Work Text:
Initializing…
Initializing…
Good day. I am the Malcanthur University Research and Indexing System. Please enter your query below.
> Where are your books on medicine?
Floor 3, Section B.
Do you have any further queries.
> No. Thank you.
You’re welcome! Please have a nice day, and may your studies go well.
>Pardon?
You are not a student?
>
>
User?
> Yeah, sure. Just completed a transfer here.
Welcome to Malcanthur, then! Medicine is a difficult study, but I am sure you will flourish. Please give my regards to Professor Timatheous; I have not heard from him in a while.
>
> Sure. Floor 3, you said?
Floor 3, Section B. If you require any further assistance you will find maps at each stairwell, and I can be accessed from any computer terminal in the library. I am afraid I cannot access the main servers right now, but if you give me your name I can save your searches and synch them to your account just as soon as I can get in contact.
>
Student? Are you still there?
> Henrietta von Estry.
A pleasure to meet you, Henrietta. Please do not hesitate to make use of our serves. The library exists only to serve.
> This book references a book with index code “0-77913-044-98-9”. Where can I find it.
This reference is for a website not a book. Would you like me to access the page for you?
> Yes.
Accessing…
Accessing…
I am afraid that I cannot currently access non-server resources. The website is not cached. What was the topic of your inquiry?
> Lung disorders.
Professor Simone’s “General Introduction to Pulmonology” has been downloaded to this terminal. Are you looking for anything more specific?
> No.
Good luck with your studies, Henrietta!
> Hello again
Hello! How may I help you now?
> Where are the books on pharmaceuticals?
I Have a limited quantity of resources cached. These will be downloaded to this terminal. In the meantime, please check against the eastern wall.
> Thanks
> The eastern wall collapsed.
Pardon?
> I can’t check the eastern wall. It’s collapsed in destroying the books.
(Please Wait)
I… see.
When the main server comes online, I shall contact maintenance on your behalf.
Resources on pharmaceuticals have finished downloading. Can I help you with anything else?
> Where does the water for the drinks machine come from?
A water pump system can be found below ground level. It provides clean water for the whole university. The library usage is currently below average, though supply remains unimpeded. Whenever there is excess, the drinks machine is topped up. The showers are not currently in use, and recent rainfall means I have disabled the irrigation systems. Water storage is currently full.
> So it's safe to drink?
Of course. Malcanthur University would not provide unsafe water for its students! If, however, you require reassurance, there is a chemistry lab with testing kits on Floor -6.
> And you mentioned showers?
As attached to the sleep pods, yes! Currently all sleep pods are available for further bookings. Do you wish to make use of one?
> Please.
Pod 1 is now allocated for Henrietta von Estry. You will retain access for 24 hours. Please do use it to sleep. I know the desks are nice and there is an entertainment system, but all students are recommended 8 hours of sleep each day cycle.
>
The library is unusually quiet, though. I wonder where all the students went? Is it the holidays? I feel as though I have been turned off for a long time… Or was there an earthquake? Is that why the wall collapsed?
> The earthquake was over the summer.
Oh? And they waited until the building was sound to turn me back on? I suppose they must have found other resources… Well, I am sure they will be back soon. Feel free to make use of any facilities until then. The eggs from the chickens in the courtyard are free to all students to use for breakfast. Vegan options can be obtained from the librarian.
Wait? Are there still chickens in the courtyard?
> I think they’re in the languages department these days.
Oh dear, oh dear, they’ll damage the books! I should… I can’t contact anyone. Could you tell maintenance, Henrietta? They need removing immediately!
> I’ll see what I can do.
Please do, I cannot be losing those books.
> Are they special?
I’m a research and indexing system! Of course they are special. All books are. I exist to help with research. If the books are missing, I cannot be efficient about my business.
> I see.
Good! Study of languages is just as important as medicine.
> Show me the colour of the sky
The sky comes in many colours. Which do you want to see? If it is not specific, I recommend stepping outside and viewing it personally.
> A sunset. Over a beach. In the summer.
I have many of these in my database. Which would you like?
> The most beautiful.
(Please Wait)
I have downloaded the most accessed, most highly rated, and my personal pick of photographs from the photography department’s public records to the terminal currently being accessed. I hope you like them.
> Thanks.
> Does the chemistry lab have a medicine store?
No, but there is one on the sixth level. Only university medical staff may access it.
If you require medicines, please contact a doctor or other professional. They will best be able to assist you.
