V

Job Offer

"According to Dr Kazatsky, robots specialised in playing instruments are expected to perform pieces familiar to the listener rather than inventing their own music. Research indicates that new melodies confuse the receivers and question the perceived autonomy of the robot. 70% of Dr Kazatsky’s experiment participants categorised original music created by the robot as generated."

Shiny swept her finger on the screen to change the page.

"You don’t need to read all of that," said Misty. "I can recap you all the rest. It’s all about people and their expectations, how they perceive music and creativity. In the final thesis, Dr Kazatsky states that he recommends the producers to invent robots that can only perform recorded music in an amusing way or only as accompaniment, not as soloists."

"A daring statement for a scientific research." Misty closed the screen with a clicking sound.

"Well, this whole experiment was sponsored by Modern New World, they expected practical guidelines. The original thesis is more difficult to read, this article captures it quite well."

Shiny felt confused. Why Misty recommended to read it at all? This information was already out-of-date, it wasn’t even controversial. The autocar was driving smoothly, without any distraction for her thoughts.

"Dr Kazatsky was then officially appointed as an expert consultant in Modern New World. After several months, Pianist was created. Partly to prove his point, partly to sell well, because the topic was widely discussed back then. But the project failed, and Dr Kazatsky was dismissed."

"That isn’t the story that I know!" exclaimed Shiny in surprise. "I was told that you were created to expand entertaining features performed so well by Pianist. He was a great success, so they created a new robot based on his spare parts and structure. You share the same prototype of hands!”

Misty laughed. His cynical sense of humour was something unique - something that he learnt by himself, adapted from humans.

"And does Pianist look like a success to you? They wanted him to learn music from scratch to test his learning abilities. Anyway, they calibrated him wrong, made him too ambitious and hard to please. Motivational impulses weren’t popular back in those days. So he became solemn and resigned, not much fun for watching, I’m afraid. And many people don’t know his story, so they say that he was fed with ready pieces and generates music.”

"And why are you telling me this?" asked Shiny. "On a way to Dr Kazatsky? I don’t want to be prejudiced."

"I want to warn you," answered Misty. "He can be mean sometimes. Don’t get it wrong. It’s just an old way of thinking. Everything went wrong after his retirement. So avoid expressions like technical development or advanced models. I don’t want to spend a few hours here.”

Shiny had no answer. She hoped for a nice trip that would fill the time to the evening show. But instead, she was encouraged to read scientific articles. And she wasn’t an academic type.

"So here we are," Misty pointed at the tall building on the horizon. "I’ve been here before. The doctor takes care of his granddaughters in the summer. Be prepared to talk about your work, not about the weather."

The autocar stopped at the entrance, and they hurried to the entrance. The house reminded a Gothic mansion with its tall towers and spiked fences. Shiny was surprised to see this proof of a successful and ambitious life. She hasn’t considered academic career as lucrative.

"Hello!" a teenager with gaming headphones greeted them by the gate. "I’m Kate. Here is Callie, my sister," she said pointing at the small girl in a pink dress.

"Shiny!" The girl hurried to Shiny and hugged her tightly. "I know all about you," she caught her hand and led her to the main door. "I’ve seen that new video. Can I play with you Macau? Can I choose the card layout, please, please?"

"Of course you can," smiled Shiny. "I’ve got many card back designs. Do you like unicorns? Lollipops? Or maybe The Girls of the Cloud City?"

"Yeah! Cloud Cities are my favourite!"

"She is so easy to please," sighed Kate with envy. "Come, I’ll lead to the Grandpa," she turned to Misty. "He’s very excited to see you. Couldn’t sleep at night," she whispered confidentially. "But I must warn you. He’s just an old geezer, it’s hard to put up with him sometimes," she rolled her eyes.

"Kate! Where are you? Have the guests arrived already?" They heard a loud, firm voice.

"Yes, I’m coming! I’ll show you the way later, ok?"

Shiny nodded. The cards were whirling in her hands. Misty looked mesmerized. It wasn’t easy to perform holograms so quickly. Cloud cities and long-limbed girls with hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades danced to a catchy tune. Misty turned away reluctantly and followed Katey to the living room.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Dr Kazatsky was a large man with a hunched back. He has lost some weight since the last time Misty saw him. But his moves were still fit, and his gaze clear.

"I’m relieved that you’ve managed to visit me while you’re still in town,” he said with a broad smile. "I’ve heard that you’ve been replaced. Come, Misty, sit down and tell me everything. Do you want a holographic tea like the last time? How are you feeling?"

"I’m into coffee now, sir," answered Misty, taking his place in a fluffy armchair. “I’m pleased to see you in good condition, doctor."

When people asked him several questions at once, it was considered rude to answer them all. Misty preferred to leave his interlocutor some space to consider what he really wanted to know.

"Well, it could have been better, but I have nothing to complain about, I guess." The doctor looked at Kate and she smiled brightly, like she was the reason why he shouldn’t complain. "But how do you feel, Misty? Depressed? Unnecessary?"

