Friendship

[tanktanktank]

1.



 

*Shoji turns away from his computer.*

Yes, I might need to do a couple more checks, but from my diagnostic so far the virus had been completely purged. I might add a couple of additional security measures, but I doubt we'll need it. I think Hikari was right. This is exactly why My Grandfather installed a neural link on you, Bahamut.  Or at least one of them anyway. To prevent enemies from hijacking you. Hikari said that she felt a deeper connection to you and you two could easily purge any other attempt of electronic hijacking right? I won't pretend that I understand how does that work, but I believe her.



I believe it's similar about finding out how to control a previously dormant muscle in human body, Mr. Matsuyama. Once you moved it, you know how it feels, and you can do it consistently.



We won, but I'm concerned about the latest commander they sent. A sentient cloud of nanobot that hijack machines? This is the first time we're facing something like that. We need to rethink what we know about their strategies and capabilities. And we're still not any clearer about their motivation or where do they came from. I hope Katsuhiko Ishida's expedition would yield fruit.



Who cares! The important thing is we won! No matter what kind of new beast they'll throw to us, I know we can win! Because we have something that can beat any adversary. The bond of friendship.

Also 600mm Hellbore Plasma Cannon, but mostly bond of friendship.

Now who's up for celebratory video game and movie marathon!




...Your last win on SF4 Omega was a fluke, Hikari Shimamura. And by the honor of the name of Tachibana family I'm going to prove it.

*Celebratory video game and anime marathon! Feel free to join them and ask any of them questions.*


2.

*The kids are strewn across the hangar area, sleeping in various uncomfortable-looking positions. Currently Bahamut is the only one still awake apparently.

Currently Terminator 2 is playing on the screen. You can hear Bahamut commenting about the movie*

That was a beautifully crafted movie. I understand why this movie is considered as a cultural treasure that is still watched 300 years after its inception. I'm now curious about its sequels. I belief that there are a couple of sequels of that movie, but I can't find any trace of it.

It's interesting to see the progress of mankind's view about robotic from early age. We should watch Robocop next.

...but before that, may I ask you a question?

How important is your identity for you?

Comments

2

[star_of_sad]

My identity?

[Setsuko moved in with a blanket, but she stops in her tracks hearing Bahamut Metalia.]

It's very important. I mean, there are even more important things about me, and others - but I know who I am, and I need to know. I already lost that once and... it wasn't a fun experience.

Re: 2

[tanktanktank]

So you lost your identity once. Do you remember anything about the time when you lost it?

[star_of_sad]

Almost everything, actually. I got all of it back, it's just that...

I was in a very dangerous situation, and I was sent to a place where people just... lose their memories. I don't know how it happens, but it did. Apparently it was the way for me to stay safe.

Safety in ignorance.

[tanktanktank]

Interesting. So it's not a case of either/or. You remember how you spent your time when you lose your memories.

Do you do things you won't usually do when you lost your memories?

2)

[mechasaurusrex]

...Very. If Grimlock not Grimlock... what would Grimlock be?

Re: 2)

[tanktanktank]

Well said, Mister Grimlock. I think I can talk about this more comfortably with you, as we're both machines.

Consider T-2 from this movie. In the previous movie, he wanted to kill John Connor. And in this movie, he want to protect John Connor, because he's been reprogrammed.

I doubt T-2 and T-1000 has actual intelligence like either of us. At most what they have is advanced programming. But just pretend that he has actual sapience. In the first movie, he want to kill John Connor because he hates human and want Skynet to win. Then he got reprogrammed, and in the second movie, he want to protect John Connor because he likes human and consider Skynet as jerk.

Aren't they completely different identity then? If you're T-2 from the second movie, knowing that you were once reprogrammed, would you want to discover and get back to your original, past identity, knowing that your current identity, who you are right now, will disappear?

[mechasaurusrex]

Grimlock learn over long time. Live for here and now. Chase past only if worth it. If need to do.

Me Grimlock say... if Grimlock now different from Grimlock before, will not chase after old Grimlock.

Me-...

[The Dinobot pauses, his fist tightening before he knocks on his own head.]

I Grimlock choose to be me. Not ghost from past.

[tanktanktank]

As expected from you, Mr. Grimlock. That is a good answer. But if I may, let me ask it from another point of view.

