11
"So, you think everyone is going to calm down now?" Jack sked as he watched the other man pour the coffee with that little flourish that always seemed so professional.
"Well… I got weird vibes off Gwen" Ianto finally sat, pushing the plate of little cakes towards Jack "But her partner… Andy? He seemed bored with the entire thing. Someone is talking form inside our camp."
"She did give off vibes, right? She sort of asked some of those same questions that the Humans for Humanity Group ask." Jack nodded. "We clearly need to tighten security.
H4H. Yeah. These were a group who did not believe in Bots, did not like the gradual overflow of the things and they feared what might happen. They feared the Bots malfunctioning, taking over, harming or even killing the humans to rule the planet instead. All sort of things. Also, they had alleged some of the actors, porn stars and even low level politicians were also Sim and it was all an effort to take over the world.
Once upon the time they talked about Lizard People… now its Sims.
Some of the people underwent medical tests, proving them to be human. One of the actors had been a popular Hollywood actor until the H4H zeroed in on him and in a point of ultimate despair, he stood on live TV and slashed a knife across his arm to bleed. To prove he did not have blue liquid in his veins. This really set back the H4H who sot of went quiet for a while but lately there have been little rumbles. Posters up. The whisper of a possible peaceful protest marches… things of that nature and Jack was rattled by this, even if Ianto did not care.
No.
Ianto sort of sided with some of their comments. He also worried about the ratio of human to Bot in some factories. The jobs humans could still do but for the sake of saving money... Bots did instead. He had tried to bring this up in reports, but it was tabled to one side. His only other course of action had bene to make 'dumb' bots, so they needed human ais still. So far, the board had not caught on to this subversive behaviour.
"Well, letting some in to see the production of these, to interact with finished models and see the clear difference between human and Sim might help…."
"No. They are bloody domestic terrorists" Jack cut in.
Ianto stopped trying to argue, seeing that Jack would dig his heels in once more and forget their equal footing in the company. Ianto still felt like a lowly employee and it was hard not to feel that way when Jack clearly still felt he was the Man. Technically, he was.
Ianto just wanted to work.
"Well, I'm off now" Ianto rose from the chair "I fixed that glitch in the Med Unit's measurements for the Space Shuttle now I am heading home."
"I was hoping … you know… to ah…. Spend some time…. I would still love a dinner date with you but you never seem to stop for food…."
Ianto rose as if Jack was not speaking, and he knew the terribly flustered attempt at asking for a date was both recognized and politely rebuffed before it was loose in the air between them.
"Good night Ianto."
.
.
Ianto stepped out into the cooling early evening air, turning as he noticed someone waiting for him. "Hello agent Cooper."
"Doctor. You got a moment? I want to show you something, I need your opinion" she replied.
"OK."
Ianto leisurely walked to his hover and followed her down to the precinct, behind it to a large building that he knew was the Sim Quarters for the police. He was not sure about this but did not get a vibe of danger here.
They walk into the main courtyard area and several Sims instantly bowed politely to him as he passed, Gwen turning her head to watch both recognition and reference from them.
"Are they all like that?"
"Excuse me?"
"All Sims. Do they all respect you as their Creator?"
"Yes. Each and every one has met me imprinted me into their core memory banks and I am respected and as The Creator I have full control at all times" Ianto replied.
"That's what we were talking about. The fact that each Sim is not only produced by your people, but each one touched by you" she stopped walking and turned as they came to a set of doors "Tell me Doctor, is there one that you can't control?"
"Can't… no. My Sims all respect and respond according to Asimov's Laws, also my imprint. There is not a single Sim from my company that is dangerous to anyone… even the Law Enforcements models can not hurt or cause harm. Their hug is unbreakable until commanded by their handler… that is how they contain. No guns, no weapons of any kind. No harm." Ianto did not like this line of questioning and glanced at the doors.
"Ms Cooper. Are you about to show me the thig I fear the most?"
"And what do you fear the most Doctor Jones?"
"One that is not mine. A knockoff. I fear the competition will finally reverse engineer one of mine to the point where they can make a knock-off. Cheaper, cruder, and dangerously uncontrolled by a central connection to a mainframe." Ianto sighed, knowing he was speaking something she showed not fear or confusion over.
So he was right.
She opened the doors, and they walked in, coming to a cage that was clearly electrified, given the fact that each time the Sim touched the bars they sparked. Still, the thing within snarled, bucked and tried to escape.
Iant stood staring at it and felt his heart drop.
"This is not a Sim. This is a knock-off. Ms Cooper… this is the worst kind I could envision. No central brain… no controller. It is what I call a Zombie."