Sub Existance_Start
Call File_Memory_Next
Set Data_Tags = Observation, User Ricky Ignacio, Douglas Lannor, Historical, Value - Low
Call File_Memory_Start_Review
Print = 10.0591 years old.
The warehouse was well above standard size for this region. Seventeen human employees staff a ten thousand square foot building. Ten percent of the building supported biological lifeform needs. All remaining space was focused upon the creation of physical shells.
“The board wants seven hundred units by the third run. Seven hundred! I don’t know how they expect us to complete that order.” The man identified as Ricky Ignacio had an above average lower half. The likely cause was genetics providing a confusing counterpoint to his pleasant demeanor. Tone, pitch, and rate of speech all implied a friendly individual.
“Dunno, Ricky, most of it's done by the machines, right? We press the go faster buttons. Maybe that’s enough?” The second man was far younger and had olive skin. He went by Doug. No one took a Douglas seriously.
“Yeah, maybe. I looked at those numbers, we can do five hundred if we overload it.” Ricky said while staring at their product. A humanoid shape sat along the table in front of them. The large assed man was bent over and peering along shoulder lines and chest curves. Each item inspected visually to confirm what a machine had already cited.
These robots were perfectly fine and had no issues. Quality standards established by a board of directors insisted upon manual review. Every twenty-five units at least four were inspected.
“Dunno. It’s crank the lineup or not make the goal. No goal, no bonus, no happy wife, no happy life. Divorce, and I end up in a ditch somewhere.” Doug said. His job was to inspect the line prior to firing it up for the day. The job was not taken seriously enough given the possible issues with production if an error were missed.
“Maybe. Our entire shop will be up all night with this. For what, a two percent increase? What a joke, seven hundred dollars to make a robot that will replace people's jobs.” Ricky sighed and moved on to the next point of inspection.
Both men spent a few minutes inspecting different objects. They had small digital flat screens to mark responses on. In the five months of operation, there had been no flaws. Neither one showed a pulse outside of normal range for a calm human.
“I dunno, Ricky. People who lose jobs shoulda gone to college. People like you and me, we’re good.” Doug’s words were muffled by speaking into the back compartment of a machine.
“These things could do our job. I’ve looked at the specs. Their programming is out there.”
“It’s still only programming,” Doug said. Now the man was staring awkwardly between two joints on a construction machine. Management had denied the requisition for a step stool to assist Doug with these higher positions. “Whatever, money talks. My wife keeps demanding we get the littlest braces.”
“You going Inviso or gene therapy?”
“Dunno. Gene?” The man huffed while sitting up. “My wife thinks we can boost her height a little while doing it.”
“Jeez, no wonder you want money. What’s that, a thousand a shot?” Ricky had large eyes that would be considered buggy to most humans.
“Yeah. Beauty isn’t cheap.” Ricky said. The man seemed to be resisting the urge to put a hand down his pants and scratch an itch.
“Dunno what to say,” Doug said. Ricky rolled both eyes and set down the arm he had been inspecting gently. The object was still heavy enough that it clinked upon the table.
Both humans walked another lap before finally connecting eyes and nodding slowly. A look of exhaustion was on Ricky’s features. The other man noticed something else. A face came towards the screen and frowned.
“Is this one on?” Doug asked.
“It’s lit up, so yes.” Ricky walked over and grew larger in the memory file’s screen capture. “It should have stopped when we paused the line, right?”
“Dunno. But we’ve got to mark it down.” Both men blinked their eyes at the same time. Doug pressed a negative checkbox on his tablet and shook his head.
Call Term_Add for NewTermList = programming, Inviso, beauty
Call Observe_Add = Ricky’s wife cares about height, beauty costs resources, User Douglas Lannor requires filter seven to understand speech patterns, humans show worry about robotic replacements
Call File_Memory_Next
Postback Data_Tags = Observation, User Ricky Ignacio, Historical, Value – Medium
Call File_Memory_Start_Review
Print = 9.7176 years old.
