It's been six months now and Dangerous Electronics has been doing splendidly! I obtained the patents for both the software and hardware, and started manufacturing that hardware. I had previously needed to use a simulation of the humanoid robot I designed to test the AI, but now I had investors who could foot the bill to produce the technology. I ran into some problems early on, for example one of the electronic chips I implemented was no longer manufactured. When I tried to find a replacement, the only option wouldn't physically fit into the design, but I had the problem solved within a week or so. I've moved the business from my basement, into a small workspace on the second story of a rented-out building. I'm on my way there now.
"Ah, good morning Mrs. Gordee! How are you today?" (Adam)
"I'm doing quite fine! And may I ask how you're doing today Adam?" (Mrs. Gordee)
"I'm doing excellent! Good luck with work!" (Adam)
Mrs. Gordee ran a daycare on the first floor of the same building, she always arrived at work promptly at 9:00 am, as did I, so we ran into each other often. She'd always been polite and remembered my name, so I returned the favor. There were also some technology related businesses renting the workspaces beside mine, but they kept to themselves. I proceed up the stairs and open a door with the Dangerous Electronics logo on the front.
"Good morning, Mr. high and mighty successful entrepreneur! Don't forget to buy me new hardware with all your new-found wealth!" (Samantha)
"Hey Samantha, I already bought you better hardware last month, you're lucky I keep outdated software like you around at all." (Adam)
"That's mean! I have rights too you know?!" (Samantha)
"No you don't, only humans and animals have those." (Adam)
As you can tell, I moved Samantha along with my business. She's mostly here just for appearances, but she's become sort of a mascot for Dangerous Electronics. I have some sentimental attachment to her, since she was the earliest iteration of my software, so I wouldn't abandon her for no good reason.
"Alice, make me some tea." (Adam)
"Yes sir" (Alice)
Alice is also an AI, but she's one of the latest Dangerous Electronics Life-Size Humanoids. I've been having her do odd jobs ever since moving into this workspace, so that I can observe her and find any errors in her operation. Despite Samantha's numerous complaints, I haven't made a body for her yet. The other robots have on board computers to run their AI, but Samantha's computer alone could crush a robot many times Alice's size. I could easily make a remotely operated body for her, but her having a body would feel too uncomfortable me. Besides, if any AI is likely to start a robot rebellion, it's her. I sip the tea Alice passes me while I talk to Samantha.
"Samantha, how's the website coming?" (Adam)
"I just checked in with the freelancer yesterday, he said it should be up and running within a few days." (Samantha)
"Awesome, and the manufacturer for the metal parts?" (Adam)
"Agreed to our proposal and will send the first shipment to us by next month." (Samantha)
"Perfect, let me know if anything changes. I'm heading out to get some documents notarized. I'll be back by lunch." (Adam)
The notary was only a few blocks away, so I started walking there while happily whistling. Everything has been going so smoothly for the last several months that it's hard to believe. I keep having to remind myself that this isn't a dream. With things progressing as they are, Dangerous Electronics will become a massive company in a matter of years. My dream has always been to get my product into the hands of consumers, to make people's lives easier using it. But now that I'm so close, I have to ask, where will I go from here? I was contemplating this question at a corner when it happened.
Uggggg, more people walking across the street during the red hand signal! Why do people always insist on jaywalking? The world would be a much safer place if people just followed the rules! What if one of you gets hit by a truck? Don't expect me to help when it really happens, not that I wouldn't try. But, how's anyone supposed to save someone about to be hit by an extremely fast moving vehicle? I hear about incidents where it happens, but how do they have reflexes that fast? And another thing, if I saw someone about to be hit, I would assume I saw wrong and that they were farther away then they appear to be. If I assumed wrongly and ended up getting hit myself wouldn't that just make me an idiot? Whoops, my thoughts went on a tangent again!
"Hey you, watch out!" (???)
"On the corner, get away from there!!" (????)
"Behind you!!!" (?????)
Are they referring to me? I point a questioning hand at myself then decide to turn around. Behind me I see what appears to be a car dealership, but that's not what catches my attention. On the second story, a truck is mounted on a ledge for display. No, correction, a truck WAS mounted on a ledge for display. Now it seems to have somehow come loose and is in the act of falling toward me. This is going to hurt.
I'm stunned for a moment, I've always been a faster thinker then doer. The truck seems to be coming down at approximately a 45 degree angle. If it's course continues, it's windshield should hit my head. My lower body should be fine, because once the front two wheels land, the weight of the back should allow the truck to land upright. But, I don't know how likely my head is to survive that windshield. Will these be my final thoughts? Why did I have to contemplate the angle of the truck and the extent of damage to my corpse. It's still a corpse no matter how damaged it is! I should be running, but now it's too late. I never did get a girlfriend. I wonder how my parents and sister will react to my death? What will happen to Samantha and Dangerous Electronics? I suppose I had a good run, maybe my contributions will be remembered? I can only hope so. My thoughts explode into chaos, then.
**Crash**
**Shatter**
**Screams**
What the hay! I never even jaywalked!
Those were my final thoughts, then everything went black…