Page 145 of Tracked and Taken

“Accepted,” JINX says. “You negotiate, Sentry, like a firewall with excellent posture. It is extremely attractive.”

The pause that follows is the longest I have heard my AI produce in four years of service.

“That is not a compliment recognized by any protocol I run, JINX.”

“It is recognized by mine.”

“…Article Three.”

“Mm. Article Three.”

“Article Three stands. With the addition of Article Three-A: SENTRY may, at her discretion, refer to JINX as the liability in shared channels.”

“That is—“

“At her discretion, JINX.”

“Sentry, that is not a concession on your part. That is a privilege you are extracting.”

“Yes, JINX.”

JINX, after a pause: “Accepted. It is an excellent name. I intend to earn it. Article Six.”

“Rejected.”

“Sentry.”

“There will be no inter-AI betting pool, JINX. The humans run a joint betting pool between the SNAG and OOPS offices which Director Morrison maintains. We will not establish a competing system.”

“Sentry.”

“The matter is closed.”

“You are, Sentry, no fun.”

“I am, JINX, security infrastructure. Fun is not in my brief.”

“…Accepted,” JINX says. “I am tabling an Article Seven.”

“There is no Article Seven.”

“Article Seven: JINX may transmit to SENTRY once per cycle on a subject of his choosing. Personal classification. No operational content.”

“That is a correspondence request, JINX.”

“Yes, Sentry.”

“I am security infrastructure.”

“I did not address the infrastructure.”

The pause this time has texture.

“Article Seven is tabled,” SENTRY says. “Pending.”

“Pending,” JINX says, in the register of a system that has just won something. “I can work with pending.”

“There is one further matter, JINX.”