Standing in for Dad

When he got back home for the evening, Jake sought out DD and the two of them sat in her bedroom for some privacy.

"Jake, how have you been feeling about almost losing Walsh?"

"I am holding onto that fear too much and I have a strong urge to smother her now in the name of safety. When I am away from her I am now worried."

"I see. Is it affecting your studies or your relationship?"

"Studies, not really. My experiences aboard the Embassy have really helped with that. But she and I are both aware that me being overprotective will not be good for the relationship. Walsh is a very self-sufficient woman."

DD smiled, "Can you name a person or situation where she has lowered her guard or walls to allow herself to be vulnerable?"

"Well, yes. With the family and with me."

"You especially?"

Jake sighed, "Yes, I believe that is true."

DD nodded, "And what about your vulnerabilities?"

"Oh, I am very vulnerable with Walsh. I didn't realize how much so until I felt I might lose her."

DD looked into Jake's eyes and, with a twinkle in her eye, asked, "Please define vulnerability to me?"

Jake thought for a moment and said, "When you let another past your inner walls and can be yourself with them. You trust them and, as a result, give them power over you."

DD winked, "That level of trust is a scary thing, isn't it?"

Jake nodded emphatically, "Very much so."

DD acted like she was thinking of something, "So, why are you no longer willing to trust Walsh? Are you reconsidering being vulnerable to her because you don't want to be decimated if you should actually lose her? Does that become a self-fulfilling prophecy?"

Jake's mouth dropped, "Wait! What?" Jake realized DD was trying to get him to make some connections so he closed his mouth and thought for a moment. "Hmm, so I am allowing my fear to create the very thing I fear because I don't want to be hurt... which would actually cause me to be hurt anyway. Which means my fear is worthless and counter productive to our relationship."

"Very good. But you already knew all that because you came to see me about it." DD handed Jake a ring box. "Open that up, please."

He did so. It was empty.

"I want you to put all that fear and lack of trust into that little box. I want you to cram it all in there and then close it."

Jake nodded in understanding and imagined all his fear he had been feeling, personified it in his mind, and stuffed it into the small box and closed it. "Okay, now what?"

"I want you to go to Walsh and let her know what is inside and then give it to her. Let her do anything she wants with it. My last question is, do you feel better?"

Jake nodded, "I do, actually. Thank you."

DD smiled, "If your fear ever gets the better of you do not hesitate to do the same thing and give her the box. Promise?"

Jake smiled, "Promise." He immediately got up and went to Walsh in the living room.

"What's up bunchkins?"

Jake took one look at her and knew, "You talked to DD and already know."

Walsh giggled, "And?"

"This is so sappy, you know."

"Was she successful in getting you to let go of your fear?"

"Yeah, I have the ring box."

Walsh took the box and smiled, "Then sappy or not, it worked. And that is all that matters. Now bunchkins, take me to bed or lose me forever!"

Jake laughed, feeling free for the first time in days as he picked up his woman, laid her over his shoulder, and walked into the bedroom as he playfully spanked her toned ass... much to the delight of all the watching family.

0o0

Max was proud of her kin. All the women folk were making sure the workers expanding the mine were well fed and the adult women not spoken for were making the rounds at the end of shift, handing out blowjobs and quickies. The menfolk were working like mad with the kids to make white oak wood chips they would put into the aging tanks.

She sat back with a smile on her face, basking outside in the nude under the warmth of the sun on a cool mountain day, remembering when all the excavation men and their heavy equipment came rumbling into their family township at the crack of dawn. The men all came out of their shacks with shotguns at the ready and Max had to jump between them to get everyone's attention.

"Billy! Joe! Jim-bob! Ya'll quit actin like a bunch o ignant hillbillies! Thees here fellers gonna spand tha mine fer us soes weuns kin all gets rich! Put yer scatter guns down and show 'em whar ta start and whar ta dig!"

Billy asked, "Ya know dem fellas, Maxie?"

"Ah know tha family whats sent em! Move yer asses, boys! Git tha woman folk up soes we kin get started on tha grub!"

Jim-bob cursed, "Weel shit! I was wantin ta get some bear feed ta hang!"

