章 128: 30
Chapter 30 - The Arcinator
Blake hadn't felt such fear since she'd left the White Fang. Back then every day had been a struggle for survival. Mixed with the risk of capture, interrogation or worse… in some parts of Atlas the SDC's word was law. And they were less than forgiving with those in the Fang.
But since then things had been easier. Albeit with her undead companion floating around complicating matters. It was still something she wouldn't trade for the world.
And now that peace felt threatened. By the uncharacteristically knowing look of the robotic girl before her.
"Salutations Blake, I am pleased to see your teammates accepted your faunus nature."
"Y-Yeah, me too… they're great friends."
How much did she know? She seemed so oblivious most of the time – bot now she was looking at Blake with an expression that was almost curious.
"I don't know how much she's aware of… she definitely noticed though. It felt like… like something was poking me, testing me."
But does she know it came from me? She might think it was some kind of computer virus – or maybe just a bug of some kind.
"I knew they would." Penny nodded, "All my research into friendship showed that this would be the case." The girl paused then, looking at Blake through the corner of one eye, "Though I suppose we all know that isn't always the case, right?"
Did she always talk like this? Last time I saw her she seemed less eloquent.
"If you're referring to racism then sure, some people will always be unable to see past first appearances."
"I know someone who went to school and received the same for being weak." Penny said, "He wanted to become a Hunter, but everyone laughed and ridiculed that dream."
"Blake… that…"
"People will always be like that," Blake shrugged, "Did your friend prove them wrong?"
Penny smiled, "Oh he wasn't my friend. Or I didn't know him personally… he died in initiation though. Beacon's initiation."
Damn it! Blake's hand flew to Gambol Shroud. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with it. Starting a fight in a public place would be madness, but the warm grip was still a familiar presence.
"Wait, please," the robot held her hands out in a gesture of peace, "I do not wish to fight over this. I wish only that we are able to speak candidly."
"Blake, we can't cause a scene here… not with the rest of RWBY nearby." He was right of course… Ruby and Weiss were still locked in their own conversation and she could just make out Yang coming closer with a dress. No one thought it particularly odd that she was touching her weapon, but if she drew it on a defenceless girl?
"I understand why you wish to remain quiet on this," the girl said, "I understand more than you can realise."
"How?" She didn't specify the question. How did she find out, how did she understand, how did she know the way in which Jaune had died?
"I cannot know for certain, but at that moment where he attempted to… become one with me," okay, that was a bad choice of words… looked like the girl hadn't quite gotten past that. "At that moment he possessed my memory banks and spread himself among them. He became me… but I also became him."
Blake's eyes flicked to the ghostly figure, getting a shrug in return.
"I have no idea – I told you all of this was learn as we go. I couldn't have predicted this."
"Can you…" she paused to make sure no one else was listening. "Can you see him?"
"I cannot. Is he still here? Sensational!"
"I take it you can't hear me either?" There was no response from the girl, which answered that question.
"Slow down a little… can you explain how you know how he died?" Had Atlas been watching them, or was she just in the know through Ozpin? She supposed it made sense that the Headmaster might have told Ironwood how one student had died.
He'd probably been investigated to see if it was negligence or just an accidental tragedy.
"I can try," the girl bounced on two feet, "I think this would only be possible because of my processors. But when he possessed my mind he had access to all of my memories – and vice versa for me."
"But I've never been able to read a person's mind when I possess them!" Blake repeated the question for Penny.
"Yes, but you are also not a super-computer capable of processing billions of individual things at a given time – nor with perfect recall. When you possessed my mind you were there for only a few minutes… anyone else would have been unable to deal with the memories, let alone remember them."
"But as a computer you could download them all…" Blake realised, eyes wide. "You could literally make a freeze frame of them all, and process them in a few moments."
That was madness… no normal mind could process seventeen years' worth of memoires – it would surely kill them, or cause some kind of overload. But a robot? She was self-aware, as Jaune had said. So not only could she process those memories, but she actually noticed them in the first place – instantly identified, tracked and stored them away.
