nextgen_citizen (nextgen_citizen) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2012-11-20 21:27:00

Entry tags:

anya stark, bea dayspring, crosshairs, guardian, team - thunderbolts

Come to Order
"Now, in the interest of erring on the side of caution, this court will have none of 'the subject' or 'the product'. The being self-identifying as 'John 'Jack' Smith', will be referred to as 'him', or 'the individual' if the plaintiffs insist on being clinical." The judge cast a stern eye around the courtroom. There was more than a fair representation both of the Thunderbolts and the Leap Foundation. A few notable superheroes with impressive civilian credentials, such as Doctors Pym and Samson, were also on the witness list.

Some shuffling of papers and agreements are issued, before the lawyer for the Leap Foundation steps up.

"We call Beatrice Dayspring to the stand."

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nextgen_citizen
2012-11-26 01:52 am UTC (link)

"Precisely. Project Guardian is designed to only act within the parameters we programmed it for. Behaviors, responses to threats, instincts for public media exposure... all part of the Foundation's financial plan for the world's first corporate owned and operated superhero.

He's a very elaborate marketing gimmick. There's an entire line of toys and a video game ready for launch. The Foundation has full rights to his likeness."

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	goesbothways 2012-11-26 01:57 am UTC (link)
	"So he was carefully and precisely programmed to go rogue, and desire freedom from your organization at first opportunity?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2012-11-26 02:09 am UTC (link)

Professor Graft goes quiet for a moment, constructing her response as she makes eye contact with Kelly for the first time.

"There was an irregularity in the storage equipment, and the self-preservation routines went into effect, provoking him into seeking out daylight. From there, he lacked the complete orientation data-set we had intended for him, and went on to his prime directive of crime-fighting for the sake of visibility.

Had the programming been completed, we would have been able to activate 'reset' protocols and render the subject inert. Stil, even now,--" She looks at Jack. "--there are command phrases that could induce temporary paralysis and render him helpless.

But of course the Foundation has no interest in means of retrieval that could be considered confrontational to the residents of the Maria Stark Foundation residence."

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	goesbothways 2012-11-26 02:28 am UTC (link)
	Kelly meets her gaze directly, giving the Professor her best 'Wednesday Adams' smile. "And you were instrumental in installing those command phrases and protocols?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 02:38 am UTC (link)
	"I designed them, yes." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-11-26 02:41 am UTC (link)
	"Then a simple question. Are you so entirely positive that Project Guardian is not sentient, that you are willing to face charges for enslavement and false imprisonment if it turns out that you're wrong?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 02:52 am UTC (link)
	Professor Graft looks back at Kelly. "While I am the project's chief designer and theoretician, matters of security would have to be taken up with another department of the Foundation. I maintain that Project Guardian is an effective simulation of sentience." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

goesbothways
2012-11-26 02:58 am UTC (link)

Kelly nods. "Not a matter of security, Doctor. You designed the program. Your work is responsible for keeping the Guardians under control and imposing capacity to paralyze and force control upon them. You agreed that you designed it on record. Therefore, you are responsible for the consequences of your work.

Your Honor, please instruct the witness to answer the question. If it turns out that Jack is sentient, you will be charged with false imprisonment and enslavement of a sentient... those are the consequences of your actions. So I repeat - are you so positive in your assessment that you are entirely willing to face those consequences and face life in prison if it turns out you are wrong?"

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	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 03:08 am UTC (link)
	Professor Graft raises a hand before the judge can speak, nodding, before looking back to Kelly again. "Yes. Project Guardian is not a person, and not sentient." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-11-26 03:16 am UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Doctor. As enough of a behavioral specialist to program a simulation of sentience, what qualities separate you from the Project Guardian prototypes? I.e., what are the qualities that determine sentience, in your opinion?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 03:32 am UTC (link)
	Professor Graft recites the list of behavioral restrictions and thought pattern organizational schematics that were part of the programming process. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-11-26 03:38 am UTC (link)
	"That's wonderful. But not the question. What defines sentience, doctor? What qualities does a living bing need to exhibit to be deemed sentient?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

nextgen_citizen
2012-11-26 03:59 am UTC (link)

"I could rattle off a few different dictionary definitions, but I don't think that's what you're asking for.

