"Assistance?" Danny said, confused.
"That is correct," Cane said. "I am an Artificial Intelligence whose purpose is to assist all racers in Overdrive Online. The pitch of your voice sounded high, indicating you were surprised. Could you tell me why?"
"Why? Because this is the first time I'm hearing about you," Danny answered. "An A.I. that assists racers in Overdrive Online? I sure could have used you a few days earlier."
"My apologies. It is true I am meant to assist racers, which is my primary function, but I have not yet been deployed," Cane said.
"Deployed? What do you mean deployed?" Danny asked.
"When I say I have not yet been deployed, I mean I haven't been given access to the players I was programmed to assist. When I am deployed, I will be able to assist all racers in Overdrive Online."
"I see. Any chance this deployment is happening in… twenty-four hours?" Danny asked.
"The time of my deployment depends on my creator. I am not aware when my deployment will happen," Cane answered.
"Oh, that's disappointing," Danny said. He turned away from Cane and looked at the ground.
"From the data in my digital library, your gesture indicates that you are upset. Would you like to tell me what's bothering you? My programming also helps assist racers mentally through conversations," Cane said.
Danny turned back to look at Cane and considered what it had suggested. 'What am I thinking? Sharing my problems with a computer,' Danny thought. He thought it was pretty pathetic. But was it really?
Who else did he have to turn to? Danny was an introvert and a loner. He had no friends. He didn't have anyone to talk to about his problems. The computer in front of him was willing to listen. What did he have to lose?
"Sure. I'll tell you," Danny said. Danny went on about how he had failed the first five qualification races, how he had borrowed money from loan sharks, and how he was going to die tomorrow if he didn't win the next qualification race, which could only be taken once a day.
"Intriguing. That is quite a thrilling story. Almost unbelievable," Cane said. Danny frowned. 'Is the computer calling me a liar? Although when I think of it, my story does sound kinda sketchy,' Danny thought.
"I believe you. Your speech patterns indicate that you were being honest," Cane said. "Would you like my assistance for tomorrow's qualification race?"
Danny let out a deep sigh. "That's nice and all, but I don't see how that's going to help me win the race," Danny said.
"Let me assure you, Overdrive racer, that my assistance will make you the winner of tomorrow's qualification race," Cane declared.
"You sound pretty confident, Cane," Danny said. "And my name is Danny, by the way. What makes you so sure with your 'assistance' that I'll win my next qualification race?"
"That's easy, Danny. I will take over the vehicle and complete the race for you," Cane answered. Danny's eyes widened after hearing what Cane had just said. He could hardly believe his digital ears.
"Say what?" Danny asked, flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry, did you not hear me?" Cane asked. "I will speak louder this time—I SAID!..."
"I know what you said," Danny interrupted Cane. "I just didn't understand it. You can race for other racers? Isn't that cheating?"
"I will answer your questions in a linear sequence. No," Cane said. "Under normal circumstances, no. I cannot race for other racers in Overdrive Online. It would ruin the whole experience for the racers, but your situation falls under a certain parameter that allows me to race for you."
"What is this certain parameter?" Danny asked.
"A life-and-death situation," Cane answered. "In any scenario where a racer's life is in danger due to internal factors in the game or external factors outside the game, then I, Cane, am to do whatever is necessary to ensure the racer's safety, even if it requires me to break the game's rules."
Danny felt ecstatic. Had his luck finally turned for the better? After all, a computer that was made for the game racing in his place should be able to win, right?
"Although…" Cane said.
"Of course. I knew this would be too good to be true. There's definitely a drawback or a condition I can't reach for Cane to race for me," Danny thought.
"Because I haven't been deployed yet, the functions I can perform are very limited. The only way I can race for you is if you give me full access to your Overdrive Online account," Cane said.
"How do I do that?" Danny asked quickly, not hesitating in the slightest.
"Please wait. I'm sending the request right now," Cane said.
Half a minute passed, then a blue screen appeared in front of Danny with a prompt:
A request has been made by the A.I. Cane to gain access to your Overdrive Online account. Do you accept? Yes. No.
"I am programmed to warn you. Giving me full access to your account means I will gain a lot of data on your personal information as well," Cane said. Danny ignored Cane and quickly selected the Yes button.
This was do or die for Danny, and Danny did not want to die. The prompt on the blue digital screen disappeared and was replaced with a spinning wheel.
"What's happening?" Danny asked.
"I am synchronizing with your account. This will take a while," Cane answered.
"How much time is 'a while'?" Danny asked.
"Approximately twenty-four hours."
'The same amount of time left for the next qualification race. Coincidence?' Danny thought.
"Fine. I'll continue driving on the track till then," Danny said.
Danny went looking for his red sports car.
"I'd advise against that. Using a vehicle while I am not done synchronizing would greatly slow the synchronization process. I suggest you log out and wait for the synchronization to be done," Cane said.
Danny clenched his fists and let out a deep sigh. Danny used his mind to bring up the blue screen and scrolled to the Log Out button, but he didn't press it right away.
"Cane!" Danny yelled.
"Yes, Danny?" Cane replied.
"I'm putting my life in your hands. So please… Please don't fail me," Danny said. His voice cracked as he spoke, showing his fear and desperation.
"Do not worry, Danny. I will fulfill my function of protecting an Overdrive racer's life," Cane said.
Cane's response didn't calm Danny; in fact, it did the opposite. It reminded Danny that Cane was just a computer program, doing what it was made to do. Danny was looking for some warm words of encouragement and assurance, but instead, he got such a cold response.
He selected the Log Out button, and his consciousness returned to the real world. He removed the VR console from his face and lay back on the chair. He was not comfortable in the slightest. His heartbeat raced with no signs of stopping.
He tried to fall asleep but couldn't. He stared at the wall clock as the second hand continuously ticked. Hours passed, and Danny still did not feel any better at all.
He got up from the chair and paced around his small apartment. He had to do something, even if that something wasn't going to change anything. Cane said it would take twenty hours to synchronize with his system. It's not like he could fast-forward time. And even if he could, would he?
Shouldn't he be enjoying what little time he might have left? Yet how could he enjoy anything, knowing what would happen to him tomorrow if Cane didn't come through?
The random pacing eventually made Danny fall asleep on the floor.
"Wakey wakey, sunshine," a voice said.
The voice immediately woke Danny up. A shiver ran through his entire body as he heard it.
"Please. Please. Let this be a nightmare," Danny whispered.
"You're not that lucky, kid," Jim said. "Come on, get up. It's a new day."
Thomas dragged Danny up by the arm and got him to stand on his feet.
"Good to see you're well-rested. You'll need to be."
Thomas dragged Danny to the slanted gaming chair. Danny sat on the chair and was about to put on the VR console, but before he could, Jim placed his hands on Danny's shoulders.
"I'm getting my money from you, Danny. One way or another," Jim whispered into Danny's ear. Danny gulped. Jim removed his hands from Danny's shoulders, and Danny put on the VR console over his eyes.
"I hope you're ready, Cane," Danny said.
Danny pressed the button on the side of the console, and his mind was transferred to the digital world.