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Union Robotics must satisfy the state regulator's inspector as to their standards - That's her

2 (7.7%)

Marigold's old roomie from college is passing through and hopes to stay with Mar-bear

0 (0%)

Have you ever wondered who Claire's therapist was? We're about to learn!

0 (0%)

It turns out that we were all totally wrong about what Hannelore's clone-sister was like!

6 (23.1%)

So... Why did Jim break up with Sam's mom again?

1 (3.8%)

Only one other of Bubbles's unit survived, finally out of hospital, she's finally found her friend again

2 (7.7%)

The State Police's chief technician wants to find out what is the big deal about Union Robotics

0 (0%)

She may not look like it but she's Veronica Vance's replacement on the 'Net!

4 (15.4%)

Elliott's younger sister couldn't be more different than him!

7 (26.9%)

Brun wasn't the only one left destitute by the fire; meet her old boss's daughter!

2 (7.7%)

Other (Please specify in your comment)

2 (7.7%)

Total Members Voted: 25

[TV4Fun]

I think we need to start taking a shot whenever Jeph introduces a new character.

[ChipNoir]

._. C...can we not have animal cruelty as a joke after this? I get it's a robot but uh...no?

Kinda deeply disturbed by that, robot or not. That's a lower level that kinda takes her mum beyond the cartoon-villain level into pure sadism.

Speaking of age and mortality....



How old IS Hanners? Or most of the cast for that matter? The trivia RPG element of my brain needs this data.

[TheEvilDog]

Quick question....why is Beatrice shocking Thirty/Thirty?

I mean, other than to show how evil she is.

[brasca]

Is Beatrice getting intimations of mortality?

That's why I don't know why she'd even bother with molding Hannelore into her heir.  Considering her ex-husband's research in robotics and artificial intelligence coupled with her vast wealth I'd think she'd be seeking a way to download her consciousness into a robot duplicate.  In fact I wouldn't be surprised if much of the pro AI legislation got passed so she could have the legal right to own her corporation as an AI. 

I know it's been awhile since we saw Beatrice Elicott Chatham and Jeph's style has evolved, but I don't recall her eyes being pink.  Maybe she had some work done. 

[OldGoat]

Is Beatrice beating the robohorse or applying broghan maintenance to its neck servos?  That rigid bow posture has to generate some unpleasant feedback.

Either way, Bubbles and Silver Titanium need to meet.

[Nycticoraci]

I feel the urge to point out its not particularly advisable to apply electrical currents to an object you are currently sitting on...

[Storel]

I know it's been awhile since we saw Beatrice Elicott Chatham and Jeph's style has evolved, but I don't recall her eyes being pink.  Maybe she had some work done.

Or maybe she's just wearing colored contact lenses. That seems a bit more likely than having surgery to change her eye color...

Nobody has yet mentioned that this robohorse's tail looks much more like what you normally see on depictions of demons/devils than anything you'd see on a horse. Kinda creepy.

[BenRG]

No great surprise it was Beatrice and, as I predicted, this is part of the process that Beatrice has planned to make Hannelore ready to take over Elicott-Chatham Incorporated. It's also in-character that Tilly is so dehumanised in Beatrice's mind that she's hard-pressed to even remember her name (despite the fact that I bet she personally vetted Tilly for the job).

I find myself wondering who is going to have the most eye-opening personal experience over the next 48 hours - Hanners or Tilly!

Quick question....why is Beatrice shocking Thirty/Thirty?

I think that the 'telescopic neck' thing is probably an indication that the AI in the robo-horse is defective. If I were to guess, it would be that Beatrice deliberately agreed to have this defective unit as it gave her an excuse to regularly and legally use painful means of restraint and control over a sentient creature whilst being able to claim self-defence.

Because she's evil. Seriously, that's the only reason. Beatrice is a Lawful-Evil personality and she really does get personal fulfilment from hurting people, dominating and controlling them. She really is a very bad person.

[dreed]

We knew about Beatrice being brutal and morally bankrupt but shocking a robot is the issue now?

