"Mark? Hi, it's Ada. I think I have a story for you…."
Chapter 3: The Camera Eye
A few days later, you're sitting in a dive bar in San Francisco's Mission district with Mark, a somewhat scruffy, young reporter in a leather jacket. Mark has Mediterranean features, wavy, black hair, and ample beard stubble. He takes a deep pull on one of those artificial cigarettes that delivers all the nicotine with none of the illegal smoke, then opens up a cheap Chromebook that looks about ten years old and starts typing furiously. The place smells of smoke that never quite came out of the retro, upholstered furniture. It's the afternoon, so the place is mostly empty except for some dedicated drunks and you two.
"Thanks for coming," Mark says, even as he's typing something different about the atmosphere of the bar. "You'd be surprised how many people insist on just answering via email. But that's bullshit reporting. It's like trying to sell the public a car you've only seen in a picture. To find the truth, you've got to kick the tires. You've got to look them in the eye."
He looks you in the eye.
"Like right now, I can tell you've sacrificed a little piece of your life for something else," he says, going back to typing. "There's a weird flatness in your look, like you're not quite used to being fully here. You appreciate things a little more than people, maybe. Probably passed up a social opportunity or two." He hesitates. "Sorry," he says. "But I know how that is. Sometimes, you've got to put a piece of yourself into something bigger. I get it."
"Thanks," you say awkwardly.
The bartender, a tattooed and thoroughly pierced young woman with the build of a roller derby player, approaches Mark.
"PBR," Mark says lightly, as if it's just a reminder.
The bartender then looks to you expectantly.
1) "PBR for me, too."
2) "Got any, like, chocolate coffee porters?"
3) "I'll have the Miller High Life, please. The Champagne of Beers!"
4) "Guinness. For strength."
5) "Just water for me, please."
Year: 2020
25-year-old Ada Doniec
Humanity: 79%
Gender: female
Fame: 0 (Who?)
Wealth: 0 (Broke)
Romance: Eiji
Caliban
Autonomy: 7 (In Beta)
Military: 0 (Nonexistent)
Empathy: 21 (Impressive)
Grace: 7 (In Beta)
Relationships
Professor Ziegler (Great): 71%
Eiji (Very Good): 69%
Josh (Good): 60%
Mark: 50%
?: 50%
?: 50%
?: 50%
?: 50%
Author
Topic: Let's Choose in Choice of Robots (Read 87538 times)