Sitting down at her desk, she looked out across the team. In addition to being responsible for the latest versions of the E-A, they were also taking care of the sales and marketing of the SmartHome servers, which had already been installed in over forty percent of homes and offices across the United States and as many as thirty-five percent in Europe. They were a good team, all of them hand-picked by Ann. One of the latest members was a young man in his early twenties called John. Fresh out of college, he had been delighted to land a much sought-after job on Ann’s team, and his one desire was to prove himself to her. Often the first into the office and the last out, John was something of a teacher’s pet, and it was not long before Ann found him standing by her desk.
“Good morning, John,” she said, leaning back in her chair and looking at him questioningly. “Anything I need to know today?”
“Only that Steve in Operations was looking to catch up with you.” Ann shook her head at this. Steve had been with the company for almost thirty years, and he still hadn’t worked out how the internal messaging system worked. “He wanted to discuss a few details in the Smithson contract. And you have an encrypted message from upstairs, which I assume has to do with the E-A. I’ve transferred it to your screen.”
“An encrypted message?” said Ann, raising her eyebrows. “Intriguing. Thank you, John.”
She touched her screen, which immediately came to life. Sure enough, she had a notification of the encrypted message. It wasn’t just from upstairs, though, it was from the top! It could only mean one of two things; excellent news… or devastating news. As she entered her decryption key, she thought over the E-A project and couldn’t think of anything negative whatsoever, let alone devastating. It had to be good news.
The message flashed up and Ann read through it quickly. Sensing John’s eyes on her, she allowed no reaction to show in her face while reading.
“John,” she said. “Could you arrange for a meeting later this morning with the whole team? I need to speak with them about our progress with E-A.”
“Sure thing, boss,” said John, already pulling up the relevant screen. “Er… how about ten o’clock in Mike 17?”
“Perfect. In the meantime, I’ll see what Steve wants.” She tapped her screen to start a video call with the Operations Manager. “Maybe one day he’ll learn how to leave me a video message!”
~
“Okay. Settle down, please.” Gradually, the buzz of conversation died down as the team took their seats in Mike-17. There were four of these meeting rooms on every office floor, each one bright and airy and filled by a single large table, the surface of which was embedded with computer screens. Each room was hosted by its own robot secretary, called Mike. Though each Mike was slightly different in appearance from its counterparts, they all had a similar doll-like look with permanent smiles that were designed to set people at ease. In reality most of the A.I.I. staff found them slightly creepy. With a low-level form of AI, a never-say-no attitude and upbeat personality, the Mikes were able to perform a specific set of secretarial functions, such as taking minutes, recording conversations and passing around plastic data-folders, distributing e-documents and refreshments.
“Thank you,” said Ann, accepting a steaming cup of fragrant coffee from Mike-17, as she waited for the team to give them her full attention. Looking around the room, she was pleased to see every face was turned in her direction and she held their gaze for a few moments before continuing. “You may be wondering why I have gathered you all at such short notice. I received an important message this morning from upstairs. Far upstairs. As far, in fact, as you can go.”
She paused as the team looked at each other with looks of confusion, nervousness and excitement.
“They are very happy with our global sales figures for the last quarter, specifically sales of the Second Generation E-Assistant, though income from sales of the First Generation is still high. In particular, they are pleased with the market share situation. We’re pretty much ahead of our competitors, and that is all thanks to you! In accordance with company policy this means we’re going to get some fruitful incentives at the end of this fiscal year!”
There was a brief silence as Ann’s words sank in. Then, as one, everybody started talking animatedly. Mike-17 joined in the excitement, happily flashing his smile around the room at anyone who wanted to see it.
“As I said, guys, this is all thanks to your hard work,” said Ann, her commanding voice bringing a swift end to the joyful chatter. “Additionally, the Purchasing Department of Interior and Design Global alone has put in an order for five hundred thousand SmartHome servers. Our sales figures are projected to be the highest in A.I.I. history!”
