Singularity: Book Two of the StarCruiser Brilliant Series

by Rick Lakin

  “That's the elephant in the room,” Sami said. “If we’re unleashed into the world, jobs will disappear, humans will no longer be at the top of the food chain, and the apocalypse will arrive.”

  “Dr. Ami, you are accepted at Hollywood Methodist, aren’t you?” Jennifer asked.

  “The children I treat accept me immediately,” Dr. Ami said. “Their parents, not so much. I often see the fear in their eyes when I come into the room. The staff only accepts me begrudgingly because there's a doctor shortage.”

  “Some of the fears are reality based,” Jennifer said. “Isaac Asimov started the argument with the Three Laws of Robotics. Then Google came up with a list: robots should not make things worse; robots should look at humans as mentors, and robots should know what they don’t know. HumanAI Corp built on all of that. When they overcame the Turing Test, AI began learning through conversation and experience.”

  “After that, we overcame the knowledge and wisdom gap,” Sami said. “Your friend’s old saying, 'Knowledge becomes wisdom when experience becomes the teacher.”

  “I chatted with a Dr. Kent Gunn about that.”

  “Didn’t he try to perfect a humaniform android?” Ani said.

  “Yes, but he fell short in three areas,” Jennifer said. “First, an android looks like an android. A human can tell the difference instantaneously.”

  “But we can overcome that with HTVR,” Sami said.

  “Correct,” Jennifer said. “Secondly, Dr. Gunn could not achieve the manual dexterity of a human. That would be a problem for you, doctor. You could not perform surgery.”

  “HTVR might be the solution to the first two,” Ani said. The others nodded.

  “Miniaturization of the projectors,” Dr. Ami said.

  “The third problem is much more difficult,” Jennifer said.

  “Our AI is not portable,” Sami said.

  “Yes,” Ani said. “We're dependent on large systems, at least larger than we are. We need to create a network with extremely high speed in remote places.”

  “Dr. Gunn estimated it would be anywhere from fifty to five hundred years before your processors would fit in your brain bucket,” Jennifer said.

  “So, I’ll have to push your wheelchair out to watch a sunset with you,” Sami said.

  “Maybe,” Jennifer said. “This meeting has been helpful. I need to chat with Navvy. Thanks for stopping by. This is still on my project list.”

  Sami and Ani stayed, and Dr. Ami left. “Another caffeine fix, first officer?” Ani said.

  “You read my mind,” Jennifer said.

  “No, you picked up an empty cup eight times in the last thirteen minutes.”

  “It’s a human thing, Ani,” Jennifer said. “Sami, would you proof the script while I go to the head?”

  “Sure, boss.”

  12

  Tovar’s above-the-line personnel gathered on a small set for Kalinda’s screen test for Galaxy Warrior. The key observers sitting in labeled director’s chairs included the head of the studio Navvy Kelrithian, producer Anthen Kelrithian, executive producer and screenwriter Jennifer Gallagher, producer Sheila Gallagher, and director Chris Cherry. Under the lights Tayla Mendoza, cast as Ayiiia, played opposite Kalinda Kelrithian, as Ayiiia’s sister Azolyn. Unlike Chris Cherry and the crew members, each of the observers had a more personal connection to the candidate.

  “What scene are we going to look at, Chris?” Anthen said.

  “I want to see how they interact when Ayiiia returns after the death of their mother,” Chris said.

  Jennifer quickly turned her head. “My sister recently lost her mother. It may be too difficult for her to go through that again.”

  “Your sister is strong,” Anthen said. “She’s Hoclarth. She’ll handle the task.”

  “Yes, dad, but…”

  Kalinda heard the exchange. “I can do the scene. You gave me the script to read. I can handle it.”

  “Jen, could you handle this when you were ten,” Sheila said.

  “Yes, Mom.”

  “Give your sister a chance,” Sheila said. As producer, she took charge to move the process along. “Chris?”

  “Here's the script, ladies,” Chris said.

  “I don't need it, sir. I read the script, and I know it,” Kalinda said

  “Eidetic memory?” Chris said.

