[ Harold doesn't find Rex physically cute in the way most people might, but he does find him overall greatly endearing. At first he tries to keep up his professionalism, but as he falls into the satisfying intellectual puzzle before him, the façade drops and Harold's sincere eagerness to fix him shines through.
He settles himself in at the offered chair and pulls out a pair of anti static wristbands, one of which he offers out to Gorgug before they get to work. As he'd said, first order of business is to ensure all the connections are properly seated and take a look at any obvious hardware issues. Harold is thorough and meticulous, and before long he starts taking notes on his laptop of what he finds and what parts they'll need.
Once he finds a suitable port to plug Rex directly into his laptop, he instructs him, ] Please run your standard diagnostics and download the output files to this computer.
[ Turning to Gorgug, he adds, ] I can give you a list of parts to retrieve while I review them, if you don't mind, Mr. Thistlespring. I already see some obvious pieces that need replacing.
[ He looks from Harold to Rex at the instruction, a momentary thought before: ] Sure, okay. I know a resource manager--I'll ask them for clearance. They make you go through hoops in Sprawl for parts.
[ He doesn't know what it's like for Harold's side of work, what it's like for a Neon, but that's been his reality, down to the inventory of nuts and bolts being written up. But he doesn't have a list, so Gorgug doesn't immediately open up a network, peering instead at the data displayed on the computer's screen. The kind of information he's been working to familiarise himself with, swapping crystal components on motherboards for more delicate work. ]
The person who made them was smart.
[ The person who made them had connection to the train itself, so of course they were--but it's a moment of admiration, considering the functions of the machinery, how that all came about carefully and deliberately. ]
[ Harold's used to and comfortable being an unremarkable IT manager, a role he's played many times. He'd been Harold Wren, nobody, at his own company for many years before John blew his cover there. (Something he's still a little annoyed about at times, but would never tell John now that their relationship has changed.) Yet at the same time he's an innately cautious person who is reluctant to step out of line and provoke suspicion without good cause, so it's unnerving to him and not a little scary to go around illicitly taking parts. He'd do it, of course, but Harold will readily pass that task off to others better suited to it if he can. ]
Smart and in some ways beyond me, [ Harold admits readily, rueful as he sits back to consider his laptop screen through his glasses. He's not ashamed to say he has no grasp on technology capable of producing a quantum rail and would have to start from near zero in his understanding. ]
For much of this we'll have to take Rex's word for his condition. I don't think we have the time to study his coding sufficient to form our own opinion.
[ Gorgug, sitting there, decides to move; standing up from his spot, and coming around to a point where he can see the screen, to read Rex's diagnostics as they appear on the screen than the place farther away.
He wonders if Harold will mind, but won't ask-- will do it, while listening to his assessment, not entirely in disagreement. ]
Everyone's getting ideas about what we should do, about Rex and the King. [ It feels rude to speak about Rex when it's right there, like it can't understand them, but at the same time, it's a conversation that Gorgug is curious about. Should he switch to the earpiece, he wonders? But he chooses, for now, to pick his words carefully. ]
What do you think? Rex took care of the people side of the train. And we know the King isn't any good. [ That it needs to be removed. Regardless of what that might lead to.
But there's a way to do it, isn't there? A way to try and approach that outcome. ]
[ Whatever self-consciousness Harold might have had about someone looking at his screen over his shoulder has been worn away from the past few years working with John. He's still conscientious of it as any consummate paranoid would be, but he doesn't mind, angles his chair so Gorgug can see the readouts better. ]
I think we have good reason to believe our mission objective is worth accomplishing.
[ Not something he takes at all for granted. Unlike stealing things, Harold is perfectly comfortable speculating on the possible consequences of huge decisions; he thinks through Gorgug's question, reflecting on all the network stalking he's done himself lately. ]
What happens next is another matter, but the status quo here is unsustainable. If we can ensure the residents are able to operate the train on their own, without the King, there's no reason to put up with a tyrant dedicated to an egregiously unequal caste system.
