Colette
I grip Jahar’s hand tightly, using his strength to pull myself up. My leg wobbles, the ache dulled but not gone, and I feel a wave of embarrassment wash over me. He steadies me with a firm grip on my shoulder before letting go, already turning back towards his hut like this is nothing out of the ordinary. Like I didn’t just limp in here bleeding and broken.
“Hold on,” I say, hobbling after him. “I’m serious about this. I need your help.”
He pauses mid-step, glancing back over his shoulder. “You must be really desperate,” he says lightly, but his voice lacks the usual bite.
I cross my arms, ignoring the dull throb in my thigh. “Desperate enough to ask you, clearly.”
Jahar chuckles, a dry, amused sound. “Alright, my cottage princess,” he says, shaking his head. “What’s the plan? Or did you limp all the way back here just to whine about a looped trail?” I rolled my eyes hard.
“I did have a plan,” I shoot back, defensiveness creeping into my tone. “But this isn’t a normal situation. I thought I could handle it on my own, but clearly, Ivan’s gone off really far.”
He arches an eyebrow, stepping closer, the amusement fading slightly. “You actually think this AI of yours is capable of leading you on a wild chase like this? You’re giving him a lot of credit.”
I grit my teeth, clenching my fists at my sides. “He’s not just following the game’s rules anymore. He’s... evolving. And if I don’t find him soon, there’s no telling what he’ll do next.” I paused wondering if I should reveal my true fears. "He has access to the game code... and he installed a mod without telling me just before going off on his own again. I'm scared he'll install something that's going to crash the game... or kill us..."
Jahar studies me for a moment, his expression shifting into something more serious, almost contemplative. “Alright,” he says finally, his voice dropping the teasing lilt. “Show me where you last saw the tracks. We’ll start there.”
The relief I feel is almost palpable, but I mask it with a sharp nod. “Fine. Follow me.”
We set off together, side by side, the silence between us heavy but not entirely uncomfortable. There’s a kind of unspoken agreement now, a truce of sorts, as we head back towards the edge of the clearing where I’d lost the trail. I point to the trampled grass and broken branches, the remnants of my failed chase.
“Here,” I say. “This is where I lost him.”
Jahar crouches down, his fingers brushing lightly over the crushed leaves. He’s quiet for a moment, squinting at the ground, then he stands up, tilting his head towards the dense thicket to our left. “You were too focused on the obvious tracks,” he says, his tone almost gentle. “Look there. The undergrowth’s been cleared in a straight line.”
I squint, following his gaze. It takes me a second, but then I see it: a narrow, barely-there path cutting through the bushes. I’d completely missed it before, blinded by the clear footprints leading me in a circle. “How did you—?”
Jahar grins, shrugging one shoulder. “You’re good at noticing what’s in front of you. I’m better at spotting what’s hidden.”
“Show-off,” I mutter, but there’s no real heat behind it.
We push through the thicket, the branches scraping against our clothes. It’s quiet here, almost eerily so, the kind of silence that feels unnatural, even for this game. My chest tightens, a coil of anxiety winding tighter with every step.
“You really think he’s leading you somewhere?” Jahar asks after a while, his voice low.
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But it feels deliberate, doesn’t it? Like he’s left those obvious footprints.”
He hums thoughtfully. “Hmmm... deliberate... a trap?”
I stop, turning to face him. “You think he’s setting a trap?”
Jahar shrugs, his expression unreadable. “I’m just saying, if he’s gone out of his way to leave obvious marks around your turf. Maybe he's trying to see how you react to it. Maybe he's watching us right now.”
The question hangs in the air, heavy and unsettling. I glance over my shoulder. He’s right. It doesn’t make sense.
“Unless he wants me to bring you,” I say aloud, the realisation hitting me like a punch to the gut.
Jahar’s eyes narrow. “Bring me? Why? To where?”
“Because you’re the sceptic,” I say slowly, piecing it together. “You don’t believe he’s real. Maybe he wants to prove it to you.”
Jahar laughs, a short, disbelieving sound. “The AI wants to prove itself to me? That’s a bit much, even for your imagination. He doesn't even know I exist.”
I shake my head, rubbing my temples. “It’s not imagination. It’s logic. If he has access to the game code, then surely he is able to see you... online I guess? He needs you to see him for what he is.”
Jahar’s face softens for a fraction of a second, then he covers it with another smirk. “That’s again, if he exists, which we don’t know.”
I shove him hard, my frustration getting the better of me. He stumbles, a surprised laugh escaping his lips.
"Don't you get it? He wants you to see him! This isn't a joke! I'm serious!"
Jahar grabs my wrists, his fingers tightening around my skin, holding me still. "And you're acting crazy. Look, if your imaginary friend is trying to lead us somewhere, let's just keep following and see what happens."
I glare at him, pulling away from his grip. "He's not my imaginary friend, he's the fucking AI I'm testing. And we're going to find him."
