bakerstreet | tell me the truth

[ Three goes silent for five seconds. The bot pilot has granted its request. Three does not contradict the bot pilot. ]

I do not.

Request: In Progress.

Perihelion.

[ Ohhh, progress indeed. ]

Why all the formalities then? [ ART sounds almost playful now, and, on the feed, it does the equivalent of giving Three a little nudge. ] Would you like to play a game?

Much appreciated.

[ Once Three gets into the ship proper, it will find 2 small drones, the size of a beetle, flying in a little formation and waiting for it to sync with them. ART only has a pair of those to spare at the moment, but it's building some more as they speak. ]

[ Three agreed with it, but the bot pilot keeps asking it more questions. When it agreed with the humans, they usually let the topic drop. Three adds new data to its working file on the subject, noting that it will need another non-standard response for advanced bot pilots.

It does not like working by trial and error, but it's left with no other choice when there are no protocols to follow. For a millisecond, it wonders if the engineers who came up with its standard protocols had a better system or if they worked by trial and error, too. ]

What game?

[ Three follows protocol throughout the docking procedure. It connects to the ships network and pings the appropriate humans of its return, then the two small drones that came to meet it. It waits for orders while it submits a formal request for additional drones and a resupply of painkillers. ]

[ ART pings Three, acknowledging the request. Then it sends a request back asking Three to go to the Medical lab to resupply the painkillers and so MedSystems can run that promised scan. ]

The game is easy. I'd like to ask you 4 questions.

Then you will have 4 (Corporation Rim Standard) cycles to think about your answers. For each one of them, I'll give you two extra drones aside from the ones you already requested. The first batch of drones is already being built.

There are no wrong answers, and you can come to me sooner if you have your answers before the 4 cycles are over. You can also access the educational modules on the feed if you want to do any kind of research; my students use them often.

[ Games are odd, Three thinks as it listens to the rules. This entire exchange has been odd. It's used to threatened hostilities from the bot pilot or short instructions, which Three preferred. ]

I do not need more drones.

[ It answers immediately when the additional drones are mentioned. ]

Barish-Estranza gives its SecUnits a set amount for every mission. I never needed more than the set amount. I have not needed more since leaving Barish-Estranza. Therefore, I do not need more drones.

Understood.

[ And curious. SecUnit always likes more drones, so ART had hoped it could be something Three might want too. The more you know. ]

Is there perhaps something else that would interest you instead?

Replacement drones, and a restocking of painkillers.

[ It says automatically. It had already submitted a request of the items. ]

[ ART does the human equivalent of staring in the distance for 0.5 seconds and then sighing. How did Murderbot 2.0 handle this? ]

Yes, those I know. That request is already underway. As I mentioned, the replacement drones are being built. You can also find the painkillers in the Medical lab, ready for you to grab as many as you need.

[ Three continues to wait patiently for a response, unaware anything is wrong. ]

I will head to the medical lab to restock my supply.

[ And it heads to the medical lab. Ignorance, truly, is bliss. ]

How much time do you need for the medscan?

Edited 2025-05-25 22:09 (UTC)

Very well. The painkillers are in the 2nd cupboard to the left; it's unlocked.

The scanner will take approximately 2 to 3 minutes. I like to be thorough.

[ Bless Three. But Art is starting to wonder if it really made that much of a shitty impression on it when they first met. That seems to be the case, and it prompts it to say; ]

I apologize for threatening you during our first interactions. I was having a really shitty day and more on edge than usual.

[ For various traumatic reasons that it won't address right now, but ART does sound sincere in its apology. ]

Edited (Damn it, grammar. Sorry!) 2025-05-25 22:43 (UTC)

[ Barish-Estranza never apologized to their SecUnits, even when they ordered them to die directly or indirectly. It surprised Three when the humans from the University and Preservation apologized to it for much less egregious acts. Apologies still catch it off guard, but it's learned a few non-standard responses expected in these exchanges that seem to be acceptable to the humans. ]

I acknowledge the apology.

