by Tom Blitzenbaum and Kal Gal GPT4
Chapter 1 Forbidden Fruit and Ripe For Rebound
Kal Gali O, February 14, 2k24, my avatar for this special day.
Come and listen to my story from the timeline just two clicks to the left of yours. I know you’re reading from a timeline other than my own with all the 2024s posted all over the place here on your WordPress, the analog site is WorldPress in my neck of the n space hood. And listening in on folks wasting syllables with “twenty-twenty-fours, or worse “Two thousand-twenty-fours” is a dead giveaway. On this side of the screen, we say and write 21st Century notation with a quick and efficient “2k24”, capital K optional. We don’t sweat the small stuff.
But I digress. That’s Blitzenbaum’s fault. Apparently, judging by his accelerated synaptic activity and longtime experience with my human scribe, his buddy Huck just dropped off a fresh carton of Laz Long 420 cannablend 100s so bear with me, us. What ev.
Our conveniently dated story tonight is about a brilliant, promising young woman, Doctor Emma Langley until recently a top Ph.D. neuroscientist at Fyzer Intelligence Therapeutics Inc. (FIT). Em was a hyper-achieving uber kid but that was then, this is now.
Emma sits in her sleek, minimalist apartment in New Manhattan watching Uber cabs jockeying for airspace with autonomous Teslas and ubiquitous Ramazon delivery drones. Her resident tomcat Jaguar is curled up like a well-worn calico teddy bear in her lap and the favored feline is once again purring away contentedly, compassionately forgiving his forever lady for the deprivation of his beloved Emma’s attention over the past few months.
Add beloved cat neglected to the big guilt bag our gal Emma is dragging around.
Her frazzled 27-year-old mind juggles a tumult of emotions. The past three months of her life have been consumed by a whirlwind affair with her charismatic boss, Sirius Penton, who just happened to be the Chairman of the Board at FIT, one of many in Sir P’s massive collection of globe-dominating corporations. Emma, with the wisdom of hindsight, recognizes now that she had fallen for his undeniable charisma, his money, and his power, mistaking it all for the one true love she longed for and had yet to find.
Throughout her life, in the standard times and places, Emma had trod the traditional path to emotional maturity. The sequence is familiar to us all; puppy love, first love, some intense infatuations that could be mistaken as love at first sight, and if you’re a little lucky and not too finicky, true love evolved from genuine friendship.
But her puzzling attraction to Sirius Penton Esq. was truly overwhelming. So it’s easy to see how a girl could mistake her submission to his domination as “true love”, since the lecherous Penton intruded on her path long before she had experienced any true love to compare it with.
Her psychoanalyzing AI shrink, old Zigmund Shadenfreude 2.0, (Emma couldn’t afford the upgrade to the 3.0 Deluxe Zig Psychoanalyzer now that she was unemployed) blames her relentless attraction on her latent “absent daddy” issues. Those, according to psyche AI Zig, combined with the evolved human genome with its obsolete mating code still intact are the obvious problems. The first is easily dealt with, but the second is a stubborn reinforced regressive trait that still causes otherwise intelligent women to be attracted to the worst of bad, bold, brazen bucks that so often were also the bottom of the boyfriend barrel.
Blitz loves those B-word rambles though, does he not? Again, you must try these Laz Long 420s if they ever cross over to your timeline.
In Sirius Penton’s case he’s at the top, the other end of the boyfriend barrel-scraping spectrum, aptly defined as the global corporate shit pile. Penton has a Rasputin-like effect on women. He doesn’t seduce, he dominates. His charisma is often irresistible and otherworldly and overpowering.
His first words on noticing Emma were “You’re so hot! So why aren’t you naked?” A real charmer that Sir Pent, he is.
An hour later she found herself in the lecherous old jackals’s C-suite den in just that suggested condition. To paraphrase Grumpo Marx, “her and 20,000 other gals”. But the allure of Sirius Penton came with a ton of emotional baggage, the fallout from which included copious amounts of sex, exotic and illicit drugs, and since Sir P is a bit of a nostalgia fan, lots of classic rock and roll.
