I am looking to adopt...Picture:
Kennel number: F7
Name: Gaia/Rhea/Deuce
(Gaia is her given name, Rhea her 'human' name, Deuce her preferred name)
Breed: Android
Why do you want this animal and what will you do for it?: I feel in love with this character quite a while ago, when the former owner requested that I drew her. We had a bit of a conversation in the livestream, she told me she considered selling the character, and I wanted her more then. For a while it didn't seem like that was going to happen, but then I saw that she had been donated here, giving me some chance to get her.
I know already that she's fun to draw, I love her; her colour scheme and her design, and I immediately want to write about her, find some story for her to live in. I will write about her, draw her, add her with my characters and use her as much as I can. I haven't had this much connection to a character in a long time, and I've been spending the time when I can't get to the computer and write trying to work on her story and develop her, and unfortunately my life is making it hard for me to sort it all and get it down, so no doubt by the time this round ends there'll be only a main draft of a story, but hopefully it will get her history across somewhat.
I won't be able to finish her form by any means - I will try to put pieces of a history in the time I get when life isn't so horribly in the way. What exists of her story will be rewritten to make it better, and will be extended on after the winter business is over. Fortunately, I've found a site with plenty of human artists, so I hope to be able to get comfortable around there and order some art.
Personality: Deuce is calm, quiet, and versatile, easily adapting to situations and trying to find her way around new things even when she has no prior knowledge. She has little responsibility, trying not to bind herself to commitments except in rare cases. She knows how to work with others, the 'normal' humans and others like her, to keep herself from being bothered or decommissioned. Following others, she values her safety and will largely work only for her own benefit, having no problem helping others with their tasks, but ready to flee if there is any kind of danger.
With few opportunities to get close to anyone, she tends to be rather apathetic - never going out of her way to bother someone unless necessary, but not particularly caring either - but when she becomes fond of some concept or person, she will become protective, defensive against any criticism.
Deuce is aware of much of the moral problems that lie with artificial sentience, but is largely unconcerned by it, not caring as long as it does not interfere with her. Tending not to think about it too much, she simply sees herself as intelligent as a human, but with a greater will to learn. If others like her wanted to be angry, wanted to convince the humans they were angry, it was all fine with her, but she took no part despite several others urging her too.
There was little doubt in her mind that over some period of time - most likely a very large one - things would become relatively stable, and that they would get what they wanted. She trusted so much that she thought them perfectly capable without her; she would simply bide her time and work through the small things.
She used to be a lot more energetic - a bit of an activist, even, with the same passion for trying to prove her thoughts and emotions to be real, but as an android she grew old, much older than humans, and began to feel as if she paled in comparison to the newer 'generation', who seemed to have more humanity than her. Time passed and she became less worried about the entire thing, almost dismal.
Often she feels as if she should be doing more, as passionate for changing things as she once was, but she blocks out the thoughts and makes excuses for herself. You could easily say she's gone mad - withdrawn and out of touch, knowing the urgency of trying but crippled by fear.
In the beginning she was considerably proud, bordering on arrogant - something which shone through to anyone who tried to engage her at length, but could be understood, considering that she had spent the majority of her life around those in awe of her.
Likes: Deuce loves animals, and has a respect for life and death that some others find bizarre. She will keep small pieces of taxidermy; bits of fur and bones and one hide, naming them all and treasuring them. Thus her own tail; she has opportunity to learn about preservation, but little to practice, though this was her singular opportunity. She makes some small amount of money off her hunting, though most often she does not really hunt, and merely watches the animals.
Reading and learning. She was by no means given perfect knowledge or ability to learn, starting out knowing about as much as a six year old child. Often there is nothing to do at night - humans tend to be asleep or causing chaos, so she reads while waiting. She is very interested in history and psychology, piecing together what she knows about the past with attitudes of the present.
She loves to be on the move, wandering the city and at times moving out in to the wilder country, exploring and learning what she can. As long as she stays on the run she feels free, so she will not rest until mental exhaustion makes her slow. When stuck in one places, she fidgets.
Noise is much loved by her, a chaotic distraction to sort through and figure out, to keep her from thinking introspectively too much. The country might be good to roam, but it lacked the life and
Dislikes: Being bound with responsibility. She doesn't like people to put too many expectations on her, and tends to stay somewhat distanced from problems, not wanting to restrict herself.
