information he's given?

Video;

[studieswaitressing]

Oh -- trust me, he's sure.

[She looks like she's got a good mix of concerned and -- exhilarated.]

[roboticharmonics]

I take it intelligent computers aren't a normal occurrence here.

Do you know why this A.I. was made and what it can do?

video

[totallytrustworthy]

Woah, woah, woah. Borrowed? How?

[Voice]

[whatsupcroc]

We took him.

[video]

[myownbestfriend]

Oh, I have some ideas.

[Tony, she is going to teach you how to conduct a psychic interrogation and then you'll be even warier of her than you were before.]

video;

[tequilaselai]

An AI? [Tali facepalms. Helmetpalms. Whatever. She sounds... not surprised, really, but definitely interested.] Of course that would be it.

Has this... "borrowed" person offered any other useful information?

video;

[oxfordian]

I am—a telepath. I saw it through his mind, ah, once it was sufficiently... broken down.

Video;

[gained_a_level]

Mystique, explain.

[ Inquiring minds of an angelic sort want to know. DETAILS, GIRL, DETAILS. ]

video

[whatsupcroc]

In that sort of not entirely voluntary way that happens sometimes! In the days right after the bombings, when we were supposed to be staying underground.

[ ... Clearly, this was followed faithfully. ]

[taseyousupernanny]

An AI?

It's definitely your fault Stark.

[Yeah, he really does enjoy winding Stark up. It's just amusing.]

Video;

[studieswaitressing]

Just like Charles said -- he's a telepath. He just took a look.

Guy couldn't have lied even if he'd wanted to.

video;

[gained_a_level]

Broken down?

[ Telepathy he knows, but he's curious as to the methods employed to break down one's natural or practiced resilience to probing. ]

[oxfordian]

[ Charles can't help the way he stares at him at first, okay. Then he's sighing, soft. ]

I imagine it will always be too early, Mr Stark.

[oxfordian]

He did not give me this information by his own choice; not exactly. I garnered it directly from his mind.

Video;

[gained_a_level]

From how it was described, it sounds less passive than 'taking a look'.

[ Blue eyes fix onto bright yellow. ]

And if he resisted?

[Voice]

[uncalled_for]

That part seems obvious. I meant how. Bariyan exposed names, yes, but that was hardly a few days ago.

[oxfordian]

We do not, unfortunately. We had only access to the information that Mr Lawson had access to through his own mind; which did not include very many details.

[whatsupcroc]

I don't think Dick really knows much about the AI in charge. I kind of get the feeling no one spends a lot of time thinking on anything they're not told to think about. They self medicate every morning across the whole of the UE if what Charlie says Dick remembers is true for the, um, majority.

[oxfordian]

Perhaps rescued, as well. That portion was not my idea, truly—he was caught by our group.

[ charles just frowns at his own.. words... ]

[trustycrowbar]

An AI. In charge of an entire world government? I'd heard rumors that they could take over an institution if sufficiently advanced but... Christ. No wonder they churn out soldiers on an assembly line and stringently control absolutely everything.