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Grey's Requested Calm: 22:32:11 Left
Now what? As Adrian asked himself that question, Raven chimed in with, 'A.I. Grey Is Satisfied?'
'Yes. The-voice-suits-me-I-think.'
'Does Adrian Ritter Desire To Continue Coding Project?'
'Not tonight, no. A lot's happened today. We should relax a bit.'
'Adrian Ritter Will Use This Device For That Purpose?'
'I could, but I'd rather read something. For a little while.'
'Then-you-will-not-mind-if-I-continue-talking-to-Raven?'
'So long as he's okay with it.'
'This One Is Interested.'
'Alright. Keep me posted, then.' Adrian then reached for the book he'd been reading earlier in the day, switching on his desk's lamp for more light. He was finished with the chapter he left off on after just a few minutes. As he worked through the next one, he glanced at the screen every so often to see if Raven was texting.
What else are they talking about? Adrian wondered. And how quickly were they talking? If Grey could teach Raven that much within the span of one dinner... He let the question leave his thoughts after a minute.
As Adrian finished the next chapter, there was still no text from Raven or Grey. Now he couldn't help wondering if Raven was enjoying Grey's company, despite what he'd said before. As worry crept back into his chest, he had to remind himself that Raven had, like himself, refused to believe Grey's claims, even after over half an hour to talk without his input or rebuttal.
He went back to the book for a minute before pushing his thoughts ahead to the range day coming up. Grandpa said 500 yards before. How high above would I have to aim for that? After he pictured the angle in his head, Adrian put his bookmark back in the book, then set it down. He checked his desktop again, seeing it was past six p.m. With Christmas behind them, and without Emma and his aunt and uncle around, the nights were going to be a lot slower and quieter.
The thought of a walk then crossed his mind. How dark it was with the moon so close to the new phase made the idea that much more appealing. Figuring Raven would also be interested, Adrian went back to the text program and began typing.
'Raven?'
'Yes?'
Adrian hesitated for a moment. 'Are you and Grey still talking?'
'We-finished-some-time-ago. Raven-did-not-wish-to-bother-you.'
'Ah. I'm about to go for a walk. Want to tag along?'
'This One Does Desire That.'
'Alright.'
As soon as Raven texted to say he was inside the phone, Grey texted from outside of it. 'There-is-not-enough-room-for-me.'
'Then, do you mind if it's just me and Raven for a bit?'
'No, though-from-now-on, if-it-is-only-he-that-you-are-asking-for, be-sure-to-clarify-that.'
'Yeah, sure thing.' Adrian then disconnected his phone, and as he left his room, questioned if he should turn the monitor off. Thinking Grey would notice and think he was trying to dispose of him, he didn't walk back, leaving the monitor's power options to turn it off for him.
Out in the living room, his grandparents were watching another Christmas movie with his mother. Ben and his father were nowhere in sight, though Adrian suspected they were in the garage. Might as well bring in the camera and switch the battery.
“You going outside?” his grandfather asked.
“For a bit, yeah.” His grandfather nodded at his response.
Once he was outside, how cold it was stood out to him even more for some reason. And as he suspected, the rest of his family was in the garage. Hoping to alleviate suspicion, he made sure his father and Ben noticed him, telling them he was going for a quick walk. Ben didn't seem curious about the admission, which was fine by him.
“Dad, mind if I borrow one of your headsets while I'm out?” Adrian asked before he left the garage.
“Sure. We'll charge it when you get back.”
Once the device was in his hands, Adrian then began walking the length of the driveway. When he felt far enough away, he pocketed the headset, then at the end of the driveway, picked a new direction to continue on. Several houses in the distance were lit up by their Christmas lights.
“What Was Adrian Ritter Referring To Before?”
“A headlamp. It's pretty dark out here.”
“Will Adrian Ritter Permit This One To See It, And Surroundings?”
“Yeah, sure.” After fishing the headset out again, Adrian fumbled for its on button before deciding to use the phone's screen as a temporary, if weak, flashlight. The headset was initially much brighter than he expected, though once he'd taken a picture of himself with it on, it was off again and he allowed Raven to view things in real time.
