Moonlight Sonata (D7, EM)

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

They had never quite thought about it. That they didn't breathe and were resistant to environments a human couldn't survive in were perhaps obvious facts. As obvious as they not needing food or water - not in the same way organics did, at least.

But despite all that, they had never stopped to think about the fact that meant they could actually go out for a stroll on the Lunar surface in a way no human could ever think of. It was almost as if, in a way, this was their space. A space where they could be. Maybe even be among themselves.

A number of ideas crossed their mind.

(Were those ideas? Was that a mind?)

But for now, the reason why they had gone out for that stroll, early in the morning, was a more practical one.

They took out their PDA, checking that they were close enough to an area with a connection, and sent a message. They should be ready for the call soon enough.

[Boogiepop]

They say that there's a slight communication delay from Earth to Luna but a second shouldn't make things too difficult. Funny, it seems trying to get a signal to the Network in some parking garages in New Angeles was harder than calling on Luna. However, the image quality wasn't exactly the best, especially when Lina-19 was trying to call from a more secure channel.


Kate Helleu

"Hello, SAM Stalingrad East, this is Kate," one of the counsellors in Rabotgorod would pick up. Judging from the strain of her voice, it was likely night time or maybe that's always how she sounded.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

They say that there's a slight communication delay from Earth to Luna but a second shouldn't make things too difficult. Funny, it seems trying to get a signal to the Network in some parking garages in New Angeles was harder than calling on Luna. However, the image quality wasn't exactly the best, especially when Lina-19 was trying to call from a more secure channel.


Kate Helleu

"Hello, SAM Stalingrad East, this is Kate," one of the counsellors in Rabotgorod would pick up. Judging from the strain of her voice, it was likely night time or maybe that's always how she sounded.

"Hello Kate. Gov Nineteen here", she said, using the code the SAM would know her as. "Been meaning to talk to you guys."

Her voice was particularly synthetic-sounding since it was being input electronically directly to the PAD considering where she was, and perhaps because of that it sounded more or less flat. But the next few words clearly carried some happiness - possibly even some pride. "I've got word that the three birds found a way to the forest, yeah? Hoping with stuff like that happening... there may be more that can be done inside NA?"

A short pause.

"Maybe even anything I can help with?"

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

"Huh?" Kate would say curiously at first at the designator before it dawned on her exactly who she was talking to. "Oh! It's you!"

She straightened in her seat, almost expecting some sort of emergency or something of some urgency. It took her a moment to process the request before she looked a bit perplexed. "Oh...well...There's always more that we can do but helping out androids is a bit of a difficult task, especially with the resources that we have."

Kate sighed with a shake of her head. "Admittedly, much of our work is with the public and we hope to change the issue with the people so that we can bring in more allies to the cause, potentially having them see android slavery as something unjust. We do want to help androids to freedom but admittedly, I think much of the leaders think that isn't really fixing the problem or changing anything at the root."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Kate Helleu

"Huh?" Kate would say curiously at first at the designator before it dawned on her exactly who she was talking to. "Oh! It's you!"

She straightened in her seat, almost expecting some sort of emergency or something of some urgency. It took her a moment to process the request before she looked a bit perplexed. "Oh...well...There's always more that we can do but helping out androids is a bit of a difficult task, especially with the resources that we have."

Kate sighed with a shake of her head. "Admittedly, much of our work is with the public and we hope to change the issue with the people so that we can bring in more allies to the cause, potentially having them see android slavery as something unjust. We do want to help androids to freedom but admittedly, I think much of the leaders think that isn't really fixing the problem or changing anything at the root."

The bioroid was silent for a few seconds before answering. "Of course", they finally answered with a nod. "I understand that. In fact... that's exactly what I was thinking of. Helping them find a way out was good, but getting androids out won't help those in NA. And I understand that working with the public is important... The messages on what android rights would do to worker rights, is that working out?"

They shook their head slightly... this was important, of course, but not the main thing they had contacted them for.

"But... more to the point, Kate. Work in the government. And the committee. That might change things. I wonder... is there anything you have in mind I could work with? Maybe I could get some messages across. The housing project in the docklands... I've had some ideas for that. Maybe there's some other ideas I could get through. I don't know..."

Another slow shake of their head.

"What happened, one of the droids disappearing and being hunted and all... I feel I must do something. I... hope you understand."

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

Kate gave an exhausted shrug at the answer. "It's not something we haven't tried to be honest. We try to appeal to anyone we can, especially the humans who are making a fraction of credits just barely getting by every day by matching the maintenance costs of androids. They would like to have things return to where they were, get jobs back in the hands of people but unfortunately, Humanity Labour is just reaching out more to them. They don't have time to think about the far future when they need to put food on the table. Keeping their jobs today is far more important to them, people can only see the short-term goals."

