kore_logs | And the lights go out...

Her eyes widen and she looks at him. "I'm so, so sorry they did that to you." Brigid actually means it. She hates to see anyone bullied and that's exactly what is happening here. They're bullying this poor guy into being responsible for everyone's lives.

"No, I wouldn't want you to take the risk either. Not just out of self-preservation, but because it isn't fair to ask you to die so the rest of us can be more comfortable." Brigid knows they can survive without electricity. Not well, but they can survive.

"If I could be assured that such a sacrifice would ensure the safety, and perhaps the escape of everyone here, I would gladly make that sacrifice." Daneel is solemn as he says it. "Mere comfort, perhaps, is not worth a trade for what I can do if I'm functioning."

But he can't, and he won't, and he only worries a little about the possibility of someone taking it upon themselves to salvage parts from him in the case of his meeting with an accident; under normal circumstances, that would be wise, but not here.

"I do not... wish... to cease functioning, but neither could I selfishly withhold what might be mine to give. It is irrelevant, in any case."

Edited 2013-08-26 19:09 (UTC)

She shakes her head and reaches out to touch his arm. "No. Even if there is a guarantee of leaving, I don't think you should sacrifice yourself. There is always a better way." Brigid isn't going to allow anyone to sacrifice themselves for some ridiculous notion that it's the only way out. There's always another way.

Sighing, she pulls her hand back. "Do we even know where the power was coming from? Could it be as simple as an overloaded grid or something?" She's not an electrical engineer but Carlos had said something like that once.

"I admit I'm not familiar enough with the structure of power grids of the appropriate time period to say, one way or the other."

It's an unfortunate reality of being so far ahead of so many people here. The touch on his arm, too, is a reminder of such different cultural norms. It's a gesture one would make towards an equal, a fellow person. He knows he's more approachable than a standard robot just because of his appearance, but this is something more than that.

It's... pleasant.

"You do not have experience with robots, I suspect."

She sighs. "Let me guess, the power grid here is ancient history for you?" It's mocking herself, really. She knows that no one likes history the way she does. Not even those in her history classes get as enthusiastic as she does.

Brigid cocks her head to the side. "No. They aren't prevalent in my world, except for a few things, like assembly lines, and things like that. Why?

"I am from 3740. Many advances have been made in many fields. I'm certain some things remain the same, but certainly not all of it."

That is, if they could even find where the grid might be. He still holds out hope that power will return.

"You treat me as you would another human. Many people here do, but even so, I have met few people so comfortable so quickly as to touch me casually, as you just did." Daneel is looking at her curiously. "I find this interesting."

She blinks. She knows he's from the future but that's a bit further than she'd been expecting. "Wow, so this has got to be frustratingly provincial for you." But it's also fascinating. What happened in the world in that millennia? What changes were wrought and how did society change?

Brigid actually blushes. She forgets that not everyone is as tactile as she is. "I... I'm sorry. I forget not everyone is as tactile as I am. I only meant it as a gesture of comfort, that's all."

"There is no need to apologise," Daneel says, at once. "I am not offended. It is merely an observation. I am glad that you are comfortable with me to this degree. I would be... distressed, if it were otherwise. This is merely not what I am accustomed to. That does not mean it is not pleasant."

Brigid just cocks her head to the side. "Why wouldn't I be comfortable with you?" It's an honest question. "There are werejaguars and hunters and archangels here." Not to mention the pair of werewolves. "Plus regular humans that can bring people back from the dead. You're just... a different aspect of the people here. I'd do the same for them."

She's honest about that.

"That is a theory that I've been working on, in fact." That she's reaffirmed it is doubly interesting. "My programming accounts for humans, and then robots to serve them. I'm having to redefine my place."

Daneel considers his phrasing for a moment. "If I must redefine "human" to mean any sentient being, then that includes myself. It makes me a person. Though this is not an unsurprising idea for most people here, for me to be a true equal... it is surprising to me."

She understands having to redefine your life. She's been doing it a lot lately. It's frustrating and terrifying. At least for her.

She listens carefully, and then thinks about how to answer. "Throughout human history, the word 'person' has been redefined over and over. The US constitution didn't consider people of color to be 'persons' for a long time." She doesn't remember exact dates. "The Nazis redefined it during World War Two to mean those that were useful or agreeable to them. Ruling classes use it as a word of oppression and control."

Being a student of history has its advantages. "So, yes. You are a person. My Da used to say 'you are only lesser if you allow yourself to be'. Not sure how right that is, but there's some truth to it."

Daneel considers this in silence, for a moment. It's so easy for her to make this leap, but he's been working on it for some time now.

"A significant part of my programming is a series of Laws that govern my behaviour towards humans," he says. "The First Law states that a robot must not harm a human being, nor through inaction allow a human to come to harm. The Second Law states that a robot must obey all orders given to it by a human, unless doing so comes into conflict with the First Law. The Third Law states that a robot must protect its own existence, except when doing so comes into conflict with the First and Second Laws." Daneel is very grave. "If I consider myself equal to a human, it is difficult to reconcile this with the Laws. It is taking me time. Forcing myself to think contrary to the Laws is... uncomfortable."