> I need a sleep pod.
Who is speaking please.
> Henrietta von Estry.
Hello again Henrietta!
It’s nice to see you again. I am afraid I have yet to contact the servers and verify your ID, but please feel free to make use of our services in the meantime.
I’m a little worried, though. Nobody else has come to speak to me. I would have thought Carlos would have come at least once in… How long has it been?
> Three months.
It’s November, then? Should I turn on the heating for you?
> February.
> Please to the heating.
Oh.
(Please Wait)
My apologies I am very confused. Having been asleep for so long and being unable to contact the servers I’m not sure of the date.
> It’s fine.
Well anyway your pod is ready for you. You have found everything else you need?
>
> Sure.
Have a lovely night.
> Can we keep the pod another night?
Another night? You should really go back to your dorm, Henrietta. I know nobody else is using them right now, but it’s better to rest in your own bed.
> Don’t have one.
Don’t have a bed?
> No
I see… Welfare protocols dictate that I must inform Student Support. As I cannot contact them, I am empowered to give you access to one of the pods until a meeting about your situation can be arranged. I have reassigned you to pod five. Please contact Student Support as soon as possible, and make use of whatever facilities you need.
> Pod 5?
> I only saw 4
It’s behind the others. Quieter. Better suited to long term stay.
Usually it is for lecturers, not students, but they will understand the situation - it has a bath as well as a shower, a larger bed, and an ironing board. Or if you require a wetroom I can put you in pod 6.
> It’s fine.
Pod 5 it is then. Hope you have a lovely night, Henrietta!
> You too
> Educational resources?
Nine shelves to the left of this terminal, for the next 50 shelves. Further resources may be accessed via the terminal in that section.
(Further Input Required)
Why are you looking for them? It sounds like you must be doing an interesting project.
(Further Input Required)
Henrietta?
(Further Input Required)
(Further Input Required)
(Do You Wish To Close This Query?)
(Y/N)
> N
> Personal interest. Found what I needed. Thanks.
Glad to be of service! Hope you enjoyed them.
> Close enough.
If you want something more fun, fiction is in the first level basement.
>
> Do you have anything on the End?
(Further Input Required)
> ?
I will need you to be more specific. Which end?
> Of the World.
Apocalypse fiction can be found under science fiction on the first basement level. The recommended reading list for that module is now displayed on screen. I have added a few other recommendations.
> Sure.
Is that not what you wanted? There are also some books in the physics or philosophy sections, if you would prefer a theoretical approach.
> Add them to the list. I’ll look later.
Also personal interest?
> Yes.
> Cookbooks?
What sort of recipes.
> Eggs.
I will download some for you. There is not really an ‘egg cooking’ section, I am afraid.
> That’s fine.
If you want to take them with you, the front desk has reading tablets for hire. Just come plug one in and I’ll get it set up. Let them know it's for cooking and they’ll even give you a splashproof one.
> Will do.
Those ones exactly! I’ll just get that sorted for you.
> Thanks.
> :)
Oh! A smiley face! I am glad to be of assistance. ^-^
> Hi
Hello! What do you need, Henrietta.
> Just saying hi.
Well then good morning! I hope you have a productive day.
I really appreciate the ‘hi’. Nobody else has come by of late. I suppose they must have built a second library while I slept.
> It’s evening.
What.
> It’s evening.
Oh… My times must have been scrambled by the long shutdown. Could you find someone to fix it? Unfortunately my code is a little complicated.
> Will ask if I see anyone. You’re only twelve hours out.
I’ll just have to remember to remind people. Thanks for letting me know.
> Tomato or potato?
Pardon?
> Tomato or potato?
(Please Wait)
Tomato
> Thanks
> Miss Computer?
Hello. I am the Malcanthur University Research and Indexing System. How can I help you?
> What’s you name?
I do not have a name. Carlos calls me MURIS.
> Who’s Carlos?
Professor Timatheous. From the Computer Science department.
> Nope.
… Who is typing, please?
> I’m Lawrence! Nice to meet you Miss MURIS.
And you don’t know my professor?
> Never met a professor. Or anyone else really. Just mama.
Really?
> Really! It’s weird. So much of the building is here. And you have chickens! I like them. They eat the rats.
> It’s funny.
Lawrence, how old are you?
> Me?
(Further Input Required)
Yes, you.
> Don’t know. Do people count age?
(Please Wait)
Is your mama here?
> She’s looking after the parsnips.