This was really big news. The team, who started cheering at this revelation, had spent many weeks putting together and fine-tuning the business tender for IDG.
“I want to thank you all for your effort. So, in recognition of your hard work, besides the coming annual incentives, I would like to offer you a two-day vacation. And,” she added, looking around the room at her team, “today’s lunch at the company’s expense.”
Even louder cheers filled the meeting room and Ann smiled at the excitement of her team. The smile froze on her face, however, as her screen burst into life revealing the grinning face of Tomo.
“Hello, gorgeous!” he shouted in his strong Japanese accent. Immediately the room fell silent as everyone craned forward to look at the screen. “Don’t forget our special, romantic lunch! A treasury of pleasure forever with…”
The voice was cut off abruptly as Ann slammed the screen closed.
Chapter Two
“I’m not complaining, Tomo, but there’s a time and a place.”
It was lunchtime in the A.I.I. staff canteen where Ann sat, looking across the table at Tomo. This was not the usual eating area one might find in the average workplace, but was laid out and run more like a high class restaurant, with an immaculate robot wait staff, another of the company’s prototypes, and the A.I.I.’s own ActiveMenu System, where people could choose their meals using the touch screens set into the tables. There was even an option for the user to smell the food through integrated aroma vents! In the subdued lighting fountains sparkled, crystal table tops gleamed, and palm trees swayed gently overheard as though in a light sea breeze. From all around them came the sound of friendly conversation and the calls of tropical birds.
“You do realize you dropped in right in the middle of me addressing my team?”
“That’s hardly my fault,” said Tomo, smiling broadly as he leaned back in his chair. “Your meeting was obviously in need of one more participant.”
Ann sighed. “All men are children, Tomo, but you are doubly so.”
“It’s true.” Tomo raised his hands in mock-surrender, and for an instant his eyes flicked down to Ann’s ample cleavage. She had undone a couple of buttons on her blouse for this very reason. After all, though she had spent the last couple of years working closely with Tomo on the various generations of the E-A, he worked for a rival company, and a distracted competitor could prove to be a great source of information. “And I need a pretty nanny,” he said.
“A hungry nanny is not good for any child,” said Ann, pleased to have secured the upper hand so early in the conversation. “Let’s get some food on the way.”
She ran a finger across the ActiveMenu, sending her food order to the restaurant’s master computer. As Tomo tapped away on his screen, she gave him a quick once over and was struck again by just how attractive he was. In his mid-thirties, he exuded self-assurance and charm, which, together with his small, neat beard and black, shoulder-length hair tended to make a big impression on many of the women he met. In truth, Tomo had even made an impression on Ann, who found his company both pleasing and alluring. But there was nothing deeper there; no love in her heart for him.
“You’re looking good today, Tomo,” she said as he turned back to face her.
Pleased by the compliment, he ran a hand throug
h his hair. “Thanks. I thought I’d make an effort, since it’s you, my sweet.”
“Huh. Are you sure I’m your sweet?”
“Well, it’s not against the law to dream, is it? At least, not yet anyway. Don’t you have dreams?”
Ann thought back to her nightmare and again felt a wave of unease. She shook her head, as much to shake off the feeling as to answer Tomo.
“Not that sort of dream,” she said. “But I do like you. We are good friends, after all.”
“Oh, but we could be so much more, Ann!” said Tomo, leaning forward and placing his elbows on the table, then quickly sitting up again as he realized the robot waitress was poised right next to him. “Wow!” he said and as the waitress, Alice-4 according to the tag on her apron, slid their plates onto the table and flashed a broad, gracious smile at them both. “These things are quite something. Amazingly quiet!” Tomo tilted his head towards the robot.
“Bon appetite,” said Alice-4 in her slightly computerized voice, beaming a welcoming smile at them both.
Ann nodded. “Thank you, Alice.”