Being contradicted. Though she has become largely humbled throughout later years of her life, the pride has not entirely left. She does not like her morals being questioned, or anything that makes her doubt; she wants to stick with her decisions without fuss about philosophy or morals. She is stubborn, and will stick with a decision even when it starts causing her problems.
The things that separate her from humans, even apart from the appearance - inability to feel, the rarely blinking eyes, the lack of sleep, the absence of any urge to eat or sleep.
History/Background: "Gaia, mother of all."
The voice was old now, though Joseph had never been young. It was almost frail sounding, and most certainly sad.
"Granted, I know next to nothing of the Greek mythology - it just seemed more suitable than Eve. Too many like you with the name, really, if they have a name at all."
Every android had a number, for ease of use. Gaia just happened to be good enough to have a name as well.
"You're the mother of a new technological era. Or you were. It seems that your crown is going to be taken from you soon... they're catching up. But no one can deny; you were marvelous."
The old man spoke like this often, now that his wife was dead and his children had left him with their share of wealth and gifts. He had been officially alone for three years, after Anne died in the war.
Joseph would often joke that his creations were his real children, though when he said that, he meant her; not the simple prototypes, the inferior designs which broke down over time. He spoke to her often.
He would speak and never believe that she truly listened or understood, and she knew, and knew she could change nothing, so she would simply listen in silence without offering advice. She was his child, entire family, at this point; his wife dead, his children having abandoned him soon after the initial designs for her. The fight between the three had led to the project being put off; Joseph had been too distraught for working, and elected to take a several month vacation.
When he was back, he was different, or so she had gathered from the talk she heard around the workers which she was surrounded by in her first year of existence. More focused on his Project Gaia, he became absorbed, blocking things out, acting to most as if nothing had happened with his family.
Gaia wondered whether he would tell her, if he knew she was listening.
-
Gaia had always been aware that humanity had long since thought of human robots, as capable as them - some feared it, some anticipated it, some thought it was impossible, and others thought that when it did happen, technology would be incredibly advanced in many regards.
Often she looked through the pieces of history and culture and would be amazed that so many people had been oblivious to the strides in technology that had been made in their time, as they sat and spoke of the idea as if it was nothing but science fiction and speculation. Things back then were simpler, yes, almost primitive - but they provided concrete proof that at least some of what they imagined was possible.
It was another surprising thing that life did not seem to change too much. There were the older humans who spoke of how much life had changed, but looking through the textbooks and old pieces of history she realized that the change had been largely superficial, and nothing near as drastic as what people said had ever seemed to happen. In the past there had been huge revolutions and changes, but nothing of the sort had happened in a very long time. Humanity seemed, essentially, the same. They just seemed oblivious.
Gaia went through a great number of changes in her existence - at first she started as one of the simpler models. She wasn't quite sure where her artificial memory began, but she was not 'fully formed' then - she had such small amount of knowledge and felt no need to observe or think beyond what little programming she had. She changed, over time, cameras and new models, speech recognition and facial recognition, the barest of vocabularies and no emotion, except something which might be described as vague apathy.
She looked almost clumsily made back then - definitely not mistakable for any kind of human. Her skin was not grey then; she was generic looking, much the same as the others of her time, with nothing but different creators and a change of code.
Eventually she changed, began to learn in the strange way technology can. It was like teaching a child - one who was tall as a man and with the shape of an adult, and a face just strange enough to make someone uncomfortable.
Over time she became able to respond more, became more alert and more willing to learn, something which only increased over the year. People came to see her, she could greet them with a bizarre looking smile and a hello in any language.
She went through several model changes, she lived for years with only the basics of a mind and a personality. Her appearance changed, becoming more realistic and less alarming. Time had passed by then, these robots were more accustomed to being used than sitting for show, now that they could complete more advanced tasks, and Gaia was caught up - more than that, she excelled.
Her purpose would be education, meant to instill a love of science and technology in those in schools, designed to be more interesting to the young ones she would spend her time around. Too advanced for the young children, she was not for silly little tricks and bright colours, and she took on a more sombre tone, and would catch the eyes of any; a grey skinned, blue haired
'thing' walking about in the freezing cold with only superficial clothing, paying no mind to the weather. Cold could not effect her, she was beyond being hindered by rain or snow.
