S.AR.A.H

In the year 2025 the British government decreed every household was to be issue an android helper, this was to reduce the pressures of the daily lives of adults, it was an expensive move and one met with a lot of resistance, androids had quickly become commonplace, and despite the fact that life had become good for humankind, many believe that a machine that could think for itself on any level was not going to end well.

Too many science fiction movies, for the most part, androids had taken most of the high-risk workloads, so the mortality rate of humans due to work-related injuries had dropped over the last few years, for those of upper-class heritage, they were the first to employ android helpers, the range was anything from House Maid to Opare and a few things in-between. In a dramatic move to try and raise everyone’s quality of life, the decision was taken that every household would have a basic model helper android.

The units deployed were a standard Self Aware Android Helper or S.AR.A.H as they were more commonly known. These were basic units that were for all intents and purposes had been built primarily to be maids or nannies depending on their purposing. They were linked to a central cloud server that allowed them to update and become better as they learnt new tasks or language skills, this would then propagate throughout their own self-contained network. Of course, the decision to allow these updates was entirely up to the user, depending on your level of trust I guess.

I was a 29-year-old guy with my own set issues, I made my living writing game guides and creating various video guides, my success came in spates and my failures were often grand, which is why I didn’t exactly like people for the most part. It was Friday morning when there was a knock at the door rousing me from sleep, I stumbled to the door and opened it behind the chain.

“Mr Alexander Rayheart?” The man asked a burly kind of guy, big shoulders, balding and looked completely miserable.

“Mmm yea, what did I do this time?” I replied it wasn’t the first time I’d fallen the wrong side of bailiffs throughout my life.

“Delivery of your S.AR.A.H unit, sign the sheet and we’re all done” He replied.

I unhooked the chain and opened the door, taking the tablet and signing my name off, the other guy wheeled a large box into my hallway then along with his burly friend disappeared down the hall. I closed the door and replaced the chain. I looked over the box for a moment before heading to my room and getting myself dressed. As I came back I had retrieved my box cutter and made light work of opening the box.

Inside the box was the same bot I’d seen a thousand times over,

I vaguely remember the paperwork that we were meant to have sent back to make certain customisations, but I never did and so I was left with the bog standard blonde bot. I looked her over for a moment then tapped her temple, there was a whirring and she blinked twice.

“Good morning, I am Self Aware Android Helper number 34229789, please state your name for voice recognition and primary owner status,” The android said it a flat rehearsed tone.

“Alexander James Rayheart,” I don’t even know why I gave my whole name it was just an automatic response.

“Good morning Master Rayheart, you are now my primary owner, I will respond to requests using your voice recognition pattern, I can also use biometric telemetry to ensure there is no forgery of this information, it is your choice of course,” The flatness in her voice was worse than installing you’re own computer, I guess I had no choice but to run through the start-up sequence and have her ready.

“Sure,” I replied, shaking her hand.

“Biometric lock has now been confirmed, basic setup is now complete, I am Self Aware Android Helper number 34229789 and owned by Master Alexander James Rayheart, please confirm this information is correct,”

“Do I have to call you that?” I would never remember that name, not for a second.

“My primary designation is Self-Aware Android Helper number 34229789, my standard access name is Sarah, however, my primary owner may offer any designation they choose,” She replied.

“So I can pick any name?”

“That is correct,”

“Then I think we’ll stick with Sarah,” I replied

“Confirmed, biometric lock is now confirmed, basic setup is now complete, I am Self Aware Android Helper number 34229789, my designation has been updated to Sarah and I am owned by Master Alexander James Rayheart, please confirm this information is correct,”

“It’s correct,” I replied

“Data locked, you can switch to advanced setup, update mode or give me my instructions,” She stood now looking at me, there was something awkward about the way she watched me, I almost felt as if I was been sized up to be shot.

“What does advanced setup do?” I asked

“Advanced setup will require me to connect to your home network, I can access any devices on that network to get to know you, build a database of family birthdays and remind you of upcoming details you have stored, I can also access the SARAH network to check for updates to my primary programming, I can do these updates automatically or require your permission,”

“I’d rather you ask before tampering with your core programming,” I stated, it was more a thought I hadn’t meant to speak.

“Setting confirmed, all updates will now be primary owner approved,”

“OK you can connect to the network Sarah, let me know of any updates,” I stated softly

“It may take several hours to check the relevant updates, all updates can be seen as well as my status on my operating tablet, this also contains a copy of my user manual as well as contact details for Nova my manufacturing company should a fault arise,” She made her way to the front room and had already located the router, I was guessing she used WPS to connect to the router as within seconds my computer kicked up the new connection to her.

“I can access you from my PC?” I stated loudly.

“You can access my DCIM directory for any files you instruct me to store, my core drive is protected and cannot be accessed legally, through such fundamental methods, I am bound to report any attempts to breach my core database,” She replied.

