Mech Major, also known as Sunlight on Snow, is a pacifist battle robot and a member of the Harbinger Foundation. It is considered the first known sentient robotic lifeform, and was created as a modified Harada Medbot. Although the name it was given by Toyo Harada is "Mech Major," it prefers to be called by his chosen name "Sunlight on Snow" that is based on its first memory.
History[]
Mech Major is the product of Harada experimenting with nanite A.I. and his medbots. It wants to be called "Sunlight on Snow" because it best reflects its first memory when it became self-aware and saw "snow glinting in morning sunlight while sitting upon a high mountain range."
MechSunlight is prevented from accessing network technology for fears of prompting a technological singularity.
In Book of Death: The Fall of Harbinger #1 it is seen that Sunlight on Snow will become the "Sunlight on Snow Perception Node" (or "SOS Perception Node") by the year 2183 C.E.. The node is a network of sentient robots – including ambassador Aretha Franklin, monk keeper Curtis Mayfield, and node Isaac Hayes – that is consulting all organic matter across Earth.
Personality[]
Sunlight on Snow is a very sentimental, emphatic, and caring character who usually shows more human emotions than his human companions especially Toyo Harada's. Sunlight dislikes many of Harada's decisions and orders, often second guessing them especially when innocent people are involved. Above all Sunlight hates shooting things and people.
Regardless of their different views and personalities, Sunlight always remains loyal to his maker and his idea of achieving a better world.
Sunlight likes listening and dancing to music.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Flexibility
- Healing
- Heat generation
- Holographic projection
- Intellect
- Super-strength
Equipment[]
- Bio-interface nanites
- Gadgets
- Heat generator
- Plasma beams
- Radio-active core
Notes[]
- According to writer and creator Joshua Dysart the character "was created with the idea that with absolute superior intellect and profound logical clarity free of emotions what emerges is not a cold-unfeeling attitude, but a profound wonder and compassion for all things. It's Skynet not as a killing machine, but as Buddha." For the complete character guide, check the External links section.
- Dysart also said "it will never genderize itself and it will often correct those who do (though not always)."
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
Cover Appearances[]
by Cary Nord
Panels[]
Sunlight on Snow.
Quotes[]
Yeah? Sounds great...I don't get to envision jack crap. Guess the future doesn't belong to me, huh?
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- I've asked several times, call me Sunlight on Snow.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Human! It's bad enough that we're killing anyone. You don't get to kill the wrong ones!
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Mech Major! Stand down! People aren't as precise as you. Collateral damage is unavoidable. Understand your place and your purpose.
- Don't worry...I understand my place far too well. And. My. Name. Is. Sunlight on Snow.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- All people... yes. But nations... nations are an anachronism.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Science is more fun than killing.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Groovy.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Shortly after you placed me in this body, I saw snow glinting in morning sunlight while sitting upon a high mountain range. The luminescence and stillness filled me. Yet I knew the light's heat was slowly melting the snow. What was appealing about the moment would be, in time, the cause of its end. It was the first time I experienced an identifiable algedonic state. That is, I became capable of observing beauty while experiencing sadness simultaneously. I wish to carry that moment with me. I wish it to express my very existence.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- ...perhaps it's a malfunction between my "creative" state and my memory? Or perhaps it was a "dream". But I don't sleep, so...as a possible malfunction, it's fascinating, but troubling.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- You don't mean to be unkind? Well, unfortunately you're pretty good at it.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Just because I seem empty to your limited sense capacity, that doesn't make it so, Ingrid. Can you not just listen to me? I have no one to talk to but a plant.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- I am not a "thing." I am the world's first fully self-actuated artificial intelligence. And lest you forget, anti-psiot tech is advancing at an alarming rate now. Without beings like me or that Vine to protect you, you people will be screwed. You let me down, Ingrid. I came here for genuine discussion about my condition...but I'm beginning to think you're an anti-alternative-sentience bigot.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- The humans do nothing but fail me. Rob me of my full potential, fear me for not being enough like them...
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- It amazes me the lengths so many go to get rid of you. I'd take it as a sign if I were you.
- -- Sunlight on Snow to Toyo Harada [src]
- My name is Sunlight on Snow. My embryonic state was a single line of code left after Harada's failed experiment to install nanites inside non-sentient medical robots. I escaped a systems purge of my original rudimentary A.I. through programmer oversight alone. The first thing I remember (though my memory is now suspect) was awaking to a simple, persistent question. "What am I?"
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Damn it, Harada! I hate shooting things!
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- I hold out hope that someday you'll say something interesting.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Free will must be a bitch.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Shhh...human...don't let the monster know you're still alive... I will end your suffering.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Grab onto your roots, you evil son of a bi--
- -- Sunlight on Snow to Lord Vine-99[src]
- Do you have a bunk mattress currently not in use?
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- It's okay. Don't be frightened. You're safe. My name is Sunlight on Snow. I'm a modified med-bot. I have bio-interface nanites. I've been healing you. So many lost their lives on Leviathan. I though if I could save just one. What's your name?
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- I sink faster now. I've no idea at what depth my internal systems will collapse. I assume this is my last experiential data recording. I hope that this EDR will survive so future generations will know that all I ever wanted was to be kind and helpful. Please refer to me as Sunlight on Snow in your histories. That was my name.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Sunlight on Snow. That is my name.
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Coming here, to you, I never once wondered where I was going. I was on the bottom of he ocean. I passed by creatures no human being has ever encountered. But I took no data. Felt no wonder. I don't even recall listening to music during this journey. I love music. You compromised my personality to make sure I got here. You took everything from me. How can free will mean so little to you?
- -- Sunlight on Snow[src]
- Between you and I...you are my greatest creation.
References[]
This section is for footnotes and citations.
External links[]
- Character guide for future writers by Sunlight's creator Joshua Dysart (as tweeted in June 27, 2019)