Voice-testing Dr. Walter Gibbs

[here_comes_nothing]

I'm glad that you decided to give me something to do, young lady; retirement, is seems, just isn't for me. Though I'm not quite certain about the method you're considering to introduce me to the Grid. Surely there has to be a better way than making me think I've hit my head and given myself a concussion, hmm?

That said, I can't tell you how excited I am to get such an opportunity! I mean, being digitized into a computer and speaking with real, living programs in humanoid personifications! Think of the possibilities! Of course there would be much more research needed before it could be put to practical application in everyday life, but just the idea that humans are capable of interacting with computers on this level... it's mind-boggling, really. I can see why Kevin kept it a secret, even if I don't approve of him doing it.

Comments

[the_gamesmaster]

Hey, Walter. How are you, man?

[sysadmin]

[ See Clu. See all of Clu's glaring. ]

'Practical applications'.

[here_comes_nothing]

[Alright, this is clearly not Kevin. Then, if he understood Kevin's writings correctly, this must be one of his programs! This would be much more exciteing if the man wasn't glaring daggers at him.]

...Er, well, yes. [Ahem] You see, the original intent behind the creation of the Shiva laser was to duplicate or transport objects from our world quickly and easily by converting them into data, copying that data to another location, and then reconverting both the original object and its copy back into physical matter. When the former proved impossible, and the latter impractical, the project was mothballed. The laser was never designed to transport living beings; extensive testing would be required if there were any plans to use it for such purposes on a large scale.

Quite frankly, it's a minor miracle Kevin didn't accidentally kill himself meddling with it like he did. Though I imagine we have Lora's digitization and laser control programs to thank for that.

[anewbeginning]

[Stare stare stare stare. And, for good measure: stare. You are familiar with little kids, aren't you, Gibbs? If so you will probably recognize the look of "Not sure if stranger or new friend" written on the little ISO's face.]

You...are...a user?

[sysadmin]

[ Sorry, Gibbs, but 'practical applications' sure sounds a lot like 'pretend programs aren't real' to Clu. He's a bit touchy. ]

Them and others. And you are?

[ Because bro you look pretty familiar, but he's not sure where from. Flynn's memories, probably. ]

[here_comes_nothing]

[Gibbs, for his part, wasn't really sure what he'd said wrong, but relaxes a bit as they get onto the subject of introductions, offering a handshake.]

Dr. Walter Gibbs. Until recently, of Encom's research and development department. And you?

[here_comes_nothing]

[Familiar enough, yes, thanks to his niece and nephew, when they were younger. Enough to just smile tolerant ly during her staring while observing her in return.]

Indeed I am, young lady. And I take it that you're a program?

[sysadmin]

[ There's a pause, but then Clu shakes the offered hand once, briefly. ]

Codified Likeness Utility, system administrator of the Grid. Clu.

[anewbeginning]

[She meeps and hunches down a little, eyes growing wider at that answer.]

You...you are a good user, right? Not one of the bad ones?

[here_comes_nothing]

[He smiles at that information, undeterred by the rather unenthusiastic handshake.]

Ah, so you're Clu! I remember Kevin mentioning you to me a time or two. It's good to finally meet you, young man. You're the first program I've had the pleasure of meeting face to face, you know.

[here_comes_nothing]

[His expression gentles a bit at her nervousness.]

Well, I like to think I'm a fairly good one, yes, though I'm sure there are better. I won't harm you though, if that's what you mean.

My name is Dr. Gibbs, but you can call me Walter, if you like. What's your name?

[anewbeginning]

[She peeks out at him from behind her bangs, still skittish but willing to move a little closer.]

The last user I met tried to take me away from Tron and my friends. He wasn't very nice -- he was just pretending to be so that I wouldn't run away from him.

My name's Eden.

[here_comes_nothing]

Ah, you know Alan's program then? He's taking good care of you, I hope? [Not that he can imagine one of Alan's programs, especially one like Tron, meant to ensure the safety of the system, doing any less to a nice young program like this.]

And yes, I'm sorry to say that there are some Users like that. You can rest assured that I have no intention of taking you anywhere you don't want to go. I wouldn't mind sitting and talking for awhile though, if you don't have anything presing to do. [He gestures to one of the omnipresent dear_mun couches nearby.]

Eden. [Smiles brightly] That's a lovely name. In my world, it's the name of a beautiful garden that some people believe is where humans were first created. Did you know that?

[anewbeginning]

Yes! Tron is very nice, if a bit grumpy sometimes. And sad. Sometimes very sad...

[She cants her head to one side and eyes the couch for a moment before she sits down. Gibbs seems like one of the good users. And her guardians are usually not very far off. She can risk a bit of talking. Hopefully.] I don't have anything pressing to do. I can talk.

[She smiles shyly, brightening at the compliment.] No, I didn't. I just knew that Eden was my name when everyone I met kept asking me what my name was.

[here_comes_nothing]

[chuckles slightly] That's actually a pretty fair description of Alan, as well. At least, the one I know. I understand that there's supposed to be more than one where you're from, if I'm not mistaken?

[His smile broadens as he settles on the couch as well, though he leaves some space between himself and Eden, so as not to make the poor girl uncomfortable.] Excellent! Ah, you will tell me if I'm asking anything that seems too forward, won't you? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the rules of ettiquete inside a computer.

[He chuckles again at her happiness, this time more scincerely than the first, which had a touch of sadness to it.] Well, I suppose that's as good a way of telling as any. Though if everyone was asking who you were, does that mean you just arrived there recently? Or are you talking about this happening some time ago?

HECK YEAH!!! Three cheers for picking this guy up!

[lifes_short_pop]

[[This...well, seeing as Gibbs died in his timeline before he was even old enough to speak complete sentences, it's one more "unsettling" aspect to this mess]]

"The digital world is pretty hazardous, sir." [[The word "sir" is not normally in his vocabulary, but if anyone's earned it...]] "But I'm glad to hear someone else taking the whole thing seriously. I mean...We made their world. We made them. They worship us, even though we really don't deserve it. That...Well, it's on us to live up to that, and to be the kind of Users a Program shouldn't be ashamed to have."

[anewbeginning]

Oh. I have never met Alan. Not the nice one that comes to my Grid anyway. Just the mean one.

[Give her a few minutes and she will probably be just about crawling into your lap as she does everyone else. It does not take much to get Eden to like someone.] Uhm...okay. But I am not really sure about all that etiquette stuff, either. I'm still learning it myself.

Yes! I'm the first new ISO in...a very, very long time, or so everyone keeps telling me. [She pauses and looks around briefly before leaning closer to him.] Can you keep a secret? I...don't really know where I came from. The Sea is still sick. It doesn't make new ISOs anymore.

[here_comes_nothing]

Ah. [pause] Was it that Alan that tried to take you away from Tron and your friends, then?

[Well, having the bb!ISO actually on his lap would be several kinds of awkward for Gibbs, but he'll be glad when she feels more comfortable around him.]Well then, I suppose we'll have to learn together, won't we?

[He brightens as she remarks that she's an ISO.] So you are.... Ah, I see! [A bit of a wry smirk.] So you and your friends are what Kevin was was on about towards the end. That makes a number of things make a great deal more sense. And it also makes the chance to get to know you even more of a pleasure. [Because really, how often do you get the chance to chat with an emergant digital life form? He'd probably be more openly excited, were it not for her other piece of news.]

And your secret is safe with me, Eden. [Reaches over to pat her nearer hand gently.] And once I've gotten things settled down a bit, perhaps I might try to help with that, hmm? Viruses aren't my particular area of expertise, of course, but it certainly couldn't hurt to have another mind working on the problem, could it?