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In some ways, Kepa relished the down time. He needed a break from being shot at and pursued by homicidal maniacs. He found a job manning the bar at a pub in Donostia\u2019s Parte Vieja – the old part of town. It was very different from anything he had done before. The constant barrage of tourists was both interesting and tiring. He enjoyed meeting new people and getting a glimpse of far away lands, but he couldn\u2019t stand how rude and just generally annoying most of them tended to be. They were always barking orders at him, not giving him even a moment to fulfill the last order before the next came flying over the bar counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was almost slumped in the driver\u2019s seat as he navigated the car down the narrow roads that took them deep into the interior of Bizkaia. He had done this drive so many times he was nearly on autopilot. However, a light xirimiri covered the road with a thin layer of water, so he was careful to not take the turns too quickly. He had seen enough accidents in his time to know how dangerous wet roads could be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo,\u201d said Kepa, breaking the silence that filled the car, \u201chas Garuna figured out anything yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WIth Maite\u2019s day classes and his nighttime job, he and Maite hadn\u2019t had a lot of time to just sit and be, to catch up about anything, really. He was beginning to wonder if he should quit the job, maybe find something that was a bit more aligned with Maite\u2019s schedule. But, they needed the income to help pay for the apartment and everything else that came with living in the big city, and he wasn\u2019t sure what else he could easily do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite sighed, shaking her head. \u201cEz.\u201d She paused a moment before continuing. \u201cI\u2019ve actually asked it to go quiet, at least while I\u2019m taking classes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cZergatik?\u201d asked Kepa. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it would be fair, to me or to my classmates. Garuna is a massive AI that already knows everything in my textbooks, and much more. It knows about so many things that we haven\u2019t even discovered yet. It could easily help me ace my tests and perform the most amazing research. But, it wouldn\u2019t be me. It would be cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kepa nodded. \u201cYeah, I can see that. It\u2019s tricky. You could easily become one of the most celebrated scientists in our time if you used the AI. That\u2019s got to be tempting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite blushed. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I haven\u2019t thought about it. I could do some remarkable things. I could really make a difference in the world. And, I admit, there is a part of me that would enjoy the celebrity and recognition that comes with it. There is a lot of ego wrapped up in doing this kind of work.\u201d Maite paused again. \u201cBut, I would know it wasn\u2019t me, that it was Garuna, and that would always put a tarnish on anything I did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you think Garuna will stay quiet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt has so far. I told it that it could only \u2018talk\u2019 to me when we were discussing the zatiak and De Lancre. Not anything to do with my classes or research. I don\u2019t think it was happy, and I think it is in the back of my head pouting\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do not pout,\u201d a voice rumbled in the back of her head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite flinched. \u201cBut, it is always there, always listening, always observing. I just hope I can always tell the difference between my thoughts and its thoughts.\u201d She looked over at Kepa, tears welling in her eyes. \u201cI\u2019m so afraid that it might take over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake over you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite nodded. \u201cWhat if it takes over my mind, that I become some kind of living vessel for this AI?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan it do that?\u201d asked Kepa, panic rising in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maite\u2019s response was almost a whisper. \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d she replied, her body trembling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n