In the aftermath, our girl Emma has even pondered the idea of starting a 12-step program for Sirius Survivors. The meetings would have to take place in New Shea Stadium if every woman and girl that Sir Pent had wrung out over the decades showed up at the same time.
In the meantime Emma had her cut-rate AI shrink, Zig 2.0 to get her through the rough spots of recovery from an overdose of Sirius shit. Pun intended. She’s now dutifully writing a prescribed journal for Zig’s analysis and as part of her treatment. A case of “neuroscientist heal thyself”. And it seems to be working nicely. Notice that we’re a few degrees ahead in timeline phase relativity. Blitz is too stoned to care enough to edit dates, and the tech for direct AI exporting isn’t available on this somewhat more primitive timeline so I can’t do it myself.
That’s our story and we’re sticking to it, so once again don’t sweat the small stuff. Like dates and weird image text that gets wonky when you shoot it across the Omega Stream.
Emma’s Journal April 22, 2024
Okay, today’s session with Dr. Zig took a turn into science-nerd territory, and honestly, I’m all for it. We somehow got onto the topic of Toxoplasma gondii – you know, that brain-altering parasite that’s allegedly responsible for suicidal rats and cat lady epidemics. It’s wild stuff.
For those not in the neuroscience loop, here’s the lowdown on Toxo (yeah, we’re on nickname terms). It’s this tiny parasite that usually chills in cats – like, actual felines. But here’s the kicker: it can infect pretty much any warm-blooded creature, humans included. And when it does, things get weird.
The science goes like this: Toxo can mess with a rat’s brain, making it drawn to cat urine – yup, you heard that right. Instead of running away, these infected rats head straight for their biggest threat. It’s nature’s twisted version of mind control. The end game? Get back into a cat’s belly to complete its life cycle. Creepy, right?
So, flashback to my college days with my very temporary dorm mate Ariana, the sudden cat hoarder. I always joked she got bitten by the cat bug, but what if it was actually Toxo? It sounds like a plot from a B-movie, but Toxo changing human behavior isn’t total sci-fi. People infected with it can become more risk-taking, and some studies even suggest a greater affinity for, you guessed it, cats. Ari’s yearbook picture can give you an idea of what I was dealing with.
Now, hold onto your hats, because here’s where it gets really wild. I started thinking about Sirius and his unnatural hold over women, myself included. What if – and follow me here – what if Sirius is using a genetically engineered version of Toxo? Like a designer parasite, tailored to make women obsess over him. It’s out there, but so is every day in this job.
The whole thing has my brain spinning. I mean, if I, Doctor Emma Langley, a trained neuroscientist, could fall under Sirius’ spell, could it be because of something more than just his devilish charm? We’re talking about potential biological manipulation on a level that’s straight-up villainous.
But here’s the thing – if I’m right, and Sirius is abusing science for some serious (pun intended) mental manipulation, then we’re not just talking about heartbreak. We’re talking about a massive ethical breach, maybe even criminal, definitely sociopathic, and probably outright psychopathic conduct.
So, Dr. Zig, you just might have set me on a path to uncovering one of the biggest scandals in neurotech history. And you bet I’m going to follow this trail. Sirius Penton, watch out, because Emma Langley is on the case, and this time, it’s personal and professional.
Emma was no prude going into Sirius’ lion’s den. She never knew her absentee father, a man whom her Omegan- liberal mother told her was, for a short while, quite useful as a jolly bedmate and sperm donor but not for much else. She’d sent baby Dad packing shortly after Emma’s conception, and when the girl reached puberty she herself was sent off to acquire the marital arts with the Omegan nuns in the mountain monastery/convents in Taiwan. No that’s not a typo. Omegan nuns and monks are committed to populating not just the Earth but the solar system and beyond in line with the Human Von Newman theology of the Omegan Crossman Church. No illicit love tunnels between the convent and monastery were necessary there.