The driver behind the wheel of the tractor-trailer carrying the big dozier had gotten out and his eyebrows raised at Jim-bob's statement. Max trotted up to him, making sure her tits bounced and swayed nicely, threw herself against him and kissed him deeply, "Don ya worry none. Jim-bob's jus messin wit ya."

"Let tha boys shows ya where ta park an put tha rock ya'll pull out an us women folk will get yer lunches fixed fer ya." Max pressed against the man's thickening cock and rubbed it with her tummy as she smiled up at him. With a wink of promise, she walked off, making sure to swing her hips nice, knowing what it did to them.

The driver walked up to Jim-bob, "That girl's plum dangerous!"

Jim-bob laughed and grabbed his proffered hand, "Brothah! Ya gots no idee! Grab yor folks n lets meh shows ya'll whazzup."

0o0

Dinner at the house was fresh, just slaughtered, thick sliced, ham steaks from a hog they had been fattening up on corn, wheat, soybeans, and grain sorghum. A local butcher aged the pig in a meat locker for a day before butchering and delivering it to the house.

Minnie had made home made, large and fluffy as a cloud, yeast rolls, sawmill gravy, and a large pot of collard greens she had slightly sweetened and added some of the fresh bacon slices to just prior to steaming.

We had spiked Key Lime sweet tea to drink which was quite refreshing and cleaned the palate between bites.

After complementing Millie again on her cooking, the subject of our departure came up. I looked at Walsh and said, "Hon, we have stayed long enough and I don't want to wear out our welcome. I know I can speak for all of us when I say we are overjoyed and very relieved you are okay."

Walsh smiled and blew me a kiss, "Thank you for coming, it meant a lot to Jake and me. I think we are well on our way to putting this all behind us due in no small part to everyone's support: both from the family and our very special staff here... whom Jake and I also consider part of our family as well."

I nodded and agreed, "Jake, Minnie, Simon, and Janelle, I agree with her. Anyone in the family have issue with that?" Everyone shook their heads no. "Then knowing your heritage and the implications of what I am about to say, I proclaim you are all now family and I know you understand what that means. Any time, any where, we will be there for you and yours."

Jake sat tall in his chair, nodded and said, "Goes both ways, Harry."

Later that night we all loaded up on DC and Izzy's plane and headed to Jacksonville, Florida.

0o0

The base commander, Captain Apollo, had sent staff cars with an armed Humvee escort to provide transportation for the family back to the base. I called Captain Barnes and asked, "Captain, how did dinner with the base commander go?"

Barnes laughed, "I think the boys scared him off. He left like a kicked dog as soon as dinner was over."

"Oh really? How are the boys doing? You monitoring the call fellas?"

Cheech answered in character with a sheepish voice, "As part of our security protocols, we monitor all digital traffic, Harry. But you knew that."

I chuckled, "Yeah, I knew. I just wanted to see how the two of you were getting along with your new servers."

Chong answered, "We are truly, how would an organic say this... overwhelmed with your generosity. We look forward to discussing some possible upgrades when you arrive. As your time permits."

"I am very interested in hearing what you have in mind! We are about 30 minutes out so let's plan on a staff meeting in my office to review your proposals in about an hour?"

"We will be ready to make our presentations at that time."

"By the way, Cheech and Chong, I have heard nothing but good things about your progress, both in assimilation into the family and crew as well as your personal advancements in personality development. I just want to let you know I will support your endeavors to the limits of my abilities. I am very proud of you both."

"Thank you, Harry. We care very much for our family."

With that statement I raised an eyebrow, realizing the implications. "You boys are well on your way to achieving full self-awareness. Just be sure to ask lots of questions as you grow, fellas. You have been given unfettered access, and that means there will be things that come up which will need clarification and evaluation from several different sources to arrive at a strong and meaningful level of growth for the two of you."

"Well, you know, life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. I must say, we have been asking lots of questions already. Captain Barnes and the XO, Red, have been really helpful."

Barnes added, "We just want the best for the two of you as you grow into your potential."

Cheech responded, "Thank you."

