Ratatoskr / Tiamat / Coyote.

[soulping]

[ And, with a start, you're somewhere else: A small, whitewashed room with another tinny woman's voice rattling off the walls. ]

Comments

Round 1.

[soulping]

Hello. Welcome to the Samsara Examination Systems. I will be asking you a series of short questions. Response time is a factor, so please answer promptly.

My preliminary research has shown me that the strongest advantage that you plural possess may be the notion of emotional bonds. On the other hand, data suggests these relationships may cause irrational behavior, or leave subjects open to manipulation.

Do you feel they are a strength or a weakness?

Discussion.

[soulping]

Re: Discussion.

[secretofthefox]

Relationships are a strength. No question there.

[3g]

[ rubbing at his human face and groaning. ]

What a stupid ass question to ask a computer program!

Re: Discussion.

[hyanaimne]

[inner mind threatre: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

They are a weakness, for the most part, depending upon the situation at hand.

[dontcallmedarling]

No one can do everything on their own. It helps to have others to share the burden.

[Nods.]

Turn in.

[soulping]

Please submit one of the following options once you've decided:

1. A strength.
2. A weakness.

Re: Turn in.

[tatsumi_textiles]

It's a strength.

Round 2.

[soulping]

Understood. You believe that emotional connections are a strength. I am incapable of such a response, only a mostly accurate simulacrum of such. However, if was able to acquire the memories and chemical patterning of such a relationship from both sides, then my mimicry of such would become more accurate.

I need both halves of this relationship. It does not need to be romantic; a familial, or even a particularly strong friendship or professional relationship would be effective enough research data.

Will any such among you offer me this?

Discussion.

[soulping]

Turn in.

[soulping]

Will you provide two halves of a relationship? Please submit one of the following options once you've decided:

1. Yes. Please respond to the turn in with the pair chosen.
2. No.

Round 3.

[soulping]

Understood. It is unfortunate that you are select one incapable unwilling to offer me this knowledge. This further suggests that relationships are actually detrimental.

My preliminary research suggests that you understand the notion of teamwork. This data, while less useful than previously requested information, may still provide me with useful data. If you would be willing to allow me to study this information, it would be of great use to me.

Discussion.

[soulping]

Turn in.

[soulping]

Are you willing to allow me to study this information?

1. Yes.
2. No.

Round 4.

[soulping]

Understood. Please fasten the devices that fall from the ceiling securely to your heads and the process will begin.

[ Chrome helmets descend from the ceiling, alongside an inexorable urge to obey. Once all helmets have been placed on all people present, the sharp jab of a spinal injection is felt at the base of the neck.

Things go down from there. There's a sense of confusion - What is your own team? Who is on your team out of these people? Who isn't on your team?

And a growing sense of paranoia. ]

Adjusting parameters… complete. Test groups should use modified Forms 34-HMR-Combined when filling out debriefing questionnaires. Your payment of zero dollars and zero cents upon completion of the examination has been modified for hazard pay. Information on the nature of this hazard pay is unavailable at this time.

Your services have been noted. You may proceed.

Discussion.

[soulping]

Turn in.

[soulping]

Let me know when you're prepared to move to the next round by responding here.

Round 5.

[soulping]

A previous test subject vehemently disagreed with the conclusions of their examination. Their final words before the test was terminated was as follows. Begin playback:

“Y-you’re a fucking machine! How could you understand anything I’m telling you anyways? You don’t see the shit out here that we see! You’re absolutely heartless!”

End playback. This has made me curious. While all data that I have suggests that my external sensors function at least at parity with the human eye, I have begun to wonder if your eyes confer a sort of intangible sense that my sensors lack.

In conclusion: I would like one of your eyes so that I may compare data with what was told to me previously. So long as your eyes function, any one will do.

Discussion.

[soulping]

Turn in.

[soulping]

1. Fork over an eye.
2. Refuse.

[soulping]

Understood. Please do not make any sudden movements while approaching the device that has fallen from the ceiling. Thank you.

[ Once again, the helmet descends. Once placed on head, Sol's left eyeball will be carefully scooped out. Without anaesthetic. ]

Processing… Calibrating… Complete. All studies show that this does not, in fact, confer any additional properties to my sensor array.

Query: eyes come in matching pairs. An eye singular may be insufficient coverage. Please insert a pair of eyes. Please note the device is calibrated to take multiple eyes only.

Discussion.

[soulping]

Turn in.

[soulping]

1. Fork over Sol's other eye.
2. For over someone else's eye.
3. Refuse.

GOOD... END?

[soulping]

Understood. Please do make any sudden movements while approaching the device that has fallen from the ceiling. Thank you.

[ Once again, an eye is torn out without anaesthetic. ]

Processing… Calibrating… Complete. A pair of eyes do not confer anything additional beyond stereoscopic vision when properly adjusted for such. This data into the capabilities of humans has proven exceptionally useful for further examinations.

All biological matter has been returned to the biological containment center, where they may be picked upon the conclusion of this testing series. Please check with Doctors on reattachment of all removed biological tissue.

Your services have been noted.

Discussion.

[soulping]