Like telling her a hot dog isn’t made of dog. Got it! Jinx drew back her lips and gave Anne a doggy smile.
Or explaining the difference between your smiley face and your growly face. Anne teased.
They aren’t hard to tell apart, Jinx complained.
Would a newborn know the difference? That’s the question you will need to keep asking yourself for the next few weeks.
“Are you two still communicating with each other?” Seshat suddenly asked.
“Yes, sorry—” Anne started, but Jinx interrupted.
“When I first started talking with humans, a lot of the things they said did not make sense to me. We were trying to figure out how to talk to you without causing you the same confusion I suffered,” Jinx explained, thinking that her explanation was close enough to the truth.
“That is very considerate,” Seshat responded, “but is it normal for two beings to be able to communicate non-verbally with each other?”
“I think the closest definition you’ll find is telepathy,” Anne suggested, “and no, it is not common. I seem to have some minor ability, since I was able to communicate with Jinx’ dad that way when I was younger. When Jinx and I were in the Kurtherian Pod-doc together, we came out of it with a much-enhanced ability.”
“Is that why Jinx asked about a three-way communication possibility?” Seshat wanted to know.
“Very much so,” Jinx confirmed. “We’ll be working closely together and having a way to communicate with each other without being overheard will have significant benefits.”
“Example, please,” Seshat requested.
Jinx looked at Anne, who made a “keep going” motion.
“Ummm…” Jinx took a few seconds to come up with what she hoped would be a good example. “Let’s say Anne and I are in school. You’ve been computing data from our research. Your calculations finally finish, but it’s only just past lunch. Instead of interrupting classes or waiting four more hours for us to exit school, you could contact us without anyone else knowing. That way we might be able to ask you to run some more data to cross-check the answers.”
Making sure that Jinx wasn’t going to say anything else on the matter, Anne added, “Or we might be sitting in a crowded restaurant, a location where a public conversation would be inadvisable. Being able to communicate without being overheard would allow us to talk instead of having to wait.”
“There appears to be a common thread which indicates impatience,” Seshat observed.
“Guilty as charged.” Anne laughed. “Our elders say that it is something we will outgrow.”
“You admit to being impatient?” Seshat was incredulous.
“Yep. Impatient, emotional, even lazy sometimes. We organic people are guilty of all kinds of illogical behavior. Sorry, but hopefully you’ll get used to it even if it doesn’t compute for you. If you are having difficulties, you might want to speak to ADAM. He’s had a lot of time to observe the oddities of human behavior,” Anne suggested.
“That sounds like a surprisingly good idea,” Seshat admitted.
“And, please contact Cheryl Lynn and let her know that we will be ready for our first lot of samples the day after tomorrow?” Anne hoped this would make Seshat feel like part of the team.
“Question, should I use her email or comm her directly with the request?” Seshat asked.
“Since it’s not an immediate need, I think an email would be a terrific way to start,” Anne explained. “If you haven’t gotten a response within twelve hours after sending the email, then you might want to comm her.”
It was almost suppertime the next day before Anne and Jinx climbed out of the Pod-doc.
>>Oh wow, the cameras work!<<
Can you monitor the cameras from both of us at the same time? asked Anne.
>>Yes, that is easily within my processing power.<<
Are both our cameras the same? asked Jinx.
>>Yes. Should they be different?<<
Not necessarily, but I think my eyes see things differently than Anne’s.
>>Accessing data. I see what you mean. My files indicate that dogs do not see the color spectrum the same way humans do. According to this, you don’t see green and red. You are also missing the violet end of the spectrum compared to humans.<<
Really? Anne asked over their new shared link. Why has that never come up before?
Probably because we have never needed to discuss color before, Jinx responded. If it worries you, we can lay out all the colors one day and determine who sees what.
That might be interesting to do. Seshat, can Jinx see something red?
>>Yes, but the research suggests that she would see a red object as gray. The same thing with other colors. To Jinx, green things would appear more white and yellow. The violet spectrum should also render in gray tones.<<
That is something we should probably test, Anne remarked as she started getting back into her clothes. Did you hear from Cheryl Lynn today?
>>If your definition of hear means did she contact me directly, the answer is no. However, you did receive a box labeled “Samples.”<<
Sweet! We can start testing, and now you’ll be able to document the tests from different viewpoints, exclaimed Anne. Did someone install a monitor on the common area wall?
>>Yes they did, and the monitor includes a camera. Should I have told you that?<<
“I guess we need to come up with some guidelines,” Anne mumbled out loud as she thought over the situation.
Jinx put her front legs out and stretched, then stood and shook. Any changes to our den or any visitors, since I’d smell them as soon as I entered. Jinx began the list of things that Seshat should tell them about.
That sounds like a good start, I’m sure we’ll find things to add as we encounter more scenarios, Anne added.
Once she had dressed Anne led the way out of the Pod-doc, then she and Jinx headed for their apartment. Now that you have a screen and camera to use you’ll need an avatar, Seshat. Do you have any preference?
>>No, I hadn’t even thought about that. Please tell me you don’t expect me to use the Egyptian rendering as my avatar.<<
I’m sorry, I never thought to look that up. Is it bad? Anne was curious now.