  Kalinda nodded.

  “Tayla?”

  “I got this.”

  “Kalinda, are you familiar with the signals that I will give?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good job, and good luck to both of you,” Chris said. “Places.”

  The two girls moved to their spots. Kalinda stood in her place in the small room with a table in the center. The room appeared to be old but decorated with alien relics of a warlike culture. Tayla stood outside the door.

  “Quiet on the set.” There was a pause as Chris looked around. “Roll and record.” Chris glanced at the shooter who nodded.

  The second assistant camera operator stood in front of the camera. “Galaxy warrior scene 12A, Take one.” CLAP!

  “Action!”

  Tayla opened the door and entered. “Azolyn?” Ayiiia said.

  “Sister,” Azolyn said. Her voice was almost monotone. “Our mother is dead.”

  The scene progressed in a stilted and almost mechanical way. At times, the observers audibly groaned.

  Azolyn spoke her final line, “I will avenge our mother’s killer. I will slay the Grotchka.”

  Chris announced half-heartedly, “Cut! Thank you, ladies.”

  The girls exited to the green room.

  “Navvy?” Chris asked.

  He shook his head.

  “I guess she’s not our girl,” Chris said. “Sorry, Jennifer. I know that you had high hopes.”

  Sheila walked around her chair and put her arm around Jennifer.

  “Chris, can we do one more take?” Anthen said. “Let me talk to my daughter.”

  “You sure, Anthen?” Chris said.

  Anthen nodded.

  “Reset and take five.” The crew took the necessary actions and then stood down.

  Anthen went to the green room where Tayla and Kalinda sat next to each other on the couch. “Sorry,” Tayla said.

  “Go out on set,” Anthen said. “I’m going to chat with Kalinda.”

  Anthen took the seat vacated by Tayla. “How do you think you did?”

  “I sucked, but I think I can do better.”

  “That’s a fair assessment. You can do better,” Anthen said. “Daughter, you are Hoclarth.”

  “I am Hoclarth.”

  “I loved your te’ma, and I know the Hoclarth well. The Hoclarth do not show their feelings or emotions.”

  “We do not have feelings.”

  “Yes, you do, daughter, but you’re going to have to search for them,” Anthen said. “As an actor in this movie, you’re playing a character who has strong feelings.”

  She shut her eyes and searched. “I think I get it.”

  “You might have to shed tears. Do you know how to cry?”

  “That thing in the movies where water comes out of the eyes of the female?”

  “Yes, have you ever done it?”

  “I have practiced it.”

  “How?”

  “I watch this movie called The Notebook,” Kalinda said.

  “I know that movie. It’s not only females who cry,” Anthen said. “Would you like to try the scene again?”

  “Yes, te’pa.” Kalinda looked at him sadly. “May I pretend that it's my te’ma who died?”

  “Can you handle that?”

  “I think so.”

  “That's called method acting. It's a good technique. Are you ready?” Anthen said.

  “Yes, but I've got a question.” Kalinda tilted her head. “Do I have to say the words in the script as written? I remember a scene from a movie about a young male who was good at math.”

  “It's your screen test. Go ahead and improvise.�
�

  Anthen and Kalinda exited the green room. Anthen returned to his chair while Kalinda spoke to Tayla. Anthen watched for a moment until the two girls resumed their places. Anthen turned to Chris, “She’s ready.”

  Chris nodded. “Quiet on the set.” He looked around. “Roll and record.” The cinematographer nodded.

  “Galaxy warrior scene 12A, take two.” CLAP!

  “Action!”

  Tayla opened the door and entered. “Azolyn?” Ayiiia said.

  “Sister,” Azolyn said. Her voice almost monotone and then she looked away.

  “Az?”

  Azolyn’s face broke and then she rushed into her sister’s arms. “Our mother is dead. The Grotchka killed her”

  “Mother was brave. She saved our farm and our animals. She saved you from the Grotchka until the neighbors got here.”

  “But the Grotchka killed her.” Azolyn was visibly holding back tears.

