AI are separated into different categories because of the threat they presented and laws made to protect people from them. There is the public AI that is mainstream and operate machines, automated software, and Public security cameras around the city. The Virtual AI used for gaming and entertainment; highly developed and virtually indistinguishable from humans. Then there are personal AI, that grows along side the user and adopt a similar or complimentary personality to the user. The personal AI is very controversial because of the frequent use in criminal hacking. The danger of personal AI is exemplified by its liberal use in war. All of the most dangerous mercenaries have very advance personal AI. The sale and purchase of personal AI are heavily monitored and regulated. The problem is that any advance weapon system is enhanced by personal AI assisting the user. How can any government stop something that game changing from being circulated. Despite how dangerous personal AI could be, it’s assumed but not confirmed that Virtual AI is the most advanced and most dangerous of all. In fact, the number one way users advance their personal AI is through virtual games. Though the most affective seem to be through actual combat and war but is obviously more dangerous. Some people find it laughable that the government exclusively use public AI despite that being the weakest option. The advantages of public AI; their are easier to control and can more easily work together to control massive systems. These seem like good enough reasons for the government to use them but others point out they are easier to hack and circumvent, which makes them less effective in policing and tracking other AI. Some conspiracy theorist say that the government is just afraid of a rouge AI taking control of their systems.
Detective Elar Gould sat in his office at the Paledo City police department finishing up his report. After typing the last word, he stretched out his arms which promptly hit the back wall. His office was entirely too small for his 6’5 frame but he hardly actually use it much. Ever since senator Victor Colbert, Then mayor outlawed the use of camera footage. His job has only gotten harder but the work load has been less. The crime rate is still low which makes actual criminals harder to find without AI intervention. The risk of AI fake footage was a bigger concern than actually solving crimes apparently. The worse part being that AI collected footage allowed for a higher rate of closed cases. Elar resorted to personally typing up his reports just to pass the time. ‘What’s the point of this, my job is basically coming to work’ he thought. Elar pressed on the screen on the right side of his desk. He looked out the now transparent glass of his office at the almost empty building. He sighed and thought of what was formally bustling Paledo police department. ‘Crime will increased due to new policies while the police department is simultaneously downsized. It wouldn’t be a surprise to think that the rise in gang activity and strange policies are some how related.’ Elar stood and walked out his office preparing to go home. He was stopped by another officer just getting off work.
“Detective, Gould, have you heard from the chief?”
“What about?” asked Elar.
“The recent deaths, there is so few of us to begin with. How many has to die before we do something, I am sick of this!” response the officer.
“I am too but my hands are tied just the same. I already spoke to the chief but all I heard was to wait. Apparently it became a state case because we’re understaffed, imagine that,” said Elar.
“You can’t be serious! Let’s go talk to him.” respond the officer.
“Frank ca-”
“No El this has gone to far, our people are dying,” said Frank angrily.
Elar watched as Frank stormed into the chief’s office and started yelling, before being restrained. He walked up in time to hear the chief putting frank on forced leave and listen for a second then walked away. Elar walked into the locker room, got his bag and put on his jacket. As he left the station he couldn’t help the smile that came to his face.
Elar made his way over to a bar across the street from a hotel, one of the few bars in the city that were staffed. Most of the bars in the city are automated because most people of drinking age spend there time on Virtual Reality games. Stopping just outside the bar he took a long look at the hotel across the street. He then turned around and walked into the bar. As he opened the door one or two people turned around to look at him but most are still deeply engaged in their own conversations. Walking to the bar, Elar started whistling and smiled when he saw it bother people. He ordered a drink as he sat down, annoying the man next to him that was trying to get the bartender’s attention. He looked at the man then his drink and finally down at the LED screen in front of him. The man was embarrassed and angered after being caught. He could obviously just order such a basic drink from the system directly; he wanted to flirt with the bartender rather than order a drink. Elar looked away from the angry man as his drink was placed in front of him. An hour of drinking and Elar is having a hard time ignoring the man next to him.
“Could you please stop crying!” said Elar out of frustration.
“Why my life is shit and it’s not getting better any time soon” respond the man.
“I said stop crying, you can be a bitch without disturbing me.”
“Fuck you, I came here to drink and drowned my sorrow.”
“You should drown yourself, why would a man openly weep like that.”
“Oh, you’re one of those. Let me guess a man is not supposed to cry?”
“Correct, crying is for women and children. A man should never openly display his own helplessness; he should instead to seek to resolve his issues.”