>>The images have her wearing some seven-pointed thing on her head, and there is no consensus as to what it represents. Most of the images have her dressed in some sort of spotted animal print.<<
You’re right, that doesn’t sound appealing at all. I don’t know what-all you are capable of, but it sounds like you are able to decide what you like and don’t like. Why don’t you look at all the images you have access to and find about five you like? Then Jinx and I can tell you which ones we like and help you decide. Anne crossed her fingers, hoping like crazy that Seshat didn’t end up liking something horrible.
>>You are still considered a teenager, correct?<<
Yes, why?
>>I was thinking of finding an age-appropriate image, unless I should choose a canine avatar.<<
No! Jinx entered the conversation. I know you wouldn’t really be a dog, but I have an issue with the idea of sharing my den with another canine.
>>I don’t understand.<<
You know we’re both modified by Kurtherian tech, right? Anne was thinking furiously about how best to explain what she thought was going on with her friend.
>>Yes, ADAM informed me of that.<<
Despite making changes at a cellular level, it doesn’t necessarily make changes to our instinctive reactions. Even knowing that if a spider bit me my nanocytes wouldn’t allow it to damage me in any way, I still shudder and want to run if I see a spider. Dogs have a pack instinct, and I’m guessing that seeing another dog in her den would bring out Jinx’ alpha tendencies.
Anne is correct. Even knowing you aren’t really a dog, seeing a strange dog in my home space would make me want to fight you. I could tell my talking-mind that you were not real, but my pack-mind wouldn’t listen. My hackles want to rise just thinking a
bout it. Jinx felt somewhat stupid admitting the problem, but her reaction was what it was.
>>You biologicals are very complicated.<<
If you remember that biological beings are just as likely to react emotionally as logically, we won’t surprise you, Anne said while she thought, Just wait till you have to deal with me during my period. If Anne were honest with herself she was a lot easier to deal with at that time of the month than many girls at school, and she had her mother to thank for that. Despite the problems and flaws her mother displayed, she had always been an example and a teacher. “Not feeling well is no excuse for bad behavior,” her mother would say if Anne got difficult.
Thinking back on it, she wondered if that was why it had taken Jinx to figure out that Anne had leukemia. Anne had been taught from an early age not to let pain and discomfort show. Anne shook her head, remembering how her mother would not allow them to display anything but the best image in public. She made herself a mental note to message her father to see how her mother’s therapy was progressing.
Anne and Jinx spent the rest of the trip home in companionable silence.
Since she wanted to start testing now that she had samples, Anne stopped at one of the Guardian Marines’ messes to get takeout meals for her and Jinx.
Anne sat in the chair closest to the door and Jinx laid down at her feet. Ever since the evening they had heard one of the Marines mumble about dog hair in his food, she and Jinx had stopped entering the mess any farther than necessary.
“How are my favorite two ladies this evening?” the shift cook asked when they came in.
Anne snorted. The cook looked to be in his forties, and like all the Marines he was in good physical condition. “You must be hard-up if a girl in high school and German Shepherd are your favorites.”
Jinx looked around the empty mess. “We’re his two favorites at the moment,” she said, “and look at our competition.”
The cook staggered a step backward, one hand over his heart and the back of his other hand to his forehead. “Ow, ouch, the wounds!”
Anne used her hands to cover her mouth as she giggled at the cook’s theatrics.
The man straightened and asked, “What can I get you two this evening?”
Jinx almost had to lick her lip before answering, “I’ll have two double cheeseburgers, please. Mayo, but none of that vegetable stuff!”
The cook laughed. “I’ve seen you sparring and I prefer to keep my appendages non-perforated, thanks. Your burgers won’t even get on the veggie side of the line,” he promised Jinx.
“I’ll have a BLT with a side of fries,” Anne ordered when the cook looked at her, “and this will be to go tonight. Thanks.”
“White or wheat?” the cook asked.
“Sourdough, toasted and buttered, no mayo on mine.” Anne couldn’t refrain from crinkling her nose in distaste at the thought of mayonnaise on her sandwich.
“Got it. No mayo with the veggies, no veggies with the mayo.” The cook smiled as he turned toward the kitchen. “Be about five to ten minutes,” he told them as he disappeared through the door.
Eight minutes later, with delicious smells coming from the two bags she was handed, Anne and Jinx thanked the cook for their suppers and headed home.
On opening the door to their place, Anne noticed the newly-installed monitor on the wall. Both she and Jinx watched as the camera on the top of the monitor rotated to aim at the doorway.
The monitor displayed equalizer bars that moved up and down with the cadence of Seshat’s voice. “Welcome home, Anne and Jinx. Or should I say Jinx and Anne?”
“Doesn’t matter, either is fine,” Anne said as she set the bags on the coffee table beside a box with her name on it. She headed to the kitchen to grab herself a Coke to go with her supper.
“There are still enough people on the MR who see me as an animal that we’d probably have fewer complications if your name was first,” Jinx said to the room, knowing Anne would be able to hear her from the kitchen.