Because that was what a computer did…
"Where does this leave us, then?" Blake wanted to know, "We've literally tried to hack into military equipment."
"To find a date for the dance," Penny agreed nonchalantly. Blake couldn't help but flush at that. Okay, when she heard it flat-out said in that way it really did sound stupid. "But this isn't anything that the General would believe, let alone be worried about."
Penny seemed to grow more confident then, stepping forward to take both of Blake's hands in her own.
"But my father – Professor Polendina, he would be thrilled to see something that could advance my project!"
"A-Advance?" Blake gently pried her hands from the girl. There was something uncomfortable about the skin… it felt realistic – incredibly so. But at the same time you just knew that there was metal beneath it all.
"Absolutely! When I was first created we tried to simulate human behaviour and mannerisms by downloading information into my CPU. Most of this came from books, movies and shows – along with what could be taught by my father."
"Doesn't look like it went very well… considering how weird she is."
"But even though you probably can't tell, it didn't go very well…"
"…"
"Um… really?" Blake tried to fake some level of surprise, since the girl's bright eyes were fixed on her. Penny seemed pleased by the reaction – probably another sign of her low level of… well, normality.
"Wait, that was sarcasm? I've never been able to detect that before – sensational! This is perfect. My central processor might be capable of sifting through all the information that was put into my mind, but that doesn't help me apply it. But when Jaune was within my mind I could understand things. I suddenly had over a decade's experience in conversation and normal behaviour." Penny turned to where she imagined Jaune to be – which was incorrect, but Blake wasn't going to correct her. "I am also amazed by how regularly you used to masturbate! Is that normal?"
"Resurrect and then kill me…"
"Penny, we don't really talk-"
"I mean really, sometimes as many as four times a day. I wasn't aware the male reproductive orga- Oh, I'm sorry! This is what they call an awkward conversation, am I correct? Funny, it doesn't feel awkward for me."
"That's because it's awkward for everyone else. Can we please get to the point?"
"The point is that with your help we might be able to advance my abilities to adapt to human nature a hundredfold! You could revolutionise all future development in this entire industry!"
"She wants me to act like some kind of… mind battery? Downloading my memories and thoughts into a bunch of robots?"
That sounds like the start of a terrible horror movie… I don't want to imagine a legion of Jaune's terrorising the women of the world.
"Of course I'm sure my father would be willing to compensate you for what is effectively working for us."
She didn't really have any need for money though. And the thought of relegating Jaune to a test subject didn't exactly sit well with her.
"We don't really have a choice Blake," Jaune floated beside her, "she's being polite in offering to pay us for this. She could just as easily arrange for our arrest."
"If we help… can you guarantee our safety?"
"Of course," Penny nodded, "you wouldn't be working with the military, but with my father directly. Atlas might fund him but they don't control who he does or does not hire."
It sounded fine… if it was just some work outside of classes and school then it wouldn't be too much of a problem. Jaune was correct too… it was a kindness that she offered to recompense them in any way. If she had all of Jaune's memories, then she knew full well what Blake's past was.
There were so many ways this girl could ruin them if she really wanted to.
"What other choice do we have?"
"Of course," Penny piped up once more, "if Jaune can help me by providing experiences and more memories. Then I might be able to see if father can do something to help you in return. I was able to identify and prevent intrusion… but what if we made a similar body that was designed not to prevent, but to accept control from an alternate pilot?"
"You mean…?"
"You could make a body for him?"
The robot before them, who she supposed was now her boss, tilted her head to the side. "We won't know unless you help us find out more about this. But I believe it would be possible. My father is an incredible man."
What could they do? It had bad idea written all over it – especially the close connection with the military. But for a chance to get him a body…?
"We in?" Jaune asked.
"We're in." Blake nodded.
"Am I interrupting something?" Yang pouted.
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