Chapter 9
I woke up from the loud noises and notifications occurring in my dorm. The first thing I laid my eyes upon was Bortums reading the notifications on my phone. What an odd way to keep track of the new events in my life. Not bothering to give him a lecture about privacy I reached my hand over the covers and waited for him to give me my phone. Bortums simply took advantage and flicked his finger to scroll after he read through the lines he tossed my phone at the edge of my bed.
It made me upset because now I had no choice but to get up off the bed. I grabbed my phone and clicked on the first notification. It was a group chat formed by the professor to keep track of his students and inform them about the lesson of the day. It was seen by everybody in the group chat. 28 people have already opened the professor's message.
‘’ Good Morning my students I will be delighted to inform you about this lesson today, it is a life experience for both me and you. The knowledge you all will benefit from this lesson today is going to be marked for life.
I am proud to be the first professor to get this opportunity and welcome Jessica Holmes to the stage of our exciting group assignment which will be divided in two groups. Today’s lesson is How can one create artificial intelligence and how does the androids respond back?.’’
Adrenaline rushed my body. This was a moment that could benefit me in the long run and seize my goal to become respected and for my work to be taken seriously. Jeans were not cut for today. I need to look more presentable after all there would be more than 28 eyes on me if you count every pair of eyes.
I look through my closet and find clothes stacked. I look at the corner of my eye and see shopping bags laying everywhere. There is no way the androids went shopping for me. I know Bortums does everything to keep his deal up but this was truly something else.
‘’ I know this sounds crazy but did one of you went out and bought me new clothes?’’ I asked the androidswith a hint of suspicion in my voice. It was already weird and I couldn’t see a way to make it normal.
‘’ No, when you were informed by the University that you got in with a recommendation letter I found a site and ordered you a bunch of clothes. Why would I risk the safety of my companions."
Said Bortums this time his voice did not sound nonchalant; it sounded like he was pondering through today’s lesson that the professor wants us to perform.
‘’ You were a step ahead of me this time, I was caught by all the mess I got caught in. Remember to just stick to the training we went over at my house. And just follow the orders from me.’’
I said and made sure I made my voice sound stern at the last sentence this day could not go wrong. I tuned out the loud noises coming from the androids and walked into my bathroom to change out of the clothes I slept in. It did not matter that they were androids.
I was always uncomfortable with changing in front of people, nothing seriously wrong with my body, it is just from the repeated actions I did in middle school when we had Pe and I ran into the bathroom to change. Looking through my clothes I settled on a beige skirt, white button shirt and the dark blue university school blazer uniform.
Why I am wearing a blazer is because of the dress code and it would be easier for the University’s staff to keep track of the students. Also it prevents the students from buying ridiculous expensive clothes. Grabbing the small computer and my bag with me I closed the door after the androids stepped out of my dorm. We walked to the class (ros) which stands for robot operating system. It was in the other building, the one where I met the principal.
I couldn't complain yet because the promenade was healthy for the mind to drift into thoughts and plan how I would present the lesson. Grass was green on both sides and a couple of students were laying on a blanket and enjoying the warmth from the sun.
Walking briskly through the halls I took a sharp left and saw a door wide open. I figured this must be the classroom. Two students were ahead of me and I picked my pace up and caught up with them before the doors would be closed and I would be late on my first day of lessons. The classroom was huge and the ceiling was skyhigh I wonder how much money was poured into this specific room. The windows were tall and shone a light over the room. There was no need for a lamp, a natural light shone over us.
The professor had his large desk set in the middle with a large white board behind and beige desks and small sofas surrounding him. A stair reached down to the professor. It captured the details of how the professor's desk was surrounded by the students' one.
A lot of effort was put into this marvelous classroom and it was scheduled on my first day as a classroom made me wonder if this was an act to flaunt to me that this university is the one for my androids and me. I walked down the stairs and introduced myself to the professor. While I was talking to the professor I couldn’t help but to take advantage of this perfect opportunity to look at the students sitting in their chairs.
It was packed and only one spot was open for me and it was next to no one other than Thomas who sent me a small smile. Before I could take a seat next to him I needed to perform to my classmates about my outstanding work. I signaled my androids to walk in the classroom with a simple wave of my hand because I knew they were waiting outside of the classroom for my commands like we trained over.
