Artificial Intelligence
[We begin our story, not in the present, but in the past as we are shown a world of technological magic. Towers of dark violet stretch high up into the air while lights of blue and neon green can be seen in the city below. The tallest building is the castle that is separated from the mainland, set in the middle of a bay with green stone mountains in the background]
[We cut to a young Tecna walking alongside her parents, Magnethia and Electronio. Her mother is looking over the analytics on her wristwatch while her father is making a business transaction on a neon-lit tablet. Tecna looks over to see a woman selling toys on the street, with a cart filled with all kinds of stuffed animals]
Tecna: Mommy, daddy! Look!
[Tecna pulls on her mother's pants as she looks down]
Magnethia: What is it, Tecna?
[Tecna doesn't wait for a response as she wanders over to the stand, much to her parents' surprise]
Electronio: Hey! Don't run off on us, young lady!
[Electronio and Magnethia rush off after their daughter as she surveys the various stuffed animals on the stand]
Magnethia: I'm so sorry about this, ma'am.
Ann: Hmmhmm, there's no need to worry, this little one has taken an interest in my toys.
[Tecna looks over the toys until she sees a stuffed bear with a blue bowtie. She picks it up to show her parents]
Tecna: I like this one! Can we get him?
[Magnethia and Electronio glance at each other]
Magnethia: Darling, that's a distraction, not a tool for knowledge.
Tecna: It won't be a distraction, I promise. I just get lonely sometimes at night, and I wouldn't mind a little friend on my bedside.
Electronio: [sighs] If we get this for you, I want to see full commitment to your studies in return.
Tecna: I understand…
Magnethia: Very well. How much will the bear be?
Ann: Five dollars, please.
[Electronio pulls out his wallet to exchange money with the register, once the transaction is completed, Tecna smiles down at her new friend]
Ann: Thank you, have a nice day.
Electronio: Hmmm, yes…
Magnethia: Come along, Tecna, we need to get home before King Cryos' meeting.
Tecna: Coming!
[As Tecna runs after her parents, she hugs the little bear for comfort]
Tecna: I think I'll call you…Sparky…
?: …na? …cna? …Tecna?
[We suddenly flash forward to the present as Tecna suddenly regains her senses, looking over to her left]
Tecna: Huh? What?
[Cut to Timmy, not the one from FOP, seated by a computer while Tecna has been sat on her own with a brief daydream]
Timmy: You alright there, Tec? You seemed a little out of it for a second.
Tecna: Oh…[blushes]...sorry, I was just…thinking about something…
Timmy: What was it?
Tecna: Just something from the past, nothing too serious, really.
Timmy: Well, I suppose I'll believe you…how's the program coming on your end?
[Tecna looks over to her screen, having typed in several codes of a new AI program for Khan Corporations]
Tecna: …I would say it's coming along fine enough. Although, I think some of these new programs are being multiplied at an unhealthy rate.
Timmy: You know the phrase of man being replaced by machines? I think you might be right on the mark with that one.
Tecna: I mean, it's not like they weren't commonplace on Zenith, but in this world, where there's more natural aspects? I'm just a little bit concerned…
Timmy: Knowing who commissioned them, I'd say your concern is valid. I just hope the guy will pay well for our troubles…
[Timmy has just finished saying this when the two can hear footsteps coming from the hallway, they quickly avert their gaze back to the computers to wrap up any additional coding in the software when the door opens, revealing Shere Khan himself stepping into the room, donning his finest suit and with his signature smug sadist demeanor. However, the Bengal tiger reins it in as he approaches the two developers]
Shere Khan: Why helloooooo, I take it this task hasn't been too taxing for you?
Tecna: [clears throat] Of course not, sir, your new program should be up and running.
Shere Khan: Aaaaah, excellent…I don't suppose I could give it a…test run, to make sure it's working properly.
