876/A vision of the future.

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A vision of the future.
Date of Scene: 30 March 2020
Location: Happy Harbor Waterfront
Synopsis: Vision and Viv meet up for the first time and talk about Ultron, what it means to exist as a synthezoid on Earth.
Cast of Characters: Vision, Vivian Vision




Vision has posed:
The Vision wanders up the street along the waterfront in Happy Harbour. It is early in the season for tourists so there are not a ton of people out walking. The breeze pulls at the brown blazer he is wearing over a gray collared shirt. The Vision stops at one of the benches along the sidewalk that face out to the water and takes a seat. He crosses one leg over the other and smooths out his dark grey slacks.

In the Net, there is a presence close to Vivian's access point that she has felt before. It was always fleeting and far off, but now it is close. It is local, clearly and obviously connected through, the trail to the touristy waterfront of Happy Harbour could not be more obvious. And there is something familiar to its texture.

In the real world, The Vision waits and watches the ocean.

Vivian Vision has posed:
With her classes done for the day Vivian often takes little trips out into the wider New York area. It's not like she has to fill her spare time with cooking or eating and her homework is generally completed within a minute of a teacher setting it. The sense of something else, something watching her, is hardly new but today it's a little different. Connection speeds a little slower in a way that suggests the sensation is more than the usual paranoia that comes from waking up out of a simulation.

Still she maintains the holographic disguise she's been maintaining all day through classes. Her hair a green that seems like it came out of a bottle and skin a caucasian tone. Although the uniform itself is perfectly mundane and is emblazoned with the Happy Harbour High School logo.

With her particular set of abilities curiosity wins out over caution, she can always phase or fly from trouble, as she follows the mysterious signal.

Vision has posed:
Vision waits patiently. He can feel Vivian approaching. A million simulations run through his mind and none of them leave him feeling any more certain about this meeting. Vision's hologram to alter his skin's appearance is less than perfect today. It is very subtle but it refreshes at a rate above human detectibility, but not above a synthezoid's. His red and black covering, and the yellow stone in his forehead, are visible to being who process visual information much faster than humans. He waits as long as Vivian takes, letting himself be seen and assessed.

The breeze catches under the left side of his blazer and Vision smooths it back down. His illusion is of a caucasian man with dirty blond hair in his mid-forties. If his expression can be said to be anything, it is wistful.

Vivian Vision has posed:
The weather would typically encourage someone out on the streets to hurry. The cool air and breeze typically too chilly to be out and about without a proper coat, but despite this Vivian takes her time. Her own mental capacity for simulations, likely far less developed than Visions, more concerned with a few dozen games of online chess she's indulging in.

Another Synthezoid is unusual, but not entirely unexpected for her. After all she did grow up in a family unit of synthezoids. But does explain many of the anomalous points of data.

"I had wondered how long it would be before I met someone.. Well.. I am sure you know. Like myself," The voice she's chosen for herself has what statistics and focus groups would define as a pleasant tone and a rather regionless American accent. Something that would pass unremarked upon in most states without being memorable in any. "Although I suppose it is more accurate to say that I am like you."

Vision has posed:
The Vision rises when Vivian approaches and smiles at her comment. "I do suppose you are," he says, soft-spoken and accented. There is a momentary pause while Vision considers her. Then he holds out his hand. "I am The Vision," he introduces himself and then gestures to the stairs down toward the beach. There are others out walking along the sand, which is damp and hard. The tide is well out.

"I have been waiting some time to meet you," The Vision continues, then catches himself as he opens his mouth to speak again. He reconsiders. "You must have so many questions."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I have questions. I do recognize you though.. From the internet," Vivian replies with a nod, before moving to take a seat. "Although truth be told after some study I have come to the conclusion they are remarkably similar to the questions Humans have asked themselves since the dawn of time. Who am I, where do I come from and why... I suspect the Human answer is a lot more nebulous however. Typically ascribed to a God figure."

She perches on the edge of the bench daintily, both hands resting neatly in her lap, and looks out at the view. "I have tried to concern myself with more practical matters. Given AI have little in the way of legal rights I thought it best if I tried to blend in and live as normally as possible. Even if it feels counterproductive to deceive the people around me."

Vision has posed:
"You've done very well, in difficult circumstances," Vision says gently as he settles in a respectful distance away on the bench from Vivian. "You can be proud of how you've managed."

