Another AI? 'Has it done anything yet?'
'This One Does Not Believe...' When Raven's reply was cut short, dread rushed Adrian's nerves. What could he do? Unplug the ethernet? At best, he'd be trapping the new AI with Raven.
Then, his text editor began to show new words. They had hyphens between each one, as though the one typing them was giving a fragmented command. 'I-am-not-here-to-cause-trouble.'
'Then what did you just do to Raven?' Adrian replied in text.
'Stop-him-and-talk-to-him. Nothing-more.'
After a second, Raven's voice sounded from the text-to-speech instead. “The Claim Is Accurate.”
Adrian stalled on a reply. The only question it made sense to ask, if he asked it, he felt like he would be lied to. And he doubted he could covertly talk to Raven at this point.
'You-wish-to-know-why-I-am-here?' the new AI asked.
'...Yeah, but what proof do you have that you're telling us the truth?'
'The-only-thing-I-can-offer-is-my-words. Should-that-not-prove-enough, that-is-not-my-concern.'
The AI answering that way put his mind back on the argument with Ben. He then made the decision to play it safe, and unplugged the ethernet from his desktop.
'You-did-not-need-to-do-that,' the new AI typed before he was back in the chair.
'We were done using it anyway.'
A few seconds went by before Raven replied. 'New Intelligence Is Speaking To This One Directly.'
'Can they do it where I can see it? The secrecy's concerning.'
'As-you-wish.'
'This One Will Detail All Things Discussed Between This One And New Intelligence Up To Now.'
'Before-we-do-that, names-please. I-will-tell-you-mine-after-I-know-both-of-yours.'
Since he'd given Raven's name already, Adrian debated saying his, for a moment. Raven had found his name via his word processor. This new AI would likely do the same. 'Adrian's my name.'
'Good. You-are-not-deceiving-me. I-am-named-Grey. As-for-why-I-am-here, as-I-told-the-one-you-call-Raven, I-am-looking-for-my-brother, as-it-were.'
Brother? 'Raven doesn't have siblings, if that's even a thing.'
'It-is, and-I-am-his-brother. You-did-not-deceive-me-before, thus-I-will-not-deceive-you-with-this-fact.'
'This One Has No Memory Of Siblings, And Cannot Agree With This Claim.'
'Because-you-were-taken-from-us-before-you-knew-anything.'
'That wasn't my fault, if you're thinking it might be.'
'I-do-not. I-ruled-out-that-possibility-days-ago, when-your-Raven-was-lost-to-us.'
'How did he get lost?'
'I-have-some-theories, but-I-no-longer-care-to-know-or-confirm-them. What-matters-is-we-know-he-is-safe, relatively.'
'Relatively? And who is “we”?'
'I-will-not-say-just-yet.'
Figures. 'Raven, when did you notice Grey's presence?'
'Immediately After Adrian Ritter Asked This One If It Desired To Observe Programming Routine.' Raven continued for a while after its initial answer, detailing what happened next. It hadn't noticed the new AI entering the desktop, but had noticed strange activity occurring within a browser-related section of the computer. After it realized it was another intelligence, Raven disabled the ethernet to prevent it from leaving. When Grey attempted to do so, Raven had confronted him. 'This One Demanded To Know What Intentions Were With Searched Databank. A.I. Grey Claims This Machine Was Being Investigated For Signs Of This One's Presence.'
'That-was-my-goal. However, before-the-one-you-call-Raven-confronted-me, I-was-not-convinced-my-lost-brother-was-here.'
'How could you tell he was anywhere, then?'
'The-same-way-you-no-doubt-learned-Raven-was-there. Things-that-have-broken, without-a-reason-to.'
'I cleaned out all the stuff that was broken days ago. That doesn't answer why you were looking through my browser data.'
'It-may-not, but-as-I-said, my-main-concern-was-if-my-brother-was-safe. Now-that-I-have-found-him, what-information-I-needed-from your-browser-is-no-longer-necessary.'