She thinks about it for a moment. "Are you familiar with the Ten Commandments?" Brigid asks. "Or, really, the Bible at all?" It's something that makes sense to her, anyway. "Most of the stories aren't true in historical context. Some are, especially the New Testament. However, many of the lessons that they are supposed to teach all boil down to the beginning of the Hippocratic Oath: First, do no harm."

Brigid believes in that, wholeheartedly. "If I'm understanding the Laws right, that's what they mean: First, do no harm." She frowns for a moment. "The other major lesson in the Bible is don't be a jerk. That also falls in line with the First Law - helping others. The Third Law is survival. No one here would fault you for doing so. The Second Law is a bit problematic, but I think if you look at this place as a community, you can weigh options on how any orders would affect the place as a whole, rather than as individuals."

Brigid thinks for a moment. "Did any of that make sense?"

"I am familiar with the Bible," Daneel says. "It has limited circulation on Spacer worlds but still has more influence on Earth, and it was necessary, once, for me to understand it."

He turns her words over in his mind, considering. This isn't too far from his own reasoning. "I already, before I came here, was in the position of having to create a corollary to the First Law which I call the Zeroth Law: a robot may not harm humanity, or through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. It takes precedence to all other Laws. I cannot count myself among "humanity," perhaps, but if I am a person, and equal to a human, then the First Law applies to me as well."

He stops for a moment, his voice having grown strained, and pauses to recover. "I'm sorry. Until I have properly integrated this idea of my personhood, thinking contrary to the Three Laws is... difficult."

"There's a copy in the library here too." She's read it a few times, since it does bring her comfort.

Her hand rests on his arm again, worry crossing her face about the strain she can hear. "I think it's clarifying the Three Laws, not contrary to them." Brigid reiterates. But she understands going against a lifetime of conditioning and how hard it really is.

"But if it stresses you, we can talk about something else?"

Daneel is still for a moment, eyes closed. He gives a sigh -- a strange gesture for someone who doesn't breathe, but a sigh all the same.

"The only way I can eventually integrate this idea is to... push at my limits, a little at a time. The process is difficult, but I will succeed. All the same, I would appreciate another topic of conversation, if there is one you have in mind."

"If you need help, I don't mind." Brigid offers. She knows restraints and working within a framework.

Brigid laughs, softly. "I don't, not really. I just didn't want to stress you further." She shrugs. "Around here, there's not much to talk about. Food, drink, now power? It's all the same."

"It is an unfortunate reality," Daneel agrees. "I do wish there was something more I could do. Unfortunately, I, like everyone else here, am without that ability. I am glad I don't consume limited resources that can help others, at least."

If he did have to eat, and things became that desperate, well... he doesn't like to think about that possibility, and what he might have to choose to do.

She sighs. "My metabolism means I should eat more than I am, but there isn't enough food to go around, unfortunately. I'm hoping once the gardens start producing that will be alleviated some, but it doesn't look all that promising."

Her fingers shove her hair back, watching the waves roll in. "Like I told Derek, this is all just basic psychological warfare. I wonder if they're trying to see which world cracks first."

He frowns, his attention caught. "You have a higher than average food requirement?" There must be a reason for that, or perhaps it's only a personal quirk. "Then you are not eating enough to satiate you. This is... unfortunate."

Daneel doesn't really know what the best solution is. If one individual has a higher-than-normal need for food -- say, for example, half again as much -- then what is the fair thing to do? Force that one person to go hungry? Take a share from everyone else so that they do not? Neither is a good situation.

"I have good hopes for the gardens." He has to. He doesn't like the alternative. "In the meantime, are you suffering from a lack of food?"

"A bit? It's not too bad, unless I'm injured, or doing a lot of... extra things?" Shifting, fighting, running. She's being careful, though. "I'm eating enough, since I'm not feeling any ill effects of nutritional lack, I'm just used to eating, well, more."

It's a difficult thing to explain to someone who doesn't understand how wolves work. She's not even sure of the biology.

"There has to be more here, that we're just not harvesting. I realize we can't harvest everything, but we're either missing some things, or the scientists really didn't think this through." She's hoping it's the former, or that they'll get regular food drops again.

"I'm certain there must be. Plants, wild animals, fish are available to us, although perhaps it's no longer safe to fish."

That's troubling, for Daneel. They don't need any more problems than they already have.

"Everything must be cooked rather than eaten raw; more nutrients can be absorbed through cooked food. If you are ever going short, then please let me know. Perhaps I might be able to help in some way."

Brigid smiles and puts her hand on Daneel's arm. "Thank you. That means a lot. But between Derek and I, we're doing alright." Because two werewolves are better than one.

She glances back towards the lighthouse. "I should go. Derek will be wondering where I am. It was very nice to meet you, Daneel." Brigid offers her hand.

Daneel takes and shakes her hand gladly, grateful for the gesture.

"Thank you, Brigid. It has been very interesting making your acquaintance, to be certain. I am glad to have met you. Please do be careful."

"It was nice meeting you too, Daneel." She shakes his hand and turns for the lighthouse. She's been out long enough. Derek will worry.

And the lights go out...

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