Chapter 3
Toni Stark worked harder on DUM-E than she probably had on anything else. It took the better part of her Master's Degree just to get him to respond properly to commands and not just beep at her in confusion whenever she tried to get him to do anything.
She wasn't surprised though, given the level of complexity of what she was trying to do. Because she was not just making circuit boards or designing weapons.
She'd created life.
She knew she'd have to be careful with how she presented her robot. Terminator was still fresh in the minds of those around her and she knew the growing fear about AI is all too real. But at the same time, she cannot downplay the intelligence in her child. DUM-E might still have the occasional issue following her commands properly, but he understood what she wanted. He felt pain and she knew all too well she could hurt his feelings.
His name was entirely an accident. He whirred to life the first time she turned him on, beeping at everything and anything. And she supposed the fault laid on her, for the beeps were all too similar to a newborn's cries. Instead, she sighed and called it a 'Dummy' and now her baby bot refuses to answer to anything else.
The room was silent around her, as she took a deep breath and walked into the room, her head held high. She has taken to wearing a bright red lipstick like her Aunt Peggy, for she was done being treated like a little girl. It got her far more attention from the boys, and it meant the press found more and more reasons to write trashy articles about her, but it was worth it. It was worth the look on the faces of those who doubt her when time and time again she proved them wrong.
DUM-E wheeled in behind her, and the thesis professor who constantly tried to talk her out of her project looks a little stunned. She wasn't that surprised however. Robots weren't all that useful in her age. But beyond that, she created life, not just some bot programmed to do a pre-set list of commands.
The room is set up for her presentation, with a set of tools on the workbench for DUM-E to show off. She'd coaxed him before, practising different things that they could ask, and trying to work up DUM-E's skills. He was a learning AI and everything he knew how to do is because she'd spent hours training him in being able to do so. And she was proud of her bot and will still be regardless of what happened in the room today.
"Miss Stark," the head of her thesis panel acknowledged her, looking at the bot behind her. "I understand your thesis project for your Mechanical Engineering Degree entails the use of an Artificial Intelligence Robot. If you do not mind, may we ask you a few questions to gain a better understanding of your project before you begin?"
She knew what they were trying to do. They want an understanding of her project, one that makes sense to their minds.
"Of course," she said casually, while a bundle of nerves grows in her stomach. This was her baby and of course she wanted to do well on it.
"When you claim this project contains the use of Artificial Intelligence, what exactly do you mean by that?" one of the old men on her panel ask her. "Are you perhaps referring to the fact that your robot can perform certain, programmed tasks?"
She could hear what they're not asking. Did she brute force her robot to hard-code in certain commands so that it can perform different tasks. She's not surprised by the question, given so many of her peers in these presentations cannot actually complete their tasks and fakef their presentation to appear one way when really the functionality is far more limited than that.
She shook her head, "No," she said simply and looked at the panel. "My robot, DUM-E is a learning AI. So he is limited in what he can do, given that he has not been taught how to do all the things he eventually will be able to. But with every lesson he learns more and more. If you were to ask him how to do something, and he was unable to, but you taught him what to do, the next time you asked, he could perform the task. With a programmed bot, unless you explicitly included it into his code, he would be unable to learn what you wanted him to do. DUM-E will write it into his own code."
"I'm sorry," one of the other men, a bald one who looked like he was in his mid-sixties, asked her. "Are you actually claiming to have created artificial intelligence?" he asked, sounding a little disbelieving of her.
"I did," she said, giving him a smile, knowing they smelt blood in the water like the sharks they were. It didn't matter what nerves she had, she was Toni Stark and she would show them all not to doubt her. "Perhaps it would be better if I showed you?"
She gestured to DUM-E and the room watched raptly as she turned to her bot.
"Hi DUM-E," she said to her baby and the bot beeped gladly at her, earning whispers from the room. If they thought this was impressive, they haven't seen anything yet. "DUM-E, can you wave to the room?"
Her bot beeped again, and the bot moved its arm at the room, gesturing it back and forth like a wave of sorts.
She could hear the professors around her taking notes of her bot and she continued her presentation.
"DUM-E can you hand me the Socket Wrench?" she asked again, and her bot moved over to where she'd laid all the tools in front of her. She held her breath as she watched DUM-E's arm move over the different tools on the table, before landing on the correct wrench and picking it up. She watched him drop it accidently, before picking it up again and moving towards her. Her bot stopped in front of her before it handed her the wrench.
