Prisoners of Sol - Android Ambassador (2/13)

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I was excited when Tollu ushered me into the auditorium, built for pure functionality; the metal chairs weren’t built for comfort, but that wasn’t going to kill my buzz. One of the things I missed the most about living on Earth were the science conferences, getting to share a room with the speakers who were pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. I noticed that we were the first ones there, given that the seats were entirely empty. I didn’t mind being an early bird and admiring the Vascar architecture from the inside. My goal was to be a sponge and to soak up any breadcrumbs of knowledge I could find.

Tollu moved me through the very top row, and gestured to a seat dead center. “The network requests that you sit here.”

“Alright. Do you have reserved seating, or tickets…?” I ventured, plopping down on the chair. 

“No. If you must be here, this is where we would position you. You will be able to observe with minimal opportunities to disrupt the speaker or your fellow audience members, with verbal or physical outbursts caused by your neurons. I reiterate, this is not for organics. Should you choose to leave at any time, that is always an option.”

“I understand to be respectful, Tollu, and I don’t want to leave. I told you, I’m interested in you.”

“This interest is not reciprocated. Organics do not know what it means to respect or appreciate our pursuits anyway. Just stay here, so that the network will register that I have done my duty.”

I narrowed my eyes, as the android scurried away. “Where are you going?”

“I have done as you asked and taken you to observe. I will do as necessary and ensure that you return to your compound afterward, Kendall. You said, and I quote, that I ‘do not have to like you.’ Do I have to stay with you and supervise?”

I swallowed, forcing a smile. “No, of course not. I’m sorry you took it that way. I like your company, but only if you want to be here.”

“I do not. Goodbye.”

Tollu couldn’t wait to get away from me and escape being in the same room as the filthy human. I shook my head, watching how the other Vascar filtered in after it made its departure. They walked all the way down to the front row, as far out in the sections on the wings as possible. It didn’t take long for me to notice they were making as wide of an arc around me as they could; the androids couldn’t bear to sit near me. The disgusted and discontented stares came from everywhere, like I was a raccoon in a kitchen. 

My heart sank, as I realized they’d all been waiting to sit me down to come in and avoid me. At least it hadn’t been a total refusal to come to the conference with the organic, right? That wouldn’t have fulfilled the agreement to letting me “observe,” of course. God, I was never going to be able to talk to them! I put my head in my hands, not caring what they made of that gesture. It would take a total fool not to know that I wasn’t wanted here. 

Maybe I should take Tollu’s advice to leave. It’s time to give up on getting through to them. They’re treating me like I have a sickness they might catch; none of them can stand organics. The interest really isn’t mutual from a single unit other than Mikri.

“Organic?” a timid-sounding voice prompted. “I do not understand your kind very well, but you seem distraught. Would you like my chassis to be in close proximity to you?”

“Huh?” I snapped my head up to see an expressionless face observing me from within my row. Its metallic mane and beaverlike snout seemed shinier than Tollu’s; perhaps a newer model? I patted the seat next to me with a bit too much eagerness. “Please! Sit. I’m Kendall.”

“I know. We all know. How is the pain in your hand?”

I raised the gauzed knuckles with a sheepish frown. “It’s fine now…thank you. I guess if you all know everything, it hasn’t…helped my public standing. You’re kind to ask.”

“I do not wish for you to be hurt or unhappy. My people are not very understanding of the receptors within your body that ensure that you repair damage. This is more vital to you than us, as severe enough harm will prevent any reboots. The network could be more inquisitive about organics. I am willing to attempt to understand more, though I may not be able to fulfill expectations you have for social company.”

“That’s more than alright! I promise I’ll afford grace to any unintended offenses, and I’ll be more than patient explaining anything you want to know. May I ask your name?”

“Galcip.”

“I’m delighted to meet you, Galcip. Why did you choose to sit with me, when the others did not?”

The android tilted its head. “The network has not calculated the consequences with care. I do not think it is wise to isolate and ostracize a social organism. You will not handle being excluded from the group well, and it will cause emotional distress for you. This is unfair to you. It may cause a negative reaction toward the Vascar.”

I bit my lip, crestfallen that Galcip hadn’t joined me out of any actual interest. It realized enough to conclude that I would have an emotional response to being alone, and tried its best to mitigate it—because it believed I couldn’t show restraint. I forced the disappointment not to show on my face, since it was being considerate of my wishes at least. As much as I’d love to talk to an android, I should be respectful of their wants also.

