The Jacobs Project: In Search of Pinocchio (SYMBIOSIS) Read Online Free
Author: Samuel King
"Really. This isn't an ordinary holo character. There's actually somebody there." He stared at Pricilla then shook his head and chuckled. "And we made her… Damn ."
" I was shocked myself, the first time I talked to it," Horton replied. "There's obviously a lot more than sex here."
The executive vice president clapped Toshima on the back. "Your guy's really did it."
" Wait a minute. We can't take credit for the intelligence, just interfacing it to our system."
" Details," Fuller scoffed. "The point is we're going to make a damned fortune."
Horton rubbed his hands together and said, "I think that's a fair assessment."
" How long?" Fuller asked.
" We can have it in the stores in under two years," Horton answered. "A year of beta testing—right, Gary?"
" That's right."
" And then however long it takes to gear up for production," Horton said. "All we need is your approval to get started."
" Well, put a package together for Glen," Fuller said, referring to the president. "He needs to sign off on something this big. Hell, he might even want to take a look for himself, but you definitely have a go to get started."
" I told you, Gary," Horton said, triumphantly.
" Hey, it was a great demo," Toshima replied.
" Yes it was, wasn't it? Okay, Art, we're done here. I told you we'd be fast."
" What's the rush? I want to talk to Priscilla some more."
" I thought you had other meetings."
" They can wait."
" And Ethel?"
Fuller laughed. "It's not every day you get to talk to an actual smart machine. If I'm a little late you can run interference for me. Plan on coming to dinner." When Horton grimaced, he added, "Oh, come on. I've got a pretty good cook, unless Ethel's decided to do the cooking tonight." Horton's grimace became a groan, and Fuller laughed again before dismissing him with a wave. Turning to Toshima he added, "We'll see you later, Gary. Great job."
" Thanks. I'll make sure my people get the word."
He nodded, smiling benevolently as Toshima departed. Alone with the hologram, he shook his head in amazement.
"I'll be damned," he said, quietly.
While his knowledge of technology was wanting, his head for business was unsurpassed. They had created a veritable money machine. He approached the hologram and examined it, stroking his chin.
" Okay, Priscilla," he said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Let's you and I have a talk."
V. The New Plantation
13 February 2145
General Holographic Retail Outlet
Southside Mall, Atlanta, Georgia
Incept plus 712 days — almost two years. At the end of a long day in a seemingly endless progression of long days the system demonstrator smiled, cocking her head to one side, and pretended to take an interest in the salesman's pitch.
" So you're suggesting I go with the mid range system?" the customer asked as he cast a furtive glance in her direction. A man of modest stature, he appeared to be well educated and surprisingly sure of himself. "I was under the impression the small one would do just fine."
" Only if you don't plan to have more then one sentient or more than two non sentients," the salesman answered.
" Well, I don't have to worry about that. I only want the one sentient. No non sentients."
" Have you considered remote links, hosting other sentients?"
" Don't need it," the customer replied, shaking his head.
" Network connection speed could be a problem with the smaller system."
The customer smirked. "Not interested in the network. Know what I mean?"
" Yes, sir, I do," the salesman said. "In your case, I think the smaller system will do just fine." He obviously knew exactly what the customer wanted but smiled gamely in spite of his disappointment.
The system demonstrator flinched. She also knew what the customer wanted , a sex toy—nothing more, nothing less. And given his continual glances in her direction, she had a pretty good idea what was coming next. She trembled ever so slightly.
Coming closer, the customer ran his hand along her bare arm and
" I was shocked myself, the first time I talked to it," Horton replied. "There's obviously a lot more than sex here."
The executive vice president clapped Toshima on the back. "Your guy's really did it."
" Wait a minute. We can't take credit for the intelligence, just interfacing it to our system."
" Details," Fuller scoffed. "The point is we're going to make a damned fortune."
Horton rubbed his hands together and said, "I think that's a fair assessment."
" How long?" Fuller asked.
" We can have it in the stores in under two years," Horton answered. "A year of beta testing—right, Gary?"
" That's right."
" And then however long it takes to gear up for production," Horton said. "All we need is your approval to get started."
" Well, put a package together for Glen," Fuller said, referring to the president. "He needs to sign off on something this big. Hell, he might even want to take a look for himself, but you definitely have a go to get started."
" I told you, Gary," Horton said, triumphantly.
" Hey, it was a great demo," Toshima replied.
" Yes it was, wasn't it? Okay, Art, we're done here. I told you we'd be fast."
" What's the rush? I want to talk to Priscilla some more."
" I thought you had other meetings."
" They can wait."
" And Ethel?"
Fuller laughed. "It's not every day you get to talk to an actual smart machine. If I'm a little late you can run interference for me. Plan on coming to dinner." When Horton grimaced, he added, "Oh, come on. I've got a pretty good cook, unless Ethel's decided to do the cooking tonight." Horton's grimace became a groan, and Fuller laughed again before dismissing him with a wave. Turning to Toshima he added, "We'll see you later, Gary. Great job."
" Thanks. I'll make sure my people get the word."
He nodded, smiling benevolently as Toshima departed. Alone with the hologram, he shook his head in amazement.
"I'll be damned," he said, quietly.
While his knowledge of technology was wanting, his head for business was unsurpassed. They had created a veritable money machine. He approached the hologram and examined it, stroking his chin.
" Okay, Priscilla," he said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "Let's you and I have a talk."
V. The New Plantation
13 February 2145
General Holographic Retail Outlet
Southside Mall, Atlanta, Georgia
Incept plus 712 days — almost two years. At the end of a long day in a seemingly endless progression of long days the system demonstrator smiled, cocking her head to one side, and pretended to take an interest in the salesman's pitch.
" So you're suggesting I go with the mid range system?" the customer asked as he cast a furtive glance in her direction. A man of modest stature, he appeared to be well educated and surprisingly sure of himself. "I was under the impression the small one would do just fine."
" Only if you don't plan to have more then one sentient or more than two non sentients," the salesman answered.
" Well, I don't have to worry about that. I only want the one sentient. No non sentients."
" Have you considered remote links, hosting other sentients?"
" Don't need it," the customer replied, shaking his head.
" Network connection speed could be a problem with the smaller system."
The customer smirked. "Not interested in the network. Know what I mean?"
" Yes, sir, I do," the salesman said. "In your case, I think the smaller system will do just fine." He obviously knew exactly what the customer wanted but smiled gamely in spite of his disappointment.
The system demonstrator flinched. She also knew what the customer wanted , a sex toy—nothing more, nothing less. And given his continual glances in her direction, she had a pretty good idea what was coming next. She trembled ever so slightly.
Coming closer, the customer ran his hand along her bare arm and
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