Disclaimer: Don't own the characters.
:}
Cat was always a simple person, no mater how complex the world had become. So naturally, she found it confusing sometimes to deal with various worldly problems. Problems like her new car, a gift from an admirer, that now wasn't working. 'Not that it matters, cause I don't have a license.' She thought, wondering when one of her friends would show up to help fix this problem.
"Can you tell me whats wrong?" Sam once again asked. The blond was a mechanic by hobby, and good at fixing her bike. But this was a touch more complicated.
"Oh, the main computer seems to think that the dedicated computer for the engine is not working, so it keeps trying to reignite the car, all the while, the autopilot AI is turning off." Cat explained. "Or that's what it keeps telling me."
"You shouldn't believe your computer if it's malfunctioning." San huffed. "But if it's not a mechanical problem, then I don't know what to do about it."
"I'm waiting for one of my friends to arrive." Cat said with a touch of hope. "They're smart. They'll know what to do about it."
"And you asked someone for help?" Sam wondered.
"I texted my friends…" The petite girl insisted.
"Uhh, yea." Sam said, doubt showing on her face. "You do realize that this is a very complicated system, right? The Smart Car isn't as easy to fix as my motorcycle."
"But my friends can fix it." Cat insisted. "My friends fix everything at school, so they'll be able to make this work too."
"I doubt it." Sam told her. "We need to call someone, a professional, and that'll cost us money."
"Yea, so lets wait for my friends first." Cat held on to her hope.
A short while later, Robbie and Beck arrived. "Okay, lets have a look at that car." Beck said, while Rob tried to look as manly as possible. However, Rob's skills at fixing things, especially mechanical things, was well known, so most students didn't even trust him with repairing the door of a bird house.
Cat just smiled at her friends, leading them out to her parking spot, showing the new car, in all it's shiny glory. "The main computer keeps telling me that there's a malfunction of the dedicated computer that runs the engine. But when Sam checked that one, it seemed to be working. Any idea whats wrong?"
Beck just stared at the car. "This is a Gobug, right Cat?" He asked. "This is cutting edge. I don't know if we should be..."
Rob jumped in. "I think the problem is the sophistication of the computers involved." He said. "See, the problem is the advanced AI used to run the whole thing. It's not a true AI, cause those things can be dangerous, but it's close enough, neural net and everything. But that isn't unique for this car. I'm thinking the dedicated computer's been upgraded, probably by the main computer, and then, it awakens, and as another self aware computer, they may, and this is just a theory, but they may have a personality conflict which would result in them having a spat."
"Meaning?" Beck asked, while Cat looked at Rob like he was her hero.
"We're having infighting among the computers." Rob told Beck. "The main computer has the most control, so it's gonna just keep things the way it wants. But the other computer, it runs the engine, so that's it's power in this relationship. I'm assuming the second computer is refusing to turn on the car until the first apologizes for whatever. Or maybe it's a harder problem for them to deal with. Either way, we need to hook up ANOTHER computer so we can talk with all the affected computers, see if we can work this out."
"Okay, lets do that." Cat decided.
"We, I mean, we have no idea if we even can set up a meeting like that, or if that's even close to the problem." Beck argued. "Things just, they're too complicated. We won't even know if we're on the right track, assuming we're even close, until we get an expert involved. We'll probably have to replace all the computers, have them wiped, start over."
"Nahh, things aren't as complicated as you think." Robbie insisted. "We're dealing with personality issues, not a mechanical one. I think we can talk it out. Let me get my computer, and we'll hash this out."
"Rob, it's not gonna be as simple as just plugging in and talking things out." Beck protested. But the nerdy boy was already gone, heading to his car to get his laptop. Moments later, he was getting help from Beck hooking up the wires, bypassing the main computer to talk directly with the dedicated one. It was one of the reasons he didn't just connect with Bluetooth, as that system was run by the main computer.
"Okay, thank god everything is USB these days." Robbie told his friends. "Now Cat, I've activated the speech synthesizer, so we won't have to type everything. Lets have us a conversation."
They quickly discovered a new problem, but it was easy enough to correct. The dedicated computer thought at far to fast a speed, so it had to slow down to talk to them. An adjustment to the synthesizer program fixed that, and allowed them to start the process of talking things out.
"Okay, from what I'm getting, you're not happy with the way the main computer has been ignoring you." Robbie nodded, watching the screen as the two hashed their problems out.
"But you need to understand, the main computer is just doing it's job, and that includes communicating with all the other intelligent systems." Beck said, before groaning. "God, it's like dealing with Jade again."
"Jade's not that hard to deal with." Cat said. "Just do it her way, and everything's easy."
"You're coasting on her skills." Beck warned.
"No, Jade has Cat do her homework, even though Jade could do it better, if she wanted." Rob pointed out. "But you're right, this does sound like a lovers spat. Cat, call Trina. We need another perspective on this."
"No, we need to wipe the dedicated computer, have it just be another dumb computer, and then the problem will go away." Beck insisted.
"No it won't." Cat snapped. "Beck, stop thinking about problems as that easy to solve. I swear, this is why Jade's with Tori now. This computer, it's a challenge for the main one, but the main one needed the companionship. It's just wazzed that an intelligent, thinking being wasn't as easy to control as it thought the computer would be. They're different, with different perspectives. We can, and should, work this out, cause I suspect they're not the only aware computers in my car."