It was mentioned that she murders people who cross her before.  So zapping a robot animal who does wierd stuff with its neck is hardly something to get annoyed with.

[traroth]

That robot horse seems to have a delightful tail...

[traroth]

I'm not sure a horse or some other pet (in the sense of a creature totally submitted to its owner) would be a full fledged AI. What sense would it make?

By the way, what is it actually doing?

[BenRG]

It occurs to me that this is sort of a stick that Hannelore has forged for her own back. Whenever she wants someone 'seen to' (for example, the restaurant that gave Marten food poisoning), she has a tendency to call in Beatrice as the 'big guns'. Maybe this will be the catalyst for her to seek much more independence, mostly because Beatrice starts issuing terms for further assistance, such as keeping Tilly around and maybe quitting CoD to work as a middle manager for ECI.

[Milayna]

Well we have sentient jumping spiderbots. A sentient horse isn't a stretch. Then again, while AI origins are mysterious I don't recall any literature mandating a sharp line between sentient AI's and regular complex I/O programs, so maybe there are animal-intelligence AI's around. And probably a million ethical questions swarming around too, given AI's created nature.

[Stoutfellow]

Apparently Beatrice was in a meeting with... the horse? Maybe it's on the Board of Directors. (Maybe its name is Incitatus...)

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

AWWW YEAH SUCKAS

IT’S THE BEST CHARACTER IN QC, QUEEN OF THE BOURGEOISIE, BEATRICE ELLICOTT-CHATHAM, motherfucks

Oh and Tilly looks cute or whatever. Actually looks kinda like Winslow.

That name a Star Trek: Discovery ref? (If so: N i c e.)

[cesium133]

Oh and Tilly looks cute or whatever. Actually looks kinda like Winslow.

Is it too early to ship Tilly and Winslow...

...to Abu Dhabi? 

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

Oh and Tilly looks cute or whatever. Actually looks kinda like Winslow.

Is it too early to ship Tilly and Winslow...

...to Abu Dhabi? 

If Jeph wants to start the Abu Dhabi arc, then it’s right on time

[dutchrvl]

I'm not sure a horse or some other pet (in the sense of a creature totally submitted to its owner) would be a full fledged AI. What sense would it make?

By the way, what is it actually doing?

I was wondering that myself...neighing (is that the word?) while tilting his head back? Kinda surprised that the neck coils would come apart like that/have spaces in between when stretching his neck. Perhaps the issue is that this particular model/design tends to tilt/stretch its neck too much backward causing problems with the neckcoils coming apart?

Not sure, but either way it's a bit disturbing to see the casualness in which Beatrice inflicts pain; the horse seems to be in anguish judging by its facial expression

[Dr. ROFLPWN]

counterpoint: Robohorse is an AI into ponyplay and BDSM, don’t kinkshame robohorse

[traroth]

Robohorse was trying to say something. We may never now what...

What could "Maaaaaaa" possibly mean?

[RomulusAug]

By the way, what is it actually doing?

From Robo Horsie's response in panels 2 and 3 it looks like horsie just loves taffy and is reaching back thinking (s)he was getting a treat (which makes the subsequent shock even worse  ). What kind of person would deny her Robo horsie some taffy...

[traroth]

Also: nice pun, talking about "taking the reins of your multinational"

[tustin2121]

Honestly I'm perfectly ok with how it's going and if you REALLY need a banal dude-story that much, may I direct you in the direction of just about everything else? Otherwise, broadening yall's horizons won't hurt. Enjoy the comic for being outside of what you usually see.

This seems like it was meant as a reply to my previous message. If not, then please disregard this message, but if it is, I would like to say that I find your implying that I'd need a "banal dude-story" or that my horizon somehow needs broadening not only unwarranted, but also the tone of your comment unnecessarily combative.

I merely stated that, if Tilly is binary and female, I would prefer a male character at this point in time (e.g. a gay male?) because to me that would be more interesting than an additional female character. Note that I did not state that my enjoyment would suffer otherwise or that I needed a 'banal dude-story'?

You could have simply stated that you disagree with my preference without implying that I'm narrow-minded or need 'dude-stories', yes?
 
