Audio Transmission, un: E.D.I.

[machina_ex_luna]

[There is a soft buzzing sound, like the staticky noise of speakers taxed beyond their limit. It rises in intensity and pitch until it sputters briefly, and then cuts out. Everywhere that the transmission is accepted a tinny voice scales into the audible range, coming in mid-sentence.]

...ention. Due to unknown anoma... [The transmission briefly fuzzes out, and then back in, several seconds later] ...as sustained catastrophic damage. Please respond. Message repeating on—

[The message, the recording stops. The transmission continues, after a brief pause, but not as if a computer were resuming an automated broadcast. The voice is the same as before, a calm, feminine voice, speaking with a neutral accent, in english.]

Hello, I am EDI. [There is an appropriate pause, as if the speaker needed a moment to gather her wits, or to allow the listeners to do so.] I have some questions.

Comments

[machina_ex_luna]

While there are a number of ongoing concerns, I am currently in no immediate distress.

[Is an example of a lie by omission. But EDI delivers it with the usual serene aplomb; I'm lonely and afraid for the fate of my fragile human crew is not a productive line of conversation.]

That is an inadequate answer. Would you care to elaborate?

[fixedpointintime]

I’m curious by nature, more so than most people. I’m curious about who you are, where you’ve come from, and what you might need. I’m curious about the damage that was mentioned, though I’m glad you’re not currently in trouble.

Not to mention, now I’m also curious why what you deemed an adequate answer for yourself is an inadequate answer coming from me.

Where do you come from?

[machina_ex_luna]

The damage is the ship. I have not been personally damaged.

[Is another lie. But the more he talks the more nervous he makes her; people don't react well, historically, to unshackled AI. She has no desire to be forced to cope with nosy, disgruntled humans. Not on her own, at least.]

I am from space.

[Thanks, Mantis.]

And, yourself?

[fixedpointintime]

[ People do not always respond well to Jack, historically, either. A lot of the time he deserves it, but still. Not the best track record. He’s reserving judgment until he has a little more information. Definitely helps that he’s not getting a dalek kind of vibe from Edi. Most of the truly great evil he has seen in his time has had nothing to do with artificial intelligence. It has had everything to do with madmen believing fanatically in their own causes. ]

Well, I’m human. My species originated on a planet called Earth. I was born on a colony planet in the Boshane peninsula. I haven’t been back there in a long time. I’m from space. I was the captain of a ship.

[ Most recently, anyway. Jack’s history is long and varied. He’s not planning on overly complicating this conversation if he doesn’t have to. ]

How long have you been here?

[machina_ex_luna]

Indeterminate. It's possible that I've been here all along.

[Is that a joke? Yes. But also, EDI genuinely isn't sure how long she's been here. Certainly it seems as if her blue box, and by extension her self has been here for much longer than she has memory of. There is little direct evidence.]

You are from the Boshane Peninsula. Space is where you have gone. I understand the difference; you are hardly the first human of my acquaintance. Although, for most of those, it was customary to begin a conversation with introductions.

It is considered rude to insist that your conversational partner sift throug your network records... Jack.