And after quite a hiatus...the seventh part of Sentience.
Sentience Part 1
Sentience Part 2
Sentience Part 3
Sentience Part 4
Sentience Part 5
Sentience Part 6
*****************
Macon watched as Marie dropped her shoulder bag onto the floor beside the couch. "Can I just go ahead and get some sleep now?"
"Sure." He glanced around, feeling awkward, glad the shades were closed. Glad for some reason. "How's your head?"
She sat on the couch and shrugged. "I really won't know until I can find a doctor, but it hurts a lot and I feel sick."
"I'm sorry." He clenched and unclenced one fist. "Would it be alright if did some work right over there in the kitchen? Just in case?"
"I'm not gonna steal anything," the girl replied, her voiced muffled by a pillow.
"No, I meant I don't want to be closed off in a closet if someone were to bust in here."
"Whatever makes you feel better." She let out a huff of air. "Now please let me take a nap."
He started to reply, but thought better of it and stepped away to grab his tablet.
His cell phone buzzed. He gulped, feeling nauseous again, and pulled it out of his pocket, hoping it was the normal use one. The fake cell phone, the mask he used.
He knew when his fingers touched it that the small, plain thing was his oversight. He should have gotten rid of it when he could.
They'd be able to find it just because he had it. That was easy for them. He debated answering and just lying. It might buy them time, but he didn't want to leave Marie here and he most definitely didn't want to meet these people anywhere. Not now.
So he turned the phone off and crushed it under his foot.
He turned on the tablet and sat at the kitchen table, doodling idly. The cartoons he drew were cathartic, and he knew they were decent. Any other time, he'd be working on one. It was long due for an update, he knew, but he had no inspiration. He'd do it later, find some way to put it up, wherever he ran, in defiance of these ruthless people he'd become far to connected to.
He waited as the sliver of light visible between the shades changed and dimmed as the sunlight moved ever on to it's setting point.
Restless didn't even begin to describe it.
Showing posts with label robotics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robotics. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sentience Part 5
Links to the previous installments:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
And here, for your enjoyment, Part 5 of Sentience.
********************************
He kept driving, staring ahead. The passenger stared straight ahead as well.
Frederick failed to see the fist flying at him before his jaw exploded in pain. He pulled the steering wheel back as the car swerved to the left.
The android was staring at him.
"What was that for?" he asked it calmly.
"I was sort of hoping you'd crash."
Expected. "Why?"
"Oh, I don't know, so maybe I could get some help because I've been taken against my will and I probably will have a concussion later because you no doubt watch too many movies."
Frederick rubbed his jaw gingerly, flexing it slowly. "How do I deactivate you?'
"What?"
"I need to deactivate you. It's more humane. That's all I can give you."
"I wasn't aware I could be deactivated." The robot rubbed its face. Frederick felt sad.
"You're one of those, then."
"One of what?"
"Those machines who don't know they're machines."
There was a long silence. It stared at him incredulously, then spoke.
"Yeah, you definitely watch too much media. I think it's addled your brain."
"But you're a machine."
"And where did you hear that rumor?"
Frederick kept driving, deeper into the desert. "My...clients. They created you and hired me to retrieve you and bring you back to them or eliminate you."
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
She--it--fished in the bag on the floorboard feet and pulled a rather large knife from it, setting the blade to its wrist.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Showing you that you're a gullible idiot." It pressed down.
"No, don't-" Frederick looked away as a tiny spurt of blood hit the windshield. Marie clapped a hand over the wound.
"Do you have a first aid kit?"
Frederick nodded, fighting back nausea. "In the glove box."
Marie opened the kit and pulled out a miniature fluid analysis machine. A drop and a smear of blood went in, and the machine beeped a few moments later, the results showing in bold, bright letters.
Frederick glanced at the screen.
BLOOD. Type: A+. Glucose Level: 93. More data he couldn't see.
