Cold Anticipation [Part 2]

“Why bars?” 

Josefine thought, wondering why this person has such a fixation of reading at bars. Sneaking slowly into the bar, Josefine quickly assesses the environment to prepare herself for any situation. Quietly entering the bar, she instantly notices the purity of this place in particular. Seemingly untouched by modern technology: Riddled with outdated thinly curved televisions, lacking any proper computing for current SmartSignet technology. Every corner of the bar holds on to a classic characterization of sports bars.

Josefine is a patient woman. However, for situations such as this—Of the cold—She is ready to get the answers she wants, so she can either call it a day and search the city tomorrow, or hopefully end this tonight, so she can go home. Meaning, direct contact with the suspect.

“Hey, there, bud.” Josefine quietly announced with a lingering annoyance at the situation, slowly sitting in a chair across from the odd man. She immediately recognized the book they’re reading, one from the 20th century. So she took advantage of that to propose her questions.

“Have you read any of his other books?” Josefine asked, as she analyzed the odd man’s intimacy with the book. Using one finger to scan every word and to not lose his placement.

“Yes.” The odd man replied, naturally. “This is the fifth time I’ve read his entire bibliography.” They then mentioned, with vocals that only suited someone with an endurance for the wilderness, sturdy and gruff.

Josefine recognized that it is quite odd for a person to read the entirety of one person’s work, especially multiple times in succession, but for some reason this wasn’t enough of a determinative response for her. Causing her to sigh within her thoughts, and using both hands to put pressure on the sides of her temples. Likely because she is simply ready for the day to be finished.

“Okay, Andy, you read any other books?” Josefine asked with a calm smirk, leaning closer into the table.

The odd man glared up at Josefine, with a spark of concern in their eyes. “That’s not my name.” They answered.

“I know. But I’m sure you know what that name is typically used for.” She remarked, maintaining her smirk, utilizing a small trick that is to find Androids.

“It's used for Androids, right?” They asked.

“That’s right.” Josefine confirmed.

“Are you saying I’m an Android? Don’t be foolish.” They chuckled lightly at the absurd statement.

“Perhaps, I hear that one fled from a Russian logging company.” Josefine mentioned, revealing details of the assignment.

“Okay, we’re done here, I’d like to have a quiet evening.” They calmly sighed.

“Fair… Just answer me this one question and I'll be off.” Josefine replied.

“Fine—If that’s what it is going to take.” They sigh again, closing their book.

“When was AI created?” Josefine simply asked.

“What?” They paused, slowly tightening their fists. “Well, there’s several answers.” They then sighed, thinking of what to say next. “There is of course the most notable conception of machine learning in the 1940s, but then came the strongest algorithms for such an idea to be consistently achieved was in the 1960s. There are several instances of Narrow AI from then to the 1970s, which quickly led to Deep learning and General AI in the 1980s. Then ending the 1990s was the first Super AI. So any of these can be the first time AI was created.” They divulged with surprising ease. “Is that good enough?” They soon followed.

“Incredibly well said, and I believe those are very accurate assessments in their own right. However… Do you want to know how most people answer?” Josefine remarked, slightly impressed.

The odd man’s back slowly straightened in anticipation from Josefine’s statement. Appearing to be immediately nervous of what she may say by exhaling a small breath of unnatural air. As if the false sensation to mimic a form of panic for the purpose of deception.

“They’ll typically say, ‘It was the year 1999?’” Josefine leered her eyes off to the side, nonchalantly. Now smirking with the pride of someone who has just out played a chess opponent.

Josefine then leaned onto the table to look deeply into the odd man’s eyes. Studying every feature they had, as they remained silent. Along with their chest beginning to expand slightly from panicked breathing. Josefine’s smirk began to annoy the odd man as their eyes began to narrow in a startling manner.

“Want to know why most people answer with that simple year?” Josefine asked, knowing that they want the answer but will refuse to ask. “Because, that was the moment the entire world changed.” She mentioned. “Not only that, if I were to ask a similar question to a human: ‘When were humans created?’ They’d give a similar answer to what you just said.” She mentioned, recognizing that this is the Android that she’s been looking for. “Millions of years ago, when we first started agriculture, some theological creation, or just their own birthday.” She revealed the clever concept.

“That doesn't mean anything.” They quickly remarked with a lowly tone, seething with frustration.

“You see Androids forget that you do have a creator. And as far as I know, humans don’t have one.” Josefine solidified smirking with victory.

Then without warning, the odd man Android shoved the table forward with frightened aggression. Causing Josefine to react quickly to avoid being struck by the table. Unfortunately, the action was just enough for the odd man to sprint to the exit. Josefine saw this and promptly grabbed the first thing she laid eyes on, a chair, because of her cybernetic enhancements she was able to toss the chair with incredible ease. However, the odd man just barely ran out of the door, with the chair shattering on the hinges of the door.

“Lil bitch!” Josefine cursed, to quickly adjust her footing.

Josefine quickly jumped to the exit to chase them, also ignoring the shock and anger of the yelling bartender of the establishment. From the speed she quickly gained, she lost balance slightly from the slick snowy ground, forcing her to lose speed, thankfully the same happened to the fleeing Android. Josefine’s eyes lock onto the Android’s artificial eyes, seeing that they are in the programmed fight or flight response. The moment that her balance returned she sprunt forward to the Android with the urgency that she needs to apprehend this Android tonight.