The room went silent and a few gasps came from the classmates who stared at me and my androids who stood on my side in a strict line beginning with Talus and Bortums in the middle. I gracefully began my small speech that melted into my brain months ago.
How I longed for this moment to stand here and speak of my greatest success even though the androids came with the meteor. I couldn’t help to overdo my act to deceive the other people into believing I created the androids. I carried great pride that we came this far and the androids were patiently waiting for my orders.
‘’ The first thing to do to create an artificial intelligence is to pour the things it lacks in such as the treatments we give to each other. The way we talk to each other, how we give each one of us a name and a warmth of community to join. That is why I have given my androids a name. I would like you to meet my most intelligent, talented and beloved one, Bortums.’’
I saw several hands reach for the sky eagerly to be answered by me, but I need first to give out information and answers the professor asked me.
‘’ I see the hands and I am delighted that each one of you is eager to learn but if you would be kind to let me finish the small presentation it would be refreshing knowledge to each one of you.
Like I said This one in the middle does not look too different from the rest of those two but he is far the firecest leader I have cast my eyes upon. I can promise that none of these world leaders could take action like Bortums could.
I chose the same silver metal color for each of them to take the attention away from their physical figure. What matters to me is the inside of them and how they differ from each other that way. ‘’
I took a small pause between my speech and stared at the students in front of me trying to memorize their faces and who was writing down every word that came out of my mouth. Half of the students were buried in their notebooks and writing down while the other half were memorizing my speech and staring at the androids in front of them.
‘’ The android to the left is Talus, He excels in finding threats and protecting the ones that have fallen into dangerous situations. For example me, I have not programmed him yet to protect each of you because it is a huge task for him to perform. The cause of that is that sometimes Talus calculates playful moments as a threat.’’
I couldn’t tell them how dangerous Talus really is because it would lead to an investigation by the FBI or the military who wants to send a death machine somewhere. Talus had a hot temper but if I said that I would look like a manic who can’t see the difference between objects and real people.
They can’t find out how intelligent these androids really are because the human mind can not accept that there is another thing that can grasp and understand just like them. That is why I avoided speaking of their emotional intelligence and especially Bortums radar. If I did so a witch hunt would be sent out for me.
And lastly the one on the right side is named Ekvtron he balances out the what would be called as fierce personality that these two other androids have. Ekvtron lies in the middle of Talus and Bortums perspectives to solve difficult situations. All of them have so far been able to take commands from me. I will demonstrate now and thank you for being patient with me.
I said with a small laughter at the end of my sentence, I thought that I would get interrupted like I always used to be but this time I was not presenting a boring assignment for merely grades. I wondered what the group assignment would be. I believe that this presentation of mine counts an assignment I could be wrong.
‘’ Could Bortums come closer to the white board and solve the math equation that will be presented by the professor Mr. Smith.’’
I watched as the professor quickly reached for the black marker and started writing difficult math equation on the white board, the numbers made no sense to me this was a higher level of math that any of students were able to solve.
When the professor finally put his pen down Bortums immediately headed for the board and started solving the equation. It took him mere 2 minutes to solve it right in front of our eyes.
I looked back at the students who were pulling their phone up and searching for the correct answer. One of them stood straight out from her chair and said that the answer Bortums wrote was correct.
‘’ As shocked as everyone is, It won’t compare to when you find out that not even I knew the correct answer. This the proof that the android Bortums has the intelligence to solve equations that our own mind can not grasp.’’
Even the professor was out of words I watched as he seemed more surprised and confused than ever. Before he could ask me the question I knew everyone was thinking of I gave him the answer before this conversation would spiral and ruin their reality of humans are superior.’’
‘’ Yes, The android Bortums possess answers that I don’t even have, I programmed him to run through three thousand different system in order to find the correct answer and this tactic works for even the questions that has never been said on this earth."
‘’ You have outstand yourself once again Jessica Holmes, I never thought your work was this complicated and down to the last detail I was fooled by the ordinary physical figure of androids that many have tried to build. But you are a gifted mind sent to this generations and so on’’
I simply smiled back to show my gratitude for the professor's kind words. I ordered the androids to remain in this classroom and stand beside the white board so that my classmates could come forward and take a closer look.