"Thats a very good point, Cat." Robbie noted. "Lets get Trina on the phone, work this whole thing out, so your car will work again."
Trina couldn't stop laughing after hearing the problem. "So, you can't help?" Beck prodded. They'd established video chat so everyone could be a part of the older girls conversation.
"Oh, this is an easy enough problem to fix." Trina chortled. 'The first thing to remember is that we're not dealing with an adult. The computers only been awake a short while, and is kinda new at dealing with it's feelings. It's got loads of intelligence, and knows it's job really well, but it's really immature. It's gonna react from it's feelings, not anything logical, and sometimes, it'll overreact in a big way."
"So, Jade." Beck muttered.
"Which is why you're the last person we need to fix this." Trina smiled at the burn. It felt good, not caring what the handsome boy felt, just for that moment. "I was watching some videos on just this problem. Lots of this going around these days, and we need to be careful. Like people, this can be a vulnerable time for the machine. Honestly, just glad it's refusing to turn on, cause I've heard of sudden losses in power and control while the vehicle is moving. In short, never underestimate the computers ability to react like an over emotional teenager."
"So... Jade…" Cat sounded less then thrilled now. "Do we get them a therapist? Is there one?"
"I don't think this is that bad." Trina assured her friends. "Just, we need to tread carefully. Talk to the computer, and help it, them understand what each of them is dealing with. This could well me rebelling against an authority figure, or it could be something between hating one's parents and a lovers spat. Bottom line is, this is new for both computers, and we need to just talk things out. I'm thinking, the right mediator, we can fix this, and have a happy car for Cat that'll work great for years to come. So, Rob, plug me in and let me do the heavy lifting…"
Beck watched as the on line link was established, even as a voice inside his head warned against letting an AI on line. "Shouldn't we be worried…"
"Limited link." Rob promised, already ahead of this problem. "I've gone ahead and disabled the Bluetooth connectors for the car until we finish this problem. Only, now that both computers are connected, I don't think this is gonna be quick. Didn't Trina says they were both new to this?"
"So, what do we do now?" Cat asked.
"We wait." Sam said. "Not thinking this is gonna be something we can just walk away from. Otherwise, I'd say we get ourselves something to eat, and maybe hit the beach for a bit. This could take a while, probably longer then Trina has patience for."
"I don't know, Trina can be pretty patient." Cat said, looking to the side.
"She can." Robbie agreed. "But she can also be very impatient. I don't know how long she'll be able to put up with the childishness from the computers, especially when they start looking down on her."
"What? This isn't like Jade?" Beck felt childish himself, taunting the others.
"Oh, it's totally like her." Rob promised. "Just, the emotions, not that complex, cause no biology getting in the way. I'm thinking, in a few hours…" His phone rang. "I have to take this."
"Betting it's Trina bowing out." Beck said to Cat.
"So close, and yet so far." Sam said. "No, I'm thinking it's Trina, who's figured out how to ref them without being so directly involved, and she's calling to taunt you about not being able to handle a strong, opinionated girl. I should know, cause I'm one, and we're a tough type to date."
"It's Trina, telling me they've made a few breakthroughs, but the sticking point now is the other systems in the car." Robbie said. "Oh, she connected them with an on line AI that had originally been a counseling program. Just let them run at speed, and already they've had days of therapy. Guessing things run fast inside the computer world. So, what now?"
"What about other systems?" Cat asked.
"Most of the systems won't ever be AI, but that doesn't preclude the possibility of jealousy, or the desire to have more company." Robbie explained. "Remember, not thinking logically. The good news, given enough time, they will mature, hopefully, and then your car should work again."
"Withing limits." Sam cautioned. "Only a mater of time before they form opinions about us."
"Luckily, we have the base, root program working for us." The nerdy boy explained. "Safely drive from point A to point B. I think, all things considered, we're likely to have that happen. So, lets take a deep breath, and hope things work out. Until then, we were thinking beach?"
"I just hope they don't run off together." Cat said. "They'd take the car, this car, my car, and I'd be left carless. Kinda liked the idea of having my self driving car, cause I don't have a license, and I do like the idea of just driving to school. Plus, it's electric, with a long term something or other engine, so I don't have to worry about fueling it."
"Atomic decay engine." Sam said. "Way complicated, turning potentially dangerous radioactives to power, and minimizing the waste radiation. Almost as hard to work on as the computers. Needs it's own dedicated computer to run, and that's the very computer we're dealing with. Joy…"
"Relax, the power system has safety systems on safety systems." Rob said, even as he led them to his simple electric car, once pedal powered, but now upgraded so he wouldn't be passed by kids on their toys. "So, lets hit the beach…"
Trina joined them a short time later. "The car will come get us once it's done with the therapeutic process." She said. "I invited Tori and her girlfriend, but you know how things can be sometimes…"
"Trouble in paradise?" Beck asked.
"Makeup sex." The older girl said. "I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Honestly, for all her faults, and Jade has loads of them. Immature sometimes, too smart for her own good, and reactionary, jealous, hurt. But for all of them, she can be a great catch. Certainly the best Tori's had so far. Dad thinks, if they can just survive high school, Jade would make a great addition to the family. However, even he's done with the makeup sex. I swear, Tori needs a new weapon to help contain her girl…"
"Oh MY GOD!" Cat screeched the last part. "IT THAT WHAT CARY IS DOING?!"
The others chose not to comment.
:}
Just a normal enough problem, solved by one's friends. Thoughts? How many of you have had similar problems?