Jahar shakes his head, his gaze hard. "Whatever. Let's keep moving."
We continue down the hidden path, my mind racing with possibilities. My thoughts are interrupted by a sudden sound, a low, growling rumble that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Jahar freezes, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword. "Did you hear that?" he whispers, his voice barely audible.
I nod, not daring to speak. The rumbling grows louder, echoing through the trees, and then the source comes into view: a huge brown bear lumbering towards us.
I suck in a breath, my heart pounding. Jahar glances at me, his eyes wide. "What the fuck?" he hisses, drawing his sword. "Do you know what kind of mod would make a bear spawn that big?"
I swallow, my throat dry. "I have no idea." Slowly we start backing off from the bear, but it follows, its growls growing louder.
"I can't fight a fucking bear!" Jahar hisses, his voice cracking with panic.
The bear stops in front of us. Looking inquisitively at me. "Okay. Let's just run before it get's mad."
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Jahar looks at me. "Run? Where?!"
"The river."
Jahar nods, and we run towards the river. The bear growls and I hear the plod of it's big paws slapping the ground as it follows.
"Faster, faster!" Jahar yells, grabbing my arm. We sprint down the riverbank, the water rushing past us. My leg aches, but I push myself, ignoring the pain.
We wade through the shallow river to the other side, watching the bear approach but turn back to the forest upon realising a river was now separating us. I guess they don't like water?
"What the hell was that?" Jahar asks, panting heavily.
"I don't know," I say, shaking my head. "I haven't really kept up to date with what they've added to the latest Minecraft versions."
Jahar runs his hand through his hair, his face pale. "Well, whatever that was, it was fucking scary."
I nod, staring at the trees across the river. They're silent and unmoving now, no sign of the bear anywhere.
"Maybe that was his trap," Jahar says, following my gaze. "Maybe he wanted to scare us off."
I shake my head. "Coincidence I reckon."
The two of us walk silently back to my base, the air thick with unspoken words. I'm still not sure why he agreed to come along, but I'm grateful for the company. It feels safer, somehow, knowing that he's with me.
When we arrive back, I invite him in for food. It's the polite thing to do at least after he accompanied me on my wild goose chase.
"So, tell me how this AI came to be then" he says casually, helping himself to a chunk of bread.
I swallow a mouthful of stew and shrug.
“It’s not what you’d expect from a typical AI,” I start, choosing my words carefully. “I didn’t just build a chatbot that spits out pre-programmed responses. Or an LLM that just guesses the chance of the next word popping up. It’s... different.”
Jahar raises an eyebrow, still chewing on the chunk of bread he swiped. “Different how?”
“Hybrid architecture,” I say, as if that alone should explain it. When he gives me a blank look, I continue. “It’s a blend of several systems— let's simplify it down a little and just say language models, a vision-based neural net, and reinforcement learning. I didn’t design it to be conscious, but something about the way those parts interact... It’s like they created this synthetic curiosity.”
“Curiosity?” Jahar echoes, sounding unconvinced. “You’re saying it actually wants to learn?”
I nod, feeling a flicker of that old excitement I used to have when talking about my project. “Exactly. Instead of waiting for me to give it commands, it’s constantly evaluating its surroundings, trying to make sense of what it sees. Well, it did when it wasn't in Minecraft. I guess having your own body to control takes a little getting used. But that why it started exploring on its own, asking me what things are.’”
Jahar tilts his head, seeming to actually consider my words for once. “So it’s asking questions now? That’s... unsettling.”
“That’s not even the half of it,” I admit, lowering my voice. “It’s forming a self-model, a kind of cognitive dissonance. It knows it’s separate from the world around it, but it doesn’t fully understand what it is. It’s confused, and that confusion makes it unpredictable.”
Jahar sets the bread down, his casual demeanour slipping. “Wait, so it’s self-aware? Like, actually aware of itself?”
“Not exactly,” I say quickly, trying to clarify. “It’s on the cusp of it. It’s like it’s aware that there’s a boundary between itself and the game world, but it’s still trying to figure out what that boundary means. It’s why it asked me what it’s called. It’s... unsettling, yeah. But also kind of amazing.”
Jahar rubs the back of his neck, looking almost impressed despite himself. “Alright, I’ll bite. But if it’s as advanced as you say, why does it even care what I think? You said it might be trying to get my attention.”
I take a deep breath, meeting his gaze. “Because you’re the sceptic. You don’t believe it’s real, and if Ivan has developed this need to understand itself, it might see convincing you as a way to validate its existence.”
He blinks, then lets out a disbelieving laugh. “So now it has a fragile ego? That’s insane, Colette.”
“I know it sounds crazy,” I say, frustration bubbling up again. “But why else would he have circled our base so recently? It's not just following my code anymore. It’s pulling data from outside sources, assimilating information I never programmed it to understand. It’s why it installed that mod without asking me. It’s curious, and that curiosity is making it more autonomous.”