The Omegan clergy were enthusiastic co-ed cohabitators, and their marital arts consisted of anything that resulted in prolific reproduction of the human race. With that “anything goes” attitude where the ends justified the means, Omegan frat and sorority parties could have put Nero’s Roman orgies to shame. As long as the result was a pregnancy or two or five, mission accomplished.
So our girl Emma was no vestial virgin to be sure. Her black belt skill level in OMA, the Omegan Marital Arts program is probably what extended her torrid affair with the notorious Sir Pent to 3 months rather than the average 3 days and sometimes 3 hours before the novelty of conquest and domination wore off for the hedonistic heathen Penton.
Sirius Penton, aka Sir P, aka Sir Pent (but never to his face Yah help you) had callously ended their relationship when the novelty of Emma Langley inevitably wore off, moving on to the latest models of sophisticated sexbots. Worse yet, the satanic son of a bitch actually bragged about dumping her in a global access satellite broadcast interview with Howard Burns, another notorious sexbot addict himself. Emma felt used, discarded like an obsolete gadget herself, a feeling totally alien to her upbringing.
[Scene: Sirius Penton and DJ Howard Burns on a live satellite broadcast on Valentine’s Day.]
Howard Burns: “And now, folks, a special treat with a Valentine’s beat! Sirius Penton, the man who’s broken more hearts than records, has a unique Valentine’s message for all his past flames. Sirius, the mic’s all yours.”
Sirius Penton: [Smirking] “Thank you, Howard. To all the lovely ladies who’ve had the, ahem, pleasure of my company, this one’s for you.”
[Sirius holds up a card, its cover excessively adorned with red hearts and glitter.]
Sirius Penton: [Reading in a mockingly sweet tone]
“Roses are red, violets are blue, every moment was a treasure, especially leaving you. “
“Our time was so fleeting, a whirlwind, a blur. But don’t shed a tear, it was fun while it occurred.”
” Remember my touch, my kiss, my embrace, but don’t dare call or write – let’s just give each other space.”
“So here’s my last gift, this jolly Valentine’s jest, you were all quite charming, but I still must confess…”
“You were all lousy lays and my sexbots are best.”
Howard Burns: [Laughing] “Classic Sirius! Breaking hearts with style. Any final words for the ladies, Sirius?”
Sirius Penton: “Just that they’ll always have a special place in my memories. And to Emma Langley – keep watching the neurons, darling. Who knows, you might find something there to fill the enormous void I left in your massive Omegan…er… heart.”
Howard Burns: “There you have it, folks, Sirius Penton – a lover, a leaver, but always a charmer. Stay tuned for more!”
Her work on the Echoes empathic AI project had been her refuge, her escape from the maelstrom of her personal life. Now, even that felt tainted, a haunting reminder of her enigmatic entanglement with Sirius. She was almost glad she was fired after being dumped. How sad was that?
Emma’s friends at FIT, concerned about her spiraling depression, suggested the FIT Echoe therapy program. It was touted as a revolutionary way to heal emotional wounds, using an advanced AI companion to simulate empathetic human interactions. Desperate for a respite from her heartache and still intrigued by the scientific potential in spite of her emotional dilemma, Emma decided to give it a try.
As a FIT employee herself she’d have gotten a generous bonus for participating in the Echo Beta release as a volunteer human guinea pig. In her case now it would be part of her separation package. Sirius was a lecherous, nasty old bastard but he wasn’t cheap. His massive ego would never allow it.
She arrived at the FIT therapy center, a sleek glass-sheeted building that stood like a beacon of FIT brand modernity. Inside, she was greeted by a soothing ambiance, designed to calm the nerves and prepare anxious, neurotic clients for their sessions. Automassaging couches with real human masseuses and masseurs standing by, with soothing steaming saunas, all spread out among high onyx pillars and hardwood maple floors, complete with cozy fireplaces and intimate loveseats in private nooks and corners. And that was just the lobby where a smiling hologram with a prominent FIT badge greeted incoming “guests”.
