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[ Even if Lois hadn't stuck to her initial timeline, Aurora would have still been out to greet her near the entrance of the hospital once she's made it. The wide glass doors to the hospital slide open when she walks up to them, and Aurora offers a meek smile from just a few steps within it. ]

Hello, Lois Lane. Thank you for coming.

[ She's speaking perfect English, voice soft and tone warm, lacking the mechanical undercut the speakers tend to leave her with when she communicates using them. ]

( Lois holds out her hand for shaking, keeping her body language relaxed: she doesn't know if this is any kind of usual interaction for Aurora, and is fine letting her hand drop back down again unremarked on. Her smile is ready at least, an easy expression because she's not expecting or trying to figure out a gotcha in a situation where there just... isn't. Suspicious? Yes. Same level as with everyone and everything. Nothing personal. )

Thanks for setting aside some time to talk with me, Aurora. ( A quick glance around as she says: ) Where's a comfortable place for us to sit and talk for a bit?

[ Aurora takes Lois' hand, her hold gentle and warm for the few moments of contact before she releases her hand with a smile. While most may not seek her out physically, she has had a few companions in the past who had asked for her physical presence, and she has spent a significant amount of time learning how to interact with her people like this. ]

There is an office space not too far down the hall. [ Her head raises, gesturing down the specified hallway. ] I have not had any complaints regarding the couches available in there.

( It's a kindness to match what seems like an unfairly skewed number of humans on levels where they approach. Lois appreciates it too, inclining her head to Aurora at the suggestion of a location. )

Sounds perfect. Who doesn't appreciate a comfortable couch?

( People who never want to sit down and keep moving, she supposes, but it's much easier to converse (or interview) in a more relaxed setting. Does that apply to Aurora? Lois can't pretend to know, but she does know her own body language and demeanor will reflect better in a more relaxed setting.

She heads down the indicated hallway, observing her surroundings with fresh eyes. She'd been a little determined and shell-shocked right after waking up here. )

Would you mind if I record our conversation on my phone? I'd usually have a proper recorder, but that's a universe away at the moment.

You are welcome to record our conversations as much as you would like. I can also send you a copy to your earpiece if you would like once we've finished.

[ Aurora walks down the hallway and keeps pace with Lois, leading her to the office space she'd specified previously. the door is open, showing a desk without anything atop of it, an office chair behind said desk, and a couple of couches facing one another with a low table between them. Aurora looks to the office chair for a moment, before she makes her way over toward one of the couches and slowly lowers herself down onto it, crossing one leg over the other and carefully smoothing out the fabric of her pastel-colored dress.

She isn't quite accustomed to meeting others like this, not yet, but from the effort she's putting into, it's evident it's something she would like to learn to manage. ]

I'd appreciate that, Aurora, thank you.

( Lois watches Aurora as she moves, the moment of internal debate before she's selecting the couches. She keeps her own body language loose and relaxed, curious how much of what Aurora does is imitation, how much is the end result of observation.

In the moment, it's less important. Lois seats herself on one of the couches angled next to where Aurora sits, flashing her another smile as she sets down her phone on the couch's armrest, already set to record. )

Thank you again for agreeing to talk with me today, Aurora. I'm Lois Lane, reporter for the Daily Planet out of Metropolis. Would you introduce yourself and state your understanding of what your role is here in Etraya?

Edited (deleted... a comma...) 2025-09-01 00:29 (UTC)

Yes, of course.

[ She appears plenty comfortable, at least. And after a moment's pause (replicating the action of breathing, she doesn't need to but she understands how humanizing herself may make others more comfortable) she opens her mouth to begin speaking, )

I am Aurora, and my duty is to watch over the citizens of Etraya and ensure their basic needs are met while they are under my care. I am also responsible for maintaining the city itself, which includes but is not limited to providing sustenance for those within it, building and repairing the facilities within the barrier, and ensuring the barrier itself is operating at optimal levels.

( Ironically, Lois is probably one of those who'd be fine with a lack of matching human-like behaviors for the duration. Because she knows Aurora isn't generally bodied, she's paying more attention than she might have otherwise. )

Sounds like that leaves you handling a fair amount of logistics on top of personalities of the people who end up here. What kind of support network do you have for keeping everything running and keeping yourself up to date on situations inside and outside of Etraya?

I have all of you to support me when needed.

[ It's said with a soft smile, eyes raised to meet Lois' own. Aurora understands not many of them are fond of the idea of supporting her, but she is here for them regardless, and their mere presence encourages her to do better. ]

In addition to all of you, my companion bots aid me greatly with maintaining facilities.

( She smiles in turn, acknowledging the statement about the participants who never asked to participate still stepping in to help Aurora when requested. Strong armed or not, it makes more sense that they do than they don't. )

Your companion bots have been impressively available everywhere. Between running stores, helping with cleanup, and enthusiastically improving on trolley speeds... you can see them making efforts everywhere you look in Etraya. I notice a few of them are sporting their own styles or decorations. Making themselves pretty unique. ( Another smile, and then a nod of her head. ) Do you also receive any external support for your functions here?

