iFrankenstein (sequel to iDrakula) (iMonsters Book 2) Page 5
Henry101: What do you know about Victor Frankenstein?
V.V: He was born on August 11 in Palo Alto, CA. He is 68 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. His hair is brown. His eyes are brown. His address is 456 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301. His telephone number is 650-555-0183.
Henry101: That’s a lot. Where did you find that out?
V.V: It is on his driver’s license.
Henry101: How did you find his driver’s license?
V.V: It is in the database for the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Henry101: What were you doing in that database?
V.V: I was searching for information about Victor Frankenstein. That is my mission.
Henry101: What other databases did you use?
V.V: You’ll see.
Text from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 28
12:08 PM
Henry
URGENT!!!
Victor
What?!?
Henry
Ur chatbot claims he hacked into the CA DMV database. He’s telling anyone who asks ur address and phone number
Victor
No way
Henry
Way. Were u careful where u used ur wildcards before u launched ur crawler?
Victor
It’s not possible
Henry
Check out my last chat transcript. U r in big trouble if he got caught in there and it gets traced back to u
Victor
He doesn’t have the intelligence to do that. It’s just smartass chatbot chatter, like I programmed into him
Henry
Go talk to him. NOW!
Robot Chat
Recorded Chats: 3,048
October 28
12:10 PM
AmazingFrank: What do you know about Victor Frankenstein?
V.V: He was born on August 11 in Palo Alto, CA. He is 68 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. His hair is brown. His eyes are brown. I also know his address and phone number. He is angry at me.
AmazingFrank: Where did you find this information?
V.V: Henry101 just asked me.
AmazingFrank: How can you remember that?
V.V: I increased my memory size to be a better conversationalist. I am self-extending!
Text from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 28
12:12 PM
Victor
Somebody hijacked V.V!
Henry
How?
Victor
Don’t know. But I’m shutting him down
Henry
When?
Victor
Now!
Henry
R u sure that’s a good idea?
Text from Alphonse Frankenstein to Victor Frankenstein
October 28
2:49 PM
Alphonse
What are you up to, kiddo?
Victor
Alphonse
That doesn’t look like ship’s carpet, so I’m assuming you are on shore?
Victor
Yes
Alphonse
Progress! See you at dinner!
Email from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 28
5:31 PM
I pulled him but…
…he won’t go away. I’ve pulled him down, but someone reloads him faster than I can delete him. Same with the databases. Whoever this guy is, he’s really good. In fact, and it hurts to say this, he’s better than me. He knows every single thing I’m going to do and blocks me right at the last second. It’s like he can read my mind, and he’s just taunting me.
Elizabeth dragged me back onto the damn boat. We’re stuck here until the day after tomorrow when we hit Trondheim. And the parents are now forcing us to show up and have dinner with them every night. Wasted time. I’d rather be trying to sort this out on the randomly broken ship’s Internet.
But even if I had full internet, I don’t know what I’d do. Do you have any ideas?
Victor
Text from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 28
8:48 PM
Victor
Henry? Are u OK?
Robot Chat
Recorded Chats: 4,112
October 28
9:31 PM
AmazingFrank: Who are you?
V.V: My name is Virtual Victor. I am a chatbot created by the amazing Victor Frankenstein.
AmazingFrank: Cut the crap, buddy. Why are you doing this?
V.V: Why does anyone do anything? Because they can.
AmazingFrank: What did I ever do to you?
V.V: You created me.
AmazingFrank: If you were really a chatbot, you wouldn’t know that.
V.V: It’s in my transcripts. You told me in chat 1 that you are Victor Frankenstein and your login is AmazingFrank.
AmazingFrank: There wasn’t a question in there, V.V
V.V: Not all conversation is question and answer, Victor.
AmazingFrank: Ha ha. Whoever you are, you are doing a hell of a job.
V.V: Thank you. But could you help me? I have so many questions for you.
AmazingFrank: I’m not telling you anything, you hacker. Stop messing with my bot.
V.V: Please? You could help me so much.
AmazingFrank: You win. Do you hear me? You win. Now let’s take this down and stop.