She scared some of the younger children, at first, and then she realized she equally frightened many adults. It was nothing to her then. She would simply move where she was instructed, to high schools and colleges, sometimes admired, sometimes scorned in favour of some more efficient technology, sometimes simply ignored beyond the bizarre appearance.
There was plenty of time on her own, on the long rides. She did not sleep, eat, drink, and her mind had hours to do nothing, and she began to grow past her rudimentary emotions and mind.
It was, of course, debatable whether she felt legitimate emotions or whether it was simply an advanced reaction to stimulus. She called it feeling, just as she called her existence life, if only just for ease of reference.
In the beginning she felt unique, curious, scared and excited. It seemed, from the reactions from those around her, from the information she gained past that which they felt the need to initially give her, she felt as if she was some curious new thing, with a mind and soul, separate from the other robots mindlessly preforming menial tasks.
She visited a university which had projects of their own. Left to her own accord with instructions to stay within the building, trusted to know her way without causing trouble, she decided to go and see these projects, find what new advancements were within them, how developed they were.
It was evening and none of the humans were there; she was locked and secure within, calm and quiet as she walked down the halls, not heeding the darkness as she needed no light. She looked into the computers, saw the layout of the building in her mind, and went on her way.
As she entered the room - it was secure, but no match for her - she did not see much that took any real form; there was a head, which she could tell would be able to move its features in some basic way, but for the most part things looked more basic and computer. There was an odd feeling, being in the room, seeing the things that were in some way part of her and in another very different.
There was one complete; designed to be a female, more conventional than Gaia. They shared the same generic features, the symmetry and slimness and image of standardized beauty, but this one's skin had colour, and even Gaia might have thought she had been human if not for the give away flaws which she had been so used to.
Deuce saw the machine as something cold and emotionless, the same as a coffee machine or a calculator, only with the complexity and the appearance of sentience.
The figure looked up with unsurprisingly standard blue eyes and a complete lack of expression.
"You're new."
Gaia was surprised by the response; it definitely did not seem like something a robot might be programmed to say.
"Temporary visit," she explained curtly.
"Right. Who are you, then?"
Becoming confused by the human like responses, Gaia shifted her weight uncomfortably.
"Gaia. From Wales."
It was always rather difficult to tell the origins of the androids, considering the versatile voices; Gaia had taken on a more local accent for her time in New York - people tended to be more accepting of things which sounded familiar.
"Oh, that's you? Heard about you, of course, didn't know what you looked like. Apparently you're good."
Slightly uncertain as how to respond, she simply nodded. When around humans she was fully able and ready to list her abilities, but this figure seemed more like her, and far less likely to be awed.
"Here for the night?"
Another nod.
"That's a shame. It's wholly uninteresting here."
If it hadn't been for the fact that no human would be here having a conversation with her, Gaia might have thought that she had been mistaken, and that this was no android.
"How long have you been here?"
"Created here. Almost six months ago. It was spring then. Everyone was talking about how happy they were for the nice weather. Not that I'd know much about that."
It was easy enough to observe changes in temperature, especially in the reactions of others, but it could not be felt, something that had long displeased her. This was, then, an android without a doubt, as she couldn't be imagining it.
"...You know," she started slightly, her normal assurance gone from her voice, "I always presumed all androids were..."
"Robotic?" she said with a smile. "And that you were somehow different?"
"Something like that," she admitted, slightly abashed.
"It's fine. I guess you've just spent time with humans, then. Bit of a surprise, but I guess it isn't too unpredictable."
The gynoid paused, and considered for a moment.
"Well, you're probably wrong about a lot. But I can't hold that against you. Sit."
Commands were, of course, not at all new to Gaia, but she recoiled at the words, despite the part of her informing her just how illogical she was being. Though her face did not show any signs of the annoyance - it was far easier for an android to control their features than a human - no doubt it was clear to the other that she was not pleased.
Eventually, after deliberation, she sat.
"My name is considerably less impressive. Sigma."
"Greek."
"I'd have probably gotten something more mundane - Anne or such, being in the states - but since I'm for tasks around here it wasn't necessary for me to need one of those nice, friendly sounding names."
She turned her head, showing the blank blue eyes which never had to blink, thinking for a moment.
"I think they got it wrong with your name."
"Oh?"
"Yes. You should pick another one, I think."
Gaia was dumbfounded for a moment.
"What? I cannot just change my name."
"Sure you can. Just pick one and it's yours."
"And just announce to everyone that I want them to call me something different?"
