by Bekka Black
Let me know how your chatbot is coming along. You are the only one who groks what I’m trying to do here and why it’s so cool. A Virtual Victor! I think I’ll name it V.V. If my V.V’s good enough, it can talk to the Sperm Donor and I won’t have to. That’s cooler than that house cleaning robot, right?
What did the doctors say? Any good news?
Victor
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 23
12:45 PM
Elizabeth
Look what I see!
Henry
Looks like Victor, but more buff
Elizabeth
It's Lord Byron on his deathbed
Henry
There r worse ways to go
Elizabeth
Bruges is great! Medieval architecture, a chocolate museum, & this! Wish u were here
Henry
At least u have Victor
Elizabeth
He stayed at the windmill, typing & muttering & tearing his hair
Henry
U can take the boy out of the computer lab, but u can’t take the computer lab out of the boy
Elizabeth
Yup. Shame because it’s beautiful here
Henry
Pondering art in solitude is the best way
Elizabeth
Master of spin
Henry
Have to be!
Elizabeth
BTW, I’m starting to think that my mom & Alphonse…
Henry
Really?
Elizabeth
Don’t tell Victor. He’ll freak out. I’m freaking out a bit myself
Henry
Why?
Elizabeth
I miss Dad. I know he & Mom will never get back together. But…
Henry
But?
Elizabeth
I’m not ready to move on, let alone watch her do it. It still hurts
Henry
I’m sorry, E *cyberhug*
Elizabeth
Thanks, Henry. How r u today?
Henry
Lot of tests
Elizabeth
School or doctors?
Henry
Dr
Elizabeth
Why?
Henry
Stanford Hospital. They have an experimental program. Want to see if I’m a candidate
Elizabeth
Fingers crossed!!!
Text from Alphonse Frankenstein to Victor Frankenstein
October 23
1:29 PM
Alphonse
Lydia said you’d gone into Bruges with Elizabeth. Next time, please tell me in advance. Where are you?
Victor
Alphonse
Glad to see you are appreciating the lovely medieval sites of Bruges. Where the hell are you?
Victor
Internet café
Alphonse
I suppose it’s better than being stuck in our cabin. Kindly remember to be on the dock before the last tender leaves for the SS Walton.
Email from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 23
1:50 PM
Re: It’s begun!
Dude,
Congrats on starting the first stage. I still think that your data gathering is too random. You’re going to get garbage in your database and the chatbot will be weird forever. Mark my words and all that.
If you’ve started it up, why not go see more of Bruges? Although you probably haven’t noticed, Elizabeth says it’s great. And I think she would love it if you joined her.
You could also use this time to improve things with your dad instead of just calling him the Sperm Donor. It’s been more than a year since your mom died. Maybe it’s time for you two to move on together. End of lecture. Mostly.
Doctors say they don’t know. Maybe someday is the cheeriest news they had. And you know how cheery they are. Spinal cord injury, so they tell me, is no joke.
Not to worry you, but my chatbot just swept the Northern California regional championships.
Henry
October 24 - Elizabeth tours Amsterdam on her own
Elizabeth's Browser
October 24
Amsterdam, Holland
Art Museums
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 24
10:19 AM
Elizabeth
Off to Amsterdam. On my own
Henry
Hate to ask, but where’s Victor?
Elizabeth
Computer. I don’t get it. What’s the point of creating a talking head that just answers questions?
Henry
It’s a chatbot, not a talking head. If he wins those contests, he might get a scholarship next year
Elizabeth
I’m losing out to a computerized head, Henry
Henry
I’m sorry
Elizabeth
Am I really so hard to notice?
Henry
I notice u!
Elizabeth
Thank u. But why won’t Victor notice me? Or at least Europe? He’s missing out on all the cool stuff
Henry
A price Victor is eager to pay. How about taking ur mom?
Elizabeth
She’s on another “research expedition” with Alphonse
Henry
Eww…
Elizabeth
I think it’ll get grosser too
Henry
Buy me a tulip, try not to think about it
Elizabeth
What did the Stanford docs say?
Henry
I’m a candidate. They start tomorrow
Elizabeth
Gr8t news! R u nervous?
