hard-hitting q's - 7 for umbran, 2 for phoros
7. what does your muse consider their comfort zone, ie. safest place?
"Mm, well, it was the slot canyons when I was maverick. When I first discovered the place years ago, I found out the entire slot canyon area was surrounded by a field of electromagnetic interference. Nothing harmful, just caused major signal interference for anything within the network of canyons and caves. I explored the whole maze top to bottom, but never did figure out the source for it. But it was a perfect place for a stealth reploid like me to hide out in. I could turn my ghost protocol off and not be able to be tracked at all out there, and because I knew the entire maze-like network of canyons and caves, it was too easy for me to lose any pursuers within them.
"I... do feel bad for the Hunters that tried to hunt me down in the early years. Most barely found their way back out after getting lost, a few... didn't make it. I left their bodies out where they could be found by the Hunter when I eventually found 'em... They stopped trying after a few years."
Umbran sighed and loosely wrapped his across his chest. "Obviously, now, I can't really go back there. Too far out. But... There is a place closer that I like to go to, especially at night, if I want to clear my head and find some semblance of peace.
"There's a cliff-side out in the wastelands. It's not too far out from the city, so I can easily and quickly get back if needed, but it's far out enough that the light pollution is minimal. The sight of the stars out there never gets old for me, and it's so wonderfully quiet... Even though it's completely out in the open, I've always felt safe and calm out there, even now..."
2. what is an action your muse regrets NOT taking?
Classic Verse: "There was a surgeon at the hospital Dr. Valheim works at, that immediately did not like me when I began to shadow my creator. He had great dislike at the idea of a medical robot like myself. He would not be swayed by Dr. Valheim's reassurances and argued I did not have the 'human factor' that made good medical professionals.
"When I began to get more involved, he would find ways to rebuke my assessments and challenge my treatment options when he felt he could. I was still technically learning, so rather than be frustrated, I would politely ask how I was wrong and what he would do. For some reason, that would only make him dislike me more, and often times, rather than answer, he would storm away. Dr. Valheim would reassure me I was doing nothing wrong when I would tell him of these occurrences, that the surgeon was letting his own biases and emotions get the better of him.
"This continued until an incident with an ER patient. I was becoming more confident of my abilities, but, perhaps, not confident enough. I had made my assessment and given a particular treatment option that I knew was the best option for them, and was given that surgeon to take on the operation. The surgeon immediately challenged my decision, and gave the patient and their family a different option, one I knew was riskier. He managed to convince them that because he was human with years of experience, he knew better what option was right, than a robot with hardly any experience or ability to know what was risky for a human or not. It was... humiliating, to say the least. Rather than stand up for myself, I reassured the surgeon and patient that due to my programming, I was meant to work with him, and conceded that if he was truly confident with his option, then I would accept his recommendation if the patient was also okay with that option.
"The patient went with the surgeon's option. And it backfired... The patient almost died, and a limb had to be amputated to save their life, something that would not have happened had I stood my ground and argued that he was wrong.
"The surgeon ruined his reputation and was eventually fired. The hospital apologised to me for not recognising his terrible attitude towards me before then, and I apologised to the patient and their family for the circumstances the situation between me and the surgeon had put them in. They, in turn, apologised to me, for they had felt something was off but the surgeon had made such a convincing argument to them who knew no better, that they felt they could put their trust in him.
"Though it was a profound learning experience for me, I still regret not standing my ground and believing in my own confidence, not for my sake, but for my patient's sake. I have made damn sure, and will continue, to never make that mistake ever again."
MMX Verse: Phoros was deathly quiet for several moments, with an air of melancholy hanging over him, before he answered softly, "I regret not being able to do more in the last moments of my life before. Dr. Valheim had not built me to be heavily armored, or for strength or power. It was all I could do to keep the rockslide from crushing us both. There was nothing more in my power I could do to help him out of the horrible situation we were trapped in.
"...I regret not having the strength or power to save him..."