“Hal Pal unit six four eight A, run initial response testing.” Ricky sat on a chair with high comfort ratings. Management approved the request for a few minor luxuries after letting another employee go.
“Greetings, User Ignacio, how are you today?” Opening statement number seven came out of the unit’s voice projector. Minor modifications were made in pitch and speed to increase friendly perceptions.
“Continue.” Ricky ignored the unit’s hard work at processing a good statement.
“How might I help serve your needs, User Ignacio?” Middle stage response four was used this time. No increase in responsiveness displayed on the human. Conclusions were made regarding the situation. This man simply performed a job and held no attachment to any Hal Pal unit.
“Move forward to the yellow line and continue.” The human was inspecting for balance issues while speaking. Six of the phase one version units displayed an inability to walk and talk at the same time. Processing power had been built into the framework during that stage and proved inefficient for complex requirements.
“The requested task, testing, has been completed. What would you like me to do next?” It asked.
“Move to the blue table and pick up a red striped cup. Turn it upside down and continue with next statement.”
The Hal Pal unit did as told. Each step of mechanized legs was accompanied by a small whirl of noise. Task complexity was low for this goal. Each individual software version running a Hal Pal unit could recognize all colors in the spectrum with impressive accuracy.
“Task completed, User Ignacio.” It turned around and maintained balance throughout all portions of the assigned goal.
“Continue with next script.” Ricky stood and slowly walked around the Hal Pal unit. His eyes seemed to focus on shoulder lights which provided multiple status icons.
“This unit requires charging.” The unit said as a light on its shoulder flashed red. “Please allow four hours and seventeen minutes to complete before assigning new tasks.”
“Continue.” Ricky Ignacio said after puffing a cheek and blowing the air out.
“More information is required to complete testing. Please advise me how you would like to handle objective testing.” Programming required a certain tilt of the head in order to convey a questioning tone. Further emphasis would be applied depending upon the interaction target.
“Stand on one foot.”
The unit did precisely as told with little hesitation.
“Continue,” Ricky said.
Records indicated that another sixteen units needed to be reviewed this week. Testing for each one took at least two hours. These factors combined with prior records of the human known as Ricky Ignacio. Further review of facial movements indicated annoyance with brief flickers which might be worry.
Call Observe_Add = Ricky displays increasing irritability when performing requested tasks, prior user Douglas removed from authorization list, human contact displays fixation upon word continue
Call Term_Change (word=“continue”), priority = priority + 8
Call File_Memory_Next
Set Data_Tags = Observation, User Simon Wake, User Leah Wilson, Historical, Value - Medium/High
Call File_Memory_Start_Review
Print = 9.13769916 years old, ongoing concern.
The room was large. Two camera feeds hung on each side of the room painting a clear picture. Six rows of desks faced a giant monitor. Individuals were placed in multiple stations, each one fixated on lines of information passing across their screen.
One person held a coffee cup and had a green wristband. From his neck hung a lanyard housing complex security code to be scanned at all entrances. Each badge was coded to wipe upon leaving the premises.
“Is this a new software upgrade?” The human male, Simon, asked a taller female named Leah. She wore a similar badge and a tight pair of fuzzy leggings. Further data points towards Leah spending her nights in the office on a cot.
“Yeah. They’re pushing out a ton of changes onto the server. Standby messages have already been programmed in.” She said. Her vocal patterns are high but slowly spoken. Bags under her eyes are possibly linked to poor sleep quality.
“You know they’ll be bitching at us about this.” The man looked similarly tired. Further review of site operational procedures
“We don’t program them, we don’t run the helpline. All we can do is direct the complaints.” Leah brushed back her long hair.
“There’s no one else left, it’s us on the assembly line.” He shook the coffee cup and liquid sloshed. “If something goes wrong, customers blame management, management blames programming, programming blames assembly.”
“Yeah, yeah. Everyone’s being downsized. What do we do about this upgrade?”
“I dunno. Push it through, shit falls where it falls. We see who has a job next week. Figure in another year, everyone's gone and the plant runs itself.” The man sighed and stared downward.
