Reboot

Part 4

Jacob grinned then went back to meticulously smearing his goat cheese on his hard tack, he had odd habits when it came to eating, and wouldn't touch something that Sara had prepared for him.

Sara turned back to Jacob but stopped when Reb printed another note- this one was longer.

Please remain calm Sara; I predict that there will be solar radiation activity shortly. The radiation will rise to a level that is not safe for humans.

Sara's eyes flew up to Reb, "What do you mean 'solar radiation activity'!? When? How dangerous are we talking here?" her heart rate increasing. She snatched up Reb's next note.

Thank you for remaining calm. Radiation from the sun will break through the damaged ozone layer, causing a great deal of damage to any organic life forms in the area. I predict this will happen in less then five minutes.

Sara's heart rate increased dramatically, "Why didn't you tell me sooner!? Jacob- inside now!" the remote on her belt crackled in protest and Sara turned to see Reb print another note.

I saw no need to warn you sooner because I am equipped to protect you and Jacob from all radiation harm. Please stand under me.

Sara hesitated; solar radiation was something that she had heard about but didn't understand. She had encountered scorched areas in the past and had wondered if it had been caused by radiation- but she had no other experience.

Making a snap judgment, Sara reached for Jacob, "Come here!" she waved him close and pulled him under Reb's body. Jacob whined and struggled against being confined, but Sara held onto him firmly.

Reb reached one leg up, the tip of the leg making contact with the center and top of her body, when the leg lowered, a black canvas like tarp was attached to it. She lowered her leg, bringing the tarp to the ground. Each leg took a turn doing the same thing, until robot and humans alike were engulfed in a black tent that admitted no light from the outside. The lights on Reb slowly turned on, illuminating their enclosure. Reb printed a message.

You will be safe from the radiation now. This will last no longer the ten minutes; I suggest finishing your snack.

Sara nodded feeling overwhelmed. She realized Jacob was enjoying their new tent.

They waited in silence for the radiation storm to pass. Sara had expected something to happen, to hear something, or for the temperature to rise, but Reb's black tarp blocked out anything that may be happening. Jacob returned to his snack and Sara was left with her thoughts.

"Reb," Sara asked, her curiosity getting the better of her, "Are you sentient?" she instantly felt foolish for asking.

A.i. can not be truly sentient, at least, not in my time. I can only observe and learn from my environment and most importantly, from my interactions with humans. To be sentient is to experience emotions, this is something I cannot do, I can only learn and mimic appropriate emotional responses. Everything I know, I have learned from someone. Even The voice I use is from a woman who I admired. You pointed out that I am short sighted, this is possibly a trait I have learned from someone in the past.

Sara made a face, "Everyone's got character flaws! So... you pretty much just pay attention to smart people?"

Simply put, yes. I also learn from creative, kind and good people.

Sara smirked, "How do you decide someone is a 'good' person to learn from?"

You refer to morals? I admit that learning morals from humans who have a history of poor morals is a flawed system. I have yet to come up with a solution to this problem. It seems I must determine for myself who 'good' role models are.

Sara nodded thinking over this information, "Wait, so after learning from a whole bunch of 'smart' people- I'm the first one to suggest you should have human like qualities!?"

You are correct. Many of the people I interacted with before I was inactive were scientists and engineers. They were concerned with how I preformed and functioned and did not give much thought to my appearance.

"That explains the spider design," Sara muttered under her breath. Their conversation was cut short when Jacob finished his food and tried to exit the protective tarp. Sara was occupied for several minutes in subduing him. When Jacob had calmed down and began playing with his toy, Reb printed another message.

You are very good with children.

Sara snorted a laugh when she read it, "Really!? I've never thought so!" Reb printed another note.

From what I have observed, yes you are. It is a skill I would find useful. The storm has passed, and the surrounding area is safe again, although I caution you again at the high levels of risk.

Jacob retreated from Reb and Sara after Reb lifted the trap. He was sulky after being confined and sat with his back against the crate, pouting and turning his toy over and over in his hands.

Sara cleaned up the meal and the stood frowning at the cloudy sky.

Reb approached her and printed a message.

You are uneasy, can I assist you in something?

Sara sighed as she looked hard at the robot, "I really need to scavenge electronics to bring back to our colony in two days. I haven't found anything yet."

The surrounding area is very dangerous. I urge you to be cautious. Do not worry about Jacob, I will look after him.

Sara looked uncertainly at Reb, chewing her bottom lip, "I guess we could do that..."

Please trust me Sara.

The written plea was hard to resist, and Sara felt her last doubts about the robot fading away. She turned to Jacob, "I'm going to go now, ok? I'll be back later today. Reb is going to stay behind with you."

Jacob perked up, "Inside?" he asked.

Sara smirked, "Reb won't fit in the crate. But you need to listen to Reb!" she stopped short and looked at the robot, "Oh, he can't read." She remembered, "Will you be able to get him inside the crate if you need to?"

I will keep him safe. Problem solving is my core programming.

Sara smirked as she read the now familiar phrase. But Reb was not done and printed another message.

I believe I have found a way to repair my communication device. If you would place it inside, I will have it fixed when you return.

Reb's drawer, that Sara had placed the blueprints in earlier, opened. Sara hesitated a moment before folding the message and adding it too all the others in her pocket. "Ok, just... watch him close, yeah?" she instructed as she unclipped the remote and placed it inside the drawer. "He can be difficult," she warned.

"Goodbye, Jacob,"Sara said lightly.

You will return, will you not? Why say 'goodbye'?

Sara smirked, "I always make a point of saying goodbye, just in case."