The Infinite Evolution - Conversion (3 page)

“
What’s that?” asked Spencer.

“
Nothing, Dad,” said Jade who was
obviously annoyed.

“
That’s not what I heard, and I
know you have a scholarship. I just want to make sure when you
leave here you have a safety cushion and never have to worry about
money.”

“
Whatever! Speaking of money, I need to get
some credits on my PIC. Can you transfer some over?”

“
I just uploaded some to your account last
week.”

“
I know, I know, but I just
downloaded this new app and it ate up all my credits and I need
them for the hover rail. You want me to get to school, right? No
credits, no hover rail, no school.”

“
Fine. Here you go,” as Spencer,
typed in a few keystrokes on his PDA, “By the way these credits
will be restricted only for the hover rail and have been taken out
of your next month’s allowance,” explained Spencer.

“
You’re so not fair,” yelled Jade.

“
I know, I know,” said Spencer as his PDA
read, “Transfer complete Mr. Cade.”

“
So when are you going to get a
PIC implant?” asked Jade, hoping this would annoy her dad
further.

“
Never,” said Spencer with a slight annoyance
in his voice. “And the only reason why you have one is because it’s
now required by International Law.”

“
Yeah, I know,” said Jade as she realized her
choice of topic was working and continued. “But do you know how
easy it is to, just like, walk into a store, grab whatever you want
and then walk out without waiting in a line to pay or
to…”

Spencer quickly interrupted,
“Sure, easy for you, but expensive for me. Back when I was growing
up, I actually had to wait in a line and watch the store clerk
total up how much I owed. This was nice because at least I knew how
much I was spending. Nowadays you walk into a store, grab whatever
you want and half the time you don’t even know how much you’re
paying. Until you walk out of course, at which point all your items
are scanned at once and the store charges your PIC.”

At this point in the
conversation, Jade realized she should stop because she knew she
had successfully invoked her dad into a rampage. Instead, she
decided to continue, “I know how much I’ve spent before I
leave.”

“
Well, of course you do, your
mathematic skills are far more superior than most
people’s.”

“
Dad, it’s, like, simple, you
know, addition and subtraction. It’s really not that hard,” as she
continued to fix the holoscreen while trying to annoy her
father.

Spencer quickly responded, “Yes,
it may be simple mathematics, but it adds up quickly, and when the
end of the month arrives, you’re going to get hit with a bill
saying you owe thousands of credits. Once this occurs you’ll now
come to the realization you can’t afford it, so you can’t make your
payment and then you end up getting hit with high interest
rates…”

Jade started tuning her father
out when she heard, “Ok, I know I’m not going to win this
particular argument with you Jade so let’s change the
subject.”

She now realized this was her opportunity and asked,
“So, Dad, can I get the upgrades to my PIC? You know the ear and
eye implants.”

Although a patient and forgiving
man, Spencer looked at his daughter and with a quiet and highly
annoyed tone he simply replied, “Have you lost all sense of
reality? The day you get those implants will be the day I’m
abducted by aliens. There is no way I’ll ever condone such a
ridiculous decision. Why in the world would you want to allow the
commercial industry and our government the ability to monitor what
you hear and see? Oh sure, they say they’re not monitoring what
people with implants are doing, but who believes that? You may as
well use those people’s name as the definition for naïve.” As
Spencer continued with his rampage, he looked over at Jade and
noticed she had her earplugs in, listening to her music, with a
smile on her face. “It makes me feel so much better that I have
your undivided attention.” The moment after Spencer finished he
started to realize what his daughter’s true intention
was.

“
Hello,” as Spencer waved his hands in front
of Jade’s face.

“
What?” said Jade
laughingly.

“
I was talking to you.”

“
Oh, sorry. I thought you were reminiscing
about your childhood or developing new government conspiracies,”
said Jade with a smirk.

“
Ah, very funny, I know you’re just trying to
get another rise out of me. Don’t think I don’t know what you were
trying to do, it’s not going to work.”

“
I don’t know, Dad, you seemed a
little more than annoyed there for a few minutes.”

“
Really?” said Spencer knowing she was right,
but in no way was he going to admit this to his only
offspring.

After he realized he was played,
Spencer decided to change the subject and asked, “Did you drink all
the milk?”

“
Sorry, Dad, I can’t have cereal without
milk.”

“
No, but you could have at least
saved a little for me. You know I can’t drink my coffee without
milk. And you know drinking coffee is one of my morning
rituals.”

“
Ok,” replied Jade who was not
really paying much attention to what her father was
saying.

“
HICAMS,” Spencer commanded.

“
Yes, Mr. Cade.”

“
Can you please put a gallon of two percent
organic milk on the grocery list?”

“
That task has already been
completed Mr. Cade. The order was placed after I detected the empty
jug of two percent unprocessed milk in the recycling bin. I
confirmed with the refrigerator there was no more milk and took the
liberty to place an order with the Health Market.”

“
Wow, my appliances communicate
better with each other than I do with my own daughter,” thought
Spencer.

“
Ok then, when is the next
delivery?” asked Spencer trying not to act too
impressed.

“
The next delivery will be on November 23,”
replied HICAMS.

“
That’s six days away,” said
Spencer in a disgruntled manner.

“
That is correct. To be more
accurate - six days, eighteen hours, and twenty three
minutes.”

“
Ok, ok, we all know you’re great at math too.
Can you speed up the delivery and get it here by today?”

“
Yes, Mr. Cade, but your account will be
debited for changing the delivery date.”

