I am pleased to announce the opening of the poll for the two entries by Bingley and Javert (not necessarily in that order... but maybe it is?).
Please cast your votes in the next week or so, and I shall post the results on Saturday 3rd April
I can't seem to find a way to make this a poll, so if you make your vote in bold capital letters I'll take a note of them!
JA-550-NThe truth of the matter was that he was never programmed to be a hero. In fact, in a production of over fifty-two thousand, he was the only one not to be sent to Central for initial documentation and encoding. Indistinguishable his from humans, JA-550-N, also known as Jason, was produced talk, with larger than average sized hands. His primary function and subsequent thirty-two year assignment was the cobalt mine of Sentors Valley. During the recorded portion of his assigned years, Jason functioned properly with no outlying behaviour dysfunctions or need for maintenance. His mandatory review period of a decade was discontinued without appeal.
Upon review of his service records after deactivation, it was discovered that Jason had adapted so well that he was, for all intents and purposes, human.
What makes us human, after all, a review board member had asked. The need to eat? The need to sleep? Choosing to interact with others? Does religion make us human? Preservation of the lives of others? Because, my dear colleagues, Jason participated in all of these behaviours.
In what later became the principal argument in favor of Jason’s sentient behaviour, it was discovered that he courted and defended a young woman named Anna Bell. Though scholars and scientists alike argued that his behaviour was simply that of stimuli response, those in favor of humanoid psychological development argued sternly that Jason had exhibited an emotional response.
Jason often entered an establishment known as Buxie’s, a local pub on BLOCK 47-B-88 after scheduled working hours. Frequented by residents in that area, Bixie’s is known for music, food, and primarily, one of the only drinking establishments in the area. As was discovered upon review of the tapes, Jason frequently visited Buxie’s, and interacted with a number of residents, and eventually became a “hero”, as dubbed by the owner.
It was discovered that on the night of March 23rd, Jason participated in a physical dispute with one of the residents of BLOCK-47-B-88. This was later attributed to the failure of initial programming, which prohibits physical disputes with humans.
As reported:
On this evening in question, a woman by the name of Anna Bell was visiting with a male in the bar She expressed her disinterest in his attempts at courtship. Displeased, this man intentionally smacked her beverage from her hand, and vocally insulted her. As to whether or not Jason responded to the liquid splashed on his shirt, the vocal stress patterns, or previously witnessing “bar fights,” he intervened.
Stepping between the man and woman, he indicated that the man should vacate the premises. Unwilling to do so, the man punched Jason in the abdomen. Jason quickly responded by punching back in exactly the same manner. Injured, the hostile man exited the bar.Was it out of emulation that Jason “fought back?” Was it out of emulation that Jason offered to purchase Ms. Bell a second drink? Was it true heroism that led Jason to “defend” Ms. Bell and become the hero of Buxie’s?
The Accidental HeroThe low winter sun poured in through the bank’s large windows. The cashiers behind the long marble counter went about their business, endlessly sliding items in and out of their bullet-proof bubble. In a small side office sat Gerry Owen, Junior Loans Officer. His speakerphone beeped.
“Ms Richards, your 11.30, is here,” it announced.
“Send her in,” he answered.
The door opened and a woman came in. She had obviously tried to dress up, but no amount of make-up could disguise her worried expression. Gerry stood up, and extended his hand.
“Good morning, Ms Richards, I’m Gerry Owen.”
“Oh, please, call me Shirley,” she said, and laughed nervously, shaking his hand.
“Please, have a seat,” he said. “So, what can I help you with today?”
She sat down and placed her bag on her lap. “Well, I’m trying to start my own business, making personalised jewellery, but I need some money to get going. I was wondering if you could loan me $2000.”
“OK, let me get your credit history up on the computer here,” he said, and began to tap away at the keys.
“Well, judging by your score, I think we’ll be able to do that for you. Take these forms out to Collette at the front desk and she’ll talk you through it.”
“Oh, thank-you so much! You’re so kind!” she said, and clasped his hand before leaving the office, beaming.
***
Gerry came home at the end of a regular day, and opened the door to find his wife with her finger on the answering machine button.
“What’s all this about?” she demanded, starting the recording.
Gerry opened his mouth to profess ignorance of whatever it was, but was cut off by a woman’s voice.
“Hi, it’s Shirley, from earlier. I just wanted to thank you again for everything, and to say that if there’s anything I can do for you in return... well, you’ve got my number! Bye!”
The machine beeped to signal the end of the message.
“So...?” his wife asked.
“Melissa, that’s nothing, she was just a client at work today,” he replied. She began to pace up and down the hallway.
“You’re on first name terms with all your clients, are you? And how did she get this number?”
Gerry shrugged. “No idea, I guess she looked us up in the book.”
“OK, fine,” Melissa said, and walked into the living room.
Nothing more was said on the matter, until the doorbell rang the next morning. Gerry went to answer it, to find nothing but a small box left on the step.
“What’s that?” his wife asked, coming up behind him.
“No idea,” he said, and opened the box. Inside sat a ring, with the initials G. O. engraved on it, and a note – ‘With love from Shirley, x’.
***
Gerry sat in his kitchen, phone in hand. Melissa wasn’t answering any of his calls. Bitterly, he considered the irony of a banker suffering from too much interest.
Poll
