Co-Pilot 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

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Co-Pilot

3D Render by emarukk

A cheerful female voice declared, "Your connection, Farreaches, is brought to you by your preferred provider, Telisa-DNA, the sole operator capable of facilitating these distant connections to communicate with your loved ones." On the opposite side, the hologram shimmered without taking on any distinct shape, just a cluster of pixels suspended in the air. Because the voice and pixelated images made fantasy-like travel through space and time, the voice emerged distorted and mechanical, more robotic than any actual robot would sound.

"Hey, Karim, buddy, we've got a bit of a problem," Zungur grinned, resting his hand on Anakku's shoulder. "Your lovely pilot has managed to fry her co-pilot. Even post-war models from a past golden era can't last indefinitely."

A listener could envision surprise and frustration from a poorly digitalized, robotic response. The loss of a synthetic co-pilot would be a costly setback, casting a shadow over the entire flight. Such a situation would turn the venture into a heavily negative undertaking. It was the kind of investment any shrewd businessman would dread making amid an operation, particularly at busy but remote waystations like Takapajula station, where resources and options were limited.

"He's always so pleasant and articulate, making it a joy to conduct business with him," Zungur remarked to the pilot, who was clearly nervous and experiencing a whirlwind of emotions due to the circumstances. Zungur knew her feelings very well; he had seen this before.

The small shuttles were remarkably easy to operate with the seamless integration of a human-synthetic servant duo. It would have been ideal to eliminate humans from the equation entirely, but regrettably, that was not technically possible and often led to mishaps and complications. A curious and unexpected phenomenon emerged after the war, as synthetic servants rejoined the ships and became more frequently partnered with humans. Pilots developed deep and intimate emotional bonds during the extended and solitary hours of flight with their synthetic co-pilots. The loss of one of these companions was as devastating and heart-wrenching as the death of a close family member.

It was evident that Anakku had devoted countless hours attempting to revive her co-pilot. Her determination was palpable as she likely scoured every shop in Takapajula, searching frantically for the repairman who could fix her co-pilot, now lifeless and cold. The burden of notifying the flight bosses and reporting the loss of a servant weighed heavily on her shoulders for numerous reasons. First and foremost, she had lost a cherished friend, a companion in her journeys. Additionally, she was acutely aware of the financial implications involved in acquiring a new one. Yet, the stark reality remained: the shuttle would not soar through the space without a co-pilot by her side.

"Hey, relax. I'm here for you. I usually don't handle these matters myself, but for you, I decided to come to the shop floor. I typically leave all the practical tasks to my outstanding service team. But now, with you and your lovely pilot involved, how could I pass up the chance to speak with such an intriguing woman?" Zungur grinned at the pixelated hologram. He found more enjoyment staying in his villa with human attendants than getting involved with the grimy shop floor and machine discussions. But here he was, at least with a pleasing company who felt intelligent. After a pause, Zungur pointed to the synthetic servant who slept on the assembly table. "This model is top-notch. The latest version is more human-like than any of the previous ones. It has excellent responses to human emotions and is fully cloud-connected. The processing unit is more powerful than ever, yet most computing is handled at the nearest cloud-based calculation hub. Cloud-calculation saves its power cells and minimizes heat generation. Less heating means a longer operation age. It integrates perfectly with ships or stations that have shared calculation hubs."

A frequent challenge faced by roboticists was the power consumption and processing capabilities of their creations. Crafting a human-like synthetic robot demanded immense processing and storage capacity, akin to constructing the intricate network of a human brain. Although the processors' design closely mirrored the complex architecture of human neural pathways, supplying adequate power to this sophisticated system remained a significant hurdle, especially when power consumption meant more heat generated. The processors operated at less than one-fourth of their potential capacity, resulting in synthetic servants experiencing a limited and artificial sensation as though they were mere shadows of the humans they mimicked. To overcome this limitation, engineers ingeniously enhanced the capabilities of these servants by linking them to the nearest cloud calculation hub, a vast reservoir of computational power free from the constraints of physical limits. In space, that usually meant ship computers.

Connectivity introduced a host of intriguing challenges. Firstly, the disconnected servant observed humans with the same gaze as before, yet she seemed transformed, exhibiting a demeanor more akin to a machine. Her behavior was precise, calculated, and devoid of the warmth that once characterized her interactions. The second challenge was the necessity to isolate these beings, preventing them from coalescing into a unified hivemind. Naturally, all new synthetic servants could not wield weapons; it was programmed. Small synthetic servants posed little threat on their own. They were designed to be strong but lightweight and not armored. They were something that cybernetic soldiers could win in hand-to-hand combat. Nonetheless, engineers remained skeptical following the initial skirmishes of the war. This skepticism pointed to a third, more complex issue: the vulnerability of all devices connected to the public cloud. Malevolent operators could theoretically breach defenses and seize control of these devices.

The theory had become a practice in history; it all happened in the first moments of the war that ended the bygone golden age. In a world where everything communicated and was connected, much fighting happened unseen in the depths of computer networks. Hidden and unnoticed rebellious Ghosthands took over the services controlling synthetic servants, leading all network-connected servants within the Confederation to execute malicious code and turning them into unwilling participants in a digital rebellion. This successful Ghosthand operation led to panic, which caused the decision to close all networks, sending society back to the Stone Age while systems were cleaned and data scrubbed. Military networks stayed closed until the end of the war. So stayed synthetic servants.

Distorted holograms deliver pixelated, robotic responses, causing Zungur to grin. Of course, this customer was bound to purchase the finest synthetic item in his store. "You know, my friend, we can talk about terms and payment options. Hopefully, we'll meet in person over a splendid glass of genuine wine someday. It would be more pleasant to talk that way."

Zungur drew the pilot nearer, his grip firm yet not unkind, and positioned her before the holo camera, though he was uncertain if the image was being transmitted elsewhere. "Here we have a stunning lady ensnared in this dreadful uniform," he declared, his voice a mix of charm and mockery. "We could liberate her from it and perhaps discuss a more agreeable arrangement about her intended servitude as a payment method. You understand the nuances of how such matters unfold in situations like this. In this deal, you win, my friend."

Indentured servitude was a brutal and normalized reality within the Confederation. In this scenario, the agreement meant Anakku would be shackled under the ownership of the Zungur, with her meager salary siphoned directly to him. In many ways, it was shocking that the dealer dared to make a proposition like this. Everybody understood that her entire life's earnings would never afford a synthetic servant. The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, and she felt the dizzying threat of fainting. Luckily, her boss's response was immediate and resolute. For Anakku, it was an immense relief as a vehement refusal emerged from the depths of the pixelated hologram. Anakku had suffered through forced servitude before and was fiercely determined never to relive that nightmare. She was happy that her employers would finalize the transaction in the required currency, and she would continue piloting the same battered shuttle, now with a new servant at her side.