As it was defined by the parameters of the Project, sentience was the marker at which fully realized levels of will, consciousness, ethics, personality, and insight would emerge. From what we've been able to observe, the individual has the personality the programming dictated, little sense of ethics, and a weak sense of will or consciousness. The surveillance footage of the individual has been consistent only within the limits set for him. He performs routinely to every expectation and prediction calculated in advance."

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goesbothways
2012-11-26 04:02 am UTC (link)

"Third try, doctor. Again, not the question. I can do this all day. What. Defines. Sentience. That is the question. There is no other question currently on the table. I'm not asking for your observations on Project Guardian. I'm not asking for your programming knowledge. You purportedly passed college in America, doctor. I'm assuming that means you speak English.

Based upon your knowledge of the workings of the brain. THE brain, not the subject's brain. What qualities make a being sentient?"

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	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 04:23 am UTC (link)
	"The ability to have subjective experiences." Graft replies, throwing out the first dictionary definition to come to mind. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

goesbothways
2012-11-26 04:33 am UTC (link)

"Can you give us an example of something you can do that Jack can't, then? What can you enjoy, dislike, or experience subjectively that his programming would not include? Obviously, you were attempting to simulate the brain closely enough that it should be close... but if you're going to claim that he is not sentient, then you ought to be able to explain where the difference lies... just one thing he's not capable of that a sentient being would be, by your definition, please?"

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nextgen_citizen
2012-11-26 02:53 pm UTC (link)

The room falls quiet, as even Jack and the judge are now leaning forward with interest.

Professor Graft surveys the room, then sits back in her chair, folding her hands neatly in her lap.

"Growth.

He is not so much developmentally delayed as he is frozen. He can't develop higher reasoning skills in response to social situations. He can't find 'favorites' outside of what popular media instills in him."

And now Professor Graft sits forward and is looking at you, Kelly.

"He's been built for a singular purpose, and outside of that can only be a nuisance at best and a danger to the public at worst."

"Professor Graft, let's keep the dramatics to a minimum, and testimony solely related to the matter of the day." The judge adds.

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goesbothways
2012-11-26 06:49 pm UTC (link)

Kelly smiles right back and nods.

"Thank you, Doctor. And by the way, please don't try to leave the state. Human slavery and false imprisonment are serious offenses, and fleeing jurisdiction gets the FBI involved - who have the authority to invalidate all of your copyrights, sieze all of yours and your company's research assets, and freeze your personal and corporate accounts until you're found. So its in your company's best interest to be able to hand you over to the police as soon as this trial is over."

She nods to the judge, and opposing counsel. "Yes, yes, I know, objection, objection. I withdraw the statement as irrelevant to the trial. Its only relevant to opposing counsel. You guys may want to keep the doctor and everyone else involved in the research visible and local if you want to have two nickels to rub together by the end of the week."

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	nextgen_citizen 2012-11-26 07:18 pm UTC (link)
	"I think we've all heard enough, counselors..." The judge straightens some papers. "We'll reconvene when I've reached my decision. The court will notify the lead counsel for each party when I'm set." And, for now, court is dismissed. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	no_relation 2012-11-26 07:19 pm UTC (link)
	Jack, once the court officers allow him to do so, walks over to Bea. "I'm sorry I got upset... can we go home now?" The judge had thrown around a bunch of terms before they'd officially started about 'temporary custody' and stuff, but he didn't quite understand it all. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	charmedlife 2012-11-26 07:21 pm UTC (link)
	"It's okay to be upset as long as it doesn't result in causing a problem. Yes, we can go home." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	goesbothways 2012-11-26 07:23 pm UTC (link)
	Kelly nods. "I'll be ready to call my first witness when we reconvene." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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