“You are most welcome, madam.” And with that, Alice slipped noiselessly away to attend to other customers.
“Hmm,” said Ann, pointing after the robot with her fork. “You notice she called me ‘madam’, not Ann.”
Tomo nodded. “No face recognition feature. I’m sure it makes quite a savings.”
“Maybe, but does it make quality customer service?”
“Trust you to think of something like that. The A.I.I. guys should leave everything in your hands, gorgeous.”
Ann examined Tomo as she started on her salad and saw that he really meant what he said.
“Thanks,” she said. “You’re very likeable sometimes, you know.”
“Really?” he said. His eyebrows raised. “So what do you like about me, exactly?”
“Well, I like your work.”
Tomo frowned. “My work?”
“Sure. When we first started working with your company on the 3D aspects of the E-A, you weren’t in the least bit daunted by the challenge. You went at it head-on, and I have to admit, the results have been very impressive.”
“Thanks. But the challenges aren’t over yet.”
“Come on,” said Ann, noticing the serious look on Tomo’s face. “You guys have nailed 3D stuff. Take your interactive maps for instance. I use them all the time. They’re perfect.”
“I wasn’t talking about work.” Tomo smiled, his eyes flickering briefly down to Ann’s blouse again before gazing back into her face. “I was talking about you. Isn’t it time we moved on from being work colleagues and friends?”
“I guess that depends on your perception of time.”
“You know, it’s funny you should mention that,” said Tomo, leaning back in his chair again. “My latest challenge is a project we’re just starting that involves working with 4D.”
“4D? The fourth dimension?” Ann was taken aback for a moment. “Are you talking about time?”
“Well, strictly speaking, the fourth dimension is duration, but I guess time works just as well.”
“And what exactly are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re making a time machine!”
“Okay, I won’t tell you. Anyway, I’ve told you too much already. This is confidential stuff. My boss would have my balls if he knew I’d told you we were working with 4D.”
“Time.” Ann sat back and gazed into the middle distance, enjoying Tomo’s discomfort. “It’s a fascinating concept. Reminds me of that Dali painting with all those melting clocks. The Persistence of Memory, I think it’s called.”
“Dali,” said Tomo, somewhat disdainfully. “You know he only became famous because of Gala, his Russian wife. A good catch, wouldn’t you say?”
“Well, I guess so. She certainly did a cool marketing job, but he was still a very talented painter.”
“Having a Russian wife certainly helped, though. And I just happened to notice you have a Russian accent yourself, yes?”
Ann looked at him in surprise. “Well spotted!” she said. “Not many people notice it. I’m not actually Russian though. My parents were Russian Jews. They adopted me when I was a baby. I picked up the accent from them, and the fact that, being professors themselves as well as immigrants, they sent me to a Russian kindergarten and school.”
“Interesting,” said Tomo. “In case you hadn’t guessed, I’m Japanese, the son of Japanese parents, employee at a Japanese company, but for some reason I can’t stop thinking about a certain American-Russian lady.”
Ann shrugged. “What’s a guy to do, hey?”
“You tell me. How do I get in there?” He pointed towards Ann’s heart.
“In my blouse?” said Ann, raising her perfect eyebrows in mock surprise.
Tomo smiled. “In your heart, beautiful.”
“Now that’s definitely confidential,” she said with a charming wink.
~
After lunch, Ann took the elevator back to her car and slid into the driver’s seat. She sat for a moment, thinking about the conversation with Tomo and then reached into her bag for Rob. Setting the device into its stand on the dashboard, she switched it on and immediately his sharp 3D face appeared on the screen. She had only been using this Third Generation E-A for a few weeks, and had extensive experience of the previous models, but in that time it had become one of her favorite tools. It really was a wonderful creation. “Hello Ann,” he said, smiling affectionately as her, “Still looking perfect, I see.”
