1 Towards Unknown
"Ding! Dong!" The sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the entire apartment.
"Guys, I think my parcel has arrived. I'm quitting now," Osim declared, disregarding the pleas from his friends on the other side of the game.
"Hey, finish the game..." his friends protested, but Osim paid no heed. There was something far more intriguing and captivating waiting for him than his ongoing gaming session.
"The package has finally arrived! I can't wait any longer!" Osim exclaimed, his excitement palpable. He had eagerly anticipated this moment for two long weeks. While his buddies received their AI companions ten days ago, he had patiently waited, having given specific instructions to the company. But now, the anticipation had reached its peak, and he couldn't contain himself any longer.
Osim's exhilaration compelled him to dash towards the front door, carelessly knocking over a few decorations in his path. As he swung open the door, his eyes widened at the sight before him—a hovering, white drone clutching a securely sealed package.
"Please place your fingerprint and enter the password on the display," the drone's mechanical voice commanded, drawing Osim's attention to the bluish display situated at its front. On the screen, a fingerprint indicator gleamed, prompting him to comply. With trembling excitement, he pressed his thumb against the display.
"Fingerprint matched! Now, enter the password," the drone instructed, and the display transformed, revealing a virtual keyboard. Osim hastily typed the password and anxiously pressed 'CONFIRM.'
"Password is incorrect! Please try again. You have two more attempts remaining," the drone warned, its voice devoid of emotion.
"Calm down, Osim. Take your time and enter it slowly," he whispered to himself, his heart pounding. With newfound focus, Osim entered the password once more, this time meticulously.
"Password correct! Congratulations!" the drone declared. It descended to a lower altitude and emitted a satisfying click as it unlocked the package, gently placing it on the floor. Osim eagerly extended his arms, retrieving the package.
"Thank you for your purchase from BotAI. Please refer to the enclosed manual for further instructions. We hope you will find utmost satisfaction..." the mechanical voice droned on, but Osim forcefully slammed the door shut without pausing to listen and rushed back to his gaming room. There were more important matters at hand than meaningless formalities.
#####
With his heart still racing from the anticipation, Osim carefully placed the package in the open area of his gaming room. Eager to uncover the treasures within, he swiftly tore open the packaging, revealing its contents. His eyes lit up as he delicately organized the items on the floor, savoring each moment.
Among the items were two mechanical wristbands, one in a mesmerizing bluish-green hue for the right hand, and the other in a captivating greenish-blue shade for the left hand. Each wristband featured a sleek, dark display on the front, exuding a sense of sophistication and modernity.
"Awesome!" Osim couldn't help but become entranced by the intricate and delicate design of the wristbands. After a few moments, he shifted his gaze away, diverting his attention to the other items laid before him. A sophisticated pair of goggles, a high-quality earbud, and lastly, a manual.
He picked up the manual first, flipping through the pages with a mix of excitement and impatience. After absorbing the instructions, he set the manual aside and fixed his focus on the two wristbands.
"My beautiful babies," he exclaimed with genuine affection as he lovingly placed the wristbands on his respective hands. With a flick of his fingers, he activated both wristbands, causing their displays to glow with an inviting light. He then positioned the goggles over his eyes after removing his spectacles, ensuring a comfortable fit, and adjusted the earbud snugly into his left ear.
A surge of anticipation coursed through Osim as he waited for the moment when his new companions would come to life, fulfilling his every expectation.
######
A month prior, BotAI's official website released an exhilarating video that ignited excitement in the hearts of AI enthusiasts. The announcement in the video declared that their latest product would hit the market just three days after its release. It showcased a personal AI companion tailored to each customer's desires, equipped with learning capabilities based on individual experiences. These companions had the ability to collect data through goggles and sound systems, offering assistance in various aspects of customers' daily lives. The wristbands, featuring interactive displays, captivated everyone who watched the announcement video.
The news of the AI product quickly spread to everyone, including Osim and his buddies. During one of their gaming sessions, they excitedly discussed the video, unanimously agreeing that the AI companions had the potential to greatly enhance their gaming endeavors. Without hesitation, they logged onto the BotAI website through their respective mediums and promptly placed their orders.
As Osim entered the website, he found himself astounded by the vast array of customization options available for the AI product. Intrigued by the possibilities, a spark of inspiration ignited within him. He believed that utilizing the AI companions could unlock the full potential of his secret power.
Driven by his hunch, Osim directly contacted the BotAI company, proposing the creation of two custom AI wristbands designed to accommodate his abilities. While the company was unaware of Osim's secret power, they weighed the pros and cons of his request. After facing some negotiation obstacles, the company eventually agreed to his terms, albeit with a condition. They would sponsor Osim, and in return, he would become the official spokesperson for their groundbreaking product.
The day before the highly anticipated launch, a new announcement from the BotAI website caused a stir, particularly in the gaming world. The renowned gamer 'Osim Sunno' had forged a partnership with BotAI, solidifying his role as the ambassador for their groundbreaking AI companion.
