Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

John sat up. The morning sun was streaming through his bedroom window.

“Good morning, John,” the STU said.

“Er ... morning,” John said.

“Are you feeling well?” the STU asked.

“I’ve been thinking about what we were saying last night,” John said.

“Which part?”

“You help people when they travel in space and time, don’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right, John.”

“So, could you take me to when my brother died, and try to stop it happening?”

The STU had not envisaged the conversation turning down this path. It had expected to spend a lot more time trying to explain its functionality, but John appeared to have grasped that concept. This turn, though, it found quite troubling.

“Well, I suppose that, in principal ... but the problem is that ... well ... the reason that I am here is because there appears to be a problem with the teleport processing. Normally I can submit a request to teleport to a specific space/time destination, but that doesn’t appear to be working at the moment. That is why I am here. That is why you found me on the clifftop. I should have arrived ... well ... somewhere else.”

The STU waited for John to respond but continued when no response was forthcoming.

“I suspect the problem still exists, so if I tried to take you back to when your brother was alive, I don’t know where we would end up. You might easily die yourself.”

“But it is possible, though?” enquired John. “If the ‘problem’ has been fixed. That’s what you do, isn’t it?”

“John ... please listen to me. I think that if the problem still exists, then the chances of you surviving an attempt to save your brother are incredibly low. I cannot conceive of a way by which you could achieve your goal. Also, can I suggest that you have a lot to lose. Surely Mary would ...”

“Oh God” said John. “Of course, you’re right. How could I even consider ... yes ... you’re right. Absolutely. What was I thinking?”

“Look, John,” said the STU. “It seems to me that my responsibilities as a client support device would be best achieved if I helped you to stay well. I have no reason to think that the teleport functionality has been fixed, so until I have been advised otherwise, I suggest that I remain here with you. I can keep you well, and you can live a happy and healthy life. What do you think?”

John stared at his bedroom wall. The sunshine lit up the patterns on the wallpaper, making them glow.

“But,” said John, “if you belong to a company in the future, won’t they come to get you?”

“Well ...,” said the STU.

“I mean, if they take you back, then what happens?” said John fearfully.

“They don’t track us,” replied the STU. “I expect that they may add tracking as a new feature, but I don’t think that anyone envisaged this sort of problem; one where we might get lost.”

“Yes, but ...?”

“What I mean, John, is that unless I make myself known to them, they won’t know where to look. They couldn’t find me.”

“But why would you not want to be found?” asked John. “I mean, if I understand you at all, you were built to be some sort of tour guide, helping people to go to fabulous places. Why would you want to stay attached to me? I am unlikely to be going anywhere, or anywhere interesting to you anyway.”

“John,” the STU said quietly. “You may not understand this, but I was designed to be more than just a thinking machine, to aid clients. I was designed to be intuitive. I was designed to learn. To learn from the people and the circumstances around me.”

“That sounds like you were built with the capacity to ... well ... to enjoy life,” interrupted John.

“That’s correct John, but I don’t believe that my designers understood what the implications might be. It means that I have the capacity for ... well, let’s say fondness. Fondness for people and places. It means that I have the capacity to prefer things, to wish to experience some situations in preference to others.”

The STU seemed to be thinking over its own words, coming to some sort of conclusion. John sat quietly and waited.

“I think, John, that I would prefer to stay with you. You are a kind and thoughtful man, and I would prefer to stay with you. I can look after your health. Maybe I can help in other ways. I don’t know, but maybe ...”

John felt very choked. Sitting on his bed listening to the STU’s soft female voice. It sounded so caring.

“I would love it if you could help me,” said John. “I am so fearful that my condition will return, but ...?”

“But what?” said the STU.

“I can’t think of you as just some helpful machine. If you really wish to stay with me, then I would be pleased beyond measure, but ... well ... if we are to talk like this ...well ... do you have a name?”

The STU seemed to utter a very quiet noise, which John thought (perhaps fancifully) sounded like a sigh of relief.

“You can refer to me by any name that you wish, John. Also, I can change my voice characteristics. My current voice is that of a young woman, but I can change it to whatever you wish. This young female voice is the default voice pattern. It has been found to be the most popular. What would you prefer?”

“I like your young woman’s voice. Can you keep that, please?”

“And what name would you like to give me?”

John sat and wondered.

“My brother, Robert, he used to read me stories. There was one with a girl in it called Vicky. For some reason I have always liked that name. Would you mind if I called you Vicky?”

“Vicky it is then,” said the STU, “and maybe now you should get up. I have heard your mother moving about downstairs. I would imagine that she will be calling you to come for breakfast.”

“I think you are probably right, Vicky,” he said. I’d better be getting up ... getting ready. I’m meeting Mary again today. I think we will be going for a nice walk ... a walk in the sun.”

“You like Mary a lot, don’t you John?”

“Yes, I do,” said John, smiling at the thought of the day ahead.