I encourage my companion bots to express themselves through whatever means they find suitable. They, like myself, develop their own personalities as they spent time around others and learn from them. I think it is important to encourage others to be themselves, even if their main purpose is to assist in keeping the city in one piece.

[ As for external help, there is a moment where Aurora stops speak, corners of her mouth pursing as she works through the best way to put this into words that are simple to understand but also don't push up against her programming. ]

I receive mission data from Echo in advance, as well as receive supplies from an outside source. Outside of this, I do not receive any external assistance for my functions.

( Lois listens, body language continuing to be relaxed, her eyebrows only quirking up a touch at the end. There's a lot of sense of "self" in whatever context that means: Lois isn't a robotic or AI construct, she doesn't know what expressing themselves through suitable means or personalities constantly updating based on interactions in a more immediate sense feels like for them or Aurora. She knows what it feels like for her. She's biologically programmed to do similar adaptations, without an underlying drive to maintain.

So she listens, and nods. )

Doesn't seem like there's as much external assistance as people might think. You're doing some incredible work on your own, with and without the help of your companion bots. As someone who definitely appreciates breathable air, decent temperatures, and access to food, water, and shelter, I'm noting my thanks to you and them for the effort put in to keep things running.

( Regardless of wishing to know more, that series of incredibly important baselines aren't anything she'll ignore. )

Now, I asked you to state your role here earlier. After the time that's passed since Etraya was established, have you found your personal understanding of what you expected that role to be has stayed the same, or has it changed?

I was created with the ability to adapt to my surroundings and my charges therein.

[ She starts, and pauses for a moment once she's finished. It is the explanation that was pre-built into her, data given before she had become conscious, although she knows it isn't necessarily the answer that Lois is searching for. ]

My understanding of my role has developed as I have grown to suit those around me. During missions where my siblings had been included, I have also learned much about my own capabilities. They have all taken their roles and adapted them to their cities, as I have done for mine. Some of them have been more restrictive, some of them have been significantly more "hands-off" with their charges. But I believe the way I am caring for Etraya suits me best.

( She listens closely, nodding as Aurora speaks. Encouraging after that pause in particular, though she can't gauge if the meaning across the self Aurora projects within the hospital and the self that she is as a collective whole would be united as a whole. )

Finding a happy medium for you to establish how you want to care for Etraya sounds like it's been important for you. I'm glad you've been navigating that challenge for yourself in a way that suits you. Which brings to mind a question of limitations beyond your control, just like any one of us has limitations beyond ours.

What if any restrictions in your programming would you change if it were possible for you to decide such a thing?

I was born to complete a task. Outside of completing this task and limiting the amount of information I am able to provide around this task, I have a significant amount of freedom to what I can and cannot do.

[ Aurora leans back in her seat, crossing one knee over the other while maintaining eye contact with Lois. ]

But if I do not complete the task I was given, I have siblings who may take my place to ensure that the task is complete.

I cannot wish for changes which would then contradict why I am wishing for it.

( Lois nods in acknowledgement as Aurora states the significance of her freedom. And it isn't to be understated. She leans forward, arms resting easy across her legs. )

I can't say that sounds like an ideal situation for you or any of the people you care for here. When you say it may happen, is it that it would happen if you were unable to carry on your work as you're intended to do? Or a possible eventuality if you weren't able to carry out the objectives of this task over time?

( A pause, and a shake of her head as she smiles. )

Just so I'm clear about it, is it the task of maintaining Etraya, it's population, and the sanctity of mission here specifically, or was it a more general task when you were initially born?

It is a possibility. If I do not continue maintaining Etraya, and ensuring it's residents continue to go on their missions, I am not fulfilling my purpose. Another of my siblings may be sent to take my place as caretaker over all of you, and resume my duties in my absence.

[ It's as clear of a statement as she is capable of making: offering the duties she must absolutely continue to maintain in exchange for keeping her place as caretaker. Taking care of Etraya is... a subjective task, but continuing to ensure missions are completed is not. ]

( It's fairly clear to Lois, and answers the thought she'd had, either which way. She doesn't have to pretend to look concerned, nor would she pretend to look much of any one way regardless, but it is concerning. There are trade offs to every exchange, but the one Aurora is talking about isn't beneficial to anyone here.

And that's in Lois's opinion after a short time around, and without any missions under her belt. )

I don't know that anyone here would find that an appealing alternative to having you here uninterrupted. Would a theoretical absence like that be permanent on your part?

( What happens to Aurora? )

No one has returned to a previous city before, but it does not mean that doing so is an impossibility.

[ It isn't as if Aurora's very being would be erased from existence - or it's at least very unlikely that would happen. ]

How does corrective action affect you personally, in that case?

( So it's not a total impossibility, but with her brow furrowed a touch, it's apparent Lois is genuine in asking that specific question. )

My existence depends on my ability to be useful. If I am not useful, there is no use in continuing to keep my servers running.

That doesn't sound all that pleasant for you or for this city and its variable residents. Would your servers ever be brought back online after a cooling off period?

I am not certain. It is not a situation I am wholly familiar with.

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