Why would they be restricting battery-powered devices for a steam-powered robot? Is that just a general guideline for all robots?

I suppose that means Yuki can't visit, though in her case that might be a good thing. She might be tempted to do something drastic.

This also illustrates a point I made about why Anna is restricted to living at the Lair Mansion. Outside it she has no real rights of her own.

Indeed it is, seeing as artificial intelligences exist as electronic consciousnesses, they need to strictly monitor any electrical readings coming or going. Plus, as in the case with Joan, some prisoners may not be operating at full power for safety reasons, and they don't want them getting energized in some way. Easiest to just restrict all electronic devices altogether.



As these prisoners are being held in accordance with the guidelines of the American justice system, and are being held for violations of criminal law that apply to humans as well, it would probably be a bad thing for a Legionnaire to do something "drastic".



Very true. Of course, that also goes for all RoboAmericans, and yet they live their lives out there every day among the rest of society. Quite heroic, actually.

Or in the case of Anna, they have three problems: She's all electronic, if an incarcerated robot attempts to steal her power she'd probably vaporize them with lasers, and in either case she doesn't really have a right to visit prisoners unless she's with a human (and someone with major connections).



It depends on how she associates the steam powered robot. If it's something she's afraid may try to kill her she may destroy it first. If she's taken in by the plight she may try to break it out on the grounds that it's guaranteed an execution by being locked up.



In that case I suppose Anna is both very lucky and very unlucky.

Lucky because she's quite sheltered from all of the societal problems and can learn about it from a relative distance (I'm not talking about someone yelling something rude on the street, just threats to her existence).

But unlucky because it also means if the problems are resolved, she'll be the last to benefit from it. She'll always be a "special case" because she was designed as military property (and they always try to claim an exception to any laws redefining their property), because of her association with the Lair Legion, and because she's inherently more dangerous than the average robot, and because she's so different in design. Specifically because she's outfitted with weapons, has no software that can be patched to alter her behavior, and because she's designed to look and behave so human (it's difficult for society to impose rules for robots on her if she looks and behaves so human).

Yes, that's more or less the thinking behind the rule. One should note that it's also likely to deny the robot prisoners *any* visitations, since family and friends may be artificials themselves (as with Hallie and Tandi).



We haven't gotten around to sentencing just yet... I wouldn't say it's a guaranteed execution. Of course, as Joan herself notes, these aren't trumped up charges either.



Well, the last one's not so much a special case... Most RoboAmericans are designed to look and behave as humans, and seem to do so more convincingly than Anna, who is really one of the more robotic robots we've met.

The irony of this is that if Anna was still with the military she would have a license to visit prisoners without question (of course then she'd be always accompanied by a human with a special I.D.). I suppose with the right charade a Lair Legion member and Anna could sneak in, but it's risky.

Though it makes me wonder, now that Hatman knows about the required paperwork, I wonder if he might file copies for everything? The Lair Legion comm cards, Hallie, Anna, Tandi, Yuki, anything else he can think of.



Yuki would be thinking a little farther ahead - a continuingly dangerous battle-bot who seems to intend harm by her own words isn't going to get a fair trial from scared, fragile human beings on a jury. All the prosecutor has to do is keep them scared. That sounds as good as guaranteed to Yuki.



Anna's advantages are also a disadvantage. Instead of being programmed to behave a certain way, she learns. Since she was originally placed at a secret military base, she behaves in a somewhat military manner. At least for now - she's slowly absorbing the ways of civilian life as she lives among those at the Lair Mansion. The longer she lives among humans the more she learns like them and behaves like them - eventually she may be indistinguishable.

I didn't jump to that part because it's more fun starting with a blank slate that behaves in an almost alien manner having to learn how to deal with people. At the moment she has adopted a few human childlike behaviors as she learns - things like shyness, easily being roped into things emotionally, the tendency to follow the lead of "adults", etc.

Anyway, the point was that Anna has a bad combination working against her. She's dangerous like Joan Henry, but fits in among humans as easily as the tame and not so dangerous Tandi. Humans have to ask questions about Anna like: Will she become angry and rampage through downtown Paradopolis, nearly unstoppable? And because she has no software, does that mean her behavior is unpredictable? Do we really want something so potentially dangerous and unpredictable able to walk the streets by herself with no safegard?

Humans in general don't want to have to deal with things like, "well, she might get angry and rampage through the streets but there's very little chance". That's like trying to get people to accept nuclear powered trucks rumbling down their neighborhood streets. People want to be reassured that there's almost no chance of danger.

Tandi would be easily allowed, because even if she goes rogue the amount of destruction she would cause is limited and she can be stopped fairly easily. That's why she's out on the loose and Joan Henry is locked up. It's also why Anna was kept secret by the military - who wants to know that the military is creating these dangerous androids? Or that they may think about making more someday?

It's a long, complicated case...

Hallie's pretty on-the-ball. If there was a chance to get that much of an exception, she'd have done it. Filling out the paperwork only puts in the request, it doesn't guarantee that it'll be granted, after all.

The bottom line is that it would probably be easier to get a prisoner transferred into Legion custody than getting permission to bring restricted materials into the prison cell block.




There's no jury... Trial by jury is a right artificials currently don't have. She'll have a hearing before a judge who will weigh the evidence against her and pronounce sentencing.



I'm not complaining... giving her more of a "Data" personality gives her a different feel than the other robots we've had in the Parodyverse.



Joan Henry is locked up because she broke the law. Tandi would be locked up exactly the same way if she were to commit a felony.




I think we all expect our military to be working on these things. I already imagined machine guns strapped to that robotic moose thing in that video I posted...

I thought your portrayal of Hatman was excellent, and it was an unexpected surprise to see him in this story. I always enjoy the Joan Henry stories as I feel the character has many facets to her personality. Great job!

~Hat~

I'm glad you approved of Hatty's inclusion in the story. Originally it was going to be Mac Fleetwood, but I changed my mind midway through.

I wouldn't be surprised if they generally forbid all visitors, but didn't want to turn away Hatman.



In that case her point is even more valid. It's even harder when there's only one person who carries Joan's life in their hands.



She is supposed to be a more childlike character than most of the other robots.



I meant there's a lot more discussion involved in letting a perceptively dangerous robot on the loose.



It didn't surprise me at all - I've been reading Popular Mechanics. Last month there WAS a robot with weapons.