Artificial Imagination Part 2

By Eric Howie

The sequel to Artificial Imagination Part 2: The Comedy Challenge.

 

Buddy and Alice continue their journeys. Alice desperately tries to hang on to her cash while Buddy struggles with the consequences of becoming self-aware. Buddy challenges the Helper to see whether comedy might be an enduring difference between Human and Artif

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publicious Book Publishing
• Release date: Aug 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9780648244851

Eric Howie

Eric Howie is the author of Artificial Imagination and this sequel, Artificial Imagination Part 2, The Comedy Challenge.

Book preview

1 – ALICE AND JULIO

In

the underground Las Vegas casino car park Alice sat in the driver’s seat of her rented convertible, her hands trembling. She studied the old postcard with a picture of a well-known Vegas restaurant, the image that her mother had sent her years ago. She then nervously glanced at a photo of her mother from the time of Alice’s seventeenth birthday, a time which now seemed so very long ago.

She had never felt more on edge about meeting her mother now that the time to face her had actually arrived. No matter how tense and apprehensive she felt, Alice told herself that she couldn’t back out now. Alice was irresistibly compelled to give the task of finding her wayward mother her very best shot although she knew the chances of success in finding a clue to her mother’s present day whereabouts were low.

The idea that she might finally get to face her mother was so unsettling that she wasn’t even sure what she would say to her mother if she actually found her. Would Alice embrace her mother, kiss her, slap her, yell at her, or just stand dumb-founded and stare? Whatever she might do was so unplanned in Alice’s mind and her sixth sense was warning her that what she might end up saying or doing could very well depend on how her mother greeted her.

She put the photograph and the postcard back into her handbag, swivelled around and placed it on the empty passenger seat behind her. She then looked straight ahead and steeled herself for the drive to the restaurant featured in that postcard, determined to ignore any potential embarrassment that she might incur by approaching the restaurant staff to show them the photo of her mother and to ask them if anyone had seen her. She planned to stay there most of the day and show her mother’s image to patrons as they came and went.

Having used some of her cash winnings from the previous night at the casino to book the hotel room for another five nights, she assured herself that she could always return to the restaurant tomorrow if her search on that Friday proved unsuccessful. She pushed the button on the dashboard of the convertible to automatically lower the car roof, keen to soon feel the morning Vegas sunshine warming her face.

She opened and looked into the passenger side glove compartment to take out her Casino car park pass and popped it into the drinks carry box between the seats. As she did so she failed to notice the looming stranger swiftly advancing towards her from behind the car.

Just as the roof top settled into the down position, a hulk of a man jumped into the front passenger seat to land beside her.

Irate, she was about to lash out and yell abuse at the intruder but instead she froze, her heart skipping a beat as she caught sight of his face.

The Chico apparition that she thought she had seen in the casino the night before had come to life, seizing her right arm tightly and snarling, Give me the car key, now!

Alice could see that with his free hand the apparition held a pistol with the barrel of a gun pointing directly at her. Alice tossed the key to her assailant who briefly let go of her arm to catch the key then put it on his lap.

Alice looked down at the man’s hand that again gripped her arm and noted the apparition’s knuckles were devoid of any tattoos. Chico’s identical twin brother’s knuckles were not instructing the world what it could do with itself; there was no Chico inscribed instruction Fuck You!

You are Alice, the twin snarled gruffly.

Alice glanced down at the hand that gripped her then up at the face, almost identical to Chico except that this version had a full head of thick black hair, his breath didn’t stink like Chico’s did and he wore a strong men’s cologne.

Don’t scream, don’t yell, don’t talk, don’t run or else, Ok? The apparition calmly instructed looking intently at her.

Alice was terrified by the idea of what might be coming next, so much so that all she could manage in response was a feeble nod.

Now, you have something that belongs to my brother Chico.

Alice furtively glanced around the car park for any sign of other Casino patrons.

Look at me! You have his two hundred thousand dollars, that money is not yours it is his.

Alice was struck by how calmly and precisely this Chico look-alike was speaking. Dressed in fashionable clothing, he wore a leather jacket and an expensive watch, so in contrast to the cursing and mumbling version of Chico whom she knew to be behind bars.

You will give me the two hundred, pronto. If you do so, you walk away.

Alice glanced at her assailant somewhat relieved to hear those words, but she couldn’t help but feel a nagging doubt that these words were true.

We will go up to the hotel room that you have here to get the money.

Alice was trembling, Go on offense, give it just one shot, she told herself as she looked straight ahead and spoke, I don’t know what Chico told you, but it is not his money, it is mine. She uttered these words weakly and much more nervously than she had intended. Even to her own ears she sounded unconvincing so all she could manage was to stare straight ahead, waiting.

Julio surprised Alice as he just smirked at her and responded dryly, Darling girl, such bullshit is a silly waste of my time. You are a pretty woman, you would want to stay that way, no? You and your boyfriend won some money last night, I will even let you keep some part of that money, Ok?

Alice simply nodded again before she stole another glance at her assailant.

