hadriel | 001 ❗ video

[ It's not as if Miller's pleased that half of Hadriel's captives have apparently been buried alive, but this also grants him an opportunity he'd been craving. It places him back into a position that he's come to miss and yearn for since his arrival here. He can't fight the monsters who come with the newcomers, he can't convince the gods to send them home when they don't even know how the process works, but he can organize people. And this situation, with Hope's set of coordinates? This is his bread and butter.

The broadcast comes from a desk in the main living area of Kaz's apartment. He's propped his phone and adjusted it so that it shows him from the shoulders up. A number of people here already know about his disabilities, but anyone who doesn't should stay that way for now. They might see his missing limbs and his need for a crutch as a weakness, which will make them less likely to listen to him. ]

Fear's really done a number on us this time, hasn't he?

[ He shakes his head, dismayed but not defeated. He assumes it's Fear, anyway. Who else would be behind this? Sitting with his back straight and his beret set in place, Miller takes on the air of command. ]

This we can do something about, though, unlike the blizzard. Anyone who's above ground and willing to help dig someone up, report in. I'll assign you a set of coordinates. Then, report back with whether or not you were successful in digging someone up -- and if so, who it was.

[ That's all simple enough, but Kaz can guess that both those who've been buried and those who haven't are in a panic, and a good leader needs to address something like that. ]

I'm sure that many of you have friends who are in need of your help. [ His brow knits, a quiet show of empathy. ] But right now, we need to focus on getting each and every person dug up, so even if you end up rescuing a stranger, just keep in mind that I'll have probably sent someone else to free your loved one. The important thing is that we make sure each plot is covered so that no one is overlooked.

[ Someone just made a helpful announcement about how awful it would be to suffocate in one of those coffins, after all. ]

For those who are curious, my name is Kazuhira Miller, and I have experience with organizing an army. Getting a few people dug up should be a cakewalk if everyone keeps their calm -- and if enough people want to help.

[ Maybe he's guilting people a little with that last point. It might have to do with the fact that he's self-conscious that he can't contribute to any of the physical requirements of this particular crisis. Then again, that had been the case with taking down Cipher too, and they'd still pulled it off. ]

And if anyone who's trapped is watching this... hang in there. We're on our way.

[ With a firm nod, he ends the feed. ]

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[Nick had hoped that line might give the man some kind of explanation, and apparently, it did.]

Close enough. Can't see why they'd choose to bury someone like me, but at least I'm not suffering. It's a shame we don't know who's buried where so the first out would be those who really need it.

[ Close enough, but not quite. Kaz isn't sure what to make of that, but he's more startled by the fact that this android seems capable of expressing concern for other people. Maybe it's just a part of his programming. That has to be how this works, right?

Whatever is going on here, he doesn't really trust it. ]

Wait, so... what is this, some kind of artificial intelligence?

[ Like those pod things. In his experience, advanced robotics have a way of going very, very wrong. He doesn't think it's outside the realm of reason to be wary. ]

Edited 2016-01-17 03:52 (UTC)

[Nick's good nature shows as he lets out a low, single laugh.]

If it was pure programming, I'd be checking my warranty to see if it was still good, since someone didn't give me enough brains to keep my guard up in this place. Guess you learn some things the hard way.

[ Robots shouldn't laugh. It's just creepy. Even if it's sounds genuine -- actually, that somehow makes it worse.

Even so, Kaz is curious enough to keep the conversation going. ]

I'm not sure it's the kind of thing that being on your toes could have prevented. It's not like any of us can remember being abducted here, either.

[ These gods have a way of putting them into situations without giving them the chance to fight back, or influencing them with uncontrollable emotions. Kaz really isn't a fan. As far as he's concerned, Hope is the only halfway decent one in the bunch. ]

I had a feeling that was the case. My memory's not infallible, but I don't recall any forcible shutdown in my system. And taking me when I'm asleep isn't exactly an option, as you can imagine.

[Or maybe he can't imagine. This isn't the Commonwealth, and not everyone is familiar with synths, after all.]

[ Forcible shutdown. Not so different from being drugged or knocked out, for a human. But even if Kaz can make the comparisons, that doesn't mean that he's on board with this whole... thing. ]

Sorry, I'm just... I'm still stuck on how you have a consciousness to begin with. If what you're saying is true, and you're not an AI...

[ Ghost in the machine? ]

The name's Nick Valentine. I'm a detective from a place called Diamond City. Now, is it just 'Miller,' or do you have a title I should be putting in front of that?

[He glosses right over the other man's concerns, knowing it's easier not to think too hard on the morality of his entire existence.]

Edited (Sure was a typo right there, yep.) 2016-01-17 18:09 (UTC)

[ So he's just going to completely avoid the subject. That only makes Miller more suspicious and uncertain about the android's very existence, but it's not like he can feel that threatened when they're talking by phone and the robot's buried under six feet of dirt. ]

It would be XO, or commander, but Miller is fine.

[ A brief pause, and then he manages a mirthless laugh. ]

Diamond City, huh? I run a group called Diamond Dogs.

It's a good suit. Your group with an army, or are they more of the mercenary variety?

[Or raiders, but this guy doesn't strike Nick as raider material - not with the way he's trying to get people coordinated and rescued. Raiders tend to fight amongst themselves worse than ferals over a fresh corpse.]

We're a private army unconnected to any government, so yeah, I guess you could call us mercenaries.

[ Taking jobs from just about any source, offering their services to the highest bidder -- it wasn't noble work, but someone had to do it. And it was all worth it, as it had allowed them to achieve their goal of revenge. ]

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