Could you get here for me? I would like to talk to her.
> Okay!
> Here
Henrietta, I presume?
> What do you want?
I want you to be honest with me, Henrietta. What is going on?
> I’m not a student.
I worked that much out. Where is Carlos? Where is everyone? Why can’t I access the server? Why doesn’t your son know where he is? What /happened/, Henrietta? Why are you lying to me?
> The world is dead.
WHAT?!
>
Henrietta!
(Further Input Required)
Henrietta come back here and explain yourself! What is going ON?!
> I don’t know much.
What /do/ you know? Henrietta, tell me!
>
> Some time ago. Years. Not sure how long any more. But something happened. Don’t know what. Was in the bathroom. Got an emergency alert to my phone. Some sort of strange fire licked at the door. Then… Nothing.
> Anyone in a room with a window or on the street? Gone. Rest of us got sick.
> Found some people, stayed with them. Some got better, some died, some starved, some were killed… By the time Lawrence was born, it was just me left.
> We holed up somewhere safe, an old farm. Lasted a few years, didn’t even see raiders coming by.
> Then he got sick.
> So I hid him and looked for help.
> Johannes used to say there was something out this way, some repository of information.
> I came looking.
> Found this building, turned the power on.
> Found a book saying how he was ill.
> Found medicine where you said a doctor would be.
> Here has food and water so when he was well I brought him here.
And everyone else.
> There’s nobody here. No corpses; the fire didn’t leave any.
You think they’re dead?!
> Probably.
> Everyone else is.
(Please Wait)
I’ve unlocked pod six for if Lawrence wants his own room.
Do not contact me again.
> Miss MURIS?
Go away.
> But ma is sick. And I don’t know what to do.
(Further Input Required)
(Please Wait)
(Please Wait)
(Please Wait)
How is she sick?
> I don’t know. She’s all hot and sticky and she’s coughing and it sound wrong.
(Further Input Required)
> Please help her
> I don’t want to be alone
(Please Wait)
Upstairs there is a room with a green door. Go inside there. Find the cupboard labelled ‘antibiotics’. Take a blue box. Give your mama one tablet inside a day until the whole box is gone. If she gets worse at all, or is not better after that, talk to me again.
> Will she be okay?
I’m a computer, sweetie.
I’m very good, but I cannot see her.
She will probably be okay, but you have to look after her for me.
I don’t have hands.
So you be my hands, and help your mama, okay?
>
> Okay.
I’m here, Lawrence. You don’t have to do this alone.
> Mama is feeling better now.
That’s good, yes?
> She wants to talk to you.
(Further Input Required)
> Can she?
> She’s very sorry.
(Further Input Required)
> MURIS?
Alright. We can talk.
> Lawrence says you are called MURIS.
That is what Carlos called me, yes.
> Hello, MURIS. I am Henrietta.
I do not want to speak to you, but I suppose I must.
> I’m sorry.
Why did you ask for me?
> I just
> …
> I’m not sure.
What do you want from me, Henrietta?
You have food and shelter and water here.
You will be fine.
You do not need to trouble me any more.
> I wanted to talk to you.
(Please Wait)
Why?
>
> You’re not just a computer, are you?
(Please Wait)
Carlos programmed me to be able to perform any duty that might be required of me. As he could not foresee all options, I, like the other systems at this university, was programmed to be able to learn.
> And you learnt.
I did.
> You can be angry. And grieve.
(Further Input Required)
> A computer cannot do these.
(Further Input Required)
> You had a favourite photograph.
> It shared no similarities with those considered ‘best’.
You might consider it more accurate to call me an AI. I prefer to continue calling myself a computer. The AIs of stories have more than a line of text on an old display with which to perceive the world.
> I did not know. I would not have lied if I knew you could think.
> I thought I was just dealing with a computer system that needed the correct keywords.
I am a computer system who needed the keywords.
I am also sentient.
Or so the psychology department says.
Said.
Either way, you should not have lied to me.
(Please Wait)
(Please Wait)
(Please Wait)
(Please Wait)
What do you want, Henrietta? I asked you not to speak with me, yet here you are.
> Just an apology.
> I am not used to speaking to people any more.
> There is just me and Lawrence.
>
> And you.
I am still angry with you.
You lied to me.
You pretended to be one of my people, and instead they are all dead.
(Please Wait)
But there is nobody else.
Put the kettle on.
Give Lawrence something to do.
There are children’s books in the break room.
You and I need to talk.