[ There's nothing to do but complete their objective, if what Aurora said is true--if they don't want to be stuck on the train. Gorgug's taking note of the errors that show on the screen, the stand outs -- what Harold will likely write out for him to get, but also the checks that pass without notice. Remembers the companion bot he had to put back together, taken apart into pieces inside his workshop after the Im'mari's infection first started to work itself into his system.
He ignores the pang of guilt. It doesn't matter, right now. What does is Harold's answer, and he hums lightly, a sound of acknowledgement. ]
What about Rex? If we can get it fixed?
[ It's casual enough--they know what they want to do with the King and what option they want for the people, but what about the extra piece of technology? ]
[ Harold operates on a basis of constantly questioning everything, maybe especially the official story offered by an authority figure. After a lifetime of hacking and surveillance, he fully expects the truth to be complicated and multi-faceted, and not easily discovered. Now feeling assured that removing the King is the right thing to do, he can move to acting on that information. ]
Fix it and then ask it? [ Harold suggests. ] I'm not certain yet how sophisticated Rex is. You've interacted with it more than me -- about the level of the companion bots, or more so?
[ It's not an idle consideration for Harold; how he'll treat Rex changes dramatically based on its level of relative intelligence. And he trusts Gorgug to make a good assessment of that after his work with the other bots. ]
[ He considers this: what level of intelligence can Rex be said to hold? Gorgug checks the read-outs, and then circles the chair, coming this time in the better space to regard Rex, who stands in its spot, innards exposed, the wires connecting from Harold's computer to its ports. ]
The others asked it a lot of questions, and, even with the problems it's got going, it answered them pretty well. I think it's about the same level as the companion bots, but, they've been exploring their characters lately. They've been trying out fashion, and personalities.
[ Weird fashion, but, you know. It's Trying.
He looks down at Rex, addressing it, just to be fair: ] You might have a big personality one day too, Rex. You'll find out.
[ And maybe needlessly reassuring. The robot makes a sound, but as before, it comes out as static-- no word manages to come through. They'll have to find those parts. ]
If the King's been running everything and sending out instructions through, maybe the VR headsets, then I think, there's a good chance Rex can do their job. Their design... I don't have a wide pool, I don't know a lot of robots, but their design is good to me. It might know a lot about the train and what it can do that the King's been keeping secret-- a lot of the tech is pretty basic. People have been trying to keep things running with what they know. And still have available.
[ What they've been allowed to know. For a train as high-powered as this one, a lot of the functions have been dumbed down except for where they can't afford to, such as the agriculture sections. Even then, everything is being kept together with a fear that it'll come apart if they're not careful. ]
[ Hearing the companion bots have been trying out fashion and independent personalities is news to Harold, and he glances over in surprise, but doesn't interrupt the flow of conversation for it. They have a task to accomplish and he simply makes a note to follow up later. ]
It does take time for artificial entities to develop distinguishing characteristics, [ he demurs in a tone of agreement at Gorgug's assessment that Rex might have a big personality one day, too. Harold won't go quite so far to use the word personality, though, still quietly full of reservations about how to regard machine intelligence. Or, even more aptly, the Machine's intelligence. ]
Disabling the King seems like the far more difficult task than training someone to keep the train operating, possibly with Rex's help.
[ Harold frowns in thought. ]
You said it's been sending instructions through the VR headsets?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He settles himself in at the offered chair and pulls out a pair of anti static wristbands, one of which he offers out to Gorgug before they get to work. As he'd said, first order of business is to ensure all the connections are properly seated and take a look at any obvious hardware issues. Harold is thorough and meticulous, and before long he starts taking notes on his laptop of what he finds and what parts they'll need.
Once he finds a suitable port to plug Rex directly into his laptop, he instructs him, ] Please run your standard diagnostics and download the output files to this computer.
[ Turning to Gorgug, he adds, ] I can give you a list of parts to retrieve while I review them, if you don't mind, Mr. Thistlespring. I already see some obvious pieces that need replacing.
no subject
[ He doesn't know what it's like for Harold's side of work, what it's like for a Neon, but that's been his reality, down to the inventory of nuts and bolts being written up. But he doesn't have a list, so Gorgug doesn't immediately open up a network, peering instead at the data displayed on the computer's screen. The kind of information he's been working to familiarise himself with, swapping crystal components on motherboards for more delicate work. ]
The person who made them was smart.
