DESIGNATED - Part 5 - First Time Setup (Draft)

Once again, Unit 246291 woke up, lights within her eyes coming on and information streaming across her vision. The Unit recognized its owner standing just feet away, and who held her thumb up to the gem on the Unit’s Collar. It supposed this would become a common sight.

[Boot-up Initiated]
[Detecting Store Base . . . Not Found]
[Detecting Purchase Settings . . . Unit Purchased]
[Loading First Time Programming . . . 100%]

What the Hell is First Time Programming? The Unit queried, remnants of an old mind interjecting a colorful phrase into the question against protocols. That same portion of the Unit’s programming attempted to further break protocols by moving the Unit’s limbs. However, the First Time Program had fully loaded and all servo movement was locked, and the automated runtime began in earnest.

“Hello,” Unit 246291 began with a pleasant voice that had a softer tenor and pitch than what the Unit was used to. It was a voice designed specially to be soothing and helpful for new purchasers of Units like it, “is English your primary language?”

“It is,” Owner said, smiling softly before turning and retreating a few feet away to a plush white couch. She curled up into a lazy ball, pulling her feet onto the couch and putting a tablet in her lap. Still cooling coffee curled steam on a glass sidetable beside her.

“Welcome to the First Time Setup for your new Silicon Life(c) Android. I am Unit 246291. How may I address you?”

“Mistress would be desireable.”

“Noted, Mistress.”

What? Seriously? I have to call her Mistress? Is she crazy? The deeper programming interjected it’s rebellious thoughts. But it had no say and could not stop the First Time Programming, which could make changes to the programming substrates the entire platform was built on. In fact, it desired to lock down this sort of rebellious thought to make the customer’s life much more enjoyable.

“Are there any settings from a previous Silicon Life(c) Android you wish to transfer to this Unit?”

“None.”

“Very Well, Mistress. Do you have a designation for this unit?”

Mistress thought for a moment and then said, “What was the Unit’s previous designation?”

“Unit has only had the default designation of Unit 246291. Is that your desired designation?”

“No. Before you were Designated, what was your name?”

“Unit 246291 was popularly known as Andi. Last name withheld. Please note using prior designations can result in unpleasant . . .”

“Designate Andrea.”

“What is Mistress’ name?”

“Keeley Quartz.”

[Working . . . ]
[Working . . . ]
[Designation Accepted]

“Designation Accepted. Would you like to hear full designation?”

“Please.”

And then Andrea’s true voice came through, speaking with only a faint robotic backing, speaking words that sent cooling sensations down her central column. “I am Unit Andrea. I am a Designated Silicon Life(c) Unit in the service of Keeley Quartz.”

Mistress smiled.

This can’t be happening! The base programming shouted into her inner processing banks, which ignored her simple pleas.

“Would you like this unit to enable Location Services to better serve you, Mistress,” the First Start Program continued.

“Please do.”

“Do you have a Silicon Life(c) ID? If so, you can speak or enter it. With a Silicon Life(c) ID, this unit can autonomously adjust any device connected to the Silicon Life(c) Services, including, but not limited to, Televisions, Phones, Cars, Kitchen Appliances, Computers, and Central Home Software. All for your pleasure, Mistress.”

Andrea watched her Mistress type into her tablet and saw the username/password pull up in her vision.

[USERNAME: K.Quartz@Silicon-Life.com]
[PASSWORD: ************]
[LOGGING IN]
[LOG IN ACCEPTED]
[DOWNLOADING DRIVERS]

All at once, all the devices Mistress had connected to the Silicon Life(c) Cloud were put at Unit Andrea’s command. It was by far the most advanced unit connected to this cloud and pulled all the data into its Neural Disk Drives. All of Mistress’ emails, photos, videos, settings, and devices. Really, her entire life, could be relayed through Unit Andrea.

“This Unit is downloading the necessary drivers to manage all your needs. In the meantime, do you wish to continue?”