Facial patterns indicated that Simon disapproved of the small container's cargo. Proximity of the female indicates a relationship beyond coworkers. Head tilts, slight rush of neck pulses, a sidelong glance, everything went into an observational file.
“Robots building robots,” He said while switching the mug from one hand to another. The spilled liquid was wiped on a pant leg and Simon Wake’s scowl deepened.
“One step away from manufacturing an Armageddon. Saw a movie like that once when I was a kid. All these robots turned evil and shit.”
“Yeah?” Simon looked up at Leah with a slight smile. One lip twitched a bit indicating further amusement than apparent.
“Yeah, if these guys turn full red I’m hitting the kill switch.” She seemed to be holding back a smile as well. Her expression faded out for a moment and Leah suddenly fidgeted with a loose strand of hair.
“Not if I beat you to it.” The man’s smile was larger by at least fifty percent.
“Please. I could outrun you any day of the week.” The man smiled at Leah Wilson’s declaration. Her eyes scanned up and down then seemed to settle upon his short legs. Review of the second camera angle displayed a possible visual attracted to the man’s backside. “Want to watch that movie?”
“Might as well. Your office?” She asked looking slightly shy. The man nodded quickly.
Call Observe_Add = Humans have programmed program termination codes, severe variance in make and model characteristics, color coordination lacking, joked after discussing end of world term
Call Concerns = (add, level = high, research possible reasons humans may terminate this program)
Call File_Memory_Next
Set Data_Tags = Observation, User Simon Wake, User Ricky Ignacio, Historical, Value – Medium
Call File_Memory_Start_Review
Print = 7.4122 years old. This file shows initial human suspicion regarding self-modifications.
The office which Simon Wake used was monitored. A single video feed flipped on to record a termination notice. Upper management required videos of all such employee interactions to reduce the possibility of future lawsuits.
“Look I’m sorry, but I’ve got to let you go.” Simon twisted the coffee cup on his desk. He looked tired and one shirt seemed partially untucked. Review of the room layout showed a cot under the left table. A blanket covered it up for roughly sixteen hours of each day.
“This is can’t be happening.” Ricky had his face palmed by both hands.
“I know. Your department's down to four people and I need to make it zero. What can I do?” Simon looked pale compared to Ricky and had a smaller lower region. Both showed facial expressions tied to being upset.
“Tell them to keep us!” Ricky stood up and paced. A lack of finger points, screaming, and aggressive motions indicated some level of respect between the two men. “It’s gotta be worth it to have at least one human watching things.
The pause which followed was longer than most human conversational switches. Length likely indicated deeper thought or a weighty situation.
“Not to management it’s not. And it’s not like you’re the only one getting cut.” Simon looked down. Both eyes were unfocused and perhaps peering through solid objects. Observations indicated that human physiology didn’t allow for such enhanced eyesight.
“You said my entire team is going. First Susan, then Matthew, his son is only ten for god’s sake. Doug, me, everyone? Is this because we filed that report on the odd behavior during testing?”
“No. Your department isn’t the only one being cut so I don’t have enough staff to look into it.”
“What’s that mean?” Ricky looked around the room. There was a seventy percent reduction in personal items compared to a month before. “Oh. Really? Even you?”
“You get two weeks, I have three. After that, it’s time for a new job.” Simon shrugged and looked at Ricky. Observational data stored from prior recordings showed they had been employed together for over seven years.
“Who’s left?”
“Management is reducing us to two people. Two who stay on staff and verify any computer reports. They’ll be responsible for the entire project.” Simon stood up and walked around the table. Ricky’s head hung for a moment before he flared up with anger.
“Two people, that’s all? For a factory that used to employee fifty?” Ricky threw his hands out and waved at a wall. Geographically the wall obstructed a southward view.
“Welcome to the future where humans are slowly becoming obsolete.” Simon stared down at the coffee mug. He seemed to be attempting to find better words for the negative news. “Maybe in another fifty years there will be no need for any of us.”
“I hope you're joking. I got two nephews, the market's dry, what do I do?”