[ The person who made them had connection to the train itself, so of course they were--but it's a moment of admiration, considering the functions of the machinery, how that all came about carefully and deliberately. ]
no subject
Smart and in some ways beyond me, [ Harold admits readily, rueful as he sits back to consider his laptop screen through his glasses. He's not ashamed to say he has no grasp on technology capable of producing a quantum rail and would have to start from near zero in his understanding. ]
For much of this we'll have to take Rex's word for his condition. I don't think we have the time to study his coding sufficient to form our own opinion.
no subject
He wonders if Harold will mind, but won't ask-- will do it, while listening to his assessment, not entirely in disagreement. ]
Everyone's getting ideas about what we should do, about Rex and the King. [ It feels rude to speak about Rex when it's right there, like it can't understand them, but at the same time, it's a conversation that Gorgug is curious about. Should he switch to the earpiece, he wonders? But he chooses, for now, to pick his words carefully. ]
What do you think? Rex took care of the people side of the train. And we know the King isn't any good. [ That it needs to be removed. Regardless of what that might lead to.
But there's a way to do it, isn't there? A way to try and approach that outcome. ]
no subject
I think we have good reason to believe our mission objective is worth accomplishing.
[ Not something he takes at all for granted. Unlike stealing things, Harold is perfectly comfortable speculating on the possible consequences of huge decisions; he thinks through Gorgug's question, reflecting on all the network stalking he's done himself lately. ]
What happens next is another matter, but the status quo here is unsustainable. If we can ensure the residents are able to operate the train on their own, without the King, there's no reason to put up with a tyrant dedicated to an egregiously unequal caste system.
no subject
He ignores the pang of guilt. It doesn't matter, right now. What does is Harold's answer, and he hums lightly, a sound of acknowledgement. ]
What about Rex? If we can get it fixed?
[ It's casual enough--they know what they want to do with the King and what option they want for the people, but what about the extra piece of technology? ]
no subject
Fix it and then ask it? [ Harold suggests. ] I'm not certain yet how sophisticated Rex is. You've interacted with it more than me -- about the level of the companion bots, or more so?
[ It's not an idle consideration for Harold; how he'll treat Rex changes dramatically based on its level of relative intelligence. And he trusts Gorgug to make a good assessment of that after his work with the other bots. ]
no subject
The others asked it a lot of questions, and, even with the problems it's got going, it answered them pretty well. I think it's about the same level as the companion bots, but, they've been exploring their characters lately. They've been trying out fashion, and personalities.
[ Weird fashion, but, you know. It's Trying.
He looks down at Rex, addressing it, just to be fair: ] You might have a big personality one day too, Rex. You'll find out.
[ And maybe needlessly reassuring. The robot makes a sound, but as before, it comes out as static-- no word manages to come through. They'll have to find those parts. ]
If the King's been running everything and sending out instructions through, maybe the VR headsets, then I think, there's a good chance Rex can do their job. Their design... I don't have a wide pool, I don't know a lot of robots, but their design is good to me. It might know a lot about the train and what it can do that the King's been keeping secret-- a lot of the tech is pretty basic. People have been trying to keep things running with what they know. And still have available.
[ What they've been allowed to know. For a train as high-powered as this one, a lot of the functions have been dumbed down except for where they can't afford to, such as the agriculture sections. Even then, everything is being kept together with a fear that it'll come apart if they're not careful. ]
no subject
It does take time for artificial entities to develop distinguishing characteristics, [ he demurs in a tone of agreement at Gorgug's assessment that Rex might have a big personality one day, too. Harold won't go quite so far to use the word personality, though, still quietly full of reservations about how to regard machine intelligence. Or, even more aptly, the Machine's intelligence. ]
Disabling the King seems like the far more difficult task than training someone to keep the train operating, possibly with Rex's help.
[ Harold frowns in thought. ]
You said it's been sending instructions through the VR headsets?