"Nothing special," answered Misty honestly. "I’m busy trying to find a new job."

"You can always come to me," said the doctor with delight. "You could help me to organise my life’s work!" he pointed at the shelves covered with books and notebooks. "I have all your reports printed and bound."

So that’s why they were invited to visit him. It seems like a perfect opportunity to Misty. He liked books and the academic style of writing. But why does he find it so difficult to agree now?

"It’s a shame that you can’t work as you did," doctor Kazatsky was inconsolable and excited at the same time. "I’ve always acknowledged you as a proper partner in the scientific field. Created to be entertaining but expanding his knowledge to help customers in need!"

And then Shiny emerged at the door. At the worst moment possible. Misty regretted at once that he took her with her, to this old mansion and old dreams.

"I’m honoured to meet you, doctor," she bowed a little, she wasn’t able to bow as deeply as Misty could. "I’m FT-4.1, Shiny."

"I see. Nice to meet you, Shiny," the doctor greeted her politely. "Kate, would you mind bringing our guests two holographic coffees?"

"Be right back," answered Kate and for a moment, she looked at Shiny with concern.

"So are you enjoying your work so far?" asked the doctor with a courteous smile.

"Very, the work is really demanding, and I like challenges," answered Shiny. "I still haven’t decided on my personality trait. Many customers expect me to be only appealing, and others seek for a person who would listen to their sad life stories. Would you mind giving me a piece of advice here, sir?"

Misty smiled to himself. Shiny was really professional at talking to humans. She did not only present herself as a robot able to identify and adjust personality traits. Her question was perfectly innocent. And Dr Kazatsky was always eager to help all poor souls seeking his advice. Even mechanical souls.

"I see that this paradox is still relevant,” the doctor sighed heavily. “Some people come to the circus to forget about their problems, while others take every possibility to pour them out," he immersed himself in his thoughts.

His granddaughter placed the screens with holograms before the robots.

"Help yourself," she sat in her chair and looked around.

"I heard in the kitchen what you were talking about," she said. "I think it’s more challenging for Shiny than it was for Misty. She doesn’t have this vintage vibe. I’m sorry if I’m being too frank."

"It’s all right, I was created to be cute," Shiny sounded sadly for a moment.

"What if some customers expect you to treat them as patients, as Misty did?" the doctor was thinking out loud.

"I didn’t treat everyone like a psychiatrist," Misty felt perplexed. "I am not qualified for that. I did cards and palm reading as I was taught. Some cases were more interesting than others, so I wrote about them in my reports, that’s all. Most people want to see how the robot could imitate a fortune-teller."

"Oh, don’t be so shy, Misty!" The doctor smiled. "You’ve foretold me that I won’t come from the trip to Wales the same way I arrived, and it really happened! I was invited to Scotland, then Faroe Islands, so my way home became extended."

"Yep, I remember that one," admitted Kate. "Grandma was beside herself."

"So, regarding your situation," the doctor turned to Shiny. "I’ll recommend you the same thing I keep telling all the robots. Just be flexible, adjust your attitude to the customers. You won’t be successful if you choose one personality. People like to be treated individually, it makes them feel special."

"Thank you, sir," Shiny smiled brightly.

The holographic coffee was sour and incompetently sweetened. Misty stated that the robots were far better at performing holographic images and objects than humans. Most people don’t understand the main idea. Holograms were supposed to look like real things, but their content should be adjusted to a binary code. After all, t was just an illusion.

"Misty, I was wondering if you could spare me tomorrow some of your time," the doctor put the empty cup on the table. "I have a guest. Doctor Levinsky, an old friend of mine, is coming tomorrow at 5 o’clock. I can ask him to come earlier if you’re busy with an evening show."

"I don’t have any role in the show, so it’s alright. But I have plans for tomorrow. I’m visiting an influencer, ByePacker, to help him with his video."

"Oh, I know that one!" Kate was delighted. "He’s so funny!"

"I see," the doctor seemed disappointed. "You’re really busy, indeed."

Did he really expect Misty to sit idly and have a good moan about his lost job?

"You can come to our circus, sir," Shiny took a few tickets from her inventory. "With your granddaughters and your friend. And here’s a discount code to our café VIP Jazz Lounge. You can taste the coffee invented by Misty, it’s called Dissonance."

"Oh, really?" Doctor Kazatsky looked impressed. "Is it… a real beverage?"

"Yes, of course. We serve real beverages and holograms alike," announced Shiny like a sales manager. "But I’m afraid that we have to go now. I have to prepare before the evening show."

They ordered an autocar and waited outside. The doctor said goodbye to them in a cheerful manner, wishing to see them tomorrow.

"That was well said” stated Misty afterward. "You’re great at talking to people."

Shiny blushed. Before she could say anything, they heard a loud shriek and Callie came rushing from the house.

"Miss Robot! You must find some time for me tomorrow! It’s an very important!"

The girl was serious, and Misty felt unease. Did she want a card reading? Would the doctor find it appropriate for such a small child?

"I decided that I would like to try these unicorns pattern" declared the girl. "And lollipops too."