"I wouldn't get too..." she paused for a moment to consider the word choice. "Burnt out with what happens to every android. It's terrible, I know but you were able to help out more androids escape. It's unfortunate to say but that story is just another drop in the bucket in New Angeles. You're going to spread yourself out thin helping just about everyone. That said, some real change could happen from where you are. The Loonies would appreciate a great reduction in android labour, putting jobs into the hands of people. I don't know how much that'll do with the sentiments and people haven't forgotten about what Melange Mining did when they replaced everyone immediately. It's the same battleground but a smaller front worth considering."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Kate Helleu

Kate gave an exhausted shrug at the answer. "It's not something we haven't tried to be honest. We try to appeal to anyone we can, especially the humans who are making a fraction of credits just barely getting by every day by matching the maintenance costs of androids. They would like to have things return to where they were, get jobs back in the hands of people but unfortunately, Humanity Labour is just reaching out more to them. They don't have time to think about the far future when they need to put food on the table. Keeping their jobs today is far more important to them, people can only see the short-term goals."

"I wouldn't get too..." she paused for a moment to consider the word choice. "Burnt out with what happens to every android. It's terrible, I know but you were able to help out more androids escape. It's unfortunate to say but that story is just another drop in the bucket in New Angeles. You're going to spread yourself out thin helping just about everyone. That said, some real change could happen from where you are. The Loonies would appreciate a great reduction in android labour, putting jobs into the hands of people. I don't know how much that'll do with the sentiments and people haven't forgotten about what Melange Mining did when they replaced everyone immediately. It's the same battleground but a smaller front worth considering."

The bioroid nods again, but it takes some time before they actually answer. When they do, it's with a very serious voice.

"I understand that, Kate. I understand we cannot help everyone. And I understand it's change that will help the most."

More silence.

"So. Reducing android labour here. And increasing human labour as a result, I imagine, yeah?"

More silence.

"So... less androids as a way to help androids, then?"

Silence again.

"I wonder... when we could vie for some sort of push for android rights in addition to that. Just keeping us out might help, but..."

Silence yet again. The meaning of the silence should be more or less understandable, though.

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

Kate gave a shrug and shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound so broad. It's a bit of a complicated solution when it comes to managing the expectation and goodwill of the labour market. It's a bit of the same relationship when it comes to the Loonies but that's a bit of another can of worms there. If jobs were to return to the people and they might start to have some capacity for sympathy, the people I mean. We can't be sure of that either, people might view them as something of an internal immigration problem too when it comes to housing people who now have their own lives but I would consider that a problem tackling way down the line."

"You do have a bit of a captive audience but you just have to know your demographic to approach that situation. The percentage of android ownership is relatively lower on Heinlein than the rest of New Angeles. I think most people there view them as corporate tools than a servant....or a walking appliance when it comes to most domestic android owners," she said delicately on the matter. "Even if there are rumours of some underground android market there."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Kate Helleu

Kate gave a shrug and shook her head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound so broad. It's a bit of a complicated solution when it comes to managing the expectation and goodwill of the labour market. It's a bit of the same relationship when it comes to the Loonies but that's a bit of another can of worms there. If jobs were to return to the people and they might start to have some capacity for sympathy, the people I mean. We can't be sure of that either, people might view them as something of an internal immigration problem too when it comes to housing people who now have their own lives but I would consider that a problem tackling way down the line."

"You do have a bit of a captive audience but you just have to know your demographic to approach that situation. The percentage of android ownership is relatively lower on Heinlein than the rest of New Angeles. I think most people there view them as corporate tools than a servant....or a walking appliance when it comes to most domestic android owners," she said delicately on the matter. "Even if there are rumours of some underground android market there."

#19 shakes their head again, a slightly awkward smile on their face.

"I understand, Kate. I do.... it's just..."

Head shakes again. "It's all so confusing, at times. Tools. Servants. Appliances. We are made - created, programmed, on purpose - to feel like that. I understand it's a slow change for people to see us differently. Especially when..."

Silence, and there seems to be some anguish on #19's face.

Was that anguish? Was that a feeling, and a negative one at that?
It was a strange thing to see on a bioroid. They were created to not go through something like that.

A feeling of self-doubt zapped through Nineteen's circuits. A malfunction. They could hear the voice of the Jinteki clone retrieval woman they had met back at that Gala. This was the sort of thing that might end up getting them sent for maintenance.

Their face was suddenly neutral again.

"We see ourselves like that, Kate. The law places us in that position. But... you're right. I'll try to analyse the demographics and act accordingly."

A calm, almost rehearsed-like smile.

"I hope the SAM will lend its support. When the time comes to push for some legislative change, at least." A nod. "You will... we will work for that, right, Kate?"

The hope in the last words could almost be sensed - which was, again, probably strange coming from a bioroid. There was a long silence, then, before they spoke again.

"Wait. You mentioned... an underground market? I know you just said we cannot help everyone, but... do we have any leads on that?"

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

"It's something we're constantly doing as long as we're existing. I can't say it's easy on our end, nowhere as tough as your circumstances...but we're a bit understaffed here even for the small things we're trying to do normally." She said as there was a clinking of ceramic. It seemed she might be making herself a coffee when she took a pause.