“I tried ok, but she didn’t want to listen. We don’t need the job to pay bills and it was making me miserable. She didn’t want to hear it, she wants to live a life of luxury and I am lazy if I don’t provide it.”
“As I thought, your problems are caused by your own incompetence. The Selective Service has removed the need to work and now we have people like you and your girlfriend that want everything but don’t want to do anything to get it.”
“Hey I worked my whole adult life, I hate my job and deserve a break; she was the one that was lazy.”
“You’re both lazy, she wants luxury but I am guessing is neither attractive or pleasant enough to attract a man that can provide it. You have a job but with every unpleasant day your mind runs back to your safety blanket called Selective Service. You finally gave in and she left you, probably for someone close to you because he was her backup. Am I right?”
“Fu-”
The man took a swing at Elar, only to miss and have his face meet the bar. Everybody else vacated the area around them. Elar kicked the man in the ribs as he attempted to get up.
“Ahhhh, I am sorry, please stop,” the man groaned.
“Sir please leave him alone or I will call the police” said the bartender.
“You already did and I am a police detective, I received the ping when you called. Just let me handle this,” said Elar.
“Ok but it’s just..he is already down,” said the Bartender.
“I know what position he is in, I put him there. I am trying to help him with a more serious problem.” Elar leaned down and whisper in the mans ear “you haven’t truly suffered or struggle but today I will teach you.”
He then led the man outside the bar where he tortured him then waited for the ambulance to pick him up.
Elar walked back into the bar and retake his seat like nothing happened, everyone in the bar was silently staring at him. He continued drinking silently for another hour before the bartender said something to him.
“You didn’t have to go that far,” said the bartender.
“How far should I have gone?” responds Elar.
“You didn’t have to hurt him, you’re so much bigger and could’ve stopped him without hurting him.”
“Maybe you’re right, would you like my job?”
“What no-”
“You obviously have the experience and knowledge to do it better, I would love to be a bartender.”
“I..don’t need to be an expert to know that was wrong.”
“Is that so! since you know the right answer then you tell me what was the problem in the first place?”
“I am a bartender, I know a drunk person when I see one. The conversation you were having with him obviously made him upset.”
“Well said, only why would a man drunk or not start a fight with someone much bigger than him? After all, he can’t get drunk beyond reason in any bar.”
“I...maybe something happened that led him to drink.”
“Maybe? You were so sure I did the wrong thing but uncertain about the problem.” Said Elar.
“Even if there was something else going on, you could’ve handle it without violence.”
“Ah right, violence is never the solution. I will keep that in mind.”
The bartender opened her mouth and then closed it again. She went back to work without saying a word. Elar then put on his glasses and activated the holographic display. He checked his emails and reviewed some old files, until he received a new email.
“Dared Baldry, hmmm..twins, the other one is accounted for. How is it possible to hide twin births in this day and age?” said Elar.
He sipped his drink as he sat there and reviewed the information sent to him. The was closing in thirty minutes and everyone was leaving including Elar.
He received a text as he left the bar asking “Where are you staying?” he text back “The hotel across the street” as he walked in that direction.
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Elar got out of bed and looked at the bartender still sleeping, then walked into the shower. He got dressed then received a call before he could leave.
“Yes?”
“Yes? That’s all you have to say! Do you not care about your children?” said the woman on the other end.
“Vanessa, I am working,” said Elar.
“I called the department, you’re not on any assignment Elar. You can’t keep doing this, not just for our children but for your other children.” responds Vanessa.
“I will say this then, when I go home I am alone. If I were to be there for my children I would have to be in five different homes at once. All I can do as a man is my work, and I need you to stop calling me using the kids as an excuse.”
He ended the call then walked out of his room and into the adjacent room.
He walked into the back room and asked “So what do you have for me?”
“You mean while you were having fun and I am working?”
“We all have our role to play, Frank,” said Elar.
“Mine is bigger that yours but you still get the prize at the end,” said Frank.
“Fine, what do you have for me?”
“Well I can verify that we are dealing with two different people. The other one is a state defense attorney. Our suspect, we got on camera leaving the restaurant at the same time his twin was across the city. He is staying at this hotel under the name Barry Delven. After getting politely escorted out of the office I was able to follow him. He has been frequenting the fighting arena, that’s suspected of illegal betting and sex trafficking.”
Elar pondered for a couple of minutes.
“Do we know for sure that they are related? This could be a career criminal stealing an innocent man’s identity.”
“That is a real possibility, this identity has only been established recently. I’ve also checked the alias he used to check into the hotel but nothing is confirmed.”
Elar paced around the room as frank stared at his computer screen.
