Superhell: Lin Jingheng

[pathopen]

Comments

[pathopen]

Like the stars and the flower.

I do.

[awol]

Then Cosmos it will be as long as you like it.

You can call me Lin.

[ he then glances to the arm in his lap and lifts it up unceremoniously. ]

This is Zhanlu.

[pathopen]

Alright. I'll remember.

Is Zhanlu your friend?

[Your robo-arm buddy?]

[awol]

Zhanlu is...

[ hm ]

I've known him for a long time.

[ he's not around to hear and be all gross and sweet so. yeah. out of earshot now. ]

Unfortunately, he's asleep it seems.

[pathopen]

[A long time with his arm friend...]

Does he need to sleep a lot?

[awol]

He does need to recharge... but normally he can respond even then.

[ as he taps around a bit on the surface, as though searching for something, the arm suddenly speaks: ]

Reptiles are naturally good at playing the piano because they really know their scales.

[ he snorts ]

... That's something.

[pathopen]

He can speak!

[And tell jokes, but the speaking part is so surprising!]

[awol]

Normally he doesn't know when to shut up.

Must be a holdover, [ turning his hand over. ] He's what we call an AI... an artificial intelligence.

[pathopen]

AI... are AI common?

[awol]

They're an important part of our society where I come from. Very smart andd capable.

Some drive cars, others assist with controlling mechs, and others do very basic tasks. Zhanlu does all of this.

[pathopen]

All of it? He must be one of the smartest.

[awol]

[ a small nod ]

Smartest in the entire galaxy.

[ a beat ]

He does do just one more thing in this state.

[pathopen]

Really? What else does he do?

[He can't help being curious and interested. There's so much he's never gotten to see.]