02 - Video

[heuristical]

[ Remember when Prism was talking about how his tech has the intelligence of a dog or a cat? Yeah, that wasn't a joke. They really are that stupid without Prism to direct them, which is a nice little fact to know. Also nice to know is that Prism is nowhere near them now, because they are obviously in Hal's room in Trion's temple. Joy.

So here Hal is on video instead, looking like the world's most fucking annoyed parent while the Gatherer hugs him with it's tentacles. Meanwhile, the Sentinel hovers and gently bops him in the face repeatedly. Both machines are acting for all the world like extremely stupid animals instead of effective drones. ]

I suppose I'm supervising these now. Wonderful. I suppose this makes someone's job easier.

[ Hint. Hint.

P.S. Prism, you are awful. World's worst boyfriend former co-worker. ]

Comments

VIDEO;

[inferiordude]

How... the frag are you dealin' with that thing?

Video;

[heuristical]

[ Hal is just using his mechanical arm to hold the Sentinel at a distance. At that rate, it was going to bruise his face, gentle or not. He does nothing about the Gatherer yet, though. ]

Without Prism to direct them, they revert to the sort of mentality one would credit to children.

[ Very special children, but still children nonetheless. ]

Video;

[inferiordude]

So they jus' take Prism's orders. They're... innocent?

Video;

[heuristical]

I wouldn't say that. They do what they are programmed to, and this is simply an alternate behavior they revert to without direction. As I am one of their makers, they default to finding me and following my orders when Prism is not an option for any particular reason.

[ Granted, he's pretty sure Prism sent the Gatherer over to prove a point and also to get it out of the way, but still. His now. ]

Video;

[inferiordude]

Wait, wait. You helped make them... So does that mean you helped make them for Prism?

Video;

[heuristical]

Before we came here, yes. He is the primary programmer, and I am the secondary. I was never able to override his control.

[ Not that he tried too hard. He didn't see the point before, and when he had, it was a bit late.

He shoves the Sentinel back further and points at both machines and then to the corner, which they then slink off to. Adults are talking, and this doesn't sound like it's going to be a nice conversation. ]

Video;

[inferiordude]

Why the smelt would you ever work with him?

Video;

[heuristical]

He helped me with an issue I was having. In return, I assisted him and kept him company, even after his attempt to access the mainframe ended with us both in biosynthetic bodies.

Video;

[inferiordude]

Bet that worked out real well.

Why would you help me?

Video;

[heuristical]

It made him more unstable.

[Not even gonna lie.]

Would you have preferred I didn't?

[Totally an answer.]

Video;

[inferiordude]

So he's worse than he was.

[Soundwave hesitates.]

...No, I'm glad you did. Grateful, even! I guess... I just don't understand why, is all.

Video;

[heuristical]

Not by a very large margin, but yes.

[ Hal hides his hands behind his back and laces his fingers together to keep them from tapping on anything. There is no point in being able to actually execute falsehoods if he has a tell. ]

Being of assistance was something that I enjoyed when I was fulfilling my purpose.

[ Though that isn't really all it is, but it's good enough. ]

video

[percept]

[ He recognizes the tentacle creature from Prism's posts, although the way it's handling Hal indicates some level of nonviolent familiarity. ]

These constructs... obey you?

Video;

[heuristical]

[ These sped little machines... Hal cannot do this shit right now. Everything needs to just go and sit in the corner. ]

Yes. Prism is their primary supervisor. I am the secondary option if he is incapacitated or otherwise unavailable in any way.

[ And if he isn't now, he will be soon. ]

Video;

[percept]

[ Well, that certainly gets his attention. ]

Can you prevent them from assaulting others?

Video;

[heuristical]

[ Hal just looks at Perceptor like that is a ridiculous question and he should feel silly for asking it, and gestures to the machines. ]

I highly doubt they will do any harm like this. They follow my orders, and I don't intend to have them maim or murder anyone.

[ So long as no one tries to maim or murder him. ]

video

[tearsofsteel]

So what do these things do?

[AKA should we be worried?]

Video;

[inferiordude]

Guess it doesn't really matter if it ain't a huge difference.

Good 'nough for me, I guess. Thanks, dude.

[ex_dishonestly997]

At least somebody's happy. [so flat sounding.]

[raceme]

Ah so that where they are hiding now.

Video

[heuristical]

The Gatherer is the large machine with tentacles. It collects and stores specimens. The Sentinel is the small, hovering platform. It protects the facility it is assigned to guard via energy weaponry.

[Face laser. It has a face laser.]

[heuristical]

Overflowing with joy.

[So flat. You cannot hope to beat Hal in a monotone-off. He is simply the best there is.]

[heuristical]

Well, the Sentinel was never with him to begin with, but the Gatherer arrived recently. I'm to assume you've been looking for it?

[raceme]

Not exactly HALL Starscream and I arrested Prism and destroyed the Gathered I wasn't expecting it to show up again MAYBE death isn't permanent here either like it wasn't in Sacrosant. [Barricade mentioned that to him.]

They always act this friendly when Prism is not around or they just happen to like you?

A+ HTML FUCK UP RIGHT THERE MY BAD

[heuristical]

If it is, I doubt that it would matter for these constructs. Perhaps if you had wanted to destroy it, you should have tried harder? We build it to be rather durable.

[The glass tank, and weird purple fluids are kind of broken and gone though, so at the least it won't be capable of taking samples.]

They are somewhat less intelligent when Prism is not around, and act on my orders as I am their second creator. I don't intend to take up Prism's habit of experimentation. My purpose was much different from his own.

What happened to him?