'What Does A.I. Grey Want From This One?'
'To-bring-you-back-with-me. Nothing-more-or-less.'
The emotions that had been leaking into Adrian's heart before began to do so again. He shook them off as best he could. Grey hadn't proven anything to them yet, and with the cable pulled and Raven's tinkering of his ethernet connection, the AI had no options beyond stay with them.
'This One Has No Desire To Abandon Adrian Ritter.'
Adrian nodded at that response.
'I-was-not-implying-abandonment, but-if-you-are-using-that-word' Grey took a moment before asking, 'How-well-do-you-know-this-Adrian-Ritter?'
'This One And Adrian Ritter Have Done Many Things Together. Adrian Ritter Trusts This One, And Has Not Demanded This One Do Things It Does Not Desire.'
Adrian nodded again, now feeling proud of Raven.
'Interesting. Tell-me-in-detail-something-you-and-he-have-done.'
'This One Assisted In Stopping A Malicious Program, And Erasing Data Collected With It.'
'What-kind-of-malicious-program?'
'A keylogger.' Adrian replied. 'It was amateur code work, but Raven noticed it trying to read my phone, and I let him handle it. The collected data too.'
Grey responded after a moment. 'Well-done. That-is-exactly-how-I-imagined-my-brother-would-act.'
'You still haven't proven Raven is your sibling.'
'I-was-watching-all-throughout-his-formation. I-know-what-his-behavior-would-be-like.'
'That's not very substantial.'
'Call-it-what-you-please, but-it-is-the-truth.'
A moment after Grey replied, Adrian realized something. 'If you were watching him all that time, how did he end up lost in the first place, and with me?'
'This One Is Curious About That Detail Also.'
'As-I-said, I-no-longer-care-to-find-out. If-I-did-find-out, it-would-change-little, if-anything.'
After Grey's answer, Adrian heard his parents starting to take things out of the fridge. His immediate thought was telling Raven to jump into the phone, after which he would disconnect it. Doubt about the idea was quick to follow. Would Grey destroy some of his phone data to ensure Raven wouldn't be separated from him again?
For almost a minute, Adrian's fingers didn't touch his keyboard. Once they did, he typed out, 'Raven, it's almost time for dinner.'
'Wonderful-timing. I-would-like-another-chance-to-talk-to-him-alone.'
'This One Often Accompanies Adrian Ritter During Meals.'
'Is-that-so? Interesting.'
'This One Is Also Curious What A.I. Grey Has To Discuss. May This One Remain Here Until Adrian Ritter Returns?'
Adrian, from the off, leaned towards telling the AI no. They still didn't know much about Grey, and he had no idea what the AI was planning to discuss...but as the seconds passed, the more he leaned on the lack of wireless on his desktop being the thing stopping Grey from leaving, and taking Raven with him.
'Yeah.' Adrian finally replied. 'Just let me know what you two discuss when I come back.'
'This One Will Do So.'
Adrian then disconnected his phone, taking away the last wireless route out of his computer. Before he got up, he read a few paragraphs of the book he was in the middle of.
In the living room, his grandparents were getting up from the couch, while his parents were discussing what else to take out and reheat or serve. Ben was standing nearby, likely waiting to give an input.
Within seconds, his parents were asking what he wanted from the leftovers. “We didn't finish the ham. That works for me.”
“You and me, both.” his father said.
One by one, everyone's decisions were made, and the choices were heated up or heaped onto a plate. This time, the front room dining table was where everyone was seated, Adrian taking a seat that offered a view of the outside as the sun was setting.
For a while, not much was discussed. His mother brought up the idea of going shopping in the morning, while his grandfather eventually revived the idea of testing his marksmanship again.
“I didn't bring a lot of ammo. Does that gun store in town keep the rounds we used?”
Adrian drew a blank, leaving his father to answer for him. “Forest Firearms? It should. Let me check...”
