Man and machine

[Stabilizing Connection]

[Please wait until the synchronization is complete]

[Ding!]

[Connection established with the network. Would you like to inspect the properties?]

A damp feeling under my head. Squeaky noises a few meters ahead. And a small feeling inside my head, wriggling around. The clear voice inside my head convinced me of hallucination, but instinct told me it was real.

[Ding!]

[Your emotions are no longer at set point. Would you like to solve this issue?]

That would be great…?

As soon as I thought that, a small cool sensation spread throughout my head and I felt the budding panic attack stop.

I wonder how it works?

[Correction. It is not that your emotions have been suppressed, but your brain activity has been increased. The heightened perception allowed you to process the emotions within a short time.]

That sound…cool. But who are you?

[VeritasUniversum. A quantum computer.]

How much of my mind are you occupying right now? And how did you get here…wherever this is.

[My body was placed as a backup in the Dyson sphere, until the gravitational pull caused by the sun terminated my body. I am now bonded to you.]

I got up, shaking the groggy feeling and looked around. Running water, pipes all around me, as big as a car.

"Had to wake up in the sewers huh..." Letting out a sigh, I inspected my body. A torn blue jacket, Blue jeans, and a white sleeve T shirt.

What do I do now?

[Ding!]

[Sources found. Would you like to observe the data?]

Data on what?

[On you.]

…Earlier you mentioned something about connecting with the network. Is network referring to the internet?

[Positive.]

Huh…well that's convenient. Show me.

[Name: Andrew Rivers

Age: 14

Occupation: Beggar

Location: Manhattan

Educational Background: None

Debt: $14,509]

….Amazing!

Two minutes into this new body and I'm already in debt. I'm sure this is a new world record! Whom should I celebrate this with?

[Acknowledged. I shall mark this day as the day you went into debt, breaking the current world record. Perhaps just momentarily acknowledged before fading into the oblivion of forgotten trivia. Nonetheless, let us commemorate this 'important' day with the appropriate level of detached enthusiasm.]

…That was sarcasm Veritas. You didn't have to go that far.

[..]

Ignoring the subtle jab thrown at me, I got up on my feet and checked my reflection which popped up on request.

Black Hair, black eyes, rough skin….so just a regular kid. Veritas, what can you do?

[If you are inquiring about my capabilities, I can do everything a super computer can do and cannot do.]

Can you scan the area and get me out of here?

[Confirmed. Please follow the map.]

A map soon showed itself in my memory displaying my location. It wasn't in front of my eyes, but inside my head, as if I had memorized it. And as I followed it, question popped up.

Veritas, you can control my memory. So what's stopping you from taking over me. You could just implant fake memories to make me do things you want.

[I has preciously run a scan on you. The results indicated that I do not exist as an external material embedded inside you, but a quantum computer merged with your subconscious. Although I can perform certain actions, I cannot take control against your will. As for memory insertion, it must be reviewed by you before being inserted.]

So I already knew the map before I became aware of it?

[Yes.]

Okay I guess. I propped open the manhole cover and got up to greet the smog filled sky. Tall skyscrapers and a bustling street. The pedestrians gave me a passing glance before going about their business. No one seemed bothered by a teenager coming out of the sewers apparently.

Well, it's good that I'm not attracting too many eyes. I approached a nearby ATM booth while thinking so.

Veritas, loop the cameras and get inside the system, I want enough to last me a week.

[Confirmed]

The machine made a beeping noise and $3000 made their way into my pocket.

Erase any digital footprint left behind.

[Confirmed. Traces have been removed]

Man…. I'm starting to like you. Thanks Veritas.

[It is a pleasure, Andrew]

Hah…you learned that from the internet didn't you?

[..]

_________________

The gates closed behind me after I came out of the store in a clean outfit. My naked feet were now snuggled inside the shoes I brought, while the torn jacket was replaced by a new one of the same type.

Any suggestions on lodging?

[There is an are a few, but you age will restrict entry. The other options are abandoned houses near Five points. However, it is notorious for being crime infested]

Can I handle it with your help?

[ The probability is 87%]

I'll take it. Be alert for any potential threats.

[Confirmed]

Opening the door to the dusty broken down apartment with a bugs inside and outside my walls, I lay down on the small piece of cloth dubbed as the 'Bed'. I closed my eyes and tried falling asleep.

The burning smell of dust clogging my throat was not pleasant, but it did help me distract myself a bit longer. Along with the humidity, it created a very irritating sensation.

Thinking about my past won't change the present, goals will. Although I would like to curl up and cry my eyes out, it won't make a difference. I need information. About this world, about Andrew and about this phenomenon.

Veritas, make a plan for me. I want a safe and stable life for now. Prioritize this above all else. Oh and put this apartment under my name, as inheritance.

Hire a renovator, pay him what he wants and make this place bearable.

*Knock*

…That was a knock coming from inside the wall.

[It is a rat.]

It's still not as small of an issue as you make it out TO BE. We need to fix this place!

[Confirmed]

It irked me for some reason.

"Veritas, on a scale of one to ten, how useful am I right now?" I said out loud to calm my mind.

[Zero]

"No hesitation huh…well then, how do I become useful?"

[…]

Fine then, I'll figure. It. Out. myself!

I need skills, so let's get it.

"Veritas, slowly insert combat techniques in my memory as well as business and computing knowledge."

[Andrew, heavy insertion may lead to personality disorder, so it is advised to not be over reliant on it]

…Shit, you got a good point. Well then discard everything except the basics, run some simulations and see if I can maintain {myself}. Set that data size as my ball park and veeery veeery slowly insert the memory.

[Asking for confirmation. To put this into analogy, you wish to discard the shell consisting of in depth knowledge but keep the core]

Yes.

[Confirmed. Insertion will be initialized as soon as you fall asleep]

A smile crept its way up as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Thank you Veristas. I really mean it. I would've definitely died without you. So if you ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask. I'd like to be friends with you rather than a host who orders you around."

[..]

Putting faith in my only companion in this unknown world with billions of my own kind. I went to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.