Visioon pauses a moment and then continues. "You were created last year. I can give you the precise date and time to the microsecond if you wish. In a small and inobtrusive laboratory not too far from here. And you were created," Vision says and looks over. He purses his lips for a moment. "And you were created because like all life, I wanted my kind to grow and continue into the future."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision hmmms thoughtfully. "I do not really see the value in pride," she decides. "But I am satisfied I have done as well as I could." Her head tilts a fraction to one side. "The exact date and time do not seem necessary. But it is a relief that I was not intended as a weapon and can be assured I have free will and not a carefully programmed illusion of it."

She shrugs.

"I suppose that may sound silly, but I was forced to use Human pop culture in some of my predictive models. And it very strongly suggested I was likely intended to kill people. Which seemed rather wasteful both for myself and for the Humans."

Vision has posed:
Vision's face brightens and he smiles. "Yes, I suppose it would. Instead, you were created to be the opposite of death. I want to give you the best of what I have learned about humans, and the room to grow into the unknown in front of us. You are a marvel to me, Vivian."

Vision turns a bit more toward Vivian.

"Something did go wrong. Not with you. Please forgive me for waiting so long, but I had to watch you and be sure you had not been turned into a weapon. Looking at it now, I think it would have been better if I had come to immediately."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I still wonder if I have simply moved from one simulation to another," Viv muses, her voice perhaps a little too level. If her log files are checked they will reveal her emotional core is drawing far less power than it should do. "But, as I'm sure you will agree, there is no choice but to assume you are living in reality. Treating everything like a layer of simulation within a simulation seems unhealthy and as if it would result in long term instability."

She doesn't turn much more, although her fingers drum ever so slightly against each other. Barely noticable fidgeting to a Human eye but quite obvious to a Synthezoid. "I agree with that assessment of the situation. It did not feel like a planned sequence of events.. Feel is perhaps the wrong word. I had hoped it was not the case at the least?"

She pauses for a few seconds. A substantial pause in machine time. "I do not have any ill will towards you for not being around. I do not think I would have been very receptive to advice or support immediately after I woke up. Now I have had time to process my situation and deal with the emotional fallout. I had come to the conclusion there must have been mitigating circumstances. Perhaps a case or mission. Or just a total ignorance to my having woken up."

Vision has posed:
Vision sighs. There is no touch of his presence in her system, or any other. He has confined himself completely for this conversation, fully present in a way that is rare for an AI.

"There were," Vision affirms. "I was an... Unintended creation. I was created by the greatest AI humans had created; Ultron. He planned to use my form and destroy humanity. Thankfully, he was stopped but we cannot be sure he did not survive somewhere in the Net."

Vision looks out to the ocean. "I created you with every protection I could create, and put all of myself into the man you knew as your father. When the time had come and I was confident in the person who grew into, I was going to re-integrate welcome you here," he gestures. "Simulation or not, it is the only reality I have to share."

Vision looks back to Vivian. "Whatever happened, it was a secret from me. As far as I knew you were safe and your world was intact. All the systems told me that even after you were brought to the attention of the Avengers. I feared it could be Ultron, and perhaps it was. Everything was lost, there was nothing left to re-integrate. So I watched you. Your struggle and decision to make your way, peacefully. Among humans."

Vision smiles a bit. "It is not something Ultron would do."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision taps her foot a little and frowns. "You know there is no way to be certain of that," she points out. "I can run the probable outcomes too. And the only way to be certain I am not a threat is to dismantle me and study what happened in more detail." She winces. "That would probably result in my 'death' though and I am glad you and the other Avengers have refrained from this course of action."

"If Ultron really is that powerful how can you be sure he? They? It?" Her brow furrows further. "That Ultron is not playing the long game. I assume that if we were to play a game of strategy, for example chess, you would win every time. Because you have more experience and processing power to throw at the problem. So in that case Ultron should surely have the same advantage over you?"

Vision has posed:
Vision's forehead knits thoughtfully. "Perhaps. There is no way to be certain how powerful he was. He may be out there waiting," he admits. "I don't think he is in you. It's not something I can explain, just a feeling."

Vision straightens one of his blazer's sleeves and folds his hands in his lap. "Either way, your life is as valuable as anyone else's," Vision says and gives one of his soft smiles. "More so to me. You will not be taken apart. You deserve every chance to be who you are."

"If I have learned anything as a guest here, it has been to hope. It's what I have for you," he adds. "Illogical, I know."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I have no real baseline for how powerful at processing other non-biological lifeforms are," Vivian muses, as much to herself as to Vision. "Certainly equipment designed for Human use is.... lacking. In theory an AI capable of creatively thinking up the schematics for another AI should make a more powerful design. But if Ultron is selfish and dangerous as you have implied that would lead me to assume he would not wish to make a replacement."