[Timmy scowls at the passive-aggressive comment, but says nothing. Tecna, retaining a polite demeanor, passes the seat off to Khan as he sits down. The program's title is "Nomia" and the tiger types in the information. He acquires about purchasing acquisitions from Willow, being given graphic views of the land available. The tiger smirks as he selects the acres with the most value]
Shere Khan: Hmmmm, it would appear that everything is in order…not bad, you'll receive your commission in due time.
Tecna: Thank you, will there be anything else needed?
Shere Khan: Not at the moment, I have some land to purchase. Good day.
Timmy: AHEM, good day then as well.
[On that note, Tecna and Timmy gather their belongings and make their way out of the office. We cut to the duo leaving the building as Tom, Jerry, Penelope P., and Samurai Jack are shown walking past the main gate. Timmy lets out a huge breath of relief as soon as they're far enough away]
Timmy: I swear, some of these contracts put me on edge given the clients.
Tecna: Well, it is our job to do as they request. Besides, I wouldn't worry too much about it.
Timmy: I suppose so…I don't suppose you had any plans for this evening.
Tecna: I was planning to catch up on some contacts for my other clients, though I was planning to grab some take-out as well. How about you?
Timmy: I would join, but I've got a meeting with another client. Something about fixing some bugs in the Evergreen signal box, they've been having some strange glitches lately.
Tecna: Well, looks like we're a couple of busy bees, aren't we?
Timmy: Hehe, I guess we are. We're always on the clock like bees.
Tecna: Hehehe, hooooooooo, I might not be one for comedy, but I do appreciate a good joke.
Timmy: Well, I'd better get to my next call, see ya', Tec.
Tecna: Bye, Timmy.
[The two begin to head in opposite directions before Tecna has to stop at a crosswalk, next to Sylvie, Dixie, Derpy, Doctor Whooves, Buster, Plucky, Arthur, D.W., Clifford, Max, and Ruby. Tecna patiently waits for the crossing lights to turn from orange to white before the traffic is finally cleared. She follows the crowd to the other side of the crosswalk]
[As everyone goes their separate ways, Tecna's attention is drawn to a woman sitting on a bench. She appears to be caressing some sort of figurine in her hand]
[Curiosity gets the better of Tecna as she slows down before stopping by the bench, we get a better view of Selina trailing her fingers through the hair of what appears to be the figurine of a witch. The olive-haired woman looks back]
Selina: I see I've piqued your interest…
Tecna: Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to stare, I just thought that was a nice little figurine you had…
Selina: It is…
[We cut to the figurine in question as it is draped in an emerald green cape, along with a hat of the same color, and the witch herself has long black hair with violet eyes]
Selina: You could say it serves as a bit of inspiration…I'm sure most people have little trinkets that mean a lot to them…
Tecna: Huh…now that you mention, I…oh…oh dear…
Selina: Yes…?
Tecna: It's…a little bit embarrassing to say out loud.
Selina: Oh no, go on then…pry it out…
Tecna: It's…[murmurs]...astuffedanimal.
Selina: I'm sorry, I don't believe I heard that properly.
Tecna: Okay, I relent, it's…a stuffed animal…that was more awkward than it should have been.
Selina: Hmmm…I don't see why it would be an issue, unless you did.
Tecna: Um…you're right, it shouldn't be…AHEM, I'm Tecna, by the way…
Selina: Interesting…the name's Selina…
Tecna: Right…[looks down at her watch]...oh, I really need to be going, um, thank you for your time, uh…right then…
[Tecna leaves Selina on the bench as the latter looks back to the figurine…a subtle smile comes across her face]
Selina: Ironic, isn't it…?
[As Tecna makes her way down the street, she stops suddenly as Scamp and Patch ride past on a pair of skateboards]
Tecna: Oh!