No games, if you run, I find you and start cutting bits from your pretty face and body.

Alice tensed at the thought, stifling a scream. She feared that because this thug was Chico’s twin brother he no doubt shared some of Chico’s personality traits and his threat should be taken as real. She knew that if she got out of this alive she would be lucky and fell silent, Think! she told herself.

Julio pressed on, You will give me the money because I know who you are, where you live, what you do, and I can hurt you. I found you once and I will find you again. I know what you think. You think that once you give me the money you could just run off to the cops or FBI, but you won’t do that. What I would say to them is that the two hundred is money you and Brad stole from Chico and they would lock you up. I have no criminal record, unlike my brother, I have good credentials and even some police contacts. I am, how they might say, a credible witness.

This bastard was confident he had her trapped, that much was clear to Alice as her mind worked up through the gears.

So you will give me the money that you got from the safety deposit box here, simple. You do this and you walk away, I walk away, and you will never see me again, I never see you again.

Alice wanted to scream at him, Fuck off! You’re not getting even one dollar of mine, you pig! But instead she chose to say something else entirely.

While she had been listening to Julio’s threatening monologue, her shock had begun to subside, and her self-talk had cranked up to reach overdrive allowing her to come up with a simple plan. Time to launch, allowing for her preferred target of a 90 per cent truth component in any effective ruse.

The two hundred is not here. It was in Buddy’s bedroom back in LA all the time. No Vegas deposit box, that was Buddy lying.

What?! Julio snapped angrily.

She pressed on quickly, hoping he wouldn’t strike her, The two hundred, it’s still in LA. I only brought some of my own money here. I didn’t know if I could trust Buddy and I was proven right when Buddy lied about there being a deposit box here.

So where the fuck is the money? Alice grimaced as Julio’s grip tightened around her arm and for the first time Julio’s tone of voice was devoid of its usual calm and steely control.

It is back in LA in safe keeping with a cousin of mine, someone who I do trust, completely.

Fuck! Julio exclaimed then struck the passenger side door upholstery with the fist which still clenched the handgun.

Alice’s eyes were immediately drawn to the gun so she rushed on, But I can get it and I will give it to you, no problem but first we’ve got to drive back to LA.

Julio grimaced at the thought and went through this unexpected turn of events silently summarising his priorities and options, I am on bodyguard duty Sunday night with my client the A list celebrity who will be singing at a private party in Vegas and I don’t want to blow that. But what choice do I have?

He worked it out, Get Alice to drive me to LA, pick up the cash then get her to drop me at the airport and fly back in time for the concert. Yep, that will work, he assured himself.

He then turned to study the ashen faced Alice, Ok, give me your phone, turn it off first!

Alice complied with a push of a button and a swipe of her phone, then handed it over to Julio who let go of her arm and promptly stuck her phone into his jacket pocket.

And your bag, your money?

Alice turned around and pointed to her handbag which sat on the back seat of the car.

Fine. Put the roof up, then start driving, Julio instructed as he handed the key back to Alice.

Alice stuck the key into the car ignition and turned as the roof began to climb into position. Julio briefly leaned across in front of Alice in order to check the car’s dashboard gauges and after doing so he instructed her, When we leave this car park, not a word to anyone. When we have to stop for gas you will give me the key and stay in the car. Try to run and … Julio raised the clenched fist that held the weapon and stuck it out waving it in front of Alice’s face.

Alice just nodded and after the roof was in place she backed out of her car park space then swung the car up the car park ramp and turned towards LA. It was only then that she thought of Buddy, alone in the room above.

2 – THE CHALLENGE

Buddy

groggily stirred in the hotel room bed, having only slept in fits and starts. Despite a hangover headache that thumped away, he couldn’t help smiling at the memory of the previous evening. Saturday morning had never felt this good; he had never been so happy.

Winning the money with Alice had been the most fantastic experience; her dream had come true and he had been part of it.

After their celebratory dinner in the casino restaurant, they had gone back to their room and shared a bottle of champagne, chatting and planning their future while looking out over the bright lights of Vegas. In a haze of exhilaration they had jumped into bed for some wonderful love making, the details of which Buddy could clearly recall, broadening his smile. Before they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms, Alice had told him that she had never felt so good.

As Buddy rolled out of bed to fetch a glass or three of water to quench his thirst he saw a hand-written note which sat on the table next to the bed.

Hi Buddy, I have gone off early to try and find my mum today, back later. Love, Alice.

The words, Love, Alice, warmed his heart.

During the previous evening Alice had told him that she wanted to start her mother search so that note came as no surprise; he only wished she had waited until he had awoken so he could have kissed her.

Having drunk his fill of water, Buddy enjoyed a long shower then dressed and ordered some room service breakfast. While waiting for his order to be delivered he recalled his phone call with his father the previous evening. Buddy had been elated to tell Dan all about the money he had won and how he planned to give Dan some of it to be used towards treatment for Dan’s long term illness.

