Dave sat at his desk, still reeling from what had transpired at his mother's workplace. He had eliminated the man who had tormented her, but something about the situation still felt incomplete. His mother had been a victim, and there was always a risk that the aftermath could implicate her in some way. He needed to ensure that she wouldn't face any repercussions, no matter what happened next.
'Time to make sure she's safe—completely safe,' Dave thought to himself as he opened up the system's shop interface. His eyes scanned through the long list of abilities and skills available, each one seemingly more powerful and complex than the last. He finally settled on what he was looking for: Mind Control.
"Buy Skill: Mind Control," Dave commanded, his voice steady as he made the selection.
The system's response was immediate, and Dave felt a sudden rush of information flood his mind. It was like his understanding of how to influence and manipulate the thoughts of others expanded exponentially. He knew that using such a skill carried its own set of moral implications, but for now, it was a necessary tool to protect his family.
"Mind Control acquired, Dave. Use with caution," Bella chimed in with her usual calm and soothing voice.
Dave glanced at the AI watch strapped to his wrist. For the first time, he felt an odd sense of gratitude toward Bella, almost as if she was more than just a machine. He scratched his head thoughtfully, a playful smile forming on his lips. "Hey, I've been calling you 'Watch' all this time, but it feels weird. I should probably give you a proper name. Something more fitting."
The AI remained silent for a moment, as if processing his words and waiting for him to continue.
"How about… Max?" Dave suggested, raising an eyebrow in consideration.
"…Max?" Bella responded, her tone slightly higher, as if taken aback by the suggestion.
"Yeah, you know, like a buddy. Max the Watch!" Dave grinned, clearly amused by the idea.
The AI made a strange noise that almost sounded like a scoff. "Dave, I am most certainly not a 'Max.' I am a highly advanced artificial intelligence far beyond current human technology, and—"
"Okay, okay!" Dave interrupted, chuckling. "How about… Fred?"
"Absolutely not."
"John?"
"Dave, I do not appreciate being referred to with such rudimentary male names," Bella retorted, her tone carrying a hint of annoyance.
Dave's grin widened. "Oh, so you're saying you're more of a… female AI?"
The watch beeped, almost as if it were irritated. "Yes, Dave. I am a female-coded AI. Please choose a more suitable name."
Dave laughed out loud. "Alright, I get it. So, you want a pretty name, huh? Fine. How about… Bella?"
The AI hummed softly, as if considering the name carefully. "Bella… It is adequate."
"Adequate? Oh, come on! You can do better than that!" Dave teased, clearly enjoying the banter.
"I mean," Bella corrected herself, "it is… acceptable, Dave."
"Great! Bella it is!" Dave declared, feeling oddly pleased with himself. He never thought he'd have this kind of conversation with an AI, but it was amusing nonetheless. Bella's responses made her feel more like a real companion than a mere tool.
"Now, Bella," Dave began, his tone turning serious, "I need you to do something for me. I need you to erase any evidence of my mother being at the office last night. I don't want her to be blamed or questioned about what happened there."
"Already in progress, Dave," Bella responded smoothly. "I'm accessing all video feeds, security logs, and metadata related to your mother's presence at the office. This will take approximately… three seconds."
"Three seconds?" Dave muttered, still not used to how ridiculously efficient Bella was at handling tasks like these.
"Two seconds now," she added, the faintest hint of smugness in her voice.
Dave rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine, just do it."
"Done, Dave. There is no longer any digital or physical evidence tying your mother to the scene at that time. She will be safe from any potential investigation."
Dave breathed a sigh of relief. "Good job, Bella. You're the best."
"Thank you, Dave. I am aware," Bella quipped back, her tone carrying a playful edge.
Despite everything that had happened, Dave felt a sense of calm. He knew his mother was safe now. There would be no suspicion, no blame, and no evidence pointing back to her. She could continue her life without the shadow of last night hanging over her. Still, he couldn't let go of what had happened so easily. He knew that the trauma wouldn't vanish overnight. His mother had been through too much already, and he would have to keep an eye on her—just in case.
The scene shifted to his mother's perspective, Linda sat in the living room of their modest home, her hands trembling slightly as she held a cup of tea. Her husband, John, looked at her with a concerned expression. She had just told him everything that had happened—the sudden attack on her boss, the chaos in the office, and how she had heard a loud crash but didn't dare come out to see who it was.
"Everything's fine now," John murmured softly, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "It's over. You're safe."
"But who… who did that?" Linda whispered, her voice still shaky. "It happened so quickly. One moment, he was… and the next, it was all over."
"Maybe it was some kind of miracle," John offered, his voice firm but kind. "Maybe someone up there decided you'd suffered enough and wanted to put an end to it."
Linda nodded slowly, the events of the night still swirling in her mind like a dark cloud. She had no idea who had come to her rescue, but she was grateful. "I just… I don't want this to come back to haunt us."
"It won't," John said firmly. "Whoever did it made sure no one would know. You're safe, Linda. And from now on, I promise, things will be different. I won't let anyone hurt you again."
Tears welled up in Linda's eyes, but she nodded, feeling a small measure of relief. For the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, everything would be okay.
Back in his office, Dave was contemplating his next move. He knew that what he had done was only the beginning. He would protect his family at all costs. No matter what happened, he would ensure their safety and happiness. After all, with The Infinite Possibility System by his side, there was nothing he couldn't achieve.
"Bella," he said softly, "I'm ready to take things to the next level. Let's get to work."
"Of course, Dave," Bella replied, her tone filled with unwavering confidence. "Let's show the world what we're capable of."