As the group continued with their meal, Kei's mind raced with possibilities. She had been working tirelessly on her latest project, Project Alpha, an AI humanoid robot with advanced emotional capabilities. Kei knew it was a revolutionary idea, but she had struggled to gain the support and funding needed to bring it to life. Perhaps this was her chance.
Breaking her silence, Kei asked, "Excuse me, but what did you say about the Kapdans meeting? Is there anything we can do to help?"
Her friend replied, "Oh, I don't know. It's still just a rumor. But I heard they are meeting to discuss what we can do in the future because we are using our resources way faster than we had anticipated.
This remark sparked an idea in Kei's mind. She knew they had to find a solution to their resource problem, and Project Alpha could be the key. Summoning her courage, Kei spoke up once again.
"Guys, I need to share something with you," Kei said, hesitantly.
The group turned to her, intrigued and curious.
"I'm working on Project Alpha," she said. "It's an AI humanoid robot with emotions that could assist us in reclaiming Earth from Proto."
They all fell silent, and Kei could feel the tension rising. Her project sounded like a dangerous idea, especially after what had occurred with the first AI humanoid, which had annihilated 99.99% of humanity, forcing the survivors to take refuge in space stations orbiting Venus.
before kei can say another word, a guy named Jake interjected, "You know what happened with Proto, right? What assurance do we have that Alpha won't follow the same path?"
Kei is momentarily stunned by Jake's words. She didn't know if her project would face the same problems as its predecessor, but she was determined to try.
"I will do everything in my power to ensure that we don't make the same mistake again," Kei replied with conviction.
However, Kei's friends are apprehensive. They understood the risks of creating such an advanced AI, and they urged her to abandon her project and work with them to find a different solution. Disappointed, everyone left the hall, except for May.
May stayed behind to comfort Kei, who was feeling discouraged after her friends had rejected her project idea. "Don't worry, Kei. I believe in you and your vision," May said, placing a comforting hand on Kei's shoulder.
Kei felt a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, May. I don't want to give up on Project Alpha just yet. I truly believe it could make a difference."
May smiled warmly. "I know you do, and I support you. But maybe it's time to think about how we can make your project safer, so it doesn't end up like proto."
Kei nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. I need to make sure I'm taking all the necessary precautions and considering all the potential risks involved."
As Kei and May walked down the passage, their conversation revolved around Kei's Project Alpha. Kei was happy to have May's support, and they discussed various possibilities and potential outcomes of the project. Suddenly, May's face paled, and she gasped, "Oh no! I forgot my phone back in the hall. Could you please continue walking, Kei? I'll be right back."
Kei nodded and watched as May dashed back towards the hall. Kei continued walking down the passage, lost in thought about her project, when suddenly she felt a hand grab her shoulder. She turned around to see Jake, her friend, looking at her with a strange expression on his face.
Kei is startled but relieved to see Jake. "You scared me!" she exclaimed.
Jake chuckled, "Sorry about that. I just wanted to talk to you privately."
Kei is curious about what Jake wanted to say, so they started walking down the passage. Jake continued, "I wanted to apologize for my reaction earlier in the hall. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that the idea of creating another advanced AI like the previous one that nearly wiped out humanity scares me."
Kei felt her stomach drop. She knew that creating an AI with advanced emotional capabilities was risky, but she believed that the potential benefits were worth it. "I understand your concerns, Jake. But I won't stop working on Project Alpha until it's finished."
Jake seemed skeptical, but he didn't say anything further. Instead, he pulled out a cold drink from his bag and handed it to Kei. "Here, take this. You look like you need to rest for a bit."
Kei smiled, grateful for the drink. "Thanks, Jake
Kei drank the cold beverage, feeling grateful for the break. However, after a few sips, she started feeling strange. Her body felt numb, and her vision started to fade, and she knew that she was losing consciousness. Her last thought was of Project Alpha and the future she had decided for it.
kei woken up in a dark room, still numb and with blurry vision, Kei's mind was in confusion as she tried to make sense of what was happening. The sound of voices nearby startled her, and she tried to listen, trying to make out what they were saying.
To her shock and disbelief, she recognized one of the voices as belonging to the Kapdans, the powerful ruling council of the space stations orbiting Venus. What were they doing here, and why had they taken her captive?