Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

10 years ago

As a young boy, Thomas liked to run through the vast halls of his family's home. It was a massive estate that he could traverse for hours on make believe adventures. His imagination turned the many rooms into their own worlds. The kitchen was a witch's cabin, the living room was a volcanic mountain, and the study was a grand library filled with magical tomes. He and his best friend would play for hours together since his parents were often busy with work.

"Come on Aramais! We can't let the pirate ship escape with the princess." The Ai's holographic form chased after the little boy as he hurdled down the stairs. He had a look of worry on his face. Based on past experiences, Thomas wasn't the most dexterous child, prone to slipping and falling on these steps when in a hurry.

"Please be careful! We don't want another trip to the hospital, do we? Slow down Sir knight!" Aramais' warning went unheeded. Thomas skipped the last couple steps. He dove off the stairs, landing on his hands and knees before springing back up into a full sprint. The Ai's form rematerialized next to him, the holo-lights allowing him to easily keep pace with the manic child.

"We don't have time to be safe! The princess is waiting for us to rescue her!"

They made their way into the foyer which had a fireplace, ornate leather chairs, and a pool table in the corner. A door at the far end of the room, connected to his father's office. AKA The pirates' den. Thomas crouched low and pulled out a paper towel roll that he had fashioned into a little sword.

"Careful Sir knight..." Aramais whispered. "Pirates are bloodthirsty criminals, desperate vagabonds that prey on the unsuspecting innocents."

Thomas nodded seriously as he crept closer to the door. He hid behind the couch, then slid to the wall. He was so enraptured with his own imagination that he didn't notice one of the maids enter the room with her vacuum in hand. The sound of it humming to life made him leap in the air with fright.

"Look out! It's a monster!" He and Aramais sprang into action. He took the paper towel rod and struck the vacuum with all his might. Aramais used the holo-lights to create magical bolts that exploded on impact into a kaleidoscope of colors. The maid placed her hands out in a plea for mercy, turning the vacuum off.

"Oh, brave knight! Thank you for freeing me from that beast!" She said in a fake English accent.

"Get away from her ma'am, there are pirates nearby that will try to steal you!" Thomas whispered to her. She nodded in fervent agreement, feigning concern as she quickly exited the room.

"Good luck noble hero!"

Finally, they reached the door. It was slightly ajar, so they peaked inside to glimpse their enemies. The blinds that covered the single large window had been drawn so it was very dark. A blue glow emitted from the west side of the room where Mr. Reeder (Thomas' father) stood at his desk. He was face to face with several floating screens, each showing a different face. The little boy turned to his partner and put his finger to his lips. Aramais dimmed his light form as they slipped through the crack in the door so as not to give away their position. Thomas could start to make out what his dad and the faces were saying as they crept closer in the darkness.

"Richard, you have to concede that in this business, there are some things that just aren't worth the risk. We can't stake our reputation on something so radical. It's just not smart." One of the faces, an old man in a two-button suit and a balding head of grey tufts spoke out.

Mr. Reeder acknowledged him with a smile that Thomas recognized. It was a look that his father always had when he told him a story.

"I can feel your concern, Donald. I get where you're coming from, and I appreciate having someone so grounded on this board. However, I can say with no small amount of certainty that investing in the Evo program is not only fiscally sound in the end. It is our responsibility as forerunners in the artificial intelligence industry to complete it."