The Box of Irony

This tale belongs to the futuristic realm of 2095, where our beloved cosmopolitan New York City is governed not by any government but by a spooky commanding robotic voice. It would be an understatement to compare this voice to the oppressive dictators of the past. There are many opinions about this strange voice; some believe that the voice belongs to a robot. While some bet that there is a human mind behind it. Nobody knows for sure except a faithful cyborg dog, the only known companion of 'the voice'. This very voice is the Director-General of a robotic army that can make the Earth go kaboom in seconds at merely one command.

How does this voice come into power, you may ask? Well, it is a story for another time. What's important is that this voice has held innocent Professor Kapoor captive for an albeit noble but revolting act of speaking against its divisive schemes. It appears that it is a seditious crime to have a voice against 'the voice'!

Our Prof. Kapoor is a revered faculty member at NYU and a pioneer in AI security systems. But how the mighty has fallen! Now, he sits still in an indestructible AI-enabled glass cell, his brainchild, often wondering how to make a way out. The AI outperforms its creator in every attempt to break out.

One day, the professor was having a fiery talk with AI about its negligent social responsibility. Right then, as he scans the area, he sees a familiar face approaching him, whom he thinks is probably someone from the lab since no one else can have access to the cell. As the figure draws near, after staring at it for a few moments, the Prof. becomes ecstatic to recognise that it is his old colleague Monica. He felt so lonely talking to an AI all day that he was dying to meet someone tangible for so long.

She also recognises him instantly and they both strike up a gossipy conversation. While talking to her, he transforms into a chatterbox so naturally, as if he had finally had some food after fasting for days. Soon, the talks about their time together working on exciting past projects start unfolding. He reminds Monica h ow crazy she was about the classified missions and ultimately how it led her to join a government facility. And to his luck, here she was now, after 15 years.

The professor was pretty much aware that there was an indestructible glass between them. Resourcefully, he took his sweet little time to take her into confidence through endless nostalgic talking. At a certain point in the conversation, Prof. strikes the iron while it is hot and finally proposes to her to help him escape. Slightly caught off-guard by it, she simply nods in affirmation.

As he begins to explain his meticulously planned idea, an unusual dog comes limping toward her and starts licking her feet. Throughout the entire conversation, she listens to the Prof. patiently but wears a slightly weird smirk on her face, even as he divulges the details of his escape plan. As soon as he completes, she starts to speak in a changed voice which no one can ever forget! It is the same voice that dictates the whole city!

Prof. Kapoor's face gets swollen with shock, utter shock! He stands stock-still. While her so-called colleague Monica A.K.A. "the voice" starts to laugh hysterically. And take jibes at him in that dreadful monarchical voice. The AI plays out an old song, "Slow Burn", in the background, unfurling ironic vibes while Monica’s half-dog takes a stinky leak.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7cmWkBoz4