"Some of us go through the wringer, quit, and the rest of us keep trying to recruit younger and newer people with enough aspiration and energy to carry the rest of us. New Angeles is a megacorpation bastion for both Jinteki and Haas-Bioroid, so keep that in mind. We'll continue to work, but just know...well, we're human in the end. I'm sure you've felt the same way, sometimes," she gave a small shrug on the matter, sound a bit crestfallen. "So yeah, we'll keep fighting the good fight."

She frowned at the question and she glanced off to the side. "Well, I didn't know if you'll bite...if you're looking to do something without really moving the needle, there is that...It came upon our radar and we don't know how much of it is entirely true. But yeah, loonies kind of find androids to be corporate tools and they are admittedly expensive to many of them. So there of an underground market in getting them cheap, some of them second-hand supposedly. They say much of it happens at the bottom level fo the domes, don't know who handles it or anything. I'm sure it might be illegal, even to the standards of android law as we know it."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Kate Helleu

"It's something we're constantly doing as long as we're existing. I can't say it's easy on our end, nowhere as tough as your circumstances...but we're a bit understaffed here even for the small things we're trying to do normally." She said as there was a clinking of ceramic. It seemed she might be making herself a coffee when she took a pause.

"Some of us go through the wringer, quit, and the rest of us keep trying to recruit younger and newer people with enough aspiration and energy to carry the rest of us. New Angeles is a megacorpation bastion for both Jinteki and Haas-Bioroid, so keep that in mind. We'll continue to work, but just know...well, we're human in the end. I'm sure you've felt the same way, sometimes," she gave a small shrug on the matter, sound a bit crestfallen. "So yeah, we'll keep fighting the good fight."

She frowned at the question and she glanced off to the side. "Well, I didn't know if you'll bite...if you're looking to do something without really moving the needle, there is that...It came upon our radar and we don't know how much of it is entirely true. But yeah, loonies kind of find androids to be corporate tools and they are admittedly expensive to many of them. So there of an underground market in getting them cheap, some of them second-hand supposedly. They say much of it happens at the bottom level fo the domes, don't know who handles it or anything. I'm sure it might be illegal, even to the standards of android law as we know it."

There is something like frown of disgust, but it's soon gone. There's a short time of whirring that might or might not be relayed through the call.

"Yes, that is most certainly illegal. Wouldn't look good for the government to have something like that here get out in the open either."

A shrug and a half-smile from the bioroid. "Break down illegal slavery while legal slavery is still around", she says with a smirk. "But that's something that falls into my duties to the government, I suppose, so that's good."

A nod, and now a calmer and actually thankful nod at the woman. "Thanks, Kate. For lending your ear, too." A more serious expression creeps into their expression for a while, but is soon shook away. "We'll keep hoping and looking for opportunities. To push for change, yeah? Real change. But for now... can you send me a word if you find anything else on that black market op? I'll be tapping some official contacts and looking around myself as well."

OOC: Guessing I can do some asking around about this on D8? Maybe even in that Open thread?

Also - wondering if a Regular favour with the government (to provide surveillance of some area - although not sure if that helps in Luna?) or the Loonies (gained on D7!) could help find info on a lead more specific than the 'bottom level of the domes'?

Thanks!

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

"Or the corps. I guess, they probably don't like people making an extra buck with their hard work. It might be small enough that it might not bother them too much. At the end of the day, it is the act of selling unlawful property to them. I don't know if there's going to be so much of a good ending for the androids involved but we could consider adopting them somewhat, depending on where they're from Well, that's something to consider." She gave a shrug on the matter. "Sure. I'll take a look but I'm down here and you're up here. I think I might be able to do more if you ever find the androids involved. That might take another tourist trip with your mysterious boatman, to be honest."

[OOC: And yes to both! Good use of a favour, actually, I'd say yes it could be used to get your in touch with someone who might know someone who works with that Network.]

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Kate Helleu

"Or the corps. I guess, they probably don't like people making an extra buck with their hard work. It might be small enough that it might not bother them too much. At the end of the day, it is the act of selling unlawful property to them. I don't know if there's going to be so much of a good ending for the androids involved but we could consider adopting them somewhat, depending on where they're from Well, that's something to consider." She gave a shrug on the matter. "Sure. I'll take a look but I'm down here and you're up here. I think I might be able to do more if you ever find the androids involved. That might take another tourist trip with your mysterious boatman, to be honest."

[OOC: And yes to both! Good use of a favour, actually, I'd say yes it could be used to get your in touch with someone who might know someone who works with that Network.]

"Another tourist trip might work. As might adopting them... But I'll focus on trying to find them, for now. Thanks again, Kate. For the support and... for everything, really. I'll keep in contact"

OOC:
So, Loonies favour to try to get in contact with someone who might know someone, then? And/or the government one?

And I'm assuming that can happen in a D8 thread?

[Boogiepop]

Kate Helleu

"Not a problem, I'm here for something, at least," she said with a faint smirk. "Call me at my extension if you need to reach me directly. Good luck up there."

With that, Kate ended the call.

[OOC: Lina-19 can use either/or. I'll say that they count for one automatic success in the search for Nadia, let's just say what the dice say when I roll them with Priya sometime soon...}