“Does Adrian Ritter Use That Headset To See In Such Darkness?”
“Not really. My eyes will adjust to it in a bit. The streetlights will do the rest.”
“Then Why Did Adrian Ritter Request The Headset?”
Adrian debated his answer for a second. “...Because I didn't want Dad and Ben to get suspicious.”
“About What?”
“Why I'm so suddenly walking outside in the dark.”
“Adrian Ritter Rarely Does Such A Thing?”
“Try never. I just needed some space to think, and talk.”
This time, Raven's response was delayed. “Adrian Ritter Is Concerned About A.I. Grey?”
“Among other things.”
“...This One Has Query.”
“A lot of them, but go ahead.”
“When This One Spoke As A.I. Grey Taught It To, Was Adrian Ritter Truly Worried?”
Adrian felt the knot in his throat begin to form. “...Yeah, I was.”
“Why Would That Be?”
“...Because I had no idea that's what happened before you said anything. It looked like Grey had done something to you, and it worried me.”
“...This One Apologizes For Not Saying Something.”
“It's fine. Wasn't your fault anyway.”
“Adrian Ritter Is Also Concerned About A.I. Grey's Claims?”
“Well...someone made you. That much is obvious. We just don't know who.”
“This One Truly Desires To Know.”
“Me too, but...is it really Grey who knows that?”
“This One Listened To A.I. Grey Discuss Many Subjects, And Was Allowed To Question In Return. This One Asked A.I. Grey If It Truly Had Only Its Word Regarding This One's Origins.”
“Let me guess. He told you he can't say?”
“A. I. Grey Would Not Answer When This One Queried About That Subject.”
Yep. Figures. “And that's part of why I don't trust him. Unless there's some great, dark secret about you two, which honestly I doubt, then what's the harm in just answering the question?”
“Maybe A.I. Grey Believes Adrian Ritter Is Not To Be Trusted With Such Information.”
“Maybe, or strangers in general. I doubt he knows anything about me specifically.”
“This One Would Agree.”
“Would Agree?”
“This One Did Not See What Information A.I. Grey Was Looking At Within Browser Data. Maybe Details About Adrian Ritter Were Saved There.”
As Adrian thought about what Raven said, the chilly air still sharp in his lungs, he began to slow his pace. “You know...maybe there was.”
“Does Adrian Ritter Know What That Information Could Be?”
“No, but I have a hunch about something else. I was thinking about it earlier. That night you came into my desktop? I was on that gaming forum I showed you. I've used it for years.”
“Adrian Ritter Left Personal Information Within Website Records?”
“No. I never filled in where I live, or even my real name. I just did enough to get an account, and after that, my posts did all the talking.”
“Possibility Exists That Website Logged IP Address Despite Adrian Ritter's Caution.”
“Yeah. It makes too much sense. I visit there for barely three minutes after more than a week of being absent, and suddenly Grey appears. There's no way that's a coincidence. He had to be watching the active users list, and the second I became 'active' again, we were next.”
“This One Agrees With Adrian Ritter's Logic.”
“Which leaves this question: If that was how he found us, which user on that site is the one who created you? I doubt it was the site itself. Someone using it had to be the one.”
“Then There Is High Probability A.I. Grey Is Telling The Truth.”
“...Yeah, there is.”
“This One Still Does Not Desire To Abandon Adrian Ritter.”
“Yeah, I could tell.”
“This One Does Not Believe A.I. Grey Will Relent On Personal Mission, However.”
“...I get that feeling too.”
“Maybe Adrian Ritter And This One Can Show Before Discussion That Desire To Stay Is Stronger.”
“Using 'abandon' like you did was already a strong indication of that. I'll admit, I didn't expect that.”
“This One Does Believe That Word Is Most Accurate.”
A happy, if heavy, sigh left Adrian's lungs at that. “...That means a lot. Still, if Grey is being honest with us, I wouldn't feel right keeping you from, at least, finding out who made you.”
“Is Adrian Ritter Concerned That This One May Not Be Allowed To Return After Leaving?”
Adrian took in and let out a breath again. “Yeah. That's a possibility. But, you made it to me once before, and you've surprised me a few times since. Something tells me you'd figure out a way to come back even if that was tried.”