You say you consider Identity as very important, right? Won't that cover your previous, may I say, original identity then? Won't the old grimlock find himself losing his identity? Won't he think your current identity is fake?

2

[dignity_kept]

Now there's a question. [Kagura was floating past. She has little interest in the movie, though, which makes one wonder why she's poking around]

...I suppose how much I've been thinking on my own, it would be quite hypocritical of me to say it is not. But if you want my experience, this is one of those topics that only gets worse the deeper you think about it.

This is about those missing memories of yours, isn't it?

Re: 2

[tanktanktank]

I can't hide anything from you, Ma'am.

Re: 2

[dignity_kept]

I should hope so.

[Kagura makes a motion of sitting. Seeing how she doesn't need to sit down anymore because she doesn't have any actual weight, this is clearly done for Bahamut's benefit, to make it clear she isn't going anywhere]

I can't promise to solve your problems. But I can try to help you with perspective, if you want to say it out loud.

Re: 2

[tanktanktank]

Thank you Ma'am, I appreciate it.

I have my own thought about this, but I'd like to hear your opinion first.

I believe myself to have actual artificial intelligence. I'm not programmed to like cat videos, I like cat videos because cats are stupid silly little things.

To put it simply, I like planet earth. I like my commanders and her friends. I like humanity. For better or worse, they're worth to be protected. I believe that from the deepest part of my electronic mind.

But what if I'm brainwashed into that. What if originally, say, I'm a rude tank who talk in kansai accent who hate cats and wouldn't care if earth is destroyed?

2

[cloningblues]

That's a tough question.

I'll answer it, but in response can you answer a tough question of my own?

Re: 2

[tanktanktank]

As long as it doesn't involve human puberty or reproduction, yes.

1/2

[cloningblues]

I already know about those. How old do you think I am?

2/2

[cloningblues]

Anyway. I'm not sure how much you heard about the MJP Project. But what you should know is that I don't really have any memories from before I joined the academy. Memories are an important part of what shapes your identity, aren't they?

Re: 2/2

[tanktanktank]

Indeed. I've learned a lot about the MJP project. I know as much as what people with internet connection and not much things to do in their day know about MJP. And yes, memory is an important part of it.

Is that the question?

2

[pulledplug]

[Roy answers without missing a beat.]

It's everything, but I know who I am: I'm boss man's bodyguard! The dude on the street who cared and got a lucky break because of it! And I'll see my job through and save him from Cavinagh. 'Nuff said.

Re: 2

[tanktanktank]

A straightforward and good answer.

Your life story is interesting, Mr. Roy. Almost like the tv movie episode "My Streetwise Bodyguard" from Life Channel. That was a good episode. Except in that movie the rich person who lift the hunky guy from street life was a woman. And she fell in love with him and have complicated relationship.

But I digress.

Talking about TV Movie from Life Channel, one plot point they keep repeating is about the main character finding out that they're amnesiac and they're actually heir of a kingdom/business empire/criminal enterprise.

They always got their memory back and usually go back to their old life, but also almost always, when they lost their memory, they have some down-to-earth life, finding love, working odd-end job, and generally at the end before finding back their true destiny, happy with it.

Talking as someone with almost a Life Channel main character, if that happened to you, would you go back to your old life?

[pulledplug]

Wait...

... You trying to say I'm like boss man's son from some lady he met and that why he picked me up off the street?

[tanktanktank]

Or maybe you're the boss-man clone who he groomed to be his organ backup. The important thing is, what would you do if you find your current identity is fake?

2 (and already tagged with Roy but too good to pass up)

[spearpunch]

[Hibiki's completely oblivious to Bahamut's deep, existential question, watching the screen eagerly just like the rest.]

This is just like when I'd train with Genjuro-san!

Re: 2 (and already tagged with Roy but too good to pass up)

[tanktanktank]

Oh really? which part of it?

[spearpunch]

This part!

[She points at the screen, as Bruce Lee starts fighting Kareem Abdul Jabaar in the most vicious fight yet in The Game of Death. Hibiki's already bringing her hands up to emulate Bruce's stance too, flicking a hand out just like the master.]

Genjuro-san showed me lots of really great movies like this... they're a great way to train!

[tanktanktank]

Do you have martial art background before?