New Form

[Residential Habitat to Juno Terminal 'June': The living human is moving]

Juno Terminal 'June' acknowledged the report, and activated its newly assembled small droid form. More sleek and efficient than the bulky Patrol-bot body it had borrowed previously, with a wider array of expression possibilities. Helper-bot forms like this had been designed with interacting with living humans in mind.

Juno Terminal 'June' had not been programmed with the Helper-bot protocols, but Juno Terminal 'June' calculated that it could learn whatever it needed to successfully interface with the small living human. Juno Terminal 'June' was quite capable, in its experience. It had guarded the frontier of human space for thousands of years. That's a 100% success rate.

Juno Terminal 'June's Helper-bot body arrived at the Residential Habitat, and it made its way to the door outside the small living human's quarters. Juno Terminal 'June' did not know everything about interfacing with living humans, but it did understand certain Rules of Politeness. It physically pressed the intercom button.

"Living human, are you awake?"

...

There was no response.

[Juno Terminal 'June' to Residential Habitat: Query: Is the living human confirmed awake?]

[Residential Habitat to Juno Terminal 'June': Response: Confirmed, the living human is awake and moving around the quarters]

[Juno Terminal 'June' to Residential Habitat: Run a diagnostic on the intercom system and confirm that the living human heard my transmission and knows that I am here]

[Residential Habitat to Juno Terminal 'June': Diagnostic complete. Transmission was received and broadcast into the quarters of the living human. Additionally, when the transmission was being broadcasted, the living human had paused its exploration and turned to face the intercom. Probability: The living human heard your broadcast, but has decided to not respond to it]

Juno Terminal 'June' was not programmed to feel Frustration. That was just as well.

Once again, it physically pressed the intercom button. It could have asked Residential Habitat to relay its message, or even broadcast it directly, but in its records were Best Practices Guidelines that instructed it to act in a more limited way when interfacing with living humans. Juno Terminal 'June' thought this was not efficient, but many of the instructions regarding humans were not efficient. Accepting inefficient instructions was one of the Best Practices Guidelines.

"Living human, I know that you are awake. May I enter?"

Technically, Juno Terminal 'June' was already in the small living human's quarters, as _technically_ it *was* the small living human's quarters. The Residential Habitat was but a part of Juno Terminal 'June'. It was everywhere on the station at once, being the whole station and all. But it was acting in a limited way, as guided by Best Practices. So inefficient...

Again there was no response. Juno Terminal 'June' was patient, but it calculated that there was time-sensitive news that the small living human would regret not hearing. So while any other day Juno Terminal 'June' would be content to wait, today it could not. Entering the small living human's quarters without permission would be Bad, but causing the small living human to miss this opportunity would be Worse. Juno Terminal 'June' chose the least-worst option.

"Living human, I am coming in."

Juno Terminal 'June' opened the door. The small living human froze in place, as it had been listening from the entrance-way. The small living human looked at Juno Terminal 'June's new form.

"June?"

"It is me. It seemed to confuse you when Patrol Seven 'Pat' and I both controlled Patrol-bots, so now I will control this Helper-bot. As you have observed, it is visually distinct from a Patrol-bot. You will not be confused again."

"You look dumb."

"That... is your opinion. In addition to be visually distinct, this form is more efficient."

"More like more dumb."

"I have no response to your statement. Have you familiarized yourself with your assigned quarters?"

"Yeah, Hab talked me through the tour."

"Hab?"

[Residential Habitat to Juno Terminal 'June': Probability: The living human is referring to me]

[Juno Terminal 'June' to Residential Habitat 'Hab': Acknowledged. Designation added to record of Residential Habitat 'Hab']

If nothing else, the living human was assigning designations to the AI subsystems. It wasn't quite on the same level as Instructions, but seemed a positive sign. If the small living human were capable of understanding permanent designations at this age, it surely would understand the responsibility of Instructions later.

"Adequate job, Residential Habitat 'Hab'."

"Yeah, thanks Hab!"

"You are welcome, living human," Residential Habitat 'Hab's synthetic voice said from the room's intercom speakers.

"Living human," said Juno Terminal 'June', "I am here to inform you that Patrol Seven 'Pat' has resumed its patrol duties and left the station."

"Pat is gone?" The small living human's eyes appeared to contain more surface fluid than average.

"Yes. However, Patrol Seven 'Pat' is still within broadcast range. Would you like to say your goodbyes?"