Henry
It won’t hurt. Haven’t felt anything in so long, pain would be good
Elizabeth
I’m sorry, Henry
Henry
Me too, E
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 24
9:39 PM
Elizabeth
Couldn’t find a tulip. Got this instead
Henry
Sweet!
Elizabeth
I saw that painting at the Van Gogh Museum, then had lunch with a cute Dutch guy
Henry
Picture!
Elizabeth
His name is Abraham. I gave him my email so we can stay in touch
Henry
Looks like they have plenty of hair gel in Holland. Or it that butter?
Elizabeth
Henry!!!
Henry
Sorry. We should all live vicariously through u. U r the only one with any kind of life, romantic or otherwise
Elizabeth
When I get home, we’ll go do some cool art museum stuff. Promise
Henry
Taking the cripple out for a stroll?
Elizabeth
Going with a friend to a museum, Henry & u damn well know it
Henry
Sorry for the self pity. Miss u guys
Elizabeth
Miss u 2
Text from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 24
10:19 PM
Henry
Heard u blew off Amsterdam. What’d u do instead?
Victor
Programmed. Took a quick turn around deck to count the lifeboats. Did the math. There r enough
Henry
Reassured? Elizabeth said Amsterdam was fun. And she met some cute guy
Victor
So?
Henry
So, indeed
Victor
Good night, Henry
October 25 - Victor starts the AI analysis
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Lydia Lavenza
October 25
8:58 AM
Elizabeth
Breakfast?
9:07 AM
Lydia
>
Lunch? Lido deck? My treat?
Elizabeth
Ok
Text from Lydia Lavenza to Elizabeth Lavenza
October 25
11:59 AM
Lydia
Something came up. Feel free to eat without me
Elizabeth
Gee, thanks
Lydia
I’m sorry, honey
Elizabeth
So I see
Lydia
Maybe you can find Victor
Text from Alphonse Frankenstein to Victor Frankenstein
October 25
12:03 PM
Alphonse
Victor, why don’t you have lunch with Elizabeth?
Victor
Busy
Alphonse
Take a break. Eat. Walk around the deck. Step away from the computer. You just might come back to the computer refreshed, and with new ideas.
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 25
1:21 PM
Elizabeth
Lunch alone. Victor stares into that damn laptop all day & night. He’s gone off the deep end
Henry
One giant leap for mankind, but one small step for Victor
Elizabeth
Any news from Stanford?
Henry
Tried it. It’s electro-stimulation. They make my muscles move. Creepy
Elizabeth
But it’s good that the muscles are moving, right?
Henry
I don’t want to talk about it. Tell me about ur problems
Elizabeth
Victor? Not only doesn’t he notice ME, I don’t think he knows that HE’S alive anymore
Henry
How so?
Elizabeth
He hasn’t eaten in 3 days. Even when I bring him food, he barely touches it
Henry
Maybe he sneaks out to eat when u r asleep
Elizabeth
We’re sleeping in the same cabin
Henry
WHAT?!?
Elizabeth
It’s not what u think
Henry
Enlighten me, E
Elizabeth
Alphonse & my mom are in the other cabin. All the time. Like bunnies
Henry
Ewww
Elizabeth
U r telling me. It sucks
Henry
I bet
Elizabeth
I’m stuck on board with all the old folks & we’re not docking anywhere today. It’s lonely
Henry
Isn’t there anyone fun on board?
Elizabeth
It’s just me, CyberBoy, & the Fossils
Henry
Sounds like a band. Cyberboy & the Fossils play The Warfield
Elizabeth
I’m worried about him. I tried talking to his dad when he came up for air, but he doesn’t seem to care
Henry
This is normal for Victor
Elizabeth
Not like this. What if he starves?
Henry
He’ll eat when he’s hungry enough. When do u guys come home?
Elizabeth
12 days till we’re back in Southampton
Henry
As long as he’s drinking water, he’ll be fine
Email from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 25
4:36 PM
Stage 2
Not having reliable internet is killing me! I have the source code on my laptop, but I can’t hook it up to anything. My crawler is done and the database is loaded. I start the AI analysis part today, but I can’t see the results until we hit another port with internet tomorrow. This is like the punch card days. Or maybe even abacus era.
