cape_kore | Daneel | 001

For the benefit of those to whom I haven't introduced myself, my name is R. Daneel Olivaw. I'm aware that several people have had experiences in regards to the cameras being repaired or food being replaced while they were not looking. With this in mind, I took it upon myself to perform an experiment.

[He pauses; it's a troubling thing for him.]

I damaged a camera and I sat up to watch. I do not sleep, and I was confident that I would encounter who or what is sent to repair them. This... did not happen. I found myself disabled, and I awoke later, with the camera repaired. No one approached me, human or robot.

[He's positive of that. He can't say why -- might be better to keep his awareness of other minds a secret for now, if he can. He can't imagine the reaction to a telepathic robot would be a good one. Daneel presses on, earnest. There's more important things.]

This shouldn't be possible. My positronic brain does not possess the right structure to allow me to sleep, or any equivalent state. I don't possess an "off" switch. It should require special equipment to put me into a dormant state without cutting my brain off from my power source, which would permanantly destroy it. This has evidently not happened, but I cannot account for it, either.

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[Oh, fuck. Kobra needs to be more careful, then. He doesn't want to do anything that could hurt Daneel.]

Okay, well... If I say something and it sounds like an order, it's not, okay? I don't order people. If you don't like it, don't do it. And... and if it seems like anyone's taking advantage of you or using you, you should tell me so I can give them a stern talking to with a lot of curse words.

[He tilts his head to one side, looking closely at Kobra, listening to his mind with a certain curiosity. This isn't an attitude he's had from, well... anyone. He's also not going to think too hard about how to take an order not to take orders.]

Kobra, I am a robot. I'm meant to take orders. That is my purpose. To fulfill my role and aid human beings gives me pleasure at having completed what is asked of me.

But the fact that you can feel pleasure... you've got feelings in there. It's one thing to want to help people and a whole other to be forced to. If you do stuff for me, I want it to be because we're friends and you know that I'd do the same for you and not because you don't have a choice.

I like doing things for people, too. A lot of humans do, but we still get a choice in the matter.

[The idea of not following an order, not because it was a poor one or because of some conflict, but simply because he didn't want to, because he didn't like it, is a little unsettling. He can't do that. No matter what Kobra says, Daneel can't do that.]

You are a very good person, Kobra, and I'm pleased to be able to call you my friend. If anything, I would want even more to follow any orders you give me, because you are my friend and I wish to please you.

[Daneel sighs, an actual sigh from a robot who doesn't need to breathe, because he recognises how futile this explanation is. He is what he is, that's all.]

Very rarely have I ever felt forced by any order any human has given me.

[Kobra smiles. Daneel really is a good person and Kobra doesn't want to think of him any other way. He is a person in all the ways that make someone a person, as far as Kobra can tell. Kobra can't help worrying that someone could take advantage of Daneel or use him because of those rules.]

Okay, but if a situation ever seems, you know, kinda sketchy or something and you need a hand, you've got me. I have your back.

This wasn't my intention in telling you this, but I'll remember that. Similarly, if you ever need my assistance, you need only ask.

[He's feeling very fortunate, and there is a very small smile on his face despite himself.]

I know. [Kobra smiles back.]

I just don't want anyone taking advantage of you. I want you to know that you can come to me. For anything.

I'll remember this. Thank you, Kobra. I'm glad we had this talk.

[Which is putting it mildly. He's going to have think about what it means to be considered an equal.]

Any time. You know, you're easy to talk to. You remind me of Jet a little. He's always around when I need to talk to someone.

[He really hopes they're all okay back home.]

I hope I can also help you in that manner, Kobra.

[He can only guess that Jet is not a robot, judging by Kobra's reaction to Daneel. It's strange to be compared to a human.]

Jet is a human being?

Jet is one of the most awesome people I know. And he has giant hair.

[He grins.]

He's about the only person who can talk me down.

Talk you down?

[He tilts his head slightly to one side. It's an idiom, surely, but an unfamiliar one to him.]

What do you mean?

I... might be known to have a temper. [He shrugs.] It's really not a problem when no one's trying to hurt my friends.

[He thinks he's seen a bit of that already, just a bit.]

In that case, if you need talking down, perhaps I can help you with that.

[He smiles.]

Okay, Dan. You will be my go-to guy.

Daneel | 001 | Public Video

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