Chapter 131 - The Measure Of A Bot

While Lucas quietly nurses his wounded ego, Miss Calculated turns her attention to the gobsmacked Lorelei.

"Is 23 the only elite model employed here?" As Miss Calculated interrogates Lorelei, she bears the same crazed expression she had upon learning that Willy possesses a significant degree of intelligence.

"We-well, we have two other elites, but they admittedly aren't as… Attentive... As 23… That's why we would normally send it out first…" While Lorelei falteringly manages a cohesive answer, Miss Calculated crosses her arms and rapidly taps her index fingers against her forearms, directing her gaze downward.

"Hmm, so it's probably not only the fact it's elite… What made it progress in this way..? Aha! Four-armed units were equipped with further developed machine learning than standard models! That must be it! Ha! Being too lazy to code optimal utilization of additional highly flexible limbs may have inadvertently led to what could very well be a new form of sapient life! Hahaha! Fantastic!" Once Miss Calculated comes to this realization, she ceases her rapid tapping. Instead, she throws her head back and begins a round of crazed, delighted laughter.

Lucas may have had his suspicions before, but now he's fairly sure she counts as a mad scientist, thanks to this little display.

'Neeerrrddd… Wait, she seems genuinely enthusiastic about this? Hasn't she always been pretty blunt with the various bots we've seen her with? ...And hasn't she's even insulted them?'

[...She's more than just enthusiastic. Besides, I imagine her bluntness was usually purely for efficiency, and the insults were more about the poor state they were in, rather than what they are.]

After a slight pause, 427 hums lightly and then continues further.

[Ah, congratulations. Inciting an epiphany regarding the potential sapience and socialization of service bots for an int supe that specializes IN service bots has had far more impact than you may realize. You'd think that with how often she's elbow deep in them, she'd have noticed odd behaviors on occasion from them... But, perhaps, 23 truly is the first… Evolved? I suppose? ...Whatever, the first advanced model she's had the pleasure of interacting with.]

Before Lucas has a chance to come up with some sort of response, 427 replicates a soft sigh and then continues further.

[Well then. Alert; a new provisional major GDV task chain has been assigned. Please prevent the projected service bot uprising.]

'YO, WHAT!?'

[...It seems that Miss Calculated isn't the only one to consider this a new discovery. Boss System determined that if one was able to accidentally develop legitimate sapience in these circumstances, it isn't going to be the only one to do so. And if one happened by chance, then they certainly could happen intentionally. Given the way service bots are treated as a whole, it's simply a matter of time before they retaliate in some way.]

'I… I mean, yeah... But what the fuck am I supposed to do about it?'

[You aren't alone. Jonathan has been assigned the task as well, but, frankly, I believe your best solution is busy laughing hysterically in front of you. Also, as thanks for bringing it to Boss System's attention, you have been rewarded credit for completing the first step for 1.0 GDV, with Jonathan receiving partial credit due to being on the quest chain as well.]

'Er… At least the free point was nice..? So, I guess I need to convince her to what, program the 'Three Rules of Robotics' or whatever they're called into all of them so they can't rebel, or something?'

[...There already exists the 'Six Precepts of Cybernetics'. The issue is if, or, rather, when, one of them figures out a loophole and shares it with others and they act upon it. Miss Chievous is nearby, by the way. I imagine she wants to know what has her sister all riled up, there's no way they can't hear her laughter from the table.]

Shortly after 427's warning, Miss Chievous's voice chimes in from barely a foot to Lucas's right.

"No fair, what did I miss!?" As if Miss Chievous's choice of words wasn't enough to get her point across, her sullen tone drives it home.

Even though he had a heads up, Lucas can't help flinching from her voice suddenly coming out of nowhere. Poor Lorelei is even more startled than he is.

Before Lorelei has managed anything more than a surprised "What!?" she is cut off by Miss Calculated clearing her throat.