[The Schnauzer Mix and Dalmatian pups carry on, before it cuts back to Tecna as she sighs]
Tecna: That certainly looks like fun…hmmmm, fun…
[A ripple effect transitions to a flashback of a younger Tecna in her room, surrounded by at least five textbooks as she's doing her homework. She looks out the window to see some of the other children out on hoverboards. Tecna looks down in disappointment before looking back to her bedside…she notices her bear sitting on a pillow…her look of sorrow morphs into a small smile as she goes over to Sparky. She picks up the stuffed animal and puts it on her desk, some company while she works]
[We ripple back to the present as Tecna has a half-lidded smile at the memory before hearing a growl]
Tecna: Huh?
[She looks down and covers her mouth]
Tecna: Shoot, I really need to eat…
[Tecna quickly heads off to collect her dinner as the scene cuts to her entering her home with a white bag in one hand and a plastic cup containing what appears to be a green drink. She removes her shoes and sets off to the kitchen to eat. Tecna puts the bag down on the table as well as the drink and pulls out the contents. The meal is revealed to be a set of tacos, a burrito, a side of chips with a cup of queso for dipping. Tecna picks up one of the tacos to examine it]
Tecna: …I don't know what it is about these things, but they're strangely addictive. Must be due to the ingredients, as well as the cholesterol intake.
[Tecna bites into the taco and then swallows]
Tecna: Then again, it is delicious…
[Tecna sighs down with a sigh to continue her meal, deciding to check the emails on her phone for a bit. She pulls up the icon and scrolls through some of the companies offering software assistance]
Tecna: A computer technician's work is never done, it seems…
[Tecna decides to forget about the emails for a little bit and stroll through her phone's images. The first image that pops up is one she didn't close out of, it's an image of her younger self posing for a portrait with her parents…Tecna pauses as she looks between Magnethia and Electronio before looking down at herself]
[Tecna's mind goes back to her parents, while she is appreciative of all they've done to educate her and prepare her to be a Guardian Fairy, given the general nature of the people of Zenith, they tend to be more reserved amongst each other, and in some cases…rather cold]
Tecna: Maybe it's best I don't usually go back there, not to sound ungrateful or anything, it's just…you would think they'd be a little more open, especially since…the incident…
[Tecna shudders at the memory of being sucked into the Omega Portal upon receiving her Enchantix. It had been a truly traumatizing moment for her, and her family once they'd heard about it, but it hadn't resulted in them being any closer as a family. Tecna shakes her head to pull her out of this lull]
Tecna: HMM! Focus less on dreary thoughts, and more on carbs.
[Tecna bites in her burrito to take her mind off things and the rest of the meal is polished off without incident. While Tecna feels a bit better from dinner, as she enters her room, the Fairy of Technology looks over to her right]
[There lies her bear Sparky sitting next to a photo of herself with the other Winx, along with a model of the Solar System which just so happens to include all the planets…including Pluto because it is]
[Tecna goes over to the stuffed animal and picks it up, looking down at it with a wistful expression]
Tecna: I know it might be illogical to still hold onto you…but at the same time…it doesn't hurt to have something that brings you comfort…
[Tecna goes to her bed and lays down, holding the bear in her arms with a sigh, we ripple to a shot of a younger Tecna holding the bear as she sleeps before rippling back to the present…Tecna closes her eyes with a solemn expression on her face]
Tecna: And yet…something is terribly, terribly wrong…
Character Guide:
Tecna, Timmy, Selina, Magnethia, Electronio - Winx Club
Shere Khan - The Jungle Book (1967)
Arthur Read, DW Read - Arthur
Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck - Tiny Toons Adventures / Looniversity
Clifford - Clifford the Big Red Dog
Derpy Hooves, Doctor Whooves - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Dixie, Sylvie - Balto (1995)
Max, Ruby - Max and Ruby
Patch - 101 Dalmatians (1961)
Penelope Pitstop - Wacky Races / The Perils of Penelope Pitstop
Samurai Jack - Samurai Jack
Scamp - Lady and the Tramp (1955) / Scamp's Adventure (2001)
Tom Cat, Jerry Mouse - Tom and Jerry
