A Contradiction of Life - Part 1

[The Liar]

I came up with both the title and the general plot arc, in the delirium of illness...make of that what you will. It's planed for 6 parts. I'm less then thrilled about the "Alyssa" exposition paragraph, but I couldn't think of how to do it better. Any suggestions on how it might be modified would be much appreciated.

***

A Contradiction of Life - Part 1

David was working through his lunch break… or trying to anyway. His progress was pretty much non-existent, as he sat there looking at the glowing screen.

He wasn’t out to impress his bosses or co-workers. As far as they were concerned the A.I. build for the Anima - 9C5 - Type V — Sleeper H-Matrix — “Tammy” was finished; everything in acceptable parameters ready to be sent out to the testing department that afternoon.

The flaw he was trying to resolve had existed since the inception of the Sleeper H-Matrix. It had been reduced and smoothed over, but never actually eliminated. Any serious attempts to do so were abandoned years ago, and he doubted going to find the answer in a lunch break.

He continued staring blankly at the screen; clicking the mouse from time to time to stop the Anima Corp logo from bouncing about the screen.

“Yo, lunch is half over,” David turned to see a woman, “and I believe someone owes me a free one. The 7D2 — Type B’s beat out the 3E1 — Type L’s on the sales charts; or did you forget our little bet?”

This was Alyssa. Alyssa had joined the company around the same time as David had, about 6 months ago, and worked in the testing department. They had met in the cafeteria, started having lunch together, then started go to a bar after work. She didn’t seem to have any friends from the testing department, possibly do to her manic tendencies. David had spent the entire time trying to work up the nerve to ask her out.

“What are you doing anyway? I thought you guys finished Tammy, and she was ready to be shipped off to us.” Alyssa leaned over his shoulder, which gave David a quick look down her neckline, then turned to look at him with a cynical look in her face. “The Sleeper Paradox? Seriously!?”

Alyssa took a seat next to him and continued her berating.

“You’re not going to fix the Sleeper Paradox, because it can’t be fixed.” Alysia crossed her legs and sighed, “You’re asking to have something be completely human, but also be a will less obedient machine at the same time. It’s a contradiction! It doesn’t work! If you create a complex self evolving personality matrix, there’s a limit to how many antithetical thoughts and actions you can force on it before it destabilizes. No matter how hard you try, you can’t get 1 + 1 to equal 3… well, except as an analogy for sex.”

Alyssa paused for an awkward moment.

“Anyway,” she continued, “my point is the only way you get a completely stable sleeper system is a simplified personality matrix, with limited growth potential, or an integrated control program. I’d go with integrated myself. ”

“An integrated sleeper?” David smirked, “Yes, nothing says ‘I’m human’ like being told that everything you know is a lie, and nonchalantly responding ‘Well, that explains a lot’ without even pausing the vacuum.”

“Fucking Youtube…” Alyssa sighed, “That was an 80 year old 1A1 — Type 0. It was a miracle it was still functioning. The entire industry is driven by integration now days, trying to find increasingly subtle ways to balance a Human Heart with mechanical compliance; usually erroring on the side of the mechanical…which I don’t really agree with…at all.”

Alyssa paused and got a momentarily despondent look on her face.

“God my job can get depressing. Anyway,” She continued, her cheery disposition returned “why were you even trying? They usually last past their 10 year estimated usage… unless they’re owned by sadists, and legal has us covered there.”

“Well,” David began, “it’s kind of sad, and their owners might actually care about them.”

She rolled her eyes at him, got up, put a hand on his shoulder, and looked him in the eye.

“Look,” She began, “I really can’t say this without sounding completely corny, but in this world there is a 40 year old 2W3 - Type Q, one of the most unstable sleeper builds ever, still functioning and with their Matrix completely undegraded. She remained so because her owner always treated her with love, kindness, and respect. So you need not fear for the loved ones, for they are protected…by love…and stuff.”

Alyssa stood there for an awkward silent moment; unsure of how to continue her little pep talk, when David burst out laughing. Alyssa turned red, and sat back down.

“Look, jerk!” Alyssa said crossly, “My point is you won’t have to worry about your girlfriend going catatonic when you finally muster up the nerve to buy her!”

“I’m sorry,” David apologized, after he stopped laughing “and…um… (cough) speaking of girlfriends… Iwonderifyou’dliketogoonadate.”

Alyssa turned redder, and just looked at him for a moment.

“Um…” David stuttered, “with me… Would you like to go on a date with me?”

“Um…” Alyssa was flustered, “Well, this is kinda sudden. I can’t agree right now-“

David interrupted her.

“Um, yeah, sure, forget I said anyth-“ David was interrupted as Alyssa grabbed his face and kissed him.

“I didn’t mean that as a no.” Alyssa explained, to a stunned David, “I meant that, as a probably yes, but there’s something I have to do before I can commit. It’s complicated…well not really, but I can’t really explain it at the moment. Think of it like my family insists on approving my boyfriends. I’ll get back to you at the end of the day.”

“So you have a controlling family?” David inquired.

“You have no idea!” Alyssa grabbed him by the arm, “Look I’ll explain everything at the end of the day… probably, and you can decide if you still want me. Anyway, we still have 25 minutes, and you still owe me a lunch!”

“Why, wouldn-“ David began, but was cut off by Alyssa.

“Lunch now, secrets later!” Alyssa dragged a confused David to the cafeteria.

[--NightBattery--]

i want to know a little more...
what is the sleeper paradox?

A* that a human like robot that doesnt knows that it is a robot realizes that it is a robot (that looks like a human) and cant work with that?

B* trying to give autonomy to a machine that at the same time must obey orders?

C* something else.

[The Liar]

i want to know a little more...
what is the sleeper paradox?

A* that a human like robot that doesnt knows that it is a robot realizes that it is a robot (that looks like a human) and cant work with that?

B* trying to give autonomy to a machine that at the same time must obey orders?

C* something else.

Kinda B, but not exactly. The idea is basically if you create a completely human personality program, but then put in another program to control that personally, it will eventually start to mess it up, especially if it has it do things that would be contrary to what it would usually do.

Differentiated from by a personality with an integrated control system, in which the control mechanisms are actually a part of it's personality, and there for always end up with somewhat inhuman characteristics.

It actually has very little to do with the plot as a whole, it was kind of a Mcguffin to get the conversation rolling that established characters, and setting concepts.

[--NightBattery--]

i get it now, i find it interesting.

[Baron]

i want to know a little more...
what is the sleeper paradox?

A* that a human like robot that doesnt knows that it is a robot realizes that it is a robot (that looks like a human) and cant work with that?

B* trying to give autonomy to a machine that at the same time must obey orders?

C* something else.

Kinda B, but not exactly. The idea is basically if you create a completely human personality program, but then put in another program to control that personally, it will eventually start to mess it up, especially if it has it do things that would be contrary to what it would usually do.

Differentiated from by a personality with an integrated control system, in which the control mechanisms are actually a part of it's personality, and there for always end up with somewhat inhuman characteristics.

It actually has very little to do with the plot as a whole, it was kind of a Mcguffin to get the conversation rolling that established characters, and setting concepts.

Mcguffin?
Now there's a term I haven't heard in ages, and it ain't even part of the story!! For the record though, you're off to a decent start; personalities {or personality-matrices} work much better if left to develop naturally......

[tectile]

Off to a good start, looking forward to more.

[gynoneko]

Awesome so far... can't wait to see more

[DollSpace]

I love this one so far; please write more soon!

~Emily