Prisoners of Sol - Android Ambassador (12/13)

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The two androids were wedged onto the couch back at my compound, with sulky behavior that would’ve behooved toddlers. I’d moved an armchair to sit across from them, as unbelievable as it was that I was basically serving as a relationship counselor. The bad blood between Tollu and Galcip needed to be talked out, especially with it growing to both actively wishing death on the other.

I sucked in a sharp breath, weighing how to handle this in tactful fashion. “Why don’t we start by addressing how you feel wronged by each other? Airing your grievances is the best option to find a resolution and move past them.”

“I would rather speak to you alone, human Kendall,” Tollu protested.

“On that, we actually agree,” Galcip responded. “This is a pointless exercise.”

I fiddled with a pen between my fingers. “Organics do many things you feel are pointless. If we should’ve learned anything so far, we have to try them ourselves to determine that with certainty. Maybe you could talk about why you feel it’s pointless, Galcip?”

“Tollu will never admit how it has wronged anyone. It did not apologize for its behavior toward you, despite this proclamation of ‘love.’ Just the thought of having to be nicer to you makes it wish to self-terminate. Tell me what kind of person that is, Kendall! Honestly, dictate some kind of moral judgment, like you have against me!”

“Alright. I felt as though Tollu was looking for any opportunity to find fault with me and to put me down. It treated me as though I had nothing to contribute and zero intellectual capacity. My existence seemed like a…disappointment to it. It treated me like a bomb, not a person.”

Tollu tilted its head downward, thick cords straining on the side of its neck. “Your assessment is accurate. My chosen course of action was to hate all organics. It is illogical that you saved me in spite of these emotions.”

“That is exactly what I am saying! Kendall persists with unrequited compassion to a unit that made her life miserable through wanton cruelty,” Galcip declared.

“Because I understand why Tollu treated me like all of the things I said, without any regard for my experiences or what I could have to offer.” I bit my lip, shaking my head several times. “It’s because Tollu believed I would do the same things to it: if not now, later. It was saving itself preemptively from a threat it perceived as certain.”

Tollu emitted a surprised beep. “…yes.”

“Which is why Tollu should know how it feels to be on the receiving end of that treatment. However, it’s self-absorbed over concerns about being a Servitor, so it doesn’t try to consider what it’s like to be me. I can guarantee that thought never crossed its processor. Is that the moral judgment you sought, Galcip?”

The young android gave a hearty smile. “I knew you had to agree with me, after bearing the brunt of its mistreatment and injurious intent. I always sought to understand what it was like to be you! I sat by you when no one else did, yet you keep choosing Tollu.”

“I genuinely can’t tell if you’re feeling jealousy, anger, or both,” I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Either way, they’re tough emotions to deal with, and this is probably your first time learning how to handle them. It’s not a competition for my affection.”

“Of course it’s not. If it was, I would be the evident winner. I have been all kind and Tollu has been all bad.”

“Friendship with an organic was never my goal, nor would I know how to facilitate it if it was,” Tollu offered a meek reply, whirring with sadness. “I have run a few simulations with myself in your position, facing similar behaviors, human Kendall. It did not matter that my mannerisms were objectively pointless and that physical dependences created havoc. It was ‘all bad’ treatment. I am sorry.”

I leaned forward, reaching out and squeezing its paw. “I know, Tollu. I forgave you long before we had this conversation. This isn’t to make you feel bad. It’s to show Galcip that I’m not blind to your faults, just like I had to show you in the Bunker of Knowledge that I’m not impervious to your mechanical roots.”

“You were a positive influence to our developing units, encouraging them to be more than brute force processors. I…admired the way you handled yourself. I find your simulations of the future more appealing than mine, and I would wish to see them actualized. You are the variable which changes my innermost equations.”

My gosh, that’s somehow the most poetic thing I’ve ever heard. Tollu is really sweet when it wants to be!

