Imagine a crime caper, the main characters laying out the plan for how to steal inside the vault and snatch the money or jewels or secret documents that may or may not have anything to do with a certain government agency. A scale model over here, a fancy piece of electronic lock picking gadgetry over there, Mission Impossible-style music playing beneath it all.
Now transfer that to an unexceptional man, burdened with many faults, alone in the reception area of the leading selfiebot manufacturing company, plotting out his own retrieval of a priceless item.
In Will's mind, the music still played.
Daaa daaa.
Da Da. Da Da.
Durr Durr.
"We get inside the first line of defence by pretending to return a selfiebot," said Will, to himself. "After hitching with another returner, preferably an easy to manipulate child, we make our way to the returns factory, where we follow the same path as last time, sneaking past any Bobbs as needed, always with the option to sacrifice the little girl. Those guards aren't smart, anyway."
As he spoke, diagrams etched into existence, arrows and lines poking at all angles to complete the picture. There may even have been a vision of a long-legged woman stepping out of a Lamborghini at a casino or red carpet event or, I dunno, school? That reminds me, the kids need to be picked up. Be right back! Listen to some music while you wait.
Daaa daaa.
Da Da. Da Da.
Durr Durr.
OK, back.
"Then I sneak my way past the empty offices," continued Will, "until finding the purple woman. Here's where it gets interesting."
Oops, that's where we're going to have to leave it for now. Apparently kids need food or something to survive, and I'm the one responsible for their health. At least according to the social worker. I'll see you in the next chapter.
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Artificial(ish) Intelligence
Science FictionIt's the near future and Will, supported purely by the Universal Basic Income, spends his days playing video games while devouring piping hot noodles, delivered straight to his room by roaming DeliveryBots. Gamers are starving to death, but Will's...
