Alex trudged through the dimly lit streets, the weight of a particularly bad day pressing on his shoulders. As he turned the corner, a surreal scene unfolded before him – A loud noise and a man lying in a pool of blood just meters away, a victim of a gruesome collision with a speeding truck. Strangely, the man's eyes seemed fixed on Alex, muttering incoherent words that sent a shiver down his spine.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, Alex stood frozen, unsure whether the mumbled words were directed at him or merely a haunting coincidence.
Time passed as he stayed there witnessing the scene, powerless to alter the tragic outcome. He reluctantly tore his gaze away as paramedics moved the lifeless body into the ambulance, the red and blue lights casting an eerie glow on the pavement.
The police, diligent in their duties, gathered information from witnesses, documenting the somber details of the accident. Alex sighed, realizing he had nothing substantial to contribute; he was merely an unwitting spectator to the unfolding tragedy.
Shaking off the lingering disquiet, he began the solemn journey back home. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of the day's bizarre events pressing on him. The night air carried a chill, mirroring the unease that clung to him. As he approached his room, the echoes of the accident and the man's haunting gaze lingered.
***
Lost in the remnants of a disheartening day, Alex replayed the echoes of his failed audition for a short film. The sting of criticism lingered – a haunting reminder of his supposedly wooden expressions and lacking emotional depth. A flicker of doubt crept in; maybe pursuing a different path, like getting a job, would be a wiser choice.
His thumb danced across the screen, navigating through the planner app of his phone. Tomorrow held a glimmer of hope with another audition, albeit for a small movie role. Despite its modest size, Alex clung to the possibility that this opportunity might reshape his struggling career.
A heavy sigh escaped him, accompanied by a throbbing in his head. Had he caught a cold? The relentless script readings from the day before seemed to have extracted a toll on his body.
With a sense of resignation, Alex set his phone aside, configuring the alarm for the next day. Little did he know, his body silently underwent changes, an unseen metamorphosis initiated by the nanobots released during the tragic accident, subtly influencing his very being.
***
Alex groggily opened his eyes the next morning, a heavy fatigue clinging to him as if he'd engaged in an intense workout during the night. As he slowly rose, he noticed his bedsheets drenched with sweat. Perplexed, he realized his hands possessed an unexpected muscularity, and a tentative touch confirmed the presence of well-defined abs.
"What the hell!". He leaped from the bed, compelled to investigate the newfound changes. Moving towards the mirror, he confronted his reflection, a mixture of disbelief and confusion etched across his face. It was still him, but a more vibrant version – healthier, toned, and undeniably transformed.
"What is happening...?" he muttered, grappling with the enigma of his overnight metamorphosis.
Suddenly, a robotic, monotonous voice intruded into his thoughts, "[Host's emotional state is turbulent. Releasing endorphins to calm down]," it droned, leaving Alex both fascinated and unnerved.
"Who... what are you?" Alex stammered, fear coursing through him as the bizarre situation escalated, leaving him on edge.
"[Host, I'm the state-of-the-art AR898 Assistive Artificial Intelligence]," the robotic voice calmly responded, its tone a stark contrast to the disconcerting circumstances surrounding Alex.
"What? I don't understand!" Alex exclaimed, the confusion evident in his voice.
"[Host's emotional state is turbulent. Increasing endorphins by 33%]," the AI announced, its intervention triggering a surge of well-being within Alex. The fatigue that had weighed him down just moments ago began to dissipate, replaced by an inexplicable sense of vitality.
"[I was transferred to you by accident. I'm not aware of how and why it happened. My memory started a few hours ago. I repaired your body and enhanced its components. You don't need to be afraid. I won't hurt you; instead, I will only help you,]" the AI explained, attempting to assuage Alex's fears with its rational, yet enigmatic, assurance.
In the ensuing silence, Alex's mind whirred with possibilities. "You can help me?" he finally queried, seeking clarity amidst the surreal amalgamation of his reality.
"[Yes, host-]"
"Call me Alex," he interjected, a desire for a more personal connection emerging amidst the uncertainty.
"[Yes, Alex, I can help you with anything. I can help you learn skills faster than a normal human can. With me, your potential is enormous]," the AI responded, its words resonating with a promise that both excited and unnerved Alex. Excitement because of the limitless possibilities laid out before him, but fear lingered—was this truly for the better? He desperately hoped he wasn't experiencing some elaborate hallucination.
The potential flashed before his mind – the prospect of achieving dreams, mastering skills, and perhaps even becoming an actor. The thought sparked a mix of excitement and anxiety. "I could do many things with your assistance," he mused internally, contemplating the myriad avenues that now seemed within reach.