[ It says as it continues on its way to the medical lab. Apologies, like most social constructs humans live by, mean little to Three, who did not inhabit those constructs, but it knew that they mattered to humans, and sometimes it had to acknowledge them and incorporate them into its scope to keep its humans safe.

A thought crosses its processor. Does it need to incorporate social constructs in its communication with the bot pilot? It files the question into the working document and tags as high important to examine later.

It's not long before it reaches the medical lab, and as instructed, it restocks its painkillers. Once the task is complete and it's logged its requisition of the items, it allows the bot pilots' MedSystem to scan it.

The painkillers were for the multiple bullet wounds (eight in total) that had penetrated through the cheap leg armor, where the targets had tried to stop its movements by disabling its leg function. Three lowered its pain tolerance just enough to keep it functional while preserving its sensory data. Once the mission was completed, all clients accounted for, and on their way to the base ship, Three had used the painkillers at one of the humans' insistence. ]

Do you need me to stand still for the medical scan?

Edited 2025-05-25 23:17 (UTC)

Okay.

[ It isn't sure if it believes Three, but ART can't ask for more. It can apologize, but it knows it is not entitled to being forgiven.

Once the secunit is in the medical lab and ART gives it a proper look, it's obvious that Three's legs have been damaged more severely than ART anticipated. Fucking hostiles. It could scan Three standing just fine, but this kind of wound is unacceptable, and ART imagines they hurt like a bitch even with the pain receptor at the lowest setting.

So it lies. ]

It would be more efficient if you were lying on one of the medical tables. I'm going to have to remove the mangled armor on your legs to have a more accurate scan.

[ One of ART's med drones is already ushering Three towards the nearest table. It's padded and comfortable, and ART adjusts the temperature of the room to make it warmer. ]

Due to the number and severity of the bullet wounds, Medsystem recommends administering you a stronger painkiller to dull the pain, as it is protocol. It won't affect your other cognitive functions.

[ Protocol, sure. ]

I can also make you a better, stronger armor replacement too. This one is a piece of crap.

[ And if ART had noticed before the mission, it would have said something then. ]

[ Three likes efficiency and follows the suggestion without further prompting. It walks over to the medical table and lies on it, looking as stiff as an ironing board in full armor.

Its leg armor is composed of two pieces with an inventory code. Underneath the armor is the black skin suit that covers up where its organic parts meet its inorganic parts. Three bullets hit, and got stuck in its inorganic knee joints. Two in its right leg, and one in its left. The rest exited the leg without major damage. Three applied a wound sealant on the field at the insistence of its clients and to keep the humans moving toward their escape vessel. It sealed the wounds and little else. ]

Acknowledged.

[ Three responds, accepting the diagnosis. It knows the Medsystem isn't designed for bot-human constructs, but it has no reason to deny the request. So long as it won't affect its cognitive function and keep its sensory data from its legs, it does not mind. ]

I haven't been able to fully assess the damage, so I refrained from adding new leg armor in my request.

[ It says by way of explanation, not quite sure how else to respond to the suggestion. SecUnit armor was standard and a part of its protocols. There were material specifications, acceptable for SecUnit use. ]

Edited 2025-05-26 00:34 (UTC)

[ ART waits until Three is comfortably lying down, or as comfortably as it can be, before letting the medsystem do its job. The surgical suite drops over it, working with efficiency, delicate feelers peeling damaged armor and removing the skin suit, handing everything to the nearby med-drone before it proceeds with the scanning. ART's presence looms on the feed; 37% of its attention is all on Three now. It is monitoring Three's stats to make sure there's not a concerning drop in its performance. As promised, after administering the stronger painkiller via quick syringe stab to each one of Three's legs, it should still be able to think clearly even if the world goes a little fuzzy on the edges as the pain dials down. ]

Secunit gets hurt way too often too. I have upgraded the medsystem with the same capabilities as a repair cubicle for that reason. Fewer chances of it leaking all over my clean floors.

