Virtual Intelligent Assistant is the term used to describe androids like Alice who possess artificial intelligence.
Like most computers, VIAs are perfectly capable of multitasking, that is, they can perform several simultaneous operations with great accuracy and precision without a lag in their overall performance and speed.
Alice, while holding her discussion with Simon, contacted his doctor and had her issue a medical report which was immediately sent to Renard, the super VIA of the head General. In the room with Simon, Alice stood in the shadows.
"So that's why I was scheduled to meet Generals this morning, because I am one of them" Simon said.
He was sitting on his bed once again. He had finally found his voice and stared wide eyed at the holographic projection of himself standing opposite him.
"Yes you are" Alice called out "You're catching on pretty quickly, dumbass"
The remark was brutal, she definitely didn't plan on being nice. Simon shrugged and let it pass. He let her continue uninterrupted.
"The first in line is General Gates, the eldest and most influential of the Generals. He's just over ninety and has no children or family whatsoever which is odd for a man of his status" she paused, noticing Simon's apparent shock "What? Was it something I said?"
"Yeah. I'm surprised he looks like that though he's over ninety. He looks fifty or sixty at most" Simon replied.
"What are you talking about?" Alice asked, puzzled "any normal ninety year old would look like that"
"I don't believe that" Simon wasn't buying it. Most things his assistant said and did was so messed up he couldn't bring himself to believe so easily.
"Whatever" she dismissed the issue. "Next is General Reus. He's seventy, two kids, a gorgeous wife and lots of power. Let's just say he's your biggest fan, Simon, you two never get along. Never"
'But he looks forty' Simon said to himself, unable to understand why a man could be so old yet look so young.
Alice spoke on. Describing each General including Al, then she got to Simon. Studying his shadowy face, she asked.
"Want to hear about yourself too?"
"Yes please" he replied almost immediately in a tone of urgency.
"I didn't know you knew the word please" she sneered.
"Just keep talking" Simon fired, his temper rising.
"Right right. This is Simon, the youngest General alive, there's been no General younger since the last millennium. Regarded as a rare genius, he comes from a family of geniuses. His family ranked seventh in the last published list of wealthiest families on the planet" Alice explained "Lost his biological parents at age six, he has no wife, no fiancé, few friends"
"He does enjoy asking out VIAs though" she added.
"Oh Lord, give me a break woman!" Simon snorted. "I'm trying to take in all this information"
"Well you better do. These are the Generals, the most powerful people on earth" Alice concluded.
"What about the presidents" he asked.
"Presidents? They are literally lap dogs for you guys, they're incomparable to you Generals"
"Since when do Generals outrank president?"
"Since the last world War, dumbass" Alice answered.
"You mean World War II?"
"Are you out of your mind? The last global war was World War III" Alice couldn't believe this guy.
Simon shot up. "World War III, when did that happen?" he inquired, now on his feet.
"Immediately after the Second Black Death"
"You mean the plague in Europe and North Africa? That was centuries ago"
"Not just centuries, that happened millennia ago. And I am talking about the Second Black Death, the plague in Eurasia and North Africa was the First Black Death." Alice said.
"Wait" Simon almost screamed in disbelief. He scratched his head which now ached. A thought came to mind "what year is this?"
Alice recoiled, what was wrong with her General today?
"That's it I'm calling your doctor"
"I said what year are we?!" Simon shouted, the pain in his head increasing by the second.
"You're not okay" Alice took a step back. Simon never raised his voice when they spoke. Sure they sometimes had hot arguments but never had she seen Simon look so angry.
"Just answer the question!" he shouted again.
"Okay okay" Alice said, trying to calm him as best she could. "I'll tell you" she gestured for him to calm down but there was no change in Simon's eager eyes.
"Yes?"
"It's year 4020"
She watched Simon clutch his head with both hands, his face contorted in pain. His legs wobbled, seemingly unable to support his weight. He struggled to get back to his bed, his steps clumsy. He stumbled, Alice rushed towards him but didn't make it in time, he fell hard and passed out.
_______________________________
Doctor Elaine unlocked her front door and threw it open. She walked into her luxurious apartment and locked the door behind her. She glanced at the bathroom as she hurried to bed and shook her head, the shower would have to wait.
Sleep first, bath later.
Her things dropped to the floor and she jumped onto the bed. She still wore her work clothes and hadn't taken the time to take off her socks.
Elaine rolled to the other side of the bed and made herself comfortable, her legs were wide apart and she was asleep mere seconds after her body touched the bed.
The phone rang from within her bag on the floor just beside the bed. The doctor mumbled something unintelligible and turned her face to the wall, still sound asleep. The loud ring was unable to wake her, not when she had just hit the hay after forty-some hours of hardwork.
The ring eventually woke her about an hour later, her body no longer able to ignore the constant whine and noise from the phone. She forced her eyes open and stared at her bag, infuriated. She had arrived barely an hour ago and her phone was already ringing.
Mad at whoever was calling for interrupting her sleep, she tore her bag open and almost ruined it in the process. On the screen of the phone, a name was displayed in stylish text - ALICE.
'Again? ' Elaine stared in disbelief.
She quickly opened the message since the call had ended. Anxious to get back to sleep, she read through very quickly.
The more she read, the more she realized to her dismay that her sleep would have to wait. Simon, regardless of whatever issues they had in their private life, was her patient. She was his doctor and he needed medical attention.
Alice made it clear in her text that Simon's life was definitely not at risk but he had lost consciousness. Elaine could read the tone of the message, she knew the VIA was scared out of her mind.
Hurriedly, she gathered her few things and headed out but paused to glance at her bed before turning away in dismay. Having no time to take a bath, Elaine quickly organized herself and left the apartment. Outside, she phoned the VIA.