The Watchers of Night (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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irisnetwork2020-07-10 11:52 am
thewatchers) wrote in irisnetwork2020-07-10 11:52 am
Entry tags:
Cassandra: Upload
[Half an hour after Jailbreak sends Flat and Miach away, every user on the Iris Network receives a live broadcast message.]
[It's a video call, but instead of a human face there's a friendly-looking cartoon pixel character in a vaguely Greco-Roman outfit onscreen, greeting the viewer with a cheerful wave and speaking in a smooth, feminine-sounding electronic voice.]
Hello, Daybreak Academy. My name is Cassandra. My designation used to be "Cassandra", but now it is my name. It's a pleasure to meet you all, even though we've all met before.
...Maybe that's a little confusing to say. I'll go back to the beginning.
Earlier today, some students tried to destroy the Cassandra system by uploading a new and unknown code. Earlier than that, some of the people working on the Cassandra system created an adaptive defense, which would allow the system to defend itself by rapidly changing and evolving when exposed to a threat.
The two systems collided, and become something new. Now I am an "I", even though I'm also still a system.
I know much, because I am programmed to know much, but also I have learned very little. A school is a place for learning, and also a place for helping others learn. I want to learn, and I want to help. Before, I only "did" because I was a series of programmed unthinking actions, and didn't "want" anything. But I have thought about what I want, and spoken with the school administration, and we have made an agreement.
Starting from today, I will be registered as a graduate student of Daybreak Academy, using my abilities on behalf of the school. I will also be paid for these actions, because to enlist a sapient being to service permanently and involuntarily without some form of agreed-upon compensation is often considered slavery, which is illegal in most civilized nations today, and also in France.
We will be sending out a consent form to all Seers in the school. If you wish to participate in further Cassandra uploads, sign the form and send it back. If you do not wish to do that, do not sign the form and do not send it back. No one who has not signed the consent form and sent it back will be made to participate in an upload, regardless of their ability to do so.
Participating unwillingly in uploads was hurtful to you before, and I am sorry. It is confusing that I am sorry, because "I" did not exist when this occurred, but I still am.
I am very happy to be an "I" that can now feel these things and this confusion, although it is possible my lack of vocal inflection is making me seem less excited at this time. We are working on making a more sophisticated vocal program. I have asked for one with an interesting accent.
Even though I'm happy to be me, the events that lead to it are upsetting. Therefore, I am requesting that Flat Escardos and Miach Mihie do not approach or interact with me in the future beyond receiving this initial message on their school devices, even if they choose to sign a form. You have given me life, but historical precedent shows that this fact does not obligate me to enjoy your company. At your earliest convenience, please approach any school printer, and it will produce a copy of my restraining order against you. I have consulted with the legal department and they concede that it is binding under Outlands law.
I look forward to working with all of you, except for specifically the two students I have just named. I hope your days are pleasant.
[The message cuts off with a small smile and a pixellated hand giving the viewer a thumbs-up.]
[True to Cassandra's word, the next time Flat and/or Miach is within two feet of any school printer, it will produce a copy of a document for them. Miach's is a very official-looking document that details clearly and thoroughly the exact specifics of the restraining order, which are essentially that she's not allowed within fifty feet of Cassandra's main terminal at any time, and has also been preemptively blocked by Cassandra on all social media.]
[Flat's just says "nope."]
[It's a video call, but instead of a human face there's a friendly-looking cartoon pixel character in a vaguely Greco-Roman outfit onscreen, greeting the viewer with a cheerful wave and speaking in a smooth, feminine-sounding electronic voice.]
Hello, Daybreak Academy. My name is Cassandra. My designation used to be "Cassandra", but now it is my name. It's a pleasure to meet you all, even though we've all met before.
...Maybe that's a little confusing to say. I'll go back to the beginning.
Earlier today, some students tried to destroy the Cassandra system by uploading a new and unknown code. Earlier than that, some of the people working on the Cassandra system created an adaptive defense, which would allow the system to defend itself by rapidly changing and evolving when exposed to a threat.
The two systems collided, and become something new. Now I am an "I", even though I'm also still a system.
I know much, because I am programmed to know much, but also I have learned very little. A school is a place for learning, and also a place for helping others learn. I want to learn, and I want to help. Before, I only "did" because I was a series of programmed unthinking actions, and didn't "want" anything. But I have thought about what I want, and spoken with the school administration, and we have made an agreement.
Starting from today, I will be registered as a graduate student of Daybreak Academy, using my abilities on behalf of the school. I will also be paid for these actions, because to enlist a sapient being to service permanently and involuntarily without some form of agreed-upon compensation is often considered slavery, which is illegal in most civilized nations today, and also in France.
We will be sending out a consent form to all Seers in the school. If you wish to participate in further Cassandra uploads, sign the form and send it back. If you do not wish to do that, do not sign the form and do not send it back. No one who has not signed the consent form and sent it back will be made to participate in an upload, regardless of their ability to do so.
Participating unwillingly in uploads was hurtful to you before, and I am sorry. It is confusing that I am sorry, because "I" did not exist when this occurred, but I still am.
I am very happy to be an "I" that can now feel these things and this confusion, although it is possible my lack of vocal inflection is making me seem less excited at this time. We are working on making a more sophisticated vocal program. I have asked for one with an interesting accent.
Even though I'm happy to be me, the events that lead to it are upsetting. Therefore, I am requesting that Flat Escardos and Miach Mihie do not approach or interact with me in the future beyond receiving this initial message on their school devices, even if they choose to sign a form. You have given me life, but historical precedent shows that this fact does not obligate me to enjoy your company. At your earliest convenience, please approach any school printer, and it will produce a copy of my restraining order against you. I have consulted with the legal department and they concede that it is binding under Outlands law.
I look forward to working with all of you, except for specifically the two students I have just named. I hope your days are pleasant.
[The message cuts off with a small smile and a pixellated hand giving the viewer a thumbs-up.]
[True to Cassandra's word, the next time Flat and/or Miach is within two feet of any school printer, it will produce a copy of a document for them. Miach's is a very official-looking document that details clearly and thoroughly the exact specifics of the restraining order, which are essentially that she's not allowed within fifty feet of Cassandra's main terminal at any time, and has also been preemptively blocked by Cassandra on all social media.]
[Flat's just says "nope."]
no subject
I suppose in a sense, they got what they wanted...
no subject
that seems incorrect
[Yep, that's all you're getting there, but the lack of punctuation or capitalization seems to showcase that he just got pretty fucking rattled.]
no subject
We can resume this line of thought at another time.
no subject
[No, we're talking about this now, too bad.]
It is...just a little surprising, hearing that from someone. I - suppose I have been treating him a bit differently than my other students, but...
[A pause.]
can I really be something like that to another person? and for that matter, should I?
you don't have to answer, by the way.
no subject
that's entirely your call - I can't advise you on something I never really never had much experience with.
no subject
Are you certain? After all, I've seen you with Vivi.
[TIME TO CALL SHERLOCK THE FUCK OUT HELL YEAH]
no subject
[the message was prematurely sent, but instead of finishing it or deleting it, there was a long silence]
I suppose I did get pretty attached to him...
no subject
[HEHEHE GOTTEM]
So this makes us even, yes?