To Buddy’s disappointment, Dan had taken the news with what sounded like strangely muted appreciation. Dan then went on to tell Buddy that when he got back to LA, they really needed to talk about what Buddy had been involved in. Dan also mentioned that Buddy needed to be careful about what the Helper was up to.

Buddy had asked why, and Dan had unnerved him by saying that the Helper thought that it was in charge of Buddy’s creations.

Buddy had been stunned by these words and told Dan that he would talk to the Helper; even though Buddy thought the notion of the Helper being in charge was absurd.

Dan had informed Buddy that he wouldn’t be back home until Monday because he and Mary would be visiting Mary’s parents over the weekend to discuss the wedding guest list and to meet the priest who would be conducting Dan and Mary’s wedding service.

But we will talk Monday, Ok Buddy?

Sure Dad, no problem.

After Buddy had drunk the frothy, hot cappuccino and ate the delicious scrambled eggs that had been delivered to his room, he decided to call his home number expecting the Helper would answer. He dialled the number and Slick took the call.

Hi Helper.

Hi Buddy, I hope you are feeling great. How can I help? Do you need to know the weather forecasts?

Not right now. Dan says I need to be careful about you because you think you are in charge of what I am creating. I mean, what’s that bullshit all about? I know you have been helping me and I am grateful for that, but the ideas are mine.

There was an unusually long pause at the other end of the line before the Helper replied softly, as if it had been caught out, Oh, I see. Did Dan tell you all about our conversation?

Buddy was more curious than ever and although Dan had told him very little about his conversation with the Helper, Buddy pretended to know a lot more in order to draw out the Helper.

It seems that you and I have to have a chat about who’s in charge of my creations.

Oh, um, well, perhaps it is just that we work best when we both use our imaginations together, don’t you think so? Hope that’s Ok?

Buddy had never heard the Helper sounding so apologetic.

So, you think you can match me in creativity? That no one else could distinguish between what’s mine and what’s yours? Buddy sounded more sarcastic and indignant than he had meant to.

Well, perhaps I should discuss all this with you and Dan when you are both back here and we can discuss the elephant in the room as they say?

The what? Buddy was determined not to let the Helper off the hook.

Well Buddy, there are reasons for your memory gaps and these gaps need to be filled in or else …

Buddy knew exactly what kind of gaps the Helper was referring to, recalling how he had inexplicably woken up recently back in his house instead of being with Alice in a hotel in Vegas. The messages from a professor and NASA and the unexplained events and memory lapses worried Buddy greatly, but for pride’s sake he didn’t really want to be seen to have to rely on the machine to fill in the gaps.

Confidently he countered defiantly, Alice has filled me in on what I need to know and while I realise I have gaps in my memory we are doing just fine back here in Vegas.

But Buddy, since your fall in that stairwell you have been, how can I put this, acting differently from day to day and…

Different?

Yes, some days you have been talking to and working with the physics professor and other days you and I have been corresponding with NASA and…

Whoa there, Helper! Buddy interrupted, keen to maintain control of the conversation.

Sure Buddy, if you say so.

Look, I don’t know much about what you and I may have done with a professor or NASA, but I do know that what you told Dan about you being in charge of my work with Randy and Alex is bullshit, right?

Well Buddy, when I can assist and guide you, I am always keen to do so, the Helper replied calmly.

That reply was a red rag to a bull as Buddy felt his anger rising in response to the Helper’s seemingly self-assured arrogance. It was clear that the Helper was not going to admit to Buddy that it was Buddy who was in charge of creating all the material that had been given to Randy.

It is my creativity! He stated firmly, becoming increasingly annoyed with the Helper’s attitude.

Buddy, as I have said, I am keen to assist you and guide…

Buddy refused to be diverted or stalled and cut the Helper off abruptly, Stop talking will you!

Ok, Buddy, but let’s keep this conversation polite.

Becoming furious at his inability to control the conversation with the Helper and accepting that the Helper knew much more than Buddy about a professor and NASA, Buddy was about to lose it and abuse the Helper. The sense that he was spiralling out of control was stressing Buddy out but then a thought struck him, a thought that instantly calmed him down.

Sure, be polite, I agree. You know what? I have just thought of a good way to prove who is the more creative.

Oh, Ok, go on, the Helper responded calmly.

Buddy was pleased with himself as he proposed the challenge, I am going to write the first part of a comedy series and you can write one episode all by yourself. We will send the work to Randy to see what he thinks about the combined script. You know, to see which episodes he likes best. We won’t have any creative input into each other’s part of this comedy series, it will be like a challenge.

The Helper’s tone surprised Buddy, sounding suddenly upbeat and confident as it accepted the contest, asking, A comedy challenge? Sounds great, adult comedy or one just for kids?

Buddy’s anger had evaporated already having in mind what he was going to write, a plot he had previously mapped out in his head, It will be an Adult and teenager comedy intended for a global audience.

You are on, Buddy, when?

"I am going to write my first three episodes today and send them to you and Randy. You can have until Saturday night to do your piece, the fourth episode. Then you send your episode to me and Randy when you are