[video]

[turnsthewheels]

[The video clicks on to reveal a rather elegant-looking young man - his suit's a little wrinkled and his hair's a little messy, but he looks almost posed as he looks intently at the camera.]

Well, that's one thing worked out, eh?

Hello, everyone. I'm a newcomer, I'm afraid, and while I believe I've worked out some of the basics, I could use help adjusting. Any information you could give me would be wonderful. [He gives a small, friendly grin.] Primarily concerning a way out. I'm rather important back home, you see. The call of duty and all that.

For now, if there's no quick way out, I'd also be happy to make myself useful. I'm a roboticist back home, and there seems to be at least one robot here, so if anyone needs anything... [Another nice, friendly grin.]

[Pause] Also, I think someone replaced the bit of food I had with... candy, so I'm admittedly a little worried about that situation. It's not an immediate concern, but.

Thank you for your time, truly.

Comments

[ video ]

[hostage]

You can't eat candy?

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

Not with nothing else to supplement it. Protein is always pleasant in the long run.

[ video ]

[hostage]

Ah, you don't gotta worry about the long run. It's probably somebody just messing around with magic.

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

...Sorry, magic?

[That seems to have made the calm demeanor flicker a little into confusion.]

[ video ]

[hostage]

Didn't pay attention to the greeter, huh?

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

To be honest, I've had to find my own way a bit so far. The first person to meet me tried to mug me - after that, I focused on getting indoors quickly. I might have missed some things in my rush.

[ video ]

[hostage]

That blows. At least you made it inside.

Anyway, yeah. Everybody here's got superpowers. If you don't got one already, you'll get one soon.

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

Now, that's admittedly fascinating. [His grin is, for just a moment, a little too wide.]

I have a few little tricks, but they're all scientifically founded. I've never had the opportunity to encounter the supernatural. But I suppose if this place pulled me this far, it's not that surprising that there are other oddities as well.

[ video ]

[hostage]

[Dryly:] Yeah. It's kafkaesque.

[Forgive his mood. He's detoxing.]

If you really wanna see some supernatural shit, stay outside after dark. Except don't really, 'cause you'll get eaten.

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

Apologies if I came off as flippant. It's hard to break out of the scientific mindset.

[He frowns a little.]

Being eaten is something I'd rather avoid, yes. What exactly is out there at night?

text

[reassures]

There is no way out right now.

Did you have any specific questions?

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

Well, that's quite a shame. I'll have to work on that.

Just a general rundown would be lovely, but places to get work and food would be particularly superb.

[reassures]

[Oh hey. There's a little pause before a reply, because now that she looks... is that a W on his face?

Interesting tattoo choice.]

Did you not speak to a Greeter?

Oh-- That depends, do you cook for yourself, or were you hoping to just get a meal somewhere? The mall has a lot of restaurants, but the grocery stores here have a really wide variety, too.

[ video ]

[turnsthewheels]

Only very briefly. Someone tried to mug me on arrival, my main concern was getting indoors after that. [He chuckles.] I may have missed things, I'll admit.

I can cook for myself, so grocery stores would be lovely.

permatext! because lazy

[reassures]

That's awful. Are you okay?

Then... If you're at the Tower Apartments, there should be a grocery store two blocks away. Just go out to the main road and go down the street to the right-- you should be able to see it eventually.

permavideo in turn, because Wily is vain.

[turnsthewheels]

I'm fine. He wasn't particularly competent, to be fair. [He grins brightly.]

Perfect. Thank you so much for the help, ah--what would your name be?

[reassures]

Well, it's good that you're okay.

My name is Nill. What's yours?

[turnsthewheels]

For the moment, at least.

Dr. Albert Wily. Quite a pleasure to meet you, Nill. [Smile smile!]

[reassures]

You as well. Should I call you Doctor? Or is Albert fine?

How much do you know about this place right now? I can fill you in on whatever you don't know.

[turnsthewheels]

Please, just Albert's more than fine.

I know that people develop supernatural powers, that staying indoors at night is a lovely idea, and that there's no current way out.

[video]

[rapturescreed]

There's no way back out, none that we've been able to control, anyway.

[On to the real gem of the speech...] What sort of robotics?

[video]

[turnsthewheels]

Lovely to know. [A sigh.]

Ah, multiple sorts. My main focus is semi-autonomous utility robots - street patrols, mine workers, that sort of thing. Simple tasks that would be too dangerous for a human or that are better handled by a more regulated force, but that don't require too much brain power beyond a nudge now and then. [He chuckles.] I've been working on better AI, but I admit it's tricky.

I also have been doing work on, ah, augmentation. If it's too thinking-intensive for a robot and too dangerous for a human... Why not fuse the two?

[video]

[rapturescreed]

There are several groups here who work in the field of robotics, SERO is usually the ones that back them.

When you mean augmentation, what exactly are you attempting to augment?

[video]

[turnsthewheels]

Myself. Humanity in general. I suppose you'd call me a cyborg, although I don't like the connotations that term has in popular culure.

[video]

[rapturescreed]

It's quite all right. Back home, we have AI androids called AutoReivs, and they are a part of the culture and they are what makes the city run so efficiently. In fact, my daughter, Pino, happens to be a Companion model AutoReiv.