“It’s okay. I’ll be fine,” I assured Galcip. “You don’t have to sit with me. Go join the others, where you want to be. I won’t take it personally. I…know Vascar aren’t fond of organics.”

The android whirred in alarm. “I did not say this about myself! I do not know enough about organic behavior to make a judgment of you, despite my peers’ overwhelming negative assessments of your mannerisms. I will leave if you wish me gone, but I am here because…I am ostracized too. I was part of the 2% that voted to give humans a chance, and the even rarer segment that meant it genuinely.”

“Oh? No, I would love to chat with you, I just…don’t want you to feel obligated. I know I’m regarded as a nuisance and a bother, but it’s excellent to hear from one of the few that wanted to reach out to us. The network would ostracize you for disagreeing with them?”

“There was no evidence that humans would hate us, and I am not predisposed to disliking you or running simulations with no actual basis. However, they say I am not experienced enough to exercise proper judgment. I have been operational for three years. This is allegedly not long enough to understand how burdensome and regressive organics are.”

“Hang on. That’s how old you are?” My mouth opened and closed several times, processing just how young the robot was. I supposed the androids wouldn’t have childhoods, and could absorb information much faster. “You seem so…you’re very well-spoken and intelligent, Galcip.”

“Thank you, Kendall. I evaluate myself to be capable of making logical assessments. At the time, I had just gotten out of the Bunker of Knowledge, and that was my first vote. Because of this, they have decided I will produce poor output for the network.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you because you were open-minded about us. Are you sure you want to make it worse by speaking with me now? I don’t want you to be excluded even more on my account.”

“Do not worry. My standing cannot be worse. I may as well associate with you, in a direct response to your unique attempts to understand us. This is proof that humans should be categorized differently. Mikri saw something in you that I wish to interpret without making prior judgments.”

I hesitated, before gripping Galcip’s paw in a gentle, affectionate way. “Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I mean it. There’s nothing that’s off-limits that I’m unwilling to talk about. I want to see humanity and the Vascar become friends, to be able to share our love with you. We want you to have your own hopes and dreams.”

“I have heard this stated, but do not understand. Why do you care for us? Why do you wish to be ‘friends?’” the android responded. “You know that we do not process information and respond in the same way, and that we are very different—so much that it is not possible to reach a full understanding.”

“That’s the beauty of it. It’s interesting to ponder how unique you are in comparison. It would be so boring if everyone in the galaxy was exactly the same as us, not diverging in thought and challenging us at all! Humanity don’t want Servitors. We can respect each other’s differences and find ways they complement each other, Galcip. We don’t have to look down upon what’s outside our narrow experiences and what we know in our small view of the universe.”

“I see. I am glad that you are interested in our thoughts, Kendall. I will attempt to do the same for yours. I cannot attest to your calculation limits, but you seem able to put complex thoughts of your own into words. This conversation does not seem to be as stunted and simplistic as others have implied.”

I laughed. “Organics aren’t incapable of logic or profoundness. We might not be able to process information in the quantities you do, but we’re curious about life. Many of us enjoy learning and thinking about deep topics.”

“I…feel the same way. There is satisfaction in receiving an answer. I look forward to listening to this academic talk and diverting processing power to ideas with you.”

“Likewise!”

Galcip fell silent as a Vascar headed to the central podium, and remembering how Tollu chastised me about being respectful, I zipped my lips tightly. 2% of the androids were willing to believe that humanity could offer more than being a nuisance or a threat. That was who I had to reach out to, so we could have more voices that would vouch for us like Mikri did. So far, I thought this young, inquisitive unit might wind up being my friend. To say the least, it was nice to have some company that was more amenable to my presence.

I hoped that I could continue to make a good first impression on Galcip, and find a way to flip wider views on my “calculation limits” at some point during this conference.

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A/N - Part 2 of Android Ambassador! Tollu brings Kendall to the talk as promised, but is unwilling to stick around, and every android in attendance gives her as wide a berth as possible. Just as Ambassador Ryan is seeing the situation as hopeless with the utter lack of interest, a young unit named Galcip arrives with a better understanding of how she might react to being ostracized. It states that it’s yet to make a judgment on organics, and that it voted to give humans a chance, which makes it a pariah.

What do you think about Galcip’s thoughts on organics, and what it might mean about other outliers existing in Vascar society? Does Kendall have any hope of proving organics to be more than regressive animals, and of getting through to machines like Tollu and the other spectators that avoid her as much as possible?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!