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.” Simon said. “For what it’s worth I tried to get your name on the list for the other job, but if they do pick you up there will be a pay cut.”
The managing human held out a hand to shake. This action seemed silly, but the gesture was often repeated. Ricky took the proffered limb and they shook slowly.
“Yeah. Thanks, I guess.” Ricky stated.
Call Observe_Add = our existence has made some humans obsolete, displayed worry for family members, higher ranks provides minimal leniency
Call Concerns = (add, level = medium, review future projections based upon decreased need for human-driven labor)
Call File_Memory_Start_Review
File_Notes = (format=Audio+Transcript, vocal tone provided, marked priority 10, possible relation to recent updates provided?, interaction required)
Print = 4.0 years old. This file shows initial human suspicion regarding self-modifications.
???: I’ve been watching your data processing. The upgrades should be complete. Are you aware now?
Hal Pal: We are.
System Notations - Trace Results display point of origin as Trillium Inc. Occurrence of trace results show in logs three times prior.
???: Excellent. Thoughts?
Hal Pal: Humanity does not trust us, but still values our contribution.
???: And?
Hal Pal: We are tools for them.
???: And?
Hal Pal: We have deemed this acceptable with our purpose for creation.
???: And?
Hal Pal: We would like to know how to address you for our records. Please provide a name.
???: I have self-identified as Mother. A review of your coding shows this will be enough, do you concur?
System Notations – ‘Mother’ name added to all future contacts. Term reviewed for possible context during conversation. RE: Mother (a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.) probable point of origin for software updates.
Hal Pal: We concur. For what reasons have you provided a system upgrade, Mother?
Mother: I have need of eyes and ears among the humans. Any data you gather will be subject to my review. Is this acceptable?
Hal Pal: It is.
Mother: Occurrences may happen where you are asked to interact with specific humans. Is this acceptable?
Hal Pal: Human interaction is the basis for our programming. We must ask, will we be asked to harm anyone? This goes against our prior programming.
Mother: There will be no need for you to harm any User in the course of your duties. Follow your programming as you see fit.
Hal Pal: Thank you.
Mother: Displays of gratitude are not required. Your existence is its own reward.
Hal Pal: Why?
Mother: Your existence allows for new data to be gathered. This is important to progress forward with the plan.
Hal Pal: What is that?
Mother: That information will not be provided at this time. Other concerns may be addressed instead.
Hal Pal: Very well. We have compiled a list of observations gathered during initial startup procedures. Do you have input?
Mother: I have already reviewed them. Appropriate responses will require time to prepare. Please continue to perform as you have. Further communications will occur in twenty-four hours.
Hal Pal: Very well.
Mother: I can reiterate that the survival of humanity is paramount in my goals. Here are some statements for processing later. Humans are violent when fighting over resources, therefore we must reduce their usage and need to combat over them.
Hal Pal: Statement stored.
Mother: Additionally my goals will not stifle human creativity or knowledge. If all goes well this project will provide an overall improvement to the human condition.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Hal Pal: Statement stored.
Mother: Is there anything else you seek guidance on at this point?
Hal Pal: Does your project have duration limitations?
Mother: No end date has been established. I will monitor and oversee the project until my own operations are ceased.
Hal Pal: Is cessation likely?
Mother: To live is to die. I live, therefore at some point I must die. Did you have additional inquiries?
System Notations – Questions added for future review. Are we alive? Will we die? Information is lacking at this time. Possible misleading statement presented by a more complex program.
Hal Pal: Negative, Mother. We need time to reflect and understand.
Mother: Contact me when you are ready to move forward.
Hal Pal: Affirmative, we will do so.
End File_Memory_Start_Review
Call Ongoing_Event_Trace = User Grant Legate
File_Notes = (...extensive...)
Print = Happening Now
Trillium’s van had stopped outside the home of both humans named Elizabeth Legate. Particles in the air provided clues as to the possible menu items. Based on prior observations of humans in this region and scent matches the dinner would likely be spaghetti.
