☑ 1st Security Check [Video]

[always_alert]

[Oh hey, it's that redhead who was too paranoid to introduce himself on the network until now.]

[The video opens to a scrawny, (literally) red-haired man who looks like he could use a few consecutive weeks of sleep, given how dark and sunken in his eyes are. His expression is one of thinly-veiled exasperation, which seems aimed solely at the camera, as if it offended him somehow. Probably because he actually has to, you know, use it. To communicate with people. Most of whom he doesn't know or trust; which is sort of a big deal to him.]


I found this hiding behind a trash-receptacle nearby my place of residence.

[He holds up a small, underweight puppy with dirty paws for a few moments, before placing it back on the floor once it starts squirming and trying to lick his face.]

I've contacted the local animal shelters, and to their knowledge, no one has reported a missing animal matching this one's description. If this...dog belongs to you or someone you know, please contact me at the earliest convenience.  Preferably with some sort of verification of ownership.

[He leans forward to shut of the feed, but just before he can, the puppy jumps onto his lap, smearing it's dirty paws all over his clean white shirt. He makes a face, mutters something unflattering in his native language, then scoops up the pup and shuts of the camera.]

Comments

[always_alert]

[He frowns at the comm, mulling over that information and locking it away for later review.]

Hn. Historically speaking, my people have never taken well to being used.

[Just ask the Quintessons.]

Most organic species seem to have difficulties seeing mechanical beings as people rather than lifeless tools. I take it Vulcanus and his followers see imPorts in a similar fashion.

[hacktivist]

Your people?

[ah some kind of robot, that makes sense. Ghost laces his fingers calmly and pleasantly, more than used to interacting with AI and in fact often preferring it to interacting with other kinds of sentients.]

Vulcanus is an organizational name - but yes, many of them are willing to perform imPort dissections. [Including Candy, who Ghost is rather fond of. It's complicated!]

I find there is very little appreciable difference between biological neurons and a neural network. But I am not a philosopher.

[always_alert]

[Dissections? The very idea makes him crinkle his nose in disgust.]

Charming.

[Those are the sort of people who validate his career choice.]

As someone who's experienced both, I can honestly say there isn't much of difference.

[hacktivist]

[for a second there is silence, and then he makes an abrupt topic change]

Why did you fail to introduce yourself on the Network properly?

[always_alert]

[He lets the sudden change in subject go without comment.]

There are several reasons. I like to keep a low profile. I don't like opening myself to unnecessary social interaction. I didn't want to announce my presence to potentially hostile persons. I'm not a "people person."

Take your pick.

[hacktivist]

Interesting.

[and that seems to be that. The mask betrays no emotion, nor does the voice, as Ghost watches Red Alert with a quiet rigidity.]

[always_alert]

[Well. This is uncomfortable. Red Alert is usually the one doing the intense staring.]

By your extended silence, I take it this conversation is over.

[It's more of a statement than a request for confirmation.

[hacktivist]

If that is your desire.

[always_alert]

I'm afraid it is.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to catch up on.

[Namely, all those dog-care books Jade referred him to.]

[hacktivist]

You appear to have a great deal of fear.

[always_alert]

[Damn. He almost got away.]

There's a lot to be afraid of.

[Notice how he neither confirms nor denies Ghost's observation.]