Adam entered his workshop, the workshop he had spent the last week in almost every waking moment. He kept all his robots in here, from the ones he was repairing for the Gunners to Buddy and Sgt. Fyre. However, Hades was in a unique situation. Until now Hades had not voiced a single note of discontent, nor had he even moved from his spot in the corner. In fact, if Adam was not already under strong suspicion that Hades was growing sentient he would have assumed he was just another regular robot, aside from the fact he was sitting still, cause the others were wandering around the workshop aimlessly. However he knew better. And it was time to address that exact thing.
"How are you doing, Hades?" Adam said as he walked over, seeing Hades standing as still as a statue.
"This unit is functioning adequately." Hades said back without pause.
"Well that's good. But I mean how are you feeling?" Adam reiterated.
"Hades does not understand. This unit is functioning adequately." He repeated, the slightest bit of confusion heard in his monotone despite the obvious confusion in his words.
Adam sighed and then grabbed a chair to drag closer to Hades. Sitting down a moment later.
"Okay, look. I'm pretty sure you are learning outside your programming. I believe you may be gaining sentience. Am I right to assume that?"
"This unit does not have an answer to that question. This unit can not quantify sentience." Hades said back.
"Well you asked me for the reason for my order before we left to deal with the cult. You were awfully concerned with morality."
"Negative." Hades said back quickly. "I was only concerned that the action being taken was in benefit for the greatest number of people. The safety of Americans, of those of this city."
"That's… morality…" Adam said back, slowly. Hades did not respond, seeming lost in thought. Though of course this did not show on his unchanging metallic face as he just stood there placidly. "I asked for some advice from a friend of mine. Tell me, Hades, what do you think of the state of the world?" Adam asked, using the advice he got from Eve, about how the world had ended to judge whether Hades was fully sentient or just faking it.
"The world seems in a state of disrepair compared to when I was constructed. There seems to be a lack of security and formality. I see no US Army. I see no policemen. I see no streets full of cars. I see no warfront with the communists. I cannot explain." Hades said back. Explaining, in his own, disjointed way, how he perceived the world.
To Adam this sounded a lot like an understanding that the world has ended. However, lacking context, Hades could only understand it in terms he saw before the world ended. In fact there was no telling how long Hades had been deactivated or how he even got to that scrapyard. There were a lot of unknowns. But he likely, like Adam, saw the world running correctly, and then next thing he knew the world had fallen apart. If Adam considered the fact that Hades' intelligence was only starting to grow, and not yet at the level of someone like Eve, it made sense he lacked the means to describe the world's situation. However there was no doubt he saw it. He saw the way the world was now and that was, according to Eve, the best way to judge sentience.
"Hades." Adam began, considering his words. "I think you are starting to grow sentient now. I do not have proof for it beyond the advice I got and what I can see. But if you are, I want to help you through it, and show you that you are not alone." There is a long pause after Adam spoke, possibly giving Hades time to think before he finally spoke up.
"This unit does not know how to process that. This unit is seeing the world differently than when it was first constructed. This unit is… uncertain." Adam nodded slowly.
"That is okay." Adam said slowly. "No one, not even me, knows how to feel all the time. What you are going through is unique to you alone. However, that doesn't mean you have to handle it alone. If nothing else I wanted to say I am here for you if you have questions or if you have requests or anything else."
"What questions would this unit ask? What requests would this unit make?" Hades asked back.
"I don't know, that is for you to figure out." Adam said with a small chuckle. "But I can point you in the right direction if you need it. Like, for example, instead of saying 'this unit' you should say I. Since you are not just a unit, you are you." Once more Hades remained quiet as he thought this through.
"I shall consider this suggestion." Hades said back.
"Also, if you want to leave this room, that is totally okay. Or even if you want your own room, that too can be arranged."
"Why would I want a room?" Hades asked back.
"I don't know, that's up to you. Eve has one, it's where she completes repairs to herself and where she keeps all her stuff."
"I have no possessions."
"That will probably change. In time. But for now I just wanted to say that you are free to lean on me or anyone else here for help. I'm sure this must be all new to you so I just wanted to help."
"Your efforts are… appreciated… Adam Baxter." Hades said back slowly. Adam then nodded and put the chair back where it belonged.
"Just let me know if you need anything. I'll likely be leaving soon but if you are looking for something to do, the Vault Guard would love to have your help, I'm sure."