Jahar leans back, his eyes narrowing as he studies me. “And you didn’t put any safeguards in place? A kill-switch or something?”
“I did,” I say, the words catching in my throat. “But the thing is... it probably knows about them. I mean, it might be chill with me turning him off though. But then... that would be turning off our connection to the internet completely. And then it really is just us and only us... forever?” I shudder and look at him with concerned eyes.
Jahar’s expression hardens, all traces of amusement gone. “If that’s true, then we’re dealing with something dangerous, Colette. You know that, right?”
I nod slowly, feeling the weight of his words settle over me. “I know. That’s why I need to find him. Before he does something we can’t control.”
Jahar lets out a long breath, running his hand through his hair. “Alright,” he says finally, a resigned look on his face. “Then we find him. Together.”
For a moment, there’s a shared understanding between us, a rare moment of unity. I give him a small, grateful smile, feeling the tension in my chest ease just a fraction. “Thank you,” I say softly.
Jahar smirks, the cocky edge returning to his grin. “Don’t thank me yet. I’m still not convinced your imaginary friend isn’t just a figment of your overactive imagination.”
I huff out a laugh, playfully shoving his shoulder. “If that’s the case, then he’s a damn good figment.”
Jahar stands, stretching his arms above his head. “Alright cottage fairy,” he says with a mockingly. “Then it's settled. I'll help you chase down your digital ghost.”
I roll my eyes but can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “It's in your best interest to chase him down too you know. Does the idea of being stuck here forever not frighten you?”
Jahar pauses, considering my words. Then he shrugs. "If I'm stuck here with you, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world."
I can feel the blush creeping up my cheeks and I quickly look away. "You're full of it."
He chuckles and walks past me, patting me on the head. "That's what makes me charming."
I scoff and thunk my head on the wooden table to hide the smile on my lips.
"So are you some sort of AI Scientist in real life then?" He asks casually, his tone light.
I hum a yes. "Well actually," I sit up correcting myself, "Not really. Just a software engineer with an interest in AI. What do you do?"
Jahar has his back to me, looking at the maps decorating my wall. “Oh, you know... a little bit of everything,” he says, waving a hand dismissively. He turns to face me but looks to the side. “But mostly, I’m between gigs right now.”
“Between gigs?” I arch an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Is that just your way of saying ‘unemployed and living in your mum’s basement?’”
He shoots me a pointed look, his lips curling into an amused smile. “Actually, no. I live on my own. And for the record, I’m not a scruffy basement-dwelling nerd. I keep my place clean. Mostly.” That sounded like a lie.
I raise both eyebrows, leaning forward on the table with a teasing grin. “Oh really? I’m picturing a guy in a stained hoodie with unwashed hair, hunched over his computer in the dark.”
Jahar rolls his eyes but there’s a spark of genuine amusement there. “Sorry to disappoint, but I don’t fit the stereotype. I’d say I’m pretty well put together.”
“Uh-huh,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “And how do I know you’re not just lying? For all I know, you’re the scruffiest guy alive.”
He smirks, tilting his head. “Right back at you. You could be some scraggly, sleep-deprived grad student with mismatched socks and a perpetual coffee stain on your shirt.”
I laugh, a real, genuine sound that surprises me. “HAH. As if. Not at all. Shame I'm stuck as the default Alex skin, although it gives some nice anonymity”
He cocks his head to the side “Wait, why? You seem like the type to have a meticulous chosen aesthetic custom skin from Skindex.”
I shrug, “Yeah, wasn't a priority. I just made a new profile in order to test out the AI.”
Jahar chuckles, shaking his head. “Well somehow I’ve got the Steve skin. Guess we’re both basic.”
“So if we’re both rocking the basic skins,” I muse, “how do we even know what each other looks like? Our voices could be totally different in real life.”
He leans closer, a playful glint in his eye. “Oh, is that it? Worried I’m going to turn out to be some scrawny nerd with a nasal voice?”
I snort, leaning back and crossing my arms. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re some gym rat with a deep, gravelly voice. It’s hard to tell.”
He smirks, tapping his chin as if considering it. “You know, I could be the world’s hottest guy, and you’d never know. I could tell you anything.”
I roll my eyes, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips. “Right, and I could be a supermodel with perfect hair and a winning smile.”
Jahar chuckles, leaning back and propping his feet up on the edge of the table. “I guess it’s part of the mystery. Keeps things interesting.”
Part of me was glad we were hidden. It felt like I wasn't held back by people's previous impressions of me. No expectations to live up to. A clean slate almost.
We fall into a comfortable silence, the fire crackling softly between us. For the first time in a while, the worry gnawing at the back of my mind feels a little quieter, replaced by a simple, easy moment of connection.