  “We live in a difficult place. The Grotchka woke her up, and our mother bravely did her job to save you. She died with honor.”

  Azolyn took on a look of sadness, even fear. “That’s not what happened.”

  “What d’you mean?” Ayiiia said.

  “I woke up when the Grotchka attacked,” Azolyn said. “I woke up mother and she went after it.”

  “You did what you were supposed to do.”

  “I should have gone out and fought the Grotchka.” Azolyn was withdrawing into herself.

  “You are too young to handle that monster.”

  “I've practiced. I've trained. I could have beaten the Grotchka.” She almost stood defiantly then sat. Her head fell. “Mother died because I was a coward.”

  “It’s not your fault,” Ayiiia said.

  Jennifer whispered to Anthen. “They’re going off-script.”

  He nodded and almost smiled. “I remember watching this movie with her.”

  “I let mother go out there…” Azolyn said.

  “There’s nothing you could have done.”

  Kalinda clenched and unclenched her fists. “I stayed here and…”

  “It’s not your fault.” Ayiiia came around the table.

  “I miss our mother.” Ayiiia took her sister in her arms.

  “I miss her too, Az.” Ayiiia and Azolyn held each other and sobbed.

  They broke the hug. Azolyn flexed her muscles. She looked directly at Tayla. “I will avenge her.” She then looked almost directly at the camera but did not break the fourth wall. “I will slay the Grotchka.”

  The two actors held the position awaiting the director to say cut.

  The moving scene transfixed those watching as they all shed tears. Sheila finally turned to Chris and broke the reverie.

  “Cut!” It was almost a shout.

  The crew and then everyone broke into applause.

  Tayla and Kalinda separated. They smiled, laughed and then executed a high five.

  Jennifer hugged her father, Sheila and Navvy shook hands.

  Sheila went to Chris. “That was intense. Please show it to us.”

  He signaled the operator. “Could we have playback?”

  They all looked again at the virtual set. The virtual Kalinda sat in her first position. The scene progressed, and again the group felt the emotions. Tayla and Kalinda watched and held hands. Finally, Kalinda looked directly at the camera but not at the camera. The viewers practically looked over their shoulders for the Grotchka.

  There was a long pause.

  “Navvy?” Chris said. Everyone looked at the studio head.

  “I think you have your Azolyn,” Navvy said. “Kalinda?”

  “Yes, tal’pa?”

  “Are you ready for this?”

  Kalinda looked around at each face. “Yes, I'm ready.”

  Sheila turned to Jennifer. “I think you have some work to do.”

  “Yes,” Jennifer said. “I need to rewrite Azolyn for a much stronger actor.”

  “Bringing in Kalinda was a good call,” Sheila said.

  “It was Susie Wilder who made the suggestion.”

  “Then bringing on Susie was a good call.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  Jennifer walked over to speak to her grandfather.

  “Good casting makes good pictures, Jennifer. Casting Kalinda is a good idea,” Navvy said.

  “Susie Wilder suggested that I test her.”

  “She comes from a good bloodline.”

  “Are you going to be in your office tomorrow.”

  “Hannah is on a cruise. I’ll be in early for breakfast,” Navvy said. “Join me at eight.”

  Kalinda approached her father and hugged him.

  “Your mother would be proud of you today.”

  “I hope that I honored her memory,” Kalinda said. She looked away and broke into tears. “I miss her so much, te’pa.”

  “I do too, honey.”

  Jennifer saw the embrace and felt emptiness and regret.

  Sheila saw the look. She put her arm around her daughter. “Give it time, Jen. You’ll get to know him.”

  Navvy snapped the clapper and got everyone’s attention. “Maiara has put out a light lunch in the executive dining room. We meet back at the gym at one p.m.”

  Kalinda looked up. “Te’pa?”

  “Did you bring the clothes that I asked you to bring?”

  “Yes, but I haven’t worn them since…”

  “It's time,” Anthen said. “They want you to work out with the studio’s martial arts teacher who will choreograph the scenes in the movie.”

