001 // Voice

[hummerdoc]

[Cybertronian encryption]
This is Ratchet. Who else hails from Cybertron on this ship?

[Open voice]
How many here woke up organic? I've made a perusal of the activity on the network already and I am quite curious.

Comments

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

Is this common? Waking up as an organic lifeform?

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

Not in my experience.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I see.

[Pause.]

Perhaps it was done in order for us to better assist the captain and his first officer aboard the ship. That would be a logical decision, given the complexity of the vessel and how it operates.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

Perhaps, though the question remains as why were we here in the first place.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I would assume the missing crew has a part in it.

I'm not myself right now, I apologize. Otherwise, I am sure I would have this sorted already.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

More than likely. And most people would not be themselves in this sort of situation.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I generally pride myself on being able to handle unaccounted for problems within a mission, but this...

[He sounds like he's searching for the right word, slightly frustrated and a bit uncomfortable.]

This is much more difficult than I had originally assumed it was.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

I am quite agreed on that assessment.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

Were you also a computer, then? Before you arrived here? I understand that "arrived" is not the exactly right word, but I haven't got everything configured in this brain yet, so I'm afraid we'll have to make due with what I have already figured out.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

I was more than a computer in my proper body. I was an autonomous robotic lifeform.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

How interesting. I've never heard of self-aware robots. Of course, I cannot include myself in that, as I previously had no body. And even then, to be quite honest, I was programmed to be aware. I did not come to it on my own.

It must be difficult being stuck in an organic body, in that case.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

Programmed to be aware. That is a novel method.

[an unseen shrug]

Difficult is putting it mildly.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

Humans are incredibly creative, when left to their own devices. [If his voice wasn't so sincere, that would sound like a jab against humans.]

I apologize for how hard it must be. If it's any consolation, it may be easier for you. I never had a physical form, human or robotic, before now.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

Quite. Humans are a fascinating and quirky species.

[an unseen shrug]

I am adapting well enough. How are you handling being embodied so far?

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I admit that I do have some trouble, especially with things such as typing and, to some extent, walking, but I have been doing my level best to make the transition as smooth as possible.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

Motor control then. That will take some practice especially for those who were not originally bipedal, let alone with any sort of body.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I do believe that I'm making as much progress as I can be expected to, however. I understand that physical dexterity is an important part of living as a human, and I would not like to fail in that regard.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

it is an important part, yes. It helps with social cues and humans use body language to also communicate.

[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

I've noticed that. I would rather not upset someone by sending the wrong signals.

[voice]

[hummerdoc]

A wise idea.