later is now and I’m very glad it is

Multi-purpose classroom. Formally a childwatch room. Our co-worker had to work late, so after our class let out for the day we watched her child.

Never ever ever embrace a superstrong person suffering from PTSD, night terrors, past lives trauma, demonic possession, or just convulsive sneezing. Could be highly unhealthy.

And on my previous prediction…. I distinctly heard a ‘crrrrreak’ sound from that acoustic ceiling panel Sulla is perched on. When it rains… it pours robots. Hallelujah!

My hopes and prayers that Brendan’s spine and skull are intact. Strangely, Al might be even worse shape coming out of this, he is going to emotionally implode over hurting Brendan, he won’t trust himself.

In Al’s defense, I don’t think anyone has ever done a full mind copy like his, who ever built him might not have known what to expect from the copy’s mind being able to replay past experiences perfectly and relive the trauma of death. Al’s past night terrors have him having his chest ripped open… with super high fidelity nightmares like that…I’m not sure I could cope.

I am keeping my hopes up that Brendan will handle it like before, that no matter if Al is confused or afraid, that he’s the know-it-all and he will take the lead for them both.

Why does a classroom have a baby in it?

I don’t think that’s impossible but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here. To me this looks like Al is panicking and still doesn’t know his own strength/robody. He meant to push Brendan away because he’s having flashbacks and strong emotion, but instead he pushed too hard and threw him across the room.

AL might have pushed Brendan away, because AL is feeling something like: [ I’m having these good, intense, very passionate feelings for you, now.
But I want to back off, for now.
Things feel different, now, so I want to slightly move away from these feelings, until I can get more comfortable with them.
TRA says: did I ever tell you, that I’m prone to thinking about stuff…too much? ;D

[I hope this doesn’t repeat; 2 attempts to post vanished into the aether]

I’m pretty sure that’s not why the Al-robot was built. Brendan doesn’t have such awesome defenses or protections that a determined assassin couldn’t bypass them and kill him. And it doesn’t really make sense to have an assassin-replicant just hang out with his target for however many days it’s been.

That doesn’t mean that Al and/or Brendan can be sure that Al isn’t programmed with some subversive agenda, like infiltration for espionage, or some sort of political manipulation. But assassination is too over-the-top.

Personally, I don’t think Al-robot has a subversive program. So I’m pretty sure that this is some sort of existential crisis that Al is having, triggered by memory echoes. But I guess we’ll find out.