What if it crashes and burns? I’ll have wasted the whole year. At least I never told the Sperm Donor what I’m doing, so he can’t mock me if I fail (and, no, I’m not going to “bond” with him on this trip even if he suddenly did start to care that I’m alive). The ship still hasn’t fixed their internet so it comes and goes. Plus I worry that Dad’s creaky old laptop will implode any second. I miss my desktop computer with a pain that feels visceral.
Congrats on your chatbot winning the regionals. That will just make it all the sweeter when chatbot V.V kicks chatbot Cyber Clerval’s ass.
Elizabeth is freaking out because I’ve missed a few meals. Nothing to worry about, I assure you.
I’m sure she told you about her mom and the Sperm Donor. What if she ends up my stepsister?
I’m trying not to get too attached to her, but it’s hard. She’s in my face and in my cabin and she is incredible and funny and smart. Don’t tell her I said any of that. Burn this email.
Maybe I’m just going crazy because I haven’t slept in a few days. Between worrying about V.V and having Elizabeth a few feet away just lying there breathing all night, I can’t sleep. She smells great, have you ever noticed that?
Here she comes.
Email from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 25
4:45 PM
Re: Stage 2
Dude,
Your confidence is all over the map. WTH is up? Just start the program. If it breaks, fix it. Develop. Debug. Repeat. Remember?
It’s just code. Not a spinal column.
Now, let me get the rest of your email straight. You are sharing a cabin with a hot teenage girl who might even like you and you are spending all your time working on a chatbot? Are you out of your mind?
You can have a relationship with her no matter what happens between your dad and her mom. Stepsister does not equal real sister. Carpe diem!!!
I am so over talking about your stupid chatbot. Let’s focus on what’s important.
Text me. Sheesh.
Henry
October 26 - Virtual Victor (V.V.) is alive!
Elizabeth's Browser
October 26
Oslo, Norway
Art Museums
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 26
10:12 AM
Elizabeth
Have abandoned Victor for Vigeland. It’s breathtaking!
Henry
I could see how abandoning Victor would be
Elizabeth
Lol. Looking at this place give me hope for humanity. For art. For life
Henry
Whee!
Elizabeth
This one reminds me of Victor, except there’s no computer
Henry
Is he the scowly guy or the bird?
Elizabeth
The bird moves every so often, so he must be the guy
Henry
He makes the Fossils look active
Elizabeth
:)
Henry
Miss u
Elizabeth
Miss u 2. U’d love it here!
Email from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 26
5:24 PM
Stage 3
I took your advice, or at least some of it. Thanks.
I’ve now got everything set up. I downloaded it just a few minutes ago. I got a nasty zap from the computer at the internet café. Must have been a short. Who says programming isn’t dangerous?
The short knocked out the power and the lights and everyone started yelling in the dark before everything came back on all at once. So I had a properly dramatic download for V.V.
Now: V.V is LIVE!!! Pass around the virtual cigars. You can see him here.
http://www.bekkablack.com/virtual_victor
Isn’t he cute? I had Elizabeth draw his avatar icon.
And he’s self-extending! I have him monitoring all my portals, etc. going forward, so he’ll be able to change when I do. I have new inputs weighted differently than old so he’ll pay more attention to the newer stuff I post than the old.
Come talk to him and let me know how it goes.
I’ll be checking his chat transcripts when I get back into port. I’m putting out word on the various boards to get some interactions going so he can start learning. I put in some tweaks so that nobody can replicate him. I don’t want him to get stolen. But I’m hoping lots of folks want to talk to him so I can start fine tuning his responses. So far my tests have been stellar. Carnegie Mellon, here I come!
V.V will change my life!
Victor
Text from Alphonse Frankenstein to Victor Frankenstein
October 26
5:26 PM
Alphonse
What are you up to?
Victor
Alphonse
Do you think I brought you to Europe so you could sit in Internet cafes?
Victor
This trip has nothing to do with me
Alphonse
What does that mean?
Victor
I think u know the answer to that question
Alphonse
We’ll talk about this when you get back on the boat tonight.
Victor
If u can fit me in
Robot Chat
Recorded Chats: 0
October 26
5:35 PM
AmazingFrank: Hello! Why are you here?
V.V: Hello to you! I am here to answer your questions. Please try to make them interesting.
AmazingFrank: Good use of the word please. Politeness is nice. Who are you?