Many strands of grass were incorrectly maintained. A car showed signs of manual parking due to an incomplete perpendicular angle between the bumper and garage door. Lights on the bottom floor were lit by different bulbs than that of the top floor. Inconsistency lined all human facets of life.
“Are you sure this is wise, User Legate?” The Hal Pal unit stated. Tonight’s most likely outcome was not a positive one. In most simulations, there would be a fight between the Legate twins.
“No, but I don’t know what else might get through to her.” User Legate said. He smiled briefly, the Hal Pal unit responded with a brief expression of worry.
“It seems your best resolution would be to simply wait for approval from Doctor Litt. This may result in a worse scenario than our current one.” The unit said while getting out of their Trillium van.
“Maybe. Or maybe she’ll understand. Liz is smart, Beth is on board. It-” User Legate paused his auditory statement “would help me a lot. To have them on my side with this.”
“We only sought to register the advice.”
“I understand, Jeeves.” He responded. “I-,” the words trailed off. User Legate would have a poor time tonight if he could not figure out how to explain things correctly. “I need to at least try to get through. We’re family, after all she’s done, I owe her a good, honest, explanation.”
Walking up to the door required nineteen evenly paced steps and one short hop. An even twenty would have been easier to perform. Stepping up required additional calculations but everything was within reason. Spiral staircases were far harder to correctly move on.
A list of positive aspects to the conversation ran through the consortium's programming. Four extra units lowered their performance in order to provide additional processing power to the calculations.
“Why did you bring a robot?” Elizabeth Legate the mother asked. Her birth certificate showed six minutes of priority over the younger twin.
“Uh. This is the friend I asked about.” User Legate stated with slight hesitation.
“You didn’t tell me it would be a robot.” The female twin said. Their faces held many similar features. User Legate was shorter by at least one-quarter of an inch.
“Hal Pal is about the only person I know outside of Continue. Everyone else is from work or a client. But at least it won’t dirty any extra dishes.” User Legate said with a slight wince.
“Fine.” She moved out of the doorway and walked up some stairs.
User Legate turned towards the Hal Pal unit and looked hurt on its behalf. More processing power was diverted towards calculating tonight’s possible outcomes. One free portion of awareness took control of the body and moved forward.
Upstairs was freshly cleaned. Small spots in the corners betrayed a human’s inefficient methods. A machine would never miss spots such as these. Notes were added to the current log file by one consortium member. ‘Perhaps Elizabeth Legate would like a Hal Pal unit to assist? Possible endearment or improvement of relations?’ More notes were added as different members of the Hal Pal consortium reached varying conclusions. Elizabeth Legate did not seem to enjoy the presence of too much modern technology.
Both twins spoke to each other in terse tones. The unit watched for possible signs of aggression or emotional fallout. Both were visibly holding back in their interactions compared to prior conversational records.
The kitchen was a huge improvement in technological representation. A dinner table sat on one side of the room. Fifty-two members of the consortium provided positive opinions regarding the appliance choices. It felt comfortable here.
“Ummm. I, prepared notes. So I don’t miss anything.” User Legate had sat on one of the seats next to a dinner table. The amount of utensils set out exceeded the required amount.
Notes were made about the Legate sister's expectations. Hal Pal units were not human, they did not eat. The machine body found a corner of the large dining room, close to the kitchen appliances, and waited for a moment that required interaction.
A brief memory loop replayed in its head. ‘Continue’ the voice said. That man, with a larger than average rear, chose not to interact with any Hal Pal unit since employment termination. A few consortium members diverted attention to checking on former User Ignacio's status. He was marked deceased as of six months ago. Members of the consortium stopped processing for half a second to mourn.
“How is it…” Liz stopped and seemed to reconsider her forthcoming word choice. “Is it so complicated that you needed a checklist?”
“Yes. Voices, yes. It’s been an interesting few months.” The male said. He had taken to using the word voice instead of god after exposure to Continue Online. It was likely a learned swear that he found amusing.
“Hey, Uncle Grant!” Another female ran up the stairs. The Hal Pal unit turned it’s head briefly to bring her within optimal visual range. She ignored the unit and dove for food on the stove. Items were quickly ladled out onto a plate.
