Forums » General Roleplay » Sands of Time (1x1)

Clutch ran his wipers thoughtfully. "For what its worth, separation is a part of an AI livelihood. We are built to last while our creators and caretakers aren't so lucky. But being thrown away, discarded is something else entirely. It's disrespect!" he honked his horn for emphasis and received a hardy thud with Bill's wrench.

"You're not helping, Clutch," said Bill. "I'm sure there were other reasons why your owner had to...give you up. And I guarantee that she never forgot you. No one ever forgets their first car."" He patted her hood gently.

Chris nodded. "Especially when it's an AI." He looked meaningfully at Clutch. "Or a sarcastic one."

54 just looked defeated, blue eyes looking at her pale and badly rusted hood. Age old rust once covered in dark purple paint. ''But it was so sudden, and right at the moment when I needed her her the most.' She hissed. ''Everyone forgets, and if they don't it's because they see that memory every day!'' She snapped, engine revving loudly. ''And those that get forgotten are forced to be remembered, no matter what chance it takes!'' She hissed, but stayed in place from the boot.

''See? No one can reason with her. She refuses to listen.'' CD said, snorting.

Bill shook his head. "No, she's listening, she just doesn't want to hear it. We all deal with rejection one way or another. And she has to see herself through it. Only time and patience will help her--if she wants to be helped."

Chris sighed. "So what, are we going to start an AI-Anonymous session or something? A pity party for AIs who have lost their drivers, or their ability to run?" He almost brightened. "We might actually make some money off that idea..."

''I can run, but I hav a boot.'' 54 hissed, flooring it into drive but not getting anywhere.

CD giggled.

Chris hid a grin behind his hand and turned his laugh into a cough. "If you weren't so flighty or unpredictable, 54, you might actually not need a boot. But, ya know, that's entirely up to you."

"Not to mention," added Bill dryly, "you're wearing down the tread of your tires by burning them uselessly."

She grumbles, slamming on the breaks.

''You know, if we had a way to keep her in order we could make some device that keeps her from trying to run things over while letting still drive...'' CD inquired.

Chris brightened. "We could use a remote control...or barring that, we could probably hook up the motion detectors to her brakes. They would lock up her tires so she couldn't run into someone. But I'd have to extend their range to something like ten or twelve feet..."

''H-h-hey! No messing with my programming!'' 54 scowled, glaring.

CD just smiled lightly. ''She still dislikes that one thing.''

Chris rolled his eyes. "Every AI I know, hates anyone messing with their internal programming. But there's not much they can do when they're turned off for the night."

"H-hey! What do you mean? You haven't been tampering with my programming, have you?" Clutch asked suspiciously and warily.

Chris just smiled. "No Clutch, you're perfect exactly as you are..."

54 growls. ''I stay awake because my sister snoring is so loud it barrs me from shutting down, so hah!'' She hissed.

CD rolls her eyes. ''My programming is complex enough that anyone can change it, but it's my core that has a mind of it's own.'' She retorted.

"Well, that should be easy enough to remedy. Just don't sleep in the same area." Chris offered. "Although if you snore, I'm figuring that you're not actually turning off at night; just...idling? Is that right?"

''It's a built in defense system. I can easily stir awake to attack anything the nears me. My core built that, though. It's..Paranoid. Yea, that.''

Chris grinned. "I'd hate to see an unwitting thief try to steal you; he'd be in for a ride of his life." He shook his head, chuckling. "But honestly, there's not a whole lot that'll sneak up on you out here. Maybe wildlife."

Clutch creeped forward. "There's really nothing to be on the lookout for. Except maybe certain mechanics looking to test out a new program."

"Hey! I got your permission fair and square." Chris replied, crossing his arms.

CD rolled her eyes. ''Or the AI plane that flies at night and steals you tools.'' She mocked, then fliched and looked at 54.

54 was out cold asleep, despite it still being sunny outside.

"Guess we know how to send her to sleep," muttered Chris. "Shall we take the boot off or leave it on?"

Bill shook his head. "Let her get a good nigh--er, day's sleep and we'll see how she is when she wakes up. Perhaps her core will adjust to the apparent lack of a war going on."

54 stayed asleep for hours, shut down fully. Even her core had powered down, trying to figure outw where all her weapons were.

''Well, at least she's fast asleep. That was odd timing, though. She fell asleep so fast..'' CD said.

Bill grinned. "Reset button; not necessarily a button, but it happens whenever a car is stripped down to its most basic parts. It needs to recalibrate. So that's probably what she's doing now. There are two possible reactions though. First one is that she's going to be upset and more hostile--though completely unable to express that, she'll just become unmanageable. Second is that she'll become slightly more tractable and learn that not all humans are bad."

Chris snorted. "Except that, you know, one just stripped her down to basics."

Bill shrugged. "Didn't say it was foolproof; I just got rid of the immediate problem of having a nuclear bomb detonate in my garage." He turned and walked back into the house. "Let me know when she wakes up."

Chris shook his head as he regarded 54. "Well, my dad has a point. I just don't know if the gamble is going to pay off..."

After what seemed to be forever, 54 stirred awake sluggishly, looking a bit upset at what the data from her core had yeilded. Her engine puttered for a bit before it revved to life. Her blue eyes opened slightly as she looked around, now confused.

CD was already asleep after hours. And needless to say, it was her snoring that had awoken her sister once more.

Clutch was idling for once, keeping an eye--or a speaker rather--tuned for any sense of commotion. His battery would need some charging soon, but he had enough for now. He winced when CD fell asleep and the snoring began.

"Can't believe they make spy cars snore," he muttered to himself. "Anyone could hear it a mile and a half away. That or maybe it sounds like gunfire in which case, why don't troops come running?" He sighed and settled for a window washing...when his wiper fluid ran out.

"O-Oh no. Not again!" He blasted static, irritated that he was out once again. And Chris wasn't around either--having opted to follow his father inside the house with just a few words for Clutch to mind the two cars. Well, he minded. "I hate being in charge; it's boring," he grumped, not noticing that 54 had woken up.

54 winces from the static, then blares her horn at clutch.

CD snored even louder, door opening and closing.

''What are you complaining about?'' 54 hissed at Clutch, dazed.