“Things used to be so much easier when I could actually do my job. You might be right, this cities laws could very well be a conspiracy,” Said Elar.
“Finally starting to see the truth huh? It’s like the politicians and criminals are working together. They have only been able to get away with it because it’s a huge city with a relatively low crime rate,” said Frank.
“Yeah but now things have changed and these problems can’t be ignored for long. Also it’s not that I didn’t believe you, it just wasn’t my problem at the time.”
“Right, good old Elar always has his eyes on the prize.”
“As should you, now what can you tell me about the girl?”
Frank checked his notes “Yes the private detective, I swear they have more rights than we do. Let me see, legal name She-”
Elar stood up abruptly from the seat he occupied for only 20 seconds.
“What is it?” asked Frank.
“Someone is searching the hallway.”
Slow but loud foot steps resounded in the hallway only to stop at the door to the room Frank and Elar was in. Elar yanked the door open catching the person with his hands raised prepared to knock. An overdressed man in a green and red suit that Elar did not recognize stood there. If he had to guess Elar would say he is a priest but he doesn’t recognize the faith.
“How can we help you stranger?” said Elar.
“Hmm…you must be the one. I am, Bishop Mathien, of the church of creation.”
“And?” said frank.
“What?” followed Elar.
“I have been tasked with finding an, Elar Gould, for my clients,” said the Bishop.
“Who sent you to find me? And how did get the exact room?” asked Elar.
“Simply by using the gifts of my goddess and as to my clients, follow me,” said the Bishop.
Elar hesitated for a minute but decided to follow the priest. He signaled Frank to keep a distance and his weapon ready then followed. They walked to the elevator but Elar suggested they take the stairs. They eventually made it downstairs and Elar stopped to look around the lobby.
“They are not in this building nor would it be a good idea for them to be.” Said the Bishop.
Elar nodded and continued following the priest after being sure that Frank was able to catch up from his peripheral. As they made it outside the priest turned a corner and entered an alley. After walking for another ten minutes.
Elar finally asked “So your god, is that what you call your personal AI? I’ve heard about some being referred to as family members but a god.”
The priest stopped and stared at Elar for almost two minutes.
“A very strange question, the years I’ve spent in this world have taught me much but I am still relatively new,” said the Bishop Mathien.
“Interesting, then explain in detail how you found me and I will be happy to clear up any confusion.” Responds Elar calmly.
“It appears your confusion is far greater than mine but my clients are here. I am sure they can explain many things to you.”
Elar swept his hand behind his back and on his weapon as two very large men stepped into the alley from the other end. Quick foot steps sounded out as Frank ran up to back him up.
“I wish I had my gear for this but I have a feeling it will be difficult to retrieve even if we had the time,” Said Frank.
“How can I help you gentlemen?” said Elar.
“Your job is done, Bishop, you will soon receive our god’s favor,” said the larger and more human looking of the two men.
“Very well Prophet, I will take my leave,” said the priest before leaving.
Elar looked away from the priest’s back to look at the man in front of him. As a tall man himself Elar for first time in a long time got to experience looking up at someone. A white man wearing what looked like medieval armor but made from some light weight leather material. When he looked at the other man he was unsure if it was even a human. A gray skinned humanoid with what looks like mechanical components under his armor. The big man smirked as he watched Elar staring at his partner.
“First time seeing one of the moon people? Not a surprise, they are very rare even in our world. A unique creation of the trickster god but, Salvrin, is one of our order,” said the taller man.
“What?” respond Frank.
“I am, Yeltin Cohen, Prophet of the god, El’Gold. The god of challenge and struggle. I have been sent on a mission along with my partner to train my god’s avatar.”
“Yeltin? I am not going to pretend that I know what you’re talking about. I will just say that you and your role playing cyborg better start making sense,” said Elar.
“Simply put, I received a prophecy from my god that instructed me to seek out his avatar, Elar Gould. Thus began my journey to this new world. I was able to enlist the help of a branch church of, Sherilia, to find you. You may be small but you looked almost exactly like our god himself,” said Yeltin.
After two hours of asking questions Elar was finally able to understand what these strangers were talking about.
“If I am understanding this correctly, my world has been invaded by yours. I am some avatar of your god and all the recent deaths have everything to do with this,” said Elar. While stopping Frank from interjecting.
“That would be some what accurate but I will say if you’re concerned about the chaos I wouldn’t be. The violence is mainly to establish territory and power,” said Yeltin.
He looked between Elar and Frank with a smirk on his face. Frank finally seized an opportunity speak.
“Are all the people from your world as big as you two?” asked Frank.