That was his machine. It wasn't tampered with, couldn't be. He pulled over.
***************************************
That's all for today, and thanks for tuning in. Stop by soon for more.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
And here, for your enjoyment, Part 5 of Sentience.
********************************
He kept driving, staring ahead. The passenger stared straight ahead as well.
Frederick failed to see the fist flying at him before his jaw exploded in pain. He pulled the steering wheel back as the car swerved to the left.
The android was staring at him.
"What was that for?" he asked it calmly.
"I was sort of hoping you'd crash."
Expected. "Why?"
"Oh, I don't know, so maybe I could get some help because I've been taken against my will and I probably will have a concussion later because you no doubt watch too many movies."
Frederick rubbed his jaw gingerly, flexing it slowly. "How do I deactivate you?'
"What?"
"I need to deactivate you. It's more humane. That's all I can give you."
"I wasn't aware I could be deactivated." The robot rubbed its face. Frederick felt sad.
"You're one of those, then."
"One of what?"
"Those machines who don't know they're machines."
There was a long silence. It stared at him incredulously, then spoke.
"Yeah, you definitely watch too much media. I think it's addled your brain."
"But you're a machine."
"And where did you hear that rumor?"
Frederick kept driving, deeper into the desert. "My...clients. They created you and hired me to retrieve you and bring you back to them or eliminate you."
"What?"
"I'm sorry."
She--it--fished in the bag on the floorboard feet and pulled a rather large knife from it, setting the blade to its wrist.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Showing you that you're a gullible idiot." It pressed down.
"No, don't-" Frederick looked away as a tiny spurt of blood hit the windshield. Marie clapped a hand over the wound.
"Do you have a first aid kit?"
Frederick nodded, fighting back nausea. "In the glove box."
Marie opened the kit and pulled out a miniature fluid analysis machine. A drop and a smear of blood went in, and the machine beeped a few moments later, the results showing in bold, bright letters.
Frederick glanced at the screen.
BLOOD. Type: A+. Glucose Level: 93. More data he couldn't see.
That was his machine. It wasn't tampered with, couldn't be. He pulled over.
***************************************
That's all for today, and thanks for tuning in. Stop by soon for more.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sentience Part 3
Here's part 3 of Sentience. It's a bit short, but this part is where the story begins to pick up. Enjoy!
**************
His tablet was starting to lose power, and he'd read most of the interesting articles by now anyway. With a sigh, he slipped it into his pack and stared at his shoes, glancing up every few seconds to watch the passersby. He pretended to search his pockets when he glanced up. A figure in simple clothing walked down the street, not slowly, not quickly. Her red-brown hair was covered by a hat. As he watched, it became evident that her clothing was a uniform of some sort, probably for one of the shops nearby. He did not look away.
Frederick found himself looking into the eyes that were neither gray nor blue, just for an instant. Her-its- eyebrows rose, it looked away, and Frederick dropped his gaze. It was walking more quickly now. He kept watching. The machine was thinking. Learning. It knew, and it turned into the entrance of a department store. The automatic doors slid open, and Marie the machine was gone.
He stood. He had to follow her; no question, and now if he was to ever catch her. He stood, walking quickly to the department store and in. Marie was disappearing up the glass elevator. It was facing away from the door, but he followed up the antiquated staircase that stood in the middle of the store, running. The robot stopped at the third floor and got off, walking toward some tall clothing racks. Frederick kept after it, and it directed a quick glance behind, and he knew he'd been seen.
"Excuse me!" He called to her-it- as she sped up. "Ma'am...excuse me!" He caught up to it, grabbing the upper arm.
The reaction was fast. It spun around and slapped him across his face.
"Leave me alone, creeper." The android pulled away and kept going, seeming panicked.
Frederick was only shocked for a second. He collected himself and fished in his pocket for the strong magnets he'd brought. This would disable it for sometime, if not fry something. He hurled them, connecting solidly with the back of the torso area, the cranium, and the neck.
