Ah, yes! That makes perfect sense. Humans would have learned to be surreptitious... very much like rats (by the way, they secretly control the world you know). I like that idea, very much, Socks. Sneaky rebels that have over time developed a network, almost like organized crime, that has seeped into the lower city and maybe even beyond...

That's got me thinking. If some robots, are 'addicted' to the 'corruption' and seek say, nanite drugs (yes they could be deadly but so can heroine, eh?) that help achieve that tantalizing 'freedom', could Human's perhaps be their pushers?

I could see the humans be good dealers and the slums to be a good place for dealing in such dangerous and illegal things.

Such nanites would not be considered Experience Programs, by the way. Experience programs are legal for one, and are more like a small USB-stick a machine can stick in his head to upload the program.

Nanites would be illegal, last longer, because there's no firewall/algorithm to stop them effectively, and they'd spread through the cooling liquid instead of being uploaded to a machine's memory. I'm sure the humans and shady machines living in the slums wouldn't mind pushing machines these nanites, but producing these things might be the biggest problem. They'd need some very specific tools which won't be easy to get. Like setting up a drug lab, to stick to the metaphor. So these labs won't be everywhere and the nanites they produce will probably have a considerable risk for a machine's health, but I can certainly see them hiding inside the slums.

SWEET! The slums are getting interesting and I really like the culture that is evolving.

You guys hit the nail onthe head for me.

In my mind, the Freedom Fighters weren't actively engaging the machines in hostile battles but formed as a way to try and deter the machines from uprooting the lives the humans have developed in the slums. They use espionage tactics and work in secret, underground communities.

They aren't vast in numbers. Just enough of them to share intelligence and technology with. The communicate in a form of graffiti that is around the slums. Only those withiin the organization know what the message really says. Everyone else, including the machines think it's nothing but a way for the humans to show off their "creativity".

The weapons they have developed and procured aren't so much for attacking the machines as they are for personal protection against the humans who don't like the Freedom Fighters. They have a couple of larger railguns in case the machines do something illogical.

All they want is to be able to live int he slums without the fear of the machines coming along and deciding they need the area the humans are living to expand the machines city.

Does that make sense or have I goone completely off the radar?

That sounds good to me... see what, Socks has to say.

It makes sense that the Humans would secretly try and 'hold as many cards' as they possibly can, 'It's in our nature, eh?'

The true answer lies in all reasons for the Machines not entirely killing off the humans. Why keep rats around anyway? Sure, once in a while a machine may require a human, but the ones that would be useful to them would most like be the cream of the crop. The others are just waste. So, there is some underlying reason why the robots keep the Humans around, I reason I feel will be revealed as we go along. So, maybe the machines are in fact more aware of the Human activity than is suspected.

Just stirring the pot...

We appear to be in agreement when it comes to the freedom fighters.

Seems a bit of an odd name though; 'freedom fighters'. Sure, they work in order to improve or maintain the human position in the city, but when you say FREEDOM, I say stuff like the right of free speech and stuff like that. These guys are just trying to improve the tiny bit of freedom humans have to a tiny bit more. Not like I care what they're called. You people know I just like the sound of my own typing.

So far I have actively tried to not think too much about what might happen to the story in the future, but talking about reasons for the humans to be around... Well I think I could think of half a dozen if you give me a few minutes. But I won't, and you wouldn't want me to ruin the surprise for when the time comes.

They way I see it, the eventual reason will have to do a lot more with the inner workings of the collective and/or what is going on outside of the city. Scheming before those things have gotten some time to develop is kind of pointless, unless you love torturing your brain.

It is kind of fun, I have to admit. But, you know, you might go insane. Or in some cases, insaner.

Activity Expectancy = Approx. 70 years

What is this based on? Wear and tear on the system? Or, is more ingrained in complex system of the robot based on their processors or memory hub breaking down? Or is there an internal timer like humans have in their DNA?

Just curious, its kind of an important to know this as my character is quite old. It seems to me that a machine could go on and on with frequent maintenance, so there must be something more to this life expectancy. It matters not to me whether or not my character is on his last legs, he's in top form due to maintenance and his stasis, but if other factors are about to make him keel over I'll write him accordingly. In fact that would be more interesting.

It is based on the processors and memory breaking down, since they don't replace them from time to time, and there's really no way to 'maintain' them.

I've read some article about how processors get worn out. This never happens in our world because before these things get a chance to die a natural death they're already on a scrap heap, but the tiniest bits and pieces that do all the working do wear out. I don't remember what the article said about how long a processor could work perfectly, I think a decade or two (not that it really matters to us). Of course, if the processor doesn't do anything, there's no wear, so technically a machine could become a lot older, but they'll be around for approximately 70 years of truly active duty. Cygnus' long stasis is going to give him a lot more years then his production date would indicate. The memory and processors in the head are more or less off during stasis, and the PP doesn't need to do all that much, so he may have worn them but a fraction during his stasis.

So, keeling over? nah, he should be alright. If you want interesting, he might be a bit slower due to being an older and outdated model. Well, actually that's not really interesting. Perhaps his processors and memory work in a slightly different way so he might find the newer models odd, and he might act odd according to them. Of course, since he's been messed up by this human he probably acts differently as it is. I don't know, use his age, or don't. I certainly won't force it on you.

So, RPM, I don't want to nag, but how's that character coming, huh? Those buttholes on your end of the computer screen putting too much work on your desk, I take it? We'll live if that's the case, but you've got me wondering, is all. This silence is making me paranoid!

What was that?
Did you hear that?
Who's there!?

Right now, I'm going to have to respectfully refrain from entering this thread.

I can't get my head wrapped around some things and until I can grasp the concept, I wouldn't feel right about entering into something I'm not comfortable with.

Alright, that's too bad.

But at least I know what is up now.

If at some point in the future I can help you wrap your head around it you can always ask.

Well, that took a while.

Wasn't feeling too hot for a while, so writing didn't go as smoothly as it could have.

Not like I was sick or anything, just not 100%. It messes with the writing vibe, you know?

But who cares about me anyway?

Hello? (echoes all spooky like through vast and seemingly abandoned thread).

...is it possible to be a lackey for this rebel mob? I was considering your idea on gifted children but a child would not be picked for being a soldier/tracker (also noticed we arn't expanding out of city yet.) so i thought a rebel would be the easiest way for me to get my hands on a knife and some machine oil splatters.

Won't be a commander just be a lackey if Debs decided to be Queen of the rebels I'm just getting a half approval before i start botching a character sheet together for a rebel Grunt

I believe that would work.

I personally, have not been able to come up with anything to expand the story of my character which is why I stalled out. Kind of having a tough time envisioning the world and so I am not sure where to go.

Sometimes you're writing away and things seem to be making sense and then suddenly someone shuts the lights off and your like, 'Hey? WTF am I?' I have to go back and review everything and find the cliff that I fell off of.

Sometimes you write a cliffhanger... Sometimes it lacks the hanging part...

I guess?

I'm not sure...

At least there's more to scroll through now.

Yaaaaaay.