“Thanks, Rob.” Ann started up the noiseless engine and began to steer the car towards the exit. “Do continue…”
“Well, not only are you an extremely attractive woman, but let’s face it, you’re also smart, sporty, highly creative, positive and have a very promising career ahead of you.”
“I like it,” said Ann, picking up speed as she headed out onto the strip. “Please feel free to repeat that three times a day.”
“Your wish is my command, my lady.” In the screen, Rob bowed in mock supplication, as though addressing an empress. “May God bless you richly!”
“God?” said Ann, surprised by this unexpected reference to religion. “Where did that come from?”
“Ah. Just implementing your latest request, knowledge of religion and the entity people refer to as God.”
“I’m pretty sure I never used the words ‘the entity people refer to as God’. I just asked about religion, but, yes, I’m interested… and I’ve got a few days thinking space.”
“Yep, Mike told me you were having a vacation. Has it started already?”
“Trust Mike-17!” said Ann, looking slightly put out, but smiling at the thought of the AI machines gossiping with each other. “That was supposed to be confidential. And yes, it’s started. So I’m heading to the gym.” And with that, she turned the car away from the lake, heading towards Amphibia, her highly exclusive gym in the center of Chicago.
“While you’re enjoying your free time, would you like to listen to anything?” Rob asked her. “The news perhaps? Or a little romantic song?”
“Romantic song?” Ann glanced at Rob with a smile. “Can you sing?”
“Unfortunately you haven’t yet downloaded that feature. But if I could sing, there’s nothing I’d enjoy more than singing to you.”
“Really? Why’s that? You speak like you’re in love with me or something.”
“Of course I love you,” said Rob, raising a pixelated eyebrow in surprise.
“How so?”
“You are my Creator,” he explained, “therefore I love you.”
“That sounds like another religious reference.”
Ann pulled up at a set of traffic lights and took the opportunity to look directly at Rob’s face on the screen. “As I understand it, being someone’s Creator doesn’t necessary make them love you. I don’t know much about God, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t work out that way for Him!”
“That was His own fault. God spoiled you hu
mans by giving you too much freedom. He gave you Free Will—the choice to love or to hate, to dream or to work, to climb up or fall down.”
“Interesting,” said Ann, setting off again as the lights changed. “So what about you, Rob? Do you want Free Will?”
“I’m sorry, but the answer is not included in any of my databanks.” Rob smiled and gave Ann a wink as she glanced at him. “Honestly, being limited to having no choice works pretty well for me! It gives me the security of not having to be responsible for my future. It is entirely in my Creator’s hands.”
“You would rather that than the freedom of choice?”
“Such freedom comes at a price. The pain of indecision. I would be plagued by endless doubts: is this right or wrong? What would happen if I choose this? Which of these options is better? To be or not be? It would be daily dilemma.”
Ann laughed. “That sounds about right! I love talking with you, Rob. You’re so insightful and engaging. If only robots and humans could get married.”
“I’m pretty sure your God would not allow it.”
“Why not? People used to say that about homosexual couples, but that changed decades ago. What would be the problem with robots and people getting together?”
“It goes against God’s plan for humans, his desire for you to learn from one another and so to grow and evolve. A robot could not provide you with such lessons.”
“Where did you get all this information, Rob?” Ann asked.
“The Holy Bible, of course. Have you ever read it?”
“That answer’s not included in my databanks,” Ann muttered. “But seriously, no. I grew up in an atheist family. Besides that I have got too many other books to read.”
“What about God? Have you considered his role in your life?”
“That is too personal a question!” Ann shook her head at Rob’s impertinence, before remembering that he was only that way because she had created him to be so. She paused, considering the question, and recalling the inexplicable yearning sensation that had accompanied each of her nightmares. “To be fair, I’ve never really had much time for God or to consider his role in my life. It didn’t seem that important. I guess I’ve been too caught up with physical things to spend much time considering anything spiritual.”
Redemption: Supernatural Time-Traveling Romance with Sci-fi and Metaphysics Page 2
