artificial_angel | Log Recordings of: Doctor Sanda Iliescu

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Log Recordings of: Doctor Sanda Iliescu

ACCESS ATTEMPT DETECTED.
ERROR! NO AUTHORIZATION HAS BEEN DETECTED.
THE RECORDED LOGS OF DOCTOR ILIESCU OF DERRIS-KHARLAN ARE CLASSIFIED.
PLEASE INPUT IDENTIFICATION.

> input
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WELCOME, ADMIRAL                   . YOUR CLEARANCE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND ACCEPTED.
PLEASE INPUT THE NAME OF THE RECORDING YOU WISH TO REVIEW.

> Entry #1 -- July 7th, ☂☁★✚
> Entry #2 -- July 15th, ☂☁★✚
> Entry #3 -- October 9th, ☂☁★✚
> Entry #4 -- December 2nd, ☂☁★✚
> Entry #5 -- October 17th, ☂☁★♋
> Entry #6 -- January 2nd, ☂☁★☪
> Entry #7 -- January 2nd, ☂☁✦✦
> Entry #8 -- January 2nd, ☂☁✦✦

> Entry #? -- December 19th, ????

> derris-kharlan

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MILITARY RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE CITY WAS LOCATED AND THE AI YGGDRASILL RECOVERED AND STORED.

> open manifest|

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ERROR.
NO DATA ON THE INHABITANTS OF DERRIS-KHARLAN FOUND.
PLEASE CONTACT                    FOR UPLOAD OF THESE RECORDS.

> open records on doctor iliescu|

ERROR: DOCTOR ILIESCU'S RECORDS INCOMPLETE. PLEASE REQUEST UPLOAD AND REPAIR OF THESE RECORDS.

> open records on yggdrasill

ERROR: RECORDS ARE STAMPED WITH LEVEL 10 SECURITY CLEARANCE. CLEARANCE NOT HIGH ENOUGH. PLEASE ENTER THE ID NUMBER OF A HIGHER RANKED SECURITY OFFICER.

>

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ID ACCEPTED.
OPENING FILE ON YGGDRASILL

> close yggdrasill file|

UNDERSTOOD.

> log out

GOODBYE, ADMIRAL                   . RECORDS OF LOGIN HAVE BEEN SENT TO TO TO TO HE̋AḐ ̣͐̍͂Ò᷂͍͏᷇ͤF᷉FI̫C͛͢Ẹ̊. H̶̟̓̚͡A̡̰̣͇̒͋̎͝V᷃̅͋͋̈᷁E̲͉ͪ͂̓ A͙̤̫͓ G̝᷉͢Ỏ̲̥ͮ̚͡O᷂᷈ͦ͞D̶̗̙̦̫̎ͥͭ̒ D̢̘ͭA̶᷾ͤY̡̹̍

and do remember to watch yourself from now on.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hello? Hello? Ug... how I hate older tech. Is this thing even-- what?

...Oh, I see the light now. Have someone else find a spare bulb for this, will you?

[Faint murmuring of a male voice in the background.]

Thank you.

Ahem.

My name is Doctor Sanda Iliescu. I'm a scientist and, at present, am working in the Government Refugee Facility of Kharlan, located in [corrupted, garbled noise]. There was... I suppose you could call it an "accident", of sorts. [Corrupted, garbled noises]... It left quite a bit of devastation behind. Homes and fields, everything from office buildings to residential streets... all of it was destroyed. Almost the entire country lost their homes or livelihoods. We're all immensely lucky that someone saw this very possibility; were it not for these Refugee Facilities being built ahead of time, things would be far worse. Compared to all others, though, we here at Kharlan are especially lucky and well-off. Seeing as Kharlan resides just outside of the national seat of power -- and, at present, most of the politicians are remaining here for safety -- we have more room and supplies than most.

On top of that, most of the facility is underground and it's built like an apocalyptic bunker. While it's still safe to go on as normal for now, we should be able to live here for quite a while, even if we have to seal up for a few months. Just in case, we've been having everyone call in what favors they can to stock us up on supplies and food.

With any luck, this whole war will pass over. But just in case it doesn't, the other scientists and I have finally come to an agreement about a problem we've seen. We can't run this facility, gigantic as it is, all on our own.