"Ow!" Marie spun around, then came closer. "Look, I have no idea why you're throwing junk at me, but leave me alone or I'll find out who you are and call the police. Just...go away, freak."
It stalked to the stairs and ran down them, going out the door. Frederick watched as she turned neither right nor left. Other customers were watching. Silently, he collected the magnets. For today, he'd lost Marie the robot, and he'd have to go back to his apartment for more ideas. Fear raced up his spine.
This job he knew had to be done.
**************
His tablet was starting to lose power, and he'd read most of the interesting articles by now anyway. With a sigh, he slipped it into his pack and stared at his shoes, glancing up every few seconds to watch the passersby. He pretended to search his pockets when he glanced up. A figure in simple clothing walked down the street, not slowly, not quickly. Her red-brown hair was covered by a hat. As he watched, it became evident that her clothing was a uniform of some sort, probably for one of the shops nearby. He did not look away.
Frederick found himself looking into the eyes that were neither gray nor blue, just for an instant. Her-its- eyebrows rose, it looked away, and Frederick dropped his gaze. It was walking more quickly now. He kept watching. The machine was thinking. Learning. It knew, and it turned into the entrance of a department store. The automatic doors slid open, and Marie the machine was gone.
He stood. He had to follow her; no question, and now if he was to ever catch her. He stood, walking quickly to the department store and in. Marie was disappearing up the glass elevator. It was facing away from the door, but he followed up the antiquated staircase that stood in the middle of the store, running. The robot stopped at the third floor and got off, walking toward some tall clothing racks. Frederick kept after it, and it directed a quick glance behind, and he knew he'd been seen.
"Excuse me!" He called to her-it- as she sped up. "Ma'am...excuse me!" He caught up to it, grabbing the upper arm.
The reaction was fast. It spun around and slapped him across his face.
"Leave me alone, creeper." The android pulled away and kept going, seeming panicked.
Frederick was only shocked for a second. He collected himself and fished in his pocket for the strong magnets he'd brought. This would disable it for sometime, if not fry something. He hurled them, connecting solidly with the back of the torso area, the cranium, and the neck.
"Ow!" Marie spun around, then came closer. "Look, I have no idea why you're throwing junk at me, but leave me alone or I'll find out who you are and call the police. Just...go away, freak."
It stalked to the stairs and ran down them, going out the door. Frederick watched as she turned neither right nor left. Other customers were watching. Silently, he collected the magnets. For today, he'd lost Marie the robot, and he'd have to go back to his apartment for more ideas. Fear raced up his spine.
This job he knew had to be done.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Part 2 of Sentience...and Some Apologies for It Being A Little Late...
Okay, here's part two. Enjoy. Here's Part 1 if you missed it.
*********
Chapter 2: Job
Frederick sat in his room, waiting for his other computer to start up. In seconds, the lightweight operating system had started running. Frederick accessed the folders that held the information he needed. It had been placed there, as promised, remotely, while he was at work. There was a folder of pictures and a separate folder for text files. He clicked the text folder.
Robotics. Android, eliminate. A robot with female attributes had escaped from the corporation. It had been an experiment, she was unstable, dangerous even, and on the run now. He had to find the machine and either bring it to the company or destroy it himself. There were pictures included. He needed to find it, by the pictures given. It had gone by the nickname of Marie, and may be still going by that name somewhere. She was tricky and elusive it said, able to think and learn. He opened the folder of photographs.
A woman smiled at him from the screen. She couldn't have been older than himself. It was Marie, the android, so lifelike that he may have mistaken her for another human if he didn't know any better. She was average looking, brownish red hair, eyes that may have been gray or blue, pale skin. She'd been missing for sometime, most likely hiding in the very city where Frederick was living, where she would blend with the masses, where no one would give her a second glance.
He pulled the phone out of his pocket and stared at it. He would take the job, maybe, but first...