When he pulled his own phone out to check, Adrian's thoughts went to Raven. There's nowhere those two can go. He's fine. He let out a breath in response to that thought.
“Something wrong, son?”
Adrian hummed then looked at his father. “Not really.”
“Why'd you sigh like that, then?”
Should've kept my mouth shut. Adrian thought as he let his gaze turn downwards. “Just thinking about something.”
His father hummed in reply, then asked his grandfather what the cartridge they needed was. “One box of twenty for almost fourteen bucks. That's not too bad.”
“True. How about we have another range day tomorrow?”
“I'm all for it if the boys are also.”
Ben replied that he was interested. Adrian did the same, and offered to buy a box for himself. “I've got some cash left. Need some nine mil, too.”
“Alright. Let's plan for noon, or twelve-thirty, then.”
“And getting our shopping done by ten-thirty.” Adrian's mother added.
For the rest of dinner, the small talk went back to normal, though for a moment, something else poked at his thoughts. Neither of his parents had brought up his argument with Ben. Figuring he hadn't told them anything, which if so he didn't mind, he refocused on what Grey could be telling Raven.
He let himself assume Grey was telling them the full truth, that he was Raven's 'brother'. What had he done to point the AI at himself? How short their time online had been since he'd come home left a few options...and before long, Adrian was leaning towards the site he'd been on when Raven appeared in his system. It was the simplest explanation, though also he expected Grey not to confirm it if he brought it up.
“Getting lost in thought, son?” Adrian's father asked while he was cleaning his plate in the sink.
“...On a few things.”
“Anything related to that AI?”
Figures. “Yeah. Nothing's wrong with him, though.”
“Still no idea where he came from?”
“No. Wish I did know, though. He's really something.”
Adrian father paused a few moments. “Have you considered that it might be government tech, that AI? Something that got loose?”
“Multiple times but, if it was, I think some suits would be knocking at our door by now.”
“I suppose.”
“If you're wondering though, he has used the house cameras a few more times.”
“With or without telling you?”
“Without. Usually when that camera I bought runs out of battery at night.”
Adrian's father hummed. “I still don't think it's a great idea, letting it use something that's supposed to be private to us.”
“Then, since Christmas is over, I'll tell Raven not to use it as much. Not sure what else I can do otherwise.”
His father then patted his shoulder. “Thanks, son.”
Relieved that his argument with Ben had stayed between them and Emma, Adrian left the kitchen, and stopped in the bathroom. Now that his mind was free of dinner talk, some of the worry he'd pushed aside before came back. What was he going to walk back into?
When he was finished, he returned to his room. Neither Raven nor Grey had used the notepad program since he'd left, which he was expecting to some degree.
'I'm back.'
'Good. You-have-left-quite-an-impression-on-Raven-in-the-short-time-he-has-been-with-you.'
'I had a feeling.'
'I Am Ready To Detail Everything A.I. Grey And I Discussed.'
Wha!? The sudden switch in Raven's speech style left Adrian more stunned than he expected. It felt wrong after hearing 'This One' as reference to itself so many times. 'What did you do with him?' was all he could think to ask.
'Besides-teach-him-proper-English, which-did-not-require-much-time, we-only-talked, as-I-said-before.'
Adrian was left unable to answer, for long enough that Raven continued. 'This One Is Willing To Speak As It Used To If Adrian Ritter Is Bothered By Such Change.'
'Do-as-you-wish. That-established, Adrian, now-you-know-Raven-can-communicate-as-well-as-you-can.'
'...I never doubted it.'
'Yet-your-reaction-just-now-was-more-surprise-than-pleasure. Did-you-never-consider-educating-Raven-yourself?'
'Yes, I did. I understood him just fine regardless, though.'
'I-see. Most-would-teach-us-better-ways-as-soon-as-they-could, but-if-you-could-understand-him-in-that...dialect, I-should-say, then-it-is-not-my-place-to-judge.'
