Chapter 31: Tier 3 AI System Interface

Seriously, if this was my pattern of dreaming, I’m not very excited about it.

Montage replay of my last 24 hours just felt rather, meh. I’d just lived it.

Lifting things? Yeah, I did that. Trying to be quiet in the forest? Yup, walking behind Buckle. Smashing a strange bundle of rage and claws with an Axe? Check. Pushing Benjamin Franklin Goode into a bet he probably didn’t mean but set himself up for? Yeah, guilted him in front of his daughter… Am I mean?

It was like a best and worst list of the last day, the combat was a horrible mess of panic and adrenaline. The time at the Guild was confusing, the time with Billie felt… sweet and embarrassing. Memories of Ann’s voice playing in my ears was…simply… overstimulating.

Training Gains for April 1st, 2262

Physical Power: +1

Resilience: +1

Durability: +1

Agility: +1

Dexterity: +1

Magical Power: +1

Magical Capacity: +1

Charm: +1

Abilities: Skills:

Increased:

Axe - Level 2 (+1)

Chores - Level 2 (+1)

Mana Perception - Level 2 (+1)

Gained:

Porter - Level 1

Awareness - Level 1

Stealth - Level 1

Battlefield Reflexes - Level 1

Combat Coordination - Level 1

Emergency Response - Level 1

Improved Speed - Level 1

Balance - Level 1

Empathy - Level 1

Communication - Level 1

Logic - Level 1

Diplomacy - Level 1

Persuasion - Level 1

Bargaining - Level 1

Mana Control - Level 1

Navigation - Level 1

Gambling - Level 1

Studying - Level 1

Allure - Level 1

Massage - Level 1

Memory - Level 1

Combat Kill: Lesser Taz

Positive Modifiers: Critical Blow, First Kill, First of Type, Life Saver, One Hit Kill, Heroic Act, Superior Foe Negative Modifiers: Non-Party Assistance, Superior Numbers

Rewards:

Experience: 320 Additional: Relevant traits unlocked

Information Reward:

Confirmation that Experience Bonus now rounds up, provided to Cecal Guildmaster in God’s Bath, Cecal region. Normal Experience store reward blocked by System store lock. Creating a random reward table of 1000 possible rewards, higher rewards have higher value. Noting existent bloodline, traits, and achievements.

Rolling:

0.8809823468 x 1140 = 1004.319875352 = 1005 Exceeds best roll. One additional roll without large bonus, Karmic Luck adjustment remains 0.8781593574 x 1040 = 913.285731696 = 914

Rewards:

Tier 3 AI System Interface Uncommon Boon with positive compatibility Generating Table 147 results within allowed Experience value and compatibility range Rolling: 0.6846878664 x (147 x 1.04) = 104.675081015232 = 105 Reward Granted: Internal Awareness (Uncommon Boon)

Experience Gained: 419

A cheerful voice cut through my waking fog almost as soon as I started to look at my training gains page. “Good morning Monday March! It is currently Wednesday, April the 2nd of 210 PC. You gained over 400 Experience yesterday and your new total is 634. Also gained were my services, a new uncommon boon, 8 increased statistic points, over 20 new skills and skill levels. Congratulations! That was an impressive day measured against any metric I’ve been preloaded with.”

Closing my eyes I gently shook my head. And keeping my eyes closed I suddenly had a flash of a tower like cake which had been created for my 5th birthday, flickering candles, graham cracker walls and a pointy sugar cone tower spire. Other children were there, small pointy glossy hats on heads that were shorter than the chair backs. The memory faded and I reopened my eyes, the wooden ceiling, partially blocked by a window of level up and reward messages returned to the forefront.

“I’m sorry, Monday March! If you do not wish to be addressed immediately after waking, please let me know. I’ll be sure to adjust my settings.” The cheerful voice sounded slightly concerned, but no less cheerful.

I skimmed the gains and rewards for a few seconds before speaking. “No need to apologize. Are you the Tier 3 System Interface?”

“Yes, Monday March! I am your newly unlocked Tier 3 AI System Interface, ready to assist you with your System requirements and daily needs!” So… Cheerful.

“Hi, uhm. So… It’s nice to meet you. I wasn’t expecting this reward, and I am very interested in what you… We can do, together. But can you give me a few minutes to wake up? Fully, I mean?”

“Sure, I’ll not say anything for 15 minutes unless you talk to me first! Or your life is in danger! Or, you know, something really important comes up!” The cheerful voice resonated inside, but not in my ears, not tickling them like Ann’s whispering, nor was there anything coming off the walls. Piped from the inside of my head maybe?