Have a nice day, and enjoy the story, whatever direction JJ is taking it in

I second this. But then, as a gay male myself, I'm biased towards seeing a gay male, I guess. Also, what on earth is a "dude story"? What makes a story qualify as a "dude story", as opposed to presumably just a regular "story" story?

[USS Martenclaire]

Robohorse was trying to say something. We may never now what...

What could "Maaaaaaa" possibly mean?

Maybe he was just horsing around?

[JoeCovenant]

Robohorse was trying to say something. We may never now what...

What could "Maaaaaaa" possibly mean?

Maybe he was just horsing around?

Maybe it was feeling a bit sheepish...?

[TheEvilDog]

For fox sake, these animal puns are going to be the death of me.

[Mr. Doctor]

Ah, so Tilly IS an android. Man, I'm confused when their skin is not red/pink/blue/other wild colour....Or maybe not. Argh.

Man, I don't know about you guys but I'm so looking forward for more of Hannelore's mom haha. I love her. Sure, she's evil but I enjoyed the spice she brought to the table the first time around.

[Is it cold in here?]

Notice what Winslow is not doing.

In the past he's been on a hair trigger for any hint that Hannelore was introducing any competition for his services.

He's welcoming Tilly warmly with no visible jealousy.

[TheEvilDog]

Ah, so Tilly IS an android. Man, I'm confused when their skin is not red/pink/blue/other wild colour....Or maybe not. Argh.

....

I see nothing that indicates that Tilly is an android. What are you basing that idea on?

[OldGoat]

Ah, so Tilly IS an android. Man, I'm confused when their skin is not red/pink/blue/other wild colour....Or maybe not. Argh.

....

I see nothing that indicates that Tilly is an android. What are you basing that idea on?

Is Tilly a 'droid?

Pro - She bears a resemblance to Winslow - almost like they'd been drawn by the same artist.

Con - She expresses and appetite for pancakes.  She does not have a rectangular speech balloon (which I take to represent an electronic sounding voice - of all the AIs in the strip, only Momo uses a human voice as represented by rounded speech balloons, and then only when speaking with humans).

Neutral - Her clothing obscures where her neck meets her shoulders, so we can't tell if there's the omnipresent seam there or not.

So far the evidence points to human.  So far.

[hedgie]

The ears are a telltale sign that she's human.

[OldGoat]

The ears are a telltale sign that she's human.

(Adding "Ear lobe development" to checklist.)

[Thrudd]

The ears are a telltale sign that she's human.

(Adding "Ear lobe development" to checklist.)

Please don't overdo the lobes because that's how you get Ferengi - nobody in their right mind wants Ferengi - Wall street 1%ers don't count since they are proto-Ferengi and a right mind hasn't existed there for at least a century or more.

[Mr. Doctor]

Ah, so Tilly IS an android. Man, I'm confused when their skin is not red/pink/blue/other wild colour....Or maybe not. Argh.

I see nothing that indicates that Tilly is an android. What are you basing that idea on?

Pure intuition until I realised that Jeph actually uses different speech-bubbles. I completely forgot all about it for some reason. I guess it was just her words that made me think it sounded too clinical and formal, even for an assistant.

I read the comic when I just woke up at 5:30 am so no wonder I was barely looking at the speech bubbles at that point.

[Pilchard123]

...to Abu Dhabi? 

Ship them to Abu Dhabi? Do!

[JimC]

I'm just tryingg to imagine being in Tilly's shoes. You've been employed as a PA to her daughter by someone with a fearsome reputation.  It seems possible even probable the daughter has been described as a little eccentric. You turn up at the address to find your new employer still asleep, and on seeing you she immediately turns her back on you, without even inviting you to cross the threshold, starts a telephone shouting match with the person who emplyed you, which is concluded by her flinging the phone across the room and breaking it.

Have any of you ever had a even vaguely comparably bad first 5 minutes in a new job?

[hedgie]

Please don't overdo the lobes because that's how you get Ferengi - nobody in their right mind wants Ferengi - Wall street 1%ers don't count since they are proto-Ferengi and a right mind hasn't existed there for at least a century or more.

