Artificial(ish) Intelligence

Chapter 35

"Nothing," said Will, squeezing past the building's dilapidated front door and entering the elevator.

"But you've gone all quiet," said Libbi. "We should discuss what we've discovered so far, before you go to sleep, so we have a plan of attack for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" said Will, relieved that the elevator was actually working this time.

"Yes," said Libbi. "I'm not too sure where to go next. I was expecting one clue to lead to another, until we'd uncovered the entire truth."

But Will knew there was no tomorrow. At least not for the selfiebot. He'd had enough. It was time to admit defeat and settle back to his normal life. He'd have to work hard at finding a new strategy, something he didn't like to do, but he couldn't keep exposing himself to people who wanted to steal his time. His life was about gaming, it was the closest thing to a purpose. There wasn't room for other people, good or bad. Besides, his fingers were twitching uncontrollably, with the lack of recent game time giving him withdrawal symptoms. He just needed to play something, anything. He'd even settle for PornSim 69: This time it's personal.

They walked down the corridor, past the conspicuous pot plant, with Libbi still gibbering on about something. Will turned the knob and opened his apartment door. Except he didn't. A force stopped him. Maybe it was a sixth sense, or an electronic field created by aliens or time-travellers; or maybe it was just wind.

It faded, whatever it was, and he continued on into the room.

"...and then," said Libbi, "if that leads nowhere, we could try returning to the robot factory and speaking to one of the..."

Will tuned her out. The game was still flashing his win. He stood before it, soaking it in. OK, it was Libbi's win, but soon enough it would be his. Just to the right was the replacement selfiebot, ready to unbox. As he approached, it took him past the stack of delivery cannisters.

"You're going back," he said, lifting the packaging.

"...or find my cousin who-- What?"

The box was squashed, the top lid bent a little, as if someone had been picking at it. You can't get good deliverybots these days, he thought, before turning to Libbi. "I'm sending you back," he said. "Again."

"What do you mean?" she said, her speaker quivering. The transfer cable still dangled from her data port, looking sadly bent.

"It's not working. You won't find the memory in time for the competition, so we'll just leave it at that."

Libbi blinked her lens eye, hovering on the spot. But she didn't say anything.

The pile of delivery cannisters seemed to be staring at him, as if their weight pressed down on his shoulders. Once she was returned inside of one, he'd be alone again, without any burdens of responsibility, without the requirements to help other people in need. It was so much easier that way. It would be quiet, boring, and maybe a little lonely, but that's what games were for. He brightened at the thought.

"I think I do remember something about the game, though, Will," said Libbi, her shutter lowering in a thoughtful expression not unlike a smown. Or was that a frile? "You need to pretend to be someone you're not."

"Cloaking?" said Will. But he dismissed it. "You're just buying time, I've already tried--"

Something was wrong.

"You can't take me back," said Libbi. "We're paired, now."

No, not that. Something else. Something in the room. Eyes narrowed, Will checked every corner, searching for the problem. And it hit him soon enough.

"It's far too...clean," he said, moving away from the delivery cannisters. "Someone's been here."

He now realised what had stopped him at the door. He never invited anyone to his place, so the only smells were his own, but he'd caught a whiff of freshness, cleanliness, of a jungle. Not that he'd ever been to one. Despite evidence to the contrary, he apparently did have an imagination.

"The tiger," said Will. "She found out where I live."

He hadn't added extra fortifications since he wasn't expecting a raiding party. But the thought that his sanctuary, the only place he truly felt comfortable, had been invaded was life-changing.

"Is she still here?" said Libbi, retreating higher, up against the low ceiling.

Will's heart pumped hard. Of course. It was bad enough that she'd been in his room, but he hadn't given a thought to the fact she could still be there.

He backed up to the delivery cannisters, almost pressing against the composite material, and scanned the area once more. It was only small, but there were plenty of objects to hide behind. Or under. Who knew where she could be?

"Can't you check the area?" he said, tight-lipped, as if by projecting his voice it would tip off the tiger.

"No," said Libbi, occasionally bumping her head on the ceiling. "I can find you, but my heat sensors aren't set up for non-paired humans."

"Ugh," said Will, "your exuberant-cuddling pairing mild-bowel-movement."

He took another step back until, unfelt by him, the heel of his shoe bumped against the bottom cannister. Slowly, the centre of gravity shifted enough that the tower began to tilt. Then, driven by the reliability of real physics, it reached a point where it began to topple. He turned. It was like a slow-motion train-wreck, but not at all like one because in this case Will's expression, complete with spittle, was far too comical.

The speed suddenly sped up as Will leaped out the way, only to find that his minuscule muscles had only managed to fling him into the path of the bulk of the falling bricks. They clattered around and on him, as Libbi hovered approximately three point one metres away.

Will threw off the stray cannisters, jumped to his feet, bundled over a few shirts and jeans, and skidded out the door, with Libbi hovering close behind.