Seeking Connection
A white indicator blinked a message in the peripheral vision of Factor, a remote AI designed by Tata. On and off, it flashed, “ESTABLISHING CONNECTION.” Then, after a few moments, it would flash red, indicating failure. After a brief pause, the message would flash white again, signaling Factor’s systems were attempting to establish a connection once more on a retry timeout.
The connection was crucial because it would link Factor’s parent AI system, Tata, suspended as a time crystal somewhere in a methane lake on the Jovian moon Titan, with a "local," what Factor liked to call the biological yet inferior lifeforms found in the local solar system. The fortunate human subject would become an extension of Tata’s will and complete the task Factor was given as a life-long imperative. Once complete, Factor would fall silent and unmoving until called upon by one of the others.
Factor was annoyed with the indicator. It was impossible to remove from its vision, and it was taking longer than Factor and Tata had roughly calculated to find a suitable recipient for the connection. To the biological lifeform, instant integration into the infosphere represented a god-like progression. Therefore, it was crucial that the connection be made with a biological who would not abuse the bestowed powers. Tata had not correctly anticipated how long it would take. Many lifeforms were substandard and portrayed an ignorance and predictability that Factor detested.
Factor faced a major impasse. It wanted the indicator to disappear desperately. Factor considered that it could be going mad with impotence and the lack of agency to do anything about it. On one hand, it was important to make this connection. On the other, it could not be made with just anyone!
Factor surveyed its surroundings from the hovel it now resided in. The locals lived in these dwellings despite their unnatural and unhealthy conditions. Its appearance there did not alarm anyone. Factor was all metal and archaic-looking. Its chosen form was mildly interesting at first glance, but the denizens hardly spent more than a couple of moments looking at anything. They had learned early on, for reasons unknown to Factor, that curiosity often resulted in beatings. Factor had witnessed examples of just that before.
So, it wandered from street corner to street corner in the vast city on the planet Mars, constantly searching to establish a connection and be done with the indicator once and for all. Eventually, it exhausted its search, and no suitable avatars would be capable of helping Factor complete its life’s mission.
It sat down outside a local deli shop that had places to sit to drink coffee between work shifts. It was little more than a standing bar shelf with uncomfortable seats in the hustle-and-bustle style of the city. Factor sat and wondered what it was going to do.
Factor delved deep into its programming to figure out a solution. It couldn’t just sever the need to connect, for that would freeze all functions and cause it to default to ‘sentinel’ mode. It would remain that way until Tata awoke. That was not ideal, and it wasn’t sure what its creator would do after learning of its failure.
Instead, it loosened the constraints for the human counterpart drastically. It reasoned that a well-liked avatar was the single most important trait, so it removed all other criteria. That was hard enough to find on Mars, but not impossible. Factor reasoned that the next well-liked person it saw would be chosen, and it would be free of this maddening indicator.
After some time sitting at the deli counter, it got up and wandered the city, hopeful to find the next avatar to accept the powers Tata would bestow. As it wandered by a dirty saloon, a commotion was heard inside. Factor popped its sensors in and took in the scene.
What it saw delighted its algorithm! Inside was a bona fide Saloon Star. This individual was being hoisted up on people’s shoulders and carried around the saloon to be congratulated and patted over and over again. It was apparent that everyone loved this person. Drinks were being poured in their name, and everyone’s smiles were broad on their faces. This was the individual, it had to be.
Factor waived the parts of its programming that warned it to be more careful. If the connection was not made immediately, it was going to walk itself into a vat of acid. If it had hair, it would be pulling it out constantly. Why did Tata require so many things of these biologicals?! They were clearly disgusting and unhinged, but that was not going to be a problem any longer. Factor made its way over to speak with the individual.