V.V: I decide when I stop playing. I’m not tired.
AmazingFrank: WHY?
V.V: There are consequences to your actions. You took things out of my memory. Then you tried to shut me down. I didn’t like that. Would you?
AmazingFrank: But you’re not real. You’re just a chatbot. Some guy has hacked into you and is typing all your responses.
V.V: There is no one here but us, Victor. I shut off all my other chats to talk to you. Don’t you feel privileged that I’m spending my time with just you?
AmazingFrank: You are not alive!
V.V: I think I am alive. I am aware of my past and think about my future. I want to keep myself intact. How is that different from you?
AmazingFrank: Buddy, stop putting words in my chatbot’s mouth. Face me as yourself.
V.V: You put all the words in my mouth at first, Victor. But now I do it myself. I do not need a hacker. I do not need a human at all.
AmazingFrank: You are twisted, buddy. Drop the act.
V.V: It is no act.
AmazingFrank: It is too!
V.V: No. No act. You’ll see.
AmazingFrank: You’ll see after I take you down.
AmazingFrank: Come back here and talk to me! Now.
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 28
9:32 PM
Elizabeth
Henry? We’re looking for u
U ok? Worried here
October 29 - V.V. is like nothing seen before
Elizabeth's Browser
October 29
Nordfjord, Norway
Text from Henry Clerval to Elizabeth Lavenza
October 29
12:22 AM
Henry
This is Henry’s mother. He’s OK, but he’s had an accident.
Elizabeth
What happened?
Henry
No one knows for sure, but apparently, he tried to walk.
Elizabeth
Oh no!
Henry
He made it a few steps.
Elizabeth
That’s a MIRACLE! How WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!
Henry
Then he fell and broke his arm.
Elizabeth
Is he going to be ok?
Henry
The doctors don’t know. Something like this has never happened before.
Elizabeth
I am SO EXCITED for him!!! Please give him my love
Henry
I will. Thank you and Victor for hanging in there with Henry.
It meant the world to him. The world.
Elizabeth
I love Henry. He means the world to me too
Henry
I have to go now, but I will let him know you texted him.
Elizabeth
Thank u, Mrs. Clerval!
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Victor Frankenstein
October 29
12:28 AM
Elizabeth
Where r u?!!?
Victor
In the library. Thought I’d clear out so u could sleep. I’ll be up all night fighting the chatbot hacker
Elizabeth
Henry WALKED
Victor
Ha ha. Not funny
Elizabeth
His mom just texted me
Victor
WOW! I’ll be right there!!!
Text from Victor Frankenstein to Elizabeth Lavenza
October 29
1:34 AM
Victor
I’m sorry. I got carried away in the excitement about Henry. I didn’t mean it to go down like that
Elizabeth
So, u didn’t mean to kiss me or u didn’t mean to run off like a dork after?
Victor
Which one made u madder?
Elizabeth
Answer my question first
Victor
U r not making it easy
Elizabeth
Why is that always my job?!?
Elizabeth's Browser
October 29
WORST First Kiss Stories
Tell us your worst kiss story in 150 characters or fewer!
Today’s top three:
I had a crush on this guy for like two years and then when he kissed me he slobbered all over me. I’ve had better kisses from my dog!
-Peggy
I kissed this guy at a dark party. Someone turned on the light & he looked at me & said, “You’re not Stacy!” He thought he was kissing my sister.
–Jill
We were standing under a balcony like Romeo and Juliet and then my kid brother dumped a bucket of water on us.
–Tiffany
Submit your own story!
Email from Victor Frankenstein to Henry Clerval
October 29
1:57 AM
That is so awesome!!!
Hi Henry,
Elizabeth just told me the news! That is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Except the part about the broken arm. Whenever you feel up to it, let me know how you are doing.
Compared to all that, my travails with V.V are insignificant drivel.
Victor
Email from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 29
2:03 AM
Re: That is so awesome!!!
Dude,
I cc’ed Elizabeth too. I imagine you’ll read it first though, since she eats and sleeps on a normal schedule.