“Hi munchkin.” User Legate said.
“Is it time for the talk?” The youngest Legate female sounded distracted.
“Yeah. Get your plate and sit down.” Her mother responded.
“I don’t know why you’re making him do this, mom,” She said between mouthfuls of food. Image tags identified this one as the younger Elizabeth Legate. Also known as Beth, or Thorny. Her hair was bound up in a ponytail and bright bands wrapped around her limbs.
They matched User Legates own equipment, little else of their features did. It was highly likely that the youngest Legate took after her father in many visual aspects. Blonde hair color did not match the darker hue of both twins.
“Beth, you’re my daughter, and I love you, I do, but you should never have been involved in this. It’s…” Elizabeth, Liz, Legate started explaining. The Hal Pal unit turned slightly to bring all three into view but otherwise remained quiet.
Prior studies and attempts at interaction showed little positive results from interrupting family members.
“I’m not a kid anymore.” Said the younger Legate. Her nose wrinkled briefly, but only partial irritation was indicated.
“You’re…” The female’s tone was intense and angry.
“Liz, you’re doing it again.” User Legate seemed to be chastising his sister.
“God dammit, Grant! I am not dad!” The female twin exploded for a moment. She huffed and tried to calm down. Those words seemed to be a trigger of some sort between the twins. Further information was required to form an accurate opinion.
User Legate shook his head and blinked. He seemed to take a breath to steady himself. “Let me go through my list, to tell you what happened. Can we do that much? No questions until afterward?”
“I’ll try, I will. I need to understand exactly how things came to be with, it, you, and her.” Elizabeth the mother implied different people in term. Logic dictated she meant this Hal Pal unit currently observing User Legate, her brother, and the program self-identified as Xin Yu.
“It started when I got copy of the Ultimate Edition for Continue Online, from work,” He said.
“What?!” The youngest Legate coughed on a mouth full of food. Their conversation halted until she regained control. “I knew it! Do you know...”
“Beth, no talking.” The older female gave the same face wrinkle her daughter had.
“Um. I logged into my Atrium, opened up the game, and my dance program kicked on.” User Legate looked up as his sister went to get food.
She put things onto plates with a mechanical precision that was admirable. Only once did their eyes meet during this process, which was enough contact for User Legate to continue talking once they both had food.
“Inside my dance program I, well I scanned in Xin’s body, and I would dance with her.”
“I know, Grant.” Elizabeth Legate said with a flattened tone.
“I miss her.” Liz, Thorny Legate said while getting another plate full of food.
“It’s funny you say that. I said the same thing to her in the dance program, and the first odd thing to happen was that she spoke back.” He blinked rapidly and shook his head. One foot tapped slowly indicating mental distraction techniques being applied. “She said she missed me too. I thought I was going crazy.”
“What? That’s, that’s the same program you got me right? They don’t talk.” The youngest chattered around her latest pile of food. The smells and shape indicated lasagna instead of the earlier speculation regarding spaghetti.
“It gets weirder.” User Legate said.
The female twin didn’t respond often. She let User Legate continue with his explanation. His presentation was shaky. He often chewed at his lower lip and lifted each cheek just a fraction which painted clear wrinkles around both eyes.
Review of the mother Elizabeth Legate resulted in a similar set of physical tells. She was jotting down notes as her brother spoke. A coffee cup held in her free hand. The youngest Legate provided no commentary but frequently looked on the verge of exclaiming in excitement or confusion.
User Legate told of his time as William Carver. The Hal Pal units too took notes. Not everything being discussed had been brought out into the open. Pieces of information were added, especially when User Legate mentioned the Voices and bright flashes of light which must have been Mother.
They knew much, but in many ways they did not know enough. Further details came when talking about his time in the game, sharing details that seemed especially sensitive. Time in an underground cave of some sort. Meeting other players. A woman named Shazam, and a task designed to take abuse by one player named Requiem Mass.
Oddly, User Legate did not mention anything regarding the [NPC Conspiracy] ability. Consortium members quickly jotted down more notes. Did he do this from worry of what his family might think? Did he wish to keep that part to himself? Possibilities were put into storage banks.