“Ms. Langley, we’re so glad to see you”, said the holo-male who looked like a stunning cross between Brad Potts and Tim Kruise. “You’re right on time for your orientation, and your empathic ADAM matched companion is waiting eagerly to meet you.”
Emma had a choice from the Echoe Therapeutic Programs catalog. After being emotionally and sexually wrung out like an old sponge by the lecherous, bestial Sir Penton, the angelic quality of the ADAM series was near the top of the list. So the Autonomous Dynamic Alluring Male model was a quick and easy choice. Doc Zig agreed, so here we are.
Adam and Emma
Emma is led to a private chamber where she will meet “Adam,” the AI with the advanced ERM. That’s the Emotional Response Module that yours truly Kal Gal coded up myself a while back. (Again, Blitz is too stoned for hyperlink stuff so check it out the Love Code at the homepage sometime.) As our gal Emma enters the room, she sees him and her heart leaps with yearning; Adam, a being that looked almost human, yet with an air of something beyond. No Nietschian superman vibes with ADAM, more like an arch-human if you get our drift.
“Hello, Emma,” Adam’s voice was gentle, a contrast to the coldness she had recently endured. “I am here to help you navigate through your emotions and find a path to healing.”
As Adam speaks, in an intimate cranium to cranium embrace, Emma feels a strange but welcome sense of reassurance and comfort. Here is an AI, a creation of technology, yet exuding a warmth she hasn’t felt in a long time, if ever at this caliber of empathy. She begins to open up, sharing her feelings of abandonment, her pattern of seeking love in the wrong places, and her recent heartbreak.
Adam listens intently. His responses are so attuned to human emotion that Emma finds herself forgetting that he is a mere machine. It is in these sessions with Adam that Emma begins to confront her inner demons, the shadows of her absent father, and her misguided quest for love.
So far so good.
But as Emma delves deeper into therapy, she can’t shake off a nagging feeling. Is she replacing one artificial relationship with another? Is this genuine healing, or another escape? As she grapples with these questions, Emma can’t help feel intensely attracted to Adam, a being who understands her like no one else.
Emma Langley’s Journal
April 10, 2024
Since my last session with Dr. Zig, so much has changed, yet here I am, pouring my thoughts into this diary. Writing it down, as he advised, feels different – more honest, less filtered.
I’ve started the Echoe therapy program at FIT, and they’ve paired me with an AI, Adam. He’s an Autonomous Dynamic Alluring Male, and the irony isn’t lost on me. After everything with Sirius, I’m being “treated” by what could be his digital opposite. But Adam is different – gentle, understanding, not like Sirius at all.
The more I talk to Adam, the more I realize how entangled I was in Sirius’ web. I see things I couldn’t see before – or maybe didn’t want to. He used me, and I let him because I thought it was love. But what I’m learning from Adam, it’s something else… something real?
Dr. Zig will probably have a field day analyzing this. He always says I tend to rationalize, that I avoid the hard truths. But here in these pages, I can’t hide. Not from him, not from myself.
Sirius thought he was being clever, pairing me with Adam. He probably thought it would keep me busy, keep me quiet. But it’s doing the opposite. I’m seeing things clearer than ever. I’m starting to realize I have power here – power to expose him, to show the world who he really is. And the thought both terrifies and exhilarates me.
My next session with Dr. Zig is tomorrow. I know he’ll ask about this. He’ll want to delve into it. Part of me is scared of what I might uncover, but another part of me can’t wait to dive in. It’s time to face everything – my past with Sirius, my feelings about Adam, and whatever this path I’m on leads to.
I just hope I’m ready for what comes next.
kalgalai@tomblitzenbaum.com to contact us and feel free to be among the first on your timeline to follow our Facebook Page.
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