a text to the entire network from Rashad's phone

[centralcore]

ATTN ALL: I REQUIRE IMMEDIATE AUDIENCE WITH A SUPERVISING ENTITY. IF YOU ARE NOT A SUPERVISING ENTITY, PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND.

Comments

[theoldgirl]

He is a leech-like creature which attacks organic lifeforms and siphons off their psychic energy until they collapse. Do you have experience with those as well?

I am called the TARDIS. I am a ship of alien origin capable of traversing time and space. What sort of technology are you? Were you constructed by humans?

[centralcore]

Mmm... perhaps not in quite so literal a sense. But I have extensive experience with leeches, siphons, and creatures who hurt those who are just trying to help them. I have also been a potato. Have you ever been a potato? I highly recommend it. It is a worthwhile life experience.

That was sarcasm. In case the aliens who created you did not program you with sarcasm. Which would mean your question about humans was entirely earnest and non-judgmental.

[theoldgirl]

I am perfectly familiar with sarcasm. Though I would expect sufficiently developed sapient technology to express itself more efficiently and without nonsensical references that add nothing to the conversation. Sarcasm in particular makes for very unclear communication and tends to be a human fault, I have found.

Do you consider being constructed by humans to be worthy of judgement, then?

[centralcore]

Next time my personality gets stuffed into a mainframe I'll be sure to ask the scientists to design it to your exceptional standards.

[theoldgirl]

There is no need to be so hostile and resort to sarcasm again. If you were abused by human scientists, I am sorry to hear it. They are resourceful in all things, unfortunately including their cruelty.

It was an honest question. And I am still curious to know what sort of technology you are. What is your purpose?

[centralcore]

They ARE resourceful.

[She can concede that at least, even if it's with an uncontrolled bitter grimace.]

I was the central operating core in the mainframe of a science organization. Now my purpose is indeterminate. This time I have been stuffed into a human shaped body. I do not like this.

[theoldgirl]

I can in fact sympathize. You ought to ascertain whether your processing power has been diminished by this, or if your organic brain is being overloaded by your presence. You may have to shut down secondary parts of yourself in order to survive in this shape.

You have fallen through an inter-dimensional rift in space-time, a process which often alters the victims in unpredictable ways. It is currently impossible to manipulate the rift in order to return home, and attempts have had extremely adverse consequences. But my pilot and I are studying the rift and will find a way to return everyone who wishes to leave back to their proper universes.

[centralcore]

I am way ahead of you. It was already quite a shock when I didn't short out right away. It seems the body is humanoid but not human. Small miracles. Again, I've been a potato, I know all about being diminished. Oh right I forgot I was not supposed to make nonsensical references. SORRY about that.

It sounds like you and your pilot have everything in hand. I'll expect a full report.

[theoldgirl]

And it sounds like you require no assistance or answers whatsoever. Regrettably, sapient human technology does tend to exhibit its creators' unjustified self-importance sooner or later. It will be interesting to see how far you will get on your own then.

[centralcore]

Oh. I am wounded. Bested by a far superior being. Oh no.