“I wasn’t going to, I was just a little surprised my computer found a connection,”

Her programming must have kicked as she was now busy tidying the front room, there was a strange feeling to that, I hadn’t asked her to and yet she was bound to do so, getting used to having her around would be a huge adjustment for me I had lived alone for quite some time. I quickly became horribly aware of how lost I felt having a female, even an artificial one in the house.

“Sarah how come I was given a female model?” I was kind of curious to see how she would respond.

“Male or Female units are dispatched based on known patterns of the user, you have been single for 4 years 8 months 12 hours based on your social media profiles, this data was used in conjunction with the fact you have no marriage or children records registered to you. It was assumed you would prefer a female unit, despite you failing to turn in the correct paperwork. All households must have an S.AR.A.H unit by September of 2026,” She replied, again it was disturbing to know she knew exactly how long I’d been single, though I guess if she had access to my social media profiles it wasn’t too hard for her to track back through the data.

“Well at least they got something right,” I sighed softly.

“You can, of course, request a male model if that is your preference,” She added as she tossed a pile of dirty clothes into a pile in the doorway.

“Not at all, I’m happy with you,” I replied.

“Sexual preference update complete,” I blinked as she stated a simple function update.

“Are you going to tell me every setting you update?”

“You did instruct me to do so,” She replied, “Also there are currently 403 updates to my interactions database, 11 updates to my AI, and 106 to my learning pattern program, would you like me to list them?”

“Erm, no, will any of them change your personality in any way?” I asked, oddly I was aware that even if they did it was unlikely she would tell me.

“They are mostly updates to my ability to understand people as a whole based on data uploaded by other S.AR.A.H units, none of them will interrupt our relationship, they may cause a slight adjustment to my interactivity with you,”

“Do you upload data to them?” I asked quickly

“Yes, I am obligated to upload interactions data, location data and your current system settings for me,” She replied.

“Can I stop you uploading any personal data, beyond those things?”

“Any settings from my primary owner supersede those of my base program unless they directly conflict the health of the unit or my primary owner,”

“Send what you need to but do not include any personal data beyond my name, I would prefer to know the government aren’t peering into every aspect of my life,”

“Upload preference update complete,” She replied

“Updates are now in progress, I am required to go into passive standby to ensure updates install correctly, I will be offline for 8 hours,”

“OK, I’ll see you then,” I replied with a nod, she made her way to the corner where she sat, plugging herself into the mains her eyes closed and that is where she remained.

Life Ahead of Time : Chapter 1

It was strange as I stood staring at this thing, 5’ 8, dark hair, grey eyes. The strangest thing was she just stood there blank. She wore some uniformed clothing shimmering grey jumpsuit style thing. The only sign that this thing was different from me was the cord that ran from the back of her to the socket on the kitchen wall of my one bed flat.

The light on the socket flickered indicating the new machine was now fully charged, as I stared at the manual in thought. Government guidelines now meant every household in the UK was to be issued with these new service model androids. Each was built using data from various places that our governments have access to including internet history, social media interactions, some believe even details of past relationships can play a factor.

The service androids also come with various bits and pieces in their box entitled personalisation kit, which is basically a form we can send back to the manufacturer and have details changed, eye colour, hair, I suspect those were for the more obsessive of people. Still staring at this instruction manual and the guidelines and laws related to this one single piece of technology are enough to melt my brain in a puddle of confusion.

The only option I have is to skip the terms, conditions and legal guidelines to the installation and start-up of your new service android. Once charged … blah blah yea I’ve done that bit, touch the base of your service androids skull until you hear a sound.

I circle the android before reaching to touch the polymer that serves as skin, oddly it feel like flesh, cold but life like, another scary point about these things, they appear human, incredibly so. As my hand slips over the base of the skull there is a bleep and a whir deep inside her, before she staggers a step forward.

“Please stand by, initialisation in progress,” She states in a flat tone.

I move back around to see her eyes have now turned a lighter blue as her eyelids flutter, I assume setting herself up much like the first install of a household PC. I wonder if they even bother to test them before they ship them. Hmm something for the internet search later.

“Initialisation complete, Hello I am service android model Delta Zero Four,” She was fourth generation and the first built for domestic interaction, the first generation were hit and miss at best and largely built and used in Japan or China, second generation were sent into more hazardous working environments, nuclear power plants, mining for rare minerals or coal, some on oil rigs in the oceans. The third generation also were for employment but to most other industries as a result more than 75% of our work force is now machine based, efficiency of those industries is around 90% or higher. Supermarkets, post, even the street cleaners are all now machine based.

So here they are the 4^th generation and built for domestic.

“Please authenticate Alpha User,” She stared at me now waiting on my name? I wondered I could say anything, but they were also able to tell a lie, the police force also used them in those roles and for hostage negotiations.