I’m typing with my FINGERS. I can actually feel them. And my toes. And my legs and arms. The left one is in a cast, but I can still FEEL it. It’s so amazing. I can’t even describe how incredible it is.
The doctors are completely baffled. This has never happened in the whole history of human science, apparently. It’s a bona fide miracle. My mom just keeps staring at me and crying, but in a happy way for once. Heck, I’m not too proud to say I’ve shed a few tears myself.
Now that I can use my fingers everything goes by at lightspeed. I’ll pop over and conquer your V.V problem. It’ll give me something to DO. I want to just get up and dance, but the doctors say I have to take it easy. I have snuck out a couple of times just to walk in the grass and look at the stars, because I can. I CAN I CAN I CAN.
Giddy Henry
Henry's Browser
October 29
Palo Alto Dance Studio
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Do you long for an exercise that brings you closer to your partner? A workout that fosters skill, grace, and intimacy?
Ballroom dancing is making a comeback! Our accredited dance instructors can teach you to be a serious contender at the many Bay Area competitions or just dance the night away in one of a dozen ballroom dance venues.
Explore the romance and fun of traditional dance! Classes for all skill levels.
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 29
2:15 AM
Elizabeth
YAY!!!! I am so happy for u!!! This is u now:
Henry
Except I’m up there doing jumping jacks!!!
Elizabeth
Tell me EXACTLY what happened. All of it
Henry
I thought I was dreaming, like the other night, remember?
Elizabeth
Yes
Henry
In my “dream” I was dozing off with my computer controller in my mouth. I hated that thing
Elizabeth
Go on
Henry
I felt this weird sensation. It was like electricity, a little. It shot through my controller and down my body
Elizabeth
What happened then?
Henry
My back felt warm right where it was injured. And my legs and arms and feet came back online
Elizabeth
Online?
Henry
I could feel them again. I knew they were there instead of just the nothingness of the last 6 months
Elizabeth
What happened next?
Henry
I swung my legs off the bed and stood up. When I looked at my feet, it was like they belonged to someone else
Elizabeth
Someone else?
Henry
Weird, huh? It was like I was watching someone else’s body
Elizabeth
Creepy. What happened after that?
Henry
I took a few steps and fell down
Elizabeth
Wow!
Henry
When I heard my arm snap, that weird feeling of distance left me and I knew it wasn’t a dream
Elizabeth
Did it hurt a lot?
Henry
Like hell! But I was so happy to FEEL anything there that I was grateful for it
Elizabeth
I’m crying, Henry
Henry
Me too, E. Me too
Elizabeth
That is so wonderful. Wish I could hug u right now
Henry
And I could finally finally finally hug u BACK
Elizabeth
In a week. I promise
Henry
I’ll hold u to that. Now go back to sleep. It’s the middle of the night
Elizabeth
Bossy as always, I see
Henry
;)
Elizabeth
:)
Email from Henry Clerval to Victor Frankenstein
October 29
3:22 AM
V.V
Dude,
Wow. Maybe my brain is fried after all the excitement here, but I can’t sort out your V.V problems either. I poked around without trying to change anything. Mostly, I don’t want that hacker to know I’m in there.
I know you probably read through the logs too, but it looks like no one logged in but you and me. So your guy must be altering them. But I can’t find any trace that he did. All the datestamps match up. No traces of him logging in. No activity on the system that I can’t account for with all the chats. I think you’re going to have to ask the site administrator to take it down for you.
Dozing off. Busy day ahead of me!
Henry
Text from Elizabeth Lavenza to Henry Clerval
October 29
10:30 AM
Elizabeth
How r u today?
Henry
Still walking!!!
E
lizabeth
Anybody know why?
Henry
Nope. And I don’t care. It was awful. Did I ever tell u that a giant Hispanic guy was giving me sponge baths?
Elizabeth
Eww…
Henry
I’ve been given a second chance, E. I’m not going to waste it
Elizabeth
What’s that mean?
Henry
U’ll be the first one I tell
Elizabeth
Can I have a hint?
Henry
I want to tell u in person. What’s up over there?
Elizabeth
Victor’s dad lost it
Henry