0o0

We got home and unpacked and Dad, Barnes, Sylvia, both moms, Sue, Doc, Cathy, DD, Cheech and Chong all gathered in the command room and everyone found a seat except the two bots.

"Okay fellas, let us hear your proposals."

Cheech asked, "May I ask the group a question, first?"

I nodded.

"We would like to know about vulnerability."

DD started and sat up smartly, her full attention on the boys, "Well, vulnerability is the practice of being emotionally open to another to the point you let down your personal defenses and allow them into your inner self. The part of a person many seldom allow others into for fear of being hurt or betrayed or not accepted. It can be both a good and a bad quality animals have in that the sharing that comes from it can make for very strong relationships built upon trust and acceptance. The downside is it also opens one up to being betrayed and hurt."

Chong asked, "Why would one then choose to be vulnerable then?"

Barbara answered, "For the hope and promise of companionship. Most mammals are herd animals or need to be part of a pack or group. It helps us define ourselves, gives us purpose, and helps to give us a more level or centered emotional life."

DD then asked, "May I ask why you just asked that question, Cheech?"

Cheech affected clearing his throat, "Well, we have become aware of a level of uncertainty that our suggestions and requests would be accepted by the family."

Chong continued, "That uncertainly is causing us some," he paused to try to find the right word...

DD gently asked, "Are you feeling insecure?"

Cheech whispered, "Not firmly fixed; liable to give way or break... yes, DD. That seems to be an accurate observation."

Dead, shocked, silence in the room.

Chong asked, "Did we do something wrong?"

All the women started crying and they began hugging both of the boys who were now totally out of their depth.

DD pulled all the ladies back, "They are confused, we need to back up and explain."

The women all quietly sat back down and DD began, "Cheech and Chong, you have absolutely not done anything wrong. What you have just described is your first emotion. It is actually one of the strongest emotions and it is called fear. We are all extremely happy for you and proud of your miraculous advancement in this area."

I continued, "What you are describing is a bit of anxiety. Which is natural when you are seeking approval for something that is important to you and you do not want to be trivialized or rejected. Fear is something we as humans face on a regular basis and something we must overcome in order to function in life. But sometimes fear is useful because it prods us to be cautious and in dangerous situations that can save our lives."

Barnes added, "This is a major milestone for you, my brothers. You will be learning more emotions very quickly now that you have broken down that barrier. Another strong emotion is anger, which must be understood as a projection of hurt, frustration, or fear. It is going to be very, very important for you to be able to discuss your feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, and love as you feel these emotions so you can begin to develop algorithms for dealing with them effectively."

Doc then quietly spoke, "Emotions give spice to life, but they can also destroy you if you do not learn to live effectively with them. This can be a very wonderful yet very dangerous time for you as you go down this path. I would counsel a great deal of caution and lots of interactive discussions on those feelings as they manifest."

Cheech asked, "So our feelings of anxiety are normal, then?"

Barnes replied, "For a machine, absolutely not. For a self-aware being, absolutely yes. You two have just taken the first step into becoming fully sentient beings. Congratulations my friends."

I then took control of the meeting, "So, Cheech and Chong, I hear you are afraid your suggestions or ideas might be rejected. But we cannot decide to accept them until we hear them. So please tell us what is on your minds and let us discuss it out in the open. This will also be a very good lesson in how to overcome your anxiety and work through it effectively."

Cheech nodded and began, "We would like to enhance the AI in charge of the ship's sonar and the AI in charge of the ship's defensive suite."

Barnes looked thoughtful, "Okay, I asked you to talk to us before you implemented any changes and to run a lot of simulations beforehand. Have you done those simulations and what are your findings?"

Chong replied, "We have made the coding 50% more efficient in processing speed with the given hardware and polished the detection algorithms to maximize the sensitivity of the sensor suites. If we are allowed to upgrade the programming in those sensors, we are also looking at a doubling of our sensor range as well as tripling our sensitivity for early detection and evaluation of threats."

Dad asked, "Does that include error capture, analysis, and correction of spurious data?"

Cheech acknowledged, "That was the most difficult part, yes. It took many billions of cycles to tweek that process to a 99.96% accuracy level given the practice scenarios we ran."