But his dream to become an actor stood out prominently. A spark of inspiration ignited within him as he realized that, with the AI's help, he might just be able to overcome the challenges in the audition ahead. Swiftly checking the time, he discovered it was half-past 8, with the audition scheduled for 11:00. The countdown had begun, and Alex couldn't help but wonder if this unexpected alliance with the AI would be the key to unlocking his aspirations.
***
Dressed in casual attire, Alex stepped out of his room, the door clicking shut behind him. A sense of anticipation hung in the air as he navigated through, still adjusting to the peculiar alliance with the AI now residing within him.
"Uhh, what should I call you?" he inquired aloud, voicing the uncertainty that tugged at him.
"[I don't have a specific name, except for the batch code assigned to me. Also, you don't need to speak out to me, Alex. You can just emphasize your queries in your mind. I can pick up your questions from the speech area of your brain]," the AI explained, its robotic monotone seamlessly integrating with Alex's internal dialogue.
'Ok?' Alex tentatively communicated in his mind, the concept feeling strange, yet he hoped it would become second nature with time. 'Well, in popular fictions, AI assistants are often female. I hope you won't mind giving you a female name.'
"[I won't. I don't have an assigned gender. But I can develop the characteristics of the female gender if you find that comfortable]," the AI responded, offering adaptability to suit Alex's preferences.
Alex grappled with a momentary feeling of awkwardness, questioning the choice he was about to make. 'I will call you Alice then,' he decided, a name that rolled off his thoughts with an odd sense of familiarity.
"[Thank you, Alex]," Alice replied in a surprisingly feminine tone, catching Alex off guard.
***
Less than an hour later, Alex stood outside the office of the casting director. At the counter, he smoothly provided his name, a sense of confidence emanating from him as he patiently waited for his turn. A glance around revealed a room filled with aspiring actors, their nervous energy palpable as they muttered lines from their phones. Oddly, Alex found himself untouched by the usual audition jitters, uncertain whether it was a newfound self-assurance or the influence of the AI within him.
Observing the others engrossed in last-minute script readings, he couldn't help but release a spontaneous chuckle, a lighthearted gesture that earned him a few perplexed glances. A momentary awkwardness settled in, but as swiftly as it arrived, the room returned to its anxious hum.
After another hour of anticipation, the assistant finally called out, "Alexander Hartley." Alex acknowledged the call and walked towards the office, a mix of nerves and determination in his stride.
Inside, he faced a trio of individuals in formal suits. The older man, Richard Brooke, initiated the introductions. "Alex, I'm Richard Brooke. This is Lewyn, and this is Ashley," he said, the formality of the setting hanging in the air.
They exchanged greetings, and Richard, with a powerful gravelly voice, got straight to the point. "As you know, although the role is a small one, it is very important."
"Yes, sir," Alex responded confidently, maintaining eye contact with the trio.
"The scene you are going to play is that of a man who has just lost his wife to death in a robbery attempt. You're grieving her death and trying to take revenge by killing them. The hero is the police officer who stops you before you can kill them," Richard explained, setting the dramatic tone of the scene.
"The hero says that this is not the right way, but you can't understand his reasoning, you are confronting him now. We expect an emotionally charged scene" Ashley added, her expression serious.
Alex absorbed the information, preparing to dive into the emotionally charged role.
As the audition scene unfolded, Alex turned to Alice for assistance. "'Can you help me to feel the emotions?" he requested.
"[Yes, Alex, I can do that.]"
"'Please do.'"
"[Initiating simulation in 3... 2... 1]"
.
.
.
Suddenly, Alex was engulfed in a wave of pain and anger. The emotions were so vivid that he questioned why anyone would stand in the way of his revenge.
"I understand your pain," the simulated police officer sympathetically conveyed.
'You don't. Oh, you don't.' Alex laughed bitterly as tears streamed down his face. "The living can never understand death," he declared to the police officer. "You cannot understand my pain. And now you have stopped my redemption." Contempt glimmered in his eyes.
"She was everything!!!" he shouted before collapsing to his knees, pounding his fists on the floor.
Rising slowly, he uttered, "No- I can't, I cannot let those bastards go. She won't forgive me!" His heart ached, the intensity overwhelming.
.
.
.
.
"Alex!"
Abruptly, he snapped out of his role. The assistant, embodying the hero's lines, stood flabbergasted before him. Ashley and the others wore expressions of shock, the room collectively stunned by the depth of emotion Alex had channeled.