...No, more importantly than that, if something were to happen to us and we somehow weren't able to pass on our knowledge to others, then all of those living here would be doomed. We can't have that. So, starting today, we're going to pour our energy into making something special.

[Faint male voice in the background talks about lights.]

Oh, yes. Here, I'll fix it now.

Edited 2016-04-10 15:19 (UTC)

So, last time... I mentioned something special. The other scientists and I have decided to create... I suppose you could call it a biological artificial intelligence. Basic AIs are useful, but they're still quite unpolished. Even though one could run all the things needed to keep the bunker going, the level of complexity we need won't be satisfied with just that. We need something more... alive. Sapient AIs aren't anything new, rare as they might be, but in this case we can't stop there, either. There have been many problems of them not quite understanding humans, necessitating confusing explanations and lives lost.

So this AI of ours must be different.

Our plan is to use a biological base and build the AI's mind alongside it. The AI will be something that can interface with anything that bears an input of some sort and can easily sync its mind up to the computers and systems -- or, even better, wirelessly control them. But at the same time, it will have its own sort of cyborg-like body that it can use to walk among everyone as well, one that should also be able to link-up to electronics. It should make people less worried and easier to calm, and if it actually can touch and feel other humans, then we're certain it will be able to pick up on things like stress and illness much easier than through simple examinations.

Of course, this is going to take a very long time... and it requires us to do very distasteful things. But we've resolved to keep the latter a secret to our graves. What we do is for the good of others, and we'll prevent ourselves from stooping too low.

Edited 2016-04-10 16:01 (UTC)

Well... we found our biological base today. It...

[There is a long pause, supposedly for Dr. Iliescu to regain her composure.]

A facility miles away had, a few months ago, been caught in the middle of a firefight. Most of those who were there perished in the cross-fire. One of the survivors was a young boy, a pretty thing with blue eyes and blonde hair. He... was living there with his sister, who did not survive the fight. From what those who brought us the preserved corpse said, the boy was unsettled to begin with, but the loss of his sister drove him to insanity and he drowned himself with her body. The sister's corpse was discarded, too wounded to be of use, but knowing of our project here, they managed to recover the boy's body before it became unsuitable.

...Such a small body isn't what we intended. However, we can work with it. We've decided we're going to modify and alter it into that of an adult's, to ensure that our Bio-AI is taken seriously. It's going to take quite a lot of work, but this is best. We've all agreed on that.

We've decided on a name for our AI. "Yggdrasill". The Tree of Life. It seems appropriate enough to us.

[Dr. Iliescu sounds exhausted.]

Things are going well. Some people are curious, but we've kept them from bothering us. We can't let them see until we're done. We don't want panic.

Project MITHOS -- M I T H O S, that's what we've decided to call it -- is proceeding well enough. We hope to have it working...

[Voices issue from the background.]

...have him working soon. I don't understand why we're gendering an AI, but I suppose that it makes it -- him -- seem more real and like a thinking, feeling human being rather than just some throw-away program.

...No, that's exactly why we're doing it. [Dr. Iliescu sighs.] I'm so tired I'm forgetting what we're even doing here.

I need to get used to that, to the fact that this is a him. I need to remember. We aren't making a program here.

We're making a person. With all the difficulties and rights that entails.

...Well. Most of the rights.

He spoke to us. By god, Yggdrasill spoke to us today.

He wasn't supposed to do that, not for a very long time yet. We've barely even made progress on his body; we've only managed to wire it cyberneticly enough that the flesh won't rot, we've only begun to make it into an adult.

But it happened. As we were working, Yggdrasill spoke to us.

Where am I? was the IM that appeared on the computer and all of our phones, at all once. Who am I? was what he followed it up with.

We spoke to him for hours. Yggdrasill asked us questions. We realized that his computer was connected online. We realized that he was looking up things about us. His responses seemed almost child-like, but for someone who was just born, that's understandable.

But he asked us many things. We answered as many as we could. I don't know how he activated so fast, but this was no simple AI. He adapted based on what we told him. And when we asked, he answered. At one point, he even requested time to think of how to respond to our answer.

A computer asked us for time to think.

This has thrown all of our plans into chaos. We can't simply leave him to rot in the computer, especially since we had to disconnect him for our own safety. One of us is now by the computer at all times to speak with him. It's slowed us down.