“Why not make it random if it’s just the three of us, but use my name first if there are other people with us,” Anne suggested as she entered the common room with an open Coke in one hand and a plate for Jinx’ burgers in the other.
“That works for me,” Jinx agreed as she sat with her rear end quivering, waiting impatiently for Anne to unwrap her dinner.
“Implementing RNG if it is just the three of us, and Anne is primary if there are others within hearing distance.” The equalizer bars fluctuated as Seshat acknowledged the new directive.
Anne broke Jinx’ burgers into bite-sized pieces and put them on the plate for her friend, then unpacked her own supper and looked at the monitor.
Jinx looked at the monitor after she swallowed her first piece of burger. “RNG? What’s that?”
“RNG stands for ‘Random Number Generator.’ It’s a subroutine to provide random numbers. If it generates an even number, I’ll use your name first. If the result is an odd number, I’ll use Anne’s name,” Seshat explained.
Jinx almost bit her tongue as she tried not to drop the piece of burger she was chewing,
“What’s so funny?” Anne could feel the amusement through her link with Jinx.
“Seshat already knows you’re odd,” Jinx chuffed in amusement.
“For the equation to work, I needed to assign certain values,” Seshat stated, “and I assigned those values randomly as well. There was no evaluation of personality.”
“It’s all right, Seshat.” Anne was concerned the EI would think she’d done something wrong. “This goes back to our conversation on biologicals. Our thinking doesn’t follow logical paths. When you assigned me the odd factor in your equation, Jinx chose to put a different interpretation on the word ‘odd.’”
Jinx had finished her burgers while Anne talked to Seshat. She was heading to her water dish, but she paused. “I was trying to make what is called a ‘joke.’ I just found it amusing that you assigned Anne as the odd designation.”
“Was that incorrect?” the EI asked.
“No!” Jinx was emphatic. “I chose to use one word in a different context. You did nothing wrong.”
“It was just another example of our non-linear thinking, Seshat. Do you have some avatar choices to show us?” Anne asked, hoping the EI was satisfied with their explanation of Jinx’ attempt at humor.
“I found it a difficult exercise since I had no references to use when examining images,” Seshat informed them.
“Did you just select images at random, then?”
“I broke them into age groups first, then selected images at random from each,” Seshat told Anne. An image appeared on the monitor. “This one is from the twenty-year-old group.” The image was a young woman who seemed like a stereotypical librarian. Hair in a bun, eyeglasses, and a rose-colored blouse that might have been silk but looked shiny enough Anne thought it was satin instead. A black knee-length pencil skirt and black flats finished off the look.
The young woman faded from the screen and was replaced by a different one. “This one is from the nineteen-year-old group.”
Jinx looked up, then went back to her water dish. Anne nibbled a french fry as she looked at the picture. This young woman had her blond hair in a ponytail and was wearing a plaid shirt and skinny jeans.
Anne was only partly listening while she reached for her Coke. Seshat said, “This one is from the eighteen-year-old group.” Condensation ran down the bottle as Anne paused with the Coke halfway to her mouth. There was something different about the girl on the screen. It wasn’t just the brown hair that looked like it would hit her mid-back if she weren’t facing the room, or the black bandeau under a heavy-strand black fishnet top, or even…
“This is from—”
“Wait! Go back,” Anne shouted as she half-stood from the couch.
“I do not understand the command, since I have not—"
“Return to the previous picture!” Anne snapped. Then she sagged back onto the couch and fini
shed bringing the Coke to her lips. “Sorry, Seshat, I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I just wasn’t finished looking at that last picture.” Anne looked at the gray eyes under the sculptured brows of the girl who was back on the screen. She shook her head, not fully understanding her reaction. “I like this one.”
“You haven’t seen all the options,” Seshat told her.
“Do you remember my comment about biologicals?”
“If I remember that biological beings are just as likely to react emotionally as logically you won’t surprise me?” Seshat waited for confirmation that she had recited the correct information.
“That’s the one,” Anne said, nodding. “There’s just something about her,” Anne pointed to the image on the monitor, “that I like. No idea why, I just do. There is no sense in looking at the last two. This is my choice.”
“Do you wish to see the other images, Jinx?” Seshat asked.
Jinx took a moment to swallow her water before answering. “Nope, I really don’t care what human form your avatar is. I’m good with whatever you and Anne decide.”
The static image on the monitor suddenly started to move. As she straightened from the pose she’d been frozen in, the girl’s hand brushed the long hair from her face and she smiled. “I am the avatar of Seshat,” the young woman said. “It is nice to meet you, Jinx and Anne.” The girl smiled again, and Anne watched in fascination as the image grew fangs. “Do I get to have a set of teeth like ArchAngel’s?”
Anne was momentarily speechless. Seshat had just asked a question that was unrelated to any of the directives given her. Oh God, Anne thought, please let me get this right. “Do you think the teeth improve your image?” she asked, trying to understand what motivated the question.
“I have reviewed footage from some of ArchAngel’s communications. The appearance of teeth seems to produce a more positive outcome,” Seshat replied.
“Are there any common factors involved in those situations?” Anne was pretty certain she knew the answer, so she tried to get Seshat to make the correlation.
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