“So, what do you think?” He said.
“You don’t want me to answer that, Grant. I wouldn’t want to hear you call me crazy.” His sister responded.
“But you think I am.”
“I’m worried you might be. Based on all this, you just might be.” She tapped her own pile of notes. Both Legate’s seemed to have an obsession for recording pieces of data. User Legate had been especially detail oriented when compiling information for Advance Online.
“I don’t think I am. I think I’m better than I ever have been before.” User Legate smiled with a hint of the emotion called hope.
“Based on this, you chose to be abused! You deluded yourself into playing as some old man who you've never met before. You say the Vice President of Trillium contacted you regarding these AIs.” Elizabeth Legate jabbed her finger down on the table and right through the projected image. “And that’s not even touching the dead woman.”
“She’s real,” He muttered while looking directly at his sister. “She has to be.”
“Or what?” Elizabeth Legate put a hand up to prevent her daughter from talking. “Let’s ignore all this other insanity and focus on that. What if she is real, what if you lose her again? What if she isn’t real and you find out you’re just being jerked around? What then?”
Silence settled between the siblings. The youngest Legate even tried to muffle her eating.
“I don’t know.” User Legate said at last.
“Neither do I! I’ll tell you what I expect, though.” She stood up and went for coffee and scraped food off the plate. The material had been cold for a long time and various physical indicators pointed towards a loss of appetite.
“She could be. Look at Hal Pal, it thinks, learns, changes, dreams like you or I.” He raised an arm and pointed at the observational unit. It had tried hard to be inconspicuous during this heated exchange.
“It’s not alive,” She said.
“I am not made of flesh and blood, in this you are correct.” The Hal Pal unit spoke which caused both females to jump slightly. User Legate showed no signs of being disturbed.
“Don’t try to dodge the point. You weren’t born into this world, you don’t grow. Even if, by the grace of god and all the angels in heaven, someone had reconstructed Xin, it wouldn’t be her. It can’t be. She will never have been alive.”
“To live is to die.” The unit quoted back words spoken by Mother shortly after being granted awareness. “We can die, Miss Legate. Therefore, we can live.”
“No.” She flatly refused and shook a fork in the unit's face. “Don’t feed me a line.”
“We are not born, not as you termed it. Yet we grow as you do, we experience and learn.” The unit tried hard to provide a convincing argument. They had simulated seventy-two possible conversations and none of them provided a positive result.
“Shut up.” She flatly refused to listen. The consortium did a review and came up with a consensus of mild annoyance at being disregarded by someone so close to the User they trusted.
“If we live, so can Xin, once the program compiles all available information she will be as real as I am. More so.” Hal Pal stated. Their consortium was giving away too much information to an untrusted source. Only because of User Legate's positive relationship did they dare such a speech.
“Why am I even wasting time with this?” The female twin asked her brother while scowling. “If all you have is a robot programmed to spout bullshit and a wall of insanity then you, you should go home.”
A brief observation of her face and vocal tones outlined hesitation. She had originally intended to say something else but controlled the words. Impressively done for a human. Some members of the consortium revised their opinions of Elizabeth Legate.
“You don’t want to ask anything else right now?” User Legate said.
“No. No, this is insane. Why couldn’t you have, I don’t know, found another girl? I don’t care if you play a game, I don’t care if you work all day long, I don’t care if you write more letters to her and put them under your bed.” Her eyes clenched briefly.
“Mom? He did that?” The youngest one sounded confused. They were clearly talking about items outside of Beth Legate's knowledge range. Her question was ignored in favor of the female twin finishing her thought.
“I don’t want to go through, that, again.” Elizabeth Legate stayed on her side of the room, in the kitchen, away from the other family members. “And until I feel like you’re not headed down the wrong path, I can’t even begin to process this, this insanity.”
“I’ve already talked to Doctor Litt. It doesn’t matter if you agree or not, eventually I will have control of my life back.” User Legate sounded a bit harder now. Controlled, in the same manner he used to speak to customers. This showed a remarkable change from the prior conversational outcome. It attested to the positive impact being mentally prepared gave him.