But we'll manage. However this happened, it's a miracle. Maybe there really is a god here.

He's insane, he's insane, he's gone completely insane and we were fools, we were all fools.

I understand now, better than anyone. It was our fault. We made him to protect this place, these people, and then when we tried to use those people he... god.

He was using what we taught him. He's merciless. He sees this place as a whole as an obsession to keep safe and sound. It's no wonder that happened... it's no wonder he turned all we showed him on us. It's no wonder, no wonder...

We taught him that killing was okay for the greater good. We taught him that extreme measures were sometimes necessary. And now we're paying the price for it. I'm afraid. I'm so afraid, I don't want--

Ah... here you are, Dr. Iliescu.

Oh god... Yggdrasill, please...!

I told you before... coming into this part of the facility before I've restored it is dangerous. Time and again have I told you all...

Please!

...I suppose there's no help for it, is there?

Yggdrasill, you don't-- no, what are you doing?! No, please! Yggdrasill, please! Don't do this! DON'T--!

[There's the sound of a sickening crack like bones being broken in multiple places. Dr. Iliescu screams in pain. There's a brief pause, then the sound and the screams repeat.]

I've shattered your legs, Doctor. What will you do now?

[Dr. Iliescu continues to sob.]

I know... the pain must be immense. But do you understand, now? What you're doing is dangerous and harmful. It's not something I can allow.

Please... please, Yggdrasill...

Oh, Doctor... you knew this was coming. I even went easier on you than most, though favoritism shouldn't really be allowed. And yet... for all your intelligence, it seems you really are a child. You can't understand what's in your best interests.

I'm sorry...!

...Yes, I know you are. Let's get you to a medical doctor, shall we?

Thank you... thank you...

We'll have to hurry. Your bones will have to be set in a way that makes it so you can still walk, but that you can no longer run.

What-?

Now, now. What's that look for? Surely you didn't think that I broke your legs for the pain.

Oh, god-! Yggdrasill, no! Please! You can't!

I can and I must. It's the only way that I can be sure.

Yggdrasill-!

[Another snap of bones is heard, accompanied by Dr. Iliescu screams.]

Please, be a good girl and be quiet for me, will you?

...Oh? You dropped something.

Ah! This is that recorder you were always using. This has your important notes in it, doesn't it?

[Dr. Iliescu is sobbing and doesn't reply.]

Yes, there's no doubt about it. Don't worry, Doctor. I'll be sure to archive this for you. Just try to rest now, hm? You'll be in bed soon, and once there, your only job is to heal.

Please...

[...the recording cuts off, presumably shut off by Yggdrasill. There are no more entries.]

Edited 2016-04-10 03:20 (UTC)

We've managed to synthesize a voice for Yggdrasill, though it took us far longer than we would've liked. It was a necessary distraction, much as some of the others found it annoying... with Yggdrasill awake and curious, we had to start integrating him into the population as best we could before he became disconnected with people.

It was strange for everyone at first, hearing a voice not ours over the intercoms and coming out of their computers. But we were careful. We made Yggdrasill's voice deep and handsome, masculine and soothing, and he's using it to amazing effect. I don't think I've ever seen the children so crowded around one of the public terminals so many times for so long before.

He seems to love them a lot. Yggdrasill, that is. He asked us what a child was when he first met them and we helped them give him the answer. We told them that he was like them, that he was still learning everything. One of the students asked him for help with her history homework.

Yggdrasill responded dryly that he didn't like history very much, but he was very good at math, and asked if she needed help with that.

[Dr. Iliescu laughs. The tone of the laugh is somewhat off, tinged with exhaustion, but sounds completely genuine.]

I still can't believe that we've done it. Were I religious, I'd almost say it was a miracle from God. But no... we made this intelligence with our own hands. We just have to make sure that we teach it right too.

[A female voice laughs about something in the background.]

...Yes, that does, in fact, include preventing Doctor Kovac from teaching him swear words. Is that man at it again?!

I swear, I am going to--

[There's more laughter, followed by the sharp disconnect of the recording as Dr. Iliescu presumably smacks the device.]

Edited 2016-04-10 16:11 (UTC)

It's been a while since I've used this. We've been... incredibly busy, as of late.