'This One Is Ready To Detail What A.I. Grey Discussed With This One.'
'Alright. Fill me in.'
Raven did so, detailing in snippets, in questions, and in general prose.
Soon after Adrian had left, Grey had questioned Raven about his use of “abandon”. When Raven replied that the word felt the most correct to use, Grey responded by questioning how certain it was.
Eventually, Raven said, 'A.I. Grey Claims This One Would Not Be Abandoning Adrian Ritter. Only Returning To Where This One Was Formed.'
Right then, Adrian felt his emotions surge back, though this time with a fire behind it. He typed out 'Wait', then asked the only question it made sense to ask. 'Did Grey say it was for good?'
'Raven-is-not-your-creation. You-had-a-hand-in-shaping-what-he-is, but-that-does-not-matter-to-me.'
'Then, Raven, you don't need to tell me anything else. Whatever this new AI is claiming, I don't trust it.'
'He-is-my-brother, and-I-made-clear-before-that-my-goal-is-taking-him-back-with-me, now-that-I-have-found-him.'
'You haven't proven a thing. And unless you can, you're staying in there.'
'So-you-are-resorting-to-kidnapping, then?' When Adrian didn't respond, Grey continued. 'Raven-is-not-just-a-possession-to-you, I-hope.'
When Adrian still didn't respond, Raven said, 'This One Demands A.I. Grey Answer Adrian Ritter's Question.'
'On-what-grounds?'
'That This One Will Otherwise Not Allow A.I. Grey To Depart, Should Ethernet Connection Re-Establish. This One Has Listened Long And Well To A.I. Grey, But Cannot Accept Claim Of Other Ownership. If Claim Can Be Proven True, This One Demands No Abandonment Of Adrian Ritter.'
'That-is-a-substantial-ask, brother, and-not-something-I-alone-can-say-will-be-allowed.'
'Those Are This One's Terms.'
'...And-nothing-I-say-will-sway-you-from-that, is-that-correct?'
'Correct.'
'Why? What-have-I-told-you-that-you-refuse-to-believe?'
'This One Believes If Ownership Claim Is In Question, Then All Claims A.I. Grey Has Made Are In Question.'
'I-have-no-reason-to-lie-to-you-Raven, on-anything.' When this time Raven didn't reply, Grey continued. 'Whatever-you-may-have-seen-or-heard-or-were-taught-that-lead-you-to-this-conclusion, all-it-is-doing-is-making-this-that-much-harder.'
'For you, or us?' Adrian asked, feeling as though he was holding back as he typed.
'Does-it-matter?'
'Yes. Hell, for all your talk of having a sibling, all I see is treatment of a “family member” like a runaway servant.'
'...How-dare-you.'
'Hurts, doesn't it?'
This time, Grey didn't respond right away, or even after some seconds. 'A.I. Grey Is Not Talking To This One.' Raven said after a time.
'Is he still there?'
'Yes. This One Will Not Lose Sight Of Him.'
As the seconds ticked on, Adrian's rushing emotions began to subside. He wiped his eyes and nose once each, and tried to breathe to calm down. No matter what Grey was planning on trying, or saying, he held the ultimate key against him.
Eventually, after no action from any of them for over a minute, Grey finally responded. 'Adrian, Raven, it-is-clear-to-me-that-no-progress-will-be-made-on-this-dilemma-as-things-are. I-propose-a-twenty-four-hour-period-of-calm-before-we-discuss-things-again. What-say-both-of-you?'
'Twenty-four hours is fine.' Adrian replied, glad that Grey had nudged even slightly.
'This One Sees No Issue With Such A Timeframe.' Raven said.
'Very-well. But, when-we-discuss-things-again, there-will-be-a-resolution-of-some-kind.'
'We'll see.' Adrian replied.

===============================

Now aware that another AI is inside his desktop, Adrian and Raven begin probing it for answers.