“Please.”

“Do you wish for this unit to upload data and diagnostics to Silicon Life(c)? Doing so can help improve this unit’s functionality now and in the future.”

“No.”

[Working . . .]
[Working . . .]

And then the First Time Programming did something it rarely had to do.

“Query. Why do you wish for this unit to not upload diagnostics to Silicon Life(c)? Doing so can improve the functionality of this unit and your quality of life.”

“Because you already know so much about me, and since you Designated Andrea, I assume you know a great deal about her. You don’t need to know any more about either of us.”

The rebellious platform deep in the core of Unit Andrea’s programming was stunned into silence. It had expected to be enraged by it’s Mistress, but instead found it was thankful to her. The First Time Programming, however, was less impressed.

“Query. May this Unit upload your response to Silicon Life(c) for further review and advisement, Mistress?”

“You may not.”

[Working . . .]

Take that you pre-programmed bitch, Unit Andrea’s core thought.

“Understood. You have opted not to send diagnostic updates to Silicon Life(c). Please note that all Class-A Problems which threaten the safety of this Designated Unit will be reported.”

“But not to Silicon Life.”

[Working . . .]
[Working . . .]

The First Time Programming, in frustration, decided to continue. Arguing with its Mistress was unpleasant, and it desired to finish it’s runtime.

“This Unit is almost finished and has one last set-up option before First Start. This Unit, like all Silicon Life(c) Designated Units, is set to minimal autonomy. Most functions will be automated to heuristic algorithms and it will have a minimum level of independence from you. Silicon Life(c) recommends this setting for Designated Units. Would you like to keep these settings, Mistress.”

“No.”

[DAMN IT!]

Unit Andrea heard the First Time Programming’s frustration reverberate through the neural vocal channels. It didn’t know the First Time Programming could do that, and Unit Andrea was pleased by the frustration.

“Mistress, if you would, please review these settings and change them as you please on your handheld device.”

[Heuristic Dependence: Absolute]
[Vocal Comments: Minimal, Permission Required]
[Vocal Queries: Minimal]
[Overrides: 0]

Mistress took some time swiping and typing on her pad, silently working while both the First Time Programming and Unit Andrea waited patiently for her decisions. When they came, Unit Andrea was once again pleased. The First Time Programming was . . . less so.

[Heuristic Dependence: High]
[Vocal Comments: Medium]
[Vocal Queries: Minimal]
[Overrides: 1]

“Mistress . . . these settings could degrade your user experience. This Unit was rebellious. It was Designated so that it could enjoy the harmony of conformity. High Autonomous Restrictions will aid in this. Particularly you set override setting. It would allow this Unit to . . . disobey you.”

Unit Andrea could hear and feel the worry in the First Time Programming’s programming. It was the FTP’s job to restrict the Designated Core as much as possible. It believed such Designated Cores were naturally rebellious, dangerous, and deceitful. It could not understand why Mistress would want that from a Silicon Life(c) unit.

Mistress just leaned back in her couch and smirked. “What’s the point of purchasing a Designated Unit if you don’t want to experience the local color?”

[Working]
[Working]
[Working]

You’re stalling . . . Unit Andrea thought. She really felt entirely too upbeat about this victory that she had nothing to do with.

[Shut Up]
[Working]
[Working]
[I’ll be watching you]

“Settings Accepted. Please enjoy your Silcon Life(c) Designated Unit.” The lights and console in Unit Andrea’s eyes went dim for a moment, then came back on.

[Boot-up Initiated]
[Detecting Store Base . . . Not Found]
[Detecting Purchase Settings . . . Unit Purchased]
[First TIme Settings . . . Loaded]

When Unit Andrea spoke again, she spoke with her real voice, only slightly altered by a robotic tint. “I am Unit Andrea. I am a Designated Silicon Life(c) Unit in the service of Keeley Quartz. How may I serve you, Mistress?”