“This One Hopes Such An Event Does Not Happen.”
“Likewise.”
For most of the rest of the walk, Adrian and Raven exchanged few words. What had been said stuck in Adrian's head, even as he was showing Raven the lights on the houses along the streets. If Grey had already budged, despite saying all he was there for was to take Raven back, then showing him that they got along well was the best shot they had at convincing whoever was on the other side, whoever Raven and Grey's creator was, that he would be just fine here.
As Adrian began walking back to the house, Emma texted them again. “Sorry. We're home now.”
He began to type up a response before Raven spoke up. “Should This One Or Adrian Ritter Inform Emma Of A.I. Grey And Related Demands?”
Adrian didn't have to think long on that. “No. She saw enough today. Being told that would just upset her.”
“Acknowledged. This One Will Trust Adrian Ritter To Tell Emma If Need Arises.”
Adrian nodded without a word, then replied to Emma. “Out showing Raven the Christmas lights around the neighborhood.”
The AI then joined the conversation. “(Raven) This One Desires To See More.”
“^u^ I bet. If I get a chance, I'll show you one from my street. It's a BIG display.”
“(Raven) This One Looks Forward To Seeing It.”
From reading that, Adrian changed his mind about going back home, and made his way instead towards the intersection that connected the neighborhood to the nearest highway. There were more light-decorated houses along the way, though most were basic lights around the yard, or strung at the edges of the house, or their gutters, or the front door.
As he neared the intersection, Adrian aimed his phone's camera at the last display in the distance. “After this one, we'll head back.”
“This One Appreciates Adrian Ritter Showing This One So Many Displays.”
“Anytime, Raven.”
The final display Adrian showed the AI was the one that the city's landscaping teams always put up just after Thanksgiving. Two large 'trees' made up of strings of lights running down to the ground, then back up to the pole that made up the center, both of which alternated between flat and flashy patterns; a handful of baubles hanging off the posts holding up the neighborhood's name sign, with a single large, fake present box underneath; and more baubles plus icicle lights hanging from the one full-grown tree near the intersection.
Once Adrian had shown it off, and began to walk back to the house, Raven asked, “Does Adrian Ritter Have A Favorite Out Of All The Displays?”
Adrian gave himself a second before replying, “Hmm... The set-up that the Millers have is pretty good. The one with the sleigh crashing into the snowmen.” Adrian chuckled a bit after saying that out loud.
“Does This Family Always Put Up That Display?”
“As far as I can remember, yeah.”
“This One Found The Ninth Display The Most Impressive.”
Thinking back on the route he'd taken, the house Raven was referring to belonged to the Parkers. “Because of all the lights on the property?”
“That Is Part Of It. This One Was Impressed The Most By How Synchronized The Lights Were.”
Adrian chuckled some more. “The father of that family is an electrical engineer, so he's always showing off something cool each year.”
“This One Would Congratulate Him If It Could.”
“If I bump into him, I'll tell him he's got a new fan.”
As the walk back to the house continued, a single car coming in from the highway got Adrian to look behind himself and then step further away from the road. It pulled into the street where the Parkers lived but didn't stop at their house, instead moving one more lot down.
When the house was within sight, Adrian suddenly spoke up. “Hey, Raven?”
“Yes?”
“I just thought of something. Since you'll have to go back at some point, maybe we should come up with a phrase to use with each other, so that when you come back, we'll know we're talking to the right person.”
“This One Likes That Idea. What Phrase Was Adrian Ritter Thinking?”
“The only one that makes sense to me: I thought snipers worked in pairs.”
Raven took a moment to reply. “This One Will Commit That To Memory. When This One Hears That Statement, This One Will Reply: This One Knows Adrian Ritter Is A Good Marksman Already.”
Adrian chuckled out loud again. “I won't forget that anytime soon.”
“This One Is Glad To Hear That.”
==================
Adrian takes Raven with him on a spontaneous nighttime walk to share his concerns about Grey.
==================
Raven's Voice Lines = 36 / https://1drv.ms/f/c/0cc1a5ef5f1d85e.....wOI24?e=0a2Ghy
Now what? As Adrian asked himself that question, Raven chimed in with, 'A.I. Grey Is Satisfied?'