"Thank you, DUM-E," she said with a smile and DUM-E beeped cheerfully back at her. "If you would like to try it yourselves, you may ask him any command. If he is unable to respond, he'll try and figure out what it is you want and respond accordingly."
Her thesis professor, the one who said she couldn't do it, looked astounded as he stood up and moved towards her robot.
"DUM-E, can you hand me some water?" her professor asked, wanting to throw the bot off as he asked for something not on the table. DUM-E looked at her, slightly confused and she gestured to the professor, giving it permission to respond to him. Rhodey had been helping her in training it, trying to get it to respond to different voices and people, as it had been something she'd been worried about.
DUM-E moved towards the table with the tools and hovered, trying to find the water on the table. But when it was unable to, its cameras scanned the room like she'd taught it to and spotted a glass of water beside a professor who had been scoffing at the entire presentation. DUM-E carefully moved and picked up the glass before handing it to her thesis professor with a beep.
"Remarkable," her professor whispered as he took the glass. The entire room is sitting on the edge of their seats, watching the interaction. "There are some slight flaws, but it seems as if Miss Stark truly has created Artificial Intelligence."
Her eyes twitched slightly at the mention of errors. DUM-E was the way it was because of its personality. It was one thing for her to make fun of them for that, and an entirely other thing for these old men who thought they knew best to be able to do so.
"Well done," the head of the panel said, giving her a smile. "It seems as if you have given us much to think about. Congratulations on the completion of your project."
The others get up and try to confuse DUM-E, wanting to see her bot fail, but it beeped cheerfully and does everything they commanded of it. And when the presentation is over, she left the room feeling accomplished and proud of herself.
This was only the beginning, and Toni Stark was going to change the world.
It was a few months after that when she donned her blue graduation gown and cap. The rest of the class she started with is graduating with their Bachelors' degree, and she with that and her two Master's degrees.
She paced back and forth, and she looks out onto the crowd that's starting to form as the ceremony draws closer.
"Toni," Rhodey greeted her as he wore his own robes.
"Rhodey Bear," she beamed at her friend and he pulls her into a tight hug. "Are you ready to leave this all behind?"
She gestured at the school behind her and tries to get it to encompass their entire schooling. If she had to pick just one thing that she loved about the school it would have been meeting him. For he's quickly become her entire world and she knew that once they left the school, she'd keep him in her life for as long as she could.
"I am," he said, hugging her tightly. "After this we need to talk though, about our futures."
"What about them?" she asked him, feeling slightly nervous and he shook his head.
"It's nothing to worry about, Tones," he assured her, but she couldn't help but feel worried.
The ceremony began and James was a few seats away from them, separated only by a few students with names who fall between 'Rhodes' and 'Stark'.
She watched as one by one they all made their way onto stage to collect their degrees and shake hands with the Dean and others that they invited to the ceremony.
She stood when it was time for her row and she cheered loudly as Rhodey took the stage, graduating with honours and she is proud of him for everything that he's managed to achieve.
When it was her turn, she steps up the stairs of the stage, her heels clicked with every step. She was given the title of graduating with highest distinction, but the entire class knows that she'd topped the class, even if they didn't give her the Valedictorian title. It was all politics, with the school still unable to fully acknowledge that a girl was better than everyone else. It certainly didn't help that Justin Hammer's father made a sizable donation right before the selection to the committee that picked.
But it doesn't matter, she knew that she was better than the rest of them, even if they do not acknowledge it.
She walked across the stage, stopping in the centre as she shook hands with the Dean. He gave her a nod of acknowledgement and she turned to where Aunt Peggy was holding a camera, taking pictures of the entire thing. She beamed at her and Uncle Daniel who had driven along with her mother and cousins for the ceremony and her heart warmed at the sight of them.
Of course, her father couldn't bother making time for the event. She'd told him about it in passing, for politeness over anything else, but he had simply shook his head and said it would be a waste of his time. A Master's degree, even if a dual degree, was nothing impressive. Not when it was something that just anyone could get. She'd rolled her eyes at that, knowing all too well that it wouldn't matter that she was only seventeen and graduating. She was pretty sure that nothing would ever be enough to impress her father, not when she'd been a constant disappointment to him from the moment she'd been born.
But she was beyond caring. Her family, those she loved, had made it to the event and that was all that mattered to her. She'd long since given up trying to make her father love her when it was a futile endeavour.
Her Uncle Daniel is beaming at her, and she grinned back at him, waving to her family in the audience. She heard a loud whistle and looked over to see Mama Rhodes and Jeanette standing and clapping.