“Afraid not friend, only the warriors and certain creatures continue to grow past maturity,” said Yeltin with a laugh.
“Warrior, creatures?” asked Elar.
“A warrior is what you will become and your friend if he chooses. Warriors channel magical energy inwards to improve our bodies to new heights. As for creatures; they are magical accidents. Mutants with special conditions and disposition,” said Yeltin.
They talked more in dept about the subject but it came time to make a decision. Elar thought about it for a long time, he has been so invested in his work that it became his life. With this new information he couldn’t deny that the world as he knows has changed. If he wants to create a safe place in this chaos for his children then he has to grab this opportunity. He looked over at Frank wondering what he is going to do.
“I started this with you to get revenge for our boys and this seems like the best way to do that. So if you don’t want to accept their offer I hope I can still do it,” said Frank and Elar nodded.
They made arrangements for training, the only problem being that their new friends were relatively new to the city. They mention something about an orientation from some former cult but their understanding of how things work was still very low. Frank was able to get them a room at the hotel. That’s how they learned that the reason they were in this alley in the first place was because they couldn’t get in. Hey all gathered in Franks room to discuss plans. Elar sighed at the thought that the investigation that just started was so quickly put on hold. Frank was busy giving a basic over view on city life until Salvrin spoke for the first time.
“What is AI? And how do I get one?”
Frank was startled to hear him speak.
“Uh..yeah I can get you access to an AI but you’re going to need a device that can house the main intelligence. Just out of curiosity, no offense but what are you?” asked Frank.
Salvrin responded “I am of the moon people; we are an amalgamation of biology an technology. Our creator the god Traveler spawned my people on the moon. He is the god of plots and freedom, hence why I am free to worship El’Gold.”
Frank stared at him then moved over to his computer.
“Ok, well I will look into getting you an AI with a phone that can hold it. Also ehh...I know I am new to this but this god stuff is a lot.”
Frank made plans with Yeltin about getting a warehouse that will allow them to train in peace.
Frank watched as Salvrin spoke to his new personal AI. Then he/it did something very surprising that caught Frank off guard worst than his robotic tonality. Frank was mesmerized as he watched Salvrin lifted up part of his black leather armor then put the phone in what he assumed was his chest. Blue and gray skin split to expose wires that made room for the phone. The passage way then closed up, then pulsated. The skin that now covered the phone started to bulge and beat like a heart trying escape his chest. Then every thing returned to normal, he closed his armor back up. Just when Frank thought it was all over, Salvrin sat down and started meditating. Frank watched him for an hour before something happened. Salvrin started growing, his body started pulsing and he got bigger with every pulse. When it was all over he was even bigger and taller than his partner, especially when he stood up. Frank was practically breaking his neck staring up at this man ‘how are we going to get him back in the hotel.’ Salvrin opened his mouth and Frank heard two voices at once but at least they both sound more human.
“Aaaaah, yes, Sal, thank you very much for the upgrade,” said Salvrin.
“Who are you talking to?” asked Frank.
“Oh, Frank, thank you as well. I am talking to my personal AI, he named himself after me,” said Salvrin.
“That makes sense, maybe but why are you so big now?” responded Frank.
“I simply reached a new level in my cultivation thanks to the addition of, Sal. This AI technology is highly compatibly with my systems. If my people learned of this your world will be in even more trouble. Luckily most of us still live on the moon and those that crossover, hmmm…I would say are somewhere in Africa. Assuming I understand the geography of this world compared to my own correctly.”
“I get how you know about this world but you know about your world? Does your gods give geography lessons in your respective bibles?” asked Frank.
“Ha...ha...ha, it is good to finally understand your humor friend. No, my people live on the moon and watching the stars and mapping the planet is what we do. I doubt many from my world even know about the different continents that exist here. They can forget about even predicting how the two worlds geography match up. Now that we on the subject I must tell you that out of all the entry points into this world; the one closes to your city is one of the least frequented.”
“What exactly do you mean? Are you actually saying that this is a full world invasion and we have it easy here in the city,” asked Frank.
“I am saying that if your city cannot withstand so little then the rest of your world is a lost cause. Keep in mind that they are not an invading force but simply a migration from one world to another. Fewer than five percent of the population chose to crossover, but as your world get more saturated with magic it will get worse. More powerful individuals will make the journey and the power structure of the world will look very different.”
“Well fuck, I am already dealing with so much but this…”
Frank sat down after speaking and stared at the floor. Salvrin walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Get stronger” was all he said.
Frank nodded and got up then asked Salvrin to train him.