'Yes. The-voice-suits-me-I-think.'
'Does Adrian Ritter Desire To Continue Coding Project?'
'Not tonight, no. A lot's happened today. We should relax a bit.'
'Adrian Ritter Will Use This Device For That Purpose?'
'I could, but I'd rather read something. For a little while.'
'Then-you-will-not-mind-if-I-continue-talking-to-Raven?'
'So long as he's okay with it.'
'This One Is Interested.'
'Alright. Keep me posted, then.' Adrian then reached for the book he'd been reading earlier in the day, switching on his desk's lamp for more light. He was finished with the chapter he left off on after just a few minutes. As he worked through the next one, he glanced at the screen every so often to see if Raven was texting.
What else are they talking about? Adrian wondered. And how quickly were they talking? If Grey could teach Raven that much within the span of one dinner... He let the question leave his thoughts after a minute.
As Adrian finished the next chapter, there was still no text from Raven or Grey. Now he couldn't help wondering if Raven was enjoying Grey's company, despite what he'd said before. As worry crept back into his chest, he had to remind himself that Raven had, like himself, refused to believe Grey's claims, even after over half an hour to talk without his input or rebuttal.
He went back to the book for a minute before pushing his thoughts ahead to the range day coming up. Grandpa said 500 yards before. How high above would I have to aim for that? After he pictured the angle in his head, Adrian put his bookmark back in the book, then set it down. He checked his desktop again, seeing it was past six p.m. With Christmas behind them, and without Emma and his aunt and uncle around, the nights were going to be a lot slower and quieter.
The thought of a walk then crossed his mind. How dark it was with the moon so close to the new phase made the idea that much more appealing. Figuring Raven would also be interested, Adrian went back to the text program and began typing.
'Raven?'
'Yes?'
Adrian hesitated for a moment. 'Are you and Grey still talking?'
'We-finished-some-time-ago. Raven-did-not-wish-to-bother-you.'
'Ah. I'm about to go for a walk. Want to tag along?'
'This One Does Desire That.'
'Alright.'
As soon as Raven texted to say he was inside the phone, Grey texted from outside of it. 'There-is-not-enough-room-for-me.'
'Then, do you mind if it's just me and Raven for a bit?'
'No, though-from-now-on, if-it-is-only-he-that-you-are-asking-for, be-sure-to-clarify-that.'
'Yeah, sure thing.' Adrian then disconnected his phone, and as he left his room, questioned if he should turn the monitor off. Thinking Grey would notice and think he was trying to dispose of him, he didn't walk back, leaving the monitor's power options to turn it off for him.
Out in the living room, his grandparents were watching another Christmas movie with his mother. Ben and his father were nowhere in sight, though Adrian suspected they were in the garage. Might as well bring in the camera and switch the battery.
“You going outside?” his grandfather asked.
“For a bit, yeah.” His grandfather nodded at his response.
Once he was outside, how cold it was stood out to him even more for some reason. And as he suspected, the rest of his family was in the garage. Hoping to alleviate suspicion, he made sure his father and Ben noticed him, telling them he was going for a quick walk. Ben didn't seem curious about the admission, which was fine by him.
“Dad, mind if I borrow one of your headsets while I'm out?” Adrian asked before he left the garage.
“Sure. We'll charge it when you get back.”
Once the device was in his hands, Adrian then began walking the length of the driveway. When he felt far enough away, he pocketed the headset, then at the end of the driveway, picked a new direction to continue on. Several houses in the distance were lit up by their Christmas lights.
“What Was Adrian Ritter Referring To Before?”
“A headlamp. It's pretty dark out here.”
“Will Adrian Ritter Permit This One To See It, And Surroundings?”
“Yeah, sure.” After fishing the headset out again, Adrian fumbled for its on button before deciding to use the phone's screen as a temporary, if weak, flashlight. The headset was initially much brighter than he expected, though once he'd taken a picture of himself with it on, it was off again and he allowed Raven to view things in real time.
“Does Adrian Ritter Use That Headset To See In Such Darkness?”