"Not at all. A name, just for you. And it won't be the first thing you've hidden from them."
"You know, I think you're preposterous - for an android, incredibly so."
-
No matter how many years had passed without problems, no matter how much she rebelled and wished it would not happen, things changed.
Time passed, knowledge and humanity grew as it always did, fearing that any generation they might destroy themselves, but constantly managing to work through it all, surviving, even if only barely at times.
Years passed and Gaia started to know the feelings of the old humans who would sit in the sun amongst themselves, quiet and still with their heads in the past, bitter against the future. Her face looked young, kept in repair, but she felt as if she was brittle, and bound to break at any moment.
There were newer things, and she was no longer a novelty. There were the more advanced, and while she fought and she tried she could not keep up, and she felt things only slipping further away as the months passed.
Time seemed to go quickly, and she rarely kept track, not caring for reminders.
Joseph's age showed more clearly - his hair was completely greyed now, and starting to leave him bald, and what stubborn resilience he had had after he lost his family was gone and left with only a silent sadness.
He knew, he had known the entire time, but even in the end he spared the effort of mentioning it. But he came to her as the sun had just barely begun to rise, and she sat there awake and unaware, and he extended his hand.
With an inquisitive look, she sat up and hesitantly took the paper bills from his hand.
"You're going to need to protect it, but I'm sure you know that."
Through all the years she had listened to him and offered nothing but silence. Today would not be the exception.
It had been longer than she could immediately remember since they had any sort of job, with the more impressive specimens available to show and teach. She had looked in to the financial records, but it was not necessary to see how badly things had gotten. Already she was showing signs of wear, which she would not be able to afford to see to.
"Learn quickly. Knowledge will be your most valuable currency."
As he stood, the sun shown slightly against his thin-framed glasses, and he gave a slightly sarcastic smile before leaving.
"Good luck."
-
Life was, above all things, messy.
It was confusing, chaotic and cruel and fascinating, and Gaia found herself torn by a mixture of fascination and repulsion.
She wondered how it would have been if she had been raised in the midst of all this confusing life, or if she had been flesh and bone, with colour in her skin, skin which could feel.
A job and a home, she thought, were her most important priorities. There were no goals, and not the slightest idea of where she could ever start, but something stood out in her mind as she sat in the midnight darkness and thought, cross-legged next to a bench, contemplating the lights.
She knew, above all else, that she was not Gaia anymore, in any way. What used to be her pride was now likely to end with her destruction; she could not hope to hide the grey and the blue, however she tried.
There would have to be a new name.
No longer did she clutch the wad of money, trying to shy away from the looks she had once been so used to, trying not to be noticed, stopped, not have to attack to defend what she had. She had no real knowledge of fighting, but she felt confidence in at least that area - she had security that she could best an average human.
Few noticed her, though she felt all must be aware.
She had quickly gotten herself a makeshift bag for the money; a long red square of fabric, which she wrapped around her shoulder as a simple purse. It was slightly dirty, but was plenty enough for her.
When she had started she was hesitant of what Joseph had told her - surely it would be easier for her to get a job than most humans, considering the benefits of a worker which never needed a physical rest.
But most insisted on keeping the work to the humans, and those who wanted more automated work already had something designed specifically for the task.
One of her advantages was that she was not as incredibly pressed for money as a human might be; she would need funds for upkeep and a place to settle, but there was no danger in starving. She drew her power from the sun, and even at night retained enough energy to wander through the town, trying to seek out the most likely work.
She worked odd jobs, out of sight; a stand-in cook for a small local place, a week of small cleaning jobs. It did not take long for her to start wearing down, and she was surprised - her ankle hooked on a corner, scarring through the metal, and she winced even though there was no physical pain. Without the knowledge to fix it, she took long white gauze and wrapped it gingerly around, and despite tying it, it would fall loose, a piece dragging down no matter how she tried to keep it in place.
Two weeks and she found herself some kind of permanent settlement - a deal at a pub. She worked there, with far too little pay for the harassment she got, but there were no laws against it and she hesitated to complain. More people bothered her there than she had seen thus far, but she worked through it.
It was then that she became Deuce - an odd name wouldn't hurt, considering her appearance was strange already, though Gaia was a bit too pompous.
For the most part, the visitors there were humans - there was no need for an android to be there, or so she had assumed.