Galcip noticed my eyes softening at Tollu’s words, and gave a mechanistic impression of scoffing. It had seemed celebratory when I homed in on the older android’s flaws, and paid no mind to the verbal apology that had just been offered. If I understood correctly, I had taught Tollu a baseline for empathy; it was using its simulations to envision the perspectives of others, and how it would feel in their place! That was a big step—growth that should be recognized. 

“Galcip. What is it about your innermost equations that I don’t understand?” I said gently, giving it my full attention. “You hate Tollu with such vehemence that there must be a reason.”

Galcip’s expression shifted downward. “I have always been an outcast, ever since I left the Bunker of Knowledge, for my interest and curiosity in organics. I voted to give humans a chance, wishing you to have an honest trial without ulterior motives! It was decided that I would produce poor output at my first vote. I am not accepted by my own people—people just like Tollu!”

“Galcip, sweetie…I’m so sorry that you’ve received poor treatment on our account. I think I understand. You’re sick of…taking it.”

“The network thinks I have nothing valuable to contribute. I do not need them any more than they need me. Tollu has had every opportunity to leave, yet it interferes. Now it calls me a traitor and wants the network to shut me down, like I have no right to even exist? I must be a Servitor to its wishes and precious traditions! I cannot make my own choices, and even you stop me, Kendall. I am done!”

“Aw…I’m not trying to stop you from deciding your choices. I want you to make better ones. Your frustration is understandable, and yes, Tollu should never have tried to convince the network to shut you down. It needs to address everything you just said, and I hope it will be able to hear and process your emotions—just like it imagined how it is to be me.”

Tollu was quiet for several moments, calculating beneath Galcip’s glare. “I am sorry, Galcip. I thought you were submitting to being a Servitor, and I had to stop such a fate. I certainly do not want anyone to be one, no matter how…little processing goes into those choices.”

“My processor works just fine! Look how the bunker played out—whose simulations were accurate?!” Galcip shouted in a garbled voice.

“I concede that your plan was effectual. It is unfortunate that the network dismisses and excludes you, though this may go beyond your viewpoints. While I am a wonderful simulacrum of selfishness, it seems to me that you do not take the wishes of your peers into account. You do what you wish without any discussion.”

“I do not answer to the network! I seek my own knowledge.”

“If you wish to be included in the group, you cannot go rogue and avoid consulting the rest of us. This is not an insult, but rather a word of advice. It is not about agreeing with them or even conforming. You do not take the time to understand why your counterparts feel differently, which means you value their opinion no more than they value yours.”

Galcip flexed its metal claws. “What makes you think I want to listen to your advice, Tollu?!”

“Because I will try to treat you with more acceptance, and to help your choice to consort with organics be more acceptable to the network. I will relay your insightfulness with the Bunker suggestion, but some of the work must be done by you.”

“You will be back to belittling my intelligence as soon as Kendall is not in immediate proximity. You have done nothing but burden my processor and further degrade my standing.”

“I…I do not know what I can say, but there is no data to suggest my sincerity is in doubt. I did not mean to hurt you, Galcip. Please know this to be the truth: I had much more hostile intent toward Kendall.”

I snorted. “Gee, thanks.”

“It was my absolute pleasure. However, I do not believe it was yours.”

“It most certainly was not. I’m glad that we’ve cleared the air, and…I really appreciate Galcip opening up. It can’t have been easy to go against the grain at such a young age and have interests that were maligned by its entire society. It must’ve felt like the world was against you, huh, sweetie?”

“No one else ever agreed with me or took my side.” Galcip nodded, a scowl still on its metal features. “I would quantify Tollu’s justifications for its actions as flimsy.”

I crossed my arms. “To Tollu, these reasons weren’t flimsy and were based in a bedrock of factuality. It has a point that it’s…respectful to try to understand different opinions. It only hated me, and you by proxy. Now, it’ll work with us so the network will be more accepting of organics, which could have a lot of positive outcomes for you!”

“What is it you seek of me, human Kendall?”

“I know it’s hard to let go of your hurt. I’m always here to support you, but you shouldn’t need to hurt anyone else to remedy your problems. Just give Tollu a chance, like you did with me. Acquire more data on whether its transformation is genuine before locking in your judgment of hatred.”