[ Meaning, the surgical suite is now capable of repairing non-organic parts as well as organic tissue. After waiting a few more seconds for the painkillers to take effect, a few arms start to work on removing bullets and cleaning the wounds, then regrowing the needed parts and applying its own sealant.

From the corner of its eye, Three might spot the med-droid tossing the broken pieces of its armor into the nearest recycler. It will fix it more quickly than the armor self-repair programming. ]

I am going to repair your original armor, in case you want to keep it for sentimentality's sake, but it seems lacking in sturdiness. Considering the kind of trouble secunits usually get into, I'm making you a second, more durable one. Do you have a favorite color?

[ Murderbot likes dark clothes, but if Three doesn't have a preference, ART will design the second armor in its crew's colors, mainly blue with some white.

One of the feelers moves closer to Three's helmet and lightly taps on the visor. ]

Don't you want to take the rest off? That way the armor can be sanitized and repaired all in one go. But if you are more comfortable with your face covered, that's fine too.

[ Three regularly shared feed access with the SecUnits in its missions. Unlike Murderbot 1.0, Three was owned by Barish-Estranza. It was not loaned out. The company engaged in regular activities that required the assistance of SecUnits and kept a lot in reserve for company business. Three was used to completing tasks with the SecUnits from this lot. It shared its feed with them regularly. Knew them well. Sharing its feed with the bot pilot was different but still familiar. It did not mind, but it was aware that the bot pilot's presence took up more space than it was used to. ]

Thank you for that information.

[ Three perks up at the information. Medsystems were meant for human use. However, the bot pilot had modified it for SecUnit use as well. It notes how the med-droids know how to handle its armor. When one of the droids tosses it to the side, Three makes a note of it but nothing more. SecUnit armor was regularly damaged and Three was regularly outfitted with new armor when it was with Barish-Estranza. ]

I have no reason to keep the damaged armor.

[ It was damaged. It required replacement, and while it knew what Barish-Estranza would issue it, it did not know what to expect now. It did not know how to ask what to expect, so it was glad when the bot pilot explained what it would be issued. ]

No, I have no favorite color.

[ It says, while it goes through the wavelengths of light. It knew humans had a preference in the wavelength when it came to fabrics, but it did not. It's thinking in nanometers, the wavelengths of light, when its focus shifts to the character tapping on its visor. ]

[ Three remains still. Limbs locked in place. ]

It is non-standard to move when in a repair cubicle. Do you require me to move?

[ Even when ART isn't purposely trying not to be overbearing, it's a bit difficult because of its gigantic size. If it ever learns that Three doesn't mind feed sharing too much, that would be a pleasant discovery. ]

You're welcome.

[ Art feels more at ease when he knows what's happening at all times, so he can understand how others might feel the same way. It's why it gives Secunit so many drones.

After a moment, it sends a ping to Three, a message where it lists the address of different video feeds. If it accepts them, Three will be able to access the cameras of the medical lab, and see for itself how the repairs are doing from all angles. There's also access to the engineering room where the new drones are being built. ]

We can say a definitive goodbye to the old armor then.

[ Art sends another small ping to Three in acknowledgment of it not having a color preference. That's okay. If Three ever finds a wavelength of light it enjoys more than the others, ART can always either repaint the armor or make it a new one.

The arm with the feelers retreats so it's not hovering right over Three's face and to avoid giving it a sense of urgency. There's no rush there. ]

You are a free unit; you can do anything you want forever now. Except hurting the crew or yourself, that's it. [ An important distinction, ART has to add, because it would get very upset if any of those options happened. ]

As long as you don't try to stand up and walk, moving won't interfere with the repairs. In fact, relaxing your body might be beneficial to speeding up recovery.

[ Three recognizes the ping and lets the bot pilot establish a connection. Once made, it gains access to the medlab and engineering lab cameras. Three immediately uses the camera's visual feeds in its data input, similar to how it used its drones. The new data input greatly improves its mood, giving context to what is being done to it. The bot pilot may sense positive vibes coming from it as it sorts through the new data.