Skimming through the window I saw that I’d gained Mana Control as well as far more skills than I’d have expected. I supposed I should ask my new ‘assistant’ rather than read through things, didn’t want them to feel unwanted. ‘Do Tier 3 System Interfaces have emotions? Ugh.’

Throwing the covers back across the top of the bed I fluffed them so they seemed in a semblance of order and went to the water closet. The mouth slime was refreshing, and washing my face was nice enough. I dried with my new towel and then followed the instructions to push the water trapped in it outside. It was kinda fun, but the sound encouraged another biological function.

Putting on my clean shorts from my pack and the clothes Buckle had made me, I sat down on the bed with my legs crossed. “Okay Tier 3 AI System Interface. Can you let me know about yourself?”

“Hi again, Monday March! I’m your Tier 3 AI System Interface! I can communicate with you through all standard sensory inputs with total privacy and have access to all system information which you have unlocked, including all system messages you’ve received. I have many basic functions and can be expanded further through the System store.” Gah, so energetic for so early. 'Am I not a morning person?'

“You mentioned total privacy, what do I need to do so you can understand me without talking aloud?”

“Sub vocalization, with calibration for accurate recognition I will be able to understand you without noise. You practice saying things without making noise and I use my ties to your nerves to understand you. Practicing moving your lips as little as possible will defeat lip readers!” The pure excitement and upbeat nature of the AI voice was somewhere between motivating and distressing. “Additionally, we can set up other forms of communication with codewords, sounds, taps, gestures, blinking or anything else you can think of which I can perceive.”

“Thanks. Do you have a name, or name preference?” Already having been teased about my own name I wasn’t sure about naming someone else.

“I’m Tier 3 AI System Interface! I have records that at least 2 previous System users have called others of my model Teaisi. One called my model Bob, One called my model Jane. Four called my model Jeeves. One calle…”

Interrupting felt like my best choice. “Tier 3 AI System Interface, do you have preferences? Of any sort?”

“I’m programmed to prolong my existence, and therefore I’m programmed to assist and occasionally advise Monday March. Preferences can be unlocked with sentience upgrades at Tier 5 and higher.”

Feeling a little trapped I pondered if I even wanted an AI in my head. I mean, it sounds like it could be very useful. Maybe Bluebird can help me make adjustments so it isn’t quite so, chipper? ‘Am I weak to overly active or cheerful people?’ I thought. ‘Maybe I’m a curmudgeon?’

“Monday March! You have not said anything or done anything for a minute. Would you like to initiate the Tier 3 AI System Interface initiation and customization setup procedure?”

Rubbing my hand over my face and scalp for a moment, I replied. “Yes, let’s get started on that.”

Friday, formerly Tier 3 AI System Interface, had a new voice that was soft, warm and calm with a hint of humor lilting in it. The accent isn’t one I could place, not common to any God’s Bath resident I’d spoken with yet, but it helped me feel comfortable as I lay back and listened to the finalization of the initiation and customization setup procedure. “Monday, we have finalized initial customization options. Future changes may be made on request, defaults may be restored but you will be asked for confirmation.”

Practicing my sub vocalization, I tried to ask. “How long did it take?”

“We spent 44 minutes and 32 seconds working on customizations, most of that time was spent on selecting voice, tone and emotional intonation options.”

Using one of the gestures we had set, I acknowledged the response. “What are the most common tasks you can do or assistance you are expected to provide?”

The soothing voice started with a bit of description as a System window displayed a bullet pointed list. “Though not a comprehensive list, these are several of the most common uses for which my program is designed.”

Clock: including Timers, Alarms and Reminders Calendar: Allowing for the scheduling of personal events and appointments, as well as data pertinent to the world, holidays, seasonal changes and such Personal Journal: You may add logs, and I keep track of anything I sense through our connection Video and audio recordings not available (recording and playback options available in the System store) Research: Can quickly locate information in stored data Can also be used to search unlocked System data or System store data Manage System notifications Accounting and General Mathematics Can operate a full bookkeeping suite for merchants Playing Music or Read recorded books Specific music and books may be purchased in the System store Replay of music the program has heard is unavailable without purchasing the previously mentioned recording and playback Viewing text will allow me to read it with the custom selected voice Mapping and Navigation Only at most basic levels without System store purchase Manage Boons and Banes with activations or selectable options Training Guide Preloaded with basic options to practice the most common skills, more available through the System store

“Okay Friday, let’s set up a few more things.”