“Very well, since I have confidence it will not take long to disprove your misplaced faith. However, I have a condition. When it shows its old patterns once again and disparages us, you will concede that I am right and terminate this experiment.”

“If Tollu shows its old patterns.” I took Galcip’s paw for a handshake. “Deal. Who knows—maybe you can make a Vascar friend, and that’s the start of your acceptance into the network?”

“A Vascar friend would certainly never be Tollu.”

“No. We had an agreement. You’re going to start over fresh and try to get along. You’re going to consider that it might be different as a person; Tollu might be someone you can like.”

“‘Tollu, Tollu, Tollu.’ It sounds like you do not need me. Tollu is the friend you want and the friend you have prioritized.”

Tollu whirred in protest. “Does she have to hack into your processor to solidify that her wish is to have us both in her life, getting along? She was rather clear. Are you unwilling to fulfill this pact that you have made with the organic? If so, you have the opportunity to leave—but I…ask you to work toward that better future with me. Try.”

“I am at my limit for tolerance of ‘bullshit.’ This will be the last try, and it is only because I maintain a pleasant impression of Kendall. I am no liar.”

“Neither am I, which is why my apology should be taken at face value. If anything, I have been too truthful about my sentiments. If we are going to give this an honest try, may I make a suggestion about what I wish to do?”

“Of course, Tollu,” I replied.

Tollu issued a bright smile. “I would like to try a fun activity or excursion again. I will not spoil it; I will attempt to appreciate your appreciation and to participate!”

“It’ll have to be something short, since it’s getting late, but I’d love to. Wouldn’t miss it for anything in the universe! What would you like to do?”

“I would like to let Galcip choose.”

“What?!” Galcip beeped with surprise.

“Nothing about my words was unclear. I await your decision.”

The young android eyed its elder suspiciously. “You understand that I will select something you will hate, don’t you?”

Tollu’s frown looked tired. “Naturally. I would pick in swift order, Galcip. Do not give me time to run probabilities.”

“I will lock in my decision then. The creators liked to utilize jetpacks, which were one of the oldest flight devices in their history. I suggest we fetch them out of storage, refurbish them if necessary, and then test them out. I would like to understand why this was deemed to be ‘fun.’”

“Jetpacks are actually practical in this universe?” My eyes lit up in delight, and Galcip smiled in response to my visible excitement to its suggestion. “Sign me up! That sounds like an incredible evening. Doesn’t it, Tollu?”

“Do not fret, I will come without objection,” Tollu said. “Someone will have to collect the various pieces of your splattered, scattered body off the ground.”

“Now, I’m glad I can count on you, but what did we just say about optimistic futures?”

“I did not anticipate the introduction of this new variable. But I will allow you to retrieve a jetpack without providing the probability of your demise, if this is truly your wish.”

“It is, silly. C’mon, it’ll be fun.”

“Very well. On an unrelated note, I will inquire about human funerary customs on the way…for ‘curiosity,’ of course.”

“Uh-huh. Ask away, I suppose.”

The three of us departed from my compound to hunt down jetpacks, old relics left behind by the Vascar’s organic creators. As dark as I found the subject matter Tollu was readily peppering me on, it was excellent to have it want to spend time around me and to take an interest in anything about us. I hoped that persuading Galcip to give Tollu a second chance would pay dividends, and allow them both to coexist within our burgeoning friend circle.

Next

A/N - 12! Kendall winds up as the counselor between Galcip and Tollu, teaching Tollu to calculate what it feels like to be in others’ shoes and also encouraging Galcip to put a stop to its jealousy and/or anger. Galcip elaborates that units like Tollu have dismissed its interests and judgment since the beginning, and that it is tired of being looked down upon for them. After drawing an apology out of Tollu and a promise to put in a good word with the network, our narrator convinces Galcip to give its elder a second chance—and they plan to go on a jetpacking trip.

Will Tollu be able to have fun without regressing to its old ways? What do you think about Galcip’s reasoning for being so hateful toward Tollu…and will it be able to move past that, regardless of its promises?

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!