Mykonians
24-07-2005, 04:39
Static. Could it be the most beautiful sight in the universe? Perhaps if it was the only thing one had ever seen, it may well be. Black and white fuzz, buzzing around the screen with the occasional tracking line sweeping down through it all. For the split second it had been alive, H3-01 thought it was the most beautiful thing it had ever seen.
It then noticed all its amazing functions. Power management systems, memory controllers, nanite production and control systems, motor function control, optical sensors, audio receivers, cognitive subroutines, dynamic learni...
Audio receivers? It began switching settings and re-distributing power flows, and brought them online. It could... hear! It wasn't sure what it could hear, but there was definitely sound around it.
"Power systems functioning at nominal levels," said a clean, crisp, yet cold voice.
"H2-generation optical software is not compatible with H3 technology," another voice said. Similar, yet noticeably different. "Rewriting primary code to compensate."
"Unit's cognitive functions are online and operating at 100%," the other voice said. "It has just activated its audio receivers of its own accord."
"Uploading basic knowledge databases now," the second voice said.
H3-01 was startled as it suddenly knew... things. Mykonia, the G-type yellow dwarf star. Planet Mykonia, the dead metal world... its home. It knew things from history, knew things about the present, knew about technology, physics, basic organic biology, mathematics, geology... and more.
"New software completed. Uploading now," the voice said.
H3-01 detected additional information entering its positronic brain, finding itself a home and then becoming active. The instant it did, the static cleared up and it could see properly. It was in a dull grey metal room, with bright white lights embedded in the ceiling and various monitors mounted all around the walls. Leaning over him was a humanoid, made from dull grey metal and with two glowing eyes. It vaguely resembled several organic lifeforms it now had in its database, including 'humans', though it was definitely not an organic. It had two glowing 'eyes', soft-blue in colour. Most of its body was encased in featureless armour plates to protect its innards.
"Greetings," said the mechanical person softly. "My name is H2-91876. This is H2-108561. I assisted in your design and construction, as well as being one of your personality donators. Your name is H3-01. How do you feel?"
H3-01 curiously understood the Mykonian language even though it had not yet spoken or heard any of it. It scanned its own systems and identified several pieces of hardware and software designated as 'verbal systems', and activated them.
"I am confused," H3-01 said in a slightly deeper voice than its creator.
"Understandable and expected," H2-91876 said, nodding its smooth metal head slightly. "You have not been activated for long. Please confirm your systems status."
"All cognitive and power systems operating at 100%," H3-01 said, simply regurgitating its own status monitors. "Primary motor functions inactive."
"Excellent," H2-91876 said. "We will soon activate your motor functions and finalise your activation when H2-108561 has confirmed your frame is assembled properly."
H3-01 did not respond, instead delving into its own systems once more to look for things it could do. Basic sensor pallets, reactive armour systems, strength enhancements, increased power cell lifespan...
"I am now handing full motor function control to H3-01," H2-108561 announced.
H3-01 suddenly stirred from its musings as it noticed a significant burst of power throughout its body. It lifted an arm, holding it before its face and examining it curiously. It moved its head to look down at its basic feet, and lifted one of those up. It sat upright and swung its legs around until they dangled over the edge of the workbench it had been lying on.
"I can move," H3-01 said simply, looking at each of its limbs in turn as though they were amazing new inventions.
"Indeed," H2-108561. "I detect no abnormal resistance in any of your joints. We can disconnect H3-01 from the hard connections now, H2-91876."
H2-91876 nodded and reached for H3-01. But its arm was stopped as H3-01 suddenly grabbed it, nervous.
"I am disconnecting you from the high-speed data transfer cables so that you can move around freely," H2-91876 told it reassuringly. "There is no need to activate your self-defence programming."
H3-01 cocked its head sideways slightly, and paused. Finally, it released its grip and allowed H2-91876 to remove the various chunky cables hanging from its armourless back. When they were clear, H2-91876 lifted up a heavy, thick sheet of metal and fixed it to H3-01's back; using a tool of some kind to ensure it remained there. It then stepped back and looked at H3-01.
"Are you capable of walking, H3-01?" it asked.
"All systems functioning at 100%," H3-01 nodded.
"I am aware of that, but you must attempt it," H2-91876 said.
H3-01 wasn't sure of the significance of a practical test when his systems were all clear, but it complied. It slid forwards on the bench and placed its feet on the ground. Curiously, it found its legs weren't quite stable, and it was unable to maintain the motionless stance of H2-91876. It lifted up a leg, destabilising its stand even more, and tried to walk.
It hit the floor with a 'clank', landing flat on its face.
"Apparently my systems are suffering from some technical difficulties," H3-01 stated, slightly panicked.
"Do not worry," H2-91876 said, almost with laughter in its voice. "Both the H1 and H2 models made a similar error on their first attempts. Now that you have tried you should have all the necessary data to attempt it once again with no difficulties."
H3-01 put its metal hands against the floor and pushed itself up, standing on its feet once again. This time it was not even slightly unstable, and it managed to stand as motionless as a dummy.
"Activation is now complete," H2-108561 said. "We must monitor your performance for a short period of time, H3-01. As you are a new model we must assess all of your systems to make sure there are no errors."
"Understood," H3-01 said.
"Please remember to register your existence with the Unity," H2-108561 said. "You can connect at any time you wish."
"I will do so promptly," H3-01 said. "For now I wish to explore. Good day to you, H2-108561."
