I Love How Smooth His Mechanical Arms Move

A conversation Robin and AL-AN have about the sea emperor leviathan within the old story.

I don’t particularly like the old story, but I do think this is something that should have been kept from it. It broadens the perspective on why they were so insistent on keeping the SEL. They didn’t just do it to be cruel; I think it was seen as an unfortunate and necessary measure. Keep one member of a species confined to study to potentially save many more. I think too often we apply human ethical standards to Architects who clearly have a different understanding and outlook.

I like how small the phasegate makes AL-AN appear as you watch him assemble the ship.

More of AL-AN’s idle typing

I think it’s a little silly how they included keyboard noises considering the console he is using appears to be a touchscreen.

Its for the vibes I guess

I love looking at the hologram of the planets spin

Oh and AL-AN is there too I guess

Me when the phase gate is opening

The sea dragon egg.

I just really like this screenshot I took

A removed conversation between Robin and AL-AN that remains in the games audio files.

It’s a very interesting interaction, but I do see why they opted to leave it out. Though it is nice to see a longer conversation between them. Especially one where they talk out their reasonings for differing views, and one where Robin ends up expressing empathy for AL-AN.

Transcript under the cut

AL-AN: Thank you for undertaking the quest for an alternative storage medium.

Robin: I would really love it if you could stop referring to me as a storage medium.

A: Not you. Your body.

R: My body is a significant part of who I am and how I experience life.

A: It is different for us.

R: Clearly. Or you wouldn’t have been hanging out in that sanctuary waiting to hitch a ride with me.

R: How did you get in there anyway?

A: We came here in search of a cure for the Kharaa bacterium.

R: What? Thousands of years ago?

A: I do not experience time as you do, but yes, that is technically correct.

A: My body was infected before a vaccine could be developed. I uploaded my consciousness to the sanctuary for storage.

R: What happened to the others?

A: Some left, others perished. Over time my connection to them grew weaker… I cannot sense them now.

R: AL-AN… I—

[missing piece of dialogue]

R: Yes okay, but— what I was going to say was… I’m sorry.

A: …Why? You have done nothing wrong.

R: Not sorry like an apology. Sorry like I feel empathy.

A: Are all your human languages so… confusing?

R: All the ones I know are.

Stares at you…

So many arms makes it easy to multitask