"Macon. Wonderful to hear from you so quickly."
"Mmm." He bit his lip and kept speaking. "So I am to collect and eliminate this woman?"
"Robot, Macon. Or android. This thing is not a human. I thought that was quite obvious from the information." The woman's voice sharpened. "I do hope you are not backing out. This is one job that we need you to to do, and it would be quite a shame if you refused. Quite a shame, indeed."
"You threaten me."
"Such accusations, Macon. Tsk tsk." Other voices in the background. "In truth, we really need this particular piece of technology back here, or dismantled and destroyed. You have either option. I would say the latter is the best."
"Why is that?"
"To avoid problems that may arise. Now, do you agree to this job?"
He hesitated. These people were dangerous, but this job could easily be so as well. Anything to avoid going back to his home world. Life was too slow there, too simple, not enough stimulation to keep him from thinking. Better to collect a piece of property for a company than to go back. "Yes. I agree."
"Good luck." A soft click sounded.
Frederick stared at the pictures again. One looked like a formal portrait. Another was candid, the android leaving a restaurant and dressed rather plainly, flanked by a friend or two. The machine walking down a sidewalk above the ground, in the city. He recognized the building behind her. It was a bank, and she was walking as if it were a routine to pass there. He'd start there.
The portrait caught his eye again, the smiling face unflinching. He swallowed hard and closed the files.
Tomorrow.
*********
Chapter 2: Job
Frederick sat in his room, waiting for his other computer to start up. In seconds, the lightweight operating system had started running. Frederick accessed the folders that held the information he needed. It had been placed there, as promised, remotely, while he was at work. There was a folder of pictures and a separate folder for text files. He clicked the text folder.
Robotics. Android, eliminate. A robot with female attributes had escaped from the corporation. It had been an experiment, she was unstable, dangerous even, and on the run now. He had to find the machine and either bring it to the company or destroy it himself. There were pictures included. He needed to find it, by the pictures given. It had gone by the nickname of Marie, and may be still going by that name somewhere. She was tricky and elusive it said, able to think and learn. He opened the folder of photographs.
A woman smiled at him from the screen. She couldn't have been older than himself. It was Marie, the android, so lifelike that he may have mistaken her for another human if he didn't know any better. She was average looking, brownish red hair, eyes that may have been gray or blue, pale skin. She'd been missing for sometime, most likely hiding in the very city where Frederick was living, where she would blend with the masses, where no one would give her a second glance.
He pulled the phone out of his pocket and stared at it. He would take the job, maybe, but first...
"Macon. Wonderful to hear from you so quickly."
"Mmm." He bit his lip and kept speaking. "So I am to collect and eliminate this woman?"
"Robot, Macon. Or android. This thing is not a human. I thought that was quite obvious from the information." The woman's voice sharpened. "I do hope you are not backing out. This is one job that we need you to to do, and it would be quite a shame if you refused. Quite a shame, indeed."
"You threaten me."
"Such accusations, Macon. Tsk tsk." Other voices in the background. "In truth, we really need this particular piece of technology back here, or dismantled and destroyed. You have either option. I would say the latter is the best."
"Why is that?"
"To avoid problems that may arise. Now, do you agree to this job?"
He hesitated. These people were dangerous, but this job could easily be so as well. Anything to avoid going back to his home world. Life was too slow there, too simple, not enough stimulation to keep him from thinking. Better to collect a piece of property for a company than to go back. "Yes. I agree."
"Good luck." A soft click sounded.
Frederick stared at the pictures again. One looked like a formal portrait. Another was candid, the android leaving a restaurant and dressed rather plainly, flanked by a friend or two. The machine walking down a sidewalk above the ground, in the city. He recognized the building behind her. It was a bank, and she was walking as if it were a routine to pass there. He'd start there.
The portrait caught his eye again, the smiling face unflinching. He swallowed hard and closed the files.
Tomorrow.
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