Since Osim had requested the integration of two AI systems with a single set of goggles and earbuds, the BotAI company required an additional two weeks to fulfill his customized order. The time had finally come to experience and savor this unique moment, and Osim's excitement reached its peak.
######
"Beep", "Welcome!" "Welcome!" Two sweet and intoxicating yet distinct female voices echoed from the left side.
"I'm model 000311. Codename 'Braker'," the first voice introduced itself. "I'm model 000367. Codename 'Maker'," the second voice followed suit.
The first voice continued, "Scan complete. The host's body temperature is slightly elevated, and the heartbeat is slightly faster than normal. The host has myopia. Trying to connect to the internet. Please enter your Wi-Fi password," the left wristband's display changed accordingly. As Osim began setting up the Wi-Fi on the left wristband, the other voice continued.
"As the host has myopia, I will adjust the goggles accordingly. Warning! Warning! The host needs to consume food soon, as all parts of the AI Companion will be charged by the host's thermal energy. Since it is the first time, the host may experience nausea or other health conditions. Treat it like seasickness. Your body will gradually become accustomed to it. If the condition becomes beyond expectation, we can call a doctor before going into hibernation. Good luck!"
Listening attentively to the second voice, Osim entered the Wi-Fi password. This time, he didn't make any mistakes and succeeded with a single attempt.
The first voice chimed in once more, "Wi-Fi connected. Establishing connection with the internet. Following the terms and conditions of 'The BotAI Companion Rules' (BACR), we will retrieve your personal data from the permitted sites provided by you. Connection established! Downloading data."
Osim exclaimed, "Oh!" as a floating progress bar appeared in front of him. It displayed the ongoing download progress: 1%, 2%, 3%...
Meanwhile, the second voice took over. "Your personal data will not be shared with anybody without your permission. The download process will take some time to complete. In the meantime, please consume some healthy food. Also, if you wish, you can disable the floating display. We can show the progress on the wristband display instead."
A confirmation message popped up on the right wristband display. Osim glanced at it and tapped the "no" button, indicating that he wanted to keep the floating display. He then made his way to the dining room, his attention still focused on the progressing download bar.
"Hehe, so this is how they feel!" Osim thought, completely absorbed in watching the progress bar.
#####
'93%, 94%, 95%...' As Osim anxiously watched the progress bar, he hastily finished the last drops of his juice pack and tossed the empty container into the nearby dustbin. It landed perfectly inside, a small achievement that went unnoticed as he was already making his way back to the gaming room.
Upon entering the room, he noticed that his PC was in sleep mode. A fleeting thought of checking on his buddies crossed his mind, but it quickly dissipated.
"Screw it! They've been performing better since they got their companions. Just you wait. Once my babies wake up, I'll dominate them all!" Osim declared confidently, his competitive spirit reignited.
'97%, 98%, 99%, 100%!' Osim exclaimed, filled with excitement and triumph. He couldn't contain his enthusiasm and raised his right fist triumphantly in the air.
After a brief pause, the first voice resurfaced, breaking the silence. "All personal data has been successfully downloaded. Please state your name aloud," it requested.
Understanding the significance of this moment, Osim took a deep breath, aiming to respond as naturally as possible. "Osim Sunno," he answered confidently.
The question and answer session continued…
"Your birth month is..."
"July"
"Your Age"
"25"
"Your Profession"
Osim hesitated for a moment, yet continued, "Gamer"
"Now repeat what I'll say, 'I'm Osim Sunno. I was born in July. I'm currently 25 years old and I live as a gamer.'"
"Sure," Osim replied, ready to repeat the statement. "I'm Osim Sunno. I was born in July. I'm currently 25 years old and I live as a gamer." He spoke each word clearly and confidently.
The second voice took over, conveying a sense of accomplishment. "Congratulations! Your voice frequency has been successfully registered. From now on, you can interact with us by speaking."
"Alright," Osim exclaimed, his voice filled with anticipation. "Tell me, what can you do for a gamer?" The second voice began to respond, "We can do a lot of things for a gamer, such as…"
But before the second voice could finish, an unexpected event unfolded. The lights in the room began to flicker, casting an eerie glow. A strange distortion started forming in front of Osim, causing his heart to race with confusion and concern.
"What the hell is happening?" he shouted, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"Warning! Warning!" the first voice urgently sounded. "Host's heart rate and temperature are dropping rapidly. Abnormal changes are occurring."
As the first voice faded away, the second voice took over, its tone urgent. "As the host is reaching the threshold limit, we are contacting the health center. We will initiate hibernation in 3 seconds. Emergency functions will be available during hibernation. 3, 2, 1... beep."
The voice cut off and the once-illuminated displays on his wristbands flickered and dimmed, their light extinguished. Osim tried to utter something, but no sound escaped his lips. The situation grew increasingly perilous, and he found himself being drawn towards the growing distortion as if being pulled by an invisible force.
Just before disappearing into the distortion, Osim glanced back and became horrified.
"Why is my body there?", before understanding the situation, he succumbed to unconsciousness.
If his consciousness remained for a few more moments, he might have noticed two ethereal lights following him from his still physical body.