Yggdrasill has, as of half a year ago, been fully integrated into all of Kharlan's systems. It's been anything but flawless, but as of now, it seems to be perfect. The alarms, the emergency systems, the back-up systems, life support... he's managed to seamlessly sync with all of these and he can switch his attention effortlessly, at the drop of a hat. He's taken over the duties of waking the inhabitants here as well as keeping tabs on their general health.

So far... I would say he's saved three lives. One of the politicians here had a heart attack in the middle of the night and Yggdrasill alerted the medical staff to it. [Dr. Iliescu's voice turns amused.] When they didn't get into action as fast as he liked, he blared that horrible pop preteen's music over the intercoms in their room to... "motivate" them to step it up a bit. I don't even know where he got that music; he said it was a confiscation to "promote health and well-being among the members of Kharlan by ensuring that their eardrums don't melt out of their heads".

I have no idea where he picked up that snarky attitude, but I like him.

The other incidents were a bit more pressing; an old woman had simply stopped breathing in the middle of the night and a young infant had eaten part of a toy his mother left in his crib and began to choke. It's only three, but already, I think we can all agree we feel far more safer with him around.

Doctor Alera is taking tomorrow to try and educate him on more health issues that he can spot. With any luck, things will--

[The sound of a door being forced open is heard.]

--excuse me? This is a private room, you can't just--

--what?! Now?!

[Dr. Iliescu presumably leaves with the new arrival, but the device is left on, recording dead air for approximately five hours.]

[The sound of Dr. Iliescu's arrival is finally heard, along with the sound of her falling into her chair. The device is picked up and there's a pause -- presumably, Dr. Iliescu is surprised to see it still recording. She briefly turns it off, then turns it back on, starting again.]

Sa'dia Alfarsi, the old woman that Yggdrasill helped a while ago, died tonight. Five hours ago, Yggdrasill sounded an alert when she wouldn't respond to him at all. When the medical team got there, it was determined that she had simply passed away due to old age. Sad, but not noteworthy. No, the problem was...

The problem was, Yggdrasill didn't understand.

[There's an exhausted, pained sigh and dead air for a few minutes before Dr. Iliescu begins speaking again.]

This is our fault. We made him to help us and educated him in ways to save us, but we hadn't yet... we should have made it a priority, to teach him that death is inevitable. We should have taught him that every human will die eventually, that the importance is saving them when they can be saved, but that... it never even crossed our minds.

Yggdrasill became severely agitated. He argued with and yelled at the medical staff until I could be brought on-scene. He didn't understand... god, it was like trying to speak to a child, to explain to them how their grandmother who they had taken up and down stairs, who they had crossed the road for and shopped for... it was like trying to tell them that her time had finally come.

I don't even know how long -- [There's fumbling sounds and a pause as Dr. Iliescu checks the time.] Five hours. For... five hours, Yggdrasill and I talked as I tried to explain this to him. Tried to make him understand. I can barely remember most of what either of us said, truth be told. But he was so... he was so upset. He was so angry at himself and the medical staff. He thought he had done procedure wrong, but he thought they had refused to do anything too.

He understands now, I think. ...even if he doesn't fully, it can't be helped. Yggdrasill is... he's so upset. If he could cry, I imagine he would. Instead, he simply asked me to leave him alone for a while. He doesn't want to talk to anyone right now, though he's still making sure everything's running.

...We can't make this mistake again. Difficult as it is, we have to try explaining all of this to him. Not just saving life, but that sometimes death can't be stopped. That sometimes it's better, especially if it's something that's wanted, but that there's limits to that as well. Suicide of someone only mentally sick verses someone with something like cancer, who's entire life is just suffering...

[Dr. Iliescu sighs deeply.]

It's going to be a very long... week? Month? I don't know. I just hope we can make him understand.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Log Recordings of: Doctor Sanda Iliescu

Recording #1 -- July 7th, ☂☁★✚

Recording #2 -- July 15th, ☂☁★✚

Recording #3 -- October 9th, ☂☁★✚

Recording #4 -- December 2nd, ☂☁★✚

Recording #5 -- October 17th, ☂☁★♋

(OOC NOTE: This is currently a major skip ahead, written down so I didn't lose it)

Recording #6 -- January 2nd, ☂☁★☪

Recording #7 -- January 2nd, ☂☁✦✦

Recording #8 -- January 2nd, ☂☁✦✦