Some dared to come closer and others waited for the first three people to touch the android when they realized there was no threat. The androids got surrounded by my classmates. The first to the scene was Thomas; he was more eager than anyone else and ran his fingers across the android’s silver metal frame. I was the only one that knew that the androids have other dark colors shining under that silver armor.
It was their fire that came out dark blue from Talus and Ekvtron and lastly dark green from Bortums. The professor only gave them five minutes to quickly take a look and try to understand how I built these androids. I took my seat next to the seat Thomas got up from and waited for them to come back to their desks. When the professor's timer went off everybody went back to their seats and some came up to me to ask me questions but it was quickly shut off by Thomas who told them not to take advantage of me being the new student who has no choice but to be kind.
I was relieved that Thomas was quick to make the questions die down. I gave him a small smile to thank him and listened to the professor's words who was excitedly speaking of my androids and giving his own theories about how to build one. The more I focused on the professor the stronger I could feel someone's eyes constantly on me. I looked to my other side and saw the person next to me buried in their notebook confused.
I turned my head back to the direction of Professor and Thomas leaned closer to whisper to me how I managed to create such artificial life. What came next out of his mouth sent shivers down my spine even though it came out innocently it was too close to the truth that I buried six feet under.
‘’ You are one lucky person, it was as if those androids were sent to you from heaven. Did the androids fall from the sky and into your arms?’’
He said with a curious innocent voice, it sent me off the track. I was not ready for that question and I tried to calm myself down but he was staring closely at me waiting for my answer.
‘’ How I wish it was that easy. All the times I was rejected from this University I invested that time into fulfilling my lifelong dream. I could not stand there and watch my life pass behind me. Would you have taken if androids fell from the sky?
I asked him, I was genuinely curious what his answer would be. Would he pick his morals or that it's wrong and cheat to take the easy way or would he see the burden that comes with picking your own desires and the threat to the whole human population if anything went wrong with the androids.
‘’ Jessica, If I was ever given an easy way to fulfill my own desires there would be no living person in the world who could correct me about etic morals because we all are humans who were born with greediness and desires to yearn for.
Take me for an example I was the golden student of this University and my failed work about creating some kind of robot was dismissed because I had the highest score, now I am reminded of my failures and what life would have been if I succeeded.’’
He said so casually as if this conversation was not something that pained him. How I pitied him reminds me of the days when I would drive myself mad with wishing and longing for to create something that would have gotten me here. I would do my best to fulfill his wishes as if they were mine not only because he reminds me of the failure I felt but that his eyes light up everytime he stares at my androids. If I was in his place I would have wished that someone would have taken mercy on me and helped me out.
The class was longer than I thought. I leaned forward on my desk and caught a glimpse of the windows. The sun was not blazing like before when I arrived in this classroom. Two or three hours probably went by. It was mostly me and my presentation on my androids.
Just as I stretched my sore muscles the Professor dismissed us and everybody was quick to get out of their chairs and desks. They were practically zooming to the door. I couldn't judge them. I wanted to run out of this classroom but that would affect my appearance as the most patient student in this University that built an artificial life.
I walked towards the door and said my goodbyes to the professor, I signaled my androids to head on to my dorm and that I would caught up with them because Thomas was walking with me to the door and he did not seem in a hurry to his dorm in fact he walking slower than anybody else.
When we stepped out of the classroom and walked further down to one of the halls I supported myself on the walls and leaned into it closer. Thomas quickly said that he needed to use the bathroom and that he would be right back. I stretched as I saw him close the bathroom door and in that moment it seemed as the time slowed down there was a blonde hair coming out of the direction of a narrowed hall.
I couldn’t find a way to escape without looking terrified so I stood my ground and stared at him back. He strolled over to me with fast steps and one of his hands deep inside his pocket. It only reminded me of cliche movies where the bully tried to look as terrifying as possible.
‘’ Did you get any offer from professor Smith?’’
He said with a suspicion lingering in his voice, he was practically staring down at me to scare me but I was not having any of that. I do not wish to relive my high school years. Fear gets you stuck in a lopping past that never ends.
