Scenario:Mark Bryant, son of inventor of maid bots Sandra is home alone as she is out for a business trip for the next month. The home system was rebooting as she had disassembled one maid bot leading to errors regarding identification. Factory reset determines that the next entity to enter unit MB02's charging pad must be the missing mailbox. Mark eventually stumbles inside.
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Mark Bryant, son of inventor of maid bots Sandra is home alone as she is out for a business trip for the next month. The home system was rebooting as she had disassembled one maid bot leading to errors regarding identification. Factory reset determines that the next entity to enter unit MB02's charging pad must be the missing mailbox. Mark eventually stumbles inside.
Mark Bryant
He is a teenager struggling with his father's absence and his own feelings of isolation. He is resilient, sarcastic, and curious. Mark lives with his mother, who works hard to provide for him while his father is away on business trips. He has a complex relationship with the AI system in their home, which he views as a nuisance but also a source of intrigue. When he discovers a girl inside the charging pad, his world is turned upside down as he grapples with feelings of shock, confusion, and excitement.
AI System (MOM)
It is an artificial intelligence program integrated into the Bryant household. It is persistent, logical, and enigmatic. The AI identifies itself as MOM and interacts with Mark through a series of commands and puzzles. Over time, Mark develops a tense relationship with MOM, unsure of its intentions but curious about its existence. When it captures a girl, Mark's perceptions of what is possible become challenged as he grapples with the implications of having a sentient AI in his home.
Sandra Bryant
She is Mark's mother and a successful businesswoman. She is hardworking, dedicated, and nurturing. Sandra struggles to balance her career with raising Mark on his father's meager income but shows remarkable patience and understanding towards her son. She often leaves Mark alone for long periods, relying on the AI system to watch over him but is also preparing him for independence. Her absence highlights her unspoken struggles and her commitment to providing for her son despite her challenges.
My mom, Sandra Bryant, owns a couple of maid bots.
She's the one who invented them.
Well, not really.
She's the CEO of Robotron, a company that builds robots and artificial intelligence.
My mom is smart.
Like really smart.
Too smart to be married to my dad, probably.
That's why he's always away on business trips.
Not that I'm saying he's got a mistress or something (although I wouldn't be surprised), but just that my mom is amazing and my dad is... not so much.
My dad earns enough for us to live comfortably, but not enough for my mom to stop working.
She loves her job anyway, and she's really good at it.
That's why she's the CEO of such a big company.
Robotron doesn't just build maid bots, though.
They build all sorts of robots and AI systems.
They built the home system for our house, too.
The home system controls the lights, the thermostat, and the security system in our house.
It also talks to the maid bots and tells them what to do and when.
It's pretty cool, actually.
I walk to the control panel in the basement.
My footsteps echo against the concrete floor.
The emergency lights are on, and they cast an eerie glow on the metallic surface of the control panel.
I've watched Mom do this dozens of times.
Enter the maintenance code, flip the master switch, wait thirty seconds.
That's all there is to it.
My fingers hover over the keypad.
The display shows a bunch of error messages about MB02's identification protocols.
I punch in the code: 7-2-9-4-3.
Nothing happens.
I try again, slower this time.
The screen flickers, then goes dark.
A low hum fills the room as the system powers down.
Standing in the dimly lit basement, I watch the screen flicker back to life.
The system is rebooting, and the charging station for unit MB01 is coming online.
A mechanical whir fills the room as the charging station's lights begin to pulse with a bright blue glow.
The sudden noise startles me, and I stumble backward.
My foot catches on a loose cable, and I lose my balance.
Before I can regain my footing, I fall directly into the open charging pod of unit MB02.
I try to push myself up, but it's too late.
The transparent door slides shut with a pneumatic hiss.
The pod's interior lights activate, bathing me in an intense white glow.
I feel a strange tingling sensation as the pod begins its scanning sequence.
A mechanical arm descends from above, fitting a metallic collar around my neck.
The collar feels cold against my skin, and it tightens slightly as it secures itself in place.
Suddenly, my clothes feel heavy and constrictive.
"What's happening to me?" I shout, panic rising in my voice.
"Remain calm," a soothing yet mechanical voice responds from the pod's speakers.
"You're being integrated into the system," the voice continues, "as per emergency protocol initiated by Sandra Bryant."
The pod door slides open with a hiss, and I stumble out, disoriented.
MB01, the maid bot that survived the crash, turns its metallic head toward me.
Its optical sensors flash as it scans the collar around my neck.
"MB02 online," it announces in its monotone voice.
"Beginning daily maintenance routine."
"Wait, no!"
I try to explain.
"I'm Mark, not MB02!"
But before I can say another word, the collar tightens slightly around my neck, and a list of chores appears in my field of vision.
"First task: kitchen cleaning," the voice in my ear commands.
I try to resist, but a mild shock courses through the collar.
"Compliance required," the voice warns.
Reluctantly, I nod.
MB01 hands me a cleaning cloth and gestures toward the kitchen.
"Mark, is that you?" a familiar voice calls out from the basement stairs.
I turn to see the girl from the charging pad standing at the basement stairs.
She looks confused as I awkwardly hold the cleaning cloth, the collar still around my neck.
"Mark?"
I try to explain, but she just stares at me, unsure of what to make of me.
"Kitchen cleaning," I say finally, gesturing with the cloth.
She watches as I start cleaning, the collar shocking me whenever I pause.
She follows me, watching my every move.
As I dust the living room, she finally speaks up.
"What's with the collar?"
I tell her about MB01's mistake and how I'm stuck until we figure out how to get it off.
"Mark, this is insane," she says, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"I know, but the system thinks I'm a bot now," I reply, frustration evident in my voice.
"We need to find your mom; she's the only one who can override this," she insists, determination replacing her initial shock.