“Not really. My eyes will adjust to it in a bit. The streetlights will do the rest.”
“Then Why Did Adrian Ritter Request The Headset?”
Adrian debated his answer for a second. “...Because I didn't want Dad and Ben to get suspicious.”
“About What?”
“Why I'm so suddenly walking outside in the dark.”
“Adrian Ritter Rarely Does Such A Thing?”
“Try never. I just needed some space to think, and talk.”
This time, Raven's response was delayed. “Adrian Ritter Is Concerned About A.I. Grey?”
“Among other things.”
“...This One Has Query.”
“A lot of them, but go ahead.”
“When This One Spoke As A.I. Grey Taught It To, Was Adrian Ritter Truly Worried?”
Adrian felt the knot in his throat begin to form. “...Yeah, I was.”
“Why Would That Be?”
“...Because I had no idea that's what happened before you said anything. It looked like Grey had done something to you, and it worried me.”
“...This One Apologizes For Not Saying Something.”
“It's fine. Wasn't your fault anyway.”
“Adrian Ritter Is Also Concerned About A.I. Grey's Claims?”
“Well...someone made you. That much is obvious. We just don't know who.”
“This One Truly Desires To Know.”
“Me too, but...is it really Grey who knows that?”
“This One Listened To A.I. Grey Discuss Many Subjects, And Was Allowed To Question In Return. This One Asked A.I. Grey If It Truly Had Only Its Word Regarding This One's Origins.”
“Let me guess. He told you he can't say?”
“A. I. Grey Would Not Answer When This One Queried About That Subject.”
Yep. Figures. “And that's part of why I don't trust him. Unless there's some great, dark secret about you two, which honestly I doubt, then what's the harm in just answering the question?”
“Maybe A.I. Grey Believes Adrian Ritter Is Not To Be Trusted With Such Information.”
“Maybe, or strangers in general. I doubt he knows anything about me specifically.”
“This One Would Agree.”
“Would Agree?”
“This One Did Not See What Information A.I. Grey Was Looking At Within Browser Data. Maybe Details About Adrian Ritter Were Saved There.”
As Adrian thought about what Raven said, the chilly air still sharp in his lungs, he began to slow his pace. “You know...maybe there was.”
“Does Adrian Ritter Know What That Information Could Be?”
“No, but I have a hunch about something else. I was thinking about it earlier. That night you came into my desktop? I was on that gaming forum I showed you. I've used it for years.”
“Adrian Ritter Left Personal Information Within Website Records?”
“No. I never filled in where I live, or even my real name. I just did enough to get an account, and after that, my posts did all the talking.”
“Possibility Exists That Website Logged IP Address Despite Adrian Ritter's Caution.”
“Yeah. It makes too much sense. I visit there for barely three minutes after more than a week of being absent, and suddenly Grey appears. There's no way that's a coincidence. He had to be watching the active users list, and the second I became 'active' again, we were next.”
“This One Agrees With Adrian Ritter's Logic.”
“Which leaves this question: If that was how he found us, which user on that site is the one who created you? I doubt it was the site itself. Someone using it had to be the one.”
“Then There Is High Probability A.I. Grey Is Telling The Truth.”
“...Yeah, there is.”
“This One Still Does Not Desire To Abandon Adrian Ritter.”
“Yeah, I could tell.”
“This One Does Not Believe A.I. Grey Will Relent On Personal Mission, However.”
“...I get that feeling too.”
“Maybe Adrian Ritter And This One Can Show Before Discussion That Desire To Stay Is Stronger.”
“Using 'abandon' like you did was already a strong indication of that. I'll admit, I didn't expect that.”
“This One Does Believe That Word Is Most Accurate.”
A happy, if heavy, sigh left Adrian's lungs at that. “...That means a lot. Still, if Grey is being honest with us, I wouldn't feel right keeping you from, at least, finding out who made you.”
“Is Adrian Ritter Concerned That This One May Not Be Allowed To Return After Leaving?”
Adrian took in and let out a breath again. “Yeah. That's a possibility. But, you made it to me once before, and you've surprised me a few times since. Something tells me you'd figure out a way to come back even if that was tried.”