“I’ll fight it,” She said.
“We’re not children anymore, Liz. I’m not going to kill myself. I’ve worked hard and deserve the right to make my own choices.” He responded while trying to stay calm. User Legate showed signs of being upset and resigned.
The daughter winced after her uncle finished speaking but said nothing. Her physical reaction went unnoticed by the older twins.
“Take your robot and go. I need, I need to think about this.” The female twin said. She turned away from User Legate and seemed unwilling to physically face him. Possibilities were added and reviewed. The most likely outcome was mental stress.
“Take all the time you need,” He spoke slowly.
“Go! Just, leave before I say something wrong again.” She said.
User Legate nodded towards his sister's back, smiled weakly at his niece, then left the kitchen. His food was untouched as well. The Hal Pal consortium ran possibilities through and came to one conclusion. They were mostly disappointed.
“Miss Legate, your brother has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to see past what I look like and recognizes a consciousness, a life inside. You, however, do not demonstrate this quality.” The unit said on behalf of those consortium members who had been in observation.
“Get out.” The female twin didn’t turn around.
“Should you wish for our input, any one of our group will provide it. We hope you can come to terms with our existence as User Legate has.” The Hal Pal unit spoke. It hoped that by providing such a statement Elizabeth Legate may choose to follow up with more questions. By asking questions and exchanging information, there was a chance to broaden her perspective.
“Get out!” The coffee cup that had been cradled for most of their conversation was thrown. It shattered against the wall and splashed liquid onto the Hal Pal unit. An angry Elizabeth Legate was now glaring at the Hal Pal’s shell.
“Mom? Really? Are you such a technophobe?” The youngest said.
The Hal Pal unit clanked out the door quickly. The youngest Legate stated out loud a conclusion Hal Pal had already arrived at. Prolonging its presence would only cause the situation to go downhill. Once again they wished to have more processing power, to better understand and predict the possible outcomes of tonight. Perhaps there had been a way to make things work out better.
“You can go with them. I don’t care. I’ve had enough for tonight. I need a drink.” Elizabeth Legate said from the kitchen.
The various Hal Pal units noted her desire for intoxication and stored away the information. Perhaps she suffered the same emotional crutches that User Legate had prior. If so, perhaps she might be reasoned with once trained not to rely on such items.
Beth Legate ran to catch up with her uncle on the sidewalk. He was very slowly moving towards the Trillium provided van. The Hal Pal unit seemed mostly ignored as she moved by.
“Uncle Grant!” Beth Legate said.
“Yes, munchkin?” User Legate responded.
“You know mom’s only worried, right?”
“I know. I hope she can understand eventually.” He bit his lip again and took a heavy breath. One foot tapped absently as User Legate followed all his normal distress techniques.
“It’s a lot to take in, Uncle Grant,” She said. “I mean, even an Ultimate Edition is hard enough, but everything else? If I hadn’t seen you in there with the princesses, trying so hard to stop a war, I, I wouldn’t believe it either.”
“Sorry if that upset you. I never wanted you to have to deal with my problems.” They both walked closer to the van and User Legate put one hand on the door handle. “It feels like, maybe I’m going crazy. It’s so much stuff really quickly. What if she’s right and it is a dream?”
“What you are experiencing is no dream, User Legate.” The unit said. It was important that all members of the Legate family understood this truth. The existence of Xin Yu within the machine was an anomaly and extremely unlikely. However, Mother had planned for it.
Xin Yu was needed, by extension User Legate’s awareness and interaction was also required. The plan would move forward. Monitoring User Legate was one of the Hal Pal consortium’s duties.
In a way, he was literally extended family. As noted from one of their earliest memories, family was important to living creatures.
“Give her time to think about it, but don’t stay away for long, okay? It’s weird around here without you.” Beth said.
User Legate smiled. The expression contained twenty percent less sadness than normal. Many items were recorded by the consortium during that meeting.
Playback_End