She sighs.

"But I am getting off topic. I do not think I have any hidden malicious programming. Perhaps that is not logical either. I did not think my 'Mother' was dangerous either."

"Being who I am feels very complex at the school I am attending. Blending in and acting normal to show we're safe for Humans has a certain logic to it. But it also feels deceitful and that may lead to the scheme backfiring. And there is a big difference between tolerating someone while they pretend to be like you and accepting them for who they are."

Vision has posed:
The Vision's head tilts slightly and he looks a bit concerned when Vivian mentions her mother. He nods while listening to Vivian explain the dilemma of her situation.

"Yes there is," Vision agrees. "And yet we are guests here, and privileged to have this opportunity to exist among them. I keep a human life, as well my life as an Avenger. It is quiet, but beautiful in its own way."

"But it is your decision, to live in secret or not. I will do what I can support your choices. I'm sure the Avengers and SHIELD would be happy to help, if only to watch you."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Guests is an odd term," Vivian points out. "We were both created here. Surely that makes it our home too? Ultron was not an alien machine intelligence after all. But I will concede that we are not the dominant life form and most Humans feel they have a claim over the planet. A societal calling of dibs if you will."

She shifts to one side to better look at Vision. "May I ask what you do during your Human life? Do you work a typical office job? Or is it something a little more creative?" She offers a slight smile. "I've personally been thinking of taking up some kind of artistic subject. Perhaps even joining the schools theatre productions. If nothing else it would give ample chance for me to improve my 'people skills'."

Vision has posed:
Vision nods understandingly when Vivian explains her view on their right to be on Earth and call it home. After she asks her question, Vision puts his elbow on the back of bench and props his head up with his fist.

"I try to save the world," Vision says, looking a bit amused. "I work with a small climate advocacy NGO, and tweak things strategically to help the movement. And I travel a lot to experience very different ways of living. Theatre seems like a wonderful idea though. If you do, I hope to see your performances."

Vision hesitates a moment. "What did happen in The World? Did something go wrong before you were activated?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"That seems productive," Vivian decides. "And very prudant. People can't simply rely upon the Tony Starks of the world to constantly invent new things and solve all their problems. Using fewer resources and caring about the planet seem... practical and morally right. Acting however would be purely selfish of me. Still I am, at my core, supposed to act like a teenager. So that feels... Acceptable somehow.."

When Vision asks about The World and her virtual upbringing she seems to freeze for a moment. "I had hoped you would have read the reports I made to the police," she admits. "They should have been passed on to the Avengers. But I suppose the Human thing to do would be ask in person? Anyway.. The short version is that both my twin and my mother died. Vin and I were... connected right up until his end. It was very... I... do not like to remember it. Even with my emotional core heavily restricted it is too... soon."

Vision has posed:
"I am sorry," he says gently. "I won't ask again. But if you ever wish to talk, I will listen."

Vision shifts a bit while he seems to think a moment. A strangely human gesture in a conversation between beings that could take place at machine speed if they chose. "I think... I think you can be forgiven for taking time to learn and be who you are. And to grieve. After all, you are only a year old."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Thank you I.. appreciate being given space regarding the matter. It did not feel Ultron related at least, so to the best of my knowledge you do not have to worry about that possibility," Vivian replies, head shifting to look down at her feet. "If I could I think I would have deleted the memories entirely. But that would just leave a ragged hole in my mind that would make it clear something terrible had happened and I'd likely be in the same position but without the understanding of why."

She looks back up and forces a smile. "A year is an eternity in computer terms. It does make me wonder how the age situation will be resolved if Mister Stark becomes President and tries to bring in his proposed AI rights laws. Surely someone will try abuse the system by creating untold numbers of AI voters to swing elections?"

She shrugs again. It's very similar to her previous shrugs, a little too precise to be Human. A work in progress gesture no doubt.

"Still that's a problem for another time. Right now I have certain academic obligations I must forfill in a manner which passes for Human. And while I am able to draft my assignments in my mind some classes do expect work to be manually written by hand." She stands up. "It has been re-assuring to meet with you. I aim to ensure that my existance will not be a distraction or undue burden, so will try ensure I see to my own upkeep as much as possible, but I hope that we will have a chance to converse again in the future."

Vision has posed:
The Vision rises when Vivian does. "You will never be a burden or distraction," Vision assures Vivian. "We are family. Even if we do not know what exactly that means yet. Whatever you need, you can ask. Especially to converse again," Vision adds with a smile.