reverienet | audio; un: srogers

Hi. My name is Captain Steve Rogers. I wanted to introduce myself to everyone. Where I come from, protecting people was very important to me. It still is. This ship is dangerous and I think we're getting side-tracked from an important conversation here.

I don't think we should worry too much about that roster file we were sent, but it's not a bad idea to have some sort of security team that can respond to a crisis and keep track of everything we have figured out about this place so far. I'd like to help with any effort like that, but it might be best if we wait before assigning rank to anyone. Fighting over who's the boss or throwing baseless orders around isn't going to help anyone or keep them safe. Our priorities should be safety and finding a way to leave.

It's been suggested to me that some of the things that have been happening to us could be some sort of security response from the ship. Does anyone with a better understanding of computers want to weigh in on that? Can anyone try to access those systems? There's still a lot of the station that we can't access and I know some of us have been trying to work on that.

Finally, if there's anything else I can help with, please reach out to me.

[ And a later text that follows: ]

I think people have misunderstood what I want to do. I don't want anyone to have power over the rest of us. This would be for dealing with outside threats and organizing information that would be available to everyone. Anyone who wanted to help would be welcome.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A little better than that, but not by much.

[ Because Steve is going to train people and work with them, whether he's encouraged by others or not. They can sit on the sidelines if they prefer it, but Steve isn't capable of it. ]

You wouldn't happened to have found any sort of tech or engineering manuals, have you? My friend Henryk is trying to get his hands on something like that if we can find it.

<Oops. I'm sorry. That information is not available in the database.>

[If Steve listens carefully, it's not too hard to be sure—this is the same person speaking. It just happens to emerge as a cheery, toneless customer service soundbyte, with a distinctly electronic echo. Weird.

Especially when the inflection reverts a moment later.]

Nothing so far. Is he after schematics, or just the basic how-to?

I'm not sure. I would imagine either one would get us somewhere. No one seems to be familiar with the technology here and that's really holding us back.

[ He hesitates. ]

Are you okay?

Hm. I can offer a rundown on what's here. It's just, right now? That's not much better than your comms.

[...and, some hesitation in return. Okay is probably concern, not censure. But that doesn't entirely clarify what for. The response is light, casual, and carefully neutral.]

Last I checked.

Why?

Your voice was a little--Don't worry about it.

[ But Steve will until he knows what that's about. ]

There's got to be a way into the computers. We just haven't found it yet.

[Don't worry. Present tense. That actually does help.]

Oh, trust me: in isn't the hard part.

But whoever rigged these systems knew what they were doing. It's gonna take some work to pry out anything locked down.

Well, if there's anything I can do to help, I'm not the most tech-savvy guy but I'd like to do what I can.

[ And Steve feels like he's hitting brick walls everywhere. How is he supposed to help? ]

You're doing plenty.

[The words are serious.]

All the network digging in the world won't do much good if the humans here can't work together. [A considering beat.] Or, everybody else.

Thanks. Somehow it never feels like enough.

[ He sighs. ]

And I don't see a need to differentiate between humans and everyone else. We're all people and I'd like to think we all want the same thing here.

...I like your perspective.

[Even if he's not so sure how it holds up. But if this Captain Rogers thinks he means it, that's a step.]

You said you were a captain. Can I ask with who?

The United States Army. It's less of a rank these days and more of a nickname, though.

What's your name?

<Greetings. This is the automated system administrator.>

[It's the same bright, scripted monotone. No real avoiding that one.]

Uh. Not here, but...

You're a computer program?

[ Having had both good and bad experiences with one, he can't say that moves him in any direction any more than learning something else about a person, which he's assuming this program is just as much as Vision is. ]

Yep. AI, really.

[Casual. Friendly.]

Does your world have us?

[Does this Rogers know what to expect?]

We do. I can't pretend to understand how any kind of programming works, but I worked with an AI for a while. He was a reliable teammate.

[ He tries not to dwell on it, though. It's too easy to think about his former teammates who he won't see again until he's arrested. ]

...

You're the second person to say something like that.

[Mentor. Teammate. It's a strange trend. Enough that a little of the surprise creeps through to Hank's voice.]

Military model?

Not exactly. My... another teammate made him. It's a long story.

[ And one he really doesn't want to get into. ]

Cool.

[The sentiment is genuine—and curious, still. But, he can take the hint.]

Domesticon doesn't go in for custom design if they can help it. Not so easy to, repair.

Are there a lot of AIs where you're from?

In my universe? Yep.

[In his immediate proximity... maybe yep? Depends on how you're counting.]

This is my first time leaving my planet, but for us, an AI like you is pretty advanced. I think.

[ Steve is still impressed with computers at all half the time, but when they're talking about something that only Tony and a handful of others can do, it's pretty impressive even by 2016 standards. ]

Hey, me too.

[Technically his first time outside, though the lines blur after a couple decades of decay.]

And, thanks. [Amused:] I think.

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