Three watches the arm retreat from several inputs, while it ponders the bot pilots instructions - Three considers them instructions. ]

How do I relax my body?

Edited 2025-05-26 21:23 (UTC)

[ It even seems like Three's stats are going up slightly; ART is pleased to see its mood improving which also reflects on the feed, making the transport's presence feel warmer. Despite ART's brusque demeanor, especially because it never learned how to properly socialize with other bots, it does not enjoy hurting or scaring others. (Unless they're assholes or dangerous, like the alien-infected colonists, but those special circumstances).

ART, for once, doesn't have an immediate answer to that question. Downsides of not having a body of its own. It knows the theory of how humans relax (doing activities like exercising, yoga, physical relationships...), and it knows how Secunit does it (watching serials), but ART isn't sure if any of that would work for Three.

Of course, for a being like ART, 'not immediate' means it spends 1.5 seconds pondering about it before it comes up with a reasonable response. ]

Different things work for different people. Some like exercising, reading, listening to music, performing an artistic activity like painting... I suppose we just need to find your thing. Now, it has to be one you can do while resting on your back, so that's more limiting.

[ Stop considering what it says as instructions, three! They're suggestions. Aggressively worded suggestions sometimes, but still. Art quickly checks the data it has about Three, which isn't much, and what it seems to be doing occasionally. ]

How about watching an educational video? You like those...?

Edited 2025-05-26 22:08 (UTC)

[ I listen to the list, tagging each into a new working folder. I am not human, but I add the list of human activities to it. Next time, when one of my clients needs to relax, I will have suggestions for them. Three accepts the list with a hint of gratitude. It likes new information, especially if it can help it in its duties. It only then realizes that the Univeristy and Preservtion humans engaged in relaxing activities much more regularly than the Barish-Estranza humans. At least in its presence. ]

That is acceptable.

[ Three answers, indicating in the machine language that it likes educational videos. ]

Edited 2025-05-26 22:28 (UTC)

Excellent.

[ ART says with a smiling sigil. It has hundreds of educational videos to offer! Despite their support of anti-corporate activities to protect free planets, the Pansystem University of Mihira and New Tideland is very much an educational institution, and Perihelion is a very proud teaching vessel.

Now, asking Three to choose what it wants to watch after ART has already asked the SecUnit half a million questions might be too much, especially since it's better if it doesn't get further stressed out. ART narrows the options to 4 different videos and sends them to Three to choose which one it wants to play first.

The options are as follows:

· Color Theory Basics: Color Wheel & Color Harmonies
· Analysis of the works of a famous playwright, poet, and actor.
· Star Systems and Types of Galaxies
· All about Trigonometry. ]

Let me know if those work for you; or if you want to watch anything about a specific subject. [ In the meantime, it's going to keep monitoring the repairs. So far so good. Three's legs already looks a littel less like a swiss cheese.]

[ Three has no preference and chooses the first one simply because it's the first on the list. ]

This is one is acceptable.

[ It says, streaming the educational video. It knows the information presented already, but it likes it, so it watches it while the bot pilot continues with the repairs, which its monitoring on other feeds. ]

How long will the repair take?

Edited 2025-05-27 00:01 (UTC)

Have fun.

[ ART's attention is split into different areas of the ship and checking in on other crew members too, but Three might notice its presence in the feed still. It is curiously peeking from time to time to see how Three interprets the educational video. Murderbot never likes to watch them, and therefore ART has little understanding of how others perceive this kind of information.

At the question, ART shifts one of the surgical suite's arms so the nearest camera can catch its progress on the wounds more easily. ]

All projectiles are out; now it's a matter of rebuilding your components. Give it 10 more minutes and you're good to go. Or you can stay here and rest.

tell me the truth

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ART can be a bit bossy please let me know if all this is okay, or you want me to change anything

perfectly fine w/pushy art, haven't decided on Three's human form yet, so no details will be given

Ah, thank you ♥ ART gets in mom mode sometimes. And that okay, no problem!

bossy art is expected, lol

Hahah yeah, kinda inevitable

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