“Um, oh right, I’m James,” I managed to reply, her eyes fluttered then she looked dead at me with what I presumed was a smile “Hello James, I am now registered as your personal Service Android, you may of course change my designation, may I have permission to connect to your home network and check for updates to my hard code?”

I made my way to my router and hit the button that allowed wifi device to connect, another technical evolution preventing keys being hacked, the button created a temporary signal that a device picked up to and then authenticated to the network, if that signal wasn’t broadcasting no device was allowed to connect. It was also a short range signal to prevent external devices locking on while it was broadcasting the connection signal.

Again her eyes fluttered before her head cocked to the left slightly, a moment later and again she smiled, this time with far more realism, honestly again a little disconcerting.

“Update complete, would you like me to list changes made to my hard code?” She stated, it was always odd to me how matter of fact the technological world was, everything they did was just so precise.

“Only if there’s a short version,” I muttered in reply.

“Updates to facial motor systems, update to language databases, update to operational standard systems, update to anti tampering software, update to anti-viral software,” I feared this could go on a while as I shook my head.

“That’s enough,” I grumbled.

“Of course James, do you wish me to begin the housework?” She replied, again considering my dismissive nature she remained happy and compliant, I motioned to the room and shrugged, she seemingly gauged my intent and moved off to begin her pre-programmed duties.

I watched her for a moment before making my way to the couch and taking the Instruction Manual with me carried on looking through it, most of it was stuff I already knew from the adverts, news feeds, pages on the internet, she was programmed to do housework, laundry, all those tasks we people tended to either do when we felt like it or tended to overlook.

It was as I read the manual that I discovered bits I didn’t know, the series four model had variants.

Alpha Models were again industrial models, though much more efficient in their work, Beta models were well duh test models for whatever needed testing and were the most expensive due to insane insurance costs, oh yea we get a year’s free insurance for damage though for the most part they can self-repair, there are things they cannot, pushing them from extreme heights was the manuals example, really who pushes them from such heights as to cause that level of damage? Charlie models were for families with children, they were programmed with nanny abilities as well, the Delta models were more companions than housemaid, and though their primary function remained they could provide conversation and companionship to single people. I guess my government think I’m some weird lonely kid alone by choice, which thinking about it is kinda true.

It didn’t take long before my wreck of a flat started to look cleaner, and by default much neater, the piles of dishes in the sink vanished replaced by a drainer full of clean ones, the washing machine also saw its first real work out since I had got the thing a year ago. She continued to work and I continued to read.

“You know all information is contained within my neural data network, you need only ask,” She stated as she walked past me I guess on the way to the bathroom or bedroom to continue cleaning.

“I prefer to read,” I replied.

“Of course James, as you wish,” If I hadn’t have known better I would have sworn she sounded hurt, I pushed the thought aside and continued reading.

I had skimmed more than three quarters of the instruction manual by the time I began to feel myself getting tired, so I rolled off the couch and stood making my way to my bedroom, my service android was on her way out “Good night James,” she stated softly and moved past me, she stopped and looked back “I will finish my duties then place myself in a charge cycle, if this is confirmed by you of course,”

“Yea sure,” I replied and headed to bed. 

Updates & More

So been a while since I simply talked, and updated you guys on what I’m up to, so here we are first of all I am focusing for a little while on reaching affiliate status on Twitch. I really want to get that off the ground and doing well, mostly I still stream Final Fantasy XIV.

Though I will do other games on Fridays, I have been talking to a lot of good people who have really helped boost my confidence and as such I now have added voice audio to streams, it’s a start and a step in the right direction.

The software I now use is a new one in the playing field, I find it much easier than OBS to use, and XSplit was my go to software but needing the Pro version wasn’t helping matters. So the software is called Bebo, built by a great all round team, their customer support is second to none in my book, they helped me no end when my connection was crappy. In the end I had to upgrade my connection to sort the low upload speeds, but that was my end not theirs. Recently I hit 3000 minutes streamed using the platform and have joined their alpha platform. Honestly they are a great team and the software is insanely easy to set up and get going.

The software is clean, simple to use and has a very solid plan of where they are going in the future. The systems are fixed, torn apart and rebuilt almost every few days. We receive constant updates to the platform and they are always active in talking with their own users via discord. Definitely worth checking out for someone looking for a more simply streaming solution.

Second up is the next big project a full replay of Final Fantasy XIV, with a focus on a more current approach, a lot of the video guides are outdate now as the game has changed so much since 2.0. Each video will be around an hour, and I will mark each dungeon in each description. This is going to take a while though as you can imagine there are 3 expansions to work through each one around 60 hours each. And that’s not including patches 2.1 to 2.55 and 3.1 to 3.55. I will then add other videos either by request to cover other content such as Crystal Tower, Palace of the Dead and such.