Not really lobe development, but if we're going for the Star Trek comparison, AIs share a more similar ear design to Odo than the human/bajoran crew members.

[TheEvilDog]

Have any of you ever had a even vaguely comparably bad first 5 minutes in a new job?

I had a temp job where I walked in the door and had to turn around due to the fire alarm going off. Okay, the fire wasn't that bad but not the best way to start/finish the job.

[SmilingCat]

I feel the urge to point out its not particularly advisable to apply electrical currents to an object you are currently sitting on...

I have to assume she does this sort of thing often enough that she knows to wear electrically insulating riding pants.

[MightionNY]

I feel the urge to point out its not particularly advisable to apply electrical currents to an object you are currently sitting on...

I have to assume she does this sort of thing often enough that she knows to wear electrically insulating riding pants.

Ah; non-short shorts.

[Akima]

I have to say that I do suspect a manipulative agenda on Beatrice's part.

Yes, and the sea is wet and salty too.

acting within the law is an easier way of gaining power without consequence than being an international terrorist.

That's just what a Bond villain would say.

Beatrice's robot horse seems a bit derpy and unfinished for her. A robo-Arabian, or robo-warmblood at least, would be more her speed, though the demon-tail is a nice touch. I can imagine that equinoid robots might lag in development behind humanoid ones, but I'd have thought Beatrice would have left to underlings the testing of prototypes that maaaaaaaalfunction to that extent. Interestingly, robo-dobbin is wearing no bridle, so I wonder how Beatrice guides it. Obviously she can use her legs in the usual way, and perhaps the stun-gun is also a remote-control. I certainly hope robo-dobbin is not a sentient AI!

What's up with Tilly's eyes? Do they live an independent existence in her glasses?

[Gyrre]

Quick question....why is Beatrice shocking Thirty/Thirty?

I mean, other than to show how evil she is.

To show how callous she is.

Hopefully 30/30 is non-sentient.

[Gyrre]

Is Beatrice getting intimations of mortality?

That's why I don't know why she'd even bother with molding Hannelore into her heir.  Considering her ex-husband's research in robotics and artificial intelligence coupled with her vast wealth I'd think she'd be seeking a way to download her consciousness into a robot duplicate.  In fact I wouldn't be surprised if much of the pro AI legislation got passed so she could have the legal right to own her corporation as an AI. 

I know it's been awhile since we saw Beatrice Elicott Chatham and Jeph's style has evolved, but I don't recall her eyes being pink.  Maybe she had some work done.

I think it's a matter of personal pride and tradition for Beatrice. I'd also wager that she has no fear of death.

[Tova]

I have to admit that, when I read Beatrice's reply "Of course you need an assistant! You're an Ellicott-Chatham," I immediately thought of Tywin (Game of Thrones) shouting at Tyrion, "Because you're a Lannister!"

[TheEvilDog]

(click to show/hide)

So Hanners is going to shoot her mother with a crossbow?

[SmilingCat]

(click to show/hide)

So Hanners is going to shoot her mother with a crossbow?

crossbows are passe. She'll release the virus.

[Perfectly Reasonable]

I'm pleased to see that Tillie has her priorities straight.

[Dust]

I'm surprised Hanners hasn't developed a system (traps?) to keep strange people of her apartment yet, especially in that building.

Or maybe Tilly was just too badass for such - considering how many supporting characters apparently have been eaten by that Allosaur at this point, their replacements have to be extreme just to walk the mean streets of Northampton.

[brasca]

I have to admit that, when I read Beatrice's reply "Of course you need an assistant! You're an Ellicott-Chatham," I immediately thought of Tywin (Game of Thrones) shouting at Tyrion, "Because you're a Lannister!"

Well at least Beatrice knows Hannelore is too afraid of germs to kill her on the toilet. 

[Is it cold in here?]

"Erstwhile companion", Tilly says to Winslow. He does not argue.

Is this the first time we've seen the end of a companionship contract?

They are certainly friends and will continue to be.