She took her degree from the professor and continued walking across the stage. She could hear the whispers in the crowd, questioning how a girl could do better than the majority of the class, but she refused to give their questions a second thought. She'd done it, despite all of their doubts and questions, and she knows that no matter what life throws her way, she'll continue to come out on top.
When the ceremony came to an end, she weaved through the crowd, and found her family waiting for her. Harry was holding a bouquet of flowers and she took it from him, as she kissed her younger cousin on the cheek.
"Thank you, Harry," she told him, and Ava handed her a graduation bear. She was far too old for such things, and her father made her throw away the few toys she ever had as a kid. But it was a sweet gesture and she appreciates it. "Thanks Ava."
"We're so proud of you, Toni," her Aunt Peggy said, smiling at her, "You've done so well, Ducky."
"You've made us so proud," Uncle Daniel grinned at her, as he clapped her on the back, "My smart niece is growing up so quickly. I still remember when you made the toaster explode because you wanted to optimize the toasting time to get it to toast instantly."
"I got it to work eventually," she pouted at him and her mother laughed.
"After you went through five toasters," Maria reminded her. "But I'm so proud of you, Bambina. You've done so well. I'm so proud of all you've done so far, and how far you've come. My brilliant little girl is growing up. I love you so much Tesoro. You've done so well, Darling."
"I love you too, Mom," she said, breath catching in her throat.
"Toni!" she heard a loud voice and watched as Jeanette Rhodes barrelled towards her and pulled her into a hug. "Congratulations on graduating."
"My own sister wasn't even this proud of me," Rhodey said with a sigh as he and Mama Rhodes followed from behind her. "Of course she likes you better than me."
"Toni sends me chocolate," Jeanette said, looking unapologetic.
"I send you chocolate!" Rhodey argued, "Toni just adds her name to the end of the letter."
"I still like her better than you," Jeanette said with a shrug as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"Congratulations, Antonia," Mama Rhodes said with a smile as she pulled her into a tight hug. "You've made us so proud."
"Standing right here," Rhodey said with a roll of his eyes, and Toni laughed.
"Give it up, Rhodey Bear," she grinned, "Your family loves me better than you."
The group laughed and she watched as her mother began conversing with Mama Rhodes. She looked over at Rhodey, as she felt a pit of worry fill her stomach, wondering what it was that he wanted to talk to her about.
"We should talk now," Rhodey said, clearly understanding what she had been worried about. He led her to an area where none of their family could hear, wanting privacy and she followed without a word.
Finally, he stopped and looked at her, and she took in his expression carefully.
"We haven't really talked about our plans for post-graduation, have we?" he asked her, and she sighed. They hadn't. For all the hours they'd spent together, neither of them had talked about what they wanted to do once they were done with school, neither one of them wanting to think about the future and the roles they would be forced to play. A smart black man and girl had no place in the world as it currently stood. And they both knew that they would be met with stigma with every step they took.
"I was planning on doing a PhD," she offered, "In Physics. I want one in Mechanical Engineering as well. Obie wants me to get more involved in the company so I'm going to start doing some consultation work and begin sketching up some designs. But Howard is only interested in weapons so it's not like I'd ever be able to create anything I really want to anyways."
She sighed at that, knowing it to be all too true. There was no market for the innovations she wanted to create, so she had been told. And it broke her heart, knowing that no matter what she created, if her father did not approve, it wouldn't happen. And her father rarely approved of anything she made.
"I'm joining the Air Force," Rhodey blurted out and her heart stopped as she froze. "I want to make a difference, Toni. I want to fight for our country, to make the world a better place. I want to save others and the Army will let me do that. They don't care that I'm black."
The Not the same way the rest of the world would goes unsaid.
"Rhodey," she breathed, "You can't. It's dangerous. What if something happened to you? What if you got hurt?" Because god help her if he got hurt. "I can't lose you. Please."
"I've already enlisted," he told her softly, "Toni, I want you to understand that I'm not doing this because I want to leave you. I'm not doing this because I do not want a place in your life. I'm doing this for me. Because it's something I need to do. Something I have to do. I want to save lives and fight for those I love. I want to make the world safer. I want to make sure that war never breaches our shores. Please, you have to understand. I love you, and I never want you to think that this is about me not wanting you in my life. This is about me wanting to fight for what I believe in."