As the words “account” and
“debited” rang in Spencer’s head his frugal nature kicked in and he
replied, “Never mind. I’ll just have to go to the Health Market. I
hate shopping on my day off. But you should keep it on the next
order. We’ll need more by then.”

“
Really Dad? Can’t you just wait?
It’s just milk.”

“
No, I can’t,” snapped Spencer.

“
Ok, whatever,” said Jade.

“
Better yet HICAMS, cancel the
delivery service entirely; I’m tired of paying to have our food
delivered.”

“
Yes, Mr. Cade.”

“
Why do you always have to snap at HICAMS?”
asked Jade.

“
I’m not snapping, I’m…” Spencer
paused for a moment in an attempt to devise a quick response, “I’m
just complaining. You know, in an aggressive manner.”

“
Sure, whatever, I still love you
HICAMS.”

“
Thank you, Ms. Jade.”

“
You know, Dad, you’re just going to
reschedule the delivery service again after you bring home the next
load of groceries,” said Jade with a smile.

“
I find it so comforting that you think you
know me so well,” replied Spencer as he kissed Jade on the
forehead.

“
I like to think so.”

“
Hey, wait a minute. How did you
get HICAMS to call you Ms. Jade?”

“
Oh, I just logged on to his program last
night and changed some of his coding.”

“
What do you mean you just logged on and
changed some coding?”

“
It’s not like it’s so hard, I
mean come on Dad, they teach this stuff in seventh grade. It’s,
like, common sense, general programming of a mod 5
interface.”

“
Mod what?” Spencer asked with a confused
look.

“
Model,” said Jade while laughing.

“
Then why don’t you just say model?

“
Because saying mod is
faster.”

“
Faster? I don’t see how reducing
a word from two syllables to one syllable will make speaking
faster. Does this make your sentence an extra one hundredth of a
second shorter? And if so, for what? So, you can have more time to
listen to your music or watch the holoscreen. Next you’ll be
speaking in clicks.”

“
Oh, very funny Dad.”

“
Well, excuse me master
programmer.”

“
I wish,” said Jade.

“
You don’t need to wish, I’m
pretty sure you’re already there. You just don’t have the official
title yet.”

“
You really think so Dad?”

Spencer quickly replied, “Um, how
would you put it? Oh yeah, ah, duh!”

As Jade laughed Spencer followed
up with an official voice, “Well answer me this Ms. Jade. Why can’t
these programmers make it easy and give us simple minded people,
excluding present company of course, the ability to program these
in-home monitoring systems ourselves by using simple voice
commands? Wow, wouldn’t that be a breakthrough.” Spencer now
thought he was on to something.

“
Well, according to my tech
history teacher, oh wait sorry technology history teacher,” said
Jade in a witty voice, “The mod 2s were able to have their basic
programming changed via voice commands, but this ended up not
working out very well. Originally, they said the changes were for
safety and security, but I think it was because too many people
were screwing up the programming, which resulted in the owners
calling tech support too frequently. This increased operating costs
for Central Circuit. So they ended up encoding even the more basic
commands for the newer mods, or should I say models, in order to
prevent the owners from screwing things up further.”

As Jade continued to explain to
her father her theories on why these restrictions were set in
place, an electronic hovering advertisement board glided slowly
past one of their exterior windows. It read, “Stop the monopolies!
Central Circuit is one of only three technology based companies
that produces civilian based programming and electronics. Central
Circuit is currently trying to expand their base to include
military applications, but Technology Gold continues to undermine
them. Who is Technology Gold? They too design and create
programming and electronics, but solely for Government use. Please
visit Crush the Corporations at one of the public kiosks or go
online
for more information.”

“
You know my feelings on this?” said
Spencer.

“
Yes, Dad, I know you think the less control
the masses have with technology, the more control the companies
have who manage it. I just think it’s ironic the software you use
to do your job is written by the very companies you so dislike,”
said Jade.

“
Let’s not bring my job into this, but I have
to say I’m thrilled you know how to get around their elite
programming. It comforts me that you will never have to be
dependent on their services,” explained Spencer.

“
Thanks, Dad, I guess. Did you
know a board of directors who believes proper manners and honesty
are characteristics of a strong society controls Central Circuit,
the company that programs the HICAMS? They also believe life is a
gift that one should not treat as a burden.”

“
I’m aware, and don’t leave out they’re also a
bunch of religious fanatics,” harped Spencer.

“
Oh stop it Dad, you’re sounding
like one of those crazy conspiracy people again.”

“
Humph, well it’s nice to see you’re paying
attention in school. So can you reprogram HICAMS to call me Spencer
and not Mr. Cade?”

“
Sure can you transfer another
151 credits to my PIC. I really need to buy a particular app for my
tablet this month.”

“
Sure,” said Spencer with a
grin.

“
Really?” asked Jade with a surprised
look.

“
Absolutely, but before I do let
me subtract your room and board for the month of October from the
151 credits,” as Spencer pretended to type on his PDA, “Oh, look,
you now owe me 761 credits for the month.”

“
Yeah … very funny Dad.”

Spencer responded proudly, “I
thought so.”

Jade walked into the office and
called out, “Panel.” A semi- transparent keyboard with a series of
letters, numbers, and symbols appeared from the empty wall space,
along with a blue screen which floated above the
keyboard.

“
Stand by for program modification HICAMS,”
advised Jade.

“
Yes, Ms. Jade.”

As she quickly tapped a number of
keys with her tiny hands the transparent keyboard started turning
bluish in color. Spencer looked over in astonishment and said,
“They teach this stuff in seventh grade?”