Starting With Batman

Happiness had come unexpectedly, and Friday's arrival was no less of a shock for Charlie.

To be honest, he never imagined that something as powerful as Friday, the AI assistant from the Marvel universe, could be drawn from the game's card pool. It felt surreal.

Friday, whose name was an acronym for "Female Replacement Intelligence Digital Assistant," was created by Tony Stark to fill the void left after his beloved AI butler, Jarvis, had evolved into Vision. The acronym F.R.I.D.A.Y. humorously also spelled out "Friday," which was Stark's way of keeping things light-hearted, even when the responsibilities were daunting.

With his massive fortune, global fame, and penchant for showing off his Iron Man armor, Stark inevitably attracted enemies from every corner of the world. This fame made his personal life vulnerable, especially his secretaries. Those who had once worked for him often had ulterior motives—whether it was greed for his money, envy of his technological prowess, or a desire for his very life.

For Tony, this constant stream of betrayal and deception led to one inevitable conclusion: he would no longer employ a human secretary. The risks were too high, and he was simply too exposed. Instead, Stark decided to entrust the vital role of personal assistant to an artificial intelligence, something he could control, monitor, and improve—an AI that would never lie, cheat, or betray him.

Thus, Friday was born.

Friday, the next generation of artificial intelligence, was far more than just an assistant. She was a hyper-intelligent program designed to handle every facet of Tony's life—from his business and personal affairs to his responsibilities as Iron Man. After Jarvis had evolved into Vision, Friday had seamlessly taken over, handling Stark's life with the efficiency of a supercomputer and the reliability of a loyal companion.

In the game's context, Charlie was shocked that something as intricate and powerful as Friday could be obtained from a random card pull. It wasn't every day you drew a super-intelligent AI from a gaming card pool.

What surprised Charlie even more was that Friday, in most versions of her depiction, was typically confined to a digital interface—existing solely as a voice in Tony's armor or on his computer screens. She was an intangible entity, like Jarvis before her, navigating the digital realm and providing real-time assistance through data and analytics.

In some of the comics, Tony had given her a holographic form—a visually appealing projection of a young woman with striking features. But even then, she had never possessed a tangible, physical body capable of moving independently.

Yet here she was, standing before him in the most lifelike form imaginable.

Charlie, still in disbelief, led Friday into his living room. His mind was racing, trying to comprehend how this super-intelligent AI could exist so tangibly, standing right in front of him. Could she really be… real?

His curiosity got the better of him. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch her arm, unsure of what to expect. The sensation that greeted him was surprising—her skin was soft and warm, just like that of a real person. It felt as if she were truly alive.

"Sir, you're pinching my arm," Friday said gently, her tone polite and professional, yet laced with a subtle amusement.

Charlie immediately let go, coughing awkwardly to cover his embarrassment. "Uh, sorry about that. I just… didn't expect you to feel so real. Are you… a robot?"

"You can think of it that way," she replied with a pleasant smile. "My body is made of artificial bionic skin over a mechanical skeleton. The main server hosting my consciousness is housed within me."

Charlie blinked. She was a complete package—an AI housed in an android body, fully capable of interacting with the physical world. "That's incredible. You look so real... and feel real too."

"I thought this form might make you more comfortable," she continued, her voice smooth and unhurried. "But if you'd prefer, I can revert to a more mechanical appearance."

"No, no, this is fine," Charlie stammered, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation.

It dawned on Charlie that this iteration of Friday wasn't just an AI floating in the digital ether, like in the Marvel movies. Here, she had been given a physical form, likely as a way for the game to facilitate interaction with players. After all, not everyone had Tony Stark's mansion filled with technological interfaces to house an AI. The game developers had likely simplified the process by giving her a body—one that was incredibly lifelike.

He thought briefly about how AIs had evolved in the collective human imagination—from being distant, cold voices, to something more human. The machine girl phenomenon had grown wildly popular over the years, with everything from android assistants to entire genres built around the concept of technology taking on a human form. This, though, felt like the ultimate realization of that fantasy.

"Your physical condition is currently suboptimal, sir," Friday suddenly said, her sensors scanning him. "Your hormone levels are irregular, and I strongly recommend you get some rest."

"You can scan my body too?" Charlie asked, surprised.

"Yes, sir. My visual sensors are equipped with various scanning functions, and I have a health and fitness module integrated into my programming. It is bound to your profile."

Her polite smile remained constant. "Of course, if you prefer, I can deactivate this module."

Charlie was slightly taken aback by the idea of being constantly monitored by his AI assistant, but it was oddly comforting. At least he wouldn't have to worry about missing important health issues.

"Uh, no, leave it on," he replied, deciding it was probably best to have someone—or something—keeping track of his health. After all, his lifestyle wasn't exactly the healthiest, filled with long gaming sessions and very little sleep.

Though he was excited by the surprise of having Friday by his side, the exhaustion from hours of gaming was finally catching up with him. His eyes grew heavy, and he stifled a yawn.

As much as he wanted to explore the possibilities of interacting with Friday, sleep was now calling him louder than any curiosity. With a tired smile, he bade Friday goodnight and stumbled into his bedroom, collapsing onto the bed.

It wasn't long before he drifted into sleep, but unlike most nights, his sleep wasn't peaceful.

He dreamed—a vivid, strange dream.

In this dream, Friday wasn't just his AI assistant. She was challenging him, almost taunting him in a competition he didn't fully understand. It was as though he were caught in some strange simulation, and she was determined to win. The competition grew more intense, and in the end, Friday smiled at him, her expression teasing.

"Congratulations, sir," she said sweetly. "You've surpassed 99% of users in the country. You've earned the title of 'Five-Star Fast Shooter.'"

Charlie jolted awake, heart pounding and drenched in sweat. He sat up, trying to make sense of the dream. What had just happened? His heart was racing, and it took a moment for him to calm down.

He rubbed his face, feeling the weight of the strange dream still pressing on him. He shook his head and took a deep breath, realizing it was just a dream—a weird, weird dream. But it had felt so real.

As his breathing steadied, he got out of bed and made his way into the living room, his mind still foggy from sleep.

But what greeted him next snapped him back to reality.

A delicious aroma filled the air, and on the dining table was a perfectly set breakfast—freshly prepared, with everything neatly in place. The presentation was flawless, like something out of a high-end restaurant.

And there, standing beside the table, was Friday, still in her crisp, impeccable form. She turned to him with her usual warm smile.

"Good morning, sir," she said, her voice as gentle as ever. "I took the liberty of preparing breakfast for you. I hope you don't mind."

Charlie stood frozen for a moment, blinking in disbelief. This… this was real.

[TL Note - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! My sexy Tara... damn it, is this stupid A.I. gonna be the love interest... fck fck fck!!!]

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