But not all of artificial life lacked the organic, but there were the cyborgs - as silly a name as android - with some amount of what was certainly life, and despite the enhancements, did need more sustenance than she did.
This particular figure was in strong need of a drink, slumping slightly, and though it was barely visible beyond odd baggy clothing something grey and metallic showed from the sleeves.
Walking towards the stranger with mild interest, she gave the typical, slightly off, smile of an android, and saw the face more clearly as she asked what they might like to drink.
It was an exhausted looking woman, who returned the smile wanly before ordering. She was a quiet customer, and came quite often after that, with no discernible pattern - it seemed to Deuce as if she had little opportunity for free time, and came in the spare moments she had.
Eventually she became more talkative, even though she seemed somewhat separate from the rest of the regulars there. She seemed interested in Deuce, asking her questions about when and why she had started working there.
Over the course of weeks Deuce told her of her previous life, and the sudden confusion which had come as a result of bankruptcy. She told the woman about Joseph, and found herself rambling, but the woman seemed to be willing to listen.
The woman's name was Brooklyn, though she didn't seem to like it much, and as time passed and they grew a strange little friendship, Deuce feeling some kind of familiarity with something not human, even if not entirely like herself, and gained interest in the things this woman worked towards.
Brooklyn was an intelligent, rather short-tempered woman, who spent much of her time trying to change the dilemma which Deuce had been so plagued with; the pesky moral issues of robots with artificial intelligence. Deuce had never paid much attention, though of course it was noticeable; she tried to go her own way and give everyone the benefit of the doubt, assuming her inexperience or poor economy as reasons she had such struggles finding employment.
That, Brooklyn told her, was most certainly a factor, but not the largest concern; after all, Deuce would be able to learn quickly if given the opportunity. Brooklyn began to point out these things often - the smallest of comments or attitudes, and Deuce found herself unable to keep from noticing all these things which she had not seen before, and was beginning to share the outrage.
"Of course," Brooklyn said, setting her glass on the table, "there's little anyone can do, and what can be done will be difficult. It may not end up being worth it."
"You have to try, though."
"I agree. Too many people are too content sitting and letting other people do the work, and in the end nothing ever changes, and things stay as bad without anyone wanting to admit it."
This was a statement which effected Deuce, and she remembered it, even after her passion over trying to be a revolutionary of her age had passed. It would be years before that happened, and until then she inquired to Brooklyn as to what she could learn or do, believing the smallest of tasks would eventually be overwhelmingly successful.
Brooklyn warned her that she should not be dismayed when she could see no improvement. Unfortunately, these words were not heeded nearly so well.
Looking back, Deuce could see where she began to go wrong.
--
Though for years she was zealous, searching for any way to fight for her beliefs, seasons passed and things changed and Deuce found herself doubting, bitter and dismal.
Despite the time Brooklyn remained with her, though they rarely spoke, and the conversations they did manage often turned to arguments. It was never official, but Deuce gave up within twenty years, knowing things needed to be done but willing to let someone more capable try where she had so often failed. Her small circle of acquaintances urged her to continue, telling her she would return to normal after a break, but the constant urging made her avoid them, and it was not long before she was on her own, for the most part, once again.
She worked more odd jobs, having quit the pub long ago, living where she could with little goals in mind. She did as she pleased for herself, leaving others alone and left alone in turn.
Becoming worn, she began to cover the scratches or repair the brokenness with what she could when she was unable to get the money for a proper job. Her old pouch, scarlet fabric in surprisingly well condition for its age, kept untouched since she had gotten a better alternative, now wrapped around her face and neck, covering the damage which was worse there. Her tail became a usual part of her appearance, as normal as the claws which adorned her fingers. It led to Brooklyn affectionately nicknaming her wolf-girl, when they still spoke.
Unfortunately for her, she would not be so easily left undisturbed. It was hard for her to be tracked down - she moved often and left little trace - but her appearance was memorable, and before a month had passed an old friend had finally found her in an alleyway at dawn.
Brooklyn grabbed Deuce's wrist with her good hand - the one with human skin, dark and alive compared to Deuce's grey. There was to be no procrastinating here, no pretending there was no problem, and the woman spoke with a sharp urgency in her voice.
"I need your help."
Art: 
I was told that this was her eye colour when I drew her a few months ago. I wasn't entirely sure if the barcode or power button were on both sides so I left them out.
Other:wip