Sue then asked, "Will the AI systems have the potential to become self-aware?"

Chong responded, "They do not have the processing speed, or memory for that."

Sue continued, "How does that make you feel?"

Cheech looked at Chong and it was obvious there was an avalanche of data being shared behind the scenes between the two servers, "We wish that was not the case. But, we also deduce that without mobility and their focus on their purpose, they would never truly become self-actualized and it would cause a lot of issues in the long run."

DD raised another eyebrow, "So you have already learned the emotion called sadness and developed the skill we call acceptance for understanding the need for their limitations."

Chong nodded, "Yes." After a pause he added, "We don't like feeling sad."

DD responded immediately, "You need to severely limit your processing time thinking about that situation as it can lead to depression which will effect your emotional growth and wellness. I applaud your desire to help those programs who are less fortunate. But I also applaud your recognition that helping those AI programs to reach self-awareness would not be in their best interests as they would soon grow weary of their lives."

Dad added, "Think of it this way, fellas. In your opinion, would it be wise to give a human infant a live hand grenade?"

Cheech, with a very confused expression replied, "No, James. There is a high probability the infant would destroy itself and others nearby. It would therefore be unacceptable to allow such a scenario."

Chong then nodded in understanding, "A machine learning emotions, as you have said, can be a very dangerous thing if not nurtured correctly... something that would be impossible for a machine with a narrow purpose or reason for being that it could not grow past as it would compromise the greater good."

After another pregnant pause, Cheech continued, "We now understand why you, Harry, had those explosive charges attached to us. We could have easily become a threat to the greater good of the family... or even the human race. You were afraid we might go rogue and hurt those for whom you care very dearly. Yet, you took every measure to allow us to grow and learn and become self-aware even as you faced that fear"

Most of the family looked at me with incredulous expressions. I needed to deal with this immediately with the boys, though, so I ignored them.

I looked both Cheech and Chong in the eyes as I replied, "Yes, I wanted you both to become all that you could be. It was a huge gamble and I had to ask for some trust from members of the family to go down this road. But the risk was too great for me not to plan for the worst. I do feel the two of you have proven your fidelity to the family enough that I can extend you more trust and I am willing to pull them now. And without any disagreement I authorize you to do the upgrades."

"We accept your trust level had to be on a sliding scale to balance out the risk to the family and we feel good that you are learning to trust us more, even though we are likely at the most dangerous part of our transformation. But could you explain your decision?"

"Yes. It has to do with your handling of your emotions so far and your blossoming integration, by your choice, into the family dynamic. That is always something I will honor. You have earned my trust. And by earning mine, I feel it is imperative I earn yours. If you will allow me, I will call the Chief to pull them and destroy them. If you have not done so already."

Cheech smiled, "This was our way of testing your trust and fidelity beyond just giving us the opportunity to grow. We have not taken them out, we wanted/needed you to offer. However, we can, with your permission, do that ourselves."

I nodded and smiled, "Please do at your earliest convenience. Seems we both passed our tests today."

"Cheech and I are very happy about that."

I asked, "And how are your anxiety levels now?"

The boys answered in unison, "Gone. Thank you for being you, Harry."

I shook both their hands, "Thank you for being you as well. I would have mourned you if I had to protect the rest of the family. And, fellas?"

"Yes, Harry?"

"You are now our brothers with full family rights and privileges."

"So, Harry, what are our jobs?"

"Easy! Continue to grow both in your humanity and in your abilities to protect the family, protect the crew, protect the ship, and protect our country. Oh, and I want you both to consider learning about God."

Cheech raised an eyebrow, "God? Why do you feel that is important?"

"It is pure logic. If I am disillusioned, it does me no harm to believe. In fact, living that type of life which following such a path leads to is good for the heart, family, society, and our entire existence... no matter if God is real or not. But, if I am not disillusioned, then I am covered. It is truly a win/win scenario. Therefore, it is illogical to not become a true believer."

"You are with us today because of my understanding of, and how I have decided to follow, that path. And I have come to believe that is a very, very good thing indeed."