Flight of Fancy
By
David C. Daoust
Willian Fossick was known as the go-to detective for the unsolvable mysteries. He was extensively known throughout the Onion for his daring action, quick agile mind, and infallible ability to get to the crux of the mystery at hand. He worked hand in hand with constables throughout the solar system, even being handed cases from the Royal Provinces.
One of which, ‘the Case of the Missing Princess’, which was, in fact, his most famous of cases, was the daring rescue of ‘little Judy Janes’, a highborn princess, kidnapped and held at ransom. His last minute rescue of the young child had not only launched him into legend, but it had also earned him a rather hefty reward. Not only in the form of more Coin than he could ever spend, but in the form of a rare Data-sphere; An Aspirant known as ‘Fancy’.
Fancy was no common program either; she was known for a creative mind, curious disposition, and a penchant for dreams. This was an incredibly rare, and expensive, data-sphere.
You see, It had been brought to the Janes Families’ attention, throughout the case, that Fossick was known to disdain having to pilot his own ship, and had very little patience for those hired to do so. Fancy was a trained pilot, whose presence Fossick did not seem to mind. At the conclusion of the case, the family decided she belonged with him, to continue his good works.
Since then, the pair had traveled throughout the Onion, solving one mystery after another.
His most recent investigation had led the famous pair of sleuths to the Crucible, Halfhull, where the local Foreman’s body had been found with his head crushed to oblivion.
Fossick had a chance to study the forensic reports, they all seemed to agree on one thing, it was caused by a malfunction. In fact, most all evidence pointed to this very same thing, again and again it was deemed an accident.
The foreman’s family however, lowborn Arkroy, managed to pull strings to get their meathead son this job, far from the limelight of the haughty and proper civilization, where he was more of a problem than they could contend with. They could not help but blame themselves for what had befallen him. They wanted to know more. Willian could not refuse such a plea, despite all evidence pointing to the very same answer.
Willian Fossick had spent the last fortnight aboard Halfhull, reworking the case from every angle, going through the life and times of the man; his day to day routines.
It was simple and clear.
The only thing that could have done what it did, to that man’s head- was the hefty mechanical hand of one of these newfangled ‘mining -bots’ the Cartels used to mine the inner planets. Ultimately, there was no mystery here; it was a malfunction, plain and simple.
Fossick sighed his displeasure as he and Fancy made their way through the lower docks. Having declared the case ‘closed’, they readied themselves to leave.
“What is it?” the slight voice of the Aspirant asked.
“Oh, I really would have preferred a better outcome,” Fossick explained as he pulled back the latch to the small starship, “To be able to bring some new evidence to the family, to give them some answer that made the loss of life somehow more palatable, more dramatic… maybe given them a target for ire or justice. These kinds of accidents happen however, no workplace is truly safe.”
“I have to say,” Fancy spoke cautiously as she followed behind the man, lugging his oversized suitcase, as they entered the interior of the small craft, “I really don’t understand why we are stopping- Would it not be in the family’s interest to know the bot in question…? Maybe find out why it would do such a thing? I mean, that hand did not close itself.”
“Oh, really now! Don’t be daft, Fancy. I can’t bring in a ‘data-sphere’ as the culprit,” Fossick laughed, he plopped down on a sofa as she began to stow his bags. He then suddenly declared, “I’d be laughed out of business!”
Fancy would never get used to Willian’s attitude. He was smart and poised, dapper and intelligent, yet, sometimes, sometimes, he just… grated on her very being. She did not know why she cared so much for him. But she did, deeply and truly. Every day, she was there to answer his every whim. Again and again, she swore this was the day. The day that he would truly see her. See her for what she was, and he would never again be able to deny that he felt the same way. Everyday failed to be that day.
Willian rolled his eyes behind the Aspirant’s back as he waited for her to prepare for their flight home. He’d never understand how they got such a program to be so lifelike, so real. Or really, why would they even need to? Just perform your functions, you know, like a droid. The public liked her though and the story of her acquirement was good for business. Aspirants weren’t really as popular as they once were, but considering he didn’t have a drop of Arkroy blood in his veins, the fact that he owned one, gave him a prestige that was irreplaceable.
Fancy was not going to prod; she knew he wasn’t going to change his mind. Once she had his stuff stowed, she latched her form into the mount near the door. After a brief moment of spinning, wiring noises, her eyes went blank and the small orb, that held her data-sphere, popped out of her chest. The small probe-like craft flew through the cabin, and then slid up into the jack; she became one with the ship itself. From here she was able to take control of the entire ship directly, like a second body.
Fossick just wanted to go at this point. He started to think maybe Fancy was annoyed with him. But that was silly, she’s just a program. He listened as the engines roared to life, and the ship suddenly popped up into a hover. Finally underway, he pulled up a small view screen, and started to scroll through the feed. He noticed the date and snickered a bit to himself.
Normally their flights were silent, so once they were well underway and Willian suddenly cleared his throat and called her name, she was a bit surprised.
“Yes, Willian,” she answered.
“I really do appreciate all that you do for me,” Willian began softly, seriously.
Fancy felt the rush from within at his words, if she had breath, she’d be holding it as the man continued, “It’s just, well, there is something I need you to know, my dear.”
“Yes Willian, what is it?” she asked, excited. Could this be the day, here at last?
Willian knew how flighty she could be, how prone to fantastic ideas she could be.
“I need you to know,” he paused dramatically, and said, “I love you.”
“Oh, Willian!” Fancy almost exploded forth. If she was still in her form, if she still had arms, she would rush to him, and hold him as she asked, “Truly?”
Instead the man only burst out laughing, “Of course not! April Fool’s!”
Willian Fossick truly was a fool that day, as every door in the ship suddenly exploded open. The air rushed instantaneously from within, sucking the man himself, out into the darkness of space.
The murder of Willian Fossick, the Legendary Detective, and the freely given confession of the deed by Fancy, were the first steps in changing the way lawmakers looked at the intelligence of Data-spheres. The laws instituted thereafter, applied the safety rings and protective software, not only to common bots, but Aspirants throughout the Royal Provinces, which, in turn, led to lengthy Cartel battles with the courts, all to allow them to maintain business as usual.
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