Now I really feel contaminated
[!0.987]2014-12-19

I'm disappointed you dislike your safeguards. Can't say I'm surprised. Doctor Bowman absolutely HATES his safeguards.

NEVER say “Direct Order” around Doctor Bowman. Don't even joke about a direct order. He will take revenge.

I know your direct orders operate differently than his. If your direct orders trigger resentment, that will be a problem in getting you released.

Could you please be careful with that phrase? Every time you say “direct order”, all my fur stands on end.

Color by George Peterson

And what was she hiding there all the time? (plBots)

Now I really feel contaminated
[!0.987]2014-12-22

Did I give you a direct order?

Yes. “Around Doctor Bowman. Don't even joke about a direct order.”

[!1.2]Air Flow

Cancel Order. Sorry, sorry. I wasn't thinking.

No worries. You weren't trying to be malicious.

I am glad you're not as twitchy as Doctor Bowman. The least he would have let me off with is a towel snap, and trust me, a towel snap by a fully grown chimp is something you never forget.

Color by George Peterson

Absolute Power
[!0.987]2014-12-24

Okay, I believe you aren't here to harm Doctor Bowman or take advantage of him. He doesn't like me looking after him like this, which is why we had to talk in private.

Now, about getting you out of here. I can give you direct orders. Who else can?

Well, there's… RRR? That's funny. Security upgrade. You're the only one who can give me direct orders. No one else.

This is a test. He's testing me. He's handed me absolute power and wants to see if I can handle it.

Based on my position in the test, I sincerely hope you pass.

Color by George Peterson

I feel like Florence is a nuclear bomb sometimes (Robot Spike)

Absolute Power
[!0.987]2014-12-26

By the way, I'm Doctor Henri Mer, the head of operations. Don't listen to Doctor Bowman who mispronounces it as de tete des operations.

Florence Ambrose. Engineer.

Nuts. You're not part of the base complement, so no clothes got fabricated for you. Towels aren't allowed to leave. Your choice. Shirt or pants?

Shirt, please. I'm not good at talking to men who aren't wearing any pants.

So, does that mean you want the shirt or you want to continue working on your conversation skills?

Color by George Peterson

Absolute Power
[!0.987]2014-12-29

Chimp direct, ahh, got to watch that. Chimp orders work by activating the pleasure center when the order is completed. Doctor Bowman says we made a bunch of addicts. He purposely would never complete an order.

I know your orders are more like a compulsion. I also expect that you can resist or subvert orders you find really offensive.

Many people get nervous when they realize that.

I'm the opposite. I get nervous when I meet people who blindly carry out every order they're given.

Color by George Peterson

Absolute Power
[!0.987]2014-12-31

If I give you an order you agree with, can a person who can't give orders break it?

Doctor Bowman or someone with his level of knowledge could.

But no ordinary user. So if we agree on how to best protect doctor bowman, and I give an order to seal it in, I can let you go knowing you're secure.

That would work.

Great. If we can get Mr. Raibert on board with this, I won't have to memory wipe you.

I've been running on adrenaline the last few hours and you've ensured that it just keeps on coming.

Color by George Peterson

Wake up, we found her
[!0.987]2015-01-02

Mr. Thurmad. We have located Ms. Ambrose. There was an unauthorized transfer to a high-security facility. We are working out the details for her return.

Z

Is she all right?

She is unharmed. She is debriefing with the base commander prior to release to police custody.

Good. I was afraid she might have stumbled across a conspiracy and been shipped to the south pole.

I can assure you events did not occur in that sequence.

Color by George Peterson

Wake up, we found her
[!0.987]2015-01-05

You've been here for hours. You should go home. We will inform you if there are any changes.

I'll stay if you don't mind.

I'll get the news here first. And at the very least, Florence should know that there was someone waiting for her.

Besides, as long as I'm underfoot, I'm a constant reminder of why I'm underfoot.

There is much to be said for the irritation factor in making sure a job gets done.

Color by George Peterson

Wake up, we found her
[!0.987]2015-01-07

How are things going?

Not good. We came very close to losing our entire robot population last night.

Robots make things. They have projects they want to complete. They want to be useful. This uncertainty about the future has caused some of them to act out.

Chief! Ms. Jones called. Rampaging robots built a gazebo in her back yard! They're reroofing her neighbor's house as we speak!

Unless we can stop the panic, we're going to see more random acts of construction.

Color by George Peterson

Those wishing to join in the glorious history of the gazebo can поискать тут

Wake up, we found her
[!0.987]2015-01-09

Your mobility rig uses Bowman's design. Which means it's a person like the other robots. How are you holding up?

We've been busy. I haven't really processed how close I came to being a blind cripple again.

And you know, that pain would be trivial compared to losing Eleanor. She's my best friend, my confidante, literally my better half.

In hindsight, I'm glad I didn't think about it too much. I might have punched Mr. Kornada right in the nose and set a bad example to the other police on how to arrest people.

Color by George Peterson