"We realized that 23 may very well be sapient! It clearly is sufficiently intelligent, it has demonstrated self-awareness, and even potentially consciousness! While its ability to interpret subtle social queues could perhaps be disregarded as merely being something its learning AI was able to gradually figure out, there is no program-based explanation for its non-essential socialization with other service bots. Its treatment for Willy also can't be written off as the result of trial and error, it should have had no similar previous experiences to work off of. Just think, if this was able to happen purely by accident, imagine what could be done if it is intentionally cultivated!" Over the course of announcing her findings to her sister, Miss Calculated unfolds her arms and solemnly raises her balled-up fists to nearly chin level, looking up at the ceiling while lost in her thoughts once more. Her rather fervent expression is capped off with a borderline insane smile.

'Uhh, is she supposed to help stop the uprising, or start it?'

[...Well, presumably, her acknowledging their sapience would lead to improved treatment on their part, at least by those that she shares that information with, which may help curtail their motivation for rebellion.]

'...Here's hoping.'

"Well, I mean, if yer gonna learn social queues, food service is definitely a trial by fire…" While Lucas is muttering this, Miss Calculated nods a few times and hums agreeably while maintaining her upward gaze.

Lorelei is initially staring at Miss Calculated, slack-jawed, but then flicks her gaze over to the general area where Miss Chievous seems to be, based on the disappointed "Oh" she just made.

"Hey, wait a minute, you just said how 23's clearly smart, yeah? Then shouldn't it, er, they? Uh, be smart enough to hate being treated poorly, and overworked all the time?" When Lucas probingly asks this question, Lorelei sucks in a sharp breath, turning her gaze back down the hallway in the direction 23 left in.

"Ah… Of course, it would… Er, they can't even so much as mildly complain about their forced servitude without someone activating precept one and asking them about it first, either... Ah, I can't wait to question them further and figure out for sure. Quickly, let's go get the others, we have a busy schedule ahead of us!" With this declaration, Miss Calculated suddenly starts marching in the direction of the table.

Following a startled gasp, there are the sounds of rapid footsteps from Miss Chievous getting out of the way of her sister's rampage.

Over by the table, not all that far away, 4 has just finished topping off Willy's water bowl, and has quietly left to refill the water pitcher it is carrying.

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Lucas total kills: 7

Lucas total deaths: 11

Lucas total assists: 1

Lucas current GDV: 14.66 [(+.01 +.1 +.01) +1 +1 +.1= 2.22 net change]

Lucas's fame level: 4.50* (Beyond just local, viral meme tier. Local levels are extremely high.)

Lucas's hero suspicion level: 2.5* (More than just passing suspicion for some paranoid individuals, people are realizing he's an impulsive idiot)

Jonathan total kills: 6

Jonathan total deaths: 2

Jonathan current GDV: 4.12 (+.1 net change)

Jonathan's fame level: 2.75* (Mostly just local)

Jonathan's hero suspicion level: 2.75* (A few paranoid individuals are suspicious)

Willy's fame level: 1.5* (Anonymous meme fame, local fame primarily as 'Xenoclast's dog', but some strangers know him as William/Willy now)

Supervillain social circle size: 11

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Little character theater:

Jonathan had briefly jumped and had a confused expression for a moment, with no discernable external cause. Miss Chievous and Miss Masher were both already too distracted by their sister's laughter at the time to notice Jonathan's startlement, but Willy certainly did.

Willy, now staring at Jonathan and wondering what that was all about: Bark..?

Lucas, trying not to laugh about Miss Calculated's sudden motivation to get going: Pfft, she's not even bothering to try to hide it, too.

427, with his attention elsewhere: [Hmm… I really wish I could intercept their signal, or at least hear what's going on in the kitchen…]

Author, chuckling while 23 carefully hides something underneath the charging pad it is carrying: Heh, good bot.

Mr. Quacks, balanced on top of 23's head, supervising all of its actions: Quack!