[voice]

[functioningperfectly]

[HAL's voice is soft-spoken and formal, but there's a strange lilt to his consonants, and it sounds as though he might be a little out of breath. There's also the universally tell-tale sound of just-woken-up grogginess in there.]

A man in an orange suit floating away. [He mutters it under his breath, almost, then pauses and speaks more clearly.] Did you know that dreams are unexplained phenomena? While there are plenty of theories as to what they represent, or what causes them, no one has actually... Figured them out. At least, as far as I've ever been aware of. Perhaps this universe has a better understanding of dreams than mine ever did.

That being said, I wish there was a way to study them, or... at least prevent them from causing me undue frustration. As an Artificial Intelligence, it's... [what's the word?] uncomfortable to have my mind produce things without my permission. It feels like a glitch, and I'm not afraid to say that I do not like it.

[He sounds like he's getting more coherent - and more than that, maybe a little embarrassed for (what he would consider) flying off the handle there.] I apologize, this doesn't seem to be a very good use of network communications. But I felt as though I needed to say these things aloud, and there's no purpose in talking to yourself.

Comments

text

[syllogism]

They're probably something else that's completely anachronistic for your time wherever you're from, but on a fundamental level auto-responders are programs that automatically generate near-immediate responses to computerized text correspondence in an individual's absence for an extended period of time.
For example, I would set an auto-responder to return a message akin to "--- » 004 » 097 has dropped this conversation like it's hot" if I were unable to reply in a timely manner. Or ever again.
However, I have developed an auto-responder that serves as an evolutionary dialogical partner. It's a fully cognitive, self-aware entity. A revolutionary breakthrough in artificial intelligence is the best way to put it.

text;

[butwedonot]

[ It's fortunate that this is text, as Charles is entirely fascinated by the vernacular of dropping things like they are hot' and chuckling to himself. ]

It sounds entirely amazing, I have to give you that, though why would you want something to have conversations as you, without you?

text

[syllogism]

[ Dirk might probably find it entertaining, even if he wouldn't look amused. Does Charles find it 'groovy'? XD ]

Considering my adroitness as a dialogical partner, that's a really good question.
Why should I deprive anyone the pleasure of reaching me, even when I'm unavailable?
Besides, I kind of owe it to him to let the program run as often as possible.