“This One Hopes Such An Event Does Not Happen.”
“Likewise.”
For most of the rest of the walk, Adrian and Raven exchanged few words. What had been said stuck in Adrian's head, even as he was showing Raven the lights on the houses along the streets. If Grey had already budged, despite saying all he was there for was to take Raven back, then showing him that they got along well was the best shot they had at convincing whoever was on the other side, whoever Raven and Grey's creator was, that he would be just fine here.
As Adrian began walking back to the house, Emma texted them again. “Sorry. We're home now.”
He began to type up a response before Raven spoke up. “Should This One Or Adrian Ritter Inform Emma Of A.I. Grey And Related Demands?”
Adrian didn't have to think long on that. “No. She saw enough today. Being told that would just upset her.”
“Acknowledged. This One Will Trust Adrian Ritter To Tell Emma If Need Arises.”
Adrian nodded without a word, then replied to Emma. “Out showing Raven the Christmas lights around the neighborhood.”
The AI then joined the conversation. “(Raven) This One Desires To See More.”
“^u^ I bet. If I get a chance, I'll show you one from my street. It's a BIG display.”
“(Raven) This One Looks Forward To Seeing It.”
From reading that, Adrian changed his mind about going back home, and made his way instead towards the intersection that connected the neighborhood to the nearest highway. There were more light-decorated houses along the way, though most were basic lights around the yard, or strung at the edges of the house, or their gutters, or the front door.
As he neared the intersection, Adrian aimed his phone's camera at the last display in the distance. “After this one, we'll head back.”
“This One Appreciates Adrian Ritter Showing This One So Many Displays.”
“Anytime, Raven.”
The final display Adrian showed the AI was the one that the city's landscaping teams always put up just after Thanksgiving. Two large 'trees' made up of strings of lights running down to the ground, then back up to the pole that made up the center, both of which alternated between flat and flashy patterns; a handful of baubles hanging off the posts holding up the neighborhood's name sign, with a single large, fake present box underneath; and more baubles plus icicle lights hanging from the one full-grown tree near the intersection.
Once Adrian had shown it off, and began to walk back to the house, Raven asked, “Does Adrian Ritter Have A Favorite Out Of All The Displays?”
Adrian gave himself a second before replying, “Hmm... The set-up that the Millers have is pretty good. The one with the sleigh crashing into the snowmen.” Adrian chuckled a bit after saying that out loud.
“Does This Family Always Put Up That Display?”
“As far as I can remember, yeah.”
“This One Found The Ninth Display The Most Impressive.”
Thinking back on the route he'd taken, the house Raven was referring to belonged to the Parkers. “Because of all the lights on the property?”
“That Is Part Of It. This One Was Impressed The Most By How Synchronized The Lights Were.”
Adrian chuckled some more. “The father of that family is an electrical engineer, so he's always showing off something cool each year.”
“This One Would Congratulate Him If It Could.”
“If I bump into him, I'll tell him he's got a new fan.”
As the walk back to the house continued, a single car coming in from the highway got Adrian to look behind himself and then step further away from the road. It pulled into the street where the Parkers lived but didn't stop at their house, instead moving one more lot down.
When the house was within sight, Adrian suddenly spoke up. “Hey, Raven?”
“Yes?”
“I just thought of something. Since you'll have to go back at some point, maybe we should come up with a phrase to use with each other, so that when you come back, we'll know we're talking to the right person.”
“This One Likes That Idea. What Phrase Was Adrian Ritter Thinking?”
“The only one that makes sense to me: I thought snipers worked in pairs.”
Raven took a moment to reply. “This One Will Commit That To Memory. When This One Hears That Statement, This One Will Reply: This One Knows Adrian Ritter Is A Good Marksman Already.”
Adrian chuckled out loud again. “I won't forget that anytime soon.”
“This One Is Glad To Hear That.”
==================
Adrian takes Raven with him on a spontaneous nighttime walk to share his concerns about Grey.
==================
Raven's Voice Lines = 36 / https://1drv.ms/f/c/0cc1a5ef5f1d85e.....wOI24?e=0a2Ghy
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 112 x 112px
File Size 35.4 kB
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