‘’ No, I did not how many times do I have to remind you that your own insecurities about that I will steal a great tutoring professor from you is all in your head and nothing to do with me’’
My back was straighter than ever before. I had a tendency to stand what was the most comfortable but in this moment I needed to keep my head up and show no fear.
‘’ I see, You think you are protected by this university and your precious androids. How about I teach you a lesson you will never forget and a smell that will buried deep inside your brain.’’
Before I could ask him what he meant or simply walk past him, His arms came at me with an unforgettable speed that made me hold in my breath out of pure fear. He had a deathgrip on my arm and pushed me to the boys bathroom. I stopped my feets on the floor to stop him from dragging me. But it was not hindering him as he gave me one last hard push and sent me flying.
‘’ You need a bath. Your hair smells like an infected rabies dog. You will thank me after I clean up your hair. ‘’
He said with a taunting voice and I could hear him smile the way his words flew out of his mouth and the faint noise of him opening his dry lips stretching. The bathroom door went flying open and Thomas caught me before I collided with the door, I just held onto him with a deathgrip and did not turn back. I had never been embarrassed like this before and Thomas witnessing me in my weakest moment made me want to crawl under the ground.
‘’ Stop bothering my girlfriend, I know you take a beating from your old man but really? Taking your anger out on a girl meanwhile you should be knocking him down to the ground is more pathetic than your mom just standing there and watching as he beat you senseless. ‘’
The sound I let out was inhuman. I could not believe I was hearing this, this would only lead me being hunted down by John now that I know he is not as terrifying as he wants me to believe. I collected myself after hearing this. It was as if any fear I had for him was cleansed out of my body. I stood straight once again and just pointed back and forth to them. I had no words to speak.
‘’ You have never visited my home nor seen anything like that. If I were you I would have watched my mouth Thomas.’’
The look on John’s face was so pale for a split second I thought I saw his skin turning blue. If Thomas has never been invited to John’s house why does the words affect John so much to the point that sweat has formed on his head and his eyes almost like bloodshot from the screaming. John was out of our sight and only one thing was probably going through his mind to get back at us. I focused my attention on Thomas and asked him if what he was saying was true and how it could be if he has never been invited home to John.
‘’ Jessica, it’s not so hard to run the most accurate rates of wealthy children being abused by their father for not succeeding in school or simply just not being perfect enough. A large part of the portion of these kinds of abuse is involved with a silent mother that watches and does not interfire afraid that she will also become a victim to the fathers wrath.’’
I just stood there and took in all the information Thomas was speaking of the more he spoke louder the more it made sense, after all it is true that wealthy children has a abusive controlling father but how quick Thomas said that kind of accusations to John when the bathroom door was too far to eavesdrop on John’s and I conversation.
Thomas walked with me to our dorm with each step I mentally pushed down any suspicions that would linger at the back of my head. I have isolated myself from human contact ever since I got rejection letters from this University, especially isolating from kids my age. It was probably just my mind that was adjusting to this new social life.
‘’ I just remembered now, what did you exactly mean when you told John that I am your girlfriend?’'. I asked him, as we came to my dorm and stood outside my door. After everything that he said in front of John my mind jumped over the word he uttered when he said stop bothering my girlfriend. It sent me butterflies even though I tried hard to ignore it.
‘’ Well, It was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw him trying to dip your head into the toilets, now that he thinks I am your boyfriend it won’t be long before our classmates hear this about. It is better if we act like we are dating so that no one tells John that I was lying and him provoking you again.’’
‘’ Really? You think a boyfriend will stop that sadistic bully who gets pleasure from tormenting me ever since in high school.’’
I said to try to make him understand that John won’t easily back down like that especially after guessing his whole childhood trauma right.
‘’ It doesn’t matter if he backs down, I will take this matter personally myself and if you look at your schedule almost all of our classes are together. By the way Professor Smith said that You and I are partners for the group assignment. Would you be kind enough to give me your number after all I am your boyfriend now.’’
He said with enough charm that my blazer started to become warmer and warmer. I typed my number in his phone and gave it back to him. Not wanting to ruin this perfect moment I quickly opened my door and shutted the door behind me. This is going to be a long night.