"Okay," she said simply, because really, what else could she say? His mind was already made up, and whether she chose to accept it, he was enlisted in the Army. He was leaving her, just like everyone else did, and she knew that nothing she said would be enough for him to stay. Nothing would be enough for him to accept that she wanted him to stay.
"I love you, Toni. I promise, this isn't me leaving you. Nothing will ever be able to make me leave you," he told her as he pulled her into a tight hug, and she didn't fight it. Instead, she grasped onto him tightly, hoping that it would be enough. Because he was leaving her. Her brother was leaving her. And she had no idea when she would see him again once he left.
"I love you too," she whispered, fighting to keep the tears out of her voice. Because she was terrified. Terrified that he would go off to fight the good fight and that he'd never come home. That something would happen to him and she'd lose him forever. She was terrified that something would happen, and she would never see him again.
"We should get back," he told her softly, and she took a deep breath as she pulled out of his arms.
"You go ahead," she said, swallowing, "I need a minute."
"Toni," he said carefully, and she shook her head.
"I'll be fine, Honey Bear. I just need a minute. Just give me a minute, and I'll be fine. I promise," she said, giving him a watery smile.
He looked concerned, but he didn't fight it as he turned to leave.
She took a deep breath as she wiped away her tears, not wanting anyone to see and take a picture. God help her if another news article came out about her and Rhodey's relationship. He might be fine with it, but she hated him getting dragged into the press because someone wanted to make a quick dollar.
"Toni," she hears a gentle voice from behind her and she nearly jumps as she sees her godfather, Obadiah Stane, behind her.
"Uncle Obie," she said, trying to hide the pain she was feeling, "What are you doing here? I thought you had an important board meeting."
It was why her father couldn't attend after all.
"It ended early," Uncle Obie said as he moved closer. "Or rather, I ended it early. Some things are more important than work after all."
She gave a noncommittal sound, for what could she really say? Even without the excuse of work, her father still hadn't deemed her graduation important enough of a thing for him to attend. What was she supposed to do about that?
"Are you alright?" he asked her after a moment. "It looked like you and your friend were in the middle of something."
"He's joining the Air Force," she sighed, and he looked understanding at that.
"It's a brave thing of him to do," he said, and Toni nodded. "He'll be in good hands though. The majority of the weapons that the military uses comes from Stark Industries. And our weapons are the best. If he's fighting using our weapons, then he'll be safe."
She didn't admit it out loud, but she knew he was right. Stark weapons were the best. They rarely had any defects in them and always did what they were expected to do. If Rhodey was fighting using the weapons her father designed, then he'd be safe.
However, she knew he'd be safer if he was using weapons that she made. Weapons that would be better, stronger, and more powerful. He'd be safer if she was the one designing his weapons.
Even if she hated weapons all together.
Stark Industries would never stop making weapons. Why would they when it brought in the most money. It didn't matter what she thought of them or how much she wished she could shift the company's focus toward clean energy and other technology.
At least a Stark weapon was better than a Hammer weapon.
"It's the way of life," Obadiah said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "People will come in and out of your life constantly, Antonia. They will use you and abuse you for your money or go on their own little quests for themselves. Your father, for example, is always going to put the business ahead of his family. It's just the kind of person he is. And your mother will be busy with her own galas and charities. Even your Aunt Peggy is busy with her secret government life and disappears for days at a time. James Rhodes is just the next in what will be a long line of people who come in and out of your life."
He was right, despite what she may have wished for. Everyone's lives would take them on different paths. And whether she liked it or not, most of their paths would not be focused on her.
There was someone, she knew, who would have been there for her no matter what. Who would have stayed by her side and helped her in anything she chose to do. Jarvis, whom she loved more than her own father. Who had raised her and cared for her. Jarvis never would have left her side if he didn't have to go.
But he was gone, and whether she liked it or not, she'd never have any one like him in her life again. He was gone, just like everyone else in her life who flitted in and out of it easily.
"I'm telling you this because I want you to know that I'm here for you, Antonia," Obadiah told her softly, "I'll always watch your back; I'll always be here for you, until the very end."
She smiled at her godfather, and as much as there were others that she knew loved her more than him, she knew he was right. He had been there for her far more often than her own father, coming to her science fairs and presentations. Who had received her designs and suggested improvements, before getting them pushed into production. He'd always been there for her, even when no one else had been.
"I know," she told him, giving him a nod. "Thank you, Uncle Obie."
A/N: I just wanted to say that the response to this so far has been remarkable! Thank you so much for all the reviews, favourites, and follows! I love reading what you guys have to say, and hope you enjoyed this chapter