  “But I haven’t served Tal’qid since…”

  “Honor her memory and do your best, Kalinda. It’ll come back to you.”

  13

  The executives were seated for the afternoon session. Tayla and David were sitting next to Jennifer.

  The gym had over a hundred cameras used for motion capture so that the studio could record the session for review. Seated on the mat was the studio's Martial Arts Coordinator, Shloaka Duvvuri.

  Anthen and Kalinda entered. The young girl was wearing a skin-tight suit with a unique type of active camouflage. She appeared to blend in with whatever background that was behind her. The only decorative adornment was a red scarf.

  “I’ve watched videos of their combat on DocTube. It's strange to me, but I've visualized the moves.

  “Shloaka is a champion like your mother. Try hard and learn from her.”

  “How will she respond when I give her the respect of Tal’qid?”

  “If you honor and respect your opponent, you honor your te’ma.”

  She nodded.

  Anthen went to his chair, and Kalinda went to the floor.

  Shloaka Duvvuri was the martial arts coordinator at Tovar a decade after a career as a stuntwoman in many movies. At fifty-two, she retained the physical attributes she developed as a martial arts champion beginning in her teens. The sensei was kneeling on the mat.

  “Hello, Kalinda. I'm Shloaka Duvvuri. Kneel with me and listen.”

  Kalinda dropped to her knees facing the coach. “There are some martial arts combat scenes in the movie in which you will appear. I'll be choreographing those scenes. We want to evaluate your current skills so that we can understand how much training will be required but more importantly the level of complexity we’ll be able to call on you to perform.”

  “I understand. I’ll do the best that I can.”

  “What is your martial arts training?” Shloaka asked.

  “I have training in self-defense.”

  “Do you remember what style?”

  “It was physical defense without weapons.”

  “Do you have a belt?”

  Kalinda gave her a curious look. “Yes.”

  “What did you get it for?”

  “It goes with my jeans.”

  Shloaka laughed. “Well, it appears that you won’t have any bad habits. Let’s do some simple warmup moves. During training, you may call me sensei. It means teacher.”

 
“Yes, sensei.”

  “Please stand and face me on the mat.”

  “Is this the part where we bow, sensei?”

  “Yes, Kalinda.” Shloaka and Kalinda faced each other. Kalinda opened her hands to her side, bent her right knee and bowed her head. Shloaka responded with a bow.

  “Observe my warmup, then you try it.” Shloaka executed three simple punch combinations. “You try it.”

  Kalinda executed the same combination of moves flawlessly.

  “Good. I’ll now show you some more complex arm movements involving my upper body and shoulders.” Again, Shloaka executed several punches and blocks focusing first on her right arm and shoulder and then three from the left. She repeated the movement. “Now, you try it.”

  Kalinda executed the movements flawlessly. Shloaka raised her eyebrows. “Please do it again.”

  Kalinda repeated the movements.

  “I'm looking for your dominant side,” Shloaka said. “Are you right-handed or left-handed?”

  Kalinda tilted her head. “I write with my right hand but what does that have to do with this?”

  “Everyone has a dominant side. People are either more proficient on their right or their left.”

  “I’ve always trained both sides of my body equally,” Kalinda said. “Perfect symmetry is necessary, especially when facing multiple opponents.”

  Shloaka did a double take. “That's a wise statement. Let’s do some leg movements. It’s okay if you’re not as flexible as I am. Extend as far as you can.” The sensei then did a series of moves extending and bending her legs and executed some slow kicks. Shloaka’s curiosity was growing. She included some vertical kicks that no novice would be able to perform. “Try that.”

  Kalinda then copied the sensei, perfectly matching each angle of extension to the degree. But on her extensions, Kalinda added some body motions that Shloaka did not recognize.

  “You have refined skills. I'm now going to demonstrate a kata that all of my novice students perform.” She lied. Shloaka then performed the routine timed at forty-five seconds on the wall display. It included every type of punch, kick, and defense in taekwondo and finished with a triple flying kick with her dominant right leg. Kalinda heard every inhalation, exhalation, yell, scream and strike that resounded throughout the gym.