"Good day to you, H3-01, and good luck," H2-108561 said, turning around to continue with some work. H3-01 stepped through an automatic door and left the place it had lived for the past few months of its construction, followed closely by H2-91876.
It then noticed all its amazing functions. Power management systems, memory controllers, nanite production and control systems, motor function control, optical sensors, audio receivers, cognitive subroutines, dynamic learni...
Audio receivers? It began switching settings and re-distributing power flows, and brought them online. It could... hear! It wasn't sure what it could hear, but there was definitely sound around it.
"Power systems functioning at nominal levels," said a clean, crisp, yet cold voice.
"H2-generation optical software is not compatible with H3 technology," another voice said. Similar, yet noticeably different. "Rewriting primary code to compensate."
"Unit's cognitive functions are online and operating at 100%," the other voice said. "It has just activated its audio receivers of its own accord."
"Uploading basic knowledge databases now," the second voice said.
H3-01 was startled as it suddenly knew... things. Mykonia, the G-type yellow dwarf star. Planet Mykonia, the dead metal world... its home. It knew things from history, knew things about the present, knew about technology, physics, basic organic biology, mathematics, geology... and more.
"New software completed. Uploading now," the voice said.
H3-01 detected additional information entering its positronic brain, finding itself a home and then becoming active. The instant it did, the static cleared up and it could see properly. It was in a dull grey metal room, with bright white lights embedded in the ceiling and various monitors mounted all around the walls. Leaning over him was a humanoid, made from dull grey metal and with two glowing eyes. It vaguely resembled several organic lifeforms it now had in its database, including 'humans', though it was definitely not an organic. It had two glowing 'eyes', soft-blue in colour. Most of its body was encased in featureless armour plates to protect its innards.
"Greetings," said the mechanical person softly. "My name is H2-91876. This is H2-108561. I assisted in your design and construction, as well as being one of your personality donators. Your name is H3-01. How do you feel?"
H3-01 curiously understood the Mykonian language even though it had not yet spoken or heard any of it. It scanned its own systems and identified several pieces of hardware and software designated as 'verbal systems', and activated them.
"I am confused," H3-01 said in a slightly deeper voice than its creator.
"Understandable and expected," H2-91876 said, nodding its smooth metal head slightly. "You have not been activated for long. Please confirm your systems status."
"All cognitive and power systems operating at 100%," H3-01 said, simply regurgitating its own status monitors. "Primary motor functions inactive."
"Excellent," H2-91876 said. "We will soon activate your motor functions and finalise your activation when H2-108561 has confirmed your frame is assembled properly."
H3-01 did not respond, instead delving into its own systems once more to look for things it could do. Basic sensor pallets, reactive armour systems, strength enhancements, increased power cell lifespan...
"I am now handing full motor function control to H3-01," H2-108561 announced.
H3-01 suddenly stirred from its musings as it noticed a significant burst of power throughout its body. It lifted an arm, holding it before its face and examining it curiously. It moved its head to look down at its basic feet, and lifted one of those up. It sat upright and swung its legs around until they dangled over the edge of the workbench it had been lying on.
"I can move," H3-01 said simply, looking at each of its limbs in turn as though they were amazing new inventions.
"Indeed," H2-108561. "I detect no abnormal resistance in any of your joints. We can disconnect H3-01 from the hard connections now, H2-91876."
H2-91876 nodded and reached for H3-01. But its arm was stopped as H3-01 suddenly grabbed it, nervous.
"I am disconnecting you from the high-speed data transfer cables so that you can move around freely," H2-91876 told it reassuringly. "There is no need to activate your self-defence programming."
H3-01 cocked its head sideways slightly, and paused. Finally, it released its grip and allowed H2-91876 to remove the various chunky cables hanging from its armourless back. When they were clear, H2-91876 lifted up a heavy, thick sheet of metal and fixed it to H3-01's back; using a tool of some kind to ensure it remained there. It then stepped back and looked at H3-01.
"Are you capable of walking, H3-01?" it asked.
"All systems functioning at 100%," H3-01 nodded.
"I am aware of that, but you must attempt it," H2-91876 said.
H3-01 wasn't sure of the significance of a practical test when his systems were all clear, but it complied. It slid forwards on the bench and placed its feet on the ground. Curiously, it found its legs weren't quite stable, and it was unable to maintain the motionless stance of H2-91876. It lifted up a leg, destabilising its stand even more, and tried to walk.
It hit the floor with a 'clank', landing flat on its face.
"Apparently my systems are suffering from some technical difficulties," H3-01 stated, slightly panicked.
"Do not worry," H2-91876 said, almost with laughter in its voice. "Both the H1 and H2 models made a similar error on their first attempts. Now that you have tried you should have all the necessary data to attempt it once again with no difficulties."
H3-01 put its metal hands against the floor and pushed itself up, standing on its feet once again. This time it was not even slightly unstable, and it managed to stand as motionless as a dummy.
"Activation is now complete," H2-108561 said. "We must monitor your performance for a short period of time, H3-01. As you are a new model we must assess all of your systems to make sure there are no errors."
"Understood," H3-01 said.
"Please remember to register your existence with the Unity," H2-108561 said. "You can connect at any time you wish."
"I will do so promptly," H3-01 said. "For now I wish to explore. Good day to you, H2-108561."
"Good day to you, H3-01, and good luck," H2-108561 said, turning around to continue with some work. H3-01 stepped through an automatic door and left the place it had lived for the past few months of its construction, followed closely by H2-91876.